WEDNESDAY 24TH MAY 2023

Fudge Biden’sLeads Delegation Presidentialto Inauguration

Mineral Resources, Mrs Sholabomi Shasore; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Lagos State,Engr. Olalere Odusote; Managing Director, LAMATA,Engr. Abimbola Akinajo; Commissioner for Transport, Lagos State,Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, and President/CEO, Oando Clean Energy Limited, Dr. Ainojie Alex Irune, at the official launch of Oando Clean Energy & LAMATA's electric mass transit buses in Lagos State…yesterday...see story on page 6

Defends his administration’s high debt profile Insists borrowed funds are tied to visible projects Inaugurates second Niger Bridge, two others, road project Names federal secretariat, Yenagoa, after ex-President

Goodluck Jonathan South-east governors shower encomiums on president for unveiling bridge

Blair visits Tinubu, pledges support for his administration

Lawan, Adamu Still Dissatisfied With APC Zoning Arrangement

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

There are strong indications that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, were not comfortable with the current

zoning arrangements announced by the party for the 10th National Assembly presiding officers' positions.

Multiple sources told THISDAY in Abuja on Tuesday that the duo have so far rejected all entreaties from the strategists of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the anointed candidates for

the various presiding officers' positions to accept the zoning arrangements. While Lawan was said to have promised that he would never support Godswill Akpabio, the endorsed candidate of the APC for Senate President, Adamu was not happy that the North Central was left out

in the sharing of presiding offices in the 10th AdamuAssembly. had on some occasions complained that his North Central zone was left with nothing from the National Assembly despite the fact that he remained the national chairman of APC.

The APC National Chairman's dislike for the party's zoning arrangement came to fore again yesterday when

some lawmakers led by Tajudeen Abbas paid the party's NWC a visit.

Adamu noted during the visit said Abbas was only one among many other aspirants contesting for speaker and noted that election for the speakership would take place.

As for Lawan, he is reported to be more comfortable with Orji Kalu, who is his closest ally, to occupy the position of the Senate President with

Abdulaziz Yari as the Deputy Senate President. Kalu was his main backer during the presidential primaries of the APC in June last year.

It was learnt that it was the APC National Chairman's disposition to the issue that has emboldened members of the G7 speakership aspirants for the 10th House of Representatives and the likes of Abdulaziz Yari in the Senate.

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom

Wike: I Support Akpabio Because He Too Supported Me to Become Gov Gagdi: APC’s Zoning’ll Crumble With Widespread Rejection

Wike, yesterday, said he was supporting the Senate President ambition of Senator Godswill Akpabio because he too supported him to become governor.

Wike stated this while receiving members of the Stability Group, made up of senators-elect, led by its Director General, Senator Ali Ndume

The group is rooting for the emergence of Akpabio as senate president of the 10th National Assembly.

Wike said, "This is the time for me to support him (Akpabio) because he supported me when I wanted to be the governor of River State.

"If truly we want this country to move forward from where we are

today, I see nothing wrong in the ruling party picking who it thinks can work with the president-elect as the Senate President of the 10th Assembly.

"On this Akpabio and (Jibrin) Barau project, we are together to make sure they win. Akpabio supported me during my governorship ambition. He stood by me all through and ensured that I won.

"I don't pay back good with evil. This is pay back time for him. I will stand by him until he emerges the next Senate President. Our team would soon meet to take a position on your aspiration.

Don't be worried or disturbed with the contending forces against your aspiration, it is normal in politics.”

Akpabio commended Wike for

his support towards his emergence as the next Senate President, saying, "Let me congratulate you for ending your tenure as the governor of River State on the high.

"You have done well for your people and Nigerians. History would be kind to you as you exit office in the next few days. You believe in justice, equity and fairness and that is what Nigerians know you for.” Ndume, had earlier described Wike as a man of his words and very reliable.

"Governor Wike was the first to buy into the Akpabio/ Barau project. Wike is a reliable individual that is always committed to his promises. We need your support at this crucial time because you are very influential in the PDP, " he declared.

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

A frontline aspirant for the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, yesterday said the APC zoning arrangement would crumble with the widespread rejection it has so far suffered.

According to a statement by Gagdi, "The zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly presiding officers announced by the All Progressives Congress (APC) is heading for a collapse, following widespread opposition to the plan by major stakeholders.

"The group, among others,

have rejected the micro-zoning of the leadership positions in the House, as well as the exclusion of the North-central region which has serially shown loyalty and dedication to the APC by votes delivered to the party in state and presidential elections.

"Based on new developments which followed the meeting of G-7 members and the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the weekend, it is now clear that the attempt by some elements within the APC to foist Hon. Abbas on the House is not progressing as planned.

"The entire arrangement is being reconsidered and a new zoning ar-

rangement that will be favourable to all parties, especially the North central, is expected to be announced soon. This is as Senator Abdul’aziz Yari from Zamfara, the same North west zone as Hon. Abbas, has refused to back down from the contest for Senate President.

"With Senator Yari forging ahead, the possibility of the Senate and the House producing leaders, who are Muslims is high and the president elect has made it clear that he will not support the top four political positions in the country to be occupied by people of the same faith, hence his intervention in the zoning debacle to ensure that there is a balance."

CSOs Hail Tinubu, APC for Reconsidering Zoning in Favour of North Central

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA), has described as a welcome development, media reports that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, were currently reviewing

the 10th National Assembly zoning arrangements earlier released by the APC.

Convener of CNCRA, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, said the latest decision by the party and Tinubu showed that the president-elect was a true democrat, who believed in equity, fairness and justice.

The CNCRA said the fact that

Tinubu and the elders of the APC were considering to review the zoning arrangements in such a way to accommodate the North Central would calm frayed nerves and instill confidence in the leaders of the zone, who had over the years, exhibited loyalty and commitment to the APC and the president-elect.

The pro-democracy group explained that the North Central

deserved a Presiding Officer in the interest of fairness, equity and Justice, adding that the North Central zone had been seriously marginalised in Nigeria since 1999.

Part of the statement read: "The North-Central has been the most marginalised in the country since 1999. The Zone has not produced the president or vice president of the country, and it was only proper that

the zone should be allowed to produce the next Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

"All the senators-elect from the zone, irrespective of their political parties, ethnic and religious background have spoken with one voice and the entire six governors, have also re-echoed the demands of the Senators.

"It will only be proper and just

for the North Central to produce the Deputy Senate President since the North West would produce the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

"The North Central being the largest zone in the country in terms of landmass, has suffered the worst form of insecurity, partly because it lacked adequate representation in the nation's highest political hierarchy.”

Lawan

Adamu

TONY BLAIR VISITS TINUBU...

Like Senate, House Passes Independent Candidacy Bill, Transmits to Buhari for Assent

Urges Jigawa, four other Houses of Assembly to forward resolutions on bills Urges tertiary institutions to integrate Nigerian students returned from

Sudan

Opposes motion seeking to stop UK from banning Nigerian emigrants from emigrating with their families

Udora

Orizu in Abuja

In concurrence with the Senate, the House of Representatives, at plenary yesterday, passed a bill seeking to provide for independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, national and state assembly, as well as local government elections.

The lawmakers subsequently asked the Clerk of the National Assembly to transmit the bill to

President Muhammadu Buhari for assent in line with the provisions of the Authentication Act.

The proposed legislation on independent candidacy was the constitution alteration bill No. 58.

The green chamber urged the Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, and Taraba states Houses of Assembly that were yet to forward their resolutions on the bills, to do so in fulfilment of their constitutional legislative

obligations to the constitution amendment process.

The House also urged the federal government to direct all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to accept students affected by the Sudan crisis to continue with their educational programmes.

However, the lawmakers rejected a motion sponsored by Hon. Taiwo Oluga, seeking to urge the United Kingdom to desist from banning

Nigerian student emigrants from relocating with their families.

The resolution on independent candidacy followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Babajimi Benson, and 76 other lawmakers.

In the motion, the sponsors said, "Recall that on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the Clerk to the National Assembly was directed to transmit

Oando, LAMATA Kick Off Electric Vehicles’ Operation in Lagos

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), the renewable energy subsidiary of the company, in partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) yesterday formally commenced the operations of its electric mass transit buses in Lagos.

In a ceremony at the Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) Head Office, Ilupeju, Lagos, the parties stated that the initiative was aimed at transitioning the Lagos State public transport system through the development of a pathway to a carbon-free mobility ecosystem within the state.

They added that the EV buses will provide a viable, competitive, and environmentally friendly alternative to the current internal combustion engine mass transit buses in circulation.

In her welcome remarks, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo highlighted the importance of public-privatepartnerships, stressing that the government was keen on working closely with private businesses to develop the state.

“This initiative is a major aspect of our vision for transportation in Lagos State. We are desirous of having a clean and efficient transportation system. Today’s event is proof of our desire to involve the private sector in our activities to give the average Lagosian the ability to meet their mobility needs.

“LAMATA is a multi-fuel transport regulatory agency for Lagos hence the partnership with OCEL for the use of EV buses in passenger operations. From LAMATA’s perspective we are open to do business with

the private sector whilst ensuring that these partners are aligned with the vision of Lagos state.

“ I am elated that in just over a year that Oando Clean Energy came to us to discuss the possibility of working with us in the deployment of electric buses, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a key deliverable being the implementation of a ‘PoC’ that would allow us finally include electric buses in our ecosystem,” Akinajo stated.

Lagos is said to be the most populous city in sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of over 20 million people and growing. In the last decade, the population of vehicles on Lagos roads are believed to have quadrupled; with over 3,000 mass transit buses operating in the state.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Olalere Odusote, in his remarks said that Lagos had identified transportation as a major cause of pollutants and health problems in the state.

“For us, this initiative is another step we’re taking as a government to ensure we clean up the environment in addition to ongoing initiatives in the energy sector,” he noted.

Also speaking, the President/ CEO of OCEL, Dr. Ainojie Irune, said that it was an opportunity for Oando to revolutionise mobility in the country as well as build local capacity for the renewable and clean energy ecosystem.

“Whilst today these buses have come from across the world, in the very near future they will be produced here in Nigeria. In the very near future, we will have a multitude of locally trained engineers who are capable of operating, maintaining,

and servicing these buses and other renewable energy assets.

“We see these buses as a first step. This PoC facilitates the collection of the first sets of data points to support the development and deployment of EV for municipal and public transport on the continent.

“Our ambition together with Lagos state, is to set our sights on the future and chart a path for others to follow. We have worked tirelessly to get here.

“We believe that these electric vehicles have the potential to transform the transportation sector in Nigeria and provide a sustainable solution for the country’s growing population,” he said.

The Commissioner for Transport, Lagos State, Dr. Frederic Oladeiende,

who represented the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, said that there was abundant evidence that showed that human activities had been the main drivers of climate change due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

“Lagos is the only state in Nigeria that has prepared and initiated the execution of a climate action plan. The plan outlines 26 efforts covering adaptation and mitigation actions to build a sustainable low carbon economy in the pursuit of achieving net zero emissions by 2050,” Oladeiende said.

The roll-out of the electric buses started with a three-month proof-ofconcept phase, aimed at establishing the viability of electric vehicles for mass transportation in Lagos State.

the Constitution, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 47 that has met the requirement of Section 9(2) of the Constitution to the President for assent.

"Also recall that the Houses of Assembly of Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau and Taraba states that were yet to forward their resolutions were urged to do so in compliance with constitutional obligation.

"Aware that the Gombe State House of Assembly has accordingly forwarded its resolution. Convinced that with the approval of Gombe State House of Assembly, the Constitution, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill Nos. 46 (Membership of the National Security Council to include Presiding Officers of the National Assembly), 2023 and 58 (Independent Candidacy), 2023 have met the provisions of Section 9(2) of the Constitution, for passage."

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives urged the federal government to direct all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to accept students affected by the Sudan crisis to continue with their various educational programmes.

The resolution of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Sada Soli, at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Soli recalled that on April 15, crisis broke out in

Sudan, resulting in the repatriation of students studying in various fields of learning in Sudan.

He expressed concerns that there was no end in sight to the crisis, which he said left the students in a state of confusion on the way forward with their various educational programmes.

He said there was need for swift intervention by the federal government through absorbing the students into tertiary institutions in the country in order to enable them continue with their various educational programmes.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to ensure compliance and report back within one week for further legislative action.

However, the lawmakers rejected a motion sponsored by Oluga, seeking to urge the United Kingdom to desist from banning Nigerian student emigrants from relocating with their families.

Oluga had while moving the motion noted that the Federal Republic of Nigeria had had a long history with the United Kingdom, which had been mutually beneficial to both countries, starting from the colonisation of Nigeria in the 19th century, granting of independence to Nigeria in 1960, and post-independence bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Gbajabiamila, Obaseki Congratulate Dangote on New Refinery

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, have congratulated Africa’s foremost businessman, Aliko Dangote, on the inauguration of his 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery.

According to Obaseki, the inauguration of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant, the world's largest single train refinery, opens a new vista of opportunity for the country's economy. He noted that the country could save over $3 billion annually from the importation of petroleum products.

Speaking to journalists at the inauguration of the refinery,

Obaseki described the plant as a game changer for Nigeria. He hailed the genius, dexterity and inimitable entrepreneurial spirit of Dangote.

Obaseki said, “Beyond the commissioning, the fact that we have finally got to the position where we can begin to refine products, particularly petrol and diesel locally, is a breakthrough.

"What this means is that we will be saving up to $3 billion in a year for not importing. That’s more than the amount we spend today on all our infrastructure, education, and health.

"That sort of money is coming back to the government for growth.

“But beyond it, there is the certainty of supply, and capacity to not only produce for your

market, but to be able to export to the rest of the continent. And not just importing the kind of products you used to import, you are now processing and refining better quality products of international standard.”

According to him, “Before now, the bulk of what we used to buy was low grade, so it affected our vehicles. The maintenance status of our vehicles was lower than anywhere else. Today, we are producing something that’s of international grade and you can now sell an end product.

“So, for me, this is the game changer for Nigeria because you don’t only save what you used to spend but are now given the capacity to earn more. So, you are saving and also earning more.”

The governor added, “Look at the other materials that will come out of the refinery, particularly, the petrochemical plants. I mean, everything up here is all plastic, all petrochemicals. That means we now have a base material to produce most of these things that we need for packaging, for equipment like everywhere else and that's a big export for us.”

For his part, Gbajabiamila also described the multi-billion dollar facility that was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, as a game changer.

Gbajabiamila said the coming to fruition of the refinery had the potential of repositioning Nigeria as the true economic giant of Africa and a key player in the global energy sector.

L-R: House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; President-elect, Bola Tinubu; former British Prime Minister and founder Tony Blair Institute, Mr. Tony Blair, and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima after a meeting between the president-elect and the former UK PM at the Defence House… yesterday

PUBLIC LECTURE, PRESENTATION OF BOOK AND STAGE PLAY TO MARK INAUGURATION CEREMONIES...

Buhari: Border Closure Aimed at Stimulating Local Consumption

Says he’d confidence in customs boss amid public outcry against his appointment Declares only

God can effectively guard nation’s borders

Discloses he appointed women as finance minister to ward off contract seekers

James Emejo in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday insisted that his 2019 closure of the country’s land borders was due to his administration’s conscious efforts to encourage Nigerians to eat what they produce locally, particularly the rice commodity.

Speaking while inaugurating the new Administrative Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in Maitama, Abuja, he claimed the border closure was consequently appreciated by Nigerians – apparently due to the revolution in local rice production which was occasioned by the positive impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) which provides unprecedented financing to smallholder farmers.

The president also said given the large expanse of Nigeria’s land borders, “only God can effectively guard the borders”, in allusion to the challenges posed by smugglers across the seemingly porous boundaries –and given the current manpower shortage to police the space.

Buhari said he closed the borders deliberately to check rice smuggling from neighbouring countries – a situation which grossly undermined Nigeria’s food security agenda and put the economy at risk.

He said, “Please note that from Lake Chad to Benin Republic is more than 1,600 kilometres, only God can effectively guard the borders.

“So, you need a person who has the energy and the competence to supervise. I deliberately closed the borders because knowing Nigerians, they order rice, give some to Niger and the rest, and then they bring the rice here.

“With our potential, we have people, we have land and weather – how many nations are as lucky as Nigeria in the world, very few nations.

“So, closing that border, 1,600 kilometres, Nigerians insist they eat boiled rice – you eat what you grow or you die. I tried to make my point and later Nigerians appreciated it.”

However, Buhari before cutting the ribbon to officially inaugurate the N19.6 billion customs building, praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), for his stewardship at the service.

Buhari said despite the opposition that trailed Ali’s appointment at that time, he had confidence in the latter and insisted he took charge of the service, noting that Ali’s performance had vindicated his choice.

The president chronicled how Abacha gave tough tasks to Ali

when the latter served as military administrator of Kaduna State in the regime of the late dictator.

He said Abacha entrusted Ali to execute major tasks, adding that this was why he also chose the retired army colonel for the important task of restructuring and reforming customs operations and raising revenue for the country through import duties.

Buhari said, “As for Hameed Ali, I asked him to be in charge of customs. No matter what people say about the late Sani Abacha, may his soul rest in peace.”

“I knew him very well when somehow, he became president of this country, Head of State, the biggest problematic area was around Kaduna.

“He picked Colonel Hameed Ali and dumped the problems on him. My decision for Hameed Ali

to come to customs was a deliberate one. I brought Colonel Hameed Ali to ensure that I have peace of mind.”

Buhari also disclosed that he deliberately appointed women as ministers of finance during his eightyear tenure to ward off disturbances from people looking for the award of contracts and payment of contract sums. He stated that he knew well that most men would not suppress their pride to go to a woman as minister of finance to look for contracts or get paid for jobs done because of ego and arrogance.

Buhari said, "I Deliberately appointed ladies so that it will give me a lot of peace. I made sure I gave the Ministry of finance to a lady to exploit the cultural behaviour of all Nigerians: once ladies are in charge,

people feel too big to go to ladies.

“So, I am sure peace will be allowed in the ministry of finance where people will go and lobby for their contracts to be paid and so on.

“So, they feel too big to go to ladies. So, I put a lady in charge. That gave me a lot of peace.”

In his remarks however, Ali said the building complex would serve as a boost to the men and officers of the service to put in their best in guarding the border, generating revenue and facilitating trade.

He also commended the president for approving an increase in the salaries of customs personnel, noting that this had made them less susceptible to corruption.

He said, “We must mention the game-changing intervention of Mr President to rid the NCS of corruption

and put it on a path of integrity.

“The 100 per cent increase in the remuneration for officers and men of the service decisively made them less susceptible to corruption.”

The CGC said when he was appointed with a tripod mandate to restructure, reform and raise revenue for customs, he was never in doubt that only a comfortable and congenial working environment will facilitate the achievement of the objective.

Ali attributed the transformation in customs to the president’s vision, leadership and dedication to the development of the country.

He said, “Under your guidance, we have witnessed remarkable milestones that have revolutionised our operations and brought us closer to our goal of becoming a world-class customs administration.”

Lawmakers Express Displeasure over Oil Companies’ CEOs Evasion of Alleged $2.4bn Missing Crude Probe

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating all crude oil exports from 2014

till date and the alleged illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil resulting in the loss of $2.4 billion revenue has frowned at chief executives of oil companies

FG to Support Livestock Farmers with Funds to Boost Productivity

CBN’s backward integration revitalising dairy sector, says ACCI president

James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, yesterday said the federal government through the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), will provide financial empowerment to livestock farmers to enhance their productivity and resilience.

Speaking at a media briefing to commemorate the 2023 World Milk Day, with the theme: “Sustainable Dairy: Good for Planet, Good for You”, he noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the National Dairy Policy to guide operations in the dairy value chain.

The minister pointed out that the government’s interventions have had a positive impact on the

sector and elicited an upsurge in dairy activities in the country as evidenced by the huge number of requests for collaboration from a wide range of stakeholders in the industry.

This is as President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said that the country’s dairy sector had been revitalised, attracting foreign investment and creation of ranches through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)'s backward integration policy.

The minister also attributed the positive development in the sector to the impact which the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its partners had made in intensifying the need for backward integration, looking inwards, and developing the indigenous dairy

industry in line with the present administration’s policy on local content.

Abubakar stated that the government will continue to collaborate with relevant organisations, institutions, and associations in addressing the nutritional needs of Nigerians through milk and dairy development.

He said: “We will continue to provide an enabling environment for increased milk production, processing, distribution, and consumption to improve the nutritional status of Nigerians, create jobs along the dairy value chain and reduce national expenditure on the importation of milk and milk products.”

This year’s celebration will feature lectures, discussions, exhibitions and children’s programmes, including a

guided tour of the dairy exhibition stands for the children, all addressing this year’s theme.

All the events will take place at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry complex, he added.

The ACCI president while commending the CBN said the celebration which will begin from May 31 to June 1, 2023, will play host to over 20 selected public and private schools with a conference for stakeholders in the dairy industry.

He said the chamber serves as a voice for the business community and seeks to provide a platform for policymakers and the organised private sector to interface and map out practical ways to implement policies, especially in the wake of a new administration.

for avoiding the probe.

At the resumed investigative hearing of the committee yesterday, its Chairman, Hon. Mark Gbollah, expressed concern that chief executives of oil companies, which he listed to include Total Energies and Oriental Energies, invited for the probe rather sent representatives.

Gbillah said, “Like I mentioned to Total, your MD (Oriental) has not at any time during this hearing deemed it necessary to make himself available to talk to the parliament about issues that pertain to our commonwealth which your company is also managing on our behalf.

“We can see that since your last appearance on the 9th of the April, you had ample time within which he could have made the effort to appear before the House, but once again we are only receiving a letter of delegation.

“These are things that also would inform what conclusion we also make in our reports with regards to the willingness or otherwise of companies to cooperate with the parliament in carrying out our statutory

constitutional duties.

“But considering also the time within which we have to conclude our assignment, we would engage you based on this correspondence but we would like to let you know that if we have cause for you to still appear before the conclusion of our report, then we would have to insist that the MD appears before the committee subsequently."

However, among documents expected to be submitted by the oil companies over the probe were the name of the federal government appointed reshipment inspection agent or contractor for each of the crude oil cargo they lifted and exported out of Nigeria from 2014 to 2022, including the pre-shipment inspection records, reports and certificate of inspection.

They were also expected to submit the name of the bank or banks, account number or numbers of their forex accounts in Nigerian banks, where they have made payment of the proceeds from each of the crude oil cargoes exported in the period under review and the bank statement for each of these accounts.

L-R: APC Chieftain, James Odunmbaku; First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; his wife, Mrs. Oluremi and member of the Governing Advisory Council, Dr Abayomi Finnih, during a public lecture and the presentation of a Book as part of activities of day two of the inauguration ceremonies, at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.... yesterday

10th N’Assembly Leadership: Akpabio, Barau Intensify Consultation

The uproar associated with the zoning arrangements released by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress for the presiding officers positions of the 10th National Assembly has put the anointed candidates on their toes as they now go after the opposition political parties for support. Sunday Aborisade reports

Aspirants for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly who had been anointed by the ruling All Progressives Congress and the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are not taking the backing of their leaders for granted.

Rather they have been going from one area to another looking for support both within and outside their political party.

The anointed aspirants had travelled to most parts of the country to meet with governors, top traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in the country.

Last Tuesday, the anointed aspirant for the position of the 10th Senate President, Senator Godwill Akpabio, met with the Forum of the APC Non Serving Senators who hosted him and the party’s anointed deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin in Abuja.

The meeting which was convened by Senator Basheer Lado had over 78 former senators in attendance.

Akpabio on the occasion, reconciled two estranged political gladiators in Benue State, Messrs George Akume and Barnabas Gemade.

He created a scene when Akume, who is the current Minister of Special Duties, entered the venue by asking him to embrace Gemade, who was already seated, in the full glare of the people in attendance amidst applause.

Akpabio pledged to make the 10th Senate, the Parliament that would work for the good of all Nigerians regardless of the political, religious or ethnic background.

The aspirant also said he would enrich the capacity of the lawmakers by involving former senators as consultants to standing committees of the Senate.

According to him, “All the committees of the Senate ought to be enriched with the consultancy of the non serving senators to create a future for the youths. We are determined to make that happen.”

Jibrin on the occasion, described the endorsement of the non serving senators as the second most important after that of the APC National Working Committee.

He said, “As former lawmakers, you already know our pedigree having known the institution of legislation very well.

“This has proven what we have been telling our colleagues to be patient. We have a tradition of seniority.

“If we want to maintain the credibility of the institution, we must respect it’s values. Surprised that first comers wanted to become the Senate President when he doesn’t even know what it takes to move a motion.”

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Governor of Cross River State, who served in the Seventh Senate, Ben Ayade, noted that

the independence of the legislature was guaranteed in the Constitution but that it was derived from the Executive.

He said, “ Leadership takes time to mature, let us support the nominee of Mr. President.

I always support somebody with capacity and I know that Akpabio has the capacity let us move away from the emotional calculation on what my zone is going to get.

“It isn’t just enough to endorse him but we must approach our brothers who are still insisting that they must contest. Let us show them love. It is love that drives away hate.”

Lado, the Convener of the Forum, said, “As critical stakeholders, we assure the leadership of the APC, the President-Elect, the Vice President Elect, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibril of our unflinching commitment and support towards the actualization of this objective.

“We therefore respectfully, once again appeal to other aspirants to step down their ambition in the interest of national unity, peace, national stability of Nigeria and party cohesion.”

On Wednesday, Akpabio, in company of Jibrin also paid the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Labour Party, special visits in Abuja.

They were there with the Stability Group, made up of some senators who are working on the Akpabio-

Barau Jibrin ticket for the leadership of the 10th Senate project.

Akpabio told the National Working Committee of the NNPP led by its acting national chairman, Abba-Kawu Ali, that the Stability Group was determined to secure the support of leadership of the opposition parties, ahead of June 13 inauguration.

He said, “Membership of the Stability Group cuts across party lines and we are doing extensive consultations.

“We have never had a situation where we have eight political parties like we are going to have in the 10th National Assembly.

“In the House, we are blind to party affiliations and that’s why we are moving to meet our leaders. I thank you for receiving us.

“I want to thank your national leader, Kwankwaso for the meeting he is having with our president-elect, Bola Tinubu and I hope the meeting will be fruitful, for the progress of the nation.”

Also speaking, the Director - General of the Akpabio Campaign Organisation, Ali Ndume said his Group has secured signatures of 69 members backing the aspiration of AkpabioJubrin ticket.

He said, “We want you to support this stability group we have 69 senators-elect who have given us support.

“It is not about Akpabio or Jibrin. What the country needs now is stability and that’s why we called the group Stability Group.”

In his response, Acting National Chairman of the NNPP described Akpabio-Jubrin as a formidable ticket and assured the duo of the support of the lawmakers on the platform of his party .

According to him, “I know you are a formidable team. As governor of Akwa- Ibom State, we know how you performed. We know you are competent. So, we are supporting you based on your record. We will support your ambition to be the President of the 10th National Assembly. I urge your team not to fail Nigerians, especially the youth in the area of employment.”

While addressing members of the Stability Group at his party’s national secretariat, national chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended the Stability Group for extending hands of fellowship to oppostion parties’ leadership.

He said, “It is usually uncommon for political party in power to consider accommodating the opposition. It is an indication that our democracy is growing. I want to say very clearly that in most of our engagement with our senators, we haven’t given them any directives. We don’t want to be dictating to them on where they should go. Two of my senators are here. Ireti Kingibe isn’t here but we shall whisper to her.

“We need a vibrant legislature to promote our democracy, we hope yours will be a departure from what we have. Every government policy must be such that will affect our people positively. The Constitution in chapter two states that welfare of the people and security shall be primary responsibility of government. My appeal is that we give attention to welfare of Nigerians and the leadership of the Senate can help to make that a national priority.”

The Labour Party chairman however restated his party reservations about the outcome of the last general elections.

He said, “We aren’t comfortable with the processes leading to the victory of your candidate. This isn’t the forum to ventilate that but I need to put that on record. I need to correct the impression that we are supporting Asiwaju.

For us, it is a no go area but we have no doubt in Akpabio’s capacity to lead the Senate.”

The aspirants have also started lobbying individual senators through personal contacts and irresistible offers redeemable immediately and promises after they would have been elected.

Most of the rooms in the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the heart of Abuja had been fully booked for two months by the aspirants who ensured that majority of the elected members of the 10th Senate relocate to Transcorp Hilton Hotel for easy accessibility and meetings.

THISDAY observed that the senators-elect are in the third, fifth and ninth floors where the major aspirants have their campaign secretariats. Akpabio and Yari have their campaign secretariats at the 9th floor.

Aspirants for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly who had been anointed by the ruling All Progressives Congress and the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are not taking the backing of their leaders for granted. Rather, they have been going from one area to another looking for support both within and outside their political party. The anointed aspirants had travelled to most parts of the country to meet with governors, top traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in the country

Akpabio Barau

Deploying Arts, Culture as Tool for Poverty Eradication

To reduce poverty across board and empower women, the Centre

for Black and

Africa Arts and Civilisation recently held a workshop on promotion of visual arts, painting, sculpture and pottery in Benin City, Edo State. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes

As part of efforts by the federal government to reduce poverty through women empowerment, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), recently organised a two- day workshop/training programme on Deploying Arts and Culture as a Tool for Poverty Eradication through the Promotion of Visual Art; Painting, Sculpture and Pottery.

Chaired by Hon Nosakhare Omoreigbe, the event, which was held in Edo State at Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, St Paul Catholic Church, off Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State, had the first day coordinated by Dr Akpughe O. Praise of the Department of Fine & Applied Arts, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

In his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Hon Omoreigbe, who also doubles as the Chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism, commended the Director General of CBAAC for facilitating and organising the programme for three local government areas in Edo State.

Stressing that culture and cultural practices could help in enhancing productivity, he cited visual arts, which as an integral element of culture is as old as the history of man himself.

"Visual arts – drawings, paintings, sculptures, pottery are some of the significant art pieces that brought African arts to global audience and, also influence the renaissance period that furthered the enlightenment of the world," he added.

He recalled that during the precolonial era that art works such as bronze sculptures which were catered away by the British brought fame to the great Benin Kingdom and clearly show the creative ingenuity of the Benin master craft-men. "But, that unfortunately today, only a handful of our youths in Africa are engaged in this lucrative and aged-long profession".

Pottery he further adduced, shows the capacity of Africans to innovate; potteries come in different shapes and designs with beautiful inscriptions that portrays African folklores. Paintings, sculptures and pottery provided gainful employment, and people who possess such talents were and still are in high demand.

The chairman further encouraged participants to put in their best and acquire new skill that would catapult them into better and more rewarding economic state of life.

In her welcome address, DirectorGeneral of CBAAC Hon Oluwabunmi

Amao, ably represented by Mr Adesegun Dosumu (Deputy Director Research and Publication), first thanked the participants for their large turnout and encouraged them to see the event as a rare opportunity to acquire new skills that would better their lives and enhance their productivity.

In his speech, he said the centre which was established with a global mandate of propagating and promoting understanding and appreciation of African rich cultural heritage in all its forms, would continue to liaise with the Chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism Hon Omoregie Ogbeide – Ihama in facilitating and organising programmes of this nature that would sharpen the skills and enhance the capacitily of participants to innovate such that they become more creative and productive.

The lecture on Deploying Arts and Culture as a Tool for Poverty Eradication through the Promotion of Visual Art; Paint-

ing, Sculpture and Pottery was delivered by Dr Akpughe Praise. The training was divided into two parts, the first is the theory/ historical background and conceptual clarifications of the different elements of culture.

While the second part was the practical demonstration /explanation of some certain key terms of the nitty-gritties of Painting, Sculpture and Pottery. In his lecture, the guest speaker said that with the verse human and material resources at the country’s disposal, particularly cultural resources, Nigeria has no reason being poor.

He noted that poverty and unemployment affect economic growth as the country is in a state of unproductive activity. Thus, to develop a country, the nation needs people with diverse skills to utilise and maximise the available resources of the country.

Defining art in its simplest term as the ability to acquire skill, he noted that arts is divided into two major parts; Visual and Performing Arts.

Essentially, Visual Art is the study and creation of things in forms, texture, lines and colours which gives pleasure to the mind and satisfies sense of beauty. Visual Art is divided into Fine & Applied Arts. While Fine art has to do with appreciation of beauty or used to describe the branch of art that appeals to man’s sense of beauty and higher emotions, e.g drawing, painting and sculpture, Applied Art othe other hand is the branch of art that has to do with creation of objects meant for functional purposes. It is often beautiful and used for industrial design. This involves textiles designs, ceramic and graphics.

He said: "One interesting attributes of visual art is that it provides selfemployment as most visual artists are self-employed. The lecturer who expressed dismay at the level of unemployment stated that the Art market is big enough to provide gainful employment to the Nigerian youth.

"That another important aspect of the art business which one can easily get involved whether or not the person has the skills, is to serve as an Arts

Collector – a person who buys work of arts (paintings, sculptures, pottery, etc.,) and sell them at a profit."

He encouraged participants to get involved in the field of arts which he said would help them make additional income as multiple streams of income will enable one live a balanced life.

The event for the second day was practical coaching and demonstrations on the techniques of the various elements of painting, sculpture and pottery.

The session for painting was coordinated by Mr Elijah while sculpture and pottery were coordinated by Mr Collins and Precious respectively. All the resources persons were of the department of Fine & Applied Arts, University of Benin.

For painting Mr Elijah said, one needs a canvas (surface on upon which the painting will be done) brush of different types, sizes and shapes, water and acrylic colours, oil colours, etc. he demonstrated how they are used and taught participants how to produce secondary colours from primary colours.

At the end of the teaching practice, a flower vase was produced to the admiration of all. Same went with the pottery and sculpture, at the end of the very interesting and insightful teaching, a ceramic and a beautiful sculpture were produced and participants were encouraged to hold on to their new acquired skills and try to enhance them through practice.

At the end of the intellectually stimulating training, the training brought to the fore the importance of visual art; paintings, sculpture and pottery as a tool for poverty eradication. Sufficient examples were used by the facilitators to buttress this point because according to them, works of art has an existing market ready to buy an art work.

Consequent upon the exposure of participants to the nitty-gritties and modalities of being an art collector, most of the youths that participated at the training became interested in becoming a visual artists.

Also, the event also showcased and demonstrated how the visual art; painting, sculpture and pottery serves as a tool for enhancing gainful employment, as well as provided the opportunity for participants to sharpen and enhance their skill and latent talent in the field of visual art.

At the end of the programme, the 450 participants were issued certificates of participation. For participants, the workshop/training programme was an roaring success given the wide array of skills that they were taught.

Poverty and unemployment affect economic growth as the country is in a state of unproductive activity. Thus, to develop a country, the nation needs people with diverse skills to utilise and maximise the available resources of the country

DG CBAAC, Hon Oluwabunmi Amao

Participants at the training

Sample of the class work

www.thisdaylive.com opinion@thisdaylive.com

SOLVING THE OUT OF SCHOOL PROBLEM IN NIGERIA CRISTIAN

See page 25

NIGCOMSAT-1R AND THE RACE FOR

See page 25

EDITORIAL

an

A VOTE FOR A NON-MILITARY NSA

With President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure coming to a close next week, discussions regarding the composition of

National Security Adviser (ONSA), and understandably so. The militarization of this has raised curiosity among Nigerians. This having a non-military NSA has emerged as a prominent topic of discussion.

But the idea of a non-military NSA isn’t even though not many Nigerians are aware that policemen had been in control of ONSA. Under the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, Gambo Jimeta, a former Inspector-General of Police, served as the NSA. Aliyu Isma’ila Gwarzo, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), served under both civilian and Shonekan and then General Sani Abacha. Their essence was their understanding of the intricate relationship between the civilian and military spheres, and they stood out due to their recognition of the diverse range of challenges that undermined national security, necessitating solutions encompassing economic, psychological, and social factors.

The NSA is a direct link between the president and the people. He’s the president’s eyes, and the National Security Agencies Act of 1986 undermined that. The Act dissolved the Nigerian Security Organisation and established, in its place, three security agencies—the Defence Intelligence Agency, the National Intelligence Agency, and the State Security Service, granting the President on National Security and transferring the Security Adviser.

Nigerians are right to be interested in who becomes the next NSA, knowing that the nation’s current biggest threats aren’t external aggressions. Nigerians are at the mercy of internal security collapses that require much more than bigger guns to dispel. The country needs big brains and ideas to establish the approve solutions that aren’t akin to pouring water into a basket.

American policymakers and security specialists, whose style of democracy we practice, have always known this cheat code for preserving their national security. It’s unsurprising that they have, in the role of National Security Advisor, a Yaletrained civilian lawyer, Jake Sullivan. His predecessor too was a political scientistturned-lawyer. The role has successively been held by civilians with a nuanced and intellectual understanding of the complex realities that undermine national security, clear.

practice of appointing non-military security insiders and analysts is a tested cheat code.

a minister of planning and international cooperation under Hosni Mubarak before she became National Security Advisor under matter that her principal had even risen to the topmost position in the military and had even served as minister of defense and realities of a country, and it makes sense to settle for one with an understanding of the socio-cultural and political determinants of security. An NSA isn’t a combatant. Their power is the ability to analyze trends and intelligence to predict the state of security in the nation, and this requires intellectual and sociological sophistication to achieve.

The NSA doesn’t only sit on a trove of intelligence; they oversee the intelligence activities of the agencies listed in their presidents prefer an NSA whose unwavering patriotism is unquestionable and who possesses a deep understanding of the nation’s internal security challenges. But unless we move away from excessive militarization of the NSA—especially in a country where the military is reduced to taking responsibilities under the jurisdiction going to remain under-utilized.

The proponents of military control over ONSA have failed to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. The fact that Nigeria’s security challenges haven’t yielded the expected results shows that there is an immediate need for a change in the rules of engagement, and it’s reassuring that Nigerians have reached a point where they see the wisdom of having a non-military NSA.

of military solutions to our national security challenges or the allegations of corruption prevalent within the military establishment, extraordinary security circumstances that demand unconventional measures. It requires a highly experienced and versatile individual from outside the military to rescue ONSA from internal conspiracies.

In August 2020, a coalition of civil society for Good Governance, Social Justice and Regional Security Initiative, and People United for Peace, Security, and Democracy in Nigeria, advocated for the appointment of a non-military NSA. They argued that Nigeria needs an NSA who possesses expertise in statecraft, public policy, internal security, and law enforcement to transform the negative security narrative of the country. They further emphasized that the practice of appointing NSAs exclusively from a military background neglects the fact that the military represents only a fraction of the country’s population. Shifting this paradigm and appointing an NSA from the civilian majority is essential.

Undoubtedly, the Nigerian military has been stretched thin and forced to assume the role of the police, particularly in addressing internal security issues. This mindset needs our military and paramilitary resources. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, are both civilians who have successfully implemented security interventions during their time as governors. initiatives such as the Lagos Rapid Response in Lagos State. Shettima, on the other hand, utilized civilian vigilante networks to combat crime and terrorist attacks in Borno State. Their accomplishments demonstrate that system intentionally designed to achieve the people’s desired objectives but has instead become a breeding ground for public sector corruption. What Nigeria truly needs is a bold visionary who can disrupt the culture step forward in this direction.

Leme, a project management and development consultant, writes from Abuja

MUNDUATE canvasses more investment in education

RELEVANCE

NIGCOMSAT is alive again, and earning praises, writes

SONNY ARAGBAAKPORE

DATA PROTECTION AND LOAN SHARKS

An NSA isn’t a combatant. Their power is the ability to analyze trends and intelligence to predict the state of security in the nation, and this requires intellectual and sociological sophistication to achieve

Nigeria needs

NSA who possesses expertise in statecraft, public policy, internal security, and law enforcement, argues ABDULRAHMAN USMAN LEME

CRISTIAN MUNDUATE canvasses more investment in education

SOLVING THE OUT OF SCHOOL PROBLEM IN NIGERIA

problem is large and growing but because it is solved in Nigeria. According to the

at the primary level and a further eight level who are out of school. [1]. Nigeria therefore accounts for 15% of the total number of out of school children globally.

When numbers are this large, we forget

evidence on what works to solve these years, federal and state governments in Northwest Nigeria with the support of UNICEF and the Foreign, Commonwealth solutions in formal and non-formal schools

We now know through rigorous hands of families and schools, combined with community-led enrolment campaigns and high-quality early grade reading and numeracy interventions—a set of brings millions of children, particularly girls into the schooling system and keeps them there.

So powerful and enduring is the impact of this approach that gender parity is achieved, school retention increases, performance in English, mother tongue and in math improves, youth literacy levels rise and early pregnancy and marriage decline.

NIGCOMSAT is alive again, and earning praises, writes SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE

NIGCOMSAT-1R AND THE RACE FOR RELEVANCE

1 failed in orbit in 2008, the Nigerian and the global community spared nothing attempts in space.

That experiment, by a young man, Ahmed Timasaniyu Rufai to take Nigeria to space was ambitious. How he managed it then remains a mystery.

He worked closely with his bosses at Industry Corporation (CGWIC) through

Launch Tracking and Control General (CLTC) provided tracking, control and ground segment support for the programme.

The NigComSat-1R was the eight satellite built on the DFH-4 bus for in-orbit delivery and the NigComSat-1R launch

50 Nigcomsat engineers who spent nearly

The satellite with service lifespan of over 15 years was designed to meet the needs of telecommunications, maritime, defence and broadcast media in Africa, particularly Nigeria and part of Europe and Asia. It has 28 active transponders, L-band.

child. Eight million dreams unrealized. Ten million futures limited before children have a fair chance to reach their potential.

Children are exposed to untold risks chance of being under-nourished and under-immunized, forced into child labour and increased likelihood of being married and pregnant too young. These risks not rights but trap them in intergenerational cycles of marginalization and poverty.

It is no surprise then that poverty is the exacerbated by school fees and other hidden costs of education. Some 17% of children aged 12-14 years in Nigeria are involved in economic activity for 14 hours or more each week. There is an urgent need to prioritize primary and secondary children with disabilities.

The system itself also limits opportunities. Chronic underfunding of education perpetuates challenges in access, as well allocation remains consistently low and regressive—at 1.2 per cent of GDP[2] against an international benchmark of 4-6 per cent. Countries of similar development status— Ghana and Indonesia for example— underinvestment, on the other hand, is driving severe shortfalls in infrastructure overcrowded classrooms and poor learning outcomes.

Disruption to education remains an alltoo-familiar phenomenon in Nigeria, as central regions regularly shutter schools for millions of children—including for

Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara States.

These deprivations are strongly interlinked and demand comprehensive enviable position of having abundant

That we have collectively showcased what works to get more children into celebration. That we have not yet scaled what we know to work is cause for concern. While development partners work with government to generate evidence on how to improve access and quality, the mandate and resources to scale these interventions to every child in Nigeria rests with government. The induction of new

scale on the available evidence and to create an enabling environment for scaling.

So, what does an enabling environment look like?

It involves spending more on education. Little change will come to the life experience of children and the economic outlook for Nigeria unless it sees investment in education in the range of 15-20 per cent of government expenditure at federal and state levels. It is this scale of investment in human capital formation that sets the stage for a potential demographic dividend from the large and growing youth bulge.

And it involves spending better on education. In a context where universal enrolment remains in the distance, evidence from other countries indicates that spending 45 percent of the overall education budget on primary education can bring the returns we urgently seek.

All available data in Nigeria points problem is manifesting most acutely in the North and among marginalized children children on the move, and those facing other deprivations. An equitable funding opportunities for education where it is needed the most.

When these minimum conditions are met, the stage will be set for cash plus

the promise of a better future for children in Nigeria.

We know what to do and we know how

communications satellite covering the whole of Africa and parts of Europe and Asia. before the satellite was de-orbited and not the management.

CGWIC to manage the satellite for two years before handing over to Nigeria to take over its management.

The cost of that satellite was pegged at $250million out of which Nigeria put in $50million as counterpart funding while the So when it failed a few months later under of prestige.

And so on December 19, 2011, in Xichang, China, a replacement satellite named Nigcomsat 1R was launched with funfare. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) beamed images of the launch on live broadcast.

Nigerians cast aspersions on the company, was indeed launched before its failure. With NTA and a contingent of the Nigerian media at the launch site, doubts were reduced to a manageable extent.

NigComSat-1R was the fourth in-orbit delivery contract signed by China Space with its international customers. The launch was conducted according to the NigComSat-1R Contract signed by Nigerian Communications China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

NigComSat-1R spacecraft is built on Dong Fang Hong 4 (DFH-4) satellite bus, developed by China Academy of Space Technology vehicle, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle (CALT).

The two ground stations located in Nigcomsat, participated fully in the launch. A visibly excited managing director of Nigcomsat Limited, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, simply said,

communications technology minister,

of Representatives members, Nigcomsat marketing, Abimbola Alale, and chief

Speaking after the successful

become the vehicle for growth of every society, therefore it is important that on December19, 2011.

series of management changes in the organization since 2014 and several pits and falls especially with undue government control that has had serious negative impacts on its operations, Early this week, the African Union

in satellite service. Incidentally it was the NTA which beamed the launch of 2011 that initiated this commendation. Its Directorcommendation when he led a visiting

the fact that we are proud of NigComsat performance. We have migrated to you without any doubt that the service

opportunity to interact with the leverage on the validity and availability of this satellite company in Nigeria which is

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

DATA PROTECTION AND LOAN SHARKS

Data breaches should be criminalised

In recent years, many Nigerians have turned to online lenders and other “soft loan” companies for assistance. While these loans are easy rates and stringent terms and conditions that desperate borrowers never pay attention to. The bitter part therefore comes when there is a default in repayment. This is when the online lenders use criminal and unauthorised methods to compel the borrower to pay. They not only name and shame but also deploy the services of thugs. One of their common tactics involves hacking into debtors’ phone contacts and then texting or calling those friends, families, and business associates with threatening messages.

We consider this to be an abuse of personal data, a breach of privacy, and a betrayal of trust. More disturbing is that data breaches are becoming rampant as a growing number of private companies use the personal information of Nigerians for marketing or other reasons unrelated to those for which it was originally obtained. This is obviously a violation of the fundamental human rights of such individuals. a resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2013, titled ‘The right to privacy in the digital age’, called on member States to institute laws to put an end to illegal data collection and abuse of individual privacy.

(and misuse) of personal data are highly intrusive acts that violate the rights to privacy and freedom of expression and may contradict the tenets of a democratic society. It therefore calls on all countries to respect and protect the right to privacy, including in the context of digital communication; take measures to put an end to violations of those rights and create the conditions to prevent such violations. Such recommended measures include ensuring that relevant national legislation

MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor

complies with their obligations under international human rights law and enacting appropriate legislation regarding the surveillance of communications, their interception and the collection of personal data.

Earlier this year, the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) announced that it was investigating two frontline banks in connection with alleged “unlawful disclosure of banking records to a third party, unlawful access, and processing of personal data.” At about the same period, the Bureau said it was investigating 110 companies for what it called “data breach”, stating that telecom companies, and gaming companies. We do not know what has happened to that investigation, but this is now a challenge we must tackle.

Ordinarily, Nigeria is expected to have a law to criminalise the unwholesome activities of data intruders. Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari sent the Nigeria Data Protection Bill, 2023 to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. The Senate passed the bill this month and it is expected to have speedy consideration by the House of Representatives and signed by President Buhari before May 29. The bill provides a legal framework the fundamental rights and freedom of individuals guaranteed in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

The enforcer of the proposed law is the Nigeria Data Protection Commission with “powers to make compliance and enforcement orders against data controllers or processors in the event of the violation of the provisions of the bill or related subsidiary legislation.” Failure to comply with the orders of the commission the Minister of Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, may be seeking to exploit the legislation for power mongering as being speculated by industry experts, there is an urgent need for a regime of data protection in Nigeria.

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

LETTERS

FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE

threat to peace, security and stability of a nation.

It is a global problem that has eaten deep into the security and moral fabrics of many nations of the world. There’s hardly any country in the world that doesn’t battle one drug related issue or the other.

can be nipped in the bud, drug abuse will as well be reduced to the barest minimum. In Nigeria, drug abuse has remained a dangerous enabler of many crimes and vices.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the government agency in charge of arresting and prosecuting drug offenders has been doing wonderfully well. They have been on top of the game most especially since Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marbeen highly commendable. There have been tremendous transformation of the operational architecture of the agency and hence mind boggling successes recorded.

usual. They have been hard hit.

The re- jigged operational procedure where numerous arrests

and seizures have become the order of the day has no doubt sentued even while nursing their wounds as a result of multi- billion naira losses.

There’s no week that passes by that one doesn’t read in newspapers or hear on Television channels of multiple arrests and seizures of illicit drugs across the states of our dear country. At land bormodes of concealment to beat the security agencies but the Marwa administration has consistently beaten them to it.

Going by the recent press release by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA (Femi Babafemi), two businessmen were last week arrested for drug ingestion at the Abuja Airport and both excreted 193 pallets of cocaine after three days of observatory custoacross FCT and Kano State. These merchants of death are die hard criminals who will stop at nothing to make money. It is mind boggling sometimes the way NDLEA discovers unthinkable modes of My charge is that General Marwa and his men must not rest on

country. Despite the achievements recorded in the area of arrests and seizures, there still remain more grounds to be covered against drugs. Such places like palaces, churches, market places, labour unions, schools should be explored for an elaborate sensitisation with the aim of collaborating with heads of the various institutions mentioned above.

drug in their domains. It will go a long way to reduce the way hard drugs and other substances of abuse are tackled in their communities.

Religious institutions must be encouraged to live up to their expectation as the moral compass of the society. As such they can take part in drug preventive programs.

In the same vein, organizations have roles to play in reducing the rising drug demand. They can incorporate drug use policies and drug prevention programs into their operational procedures while schools can equally make drug education part of their curriculum. -

ers and synergy among sister agencies, a safe and sane society devoid of huge substance abuse will be realized in Nigeria

Ijeoma Muokeme, ijeomamuokeme@gmail.com

Unlawful or arbitrary collection (and misuse) of personal data are highly intrusive acts that violate the rights to privacy and freedom of expression

RATES AS AT MAY 23,2023

Amid Tough Operating Environment, 10 Banks’ NPL Hits N811.7bn

Kayode Tokede

Following persistent macro economic challenges, 10 leading banks in the country reported N811.7 billion Non-Performing Loans (NPL) by value out of the N21.87 trillion gross loans granted to customers and other financial institutions in 2022, THISDAY investigation has revealed.

The 10 banks in 2021 reported N724.45 billion NPL, about N18.36 trillion of their gross loans to customers and other financial institutions.

The banks are: Access Holdings

Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), and United Bank for Africa (UBA), all Tier-1 banks in Nigeria. Others include: Fidelity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, FCMB group Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Sterling Bank Plc.

THISDAY checks revealed that sectors such as General Commerce, Oil & gas, and manufacturing contributed to the huge NPL in 2022, trigged by inflation rate, among other economic challenges over the years.

Nigeria was not immune to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

as inflation especially food and energy prices spiked in the year under review. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised interest rates multiple times to slow down accelerating inflation and this forced some banks to restructure their loans.

A breakdown revealed that Access Holdings in 2022 reported N176.9 billion NPL from N181.5 billion in 2021, while Zenith Bank declared N177.3 billion NPL in 20222 from N146.1 billion in 2021.

As GTCO reported a decline in its NPL to N102.37 billion in 2022 from N113.9 milllion in 2021, UBA saw its NPL increasing to N106.64

billion in 2022 from N102.04 billion in 2021.

In the year under review, Fidelity bank reported N64.6billion NPL as against N50.17 billion in corresponding year. FCMB group, however, closed 2022 with N45.01 billion NPL compared with N44.68 billion in 2021, while Union Bank declared N40.04 billion NPL in 2022 from N38.66 billion in 2021.

Others include: Wema Bank with N32.8 billion NPL in 2022 from N21.3 billion in 20221; Stanbic IBTC recorded N29.4 billion NPL in 2022 from N20.3 billion in 2021 and Sterling Bank closed 2022 with

N36.63 billion NPL as against N5.77 billion in reported in 2021.

Despite mixed performance in NPL by value, some Tier-1 banks NPL ratio was below the 5 per cent threshold of the CBN in 2022.

FCMB Group, and Wema Bank in the Tier-2 banks category reported NPL ratio above apex bank requirement.

The CBN had disclosed that average NPL ratio in the banking sector closed 2022 at 4.2 per cent from 4.9 per cent in 2021, attributable to write-offs, restructuring of facilities, Global Standing Instruction (GSI) and sound credit risk management

by banks.

However, in 2022, FCMB group reported 6.60 per cent NPL ratio as against 4.10 per cent in 2021. Wema Bank in the same year announced 6.08 per cent NPL ratio as against 4.90 per cent reported in the corresponding year.

The management of Wema Bank said, increase of 1.18 per cent in total NPL ratio driven by the decision to be more prudent in managing some assets, stressing that reduction in NPLs across some sectors including general commerce, transport &

Continued on page 28

Adebayo: Credit Constraints Stifled Growth, Hampered Job Creation

James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, has lamented that the lack of access to credit had stifled economic growth, leading to a decline in investment and job creation.

Speaking at the opening of the national workshop on Bankruptcy and Debt Collection in Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) in collaboration with AELEX, the minister added that the country’s credit system had been facing numerous challenges over the years.

He said many businesses have been unable to access credit, including trade due to finance scarcity, high interest rates, and the stringent lending conditions that are often imposed by the banks and other financial institutions.

Adebayo stressed the need to promote the institutionalisation of a vibrant and sustainable credit system in the country, which should sufficiently incentivise financial institutions to lend to especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He said this was particularly critical to enhancing the overall competitiveness of the national

economy, leading to increased productivity, economic growth, and employment generation, as well as the promotion of entrepreneurship and increased benefits from the country’s participation in international trade.

He said as part of the efforts by the present administration to enhance the use of trade policy as a veritable tool for the promotion of the growth and socio-economic development of the country, the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) in March last year, under the ministry’s Trade Policy Action Plan 2022-2026, approved the proposal to establish the Nigerian

Bankruptcy Commission with Debt Collection Offices in the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, the purpose of the commission and its debt collection offices is two-fold - to provide an effective legal and institutional framework to regulate business behaviour, with a view to ensuring that only viable concerns continue to operate – as well as to ensure that customers pay their trade debts on time, thereby significantly reducing the current challenges associated with the enforcement of trade -debt contracts in the regular courts.

Adebayo pointed out that if successfully implemented, the commission and its debt collection offices would not only be complementary to the ongoing reforms under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), but also significantly contribute to the creation of a modern 21st Century credit-oriented economy for the benefit of producers, retailers, and consumers in Nigeria.

The minister said the federal government will continue to evolve measures to promote financial inclusion by ensuring that all Nigerians have access

to financial services, regardless of their income level or location.

He said this will positively contribute to financial stability and enhance trade and economic growth, adding that the government remained committed to promoting financial literacy and consumer protection to enhance the confidence of both investors and consumers.

Adebayo said, “Financial literacy is required to enable the citizenry to make better and informed decisions, especially regarding how to use trade

Continued on page 28

Banks’ Credit to Private Sector Crosses N44trn in April

Nume Ekeghe

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that banking industry credit to the private sector crossed the N44 trillion mark to N44.1 trillion in April 2023 amid the recovery in economic conditions after the general elections.

The CBN in its latest Money and Credit statistics reported N44.1trillion credit to the private sector, the highest so far, 2.40 per cent Monthon-Month (MoM) and 17.76 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) growth.

Deposit Money Banks (DMB) had begun to increase lending to

the private sector as the effects of the cash crunch waned in the country, increasing the level of credit to the sector by 6.16 per cent Year-till-Date (YtD) from N41.54 trillion compared to N44.1 trillion that was recorded at the end of April 2023.

As a result of slow economic activities in first quarter 2023 (Q1), business conditions in the country deteriorated at the sharpest paces, while price pressures climbed further in March 2023 and at the same time, borrowing costs were increased to a new record high.

Credit growth slowed slightly in January and

February 2023, from the fourth quarter of 2022 and foreign direct investment plunged in 2022, hampered by the US dollar shortage, scarcity of Naira and stagflation, leading some companies to cancel their expansion plans.

Specifically, credit to private sector added N212 billion between January that was N41.54 trillion to N41.75 trillion in February, and gained N1.3 trillion to N43.07 trillion in March 2023.

However, it added N1.03 trillion between March and April 2023.

Analysts at Cordros Research attributed the

Aleph Set to Make Digital Advertising

increase in the credit to the private sector reflects the impact of improved domestic macroeconomic conditions and CBN-led interventions on the real sector.

According to them, “We expect that the improvement of domestic economic activities will drive the willingness of commercial banks to create risky assets. Also, we expect the CBN to maintain its intervention programme s at a steady pace as the economy expands. Conclusively, we predict that the Credit to Private Sector (CPS) will maintain a double-digit expansion in 2023 full year.”

e-Naira: CBN, Zenith Bank Take Sensitisation Drive to UNIJOS Community

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Zenith Bank Plc, have taken sensitization drive to the University of Jos community to promote adoption of e-Naira, the country’s CBDC to the management, staff, and students of the university.

The head of the sensitization team and Branch Controller of CBN, Jos, Mrs. Tinat Esther Catherine said that a committee was working on making government disbursements and salaries

receivable via the e-Naira platform, adding that e-Naira can be used for a number of transactions including payment of school fees as payments on its platform are seamless, and the settlement instant.

She said, “Students are the targets of the CBN’s engagement, and the best place to engage students is the university because they will take it round.”

The team, which also paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of the university, said it will promote the adoption of e-Naira to the

ADEBAYO: CREDIT CONSTRAINTS

credit and debt as a source of short-term funds, including the risks that may arise from the priority distribution of a debtor’s

entire university community “because we want school fees to be paid via e-Naira.”

Catherine observed that the whole world is going digital, hence the CBN is responding appropriately to the innovation by introducing a lot of cashless policies, of which e-Naira is one, noting that the Central Bank in Nigeria is the first to introduce e-Naira in Africa and only the second in the world.

Also speaking, an official of Zenith bank, Mr. Agai Joseph said that the e-Naira is not different from the regular

STIFLED GROWTH,

property in bankruptcy.”

He commended the DirectorGeneral/Chief Trade Negotiator, NOTN, Dr. Yonov Fred Agah, for

cash in hand as it is a way to improve the payment system to make it more robust, and intended to widen the opportunities for people to make their payments. He added that the e-Naira was designed specially to facilitate small transactions.

Noting that it is faster and cheaper to use students as ambassadors to drive the policy, Agai maintained that the sensitization and training will make it easier for the students to create the awareness since they are within the ecosystem.

HAMPERED JOB CREATION

organising the workshop which he said provided the platform for stakeholders to engage on the important issue that has

become increasingly critical in the efforts to place the Nigerian economy on a trajectory of rapid recovery and growth.

AMID TOUGH OPERATING ENVIRONMENT, 10 BANKS’ NPL HITS N811.7BN

storage, and manufacturing sectors.

GTCO, the only Tier-1 bank with NPL ratio above the CBN requirement as UBA and Access Holdings maintained NPL ratio below three per cent.

GTCO announced 5.19 per cent NPL ratio in 2022 from 6.04 per cent in 2021.

Accessible to Nigerians

Aleph, a global enabler of digital advertising in emerging countries, last week, launched its office in Lagos and into the Nigerian market space to help businesses connect with millions of consumers.

The company said its entry into the country would help brands choose the right advertising strategy for their businesses across Meta technologies, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

Aleph’s entry into the market will help bridge the gap between brands and consumers, and provide a platform for businesses to reach new audiences and grow their sales.

The company’s MD for Nigeria, Tintin Imevbore, said: “We are excited to bring Aleph’s expertise and experience to Nigeria. We believe there is a huge opportunity for digital advertising in this market, and we are committed to helping brands reach their target audiences and achieve their business goals.”

Its Regional Marketing Manager, Michael Owatunde, said: “We are here to solve Digital Media Education in Nigeria and Africa at large with Digital Ad Expert, our proprietary and free digital media education platform

“Digital Ad Expert is

He said collective insights, experiences and recommendations by participants will significantly contribute to the development of

educating and certifying the next generation of digital professionals across the globe, enabling more people to compete in the global digital ecosystem. Over 1000 Nigerians have already benefited from this program.”

MD, sub Saharan Africa on Digital Ad Expert, Mr. Stephen Newton, said: “Our platform welcomes newcomers into the industry by teaching the basics. It also keeps experienced advertisers on top of their game by helping them sharpen their skills. Compared to other Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) our methodology leads to two times higher graduation rates, 50 per cent less dropout rates, and 90 per cent more engaged learners.”

Similarly, Partner and Global Chief Operating Officer of the company, Ignacio Vidaguren said: “Over the past 18 years, we have built a global infrastructure that aggregates untapped advertising revenue from digitally developing economies. Our infrastructure acts as a bridge, widening access to and equalizing the global digital media ecosystem.”

Regional Director, Meta Nigeria, Mr. Stan Martins, said: “Aleph has access to global platforms, and focuses on bringing these platforms to brands in Africa. We are Meta’s Authorized Reseller in Nigeria, providing strategic consultation and local solutions expertise.

policies and strategies that will promote the enthronement of a vibrant and sustainable credit system in the country.

GTCO in a presentation said, “The Group’s IFRS 9 Stage 3 loans closed at 5.2 per cent in 2022 from 6.04 per cent in 2021. With Retail and Others emerged as Sectors with the highest NPL - 22.1 per cent and 20.5 per cent.

IFRS 9

Stage 3 Loans improved to N102.8 billion in 2022 from N113.9 billion in 2021, primarily driven by the

deleveraging of Ghana and Kenya’s Loan books via the realization of pledged collaterals. “IFRS 9 Balance Sheet Impairment Allowance for Stage 3/ Lifetime Credit Impaired exposures closed at N54.9 billion representing 53.4 per cent coverage of Loans in this classification. In aggregate terms (including Regulatory Risk Reserves of N93.9 billion), the Group has adequate coverage of 175.5 per cent for its IFRS 9 Stage 3 loans /NPLs. This position is consistent with the Group’s plan to maintain 100 per cent coverage of its NPLs.”

UBA and Access Holdings closed 2022 with 3.10 per cent NPL ratio

respectively as Zenith Bank closed the year under review with 4.30 per cent NPL ratio as against 4.20 per cent reported in 2021.

Access Holdings with four per cent NPL ratio in 2021 hinged the decline in 2022 on proactive post - disbursement monitoring and robust risk management practices.

With the increase in its NPL ratio, the management of Zenith bank explained that it has adopted a holistic and integrated approach to risk management and therefore, brings all risks together under one or a limited number of oversight functions.

NPL coverage ratio of Zenith Bank, thus, closed 2022 at 115.9 per

cent from 114.4 per cent reported in 2021.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have called on banks managers to take caution lending to real sector.

The Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Kingsley Obiora in his personal statement during the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in January 2023 said the total gross credit increased by N5.14 trillion or 20.93 per cent between the end of December 2021 and December 2022, from N24.57 trillion to N29.72 trillion, due to the increase in the industry funding base as well as the CBN’s directive on LDR, which has encouraged banks to increase lending to the

real sector of the economy, and business strategy and competition.

He hinted that, “The increase in credit to the key sectors of the economy is expected to bolster aggregate demand and promote economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.”

He expressed, “Overall, policymakers need to keep an eye on pre-existing macroeconomic imbalances and headwinds. The global economic slowdown (especially in the United States, the Euro Area and China), the Russian-Ukraine war, geopolitical fragmentation, weaker currencies in many EMDEs, and rising external debt are all weighing on domestic

investment and further exacerbating the existing domestic headwinds.

“With China re-opening after three years of zero Covid policy, these headwinds are, however, expected to moderate and improve global growth, but could also be a risk to global inflation. Domestically, although oil production has improved, it is still below the OPEC allocation quota of about 1.8 mbpd due to high production costs, oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Low oil production in the face of high oil prices continues to reduce fiscal space, with consequences for external debt and foreign reserves accretion.”

Emma Okonii

L-R: Past President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Ralph Osayameh; National Treasurer, CIBN, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare-Asieru; Registrar/CE, Mr. Akin Morakinyo; President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Dr. Ken Opara; 1st Vice President, CIBN, Prof. Deji Olanrewaju;  2nd Vice President,CIBN, Mr. Dele Alabi and a member of CIBN, at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Institute in Lagos… recently

Buhari Commissions Rice Mill, Assures on Food Security

James Emejo in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the country has the capacity to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and security when the human and material resources are rightly harnessed and deployed. He spoke while commissioning the Large-Scale Integrated Rice Mill, located in Sheda, Kwali, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The president said his administration had in the past eight years intensively promoted and supported agricultural development through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP), the Fertilizer Initiative, Grain Aggregation

Centres and Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone Programme.

Buhari said the measures are in line with the food security component of his government’s nine-priority agenda for agriculture, adding that the agricultural development strategy had so far enabled the increased output recorded in critical arable and cash crops production.

Represented at the occasion by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, Buhari pointed out that the new rice mill was just one of the 10 mills embarked upon by the current administration for the purpose of expanding domestic rice production and achieving self-sufficiency in the country.

He said, “This accomplishment clearly demonstrates our commitment to addressing critical infrastructural projects and keeping with the ideals of the Change Agenda to ensure prudence in the management of public resources, value for money considering the huge investments in this project.

“We have witnessed the rapid increase in domestic rice production from the incentive given to farmers and processors over this period as a resolution of leveraging our potential, producing what we consume, and patronise locally made products.

“In the agricultural sector, we indeed have the capacity to be food secure if we rightly harness and

deploy our human and material resources.”

Buhari said the establishment of large-scale integrated rice processing mills located across the North West, North East, North Central, South-South and South West Zones of the country further demonstrated the commitment of his administration to reposition agriculture.

According to him, the concept is a public, private partnership between the government and the anchor investors to increase the country’s processing capacity for rice production and fill up the demand-supply gap making the country self-sufficient in the commodity value chain.

Customs to Resolve Timeline for Implementation of New Service Act

James Emejo in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said the effective date for the full implementation of the new Customs and Excise Management Act, 2022 (as amended) currently remained a priority that would be addressed by the service in due course.

President Muhammadu Buhari on April 27 broke a 63-year old law by assenting to the Customs and Excise Management Act amendment bill, 2022, after previously declining his assent.

The new legislation provides for

the reform of the administration and management of customs and excise in the country – and seeks to among other things, position the service to be financially stable to recruit the required number of officers needed to man Nigeria’s porous border stations.

It also provides stiffer punishment for offenders to serve as deterrence for serious economic crimes of customs and excise oriented, thereby encouraging more revenue in the area of fine payment.

Although the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) had expressed

pleasure over the enactment of the new customs Act into law, Customs Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement issued over the weekend, however, disclosed that the effective date for the full implementation of the legislation would be decided as a matter of priority in due course.

Nonetheless, NCSB, chaired by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has confirmed the appointment of five Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs) and

Apapa, Ajeromi Residents in Disarray Over Collapse of Ijora Bridge

Nume Ekeghe

Residents of Apapa and Ajeromi were left reeling when a vital Ijoba bridge connecting their town to the outside world collapsed, plunging the residents into a nightmarish commuting ordeal.

On May 16, the bridge connecting Lagos Island and Iddo to Ijora and Apapa succumbed to its demise. According to initial investigations, the collapse was attributed to the malicious activities of vandals, who compromised the bridge’s structural integrity.

The Federal Ministry of Works swiftly dispatched their contractor to assess the damage and initiate repairs, but the duration of the road closure remains uncertain.

have significantly restricted our movement, turning what used to be a 20-minute journey from Lagos Island to Apapa into a grueling four-hour ordeal, sometimes even longer.”

Mr. Chukwudi Obi, a businessman who relied on the bridge for transportation of goods, expressed his frustration. “This collapse is not just an inconvenience; it has dealt a severe blow to our livelihoods,” Obi lamented. “We need immediate action to rebuild the bridge and restore normalcy to our lives.”

15 Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs) of customs during its recent 57th regular meeting.

According to Maiwada, the DCGs include M Abba-Kura, DCG Enforcement Inspection and Investigation; AG Saidu, DCG Human Resource Development; JP Ajoku, DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives; BA Adeniyi, DCG Strategic Research and Policy, and GA Itotoh, DCG/Commander Training and Doctrine Command.

The ACGs include O. Peters, ACG/Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘C’; AI Alfa, ACG Strategic Research

Residents of Apapa and Ajeromi find themselves ensnared in an arduous and time-consuming commute as they strive to return home. The closure of the vital bridge has redirected traffic through the already congested Costain route, which is perpetually crowded with fuel tankers and trailers en route to the fuel depots and Apapa port.

Brig-Gen Ayo-Vaughan (Rtd), Chairman of the Apapa GRA Residents Association (AGRA), expressed his deep concern, stating, “It is very unfortunate that the collapse of the bridge exacerbates our already dire situation. The ongoing repairs

The collapse of the bridge has cut off Apapa and Ajeromi communities, causing immense disruption to daily life. The road has been closed indefinitely, leaving residents facing arduous and lengthy detours to reach their destinations. The Federal Ministry of Works has assured the community that their contractor is on-site to evaluate the damage and carry out the necessary repairs. However, the timeline for reopening the bridge remains uncertain. To alleviate the plight of the affected residents, AGRA has engaged in discussions with the management of the National Art Theatre, seeking access for residents from Costain to Ijora Oloye. This alternative route would alleviate the burden on the congested road and ease the hardships faced by commuters.

AXA Mansard Records 13% Growth in GWP, Implements IFRS-17

Ebere Nwoji

AXA Mansard Insurance

Plc, a member of the AXA Group and a global insurance and asset management firm has said that its Insurance revenues rose by 13 per cent to N19.4 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

The company said following the implementation of the IFRS17 and IFRS9 accounting standards, which became effective from January 1, 2023 gross earned premiums (Insurance revenues) now becomes the principal revenue indicator.

Giving a breakdown of the company’s performance

in its unaudited financial report for the period, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Ngozi Ola-Israel said the company grew its own Life & Savings by 23 percent to N4.7 billion while Health rose by 23 to N7.5 billion.

According to her, Property, and Casualty insurance went down by two percent standing at N7.3 billion, while gross written premium grew by 20 percent to N34.4 billion.

Also Life and Savings grew by 20 percent to N6.88 billion with Health up by 22 percent to N12.9 billion and Property & Casualty up by 19 percent to N14.9 billion.

She further said that commercial activity of insurance operations would now be reported using insurance (earned) revenues as against gross written premiums (“GWP”).

The reinsurance expenses according to her would now be reflected as “net expenses from reinsurance contracts held with the main difference from what was previously reported being the netting of commissions received and claims recoveries from assumed reinsurance businesses while asset management, commercial activity continued to be measured on revenues.

NEM Insurance Establishes Life, Health Management Firms

Ebere Nwoji

The on going expansion strategy adopted by NEM Insurance plc has culmination in the company’s establishment of a health management organisation and plan for a establishment of life insurance firm.

The company’s Chairman Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, disclosed this at the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the firm in Lagos, adding that the expansion strategy, led to the establishment of NEM Health Limited, which was incorporated in 2022 and commenced operation in 2023.

Ayebae noted that at the meeting, the company’s board had recommended a dividend of 30 kobo per N1 ordinary shares amounting to N1,504 943,330, payable to shareholders subject to deduction of withholding tax at the appropriate rate.

He stated that in line with the companys policy of enhancing the knowledge of members of staff and improving their skills on the job, the management sent over 90 per cent of the staff on various trainings, workshops and conferences during the year under review.

He said good working tools and working environment were also provided for better performances and that deserving, members of staff were promoted during the year.

He also informed the meeting that two executive directors of the company retired in 2022 after a meritorious services in the

company.

“Its pertinent to appreciate two executive directors that retired in 2022 after decades of meritorious service to our great company, they are Messrs. Adebayo S.J and Odamah M.A., wishing the duo brilliant success in their future endeavors.

“We give glory to Almighty God who has consistently been our guide and helper.

Our excellent progressive performances have been commendable. Hence, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the GMD/CEO, management and members of staff, who have been so dedicated, hardworking and focused in achieving the set goals. Also, the commitment and cooperation of the Board members are highly appreciated,” he said.

NDIC Takes Money Savings CampaignAwareness to Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), at the weekend took its awareness programme to Edokpolo Grammar School, Benin City, on the need to inculcate the habit of saving money despite the fact that they still in school and are yet to assume paid jobs.

The awareness programme with the theme, “Build Your Future and be Smart About Money”, was part of the 2023 Financial Literacy Day: Plan Your Money Plant Your Future” of the corporate body

Speaking at the event held at the premises of the school, NDIC Controller, Benin Zonal Office, Mrs. Patraa Akhere, disclosed that the financial literacy is an event that is

done every year, adding that it began about 11 years ago.

She said the Global Money Week is an annual awareness raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people from an early age are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitude and behaviour necessary to make good financial decision and ultimately achieve well-being and financial resilience.

Akhere noted that since the inception of the programme more that a decade ago, more than 53 million children and young people have benefited from it.

She taught the student on how to earn money, manage money, invest money and how to use money to help other in the society.

‘Investment in Fintech Will Deepen Financial Inclusion, Eradicate Poverty’

James Emejo in Abuja

The Managing Director/Chief

Executive,

Tangerine General Insurance, Mr. Mayowa Adeduro, has said the adoption of Financial Technology fintech remained a critical tool for financial inclusion and poverty eradication in the country. He said there is a fundamental need for investment in infrastructural development including IT and Fintech as currently obtained in developed countries.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Nigeria Fintech23 Conference in

Lagos, Adeduro told THISDAY that there is a nexus between poverty, education and financial inclusion, pointing out that the federal government needed many stakeholders’ support to achieve the goal.

He said the lack of financial inclusion could subject over 133 million Nigerians to the risk of extreme poverty. According to him, “The banking sector just has 50 per cent of the adults in the banking circle. It is even worse in the insurance sector which has less than one per cent penetration level.

“To resolve this, the adoption of fintech has been highlighted as a critical tool for the financial inclusion drive. There is a need for fundamental investment of infrastructural development in IT and Fintech as being done in Europe and other developed economies.”

He said there is also a need for massive education and awareness on financial literacy stressing that the current high illiteracy rate cannot sustain the type of financial infrastructure being envisaged. He also urged companies to do more in investing in educating the people.

Stakeholders Count Gains of Collaboration with Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute, China

Gbenga Sodeinde

The internationalisation of higher education (IHE) is a major force shaping and challenging higher education worldwide and a central feature of higher education policy and practice.

A major development challenge in Nigeria has been addressing labour market skills shortages, meeting industry-specific skills demands and facilitating the transfer of technical skills and capabilities for operating large industrial projects to Nigerian citizens.

Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute, a leading public college in China supported by the Chinese government under the Belt and Road Initiative, has been building TVET teachers’ capacity in Nigeria through various interventions.

The Association of Proprietors of Innovation and Vocational Institutions formally presented some curricula produced by Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute, China and stakeholders in Nigeria to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) about three years ago.

Commenting on the development, an expert in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as the consultant Shaanxi Polytechnic country representative, Mr Julius Ayodele, said the Federal Ministry of Education approved the collaboration of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute with polytechnics in Nigeria through a letter conveyed to Shaanxi Polytechnic by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in February 2021.

Ayodele noted that with the approval of the Federal Ministry of Education, many polytechnics and their students have benefited in one way or the other from Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute programmes in Nigeria, noting that “some of the polytechnics in Nigeria comprising federal, state and private have signed partnership agreement with Shaanxi polytechnic.

“The capacity development programmes that have been completed by Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute include: Shared Curriculum with Nigeria Polytechnics, Domestication of Curriculum, Curriculum Review, Online Workshops, Winter Camp with the focus on Chinese language and cultural awareness,” stated Ayodele.

He explained further, “Advisory and consultative work with Polytechnics on how to improve quality of their provision, Sharing training resources with some Nigeria Polytechnics, meeting with stakeholders online to discuss

ideas and creative ways Chinese TVET institutions will be able to support Nigeria Polytechnics.”

Ayodele explained that the polytechnic was helping to improve the quality of the curriculum and that its support will help improve the capacities of Nigerian polytechnics and provide employability skills which will help solve unemployment, particularly among the youth.

Reacting, the acting Rector of the First Irish Business School, Lagos, Dr Louis Odubanjo, who participated in the signing of the partnership deal and was involved in the curriculum development, as well as adaptation of some of the polytechnic programmes for Nigerians, stated that the curriculum development and adaptation for use in Nigeria by partner schools have been successful but need to speed up. The educational evaluation specialist said, “As it stands now, the process awaits National Critique by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Nigeria. The completion of the National Critique exercise is important to begin the use of that curriculum in Nigeria. The support for equipment and tools (hardware and software) and manpower development are all essential.”

Similarly, the Rector of St Winifred Innovation Institute, Dr Andrews Jegede, opined that the contract with the Shaanxi school to domesticate curriculum for Nigerians was carried out successfully.

Jegede said he was able to develop and domesticate the following curriculum of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute; NID and HNID Networking and System Security, NID and HNID Digital Multimedia Technology, NID and HNID Welding and Fabrication Automation, NID and HNID Computer Software Engineering.

Also, the Dean of Research and Innovative at the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara, Dr Grace Korter, the contact person for the collaboration between the institution and institute, said the collaboration was in curricula cooperation, student internship in China, education officials and school

Nigerian Teacher Wins 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Regional Awards

Funmi Ogundare

A teacher at St Michael RCM Primary School, Ogunpa Lunloye, Abeokuta, Ogun, Akeem Badru, has been named the regional winner of the 2023 Cambridge dedicated teacher awards for Central and Southern Africa.

Instituted by Cambridge University Press, the awards are a global competition which celebrates the efforts of teachers around the world. This year, the competition received over 11,000 nominations from 99 countries, an increase of over 30 per cent compared to last year’s.

This year, Badru was named regional winner in Nigeria for his achievement in ‘First Step Initiatives’, a STEM project where he uses craft and model making to promote inquisitiveness, creativity and critical thinking.

In addition, as TeachSDG ambassador, he financed the

construction of a borehole for the village as his contribution towards the achievement of 2030 SDGs and to solve the problem of water-related diseases that keep his pupils out of school.

He will receive £500 worth of books or digital resources, along with a Cambridge dedicated teacher awards trophy and promotion for him and his school. He will also feature on a thank you page at the front of new Cambridge University Press Education textbooks from February 2024.

The Publishing Director for Education at Cambridge University Press, Mr Matthew Walker, said the achievements of its 2023 regional winners and the nominations it received for the competition speak volumes for the value of teachers’ roles and their positive impact on students.

“We hope that this recognition will continue to

inspire teachers to deliver exceptional teaching and encourage the next generation of learners to aim high in their ambitions,” he stated.

He added that the global competition, now in its fifth year, gives students, parents and other teachers the chance to nominate a current primary or secondary teacher for something wonderful they have done.

Speaking on his win, Akeem Badru thanked Cambridge University Press for the award, noting that it will encourage him to work harder and motivate other teachers in the country.

“The teaching profession is a noble job, and I am glad you appreciate the important roles that teachers play in shaping the minds, characters and lives of people in society,” Badru. “Through First Step Initiatives, I will continue to help children build the skills that will allow them to unlock their potential.”

leaders’ visit to China.

Korter said to scale up the mechanical, electrical-electronic and computer engineering technology departments, the polytechnic also collaborated with the institute, adding that a new department, Urban Rail Engineering Technology, will be established.

Capacity building for staff, staff and student exchange programmes, curriculum domestication, Chinese village, institute, and restaurant is the collaboration’s focus for an improved academic system.

Korter maintained that Offa polytechnic took part in the 2022 virtual winter camp for Chinese language and traditional clothing handicrafts at the Shaanxi institute on December 12 to 23, 2022.

While trying to get across to Offa polytechnic students, many students from other institutions, including Nigerian universities, showed interest and participated in the winter camp.

The 10-day virtual winter camp exposed students to traditional Chinese fashion, culture, listening and speaking, dancing and Kung Fu arts. Six of “our students were able to complete

the camp session and issued certificates,” signed MoU to commence the Chinese Language Centre at Offa, submitted a proposal requesting collaboration on curriculum development for its trainers in Rail Technology Engineering and Renewable Energy Technology Engineering to enable take-off of the two programmes at the polytechnic (domestication of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute curriculum, Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute 2023).

Korter noted that the collaboration was successful and appreciated the dean of International Education School, Shaanxi polytechnic, China, Mr Qin Jingjun and the TVET Skills Expert, Mr Ayodele Julius, for their passion for seeing the Federal Polytechnic Offa succeed in all areas of collaboration.

“Our request is for the management to hasten the process to enable commencement of Chinese Restaurant at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa,” said Korter. “I implore other stakeholders to key into the efforts of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute to promote academic culture for a better society. We look forward to a more favourable working relationship.”

ABUAD, a Catalyst for Change in Nigeria, Says Afe Babalola

Gbenga Sodeinde i

The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, says the university has become a major catalyst for positive change in society in Nigeria, Africa and across the globe.

Babalola stated this when the Director of the Smart Infrastructure Research, Department of Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, Prof Bamidele Adebisi, presented a lecture titled ‘Smart Infrastructure: Catalyst for sustainable development’ to staff and students at the Alfa Belgore Hall of the university.

While describing ABUAD as a catalyst for development, he said the whole of ABUAD itself is becoming a global brand of excellence as the university’s students are catalysts anywhere they go.

“I wanted my university to become one of the best hundred in the world. Today we are not only number one in Nigeria, a country of 221 universities,

but we are also ranked number 341 in the whole world out of a million universities,” he noted. “so when I see anything good, anything that can bring change, I look for it and bring it here.”

The ABUAD founder pointed out that for Nigeria to meet its human development targets of dramatically increased access to housing, education, electricity, food, security, etc., there would be a radical shift in its educational sector by embracing smart infrastructural development through ICT.

According to Adebisi, smart infrastructure is a contemporary approach in urban planning and design for sustainable infrastructure development because of its integrated ICT approach to sustainable development.

The don posited that smart infrastructure approaches could be applied to achieving sustainable development to bring about “smart” interventions in the socio-economic status of the people, the environment and society.

He highlighted areas smart technology development approaches such as smart concepts, virtual city development, and other intervention mechanisms could be deployed to address the challenges of urban settlement and achieve sustainable development.

Specifically, Adebisi explained that a smart, sustainable city is an innovative city that uses ICTs and other means to improve the quality of life of the people.

He pointed out that the challenges of sustainable urban development are rising daily, adding that the normal planning approaches to tackle these challenges are not yielding the desired results hence the applicability of smart infrastructure to achieve sustainable urban development.

The Nigerian-born scholar and ICT guru submitted that only sustainable development with ICT compliance would help strengthen community bonds, improve quality of life and provide hope for a better future.

A team from Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute, China during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja

Expert Wants Government to Subsidise Solar Equipment to Boost Digital Learning

Uchechukwu Nnaike

Worried about the unstable power supply in the country, the Chief Executive Officer, Zuma Marketing Limited, Mr. Okechukwu Ozoemelam, has appealed to the government to subsidise solar equipment to support the transition to e-learning, which requires constant power supply.

He said the government should also give grants or waivers to providers or distributors of modern teaching aids and other e-learning equipment to make them affordable for schools and other educational institutions.

Ozoemelam, who said this in a chat with journalists in Lagos, said adoption of digital learning is the only way Nigerian schools can avoid knowledge deficit among students, and be in line with 21st century learning.

According to him, Zuma Marketing Limited deals in audio-visual products and integration, modern teaching aids, and educational resources, and has provided thousands of clients with reliable and cost-efficient technology solutions for their collaboration, presentation and educational needs since 2012.

“Our mission is to digitize the learning environment in Africa by offering the best modern teaching and learning aids designed to help organisations achieve more,” he said.

Emphasising on the LEAD Interactive Display Board, he said it is designed to enhance and maximize the effectiveness of meetings, virtual learning and collaboration within a work environment.

He added that the company’s interactive board is unique, as it comes with STEM education resources which users can have a lifetime access for free.

On the benefits of the interactive white board to students, teachers and schools, Ozoemelam said it makes learning easy for students because it

Stakeholders Seek Transformation in Open, Distance, e-Learning

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Stakeholders, including scholars, researchers, and other Distance Learning practitioners nationwide, have called for transformation in open, distance and E-Learning in Nigeria.

They made the call during the inaugural conference of the Open Distance and E-Learning Association of Nigeria (ODeLAN), held in collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) at Backcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun.

the country. The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, while delivering the keynote address titled, ‘Micro-Credentialing as an Acceptable Model for Open, Distance and eLearning - A Path to Developing a Policy Framework’, called for embracing of micro-credentialing as an acceptable model for open, distance, and eLearning in Nigeria.

degree programmes.

While noting that microcredentials are no longer alien to the Nigerian educational system, he said, “We can say we already have an appreciable subscription to the notion of micro-credentialing in Nigeria.”

and educational delivery following the watershed Covid-19 pandemic.

comes with animated pictures, diagrams and speaker, to give students in-depth understanding of the subjects and topics being taught.

“Because of the collaborative nature of the interactive white board, teachers engage students either by grouping them or individually, based on their learning capacity,” he added.

He said it also enhances students’ presentation skills and helps them to retain what they were taught.

For teachers, he said the deployment of interactive board affords them the opportunity to undergo training to meet up with 21st century learning. He said it also helps teachers to develop personal resources, and enables them to annotate on an existing file. He added that to the interactive board gives teachers control in the classroom and to carry all categories of learners along.

For schools, the CEO said interactive board helps them to produce world-class graduates; attract more students; boost the schools’ reputation locally and internationally; and helps schools to monitor the activities and performance of teachers.

He urged all school owners and prospective school proprietors to have a vision to produce quality graduates, which he said could be achieved with quality teachers and technology.

Trekk Scooters Launches e-Scooters Sharing Service at LASU

Trekk Scooters, Nigeria’s leading e-scooters sharing company, is excited to announce the launch of its services at Lagos State University (LASU). Students and faculty members will be able to rent and ride escooters on campus, providing a convenient and sustainable mode of transportation.

The launch of Trekk scooters at the university marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to provide efficient and eco-friendly transportation solutions to communities worldwide.

“We are thrilled to introduce our e-scooter services to the community,” said Isaac Oyedokun, CEO. “Our goal is to provide students and faculty members with a safe, convenient, and sustainable mode of transportation that reduces traffic congestion and promotes

The conference with the theme, ‘Global Spaces, Local Contexts: Digital Transformations and Creative Innovations in Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL)’, was attended by over 200 participants from 40 institutions within and outside

He noted the need for innovation in distance learning, suggesting the replacement of the nation’s academic programmes with a cocktail of short courses across all distance education institutions in Nigeria to be the goal of the conference, stating that micro-credentials programmes are often designed to be more flexible in their delivery, compared to traditional

Peter, however, identified some challenges facing microcredentials, including policy and regulatory bottlenecks, the limited number of practitioners proficient in open, distance, and e-learning principles, and the question of the productive economy being amenable to the notion of micro-credential.

The Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Ademola Tayo, underscored the importance of the conference as the global space is witnessing an unprecedented revolution in technological advancements

The Director of Babcock University Centre for Open Distance And E-Learning (BUCODeL) and chair of LOC, ODeLAN Conference 2023, Prof. Mobolanle Sotunsa, in her welcome address, reiterated the importance of distance and e-learning as the future of education in Nigeria.

Sotunsa, who disputed what she described as the false notion that regular-mode students are superior to their ODL counterparts, noted that Elearning students have access to high-quality learning resources, stating that because e-learning is technologically oriented, its students are groomed to have an advantage over regular students in this area.

2022 NPA Results Will be Ready in July, Says UBEC

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Dr. Hamid Bobboyi has disclosed that the results of the 2022 National Personnel Audit (NPA) for basic education institutions in the country, which was conducted last year will be released in July.

He said the document is expected to be launched alongside the National As-

sessment of Learning.

Bobboyi said this in Abuja at a one-day colloquium with the theme ‘The Nigerian Child: Dynamics of Educational Opportunities’, organised by the commission in honour of late Professor Gidado Tahir, the former executive secretary.

“We have always been engaging in this kind of colloquium, we have outstanding research team and we are also processing the results for the

2022 National Personnel Audit for school census as well as assessment of learning in education, which is one of the largest in Africa that will give us an idea of whether our children are learning or not and areas which we are having difficulties.”

He said the whole idea is to see how thr commission can address those issues within the context of the legacies that have been left behind by Gidado.

“UBEC has always involved in this kind of project because we have always believed that you need to engage, discuss and strategize and get involved in research project that can help you understand better those challenges and how best to address to them.

The UBEC boss stressed the need for the National Population Commission to conduct census which will help UBEC in carrying out its functions.

TETFund Donates Textbooks to Public Tertiary Institutions

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

a greener environment.”

To use the e-scooter service, students and faculty members can download the Trekk mobile app, sign up, and locate the nearest available e-scooter on campus. With a simple scan of the QR code, users can unlock the e-scooter and start their ride. The app also provides information on available e-scooters, payment options, and safety guidelines.

Launching Trekk scooters at Lagos State University is a significant step towards sustainable transportation in Nigeria. The company plans to expand its services to other universities and cities in the country, providing a reliable and eco-friendly mode of transportation for all. Trekk Scooters is active at PanAtlantic University, Lagos and Redeemer’s University, Ede.

About 2,253 textbooks of 12 titles, sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), have been distributed to federal and state colleges of education in the country.

The books were written by scholars of the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE).

Speaking at the distribution during the 25th Conference of the NAE in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny

Echono, said the fund would continue to support the production of vital textbooks for use in public tertiary institutions.

Echono also states that TETFund would sustain the partnership with the NAE, describing the academy as the mother of all academics in the country whose members have been at the forefront of pursuing the dissemination and spread of knowledge and development of skills in children.

‘’Books are the bedrock of all learning whether in digital or hard format, books play a very important role as reference materials for scholars, students and all who seek knowledge,” he said.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, while appreciating TETFund for the books, called for the inclusion of Private colleges of education as beneficiaries

to improve their libraries.

In his remark, the chairman of the Committee of Provost Colleges of Education, Prof. Farouk Haruna, urged TETFund to support Nigerian scholars’ local production of textbooks.

The President of the NAE, Prof. Kabiru Isyaku, said the group serves as a forum for Nigerian educationists at the highest level, whose opinion on education commands professional authority and respect.

CPE Tasks Government on Eradicating Examination Malpractice

Funmi Ogundare

Concerned Parents and Educators Network, a group committed to driving change in the education sector, has expressed concern about the rampant examination malpractice that plagues the system in Nigeria.

The founder, Mrs. Yinka

Ogunde, regretted that the integrity of examinations had been compromised due to the widespread malpractices that have become all too common. She said the group believes that the Nigerian government has the responsibility to take immediate action to eradicate the menace from our education

system.

She urged the Nigerian government to take a strong stance against the menace by implementing measures to ensure examinations’ integrity.

This, Ogunde noted, includes the use of technology to monitor and prevent cheating, as well as harsh penalties for those caught

engaging in malpractice.

She added, “As concerned parents and educators, we are committed to working with the government to eradicate examination malpractice from our education system and ensure that our children receive the quality education they deserve.”

Ozoemelam

Programs Manager, Sahara Foundation, Mobo Akpene (middle) and a representative of STEM Cafe with students of Igbobi College and Oshodi High School, at the launch of STEAMers 2.0 in Lagos... recently

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 22May-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

Customs: Hamza Gummi Tipped to Replace Hameed Ali, Made Subordinate to PSO

Eromosele Abiodun

The much expected assumption of a career customs officer as Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) may not happen as expected as Deputy Comptroller Hamza Gummi is being considered for the office but will be subordinate to a principal staff officer (PSO).

It was learnt that top

All Progressives Congress politicians from the North West have started rooting for Gummi, who is presently in charge of tariff and trade

The plan by the group promoting his emergence is

to achieve a CG in uniform that will be subject to an unseen PSO who will be brought from outside the service.

This, according to sources within the customs, is to sustain the legacies of current Comptroller General of the NCS, Hameed Ali including continuation of the customs modernisation project that has become controversial and subject of litigation. They believe that DCG Hamza Gummi will be the most amenable to continuation of Ali’s plan.

Ali a retired colonel from Nigerian Army who has held sway as CGC for over

seven years has been unable to pull the $3.1b customs modernisation deal through due to perceived differences by different parties.

Under the present arrangement, there is a PSO, who is a serving general in the army, but working at the customs headquarters which many customs officers view as an anomaly in a customs management setting. Several customs officers who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed belief in an improved paramilitary service when a serving customs officer is assigned to lead the NCS.

Analyst at Vetiva Forecasts Strong Growth Prospects For Safaricom

Kayode Tokede

Analyst at Vetiva Research has predicted strong growth prospects for Safaricom Plc, a leading telecommunications provider in Kenya.

The SSA Telecoms Analyst at Vetiva, Victoria Ejugwu, in a report titled “Positioned for long-term growth” highlighted that this projection is hinged on the opportunities that exist in the telecom market in East Africa, in which Safaricom has positioned itself to uptake.

Additionally, she noted that data services and mobile money are two strongholds for the company, as these business segments remained under-tapped, due to the low

coverage within the region.

Thus, she asserted that these service segments would remain growth drivers for the company both in the Kenyan market, and the East African market at large.

She also noted that the company has a strong brand positioning and thus would remain very competitive in the market. She, however, highlighted that downside risk to growth remains weak macro-economic factors.

According to Ejugwu, “the weak macro environment has a dwindling effect on purchasing power, and that might ultimately dampen demand for telco services.”

The report also noted that

the changing regulatory landscape could be a challenge for Safaricom, as players continue to be pressured by regulators.

She asserted, “In Kenya, the heavy regulatory policies of the Communications Authority of Kenya have slowed the growth and expansion of some major players. One instance was the downward revision of data and voice tariffs.

Also, more recently, the Authority gave a directive to mobile network operators (MNOs) to block SIM cards that were yet to be registered. However, despite this drawback, the sector has proved to be resilient, and has maintained growth thus far.

Abbey Mortgage Bank Mgt. to Engage Shareholders on Strategies, Future Prospects

Kayode Tokede

The management of Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc is set to engage its shareholders on the company’s strategies and future prospects at the forthcoming 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place in Lagos.

According to the company, the AGM will be held virtually and be accessible through a secure online platform for attendees and members of the public that intend to observe as

the board and executive management reflect on the bank’s accomplishments.

The AGM is to showcase the Bank’s 2022 financial performance and provide an opportunity for the management to highlight its strides toward technological innovations, customer-centrism, and commitment to sustainable banking practices.

The MD/CEO of Abbey Mortgage Bank, Mr. Mobolaji Adewumi in a statement noted that “We are excited to convene with our esteemed

MARKET INDICATORS

shareholders for our 31st Annual General Meeting to provide details of our progressive journey over the past year and plans on what looks like an illustrious future for the banks, and you.

Adewumi stated in conclusion “Our committed shareholders, customers, and stakeholders. We look forward to sharing our accomplishments and future strategies and receiving valuable input from our shareholders”

RIF Trust Marks Second Anniversary in Nigeria

Sunday Ehigiator

Leading international citizenship and residency by investment advisory firm, RIF Trust, over the weekend celebrated its second anniversary in Nigeria, with a commitment to keep providing Security, Mobility, Investment Opportunities, Lifestyle, Employment and Education (S.M.I.L.E) to its clients globally

Speaking at the anniversary event, RIF Trust’s, B2B Regional Director and Managing Director RIF Trust Nigeria, Ranny Muasher said the firm desires to “continue to expand our business operations and engage with more Nigerians, including in Abuja and Lagos, on what freedom is about and how RIF Trust is committed to

S.M.I.L.E. (Security, Mobility, Investment Opportunities, Lifestyle, Employment and Education) to our clients globally.”

The event featured a Luxury Networking Experience, Anniversary Ball and Charity Auction and Football Charity Match, which saw prominent and high-profile local and international individuals attend the events in celebration of the brand’s second anniversary in Nigeria.

Speaking on the ‘Anniversary Ball and Charity Auction’, the firm’s Country Manager, Zuberu Kadiri, said, “The Anniversary Ball and Charity Auction is one of the many ways we celebrate our mission to create freedom for families with the second citizenship and residency programmes while giving back to some of the most

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

vulnerable members of society.

“We had items on auction, including a signed portrait of our Global Brand Ambassador, which was created by local artist Osa Seven to raise funds for The Special Foundation. We are thrilled to bring together the local community to support the less privileged segments of our society.”

The firm rounded off its anniversary week with an exhilarating Charity Football Match, which took place at Astro Soccer Nigeria Ltd, Astroturf 2000 on Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where RIF Trust and Latitude Group’s Global Brand Ambassador, John Mikel Obi and Award Winning Comedian and Nollywood Director, Bovi Ugboma captained each team.

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).

L – R: Official of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Mr. Jonah Aniefiok; Deputy Director and representative of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Ishaya Abednego; Founder & President African Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Institute and Author of the Federal State Investment Promotion Strategy, Dr Nicky Okoye at the Federal State Investment Promotion Strategy Retreat for Federal and State Investment Promotion officials in Lagos…recently

NEM Insurance Shareholders Approve 30 Kobo per N1 Ordinary Shares

Kayode Tokede

The shareholders of NEM Insurance Plc have approved 30 kobo per N1 ordinary shares, representing N1.5 billion.

The approval was given at the company’s 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM), which held recently in Lagos.

Speaking to shareholders, the Chairman, NEM Insurance, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, disclosed that the insurance company gross claims

incurred in 2022 was N12.3 billion, an increase of 7.9 per cent over that of the preceding period that was N11.6 billion.

He said net claims paid for the year was N7.6 billion, while that of the preceding year was N5.5 billion; resulting in an increase of 38 per cent.

According to him, “The Board during the year under review supervised the management’s efficiency that brought about a reduction in the management

expenses from N4.2 billion in 2021 to N3.7billion in 2022.

“The Group’s Profit before Tax (PBT) for the year under review was N5.5 billion and N4.5 billion in 2021, an increase of 21per cent. The Parent Company’s PBT was N5.5 billion for 2022 and N4.5 billion for 2021, which is an increase of same 21 per cent.”

He said the group financial assets increased by 32.6per cent while Total Assets and Total Equity improved by 19.9per cent and

18.7 per cent respectively. He appreciated the shareholders who have been consistent in their zest to add to the growth of the company.

“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the GMD/CEO, management and members of staff, who have been so dedicated, hardworking and focused in achieving the set goals. Also, the commitment and cooperation of the Board members are highly appreci-

ated,” he added. The GMD/CEO, NEM Insurance, Mr. Tope Smart, said: “Notwithstanding the challenges stated above, our Company was able to post good results due to our resilience as well as the strategies formulated and implemented by the Board and Management of our Company.

“A review of our operation shows that our Company recorded an impressive performance in the year 2022 as all performance indi-

ces improved compared with the year 2021 results. As mentioned above, notwithstanding the challenging operating environment, we achieved the above results due to our determination and the robust strategies put in place.” Smart added, “The results would not have been achieved but for the massive support and loyalty of our clients and brokers who have been there for us over the years. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF MAY/23/23

Lest We Forget: Corruption Fights Back!

By Stanley Ukaegwu

The greatest trouble with history is that it casts stubborn, hard shadows! George Santayana, Spanish- American Philosopher and Writer, once noticed this when he said: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.’ This is profound. It is also prophetic. In its modern parallelism, it bears direct congruence to what is playing out in the public space against the spirited efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and its Chair, Abdulrasheed Bawa to tear apart the hydra headed monster of corruption in our midst.

Bello Matawalle, embattled Zamfara State governor is acting out a script. It is an old script. Faced with a corruption overload of N70billion and the attendant investigation of the sleaze by the Commission, he is crying blue murder and splashing mud on the EFCC and its leadership. This is expected and the public need not lose any sIeep over it. It will be uncharitable to beat a child and forbid him from crying. Matawalle has an inalienable right to cry, except that his lachrymal efforts should be properly directed.

From the information put out by the EFCC in the aftermath of his outburst, showed that the governor went on a contract bazaar, involving 100 companies in a state reeling in first degree poverty and privation. Funds sourced from an old generation bank for projects are funnelled into wild contracts with contractors mobilised robustly, some paid 60% of contract sums, some 50% and some more than that. A particular Abuja real estate operator was paid N6billion for a contrived contract of N10billion, another one paid over N3billion and others with various degrees of payments. The trouble really is that they were paid for doing nothing, with no service rendered, no contract terms and no visible work done anywhere. This is simply unconscionable. The governor knew all these, yet chose to take on the Commission on issues bearing no relevance to his competence.

What is Matawalle’s competence about EFCC’s asset recovery and disposal? What is his business with plea bargain arrangements? I recall, and most

Nigerians will remember, that in 2022, EFCC did a widely- advertised and publicised autioning of recovered assets across its offices and zones, with every extant law and procedure fully followed. Government’s licensed auctioneers, Bureau of Public Procurement and other relevant agencies were all involved. And I understand that proceeds of the auction were paid into the Consolidated Revenue Accounts of the government and the whole nation applauded the Commission for its transparency and credibility. So, where was the Zamfara’s state governor then? Busy with his contract awards?

It is ludicrous that Matawalle could challenge the EFCC’s plea bargain procedures which betrays his ignorance of the enabling laws empowering the Commission to go about them. It is even comical that he chose to criticise the Investigative latitude of the Commission. More preposterous is his claim that the EFCC’s Chair, Bawa demanded $2million bribe from him. What will Bawa do with the bribe? Close the corruption case against him? Destroy all the weighty investigations against him? Why did the governor have to wait till now to tell the world about the bribe demand? Does it seem feasible that

a character like Matawalle would turn down a bribe demand, if such actually happened?

It is evident that the nation is once again on the tumultuous route of desperate politically exposed persons hounding EFCC and its leadership. Matawalle is testing the grounds. Others may follow shortly. It is a programmed distraction and deliberate onslaught on the image and Integrity of the Commission. He has a good company in some civil society organisations making wild claims about the EFCC. They have their pay masters and the agenda is similar: give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

Now, where do all these shenanigans lead us? Cold surrender? It is often said that “ eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”. Vigilance? Yes! Nigerians need to be more vigilant and circumspect at this time. The fight against corruption cannot and should not be expected to be a gentleman’s war. Corruption is an industry and its players are experienced actors. The onus is on every stakeholder in the anti- graft project to wake up and stand shoulder to shoulder with the EFCC in its determined efforts to tackle the scourge of economic and financial crimes. Every issue should be weighed on its merits. Blackmailers should be seen for who they are and be tackled more frontally.

It is not enough for us to see the tantrums, sabre rattling and name- calling of EFCC and its leadership, as usual stocks - in- trade of fraudsters in moments of national transition like this. We should challenge them collectively and break the malignant culture. If past leaders of the EFCC: Nuhu Ribadu, Ibrahim Lamorde, Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Magu were stampeded out of office, this should not be taken as a norm. Abdulrasheed Bawa has done remarkably well and outstanding in every respect. He does not deserve to be painted black by characters that have all their hands soiled in shady deals. If corruption is fighting back, we should also come in the fray and fight it to a standstill. Matawalle should come forward and answer all the questions posed by his unflattering stewardship in Zamfara State. Only then can we accord him any serious attention.

Gombe and serial betrayers

By Ikenna Ogenna

Gombe State is among the few states where the military interregnum did not last long. This is because barely three years after it was carved out from Bauchi State, Nigeria returned to presidential democracy.

In the governorship election in 1999, it was Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu that won and therefore became the state first democratically-elected governor of the state.

But, because the euphoria of the state’s creation was very high, Governor Hashidu seemed to have been overwhelmed by the challenges confronting the state. He struggled for the right strategies to adopt in developing the state.

Consequently, the people decided to by-pass him in the 2003 governorship poll, when he stood on the same All Peoples Party (APP) to seek a second term mandate.

That led to the electorate casting massive block of votes to elect a visionary young and gifted leader, Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed Goje, as governor in the 2003 general elections. By the time Goje was elected as governor, there was nothing to suggest that he was either overwhelmed or confused as to how to pilot the affairs of the young state.

Of course, before his election as governor, Goje was armed with rich political and private sector experience. Having served in the Bauchi State House of Assembly as well as, in the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel as the Minister of State, he was clear-headed about what direction the executive should take to address the plights of the people.

But, most importantly, being a graduate of Political Science from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the governor went down to churn out impactful policies and programmes. In a short space of time, Gombe State started hugging national headlines on account of the prodigious developmental strides of Governor Goje.

Elected precisely three years after the United Nations declared the Millennium Development Goals, Goje, whose initials also spell MDG (Mohammed Danjuma Goje), embarked on aggressive expansion of access to quality healthcare and education, even as he moved to ensure the maximisation of Gombe State’s agricultural potentials.

As governor, Goje pursued very ambitious programmes and projects that lifted Gombe State from obscurity to star-status in the comity of Nigeria’s 36 states. Through these life changing projects in Healthcare, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Education, Poverty Reduction and Environmental protection, not many remembered that Gombe State was among the latest six states created by the military regime

of General Sani Abacha in 1996.

Today, the Gombe State University, Pantami International Stadium, and Gombe State Airport stand prominently as part of the Lionhearted courage of Goje’s administration. Apart from the state university, the Goje administration expanded the access of women and the girl-child to formal education, just as the government gave fillip to the cause of adult education, which led to the leap-frogging of literacy in the state. He passionately influenced the setting up of the College of Horticulture at Dadin Kowa in Yamaltu Deba Local Government.

It’s obvious Gombe State is heterogeneous society with predominantly native Muslim and Christian faithful and a sprinkling of traditionalists in Southern parts of the state. As such, to strike a sort of religious balance, the Gombe Central Mosque and Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Centre were built. Indeed, throughout Goje’s tenure as governor, there wasn’t any religious crisis or protest of discrimination unlike what has become the order of the day currently.

In recognition of his drive for peaceful coexistence

among different religions in the state, Goje was the only Muslim governor decorated with a ‘Peace Award’ by CAN youth wing in Abuja at an event attended by prominent Christian leaders including; Gen. Yakubu Gowon rtd, late Solomon Lar, Pastor William Kumuyi, Bishop John Onaiyekan among many others.

Although this piece was not motivated by the need to enumerate the achievements of the Goje administration in Gombe State, it is important to note that the state witnessed improvement in security and urban sanitation. That the state enjoyed relative peace and experienced improved access to safe drinking water could be traced to Goje’s background as one-time Secretary of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos.

This author was challenged to reflect on the political evolution of Gombe State up until this present moment of petty recriminations. Coming over from Bauchi State, where persons from the present area that constitute Gombe State played in the background, Goje’s efforts at grooming a pool of emergent leaders was superlative.

A significant feature of that policy of raising future leaders could be seen in the emergence of the current governor, Inuwa Yahaya as the Gombe State chief executive. Upon Goje’s electoral triumph against Hashidu in 2003, Inuwa was among the crop of inexperienced young hands the governor recruited into the state cabinet.

And, being intentional in his determination to provide an assemblage of experienced politicians from which Gombe people could tap for various leadership positions, Governor Goje retained Inuwa as his Finance Commissioner for the two-terms he served the state as governor.

However, perhaps eager to migrate to the high office of governor, Inuwa abridged his years of tutelage to contest the governorship ticket of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011. As a journalist, this writer could recall that based on the towering popularity of Governor Goje in the state, many contestants had lined up for the PDP ticket.

Of course, being Goje’s Finance Commissioner, Inuwa had jumped into the bandwagon, believing that the sound financial management and superb project conception and implementation of the Goje administration would redound to his electoral advantage.

However, just as wishes are not horses, that vaulting ambition to take the place of his principal crashed, as the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, dusted all the contenders to clinch the PDP governorship ticket. Dankwambo eventually won the main election.

Inuwa Yahaya could not benefit from that

masterstroke of continuity, because of all the plethora of contestants for the PDP governorship ticket, it was only him and Usman Bayero Nafada that approached the court to challenge what was evidently a transparent primary.

Until today, most of the losers at the primaries against Dankwambo are angry with Goje in the mistaken belief that he favoured him to clinched the ticket. But, miserably and despite shepherding him along in the mucky waters of politics, and ensuring that he won the 2011 governorship election, Dankwambo left a dagger at the back of his benefactor through his promulgated anti-Goje’s actions and inaction. What a payback!

However, as a father who is committed to a better future for his children, Goje overlooked Inuwa’s tantrums against him after the loss of the PDP ticket in 2011. That was why as the 2015 general elections approached, the former governor carried Inuwa on his back again to join the newly-minted All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tapping on Goje’s experience and rich fund of political goodwill, APC leaders had mounted pressures on the former governor to join them in the arduous task of confronting the ruling PDP to deliver the party. However, APC won at the Presidential election, but lost the governorship. The reason is not farfetched.

At the home front, Goje charitably acceded to Inuwa’s desperation to become governor. Pushing aside the strong reservations of well-meaning leaders and influential traditional rulers, Goje forgot Inuwa’s rebellious tantrums in 2011 and supported him for the APC governorship ticket at the expense of the then House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bayero Nafada. But, Senator Goje was severely cautioned against supporting Inuwa, because according to them supporting Inuwa would not earn him any reciprocal regard.

Nonetheless, what Goje could not do, the Gombe voters did: They turned their backs on Inuwa and re-elected Dankwambo for a second term. That Dankwambo survived what was later known as Buhari Tsunami in the North could be traced to a combination of factors, chiefly, because he was paired against a very unpopular candidate on the APC platform. Incredibly, Inuwa lost in the same state that Buhari’s got massive votes.

Yet, seeing Inuwa’s repeated failures as a dent on his political clout, in 2019, Goje again supported his governorship aspiration. The former governor took Inuwa around the 11 Local Government Areas of the state, pleading with the people to elect him as governor.

Abdulrasheed Bawa

Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed Goje

Bello Matawalle

Sanwo-Olu: Lagos Will Be Prudent in Deploying New N115bn Bond

Segun James

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu yesterday vowed to ensure that the new N115 billion bond just issued by the state government is well

utilised for the development of the state.

The governor spoke when he signed the 10-year 15.25 per cent Series 1 bond issuance due in 2033 and the N19. 815 million seven-year 14.675 per

cent ‘fixed return forward’ Ijarah Lease Sukuk due in 2030. He spoke at a ceremony held at the Lagos House, Ikeja to launch the bond.

Sanwo-olu said the proceeds from the issuance will be used

to finance priority projects aimed at improving the state’s infrastructure and fostering economic growth, in line with the state’s ‘THEMES’ agenda.

"Today is another significant day in Lagos State, with us

Vandalism: Apprehension as Nine TCN Towers Collapse

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), last night disclosed that nine of its towers, from towers 56 to tower 65 along the Papalanto/Abeokuta 132KV transmission line had collapsed due to the activities of vandals.

A statement by the General

Manager, Public Affairs of the company, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, said the towers located in the Obafemi Owode area of Ogun state were all massively vandalised, leading to their collapse.

She quoted the General Manager, Lagos Region, Mojeed Akintola, as saying that the towers' collapse was discovered

yesterday after a tripping was recorded, and a team was dispatched to trace the fault, leading to the discovery of the vandalised spot.

an alternate line, to enable Ibadan Distribution Company (Disco) distribute electricity to its customers whose supply is affected by the incident.

reaching another milestone in our commitment to deliver infrastructural, economic, and societal progress to the people of our great and excellent State.

“ As I renew my mandate in the coming days, these two issuances - which we will be allotted today - will provide the impetus for my administration to further drive our THEMES agenda.‘’Proceeds from the bond and Sukuk will enable various MDAs - including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of Drainage and Water Resources - to execute respective projects that have been preinspected by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),’’ he added.

Under the leadership of Mr Rabiu Olowo and the strong support of Mrs Alake Sanusi (Permanent Secretary, Lagos Debt Management Office) and Team DMO, Lagos State has charted and will continue to chart new financing frontiers through the issuance of new instruments and the disciplined use of the domestic debt capital markets.’’ Sanwo-Olu applauded the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Debt Management Office (DMO) for the feat recorded, saying the SEC had been of immense support to the state government.

Wase Boycotts Leadership Meetings, Plenary Processions

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The race for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, has taken a different turn as the relationship between outgoing Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Hon. Idris Wase, deteriorates by the day, forcing Wase to boycott leadership meetings and plenary. Wase, and other members of the G7 aspiring to be Speaker have been simmering with resentment over the decision of Gbajabiamila to endorse APC's preferred candidate, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

THISDAY gathered that the Deputy Speaker has stopped attending the pre-plenary leadership meetings since he officially declared his intention to contest for the position last week.

Also, Wase was said to no longer join the speaker in the

procession to the plenary, which is the standard practice. But since last week, Wase has stopped accompanying the speaker into the chambers. Rather, he comes alone and takes his seat on the floor.

A reliable source who pleaded anonymity said, “I want to confirm to you that the deputy speaker has taken the fight for speakership to another level. I can’t imagine how angry he is.

I hope you media are taking note that since last week after his (Wase’s) declaration, we are told he has stopped attending pre-plenary meetings with the speaker and body of principal officers.

“You will notice that even today (Tuesday) if you were here (chambers), he wasn’t on the speaker’s procession to the plenary. Or did you see him when the speaker was coming

As a result, she stated that Abeokuta and environs are presently out of power supply even as efforts are ongoing to supply bulk electricity through in? No! But I say this is puerile, because the speaker has the right to support whoever he wants to succeed him. So, how can the deputy speaker be taking this to be a personal fight between him and Speaker Gbajabiamila.”

The source also alleged that Wase and his group had last week made an attempt to amend the House Rules in order to return the voting pattern to secret balloting but they foiled the plan.

“He is just looking for ways to express his anger and spite the speaker. Even last week, he and his group made an attempt to re-amend the House Rules so that voting on that day will be by secret balloting. But it failed because we got wind of the plan and frustrated them. How can a man, who is so desperate be able to handle the House as a speaker?”

TCN condemned the activities of the vandals, stating that their nefarious acts negatively impact the grid expansion efforts of the company.

“Also, resources that would have been used to further improve the grid infrastructure in Ogun state would now be used to replace the vandalised towers.

“TCN is again appealing to host communities to work with the company to protect our common national assets,” Mbah said.

The governor explained that the proceeds from the issuances will not only drive infrastructure development, but also stimulate economic growth, foster job creation, and enhance the quality of life for all the people of the state.

He said: ’’Our objective is to create an environment that attracts local and foreign investors, spurring economic activities that will benefit every citizen of Lagos State.

‘’I am extremely proud of the performance and accomplishments of the Lagos State finance team over the last four years.

"Our appreciation also goes to the investing community for consistently believing in the tremendous opportunities in our state, our discipline, and our efforts to elevate the socio-economic positioning of all Lagos residents.

‘’Once again, I extend my sincere appreciation to every one of you for contributing to the success of the transactions and taking the time to attend this event.

“As we move forward together, I assure you that the Lagos State Government remains resolute in its dedication to cross-sectoral infrastructure development, progress, accountability, and good governance, ‘’ he said.

Niger, Plateau States Facing Infrastructure Deficits, Says Lalong

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Plateau State Governor Mr Simon Bako Lalong has disclosed that his state and Niger are facing serious infrastructural deficits which require collaborative efforts by stakeholders to address.

Lalong who did not give details made the remarks in Maikunkele town, when he joined his Niger state counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, to inaugurate township roads in the community.

A statement on the event made available to newsmen by Niger

State Ministry of Information quoted Lalong as saying, "just like Plateau State in the North Central Nigeria, Niger state is faced with infrastructural deficits that need to be closed and bridged," adding that the people of Maikunkele were lucky to have such amenities.

Lalong urged the Niger community to ensure proper maintainance of the road to avoid it's falling into disrepair.

The host and Niger state Governor, Bello in a remark said construction of township roads was one of his administration's

legacy project with the sole aim of improving road deficits in the State. Bello disclosed that more of such projects would be commissioned before the end of the mandate of his administration.

The Niger State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Sani Lafiya, in an address stated that despite scarce resources the state government embarked on numerous projects, some yet to be completed. He therefore urged the incoming administration to complete them before embarking on new ones.

Senator Hope Uzodinma, during the inauguration of the Second Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State... yesterday.

CBN Revokes Operating Licences of 183 MFBs, PMBs

NDIC steps in, assures customers of speedy resolution of claims, says no cause for panic

James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced the revocation of operating licenses of 179 Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and four Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs).

The central bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, while announcing the suspension of licences said the affected financial entities had ceased to carry on the type of business for which their licences were issued for a continuous period of six months in the country.

This came as the Nigeria Deposit

Insurance Corporation (NDIC) immediately assured depositors of the closed banks of speedy payment of their insured sums.

In a statement obtained from the CBN website, Emefiele also said the closed MFBs and PMBs had failed to fulfill or comply with the conditions subject to which their licences were granted or failed to comply with the obligations imposed upon them by the apex bank, in accordance with the provisions of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, Act No. 5.

The central bank governor said,

“Now, therefore, I, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, CON, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers conferred on the Central Bank of Nigeria under Section 12 of BOFIA 2020, Act No.5, hereby revoke the licences of the Microfinance Banks, Finance Companies and Primary Mortgage Banks stated in Schedules I, II and III respectively attached hereto.

Given under my hand at Abuja this 22nd May, 2023.”

However, in a swift reaction, NDIC Managing Director/Chief

Executive, Mr. Bello Hassan, in a statement issued by the NDIC Director, Communication and Public Affairs Department, Bashir Alhassan Nuhu, following the revocation of the licences of the affected MFBs and PMBs by Emefiele, said as deposit insurer, the NDIC would begin the process of payment of the insured sums immediately with the verification of eligible depositors at the respective premises of the closed banks.

Hassan further urged the affected depositors to get the required documents for the exercise such as proof of

account ownership, verifiable means of identification, and alternate bank account to facilitate their seamless verification and payment of their insured deposits.

He explained that the insured deposit is the first claim that the corporation pays to depositors upon revocation of the banks' licence by the CBN, adding that the maximum specified limits for the MFB and PMB sub-sectors are N200,000.00 and N500,000.00 per depositor per bank, respectively.

As liquidator, the NDIC boss disclosed that the corporation has

28 YEARS AFTER PULLING OUT, NNPC RESUMES CRUDE OIL DRILLING CAMPAIGN IN CHAD BASIN

recently in the Kolmani River, straddling Gombe and Bauchi states.

Speaking during the flag-off of the Wadi-B drilling campaign ceremony, which took place at the site in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, President Muhammadu Buhari assured that the whole essence of the search for oil in the north was to grow the country's reserves, which currently stands at 37 billion barrels.

Stressing that the oil drilling campaign signalled the formal resumption of physical activities for the exploration of crude oil and gas in the Chad Basin area, the president, who joined the programme virtually, recalled that crude oil and gas exploration activities had been on-going in the Chad Basin since 1976.

He said the active drilling activities were suspended in 1995 to enable the re-evaluation of exploration activities in the entire frontier basins.

Buhari stated, “The NNPC has since then conducted extensive basinal analysis and evaluation of oil frontier indices, leading to

the successful discovery of crude oil and gas in commercial quantities in Kolmani River 2 and providing insight into the on-going crude oil and gas drilling campaign in Nasarawa State as well as the current re-entry activities into the Chad Basin.

“The consequential effect of the likely positive outcome of the Chad Basin exploration campaign is an increase in national crude oil and gas reserves and production, enhanced national energy security, and greater prosperity for our people.”

The president asserted that he was looking forward to a successful drilling campaign at the Chad Basin through the collaborative efforts of NNPC Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), government security agencies, and other stakeholders, including the people and government of Borno State.

“I congratulate the board, management, and staff of the NNPC Limited and that of the NUPRC for their dogged determination and efforts towards developing

the hydrocarbon potential of the country's frontier basins, leading to the momentous event of today,” Buhari added.

The president appreciated the government and people of Borno State for their support and efforts towards ensuring the resumption of drilling campaigns in the basin.

In his remarks, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, noted that the remobilisation of drilling rig to the Chad Basin for the first time since 1995 meant that the situation had markedly changed since then.

Kyari stated, “We stopped drilling here in 1995 because the successes were weak and because the findings were not commercial.

“We understood very clearly that we needed to understand the basin very well, we needed to have a different approach to exploration activity in this basin. And that's why the NNPC and our partner, the erstwhile Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the current NUPRC, decided to embark on massive evaluation of all the

FUDGE LEADS BIDEN’S DELEGATION TO PRESIDENTIAL

Department of Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Marcia L. Fudge, has been selected by President Joe Biden, Jr. to lead the United States delegation to the inauguration of Nigeria’s 16th President, Bola Tinubu, holding on May 29.

A White House press statement on Monday announced the US presidential delegation to attend the inauguration of the president-elect and the vice president-elect, Tinubu, and Senator Kashim Shettima, respectively.

Relatedly, former British Prime Minister, Sir Tony Blair, expressed his readiness to support the Tinubu administration to succeed, during a visit to the president-elect.

According to a statement by the White House, Fudge would lead members of the delegation, among whom are Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Abuja; the Honourable Sydney KamlagerDove, United States Representative, California; the Honourable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce; and General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command.

Others are Honourable Enoh T. Ebong, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency; the Honourable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Honourable Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council; and Honourable Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Meanwhile, Blair, who gave his commitment yesterday, when he visited the president-elect at the Defence House, Abuja, said the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which he founded, would be a willing partner of the Tinubu administration, especially in prioritising its goals and delivery.

He said since leaving office as the UK prime minister, he had been working with governments around the world to help them deliver on their mandates, noting that the Blair Institute has a project in Nigeria and

he feels it is incumbent upon him to meet Nigeria's incoming president to understand the administration's priorities.

A statement from the office of the president-elect, signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, quoted Blair as telling Tinubu, "We would like to help in any way with your administration. We only need to know what the leadership priorities are and help in how to actualise them."

Blair commended Tinubu's campaign focus on key areas of security, economy, agriculture and power, describing the intertwined nature of the issues as critical to the development of any society.

He expressed optimism that with the appetite shown by investors in Nigeria, the Tinubu administration could get the support it needed to spur economic development in the country.

But Blair also acknowledged the difficult task before Tinubu and other leaders, at a time of global turmoil.

He said, "Being in government today anywhere in the world is tough. You have things happening around the world, which affect you and for which you can't do anything much."

Tinubu, in his response, expressed appreciation to Blair for the visit and for his offer to work with his administration. He spoke of the shared vision between him and Tony Blair Institute in their priority areas, but underlined the importance of tackling investment challenges and the need for social investment to fight poverty.

The president-elect said, "Yes, we are challenged. But where is our courage? We can eliminate ignorance, diseases and poverty in Africa. We must work hard to ensure democracy works for our people. We have to invest more, put technology in place and keep terrorists at bay, because without effective security, there is no guarantee investors will come."

He promised to provide a conducive environment that would encourage investors and open up opportunities for the people.

Tinubu was accompanied to the meeting by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi

frontier basins in the country.

“And, of course, our findings have been useful. Our understanding of the rift system in Nigeria enabled us to have successful outcome in the Kolmani area and also enabled us to mobilise to Nasarawa State where drilling activity and engagement is going on.

“It also helped us to understand the Chad Basin, the geological setting in the Chad Basin, which is why we are back here. Now we are much more confidant and we believe that this campaign will be successful. And that this campaign will take us to the ultimate objective, which is to increase the reserve of our country and also create opportunities around us.”

Kyari added that NNPC also believed it would take a long time before oil and gas could “vanish”, declaring that the commodity will continue to be the “very principal” in the determination of prosperity for the country and provision of energy security for the people.

INAUGURATION

Gbajabiamila; Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; member of Tinubu Transition Team, Mr. Wale Edun; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Adetokunbo Abiru; and Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Mr. Zacch Adedeji.

He said, “And this can't happen except you have access to the resources and we are able to convert them into value and being able to do this as quickly as is practical, which is to do what we're doing now in the Kolmani area. Wherever we find new oil, we will consider the concept of integrated production and conversion so that value can be created very, very quickly.”

Kyari said there was still huge energy poverty across the world, more so in Sub-Saharan African countries, stressing that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population do not have access to clean cooking fuels.

He explained, “And that is why you're seeing the effect of deforestation, which is most pronounced in this part of the country. And it is also clear and known to everyone that the Sahara Desert moves at least a kilometre southwards every year.

“And this can be arrested if we could find alternative sources of energy for the communities. And this is what the oil and gas would do.”

Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, said the event also marked another milestone in the decades of hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal and prospectivity studies of the inland frontier bases and further underscored that the government was interested in making the requisite investments in oil exploration.

While thanking Buhari for his commitment to “mitigating energy poverty, creating shared prosperity, and true sustainable growth in the Nigerian economy”, Komolafe reiterated the commitment of stakeholders to maturing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources in the frontier bases.

“This spud-in ceremony couldn’t have come at a better time, especially given the recent global events that border on energy security and energy transition,” he pointed out.

One of the key regulation focuses of NUPRC, Komolafe stated, was to grow Nigeria’s national oil reserves from the current 37 billion barrels of oil to 40 billion barrels of oil by 2030. Considering the positive prospectivity results recorded so far, Komolafe noted that the project aligned with the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which enabled the commission to

also put machinery in motion to commence the sale of assets of the defunct banks as well as recover debts owed to them in order to declare liquidation dividends on pro-rata basis to the affected depositors with claims exceeding the maximum insured sums of N200,000.00 for MFBs and N500,000.00 for PMBs. Hassan also assured that regulatory authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the soundness of the banking system is not compromised, stressing that there is no need for the public to panic over the safety of their bank deposits.

establish exploration fund to de-risk exploration in the frontier basins.

He assured that NNPC, being Africa’s largest company, would deliver on its commitment to make energy available and accessible, as Nigeria harnessed its resources for the benefit of its growing population. Similarly, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State said the commencement of oil drilling in the region was a right step in creating more job opportunities in the state and further reducing insurgency. Zulum pledged his full support for the project.

The governor stated that the president had already constructed mass housing, 50mw power plant and provided massive support for displaced persons, noting that the people of the state remain appreciative.

Zulum said, “Oil prospecting, possible discovery and exploration in this part of the country will, no doubt, create job opportunities to thousands of our youths thereby reducing unemployment in our state, which in turn will result in reduction in insurgency, stimulating economic growth and development of our dear state and nation, in general.”

NNPC Chair, Margery Okadigbo, congratulated the people of Borno State and thanked the president, stressing that with the PIA, Nigeria was set to explore new frontiers.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al Amin El-Kanemi, in his address, expressed joy that the project was becoming a reality. He stressed that the state will get improved revenue when it comes on-stream.

BUHARI: MY GOVT INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROSPERITY

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and DavidChyddy Eleke in Awka

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that making infrastructure development the focus of his administration was a deliberate policy to create wealth and make poverty alleviation easier. Speaking in Abuja yesterday, at the virtual inauguration of three bridges, three secretariats, and one road project undertaken by his administration, Buhari defended the debt profile of his government, saying, “We do not act on infrastructure by accident.

"It has been a deliberate choice for our government as a tool to fight poverty, to create economic growth and employment, and to open the path of prosperity for our people.”

The president emphasised that while he shared the concerns of Nigerians, the debts incurred by his government were tied to projects executed in transparent conditions, which were there for everyone to see.

He added that the wealth of nations was traceable to their investments in infrastructure made possible by debts redeemed over decades.

According to him, “As we look at the debt profile, I urge us to also look at the assets and investment profiles, some of which were paid for by debt and some by investment income.

“In eight years, I am proud to say that we have doubled Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure to GDP from about 20 per cent to over 40 per cent and that is no small undertaking.

“The projects that we hand over today apart from others such as rail, sea and airports, gas pipeline

projects that have been previously completed, symbolise our country’s sharp focus on delivering prosperity."

Highlighting the significance of the projects, which he described as frontal efforts to address multi-dimensional poverty as well as improve business efficiency and service delivery time, Buhari said of the three bridges,

“The Ikom Bridge is meant to boost trade in and around the Calabar Port and Free Zone and facilitate transport connectivity from the South-south, through the Northcentral to the North-east. This is a bridge across the Cross River itself.

“The Second Niger Bridge, which has been long in the making, and is certainly now a reality, is a bridge of choice across the River Niger to bring relief to those crossing from the South-east to the South-west.

“The Loko-Oweto Bridge, across the River Benue, will provide a shorter connectivity for those traversing from Benue to Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory. It cuts off travel through Lafia and provides connectivity to Keffi and to Abuja.”

Buhari also inaugurated 200 kilometres out of the 365 kilometres Abuja-Kano highway. He stated that the road, Second Niger bridge, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were all funded partly from dividend income earned from investment in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), repatriated funds from overseas, and recoveries from proceeds of crime successfully prosecuted at home.

The president said, “This is an example of the change that we promised; to invest dividend income in visible assets that last for

generations and to put proceeds of crime to public and enduring use for the country.

“Our anti-corruption approach does not end in courts. Stolen and recovered assets are utilised for the common good."

Buhari also inaugurated three federal secretariats in Anambra, Bayelsa, and Zamfara states. He said the federal offices would “reduce the cost of governance by bringing federal civil servants under one roof for efficient service delivery,” thereby reducing expenditure on rent for office spaces.

He named the secretariats after distinguished Nigerians as follows: Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Federal Secretariat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; Ebele Okeke Federal Secretariat in Awka, Anambra State; and Malam Yahaya Gusau Federal Secretariat in Gusau, Zamfara State.

Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the construction of the infrastructure projects generated economic activities and provided means of livelihood for hundreds of thousands who worked there.

Fashola said, “Travel time is reduced by more than 50 per cent in many of the places we surveyed; property values of landowners have appreciated by up to 30 per cent in the surveys conducted on land values where we have delivered infrastructure.”

The minister added that these were some of the attempts by government to push back against multi-dimensional poverty.

Meanwhile, there was joy among prominent Igbos yesterday over the commissioning of the Second Niger

Bridge.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, described the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge as a fundamental change that would catalyse new waves of prosperity and economic growth in the South-east.

Soludo stated that he was personally overjoyed because the people of the South-east had long desired infrastructural development.

The governor said, "President Buhari, the South-east will remember you as you leave office. It will not be a mistake to refer to the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, as ‘Mr. Infrastructure.’ This is, indeed, a fulfilled promise. We express our heartfelt gratitude for connecting Anambra, Asaba, and Delta."

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State hailed Buhari for completing the Second Niger Bridge and other infrastructural projects in South-east.

Uzodinma said, "We have cried to many governments for years, yet the projects were not done. The state of the First Niger Bridge makes it difficult for our people, who, while returning for Christmas and other festivities, sometimes spend five days or more on the road.

"We thank President Buhari for delivering the projects, even though he begged for our votes but we didn't give him our votes. He is a hero to me and people of South-east."

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in his own address, said the southern part of Nigeria would remember the Buhari administration for good, as the projects would reduce the cost of governance and transportation.

AT THE EPOCH MAKING INAUGURATION OF THE DANGOTE REFINERY...

With Just Six Days to Handover, Buhari Shakes Aviation Sector

Approves massive rejig as Matazu, Nuhu, Olateru run out tenures

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Less than six days to handing over power, President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the reorganisation of agencies under the Ministry of Aviation in line with the new Acts of the National Assembly, which he assented to, and were gazetted recently.

Highlights of the reorganisa- tion included the creation of new directorates in some of the agencies, prominent amongst which were the Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Corporate Services and Aviation Security Directorates.

The creation of the Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Directorate was to put the agencies on their toes in terms of adequately addressing complaints by their respective stake- holders and oversee the Public Affairs / Protocol, Consumer Protection, SERVICOM and Anti-Corruption Departments while the Aviation Security Directorate in the NCAA will regulate the activities of the AVSEC personnel, especially with their recent arms-bearing status. A statement released in Abuja by Head, Press & Public Affairs, Odatayo Oluseyi, stated thatthe Corporate Services Directorates were to oversee the Procurement and Planning, Research and Departments.

"In line with the above, the president has approved the appointment

of Kabir Yusuf Mohammed as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

"Until his appointment, Kabir Yusuf Mohammed was the Regional General Manager, Central Region Airports, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Chairman of the Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee.

"Similarly, Engr. Tayib Odunowo, has been appointed the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to take over from Mr. Matthew Lawrence Pwajok, who reverts to his substantive position as Director of Operations of the Agency," the statement read.

It added that, the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akin Olateru; the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof Mansur Matazu and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, were to run the remaining course of their tenures in line with the Acts setting up their respective Agencies, while the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria, Captain Bako Mansur Modibo, has been granted a one-year extension, also in line with the Act setting up the College.

In order to reposition the agencies to perform their statutory duties as

enshrined in the Acts, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has also approved the appointment of some new Directors.

"This is to address the requirements of the Acts for appropriate placements, Federal character requirements etc.

The appointments are as follows: FAAN Managing Director - Mr Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, Human Resources and Administration, Shehu D. Mohammed, Commercial and Business Management, Olumuyiwa

Femi-Pearse, Corporate Services Barr. Azubuike Okorie, General Manager (Statistics) Kingsley Uchechukwu Okunji, General Manager (Special Duties) Jemilu Abdulrahman.

"NCAA: Director General/CEO, Capt Musa S. Nuhu, Director, Airworthiness Standards, Engr Gbolahan Abatan, Director Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Engr. Godwin Balang, Director Operations Capt. Ibrahim Danbazau, Director, Air Transport Regulations, Mr. Olaniyi Saraku, Director Public Affairs

and Consumer Protection, Capt. Chris Najomo, Director, Aviation Security Air Cdr Hambali Tukur, Director Corporate Services R. M. Daku (Mrs), Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Mrs. Mary Tufano, General Manager (Audit), Mrs. Dawa Gyaks, General Manager (Accounts) Mr Aminu Tasi’u, "NSIB: Director General/CEO, Engr Akin Olateru, Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Ori Bassey, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr. James A.

Odaudu, Director, Corporate Services, Oliobi Godfrey Ikemefuna, Transport Investigation, Capt Tosin Odulaja, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser – Barr. Illitrus Ahmadu

"NIMET: Director General/ CEO, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu, Human Resources and Administration, Saleh Tukur Yusuf, Director, Weather Forecasting Services, Daniel Okafor Chibueze, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Ahmed A. Sanusi, Director, Research and Training, Prof Effiong Essien Oku.

Buhari Seeks Senate Nod for N16bn Refund to Borno

Senate confirms Dabiri-Erewa's re-appointment as NIDCOM Boss

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday asked the Senate to approve the sum N16 billion as refund to the Borno State government through the issuance of promissory notes. Buhari’s letter of request was read on the floor of the red chamber by Senate President Ahmad Lawan at plenary.

The president said the refund was meant to pay for the construction of federal roads embarked upon by the Borno State government.

Part of the letter read, “The Distinguished Senate President may wish to be informed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting of May 3, 2023, approved the reimbursement of the sum of N16,772,486,002.19 to the Borno State Government through the issuance of promissory notes in respect of federal road projects executed by the state.

“The Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that the FEC had earlier approved the reimbursement of the sum of

Soldiers Allegedly Assault ASUU ATBU Chairman, Harass Security Man

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi Branch, Dr. Ibrahim Inuwa, was allegedly assaulted by some military personnel in mufti at the Yelwa campus of the University on Monday night.

THISDAY checks revealed that the incident occurred when the military men who were in a convoy of two vehicles drove into the campus but were stopped by the university's security that prevented from going inside because their vehicles had tinted glasses.

It was gathered from an eyewitness that the, "soldiers forced their way into the campus and harassed the only security man at the gate at the time of the incident which

was some minutes after 8.00pm.

"The other security men were said to have gone to a nearby mosque to pray."

Narrating the incident while speaking to journalists at the ATBU security office, the ASUU chairman said he was on his way home when he saw the soldiers harassing the security man on duty at the gate and he stopped to inquire what was happening.

According to him, "Just this (Monday) night, some few minutes after 8 O'clock, I was going out of the university and I saw a convoy of two vehicles, they were busy arguing and harassing the security man on duty.

"At that time, most of the security men were praying in a mosque by the gate. So I had to stop because it is my responsibility as the Chairman

of the union.

"And I asked our security man in Hausa what was happening. The next thing, the guys in these two vehicles started asking me arrogantly 'who are you?' And I told them 'no, I want to know what happened' One of them said, 'you're very stupid! Do we know who we are? You're very stupid!'

"I told them that this is a university and we have our rules and the next thing, they started shoving me, then one of them went to the extreme and slapped me three times. I called their attention that what they have done was wrong and I told them they would regret it. You can even see the prints of the slaps on my face," he said. He narrated further that, "they said again that I was stupid because I was still talking, they were hitting

me that I should keep quiet. It was at that point that the number of security men increased, so we instructed them to block the gate because we must know their identity.

"They are claiming that they are military guys but to give us their details is now a problem. They were on mufti and they forced their way into the university. The union is now aware of the incident and we need their details to write to let the Chief of Army Staff know about it.

"Our Union's National Officer is here and it is as good as the National Secretariat is aware of the assault on the Chairman of the Branch for trying to prevail on a crisis at the gate. They were harassing and molesting the security man at the gate and if I wasn't there, they would have finished and force their way out of the gate."

N3,084,769,393.63 to Borno State at its meeting of February 1, 2023, along with the approval of N6,601,769,470.99 for reimbursement to the Plateau State Government.

“My request for the resolution of National Assembly for the issuance of promissory notes to the two states has already been forwarded to the National Assembly.

“The Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that this approval by FEC for the reimbursement of the additional sum of N16, 772,486,002.19 to the Borno State Government was based on an appeal by the State.

"I have also directed the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that sufficient funds are provided for the completion of the Damboa/Chibok road based on the current cost of completion of the project.

“The FEC’s approval was also subsequent to the recommendation of a cabinet committee which reviewed documents submitted by the state and carried out physical inspection and verification of the projects executed by the state government.

“In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the Senate to kindly consider and approve through its resolution, the reimbursement of the sum of N16,772,486,002.19 through the issuance of promissory notes to Borno State Government in respect of the road projects executed by the State on behalf of the Federal Government.

“The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing would provide any information that may be required

by the National Assembly for the consideration of this request.”

Also on Tuesday, Senate confirmed Buhari’s nomination of Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for re-appointment as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NDICOM). Her confirmation followed presentation, consideration and adoption of report of Committee on Diaspora and NGOs by the Chairman, Senator Michael Nnachi, (PDP- Ebonyi) at plenary. Nnachi, while presenting the report said the nominee possess the technical and academic qualifications to function optimally and effectively in the position.

He said there was no petition against her, adding that the nominee sponsored the bill for the establishment of NIDCOM when she was a member of the House of Representatives.

He commended Buhari for the re-appointment given the steering performance of the nominee in her first term.

Similarly, the Red Chamber also confirmed the appointment of three nominees’ by President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as board members of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Their confirmation followed the presentation, consideration and adoption of report of the committee on NDDC by the Chairman, Senator Amos Bulus. The confirmed nominees were, Benard Oboatarihieyeren Okwmagba (Delta), Patric Aisowieren (Edo) and Kyrian Chidiebere Uchegbu (Imo).

Enugu State Governor-elect Mr Peter Mbah (l) with Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; at the inauguration of the 650,000bpd Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant in Lagos... on Monday

34TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ACCESS BANK PLC...

Court Consolidates Atiku, Obi, APM's Petitions Amidst Tinubu, APC's Objection

To commence hearing May 30

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC), has ordered the consolidation of the petitions of the Labour Party, the Allied People's Movement (APM) and the Peoples Democratic (Party), challenging the outcome of the February 25

presidential election. Presiding Justice of the five member panel hearing the various petitions against the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC's) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as winner of the election, Justice Haruna Tsammani, yesterday, said the consolidation, which was aimed

at the speedy hearing of the petitions, was predicated on the grounds that the issues raised by the parties were similar.

The court ruled in favour of consolidation despite the objections of Tinubu and the APC, who had at Monday's proceedings argued that they would be greatly jeopardised

and that the interest of justice would not be served if the petitions were consolidated.

"In line with paragraph 50 of the First Scheduled of the Electoral Act, 2022, justice demands that this petition be consolidated with CA/ PEPC/04/2023 and CA /PEPC /05/2023 and be dealt with as

Labour, Oil Marketers, Others Express Divergent Views on Fuel Subsidy Removal

NLC canvasses alternative policy to subsidy

Organised Labour and some petroleum products marketers, analysts and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday expressed divergent views over the removal of Nigeria’s controversial petrol subsidy.

While the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in separate events, insisted that the government should ramp up gas penetration in the form of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to take off the fixation on petrol, the oil marketers and CSOs stressed that wholesale removal was inevitable.

The marketers, civil society groups and others, again appealed to the incoming administration to abolish the controversial fuel subsidy and save the nation's economy from further hurting.

They also advised the incoming administration to rally the relevant stakeholders in the subsidy discourse to ensure a hitch-free removal, urging the government to try to hit the ground running once inaugurated on May 29.

They made the assertions yesterday in Lagos at a Stakeholders Roundtable Discourse, themed: "Impact of Deregulation on the Nigerian Downstream Petroleum Sector: Analysing Perceptions and Realities of Gains and Expectation of Full PMS Subsidy Removal."

The session jointly organised by Technowell, and IT form, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) and Centre for Sustainable Mobility and Access Development (CensMAD) was aimed at fostering discussions and sustainable solutions for the

challenges facing the sector.

Participants at the forum were drawn from representatives of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN); National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Trade Union Congress (TUC); Publish What You Pay (PWYP) as well as Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) amongst others.

Speaking at the forum, a former President of the TUC, Peter Esele, said that for the past 24 years, Nigeria's democratically elected governments missed the opportunity to remove subsidy when the country was at its best economic shape.

He said the unbundling of the downstream oil sector has immense benefits for Nigeria, pointing out that it would lead to rapid inflow of investments, guarantee easy entry and easy exit and generate more revenue for the country.

"But what is of interest to me is that more jobs will be created and we expect that whatever that will accrue from subsidy removal will be actually used for what it meant and not that politicians will unbutton their trousers while the rest of us tighten our trousers.

“So I think the union is not the problem and I think subsidy removal should have been removed 24 years ago; and this outgoing government had a huge opportunity by removing the subsidy in 2015," Esele said.

He expressed the hope that Dangote Refinery would compel the government to make a decision on the controversial subsidy policy.

“Dangote Refinery will go a long way in pushing the government whether to take the subsidy away or not. What is the reason

for that? Dangote refinery has a debt to pay because people funded the refinery and he has profit he is looking forward to. So in view of this, we're going to settle him in naira or dollars?"Esele added.

In his intervention, Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, lamented that the country does not have a consensus about the strategy to exit the subsidy regime, adding that the incoming government must understand the level of hunger and anger in the country.

Yusuf argued that there were some powerful vested interests in the subsidy policy that had made it impossible to be stopped.

Yusuf stated: “I have a strong feeling that the beneficiaries of this subsidy don't want to let go and they are stoking the fire about protest.”

On his part, the National Operations Controller of IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, said the country needed patriotic leaders who will use the subsidy resources to ensure that average Nigerians have a good quality of life in terms of education, healthcare and housing.

Also, Executive Secretary of HEDA, Sulaimon Arigbabu, said the government should as a matter of urgency consider subsidising social programmes, provide access to electricity, and also provide fleets of transportation alternatives to alleviate the suffering of the citizens.

A guest lecturer and Professor of Transport and Environment, Lagos State University, Odewumi Samuel, opined that the government must facilitate logistics and have a good working relationship with every stakeholder in the downstream industry.

Samuel said: “The Tinubu

administration should immediately set up a committee of competent team to drive the process of the removal which may be headed by the minister. The team is to identify and develop engagement procedures with relevant stakeholders especially labour, media, students, civil society organisations.

"The unworkable practice of a very president holding a very critical ministry down as a side portfolio should be jettisoned. The president can still retain close marking supervision of the ministry, but there must be a full time minister that will be on the job at the ministry as a senior minister.”

one petition, since it relates to the same election and return," Justice Tsammani held while delivering the panels pre-hearing report in the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi's petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and the APC.

The panel stated that since there was no request for an extension of the pre-hearing session and none was granted, hearing in the consolidated petition has been fixed for May 30, with the petitioners granted three weeks to prove their petitions against the emergence of APC's Tinubu as winner of the presidential poll.

According to Justice Tsammani, the petitioners, who would commence their case on Tuesday, May 30 were expected to end same on June 23, following which the respondents will open their defences of the election.

While the respondents in the case of LP will close their case on July 10, with final adoption by all parties fixed for August 5, in the case of APM and PDP, the respondents are to close June 6 and July 16 respectively and adopt on July 3 and August 8, 2023.

Similarly, while the court allotted 30 minutes for the star witnesses to give their evidence and another 20 minutes for cross examination, it allotted 10 minutes for evidence and three minutes for cross examination of other witnesses, adding that their would be no oral testimony of the witness, safe for the adoption of

their statement and identification of documents.

Tsammani noted that the since there was no contemplation of out of court settlement, the panel was to go into full hearing of the petitions and also raise issues for determination following failures of parties to agree on what issues the court should look into.

Although five political parties had initially registered their grievances against the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the presidential election, however, the Action Alliance (AA) and the Action People's Party (APP) had at the opening of pre-trial withdrew their petitions against Tinubu remaining the LP, APM and PDP.

The three remaining petitioners anchored their petitions on grounds such as irregularities, substantial non-compliance as well as corrupt practices etc, upon which they were asking the court to set aside the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the election.

They accused the electoral umpire of bias and influencing the outcome of the election in favour of APC and Tinubu, adding that INEC did not only manipulate the process to deny them victory but also failed to abide by its own regulations and guidelines for the conduct of the election especially in the use of the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) in the instant transmission of results from polling units to the INEC's Viewing Portals.

Again, Aggrieved Shareholders Seek to Withdraw Suit against Seplat

Less than one week after the aggrieved minority shareholders of Seplat Energy PLC filed a notice of discontinuance at the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking to withdraw their suit against the company and its management, they have also filed a similar application at the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo.

The minority shareholders in their notice of discontinuance, served on the defendants yesterday, urged the court to strike out the suit since they have no intention to continue with further hearing of the suit.

The aggrieved shareholders had in a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/

CS/626/2023 filed by Juliet Ebere

Nwadi Gbaka, Margaret Awobusuyi Funmilayo and Clement Akaeme as 1st to 3rd plaintiffs respectively alleged that the 2nd to 10th defendants mismanaged and breached the company’s corporate governance documents.

Also joined in the suit are the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Datamax Registrars Limited and PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited as 11th to 14th defendants respectively. The suit was scheduled to come up yesterday for hearing of the pending applications, which includes the defendants' motion for stay of execution as well as a motion challenging the jurisdiction

of the court to entertain the suit.

However, the matter could not proceed as scheduled as the court did not sit.

The matter was thereafter rescheduled by the Registrar of the court, with the consent of counsel to return on June 22, 2023 for hearing.

Meanwhile, the petitioners have served the defendants Mmotion to discontinue the suit.

Recall that Justice Inyang Ekwo had in an ex-parte order suspended the Managing Director, Mr. Roger Brown, Board Chairman, Mr. Basil Omiyi and directors and secretary of the Board of Seplat Energy Plc, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice filed by three aggrieved shareholders.

Wale Igbintade

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Peter Uzoho, Oluchi Chibuzo in Lagos

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Chairman, Ajoritsedere Awosika; Non-Executive Director, Paul Usoro; Independent Non-Executive Director, Ifeyinwa Osime; Executive Director, Risk Management, Greg Jobome and Independent Non-Executive Director, Iboroma Akpana during the 34th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bank in Lagos…recently

53RD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF NEM INSURANCE PLC...

L-R: Independent Non-Executive Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Alhaji Ahmed I. Yakasai; Non-Executive Director, Mrs. Olayinka Aletor; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Tope Smart; Chairman, Board of Directors, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mrs. Olajumoke Philip-Akede; Non-Executive Director, Mr. Kelechi Okoro; Executive Director, Mr. Andrew Ikekhua and Non-Executive Director, Chief Ede Dafinone, during the 53rd Annual General Meeting of NEM Insurance Plc in Lagos...recently

You're Not Speaker Yet, APC Chairman, Adamu, Tells Abbas

Insists party leadership still consulting

Adedayo Akinwale and Udora

Orizu in Abuja

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdulahi Adamu, has told one of the speakership aspirants and the consensus candidate of the party, Hon. Tajudden Abbas, not to parade himself as the speaker of the 10th Assembly yet until he waselected by the members on June 13th.

Adamu stated this yesterday in Abuja, when Abbas led other members-elect of the Joint Task Force to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The Joint Task Team is made up of House of representatives members-elect selling the candidacy or Abbas to ensure he emerges as speaker of the 10th Assembly.

But Abbas has pleaded with Adamu to deliver him the same way he delivered the Presidentelect, Bola Tinubu, just as The Joint Task–10th Assembly has told the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party that over 250 members-elect were currently working with them ahead of the June 13 inauguration.

However, Adamu, has also insisted that the leadership of the party was still consulting on the recently released zoning template that was causing acrimony in the party.

His words: "I want to make one correction so that we will not be misrepresented. A quite number of you have referred to Hon. Abbas as the speaker. Please, please he is one

of the aspirants. He will become a speaker on the day of proclamation.

"The laws guiding that office are very clear, he will earn that on the day of proclamation by the president and Commander-in-Chief of the 10th National Assembly.

"The Clerk to the National Assembly will conduct the election, there is no option other than the election. When he comes out of that election and they raise his hand and when he is sworn in as the Speaker, that nomenclature becomes most appropriate.

"After reporting to the National Working Committee, the discussions we had with the President-elect and leaders like the Vice President-elect, the Senate President, the Speaker; my humble self, the National Chairman of the party, my Deputy North (Senator Abubakar Kyari), Deputy South (Emma Eneukwu) and the National Secretary of the party (Sensor Iyiola Omisore), I reported our deliberations. It was clear in our declaration that there is need for further and better consultations."

Abbas, while commending the NWC for the role it played that led to their emergence as candidates of the party for the June 13th election, stated categorically that the party has chosen the right people for the leadership position of the 10th Assembly.

"We will do everything humanly possible to protect the interest of the party, to protect the interest of the government and to protect the interest of the Nigerian populace. You can take it to the market Mr.

Chairman that we are together.

"I want you to use this opportunity Mr. Chairman to use it to complete one item in your resume. You have conquered parliamentary several times; you were a party man several times; you were in the executive several times; you have delivered the president-elect of our party this time around. What is only outstanding to complete your

resume is to deliver the leadership of the National Assembly 2013.

"Finally, Mr. Chairman, I also want to urge you as our leader – the leader of all the contestants both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, we are all your children, we want to urge you to use the position God has given you and all the members of NWC to do whatever you can to call all our

co-contestants to the table.

“We are more than willing to sit down and agree on a mutual basis what we need to do to move the National Assembly forward. We want your leadership to be in the driving seat, we will cooperate, we will do everything humanly possible to make sure that we operate as one from June 13," he noted.

Meanwhile, Chairman of The

Joint Task–10th Assembly, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, from Gombe, has said both Abbas and Ben Kalu “are parliamentarians par excellence. They are qualified to win even without zoning. All the eight political parties are represented here. From the moment the NWC took the decision, we said this is the way to go. This is a parliamentary best practice.”

Wike Assures of Rivers Govt Support for Wigwe University

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared the support of his administration for the Wigwe University in order for it to achieve the objectives of its establishment in the State.

Wike, who spoke yesterday, when laid the foundation stone for the Wigwe University in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, emphasised that issues of education were very important for his administration, saying he believes nothing could equate or quantify the human capital development that education can offer.

The Rivers State governor noted that with the Wigwe University coming on stream, Rivers State now has two private universities.

According to him, a state like Rivers would encourage more private universities and assured of government's support.

He admired the courage of the founder of Wigwe University, the Group Managing Director of Access Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, for returning home with such investment to benefit the State.

The governor said already, at the first private university, the PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Rivers State government sponsors at least 120 students yearly.

He emphasised that the State government would not hesitate to also partner with the Wigwe University.

“See the partnership we have with PAMO University every year, not less than 120 persons Rivers

Tonye Cole Still in Tribunal, Says Rivers APC

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has dismissed stories doing the rounds in the media, insinuating that the governorship candidate of its party in the just concluded elections in the state, Tonye Cole, had withdrew his petition at the Election Petition Tribunal ongoing in Abuja.

In a statement signed by Mr Sogbeye Eli, spokesman, Rivers APC 2023 Campaign Council, it was the party as 2nd petitioner that withdrew not the 1st petitioner, insisting that Cole was still in Tribunal to obtain justice in the outcome of the elections in the state that presented Siminalayi Fubara as governor-elect.

"The stories making the rounds since last night of the withdrawal of the petition by Arc. Tonye Patrick Cole, 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, by Sahara Reporters and other mainstream media houses refers.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the true and factual position of the status of that petition are as follows: Tonye Cole as the 1st Petitioner on record is still before the Court. The All Progressives Congress as the 2nd Petitioner on record withdrew yesterday through her legal representative, Solomon Umoh, Esq.

"The withdrawal of the 2nd Petitioner yesterday follows the

objection by the local Chapter of the party to being led at the Tribunal by Henry A. Bello, Esq of Counsel.

"The facts forming the grounds for the aforementioned objection border on trust and are not unconnected with the concomitant effect of the decision of the High Court of Rivers State in the case of Ibrahim Umah & Ors v. APC in 2018 on the party's fortunes at the 2019 general elections.

"It is an error of judgment therefore for Sahara Reporters, or any other medium, to present yesterday's development with such slant that misleads the public to the conclusion that the petition challenging the declaration by INEC of the winner of the Rivers 2023 governorship election has been

withdrawn.

"For emphasis sake, the party's right to withdraw does not sound a death knell to the petition by Tonye Cole, who is now the Sole Petitioner. Regardless of yesterday's development, a diligent reading of Section 133 of the Electoral Act 2022 in conjunction with Sections 29 and 33 to the First Schedule thereto clarifies the status of Arc. Tonye Cole's petition challenging the declaration of Siminalayi Fubara of the People's Democratic Party as Governor-elect," Eli said. He, therefore, urged the general public and Rivers people that they were still before the Tribunal and the legal status of both Tonye Cole and the petition sound enough.

State government is sponsoring as medical doctors, pharmacists and other allied courses. You can imagine when we have same partnership with you, what at the end of the day, Rivers State will benefit.

“That is what we intent to do with you. Luckily the governor-elect is here. When the university starts, tell us the number of Rivers students and Rivers State government will be responsible for them by placing them on scholarship. We have a lot of people who are intelligent but their parents may not have the school fees. It is important that Rivers State government will partner with you."

Wike assured Wigwe that the access road so requested would be constructed by the state government.

The governor described those who often use insecurity to either deny or discourage investment from coming to Rivers State as mischievous.

He said there was no state in the federation that do not have issues of insecurity, and even those with more worrisome insecurity incidences are not as de-marketed as Rivers State.

"You said somebody asked you what you are doing concerning the university? That person is a wicked man. Where is there no insecurity in this country?

"The other day, we heard of people being killed in Plateau State, people killed in Benue and other people killed in Kaduna. The same person are asking you what about security, is his state safer than our own State?"

Wike spoke on the need for Rivers people who have made enormous achievements in their endeavours outside the State to also attract investment back home as a way

of identifying with their people and contribute to empowering them.

The governor noted the multiplier effect of the Wigwe University in Isiokpo town that would be visible in the next ten years, because the area he said will develop further while also providing sustained employment for the locals.

Wike however, warns that the State government would not hesitate within the ambit of the law to deal ruthlessly with any criminal element that tries to give frustrate the seamless take off of the Wigwe University.

In his address, Wigwe said the university, sited in Rivers State, would be a world class educational institution with 60 per cent Nigerian academic lecturers and 40 per cent distinguished foreign lecturers.

Wigwe, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of HOW Foundation revealed that the institution would groom fearless generations of youths who would become confident future leaders and entrepreneurs.

He disclosed that about 200 different buildings have been determined for construction on the 400 hectares of land upon which the university is located.

Wigwe, also said students of the institution would spend one year of their academic period on exchange abroad in order for them to gain international exposure.

The former Group Managing Director and chief executive officer of Access Bank Plc, Aigboje AigImoukhuede said the remarkable infrastructural development of governor Wike inspired Dr. Wigwe to establish the world class university in Isiokpo.

NEW CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS INAUGURATED ...

Anti-graft Group Alleges Akpabio Diverted N700 Billion as Governor

Urges EFCC, ICPC to consolidate cases, expedite action on petition

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

A group, the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), yesterday, alleged

thata former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, diverted the sum of N700 billion while he held sway as the state chief executive.

Akpabio is a front runner for the position of the senate president of the 10th National Assembly. At a media briefing by the group's Executive Director,

Investigation, Samson Tega and Operational Manager, Stanley Ugagbe, the group said a few months after leaving office, the Economic and Financial Crimes

Abiodun Not Responsible for Loss of Dangote Refinery to Lagos

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Government, yesterday, said Governor Dapo Abiodun, was not responsible for the loss of the $19billion Dangote Refinery, to the Lagos State.

The clarification contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, against the backdrop of a statement credited to a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Segun Sowunmi, who blamed the successive administrations in the state, for the loss of the oil and gas facility to Lagos.

Somorin said Abiodun as a person, who was also into oil and gas, tried all he could, to ensure that the refinery, was sited in Ogun State.

"Any true born Ogun indigene will sincerely be pained by the huge investment loss, especially, when Ogun had been marked as the most suitable natural location for the mega project in Olokola Free Trade Zone, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.

"As we are all aware, penultimate administration made appreciable and concerted efforts to ensure that the Olokola Deep Sea Port and other ancillary projects in the OKFTZ, become a reality, by rallying major players in the oil and gas sector, including Dangote Group.

"But, the successive government between 2011 and 2019, for reasons best known to it, killed the project and frustrated the promoter of Dangote Refinery out of the state.

"The present governor, Dapo Abiodun, served as the Chairman of the Committee on the Olokola Free Trade Zone projects during the first term of the immediate past governor.

"Governor Abiodun, as the chairman of the committee and

a big player in the oil and gas industry himself, did everything possible to make sure the project saw the light of the day.

“The then governor, perhaps, having a personal axe to grind with the promoter of the refinery project, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, frustrated all the efforts of Governor Abiodun and his committee.

"The immediate Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, who was then a commissioner, served

as the Secretary of the committee, which engaged Dangote on the mega project.

"Instead of showing enthusiasm towards hosting the project in the state, the former governor brazenly opposed and obstructed efforts of the Abiodun-led committee in ensuring that the OKFTZ came into fruition.

"Having become governor in 2019, it is on record that Governor Dapo Abiodun had always rued the missed opportunity and he had embarked on efforts in reawakening

the OKFTZ. At different forums, the governor had made it known that the Olokola project is a gold mine waiting to be tapped by the state.

"Apart from that, he has continued to shop for would-be investors to bring the project to life. His administration has not relented in bringing net-worth players in oil and gas as well as maritime, to ensure that the natural resources in OKFTZ such as bitumen, natural deep seaport, marine and natural gas are tapped for the economic development of Ogun State.”

Commission (EFCC), apprehended Akpabio over allegations bothering on wanton looting of the AkwaIbom State treasury to the tune of over N100 billion.

The group stated that even as the anti-graft agency's investigation and prosecution were ongoing, the civil society had not rested on its oars in its bid to ensure that corruption was nipped in the bud and that Akwa-Ibom tax payers' money were properly accounted for.

"It is on this note that the coalition of civil societies led by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking, NACAT, embarked on a comprehensive investigations of the Akwa-Ibom State Government Account between 2011-2015.

"NACAT through these discovered financial infractions and irregularities ranging from circumvention of procurement processes, suspicious payments of monies, possible money laundering, to award of contracts to non-existent shell companies.

"These financial manipulations

have cost the good people of Akwa-Ibom State money amounting to over N700 billion under the watch of Senator Godswill Akpabio," it said.

The group queried the the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to present Akpabio for the exalted seat of senate president in spite of his alleged bagage.

"The questions begging for answers are: How will the All Progressives Congress (APC) accuse the PDP government of wasting 16 years of our nationhood and still reward a PDP-man in Mr. Godswill Akpabio who is part of the destruction of Nigeria and only joined APC six years ago?

"It is akin to giving a PDP member the number three position in the land and saying that APC lied against PDP destroying Nigeria. To make Akpabio a Senate President is a reward for monumental corruption orchestrated in Akwa Ibom and Ministry of Niger Delta/NDDC," it said.

Again, Clark Writes Okowa, Demands Detailed Expenditure of N1.07trn Oil Funds

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Ijaw Leader and Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, wrote an open letter to the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, demanding detailed expenditure of the 13 per cent Oil derivation funds totalling N1,077,450,285,552.17.

Clark said he got the information of the total amount that had so far accrued to the state government in the last eight years as 13 per cent Oil derivation from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation on May 10 this year.

Part of the letter read: "Your Excellency, this open letter is a follow-up to the first one I wrote to you on 2nd February, 2023, asking you to give account of your stewardship, how you spent the monies you have received from the

federal government; this time as it pertains the 13% Derivation Fund.

"Like I stated in my first open letter to Your Excellency, oil producing states receive the derivation fund on behalf of the oil producing communities. The 13% derivation fund is paid directly to the oil producing states by the federal government, and the state is supposed to use at least half of the funds, to develop the oil producing communities in their States.

"This is because these communities are the worst sufferers of the effect of the oil exploration. The fund is paid as a recompense or amelioration for the harms these communities suffer.

"For a very long time, the amount paid by the federal government as 13% derivation fund to oil producing states, have been shrouded in

secrecy, until not too long ago, when the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesome Wike, revealed how much his state and other counterpart states that are oil producing, have been receiving from the Federal Government.

"That statement by Governor Wike blew the lid off the container. The mind-boggling figures received by the State Governors/governments were made public. For some reasons quite surprising and difficult to understand, you were agitated when your colleaguegovernor, Nyesome Wike, made that revelation.

"More surprising was the fruitless efforts your officials immediately embarked upon to proffer explanation of what was paid, what was received and how it was spent. For instance, that you used N5 billion (five billion) to settle pensioners. The

spontaneous reaction and fruitless efforts of you and your officials, got some of us very inquisitive.

"So, I decided to obtain from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, a certified true copy of the total amount the Delta State government has received from the Federal Government between 2007 and 2015, the period of which Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan was Governor of the State, and between June 2015 – December 2022, your period as Governor.

"My findings reveal that you have received a total sum of N1,077,450,285,552.17 (one trillion, seventy seven billion, four hundred and fifty million, two hundred and eighty five thousand, five hundred & fifty two Naira, seventeen Kobo); as 13% derivation fund in your administration.

"There will be need to give an

account of this money. This letter will be copied to your predecessor in office, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, for him to also account for the money he received from the Federal Government from June 2007 to May 2015, amounting to N765,662,198,080.07 (seven hundred and sixty five billion, six hundred sixty two million, one hundred and ninety eight thousand, eighty naira, seven Kobo).

"From the records available, you have only released, in instalments, the sum of N232 billion to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) out of the 50% of the derivation fund received, which ought to go to the oil producing communities. In fact, you kept under your control the total amount paid by the federal government, and dispense it as you like. This is ultra vires.”

L-R: Minister of Finance , Budget and National Planning , Zainab Ahmed ; Comptroller General of Custom , Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retD) ; President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Federal Capital Territary (FCT) , Mohammed Bello at the commissioning of the new Customs Service Cooperate Headquarters in Abuja …yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

FIDAU PRAYER FOR LATE PA GBADAMOSI…

L-R: Children of the deceased, Architect Olakunle Gbadamosi; Architect Abiodun

Chairman,

Police Rescue 10 Victims from Kidnappers in Benue

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Benue State Police Commissioner, Mr Okoro Alawari, who assumed duty recently has disclosed that the command has rescued the Chief Medical Director of Hope Clinic, Makurdi and staff of Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Dr Obadiah Etito, and nine others from a kidnappers’ den at Gaya, Katsina-Ala Local

Government Area of Benue State. CP Alawari, who briefed journalists yesterday at the Benue State Police Command headquarters, Makurdi during the parade of different criminal suspects arrested during various operations, said Dr Etito was kidnapped on May 13, 2023 while leaving his Judges Quarters’ residence for his place of work at Apir and the nine others were

Makinde Dissolves Cabinet, Terminates Appointments of Political Office

KemiOlaitaninIbadan

Ahead of his inauguration for a second term in office on May 29, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday dissolved the state executive council.

The dissolution was contained in a memo dated May 23 , 2023 and signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chairman, Transition and Inauguration Committee, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.

The governor equally terminated the appointments of political office holders and asked them to hand over government properties in their custody to the most senior

civil servants in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

The statement read: “I have the directive of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde to inform you of the dissolution of the Oyo State Executive Council and the termination of the appointment of all political office holders with effect from today(yesterday) Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

“All political officeholders are required to officially hand over and submit all government properties in their possession to the most senior civil servant in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

‘APC, Buhari Saved Nigeria from Brink of Collapse in 2015’

OnyebuchiEzigboinAbuja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and son of the First Republic Senator from Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo State, Chief Richard Lamai, has described as misconstrued critics’ assertion that the ruling party has mismanaged the affairs of the country.

Lamai, who is the Executive Director of Senator E.A. Lamai Foundation, said that contrary to such negative assessment, APC as a party meant well for the country

and is not a self-serving entity.

Lamai stated this at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the first Senator . Lamai Memorial Lecture.

Lamai, a First Republic Senator from Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo State, passed away on May 14, 2009.

The son of the late senator said event scheduled to hold at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, on May 26, 2023, will feature thought-provoking discussions on issues dear to his father’s dream of a better Nigeria through the instrumentality of good legislation.

Ruth Okorocha Wins Nigeria Info’s Student Debate

After weeks of engaging in a series of intellectual debates that focus on the socio-political and economic issues that affect the development of the country, 15-year-old, Ruth Okoroach from Kingsway College has successfully defeated Ramadan Olalekan to emerge as the winner of the fifth edition of Nigeria Info’s “I Beg To Differ” Student Debate Competition.

The competition, themed: “The Champion of Champions,” took a new dimension as it only featured the winners and runner-ups of the previous editions. This, according to the organisers, is to

kidnapped at different locations and times.

However, the victim, Dr Etito, told journalists during an interview that he was not

kidnapped in Makurdi contrary to what the police commissioner had said. According to him, he was abducted in Ukum local government on his way to Taraba

State.

“On the 9th in the morning, I didn’t even tell my wife, a friend of mine I was going to see, called me in the night. So, my boys came

and picked me up around 8:30 am, we were going to Takum in Taraba State so that I would come back to office because I got three patient appointments.

Democratic Successes in Lagos Must be Sustained to Avoid Retrogression, Sanwo-Olu Advised

Segun James

A former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje yesterday warned the political leaders in Lagos state to ensure that the democratic space in the state does not get clogged in order to avoid a regression into oligarchy.

Agbaje, a professor of Political Science told Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team “to elevate ideas in its governance infrastructure and superstructure. And that is the way it should be.”

The university don gave the remarks during a lecture as part of programmes lined up for the inauguration of the second term in office of Sanwo-Olu and his

deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

The lecture titled, ‘The Making of a Beacon: Lagos and the Consolidation of a Democracy that Works for all.”

The lecturer noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu, in line with precedent, had carefully crafted a knowledge-based, inclusive pathway to renewal and consolidation, adding Lagos

had been blessed by a happy coincidence over the decades of technocrats and astute politicians in governance.

He added the state must be pointed more in the direction of greater and wider inclusion, in the understanding that a democracy that works for all is not only desirable as a means to an end and an end in itself.

Kano Judgment: Labour Party Applies for Notice of Appeal

Emameh Gabriel inAbuja

The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of Labour Party (LP)has announced that it has applied for a notice of appeal against the judgment of a Federal High Court in Kano State that sacked some elected members of the party.

The party has also alleged that the Apapa-led faction of the party was

in some northern states shopping for injunctions against the party. National Publicity Secretary of the Abure led-NWC, Obiora Ifoh, stated this yesterday in a statement, where he debunked allegations of financial mismanagement by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party. He said: “The unfortunate incident in Kano Federal High court last week where they deceived the

judge to enter a judgement against Labour Party, we are happy that their motives was not defeated but also the clarification of His Lordship, that his judgement was misinterpreted to mean a blanket punishment against all elected members of the party across Nigeria was heart warming. Labour Party has also swiftly applied for notice of appeal. We believe that justice will also be dispensed accordingly.

Abiora alleged in the statement that LP sources who have been monitoring the movement of Akingbade and his team informed them that the factional Legal Adviser “has visited three states in the North as at today, moving from one court to the other, shopping for a judge who will give them an injunction in order to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize them”.

Journalists Tasked on In-depth Budget Tracking, Investigation

HammedShittuinIlorin

Aveteran journalist and a member of the Board of Trustees of Media Trust Foundation, Chief Ishiaq Ajibola, has made a strong case for more in-depth budget analysis, tracking and investigation among journalists in the country in order to entrench transparency and accountability in

the art of the nation’s governance. Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara state capital yesterday at the three-day workshop for journalists across the North Central zone of the country, Ajibola, however said that it was high time journalists scrutinised and ask questions on budgets implementation in order to enhance the socio well- being

of the populace.

The theme of the workshop is ‘Budget Tracking and Investigating Public Expenditure.’

Ajibola said: “The budget, whether federal or state, determines the fate of the people; the direction of government and its policies; it speaks about the quality of choices being made by those in power;

it shows their values; it tells on the quality of life of the peoplehealthcare, education, water, energy, transportation and infrastructure in general.

“This is why journalists must scrutinize budgets. It is not an issue that should be left to the president, his ministers and national assembly members alone.

Group: Continued Detention of Kyari after 15 Months without Bail Illegal

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

without bail as illegal.

refresh the previous contestants’ intellectual competencies while encouraging Nigerian youths to engage in intellectually-stimulating conversations that could proffer viable solutions to the nation’s complex socio-economic issues.

The grand finale of the competition, which was aired live on Nigeria Info’s Hard Facts Show, had Ruth defeating Ramadan, a 15-year-old student from the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, after debating on topics that focused on artificial intelligence and China’s partnership with African countries.

Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEHUR) has described the continued detention of the members of Police Intelligent Response Team (IRT) led by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari for 15 months

Kyari is standing trial alongside four members of his team,Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu, on an eight-count charge of drug trafficking.

The spokesman of CEDEHUR, Adebayo Ogorry, while addressing a press

conference yesterday in Abuja, said Kyari and his team should be granted bail forthwith as the alleged offence for which they were charged with are bailable.

The group said it made the demand following last Friday’s release of two convicted international drug traffickers arrested by Police IRT in January,

who were transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

It recalled that IRT had arrested Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, at the car park of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on January 19, 2022 and were released 16 months after.

Niger Delta Ministry, NEMA, SEMA Distribute Palliatives to Imo Flood Victims

Amby Uneze in Owerri

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management

Agency, (SEMA) has flagged off the distribution of Presidential palliatives to the flood victims of 2022 in Imo State. The programme, which was part of the concerted efforts of the federal government’s continuous cushioning effects of last year’s flood menace in

some parts of country, no doubt would have some positive impact on the victims.

Flagging off the distribution in Owerri, the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah Opiah, said that the relief materials would go a long way to lighten the burden

currently faced by the victims. Opiah, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, had persistently made strong case for palliatives to be given to flood ravaged areas of the state including official notification to the relevant agencies.

Gbadamosi;

Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, Alhaja Abimbola Adedun, and Alhaja Yoyinsola Makanjuola, at the Fidau Prayer in honour of the late Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi held in Surulere, Lagos…yesterday

PALLIATIVES FOR FLOOD VICTIMS…

L-R: Deputy Director, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Akinbola Gbenga; Director Community Development and Education, MNDA, Matthew Pukuma; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Edo State, Mrs. Dorcas Idehen; State Co-ordinator, MNDA, Edo State, Anthonia Akhigbe; Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Edo State, Dahiru Yusuf, and Director II, Human Resources Management, MNDA, Sa’adat Abaji Shuaibu, during the distribution of palliatives to 2022 flood victims in Edo State in Benin City…recently

Edidem Otu V is Obong of Calabar, Say Efik Kingmakers

Distance themelves from Ani

Bassey Inyang inCalabar

Kingmakers of the Efik Kingdom have declared that Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V remains the Obong aof Clabar, and grand patriarch of the Efik people, as they distanced themselves from the purported proclamation of Etubom Anthony Ani as the Obong of Calabar-elect.

The kingmakers operating on the platform of the Etubom

Traditional Council issued a press statement yesterday condemning the activities of those that have been busy attempting to subvert the will of the Efik people who only recently reelected and installed Edidem Otu as Oblong of Calabar pursuant to a recent judgement of the Supreme Court.

The press statement signed and issued by the Chairman Etuboms Traditional Council, HRH, Etubom Bassey O. B. Duke, described those

JAMB to Close 2023 Direct Entry Registration on May 30th

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has announced that the sale of its 2023 Direct Entry (DE), e-PIN sales would close on Saturday, May 26, 2023, while registration would close on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

The JAMB, in a statement by its Spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, urged all genuine aspiring direct entry candidates who are yet to register for the exercise to do so as the board would not entertain any further extension.

The statement recalled that the 2023 direct entry registration, which commenced in February

2023, was extended for all desiring candidates to register and was at a point suspended to facilitate the incorporation of certain safeguards designed to enhance the sanctity of the exercise.

Benjamin said: “The 2023 direct entry registration is unique among many others as it came with some features meant to enhance the board’s capacity to permanently address those loopholes hitherto being exploited by some vested interests.

“It was, therefore, not at all surprising to witness the surge in the number of candidates in one or two of our offices.”

Associations to Discuss Cybersecurity Threat

The impact of global cyber security threat and counter measures to address the challenges it possesses on capital market operations in Nigeria is set to be the focus at a seminar slated for May 31 in Lagos.

The seminar, which draws participants from boardroom administrators, financial technology professionals, capital market operators, company secretaries, senior managers, human resources personnel, director of companies, stockbrokers and the general public is being organised by the Financial Technology Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) and the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR). The President/Chairman

of Council, ICMR, Seyi Owoturo and President of FINTECH, Ade Bajomo, in a statement revealed that the one-day virtual and physical participation event, will have a cyber strategist, Dr. Austine J Ohwobete , as the keynote speaker. FintechNGR, is a self regulatory, not-for-profit, non-political association and a member of world Global Fintech Hub Federation. It serves as a platform for the development of the financial technology industry in Nigeria as well as a forum for the exchange of ideas and dissemination of information by and among various stakeholders in the Financial technology industry.

Seun Kuti Released on Bail

Sunday Ehigiator

Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti has been released on bail from police detention following his arrest penultimate Monday. It was gathered that upon his release, his fans and well wishers welcomed him with cheers yesterday evening

behind the alleged proclamation of Ani as impersonators.

According to the statement, “Etuboms Traditional Council’s attention has been drawn to

series of unauthorised letters and announcements, prepared on forged letter headed papers and signed by individuals impersonating the Chairman and Secretary of our Council.

“We have also been shown a video in which Chief Anthony Ani is seen surrounded by a scanty motley crew playing the sinister ‘Agaba’ and other inappropriate masquerades, purporting

to have made him the Obong of Calabar, in his domestic residence, thus demonstrating their delusion or ignorance of the sacredness of such an affair.

Police Arrest Labourers for Raping Two Women to Death in Ondo

Fidelis David inAkure

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended two labourers for allegedly raping and killing an 80-year-old grandmother, Madam Felicia Aderibigbe, and a 58-year-old Landlady, Mrs. Adijat Olaoyeto.

Parading the suspects alongside 15 others arrested for various criminal offences across the state, the State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said that the two suspected murderers were arrested in Akure and Ore area of the state.

Specifically, the police image maker explained that one 27-yearold farm labourer, Mr. Mima Chinecherem, was apprehended in connection with the killing of an 80-year-old grandmother on her farm in Ore in Odigbo council area.

She said: “On May 18, 2023, a case of murder was reported at

Otu Divisional Headquarters that late Mrs. Aderibigbe Felicia aged 80-years left for farm on May 17 and did not return, all efforts to find her in the farm proved abortive until one Mima Chinecherem, aged 27 years, who specialises in Banga cutting, pegged a palm frond in front of deceased house at night.

Ekiti PDP Gov Candidate, Kolawole, Commends Oyebanji’s Giant Strides

Gbenga SodeindeinAdoEkiti

The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 18, 2022, election in Ekiti State, Mr. Bisi Kolawole, has commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji, for his remarkable achievements within 200 days

in office.

Kolawale said that Oyebanji had, in the last 200 days, demonstrated visionary and purposeful leadership, to the admiration of the people. He gave the commendation yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the governor in his office

in Ado Ekiti, where he said that Oyebanji was indeed very well prepared for the assignment, even right from the period of struggle for the creation of Ekiti State in the early nineties.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the visit, the PDP governorship candidate added that Governor

Oyebanji should be supported by all and sundry to ensure that his vision for Ekiti’s development transcends party politics and egocentric tendencies.

“So far so good, he has done well, the whole idea is to take Ekiti to the next level and he’s on the right track.”

Supreme Court Adjourns Kogi’s Suit against FG to October 10

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned till October 10, hearing in the suit instituted by the Attorney General of Kogi State against the Attorney General of the Federation, challenging the constitutionality of Acts establishing some anti-graft agencies, including

the Proceed of Crime Protection and Prevention Act 2022, and their applicability to the state.

A seven member panel of the apex court presided by Justice Amina Augie, announced the adjourned shortly after the case was mentioned.

The Acts mentioned in the Originating Summons include

those establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

When the matter came up before the full panel of the Supreme Court on Tuesday (today), May

23, 2023, Counsel to the Attorney General of Kogi State, Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, drew the attention of the Court to the alleged continued harassment and even arraignment of associates of Kogi State Government in various Courts despite the pendency of the Suit that was filed in February, 2023.

‘Promoting Ethnic, Religious, Regional Sentiments, Cause of Tension in Last Elections’

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

A Niger Delta peace advocate, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has traced the unhealthy tension across the country to those promoting religious, ethnic and regional sentiments in the last general election.

He said their actions ran contrary to majority of Nigerians collective resolve to build a united and peaceful country. Mulade, who is the national coordinator of Niger Deltabased Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), made the disclosure during a

week-long peace advocacy visit to some northern states.

Reiterating that peace is very important in the present day Nigerian situation in a statement issued yesterday, the Rights Activist maintained that there is an urgent need for unity and reconciliation through promotion

of peace, equity and justice at all times.

“It is imperative to state that the unity of Nigeria has continued to be threatened by bad elements who whipped up religious, ethnic and regional sentiments during political campaigns.“

Contract: Firm Sends SOS to Buhari, Accuses AGF, Transport Minister of Flouting Court Order

WaleIgbintade

An indigenous company, Rozi International Nigeria Limited, has sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking

after Police granted him administrative bail following the orders of the magistrate trying him over alleged assault of a police officer. He is however due to return to court on today for the continuation of his trial. Kuti’s release was confirmed by his attorney, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN.

his intervention and directive over the flagrant disobedience of the order of Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja in respect of the award of a sensitive International Cargo Tracking System (ICTN) contract. The firm in a

letter tagged: ‘Re: Suit No. FHC/ABI/ CS/2289/2022-Rozi International Nigeria Limited vs the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ors’, dated May 15, 2023, written by its counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN)

and M.A Mahmud (SAN), urged the president to direct relevant government agencies to obey the order of the court delivered on December 23, 2022, which ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo.

2023 Farming Season: Edo Begins Distribution of Inputs to Farmers

Adibe Emenyonu in Benincity

The Edo State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security yesterday commenced the distribution of inputs to farmers

in the state for the 2023 farming season.

Items distributed included cassava, mobile processing machine, fish smoking kiln, fish vat (mini tank), wheel barrows, fertilizers, rice seeds, herbicides,

pesticide and vaccines for livestock.

The state Functioning Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sunday Erhunmwonsere, who flagged off the distribution in Benin-city, capital of the state, on

behalf of the state government, said the distribution situated the government plans to ensure food security and create awareness on the various government interventions in the state.

AYO AJAYI

Saka Seals New Arsenal Deal Until 2027

Buyako Saka has signed a new deal to stay at Arsenal until 2027, stressing that the club "is the right place to make the next step".

The England forward has scored 14 goals for the Gunners this season, contributing 11 assists. Just 21 years old, he has already made 178 appearances for the club and has featured in all Arsenal's Premier League games over the past two campaigns.

"I'm just really happy," said Saka.

"There's been a lot of talking and it's been a while, but I'm here now. I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It's a beautiful club - look where we are.

"For me, it's about achieving my personal ambitions - how much I push myself and demand from myself each game, week in, week out. Then I have all the right people around me in terms of family, and when I come to the training ground, my team-mates, the coaching staff.

"I think I have everything I need to become the best player I can be, and that's why I'm happy to stay here and be here for the future, because I really believe that we can achieve big things."

Supernovas Hunts for Football Coaches in Nigeria

Supernovas, an in-Drive’s global non-profit initiative, is set to engage children in sports by recruiting coaches who can help them build skills, confidence, and love for the game.

According to the management of in-Drive, the company responsible for financing the project, the decision to engage children in football is driven by the need to help them develop both physically and socially.

Head of Supernovas, Anna Fedorchuk, while sharing insight on the project, explained that the role of coaches was crucial to the overall development of children in sports in Nigeria.

”We’re looking for people who love children and football and would like to train kids several times a week. For our project, the coach is a key figure, someone who can create a comfortable, safe and friendly environment, inspire a love of football in children, and work with them for the good of the community. Fun, safety, and the children’s comfort come first for us, rather than winning”, Fedorchuk said.

Speaking on the modalities, he said coaches selected for the initiative would be trained by an established expert, ICOACH KIDS- who is skilled in training grassroots sports coaches through methodological recommendations and introduction of courses for the participants.

He further stated that the coaches would be paid depending on the number of groups they train and the time spent. He said the initiative is open to children outside Lagos as this has been created to give more children greater access to these opportunities.

He said the choice of football for the initiative is to attract as much interest from parents, saying that in the future, other sports will be included.

“Interested coaches can register on the Supernovas website between May 5 and June 5. Children between the ages of 5 to 12 years old are eligible to participate,” concludes the statement by Fedorchuck.

Gadzama Writes Okowa, Warns against Violating AFN’s Constitution

The First Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tafida Gadzama, insisted yesterday that Thursday’s Extraordinary Congress is not convened pursuant to article 10.1.7 of the federation's 2023 constitution (as amended).

In a letter Gadzama addressed to Tonobok Okowa, President of the AFN, the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist for Nigeria advised Okowa that the constitution of the AFN should be respected.

The letter reads thus: “I write to draw your attention to the notice of Congress issued on Tuesday May 16, 2023 by the Secretary General based on your directive to convene an Extraordinary Congress of the AFN for May 25, 2023 in Abuja.

“The notice was dated May 16, 2023 which means the Congress is to hold nine days from the date of notice issued. This is a violation of article 10.1.7 of the AFN constitution (2023 as amended) which stipulates 15 working days notice to be given for an Extraordinary Congress to hold.

“I am sure you are aware of the

Bosso Confident Flying Eagles Can Beat Italy Tonight

Olawale Ajimotokan

Head Coach of Nigeria’s U20 team, Ladan Bosso, has insisted that the Flying Eagles will not be immersed in admiring the moves of their Italian counterparts when both teams clash in Group D of the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina tonight.

The Italians top Group D ahead of the Flying Eagles only as a result of having scored more goals in their opening game against Brazil. Nigeria similarly defeated the Dominican Republic to be in same points as the Italians.

With the Brazilians sure to beat Dominican Republic in the other match of the group, both Italy and Nigeria know that the winner of tonight’s game stands to pick one of the tickets to the Round of 16.

This makes the fixture a high stake one expected to produce fireworks.

Speaking ahead of the Wednesday night game, Bosso hinted that he knows what to expect from the Italians.

“We stayed back after our match against the Dominican Republic to watch the Italy match against Brazil, and we took a lot of notes from there. The Italians have the midfield machinery to outrun any team that is flustered by their pace and organization, but we will know how to deal with that,” began Bosso.

He however believes that the Flying Eagles have the players to neutralize whatever that the Azzurris have in their armoury.

“We have the boys who can neutralize their mortal armoury and deliver some blows of our own. Wednesday’s encounter will be interesting. We will respect them but we don’t fear any team at this championship,” stressed with confidence.

Bosso further added: ““Our mantra is full concentrationand once we achieve that and follow

U20 WORLD CUP

through with our game-plan, we will get a result.”

Technical Director of the NFF, Augustine Eguavoen told NFF website that the manner in which the Flying Eagles set up on Wednesday, and the level of concentration and adherence to game-plan, would

matter a lot on the day.

“The Italians are a good side but nothing is given in football until a match is played and ends. It is about the set-up, about the structure of your team and how much you bring to bear what you have noticed about the other team. I’m happy our coaches saw the Italians play the Brazilians and it is now left for us all to put our heads together and devise a winning plan.”

implications of violating provisions of the AFN constitution. I also know, Mr President, that you will not want to be seen as somebody who does not have regard for due process.

“In the notice of meeting issued Mr President, I also noticed that the AFN under your leadership says Congress members will be accommodated and given transport fares.

“This is another violation of the AFN constitution, Article 10.6.3 which makes it clear that Congress members will be responsible for their travel and accommodation.

“This may be seen as a way of inducing members of congress ahead of the congress. Mr President, as you are aware, majority of members of the board have drawn your attention to these violations and I, as the first Vice President feels it is necessary to officially draw your attention to them so that you can let your actions be guided by the provisions of the constitution henceforth.

“I hope, Mr President, you can direct the Secretary General to issue another notice pursuant to article 10.1.7 of the AFN constitution.'

Diri Salutes Victorious Team Nigeria Wrestlers Over Feat in Tunisia

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated Team Nigeria wrestlers that participated at the just-concluded African Senior, Junior and Cadet Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia.

Nigeria finished tops at the Championships winning six gold and four silver medals in the senior category, two gold in the junior category and one gold in beach wrestling.

The team also won three silver and two bronze medals in different categories as well as clinching the African senior female team title for an unprecedented 12th time.

Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, won gold in the 68kg category to emerge 12-time African champion.

Governor Diri in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary,

Mr. Daniel Alabrah, noted that the team, which had 10 young Bayelsa wrestlers, made the state and the country proud at the championships.

He said their performance was a positive manifestation of his administration’s relentless investment in sports and youths of the state.

Diri also stated that his government’s passion to develop the potential of Bayelsa youths through skills acquisition and other human capacity building initiatives had changed the narrative about Bayelsa in the last three years and counting.

He urged the youths not to rest on their laurels and continue to do the state and Nigeria proud.

Giving a breakdown of the team’s performance, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, who doubles as President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation, said Governor Diri funded and supported 10 of the 18 wrestlers to the tournament.

Yasin Haji Returns to Defend Okpekpe 10km Road Race Title

Former Inspector General of Police, Arase, hails race organiser

Ethiopia’s Yasin Haji will be seeking to make history as the first man to successfully defend an Okpekpe international 10km road race title after the 27-year-old arrived Lagos for Saturday's race in Okpekpe, Edo State.

Haji became the third, bonafide Ethiopian man to win the Okpekpe race 10km title after he ran 29:05, the third fastest winning time in race history, to win the title in 2022.

Teshome Mekonen who ran 28.35 in 2014 to set the race record was the first Ethiopian to win the men's race and Leule Gebrselassie (29:28) became the second to win three years later.

Haji, who raced to a 27:00 lifetime best in the event last year in Lille has returned to form at the right time.

The Ethiopian clocked 27:20 at the end of last month at the adizero Road to Records, Adi-Dassler-Straße 1in Herzogenaurach, Germany to send a message to his country man, Mekonen that he is returning to Okpekpe to break the course record and make history.

The stage will not be for Haji alone as a certain Kenyan, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo will not only be seeking to return Kenya to the podium as Okpekpe race champion but also

challenge Mekonen's 28.35 course record.

Ebenyo is one of just 14 athletes in the event's all-time list to have broken 27 minutes when he ran 26:58 in Valencia, Spain in January 2022, and like Haji, the 27-year-old has also returned to form just in time for the Okpekpe race. He ran 59:52 to win the Istanbul Half Marathon in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of last month and will be looking to become the fifth Kenyan winner of the Okpekpe 10km title.

In the women's race, a new course

record also looks to be in the offing following the quality of the elite cast for the event.

Kenya's Edith Jepchumba will lead the cast of athletes aiming to rewrite the 32:41 course record set by Ethiopia's Wude Ayalew in 2014.

The Kenyan ran a 30:53 lifetime best over the distance last February, nearly two minutes inside the course record and she is the fastest athlete among the elite cast confirmed for the race.

Ethiopia's Bertukan Welde has also ran inside Ayalew's course record

when she clocked 32:00 to come in behind Jepchumba in Castellon, Spain last February.

Abigael Jelimo will be seeking to get the gold this time after running 33.53 to place third at the eighth edition of the Okpekpe race last year.

Meanwhile, former Nigeria's Inspector General of Police and now Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, has commended Mike Itemuagbor, owner of the Okpekpe 10km race for sustaining the world-class road running event in Nigeria.

Some of

Africa

feature in Saturday’s

Bukayo Saka has sealed another five-year deal extending his stay at Arsenal until 2027

the elite runners from East

expected to

Okpekpe 10 kilometres International Road Race here at the start point of one of the previous editions

MISSILE

Jonah Jang to Gov Lalong

“Goofsandgaffeswerethehallmarksofhisadministration.Atatimewhensectionsofthestatehavecome underattacksfrompeoplehell-bentonwaginggenocideonthepeople,thegovernmentisratherhurriedly commissioningprojects...Perhaps,Lalongrealisedtoolateinthedaythatithadpursuedpersonalpolitical gainstothedetrimentofthegeneralwell-beingofthestateandisinahurrytoclaimthathe,atleast,did somethingwheninfact,hedidalmostnothing“--FormerPlateauStateGovernor,JonahJang,throughhis Spokesperson,ClintonGaruba,bemoansLalong’sfailureinsecurity,amongotherissues.

DAKUKU PETERSIDE

GUEST COLUMNIST

Why This Presidential Transition Matters

Presidential transition periods are times of excitement, hope, apprehension, speculation, and drama. It is associated with chaos, complexity, and coordination challenges. The incumbent president is not only saddled with the task of leading the country but also must start winding down its activities and prepare to hand over the presidency to the new president and his team. The incumbent almost becomes a lame duck as all the political activities shift to the president-elect. The president and his team start to feel the fleeting nature of power and quickly start losing the friends of the president’s seat to the new man and his people in the block. The pilgrimage to the incumbent president gradually winds down, and the expedition to the president-elect goes into the ascendency. These political intrigues and melodramas culminate in the final ritual of power handover – the presidential inauguration ceremony on the 29th of May of the year of the transition of power. In Nigeria, from 1999 till date, we have had six such presidential transition ceremonies but three transitions from one president to another - Obasanjo to Yar’Adua/ Jonathan, Jonathan to Buhari and now Buhari to Tinubu. There are predominantly two shades of presidential transition: one is a transition from a president from one party to a president under another party; the other is the transition from a president to another under the same party. We have experienced both in our nascent democracy, which can be taken as an indicator of growth and the deepening of our democracy. Each transition poses challenges and brings about different apprehensions, claims and counterclaims. However, the current presidential transition is of the former shade and, therefore, must be assumed to be more accessible – President Buhari of the APC will hand over to President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.

This is the easiest part of this presidential transition steep in controversy and has split public opinion into multiple dichotomies. The dominant categorisations of these dichotomous strands are binary – some calling for the presidential transition to be postponed for different conjectural reasons , and others insisting it must hold, based on orthodoxy and the provisions of our constitution. They are all entitled to their opinion but the law of the land must prevail.

Beyond these apparent differences, most Nigerians are interested in this presidential transition. Some Nigerians see this transition as a symbol of hope for a better future – an audacious hope in the Tinubu team to solve most of Nigeria’s problems and put the country in the direction of growth and prosperity. Others, although cautious , want to see a new government with a change of direction. Still, others are merely pessimistic and predict doom and gloom for the country. The reality is that only the future will tell what the Tinubu/Shettima presidency will mean for Nigeria, and no level of optimism or pessimism will change that. The beauty of democracy is that these differences in opinion and expectations are allowed and even encouraged. Democracy is at its best when and where there are conflicting and opposing ideas and interests in the open market of ideas.

I must admit that the actual presidential inauguration ceremony is just symbolic. The elections

confer power, and the swearing in and handing over are mere rituals steeped in symbolism that entrenches our collective psyche that power has changed hands and new kids are in the block.

It is only human and traditional that we have transition ceremonies, and that’s the way we make sense of the civil handover of power in a democracy. To illustrate the power associated with this symbolism, in 2009 ,President Barrack Obama retook his oath of office a day after his swearing-in because he missed one word during the swearing-in ceremony. On the 29th of May 2023, Nigerians will witness the swearing-in of a new president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces to the delight of most Nigerians amidst fanfare and jubilations.

However, most Nigerians will be enthralled less by the rituals and ceremonies and would rather focus more on the overarching challenges Nigeria is facing at the fore of their minds and wonder how the new administration will be deliberate and intentional in tackling these problems. Our nation has a humongous debt crisis, rapacious poverty, omnipresent insecurity, deepening divisiveness, nauseating nepotism, ballooning inflation, and unsettling unemployment, amongst other nottoo-good indicators of falling standard of living. Beyond the symbolisms and rituals, this transition offers renewed hope, new opportunities and a new sense of optimism, no matter your political view or leaning. It is another fresh start to redefining our problems and developing bespoke solutions. There are five significant ways this transition matters to Nigerians.

First, it is natural to expect a new lease of life with a new administration. Nigerians expect the

new administration to hit the ground running from day one and issue policy directives that will give renewed hope to people overwhelmed by suffering. Humans, by nature, desire change, especially in a democracy. The need for change for the better has become existential for most people. If Nigeria continues in its current stunted growth trajectory, the outcome will be unimaginable. Admitted in the past eight years ,we made some progress in infrastructure and a few other areas. Overall, in a democracy , leaders are merchants of hope. But hope not backed by positive actions is merely wishful thinking. Our problems are numerous; the new administration needs the “magic wand” to wave and make them all go away. However, we only hope that this administration will lay the foundation for a better future - a future where slowly but surely, we as a people have developed the capacity and resources to improve our lives and live up to the true meaning of our creed “unity, peace and progress”.

Second, Nigerians want to hear and see what the new administration will do with fuel subsidy, taxation , our debt profile, electricity tariff, foreign exchange regime, national census, and youth unemployment. The outgoing administration has shied away from dealing with these sensitive issues in a timely and responsive manner , but the people expect this administration to deal with these issues head-on. One might argue that these are elite concerns but whatever option the new administration chooses has domestic social, economic, and political implications. This is even more crucial because we fought the last presidential election on these issues. The Nigerian electorate is savvy and much more enlightened than in

the past. They demand answers and solutions. The young people are getting more politically active - some even militant about it – and are demanding change for their future. These facts are on the front burner of this administration’s agenda.

Third, Nigerians desire to see how the administration will tackle insecurity from day one. The people expect the new administration to show dexterity and innovativeness in managing insecurity, which has become our albatross. Insecurity is destroying our society, and we will not achieve meaningful progress in the face of insecurity. It is crippling and forcing us to change our way of life. The worst problem with insecurity is psychological. There is a pervading, insidious and heightened emotional sensitivity that insecurity has put in Nigerians that influences all our decisions - from the minute to the major. There is a lingering fear among Nigerians living in Nigeria that evaporates when you step out of our shores. This sensitivity is made worse by the ever presence of paraphernalia of insecurity – police, private security, paramilitary and military presences everywhere, convoys of cars blowing sirens with heavily armed men protecting our elites, stories of kidnappings, killings, and robberies everywhere, and ever-present rumours and memes about insecurity. As the new government works to tackle the real insecurity issues, it must work to tackle the psychology of insecurity that has shaped our collective consciousness.

Fourth, Nigerians want to see specific steps the new administration will take to unite the country, acknowledging that the administration is coming to power not with an overwhelming national mandate (36% of voters and not 51%). Nigeria has never been this divided and factionalised along different lines. There is no denying that the last presidential elections were fought on ethnoreligious lines, and they touched on our highly contentious ethnic and religious fault lines. This new administration must take steps to heal the country and intentionally solidify our unity and diversity. Even in dealing with the contentious issue of the challenge of its legitimacy in court by opposition parties, the new government must put the nation first and above other political considerations , no matter the supposed temporary advantage that it may bring.

Fifth, simply put, is the issue of bread and butter. There is hunger and poverty in the land. The elite who will make up the core of government must remember that. They must feel the pulse of the nation. People are suffering, and many are desperate. Nigerians have never seen this level of hunger and poverty before. We must do something about this and very quickly!

There is no gainsaying the complexities and complicated options before this new administration. The problems are numerous, the people are pessimistic or mostly ambivalent, and the resources are scarce. Given our economic circumstances, solutions to many issues take time to fathom. Some pundits predict that the new administration may not be radically different from the old one, given that they are from the same party and share a similar ideology. The presidential election court cases are ongoing, and some Nigerians are expecting miracles – and you do not blame them. It is in this milieu that the presidential transition is happening. This is one transition happening in a most challenging period in the life of Nigeria.

Tinubu