FRIDAY 2ND JUNE 2023

Tinubu Set to Rejig Security, Says Agencies Working at Cross-purposes Won't Be Tolerated

(rtd), said the president called

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Oba of Benin Greets

President,VP, Says Inauguration Fulfilment of

Wants focus on youth development

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare Il, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Vice

President Shettima Kashim on their successful inauguration. In two separate letters to the topmost Nigerian leaders, the revered monarch prayed for the overall wellbeing of the duo,

describing Tinubu’s ascension as fulfilment of destiny.

“On behalf of the Royal Court of Benin, Benin Royal family and the good people of Edo State, I congratulate

Your Excellency on your successful swearing-in ceremony as the 16th President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Your swearing in as the 16th president of this great country was as a result of fulfilment of destiny, the people's will and wish of God Almighty who made it possible to assume

Destiny

the mantle of leadership,”

Continued on page 5

Kyari: Tinubu Has Directed Palliatives Be Put in Place to Cushion Effect of Subsidy Removal

TINUBU MEETS SECURITY CHIEFS...

L-R: Director General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Magaji Bichi; Chief of Air staff, Isiaka Oladayo Amao; Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya; National Security Adviser, Major General ( retd) Babagana Monguno; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the Director General of National Intelligence Agency ( NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar during the Security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday.

NCC Set to Achieve 90% Broadband Penetration by 2025

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

In line with the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020 to 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said it is currently providing Industry leadership to facilitate the achievement of 90 per cent broadband penetration in Nigeria. The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, who disclosed this during the opening of a twoday stakeholders’ consultative forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, tagged ‘Talk to the regulator' also stated that the regulatory agency primary targets above 50 per cent

of the broadband penetration at the end of 2023.

Represented by Mr Damilola Ogunsipe, officer in the office of the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Danbatta, announced that over 150 million Nigerians have access to Internet, while over 80 million can access high speed internet. He said the Commission had already taken measures to improve regulations to accommodate the rapid and continuous development in the telecom industry which include; the rapid growth in technology, which is redefining service delivery, and creating wide and high expectations from all stakeholders.

He said: “In line with the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025), the NCC is providing industry leadership to facilitate the achievement of 90 per cent Broadband penetration by year 2025, and well above 50 per cent at the end of 2023.

“Currently, over 150 million Nigerians have access to internet, while over 80 million can access high speed internet.

“The Nigeria Communications Commission, in keeping with its mandate, creates opportunities to interact with its licensees on industry issues and new trends via stakeholder fora, with a view to gathering relevant information

that would further advance the development of the industry, while improving regulations and service delivery to telecom consumers.

“Some of the interventions and responses of the Commission includes but are not limited to: Facilitating the Roll-Out of 5G Service provision, introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Licence to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved areas.

“The Commission is currently reviewing the scope and structure of its existing licenses to make them more robust and to accommodate some of the

identified new industry trends.”

“The 'Talk-To-The Regulator Forum is a common platform for non-discriminatory interaction on a one-on-one basis, between the Licensees and the Regulator on several industry issues, pertinent to the Licensees and of national interest." He said.

The Director, Licencing and Authorisation Department of NCC, Mr. Mohammed Babajika, said the Commission was reviewing its licence categories in line with the technological advancements in the telecom industry such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Network as a Service (NaaS) and

KYARI: TINUBU HAS DIRECTED PALLIATIVES BE PUT IN PLACE TO CUSHION EFFECT OF SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Adedayo Akinwale, Kingsley Nwezeh, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

As public outcry over the sudden hike in the pump price of petrol continues, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, says President Bola Tinubu has directed that palliatives be put in place to cushion the effect of the increase on Nigerians. Kyari disclosed this yesterday while fielding questions from journalists at the end of a closed-door meeting with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

On same day, Kyari said during an interview on ARISE News Channel that the adjustment in petrol pump price was not fixed. He stressed that prices would continue to change in reaction to market forces in the coming weeks.

But organised labour, under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said it was still weighing the situation in the aftermath of the petrol price increment. NLC said it would not hesitate to take all necessary actions within the ambit of the law to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the masses.

NLC disclosed that as part of moves to galvanise action against the government policy, the union would hold an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today in Abuja, to decide on appropriate steps to take over the massive increase in fuel price.

In Edo State, Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), yesterday, blocked a section of the busy Benin/ Lagos highway in protest against the increase in petrol pump price. The protest, which also took place at different locations in the state, obstructed vehicular movement.

However, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) called on the federal government not to be distracted by the tricks of those it described as discredited self-serving labour leaders and unscrupulous oil marketers who would seize every opportunity to undermine government’s good intentions.

But global human rights body, Amnesty International, advised that the removal of fuel subsidy must not exacerbate poverty in the country.

The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday, stated that with the petroleum subsidy removal, the federal government should forthwith suspend all Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contracts. The House said NNPC should act according to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to ensure that the country was not short-changed in production, lifting, and sale of crude.

NNPC had on Wednesday adjusted the pump price of petrol by nearly 200 per cent, from N195 per litre to between N488 and N557 nationwide. The development followed the announcement by Tinubu during his inaugural address on Monday that fuel subsidy was “gone”. Tinubu promised to re-channel the expected savings to education, health and other sectors.

NLC had expressed displeasure over the new pricing template, describing it as vexatious.

Furthermore, Kyari, while speaking with the APC NWC members, noted that NNPC could not continue to be the sole importer of petrol in the country.

The GCEO said, "There is a gradual process now of making a flexible and single exchange rate regime. Everyone will be able to have access to foreign exchange and there is a transition going on now and the NNPC cannot continue to be the sole importer. We know that this is going to vanish and the market will stabilise this."

On the rehabilitation of the four national refineries, Kyari said, "There is an on-going process of rehabilitation and one of the refineries will come on stream this year. The second will come on stream next year and the third will come in 2025."

The NNPC boss said it was very obvious that the country could no longer afford the subsidy payment and it had to be removed.

According to him, “Subsidy bills have piled up. The country is not able to settle NNPC for the money we are spending on the subsidy. Therefore, pricing this petroleum at the market is the right thing to do at this time. We believe that this will benefit the overall country in the long run.

"I am aware that Mr. President has

directed some engagement and some palliative will be put in place and I am very sure this will happen."

Kyari pointed out that there was provision for subsidy in 2022. However, he said in 2023, not a single naira was provided for the purpose of financing the subsidy.

Kyari stated, "And ultimately while we held back our fiscal obligations, we still have a net balance of over N2.8 trillion that the federation should have given back to the NNPC.

"For any company, when you have negative N2.8 trillion, there is no company in the whole of Africa that will lend to you. You cannot have receivables. The provision of subsidy is there but absolutely there is no funding for it. It means it is only on paper. So, it doesn't exist.

"So, we no longer can bear it because of liquidity. If we continue we will run into defaults and the defaults of NNPC is the default of Nigeria. Once NNPC goes into defaults and liquidity, it affects every borrowing done by the country, even the sub-nationals. Your lenders will come back to you and say your country can no longer pay."

Kyari disclosed that when Tinubu announced that subsidy was gone, within 24 hours, investors in both the money and capital markets reacted positively.

He stated, "It is nothing else other than the statement around subsidy and balancing of the forex market. These two elements are major concerns that every investor all over the world, every partner that we have, is worried about. What is your forex regime and how do you deal with your subsidy?

“They know that this subsidy constitutes a huge amount of money and this country may not be able to survive and pay its debts. It is very clear that everybody understands this.

"Before today, the average subsidy level was N400 billion every month. That means every month you can do one major capital project from money that you do not have. This is really is what it means. There is nothing anybody can do about it. There is this common argument that the masses will suffer. That we are going to have problems with them. I agree that once you increase prices of this proportion, as it has happened, it will have impact on inflation. There is no doubt about

it. It is very typical also, it goes up and down. The market determines what happens next."

Kyari stressed that the target of the president was to have seven per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, saying you cannot have this if there is distortion in demand and consumption patterns.

In a related development, speaking on “The Morning Show” on ARISE News Channel, Kyari stated that the adjustment in the prices of petrol was not fixed, saying pump prices would continue to change in reaction to market forces. Kyari also noted that the removal of subsidies would improve efficiency in the downstream sector.

Kyari stated, “The price we are seeing today at our filling stations is the current market price of the commodity. So, what this means is that prices in the market can go down at any time and, of course, the market will adjust itself.

“The beauty of this is that there'll be new entrants because marketing companies’ reluctance to come into the market all along is the very fact that there's a subsidy regime that is in place.

“Subsidy regime doesn't have the guarantee of repayment back to those who provide the product at a subsidised price. Now that the market is deregulated, oil marketing companies can actually import product, whether it is produced locally, they can buy and take them into the market and sell it at commercial price.

“Therefore, you will see competition, even with NNPC, and by the way, by law, NNPC cannot do more than 30 per cent of the market going forward. As soon as the market stabilises, oil-marketing companies are able to come in. That means that even the requirements of energy security in the law indicate that you have to be up be able to have at least 30 per cent of the stocks in the country.”

On the issue of inefficiency and extra burden on the federal government along the downstream sector, Kyari said those inefficiencies would be eliminated.

NLC Mobilises for Action against New Fuel Price Hike

TINUBU SET TO REJIG SECURITY, SAYS AGENCIES WORKING AT CROSS-PURPOSES WON'T BE TOLERATED

for coordinated efforts among the military, but warned that working at cross-purposes would not be tolerated in the fight against insecurity.

The NSA added that Tinubu, while charging military officers and men to redouble their efforts, also mandated all security agencies to quickly come up with a master plan towards eradicating security challenges facing the country.

Monguno disclosed that the president at the maiden meeting of the General Security Appraisal Committee (GSAC), consisting of the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, and heads of the intelligence agencies, addressed prevailing issues confronting the country in terms of insecurity "and also mentioned his own philosophy towards dealing with national security issues.”

Monguno stated regarding the meeting with Tinubu, "First and

foremost, he appreciated the armed forces and intelligence agencies and the wider paramilitary agencies for the work they have been doing in the past couple of years. Their sacrifice, their loyalty, and he also paid tribute to those who died in defending this country, from the great big menace of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy, etc.

"The president has made it very, very clear that he's determined to build on whatever gains have been made and to reverse misfortunes and turn the tide in our favour. As far as he's concerned, this country should not be on its knees struggling while other countries are walking and achieving greater heights.

"The president has revealed that in moving this country forward, he needs the security agencies to redouble their efforts. And he has also pointed out that his own philosophy is one of contemporary security measures dealing with the

requirements of the time.

"He has made it very clear that he will not accept a situation in which our fortunes keep declining. And his own trajectory is that national security has to be coordinated; there has to be wherever, whatever it says, whether it is a basket system, but there must be a clearing house.

"All agencies must work to achieve one single purpose. Working at cross-purposes and colliding with each other is not something that he will condone. He has made it very, very clear that all the security agencies must comply with the demands of coordination, with the demands of frequent consultations and also timely reports, which must be acted on.

"He is going to embark on a lot of reforms in terms of our security architecture, he is going to take a closer look at our misfortunes in the maritime domain, focusing particularly on the issues of oil theft.

NLC said it would hold an emergency NEC meeting today in Abuja to decide on appropriate steps to take over the massive increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). It called on the federal government to obey the 2023 Appropriation Act and call NNPC to order.

In a statement, NLC said Nigerians from all walks of life, including civil society organisations, had continued to visit the Labour House in Abuja, to show solidarity with the congress and support its position against the petroleum products price hike by the federal government and to demand that necessary action be taken with their support to ensure that the federal government reverses the decision to withdraw petroleum subsidy.

The union said a delegation of Northern Women Assembly (NOWA), led by its National President, Alhaja Aisha Hassaini, and Miyetti Allah Peace Initiative, led by its National President, Hon. Yusuf Musa Ardo, were at the headquarters of NLC yesterday, to register their displeasure the sudden increase in the prices of petroleum products by the federal government.

It said the northern women group expressed dissatisfaction with the hardship and increased suffering, which the petroleum price hike had foisted on their members across the north.

According to NLC, the women urged the labour movement to immediately take steps to get the government to revert to the old pump price.

It said, "The women insisted on mobilising their members towards any action that may become necessary to make sure that the government does the right thing for Nigerian women, stating that women bear the greatest brunt of every bad policy of the government."

NLC said Miyetti Allah Peace Initiative brought a petition from members demanding the protection of NLC against anti poor policies of the government. It said the association lamented the huge burden, which the petroleum price hike had already foisted on their members, adding that they are afraid of what the future portends if this is allowed to stand.

Internet of things to redefining service-delivery

Represented by the Deputy Director, Licencing and Authorisation of the Commission, Mr. Usman Mamman, he disclosed that the Commission has already finalised the framework for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOS) and have issued MVNO Licences.

He added that the licencing of MVNO would improve the telecommunication output of the country, enable the expansion and availability of quality mobile coverage and close the gap to the unserved and underserved population in Nigeria.

all forms of oppression.

"It has, therefore, become important that we inform the federal government of the expanding and deepening anger amongst the populace, which is increasingly building a coalition of the suffering and deprived that may lead to a conflagration of unexpected dimensions if nothing is immediately done to assuage this snowballing feeling of angst.

"We advise the government to quickly revert to the old pump price since provision was made to cater for subsidy in the current budget to cover this period."

Ajaero said in the statement that NLC believed that government could not continue to break its own law and expect the citizenry to be law abiding because the 2023 budget was an Appropriation Act of the National Assembly.

He said the on-going dialogue with the government might be imperilled if the insistence continued, especially when there it seemed that there is a clear, deliberate and wilful breach of the law by those who are supposed to be its custodians.

Ajaero stated, "Any act of impunity encourages lawlessness and leads to serious breach of trust and reduces citizenship belief in leadership. These are basic ingredients needed by the government to govern, which it seems to be in a hurry to defile. Citizens connect is critical for the survival of any government.

"The on-going dialogue with the government may be imperilled if the insistence continues, especially when it seems that there is a clear, deliberate and wilful breach of the law by those who are supposed to be its custodians.

"As the pressure continues to mount from the outcry of the citizenry for a quick mitigation of the increasing hardship, which this has become for Nigerians, we are worried that patience may run thin and may snap, leading to actions that may no longer be controlled.

"We, therefore, call on the government to obey the 2023 Appropriation Act and call the NNPC to order.

That is not going to be tolerated. Wherever the problem is coming from, it must be crushed as soon as possible.

"He has already mandated the security agencies to come up with a blueprint as far as he knows, as far as he's concerned, he doesn't have the luxury of time. And whatever changes will be made have to be done as soon as possible.

"The president has also decided that whatever ventures the armed forces are going to be engaged in, they must carry along those operatives in the theatre. They must be well fed, well kitted, motivated and given all that they require.

"President has said clearly that he will do whatever is within his powers to enable the operational elements, but the intelligence agencies must also make their work easy for them by providing the type of intelligence they require to carry out the assignment."

NLC president, Joe Ajaero, said the union had assured all those that visited the congress since Tuesday of its continued commitment to taking all necessary measures within the law to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and masses, no matter the quantum of opposition.

The congress stated, "We called for patience and continued unity so that we can present a common front against

"Encouraging local refining of our crude to meet domestic demand is the surest way to resolve the subsidy impasse and stave off its negative consequences on the nation.

"As we go into the Joint CWC/NEC meeting of both congresses tomorrow to further discuss this unfortunate price hike, we urge all Nigerians to be prepared. The will of the people

Continued on page 43

OBA OF BENIN GREETS PRESIDENT, VP, SAYS INAUGURATION FULFILMENT OF DESTINY

antecedents, he had no doubt that the president will excel in the position and fulfill his mandate to Nigerians, pleading with him, however, to give more opportunity to youth development in the country.

“Once again, I heartily congratulate Your Excellency on your inauguration and pray to God Almighty and our Ancestors to grant you the wherewithal to pilot the affairs of our great country, Nigeria,” he added.

To Shettima, the monarch stated that his choice as the number two citizen of the

country, Nigeria, was a testament to his loyalty, commitment, trust and the will of God.

With the beginning of a new dispensation for a better Nigeria, the Oba said he was very optimistic that Shettima will join hands with Tinubu, to “bring forth the Nigeria of our dream.”

“Once again, I heartily congratulate Your Excellency on your inauguration and pray to God Almighty and our Ancestors to grant you the wherewithal as the Vice-President of our great country, Nigeria,” he added.

GITEX AFRICA DIGITAL SUMMIT, BOULEVARD AL YARMOUK, MARRAKECH…

Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy

CBN Refutes Alleged Devaluation of Naira, Partners FG to Bridge Widening Fiscal Deficit

James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN)

Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, yesterday laid to rest, speculations that the bank may have devalued the local currency.

Obiora, in a brief comment on the issue, at the opening of the 2022 annual retreat of the Fiscal Liquidity

Assessment Committee (FLAC) with the theme: “Post-pandemic Fiscal Stress and Monetary Policy Management in the Digital Age”, refuted the media reports on the alleged devaluation. Describing the media report (not THISDAY), as fake, the CBN deputy governor added that there had been no movement in the foreign exchange contrary to insinuations. His clarification came as the apex

bank further refuted reports that the bank had devalued the naira by N630 to the US Dollar.

Additionally, the central bank in a statement issued by the acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, said the report was "replete with outright falsehoods and destabilising innuendos, reflecting potentially willful ignorance of the said medium as to

the workings of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market".

AbdulMumin added, "For the avoidance of doubt, the exchange rate at the Investors’ & Exporters’ (I&E) window traded this morning (June 1, 2023) at N465/US$1 and has been stable around this rate for a while.

"The public is hereby advised to ignore the news report in its entirety, as it is speculative and calculated at

Chike-Obi: Tinubu Must Appoint Persons Principled Enough to Resign When Forced to Execute Bad Policies

Says branch banking will disappear in 10 years

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A former Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and current Chairman of Fidelity , Nigeria, Mustafa Chike-Obi, yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint persons who will be willing to resign when they disagree with a policy they are compelled to execute.

Speaking on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, Chike-Obi stated that it was unacceptable for an appointee of government to implement policies they do not believe in and cannot defend.

While many aides under the Muhammadu Buhari administration thought it was unsustainable to retain fuel subsidy, the president was for paying the massive subsidy on petrol, a policy which the ministers, advisers and heads of agencies implemented although they disagreed.

But Chike-Obi argued that an appointee’s resignation could make the government review a bad policy, maintaining that it was wrong for a government official to blame the president for a policy which they executed themselves.

“You (government official) can resign and say I will not administer this policy and that may in fact convince the president to take a second

look at that policy. But when you sit there and administer that policy you yourself know was bad for Nigeria, we can't afford it anymore.

“And that resignation itself is a statement to the president that you really believe this is the bad policy. I think that the new government should employ people who are principled enough to defend policies they personally believe it,” he contended.

Chike-Obi also asserted that the fuel subsidy removal was a good thing, but that it should have been better handled by the new government. However, he added that Tinubu has smart people around him who should know what to do.

“Let me say this, Mr. Tinubu’s political philosophy, all his life has been to be kind, to the lowest and most vulnerable.

“So in this subsidy removal, his people around him should have been sensitive to the fact that we should do things for the poor people first before we remove it so abruptly.

“ I think they will address it. There are a lot of smart people around him, they will address it. I think in the next 30 days, we will see a number of interventions, I believe,” he explained.

He also maintained that until Tinubu releases the list of those he is going to work with, it would be difficult to make an informed

projection on several sectors of the economy.

“I know a lot of the people around the president. I have known him for years, I have a relationship with the president and I have tremendous respect and affection for him.

“So, I can't answer your question until I see the team he has around him and the policies that they talk about. But if you ask me, I'm extremely optimistic. So, let’s see his team and policies,” he noted.

On the challenge of banking in Nigeria with the current fuel price hike, Chike-Obi predicted that in the next decade there would be no branch banking, arguing that with the advent of Fintechs, banks will be highly automated.

“I think the world is moving generally to non-traditional banking. Branch banking is going to be a thing of the past in the next 10 or 15 years. When I'm in the US, I don't think I've gone to my bank branch in the last five years, maybe once or twice.

“So from the customer's point of view, we hope that customers are using the branches less to lessen the impacts from the customer side that higher cost of transportation and all that will cause,” he said.

However, he stated that banks in Nigeria have largely depended on diesel to run their branches for

a long time, pointing out that aside customers being impacted by higher prices, there won’t be a huge impact of the pump price increase on banks in the country.

“ I don't think it would be as big as people fear. on the diesel side, this has happened on the regular for a long time. So our cost of running branches is largely diesel, and diesel is unregulated. So I don't think that there's going to be much of an impact on banking, but there'll be an impact on our customers because the cost of living is going to go up.

“And as we all have calculated, the impact on transportation fuel is going to make some employees not to come to work because their salaries are less than the cost of transportation.

“So, all of those things have to be reviewed. And the thing to do is to have a holistic policy on the things that Nigeria must do, which is to index the minimum wage to inflation,” he explained.

Arguing that a unified exchange rate was mandatory, he noted that it required skills and deftness to administer so as not to cause untold hardship.

“So I think that unified exchange rate is mandatory. How you get there is what requires skill, governance and policy,” he said, adding that this could even be done in instalments.

causing panic in the market.

"Media practitioners are advised to verify their facts from the Central Bank of Nigeria before publishing in order not to misinform the public."

Nonetheless, the monetary and fiscal authorities have taken measures to improve their collaborations towards resolving the current fiscal crisis that had impacted the macro economy, particularly inflation – as well as harmonise their operations going forward.

Speaking while declaring the workshop open, Obiora said the country had been facing fiscal stress -dwindling revenues and rising expenditures -even before the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted the federal government’s fiscal deficit had increased from four per cent in 2016 to about 6.2 per cent in 2020.

According to the CBN deputy governor, “Oil sector used to account for 70 per cent of federal revenues but if you recall in 2016/2017, when prices dropped by more than 65 per cent; revenues crashed and we found our fiscal deficit – difference between revenues and expenditures go from four per cent in 2016 to 4.7 per cent in 2019.”

He said as a response to the pandemic, fiscal authorities all over the world had adopted several policy options to boost consumer spending by releasing money to households.

In Nigeria, the federal government had swiftly initiated the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) coupled with the interventions embarked upon by the CBN to boost the economy.

Obiora noted however that these interventions had further pushed the fiscal deficit from 4.7 per cent in 2019 to currently 6.2 per cent in 2022.

He emphasised the need for collaboration between the fiscal and the monetary sectors to “ensure that we understand what each other is doing and make sure that the ultimate goal of economic growth and price stability is attained”.

He said, “We should look at solutions that will increase our cooperation and ensure that our goal for non-inflationary economic growth is achieved in Nigeria.”

Obiora also said the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also known as the eNaira - launched in response to the threat posed by cryptocurrencies – had been stable and responding to monetary policy permutation.

He said the CBN’s focus had been on the transmission mechanism of the eNaira to determine “how fast a transaction can occur and what you can do as a monetary authority to use that response in the control of money supply and the monetary policy itself”.

In his remarks, CBN Director, Monetary Policy Department, Dr. Mahmud Hassan, said since its establishment in 2007, FLAC remained a strategic committee of the central bank which provides an avenue for monetary and fiscal authorities to interact for the purpose of articulating policy decisions that are complementary and avoid conflicting signals.

He said it represented an important platform for sharing critical information towards effective coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, with the aim of achieving the overall macroeconomic objectives of the government.

He noted that the meeting came at a time when the country was contending with several headwinds, including rising consumer prices, high public debt and its servicing costs, dwindling fiscal revenues, and weak economic recovery.

Hassan said these challenges required innovative and strategic responses to address them, pointing out that the apex bank had continued to implement various quasi-fiscal measures to support the federal government's effort to manage the general economy, addressing liquidity challenges in the face of emerging global and domestic risks and simulating growth and ensuring people-oriented programmes.

Seeks solutions for non-inflationary growth Despite plethora of tax reforms, revenues remain insufficient, below expectation, says permanent secretary

and Remote Work Applications, United Arab Emirates, H.E. Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama (left), exchanging greetings with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the GITEX Africa Digital Summit, at the Boulevard Al Yarmouk, Marrakech, Morocco ... yesterday

BAWA GETS TELECOM AWARD FOR QUALITY SERVICE...

VISITS TINUBU...

FG Eyes $200bn Revenue from Customs’ Modernisation Project

James Emejo in Abuja

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.) yesterday flagged off the modernisation project of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which was expected to generate over $200 billion for the federal government.

The service had partnered with Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited, under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, to deliver the best-in-class technology for full automation of NCS processes to align with its peers around the world. The project would result in efficiency in the NCS service delivery

– equipping it with the necessary technology tools and platforms to drive trade harmonisation amid an increasingly complicated environment.

Speaking at the occasion, Ali described the project as a dream come true and the greatest asset he would bequeath to the customs, adding that the state-of-the-art infrastructure would further serve to strengthen its operations and boost revenue drive for the country.

He said leveraging technology effectively, the customs could adapt to changing market dynamics in trade, optimise operations, and unlock new revenue streams thereby contributing to economic growth and the wellbeing of citizens.

The CGC pointed out that the commencement of the project signified not just the culmination of efforts, but also a celebration of the NCS' determination, resilience, and foresight.

He said, “Every step we have taken has been a testament to our commitment to organisational goals, pushing the boundaries of excellence, and embracing the transformative power of digitalisation. I commend the NCS officers for their unwavering dedication, contributions, and sacrifices that have brought us to this point.”

He urged the service to embrace the, “beauty and transformation that the coming years will bring. As we embark on the modernisation

project, let us ensure that its impact reverberates throughout every border of our great nation.

“It is through this transformation that we will unlock new possibilities and opportunities for growth and success. Let us remind ourselves that technology does not drive itself, people do. We must be receptive to the new ideas that evolve with technology, we must be ready to adapt to changes in our working environment.”

Ali further assured that the deployment of technology would not lead to a reduction of the service’s manpower adding that it is currently struggling with less than 16, 000 personnel when it needed about 30, 000 officers to do the job.

Joe Biden Trips, Falls at Colorado Event

The United States President, Joe Biden has tripped and fallen while handing out diplomas at a graduation ceremony for the US Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Biden, who is the nation's oldest serving president at 80, was seen being helped up by Air Force officials and walking back to his seat unassisted, the BBC reported.

The president had been standing for about an hour and a half to shake hands with each of the 921 graduating cadets.

The White House communications director said "he's fine."

"There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands," Ben LaBolt wrote on Twitter after the fall.

A White House press pool report also earlier said Biden had tripped on a black sandbag while moving on stage.

Footage of the incident showed Biden appearing to point at the sandbag as he gets back on his feet.

He was seen jogging back to his motorcade, apparently uninjured, when the ceremony ended shortly after the accident.

The president did not take questions when he returned to his plane. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, said Biden was feeling "totally fine" and had boarded the plane flashing "a big smile".

Critics have said Biden is too old

Biden being helped to his feet after he fell

to run for a second term as president.

Recent polls suggest a majority of US voters are concerned about his advanced age. He would be 82 at the start of a second term if he wins.

This fall, in addition to previous stumbles from his bicycle and on the way up the Air Force One stairs, could add to those concerns.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner to face Mr. Biden in the 2024 White House election, reacted to the incident from

a campaign event in Iowa, saying "the whole thing is crazy".

"I hope he wasn't hurt," said Trump, 76, who has often poked fun at Biden's age. "That's not inspiring."

"You got to be careful about that because you don't - you don't want that. Even if you have to tip toe down the ramp," added Trump, apparently referring to his own careful walk off a stage that made headlines in 2020.

He said at the time that the ramp

at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, was slippery, and brushed aside the ensuing media questions about his own health as fake news.

Biden's last physical examination was conducted this February.

White House physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor wrote at the time: "The President remains fit for duty, and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations."

The Chairman, TMP Limited, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, explained that under the terms of the concession agreement, TMP would invest a total of $3.2 billion over a 20-year period which would generate over $200 billion in revenue for the federal government.

According to him, the financing for the first phase of the project, in the sum of $300 million, together with a cash backed $9 million Performance Bond in favour of the NCS, had been secured through the company’s financial partners.

Ahmadu said a substantial part of the investment would be earmarked

towards building the capacity of the NCS, ensuring business continuity, and managing the associated project risks.

The project would be implemented through the delivery of key components including Unified Customs Management System (UCMS); Automation Services; Border Management System; Telecommunication, Video Surveillance and Connectivity; Enforcement System; Cargo Release System; Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS); Risk Control Centre (RCC); Non-Intrusive Inspection System and Trade Portal.

Tobacco Farmers Face Risk of Respiratory Disorder, Says TB Alliance

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance has warned of the increasing health risks associated with tobacco use.

It said in addition to debilitating ailments brought on by tobacco use, growers were also known to suffer from respiratory and neurological disorders due to exposure to tobacco leaves.

Chairman of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said during tobacco cultivation and curing, wet tobacco leaves produce nicotine and other toxins are absorbed into the body which causes green tobacco sickness among farmers.

The Programme Manager, TB Alliance, Chibuike Nwokorie, who represented the chairman urged President Bola Tinubu to champion the strengthening and implementation of tobacco control laws to protect the health of all Nigerians in keeping faith with the oath you solemnly swore on May 29th, 2023.

Speaking at a Civil Society Orgamisations press briefing Marking 2023 World No Tobacco Day in Abuja, yesterday, Oluwafemi said the, "World No Tobacco Day" marked on the 31st of May every year was set aside by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness on the deadly effects of tobacco use.

He stressed that with over eight

million people dying from tobacco consumption worldwide, WHO came up with theme, "We Need Food, Not Tobacco," to reinforce the need for countries to pay more attention to promoting healthy and economically viable food crops.

He said: "The commemoration is a solemn event targeted at bringing to the fore millions of lives lost to tobacco use and the many people around the world managing debilitating ailments brought on by tobacco use.

"The theme for this year's commemoration: ‘We need food, not tobacco,’ draws the attention of the world to the dangers of tobacco farming. The World Health Organisation estimates that 3.5 million hectares of land is used for tobacco farming globally."

Oluwafemi said while the tobacco industry paints a picture of economic prosperity among tobacco farmers, in reality, tobacco farmers are poor.

In Nigeria, farmers who have invested many years growing tobacco continue to live in poverty, he added.

Also the chairman noted that while tobacco cultivation had declined in the developed world in recent years, it had picked up in low-income countries in Africa, majorly in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.

He said tobacco cultivation occurs primarily in Kwara, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto states of Nigeria.

EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa (L ) receives SERVICOM Award for Quality Service from Commander of EFCC Sa'ad Abubakar, Director Internal Affairs …. yesterday

BAWA

Bawa (L) and President Bola Tinubu during Bawa's visit to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday

POLITICS

Landmark of Gbajabiamila’s Speakership of 9th House

Udora Orizu highlights the achievements of Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as he prepares to bow out of office after a four-year tenure

For the Ninth House of Representatives, a journey that started well, is also ending well on June 11, 2023.

The House led by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker, would have fully wound down its four-year term, a journey, which started precisely on June 11, 2019.

What an eventful journey, and how time flies These four years have been a journey of mixed grill for Mr Speaker and his colleagues, one of which (2020) was almost entirely claimed by the COVID-19 pandemic that took the world by storm.

And amid challenges, the House, led by Gbajabiamila, kept faith in keeping its promises to the Nigerian people, churning out reforms and upping the ante of legislative deliverables.

Right from kick-off time on June 11, 2019, Gbajabiamila and his colleagues made no pretences about their mission to work at a pace, perhaps unprecedented in legislative business in Nigeria since 1999.

The speaker’s famous ‘shaking the table’ inaugural speech, set the mission ball rolling. This was what he said, “The 9th Assembly under my leadership is going to be a House of reforms or if you like a reform Assembly. The reforms will be dished out piecemeal and at intervals so as not to shock the system. Moving forward, therefore, my dear colleagues, it will not be business as usual, and we will be shaking the table just a little.

“We will be introducing various reforms that will reposition this institution, but please rest assured that they will be for the greater good.”

Taking that unity of purpose among the 360 members would be the oxygen to accomplish the job ahead, Gbajabiamila immediately promoted his unifying slogan, “Nation Building: A Joint Task”.

This, he inscribed on a board he hung directly behind the speaker’s seat in the chambers to serve as a constant reminder that together, irrespective of political party affiliations, the 9th House under his leadership would serve only one purpose -Nigeria first!

It wasn’t a surprise that the speaker set off to constitute the Standing Committees of the House on July 25, 2019, and also had some special committees in place.

One of such special committees, the AdHoc Committee on Legislative Agenda ( it later became a standing committee) quickly laid out the Legislative Agenda (Our Contract with Nigerians) of the 9th House; a document that encapsulated everything the House set out to do and meant to the deliver to Nigerians from 2019 2023.

First launched in October 2019, the Legislative Agenda was later reviewed in 2020 at the outbreak of COVID-19 to accommodate programmes that would tackle the economic and health challenges brought by the deadly pandemic, but were not envisaged in 2019 when the first document was rolled out.

What does the document say? The Agenda captures 10 key areas where the 9th House would focus its legislative interventions/ decisions and be assessed in four years -healthcare delivery; education; economy; security; agriculture and food security; sustainable power; environment and climate change; human capital development and social development; governance; and House reforms.

It goes without repeating the obvious that every action of the House taken in the last two years fell within the lines set by the agenda, whether bills, motions, debates, oversight duties, constituency outreach, investigative hearings, budget and budgeting, or parliamentary visitations.

For instance, the Mr Speaker led the House early in the day to expedite action on the 2020 Appropriation Bill in a manner not seen before by ensuring its passage within a record time to set the stage for implementation in January of the year!

This was achieved by the speaker, who in an unprecedented commitment to nation building, personally attended budget defence sessions by committees, including attending a joint session of the Appropriation Committees of the Senate and the House ahead of the passage of the budget.

Recognising the fact that research is key to the legislative competence of members, the speaker facilitated the take-off of the Legislative Library project of the National Assembly, the first since 1999.

The House, with the support of the Senate, made sure that an initial provision of N2 billion was included in the budget for the project.

Insecurity and safety of Nigeria

Insecurity is a key component of the

agenda and remains one of the areas the House has performed well in the last four years.

With insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, herders’ crises, murders and other forms of criminality hitting the rooftops in the country, the House moved early in 2019 by passing a series of resolutions, calling for urgent actions by the Executive Arm of government. By June 2021, the House had passed over 98 resolutions on insecurity alone!

Besides the resolutions, Mr Speaker and various standing and special committees paid physical visits to crisis spots to assess the situation on ground and hear the pains of the victims.

For example, between August and September 2019, the speaker visited Borno,

the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency, Katsina and Zamfara States, to share in the pains of internally displaced persons living in camps outside their ancestral homes.

In one particular encounter, Speaker Gbajabiamila paid for the surgery of a baby delivered with Cleft in one of the IDP camps located in Batsari Local Government Area of the North-West state of Katsina.

Kidnapping and banditry clearly worsened in 2020, spreading not just to all the six geopolitical zones of the country, but also left in their trails the death of many Nigerians, from the poor to the rich.

However, after insurgents beheaded over 43 rice farmers in Borno state on November 28, 2020, the House resolved that President Muhammadu Buhari must act faster in addressing insecurity.

In a fresh resolution on December 1, the House invited the President to appear before members to speak to them on the security situation in the country.The leadership of the House followed up on the resolution by holding a physical meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. At the meeting, Buhari indeed assured the leadership that he would come to address the members.

Although the visit did not materialise, the resolution and the constant calls on Mr President to review the security architecture of the country, including injecting new hands to head security agencies, demonstrated the seriousness with which the House took the issue of insecurity.

Fast forward to April 27, 2021, the House, after an executive session that lasted over three hours, urged Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the security sector as part of the measures to arrest the widening insecurity across states. An added dimension was the increasing attacks on security formations and the killing of personnel by unknown persons, particularly in the South-East.

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

Gale of Defection Hits Ondo PDP

Fidelis David reports that in recent times, the People’s Democratic Party in Ondo state appears to be plagued by internal wrangling and disaffection of some members which had led to increased defection of key chieftains of the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

With the battle for the 2023 general election concluded, the next point of call for major political gladiators is Kogi, Edo and Ondo States. Specifically, come 2024, voters in Ondo state will again troop out to exercise their right to determine who governs the state for another four years after the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. It is expected to be a titanic contest, in view of a number of factors.

Inquisitively, what is the level of the firmness or preparedness of the major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which has unabatedly wallowed in a political storm of division and a gale of defection?

Although, there are no fewer than 18 political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which defectors in the state can join but it appears these people are looking out for parties that already have some perceived electoral value to hitch on to.

This apparently forced some chieftains of the party and members, across six local government council areas to recently dump their party PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress in the

state.

The six local government areas include Akure South, Akoko South-West, Akoko South-East, Akoko North-West, and Akoko North-East and Idanre.

Leading the defectors in Akure South, a former House of Representatives candidate of the party, Dr. Olumuyiwa Adu, popularly called ‘Adu Cubana’, said he opted to join the progressive fold, to ensure his followers got their share of good governance.

Other leaders of the PDP that defected to the APC included executives of the party in four local governments, namely Akoko South-West, Akoko South-East,

Akoko North-West and Akoko NorthEast in Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo Chairman of PDP Support Group, Bode Obanla, followers of the late lawmaker, Omolafe Adedayo, Elder Smart Oloye, Femi Omolafe, Femi Kolawole, a two-time councillor in Idanre Local Government, Felix Ogundairo, Funke Lawani, Sunday Afolabi, House of Representatives candidates, Olubunmi Adaramola, Johnson Kehinde, Fafunmilade Tilerewa, among others.

Also, leading the defectors from the Northern Senatorial District, the coordinator of the PDP Support Group (PSG) in the state, Bode Obanla, said the decision was made in good faith and not due to any rancor within the party, but particularly to ensure that his followers get their fair share of governance.

According to the party chieftain, with his 15-year stint in the opposition, the strides of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as well as the caliber of politicians representing the axis in the National Assembly cannot be overlooked.

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

Nigeria, Biafra and Lessons of History

Chido Nwangwu writes about the lessons learnt by Nigerian nation from the Nigerian-Biafran war that ended about 53 years ago.

1988 to 1990. I was sent to Chuba by Dr. Stanley Macebuh, then founding Managing Director of The Guardian.

I interviewed Ojukwu three times; one at his house in Lagos (with the prolific scholar, Dr. Chidi Amuta and Chuba). I interviewed Ojukwu twice in the U.S.

Biafra has another side. It was a crushing of the highest level of what was possible and shattered it to smithereens.

It is a metaphor that even the best of hopes are restrained on the canvas, military, and consorted opposition.

Biafra’s duality of meaning, in my view, has come to shape, the political- economics and social tendencies of the Igbo. The impact of these events and their twists and turns have led me to the stipulations of my theory of the duality of the Igbo outlook, post-1970. Therefore, I classify into two major tendencies as permeating and defining the Igbo political and business behavior.

First, there is the messianic Igbo.

Second, there is the transactionalist Igbo.

Roadmap to Gov Abiodun’s Second Term

Kunle Somorin

Judging by his utterances, body language and scorecard in the last four years, one could safely conclude that Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has decided that the reward for his hard work is more work.

The dust had barely settled on the last governorship election, where Abiodun predictably clinched reelection before he started talking about and demonstrating the shape development would take in the next four years.

One could argue that the good people of Ogun have not recovered from the marvel of the past four years in terms of growth and development, yet the governor already has his sight on performing more magic and delivering the dividends of democracy which had eluded the people in the past.

Soon after he was declared duly elected, the ebullient entrepreneur turned politician said: “Going forward, let us see how to engage them (opponents in the election) and bring them closer. It should not be “we” versus “them.” They are Ogun State people who have the interest of this state at heart.

This is the week of May 30, the date of the official declaration of the former Republic of Biafra: the Land of the Rising Sun, in 1967!

Substantially and to date of May 30, 2023, the Igbo and millions of other Nigerians believe the full and honest lessons of the events from the historical and brutal events before, since and after 1967 have not been fully understood and learned.

Robert Heinlein, the late American author, cautioned that: “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.”

I think Biafra holds a duality of meaning to the Igbo, other Nigerians and the world.

To millions, it was the highest point of their expression of the creative skills and existential ingenuity of the Igbo, Annang, Ibibio, the Efik,some sections of Ijaw, Ogoni and other constituent parts of the People’s Republic of Biafra, since 1967.

It saw the Biafrans prove that technological competence and self-reliance are possible for any community, nation, or race that perseveres.

The Igbo and their fellow Biafrans also proved during the 1967-1970 Nigeria- Biafra War, that the serial and violent acts of corruption, chocking incapacities and inability to move the needle of technological innovations in Nigeria were not in our genes, but rather environmentally induced. Especially by lack of visionary leadership. Chinua Achebe, the Prophet, and father of African literature, was right: calling the leadership critical towards achieving development.

Say what you may against the Head of State of Biafra, General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, he mobilized and conscientized the collective sense of duty and dedication of the highest intellect to see Biafra through a path of thunder and tempest. He has a permanent place in historical consequence; in my opinion, as not only the greatest Igbo that has ever lived, but one of the most charismatic figures in history!

Hence, no matter how many times, no matter how many ways his detractors yell words of derogation or write mountains of malice and lies against him, he is etched in the hearts of an overwhelming majority of the Igbo nation.

I recall the high honor of riding with General Ojukwu and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo to the launch of Ojukwu’s contro- versial book, ‘Because I am Involved’, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos. Chuba was political adviser of the President of Nigeria [Alhaji Shehu Shagari] until December 31, 1993, I was working for Dr. Chuba’s publications as Assistant Editor of Africa & The World Journal and the Platform magazine in

The messianic Igbo looks forward to salvational leadership in the mold of the great Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara, and Ojukwu. They empower vehicles of agitation which define the Igbo interest as they best know how, such as IPOB, MASSOB, MOBIN, among others.

The messianic Igbo strongly believes that the best way forward is to optimize the resources across the southeast of Nigeria under a new Republic of Biafra.

On the other hand, the transactionalist are focused more on search of economic space and frontiers of business and enterprise from the great city which captures the pulse and unbending will of the Igbo bu Igbo, Aba [my birthplace] all the way to Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mozambique, South Africa, the two Congos, Singapore, the north American continent, Europe and as far away as God zone: New Zealand. They do not seek restrictive borders; they create transnational corporations with operational headquarters in the city or country of their activity while their beloved homeland is crying for investments.

Some of them, I must note, have not come back home with suitcases of success but disgrace! The transactionalists are more likely to join organizations that are pan-Nigerian and pan-African.

Somehow, in unique Igbo-speak and earned ascription of concurrence, both the messianics and the transactionalists find convergence in pursuit of the core and cardinal Igbo prayers, anchored on the principles of fairness, equity and liberty.

I have studied the pre-colonial and colonial Igbo history and contemporary experiences.

I have followed and read a dozen books and hundreds of articles on the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967 to 1970), I have followed the legitimate issues and concerns about the marginalization of the Igbo [1970-1978], and especially 2015 to May 2023— being the end of the eight years of the presidency of retired General Muhammadu Buhari.

I believe — as do millions of realistic Nigerians — that the Buhari presidency of ancient grudges, unwittingly via his lopsided appointments and assorted nepotisms, unleashed escalating demands against Nigeria’s 1914 colonial borders as imposed and implemented under The Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern regions by the British soldier of raw materials and minerals named Lord Lugard.

It’s not too late to learn history’s lessons!

-Dr Nwangwu is Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @Chido247

Let us do this so that we do not fuel unnecessary acrimony among our people. We should not allow the election experience to interfere with our vision and people’s oriented programmes. Let no one be demoralised by the outcome of the election, but take it that there is a lesson to learn.

We will continue with the same vision of providing focused and purposeful governance. We will push our frontiers as the industrial, educational and religious capital of Nigeria. We are fast becoming the food basket in the southwest, so we have a lot to be thankful. Please let us keep our eyes on the ball,” assuring the populace that his second coming “will even be more phenomenal”

To underscore his readiness, he has held several meetings with private sector players and commissioned economic projects like the 150 million standard cubic feet (mscuf) Ibefun Natural Gas City Gate, and had an economic bilateral meeting with the biggest conglomerate owned by the Egyptian Government, National Service Project Organization, with the North African organisation expressing its readiness to invest in the agricultural sector of the state. Before then, while playing host to members of Ogun State Community Development Council and the State Cooperatives Federated Limited who were on a felicitation visit to the governor on his victory at the polls, Prince Abiodun guaranteed them that his administration would continue to ensure that it fulfills all its campaign promises to the people, just as it did in his first term.

Just as he had delivered in terms of infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, and all-round investment in the state, the governor told his visitors at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, that he was more focused and determined to ensure that, by the end of his two terms as governor of the state in 2027, his legacies would have been permanently engraved in gold and in the hearts and minds of the good people of Ogun whose future would have been collectively built and assured.

The governor used the opportunity to intimate the groups about his roadmap for his second term in office, noting that public utilities such as portable water supply and uninterrupted electricity would receive adequate attention.

The governor assured that improved electricity supply from both independent sources and the national grid would catalyze the industrial revolution already being experienced in parts of the state such as Abeokuta, Ota, Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu.

Recall that in November 2022, Prince

Abiodun announced that Tongeji Island Project would host a $3 billion crude oil refinery, thanks to his administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) with some international oil conglomerates, including Gasoline Integrated International.

When completed, the 400,000-liters-perday refinery project would boost the energy supply and provide over 10,000 direct jobs, while boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.

“As the year progresses, we will partner with others in the private sector to explore our state’s oil prospects in the Tongeji Island and Olokola. We have no doubt that with the right technical partners and investors, Ogun State will soon proudly join the comity of oil-producing states in Nigeria.

“We are determined to provide a statewide steady supply of electricity through the implementation of our Light Up Ogun Project, this will allow us to generate uninterrupted power to our major towns and cities, from an independent power project through a public-private partnership (PPP) joint venture,” the governor promised in his 2023 New Year message.

Also on the agenda in the area of infrastructure is the Kajola Dry Port, which the governor said would be cited at the Kajola Free Trade Zone, thereby making cargo shipping to the state seamless and creating job opportunities for the people of the state.

Of course, continued investment in infrastructure is not the only item on Abiodun’s second-term agenda. There is going to be increased investment in youth and women empowerment programmes, as well as a notable scale-up of unready functioning social investment programmes. Already, 7,000 members of the State Development Council and State Cooperatives Federated Limited that have received letters and are being mobilized as Social Investment Assistants.

For instance, the governor has promised that youth development and job creation, which have so far received unprecedented attention in the state’s history, would continue to be top priorities.

The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which revolutionalised youth involvement in agriculture in the state, will be scaled up to cover even more participants.

In fact, the governor has promised that the state would ensure the hosting of the best National Sports Festival in the history of the games!

During one of his recent engagements, the governor also disclosed that his administration would continue its affordable housing scheme embarked upon in his first tenure. Therefore, the governor said 4,000 housing units and 236 health centres would be added to the ones constructed in his first term.

-Somorin writes from Abeokuta

writes that Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State is poised to take the state to another level by embarking on identified developmental projects across the Gateway state.

Mixed Reactions Trail Fuel Subsidy Removal as

NEW VISTAS OF INVESTMENT…

MD/CEO NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko (4th from left) in company of Executive Director Marine Operations, Hon. Onari Brown (2nd from right) and ED Finance/Administration, Adenrele Susanna Adesina (2nd from right), while receiving APMT’s Global Investment Team led by Martjin van Dongen - Global He ad, Business Development, APMT (3rd from left), at the NPA headquarters Marina, Lagos… recently

Peter Uzoho

Confusion and mixed reactions continue to trail the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with many Nigerian masses criticising the choice of the policy and its timing.

The announcement, which came during Tinubu’s inaugural address on Monday, has changed the dynamics of petroleum marketing in Nigeria,

largely benefitting the petroleum products dealers and traders but hurting the masses, who are trying to recover from the suffering they went through recently during the naira redesign policy.

Tinubu had during his inaugural address as the 16th president of the country, told Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government did not make any provision for subsidy in the budget

he inherited, saying, “subsidy is gone”.

He had said that there was no justification for spending Nigeria’s scarce resources on subsidy that only benefit the rich, adding that his goverment will rather channel the resources to fix critical sectors that will benefit the masses.

Since the pronouncement, petrol marketers have gone into frenzy, hoarding petrol they have in stock,

which they bought at a subsidied rate, and hiking the pump prices to as high as N500 and above.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) had on Wednesday, changed its pump prices across the states of the federation with the least price now N488 per litre and the highest N557 as against N185 sold previously.

Other filling stations owned by private marketers have followed

suit, with their pump prices now between N500 and N550 per litre in Lagos and N600 and above in other states. Black marketers, who have cashed in on the situation are now making brisk business as they are selling between N800 and N1000 per litre, depending on the locations.

Although, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) passed in August 2021 had provided for the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector

and the removal of fuel subsidy, the Buhari government had in January 2022 postponed its implementation by 18 months.

The same goverment had made moves to remove subsidy before the expiration of its tenure but backed out at the last minute, shifting it to the current Tinubu’s government.

Chinedu Eze

Air incidents recorded in the last few weeks have again prompted industry stakeholders to express fear over the recent recruitment of unqualified workers with zero aviation experience in various parastatals in the aviation industry.

THISDAY learnt that in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), some of the new recruits as air traffic controllers have not had prior experience in aviation training or worked in any aviation institution, prompting the executives of National Air Traffic Controllers

Association (NATCA) to raise the alarm on aviation safety.

According to the association, allowing such new personnel to work in the sensitive and critical job of controlling movement of aircraft in the airspace, will breach safety and create room for accidents to happen.

Also, at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), many of such untrained personnel were recruited as inspectors who are responsible to ensure that aircraft meet specified standard of airworthiness before they are allowed to fly.

NCAA insiders described such

recruitment as tragic and said that in the next three to four years, the inexperienced recruits would be at the level they would be taking decisions on airworthiness of aircraft, as they were recruited and placed at high grade levels.

Although all the aviation agencies received unqualified personnel newly recruited by the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, but aviation insiders said such unskilled and inexperienced personnel is dangerous in NAMA and NCAA because it would jeorpardise safety.

Agency insiders told THISDAY that during the recruitment exercise,

priority was paid to which part of the country the persons to be recruited came from rather than their academic qualification, exposure to aviation and working experience.

Top aviation union official who spoke to THISDAY, said: “They are not only employing without recognising federal character, but they are placing them on Salary Grade Levels (SLG) far above older and qualified staff. The condition of service of NCAA also requires that before any person is employed on any Grade level from 12, NCAA must first do an internal

advertisement to give opportunity to interested qualified staff to apply. NCAA has never done that. They rather bring in less experienced, or unqualified persons, place them on higher grade levels and still require the older staff to teach the newly employed staff the job.

“It is wickedness to refuse to upgrade older and experienced persons and still expect them to teach the new staff you placed above them how to do the job,” NCAA insider told THISDAY.

It was unanimous agreement among industry operatives that such recruitment was dangerous

for the aviation industry.

“It is also a big threat to our aviation industry that persons who are employed to carry out oversight functions as Aviation Safety Inspectors are not qualified. For instance, in the list of the names recently recruitment, number 217 (name withheld), the person got B.Sc in Accounting in 2016 and he was recently employed and placed on Salary Grade Level 15 (Assistant General Manager) by NCAA.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Combating Pollution on Nigeria’s Waterways

It is no longer news that the Federal Government of Nigeria acting through NIMASA has signed a concession agreement with XPO Marine Services Limited to provide Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWRF) in the country’s Eastern Zone. The concession agreement according to both parties seeks to fulfill International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships – MARPOL 73/78, and Nigeria’s Laws providing for the operation of Ship Generated Marine Waste Reception Facilities, which requires the provision of waste reception facilities to cater for waste and pollutants generated at sea.

The move is apt considering the fact that the provision of offshore reception facilities in Nigerian waters is well overdue as Nigeria is currently failing in its obligations to comply with international treaties and conventions with the failure putting Nigeria’s membership position in the IMO at risk. There is no gain saying that Nigeria is one country that enjoys a higher number of offshore terminals in the world, these terminals are in a very difficult environment and there is very little international experience in Offshore Reception Facilities.

Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has recognized that provision of reception facilities is crucial for effective MARPOL implementation, and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has strongly encouraged Member States, particularly those Parties to MARPOL as port States, to fulfill their treaty obligations on providing adequate reception facilities.

CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

The main causes of environmental pollution in Nigeria results from the activities of corporations dealing with oil extraction, transporting, import, and export. In likewise manner, oil production is the main source of revenue in Nigeria and most of the Nigerian oil is extracted on the shelf of the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria exports crude oil, and imports refined petroleum products and thus the pollution from these activities have significant impact on the ecology of the Gulf of Guinea.

Some sea pollution also come from oil tankers, chemical and gas carriers that are prone to normal sea risk such as collision, grounding, explosion or fire. The exploration, exploitation and transportation of oil, gas and their derivatives could result in a number of catastrophic accidents. Other sources are accidental spillage during offshore terminal loading as result of the malfunctioning of pumps and valves, rupture of pipes or operational error. Therefore, aquatic life suffers from the toxins along with garbage which deplete the oxygen content of the water thus making it impossible for many life forms including bigger species like whales, dolphins, penguins, shark, iguana and seals to survive. In the same vein, an excess of oxygen depleting chemicals in the water causes aquatic hypoxia, that is, inadequate supply of oxygen and the creation of a dead zone.

BENEFITS OF OFFSHORE WASTE RECEPTION FACILITY

An Offshore Waste Facility is needed to cater such pollution that are generated at sea and MARPOL 73/78 has defined the facility as any fixed, floating or mobile facility capable of receiving MARPOL residues/wastes from ships at offshore terminals including offshore oil installation and fit for that purpose.

The need to satisfy international obligation as well as contributing to preservation of aquatic life makes for the establishment of an offshore facility an imperative, a facility that will handle

inspections for verification of compliance and assessment of service requirements, collection/reception of ship generated waste, waste processing and safe recycling and disposal. Therefore, it is expected that pollution will be minimised by providing for waste collection, recycling, reusing and careful managed disposal

With the upcoming deep seaport project by the State and Federal Governments in Nigeria, a strategic step towards the development of Nigeria into a global maritime hub, it is a known fact that Nigeria is located within 853kilometres from coastline, which lies at a significant point in the Atlantic Ocean and as the maritime activities increases, it is expected that pollution will rise in tandem because of the positive correlation between human activities and pollution.

The Offshore Waste Facility has the capacity to receive residues/wastes such as oil, oily waste, oily mixtures, oily bilge water, slops, sludge, oily tank washings, oily cargo residues, ballast water containing oily mixtures; tank washings and cargo residues containing Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS) sewage; garbage including cargo residues; cargo-associated waste such as dunnage

and packaging as well as ozone-depleting substances and exhaust gas cleaning residues.

The facility when built will be in line with Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy as stated in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (“METF/FSP”) 2020-2022 to increase the Nigerian infrastructure stock through the private sector participation, by way of publicprivate partnerships. The investment in the offshore waste facility will be carried in four phases at a total cost of $72.2 million.

The project is posed to close the identified infrastructural gap and galvanise material and managerial expertise in the sector. The investment will enable the NIMASA fulfill the federal government’s obligation under the MARPOL 73/78 convention.

REVENUE GENERATION

The revenue hitherto loss will now accrue to the federal government of Nigeria. The revenue projections of the project exposed the unmined earnings that has been untapped by the government, as the economic managers has lost additional revenue worth billions of Naira as a result of lack of a structured Offshore Waste Reception Facility.

The revenue loss within the last five years from managing the oil and gas by products waste and other water pollutants is estimated to the tune of $149,953,243.00 into the economy while the Federal Government had lost an estimated sum of $64,265,675.00 for the same period which could have been a good source of revenue generation for the government as computed in the Full Business Case for the project

TRANSFER OF ASSET TO GOVERNMENT AT ZERO COST

Ordinarily, the federal government and the agency would have incurred the cost of undertaking this enormous project. This project will relieve the federal government of the cost and thereby less pressure on budgetary allocation, thus enabling the federal government to redirect the funds to execute other competing socioeconomic needs of the country. Also, the burden of navigating through associated risk, operational challenges and teething problems of the project has been transferred to the Concessionaire. The government will at the end of the project concession period own the assets at no cost.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The project is expected to create jobs and employment opportunities for the host community and other regions of the country of up to 1,200 direct jobs and another 2,000 indirect and ancillary jobs as the execution of the project will require the deployment of human capital of different ranks. In addition, it creates an opportunity for maritime student and scholar to sharpen their knowledge through easy of data collection, investigation and analysis for the benefits skill acquisition/ training of human capacity development.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The project will not only project Nigeria in a positive light but will also attract partnerships and more investment opportunities from businesses, governments and other stakeholders in other neighbouring countries, contribute to the improvement of the marine environment and allow for the ultimate disposal/discharge of ships’ and installations’ waste to take place in an environmentally appropriate approach.

RISKS

The cons on this project are contingencies matters. The events of likelihood of an event occurring. The other risk factors have been careful analysed and mitigated in the Full Business Case. However, based on the duration of the project and its complex nature, it is impossible to capture all contingencies that may arise overtime. However, the Concessionaire has established mechanisms for rapidly address any unanticipated contingencies as its bears all the financial and operational risks of the facility. It is only regulatory risk the Agency is sharing with the Concessionaire.

It is worthy to note that the Design, Finance, Build, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (“DFBOMT”) mode of the PPP strategy for this project ensures that from start to finish, government funds are not involved, government will have the opportunity to share from the revenue, government will meet its obligation of compliance of the international maritime convention, create additional jobs immediately the project commences; positive external economic activities will be created and above all, the asset of the Facility will revert to the government upon expiration of the concession period.

Jamoh

The impact of environnent pollution especially on waterways is unimaginable putting human and the acquatic life into grievous risks. Gilbert Ekugbe writes on the benefits of the recently signed concession agreement by the federal government through NIMASA to establish an Offshore Waste Reception Facility project

“The cons on this project are contingencies matters. The events of likelihood of an event occurring. The other risk factors have been careful analysed and mitigated in the Full Business Case. However, based on the duration of the project and its complex nature, it is impossible to capture all contingencies that may arise overtime”.

Iyayi: Establishing Airlines Beyond Display of Aircraft

Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, unveiled Nigeria Air at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, a development that many have described as a last-minute push by the minister to fulfil his promise to deliver the national carrier to Nigeria despite court orders to halt the operation. Does this landing of aircraft in Abuja signal the birthing of a national carrier in Nigeria?

Idoubt very much if flying an aircraft into an airport and having water salute to show people that there is an aircraft that has just been painted in the colours of Nigeria Air would amount to birthing an airline. The truth of the matter is, I think what the outgoing Minister had done is nothing short of taking Nigerians for a big ride. And I think it is a monumental fraud to sort of conniving with Ethiopian Airlines, having an aircraft that was on commercial flight for Ethiopian Airlines on the 21st of May, which is about a week ago, flying into Tel Aviv on an ET 405 flight, to fly into Abuja, only for static display will mean to birth an airline.

That particular aircraft flew out of Abuja yesterday (Saturday, May 27, 2023), an as I speak, it is back in Ethiopia. And I can tell you that presently, the decals (sticker) of Nigeria Air stuck on it, is being removed and it is being quickly rebranded Ethiopian Airlines to be put back in service. So, essentially, all that we did two days ago was basically a charade by the outgoing minister of aviation, possibly to sort of block out, maybe, considering the fact that in the last sic to seven years, we have had about N85.42 billion in terms of budgetary allocations to Nigeria Air, which is supposedly a private enterprise. So, we have a lot of issues here that are not explained, and I think this desperate move by the outgoing Minister is just one in the line of several things he had done to undermine the entire Nigerian populace.

Airline Operators of Nigeria, which you belong to, sued the minster and Ethiopian Airlines. Is that court order been vacated, and do you think Ethiopian government was aware of the court order before participating in this?

Again, as a matter of fact, there are three orders of court which the Minister and Ethiopian Airlines are familiar with. They know of them, they have been served, the attorneys representing the AON have written to them and copied them, also had the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in copy and all the relevant agencies to be aware of these orders of court. Indeed, what was done two days ago is a flagrant abuse of the Nigerian judicial system. And I think the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on the minister and Ethiopian Airlines as matter of fact, because I do not see them as having been good corporate citizens.

I cannot even imagine a Nigerian entity operating out of Ethiopia, having been held by a court order not to continue with the process, go ahead and do what was done two days ago in Ethiopia, it will never happen. So, for them to have come to Nigeria to do this, shows the absolute contempt they have for the Nigerian people. I don’t think to a large extent they will make good partners. I believe what is being done, again, is total undermining of our judicial system, our processes and the country and the people, which indeed the minster must be held accountable for. It is untold that you cannot do this and walk away free.

People have been asking questions about how the minister managed to bring in an aircraft that does not belong to Nigeria and claimed that it is part of Nigeria Air, which he is trying to float. How do we explain it?

Well, essentially, if you have a foreign aircraft wanting to fly into Nigeria, the process is for you to file what is called a clearance with the authorities in Nigeria indicating when you are coming, the type of aircraft you are coming with, the crew operating and to indicate the intent. Invariably, what we have today is that the Minister of Aviation obviously in making sure that this particular flight comes in, would have told the authorities to go ahead and issue the clearance in any case for the flight to come in.

The flight came in as a technical flight, it did not come in as a commercial flight, so you can consider that to be a visiting aircraft.

So, for a visiting aircraft, within 48 hours of filing a clearance to fly into your airspace, a clearance is usually issued by the NCAA and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. So indeed, I will not see a situation where Ethiopian Airlines ordinarily would want to fly an aircraft into Nigeria and would be denied the clearance to come in. They took advantage of that loophole and that is exactly what they are exploiting.

Nigerians are wondering what kind of relationship exists between the Minister of Aviation and Ethiopian Airlines that made it possible for them to have a relationship that does not represent Nigeria in any shape or form. Is there something that might be criminal or corrupt about the relationship?

I wouldn’t know exactly the kind of relationship because I am not privy to the meetings they had. But what I can say clearly is this: Ethiopian Airlines a couple of years ago approached Air Peace, to have Air Peace partner with it. Air Peace thought the arrangement was an above-board arrangement and followed through with it to a point where negotiations were being had, only for Ethiopian to tell Air Peace that there was no point for Air Peace to aspire to grow its airline.

They are willing to provide Air Peace, as a matter of fact, pay Air Peace rent of $32 million per annum for Air Peace to sit back and allow them run the show. And what Air Peace had asked them essentially was where does that leave other airlines in the country? Where does that leave my country and where does that leave my staff? And these are questions they were not able to provide answers to. In any case what we see going on now with the Minister of Aviation and Ethiopian would amount to something similar because if you take cognizance of the structure of how this thin came to be, it is almost certain that there is no transparency. Everybody that was said to be part of this process have denied being part of it. So, you ask they question, who are those supposedly the private enterprise, owners of Nigeria Air? Nobody has come forward to say we are the owners.

The Minister had alluded earlier that there was 46 per cent of shares that belong to some Nigerian entities, including the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth. They have debunked it, and the Minister later said it was a mistake. He also said that the Nigerian government owned 5 per cent. Who really owns the remainder of the 46 per cent?

I can say this, given the papers we have filed in court, essentially what we have gone to court to say is that the entire process, the bidding, the selection and whatever it is we have today was not transparent. Again, we went to say that most of the things that have been alluded, we actually have proof to indicate that these are things that run counter to the provisions of the ICRC law for the country. And we have asked the court to simply interpret our position and see if indeed we are correct.

If we are correct, it means the entire process

is wrong. Now, the Minister approached the public and said that 5 per cent of this entity will be held by the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund. They came out within minutes and said they are not part of it. Then again, the Minister said 46 per cent will be held by Nigerian institutional investors. So far we have MRS, SAHCO and the supposed Nigerian institutional investors. Meanwhile, SAHCO is a company under the group Sifax. Sifax actually put in bid for the concession of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and they never wanted to be part of Nigeria Air.

But for whatever reason, it was put as a member of that institutional investor team and they know very little about it. And that is the much we have found out so far. So, invariably, we are asking the question if Sifax is not part of this 46%, we have not heard from MRS. Who exactly is holding those shares? And if they are being held, is it by proxy and for who? So these are questions we have raised in the document we presented to the court for interpretation. And when we see what was filed by the Ministry, their defense, indeed what they said is that this process, is a PPP process. But the Ethiopian Airlines’ defense said no, that they know nothing about a PPP and the 49 per cent they have acquired in this project is absolute.

So, our question is, if 49 per cent is absolute, how much is 49 per cent worth? And then the 46 per cent, is it allocated or paid for by way of subscription and by who? All of these are questions we have asked and they have never been answered by the minister, not by the Ministry and not by Ethiopian Airlines. All Ethiopian Airlines has said is that this is business, they have put in a bid, they have won, and it is clear and the 46 per cent is absolute.

Then we now take cognizance of the fact that

between 2016 and 2022, the federal government has budgeted N85.42 billion as appropriation for Nigeria Air. Where has that money gone to? Now if that money represents 5 per cent, how much has Ethiopian Airlines paid for the 49 per cent it is holding, how much have they put in the coffers of the federal government? How much do we have in the Central Bank today? Now, Qatar Airways took out49 per cent of Rwand Air and they paid $1.3 billion. Rwanda does not have the market size Nigeria has. Rwanda does not have the bilateral agreement and multilateral agreement Nigeria has. So, who does the valuation? How do you value our 49 per cent? So, these are questions that have not been answered. And we are asking if indeed this whole process is transparent and it is meant to be for the benefit of the Nigerian people, why the so much desperation particularly in the last two weeks by the honourable minister?

There were reports that the airplane was a rented airplane from Ethiopia and it is registered to Ethiopian Airlines and that the plane has actually gone back to Ethiopia. There have also been reports credited to promoters of Nigeria Air that AON members are only scared of competition, how true is this?

First of all, like I said earlier, this aircraft flew in on the 21st of May, I have it on record that the same aircraft operated a commercial flight on behalf of Ethiopian Airlines to Tel Aviv, the flight number was ET 405, that can be checked. Now, between 21st and 27th of May, the aircraft was taken out of service, rebranded and flown into Abuja and that was essentially what you saw two days ago.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Iyayi

Senior member of Airline Operators of Nigeria and the President/CEO, Top Brass Aviation Limited, Captain Roland Iyayi, recently granted interview to ARISE NEWS Channels, where he gave details on why Nigeria Air may not emerge as national carrier. Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts:

GANDUJE AND POLITICS OF KANO

Government is a continuum, writes

BALARABE USMAN

THE IMPERATIVE OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

See page 25

FUEL SUBSIDY: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S QUICK BAPTISM

The removal of the subsidy presents an opportunity for comprehensive economic transformation, argues

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA

Since the advent of democracy in 1999, Nigeria, the continent’s second-largest oil producer after Angola, has been embroiled in a controversy over its fuel subsidy regime. This policy, which was initially implemented as a six-month measure to stabilise petroleum prices has persisted for decades despite a brief removal. The subsidies have been a doubleedged weapon, providing many citizens with relief while also nurturing corruption and economic stagnation.

Historically, Nigerians have viewed they received from the state, particularly given the absence of a constant and stable electricity supply in the country. Without the subsidy, the price of petrol would consume a substantial portion of a citizen’s daily budget, forcing many to Nonetheless, these subsidies have been a source of economic duress, costing the Nigerian treasury an estimated $10 billion per year by 2022.

There has been criticism of the subsidy system. After subsidies were eliminated in 2012, petrol prices skyrocketed, resulting in widespread protests and strikes. In response, the government reduced the cost of fuel by 30 percent, but this was merely a band-aid for an ongoing problem. In 2016, as global oil prices plummeted, subsidies were once again eliminated, citing the unsustainable nature of the practise and the pervasive corruption in subsidy payments.

However, despite these turbulent events, the case for eliminating petroleum subsidies remains compelling. They are

See page 25

EDITORIAL

RAYMOND ALEOGHO DOKPESI (1951 - 2023)

the World Bank. These subsidies promote overconsumption, divert resources from more productive sectors, worsen pollution and global warming, and aggravate households that consume more fuel.

Under the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who to eliminate subsidies has become more urgent. The previous administration had delayed the subsidy removal deadline of June 2023. However, President Tinubu appears determined to end the subsidy system, which raises concerns about rising fuel and transport costs, which could lead to an increase in the working poor.

Nevertheless, the potential advantages of subsidy removal substantially outweigh the present challenges. The billions saved could be invested in education, technology, infrastructure development, and agricultural input subsidies for producers. Such investments could yield a far greater

return for Nigeria than the current wasteful expenditures on a petroleum subsidy system rife with corruption.

Removing the petroleum subsidy could also strengthen Nigeria’s Conditional Cash Transfers programme, which was introduced in 2016 as part of the Social Investment Programme. This could potentially mitigate the immediate Nigerians with poor incomes.

A national awareness campaign is essential for gaining public understanding and support for the elimination of petroleum subsidies. This programme should transparently communicate the rationale for the removal, the potential economic gains, and the government’s strategy to alleviate the immediate hardships faced by the poor and vulnerable, thereby helping to anticipate the type of backlash and protests observed during previous attempts to remove subsidies.

The key to gaining the public’s trust is for the government to be transparent and accountable for the money saved by removing subsidies. The government must assure Nigerians that the end of

subsidies is not merely a matter of policy. This is a necessary step towards a more sustainable and prosperous future. This can be accomplished by demonstrating that the funds previously allocated to petroleum subsidies are now invested services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

In addition, the government should collaborate with multiple stakeholders, such as labour unions and civil society organisations. These organisations opinion, and their endorsement of subsidy to its adoption by the public. In addition, the administration of President Tinubu ought to emphasise oil sector reform to increase local production and reduce petroleum. This could contribute to the long-term stability of petroleum prices, mitigating the economic impact of the subsidy elimination. The recent opening development, although it may not have an immediate impact on prices. Additionally, the government should consider implementing social protection measures to mitigate the impact of the subsidy elimination on the vulnerable. These may include cash transfers, essential goods and services subsidies, and job creation initiatives.

In conclusion, the removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria is an urgent and crucial move towards economic sustainability and prosperity. However, it must be managed through a holistic approach that includes public awareness campaign, stakeholder engagement, sector reform, and social protection initiatives. Nigeria has a unique opportunity under the stewardship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to free itself from the economic burden of the fuel subsidy regime and embark on a path towards a brighter and more prosperous future.

Falana is a Fiscal Expert currently involved in the West African Tax Transition Support Programme (PATF). He holds the position of Managing Partner at MTouch Professional Services in Nigeria while Ojo is a researcher with a C rating from South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds the position of Faculty Chair for Transformation, Internationalisation, and Partnerships in the Faculty of Humanities at the same university.

A national awareness campaign is essential for gaining public understanding and support for the elimination of petroleum subsidies. This programme should transparently communicate the rationale for the removal, the potential economic gains, and the government’s strategy to alleviate the immediate hardships faced by the poor and vulnerable

Petrol subsidies are unsustainable and exacerbate Nigeria’s fiscal woes, argue GBENGA FALANA and EMMANUEL OJO

Government is a continuum, writes BALARABE USMAN

GANDUJE AND POLITICS OF KANO

I’m a close observer of Kano State politics since the inception of this republic in 1999. No doubt Kano State as the commercial nerve center of northern Nigeria and the hotbed of Nigerian politics should be of interest to every political scientist.

Democracy in Nigeria which was celebrated last Monday across 27 states ushered in a change of baton in political leadership in

were duly sworn in from inaugural speeches. hit the ground running, some are yet to take pointing.

of the Transition Committee set up by Dr. Governor of Kano State, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso left behind N379billion liability and an empty treasury.

93-man transition committee, and Deputy Governor-elect, who read the abridged copy await Kano and it might take the patient to get along’.

The Professor of Food Nutrition in the breakdown of liabilities incurred by Kwankwaso’s administration revealed that the total capital receipt to the state between May 2011 and May 2015 stood at N 419. 75 billion, adding that N418. 6 billion was spent. receipt to the 44 local government areas of the state within the period under review stood at N346. 591 billion, pointing out that

as Commissioner of Finance between Kwankwaso’s administration initiated over 4,000 projects, adding that more than N140 billion was paid to contractors with an outstanding of N4.5 billion.

The former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, N300 billion was paid for 2,715 ongoing projects, stressing that N105 billion was still outstanding.

Ganduje’s administration. administrators who are in tune with global best practices is for the governor to study the documents, and underscore the nitty -gritty to enable him to make an informed pronouncement.

vendetta and chooses to hit below the belt whopping sum of N241.3 billion liabilities, and N75.6 billion for the new administration in a handing over documents he transmitted.” indeed contentious, if the available statistics are anything to go by, more so against the backdrop that government is a continuum.

Dr. Ganduje’s administration, we had the likes of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso 1999 – 2003; Senator Ibrahim Shekarau administration 2003 – 2011; and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso again 2011 - 2015. These successful administrations in Kano State all acquired debt and liabilities under the last 23 years of participatory democracy.

revealed that between 2011 and 2015, during debt in Kano increased by 1008 per cent.

In the year 2011 when he was re-elected, debt had increased to N65 billion.

Kwankwaso’s administration, which for now, has nothing original, but a carbon copy of an administration that plundered the state.

In 2015, the former Deputy Governor,

billion was still outstanding from the joint venture between the state government and local government areas, maintaining vouchers was hanging at the state treasury department’.

huge liability was coming on the heels Internally Generated Revenue.

The transition committee reports that was read before a quality crowd of the Kano elite provoked outrage before the elected Governor, Ganduje obtained a microphone to cool frayed nerves. The former governor serve as an indicator on how the speed would be’.

Dr Ganduje, a seasoned administrator came heavily in defence of the system which he understood clearly was a continuum in tandem with global practices.

He noted on that auspicious day that “In any case, living behind liabilities from one government to another is a normal thing. Those who are today shouting will do the same or even worse by the time they

He had said in that moment of tension, “I don’t think Kwankwaso has committed any crime for leaving behind these huge liabilities because whatever happened was general interest of Kano people.

high and we thought that things, according to oil money, will continue to be smooth. Suddenly, there was that disgracing drop,” Ganduje was quoted to have said in a 2015 report.

terrain and the characters that administered the state before him for lessons in humility.

Usman writes from Kano

The removal of the subsidy presents an opportunity for comprehensive economic transformation, argues JOSHUA

J. OMOJUWA

FUEL SUBSIDY: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S QUICK BAPTISM

The most unbiased reaction to President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech came from the markets; the stock market did a record rally – its highest jump after an inaugural speech by an elected Nigerian presidentwhilst Nigeria’s dollar bonds made jumps of their own. In clear terms, both reactions were economy. However, one bit of the speech has since gotten more attention than every other part, that the fuel subsidy is gone. Considering that these subsidies have been around since the 1970s, no one ought to be shocked that it Nigerians to immediately get over our

it is imperative to address these corrupt practices and hold those responsible accountable. The end of fuel subsidy should not close the door on justice.

In the deregulated regime, with the likelihood of even more importers and marketers, one crucial aspect that requires attention is the management of import quality post-deregulation. With the removal of fuel subsidy, the market will be open to competition, allowing various players to import and distribute petroleum products. To ensure the quality and standardization of these imports, robust regulatory mechanisms should be put in place. Regular inspections, quality control measures, and strict adherence to international standards will be essential to into the market.

addiction to fuel subsidies.

Thankfully, all the major presidential candidates committed to its removal. Only one of them was always going to take the decision as president and also deal with the attendant socio-economic and political outcomes. More than at any other time since these subsidies became a staple of the Nigerian economy, there is a national consensus on their removal. The issue was always going to be when and how? The immediate past administration set the ball rolling, the new administration simply committed to the timeline.

There is no scenario in which this action could take place without controversy or challenges. It is essential to acknowledge that the removal of the fuel subsidy will not come without resistance. There are vested interests and will vehemently oppose its removal. These elements may resort to creating manipulating public sentiment to pressure the government into reversing its decision. Therefore, it falls upon the government to remain steadfast in its commitment to the removal of the subsidy and take measures to counteract any attempts to derail the process.

However, it is also important to recognize that the removal of the fuel subsidy will inevitably cause shockwaves throughout the economy. The subsidy has been in place for several decades, and its elimination will undoubtedly have immediate and far-reaching have a direct impact on transportation costs, the shock cannot be entirely avoided, steps can the most vulnerable segments of society, such as the poor.

The fuel subsidy regime has long been plagued by corruption and mismanagement. Over the years, there have been numerous cases of fraud and embezzlement related to subsidy payments. These practices have not only drained the nation’s resources but also

Beyond the immediate challenges and concerns, the removal of the fuel subsidy presents an opportunity for comprehensive economic transformation. It is imperative to view this decision as part of a broader strategy to diversify the Nigerian economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenue. President Tinubu’s administration should prioritize investments in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and foster sustainable development.

the government must create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. This includes implementing favorable policies, improving infrastructure, streamlining regulatory processes, and providing By nurturing a conducive business environment, the government can attract both domestic and foreign investments, which will contribute to the growth and development of non-oil sectors.

The removal of the fuel subsidy environmental concerns and promote sustainable practices. By discouraging promoting alternative energy sources, such as renewable energy, the government can reduce carbon emissions and mitigate This could involve the implementation of incentives for renewable energy investments, the development of clean energy infrastructure, and the promotion

Furthermore, the subsidy removal should be accompanied by targeted social welfare programs to alleviate the immediate impact on vulnerable populations. The government should design and implement measures that provide support to low-income individuals and marginalized communities.

To capitalize on the positive momentum generated elsewhere by the president’s inaugural speech, the government should continue to communicate its economic awareness campaigns should be launched to educate the public about the reasons behind the subsidy removal, its long-term being taken to mitigate its impact.

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

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

RAYMOND ALEOGHO DOKPESI (1951 - 2023)

Raymond Dokpesi, marine engineer, media mogul and politician, dies aged 71

The sudden death of the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Dr Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, has come as a rude jolt to the media community. Apart from his general prominence as a social icon, Dokpesi will be remembered more for his pioneering role in the onset of private broadcasting in Nigeria. It is therefore From President Bola Tinubu to the Senate which passed a special resolution in his honour, the late Dokpesi is being remembered as a patriot who deployed his talent and resources for the advancement of the country.

Prior to the advent of the Ibrahim Babangida regime (1985-1993), the Nigerian broadcasting industry had been a government monopoly. The policy of liberalisation of the economy opened the door for private participation in this area. Dokpesi was one of those who took advantage of the new policy environment. He quickly established his FM station, Raypower 100.5. The station caught on instantly as a popular entertainment and information medium. It was later followed by his television station, the Africa Independent Television (AIT). At a later stage still, Dokpesi ventured into the area of Digital Satellite subscription television service without the success recorded by either the FM or television ventures.

It is also on record that Dokpesi established the defunct, the African Shipping Lines was involved in the formulation of Nigerian Shipping Act Decree 1986 which birthed cargo sharing formula between developed and under-developed countries. He was also in the presidential committee on long-term measure to contain piracy and security problems in Nigerian seaports and territorial waters in the early 80’s.

Born on 25th October 1951 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Dokpesi hailed from Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. He attended Ebenezer African Church School and Loyola College, both in Ibadan, as well as

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Letters to the Editor

Immaculate Conception College, Benin. He worked for further studies. At the Universities of Wyxsa Szokta Morska Gdynia and Gdnask Sopot where he obtained his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, Dokpesi was at various times president of the Nigerian Students Union, African Students Union, Poland, and the International Students Association.

Upon completing his doctorate degree programme, Dokpesi started work at his alma mater, University of Gdnask as an assistant lecturer in marine transport economics before returning to Nigeria in 1978. Back home, Dokpesi worked with the federal ministry of transport and aviation as the head of water transport division. His adventure in politics started during the Second Republic. From October to December 1983, he was the Chief of State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) Governor, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. When the military toppled the government, Dokpesi ventured into the private sector. Under the current dispensation, Dokpesi was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The late Dokpesi was a Fellow of several professional bodies among them, the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Automotive and Locomotive Engineers Institute, Chartered Institute of Transport, Nigerian Institute of Management, Nigeria Institute of Shipping, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Institute of Transport Administration, United Kingdom. He also authored several publications, including ‘Optimal size of tankers for Nigerian international trade’, ‘Technology change in shipping and its impact on Ports’, ‘The role of seaports in the structural adjustment programme,’ etc.

In all his engagements, Dopkesi was hard to ignore. He with his death, Nigeria has lost a veteran media giant, an astute businessman, a political titan, and a philanthropist. We commiserate with his family and wish them strength

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

NIGERIA’S LONG ROAD TO HOPE

Nigeria’s long wait for May 29, 2023 has come and gone with little savoring but many sighs as a country that once promised so much

There can be no mistake about it. Almost as soon as Nigerians woke up from the cold reality of what May 29, 2015 had yielded, Nigerians knew that the next May 29th could not come any faster. May 29, 2019, came with predictable disappointment as Muhammadu Buhari’s administration continued to sleepwalk to disaster.

Having passed through the roads of tortured elections, May 29, 2023, was not greatly anticipated save for the fact that Buhari and his day, leaving a bemused Aso Rock relieved.

In his post-inauguration speech, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on Nigerians to join hands with him to rebuild their country and make key gains in critical sectors of the economy. In a searing pre-inauguration address during an Inter-denominational service fears that her husband was corrupt by insisting that her family does not need Nigeria’s wealth to survive.

For many Nigerians though, it is important to guard their hearts moving forward and not courting heartache.

Nigeria is in a tough place now, and it was at least comforting to

see that Tinubu’s inauguration speech did not shy away from tough questions. But tougher challenges lie in wait. While it is no mean task to write a speech for an occasion of such gravity as the swearing in of a president, it is in taking what is in the speech and doing it that a the major challenge lies.

Tinubu ran his campaign on the wheels of hope, pledging to renew the hopes of Nigerians in their country.

Now, hope is a tricky thing. Celebrated English poet Emily Dickinson in her poem “Hope” describes it as “the thing with feathers”. Hope has also been variously described as the elixir of life.

In the stormy sea of life, hope is usually the anchor people hold on to, the lone rafter in the tide. For many years, Nigerians have lived hope, breathed hope and even eaten hope.

Perhaps, the most precious attribute of hope is its resilience, in how it pushes people to keep going and never give up. For many years, Nigerians have held on to the hope that things will change in their country. It is not to imply that there are those who have not lost hope. There are many and who would blame them in a country that appears programmed to incinerate hope.

However, Tinubu has promised to renew hope. A chance to do that is the least he deserves. But before he is deluded into thinking that it will be an easy task by his team of core APC supporters who

arduous task. For one, getting Nigerians onside won’t be easy.

At best, Tinubu is operating on what many consider a stolen mandate. The tenacity and ferocity with which his main opponents at the elections are clinging to their fast fading hopes at the election petition tribunal hints at it.

er is a key reason many are skeptical of his every word. But there is also a history of corruption and drug-running.

Then there is the fact that words are often just about that for Nigerian politicians who say one thing but often mean an entirely different thing.

Tinubu faces an uphill task. For eight years former president Muit. His embarrassing performance at a time he had everything going for him has brought genuine doubts over whether Tinubu, who is cut their heads knowingly and grit their teeth. If he succeeds, there will be many who will be disappointed but relieved. But he has no choice but to succeed because failure may just push Nigeria over the edge.

Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com

In all his engagements, Dopkesi was hard to ignore. He left his marks in every field that he was engaged in. And with his death, Nigeria has lost a veteran media giant, an astute businessman, a political titan, and a philanthropist

NAMA’s Managing Director Set to Reinvigorate Agency

Chinedu Eze

The new Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Tayib Mohammed Odunowo, has said he will bring the wealth of his experience in the aviation industry to reinvigorate the agency, while commending his predecessor, Lawrence Pwajok for the efficient way he managed NAMA to ensure improvement of air safety in the country.

Reports indicate that Odunowo is an exceptionally accomplished professional with a diverse range of expertise in the Aviation, Security, and Consulting industries. With over 25 years of experience, he has solidified his reputation as an authoritative figure in Aviation and Aviation Security, Business Administration, and Strategy.

His journey in the aviation industry began with an A&P Mechanic License from the School of Aviation Zaria. Recognising the importance of continuous learning, he further pursued his passion by obtaining an Avionics Degree and

a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Science from a prestigious institution in the United States.

Throughout his remarkable career, Odunowo has held significant roles at renowned organisations, including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for six years and Accenture USA for another eight years, where he made substantial contributions to their respective domains. His profound understanding of the aviation industry, combined with his strategic acumen and adept people management skills, has proven invaluable and facilitated successful collaborations with various departments of the US Government. Notably, he has played a key role in security solution development and implementation at esteemed institutions such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), Defense & Logistics Agency (DLA), and NASA.

In addition to his outstanding professional background, Odunowo holds Flight Engineer License, showcasing his exceptional qualifications in the aviation

field. Moreover, he has obtained extensive certifications in Aerodrome Management and Airspace Management, underscoring his commitment to continuous professional development and his comprehensive understanding of these critical areas.

A notable accomplishment in Odunowo’s career was his involvement in the team that spearheaded the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Masterplan on Transportation Security, following the 9/11 attacks. This experience highlights his exceptional contributions to enhancing security measures within the transportation sector, reflecting his unwavering dedication to ensuring public safety.

Motivated by an unwavering commitment to aviation safety, Odunowo possesses extensive knowledge in Aviation Cyber Security. This reflects his dedication to staying at the forefront of industry advancements and addressing the ever-evolving challenges of cybersecurity in the aviation sector.

FAAN MD Meets Aviacargo Roadmap Committee Members

Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Mohammed, has met with members of Aviacargo Roadmap Committee. Mohammed, who met with members of the committee at the headquarters Annex of FAAN, Lagos, promised his management’s full support for the project.

While receiving the 4th monthly report of the committee, Mohammed thanked members of the Committee for supporting the Aviacargo vision of FAAN, stating

that “governance is a continuum” and that “FAAN remains 100 percent behind the project and will support its continuation to a successful end.”

The Managing Director who commended members of the committee for the excellent job done so far, enjoined them to remain faithful to the nation’s objective of improving its processes towards moving the nation to the number one position in exports on the African continent.

Earlier in his address before

NAHCO Announces N3.8bn Profit for 2022 Financial Year

Chinedu Eze

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company

Plc (NAHCO) has announced profit before tax of N3.8 billion for 2022 financial year.

Chairman of NAHCO, Dr. Seinde Fadeni, who announced it, explained the factors that aided the company to record such stellar performance at a period the aviation industry was coming out from the effects of COVID-19. Fadeni spoke to journalists after the 42nd AGM of the company, which recently took place in Lagos. He discussed the financial results, NAHCO’s performance and the future outlook of the organisation.

The NAHCO Chairman said the foremost handling company remained resilient, performing admirably and achieving some significant milestones, thereby delivering value to the organisation and its esteemed shareholders.

presenting the report, the Committee Chairman, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, had briefed the new MD/CE and the newly appointed Director Commercial and Business Development, Muyiwa Femi-Pearse, on the activities of the committee and the tasks remaining to be accomplished.

The first three of the monthly reports were received by the immediate past Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, who also initiated the FAAN’s support for the project.

UNN, Princeton Emerge Winners in Travel Essay Competition

Miss Merciful Nwafor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Enugu Campus and Miss Oyedeji Moyinoluwa of Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos have emerged winners of the 12th National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2023) in the tertiary institutions and secondary schools categories of the contest respectively.

The essay topics include:

“Implications and Threats of Unruly Passengers To Safe And Secure Air Travel,” for the Secondary Schools; and “Curbing The Trafficking Of Illicit Drugs In Nigeria,” for Tertiary Institutions.

Both winners emerged following a robust session of oral defense of their respective essays before a select group of Independent Assessors at the Grand Finale of NTEC 2023 which held on May 27, 2023 at the Interguide Academy, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

The panel was chaired by the Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, Mr. Basil Agboarumi. He was joined by Prof. Effiom Uku of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and others.

Founder and Coordinator of NTEC, Mr. Ewos Iroro, said: “The topics for this year’s competition were carefully chosen following recent developments and repeat occurrences in the sector regarding incidences of unruly passengers and increased levels in trafficking of illicit drugs through the airports which pose serious safety and security threats to the aviation sector and the nation at large with untold implications.

Merciful Nwafor went home with a cash prize of N150,000 and a free ticket to South Africa sponsored by South African Airways (SAA). In the same vein, Oyedeji Moyinoluwa was rewarded with a cash prize

of N100,000 and a free ticket for herself and a parent to Accra, Ghana sponsored by Africa World Airlines (AWA).

Oshimade Abisola of Abiolu College, Igando, Lagos came 2nd with a cash prize of N60,000, while Ademigbaji Favour of Sunshine Diamond College, Ibadan emerged 3rd with a cash prize of N40,000 in the secondary schools category.

Similarly, in the tertiary institutions category, Miss Daikpor Anthonia took 2nd place with a cash prize of N100,000 closely followed in 3rd place by Olatunji Deborah with a cash prize of N50,000. Both students were of the University of Lagos.

All the winners were also showered with various gift items courtesy of Peak Milk. Participants and guests at the event were equally all treated to a refreshingly cold beverage of peak milk as the events of the day unfolded.

Akinwunmi, Uzo Others Slated for NMNI Conference

Nume Ekeghe

The Group CEO, Prima Garnet, Lagos, Nigeria, Lolu Akinwunmi, Faculty Director at Lagos Business School (LBS) for Marketing, Uchenna Uzo, and other academician and professionals have been slated to converge at the 2023 National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).

The 2023 annual marketing conference is scheduled to hold on the 22nd of June 2023 with its Annual General Meeting to hold on the 23rd of June 2023

in Fraser Suites, Abuja.

Also, the institute which is the body for marketing professionals in Nigeria has noted that they are in talks with the world’s largest and internationally renowned Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) to foster capacity building as well as gain international certification for its members.

Speaking at a media parley on the upcoming conference, in Lagos recently, Chairperson of the planning committee, NIMN 2023 conference, Chioma Afe, said this year’s conference would focus on the theme ‘The Role of Marketing

and Ethics in Nation Building’.

Afe said: “In line with the mood and of the nation, we are looking at the role of ethics and marketing in nation-building. That is our theme for this year. last year we talked about marketing and tech, and that marriage and that union but this year understanding that we are on the cusp of change and believe in the nation, we want to be able to speak to how marketing as marketing professionals clearly as well as ethics, comes to play in building the nation that we’ve all dreamed of.

“Our group’s revenue for the year 2022 was N16.7 billion, a 63 per cent increase from the previous year’s figure of N10.2 billion. This was due to a combination of factors, including the increase in aircraft handling rates, onboarding of new routes by some loyal clients such as Qatar Airways expansion into Kano and Abuja routes and Ethiopia Airlines addition of Enugu route to its destinations. We also benefitted from Air Peace’s commencements of Port Harcourt - Cameroon route. The expansion of our excellent services, improved efficiency in our operations and increased reliance of our clients on our ability to deliver, all contributed to the positive results. Our profit before tax is N3.8 billion, a 310 per cent increase from the previous year’s figure of N925 million,” he stated.

At the time there was doomsday prophesy that COVID-19 would devastate the economies of the aviation sector and leave airlines and other aviation companies in great losses, but NAHCO Plc was not so adversely affected and therefore was one of the few companies that retained its workforce and also provided succour to those who stayed home, he said.

Fadeni further said: “The quick recovery rates happened in almost every part of Africa and not just in NAHCO alone. In that year of COVID-19, Ethiopian Airlines declared a profit of over $1 billion and it was just strategy. When some airlines parked their planes, and they were using it for restaurant, Ethiopian Airlines turned their own passenger planes to cargo aircraft. There was increase in cargo freighting and we are part of the people that made money out of it.

“So, it had an impact on us in the sense that during those periods we were working. And what we also did strategically is that some of our staff who were not essential workers, we made sure that they were at home, and we were paying them about 50 per cent of their salaries. Because this is a skill-oriented organisation, we put so much money in training them. So, for you to get another set of people, it will take you a lot of time and resources to train them. So, what we did was asked them to stay at home and pay them. What we just removed was transport and some other allowances. It was just strategy and doing the right thing and making sure that we reduced our cost. That is why we were able to overcome these challenges.”

He expressed hope that with the plan to retool the nation’s economy by the new President Bola Tinubu’s administration, there would be hope that cargo freighting from Nigeria would receive a boost.

“Cargo is more time bound and it continues to happen all over the world. As a matter of fact, when it comes to Africa or these areas, you will find out that we are more or less, in Nigeria compared to other places like South Africa and other countries like Ethiopia; our freight is so small. For example, in Nairobi, Kenya, every Boeing 737 plane leaves the city with flowers to Europe and

other countries. At the end of the day, you just find out that the effect has not really gotten to Nigeria. However, I believe that with the new administration, they want to retool the economy and I believe that that will also aid air cargo. Because once there are activities and the economy is running well, everything will run smoothly.

“The new administration has also said that there is going to be a unified exchange rate. So, this has has a lot of impact on cargo importation whether it is sea freight or air freight. But, with these new economic policies, which we all know that by the grace of God, he will live up to, there is going to be increase in cargo movement,” NAHCO Chairman said.

Recounting the impediments to the company’s operation, Fadeni said multi taxation, high cost and scarcity of forex were factors that nearly stymied the company’s operations, just as they also affect other organizations in aviation and outside the sector.

“Sometimes, there are multiple taxes. One of the major issues is that 95 per cent of our equipment, if not 100 per cent are bought through foreign currency. So, we have not had good access to foreign currency. We can’t even try to take a loan because you won’t survive it. The interest rate is not good for any business in Nigeria. We are almost at 26 per cent per annum. What do you want to do to make that kind of money to pay back?

“Basically, those are the challenges. For example, what the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) charges us is 5 per cent on our revenue. It shouldn’t be 5 per cent on our revenue, it should be 5 per cent on our profit. If you are charging me 5 per cent on revenue that means you are also charging on the money from which I pay my staff. You are taking 5 per cent on my staff and yet I am paying you. If I want to take land from FAAN, my landlord, I will have to pay for it and yet you are taking 5 per cent of my total revenue, not profit,” he further said.

On the good performance of NAHCO Plc last year and whether the company would sustain and possibly surpass the previous performance, the chairman expressed confidence that that success would be surpassed this year.

“I am very confident that we will do better than what we did in the past year in 2023, we are there already. We have our first quarter report, and I am sure we have it in the public. So, I don’t have any doubt that we will surpass what we did in the 2022 financial year. What we have also done is that we have tried to retool our system by cutting cost. We are trying as much as possible to make sure that there is no waste in the system. So, I am very confident that we will do better,” the NAHCO chairman assured.

Fadeni

SWAI: Pro viding Platform to Boost Maritime Security, Blue Economy in Africa

To consolidate Africa’s maritime security and boost the continent’s blue economy, an international symposium organised by Security Watch Africa Initiatives, SWAI, Nigeria, alongside the Centre for Military Studies, CEMIS, from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, recently called for continental approach to handle matters relating to the region.

Chiemelie Ezeobi, reports that it was also an avenue to bestow on the Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, CFR, the Award of Examplary Leadership in Maritime Security for his sterling achievements

Most of the programmes and associated outcomes of the African continent’s developmental agenda are linked to its ocean waters, thus the sea is an important line of communication and a unifier of mankind. Thus, it is often opined that it requires coordinated efforts on all fronts across the continent to achieve that development agenda.

To address these and more, the Security Watch Africa Initiatives, (SWAI) Nigeria, alongside the Centre for Military Studies, (CEMIS) from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, recently hosted a two-day international symposium at STIAS Conference Centre, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa, whereby Chiefs of Naval Staff from African countries, experts, military officers, Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Muhammad Haruna Manta, and other players in the maritime and security sector on the continent converged.

The Symposium

Themed “Blue Ocean Economy and Maritime Security in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Agenda 2063”, the symposium was based on the fact that the successful attainment of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 objectives is premised on the sustainable peace and security on the continent.

The symposium thus sought to explore various aspects of the Blue Ocean Economy and the potential roles that the navies of various countries can play, in conjunction with public and private sector entities, in ensuring security on the continent’s ocean waters.

To this end, the symposium wants States, African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC) to embark on holistic and collective maritime security efforts and propagate awareness of Blue Economy initiatives.

On why they saw the need to foster such partnerships, SWAI President/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Patrick Agbambu, said SWAI was established in 1997 with the primary objectives of monitoring, collecting, analysing, and broadcasting security issues on the African continent, for public awareness and policy making.

He further added that it the organisation seeks “to further encourage professionalism and intellectual engagements among African military, security forces, and all stakeholders, holds annual conferences, international symposium, and award ceremonies on African security in different parts of the world to celebrate and showcase the continent’s military and security forces’ accomplishments and enhance friendship, as well as military cooperation among Africans.

“It is in this light that SWAI and the Centre for Military Studies (CEMIS), Stellenbosch University, South Africa, held the two-day international symposium.

“The Symposium was cognisant that successful attainment of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 objectives is premised on sustainable peace and security on the continent.”

Presentations

At the symposium, there were presentations on six thematic issues including Maritime Trade and global linkages, Maritime Law and “Blue water” Crime enforcement, Naval tasks in the Blue Economy, the Role of technology in untangling Departmental Mandates in a multi-domain maritime environment (disconnects in African legislative frameworks), Promoting Good

Order at Sea: Opportunity for Naval Co-operation and Enhancing Co-operation and harmonisation of African solutions at Sea (Regulatory and legal frameworks).

Enhancing Maritime Security, the Nigerian Navy Experience

As the lead speaker, Nigeria’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, (CFR) gave an account of the NN and efforts made to enhance its maritime security.

According to the CNS, the achievements recorded were through joint collaborative efforts with other services, security agencies, stakeholders and other international organisations and navies of other countries.

He also stated that the Nigerian Navy developed measures towards ensuring the safety of the country’s maritime domain for a sustainable Blue Economy.

Thereafter he noted that Blue Economy security in Africa would require a whole-of-continent approach towards proffering solutions to maritime insecurity.

He recommended that holistic collective maritime security efforts, deployment of technology, prosecution of transnational maritime offenders, awareness of sustainable Blue Economy initiative as well as enhanced research and development are key towards effective security of Blue Economy in Africa.

He concluded by stating that “Africa is endowed, blessed, and has all it takes to move to the next level of prosperity for global recognition. Therefore, all we need do is collectively synergise to actualise the development of Africa by Africans.”

The

South African Contribution

During his Keynote address, the South African Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, who was represented by the South African Navy’s Director of Maritime Security, Vice Admiral David M. Mkhonto, highlighted the importance of the sea to humanity hence the need for the African continent to take advantage of that and enhance its blue economy and maritime security.

He further stated that the blue ocean economy and African maritime security are very important as both are closely related as globalisation hinges on the blue economy and maritime security.

He said that it was now time to devote more resources and time to these issues, more so as no single nation or institution can do it alone, and therefore, all stakeholders must come together and fashion out the way forward to enhance Africa’s blue economy and maritime security.

Recommendations

At the end of the symposium, the 8-point communique collated by the Chief Rapporteur, Brigadier General Sani K. Usman (Rtd.), stressed

on the need for the regional navies to guarantee Africa’s Maritime Security and enhanced Blue Economy, Africa by using a whole-of-continent approach.

The communique stressed that States, African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC) should embrace holistic and collective maritime security efforts, deploy technology, prosecute transgressors of transnational laws, and propagate awareness of Blue Economy initiatives.

While recognising the importance of the oceans as an engine for global economic prosperity and stability, it further acknowledged the relationship between Africa’s Blue Economy and Maritime Security, hence the need for concerted efforts at improving African Blue Economy and Maritime Security through collaborative efforts in the region.

It also noted with concern that thr continent is bedevilled with many of challenges within the maritime environment, hence the need to address these challenges as opportunities for collective efforts to elevate the African Agenda 2063.

It also called on African countries and continental economic communities to collaborate deeper and look for African- centric solutions to address the Economy and Maritime Security challenges, by building on the strengths, capacities, experiences and potentials of African States.

Recognising that globalisation hinges on the Blue Economy and Maritime Security and no Nation can stand alone, it charged African countries to devote more time and resources to sustain Blue Economy and Maritime Security.

Also, to address maritime security challenges, it posited that African maritime entities must strengthen their collaboration and synergy on research and development, information sharing and operational capabilities. Meanwhile, it said African countries should pursue integrated, all-encompassing maritime strategies that are aligned with continental and regional security architectures through collaborative efforts, joint inter-government, inter-agency and military exercises and policing of the maritime environment.

Award of Examplary Leadership

To wrap up what turned out to be two-days of brainstorming and dialogue, Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo was bestowed the Award of Examplary Leadership in Maritime Security by Prof M.S. Tshehla, Dean of Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University while Mr. Patrick Agbambu, CEO Security Watch Africa Initiatives read his citation.

For many industry watchers, the award was well deserved given the plethora of achievements and innovations the CNS has recorded, ranging from personnel welfare to intensive fleet recapitalisation, as well as 15 months of sustaining the war against maritime crimes and illegality for which Nigeria boasts of being delisted from list of piracy- prone countries as conveyed in the International Maritime Bureau report of March 3, 2022.

Prior to this, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Global Piracy Report of July 14, 2021, indicated that this is the lowest total of piracy and sea robbery against ships in 27 years. This report was corroborated by the Defence Web maritime security report of October 15, 2021 which noted further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against shipping.

Consul General, Ms. Yan Yuqing with CEOs of the companies that built the park at the unveiling of the recreation Park in Victoria Island

NGO Awards Scholarship, Cash Prizes, Mentorship Opportunities to Boys

Stories by Precious Ugwuzor

The Boy-Child Transformation Centre (BTC), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has awarded cash prizes and mentorship opportunities to young boys across Nigeria, in commemoration of the International Day of the Boy Child.

Also, BTC in collaboration with KIEK Foundation, awarded a one-year scholarship to one of the boys, following his stellar performance in a creative challenge.

The theme for the year, “Walk in My Shoes - A Creative Expression for the Boy-Child”, saw contestants between the ages of 11-16 from across the country make a total of 18 entries, using poetry, music and art to speak about their experiences of being a boy child.

The event which took place on Saturday, May 27, 2023 in Ikoyi, had in attendance, the outgoing Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Education, Dr. Adetola Salau; the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, filmaker, Oba Osoba, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi and other notable speakers and creatives.

The winner of the contest, Nasarawa-based rapper, Michael Francis went home with N200,000, while the first runner-up, Victor Okon (Cross

River) and second runner-up, Pharez Obioha won N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.

While Michael also got the opportunity to feature in an upcoming Netflix movie by Oba Osoba, Victor got an additional N50,000 from one of the sponsors, and a one-year scholarship courtesy of KIEK Foundation. This is besides the books, shoes, bags, and other items they got alongside the other 16 participants from numerous sponsors.

The founder and CTO of the Centre, Nkiruka MoghaluOguadinma in her opening

address said that the aim of the event is to raise awareness about the challenges faced by boys and young men in today’s society through creative expressions.

She explained that the society must continue to foster an environment that encourages boys to express their emotions, passion and embrace vulnerability, encourage their individuality, and provide them with the freedom to express themselves authentically.

The founder noted that the immense pressure on boys to conform to rigid expectations

DAIKIN, DAITECH INAUGURATE NEW FLAGSHIP FACILITY TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP IN NIGERIA

Daikin, a leading global innovator and provider of advanced, high-quality air conditioning, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) products and solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications, and in partnership with DaiTech Nigeria Limited, the Authorized Distributor, has announced the grand opening of its new flagship facility in Lagos. Daitech Solutions Centre which has retail and commercial sales, service and training centre, located at Greenville Plaza, Adeola Odeku Street Victoria Island, will open its doors to the public on June 1st.

As a global leader in HVAC technology, Daikin has earned a reputation for innovation, reliability, and quality.

The new Daitech Solutions Centre in Lagos will showcase a wide range of Daikin air conditioning products, including split and multi-split systems, ducted systems, air purifiers, and VRV systems for residential, business, and industrial applications.

“We are delighted to open our new DaiTech Solutions Centre in Lagos, which will offer our customers the opportunity to experience first-hand the quality, comfort and energy efficiency of Daikin HVAC systems,” said Mr. Suraj Rupani, CEO of DaiTech Nigeria Limited, the authorised distributor of Daikin in Nigeria.

“With our state-of-the-art facility, we aim to provide our customers with the best possible air conditioning solutions for their homes, businesses and other applications.”

of strength and stoicism not only hinders their emotional development, but also perpetuates harmful behaviors such as aggression and violence.

She said: “In our quest for gender equality and raising the boy-child properly, it is imperative that we recognize the crucial role we all play in nurturing and empowering our young boys. Just as we champion the rights and aspirations of our girls, we must ensure that our boys grow up to become compassionate, respectful, and responsible individuals who contribute positively to society.

China Restates Commitment to Deepen Trade Relations with Nigeria

The Chinese Consul General to Nigeria, Yan Yuqing has stated that China is committed to further strengthening its ties with Nigeria in business, technology, infrastructure development and other areas.

Yuqing disclosed this during her inaugural media briefing at the Consulate General office over the weekend in Lagos.

This is as she commissioned a park for public use at Idejo Street in Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, which was renovated by three Chinese firms operating in the country, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

According to her, the relationship between the two countries holds great economic potential, adding that she will strive to achieve her objectives, while upholding the idea of truthfulness and goodwill. Her words: “I am here to fulfill my mission with the background that China has maintained friendly relations in Africa, especially with

Nigeria. So my mission here is to deepen the China and Nigeria strategic partnership. I’m confident that the cooperation has a bright future.

“After the establishment of diplomatic relationship between the two countries, we have achieved a lot in politics, economic, people to people exchanges, and other areas.

And in this new era, I believe that the relationship will bring

AREAi, NCFRMI Equip 4000 Children Across Eight IDP Camps with Skills

Stories By Mary Nnah

AidforRuralEducationAccessInitiative (AREAi) has recently launched a partnership with the National CommissionforRefugees,Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) under the leadership of theHonorableFederalCommissioner, HajiyaImaamSulieman-IbrahimFsi.

LedbyitsExecutiveDirector,Prince GideonOlanrewaju,AREAiwould drivethefacilitationandaccesstoaccelerated and informal educational opportunities for IDP, refugee, and migrant children.

‘ProjectEducateAll’isfocusedon addressing the foundational needs that bridge the educational gaps of children amongst persons of con-

cern (PoCs), and the marginalized communities in Nigeria. This pilot is being implemented across eight IDPcampsnamely:NewKuchingoro, Takuchara,Karamajiji,Wassa,Waru, NewKarshi,MalaysianGarden,and Yimutu,whichhaveover800children, ages 5 to 18 enrolled already.

These children will be equipped with relevant skills across four different pathways, namely: Literacy, Numeracy, 21st Century Life Skills, and the Digital Skills Accelerator (DSA) programme for STEM. This initiative is heavily integrated with globally recognised methodologies and digital technology that allows thesechildrentoexperiencelearning at their teaching levels, as well as the abilitytolearnintheirmothertongue for enhanced understanding.

new opportunities. On the other hand, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Belt Road Initiative, and I believe that the high quality of development which China is known for will benefit the Nigerian people”.

Yuqing explained that economic and trade cooperation is the main pillar of the China and Nigeria bilateral relations, noting that it has made tremendous efforts to help Nigeria, which

has abundant natural and human resources develop her economy.

The Consul General pointed out that the Chinese market has great potentials for Nigerian businesses, and that there are enough investment opportunities available to Nigerians living in China, as it has a favourable business environment.

“There are hundreds of Chinese companies and Chinese speaking people working and operating their businesses in Nigeria.

Betway Empowers POS Operators with Solar-Powered Kiosks

Betway, Nigeria’s premium online and gaming brand, Betway, has supported 10 Fintech Points Of Sale (POS) operators in Lagos State with solar-powered kiosks to boost their businesses.

This is part of Betway’s commitment to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The solar-powered kiosks are equipped with a solar panel and inverter to ensure that the Fintech POS operators have access to a reliable and efficient power supply. This will enable them to conduct their transactions with ease and provide an enhanced customer experience. The kiosks are also weatherproof and can withstand harsh environmental

The new facility will provide customers with a comfortable and informative environment to explore and learn about the latest Daikin air conditioning products and solutions. Knowledgeable sales staff will be on hand to provide expert advice and help customers find the best air conditioning solutions for their specific needs. The premises also has a training centre, fully equipped with air conditioners, tools, and installation equipment from Daikin factories. This training facility will be a center of activity for generations of aspiring HVAC engineers in Nigeria.

Tuna Gulenc, Vice President at Daikin MEA said, “Daikin’s focus on Nigeria signifies our commitment to meeting the increasing demands of the market in line with our Africa expansion and localisation plans. Through the new facility opening, we aim to address the specific needs of Nigerian customers by introducing cutting-edge technologies and products that guarantee optimal air quality, unparalleled comfort, and remarkable energy efficiency. We are excited to extend our partnership with DaiTech offering top-tier air conditioning systems that prioritize both performance and environmental considerations.’’

To celebrate the grand opening of the Centre, DaiTech will offer a special discount of up to 10% off on all its products for two weeks from 1st June till June 14th. 2023.

“We look forward to welcoming our customers to our DaiTech Centre and demonstrating how Daikin air conditioning systems can help them achieve a comfortable, energy-efficient and healthy indoor environment”, said Rupani.

CAPSA TECHNOLOGY PROCESSES N11BN WORTH OF INVOICE TRADES, MULLS FOURFOLD GROWTH

Capsa Technology, a start-up financial technology company, has facilitated the trading of over 11 billion Naira worth of invoices, making a significant impact on the growth trajectory of numerous enterprises.

Since its inception in the second half of 2021, the company has been at the forefront of empowering small businesses with its innovative invoice factoring platform. With a resolute vision for the future, Capsa aims to quadruple this impressive figure in the next 12 months, reaffirming its commitment to supporting small businesses and fueling their expansion. By revolutionising the way small businesses access financing, the GetCapsa platform has become a catalyst for growth for businesses in various industries.

Through its cutting-edge technology and streamlined processes, the company has created a seamless platform for businesses to factor in their invoices, bridging the gap between invoicing and payment. This has enabled entrepreneurs to overcome cash flow challenges, seize growth opportunities, and take their businesses to new heights. According to Mustapha Suberu, the CEO of Capsa Technology, the impact of the GetCapsa platform on small businesses has been nothing short of remarkable.

conditions, making them suitable for use in any location.

The firm also assured that the specially made kiosks will ease the pain that these POS operators go through daily due to the power situation in the country and their lean business capital that makes acquiring a power-generating set a difficult necessity for most of them.

Operations Officer for Betway in Nigeria, Otunba Kunle Olamuyiwa, said, “We are committed to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Our focus is on empowering these businesses to thrive and contribute to the growth of the economy.”

“Surpassing the 11 billion naira milestone is a testament to the trust placed on our platform by businesses seeking reliable and efficient financing solutions. By providing access to immediate cash flow, these businesses have been able to unlock their true potential and accelerate their growth.

“Looking ahead, Capsa Technology has set its sights on further amplifying its impact in the small business financing landscape. With a robust strategy in place, the company aims to quadruple the value of invoice trades in the next 12 months,” Suberu said. Segun Dada, the Chief Commercial Officer believes this ambitious goal reflects Capsa’s commitment to empowering more businesses, facilitating growth, and fueling economic development. According to Dada, by expanding its reach and further enhancing its technology, the GetCapsa platform is poised to become a driving force in the financing ecosystem.

“The astounding success of Capsa Technology can be attributed to its relentless focus on customer satisfaction, competitive rates, and expedited processes.

“The company’s user-friendly platform, combined with its extensive network of financial partners, ensures that small businesses receive funding quickly and at favorable terms. This not only enables businesses to save on interest rates but also provides them with the financial flexibility required to thrive in today’s dynamic marketplace,” he explained.

Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, Executive Vice Chairman, Verdant Zeal Group; Fabia Fabyan-Ogunmekan, Principal Curator, Adaba Initiative; Dr Tola Salau; Senior Special Assistant on Education to the Governor of Lagos State; Nkiruka Moghalu-Oguadinma, Founder and Chief Transformation Officer, Boychild Transformation Centre (BTC); Mrs Ebele Iyiegbu, Founder, KIEK Foundation and Kola Oyeyemi, CEO, Axiom Intel at BTC’s 2023 Walk in my Shoes Summitt held at the weekend in Lagos

Consul General, Ms. Yan Yuqing with CEOs of the companies that built the park at the unveiling of the recreation Park in Victoria Island

Tinubu: Now that the Eagle Has Landed

Last Monday, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, became the 16th President of Nigeria, in fulfilment of his life ambition. He had emerged against all the odds. To his credit, he fought a dogged fight. He was prepared for the contest in all dimensions. That was one of the reasons he didn’t wear out. His eyes were on the ball. His faith in his capacity to win the election never wavered. He spoke with oracular certitude on his chances of winning the election. Even when certain government policies and political developments seemed to be adverse to his ambition, he forged on with uncommon courage and optimism. He was verily prepared for the race. He said it was his turn to be President. And truly, he got it. Never mind that some of his co-contestants are challenging his victory in the court

So, last Tuesday, he marched into the Presidential Villa, after the ceremonial swearing-in of te previous day, ready to hit the ground running. But he actually started the running before he hit the ground. The declaration of “fuel subsidy is gone” in his inaugural address showed he would not be scared of taking tough decisions. But he must be wary of hasty decisions, just so he can give the impression of what we describe as “action president”. On the day of the inauguration, the 2023 budget still made 32 day provision for petrol subsidy. Therefore, the declaration that “subsidy is gone” was somewhat hasty and a determination to sound and appear impressionistic. As it turned out, it was a declaration that caused great chaos and unease in the society. Two hours after the statement, fuel queues emerged at filling stations. Some “wicked” petroleum markets had promptly adjusted the meter price. By the following day, the queues not only lengthened, the nasty and bitter experiences of the Buhari yearswas re-enacted and relaunched with fresh fervour. It was a wrong take-off signal. It was so bad that the groaning in theland was sounding like themoan of a dying folksman. The media team of Mr President had to issue a clarification which technically reversed or moderated what Mr President said at the inauguration. The statement said the removal of the subsidy is not immediate, as the provision for subsidy will subsist till end of the month. But it was an explanation that came too late. Like bullet fired from the gun which cannot be recalled, the declaration of the President had done all the damage it could do in the society. Not only have chaotic queues returned at the gas stations, petrol marketers, including NNPCL, ahead of any negotiation with organized labour and co, have even adjusted their prices to between N468 and N900 per litre across the country. Difficult days are here again! “Renewed Hope” is wearing the toga of renewed hardship.Already, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress which met with some officials of the Tinubu administration last Wednesday failed to reach a consensus on what to do. The meeting was inconclusive. We are back to the days of back-and-forth.

The “renewed hope” of better days have been dealt a severe and early blow. We hope the experiences ahead will not make Buhari look like a benevolent angel.

If the silence of the presidency remains on this matter, it would mean that the 32 or so days subsidy provided for in the budget will simply go the way of the crooks: get stolen. Would that be how the Tinubu administration want to start?

But while Nigerians are getting the rough squeeze of a new government,

the first family appears to be settling down to what promises to be a long stretch of presidential drama. The curtain to Act One Scene one opened on Wednesday, when the “first daughter” who dubbed herself as Iyaloja General of Nigeria (no longer Iyaloja of Lagos), Chief MrsFolashade Tinubu-Ojo, 61, launched aFriends of Iyaloja Initiative (FOI Initiative) with theaim of “using my little wealth of experience, connections and human resources available to my (sic) to support my Dad’s administration”.

At the launch last Wednesday in Abuja, the Iyaloja was seen reading a speech with her Aide De Camp (ADC) standing behind her as she regaled her invited guests, relishing in a presidential aura and carriage. This launch is coming way ahead of the programme and initiative of the First lady, Mrs Remi Tinubu. The launch of her initiative appears to still be in consonance with the determination to hit the ground running. Those who understand the intra-political dynamics in the First family say there will be running context between and among the various sub-forces in the family for space and power wielding. The days ahead will be manifestly intriguing with the drama that is bound to unfold.

But before that drama loads properly and fully, the contention for the principal officers in the National Assembly promises to be the prologue to the theatrics that will characterize the Tinubu administration.

Already, there is internal protestation over who the principal officers of the tenth national assembly will be within the red chamberas the duo are keenly interested torun for the senate presidency and its deputy, respectively, despite the micro-zoning arrangement approved by the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Will the duo of kalu and Yari “scatter” theAPC cohesion in the upper chamber?

The duo of Orji Uzor Kalu and AbdulazizYari and both former governors in Abia and Zamfara states respectively have formed an alliance with non-APC members in the National Assembly to upset what the NWC has decided. Will they succeed? Will they fail?We all are watching.

The NWC of the party has chosen Senator Godswill Akpabio and JubrinBarau, as President and Deputy Senate President of the Senate, respectively. Akpabio was the first aspirant to announce that he was stepping down for the candidature of Bola Tinubu, at the party’s national convention on June 28, last year. It is thus not unlikely that choosing him to become the Senate President may be a pay-back time for his perceived loyalty. But that on its own poses a problem of compromising the expected independence of the senate, if Akpabio really emerges the Senate President.The freedom of the lawmakers toelect who their leaders should be, has been circumscribed by this over-bearing meddlesomeness of the NWC of the APC. Will there be a repeat of the Saraki leadership drama as it was in the 8th assembly?

The ability of President Tinubu to rein-in the likes of Orji Kalu and Senator Yari and their followers will be a test of his political sagacity and influence.

In all, I join in congratulating Mr President on his eventual landing the seat of power, the number one job in the land. As an experienced political leader, President Tinubu must realise that winning the election is one thing and governing effectively is quite another. The Buhari experience is a perfect example, as he got power through election, but did not quite know what to do with it, as others ran the show for him.

Now that the Tinubu eagle has landed, governance, effective and beneficial governance, that is, most be seen to be taking place, That is what will give succour to Nigerians, not the shenanigans of power-hungry politicians struggling for position and recognition.

Before the sun set last Friday, MrHadiSirika, the former Aviation minister who had promised that the Nigeria Air will fly before the end of the Buhari administration, made good his promise, when, like magic, a certain aircraft Boeing 737-800, bearing the label of Air Nigeria landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.It was an interesting drama. MrSirika, for over seven years had been talking about reintroducing a National carrier, arguing that it will further boost the Nigerian economy by contributing immensely to increasing the nation’s GDP as it will fly some 86 regional, international and local routes. But as it turned out, it was more talk and no action. An expensive bureaucratic prank!

In July 2018, HadiSirika launched the logo of the Nigeria Air with so much funfare in far away London, with a roadshow, promising that Nigeria Air will start operation by December of that same year (2018). This is mid 2023, and all we have sighted is an eleventh-hour lone aircraft landing on the eve of the end of the Buhari administration. Those who have closely monitored the Sirika aviation magic have said that the said aircraft is not only back to where it came from (Ethiopian Airline in Addis Ababa) the label paste on the said aircraft, has indeed been reversed to its original name: Ethiopian Airline and resumed its regular flight from Addis-Ababa to Mogadishu. And that is the end of Nigeria Air, I dare say.SoHadiSirika deceived us all, just like that? He owes Nigerian a lot of explanations! This was a project launched

with over N20 billion, just for a logo and road show, and you would wonder if that much was spent on a logo, how much would the aircraft itself cost?

Sirika, in an attempt to mystify the whole exercise had contacted a consultant, a marketing outfit in Bahrain to design the logo, then he claimed the government spent some money as working capital and paid some transactional advisers’ fee, all at the cost of N6.25 billion.

So,MrHadiSirika sir, where are the fruits of all these efforts? Where is the airline?Where is the aircraft?

Where are the staff? Where are the offices? Where are the paraphernalia of an organization? The former aviation minister took Nigerians for granted. He carried on with the attitude of “there’s nothing you can do me”. Perhaps because he was former President Buhari’s in-law, he operated with so much air of arrogance and nonchalance to due process and public opinion. It is a notorious fact that international flights from Nigeria are far more expensive than neighbouring countries. No thanks to the excessive multiple charges by the Nigerian Airports Authority, not to mention the poor bilateral air relationship between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirate, for instance, which has affected the cessation of Lagos/Abuja-Dubai flights. Save his impressive facial optics, the likes of HadiSirika helped to offer Nigerians a bitter pill from the Buhari regime. We shall return to these scams later.

Help,Who’d Save FestacTown?

For too long, the 46-year old festival town, also known as Festac Town, in Lagos, has been a victim of monumental neglect. The fate of the town is piteously peculiar as the running controversy of who owns and manages the town— between the federal government and Lagos State, has remained unresolved. At the beginning, it was a town built and managed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). But over the years, the presence of FHA has continued to wane and wear out.

The Lagos State government which had seemed to assume responsibility of the town has not sufficiently lived up to expectation in terms of managing and maintaining the town. One would have thought that with Festac Town being the head quarters of the Amuwo-Odofin LGA, the town would enjoy some good measure of attention. But that has not been the case. Its efficiency appears to be only in the collection of rates and taxes from residents.

In recent months, the town has been on a faithful degeneration, made worse by the rains. As at today, nearly all the roads have completely broken down, dotted with craters and huge pot holes, so much that motorists and commuters

literally move from one point to the other in tears. It has been a hell of experience commuting on the township link roads of the estate. Almost all social services from any arm of government has collapsed. The Chairman of the Amuwo-Odofin council, Valentine Braimoh, an engineer, seemed to be in a governmental slumber as no effort is being made to make the experience of the residents less hellish.

Bola Tinubu

HadiSirika

Valentine Braimoh

L-R: Quality and Safety Manager, United Nigeria Airline (UNA), Mr. Dare Fatiregun; Area Manager, West and Central Africa, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Dr. Samson Fatokun; Chief Operating Officer, UNA, Mazi Osita Okonkwo; and Cabin Services Manager, UNA, Mrs. Morounke Babalola, during the presentation of certificate of IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) to United Nigeria Airline in Lagos... recently

PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah; Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, PremiumTrust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim, at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) induction programme in Abuja...recently

L-R: Rotarian Directors, Bisi Taiwo and Sanjeev Tandon; District 9110 Governor, Rotary Club, Mrs. Omotunde Lawson, and her husband, Mr. Francis Lawson, at the presentation of a cheque by Tolaram Group to support the Rotary Vocational Training Programme initiative during the maiden District 9110 Women in Rotary Conference held in Lagos... recently

DAN UKANA

L-R: Head of Marketing Communications and Customer Experience, 9 Payment Service Bank, Olushola Ogunyemi; Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac; and Chief Executive Officer, RegTech Africa, Cyril Okoroigwe, at the RegTech Africa Conference 2023 held in Lagos… recently

L-R: Director, General Services, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Alhaji Baba Ahmed; Director, Special Duties, NYSC, Alhaji Musa Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; NYSC DirectorGeneral, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed; Director, Community Development Service and Special Duties, NYSC, Hajiya Zainab Isah; and Director, Press and Public Relations, NYSC, Mr. Eddy Megwa, during NYSC DG’s visit to the naval headquarters in Abuja…recently

L-R: Medical Director, Reddington Hospital, Dr. Faith Ekpekurede; United Kingdom-based Consultant Urological, Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeon, Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme; surgical assistant to Prof Ekwueme, Joanne Roberts; and Chief Operating Officer, Reddington Hospital, Mr. Emmanuel Matthew, during the celebration of a ‘milestone in laparoscopic procedures’ with 50 successful cases at Reddington Hospital in Lagos...recently

PHOTO:

Shareholders Commend Wema Bank’s Manage ment

Nigeria’s most innovative financial institution, Wema Bank Plc, held its 2022 Annual General Meeting yesterday May 31st, 2023 amidst encomiums over the sterling performance of the bank and the huge dividend payout.

Specifically, shareholders of the bank commended the board and management for delivering a good result in the financial year.

A shareholder, Mr. Badmos commended the bank for proposing to pay 30kobo dividend per unit of ordinary share, saying it is the biggest in the history of the bank.

He charged the new management to sustain the tempo of excellent corporate performance so that shareholders could continue to get value from their investments.

Speaking on the occasion,

the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Moruf Oseni, said the present management which he leads is poised to making the bank the best financial house digitally.

Oseni said his management team is determined to scale up the bank, stressing that they would take it to its rightful place in the industry. According to him, the welfare of staff members would also be accorded top priority as a way of motivating them to contribute more in terms of their output.

In its audited financial results for the period ended December 31, 2022, the bank recorded gross earnings of N131.08 billion year on year, representing an increase of 42.3 percent over the N92.14 percent posted in 2021.

The results, which showed positive fundamentals across

board, revealed a growth of 44.7 percent year on year in interest income to N106.07 billion from N73.30 billion. Non-interest income shot up to N25.01 billion to N18.83 percent, an increase of 32.8 percent.

Similarly, the bank’s profit before tax grew to an all-time high of N14.74 billion year on year as against N12.38 billion the previous year, an increase of 19 percent. According to the bank, shareholders will receive a dividend of 30 Kobo per ordinary share in what is the biggest dividend payout till date. The bank grew its deposit year by year by 26 percent as at full year 2022 to N1,165.93 billion from N927.47 billion in 2021. Its stock of loans and advances also grew from N418.86 billion in 2021 to N521.43 billion, showing a rise of 24 percent.

Brown Card: Group Insists Constitution Amendment Will Review Nigerian Citizenship Eligibility

Nume Ekeghe

A Civil Society group, Save Nigeria Movement has said the eligibility conditions and process for granting permanent residency status or Nigerian citizenship to a foreigner can only be reviewed through constitution amendment.

The group therefore urged the relevant institutions of state to reconsider this in the next effort at amendment to the constitution.

The group, in a statement issued in Abuja recently and signed by the convener, Reverend Solomon Semaka, was reacting to reports that the federal government of Nigeria had introduced a Brown Card as a document that confers

permanent residency status and citizenship on foreigners.

Part of the reasons adduced by the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Oregbesola for introducing the Brown card is to shorten the 15-year waiting period for foreigners as eligibility criterion for being granted citizenship to five years as is the case in countries like the United States of America.

Reacting to this, Semaka said: “The Minister of interior acknowledged that only a constitution amendment could change the eligibility criteria for gaining Nigerian citizenship in speech delivered during the conferment of citizenship on foreigners on

May 27. So any pronouncement to this effect that does not accommodate constitution amendment is only a wish.”

Meanwhile, the group has also said that statement deploying a parallel programme that competes with existing ones would worsen the already fragile security situation and the safety of the nation against foreign nationals who come into the country with ulterior motives that undermine the country’s security system.

“Introducing the brown card is tantamount to introducing a parallel platform for escapee defaulters in the payment for existing programmes.

Economist Seeks Information, Databook for Policymakers

Kayode Tokede

The Managing Director/Chief Economist of the Analysts Data Services and Resources (ADSR), Dr. Afolabi Olowookere, has stressed the need for policymakers to be equipped with the necessary data and information for socioeconomic performance in the current democratic dispensation.

Olowookere, in a statement in Lagos, said policymakers needed to be supported to devise innovative means of addressing the country’s challenges and achieving its laudable vision with sustainable data and information.

“Nigeria is therefore presented with another opportunity to improve its socioeconomic performance, particularly at a time when many of the citizens are highly expectant, while some are critical of the role of government in improving their welfare, judging from their past experiences.

“Following the elections earlier this year, several political office holders have emerged as the President, Governors and Members of Senate, the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.

“Many other appointments are equally being considered and made as cabinet members,

advisers, and heads of agencies and departments, among others.

“Our policymakers, therefore, need to be supported to devise innovative means of addressing the country’s challenges and achieving its laudable vision,” Olowookere said.

He further said the current medium-term plan, the National Development Plan (2021–2025), has the vision of unlocking Nigeria’s potential in all sectors of the economy for sustainable, holistic and inclusive national development with sustainable data.

International Shopping Fair to Explore Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity

Gilbert Ekugbe

Organisers of the inaugural international shopping fair scheduled to hold from the 2nd-12th June 2023 at the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Victoria Island is expected to discover Nigeria’s hidden gems and embrace the cultural diversity and artistry of international exhibitors.

At a press conference to herald the fair, the owner and General Manager, Nizam Exhibitions Company, Ali Nizam, said the event would avail attendees the opportunity to explore an extensive range of exquisite products, including

jewelry, linens, embroideries, and much more.

According to him, the event promises to be a haven for discerning shoppers with an immersive atmosphere where attendees can indulge their senses.

His words: “This year, the fair shines a spotlight on the sale of captivating silver ornaments. The discerning shopper will discover a captivating collection of handcrafted jewelry, ranging from delicate necklaces and bracelets to intricately designed rings and earrings. Each piece tells a unique story, blending traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics, and

L-R: Executive Director, Digital and Retail Banking, Wema Bank Plc, Tunde Mabawonku; Company Secretary, Johnson Lebile; Managing Director/CEO, Moruf Oseni; Deputy Managing Director, Wole Akinleye and Chairman, Statutory Audit Committee, Prince Adekunle Olodun, at the Wema Bank 2022 Annual General Meeting held at the banks’ headquarters in Marina, Lagos…recently

reflecting the cultural heritage of diverse regions.”

With over 30 foreign and local exhibitors expected, economic activities in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, are projected to gain fresh momentum with exhibitors drawn from around the world and different sectors of the economy expected to showcase a diverse selection of products and services.

“The International Shopping Fair provides an opportunity to explore a world of elegance and style as exhibitors would showcase exquisite linen and embroidery,” Nizam said.

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).

Totalenergies Shareholders Okay N21.00 Final Dividend Payout

Kayode Tokede

The shareholders of Totalenergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, yesterday approved the company’s N21.00 per share final dividend payout, stressing the sustained dividend payout despite challenges in cost of sales and finance costs.

The management had paid shareholders an interim dividend of N4.00 per share and the board proposed a final dividend of N21.00 for the financial year ended

December 31, 2022 as against N18.00 paid to shareholders in the corresponding financial year ended December 31, 2021.

The approved dividend brings Totalenergies Marketing Nigeria’s 2022 dividend payout to N25.00 per 50kobo share as against N21.00 per 50 kobo share paid in 2021 financial year.

The President, Pragmatic Shareholders Association, Mrs. Bisi Bakare, at the company’s 45th Annual General Meeting

(AGM) in Lagos, expressed satisfaction with the company’s 2022 performance, disclosing that Totalenergies Marketing Nigeria over the last five-year has maintained trajectory growth in assets, revenue and dividend payout to shareholders.

Speaking to shareholders, the Chairman, Totalenergies Marketing Nigeria, Jean-Philippe Torres, said the company in 2022 continued to grow stronger in the non-fuel business by turning service stations

into social hubs that attract more customers for services and goods beyond energy solutions.

He further said: “Your company has continued to grow its market share in lubricants rising to 15 per cent. Because of the global upward price of lubricant input materials and the devaluation of the Naira, lubricant prices were adjusted in 2022. Totalenergies Marketing Nigeria also concluded the installation of its end-of-line automated machines which would

support to increase production output of small pack lubricants (1-5litres) by about 30 per cent.”

According to him, 2022 was indeed a challenging year locally and internationally, yet the company increased its turnover by 41 per cent from N341billion in 2021 to N482billion in 2022.

“However, due to rising cost, profit before tax decreased by four per cent from N16.8billion in 2021 to N16.1billion in 2022. In the face of the aforementioned and

other difficulties, it is a laudable achievement,” he said.

Looking ahead, he explained, saying,, “We will focus on building a robust portfolio of renewable energy assets by capitalising on our presence in Nigeria to develop and serve this market, supplying people with the energy they require while meeting the challenges of climate change, fostering sustainability, ensuring safety, and focusing on customer centricity.”

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF JUNE/01/23

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 31May-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

GAMING WEEK

Edited by NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG | ikotibok@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324

Oyindamola Michaels: Most Betting Investors Establishing Businesses for Wrong Reasons

Please, tell us how you got into sports betting.

Istumbled on sports betting.

I was working with Jumia. I felt the need to switch jobs because I didn’t really see where e-commerce was going. A friend of mine had an interview with a sports betting company, BetBonanza, at that time. So he took up the interview but wasn’t really serious about it. They told him to do some designs and all that, so he wasn’t up to it. He asked me if I was interested. I was like, “Why?

It is sports betting. I bet. Let’s see how it goes.” I reached out to the recruiter or the MD then, and he told me to do some stuff. I know how to use Photoshop and the like. I did some social media designs for him, and an interview was scheduled, and that was it. I got my first role as a customer service representative, the only customer service representative of the company at that time in Nigeria. I was head of product for BetBonanza. It was going well.

We were expanding, opening shops in Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, and all that. Later, I got into LuckyBet through a friend of mine and became head of products for LuckyBet. I was in charge of their product catalogue, and they were also trying to do retail.

Then, I got headhunted by CloudBet. I was at CloudBet for about a year plus. CloudBet was awesome because that was where I was given the free will to express myself.

After CloudBet, where did you go next?

Then there came Paripesa. I was in Paripesa for a short while. I had gotten to a point in my career where I could choose the job I want to do if I’m not comfortable doing the job. It was more of trying to look for better opportunities. Paripesa came, and it was good while it lasted. They were a great company. They are still a great company, and I still have friends there. I was the Country Manager for Paripesa. General Bet came, and I got referred to them by the owner of CloudBet.

I was general manager for General Bet, and then PariMatch came calling, an international brand and big presence; official partners for Chelsea, Newcastle, Leicester and all that. That’s how we are here today.

What are some landmark career moments for you?

First up was opening the Bodija branch of CloudBet. It was great. It was serene. It was bringing something for the Ibadan people. I still have videos of the opening ceremony. I remember the interview, and I felt kind of fulfilled that we embarked on these projects. That kind of opened a lot of doors in terms of breakthroughs or developing more stuff. USSD betting came through. We had a partnership with MTN to fund wallets via airtime. We tried

FORECAST

Man City to Take Another Step Towards Historic Treble

Davidson Abraham

On Saturday, Manchester City and cross-city rivals Manchester United are set to square off at Wembley as they both look to win their respective second trophy of the season.

Manchester City have been unsurprisingly tipped to win the trophy as they look set to

to do it with Airtel and Etisalat to replicate the same method across the board. It was good to hear customers calling in. I thought there was even a limit to airtime people could recharge because I was getting people funding wallets with N100,000 and N50,000, and it was great. Also, getting the award for ‘Most Influential Personality’ in the industry (2022 ) was like the icing on the cake for years of hard work and recognition from my peers.

How will you describe the sports betting industry? And how do you plan to put PariMatch on a level to compete to win?  The idea is that this industry is very volatile. A lot of people want quick money, quick returns on their investments. So, you hear industry operators packing up or selling licences or trying to move out of the country. For me, any advice I’ll give PariMatch or any other operator is, to have a plan. Have a five-year business plan. It is what I give every business. Have a five-year plan. Know how you do your investments or your marketing budget. Have a five-year plan to break even, if you do well and focus on your products... I call it the five steps. Have a UI/UX, have a great product, make your registration seamless, and make it extremely seamless, right? Once that is done, have great customer service. Perfect customer service. Let your payouts be instant and stress-free for your customers. If you have all these five ingredients, trust me, you are good to go in this space in Nigeria, even though our regulators, sometimes, are not really about the growth of operators, they rather focus on whatever it is they can get back in terms of levies and fees, If not, operators won’t just come and say to everyone, ‘Oh, everybody leaves’. Or, ‘We’re packing out. We only have a five-year licence’, or you want to take traffic away from Nigeria without having somebody here monitoring the affairs.

So the industry is not just about the operators. It’s about the punters, that is, the people that are staking their bets. That’s my passion. It is not just, ‘Oh, I am working with XYZ Bet. I am working with PariMatch’. What about the customers? Are they satisfied? Are they okay? Who is protecting and watching after them? That’s it. If you go through my profile, I double as head of operations for a non-governmental organisation, Gamble Alert, where we try to protect people addicted to gambling. People that are coming in to stake their bets. They need to be protected. It’s an ecosystem.

The gambling addiction programme that has been set up, would you say it’s successful and can you just walk us through the processes, how does it work? Gamble Alert is growing, and it has been very impactful. What we

did was, we started with underaged gambling. We have gone on advocacy tours around schools in Lagos, Osun, and Oyo State. We spoke with the children, did a debate competition, gave them an amount of money and spoke to them at length about the vices of underaged gambling and what it can lead to, what it might cause, and what it might turn them into. You’d be amazed how many children are already playing this thing. “What is your forecast for Man U and Arsenal?” and a lot of people were shouting over 1.5. These students are not meant to even have a betting account. So what did they do with it? It is beyond ticking a box and saying that you are above 18. You get card fraud. People steal their parents’ cards and use them to play a bet. I have collected the money and we have refunded it. This sensitisation needs, or has started at that point, from the grassroots. We are taking it up from there. A constant reminder to people. Give them hotlines to call.

Our office is in Ibadan, you can come in, can talk to a specialist, we have professors from UCH Ibadan, psychologists that can speak to you. We have lawyers if you want to press cases. We are trying to partner with regulators, but they are frustrating us. We even tried to set up meetings with them so we can partner with them, and ensure that every operator is registered with Gamble Alert. If you go to a foreign operator, you would see Gamble Aware underneath their footer, which means that there is an association that is responsible to ensure that this operator is Gamble Aware Compliant. We have nothing of such in this country, and that is what Gamble Alert stands for.

In the same way, if you want to get the national licence and you’re a member of the Association of Nigeria Bookmakers, you get the discount, right? They give you a discount for getting a national licence. Once you register with us, you get a discount also from NLRC, so that everybody is keyed into the focus or the goals of Gamble Alert, and ensure that we have some measures in place for these operators, self-exclusion for example, time frame pop-up if you’re browsing the site for X amount of minutes, something pops up and tells you “The gamble stops when gaming is no longer fun.” Something that just shows or pops up to you. Having card limits on amounts you can deposit. We even have a proper KYC verification method, to ensure that the person that is even registering is even 18 years old in the first place. So it’s just basic things like that that can help sensitize people about it. It is beyond saying or putting ‘Above 18’ stickers in shops. You can just stroll

to Mushin, enter any betting shop, and you will be amazed.

Are you not concerned that operators might not keep to some laws of responsible gambling to make huge profits?

They would have no choice… so the idea is, ignorance is not an excuse for the law. For example, we know that when a customer wins, you need to pay the person his money completely, right? And you, for one, don’t have money, you pay someone 30 per cent of their money. In that same vein, if the NLRC or the regulators, as the case may be, mandates every operator to be Gamble Alert compliant or to be responsible gaming compliant, now, there is going to be a department that checks compliance, every company or operator should have a compliance department. Either it is under operations, or it is under legal. There is a legal compliance section that ensures that there is a step.

Professional or regular audits can be done to check and confirm whether the laid down process of Gamble Alert or any responsible gaming association is followed. Just the same way NDPR’s data protection audit is done every year to check whether you’re protecting your customers’ data. It can also be done with the way you file your FIRS tax. We can also check whether the customers click the self-exclusion button, is it working after they have clicked the self-exclusion or are they still able to access the site?

Recently, it was in the news that from 2026 to 2027, sports betting companies will be banned as shirt sponsors.

We are not a shirt sponsor. We are just official betting partners, okay? So there’s a difference. They might allow the sleeve; they might allow the advert board. PariMatch is an official partner for Chelsea, but we are nowhere near the jersey of Chelsea. But they are in every official communication. Maybe Matchday magazine, or Matchday squad, or the advert board on the stadium.

Is there a chance of PMI partnering Nigerian football clubs?

If Nigerian football clubs, the Nigerian Football Federation probably does its homework and ensures that the essence of partnership with football clubs is that there is a proper viewing, right? I don’t think that there is proper viewing for the Nigerian football leagues. Nothing is cast in stone.

take another giant step towards a historic treble. In the French Ligue

1, Marseille and Lens have likely to routinely pick up the three points at Ajaccio and Auxerre, respectively. Champions Paris Saint Germain are expected to easily beat Clermont at home to celebrate a record 11th League title at the Parc des Princes.

Celtic has been tipped to

SUN

easily beat Inverness to the Scottish Cup title, while RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt will face off in the German Cup final. Leipzig are the favourites going into this encounter and are likely to win if there are no

surprises. Still on cup finals, Porto are tipped to beat Braga to the Portuguese Cup title. Barcelona and Real Madrid are likely to sign off their season by beating Celta Vigo and Athletic Club, respectively.

ADVISORY: +18 PERSONS UNDER 18 MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN BETTING, GAMING OR LOTTERY ACTIVITY

Oyindamola Michaels, Country Manager of PariMatch International, is well respected among his peers. GAMING WEEK recently set out to uncover what makes him tick

Michaels

“Regulators are a big challenge, because, what is your job as a regulator? It is to ensure that laws, processes and procedures as laid down in the Constitution, or your policies, are followed to the letter. You are a regulator not just for the operators, you are a regulator for both the operators and the users. But what are we regulating?”

PERSPECTIVE

President Tinubu and the Choice of NSA

Kabir Shittu

It’s no longer news that security is an issue in Nigeria. There have been several disheartening news reports in both local and foreign media of kidnappings, killings, and various insecurity issues which have destroyed the socio-economic fortunes of the country.

To stay safe and secure in Nigeria, one must be very sensitive and security conscious in order not to be a victim of bad happenings. This, of course, has been of growing interest in the understanding of the concept of national security and the role of the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Nigerian context.

This is why the new Sheriff in town, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will have to make an informed choice on who gets to the very sensitive seat of NSA. Mr President will have to look into what constitutes National Security. What is the role of the NSA? What should be the appropriate background and credentials of a competent man or woman that would discharge the functions of that office creditably and in the most effective and patriotic manner? What are the best examples we can draw from?

For example, the National Security Adviser (formally called Assistant to President on National Security Affairs) in the United States of America, whose presidential system the Nigerian presidential system is modelled after, coordinates defence, foreign affairs, international economic policy, and intelligence. This job description reflects the recognition that national security extends beyond military security and encompasses foreign affairs, international economic policy, diplomacy and increasingly technological policy. it also suggests that the occupier of that office is versed in a practical approach to creating, enhancing and sustaining peace in the land.

In the U.S. the appointment of persons with military background has been the exception rather than the rule: the military persons that have occupied the NSA position were General Collin Powell under President Ronald Reagan, Brent Scowcroft under President Gerald Ford and later President Bush’s senior, and James Jones, who served for a year in the first term of President Barack Obama.

But in recent times, appointees to the NSA position in the U.S. have been very distinguished academics and diplomats (George McBundy under President Kennedy, Walter Rostow under President Johnson, Kissinger under President Nixon, Brzezinski under President Carter, Condoleezza Rice under President Bush junior, and now Susan Rice in the second term of President Obama). For a start, McGeorge Bundy, who had a very distinguished career as an American Foreign Policy academic and served as National Security Adviser under President John F. Kennedy, was a Professor of Government and the youngest Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 1953 at Harvard University. Also, Rostow who served as National Security Adviser under Lyndon Johnsons had served as a professor and distinguished academics at Cambridge University as the Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions and Economic History at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His earth-shaking book, “The Stages of Economic Growth” which he published in 1960, has been quite contentious. The same background goes for Henry Kissinger who was NSA under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. An American Diplomat and Political Scientist of note, he was a Professor of Government and Foreign Relations at Harvard, where he took his Ph.D., when he was appointed to Nixon’s administration as NSA.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, a distinguished academic who was NSA under President Jimmy Carter, set a national standard and made a great impact on US National security policy direction. Condoleezza Rice, who was NSA under Bush Junior, is a Professor of Political science and a Diplomat. After her service, she has since returned to Stanford University as a political science professor and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. Since 2010, she has been a faculty member at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy.

In Nigeria, the position of NSA has almost become the exclusive preserve of ex-military officers, with one former military officer having held the position three times. Appointing ex-military officers is thus the rule rather than the exception. Whereas experience is good, it is the mentality that goes with deploying that experience that matters. Experience can also be dormant.

Various arguments have been adduced for continuing to appoint persons of military background as NSA; one is that they are better at forestalling insurgencies, they have a better sense of military, and they potentially offer better advice on national security. Conversely, this could as well be statements hosted

on poles of fallacy.

It is hard to say or know how impressive the record of the successive NSAs with a military background has been in forestalling threats to national security or insurgencies like Boko Haram. But if NSAs are appointed to forestall military restiveness, it would be a sign that the fate of Nigeria’s democracy is in the hands of soldiers and not the electorate. That is a scary thought and evidence that our democracy is not maturing.

But on the central issue of maintaining national security, defined narrowly and incorrectly as military security, the performance of NSAs with military backgrounds has been less than spectacular at best and most dismal at worst. The National security Adviser must advise the president on the proper instrument(s) to address a given crisis or problem. Not all crises are amenable to the use of military force. The militancy in Niger Delta was handled with brute force even though the agitation cried out for economic and environmental solutions. The Amnesty program implemented by a civilian president (late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua) without military background saved the reputation of the military. The insurgency of Boko Haram has hardly abated, even though one of the former NSAs with military background boasted that the Boko

Haram insurgency will end within months of his appointment. That NSA has come and gone and Boko Haram atrocities and other violent crimes have intensified.

The definition of national security promoted by our successive NSAs has been so military-centred that the international, economic, technological and foreign affairs dimensions have been lacking. It is hoped that the new president who is perceived to be better prepared for the job will move Nigeria closer to the U.S. model of a broader definition of national security and staff the position of NSA accordingly.

With no shred of doubt, no country that wants to succeed or be taken seriously persists in flawed experiments in nation-building especially on the issue of national security; therefore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will have to decisively address the nation’s current insecurity woes by putting in place a rounded and patriotic individual without necessarily having a military background, but someone who is exposed, someone who possesses requisite expertise in statecraft, public policy, internal security, diplomacy and law enforcement.

After all, Nigeria’s political and economic survival will continue to be a mirage if the issue of national security is not properly handled •Kabir, a security consultant, wrote from Kano City, Kano State

Tinubu

LAUNCH OF FIDUCIA...

No More Sit-at-Home in Enugu, Mbah Declares

Appeals to Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

The governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has declared an end to sit-at-home in the state effective from Monday, June 5, 2023, saying such orders were restricting creativity, entrepreneurship, and productivity in the state.

He, however, expressed government’s readiness, “to engage in dialogue with people, who have genuine grievances towards bringing lasting peace and security to Enugu State”.

Mbah, who stated this in a statement yesterday, also called on President Bola Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to quicken the much-needed healing process

in Nigeria. Mbah, made the declaration while listing out the decisions reached at the end of his first security council meeting with the heads of all the security agencies at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday. At the meeting, which also had the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai in attendance, the governor reminded the people of Enugu that he had hit the ground running on the day of his inauguration by signing three Executive Orders for the good governance of the state, including Executive Order 002

for the removal of “Unauthorised Street Barriers Across the State Within 100 Days.”

“There is no time to waste. The clock has started ticking on the mandate you gave me and deliverables I promised,” he reiterated.

“A time comes in the lives of a people when they must decide whether they genuinely want to move forward or remain stuck with the conditions of their underdevelopment.

“The creativity and sense of industry of Ndi Igbo are remarkable. Our DNA is wired with commercial and

entrepreneurial prowess.

“If this is what we are known by, then it becomes inconsistent with reality that the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity are killed every Monday in our land. Our restless spirit of industry abhors laxity and indolence.

“The idea behind sitting at home on Monday, the first working and business day of the week, is abominable and antithetical to greatness and the spirit of industry we profess to have inherited from our forebears. This cannot be us. Tufiakwa (God forbid). It

House Rescinds Decision, Okays Disbursement of $700m Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund

Receives COVID-19 report, passes other bills

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives has backed the planned disbursement of $700 million Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund to individuals and companies.

The lawmakers had on May 3rd, while adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Henry Nwawuba, directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to immediately stop the planned disbursement.

Nwawuba, had expressed concern that since the establishment of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund, there have been no reliable data as to the total amount that has so far accrued to the Fund and thus, there is no certainty as to the actual worth of the fund at the moment.

The House thereafter directed its Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring to interface with Minister of Transportation and the Director-General, NIMASA on how the funds have been applied over the years.

Presenting the Committee's findings at plenary, yesterday, its Chairman, Hon. Legor Idagbo, said its investigation indicated that due process was followed.

He said they discovered that the total funds of $360 million in the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) account with the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) represents 50 per cent, while the remaining counterpart funds of 50 per cent was from stakeholders and banks which was 15 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.

He therefore said NIMASA should go ahead with the disbursement in compliance with the extant laws and laid down guidelines for the said disbursement.

The Committee applauded NNPCL for its commitment to awarding the shipping contracts to indigenous companies that have built capacity to the level where they can successfully execute these contracts.

He said, "The Committee requested the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Ministry of Transportation to provide detailed information on the total amount accrued to the Fund and disbursements since inception. “The Committee met with the Minister of Transportation and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ({NIMASA) on Thursday, 11 May, 2023 to find out about the details concerning the matter.

“After a thorough analysis of the various submissions on the matter coupled with the explanations given by the Ministry and NIMASA, the Committee discovered that

due process was followed in the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19, yesterday at plenary laid its report.The committee chaired by Hon. Haruna Mshelia, which was set up by the green chamber to oversee the activities of the federal government against COVID-19, laid its report on the pandemic three years after the panel was set up for the task.

The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, had on March 19, 2020, inaugurated the committee, with a mandate to coordinate the activities of the House on the disease.

Gbajabiamila, while inaugurating the House committee, had said the panel was set up as part of the resolve by the parliament to constantly work for the best interests of the Nigerians.

The Speaker said, “The 18-man committee we have come to inaugurate reflects the intention of the House of Representatives to engage the executive arm of government in a partnership that serves the best interests of the Nigerian people, as we join hands to confront and conquer the most severe challenge of our lives.”

Also, the House yesterday, passed some bills for third reading. They included: A Bill

for an Act to Repeal the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, Cap. R7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Bill to Grant the Commission Enforcement Powers in the Monitoring of Accruals to and Disbursement of Revenue from the Federation Account and to bring the Act in conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and for Related Matters.’

When the bill becomes law, RMAFC would be empowered to prosecute illegal salaries and allowances in ministries, departments and agencies of the federal and state governments as well as the arms of the governments, including the National Assembly.

The House passed the bill in concurrence with the Senate which earlier passed it.

Another bill passed was: A Bill for an Act to Establish the Real Estate Regulatory Agency of the Federal Capital Territory to Provide Globally Acceptable Standard of Service and Transparent Administration of the Business of Real Estate Development, and Prescribed Minimum Standards for the Conduct of the Business of Real Estate Development in the Federal Capital Territory and for Related Matters.

does colossal damage to us,” he further added.

Mbah reminded the people of the direct connection between his lofty promises he made to them and the vibrancy of commerce in the state.

“For us to transit from a public service economy to a private sector-driven one, we must free our markets from the shackles of restriction to commerce.

“If indeed we aspire and anticipate an influx of private sector practitioners and investors in Enugu State, we must know that this will not happen where the perception of us is that of unproductive people.

“Therefore, those that strike on Mondays, putting restrictions in the way of our Igbo spirit of creativity, cannot be our true representatives. In fact, they kill our spirit.

“We know that our land is a fertile ground for commerce. However, businesses, entrepreneurship and commerce require a vibrant workforce and big markets where they can flourish and make money.

“To this end, therefore, from

Monday, June 5, 2023, there will be no observance of any sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State.

“Government will enforce this with all the powers at its disposal. My charge to all of you – market men and women, the corporate world, industries, schools, civil servants, and all strata of workers in Enugu State is for us to take back our sense of industry, pride of place and re-enact our glorious past.

“By heeding this call, you would have set us on the path of actualising our mandate,” he stated.

Mbah, however, said the release of Kanu was important to the healing of the country.

“I call on our newly sworn in president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to consciously work towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We believe that his release will expedite the healing process Nigeria needs at this time.

“It will also be a pointer to his administration’s extension of brotherly hands of fellowship to Ndigbo,” he concluded.

China Calls for Action on Health, Wellbeing of Orphans

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The wife of Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Liang Huili, has called for an action on the health and wellbeing of orphans across Nigeria and world over.

Huili, made the call during her visit to an orphanage home, Victorine Home for Children on Thursday in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme, 'Warm Children's Hearts, a China-Africa joint action,' the Ambassador's wife said China was ready to work with Africa, including Nigeria to help improve the well-being of orphans and build a stronger China-Africa relationship.

She said: “On behalf Chinese government, I want to donate love packages to the beloved children, as a symbol of our efforts to keep the fire of love burning.

"I hope this could convey warmth and care to the children and help them grow up healthily and live a happy life.

"China is ready to work with our Nigerian friends to encourage all parties to take

actions to improve the health and well-beings of African orphans and contribute more to build the China-Africa community with a shared future.

"We hope that children can get more help and they can grow and secure the future of the country. We took time to select what the children need for their studies because it can change the fate of the children. They need more love and we hope for a bright future. China and Nigeria have a lot of collaboration and we hope to continue with our friendship."

The Matron of the Orphanage Home, Jovita Nzeduru, expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy, adding that it takes a lot for the orphanage home to keep catering for the needs of the children.

Nzeduru said, "We thank the Chinese Embassy for this. There are 25 children in his Home. We have been catering for the wellbeing of the children.

"However, the funds has been major challenge because we send them to school. We feed and clothe them as well."

L-R: MD/CEO Access Bank Plc.,Roosevelt Ogbonna; MD/CEO Fiducia, Imohimi Aig-Imoukhuede; Chairperson Fiducia Board of Directors, Ms. Bunmi Lawson; Chairman, Coronation Group, Aigboje AigImoukhuede; Fiducia Board of Director, Segun Ogbonnewo; and CEO, Trium Limited, Adebayo Adewolu at the launch of Fiducia, held in Lagos,… yesterday

7TH ICC AFRICA CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION...

L-R: Secretary-general, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), John Denton; Chairman, ICC Nigeria, Commision on Arbitration and ADR, Dorothy (SAN); Chairman, Heirs

President, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Claudia Salomon; Group Chief Executive officer, Nigeria Exchange Group, Oscar Onyema; Director, International Court

and Chairman, ICC Nigeria,

Atiku's Witnesses: Why We Signed Disputed Results Sheets

Obi tenders documents from six states to prove petition against Tinubu

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Some witnesses for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in his petition against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have explained why they signed results of the February 25 presidential election despite contesting the figure declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The witnesses in their evidence before the Presidential Election Petition Court ( PREPEC) yesterday, disclosed that they had to signed the results even though they didn't agree with it just to get a copy of the results for the party.

The first witness to give his evidence against the alleged malpractices during the presidential poll, Captain Joe Agada (rtd), a State Collation Officer in Kogi State, told the presidential court that INEC insisted that they would not be given a copy of the results unless

they put their signature on it.

Agada in his witness statement he adopted before the court alleged that the presidential election in over 20 polling units he visited in parts of Kogi State was marred by irregularities such as BVAS, ballot papers and result sheets manipulation.

He said after observing the malpractices, most of the PDP agents in the state refused to signed the results because it did not tally with what happened at the various polling units.

While admitting that he did not sign results sheets in 2019 over similar alleged malpractices, he said this time around, "I was forced to sign which I protested because without signing I was going to be denied a copy to my party."

Under cross examination by INEC'S lawyer, Abdullahi Aliyu, the witness claimed to have voted at Ogugu in Olamaboro but that he was allowed to move round to monitor the election because of the

Kukah Urges Tinubu to Run All-inclusive Government

Says Nigerians still angry with electoral process

Nume Ekeghe, Adedayo Akinwale and Kingsley Nwezeh

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, has called on President Bola Tinubu to put together a cabinet that would be all-inclusive, saying some Nigerian were still hurting from the outcome of the 2023 general election.

He said this yesterday, during an interview on ARISE News Channel’s ‘Prime Time.’

The cleric said: “The challenge for us in Nigeria now is to be calm and know that God is on the throne. I am pleased with the body language of some the principal actors today, speaking about my friend Peter Obi, Atiku and other contestants. And I think that their body language suggests that the ball is now in the court of those now sworn in as president and vice president.”

He added that in awaiting the Supreme Court's final decision there should be an acknowledgment of the degree of injury that Nigerians have suffered.

He added: “Nigerians are very angry; a lot of people are really genuinely angry and they have the right to be angry. The processes didn't go well. We

ought not to be where we are. I served as a member of the Electoral Reform Committee, and had the government taken seriously the recommendations we made, we wouldn't have been where we are. But you know, like Nigerian politicians like the dark spots, where you can operate on their cover.

“They want the opportunities to do the wrong things. So, they refuse to take the recommendation that we made, which was eloquent that let us conclude all of this processing before you swear anybody in.”

He pointed out that someone sworn-in as president was always at an advantage because of access to state resources, saying the supreme court decisions should have happened before the inauguration.

He said: “We know anyway, every Nigerian knows that once you are sworn in, the resources of state are available to you. But notwithstanding that we shouldn't be ahead of ourselves, I just think that President Bola Tinubu has seen it all, he probably and I believe he understands that he must move away from the mistakes that his predecessor made, namely, to treat this country as if it was a country between the defeated and the conquered.

Special Election Duty Tag provided him by INEC. Also under cross examination by Chief Akin Olujimi, counsel to Tinubu, the witness admitted that he did not put his grievances against the election in his witness statement.

Responding to APC's lawyer, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, Agada admitted basing his report on the information supplied him by other agents of the party as well as his observations, adding that he spent between three to five minutes in most of the polling units he visited.

Similarly, the second witness, one Dr. Solarin Adekunle, also a Collation Officer from Ogun State corroborated Agada's position but unlike Agada, told the PREPEC that he refused to sign the collated results in protest against the alleged electoral malpractices.

According to him, the elections results were inflated in favour of President Tinubu and the APC in most of the units he visited including the ones where their agents supervised.

The third witness, from Abia State, Mr. Uzoma Abonta told the court that the election ought to be nullified on account of so many irregularities, discrepancies and non-compliance with rules.

Abonta said that because INEC failed to electronically transmit elections results, what was declared did not reflect the genuine wish of the people of Abia State.

According to him, what INEC declared was quite different from the results in their own possession.

Earlier, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and his party tendered

documents from six states of the federation to prove their petitions against the election of Tinubu.

The petitioners at the resumed hearing yesterday, disclosed that they were challenging the election results in only 18 states of the federation.

The affected states are: Ribers, Benue, Cross River, Niger, Osun, and Ekiti.

Obi and LP had anchored their petitions on grounds amongst others that INEC violated its own regulations and guidelines in addition to manipulating the process in favour of Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The documents mainly Forms EC8A, which are election results from polling units were admitted and marked accordingly as exhibits by the Justice Haruna Tsammani five member panel of the Presidential

Election Petition Court ( PREPEC).

For Rivers State, the petitioners tendered EC8As from 15 LGAs instead of the initial 21 LGAs that was listed, while the results sheets from polling units in 23 LGAs was tendered from Benue State.

In Cross River State 18 EC8A results were also admitted and marked as Exhibits, while 23 in Niger State, 20 in Osun and 16 in Ekiti Local Government Areas, were also admitted in evidence.

Interestingly, INEC which issued the documents and certified them as genuine, joined other respondents to object to the admissibility of the said documents.

The other respondents are President Tinubu, his Vice, Kashim Shettima and the APC. Meanwhile, hearing continues today.

House Asks Tinubu to Declare State of Emergency on Drug Abuse

Says failure to curb menace will destroy Nigeria US assures NDLEA of more support, collaboration on fight against illicit drugs

Michael Olugbode and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse in the country.

The request by the lawmakers came just as the United States government has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of more support and collaboration in order to enhance its capabilities to fight substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The lawmakers urged the federal government to develop preventive strategies such as creating a general as well as a demographically-targeted enlightening campaign against drug abuse and its consequences and to direct the National Orientation Agency to device enlightenment campaign programme against drug abuse in the country.

They further urged the federal government to increase the budgetary allocation to the NDLEA and ensure that the agency gets its funding directly from the presidency as was the case when it was set up in 1989.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Francis Agbo at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Agbo noted that there was an organic correlation between the level of narcotic drug abuse and the frequency and severity of crimes in every society, including Nigeria.

He also noted that it was not surprising that those arrested for various crimes were drugs addicts and traffickers.

He lamented that illicit drug addiction had deeply permeated the Nigerian society so much so that young people of 15 years old and below were now heavy narcotic drugs.

He added: "Regrets that the upsurge in illicit drug abuse has created an underground economy where crimes flourish as opportunity criminals now battle for turf and proceeds while at the same time, exploiting and corrupting the legitimate business environment of the country.

“This is antithetical to the corporate image of Nigeria as no country wants its economy to be influenced by the drug barons.

"So far, governments at all levels, and particularly the federal government has continued to pay lip service to the war against illicit drug abuse as NDLEA, the agency statutorily set up to wage war against the narcotic industry

remains underfunded, understaffed and ill-equipped.

“It is against this background, that the NDLEA remains a toothless bulldog! The implication of this is that, while narcotic drug abuse progresses at a geometric progression, the war against it progresses at an arithmetic progression."

He expressed concerns that the tragic phenomenon now affects all strata and demographic groups of our Nigeria society, hence the need for governments at all levels and the family unit work closely to combat this menace.

He warned that failure to destroy narcotic drug addiction as a country, it will destroy Nigeria.

Adopting the motion, the House directed all relevant federal government health institutions to develop new and improved treatments to help people with substance abuse disorders recover and achieve a normal life.

They also resolved to prevail on the federal government to establish functional rehabilitation centers which would have the financial and bureaucratic status of specialist hospitals with psychiatrists, psychologist, toxicologists, professional councilors and other experts to manage the hospitals.

The lawmakers would hold their valedictory session on Tuesday June 6, 2023.

Meanwhile, the US has assured the NDLEA of more support and collaboration in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The assurance was given by Dr. Mark Hove of the Africa and Middle East Office, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US State Department, on Wednesday when he led another top official of the Bureau, Craig Nixon on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

This comes on the heels of a recent official letter by the Bureau announcing the US project grant to the NDLEA following requests by Marwa, during series of meetings both in Abuja and in Washington DC.

The letter had noted that the grant which would be implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, covers forensic and chemical analysis capacity of the agency, intelligenceled investigations through diverse resources as well as legal books and an e-library for prosecution and other legal needs of the agency.

Holding, Tony Elumelu;

of Arbitration, ICC Court, Diamana Diawara;

Babatunde Savage at the 7th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration in Lagos...yesterday

SUNDAY ADIGUN

UNVEILING NBC’S GREEN AREA INITIATIVE...

Tinubu, Lawan, Gbajabiamila Brainstorm over 10th National Assembly Leadership

President

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

meets with Abbas, Kalu, Bawa Choice of leaders should be in national interest, says Lawan

The choice of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly formed the crux of discussions yesterday between President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila at the State House, Abuja.

On the same day, the President held another meeting with Tajudeen Abbas and Ben Kalu, both anointed candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the speakership and deputy speakership positions respectively, of the 10th House of Representatives.

President Tinubu also met with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, for the second time in 24 hours.

Speaking with newsmen after the closed-door meeting, the Senate President stated that he gave his opinion to the President on how the leadership of the 10th Assembly should emerge.

He said he had never indicated interest to contest for the post of the senate president, saying national interest and the interest of the legislature should be the guiding principles in selection of its leaders.

"What will inform the emergence will be the national interest, interest of the National Assembly, the legislature

together and therefore everybody matters in this process.

"We also believe that Mr. President, having been a senator himself and his vice president also having been a senator, this is something that they will always wish and pray for,” he said.

According to him, "As the chairman of the 9th National Assembly, I find it dutiful and necessary to work with all the major stakeholders especially the leadership of our country, Mr president particularly to give my necessary opinion and advise on how the new leadership of the National Assembly should emerge and what we need to do to ensure stability, productivity of the National Assembly and to ensure peaceful atmosphere between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

"We are getting somewhere and my prayer is we are able to resolve all the outstanding issues by the grace of God. And Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly."

Lawan explained that at no time did he signify intention to contest for Senate Presidency in the 10th Senate, saying: "On a more serious note, I have never indicated interest to run for the office of the president of the senate in the 10th National Assembly. We have worked together with distinguished senators of the

NLC Mourns Late AIT/ Raypower Founder, Dokpesi

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has expressed sympathy over the the sudden demise of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, owner of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower radio station.

In a condolence message by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the Labour movement described Dokpesi as "an affable gentleman, a creative risk taker and an African cultural ambassador was a good friend of organised labour."

Labour, however, joined friends, family and associates of Dokpesi in mourning his sudden demise, describing him as a shrewd business man, media tycoon and cerebral politician.

"He is as an affable gentleman, a creative risk taker and an African cultural ambassador was a good friend of organised labour. In the course of our turbulent relationship

with the Nigerian state, when it was taboo for any of its media organisations to report Labour positively and fairly.

“He gave free reign to AIT and Raypower to report Labour freely and fairly. Until much later when other private electronic media entities came on board, we almost entirely relied on AIT and Raypower to be heard. Chief Dokpesi similarly gave generous discounts to organised labour during live coverages of May Day ceremonies and other important activities.

"Even after stepping down from playing an active role in running AIT and Raypower, we relied on his goodwill to exact concessions. We have lost a friend and a fighter for whom there were no limits. As Nigerians continue to reel from the shock of Dokpesi's death, our hearts are with the family," he said.

9th national assembly and members of House of Representatives to create a very clement environment for us to work.

Also speaking with reporters after their meeting, Abbas expressed confidence that come June 13, he would emerge the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Kalu would be his deputy.

"My name is Hon. Tajjudeen Abbas from the National Assembly. And with me is my colleague, who, by the grace of God, come June 13, 2023 would be the next speaker

insha Allah and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Reps of the National Assembly."

He dispelled the rumour that the 10th assembly would be a rubber stamp, saying nobody can manipulate the 360 members to make them do what would not be of national interest, adding that the independence of the legislature would not be compromised under their leadership.

"Nobody, speaker or senate president, deputy speaker or deputy senate president, nobody can manipulate the 360 members

of the House of Reps to make them do what is not in the best interest of the public.

"And we have shown from our conduct in the ninth assembly, that for the very first time, even with the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature, we had cause for the very first time to summon Mr. President, to come to the National Assembly to address some issues of security as at that time,” he said.

Kalu, on his part, said, "What we're bringing on board is parliamentary

sovereignty. Sovereignty that will ensure that the borders of the mandate of the various arms of government will be respected.

"But also recognising that interdependence is key towards achieving any national objective. We're going to ensure that though we are three arms of government, that we understand that we are one government. So, the national objective of the executive, if it is what the people want, will remain the national objective of the legislature.”

Angola Cuts Fuel Subsidy, Following Nigeria in Boosting Pump Prices

To retain subsidies for taxi drivers, farmers, fishermen

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Angola has reduced its gasoline subsidy, almost doubling pump prices in a nation that has some of the world’s cheapest fuel, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

The decision comes the same week that Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, scrapped its own subsidy, causing pump prices to triple. Like Angola, Nigeria is seeking to rein in expenditure as its economy languishes.

On Monday during his inauguration, President Bola Tinubu announced that fuel subsidy was ‘gone', promising to re-channel the savings to education, health, infrastructure, among others.

The response has been largely

chaotic, with motorists spending hours in fuel queues and prices rocketing from between N488 to N557 from the former price of between N185 to about N200.

Bloomberg reported that the yield on Angola’s 2028 Eurobonds fell 16 basis points to 11.2 per cent, the lowest in nearly two months, after the announcement. Securities due in 2032 also strengthened, with the yield down 22 basis points to 11.6 per cent.

The subsidy will be reduced from Friday, meaning the gasoline price will rise to 300 kwanza ($0.51) per litre from 160 kwanza, Economic Coordination Minister, Manuel Nunes Junior, said after a cabinet meeting Thursday in the capital, Luanda.

But that’s still less than the open

market price of 533 kwanza, with the difference being met by the government. Subsidies for other fuels, including gasoil, a type of diesel, will remain in place for now, the minister said.

Africa’s second-biggest crude oil producer imports most of its fuel due to a lack of refining capacity and spent 1.9 trillion kwanza ($3.5 billion) last year on the support, according to the government.

Higher transport costs would make life harder for commuters in a country where the World Bank estimates more than half the population of 33 million live on less than $2 a day.

To mitigate that risk, Nunes Junior said the government will retain petrol subsidies for taxi drivers, farmers

and fishermen.

“The removal of these subsidies will result in important savings, not only for public finances but also for the survival of our state-owned oil company Sonangol,” said Nunes Junior.

“The money the government saves will be used to fund education, health projects, housing and employment” he added.

Fitch Ratings said in a briefing note in January that the planned gradual removal of subsidies will “increase domestic pump prices and weigh on household purchasing power, likely triggering protests.” It identified that as the main political risk to Angola this year.

EFCC Quizzes, Detains Fayemi over Alleged Looting of N4bn

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, quizzed former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, over alleged diversion of N4 billion while he served as the state chief executive.

Competent sources told THISDAY that Fayemi was facing interrogation by a team of investigators from the anti-graft agency.

The anti-graft agency, THISDAY gathered, had in a letter dated May 12, invited the former governor to appear in its Ilorin zonal office on May 18 over allegations bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public fund.

Sources close to the anti-graft agency said the ex-governor had earlier sent apologies when invited to appear before the commission until yesterday when he showed up at the Ilorin Zonal office of the EFCC, at about 10am yesterday.

"The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Fayemi, is currently being quizzed by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

"The ex-governor arrived the Ilorin zonal command of the commission at about 10am today, June 1, 2023 and is being quizzed by a team of investigators on allegations of misappropriation of funds during his tenure to the tune of about N4billion," the source said.

Fayemi was governor of Ekiti from 2018 to 2022 and handed over to the

incumbent, Biodun Oyebanji in June 2022.

However, a senior officer of the EFCC, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the drilling of Fayemi, saying, "As you are talking to me now, ex governor Fayemi is still at our office answering some questions on the alleged N4billion fraud".

THISDAY gathered that the former Ekiti governor was detained by the Commission and was not allowed to go home.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the EFCC Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has received an award of distinction and quality service from SERVICOM.

National Coordinator/Chief Executive of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli, who presented the award at a one-day stakeholders forum for directors of

reforms, nodal officers, public relations officers and civil society organisations aimed at sustaining service delivery enlightenment campaigns on the damaging effects of service failures, commended the the EFCC for raising the bar in strengthening the service delivery campaign.

She said the award was given in recognition of the chairman's dedication and support in achieving SERVICOM's vision and mission. The SERVICOM boss, advocated policies to be implemented to ensure ordinary Nigerians feel the impact of good governance and citizens were better served while engaging participants on the need for synergy in realising the dream of good governance at the forum.

L-R: Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Council, Alh Isa Shuibu; Incoming Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., Mr. Goran Sladic; Executive Director, NBC, Alh. Ahmed Mantey; former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammadu Musa Bello; Managing Director, NBC, Mr. Matthieu Seguin; and Chief of Staff to former FCT Minister, Mallam Bashir Mai-Bornu, at the unveiling of NBC’s Green Area initiative aimed at promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness, held in Abuja recently.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING AT ENUGU...

L-R: Asst. Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Ocholi Opoluwa; Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Enugu, Halliday Azuka; Commandant, NSCDC, Enugu, Muhammed Dada Saleh; Enugu Garrison Commandant, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Murtala Abu; Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai: Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; Commissioner of Police, Enugu, Ahmed Ammani; Base Commander, Nigerian Air Force, Enugu, Air Commodore Chidi Obiabaka; State Director, DSS, Enugu, Aminu Hena; and the Controller of Nigerian Correctional Services, Obiako Nicholas after a security council meeting at the Government House Enugu, Thursday.

Senate Presidency: Osoba, Yakassai, Ex-Senators Beg Yari, Kalu, Others to Respect Party’s Supremacy

Akpabio’s team denies report Tinubu has withdrawn support

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

A former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, and some non-serving senators from the Second to the Fourth Republics, yesterday, called on Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor Abdul’Aziz Yari and other aspirants for the position of Senate President in the 10th National Assembly to respect party’s supremacy and withdraw from the race. This was as the the campaign office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate for the position of the 10th Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied reports that President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn his support from the former Akwa Ibom

State governor. However, the senior party men made the call at an enlarged meeting of the APC non-serving senators attended by critical stakeholders which also included Ambassador Godknows Igali and Archbishop John Praise, among others, in Abuja.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Working Committee of the APC had zoned the position to the South-south and specifically endorsed Senator Godswill Akpabio as its candidate with Senator Barau Jibrin as his deputy. But Kalu, Yari, Senator Osita Izunaso and others had objected to the action of the APC leadership and vowed to contest against Akpabio/Jibrin ticket on inauguration day.

Kogi 2023: IBB Pledges Support for Dino Melaye

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi

Babangida has reportedly pledged support for the governorship aspiration of Senator Dino Melaye and his running mate, Hajia Habeebat Deen.

Babangida was said to have made the pledge in his Minna, Niger State, country home yesterday, when Melaye and his deputy paid him a courtesy visit.

According to Melaye, who spoke with some newsmen after the visit, "The delegation got the blessings from General Babangida, we got his prayers, we got his best wishes and by the grace of God, we look forward to his goodwill and support to furthering the actualisation of our vision and dream. By the grace of God, PDP will make the day"

According to him, the former

military president "gave us his blessings, his goodwill well wishes," adding that, "I am his son. He will by the grace of God help our party to take over the ruins in Kogi State," describing Babangida "as a living legend."

On the demise of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the governorship hopeful declared:

"For us, it is a very sad thing that Chief Dokpesi left this sinful world. It is a very painful death. He was not only an icon, he was a true patriot, a true Nigerian who played his part in the sand of times

"We are going to miss him. The PDP family will miss him, He is a very intellectual and mobile Nigerian. He is a very sound politician and particularly, he played a very pivotal role in the last election.”

Melaiye deceased the deceased as "a workaholic" before praying for the repose of his soul.

Speaking at at the occasion, the Convener, Senator Basheer Lado, called on the aspirants in opposition to the party’s choice against repeating the mistakes of the past, and pleaded with them to withdraw their bids in the interest of peace, party cohesion and the smooth takeoff of Tinubu’s administration.

Osoba and Yakasai, among others also called on the group to reach out to senators-elect, who were against the position of the party, to respect the APC’s constitution and support Akpabio and Jibrin.

Osoba specifically, urged the APC Non-Serving Senators to lobby other aspirants to ensure that the zoning of the position stood.

“I want to appeal to you on two issues. Let us all organise a serious lobby system by convening a meeting of all aspirants for the position of Senate President in the 10th Senate to make them see reason why they should toe the line of the party.

“The party has decided on

zoning and has zoned the positions. We cannot afford to start this government on another crises. The fuel subsidy removal crisis is already there.

“Let us go back to our states and lobby our senators-elect to support the choice of the party. With this, I believe we shall achieve our goal without any hitch.”

Former Senate President, Ameh Ebute, also called on all APC Senators-elect to respect the supremacy of the party as enshrined in its constitution. Ebute said, “The party is supreme. No member should oppose the constitution of the party and position of its leadership. We should abide by the constitution of the party and the zoning of National Assembly leadership positions by the party.”

Elder statesman, Yakasai said he had no doubts that Akpabio was qualified to hold the position of Senate President because of his pedigree.

Yakasai said, “The time of paucity of qualified Nigerians

is over many years ago. This is the reason for my difficulties in the task giving a talk in a gathering like this. What made my task somewhat easier is the fact that we know the personality we are all talking about.

“The person is no other than one of the few among the multitudes of people we know who is privileged to occupy three important positions many of our compatriots will wish to occupy any time such an opportunity presents itself to them."

Meanwhile, Akpabio’s campaign office, in a statement, described reports that Tinubu had withdrawn support for their principal as false.

"Ordinarily, we wouldn't have bothered to dignify the sponsored false publication with a response since the purported withdrawal of support exists only in the minds of its purveyors and sponsors, but because of the negative effect it might create in the minds of our teeming

supporters, it is therefore imperative that we offer this response.

"The purported withdrawal of support from Mr President is a big fat lie baked in the oven of those who are yet to come to terms that the Akpabio/ Jibrin Barau ticket for the leadership of the 10th has come to stay and served on those who are scared of coming to terms with the reality on ground, hence they resort to cheap blackmail, name calling, outright lies and falsehood.

"The support and endorsement of Mr President and the party leadership for our candidate has not been withdrawn nor being contemplated as erroneously stated in the sponsored article.

"The sponsors and backers of the story through out their wild goose chase labored profusely to paint the party's preferred senate leadership in bad light with no concrete evidence to prove their corruption allegation.”

Tinubu Congratulates Abdulrazaq, Uzodinma on Election as Governors' Group Leaders

Charges them to promote nation's unity, peace, socio-economic devt

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State and Hope Uzodinma of Imo states, who recently emerged leaders of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

The president's felicitation, contained in a release yesterday from the State House by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said, "I congratulate the Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on his emergence as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), and the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Hope Uzodinma, on his election as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

"In the same vein, I also congratulate His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, and his Kaduna State counterpart, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, on their elections as deputy chairmen for the two respective

forums.

"Being called upon by their peers to lead them is a testament to the trust and confidence reposed in them by the governors," the president added, even as he tasked them to use their tenures to advance the peace, unity and socioeconomic development of the country and join hands with his administration to engender the Renewed Hope agenda.

"As chief executives of states, governors are critical to the overall success of our administration and the desire

for a Nigeria that works for all. As an important fulcrum in our journey to a more prosperous and safe country, what states do or do not does matter a lot.

“I am, therefore, obliged to ask the new leaders to use their good offices to bring about a convergence of vision between the federal government, under my leadership, and governments at the state level. It is my prayer that you acquit yourselves diligently in discharging the responsibilities bestowed on you through this election."

TOTALENERGIES' 45TH AGM...

Obi, LP Tender Documents from Six States to Prove Petition against Tinubu

Lagos guber poll: Tribunal rules on applications challenging jurisdiction, competency of LP’s petition today

Alex Enumah in Abuja, Wale Igbintade and Stephen Aya in Lagos

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, and his party, yesterday, tendered documents from six states of the federation to prove their petitions against the election of President Bola Tinubu.

must prevail."

Lawmakers Urge FG to Suspend DSDP Contracts, Create Palliatives to Cushion Removal Effect for Nigerians

The House of Representatives, at plenary yesterday, stated that with the petroleum subsidy removal, the federal government should forthwith suspend all Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contracts. The House said NNPC should act according to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to ensure that the country was not short-changed in production, lifting, and sale of crude.

The House also said while the federal government should out rightly remove subsidy on all petroleum products, it should immediately design measures and palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal for Nigerians effective from this year, through the provision and procurement of CNG Buses as an alternative transport system with cheaper fuel consumption.

According to the lawmakers, the government should also introduce intermodal, regional and national transport system to ease mass movement of people across the country.

The directives followed the adoption of the 11 recommendations by the adhoc committee that investigated the Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime in Nigeria from 2013 to 2022.

Lawmakers had resolved to look into the subsidy regime following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Sergius Ogun (PDP-Edo), on June 29, 2022.

Ogun had, while moving the motion, said due to the decline in the production capacity of the refineries, NNPC found it more convenient to export domestic crude in exchange for petroleum products on trade by barter basis described as DSDP arrangement.

He expressed concerns that the consumption rate of petrol was 40

The petitioners at the resumed hearing disclosed that they were challenging the election results in only 18 states of the federation, including Rivers, Benue, Cross River, Niger, Osun, and Ekiti.

In another breath, the Lagos Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, has fixed today (Friday) to rule on various applications challenging competency of the petition filed by the Labour Party's

million to 45 million litres per day, while NNPC used 65 million to 100 million litres per day to determine subsidy as discoverable from NNPC’s monthly reports to the Federal Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Presenting the report from their investigation 11 months later, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu, advised that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation Committee should lead a reconciliation meeting between NNPC, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Joint Venture Contractors (JVCs), and the commission on the utilisation of their crude entitlements.

Aliyu also urged that further investigation through a forensic audit by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation be made to ascertain whether the N413 billion borrowed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for subsidy payments was refunded after the passage and assent of the 2015 budget, as earlier approved by the president, and the report of the Auditor General to be submitted to the House for further legislative action.

Other recommendations adopted by the House included, "That the Nigerian Midstream Down Stream Petroleum Regulatory Commission should issue stricter and most appropriate regulations, as provided in the PIA, to ensure that Nigerians are not short-changed through profiteering; that the Nigeria Customs Service and Weight and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment be equipped to ascertain the actual daily crude oil lifting from the country for proper checks and balances; that the committee recommends that the NEITI Act, 2007 be amended by the National Assembly to be in tune with global best practices.

"With the total deregulation of the sector, all the agencies involved in crude lifting/security should have a representative with the Nigerian Navy as a lead agency to physically asses and document daily crude

(LP) candidate, Gbadebo RhodesVivour, seeking to nullify the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat in the March 18 election.

Obi and LP had anchored their petitions on grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) violated its own regulations and guidelines in addition to manipulating the process in favour of Tinubu and his party,

production and lifting; that the committee also recommends that the federal government should as a matter of urgency, liaise with the National Assembly to fashion out critical areas of economic development, which the additional revenue from the proposed subsidy removal will be appropriately utilised, and that given the constrain of the committee and overlapping events, the National Assembly (HR) Standing or Ad-hoc Committees be saddled with such responsibility to conduct full-scale investigation on the defaulting oil companies and MDAs that have not met the expectations of the committee to ascertain their level of involvement or otherwise and further protect the commonwealth of the country."

The lawmakers also considered and passed the report on a bill seeking for an Act to Repeal the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2004 and Enact the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2023 to Operate, Maintain and Control Subsidiaries and Ordnance Factories for the Manufacture, Storage and Disposal of Ordinance and Ancillary Stores and Materiel.

The proposed legislation was sponsored by Chairman, Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos).

Meanwhile, the House deferred consideration on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, to strengthen the role of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and allow it prosecute cases before the Federal High Court.

Civil Society Group Protest Increase in Fuel Pump Price, Block Major Roads in Edo

Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), yesterday, blocked a section of the Benin/Lagos highway

the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The documents, mainly Forms EC8A, which were election results from polling units were admitted and marked accordingly as exhibits by the Justice Haruna Tsammani five member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court ( PREPEC).

For Rivers State, the petitioners tendered EC8As from 15 LGAs instead of the initial 21 LGAs that was listed, while the results sheets

to protest the increase in the pump price of fuel.

The protest took place at different locations in the state, and it obstructed vehicular movement.

During the protest, EDOCSO called for urgent reversal of the fuel pump price increase. It lamented that Nigerians were already confronted with a lot of challenges, adding that an increment in the price of the product would further subject them to hardship and possibly push many to premature death.

Displaying placards with inscriptions that read, "Nigerians can't buy petrol at N520”; “We can't buy petrol at N520 but N210”; “Petrol must be N210 till July end", the protesters said they would continue today, until the government found addressed their demand.

Speaking with newsmen in Benin City, former Coordinator General of EDOCSO, Omobude Agho, said the essence of the protest was to get the attention of President Bola Tinubu, so that he could reconsider the decision on the fuel pump price and put things in place to relieve the plight of the masses.

Agho said, "We are protesting because of the increase in petrol pump price, which started yesterday, where a president, by the word of the mouth, will just make a sentence and the marketers will move the price from N210 to over N500.

“We were shocked to see that even NNPC Limited fixed over N500 as the pump price. So, we feel this is a plan to kill Nigerians or send us to our graves.

"If we sit down, fold our hands and let this continue, only God knows what policy they will come up with tomorrow. What we are doing is testing the microphone. We have not actually started. If by tomorrow, we do not hear any news, then we will move to other directions.

"The strategy for this protest is called local protest, we are localising the protest. This means it is happening in different areas and not on one axis.

from polling units in 23 LGAs was tendered from Benue State.

In Cross River State, 18 EC8A results were also admitted and marked as Exhibits, while 23 in Niger State, 20 in Osun and 16 in Ekiti Local Government Areas, were also admitted in evidence.

Interestingly, INEC which issued the documents and certified them as genuine, joined other respondents to object to the admissibility of the

It is currently on-going in places like Uselu Shell, Ologbo, Siluko and Agbor Park. By tomorrow, more areas will be activated."

Removal of Fuel Subsidy Must Not Fuel Poverty, Amnesty International Advises

Nigeria’s removal of fuel subsidy must not exacerbate poverty in the country, Amnesty International advised.

Responding to the removal of subsidy, Acting Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said, “President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy has left millions of Nigerians terrified about the knock-on effects that it will have on their daily lives. Many are concerned that they will be unable to meet the costs of education, food and healthcare.

"The government is yet to suggest any ways to mitigate the impact of this decision for people on low incomes.

“While all countries are required to eventually remove all fossil fuel subsidies to meet their human rights obligations in the context of the climate crisis, they should not do so in a way that undermines the ability of people on low incomes to secure their right to an adequate standard of living.”

Sanusi noted that it was vital that the removal of the subsidy was accompanied by social cushioning and protection measures.

He stated, “Nigerians should not have to pay the price of decades of political and economic mismanagement of the subsidy scheme.

"The authorities must finally respond to longstanding demands by civil society and parliamentarians to investigate the fuel market chain and hold accountable all those involved in smuggling, hoarding and ‘subsidy scams’ — regardless of rank or status.

“The Nigerian authorities must urgently put in place measures to protect the rights of people most affected by the removal of the fuel subsidies

said documents. The other respondents were President Tinubu, his Vice, Kashim Shetima and the APC. Hearing continues today, June 2. However, from Lagos, the Tribunal is also set to rule on whether it has jurisdiction to entertain the application filed by the Labour Party's (LP).

and prioritise addressing widespread hunger, higher unemployment and the rapidly falling standard of living.”

Don't Be Distracted by Antics of Discredited Labour Leaders, Oil Marketers, Northern Group Tells FG

Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) said the federal government should not to be distracted by the antics of persons it called discredited self-serving labour leaders and unscrupulous oil marketers, who would seize every opportunity to undermine the good intentions of government.

Spokesperson of the group, AbdulAzeez Suleiman, in a statement issued yesterday, expressed concern that NLC had developed a penchant over the years for mass public deception over issues of serious national importance.

It said it observed that on every occasion, NLC would deceive the public into believing they were protecting their interests; only to betray the cause, and negotiate with the government at the expense of the suffering masses.

The group said the first instance was the NLC protests over harsh economic policies of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government in February 2017, which came to an abrupt end without achieving any results and no convincing explanation to the public.

It said, "Then came the September 2018 strike, which was also terminated after the NLC met with government officials and compromised the effort with no effect.

"The worst scenario was the October 2020 organised labour plan to shut down the entire economy in protest over the increase in the pump price of petrol and a hike in electricity tariff."

The group stressed that the strike was called off at the last minute after a meeting between government officials and labour leaders in Abuja.

L-R: Managing Director, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc. Samba Seye; Chairman, Jean-Phillipe Torres; and Executive Director, Human Resources/Corporate Services during the company’s 45th annual general meeting held in Lagos...yesterday. SUNDAY ADIGUN

KYARI: TINUBU HAS DIRECTED PALLIATIVES BE PUT IN PLACE TO CUSHION EFFECT OF SUBSIDY REMOVAL

CATCHING THEM YOUNG…

L-R: Startup Partner, Paystack, Dapo Awobokun; General Manager, Corporate Communications, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info FM, Femi Obong-Daniels; Winner, I Beg To Differ Student Debate Tournament;Ruth Okorocha; Sales Executive, Obiwezy, Segun Oluwaniyi; Key Accounts Manager Lead, Paystack, Folu Otubanjo, and Head of Multi Clients and Financial Institutions, Paystack, James Babatunde, at the grand finale of the fifth edition of the tournament in Lagos…recently

DHQ: Troops Crush 65 Insurgents, Arrest 230 Suspected Criminals

Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja

The military high command said yesterday that troops decimated 65 insurgents and arrested 230 suspected criminals in the past two weeks.

It said 876 terrorists and members of their families, comprising of 89 adult males, 249 adult females, and 538 children, surrendered to troops in the North-east.

The military also said troops

in the Niger Delta destroyed 47 illegal refining sites and 250 storage tanks, and recovered 186,000 litres of crude oil and 47,750 litres of diesel.

At a media briefing in Abuja, Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said troops neutralised 26 insurgents in the North-east, 25 armed bandits in the North-west, seven in North-central, and seven in South-east region of the country.

Kwara Residents Groan as Fuel Price Increase Bites Harder

Hammed Shittu inIlorin

Residents of Kwara state have expressed disappointment and apprehension over the new petrol price template announced by the NNPCL on Wednesday.

Since the announcement, various fuel stations in the state have complied with the new price regime.

It was gathered that many filling stations belonging to independent marketers in the Ilorin metropolis had begun to sell fuel at between N500 and N700 per litre before the NNPCL announcement on Wednesday.

The effect of the development was hike in transportation fares as a drop of commercial motorcycle increased from N100 to N200 per drop, while commercial vehicle

transporters charged N100 per drop from N50.

THISDAY investigations also revealed that queues have gone in most filling stations that have fuel due to hike in the price of the product.

However, queues were still noticed in some filling stations that sell at moderate prices lower than that of others.

The development according to THISDAY checks have continued to have serious effects on the socio economic plights of residents of the state.

A visit to some of the major markets in Ilorin, yesterday, revealed that, buying and selling of the product have changed drastically. Prices of foodstuffs and other household materials have increased in the markets.

Delta PDP, Onuesoke Laud Kingsley Emu’s Appointment as SSG

Sylvester IdowuinWarri

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has congratulated Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu, on his appointment as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) by the Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. Similarly, a former governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, described the appointment of Emu as the SSG as putting the right peg in the right hole.

PDP, in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, yesterday expressed gratitude to the Governor for his insight and valued consideration in picking the appointee, who have discharged himself creditably in various spheres of assignments.

“Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu is a brilliant scholar and painstaking technocrat. The mix of his highly prized background both in the private sector and public sector,

stands him in good stead.”

“The skill and dexterity garnered over the years in service, having served in various cabinet capacities in previous State Executive Councils, are strong assets that he will hopefully deploy in the discharge of his new assignment as SSG”, he added.

Also, Onuesoke has hailed Emu’s appointment. According to Onuesoke, the new position of Emu is putting a round peg in round hole having been in government of both Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ifeanyi Okowa’s administrations where he garnered a lot of experience. He maintained that Oborevwori has made a potent appointment “in person of Kingsley Emu for the fact that he has been in the corridor of the state political administration as Delta State Commissioner for Commerce and later Commissioner for Economic Planning coupled with twenty-one years experience in the banking industry.

It said the 26 fighters killed, including a suicide bomber, were members of terror groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for

West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Troops also arrested 22 terrorists, logistics suppliers, two spies, and informants, the DMO said.

Danmadami said troops of the Joint Task force, Operation Hadin Kai, sustained the aggressive posture against Boko Haram,

ISWAP and other criminal elements in the North-east, leading to the massive surrender of terrorists and members of their families.

Plateau House of Assembly Sacks LG Chairmen, Councillors over Financial Misappropriation

Seriki AdinoyiinJos

Plateau State House of Assembly has suspended all the Local Government Council chairmen and councillors in the 17 LGAs of thex state with immediate effect. The suspension was announced by the Speaker of the House,

Ayuba Abok, during the plenary session yesterday, following a motion moved by Pirfa Tyem, the lawmaker representing the Langtang North-North constituency. The motion was as a result of allegations of financial impropriety levelled against the local government officials in a

petition to the House by the state Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

After the motion was passed, Ayuba directed the council officials to hand over all government properties in their possession to the Director of Personnel Management. He also announced the launch of an investigation into the allegations

levelled against the suspended officials.

But in a swift move, the suspended officials have gone to the state high court to restrain the state government and the House of Assembly from sacking them from office, despite the allegation of financial misappropriation.

Fubara Assures Civil Servants Better Working Condition

Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has assured civil servants of better the working conditions.

The Rivers State governor, who gave the assurance yesterday, during his visit at the state Secretariat

Complex, Port Harcourt, affirmed that his administration would give priority attention to the welfare of civil Servants in the state.

Governor Fubara, accompanied by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke and Permanent Secretaries in the state arrived the state Secretariat to the

warm and enthusiastic welcome of visibly elated workers.

Addressing the workers, Fubara said the visit was to make on-thespot assessment of the state of the facilities at the Secretariat and to address the challenges with the intent of improving the productivity of workers.

The governor pointed out that the major challenges in the Secretariat include lack of functional utilities particularly the supply of water and security. He noted that the state government had previously spent much money on water supply in the Secretariat, but there was

Benue Gov Warns Appointees against Corrupt Practices

GeorgeOkohInMakurdi

Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has warned public officers to shun corruption while discharging their duties. Alia gave the warning yesterday when he swore into office, his Chief of Staff(CoS), the

Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), and Head of Service,(HoS).

The governor after administering the oath of office on the three appointees said the were selected base on their knowledge and integrity.

He said apart from being

experienced, “you were selected due to your performances, trust, loyalty and all other credible qualities that qualified you for the appointment to the exalted positions.”

He pointed out that the appointees were the first batch of the team being assembled to serve Benue

people, stressing that his government required only people of sound character, hard work and total commitment to service.

“Let me emphasise that we do not only need all hands on deck but those hands must not be corrupted with the spoils of office.

Group Condemns Threat to Picket CBN, Defends Emefiele

The Centre for Integrity and Good Governance (CIGG) has condemned the threat by a coalition of civil society groups to embark on a rally against Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

A group called the Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSGs),

has said it would mobilise over 10,000 civil society organisations (CSOs) to protest the continued stay in office of Emefiele over what it alleged to be poor handling of the economy, naira swap policy, among others.

However, CIGG in a press statement issued yesterday

by its Convener, Mr. Waheed Aderibigbe and Co-convener, Mr. Obinna Ukariaku, faulted the coalition of CSOs and the grounds upon which it threatened to stage the antEmefiele rally.

CIGG regretted that certain persons and their cohorts have

been hiding under the guise of civil society advocacy to blackmail public office holders thus tarnishing the reputation of other noble CSOs.

It said that the threat to occupy CBN smacks of ignorance and a lack of understanding of the dialectics of basic economics.

Brigade Commander Seeks Collaboration among Security Agencies in Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Commander of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, on Wednesday embarked on courtesy visits to key heads of security agencies in Kogi State. Akpaumontia visited the

Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Crops (NSCDC), Mr. Ahmad Gamdi; the Police Commissioner, Mr. Akeem Yusuf; and the Director of State Security Service (DSS), Ms. Tosin Ajayi.

In his comments at their various command headquarters

in Lokoja, Akpaumontia emphasised the importance of cooperation and collaboration among the DSS, NSCDC and the police, as well as other paramilitary agencies.

He assured the security agencies of his commitment to leveraging on the already

existing excellent relationship between the brigade and the security agencies in Kogi State.

The courtesy visit began with a warm reception by Ajayi at the DSS Kogi Command Headquarters, where the commander engaged in fruitful discussions with her.

Beware of Fraudsters, We’re not Recruiting, Says JAMB

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has alerted the public of a fake employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claimed to have been contracted to recruit staff

for the JAMB via a dedicated social media account.

The Acting Director, Public Affairs of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, made this known yesterday in a press statement that urged the public to disregard such fake information.

Benjamin said that the

syndicate is operating under “Akure Job and Business Advert Forum,” that is located at Quarters 92 Alagbaka Estate, Near CBN Office, IBB Avenue, Akure, Ondo State, and is using the name of JAMB, Ondo State Office, to advertise job vacancies into secretarial and

clerical positions. He said: “The JAMB, is by this disclaimer, advising all members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices, nor has it contracted anyone or organisation to do so on its behalf.

ACCOUNTING TO SHAREHOLDERS…

Woman Dies as Bandits Release 14 Victims in Niger Community

Laleye Dipo in Minna

A pregnant woman was reported to have died in the custody of bandits a few hours to the release of 14 kidnap victims by the gunmen.

aikoro Local Government Area of Niger State has it that the late woman and 14 other victims had been in the

custody of the bandits for over 76 days.

The woman was reported to have fallen ill without medical attention resulting in her death.

The 14 other victims, according to the report, were released after their relations gave some motorcycles to the bandits as ransom.

The release of the villagers

Bayelsa, Construction Firm Allay Concern over Flyover

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government and the construction giants, Julius Berger, have assured that there is no cause for concern over a crack on a portion of the Berger Flyover in Yenagoa, the state’s capital.

The flyover was constructed about 10 years ago during Senator Seriake Dickson’s administration.

This followed concerns raised on the social media that the flyover had become a threat to motorists.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, who went on first-hand inspection of the flyover yesterday morning, directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, to immediately fix the crack.

Teibowei, however, allayed fears during a visit alongside engineers from the ministry, Julius Berger as well as technical committee members of the state chapter of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) led by the chairman, Mr. Raymond Awana.

Late former Ekiti Deputy Gov, Egbeyemi, Celebrated

Gbenga

Ekiti

Sodeinde in Ado

The Ado-Ekiti Trustees Committee yesterday eulogised and celebrated the life and times of the former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State and one of the strong pillars of the Committee from inception, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi who died March 18, 2023.

The Ado-Ekiti Trustees Committee, in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Adepoju Ajayi, the Secretary General, Dr. Jadesola Taiwo

brought to 56 the number of those kidnapped by the gunmen in Adunu and Kagama communities in Paikoro LGA

of the state more than two months ago. It was learnt that seven members of the communities

are still in the custody of the bandits.

The state police could not be reached for confirmation of

the story, as the phone of the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not connect.

Otti Embarks on Emergency Refuse Disposal in Aba

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo

The Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, has embarked on emergency task of evacuating the huge refuse dumps on the streets of Aba and Umuahia immediately after assuming duties as the state’s new chief executive.

The emergency refuse disposal began barely 24 hours after the governor had set up a taskforce

for emergency cleanup of Aba and Umuahia.

Otti defied the heavy downpour and joined the task force in evacuating the mountainous refuse dump on Asa Road, Aba.

As people caught sight of the governor walking in the rain as he monitored the refuse disposal exercise, road users and traders around the vicinity who had been

contending with the mountainous refuse and the oozing stench, got attracted to the scene.

The new governor had in his inaugural address on Monday declared a state of emergency on the evacuation of wastes in the streets of Umuahia, the state’s capital and Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

Otti appointed Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke as the Head of Task

Force and saddled him with the responsibility of implementing the emergency refuse disposal emergency.

The governor acknowledged the efforts of “those working probono to ensure that our towns are clean, and all who braved the rain to give effect to the directive we gave two days ago declaring an emergency on the cleanup of Aba and Umuahia.”

Obaseki Urges New Approaches, Innovative Strategies to Check Tobacco Consumption

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for a paradigm shift in the global fight against the increasing prevalence of tobacco consumption, emphasising the need for new approaches and innovative strategies to address the global challenge. Obaseki made the call in commemoration of World No Tobacco Day marked by the World Health Organisation and

other organs of the United Nations to raise awareness and check the consumption of tobacco.

The governor, who decried the hazardous effects of tobacco on smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke, including cardiovascular diseases, reassured that his government will sustain efforts and policies to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare that encourage consumers

of tobacco-seeking therapy to be able to access health professionals to enhance their recovery.

He said: “This year’s World No Tobacco Day provides stakeholders with yet another opportunity to review efforts and strengthen strategies and collaboration in the global fight against the increasing prevalence of tobacco consumption, considering its harmful effects on smokers and those exposed to

second-hand smoke. “Much as we have made considerable progress in raising awareness on the dangers of tobacco to the health of individuals and the environment, we must now step up efforts in our pursuit of a tobacco-free society, ensuring new strategies and innovative approaches as well as an increased partnership among policymakers and other stakeholders to address this global challenge.”

Ensure Govt Work is Not Delayed, A’Ibom Gov Tasks New SSG

Babatola and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) CSP Dolapo Badmus, said the demise of Egbeyemi as an irreversible and painful loss to Ado-Ekiti people and Ekiti State as a whole.

They eulogised the iconic and illustrious Ado-Ekiti chieftain as a frontline Nigerian lawyer and notable politician in his lifetime who served his monarch and the best interest of the entire Ado Ekiti community with vigour, unflinching devotion, and honesty without blemish.

Christos Church Holds 1, 000 Pastor’s Summit

A massive conference involving over 50 Bishops and 1, 000 pastors will kick off today, Friday, June 2, 2023 at the Cathedral of the Christos International Worship Centre, Apo Area of Abuja.

The three-day conference, with the theme “Building the Man Behind the Pulpit” a Time of Refreshing For Ministers/Leaders” is part of the Christos yearly “God of June 11” celebration, when the Head Pastor and General Overseer of Christos, Bishop David

Nwachukwu Ogudu received his call from the Almighty into the ministry.

According to a statement from Head of Media for Christos International Worship Centre, Rev. Esther Chibuikem, Bishop Ogudu wants to use the conference to “reequip, refresh, rearm, rebuild the Pastors for the work they do.”

He said that “many people do not know that a Pastor’s life could be lonely despite the teeming crowd he shepherds.”

Okon Bassey in Uyo Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno has sworn into office, Prince Enobong Uwah as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG) stressing that his appointment was a product of hard work.

The new SSG was until his appointment, the Executive

Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA). He had served the State as the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, and Commissioner, Housing and Urban Renewal He had also served political groups of the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

as Secretary General of the Divine Mandate, 2019, Secretary General , Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), and recently, Secretary General, Umo Eno/Akon Eyakenyi Campaign Organisation.

Administering oaths of Office and Allegiance on the newly appointed SSG, the governor said: “Your appointment

is a product of Merit, of hardwork, Fidelity and Faith in the continuous growth and development of our dear state.” “When we started our campaign and throughout the campaign I made it clear to people that we will reward hard work, and those who will contribute tireslessly in the scheme of things.

Osun Varsity VC Applauds Adeleke for 57 Office Units Complex

The Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Ayo Clement Adebooye, has extolled the state Governor and Visitor to the university, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for the completion of a two-storey building of 57 office units complex in its College of

Health Sciences, Isale Osun in Osogbo.

The vice-chancellor expressed his gratitude at the third Distinguished Personality Lecture of the College of Law held at the College of Law, Ifetedo campus in honour of a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, His Lordship, Justice Mojeed Adekunle Owoade, who

doubled as the guest lecturer.

While delivering his keynote speech at the event, the vicechancellor noted that the recently completed building had been left uncompleted and abandoned since 2011, and was the first project to be contributed by the Osun State Government in the university in the past 12 years.

He informed the audience that the completion of the office complex had solved the problem of insufficient office spaces for the academic units, which had hitherto posed a threat to the university losing its accreditation status from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its MBBS and allied health programmes.

NAHCON Airlifts 14,000 Intending Pilgrims to Saudi

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has stated that about 14,000 intending pilgrims from the country have arrived Madinah in the Saudi Arabia.

In a chat with THISDAY yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Deputy Director of Information

and Publication of the NAHCON, Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki, said: “As at early morning on Thursday, a total number of 33 flights have left different airports across the country with Nigerian pilgrims.

“At the time of writing this statement, NAHCON had already concluded arrangements for rescue operation for any delayed or cancelled flight that might hinder

the smooth transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

“So far, close to 14,000 pilgrims are safely in Madinah, and the number of flights transporting pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will also increase in a couple of days.

“The operation is going on as planned with back-up measures put in place in case

of any unforeseen circumstances.

“Therefore, intending pilgrims are enjoined to remain in a state of readiness at all times for imminent departure to Saudi Arabia.” Ubandawaki, however, added that: “All the affected intending pilgrims are in good condition and have been embarking on their Islamic rites without any stress.”

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

L-R: Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, Mr. Geoff Amaghereonu; Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Emmanuel Kanu Ivi; Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Mobolaji Adewumi, and Executive Director, Treasury and Business Growth, Mr. Oladipupo Adeoye, at the annual general meeting of the company held in Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

NASCON HOLDS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING…

L-R: Executive Director, Commercial, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Fatima Aliko-Dangote; Non-Executive Director, Olakunle Alake; Independent Non-Executive Director, Prof. Chris Ogbechie; Chairperson, ‘Yemisi Ayeni; Acting Managing Director, Thabo Mabe; Non-Executive Director, and Abdu Dantata, at the 2022 annual general meeting (AGM) of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, in Lagos…recently

House Committee Summons Aviation Ministry’s Perm Sec

Chinedu Eze

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has summoned the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, to an emergency meeting over the Nigeria Air project.

The Permanent Secretary was directed to come with every document that pertains to the national carrier, according to the invitation signed by the clerk of the Committee. Bassey Edem, dated May 30, 2023 with reference number: NASS/9/HR17/120.

Extract from the invitation reads, “Last Friday, the 26th of May, 2023, the nation was a washed with viral reports and videos of the unveiling of the

Nigeria Air project under very controversial circumstances, as committee of the parliament saddled with responsibility of oversighting the aviation sector of the economy we deem it necessary to be fully briefed about the project.

“Consequently l am directed to invite you to an emergency session with the committee on Thursday, first of June 2023. You are to come with all individuals/ agencies connected to the project.”

However, the Permanent Secretary was said to have requested for time to be able to assemble all the necessary documents and individuals connected with the project.

Meanwhile Tuesday 7th June has been rescheduled for the

Nze Ikechukwu Eke for Burial June 9

Nze Christian Ikechukwu Eke of Ihiagwa, Owerri South Local Government Area of Imo State, who died at the age of 74, will be buried on Friday, June 9, 2023.

According to the son-in-law of the deceased, Mr. David Iyofor, the burial will take place after a funeral service at St. John’s Anglican Church, Ihiagwa at

10.00am.

“My family, the Eke family and all the lives the gentle, humble, kind, caring, and benevolent Nze Christian Ikechukwu Eke had positively touched will deeply cherish your prayers and presence as we celebrate and lay him to rest,” Iyofor said.

CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ANTHONIA OMORO, now wish to be known and address as ANTHONIA OMOSOWHOFA ELO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BAMIDELE MODUPE HANNAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLAJUBU MODUPE HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEEKO ADEBISI ESTHER now which to be known and address has OWOYELE ADEBISI ESTHER. All former document remain valid the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKPARA FRANCISCA IFUNANYA, now wish to be known and addressed as UBABUIKE FRANCISCA IFUNANYA. All former documents remain valid. Federal polytechnic Nekede owerri and the general public should please take note

I formerly known as PATTA BARINEM JACINTA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JOSEPH BARINEM JACINTA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

meeting based on the appeals for time by the ministry. Some details of the documents demanded in the invitation

include: full business case (FBC,) as prepared by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission,

(ICRC); full disclosure on the ownership structure of Nigeria Air including equity contributions by individuals, organisations

and Consortium outlining each contributions, names, adresses, phone numbers and their businesses’ registration certificates.

Mutfwang, Dongban-Mensem Lament Sankey’s Murder, Condole with Family

Seriki Adinoy in Jos

Plateau State Governor, Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the President Court of Appeal Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, have condoled with the family of Justice Jummai Hannatu Sankey of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, over the death of her husband, Dr. Yakubu Sankey.

Sankey was assassinated by

gunmen last week in his house at Southern Kaduna.

Mutfwang, who paid a condolence visit to the residence of the deceased in Jos, said Sankey, a one-time acting Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, was a patriotic Nigerian, who left his footprints on the sand of time, but lamented the circumstances

that led to his death, describing it as unfortunate and unacceptable.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Gyang Bere, the Governor said, “Dr. Sankey has left his footprints on the sand of time. Although it’s quite painful, especially in view of the circumstances of his demise, this is a sad reflection of the times we live in. We are here to share with you in this

moment of grief.

“It is not possible for us to comfort you, because only God can do that. Our prayers are with you with the children and other members of the family. May God comfort you. As we pray for the Lord’s comfort, we pray that God will bring us a solution to this dangerous slope that we have found ourselves as a nation.

Northern Youth Group Celebrates Uzodinma’s Emergence as Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum

Segun Awofadeji inBauchi

The Northern Youth Association of Nigeria (NYAN) has congratulated the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, over his emergence as the new chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

The forum is an umbrella body of governors elected on the platform

AfDB

I formerly known and addressed as BAMIDELE MODUPE DORCAS, now wish to be known and address as OGUNLEYE MODUPE FEYISIKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AGBOLAHAN ABE QUDUS, now wish to be known and address as AFOLABI AGBOLAHAN QUDUS and my DoB was wrongly written as 15th August 1986 instead of 15th August 1992. All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OJO TEMITOPE DEBORAH now which to be known and address has MRS. ADESHIPE TEMITOPE DEBORAH. All former document remain valid the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as GOMADO DORCAS ESSI now which to be known and address has OKWOR DORCAS ESSI. All former document remain valid the general public should please take note.

I formerly known as KACHOLLOM CHOJI DUNG, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGBA KACHOLLOM EZEKIEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group in a statement issued by its President, Godiya T. Adams Bogoro, and made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, expressed confidence that the mandate given to Uzodimma would help to bring unity, sustainable growth and development to the

Approves

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved an equity investment of $20 million in the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund I, in support of its target to mobilise private capital for infrastructure across the continent.

The Africa50 Infrastructure

country.

He said the election of Hope as the PGF chairman is the best considering his good track records in politics, loyalty and contributions to the success of the APC at all levels.

Godiya stated that Uzodinma would help the party’s leadership in implementing its policies and programmes, as well as support

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in achieving his renewed hope for the Nigerian people. According to the group, “Uzodinma is a visionary leader, transformational agent, patriotic unifying factor, shrewd administrator, a problem solver who will contribute to the development of the party and the country as a whole.”

$20m Investment in Private Equity Fund

Acceleration Fund I is a panAfrican infrastructure private equity fund that mobilising up to $500 million for investment and value creation in strategic infrastructure sectors. These include power, energy, digital and social infrastructure, transportation, logistics, and water and sanitation.

The fund is sponsored by

Africa50, an infrastructure investment platform established by governments and the African Development Bank. Africa50 brings infrastructure project development and financing under one umbrella.

Africa50 has a strong track record of investments in the private sector and of projects undertaken under a Public

Private-Partnership (PPP) framework.

The mobilisation of private capital is critical to closing the infrastructure financing gap in Africa, especially given the limited fiscal space of African governments which currently provide the largest source of infrastructure funding on the continent.

FG Promises to Develop Oil-producing Communities

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The federal government has stated its readiness to always ensure an all-round development of oil-producing host communities in the country as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The Head of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory

Commission (NUPRC), Warri Regional Office, Mr. Olusegun Benjamin Ogunubi, who gave the assurance in a statement, said the Host Community Development Trust fund (HCDT) created by the Petroleum Industry Act, gave the commission the statutory obligation of ensuring the settlors fund it for the concerned

Niger Gov Sacks All

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammad Umar Bago, has sacked all political appointees he inherited from his predecessor, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello. While sacking the appointees, Governor Bago exempted members of ‘Statutory Boards and those of the state and local

communities.

He said: “Through the Host Community Development Trust fund (HCDT), the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will continue to ensure compliance from the settlors as regards their statutory responsibilities towards the concerned communities

together in which three percent of their operating expenditure will be used to develop the communities.”

Ogunubi,, however, stated that if the concerned communities could not form a trust fund, the bulk of the funds would be used to develop projects defined by the communities.

Political Appointees, Clears Madalla Market

government pension boards.”

A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary in charge of Political Affairs in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hajia Aishatu T Usman, said the sack also affected all Directors General, Coordinators, Project Managers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Political Assistants,

Ward Ambassadors and Personal Assistants to political appointees.

Usman in the statement directed the former political appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices to the permanent secretary or the most senior officer in their respective agencies.

Former Governor Bello failed to sack his commissioners before exiting government opting to ask

them to remain in office till May 29, 2023.

However, the former governor did not attend the inauguration of his successor neither did he issue any statement on the issue.

Meanwhile, Governor Bago last Wednesday cleared the notorious Madalla-Abuja road of illegal traders plying their trades on the market road.

Bendel Insurance, Enugu Rangers Rekindle Rivalry in Federation Cup Final

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Bendel Insurance FC and Rangers International yesterday won their respective semi final matches of this year’s Federation Cup to set up a mouth-watering final game of the 2023 edition of the tournament.

The fixture is reminiscent of the rivalry that existed between the two traditional teams of the old Midwest and the Eastern regions, culminating in the 1978 final at the National Stadium in Lagos.

In that 1978 epic final, Bendel Insurance hammered Rangers 3-0

to return to Benin City with the then Challenge Cup trophy for the second time. Opening goal from skipper Felix Agbonifo’s free kick set the stage for the day.

Peter Egharevba added a second before Henry Ogboe effectively silenced the Flying Antelopes that had nine national team players in their fold. It was a case of David killing the Goliath as rookie coach Alabi Aissien made a mincemeat of the legendary Eto Amaechina. On the road to the 2023 final, Bendel Insurance who have maintained an unbeaten run in all

competitions this season, were stretched to the limit by neighbours Warri Wolves.

The Sea Siders played Insurance hands down and only succumbed to defeat in the ensuing penalty shootouts after regulation time deadlocked goalless. Insurance won the penalty lottery 4-2. Benjamin Tanimu was the only one who missed the spot kick in Insurance fold . Ebenezer Odeyemi, Divine Nwachukwu and Ebuka Akobundu converted their kicks. The Benin

FG Hails Flying Eagles for Eliminating Hosts Argentina

The Federal Government has congratulated the Flying Eagles of Nigeria for edging host nation, Argentina 2-0 in the Round of 16 at the U20 FIFA World Cup in that South American country.

In a statement yesterday signed by Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, congratulated the players for their excellent performance at the competition.

He also called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure the Flying Eagles put in extra effort with a view to bringing the cup home.

He explained that the performance of the Flying Eagles at the tournament further demonstrated that the policy initiatives put in place for the development of sports in Nigeria and football in particular by the former administration under the supervision of the former Minister of Sports and Youth

is sure to uplift our sports industry even at global competitions.

Abubakar expressed optimism that the Sports and Youth Development Ministry is one of the sectors that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration will be proud of and thus further build up on the structures on ground towards ensuring a formidable sports industry in the country

He called on all well-meaning Nigerians to pray for the Flying Eagles to conquer other contenders and return to Nigeria with the trophy

The Flying Eagles on Wednesday, defeated Argentina to reach the quarter-final of the U20 World Cup with Ibrahim Muhammad scoring the first goal of the match on the 71 minute while Haliru Sarki scored with a diving header in added time to take the match out of the reach of the six-time champions.

Nigeria has only won two silver medals in the tournament with the latest coming in 2005 when they lost 2-1 to the Messi led Argentina in the final.

Adron Homes Builds Ultra-modern Sports Complex For City of David Residents

Nigeria's foremost Real Estate Company, Adron Homes and Property Limited, has built an ultra-modern sports complex for the use of residents of one of numerous estates, City of David, in Shimawa town.

The sports complex which comprises of a hybrid synthetic pitch, running track, basketball court and Disney-like children's play park, is the first in any modern day estate in Nigeria.

Renowned for its several impactful Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR), particularly, the grassroots sports programmes held in different parts of Nigeria, and that includes the fast-growing Adron Homes Sports Festival.

The mini-stadium which is named Olori Aderonke EmmanuelKing Recreational Park after the delectable wife of the the Group Managing Director, Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, will host the first Adron Homes Summer

Games for children of the residents of City of David, as well as, other Adron Homes Estates residents aged 6-17 years.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Match International Limited, the Sports Consultants, Waidi Akanni, there would eyes-watering prize monies and offer of scholarships to be given to talented participants, who are expected to participate in various sporting activities like athletics, basketball, football, table-tennis, scrabble and other sports events.

Akanni, an ex-Super Eagles star player and former Chairman of Lagos State FA, further disclosed that exNigeria international player Daniel 'Da Bull', who is the 2023 Adron Homes Games Ambassador, is expected to lead other top sports personalities that include ex-Nigeria footballers to the summer games scheduled to hold August 19, 2023.

Arsenal didn’t bother to take the last kick, having emerged the winners. Before yesterday’s semi final, Insurance defeated Kwara State’s ABS FC 1-0; Ahudiya FC (Abia) 1-0; Heartland FC (Imo) 1-0; and Ondo State’s Sunshine Stars by the same 1-0 goal margin. Rangers on the other hand had to wait till the second minute of added time to overcome Plateau United 1-0 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. Godwin Obaje’s goal from the spot turned out to be the only one

in the game.

The Flying Antelopes’ travel in the national phase of this competition began by walking over Adamawa United in the Round of 64. They then edged out Kano Pillars 2-0 (Round of 32), Ekiti State’s FC Ebedei 3-1 in the Round of 16 and Doma United by a lone goal in the quarterfinals.

This fixture will be the sixth time Rangers and Bendel Insurance will be meeting in the FA Cup final, irrespective of it nomenclature.

Madrid Topple Man

The champions of the Federation Cup will represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup. Real Madrid were the world's most valuable club in 2022 with a worth of $6.07 billion (£4.9bn), according to Forbes.

For a second straight year, the Spanish giants topped the 30-club list compiled by the American business magazine, with Manchester United second, valued at $6bn (£4.8bn).

LaLiga champions Barcelona, who ranked first in 2021, are third with a valuation of $5.51bn (£4.4bn).

This year's list marks the first time that two clubs have reached the $6bn mark. Madrid increased their value in the past year by 19%, while United climbed 30%.

"The Spanish side has made it to five of the last nine lucrative Champions League finals, winning all of them," Forbes said.

"Real Madrid has also secured nearly $400 million from Sixth Street and Legends as part of a 20-year deal to enhance revenue at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which has been undergoing a massive renovation that is expected to be completed next year."

Madrid and United are the only two clubs to have ranked in the top five each year since 2004, when Forbes began publishing annual valuations of football clubs.

Six of the top 10 ranked clubs in the report are Premier League sides, and seven of the top 30 clubs are from Major League Soccer, with LAFC at No. 17 the American side highest on the list.

Forbes' Top 10 Clubs

1. Real Madrid ($6.07bn)

2. Man Utd ($6bn)

3. Barcelona ($5.51bn)

4. Liverpool ($5.29bn)

5. Man City ($4.99bn)

6. Bayern Munich ($4.86bn)

7. PSG ($4.21bn)

8. Chelsea ($3.1bn)

9. Tottenham ($2.8bn)

10. Arsenal ($2.26bn)

Galtier Confirms Messi’s Exit from PSG Looms

Lionel Messi will play his final game for Paris St-Germain against Clermont tomorrow, says manager Christophe Galtier.

BBC Sport reported in May that the 35-year-old Argentina forward would leave when his contract ends this summer.

Messi, who joined on a free transfer from Barcelona in July 2021, helped PSG win two successive Ligue 1 titles.

"I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football," said Galtier.

"This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes."

PSG increased security at the homes of Messi, forward Neymar, midfielder Marco Verratti and Galtier last month following protest from fans.

It followed a defeat by Lorient and Messi being suspended for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia without PSG's permission. He later apologised to his teammates.

Messi captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup and, following his return from

the tournament, appeared set to stay at PSG.

The two parties reached an agreement in principle to extend his stay by a year before changing their minds.

Messi has 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, and 32 goals in 74 matches for the club overall.

PSG have been knocked out of the Champions League at the

last-16 stage in the past two seasons. Spanish football writer Guillem Balague said Messi is set to make a decision on his future soon but will not return to Barcelona, the club where he spent 21 years.

Edo First Lady Inaugurates LOC for 2023 Betsy Obaseki Tourney

The Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has inaugurated the Organising Committee for the 2023 Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT).

Speaking during the inaugu- ration of the committee at the Government House, Benin City, Mrs. Obaseki urged the members to improve on the success recorded in previous editions of the tournament.

The nine-man committee headed by Yusuf Alli, has the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere as Secretary.

Other members of the committee include Hon. Maria Edekor Esq.,

Mr. Kingsley Ehigiamusor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Dr. Andrew Obi, Dr. Peter Okonofua, Dr. Kweku Tandoh and Emmanuel Igbinosa.

The First Lady commended the committee for the overwhelming support and their contributions in previous editions of the tournament, noting, “I have good reason to appreciate you for your hard work and commitment even in the first outing that was highly commended by FIFA.

“As a result of that, I have decided that every year, we would look for you again as many of you are ready, willing and available to work with us in a bid to empower our girls not just in Edo State but

across the country.”

Speaking on behalf of other members of the committee, Dr. Tandoh expressed appreciation to the state government for giving them the opportunity to serve, adding “The last two years have been wonderful with His Excellency, the Deputy Governor and the team showing that women can make a way even in football. We want to assure you that this year, we will put in our best.

“We believe and hope that this year will not be an exception and by the grace of God and with the support that you always give to us, we would do a good job and make you proud.”

Nigeria’s U20 Head Coach, Ladan Bosso (left) consoling his Argentina counterpart, Javier Mascherano shortly after the Flying Eagles knocked out the South American nation...on Wednesday night

Aare Adeola Emmanuel King (left) and his wife Olori Ade Ronke Emmanuel King shortly after declaring the sports complex opened... yesterday

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Development, Mr Sunday Dare e issuretoupliftoursportsindustry py

Witness to PEPC

EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA

GUEST COLUMNIST

Nigeria and the Next National Assembly

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), sections 4 (1) & (2): (1) “The legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be vested in a National Assembly for the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

(2) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.”

Come June 13, 2023 or thereabout, the leadership of the National Assembly will be up for a change, the present set having been elected on June 11, 2019, with Ahmed Lawan (APC) and Femi Gbajabiamila (APC) in charge as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively. They were anointed to take over the leadership of the National Assembly in 2015 following the victory of their political party at the general elections, but that was not to be, as certain influential members of the APC lobbied the opposition lawmakers to upset the applecart, thus throwing forward Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as leaders instead. The lobbying in the present dispensation has been very intense, with all manner of permutations and calculations, from zoning to merit, being bandied to canvass support for certain interests. Some have posited that zoning, faith and gender should play major roles in the recruitment process, given the composition of the leadership of the major political parties. Deliberately and without mincing words, the framers of the Constitution established the Legislature as the First Arm of government, because law is needed to define all other aspects of human existence. It is thus expected that through its additional powers of approval and oversight functions, the legislature will work to curb the excesses of the executive arm of government, especially in situations where retired politicians have hijacked the democratic process, having in their prime tasted power and are not unwilling to hand over to others. These factors have shot the legislature into national focus, especially the leadership.

The National Assembly is a bicameral legislature consisting of 109 members of the Senate and 360 members of the House of Representatives, modelled after the federal Congress of the United States and meant to guarantee equal representation.

In the current 9th National Assembly, the APC has 66 seats in the Senate, PDP 38, NNPP 1 and YPP 1 whilst in the House of Representatives, the APC has 227 seats, PDP 121, APGA 4, NNPP 3, ADC 1 and PRP 1. Three seats are vacant in the Senate while one seat is vacant in the House of Representatives. In the 10th National Assembly that will be inaugurated in June, APC has 59 senators, PDP 36, LP 8, SDP 2 NNPP 2, APGA 1 and YPP 1. In this composition, the ruling party has 59 senators whilst the opposition parties altogether have 50, which gives renewed strength for diversity. In the House of Representatives, the APC has 162 seats, PDP 102, LP 34, NNPP 18, APGA 4, ADC 2, SDP 2 and YPP 1. What this has shown is that it is not possible for the ruling party to

foist any candidate upon the National Assembly, even though the same scenario played out in the 9th Assembly with the opposition parties unable to pull their weight when it mattered most.

Notwithstanding the seeming plurality of representation, the 9th National Assembly has not been able to assert itself as an autonomous institution, preferring rather to treasure political party affiliation over and above the national interest. In that dispensation, the executive arm of government was always certain of maximum support and approval of all proposals and requests, no matter how unpopular, injurious or backward. In the jurisdiction for which our legislative arm has been patterned, there is the robust system of separation of powers and the doctrine of checks and balances. The three arms of government are expected to operate independently and complimentarily, not dependent upon or patronizing, in the manner that the 9th Assembly has carried on. No doubt it is good to have a responsible legislature for the purpose

of harmonization and development but when it gets to the level where the executive is always right, then such level of dubious cooperation should worry all lovers of true democracy. A legislature that cannot supervise and check the excesses of the executive is not worth its name at all. Truth is, such an assembly of persons cannot claim to represent anyone, when the chips are down. They represent only themselves, only their interests and their stomachs. However, the 9th Asssembly was able to conclude the process of the amendment of the Constitution and it also gave us the new Electoral Act, with all its booby traps.

Owing largely to the independent mode of its leadership recruitment, the 8th National Assembly under Saraki and Dogara turned out to be one of the best ever, at least in taming the monstrous executive arm. You can imagine what would have happened under Saraki should the Central Bank of Nigeria dream of the calamitous project of Naira redesign or the needless loans that the federal government has embarked upon in its dying days. It was not business as usual in the National Assembly under Saraki and Dogara, as the legislators asserted their powers to the fullest and held the executive down to follow due process, at all times. As an appointee of the President, you would have to prepare very well for your screening, and ministries and other government agencies had to sit up to defend their budgets and actions. They were very daring, courageous and they took steps to protect the people from an overbearing executive. It was little wonder then that the ruling party did all its best to ensure that most members of that collective did not return to the 9th National Assembly. But Nigeria has paid dearly for that selfish agenda as the 9th National Assembly operated more like a weeping institution, a clearing house and a reporting Chamber, where elected representatives of the people stoop to beg directors of parastatals to attend public hearings, at times issuing empty threats without any follow-up action and granting virtually all the requests of the executive. Having succeeded in installing its cronies in positions of authority at the

National Assembly, the executive has since then embarked upon mindless borrowings, putting our nation at the mercy of shylock imperialists, who whimsically drafted contracts that threaten even our cherished sovereignty, at times in their own language. Yes, it is a National Assembly that prides itself in ‘reporting’ errant serving ministers and heads of parastatals who defy its summons, to the President.

As elected representatives of the people, the National Assembly is expected to assert the will of the people by invoking the relevant provisions of the constitution in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities of law making, supervising the executive arm and also to prevent waste and corruption. Lawmakers who scramble for constituency projects cannot be in the best position to make laws that will impact the people positively. So much has been invested in the National Assembly in order to guarantee optimum performance and so the leadership of such a crucial organ should not be a matter of political patronage or reward for perceived electoral support. We cannot afford the misfortune of parading elected representatives who are whipped along the lines of executive preferences, all the time. There has to be a balance of power and of forces, for our nation to ever dream of attaining the expected growth that our leaders have touted so often.

In choosing the leadership of the 10th National Assembly therefore, the most important criteria should be competence, which can also include experience, qualification and indeed reputation. As the saying goes, the fish gets rotten from the head, so the kind of leaders to be entrusted with the management of the National Assembly is key to our national development. Of course we need to be sensitive to issues of gender parity, faith and indeed zoning, all of which could be accommodated in the primary consideration of merit as indeed it is possible for the right candidate to possess all these features all at once. Although the tradition is for the ranking members-elect of the political party with the highest number to produce the leadership of the National Assembly, it does not have to be along party lines, given that the laws governing the choice of leadership is internal to the legislature. For instance, the opposition parties, either in the name of “the Greater Majority” or any other forum, can swing the tide if they remain united. In this regard, legislators should be allowed to vote according to their convictions, not vote buying. The news filtering that certain candidates for the leadership are campaigning with dollars to garner support should be a disqualifying factor, if at all it is true. Security agencies should beam their searchlight on the members-elect to monitor their activities, especially their finances. We cannot afford to reduce the next leadership of the National Assembly to commercial ventures to be sold to the highest bidders, as once corruption has been laid upon the foundation of that hallowed institution, then we can all predict what would happen in the next four years. Members-elect are thus enjoined to discountenance the APC contraption of leadership by zoning. I vote for an independent, vibrant and active National Assembly.

•Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), writes from Lagos

“I was forced to sign which I protested because without signing I was going to be denied a copy to my party” –First witness of PDP, Joe Agada, revealing at Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that he was forced to sign the results as the state collation officer in the last presidential election in Kogi State.

Tinubu

So much has been invested in the National Assembly in order to guarantee optimum performance and so the leadership of such a crucial organ should not be a matter of political patronage or reward for perceived electoral support. We cannot afford the misfortune of parading elected representatives who are whipped along the lines of executive preferences, all the time. There has to be a balance of power and of forces, for our nation to ever dream of attaining the expected growth that our leaders have touted so often