Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi
Ezigbo Nume Ekeghe and Adedayo Akinwale in Abujaeh in Abuja
labour, under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union
You’re becoming law breaker, Amaewhule warns Wabara implores Tinubu to caution Wike Rivers ALGON dares gov, say they won't vacate office in June FCT minister’s ex-aide defends Fubara
State Governor,
In an evident show of control, Rivers
Fubara, yesterday, paid an impromptu visit to the residential quarters of members of the State House of Assembly, situated on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, the
state capital. Although no lawmaker was said to be in sight at the time, this happened barely 24 hours after the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of
the Assembly leadership re-enacted the local government bill. But the displaced speaker, Martin Amaewhule, has flayed Fubara storming their quarters with the aim
of demolishing the area, saying it was unfortunate that the governor had begun to slide into a "law breaker."
The Amaewhule faction of the legislature, also warned that no
“individual in borrowed ropes will be allowed to hold any local government council to ransom.”
Continued on page 36
Hails economic reforms, canvasses autonomy Senate: Cybersecurity bill duly passed Halt implementation, house orders apex bank NESG, NEF, Falana fault, reject idea, timing
Hilton Hotel, Abuja...yesterday
Nwezeh in Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday that members of the British royal family, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will commence a week-long visit to Nigeria today.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Director of Defence Sports, Air Vice Marshal Marquis Abidemi, said the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was on the invitation extended to the royals by Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Disclosing the itinerary of the royal couple, Abidemi said Harry and Meghan will visit a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Light Academy, in Wuse, Abuja, and Nigerian Reference Army Hospital in Kaduna, where the wounded and
injured soldiers were kept for their medical records.
Abidemi said the couple will use the opportunity to see the governor of Kaduna State.
He said the coming of the royals will also boosted Nigeria's chances of hosting Invictus games. Invictus games relies upon sport to transform the lives of wounded soldiers and veterans.
He said, ."Nigeria is now a member of the Invictus community, so their coming will give credence to the fact that as a new part of the community, Nigeria needs to be accepted. "That Nigeria is also looking forward to hosting an Invictus Games."
Abidemi also emphasised the need to build a centre for the management
on Nigeria in its Article IV Consultation report.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has endorsed some of the tight monetary policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which are part of its reforms, and recommended caution on amendment of the CBN Act in order not to weaken the apex bank’s autonomy. The endorsement was part of the multilateral lender's recommendations
Relatedly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Buba, justified the proposed implementation of the cybersecurity levy by the CBN. But no fewer than 356 members of the House of Representatives demanded an immediate halt to the proposed implementation of the cybersecurity levy.
Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) also faulted the timing of the introduction of the 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions.
of wounded soldiers.
He stated, "There is a need to build a state-of-the-art structure for the management of the wounded and injured soldiers, particularly, the post-traumatic seizure and the post-traumatic stress syndrome.
"This is manifesting due to their encounter with insurgency in the counterinsurgency operations."
He stated that the visit was important in view of a recent DNA test that showed that Meghan was 13 per cent Nigerian.
Abidemi said, "Prince Harry’s wife just recently did a genealogy test showing she is 13 percent Nigerian. So she is also looking forward to coming to Nigeria as part of her ancestry, lineage."
He stated that the "reception will
Similarly, Northern Elders Forum (NEF) rejected the introduction of cybersecurity charges on bank customers.
Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, equally faulted the CBN directive to commercial banks for the deduction of 0.5 per cent of the value of all electronic transactions and remitting same to the National Cybersecurity Fund overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
IMF Assistant Director of the African Department and Mission Chief to Nigeria, Axel
TARIFF HIKE: LABOUR THREATENS TO PICKET OFFICES OF ELECTRICITY REGULATORY AGENCY ON MONDAY
nationwide as from Monday, May 13.
In a warning letter jointly signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, the two labour centres demanded immediate cessation of the discriminatory segregation of electricity consumers into arbitrary bands.
They also demanded the restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry.
The letter, dated May 3, 2024 and addressed to Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NERC, urged the regulatory body to immediately reverse the electricity tariff hike or face resistance from the workers.
The letter was also copied the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Minister of Labour and Employment, Minister of Power, and all the DISCOs.
Last month, NERC increased electricity tariffs on Band A customers from N65 per kilowatt hour (kwh) to N225/kWh following the government's partial removal of electricity subsidies.
This decision attracted condemnation from electricity consumers nationwide, including organised labour and private sector stakeholders.
In the letter to NERC, organised labour accused the body of bias, alleging that it has become a tacit collaborator in crafting the oppressive pricing regime being perpetuated against Nigerian workers and people.
The statement said, "This is to refer you to our May Day address where we expressed grave concerns regarding the recent announcement of an astronomical hike in electricity tariff across the nation from N65/kwh to N225/ kwh by your commission.
"We believe that this decision is not just morally reprehensible considering the difficulties Nigerians are faced with currently, but it blatantly disregards fundamental principles and statutory obligations.
"It is a slap in the face of justice and fairness, and we will not stand idly by as the masses and workers are subjected to such unacceptable exploitation.
"As the regulator of the electricity sector, it is imperative that your commission grasps the weight of its responsibilities. NERC’s role entails the regulation of electricity tariffs in the country, a duty outlined in explicit detail within the statutes governing the commission.
"Yet, with this recent tariff hike, which you have acquiesced, it 1s evident that the commission has forsaken its duty and abandoned the people it was meant to protect to the fat cats in the electricity industry.
"We are miffed that NERC has become a tacit collaborator in crafting the oppressive pricing regime being perpetuated against Nigerian workers and people."
The labour movement said the laws that set up the electricity commission mandated it to act as an unbiased ombudsman in the electricity industry.
But labour said, unfortunately, the reverse had been the case, as NERC had acted in cahoots with the DISCQs and the Generating Companies (GENCOs) to promote their nefarious market practices.
According to organised labour, the announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens.
Labour described the increase as a flagrant abuse of power and a clear violation of the trust bestowed upon the commission by the Nigerian people.
It stated in the letter, "Such actions will not be tolerated, and we refuse to accept them as the new norm. Nigerian workers and masses, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), stand united in denouncing this injustice. It is our duty to defend the rights of our fellow citizens against exploitation. Therefore, we issue the following demands:
"An immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/ kwh. Immediate cessation of the discriminatory practice of segregating electricity consumers into arbitrary bands.
"Restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry.
"We give you until Sunday, the
be quiet because the duo travelled 14 hours to get to this place”, after which they will visit the Chief of Defence Staff to discuss areas of mutual benefit.
The director said, "Then he will be back to Abuja on Saturday and will be having an exhibition, the CDS team and the Duke team will be having a volleyball match with the armed forces."
He added, "This is just to engage with the wounded and injured soldiers. It’s a sitting volleyball."
The director said, “There is a proposed Invictus centre that will be built in Abuja for the management of the wounded and injured soldiers, which will also have sporting facilities and a mini-hotel where their families can stay when coming to see them.”
Schimmelpfennig, at a virtual press briefing, yesterday, unveiled the position of the IMF Executive Directors at the end of the Article IV Consultation on Nigeria.
According to Schimmelpfennig, the IMF Executive Directors stated, “Following monetary policy tightening in February and March 2024 and a resumption of FX interventions, the naira has started to stabilise.”
while maintaining debt sustainability.
"Directors appreciated the authorities’ commitment to discontinue deficit monetisation and positively noted progress in macroeconomic policy coordination."
12th day of May, 2024, to comply. Failure to do so will result in swift and decisive action on our part, as we will not hesitate to mobilise our members and occupy all NERC's offices and those of the DISCOs nationwide until justice is served."
Following the deadline issued to NERC and the DISCOs, the leadership of NLC wrote to all its state branches to mobilise workers in readiness for the picketing.
The letter dated May 7, 2024 and signed by NLC’s acting General Secretary, Mr. Chris Ufot, said, "In line with the directive of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on 30th of April, 2024, I have been directed to inform you to commence preparation to picket the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Disco offices in the states. The nationwide picketing is slated for Monday, May 13, 2024."
Meanwhile, the NLC president defended the proposal submitted by labour for a new minimum wage of N615,000 for Nigerian workers.
Speaking during a news programme on Arise Television on Thursday, Ajaero said the proposed amount took into consideration the current cost of living in the country.
He also responded to the concerns by employers of labour, especially those in the private sector, saying since the cost of goods and services in the country have skyrocketed, the workers have no choice than to demand commensurate pay rise.
Ajaero said, "We are asking for accommodation of N40,000. We are asking for electricity for N20,000. We look at utility that is about N10,000 and kerosene and gas, which is about N25,000 and N30,000.
“We look at food for N9,000 for the family of six, in a day. For 30 days, that’s about N270,000. We look at medical for N50,000 and education N50,000, and sanitisation for N10,000.
“Because of subsidy removal and the fact that workers stay in fringes, that amounted to N110,000. That brought the whole thing to N615,000."
"And I want anybody to subject this to further investigation and find out if there will be any savings after these payments."
While welcoming what they described as the bold reforms implemented by the President Bola Tinubu administration, the IMF executive directors commended the authorities’ focus on revenue mobilisation, governance, social safety nets, and upgrading policy frameworks in the face of Nigeria’s significant economic and social challenges.
The report said, “In view of the downside risks, directors stressed the importance of steadfast, well-sequenced, and well-communicated reforms to restore macroeconomic stability, reduce poverty, support social cohesion, and pave the way for faster, inclusive, and resilient growth.
“Directors commended the authorities’ actions to rein in inflation and restore market confidence. They stressed the importance of keeping a tight monetary policy stance to put inflation on a downward path, maintaining exchange rate flexibility, and building reserves.
“Directors welcomed the removal of foreign exchange market distortions and encouraged the authorities to continue improving the functioning of the FX market, including by adopting a well-designed FX intervention framework.
“Some directors also noted that carefully and sequentially phasing out capital flow management measures when warranted would be important."
The IMF directors also supported the Nigerian authorities’ intentions to shift to an inflation-targeting regime and recommended strengthening central bank independence and communication to ensure a successful transition.
The report stated. "They recommended caution regarding amendments to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act that might weaken the central bank’s autonomy. They encouraged further progress in implementing the outstanding recommendations from the 2021 safeguards assessment.
"Directors commended the authorities for restarting the cash transfer programme and emphasised the urgency of scaling it up to mitigate acute food insecurity. They welcomed the authorities’ work on a comprehensive revenue mobilisation strategy, including boosting tax enforcement and broadening the tax base.
"They underscored that mobilising revenue and reprioritising expenditure, including phasing out costly and regressive energy subsidies, are critical to creating fiscal space for development spending and strengthening social protection,
Schimmelpfennig said the directors emphasised the importance of close monitoring of financial sector risks, and added that they supported the increase in the minimum capital for banks, and urged the CBN to unwind the regulatory forbearance introduced during the pandemic.
The directors further acknowledged Nigeria’s recent improvements in the AML/CFT framework and called for sustained action to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Schimmelpfennig said the directors equally supported the authorities’ efforts to foster financial inclusion and deepen the capital market.
The IMF Mission Chief expressed optimism regarding the country's economic reforms, highlighting their potential for inclusive growth.
Schimmelpfennig commended the authorities for their determination to address distortions and bottlenecks hindering economic progress.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by Nigerians amid ongoing reforms, he emphasised the importance of providing support to the vulnerable as well as revitalising growth and job creation.
He stressed the need for a wellsequenced approach to reforms, particularly in scaling up social support systems to alleviate the current cost of living crisis.
The IMF chief alluded to government’s determination to push ahead with reforms to address distortions and bottlenecks that have been built up over the years, and are holding back Nigeria and Nigerians from reaching their economic potential.
He stated, “We appreciate that, there's a lot of pain for Nigerians right now. And our policy advice aims to provide support to those in need, while also reinvigorating growth and job creation.
“And in that regard, we put a lot of emphasis on the sequencing of reforms in our report, to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected and can navigate the economic situation as it is.
"And specifically, we are encouraged that the cash transfer system and other social support systems are now implemented and we emphasise that it's very important to scale those up urgently to help Nigerians manage the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“But we think it is also worth highlighting the upside, which is the authorities are working on a comprehensive economic reform program to accelerate growth implementing that in a well sequence manner we do see has the potential of raising growth and making it more inclusive."
On the recent monetary policy reforms, Schimmelpfennig said, "We welcome the central bank's commitment to bringing down inflation. Inflation does hurt the poor
disproportionately, they are the ones that are least able to impact that.
“With that in mind, we think that the decision by the Monetary Policy Committee in February and March to raise the policy rate combined with steps to tighten market liquidity is appropriate to address inflation. That really is a high priority to reduce the cost-of-living crisis that Nigerians are facing.
“We also welcome the steps by the central bank to introduce a willing buyer willing seller principle in the foreign exchange market. As I said, if you kind of think back, trying to keep the naira artificially at an artificial level meant that many people just didn't have access to dollars or you had to turn to a parallel market, which had a huge premium of 60 per cent at times."
Responding to a question on the controversial cybersecurity levy, IMF Resident Representative to Nigeria, Christian Ebeke, said, “Cybersecurity is a macro critical issue, so it is something that has to be taken very seriously because of the potential financial instability, and repercussions of cybersecurity attacks on the financial sector.
“So, this is an issue that we take very seriously at the IMF and, in fact, our latest global financial stability report published in April a few weeks ago highlighted the importance of designing adequate frameworks and adequate regulation really to tackle cybersecurity.
“In the case of Nigeria, my understanding from just a few minutes ago is that yet to be confirmed by you, but we understand that the House of Representatives voted the motion to pause the implementation of this cybersecurity levy that was part of the Cyber Crime Act that was just adopted also, lately.
“So, we have not discussed this particular issue with the authorities, but as I mentioned, it is very serious and we encourage the authorities to work towards having an adequate framework around cybersecurity, and more generally designing something robust and sufficiently efficient to tackle this very important issue for the financial sector.”
Senate: Bill on
Cybersecurity Duly Passed
Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Buba, justified the proposed implementation of the cybersecurity levy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Buba, in a statement, clarified that the levy was not punitive, as it has numerous exemptions to protect and relieve ordinary citizens, particularly the poor.
He said the exemptions included salary payments, intra-account transfers, loan disbursements and repayments, and other financial transactions.
Buba said the amendments to the Cybercrimes Act were a collaborative
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Italian prosecutor involved in the trial of Shell, Eni and others, in the controversial Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 case, Fabio De Pasquale, has been demoted by the country’s Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) for his role in the proceedings.
An Italian newspaper, Ilgiorno, reported that De Pasquale was demoted for “lack of impartiality and fairness” in the way he handled the prosecution at the Court of Milan.
Recall that in 2021, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), had petitioned Italy’s Minister of Justice over the conduct
of De Pasquale.
Adoke, through his lawyers, accused the prosecutors of unlawful acts of intimidation/threat to life, forgery of documents/evidence intended for unlawful interference with the administration and perversion of the course of justice.
The Italian was also said to have hidden critical evidence that would have exonerated the defendants and is facing a separate hearing over the allegation.
Adoke said the prosecutors acted “maliciously and unprofessionally” to his detriment despite the fact that he was not a direct party to the criminal prosecution and was not on trial before the Milanese court.
Eventually, the court discharged all
persons and companies accused of fraud and bribery in the transaction.
De Pasquale, who was assistant prosecutor at the Court of Milan with semi-managerial prosecuting functions, was rejected by 23 of the 27 members of the CSM, including its Vice President, Fabio Pinelli, while four members abstained from voting.
“It is therefore demonstrated that De Pasquale lacks the prerequisites of impartiality and balance, having repeatedly exercised jurisdiction in a manner that was neither objective nor fair with respect to the parties as well as without a sense of proportion and without moderation,” the CSM resolved.
The judges opined that De Pasquale’s style projected “a
negative prognostic judgment” on the possession of the prerequisites of impartiality and balance also for the purposes of confirmation in the magistrate in semi-managerial functions.
De Pasquale is on trial in Brescia for omission of official documents while disciplinary proceedings and an official transfer procedure due to “environmental incompatibility” have been opened against him at the CSM. Both proceedings against him are still ongoing.
By implication, the failure to confirm De Pasquale by the CSM means he will lose his role as deputy prosecutor and will return to being a simple substitute and will not be able to apply for further management
A report by Proshare has questioned the legality of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to receive unappropriated funding for its activities, particularly the controversial cybersecurity levy aimed at tackling the growing threats of cybercrime. It said allowing the ONSA access to funds without the approval of the National Assembly was not only unconstitutional but against global practice.
This followed the controversies trailing the recent cybersecurity levy circular introduced the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which gave the ONSA the responsibility to administer the fund.
On May 6, 2024, the apex bank ordered the implementation of 0.5 per cent levy on all electronic transactions value as part of efforts to contain the rising threats of cybercrime in the financial system.
The implementation followed the enactment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (amendment) Act 2024 and pursuant to the provision of Section 44 (2)(a) of the Act, which provided for the rate deduction.
The CBN explained that the deducted funds are to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), which shall be administered by the ONSA.
The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination,
Nume Ekeghe
The Naira yesterday, decline at both the official market and parallel markets.
At the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEM) window, it closed at N1,459.73/$1, marking a depreciation of N38.67 compared to the previous rate of N1,421.06/$1 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the parallel
market concluded at N1,455/$1 a marginal loss from N1,450 it exchanged on Wednesday.
The daily turnover recorded a 48.77 per cent decline in transactions to $84.38 million yesterday compared to the $164.74 million recorded on Wednesday. Furthermore, the highest spot rate observed yesterday stood at N1,465, with the lowest spot rate recorded at N1,331.
then deducted and remitted by the financial institutions.
The Proshare report however, stated that the move tended to make account holders pay the government for a service already covered by financial institutions in their digital transfer charges.
Specifically, it argued that the levy was needless and amounted to double-taxation of bank customers since depositors’ funds up to N5 million are already covered by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC).
It said, “If cyber protection goes beyond bank deposits, why should the funding of ONSA rely on money in customers’ deposit accounts and electronic transactions from these accounts?
“The global best practice is to establish a ‘black budget’ for cyber protection-related issues, which has Senate Security Committee oversight.
“The funding is a fiscal arrangement based on standard operating protocols (SOPs) and does not distort the pricing of commercial activities such as electronic transactions on customer deposit accounts.”
Continuing, the report stated, “To stretch the argument, if the naira were to come under a currency attack, would the CBN levy depositors’ bank accounts to repel the action of foreign currency speculators?
“If it did, how legal would it be? Fiscal intentions may be good, but
policy execution frameworks are equally crucial; killing a child to solve the problem of a headache gets the job done but leaves a bigger ethical problem.
“Therefore, fiscal policy observers believe there is something viscerally wrong with the CBN levying customers’ bank accounts to fund a government office or agency’s activities.”
The report, which estimated that between N1 trillion and N1.5 trillion would be debited from customers considering the N600 trillion recorded in electronic payment transactions in 2023, further expressed concern that there would likely be little or no audit oversight on the huge funding to ONSA.
It said, “More so, the right of the ONSA to raise extra-budgetary revenue directly from Nigerians without the National Assembly’s approval as a government agency becomes difficult to accept.
“Analysts have also questioned the benefits to Nigerians of the social contract inherent in the levy: Is there a guarantee of minimal or no cyberattacks on Nigerians because the ONSA cyber levy has been charged to bank depositors?
“This is unlikely. Furthermore, public sector economists have argued that diverting funds directly to the ONSA bypasses established best-practice financial oversight mechanisms.”
positions in the future.
The judges of the Milan court said it was “incomprehensible” that the public prosecutor chose “not to file among the proceedings a document which contains extraordinary elements in favour of the defendants”.
De Pasquale who prides himself as an anti-corruption hunter had been looking to get Eni convicted over allegations of corporate fraud.
The OPL 245 case provided him an opportunity to prosecute what transparency campaigners described as “the biggest corporate fraud in history”.
Adoke was not in trial in Italy, but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), filed several
cases against him in Nigeria and his name was constantly mentioned in the Milan court, although the court did not make any adverse pronouncement against him in its verdict.
One of the cases filed against Adoke was that he collected a $2 million bribe from the $1.1 billion paid to Malabu and bought a property in Abuja, an allegation he denied and for hich he has been cleared.
But Adoke alleged that the prosecutor deliberately concealed his failed N300 million mortgage transaction with Unity Bank from the Milan court just to create the impression that it was a bribe.
Nume Ekeghe with agency report
American Express Co. has entered the Nigerian market with its inaugural business credit card, marking a significant collaboration with local neobank O3 Capital. This partnership holds the potential to bolster dollar accessibility for businesses operating in Nigeria, a move that could significantly impact the West African country's financial landscape.
According to Bloomberg, the newly launched card, unveiled on Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, provides businesses with a spending limit of $10,000 and offers a repayment period of up to 45 days for international transactions.
Additionally, other O3 Capital-Amex cards, tailored for personal and household use, will feature spending limits ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.
President of Global Network Services at American Express, Mohammed Badi, expressed the company's excitement regarding its expansion into Nigeria and the broader African market. This move signifies American Express's commitment to extending its reach and services to businesses across the continent
Badi said in a statement, “The first-ever American Express Business Card in the most populous African country will give us another way to support local businesses with their growth aspirations. American Express is excited to continue to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and expand its reach across Africa.”
American Express said the partnership aimed to address challenges posed by Nigeria’s persistent dollar scarcity, which had contributed to significant volatility of the naira. Since foreign exchange reforms in mid-2023, the naira has lost 65 per cent of its value against the U.S. dollar.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) encourages banks to source dollars independently to alleviate demand pressures, yet accessing dollars remains difficult. Consequently, most Nigerian banks have limited or halted the use of nairadenominated credit cards for international transactions, offering such services primarily to affluent clients.
O3 Capital CEO, Abimbola Pinheiro, highlighted the advantages of the new card, stating, “The O3 Amex card solves the problem of queuing at banks for business travel allowance and personal travel allowance.”
The federal government yesterday failed to give any commitment to the growing demand by telecommunications services operators in the country to approve the increase in tariffs to cover the rising cost of their operations.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who spoke in Abuja, argued that the issue goes beyond raising the price that Nigerians pay for network services, maintaining that the current challenges needed to be tackled at the macro-economic level.
Tijani made the remarks at an event to mark the release of Nigeria Digital Economy Report by GSMA, a global organisation that unifies the mobile ecosystem.
The body delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions as well as Outreach, including advancing policy tackling today’s biggest societal challenges.
The minister stressed that if anything, what has become clear is that President Bola Tinubu remains a pro-business leader, emphasising that he (Tinubu) will do whatever needs to be done to improve the overall
business environment, rather than raising tariffs now.
“I have made it clear that some of these repeated challenges that our sector is facing, to the best of my knowledge, they are not things that we cannot surmount. The economy is facing these challenges from multiple angles. It's not just from one angle.
“And in the middle of that as well, we are in a world where our people are struggling. So as a sector, as leaders, we must achieve the things we want to achieve by also being sympathetic, but also extremely practical as well. I think the government of today, for every single demand of this sector, is willing to support, is willing to actually ensure that we improve the business environment.
“We have a president that is extremely pro-business. And whatever he needs to do to improve the environment, he will. There are more macro issues and hard decisions that our country will have to take at some point. And the president has decided to be the one to take some of those decisions," he stated.
The minister called for understanding and collaboration from the operators, stressing that the discussions on all issues besetting the sector, including
tariff, will continue.
“I think what we need to do is, collectively, we have to deepen and address so many of those pains. The solution to these pains will not come from one single thing, which is raising tariff. That's never going to be the solution.
“ There are a ton of other things that we must do to ensure that the business environment is conducive for the investors in this space. And government is articulating these, including the tariff conversation.
“And we've had this conversation in private meetings, and in several other meetings as well. We have to do it collectively. And then there’s the issue of how investors perceive our sector.
“The government may intentionally put out the right messages, the right policies, the right intentions, but everything that is coming from the association on just one issue is extremely negative, investors will not come. I've not seen anything in what you're demanding that is actually impossible.
“It's the approach to addressing them that I think we're not ready to do. And I'm being open about this because we must, for once, and finally, agree to addressing these issues positively. Because they're not just affecting the
companies that you represent, they're affecting the economy and the security of the nation as well.
"So we have to be extremely careful how we approach it and make sure we focus on solving it. Some of the things proposed nine months ago, if we collectively came together to address those things, nine months ago, your demands would have been met. But the association is saying it is only one solution. And I don't believe anyone wants that,” he stated.
Also present at the meeting were : The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Executive of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Executive Vice Chairperson, Globacom, Bella Disu; Chief Executive of 9Mobile, Juergen Peschel and Airtel Africa’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Daddy Mukadi.
Also at the event were: Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo; Senior Director, Public Policy and Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa GSMA, Carolina Mbugua and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA, Angela Wamola, among others.
In a session with journalists after the meeting, the industry chief executives underscored the need to allow cost-
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday said the aim of its ongoing nationwide audit of the oil, gas and mining companies is to enhance domestic resources mobilisation.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, stated this in Port Harcourt while declaring open nationwide sensitisation workshops on the conduct of the 2022-2023 industry reports of the oil, gas and mining sectors for companies in the South-South and South-East zones.
Orji explained that domestic resource mobilisation had become key to NEITI interventions in the industry as part of its mandates of enthroning transparency and accountability driven by public disclosure and blocking leakages.
The workshops which began in Lagos last week continued in Port Harcourt to acquaint the agencies
and companies covered by the report in the affected zones with the templates designed for the exercise, a statement by the Deputy Director/Head Communications & Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, said.
“The objectives of these industry reports are to establish and make public revenue flows through investment among the major players in the oil, gas and mining sectors, examine the financial, physical and process issues from, within and among the companies and relevant government agencies.
“The reports will specifically undertake special verification and validation of information and data on the payments made by the companies to government entities as well as government receipts.
“Other areas will include quantities and volume of crude produced, balances payable or receivable on certain financial transactions, taxes,
royalties on project-by-project basis, social contributions and investment flows in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” Orji emphasised.
Similarly, the 2022-2023 solid minerals report, Orji said will disclose data and information on quantities of solid minerals mined, quarried, processed, exported and imported, track the extractive industries sector fund collected by various government agencies to the Federation Account.
According to him, it will reconcile the payments made by major players (companies/entities) to government in the sector during the period under review in the form of royalty, ground rents/annual surface rents, taxation, levies, among others.
He said under Section 2 of the NEITI Act, 2007, NEITI has a responsibility of ensuring due process, transparency in the payments made by all extractive industry companies to the federal
government, monitor and ensure accountability in the revenue receipts of federal government from extractive industry companies.
Other areas to be covered by the reports are disclosures on environment, social and gender impact assessments of extractive activities and employment data in the industry.
The Executive Secretary assured of NEITI’s commitment to work closely with the companies and government under the EITI framework to create good business environment that encourages the inflow of more foreign direct investments into the extractive sector.
For this to happen, the executive secretary “encouraged all companies to embrace transparency, accountability and corporate social responsibility in conformity with the EITI standards in other to build the confidence of investment partners”.
reflective tariffs in the telecoms industry and called for the protection of telecoms infrastructure in the country.
MTN’s Toriola stated that the issue of tariff increase in the industry remains a very emotive one, explaining however that as an industry that is highly capital intensive, the matter has to be quickly resolved to ensure the sector continues to provide quality service.
“Tariff increase is obviously very emotive. But it is a very big issue that can fix the investment into the sector. If you don't have the cash to invest, or there's no returns for people to inject cash to invest, they won't. Capital does not flow where it makes negative returns.
“The elephant in the room is the tariff increase. The price of diesel cannot go from N200 to N1,200 and it doesn't affect someone somewhere. And at some point in time, it's going to become so expensive, people can't fuel base stations.
“Those are the realities that we have to deal with. People see Forex dependencies because they see a headline of Forex loss. That's optical. The truth is the price of garri, which is completely produced in Nigeria, has not been stagnant from year 2000 until now, neither has the price of a basket of tomatoes or anything that's completely locally produced. Inflation is real and affects every sector of the industry.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The federal government said yesterday that it had begun the design of the 1,000 kilometres Sokoto -Badagry highway, on President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
A statement from the Ministry of Works stated that the design was being handled with dispatch by its officials, noting that the project would cover the old African trade route of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos States, connecting to Badagry in Lagos.
The government also committed to completing the Abuja- KadunaKatsina- Kano federal highway within record time, according to a statement by Uchenna Orji, the spokesman to David Umahi, the minister in charge of the ministry.
Umahi spoke during a courtesy visit of the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani to his office, in Mabushi, Abuja.
Speaking during the event, the minister said he had the directive of the president to present a programme that could see to the completion of the project within the next one year.
He assured the governor that the project, which was inherited from the past administration, would be started in three sections as soon as possible.
He said: "We are going to have the first section of 38 kilometres by 2, (which is 76 kilometres,) done by Dangote Group of Companies on Tax Credit and it's going to use
concrete to do it.
“We will allow the next 82 kilometres for Julius Berger to handle. And then the last 20 kilometres by 2, (which is 40 kilometres) for BUA to handle and to also use concrete to do that. And I can assure you that the job will start in these three sections within this month of May."
On the Sokoto-Badagry road, he said: "The president's directive on designing 1000 kilometres Sokoto- Badagry Highway is being handled with dispatch by the Federal Ministry of Works, .
“ The project would cover the old African trade route of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos States, connecting to Badagry.”
He also stated that a proposal was being made to link the South East to the North through the Trans Sahara Highway that would have a spur passing through Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and end in Abuja.
On his part, the governor of Kaduna State commended the President's initiative to construct Lagos-Calabar road and the Sokoto-Badagry road, noting that the projects would enhance the socio-economic potential of the country when completed.
He emphasised the importance of federal government's intervention on the Eastern Bypass in Kaduna State, the Mando-Benigwari road connecting the North West. He said that the road was of prime importance for agricultural programmes in the North.
L-R: Sustainability/CSR Manager, TotalEnergies Country Services, Chinwe Ifechigha; Managing Director, Total Energies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Dr. Samba Seye; General Manager, TotalEnergies Country Services, Adesua Adewole, and Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies Country Services, Charles Ebereonwu, at the launch of the 2024 100 Startuppers in Lagos…recently
China
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday, called on the Africa Import Export Bank (Afreximbank) and all regional financial institutions to partner with the AfDB to pool resources together to support the emergence of a globally respected African media company that would focus on projecting opportunities on the continent.
This, he said would help address the misinformation and stereotypes about Africa in the western media.
Adesina, made this call in a keynote address he delivered at the opening ceremony of the AllAfrica Media Leaders' Summit with the theme: " Re-engineering African Media in Times of Critical Transformation," in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY and Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, is one of the Co-chairs of the three-day
summit.
Speaking further, Adesina stressed that the media has a critical role to be fair, objective, inquisitive, investigative and being catalyst for development as well as promoting positive news about Africa's accomplishments and achievements.
While he acknowledged that the continent has its own share of challenges, Adesina maintained that the continent also has a lot of positive aspects that could be showcased.
He noted that unfortunately, African journalists working as Correspondents for foreign-based organisations many times promote stereotypes about the continent.
He therefore urged media houses to devote time and resources to build a network of Correspondents on ground that could properly report stories rather than relying on western agencies which sometimes were biased.
"Lack of financing has been cited
Tinubu Names Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) as Co-chairman NCDMB Board
Appoints Woke CEO of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, as the Co-Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The appointment, in a release issued yesterday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, is in line with President Tinubu's avowed commitment to establish a more efficient, targeted, and consistent approval process for unique oil and gas projects in the country.
The move is also to further ensure effective oversight of the gas aspect of the nation's assets.
According to the statement, the President remains committed to unlocking Nigeria's immense gas potential to stimulate industrial development, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
Also on Thursday, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Engr.
Chukwuemeka Woke, former Chief of Staff to then Governor Wike, as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
The President, in another release by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, expects the new Chief Executive Officer of the OgunOsun River Basin Development Authority to discharge his duties with integrity and in conformity with the highest standards of transparency.
The new appointee is also expected to work towards harnessing and developing the water resource potential of the area, as well as ensuring that the Authority is a channel for holistic and integrated industrial, agricultural, and community development.
Woke is a seasoned engineer and politician. He had served as Chairman of Emohua local government area of Rivers State and was Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, for many years.
by 92 per cent of editors, journalists and media houses as a constraint for covering stories effectively. There is a strategic business case for financial institutions to put significant resources together to finance a credible African media institution to make it have a global reach.
"This is because information about the continent must be properly prioritised and disseminated. To attract more foreign direct investments, positive stories and opportunities in Africa need to be more showcased.
"I would therefore say that the AfDB, Afreximbank and all regional financial institutions should pool resources together to support the emergence of a globally respected African media company that would focus and project the needs and opportunities in the continent.
"Africa must shape its own
narrative and not just what the world always thinks about us. We must focus more on what is working in Africa.
"To recognise and profile African journalists, Correspondents and media houses that promote Africa with unbiased stories, the AfDB will work with all other Africa agencies and African corporates to establish what will now be known as the Annual African Media Prize. "Also, the AfDB working with partners and African corporates will establish the African Journalists and Correspondents' Fellowship, to help build and strengthen the capacity of journalists and Correspondents working in Africa," Adesina added. He urged media leaders to become marketers of Africa so as to project all the opportunities in the continent, citing a quote from Chinua Achebe which says, "until the lions have their own historians,
the history of the hunt always glorify the hunter."
According to the AfDB boss, for the western world if the information coming out from Africa doesn't smell, then it doesn't sell."
Adesina added: "Now, Africans must tell their own stories. Not the stories that others write about us; not the stories of the old colonial narratives; not the stories impregnated with war, famines, conflicts and division; not biased stories - intended or unintended, but stories of us, Africans, written by Africans, about Africa and projected to the world. We must be the 'vuvuzelas' of Africa. It is time to change the narrative."
He, however, stressed that an independent, professional and responsible media was critical for freedom of speech, promotes democracy and strengthens inclusiveness.
"We live in dynamic times as technology continues evolve rapidly, the rise of the internet, digital and social media platforms have shifted the focus of audiences from radio, televisions and print publications. Two-thirds of the global population are now on the internet and social media for real-time news.
"This transformative changes have deregulated the creation and distribution of news contents. In the quest for market share, too many positive developments in Africa get missing."
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the AllAfrica Media Leaders' Summit, Amadou Mahtar Ba, noted that with the advent and evolution of technology, the media has entered into a promising phase, which also comes with challenges. He also urged journalists to guard against fake news and promote responsible journalism always.
Deji Elumoye and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined former President Muhammadu Buhari, and others to rejoice with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, as he celebrates his 90th birthday today, May 10, 2024.
Tinubu in a personal eulogy to the revered monarch, said it gave him joy to celebrate the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland “on this special occasion of his 90th birthday.
“It is indeed delightful that Kabiyesi has attained this important age and he still continues to discharge his duty as the paramount ruler of the entire Ijebuland.
“Oba Adetona is not just another traditional ruler in Yorubaland and indeed in Nigeria and Africa, he is a preeminent royal father, who has brought rare honour, integrity, dignity, courage and impeccable strength of character to the throne over the last 60 years.
“Within this period, he has seen the low and high points of our country. During the turbulent and dark days of military dictatorship, when it was difficult to speak truth to power, Oba Adetona displayed uncommon courage and stood on the side of the people. Against billows and tides, truth became his refuge.”
The president, who stated that he had always enjoyed the Oba’s
trust and friendship, added: “I have always enjoyed the trust, friendship and confidence of Kabiyesi Awujale,Ogbagba ll, in the course of my political journey, through the struggles of our fight for the return of democratic governance in our country and beyond my tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
“Throughout these epochs in my political odyssey, Oba Adetona has ortremained a pillar of strength and support. In matters of fighting for justice, fairness, equity and a more just society, where every part of our country can progress and our people live peacefully and in harmony with each other, Kabiyesi has been a dependable ally.
“As my confidant, I have absolute faith and trust in Awujale and I have benefited from his wise counsel over the years.
“When I set out to seek the highest office in our country, I began my nationwide consultation from his palace in 2022. In keeping faith with my promise, I returned in June last year to pay homage and express my gratitude.
“Kabiyesi has fought for and invested heavily in democracy and good governance and to cap it all, he endowed a chair in that discipline at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, in Ogun State, where he built a School of Post-Graduate and Research Studies in Governance.
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Edo State High Court in Benin City, has admitted the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) as a party in a suit instituted by suspended Enigies (dukes) against the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin.
Two suspended Enigies of Evbuobanosa and Egbaen Siluko dukedoms in Benin Kingdom, Prof. Gregory Akenzua and Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen had on behalf of others, sued the Oba of Benin at the Edo State High court, challenging their suspension from office.
Besides, the duo on behalf of others, had claimed that it was only the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and not the monarch who can pronounce them suspended or remove them from their positions.
Ruling in a motion on Thursday May 9, 2024, Justice Peter Akhihiero granted the 1st defendant its plea
to include the Benin Traditional Council as the 3rd defendant in the suit marked B/250os/2023, while Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Government, were the 1st and 2nd defendants respectively. The ruling was in response to an application filed by the 2nd defendant’s lead counsel, Prof.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, has warned communities against interfering in criminal prosecution of persons involved in Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), insisting that cases of rape and incest are no-go areas for family and community leaders.
Waziri-Azi also threatened that parents may be prosecuted as accomplices in cases of rape and incest if they should cover up for the violators of children and wards.
The NAPTIP boss lamented that many cases of rape and incest were prematurely dropped due to pressures from families and communities which forced victims to withdraw their complaints.
He decried several records of cases that could not be prosecuted as violators were allowed to go scot-free when complainants showed disinterest in prosecution as a result of pressure from families and communities.
According to him, NAPTIP would soon work on propagation of a law that would make it a crime for parents and communities to shield violators of SGBV and facilitate prosecuting them as accomplice in a criminal act.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, at the commencement of FCT community dialogue and advocacy on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the Six Area Councils starting with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Waziri-Azi noted that NAPTIP has recorded 1, 278
reported cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, (SGBV), in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), with spousal battery being the highest complaint in the last one year.
The DG said that "In 2023, NAPTIP received 1, 278 complaints of sexual and genderbased violence in the FCT and top of the list was spousal battery. Our data shows that spousal battery is an issue in the FCT and that was the same trend and pattern that we saw in 2022.
"We also had complaints bordering on abandonment, where either husband, wife or both abandon their children. Also, inflicting physical injury on children and on domestic staff has been seen to be on the increase in the FCT."
She explained that rape is also on the increase but compared to 2022 where it was the third highest reported SGBV case, the 2023 statistics showed that it is now the fourth most reported case.
On the number convictions by the agency, she explains that "In 2023, we secured four convictions. We know how hard it is to investigate and prosecute SGBV cases but these four convictions were very stringent. We have two life imprisonment for the first time ever, 25 years imprisonment and 21 years imprisonment, each without the option of fine."
She noted that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, (VAPPA), of which NAPTIP is empowered to implement in addition to its protecting victims of trafficking in persons not only protects women and children, but all persons including men
hence the erroneous view in some quarters.
Her words: "Intuitively most times, when people hear about the VAPP Act they automatically think that it is to protect just women and children but it protects all persons including men and boys
"In the past two years, we've seen incremental reportage of violence against men; so, men are beginning to realize that the system is not just there for women and the Act also empowers NAPTIP to implement the provisions in the FCT.
"NAPTIP has enforcement powers, has prosecutorial powers and has protective mandate victims of human trafficking
and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence."
Speaking on SGBV against older persons, Director General National Senior Citizens Centre, NSCC), Dr. Emem Omokaro, said "Older persons face a lot of stereotype, prejudice and discrimination, all because they are old," and that has led to series of violence against them.
Director, Social Welfare and Gender, FCT Social Secretariat, Aisha Yusufari, said community leaders can settle minor disagreement among couples in the society but when it comes to issues of life-threatening violence, rape and incest, perpetrators must be reported to the authorities for necessary actions.
Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), Prof. Edoba Omoregie and his team against the claimants.
Justice Akhihiero directed parties in the suit, Edo State Government represented by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), Oba Ewuare II, Akenzua and Ogiegbaen, who were both represented by their counsel led by Dr. Osagie Obayuwana who had objected to the motion through the Counsel of Oba Ewuare II, to amend their relevant documents in the case to reflect the decision.
While other parties in the suit aligned with the position of Oba Ewuare’s counsel to join Benin
Traditional Council in the suit, the claimants Akenzua and Ogiegbaen through their counsel, Obayuwana prayed the court not to list the traditional council as a party in the suit.
He urged the court to award cost against Oba of Benin in favour of the claimants.
The judge, however, turned down the prayers, and held that Obayuwana should not worry about the timing, insisting that:
“The race is not for the swift, or the battle for the strong”.
“If they were bringing in the traditional council as necessary, I don’t see this as a problem since you people have brought the Oba
to court.
“I don’t think I can shut down any party. Let them come in and file their processes”, Justice Akhihiero said, before adjourning hearing in the case to July 15, 2024 in the absence of any injection.
Meanwhile, the Edo state government yesterday said it was not involved in the suit involving the Oba of Benin and Enigies in the state.
The government also noted that it was only a defendant in the suit like the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II and as such has no interest in the matter as being insinuated in some quarters.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, who stated this in a press briefing in Benin City, on behalf of the government, called for out-of-court settlement.
However, Nehikhare said that government was concerned that such a matter among brothers could be allowed to degenerate to the extent that it has become a court case.
According to him: "The Edo state government has appealed to the parties involved to reach a peaceful settling out of court".
Nehikhare also promised that government would like to be part of resolution of the ongoing dispute, so as to bring the matter to an amicable resolution.
Gov Radda directs security agencies to nab culpritsFrancis
Sardauna in
KatsinaThe Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has vowed to arrest and prosecute the killers of the late Customs Assistant II, Auwal Haruna in Katsina State.
He gave the assurance when he visited the family of the deceased in Kayawa Community, Dutsi Local Government Area of the State, said the Service was doing everything humanly possible to apprehend the perpetrators of the evil act.
Haruna was killed during a brutal attack by suspected smugglers on Customs operatives at Gamjin Makaho checkpoint along the Katsina - Dankama road in Kaita Local Council Area of Katsina State on April 17, 2024.
Adeniyi, represented by a high-powered delegation led by the Customs Area Controller, Katsina Command, Comptroller Muhammad Umar, said the Nigeria Customs Service has since commenced investigation on the incident and will fish out those responsible for the act.
The Comptroller General of Customs, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Katsina Area Command, Mr. Tahir Balarabe, vowed that the killers of the slain Customs officer would not go unpunished.
He described the killing of the NCS operative as unprovoked, expressing profound grief over the needless death of the gallant officer and commiserated with the family of the deceased and the entire
Kayawa community.
He said the “brutal attack” on the Customs operatives demonstrates the dangers faced by men and officers of the Service in the line of duty, while saluting their heroism, courage, uncommon grit and patriotism.
The Chairman of Dutsi Local Government Area, Mr. Ado Rabe, who later spoke on behalf of the family, appealed to the management of the NCS to replace the late Haruna with one of his family members.
He said that the entire community has lost a humble son who was the only Customs personnel in the area, hence the need for the Nigeria Customs Service to consider his replacement.
While addressing the delegation at the Katsina State Government
House, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda directed security agencies in the state to arrest the killers of the customs officer in order to face the law.
He said: “It is very important that the security agencies in charge of investigation ensure that the culprits are brought to book and justice is done.
“On behalf of myself and the good people of Katsina State, I condole with the Comptroller General of Customs, and the entire personnel of the Service over the irreplaceable loss.”
He however said the engagements between the Nigeria Customs Service and border communities in the state were cordial and yielding positive results, hence the need for its sustainability.
court grants ex-apex governor leave to appeal
Funke Olaode
A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the trial of immediate past Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has admitted demanding and receiving bribes from contractors.
The witness, a retired Director in the IT Department of CBN, Mr John Ayoh, made the admittance under cross examination by Emefiele's
lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN. Emefiele is standing trial on a 23-count charge of abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail to enable him adequately defend the charges.
The trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court in Lagos, gave Emefiele permission to file an appeal against his decision (at the appeal court), deferring
100 Young African Entrepreneurs to be Rewarded with Cash Prizes, Others at TotalEnergies' Centenary
One hundred young innovative entrepreneurs from across 32 African countries including Nigeria will be recognized and rewarded via three prize categories in the fourth edition of the TotalEnergies Startupper of the Year Challenge which will coincide with the oil giant's 100th anniversary.
This follows the success of the first three editions, where in the 2021/2022 Startupper of the Year Challenge in Nigeria, three young Nigerian entrepreneurs were recognised and rewarded by the company.
Announcing the new edition of the Challenge, which kicked off yesterday, during a virtual media briefing, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies Companies in Nigeria, Dr. Charles Ebereonwu, said the fourth edition reaffirmed TotalEnergies’ commitment to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship and supporting the socio-economic development of African countries in which the company is present.
Ebereonwu said: "The Challenge strengthens the social fabric in local communities by helping the continent’s most innovative entrepreneurs carry out their projects. In all, 365 winners – selected from among some 40,000 applications received – have been rewarded and supported worldwide since 2015.
"For this 2024/2025 edition of the Challenge, TotalEnergies will support, and reward young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 living in Nigeria who
have a business creation project or a startup under three years old, in any business sector.
"A local jury comprised of experts, business leaders, startup ecosystem participants, local sustainability stakeholders and representatives from TotalEnergies Nigeria will select three winners."
For the categories being contested for, he explained that there is Innov’Up winner, for the best entrepreneur; Cycle’Up winner, for the best project relating to the circular economy; Power’Up winner, for the best project relating to sustainable, affordable energy.
He noted that four additional projects in the Power’Up category will be selected by an international jury.
The company's spokesman mentioned that all project entries will be assessed against four criteria including Relevance to sustainable development challenges; Innovation; Feasibility and development potential; and Respect for gender equality and inclusion of women in the project.
"Each winner will become a 'Startupper of the Year by TotalEnergies' and will benefit from a monetary award of N8,000,000.00 (eight million Naira), personalized support and a communication campaign to enhance their project’s visibility.
“Winners will also have the opportunity to promote their projects during a celebratory event, the details of which will be released at a later date.
ruling on the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.
The leave was sequel to Emefiele’s insistence that the Ikeja High Court lacked the jurisdiction to try him on the grounds that the matter at hand bordered on foreign exchange, which is on the Exclusive List of the constitution.
At the resumed trial yesterday, the prosecution, led by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, called three witnesses and tendered several bundles of documents in support of EFCC's allegations against Emefiele.
Among those who testified yesterday were Mr Victor Onyejuiwa, the managing director of Source Computers Limited, a company that had executed various contracts worth billions of naira at the CBN before Emefiele became Governor of the apex bank.
The others were Ayoh and a staff of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Clement Ngolu.
Responding to questions from Emefiele's lawyer, the former CBN director admitted that he demanded and received a
bribe from Onyejuiwa. He was, however, unable to explain or connect the former CBN governor with the bribery activities.
Meanwhile, responding to questions about his relationship with Emefiele, the witness observed that he was side-lined by Emefiele because he was not popular with him.
Ayoh stated, “I was not happy being unpopular with the former CBN governor but on a number of occasions, I signed contract letters to vendors.
“While I was a director with the CBN, my loyalty was to the bank and the Nigerian nation and my relationship with Emefiele was only formal and based on instructions."
Earlier, Onyejuiwa, while being questioned by Emefiele's lawyer, admitted that he was forced against his wish by Ayoh to make payment for jobs done at the CBN. He alleged that the former director had threatened that his company would not be paid unless such payment was made to management.
However, the third prosecution
witness, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, Mr. Clement Ngolu, in his Evidence-in-Chief, said his department responded to regulators and law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that the bank activities were in line with banks policies and regulations.
He added that his department worked with agencies like EFCC, Nigeria Police, ICPC and NSCDC.
The witness said that sometimes in 2014, his department got a request from EFCC to furnish them with statements of accounts of Limelight and two other accounts and they duly furnished the commission with the documents.
Ngolu stated, “The documents we sent to EFCC were duly signed by staff of the bank.
“The process of generating the statement was through our computer system, which was in good condition as at the time.
“The documents were printed out from the company’s computer, which was working
well and the documents are in the bank’s custody.” The defence, however, said they had no question for the witness.
Oshodi admitted some bundles of documents as exhibits after lawyers representing the defendants did not object to their admissibility. The documents, which were tendered by the prosecution through Ngolu included; the original copies of Zenith Bank account opening package; and statement of account of Limelight Multidimensional Services Limited.
He adjourned the case to Friday, May 17, 2024 for the continuation of trial.
It would be recalled that EFCC had on April 8 arraigned Emefiele on a 23-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage, while his co-defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on acceptance of gift by agents.
Bonga, Nigeria’s first deepwater oil asset development has said the company is an outstanding producer due to effective leadership, cuttingedge technology, continuous improvement, integrated delivery and collaboration with partners and stakeholders.
Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, stated this yesterday during a presentation at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, United States.
Since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve 1 billion barrels of export on February 13, 2023.
Aiboni reflected on the success factors that enabled the milestone in a presentation titled: “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels.”
Aiboni noted that Bonga has been consistent, recalling that in 2014, nine years after coming on-stream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023.
"We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations.
“These factors, coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production
Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case", she said.
Aiboni added that SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations. She spoke of the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
“SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and
identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff", she noted.
Aiboni pointed out that Bonga's success story had been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria. She maintained that today, some 97 per cent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy", Aiboni added.
Peter Uzoho
Acting Group Politics Edito r DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye @thisdaylive.com
08033025611 SMS ONLY
Leke Baiyewu writes about the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass, for the creation of state police through necessary constitutional amendment by the 10th National Assembly.
Nigeria is grappling with myriad of security challenges, and the country continues to find solutions on how best to tackle them.
From insurgency to secessionist insurrection, to banditry, to kidnapping, to armed robbery, to illegal mining and vandalism of oil pipelines and other public assets. The crimes are numerous, and the rates are rising in a fearsome spate.
One of the solutions that have been proposed, which is now a major topic on the front burners of national discourse, is the decentralisation or unbundling of the current unitary police structure known as the Nigeria Police Force. This proposal has been a subject of national debate for a long time, and Nigerians have been divided by the pros and cons of state or community policing.
To make Nigerians walk the talk, the 10th House of Representatives under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has taken the bull by the horn by seeking the endorsement of Nigerians through their representatives at the National Assembly and the state Houses of Assembly.
The House is about to test the popularity of state or community policing, and the people - Nigerians - now have the opportunity of determining how their nation should be policed.
The proposal for state police is part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the 10th National Assembly. The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who is also the Chairman of the House’ Special Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, and 14 others, had sponsored the bill seeking to alter the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to empower the states to establish their own policing outfits.
The House had, on February 20, 2024, passed for second reading, the bill seeking to create police structures in each of the 36 states of the federation.
Consequently, the House organised a National Dialogue on State Policing on Monday, April 22, 2023, on the proposal to decentralise the current NPF and empower states to create and operate police outfits.
The event was held in Abuja with the theme: ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria.’
The Speaker, in his keynote address at the historic event, noted that the House remains neutral in the debates for and against the creation of state police.
Abbas stated: “Our mission here is simple: to deliberate the future of policing in Nigeria, reflecting on our historical context and aligning our actions with the demands of our diverse and dynamic populace and daunting contemporary security challenges that have stretched our existing system to a breaking point.
“The concept of state police involves decentralising law enforcement functions to the state level, thereby allowing for more localised and responsive policing tailored to the unique needs of each state. However, Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution establishes the Nigerian Police Force as unitary police ‘for the Federation or any part thereof.’
As noted by the Speaker, evolving security challenges and other institutional and structural challenges have severely affected the general effectiveness of the police.
According to him: “As you are mostly aware, this deficit has resulted in the military engaging in policing functions in all states of the Federation, including the FCT. In turn, this has also overstretched the armed forces and affected their effectiveness in combating other broader security challenges, including those that threaten the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”
Abbas noted that, whereas most Nigerians agree on the need to reform policing, that is usually where the consensus ends, stating that “there is no agreement on how best to proceed with the reform or the best policing model for Nigeria.”
He said: “Furthermore, it is also important to remind ourselves that decentralised policing is not alien to Nigeria. Historically, during both the colonial and immediate post-colonial periods, Nigeria operated under a system where local
police forces played significant roles in maintaining public order specific to their regions.”
He noted this was evidenced by the Lagos Police Force, Hausa Constabulary, and Niger
Coast Constabulary.
“The structure was maintained even after the merger of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, with the creation of the Northern
Nigeria Police and the Southern Nigeria Police. In fact, under the First Republic, these forces were first regionalised before their subsequent nationalisation. However, subsequent civilian and military governments adopted a rigidly centralised pattern for the Nigeria Police,” he recalled.
The Speaker said the historical precedent supports the notion that a decentralised approach can be beneficial and effective if properly managed. He added: “However, we must proceed with caution. There is a palpable fear among our citizens – a fear of potential tyranny and the misuse of police powers if control is devolved to the state level. These concerns are not unfounded and must be addressed frontally, without bias or sentiments. This emphasises the need for robust frameworks that ensure accountability, transparency, and equitable service delivery across all states. Equally important are setting stringent national standards, establishing oversight bodies, and involving communities in the policing process.”
While also noting that the House is aware of the divisive and polarising arguments surrounding the issue under review, Abbas said: “let me state categorically that the House and indeed the National Assembly does not have a fixed position. Our role is to facilitate a dialogue and generate consensus.”
-Baiyewu is Chief Press Secretary to Speaker of the House of Representatives
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Yinka Oyebode writes about the call by Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State for foreign business men to invest in Nigeria going by the favourable climate provided by the President Bola Tinubu-led government at the centre.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has called on foreign investors to take advantage of the current economic reforms in Nigeria to invest in the country.
Speaking at a panel session in Dallas, Texas in the United States at a panel session, one of the major events at the on-going 2024 US- Africa Business Summit organised the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), Oyebanji declared that “This is the right time for any investor to invest in Nigeria”.
To buttress his position, the Governor cited the current reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration and the synergy between the Federal Government and the state governments.
In attendance at the session were heads of national government and sub- national governments; investors; policy makers and development agencies drawn from different parts of the world, including the Chairman of the Board of Corporate Council on Africa, Mr John Oyebanji,Olajide. in his presentation also cited a few successful collaboration between Ekiti State Government and some international investors, including Cavista Holdings and Promasidor to make a case for more direct investment in the state, stressing that the right time to invest in the state is now.
According to him: “Now we have a reform- minded government that is visionary and we have 36 state governors (I am one of them) and these are people that have keyed into the vision of the President Tinubu’s administration.
“And like I have said, the economies of sub-nationals are so critical to the Nigerian economy itself. So, for any investor that wants credible return on their investment, this is the time to invest in Nigeria because the market is readily available, the people are ready, we have a government that is reform-minded, transparent, and trusted by the people.
“Nigerians believe in this government because we have a President that has done it right and all the governors have keyed into his vision as well. So, the time to invest in Nigeria is now”.
Wooing investors to Ekiti, the Governor said the State Government is strong on regulatory
framework which are designed to protect investors and investments in the state.
His words: “What we are doing is to ensure that we have a stable and predictable regu- latory framework and there must be trust because I believe that for any business to thrive, trust is key. You must have a leader that is visionary, trust-worthy, and transparent. All these, we have in Ekiti State and that is why I am here today so that we can have more investors like Cavista who are relevant to what we are doing in the State.
“So, the sub-nationals are critical to developing the Nigerian economy, but for them to attract credible investors there must be clear regulatory framework. The ease of doing business has to be top notch, security must be guaranteed, put in place the building blocks that will allow businesses to grow and thrive. Things must also be done in the way and manner that will give them confidence to bring their capital to invest.
“The Cavista story is one of our success stories and I am proud of it. Cavista Holdings came to Ekiti State as a company we were not aware of but they showed interest in one of our moribund assets that has been there for many years and nobody wants to touch it. Cavista came to discuss with us but through
the help of NIPC, they told us to set up an Investment Promotion Agency so we have an IPA that shields investors away from government bureaucracies.
“So, they do things the private sector way and we also set up a very strong regula- tory system. We have a predictable policy because we realized that when you look for development, investors look for returns on their investments. So we have all our businesses plan being driven by the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA) and the Director-General has access to me directly so that when there are issues, I can give the executive backing.
“So we started with the facility at Ikogosi Warm Spring and Resort that we are so proud of, and they told us what is expected of us as a government and because of the recent reforms of the Federal Government, which ceded resources to sub-nationals who are able to build critical infrastructure to support investments. Now the Resort is a success story, and because of that, we have now migrated from Tourism to the Agriculture.
“In Nigeria, there is a central government and there are 36 state governments with governors as heads of states; The Nigerian economy is the aggregate economy of sub-nationals and so if the sub-nationals do well, the country will do well as whole.
The Federal Government realizing this put in place structures to assist subnational in areas of business development and attracting private investors into their space.
“As a governor of a state you have responsibilities within the state but there are some critical areas that are better left in the hands of private investors. So through the Nigerian Investment and Promotion Council ( NIPC), the Federal Government collaborates with states and tell us what we need to do to make the state investmentfriendly because capitals (finances) will move to a place where they are welcome.
“So, there are healthy competitions amongst the 36 states to get very responsible and credible private sector players into our states.”
-Oyebode is Media Adviser to Ekiti state Governor
Wale Igbintade
In recent times, the offspring of wealthy Nigerians have been involved in controversies over who controls what in a multimillionaire estate of their parents, who sometimes died intestate (without a will), while the ones with a will have always been a subject of litigation. From captains of industry to politicians and legal titans, it has been a tale of power play and supremacy of who should be in charge or who is right to take the lion’s share.
Funke Olaode
A businessman, Adrian Osagie Ididia, has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja for alleged fraud of N84 million.
India was re-arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on two counts of alleged obtaining by false pretence and stealing N84 million.
The defendant had, sometime in 2022, arraigned before Justice Serifat Solebo, now retired, and was granted bail.
However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the EFCC counsel, Mr Ebuka Okongwu, prayed the court to allow the two amended counts charge dated November 25, 2021, to be read to the defendant to take his plea.
The defendant’s counsel did not oppose his prayer for re-arraignment,
The family of the late foremost industrialist the late Sir Taiwo Okeowo, have dragged themselves
Mr. Dada Awosika (SAN).
Ididia was, therefore, re-arraigned on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing the N84 million.
EFCC alleged that Ididia obtained money by false pretence contrary to Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
He was alleged to have obtained N84 million ‘with intent to defraud’ one Mark David Umeh on the false representation that he had three Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for sale in September 2019, knowing fully well that his claim was false. His offence of stealing was contrary to sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, No 11, 2011. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Part of the charge read that Ididia, between September 13, 2019, and October 29, 2019, at Lagos within
before the Lagos High Court presided over by Justice Aishat Opesanwo over a libel case instituted by a Lagos billionaire and property developer, Sir Oluwatumininu Okeowo, against some of his siblings.
The case has been adjourned for a hearing until May 20, 2024.
When the case came up for
the court jurisdiction, dishonestly stole and converted to his use the sum of N84,000,000.00 property of Mr Mark David Umeh.
Following his plea of not guilty, EFCC counsel prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and fix a trial date.
In his submission, defendant counsel Awosika told the court that he had filed a bail application dated May 2. He prayed the court to allow his client to continue on bail earlier granted by the retired Justice Solebo.
He submitted that the defendant did not violate the conditions of the bail granted, and he has always been in court.
He told the court to admit the defendant to bail and added that a Federal High Court had granted him bail in a similar matter. He maintained that the defendant was ready to stand trial and would not
hearing on Monday, Justice Opesanwo informed parties that the court would not sit due to the absence of the court registrar. Okeowo had, in suit number LD/ADR/4661/2022, dragged his siblings before the court, claiming N100m as damages over alleged libellous publication against him.
jump bail if granted by the court.
However, the EFCC counsel filed a counter affidavit to oppose the bail application. Okongwu submitted that the defendant worked for a construction company in Canada and that he has a Canadian passport. “He does not even live in the address he wrote in the statement. The address was traced on Google and it was discovered that is was a shot let apartment,” he stated. He added that the defendant has no residential address for the commission to trace him.
Awosika responded that he resides in Benin, and his passport was deposited at the Federal High Court in another matter. The counsel, therefore, undertakes to bring him at the next adjournment date and prays the court to release the defendant so that he can get his family to prepare for his bail bond.
Mr Jubril Yakubu, a prosecution witness in the ongoing case between the Lagos government and Chrisland School, told the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court that he was not aware that three Child Protection Officers from the school were at Agege Stadium on the day of the inter-house sport.
He informed the court, presided over by Justice Oyindamola Ogala that he was also not aware that the trio of Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Fajemirokun and Mrs. Oladimeji, who were at the stadium on the inter-house sports day, were present on February 14 because he did not check the attendees’ list.
Chrisland School and four staffers, including the principal,
vice principal and two others, were alleged by the Lagos government of negligence over the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran, during an Inter-house sports competition that was held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
The defendants were charged before the court on March 30, 2023, and all pleaded not guilty.
At the resumed hearing and while being cross-examined by counsel to the fourth defendant, Mr. Ademola Animashaun, the witness confirmed that he is aware that Chrisland School has trained their staff on safeguarding policy and was once a facilitator during such training.
When asked if he agrees that the primary responsibility of school safety rests on his ministry, he
answered in the affirmative.
Yakubu, the third prosecution witness who reaffirmed before the court that he is a deputy director with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, noted that he did not know that the school had an emergency bus on the ground on the day of the incident, but he is aware that they have a school bus at the venue.
He said, “I am aware that the school had a nurse on the ground, but I don’t know if there were any first aiders on the ground on the day of the incident. “
When asked if he is aware that the deceased mother attended the inter-house sport, he said yes, but he does not know if she was taken to the hospital by the school.
“I am aware that the deceased was
taken to the primary health centre in Agege and that the stadium is far from the primary health centre where she was taken. I don’t know the time it took the school emergency bus to get to the hospital,” he said.
The counsel, Barr. Animasaun brought out his phone to show the Lagos witness the GPS timing, which showed the driving distance between the stadium and the hospital to be three minutes.
The witness also reaffirmed that the meeting of February 14, 2023, was fact-finding and that he wrote his report based on the findings at the meeting held on the cause of death.
He added, “I don’t know whether the autopsy report was out as at the time I did my report, whereby I also recommended that the cause of death should be looked into.”
the electricity bill, giving a seven-day ultimatum if the tariff is not reversed.
The branch Chairman, Mr. Seyi Olawunmi made this known yesterday while addressing the newsmen at the Ikeja Bar Centre, beside the Lagos High Court in Ikeja. He noted that the National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) order made in respect of the electricity tariff hike is anti-
people, noted that the tariff smacks of the policy of a government has lost touch with the daily realities of its average citizen.
Olawunmi recalled that in December, 2023, NERC issued a new Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2024) which indicated a purported cost-reflective tariff chargeable by the various Electricity Distribution
Companies (Discos).
The NBA, therefore, demand the “immediate stop to the illegal implementation” of the N225 per kWh imposed on their so-called band A customers at the discretion of the Discos and NERC without any empirical basis. Also, the classification into bands A, B, C, D, or E should be scrapped.
The defendants in the suit are Joe Faraday (a company belonging to his brother), Joshua Okeowo, and Tolulope Okeowo.
The claimant is asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing libellous statements about him.
He prayed the court to compel the defendants to disclose evidence that he (claimant) forged the Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy over property known as 15A and 15B, Bayo kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
However, in their statement of defence filed by their lawyer, Kunle Adegoke SAN, the defendants denied making any unprovoked assault or orchestrated smear campaign on the claimant’s character. They neither have any malice against him.
The defendants further stated that they did not, at any time, malign or defame the claimant’s character in any manner whatsoever and that they would hold the claimant to strict proof regarding this allegation.
The defendants averred that they did not, at any time whatsoever, authored the purported internet publication titled ‘Sir Taiwo Okeowo Estate Brief’ or engaged in a campaign of calumny against the claimant concerning the alleged destruction of Santo Domingo
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has dismissed the appeal filed by Total E&P Nig. Ltd against the decision of Justice O.O Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court over none compliance with the Petroleum Tax Act (PPTA).
In her lead Judgement, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem held that the lower court was right and that the appeal was unmeritorious.
Other panel members, Justice J.G Abundaga and Justice AM Talba aligned themselves with the lead judgment.
The appellant (Total E&P Nig. Ltd), an upstream petroleum company, had, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, flared associated gas (gas extracted alongside oil) without written permission of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
However, it paid the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) fees for the gas flaring for those years.
In its Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT) Returns, the appellant deducted the fees as allowable expenses for those years.
However, in 2011, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative CNETTI) conducted an audit on the Appellant (Exhibit TO6 at Page 41 of the records), and complained that the appellant should not have deducted the payment for its gas flaring of 2006, 2007 or 2008
Luxury Residences or any other matter whatsoever.
They stated that the letter dated October 5, 2022, referenced in paragraph 10 of the Statement of Claim, was written on the authorization of the second and third defendants as well as their six siblings in their capacities as shareholders and directors of Manna Real Estate Company Limited and Metal Construction (West Africa) Ltd and beneficiaries of the Estate of Late Sir Taiwo Okeowo, wherein they instructed the law firm of Fortbanc to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the inspector general of police (IGP) to investigate criminal activities committed by the claimant. They averred that the second and third defendants and their other siblings petitioned the law enforcement authorities due to the alleged fraudulent and reckless dissipation of properties from the estate of their late father, Sir Taiwo Okeowo, among other criminal actions.
Also, in their counterclaim, the defendants averred that since the death of their father, no letters of administration were granted to anyone to administer the estate of their late father, Sir Taiwo Okeowo.
in its tax returns.
NEITI contended that since the appellant did not obtain the minister’s written permission to flare gas in those years as required by law, the payment for the gas flaring was not incurred in accordance with the law and, hence, is not an allowable expense under the Petroleum Profit Tax Act (PPTA).
Following the 2011 NEITI Audit, the appellant approached DPR and signed a joint resolution with DPR on March 28, 2012, which reviewed the payments made to DPR on the appellant’s gas flaring between 1990 - 2009 and 2010 - 2011 in line with the prevailing Naira-US Dollar exchange rate.
But, the respondent (Federal Inland Revenue Service) disallowed the appellant’s deduction of the gas flare payments for 2006, 2007 and 2008, and on that basis, raised Petroleum Profit Tax assessments on the Appellant on October 12, 2012, in respect of those three years.
The appellant objected to and ultimately challenged the assessments at the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
The appellant contended that it rightly flared gas in 2006, 2007 and 2008, citing the joint resolution signed with the DPR in 2012 as the minister’s written permission for its gas flaring in 2006 - 2008. The Tax Appeal Tribunal endorsed this argument and delivered judgment in favour of the appellant.
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
The Correctional Centres are in dire need of reform
Latest revelation that 73 per cent of prison inmates in Nigeria are awaiting trial is another pointer to the failure of justice administration in the country. According to the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliyu Abubakar who made the disclosure, the problem has been compounded by “inadequate centres, and, more importantly, the remand system where suspects are detained for minor issues, leading to overcrowding.” While it is not unlikely that many of those unfortunate Nigerians may have spent longer than the period for which they would have been jailed if their cases had been promptly disposed of, the main concern is that there is no sign that anything would change or that to address this problem.
As we have argued on this page repeatedly, having these individuals languish in prison without any attempt at hearing their cases is a clear violation of their fundamental rights. Beyond that, what the huge gulf between the number of convicted persons and those awaiting trial clearly reveals is that the machinery of justice dispensation is not properly oiled. There are stories that in many of the stinking, tiny prisons across the country, some inmates have spent between 10 and 20 years in detention without trial. Prisoners and detainees, many of whom had never been tried in court have been subjected to torture, terrible living conditions in overcrowded cells, and deliberately deprived of good meals.
also admitted that even though the government is doing its best to reduce the number of inmates, unfortunately many more people are being handed over to the custodial centres.
While we do not advocate a wholesale release of these detainees, it does not make any sense keeping people perpetually detained without being tried. The security breaches in many of correctional centres are a strong evidence of a failed prison system for which the appropriate government authorities must take full responsibility.
The security breaches in many of correctional centres are a strong evidence of a failed prison system for which the appropriate government authorities must take full responsibility
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
T
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI
There is the need for some intervention measures which should include access to justice programme for the inmates; better endowment for prisoner education; and vocational training and rehabilitation programmes. There is also an urgent need by the authorities to conduct prison inspections on a regular basis while there must always be a swift response to complaints. Above all, the federal government must work with the states on how to decongest the prisons, especially of those who ordinarily should not be there.
Although Abubakar pledged “to reduce the 60 per cent of awaiting trial inmates, and they will centers,” Nigerians had been fed with such promises in the past, but to no avail. Besides, he
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI
SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI
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DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
We must also note that many of the prisons were built during the colonial era and since them. Consequently, the worn-out facilities and infrastructure are unable to cater for the increasing population of prisoners. The result is outbreak of diseases in the prison environment. It is therefore no surprise that whereas the prison systems in most countries are meant to reform the prisoners, the Nigerian system hardens them.
and ameliorating the plight of ATM would come to naught without adequate judicial reform aimed at a complete overhauling of the country’s criminal justice system.
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.
If well-educated, competent, and patriotic political leaders take over the reins of power at all tiers of government, Nigeria will return to her pristine state, and halcyon days. At that time, which was Nigeria was on the trajectory of economic prosperity and technological advancement. Didn't we have the groundnut pyramid in the northern region; the cocoa plantation in the western region; and
At that time, the quality of education obtainable in our schools was high; and our premier university, which was at Ibadan, was a Mecca for foreign students, who sought quality education. And the exemplary and commendable political leadership, which was Obafemi Awolowo, has remained the unmatchable praxis for political leadership in our political annals, till now.
But sadly, over the years, the state of things in Nigeria has changed from good to bad. The simmering ethnic rivalry as well as hatred, which had existed in Nigeria for a long time, came to the fore in the 1960s and partly caused the Nigeria - Biafra fratricidal
civil war. The war pitted the Igbo people against the rest of Nigeria. The war caused the ruination of our economy, the destruction of our infrastructure, and the loss of a million lives. And it deepened the ethnic hatred, which has existed among the people(s) of Nige-grounds view one another with suspicion and deep resentment.
But can a country that is hobbled by disunity realize her poten-tion that needs no answer. Everybody- including babies in diapers - know that disunity is a disincentive to national development. If the people of a country cannot reach consensus on a national matter because they are disunited, national development will be put in abeyance in that country.
Only an educated, visionary, patriotic, and competent national leader, who has a pan Nigerian vision, can unite all the diverse interests and people(s) of Nigeria, and put our country on the path of irreversible economic prosperity and technological advancement. But responsible, accountable, humane, purposeful, and visionary
our political culture. Vote-buying, voters' suppression, and the politicians' misuse and abuse of state powers to gain political power have been woven into our political culture.
So since the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, electoral litigation has become a feature of our democracy. The judiciary has been deciding winners of presidential, governorship, state assemblies, and national assembly elections. That our judiciary is corrupt; and that it is an appendage of the executive arm of government is an indisputable fact. So the factors of our despicable variant of political culture and corrupt judiciary have always thrown up third eleven politicians as our political leaders. And now, Nigeria and Nigerians are the worse for it.
derless political leadership are evident to us. For example, Nigerianous industries.
Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State
A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the
floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
GUIDE TO DATA:
Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at
May-2024, unless otherwise stated.
Stakeholders in the Aviation industry have called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to urgently rehabilitate the old international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA) Lagos, to avert major safety threats leading to incessant fire incidents at the facility.
There have been fire incidents at the terminal including the incident in September last year and another, which occurred in April this year, allegedly caused
by electrical problems.
Industry insiders warn that these are auguries of tragic incident in waiting if FAAN and the federal government do not intervene and rebuild the infrastructure, noting that the new terminal is way too small to accommodate airlines and passengers.
They are of the view that the old terminal must be put in use because the new terminal has limited capacity.
The country manager of an international airline who works at the terminal, told THISDAY
that FAAN should carry out forensic survey of the terminal and insisted that the problem of the terminal is mismanagement, noting that there is no weekly, monthly and annual maintenance schedule of the airport, which is in use every day and which has existed for about 40 years.
“The new terminal is not an airport terminal despite the state of the art facilities in it. Those are just aesthetics. Pragmatically, this old terminal was built with international standard on how an airport terminal should be, but unfortunately we don’t have good
maintenance culture at the airport.
“The typical thing about Nigeria is that in government agencies and in public service, officials like to give contracts in order to get their own cut; otherwise, there should have been established system, whereby there is maintenance structure at the terminal, where you have engineers, electricians and other technical personnel who are put to work to maintain the airport. They are there but they are idle because any job that will be done is contracted out and that is why the terminal is in such deplorable condition,” he said.
According to him, to renew the terminal all the avio bridges (air bridge where passengers pass through to board their flights) should be changed, the conveyor belts for moving checked in luggage should be changed and the ones for arrivals should also be changed in addition to the tiles that were used to replace the more durable ones that came with the structure.
He also advised that the ceilings at the terminal should be changed and the central cooling system should be restored.
“You cannot install units of air conditioners and expect them to
give you efficient cooling system and all those units consume power and take up spaces. If you go to Ikeja Mall you will see they have central cooling system. That is the way public facilities are built to ensure the efficiency of the cooling system,” he further said.
Also, the Managing Director of Flight and Logistics Solutions Limited, Amos Akpan, told THISDAY that the old international terminal needed a focused and very detailed regular maintenance.
issue
Emma Okonji and Nume Ekeghe
In a bid to expand and enhance cross-border payments, Access Bank has partnered Mastercard to launch a unified cross-border money movement solution across various African markets that will enable businesses and consumers to send and receive international payments to and from across more than 150 countries.
The partnership, which was announced in Lagos, will enable Access Bank to further push its
AccessAfrica payment platform beyond Africa, to boost financial inclusion.
The collaboration underlines both organisations’ commitment to the African economy by providing a financially inclusive solution that optimises liquidity and capital in the markets and reduces international transaction costs incurred by businesses and consumers while making and receiving international payments.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank,
Chizoma Okoli, said: “Our partnership with MasterCard indicates our focus on ensuring that we give our customers the required service they need and deserve. At Access Bank, we continue to look for partnerships that would support us in achieving our dreams and goals.”
Senior Advisory, Retail Banking, Access Bank, Robert Giles said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Mastercard to advance financial inclusion in Africa through the Access
Africa initiative. By combining our strengths, we can unlock new opportunities, bridge the financial divide, and create a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Africans.”
Also speaking, the Division President for Africa at Mastercard, Mark Elliott said: “Empowering Access Bank customers with innovative solutions that prioritize choice, security, and flexibility is an achievement that fills us with great pride. This collaboration signifies our commitment to
transforming payment experiences as it not only brings cutting-edge payment solutions to the bank’s diverse clientele, but also extends the reach of Mastercard’s financial and digital ecosystem, ensuring millions from underserved communities can actively participate in the evolving financial and digital economy.”
Country Manager, West Africa, Mastercard, Folasade Femi-Lawal, said the partnership would address challenges in cross-border payments like failed transactions
and delays in completing transactions, with the intent to further boost financial inclusion across African markets.
Fable Fintech, an Express Partner of the Mastercard Move Partner Programme, is the technical implementation partner of the solution, effectively collaborating with both Access Africa and Mastercard Move experts.
Former Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka has proposed the revising of qualifications and pilot training hours in Nigeria to improve aviation employment opportunities.
He said the current 500-hour minimum time for pilots may hinder new graduates, typically with 200-300 hours, from finding jobs.
During the Aviation Round Table (ART) Breakfast meeting, Adeyileka underscored Africa’s demand for 67,000 aviation professionals, noting a shortage of skilled replacements in Nigeria’s industry.
The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria trains
yearly without sufficient job placements. Adeyileka argues that high pilot training hours in Nigeria prompt foreign pilot hiring, suggesting increased captaincy hours and reduced first officer hours to boost employability and lessen dependency on foreign pilots, adding that simplifying flight hour requirements could help more Nigerian pilots secure local aviation jobs.
“What I used to say is why do you want to have 500 hours minimum, that will work in Europe and South Africa. There they finish and go and fly AG CAT or go to farms or have flying clubs. We don’t have that in Nigeria.My advice is, why don’t you increase the minimum hours you have for your captains and reduce the hours for first officers so they can be gainfully employed. I don’t know
how that is working but we still have that gap. It creates vacancies for foreigners to come in and fly so we need to tighten our policy,” Adeyileka said.
He emphasised identifying key positions and successors at all levels for a talent pool to fill future roles effectively.
“This reduces the risk of disruption to the business operations, as there is a smooth transition of leadership. This approach aids in retaining and developing talent within the aviation organisation by offering clear career paths and growth opportunities. This improves employee engagement and reduces turnover rates. It helps to build a strong leadership pipeline, which is essential for the long-term success of the aviation organization,” Adeyileka further said.
Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, has bagged another accolade for its game-changing milestones in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The airline clinched the Achievement Award in the Corporate Category at the 2024 Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Awards and Annual Dinner, which held recently in Lagos.
The award is in recognition of Air Peace’s top-tier achievements in its niche, and the industry-leading
initiatives which the airline has embarked on since inception, especially its recent disruptive entry into the London market.
Receiving the award on behalf of Air Peace, the airline’s Safety Manager, Captain Godfrey Ogbogu, thanked the leadership of ICAN for the honour and applauded the institute’s firm commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism in accounting practice.
He also affirmed Air Peace’s
Since the proceeds from oil started dwindling, there have been persistent calls from the federal government, urging Nigerians to go into export, but the calls were largely ignored because the only readily available export commodity in Nigeria is farm produce.
drive to continually connect cities locally, regionally and globally, adding that the airline is poised to reduce the burden of air travel for Nigerians while fostering economic prosperity across cities, countries and continents.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) was established in 1965 to produce world-class Chartered Accountants, regulate and continually enhance their ethical standards and technical competence in the public interest.
Recognising the growing significance of drones, the acting Director General of Civil Aviation Nigeria, Captain Najomo, approved the establishment of a specialised Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Unit within the NCAA.
The unit aims to streamline the registration, licensing, and monitoring of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Nigeria.
By collaborating with aviation stakeholders, the NCAA seeks to regulate the burgeoning drone industry in accordance with aviation standards.
Amidst the burgeoning adoption of drones, there’s a pressing need to balance innovation with safety concerns. This initiative seeks to harmonize the integration, facilitation, and regulation of drone operations within Nigerian airspace.
The Unmanned Aircraft System commonly referred to as drones, operates autonomously and under human control for various purposes. Drones, initially designed for hazardous tasks, now serve various
industries, including military, commercial, and agriculture.
Expanding beyond military usage, drones are employed in policing, surveillance, cargo delivery, and entertainment industries like filmmaking and drone racing.
NCAA said the emergence of Unmanned Aircraft Systems promises job creation and economic opportunities, providing
an alternative avenue for air transportation in Nigeria’s evolving aviation landscape. However, there is an urgent need to strike an equilibrium, a balance between innovation and safety. Hence the move to integrate, facilitate, embrace and regulate this emerging trend, arising from the development and deployment of the technology.
Arktika-M, the number two spacecraft equipped with an onboard control system developed by a Rosatom company, Mars Moscow Research and Design Office, has been put into the satellite-specific operation.
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The decision was made by the State Commission for Flight Testing of Space Complexes for Social and Economic, Scientific, and Commercial Purposes following several months of flight testing of the new meteorological satellite designed to observe the Arctic region from a highly elliptical orbit (apogee ~40 thousand km), and of the upgraded Arktika-M space system.
The Mars’ onboard control system was designed to maintain the weather satellite operable under space radiation throughout its entire service life. The control system reads the current attitude of the spacecraft while maintaining the required one thus ensuring highly accurate and steady pointing of the target equipment to the Earth, fulfills a lot of service tasks, monitors and controls all onboard systems of the satellite. Arktika-M films the entire disc of the Earth both in the visible and infrared ranges at 15 minute-intervals.
Arktika-M No. 2 is the second spacecraft of the world’s only highly elliptical hydrometeorological space system Arktika-M.
Deputy General Designer at Mars, who is the Chief Designer of onboard control systems, Dmitry Dobrynin, said: “In addition to its main tasks, there is a new fiberoptic gyroscopes based device undergoing flight qualification onboard the spacecraft, which is planned to be used onboard similar devices of the next generation.”
The onboard control system developed by Rosatom allows forecasting short- and long-term weather for the entire territory of the Earth, which is important for African countries as well.
Timely predictions of natural disasters and emergencies, such as droughts, floods and others, can help to prepare for them in time, eliminate situations of panic and save lives. This, in turn, will prevent the countries of the continent from being knocked out of their development plans and will enable them to move forward, improving and raising the standard of living of the local people.
Mars Moscow Research and Design Office was founded in June 1955 and taken over by Rosatom in 2017.
The company’s main mission is the development and manufacture of onboard systems and control complexes, as well as separate devices, electronic units and test equipment for rocket, space and aviation products.
However, few answered, and one of them is the Gum Arabic Company Limited (GACON). The Group Managing Director of the company, Adaku Chidume-Okoro, revealed to THISDAY that government was taking the initiative to provide incentives to those who are exporting commodities to earn the highly sought after foreign exchange.
According to Chidume-Okoro, the Gum Arabic Company Nigeria Limited, which was incorporated in 1999, started export operations a year later as an agribusiness worldwide. With a mission tosource, process and supply best quality materials to its customers at the best possible prices, while ensuring that products offered are wholly natural.
The company’s flagship products include fresh ginger and dried split ginger, dried split turmeric, dried hibiscus flower (full flower and siftings), gum Arabic of all grades, hot chili pepper, cassia tora seeds, dried kolanuts and prosopis juliflora. The company specializes in the export of various agricultural commodities, herbs and obtanicals.
The Managing Director said over the years, GACON Ltd had developed a global customer base which includes reputable manufacturing, processing and trading companies in the United States, Britain, Germany, India, China, Russia, Bulgaria, Six Central Americans countries, France, Italy, Poland, etc.
GACON Limited which started as a small exporter and one man business, with export of one container of Gum Arabic; has grown over the years to become one of the leading Nigeria non-oil export companies.
With a staff strength of 30 senior staff, 36 middle level and junior staff as permanent staff and over 200 seasonal staff on her payroll, the company organizes regular training and retraining, skilling & up scaling, learning and adapting to new norms & programs for all cadres of her employees, to enable them perform in today’s digital international space for her sustainability and customers’ satisfaction.
GACON has her administrative headquarters office in Lagos and Regional Operational Office located on a two-hectare piece of land in Bompai Industrial Estate, Kano, as well as an aggregating office in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna and a satellite office in Imo State.
Speaking to THISDAY, Chidume-Okoro who marked 25 years of the company recently, explained that the company sources her produce from Kano, Kafanchan, Kebbi and loads the produce in containers and ship them overseas from the Lagos port.
“From Kano or Kafanchan, they go straight to the shipping bay, and they do their documentation. Some people don’t even know what gum arabic is. But it is a natural product that is very important. I will give you an example for Coca-Cola production, without gum arabic inside Coca-Cola manufacturing, you will have the water sediments. You will have the water separate from the color. So it is gum arabic that whitens and retains that shelf life. Your capsules is gum arabic that is the outer coatings. Your tablets that you drink, it is gum arabic that binds the powder together in tablets form. Your ice cream, without gum arabic in your ice cream, it cannot stay as ice cream. It will dismember and crystallize. So, gum arabic is indispensable.
“That was where we started. But currently, because when the Sudan war started, we had some issues because Gum Arabic was also coming from Sudan and Chad. But with the onset of Boko Haram and the likes, we had to diversify into other products. So we now had to start doing dry skin ginger, which is also a major percentage of our export shipments. We do fresh ginger also, we do hibiscus flower. Hibiscus flower is the
Zobo you know. If I tell you that some companies are shipping 300, 400 containers of hibiscus to a particular country of the world annually. You will be wondering, ordinary hibiscus flower. But those Nigerian exports earners know. In the year 2010, based on our consistency, the drive and passion with which we are handling the non-oil export business, I was recognized by the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Nigeria’s number one woman exporter. And ever since, there has not been any other recognition. So GACON still flies that flag as the number one exporter. GACON is proudly led by a woman most of our staff are women.
“It may also interest you to know that our team lead operations, the people that control the factory, the processing, the plants are women. Our operations manager is a Northern lady, from Kano. So that will tell you what we are doing, what we are trying to do. In terms of technology, I am sure you have been wondering, we are in an international business, playing in the international market. So we constantly and consistently keep up scaling and upskilling our workforce. We don’t take digitalization with levity, we don’t play with it. So it will also interest you to note that recently whatever our customers are doing abroad, we try to mirror it here because if we don’t mirror it, we will not be able to service them. If we are shipping, say, 60 containers of goods to a particular customer, and they have all their data in their system, and we are not able to mirror that, you will agree with me that they won’t talk to us. So we have gun out of our way also to make sure that in terms of technology, we are equipping our workforce, we are getting needed machines, machinery, technology on ground to ensure that our workforce can compete with their peers on the global stage,” she said.
On the incentive her company gets from the Federal Government, she said: “All our export proceeds are tax exempt. We don’t pay company tax, but we pay education tax. So that is one of the incentives. Secondly, there is export expansion grant, whereby the government pays us a certain percentage of our annual turnover as incentive, gives it back to us to encourage us to invest more in the sector and then do more business and do more exports. Because the more we export, the healthier our economy is in terms of balance of trade.”
Speaking more on how government is encouraging farming and export of agriproduce, the Managing Director of GACON explained that the real challenge is not really government but the unwillingness of young people to go to the farm. “I think our leaders are trying. The challenge is with us. The young people don’t want to go into farming. They are more interested in negative and positive IT. You know what I mean?Agric means the value chain. You can be a farmer, you can be an aggregator, you can take up the logistics chain, you can also be a processor or exporters like us. It is a very stable form of business. It is a business that even God himself started. So agriculture is not easily going to be replaced. And nobody can survive without food,” she further said.
Chinedu Eze posits that the taxes, charges and tariffs imposed on airline operators by the federal government and its agencies are outrageous, and responsible for the frequent failure of Nigerian airlines
There have been points and counterpoints why Nigerian airlines have short life span. Besides Aero Contractors, which was founded in 1959 as oil and gas shuttle service airline, and the Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), which was liquidated in 2003, there has not been any airline that has existed for 30 years, a development that is different in other countries where airlines celebrate 75 years anniversary.
Many of the operators that spoke to THISDAY about the difficulties faced by airline operators in Nigeria, stated that in many other countries, startup airlines are given tax holiday, “but in Nigeria airlines start paying charges during demonstration flights to obtain their Air Operator Certificate. There is no breathing space and those taxes constrict airline finances and erode their capacity to make profit, hence the short life span.”
The President and CEO of Topbrass Aviation Limited and key member of AON, Roland Iyayi, gave detailed explanation on the taxes paid by airlines and how they have affected their operations and survival. He said the issue of taxes, fees and charges and their adverse impacts have for so long been either ignored or overlooked in the aviation industry.
According to him, despite the several failures of many airlines in the past decades, “our desk experts have always maintained that these airlines were affected by the so-called ‘one-man ownership syndrome’, lack of proper corporate governance, lack of requisite expertise, wrong types of aircraft, etc. But no one ever mention the adverse impacts all the obnoxious policies and unilaterally imposed taxes, fees and charges have on the economic wellbeing of domestic airlines.”
He decried the increased revenue generation by all the government agencies in the sector, without commensurate value or quality of services and completely at variance with their establishment objective of being not-for-profit, adding that every domestic airline company in the country
is exposed to a total of 13.5 per cent in taxes including 5 per cent ticket (charter/cargo) sales charge, 7.5 per cent value added tax (VAT), 1 per cent development tax, even before the applicable corporate taxes, PAYE, pension scheme and others.
According to Iyayi, “Meanwhile, every single flight is in turn exposed to other fees and charges such as flight clearance, navigation, parking or landing, etc. Other personnel and equipment specific charges such as licensing, training, aircraft certifications,
insurance, etc., are also applicable. Then we consider the operational expenses including fuel, maintenance, depreciation and others. When all these are aggregated, we end up with taxes at about 32.7 per cent of domestic airlines’ gross revenues.
“It is instructive to note that the world average of airline profitability is between 1.5 - 2.5 per cent for major carriers with size and scope. Boeing determines that the effects of size and scope kicks into an airline’s operations when it operates a single fleet of a minimum of 50 aircraft.Yet, here in Nigeria, our desk experts pontificate on how an airline should be run profitably, even when they have never established or worked in one in their entire careers.When arguments are proffered to justify some of the obnoxious policies and tax regimes, it is often said for instance, that the 5 per cent TSC is paid by the passengers.
“Who provides the capacity for the passengers? Government or private airlines? Whose loss is it when seats are flown empty, considering that these are perishable? Is demand suppressed by an increase in ticket price or not? Why are ticket prices not unbundled in this country?”
Iyayi said having successfully decimated the growth potential of fixed wing airline operations in the country, the focus has now shifted to the rotary wing aircraft for the final stage to ‘be set for the demise of the domestic industry’. Experts have confirmed that over 90% of helicopter operations in Nigeria has to do with oil and gas services and if these services are disrupted they will significantly affect crude and gas production.
“The Honourable Minister by fiat, sent out an undated or referenced letter to helicopter operators in the country, mandating that they henceforth pay ‘Landing Levy’ to the coffers of a private company with no infrastructure for such, but to increase revenue generation. The past administration told the industry that it has
installed the multilateration surveillance systems in the Niger Delta under the purview of NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) for the purpose. “What has happened? It is pertinent for some questions to be answered here: What is the Landing Levy for and does it replace the industry standard landing fee? What services are being provided currently and not paid for by helicopters? For the avoidance of doubt and contrary to the Minister’s assertion on national TV, helicopter operations are fully regulated in Nigeria. From licensing to helideck approvals to flight plans and landing fees.This Landing Levy is an arbitrary charge that is not doused in reality and has a chance of crippling the whole industry if not completely cancelled,” he said.
Iyayi also gave example and of a typical helicopter operation, saying, “Escravos is the operational base for Chevron and it hosts a few of their contracted helicopters. The single Bell 407 or light twin Bell 427 helicopter does an average of 70 landings per day. So, at $300 per landing, it comes to $21,000 per aircraft per day. There are usually 4-6 contracted aircraft at any time. So, if we assume 5 helicopters as an average that would amount to a total of about $105,000 per day for the 5 aircraft. If we then assume a 25-day month, that would amount to a gross earning of $2,625,000.00 as Landing Levy per month, only for the Chevron Escravos operations.
“Meanwhile, Chevron structures its contracts with operators along the lines of a Monthly Standing Charge (MSC), paid to the operator monthly in arrears even when no flights are conducted, and an Hourly Charge (HC) for when actual flights are conducted. The contract cost to Chevron for those 5 helicopters is approximately $1.75m per month. So, in essence, the proposed Landing Levy costs more than the service that supposedly generates the charges.
The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
O3 Capital (“O3”), a leading Nigerian fintech and the country’s first non-bank credit card issuer, has announced an agreement with American Express to issue four new American Express® credit cards: the O3 American Express® Green Card for consumers, the O3 American Express® Gold Card for consumers, and the O3 American Express Platinum® Card for consumers; and the O3 American Express® Gold Business Card for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking at the unveiling of the cards in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of O3 Capital, Abimbola Pinheiro, said: “With the O3 American Express Green, Gold, and Platinum Cards, O3 Capital will enhance its overall customer offering, providing American Express Card Members a range of travel and lifestyle benefits for use in Nigeria and when travelling overseas. These Cards will provide access to discounts at select businesses across Nigeria, cinema and dining perks, hotel and car rental benefits, and various
insurances and protections.
“Additionally, the O3 American Express Platinum® Card will provide access to a travel and lifestyle concierge service, a membership with a global hotel programme, and five complimentary visits per year to eligible local and international airport lounges. Cards will be able to be used at American Express accepting merchants across Nigeria and around the world.”
He added, “The O3 American Express® Gold Business Card will be the first American Express card launched in Nigeria to specifically support the spending needs of businesses. This card will improve the day-today management of business transactions and cashflow with access to a credit facility, the ability to perform international transactions, and the inclusion of an extended repayment period of up to 45 days. It will also aim to support the running of a business, with benefits such as three complimentary visits per year to eligible local and international airport lounges, car rental perks, and travel insurance included.
“This agreement with Ameri-
can Express is a significant milestone, both for O3 Capital and for Nigerian businesses. We will provide solutions for a wide range of customers – from consumers looking for more value from their payment products to businesses who want to enjoy the benefits of a domestically issued card with the international reach of American Express. We are particularly proud to be the first who will issue an American Express Business card to the Nigerian business community and we look forward to working with American Express to fulfil our potential.”
Speaking, President of Global Network Services at American Express, Mohammed Badi, said: “With the O3 Capital American Express cards, consumers and businesses in Nigeria will have even more payment choice. American Express is excited to continue to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and expand its reach across Africa. The first-ever American Express Business Card in the most populous African country will give us another way to support local businesses with their growth aspirations.”
International Breweries Plc, and Lagos Business School
Sustainability Centre co-hosted a web forum event with the theme ‘Water For Peace’. It was a convening of brewery industry experts, business executives, sustainability stakeholders and academia to learn and dialogue on sustainable water management in the manufacturing industry. Attendees were welcomed by Mrs Oreva Atanya, Head,
Sustainability, Lagos Business School, represented by Mrs Osanua Nwagbara, Senior Associate, LBS Sustainability Centre.
She said, “We recognise the critical importance of responsible water management and consumption, not only for the preservation of our environment but also for the sustainable growth of industries and communities. At Lagos Business School, we advocate for corporations and businesses of all sizes to look inward and
integrate sustainable practices for long-term business success.”
Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, International Breweries, Mrs Temitope Oguntokun in her opening remarks said, “Today, we stand at a critical juncture in our journey towards water conservation and equitable access to this invaluable resource. With each drop, we hold the power to transform lives, protect ecosystems, and build a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Mary Nnah
Cavalli Business and Investment Group have recently launched its latest project, “The Bellagio Lagos”, as part of its mission to redefine luxury living and investment opportunities in the real estate sector.
The project is divided into two phases, with the first phase, The Bellagio Lagos, featuring three towers of 10 floors each.
The development offers a range of luxurious amenities, including a spa, squash courts, and a gym, designed to promote wellness and comfort for residents.
The unveiling took place last week in Lagos and was led by Emmanuel Odemayowa, GMD of the Group.
“Our vision is to establish businesses with professional best practices that offer the best value and returns to our clients and partners,” said Odemayowa.
“We have been in operation for over a decade, and our growth has been organic, focusing on sustainable development”, he noted.
According to Odemayowa, the project is bifurcated into two phases. The first phase, named Bellagio, is intended
for the residents. The Bellagio comprises three blocks of nine floors each, with the first floor being designated for luxury and hospitality. The amenities situated on this level include a spa and a squash court, among others. Given the current emphasis on wellness, the focus is not just on comfort but also on health. The gym and massage parlour are also available for the residents to use. After a rigorous workout, one can avail of the services of the massage parlour to relax and rejuvenate the body before heading back to the room or office.
President/GCEO of Transcorp Group, Dr. Owen D. Omogiafo, has been recognised as one of the most influential people of African descent (MIPAD)’s Global Top 100 Futurist & Innovators List.
The list recognises individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future and pioneering innovative solutions within their respective fields.
The announcement of the recognition comes as Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) released its Q1 2024 results, which
showed impressive growth on all indices. Profit before tax (PBT) grew year-on-year (YoY) by 1,475 percent to N45.7 billion in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1’24) from N2.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2023. The company also reported a 173 percent YoY growth in revenue to N88.6 billion in Q1’24 from N32.4 billion in Q1’ 23. The Company’s continuous growth and impressive results year after year are testament to Omogiafo’s visionary leadership. Transcorp Group has experienced significant
growth and expansion under Omogiafo’s leadership having taken up leadership during a difficult time, as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she has led the Group and its subsidiaries, including Transcorp Power, Transafam Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc back to the path of exponential growth and profitability. Transcorp Group’s shares ended 2023 as one of the best-performing stocks of the year. The impressive growth has continued in 2024.
Shareholders of Unilever Nigeria Plc yesterday in Lagos approved 75 kobo per share dividend payout for the 2023 financial year, as against 25 kobo declared in 2022.
The declared dividend is estimated at N4.31 billion for the year ended December 2023. The declaration follows an impressive growth in revenue of N103.9 billion in 2023,
representing a 51.3per cent growth compared to N68.6 billion recorded in 2022.
During the Company’s 99th Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held in Lagos, the shareholders appreciated the growth and reaffirmed their belief in the leadership of the company to grow the business into the coming year.
According to the 2023 financial statement, the
household company’s profit after tax stood at N16.4 billion in 2023, a growth of 205.2 per cent from N5.4 billion in 2022.
Speaking at the AGM, the Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors at Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Micheal Ikpoki expressed appreciation to all shareholders for their support throughout the year despite the challenging environment in the last year. He promised that the Board and Management will continue
to put in their best in fostering growth and navigating the tides as the Company steers toward more successes.
“Our resolve as a business is to continue to take strategic decisions that will improve our operational efficiencies to meet citizens’ needs through our brands, our people, and our operations,” he said.
On the improved performance of the business, the Managing Director of Unilever
Nigeria, Mr. Tim Kleinebenne said the achievement in the year under review is reflective of a collaborative effort from all key stakeholders and improved operational performance and greater investment in our brands, supply, and distributions, to ensure we meet the needs of consumers across channels.
“We are pleased with the results for 2023. It speaks to the impact of the strategic
choices we make daily about our operations to better serve the consumers with our best locally produced brands that contribute to improving their health and hygiene.” He said. Kleinebenne added that having reached a 100-year milestone in Nigeria in 2023 and becoming the longest serving manufacturing company in Nigeria, the company remains committed to staying in Nigeria for the next 100 years plus.
Amstel Malta, a renowned malt brand, has proudly been the headline sponsor of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for almost a decade. The sponsorship demonstrates the brand’s commitment to supporting the African film and entertainment landscape. As an advocate of storytelling and creativity, Amstel Malta sees its partnership with the AMVCA as one of the ways to promote and celebrate African talents. MARY NNAH writes that Amstel Malta and the AMVCA’s continued collaboration and support of African creativity partnership will continue to make a significant impact in the years to come
Amstel Malta’s long-standing partnership and continued support for the African film and entertainment industry through its partnership with the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) since its inception, is a testament to the brand’s commitment to empowering and celebrating African talents and storytelling. By supporting the next generation of filmmakers and content creators, Amstel Malta is playing a vital role in shaping the future of the creative industry.
Over the past decade, Amstel Malta’s partnership with the AMVCA has made a significant impact on the African film and creative industry. The brand’s consistent support and sponsorship have not only celebrated the achievements of talented filmmakers but have also helped to elevate African cinema on the global stage. Its commitment to promoting excellence in filmmaking has inspired and empowered a new generation of creatives, contributing to the growth and development of the industry.
Amstel Malta also believes in empowering and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and content creators, and this is the main reason it has been part of the AMVCA’s mission right from its inception in 2013.
As the AMVCA celebrates its 10th edition, Amstel Malta looks back on its remarkable impact on the films created then and looks forward to celebrating its partnership in the future.
Amstel Malta has always been associated with brands like the AMVCA which puts the spotlight on the best.
Over the years Amstel Malta has remained committed to the film and television industry even before the AMVCA. It is good to see a brand that remains consistent towards supporting budding talents within the industry.
Speaking during the AMVCA 10th edition press briefing recently, Senior Brand Manager, Amstel Malta and Hi-Malt, Francis Obiajulu, said, “As a sponsor of the AMVCA since its inception, we are excited to be part of this 10th edition. This marks 10 years of our partnership with AMVCA as a sponsor, celebrating excellence in the African film industry and encouraging Nigerians to be the best while shining a spotlight on the best of the best.
He said Amstel Malta’s partnership with the AMVCA is based on the company’s desire to build a platform that has become a catalyst of excellence and its belief in the African creative industry.
“It is also about promoting the African continent. The AMVCA encourages the production of authentic African content by showcasing the best in African cinema, television, and filmmaking. This helps to elevate African storytelling and culture both locally and internationally.”
“Our pioneering initiative, the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) 18 years ago, which has produced several incredible stars, is proof of this commitment to nurturing talent and promoting the best of African theatre and cinema.
“As we celebrate a decade of this remarkable journey, I extend my deepest gratitude to the AMVCA organisers, the creative geniuses who bring stories to life on our screens and every individual who has been part of this journey, together let us celebrate the magic of storytelling, the brilliance of creativity and the enduring spirits of excellence that have defined our partnership over the past 10 years. Here is to a sustaining legacy and many more years of elevating African creativity’, Obiajulu noted.
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Overall Film is an annual category presented by MultiChoice, celebrating the best African film for the receding year, sponsored solely by Amstel Malta. The movies that won Best Film awards from 2013 till date among others include: ‘Otelo Burning’ directed by Sara Lecher won in 2013; ‘Contact’ by Shirley Frimpong-Manso won in 2014; ‘October 1’ by Kunle Afolayan 2015; ‘Dry’ by Stephaine Linus 2016; 76 by Izu Ojukwu 2017; ‘18 Hour’ by Phoebe Ruguru 2018; ‘The Mercy of The Jungle’ by Joel Karekezi 2019; ‘Amina’ by Izu Ojukwu and Okey Ogunjifor 2022 and Anikulapo by Kule Afolayan won in 2023.
According to the Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, Dr Busola Tejumola, the AMVCA 10th anniversary is a celebration of a decade marked by brilliant innovations in storytelling.
Speaking during a recent press briefing, she said that as the AMVCA holds its 10th edition from May 10th to 11th 2024 in Lagos, it was obvious the brand is on the verge of
a revival - a revival in the African film and TV industry. This revival will see the emergence of film’s great talents and quality production.
Over the past 10 years, the AMVCA, organised by MultiChoice, in partnership with Africa Magic, has become the beacon of excellence recognising and honouring outstanding talents, creativity and dedication within the African film and TV landscape. The impact that the AMVCA has had on the film industry across the continent is undeniable.
Since its inception in 2013, the AMVCA has injected over 600 trillion naira into the film and TV economy, N900 billion in awards events and training; creating over 27,000 long and short-term jobs.
The AMVCA has had a positive impact on the film industry across Africa since its inception. It has created recognition and celebration.
The AMVCA, as we know, provides a platform for recognising and celebrating the achievements of talented actors, filmmakers, directors, and industry professionals across Africa. This recognition not only boosts the morale of those who receive it but also inspires creatives to pursue their passions.
It is also about promoting the African continent. The AMVCA encourages the production of authentic African content by showcasing the best in African cinema, television, and filmmaking. This helps to elevate African storytelling and culture both locally and internationally.
It is also about networking and collaboration. The AMVCA brings together all professionals in various sectors of the creative industry, providing opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. This facilitates the exchange of ideas skills and resources ultimately, leading to the development of stronger and richer creative communities across the continent.
It is also about the creative economy. The AMVCA contributes to the growth of the economy by generating revenue through sponsorship, ticket sales, advertising and all the related activities.
Additionally, the exposure received by nominees and winners leads to increased opportunities for employment and investment within the industry.
Most importantly, the AMVCA serves as a platform for nurturing and showcasing emerging talents in the creative industry. Winning or even being nominated for an award, provides valuable exposure and validation for up-and-coming actors, filmmakers and other industry professionals, helping to launch their careers to new heights.
Now, this year in partnership with its lead sponsor Amstel Malta, MultiChoice, in partnership with Africa Magic, organisers of the AMVCA, is determined to make the awards more reflective of the things that they are known for.
Amstel Malta believes the annual event has continued to shape the narrative of African cinema, providing a platform that expresses voices and stories that resonate with audiences far and wide.
It also believes this annual celebration has not only raised the visibility of African talents but has also fostered a sense of unity and pride within the industry.
Tejumola extended her gratitude to the headline sponsor, Amstel Malta for their relentless commitment to creating magic around AMVCAs, stating that since 2013, Amstel Malta has been a steadfast supporter of the industry, sponsoring their endeavours and showing a deep commitment to the shared beliefs. The brand has also played a crucial role in recognising and honouring thespians, producers, directors, and others who serve as custodians of our cultural heritage. Their efforts also ensure that our rich history and culture are preserved for future generations. Celebrating ten years of excellence, our awards remain committed to creating platforms and opportunities for the best entertainment to be celebrated. There are countless unique and inspiring African stories waiting to be told, and it is our collective responsibility to share these narratives with the world.
A group of stakeholders cutting across various academic and professional spheres have identified some factors largely responsible for the high degree of incivility that permeates various African countries.
In a recent gathering that lasted two days (2nd/3rd May, 2024) in Abuja organised by Etiquette Africa and managed by Etienying Akpanusong, the landmark conference, under the theme “The effect of incivility on Africa’s development,” brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to address the critical issue of incivility in Africa having recognised the negative impact on individuals, businesses, and the continent’s overall prosperity.
The discussants representing various sectors such as education, parenting and mentorship, leadership, and business, included former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Ambassador Usman Sarki, for-
mer permanent representative of Nigeria at the United Nations; former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah; Femi Adesina former presidential spokesman; Dr. Linus Okorie, Mrs. Eugenia Abu, ace broadcaster and many others.
They all painted a concerning picture of declining civility across Africa and did not hesitate in identifying some factors responsible for the phenomenon.These factors include a noticeable shift in values which has brought pervasiveness of materialism, the influence of foreign cultures, and technology, particularly social media, as undermining traditional values, ethics, and etiquette.
Secondly, the panelists identified poor governance and ineffective leadership as significant factors. The absence of strong, ethical leadership and a lack of accountability within leadership structures foster a culture of incivility, they posited. They added that leaders
who do not embody respect and ethical conduct set a poor example, perpetuating a cycle of disres pect.
The discussants who can best be described as experts in their rights recognized the breakdown of the family unit as a significant factor, arguing that people saw the decline of civility as a result of parents’ diminishing role in instilling values and social graces in their children.
They contended that without a strong foundation of values instilled within the family unit, the broader societal fabric suffers as the family represents the smallest unit of society.
Having noted some consequences of incivility which include deterioration in physical and mental health, hindering of economic growth, reputational damage to country amongst other consequences, the discussants, mindful of the urgency of addressing this critical issue,
outlined a series of actionable recommendations, emphasising a multi-pronged approach.
One of the recommendations is the revitalisation of education so as to integrate values-based education and social etiquette into the formal curriculum.
They also harped on strengthening parenting and prioritis ing responsible social media management, intentional mentoring, and open communication within families.
The conference also recommended the fostering of a culture of accountability within institutions, where incivility is not tolerated and appropriate consequences are enforced. The panelists among other things, also recommended the strengthening of law enforcement and judicial systems to ensure effective enforcement of laws and regulations that promote civility and discourage anti-social behaviour.
There is enormous hope on the horizon for businesses in Nigeria as the Consumer Credit sector comes alive with the commencement of engagements with Nigeria’s lending ecosystem.
No fewer than 19 commercial banks were at the first session convened recently by Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during which CREDICORP shared its mission and its unique offering of wholesale capital and credit guarantees for lenders who are committed to accelerating consumer credit access to Nigerians at scale.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his presidential campaign leading to the 2023 elections, among other things, had promised to rejuvenate the Consumer Credit Sector. In fulfillment of the promise, he established the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) with a specific focus on facilitating the rejuvenation and operation of Consumer Credit services.
Consumer Credit serves as the lifeblood of modern economies, enabling citizens to enhance their quality of life by accessing goods and services upfront and paying responsibly over time.
Consumer Credit also facilitates crucial purchases such as homes, vehicles, education and healthcare, essential for ongoing stability to
pursue their aspirations. According to the Chief Executive Officer of CREDICORP, Mr. Uzo Nwagba in a statement to the media on Friday, through responsible repayment, individuals build credit histories and unlock more opportunities for a better life., adding that the increased demand for goods and services stimulates local industry and job creation.
Sequel to the convening of the first session of the financial institutions by the CBN with respect to Consumer Credit Initiative, CREDICORP has reportedly received important feedback which would enable it fine tune its rollouts of financial products. For this development, CREDICORP has remained ap-
preciative of CBN’s effort for convening the session in Lagos with the Chief Risk Officers and leaders of Consumer lending across the banks.
The financial institutions which are critical partners with CREDICORP include deposit money banks, microfinance, fintechs and cooperatives. CREDICORP intends to achieve its mandate through strengthening Nigeria’s credit reporting systems, ensuring every economically active citizen has a dependable credit score. This score becomes personal equity they build, facilitating access to consumer credit.
Another way is through offering of credit guarantees and wholesale lending to fi-
The lineup of activities for the 10th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) begins on Friday, May 10, 2024, with the Cultural Day event. The Cultural Day event will formally kick off the series of activities preceding the Award Night on Saturday, May 11.
Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice West Africa, expressed her excitement about the upcoming event, stating that the award ceremony has enjoyed immense growth and recognition since its inception in 2013.
“The 10th edition of the AMVCArepresents a significant milestone in our journey to celebrate African talent and creativity. This year’s edition celebrates a decade of excellence in African cinema and television. As we prepare to mark this momentous occasion, we look forward to honouring the incredible contributions of filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals who continue to inspire and entertain audiences across the continent and beyond.”
The 10th AMVCA will see winners emerge from 25 categories comprising 16 non-voting, 9 audience voting categories, and recipients of 2 recognition awards – Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer Awards.
Sponsored categories include Best Lead Actor and Actress categories, sponsored by Verve and Quickteller respectively, the Best Movie, Best Digital Content Creator, and Best Indigenous Africa Magic Originals categories sponsored byAmstel Malta, and the Best Director category sponsored by Martell. MTN sponsors the Best Short Movie category, and the Best in Cinematography category is sponsored by TECNO, while the Best Unscripted Mnet original and Best Writing TV Series categories are sponsored by Indomie.
The Cultural Day event will feature musical performances and special cultural presentations. The award night will see the return of IK Osakioduwa as host and live performances by talented music stars.
The Award Night will air live on May 11 on all Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv, starting from 4 pm WAT.
The tenth edition of theAfrica Magic Viewers’ ChoiceAwards is brought to you by Africa Magic in association with MultiChoice, with Amstel as the headline sponsor, and tactical sponsors Pepsi, Promasidor and Martell. Other sponsors include TECNO, Hypo, Supa Komando, Interswitch, Tiger Beer, MTN, Indomie, and Nivea.
nancial institutions dedicated to broadening consumer credit access currently and promoting responsible consumer credit as a pathway to an improved quality of life, fostering a cultural shift towards growth and financial responsibility.
Notably, the dawn of the consumer credit services is in sync with President Tinubu’s belief that every hardworking Nigerian shouldhaveaccesstosocialmobility with Consumer Credit playing a pivotal role in achieving this vision.
Meanwhile, the CREDICORP portal for expression of interest has been opened to Nigerians. Interested citizens can visit www. credicorp.ng to express interest and inform the Corporation of their credit needs
On Saturday, May 11, Africa’s most glamorous and innovative creative talents will convene in Lagos for the 10th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), a remarkable milestone in the history of the award.
The stakes are high this year as the organisers, Africa Magic and MultiChoice Nigeria, made significant adjustments to reflect its mission to recognise and reward genuine talents on the continent. From moving the Best Lead and Supporting Actors/Actresses categories to non-voting categories to reducing the award categories from 33 to 27, AMVCA 10 is undoubtedly aligning itself with global trends and benchmarks.
At the 2023 edition, Showmax, which takes pride in telling and representing authentic African stories, fetched 22 nominations for its originals. The nominated Nigerian originals include ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos,’ ‘Crime and Justice Lagos,’ ‘Diiche,’ ‘Flawsome,’ and ‘Wura’ out of which ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos,’ ‘Crime and Justice Lagos,’ emerged as winners in Best Costume Designer (Movie/TV Series), Best Picture Editor (Movie and TV Series) and Best TV Series respectively.
Despite these changes, Showmax, Africa’s most beloved video-on-demand service is poised to steal the spotlight again as it did last year. Although fan favourites, ‘Cheta M’ and ‘Flawsome S2’ did not meet the eligibility window for this edition, the streaming platform still earned three nominations for Nigerian originals ‘Wura’ and ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos.’ It is the second time both shows are fetching nominations at the awards. ‘Wura,’ Showmax Nigeria’s first original telenovela series, for its second season received two nominations in Best Writing TV Series and Best Scripted Series categories, while the second season of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ was nominated in the Best Unscripted Series category. Both shows, known for recordbreaking premieres and devoted fan bases, promise to uphold Showmax’s reputation for delivering compelling narratives.
Set in Osun, ‘Wura’ is a compelling adaptation of the 2018 South Africa’s telenovela ‘The River,’ an original M-Net production that spanned six gripping seasons, and is set against the backdrop of the South African mining industry. Like the original, ‘Wura’ is set in Iperindo, a mining community in the South-west state. It revolves around the ambitious CEO of a gold mining company who would stop at nothing to keep her company afloat, including getting her hands stained with love.
Prolific filmmaker Rogers Ofime served as the executive producer of ‘Wura’s’ first season, curating a talented cast led by Scarlet Gomez in the titular role. Leveraging the innovative RED camera, Ofime ensured visually stunning cinematography, capturing the essence of Nigeria’s unique charm. From authentic settings to meticulously crafted wardrobes, ‘Wura’ embodies Nigerian culture at its core. The captivating storyline, woven by a diverse group of writers including Musa Jeffrey David, Isaac Ayodeji, Esther Kokori, Olumide Kuti, Lois Truly, and Uchenna Ugwu, has cultivated a devoted following since its premiere in 2023. From households to business establishments and campuses, the ‘Wura’ fever continues to captivate audiences across the nation. Similarly, the second season of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ set Twitter on fire with the unending drama of the housewives, dominating trends for 12 weeks. Produced by Livespot 360, ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ has been a must-watch with the addition of two new housewives, Faith Morey and Tania Omotayo.
L-R: Chief Executive, 9Mobile, Juergen Peschel; Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun
Chief Executive, Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga
Sub-Saharan Africa, GSM
Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian
Executive Vice
Airtel Africa, yesterday, released its financial report for the year ended 31 March 2024, recording $89 million loss after tax as well as effective FX loss in Nigerian market to the tune of S1 billion.
The telecoms operator, which has presence in 14 African countries, however recorded 152.7 million customers, during the financial year.
According financial statement, Airtel Africa delivered a resilient performance with strong underlying momentum, despite a volatile macro-economic environment operating highlights.
Total customer base grew by 9.0 per cent to 152.7 million, with a 17.8 per cent increase in data customers to 64.4 million and a 20.8 per cent increase in data usage per customer.
According to the financial report, it recorded mobile money subscriber growth of 20.7 per
cent, which reflects its continued investment into distribution to drive increased financial inclusion across our markets.
It also recorded a transaction value increase of 38.2 per cent in constant currency with annual transaction value of over $112 billion in reported currency.
Increased transactions across the ecosystem reflects the enhanced range of offerings and increased customer adoption, supporting constant currency ARPU growth of 8.6 per cent.
The reported currency revenues however, declined by 5.3 per cent to $4,979 million reflecting the impact of currency devaluation, particularly in Nigeria.
Across the group mobile services revenue grew by 19.4 per cent in constant currency, driven by voice revenue growth of 11.9 per cent and data revenue growth of 29.2 per cent. Mobile Money revenue grew by 32.8 per cent in constant currency, with
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, have applauded Green Energy International Limited for its contributions towards the growth and development of Nigeria's oil and gas industry and the energy sector at large.
The two public officials pledged the support of the federal government and the upper legislative chamber to ensure that indigenous Nigerian oil and gas companies achieve increased production and maximise the potential of the industry in the overall interest of the country's economy.
Excited by Nigeria’s first modular Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) extraction plant being built by Green Energy in Rivers State, alongside 20MW gas fired power generation facility, Lokpobiri promised to undertake an official visit to the facilities ahead of their final inauguration.
After the company's briefing on the successful completion of the LPG plant which is presently undergoing test run, the minister applauded the development strides being made by the Nigerian integrated energy firm and operator of the Otakikpo Marginal Field, describing Green Energy International
as a shining example in the oil and gas industry.
"Green Energy International is a shining example of what Nigerians can accomplish and I commend Green Energy International for their outstanding achievements. I look forward to witnessing first-hand the impact of their initiatives during my official visit to their project site in Nigeria. We are proud of you", Lokpobiri stated.
Guiding the minister on a tour of the company's exhibition stand, Chief Operating Officer of Green Energy, Mr. Kayode Adegbulugbe, showcased the firm's innovative Gas Utilization project at the Otakikpo Marginal Field. He provided details on the company, the modular LPG extraction plant and the 20MW capacity gas fired power generation facilities, explaining that the initiatives had not only bolstered Nigeria's energy security but would also catalyse the comprehensive development of the Niger Delta region.
"We are not just focused on energy production; we are committed to contributing on the country’s energy security to driving sustainable development and contributing to the nation's economic prosperity. We are also transforming our host communities by empowering them, creating opportunities, and fostering economic growth”, Adegbulugbe said.
a continued strong performance in East Africa.
The financial report said EBITDA margins remained resilient at 48.8 per cent despite the currency headwinds and inflationary pressure on our cost base. Constant currency EBITDA increased 21.3 per cent with reported currency EBITDA declining 5.7 per cent to $2,428 millio. Q4 2024.
EBITDA margins of 46.5 per cent were impacted by the lower contribution of Nigeria following the Q4’24 naira devaluation and rising energy costs across a number of markets.
The loss after tax was $89 million, primarily impacted by significant foreign exchange headwinds, resulting in a $549
million exceptional loss net of tax following the Nigerian naira devaluation in June 2023 and Q4’24, and the Malawian kwacha devaluation in November 2023.
Commenting on the trading update, the Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Olusegun Ogunsanya, said: “The consistent deployment of our ‘Win with’ strategy supported the acceleration in constant currency revenue growth over the recent quarters which has reduced the impact of currency headwinds faced across most of our markets. This strong revenue performance is a reflection not only of the opportunity that is inherent across our markets, but also the resilience of our affordable offerings despite the inflationary
pressure many of our customers have experienced.
“Facilitating this growth has been, and will remain, fundamental to our performance. The investment in our distribution to catalyse growth, and the technology required to support this growth has been key. Furthermore, our rigorous approach to de-risking our balance sheet and our capital allocation priorities has materially reduced the risks that the currency de- valuation has had on our business. Key initiatives include the reduction of US dollar debt across the business and the ac- cumulation of cash at the HoldCo level to fully cover the outstanding debt due. We will continue to focus on reducing our
exposure to currency volatility. At the beginning of March, we launched our first buyback programme reflecting the strength of our financial position.
“The growth opportunity that exists across our markets remains compelling, and we are well positioned to deliver against this opportunity. We will continue to focus on margin improvement from the recent level as we progress through the year.”
He thanked customers, partners, governments and regulators for their support, including employees for their unrelenting contribution to the business, adding that Airtel will continue to transform lives across Africa.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC Nigeria) has unveil new rules on issuance and allotment by private companies securities, declaring that any person who issues or allots securities without its prior approval or violates any provisions of its regulations will be liable to a penalty not less than N10 million in the first instance and a further sum of N100,000 for every day the violation continues. The recommended fine is contained in the proposed new rules on the issuance and allotment of private companies and securities prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In a statement, the Commission said the rules apply to debt securities issuances by private companies either by way of public offer, private placement or other methods as may be approved by the SEC; registered exchanges and platforms which admit debt securities issued by private companies for trading, price discovery or information repository purposes; registered capital market operators who are parties in issuances and allotment of debt securities of private companies.
The Commission which set out stringent punishment for
those who violate the regulation, stated: “Any person who issues or allots securities without the prior approval of the Commission, or violates any provisions of these rules shall be liable to any one or more of the following sanctions: *A penalty of not less than N10 million in the first instance and a further sum of N100,000 for every day the violation continues; Suspension, or withdrawal of the registration of the capital market operator(s) involved; Disgorgement of proceeds/income from the transaction; and the Commission may ratify or rescind a transaction if it is in the interest of the public to do so; and any other sanction the Commission deems fit in the circumstance.
The SEC, in the document, stated that a private company may list its securities on a registered securities exchange, adding that such securities must be listed not later than 30 days after completion of allotment.
IT explained that for a private company to be eligible to issue securities under the regulations it must be a company duly incorporated under Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), or other enabling Laws with at least three years track record of operation.
The regulations pegged the maximum amount a private company can raise within a one-year period at
N15 billion provided that where a private company intends to undertake any further debt securities issuance, it shall be required to re-register as a public company.
It added that the issuing house would, within 21 working days of allotment, file with the Commission a summary report containing post allotment information; summary of applications received, and a list of allottees of 50,000 units of securities or more.
Others are a list of all allottees acquiring 5 per cent or more of the securities on offer; list of all applications received including list of those rejected and the basis for rejection, among others.
According to the proposed rule, for a private company with existing debt securities held by qualified investors, the company “shall no later than three months from the date of issuance of these rules, file an application for the registration of the securities to the Commission through the securities exchanges. Failure to comply with this provision shall attract a penalty of not less than two million Naira and a further sum of N100,000 for every day the violation continues.”.
It added that a private company “shall not offer its equity securities (shares) to the public under any circumstance. b) Debt securities
issued under these rules, shall be sold only to qualified investors. c) Only registered capital market operators shall be parties to debt securities issuances under these rules.
"(d) No private company or any person acting on its behalf shall offer, sell or allot securities to the public without the prior clearance of the securities exchange and registration of the securities by the Commission. e) Securities purchased in a public offer pursuant to these rules shall only be traded on a registered securities exchange.”.
On the utilisation of proceeds, the Commission held that issuers are prohibited from using the proceeds of the issues for purposes other than those stated in the offer document without its prior approval, adding that “the issuer shall file with the Commission not later than 90 days after the conclusion of an issue on the appropriate SEC Form, detailed information on the utilisation of proceeds.
"Evidence of such utilisation shall be provided as appendix to the report. The rendition shall be on a quarterly basis until issue proceeds are fully utilised.”.
“The issuer is prohibited from using the proceeds of the issue for purposes other than those stated in the offer document without the prior approval of the Commission.
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos
The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into the procurement process and the award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
But a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has advised the
effort with the National Assembly's ICT and Cyber Security Committee.
He stated, "The committee also underwent a transparent public hearing process, receiving contributions from various stakeholders. Both houses of the National Assembly unanimously passed it before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed it into law."
Buba emphasised that the provisions for the cybersecurity levy had been in place since 2015, but were delayed due to unclear interpretations and applications.
He said, “The Cybercrimes Act of 2015 has provisions for imposing a cybersecurity levy since its enactment, but the vagueness of Section 44 led to different interpretations until the 2024 amendments.
"The levy is 0.5%, equivalent to half a per cent of the value of all electronic transactions by businesses specified in the Second Schedule to the Act.
“The amendments addressed crucial gaps in the Act and empowered the nation to implement the National Cybersecurity Programme effectively.
"They also seek to realign and empower the country to combat the inadequate funding and disruptive effects of cyber threats on national security and critical economic infrastructures.”
Buba underscored the criticality of the cybersecurity levy's implementation, stating that its prudent utilisation would bolster the country's capacity to evaluate, execute, upgrade, and fortify the security of national critical economic infrastructure, thereby safeguarding the country's cyberspace.
Halt Implementation, House Orders CBN
The House of Representatives
federal government to urgently retreat and review its move in continuing the 700 km LagosCalabar Coastal highway. The decision of the House to launch the probe was sequel to adoption of a motion moved at the plenary by Hon. Dr. Austin Achado, yesterday.
Moving the motion, the
demanded an immediate halt to the proposed implementation of the cybersecurity levy imposed by the CBN.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Kingsely Chinda on behalf of others.
He said the CBN through a circular to all Commercial, Merchant, Non-interest and Payment Service Banks; other Financial Institutions, Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Providers, dated May 6, 2024, informed Nigerians of a proposed 0.5% levy on electronic transactions in line with Section 44(2) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 (Cybercrimes Act).
Chinda explained that Section 44(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 provided , “A levy of 0.5% (0.005) equivalent to half percent of all electronic transactions value by business specified in the Second Schedule to this Act be paid into the Cybersecurity Fund.”
He added that businesses, which the said Section 44(2)(a) referred to, were listed in the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act to be: GSM Service Providers and all telecommunication companies; Internet Service Providers; Banks and Other Financial Institutions; Insurance Companies and Nigerian Stock Exchange.
The minority leader was concerned that the CBN circular mandated all banks, other financial institutions and payments service providers to implement the Cybercrimes Act by applying the levy at the point of electronic transfer origination as “Cybersecurity Levy” and remitting same.
He expressed concern that the wordings of the circular left the CBN directive to multiple interpretations, including that the levy be paid by
lawmaker said the Ministry of Works, executed an Engineering Procurement Construction and Finance (EPC+F) contract, in favour of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited, for the delivery of the 700km LagosCalabar Coastal Road and Rail Project.
Estimated at the rate of
bank customers against the letters and spirit of Section 44(2)(a) and the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act, which specified the businesses that should be levied accordingly.
Chinda lamented that the act had led to apprehension, as civil society organisations and citizens had taken to conventional and social media to call out the federal government, give ultimatums for a reversal of the imposed levy on Nigerians, among other things.
He worried that unless immediate pragmatic steps were taken to halt the proposed action of the CBN, the Cybercrime Act would be implemented in error at a time Nigerians were experiencing the aftermath of multiple removal of subsidies from petroleum, electricity and so on, and rising inflation.
The House, therefore, resolved, “Direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to withdraw the ambiguous circular and issue an unequivocal Circular in line with the letters and spirit of the Law
“Direct the House Committees on Banking Regulations, and Banking and other Ancillary Institutions to guide the Central Bank of Nigeria properly.”
Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) faulted the timing of the 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions recently introduced by the CBN.
It, therefore, asked the federal government to reconsider the levy, as Nigerians were currently groaning under multiple taxation and inflationary pressures.
NESG, in a statement, said, “Amidst the cost of living crisis exacerbated by rising inflation, the cybersecurity levy is mistimed,”
N4.329 billion per kilometer, he said project is designed to use reinforced concrete technology for a carriage width of 59.7metres, to include 10 lanes, shoulders and rail with additional designs of service ducts , street lights, drainages and shore protection Achado noted that the project with the prospect of providing
considering the high rate of financial exclusion and increased currency in circulation.
According to the statement, “The NESG posits that the levy should be targeted at high-net-worth individuals and a specific amount transferred electronically to allay the fears of the populace, who are still battling skyrocketing food and non-food prices.
“However, if this policy remains, several Nigerians will boycott electronic funds transfers, which does not even bode well for the government due to revenue loss from electronic transfer levy.
“The NESG, however, feels this is a critical time to implement such a policy. The impacts of the fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate reform, and, most recently, the removal of electricity subsidies still permeate the operating costs of businesses and citizens.
“The government must be cautious of the numerous strenuous policies that stiffen the purchasing power and welfare of corporations and individuals. Therefore, the government needs to properly sequence reforms for efficient socioeconomic outcomes, especially those that strain the people.”
Northern Elders Forum (NEF) rejected the recent introduction of cybersecurity charges on bank customers by the CBN.
In a statement in Kaduna, spokesperson of the forum, AbdulAzeez Suleiman, described the policy as arbitrary, illegal, and out of touch with the realities facing Nigerians.
The forum called on the federal government to reconsider the policy and explore alternative measures to ease the financial strain on individuals
easy access for movement of goods and services across the nation, has a financing structure, as announced by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, which requires the federal government to provide 15 to 30 per cent co-financing.
He noted that the private sector counterpart would provide the balance, and to toll the road when completed for a minimum period of 15 years, to ensure full recovery of all debts and equity applied for the delivery of the project He, however, said the procurement strategy adopted by the Ministry of Works for the award of the contract violated the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act 2005.
while still promoting the use of electronic payments.
NEF said, "The introduction of cybersecurity levies, in addition to existing fees, such as stamp duty, transfer fees, value-added tax, and SMS charges, has placed an unbearable financial burden on individuals engaging in electronic transactions."
Suleiman stated that the fees included various charges that bank customers now face,d including cybersecurity levies, ranging from N5 on N1,000 to N50,000 on N10,000,000 transactions, transfer fees, stamp duty, and value-added tax.
According to the statement, these additional costs have significantly increased the overall expense of electronic transactions for both senders and receivers.
While acknowledging the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding electronic transactions, NEF stressed the need for a more balanced approach that ensured the costs of security measures were reasonable and did not excessively burden bank customers.
Suleiman said the country was already grappling with economic challenges, and additional financial burden imposed by the CBN cybersecurity levy was unjust and unfair.
The statement urged the government and relevant stakeholders to find a sustainable solution that struck a fair balance between enhancing cybersecurity and alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.
Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, faulted the directive of the CBN to commercial banks for the deduction of 0.5 per cent of the value of all electronic transactions.
In a statement, Falana argued that the apex bank was wrong in holding that the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 amended in 2024, was applicable to individuals. Falana stated that although the said "levy of 00.0 5 per cent is payable by the businesses listed in the second schedule to the principal Act, the Central Bank of Nigeria, has wrongly directed all financial institutions to apply the levy at the point of electronic transfer origination and that the amount is to be explicitly noted in customer accounts under the description ‘Cybersecurity Levy’ and remitted by the financial institution."
According to the senior lawyer, the circular issued by CBN gave the very erroneous impression that the levy was payable by individual customers.
He stated, "The erroneous interpretation might have arisen from the substitution of ‘businesses’ for ‘business’ in the amendment. For the avoidance of doubt, by virtue of Section 42(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2025 as amended, the businesses which are required to pay the levy are: GSM Service providers and all telecommunications companies; Internet Service Providers; Banks and other Financial Institutions; Insurance Companies; and Nigerian Stock Exchange.
"In view of the foregoing, the Central Bank of Nigeria should be directed to withdraw its Circular of May 6, 2024 forthwith as it has wrongly interpreted the provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024."
Falana said the apex bank should also apologise to Nigerians for the misleading interpretation of the clear and unambiguous provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.
L-R: Chief of Staff to the Director General, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Uchenna Okafor; Director General, SON, Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke; Ogun State Governor, Prince
Adviser to Director General, (SON), Lagos and South West Region, Mrs. Folashade
Standardisation Collaboration in Abeokuta...recently
and
The federal government has formally arraigned the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, over alleged breach of trust and fraud.
Sirika, his daughter, Fatima, son-in-law Jalal Hamma and a firm, Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, were arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a six count charge against the defendants bordering on alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of N4.1 billion.
They were said to have committed the alleged offences while Sirika served as minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which their lawyers moved their individual bail applications.
While Kanu Agabi, SAN argued
bail for Sirika, Mahmoud Magaji, SAN argued that of Fatima and Sunusi Musa, SAN,made case for Jalal Sule Hamma. The fourth defendant, Al Duraq was represented by Mr Micheal Numa, SAN.
Although prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, objected to the grant of the bail, Justice Oriji, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties in the like sum.
Each of the sureties, who must be resident in Abuja, and must own verifiable landed properties. The property documents as well as the international passports of the defendants must be deposited with
the court, and the defendants cannot travel out of the court's jurisdiction or country without the permission of the court.
While adjourning the matter till June 10 and 11 for commencement
of trial, the court held that if the defendants were unable to perfect their bail before the close of work,they would be remanded in a Correctional Center until they are able to do so.
James Emejo in Abuja
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, yesterday declared that the country remained open and ready for business with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in agriculture and related sub-fields.
The minister said the administration of president Bola Tinubu has a key priority to boost production and productivity with a keen eye on value addition to its diverse produce.
Kyari spoke at the investment roundtable between the Saudi Arabia delegation led by the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Alfadley, and the Nigerian Agro-allied Business Community in Abuja.
This came as the Saudi delegation promised to support the current administration’s effort aimed at food self-sufficiency.
Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen said, “We also believe that the challenge on
food self-sufficiency is your ability to produce it at a lower cost compared to what comes from the outside.
“We do realise that food availability and access are becoming top of the agenda for all countries and we do believe that Nigeria has comparative advantages and appreciates the need to invest wisely in agriculture.”
However, he said Saudi investors would assess the incentives on ground that could encourage its businesses to set up in Nigeria in a mutually benefitting outcome to all stakeholders.
Also, yesterday, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, ha appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in order to avert a conflagration in Rivers State.
This was as local government council chairmen under the aegis of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State chapter, had challenged Fubara on their tenure expiration, insisting they would remain in office six months after June 17, which marks the end of their tenure.
At the same time, Fubara received support from Wike’s camp, yesterday, as the minister’s former adviser, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, has blamed the impeachment threat against the governor on sentimental politics.
However, THISDAY gathered that Fubara went there to have an on-the-spot assessment of the status of the quarters while enroute the Emohua-Kalabari Road to inspect the readiness of the first phase of the Trans-Kalabari Road billed for unveiling.
A short video posted on Facebook, showed Fubara taking a walk around the quarters, which seemed deserted with no other person other than his security details on the premises.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara explained that his visit to the residential quarters was to undertake on-the-spot assessment
of condition of the structures for possible rehabilitation to restore its status and make it liveable.
"Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there?
"You are aware of the developments. We have a new speaker, and I went there to see for my myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people," h said. According to Fubara, he decided to visit the place to get better appreciation of what needs to be done to make the quarters conducive for lawmakers.
Commenting on the road project, Fubara said he was assessing the extent of job that had been done to know what else was needed in preparing the road for commissioning during his one year anniversary.
"As a matter of fact, we added this section of the road as one of the projects we will be commissioning. So, I needed to see it myself, and what is remaining is just the lighting. By the grace of God, we will commission it."
He pointed out that the road project was inherited from the immediate past administration but a greater chunk of the cost was borne by his administration.
Amaewhule:
The Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers have told Governor Siminalayi Fubara that he was already becoming a "law breaker" with his
recent actions.
"Rivers people were stunned this afternoon when they got the information that the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, stormed the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters in yet another attempt to demolish the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters just the same way he demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
"Nigerians, Rivers people are watching events day by day as our own governor, who is supposed to uphold the Constitution is gradually sliding into the position of chief law breaker of Nigeria.
"Our governor demolished the House of Assembly Complex and plans are underway from what we are seeing to again, demolish the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.
"The quarters we have here is one of the best in the country. The Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters was built by the past administration under His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. It was commissioned in August, 2022, by the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, now Chief of Staff to Mr. President.
"As you can see, there is nothing wrong with any of the buildings. All the buildings are in perfect condition. Our hall is in perfect condition. We have no issues; we have not called on the governor for any for of help.
"The Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters was built for members of the House of Assembly and not for the Executive arm of the government. The undue interferences
of the governor is one that is unbecoming of a sitting governor, who is supposed to uphold the sanctity of the law. We are disappointed, we are ashamed."
Meanwhile the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers at their 175th sitting on Wednesday, consolidated the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law of 2023, and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law No. 4 of 2024 to form a new Local Government Law that provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of the Local Government Councils and other matters connected thereto in the State.
The lawmakers, who used the Auditorium at Assembly quarters as a make shift Chambers passed the Bill after deliberating on it merits and demerits.
A statement by Martins Wachukwu, Media Aide to the displaced factional Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, explained that before passing the Bill, the House debated the essence of consolidating all the local government laws in the state, which they argued would make for ease of reference.
Thereafter, in line with the rules of the House, they resolved into Committee of the Whole and further X-rayed the spirit of all the laws to be consolidated.
Amaewhule posited that the intendment of the bill is to consolidate all the local government laws in the state to a one whole piece of
The minister, while hoping that the forum would lead to the signing, sealing and delivery of deals beneficial to both countries, noted that the forum was a logical outcome of the economic diplomacy being championed by President Bola Tinubu.
He pointed out that the President had laid out clearly investment opportunities in Nigeria as well as the comfort for investors, by way of steadily improving levels of ease of doing business and a range of fiscal and other incentives.
Legislation.
He added that in consolidating the Laws, the House looked at some critical sections and amended them for effective management of council staff, in line with current realities, saying, "No single individual in borrowed ropes will be allowed to hold any local government council to ransom."
Wabara to Tinubu: Stop Wike from Burning Rivers
Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in order to avert the looming conflagration in Rivers State.
Wabara made the call yesterday as the persisting feud between Fubara and his erstwhile godfather, Nyesom Wike, continued to escalate.
He told journalists in a telephone chat that the president should act fast "before he (Wike) plunges Rivers State into a needless political crisis" which could snowball into a national inferno.
Wabara, a former Senate President, blamed Wike for the escalating crisis, saying he was stoking the face-off between Fubara and the lawmakers seeking his downfall.
"I want to appeal to Mr. President to call his appointee, Nyesom Wike, to order so that his actions in Rivers do not confirm the suspicion that APC has an agenda to turn Nigeria into one party state," he said.
Tinubu, was at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) in Saudi Arabia which was his second business visit to the kingdom in six months. Earlier, while receiving the delegation in his of office, the minister noted that both countries have had strong and healthy bilateral relationships that dated back several centuries on account of the common ties, particularly in culture and religion as well as the informal economic transactions that also take place between their people.
Wabara said the president should not ignore his appeal and should indeed appreciate the importance of Rivers as a major revenue base of the country, hence "Nigeria will definitely not escape" a burning fire in Rivers.
"Wike should allow peace to reign in Rivers State," he insisted, warning that Nigeria might not survive any instability in Rivers State, considering its economic importance to the country.
He stressed that Tinubu must prevail on Wike to give peace a chance and allow his successor to govern the state, having been given the mandate by Rivers people as expressed by the voters.
Wabara also advised pro-Wike lawmakers against offering themselves as willing tools for destabilisation of their own state, adding that, "history will not be kind to them" if they continue on the path of infamy. He urged the warring legislators to carefully consider the grave implications of any attempt to forcefully remove a democraticallyelected governor or president from office.
Wabara, however, disclosed that the PDP would not fold its arms and allow Fubara's traducers to continue with their intimidation and persecution.
The PDP BoT chair also said he not surprised at the mass exodus of PDP members in Abia State, adding that such development was bound to occur given the certain happenings in the party.
L-R: Consultant, CAVISTA Holdings, Nima Nedelcolvych; Chairman, CAVISTA Holdings, Mr. John Olajide; Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; Chief Financial Officer, CAVISTA, Mr Niran Olajide, and Chief Peoples Officer, Axxess, Tom Codd, during the signing of the multi-billion naira Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 100,000 hectares cassava revolution between CAVISTA (owners of Agbeyewa Farms) and Ekiti State Government on the sidelines of the United State-Africa Business Summit in Dallas…recently
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Israel Sunny- Goli, has petitioned the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe multi-million naira investments done by the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Sunny- Goli, who represented Nembe/ Brass federal constituency in the ninth Assembly, said he is calling for a ‘’thorough investigation and possible prosecution as it relates to the disbursement of funds for the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Limited, the Atlantic International
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced his administration’s plan to release to the public the Osun State Transport Master Plan to facilitate integrated connectivity for Osun economy.
The governor made the announcement yesterday while inaugurating the Osun State Computerised Vehicle Inspection Testing Centre at Osogbo.
The governor, who narrated series of ongoing reforms being delivered by his government said: “The test center right here is the first of its kind among other intervention of
our administration to reposition the state’s transportation sector.”
According to the governor, “our government is pursuing reforms across the transport sector. We ensure that commercial motorcycle operators across the state are registered under a database with a rider’s jacket and identification card for safety purposes. Mini buses, popularly known as (Korope) has also been registered and numbered for easy identification and security.
“We have introduced single ticketing to all commercial drivers in the state through the Osun State Transport Management System (OSTMS) to guide against leakage of revenue.
Hammed Shittu inIlorin
Kwara State Executive Council yesterday approved the new construction and rehabilitation of several road projects worth several millions of naira in different parts of the state.
A statement issued in Ilorin after the state executive council meeting and which was signed by the state Commissioner for Communications, Mrs. Bola Olukoju, stated that the gesture was in line with the present administration’s extensive renewal campaign and opening up of the
agrarian hinterlands in the state.
The statement said that the approval of new roads construction came after the recent award of contract for the 87.4km rural roads in the state.
The statement stated that:
“Among the approved roads contract include phase one of the road to the Owu Fall, the highest waterfall in West Africa measuring 120m above water level and cascading 330 feet down an escarpment, a major boost for tourism in not just the state but in Nigeria and West Africa subregion.
Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has expressed deep sadness over the death of Ahmadu Salihu Ribadu, the elder brother of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
In a condolence letter signed by Ododo, he noted that he was shocked by the death of late Ahmadu Salihu, and shared in the grief of the National Security Adviser and the entire Ribadu’s family.
Governor Ododo, who reflected on the inevitability of death, said it was painful
for a family to lose a loved one, especially when the deceased is dear to the family and the community like the late Ahmadu Salihu Ribadu.
The governor prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of late Ahmadu Salihu Ribadu, and urged the family to take solace in the knowledge that the deceased led a life full of personal fulfillment and impact in the community.
Late Ahmadu Salihu Ribadu died last Sunday in Yola, Adamawa State, and has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, as well as the Brass Petroleum Product Terminal Limited.”
The former lawmaker, who said all the projects are situated
within the precinct of Brass Local Government Area, noted that the investments were undertaken during the tenure of the immediate-past Executive Secretary of the Board, Simbi
Kesiye Wabote. According to him, NCDMB total equity of $200million was contributed for the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Limited project, which was conceived to establish
two trains of 5,000MTPD methanol plants and one train of 500Mscf per day processing plant and associated infrastructure to be sited in Odioma, Brass Island, Bayelsa State.
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Operatives of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested a 45-year-old Prophet, Mr. Olayinka Ajiboye for allegedly defiling three minors in Agah village in Ilorin South local government area of the State.
The suspect, according to THISDAY checks, was said to have raped three minors of the age brackets of 13-17 years in the village.
The suspect, it was gathered was said to be specialising in harassing and sexually assaulting minors that attended his church in the village.
The development it was further
learnt prompted the men of NSCDC to put the suspect on serious surveillance following several complaints about his nefarious activities.
Sources close to the NSCDC told our correspondent yesterday in Ilorin that, the suspect was apprehended after a tip-off on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, Mr.Ayoola Micheal Shola, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect stated that, “the suspect is the General Overseer of Divine Land of Joy Prayer Ministry located in Agah village and has sexually assaulted several members of the church, as reported by the victims.”
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro, has expressed commitment to sustaining the peace, security and development in the Niger Delta through the PAP in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.
This s just as the Vice
Chancellor of the Igbinedion University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, said that 26 PAP scholarship students in the institution made first class.
Otuaro spoke when he visited the Igbinedion University, Okada and Benson Idahosa University, Benin, in Edo State to interact with the universities’ managements and students on the scholarship of the PAP in the two institutions.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, quoted Otuaro as saying that he would implement the Amnesty Programme effectively to build confidence in the region and garner support for the federal government.
He said: “The PAP is crucial for fostering enduring peace in the Niger Delta. By implementing it efficiently and effectively, we can garner greater support for the Federal Government’s efforts to promote security and development in the Niger Delta.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday said his administration has successfully created strong institutions that will stand the test of time and make the state thrive across different sectors.
Governor Makinde stated this when he signed the Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency Bill (2024) into Law, at the Governor’s Office at the Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.
He stated that though his
The governor noted that states do not need strong governors or administrators but strong institutions that can make them do well and add value in all ramifications.
administration met a Bureau of Public Procurement and Governor’s Monitoring Team on the ground when it came on board in 2019, there was no value for money paid on projects.
According to Governor Makinde, “The major legacy of his administration will be the creation of institutions that will ensure that the state continues well into the future.
“People ask me what will be my legacy? Our legacy will be the institutions that we are able to create to ensure that Oyo State will continue well into the future to enjoy good governance.
Women non-governmental organisations have identified social and cultural norms as barriers to women’s freedom of speech and participation in democracy and security space in Nigeria.
Founding Director, Women Advocacy
for Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, noted that the prevalence of socio-cultural norms are still affecting the ability of women to participate in peace processes in their communities and states.
She stated this yesterday in Abuja during a round table discussion on the
publication of a research conducted by WARDC and Women 4 Women.
She said: “Women who had information and could support peace processes were being denied the opportunity to participate despite the fact that the country has signed the UN security council resolution. The peace security architecture I state tye
state is not allowing women and accepting women to be part of it.
“The project is called Listen to Women: Identifying the Barriers Against Women’s Freedom of Speech and Participation in Democracy. It’s a project that focuses specifically on Plateau state but however has a national coverage.
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DAS Energy Services Limited, Udu, near Warri, Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has warned stakeholders to allow the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace
Development, Festus Keyamo, clean the corruption mess in the sector.
He insisted that the minister, this time around, has his support on his move to sanitise the aviation industry in the country.
Onuesoke in a statement issued in Warri yesterday was reacting
to recent criticism by aviation stakeholders on Keyamo’s recent comment against the alleged rots in the industry.
Keyamo had during a television interview last week alleged that all subsectors of the aviation sector was bedeviled with corruption, and
disclosed his efforts to reverse the trend.
Aviation stakeholders, however, have descended on the minister accusing him of demarketing the industry with sweeping corruption statement made against the sector, and demanded an apology.
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Anambra State chapter of Nigerian Red Cross Society said it has commenced sensitisation of indigenes of the state residing in riverine area, to forestall flood disasters.
The state chairman of the society, Professor Charity Ifeyinwa Emelie, stated this during a press conference to mark this year’s World Red Cross Day. Emelie, while addressing journalists said: “We have commenced sensitisation of
people living in riverine areas on impending flood this year.
“We sent our officials to riverine places, and you know that our people don’t like living their homes, but we have been persuading them to move to upland places to avoid any
disaster during this year’s flood.
“Our people in those areas are predominantly farmers and it is difficult to convince them to leave. We have however been sensitizing them, we also tell them that they can consider travelling to be with relatives when the flood set in.”
George Okoh inMakurdi
The Catholic Archdiocese of Makurdi, Benue State, has ordered the immediate closure of Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School in Adeke, Makurdi, following an attack on the school by gunmen.
Gunmen in the late hours of Wednesday attacked the school but were repelled by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC).
No life was lost but one of the security personnel sustained a non-life-threatening injury and is receiving medical treatment in an
undisclosed hospital.
A press statement issued by the Director of Social Communications of the Diocese, Very. Revd. Fr. Moses Iorapuu, directed the immediate suspension of all activities at the school until further notice.
Part of the statement read:
“Following the attack on Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School by unidentified gunmen, the Diocese of Makurdi ordered the immediate suspension of activities at the school to protect the lives of the students.
“The decision to suspend activities was a preemptive
measure to ensure the safety of our children and avoid what could be an unimaginable disaster if not for the swift action of the school authority and the intervention of security personnel who repelled the attack.”
“The Director of Catholic Education Service of the Diocese was also mandated to reach out to relevant stakeholders. The Diocese has also directed priests and those in pastoral units to tighten security around their premises and appealed to the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens.”
Olawale AjimotokaninAbuja
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has sealed a hotel, school and three business concerns for tax evasion.
The affected concerns are Regency Hotels, Gratias International School, Rural and Urban Homes Limited, Trevari International Company, and Phenomenon International Company.
The FCT-IRS acting Director, Legal Services, Mr. Festus Tsavsar, said the enforcement team closed the affected premises following a court order obtained by the service.
He said: “Today, we went out to execute the Court Orders, which ordered the FCT-IRS to seal off the premises of defaulting taxpayers that were brought before it.
“We have been able to effectively comply with the court order by sealing off the premises as directed.
“We went to Gratias International School located in Games Village, Kaura, and sealed it off.
“The offence they committed was refusal to file their annual returns despite many notices, including a court summon but the school management refused to comply.
Ugo Aliogo
To combat malaria and promote community health, Green Life Pharmaceuticals, Clearline HMO, Clinix Healthcare, and Green Life Hospital have partnered to donate mosquito nets, free tests, and treatments to residents of the Iwaya community in Yaba, Lagos.
Speaking at the event to present them, the General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Clearline HMO, Olaoye Olubukola, said the outreach to commemorate World Malaria Day was aimed at helping the community reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality rates.
“The purpose here is to help residents of Iwaya community to reduce the risk of having malaria to the barest minimum. And that is why we’re speaking with the people, doing tests, treatments, giving drugs and mosquito nets to them. Malaria is deadly and we must minimise the risk for them,” Olubukola said.
Head of Marketing and Sales, Clinix Healthcare, Folake Obatoyinbo, who cited the rising cost of living in Nigeria, said preventing
I, formerly known and addressed as ABIDEMI YETUNDE BADEWA, now wish to be known and addressed as ABIDEMI YETUNDE ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.
The bearer of FUNMILAYO RACHEAL OBAMUYI is the same person as RACHEAL FUNMILAYO OBAMUYI. All documents remain the same. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
I formerly known and addressed as MISS OPARA ESTHER NKEIRUKA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGBOJI ESTHER NKEIRUKA. All former documents remain valid. Concerned institutions, organizations, general public, please take note.
I, ABIODUN BAKARE, hereby gives notice that I have changed my name to ABBEY BAKARE, and shall henceforth be known as ABBEY BAKARE. Notice is hereby given to the Nigeria Immigration Service and all relevant authorities, that the former name of ABIODUN BAKARE is now changed to Abbey Bakare. All
malaria is more economical than managing it.
She averred the propensity of contracting malaria in the community is quite high, hence, the
importance of urging residents of the community to keep their drainages and environment clean as well as timely usage of mosquito-treated nets being handed to them.
Ayodeji Ake
Abbey Mortgage Bank, a leading institution in the African Mortgage industry, recently staged a walk to promote autism awareness and emphasise the importance of understanding and supporting individuals with such disorder.
This year’s programme with the theme: ‘Abbey Walk for Autism Awareness’, saw Abbey bankers, led by their Managing Director and CEO, Mobolaji Adewumi, staged a charity walk from the bank’s head office on Karimu Kotun to Falomo Bridge Ikoyi, Lagos, through Alfred Rewane Road, before returning to the office.
The ‘Abbey Walk for Autism Awareness’ commemorated Autism Awareness Month, usually held in April with theme: ‘Aligning SDGs with Autism: Empowerment,
I, errorneosly addressed as PETER PROPHET AKOWA now wish to be known and addressed as AKOWA PETER IFEANYI PROPHET. And wish to state that my correct telephone numbers are 09060370037/09060002063. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. I formerly known and addressed as ISIJOLA FERANMI NATHANIEL now wish to be known and addressed as ISIJOLA OLUWAFERANMI NATHANIEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.
I formerly known and addressed as MISS TOPE OGBOFURUGHA DIMARO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS TOPE OGBOFURUGHA DIMARO OTERI. All former documents remain valid. Concerned institutions, organizations, general public, please take note. I formerly known and addressed as ALI HUSSEIN SAADEH now wish to be known and addressed as ALI SAADEH. All former documents remain valid. Concerned institutions, organizations, general public, please take note.
Challenges and Victories’, to create awareness and sensitise Nigerians on the disorder to champion equal opportunities and freedom for persons with the disorder.
Speaking during the autism awareness walk, The MD/CEO of Abbey Mortgage Bank, Mr. Mobolaji Adewumi noted that: “At Abbey Mortgage Bank, we believe in not only building dreams through our mortgage and financial services but also in supporting causes that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Autism awareness is an issue close to our hearts, and we are proud to champion this cause and spread awareness in our community.”
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
In its efforts to empower wives of officers of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), the National President of Nigeria Correctional Officer’s wife, Hajia Aisha Musa Haliru Nababa, has inaugurated a shopping mall in Sokoto State. Represented by the wife of the Delta State Controller of Correctional Service, Prof Jayi Oba, Mrs. Nababa said NICOWA is committed to the empowerment and welfare of its members.
She explained that the shopping mall would promote commercial activities in Sokoto State, stressing that if well harnessed, it will boost the economy and create jobs for the people.
According to her, “You Know Sokoto is a commercial town, so to construct this shopping mall here will help improve commercial activities in the city.” Nababa further said that NICOWA is committed to supporting their husbands for the rehabilitation and reformation of offenders (inmates).
Islamweb.net
AEdited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.comll praise be to Allah Who guides whomever He Wills to the Straight Path. Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah, who calls for the pleasure of his Lord and guides to the best way.
People’s need for guidance is greater than their need for food and water because food and water are needed so that man would lead this short evanescent life; however, guidance is the basis of the everlasting and continuous life.
Shaykh Al-Islam Ahmad Ibn Taymiyah (ra) said: “A servant is always in need that Allah would guide him to the Straight Path. Accordingly, he is forced to fulfil the exact meaning of this Du‘aa’ (invocation), because there is neither salvation from torment nor reaching happiness without this guidance. So, whoever misses guidance shall be either from those upon whom Allah has evoked His Anger or those who are astray, and this guidance can only happen through the Guidance of Allah”.
Ibn Taymiyah, (ra) also said: “Allah, the Exalted said to His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, after Al-Hudaybiyah Peace Treaty and Ar-Ridwan Pledge of Allegiance (which means): “Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest. That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path” Quran 48:1-2.
So, if that was the Prophet’s (pbuh) state at the end of his life or close to it, how would be the state of others?
Ibn Taymiyah, (ra) also said: “The servant’s need for seeking guidance is necessary to achieve happiness, salvation [from punishment], and success unlike his need for sustenance and victory, as Allah provides him with sustenance, and when his sustenance ends, he would die. Death is inevitable so if the servant was of the people of guidance, he would be happy before and after death, and death will be a means to eternal happiness. Victory is likewise if it is predestined for him to be killed after a defeat, he dies as a martyr, and then killing would be a perfect grace. Hence, it becomes evident that the need for guidance is greater than the need for victory and sustenance; rather, there is no comparison between them, because if he is guided, he shall be of the pious people. Allah Says (what means): “… And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect” Quran 65:2-3. He would be of those who support Allah and His Messenger, and whoever supports Allah then Allah would support him and he would be counted from the soldiers of Allah, who are always victorious; therefore, this Du‘aa’ (invocation) is needed. The Du‘aa’ also includes sustenance and victory, because if a person is guided, and then guides others whether by words, actions or vision, then complete guidance would be the greatest cause to bring about sustenance and victory. So, it becomes clear that this Du‘aa’ is comprehensive for every needed matter. This also shows that soorah (chapter) Al-Fatiha is incomparable and its virtue over other speech is greater than the virtue of Rukooa’ (bowing down) and Sujood (prostration) over other acts of submission”.
Therefore, it would be better for a Muslim to persist in invoking Allah for guidance, because asking for guidance from Allah, the Exalted, and seeking help from Him to reach guidance makes a person follow the path of pleasing Allah and Paradise. If a person is guided, he still needs day and night to invoke his Lord for guidance and for making him firm on it and increasing in it, and continuing to sticking to it while he is in dire need in every moment for this invocation to be answered.
Hence, a Muslim should frequently ask Allah for guidance while he supplicates Him in all his Prayers, obligatory or supererogatory, several times a day.
Ibn Al Qayyim, (ra) said: “Since invoking Allah for guidance to the Straight Path was the most sublime requests, to obtain the most honorable graces, Allah, the Exalted taught His slave how to invoke Him and commanded them to begin their invocations to Him by thanking Him, praising Him, and Glorifying Him, then mentioning their worship to Him and singling Him out with monotheism, as these are two means to meet their needs:
1- Invoking Allah the Exalted with His Names and Attributes
2- Invoking Allah the Exalted with worshipping and seeking help from Him
Those two means can hardly make invocations unaccepted.
The first half of soorah Al-Fatiha included those two types of invocation, then invocation came at the second half with asking Allah, the Exalted for guidance and following the Path of those whom Allah granted straightness and happiness in this worldly life and the hereafter.”
Allah, the Exalted Commands us to ask Him for guidance as was reported in a Qudsi hadeeth: “O My slave, all of you are astray except those whom I have guided, so ask Me for guidance and I shall guide you.”
One of the great bounties which Allah, the Exalted granted to His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is what Allah Says in the Quran (what means): “And He found you lost and guided [you]” Quran 93:7. The meaning is that the Prophet (pbuh) was not aware of this revelation before Allah The Exalted revealed it to him, as Allah, the Exalted Says (what means): “And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith.” Quran 42:52.
The Messenger, (pbuh) asks Allah for guidance The Prophet (pbuh) used to invoke Allah frequently for guidance: “Allahumma innee as-aluka al-huda, wat-tuqa, wal-`ifafa, wal-ghina (O Allah! I beseech You for guidance, piety, chastity, and contentment”) Imam Muslim reported in his saheeh from the Hadeeth of ‘Aa‘ishah (the mother of the believers, ra) that she said: “The Prophet of Allah (pbuh) used to start his prayer when he got up at night with: “Allahumma Rabba Jibraeela, wa Meekaeela, wa Israfeela fatira as-samawati wa al-ardha, ‘aalima al-ghaybi wa as-shahadata, Antha tahkum bayna ‘ibadaka fee ma kanoo feehi yakhtalifoon, ihdinee ikhtalifa feehi minal haqqi bi idhnika, innaka tahdee man tashau’ ila siratin mustaqeem”. (O Allah, Lord of Jibra’il, Mika’il, and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning that wherein they differ. Guide me concerning that wherein they differ of the truth by Your leave, for You guide whomsoever You will to a straight path.”) That was the introduction of night prayer in the middle of the night while his tongue was saying: “Guide me”.
An-Nasa’ee and others reported with an authentic chain of narration from the Hadeeth of Jabir, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) started his prayer, he would say the Takbeer and then say: “Inna salatee wa nusukee wa mahyaya wa mamatee lillahi Rabiil ‘aalameen. La shareeka lahu wabi dhalika omirtu wa ana awwalil Muslimeen. Allahumma ihdnee li ahsanil a’amali wa ahsanil akhlaqi la yahdee li ahsaniha illa Antah” (Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; There is no partner with Him and this is what I have been commanded (to profess and believe) and I am of the believers. O Allah, guide me to the righteous deeds and manners, for none would guide to them but You.”
Imam At-Tirmithi (ra) reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) that he (pbuh) used to say between the two prostrations: “O Allah! Forgive me, bestow mercy on me, enrich me, guide me, and grant me sustenance.”
‘Abudllah Ibn ‘Umar (ra) narrated: “Whenever I prayed with the Prophet (pbuh) I heard him saying at the end of Salah: “Allahumma ‘ighfir lee khata’ee wa ‘amadee Allahumma ihdnee li salihil a’amali wal akhlaqi innahu la yahdee li salihaha wa la yasrifu sayyi-aha illa Anta”. (O Allah, forgive my sins whether committed inadvertently and deliberately, O Allah, guide me to the righteous deeds and manners, for verily none but You guides to the best and none but You turn away its worst).”
He (pbuh) used to commend his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, and advise them to invoke Allah for guidance. ‘Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to me: “Say: O Allah, guide me, direct me to the right thing; and remember with guidance, guiding you to the Straight Path and with correctness, the correctness of shooting.”
Allah is the True Guide
Al-Khattabi said: The Guide, is the One who grants guidance to whomever He wills of His slaves and honors them with the light of Tawheed (monotheism) as Allah, the Exalted Says (what means): “And guides whom He wills to a straight path” Quran 10:25.
He was the One who guided all creatures to their interests and inspired them as how to ask for sustenance and how to guard themselves against harm and destruction as Allah, the Exalted Says (what means): “He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]” Quran 20:50 Allah, the Exalted Says (what means): “And indeed is Allah the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path” Quran 22:54.
Ibn Jareer (ra) said: “Verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe in Allah and His Messenger to the intended truth and clear truth.”
Allah, the Exalted Says (what means): “But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide” Quran 25:31
Ibn Jareer, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Allah, the Exalted Says to His Prophet (pbuh): “O Muhammad, Your Lord is sufficient for you as a Guide to guide you to the truth, and enlighten you with the righteousness”.
As-Sa`di (ra) said: “The Guide: i.e., the One who guides His slaves to all benefits and averts them from all harms, teach them what they do not know, guide them to the truth and correctness, inspire them with piety, make their hearts turning to Him and obedient to His Commands.”
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has thrown his weight behind newly appointed Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George, in his quests for foreign assistants amongst his backroom staff.
Pinnick who is seeking re-election to the FIFA Council next March, said on Arise News Television
“The Morning Show” programme yesterday that there was nothing wrong in Finidi asking the NFF for approval to bring in foreign assistants .
“Finidi has the right to ask for foreign assistant. It is normal for him to demand foreign assistant if he desires one. Bonfrere Jo was foreign assistant to Clemens Westerhof and later took over the job. (Sunday) Oliseh had foreign assistant, (Samson) Siasia had foreign assistant. It is not
Lookman scored the opening goal and contributed an assist as Atalanta defeated Marseille 3-0 in the second leg of the Europa League semi final last night.
The aggregate 4-1 victory pushed the Italian Serie A side into the final of the European second tier competition against unbeaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen who triumphed aggregate 4-2 over another Italian side Roma. The second leg of the semi final ended 2-2 last night in Germany but was of no value as Leverkusen got the job done with the first leg 2-0 advantage in Rome.
Super Eagles forward who score in the first leg was an unused substitute last night.
Leverkusen created yet more
history in a remarkable campaign ad the Xabi Alonso wards have now gone 49 games this season unbeaten!
They won 41 of their matches across all competitions while drawing just eight. They have now surpassed the previous record held by Eusebio’s Benfica between December 1963 and February 1965.
Arsenal went 49 league matches unbeaten from May 2003 to October 2004, however, that streak included a number of defeats in other competitions. Leverkusen are on the brink of an incredible treble with the Bundesliga already in the bag and a German Cup final against Kaiserslautern and now the Europa League final against Atalanta.
The Nigerian football community has been thrown into mourning over the death of former Stationery Stores FC star, Ibrahim Babangida, in an automobile crash yesterday.
The elder Tijani Babangida who played for the Super Eagles as well as Ajax Amsterdam was also involved in the accident along
with his wife, son and maid. Tijani escaped unhurt in the crash. Only his younger brother Ibrahim died in the accident while the rest are in critical situations in hospital in Kaduna.
In a statement issued by Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) headed by Tijani Babangida, the entire household was travelling on the Kaduna-Zaria highway yesterday, when the fatal accident occurred.
According to General Secretary of PFAN, Emmanuel Babayaro, “the Babangida family that included Tijani, his wife, son, maid and Ibrahim, were travelling on the Kaduna-Zaria highway yesterday, when the fatal accident occurred.”
Babayaro, while expressing deep regrets and sorrow on behalf of the players union, remarked that the association would issue further statement on its plan towards supporting the bereaved family.
new and it is not also bad for him to demand same,” Pinnick defended the former Ajax winger.
He stressed that the staffing of a national team goes a long way in determining the success or otherwise of any team.
“Backroom staffing is more scientific right now. If he says he needs three back room assistants, perhaps one as goalkeeper trainer, the others could be for other positions in the team like the defence, midfield and the attack. The assistant coaches are the engine room of the success of any coach because they see what the coach can’t see,” observed the former NFF Chief.
Pinnick however stressed that if paucity of funds at the NFF was
going to hamper the hiring of these key part of Finidi’s backroom staff, the matter can be discussed with the gaffer.
“But then, it depends on funding from the federation. But I think it is not out of place. Finidi should be allowed to do what he wants to do. But if there is paucity of funds, they can discuss it with him (to reach a compromise),” he noted.
While restating his backing for Finidi as Super Eagles Head Coach, Pinnick believes the ex international should be able to fashion a playing pattern for the senior national now in quest to qualify for both the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
“Finidi is well equipped; he played for Ajax and they over there have developmental football mentoring in kicking the ball, trapping and all that. I think he is well positioned for the job,” concludes Pinnick who is also a CAF executive committee member.
Finidi George is the fifth player from the 1994 all-conquering squad to be in the saddle at the senior national team. Late Stephen Keshi, Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia and Sunday Oliseh are the others who have at one time or the other led the team from the dugouts.
Two other players from that ‘ 1994 Golden Generation’ Emmanuel Amuneke and Daniel Amokachi contested the position with Finidi.
Ademola Lookman (second, right) gave Atalanta the opening goal against Marseille last night in the Europa League second leg, semi final. The Italian team qualified for the final with aggregate 4-1 win
Fatimo Bello shot herself to the international limelight in 2022 when she defied all odds to reach the final of the African Cup, where she eventually lost to Egypt’s Hana Goda.
That performance contributed immensely to her world ranking fortunes; she became the third best player in Africa and the highestranked Nigerian female player in the world.
But after the 2022 feat, Bello moved to Italy to continue her
professional career, while her inability to repeat her 2022 feat the following year affected her ranking, and she dropped down the pecking order in Africa.
However, she has been listed as one of Nigeria’s flagbearers at the African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda, and the Lagos State-born athlete believes this is her time to join the league of elite players heading to Paris in July.
“It has not been easy since 2022,
but I am still a work in progress with the hope that I will get back to my form. My African Games experience was not impressive at all, and I have that behind me with the hope that I can re-enact my form in Kigali,” she said.
The three-time Nigerian national champion, however, admitted that she expects tough challenges from other players but that she is poised to fight for one of the three tickets at stake. “It is not going to be an easy ride in Kigali because everybody
is targeting a place at the Olympic Games, and I will be glad to become one of the new generation of players to compete at the Olympic Games,” she added.
Bello will be joined by Offiong Edem in the women’s category of the Olympic Qualifiers on May 16 to 18, while Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo will compete in the men’s category, as the three top players will secure automatic tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.
With 14 days to the 10th edition of the Okpekpe international 10km road race in Okpekpe, Edo State, organisers of the historic race has said that athletes who break the Course and African/World records at the event will receive bonus awards of $2,000 and $5,000 respectively in addition to the race awards of between $15,000 and $2,000 for the first five finishers respectively.
The top winners at the Okpekpe race, men and women, can make a total of $22,000 each if they break the official course and African (World) records (subject to ratification under
World Athletics rules). This will be made up of the prize money of $15,000 and $2,000 for breaking the course record and $5,000 for breaking the African/ World record.
The Okpekpe race 10km course record stands at 28 minues and 28 seconds (28:28) for men set last year Daniel Simiu Ebenyo and 32 minutes, 41 seconds (32.41) set in 2014 by Ethiopia's Wude Ayalew. The African record for men which is also the world record is 26 minutes, 33 seconds (26:33) set by Kenya's Rhonex Kipruto in 2020
while another Kenyan, Agnes Jebet Ngetich holds the African nay World record for women at 28 minutes, 46 seconds (28:46) set in January 2024 in Valencia, Spain.
Zack Amodu, the Okpekpe international 10km road race director reveals why the performance bonus has been introduced to this year's race.
“This year, we have the $2,000 and $5,000 performance bonus to be earned by any man or woman who breaks the course record and African/World record respectively. Last year, we saw how Daniel Ebenyo moved very close to running a sub-28
minutes on his way to setting the 28:28 course record.
“We are motivating the athletes to run a little faster with the introduction of the performance bonus as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the most prestigious and first World Athletics label road race in West Africa,” said Amodu who is optimistic new course records will be set in the men and women's categories.
“With the quality of athletes that we have signed on and those who have signified interest in the race, I am sure a new course record will
be set.”
Amodu stressed that this year's edition will be used to celebrate Pamodzi Sports Marketing's 10 years of organising an event that World Athletics, the world governing body for the sport of athletics has recognised as a truly world- class race and which it did not hesistate to classify as such with the award of a bronze label status in 2015.
“As a recognition of the technical and administrative capabilities officials of Pamodzi have been displaying, the race was upgraded to a silver label status in 2018 and gold in 2023.
We have proved that Nigerians are capable of organizing world class events,” said a delighted Amodu who has been at the heart of delivering a truly world class race. The Okpekpe international 10km road race is an annual event held in Edo State, Nigeria. It’s a challenging 10km road race that takes place over hills and tarred roads, starting from Apana Road and ending in Okpekpe town. The race has attracted participants from various countries, including Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Morocco, Israel, Bahrain, and Nigeria.
TRUTH & REASON
Friday, May 10, 2024Price: N400
“The fact that the Rivers State APC Chairman, in his warped imagination, thinks he can direct impeachment preceeding against a duly elected state governor... In any event, the individuals that the Rivers State APC Chairman directed to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara are not legally members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot contemplate or exercise such powers under the law” –PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, blasts the APC over threat to impeach Governor Fubara.
The reality today is that Nigeria’s total debt, comprising both local and external stocks, is, according to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO), a whopping N107 trillion, which is humongous. The culprits for the ballooning of the debt are hugely the policy of subsidizing petrol pump prices and propping up the naira, origins of which date back about four decades ago,but were ended by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech on May 29 last year. Subsidizing electricity is another scam that has set our country back. The government was spending as much as 67% of the total cost of generating electricity in sustaining the regime of low tariff payment. According to NERC, N2.9t was being expended at N240b per month. That is prior to the current regime of withdrawing subsidy from 15%( 12m) consumers who will be paying a whooping 240% more per kilowatts. Even then, it is being claimed by NERC that the subsidy still being paid by government for those on Band B to E would be up to the tune of N1.6 trillion or N120b per month. A gradual withdrawal of subsidy in that utility had just commenced on April 3rd, with the 15% of electricity customers (12 million) consumers bearing the brunt by being billed what has been termed cost-reflective charges of N225 per kilowattss. That is over and above the N68 previously charged premium consumers now tagged Band A. If the new price regime set by NERC prevails, subsidy for electricity consumers would in the process of coming to an end by beig unravelled. The third issue is the high level of corruption in the country, which is wreaking havoc on the economy and on society at large. Currently, according to Transparency International (TI), an international corruption monitoring agency, Nigeria ranks as number 145 out of 180 countries on the list of nations ridden with graft.
There is no need to dwell further on that since it was the fulcrum of the last administration which boasted of having zero tolerance for corruption. But it ended up crashing the economy, which slipped into recession twice in 8 years, unprecedentedly. That regime did so by ommission or commission by chasing a bull into a China shop, and as it were, and ended up doing more damage than good to the economy as investors took flight due to the hostile investment climate.
But thanks to the recent deft moves of both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, and Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, confidence is returning to the nation’s economy, with investors showing interest, particularly via portfolio investors taking stakes in our treasury products owing to the offer of attractive rates reminiscent of the days of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, currently Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Another scam, which is the fourth (4th), is the high cost of governance as reflected by the huge size of the national budget dedicated to servicing a burgeoning bureaucracy. In that respect, the Executive branch of government is making some efforts, for example, by reducing the number of officials in the entourage of top government officials traveling abroad. It has even gone further by banning non-essential foreign trips by public servants, as well as aiming to implement the Oransanye Report on rationalization of government agencies bloating recurrent budget owing to too many civil/public servants.
Having put in array the multiple scams hindering Nigeria from attaining her potentials, it is appropriate to commence a thorough dissection of the issues focused on in this discourse by taking a deep dive into the four (4) identified scams.
The first is subsidy on petrol and the naira, which is a practice perpetrated by the immediate past administration under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, which created a Ways and Means debt-an indiscriminate printing of the naira without financial backup, to a monumental tune of N30 trillion.
Apparently, that administration seemed hell-bent on retaining the decades-old petrol subsidy policy and was determined, as it were to zealously defend the naira with our country’s hard-earned dollar income while borrowing to carry out its primary and basic duties of paying civil/public servants’ salaries and providing infrastructure such as roads, airports, railway lines, etc.
The abuse of subsidies reached a point that income from the sales of oil/gas could no longer net off the burden of subsidy, such that the nation had to embark on unbridled printing of money that nearly made the Nigerian currency - the naira, look like ‘shit’ money in the manner that the Central Bank of Uganda Governor resisted printing more money at the command of then military head of state, Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada. As it may be recalled, by pointing out to his boss that “Ugandan money is now like shit money” he angered the autocratic head of state to the extent that he had to send the apex bank governor to the gallows as documented in the movie about the infamous reign of the dictator,Idi Amin Dada in Uganda.
So, when I hear critics of the removal of subsidy on petrol and merging of foreign exchange rates of both official and parallel markets for foreign currencies, demanding that President Bola Tinubu should produce the savings from ending those economically debilitating policies, I simply grimace and shudder at the level of misunderstanding of the concept of subsidy and its removal by pundits pontification and advocating for the retention or return of subsidy.
The truth is that no money is being gathered and saved in any particular account. That is because there is none to be saved in the first instance, since it is a case of applying the funds that could have been literally flushed down the drain in the name of subsidy on petrol and naira into interventions in other critical areas of governance needing a shot in the arm to be energized. Take for instance education loan, which is a program recently launched by the incumbent administration.
Opening up the space for all Nigerians to have access to education up to whatever level they have
capacity for is such a big deal, that in my view it is being understated. In my reckoning, it is equivalent to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s declaration of and implementation of free education policy in the western region of Nigeria back in the days.
It is needless restating the fact that it is that policy of free education that is largely responsible for the leapfrogging of the Yoruba nation into the pole position of leadership in education amongst the ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria. Without education loan, only God knows the number of current street urchins across the nation, particularly Lagos state, that could have been potential Robert Einsteins.
But they have become wasted and a threat to society because their parents had no financial means to put them through school to acquire education that could have enabled them to meaningfully and positively contribute to society.
In fact, if not for scholarship awards,(a variant of free education) most of the incredible professionals that dot our corporate and public sector landscape today would not have had the priviledge of obtaing Western education.
Arising from the above, I would argue that democratizing education by making it accessible to all Nigerians that are keen on obtaining academic knowledge is a big deal. Although its justification would not come to full positive manifestation in the lifetime of President Tinubu’s administration. But in another decade or two, the potential geniuses hitherto compelled to become ‘area’ boys and girls (thugs and prostitutes) who are empowered through student loans initiative to be processed into medical doctors, nurses, accountants, aeronautical and space engineers as well as artificial intelligence experts, would boost the human resources capital of Nigeria such that the country would be poised to be amongst the world’s top five economies by 2075 as recently predicted by Goldman Sachs analysts.
What those criticizing the end of subsidies seem oblivious of is the fact that in the past two decades or so, the handlers of our economy had been engaging in deficit financing. In other words, they have been borrowing financial resources locally and from abroad
to fund the national budget because the projected incomes for each fiscal year being budgeted for have been falling short of the proposed expenditure.
Effectively, the benefits of the removal of subsidies are that the humongous funds hitherto provided in budget heads to subsidize some sectors deemed to be critical - maintaining low petrol pump price and low naira/dollar exchange rate - are being channeled into other areas considered to be equally critical and productive such as education instead of the profligacy of subsidizing consumption which petrol and naira amount to.
Apart from the fact that the action of President Tinubu has resulted in the reduction of petrol imported into our country by about 50% or one million litres per day, according to government sources, which has enabled the stemming of capital exportation out of our country to European suppliers of the commodity that was causing massive hemorrhaging of our treasury, it has boosted employment creation. That is in light of the fact that a huge chunk of our country’s imports, even up to 60%, by some accounts, are petroleum products and food based. As we can all attest, the end of petrol subsidy has also spurred investments in local refineries led by Dangote refinery with 650 million barrels per day capacity.
That is alongside a plethora of modular refineries springing up in the oil/gas-rich Niger Delta region stretching from around Benin City in Edo State to the Warri environs in Delta State, all the way down to Owerri in Imo State axis and the Port Harcourt zone in Rivers State, whose combined capacity is already leading to a crash in the price of diesel fuel for powering electricity generating sets that power manufacturing plants in factories and our homes.
How could all the aforementioned employmentboosting investments have been made possible without the end of petrol subsidy pronounced by President Tinubu at his inauguration on May 29 last year?
NOTE: Read full article online on www. thisdaylive.com
Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo SAN, GCFR, 37 Years On: Forever Remembered, Forever Adored AN ODE TO MY GRANDFATHER
Segun Awolowo
In the quiet of my thoughts, I see your face, Thirty-seven years have slipped away, Yet your presence lingers, day by day. With wisdom deep as the ocean’s vast, You steered our ship through the tempests past.
In your footsteps, I learned to tread, Guided by the words you once said.
With courage and grace Papa, you led the way, Inspiring generations to seize the day. Forever remembered, Forever adored Your legacy, a beacon so bright, Illuminated the darkest night.
In each decision, I still hear your voice, Guiding me to make the right choice.
Oh, how I long for one more day,
To sit with you and hear you say, Stories of old, lessons so profound, In your wisdom Papa, was solace found. Forever remembered ,Forever adored
In the tapestry of time, your threads are sewn, A legacy of love and truth you’ve sown. Though you’ve journeyed to a distant shore, Your very essence lives forevermore. Forever remembered, forever adored, Obafemi Awolowo, continue to rest in perfect peace
So Papa, on this day, I stand on the shoulders of your name, I carry forth your eternal flame.
With gratitude and reverence, I honor thee,
For the gift of your legacy, forever free. Forever remembered, Forever adored
•Your grandson , Olusegun Awolowo 2nd