MONDAY 8TH MAY 2023

Dangote: My Refinery Can Save Nigeria $10bn in FX, Generate Another $10bn in Exports

Tasks incoming administration on public-private partnership

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari.

Africa’s richest man and owner of the Dangote Refinery, Mr. Aliko Dangote, has said with the planned commencement of the refinery

located in Lagos, Nigeria could save up to $10 billion in foreign exchange (FX) and generate another

$10 billion in exports when the facility begins operation. The 650,000 barrels per day

Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery, is set for inauguration on May 22, by

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PDP: APC Plotting to Influence Outcome of Petitions at Tribunal...

www.thisdaylive.com

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TRUTH & REASON

Badaru to Wike: Thank You for Helping APC Sabotage PDP in Rivers State...

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Buhari Directs NUPRC to Take Over Supervision of All Crude Oil Export Terminals

Functions overlap with NMDPRA resolved

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The presidency has directed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to take over the supervision of all crude

oil export terminals in the country. Additionally, the presidency also, finally waded into the muchtalked-about overlap of functions between the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream

Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

In a letter written to the agencies and copied international oil companies (IOCs) by President Muhammadu Buhari who also doubles as the

Minister of Petroleum Resources, as seen by THISDAY, the president specifically directed the NMDPRA to hands off any activities that have to do with regulatory work at crude oil export terminals in Nigeria.

Worried by the many challenges confronting the Nigerian oil and gas industry resulting from the overlap, including oil theft, many international operators had recently called for an alignment in regulatory activities

between both oil industry regulators. The stakeholders comprising the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Nigerian independent oil and

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10th N’Assembly: APC NWC Meets Today to Ratify Consensus, Zoning

Leadership tussle worsens as 68 senators-elect reject deal Group warns Tinubu, party not to plunge selves into crisis South-east senators caution president-elect against injustice ACF dissociates self from ex-Niger Delta minister's endorsement

Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled to meet today to ratify its proposed consensus and zoning arrangement for the leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly ahead of the legislature’s inauguration in June.

The planned meeting followed the rejection of the ruling party’s consensus arrangement by about 68 senators-elect from various political parties. The senators-elect had met from Saturday night till the early hours of Sunday in Abuja and resolved to reject any compromise plan that could lead to imposition

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OBI VISITS SOYINKA…

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka (left) and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, during the latter's visit to Soyinka...yesterday

Over 143 Passengers Escape Death as Max Air Crash-Lands in Abuja...

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TransitionNews

Tinubu’s Inauguration: HURIWA Explains Why Onaiyekan is on Point

Carpets Keyamo for selective judicial position Minister insists calling for determination of case before May 29 mischievous

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo

Akinwale in Abuja

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has said the position of Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Dioceses of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, that any politician whose electoral victory was being challenged by co-contestants should not be sworn in until after the elections petitions Tribunal were cleared was on point.

HURIWA, which noted that the cleric’s position was part of the recommendations of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Commission Reforms that should have been incorporated into the Electoral Act 2022, however, carpeted

the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, for saying Onaiyekan’s position was “unstatesmanlike”.

The group described Keyamo’s position and his understanding of the issue as most unfortunate, stressing that Keyamo has suddenly become a defender of injustice in spite of being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, having dined with politicians and wondered where the Keyamo of the activism and civil rights days departed to.

But Keyamo has insisted that those calling for the determination of the election petitions before the swearing-in ceremonies on May 29th under the present electoral laws and Rules of Court or procedure were either ignorant or mischievous.

Tinubu’s Group Endorses Wase for Speakership

Juliet Akoje in Abuja.

One of the major support groups of the president-elect, the Tinubu/ Shettima Global Support Group (TSGSG), has endorsed the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, for the position of speaker in the 10th Assembly.

In a statement jointly signed by the convener and co-convener, Muhammad Awal Ibrahim and Musa Gindiri, the group urged members-elect to rally around a competent candidate with a track record of excellence and experience in leadership to paddle the affairs of our House of Representatives.

The statement read: “On behalf of the Global leadership and the entire members of (Tinubu/Shettima Global Support Group - TSGSG), we wish to congratulate the members-elect of the 10th Assembly and urge them to rally around a competent candidate with a track record of excellence and experience in leadership to spearhead the affairs of our House of Representatives.

“Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, who is currently the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and also the first Deputy Speaker, of ECOWAS Parliament has paid his

dues as a loyal party man from the era of ACN up to the merger of ACN, CPC and ANPP.

“He is among the few party men that did not jump ship regardless of the tide and shaky waters in national politics. As a faithful disciple of the president-elect, Ahmed Idris Wase stands tall among other aspirants and he distinguished himself as a reliable fellow to the current speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

“He stood firm to the mandate of Asiwaju/Shetima and rendered unflinching support during the electioneering campaign. As the party looks inwards to present a candidate, we advise them to consider competence capacity and character, we also call on leaders of the party, members elect and all other relevant stakeholders to support Ahmed Wase to consolidate his landmark achievements and aspiration of becoming the next Speaker of the green chamber.

“While endorsing his candidacy, we want to assure you that he has all it takes to lead the green chamber peeking at the quantum of experience he has amassed over time, his sterling leadership qualities and his contribution to progressive politics and governance within and outside the country,” it stated.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said the Uwais report clearly stated that, “No elected person should assume office until the case against him/her in the Tribunal or Court is disposed of.”

Onaiyekan, speaking on Channels Television Thursday, said, “It doesn’t make much sense for President-elect Bola Tinubu to be sworn in before the conclusion of the Election Tribunal, which commences on Monday, May 8, 2023.

“There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it. I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.”

The cleric noted that even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, top contestants in the election like Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party were in court to challenge the decision of INEC, arguing that Tinubu did not score 25% of votes in the FCT and 24 other states, amongst other reasons they put forward for the

nullification of the election.

In its position, HURIWA said; “80-year-old Archbishop emeritus of the Catholic Dioceses of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has spoken truth to power and this is very courageous of the octogenarian in a country filled with sycophants and hypocrites, who form that they are with the masses, yet dine with the oppressors.

“We throw our support for these statements by the Cardinal, advocating the promulgation of the essential recommendations made by the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Reform Commission such as ending litigation before swearing in, and the appointment of INEC Chair and Commissioners by an independent body outside of the President.

“The Justice Uwais reforms specifically recommended among others: ‘Constitutional amendments that would insulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the political influences of the executive arm of government in terms of its composition and funding.

“The power to appoint INEC board was to be transferred from the president to the National Judicial Council (NJC) while its funding was to be a first line charge on the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation.

“The functions of the police on election duty stated in the PSC

guidelines on code of conduct for officers should be incorporated into the Police Act. Election petition was to have time limit even as a Special Electoral Offences Commission was to be set up to try electoral offenders,” it said.

Defending his position, Keyamo in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle, yesterday, said in future, it might be possible to amend the laws and rules of court to accommodate such an idea, but that it was clearly impossible under the present circumstances.

He stressed that those who thought by such a call they were doing the petitioners any good, did not realise that they were, in fact, doing a great harm to the cases of the petitioners, saying it was the petitioners that needed more time to prove their cases and not necessarily the defendants.

“Those calling for the determination of the election petitions before the swearing-in ceremonies on May 29th under our present electoral laws and Rules of Court and/or procedure are either plainly ignorant or crassly mischievous.

‘’That is why the petitioners are given 21 days to file and the defendants have 14 days to respond. And the petitioners have a further seven days to reply, making a total of 30 days as against the 14 days of the Respondents. It follows that in leading evidence in court/Tribunal in support of the Petitions, the petitioners

would also take more time. It is more arduous to prove an Election Petition than to defend it.”

Keyamo emphasised that his free advice to the advocates of pre-May 29th determination of the election petitions was that they were doing the cases of the petitioners great harm, adding that they should realise that as the saying goes, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, stressing, “we also say ‘justice rushed is justice crushed.”

According to him, If these characters say a single point (let’s say the FCT 25 per cent storm-in-ateacup issue) should be set down for determination immediately, would the petitioners’ lawyers agree to withdraw and abandon all other issues raised in their Petition and proceed only with that issue? Will they take that risk? Ask them privately. They know better. This is because the rules of election petitions do not allow petitioners to prove their cases piecemeal.

Keyamo said a petitioner could not pursue a single point up to the Supreme Court and after losing, return to the Tribunal or Court and say he/ she/it wanted to now prove other aspects of the case.

He pointed out that even that single point alone could not be determined by the Supreme Court before May 29th, because of the time given by the rules for parties to file their Notices of Appeal and exchange their briefs.

...Igbo Group Objects to Tinubu’s Inauguration on May 29 While Court Cases are Pending

Olawale Ajimotokan, Abuja

The Igbo Patriotic Forum, has cautioned against the swearing-in of Bola Tinubu on May 29, as the president without allowing the Supreme Court to resolve all petitions by aggrieved parties on the presidential election.

Chairman of the forum, Dr Simon Okeke, who addressed the media at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, over the weekend, said anything to the contrary might be an open invitation for anarchy.

“The constitution never said the

president must be sworn in on May 29. So, let us allow the judiciary to do its work,” he pleaded.

Okeke noted that failure of INEC to meet most of its set guidelines, including non-transmission of votes in real time from the poling units to its central server, has prompted the presidential election to be challenged by five of the major political parties, including the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Igbo Forum urged the judiciary to consider the general interest of the citizens, as well as the cooperate existence of the country in handling

the electoral petitions in order to avoid miscarriage of justice that may precipitate serious crisis in the country.

“Since the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) allows anyone aggrieved after the announcement by INEC of the general election result to go on appeal from the Tribunal to the Supreme court to determine the final winner of the election, it stands to reason that no one should be sworn in as the winner before the apex court pronounces who, in its opinion, is the true winner of that election.

“Common sense requires that until the apex court pronounces, who the winner is, the election is only midway and not over yet,” Okeke said, even as he admonished that swearing-in anyone as the winner of that election would tantamount to announcing the result of a match in the middle of a game as the process is inconclusive in the eye of the law.

“The match ends with the apex court announcing who in its opinion is the winner of that election. We, therefore urge the President to swear in only the person adjudged by the apex court to be the winner of the election,” he said.

Tinubu

Onwubiko

10th Speakership: Group Hails Tinubu, APC’s Choice of Abass

A group, Defenders of Constitutional Democracy (DCD), has commended the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for endorsing Hon. Tajudeen Abass for the speakership of the 10th House of Representatives.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National convener, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi and the Director, Contact and Mobilisation, Dr. Chukwuma Okoro, the group said the decision of the party

was in line with democratic best practices.

It said the North West where Abass hailed from delivered the highest number of votes to APC in the presidential election and it was only proper that the zone should be rewarded with the number four position in the country.

“We received the news of the zoning of the position of speaker of the House of Representatives to the North West with utmost gladness and the subsequent endorsement of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass as the preferred candidate

Senate Presidency: Imo Senatorelect, Ndubueze, Joins Race

Adedayo

Akinwale in Abuja

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, the Imo North Senator-elect, Patrick Ndubueze, has joined the race for the position of Senate President. Ndubueze was first elected member of the House of Representatives representing Okigwe Federal Constituency in 1992. The Senator-elect informed the party of his interest to join the race for Senate presidency through a letter addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and all the 109 Senators-elect across the country for support to realise this vision.

In a notification letter to the party, Ndubueze thanked the national leadership of APC for the support availed him to emerge as the Senatorial candidate of the party in Imo North Senatorial District, and said his bid was in respect of current realities in this time which required sensitive leadership in the senate in the moulds of focused leadership that is people centric and calm and supportive leadership.

“Having been persuaded of my track record as a ranking legislator, a politician of more than 35 years standing and a personal character that had stood

the test of time for integrity and commitment to the people, I, Engr. Patrick Ndubueze, being a ranking member of the National Assembly, do desire to offer myself to contest the office of the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly strongly believing in my capacity to stand in the roles of the leadership required at this time.

“Sir, I trust that you will bless my aspiration as declared with your active support through appropriate counseling, advice and networking, to ensure that this noble cause sees the light of the day! While, I await your kind acceptance of my declaration of intention, sir, please, accept the assurances of my esteemed regards,” he said.

While canvassing for the support of his colleagues in a letter addressed to individual Senator-elect, Ndubueze said in the last 32 years, he had remained committed to the good cause of the Nigerian project, adding that he has been on a consultation frenzy with critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of the country to positive acclaim.

He said it was for these reasons that he had decided to declare his intention to contest the office of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

with great joy because a labourer deserves his wages.

“The North West gave the APC 2,652,824 million votes even when both the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his vice-president-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima were not from the zone. In fact, Tinubu got 30

per cent of his total votes from the North West. This shows that the zone is loyal to the party and its candidates.

“Therefore, ceding the speakership position to the zone has shown that Tinubu and his team truly believes in a reward system that encourages

hard work, capacity and loyalty.

Hon. Tajudeen Abass is the most competent lawmaker from the zone having being the highest bill sponsor in the 8th and 9th Assemblies.

“Hon. Abass is humble, unassuming, competent, reliable and a loyal party man to the

core. The incoming administration of Asiwaju Tinubu needs his experience and integrity to properly implement the Renewed Hope Agenda and appealed to other contestants from the zone and other zones to accept Abass’ endorsement and work for the success of the party,” it said.

Kogi Warns Those Fanning Embers of Disunity Ahead Guber Poll

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Ahead of the November 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, the state government has warned those fanning the embers of discord among the ethnic groups in the state to desist from the act capable of causing disunity.

This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, in Lokoja, yesterday.

“The Kogi State Government

wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the antics of mischief-makers and ethnic bigots to stoke the flames of ethnic resentment, division and hate by agents of political desperation who are bent on destroying the unity and peace enjoyed by the State.

“Their unintelligent approach has been to push ethnically divisive words and attribute same to Governor Yahaya Bello in order to incite certain ethnic groups against his person and his administration. These statements

are not only false, but also an ignominy of dragging our state back to the conquered era of ethnic chauvinism.

“Governor Yahaya Bello through his actions, projects, appointments and unifying leadership credentials, has succeeded in building the state into what politics cannot balkanise. We remain a united and prosperous state.

“We urge members of the public to look out for, and ignore those inciting falsehoods as well as report those who circulate them

to law enforcement agencies. It is clearly the handiwork of politicians who do not have the interest of the state at heart.

“Until his last day in office, Governor Yahaya Bello will continue to work hard to improve livelihood in the state, keep the people united and continue to serve all Kogites irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political beliefs. What binds us together is stronger than the desperate wishes of the enemies of the state,” the commissioner stated.

ACF Commends FG, Onyema, Dangote for Evacuating Nigerians Stranded in Sudan

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended the federal government, the chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for their efforts in ensuring the return of Nigerians trapped in war torn Sudan.

The forum in a statement yesterday, in Kaduna, by Chief Audu Ogbe, its chairman, particularly praised Onyema, for his sacrifices for the nation, describing him as, “One person who stands out in the demonstration of patriotism.” Ogbe recalled that some years ago, when some Nigerians were banished from South Africa, Onyema sent several flights to South Africa

to bring them back at his own cost.

He added that the Air Peace Chairman equally sent the National Football team out several times to enable them participate in tournaments.

“This is to express our joy and relief at the efforts of the Nigerian government, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Diaspora organisation in bringing back our youths and others caught up in the sad events in Sudan”, the statement reads.

“We appreciate their efforts and commend them for their commitment to national service.

“We are however particularly grateful and appreciative of the support given by some very patriotic

Nigerians.

“In particular, we want to thank Mr. Allen Onyema and Aliko Dangote for the personal support they gave to the stranded Nigerians. Aliko's N100,000 to each of them, and MTN's recharge credit of N25,000 each are extremely remarkable gestures of goodheartedness and patriotism. Only God Almighty will reward them for these efforts.

“However, one person who stands out in this demonstration of patriotism is Mr. Allen Onyema of Air-Peace. We notice that, some years ago, when some Nigerians were expelled from South Africa, he sent several flights to South Africa to bring them back at his own cost.

“He has equally sent our national

football team out a number of times to enable them participate in tournaments and this time from Sudan, he deployed a whole Boeing 777 Aircraft including the fueling, overflight duties, landing fees, international flight charges and other costs in order to rescue Nigerians caught up in Sudan.

“We want to thank him for this remarkable and consistent show of patriotism, we are deeply touched, and we pray that the Almighty God will reward him adequately.

“These patriots continue to show that in spite of our challenges and difficulties as a nation, we have men and women who still love their Country and will go to any length to render service in times of need.”

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

Tinubu Abdullahi

John Shiklam in Kaduna

CSO Urges FG Not to Disburse $800m W’Bank Post Petrol Subsidy Removal Facility

Says country can't afford another loan amid current debt crisis

James

Emejo in Abuja

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has queried the World Bank’s $800 million facility to the federal government as a palliative to cushion the effect of the proposed fuel subsidy removal by June, which has now been reportedly put on hold.

Though the facility has been approved for the country by the World Bank, it is yet to disbursed because it still requires the approval of the National Assembly before any disbursement.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa-Rafsanjani, in a statement issued over the weekend, lamented the, "nonchalant attitude displayed by the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration towards the country’s crippling debt crisis.”

He said that borrowing to fund such palliatives was particularly strange, noting that, “if the fuel subsidy removal process has been suspended as announced by the Minister of Finance after the NEC meeting at the end of April, then the government should return the borrowed money because what are we taking the loan for?”

He said Nigerians were already worried that the country could have retained the $800 million loan from the World Bank even though the original purpose for which it was acquired had been suspended for the time being.

Musa-Rafsanjani said the development became particularly worrisome given that the country's

revenue collection in 2022 stood at N10 trillion with a debt of about N77 trillion.

He added, "In 2022, Nigeria paid about N7 trillion in fuel subsidy and in 2023, from January to June, when the country intends to stop paying, the subsidy is N3.6 trillion.

"So, if we are paying such whopping amount of money when subsidy is removed, we should have enough savings instead of taking additional loans, we can use the

subsidy funds for post fuel subsidy removal.

“As a matter of fact, we don’t need to borrow. What we need to do is to cut waste. Just recently, we all saw the aviation minister announced that he bought 10 fire-fighting trucks for over N12 billion. Is this what we are borrowing to spend on?".

He maintained that the country was already in another debt trap, adding that records from both national and international financial and debt

institutions regarding Nigeria’s debt revealed a state in crisis. He also called on the country's financial watch-dogs to pay attention to all public spendings which have not followed adequate procurement process. The CISLAC boss said, "We read that the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy announced the approval of N24.2 billion to provide internet facilities at airports and some institutions amongst other places.

"These are the things we are spending on few weeks before the end of this administration and this is unacceptable.

He also condemned the reckless spending during the end of the present administration, only few weeks to its exit, stressing that "It’s totally unnecessary and it’s a clear sign of diversion of public funds for personal interest and not for the overall good of the country."

He added, “What’s the need for

10TH N’ASSEMBLY: APC NWC MEETS TODAY TO RATIFY CONSENSUS, ZONING

of presiding officers on the upper chamber of the 10th National Assembly, billed for inauguration on June 13.

A pro-ruling party association, All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group, warned the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and APC’s NWC not to plunge the party into crisis over the zoning of leadership offices of the federal legislature.

Relatedly, South-east senators-elect caucus, yesterday, passed a resolution to reject the zoning of the office of Senate President to the South-south geopolitical zone. They warned Tinubu against encouraging and supporting “injustice”.

Similarly, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) dissociated itself from an alleged endorsement of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the post of senate president by a coalition of northern groups.

Tinubu had last Friday met with

the leadership of his party, APC, and, reportedly, reached a compromise on the zoning arrangement for the six principal offices in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Those at the meeting included APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Eneukwu; National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo- Agege; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

At the meeting, the leadership of APC was, reportedly, directed to ensure compliance with the zoning arrangement by all the aspirants in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

THISDAY checks revealed that Adamu had after an NWC meeting last Wednesday hinted that the

party was working on a consensus arrangement in handling the 10th National Assembly leadership issue.

Following last Friday's resolution, THISDAY gathered, Adamu summoned the NWC meeting for today, scheduled to take place at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja by noon.

A party source, who pleaded anonymity, said Adamu was expected to brief NWC members at today’s meeting on the outcome of the meeting held with Tinubu last Friday. The source added that the notice of the meeting sent to NWC members had a one-point agenda for deliberation.

The source disclosed, “This is a one-point agenda meeting. The chairman is expected to brief the committee on the outcome of the meeting held with the president-elect on Friday on the zoning of the NASS leadership positions and get the buy-in of NWC members to the

DANGOTE: MY REFINERY CAN SAVE NIGERIA $10BN IN FX, GENERATE ANOTHER $10BN IN EXPORTS

Dangote spoke in an interview with a special edition of Londonbased The Economists Magazine, titled ‘The World Ahead 2023,’ which was unveiled with considerable focus on West Africa and aimed to highlight both the potential as well as areas for improvement in Africa.

Expressing his views on expectations for the creation of value-added industries in Africa, the richest black man in the world stated that Nigeria's economy as presently constituted has largely been built around the extraction and exportation of its natural wealth.

As a major oil producer, Dangote noted that Nigeria currently imports over 90 per cent of its refined petroleum products, which amounted to roughly $10 billion in imports in 2022.

While this has brought major benefits to many businesses, Dangote explained that more prosperity could be created by locally refining Nigeria’s resources, with the refinery being a major step in this direction by reducing the country's dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

“The refinery's completion will not only create direct and indirect jobs, but also lead to skills transfer and technology acquisition opportunities that will benefit the downstream sector.

"Moreover, the refinery's production of critical products like naphtha and polypropylene will stimulate the development of other industries, such as cosmetics, plastics, and textiles. Refineries on this scale could save Nigeria up to $10 billion in foreign exchange and generate approximately $10 billion from exports.

“We see room for development of added value in agribusiness too. Here, initiatives like our Sugar Backward Integration Projects look to create a strong localised supply in the sugar industry. With a goal to produce around 0.5 million tons of sugar per annum from locally grown sugar cane, benefits will be created across the sugar value chain for local suppliers,” he added. He noted that the soon-to-be

commissioned 650,000 barrels per day refinery in Lagos, would enable Nigeria achieve self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products, as well as export to other African markets.

According to him, there are also ample opportunities to increase the country's rice production, with the ongoing construction of six rice mills that could mill approximately one million tons per annum of locally produced rice, thereby empowering local farmers.

The renowned businessman pointed out that the group of companies also has a 2.8 million tons per annum fertiliser plant tapping into the fertiliser market, while opportunities are being explored in tomato cultivation and processing as well as dairy production.

“With many parts of West Africa still facing food insecurity, the emergence of strong localised industries with resourceful suppliers and clear trade networks will be a big step in the right direction,” he maintained.

Dangote stressed that Nigeria presents an attractive investment opportunity for international investors, saying with the country's abundance of natural resources, diversifying and digitising economy, youthful demographics and vibrant society, investors will find in Nigeria a country of many possibilities.

“Its population of over 200 million — of which 40 per cent is under the age of 15 - means the country's demographic dividend offers investors with a long-term view an encouraging option in several sectors.

“Nigeria has a variety of untapped natural resources which, for commodity-driven investors, offers options in the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments. Its vast arable land and favourable climatic conditions similarly support a wide range of crops, positioning it as an auspicious destination for agriculture-based investments.

“Here, we expect to see the development of a strong, homegrown agribusiness industry. We are also seeing the emergence of a strong digital economy, with several

Nigerian start-ups becoming vibrant players in their respective tech-fields.

“Nigeria's import dependency and reliance on foreign markets presents major prospects for import substitution and supply chain localisation. Across various consumer-goods sectors of the economy, as well as supply-side needs for commercial and industrial enterprises, there are different options to set up localised supply networks,” he argued.

With the conclusion of the recent elections, Dangote explained that he was looking forward to government taking proactive steps to enable and empower investment by the private sector as the country has a variety of opportunities for businesses to work alongside the government through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure development.

On opportunities provided by the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Dangote stated that the initiative has the strong support of many businesses across Africa with different private sector leaders actively involved in the process leading up to its signing and ratification.

Within the context of manufacturer’s associations and industrial groups, which he said he participated in, Dangote explained that he saw the willingness of African governments to engage with the private sector so they can hear what ingredients are needed to unlock increased intra-Africa trade.

In looking to opportunities for exports from a strong base such as Nigeria, the cement industry, he said, could benefit greatly from not only exporting cement to burgeoning construction markets across the continent, but could look to build cement plants in other markets.

Driven by population growth, urbanisation, infrastructure development, and housing demand, he noted that Africa’s cement consumption has considerable room for growth as evidenced by its per-capita cement consumption of 130kg, far behind the global average of 541kg.

“Sub-Saharan Africa presents

arrangement.

"They (NWC) are expected to also consider a date for a meeting with all the major aspirants jostling for one position or the other in the two chambers of the National Assembly to ensure a rancour-free electioneering process in filling the leadership positions of the National Assembly."

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, confirmed the NWC meeting today, saying, "NWC meeting holds on Monday at about noon."

Asked if the zoning of the National Assembly leadership would be deliberated, Morka said, "The issue may be discussed, but no further information on that for now. You can be assured that we shall brief the press after tomorrow's (today) meeting."

Leadership Tussle Worsens as 68 Senators-elect Reject Consensus

acquiring fighter trucks towards the end of an administration? A position you have held for over eight years but you find no need to acquire the trucks until the end. This is a clear sign of contracts scams that doesn’t follow due process and public interest. It is simply a financial recklessness.

“And Nigeria as a nation that is so swamped up in debts; we can’t afford that right now because where’s the public interest in that elephant project?"

plans to short-change the zone with the imposition.

"They are lamenting that the arrangement would not do the zone any good, as both Speaker and Deputy Senate President positions have been taken away and proposed to another zone.

"The action will completely distort the equitable distribution of leadership positions across the six geopolitical zones. On their part the South-south region senators-elect are divided sharply as to who emerges.

"Senators-elect from Akwa Ibom have indicated their solidarity to the group against imposing leadership of the red chamber and have pledged their support to the emergence of an independent leadership in the Senate."

Indications from the senators-elect were that only about six of the zone’s 18 senators-elect might accept to go with the Akpabio/Barau deal.

an opportunity for expansion, as its population is projected to grow from 1.1 billion to over 2.1 billion by 2050, with two thirds of this growth in urban areas. Nigeria currently has an installed cement production capacity of about 54m tons/pa, which exceeds local demand and so a lot of this can be exported across Africa.

“Governments and businesses need to work together to improve competitiveness, dismantle barriers to accessing markets and develop supportive industrial policies.

“It is also important for countries to understand the potential revenue loss from the elimination of tariffs and develop strategies around tariff revenue gaps.

“Additionally, effective monitoring and enforcement of rules of origin is essential to ensure that products traded within the market originate from within the continent. By forging partnerships, businesses and governments can collaborate to overcome these challenges and maximise the potential benefits of initiatives like AfCFTA,” he explained.

As a key player in Africa's push towards self-sufficiency in the cement industry, he disclosed that the group has an installed production capacity of approximately 51 million tons per annum across 10 African countries.

In addition, he noted that the group's newly inaugurated urea plant in Lagos, with a capacity of 2.8 million tons per annum, not only ensures a secure supply of fertiliser for Nigeria, but also allows for exports.

On climate change, Dangote said businesses should actively look to integrate sustainable practices throughout their operations while embedding an awareness among staff of how business activities impact the socioeconomic realities of stakeholders.

By prioritising energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management and emissions control, he posited that companies could look to alternative fuel sources, energy-saving initiatives and waste management protocols as easy wins to benefit stakeholders.

No fewer than 68 senators-elect across party lines rejected any consensus arrangement that could lead to imposition of presiding officers on the upper chamber of the 10th National Assembly, billed for inauguration June 13. They took the decision at a meeting in Abuja, which lasted from Saturday night till the early hours of Sunday.

At the same time, All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group warned Tinubu and the NWC not to plunge the party into crisis over zoning of National Assembly offices.

One of the 68 senators-elect, who came from the North-east, said on conditions of anonymity that majority of them had indicated their strong opposition to the planned imposition, and agreed to work towards electing pan-Nigeria senators as President and Deputy President of the Senate.

He said, "All senators-elect from North-west zone, except two, have thrown their weight behind the planned resistance and pledged to support a leader emerging from amongst themselves. They do not want anybody to be imposed on them. Same with the senators-elect from the North-east except a few self-seeking elected senators."

On the issue of ranking, senatorelect from North-east, who did not want his name mentioned, indicated that only five out of the 18 senators-elect were in support of the imposition of Akpabio and Barau Jibrin.

"Only four out of the 15 senatorselect from the South-east had agreed to the Akpabio/Barau project," the source added.

Another senator-elect from Anambra State confided in THISDAY that a majority of the senators had subscribed to electing a leader on the floor, adding that the next Senate President would emerge without external interference.

The senator said, "No monetary or executive imposition will determine our choice of a leader and we will do it conscious of the fact that part of such leadership must be from the southeastern part of the country.

"In the North-central, the plot also thickens as many of the senators-elect are reacting to the APC leadership

THISDAY, however, gathered that only the South-west appeared to be comfortable with the Akpabio/Barau project. Three South-west senators were, in fact, said to be behind the Akpabio/Barau idea.

The senators, who were said to be projecting the religion cards in the election of the 10th Senate President, were Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti), Adeola Somolon (Ogun), and Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos).

As it currently stands, THISDAY gathered, six of the senators-elect from the South-west favoured independently choosing their leaders.

Another aggrieved senator from the North-east said, "From the foregoing, the direction the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress and the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are going on the issue of the 10th Assembly leadership are crystal clear.

"They are bent on imposing leadership on the red and green chambers, which is going to be very detrimental to the smooth take off of the 10th Assembly. Many of the senators-elect that have signed an endorsement document for Akpabio/ Barau said they did it because of the largesse attached to it.

"They have confided in some of us that the endorsement they signed is not binding. Majority have denounced the imposition and have vowed to cast their votes independently according to their conscience and not on anyone’s imposing anybody to them.

"The senators-elect have all agreed to shelve their party affiliations and work in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness in an undiluted manner in electing the right leadership for the 10th Assembly.”

According to one of the ranking returning senators from a North-west, Tinubu does not necessarily need to balance his same-faith presidential ticket with the principal officers positions in the National Assembly.

He said, “Legislative sovereignty, as enshrined in our constitution, must not be hindered by unnecessary interference. The principle of separation of powers should guide us, as it holds that the legislative body will elect or choose its leaders from among themselves, hence external

AT THE FUNERAL CHURCH SERVICE OF DIRI'S FATHER…

PDP: APC Plotting to Influence Outcome of Petitions at Tribunal

Urges judiciary to resist intimidation Your allegation is cheap blackmail, Keyamo replies

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised the alarm over reports and allegations of plots by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to influence the outcome the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, ahead of the commencement of its proceedings today.

The opposition party also charged the justices of the presidential election tribunal to rise above board and resist any intimidation from any quarter.

But the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, has described the allegation as reverse psychology and cheap blackmail.

Addressing the press at the party’s national secretariat, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the alleged planned onslaught by APC leaders on eminent Nigerians and democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, stemmed from APC’s apprehensions given the weight of evidence against it as well as the continuing refusal by majority of Nigerians to accept the outcome of the flawed Presidential election.

"There are apprehensions in the public space, having regards to the reputation of certain individuals within the highest level of the APC, who have demonstrated capacity and proclivity to compromise democratic institutions in our country.

"It would be recalled that on Friday, May 5, 2023, our party raised the alarm over the massively condemned comments by the APC Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the commissioning of some judiciary

projects in Port Harcourt Rivers State, wherein he attempted to corrupt, cultivate and patronise the Judiciary.

"More alarming are allegations in the public space of attempts by certain APC leaders to compromise the judiciary with heavy financial inducement and to orchestrate trumped-up allegations of impropriety against judicial officers," he stated.

The PDP, therefore, called on the APC and its leaders to immediately come clean and publicly address Nigerians and the world on the allegations and revelations, which were already in the public domain.

"For emphasis, majority of Nigerians are insisting on the review of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, because it was marred by wide-spread manipulations, open alteration of genuine election results from the Polling Units, allocation of fictitious figures to the APC and brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC Manual and Guidelines by INEC itself in its declaration of a winner of the election.

''The bizarre response by INEC, which is an umpire that ought to be independent, to the petition of the PDP and our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, requesting for the dismissal of our Petition, is further evidence of the complicity, corruption and compromise of INEC by the APC.

"It is instructive for INEC and the APC to note that the tribunal hearing is part of the electoral process. The APC and INEC are therefore advised to halt further steps to hinder the ability of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dispense justice in the matter in accordance with

the law," he said.

The party restated its call on the judiciary to resist and insulate itself from the alleged and reported antics of the APC in the discharge of its constitutional duties as independent and impartial arbiter in the pending petition before the tribunal.

"It is imperative to state that the reckless violation by INEC of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Manual in the 2023 Presidential

election portend grave consequences to our democracy and political stability as a country.

''The only way to guarantee peace, unity and stability of our nation is to uphold the Will of the people as expressed at the Polling Units in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election and the PDP is confident in the ability of the Judiciary to discharge its Constitutional duties in this regard independently," he stated.

Keyamo to PDP: Your Allegation is Cheap Blackmail

Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, has described the PDP allegation as reverse psychology and cheap blackmail.

Keyamo, in a statement, described the allegation as a contempt of court, saying the APC was within its rights to correct the wrong impressions about the elections

being created before Nigerians and the international community.

Keyamo, who was the spokesperson of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of APC in the 2023 elections, noted that the press conference held yesterday was an attempt by the PDP to play to the gallery.

The APC Chieftain stressed that instead of going to the court on Monday to begin to prove its case, the PDP has resorted to cheap and emotional blackmail.

FAAN Condemns NLC Picketing of Lagos, Abuja Airports over Dispute with Imo Governor

Action against nation’s law, says Babalakin

Chinedu Eze

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu has condemned the disruption of flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and described the action of the trade unions as impunity and ego-trip.

The NLC and TUC had embarked on strike action against Imo state government last week Wednesday, but had extended their industrial action to Lagos and Abuja airports, where they stopped flights to Owerri and other destinations in the country, especially the operations of Air Peace, which claimed it lost over N700 million revenue.

This was just the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin, described the action of the unions as illegal, calling it second picketing, which has no place in Nigeria’s law.

The FAAN Managing Director reacting to the disruption of flight operations said, “It is very disappointing, especially given the fact that the NLC acted in clear disregard with impunity. They wrote to us that their people in aviation should come and picket the Lagos airport and they should not allow flights to go to Owerri airport because their members were harassed by the Imo state government.

“They deliberately planned that action just to massage their ego. It has nothing to do with staff, workers or even the aviation industry and Nigeria. For any organisation that is licenced by the government to behave in personal interest and not

national interest, is very unfortunate. It has nothing to do with labours or workers in Nigeria.

“In fact, they undermined aviation and other workers because people lost their flights. I pray no one dies.

The more you distress aviation, the more you are creating vulnerability for uncertainty.

“What happened that day is very regrettable and just a sign of ego massage and I think that has no place in aviation. The second reason, it is illegal. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Act has put aviation as an essential service and in essential services, there is no room for picketing or blocking of operations because all Nigerians need it.

“The NLC themselves, I don’t think they are up to 200 million and Nigeria has a population of 200 million. So, they should not come and massage their ego at the airport where it is already prohibited by law,” he said.

Yadudu added: “I think it is very bad and unacceptable. We are not going to take it from them. In fact, we have written a strongly worded letter to the Minister of Aviation, calling on the government to directly protect aviation from NLC and similar actions.

“There are so many other avenues in Nigeria where you can seek redress. This is not the 1970s; Nigeria has evolved, aviation has evolved. Everything has evolved and NLC needs to evolve in their processes and their ways and means of getting what they want. I think picketing needs to evolve.

“Anybody or organisation that feels the only way they can get what they want is by picketing organisations is wrong. Personally, we will fight it. I am not talking about FAAN; I am talking about aviation generally. I am talking about everyone and other organisations in the sector.

Severance Package: EFCC Drops Probe against Kyari, Ajiya for Lack of Evidence

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

There were indications yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have closed investigations into the alleged unlawful payment of severance benefits to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Mallam Mele Kyari and the Chief Financial Officer of the company, Umar Ajiya.

The national oil giant had invited the anti-corruption agency to investigate the authenticity of the

claims with a view to ascertaining the veracity of the allegations.

But when THISDAY sought to get the update on the matter, a top NNPC official who preferred anonymity said the anti-graft agency dismissed the claims of illegal payment of billions of naira to the two officials because they were, “untrue and baseless”.

The source said the allegations had no substance, prompting the anti-graft agency to consequently suspend further probe into the matter.

“There was no need for the

EFCC to continue to waste time on an investigation that has no basis. The EFCC found out that the billions of naira bandied around as the payment for the severance benefits to the GCEO and the CFO were far from what was actually paid out to them.

“In fact the money in question was less than N90 million and by law the two officials were entitled to the severance benefits,” the source said.

According to the source, the same manner the chairman of the EFCC was appointed from the organisation

to head the Commission was also the way Kyari and Ajiya were appointed from the old NNPC post Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Still drawing a comparison between both offices, the source stated that although the EFCC chairman did not collect his own severance benefits for purpose of safe keeping, he asked that the severance benefit be paid to him after his tenure ends as chairman of the body.

“So this issue of payment of severance benefits for an appointee of government is not new,” the

source added.

It was further gathered that when the investors found out that the payments were genuine entitlements, they voluntarily closed the case on their own.

“As I speak with you now, there is no case against Kyari or Ajiya in EFCC or any other security agency that I know of. Some vested interests who are looking for an opportunity to tarnish the image of the two NNPC senior officials are behind these wicked allegations,” the source added.

Another top industry source who

spoke on the matter in Abuja said the renewed attack on the duo may not be unconnected with the politics surrounding the new transition to a new government.

“You know a new government is coming and people are deploying desperate means to ruin the reputations of political appointees to create jobs for some people.

“In the case of Kyari and Ajiya, some people are already eyeing their positions and they think that employing campaigns of falsehood will win them the positions,” the source added.

L-R: Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the February 25th presidential election, Atiku Abubakar; Former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, her husband, Former President Goodluck Jonathan; Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, and her husband, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the funeral church service for Chief Abraham Diri in Bayelsa State…at the weekend

CELESTINE OMEHIA'S DAUGHTER WEDS…

Over 143 Passengers Escape Death as Max Air Crash-Lands in Abuja

Further investigations ongoing, NSIB, NAMA, FAAN to unravel cause of incidence Airlines cancel flights

Kasim

A total of 143 passengers yesterday escaped death when a Max Air aircraft yesterday crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, after its tyre reportedly burst into flames.

The management of Max Air disclosed that all the 143 passengers and an infant on board the aircraft with registration No: 5N-MBD, were in safe condition.

Max Air in a public announcement signed by the management and made available

to journalists in Abuja, noted that the flight experienced tyre bursts during landing, after departing from Yola at around 14:05hr and was scheduled to arrive in Abuja at 15:00hr.

According to the statement, “we are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board

the aircraft are safe and sound.

“The airline has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time

"They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings. Further

ICAN’s Culture of Integrity, Discipline its Greatest Strength, Says Akwa Ibom Governor

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has identified culture of integrity, discipline and high professional standard as among the qualities that have placed the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) ahead of other accounting bodies that have been established in Africa.

Emmanuel, made this assertion in Lagos, at the weekend, during the ICAN’s 2023 Annual Dinner and Award where he, along with seven other persons and corporate organisations, emerged the recipients of the 2023 award.

The other awardees were the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba (FCA); former Regional Partner and Chairman KPMG, Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Elebute (FCA); Founder/President Signal Consulting Limited, Dr. Greg Ezeilo (FCA) and the Managing Director/CEO of UYK Nigeria Limited, Mr. Usman Yahaya Kansila.

The award recipients also included two corporate organisations, namely Nigeria Bottling Company Limited (NBC) and the Pedabo Associates, a tax, audit and advisory firm.

Emmanuel, Adelugba, Ezeilo and Elebute were honoured

based on their strength and professional contributions as members of ICAN while Nami and Kansila emerged as awardees under the non-member category whereas NBC and Pedabo were honoured on corporate body category.

Emmanuel, who is also an FCA, said: “Today, I want to say on behalf of all the awardees that we are very proud of this body.

I am yet to see any professional body in Africa that can compete or rub shoulders with ICAN. None yet! They have called themselves whatever names they liked. But anywhere you go the first question they will ask is: are you a chartered accountant?

“I want to appreciate all the past presidents of ICAN who have actually kept the standard, the discipline, the integrity of this body. If ICAN did not have this remarkable and outstanding integrity, probably by now we would have been like other professional bodies.

“But the standard and the integrity behind this name and everything good about ICAN is what that has kept ICAN today and endearing ICAN to all others.”

He added: “We owe the society our service. We owe the society our integrity. We owe the society our commitment and we owe the society transparency and accountability that we are known for.”

According to him, the next president who would rescue Nigeria would be a chartered accountant.

Then, “Nigeria will be restored. Nigeria will recover its lost glory. We are waiting for that time and when that time comes people will know that it is only the chartered accountants that Nigeria is waiting for,” Emmanuel said.

Delivering his keynote address, the 58th President of ICAN, Mr. Tijjani Musa, said the objective of the annual gathering was for networking as well as recognition of personalities and organisations making worthy impact in the society.

Musa said: “This gathering is, therefore, the celebration of excellence and dedication, in all its forms, as we acknowledge the notable accomplishments of our distinguished awardees.

“The recipients of this evening’s awards have not only made significant contributions to our institute’s mission, but also to the Nigerian economy in their respective fields.

“The governing council of the institute deems it fit to publicly acknowledge the immense roles being played by the awardees in professional and national development. It is, therefore, our great pleasure to acknowledge and honour their outstanding achievements.”

He also said reputable

members of ICAN that were honoured were the institute’s “worthy ambassadors in their various spheres of influence, engendering positive change in society. They are beacons of hope in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. We are gathered here today to honour them for their immeasurable support of the activities of the institute and their tremendous contributions in their various fields.”

He added that, “this evening is not for rhetoric as the achievements of the awardees already speak more eloquently. We are dedicating the evening to give due honour to these well-deserving personalities and corporate bodies.”

The chairman of the IFRS also expressed his appreciation over the award.

Nami said: “At IFRS I am opportune to be working with 2,350 chartered accountants. This means a lot to me because everything I have done in life came through (working with) members of ICAN. I cannot thank ICAN enough.

“It means that being a professional body that ICAN is taking stock of people who are contributing positively to the development of the institute. I am happy that they have resolved within themselves to reward the hard work that we do as a team in the IFRS.”

investigations to be carried out before being released for future flights. The aircraft tyres are being replaced and the aircraft will taxi to the ramp to know what transpired.

"We thank all the passengers for their patience and understanding, emergency services and all relevant agencies who responded promptly and the airline would like to extend its appreciation to the airport authorities, professionally to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board," the statement read.

THISDAY learnt that when the aircraft crash-landed, there were emergency officials already on ground to put off the fire before the passengers were disembarked right at the runway.

This was even as the spokesperson of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Tunji Oketunbi, hinted that their staff have commenced investigation into the matter.

An official of the airline who confirmed the incident, but pleaded to remain anonymous, revealed that the passengers were

safely disembarked. He expressed gratitude to God for the safety of all the passengers and crew members.

Also, former president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, who gave an account of the incident, said the tyre burst occurred after take-off at Yola Airport.

Ogirima said: "We thank God. We are still on the runway and pilot has reassured us. He has called for the stairs and we are now disembarking from the runway to be evacuated to the airport building at the arrival hall.

"We bless God because we witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God."

The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) operating at the airport were swiftly mobilised to put off the fire.

The development led to the cancellation of flights at the Abuja airport.

FCTA to Profile Expatriate Workers for Internal Revenue Purpose

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has made it mandatory for companies and organisations with foreign nationals working in the Territory to forward details of the expatriates under their employment to the FCT Internal Revenue Service for proper documentation.

A statement signed yesterday, by the Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila, said the exercise was compulsory and should be taken with utmost importance by firms and

organisations with expatriates working under them within the FCT.

He said the decision was part of the resolution reached at a meeting between the Secretary of Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP in the FCTA Mr. Agboola Lukman Dabiri and the Acting Executive Chairman, FCT-IRS, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi in continuation of ongoing efforts to harmonize and enhance the Internally Generated Revenue of the FCT.

The statement advised all concerned organisations to comply promptly not later than the end of May 2023.

Sumaina in Abuja

L-R: Former Rivers State Governor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, congratulating the groom, Olanrewaju and bride, Kechikanmma, daughter of Amaechi's cousin, Sir Celestine Omehia, during their wedding ceremony at the Corpus Christi Catholic Cathedral, Port Harcourt, Weekend.

Setting Agenda for 10th N’Assembly’s Presiding Officers

From every perspective, what shaped the events and activities leading to the 2023 general elections was a massive agitation for a regenerated Nigeria where everything is working for the good of all. The political parties, candidates and the electorate were unanimous that Nigeria must work “now or never”.

The level of the expressed desperation, justifiably borne out of deep-rooted frustrations, suggested that Nigeria’s predicament must be addressed, especially now that it has mattered the most.

By all standards today, Nigeria manifests substantially, every index of a failing state.

Though sharply divided along ethnic, partisan and religious lines, the Nigerian masses today are closely united by humongous hardship and suffering. No one is spared because insecurity and hunger as descendants of poverty do not recognize tribe, race, status and faith.

Yes, in Nigeria today, “the rich also cry”.

But, as the only organ of government endowed with the mandate of ensuring that good governance is sustainably delivered to the people, a legislature that is alive to its obligations to the people is what Nigeria desperately needs now.

This explains why every attention is today on the quality of leadership as well as the policy direction of the legislative agenda of the 10th National Assembly.

Equally, there is a growing consciousness that tends to take away from the lawmakerselect, their exclusive rights and priviledges about electing their presiding officers without external influence. Most Nigerians now want to have a say in the process just to achieve an

House of Representatives

expected outcome.

Similarly, political parties and lawmakers-elect have since been strategizing on how to have their ways, the same manner the number of those aspiring to lead is increasing by the day. The campaigns and horse trading have since shifted away from the conventional precincts of the national assembly to sundry places for critical decisions. The media expectedly is awash with reports and editorials, even advertorials, on who is who and who gets what relative to the 10th assembly.

Yet in all these, the big question is: what is in it for the country, especially the already impoverished masses?

There is a need for truthful and direct answers because the country is bleeding. Nigeria is in dire need of a legislature that truly embodies the ideals and aspirations of the people. There is a conscious yearning for a national assembly that indeed reflects the desires and wishes of the Nigerian masses for a government that protects and supports its citizens. The expectation of every well-meaning Nigerian is a country where poverty, hunger, insecurity and all divisive tendencies would be remembered only when our history is written.

Of course, this might sound utopian but it is as realizable as it is achievable. All that is required are strategic thinking, leadership creativity and sincerity of purpose. And herein lies the greatest challenge for the 10th national assembly.

If it truly wishes to offer itself as a legislature that Nigerians can proudly embrace and own, then it is no longer about the traditional detailed and appealing legislative agenda that prove too vague and ambiguous to implement in the long run. Rather, the occasion calls for a pragmatic and concise blueprint that has the inert capacity to frontally tackle the issues of poverty and hunger in the land. It is no longer about political expediency but about patriotism and nationalism. It is about making a positive difference for the benefit of posterity.

Thankfully, the incoming government won on the party’s manifesto which highlights these issues, albeit elaborately. So it will not be difficult to secure the buy-in of the executive arm and other stakeholders.

Hence, the 10th national assembly already has its job cut out for them. The leadership already has the direction and focus. The legislators-elect already have all the necessary resources for excellence in delivering good governance to the people. Once again, it requires the right mix of strategic thinking, leadership creativity and sincerity of purpose.

-Egbo writes from Abuja

South West Bids for House Deputy Speakership Seat

Lawrence Olaoye writes that some House of Representatives members-elect from the South West are already scheming to become the Deputy Speaker of the 10th National Assembly.

As Nigerians await the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, and the decision of the National Working Council (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives ‘Congress on the zoning of the leadership positions in the loading 10th National Assembly (ÑASS), there have been groundswell of scramble for the position of the the Senate President and the Deputy as well as those of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

With the President-Elect from the South, and the Vice President-Elect from the North respectively, it is generally believed that the Speaker of 10th House of Representatives will come from the North, while the Deputy Speakership position will go to the South. There have been inexhaustible debates on which region in the north and south should the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions be zoned based on the regions’ contributions to the eventual victory of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

While some South West stakeholders and elected lawmakers are insisting that the NASS Deputy Speakership position should come to them, having voted massively for All Progressive Congress(APC) at the just concluded election, some elected members from the South East are of the opinion that political balancing, irrespective of their vote contributions, should take pre-eminence. However, going by the numerical strength of the APC lawmakers from South West, which is put at 54, compared with the seven members of APC from the South East, there have been avalanche of calls on the party’s leadership to zone the Deputy Speaker’s position to the South West. Based on the above analysis, some prominent members of the ruling party have begun to canvass for the zoning of the position of the Deputy

Speaker to the South West.

Subsequently, some ranking members-elect on the platform of the APC from the Southwest have started lobbies in high places for the position of the House Deputy Speaker, having concluded that the Speakership position would definitely go to the North.

Those who have prominently indicated interests in becoming Deputy Speaker include: Hon. Abiodun Adesida, representing Akure South/Akure North of Ondo state. Adesida is a second term member.

But, those knowledgeable in the patterns of emergence of leadership in the Green Chamber believe that experience and acceptability play important roles in the recruitment process in the National Assembly.

Another prominent member-elect eyeing the position of the Deputy Speaker is Hon. (Prince) Akeem Adeyemi representing Afijio/Atiba/ Oyowest/Oyo East Federal Constituency.

Adeyemi, the son of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, a fine and amiable gentleman

is the current Chairman of the House Committee on Communications. He is a third-termer having been voted first into the Eighth Assembly. Adeyemi is eminently qualified to vie for the Deputy Speakership.

Another member-elect, ranking and prominent, in the race for the exalted position of the Deputy Speaker is Hon. Abiodun Akinlade from Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun state. Akinlade is a fourth-term lawmaker who was a member of the 5th, 6th, 7th and now 10th Assembly.

Akinlade who was the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology in the 6th and 7th Assembly made indelible marks in the repositioning of the Ministry and Agencies under his supervision.

-Olaoye writes from Abuja

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

Mon-Charles Egbo writes that the leadership of the 10th National Assembly should come up with people-oriented bills that will address the yearning needs of an average Nigerian in areas of growing hunger, poverty and insecurity in the country.

Adesida

Adeyemi Akinlade Akinremi

Checkmating Infiltration of Kidnappers into Nasarawa

The security challenges which has continued to threaten the peace and stability of Nasarawa State has deteriorated shortly after the 2023 general election. This was felt with the kidnap of a former Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Onje Gye-Wado, on April 6, 2023.

Gye-Wado was kidnapped in the night at his Rinza village, near Wamba, the headquarters of Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Gye-Wado served as deputy governor during the administration of the current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, between 1999 - 2003.

However, the kidnapped ex-deputy governor was freed by his abductors after allegedly collecting about N4 million ransom.

THISDAY gathered that the former deputy governor's kidnappers placed a ransom of N70 million, but the family allegedly had to pay N4 million before he was released.

The Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed release of the ex-Deputy Governor by his abductors. The command's Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, who confirmed Gye-Wado's release, however, said the Police was not aware of any ransom paid before his release.

Within the week, suspected kidnappers also abducted Daniel Ogoshi, one of the incumbent deputy governor of Nasararwa State, Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe's driver. The deputy governor's driver was said to have been kidnapped from the residence of one of his friends at about 9:30pm at Ombi 2, College of Agriculture, in the heart of Lafia, leaving his phone and car behind.

According to a family friend who confirmed the incident in the state Capital, described the abduction of the driver as unfortunate, one too many stating that he received a call around 9.35 pm that his brother had been kidnapped.

According to the source, he immediately alerted the police who were immediately mobilised to the scene of the incident, but discovered the kidnappers had fled with the victim.

Be that as it may, a Police joint operation in collaboration with military personnel and vigilante

on October 4, 2023 at Alogani/Eggon Hill rescued four kidnapped victims, and arrested six suspected kidnappers namely: Haruna Ibrahim, Umar Ibrahim, Yakubu Haruna, Rabiu Adamu, Adamu Mallam Musa and Abdulkadir Ibrahim.

The Nasarawa State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this when parading 24 suspects on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, in Lafia. He added that two other suspects arrested during the operation and one AK 47 rifle that was recovered were in the custody of the military.

DSP Nansel said: "On 4/04/2023 at about 2000hrs, a complaint was lodged at Mada Station Division that, some hoodlums armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Popsy Oil and Gas Fueling Station and kidnapped two pump attendants at Mada Station, Nasarawa Eggon LGA. Consequently, one Muhammed Husseini ‘M’ of Shinge, Lafia was arrested in connection to the crime.

"Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that his syndicate was hired by one Abubakar Ori ‘M’ of Mada station to carry out the act and led the operatives to Mada Station where the said Abubakar Ori was arrested at his Kiosk located adjacent Popsy Oil and Gas Station at Mada Station where

he sells provisions."

Similarly, acting based on actionable intelligence, the PPRO said one Dahiru Sani of Doma LGA was arrested by the command for hiring a five-man kidnapping syndicate to kidnap one Alhaji Asharuwa (his brother in-law) where they demanded for N5 million ransom. He continued that upon his arrest, the victim was released unhurt and has been reunited with his family.

"Also, based on a tip off, operatives of the Command’s Anti-kidnapping Unit arrested a kidnap kingpin named Shuaibu Mohammed (AKA Chiyawa) ‘M’ of Kadarko, Giza Development Area. The suspect who investigation has shown to be the gang leader of a notorious kidnapping syndicate terrorizing Dadere, Mararaba Akunza, Lafia, Agyaragu, Kadarko and environs has been on the wanted list of the Command for various cases of kidnapping and has been evading arrest before nemesis caught up with him," Nansel revealed.

Nevertheless, while acting based on a tip-off again, Police operatives attached to Awe Division intercepted the duo of Usman Bello (35yrs) of Kanje Village, Awe LGA and Muhammed Nura (22yrs) of Lafia along Awe-Kekura road, Awe LGA where one AK 47 rifle and one magazine were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.

The command's spokesperson maintained that the suspects have confessed to be members of a seven-man kidnapping syndicate operating in Bali in Taraba State, but relocated to Awe LGA of Nasarawa state after security agents neutralized five of their members, to continue with their

We must continue to work in partnership to checkmate the infiltration of criminals as a result of our proximity to the Federal Capital Territory and from other states. It is in furtherance of this commitment that we are today gathered to witness the distribution of additional ten brand new hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles to our security agencies

kidnapping venture before nemesis caught up with them.

"Acting based on credible intelligence, one Adamu Gagare Sule (25yrs) and Umar Idris (20yrs) who have been on the wanted list of the Command for offences of kidnapping were arrested at Kiguna Village, Lafia East Development area by operatives of the Command.

"Upon Interrogation, the suspects confessed to have kidnapped four people and took them to a forest reserve in Qua’anpan LGA of Plateau State and came to town to buy food for the victims. But, luck however ran out of them," the command's image maker narrated.

Nansel concluded that the suspects admitted to have engaged in various acts of kidnapping and armed robbery at Lafia East, Awe LGA and Jenkwe Development Area of Obi LGA.

In a bid to assist the security agencies perform their constitutional responsibility in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule recently procured and distributed donated ten brand new Hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles to them Concomitant to this, the governor had in the past procured and distributed about 27 vehicles and 121 motorcycles to the security agencies to enhance their operations and ensure sustainable peace and stability in Nasarawa State.

Speaking when distributing the vehicles and motorcycles in Lafia, Sule said the donation was aimed once again at assisting the security agencies in their arduous task of crime prevention and control in the society.

"We must continue to work in partnership to checkmate the infiltration of criminals as a result of our proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and from other states. It is in furtherance of this commitment that we are today gathered to witness the distribution of additional ten brand new hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles to our security agencies," he said.

The governor, therefore, appreciated the continuous sacrifice, commitment and dedication of the security agencies in surmounting the security challenges which has continued to threaten the peace and stability of the state.

Igbawase Ukumba writes that Governor Abdullahi Sule is working in partnership with security agencies in Nasarawa State to checkmate infiltration of kidnappers into the state.

Gov Sule addressing the security agenciesThe donated motorcycles

Gov Sule unveiling the vehicles

Boosting Hydrocarbon Reserve in Nasarawa

Igbawase Ukumba writes that the official flag off of the spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Oil Well in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State by President Muhammadu Buhari, got the stage set to boost Nigeria's hydrocarbon reserve from 37 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels

In 2010, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) carried out several exploratory activities in Nasarawa State. Hence, data from the NNPCL had confirmed the presence of hydrocarbon in Nasarawa State; precisely in Keana and Obi Local Government Areas which are located in the Middle Benue Trough.

The data confirming availability of the hydrocarbon followed several exploratory activities carried out earlier by the NNPCL in form of gathering the right data and making the right decisions.

Explaining authenticity of the process which was carried out by the NNPCL in Nasarawa State, the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mele Kolo Kyari, said: "We have carried out several exploratory activities in form of gathering the right data and making the right decisions. We are very convinced at this point in time that Nasarawa State will join the league of states with hydrocarbon presence.

"This is not far away. As a matter of fact, we believed that we will start the first well in Nasarawa State by March and this is to confirm. It is very typical science that once we are able to make a success of that well, then the potentials of Nasarawa are beyond what I can explain at this point in time."

Satisfied with the NNPC Ltd exploratory results, President Muhammadu Buhari had on March 28, 2023 officially flagged off the spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Oil Well located in the Middle Benue Trough, in Obi Local Government of Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the official flag-off of spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Oil Well, the Group Managing Director/CEO of the NNPCL, Malam Mele Kyari, pointed out that findings are very indicative of potential commercial hydrocarbon discovery in the area.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that the positive outcome of the campaign will contribute to increasing the country’s national hydrocarbon reserve from 37 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels, while also increasing the country's oil production capacity to the target of three million barrels per day.

Kyari assured stakeholders that NNPCL will conduct its activities in Obi Local Government Area with utmost care and attention to health, safety and environment.

However, the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has appealed to both the President and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), to expedite action to develop the field, especially with rising competitions from green energy.

This was even as the Governor further appealed to the NNPCL to equally adopt the Integrated Field Development (IFD) it was employing in Kolmani in Gombe State, to develop the Ebenyi-A

Oil Field.

"Let me make this special appeal to you Mr President and of course, the NNPCL. With the strong competition that the fossil oil is getting from green energy, we wish to appeal to Mr. President, that the NNPCL should expedite action on the development of this field.

"While congratulating the NNPCL once more on the concept of the Integrated Field Development that was just carried out in Gombe, we also pray and hope that the Ebenyi-A Field will also experience another IFD," Governor Sule appealed.

The Governor particularly commended the NNPCL for introducing the Integrated Field Development at the Kolmani which was not obtainable previously in the country, where the issues of pipeline vandalization and environmental degradation were addressed.

"What the NNPC Ltd has done,

we don't even have anywhere in Nigeria. Not in Niger Delta, not anywhere. In the oil and gas sector, there is what we called Integrated Field Development where you produce the oil there, refine it there, you produce the gas there, you generate the power there, you produce the chemicals there," Sule said.

The governor, therefore, explained that with similar concept in Nasarawa, as well as all the other basins in the country, there would be no need laying pipelines for over 200 or 300 km in order to evacuate the oil to the terminals located in the Niger Delta.

Sule, therefore, expressed appreciation to the President, the GMD/CEO of NNPCL, Malam Mele Kyari, and all those who made the spud-in possible. He equally solicited for the continued support and cooperation of the host community towards ensuring the success of the project.

"I call on our host communities to see this project as their own. I ask you to take ownership to ensure you not only protect the project, but the people working on the project. As somebody who has worked in similar conditions, the relationship with the host community is extremely important.

The cooperation that we will get from you will make the people more comfortable to believe that this is also their home," Sule stated.

While declaring that the discovery and drilling of oil in Nasarawa State will lead to greater prosperity for Nigerians as well as enhance overall energy security for the country, President Buhari directed NNPCL and its partners to take due care of the environmental consequences of the oil exploration activities and to mitigate the negative effects.

The President recalled that the official commencement of drilling activities in the Middle Benue Trough was in line with ongoing campaigns for the exploration of crude oil and gas in the Nation’s Frontier Basins.

Buhari listed the Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin, Anambra Platform, the Calabar Embankment, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin, Benue Trough as well as the Ultra-Deepwater Niger Delta as areas where NNPC was extending its crude oil exploration.

‘‘This is consistent with the commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Kolmani Area of the Upper Benue Trough. I am pleased to note that activities are currently ongoing to develop the Kolmani petroleum discoveries to commercial production to add to the nation’s considerable hydro-carbon assets.

‘‘I am encouraged by the enormous work done by NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough, leading to the event of today. I congratulate NNPC Ltd, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other partners for their immense contributions towards making this day and this event possible,’’ Buhari said.

The Nigeria President then directed Governor Abdullahi Sule and the GMD/CEO, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, to spud on his behalf.

Briefing journalists in Lafia on measures being taken to avert crisis following the discovery of crude oil in the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, the Chairman of the council area, Joshua Ozhe-Yekpowudu, assured the affected communities that government and the NNPCL were working out proper compensation for lands and other properties that were affected in the area.

Ozhe-Yekpowudu said the compensation became imperative because it would go a long way to avert any crisis that might arise in the affected communities. He added that government, in collaboration with the NNPCL, were working out serious modalities in ensuring that people of the area whose farmlands were affected were properly compensated without any rancor.

While assuring that authorities of the Obi Local Government Area would do all they could to ensure smooth and hitch free exploration of the crude oil, Ozhe-Yekpowudu promised that security of lives and prosperity in the locality would be given utmost attention.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that the positive outcome of the campaign will contribute to increasing the country’s national hydrocarbon reserve from 37 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels, while also increasing the country's oil production capacity to the target of three million barrels per day

This Week In Tech

Tech Top 5 News

GOOGLE COLLABORATES WITH MICROSOFT, OTHERS TO PHASE OUT PASSWORDS

In collaboration with Microsoft, Apple, and Fido Alliance, Google has started rolling out passkeys to phase out passwords.

Passkeys can be used instead of passwords to sign in to its apps and websites.

In a statement by Google, passkeys are the easiest and most secure way to sign in and will now replace passwords, which people often find difficult to remember. While noting that the change may not come easy for many people, Google said passwords and two-step verification (2SV) will still work for Google Accounts for now. It hinted, however, that passwords may have been completely phased out by next year.

Announcing the rollout of passkeys, Google said, “For some time, we and others in the industry have been working on a simpler and safer alternative to passwords. While passwords will be with us for some time to come, they are often frustrating to remember and put you at risk if they end up in the wrong hands.”

The tech giant added, “Last year — alongside FIDO Alliance, Apple, and Microsoft — we announced we would begin work to support passkeys on our platform as an easier and more secure alternative to passwords. And today, ahead of World Password Day, we have begun rolling out support for passkeys across Google Accounts on all major platforms. They will be an additional option that people can use to sign in, alongside passwords, 2-Step Verification (2SV), etc.”

It disclosed that passkeys for Google accounts “are available.”

“You can try them out here, and setting it up is easy. We look forward to helping people and others in the industry take this next leap to make signing in easier and safer with Google,” stated Google.

Passkeys are a new way to sign into apps and websites. They are easier to use and more secure than passwords, so users no longer need to rely on the names of pets, birthdays or the infamous ‘password123’.

BOLT ANNOUNCES #WOMENINTECH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

One of Africa’s leading on-demand transport platforms, Bolt recently announced the rollout of its #WomeninTech internship program for the third year running across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa.

This year’s internship programme, named ‘The Bolt Outternship’, is targeted at empowering young women by providing opportunities to start their careers in tech and is set to run for three months from June 2023.

Bolt launched the #WomeninTech programme in 2021 across Africa to empower young women who are interested in undertaking careers in the tech field.

The programme is designed to train, mentor and empower young women by offering placements across various departments, including operations, engineering, public policy, PR and marketing.

The young women will also be paired with women in Bolt leadership to mentor and guide them as they go through the three months programme.

Bolt’s regional manager,!West Africa, Ireoluwa Obatoki, said, “We started the Bolt internship program in 2021 to empower young women to take up space and grow their careers in the tech world. We are elated to launch the third edition of the program considering that we have been able to provide young women with valuable work experience over the years that will

Tech Personality of The Week

RUTH ISELLEMA

This week’s tech personality is Ruth Isellema.

Ruth Iselema is the founder and CEO of Bitmama Inc, a panAfrican blockchain startup offering crypto products across payments, trading, loans, and investments, with footprints across Africa, Europe, and the US.

It has two flagship products, Changera and Bitmama.

Iselema is one of the few female leaders in Africa’s blockchain space. Before founding Bitmama, Ruth consulted for other leading global exchanges and blockchain protocols on their product strategy and market entry into Africa.

With over six years of blockchain experience, Iselema leads a distributed global team of over 25 at Bitmama across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Fondly called the Bitmama of Africa’s blockchain space, Iselema has also been recognised as one top 20 individuals shaping Africa’s blockchain space by leading media such as CryptoAssetBuyer and received other recognition from the German and Austrian Missions in Africa.

accelerate their career growth.”

Obatoki added, “We strongly believe that increased representation of women in tech will promote a more inclusive, diverse, and progressive society. As such, Bolt as a company, through this initiative, is expressing its commitment to positively impact the communities it operates in.”

NOMBA RAISES $30M IN PRESERIES FUNDING

Nigerian fintech startup, Nomba recently secured $30 million in a pre-series B funding round to enable the company to provide customised payment solutions for African enterprises. The funding round led by Base 10 Partners, a San Franciscobased venture capital firm, has raised Nomba’s valuation to over $150 million, according to YCombinator’s list of top-valued companies.

Commenting about the funding, the CEO of Nomba, Yinka Adewale, said, “We see payment as a business model, not just a product, and we want to make it easier for businesses to take advantage of all that is possible in their payment processes, to support their continued growth and success.”

Adewale further stated, “We have a long list of products we have been working on and the funds we have raised, as well as the investors that have backed us, gives us a lot of confidence about what can be achieved with more effective payment solutions in the hands of business owners.”

Also commenting on the investment, Luci Fonseca, a partner at Base10, noted, “Nomba’s history of innovation and capital efficiency makes it one of the most exciting startups in Africa. We

are thrilled to be supporting them to deliver their game-changing solutions to power growth and continued success for businesses in Nigeria and beyond.”

Nomba provided POS terminals to thousands of individuals and small business owners, who acted as agents to deliver crucial financial services like cash withdrawal, transfers, and bill payments to unbanked and underbanked Nigerians. With this business model, Nomba is now a direct competitor with OPay and MoniePoint.

META: CHATGPT HYPE LEADING TO SPREAD OF DANGEROUS MALWARE

Meta’s security analysts have found around 10 malware families posing as ChatGPT and similar tools since March alone.

According to a recent report by Meta, the latest wave of malware campaigns is taking advantage of the hype around generative AI technology like ChatGPT, which has captured people’s imagination and excitement. The disruption introduced by the new AI technology has made it popular even among malicious actors.

These malicious actors have created fraudulent browser extensions that claim to offer ChatGPT-related tools but instead compromise accounts across the internet. Some of these extensions have included working ChatGPT functionality alongside the malware, likely to avoid suspicion from the stores and the users.

Meta has detected and blocked over 1,000 unique malicious URLs from being shared on its apps to combat the threat. The company has also reported these URLs to its industry peers at file-sharing services where malware was hosted, so

they can take appropriate action. Meta claims that some of these malicious extensions did include working ChatGPT functionality alongside the malware. It was done to avoid suspicion from the application stores and users.

Meta’s report highlights the need for increased awareness and cybersecurity measures to protect individuals and businesses alike. The hype around ChatGPT and AI is still at its nascent stage and is expected to grow manifold. Instances of malware linked to this new disruptive technology are also set to rise soon.

KONGA WARNS CUSTOMERS ABOUT SCAM WEBSITE

Konga has alerted the public of an alleged fake website “attempting to defraud customers using our brand name,” according to an advisory issued Wednesday by the e-commerce company.

Konga has alerted the public of an alleged fake website “attempting to defraud customers using our brand name,” stated an advisory issued recently by the e-commerce company.

In a statement by Konga, the company said, “Our attention has been drawn to the activities of unscrupulous and faceless individuals and groups attempting to defraud customers using our brand name, the latest being the use of a bogus and fake website (https://konga18.com/#/login)”

It added, “These scammers,” Konga says, “have leveraged the trust reposed in us by our customers to attempt various fraudulent activities on unsuspecting shoppers.”

The e-commerce company disowns the alleged fake site, saying that Konga “has no form of affiliation with this site – https:// konga18.com/#/login – or any other site whatsoever that is not our official website. Our official website is www.konga.com.”

THE ‘WORLDVIEW’

MAN AT 60 SAMUEL AKINNUGA pays tribute to Kingsley Moghalu, scholar, lawyer, and political economist

See page 21

A BLAST OF FRESH AIR

Seplat Energy posts exceptional results despite boardroom challenges, writes DAN AIBANGBE

See page 21

EDITORIAL MISSING CORPSES IN MORTUARIES

The African Union has lost the initiative to provide solutions to the continent’s problems, contends CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

NEITHER AFRICAN, NOR A UNION

On New Year’s Day in 1991, 81- year- old Siad the capital city, Mogadishu, under assault from the combined forces of a prolonged insurgency. Some 16 days later, in a supposedly unrelated development, President George Hubert Walker Bush of the United States of America launched Operation Desert Storm against the occupation Hussein. Four months later, in May 1991, Siad Barre went into exile in Nigeria where he lived until his death in 1995.

Back home, the vacuum created by General Barre’s departure in 1991 triggered a messy contest between various warlords and militias for the control of the country, which posed a grave threat to both Somalia’s neighbours in the Horn of Africa and to the strategic maritime theatre of the Gulf of Aden.

Somalis are not only found in Somali. They are also in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. Siad Barre was initially committed to a policy of uniting all Somali populations under one Ethiopia’s Ogaden region in 1977, triggering a war in which Ethiopia eventually prevailed with support from the Soviet Union. Somalia, which had until then proclaimed itself Socialist, thereafter shifted its strategic orientation towards closer cooperation with the United States.

The cost of the degeneration of Somalia into a messy gang-land war was heavy. By the beginning of 1992, one year after Siad Barre’s departure from power, “as many 350,000 people in Somalia died from starvation, with another countries.” Somalia’s biggest neighbour on its western borders, Ethiopia, which hosted African Unity (OAU) was itself preoccupied with a political transition after the ruinous misrule of Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam’s Dergue regime, and its main priority was to prevent a Somali contagion on its territory. Still reluctant to abandon its foundational commitment to the OAU could not mobilise consensus on how best to respond to the Somali meltdown. Within Somalia itself, there was no leader who could invite international action with legitimacy.

the unipolar world, there was much talk of humanitarian intervention. Somalia was seen as a good case for it and the United States, fresh from what was seen as the diplomatic was under pressure to act. On 24 April, 1992, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 751 which deplored “the threat to international peace and security and established the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM).

team were, however, no match for the menace of the Somali Militias. So, on 3 December 1992,

the Security Council adopted Resolution 794, which complained about the “continuation of conditions that impede the delivery of humanitarian supplies to destinations within Somalia, and in particular reports of looting of relief supplies destined for starving people, attacks on aircraft and ships bringing in

humanitarian operations in Somalia. Six days later, on 9 December 1992, a contingent of US Navy SEALS landed on the coast of Mogadishu at the beginning of Operation Restore Hope under to considerable media attention.

ended in disarray. One outcome of Operation

Restore Hope among many was to force the OAU to urgently re-evaluate its doctrinal commitment to non-interference. At their meeting in Cairo in June 1993, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU

stability in Africa, in order to guarantee the protection and preservation of life and property, the well-being of the African elected by their peers and represented at the highest levels by their Presidents, Prime Minister, or Kings.

Underlying the mission of the AU and united way of addressing the continent’s retrospective on the failure of Operation Restore Hope in 1994, Ghanaian-born economist, George Ayittey, deplored contest over super-power control of Africa’s destiny. Cautioning that durable solutions to the continent’s myriad problems can only come from Africans themselves, he launched the now popular mantra about “African solutions to African problems.”

With the persistence of a multiplicity of foreign stakeholders in many of the continent’s problems, however, the challenge problems could be described as African and at what point the solutions could be seen as that African leaders had a responsibility to take initiative and provide leadership in the search for solutions to the continent’s problems. This has been missing in the three weeks since the mutual antipathies between Sudan’s implacable Generals descended into Urban Warfare in Khartoum.

its neighbours. Sudan’s then ruler, General were the two voices of dissent against this decision.

From this tentative beginning, the OAU evolved rapidly in seven years to the point of its own replacement in 2000 by the African Union (AU). At its adoption in 1963, the founding Charter of the OAU complained of subversion by neighbours against one another and prohibited interference by one

approach to coexistence in a continent in which looking out for one another had for long been an axiom of good neighbourliness.

the African Union’s Constitutive Act, which was incidentally adopted at the turn of the Millennium, commits the continent’s rulers to “respect for the sanctity of human life” and to intervene in a Member State…. in respect of grave circumstances, namely war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.” To supervise this new commitment, the AU, as the successor to the OAU would become known, established a Peace and Security Council to “promote peace, security and

The result is that the AU has abdicated both initiative and ideas. With nearly 1.2 million refugees before the onset of these hostilities, Sudan housed the second largest population of refugees in Africa behind only Uganda, and the seventh largest in the world. Setting them to pasture is not going to be cost-free to Sudan’s neighbours nor is that merely a appear to have heard that some Western countries willfully shredded the passports of African nationals while evacuating their missions in Khartoum.

With over 400,000 internally displaced, nearly 150,000 dispersed across Sudan’s borders into neighbouring countries in Chad, Central African Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimating an exodus of over 860,000 people from Khartoum and its neighbourhoods, the leaders of the African even for symbolic purposes other than half-hearted meetings convened on Zoom at almost risible levels. Separated by over three decades, the response of the AU to the unfolding crisis in Khartoum reprises in slow OAU in Somalia.

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

SAMUEL AKINNUGA pays tribute to Kingsley Moghalu, scholar, lawyer, and political economist

THE ‘WORLDVIEW’ MAN AT 60

After our last meeting on November 4, more importantly for the ‘high octane’ value he consistently brings to the public space, Prof @MoghaluKingsley compliments for his diamond jubilee.”

highlight of our relationship till date was his acceptance to deliver the 2022 Babcock University Convocation given the assignment to recommend some speakers, one of whom the university management could decide on to deliver the lecture. On completion

A BLAST OF FRESH AIR

stature. Then sometime in 2021, one of my mentors sent a WhatsApp message which was culled from a newspaper

do the best job because he had, more than others, spoken and written more consistently about the proposed themes of the lecture - “Knowledge, Vision, Nigeria’s Development”. He delivered a most incisive lecture on how Nigeria can work its way back to relevance, at the core of which is a ‘worldview’ that would undergird our ability to interrogate with the world on our own terms.

of introducing him on that day. While Moghalu’s adventure in the political arena may shape the frame with which many young people have come to author, scholar, speaker, diplomat, lawyer, banker and political economist is unshakeable. He has since taken a walk from politics and has chosen instead to contribute value as a private he has done brilliantly through the

Nigeria’s Energy Sector giant, Seplat Energy Plc, (SEPL) has just announced its 2023. The news, which came as a blast of atmosphere that was building up over the last few weeks, in respect of the controversy message, the company Chairman, Mr Basil for remaining focused in achieving the highly impressive results. He also used the opportunity to reassure them of the unity among the board members in ensuring the corporate governance system that supports sustainable business practices as a means of delivering optimal results for the entire stakeholders, as well as the energy transition that drives social and economic prosperity for all Nigerians.

Mr Omiyi, the board Chairman of Seplat Energy PLC, ascended the position in May, 2022 upon a unanimous decision by the entire

the Nigerian government and other oil producers. Seplat also has revenue interest in OML 55, the 465MMscfd gas processing plant at Oben, in OML4, and is building the 300MMscfd ANOH Gas Processing Plant in OML53 and a new 85MMscfd gas processing plant at Sapele in OML41, to augment her position as a leading supplier of gas to the domestic power generation market. Overall, oil and gas production for the period totalled 4.7 MMboe compared to 4.3 MMboe in the same period in 2022. condensate) operations produced 2.7 MMbbls on a working interest basis in Q1 2023 (Q1 2022: 2.6 MMbbls). Average working interest production continued to improve in Q1 2023, closing in the upper half of the guidance range (set at 45-55 kboepd) at 51,720 boepd, 8.6% higher than Q1 2022 of 47,628 boepd. The split across

(Q1 2022: 29,105 bopd) while gas grew 15.5% to 124.1 MMscfd (Q1 2022: 107.4 MMscfd). The increase was largely driven by the new Oben-34 gas well coming on stream.

shared his story, and how a particular letter of recommendation from Professor Bolaji Akinyemi introducing him as “future leader in Africa” to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, set him on an incredible since become so familiar with and even since then. He also talked about the other people, opportunities and values life.

After reading that article, his book on ‘Emerging Africa’, and watching a ton of his speeches and lectures (from as far back as 10 years ago in some cases), then it happened on May 12, 2022. This provenance of our relationship. When he declared his interest to contest for rooted for him because to my mind, he embodied the ideals of a leader who is imaginations of Nigerians and had the He was, simply, a man you would be proud to have as president. He had a many of those in the presidential line-up at the time clearly didn’t have.

the president were best articulated by him which he outlined as follows: nationbuilding, national security, national economy and managing Nigeria’s

as the ultimate elevation in the political hierarchy or the vortex of ‘national cake’ allocation. Perhaps the most interesting

policy think tank which he leads, and his many interventions on issues of national import both on mainstream and social media. As a much younger all his views in the papers and watch all interviews on national and international media platforms. He is a gentleman of a accomplished man. He holds a Doctorate the London School of Economics (LSE).

Niger (OON), a Fellow of the Chartered of the Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa, and holds the traditional title of He has delivered lectures at some of the world’s leading universities. These, has many remarkable achievements for which he can be proud. He worked hard and diligently, served his country and the world, and he continues to inspire had the privilege of interacting with him thought, his passion to see his country matter in the international arena, and public sphere, he is a national treasure. this country and our continent. On this in Nigeria and around the world in wishing Professor Kingsley, Bosah, Chiedu, Ayodele Moghalu a happy 60th birthday!

Akinnuga, MNIIA, ARPA, is a consultant on communications and

board. The Seplat Energy board consists of highly experienced professionals and business experts with profound understanding of the dynamics of the oil and gas industry at both local and international levels.

Since his appointment, he has been providing direction commensurate to the company’s strategic focus, which is to lead Nigeria’s energy transition, especially in the area of on-shore operations. The board seems to have bonded well and their full experience is coming to bear great fruits under the leadership of Mr Omiyi.

Y2023, the company reported a 37% increase in revenue amounting to USD331 Million

After Tax increased by 189% to USD57.5 million, with production averaging 51,720 which is the industry term for the measure of hydrocarbon volume (typically used for natural gas) in terms of the barrels of crude oil that would have the same energy content.

With this result, Seplat Energy’s improvements in corporate governance

achievable at the full consummation of the Mobil Producing on-shore assets.

Nigeria is indeed well positioned to reap

country is surely about to witness vibrant competition in the oil and gas sector, whereby even the NNPCL will be given a run for its

Seplat Energy PLC, Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy company listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX: SEPLAT) and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE: SEPL) is pursuing a Nigeriafocused growth strategy in oil and gas, as well as developing a Power & New Energy business to lead Nigeria’s energy transition.

Seplat’s energy portfolio consists of seven oil and gas blocks in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, operated in partnership with

an export route that has optimised oil and gas production from the western assets resulting in third-party downtime of 7% in the period. Third-party deferment for the Group was 20%, which was majorly impacted by the high deferments rate on Ohaji, mainly caused by tank top issues triggered by election restrictions at the

The Group’s 2023 drilling programme has 18 wells planned to arrest the decline and grow production across the assets

accelerated into the 2022 programme and spudded in December was completed and producing at a gross rate of c.3,000 bopd. The Sibiri-2 well in OML 40 has been drilled to TD, with target reservoirs completed and currently awaiting approval to stream the well. The drilling of the remaining three wells planned for Q1 (Ovhor DMFU-03, Orogho 8, and GB-J) is ongoing and upon completion expected to produce a combined gross rate of c.4000 bopd and 20 MMscfd of gas.

Working interest gas volumes for the period were 124.1 MMscfd (9M 2021: 107.4 MMscfd). The Gas business contributed 41% of the Group’s volumes on a boepd basis and 10% of Group revenues. Gas sales volumes in the period were supported by the new Oben-34 well, which increased improvement in oil evacuation during the period led to a recovery in associated gas volumes.

The key investment opportunities being considered include selective entry

of emission reduction activities in various commercial due diligence and third-party 2023.

Aibangbe writes from Lagos

Seplat Energy posts exceptional results despite boardroom challenges, writes DAN AIBANGBE

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

MISSING CORPSES IN MORTUARIES

The dead must be treated decently

The recent disappearance of the corpse of an 86-year-old man from the mortuary of the Sacred Heart Hospital Mortuary, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, is embarrassing. Son and other relatives of the deceased were shocked when they arrived at the mortuary with a hearse and could not an isolated incident. Earlier in January this year, the corpse of a woman was missing at the mortuary of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital there was confusion at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, (BUTH) mortuary in Jos, Plateau 33-year-old man.

the living, the dead also can no longer ‘rest in peace’. From ritual and occult practices to trade in organs, various reasons have been advanced for the eerie incidents of disappearing corpses in our mortuaries. But these are gross violations of the law. Section 242 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria stipulates an imprisonment of two years for anybody liable for human body or human remains, whether buried or not,” among others.

Particularly worrisome is that there are several cases across the country where corpses are abandoned in some mortuary grounds to decompose, ostensibly because they are marked Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, where corpses of men and women in various stages of decomposition littered the corridors of the mortuary of the General Hospital. Naturally, these bodies ought to be stored in cooling compartments to preserve them until burial, but the facilities are

WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor

down or they do not work for enough hours same story across Nigeria.

Ore, a popular town, and rest point on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, has a standard public hospital with a mortuary, which obviously was not built with an uncontrollable high number of dead accident victims in mind. The mortuary is inundated with putrid unclaimed bodies, some stripped to the bones, while others are covered they have left. There is an argument that unclaimed corpses should be given mass burial, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) does not support such idea because it could traumatise families with serious social and legal WHO’s regulation on the management of unclaimed corpses states that bodies should be collected and photographed as soon as possible, and preferably before decomposition has commenced. Basic information about a dead body is also recommended to be collected before it is temporarily stored for protection and to assist

code. Such information must also be attached to the body and the body bag, and any burial site, so that its location can be recorded, and the body retrieved paid to the living, it is too much to expect such diligence for the dead.

Meanwhile, it is important for the government at all levels to improve the carrying capacity of health facilities to save lives and to preserve the bodies of people who die from diseases or accidents. We also its promise to manage the decaying corpses at the be important to expand it, considering the large number of dead accident victims it receives daily.

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

CARDINAL JOHN ONAIYEKAN’S INTERVENTION

John Onaiyekan would seemingly come down on the side of those who would rather trash the system than acknowledge its currency, unless and until it is even as challenges to the electoral results are being judicially examined is indeed an anomaly with which Nigeria has saddled itself. Cynical politicians are behind it, such that every candidate declared winner of the presidential election has been sworn any outcry against the practice or calls for its abandonment. Until now when social media has taken the “lead” in discourse on the political situation in the country - with unbridled biases all round.

The Electoral Act 2022 was passed just a year ago

or to the conclusion of court cases (if any) against them escaped the attention of politicians, public intellectuals and the legal luminaries who are now crying foul. Politicians prefer it that way. As for the latter groups, it is a very safe bet that had their preferred candidate been declared the winner no such objection would have surfaced. The current outcry is therefore self-serving and detracts from the reputation of those prominent lawyers canvassing a change in the practice in the middle of the game. Given how

the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should consider creating a Section on Electoral Law, similar to Section on Business Law, etc.

Election results are always contested in this country because there are rich pickings down the road for

tion at any near the level experienced here after elections.

Questions raised about the Electoral Management the time of Justice Ovie-Whisky’s FEDECO - its independence and impartiality. The Constitution and -

stand on these parameters has always varied according to the swing of election results; which today is extremely polarised. But what was announced by wishes of the people”.

Mohammed Tukur Usman, Kaduna

-

It is important for the government at all levels to improve the carrying capacity of health facilities to save lives and to preserve the bodies of people who die from diseases or accidents

RATES AS AT MAY 5,2023

Prime Lending Rate Hits 13.97%, 25-month High on Hike in MPR

Kayode Tokede

Following the over the hike in Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 18 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prime lending rate in the banking sector increased to an average 13.97 per cent in March 2023 from an average 13.62 per cent in February.

This is according to the CBN in its money market indicators for the month of March 2023.

Prime lending refers to the interest rate that large commercial banks charge on loans and products held by their customers with the highest

credit rating. Typically, the customers with high creditworthiness are large corporations that are borrowing from commercial banks in order to finance their operations with debt.

According to THISDAY investigations, the 13.97 per cent prime lending rate is the highest in 25-month.

THISDAY checks further revealed that the hike was driven by the CBN’s effort at tackling inflation rate that reached 22.04 per cent in March 2023.

Prime lending closed 2022 at an average 13.85 per cent from average 11.68 per cent in 2021. Prime lending

rate reached an all-time high of average 19.66 per cent in November 2009 and a record low of average 11.13 per cent in March 2021. However, the maximum lending rate dropped to average 28.75 per cent in March 2023 from average 28.08 per cent reported by the CBN in February 2023, while interest on savings deposits closed March 2023 at average 4.58 per cent, the highest in over 17 years.

Maximum lending rate refers to the rate charged by banks for lending to customers with low credit rating.

Also, the interest rate on treasury

bills (T-Bills) increased to 3.81 per cent in March 2023, the highest so far this year.

Financial analysts expressed that the gap between the CBN’s lending rate and the prime lending calls for concern, stressing that the spread between the rates should not be more than 10 per cent.

“Businesses need a lot of credit facilities to survive, but in an environment where the lending rate is astronomical, many enterprises, especially small and medium-scale, might find it extremely difficult to survive as their products will remain uncompetitive and the cost

of production and the sale prices to consumers will remain high, ”said Vice President of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori.

He added that, “A hike in interest rate is often considered a manufacturers’ nightmare as it stifles productivity and expansion. A hike in interest rate slows down productivity, as manufacturers struggle to keep machinery in operations and pay salaries. Those who look forward to borrowing for expansion and production will have to shelve such ideas in the face of the high cost of accessing funds.”

Adnori suggested that development banks must be encouraged to lend at a single digit with stringent tracking, adding that CBN’s policy on tackling inflation rate not working. According to him, “Both CBN and FG are not serious in coordinating their policies to bring down inflation. While the CBN is pursuing a contractionary monetary policy to tackle inflation, the FG is pursuing an expansional fiscal policy, leading to mismatch in the two policies.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

FSIN: Nigeria, Four Others Represent 40% of Countries Facing Acute Food Insecurity

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Food Security Information Network (FSIN) has stated that 40 per cent of the populations in IPC/CH phase 3 or above reside in Nigeria, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Yemen

The IPC/CH is a visual display of the total number of people experiencing or facing high levels of acute food insecurity classified

in crisis or worse. According to the report, about 21 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) constitutes the 40 per cent, adding that people in seven countries faced starvation and destitution, or catastrophe levels of acute hunger (IPC/CH Phase 5) at some point during 2022.

FSIN’s 2023 projections available for 38 of the 58 countries and territories as of March 2023, revealed that up to 153 million people (or 18

per cent of the analysed population) will be in IPC/CH Phase 3 or above, saying that around 310 000 people are projected to be in IPC/CH Phase 5 across six countries – Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali, parts of Nigeria (26 states and the FCT), Somalia and South Sudan, with almost three quarters of them in Somalia

The report obtained from the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (FAO’s) website, pointed out that more than half of those were in

Somalia (57 percent), while such extreme circumstances also occurred in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haiti for the first time in the history of the country, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen

The statement added that the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihood assistance increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2022, with over a quarter of a billion facing acute

hunger and people in seven countries on the brink of starvation, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).

The annual report, produced by FSIN, was launched by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) - an international alliance of the United Nations, the European Union, governmental and non-governmental agencies, working to tackle food crises together.

The report finds that around 258

MAY 5, 2023

million people in 58 countries and territories faced acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels (IPC/CH Phase 3-5) in 2022, up from 193 million people in 53 countries and territories in 2021. This is the highest number in the seven-year history of the report. However, much of this growth reflects an increase in the population analysed.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

NSIA Group Acquires Four Insurance Subsidiaries of SANLAM Group

Ebere Nwoji

NSIA Group, the parent body of NSIA Insurance Limited Nigeria, has made good its desire to strengthen its position in West Africa through the acquisition of four insurance subsidiaries of Sanlam Group. Sanlam is a strong global conglomerate in insurance, which recently took over full ownership of FBNInsurance formerly owned by First Bank of Nigeria.

The acquisition of the four firms accordingly to a statement by the firm, is born from a desire to strengthen its

positions in West and Central Africa.

The statement said NSIA Group began the acquisition in 2021 with the following subsidiaries of SANLAM group: Sanlam Life Insurance in Togo; Sanlam Life Insurance in Gabon; Sanlam Non-Life Insurance in Congo and Sanlam Non-Life Insurance in Guinea.

According to the Chairman of NSIA Group, Jean Diagou, for 26 years, the NSIA Group has been implementing a controlled development strategy for its activities. He said that was what

allowed the group to establish itself permanently in each of the countries where it operated.

“Today, we are strengthening our presence in Togo, Gabon, Congo, and Guinea. For all of our stakeholders, this operation heralds promising prospects, ” Diagou said.

Diaguo said the operation met two objectives to increase the group’s market share in countries that were important for the development of NSIA and to strengthen compliance with the requirements of the regulator of the CIMA zone.

Balogun: Purpose, Culture and Technology Will Boost Our Performance

The Group Chief Executive, FCMB Group Plc, Mr Ladi Balogun has assured the company’s shareholders that the group will achieve a robust performance in the 2023 financial year.

Speaking at the company’s 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, he said the company aims to prioritise purpose, culture and technology to achieve this goal.

Balogun said, “Our purpose is to foster inclusive and sustainable growth in the communities we serve. We plan to build a supportive ecosystem that connects people, capital and markets in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.”

He added that the company adopted this approach because it believes it will create value for all stakeholders while enhancing the tangible difference it makes to lives and communities.

“We also intend to deepen our use of technology and accelerate our digital transformation to ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions for our customers,” he said.

He added that the company aims to provide greater convenience to customers and better economics for each business while innovating faster and more effectively.

He stressed the importance of

Non-interest Fund Records Significant Growth, Reaches N38.41bn in Assets

building an innovative performance culture reinforced by the company’s purpose and core values of Execution, Professionalism, Innovation and Customer focus.

According to him, the FCMB Group believes that a consistent, group-wide performance culture will create agents of change and progress for its businesses and the communities it serves.

Commenting on the financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022, he said the company delivered impressive results and achieved a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N36.6 billion, representing a 61 per cent Year-on-Year growth

Interswitch Partners Credit Bank of Kenya, IFAD to Deepen Remittance

As part of sustained efforts to create solutions that enable individuals and communities prosper across the continent, Interswitch Group, Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, has announced a partnership with Kenyan lender, Credit Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Ria Money Transfer. The partnership, the company said in a statement, will facilitate the provision of diaspora cash remittance services to rural recipients in Kenya through the Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOs).

Tagged, “Affordable Remittances and Enhanced Financial Inclusion Programme,” the initiative will enable unbanked

rural remittance receivers to access formal banking services through a basic and transparent bank account and see Interswitch and its partners collaboratively train and build capacity for over 1,350 SACCO members.

Speaking on the partnership, Founder and General Managing Director of Interswitch Group, Mitchell Elegbe stated that the collaboration is indeed a significant stride towards bridging the financial divide, empowering more individuals and businesses in Kenya with access to modern payment solutions, and creating a more inclusive financial ecosystem for all.

“This partnership with Credit Bank of Kenya and IFAD marks an important step as we continue to expand our reach and provide

innovative solutions for our customers worldwide. As we all know, remittance plays a crucial role in the lives of many people, and we are committed to making it simpler, faster, and more affordable” he added.

According to the Country General Manager of Interswitch Kenya, Romana Rajput, “SACCOs form an important part of our financial services in Kenya where we come together to save money and improve the quality of our lives through lower interest rates loans to acquire important purchases like land, homes, educate our children, improve our businesses and much more. Working with SACCOs and their members will make transfers quicker and more convenient for beneficiaries.”

KPMG Survey Lists Polaris Bank as Most Improved Retail Bank

The 2022 KPMG Nigeria Banking Industry Customer Experience survey result listed Polaris Bank ‘as the most improved Bank under retail segment moving up five places to sixth position and 3rd under SME segment’, with the Bank showing significant improvement in customer ratings.

Many customers have praised the Bank for its personalized service, proactive approach to problem-solving, and faster turnaround times.

According to the survey, the Bank significantly improved its mobile banking propositions. Customers say that onboarding and the payments experience have also improved. Businesses also rated Polaris Bank highly for

the quality of its payment solutions and, importantly, the timeliness of resolving POS-related complaints.

Polaris Bank (in third place) was the other new entrant in the top five, amongst Sterling Bank, Wema Bank, and Zenith Bank. POS-related issues such as timeliness of settlements and resolution of disputes were some of the most critical measures for SMEs this year. GTBank emerged as the leading Bank in the SME segment Polaris Bank’s award-winning Digital Bank, VULTe has been a game changer, making life seamless for personalized and business offerings. Between October 2022 and February 2023, over N1.5 billion loans has been disbursed

The Non-Interest Fund (Fund VI), introduced by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) in September 2021, has recorded significant growth since its inception, mainly due to a sound Operational Framework. PenCom introduced Fund VI in furtherance of implementing the Multi-Fund Investment Structure, which seeks to empower pension contributors and retirees to choose a particular fund to invest their pension savings.

The Non-interest Fund has been received with great enthusiasm by pension contributors and retirees. While the Fund’s assets stood at N7.79 billion in September 2021, the Fund has grown to N38.41 billion by the end of February 2023, translating to a growth of N28.46 billion over the period.

MULTI-FUND INVESTMENT STRUCTURE

At the commencement of the CPS, all active contributors’ funds were being invested solely in the RSA ‘Active’ Fund. PenCom thus conceived the Multi-Fund Investment Structure to align the age and risk profiles of contributors. Introduced in July 2018, the Multi-Fund Investment Structure separated the RSA Fund into 6 Fund types (Funds l to Vl). As a result, pension contributors and retirees are allowed to make specific choices regarding the investment of their pension funds.

The Multi-Fund Structure is consistent with allowing individuals to make their own choices under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). These choices include selecting a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) to open a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and choosing a fund under the RSA Multi-Fund Structure, the transfer of an RSA from one PFA to another, etc.

INTRODUCING NONINTEREST FUND

through VULTe to individuals and SMEs to aid personal and business growth in the country.

Polaris Bank’s digital platform VULTe, also achieved an impressive uptime ratio, enabling seamless transactions for its users. This performance has surpassed its competitors and earned recognition from the Nigerian Interbank Settlement Systems (NIBBS).

In particular, during the recent currency redesign program, which aimed to support the cashless policy in Nigeria, VULTe demonstrated exceptional reliability. During a business call with the Bank’s management, NIBBS conveyed its appreciation for VULTe’s excellent performance during this challenging period.

Section 7.3 of the Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets issued by PenCom, established the Non-Interest Fund (Fund VI) among the Fund types to be managed by licensed PFAs. It is a Fund which complies with the provisions of Islamic Commercial Jurisprudence and any other established non-interest principles, as approved by the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE) or any other body constituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission. To boost confidence amongst pension contributors and retirees, the FRACE has certified that the Operational Framework issued by the Commission complies with non-interest finance principles.

Some of the objectives of the Operational Framework issued by PenCom include: promoting financial inclusion within the Nigerian Financial System, establishing standards and procedures for managing Fund VI by licensed PFAs, and assisting in expanding the coverage of the CPS by

attracting employees who are interested in non-interest funds.

Sequel to the issuance of the Operational Framework by PenCom, all PFAs were required to create and maintain the Non-Interest Fund for interested RSA holders. The Fund shall be separated into two funds, for Active RSA Holders and Retirees, respectively.

The permissible instruments for the Investment of Fund VI assets include Corporate/ Supranational Sukuks, Government Sukuk (including Islamic Treasury Bills and Euro Sukuk) issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria, CBN or FGN Agencies and Infrastructure Sukuk backed by FGN/CBN guarantee. Other instruments are compliant Money Market instruments, ordinary shares, private equity funds and real Estate funds.

TRANSFERING PENSION SAVINGS TO NIF

The Non-Interest Fund is optional for pension contributors and retirees. Consequently, RSA holders in Funds I, II, and III and retirees in Fund IV are eligible to transfer their RSA contributions to the Non-Interest Fund (Fund VI) by making a formal request to their PFA in line with the provisions of the RSA Multi-fund Implementation Guidelines and Section 7.6 of the Investment Regulation dealing with Transfers between Fund Types within a PFA.

Therefore, eligible RSA holders who are interested must visit their respective PFAs to request the transfer of their pension funds from their existing Fund to the Non-Interest Fund by completing and signing a Consent Form to be issued by the PFA. The personal presence of the RSA holder is required due to the need for authentication. Consequently, regardless of the Consent Form’s availability, the process cannot be concluded until the RSA holder visits the PFA and appends his/her signature to the form. After that, the PFA will move the funds from the existing Fund to the Non-Interest Fund and advise the RSA holder accordingly.

In conclusion, as the Commission and Pension Fund Administrators intensify enlightenment efforts, it is expected that the growth of the Non-interest Fund will be sustained.

PENCOM DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar

Transcorp Reward Shareholders Amid Divestment in Key Sectors

Kayode Tokede

Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp)

Plc expansion in key sectors in Nigeria has continued to bring to shareholders robust returns on investment amid global and domestic challenges.

The diversified conglomerate in Power, Oil & gas, Hospitality in 2022 financial year paid a dividend of N2.03billion as against N812.96million in 2021, being 5 kobo per share on the outstanding ordinary shares of 40,647,990,293 shares of 50 kobo each.

The growth in dividend payout was on the back of impressive performance across all its subsidiaries, most especially the Power sector which contributed about 77 per cent or N103.3billion out of N134.72billion of total revenue reported in 2022.

Other sectors, Hospitality contributed 23.3 per cent or N31.44billion in revenue, while Corporate centre hits N10.32billion in revenue from N5.13billion reported in 2021.

Overall, the Group closed 2022 with N134.72billion revenue, an increase of 21per cent from N111.22 billion in 2021, while profit before tax rose to N30.28billion in 2022, representing an increase of 8.1 per cent from N28billion reported in 2021.

Amid impressive performance in 2022 financial year, the group in first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2023 has sustained growth in revenue, among other key financial parameters in the period under review.

Transcorp businesses include Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar, Aura by Transcorp Hotels, Transcorp Power, Transafam Power, and Transcorp Energy.

In the period under review, Transcorp declared N32.39billion revenue in Q1 2023, representing an increase of 3.30 per cent from N31.39billion in Q1 2022. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by N24.14billion generated from the Power, followed by N8.25 billion from Hospitality.

The Group reported N18.17billion cost of sales in Q1 2023, an increase of 12.4 per cent from N16.16billion in 2022, fuelled by N13.37billion

Natural gas and fuel costs in Q1 2023 from N12.11billion reported in Q1 2022.

This brings gross profit to N14.22billion in Q1 2023 from N15.23billion in Q1 2022 as gross profit margin stood at 43.89 per cent in the period under review as against 48.5 per cent in corresponding period of 2022.

Total operating expenses moved to N5.64billion in Q1 2023 from N4.29billion in Q1 2022 over hike in inflation rate as the Group Impairment (loss) on financial assets closed Q1 2023 at N77.62million as against N135million reported in Q1 2022.

Cost-to-income ratio, however, closed Q1 2023 at 94 per cent as against 84 per cent in Q1 2022.

The Group, closed Q1 2023 with N2.85billion and N1.86 billion profit before tax and profit after tax in Q1 2023, respectively.

SECTOR PERFORMANCE IN Q1

Key sectors that played critical contribution to Transcorp’s Q1 2023 performance was the TransafamPower Limited and Transcorp Power Limited.

Transcorp as a group has an available capacity of 555MW and generated capacity of 369MW and it has 11per cent of the total installed capacity in Nigeria.

TransafamPower Limited saw a marginal decline in revenue to N21.04billion in Q1 2023 from N21.47billion in Q1 2022 caused by a decrease in average generated capacity from 387MW to 324MW due to gas constraints.

Its gross Profit margin declined from 45per cent to 37per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) partly because of N483million Liquidated Damages provision made in Q1 2023.

The management projected that in Q2 2023, it expected to generate capacity to be above 500MW, given the resolution of some of the gas issues and the expected return to service of our turbines currently out on different types of inspections.

Plateau State Revenue Service

Targets N26bn IGR for 2023

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) has declared that it is targeting to rake in N26 billion as Internally Generated Revenue for the 2023 fiscal year even though it has been able to generate N7 billion from January to March.

Disclosing this while addressing the press in Jos, the Chairman of PSIRS, Mr. Arlat Dashe said, “Over the years, the agency had strived hard towards achieving a robust means of revenue generation in the state. In as much as Plateau state is not doing badly in terms of revenue performance in the North

Central and in the country at large, and even though we are not yet there we will ensure we push hard to get there. “In 2021, the agency was able to generate a total sum of N20 billion as its revenue for the year, while in 2022, a total of N16 billion was generated as revenue with a drop of over N4 billion. This resulted from non-compliance from taxpayers when it comes to tax payments. He encouraged all business owners in the state to be sincere with information regarding their businesses to the agency.”

Arlat added that the agency has put some

For Transcorp Power Limited (TAPL), it recorded a eight per cent increase in revenue to N3.1billion in Q1 2023 from N2.88 billion in Q1 2022 due to increase in tariff and exchange rate pricing mechanism despite marginal decline in averaged generated capacity from 45MW to 46MW.

The management also explained that it is in the process of signing GSA with two gas suppliers this is expected to improve our generation capacity in Q2, 2023.

In Q2 2023, we expect to commission Afam 3 Fast Power, which will add additional 240MW capacity to TAPL., disclosed, by the President/GCEO, Transcorp, Owen Omogiafo in a presentation.

Clean room for repairs of turbines (Afam), only one in Nigeria and Afam has witnessed 720 injury free days since take-over.

For its Hospitality, it generated 17 per cent increase in revenue to N8.25 billion in Q1 2023 from N7.04billion in Q1 2022, driven by 110per cent growth in food and beverage and 113per cent growth in other ancillary services.

The management of Transcorp Hospitality subsidiary (Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar, Aura by Transcorp Hotels) was able to maximise the opportunities presented by the elections and grew its leisure segment with various packages for our guests.

The boost in revenue despite a reduction in average occupancy in Q1, 2023 (75per cent compared to 79per cent in 2022) occasioned by the economic slowdown post-election & fasting periods, was due to dynamic price optimization across the business leading to an increase in ADR (N119,216 -Q1 2023 vs N92,334 - Q1 2022).

Gross profit increased by 13per cent as compared to same time last year, despite the sustained global hike in cost of doing business.

For its hospitality business, the management said it intended to continue be innovative

and leverage technology to improve customer experience.

EXPANSION IN TOTAL ASSETS

Transcorp reported N464.48billion total assets as of March 31, 2023, an increase of five per cent from N442.7billion reported in full year ended December 31, 2022.

The group reported a total borrowing of N103.9billion as of March 31, 2023 from N104.65billion in 2022 financial year and increase in total liabilities to N307.49billion, representing an increase of6.79 per cent from N287.93billion reported in 2022FY.

The group’s total assets rose by nearly five per cent to N464.5billion as of March 31, 2023 from N442.7billion in 2022, while total equity moved to N156.99billion as of March 31, 2023 from N154.77billion reported in 2022 financial year.

In all, the group’s reduction of foreign exchange loan position remains critical amid unstable foreign exchange.

As at January 2023, the group disclosed that its foreign exchange loan was $25million, and as at date, dropped to $10.9million.

STRATEGIC TARGETS

The Group over the years maintained that its overall strategic objective is to fully optimize existing assets to ensure consistently deliver value and high returns to stakeholders.

Omogiafo in a presentation said “In 2023, our key priority is to achieve our set targets for the year across the various operating segments. As a Group, we will remain resolute as we execute our strategic priorities in 2023.”

Its Transcorp Power Limited targets 663MW average available capacity and 550MW target generating capacity and 155MW average available capacity and 125MW at its TransafamPower Limited.

For its ,Transcorp Energy Limited, she said that it would convert the existing appraisal well to meet development objectives and the drilling of new appraisal well.

Foundation Tasks Youth on Self-devt for Career Growth

strategies in place for the year 2023 to help it in achieving its goals for the year including; the development of a Standard Strategy Goal that will put the staff of the agency in a higher place, improve the method of task payer Services and Revenue Collection, establishment of compliance directorate service to ensure that task payers comply by the law and rules of the agency, internal control mechanism.

He said that all the goals will be achieved if task payers and staff are motivated through; reengineering all the business processes in business.

Gilbert Ekugbe

Rose of Sharon Foundation (ROSF) has charged youths in the country to invest in self development programmes to prepare for the future of work and career growth.

Besides, youth unemployment has hit a staggering high rate of over 33 per cent in the country hence, the need for the teeming unemployed youths to engage in self-development initiatives to be self-reliant.

This was the submission of speakers during the ROSF’s bi-annual Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) convened by Apostle Folorunso Alakija on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Lagos. Speaking on the theme “Career Progression and Transition; Mega Trends for Viable Employment”, the Country Manager of the Foundation, Dr Ndudi Bowei, while delivering her opening

remarks stated that “The Youth Empowerment Programme is geared towards building the capacity of young people and provide them leverage as they seek opportunities to become entrepreneurs or employees.”

Also speaking on the topic titled “Thriving as an Entrepreneur in Uncertain Times”, Chief Vision Officer, Bosworth Marketing Consulting, Mrs. Bukola Majekodunmi, urged aspiring entrepreneurs to always create room for contingency plans regardless of how their businesses might turn out.

Majekodunmi, who gave tips on what must be done to succeed in business, charged the youths to be open to mentorship and build quality relationships and networks.

“When you are facing a complex situation, you must respond with clarity. In a crisis

situation, it is better to keep building. Uncertainty is not necessarily bad news. You must embrace uncertainty, and create room for it in order to insulate your business against shock. Identify new ways of thinking and doing things differently”, she said.

In her remarks, Chief Executive Officer, Lifecrest Medical Services Limited, Dr Ogonnaya Ndupu, stated that for young people to be highly productive in the workplace, there is a need to ensure mental health balance.

Dr. Ndupu, who is a behavioural professional and consultant psychiatrist, said it is the responsibility of every youth to take care of their mental health, noting that mental health is not a mental illness. She further noted that maintaining good mental health was fundamental to career development and vice versa.

FG Receives 40% Online Mineral Tittles Application

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The federal government has stated that it has received 40 percent Online Mineral Tittles Application since the launch of eMC+ in November 2022. Director General, Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), Simon Nkom gave the hint at a one-day retreat in Abuja, with the theme: “Repositioning MCO Through Attitude Transformation for Improved Productivity.”

He noted that quicker and more transparent administration of mineral titles can discourage illegal mining, which is where the eMC+ is a game changer. Speaking to Journalists on the sidelines of the event, he

said: “now that the office has a new digital system, it was important to train the staff on how to handle the operations of the new technology effectively to take the management and administration of mineral titles to a higher level.”

According to him, We have a new technology, and if the people do not re-orient themselves, then we are going to have a problem in terms of the process, we are going to have a problem in terms of the new technology that we have.

“The essence of today’s event, just like the theme captures it, is to reposition the entire mining cadastre to meet

up with current challenges. We have a new system that all of you are witnesses to, which is the eMC plus; we have to be able to adapt to it.

“We have to be able to now review our system; we have to do a rethink and be able to now look forward into the coming years. We know where we are coming from. We know where we are, we have to be able to now know where we are going. In view of that, there is a need for the staff to have a retreat, to make it work better so we are able to fulfil the purpose why it was birthed as more and more investors were keying into the online platform, “he said”

On how the system will help in curbing illegal mining in the country, the DG said though it was not the man date of his agency, however, quicker and more transparent administration of mineral titles can discourage illegal mining, which is where the eMC+ is a game changer.

Similarly, the Director, Internal Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ahmad Saad Abubakar, said corruption had defied government’s policies and measures in the past, but that the new technology by NMCO should be put to good use to ensure corrupt-free operations.

He noted that corruption is probably the most

Pantami: What Nigeria Stands to Gain from Data Protection Law

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has stated that investment in data economy is vital for any nation seeking to deepen global competitiveness.

Pantami stated this at the maiden edition of the Digital Economy Regional Conference where he spoke on the theme, “Positioning West Africa’s Digital Economy for the

Future.”

According to him, “In the fourth industrial revolution data is key, the future is data and Nigeria must not lag behind. Today, it is a global best practice to have a data protection law in place, otherwise you will find it difficult to attract so many interventions that are of benefit to your country. Even potential investors may ask questions to know whether you have data protection laws in your

country or not?”

“If you don’t have any data protection law in place, they will feel uncomfortable to invest because today, data is critical. Whenever we engage with potential investors, we try to convince them of the need to come to Nigeria to invest, and they always ask if we have a data protection law?

“But we have subsidiary law. Many of them do agree with subsidiary law, at the

same time, many disagree that subsidiary law is insufficient for them, but in Nigeria it is sufficient,” Pantami urged. He said his ministry has proposed the establishment of a full-fledged data protection institution and also principal legislation for data protection related issues in Nigeria to President Muhammadu Buhari and subsequently obtained the approval for the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau.(NDPB).

important factor affecting service delivery in Nigeria today, stating, “The federal government over the years has introduced several policies and law to tackle the problem of corruption in the public sector such as the EFCC Act 2004, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act as well as the Service Delivery Initiative.”

Abubakar, who represented

the Commission’s chairman, delivered a paper entitled, “Ensuring Corrupt-free Organisation for Excellent Service Delivery.”

He urged the management of the Mining Cadastre Office to effectively carry out their responsibilities as leaders in government to promote a corrupt free environment and ensure that services are delivered timely, fairly, honestly and in a transparent manner.

HOMES & DESIGN

VANTAGE BOURDILLON: The Redefinition of Upscale Apartments

Bourdillon Road Ikoyi, Lagos, can be regarded as the most sought-after real estate in Nigeria’s commercial capital. The whole stretch is fitted with choice buildings, and for anyone to stand out, it has to make a rare statement as Vantage Bourdillon does.

One of the set pieces of Deluxe Residences Limited, a crack real estate firm, is called the Vantage Bourdillon, and it is a project right at a choice location on Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

It is a 10-suspended floor project that comes with a lot of recreational facilities.

“Vantage Bourdillon is a project at the core of our heart, and that is why we gave it the name ‘Vantage’,” said the Chief Executive Officer of Deluxe Residences Limited, Mr Emmanuel Odemayowa.

Now selling hot in the Lagos property market, Vantage Bourdillon has threebedroom apartments with two maids’

rooms for each apartment. “Anyone that buys into this project will know they are occupying a vantage position in Bourdillon,” said Odemayowa.

The project has a rooftop gallery where people can relax. All these make it a top project in a top location, apart from Vantage Bourdillon.

“We are Deluxe Residences Limited and as the name connotes, we are into luxury projects. We major in high-rise apartments and we’ve also done some semi-detached and fully detached homes. We operate more in top locations in Lagos like Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki axis.

Bennett Oghifo writes

Actually, we do a lot of projects in Victoria Island,” added the Deluxe Residences Limited honcho.

He added, “Deluxe Residences is a member of Cavalli Business & Investment Group and within the group, we try to address the whole spectrum of real estate. Within the group, we are not just limited to top locations; we do real estate from the lowest to the highest. We do projects as far as Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ibeju Lekki. Again, we are planning about two massive project launches which are coming up soon.”

Odemayowa disclosed that another

project called ‘The Knight’ is on Ahmadu Bello Way, right beside Silverbird Galleria. It is a hotel apartment with a concierge, restaurants, swimming pools, and game arcades, with several “stuff people can use to relax.”

He said, “So you are living in your home like you are living in a hotel. We also have other projects at different phases of completion. We have Amlad Place, which is on the way to Banana Island and The Empire Queens Apartments opposite Eko Hotel & Suites. We also have other projects that we have completed, such as The Grand Orchard, The Vogue Oniru and Pacific Heights.”

Examining NSIA Healthcare Intervention Programmes

Healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is still underdeveloped and lacks modern medical facilities. The country’s healthcare indicators are some of the worst in Africa, according to a report by the International Trade Administration (ITA).

Nigeria has one of the fastest growing populations globally and with 5.5 live births per woman and a population growth rate of 3.2 percent annually, is estimated to reach 400 million people by 2050.

However, medical professionals are in short supply, with only about 35,000 doctors despite needing 237,000, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures, partially due to massive migration of healthcare workers overseas.

As a result, Nigeria loses at least $1.5 billion every year to medical tourism, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

To reverse this trend and ensure improved access to healthcare, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), in 2018 took a bold step by setting up the NSIA Healthcare Development and Investment Company (NHDIC) to transform the domestic healthcare sector and elevate the quality of service to international standards. Five years since taking that step, the implications of this visionary decision have been far-reaching.

The NSIA’s approach was to consider the sector from both a social impact and commercial returns standpoint. The Authority hinged its strategy on co-locating NSIA healthcare centres of excellence within federal tertiary medical institutions.

This approach would enable the Authority provide equipment, operatorship, working capital and technical expertise while the designated partner institution would provide land, clinicians and expertise, and patient traffic.

Seeking to develop a blue ocean solution, the NSIA invested $22m in three-flagship projects and in so doing, created NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, Lagos, (NLCC), NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre, Kano, (NKDC), and NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, (NUDC), concurrently.

Operational since 2019, the NLCC has treated over 7,000 patients to date. When it opened its doors, NLCC was the first to install a linear accelerator in Nigeria and today, remains the centre with the highest number of linear accelerators in West Africa.

The Centre is equipped with several top-ofthe-line medical equipment including three linear accelerators, a brachytherapy system, a 1.5 Tesla MRI, a 128 slice CT scanner, a mammogram, digital X-rays, ultrasound scanners and laboratory pathology systems among others.

NKDC, Kano and NUDC, Umuahia provide comprehensive radio imaging and laboratory diagnostic services. The centres have recorded unprecedented success in terms of exponential growth in client patronage. To date, both centres have rendered diagnostic services to nearly 120,000 clients within just three years of operations.

All three centres have recorded excellent success commercially and delivered significant social impact for the benefit of Nigerians.

What was clear from operating these three centers, was that as long as the facilities needed to effectively diagnose are available and reasonably priced, then citizens and residents can diagnose ailments quickly, accurately and early enough to receive treatment and avoid untimely deaths.

This is why over the next five years, the NSIA would be building 23 new modern medical diagnostic centres, three Oncology centres, and six Catheterization Laboratories across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

In a bid to achieve this, the NSIA recently took over the management of the Enugu Diagnostic Centre, effectively making Enugu State to effectively joins Lagos, Kano and neighbouring Abia State where NSIA’s impactful healthcare projects are already saving lives and bringing succour to the people.

To effectively manage the healthcare facilities, the NSIA launched two of its flagship companies namely the NSIA Advanced Medical Service Ltd (MedServe) and Equilease Systems Limited (Equilease).

MedServe is being set up to serve as the vehicle to deliver NSIA’s healthcare expansion objectives.

Its goal is to provide high quality and affordable healthcare services and ensure equitable geographic access to these services across the country.

On the other hand, EquiLease is a specialised

equipment leasing service provider.

Conceived as a market disruptor, the company would provide medical equipment leasing services, leveraging its strategic advantage to catalyse investments in healthcare institutions and facilitating the acquisition of equipment to improve the quality of healthcare in Nigeria.

Equilease would partner with medical equipment manufacturers to offer innovative financing and leasing programs for advanced medical equipment.

At the onset, it would offer services exclusively to MedServe as an anchor client until the concept is proven.

The transfer of the Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre from the Enugu State Government to the Authority was part of the three-part event.

Following the transfer, the Centre would be rehabilitated and upgraded to deliver both Diagnostic and Oncology services covering automated laboratory services ranging from imaging to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, brachytherapy and much more.

The Centre would be managed and operated by MedServe while re-equipping would be delivered through the leasing services provided by EquiLease.

The complete overhaul of the Centre’s infrastructure would position the facility to meet the growing demand for quality healthcare services in the Eastern region of the country and beyond.

The official transfer is off the back of the agreements signed in September 2022 where both parties committed to it.

Under the programme, the NSIA would develop 23 new modern medical diagnostic centres, three oncology centres, and seven catheterisation laboratories across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

Delivering his remarks on the three-part event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NSIA, Mr. Aminu UmarSadiq said, “Over the past five years, we

utilisation of its equipment.

“In addition to leasing, Equilease will also test the possibility of expanding its services to include in sourcing of operations and maintenance as well as other value-added services.

“Upon conclusion of the proof-of-concept period between EquiLease and Medserve, Equilease can then commence offering external clients a comprehensive leasing solution for their medical equipment needs, borrowing from all the key learnings of its proof-of-concept engagement with Medserve.

“So today, Enugu joins Lagos, Kano and neighbouring Abia State where NSIA’s impactful healthcare projects are already saving lives and bringing succour to the people. NSIA is excited at the prospect of playing a central role in improving the quality of medical services and expanding healthcare infrastructure across the country starting with Enugu, through Medserve and EquiLease.”

Speaking at the event, the Governor of Enugu State said the physical and mental well-being of the workforce in any state is a function of the quality of healthcare services available.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stressed that the journey to achieving the strategic partnership between the federal government through the NSIA and his administration was one of the deliberate, bold and courageous steps taken by his government to stem the tide of healthcare deficit in the state.

He said the project would address the issues of capital flight, medical tourism and preventable deaths arising from the lack of diagnostic testing centres in part of the country.

The governor added, “Healthcare inexorably determines the direction of the economy. The partnership with NSIA to transform this facility with the promise of significantly better equipment and services will go a long way towards contributing to healthcare security in the state.

“With this, our state will be one of the few states equipped with world-class healthcare infrastructure and amenities.”

have built a strong and successful portfolio of healthcare service delivery centres.

“The transfer of the Enugu Centre for upgrade and rehabilitation is one of the steps in our journey towards making healthcare accessible and affordable for all Nigerians. The Centre is one of the 23 centres to be upgraded for Oncology and Diagnostic services.”

Speaking further he described MedServe and Equilease as transformative, marketdisrupting entities that would deliver a unique set of connected solutions to bridge the gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare industry.

He added that the outcome from the creation of these entities is expected to strengthen the industry’s value chain and unclog the constraints created by insufficient financial investments, inadequate manpower capacity and substandard services.

He said, “NSIA also recognises that a significant number of existing medical facilities and indeed care providers are unable to afford new equipment, in part on account of the high upfront costs and currency mismatch constraints. These centers therefore settle for inadequate equipment, or indeed none at all.

“To address these challenges, NSIA has also created a wholly owned company, called Equilease Systems, which will help to reduce the burden of equipment acquisition by qualified hospitals, medical facilities and care providers.

“Equilease will do this by providing bespoke leasing solutions to medical facilities by entering into strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers.

“To optimise the value proposition before making the offering available to third-parties, Equilease will launch its operations by first entering a leasing arrangement with MedServe for its required medical equipment, allowing Medserve focus on the operatorship and optimal

Also speaking at the event, a Non-Executive Director at the NSIA, Dr. Ogechi PascalEjiogu said the NSIA, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, has signed series of agreements to modernise and expand healthcare services through private sector participation.

Under these agreements, she explained that the NSIA is looking to developing the capacity of specialist hospitals and diagnostic centers to provide advanced medical services across the country under phase II of its healthcare expansion programme.

She stated that the Enugu State Diagnostic Centre would be the NSIA’s first in this phase.

According to her, “Our vision is to elevate the Centre to world-class status. We intend upgrading the centre using state-of-the-art equipment so that both patient and nearby hospitals are supported with accurate and timely medical results regarding health conditions.

“The centre will also provide oncology treatment. It will double as a cancer care centre for the south-east and south-south region.

“When we are done with the rehabilitation and re-equipping, it will be transformed into a full-service location for diagnostics and oncology.

“Under the auspices of His Excellency, Governor Ugwuanyi and the good people of Enugu State, we shall assume ownership of the Enugu State Diagnostic Centre and commence the process of retrofitting it into a world-class diagnostic centre, fitting for the people of Enugu and environs to receive first class service.

She noted that the NSIA board remains passionate and committed to addressing the gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem and also to providing high quality medical services across the country.

In his remarks, the Enugu State Governorelect, Dr. Peter Mbah, commended the efforts and partnership between the federal government and the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State over the official handover of the state-of-the-art Enugu Diagnostic and Oncology Centre built by the state to aid quick and early diagnosis of diseases and for the treatment of cancer.

Umar-Sadiq

Peter Uzoho writes on the intervention of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority in the health sector

Aneke: How Digital Solutions Can Transform Health Sector in Nigeria

Digitalised and convenient access to healthcare service was recently launched by the Chief Executive Officer of CloudClinic, Mr. Ifeanyi Aneke, who stated in a special interview session that the Nigerian healthcare sector is set for a major digital disruption. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts:

What is your view about the state of healthcare delivery today in Nigeria?

The state of medical service delivery in Nigeria is good but it can be better. There is a lot of pain that is being experienced by patients and even doctors as well in all honesty. There are lots of challenges in being able to access healthcare services conveniently mostly in cities like Lagos where patients have to struggle through traffic to get to hospitals. Even the hospitals are congested and some of the facilities in the hospitals are not adequate enough to cater for the resources that are needed. So it is a bit challenging. We have seen the exit of our doctors, which is a major challenge. So, I think that to a large extent there is a lot that can be done about the healthcare sector in Nigeria. And that is what the CloudClinic is coming to tackle. We have looked at some of these challenges and figured out ways to use technology to start eliminating some of the obstacles.

How will this technology address this “Japa culture” that you have just mentioned now?

It does not directly address it but it builds something that we can use to reduce its effects, especially around the doctors. What I mean by that is that with CloudClinic, some of our doctors that have left the shores of this country and still have the licence to practice medicine in Nigeria can still be consulted by their Nigerian patients wherever they are. Irrespective of whether they are in Canada or the United States of America, The United Kingdom and Australia or wherever they go, with this technology they can still take care of patients in Nigeria efficiently without sacrificing anything whatsoever. That is one of the helps the CloudClinic will bring.

What are the unique features of CloudClinic and the advantages it brings?

The biggest unique feature of CloudClinic is its ability to be able to integrate the online world and the physical world. And it is something I think that the rest of the industry is not doing efficiently enough. We understand that healthcare is not something that we can just engineer and enroll on the cloud because human are physical and not digital beings. So we have built a technology that integrates seamlessly the online and the physical world so that a doctor is able to consult with his patients online using our technology and our partners that are integrating into the solutions will now help to carry that care to its last miles. For instance, a patient that have consulted a doctor is within the CloudClinic platform will be guided to the closest pharmacy using our technology to locate where to pick up drugs or have the drug delivered to their homes. The integration and hybrid nature of the solutions we are building with our partners are what stand us out as unique.

Are there people you are partnering with?

Oh yes! By the last count about 70 partners have signed our agreement and are currently being integrated. We have about 900 other partners that are reviewing our agreement right now within Nigeria. They include medical labs, pharmacies, and reference hospitals because we can refer patients to them. These are the partners we are talking about. What we did is

that we have built a model that is a win-win for everyone in the sector. So, it is easy to get them on board our platform. Mostly the only conversation we have before they sign the papers is to clarify how the platform works and how they will get their monies. But we have really built a model that they will like to join.

How do you protect the security feature of the app to maintain the integrity of clients’ data?

First of all, our solution is running currently in the cloud. So, it is a cloud solution. We are using Microsoft Azure and the same technology is used by other organisations that care about the security of their data. So, it is really very secure. We make sure that every aspect of the solution is secured and I do not need to go into details here on how they are implemented. But we have made sure that the security and privacy of a patient’s data are factored into what we have built.

With the emergence of digital apps, where do you see medical practice in Nigeria in the next five years?

I think that the healthcare industry in Nigeria has really not seen a lot of changes for a long time. I think that we are ready for a major disruption in the next few years. There are a lot of things that are supporting this conversation.

If you look at the advent of internet penetration technologies like the IXPs (Internet Exchange Points) etc. that are coming to the country, that will simply give you clarity that the infrastructure required for that transformation is

already in place. So, I think that in the next five years, we should be seeing a lot of transformation that will make telemedicine become the centre stage.

What segment of Nigerian society are you focusing on as your targeting market?

Generally, we look at every Nigerian with internet access as part of our target market. In every application, there are those we call the early adopters. These are the first people we expect to launch the solution. And in our case, I think these people will be busy professionals because the main thing that we are selling at CloudClinic is convenient access to healthcare. We have to find ways to make it easy for people to be able to access healthcare delivery from wherever they are so they do not have to go through the strains of leaving their work and going through the traffic to get to their doctors. So, I think that busy professionals will be the first early adopters of this solution. But we are also having retainer-ship conversations with companies that will help us to bring in corporate organisations to use our solutions. So busy professionals and companies are the early adopters we are targeting.

What makes CloudClinic different from other existing digital healthcare providers?

The biggest difference I will say is the fact that we have over time learnt from the mistakes of other digital healthcare solution providers. We took our time to look at the challenges

that exist in the industry like how can we manage the community, how can we make sure that the platform is useful for the doctors, how do you make sure that it is providing the right value for those people and things like that and how do you build a technology that works, which I think is also a very important aspect of it? We won’t use technology that does not work seamlessly. What we have done is that we have really built a technology that is orchestrating the interactions between the stakeholders and providing total healthcare services to the patients. These are the major differences. Most platforms just allow patients to talk with doctors over the phone and they call it ‘doctor in your pockets’ and things like that but they don’t give you that total package that a patient really wants to have.

What do you mean by a total health package?

What I mean is that CloudClinic is the place to go to if you have any health need. When you come to the CloudClinic you will see a doctor. The doctor will request investigations for you. You will go to a diagnostics centre or they will come to your house to take your samples. Then the doctor will prescribe medications for you, which are either brought to you or you go to the pharmacy to buy the drugs. And if you need to go through surgical procedures or any kind of procedure at all, that app will also orchestrate that by referring you to a hospital. So, every single thing you need healthcare for you can do that on our platform. So, that is the total package that I am talking about. It is not just that you have a problem and want to talk to a doctor. We take care of everything and we manage the entire process end-to-end.

How can the government come in to fill the gap in the healthcare industry in Nigeria?

I think that there is a lot the government will do to provide support. When we were researching this solution we found out what was done by doctors in France that use a similar technology to what we have today. They were able to partner with the government of France, which started using that solution for basic healthcare in that country. Today, they have over 70 million users. In fact, every person in France that is using the basic health facilities is using that solution. And I think that it is a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria’s basic healthcare delivery. If Nigeria’s government adopts this, it has the potential for providing basic healthcare to every Nigerian. Our vision is to provide convenient healthcare services to everyone anywhere in Nigeria. Partnering with the government will help us to bring that about.

Is your organisation working with any healthcare regulator in the country?

Yes! The CloudClinic is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). We have our trademark registered as well. We are also working with different government health agencies as well. There is a conversation that we are having with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Medical Directors Guild of Nigeria, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. We are working with the key stakeholders in the country to make sure that we are landing this in an appropriate way.

CIBN President Urges Young Bankers to Adapt to Trends

Nume Ekeghe

The President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has called all young bankers to get prepared for the current and future trends, especially in the banking and financial sector.

The President/Chairman of Council of CIBN, Ken Opara, FCIB made the call at the virtual graduation ceremony of the 2023 edition, of the institute’s mentorship program which held in Lagos recently.

Speaking on the theme, “Staying Ahead of the Curve in a Competitive Environment: Prerequisite for Career and Personal Advancement,” he stressed the importance of staying ahead of the curve in today’s competitive environ-

ment.

Opara noted that with the technological advancements, market disruptions, and unpredictable events of the past few years, staying relevant in the banking industry has become more critical than ever before for both organisations and employees.

Staying ahead of the curve, he stated, requires hard work, commitment, critical thinking, and strategic positioning to prepare for the future of the banking industry.

He highlighted the importance of mentorship, career development, and personal advancement in achieving industry goals.

He further mentioned that the CIBN has developed a wide range of programmes

designed specifically for the development of both soft and technical skills of its stakeholders, which include certifications, knowledge events, conferences, publications, and mentoring schemes.

“The mentoring scheme, in particular, provides a platform for young bankers to be groomed and nurtured by senior experienced professionals. So far, about 302 mentees have participated and completed the programme. The scheme focuses on helping future generations of bankers achieve their personal and career objectives faster while ensuring the safety, soundness, and sustainability of the banking industry in the country and beyond, “he said.

APM Terminals Celebrates 17th Anniversary, Honours Founders, 76 Pioneer Staff

Nigeria’s largest container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa has celebrated the 17th anniversary of the port concession agreement it signed with the federal government in 2006.

During the event, the terminal operator also honoured its founders and 76 pioneer employees.

Delivering his welcome address at the event, the Country Managing Director, APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr. Frederik Klinke said the 17th anniversary celebration was the occasion to thank the Federal Government for granting the port concession and to acknowledge the contribution of its shareholders, staff and partners to the modernization of the terminal.

Klinke said the concession enabled APM Terminals to develop the critical port infrastructure for the benefit of the Nigerian economy.

“Importantly as well, it offers us an opportunity to recognize

the men and women, who through their daily efforts in the terminal, ensure cargo keeps flowing to and from importers and exporters, consumers and producers in the country.

“Since 2006, the employees of APM Terminals Apapa have been responsible for this critical task and while doing so, not only contributed to the economy by facilitating growing trade with the rest of the world, but also through the more than $440million worth of Foreign Direct Investment done in the terminal, and most importantly, through the training and development of young Nigerians to take on increasingly senior roles in the company and further in the industry,” he said.

The Terminal Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Steen Knudsen, while presenting the 17th Anniversary Photobook highlighting the transformation of the terminal between 2006 and 2023, said the substantial invest-

ment made by the company in facility upgrade, training, equipment and technology has boosted service delivery at the port.

Senior Human Resources Business Partner of APM Terminals Nigeria, Uzoma Ben-Ude, while anchoring the presentation of awards to the company’s pioneer staff, said, “We have a total of 76 employees that have been with us since 2006 till date which shows that we have people who have been loyal to the company and they have also grown over the years. This has been a very mutually beneficial relationship. They have worked hard and their lives have also improved.”

Also speaking, the Commercial Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Temilade Ogunniyi, assured that the company will continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to build a vibrant economy.

Wema Bank Launches Upgraded ALAT for Business Digital Banking App

Wema Bank has launched the upgraded version of its corporate digital banking application, ALAT for Business 2.0. The launch took place during the bank’s Digital Week activities themed “Changing The Digital Dynamics In Nigeria” in celebration of the bank’s anniversary.

During the virtual event, Samuel Robson, the Product Owner, expressed his excitement to announce the launch of the new and improved ALAT For Business. He explained that

the upgraded version offers an intuitive and seamless experience with enhanced security features and greater functionality. The app’s fresh new look and feel make it more user-friendly and engaging, while the omnichannel experience allows users to access their account from any device with ease.

During the virtual event, Oyindamola of Total Data Limited and Dr. Mark of Jendol Superstore shared their positive experiences using the

application. They praised the app’s user-friendly interface, which aided the ease of making bulk payments to various vendors and sorting out payroll for various businesses without any hassle.

The Chief Digital Officer, Olusegun Adeniyi, highlighted Wema Bank’s commitment to the future of banking by developing tailored solutions and ensuring the bank covers various verticals beyond the financial ecosystem.

RIMAN Set to Inaugurate Charter Status as CRMI

Nume Ekeghe

The Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) is set to officially inaugurate its organisations status to charted and is to be called Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI).

The Registrar CRMI, Victor Olannye in a statement noted that the forthcoming inauguration ceremony themed “Risk Management Driving Organizational Agility” is scheduled to hold on the 11th of May 2023 at 12 noon at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

He added that is slated to engage stakeholders to stay abreast of the evolving trends in risk management.

He stated: “The essence of risk management driving organizational agility lies in the ability of organizations to respond to rapidly changing business environments while minimizing the potential negative impact of risks. In today’s business world, organizations face a plethora of risks ranging from financial risks, operational risks, reputational risks, cyber risks, and many more. The ability to identify, assess, and mitigate these risks

is critical for organizations to achieve agility, resilience, and sustainable growth.”

“The process for effective Risk management involves identifying, assessing, prioritizing, controlling, reporting, and monitoring risks to minimize their potential impact. It involves implementing strategies and processes to manage or mitigate risks, ensuring that an organization can achieve its objectives and operate effectively. When risk management is integrated into an organization’s operations, it can drive organizational agility in a lot of ways.

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).

Country Managing Director, APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr. Frederik Klinke; Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed and the Terminal Manager, APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Steen Knudsen at the 17th Port Concession Anniversary of APM Terminals Apapa, Lagos…recently

Sterling Bank Declares 29% Increase in Profit, Proposes N0.15 Dividend

Kayode Tokede

The management of CWG Plc has assured shareholders who invested in the company of sustained growth, stressing that it has made significant strides in delivering innovative products and platforms in payments over the years.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently in Lagos, shareholders approved a dividend per share of 4.0 kobo

while commending the board and management of CWG for improving the company’s fortunes, despite the challenges.

Addressing the shareholders, Chairman CWG Mr. Philip Obioha, said the group recorded remarkable performance in 2022 as it consolidated the gains of its investments in its payment platform and subscription service businesses.

He outlined that the group made significant strides in its

businesses in the past year, including onboarding four new banks on its Finedge Core banking application platform on a subscription service basis while also driving its “infrastructure as a service” business with the addition of new customers to its subscribers’ list.

He said the company has continued to make significant investments in its Datacenter offerings to provide the re-

quired infrastructure needed to support its platform business, adding that the group has also been making giant strides in its energy metering business as it achieved a 600 percent revenue growth when compared to the previous year. “Within the year, our company established a new fintech organization named Fifthlab. Fifthlab has an ecosystem of advanced but simple solutions focusing on delivering innovative products

and platforms in payments and banking to address the identified gaps.

He also spoke about the newly established Dubai entity, part of the group’s expansion plan that offers entry into a growing market with a supportive environment for innovation and development.

“We are confident that the investments and efforts put into the new organization/ businesses will yield significant

returns starting from the 2023 financial year,” Obioha said. He assured shareholders that with the resumption of dividend payments, the board and management of the group would work to ensure unbroken dividend payments annually.

“The board is committed to working with management in deploying the group’s assets judiciously and profitably to maximize shareholders’ return,” Obioha said.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF MAY/05/23

HERE IS MY BOOK STEPPING ON TOES…

Edo Refinery Places Order for 200,000 Barrels of Crude

Duport Refinery gets 5000 barrels of crude

The Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (ERPC) has placed order for 200,000 barrels of crude from Oza Oil Field operated by Decklar Resources Inc. and Millenium Oil and Gas Company.

Edo Refinery was established with the injection of N700 million as redeemable preference shares (investment) from the Godwin Obaseki-led government through a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) with a Chinese Consortium led by Peiyang Chemical and Equipment Company of China (PCC) and its Nigerian partners, Africa Infrastructure Partners Limited (AIPL).

The 6000 barrels per day refinery has been completed and has since commenced operation with its main output being Diesel, Naphtha and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO).

In a statement, Decklar Resources Inc. and its co-venturer Millenium

Take Precautionary Measures against Annual Flooding to Prevent Disaster, HYPPADEC Warns

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Managing Director of Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), Abubarka Sadeeq Yelwa, has admonished people living in flood-prone areas to take precautionary measures before raining season.

Yelwa, who gave this advice while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the traditional rulers, community Leaders and residents of riverine communities in Kogi State at Government House in Lokoja, at weekend, said it was better to plan how mitigate the effect of flood than to be affected by the looming dangers.

The HYPPADEC boss explained that it was imperative to take precautionary measures against natural disasters rather that to wait for people to say sorry after preventable incidents had happened.

According to him, part of measures to be taken was the early warning signs, noting that as soon as heavy rainfall starts, residents of riverine communities were expected to relocate to the higher ground to avoid disasters.

Yelwa, pointed out that climate change or global warming had come to stay. He noted that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had earlier predicted that there would be more rainfall in 2023, stressing that the people living along River

Niger, Benue and other river banks should not wait for flood before the necessary would be taken.

He disabused the minds of the riverine communities that NIMET early warning was not a threat, but rather an advice that should be taken seriously to prevent the looming dangers ahead of the preennial flooding in their various communities .

He added that in the past few years NIMET predictions had been almost 85 per cent correct, adding that more rain would come this year that may culminate into serious flooding higher than that of last year, 2022.

He therefore warned that people should think of relocating to safe high ground and may later return after the raining season, saying that the Government and agencies will not want to sorry for preventable disasters.

He lamented that some of the places earmarked for HYPPADEC intervention in some communities were not accessible hence their demand could not be met by the commission, urging them to look for better locations.

Kogi State government is not relenting in its effort to relocate those living on flood plains, the State Commissioner for Environment ,Victor Omofaye, who represented the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, at the stakeholders meeting disclosed.

Oil & Gas Company Limited (Millenium), said they were pleased to announce that trucking of crude oil from the Oza Oil Field to the Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (ERPC) has continued steadily, and total deliveries have now exceeded 27,000 barrels of crude oil (bbls) under the 30,000 bbls crude sale agreement.

It added that it has also commenced sale of products to the second modular refinery operating in Edo State attracted by the Obaseki-led government, Duport Midstream Company Limited, noting “Trucking of crude

oil also commenced in late March to the Duport refinery in Edo State, with over 3,700 bbls delivered to date. Under the sale and purchase agreement with Duport Midstream Company Limited (“DMCL”), Decklar and Millenium will initially deliver 5,000 bbls to the Duport refinery, followed by a minimum of 2,500 bbls per month thereafter. Noting that they have increased supply to Edo Refinery, the companies said: “The terms of the 30,000 bbls agreement include an invoicing and payment cycle that is triggered as each 5,000 bbls batch is delivered and offloaded at the refinery.

“Invoices for 25,000 bbls have been issued, and total deliveries under this contract are nearing the final 5,000 bbls batch. This cycle will continue after completion of deliveries under the 30,000 bbls contract, as Decklar and Millenium recently signed a sale and purchase agreement with ERPC for delivery of an additional of 200,000 bbls to ERPC’s facility.”

Chief Executive Officer of Decklar Resources, Sanmi Famuyide, said, “Crude oil deliveries to ERPC and to our new customer, DMCL, have been continuing steadily in a routine manner. This has provided consistent cash flow and enabled

Decklar and Millenium to deliver and sell substantial volumes of crude oil to both customers. We have delivered a total of over 37,000 bbls to ERPC’s Edo refinery and have delivered over 3,700 bbls to DMCL’s refinery under their initial 5,000 bbls contract.

“The additional trucks we have contracted have allowed us to increase deliveries, and we are nearing the completion of the 30,000 bbls contract with ERPC and will then continue to produce and deliver crude oil under the recently executed agreement with ERPC to deliver and sell another 200,000 bbls.”

Soludo, El-Rufai, Aig-Imoukhuede to Speak at Carnegie, Agora Event on Repositioning Nigeria’s Economy

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The governors of Anambra and Kaduna States, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, would tomorrow headline a high-level policy deliberation on pathways for creating a robust and resilient economic future for Nigeria.

A statement from the Abuja think-tank, yesterday, stated that the governors would serve as panelists at the policy conversation jointly organised by the Africa Programme of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Abuja-based Agora Policy.

It added that the event was billed to attract the crème of Nigeria’s economic, political, academic and policy elite and will focus on: “How Nigeria Can Build a Post-Oil Economic Future.”

Other confirmed panelists, it stated include: Mr. Aigboje Imoukhuede, former Chief Executive of Access Bank; Dr. Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria; and Dr. Zainab Usman, Director of the Carnegie Africa Programme.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, established

in 1910, is one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in the world. It was ranked as the number one think tank on the 2020 Global Go-To Think Tank Index published by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme of the University of Pennsylvania, US, it added.

Agora Policy is a nascent Nigerian think-tank committed to generating evidence-based and practical solutions to Nigeria’s urgent challenges. It was founded by Waziri Adio, immediate past Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and one of Nigeria’s leading columnists.

The Tuesday event would also feature the presentation and an exposition on the policy implications of Usman’s book titled: “Economic Diversification in Nigeria: The Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy.”

The book was voted as one of the Best Books of 2022 on economics by the Financial Times. Building on Usman’s PhD thesis at the University of Oxford, the book uses data and theoretical frameworks to challenge received wisdoms about Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

Beyond their positions as state governors, Agora policy said Soludo and el-Rufai would share insights from their diverse backgrounds in the economic and governance policy arena in Nigeria.

Soludo, as a professor of economics, former Chief Economic Adviser to the President, and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and El-Rufai as former Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), a member of the Economic Management Team (EMT) and a member of the Policy Implementation Committee under General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

“The other speakers will also bring to bear their rich and varied backgrounds in the private sector, international development, policy advisory, and research.

“Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, the founder of the African Initiative for Governance (AIF), will explore the imperative of collaboration between the public and private sector; Dr. Shubham Chaudhuri, also a former professor of economics at Columbia University, New York, will identify lessons from countries with similar size and challenges as Nigeria; and Dr. Zainab Usman, will draw from her academic research, her

work as the pioneer director of the Carnegie Africa Programme, and her stint working on different countries at the World Bank.

“The event is holding against the backdrop of the global conversation about climate change and transition away from fossil fuel, Nigeria’s historic economic underperformance and current economic challenges, and the transition to a new administration later in the month,” the statement added.

It stated that some of the questions for deliberation at the event would include: ‘Why is Nigeria’s economy performing below its vast potential?’ ‘How do power, politics, and decisionmaking affect this economic development challenge?’ ‘What can be done to position the Nigerian economy on a path of sustained growth, transformation and diversification?’

The presentations and the panel discussion, it stressed, will be followed by a robust interactive session with the participants drawn from diverse policy backgrounds.

“The event will start by 10am on May 9th and will be held at the main auditorium of Yar Adua Centre, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital,” it said.

President- elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu receiving a copy of “Stepping on toes: My odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority’” from the author, Hadiza Bala Usman, in Abuja during the weekend. Bala was a Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority

PEOPLE’S HERO INITIATIVE PRESS CONFERENCE…

L-R:

Badaru to Wike: Thank You for Helping APC Sabotage PDP in Rivers State

he said he will deliver Rivers for APC, I started wondering how he will do it

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Governor of Jigawa state, Abubakar Badaru, has applauded his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike for sabotaging his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the last presidential election.

Ironically, Wike had recently approached the judiciary in a

pre-emptive move to stop his expulsion from the party for anti-party activities.

Wike had asked the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to stop the PDP from suspending or expelling him in a suit in which PDP, its National Executive Committee, National Working Committee (NWC), National Chairman,

Iyorchia Ayu, National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were named as respondents.

The Rivers governor, in the suit prayed the court to declare that none of the respondents could take any disciplinary action against him, while the originating summons were being decided.

Wike led the G5 Governors that also had Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) in a campaign against their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

But stressing that he first doubted Wike when he promised to deliver his state for the All

National Industrial Court Voids Obaseki's Suspension of Trade Union Activities in State Tertiary Institutions

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Benin City, has declared that the June 8, 2022 directive of the Edo State Government suspending trade unions’ activities in tertiary institutions in the state as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Delivering judgment on suit No: NICN/BEN/40/2022 brought before it by the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter, Dr. Cyril Onogbosele and Assistant Secretary, Dr. William Odion on behalf of the union who were claimants against the Governor of Edo State, the Attorney General of the state and the Edo State Government who are defendants, Justice A. A. Adewemimo ruled that the state government was wrong to have suspended trade union activities in AAU and other tertiary institutions in the state.

Reacting to the ruling on Sunday, Onogbosele, hailed the judgment saying, “The court judgment is a victory for constitutionalism, rule of law and due process”

Miffed by the directive of Governor Godwin Obaseki, on June 8 2022 that all trade union activities be suspended in tertiary institutions in the state, the ASUU, AAU chapter approached the NICN through its lawyer, Kingsley Obamogie sought the following

declarations:

"A declaration that the order or directive of the Defendants

for the suspension of trade union activities at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and same is ultra vires the powers of the Defendants.

“A declaration that the Defendants have no power whatsoever to interfere or intermeddle with the Claimants' exercise of their rights, as

members of a registered trade union, Academic Staff Union of Universities to engage in trade union activities at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, their servants, employees and/or agents from interfering with or intermeddling in the Claimants' exercise of their fundamental

right to engage in trade union activities at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, their servants, agents and/or privies from taking any form of disciplinary action against the Claimants on account of their trade union activities at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.”

Progressive Congress (APC), in the oresidential election, Badaru , who was speaking at the recent reception held for president-elect, Bola Tinubu, in Rivers, noted that the doubts arose because the APC had never had 25 per cent in any election in Rivers state.

“When he said he would deliver Rivers State to APC, I started wondering how. APC has never met 25 per cent in Rivers. How can this man pull this magic?,” Badaru asked.

However, after a while, he stated that the possibility was becoming clearer but that the fear was that Wike would not injure himself in the process of trying to win the state for the ruling party.

He added that although the APC and its members are good at managing elections, Wike had taken it to a whole new level and had beaten the previous record set by the party. “We thank you most sincerely for keeping to your word and for giving us that victory,” Badaru stated.

He pointed out that the governor assured them that this would be possible in his state for the first time in its history, adding that during all the campaigns and the activities of the pre-elections, Wike stood by the APC and kept on convincing its members of victory at the polls.

”I will like to thank most sincerely, Governor Nyesom Wike on behalf of our father, President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I will like to thank him for doing so many things. For giving us the encouragement to start this movement. And then secondly, we thank you for sabotaging and creating trouble for the other faction (PDP.) Three , helping us and encouraging us always.

“And the most important one, for keeping to his promise. He’s a gentleman to the core and believe me, he’s a man of courage. When he said he will deliver Rivers State for APC, I started wondering how he will do it, “ he noted.

Report: African Immigrants in UK Struggling to Pay Bills as Cost of Living Crisis Worsens

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The rising cost of living crisis in the United Kingdom is seriously impacting the African diasporan community, a new report released by BHM UK, an African communications services, has found.

The qualitative report indicated that many Africans in the UK were struggling to afford basic needs such as housing, food, and energy and desperately seeking financial support, as inflation upsets the economy.

“Almost 60 per cent of those surveyed have turned to family for financial support in recent times, while 44.5 per cent admit to borrowing to pay for everyday needs.

“As the crisis bites deeper, several participants say they have had to cut down on essentials to survive. Per the report, at least 28 per cent of respondents in the African expatriate community say they struggle to afford gas monthly, 69.4 per cent plan to reduce the use of power, and 47 per cent of participants have had to miss meals so they could pay bills,” the document stated.

The emigration of Africans to the UK has seen an astronomical increase over the past year. According to the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, migration was unusually high in 2022 as increases in temporary work and study migration post-pandemic contributed to the surge.

Yet, despite significant contributions to the UK economy, the report found that 84 per cent of the respondents in the African immigrant community did not claim any form of financial support from the UK government.

“This is a clear contrast compared to other groups like citizens of the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the UK who have access to benefits like Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to name a few.

“About 48 per cent of respondents say they feel worse off than they were a year ago. The African community's experiences revolve around critical challenges and concerns including lack of job security, unaffordable

housing, and mounting debt.

“Since the start of the pandemic, at least 25 per cent of respondents have had to opt out of their workplace pension, risking retirement security. The grim situation has necessitated an urgent need for attention, which has informed BHM UK’s research,” the report stated.

With over 1,000 Africans surveyed, Robert Ekat, Lead Researcher, at BHM said: “The findings reveal the stark reality of the financial struggles faced by this community, with job security and monthly bills being the top concerns.

“This report is critical as it highlights the impact of the cost of living crisis on African immigrants. It is a deliberately qualitative report with factual data to help us comprehend the practical impact of rising costs on individuals and communities," added BHM Founder, Ayeni Adekunle.

“It ultimately adds to the existing body of research on the impact of the cost of living crisis on different communities in the

UK and we are enthusiastic that researchers, policymakers, and organisations will find the data useful in developing future policies and actions for the betterment of the African community,” he added. Back home in their native countries, many African diasporans, the report added, are pressured by the black tax.

It quoted 36-year-old store manager, Aishat (surname withheld) as saying: “I am worried that after a while, I won’t be able to send money back home to my family and take care of my most mundane needs.”

“Over 77 per cent of participants in the report reveal family and friends expect some support, thereby intensifying the desperation for survival. This is reflected in the admittance by almost 59 per cent of respondents that the current economic situation in the UK is affecting their mental and physical health.

General Manager, BHM UK, Enitan Kehinde, said: “We are delighted to inform

public discourse and help raise awareness about the economic and psychological issues facing Africans in the UK. This is necessary for us to demonstrate increased understanding, empathy and support for these individuals and communities and to inspire practicable solutions.”

With many Africans seeking to migrate to the UK in the coming months, BHM UK’s report on the cost of living crisis critically expounds on the experiences of African expatriates and the interventions to embark upon, especially by government and organisations targeted at the African community.

“It's important for the UK to provide some support to Africans. Apart from school fees paid by immigrants to British schools, the UK gains from Visa Fees, NHS payments, rent, Economic productivity, Income taxes, etc.,” a report by SBM Intelligence, an Africa-focused geopolitical research and strategic communications firm also stated.

When

Owner, Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E), Tunde Demuren; Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc, Bamise Oyegbami; Marketing Manager, Hero Lager, Dubem Orji; Nollywood veteran & Hero Lager Brand Ambassador, Nkem Owoh, and Ace Rapper and Hero Lager Brand Ambassador, IllBliss, at the People’s Hero Initiative press conference by Hero Lager, held in Lagos...recently ABIODUN AJALA

NIGERIA CENTENARY CAKE AT THE 98TH AGM…

After His Supporters' Row with Soyinka, Obi Visits Renowned Nobel Laureate

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Several weeks after his supporters' row with renowned Playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka, ex-Governor Peter Obi, yesterday in a an apparent attempt to mend fences, visited the celebrated author.

Describing the misconceptions that trailed the episode as ‘needless’, Obi said that the popular writer remained like a father to him who deserves all his respect.

Soyinka had come under intense

criticisms by supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Obi, for associating the movement with fascism.

The Nobel Laureate had argued that the comments made by the Vice Presidential Candidate of the LP, Yusuf Ahmed-Datti over the swearing-in of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were reckless, fascist, menacing, and unacceptable for a person of his calibre.

However, the statement which did not sit well with a number of

Obi supporters and other political commentators had been a topic of intense debate on the internet, prompting attacks on Soyinka. While some slammed the literature professor over the ‘hypocritical’ statement, others argued that Soyinka should be accorded some degree of respect as an elder statesman. But in a short note last night, Obi noted that he still holds Soyinka in high esteem, especial for his struggle for a better and free country.

“Today, I visited one of Nigeria’s most revered figures and an international literary icon, Prof Wole Soyinka. Prof Soyinka has been my father whom I hold in very esteem for what he has achieved and stands for in the struggle for a better Nigeria.

“ His reputation as a fighter for justice and equity in our society has been legendary and we will never ignore them,” Obi stated. He maintained that Soyinka remains a respected Nigerian

Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani Prays Court to Vacate Bench Warrant against Her

A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, has prayed a Federal High Court Abuja to set aside the bench warrant issued against her on July 24, 2020.

Alison-Madueke, in a motion on notice brought by her counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, sought court order extending the time within which she could seek leave to apply for the order discharging the bench warrant.

Alison-Madueke served as minister between 2010 and 2015 in the President Goodluck Jonathan government.

The ex-minister, who sought an order granting leave to apply for the order, also urged the court to strike out her name as “a defendant in charge number; FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria V. Diezani Alison Madueke, pending before this honourable court.”

The motion, which has FRN as complainant/respondent, had Alison-Madueke as sole defendant/ applicant.

It was brought pursuant to Sections 36 (1) and (8), 35 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered); Section 1, 113, 114, 382 (4 & 5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; and under the inherent powers of the court as preserved by Section 6(6A) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had, in an ex-parte motion, sought a bench warrant against Alison-Madueke

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who granted the order on July 24, 2020, after the anti-corruption lawyer moved the motion, directed that Alison-Madueke should be arrested by local or international police anywhere she was sighted within or outside the country.

The development followed the inability of the EFCC to extradite her back to the country from the United Kingdom (UK) where she resides to stand the money laundering trial preferred against her.

The case was, however, reassigned to Justice Olajuwon following the transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court in 2021.

The ex-minister, in a five-ground attached with the motion, said the bench warrant was issued without jurisdiction, and ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.

She argued that it was issued in breach of her right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as altered). She further argued that she had neither been served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018, nor was there any other summons howsoever and whatsoever in respect of the criminal charge pending against her before the court.

Alison-Madueke submitted that the court was misled into issuing the bench warrant against her based on suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

“The ex-parte application for an order of bench warrant against the defendant/applicant was

obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts and this honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all,” she concluded.

In the affidavit she personally deposed to, Alison-Madueke, averred that she had resided in the UK since May 22, 2015, when she voluntarily travelled for medical treatment.

According to her, before then, I had served as Honourable Minister for Transportation and Honourable Minister for Mines and Steel Development under the Umaru Y’arAdua administration between 2007 and 2009.

She said before she served in the government, she had held the position of Executive Director in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, being the first woman to be so appointed to that position in the country, in the history of the corporation.

“That during the course of my service as minister of Petroleum Resources, I spearheaded the enactment and implementation of the Nigerian Local Content Development Act.

”This made provisions aimed at encouraging and securing the participation of Nigerian companies in the provision of services in both the downstream service sector and the upstream exploration and development sector of the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria.

“For the first time in Nigeria’s

90 plus years of oil exploration and producing history, an unprecedented number of Nigerian companies began doing very highly technical work within the industry. resulting in current figures of over 100,000 direct jobs from over 9,600 operators and service companies, as well as over 400,000 indirect jobs.

“Thus ensuring current Nigerian content level of over 54 per cent, in the downstream service sector,” she said.

The ex-minister said she also re-drafted the critical Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in order to achieve a much higher degree of transparency and accountability in the sector and a fairer and more equitable national distribution of petroleum profits, to increase Nigeria’s percentage share of the lucrative deep offshore exploration profits.

She said these were among many other implemented policies she did.

Alison-Madueke, however, said that towards the end of the tenure of the administration of President Jonathan, she was diagnosed of the most aggressive form of breast cancer — Triple Negative Cancer.

“I hurriedly flew into England on 22nd May, 2015, in order to undertake a critical course of treatment, which consisted of two operations, eight months of intensive chemotherapy and five weeks of radiotherapy and I have remained in England ever since then, where I have undergone intensive medical care and treatment.

whose contributions to the nation’s growth must be highlighted by all and sundry.

He added: “I had a very useful and enriching discussion about his aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria, and he shared a lot with me about his dream for a greater, and more inclusive Nigeria.

“I reminded the Nobel Laureate of the huge price he paid just before the outbreak of civil war, fighting for the cause of the Igbos.

“I cherish this Sunday’s visit which was intended to erase the needless misconceptions about the relationship between the great icon and the ‘obidient’ family,” he noted.

ANAN to Introduce Innovation to Make Accounting Profession More Dynamic

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The 13th President of the Association of National Accountant of Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. James Neminebor, has vow to build on the legacies of past presidents of the association in making sure he introduces innovations to take the accounting profession and the association forward in a dynamic world.

Speaking at a press briefing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, after his investiture, he promised to build more international affiliations and focus on infrastructural development while organising practitioner’s forum and ensure the provision of digital capacity and technology transformation.

Neminebor, also revealed that one of his first mandate as he resumes office was to establish ANAN clubs in all universities and polytechnics in the country to ensure that every stakeholder in accountancy department in any Nigerian university and polytechnic know about association before they graduate.

The Ekeremor-born professional accountant who is also the current President of the Bayelsa State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said he would give women more voice in the council and strengthen existing ANAN branches across the country while establishing more in the diaspora.

He, however, asked his members to ensure that all hands were on the deck in the next 24 months that he would be the president to enable the association witness growth, visibility, development and workers’ welfare.

He added, “The good thing about ANAN is that it does not have an individual vision. It is a collective vision. A vision that anybody who comes to the presidency must follow.

“That is why a man who will

become the president will be in the tutelage for eight years learning the mandate.

“That is to make you learn what it is to be president of ANAN. That is why ANAN is succeeding. ANAN ideas is like a long term plan.

“You may have your personal introductions and in my idea, I have added those little ones I think that I will work on. All I need to do is to build on the successes of the past presidents.

“They have succeeded and I’m going to build on them. But in my years, the first thing I want to do is to get the visibility of ANAN into all the universities and polytechnics in Nigeria so that there won’t be no student who will say I don’t know about ANAN.

“ANAN will assist the club, grow the club and we will make ANAN very visible in all Nigerian universities and polytechnics. For a start, we intend to take one university and one polytechnic one from each zone. We will experiment it for one year and in my second year, if we see the success of it, we will add more.

“We also intend to add more voices of women in our council. I have only two women in the council and I feel bad. Two women facing about fourteen other men. We intend to bring more of them so that the women too can have a voice.

“We intend to digitalise every aspect of ANAN from administration to the way we do our things. After the second council, we will have a complete E-meeting. We will have a paperless meeting. Everybody will enter the meeting with IPADS.”

“Many of the accountancy professors that we have in this country belong to ANAN. I know we have up to 95 per cent of ANAN professors in this country.”

UNILEVER

L-R: Independent Non-Executive Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mike Ikpoki; Executive Director and National Finance Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc. Folake Ogundipe; Independent Non-Executive Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Ammuna Lawani Ali, OON; Non-Executive Director and Chairman Unilever Nigeria Plc, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR; Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Carl Cruz; and Executive Director and General Counsel Unilever West Africa, Bidemi Ademola, during the cutting of the Unilever Nigeria centenary cake at the 98th Annual General Meeting of the company...recently

COURTESY VISIT TO SYSTEMSPECS...

L-R: Managing Director, Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), Mr. DeRemi Atanda; Director, Merchant Sales and Acquiring, Visa West Africa, Olufunmi Fagbulu; Group Managing Director, SystemSpecs Holdings Limited (SHL),Mr. John Obaro; Vice President, Merchant Sales and Acquiring, CEMEA-VAS and Cybersource, M r. Simon Dahlman; and Senior Vice President, Merchant Sales and Acquiring, CEMEA, Visa, Mr. Michael Berner, during a courtesy visit to SystemSpecs Head Office in Lagos recently.

Police Arrest Bauchi Traditional Ruler, Six Others for Alleged Multiple Crimes

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command, has confirmed the arrest of the Gum Zaar-select of Sayawa community in the state, 71 years old Air Commodore Ishaku Komo (rtd) and six others for offences that included criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance of the public peace, mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt and culpable homicide.

Others arrested with the traditional ruler were Matthew Ishaya, 56 years; 65 years Yakubu Bala; Appolos Hassan, 72 years; Nathaniel Joshua 40 years; Abenagu Zakka aged 30yrs; and James Dajum aged 65 years.

The Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili, however, denied a media publication in a popular online portal, that the arrest of the traditional ruler had ethno-religious and political undertone.

According to a press statement by the PPRO, "The attention of the Bauchi State Police Command, has been drawn to viral media publication making the rounds that Air Commodore Ishaku Komo rtd was arrested, harassed and intimidated by security agencies.

"The medium described the security personnel as tools in the hands of prominent Bauchi and Northern governors, who are Muslims, have

stepped up harassment of Christians in the state after the February 25 presidential election, especially, those in communities that voted massively for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi. The publications exclaimed baseless and fabricated.

"The Command wishes to categorically state that, the narrative being peddled around, is completely not true account of what transpired,

10TH N’ASSEMBLY: APC NWC MEETS TODAY TO RATIFY CONSENSUS, ZONING

interference in any form especially imposition must be resisted.”

A returning senator-elect from the South West also said, “An independent legislature has long been endorsed as one of the three pillars of good government, hence, the president-elect must toe the line of democratic ethics and be ready to work with any leadership that emerges as a democrat.”

Notwithstanding the reported endorsement of Akpabio by Tinubu, Senator-elect Abdul-Aziz Yari told stakeholders that he would take the battle to the Senate floor.

But APC Integrity Group warned Tinubu and the party leadership not to plunge APC into crisis. The group said in a statement signed by the coordinator, Malam Dawud Mohammed, and secretary, Chisom Nwakanma, that allowing one geopolitical zone to produce two presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly was a recipe for crisis.

The group maintained that the position of Deputy Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives could not go to the same zone. It added that it would be in the interest of the party to zone the presiding offices of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives to different geopolitical zones.

It said while the national leadership of the party was yet to come up with the zoning arrangement, the president-elect was also yet to anoint a candidate as a presiding officer.

The group, however, stressed that going by the horse-trading at the National Assembly, some lawmakers had been favoured for the positions of Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives.

South-east Senators Warn President-elect against Injustice

The South-east senators-elect Caucus, yesterday, passed a resolution rejecting the purported zoning of the office of Senate President to the South-south, and warned Tinubu and the APC NWC to avoid any form

of injustice on the matter.

In a communiqué issued after several hours of meeting held at the Maitama residence of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South), the senators-elect from the South-east alleged that the Tinubu administration had begun to work towards marginalising their zone.

They noted that since the zone was tactically denied presidential ticket by the two major political parties in the February 2023 election, the position of Senate President ought to have been conceded to the zone in the interest of justice and fairness.

Part of the communiqué read,

"We have observed with dismay the antics of persons with vested selfish interests, who have planted themselves around the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and have vowed to shut out the South-east from the Senate Presidency of the 10th Senate.

"Beyond ethnic and religious considerations, in the forthcoming 10th Senate, the South-east has been blessed with ranking senators-elect, including members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The communiqué also said, "They have the cranial capacity, competence, influence, experience and political followership to pilot the affairs of the red chamber. It becomes imperative that the All Progressives Congress upholds the principle of natural justice and equity, which it preaches, founded on reason, and zone the seat of Senate President to the South-east region.

"That the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should extend the same democratic opportunity he received from the outgoing administration, which gave all aspirants equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental and constitutional rights during the APC presidential primaries.”

The South-east senators-elect continued, "He should be conscious of the grave implications of zoning and endorsing a candidate from the South-south without any regard for the South-east. Such move will, no doubt, serve as a recipe for injustice, which will culminate in restiveness.

"We implore the president-elect to

be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the party of equity, unity and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa Igbo Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones.

"The country is already divided amongst ethnic and religious lines due to the exclusion of the South-east region, which formed the major reason the APC received the amount of votes (it got) from the South-east. The incoming administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu must correct this anomaly by ensuring that the South-east is given the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.

"With the sidelining of the Southeast from producing the presidential candidates of the major political parties before the general election, the only means through which the zone can be compensated and given a sense of belonging is for the zone to produce the next Senate President. This will restore confidence of the people from the South-east and South-south geopolitical zones and, indeed, all Nigerians in the unity of the country.”

South-east senators-elect also said, "The APC must rise above primordial and political interest and shun the winner takes all syndrome and pursue

ethno-religious inclusivity and a strong, virile, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic nation.

"Mr. president-elect, how would an average Igbo man feel after he sees evidence of total discrimination? The South-east has been denied the chance of producing the president of Nigeria since 1966. The South-south has produced President for six years and also had Deputy Senate President in the outgoing administration. The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the South-east.

"The outcry of marginalisation by the South-east and the entire Igbo should be addressed by your incoming administration rather than aggravating it. The South-west has President, the North-east has Vice President. It is only just that the least position at the moment that can assuage the South-east is given the chance to be the President of the 10th Senate.

"On this note, we have collectively resolved to support South-east aspirants of the APC. We remain committed and have since expanded negotiations with other well-meaning senators-elect to rally round the South-east to ensure that justice, fairness and unity of the country

neither is it the reality on ground as being portrayed by the bogus section of the media.

"It could be recalled earlier that, on 15/04/2023 at about 1900hrs, the Command received a distress call over an ongoing skirmish in Bogoro L.G.A of the State. Following the narratives, it has become imperative to update members of the Public on the command's investigative findings and position regarding the true rendition

prevails."

Apart from Ubah, who read the communiqué, others present at the meeting were Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, Osita Izunaso, Ezenwa Oyewuchi, Tony Nwoye, PC Ndubueze, Okey Ezea, Kelvin Chukwu, and Osita Ngwu.

ACF Dissociates Self from Akpabio’s Endorsement

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) dissociated itself from the endorsement of Akpabio for Senate President by the coalition of northern groups.

A member of ACF, Musa Saidu, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said endorsing Akpabio for Senate President would spell doom for northern Nigeria.

Saidu stated, “We hereby dissociate ourselves from the endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio for the Senate Presidency by a coalition of northern groups. The coalition is not speaking for the North, it is just speaking for itself. No true northern group will want to endorse Akpabio for a sensitive position like that of Senate President, because he is not friendly with the North.

of the case.

"Preliminary Investigations revealed that the communal clash in Sang village of Bogoro LGA emanated from the coronation of a Hamlet Head of Sang, who, the Air Commodore (rtd), acting as Gumzaar of Sayawa Community, one Air Commodore Ishaku Komo rtd, selected one Mr. Matthew Ishaya as the Hamlet Head of Sang village Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State.

“We are the people, who know Akpabio, because we are residents in the South. We know those who are friendly with the northern people and Akpabio is actually not one of them.”

Saidu added that the coalition must have made the endorsement out of ignorance.

He said in the statement, “I want to condemn the endorsement in its entity because it was done out of ignorance. It is also possible that the groups were given some inducement to endorse Akpabio. I want to say that the northern people are not beggars that will be endorsing people, who are not friendly with them because of inducement.”

Saidu said ACF would continue to fight and speak against injustice in the country. He stated, “Why should the All Progressives Congress (APC) be bent on zoning the 10th Senate Presidency to the South, when we have competent hands in the North?

“The North-west gave the APC the largest votes in the February 25 presidential election, so why not consider somebody from the zone? I think it’s time for the party to reward the zone for the massive votes rather than start looking for somebody from the South as Senate President.”

BUHARI DIRECTS NUPRC TO TAKE OVER SUPERVISION OF ALL CRUDE OIL EXPORT TERMINALS

gas producers, spoke in unison during a CEO Roundtable on energy at the recently concluded sixth Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) which held in Abuja.

They had argued that the misalignment between the two key agencies of the oil industry had created overlap that had caused them operational risks and discouraged investment in the industry.

Some panellists at the event included: The Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater, TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria, Mr. Victor Bandele; Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Rick Kennedy; and Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor.

Others were the Managing Director, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited

(NLNG), Dr. Philip Mshelbila; Executive Director, ExxonMobil Nigeria, Mr. Oladotun Isiaka; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Energy Resources Limited, Dr. Alex Irune, and Executive Chairman of AA Holdings, Mr. Austin Avuru.

Also during a fireside chat session at the event, NUPRC Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, confirmed the position of the operators, saying there had been issues of regulatory overlaps between NUPRC and NMDPRA which had been a matter of concern for the industry.

“Yes, we recognise the fact that there have been issues of regulatory overlap between the two regulators and that have been a matter of concern for the industry. Of course, it (PIA) is a new law and as pioneers, we will continue to implement the law and continue to take notes of the challenges

in the course of the Implementation,” he stated.

But in the official communication to the Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Commission Chief Executive and the Authority boss, the president instructed the NMDPRA to immediately comply with an earlier Senate Resolution on the matter exit the terminals.

“The above mentioned subject matter and, the relevant correspondence (Ref: NUPRC/1195/Vol. 1/36) refers: I write to inform you that Mr. president has directed immediate compliance with the resolution NASS/9S/R/03/934 of the Senate that NUPRC is the sole and only regulatory entity to regulate and monitor the activities of all existing crude oil export terminals in Nigeria, subsists in compliance with section

7ee of the PIA(2021),” part of the letter read.

It added: “(He has also) directed that the exercise of any regulatory role by the NMDPRA on any existing crude oil export terminals established prior to the effective date of the PIA should cease immediately."

The president also sought feedback on the implementation of the instructions, asking the minister of state to report back to him in two weeks.

“And (he has) directed the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to ensure immediate compliance and report back within 14 days that the resolution as stipulated in (a) above is being adhered to by the NUPRC, NMDPRA, NNPCL, FMITI, industry players and relevant MDAs,” the letter stated.

ETOP UKUTT

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION

MOST UNCOMMON ROYAL BLOKES

Todos los Santos de Borbon y Grecia!

Although the British monarchs are the best known around the globe, they are only ceremonial, while absolute monarchs still abound in Arabia. The King of Saudi Arabia, with his cherished title of Guardian of the Two Holy Mosques, is overshadowed by his son Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, due to old age. There are still absolute monarchs in Morocco, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Elsewhere in Arabia, the Presidents of Egypt, Algeria and Syria look very much like kings even though the Egyptians toppled King Faruk in 1952 while Muammar Gaddafi toppled Libya’s King Idris in 1969. Arabia is used to monarchs; before they fell from power, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Tunisia’s Abidine ibn Ali and Algeria’s Abdulaziz Bouteflika, not to mention Sudan’s General Hassan Omar al-Bashir, closely resembled the Pharaohs of old.

Nearby in the Middle East, the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, reigned supreme from 1941 until he was overthrown in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, one of the most earth-shaking political events of the late 20th century. In 1977 when our then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Major General Shehu Yar’adua visited Tehran, he was said to have gone through seven decontamination chambers before he was ushered into the Shah’s presence.

Maybe because of what I read about Prince Charles in that old Time magazine edition, I was fascinated by monarchs around the world, especially the powerful, glamorous and longest-serving ones. In Africa here we had Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, the original

founding father and host of the Organisation of African Unity [OAU], now known as African Union, AU. This great grandson of the biblical King Solomon and Queen of Sheba, hero of the Ethiopian resistance against Italian occupation in the 1930s, was very well known in Nigeria. When he made a colourful state visit in 1972, General Yakubu Gowon took him to many states. We also knew that he was worshipped by Caribbean Rastafaris, who are of African origin. We were very sad when the Ethiopian army toppled him in 1974 in the bloodiest ever coup in Africa.

I was personally fascinated by King Sobhuza of Swaziland, Son of the She-Elephant, husband of Queen Regent Dzeliwe and father of the current Swazi King, Mswati III. He reigned over Swaziland from 1899 to 1982, or 83 years, when Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Elizabeth II, reigned for only 70 years. Unlike the new British King who has one wife and two children, one of them rebellious, the Swazi National Trust Commission says King Sobhuza had 70 wives, 210 children and 1000 grandchildren at the time of his death in 1982. That’s a true African royal. Probably surpassed only by King Hassan I of Morocco, who was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most prolific father of all time, with 888 children at the time of his death in 1894.

In Africa we also had Jean Bedel Salim Ahmed Bokassa of Central African Republic, which he converted to Empire in 1977 and made himself the emperor. It would have been comical if it were not so tragic. Bokassa imported French horses for his coronation, modelled after the French Emperor Napoleon, but a magazine reported that many of the

TIME FOR JUDGES TO BE STATESMEN

are professionally commitment to fair and equitable implementation. In such a society where justice is routinized in administrative practices, the court plays a passive role and is self-restrained. Judges merely adjudicate in matters where vagueness obscures fair and equitable administrative of justice by the political branches.

But in a society where justice is not routinized as administrative practices become of political capture by a powerful minority or a numerical majority, the court moves from passivity to activism to reestablish the rule of law. The legendary Justice Oputa put this pointedly thus: “Whenever the law is used to foster social, racial, economic or sex oppression, the judiciary should quickly intervene to redress the imbalance and thus restore justice”. The court does not act when justice is routinized. The court acts when justice is denied, especially when it is structurally denied.

This articulation of judicial activism bodes well with a powerful theory about the judiciary propounded by Harvard professor Abram Chayes. It is the ‘governance’ theory of the court. Chayes argues that the court has a right to govern just like the other branches of government when the other branches fail to do the job. Ordinarily, the court forebears to govern trusting the more ‘political’ branches to govern. But where the two fail to govern, the court steps in. Then, judges become statesmen. This explains the various curves of judicial activism.

US Supreme Justice Stephen Breyer traces the context of judicial activism in the constitutional history of the United States. He shows different periods when the US Supreme Court shifted the gear to promote justice or to disrupt structural violation of the people’s rights. For example, he argues that before Justice Warren, the US Supreme Court “overly emphasized the Constitution’s protection of private property ‘as against rights of political participation. In the Warren era, the Supreme Court interpreted the constitution to move away from the logic of property right in the Lochner v. New York case and find a basis in the constitution for ‘active liberty’ for citizens to govern themselves through

the principle of ‘one man one vote’. By so doing, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Warren reconstructed the United States away from the legacy of Jim Crow. The court is a political institution. So said Robert Dahl. The court is a political institution because of the role that it plays in the political management of the society. In his book about the Nigerian Supreme Court. Professor Isa Sagay paints a picture of the Nigerian Supreme Court that rose up to defends fundamental rights against

horses died in the Bangui heat.

The Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Mutesa, popularly called Mutesa II, was a fascinating monarch in Africa in the 1960s. Just like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in Nigeria, Mutesa was the ceremonial President of his country in 1963-66 when Milton Obote was prime minister. He was however deposed in 1966 and died in exile in 1969. The current Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II, son of Mutesa II, is a low-key monarch in comparison.

In the Far East, there was no monarch in the 20th century quite like Emperor Hirohito of Japan, who led his country into the devastating World War Two that ended in its utter defeat by the United States. Hirohito escaped Western punishment because the Japanese “unconditionally surrendered” to the US in 1945 with one condition, that the Emperor will not be touched. Although all the Japanese war criminals who were tried by the International War Crimes Tribunal for the Far East [many of whom were hanged] tried to shield the emperor, captured Japanese military archives implicated him in plotting the war. When he died in 1989, President Ibrahim Babangida went for the funeral but British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said she will not attend the funeral of a war criminal.

Very little is heard these days of the Maharajas of India, once thought by us, African children, to be the wealthiest and most glamorous monarchs in the world. India had more than 600 princely states on the eve of its independence in 1947, each with its own Hindu Raja or Muslim Nawab,

the biggest ones known as Maharajas. The last time I heard of a Maharaja was in an Indian Airlines advert, where a Maharaja enviously complained that the airline treated every passenger like a Maharaja!

I was fascinated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who died in 2016 after reigning for 70 years. Although the Thai King is ceremonial, he was extremely influential in his country and criticizing him was a criminal offence. In 1975, protesting Thai university students desecrated effigies of the King, and citizens retaliated by storming the campus and pummeling the students to death. Many of them jumped into a river behind the campus and drowned.

In recent times we witnessed intense aristocratic maneuvers, such as in 1999 when the ailing Jordanian King, Hussein, suddenly returned home from an American hospital. He then issued a decree deposing the Crown Prince, his younger brother Prince Hassan, and appointed his own son Abdullah in his place. He also decreed that Abdullah’s half-brother Prince Hamzeh, son of King Hussein’s American wife Queen Noor, daughter of the President of Pan American Airlines, would become Abdullah’s Crown Prince. Hussein died of cancer shortly afterwards, Abdullah became King and made Hamzeh the Crown Prince but five years later he removed him and made his own son, Hussein, the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince William of England, who we saw on television pledging loyalty to King Charles and kissing his cheek, should be very careful. Lest his brother Prince Harry writes another book.

carve for itself a routinized retail work that does not override the iniquities of the political class. That is a recipe for disaster for the commonwealth and irrelevance for the court. The true description of Nigeria today is, as the University of Guttenberg’s acclaimed ‘Verities of Democracy’ report 2022 puts it, ‘an electoral autocracy’. Nigeria is not yet a democracy by the evident capture of state institutions by ruling elites. The 2023 election has further cemented this reputation. The election has seen the recklessness of Nigerian politicians who refuse to respect the most fundamental tenets of electoral democracy.

We have always had electoral irregularities and frauds. But we have never had this level of criminalization of elections and wanton collapse of regulatory oversight. The election manager, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to apply its own electronic safeguards in a bewildering capitulation to political banditry. Even the basic regulatory tasks like determining the eligibility of candidates to stand for elections and whether candidates have multiple nominations, regulatory oversight that could be established without expending resources, were abandoned. The regulator did not bother to apply simple rules, even rules that it made pursuant to its statutory powers.

the corrosion of military dictatorship. That heroic Supreme Court of Eso, Obaseki, Oputa, Uwais and others understood that in times of crisis the court become a political institution that defends the rule of law from new threats. The Uwais court would not have done such if the structure of justice had not been eroded by military dictatorship. The greatest seduction today will be to believe that we are now an entrenched democracy and therefore the court should

The Supreme Court has inherited the regulatory failures of the election manager. It has been saddled with correcting the impunity of the political class. It beholds that the country is disintegrating on account of reckless disregards for basic rules of justice. It sees the continuing immiseration of the people whose anger is boiling over. The judges know that unrebuked impunity has established a powerful incentive structure that will inexorably lead to the total collapse of the rule of law. In such situation, judges must become statesmen to save their beloved country. They have many things challenging them. They will contend with fear for their lives. They will contend with favors from corrupt politicians. But they should brush aside all these and do justice, even if the heavens fall.

All eyes are on the judges.

CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola

UNITY, JUSTICE ON THEIR MINDS…

The newly-elected President of Nzuko

‘Rivers Politics Characterised by Deceit, Fake Loyalty’

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A university don, Dr Gift Worlu has noted that Rivers State politics is characterised by deceit and fake loyalty by ambitious politicians. Worlu, a lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, made the remarks while reviewing a book titled: “Through the Slippery Slopes of Rivers State Politics: A Personal Memoir’, authored by Tony Okocha a chieftain of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers.

Reviewing the book, Worlu noted the need for forgiveness and reconciliation in Rivers political family to end the 2012 crisis, which according to him has caused the rift between former governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and successor, Nyesom Wike.

The book reviewer also said there must be review of internal democracy in the political parties

One Killed as Police Rescue 58 Victims from Kidnappers

Kingsley NwezehinAbuja

The Federal Capital Territory(FCT)

Police Command said, weekend, that one person was killed while 58 victims were rescued from kidnappers as police operatives engaged armed bandits in a fierce encounter.

It said the victims were held hostage at Udulu Forest, Gegu Local Government Area of Kogi State, bordering Sardauna Forest, Nasarawa State as well as other identified kidnappers’ den in communities contiguous to the FCT.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer and Superintendent of Police, Josephine Adeh, said the bandits and kidnappers on sighting the security forces coordinated by the police, fired at the security team which resulted in a shootout.

It said the bandits were overpowered and escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries leaving behind their victims.

“The rescue operation is part of efforts by the command’s leadership, in a sustained joint operation with other security agencies and vigilante groups and hunters from the various local communities to combat violent crimes in the FCT, rescue victims and bring perpetrators to book”, it said.

It said the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, vowed that while effort was sustained to prevent any further threats to safety and security of residents, the command would also not relent in ensuring the rescue of any resident held hostage by criminals and as well bring the perpetrators to book.

SEC Grants Tro-Vest Fund/ Portfolio Manager Licence

Yetunde Bello

The Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) has approved and issued a licence to Tro-vest Asset Management Limited to commence full operations as a funds and portfolio manager in the country.

Tro-vest Asset Management

is a member of Tro-vest Capital Partners; which is a full-fledged financial services group and hub that is built strategically to play in the consumer lending space, micro-finance banking space and payment service bank space.

Commenting on the development, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Trovest Asset Management Limited., Mr. Adelaja Adekunle said: “The launch of the asset management business aligns with our strategic plan to become a dominant player in the financial services sector. We are highly enthusiastic at the unique

opportunity to bring investment products to the market as our goal is to constantly provide a wide range of solutions to support the evolving needs of our clientele, partners, and the entire investment community.”

“The issuance of this approval by the SEC is a laudable development, one that will most definitely lead to an unprecedented basis for value creation within the asset management Space.”

Speaking on the vision for TroVest Asset Management Limited (TAML), one of the Executive Directors, Mr. Jeff Ejemai said:

“We intend to provide support for Nigerian businesses as well as unlock Africa’s potential through the management of several investment funds and provision of financial advisory services. Our strategic focus is on growing wealth for our esteemed clients through our wellthought-through products.”

else there would be no progress. He recommended the tools of diplomacy as a must in handling conflicts and in solving political disputes.

Worlu, who said that Okocha

was part of the madness that has become Rivers politics, commended him as the author of the book for exposing the things that make Rivers politics toxic. He said politics needs ideology

and that the book is a symbiotic analysis. He recalled that John Luscio had conceptualised the social contract of politics, but that Okocha’s book shows that it is not working in Nigeria.

“The book also admits that there is no clear-cut ideology in Nigerian politics, and this is even for all of Africa. African politicians do everything to grab power first and think later”.

Police Arrest Three Suspects for Abeokuta Phone Market Robbery

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three members of a robbery syndicate who invaded the phone market popularly known as Tarmarc on the 12th of April 2923, where they killed one of the traders after carting away several highly valued phones.

The arrest of the suspects was disclosed in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ogun State Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi.

Oyeyemi said the suspects, Ajayi Kayode, Habeeb Idowu and Temitayo Oresanya, were arrested on Saturday 6th of May 2023.

Oyeyemi said the suspects were

arrested following an information received by policemen attached to Kemta Divisional Headquarters that the suspects have been hibernating at Abule Ake area of Kemta for quite some time now in order to evade Police arrest.

He said: “Upon the information, the Divisional Poluce Officer (DPO), Kemta Division, Mr Adeniyi Adekunle, mobilised

his men and moved to the scene where the three suspects were apprehended.

“Two amongst the suspects have confessed their participation in the robbery incident, while the third one Temitayo Oresanya, though affirmed to be a member of the same cult group with them, claimed that he didn’t participate in the robbery.

‘Oyebanji’s Impressive Performance May Draw Me Back to APC’

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

A former House of Representatives Member and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last National Assembly election in Ekiti state, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, has said that the impressive performance and leadership qualities of the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji

could be a veritable platform that would induce his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daramola, who scored the incumbent Governor Oyebanji high on his people-oriented policies and programmes, infrastructure development and ability to bond with the people, said Ekiti people across political party lines are already

applauding his leadership and governance styles. Daramola stated this at the weekend when he paid Governor Oyebanji a courtesy visit at the Governor’s office, Ado- Ekiti. He said the governor had made the rank and file of the state proud through his exemplary leadership, adding that he may consider a comeback to APC based on the Governor’s track

record and leadership style. He also disclosed that all the things he would have done if he were elected governor were already being carried out effectively by Governor Oyebanji, adding there was no reason he should not support the governor to succeed in his drive to reposition the state towards shared prosperity to the people.

Villagers Apprehensive as Zamfara Bandits Relocate to Katsina

Hundreds of terrorists led by a notorious bandit,Dan-karami, have reportedly relocated from Zamfara to areas between Safana and Batsari Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

Villagers said the terrorists were escaping from military onslaught in Zamfara.

They were said to have

moved into Tsaskiya, Runka, Gora, Labo and other communities in the two local government areas.

Villagers said the terrorists have teamed up with another notorious bandit, Usman ModiModi who has been terrorising residents of the area.

The villagers said that the

terrorists in large numbers and heavily armed, moved to the area with many herds of cattle.

“About a thousand of them who came on about 300 motorcycles spent Saturday night in Labo village,” a reliable source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He added that the terrorists

were spread in at least five villages on the fringes of Rugu forest between Safana and Batsari as well as part of Zamfara.

The source however said what was not clear was whether the bandits were on transit or setting up a new base in the area.

Edo 2024: Group Wants Osunbor to Declare for Guber Race

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Ahead of the governorship election billed for next year in Edo State, various political and interest groups have started to mount pressure on Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor to join the governorship race.

Recall that Osunbor’s tenure as governor was truncated on November 11, 2008, by an Appeal Court judgment that upheld the earlier decision of an election tribunal that declared Mr. Adams Oshiomhole the winner of the 2007 governorship election.

However, a pressure group known as Better Edo Forum (BBF), at the weekend, has called on Osunbor to publicly declared to contest for the 2024 governorship race to succeed the PDP led administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The group, in a statement

made available to newsmen in Benin City, and signed by its State Coordinator and Secretary, Mr. Odion James and Mr. Osaro Idemudia, respectively, said that the professor of Law short spell as governor of witnessed massive development across the state.

Journalist Emerges President of Yoruba Community in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Yoruba community in Bauchi

State has elected a veteran journalist, Segun Awofadeji, as the president-general of all Yoruba-speaking towns and communities residing in the state.

Awofadeji emerged as the winner of Saturday’s election

after defeating the incumbent President, Bamigbade Abayomi, who sought reelection.

The Vice President, Prof AbdulAzeez Eyitayo Kazeem, was reelected unopposed, while Mukaila Adegboyega was elected secretary. Alhaji Ahmed Olokoba was re-elected financial secretary of the community.

Awofadeji, a senior journalist

with THISDAY Newspapers, while delivering his acceptance speech, said: “I therefore want to call on those who lost the election to support the present administration’s move towards transforming the Yoruba community in the state.

“The Yoruba people have a rich and robust culture and tradition of peaceful co-existence

and harmonious relationship with one another and with other tribes, irrespective of ethno-religious, political and socio-cultural differences. So, I strongly appeal to you all to continue to promote unity, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, harmonious relationship and love among ourselves as well as with our host community.”

Umunna, an Igbo Global Think-Tank, Prof Chinedu Nebo(left), and former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the ‘Handshake Across Nigeria 2’ which focused on the unity of all for a better Nigeria based on equality and justice for true prosperity and greatness of Nigeria in Enugu…recently

NDLEA Seizes 8,852kgs of Illicit Drugs after Gun Duel in Lagos

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized a total of 8,852 kilogrammes (8.8 tons) of Canadian Loud, an imported synthetic strain of cannabis, after a 30-minute gun fight with armed men who were escorting the consignment

loaded in two long trucks.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, yesterday, the operatives acting on credible intelligence laid ambush for the traffickers along the Eleko beach road in Lekki, and at about 4:51am last Thursday, two long trucks conveying

Delta Businessman Berates BEDC over Poor Performance

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Chairman of DAS Energy Services, Udu, near Warri, Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has berated the Benin Electric Distribution Company (BEDC) over poor performance, noting that the situation is becoming a threat to the development of the state.

He maintained that BEDC’s epileptic power supply, high estimated billings, abandonment of their responsibilities to consumers, and workers’ nonchalant attitude towards

consumers were the causes of economic under-development in the state.

The businessman, who was Delta State governorship aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, bemoaned the poor performance of the BEDC while addressing journalists at the weekend in his office in Warri.

He lamented that no industry or economic investment could survive in the state with the way and manner BEDC is operating-without effective power supply.

Ogun 2023: Group Hails Akarigbo’s Clarification on London Trip

James Sowole in Abeokuta

A group, Ogun Integrity Vanguard, has said that the statement by the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Adewale Ajayi, clarifying that the trip he made to London with other traditional rulers to interface with billionaire lotto entrepreneur, Sir Kessington Adebutu, had put a stop to insinuation, that the trip, was meant to intervene on behalf of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Prior to the monarch’s statement, the social media, had been awash that the Akarigbo’s visit, was to seek

for Abiodun, an out-of-court settlement with Adebutu’s son, Hon Ladi Adebutu, over the governorship election petition he (Ladi Adebutu) submitted challenging the governor’s victory during the March 18 governorship election in the state.

But the group, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Duro Thomas and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday, said that the foremost traditional ruler’s statement had shown that the trip had nothing to do with Abiodun or the last governorship election in the state.

the illicit consignments were flagged down but rather than stopping, the trucks escorted by armed men sped off, and there was subsequent exchange of gunfire that lasted 30 minutes.

He said the drivers and their armed escorts after they were overpowered by the NDLEA operatives, escaped into the bush abandoning the trucks and the drug consignments.

He said while one of the

trucks painted red had 149 jumbo bags weighing 6,548 kilogrammes, the second one with blue colour had 53 big bags with a weight of 2,304 kilogrammes, bringing the total number of bags to 202

and gross weight of both to 8,852 kilogrammes. He said operatives were already on the trail of the drug lord who shipped the illicit consignment into the country.

2023 Census Critical to Addressing Nigeria’s Problems, Says NPC

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa, has assured Nigerians that the 2023 census will address the myriad of problems bedeviling the country.

Durunguwa, representing Kaduna State at the commission,

stated this during a chat with members of the Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum in Abuja at the weekend.

He said most of the issues affecting the country would be over when the census is thoroughly conducted, adding that the exercise would show the government where the problems are.

According to him, “The census will provide the needed data for the government and its partners to plan how to respond to people’s needs and how to set the country on the path to sustainable development.

“The data that is required is more about where you reside and not your village or state because the essence of the data is to solve

people’s problems wherever you are. “The country needs to know the composition and the dynamics of its population and as such, people should be counted wherever they are.”

He called on every Nigerian to stay where they are to be counted so that the government would know about the people to help the government to plan.

Nigeria, Others Urged to Make Laws to Ensure Gender Parity

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region have been urged to make laws that would ensure gender parity in their domain.

The call was made at the weeked during the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians

Association (ECOFEPA) Town Hall Meeting held in Abuja. Speaking while declaring open the meeting, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis, said it was pertinent to create an atmosphere of gender equality in the countries of the sub-region for growth and harmony.

Tunis, who appreciated the demonstration of commitment and political will exhibited by President Julius Maada Bio of the Republic of Sierra Leone, who recently signed into law the landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill 2022, guaranteeing the principles of inclusion, representation,

participation, and a more responsive posture on gender, said: “We are hopeful that similar action will be replicated in all our member states.”

The Speaker also acknowledged and commended the important steps taken by ECOWAS Member States to address gender issues.

Tinubu, Govs Urged to Appoint Women Politicians, Technocrats as Ministers, Commissioners

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A veteran broadcaster and Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Mrs. Toun Okewale Sonaiya, has called on the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the elected governors in the country to appoint competent and capable women politicians and female technocrats as ministers and commissioners in executive positions in the country.

In a statement issued over the weekend and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara

Govt Urged to Improve Healthcare Facilities in Rural Communities

State’s capital, Sonaiya said that such move would translate to approximately 35 per cent in accordance with the affirmative action and bridge the vacuum created in 2023 elective positions. She said: “Every man and woman should play a part in

rebuilding the socio-economic fabric of our beloved country this time around.

“Responsibility for ministerial appointments lies not only with president-elect but also with the governors of respective All Progressives Congress’ (APC)

states, who are putting forward names for nomination.

“I appeal to all APC’s state governors to nominate at least one woman among the three names they send to the incoming administration for ministerial appointments.

Blessing

Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Government at all levels has been urged to improve on reach of medical facilities and access to medicines in rural communities across the country.

The President, National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Pyrates Confraternity, Mr. Owoaje

Abiola, made the call during a medical outreach by Barrakuda X Deck in collaboration with Olympus Marino Deck, for residents of Kono community, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Abiola, who also called on corporate organisations and government agencies to routinely carry out their Corporate Social

Responsibilities (CSRs) in communities, noted the absence of government healthcare facilities in some rural areas, which have left the indigenes in endangered health conditions.

Abiola decried the poor state of medical facilities in rural Nigeria while addressing journalists during the free medical care delivery at the weekend.

Group Sues LG over Proposed Bye-laws to Establish Hisbah, Prohibit Trado-medicine in Kaduna

John ShiklaminKaduna

The Olive Tree Citizen’s Rights Initiative has filed a suit against three proposed bye-laws by Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

In the suit No: KDH/ZAR/2023, filed at the state High Court in Zaria, the group maintained that the proposed bye-laws for the establishment of Hisbah, Scrap

Trading (Regulation/Prohibition) and Trado–medical Regulation Prohibition, are in violation of their fundamental rights if allowed to become laws.

The suit, which was filed by counsel to the group, Mr. Sunny Akanni, Principal Partner, SAAkanni and co in Kaduna, prayed the court for “a declaration that the proposed ‘bye-laws are gross violation of the fundamental rights of majority of

the citizens of Sabon-Gari Local Government Area.”

Akanni asked the court for: “A declaration that the three proposed bye-laws are bad pieces of legislation intended to emasculate the fundamental rights of the applicant and the generality of the residents of Sabon-Gari LGA with respect to their private and public life as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter.”

Mekwunye Launches Book on Constitutional Law

Constitutional law will be deepened with the presentation and release of the wellresearched book by Dr. Charles D. Mekwunye, SAN, titled Constitutional Law in Nigeria: Through the Judgements of the Supreme Court. The book launch and dinner will hold on May 11, 2023, in Abuja and will be chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Honorable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

According to a statement,

with the just concluded general elections, political parties and politicians are constantly seeking legal interpretations from the law courts and this book is coming at a time when constitutional law is taking centre stage.

“ Mekwunye also draws on key judgements of Nigeria’s apex court to provide readers with a detailed understanding of this important area of law and how they shape the Nigerian society,” the statement added.

“Constitutional Law in Nigeria explores the key principles of the Constitution, including the separation of powers, fundamental rights, election petitions, federalism, as well as the importance of dissenting judgements at appellate courts. Through a detailed examination of key Appeal Court judgements, the book provides readers with unparalleled insight into how these principles have been interpreted and applied in practice.”

President-elect, Tinubu, Hails Osimhen on Napoli’s Third Scudetto

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has hailed Victor Osimhen for leading Napoli to the club’s third Italian Serie A title last Thursday.

Tinubu who is waiting to be inaugurated on May 29 as the President and Commander-in-Chief having won the presidential election last February, congratulated the Super Eagles forward who scored the equalising goal against Udinese that gave Napoli the Scudetto.

In a Twitter message posted on his official handle @ABATofficial on Sunday afternoon, Tinubu said

of Osimhen who is the leading goals scorer on 23 goals in the Italian topflight this season: "I think we can all agree that there was another coronation in Italy where our son, Victor Osimhen, claimed the crown as the new King of Serie A! The real deal, or idan gangan as the younger folks may describe him; Victor has continued the fine tradition of Nigeria’s footballing excellence on the global stage. We are all proud of him and wish him well in what is already a remarkable career," observed the president-elect in the tweet.

Interestingly, Osimhen who

received heroic welcome into the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples yesterday for Napoli’s home game against Fiorentina, saw one penalty saved before scoring another as the new Serie A champions marked their Scudetto celebrations with a 1-0 win amid a carnival atmosphere at the arena.

Having ended a 33-Year wait for another league title, Coach Luciano Spalletti fielded a too much-changed lineups made for a low-key opening.

Osimhen thought he had missed the Partenopei’s best chance for victory when he had a secondhalf spot kick saved by Pietro

Terracciano, but a foul on his strike partner, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave him the chance to atone for his miss earlier.

He hammered home at the second asking, ensuring that Napoli’s long-awaited Scudetto party was capped with three points.

Osimhen’s 47th goal in Serie A is his first from the penalty spot. That goal has also now taken him pass George Weah’s 46 goals to become the highest-scoring African player in the Italian topflight history.

Napoli on 83 point, 17 above second placed Lazio, will next visit Monza for their next Serie A fixture on Sunday.

Arsenal clawed Manchester City's lead at the Premier League summit back to one point after they came out 2-0 on top in a thriller against Newcastle United at St James' Park.

Mikel Arteta's side, who have played one game more than the champions, City, responded superbly to the pressure exerted by Manchester City's victory over Leeds United on Saturday to prevail in an action-packed, edgy encounter littered with chances on Tyneside yesterday evening.

Newcastle, attempting to strengthen their push for a place in the Champions League next season, started at lightning pace - Jacob Murphy hitting the post and having a penalty award overturned by VAR.

Arsenal, however, showed their strength and it was inspirational captain Martin Odegaard who followed up his double against Chelsea in midweek by drilling his 15th Premier League goal of the season past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope from 25 yards after 14 minutes.

saving crucially from Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Odegaard before half-time. Martinelli also struck the bar after the break.

Arsenal keeper, Aaron Ramsdale, also produced vital stops from Joe Willock and Fabian Schar, with Alexander Isak heading against the post, before The Gunners broke clear to wrap up the three points - Schar turning Martinelli's cross into his own net in the 71st minute.

Elsewhere, a howler from David de Gea gifted West Ham 1-0 victory over Manchester United to boost their chances of Premier League survival and deal a blow to the Red Devils' top-four hopes.

De Gea let a tame Said Benrahma effort from distance slip through his grasp to put the Hammers in front midway through the first half.

The win moved David Moyes' side seven points clear of the relegation zone with a superior goal difference to all the sides below them.

Martin Odegaard (centre) scored his 15th Premier League goal as Arsenal defeated Newcastle 2-0 to rekindle the Gunners title aspirations

What followed was a magnificent game full of opportunities in a frenzied atmosphere, Pope

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

IBB International Golf and Country Club’s Roll of Honour donor, Mr Cecil Ezem Osakwe, has donated a magnificent structure for the caddies at IBB International Golf and Country, Abuja

The befitting structure, which was a transformation of the original caddy hut built in 1991, was handed over to the club captain, Dr Banjo Obaleye and the Board of Trustees led by General I.B.M. Haruna (rtd)

The expansive structure that straddles Hole One and Hole Two is tiled and has the imprint of construction giant, Julius Berger, that built the golf course in 1991. Harvard trained lawyer, Osakwe, said he was motivated to execute the project for the benefit of the caddies who are considered the lower-rung people in golf the community.

"The caddies are usually the lower level of golfers but they are ones who make it happen, help us carry our golf bags. So, when I was given this project, the fact that it is going for people at this level was my strong motivation," Osakwe said.

He allayed worries about the maintenance of the edifice assuring that the quality of the work will make it difficult for it to be damaged.

Gen. Haruna lauded the Osakwes for exhibiting love for the lower level people in the society who though constitute the majority but are often forgotten.

"The caddies are the ones who carry our bags and clubs, and are aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. So, I thank the past captain and Osakwe for thinking toward the comfort of the lower level in our means and building this for them," Haruna said.

Obaleye and other past captains, Joe Kyari-Gadzama, Debo Olateju, Oludare Bello and Senator Emmanuel Anosike, during whose tenure the project was initiated, also thanked Osakwe and his wife for the honour done to the club.

"When you see a man of quality you see his hand work. When he made up his mind to do this, he went to Julius Berger to construct this. You can see the roof and floor well laid. Thank you Mr and Mrs Osakwe, Obaleye said.

Victor Osimhen was on target again last night against Fiorentina with the Amajimbo goalkeeper stranded.

Ugbade: After Surviving South Africa, Eaglets Will Go All the Way to Trophy Osakwe Donates Modern Caddy Shed to IBB Golf Club

Head Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade, has promised that his wards will go all the way to win the Africa U17 Cup of Nations as preparatory to giving the FIFA U17 World Cup a shot.

Ugbade captained the first Nigerian squad to win a FIFA U16 World Cup, in 1985, and was assistant coach when the Golden Eaglets won the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates 10 years ago.

He also won a FIFA U20 World Cup silver medal in 1989 as a player. Now, he is looking to lead the Golden Eaglets to win the Africa U17 Cup of Nations as preparatory to giving the FIFA U17 World Cup a shot later this year.

“These boys have now picked up the confidence they needed following the defeat by Morocco and they are now looking forward to going all the way here,” Ugbade said on Sunday following the Golden Eaglets’ 3-2 win over South Africa in their last match of Group B in Constantine.

Much against the run of play, the Amajimbo restored their lead with a fabulous solo goal in stoppage time by Siyabonga Mabena.

Undeterred, the five-time world champions restored parity when Light Eke finished coolly from a low cross by Charles Agada, two minutes into the second period.

The Nigerians were completely in control afterwards, and Abdullahi Abubakar scored his first goal of the competition with a calm finish in the 63rd minute.

“This victory has restored the boys’ confidence. We needed such a win going into the knock-out rounds and it is our belief that we can handle the pressure there.

“The loss to Morocco was also

a good lesson for us. When you’re at a championship, you need a winning mentality, but also a match that provides good lessons along the way. Both factors make for a very strong and ready squad.”

The Golden Eaglets will play the winner of the clash between Cameroon and Burkina Faso (Group C) in the quarter finals on Thursday.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Arrive in Buenos Aires for 10-day Camping

The delegation of two-time runners-up Nigeria have arrived in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina for a 10-day camping programme ahead of this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals.

A contingent of 20 players and 10 officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday nightaboard a Turkish Airline flight and travelled through Istanbul before heading to the “land of the Pampas”.

With a record of having finished with the silver medals in 1989 and 2005, and with the bronze medals in 1985, the Flying Eagles are hoping to break the

AHEAD

U20 WORLD CUP

duck and collect the top prize in their 13th appearance at a tournament they first graced in Mexico 40 years ago.

That year, they stunned then Soviet Union 1-0 through a welltaken goal by Tarila Okorowanta in Monterrey, but then lost 0-3 to Brazil in their second game in Guadalajara. Needing victory to reach the knock-out round, the Flying Eagles could only draw with The Netherlands in their final group game in Monterrey.

Nigeria has been slotted in

Group D for this year’s championship and will play Dominican Republic, Italy and Brazil in that order in the group phase. Their first two games will hold in Mendoza, in the far west of Argentina, against the Dominican Republic on 21 Mayand against Italy on 24 May, before they fly to La Plata to play Brazil on 27 May.

La Plata, Santiago del Estero, San Juan and Mendoza are the four host cities for the 24-nation championship.

AG UE

MISSILE

PDP to Bola Tinubu

“It is also public knowledge that there has been numerous allegations and evidence of corruption and complicity by the INEC in the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election. Today Nigerians and indeed the world believe that the declaration was a product of corruption of the process, institutions and the law by the APC and its Presidential Candidate...an individual who has been widely alleged to be an enabler and beneficiary of corruption can attempt to put himself forward to Nigerians as a champion of anti-corruption.” –PDP Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, queryingTinubu’s promise to fight corruption in government.

Most Uncommon Royal Blokes MAHMUDJEGA

At the weekend I dug through several sacks of personal books and magazines but could not find my 1978 copy of a TIME magazine with a faintly smiling picture on the cover of then Prince Charles. He was described in the story as A Most Uncommon Bloke. After reading it, my young African nationalist aversion to the British royal family grudgingly gave way to some respect for Charles.

I have to recall some aspects of the story from memory, so there may be errors. It stated, “If Charles Philip Arthur George Mount-batten-Windsor did not exist, who could invent him? Consider. He can pilot a jet fighter and knows enough about helicopters to help repair them. He has skippered a Royal Navy minesweeper through North Atlantic gales with the skill of a yachtsman… He plays an aggressive, three-plus-handicap game of polo and is a qualified paratrooper. He is a gifted amateur cellist… He has scuba-dived in the Caribbean, schussed down the Alps, sambaed into the night with Brazilian beauties… A keen student of history, he can discourse persuasively on

King Charles III

the neglected virtues of his ancestor King George III, and is host and interviewer on a TV series on anthropology.”

Phew! Pilot, paratrooper, polo player, ship

captain, scuba diver, skier, all the things I fear in my life! The story then listed Charles’ royal titles at that point. “Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, Earl of Chester and Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland.”

Up to that point, the only one of his titles we knew very well was Prince of Wales while his father, Prince Phillip, was the Duke of Edinburgh in Scotland, which he popularized by always wearing the Scottish kilt. Charles was also said to be a Colonel in the British Army, a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force and a Captain in the Royal Navy, in addition to being the patron of 500 clubs, charities and associations. TIME magazine then said Charles “is also heir to the classiest preserve of royal pomp and privilege left on earth: the British throne.” He was 29 that year; he only got to occupy that throne at 73, when most of those skills he acquired have probably faded with age. At the weekend he was formally crowned King in the most masterful display of British pomp in 70 years. The title he assumes is enough to kill a horse. Extrapolating from the titles of his

late mother, he must now be Charles III, by the Grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia and of His other Realms and Territories Beyond the Seas, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Normandy in the Channel Islands; Seigneur of the Swans in England; Fount of Honour in the Commonwealth and Fount of Justice in the United Kingdom. The only title missing, the one once most cherished by Queen Victoria, is Emperor of India.

The landscape of Europe was once dotted by Kings and Queens but most of them have now fallen by the wayside, including the Emperors of France, Kaisers of Germany and Kings of Prussia, Kings of Greece, Albania and Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Emperors of Turkey and the Tsars of Russia. A few ceremonial monarchs however remain in Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden and Spain, the latter with the impossible name King Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de

Continued on page 44

Time for Judges to be Statesmen

As Nigeria wraps up its election, attention shifts to the judges. With over seven hundred cases filed at the tribunals, the judiciary will be overworked. Yet we expect wisdom, courage, and intelligence to correct all errors, deliberate or otherwise, made by the political branches of government. We rest our hopes on the judges, and their power of judicial review, to rebuke impunity, reverse error and strengthen us toward electoral justice.

It is ironic that whilst we think that increasing involvement of judges in determining who gets elected as political leader is inimical to consolidating democracy, we are forced to continue to call on judges to intervene in electoral matters for the sake of justice. Of course, courts are called temples of justice because they are fit and proper to receive the intercessions of a people who are brutalized,

oppressed, and deprived of justice. So, the irony is not so depressing because when we beckon on judges to act in the name of justice, we are giving concrete expression to the expression that courts are temples of justice.

The conventional theory of constitutional democracy holds that there are two political branches and one non-political branch. The political branches are the executive and the legislature. Members of these two branches are elected by the people and have the liberty to act in furtherance of their interests. The theory of representation by foremost parliamentarian and jurisprudent, Edmund Burke, is that legislators are trustees of the people. As trustees, they are free to decide public interests according to their own understanding of what is in the best interests of the people. A contrary theory of representation argues that the legislator is but an agent of the people: he must do what the people want him to do,

not what he thinks is best for the people. Whether legislators are agents or trustees of the people, the common logic is that the legislator act politically. To act politically is to advance the interests of one group notwithstanding that such interest is not rationally compelling. That is why we do not excoriate legislators who fight to ensure that projects are sited in their constituencies notwithstanding that economic rationality does not favor those places. We consider them good representatives. But we shame a judge who delivers judgement in favor of his relatives because of consanguinity. So, the judicial branch is not so designed. Judges are not representatives of the people. A judge does not represent his family, his friends, or his constituency. He represents God in the religious sense, or rationality in ultra-rationality. Judges do justice. And justice is giving people what they deserve, not what they desire. We can see from this social portraiture that

judges have more gravitas and bona fides to act as statesmen in times of troubles than representatives and executives. As we say, politicians care about the next election, but statesmen care about the nation. Judges ought to be statesmen. The concept of judges as statesmen has a strong implication for sustaining democracy in difficult times and places. In good times and places democracy is safe even with interest-based politics. The foundations of democracy rest on the rule of law. The rule of law means that all persons and authorities are subject to the law; that the law respects basic equality of all persons and the law is executed without deference to prerogatives and merits, apart from the merits of justice. Overlaying the foundations of rule of law is accountability. There is no exemption from the rigor of the law because the institutions of law enforcement

Continued on page 44