MONDAY 22TH MAY 2023

Wabote: Over $50bn Oil Industry Projects Unveiled at Oil, Gas Fair

Onaiyekan Backs Call

Ezigbo

Abuja Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, yesterday, joined the call for live broadcast of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal

proceedings, saying it should not be “like a secret meeting”.

Onaiyekan spoke in Abuja during an interview with journalists after

a mass to mark the end of the 57th annual World Communication Week. He said the voters needed to follow up on how their votes were being

defended.

The priest admonished journalists to give voice to all groups, as they covered the activities for the May

29 handover. He called on judges of the

Seven African Presidents Join Buhari to Open Dangote Refinery, Continent’s Game Changer

650,000bpd facility to alter international energy landscape, end petrol smuggling in Nigeria

Tinubu, Emefiele, governors, ministers, top business leaders to witness epoch event Refinery, a significant achievement for Africa, Adeleke declares Oramah: Afreximbank proud as its largest financier Rewane: Refinery will strengthen Nigeria’s macro-economic stability

per day facility built by Africa's richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

THISDAY learnt yesterday that the refinery, which will be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari and seven African presidents, would alter the international energy landscape and try to sanitise the country's petroleum sector by ending the smuggling of imported petrol

Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi

in Abuja Catholic Bishop Emeritus of

TransitionNews

NASS Leadership: Permutations May Change as APC, Tinubu Reconsider Zoning

North West may lose one presiding officer’s slot for balancing

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, might have agreed to review the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly leadership.

THISDAY findings have revealed that the decision was taken following a meeting Tinubu had with a few of the aspirants shortly after he arrived from France on Saturday.

It was learnt that aspirants,

including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Sani Musa, among others, met separately with Tinubu.

A source at Tinubu’s residence explained that Wase, who was contesting the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives, was the first to meet Asiwaju but that he left without saying goodbye to his colleagues after his behind-the-door encounter with Tinubu.

“Wase’s countenances changed

G-7 Aspirants No Threat to Abass, Says House Coalition

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Joint Task Group of the 10th National Assembly, has said delivering Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as speaker and deputy speaker respectively would be a smooth sail for them on June 13 inauguration day.

The group comprises eight political parties including APC, PDP, LP, NNPP, APGA, SDP, ADC and YPP that won various seats at the national assembly elections.

The group, which has since backed the nomination of Abbas and Kalu by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as its preferred candidates for the offices also sought to promote the independence of the legislature; inter-dependence of the legislature and executive, amongst others.

Speaking on behalf of the group on an Arise TV programme titled “This Week”, the secretary and returning member-elect from Kano State, Hon. Ali Madaki, said the members have resolved to give a block vote, adding that the G-7, a group of other aspirants, posed no threat to them, and would soon deplete.

“If you look at it, the Joint Task itself is a kind of gang up. I’m from NNPP, the co-chair (Chinda) is a PDP member, the Chairman is of the APC. A few days back, a greater chunk of the opposition came together and endorsed Abass. I can bet you the 10th assembly intends to work as a group and on that day, we will work as a group and speak as one.

“By the time we finish this interview, they could become G2 or G1, these are all people I know who are my friends and who are qualified to be speaker but, we have one speaker at a time. And the best among all is Hon. Tajudeen Abbas,” he said.

Madaki also said the stepping down of the trio of the outgoing leader of the 9th Assembly, Hon. Ado Doguwa, Hon. Abdulraheem

Olawuyi and and Hon. Makki

Yalleman was a needed boost to their campaign, adding that the country needed the best hand at the national parliament to effectively drive the machinery of governance.

He further hinted that the they had the blessings of the NNPP leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to support Abbas.

the moment he emerged from the meeting with Tinubu, as it was reliably gathered that Asiwaju offered to nominate him as a cabinet minister, suggesting that all was not well with their discussion. He didn’t even stop by to greet his other colleagues and we were very surprised,” he said.

The source added that other aspirants, who met with Tinubu emerged after their discussion with the president-elect in high spirit but refused to make comments before they all left.

Further findings revealed that the leadership of the APC and the president-elect had agreed in principle to review the zoning arrangements, which the party released penultimate week.

According to sources, the latest displeasure between Tinubu and the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, regarding Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s Paris visit, might have exposed the ulterior motives behind certain decisions and advice some northern governors gave to the president-elect.

Their advice on the issue of National Assembly leadership positions, according to a source, “can very well be described as

North Central in consideration based on performance at election

selfish and not the true reflection of the views of majority.Such advice is the issue of zoning and this might cost the North West, one of the two presiding officers’ positions, which had already been zoned to it,” he added.

At the moment, the North West has two presiding officers’ positions - Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy President of the Senate - zoned to it while both the South-south and South-East got one each and this had thrown the party in disarray.

The North Central geopolitical zone was completely left out in the zoning arrangements.

Another source at Tinubu’s residence also confirmed the planned to review the zoning arrangements.

“The meeting between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in France had revealed the real reasons, the APC lost both the presidential and governorship elections in Kano State. After the meeting between Asiwaju and Kwankwaso, the aspirants who contested the last general election in the state on the platform of the APC also got in touch with Tinubu.

“They alleged that Ganduje did

not support them with funds and logistics before and on the day of the election. They added that Senator Barau Jibrin was able to win his senatorial seat because he had enough resources to prosecute his election.”

The source also explained that the aspirants lamented to Asiwaju, how they could not raise enough funds to even mobilise agents to polling units on the Election Day.

As a result of the revelation and the subsequent audio leak involving Ganduje and Ibrahim Masari, former vice presidential placeholder candidate of the APC, where they both discussed the meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Ganduje had in the leaked phone conversation said, “The right thing is that even if he (Tinubu) will grant Kwankwaso audience, it should be in our presence. We should be invited. Did you understand? Even if it is symbolically.”

The outburst of Ganduje, THISDAY learnt, did not go down well with Tinubu, who was now said to have decided to base the zoning arrangements

of National Assembly leadership positions on the performances of each geopolitical zone in the last election.

Another source, who witnessed all activities at the residence of the president-elect on Saturday night, explained that Tinubu had said the North Central should not be left out in the zoning arrangements.

“Tinubu told all the aspirants that the decision to zone the offices will be looked in to so as to bring a balance. The speakership will likely be in the North West as it is a substantive no 4 office higher than the Deputy Senate President in hierarchy.

“There are very strong indications that the president-elect, will do the needful to compensate the North Central with a presiding officer because he declared that all zones apart from the South West and the North East should produce a Presiding Officer.

“Tinubu was of the opinion that it would be unfair to deny the North Central, a presiding officer position despite the impressive volume of votes he got from the zone during the presidential election,” the source added.

Tinubu Inauguration: 100% Focus Group Movement Seeks Peace

Mary Nnah

Ahead of the May 29th inauguration, one of the leading support groups of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the last presidential election, the 100% Focus Group Movement has called for peace from all parties (political and non-political) to sheathe their swords.

The group, which embarked on grassroots mobilisation and markets sensitisation across the country to canvass for support for the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate during

the last election campaign solicited support for a peaceful inauguration come May 29, 2023.

Speaking on behalf of the group in Abuja, recently, Chairman of the group, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, stated that what the president-elect needed was the prayer of good health and long life from all Nigerians.

He berated those who claimed they love Nigeria and cared about the development of the country, yet, have disdain for the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Describing Tinubu as the epitome of the kind of leader

Nigerians yearned for at this stage of our development, the group chair maintained that Nigerians were lucky to have the former Lagos State governor as their incoming president.

Beyond Tinubu as an individual, he pointed out that the All Progressives Congress party under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on massive developmental projects across the country.

“I am well-convinced that Tinubu will better the fortunes of all Nigerians. He has done it

before in Lagos State and there is no doubt that he will still do it as Nigeria’s president. Let us come out in our numbers to support, who the masses have chosen to rule Nigeria.

“The president-elect is ready to move Nigeria to the next level of industrial development. The builder of men will surely build the nation. I’m sure he will deliver good governance to Nigerians and he will be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God Almighty continue to bless Nigeria,” Mohammed said

Tinubu

Adamu

SEVEN AFRICAN PRESIDENTS JOIN BUHARI TO OPEN DANGOTE REFINERY, CONTINENT’S GAME CHANGER

outside the country.

Presently, 80 per cent of fuel in Africa, from Cape Town to Dakar and other parts of the continent, are imported. This, the refinery is expected to address.

Expected at the historic event, apart from international dignitaries, are presidents of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma; Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; Senegal, Macky Sall; Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum; and Chad, Mahamat Déby.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who would not be physically present, would present his goodwill message virtually.

At the time of filing this report, all the 36 state governors and most of the governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industry in Nigeria and others from outside the country had indicated their readiness to grace the ceremony.

Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, whose administration as the governor of Lagos, in 2002, floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, where the refinery is located, is also expected at the event.

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, described the facility as, "A continental game changer with huge capacity to positively transform Nigeria and African economy."

President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah, disclosed that the bank was the largest financer of the over $19 billion Dangote Refinery, the world’s biggest petroleum refining facility that would come into operation this month.

Renowned economist and Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, noted that the Dangote refinery could help strengthen Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability, when fully operational.

A source told THISDAY by telephone that many top guests from Nigeria, including ministers, governors, senators, as well as heads of relevant government agencies and establishments were being expected.

According to the source, global commodity traders in the oil and gas industry, including Singaporebased Trafigura, one of the world’s largest independent traders of oil and petroleum products; and Vitol, a Swiss-based Dutch multinational energy and commodity trading company, would all be in attendance.

"A lot of people are coming: governors, senators. This one is like the highpoint of inauguration; it's an inauguration week. All these oil traders -Trafigura, Vitol and others will all be there," the source said.

Some of the big names expected to attend the inauguration from Nigeria include Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe; and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Ahmed Farouk.

Others are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Gabriel Aduda; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo; and Femi Otedola, among others.

Representatives of downstream associations, including Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN); Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN); and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) were also invited, THISDAY learnt.

A top official of the refinery told THISDAY, "You can imagine, those that used to supply us with finished products will stop. All these traders that buy from them will also stop buying, then, they will look elsewhere where they will go and dump their crude and where they will go to sell the refined products.

“And this door has closed for

them because it has been a lucrative business for them for more than 30 years. So Nigerians are supposed to be happy.

"This is the end of smuggling. The issue of people carrying products across the borders is no more. Nigeria will now be supplying crude to an authentic refinery. So whichever way you look at it, whether it's snuggling or oil theft, it's going to bring sanity to the sector.

"People carry all this fuel and cross to the border because they want to make some dollars, and they will tell you that local consumption is high, meanwhile the majority is crossing the borders – either Cameroon, Niger or Benin.

"You know, it's not easy to bring sanity in any environment and any attempt to bring it, people will try to frustrate you. So, it's a pity for anybody resisting it, the change has come. Whether they like it or not, they will fall into shape. People cannot continue to suffer for this length of time. One day, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.”

According to the project's fact sheet released by Dangote Group, the refinery located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, covers a land area of approximately 2,635 hectares, which is seven times the size of Victoria Island.

The refinery is the biggest refinery in Africa and also the biggest single-train refinery in the world. A single-train refinery uses an integrated distillation unit or one Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) to refine crude oil into various petroleum products, as against the use of multiple distillation units by big refineries.

Due to the large capacity of the refinery, its pipeline infrastructure is the largest anywhere in the world, with 1,100 kilometres to handle three billion Standard Cubic Feet per day (Scf/d) of gas.

The refinery has a 435MWcapacity power plant that is able to meet the total power requirement of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The refinery has the capacity to meet 100 per cent of the Nigerian requirement of all refined petroleum products, such as petrol – 53 million litres per day; diesel - 34 million litres per day; kerosene – 10 million litres per day; and Aviation Jet, two million litres per day. There is also surplus of each of these products for export.

Designed for 100 per cent Nigerian crude with flexibility to process other crudes, the refinery has a self-sufficient marine facility with ability for freight optimisation and also has largest single order of 5 SPMs anywhere in the world.

The refining plant has been described widely as a legacy project that will see Nigeria netting $21 billion per annum.

The company said diesel and gasoline products from the refinery would conform to Euro V specifications.

The fact sheet added, “The refinery design complies with World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms. State-of-the-art technology. Designed to process large variety of crudes, including many of the African crudes, some of the Middle Eastern crudes and the US Light Tight Oil.”

It also stated, “65 Million Cubic Metres of sand dredged costing approximately Euros 300 million, using the world’s largest, the second largest and the tenth largest dredgers to elevate the height by 1.5 metres, to insure against any potential impact of increase in mean sea level due to global warming. Bought over 1,209 units of various equipment to enhance the local capacity for site works.

“Bought 332 cranes to build up equipment installation capacity. Built the world’s largest granite quarry to supply coarse aggregate, stone column material, stone base, stone dust and material for break water. (10 million tonnes per year production capacity).

“Developed a port and constructed two quays with a load bearing capacity of 25 tonnes/ sq

metres to bring Over Dimensional Cargoes close to the site directly. The company also constructed two more quays in the port with a capacity to handle up to Panamax vessels to export the fertiliser and the petrochemicals and two quays to handle liquid cargoes. The port will, thus, have six quays, including a Roll-on/Roll-off quay.”

Dangote Refinery a significant achievement for Africa, Adeleke declares Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, described the

refinery as, "A continental game changer with huge capacity to positively transform Nigeria and African economy."

In a congratulatory message to President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Adeleke noted that the completion of the refinery within record time signalled a new era of energy sufficiency for Nigeria and Africa.

The governor stated, "The new facility will service Africa and boost local and continental Gross Domestic Product."

Praising Dangote's ingenuity in the conception and implementation of the project, Adeleke testified that

the successful completion was an affirmation of the business acumen and integrity of Dangote, a personality, he said, had become "a major propeller of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA).

"By his extensive investment across Africa and by his latest accomplishment with this biggest refinery on the continent, Alhaji Dangote is unarguably the patron of AfCTA, a facilitator of intra and inter African trade, an enabler of Africans trading with Africans and mobiliser of African capital serving Africa."

Adeleke described Dangote

as a blessing to the black world, saying the refinery project remains a landmark initiative, a gift from Africa to world business and a declaration of Nigeria's emergence as a global player in the old and new business order.

Oramah: Afreximbank

Proud as Largest

Financier of Dangote

Refinery

President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah,

WABOTE: OVER $50BN OIL INDUSTRY PROJECTS UNVEILED AT OIL, GAS FAIR

participants, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, stated that the quantum of opportunities covered different segments of the industry and required proper collation as they run into billions of dollars.

However, the federal government at the fair, lamented that despite efforts to increase the level of domesticate firms’ participation in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, the sector still remains largely dominated by foreign entities.

But the trend disclosed by the federal government may be reversed as Wabote, pointed out that, “some of the opportunities are from the indigenous players, some by NNPC Ltd and the international oil companies. If you put them together, in the next five years, they would exceed $50 billion that would be invested in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

Listing a few of the opportunities and their values, he said: “Bonga Southwest which Shell talked about is almost about $7bn to $8bn. Shell also talked about Bonga North which they might take final investment decisions (FID) early next year and is almost $3bn.”

On steps to be taken by interested service companies and other players to participate effectively in the projects and investment opportunities, Wabote charged such them to prepare themselves adequately, restating that the oil and gas industry was highly technical and does not compromise safety and standards.

He added: “If someone gives you projects he intends to execute in the next two years; Nigerian companies having listened to the opportunities should go back and continue to build their capacities in readiness to actively participate.”

He also counseled that the oil and gas sector was not an environment where an entrepreneur could immediately step in and achieve success, saying, “you must have staying power to succeed.”

The NCDMB helmsman promised that the Board would collate the investment opportunities into a compendium and make them available to registered participants.

He stressed that the Board tracks development of the investment opportunities showcased at every edition of NOGOF.

Providing an update of projects shared at previous editions, he hinted that, “most of them have come to fruition, others are challenged by security concerns, final investment decisions (FID) challenges, bankability, and regulatory requirements and approvals.

But those that have crossed the hurdles have been developed and are producing today.”

He added: “We shared Ikike and today it is almost doing 50,000 barrels per day; we shared Nigeria LNG Train 7 almost 6 years ago and today it is in full steam, hoping to

be completed in 2026. We shared the upstream opportunities that will feed into Train 7, HI, HA and Obeta projects. This has been a tremendous success by NCDMB.”

On other conditions necessary for the speedy development of oil industry projects, Wabote canvassed for the eradication of policy inconsistencies. He advised other regulatory bodies in the industry to conclude the formulation and release of key regulations that will serve as subsidiary legislations of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to give investors the necessary confidence to move ahead.

He equally challenged relevant agencies to address the worrisome security challenges, particularly the wanton crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. This, according to him, would enable the production of hydrocarbons at reasonable costs and profitability.

He regretted that most indigenous operators were unable to evacuate their crude oil through pipelines for over one year and are now forced to explore alternative options at high costs.

Speaking further, the NCDMB boss affirmed that Nigerian content has come of age, recalling the past when expatriates dominated major operations and events of the industry and Nigerians played second fiddle.

He expressed delight that indigenous firms have become highly competitive and dominant in the service sub-sector - upstream, midstream and downstream.

The 4th edition of the fair was attended by leaders of the oil and gas industry, including the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, chief executives of several international and indigenous operating and service oil and gas companies and other stakeholders.

It featured opportunities and technical sessions in which representatives of several operating and service companies and regulatory agencies made presentation on the plans and projects among others.

Meanwhile, the federal government has lamented that despite efforts at the domestication of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, it was still largely dominated by foreign entities.

Also speaking at the NOGOF 2023, the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, who was a guest at the event, noted that for Nigeria to gain from its resources, it must ensure domestication and value-addition.

However, THISDAY recalls that since the enactment of the Local Content Act in 2010, Nigeria has made steady progress from 5 per cent to about 54 per cent in recent times, in terms of in-country expertise and is set to hit 70 per cent in 2027.

Aregbesola, who was represented by the Comptroller of Corrections,

Nigerian Correctional Service, Rivers State, Felix Lawrence, stressed that Nigeria must therefore take research in the oil and gas industry seriously, before the expected extinction of fossil fuels.

“Oil is a dominant player in the nation's economy. Sadly, we have not gone far in the domestication and ownership of this major industry and we have not been able to leverage it for industrialisation or economic development that oil should have brought.

“In spite of all the effort of the government, the sector is still dominated by foreign firms in exploration and extraction and refining. With Nigeria just at the level of services and marketing, the bulk of the petroleum products, including lubricants, is largely imported within the value-added chain.

“The time has come for Nigeria's stakeholders and the oil industry to begin to take ownership to domesticate every aspect of the industry, technology and the requisite knowledge base. Our indigenous companies should begin to invest in acquisition, technology processing and research in all aspects of petroleum,” he stated.

The research institutes, Aregbesola maintained, should be well funded, not by governments alone, but by other stakeholders who should also ponder over how to expand the knowledge base and create or adapt specific technology to Nigeria’s specific needs in the oil industry.

“The oil industry should get off the dependency syndrome. Yes, we welcome foreign players. We want more investors, but we should be in the driver’s seat because it is to own gain. We should not only take our destiny in our hands, we should dominate the oil and gas industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. We should deploy gas to produce electricity for domestic consumption.

“And we will be making 10 times revenue on finished products than on primary products, which will create more wealth and prosperity for the nation.

“Lastly, as the world transitions to electric motor vehicles, we should also be able to plan for the alternative use of oil in a way that will not disrupt our economy and when the day eventually arrives, we should be able to have an alternative,” he noted.

Also speaking on a panel at the three-day event, the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC, Mohammed Ahmed, when questioned on the state of the federal government’s autogas scheme, urged Nigerians to approach the government for answers.

He argued that post-Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the NNPC is now a limited liability company and is not in a position to speak for the federal government on the autogas programme.

Continued on page 58

On December 1, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the National Autogas Scheme, promising Nigerians that the nation had finally made an alternative move to maximise its rich natural gas reserves by enhancing in-country consumption. According to the president, by 2021, the country would have converted 1 million cars to cushion the impact of petroleum subsidy removal, which the government said, has gulped trillions of naira.

But hopes that the scheme would succeed have since dimmed, as not much has been heard about it. In all, it was supposed to create about 12.5 million direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

“To the point of autogas, nothing has stopped, it’s work in progress. Its people like you who are supposed to invest that are not investing. If you can establish a conversion field, then people are ready to supply the gas. But when you do not have the infrastructure, it won’t be built.

“I also want to put it on record, the NNPC of pre-PIA is not the NNPC of today. Yesterday it was NNPC, today it is NNPCL. What does that mean? It means we are now a Limited Liability Company.

“A limited liability cannot speak on behalf of the government. So, I believe that if you want to get good clarification on some of these challenges, the appropriate channel would be the ministry of petroleum resources,” he said.

He added: “But to assuage your fears, the vehicles that were promised to be brought in have to be manufactured and I believe that everything is being done about that. By and large, note that subsidy or no subsidy, we need to migrate to the use of gas.

“Simply put, the federal government cannot continue to pay for your fuel and I can say this comfortably that it is your fuel, not for those in the villages because they do not have two to three cars. So, who are we subsidising? he queried.

Also, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Exploration and Production Company (NEPL), an NNPC subsidiary, Ali Zarah, said the unit was focusing on delivering 60 oil wells between 2023 and 2024. He explained that there are now local companies taking over from their foreign counterparts, thanks to the NCDMB, stressing that the organisation will continue to support the activities of the local content board.

“Our drilling campaign alone, we are going to deliver over 60 wells between now and 2024. This creates opportunities for rig provision, ancillary services and a host of other things to do,” he noted.

He further stressed that the NEPL has continued to empower its host communities, and now operates safely while observing all environmental regulations.

ONAIYEKAN BACKS CALL FOR LIVE BROADCAST OF PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUNAL PROCEEDINGS

Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dispense judgement fairly and allow the tribunal’s proceedings to be transparent so that Nigerians could rekindle their hope in the judiciary. Onaiyekan said, “As journalists, you do your job, cover everything, but try and listen to everybody and relay to the public what is happening, because they want to see. Isn’t it why it is important the petitions before the tribunal, the possibility that the tribunal should be available to all of us to be able to follow what is

happening?

“For me, this is very important. One thing that Nigerians don’t seem to realise is that when elections are rigged, it is not the contestants or the politicians who are worst hit. Those who are the most impacted is me and you, but as it stands, we don’t even have locus standi in court.

“We are the ones, who should be complaining in court that my votes have been bastardised, but they tell me I cannot go to the

court because I did not contest the election.”

National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, who also spoke, said the Church was an extension of the mission of Christ, and that was the reason communication was necessary.

Umoh said Jesus Christ could only report to the Father on the success of His mission of showing the Father to the world, because he was effective in his communication

style.

Umoh stated, “It is not enough to communicate, it is also as important that we communicate effectively. Pope Paul 6 was aware of this great need. Thus in 1967, he established the World Communication Day Celebration as an annual event during which Catholics all over the world reflect on a theme, which focuses on media and communication. Since then, 57 years now, successive Popes have maintained the tradition.”

HOSA OKUNBO'S MOTHER LAID TO REST…

FG Secures $8.2bn Financing from Local, Foreign Partners for Execution of Nigeria's Energy Transition Projects

Peter Uzoho

As the implementation of Nigeria's $410 billion Energy Transition Plan takes off, the federal government has disclosed that funding commitment of about $8.2 billion had already been secured out of the $10 billion required annually to execute projects tailored towards decarbonisation.

The Co-head, Energy Transition Office and Principal Specialist, Energy and Climate, Lolade Abiola, revealed this in Lagos, at the Women in Energy Dialogue, a session focused on galvanising female energy professionals and players to contribute their quota to the realisation of the Nigerian energy transition agenda.

Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan is a bold and ambitious national policy designed to tackle the dual crises of energy poverty and climate change in the country and to attain net-zero carbon status by 2060.

The government has identified initial $23 billion investment opportunity across a portfolio of projects, with $17 billion estimated as funding required through the private sector on projects cutting across power generation, transmission and distribution; metering, gas commercialisation, clean cooking, e-mobility, and healthcare.

Experts have opined that to deliver net-zero target by 2060, Nigeria requires about $410 billion above business-as-usual spending between 2021 – 2060.

According to the breakdown of the projected $410 billion 30-year spending, $150 billion would go to ramping up power generation capacity, $135 billion on transmission and distribution infrastructure, $79 billion on cooking, $21 billion on industry, $12 billion on transport,

and $12 billion on oil and gas decarbonisation.

But in a presentation she delivered at the forum, Abiola said some of the financial commitments were made by both local and international partners including the World Bank, the US Exim Bank and Sun Africa, an American solar firm.

She said Infracredit, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) among other funding partners had committed financially to the plan, adding that their commitments were based on projects in key areas.

Abiola explained, "So what have we done so far? Again, we're not

just talking about these big numbers that are not doing anything. The ETO's mandate really is resource mobilization. How can we attract the financing required to implement Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan?

"And so far, we've been able to facilitate approximately 8.2 billion US dollars in financing commitments, and we hope to close that out by the end of this year, and this really has been within the power sector, working with World Bank on diesel displacements in Lagos State, for example.

"Some of the financial commitments are based on projects. For example, I'll just jump straight

to the Sun Africa Framework Agreement. This is a large ongrid utility scale project between the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and the US Exim Bank, working with American companies to be able to deploy solar solutions within Nigeria which the NDPHC is really pushing out. And so, that is the US Exim Bank deal with the federal government of Nigeria and the United States.

"Then, we moved to the World Bank-Nigeria Electrification Project from World Bank. They're committed. They've already made the first tranche commitment of $500 million that has been

completely exhausted. And now, we're looking to bring in an additional $750 million, and that is also dependent on the diesel displacement programme."

She maintained that the World Bank-funded programme focuses on how to quantify the number of diesel generators that exist in Lagos State, for instance, and what needed to be done to displace them, with the potential to replicate such across the country.

According to her, the NSIA has the money and was committed to fund projects just as Infracredit Nigeria had also committed to fund projects that would help the country

to achieve a carbon-free society.

She maintained that the private sector working group would play a strong role in ensuring that projects that are bankable and tick all the right boxes were taken to the funding partners to convince them to support the projects with their funds.

"Because to ensure that when you're going to the NSIA, you're going with the right, well-structured business plan, business proposal. So, you will be going through a supporting vetting process of the private sector working group that will enable you to access that money," Abiola added.

Audit Report: Senate Asks Works Ministry to Refund N692m to Federation Account

No document to back up supply of vehicles, computer accessories

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to refund the N692 million it claimed was used for the purchase of vehicles, computer accessories, photocopying, production and airing of special video documentary to the Federation Account.

The funds were used to execute fictitious contracts as discovered in the 2018 report of Auditor General for the Federation.

The AuGF report was scrutinised by the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, who submitted their findings to the Senate leadership.

The SPAC report was considered

at plenary and the red chamber upheld the recommendations of the Urhoghide-led panel.

The committee discovered that a contract of N343 million was awarded for the purchase of project monitoring vehicles without due process.

It also established that the vehicles were not supplied.

The Panel also observed that another contract was awarded for services and direct purchase of vehicles spare parts, computer accessories, photocopying machine parts. It added that another contract for designing of Nigerian roads and bridges at a cost of N139 million did not follow due process.

In addition, it was discovered

that N210 million meant for documentary was split into N130 million and N80 million, which were paid into a staff account in contravention of the Financial Regulation.

The Committee sent series of invitations to the Ministry of Works to defend the allegation raised by the Auditor General of the Federation.

The Officials of the Ministry ignored the invitations and the Committee had no option than to sustain the position of the AuGF.

The query read: "Audit observed that the sum of N343 million was paid for the purchase of 36 project monitoring vehicles without following due process.

"Further examination revealed

that the 36 vehicles were not received into the store as there was no document to show such delivery."

Another query read, "Audit observed that advances in the sum of N139 million were granted on service and direct purchase of vehicles spare part, computer accessories, photocopying machine parts for designing of Nigerian roads and bridges.

"There was no store record of those items to show that they were purchased."

The third query read, "Audit observed that N210 million meant for documentary was split into N130 million and N80 million paid into a staff account contravening FR 713.

"Further examination revealed that the sum of N130 million was capturing developmental projects which included other ministries like: Finance, Agriculture, Transport, Petroleum Resources, Mines and Steel and Trade and investment.

"There was no receipt or retirement particulars attached to the payment vouchers to justify the payment.

"The approval for the sum of N80 million was made to the Director of Finance and Account which was above his approval limit.

"There was no evidence to show who the producer of the documentary was or whether they were selected on a competitive basis. There was no evidence to show the work was actually done."

Abuja CCTV Project: Court Orders Buhari Govt to Account for $460m Chinese Loan

Udora Orizu in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to account for the spending of $460 million Chinese loan to fund the failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project. The court also ordered the government to publish the total amount of money paid to Chinese and local companies and contractors and specific details of the names of the companies

and contractors and status of the implementation of the project.

Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite made the orders last week, while delivering judgment in a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/ ABJ/CS/1447/2019 brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The suit followed the disclosure in 2019, by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, that Nigeria was servicing the loan, adding that she had, “no explanations on the status of the project.”

She reportedly said, “We are servicing the loan. I have no information on the status of the CCTV project.”

However, in his judgment, Justice Nwite agreed with SERAP that, “there is a reasonable cause of action against the government. Accounting for the spending of the $460 million Chinese loan is in the interest of the public. It will be inimical for the court to refuse SERAP’s application for judicial review of the government’s action.”

Justice Nwite also said: “The Minister of Finance is in charge of the finance of the country and cannot by any stretch of imagination be oblivious of the amount of money paid to the contractors for the Abuja CCTV contract and the money meant for the construction of the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).”

He ordered the government to provide the details clarifying whether the sum of N1.5 billion paid for the failed contract meant

to construct the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was part of another loan obtained from China.

The judgment, read in part: “SERAP’s core objectives are to promote human rights, transparency and accountability and anti-corruption in Nigeria.

“I am of the humble view that there is a reasonable cause of action against the government [through the Minister of Finance] and I so hold that SERAP has made out a case to be entitled to

the reliefs sought. The law is well settled that where a document or letter is sent by post, it is the law that same is taken or presumed to have been delivered.

“Following this principle of law and relying on exhibit OS2, SERAP’s Freedom of Information request sent to Ms Ahmed is deemed to have delivered. Therefore, the averment by the government (through her) that they were not served with the letter is hereby discountenance. I so hold.”

L-R: Granddaughter of the deceased and wife of Olu of Warri, Her Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III; Grandson and Executive Director, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Mr Osahon Okunbo; with Wife of Late Captain Hosa Okunbo, Mrs Nosa Okunbo; during the burial ceremony of Mother of late Captain Hosa Okunbo, in Edo State...weekend

AT STEVE AYORINDE'S BOOK LAUNCH…

With Seven Days to Go, Sirika Fails to Deliver National Carrier as Promised

Minister allegedly in frantic effort to arrange flight with NG Eagle We were prepared before court case, says spokesman

Chinedu Eze

With exactly seven days to the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the well-touted Nigeria Air has failed to fly despite all the promises made by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

As at last Friday, the only office of Nigeria Air located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was still closed and no activity was going on there, while a large section of the domestic terminal kept for the planned national carrier at the airport was empty.

Reliable source told THISDAY that the Minister in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines wanted to deploy three aircraft from the renowned airline, painted in Nigeria Air colours but the painting, which was allegedly taking place at the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility of Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa was not going to be completed before the end of

May, 2023.

But the Special Assistant to Sirika on Media, Dr. James Odaudu, argued that the court case, which slowed down the processes for the new airline could be settled between the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and the federal government.

According to him, before the court case commenced, the entire process for the new airline was almost completed. He said: “I don’t want to be quoted on a matter that is in the court of law, but that doesn’t mean there is no enough time for the matter to be settled even in the court.

“Before the court case emerged, things were already on ground for the take-off of the airline and the process was almost concluded on the project. It is not as if anything new is going to start on it.”

However, THISDAY investigation revealed that the Minister was said to have contemplated using NG Eagle

airline aircraft, but the aircraft in the fleet of the new airline was originally owned by Arik Air. Even the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of NG Eagle was obtained in controversial circumstances in March 2023; after Arik Air used its aircraft to carry out the required demonstration flights in 2021, and was refused AOC by NCAA, which means NG Eagle obtained the certification almost two years after the demonstration.

The AOC had date of issue, September 21, 2021, and expiry date of September 20, 2023.

In fact, update from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on April 17, 2023, with number: RGO/SPU/ VOL.3/2023/070 revealed that the current status of the airline is “inactive.”

So, for the past two months since it obtained the AOC, it has not operated, which is against the regulation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that states that AOC is nullified if an airline that obtains it does

not use it after 30 days.

Corporate Affairs records showed that the ownership of NG Eagle was transferred by Kamilu Omokide, the AMCON Receiver Manager in Arik Air and AMCON to Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed and Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed Mohammed at nil charges, at nil considerations, during the pendency of the suit by Arik Air shareholders- where NG Eagle is defendant on the 20 February 2023. This was a date after the court had reserved judgement in the substantive suit to March 31st, 2023.

Omokide told THISDAY, “We did not sell the company to him (Ahmed). We did not receive regulatory support or regulatory approval (NCAA did not give the new airline AOC) so; we have to divest from NG Eagle. NG Eagle was tabula rasa fit for purpose. It was supposed to be debt free.”

Industry observer monitoring the case said the order of the court effectively put in

Garba Shehu: Boko Haram Degraded But Still Occasional Threat to Security

Says Buhari'll be appreciated much after leaving office

World leaders

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Less than a week to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years tenure, one of his spokespersons, Mallam Garba Shehu, reviewed efforts of the administration and said although the dreaded Boko Haram insurgency had been degraded, it remained an occasional threat to the nation.

Speaking in a 50-minute documentary entitled: "Buhari was here" aired on a national television station (Channels) yesterday evening, Shehu said the Boko Haram insurgents remained an “occasional threat to Nigerians.

"Boko Haram has been degraded. They are still an occasional threat. Once in a

while, they remind us that they still exist. But they have largely been degraded,” he said.

The presidential spokesman further said, “No administration has funded the military like the Buhari administration. This funding has led to the repossession of territories Boko Haram seized in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

“Before, Boko Haram bombed mosques and churches killing worshippers. So, people stayed away from worship centres. But that is not the case today,” stressing that the full impact of the Buhari regime would be appreciated years after he might left office.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi

Adesina, said Buhari enjoyed the respect of world leaders in his eight years in office.

He said: "I have had the privilege of travelling with the President in the past eight years and I can tell you that he enjoyed so much respect from world leaders," adding that, the president's reputation as an anti-corruption advocate elicited respect from world leaders.

“Before they give you that kind of respect, they must have checked you out. And that is what happened with Buhari. Even when former British Minister said Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, the President did not pick offence.

“He knows there is corruption in Nigeria and so he said, ‘We will fight

corruption’. Today, the ECOWAS commission is set to confer on him an award as a champion of democracy.”

On his part, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Senator Hadi Sirika, said the number of air travelers grew from eight million to 18 million in the last four years of Buhari’s government.

“This means that we have gone beyond the saying that air travelers double every 10 years. But here, we saw the number of air travelers more than double in four years,” said Sirika.

He noted that the present administration focused on flight safety rather than the visible aesthetics obtainable in other airports across the globe.

abeyance all matters of launch and operations of NG Eagle, which surprisingly was issued an AOC dated September 21, 2021, and expires September 20, 2023. That the purported new owners of the NG Eagle with no aircraft has an AOC that has been issued using the financial, staff and other resources of Arik Air, yet the ownership of the company was transferred without any query or sanction by the NCAA.

“Thus, with an AOC expiring in five months without any attempt at commercial service since 2021, speaks to the weakness of compliance in aviation,” the source said. Besides, the case between AON and Nigeria Air is still in court and has not been vacated so Nigeria Air has no legitimacy yet and NG Eagle which informed sources disclosed could fly on its behalf has controversial AOC.

Lagos, Kebbi Recorded Highest, Lowest Entrants as 11,350 Write Teachers’ Qualifying Exams

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Over 11,350 candidates at the weekend participated in the first batch of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Professional Qualifying Examination, (PQE)across the country.

Registrar of TRCN, Prof Josiah Ajiboye, who disclosed this while monitoring the exercise at Sascon International School Maitama, Abuja, said reports from across the country showed that the exam went on smoothly.

Ajiboye, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. David Adejo, further disclosed that Lagos State had the highest registered candidates for the examination with over 1,500 entrants, followed by Kano State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The TRCN boss noted that Kebbi State had the lowest participants in the exercise, stating the exercise, however, recorded tremendous improvement in terms of participation and the accreditation process.

“Well, generally, all over the country, we have about 11,350 candidates who are writing the exam, with Lagos State having the highest with 1500 plus candidates, followed by Kano State and FCT Abuja; then you have a state like Kebbi with the lowest number of candidates for

the examination,” he explained. He said the examination which is conducted in all the states of the federation, started since Wednesday and was concluded in some states on Friday.

Ajiboye commended commend the candidates for displaying better comportment, adding that their conduct “shows that there is maturity and the people are now realising that this is serious examination.”

Speaking on federal government’s effort to weed out unqualified teachers, he said one of the major process of weeding out quacks in the teaching profession was the PQE, saying it was now obvious that nobody could get the TRCN licence without passing a provisional qualifying examination.

“Even if you're a professor in the university, you just have to write this examination before you can get the certificate and the licence.

“So, part of the process for weeding out this quackery in the profession is what we are on. And another thing that we are doing in that regard is also school monitoring. You will recall that in February 2020, we started the school monitoring programme. two boards,” he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Adejo, commended TRCN for the improvement in the accreditation process for the examination.

hold President in very high esteem, Adesina boasts

L-R; Representative of the President Elect, Mr. Kehinde Bangbetan; former Ekiti State Governor/Chairman of the Occasion, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; former First Bank Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Olabisi Onasanya; wife of the Author, Temitope Ayorinde; The Author and former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy/Author, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; and the Alara of Ilara –Epe, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo; at the book launch, 30; Three Decades of the New Nigerian Cinema, held in Lagos… recently

SUNDAY ADIGUN

Politics of Endorsement and Number for 10th House Speakership Seat

Udora Orizu writes that as rejection trails APC’s zoning of N’Assembly leadership positions, the speakership contest is now hallmarked by game of number and endorsement

With less than three weeks to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, there seems to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the zoning of leadership positions of the parliament.

Some aspirants to the office of Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, several members-elect, and some key stakeholders have been simmering with resentment since the party announced its nominations for presiding officers positions.

The argument of zoning at its best gives a cause of inclusion, fair play, inclusiveness and belief in a better organized Nigeria. During the Second Republic, there was an informal albeit determined effort to zone high elective positions like President, Vice -President, Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker to the various geo-political zones in order to reflect the federal character and inclusive politics.

The Fourth Republic zoning format stems from a unique historical antecedent. Its origin can be traced to June 12, 1993, when the election which the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola, is largely believed to have won was annulled.

This annulment led to a major political upheaval and at the same time gave rise to a deep sense of injustice on the part of the South West geo-political zone from where the winner emerged. To sate the ensuing sense of unease, the two major political parties that appeared to lead the transition from the military to civilian rule in 1999, reached an agreement that gave room for the presidential candidates from the two major parties to emerge from the South-West geo-political zone. Consequently, zoning in its current incarnation was birthed.

The country’s 2023 transition process will be concluded with the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly and the election of the presiding officers of the two chambers, two weeks after the swearing-in of the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29.

While some aspirants, members-elect and stakeholders are advocating for zoning according to contributions of each zone to the last elections, others have suggested the adoption of the arrangement that held sway between 1999 and 2007.

Since 1999, the National Assembly has had eight Senate Presidents. The first five of them were from the South-east region, the next two from the North-central region and the outgoing one from the North-east.

Those who held the seat include Evan Enwerem from Imo State, who served between June and November 1999; Chuba Okadigbo from Anambra State who served

from 1999 to 2000, Pius Ayim from Ebonyi State who served between 2000 and 2003, Adolphus Wabara from Abia State who served between 2003 and 2005 and Ken Nnamani from Enugu State who served from 2005 to 2007.

Between 2007 and 2019, David Mark from Benue State presided from 2007 to 2015, and Bukola Saraki from Kwara State served from 2015 to 2019. The incumbent Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who was elected in 2019, is from Yobe State.

At the green chamber, from 1999 to 2007, the position of Speaker was zoned to the North West with Salisu Buhari, Ghali Umar Na’Abba and Aminu Bello Masari taking their turns. From 2007 to 2011, the South West had it with Patricia Etteh and Dimeji Bankole presiding, while the position went back to the North West between 2011 and 2015, with Aminu Waziri Tambuwal presiding. In 2015, the North East manned the affairs of the House again with Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. By 2019, it returned to the South West again with the current speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

For the leadership of 10th House of Representatives no fewer than eight aspirants are eyeing the speakership seat.

The contestants are from four of the nation’s six geo-political zones: the North-west, South-east, Northcentral and North-east.

As they were making their ambition known, lobbying and consulting with various stakeholders, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on May 8 released their list of consensus candidates for the four parliamentary slots.

The APC had in the zoning plans, endorsed Senator Godswill Akpabio from the South-South geo-political zone as the President of the 10th

Senate while Senator Barau Jibrin from the North-West was picked as his Deputy.

Also in the House of Representatives, the APC endorsed Tajudeen Abass from the North-West as Speaker and Benjamin Kalu from the South-East as Deputy Speaker.

The development forced the aggrieved speakership aspirants to visit the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, rejecting the zoning arrangement.

The aggrieved House Speakership aspirants had while speaking at various fora claimed they are all qualified and have something to contribute to nation building through the legislature.

Some of the aggrieved aspirants were also present to show solidarity with Betara at his official declaration.

Betara, had while speaking on the development expressed shock over the choice of the APC candidate for House Speaker.

Betara, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, accused the incumbent Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, of sponsoring Abbas who he described as unpopular in the House.

According to him, Gbajabiamila despite being a friend nominated Abass outside of ranking lawmakers like himself, Wase, Doguwa, Gagdi and other leading aspirants.

Also, Wase during a visit to national Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu said he had told Gbajabiamila that he misled the president-elect on the choice of the Speaker and that Tinubu was not behind the choice of Abass.

Wase also accused the party leadership of betraying other contestants, having initially asked them to slow down their campaigns and give room for consultations.

On his part, Gagdi kicked against the zoning arrangement, lamenting that the zoning formula proposed by the APC short-changed his North Central geo-political zone which he said is the only zone with no representation.

Reacting to his colleagues assertions, Speaker Gbajabiamila said his decision to support the candidacy of Abbas for the speaker of the incoming 10th House of Representatives was to build on legislative gains so far recorded by his administration.

Gbajabiamila who spoke during a meeting of the aspirants with some opposition members at the instance of Joint Task-10th Assembly, group of members-elect from across the eight political parties that won seats in the incoming House said Abbas was a man with tremendous capacity to lead the parliament.

The Speaker said he was also a loyal party who would never go against the decision of the party, adding that his decision doesn’t translate to hatred for other aspirants.

He recalled giving one of the frontline aspirants the chairmanship of a juicy committee to head even when it was obvious to him that the person worked against his Speakership aspiration.

However, despite appeals by some APC Governors and party chieftains to the aggrieved aspirants to sheath their swords and respect party’s supremacy, it appears they are going ahead with their ambition, as they are set to unveil their own consensus candidate.

Last week, APC’s consensus speakership candidate, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, disclosed that not less than 107 members-elect from opposition parties have agreed to back him and Hon. Benjamin Kalu to emerge as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

Abbas made the disclosure when he and Kalu visited the official residence of the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, in Abuja.

Briefing the Governor, Abass said, “So we are here your Excellency, in spite of the fact that you have two candidates, to plead with you to support our cause, because our cause is a Nigerian cause. We are a unity project members here. We have membership across all the eight political parties. And I can tell with confidence sir that our last count, we have 107 minority party members onboard this project.”

It appears the revelation by Abass was true, as few days later the minority caucus known as ‘greater majority’ going by its collective number of 182 member-elect across minority parties said they met with Speaker Gbajabiamila and that during the talks, frank exchanges were shared as all sides agreed to embark on consensus building, in the interest of the institution of the legislature.

But surprisingly, probably after being reached out to by the aggrieved aspirants, the group backtracked on their earlier statement.

Another statement signed by the opposition parties group secretary, Ali Isa, on Saturday, said the caucus only met with Gbajabiamila and Abbas, who also engaged the group and made his own presentation to solicit the support of its members to work with him just like the other aspirants did.

The aggrieved House Speakership aspirants had while speaking at various fora claimed they are all qualified and have something to contribute to nation building through the legislature. H owever, despite appeals by some APC Governors and party chieftains to the aggrieved aspirants to sheath their swords and respect party’s supremacy, it appears they are going ahead with their ambition, as they are set to unveil their own consensus candidate

Betara Wase Abass Gagdi

RATES AS AT MAY 19,2023

Q1: Dangote Cement, MTN, Others’ OPEX

Hit N1.01trn as Inflation, FX Scarcity Persist

Kayode Tokede

MTN Nigeria Communication Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, and 15 other listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) saw their operating expenses to income up by 31per cent in first quarter of (Q1) 2023 over double-digit inflation rate, foreign exchange scarcity worsened by the general elections and slow growth in the nation’s economy.

The companies cut across manufacturing, Oil & gas, financial institutions and telecommunication.

THISDAY analysis of their Q1 results showed that they reported

N1.01trillion total operating expenses in Q1 2023, an increase of 26 per cent from N800.96 billion reported in Q1 2022, while total income reached N3.25 trillion in Q1 2023, representing an increase of 16 per cent from N2.81 trillion reported in Q1 2022.

In the period under review, inflation rate moved from 15.92 per cent in March 2022 to 22.04 per cent in March 2023, while Naira against the dollar depreciated to N460.35/$ from N415.75 /$ a year ago. Extracts from the unaudited result and accounts for period ended March 31, 2023 revealed that most

manufacturing companies struggled grow income, caused by low purchasing power and uncertainty towards the 2023 general elections.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)—produced by Stanbic IBTC Bank and S&P Global—dropped to 42.3 basis points in March, down from February’s 44.7 basis points. As a result, the index moved further below the 50 basis points mark, signaling the starkest deterioration in private-sector operating conditions since May 2020.

Further analysis showed that MTN Nigeria in the period under review reported the highest OPEX

and income.

MTN Nigeria declared N173.5 billion OPEX in Q! 2023, an increase of 29.2 per cent from N134.3 billion reported in Q1 2022, as revenue closed Q1 2023 at N568.14 billion, a growth of 21 per cent from N470.98 billion in Q1 2022. But the telecommunication company explained the continued impact of foreign exchange availability, naira depreciation and higher consumer price index (CPI) adjustments on lease rental costs, the new site rollouts, and rising energy costs exerted upward pressure on OPEX, resulting in a 29.2 per cent

increase.

“However, the impact of the higher OPEX was moderated by the cost savings realised from our expense efficiency programmes and our disciplined approach to capital allocation. In addition, we achieved a reduction in the growth rate of cost of sales to 15.6per cent, resulting in a 24.2per cent increase in total expenses,” the company explained to investing public.

In the manufacturing sector, likes of Dangote Cement, Lafarge Africa Plc and BUA Cement recorded significant increase in OPEX, accounting for 12.3 per cent of the

overall OPEX in Q1 2023 compared to 12.9 per cent in Q1 2022.

Dangote Cement reported N87.39 billion OPEX in Q1 2023, a growth of 13 per cent from N77.6 billion in Q1 2022, while Lafarge Africa declared N24.4 billion OPEX in 2023 from N20.59 billion in Q1 2022 (an increase of 21 per cent).

Conversely, Nigeria Breweries announced N123.3billion revenue in Q1 2023, a decline of 10.5 per cent from N137.77billion reported in Q1 2023 but its OPEX grew by nearly five per cent to N41.91billion in Q1

Continued on page 25

Experts Blame Hoarding as Currency Outside Banks Rise to N2.34trn in A pril

Nume Ekeghe

Currency outside the banks has spiked for the fourth consecutive month to N2.08trillion in April 2023, about 87.43 per cent of total currency in circulation (CIC) that closed that month under review at N2.38trilllion.

The Money and Credit Data for April released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that currency-in-circulation, rose

by 42 per cent from N1.68 trillion in March to N2.38 trillion in April.

THISDAY checks revealed that the rise is slowly sprinting to the prehistoric peek of N2.73 trillion of currency outside banks as of September 2022, which was 85 per cent of N3.2 trillion of CIC

This was what prompted the CBN to act against this hoarding and opted to redesign the naira.

A nine-month breakdown that prompted the naira redesign

policy showed a N3.23 trillion currency in circulation in September 2022, N3.29 trillion in October 2022, November 2022, N3.16 trillion and December 2022, N3.01 trillion. In January 2023, currency in circulation was N3.29 trillion, February 2023, N982 billion, March 2023, N1.68 trillion and April 2023, N2,38 trillion.

Also, the nine-month breakdown of currency outside the banks reveals that the month

of September was N2.72 trillion October N2.83 trillion November N2.65 trillion and December N2.57, While January recorded its lowest at N792 billion, February N843 billion, and in March N1.45 trillion and April N2.07 trillion.

Experts said the spike is vastly because of the spillover effect of the cash crunch adding that average Nigerians are hoarding the new notes and are not depositing in the banks because

of distrust in electronic banking.

“The increase in currency outside the banking system is something that is expected largely because of how the naira redesign policy was implemented. An average Nigerian recall what we suffered and because it was suspended till December, a lot of people are preparing themselves for what would happen in December and most people are hoarding the new

notes, ”said Head, of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co, Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi. Also, he noted that because Nigeria just concluded an election, there are a lot of funds still circulating in the economy and that confidence in electronic banking has not returned to pre-policy.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Lekki Free Zone Targets $12bn Contribution to Nigeria’s Annual GDP by 2032

Gilbert Ekugbe

Promoters of the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), Tolaram, has stated that the LFZ would contribute over $12 billion to Nigeria’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2032.

According to the Business Development and Marketing Manager, LFZ, Chinju NwankwoUdora, the zone currently contributes about 1 per cent to the GDP with projections to hit 2-3 per cent by 2032.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, LFZ, Dinesh Rathi, at a media tour of the LFZ, said the whole free zone along with the Lekki port would be a game changer for the Nigerian economy in the years to come.

He pointed out that developed economies like China and Dubai have both recorded significant

economic growth with the help of free zones and deep sea ports.

He added that so far, the impact of the zone since inception has generated Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth over $2.5 billion currently committed investment into the zone with more than $5 billion FDIs expected over the next 10 years.

He added that the zone has also keyed into the federal government’s ease of doing business mandate by simplifying the entry and operations for foreign investors and by extension, improving the ease of doing business in the country.

He noted that over 15,000 jobs have been created in the zone with over 32,000 more jobs to created in the next ten years within the industrial and services sector.

The Managing Director added that a highly efficient port like

Lekki is expected to reduce ocean and cost efficiency and landside congestion, thereby reducing total cost of logistics for companies by up to 40 per cent.

He ala stated that LFZ is on track to commission a dedicated skills developmwnt center at the zone by 2024 to further enable absorption of local youth into its employment pool.

Nwankwo-Udora said LFZ has signed a 20 year Gas Infrastructure Development Agreement (GIDA) to connect LFZ with the national gas transportation grid, saying that Optimera Energy LFZE a consortium of Falcon, FHN and ND Western will implement the GIDA and deliver piped natural gas to all LFZ tenants, adding that plans are ongoing to develop 300 hectares of the zone is to be developed by end of 2024.

Caverton Records N566m Profit Before Tax in Q1

Chinedu Eze

Caverton Offshore Support Group

Plc, has announced its unaudited results for the period ended 31st March 2023. The results show a Profit-Before-Tax of N566 million. Commenting on the results, Caverton’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bode Makanjuola said, ‘’The period’s financial position is a manifestation of the various efforts put in by management to mitigate the effects of the negative results posted in 2022 due to negative occurrences that bedevilled the company in the immediate past year. To ensure that Shareholders’ values are not eroded, necessary steps have been taken to turn the fortune of the company around and

strengthen shareholders’ confidence in the affairs of the company.”

He said that the group has refocused its efforts on diversifying its business interest within the aviation and marine sectors while exploring other more profitable areas for investments and business development. The company is also reconsolidating on its aviation oil contracts and industry market share and efforts are underway to boost revenue and reduce our operating and finance costs.

According to him, “The Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and the Caverton Aviation Training Centre (CATC), both in Lagos, have officially commenced business with prospects to improve the earning

capacity of the Group. We have already commenced third party maintenance of helicopter aircraft in Nigeria and given our Free Trade Zone status we are also attractive to operators and aircraft owners in neighbouring West African countries who have also had to endure the arduous task of sending aircraft and engines to Europe for heavy maintenance and overhauling. We are confident that the level of patronage we have witnessed over the first quarter of the year will herald improved revenues for 2023. Furthermore, coming off the successful reception of our AW139 flight training simulator, a second Simulator for the smaller AW 109 helicopter is due to arrive in the second quarter of 2023.”

Onifade Urges Workers to Adopt Annuity for Retir ement Benefit Planning

Ebere Nwoji

The Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Finance organised a one day retirement planning Workshop for the state government workers during which the workers were advised to adopt Annuity plan as their chosen way of receiving their retirement benefit.

The workshop tagged Retirement Readiness Workshop took place at the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa Ikeja.

Speaking at the workshop, one of the speakers and Managing Director Heirs Life Assurance, Mr Niyi Onifade charged employees of the Lagos State Government to adopt Annuity Plan as a means of receiving

their retirement benefits saying it is a pension-regulated option that paid a stream of regular income throughout one’s retirement life.

He charged the workers in this direction while delivering a paper titled Annuities: What They Are, The Types, How They Work.”

Onifade emphasised the significance of subscribing to a holistic retirement planning that provides financial backing throughout life for peace of mind and a comfortable future. He also stressed the necessity of being prepared for retirement, while sharing Annuity options available to retirees.

“At Heirs Life Assurance, we recognise the need for individuals to secure their financial future

and we believe that our Heirs Life Annuity Plan offers a robust solution that aligns with your retirement goals.”

According to him, the Heirs Life Annuity Plan is designed to provide individuals with a steady stream of income during retirement, ensuring financial security and peace of mind. He said with flexible options tailored to meet diverse needs, the plan offered a reliable solution for retirees seeking financial stability in their post-working years.

He defined Annuity as a stream of regular income retirement planning purchased by a retiree with a life insurance company using retirement Savings Account income as premium.

Firm Preaches Gender Equality in ICT Sector

A leading Cloud and Digital solutions provider, inq. Digital Nigeria Limited, has affirmed its dedication to promoting gender equality in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The company, therefore, called for support to empower girls, enabling them to assume their rightful place in the global ICT ecosystem and contribute to technological advancement.

Speaking at the celebration of the 12th edition of International Girls in ICT Day, an initiative organised by eBusiness Life Magazine and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Lagos, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Valentine Chime, emphasised the importance of fostering partnerships that encourage the acquisition and development of digital skills among youths. He stressed the need to bridge the gender divide, which may widen if the girl-child is not adequately drawn into the realm of information and communications technology (ICT).

According to him, “the girl-child must be equipped with digital skills

to thrive in the future, as only those who are ICT proficient will succeed. Empowering a girl-child means empowering a nation.” He also underscored the significance

of investing in early ICT education, promoting the hiring of women in STEM fields, and challenging socio-cultural beliefs that hinder women’s participation in STEM.

Recovering Unremitted Pension Contributions: The Task Before PenCom

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) ensures the recovery of unremitted pension contributions with penalties from employers that fail to remit pension contributions of their employees as and when due.

The Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014) provides that every eligible employee shall maintain a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with any Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) of their choice. Once an RSA is opened, the employee must inform their employer by submitting the RSA Personal Identification Number (PIN) issued by the PFA. Subsequently, the employer is required to deduct the monthly contributions of the employee, not later than seven working days from the day salary is paid, and remit an amount comprising 8 per cent in respect of the employee and 10 per cent employer contribution to the Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) specified by the PFA of the employee. It should be noted, however, that the 18% pension total monthly pension contribution is a prescribed minimum, as the employer may elect to increase the rate or bear the whole burden on behalf of the employee. Furthermore, the PRA 2014 states that an employer who fails to deduct or remit the contributions within the stipulated time frame of 7 working days from the day salaries are paid shall, in addition to making the remittances already due, be liable to a penalty, which shall not be less than 2 per cent of the total contributions that remain unpaid for each month or part of each month the default continues. The penalty amount shall be recovered as a debt owed and paid into the employee’s RSA.

The recovery of outstanding pension contributions by appointed Recovery Agents (RAs) commenced in June 2012. There are 28 RAs engaged currently by the Commission as of May 2023. The exercise set out to achieve, amongst others, the recovery of all unremitted pension contributions of employees with a penalty, to ensure that affected employees do not lose any income that they would have earned from the investment of the funds, secure full compliance of organisations with the PRA 2014, and also, reduce complaints of non-remittance of pension contributions by employees’ thereby boosting confidence and acceptability of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The Commission mandates Recovery Agents to follow up with the defaulting employers to ensure remittances of outstanding pension contributions. The recovery process requires the Recovery Agent to diligently follow

the outlined steps, which commences with obtaining a list of assigned defaulting employers from PenCom, getting letters of introduction from the Commission to the employer introducing the RA and requesting the employer to co-operate with the RA for a review of pension records with the organisation’s Human Resources Department to determine liabilities, and finally serving demand notices to employers to remit outstanding pension liabilities plus penalties. Evidence of payments is obtained by the RAs and forwarded to the Commission for onward confirmation by the PFCs.

It is pertinent to note that the principal contributions are remitted along with the penalties recovered and paid into employees’ RSAs to compensate for the accruable income from investment of pension funds lost due to non or late employer remittances. PenCom and PFAs bear the recovery cost due to RAs. Therefore, recovery of pension contributions is at no cost to RSA holders.

The recovery of pension contributions is an ongoing process, and the Commission has substantially recovered both principal contributions and applicable penalties from employers. For instance, during the first quarter of 2023, N384.28 million, comprising contributions of N193.06 million and penalties of N191.22 million, was recovered from 34 defaulting employers. Meanwhile, from the commencement of the recovery exercise in June 2012 to 31 March 2023, the Commission has recovered N24.53 billion (contributions of N12.44 billion and penalties of N12.09 billion) from defaulting employers. The National Pension Commission also prosecutes recalcitrant employers who persistently default on the remittance of pension contributions.

In conclusion, PenCom encourages employees to report employers who are not remitting pension contributions or are not paying the correct rates (10 per cent employer and 8 per cent employee) as specified in the PRA 2014.

PENCOM DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar

Higher Finance Cost Erode Nestle’s Profit

Kayode Tokede

Nestle Nigeria Plc reported 16.1 per cent increase in revenue to N127.97 billion in first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2023 from N110.23billion in first quarter ended March 31, 2022 but significant increase in finance cost down its profits.

The multinational Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) growth in revenue was driven by Nestle’s Food that grew by 22.7 per cent and contributed 63.4per cent of revenue and Beverages rose by 6.1per cent and contributed 36.6 per cent of revenue segments, reflecting consumer’s resilient demand for Nestle’s products.

Nestle Nigeria’s exports in the quarter declined significantly by 87.3per cent to N256.61 million in Q12023 from N2.03 billion in Q1 2022.

Nevertheless, its domestic revenue still accounted for the bulk of its top-line, maintaining its c. 99.8per cent contribution to revenue.

Remarkably, the gross profit margin expanded by 113basis points to 40.4per cent in Q1 2023, as revenue gained 16.1 per cent, faster than the cost of sales that rose by 13.9 per cent, reflective of the inflationary pressures on the cost of domestic food prices.

The company recorded a net finance cost of N3.75 billion in Q1 2023 as against N1.45billion in Q1 2022, owing to a huge increase in its finance cost, that closed Q1 2023 at N5.34billion from N2.37billion in Q1 2022 and a 58.2 per cent decline in finance income.

Higher interest expense on financial liabilities of N5.89 billion in Q1 2023 from N2.37billion in Q1 2022 underpinned the increase in finance cost, amid a net foreign exchange gain of N545.05 million.

While the lower finance income can be attributed to the decline in short-term investments (-11.5per cent to N89.18 billion in Q1 2023.

Amid hike in finance cost, profit before tax declined by 10.6per cent to N24.90 billion in Q1 2023 from N27.85 billion reported in Q1 2022.

A lower income tax expense of N8.69 billion in Q1 2023 led to a profit after tax of N16.21 billion in Q1 2023, a 9.8 per cent decline from N17.98 billion reported in Q1 2022.

However, in 2022 financial year, the company recorded highest trade and other receivables in over five years and its impact reflected in its revenue growth.

The company in 2022 reported N82.24billion trade and other receivables as against N43.3billion reported in 2021.

Major contributing factor to trade and other receivables was N55.54billion advance payment to suppliers in 2022 from N19.92billion in 2021.

The company closed the year under review at N446.82billion, representing an increase of 27icnrease from N351.82billion reported in 2021 financial year.

Nigeria remains revenue drive for Nestle Nigeria, followed by Ghana.

In 2022, revenue from Nigeria increased to N443.41billion from N346.54billion in 2021, while revenue from Ghana dropped to N2.74billion in 2022 from N2.75billion in 2021.

The cost of sales lines are input expenses, which rose ahead of sales revenue at 32.3per cent to N291.05billion in 2022 from N219.99 billion in 2021.

The company closed 2022 with N155.76billion gross earnings, an increase of 18.15 per cent from N131.84billion reported in 2021.

Nestlé Nigeria’s management is showing a lot of caution on the side of operating expenses in order to avoid a repeat of 2021 pattern where virtually all the gains in revenue were consumed by cost increases.

The company’s administrative expenses and Marketing and distribution expenses were under full management’s control.

In 2022, the company reported N68.87billion total operating expenses, an increase of 15.6 per cent from N59.59billion reported in 2021.

The administrative cost was at N11.54billion

in 2022 from N11.49 billion in the 2021, while marketing and distribution expenses increased to N57.33billion in 2022 from N48.1billion in 2021.

It reported N20.53billion finance cost in 2022 from N12.08billion reported in 2021. Finance income closed 2022 at N1.99billion in 2022 from N646.55million in 2021

The big news for Nestle Nigeria in 2022 was a significant in finance cost, driven by N12.68billion interest expense on financial liabilities and N7.85 billion net foreign exchange loss.

The company declared N71.11billion profit before tax, an increase of 15 per cent from N61.88billion reported in 2021.

With 1.4 per cent increase in tax expenses to N22.14billion, Nestle Nigeria closed 2022 with N48.96billion profit after tax in 2022 from N40.04billion in 2021.

The directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of N 36.50kobo (2021: N25.50 kobo) per share having earlier declared an interim dividend of N25.00 (2021: N25:00) from the profit of 2022 on the issued share capital of 792,656,252 (2021:792,656,252) ordinary shares of 50kobo each.

The proposed final dividend of N 36.50kobo is from the after tax profit for the year ended 2022. If the proposed final dividend of N 36.50kobo is approved by the shareholders, it will be subject to deduction of withholding tax at the applicable rate and the total dividend paid for the year will be N61.50kobo.

Growth in revenue reflects on assets

As Nestle Nigeria was able to drive its revenue performance, its balance sheet position emerged stronger, closing 2022 at N415.04billion, representing an increase of 34 per cent from N310.24billion reported in the full year ended 2021.

As total non-current assets rose by 17 per cent to N124.53billion 2022 from N106.3billion reported in 2021, as total current assets hits

N290.5billion in 2022 from N203.9billion reported in 2021.

In addition, total equity of Nestle Nigeria rose significantly by 42 per cent to N30.29billion in 2022 from N21.38billion in 2021.

On liabilities, it increased by 23 per cent to N384.75billion in 2022 from N288.86billion in 2021 financial year.

CONCLUSION

The Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, in a statement said, “I congratulate and thank everyone, especially our staff and managers whose unwavering commitment, dedication and ingenuity drove the excellent results achieved in 2022.

“I am extremely proud of the team’s ability to continue to achieve so much even under the current challenging business environment, enabling us keep our commitment to deliver value for our shareholders, our consumers and the communities in which we operate. This is proof that success is built into the DNA of our organization and that working together, we can thrive and even excel in the most trying environments.”

“In 2023, we will continue to work to ensure the availability of affordable nutrition for the individuals and families who depend on us to nourish their families daily. We know that it will be a challenging year, with the general elections and the associated charged political environment as well as the disruptions in economic activities experienced with the change of some denominations of the Naira.

“We are also faced with the increasing cost of doing business – especially the high cost of inputs, and therefore, remain flexible and resilient in our operations”.

“Our priority will remain the wellbeing of our people, our consumers, our communities and our planet as we unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come”.

Q1: DANGOTE CEMENT, MTN, OTHERS’ OPEX HIT N1.01TRN AS INFLATION, FX SCARCITY PERSIST

2023 from N40.04billion reported in Q1 2022.

The multinational company expressed that, “The operating environment during the period under review was very challenging for businesses. The impact of the cash crunch, which led to a near collapse of payment channels as well as the security and safety uncertainties associated with the general elections, created disruptions in the economy. These were in addition to the continuing headwinds of inflation.”

In the banking sector, Access Holdings Plc, followed by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated declared highest OPEX in Q1 2023.

Access Holdings declared N149.79 billion OPEX in Q1 2023, an increase of 28.3 per cent from N116.76 billion reported in Q1 2022, as its income rose by 27.3 per cent to N287.8 billion reported in Q1 2023 from N226.05 billion reported in Q1 2022.

Analysts believe inflationary pressures remain a key concern in the Nigerian economy, both for businesses and the citizens.

The CEO, Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf told THISDAY that

implications of high inflation rate include escalation of production and operating costs for businesses, leading to erosion of profit margins, drop in sales, decline in turnover and weak manufacturing capacity utilization, high food prices which impacts adversely on citizens welfare and aggravates poverty.

He further stated that weak

purchasing power, which poses significant risk to business sustainability and price volatility, which undermines investors’ confidence are major implications of high inflation pressure.

He explained that the major drivers of inflation and cost in the economy include exchange rate depreciation, which has a

significant impact on headline inflation, “especially the core sub index and liquidity challenges in the foreign exchange market impacting adversely on manufacturing output.”

He added, “High transportation costs affecting distribution costs across the country. This is also reflected

in the huge differential between farm gate prices and market prices; monetization of fiscal deficit (CBN financing of deficit) is highly inflationary because of the liquidity injection effects on the economy. This becomes worrisome when statutory thresholds are exceeded and high transactions costs at the nations

ports increases production and operating costs of businesses.”

On his part, the Vice President, Highcap securities, Mr. David Adnori said the inflationary pressure and scarcity of foreign exchange were key drivers of companies OPEX in Q1 2023, stressing that hike in interest rate by CBN also contributing factor.

This Week In Tech

Tech Top 5 News

FG LAUNCHES NATIONAL POLICY ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

To fast-track the adoption and utilise the gains of emerging technologies, the federal government has launched a National Policy on Blockchain Technology and inaugurated Implementation & Steering Committee to oversee its implementation.

The policy, launched by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim, is to promote the adoption of blockchain technology in Nigeria and to position the country as a leading player in the global blockchain ecosystem.

While launching the policy on behalf of the federal government, the minister explained that the seventh pillar, digital society and emerging technologies, out of the eight captured in the policy, is now achieving the desired progress as blockchain remains one of the emerging technologies.

“In order to implement the seventh pillar, we had to develop other policies, including Policy on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics which brought about the establishment of the first-ever National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in Africa, sited here in Abuja,” stated the minister.

He added, “Also, in our efforts to implement the policy, particularly pillar number seven, we developed the National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria.”

Ibrahim stressed the importance of technology to the nation’s Digital Economy drive, noting that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is comparatively the one that has not relegated Africa to the background, especially as nations on the continent, particularly Nigeria, are actively participating in the revolution which he added is an extension of the third revolution.

“Blockchain technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, cloud and quantum computing, virtual and augmented reality, autonomous vehicle, biotechnology, 5G, and cybersecurity are all disruptive technologies brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Nigeria is one of the, at least three countries in Africa, which are actively involved in the 4th Industrial Revolution,” he added.

GOOGLE TO DELETE ACCOUNTS

INACTIVE FOR TWO YEARS

Google recently announced new plans to delete accounts that have been inactive for two years, as well as accounts that were created and never used or used only briefly. This means that if you have not signed in within the past two years, your account and everything it contains could be deleted starting as soon as December.

This change impacts Google Calendar, Drive, Docs, Gmail, Meet, and Photos. Accounts with YouTube videos are a noteworthy exception from the new deletion policy, as are any accounts with active subscriptions (paying your bill counts as ‘activity’).

Also, this change applies only to personal Google accounts, not profiles tied to companies or classrooms.

Accounts created and never used again will be the first to be nixed, with Google sending multiple notifications to both the account email address and the recovery email if one has been provided.

To keep a Google Account active, Google recommends signing in at least once every two years, and anyone who has signed into an account or a Google service recently has an account that is considered active and will not be deleted.

Activity includes reading or sending an email, using Google Drive, watching a YouTube video, downloading a Google

Tech Personality of The Week

AISHA HUSSAINI

This week’s tech personality is the founder and CEO of Keza Africa, Aisha Hussaini. Keza was built to empower Africans with the latest technology by providing flexible financing options that make it easy to buy a smartphone now and pay later.

Nigerians can now own a brand new or certified pre-owned smartphone with affordable monthly installments in Nigeria.

Aisha started her career using technology to build a food delivery company which grew to deliver 5,000 orders monthly in about four years. She joined Cars45, a startup, as the executive assistant to the CEO to gain experience in building and scaling a startup.

She later joined Autochek and was focused on creating a comprehensive social media strategy that enabled the company to establish a thought leadership position in vehicle finance.

According to the company, the vision is to be the leading provider of smartphone financing solutions, helping to bridge the digital divide and bring the latest technology to people worldwide.

Keza Africa is one of the 12 startups that joined the inaugural ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator and received up to $120,000 in funding, an extensive network of 7,000+ mentors, 20,000+ investors, alumni, and corporate partners.

It is also suitable for businesses, enabling medium and large-scale enterprises to provide smartphone financing to their network with their APIs.

Play app, using Google Search, having an active subscription through a Google Account, or using Sign in with Google.

To save your account, you only need to log in to sign into your Google account or any Google service, read an email, watch a video, perform a single search, or do any other activities.

APPLE RESTRICTS STAFF FROM USING CHATGPT, TO BUILD OWN MODEL

Apple has restricted employees from using AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT over fears confidential information entered into these systems will be leaked or collected.

By default, OpenAI stores all interactions between users and ChatGPT. These conversations are collected to train OpenAI’s systems and can be inspected by moderators for breaking the company’s terms and services.

In April, OpenAI launched a feature that lets users turn off chat history. However, even with this setting enabled, OpenAI still retains conversations for 30 days with the option to review them “for abuse” before deleting them permanently.

Given the utility of ChatGPT for tasks like improving code and brainstorming ideas, Apple may be rightly worried its employees will enter information on confidential projects into the system. This information might then be seen by one of OpenAI’s moderators. Research shows it is also possible to extract training data from some language models using its chat interface, though there’s no evidence that ChatGPT itself is vulnerable to such attacks. It also prohibits them from using the Microsoft-owned GitHub Copilot,

an AI code writer. Sources have also stated that Apple, like every big player in tech, is interested in building its own large language model.

NETFLIX REVEALS SUBSCRIBERS PAYING FOR AD-SUPPORTED PLAN

Netflix has shared figures for the first time six months after launching its ad-supported plan.

Between November 2022 and now, the ad-supported plan has garnered nearly five million global monthly active users. This is the first time the streaming giant has disclosed how well its cheapest plan is doing.

At the streaming giant’s first-ever Upfront event, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said, “The signals are promising, engagement on our ads plan is similar to our comparable non-ads plans. That is critical because it all starts and ends with consumers.”

While it is just a sliver of the 232.5 million global subscribers, Netflix boasts ‘basic with ads’ has potential. Plus, the $6.99 plan, launched with 720p video quality and just single-device viewing, recently got an upgrade that includes higher 1080p video quality and allowance for two concurrent streams.

Netflix also said its platform offers opportunities to get more creative with ads.

TELEMEDICINE PLATFORM, NIGCOMHEALTH LAUNCHES IN NIGERIA

Nigeria Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat), in partnership with Ethnomet, a leading Canadian firm in healthcare technology, recently launched NigComHealth.

This telemedicine platform will allow millions of Nigerians access to quality healthcare.

NigComHealth will transform how patients and healthcare providers connect by providing convenient and accessible medical consultations by licensed healthcare professionals anytime, anywhere via mobile app.

The new telemedicine platform combines innovative technology with advanced medical tools and pre-vetted licensed healthcare practitioners, enabling virtual medical visits that are secure, efficient, and personalised.

The federal government and Ethnomet have partnered with indigenous tech implementation company, Sawtrax to implement the platform across Nigeria. This will make it possible for Nigerians in any part of the country, including rural and remote areas, to book and attend appointments with qualified and specialised doctors.

NigComHealth’s multi-tenant virtual healthcare service platform is designed for all hospitals to integrate their healthcare professionals and offer digital health services to the Nigerian population.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria,James Christoff said the platform would be a game-changer in improving health outcomes, especially in underserved and remote areas.

“The technology has been developed with the vision and strategic objective of having over 80 federal and state-owned government hospitals coexist on the platform. The platform is also meant to provide digital health services to 1.7 million public sector workers and their families in Nigeria.”stated Christoff.

BLOODBATH ON THE PLATEAU

CHRIS GYANG urges the incoming governor of Plateau State to declare a state of emergency on insecurity as soon as he assumes office

AS NIGERIA PREPARES FOR THE ZOOM PRESIDENCY

Having gone to London to watch the crowning of England’s King Charles III earlier this month, a friend joked last week, President Muhammadu Buhari extended his stay so his dentist could crown his teeth. That was how he read the line from the presidency that General Buhari had stayed back in London for a dental procedure. Ten days before the end of his presidency, on his return to Nigeria, Buhari commissioned the Presidential Wing of the State House Medical Centre (SHMC). Estimated to be worth N21 billion, this project provides an insight into the mindsets of Nigeria’s higherups.

See page 21

SAVING NIGERIA’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Government must do more by creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive, contends ELVIS EROMOSELE

By 2020, the SHMC was reputed to cater for over 32,000 people annually but in reality, it was anything other than what its name suggested. Originally established to “provide health care services to the president, vice president, the Presidential Villa”, the clinic became the place where the lowly servants of the rich and powerful rulers of Nigeria in Abuja go to mercifully receive analgesics for their aches and pains. When they died, their families sometimes chose to relieve their pain by announcing that the bodies of their loved ones have been deposited in or moved from the temporary morgue at the Clinic. For the most part, many believed – not without good reason - that the role of the clinic was to hasten the passage of those who used it to the mortuary.

Yet, this Clinic was one of the better funded medical units in the country. In the four years preceding 2020, it reportedly received average annual appropriations of over N2.5 billion or a cumulative appropriation of over N10 billion. However, the president and his family and

outside Nigeria.

See page 21

EDITORIAL AS DANGOTE REFINERY OPENS…

No one will ever fully know how much time President Buhari spent with doctors during his eight years in the presidential villa. By November 2022, one count reported that he had spent at least 237 days of his presidency with doctors outside the country. By the penultimate week of his presidency, the count was 250.

Nigerians about his hypocrisy on medical tourism, it seems certain that Buhari’s handlers occasionally dressed up his medical jaunts overseas in a bodyguard of misrepresentation.

Underlying this approach to their management of the relationship between the president and the country was the philosophy, laid bare by Garba Shehu speaking for the presidency in April 2019, that the president “can rule from anywhere in the world.” One decade earlier, in the middle of December 2009, then Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, a Senior Advocate of a presidency-at-large on behalf of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whom, we now know, was battling for his life at the time and probably lacked any awareness that his presidency was in the hands of unknown persons. It is entirely coincidental

that Yar’Adua and Buhari were military mates who come from the same Local Government Area in Katsina State.

In the period since Aondoakaa made that claim, Nigeria appears to have evolved a brew of sovereign mendacity in the service of state capture as a unique doctrine of state-craft.

In the week that Buhari was busy attending to his mandibles in London, his chosen successor was reportedly busy in Paris attracting foreign investors to Nigeria. In the period since the Professor of history at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the person he would prefer as Nigeria’s next president; the designated successor has mostly been overseas.

Twenty days after the announcement of the Nigeria on 21 March supposedly to perform the Lesser Hajj in the Muslim Holy Lands, returning 35 days later on 24 April. Sixteen days thereafter, on 10 May, he left again this time it was said, to “woo investors” to Nigeria for 10 days. It goes without saying that for many people, this claim tasked credulity. For every day he has spent in the country since being announced as Nigeria’s next president, President Buhari’s chosen successor has spent at least one and a half months outside.

Understandably keen to inoculate his principal against what could be read as a familiar pattern of a ghost presidency, his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, explained that he traveled only to avoid pressure and distraction, reminding us, however, that “even if he is in Russia, he can hold zoom meetings and do all kinds of things.”

Even before the onset of the next presidential term, therefore, it has become quite clear that the travel calendar of Nigeria’s next president will be a site of intense scrutiny. Perhaps, anticipating this, President Buhari has sought VIP wing of the State House Medical Clinic. Conveniently unaware of her own record of medical tourism, Buhari’s wife, Aisha, has been quite voluble in taking credit for this project. Sadly, it seems quite clear that neither President Buhari nor his partner “in the other room” have learnt anything from his peers in other parts of Africa nor from their years as avid medical tourists.

When former presidential spokesperson,

Reuben Abati, wrote in 2016 about becoming “convinced that there must be something supernatural about power and closeness to it”, it became a subject of much mirth and laughter with even Buhari’s own spokesperson laying the boot too. But after seeing one African president fart his way through the halls of a major international conference in Washington DC, and another extensively urinate on himself hard to see how or why any presidency could be clothed in wonderment about the wild and weird.

Fantastical tales and theories about the wellbeing of presidents are as old as power in and beyond Africa. Courtiers exist to spin those yarns. When he toppled President Ben Bella in 1965, Algeria’s famed guerilla leader, Houari Boumédiène, was a dashing 33-year-old. By early 1978, his public appearances became occasional and then rare. Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Algerians were massaged with all manner of stories while their president received medical attention in Moscow. In November 1978, he disappeared from public view, eventually dying on 27 December 1978 after 39 days in coma.

While he received medical attention in Belgium for a terminal condition for most of 2012, the public disposition of the government he led was that then Prime Minister, Meles from a routine infection.

In October 2018, Gabon’s president, Ali traveling in Saudi Arabia. One month later, he was transferred to Morocco to continue his recovery and rehabilitation, staying there until mid-2019. Back home in Libreville, the public and Gabon’s institutions got tired of a steady supply of misinformation, which triggered a coup attempt. After some 10 months out of public view, a barely recognizable Ali Bongo 2019.

The people who spin these fables have an interest in the wellbeing of the state or indeed from propinquity to him, which must be ways to do this are to misrepresent the facts or to hide the evidence. Many people may not know it but as powerful as they may seem, this new VIP wing of the SHMC, President as his preferred legacy for his successor.

When they arrive in less than a fortnight, those whose livelihoods depend on this successor may decide that using that facility does not fully conduce to the goal of misrepresenting the facts or concealing the evidence. Goodluck is the medical tourism president. Nigeria may be about to transition to an encounter with the Zoom president.

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

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU reckons the travel calendar of the incoming president will be a subject of intense scrutiny

BLOODBATH ON THE PLATEAU

Obviously, the enemy was mightily brutal years of sorrow, apprehension and gloom, the overwhelming victory of Mr. Caleb Mutfwang in the March 18, 2023, people a respite, a ray of hope. So, across political party, ethnic and religious divides, they engaged in tumultuously celebration, as one family.

By perpetrating that massacre of May 15, 2023, on the very soul of the governorelect’s homeland, our enemies intended

and sundry positions. They have never done this regarding the insecurity that is threatening the very existence of their Middle Belt peoples.

This is the lesson here for Mutfwang: it is only when it comes to apportioning positions for personal aggrandisement that most of our leaders stand as one. This has been the bane of this region in the last eight years.

Therefore, the onus is on Mutfwang to rally round his other colleagues in this region towards ensuring its collective security. In the last eight years, our governor preferred to wine and dine with the enemies of the state instead of forming a coalition, just as the South-West has done, to tackle this hydra-headed problem. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State was abandoned in the wilderness to fend

Going forward, Barrister Mutfwang must also declare a state of emergency on insecurity in Plateau State immediately should serve as an eye-opener for him.

SAVING NIGERIA’S

The manufacturing industry is crucial to role in generating employment, increasing productivity, and driving economic growth.

the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) through job creation, wealth creation, and increased tax revenue for the government.

from oil dependency. It can enable a country to reduce its reliance on imports, improve its trade balance, and increase its overall competitiveness. Manufacturing is almost all things good.

Unfortunately, the nation’s manufacturing

country’s education system, which fails to provide young people with the skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace. As a result, many manufacturers have to rely on expensive expatriate labour, further increasing their costs.

The manufacturing industry, like other sectors, has also had to contend with rising taxes and levies. In the last decade Value

President Buhari’s administration has gone ahead and introduced, what Taiwo Oyedele, tax expert, PWC, called a parting tax gift via the new Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) for 2023 through a circular dated 20 April 2023 signed by the Minister of Under the new FPM, Revised Excise Duty Rates - additional excise taxes ranging from 20 per cent to 100 per cent increases on previously approved rates for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, wines and 1 June 2023 while the excise duty rate on non-alcoholic beverages is retained at the

will frighten him from stamping his feet and confronting this persistent injustice done the peace-loving Plateau indigenous communities and citizens. They insist that this land-grabbing and displacement of communities from their ancestral lands must continue.

Yes. As a reminder that this testament of blood will persist, they have continued to visit terrorism on us - ordinary folk, defenceless children and women. Even their brutal message is clear: even under and leave the land in the hands of those into whose hands God has entrusted them.

Unfortunately, they plan to intensify this mayhem. They sense that the new man in the saddle is poised to face them frontally and without equivocation – a far cry from the standard practice in the last eight years which almost became routine state policy.

But, even amid the wailing, pain and blood that have characterized the last few weeks in Plateau State as we edge towards the historic handing over of power, the governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang, has shown that he is prepared to face these enemies of the state and make the much of seemingly intractable lawlessness.

and zeal that he is prepared to not only is also ready to be courageous even to bring peace to this beautiful land full of composed of.

He amply demonstrated this resolve in his interview with Channels television a few days ago when he hinted that he was already in full grasp of the true nature of the problem on ground.

other political leaders are now solidly

Once upon a time, Governor Jonah as being ‘recalcitrant’ by a national security adviser. He had courageously and vociferously called out the security agencies and warned the entire country about suspicious movements of persons deemed to be threats to the state’s security.

It was at that point in time that some of the odious seeds of the current state of anomie in this part of the country began to be sown. Regardless, he had the uncommon vision to push for legislation leading to the formation of the community-

That was at a time when most governors had not yet thought about the looming hazards of terrorism, herdsmen’s attacks and banditry to the entire country. Unfortunately, just as other progressive initiatives of the Jang administration, Governor Lalong has virtually rendered that organisation prostrate and useless, by incessant attacks.

It is widely believed that Mutfwang would, as part of his declaration of a state of emergency on insecurity, make the resuscitation of Operation Rainbow one of its cardinal objectives.

How do you react to people who kill and maim defenceless men, women and children and destroy houses and farmlands? Do you, once again, mainly resort to weeping, name-calling and vowing the kind of revenge that has at its core the code of an eye for an eye and a

That has consistently failed because there was no truth whatsoever in that approach as our leader and his co-travellers were most of the time speaking from both sides of the mouth. Plateau needs a more robust, honest, systematic and coordinated approach to tackling this menace. And this must be built on the strong foundation of justice.

Gyang

industry has long struggled with a host of challenges that have prevented it from achieving its full potential. Some of these

Today, one of the biggest obstacles facing infrastructure. Power shortages, poor road networks, and limited access to ports and move goods and raw materials around, in and out of the country. This leads to higher costs, longer lead times, and reduced competitiveness. While the General Buhari administration has invested in rail, there is still no horizontal rail in the country. There is no single track connecting the west to the east, not in the south or north.

manufacturers struggle to obtain the capital they need to invest in new equipment, upgrade facilities, or expand their operations. This is partly due to the high cost of borrowing, as well as the reluctance of banks to lend to the manufacturing sector due to perceived risks.

Closely related is the volatility of the foreign and currency depreciation. To understand the devastating impact of this issue, consider this: Unilever, one of the oldest surviving fastmoving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, may lead to the demise of otherwise popular brands such as Sunlight, Omo, Closeup, LifeBuoy, Vaseline, Dove, or Knorr.

cites the naira’s continued devaluation, a high rate of exchange for the US dollar, and a chronic cash crunch as reasons for its decision. There is no prize for guessing that jobs have been and will be lost. Unilever has joined the growing list of companies scaling down or else Skilled labour is also in short supply, workers with the necessary technical expertise. This is partly due to the poor state of the

There is also now Green Taxes - the introduction of a Green Tax by way of excise duty on Single Use Plastics (SUPs) bags at the rate of 10 per cent.

Is the government eager to run the brewing sector out of business and boost unemployment? The whole manufacturing sector is on life support as we speak, tax increases should be the last item on the table.

also face intense competition from cheaper imports, particularly from Asia. This puts pressure on local producers to keep their prices low, even as they struggle with high costs and limited resources. It is a sad picture. Despite these challenges, there are and the government can take to improve their prospects:

The government can intervene by providing foreign exchange to manufacturers at preferential rates or through the targeted allocation of forex to manufacturers that import raw materials and equipment. This will help reduce the cost of production and improve the competitiveness of local manufacturers.

The government can also improve the ease of doing business by reducing the bureaucratic bottlenecks that hamper

This can be achieved by simplifying registration processes, reducing the time it takes to obtain licenses and permits, and improving access to credit. It includes customs by implementing reforms that improve cargo clearance processes, reduce corruption, and enhance the transparency of operations. This will reduce the cost and time associated with importing raw manufacturing sector.

The government can, in addition, invest in critical infrastructure such as power, transportation, and telecommunications, which are essential for manufacturing activities. Eromosele,

professional

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Government must do more by creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive, contends ELVIS EROMOSELE

CHRIS GYANG urges the incoming governor of Plateau State to declare a state of emergency on insecurity as soon as he assumes office

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

AS DANGOTE REFINERY OPENS…

The refinery exemplifies initiative and determination

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, President Muhammadu Buhari will this morning in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, inaugurate the over $19 billion Dangote

We must commend for seeing through this down commercial and social activities in major cities and free the foreign exchange hitherto used in subsidy

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

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LETTERS

THE METHAMPHETAMINE CRISIS IN NIGERIA

watch as our country is destroyed by this devastating

tion, the drug addiction can lead to criminal behavior,

Ikwuh John Ahmedu, Benue State

of Ibadan Distribution

The Dangote Refinery is set to reshape Nigeria’s economy and position the nation as a global energy player as it will involve export to the West African sub-region in the first instance

Transcorp’s Revolutionary Inves tments in Power Sector

With its audacious investments and technological innovations in Nigeria’s power sector, which began in the last 10 years, the Transcorp Group has set the stage for an enhanced energy access in the country, with expected industrialisation, poverty eradication and job creation, writes

Penultimate week was jocularly described as “Transcorp Week,” by the elated Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during his speech at the inauguration of Transafam’s 240 megawatts Afam 3-Fast Power Plant, Oyinbo, Rivers State.

Events of the said week revolved around the investments and valuable impacts made by Transcorp Corporation Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates, through its subsidiaries in the power sector -Transcorp Power Plc and Transafam Power Plc, upon its entrance as a major player into the Nigerian power industry in 2013.

Currently, Transcorp’s power subsidiaries have the capacity to produce about 1,938MW of electricity including the 966MW from its plant in Afam, Rivers State, and 972MW from its Ughelli plant in Delta State, accounting for 15.5 per cent of the total installed capacity in Nigeria.

This is indeed, a rare record achieved within few years of venturing into the power business.

EXPECTATIONS SURPASSED IN UGHELLI PLANT

The results of the investments and general inputs made by the Transcorp Group in the power sector have started manifesting, with government and stakeholders pouring accolades on the company. At a meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on May 8, 2023, with the vice president in attendance, the federal government formally presented the post-privatisation Discharge Certificate to Transcorp Power Plc, the owner of Ughelli Power Plant in Delta State.

The Discharge Certificate marked the delisting of Transcorp Power from the routine evaluation and monitoring of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), signaling a major achievement for the company.

This followed the fulfilment of all privatisation conditions set by the NCP, by Transcorp Power, owned by Africa’s billionaire businessman, renowned philanthropist and chief promoter of Africapitalism, Mr. Tony Elumelu, after the purchase of the power plant in 2013.

Transnational Corporation acquired Ughelli Power Plc, now Transcorp Power, from the federal government on November 1, 2013, during the privatisation of the power sector.

At the time of acquisition, the plant had an available capacity of 160MW. Transcorp invested and increased the available capacity to 680.83MW, representing a 227 per cent increase within four years of takeover, surpassing the five-year target of 670MW set by the BPE.

Transcorp Power Limited is a member of West African Power Pool and a participant in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market. Today, Transcorp Power supplies electricity to the ECOWAS Regional Market.

With the issuance of the Discharge Certificate to Transcorp Power, it would no longer be subjected to post-privatisation monitoring and is now the first privatised power generation company to achieve this milestone since the power sector privatisation commenced in 2013.

However, one of the key targets set for Transcorp was a minimum available capacity of 670MW, which was achieved, cumulating to the presentation of the Discharge Certificate to it by the NCP.

Speaking at the event, Osinbajo, who is also the Chairman of NCP, commended Elumelu and his Transcorp Group for ensuring compliance and surpassing expectations with all post-privatisation deliverables.

Osinbajo said, “Post privatisation monitoring is an important aspect of the federal government’s privatisation programme. Transcorp Power has been able to ensure compliance and surpassed expectations with all post privatisation deliverables. I commend Tony Elumelu and

Elumelu

his Transcorp team for this feat. I urge Transcorp Group to continue in that path and even do better.

“This being the first, should not be the last post privatisation discharge event.”

In his remark, Director General, BPE, Alex Okoh, congratulated the board and management of Transcorp for the milestones achieved in turning around the enterprise. He noted that Transcorp has met and exceeded the performance targets and all other covenanted obligations agreed during the signing of the privatisation agreement in 2013.

“Transcorp Power increased the generation capacity of the plant by 227 per cent from the operational status as at handover in 2013,” he said.

According to Okoh, “a capital expenditure totaling N58.612 billion was covenanted for phase 1, phase 2 as ‘additional investment’ but the actual investment made by Transcorp was the sum of N83.85 billion, leading up to a score of 143 per cent.”

Also speaking, Elumelu, who is the Group Chairman of Transcorp, thanked the federal government for their trust and confident in Transcorp.

He promised to invest massively in the power sector to help Nigeria’s industrialisation through enhanced access to electricity and ultimately tackle poverty in the country and continent.

He said in addition to fulfilling the postprivatisation performance criteria, Transcorp has driven a strong indigenous agenda, saying their plants were being managed and fully operated by Nigerians, hence creating jobs and reducing unemployment

in the country.

“For us as Heirs Holdings Group, for us as Transcorp Group, we believe in improved access to electricity because we know that improved access to electricity means powering our schools, helping hospitals to function very well, helping businesses to grow and create employment and most importantly, helping to industrialise Nigeria.

“So because of this, we invest in the power sector and we will continue to even invest more in that sector because in line with our philosophy of Africapitalism, we cannot develop Nigeria, Africa without improvement in our access to electricity.

“And so, we think that the single most important investment that we as private sector can make is to invest in power and uplift our people out of poverty, create jobs and get our women involved in economic activities,” Elumelu stated.

Beyond meeting all the set criteria of increasing electricity generation beyond the capacity covenanted with the federal government, he noted that the Group had a “strong indigenisation agenda.”

He expressed the group’s pride having Nigerians managing and operating their plants, which is helping in job creation for Nigerians.

Elumelu further said, “But beyond job creation is improving the expertise of our people. We also have operated under very strict safety standards. We have operated since 2013 -10 years now.

“No incident, no health hazard, nothing and we will continue to stay that way because we know that in 21st Century, sustainability is key, health is important,

Peter Uzoho

safety extremely important.

“So we bring all of this together in what we do at Transcorp Group. And finally, I would like to say that we don’t grow alone at Transcorp Group. We grow with the community. We have grown with our community. We have helped to develop the community we are operating.

“We created jobs, we economically empower people. We have a functional hospital, we have a primary and secondary school and we will continue to do more.”

He said in line with the Transcorp Group’s philosophy of Africapitalism, the group maintains a symbiotic relationship that ensures mutual support between them and their host community.

“So for us at Transcorp, it’s about improving lives and transforming our society. We know that you cannot improve life if you cannot invest massively in access to electricity. And I want to use the opportunity to call on our friends, other Africans and private sector leaders, let’s prioritise the power sector in Nigeria and Africa so that we can get our people out of poverty and create jobs for our young ones”, he added.

NEW PLANT IN AFAM

TRANSCORP’S

However, activities of the eventful week proceeded the next day, Tuesday May 9, 2023 with the inauguration of Transcorp’s Afam 240MW Three Fast Power Turbines in Rivers State owned and operated by Transafam Power - a subsidiary of Transcorp. With an already existing power plant residing in Afam, the plant inaugurated by the vice president brings the cumulative generating capacity of the plant to 1,000MW.

The inauguration of Afam Three Fast Power plant came on the heel of the presentation of the Discharge Certificate to Transcorp Power Limited by the Vice President and Chairman of NCP, the previous day, in Abuja, following the fulfilment of all privatisation conditions set by the BPE.

Speaking during the inauguration, Osinbajo lauded the Chairman of Transcorp Group, Tony Elumelu and the entire Transcorp team for yet another power sector investment.

“Afam Three Fast Power is an important part of the evolving story of Nigeria’s aspirations to bring electricity to millions in their homes, factories and businesses that provide their livelihoods. It brings into view the importance of private capital in building up capacity along the power value chain.

“A major weakness of our privatisation process has been inadequacy of private investments and new cash injections. But the tide is turning with indigenous power and private investors such as Transcorp Power and Heirs Holdings, making significant investments such as the 100 per cent acquisition of the 966MW installed capacity in Afam Plc and Afam III fast power Limited jointly referred to as Afam Genco”, Osinbajo said.

In his remark, the Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, applauded Transcorp Group for its positive contributions to improving electricity generation in Nigeria.

“What we are celebrating today is an exemplar of the best of Public-Private partnerships. This collaboration has ensured that we are commissioning Afam Three Fast Power today, with a capacity to inject an additional 240MW of electricity into the National grid.

“At full capacity, it will no doubt provide about 40 per cent of our generated energy today. This is commendable and will certainly improve electricity supply to the nation along with growth of our economy and Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”, Aliyu said.

Also speaking, Elumelu emphasised the

Mahmud: Why Central Banks Must Deal with Inflation Decisively

Dr. Hassan Mahmud is the Director, Monetary Policy Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In this interview on the sidelines of a recent retreat organised to appraise the apex bank’s monetary policy framework, he talks about the relevance of inflation targeting following the increasing level of uncertainties across the world. Obinna Chima brings the excerpts:

What was the essence of this retreat?

The Monetary Policy Department 2022/2023 annual retreat its theme was centred around appraising our current monetary policy framework, which is what is called monetary targeting framework. Under this we look at monetary aggregates, which includes things like money supply; base money; M3, which includes open market operations (OMO) and other monetary liquidity instruments within the banking system. And we use the volume of that to adjust that volume, so that what we call short term rates would adjust to feed into the banking system rates and by extension, the interest we have within the economy.

We also use the volume of that liquidity, using monetary tools to either release liquidity or mop up liquidity so that we can keep general price levels at a particular target that we have. So, we use those volumes to do that. But you will understand that we have been having some not-to-efficient outcomes in the sense that as we keep mopping up, as we keep tightening, loosening, increasing cash reserve requirement (CRR) and monetary policy rate (MPR), we still see the economy awash with liquidity, either from currencies that are outside the banking system that are impacting on these prices (which includes interest rates, exchange rate and inflation rate). So, there are currencies that are outside the banking system that would impact on those rates that are not within the purview of the CBN and that makes monetary policy implementation less efficient or the outcome not optimal.

So, the point is, are we at the stage where we would start looking at facing our core mandate, which is price stability and using inflation itself as a target, in terms of monetary aggregate? That is, we would look at inflation and target it explicitly. That is, we come out with a framework of the range of inflation we are looking at. Before we do that, we would have done our forecast and modelling and have a projection of where we should be, before announcing it to the public. The public would then be able to assess the central bank based on how it is able to stay within its target. So, with that, we would be looking at the inflation numbers and adjust other parameters to get to the inflation target, instead of looking at the monetary aggregates and then letting it feed into the prices.

Globally, this has been the adopted monetary policy framework, particularly since after the 2008 global financial crisis. It is also a requirement within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU) member countries central banks to also adopt inflation targeting. That is why

Mahmud

during the retreat, we invited the Director of Research at the Central Bank of Kenya, because they are doing inflation targeting; Ghana is also doing inflation targeting and few others including South Africa, Botswana, which are also doing inflation targeting, to share their experiences. This recent crisis post COVID and the Russia-Ukraine war, have also seen how countries are able to manage inflation. Today, a lot of countries across the world are still struggling with inflation numbers and are still tightening, even in Nigeria.

You mentioned countries such as Ghana and others that are also doing inflation targeting, but surprisingly Ghana’s inflation is still on the high side and how will the decision reached at the retreat affect your decision to ease and tighten liquidity in the market?

The easing and tightening will still continue because liquidity still matters. Even under inflation targeting we would still continue to do what is called monetary programming. What is key here is: I

said before that our target is monetary aggregates, so we are looking at the volume of money supply in the system (that is M1, M2, M3), but now we would be looking at inflation itself. We have done exchange rate targeting in the past, but now we would be looking at inflation itself. In terms of the question on Ghana, yes, the country has been adopting inflation targeting, but the crisis that engulfed Ghana was far beyond that space. They had currency crisis and exchange rate crisis, when they reduced four digits in their currency; they have banking system crisis which came in post-COVID and they are on the facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But those are shocks that came into their economy and kind of collapsed the economy.

There are countries that adopted inflation targeting for over 30 years and are also confronted with crisis. So, the economic dynamics does not mean because you are doing inflation targeting, you cannot have shocks. But domestically, you must have a focus and that focus is what you

are looking at. You must also have resilience against these types of shocks. You see the United States having banking system crisis, with four bank failures in recent time. But there was a time the CBN was doing inflation targeting?

We are presently doing what is called implicit inflation targeting, but not explicit. Internally, we said we want single-digit inflation and that came from the Ministry of Finance of government and we work towards that target. When you do inflation targeting, what is most critical is the central bank’s credibility. If you say you are going to be here, can you be there? So, before a central bank would say the range it is targeting, they would have done in-house modelling, simulation, scenario, etc. So, we do implicit inflation targeting, but we want to migrate to explicit inflation targeting. One factor that is also playing out in inflation phenomenon is what is called inflation expectations. The people already price what they think inflation should be and they put it in their prices. That builds up inflation. Those are the things we are looking at.

But do you think inflation targeting is still relevant considering the global headwinds?

It is extremely relevant. The point that is being made now is that central banks should focus on their primary mandate. Central banks went into so many things, particularly in economies that are not well developed, just as we saw with the CBN and many other central banks in developing countries. But these crises that came in following the COVID-19 has made it clear that central banks must deal with inflation decisively. It is also part of the convergence criteria requirements that all ECOWAS countries must adopt inflation targeting. It is like we are conforming with the global best practices and also with an understanding of the situation in our environment. We are just trying to see how we can better implement monetary policy for optimal outcomes.

All along we have been saying the factors driving inflation are structural, but recently, particularly post-COVID injections, we have seen that the huge monetary injections have now translated to being monetary phenomenon in our inflation numbers. There is too much money and the output is not coming to that level. So, there is demand pull inflation and that is why recent tightening all over the world is to shrink aggregate demand, reduce the capacity of credit growth and also spending, so that the supply side can meet up and then you start seeing equilibrium.

TRANSCORP’S REVOLUTIONARY INVESTMENTS IN POWER SECTOR

importance of power in Nigeria and the need for all stakeholders to collaborate to transform the sector.

Elumelu said, “We all experience the consequences of our power deficit – the implications for our people, our businesses, our schools, hospitals, and institutions –our national destiny. Transcorp Group is a key player in the power sector. We recognise power is the single most critical factor to lifting our people out of poverty and enabling job creation.

“Therefore, I am so proud today, that we have been able to bring together so many key stakeholders. He concluded his speech with the commitment to continue to do well and do good. “We will not rest until we know every Nigerian has access to the power and the fruits of that power, which we know can transform our country.

“We are fulfilling our promises to the Government and demonstrating Transcorp’s purpose of “Improving Lives and Transforming Africa”.

On his part, Okoh highlighted the importance of projects such as these in improving access to electricity in Nigeria.

He said, “Afam Three fast Power combined with the adjoining Afam Power Plc, will in the next few years add almost 1,000MW of electricity to the national grid. This will go a long way towards reducing the current power deficit while enhancing access to electricity for millions of private and corporate Nigerians, creating

jobs, and ensuring the socioeconomic development and well-being of the nation.”

PROOF OF COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING RELIABLE POWER

However, the successful inauguration of the Afam Three Fast Power turbines is now a testament to the Transcorp Group’s commitment to providing reliable and sustainable power to Nigerians. The inauguration took place shortly after the second

anniversary of Transafam Power’s operational takeover of the Afam Power Asset.

Transcorp Group remains at the forefront of driving Nigeria’s economic revitalisation through its power investments in Ughelli, hospitality through Transcorp Hotels and now Transafam.

Transafam Power Limited is one of the power subsidiaries of Transcorp Group and the core investor in Afam Genco, comprising Afam Power Plc and Afam Three Fast Power Limited. The Afam Genco

Power Plant is located at Okoloma Village, in Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State with a total installed capacity of 966MW. Transcorp Group is a publicly quoted conglomerate, with a diversified shareholder base of approximately 300,000. Its portfolio comprises strategic investments in the power, hospitality, and oil and gas sectors, with businesses comprising Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar, Transcorp Power, Transafam Power, and Transcorp Energy.

THE MONDAY INTERVIEW

Usman Baba: Police’s Performance Better in 2023 Than in Previous Polls

About two years into his tenure, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, believes that the Nigerian Police Force has moved a notch higher, since he assumed office in February 2021. In this interview with THISDAY, Baba opened up on some of the roadblocks stagnating the police, the unsavoury public perception and the sacrifices of the officers. He also touched on the police’s controversial role in the 2023 elections, among several other matters. Excerpts:

Tell us about the operational readiness of the police. How prepared are the police under your leadership to deal with the menace of crime, violence and other vices that are currently plaguing the country?

The Nigerian police, under my leadership, have some agendas to be achieved by the grace of God - in terms of administration, operation and investigation, and other necessary things that have to be done to improve the situation. Since I came in, operationally, I constituted a committee to look into the current crisis, mapping or geo-locating crime and criminality.

And based on that, the committee found out the issue of IPOB and ESN in the SouthEast. In the South-south, we have the issue of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, etc. Also, in the South-west, the issue of various crimes, kidnappings and all sorts of crimes that are related, and so forth. So also in the North Central, North East and North West, and based on that, I launched an operation called ‘Operation Restore Hope’.

In that operation, which has gone on in the last three to five months, we have dealt with the situation drastically and have achieved some success. Though we couldn’t eliminate it, we have been able to mitigate it to a large extent.

As you may well know, this is a continuous process. So, as ‘Operation Restore Hope’ went on, we quickly established that one of the things that will make it much more effective is the ability to provide operatives with tools to work.

Therefore, the management sat down and thought of requesting funds from the president to improve our arsenal. Mr President quickly approved that, and we were given intervention funds to buy arms and ammunition, riot equipment, protective gear, and bulletproof vests to support our tactical operations. We have been able to acquire about 48 armoured personnel carriers. That gave us the ability to fight.

Operationally, we have also encouraged synergy with other sister agencies, including security and safety. We also launched our community policing so that the community owns the police and have encouraged the people to voluntarily come out to assist the police in crime prevention within their area.

We are also into training and re-training to improve capacity in terms of agility and preparedness, including how to handle arms and ammunition. We have also improved our technical capacity by employing a lot of tools that are scientifically based in terms

of tracking, geo-locating, etc.

How much have you done about police officers’ welfare, because this is a central issue in boosting their morale?

That has also been a paramount thing since I came in. I was the DIG in charge of finance and administration, of which all members of the rank and file are concerned. For instance, we provide them with accoutrement, uniforms, etc. We looked into the remuneration. We succeeded in making some increments. The president approved an increment in our salaries, which has been effected, and the last batch of the force, which had not got has now got the increment. We have been able to pay everybody this month. So, the new salary scale is on course, and everybody is happy. Regarding accommodation, we have been able to look at our places of abode and work. Therefore, the operational funds, which I was able to float from the government, we have used to provide modern police stations, which we started to set up in a couple of places. If you look at the police stations now, we have improved where we locate ourselves and where our armoury will be in that particular police station. We have been able to divide the issue of

detention as it affects children, women and people with disabilities and so forth. Then, we have been able to put in communication equipment. There’s been a lot of improvement, technically, including surveillance cameras, conference wing (a convenient place for officers and men of the force to sit and hold meetings) within the police station. In our modern police stations, what we are using is no longer obsolete.

Regarding welfare and accommodation, we have done many things in terms of putting in new accommodation in place. New accommodation in the sense that we have what we call recreation centres, which are going to serve as accommodation for the police for them to sit down and relax with their families. It’s a place of abode, where we have en-suite rooms, kitchens and so forth, like a standby unit. These are new ones we have been able to construct in a lot of places.

What do you have to say about a trending video, where commissioned officers complained about six months’ unpaid salaries?

That is not true. I just told you we had paid

Continued on page 47

Why Police Officers Behave Well on Foreign Missions

all officers and men of the police. We have paid everybody the six months’ arrears. We do not owe anybody.

Where are these modern police stations being reconfigured and rebuilt?

They are all over the country. We have them in many states. But we started with what we have in about seven or eight states. Recently, you stated that 25 police barracks in Lagos would be demolished and rebuilt within two years. How feasible is that given the issue of funding?

Yes, what really motivated this arrangement is that the Lagos State government earmarked those police barracks that you have mentioned as a risk, and a place not suitable to use for accommodation, because some of them are on the verge of collapse. In some, you have total decay of infrastructure and you may not even be able to refurbish. They have marked them as such. So, to avoid this risk of collapse, we decided to act. They actually wrote to the police three or four years ago, and they have again reemphasised it recently. I think we will be very insensitive not to act. More so, I think we should act quickly. Quickly in the sense that we have had several experiences of collapse of buildings in Lagos and elsewhere. Our barracks in Lagos that you mentioned, none is less than 40 or 50 years old. And because of the competing demands of the government, we will not be able to ask the government to do everything for us. In its own wisdom, the government also has approved what we call the PPP, Private-Public Partnership. So, the ones in Lagos, because of the government’s interest, they decided when they saw that we were not acting, to construct fences to wall off the barracks because of their dilapidated state.

They fenced them off from public view. So, when I came in, I explored this opportunity of PPP, and at the same time, government has also in its wisdom created IGRC to look at the business possibilities. But in terms of Lagos, I approached the governor and told him the problem, what do we do? Fortunately, they have a department that is into property development, and we went into partnership with the state government.

In most cases, we have our equity as the land. Fortunately, in many of the barracks, you can get more than the number of houses that you currently have if you are able to manage it very well in terms of design, comfort and other things. Where you have a bungalow, you may be able to put a storey building. So, we have entered into an agreement with the government, and it is supporting us and is ready to waive all building charges and so forth. To approve the partnership for one of the barracks, the Lagos State government waived about N98 million, which we were supposed to pay.

So, the government will provide those who will do the construction, and in that way, we also have the assurance that those genuinely who have been allocated accommodation in those barracks would be relocated and in the event they cannot be relocated, they would be given money to be able to rent an apartment outside pending the completion of the police homes and to return when the construction is complete. When it is reconstructed, we believe it will be an enormous improvement because the plan encompasses all necessary facilities, including drainage, light, places of worship, small markets, etc.

You have preached against police brutality, and actions have been seen to have been taken in a few cases. How much do you think still needs to be done, as it seems the steps taken against police indiscipline are not working?

Well, I believe in law and punishment. It’s a continuous process in any organisation. Discipline is the bedrock of the Nigerian Police Force – and in our training, either as a cadet or as a recruit, it is being inculcated into it. Discipline, the ability to comport yourself, the ability to be civil, the ability to be friendly, and the ability to manage a crisis are some of the key aspects of our training. For anyone to behave unprofessionally, that means he needs to be sanctioned. Sanctions are enforced to show others that bad behaviour is not tolerated and that it will attract punishment. Any type of punishment is being meted out to serve as a deterrent. We have what we call the Orderly Room trial. It is a court process in which a senior officer will adjudicate to look into a case of unprofessionalism,

with witnesses called in. Upon being found guilty, punishment is meted out. We have punishments in various categories. Dismissal is the last, depending on the gravity of the offence. There are instances in which dismissal is followed by prosecution.

Civil society groups often accused the police of extrajudicial killings. What are you doing to reduce it to the barest minimum?

I think the method and ways are simple. One is proficiency in handling firearms. That is why we train and retrain our officers on the use of firearms. Two, is that every officer is carrying a firearm to go to work. We will always want him to remember that there are times or situations when to use the firearm. Every officer is taught this. For instance, you can use a firearm to defend yourself. Yet, that is not as simple as it sounds. There are extenuating factors that determine when to draw on your firearm.

You can also use your firearm in arresting a person, who has committed a felonious offence. Most of the time, when an officer uses his firearm not in line with the calling of the

force, he will be punished for that. And we have been doing that. I believe that there is no other organisation that is as hard on its personnel when it comes to sanctioning our personnel. We deal decisively with anyone who engages in corruption, extortion and unnecessary use of firearms, or apply excessive force in executing his duties. We believe we have to continue doing that. The police as an organisation is a very large force.

The United Nations recommends one police officer for 450 citizens, but we know ours is a far cry from that recommendation. You sure need massive scaling up of personnel to achieve any meaningful impact of policing the country. How well are you responding to this?

You cannot get all that you need to do a particular assignment. We are aware of the ratio of police regarding the United Nations’ recommendation. We have not been able to reach that. But the issue is, the government is trying its best, because for some time, the issue of recruitment has stopped. And while the issue of recruitment is no longer going,

the issue of retirement has never stopped, the same with the issue of death while in service, etc. These factors deplete our numbers no doubt. It is not something that you can control. Therefore, we had gaps in terms of bringing in more personnel. About three years ago, the president approved the recruitment of 10,000 policemen yearly. We have been able to do that for two years. We are in the third year, but we have not been able to complete it. In terms of building manpower, the Nigerian Police Academy is now fully on course, and it is graduating about 600 middle-level officers every year. We also have the inspectorate cadets. There are efforts to increase the strength of the police. But it is not something that you can achieve overnight. You have to plan for it, and you have to have the logistics to undertake such a project. That will require a lot of funds –billions of naira. We have been able to improve our manpower by 20,000. In both cases, we spent N11 billion on those exercises.

How much have you improved on the morale of the rank and file of the police?

I may not be the best judge on that, but there is a difference between what it was before I assumed office. The issue of salary increment, accommodation (in Kano, we have been able to do this), we have been able to accommodate 100 officers in a new, beautiful barracks with all facilities. In some places, where we are building, people are happy to be in such environments. In operations, we used to move our mobile and tactical units to go and reinforce a particular state or command, we pay their allowances, and we take care of them. Promotion is also another motivation. There is no police officer who has not enjoyed one promotion or the other in the last two years if he’s actually qualified. Promotion is a privilege. It is not a right. But we try to do it so that it serves as a motivation. When Nigerian police officers travel out for operations, they excel and receive commendations for their discipline and professionalism. But back home, we don’t see the same disposition. Why?

It’s a very simple analogy. You see, the human being himself is one thing. The environment under which he operates is another thing. The tools to work are another thing. Tools that are available to do the work he is supposed to do is another thing. Then, the number of appreciation that comes from those you are serving is another thing. The willingness of those you are serving to support you is another thing. Most foreign missions our officers have participated in are geared towards entrenching peace.

These are people who have gone into war, and they had seen a lack of peace, and they want to be supported in bringing home peace. So, you have a lot of support from those around you that you are serving. Two, the United Nations, which is spearheading this kind of operation, tries to provide all the necessary logistics that you need to work with, in terms of welfare, allowances etc.

People are paid in dollars. Officers who had opportunities to participate in these operations have built houses, married wives, bought cars and so forth. So, there are motivating factors. The level of supervision is also there. The level of reward and punishment is also there. There are a whole lot of things involved.

The security of police officers in itself is very important. Some officers complain that their lives don’t matter much compared to that of civilians. What do you do for families of officers who die in active duty?

The police job is as risky as any other job that a citizen can venture into. To my mind, it is even more dangerous than a military job. You see, the type of society that we are, the police, will always behave in tandem with society. That is one. Two, crime and criminality have made the police an endangered species, because it is prevalent. There are fewer punishments, and the process of even awarding the punishment is even more cumbersome. On technical issues, you see, not only the police, criminals have their way out.

The punishments are not commensurate with the crime that can serve as a deterrent. You see somebody assaulting a policeman and he is charged to court and he is fined N100 or N200. So a lot of factors need to change. The behaviour of the police, or the level of acceptance, or the level of deficit in the good relationship between the police and the public is also another thing. But I believe there are a lot of issues. And of course you know if you

“It’s a very simple analogy.You see, the human being himself is one thing.The environment under which he operates is another thing.The tools to work are another thing. Tools that are available to do the work he is supposed to do is another thing. Then, the number of appreciation that comes from those you are serving is another thing. The willingness of those you are serving to support you is another thing”

Trust Level Between Police, Public Low

are a strict disciplinarian in your house, you will not be well liked.

So, the relationship with the police in a society, where crime and criminality are prevalent because of many other factors, you don’t expect it to be very cordial. The process of recruitment, the process of training, where you are living, which you have spoken about, what kind of person you are, how does the government even come out to protect you? So, there are a lot of issues.

I came in to meet deceased police officers’ families that have not been paid for five or six years. We had to appeal to the government to release funds for us to pay those relations; funds to pay families of those who died in active service, in the line of duty or of natural causes. Then, we have pensions. We also have burial allowances given to the deceased’s families. For instance, if we lose an officer, there is an immediate entitlement given to the relatives for the burial.

Many police officers have been agitating to exit the pension scheme on the grounds that it is not well suited for the police. Many organisations have been able to exit, but the police have not been able to do so. The government believes that it can be improved. We are looking into how the scheme can be improved.

Any update on the killing of the police officers in Taraba or did they die in vain in the line of duty?

It’s a very difficult question to answer because it will expose some of our inadequacies in terms of relationships between the military and the police. We have issues on both sides. There are instances the police are responsible for killing soldiers. There are instances when the military is also responsible for killing policemen. At the top, no problem. But I think the two organisations – the police and the military –need to make a lot of efforts to see that the two services can work in harmony, especially now that we have a lot of joint operations.

In those days, when we came in, we had limitations. The police would go to an operation, and if it was beyond them, they would hand over that situation to the military and when the situation is brought to normal, the military hands it back to the police. But we see more joint operations now. It is something that we are looking at, at the highest level and trying to improve the situation. The issue of breaking into internal security is something in my position, I cannot comment on.

On the Taraba issue, as far as government is concerned, it has been resolved. It is left for the media to find out how it was resolved. But there are instances where we have charged the civilians that are involved in the matter to court. That process is still going on. There are instances where the court asked the military to produce their men involved in court, they have not produced them. It is something we are still looking at, at the highest level to try to improve the situation

The Police Service Commission and the police hierarchy have not always worked in sync. But lately, there have been some efforts towards bridging that gap. What is it like now?

It is not true that we have never worked in harmony. We have worked in harmony, and for a very long time, nobody has heard the Police Service Commission or the police complain. Recently, or in the last two years, the last management, my predecessor’s time, the Police Service Commission, had issues of misunderstanding on recruitment. The police had been doing the recruitment together with the Police Service Commission, but there came a time when the Police Service Commission said they were the ones to do the recruitment.

My predecessor did not think so because recruitment and appointment are two different things. Police refer to the officers’ cadre. You recruit people from a lower cadre of the police, and therefore there was some misunderstanding to the extent that this went to court.

The police went to court, and they had the judgment that the IG should do recruitment just like any other organisation does. The Police Service Commission went on appeal, and they were also given judgment in favour that recruitment and employment are synonymous. When I came in, the real issue I realised is that whether it is recruitment or employment, it can be done together. Everybody can have a role to play. For instance, it is not only the Police Service Commission. The Federal Character Commission is there, because when Mr President is approving the recruitment of up to 10,000 policemen, you hear the recruitment must be based on Federal Character and therefore, we must take applicants from 774 local governments.

The Police Service Commission is a body that is empowered in part to employ all officers except the IG. Therefore, they have a role to play. But the police know who they want to employ in terms of fitness. They do a lot of things. That was synergy – everybody brings his own contribution to the process. That was the situation before that altercation. So, when I came in, I said, ‘Why don’t we go back to the drawing board and do as we have been doing?’ Everybody has a role to play. So, let’s play this role in synergy. That was what we did and we did the recruitment. For now, we are looking at not only how we can solve the issue of recruitment but

our differences completely. The issue of your tenure elongation was on the front burner a few weeks ago. The PSC does not look like endorsing another tenure for you. What is the situation now?

I turned 60 on the 1st of March and had put in 35 years by the 15th of March, 2023. But the appointment letter that was given to me after confirmation of my appointment is for me to serve for four years. The appointment letter quotes some sections of the new Police Act, which says the person appointed as IG will now spend four years. As far as I am concerned, I have put in two years, and I still have two more years.

But this depends on the government, and also depends on how the cases in court play out eventually. I think we should let the court interpret things and for the government to look at the wisdom in that. The law is not a dogma. The law cannot cover everything. There are loopholes. I remain grateful to serve Nigerians. That is very important.

The 2023 elections have come and gone, but the aftereffects still remain. The police were heavily criticised for what some of your men did during the polls, particularly the governorship polls. And there is the case in Rivers seen in viral videos where police were moving ballot boxes. How much punishment do you mete out to such officers, who flagrantly misrepresent the role of the police? How could a police officer, for whatever reason or inducement, be aiding and abetting the rigging of an election?

I don’t think the police have been heavily criticised. There are criticisms coming from some quarters. As far as the 2023 general election is concerned, we have been commended. If not for anything, one, the issue of violence, two, we were able to checkmate our officers. Certainly, there are some infractions for which appropriate disciplinary measures must have been taken. In the case of Rivers, which you said, we have been able to identify the officers involved. For instance, Adamawa, where the commissioner took part in a declaration, is still under investigation. The commissioner has been recalled to the headquarters, and the investigation is ongoing. Generally, as far as the 2023 general election is concerned, we have improved on what we have been doing. But there is still room for improvement.

Now, let’s go to the issue of EndSARS.

What have the Police learnt?

EndSARS itself was started on falsehood. Go back and investigate very well. EndSARS started in Delta, particularly in Ughelli, where the police action was misinterpreted. But before that, I think society had been charged, many didn’t like the activities of the tactical unit, which is called SARS – Special Anti-Robbery Squad. It was just an opportunity for people to revolt against them. EndSARS shifted the goalpost from dealing with the police situation to the government. I think we have learnt our lesson by observing that we have an acceptance deficit because of our activities, but we are taking measures, introducing a lot of community policing. Other grievances that are beyond the police, the government has also taken steps.

What will you want to be remembered for as the IG?

My target is to improve general policing: the aspect of tactical, technological, discipline and professional force to provide policing to the Nigerian public. That is why we are looking at all aspects of improving our output. We are looking at welfare, discipline, professionalism, training, re-training, recruitment, etc. In fact, these days, it is not the number of personnel that really matters, it is the number of technologies that you employ or apply.

Something like a patrol can even be done remotely. We believe in improving our capacity, using cutting-edge scientific tools to enhance policing so that the interaction between the police and the public can be reduced. Before now, we had roadblocks as a crime-preventing measure; it brought a lot of altercations between the police and the public. We had stop-and-search as the crime-preventing measure.

We had raids as a crime-prevention measure. So, these are things that directly put the police in the path of the public. But these are things that can now be done in a better way without raiding and mounting roadblocks. I want to leave behind a transformed police force with technology at the heart of its operation. It is a work in progress.

Lastly, why have the police not embraced body cameras?

There are other things that we have not done. We are coming gradually. We will come to that. There are so many things we are going to do to change how we police our country.

“You can also use your firearm in arresting a person who has committed a felonious offence. Most of the time, when an officer uses his firearm not in line with the calling of the force, he will be punished for that. And we have been doing that. I believe that there is no other organisation that is as hard on its personnel when it comes to sanctioning our personnel”

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 18May-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

BoI Disburses N210.7bn to 418,436 Beneficiaries, Declares N7.82bn Dividend

James Emejo

The Bank of Industry (BoI) has declared that its asset base rose to N2.38 trillion in the 2022 compared to N1.71 trillion in the preceding financial year.

The chairman of the bank, Mallam Aliyu Dikko disclosed this at its 63rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja.

The development finance institution also declared a dividend payment of N7.82 billion to its shareholders including the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and private shareholders.

The bank also disbursed the sum of N210.7 billion to 418,436 beneficiaries which resulted in the creation of an estimated 1.26 million direct and indirect jobs. This represented a 32.1 per cent uptick from the 950,640 direct and indirect jobs created in 2021 through the bank’s interventions.

Dikko added that profit before

tax, also grew by 15.6 per cent to N71.98 billion in 2022 compared to N62.28 billion in 2021.

He attributed the growth in the bank’s assets to the conclusion of three successful capital raising transactions in the year, in which the institution raised over $2 billion, despite the global economic headwinds.

In his remarks, the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Olukayode Pitan, stressed that the performance had been instrumental in attracting both local and foreign capital, which enabled the financial institution fulfil its mandated obligations effectively.

He said by surpassing obstacles posed by the challenging economic conditions, BoI has demonstrated its ability to thrive and deliver positive outcomes, adding that bank’s consistent upward trajectory was a reflection of its commitment to providing financial support and fostering growth in various sectors, even in the face of formidable

economic headwinds.

Pitan also reaffirmed the bank’s continued efforts toward supporting its stakeholders and achieving its mandate of transforming Nigeria’s industrial sector, adding that the bank’s target in the coming years is to grow its shareholders’ funds to N1 trillion, and its total assets to N10 trillion.

Meanwhile, out of the total disbursement, the sum of N2.51 billion was advanced to 932 beneficiaries in the pilot states of Kano, Gombe, and Edo, under the $14.27 million BRAVE (Business Resilience Assistance for Value-adding Enterprise) Women Nigeria programme, on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB).

It also involves the disbursement of grants amounting to N2.2 billion to 14,046 beneficiaries, bringing the total amount disbursed up to N2.54 billion, on behalf of the fund owners to 15,864 beneficiaries across 15 states.

Access Pensions Commits to Serving Customers Better

The management of Access Pensions Limited has expressed its commitment to continue to deliver top-notch services to its customers across the country.

The Head, Business Development Division, South West of the company, Mr. Peter Oliti, gave the commitment recently at the Customers Forum, held at the School of Nursing, UCH, Ibadan.

He said the company, which came into being last December with the merger of Sigma Pensions and First Guarantee Pension, is dedicated to implementing retirement portfolios that deliver competitive returns, stating that it has a highly skilled and experienced team of investment professionals.

He disclosed that the edge that Access Pensions Limited

has over other Pension Funds Administrators (PFA), is the commitment to deliver excellent pension services to its customers, noting that its investment process operates within a strong culture of risk management given the delicate nature of retirement savings.

Oliti while appreciating the customers in UCH for turning out in large numbers for the forum, the first since its merger, said the forum was to sensitize the customers in UCH on the latest development in the pension industry and the immense value proposition Access Pensions has to offer its clients both serving and retired.

He enjoined them to remain committed to the company for them to have value for their investment, insisting that with experienced team of investment

professionals with over 100 years of cumulative experience in the financial landscape their investment is in safe hands.

According to him, “We cannot but be overwhelmed with the turnout that we recorded today more so been the first time that we are bringing the customers under one umbrella of Access Pensions. I can only appeal to them to continue to remain steadfast and committed as Access Pensions is presently ranked number two on returns on investment for 2022.”

The Unit Head, Service Centre, West, Mr. Adewunmi Adejumo, in his own remarks, assured that Access Pensions would always strive to be the leader in returns on investment and customers service delivery, stating that it integrates risk management into every aspect of its investment process.

Gbadegesin Lauds NAICOM’s Regulatory Sandbox Guideline

Nume Ekeghe

The Managing Director of GOXI Microinsurance, Shina Gbadegesin has applauded the recent release of the Regulatory Sandbox Guideline by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

Gbadegesin in a statement noted that this initiative would promote innovation and drive insurance inclusion at the grassroots.

Gbadegesin added that regulatory sandboxes

are guidelines that allow operators to seek a relaxed regulatory environment to test innovative ideas such as products, services, business models, or distribution channels.

These guidelines set parameters that have the potential to improve inclusion and efficiency.

He believes that this initiative by NAICOM will go a long way in promoting innovation and driving insurance at

the grassroots, espe cially by licensed specialized microinsurers in Nigeria.

He expressed optimism that the Regulatory Sandbox Guideline would inspire insurance companies to be more innovative in their approach to driving insurance inclusion in the country. He urged the insurance industry to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the guidelines to enhance their operations and improve the industry’s overall efficiency.

How Amstel Malta, Zagg Added Glamour to Ninth AMVCAs

Raheem Akingbolu

Two Nigerian Breweries brands; Amstel Malta and Zagg have made fresh bold steps with the sponsorship of the Ninth Edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), the management of the company has stated.

According to a statement by the breweries giant, the premium malt drink, Amstel Malta, and Zagg, a blend of Energy and Malt flavour, joined forces to add glitz and glamour to the entertainment platform to give Nigerians unbridled satisfaction.

According to the statement issued by the company, “This

dynamic collaboration marks an exhilarating milestone in both brands’ relentless commitment to fueling the African entertainment industry with unmatched excitement,” the statement stated. The AMVCAs, Africa’s pinnacle celebration of cinematic brilliance, are set to embark on a journey of unrivaled splendor and recognition of exceptional talent. With Amstel Malta and ZaggEnergy+Malt as official sponsors, the Ninth Edition would remain an unforgettable extravaganza that will leave audiences spellbound and craving for more.”

Marketing Director, Nigerian

Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Oriakhi disclosed that Amstel Malta and Zagg Energy +Malt were not just sponsors but catalysts that ignited a passion for creativity that transcended boundaries and elevated African cinema to unprecedented levels.

“The African creative industry has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade. However, the industry’s intense saturation has made it difficult for creatives who haven’t found their way to the spotlight to have their art appreciated. Therefore, at this year’s Awards, Amstel Malta— is saying, “It is time for the spotlight.” Oriakhi stated.

L-R: Registrar and Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Josiah Akerewusi,; Associate Professor of Corporate Governance, Lagos Business School (LBS), Franklin Ugwu,;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

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

President, CIS, Oluwole Adeosun and 1st Vice President, CIS, Oluropo Dada during opening ceremony of joint Capacity Development Training by CIS and LBS in Lagos... recently

Kemi Olaitan

NGX Sanctions PZ, 17 Others over Late Filing of 2022 Results

Kayode Tokede

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has fined 18 listed companies a sum of N34.72 million for late filing of financial statements for full year ended December 31, 2022.

The Exchange said these companies filed their audited financial statements after the regulatory due date and NGX Regulation Limited (NGX Regco) applied sanctions in accordance

with the Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, Rulebook of NGX (issuers’ rules).

Post-listing rules at the NGX required quoted companies to submit their audited results, not later than 90 calendar days, or three months, after the expiration of the period. The rules also require quoted companies to submit an interim reports not later than 30 calendar days after the end of the relevant period.

The Exchange in its XCompliance report disclosed that PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc was the most sanctioned company, followed by Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc.

Specifically, PZ Cussons Nigeria and Caverton Offshore Support Group were sanctioned N4.8million and N3.9million for untimely filling of 2022 financial results to the Exchange, respectively.

Others sanctioned are: Fidel-

ity Bank Plc with N2.7million; Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, N1.4million; Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, N1.4million; Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, N1.4million; Champion Breweries Plc, N1.6million; Daar Communications Plc, N1.7million; NPF Microfinance Bank Plc, N1.8million; Wema Bank Plc, N1.9million.

In addition, Access Holdings Plc, N2million; Jaiz Bank Plc, N0.6million; Juli Plc, N120,000;

Industrial Medical & Gases Nigeria Plc, N1.2million; Glaxo SmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, N1.3million; Notore Chemical Industries Plc, N500,000; Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, N3.2million and John Holt Plc, N3.2million.

The Exchange in its XCompliance report explained that the initiative was designed to maintain market integrity and protect the investors by providing compliance-related information

on all listed companies. The report stated that “companies that are listed on the Exchange are required to adhere to high disclosure standards which are prescribed in Appendix 111 of the Listing Rules.

“Financial information which is periodic disclosure and on-going material events disclosure should be released to The Exchange in a timely manner to enable it efficiently perform its function of maintaining an orderly market”.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF MAY/19/23

Despite #EndSARS Protest, Police Brutality Persists

Sunday Ehigiator writes that even as the ghost of the 2020 #EndSARS protest, that rocked the fabric of the nation, still hovers, police brutality still persists and has even exacerbated. Across the nation, recent cases of such arbitrary abuse, violence and even death have been unleashed by some recalcitrant policemen despite the constant punishment meted out by the police authority for such offences

On December 25, 2022 (Christmas Day), a Lagos-based pregnant Lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, was shot dead in the presence of her husband and children by a police officer on a stop and search duty under Ajah Bridge in Lagos state.

The senseless murder of Omobolanle is not an isolated event of police brutality in Nigeria. Nigeria has lost too many innocent citizens to the actions of trigger-happy police officers, with justice or an end seeming not to be in sight.

These senseless killings amidst several other perceived injustices and corruption plaguing the country, led the youth to come out in mass to stage a protest tagged ‘EndSARS’ protest against police brutality and bad leadership first in 2017 before the more notable one in October 2020.

The 2020 #EndSars Protest #EndSARS is a decentralised social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria. The slogan calls for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of abuse on Nigerian citizens.

SARS officers have been alleged to profile young Nigerians, mostly males, based on fashion choices, tattoos and hairstyles. They were also known to mount illegal roadblocks, conduct unwarranted checks and searches, arrest and detain without warrant or trial, rape women, and extort young male Nigerians for driving exotic vehicles and using laptops and iPhones.

These stories and video evidence of how officers of SARS engaged in kidnapping, murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, humiliation, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings and extortion of Nigerian citizens, were widely shared on Twitter space and other social media platforms, which cause a burning outrage majorly among the youthful populace, and thereby leading to series of protests.

The protest took its name from the slogan started in 2017 as a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the disbanding of the unit by the Nigerian government.

After experiencing a revitalisation in October 2020 following more revelations of the abuses of the unit, mass demonstrations occurred throughout the major cities of Nigeria, accompanied by vociferous outrage on social media platforms.

The movement was notable for its patronage by a demographic that was made of entirely young Nigerians. The movement later expanded to include demands for good and accountable governance, considering the unprecedented hardship in the country.

Within a few days of protests, on October 11, 2020, the Nigerian Police Force announced that it was dissolving the unit with immediate effect. The move was widely received as a triumph of the demonstrations.

However, it was noted in many quarters that similar announcements had been made in recent years to pacify the public without the unit being disbanded, and that the government had merely planned to reassign and review SARS officers to medical centres rather than disband the unit entirely.

The aftermath of the protest was the incident at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos State, where the Nigerian Army was accused to have fired live ammunition at peaceful protesters on October 20, 2020, thereby killing some and injuring several others, an incident the current Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed described as a ‘bloodless massacre’.

Recent Cases of Police Brutality

With all the damages, destruction, apprehension, unrest, fears, deaths on both sides (civilian and police), legal battles, and international attention that came with the October 2020 events, one would expect that incidents of police brutality should become a thing of history.

However, this seems not to be the case, as recent reports suggest that there seems to

have been a surge of full-force police brutality in broad daylight without fear of being captured on camera or reported.

According to Human Rights Watch, a year after the October 2020 incident, Nigeria recorded about 164 cases of extra-judicial killings between January and September 2021.

There appears to be no end in sight to the highhandedness and brutality of citizens by some members of the Nigeria Police Force.

On January 11, 2023, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force guarding the palace at Ilasan, Lekki Phase 1 were captured in the video assaulting a lady when she attempted to record them during a conversation with an Uber driver. The lady’s phone was seized and she was also arrested.

Responding to the incident, the spokesperson of the state police

Command, Benjamin Hundeyin said: “It is not a crime to record a policeman on duty as long as it does not obstruct duty.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ilasan, waded in. He ensured the lady got her phone back immediately and subjected the officers to disciplinary actions. The lady claimed she was injured, for which the officer was mandated to offset her medical expenses. The lady went home happy. I equally verified from her.”

On October 2021, a day set to remember victims of police brutality, an Uber driver, Adedotun was beaten, brutalized, pepper-sprayed and forcefully dragged into a black maria by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force during the #ENDSARS memorial which took place at the Lekki tollgate.

While addressing pressmen, Adedotun said he was in his car when he heard people shouting. He decided to run for cover and left his vehicle. He further explained that on his way back, trying to locate his car, some police officers stopped him and started dragging and

beating him.

Adedotun said while he was struggling to prevent the operatives from pushing him into their van, they pepper-sprayed his eyes.

In March 2023, a mobile policeman, Sergeant Olalere Michael, killed a woman identified as Miss Tosin, suspected to be his mistress, and later shot himself dead on school premises in Ilorin, Kwara State.

On April 21, 2023, some armed police officers were secretly filmed using a machete to smack two unidentified persons in Imo State.

In the 45 seconds clip, five officers were seen assaulting the two people in an open space while a sixth officer pulled out a machete from a parked SUV believed to be a police operational vehicle.

The sixth officer was captured in the video, smacking the two people multiple times with the machete.

On April 6, 2023, there was tension in Asaba, Delta State capital, following the killing of a middle-aged businessman, identified as Emmanuel Onyeka, by a police officer after the deceased reportedly refused to offer him an N100 bribe at a checkpoint.

The killing led to a serious protest in the capital city, as residents condemned the dastardly act of the police officer. The deceased, identified as Ibe Emmanuel Onyeka, was shot around the Ugbolu area within the Asaba metropolis.

The late Onyeka who is in his early twenties was said to be a phone dealer at the popular Ogbogonogo Market, Asaba.

On December 25, 2022, a cop attached to the Ajah Police Station, identified as an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, shot dead a 41-year-old pregnant lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, under the Ajah Bridge, in the presence of her husband and children.

Raheem, her sister, and four children were said to be coming from an eatery in their car around 11 am when the cop tried to stop them. Reports noted that her husband was trying to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge when the trigger-happy cop shot at the vehicle. The bullet hit her and she was confirmed dead at the hospital she was rushed to.

Gafaru Buraimoh, a resident of Happy Estate in Ajah, was hit by a stray bullet at about 10 pm while coming out of SkyMall on December 7, 2022, by a police inspector attached to the Ajah police station.

Reacting to the incident, spokesperson for the state police, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “At About 2330hrs (11:30p.m) of Tuesday, December 6, 2022, a shooting incident involving men of Ajah Division, resulted in the unfortunate death

According to Human Rights Watch, a year after the October 2020 incident, Nigeria recorded about 164 cases of extra-judicial killings between January and September 2021. There appears to be no end in sight to the highhandedness and brutality of citizens by some members of the Nigeria Police Force

Image of Police brutality

#EndSARS Movement Poster

Despite #EndSARS Protest, Police Brutality Persists

of Gafaru Buraimoh of Happy Land Estate, Ajah. “The officer behind the shooting, an inspector of police was immediately disarmed and has been detained as a full-scale investigation has commenced.’’ However, the identity of the cops was not revealed.

It was learnt that the shooting that led to Buraimoh’s death occurred during a raid of sellers of black market fuel at the Ajiwe gas station by the police. However, trouble started when the cops attempted to impound a black marketer’s fuel but he allegedly resisted. “His resistance angered the officers who started shooting indiscriminately,” narrated Buraimoh’s brother, Muyideen.

The duo of Odinaka and Obieche were two businessmen killed on April 24, 2022, by a drunken cop at a friend’s birthday party in a hotel bar at the Gowon Estate in Lagos State. The two businessmen who were dealers in phone accessories at the Ikeja Computer Village were hit by gunshots from a cop said to be showing off and trying to impress the birthday host when mistakenly fired gunshots at the guests who were dancing.

Despite the promise of the Lagos police spokesperson that “those responsible will not go scot-free,” the promise didn’t see the light of the day, as no one has been prosecuted since the incident.

On January 1, 2023, a policeman attached to the Katsina State Police Command shot dead two people. The incident was said to have happened in the Filin Kanada area of the state. Three teenagers also sustained gunshot injuries. Koleosho Abayomi is a security guard at the Lekki Peninsula Scheme II, in the Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. He was shot by a police officer enforcing the ban on motorcycle operations in Lagos on September 28. He was however fortunate to have survived.

The cop, alongside three colleagues attached to the Ogombo Police Station, stormed the Lekki Peninsula Scheme II to enforce the government’s ban on motorcycle operations on the estate when the incident happened. Reacting to the incident, the state police spokesperson confirmed the incident, including the payment of Abayomi’s hospital bills. The identity of the cop was however not revealed.

On January 22, 2022, Durowaiye was killed by a cop whose N20 sachet water he drank in Kogi State.

An eyewitness revealed that Durowaiye was alleged to have taken a sachet of “pure water” belonging to the policeman from the latter’s car to drink before he met his untimely death.

Reacting to the development, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, confirmed the incident, saying a preliminary report from the Area Commander indicated that the accused cop only tried to defend himself when he had an altercation with the victim. Also, the identity of the killer cop was not revealed.

Godsent Obhafuoso was killed by a cop on August 13, 2022, during the burial of his master’s late mother in the Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

While the victim was reportedly doing a video recording of the party and assisting his master to gather the money being sprayed on him, the policeman allegedly fired gunshots which hit a cameraman and Obhafuoso, who was pronounced dead at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.

Though the state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, confirmed the incident, the policeman involved had yet to be brought to book and the family of the victim was seeking the help of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, for his prosecution.

Oliver Ezra Barawani, a graduate of Taraba State University, was driving with his boss, Liu, an LG chairman, before he was killed by a policeman on June 4, 2022.

According to a Facebook user, Abainitus Hamman, the victim was allegedly shot by a cop at a checkpoint in Kpanti Napo near Jalingo. He wrote, “Oliver Ezra Gone too soon! He was shot by a police officer at a checkpoint in Kpanti Napo, near the city of Jalingo. Until his death, he was a graduate of Taraba State University.

“Oliver Ezra was brutally killed for nothing. He was driving alongside the executive chairman of Lau LGA between Lakaviri and Jalingo. He was unarmed, innocent, and calm. Nigerian Police brutality has continued unabated! Instead of them dealing with the rising criminals in society, they kill innocent Nigerians.”

The state police neither reacted to the incident nor revealed the identity of the killer cop.

On May 27, 2022, Emmanuel Joseph, an All Progressives Congress Ward Seven youth leader in Calabar South, Calabar State, was killed by a trigger-happy police officer.

The incident occurred at the venue of the party’s primary, Cultural Centre, Calabar. The incident started when Saviour Nyong and Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Joseph Bassey, who were the two leading aspirants, arrived at the venue with their supporters.

The two aspirants began to exchange words and threatened themselves in a rowdy manner leading to the invitation of the Anti-cultism/Kidnapping officers who came and started firing bullets. Joseph was said to have been shot directly in the chest by a cop suspected to be the commander of the unit.

A source said after he was shot, the officer allegedly threw teargas canisters to disperse the people, covered the bloodstains on the ground with sand, and fled with his corpse into their office. In this case, also, the police did not react to the incident nor disclose the cop’s identity.

On May 23, 2022, a Journalist, Toba Adedeji, was covering a protest when he was shot by a trigger-happy policeman in Osogbo, Osun State. A group of youth had converged on a bridge in the Olaiya area of the city to protest against the alleged extrajudicial killing of a youth by a policeman.

The protesters reportedly blocked the road and prevented vehicular movement, chanting protest songs and demanding justice for the victim whose funeral was being performed.

About 30 minutes into the protest, cops reportedly stormed the scene and shot into the crowd and journalists covering the protest to disperse them. The state police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, had ordered

an investigation into the circumstances that led to the alleged shooting of Adedeji.

On July 11, 2022, Emeka Uwalaka, a National Diploma Civil Engineering student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, was shot by a policeman attached to the Nekede Police Division.

Uwalaka was said to be returning from church that Sunday afternoon when the cop shot at him with the bullet hitting the student’s hostel (BenJen lodge) gate in Umuokomoche, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. However, the police didn’t release any press statement on the incident.

Stand of CSOs

Speaking to THISDAY on why there is a surge in police brutality, the Executive Director, of Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV), Gbenga Soloki said, “There is a surge in police brutality owing to several reasons

“Firstly, the mode of recruitment of police officers and men, the process is not transparent and due diligence is not followed. Some checks are not conducted on those being enlisted into the police force. Some of the police officers and men buy their way into the system, and they will want to recoup their money by all means, and at all cost.

“The police do not have adequate records of some of those enlisted. The mode of discipline in the service is not tidy enough to discourage others. A situation where a police officer that has committed a grievous crime against a civilian is just dismissed only, won't serve as a deterrent.

“Stiffer penalty should be meted to erring police officers. Human rights courses should be included in their curriculum. And stern monitoring of police activities both in the offices and on the road should be adequately considered.”

Also speaking with THISDAY, the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, said, “I think that we need to go deeper in our analysis of the root causes of police violence, brutality and misconduct.

“If two years, going to three years after #EndSARS and the devastating aftermath and impact on police-citizens relations, police brutality has continued on a large scale as we notice every day, then there are lessons that are yet to be learned especially by the political leadership, especially the executive and legislative arms

of government.

“The Constitution gives the executive arm the responsibility for the police. Police reform seems not to be yielding the desired result and effects because the government has not mustered the political will to implement the proposed far-reaching reforms that should change the philosophical and operational doctrines of the Police.

“The fruits of the efforts to modernise and democratise the police through the review of the colonial Police Act are yet to ripe and be harvested. The Nigeria Police is still effectively under the political control of the president and the ruling party who do not comply with the Constitution and the Police Act in the management and control of the Police.

“The funds appropriated annually by the legislature for the police, apart from being grossly insufficient to meet the basic needs of the police, are also not fully getting to the police and the little that eventually gets to the police are not being accounted for.

“Nobody is held responsible for the mismanagement of funds meant for police training, equipment, operations and investigation. How much does a DPO get quarterly to run operations at the divisions? Don't you know that most police checkpoints are set up to generate revenue and those checkpoints most times turn out to be avenues for police harassment and extrajudicial killings?

“Look at the example of the mismanagement of funds by the management of the Police Trust Fund for which the ICPC commenced an investigation and never concluded it two years down the line. Calls on the ICPC to make public its investigation report and findings have been ignored. The same indicted management of the NPTF has been reappointed by President Buhari who claims to be the champion of anti-corruption.

“When the National Assembly appropriates more funds to themselves and for several other needless, wasteful purposes than the funds appropriated for the Nigeria Police; when the welfare of police officers is not made a priority to the extent that apart from poor pay, officers also complain of being owed arrears of as long as six months; when the police do not have funds, equipment and tools to carry out investigation and yet, are under pressure to perform, they are made prone to corruption and violence. Do we then need to go far to understand why police brutality persists?

“When the police are unable to professionally and effectively carry out investigations due to poor resourcing and capacity deficits, and therefore have to secure the majority of convictions through confession (meaning torture), why is it difficult to understand why police brutality persists?

"The ground is simply made fertile for police brutality in Nigeria. And unless the government commits to improving policing resources, operational capabilities and welfare, which means to radically humanise the police, corruption and violence will persist.”

Image of Nigerian Mobile Police brutalising a youth

A situation where a police officer that has committed a grievous crime against a civilian is just dismissed only, won't serve as a deterrent. Stiffer penalty should be meted to erring police officers. Human rights courses should be included in their curriculum. And stern monitoring of police activities both in the offices and on the road should be adequately considered

'SAILING' FOR INNOVATION…

The

Seplat Drags Justice Ekwo Before NJC for Unethical, Abuse of Judicial Power

Wale Igbintade

Two weeks after Seplat Energy Plc accused Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court in Abuja of bias and asked the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, to transfer all cases involving the company either as a plaintiff or defendant to another judge, the firm has also petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), asking the highest judicial body to sanction the judge for, “unethical, gross misconduct and abuse of judicial power.”

The company accused the judge of granting ex-parte orders

in several cases involving it and some of its shareholders.

In a six-page petition dated May 15, 2023, signed by its Acting CEO/ Chief Operating Officer, Samson Ezugworie, Seplat asked the NJC to dispassionately investigate its complaint and ensure appropriate disciplinary action against the Justice Ekwo.

In the petition addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Abuja, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the oil firm stated that the orders granted Justice Ekwo in suit No: FHC/ ABJ/CS/626/2023 between Juliet

Aregbesola Inaugurates

New Passport Office in Auchi, Edo State

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

As part of efforts by the federal government towards effective service delivery in the country, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, at the weekend unveiled an additional passport Front Office in Auchi, Etsako West local government area of Edo State.

Besides, he disclosed that the federal government would soon launch a home delivery service of passports to their owners.

During the visit to the Otaru of Auchi’s Palace, the Otaru, HRH, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, turbaned Aregbesola, and then installed him as the Rafeeq (a bossom friend) of Auchi Sacred Kingdom, while the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist honoured the former governor of the state of Osun with a Meritorious and Excellence Award.

Speaking after the inauguration of the new office, Aregbesola said "What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right of Nigerians, especially those in the Diaspora to hold the Nigerian passport.

“Except for those travelling outside the country or intend to, most of those who hold the passport do so for identification purposes. For some, it is also a thing of pride

to be able to brandish the green back of the passport. But for those outside the country, the passport is the proof of their existence.

“Inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences. The government therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever.

“The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular" and promised to conclude negotiations with NIPOST on the usage of its speedy mail service to start delivering passports to Nigerians who opt for such service.

On the award from the NUJ which was presented by the Vice Chairman, Edo State Council of Union, Mrs. Imelda Osayande in company of other leaders of the Union, Areagbesola said, “I can’t thank you people enough for this award especially coming from a category of people who are always under pressure of work and for me to discover that I was being watched by these people even when my services as governor and now minister are not particularly linked to Edo state is a call for me to do more than I am doing, I can’t thank you people enough, I must strive to do more” he said.

Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors.V Seplat Energy Plc & 13 Ors were designed to cripple its operations.

It explained further that the orders granted by the judge in the above suit on May 11 2023, was in, “very questionable circumstances are designed to hinder the affected Directors and Secretary of Seplat in the performance of their contractual and statutory duties to Seplat.”

The company stated that the suit No: FHCIABJ/PET/8/2023 between Boniface Okiezie & 3 Ors V. Seplat Energy Plc & 9 Ors filed on April 13 2023 by some shareholders of Seplat whose shareholding is less than 0.0005 per cent of Seplat's entire share capital have cited alleged unfairly prejudicial conduct in the management of the affairs of Seplat.

Justice Ekwo was also accused of making far-reaching orders and side-lined all these processes and ordered that directors of Seplat and its secretary should desist from further acting in their official capacities, and also ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to appoint some other persons to replace them on May 11 even though similar orders

sought in the April petition have not been granted by the judge, and the various applications in Suit No: FHCIABJ/PET/8/2023 between Boniface Okiezie & 3 Ors V. Seplat Energy Plc & 9 Ors, have been adjourned to 31st May 2023.

“It is evident that the approach of His Lordship will compromise the fair hearing of the applications in the April petition. It is also amazing that the above suit which was filed on the 8th of May 2023, and which was not listed on the cause list on the 9th and 11th of May 2023 respectively, was heard by His Lordship.

“We believe that this can only be possible because of prior direct communication between His Lordship and Counsel to the Plaintiffs in the above suit. This, we believe, is highly unethical,” it stated.

Seplat also believes that it was an act of gross misconduct on the part of the judge to gloss over various applications filed by Seplat and some of its directors and Secretary, on10th of May 2023, challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

“As it were, the orders made by

His Lordship on 11th May 2023 will compromise the fair hearing of these pending applications filed by Seplat and other respondents.”

It said it “has every reason to believe that all the steps taken by His Lordship in the above suits are designed to favour the plaintiffs and disfavour Seplat, its directors and secretary. Seplat, its directors and Secretary's position is corroborated by other cases and events.”

Seplat also disclosed that the final judgment in Suit No: FHCIABJ/PETI7/2023 between Akinduro Eric Akinnifesi & Anor V Seplat Energy Plc was wrongly ignored by Justice Ekwo.

“Some shareholders of Seplat were genuinely worried about the likely stalling of the company's 2023 AGM scheduled for May 10, 2023 and instituted the above suit, praying for mandatory orders for the meeting to be held.

“They also sought an order that the directors and company secretary should not be removed from office or hindered in the performance of their duties by any person or authority. Final judgment was delivered by Justice A. R. Mohammed of the same

Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

"It is noteworthy that the above judgment was brought to the attention of His Lordship, Justice. Ekwo by some of the counsel representing the respondents in Suit No: FHCIABJ/CS/626/2023 between Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors. V Seplat Energy Plc & 13 Ors, via various processes filed by them on 10th May 2023. The exhibited judgment of Justice A. R. Mohammed alongside letters and processes notifying His Lordship of the subsisting judgment.

"Notwithstanding his lordship's attention being directed to the subsisting judgment of a more senior judge (Justice A. R. Mohammed) of the same Federal High Court, His Lordship made orders on 11th May 2023, which contradict and indeed have the capacity of overruling the judgment of Hon. Justice A. R. Mohammed "Seplat believes that it is improper for His Lordship, whose attention had been drawn to the existing final judgment of a brother judge, to sit as an appellate court over such judgment through the rendition of an interlocutory ruling which conflicts with the said final judgment.

FG Approves Acting Accountant General, Okolieaboh’s Retirement

Sets official exit for May 28

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government has approved the retirement of the Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Sylva Okolieaboh, based on the notice of retirement which Okolieaboh submitted on April 13, 2023.

THISDAY learnt from various government sources that Okolieaboh sent in his notice of retirement to the Head of Service of the Federation in mid-April in line with established civil service rules.

The source confirmed receipt of the letter and acceptance of same early this month.

Besides, it was gathered that Okolieaboh who served in the position for almost a year following his appointment in June last year has also prepared his handover papers in readiness for departing

the public service on May 28 when he will attain the statutory retirement age of 60.

He joined the Federal Civil Service in August 2000 as an Assistant Chief Accountant, rising through the ranks until his elevation to Acting AGF. Okolieaboh who hails from Uli, Anambra State is the first head of the institution from the South-east in the history of the institution.

A core member of the Federal Government of Nigeria Public Finance Management (PFM) reform team, Okolieaboh was also pioneer PFM Team Leader for the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

He was the author of the GIFMIS Chart of Account which has now been adopted as the National Chart of Accounts.

He was the pioneer Director,

Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the OAGF, international expert in public financial management and has written extensively on various PFM topics in both local and international journals.

In his notice of retirement, the Acting AGF expressed his gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve.

He also thanked the Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

During his time in office, Okolieaboh was said to have rallied his colleagues to stabilise the nation’s apex finance management office following the instability that characterised the tenures of his two predecessors.

He was also instrumental in the ASUU-FG impasse over the IPPIS and consolidated on the reform

especially with the roll-out of the bottom-up cash management and enforcing stricter control on the IPPIS.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Okolieaboh holds a Masters Degree in Public Financial Management from the University of London and has received executive training from some of the world’s most reputable institutions.

They include the Harvard Kennedy School; London School of Economics; University of Oxford; among numerous others.

In June 2014; Okolieaboh was invited directly by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to participate in a month-long training Government Finance Statistics in Washington DC. He was the only participant from the entire West Africa at the course.

Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi; Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, when the vice president-elect visited the SAIL Innovation Laboratory in Ikorodu built by Abiru… Friday

10TH ASSEMBLY SPEAKERSHIP ASPIRANTS…

Usman Baba: Trust Deficit Between Police, Public High

Clears air on tenure controversy, commends force on 2023 polls Declares ENDSARS was founded on falsehood

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has lamented the trust deficit between the police and the public as low, saying the situation was informed by the public’s perception of the police, orchestrated by many environmental factors.

Baba, who shared this position in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, also spoke on the controversy about his tenure, saying although he recently turned 60 years old and had served the country for the mandatory 35 years in service, he still has two more years left before the expiration of his tenure.

He also dwelt on the roles of the police in the just concluded general election and held the view that despite misgivings in some quarters, the police did well and were so acknowledge by external bodies, who monitored the elections.

In the same breath, the Baba, who shared his views on the

ENDSARS crisis of October 2020, maintained that the protest turned out the way it did because it was founded on falsehood in the first place.

Speaking extensively on trust deficit, he explained that, “The police job is as risky as any other job that a citizen can venture into. To my mind, it is even more dangerous than a military job. You see, the type of society that we are, the police, will always behave in tandem with society. That is one.

“Two, crime and criminality have made the police endangered species, because it is prevalent. There are fewer punishments, and the process of even awarding the punishment is even more cumbersome. On technical issues, you see not only the police, you see, criminals have their way out.

“The punishments are not commensurate with the crime that can serve as deterrent. You see somebody assaulting a

Leah Sharibu: CSOs Task Media on Consistent Reports

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

With exactly seven days to the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have stated that the administration did not live up to its promise concerning the release of Leah Sharibu and other kidnapped Chibok girls.

They also urged the media to intensify reports and remain committed to consistent reportage of the kidnapped Chibok girls abducted by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, on April 14, 2014.

Stating that the present administration used the incident of the kidnapped girls to ride to power through its campaign promises, the CSOs called on the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and his Vice President, Kassim Shettima, to see to the rescue of Leah Sharibu and the remaining 93 Chibok girls as a priority, as they prepare to take over mantle of leadership, adding that leadership was continuity.

The call was made yesterday, at the media screening of, “Nine Years Life after Chibok Abduction” organised by Women Radio 91.7FM in Abuja.

A panelist and Executive Director of Gender Strategy Advancement International, Adaora Sydney-Jack, emphasised the need for the

government to be more forthcoming in giving feedback and information to galvanise action towards the rescue of the girls.

She said, "The gaps between the time when the girls got missing, and the social mobilisation of the social media and attended by the traditional media was a lot of time and in between that, the international media and other countries have already taken a turn to decide what narrative that the story should take.

"The government needs to be more transparent and communicate more with the families and stakeholders. We need to know what they are doing and what steps they are taking to bring back our girls."

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal, urged members of the media not to relent in their reportage.

He said, "We need to keep hope alive and continue to press for action to ensure that this new government, and maybe one way we can hold them to account is that the person who has emerged as the next Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, was the sitting governor when this happened.

"So, maybe he would use the Office of the Vice President or the presidency infrastructure to respond to this call-to-action."

policeman and he is charged to court and he is fined N100 or N200. So a lot of factors need to change. The behaviour of the police or the level of acceptance or level of deficit in the good relationship between the police and the public is also another thing. But I believe. There are a lot of issues. And of course you know if are a strict disciplinarian in your house, you will not be well liked.

“So, your relationship with the police in a society, where crime and criminality are prevalent because of many other factors, you don’t expect. The process of recruitment, the process of training, where you are living, which you have spoken about, what kind of person you are, how does the government even come out to protect you? So, there are a lot of issues.”

Addressing the rivalry between the police and the Police Service Commission (PSC), he said, “It is not true that we have never worked in harmony. We have

worked in harmony, and for a very long time, nobody has heard the Police Service Commission or the police complain.

“Recently, or in the last two years, the last management, my predecessor's time, the Police Service Commission, had issues of misunderstanding on recruitment. The police had been doing the recruitment together with the Police Service Commission, but there came a time when the Police Service Commission said they were the ones to do the recruitment.

“My predecessor did not think so because recruitment and appointment are two different things. Police refer to the officers' cadre. You recruit people from a lower cadre of the police, and therefore there was some misunderstanding to the extent that this went to court.

“The police went to court, and they had the judgment that the IG should do recruitment just like any other organisation does. The Police Service Commission went

on appeal, and they were also given judgment in favour that recruitment and employment are synonymous. When I came in, the real issue I realised is that whether it is recruitment or employment, it can be done together.

“Everybody can have a role to play. For instance, it is not only the Police Service Commission. The Federal Character Commission is there, ecause when Mr President is approving the recruitment of up to 10,000 policemen, you hear the recruitment must be based on Federal Character and, therefore, we must take applicants from 774 local governments.

“The Police Service Commission is a body that is empowered in part to employ all officers except the IG. Therefore, they have a role to play. But the police know who they want to employ in terms of fitness. They do a lot of things. That was synergy – everybody brings his own contribution to the process. That was the situation before that altercation.

“So, when I came in, I said,

'Why don't we go back to the drawing board and do as we have been doing?' Everybody has a role to play. So, let's play this role in synergy. That was what we did and we did the recruitment. For now, we are looking at not only how we can solve the issue of recruitment but our differences completely.”

Putting a seal on the controversy around his tenure, he said, “I turned 60 on the 1st of of March and have put in 35 years by the 15th of March, 2023. But the appointment letter that was given to me after confirmation of my appointment is for me to serve for four years.

“The appointment letter quotes some sections of the new Police Act, which says the person appointed as IG will now spend four years. As far as I am concerned, I have put in two years, and I still have two more years.

“But this depends upon the

Continued on page 57

Learn from Obasanjo, Seek Debt Forgiveness on Assumption of Office, Afe Babalola Advises

Tinubu

Rights lawyer asks court to stop Buhari, Senate President from approving $800 W’Bank loan Says no available data to determine low-income earners in Nigeria

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti and Wale Igbintade in Lagos

The founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has advised the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, to first seek debt forgiveness for Nigeria when he assumes office on May 29th, 2023, for the country to move forward.

This was just as Human rights lawyer, Mr. Abdulganeey Imran has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to stop the federal government from seeking additional loan of $800,000,000 or any other sum at all, to finance the National Social Safety Network Program, (NASSP).

Specifically, Babalola said the best thing he would expect the in-coming president to do was to learn from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who spent two to three years of his administration going round the world to beg for debt forgiveness for the nation.

The lawyer/educationist gave the advice at the weekend, while

answering questions from newsmen at the end of a lecture titled: "Smart Infrastructure: Catalyst for Sustainable Development,” held at the Alfa Belgore Hall of the university by Prof. Bamidele Adebisi, of the University of Manchester.

The elder statesman insisted that no investor would be willing to invest in a country where they cannot even repay their debts and not to talk of the interest owed.

"Have you ever heard of a man who would be stupid enough to go and invest in a bankrupt country?

"The president- elect should learn from Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who spent his first two years in office to be going around to seek for debt forgiveness," the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said.

The ABUAD founder who frowned at Nigeria's high debt profile said, "we owed trillions of dollars and we are still borrowing more even as the present administration has few days to go.

"We learnt that the in-coming president went to look for those

who will invest here,” he said, stressing that we the country’s weak currency, there was need to, “seek for debt forgiveness first before any other thing."

The Chancellor, said smart Infrastructure depends on availability of necessary infrastructure itself, which ABUAD was doing already.

He said: "The purpose of the lecture is to change, promote and revolutionalise the society which we are doing here."

Babalola, charged Nigerian professors on the need for quality research, saying if a research is solid and marketable, a lot of industries would seek to acquire them.

"The issues raised in their journals will be marketable. You can make millions and billions from it," he added.

Adebisi, whose lecture was on smart infrastructure, said technology has come to stay.

“We can use technology as a tool for societal development,” he added.

$800m Loan: Rights Lawyer

Asks Court to Stop Buhari, Senate President Meanwhile, Imran has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to stop the federal government from seeking the $800 million World Bank loan.

In the alternative, the applicant prayed the court to restrain the president from sharing, distributing, tampering with or dealing with any such loan of $800 million granted to the respondents in any manner whatsoever. President Muhammadu Buhari had sought approval of the House of Representatives for a fresh $800 million loan to finance the NSSNP. The request was contained in letters to the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the letter, dated May 2, 2023, and addressed to Femi Gbajabiamila, the president had told lawmakers that the programme was intended to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net support among poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

L-R: Speakership Aspirants of the 10th Assembly, Hon. Mariam Onoha, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Hon. Muktar Betara and Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, during the G7 and the Greater-Minority Caucus, set to present consensus candidates for Speakership and Deputy Speakership in Abuja at the weekend

VISIT TO BONNY-BODO ROAD CONSTRUCTION…

I Wasn’t Sacked, My Tenure Expired, Says Yadudu, Ex-FAAN MD

States appointment letter was dated May 19, 2019 Describes relationship with aviation minister as fantastic FG appoints Mohammed new managing director

Chinedu Eze

Immediate past Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu, yesterday, dismissed swirling reports that he was sacked by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, a few days to leaving office, saying his tenure simply expired after serving four full years.

Speaking exclusively to THISDAY in a telephone chat, Yadudu, who expressed disappointment at the slanting of his exit from office to mean sack by some news platforms, explained that, if his appointment letter read May 19, 2019, and he his exit from office was announced after four years and two days, how could that have meant he was sacked?

Yadudu, who seemed not perturbed by the manner of reporting of his exit from office, however, described as fantastic, his relationship with the Aviation minister, which

he claimed was responsible for the successes of his leadership at FAAN in the last four years.

Meanwhile, the federal government, has appointed Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed as the new Managing Director of FAAN. Yadudu, a former Director of Airport Operations for the Authority succeeded Saleh Dunouma, who also finished his tenure few years ago.

Yadudu was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

The announcement came few days before the handover of the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari to a new government.

Speaking with THISDAY on news around his exit, he said, “I have simply served out my full tenure of four years. My appointment letter read 19th of May, 2019 and the new appointment was announced today (Sunday), which means, I should

have left office two days ago. So, how does that amount to being sacked? But I am not bothered by those who chose to report it as they wanted. It is not just the truth,” he said.

According to him, the minister was also magnanimous enough to have spoken to him about his tenure expiration over a week ago and that they even discussed assisting Kabir Mohammed, the man, who took over from him in acting capacity, to enable him take off well.

He explained that he has had the privileges of working with Mohammed at close quarters before he was seconded to head the Abuja airport, saying as an insider, the new man at the helm of affairs at FAAN would do well, going by his antecedents.

Recalling his four years at FAAN with fond memories, Yadudu said he had taken the agency to an enviable height and expressed confidence in the ability of his acting successor to

take it further up, saying he would be willing to be of assistance in collective good.

On his relationship with Sirika, he reiterated that he has had a fantastic relationship with him and that the minister was responsible for the modest success he recorded at FAAN in the last four years through unflinching support and shared goals.

“We’ve had a fantastic official and personal relationship,” he stated, adding also that the four other directors, who were affected by the changes, were largely tenure-related and a decision to further rejuvenate FAAN.

However, Mohammed, who replaced Yadudu, was until his appointment, the Regional General Manager North Central, Airport Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

January 2022 by Sirika.

Mohammed was at the State House, Office of the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief (Principal Secretary’s Office 1994 – 1998);

Special Assistant to the Minister of Environment (1999); Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 2000; Personal Assistant to the Chairman, National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria, Port-Harcourt (2001).

Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Frenchies Limited (2002); Personal Assistant to Chairman, A & Hatman Limited; Admin. Manager, Interlinks Insurance, Abuja and Admin. Manager, First Medical and Sterile Products, Calabar (2003 – 2006). Special Assistant to

He was appointed as the Chairman, Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee in Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Falana, Ngige Disagree over Non-payment of ASUU Members’ Salaries

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige of discrimination in the implementation of the federal government's ‘no work, no pay’ order against university lecturers for embarking on strike.

But in a swift reaction, the Minister refuted the allegations.

The dispute over the federal

government’s directive to withhold Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU) members’ eight months salaries is subject of an on-going suit at the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

Following the federal government's order, payment of arrears of salaries of ASUU members who participated in the prolonged nationwide strike were put on hold.

But Falana who is counsel to ASUU, said the minister has not displayed fairness in handling of

the matter.

He alleged the minister had selected his colleagues in his home state, Anambra for special favour by causing their salaries to be paid for the period of the same strike.

Falana, also alleged that contrary to the claim by Ngige, the entire lecturers of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, joined the ASUU strike that took place last year.

He said: "The university management ordered the closure of the university on 21st March, 2022. Following the decision of

ASUU to call off the strike, the management of the university ordered the resumption of academic activities with effect from October 17, 2022.

"Ngige has convinced the federal government not to pay ASUU members for embarking on strike in 2022. But he has decided to isolate his colleagues in his home state for special favour by causing their salaries to be paid for the period of the same strike."

Continued online

Maternal Mortality: Violence against Women Remains Leading Factor, Says Expert

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

As Nigeria continues to battle with its position as number one in child/maternal mortality after India, violence against women has been revealed to be the key factor leading to the cause.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of TAConnect, Dr. Lilian Anomnachi, in Abuja, during the unveiling of The Purple Book,

tagged, "From Voices to Action," a curation of policy and programme recommendations from the Policy Implementation Committee of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) maiden Gender and Inclusion Summit (GS-22) held in Abuja, in 2022.

In her contribution in the panel discussion with the theme, "Women's health and the SDGs: exploring intersecting priorities for 2030 and beyond," she said other factors which

includes sociocultural practices, lack of education and knowledge about women's rights and poverty were adding to the indices.

She added that with about half of the population being women, more women would be needed to acquire higher education, financial freedom and serving in the criminal justice system.

"Gender based violence is one of the factors leading to maternal

mortality. In a poor family where there is a boy and girl if school age, choices need to be made and in most cases, the sentiment that the boy child has more value than the girl comes into play. “So without education which will help her in making informed choices about marriage and the choice and age to marry, the figures of maternal mortality increases and becomes a vicious cycle.

the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria 2006 – 2007); Head of SERVICOM, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (MAKIA), FAAN, Kano (2008 – 2009). Chief Liaison Officer, FAAN Liaison Office, Abuja (2009 – 2014). Chief of Staff to the Managing Director /CEO, FAAN Headquarters, Lagos (2014 – 2017). He was Director, Lagos Operations, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (2017 – 2020). Back to FAAN, he became General Manager-Special Duties (2020 – 2022).

Prior to this appointment, he was appointed as the Chairman, Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee in January 2022 by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

China to Train Young Nigerians on Cultural Tourism, Says Runsewe

China is set to train about 3,000 young Nigerian on critical cultural tourism, which is aimed at reducing unemployment and crime in Nigeria.

The training which is billed to hold in China, would also mobilise the youths to drive the Nigerian creative cultural tourism economy.

The deal was brokered by the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture ( NCAC), Segun Runsewe, who is presently in China leading an African delegation to the International Culture Tourism Reform for Developing Nations put together by the Chinese Government and Academic International for International Business Officials ( AIBO) .

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the forum in Beijing, China, Runsewe who also doubles as President, World Craft Council (WCC) Africa Region, explained that the training opportunities and exposures for young Nigerians to acquire new skills was not just limited to pure cultural tourism economy, but on technological breakthroughs and innovations.

He said: "The meetings were strategic, successful and eye opener to how our youths can benefit from training by the Chinese who are ready to partner and support us to

bring about 3,000 young persons from Nigeria at first instance to undergo diverse areas of trainings, in such area such as manufacturing of chips and even on electrical car production."

Runsewe added: "It will be a new beginning for us as a nation and for our young persons as the collaboration will bear verifiable gains to our immediate and future capacity building ecosystem in cultural tourism and technology ecosystems."

Runsewe further disclosed that the Chinese training offer would take up about 100 young persons per state in the country, which would help reduce crime and unemployment and be beneficial to rural development and job creation.

He said: "I am excited about this opportunity for our young persons in Nigeria. It is no elephant project, and we know how committed the Chinese are to promises to us a nation and this is certainly huge. On arrival back in Nigeria, we shall, in earnest, put up strategies to actualise these milestones.”

In an address to the open forum on Public cultural Reforms and Health Development for Developing countries, Runsewe urged all government top functionaries in developing nations to pay serious attention to cultural tourism issues as its the bedrock of peace and security in the world.

L-R: Nigeria LNG’s (NLNG) Deputy Managing Director, Olalekan Ogunleye; Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; NLNG’s MD, Philip Mshelbila, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Aliyu Ahmed, during the minister’s visit to the Nanabie Creek Bridge, Bonny Island, the site of the ongoing Bonny-Bodo road construction funded by NLNG...on Saturday

GROUNDBREAKING OF THE CUSTODIAN ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY CENTRE...

Atiku: Disunity Feeds Hate Which in Turn Feeds Conflicts

Says NYSC one of greatest policies ever conceived in Nigeria Mourns Mbang as loss of nation’s moral pillar

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said unity remained one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges because disunity feeds hate which in turn gives rise to conflict.

He, however, said the establishment of the National

Youth Service Youth Corps (NYSC) was one of the greatest policies ever conceived in the country and therefore praised General Yakubu Gowon for introducing this wonderful policy for national unification.

In another development, Atiku, has summed up the demise of Prelate and Emeritus President of the World Methodist Council, Dr. Sunday Mbang, as a huge

‘Exxon Mobil Has Spent Over $20m on Anti Malaria Programme in Nigeria’

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Crude oil exploration giant, Exxon Mobil Nigeria, has so far committed over $20 million partnering with other stakeholders in the fight against malaria disease in the country.

National Basket Ball Association (NBA) Africa Vice President and Country Representative, Gbemisola Abudu, said part of this amount was spent in promoting awareness on dangers posed by malaria and ways of preventing it She disclosed this in an interview with THISDAY, at the Power Forward Malaria Youth Summit 2023 held in Abuja, at the weekend.

Speaking on the malaria awareness outreach project being implemented in partnership with NBA and Pan-Africare, Abudu said: "This is a tripartite arrangement between the NBA, Exxon Mobil and Pan-Africa and the whole idea of the programme is harnessing the power of sports to educate the youths about malaria disease and its prevention.

'We all know that the youths resonates with sports and being able to utilise that power of sports to educate them about a health issue is very important and has been a key aspect of the programme.

"I commend our partner Exxon Mobil and in terms of the amount of investments they make on anti-malaria campaign in Nigeria, they have spent over $20 million over the years on creation of malaria awareness and its prevention."

On the outcome of the outreach project since its inception 10 years ago, Abudu said they have so far reached over 200,000 youths in Abuja.

"We have been able to take the programme to over 40 schools in Abuja," she said.

Abudu said one of great features of the programme was that in addition to malaria sensitisation, the programme also used the opportunity to teach our youths life skills that keep them useful and productive as they grow.

"These are what we call the future of work skills. So whether the kids become a basket baller or not these are skills that remain with them forever," Abudu added.

On why Nigeria still remained a high risk country in terms of malaria despite the interventions, Abudu said it would not be fair to say that there was no impact.

"You have to look at for instance, how youths that would have not been imparted if they did not know about the programme. When you talk about the position Nigeria occupies in malaria prevalence rating, that is a bigger issue,” she added. Explaining further, Abudu said part of the things being done with the programme was to distribute malaria bed nets to the youths and teach them malaria prevention techniques.

According to her, the use of mosquito bed nets was presently low especially in the rural areas, adding that the focus was to create the awareness among the youth who would in turn help in sensitising others about the health dangers of malaria and what should be done to prevent them

Also speaking to THISDAY Country Director of Pan-Africare Dr. Patrick Adah, said the group was collaborating with the Exxon Mobil and the Nigeria Basket Association to implement programme known as Power Forward.

He said the group used the event to celebrate this year's World Malaria Day.

loss of one of the moral pillars of the nation.

Atiku, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, marking the 50th anniversary of the NYSC scheme, explained that unity was one of the toughest challenges of Nigeria and that the NYSC programme, which was created in 1973, was a major effort towards national integration and unity.

According to the former vicepresident, “We must acknowledge and give credit to General Yakubu Gowon for introducing this brilliant idea aimed at consolidating national unity after the bitter memories of the tragic Nigerian civil war.

“Unity which is also my personal agenda as a politician, is essential to building a strong country, because a divided country is a weakened country. For decades, our youths and children have been infected with hate and prejudice.

"They can't think for themselves; they judge others unfairly because they didn't interact with others to understand them. Interaction with others is one of the best ways to independently and objectively judge them, thereby changing our notions about other people,” Atiku is quoted to have said.

The former vice president acknowledged that, “Indeed, the NYSC went a long way to neutralise the impact of prejudice through interaction with other people, and in fact, even encouraged inter-marriages.”

Paying tribute to Gowon for the effort to introduce NYSC, he said, “The history of this great policy will be incomplete without a mention of the remarkable role played by Gowon and his administration in the success of this programme. Gowon had demonstrated great leadership skills and statesmanship in the

adverse consequences of the civil war, one of which included the task of rebuilding national unity,” Atiku stressed.

He, therefore, called on politicians, religious leaders and other opinion leaders to continue to encourage unity among the people, warning that disunity feeds hate which in turn, feeds conflicts.

“We should at all times make utterances that promote love and unity and avoid statements that stoke up bitter divisions and intolerance,” he added, even as he called for a review of the mandate of the scheme to reflect the demands of the current reality.

Meanwhile, mourning Mbang, Atiku, in his condolence message, released by his Media Office in Abuja, eulogised the late President of Nigeria’s Inter Religious Council and Head of Methodist, who served for over four decades, as “a true servant of God and

humanity whose indelible imprints shall live forever.”

Atiku wrote: “Prelate Mbang was a pioneer and pathfinding patriarchal clergyman and chaplain in Lagos and elsewhere. He was also the first Black President of the World Methodist Council and among the founding members of the Fathers of Faith, who regularly prayed for peace and concord in our country. His death has increased the deficit tally of accomplished moral pillars, religious conscience, and counselling compass of our nation.”

While praying for the acceptance of the soul of the Prelate, Atiku urged Christians of the Methodist Faith and indeed all Christians to emulate the great deeds and virtuous lifestyle of the deceased, by immortalising him through the propagation of his progressive and dynamic value addition to the nation and their creed.

Ajakaye: Why May 29 Handover Date Must Not Be Altered

Advises Tinubu on politics of engagement

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, has cautioned those asking for the suspension of the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to forget the idea, insisting that the May 29, handover date must not be altered.

The Ekiti Catholic Bishop warned that anything short of this could lead to unnecessary constitutional crisis in the country.

Ajakaye said President Muhammadu Buhari must handover to the President-elect,

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on May 29, and leave office for another elected President according to the constitution.

"President Buhari will end his two-term of eight years on the said day and there must never be a vacuum. Why the call for the suspension of the inauguration of the president-elect until the determination of the court?" he asked.

Ajakaye made the remarks at the 57th World Communications Day, at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, said, "A new us is possible in Nigeria," and that, “until we

fashion out a lawful way or lawful ways of addressing legion of electoral matters before the stipulated date of 29 May of any electoral year.

"All those inaugurated on the day and their elections are subsequently nullified by the court, up to the Supreme Court, such people must refund their salaries and other emoluments within the period they held forth illegally. Not only that, such people are not to be addressed as former this, former that, because the courts have ruled against them."

The Catholic Bishop said

USMAN BABA: TRUST DEFICIT BETWEEN POLICE, PUBLIC HIGH

government, and also depends on how the cases in court play out eventually. I think we should let the court interpret things and for the government to look for what is wisdom in that. The law is not a dogma. The law cannot cover everything. There are loopholes. I remain grateful to serve Nigerians. That is very important.”

In dismissing insinuations about the roles of the police in the 2023 elections, he stated that, “I don't think the police have been heavily criticised. There are criticisms coming from some quarters. As far as the 2023 general election

is concerned, we have been commended. If not for anything, one, the issue of violence, two, we have been able to checkmate our officers.

“Certainly, there are some infractions for which appropriate disciplinary measures must have been taken. In the case of Rivers, which you said, we have been able to identify the officers involved. For instance, Adamawa, where the commissioner took part in a declaration, is still under investigation.

“The commissioner has been recalled to the headquarters, and

the investigation is ongoing. Generally, as far as the 2023 general election is concerned, we have improved on what we have been doing. But there is still room for improvement.”

The EndSARS movement, Baba claimed “was started on falsehood,” saying, “Go back and investigate very well. EndSARS started in Delta, particularly in Ughelli, where the police action was misinterpreted. But before that, I think society has been charged, many didn’t like the activities of the tactical unit, which is called SARS – Special Anti-Robbery

there was need to continue to emphasise internal democracy in all the political parties for real democracy to be an avenue of good governance in Nigeria. He, therefore, suggested that independent candidacy in the nation’s politics was needed now than ever before.

"I encourage the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed

to promote politics of engagement, not politics of intimidation, if his renewed hope has to be meaningful and positive than outgoing President Buhari's 'Change'. A new us is possible in Nigeria."

Squad.

“It was just an opportunity for people to revolt against them. EndSARS shifted the goalpost from dealing with the police situation to the government. I think we have learnt our lesson by observing that we have an acceptance deficit because of our activities, but we are taking measures, introducing a lot of community policing – other grievances that are beyond the police. The government has also taken steps.”

*READ FULL INTERVIEW ON PAGES 46-48

Tinubu

L-R: MD/CEO, CEO, Custodian Social Responsibility Foundation, Mrs. Olubunmi Aderemi; MD/CEO, General Hospital, Epe, Lagos, Dr. Oluseyi Adesola; Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Chairman, Custodian Social Responsibility Foundation, Mrs. Mimi Ade-Odiachi; MD/CEO of Ibeju Lekki General Hospital Akodo, Dr. Folashade Fadare; MD/CEO, Maternal and Child Centre, Ogombo, Eti-Osa, Dr. Adebola Quadri, at the groundbreaking of the Custodian Accident & Emergency Centre (CAEC), at the General Hospital, Epe, Lagos… Saturday

TEXEM EXECUTIVE COACHING...

Group Alleges Supreme Court Judgement that Installed Uzodinma Reasons for Imo Killings

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A foremost human rights group based in Onitsha, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has traced the many killings in Imo State to the controversial judgement of the Supreme Court, which installed Senator Hope Uzodinma as governor of the state.

The group in a 33-page special report unveiled yesterday, in Enugu, said the level of killings in Imo State were far more than what could be reported in the media.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the group, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, who unveiled the report before journalists in Enugu, also alleged that many families of Imo descent today bury their dead relatives outside Imo, because of fear of visiting the state.

The group in the report blamed state actors and non-state actors for some of the killings in the state.

"In the last 29 months, that is between January 2021 and May 2023

under Governor Hope Uzodinma, security forces and allied militia have killed 900 unarmed citizens, wounded 700, arrested, 3,500, extorted 1,400 and disappeared 300.

"Also, 1,200 houses belonging to civilians were burnt, 30,000 owners of the houses displaced, 500,000 indigenes of communities in Imo within active age bracket forced to flee home to

avoid being killed or kidnapped.

"The origin of the killings in Imo today is the controversial Supreme Court judgement, which installed Hope Uzodinma as governor of the state. Imo is in deeper crisis than you think. Most of the killings are not reported.

"You may not know, but many Imo indigenes no longer take their dead relatives home for burial. Within

this year, I have personally witnessed four funerals in Ogbaru, Anambra State, which are those of Imo State indigenes.

"The wanton destruction of lives and properties in 29 months gone by in Imo State, under Governor Hope Uzodinma is so shocking, chilling and alarming that many families in the affected local government area no

longer ancestrally give their loved ones who die naturally or unnaturally burials and funerals.

"Dead bodies are secretly smuggled in at night and secretly and indecently buried, after which their funerals are organised outside their ancestral homes, in other cities."

The group called for international criminal enquiries and indictments

into the incidences in Imo State, saying there was need to punish those who do the wrong thing, especially those responsible for the killings.

"The criminal enquiries under demand are extremely necessary for purposes of unmasking the identities of those responsible for the killings, abduction and all others, and those that aided and abetted them.

DIA Charges Finance Attaches to Align with Nation's Anti-graft Laws

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), weekend, charged its defence advisers and attachés in charge of finance in 25 defence missions across the world to be acquainted with Nigeria's anti-corruption laws and due process provisions.

The agency stated that being conversant with the financial regulations and the anti-corruption laws was imperative for the attachés

in order not to flout the provisions of public sector financial administration in Nigeria.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Deputy Defence Advisers/Attaches Finance Conference in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget at the agency, Maj Gen Adekunle Adesope, said the conference was convened out of the need to enhance the prudent management of the defence mission finances.

"The DDA Finance Conference was convened out of the need to enhance the prudent management of the defence mission finances. I, therefore, implore all the participants to put the knowledge acquired in the management of your resources.

"I will also like to advise you to take due cognisance of the on-going federal government anti-corruption campaign and due process in the conduct of your affairs.

"As the accounting officers of

your respective missions, you are to operate within the ambit of constituted financial regulations. Do not engage in unauthorised virement and limit your expenditure to the provision under each subhead," he said. The defence finance chief also pledged that the agency would continue to ensure prompt remittance of funds to the mission, including the attachés' overhead allocation, adding that they were

SEVEN AFRICAN PRESIDENTS JOIN BUHARI TO OPEN DANGOTE REFINERY, CONTINENT’S GAME CHANGER

disclosed that the bank was the largest financer of the over $19 billion Dangote Refinery, the world biggest petroleum refining facility, which would come into operation this month.

Oramah made the disclosure last weekend in Accra, Ghana, during the Afreximbank's 2023 pre-annual meeting press conference for the bank's 30th anniversary celebration. The event would be hosted in June in the Ghanaian capital, with the theme, “Delivering the Vision, Delivering Prosperity for Africans.”

The Afreximbank president said, “We are proud to have contributed very strongly to the Dangote Refinery that will be opening on the May 22nd. The Dangote Refinery is one of the largest heavy industries ever done on the continent because it is about $19 billion.

“We are the largest financers of that project. The issue of value addition is a priority for us. Most of the things we do are not just creating the goods. We are also helping to develop export-trading companies to create access to market. We are also making sure that whatever we do support the growth of regional supply trade.”

Oramah said apart from financing industries, Afreximbank also ensured financial stability in Africa by enabling African operators in the financial system to acquire many of the international banks in the continent.

He stated, “Under a strategy that Afreximbank is implementing, we are making sure that these banks

are acquired by African financial institutions because that is the only way to bring stability to our financial system.

“A situation where our banks are dominated by foreign owned institutions is not all that healthy. While we welcome foreign investors, Africans should own the majority of African banks if you want to avoid instability.”

Oramah also spoke on energy financing and the need to safeguard the environment and called on the wealthy champions of climate and environment issues to take it easy for Africa and allow it to utilise its resources for its own prosperity without let or hindrance.

He said, “The issue of climate is important. But Africa and Africans are more of victims than contributors to the problem. We do not generate the carbon that is causing all these things. Young people going to school in our villages are studying with kerosene lamps. Will you tell a child to switch off the kerosene lamp in order to be energy efficient?

“We think that the emphasis for us will be on adaptation. That is where the risks are for us. We must put pressure on those who contribute most of the carbon to reduce their carbon emission. If you look at the per capita emissions and compare it what you will call the targets that we have set, you will find that Africa still has headroom to emit more because we need to have the energy to run our industries. But others have to reduce theirs. But I know that it

is a long talk and the weak can only talk.”

The president of Afreximbank explained that the choice of the theme for the bank’s 30th anniversary was informed by the critical role Afreximbank had been playing over the past three decades in the promotion of economic integration in Africa through support for intra-African trade and investments.

He explained that the choice of Ghana as the host of the 30th anniversary was not a difficult one because Ghana, on account of the pioneering work of its first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was the birthplace of Pan Africanism and it had shown unwavering commitment to African ideals, which Afreximbank subscribe to fully.

Oramah said, “Afreximbank put itself forward as a bank for all Africans wherever they may be.

“The 30th anniversary celebration will be the first gathering of the global Africa because it will be the first annual meeting of the Afreximbank that will welcome our brothers and sisters from the Caribbean’s and diaspora as participating states of Afreximbank following the decision of the Caribbean community last year to join Afreximbank and use Afreximbank as a vehicle for integration of trade, investments and economic relations between Africa and the Caribbean.

“It will be a meeting of global Africans from all walks of life with

stakeholders traversing Caribbean, Europe, North America and Asia.

“In addition to our shareholders who will be here, we expect 4,000 guests here during the week.”

Rewane: Dangote Refinery Will Strengthen Nigeria’s Macro-economic Stability

Bismarck Rewane argued that the Dangote refinery could help strengthen Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability, when fully operational. Speaking on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm at the weekend, Rewane, however, suggested that the facility would not necessarily eradicate all the challenges in Nigeria’s oil sector or even in the Nigerian economy.

Rewane said the commencement of the Dangote refinery could further debottleneck the oil sector and increase human, labour, and capital stock productivity as well as restore investors' confidence, to some extent, in the ailing Nigerian economy.

He stated that Nigeria needed to use its oil revenues wisely, to create a better future, especially, as the world was moving toward renewable energy technologies. But Rewane noted that despite the reservations, the Dangote refinery remained a major milestone on the path towards achieving macro-economic stability. Rewane said, “The first thing

is to clear the myths that Dangote refinery is here and, therefore, it will solve Nigeria’s numerous problems. That’s not true. But the refinery is a milestone on the path to achieving macro-economic stability, but it is not the be-all.

“In other words, it is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition to cure all of it. Number two, it’s a $19 billion project and you know that South Africa’s refining capacity has been mostly shut in.”

Although, the refinery won’t solve Nigeria’s foreign currency issues, Rewane maintained that Nigeria could now solve logistics issues surrounding products’ supply as well as ensure availability. But its impact on foreign exchange will be minimal, he said.

The renowned economist said down the road, the refinery could also lead to GDP growth due to the debottlenecking of the sector.

He stated, “People spend half of their time trying to queue up for petrol and queue up for everything because of the bottlenecks in this sector. If one project can debottleneck a particular sector, we would have increased the probability of having higher productivity – both human, labour, and capital stock productivity significantly.

“Therefore, we could see, maybe down the road, a spike in GDP growth, maybe from two or three per cent averagely to around four or five per cent because of the debottlenecking of this sector, which is critical to Nigeria’s economic fortunes.”

expected to reciprocate through total compliance to relevant financial regulations and timely rendition of accounts.

Adesope, who commended the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj Gen Samuel Adebayo, for the effort to revive the training programme for finance officers after about a decade, urged the agency to include the training programme in its annual forecast of events as part of DIA manpower development.

He stated that it would take a long time for the oil and gas industry to become extinct, especially in an oil-producing country like Nigeria, which is reliant on revenues from the sector.

According to him, oil for now is the golden goose for Nigeria’s growth, and Nigeria needs to tap and utilise the natural resource now that it is still needed in most parts of the world.

Rewane said, “If we use it wisely, then, there is a future, but if it is used stupidly, then that will be a missed opportunity and Nigeria quite frankly cannot afford missed opportunities at this time.”

Noting that the refinery would send the right signal to foreign investors, when it commences operation, Rewane said the price of fuel will not markedly change by with development.

On the NNPC refineries currently undergoing rehabilitation, Rewane noted that if they were not viable in the end, they will die a natural death, while for smaller Nigerian modular refineries, the economies of scale may be a disadvantage.

Rewane stated that there would be huge productivity gains if the crude and products pipelines worked.

He called for an overhaul of the justice system to ensure that faith in the judiciary was restored.

Rewane said there had to be massive investment in the pipelines to reduce the wear and tear on the roads, explaining that it can cost another $15 billion to do so.

L-R: Founder of TEXEM, Dr. Alim Abubakre; President of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), Mrs. Justice Bacon; Ms. Hajara Oniyangi, Coordinating Secretary Tax Appeal Tribunal, President of the Firsttier Tribunal Tax Chamber, Upper Tribunal Judge Sinfield during the Texem executive coaching in the UK

Church Leaders in Plateau Condemn Resurgence of Attacks, Killings

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State Church

Denominational Leaders and Spiritual Fathers have lent their voices in condemnation of recent resurgence of attacks and killings in the state, describing it as mindless,

devilish and barbaric.

In a statement by the President of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Stephen Baba Panya, on behalf of the group, the church leaders said they were deeply saddened by the killings of innocent citizens, mainly

NAHCON Chairman Tasks Officials on Hitchfree Hajji Operations in Saudi Arabia

Hammed Shittu inIlorin

Chairman, National Hajji Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON)

Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has urged the officials of the commission to this year hajji operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to identify the best goals and methods that would enable the commission to achieve a hitch-free operations.

Towards this end, Hassan called on the officials to be more diligent and committed to their jobs in order to assist the pilgrims to enjoy value for their money and

obtain Hajj Mabrur.

This charge was contained in a statement issued by the commission, signed by the Deputy Director, Information and Publication of NAHCON, Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki and made available to THISDAY in Ilorin, yesterday.

The statement was issued on the sideline of the inauguration and departure of the advanced team of 31 officials of the commission for this year’s hajji exercise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Youths, Student Bodies Endorse APC Flag-bearer, Ododo, in Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The governorship ambition of the All progressive Congress APC standard bearer , Ododo

Ahmed Usman has continued to receive boost as the youth and student bodies in Kogi state, including the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nigeria Youth Parliament (NYP) Kogi state, National Association of Kogi State

Students (NAKOSS), National Association of Nigeria Students (NANs), and Association of Nigeria Female Students (ANFS), have jointly endorsed him ahead of November 11th governorship in the state.

The endorsement was contained in a statement signed by the Mohammed Onogwu copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lokojo yesterday.

Christians, in Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state.

The statement read: “The killings which started in Mangu villages, Plateau state,

Nigeria on Monday, 15th May 2023 by so-called unknown gunmen have claimed many lives and properties with many persons still missing.”

“The villages affected

include Fungzai, Hale, Kubwat, Bwoi and many other communities of Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area and some communities in Riyom Local

Government Area.

“According to reports, about 130 people were killed, about 1000 houses and about 22 churches burnt, and about 22 villages affected.

World Communication Day: Nigeria’s Constitution

Faulty, Needs Reform, Says Catholic Bishop

David in Akure

The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Revered Dr Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, yesterday charged media practitioners to always propagate the truth in the course of discharging their duties.

This is just as Bishop

Arogundade faulted the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, saying the country needed a constitution that will reflect the genuine will of the citizens.

The Catholic Bishop stated this during his homily to mark the 57th edition of the World Communication Day (WCD) held at the Sacred Heart

Catholic Cathedral in Akure with the theme: “Speaking with the Heart, the Truth in Love”.

Bishop Arogundade said this year’s WCD was an invitation to journalists to champion truthful reportage that promote society, love, tolerance and brings about development, stressing that by

so doing, they are propagating the Christ who is truth Himself. His words: “Media practitioners have a lot to do. What you have to do is to write about truth, not minding who is out there, not comfortable with the truth. We need a country first, we need a nation first.”

Demolition: Don’t Set Rivers, Bayelsa on Fire, APC Chieftain Cautions Wike

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Yekeni Nabena, has cautioned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to desist from actions capable of setting the two sister states of Bayelsa and Rivers on fire.

He also blamed the face-off between Governor Duoye Diri

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The United Abia Artistes and Patriots (UAAP) has described last week’s judgement of the Federal High Court in Kano as part of the grand plan of the political cabal in the state to truncate the mandate the Abia electorate freely gave to the Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti.

The Federal High Court in Kano

and Wike on the refusal of the Bayelsa governor to support Wike’s failed presidential ambition.

He said at the twilight of his eight years administration, Governor Wike could not afford to embark on actions whose consequences would generate bad blood between the good people and governments of both states

had on Thursday declared that votes Otti polled in the Abia State governorship election were wasted But, addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the Convener of the group, Chuks Akamadu, said although the court has made clarifications that it did not nullify the election of Otti as clearly stated in the court judgement papers, notable legal

Speaking against the backdrop of a demolition order by Wike on two buildings belonging to Bayelsa state due to Diri’s slowness at heeding the call to renovate the houses located in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Nabena warned that any wrong step could instigate bad blood within the Ijaw Nation.

luminaries have equally faulted the decision, stating that the matter itself was statute barred because it was a pre-election matter.

According to the group, this explains why the Kano judgement is a joke taken too far. Truth is that given the mood of Abians, the time is hardly auspicious for such jokes.

Akamadu said at the moment,

While noting that fighting a whole state and the Ijaw nation because of their individual political ego is not tenable, the APC stalwart said both states have a history of good neighbourliness and warm relationships and these should not be tainted by the existing political differences between Wike and his Bayelsa counterpart.

some workers are being owed 35 months’ salary arrears; pensioners are owed over 40 months; while gratuity was now a forgotten benefit for retiring workers; doctors are on strike; the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is on strike; Judiciary workers are on strike; while some academic institutions have lost accreditations.

‘Kano Court Judgement Plot to Truncate Alex Otti’s Mandate’

Fidelis

Missing N7bn Duty Tour Allowance in NCAA, Perpetrators Still Retained in Agency

Chinedu Eze

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) are yet to take action on the perpetrators of fraud that led to the missing Duty Tour Allowance put at N7 billion.

In March 2023 EFCC arrested four top officials of the NCAA over alleged N2 billion Duty Tour Allowance fraud, which was later discovered to be about N7 billion. The suspects were taken

to EFCC custody and they include: Bilkisu Adamu Sani, Director, Finance and Accounts; Hart Benson Fimienye, Deputy General Manager, Treasury; Obene Jenbarimiema Turniel, Deputy General Manger (Management Accounts) and Nathaniel Terna Kaainjo, General Manger (Accounts and Stores).

THISDAY learnt that in addition to those earlier arrested, EFCC later swooped on other officials of the Finance Directorate of the agency and

these officials were also arrested: Mr. Esuruoso Olayinka Ajibola, Mr. Davies Udeme Bassey, Okeke Paschal Ebuka, Lasisi Kazeem Olayinka and Henry Emem Ekpo in addition to others whose names were yet to be made public by EFCC.

Dependable source from the agency told THISDAY that more than N7 billions had so far been found in the account of the alleged suspects, which include most officials that work in NCAA’s Finance Directorate.

NDDC Board Chairman Should be Guided by Law, Ndoma-Egba Advises

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor NdomaEgba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has advised the current Chairman, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, to be guided by the provisions of the Establishment Act of the Commission.

Ndoma-Egba, who spoke in an interview, stated that the law

establishing the NDDC provides for the powers of the board and that of management. He noted that although the overall powers of managing the commission resides with the board to provide the policy direction, the management has the responsibility for the implementation of the policies.

He observed: “Ordinarily, there shouldn’t be a problem because the powers are clearly defined. But you see, where the problem

comes is on the issue of control of funds. That is where the issue comes in because the various laws; Fiscal Responsibility Act, and even the NDDC Act, makes the Chief Executive Officer the accounting officer, and in some cases, liability for infractions of those laws are personal to the Chief Executive.”

Ndoma-Egba noted that the Chief Executive Officer could not spend outside the budget, which must be approved by the board.

Protesting Group Shuts Down Seplat’s Flow Stations in Delta

SylvesterIdowu

inWarri

Hundreds of men and women under the auspices of Okpe Oil and Gas Forum, weekend, shut down Seplat Energy Flow stations across Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State in protest against alleged marginalisation by the oil company.

The protesters, as host to the indigenous oil company, alleged that the firm was indifferent to their welfare as well as engaging

their indigenes low positions unlike others.

They therefore, demanded better working conditions and that the company should treat them equals like their counterparts in other places Some of the protesters placard read thus: “Treat us well in our land”; ‘’We are not slaves”; “We are suffering in our land inspite of the blessings; “ “We are tired of being treated badly,” while the women danced round Oton and

Amukpe flow stations.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Financial Secretary of Sapele Okpe community and member of the forum, Comrade Eloho Ogodo said they were tired of being slaves in their land.

“We are working like elephants and taking home peanuts. We are not here on our own, we are under the instruction of the President of the forum, Chief Dickson Omoraka.”

Be Diligent in Discharging Your Service, Bauchi FRSC Commander Urges Special Marshall

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Members of the Special Marshall arm of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) have been urged to be diligent in the discharge of their voluntary service of saving lives.

The call was made by the Sector Commander of the FRSC,

Bauchi State Command, Yusuf Abdullahi, at that weekend while addressing Special Marshall at the Command base as part of the UN Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW) celebration.

He stressed that the function of the Special Marshall in reducing crashes on the

federal highways cannot be over-emphasised considering its complementary role.

According to him, “Without the people, there will be no society not to talk about country. Your act of voluntarism is well commended as it has complemented the official function of the Corps.”

LASG Distributes Welfare Packages to Pensioners in 20 LGAs

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) recently distributed welfare packages to pensioners across 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs) in five divisions of the state. The areas include Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe (IBILE) in the first phase of the

Annual Pensioners’ Welfare Package. The Director-General of the LASPEC, Babalola Obilana, said the move was in line with the state statutory responsibilities to supervise pension matters and ensure the welfare of its pensioners among others.

According to him, “This is in furtherance to the present administration’s Themes Agenda pillar of ‘Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy’.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu aims to give back and improve the standard of living of the Lagos State public service pensioners who have served meritoriously and selflessly for 35 years or attained 60 years of age.”

The DG also restated the state commitment to the welfare of its workforce and appreciates the invaluable contributions of its retirees who have sustained the state as a ‘Centre of Excellence’.

Alleged N3.2bn Fraud: Court Fixes July 11 for Arraignment of Elixir, Directors

Wale Igbintade

After several adjournments, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, in Lagos has fixed July 11, 2023 for the arraignment of Elixir Asset Management Limited, Elixir Investment Partners Limited alongside two of their directors over alleged N3.2billion fraud.

The Federal Government had in suit marked FHC/L/68C/23

alleged that the Defendants offered for subscription an unregistered product ‘Elixir Treasury Product’ valued at over N3billion to the investing public, including Toyota Nigeria Ltd, Kaduna Industrial and Finance Company and others.

In a four count charge brought against the companies and their Directors, the Defendants are alleged to have committed a felony to wit: with the common intent conspired

among themselves together with Samuel Aikhonbare, Christopher Edordu and their other staff to do an illegal act by luring the investing public including Toyota Nigeria Limited and others by offering them an unregistered product called ‘Elixir Treasury Product’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Union Berlin Salute Awoniyi's Heroics for Nottingham Forest

Kunle Adewale

Bundesliga side, Union Berlin have hailed Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, for his exploits at Nottingham Forest.

Awoniyi joined Nottingham Forest from Union Berlin last summer in a deal worth €20.5million. Before he left the Bundesliga side, he made his mark, registering 25 goals and four assists in 65 appearances for Union Berlin, also helping them make the Europa League.

This season has been topsy-turvy

for Awoniyi as he has had to adjust to the English game. Also, he sustained a long-term injury at a point where he looked like he was finding his feet.

Despite the challenges, Awoniyi has proven his mettle. He returned to action in March, but he had to wait till May before he got on the scoresheet again. But since then, he has been unstoppable. Awoniyi scored twice for Nottingham Forest to help them defeat Southampton two weeks ago. He then followed up with another brace

against Chelsea, to help them gain a point. He has been involved in Forest’s goals in the last three matches.

The Tricky Trees played title hopefuls Arsenal on Saturday, and he scored again. In the end, his goal was the decider, as it ended 1-0.

His effort ensured that Nottingham Forest separated themselves from the relegation fight. It also had big consequences at the top of the table, as Arsenal lost the league title to Manchester City that day.

Awoniyi shared a picture of him celebrating his feat with compatriot

Emmanuel Dennis on social media, and Union Berlin sent him a congratulatory message.

“Big player for big moments: Congrats from Berlin, Taiwo,” Union Berlin replied.

Awoniyi has nine goals in the league this season, and he would be looking to add to his tally when they travel to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace.

Awoniyi has been in brilliant form for Nottingham Forest recently, and his goals have been key in preserving their Premier League status.

Man City Beat Chelsea to Celebrate Third Straight EPL Title

Manchester City celebrated a third successive Premier League title triumph with victory over Chelsea in a relaxed party atmosphere at Etihad Stadium.

City were confirmed as champions without even playing after Nottingham Forest's win against Arsenal on Saturday, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to make nine changes from the side that thrashed Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final.

Erling Haaland was rested but Julian Alvarez provided the cutting edge in his absence with a clinical finish to put City ahead after 12 minutes, as their jubilant fans basked in warm sunshine waiting for the trophy presentations and celebrations.

Chelsea had some of the better chances as the game went on, with City's deputy keeper Stefan Ortega saving from Raheem Sterling when clean through and Conor Gallagher heading against the post.

Kalvin Phillips headed against the woodwork for City as they closed out another win in the relentless run that has brought them the title and the chance of a Treble, with the FA Cup final at Wembley and Champions League final in Instabul to come.

Dozy Mmobuosi/NPFL Super Cup Teams Adjusted to Eight

Following extensive consultations aimed at ensuring a robust competitive pre-season tournament, The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation has announced adjustments to the number of participating teams in the 2023 edition of Dozy Mmobuosi/NPFL Pre-season Super Cup.

of teams from 12 to 8 would also encourage competition in the regular season as only the very best will make the cut.

"With a total of 20 teams in the NPFL, having 12 teams in the Super Cup would exceed the halfway mark and potentially impact the overall competitiveness.

By allowing only the top 8 teams based on their performance in the preceding NPFL season to participate, we can guarantee that each qualifying team showcases the highest level of skill and performance, thereby elevating the standard of the Super Cup and NPFL", the statement continued.

"While we understand that some may have concerns about the impact on team qualification and public perception, we want to emphasise that this adjustment will create an environment for more intense matches and deliver an even more thrilling experience for fans and spectators".

Olu Osagie

A top contender for Lagos State Football Association Chairmanship, Fouad Oki, has indicated his intention to take leadership of football administration in Lagos was inspired by his desire to serve, rekindle the football culture synonymous with the state.

He emphasised his commitment to effective football administration as the cornerstone, as well as his belief that youth engagement, talent discovery, and the development of a new generation of players are essential elements to taking football to new heights through sustainable and attainable policies.

Oki, who is an embodiment of virtues, a scion of Lagos' royal AbibuOki dynasty, a tactician, stated that he is committed to resurrecting dormant tournaments and brands such as the Oba Cup, Ibile Cup, Junior League, and Street Soccer.

“My passion for football extends to all levels, and I believe that if we want to drive football administration profile in Lagos, we must revive some

of the major tournaments that have produced stars for the State.

"My objective is to rekindle the passion for a greater Lagos through soccer. FA under my leadership will take football to the various wards, LGs / LCDAs and schools across the State,” he said.

Oki indeed underscore the critical roles coaches play, and he is therefore commitment to capacity building and positioning them for the job ahead as an important stakeholder in influencing youth involvement and engagement in football in our diverse communities.

One of Oki's main goals is to develop a progressive and enabling environment that supports club owners’ investments as a partner in progress.

He also plan to engage the corporate sector in strengthening the fortunes of the football through clear strategies and value propositions.

Oki also affirmed his commitment to assisting coaches and officials in developing new skill sets and capacity for the benefit of the football ecosystem through new courses and training.

The Foundation said the decision to trim the numbers was a difficult but very necessary step towards sustaining the tempo of the competition already established during the first edition.

Fouad Oki Plans Big for Lagos State Football Oshiomhole Happy to be Part of Historic Okpekpe Race Success Story

"While we acknowledge and appreciate the passion that may have been fired up in anticipation of the earlier number made public, the decision to adjust the number of participating teams was not taken lightly.

"We recognise the potential disappointment this might cause. However, our commitment to the highest level of competitive football remains unwavering. We firmly believe that this change will allow for a more concentrated display of skill, intensify competition among the top teams and ultimately enhance the fan experience. Our priority continues to be delivering a thrilling and memorable Super Cup and playing a role in further developing the football infrastructure", explained Ebuwa Martins Agbonwaneten, the Chief Executive Officer of The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation.

The tournament sponsor further noted that reducing the number

Former Edo State Governor and now Senator-elect, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that he is happy to be part of the historic Okpekpe international 10km Road Race and its success story.

Oshiomhole also hailed the organizer of the race, Mike Itemuagbor for his determination to see the competition grow from a bronze label event to the gold that it is today.

“Thank you Mike (Itemuagbor) for being consistent in your determination to see Okpekpe race become an internatioal reality, something that anyone who knows the history of how it started will really commend you,” said Oshiomhole whose administration midwived the race into reality.

Oshiomhole stressed Itemuagbor deserves all the accolades for positively projecting the image of the Okpekpe community, Edo State and Nigeria to the world.

“In this country it is easy to start

programmes but what is often the challenge is sustaining it and upgrading it. I am so proud that in such a short time you have elevated the status of the Okpekpe race to an international status.

“It is now the first gold label 10km road race in Nigeria just like in 2015 when it was the first road race in Nigeria to be granted a World Athletics label status.'

Continuing, the former Edo state Governor says he is proud to be associated with the race, the first to have its race course measured by a World Athletics accredited course measurer.

''The race has helped me to tell people of my age that age is not a barrier to exercise. I am still able to run 10km anyhow, what matters is not the time I spent doing it but the fact that I covered the distance.'

“One of the imports of the race is exposing international elite athletes to come to rural Nigeria where the

real Nigerians, the people I refer to as the forgotten majority, those guys that smile whether they eat or not and are happy to see people from other parts of the world, different colours come to their community, you can not imagine the joy in my heart when I see the smiles on their faces.”

Oshiomhole commended the organizer for sustaining the race, improving on it and getting it going and said he is looking forward to being part of this ninth edition.

“One day, we might get bigger people from the political leadership of this country to come and see live how you have used a rural community to elevate the status of the country. I am very proud to be part of this history.”

The ninth edition of the Okpekpe international 10km road race will hold this Saturday (May 27, 2023) in Okpekpe in Estako East Local Government area of Edo State.

Ilkay Gundogan (centre) lifts the Premier League trophy in the air as the champions celebrate in front of their fans at Etihad...yesterday evening

Taiwo Awoniyi...gets plaudits from Bundesliga club Union Berlin

MISSILE

EFCC to Gov Matawalle

“"Matawalle'srecoursetomudslingingissymptomatic ofadrowningmanclutchingat straws.Butdespitetheirritationofhisphantomclaims,thecommissionwillnotbedrawn intoamudfightwithasuspectunderitsinvestigationforcorruptionandunconscionable pillageoftheresourcesofhisstate.Again,thecommissionwishestoalertthepublic aboutplansbysomeoftheallegedcorruptpoliticallyexposedpersonstofleethe countryaheadofMay29”–EFCCSpokesperson,WilsonUwujaren,firingback atthe governor,foraccusingtheEFCCChairmanoftaking $2m bribe.

Governor-elect Without a Program MAHMUDJEGA

VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

The Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana said that those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it. Santayana probably had me in mind because those who cannot remember a column article I once wrote, are condemned to read it again. I retelling this story from eight years ago because most of the powerful men and women it addressed at the time did not remember it for eight years when they occupied their offices, and we could today be standing on the cusp of a repeat performance.

Here is the story. In May 2007, three weeks to the handover date to a new set of rulers, a Governor-elect invited me to visit him and he lodged me in a guest house. He came to see me at night, visibly tired from the hassle of the huge crowd of politicians in his house. We had a wide-ranging discussion on political issues. He was a very experienced politician and had previously held high political office. He asked me to advise him on his media relations. I said well, he should take into account the national media’s traditions when drawing up his program of rule. He asked what that tradition is, and I said traditionally, the media marks a ruler’s 100 days in office, then his six months in office, then his one year in office, followed by his two years in office, and then the end of his four years in office. Therefore, I said, it is important to break down his program of rule into time periods so that at each stage he will have something to show the media. Otherwise, I said, if you only have programs that would take years to mature, the newspapers will go to town with stories, features and columns saying you achieved nothing in 100 days or even in one year. This could damage your public image to a point where it is difficult to recover.

Then came the shocker. The Governor-elect asked me to draw up his governance program. At first, I thought I did not hear him well. I thought, “How can anyone get elected as a governor without a program? He must have one. What he probably wants me to do is to help break it down into time periods in order to conform with media traditions.” We talked about other issues and when he was about to leave, I said, “Sir, where is the program so that I can work on it?” He said, “There is no program! That is why I asked you to produce one for me.” At that point I wanted to say, “What do you mean there is no program? You wasted people’s time and asked them to vote for you when you know you don’t have a program?”

Of course I didn’t say that. I told him as politely as possible that I was not in a position to write a program for him since I have never lived in that state and I did not know what its problems, resources or aspirations were. He needed a committee to do that, after which I could polish and break it down into time periods.

That was 16 years ago. The problem of media relations has become more complicated since then with the onset of social media, which is restless, deeply sensational, addicted to breaking the news before establishing the facts, a million times faster than print media, with much deeper hand-held reach into society and with the combined power of text, graphics, audio and visual. While the media scene has evolved almost beyond recognition, the political scene in Nigeria has remained stuck in time.

On this day next week, eighteen men across the country are due to be sworn in as state governor, easily the most powerful office in our Constitution after the Presidency. Another ten men who have been governors for the last four years will on the same day be sworn in for a fresh four-year term. I hope all 28 of them have by now written, edited, polished and printed their governance programs, ready to hit the ground running. In case no one reminded them, they should also break it down into time lines in recognition of media traditions. Start with the low-hanging fruits, so that the media will celebrate you as an “Action Governor” early in the day and it will give you a good public perception latitude while you deal

with the longer-term programs.

The 18 men who are coming in may be new to the governor’s office, but almost all of them are not new to governance, having held high offices previously. At least two have been deputy governors; some have been senators; some others have been commissioners; some have headed important federal agencies; one was a top banker; and at least one is a senior cleric. As for the ten men who are to start their second terms next week, no doubt their people had a favourable impression of their performance during their first term, which was why they re-elected them. Or maybe voters had an unfavourable impression of the men who contested against them. Sometimes you get elected into office not so much because voters like you but because they do not like your opponent.

Any governor-elect who has not yet produced, printed and adopted his governance program and broken it down into time segments in order to escape future media blackmail, should better get cracking while there is still a little time left. Distraction in this circumstance is understandable because every governor-elect’s house is now a mecca of political activity with a surfeit of visitors.

Given all this commotion, a governorelect may easily forget to draft a program of governance. It is never far from a first term governor’s mind that he must seek re-election in four years’ time. Some governors begin thinking about re-election the day they are sworn into office. If, however a governor arrives at the office without a coherent and well-thought-out program, then he might have imperilled his re-election chances from the start.

The essential elements of a good governance program will be similar in all the states, with variations based on individual states’ peculiarities. Education, for example, is a priority in every state. Education however takes at least a generation to bear political fruits, so a first term governor needs to have other priority areas that bring quicker political results. Roads, bridges, hospitals, water and electricity projects and empowerment programs readily come to mind. Or if a governor inherits a backlog of salaries and pensions, then that is also a low hanging fruit. Prioritisation is critical because every social and economic sector will come to a governor begging for intervention, while politicians, NGOs, CSOs, traditional rulers, clerics, communities and politicians will come up with schemes every day that demand immediate attention. Plus things you don’t have control over, such as natural disasters,

criminal activities or international developments. But by all means, have your priorities and try to stick to them.

I am offering this free advice because, back in 2007, I was taken aback when a man who had stepped down a few months earlier as a two-term state governor told me that when he was in power, I had been one of his reliable sources of political advice. How come then that I was not aware of it when he was in power? One of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s wise sayings was that “you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.” This man never told me when he was in power that I was his special adviser. I never received an appointment letter from him. As far as I could determine from my fledgling bank account, I never received any salary from him. His office never asked me to attend a meeting. Even now, I cannot determine which, if any, of my advice he ever heeded. Judging by how it all ended, I doubt if he heeded many of them.

This man apparently shaved my head in my absence because he gleaned political advice from me by skimming it off the pages of newspapers. In other words, he appointed me as his Special Adviser in pectore, a very good idea that he apparently borrowed from the Roman Catholic Church. Some months before his death in 2005, Pope John Paul II followed a 1,000-year-old church tradition and appointed one cardinal in pectore, that is, in the chest. Even though John Paul II had publicly appointed more than 200 cardinals during his 26-year papacy, this one was never publicly revealed. Nor were the reasons for the secrecy ever disclosed. Most probably, the beneficiary bishop was never told that he had been elevated to a cardinal. He never got to exercise the privileges of his high office and when Pope John Paul II died, the appointment lapsed.

I have this nagging suspicion that some of the outgoing governors may have shaved my head in my absence by appointing me as their Special Adviser while they kept the information in their chests. The most painful part is that I had not appeared on their payrolls, in these hard times. Some of the incoming governors are brash new-generation young men, so it is very important to acquaint them with the rules of government service. You see, Your Excellency, you were too young to know the General Order [G.O, it was called in the old times], which is today called Public Service Rules. Section 130 of the General Order stated that “There shall be no unpaid labour.” Any appointment in pectore violates this golden rule.

Gov Buni