of Its Nigerian Affiliates
Says Ethiopia Air paid $250m equity for 49 % ownership of airline Declares airline was unveiled by shareholders not FG Immediate past House Committee chair denies allegation against him Describes Sirika as a drowning man
Continued on page 5
Pays tribute to Abiola, other martyrs of June 12 Apologises for pains associated with recent fuel subsidy removal Afenifere charges president on actuallising Abiola's dreams
Atiku: It's time to reflect on our democratic journey Our democracy is deeply troubled, says Obi
NADECO seeks implementation of El-Rufai's report Gbajabiamila asks for prayers for leaders
EU pledges to strengthen nation’s democracy Keep faith, despite setbacks, Obaseki urges Nigerians
President Bola Tinubu has joined Nigerians across the world to celebrate 30 years of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, and the fifth anniversary of Democracy Day. Tinubu sent a message to people, who refused to accept defeat at elections, saying they do not deserve victory in future polls.
In a broadcast this morning, Tinubu eulogised the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola, and other martyrs of the struggle that followed, saying Abiola paid the supreme price for democracy to survive.
The president noted that orders
BETARA STEPS DOWN FOR ABASS AFTER MEETING
Foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday, declared that the Department of State Services (DSS) lacked power to investigate and prosecute the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for alleged money laundering.
Falana said such prosecutorial powers belong to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
used to truncate or abridge democracy would no longer be tolerated. He apologised to the Nigerian people for the pains they suffered following the recent removal of fuel subsidy.
Commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day, too, Afenifere, a panYoruba socio-political organisation, yesterday, said this year’s edition was significant because one of the leading lights of the June 12 struggle, Tinubu, was now Nigeria’s president. Therefore, Afenifere stated, actualising Abiola’s dreams for Nigeria and the world now rested on him.
Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, said it was time for Nigerians to reflect on their journey to becoming a truly democratic society.
Similarly, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, expressed worry over the current state of the nation’s politics and concluded that Nigeria’s democracy was deeply troubled while its destiny remained uncertain and precarious.
At the same time, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) called on Tinubu to immediately set in motion modalities for the implementation of the Nasir elRufai committee report on federal constitutional government, as promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, congratulated Nigerians for their unwavering support for the country and urged them to pray for
and urged DSS to investigate Emefiele only on the allegations bordering on terrorism.
In a similar vein, Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), and Convener of Civil Society Situation Room, Clement Okechukwu Nwankwo, in an interview on Channels Television yesterday, alleged that due process was not followed in the removal of Emefiele.
Likewise, some analysts yesterday rallied round Emefiele, describing his ordeal as more of personal vendetta
its leadership.
On the foreign scene, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) pledged to continue to work towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and deepening the gains.
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, urged Nigerians to keep faith with democracy, despite the setbacks.
Tinubu was a prominent leader of NADECO, the umbrella group of Nigerian activists who advocated the actualisation of the June 12 mandate, following the Ibrahim Babangida military government’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by Abiola.
Tinubu stressed in his Democracy Day speech, "We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defence of the ideals of democracy as symbolised in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President.
“There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.
"Everyday, on this day, down
by the current administration than impartial prosecution.
Falana pointed out that DSS, which had accused Emefiele of funding terrorism, should concentrate its investigation in that regard and, subsequently, hand over the investigation to EFCC.
In a statement issued yesterday, Falana stated that DSS would bungle the investigation if it stayed on money laundering investigation, which was outside its purview.
The statement said, “A few months
the ages, we will recall the several other heroes of democracy, such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people.
“We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (rtd), who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today."
Reminiscing on the annulment of the June 12 presidential poll by the military president Babangida regime, Tinubu vowed that such illegal orders that stalked the June 12 poll would no longer be tolerated in the country.
He said, "It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated."
Referring to the last general election in the country, the president declared that those who refused to accept defeat in the poll did not deserve victory in future elections.
He said, "Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory, when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is
ago, the State Security Service (SSS) levelled grave allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and other economic crimes against Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“At the material time, the attempt by the SSS to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Mr. Emefiele was frustrated by the erstwhile Buhari administration.
"However, following the suspension of Mr. Emefiele as the Governor of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu, the SSS quizzed him in Lagos and flew
still the best form of government invented by man."
Tinubu also commented on the recent withdrawal of fuel subsidy by his administration. He apologised to Nigerians for the step taken, and said the move was dictated by the need to ensure that the Nigeria did not cease to exist.
According to Tinubu, "It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessorin-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich.
“I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.
“Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.”
Speaking on the need to save democracy, he said, "It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary
SIRIKA ACCUSES NNAJI OF DEMANDING 5% SHARES IN NIGERIA AIR
since his controversial unveiling ceremony of Nigeria Air.
Sirika made the allegation yesterday while appearing on ‘THISDAYLIVE,’ a programme monitored on Arise News to clarify controversies that trailed the haphazard unveiling of Air Nigeria on May 29 when the Buhari administration was handling over power.
Nnaji had declared the launch of Air Nigeria as a fraud and had urged the Ministry of Aviation to immediately suspend flight operations and every other actions with respect to Nigeria Air.
Members of his committee had also called for Sirika’s arrest and investigation, and had alleged that Nigeria Air was a fraud and a personal project packaged as a national project.
But Sirika in the interview alleged that Nnaji met him in private to make the demand, “for himself and his people” and said that it was the
inability of the Chairman House Committee to get same that led to the current House hearing and accusations against him.
“I need to respond to my friend, the former Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nnaji, who said it was a fraud. What I said to him in private I will say it now. He asked me to indulge him and give him five per cent stake in the airline.
“What I told him in private about that five per cent was that it belongs to the owners. I believe that if they were willing they would offer him if he had the money. It was not me giving it.
“I was not involved in the bidding process and I am very sure they would have reserved five per cent for him and his people according to him. But he should approach them to get the five percent that he needed,” Sirika said.
When prodded further, the former
Aviation Minister said: “He asked me and you know I record all my things anyway. I have to be very clear. He asked me to give him five per cent of Nigeria Air and to carry him along with his people. And I said to him that time: ‘Look Hon, you didn’t understand this. This is a bidding process that has taken place. And some people won’. I think he should go to those people and ask them for five percent. “I wanted to reassure him that even the five percent held by the federal government would go to the market and he should get his money ready and buy for himself and his people according to him.”
When Siriki was pressed if Nnaji and the members of the Aviation Committee were asking to be bribed before they could support the establishment of Nigeria Air, he again responded: “No. In other words, to be fair, he did not say other members. He
ADESUA DOZIE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF ITS NIGERIAN AFFILIATES
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The ExxonMobil upstream affiliates operating in Nigeria are MPN, EEPNL and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited. The companies have notable history, proven experience and a strong record of contributions to Nigeria’s development.
him to Abuja yesterday. According to media reports, the investigation of the suspect by the SSS has commenced. Even though the SSS, which initially denied the arrest, has since turned round to admit that Mr. Emefiele is in its custody."
Falana recalled, "In the case of Dr. Bukola Saraki v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) 16 NWLR (pt. 1646) 433-434, the Supreme Court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacks the vires to investigate and prosecute the appellant
that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.
"The recent harmonisation of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started. The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people, who are the shareholders, means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices.
“It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, 'Farewell to Poverty', because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.
"On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.”
for the breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. It was for that principal reason that Senator Saraki was freed by the apex court."
The senior lawyer maintained that in line with the principle of law enunciated by the apex court in Saraki's case, SSS lacked power to investigate and prosecute Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes.
Afenifere, in press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, marking the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, tasked Tinubu to design necessary policies to protect ordinary Nigerians and ensure that their welfare was improved.
Afenifere recounted how the election won by Abiola was annulled by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, adding that the annulment caused a lot of uproar both within and outside Nigeria, and precipitated countless tragedies.
Afenifere said in the statement, "Many leading lights in Nigeria, including the winner of the election, Basorun M.K.O. Abiola, lost their lives while many had to run away for their dear lives. Among them was Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who is now the president of the country.
“Tinubu, along with many others, fought for the de-annulment of the election result under the auspices of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) formed for the purpose of actualising the said election and the ousting of the military from the corridors of power in Nigeria. Besides midwifing NADECO, Afenifere played pivotal roles in the struggle to actualise June 12.
"At a point, Tinubu, like many others, had to flee the country. But they continued the struggle even while outside Nigeria."
said he wanted for him and his people –people could be his family, could be the members, could be the leadership. I did not know what he meant.
“But he said for him and his people five per cent. I said he should relax and approach the owners. That exactly was what I told him in camera. Remember I had been in House of Reps 20 years ago. And 10 years ago I was a Senator, so I know how the whole thing is.
‘You call for public hearing and right after the public hearing you just turn the paper and read the riot act. What is the practice in the National Assembly is that after hearing from people and the complaint, you now go and sit down as a committee. The clerk will do their job, you now sit down, discuss the issues, raise them and approach the whole house and take the position of the house and leadership and come back and make your findings known. But not immediately by reading a riot act.
“It means it is predetermined. They asked if we are not part of this. Off course it is an executive act and function. You can’t be part of it but you have been overseeing the ministry for four years. It is now that you know that there is fraud in the airline. “We started it in 2016. It means you did not do your work.
If you have been very diligent you would have found out whether there was corruption or fraud,” Sirika said.
The former minister vehemently defended Buhari from stage-managing the controversial unveiling of Nigeria Air in Abuja, on the day of its departure, saying rather the
launch was done by the consortium of owners as their marketing strategy.
He said Nigeria Air is a company known to the Nigerian law as Nigeria Air Limited.
According to him under the business structure, the federal government holds five per cent which is held in trust by Ministry of Finance Incorporated while Ethiopia, the strategic partner, holds 49 percent. The equity of the Ethiopian to their capital in the business is $250 million.
Other shareholders are MRS, 31 per cent while SAHCOLS holds 15 percent.
Siriki also said he found the allegation that the business was shrouded in secrecy quite disturbing and mind boggling.
He said Nigeria Air was advertised during the procurement stage in the national dailies and The Economist while there was a business conference which had in attendance members of the airline operators from Nigeria.
“We had a whole website dedicated and regulated by ICRC. The whole world knew about the bidding and some of the bidders asked for extension of time and we gave them four weeks. And it was open and someone won.
“So where is the secrecy? We had six stakeholder conferences to discuss Nigeria Air. We had an outside business trip where we presented it to the public and stakeholders. And the meeting was done transparently. And don’t forget the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the Attorney General and Aviation Minister were
Afenifere said it had to recall the events to underscore the fact that the person occupying the number one position in Nigeria today was a very active player in the struggle to restore civil rule in the country.
“Incidentally, he was part of Hope 93, the trajectory mounted by Abiola, who contested on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the said election,” Afenifere said of Tinubu.
It added, “Thus, Tinubu was very much aware of the plans Abiola had for transforming Nigeria had he became the president of the country. Herein, among others areas, lies the significance of Tinubu mounting the saddle exactly 30 years after the historic election that would have seen his (Tinubu’s) former political leader in Aso Rock.
"Meaning that he, Tinubu, now has the onerous responsibility of actualising the noble dreams of Abiola for Nigeria and the African continent. A good student of history, Tinubu is quite familiar with those plans that Abiola had. Just as he is familiar with the life-transforming programmes of his older political icon, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“Now, he has the responsibility to harmonise the big projects of these two men and integrate them with his own plans with a view to making Nigeria fulfill its destiny. The destiny of being the leading light for the Black Race all over the world. A destiny the country was on the path to fulfill, but for the unfortunate military incursion of 1966!”
Urges agency to hand over probe to EFCC, not bungle case Nwankwo faults removal, insists due process not followed Analysts warn persecution could deter foreign investors, hurt economy Say terrorism charges laughable
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has alleged that ExxonMobil Corp was involved in the illegal lifting of petroleum products from an offshore terminal.
The allegation showed the continued overlap and power tussle between NMDPRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), two main regulatory agencies in the petroleum sector.
However, ExxomMobil debunked the allegation of illegal lifting petroleum products, saying its operations were carried out in full compliance with the law.
The American oil major also said what was playing out was an on-going fight between NMDPRA and NUPRC over who controlled the export terminals. ExxomMobil added that the fight between the two agencies was messing up Nigeria's image before investors and causing operators suffering.
According to a letter of complaint to the Ministry of Petroleum, dated June 8, which was seen by Reuters, NMDPRA said Barumk Gas, a shipping vessel, was lifting butane from the ExxonMobil-controlled Bonny River Terminal without its "authorisation or participation."
By law, the regulator designated for upstream is the only one allowed to have a key to the oil valve and companies need to be accompanied by a member of the regulatory staff to tap the oil.
"The actions of ExxonMobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria's national resources," NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, said in the letter dated June 8, according to Reuters. Ahmed said Barumk Gas should be stopped from sailing out until an investigation was conducted.
Refinitiv data, according to the report, showed Barumk Gas was fully loaded at the Bonny Terminal.
However, reacting to the allegation, a Corporate Communications staff at ExxonMobil Nigeria, Mr. Oge Udeagha, told THISDAY in a brief text message, yesterday, "All operations of the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture are carried out in full compliance with the law."
But another official of the company, who pleaded for anonymity in this report, said what was playing out was just the on-going fight between NMDPRA and NUPRC over who controlled the export terminals.
The official added that the fight between the two agencies was messing up Nigeria's image.
The source stated, "The way I see
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba, has attributed the delay in the construction of the Okene-Auchi-Benin highway road project to poor financing.
Fielding questions from journalists in Benin, at the weekend, Agba however, disclosed that tax credit funding had been secured for the N75 billion road project whose contract was awarded 15 years ago.
He explained that contractors handling the projects which was in four sections, were yet to return to site because of the federal government’s delay in the argumentation (variation) of their contracts.
Agba, also disclosed that the Benin-Warri road construction which was to cost N290 billion had been approved on tax credit basis, adding that the project had been divided into three sections.
He called for a change of the Procurement Law, pointing out that the law in extant form distorts and prolong contract awards and executions.
Agba further told newsmen that he was under pressure to run for the governorship of Edo State next year, saying he was yet to take a decision as he was still consulting on the issue.
"I have the capacity and qualifications to run. If the opportunity avails itself, I will run", he said.
it, this is a fight between NUPRC and NMDPRA that are fighting over who controls export and all that. So, we the operators, are the ones suffering it. This fight has been going on for some time now and I think it got to the Senate and there was a Senate resolution on that.
"Then, the former president issued a directive on May 3 clarifying that NUPRC is the sole regulator responsible for supervising all exports. I'm sure you saw that letter. So, we don't know where this one is coming from."
The official explained that the company applied to NUPRC for an approval to integrate their operations at the terminal, which he said was a normal thing as provided for in the law for a company to integrate its operations to enable it have one operation.
The source further explained, "And we got the approval duly approved. In fact, this export they are talking about, an official of the NUPRC was there and supervising. So, if there is any lock
that was changed or whatever that was done, it must be by the NUPRC, not us. We don't have a key to the valves. So, they just don't want to say what they have in mind. The two agencies are still fighting.
"And for me, the big issue here is that we are messing up the image of this country from an investment perspective with some of these things the regulators are doing. So, you don't even know who is in charge and who is not.
"The president gave a directive and someone somewhere is making trouble and calling an international oil company names, making allegations that are unfounded just because you and your sister agency are fighting.
“And these are the same people you people are calling to come and invest. Invest how? When you are trying to mess up my image. You are trying to stop my operations and you are asking me to bring more money to invest. We are getting tired of some of these things."
The ExxonMobil source advised
the agencies to get their act together to avoid destroying this country.
According to the official, "The misalignment is well too much and they are taking this thing too far. The thing is there; it's in the law. There is an approval for us to integrate, there was a Senate resolution and there was a directive from the president saying NUPRC is in charge of all the exports, and there was an NUPRC person at the place supervising what was going on.
"So, where is this all coming from? Just because NMDPRA does not recognise NUPRC as the regulator who should be doing this. That's all, and they are now calling us names."
All attempts to get the response of NMDPRA on the report from the agency's spokesman, Mr. Kimchi Apolos, proved abortive.
NUPRC also declined to respond.
THISDAY had reported that in an attempt to resolve the overlap between NMDPRA and NUPRC in regulating the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas sectors,
Buhari had on May 3 directed NUPRC to take over the supervision of all crude oil export terminals in the country. The presidential directive was contained in a letter, dated May 3, 2023, with reference number SH/ COS/24/A/78, sent to Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, and Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA.
That followed the outcry by the International oil companies (IOCs) and the Nigerian independent operators about the worrisome overlap of regulatory activities between the two agencies.
The stakeholders had during the CEOs Roundtable at the 2023 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, lamented the costs and dangers the regulatory misalignment was having on their operations and called for immediate resolution. In the official communication, Buhari instructed the NMDPRA to cease all actions related to monitoring activities at Nigerian crude oil export terminals.
Udora Orizu in Abuja
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the failure to probe the allegations that $2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion oil revenue budgeted as fuel subsidy payments were missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.
The suit followed allegations documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation in the 2016 and 2019 annual reports that the public funds were missing.
In the suit number FHC/L/ CS/1107/23, filed last Friday, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP also sought, “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to promptly probe allegations that USD$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.”
SERAP is sought an order of mandamus to compel Tinubu to direct the anti-corruption agencies
to promptly probe fuel subsidy payments made by governments since the return of democracy in 1999, name and shame and prosecute suspected perpetrators, and to recover any proceeds of crimes.
SERAP also sought an order to direct and compel Tinubu to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address the impact of the subsidy removal on poor Nigerians, and to put in place mechanisms for transparency and accountability in the oil sector.
In the suit, SERAP argued that the allegations that US$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion of public funds were missing and unaccounted amounted to a fundamental breach of national anticorruption laws and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.
SERAP also argued that the Tinubu’s government has constitutional and international legal obligations to get to the bottom of the allegations and ensure accountability
for these serious crimes against the Nigerian people.
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “There will be no economic growth or sustainability without accountability for the human rights crimes. Poor and socio-economically vulnerable Nigerians should not be made to continue to pay the price for the stealing of the country’s oil wealth while state and non-state actors pocket public funds.
“Investigating and prosecuting the allegations, and recovering any missing public funds would serve the public interest, ensure justice and accountability, and end the entrenched impunity of perpetrators.
“According to the audited reports between 2016 and 2019 by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit N663,896,567,227.58 into the Federation Account.
“The Auditor-General fears that the money may be missing.
The NNPC also reportedly failed to account for the allocation of crude oil to refineries in 2019. 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document.
“The Auditor-General fears that the crude valued at N55,891,009,960.63 may have been diverted. Subsidy records show that N443,940,559,974.80 was paid as total subsidy for 2016 but the money was not budgeted for. The payments were for outstanding Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) commitments for year 2015. However, there was no payment in 2016. Only outstanding payments for previous years 2014 and 2015 and interest payments were made in 2016.
“The Auditor-General fears that the oil marketers that received the subsidy payments may not have been ‘eligible to draw from the Petroleum Support Fund as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) failed to provide any document on the payments.’”
The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has assured that remediation work at the erosion-damaged road in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State would commence immediately.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who spoke while sympathising with the people of Akinima and Joinkarama communities, who were victims of the erosion, promised to intervene,
said the commission would urgently restore the affected road.
Ogbuku, also sympathised with commuters using the road, for the pains they were going through on daily basis.
The NDDC boss who was accompanied by the Executive Director Projects, Mr. Charles Ogunmola and other Directors of the Commission, assured that remediation work at the erosion site would commence immediately. He observed that the damage
on the road was enormous and would, therefore, require short and long-term solutions. He said: “We will move into action immediately to provide an alternative route while the permanent solution to the erosion problem was being addressed.”
Ogbuku stated: “This is a major road linking many communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. Obviously, there is no way people can access this road because of the damage caused by erosion.
“We have been on project inspection in Delta State. Our team was in the creeks in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta, going all the way to Escravos. Today, we had to visit this erosion site in Rivers State because we received several complaints about the serious situation here.”
Ogbuku said it was important for him and the team of engineers to visit the site to have a first-hand information for proper assessment and appropriate response.
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Many civil servants across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) including the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) have been suspended for alleged salary padding on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The allegation was confirmed by RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed
Bello Shehu, who said those identified had been placed on suspension pending investigation.
The affected workers were found to have manipulated the IPPIS system to pad their salaries above their threshold.
An Assistant Director at the OAGF in charge in charge of staff’ salary was alleged to have connived with some staff to pad up the salaries of unspecified number of lower level staff.
The scheme was discovered when a level 7 officer whose salary should
be in the range of N60,000 was paid over N400,000, which was in the range of a salary package of a Director.
The salary padding racket had been on for a while among a small clique of civil servants in different MDAs with the IPPIS office in the OAGF as the epicentre.
Reacting to the development, the OAGF in a statement said it was, “in receipt of enquiries over alleged ‘salary padding’ on the IPPIS involving some unspecified MDAs.”
“In the meantime, a staff
suspected to be connected with the breach has been suspended to allow for thorough investigation. “All necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the controls around the IPPIS payment platform and an independent forensic audit of the entire payroll system is underway to ascertain if the reported breach is isolated or widespread,” Shehu said. He said if the indicted officials were found culpable of the salary padding allegations, they would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
StarTimes, one of the leading digital TV operator serving 45 million users in more than 30 African countries is celebrating its 35th anniversary with exciting consumer incentives.
This was disclosed in a statement yesterday.
“Founded in 1988 by Chinese engineer, Pang Xinxing, StarTimes has become a major system integrator, technology provider, network operator and content provider in the African television broadcasting industry,” the statement added.
CEO of StarTimes Nigeria, Joshua Wang, said, “StarTimes is grateful for the support and trust of its customers over the years.”
He said that StarTimes would continue to provide quality and affordable TV entertainment for every African family.
To mark this milestone, Wang said the pay-tv company would reward customers with a consumer reward promo.
“From June 12 to August 31, customers will receive instant upgrades to the next higher bouquet when they recharge for two months on their current bouquet while Classic/Super bouquet subscribers will get fifteen days extra when they pay for two-month recharge.
“Also, new customers will get massive discounts on decoder purchases as the price of antenna decoder is slashed to N7,500 from N8,900, while the dish decoder goes for N9,900 from N13,300,” he said.
Wang said that StarTimes was grateful for the support and trust of its customers over the years, adding that the pay TV would
will continue to provide quality and affordable TV entertainment for every African family.
StarTimes owns a 700+ channels’ content platform combining local African and international channels.
As of July 2020, StarTimes operates in thirty countries, serving thirteen million subscribers and twenty million streamers via its StarTimes-ON mobile app. The pay-TV company launched in Nigeria in 2010.
“With the vision to ensure that every African family can access, afford, watch and share the beauty of digital TV, StarTimes has been providing a rich collection of entertainment consisting of news, movies, series, sports, entertainment, children's programs, fashion, religion etc,” Assistant Marketing Director, StarTimes Nigeria, Bose
Adewara said.
“Popular content on StarTimes includes an original production, Hello Mr Right which premieres June 10 on ST Nollywood Plus and Novela E, local drama series like new seasons of Jenifa’s Diary, and well-acclaimed international series like The Wives, among others.
“StarTimes has eleven Nollywood channels, seven cartoon channels, over ten Bollywood channels, exciting documentaries, sports, news, music & more channels,” Adewara added.
As a business committed to media industry growth, Wang said that StarTimes was at the forefront of championing the digital switchover drive in Nigeria, by providing its infrastructure to enable the switch from analogue to digital TV across the states of the Federation.
He added: “From what we have seen, the long-term solution will be to provide shore-protection for the road and the communities.”
A community leader in Joinkarama, Mr. Ovie-Oniso Kelvin, lamented that the Orashi River, which passes through the area,
contributed to the gully erosion that destroyed the road and appealed to development agencies to come to their rescue.
He deplored the level of environmental degradation, poverty and neglect in the area, despite playing host to many oil wells.
No fewer than 50 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were successfully operated on at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos in the last 12 months.
Some of the survivors gave accounts of how they were saved from premature death after undergoing laparoscopic surgery, a non-invasive pinhole surgery. At a media parley in Lagos, to mark the milestone attained in the last 12 months by the Reddington Hospital in conjunction with Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a United Kingdom-based Consultant Urological, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Surgeon, the survivors narrated how using the latest technology in prostate cancer care at Reddington Hospital assured a 100 per cent cure for their ailment with minimal loss of blood or any other side effect.
Mr. Ben Alozie, a veteran journalist, also a survivor, who had his laparoscopic surgery 10 months ago, said the previous eight years had been traumatic for him because he had had a near-fatal road accident with broken legs, survived Covid-19 before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“But today I am a happy man. I am free from cancer. No more urinary incontinence and my libido is back fully”, said Alozie while urging men not to be negligent but go for a regular test to check their Prostate health.
Mr. Emeka Ezeani went for an annual vacation in the United States and used the opportunity to run a comprehensive health check. It was one of the tests that returned positive for prostate cancer.
“The result was like a death sentence. I was devastated. My
sister in New York said I should come over to do another test for a second opinion. It was confirmed but I was assured there is hope as it has not progressed much,” Ezeani said.
He was about to start radiotherapy in the hospital when he read a report about Ekwueme in the WhatsApp group of their church, St. Mulumba Catholic Church.
He made contact with Ekwueme who asked him to take the next available flight to Lagos.
“I came back January 14, 2023, did the MRI Scan, and was booked for the surgery at Reddington Hospital. The rest is history. I am free of prostate cancer. No pain, no loss of blood during the surgery, and I ate food the same day,” Ezeani said while narrating his experience. He thanked the management of Reddington Hospital for providing a conducive medical environment for the successful surgery.
In a presentation titled, “Can We Conquer Prostate Cancer?”, Ekwueme said prostate cancer had become a public health burden globally with statistics showing high prevalence in Europe and North America. He said that although data in Nigeria was very poor, available information paints a gloomy picture.
Ekwueme said people should not wait to have symptoms before they go for prostate cancer screening noting that at that stage it is terrible news because it is already advanced. He said the success rate of laparoscopic surgery was 100 per cent, adding that his partnership with Reddington Hospital would provide succor for Nigerian men and others from the West Coast including Ghana who come for the surgery.
In 2018 before the expiration of his first term, former President Muhammedu Buhari dealt a political master stroke on the tragedy and long clamour that trailed the annulment of the June 1993 presidential election won by late business mogul, Basorun Moshood Kasimawo Abiola, when he declared June 12 as the country’s Democracy Day as against May 29th.
The historic decision was a final closure to a democratic struggle that lasted for 25 years. It was a victory for democracy and pride for pro-democracy activists, especially for the late Moshood Abiola’s family who remained terrified all those years, not only by the death of their beloved parent but also by the disregard and injustice suffered in the hands of those who profited from the tragedy.
The decision was to posthumously honour MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election after available
election data showed that he won the polls but was never formally declared winner and was not sworn into office by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Three decades after the election, former Nigeria’s military President Ibrahim Babangida said he annulled the June 12, 1993, presidential poll to prevent a coup in the country.
Babangida, in an interview on Arise TV, said that some top officials in the military would have staged a violent coup if he did not annul the election.
His words: “If it materialised, there would’ve been a coup d’état which could have been violent. That’s all I can confirm. It didn’t happen thanks to the engineering and the ‘Maradonic’ way we handled you guys in the society with a tinge of
disdain. But that could’ve given room for more instability in the country.”
Sadly, Abiola was later imprisoned by the Sani Abacha’s military regime while he battled effortlessly to claim his mandate.
In 1998, he died in prison. Successive governments since 1999 ignored calls by Nigerians and other pro-democracy activists to honoured Abiola and for the federal government to recognise June 12 as democracy day.
But the agitation put to rest in 2018 by the Buhari’s administration and Abiola was declared winner of the election and was conferred with the nation’s highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) an honour that is exclusively conferred only on presidents and former presidents.
Abiola’s former running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, was also bestowed with the GCON award.
In his last Democracy Day speech before
the end of his first term in office, President Buhari described the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election as “the worst of our leadership”.
He said Nigerians must never forget the sacrifices of the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy during 1993 poll.
“Their patriotism and peaceful struggle”, he said “should guide our actions especially when it comes to electing our leaders and holding them accountable, now and in future”.
Buhari’s political masterstroke may have mollified the injured and the multitudes of others who were equally bruised in the campaign for June 12, but some political elites and victims of the tragedy expected more from his administration.
The absence of Senator-elect and former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari; the Director General of his campaign organisation, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and one of his supporters, Senator Elisha Abbo, at a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and all the elected senators for the 10th Senate last Thursday, has set the stage for serious contest for the presiding officers positions on the floor of the Red Chamber during its inauguration on Tuesday, June 13.
Contrary to the zoning arrangements of the All Progressives Congress, a formidable team comprising Yari as the arrowhead, Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso and Sani Musa had intensified the push for supremacy against the camp of the APC anointed candidature of Godswill Akpabio who had been endorsed for the position of Senate President and Barau Jibrin as Deputy Senate President.
President Bola Tinubu and the National Working Committee of the APC had done everything possible to ensure that there was no contest for the position of the Senate presiding officers but rather than toeing their lines, the aggrived aspirants who were not among the chosen two, formed an alliance.
Yari, Kalu, Izunaso and Musa, after protesting the zoning formula without the desired result, insisted on going ahead to contest the seat against the party’s choice.
Consequently, the Yari’s group formed the Senate Democratic Caucus while the Akpabio’s
team adopted the name Senate Stability Group.
The two camps are claiming to have secured the required number of lawmakers to win the Senate presidency.
To win the election, candidates require a simple majority of 55 out of the total 109 senators.
After shunning a meeting with the President on Thursday, Yari hosted his group now known as the Senate Democratic Caucus at a popular hotel in the nation’s capital to unveil who would be his deputy between the trio of Kalu, Izunaso and Musa.
Sources at the meeting confided in THISDAY that the race for the position
of deputy Senate President has been narrowed down to Kalu and Izunaso because Musa is a Muslim from the North.
There was no clear picture of who had been eventually picked as of the time of putting this report together at the weekend.
Meanwhile the anointed candidates of the APC, Akpabio and Jibrin were also said to have held a strategic meeting with their team known as the Stability Group which had Senator Ali Ndume as the Director General.
Details of the meeting were still sketchy as of the time of filling this report but it may not be unconnected with the fact that they had started perfecting strategies to ensure that they defeat the Yari’s group following the inability of Tinubu and the APC to prevent double nomination on
the floor of the Senate during the inauguration.
A Senator-Elect from Kano South, Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, in an interview with THISDAY, gave an insight as to why some elected lawmakers moved against the decision of the party to micro-zone the presiding officers positions to individuals.
He also explained that the decision had some consequences going by his past experiences at the National Assembly in the last 20 years.
Kawu said, “ Do you know how Aminu Masari was elected in 2003 as the Speaker of the House of Representatives? That was 20 years ago when I was in the House on the ticket of the All Nigeria People’s Party, we were almost 90 together with the minority parties we were not up to 150. The party then, the Peoples Democratic Party, had the power.
“They had the majority, we were not up to 150. The Action Congress members were less than 40. Therefore when they were presenting the candidate they selected some of us from the minority and the majority.
“Our leader, Ahmad Lawan was there. When they zoned the position to North West, then the North West micro-zoned the position to Katsina, and members from Katsina and the stakeholders in Katsina State, came up with Aminu Masari and the North West presented Masari to the House. That was what happened in 2007.
Emameh Gabriel writes that the fifth anniversary of the celebration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day comes up today with one of those involved in the struggle, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in charge as President.Buhari Abiola Tinubu
All efforts by President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress to micro-zone 10th Senate’s presiding officers positions to the duo of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin by preventing others from contesting as Senate President and Deputy Senate President on the day of inauguration on Tuesday, June 13, appear to have failed, reports Sunday AborisadeAkpabio Yari
As part of measures to enhance transparency in its financial transactions, as well as minimising waste in defence spending while improving compliance with extant regulations, the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration recently held a maiden seminar for senior Ministry of Defence staff, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports
From Public Financial Management Reforms of the Federal Government to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Role of Financial Regulations in Public Expenditure Management, Personal Effectiveness, Time Management in the workplace, Mastering Emotional Intelligence for Enhanced Workplace Relationships and Performance Management, Feedback, and Appraisal, it was a three-day marathon training for senior staff of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Organised by Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Arakan Cantonment, Lagos, the training was targeted at enhancing transparency in its financial transactions, as well as minimising waste in defence spending while improving compliance with extant regulation.
This is because waste in military spending is widely perceived as a serious problem, and with justification, hence, the quest by the Nigerian Army to ensure financial accountability in defence expenditure at its maiden Financial Management Seminar for MOD staff.
At the training, NASFA Commandant, Brigadier General Julius Osifo, said among other things, it was to acquaint the senior MOD staff and keep them abreast of the latest trends with contemporary policy issues of the federal government and other work-related thematic issues.
Topical issues like Public Financial Management Reforms of the Federal Government like treated. Also, the seminar dealt with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Accrual Basis as a Panacea for Effective Financial Reporting, as well as the Role of Financial Regulations in Public Expenditure Management. Not left out was Personal Effectiveness, and Time Management in the workplace.
To wrap up the sessions, the organisers fixed in master classes on Mastering Emotional Intelligence for Enhanced Workplace Relationships as well as performance Management, Feedback, and Appraisal.
In one of the lectures, one of the facilitators, Alhaji Salawu Zubairu, who spoke on “Overview of Public Financial Management Reform", emphasised that public funds are held and managed in trust by the government for the benefit of the people.
He noted that the management of public finance in any country impacts the achievement of the government’s role in an economy, in terms of economic stability, growth, exchange stability, and unemployment.
This, he said, is particularly important in developing countries where the government sector drives the economy, adding that given
that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa notwithstanding the challenges, sound PFM is critical to the sustainability of this fit.
Thus he noted that governments should work to establish greater trust between themselves and their constituents and that this should be one of the highest priorities for national leaders and public officials.
Vision of a Professional Army
For the Army Chief of Accounts and Budget (CAB), Major General Adetokunbo Fayemiwo, the seminar was based on the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, which is “A Professional Nigerian Army, Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment, in Defence of Nigeria”.
Thus, he said it was in line with this vision that the training by senior civilian staff was approved, adding that this maiden edition signals the beginning of a new synergy between military and civilian staff of the MOD with an overriding commitment to optimising the vision of the Chief of Army Staff and better security architecture for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said: "The premise of the seminar was based on the vision of the Chief of Army Staff which is "A Professional Nigerian Army, Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment, in Defence of Nigeria".
"One of the main four pillars of the vision is Cooperation. As we are all aware, the Nigerian Army constitutes an important component of the Nigerian society. However, an army cannot operate in isolation, hence cooperation is a cardinal pillar of the vision Chief of Army Staff.
" In line with this pillar, there must be cooperation with both sister services, para military and security agencies, and other important stakeholders including you the staff of the Ministry of Defence, our parent supervising ministry cooperation with all relevant
stakeholders is an important factor for success in all of Nigerian Army operations.
"There must be synergy at all levels and effective liaison with all relevant stakeholders in order to ensure our common objective of security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "
On the training he said it provided comprehensive overview of the latest developments and best practices in the field of public finances and healthy workplace relationships, adding that it helped them understand the changes that have taken place in the public financial management system in Nigeria, the objectives of the reform, the progress made so far, and the impact on the country's financial management system.
He said: "You also discussed the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Accrual Basis as a panacea for effective financial reporting. We were informed that the adoption of IPSAS accrual basis can improve financial reporting, transparency, and accountability in the public sector finances.
"Other topics included the role of Financial Regulations in public expenditure management, and the importance of financial regulations in ensuring transparency and accountability in public expenditure management.
"The topic on Personal Effectiveness and Time Management in the workplace explored the best practices for managing our time effectively, setting priorities, and achieving our goals in the workplace, which will help you become more productive and efficient in your job.
" Mastering emotional intelligence for enhanced workplace relationships is critical to building healthy workplace relationships, master our emotions and communicate effectively with your colleagues, which will improve your ability to collaborate and work effectively as a team.
"Finally...we ended the workshop with an exploration of the performance management, feedback, and appraisal. This is an important aspect of workplace effectiveness and how to conduct appraisals in a way that is fair and objective."
Commendations
Commending NASFA Commandant, Brigadier General Osifo, the CAB further pledged to host another training seminar before the end
of this year, adding that the relevance of Ministry of Defence staff in their primary role as accountants, auditors and other administrative support role to the activities of the Corps, is important.
Also, former Director Accounts HQ CFO, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwargo, while commending the military “for always emphasising training for all her personnel, he said that was responsible for the good performances recorded both in operations and in peacetime.
Also commending the choice of topics, he said they were carefully selected to enhance participants’ capacity in their respective workplaces, adding that it would also enhance their preparations towards the promotion examinations as senior civil servants.
Also, the Director, Civilian Personnel Unit, CPU , Command Finance Office, CPU Mrs Margaret Elumelu, who was among the participants, said the training was a development in the right direction.
She said, “This is a welcome idea to the civil service, especially for those of us that are seconded to the Military. Besides it is the first of its kind and we appreciate the Director, Account and Budget because this is happening in his time.
“The training was impactful. About 53 of us participated. The knowledge acquired will be related to others as we go. We hope training like this will continue, as it goes a long way to boosting efficiency."
About NASFA
Established in 1968, the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration is the training arm of the Finance Corps whose primary responsibilities include the training of personnel in military pay duties, records, and clerical duties.
Accredited by the National Board for Technical Education to train personnel and award the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in both Accountancy and Secretarial Studies (which is now re-designated: Office Technology and Management), the school has already produced 4,542 graduates of both the ND and HND drawn from the Armed Forces. Meanwhile, NASFA also trains personnel of the Nigerian Police and security agencies like the Nigerian Correctional Services, Nigerian Immigration Services National Security, and Civil Defence among others.
Given its professional nature, admission into the school is conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
For Brigadier General Osifo, the school’s high standards reflects in the performance of her graduates, a feat he attributed to one of the cardinal pillar of the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya.
Management of public finance in any country impacts the achievement of the government’s role in an economy, in terms of economic stability, growth, exchange stability, and unemploymentCommandant NASFA, Brig. Gen. Osifo and MOD Director, Civilian Personnel Unit, Mrs Margaret Elumelu
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 08June-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.
Multichoice recently launched a fintech platform, Moment, to offer an integrated payment infrastructure for businesses across Africa.
The company disclosed that its fintech platform would consolidate the $3.5 billion in payments it processes and help consumers spend and save money wisely.
The firm stated at its launch that Moment offers expanded payment infrastructure for businesses across Africa to help them collect and make payments easier, quicker, and more affordable in any manner their buyers or suppliers prefer. The company explained Moment would also offer additional options for consumers to spend and save money more wisely. The aim is to transform the African payments landscape by making digital payments more accessible and dependable for domestic, cross-border, and global payments.
Multichoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela said, “Investing in this venture is a logical progression for us, as we already process payments every month from twenty-two million households across 50 countries. Moment fulfils our strategy to expand our ecosystem by investing in adjacent businesses that provide scalable services underpinned by technology.”
Moment aims to make digital transactions more accessible to the 350 million consumers that are under-banked or not banked at all. Eventually, it will offer payments across more than forty countries and hundreds of payment methods to collect, disburse and manage risk.
Nigeria is currently ranked 50th worldwide for online threats and Data.
South Africa came 82nd, Kenya at 35th, and have increasingly become focal points for cyber threats, per the latest data from the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN).
Head of the Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) for META at Kaspersky, Dr Amin Hasbini, expanded on several cyber threat trends, cautioning business and technology leaders about two primary forms of cyberattacks – criminal and advanced.
“Criminal attacks are mainly driven by the pursuit of financial profit, whereas advanced attacks indicate how cyber threat actors continually adapt their tactics and tools to breach security measures,” stated Hasbini. “A significant portion of the attacks witnessed across Africa are shaped by the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. However, a growing concern is that cybercriminals are learning from successful advanced attacks to refine their craft.”
In the first quarter of 2023, Kaspersky reported that backdoor and spyware attacks were the most common threat types in South Africa, amassing 106,000 attack attempts. Similar attack attempts were observed in Nigeria, totalling 46,000, while the same attacks peaked at 143,000 in Kenya. However, in Kenya, exploits emerged as the most dominant form of attack, with 177,000 incidents blocked.
Kaspersky also highlighted the growing surge of zombie machines – connected device that becomes part of a botnet. Examples include legacy, old and forgotten devices, IoT devices, network equipment, printers, cameras, and coffee machines. To date, 1.6 million zombie machines have been detected in South Africa and 300,000 in Kenya. Hasbini’s presentation flagged several ransomware groups setting their sights on African targets.
“Threats to critical infrastructure, financial institutions, government entities, and service providers have predominated the cyber threat landscape over the past year. We have witnessed different threat actors target various businesses across industries,”Hasbini said.
In response to these increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, businesses are advised to adopt a multi-layered defensive strategy. This is where extended detection and response (XDR)
This week’s tech personality is the Co-founder and CEO of Aku, Adaeze ‘Dezzy’ Onwumere.
Aku is a technology company enabling access to digital financial services. Its mission is to accelerate financial inclusion and economic development in Africa one mobile device at a time.
Founded in 2019, Aku offers straightforward, adaptable debit cards for customers that earn points for every dollar spent. It serves over 70,000 micro-merchants and is on a mission to build wealth at the pyramid’s base.
In 2022, the company got its banking license approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Before cofounding Aku, Dezzy worked for the Econet Group, where she spearheaded their pan-African payments strategy, integrating payment partners across 18 African markets. Before leaving the Econet Group, she oversaw product development, commercial strategy, and operations at Sasai Fintech (formerly Cassava Fintech), Econet’s fintech subsidiary. As chief operating officer, she was responsible for developing and launching the Sasai social payments platform.
Dezzy has a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
solutions become essential – they analyse data from endpoints and other sources. XDR introduces another layer of protection, as attacks on infrastructure can occur through any entry point. Furthermore, continuous security awareness training for employees and real-time access to intelligence on the latest attack methods should supplement any cybersecurity strategy.
HELIUM HEALTH RAISES $30M IN SEED FUNDING
Nigerian health-tech company Helium Health, providing Software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools, financing, and insights to healthcare providers and public health organisations, announced that it had recently raised $30 million in Series-B funding.
The round was led by ‘AXA Investment Managers Alts’ with participation from Capria Ventures, Angaza Capital, Anne Wojcicki (Founder of 23&Me) and Flatworld Partners. Existing investors Global Ventures, Tencent, Ohara Pharmaceuticals, LCY Group, WTI and AAIC also participated in the round.
Helium Health intends to use the capital to expand the reach of its fintech product, HeliumCredit, a digital finance product for Africa’s healthcare sector. Launched in 2020, HeliumCredit has extended more than $3.5 million in credit to over 200 healthcare facilities in Nigeria, including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and diagnostics centres, which have used the loans to purchase medical equipment, medications in bulk and expand their locations. With easier access to credit, healthcare providers are able to increase patient retention, increase revenues, and improve the quality of care.
In this growth phase, Helium Health also looks to deepen its collaborations within the public health and global health communities, another core focus of its work.
The company will also continue to scale its SaaS suite for healthcare providers through HeliumOS, its Electronic Medical Records and Hospital Management Information System (EMR/HMIS) solution. HeliumOS helps health facilities of any size or specialty run operations more efficiently, increase revenues, and improve healthcare delivery.
At Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, held recently, the company introduced the Vision Pro, its first foray into mixed-reality headsets.
Three Macs also debuted: The new MacBook Air is the world’s best 15-inch laptop, while Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra are the most powerful Macs ever made. Additionally, new features coming to iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and AirPods enable developers to go even further with their apps and empower users to get more out of their devices.
It is safe to say the Vision Pro was Apple’s biggest device at WWDC. It is a standalone mixed reality headset with powerful specs, including an M2 chip (plus an R1 companion chip), 4K displays for each eye and nearly a dozen cameras and sensors allowing hand gesture input and 3D photography. There is even an external screen that shows your eyes and notifies others when you are using apps.
The Vision Pro runs visionOS, a new platform designed from the ground up for spatial computing. It centres on a mixed reality 3D interface that effectively allows apps, FaceTime calls, and other tasks to float in physical space.
The headset will not be cheap. Apple will sell Vision Pro for $3,499, which will not be available until early 2024. This wearable computer is for developers, and Apple is pricing it accordingly.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is its first truly large laptop for everyday users. It has the same fanless M2 chip, MagSafe connector and twin Thunderbolt 4 ports as its 13-inch counterpart, with a 15.3-inch display and a longer 18-hour battery life. It is billed as the “world’s thinnest” 15-inch laptop at 0.45in thick and relatively light at 3.3lbs.
The 15-inch MacBook Air ships on June 13th, starting at $1,299. And if it’s larger than you need, Apple has cut the price
of the 13-inch Air to $1,099.
IOS 17
This upgrade focuses as much on basic apps as it does extend the iPhone’s functionality. Calls now include contact-specific “posters” with live transcripts for voicemail. Messages offer a sleeker interface, transcripts, a more powerful sticker feature and location-based check-ins with friends. FaceTime lets you leave video messages. Sharing has improved with proximity-based data and contact sharing, plus AirPlay sharing in hotels and to in-car infotainment systems. Siri is more powerful, with support for back-to-back commands that do not involve the ‘Siri’ keyword, and autocorrect includes sentence-level correction and predictions.
WATCHOS 10
The Apple Watch is getting its first true interface overhaul with watchOS 10. The new OS includes a Smart Stack of widgets for timers, podcasts, and other content you can quickly access by spinning the Digital Crown.
A developer preview of watchOS 10 is available now, with a public beta arriving in July. The finished upgrade surfaces this fall.
There were a few nice-to-have updates across the ecosystem. Apple TV users running tvOS 17 will get FaceTime calls using an iPhone. Control Centre has been redesigned, and you can use Siri to find a lost remote. If you own the second-generation AirPods Pro, you will have a new Adaptive Audio feature that adjusts active noise cancellation and transparency mode based on your environment.
In response to these increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, businesses are advised to adopt a multi-layered defensive strategy. This is where extended detection and response (XDR) solutions become essential – they analyse data from endpoints and other sources. XDR introduces another layer of protection, as attacks on infrastructure can occur through any entry point. Furthermore, continuous security awareness training for employees and real-time access to intelligence on the latest attack methods should supplement any cybersecurity strategy.
The hike in the price of petrol presents an opportunity to look into other energy options in transportation, argues GODSWILL IHETU
See page 31
THE TRIALS OF MONGUNO ALFRED NDUKWE writes that the virulent attacks on the NSA, Monguno, are unfortunate
It is not uncommon for Nigerian government agencies to work at cross purposes, but we may have entered a phase in which the National Assembly is working against itself and wilfully tearing its own laws into shreds. The passing of the Bill for the Establishment of a Police Pension Board by the National Assembly is the latest act. By excluding the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), the lawmakers have just contradicted a legislation they made nine years ago. Section 5 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, says in unambiguous terms that there will be no exemption to the CPS apart from members of the Armed Forces and the intelligence and secret services of the Federation. It also excludes “any under any pension scheme existing before the 25th day of June 2004 being the commencement of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, but as at that date had three or less years to retire”.
Despite the clearly spelt-out provision, the lawmakers earlier this year trampled on its own laws and undermined itself when it passed the National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Bill establishing the National Assembly Service Pensions Board, thereby exempting the personnel of the service from the CPS. Former President Muhammadu Buhari signed it into law on the eve of his departure moves in Buhari’s eight years, but he could be excused on the ground that he did not understand what he was doing. The word in town was that the only way to prevent Buhari from signing a document was to make sure it did not get to his desk. Except the people him, it was usually a done deal. The day it was reported that the National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Bill had been transmitted to Buhari, those who knew him were sure he would not as much as query it. He didn’t.
See page 31
EDITORIAL A TIME FOR NATIONAL HEALING
If Buhari understood the implications, he would have known that he had just started a journey that would plunge the Nigerian Government into trillions of naira of liabilities in the years ahead. For a man who left Nigeria in debt of over N46 trillion, he could hardly be for other agencies of government to seek to be excluded from the CPS (which shares the responsibility of saving for pensions between the employers and the employees) and return to the entire responsibility on the employer. With the National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Bill signed into law, the next step was not surprising: the Senate passed the Pension Board Bill to transfer the full burden on pension payment to the federal government. According to media reports, personnel of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS), and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), among others, are now gearing up to be exempted.
Although Buhari left a huge national debt
behind when he returned to his Daura country home on May 29, 2023, the damage his assent to the National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Bill will do to Nigeria in the future will be far worse. First, there will be no end to exits from the CPS. All it takes is to lobby the National Assembly by any means possible. Second, Nigeria will return to the era of owing arrears of pensions as we witnessed for decades before the pension reform. Third, we will return to seeing images of pensioners clear that government will not be able to meet revenue inadequacy and pension payment always gets relegated on the list of priorities. By and large, one of the most successful reforms in the history of Nigeria is now being destroyed by the actions of a few individuals who do not give a hoot about the national interest.
Those who are not familiar with the Pension Industry may not understand the harm that the lawmakers have been doing in their chambers in recent times. In 2004, the federal government embarked on one of the most ground-breaking reforms ever with the enactment of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 (reenacted in 2014). Before then, employers used to run riotous schemes that did not inspire sector, there were schemes that were less in ways that gave too much room for discretion and often short-changed wouldthe DBS under which retirees were entitled to life pension based on years of service and hierarchy. However, economic challenges and payments to accumulate. Pensions were budgeted for annually but were only paid if there was funding. Pensioners were dying in penury and frustration while waiting for their entitlements. This was the situation when the Olusegun Obasanjo administration introduced the pension reform in 2004.
With the reform, the CPS has been regarded by Nigerians as an outstanding success story. Under the CPS, it is mandatory for employers in public service and private sector with a certain number of employees to make a minimum contribution towards the retirement
contribution by the employees themselves, which is akin to compulsory savings towards retirement. The funds are invested by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and kept in custody by Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs). As a result, the old story of “no funds” became history. Nobody needed to wait for any budgetary allocation to pay pensions as the funds were already warehoused during the employee’s active years. Also, value is added to the savings over the years through returns on investment. These fundamental changes have created a new economy. From a negative position of huge unfunded liability, pension assets in Nigeria had grown to N15.45 trillion as at February 2023. The total number of pension contributors is close to 10 million and growing.
Unfortunately, it is not everybody that is excited by the success story as we can now see. For years, some interests in the Nigeria Police CPS. When police agitation reached its height under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, the police were allowed to set up their own PFA as a compromise, to take care of their supposed peculiarities. Still, they were not content. According to previous reports that were not refuted, the determination of the police to exit went to the illegal extent that the Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) and Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG) were enrolled on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to collect full salaries for life under a them. This they did without the permission of anyone. They did not get the permission of the president and the regulatory authority and it is not in conformity with the Pensions Reform Act.
Some of the statistics should be of concern to us. Of the N577 billion budgeted for pensions in 2022 by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), military pensions and gratuities account for N237 billion. That was close to half of the entire pensions budget. Police pensions and gratuities for certain exempted groups amount to N8 billion of the FGN budget for pensions for the year under discussion. However, if the National Assembly succeeds in pulling the NPF out of the contributory pension scheme altogether, that alone would have consumed the entire FGN budget for pensions in 2022. The military is just about 25 percent of the size of the police, so FGN is going to be saddled with a pensions and gratuities budget that will pass N1 trillion. have no other option than to owe pensions. Meanwhile, the contribution of police funds to the pensions sector will shrink and this will the pension industry in particular and the Nigerian economy in general.
Mrs Abayomi, an economist, writes from Akure, Ondo State
The passing of the bill for the establishment of a Police Pension Board is a wrong and costly act, contends GRACE A. ABAYOMI
The hike in the price of petrol presents an opportunity to look into other energy options in transportation, argues GODSWILL
The current hot topic of discussion around the country is about the removal of subsidy on the price of petrol by the federal government. It looks like there is no going back on this decision, especially as the sole importer and
the risk of jeopardising its own operations. In the circumstances, what other energy sources do we have as alternative to petrol?
In December 2020, in one of its attempts to wean Nigeria away from burning petrol and diesel in the transportation sector, and to reduce harmful emissions, the Ministry of Petroleum launched the National Gas
powered vehicles. The vehicles are being that not only reduces our dependency on petroleum products but also contributes to a cleaner and healthier environment.” The CNG
vehicles. Innoson says it is also establishing a “comprehensive CNG refueling infrastructure across Nigeria.” This is a breakthrough and certainly provides options in addressing the subsidy removal shock from which we are all recovering.
The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, a retired Major General, is once again a victim of orchestrated media attacks. What many Nigerians see are symptoms of the media attacks. They do not see the faces behind the attacks and the evil intents of the architects of the media lynching.
Monguno is by nature taciturn. A thoroughbred military professional who is not given to charlatanry or garrulous jests.
security challenges especially terrorism and violent extremism. And here we are; a new government of renewed hope has berthed on our democracy shore.
Expansion Programme (NGEP) which includes the AutoGas (LPG) Policy aimed at ensuring that vehicles run on either LPG for cars and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for trucks and buses. Both LPG and CNG emit less carbon than petrol and diesel fuels. This was intended to be a means of reducing the burning of petrol and diesel in our vehicles. In fact, this was more about reduction of the payment of petrol subsidy rather than the pursuit of the reduction of emissions. The pressure on demand for petrol and diesel would not only be reduced but also provide a cheaper alternative to both fuels.
The plan was also to convert existing vehicles to burn LPG and natural gas (through CNG), LPG and CNG to vehicles converted to run on those fuels. Two years after the policy was announced, implementation has clearly not gained much traction. It is interesting to note that NLC and TUC have included adoption of CNG as part of their agenda in negotiations with the government, following the removal of petrol subsidy. They request the government to “revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with Labour centres in 2021.” Even the Depots and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), in supporting the governments palliatives, have volunteered to provide CNG mass transit buses. CNG vehicles emit lower levels of harmful pollutants, thereby “improving air quality and mitigating global warming and climate change.” With the new petrol price regime, perhaps vehicle owners will also turn to Autogas as a cheaper alternative to petrol. The good news is that LPG prices are said to have come down recently. The downside, though, is that LPG is also being used predominantly as fuel for cooking in Nigeria. Currently Nigeria though Nigeria LNG (NLNG) is supplying most of the LPG for the Nigerian market, while reducing the quantity imported. Hopefully, the situation should change when the Dangote into the Nigerian market, and when the NNPC Even though CNG adoption has been minimal, it appears to have been more accepted for trucks and buses, and for power generation in small power plants, probably because of easy access to natural gas in country. Recently, there has been strong support for CNG adoption for vehicles. Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company announced and displayed its CNG-
Is it now time for Nigeria to look towards electric vehicles (EVs)? Given the global quest to reduce carbon emissions the time may have come. The big question is the economics of Nevertheless, hope is round the corner. Lagos State appears to be blazing the trail. Recently, it announced that the Lagos State government, in collaboration with Oando Clean Energy Limited (OECL), has entered into partnership with the largest electric vehicle manufacturer, Yutong, to manufacture electric buses and EV supporting infrastructure, including battery charging stations. The Oando-Yutong Joint Venture Partnership is to take delivery of 12,000 electric buses over the next seven years. In the longer term, the Joint Venture plans to construct a local electric vehicle assembly plant to manufacture electric buses and to expand its operations nationwide. This Lagos State initiative is in line with Nigerian Energy Transition Plan (NETP) which includes the deployment of electric vehicles, among its implementation strategies. The NETP is Nigeria’s pathway to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. One of the key insights of the NETP is such as the establishment and expansion of industries related to solar energy, hydrogen, and electric vehicles”.
The Lagos State initiative is coming on the heels of a recent announcement by the government of Kenya which has received $378 million from the EU to facilitate the which will feature zero emission electric buses including infrastructure to support the rapid transit system. Kenya, having achieved electricity access rate of over 75%, is certainly in a position to move things forward. In Nigeria, the population with access to electricity is about 55%. This might call into question Nigeria’s ability to adequately support EVs, by providing reliable electricity and battery charging infrastructure. EVs are playing important part in the global quest to considerably reduce emissions of carbon into the atmosphere. Although EVs have been in commercial use for about two decades, there are factors limiting the total acceptance of EVs. The major one is range or distance it can travel without charging, compounded by the some countries. Any EV initiative in Nigeria will not only face the challenge of reliability of electricity supply from the national grid, but also the availability of charging stations. In addition, the cost of new electric cars is currently much higher than the petrol engine cars, although some of this may be recovered over the years through lower running costs. EVs running on electricity do not have engines or moving parts, therefore maintenance costs are less.
Dr Ihetu, a former NNPC Group Executive Director, Engineering and Technical, former MD/CEO Nigeria LNG, former MD Nigeria Gas Company is the author of “From Oloibiri to Bonny”
A consummate strategic thinker and astute manager of men, this explains why he was past President, Muhammadu Buhari, himself an ascetic, frugal retired General.
A man of the character of Monguno who runs away from headlines and media blitzkriegs suits his job. He has remained
frolicking at rendezvous, hobnobbing with politicians or making political utterances; a
Perhaps, it’s the disappointment of those baying for pre-election trouble that is now driving them to shoot down Monguno and tarnish the reputation he has built over the years which has earned him copious commendations and validations both at home and from international intelligence agencies. Monguno’s traducers are taking advantage of his unobtrusive nature to taint his image before President Tinubu.
This is why many persons within the security circle are peeved at the attempts by some retired Generals to garb Monguno medium notorious for smear campaigns
the recent scheme to tar Monguno in the darkest of veneers. They have scripted a devious narrative to pitch Monguno against President Tinubu to score cheap political point. It’s the same campaign of calumny that they orchestrated against the NSA in the days of President Buhari using some persons in Aso Rock. Their plot was to get Monguno out of their way as they shamelessly and insensitively turned the making enterprise to enrich themselves and their backers.
Monguno and such should be the character zenith of his career.
President Buhari had during his time major contributory factor to his government’s tactical and technical defeat of Boko Haram insurgency and the bold reclamation of annexed local governments in Borno State from the insurgents.
The successful conduct of elections in parts of the north which were security-challenged in 2019 and 2023 owe largely to the counterterrorism dexterity of Mungono who gave Buhari and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ironcast assurance of relative peace during the polls. It is therefore safe to say that Monguno’s surveillance and counter-terrorism measures led to the emergence of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency and other elected leaders including governors and lawmakers across the country.
Ahead of the 2023 elections, for instance, some Nigerians had predicted doom and gloom. Some even propounded the likelihood of the formation of an Interim Government, a constitutional aberration. But Monguno’s Intelligence masterstroke calmed feisty tempers and defused every tension. In the wake of wanton destruction of lives and property occasioned by the proliferation of illicitly acquired small arms and light weapons, Monguno midwifed the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons to promote an illicit armsfree society. The Centre is fully operational and is recording tremendous successes. Gen
(ONSA) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). The NCTC is intended
In March 2021 in an article published in Sunday Sun newspaper and other newspapers captioned: Monguno, Saint Among Sinners; Ken Ugbechie, a courageous Nigerian journalist and columnist wrote: “Monguno is the archetypal saint among sinners. Those who vilify him for alerting the nation to a structural dysfunction in the security apparatchik obviously do not mean well for Nigeria. The war against insurgency has cost the nation blood, human blood. It has cost money, stymied the economy, stunted education and learning, polarised the nation along traditional fault lines of religion and ethnicity, chased away investors and cast a pall of fear across the land. Every well-meaning Nigerian wants an end to it. Monguno is merely echoing the voices of these well-meaning Nigerians. His is a patriot’s rousing, jarring us out of our self-induced numbness.”
The above referenced the attacks on Monguno by some hirelings whose shenanigans to oust the NSA from Buhari cabinet failed. It’s on record that Buhari trusted Monguno. Despite the schemes of a ruthless cabal to persuade then President Buhari to dismiss the NSA and install one of their stooges, Buhari stuck to his gun. He did not only ignore the plot to remove Monguno, President Buhari gave him a with the undercurrents in Aso Rock and its extended corridors said Buhari’s to do with the integrity of the NSA, his professionalism and sterling antecedent in the military. Even when service chiefs were changed, Buhari retained Monguno to galvanise and coordinate the relevant security agencies is sine qua non for the insurgents.
Ndukwe, security analyst, writes from Lagos
THE TRIALS OF MONGUNO
ALFRED NDUKWE writes that the virulent attacks on the NSA, Monguno, are unfortunate
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
President Tinubu must help rebuild relationships torn apart largely by partisan politics
To honour the memory of the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election who died in incarceration, former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 proclaimed June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria. A year later, he assented to the Public Holiday Amendment Bill Democracy Day had been marked on May 29 every year. As Nigeria therefore marks another Democracy Day today, albeit under a new dispensation, it is celebration.
Unarguably, our nation is bleeding from old and new injuries. At no other time has the feeling of hurt in several parts of the nation been more pronounced than now, especially given what transpired during the 2023 general election. On a day such as this, therefore, the conversation should be about national healing. But since healing is not a self-induced, spontaneous event, the ultimate responsibility now lies with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fortunately, he understands what the times demand. Following his election in February, Tinubu which, in reality, are fewer than the valued strings that bind us together as a people.”
The kind of healing that Nigeria needs today is a civic connection that transcends our delicate fault lines, especially ethnicity and religion. It also includes rebuilding our levels of trust in one another as well as in critical institutions so that we can together begin to take collective action for the common good. While healing will not erase injuries, it would constructive ways.
Meanwhile, the essence of June 12 should not be lost on Nigerians. Strictly interpreted, it was more
IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE T
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than the date of an election. On that day, as we stated nativism to speak with one undivided voice on the choice of national leadership. The appeal of the late Abiola—the man who symbolises the day—was not just in his philanthropic sweep across the nation. A Baptist school boy who happened to be a Muslim, a street kid who rose to the pinnacle of the boardroom and a multi-millionaire who found time to commune with the poor were combinations that appealed to the widest spectrum of the Nigerian electorate in that historic election.
Although the election—conducted exactly 30 years today under a guided democracy superintended by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida— was without any hitches, the result was annulled declared. But Nigerians knew the late Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had won. The struggle that followed led to the death of many pro-democracy activists, especially under the late General Sani Abacha. His death and that of Abiola, a month apart, in 1998 ushered in the current democracy on 29th May 1999.
President Tinubu was one of the pro-democracy agitators who fought for the validation of the election at the time. He has a higher responsibility now. He must help to rebuild relationships that have been fractured by the 2023 general election. But every Nigerian also has a role to play. People who have lived together in peace for decades should not allow themselves to be torn apart by partisan politics. Without prejudice to the cases at the election petition tribunals, we enjoin those whose candidates were successful at the poll to understand that democracy is not just about winning elections, it is about service to the people. Besides, democratic civility also requires that we address the dashed expectations of those whose candidates were not successful.
We wish Nigerians happy Democracy Day!
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.
Many Nigerians pray fervently that the Buhari prediction –not come to pass. They have good reason to. In eight years, Nigerians witnessed one of the most disastrous epochs of her national life. As a matter of fact, just so the same way as Nigerians yearned to be rid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, so were they eager to dump Buhari in the dustbin of history.gerians still carry with them that notion that a president is like a king or a head of state. Because we practice a quasi-federal system of government, the idea of one man who heads all the organs of state, who commands the nation’s armed forces, who presides over the dent of Nigeria, and who heads the party in power is one idea not lost to the absolute powers of our presidents. In that position, expectations are usually high. Nigerianstals, and provide security. There have been many times when a president is held responsible for issues that local governments should handle.
Yet, year in year out, tenure after tenure, and administration after administration, presidents have come and gone but we are still glued to our sorry conditions. These people come in cam-
paigning in poetry but deliver in prose.
Part of what I think is responsible for the failures of the more than they could chew. They were under the impression that they were kings and lords of a medieval empire, with subjects who would follow them blindly. Take for example the outgone president, Muhammadu Buhari – in addition to being head of state, commander-in-chief, president, and head of the party in power, he was also petroleum minister. As petroleum subsidy for eight years, looked the other way as cronies stole Nigeria’s crude with reckless abandon, and presided over those awkward petrol queues in Abuja and the rest of Nigeria. As commander-in-chief and former army general, Nigeria experienced kidnappings, killings and incursions from ‘Fulani bandits’. Statements recently ascribed to him only 24 hours after he has served his tenure – that it would be much easier to lead his burnt with taking Nigerians for granted.
A president is a head of state, commander- in- chief, head of the party in power but he needs not be all of those. He does not necessarily have to be – being commander and head of state
and all that is the old concept of power which no longer delivers the goods in the long and short terms. Modern trends of power in governance indicate that nobody needs a president to be commander-in-chief, petroleum minister and head of state. Modern trends in the civilized world indicate that people want environment built on the tripods of social justice, rule of law and inclusivity.
I listened to Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration’s speech as president. Even though my friends who have met and interacted with him say that this is one of the smartest brains they ever met, I have my strong doubts. And even though the man said that he was going to provide power, remove subsidy and make Nigeria an investor’s haven, there was very little in the speech like more of the dryness in Buhari who avoided any form of interaction with Nigerians, preferring for his minnows to do
a clue to the direction that Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s presidency would veer.
Etemiku, Bob MajiriOghene, Abuja
The kind of healing that Nigeria needs today is a civic connection that transcends our delicate fault lines, especially ethnicity and religion
Kayode Tokede
Amid tighten monetary policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) operating in Nigeria reported mixed Liquidity Ratio (LR) above the regulatory requirement in the 2022 financial year.
Also, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) in the banking sector remained stronger to reflect DMBs soundness and resilient despite macro economic challenges. Liquidity ratio is used to measure a company’s capacity to pay off its short-term financial obligations with its current assets,
while CAR is used to measure how much capital a bank has available, which is reported as a percentage of a bank’s risk-weighted credit exposures.
Liquidity ratio in the banking sector was well above its prudential limit at 44.1 per cent, while the CAR remained at 13.8 per cent in 2022, staying within its prudential range of 10 -15per cent, according to the CBN.
Under the current guidelines, the CBN requires that banks maintain minimum liquidity ratio as follows: Deposit Money Banks (DMBs): 30 per cent; merchant banks: 20 per cent; and non-
interest banks: 10 per cent.
The 2022 liquidity ratio and CAR outcome are on the heels of global economy that is on a tight rope –ongoing global banking crisis (Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Credit Suisse with a possible trickledown effect on emerging economies including Nigeria; ongoing impact of Ukraine/Russian war; knock on effect of supply chain constraints from China lockdowns.
In 2022, the CBN raised the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 32.5 per cent from 27.5 per cent. The CRR is the share of a bank’s total customer deposit that must be kept with the central bank in the form of liquid cash.
Double-dight inflation due to higher food and energy prices; tension towards the 2023 general elections; FX scarcity that eventually led to crash in forego exchange, were among domestic headwinds Nigeria’s economy faced in 2022.
THISDAY analysis of banks’ 2022 financial results showed that Stanbic IBTC Holdings, followed by Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc had the highest liquidity ratio in the banking sector, while UBA and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc led in CAR.
Specifically, Stanbic IBTC Holdings in 2022 reported 85.04per cent, a decline from 105.40 per cent reported
in 2021 financial year, which is still above 30 per cent requitement of CBN.
As Zenith Bank (Group) closed 2022 with 75 per cent liquidity ratio from 71.5 per cent in 2021, while its banking subsidiary closed 2022 with 67 per cent liquidity ratio as against 61.9 per cent reported in 2021. In addition, Zenith bank reported a drop in its CAR to 19.8 per cent in 2022 from 21 per cent reported in 2021. Zenith bank in a presentation hinted that the reported capital adequacy ratio and liquidity ratios –well above regulatory requirements of 30 per cent for Liquidity and 15per cent
for CAR.
“Capital base –predominantly made up of Tier-1 (core capital) which consists of share capital and reserves,” the bank added. Furthermore, the likes of UBA reported significant increase in its liquidity ratio to 68.3per cent in 2022 from 47.60per cent in 2021, as GTCO declared 49.93 per cent liquidity ration in 2022 from 38.26 per cent in 2021, well above the regulatory minimum requirement of 30per cent.
The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
Nume Ekeghe
Experts in the Nigerian financial service sector have applauded the federal government’s FX unification policy stressing that it will attract foreign direct investments (FDIs), enhance the development of the capital market, and promote inclusive economic growth.
Analysts at Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited stated this in their “Macro Thematic Report on President Tinubu’s Policy
Imperatives: Likely Economic Impact and Investment Opportunities.
The report also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, had also raised the hope
of market participants.
On unifying the multiple exchange rate windows, it noted that policy imperative would eliminate arbitrage opportunities and round tripping, support currency stability and halt the trend of galloping inflation and restore foreign investors’ confidence in the sanctity of the market.
On the policy’s expected impact on the broader economy, they stated, “Enhance foreign investment and diaspora inflows, support exchange rate stability, deepen the capital market and promote business sustainability and broader economic growth.”
On the president’s stance on holistically addressing issues of multiple taxations, anti-investment
inhibitions including high-interest rate, and capital control measures it added that the policy direction would increase job creation capacity of entrepreneurs and halt the trend of business collapse.
On the potential goals, it states, “Increase the number of taxable businesses in the short to medium-term and attract foreign investment
flows especially Foreign Direct (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio (FPI) Investments and expected impact on the broader economy would lower the unemployment rate and accelerate the growth of the national economy and reduce the poverty rate.”
The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched two newly acquired bollard pull tug boats in its bid to position the country for seamless trade activities. Speaking at the commissioning of the tug boats in Lagos, the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, noted that the launch will provide relevant marine crafts to support port security, patrol and surveillance.
He said the move is also coming on the heels of the authority’s corporate aspiration of attaining hub status by more efficiently servicing domestic cargo needs, winning back transit cargo hitherto lost to the nation’s maritime neighbours and positioning to cater to the maritime requirements of Nigeria’s landlocked neighbours.
The NPA, he added, has deployed a three-pronged strategy driven by
people technology, infrastructure and equipment
According to him, NPA’s determination to continuously enhance its operational efficiencies accounts for the purchase of these new 80 Ton Bollard Pull Tugboats christened M.T MAIKOKO and M.T DA-OPUKURO to complement its existing fleet of tugs and recently commissioned Security Patrol Boats (SPBs) and Pilot Cutters deployed to enhance channel security across all our locations.
“These neoteric 80ton tugboats are the first of the 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) Model in Africa constructed by the world’s leading ship builders (Damen) and they possess exceptional Seakeeping Behavior, Superb Manoeuvrability of 360° using the Azimuth Thrusters, fire-fighting capability and Outstanding Towing Characteristics which will enhance the maneuvering
of large capacity vessels of 300 Metres LOA and above presently calling at our Ports,” he added.
He added that their deployment will enable stakeholders leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale, especially cost savings.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said Nigeria being the first in Africa to acquire these 2813 model of Damen’s ASD neoteric 80 Tons Bollard Pull Tugboats, NPA has accentuated the determination of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to boost port operational efficiency.
She pointed out that the acquisition of these equipment, amongst many others that are in the works, signposts Nigeria’s seriousness to optimise the opportunities inherent in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The Managing Director of Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), an indigenous financial technology firm and a subsidiary of SystemSpecs Holdings Limited (SHL), Mr. Deremi Atanda, has emphasised the importance of fostering a collaborative culture as the key to business success.
Atanda made the call while representing the Group Managing Director, SHL, John Obaro, as the Keynote Speaker at the 6th Lagos Business School (LBS) MBA Entrepreneurship Expo and Contest held recently.
The event celebrates and rewards innovative business ideas and it featured five exceptional MBA students from different LBS programmes.
During his presentation titled: ‘Shaping the Future of Business’, Atanda encouraged entrepreneurs to break barriers and embrace change so as to play their part in shaping business for the future. He said: “Business owners and managers are to pay attention to customers’ changing needs, technological advancements, deliberate value creation, and the influx of a new generation of workers, as these are critical levers that will shape businesses in the future.”
Identifying the hurdles that dot the Nigerian business landscape, he showed a spotlight on the boundless prospects for growth and triumph that the country holds, thereby urging entrepreneurs to embrace resilience, adaptability, and
innovation as indispensable traits in the face of adversity.
“Engaging in business endeavours within Nigeria may initially appear daunting; however, it simultaneously unveils substantial avenues for growth and prosperity.
“Nigeria, being a country with emerging potential for business expansion, holds a promising future. As ambitious young professionals, you possess the extraordinary capacity to influence and shape the ever-evolving landscape of the business world,” Atanda said. Using the trajectory of Remita, he described the company’s successful emergence despite the difficulties posed by the adversities against the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The TSA has since been recognised as one of the finest governmental choices in the past decade.
Leading blockchain-based technology firm, Mara, has announced an initiative aimed at training 500,000 government employees on the intricacies of blockchain technology in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Circle, the creator of USDC and Euro Coin.
In a statement from the company, it was revealed that the firm was driving the initiative through its foundation, Mara Foundation.
According to the statement, the collaboration seeks to equip Nigeria’s workforce with the skills and knowledge necessary to energize the workforce, drive innovation and foster economic growth in the digital age.
“The first training session, which took place in Abuja, June 1, 2023, marked a significant milestone in this collaborative effort. Managers from the NITDA participated in the session, which focused on the role of blockchain technology in building Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Various topics were covered, including “The Role of the Blockchain Industry in Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Economy” and “Policymaking and Regulations for the Blockchain Industry.”
Speaking on the development, Deputy Manager of the Software Unit in the IT Infrastructure Solutions Department at NITDA, Aishatu Yahaya Umar, expressed gratitude for the training session.
She commended Mara for sharing valuable knowledge that
will empower NITDA to explore the potential of blockchain in organizational processes, projects, and regulatory frameworks. Ms. Umar acknowledged Mara’s dedication and collaborative efforts with the government and other stakeholders to drive blockchain technology in Nigeria.
Similarly, Co-founder and CEO of Mara, Chi Nnadi, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to closely working with the Nigerian government to increase blockchain adoption across the country and the wider African continent.
Nnadi emphasized the belief that empowering Nigeria’s workforce with the skills and knowledge required in the digital age would stimulate innovation and economic growth.
COURE Software & Systems Limited, an indigenous Information Technology (IT) firm located in Lagos, will be marking 25 years of operation, 15 of which have been spent deploying IT solutions and services in Nigeria and other African countries.
COURE’s CEO, Uche Onwudiwe, while promising quality and secure IT solutions deployment to its customers, described the company as, “a platform services provider with a focus on the provision of accurate, secure and relevant data to improve its clients’ business processes and operations.”
He reflected on the journey so far,
noting that the company started out in the US in 1998 at a time when the internet and modern technology were taking off.
According to him, “Over the years, the shifts in technology and the need to be scalable beyond billing for individual man hours caused us to migrate our technology services first to web and application development, then to what we currently provide today, which are platforms that leverage standardised and aggregated data to enable and enhance the operational efficiency of our clients.
It has been an exciting 25-year journey of change and transformation. Our flagship solutions, ANQ and HUB,
Nigeria has witnessed a remarkable shift in its pension system in about two decades with the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). This innovative scheme has revolutionised retirement planning for employees, providing them with a range of benefits that ensure financial security and peace of mind in their post-employment years. This article delves into the advantages of the CPS and its positive impact on Nigerian workers.
The CPS offers employees a reliable financial safety net, addressing the longstanding issue of inadequate funds to pay retirement benefits to retirees. By contributing a portion of their monthly income, employees gradually build a pension fund that grows over time, ensuring a stable income upon retirement. The scheme’s mandatory nature ensures that employees remain committed to saving for their future, reducing the risk of financial uncertainty in old age.
Similarly, one of the significant advantages of the CPS is the employer’s mandatory contribution. Under this scheme, employers must contribute a certain percentage of an employee’s salary to their pension fund. This additional contribution, combined with the employee’s savings, accelerates the growth of the pension fund. Consequently, employees can accumulate a substantial retirement fund, enhancing their financial well-being during their golden years.
It is important to note that the CPS provides a social security framework for Nigerian employees. The CPS reduces dependence on family members or social welfare programmes, enabling individuals to lead dignified lives after retirement. With the CPS in place, employees can confidently look forward to retirement, knowing they will have a regular income stream to support their living expenses.
and their loved ones during difficult times.
The CPS offers a high level of portability and flexibility for employees. Regardless of job changes or relocation within Nigeria, an employee’s accumulated pension funds remain in the employee’s Retirement Savings Account (RSA). The employer cannot access the savings. This flexibility enables individuals to maintain their pension contributions seamlessly and reduces administrative complexities. It also ensures that employees can benefit from the scheme consistently, regardless of their employment history.
The risk of job loss is a reality for workers. As an RSA holder, an employee can access 25% of their RSA balance to help cushion the effect of an unforeseen job loss if they cannot secure another job after four months. It is essential to note that this partial withdrawal is not a replacement for retirement benefits but rather a means to offer immediate support during a difficult period. The remaining balance in the RSA continues to grow and accumulate until the RSA holder attains retirement age.
have been enabling the telecom, fintech, banking and various other sectors to increase their value to their customers. Our development teams consist of analysts, UI/UX experts, programmers, product managers and network engineers,” Onwudiwe said.
Speaking about business growth, he said the organisation has grown in leaps and bounds, having extended its partnership reach to many African countries.
He said they COURE has already partnered some banks to pilot the solution, and expressed optimism about the future, noting that they expect great times ahead.
The funds accumulated under the CPS are invested by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) on behalf of the employees. These investments generate returns over time, boosting the overall value of the pension fund. The funds are invested in various financial instruments, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, ensuring diversification and potentially higher returns. The growth of the pension funds through prudent investments increases the long-term benefits for employees. The value of Pension Assets stood at N15.58 trillion as of 31 March 2023, while CPS membership was 9.95 million.
Life is full of uncertainties, including death and unforeseen disabilities during active working age. The CPS not only focuses on retirement benefits and protects employees and their families in the unfortunate event of death or disability. Under the scheme, the accumulated pension fund is paid out as death benefits to the legal beneficiaries of the deceased employee. Similarly, the CPS provides immediate access to retirement benefits if an employee becomes incapacitated. These provisions offer financial security and support for employees
Under the CPS, RSA holders can use a portion of their retirement savings as equity contributions for residential mortgages. This is part of the National Pension Commission’s (PenCom’s) ongoing efforts to provide greater flexibility and access to pension funds for the benefit of RSA holders. It recognises that many workers face challenges in securing adequate housing upon retirement and aims to address this issue by unlocking the value of their pension savings to facilitate homeownership. RSA holders who have contributed to their accounts for at least five years and meet specific eligibility criteria can use up to 25% of their pension savings as equity contributions towards acquiring residential properties. This policy aligns with PenCom’s commitment to ensuring that pension funds catalyse economic development and social well-being.
In conclusion, the CPS has revolutionised the retirement landscape in Nigeria, benefiting employees in numerous ways. With its emphasis on financial security, employer contributions, portability, investment opportunities, and provision for death and disability benefits, the CPS is empowering Nigerian workers to plan for a prosperous and worry-free retirement. The CPS is a testament to the government’s commitment to the well-being and prosperity of the country’s workforce.
The Nigerian Association Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has charged the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to strengthen its engagement with the federal government to formulate pro-business policies that would drive inclusive economic growth and development for the country. Indeed, NACCIMA called on OPS to as a matter of urgency play active roles in policy formulation especially as it affects the business community.
The National President, Dele Kelvin Oye, at an investiture ceremony which took place in Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, to swear him in as the 22nd National president of the Chamber, said the private sector is a veritable tool for driving both foreign and local investments and contributes over 25 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We must find a way to influence political decisions because they affect businesses. Even though we contribute 75 per cent to the GDP and the other 25 per cent from the government comes with government’s policies that controls businesses. We must find a way to ensure that people who govern our country are not hungry people looking for food, but are held accountable if they do not do well. We must
let them know the impact of negative policies as it affects the business community and even the future of the country. We must all see service and leadership as an opportunity to do our best,” he urged.
According to him, under his watch, the association would be prioritising development efforts at youth development and women empowerment, saying that for Nigeria to change its economic narratives, it must invest in women, youths and education.
In his goodwill message, the Governor, Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, commended the NACCIMA National president, saying that his outstanding commitment to fostering economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in the nation is laudable.
“Your expertise and passion for advancing the interests of businesses, both small and large, have been evident throughout your illustrious career. I have no doubt that under your leadership, NACCIMA will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping policies, advocating for favorable business conditions and driving innovation across various sectors,” he said.
“As Governor, I am confident that your presidency will usher in an era of transformative change and progress for NACCIMA and the Nigerian business community as a whole. Your wealth of experience,
visionary approach, and a strong commitment to inclusive growth will undoubtedly yield remarkable results propelling our nation’s economy to greater heights.
I assure you of the full support and cooperation of the Ekiti State Government in your endeavors. We are committed to working hard in hand with NACCIMA to enhance the business climate, attract investments and create employment opportunities for our people. Together, we will build a more prosperous Nigeria where every citizen can realize their full potential.
On his part, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, said the event is an opportunity for collaboration amongst industry stakeholders and celebration of shared achievements over the past year, stressing that the event will also help determine and align the association’s desired strategic direction as a whole and for its members, which ultimately benefits the nation.
“As we look to the future, I am confident that the leadership of NACCIMA will continue its strides, as an umbrella body for various Chambers of Commerce within Nigeria to drive the economic growth and prosperity for our nation, “he said.
For years, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) nestled comfortably in the gigantic Mamman Kontagora House, owned by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. It stretches between Broad and Marina Streets. After an unfortunate fire in this building in 2015, NDIC resolved to develop its highrise office complex on Glover Road in Ikoyi. Bennett Oghifo writes
The NDIC headquarters building has an interesting glass facade rooted in an energy-saving concept. Designers of modern buildings take into account the need to reduce energy bills.
The value of reducing energy consumption in buildings has increased worldwide. This is because the
consumption of fossil fuels for the full-fledged operations of a building is as high as in other industries.
Those who designed the NDIC’s new headquarters, Interstate Architects, were not unmindful of this.
For 70 years, IAL has successfully delivered numerous landmark projects, with at least one major building project
in every state of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“Our clients include major public and private sector institutions. Seven decades of investment in personnel development and technology have resulted in a high standard of professional service. We believe in the efficient management of
resources for the development of the built environment of architecture, urban design and planning,” the company stated.
The NDIC is an independent federal government agency that protects depositors and guarantees the settlement of insured funds when a deposit-taking financial institution can no longer repay their deposits.
BUA Cement Plc last week secured a $500 million financing package from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and its partners.
The facility saw the IFC making its largest-ever investment in northern Nigeria by providing a financing package alongside African and European partners to BUA Cement Plc, to help the company part-finance and develop two new, energy-efficient cement production lines that would create up to 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.
A breakdown showed that the financing package included a $160.5 million loan from the multilateral agency’s own account, a $94.5 million loan through the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP), and $245 million in parallel loans from syndication partners; the African Development Bank (AfDB) – $100 million, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) – $100 million, and the German Investment Corporation, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) – $45 million.
The financing, announced during the recently held 2023 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, would allow BUA, Nigeria’s second largest cement producer, to develop new production lines in Sokoto State. The plants would run partly on alternative fuels derived from waste and solar power. Each would produce about three million tons of cement annually when complete, serving markets in Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
According to the IFC, investing in northern Nigeria remains integral to its strategy to promote sustainable development in underserved regions. This includes areas with limited opportunities and a need for increased private sector engagement. The investment in BUA was part of IFC’s strategy to promote diversified, inclusive growth and job creation in Nigeria, where IFC supports the manufacturing agribusiness, healthcare, infrastructure, technology, and financial services sectors. IFC has an active investment portfolio of $2.3 billion in Nigeria.
The new BUA Cement plants would provide local developers with a reliable and affordable source of cement, and bolster the construction of essential infrastructure, fostering economic growth and prosperity for the region.
Additionally, the project is expected to create about 1,000 direct jobs and 10,800 indirect jobs. Direct jobs include those in manufacturing, engineering, and advanced automation systems, it explained, adding that indirect jobs included those in the cleaning, maintenance, mining, and transportation sectors.
The facility comes about 17 months after the inauguration of BUA Cement Plc’s ultra-modern three million metric tonnes per annum Sokoto line four factory and the groundbreaking of the company’s line five. The unveiling of the plant and groundbreaking ceremony were conducted by then by former president, Muhammadu Buhari.
The price of cement remains high in Nigeria because the few producers are not able to meet the country’s huge demand. It is expected that the new facility would enable BUA Cement ramp up production and lower the price of the product.
Commenting on the new facility secured by his company, the Chairman and Founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu said: “BUA is delighted to partner with IFC and other esteemed institutions in securing this $500 million facility to develop energy-efficient cement production capacity and strengthen our equipment and logistics capabilities in northern Nigeria.
“In line with our commitment to sustainability and ESG principles, this investment will create jobs and contribute to economic and infrastructural development within Nigeria and the greater Sahel region.
“We are particularly pleased to have successfully gone through the rigorous process with IFC, AfDB, AFC, and DEG, which validates our responsible business practices. By focusing on greener fuels and enhancing our equipment and logistics platform, BUA Cement is building a foundation for sustainable infrastructure growth and a more
inclusive society.”
Speaking further, the company’s chairman: “This has been going on for about a year and finally we have signed and we are really very excited. Sokoto state is where we have this plant and BUA Cement is the largest cement producer in the northern part of Nigeria. We have two plants there and we are going to have a third one and the fourth one and by the time we are through, it will be eight million tonnes. “What it does is that with the additional lines that we would be having, we would be able to export cement to Burkina Faso and to Niger. And again, one of the DFIDs mentioned that they looked at it to ensure that this is going to be all green and we are not going to be using fossils at all. It is going to be gas that we are transporting from Port Harcourt. “
He said the project gives BUA Cement the opportunity to expand its production lines. Secondly, in the northern part of the country, the company is the only cement producer that has the capacity of more than one million tonnes and by the time it is done with its expansion drive, it would be having about eight million tonnes.
“What that does is that somebody buying cement in Sokoto is going to be paying same price as those that are in Lagos, Port Harcourt or Calabar. So, it is a huge deal which ordinarily if you don’t have this plant, it will be costing you maybe an additional 1000 or 1,500 tonnes on each bag, just for transportation.
“If you look at Sokoto, you will know that
the impact of this plant is huge and positive because you are empowering the community, we are creating thousands of jobs and we are creating wealth for our shareholders. I am really glad because for a company to be able to get $500 million facility from the IFC is a validation and this to me is very important. That goes to show that we are a responsible organisation and we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we deliver,” Rabiu added.
BUA Cement Plc is the result of a merger between CCNN Plc and Obu Cement Company Plc (formerly Obu Cement Company Limited). Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) was incorporated in 1962 and commenced operations in 1967, with an installed capacity of 100,000 mtpa at Kalambaina, Sokoto State. In 1985, a Line-2, with an installed capacity of 500,000 was commissioned; though the Line-1 was eventually decommissioned a year later due to its uneconomic mode of operation.
In 2000, the federal government under its privatisation programme divested its majority shareholding to Scancem International ANS of Norway, as core investor in CCNN. Focused on strategic re-positioning, Scancem divested its holding to Damnaz Cement Company Limited in 2008.
In 2010, BUA International Limited acquired Damnaz Cement Company to become majority shareholder and technical partner in CCNN. In 2014, Obu Cement Company Limited became Obu Cement Company Plc, commencing operations in 2015 with coming online of the Greenfield Line-1 (3 million mtpa)
plant at Obu, Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria. These world-class plants are strategically positioned to providing our value brand cement to the Nigerian and African cement market while contributing to the development of related sectors including housing and construction.
With a combined installed capacity of 11mmtpa (Obu plant, 6mmtpa and Kalambaina plant, 5mmtpa), BUA Cement Plc is the largest cement producer in the North-West, South-South and South-East regions of the country and is currently the second-largest producer of cement in Nigeria with its commissioning of the 3 million mtpa, line-4 at Sokoto State in January, 2022.
Rabiu is also the founder and Chairman of BUA International Limited – a foods, mining and infrastructure conglomerate which he established in 1988 with business interests in cement manufacturing, sugar refining and plantations, rice, flour milling & pasta production, oil and gas, construction, real estate and logistics. Rabiu studied Economics at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, USA and he holds the Nigerian National Honour of ‘Commander of the Federal Republic’ (CFR).
Also commenting on the fresh facility secured by BUA Cement, IFC’s Managing Director, Makhtar Diop said: “We are pleased to join with our partners to support BUA with an investment that will boost industrialization, create jobs and deliver economic growth in northern Nigeria, a region with significant economic potential.”
The financing package announced by IFC and its partners would also allow BUA to replace some of its diesel trucks with vehicles that are run partly on natural gas, over time producing fewer emissions.
As part of the project, the IFC would also advise BUA on developing a gender inclusive workplace strategy that creates more opportunities for women across its operations.
“Following an initial $200 million investment in BUA Group in 2021, we are proud to play another key role in this landmark manufacturing project set to transform the construction sector in northern Nigeria and the entire country.
“By investing in this project, we are sustainably building Nigeria’s local manufacturing capacity, empowering local communities and creating employment opportunities.
“AFC is committed to working with our partners to accelerate development impact through infrastructure solutions that support value addition, industrialisation, and job creation throughout Africa,” CEO & President of the AFC, Samaila Zubairu said,
Also, the Vice President – Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, AfDB, Solomon Quaynor said: “The AfDB is pleased to be partnering with IFC and BUA on this expansion project as it is aligned with our priority strategies of industrialising Africa and improving the quality of lives of Africans through the increase in cement production which will lead to the development of additional affordable housing and critical infrastructure in Nigeria and neighboring West African countries, while supporting the use of cleaner energy at BUA’s Sokoto facility.”
To the Senior Director at DEG, Gunnar Stork, “DEG’s mission is to be a reliable partner to private sector enterprises as drivers of development and creators of qualified jobs.
“We are pleased to contribute to this transaction together with our development finance partner institutions. Together we support BUA in its transformation towards a more sustainable production by implementing innovative technology. The significant reduction of CO2 emissions and the creation of decent jobs in a region with many vulnerable households are key factors for DEG’s financing.”
While domestic cement demand has been growing rapidly, it is expected that this new financing and BUA Cement expansion drive would in the long-run help in reducing the cost of the product.
Somebody ones said that you campaign in poetry and then govern in prose. The president’s comments in his inaugural address sounded like a beautiful poetry. The comments he made and the policy statements, the trajectories that he expressed and his desire to govern were very wonderful, very commendable and it is actually the way we should be going. But the issue for us is this: without doubting the president’s desire to change the current trajectory of our economy and the nation as a whole, because we all know the issues. An average Nigeria understands the context in which we find ourselves. What we expect, or what we will urge, is a more definitive road map on how these things will be possible.
The president mentioned the issue of insecurity beyond what has been done before, but how is he going to address it? He mentioned the issue of infrastructure, how exactly is this going to happen? He mentioned the issue of reducing unemployment, but how is it going to happen? While we wish the president the absolute success that he needs in taking the country to greater heights, it will also be necessary for his administration to start sharing definitive steps and frameworks needed to achieve each and every one of those policy trusts that he has mentioned. Because that is how we can build citizens consensus and also build stakeholders participation in ensuring that all those promises made will actually become a reality.
For us it is a good thing. That shows that the president has been listening. That shows that he has been watching and that shows that he is receptive to the challenges that the organised businesses are facing currently. And that is gladdening to the hearts of the members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN). But we will appreciate seeing definitive and immediate steps in dealing with these issues. With over 60 different taxes, levies and fees that are currently being paid by organised businesses and with close to 20 different bills at the 9th National Assembly that have different quantum of percentages either 1.0 per cent or 0.5 per cent that organised businesses are supposed to pay to fund different agencies and commissions of the government. That is quite burdensome. When he mentioned the review of those multiplicities of taxes it was a welcome development for us.
Seun Sulieman
We have canvassed for this because the current dual rates only promote rent seeking; it only promotes corruption and does not promote productivity. How will an individual who can get a dollar at N450 at the official window go into production with all the intricacies involved in production and with all the regulatory and legislative challenges that you will face when he can cross over at the parallel market and exchange the same dollar he has collect at an official rate at above N700. It will take a lot of discipline for an individual not to do that. And that is the challenge that we have had that has promoted this rent seeking culture that does not reward those that are actually playing the role of deepening productive activities in this country. That is also a gladdening comment and we look forward to quick and immediate steps to bring the exchange rates to one unified rate. So, we also welcomed this initiative of the president.
Let us state that he cannot increase the GDP without increasing production. Production is at the heart of GDP growth. And to increase production it means he will address all the bottlenecks that
hinder the manufacturing sector and every other sector of our economy. Once we deal with that and the production capacity increased significantly by the industry, you will also realise that you are resolving the issues associated with unemployment because the more the industries expands, the more they increase their capacity utilisation, the easier it is for them to generate more employment. That is also in line with the position and prayers of the OPSN that we cannot but focus on increasing the productive capacity of the industry as a whole. For the budget, I think that a lot has been said about the budget over time that there is an absolute fiscal indiscipline and we will like the president to take a critical look into those areas of fiscal indiscipline both within the context of the budget as a whole and within the context of what we have come to know as “padding” of the budget, which experts have said constitute a big leakage in our quest for fiscal discipline as a nation.
One, businesses have concerns about access to foreign exchange; we have concern about access to credit; we have concern about enabling environment that will drive production. We have myriad of issues that are facing the organised businesses and the manufacturing sector as a whole. And as I have said earlier: beautiful comments that the president has made, stakeholders have noted those comments and what we are waiting for and looking for now are the structures and enablers that the president and his administration will put in place to achieve all these laudable policy initiatives that he has come up with.
That also is a welcomed development. Currently there is over $700 million investor’s funds that have been strapped, especially those in the aviation sector that they cannot repatriate to their countries, which is a clog in the wheel of promoting FDIs flow into the country. But beyond the release of that fund, one of the critical things that we need to do is to ensure policy consistency. If we want to bring in foreign investors to the country, then we must ensure that we have consistency in our policy. Few months ago the fiscal monetary policy of the government that was already created with some
definitive steps for progressive increment between 2022 and 2024 was suddenly reversed by the immediate past administration. And a system that was supposed to last for three years was abridged and the Federal Ministry of Finance announced that excise duties would be increased exponentially; it also announced that a new plastic tax has already been introduced against the spirit and the letter of the framework that was set in 2022 fiscal policy measure that is supposed to run between 2022 and 2024. These are the issues that are at the heart of whether an investor will come into the country or whether an investor will not come. Beyond facilitating the release of their capital, we must also create an environment that is stable; an environment that is predictable within the context of policy formulation, policy implementation and policy appraisal for those investors to actually bring their money to our country to invest. If there is no confidence that local investors are having the best support from the government, then it will be difficult for us to say that another investor will come into the country and invest.
The cost of fund is already high and if you want to promote investment and productive activities then you must find a way to reduce the interest rate. You must create a system that enables manufacturers and people involved in the real sector to actually produce and sell in such a way that productive activities will continue unhindered. The interest rate as we currently have it is quite high and if interest rate remains high it will discourage borrowing and discourage businesses from leveraging on all the opportunities that credit can provide within the context of increasing their capacity and leveraging on the opportunities that we have in the environment.
Currently, there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of Mr. President. We believe that he understands the issues. We believe that he understands the challenges. He has been part of the system in the last eight years and we believe that he understands the depth of the rot that we have find ourselves in and as I have said there is no reason to doubt his sincerity. What the president needs to do with his administration is to ensure that he builds a national consensus by deepening stakeholders’ engagement so that everybody can rally round the president and his administration to achieve all the laudable projects and plans he has committed himself to achieve within the next four years.
The inauguration of the new President of the Federal Republic, Bola Ahmed Asiwaju Tinubu, provides a significant opportunity for Nigeria to quickly tackle some of the nation’s most significant and pressing challenges. Access to reliable, affordable, and clean electricity is the backbone of any country’s economy and is fundamental to socioeconomic growth. As such, repairing and upgrading Nigeria’s power sector will have immense associated benefits across the country, for the economy and for society. Access to electricity enables business and industry to operate, makes education widely available, allows transport to move, and allows society to function successfully. Unfortunately, currently around 80 million Nigerians, which is more than 40 per cent of the population, do not have access to electricity. This is despite the fact that, of the 13 GW of installed electricity capacity, only approximately 3.4 GW reaches households.
The government has an opportunity to capitalise on the momentum of the President’s appointment and push forward progress on key projects like the [Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
Recognising the urgency of
the current situation of economic headwinds and social unrest, the PPI is a readily available solution that can effectively overcome many of the main problems and unlock the potential for sustainable energy development in the country.
The PPI has been designed to help connect, stabilise and expand the nation’s electricity grid, but also increase government income, create jobs, diversify the economy, and jumpstart the country’s regeneration. This collaborative mega project will facilitate the transfer of knowledge, technical capacity building, and the deployment of advanced energy solutions in Nigeria.
By prioritising attention
on upgrading the country’s electricity infrastructure, improving transmission and distribution networks, and increasing power generation capacity, jobs will be created, access to energy will expand, and reliability of power will be improved. This is the basis for business and industry to flourish.
The PPI agreement, signed in 2019, serves as a framework to transform Nigeria’s power sector over the course of several phases. Siemens Energy has worked closely with our partners, and we have fulfilled our obligations, but progress so far has been slower than we would like, delayed by Covid, politics, and elections. But now, with renewed government
While energy generation and stabilizing our grid is a high priority for the country, we need to also keep renewable energy initiatives and decarbonizing our energy systems as equal priority. This will not only reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels but also contribute to mitigating climate change whilst creating job opportunities.
support and revived focus on delivering the megaproject, together we can transform the nation. There are thousands of transformers, hundreds of distribution substations to be upgraded and built, and more than twenty transmission substations to be executed across Nigeria in phase one alone. Immediately as equipment is connected to the grid, Nigerians will start to experience improved electricity supply.
The implementation of the PPI will facilitate training and job opportunities, in addition to the young professionals in the power sector that are already being trained on power simulation systems.
The new government can facilitate and accelerate progress by unlocking investment and prioritizing policy reforms to create an enabling environment for energy development. This requires streamlining regulations, promoting transparency, and attracting private sector investments. Implementing investor-friendly policies, such as tax incentives and risk mitigation mechanisms, will encourage participation from domestic and international players in the energy sector.
The development of a modern energy system and power grid will also pave the way for increased renewables, and the development of new fuels like hydrogen. To meet The National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy vision of 30:30:30, which aims at achieving 30 GW of electricity by 2030 with renewable energy contributing 30 per cent of the energy mix, a modern, reliable, and resilient grid is needed.
Ultimately, nearly 60 per cent of Nigeria’s energy demand in 2050 can be met with renewable energy sources, saving 40 per cent in natural gas and 65 per cent in oil needs at the same time, according to the [International Renewable Energy Agency. Rich with natural and renewable resources, home to over 200 million people, and with the largest GDP in Africa, Nigeria has unparalleled potential and can serve as a roadmap for growth and energy transition across the continent and beyond.
Nigeria is currently at a defining moment with the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The expectation for the new administration is high, luckily, the President has a proven track record of success, and we hope that this will continue in his new role.
This government has the potential to leave a longlasting legacy of progressive development that sets the foundation for exponential growth and the transformation of the nation. With a legacy of more than 50 years of collaboration with Nigeria, Siemens Energy remains committed to the success of the country and ready to continue working with the new administration to achieve its energy development goals.
Since the return of democracy, one of the most discussed matters in the public sphere, has been whether or not to do away with Nigeria’s highly controversial petrol subsidy regime. Regarded as arguably one of the most entrenched absurdities in the country, while most Nigerians agree that withdrawing subsidies on the product may be expeditious, the mode of removal, timing, level of consultation, among others have been issues for public debate.
Although, the discussions surrounding the withdrawal of subsidies are not new, however it has recently assumed a life of its own, especially in the Nigerian media, following recent government decision to take the bull by the horns.
Subsidy simply refers to the practice of government paying a portion of the price that should be paid by customers in order to alleviate the burden on consumers, meaning that the government sets the price of petrol at a lower level than it should have been bought in the open market.
Subsidies were initially implemented in Nigeria in the 1970s in reaction to the 1973 global oil price shock. The shock scenario caused a global spike in oil prices, requiring the government to limit local pricing for energy items.
Rather than seize the gauntlet and go the whole hog, previous governments in the past, have managed to increase fuel prices in instalments for various reasons, although it had received some backlash.
Over the years, especially in the 90s under the Ibrahim Babangida regime, the then Head of State, he raised prices from 15.3 kobo to 70 kobo in several tranches throughout his tenure.
The interim government of Ernest Shonekan on its own, hiked it from 70k to N5. But the regime of Sani Abacha reduced the price to N3.25 initially, but eventually raised it to N15 and then Abdulsalami Abubakar hiked it to N20. These increments have largely come with protests.
Under Olusegun Obasanjo, prices rose from N20 to N70 during his administration, but was reduced by N5 by Umar Yar’Adua to N65. In the same vein, under Goodluck Jonathan, the government increased the fuel pump price to N97 and eventually to N87 before the expiration of his government.
However, with the Muhammadu Buhari’s government raising it from N87 to anything from N185 upwards nationwide, depending on location, the new Bola Tinubu’s administration has now fully removed the problematic subsidy which has seen rates go to anything from N488 to as high as N700 in some locations in the first instance. However, government has insisted that prices will eventually decline.
While subsidy payment may have a little positive effect on Nigerians, since they were able to buy at lower prices at the pumps, many Nigerians believe that the negative impact on the overall economy far outweighs the positive.
Subsidy has since jumped from millions to billions and has risen unsustainably to trillions, with a heavy drawback on the public purse.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for instance believes that between 2005 to 2021, the country spent a whopping $74.38 billion, which translates to N13.697 trillion.
According to the NEITI report, a breakdown of these figures showed that in 2005, the government paid $2.6 billion (N351 billion) as subsidy. In 2006 & 2007, it paid $1.99 billion and $2.176 billion (N257 billion and N272 billion) respectively.
The report further pointed out that subsidy payments more than doubled in 2008 and 2010 and witnessed the highest increase ever in 2011 to $13.52 billion (N2.11 trillion). A sharp decline was witnessed in the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 when it dropped to $3.336 billion (N654 billion) in 2012. The decline in subsidy expenditure continued in 2016 and 2017 to as low as $473 million (N154 billion) in 2017.
The reduction was short-lived as the payments skyrocketed to over $3.88 billion (N1.190 trillion) in 2018 and 2021 to $3.575 billion (N1.43 trillion). By these figures, NEITI stated that Nigeria expended an average of N805.7 billion annually, N67.1 billion monthly or N2.2 billion daily.
The NEITI data, in addition, showed that the amount expended on subsidies from 2005 to 2021 was equivalent to the entire budget for health, education, agriculture and defence in the last five years.
The sum, it said, also equals the capital expenditure for 10 years between 2011-2020, thereby dwarfing allocations to all critical areas of the economy.
A policy advisory by NEITI also conducted a survey of the pump price of petrol across the country outside the major cities of Lagos and Abuja during the era of petroleum subsidy.
“In the North-west, North-east and North-central states a litre of petrol averages N270.00, N265.80 and N 269.00 respectively. The southern states pay slightly lower with the South-south paying N232.50, South-east N235.20k while the South-west states pay an average of N250.00. Major marketers and prices at the state capitals stood largely between N169.90 to N190.00.
NEITI’s study on the petroleum subsidy also established the prices of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders and within the West and East African region.
“In Senegal, a litre of fuel sells for 635.91k, while in Guinea, Sierra-Leone, Togo, Cameroun and the Republic of Benin it costs N609.30k, N506.96K, N 497.78K, N449.24 and N462.23k respectively. It is on record that the supply to some of these Nigerian neighbours is largely the smuggled subsidised petroleum products from Nigeria,” the NEITI report showed.
After foot-dragging for years, it would appear that many Nigerians now understand why the petroleum downstream sector should be freed of the debilitating subsidy regime. However, the new debate, it seems, is how government channels the savings from the subsidy and how it is effectively administered. Aside Labour, the usual suspects have now come around to supporting fuel subsidy removal.
From the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which wasn’t so bullish on subsidy withdrawal in the past to oil marketers and even professionals, there seems to be a consensus that government should withdraw its funding for petrol consumers. Even the once cohesive organised labour appears to be divided on the matter.
Recall that the latest round of debates followed the announcement by Tinubu during his inaugural address on May 29 that fuel subsidy was ‘gone’. Tinubu promised to re-channel the savings to education, health and other sectors.
But according to the NNPC, the company had been funding subsidies to the tune of N400 billion monthly. Last Tuesday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Kyari disclosed that the federal government was still owing the firm the sum of N2.8 trillion
was necessary for the growth of the economy of the country.
He argued that other countries around Nigeria do not have petrol subsidy despite the fact that they have crude oil like Nigeria, adding that those countries were not being ‘pampered’ with subsidy.
Isong further said: “Now that this is the situation that government cannot afford subsidy anymore, we will pay the same price just as our neighbours who have crude oil are paying the same price,” he added.
On its part, the downstream sector regulator, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it will no longer fix prices or release templates for petrol prices.
The Authority Chief Executive (ACE), Engr Farouk Ahmed, explained that under the liberalised market, market forces are allowed to dictate prices, but said there will be strict compliance monitoring.
“We put the regulation in place, we make sure quality control is complied with, we make sure the product is there and we give licence to a prospective importer. The market is now open for everybody that wants to import as far as they meet all the requirements.
“ So, it is not about the NNPC alone. For everybody in the sector, we make sure we guide their operations whether at the depot or wherever the product is, but we will not put a cap to say this is what the price must be.
“As far as we are concerned in the NMDPRA, this is not like before when the PPPRA fixes the price. In a deregulated market, it is the market force that dictates the price.”
The NMDPRA chief also revealed that the federal government has officially scrapped petroleum equalisation as well as the national transport allowance.
spent on petrol subsidy.
The GCEO lamented that since the provision of the N6 trillion in 2022, and N3.7 trillion in 2023, the national oil firm had not received any payment whatsoever from the federation, disclosing that the NNPC made the petrol subsidy payments from its cash flow.
“That means the federal government is unable to pay and we have continued to support this subsidy from the cash flow of the NNPC. That is, when we net off our fiscal obligations of taxes and royalties, there is still a balance that we are funding from our cash flow. And that has become very difficult and it is affecting our other operations,” he said. In another forum, Kyari disclosed that with the subsidy removal policy now being fully implemented, Nigeria may witness a 30 per cent crash in daily petroleum consumption figure soon.
But while not opposed to subsidy removal, the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the federal government to approach the removal of petrol subsidy strategically to avoid the escalation of inflation and further worsen the already bad socio-economic indicators like employment, poverty per capital income, among others.
“While it is desirable to remove the fuel subsidy, which in real terms is subsidising inefficiency and corruption, it is important that the removal is systematically and strategically done in order not to further impoverish and worsen the already bad socio-economic indicators such as employment, poverty per capital income and many more,” the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said.
On its part, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), has advised Nigerians to adjust themselves to the new reality for the good of the country’s economy.
The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Clement Isong, who spoke with THISDAY, explained that with the new petrol marketing regime in the country, MOMAN members would be selling their products based on their cost of purchasing products.
He urged Nigerians to embrace the new petrol marketing regime and reduce their fuel consumption, saying the government should put in place appropriate palliatives to cushion the effect on the most vulnerable citizens.
The executive secretary also called on Nigerians to be empathetic at this time and try to help one another, pointing out that the situation might not be easy but
He also stated that the NMDPRA and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will mount aggressive monitoring of activities in the downstream sector to prevent profiteering by petroleum marketers.
Ahmed further disclosed that marketers are now free to source their foreign exchange anywhere around the world to import petroleum products and then recover their costs without impediments.
For Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), it argued that fuel subsidy in Nigeria had been fraught with issues of corruption and inefficiency while palliatives had been suggested by some as a possible way to alleviate the suffering of those that will be most affected by subsidy removal. But it said that while palliatives may help to mitigate the immediate impact of rising prices such as cash transfers, provision of buses to the Labour Union or other forms of assistance, the effectiveness of palliatives depends on several factors.
Writing on the unsustainable financial cost of subsidy, it said that according to the World Bank, Nigeria’s total revenue in 2000 was $10.8 billion, explaining that by 2010, this amount increased to $67.9 billion, yet the Nigerian government had spent over $30 billion on fuel subsidies over the past 18 years.
In addition, PwC noted that this has had a significant impact on funds available for critical infrastructure and other essential sectors such as education, health, and defence.
It maintained that fuel subsidy payments have also distorted the economy, stressing that according to a report, households in the bottom 40 per cent of the income distribution account for less than 3 per cent of all fuel purchases.
Furthermore, it is pointed out that three-quarters of all fuel sold in Nigeria is consumed by private firms, public transportation services, government agencies, and other businesses.
Most vehicles used for carrying large numbers of people (such as molue) and goods, it said, are diesel-powered, a product that is already deregulated.
Also, it said that household kerosene which is mostly used by the poor is no longer subsidised, meaning that the poor are already to a large extent paying market prices for their fuel.
“This effectively means that the government is subsidising mostly those who can afford fuel (PMS) at market rates and not the poorest of the poor who need subsidy.
“This is one of the major problems with the way fuel subsidy is being implemented in Nigeria. For the benefit of subsidy to reach its intended recipients, the current structure will need to be reviewed and creatively restructured,” it argued.
It has taken about five decades to finally take the hard decision to remove petrol subsidy which had constituted a heavy encumbrance on Nigeria’s economic growth. Although it has received mixed reactions from the public, Emmanuel Addeh writes that it could well be one of the most significantly impactful moves made by the new government.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has joined the United States’ Commission to declare the activities of Binance in Nigeria illegal.
Nigeria’s commission in a circular on its official website warned that, any Nigerian trading on Binance Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the well-known global cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is doing so at his or her own risk.
According to the circular, “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to the website operated by Binance Nigeria Limited, soliciting the Nigerian public to trade crypto assets on its various web and mobile-enabled platforms.
Binance Nigeria Limited is neither registered nor regulated by the Commission and its operations in Nigeria are therefore illegal. Any member of the investing public dealing with the entity is doing so at his/her own risk”.
The crypto-giant, Binance has been accused of engaging in a “web of deception” as it was hit with another lawsuit by US financial regulators. The U.S SEC said the trading platform and its founder Changpeng Zhao ignored the rules meant to protect investors to keep operating in the US. Both the company and Zhao are accused of mishandling customer funds.
The complaint from the U.S SEC is the second lawsuit filed against the firm this year and follows promises by the US to police the crypto industry more aggressively.
The company, which was founded in 2017 and is active in more than 100 countries, denied that customer money had been at risk.
“While we take the SEC’s allegations seriously, they should not be the subject of an SEC enforcement action,” Binance said, adding it had been in discussions with the
regulator.
SEC further stated, “As the regulator with the statutory mandate of investor protection, the Commission urges Nigerians to be wary of investing in cryptoassets, and crypto-asset related financial products and services if the service provider/its platform is not registered or regulated by the Commission.
The Commission therefore warned Nigerian investors that investing in crypto-assets is extremely risky and may result in total loss of their investment.
“By this circular, Binance Nigeria Limited is hereby directed to immediately stop soliciting Nigerian investors in any form whatsoever. The Commission shall provide updates on further regulatory actions with respect to the activities of Binance Nigeria Limited, and other similar platforms and shall work with other regulators in Nigeria to provide further guidance on this matter, “SEC added.
In line with its commitment to provide an exceptional experience to customers, Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria
Limited, a subsidiary of Baobab Group, France, announced that it has received certification for ISO 22301(Business Continuity Management Systems) and ISO/IEC 27001(Information Security Management Systems). The certifications in both international standards confirm the Bank’s commitment to guaranteeing customers’ data protection and transaction security.
ISO certifications are globally recognized standards that provide guidelines for quality management, information security management, business continuity management, and other areas. The certifications in both standards (ISO 22301 and ISO/IEC 27001) have been conferred by the International Standard Organization (ISO) on the Bank after its final audit of our policies and standard operating procedures and processes.
The two ISO certifications by the Bank goes to, demonstrate its commitment to high standards and willingness to fulfill all mandatory and voluntary requirements to ensure the quality, safety, and reliability of its products and services.
It goes to certify the Bank’s investment in implementing effective systems and processes to manage risks and improve its service delivery performance for the benefit of our valued customers
Ag. MD/CEO of Baobab Nigeria, Jonas Nyaye, expressed his satisfaction with the achievement and emphasized the Bank’s s commitment to high operational and customer service quality standards by continuously conforming with the ISO certification requirements.
“It is important we demonstrate by our actions, as certified by an international body like ISO, our commitment to providing quality services and adequate protection of data to our customers and stakeholders. We will continue to improve our systems and get certified in other industry certifications to further deepen our customers’ and stakeholders’ trust in us, “he said.
He noted that the certifications further show that the Board and Management of the Bank are committed to meeting internationally accepted standards regarding its banking operations here in Nigeria.
The bank also, as a measure of deepening customer
satisfaction, recently launched three new digital products at its Headquarters in Lagos. Unveiling the three products during a virtual session, the Bank’s Chief Digital Officer, Chukwuka Obike revealed that the Bank is now offering Taka Loan for Savers, Micro-Health Insurance, and POS terminals to delight our valued customers.
The Chief Digital Officer, supported by other senior management staff of the Bank, disclosed that Baobab as a digitally innovative Bank has considered global trends and therefore has decided to add value to its existing and potential customers by introducing these products.
He noted that Taka for Savers is a reward scheme for customers who have diligently saved with Baobab for a minimum of six months. The product allows customers who have saved for a minimum of six months to access affordable loans as a reward for their loyalty and commitment. He noted that with the dwindling number of savings accounts in the financial sector falling to 17.7% in 2021 from 23.6% in 2011, it was important for the Bank to also introduce unique ways to ensure the savings culture is improved upon.
Nume Ekeghe
Access Bank has launched the first American Express cards in Nigeria and unveiled two new consumer credit cards: the Access Bank American Express Gold Card and the Metal Platinum Card. These are the first American Express cards to be issued in Nigeria and West Africa. The Gold and Platinum Cards showcase the international American Express card design, featuring the distinctive ‘Centurion’ icon.
Group Managing Director, Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, speaking at the launch recently said the cards will be available by request and
invitation and customers who have signified interest will begin to enjoy the usage from tomorrow, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. He said, “We are a bank of many firsts. We do have a wide network and with this partnership, AMEX will have 60 million customers supporting this partnership. It is a massive endorsement for us to work with AMEX in this partnership. Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said:
“The launch of American Express Cards in Nigeria is another milestone in the continued develop-
ment of a vibrant and fast-growing payments industry. Customers want more than transactions – they want real value.
President, Global Network Services at American Express, Mohammed Badi, said: “By granting Access Bank a license to launch the first-ever American Express Cards in Nigeria, American Express’ presence in Africa is becoming even more vibrant. The Access Bank American Express Gold Card and the metal Platinum Card enhance the credit card experience in Nigeria with special benefits, access, and service – for Cardmembers both in Nigeria and when travelling overseas.”
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).
Kayode Tokede
Savannah Energy has announcedd $290.4million revenue in its result and accounts for the period ended December 31, 2022, a growth of about 26 per cent from $230.5million reported in 2021 financial year.
The British independent energy company that is focused around the delivery of Projects that Matter in Africa disclosed 20 per cent Increase in Nigeria amid operations continues shift to renewables.
The company announced $222.4million adjusted EBITDA in 2022, an increase of 27 per cent from $175million in 2021 and EBITDA margin remained unchanged at 77per cent.
Savannah’s operating and administrative expenses stood at $66.2million and capital expenditure (capex) for 2022 at $23.6million, both significantly under previous guidance. Its cash balance in 2022 was $240million, up 56per cent from last year, compared to its current
market cap of $420million.
The group’s total assets amounted to $1.76billion, compared to $1.35million in 2021.
The report further showed that the average daily gross production from Savannah’s Nigerian operations stood at 26.8 Kboepd, a 20per cent increase from 22.3 Kboepd in 2021. Of that, 90 per cent was gas, including a 23 per cent increase in gas production from the Uquo gas field.
The CEO of Savannah Energy,
Andrew Knott in a statement said, “2022 was another year of significant progress and growth for our company. Our Total Revenues1 grew by 26 per cent to $290million, our Adjusted EBITDA2 rose by 27per cent to $222million.
“To put these numbers into context, since the announcement of our decision to acquire our Nigerian business in 2017, it has delivered six consecutive years of Total Revenues1 growth at a compound annual growth rate
of 21 per cent.
“This growth has seen us more than double the number of customers the business serves and increase the share of Nigeria’s thermal power generation capacity that it supplies from 10 per cent to 24 per cent.
“Our performance against key industry sustainability metrics relating to HSE performance, carbon intensity, senior management gender diversity and local employee ratios remain industry leading.”
Looking into the rest of 2023, he said, “I am confident in where we are as a business. Key projects we are focused on completing include: the closing of our proposed acquisition of PETRONAS’ assets in South Sudan in Q3; at least one further hydrocarbon asset deal; reaching our target of having up to 1GW+ of renewable energy projects in motion by end of year; the flow testing of our R3 East development in Q4; and the refinancing our Nigerian debt.”
L-R:
Edo launches 24-hour unlimited free internet service in MDAs for workers
Kwara to deploy free bus services for students, civil servants from June 14 Adeleke set to unveil palliatives, says media aide
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City, Yinka Kolawole in Oshogbo and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin.
The Deputy Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Idogen Emmanuel, at the weekend, gave reasons why the labour centre did not embark on nationwide protest over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
Emmanuel, who hails from Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, gave the hint while speaking to journalists in Benin City.
He explained that at first, the union did not believe that there was anything like subsidy, but after finding out that Nigeria petroleum marketers take the products to African countries like Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and up
to Senegal and make more money, the union decided to back down.
He pointed out that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in calling out workers for the suspended strike action did not follow due process, as it ought have given the government mandatory 14 days strike notice and ought to have taken other steps including three days warning strike.
"This was not done. That was why we decided to rescind our decision to embark of strike.
"This was why we also asked all the stakeholders to go back to draw a plan since the minimum wage will not benefit every common man on the streets," he explained.
Emmanuel, disclosed that there were other holistic measures being considered such as mass transit buses, as well ploughing funds into education, health and agriculture sectors to boost learning, well-being
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
International oil companies (IOCs) and their sub-contractors operating in Finima, Bonny Kingdom, Rivers State have been admonished to be distinct in their dealings with issues of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The Amadabo of Finima, Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, gave the charge during a ceremony in remembrance of the turbulence period and cerebration of existing peace and security in the community. June 10 every year is marked as a day of remembering when the community was attacked by their neighbours because they protested for their rights from the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) company.
During the peaceful ceremony held at the weekend in Finima Town, Brown advised the IOCs to separate their dealings with their landlord communities in Bonny Island on statutory issues as enshrined by the Petroleum Industry Act and Local Content laws.
He observed that, "some of these IOCs like NLNG, have lots of obligatory commitments peculiar to Finima Community as landlords and not the entire Bonny Kingdom."
The monarch expressed the believe that, "if this is clearly understood by our brothers in the neighbourhood, there would be no need for some of these ignorant and unwarranted
antagonisms."
Speaking further on the IOCs relationship with the Finima Capacity Development Committee (FCDC) saddled with the responsibility to engage with all corporate entities doing business in the area, the king said they must work in consonance with the relevant PIA and Local Content laws that benefits host communities.
The monarch further added, "Finima is recognised and treated in real terms as host community and in this regard, directly dealt with in its own right and merits in accordance with the laws and not related with or dealt with through proxies.
"That Finima Community benefits maximally from the NOGICD Act, NCDMB Community Content guideline, the PIA and in accordance with international best practice from the operations of all corporate entities in Finima lands.
"That Finima community engages relevant government authorities, agencies, international organizations, NGOs or other relevant bodies that may be of help in the achievement of sustainable development of the Community."
He, however, thanked all their sons and daughters who have sacrificed so much to ensure the relative peace experiencing in the community.
and food sufficiency in the country.
The Lagos TUC deputy chairman also disclosed that he was in the Edo State to pick the intent form to contest September 19, 2023, Local Government Elections in the state for the position of Chairmanship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said he decided to contest for the office of Esan South East local government because over the years the area has been "politically rapped" by past administrators who governed the council.
"Ubiaja has been headquarters for a long time even before the creation of more LGAs in 1991 and 1996 by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Sanni Abacha, respectively but there is nothing to show", he alleged.
He recalled how 12 years ago, he had to mobilise to evacuate the heaps of refuse at the market which was already constituting health hazards in the locality.
He said if elected he would employ mechanised farming as a means of creating gainful employment in the local government area given the rich and vast arable land in the area.
"When elected, we will also look at how we can think out of the box. We have arable land in my place. So we are looking at mechanized farming as a means of creating employment and boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the area", he declared
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said at the weekend that a lawmaker from Delta State, Jonathan Ukodhiko, was under investigation over corruption allegations.
It said the anti-graft agency was probing the legislator following a petition against him.
There were reports that the agency launched a manhunt for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives member-elect for the Isoko Federal Constituency, Delta State, over alleged corruption and other related issues.
It was gathered that the lawmaker was yet to honour several invitations extended to him by the commission to answer questions bothering on
Meanwhile, Edo State Government is providing 24-hour free Wi-Fi service in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other public places in the state to ensure unlimited internet access to workers in the wake of the three-day weekly work schedule for civil and public servants as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
In a statement, the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, said the government was committed to ensuring optimal productivity and efficiency amid the new work schedule, noting that the free Wi-Fi service would guarantee free internet access to workers and others who need internet connectivity to perform their duties and reside in proximity to the designated locations covered by the Wi-Fi service.
According to the Head of Service, the locations with installed free Wi-Fi include the School of Nursing, Limit Road/Sapele Road; Pensions Bureau, Ring Road Roundabout; Victor Uwaifo Centre, Airport Road; Civil Service Commission, Sapele Road, and the John Odigie Oyegun Publilc Service Academy (JOOPSA), Central area Road/Igbinedion Road.
Okungbowa further stated that each of the sites offers approximately
alleged corruption involving his oil and gas companies, Joeny Holdings Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The commission after approaching the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, got an order to seal off Ukodhiko's office in Port Harcourt and in his Isoko country home at Erawah-Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta and other properties across the country. Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that Ukodhiko was under investigation.
"We are investigating him. He has a case in our Port Harcourt command," he said.
But a source, who is involved in the investigation of the member-elect, however, alleged that the lawmaker was on the run.
180 degrees coverage from the point of presence, which are the above listed public places.
In a related development, Kwara State Governor and Chairman Nigeria's Governors Forum, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the deployment of government buses free of charge to support movement of students and workers in public tertiary institutions within Ilorin, the capital city, and its environs.
Already, the state government had purchased buses for the palliative and it would commence free transport service from June 14, this year in the state.
The state government had earlier reduced workdays for civil servants from five to three every week, while bureaucrats work out other measures for workers that are exempted from the policy
However, a statement issued in Ilorin, yesterday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor explained: "The bus palliative for the students covering the metropolis is the second phase in the measures by the Kwara government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal."
The governor added, “From
"Yes, the member-elect, Jonathan Ukodhiko is on the run, we have extended series of invitations to him to appear in our Port Harcourt office in Rivers State for questioning on issues bothering on corruption related matters.
“But he has vehemently refused to honour all invitations extended to him so far. As a result of that we approached the court for an order to seal off his properties pending his arrest or surrounding himself to our office," the source said.
"Following the court order in suit No: FHC/PH/CS/88/2023, we sealed off his Port Harcourt office, Rivers state few weeks ago and on Friday we went to his Isoko residence to seal it off as well as other properties identified to have been owned by him across the country.
Wednesday, June 14, some large buses will be deployed to transport students of public tertiary institutions within the metropolis, including those going to the Kwara State University campus at Malete.
"Further details will be released by the coordinating MDAs."
AbdulRazaq, however said: “The state government will continue to offer immediate support for the Kwara public as Nigeria permanently transitions to the post-fuel subsidy regime and different steps are taken to bring more ease to the people while growing the economy in a sustainable way."
Governor Ademola Adeleke will soon unveil palliatives to cushion the effect of recent subsidy removal, the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, disclosed yesterday.
Speaking on IMOLE AYO, a sensitisation programme promoting the activities of the Adeleke's administration on OSBC Radio and Television channels, the spokesperson said the planned intervention would cover support for public transport, monitoring of fuel stations and public sector work time reviews.
He said top officials were finalising the state palliative plan in line with the directives of the governor.
“Why is he on the run for several weeks now? Why is he evading arrest and interrogation? If you are running a genuine business; why hiding, why on the run, why refusing to honour invitation extended to you, why evading arrest?
“Any moment from now we shall declare him wanted and place a bounty on him. We learnt he travelled abroad and may not be back until the proclamation of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu," the source reportedly said.
Uwujaren told THISDAY that the lawmaker was being probed by the commission over a petition against him at the Port Harcourt office of the agency.
"He has a case with our Port Harcourt office over a petition against him.
Director, Key Account Manager, Mastercard West Africa, Nneka Umeh; Mastercard Ambassador, Daniel Amokachi (The Bull); Vice President, Government Mastercard, Dr. Folarin Alayande; and Mastercard Account Manager, Temitope Fafiyebi; during Mastercard viewing of the UEFA Champions League Final 2023 in Lagos on Saturday.Director-General,
Limited,
technology, scheduled to take place from 18th to 23rd September
Congress (APC) consensus candidate, Hon. Tajudeen Abass.
A coalition of aggrieved speakership aspirants in the House of Representatives, popularly known as the G-7, might have crumbled as its key members, Hon. Muktar Betara and Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, yesterday, stepped down for the All Progressives
The vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, advised other contenders in the race to follow the examples of their colleagues, in the interest of the country and the party.
Betara and Gagdi declared their support for Abass and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker,
respectively, of the incoming House after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Shettima.
Abbas and Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office, which disclosed the latest development in a statement lastnight, also refuted claims that Tinubu was not aware of the adoption of Abbas as Speaker.
The statement read, "It has
come to the attention of the Joint Task - 10th Assembly that some aspirants for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu never mentioned the name of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as his preferred candidate for Speaker, but that the president only said he aligned with the position of the All Progressives
Aggrieved APC members partner minority parties for speakership
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged senators-elect to vote for the anointed candidates of the All Progressives Congress for the position of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly, saying, "under the current dispensation, the worst, the most incompetent southern Christian is better than the most puritanical northern Muslim for the presidency of the Senate."
This was as the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has expressed worry over an alleged plan to intimidate and arrest key northern aspirants for the House of Representatives speakership position and the Senate Presidency.
Also, some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have partnered the minority parties to alter the APC zoning arrangements for the presiding officers.
However, Shettima, who stated this on Saturday night at a dinner organised by the Stability Group for newly elected senators in Abuja, addressed senators from the North, who were being swayed by Yari's narrative of marginalisation of the North that voted overwhelmingly for President Bola Tinubu.
The Stability Group was formed by the senators, who are campaigning for the election of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin, who had both being anointed by the APC for the position of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.
Shettima and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, were among those who addressed the guests, who the organisers put at 70. They met with senators-elect, from the APC, Peoples
Democratic Party, Labour Party,and the All Progressives Grand Alliance Shettima said it would not be fair and just to have Muslims at the helms of affairs of the three arms of government, saying, "Here we are with a Muslim President and a Muslim Vice President in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious polity like ours. I was a child of circumstance
"Equity, justice and fairness demands that the number three citizen of this country should be of the Christian. What binds us together supersedes what ever divides us. But most importantly we should make deliberate efforts to take inclusivity in governance. This is a young nation, where every community will like to have fair representation on the dinner table of their kinsmen
"Politics is about perception, politics is about optics. I want to appeal to your conscience. There is stability and inclusivity and togetherness of this nation supersedes the depth of our pockets, stability of our pockets. We are talking about the sustainability of the nation. The nation is at a crossroads.
"Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 all of the same faith for God sake. I'm ready to kneel down and beg my colleagues for the sake of the nation. This is for the survival of this nation. Apart from the religious angle, Senator Akpabio is very competent and he has the capacity to lead the 10th National Assembly. At the same time, he is from a very important zone and he is also a man of Christian faith.
"So, in line with the Constitution of our country and in conformity with the plurality of our union, the party and indeed, the President, thought it fit to support him,” adding that the gathering was a practical demonstration of what should be done to cement the country together
as one indivisible entity.
According to him, "Personally, my Chief Security Officer (CSO) is an Igbo man, who had worked with me when I was governor. He has been a dedicated and loyal officer, even in the heat of the Boko Haram attacks in Borno.
"My ADC is a Christian from the North, who has been with me for a very long time. When I appointed him, they said he is too junior by rank to be my ADC, but I insisted and even told them to make him my acting ADC pending when he would be promoted to the rank."
The Vice President assured the Senators-elect of his readiness to
continue to work for the success and aspirations of the group by talking to those, who were yet to join the group which he described as the "winning team".
His word: "I have been campaigning privately for Senators Akpabio and Barau and I will continue to do that till we diliver them on Tuesday. I will be leaving this dinner for another meeting with some senators who are yet to register their support. I am ready to beg my colleagues. I don't want to mention their names but I am sure I will bring about five to join this group.
Continued online
Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on zoning arrangement.
“As of Sunday June 11, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD) has secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of memberselect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones, and he is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House come Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
"For the record, the APC NWC announced on Monday, May 8, 2023 that it consulted with the president before reaching that resolution. The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the president-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions." Meanwhile, Shettima, while speaking to newsmen, said Tinubu was pleased with the gesture of Betara and Gagdi to place the interest of the party above their personal ambitions. He called on the other contenders for the seat of Speaker to take a cue from the two men, who had decided to shelve their ambitions and work with the party to foster national unity, fairness, and justice.
Shettima said, “Right Honourable Betara and Right Honourable Gagdi have graciously accepted to step down and endorse the candidature of Honourable Tajudeen Abass for the Speakership of the Federal House of Representatives. The president was quite touched by their gesture because what binds us together is superior to whatever divides us. We’re one big APC family and together we shall.
“We cannot thank them enough for their graciousness and we want to commend the roles played by the Chief of Staff to the president, by His Excellency, the executive governor of Niger State, by the leadership of the party, here represented by the Deputy National Chairman.
“I think our party members will breathe a sigh of relief, that with the two big elephants in the room accepting to work as a collective, we believe that our house is in a very good shape.
"We are good to go and we will call on other candidates; Right Honourable Wase, Honourable Sada and Right Honourable Aminu Jaji, to also see reason and collapse their structures with Abass/Ben so that as a family, we can forge a better future for our dear nation.”
The meeting was attended by the governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, and Speaker of the ninth House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
A group, the Coalition of Nigerians Living in United Kingdom, has accused former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai of promoting radical islamism in Nigeria.
The group in a press statement issued from London, and signed by the chairperson and secretary, Dr. Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor Olorogun and Theodore Ochuko Arayki respectively, condemned recent utterances of the former governor.
It noted that, with statements from el-Rufai justifying his Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna State, and that of the recent presidential election in Nigeria were deliberately orchestrated, it would not be wrong to hold him accountable for the numerous killings in the state that occurred in Kaduna, under his watch.
The group which also reiterated a call in its recent press conference in
London, expressed hope that with the shambolic election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary was now the hope of the people in righting the wrong.
Part of the statement by the group read: "We totally condemn the inciting and genocidal statement by the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai, justifying the Muslim-Muslim civilian Presidency of the country.
"Since the video of the statement broke, we have waited to see if the former Kaduna State governor would publicly deny or clarify himself, all to no avail.
"The Coalition of Nigerians living in UK hereby makes bold to say that former Governor el-Rufai’s inciting and genocidal statement was not surprising.
"The statement was also a clear confirmation of the remote
and immediate causes of endless butcheries and property violence systematically targeted at defenseless Christians and their properties in Nigeria, especially in Southern Kaduna and Middle-Belt.
"It further confirms that the butcheries have nothing to do with the so called Farmers-Herders Clashes.”
The Coalition called on the leaders of the Southern Kaduna, the MiddleBelt, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to go after Mallam el-Rufai and ensure that he does not go scot-free.
Speaking on the 2023 presidential election, the group said: "On 15th May 2023, we issued a communique at the ILEC International Conference Center, London, UK with the theme: Nigeria on trial - does democracy matter?
“As Nigerians in the United Kingdom who demand a better society with Justice, Peace, and Sustainable
Development, we decided to host the International Press Conference with the purpose to deepen true democracy that guarantees stability in our dear country – Nigeria.
“The promises made by Nigeria’s electoral umpire, INEC, led by Professor Mahmood Yakubu to conduct a free, fair, and credible election stimulated maximal engagement by the Nigerian masses to participate in the electoral process, but were ultimately aborted and never met.
"Nigerians are deeply saddened by the outcomes of the 2023 presidential elections. Particularly disheartening, were the scale of violence, severe voter intimidation, disenfranchisement, ballot box snatching and destruction in the full glare of the Nigerian security personnel, independent and international observers, resulting in serious injuries and deaths of Nigerians.
Shettima advises Wase, Sada, Jaji to follow suit in nation’s interest
Laleye Dipo in Minna
Bandits have gone on the rampage in communities in the Rafi local government area of Niger State, killing not less than 38 villagers and kidnapping scores of others within two days
The gunmen raided Katako village in Rafi local government area on Friday, where they killed 25 people before raiding Kusherki town in the same local government killing 13 people on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the terrorist
stormed the popular Mariga Market in Mariga local government area attacking and injuring scores of traders as well as rustling their cattle and making away with the sales of the traders.
The number of people kidnapped could not be immediately ascertained, but one of the traders who escaped with injuries said "they are many."
The witness said the bandits stormed the market riding three of them on motorcycles with each clutching AK-47 rifles. "They shot sporadically into the
air to scare the traders with the bullets hitting and injuring some of the traders" the eyewitness said on condition of anonymity.
Niger State Police Public Relations Offiicer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said the police in collaborations with military have been dispatched to Yakila, Tegina, Kagara, Pandogari, Kusherki and other villages in the local government area to restore normalcy in the affected areas. Abiodun did not however confirm the number of casualty or people kidnapped.
In a statement at the weekend the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District in the State, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa, cried out that armed gunmen have taken over communities in his constituency, saying not less than 20 villagers had been killed in the last couple of weeks while about 70 others were kidnapped. Musa, in the statement made available to newsmen in Minna, also said the bandits were raping women and girls apart from stealing their valuable items including money.
A former presidential candidate and business man, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has appealed to the labour Movement and other social groups to accept the removal of the subsidy on petroleum product as a painful surgical procedure instituted to excruciate a dangerous cancerous cell in the life of a patient in order to save the critically ill.
However, barely two weeks after President Bola Tinubu removed the contentious fuel subsidy, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), has urged the federal government to reciprocate the thoughtful stance of the organised labour unions by speedily rolling out measures that would mitigate the pains of the removal of fuel subsidy on the Nigerian masses.
In a statement from his media office in Abuja, yesterday, OlawepoHashim explained that since the subsidy was removed already in the 2023 budget by the previous administration, it was now obvious because the market price was reflected and the entire market had absorbed the increase with prices going up for different items.
According to him, "even if the subsidy is reversed, prices of goods and services will not be reviewed to their previous levels and it would be a loss to the economy."
He added that, "there cannot be any sensible talk about undoing what has been done but managing the
pains of the adjustment on vulnerable groups such as Labour, who do not have the price mechanism for their services to absorb the pain."
He noted that "as an entrepreneur, what I have done in my business is to pay immediately, a transport subsidy across board; same amount to all my workers without prejudice to their salary scale. I believe the Government and all employers of labour will do the same."
He maintained that, "there are far more benefits of removal of the subsidy to the economy, chief among which include massive investment in the mid and downstream sectors of the economy that hitherto have been locked out due to the subsidy regime.”
These sectors, he argued, typically create millions of jobs and remain a critical section that add value to the economy.
"In the past I have been a strident campaigner against removal of petrol subsidies because I had no trust in the ability of most of the previous governments to manage the gains of the exercise for the benefit of all Nigerians.
"The times are different now. Nigeria has a new political-economic manager in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we can trust his ability to manage the exercise in the interest of all.
"Comrades, we have marched together in the past three and a half decades saying no to subsidy removal, but it is time to shift
grounds; let us only insist on welfare and protection for the working class in the midst of this adjustment," he said.
Olawepo-Hashim maintained that Tinubu remains an ally of the working class, adding that, "it is time to move forward together in a direction that is well articulated in the Renewed Hope which Nigerian electorates democratically endorsed."
But the Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, yesterday in a press statement titled “Fuel Subsidy Removal: Ensuring Inclusive, Impactful and Sustainable Palliative Measures,” noted that the sufferings faced by Nigerians were real and affecting the citizens across all segments of our society, including those in the public service, private sector, informal sector, artisans, students, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the unemployed, the aged, pensioners etc.
Yusuf, therefore, emphasised that the mitigating measures should be holistic and inclusive and should be driven by a combination of direct interventions, fiscal policy measures and monetary policy actions.
He said: “The citizens have demonstrated an incredible understanding, tolerance, patience and resilience. The government cannot afford to overstretch this gesture and cannot afford to be perceived as taking them for granted. Reciprocity by the political leadership at all levels is urgent, exigent and crucial.
“The hardship mitigating measures could be classified into immediate, short term, medium and long term. Such responses would send the right signals to citizens and demonstrate government’s sensitivity to the devastating impact of the subsidy removal on the poor.”
Yusuf added that in many instances, transportation costs have gone up by between 20 per cent and 50 per cent.
“For most citizens, transportation is critical to their survival. The hike in transport fares and the corresponding inflationary effect is already posing a threat to the livelihood of many, both within and outside the public sector. Wage earners, small business owners, informal sector operatives, artisans and the unemployed are all very vulnerable in the current circumstances.
“This is the context in which the government needs to urgently respond to the current crisis, focusing on the scope of impact, effective targeting, inclusion and the right messaging.
“Immediate panaceas need to be activated, not just with respect to transportation costs, but the surging cost of living generally. The agreement signed with labour did not reflect the desired urgency of the mitigation measures. It is also scanty on immediate actions and quick wins, which are needed to immediately assuage the feelings of the ordinary citizens and stabilise the social environment.”
The federal lawmaker disclosed that the villages mostly affected were in Kwagana, and Kaffinkoro wards in Paikoro local government area, Sabo Kabula in Munya local government area and Pandogari ward in Rafi LGA and others in Shiroro LGA
"The saddest aspect of this saga is that the victims are being subjected to inhuman treatments with some chained together to forestall their escape from their captors," he said, adding that the bandits were also demanding ransoms of between N1.5 million and N4 million, "from the beleaguered families of their victims at times collecting these huge sums of money and failing to release their captives."
Musa added: "The insecurity in the senatorial district attained alarming proportion in the last few weeks, a development that means that the bandits are testing the will
and capacities of the Federal and Niger State governments to secure the lives and property of Nigerians."
He, however, contended that he believes "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will deal decisively with the criminals in the coming days."
Musa therefore challenged the security agencies in the state and at the Federal level to "live up to their responsibilities by combing the forests to free those detained there" so that they can begin to live normal lives especially now that "we are in the rainy season when those kidnapped are supposed to be on their farms doing what they know how best to do to earn a livelihood."
He commiserated with the families of the captives, assuring that "very soon your loved ones will regain their freedom.
The Junior Chamber International (JCI) at the weekend hosted prominent Niger Deltans and scholars to find sustainable solution to the perennial flooding in Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general.
At a National reunion of Senate JCI held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State, speakers including the JCI Chairman, Senator Oluwarotimi Adewole; the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote and the keynote speaker, Engr. Ebipawodei Wodi, all agreed that all hands must be on the desk to end flooding or reduced the impacts of the annual disaster in the country.
Speaking on the theme, "Perennial flooding in Nigeria: Causes and Sustainable Solutions for National Development," Wodi, said flooding had become an annual issue in Nigeria, which should be talked by both individuals, communities, local, state and federal government.
He said though the issue of flood cannot be entirely eradicated from the society, adding that communities and governments could do something to reduce the impact of flooding.
He said, "I also said clearly that you cannot eradicate flooding entirely from the society, but you can do something
to reduce the impact of flooding and what we proposed that should be done cuts across what individuals should do, the communities should do, the local governments, the state and the federal governments.
“For example, nothing stops the local governments from sensitising the people on the need to be conscious of their sanitation; we shouldn't be throwing used sachet water, bottled water packs and other refuses in the drainage channels, that would also go a long way in preventing the flood, they should set up a committee that would help during the flood."
In his remark, Wabote, agreed that flooding was not only a Bayelsa or Nigeria challenge, but a global menace every year.
He said, "Every year, either caused by human activities, we have so much to talk about, like the global warming, some of which are caused by individuals, we don't take care of our environment, we don't keep the drains clean, and we expect that when it rains, it will find its level?
"So, it's a global problem, that's why JCI gathered today in Bayelsa to talk about it, and I think the reason for the theme is that the consequence of the flooding in Bayelsa which is really grave, because we see it, there's loss of livelihood, families are displaced, schools are shut down and the rest of it.
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa L-R: Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and The Ashogbon of Lagos, Chief Ahmed Akasoro, at the presentation of the Procurement Compliance Excellence Service Award to Danbatta during the 3rd Annual National Conference/Induction Award Ceremony by the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON) held in Lagos...recentlyCPPE urges FG to roll out palliatives
L-R: Head of Sustainability and Regulatory Relations,
TINUBU ON DEMOCRACY DAY: SORE LOSERS DON'T DESERVE VICTORY IN FUTURE POLLS
Former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said it was time for Nigerians to reflect as a people and a country on the journey to becoming a democratic society.
In a statement, Atiku said, "For Nigerians, who were around during the dark days of military dictatorships, it is important that we appreciate the successes that we have achieved in making democracy the norm of politics in Nigeria.
"But democracy without a corresponding commitment to the principles of fairness and fidelity to the rule of play by stakeholders in the processes of conducting elections still leaves the people prostrate to tendencies of dictatorship.
"For our democracy to be fully fledged, it must constantly evolve away from the current practice, where the governing elite determines the outcome of elections.
"Many times, when I take stock of the activism that birthed the current democratic dispensation, I am even more convinced that a lot of work still lies ahead."
Atiku explained that democracy and the process of democratisation were a constant work in progress, adding, “While what we celebrate today is a return to civil rule in Nigeria, the desire to make our democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats."
Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, said in spite of the successes recorded so far, Nigeria’s democracy was deeply
troubled.
Celebrating June 12, and marking Democracy Day, Obi said, “It is a historic day that deserves to be celebrated. On that day in 1993, we, the people of Nigeria, stated our unreserved preference for true democracy. Though under military rule, we freely chose a transparent voting method.
“Our votes reflected our true choice as a people. Our choice on that day defied divisions of ethnicity, religion and region. It is these qualities that added up to make June 12 special in our search for true democracy.
“Our collective choice of the late Chief M. K.O AbIola as a worthy leader for nation was saluted by Nigerians and governments and peoples across the world.
“Therefore, June 12 underpins our long collective journey to nationhood as a true democracy. However, the current state of our politics tells a different story. Our democracy is deeply troubled while our nation’s destiny remains uncertain and precarious.
“We remain a nation in search of solutions to too many basic problems. One of these is the search for a credible electoral system that would command the trust, confidence and belief of all Nigerians, just like June 12 did. We should, therefore, use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues of a truly democratic nation. We achieved that feat on June 12, 1993.
“In the spirit of June 12, therefore, we need to emplace an electoral system that commands the trust of the people. This is in recognition of the tenets and core values of democracy, which rests on respect for the wishes of the people as expressed in their ballots.”
National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately set in motion modalities for the implementation of the Nasir el-Rufai committee report on federalism, as promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement on the 30th anniversary of June 12, the prodemocracy group argued that the military's abrogation and substitution of Nigeria’s “negotiated federal constitution” resulted in injustice, inequity and disregard for the rule of law.
In the statement, the group argued that all the giant strides recorded by Nigeria’s founding fathers in the First Republic had been significantly destroyed while all the hopes and aspirations of the people at independence were dashed by the politicians in military uniform.
NADECO said it expected Tinubu to return Nigeria to the path of federal constitutional governance upon which Nigeria secured its independence and which most ethnic nationalities, leaders, civil society bodies, and opinion leaders vigorously campaigned for in the last 30 years.
The statement said, “NADECO, therefore, demands from President Tinubu to capture accurately the national mood and demands from his government to implement the report of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s panel, which recommended that APC should fulfil its manifesto promise of returning Nigeria to federal constitutional governance.
a critical factor in restructuring the country.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, congratulated Nigerians for their unwavering support for democracy as they marked this year's Democracy Day.
Gbajabiamila said this year's Democracy Day was a unique milestone in the country's democratic journey, with the election of President Bola Tinubu, “a thoroughbred democrat, who is noted for his tenacious defence of democracy.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives noted that his joy stemmed from the fact that Nigerians were set to appreciate the true meaning of democracy because the man in the saddle today was a product of democracy and someone, who understood and appreciated the tenets of democracy and the value it brought to the table of the populace.
According to him, as a true democrat, who was involved in the struggle for the return of democracy to the country and who has finally assumed the position of authority, Tinubu would not shy away from bringing to bear the dividends of democracy Nigerians have been yearning for.
democratic paths since its return to democracy rule in 1999.
It stated, "While pledging to continue to work assiduously towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and deepening the gains that come with it, the EU-SDGN said the National Democracy Day serves to remind Nigerians of how far the country has come since June 12, 1993 and underlines the significant progress and achievements of democracy in the country.
"The cohort noted that the country's democracy, although not perfect and still growing with pockets of stormy and smooth sails, has brought with it many gains."
EU-SDGN said it acknowledged the strides made by the country in entrenching democratic values, promoting inclusivity, upholding the principles of good governance, respecting human rights and the rule of law, which are fundamental pillars for democracy all over the world. It called on all relevant stakeholders, including the government, political parties, civil society, and citizens, to continue their efforts in upholding democratic principles and protecting democratic gains, which are critical condiments for fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development in Nigeria.
It added that through funding it had been working to reinforce democracy by providing support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly, judiciary, political parties, media, women, youth and persons with disabilities and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
ensure a vibrant and participatory democracy.
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, urged Nigerians to keep faith with democracy, despite setbacks experienced in the country's democratic journey.
In a statement to commemorate the 2023 Democracy Day, Obaseki hailed the resolve of Nigerians to work collectively for the advancement of democratic ideals.
He said in the statement, “As we mark this year's Democracy Day, it is imperative to underscore the unwavering resolve of Nigerians to work collectively for the advancement of democratic ideals in our nation.
“Despite the challenges faced, we have held strongly to the vision of our forebears to build a united and strong nation that presents an opportunity for all to aspire, dream and prosper without let in a free society.
“We have shown our preference for democratic rule, time and again and I urge all to continue to play their role in consolidating on our democratic journey.
“Though we have experienced setbacks and challenges as a democracy along the way, I applaud the indomitable Nigerian spirit because we have continued to trudge on and demand for a more transparent, just and fair system. This is even as our faith in the merit and relevance of democracy grows stronger.
NADECO
“While a return to federal constitutional governance will not immediately solve all the many infractions imposed by the military on our governance, most of the aberrations at the national and sub-national levels can be taken on board for resolutions.”
NADECO urged Tinubu to be conscious of his place in history, advising him that timing remains
members of the evaluation team ICRC also issued a compliance certificate. I think it is in their imagination,” Sirika said.
He insisted the federal government incurred no payment to bring in an airline for the flag off adding that out of the N5 billion that was budgeted over years for setting up of Nigeria Air only N3bilion was released over the period.
He also denied that 15- year tax holiday was granted to the airline as reported. He said Nigeria Air would operate like all others.
Sirika said local airlines had been supported by the Ministry and also had exemptions from tax, VAT, custom duties among others.
He added that Air Peace as an indigenous airline that had all approvals for international routes
it applied for, went ahead and rented 777’s and kept them sitting on tarmac incurring over $10 million in debt over the period, while Arik was indebted to the tune of N300 billion and thus not worthwhile to start a new airline with such debt and litigation.
Sirika stated that 50 per cent of all airlines operating today in Nigeria were done under Buhari and under his supervision as the minister.
“None of them ever had reason to come and see me as minister. Nigeria Air will not be treated differently from them. During our period aviation became the fastest growing sector, our airlines have doubled, our airports have doubled, our passenger numbers have tripled. We were safe and secure. We were efficient”.
The ex-minister debunked the allegation that N85 billion had been spent on the Air Nigeria project, saying the budgetary allocation for the airline was N5 billion and less than N3 billion had been expended so far.
He also said the bulk of the money was spent on consultancies, salaries, administrative costs, among others.
However, in swift reaction, in a statement titled, “Sirika Lied about My 5 Per cent Demand on Air Nigeria,’ Nnoli stated: “Ordinarily l would not have bothered to reply to his allegations of my demand for five percent equity in Nigeria Air as he claimed during his interview on Arise Television, but l believe l owe my constituents and indeed Nigerians a duty to put the records straight.
European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) pledged to continue to work assiduously towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and deepening the gains.
EU-SDGN, in a statement yesterday, congratulated the people and government of Nigeria for the strides the country had made along
“It is on record that last year when the Minister announced Ethiopian Airlines as core investor in Nigeria Air, my committee which was also inundated with petitions from various stakeholders regarding that announcement invited the Minister and his team to furnish the committee with the details of the project.
“The committee requested for the evidence of the bid process that gave Ethiopian Airlines the award and, the full business case as prepared by the Nigerian Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC) which was supposed to spell out the details of all the investors and their equity contributions.”
He also recalled that at that meeting Sirika said it (Full Business Case) was still being worked out by
EU-SDGN further stressed that through its sundry interventions, the programme had provided technical assistance and capacity building to strengthen democratic institutions, electoral processes, and civil society organisations, adding that its partnerships have also promoted transparency and accountability in government institutions, while also increasing citizens' engagement to
the ICRC and promised to make it available to the committee as soon as it was ready, which he failed to do before Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) took the Ministry to court and got injunction restraining it from going ahead with the project.
“Of course, we suspended our discussions and enquiries on the project the moment court got involved. Normally when a matter is before the court the parliament does not discuss it.
“However, on May 20th 2023, l received reports of threats of mass resignations by key personnel of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) due to pressures from the Ministry to give waivers to Nigeria Air to enable it secure Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) so that it could take off before the exit of
“As we progress on this journey, I enjoin Nigerians to continue to keep faith with democracy and sustain the momentum we have gathered in strengthening our institutions. This will ensure that our society gets better through improved representative government in our quest for sustainable growth and development.”
the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I quickly issued a statement, warning the former Minister against subverting the authority of NCAA because of its severe consequences on the Nigeria's air transport sector. It is also a common knowledge that the Nigerian institutional investors he mentioned as participants have all denied him,”Nnoli said.
He also added, “It is not strange that Sirika came up with this spurious allegation against my person because l remained consistent in demanding that he followed due process. He should not deviate from the subject matter. Let him tell Nigerians the truth about the contraption he sold to us as Nigeria Air. Nnolim Nnaji is not his problem.”
L-R: Executive Director, PISTIS Foundation, Mr. Leonard Thomas; Business and Programmes Director, Global Leadership Network,
People Experience Officer,
Lagos… recently
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
A former Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has said by allowing the removal of the subsidy on petroleum products, President Bola Tinubu has shown that he has the gut and capacity to take on the cabal in the power sector.
Suswam, delivered the assessment yesterday, on Arise Television Morning Show, when he commenting on the 2023 Electricity Act that was recently assented to by the President.
The former Governor of Benue State said from the way and action taken so far by the current president, he appeared like someone who was serious about power reforms and
is determined to take on the cabal in the sector.
According to Suswam, having removed fuel subsidy, Tinubu would now ensure that the power sector was also refocused by taking on the cabal within the power sector, “who are fewer than the ones that were in the oil sector.”
“I believe that once there is stability of power supply in this country, whatever decision the president takes, Nigerians will be behind him irrespective of whoever is involved. It is for him to maintain a focus and a determination to give Nigerians power and bring back the industries that have existed in the country.
“If he decides he wants to give Nigerians consistent electricity supply,
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Delta State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the ratification of the expulsion of a chieftain, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, from the party over anti-party activities and violation of the party’s constitution.
The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Valentine Onojeghuo, at a press conference over the weekend, said the timely intervention of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Legal Committee (NLC) saved the party from further embarrassment.
Onojeghuo, who was flanked by the State Secretary, Peter Akarohbe; State Organising Secretary, Hon. Ejogbamu Johnson Okoro and Special Leader, Mudiaga Okorefe, said the expulsion of Ojougboh by the National Legal Advisers was not a witch-hunt, but based on verifiable facts to rescue the party in the state from being destroyed.
“As we speak now, Dr Cairo Ojougboh is no longer a member of APC. His attempt to destabilise the party in Delta has been frustrated by the state executive committee. And we’re very grateful to the NEC and the National Legal Committee for the timely intervention.
George Okoh in Makurdi
The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Mr. Sam Ode, has refuted media reports that claimed that the Benue State Government has approved the launch of a Fulani security outfit in the state.
Ode, who stated this at a press briefing in his office in Makurdi during the weekend, also said that he did not authorise anybody to represent him or Benue State Government at any launch of a security outfit in the state. He said: “I did not authorise anyone to represent me or the state government at any Fulani security summit or commissioning of security outfit.”
Ode called on the good people of Benue State to ignore the
who are the cabals? But let us not play politics with it like his predecessor, President Buhari, who made very little achievements as far as power
is concerned,” Suswam said He noted that although Buhari signed the amendment of the constitution which allowed power
generation to move from exclusive list to concurrent list, the most consequential piece of legislation was the one passed by the National
Assembly and assented to by President Tinubu that has set the ground rule for the operation in the power sector.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Sokoto State chapter, has urged the state government to introduce a commodity levy, which it stated is
capable of generating N2 billion monthly revenue for the state.
The Chairman of the state chapter of the association, Alhaji Jamilu Sanusi, stated this during a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, at the Government
House in Sokoto.
Sanusi explained that the state produces a lot of agricultural products such as onions, garlic, grains, and sesame among others, and if properly harnessed through the revitalisation of the commodity board, the state
has the potential to improve its economy through levy collection on farm produce. According to him, levies on onion bags, garlic, grains, sesame and other farm produce would attract huge revenue to the state.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has described the immediate past First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, as a strong
backer and vanguard of women’s political emancipation in the state.
Afuye said history had etched Mrs Fayemi in gold for laying a rocky foundation for the waging of relentless wars against all forms of inequality syndrome in the state, thereby creating a leveler for all
genders and equal opportunities for jobs, inheritance and other benefits.
The Deputy Governor said this in her congratulatory message to Bisi Fayemi on her 60th birthday yesterday. Saluting Mrs Fayemi’s unflagging bravery to dismantle the long-standing monster of
patriarchy in Ekiti, thereby raising the subjugated voices of women in politics ,leadership and governance, Mrs Afuye, said several initiatives conceptualised by the former first lady brought about the current freedom being enjoyed by womenfolk in the polity.
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Mr. John Mayaki, has decried the approval of N3.5 billion loan to the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki
The new chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state yesterday said that his mission as the chairman of the party’s governors forum is to unite the party and refocus
plot by mischievous elements to drag the administration of the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, into a non-existent controversy, stressing that security of lives and property of the citizens is a major focus of the Alia’s administration.
It would be recalled that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) raised the alarm over the inauguration of a private security outfit in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State that had the approval of the state government.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, had alleged that Ode has commissioned the national headquarters of the security outfit through his Chief Protocol Officer, Mr. Gabriel Igoche.
by the state’s legislative arm. The approved loan was sequel to a request by Governor Obaseki to use it for the purchase of vehicles for the incoming state legislators and judges, as a well buy equipment for the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.
Reacting to the development in a statement, Mayaki described the request and approval of the loan facility as a “disgraceful sham”, noting that it lacked due process and underscores the complicity of the outgoing Assembly to plunge the state
into debt. He said: “The outgoing Assembly, which will forever carry an asterisk due to its composed deformity, has given its final slap in the face to the Edo people with this outrageous move.
it strategically for the future. The governor, who was elected recently in Bauchi state told THISDAY that he was coming on board when the party is not united as it used to be, but vowed that he and his fellow governors of party would work more than ever before to ensure a
united party that will speak with one voice.
According to Governor Mohammed, “Thank God that we in the PDP Governors Forum is coming on board as a united body. That is why my election with the deputy was unanimous
“With this, as an important organ of the PDP, we shall
work towards refocusing the PDP. We know that there are some problems in the party. We the governors will ensure a more than a united party and ensure that all issues affecting the party or capable of affecting the party is brought to the table, and discussed and agreed to the benefit and growth of the party,” he explained.
Nume Ekeghe
The Senator representing Anambra North in the outgoing 9th Assembly, Stella Oduah, has expressed admiration for the current administration of Bola
Tinubu, affirming that Nigeria is headed towards a prosperous future.
She added that the 9th Assembly was an efficient and people-oriented senate that created and was involved in critical legislation that impacted every Nigerian.
Oduah in a statement, said:
“Indeed, this 9th Senate can beat its chest and celebrate the fact that it has been the most people-oriented Senate since this nation’s experiment with democracy and I say this with all sense
of responsibility for when you go through the plethora of laws passed and eventually assented to, bills like the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB), Electoral Act, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
From Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and a Senatorial aspirant from the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State in the 2023 general election, Cecilia Adams, has once again called on Senators-
elect in the National Assembly to vote enmasse for Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President come Tuesday June 13, 2023.
“Electing Senator Akpabio will do good to the present structure of political leadership by having an astute political might of his calibre to work with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu who has seen that quality
in him and thus gave him his nod and endorsement from the onset,” she said. Adams, who gave the assertion in a press release she made available to journalists said: “Beside creating a healthy political atmosphere for the Executive and Legislative arms of government to work in harmony, it will afford
Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy by bringing progress and developments that will take the country to higher levels devoid of rancour associated with a divided legislative and executive arms of government that retards the progress of the country from achieving meaningful growth and development.”
leadership while the impending one is about political leadership. Both Ganduje and Kwankwaso are rumoured to be on Tinubu’s cabinet list, Ganduje because he was a very early and intensely loyal Tinubu supporter, Kwankwaso because he took a million potential Kano votes away from Atiku Abubakar.
And what brought about this threat?
Ganduje is angry, very angry, that his successor Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, alias Gida Gida, has been demolishing choice property which he said was built on illegally privatized public land. It is a complicated matter. While Gida Gida believes that Ganduje awarded those lands to himself and his cronies, there was semblance of procedure because the executive council approved the sales. Even worse, the people who have shops in the erected plazas merely rented them from the property owners, stocked them with goods, which were destroyed during the demolition while miscreants looted the goods and the building materials.
Kwankwaso told reporters that he spent two hours explaining to President Tinubu what Ganduje did and why Gida Gida is demolishing the properties. Several questions here. Why is it Kwankwaso, and not the governor himself, who must come and explain to the president? Is it true, as some people are alleging, that Gida Gida’s rule is actually a Kwankwaso Third Term in office? Is it true that President Tinubu sat for two hours and listened to a harangue justifying the demolitions in Kano? Two hours, when he had many
matters of greater national and security importance on his plate? It is possible that Kwankwaso added the waiting period to see the president to his calculation of the length of their meeting. Why should the president spend two hours on this matter when, with a brief phone call to the Police IG and DG of DSS, he could halt the demolitions until matters are properly sorted out?
Ok, if Ganduje is ready to slap Kwankwaso for remotely master minding the demolition of plazas, imagine what former Zamfara State governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle could do to his successor, Dauda Lawal, for the huge security sweep of his houses in Gusau and Maradun. I saw viral pictures of Matawalle in Abuja last week, only a few paces away from the president at the Friday prayers. The way he sounded in a BBC Hausa interview, ten sharp slaps are not out of the question were he to run into his successor in Aso Rock. According to Matawalle, the cops that ransacked his houses made away with 40 vehicles, his wives’ clothes and hijabs, even utensils, and also the boxes slated for his daughter’s impending marriage. Governor Lawal had earlier given Matawalle five days to return 17 exotic vehicles that he went away with when his tenure ended. If the cops took 40 vehicles from his houses, then that was 23 vehicles more than they were told to bring.
Many Zamfara folks were asking, what were 40 vehicles doing in Matawalle’s house? Is it a motor park? The former
Our democracy has made significant progress in some areas, and I will focus on four major areas.
First, we have been holding periodic elections, no matter how imperfect they are, since 1999. This has led to electoral representation at all levels. Representative democracy has been established though no entrenchment of a democratic culture. Also, Nigeria witnessed for the first time in its history that an opposition party won a general election in 2015. Thirdly, we have established freedom of expression owing to a robust and resilient media . Evidence is found at least in the mainstream media, civil society and social media spaces. But we have also experienced at various times governments at the Federal and State levels impinge on the rights of Twitter users and some broadcast stations to express their voices freely and responsibly on various contentious issues in the country through deployment of coercive institutions. Happily however, this censorship has not been a constant feature of the government.
The fourth is that we have put all necessary institutions of the State in place. These democratic institutions are the instrumentality for delivering State functions. Nevertheless, these institutions are weak and fail most of the time to deliver on their mandate. They are often captured by State actors and used to perpetuate actors' hegemony on fragile people. Nigeria's democratic conundrum is an aberration in the sense that it has strong actors and weak institutions. This has allowed for State capture by these influential actors. We need to strengthen these four crucial areas to reap the full benefit of democracy.
First, the Nigerian brand of democracy must be transformed. A democracy that has failed to translate to governance success must be recalibrated. The indicators are there. From widening poverty , ignorance to insecurity. Most citizens do not have access to basic things of life. This itself constitutes a threat to democracy. Second, Nigerian democracy has failed to provide most citizens with basic physical, social, economic and psychological security. This has untold implications because protecting the citizens and Nigeria's territorial integrity is the State's primary function. Insecurity has caused the loss of many lives and property, destroyed economic activities and potential in many parts of the country, especially in the ungoverned areas.
Third, the State has failed to engender respect for law, order and equality of persons before the law. Thus, there remains in our country's democracy a derogation of the rule of law as a fundamental principle of democracy. The rule of law simply means that the law rules supreme; no one is above the law no matter
their status in society and the law is no respecter of persons. In some instances, the law has been trampled upon by influential individuals and entrenched interests within society with impunity. Fourth, the weak institutions of the State set up to enforce democracy: the Judiciary, INEC, Law enforcement agencies as public accountability framework have wreaked havoc on the system. We must strengthen these institutions to fulfil their mandate to the people and the State or our democracy would remain imperiled.
As we forge on with our democracy, we must pause and reflect on the lessons we must learn from our June 12 experience. June 12 gave us a significant leap towards legitimate democracy. However, it would be unconscionable not to admit that we have also taken some steps backwards where same was avoidable.
The celebration of democracy day today should afford us the opportunity for sober reflection on the state of our democratic journey
governor offered two explanations, neither of them very convincing. He said he was into vehicle sale business before he became a governor. The question is, in four years as governor of a state, was he still bringing Tokunbo vehicles from Cotonou? Matawalle also said many of the vehicles were donated by supporters for the last, unsuccessful governorship campaign. This is the second time I heard a Nigerian politician listing donated campaign vehicles as his personal property. If you do that in the US, for example, you will probably go to jail.
Yet another slap may be afoot in Benue State, where Governor Hyacinth Alia delivered the most robust repudiation of the man he succeeded in office, former Governor Samuel Ortom. Alia began by nullifying all recent appointments into the State Civil Service made by Ortom’s administration; cancelled all extensions and contract appointments made in Ortom’s closing days; ordered all civil servants due for retirement who are yet to tender their letters of retirement to proceed on retirement immediately, and ordered all persons appointed as Permanent Secretaries from January 2023 to revert to their previous positions. Alia also nullified all postings and transfers made in the state civil service from October 2022.
When Ortom’s PDP protested, Alia said there was massive looting of the Government House in Makurdi by Ortom’s administration and that he was left with not a single official car. Alia further said he inherited an empty treasury and N187.56
billion debt and months of unpaid salaries and pensions. He said, “PDP, which is now crying wolf, left the Government House owing salaries of Benue civil servants from December 2022 to May 2023. The same PDP administration left salary arrears of five months for state government workers in 2017; 10 months for local government workers in 2017. Under this same PDP government, pensions were last paid in 2021.” He then added, “The level of decay caused by the immediate past administration stinks in the severely vandalized offices of state civil servants, such that the new government must have to start from scratch to acquire the necessary equipment for the system to start working again.” Start from scratch, in a 47-year-old state?
The impression we all had, carefully cultivated by former governor Ortom over eight years, was that Benue State was a land of milk and honey and it was Fulani herdsmen that poured sand into its gari. The anti-open grazing law which he got enacted in the state was supposed to have solved all those problems, so how come that his successor is alleging huge debts and looted vehicles? Was it herdsmen that drove jeeps away alongside cows and bulls? There was a viral picture last week of ex-governor Samuel Ortom paying a visit to Aso Rock alongside four other members of the PDP G-5. Governor Alia was lucky that he was nowhere in the vicinity. Otherwise, there could have been another dirty slap inside the Presidential Villa.
significant civic engagement and activism by the Nigerian people. It highlighted the power of citizens to advocate for their rights and demand accountability from their leaders. The lesson is that active civic participation is essential for developing and preserving a stable democracy. The next lesson is managing ethnic diversity and political pluralism. Leaders must work towards fostering national unity, promoting dialogue and finding common ground to prevent the escalation of our undeniable fault lines.
Furthermore, we must learn to build strong democratic institutions. The June 12 event revealed the weaknesses in Nigeria's democratic institutions, particularly the electoral and judicial systems. It underscored the need for building and strengthening institutions that can withstand political pressures and ensure the integrity of democratic processes. Even 30 years after the June 12 debacle, Nigeria still struggles with weak institutions. This new administration must work to correct this anomaly.
Finally, the June 12 annulment showed the importance of upholding democratic values such as freedom of expression, association and the right to vote. These values are fundamental to a functioning democracy and should be protected and promoted. Leaders and institutions must be committed to safeguarding democratic principles.
and the urgent need to identify reforms that could strengthen democracy. The important lessons we must learn from June 12 are outlined below.
The first lesson is the Importance of Free and Fair Elections. The June 12 election underscored the significance of conducting free and fair elections. It demonstrated that when the will of the people is disregarded, it can lead to social and political unrest. The lesson here is that governments must ensure transparent electoral processes that reflect the genuine choice and will of the people. The second lesson is the importance of accountability and transparency in governance. The lack of transparency surrounding the annulment process created suspicion and eroded public trust. Leaders must be accountable to the people and ensure transparency in their actions and decision-making processes. Trust builds confidence, legitimacy, and unity. The third is the power of civic engagement and activism. The June 12 election and its aftermath witnessed
June 12 serves as a reminder that nations should learn from their history to avoid repeating past mistakes. It is crucial to reflect on the lessons from such events and take proactive measures to safeguard democracy and prevent similar situations. It is crucial to reflect on the lessons from such events and take proactive measures to safeguard democracy and prevent similar situations.
Restoring the spirit of Nigeria's democracy after the June 12 annulment is a long-term endeavour that requires sustained efforts from both the government and the Nigerian people. It demands a commitment to democratic values, active citizen participation and a collective determination to build a more inclusive Nigeria. Now is the time to promote good governance, fight corruption, foster national reconciliation, enhance freedom of speech and conscience, strengthen democratic institutions, encourage citizen participation and engagement as well as ensure further electoral reforms to consolidate on the progress made thus far as we work to deepen our democracy. The signs we see from this new government suggest that we have a government that may push Nigeria forward. The actions of the government in the right direction in the few months to come will surely lay the foundations of a more robust, better democracy. This is wishing our dear country a Happy Democracy Day.
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Enyimba International FC of Aba emerged champions of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for a record ninth time last night after all three top runners in the Championship Super 6 Playoffs in Lagos ended on nine points apiece. The Aba Elephant won by a superior +4 goals advantage and were presented with N100million price money.
Defending champions, Rivers United lost their title after their Match-day 5 clash with Enyimba deadlocked 1-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Lagos Island.
Enyimba have Ekene Awazie to thank for putting them ahead in the 39th minute. However, Nyima Nwagua restored parity for Rivers United three minutes after returning from the half time break.
Remo Stars similarly ended their playoff on nine points after handing out a 1-0 result to Bendel Insurance for their second defeat of the just ended season.
While both Enyimba and Remo will represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Champions League, Rivers United will take consolation in returning to the CAF Confederation Cup where they campaigned this term before getting knocked out by Young Tigers of Tanzania.
In the other fixture of the final day of the playoffs, Sunshine Stars of Akure hammered Lobi Stars 3-1 to finish fourth on five points ahead of Bendel Insurance on the log.
Remo Stars who are the only team that scored in every of their match of the Super 6 Playoffs, have Qudus Akanni to thank for their solitary goal in the 37th minute against Bendel Insurance. It was the first time that Remo have beaten Bendel Insurance in the NPL.
legions of supporters that the Benin Arsenal were sure to pick one of the tickets to continental club football next season. But three straight draw results at the beginning of the
playoffs signposts trouble for the team from Benin. It therefore was not a surprise that they capitulated to both Rivers United and Remo Stars in their final last matches to
end up on just three points and fifth in the final standing last night.
Bendel Insurance’s only chance to play in the continent next season is to win their Federation Cup final clash with Enugu Rangers next weekend at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Novak Djokovic showed his greatness once again by overcoming a sticky start to win a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title with victory over Norway's Casper Ruud in the French Open final.
in terms of Grand Slam titles, with only Margaret Court standing in front of him with 24 majors.
incredible," said Djokovic, who also won the French Open in 2016 and 2021.
For Bendel Insurance that went 21 games unbeaten this season, it was indeed a disappointing outing, having shown so much promise in the abridged part of the season before the playoffs.
They led the Group A standing from the beginning till the final 18th match of the abridged format without conceding any defeat. This wonderful performance gave their
Djokovic, 36, was far from his best in the initial stages but his quality in a first-set tie-break laid the platform for a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-5 victory.
The Serb moves into the outright lead of men's majors ahead of Rafael Nadal. He also becomes the first man to win all four majors at least three times.
meet them again,” Oyede said after the opening Victory on Saturday.
"I'm beyond fortunate to win 23 Grand Slams in my life, it is Nigeria's Female National Cricket team, the “Yellow-Green” are presently topping the leaderboard of the ongoing Kwibuka T20 Women Cricket Tournament hosted in Rwanda.
They beat the host, Rwanda; Botswana; and Kenya; in their first three matches at the tournament.
The Coach Leke Oyede tutored side brushed aside their host in their opening encounter on Saturday with a six-wicket victory at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Kigali.
The host had left an 87-run inning for the Nigeria women to chase and got overwhelmed by the visitors as they wrapped up the game in 18.2 over with a spectacular show that earned Salome Sunday; the player of the match.
“I think the opening victory against the host, Rwanda, pumped up the girls' confidence. Naturally, Nigeria and Rwanda's encounters at this level have evolved into a friendly rivalry and, since we beat them to win the last tournament in April, in Lagos, I know we will need to work harder anytime we
Yesterday morning, the Nigerian ladies beat Botswana by six wickets (Botswana 97/6, Nigeria 98/4), before humbling the three-time winner of the title, Kenya later in the afternoon by three wickets.
Kenya batting first had set a target of 95/4 (20 overs) that set the team up for a hard-fought 98/7 (16.4 overs) to secure the needed 3-wicket victory, with 16-year-old Lucky Piety picking the player of the match for both Sunday games. According to Oyede; “These wins put us on top of the leaderboard and unbeaten, ahead of our game on Monday morning (today) encounter with Uganda, one of the top teams here, who are also unbeaten after two wins against Botswana and host Rwanda as well.”
The ongoing 9th Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament is featuring Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, and host Rwanda where the Gahanga and the Kicukiro Cricket Ovals in Kigali are playing host.
"I was a seven-year-old dreaming I could win Wimbledon one day and become number one in the world. I'm beyond grateful and and blessed to be standing here.
"I feel I had the power to create my own destiny. I want to say to every young person if you want a better future, you can create it."
Minutes after Djokovic won, Nadal paid tribute to his long-time rival.
"Many congratulations on this amazing achievement, 23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about and you made it," the Spaniard wrote.
Djokovic will have the opportunity to tie Court's record at Wimbledon next month - a place where he has already won seven times and will be the favourite to equal Roger Federer's record tally of men's titles.
Djokovic instantly fell flat on his back in celebration as Ruud pulled a forehand wide on the second championship point.
After a commiserating hug with his opponent, Djokovic ran up to
his support box where he celebrated with coach Goran Ivanisevic, wife Jelena, his two children, parents Dijana and Srdjan and NFL superstar Tom Brady.
The victory will also see Djokovic return to the top of the world rankings. Fourth seed Ruud, who has lost all three of his major finals, congratulated Djokovic on "another day, another record".
Addressing his opponent, he added: "It is another day where you rewrite tennis history. It is tough to explain how great you are and what an inspiration you are."
Having made no secret of his ambition to win more major titles than fellow greats Nadal and Federer, this was Djokovic's date with destiny. He pulled level with the pair on 20 triumphs at Wimbledon in 2021, but fell behind Nadal after missing the 2022 Australian Open following a row over his Covid-19 vaccination status that led to him being deported.
Nadal extended the advantage when he won last year's French Open but Djokovic has surged ahead after winning three of the past four Grand Slams.
Quarterfinalist at the 2023 World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) in Durban, South Africa, Anders Lind of Denmark and third round finisher in Durban Mihai Bobocica of Italy have been listed among the players that will slug it out in the preliminary round of the WTT Contender Lagos which serves off today at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The WTT Contender Lagos is the first WTT Series in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the three WTT Contender events taking place in Africa this year following the successful staging of the WTT Contender Durban in South Africa
while the WTT Contender Tunis will take place later this month in Tunisia.
Lind, who jumped 132 spots from World No.180 to No.48 after a magical campaign in Durban in Week 22 of the ITTF World Rankings, is one of the stars to watch out for in the preliminary stage.
The Danish who broke two of his vertebrae in a serious car accident in March 2021, defied all the odds to make his return to the pro scene and proved a force to be reckoned with in Durban, rising above challenges from Portugal’s Joao Monteiro, Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador, Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan and Korea’s Jang Woojin to become
the first Danish player to reach the Men’s Singles quarterfinals since Michael Maze in 2009.
Also in the fray is Italian Bobocica who is returning to Lagos after his unsatisfactory experience in 2013 when he was beaten early in the now rested Lagos Table Tennis Classics also benefited from his third-round finish in Durban, where he rose from 93 to 81 in the world rating. He will also be aiming for a place in the main draw.
Already, 48 players made up 24 men and 24 women have already been listed in the main draw based on their world rating while the eight remaining slots to complete
the 32-player main draw will be contested for in the preliminary round in the men and women singles events.
Lind and Bobocica will be joined by 52 others to contest for the eight slots in the men’s singles while 35 women from 14 countries will slug it out in the preliminary round for the eight available spots in the main draw of the women singles.
Host country Nigeria has the largest number of players in the preliminary as they are hoping to join the likes of Taiwo Mati, Olajide Omotayo, Fatimo Bello and Edem Offiong in the main draw following the absence of their talisman Quadri Aruna due to club engagement.
Edwin Clark to Senators-Elect
“It is time to heal our land, and in so doing, what I expect of the 10th Senate is to give the position of Senate President to a Christian Senator from the Southern part of the country. It is only fair, equitable and just, to do so.We have Senators Bola AhmedTinubu and Kashim Shettima as President andVice President of the country, respectively. Both of them are Muslims.The Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola is a Muslim” –ElderStatesman,EdwinClark,appealingtotheSenators-Electto vote a Christian Southerner as Senate President of the 10th Senate.
VIEW FROM THE GALLERY
In his eight years as Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was not known for making controversial, not to mention incendiary, remarks. That was understandable because he was a mainstream civil servant who rose to become a director in Federal service, before he ventured into politics. Imagine the surprise and uproar he caused last Friday when he said he would have slapped Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso if he had run into him at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Slap somebody, within shouting distance of President Bola Tinubu’s office? That would have caused the biggest security scare since former First Lady Aisha Buhari’s security men chased her husband’s personal assistant within the Villa and even fired a shot at him, which fortunately missed its target. Kano’s native custom, carefully cultivated over 1,000 years, would have been turned on its head if Ganduje slaps Kwankwaso. This was a man who picked him as his running mate in 1999 and they governed the state together for four years. When they lost
Kwankwaso
the 2003 election and President Obasanjo made Kwankwaso his Defence Minister, Ganduje went along with him as one of his Special Assistants. In 2011, after
Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s two terms, Kwankwaso again picked Ganduje as his running mate, they returned to power and ruled again for four years. In 2015, he picked him over many other aspirants as his anointed successor. You can’t do better than that to any man in Nigerian politics.
Okay, that is only one side of the story. Ganduje must have the patience of Job because even from afar, anyone can see that Kwankwaso is not a very easy person to serve as deputy governor, special assistant or as an ordinary follower, not to mention as a political adversary. At the start of their quarrel in late 2015, there was a picture of Governor Ganduje seeing his former boss off in a Government House car park. All their aides stood at some distance while the two men held what was thought to be a heart-to-heart talk. Ganduje’s aides later quoted him to have said that it wasn’t a pleasant tete-a-tete they were having; that the General Overseer [Daddy G.O] of the Kwankwasiyya movement actually rained abuses at him in that car park, out of other people’s ear shots.
Nor is Kwankwaso entirely innocent of incendiary talk. In April or May this year, before the inauguration of new governments, he made an unguarded remark in a television interview, that if he had granted permission to his boys, they would have apprehended Ganduje, then still a sitting governor, and “ate him like carrot.” When I quoted that remark in a previous article, a Kwankwaso follower sent me a message, that the leader of this country’s best organized political cult was only joking. I don’t think that was a good joke.
Still, slapping Kwankwaso, in or outside Aso Rock, would have been a risky undertaking. He is younger than Ganduje by many years, looks very agile with a brisk and sprightly walk in his immaculate white gowns, bright eyes, confident looks and not a little bit aggressive mien. A physical altercation between these two men could easily spiral into a civil war in Kano, the city’s first since the Yakin Basasa of 1894. For similar reasons, because the 19th century war was over traditional
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Democracy is taken for granted as the best form of government. At least the West told us so. We have also accepted it by default. We have tried multiple facets of democratic systems - parliamentary and presidential systems, two-party and multiparty systems - and some are arguing we have a bespoke democracy that is uniquely Nigerian. Homegrown in every shape!! It gives us a sense of participation. It allows for fair representation, and many argue that the representation is not yet wholly free. But whatever and whichever form of democracy a nation elects to practice, the ultimate objective is freedom, law and order ,and to deliver public goods, in my view. Nigerians expect and deserve nothing less.
Since Nigeria's Independence in 1960, she has gone through three dominant democratic interregnums and a few quasi-democratic experiences. Nigeria has witnessed a blend of militarism and democratic tenets of voting and some representation. This 4th Republic democratic dispensation is significant because
it has lasted for 24 uninterrupted years. That stable, we can comfortably argue that our democracy is no longer a baby but attained teenage at least. Thus, our democratic journey calls for introspection and a critical review of the structures and processes in order to identify inherent weaknesses and strengths to correct and reinforce respectively.
Truth is, the nation laid the foundation of our current democracy on June 12, 1993. On that day and season, we established the elements of legitimate democracy. The election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria's freest and fairest, became the symbol of democracy in Nigeria and offered hope that Nigeria could hold a free, fair and rancour-free election.
The critical elements of that election made it unique in all ramifications: Free and fair electoral process ;and a two-party system. The choice was binary (for either SDP or NRC), which promoted real competition. Though achieved by an unelected military regime with an outspoken professor of Political Science, Humphrey Nwosu, as midwife heading the arguably independent electoral Commission,
the security apparatus of State was manifestly impartial; citizen participation was intense, and their trust in the system was high enough. Besides, citizens guarded the process and owned it. Voting was unhindered while collation and tabulation of results were open and transparent. Money played a minimal role in electoral choices. The outcome of that election blurred north-south division and muslim-christain dichotomy .
Sadly, these elements, commendable as they were, could not stop the doom that the election faced in the long run. This is the reason the dashing of that national hope and the momentum gained in our march to democracy with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria remains a significant event in the country's political history. It would remain so for years unend. The military government annulled the national unity election, thereby depriving the winner, Chief Moshood Abiola, the fulfillment of assuming office as President and Commander-in-Chief.
Beyond Abiola, the annulment of June 12 had far-reaching consequences for Nigeria's
democracy. Amongst others, it fractured the national fabric but we mended fences in 1999;it led to years of political instability and disillusionment. Nigeria has struggled to hit that altitude of electoral performance ever since! Therefore, restoring the spirit of Nigeria's democracy after the June 12 annulment requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both immediate and long-term challenges. Even though Nigeria is still learning to improve her electoral democracy, it is clear that we learnt from that annulment experience. We appear to have made significant progress since June 12. So significant, the immediate past Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in yielding to national conscience renamed June 12 as our nation's Democracy Day instead of the May 29 day for transition of power from one democratically elected Government to another. However and sadly so, whenever we move two steps forward, some forces pull us another step backwards. This pattern is becoming established.
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