THURSDAY 29TH JUNE 2023

Orosanye Report: FG Discontinues Funding of Professional Bodies, Councils

Mixed reactions trail directive

Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja

The federal government has notified professional bodies and councils that it would cease to fund them begin-

ning from the 2024 budget in line with the decisions of the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS).

The move, THISDAY gathered yesterday, was in line with the recommendation in the Orosanye committee report and the recent Presidential Committee on Salaries. The Director General, Budget Continued on page 10

Office of the Federation (BoF),

FG Moves to Resolve NSITF Management, Workers' Dispute... Page 8

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Research Shows 130

TRUTH & REASON

Countries Exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies... Page 34

DHQ: Military Remains Loyal to Constitution,

President Says nation’s security, stability are its sacred responsibility

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, pledged unalloyed loyalty of the nation’s Armed Forces to the Constitution and

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The military high command also applauded the president for his support to the military and

commitment towards repositioning the economy and reforms in the security sector.

In a message to the troops and

Nigerians on the occasion of Eidel-Kabir, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Christopher Musa, felicitated gallant troops

of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and their families on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

The CDS hailed "the selfless

sacrifice, commitment, doggedness and determination towards

Continued on page 10

Tinubu: On My Watch, Nigeria Will Know Peace, Stability, Prosperity

Urges

citizens to have faith in country, themselves Prays for victory in battle against insurgency

Our govt will address infrastructure deficit, says Shettima Saraki, Lagbaja, Obi, govs, others salute Muslims at Sallah

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa, Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, Laleye Dipo in Minna, and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

President Bola Tinubu, at the Eid prayer ground, yesterday in Lagos, vowed that on his watch the country would experience peace, stability, and prosperity. Tinubu appealed to the citizens to have faith in God.

Speaking to newsmen after observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at Dodan Barracks prayer ground in Obalende, Lagos, the president, according to a release by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, prayed for victory of Nigerian troops in battle against insurgency.

The president stressed the need for unity and cooperation, and he appealed to Nigerians to eschew ethnic and religious rivalries.

On his part, the vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, promised that the government would address the country's infrastructure deficit.

Continued on page 10

PRESIDENT TINUBU OBSERVES FIRST EID PRAYER IN LAGOS...

L-R: Former Lagos State governor and immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; President Bola Tinubu and his son, Yinka; the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the Eid prayer ground, Lagos, in commemoration of this year's Eid-el-Kabir... yesterday

MUTUAL BENEFITS' AGM...

L-R: Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Biyi Ashiru-Mobolaji; MD/CEO, Femi Asenuga; Group Chairman, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Company Secretary Jide Ibitayo and Executive Director, Technical, Joseph Oladokun during the Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc's 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos.... recently

Seplat Banks on Tinubu’s Administration to Complete $1.3bn Exxon Oil Deal

Planned oil assets purchase game changer, says CEO

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report

Seplat Energy Plc remains committed to purchasing Nigerian oil and gas assets from Exxon Mobil Corporation by completing a deal that’s been held up by the West African state for more than a year, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

The Lagos and London-listed company is hoping that President Bola Tinubu, the new leader of Africa’s largest crude producer, would adopt a different approach from his predecessor, who reversed an initial decision to approve the transaction.

“We’re still interested in the assets,” Seplat Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, said in an interview at the firm’s UK office.

“We still like the company we’re buying. We think it’s a game changing operation,” he added.

Under the deal unveiled in February 2022, Seplat agreed to pay $1.3 billion for an Exxon unit that holds a 40 per cent operating stake in four shallow-water licenses in a purchase that would almost quadruple the independent company’s oil output to more than 130,000 barrels per day.

If the transaction goes ahead, it would be one of the biggest divestments in Nigerian history since energy majors like Shell Plc started offloading unwanted assets in the late 2000s, the Bloomberg report added.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari, who doubled as Nigeria’s oil minister, had endorsed the sale in August, before swiftly rowing back after the country’s energy regulator rejected his approval.

Days before Buhari stepped down last month, Seplat announced it had extended the agreement with Exxon to allow more time to finalise the transaction.

State-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) which owns 60 per cent of the permits — had opposed the sale and had sued Exxon in the capital, Abuja, claiming it has the right to acquire the blocks itself from the US major.

The Seplat boss disagrees with the NNPC because his firm was purchasing a subsidiary rather than licences.

“What we are buying are shares sold by US companies, so that is a completely different animal because we’re buying a company,” he said. “Exxon’s read of the situation is the same,” he pointed out.

A spokeswoman for Exxon declined to comment on the transaction, citing a court injunction and arbitration proceedings. Spokesmen for Tinubu didn’t respond to questions from Bloomberg News.

Early signals from the Tinubu administration appear promising for supporters of the deal.

The new head of state met Exxon executives during his second week

in office, saying on Twitter that the invitation demonstrated his government’s “efforts to secure the collaboration of critical players in the oil sector.”

Advisers also prepared a report for the president in the run-up to his inauguration recommending him to sell down NNPC’s positions in joint ventures to minority stakes and “close out” outstanding divestments in order to boost production.

The “hidden value” for Seplat in the Exxon deal is the natural gas in the blocks, according to Brown, whose firm is already one of the

largest domestic suppliers of the fuel to Nigerian power plants.

Brown said it’s “most likely” that most of the gas in the licenses would be destined for export, either as a third-party source for Nigeria LNG Ltd. – an expanding venture whose shareholders include Shell and NNPC that is short of feedstock – or via a separate floating production facility.

After the meeting with Exxon officials at the State House in Abuja, recently, Tinubu had pledged to ensure competition in the oil and gas industry in the country.

Some of the key officials of ExxonMobil that visited Tinubu, who himself was a former Treasurer of the oil company were the President of ExxonMobil on Upstream Oil and Gas, Mr. Liam Mallon and the then Executive Director Mobil Nigeria, Adesuwa Dozie, who is now vice chairperson.

It also followed a similar meeting with the then President Muhammadu Buhari by both officials on the margins of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, USA in September last year.

While making the meeting public on his Twitter handle, Tinubu had said it was part of his efforts to ensure collaboration among all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.

“It was a pleasure to play host to ExxonMobil Executives, Mr. Liam Mallon and Mrs. Adesua Dozie, at the State House earlier today.

“The meeting marks the continuation of this administration’s efforts to secure the collaboration of critical players in the oil sector towards ensuring stability, transparency and fair competition in the sector,” he stated.

Financial Derivatives Warns of Repercussions If Nigeria’s Oil Production Shortfall Continues

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

With about 90 per cent Nigeria’s dependence on oil export for its foreign exchange earnings, there could be a worsening of the country’s trade balance as well as a negative effect on its revenue, Lagos-based Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), has stated. In the June edition of its economic update, the Bismarck Rewane-led organisation noted that oil prices were also expected to trade lower in the coming months, with weakening

global demand, on the back of efforts of central banks to rein in inflation, which will also impact the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria has been unable to produce its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) crude oil allocation of 1.74 million barrels per day, only drilling between 1 million barrels and 1.3 million this year.

A few weeks ago, the international oil cartel slashed Nigeria’s projected output for next year, pegging it at 1.38 million bpd due to the country’s

Breach of Duty: Court Dismisses Ex-Employee’s N100m Claim against NBC

Wale Igbintade

The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has refused the N100 million claim demanded by a former staff of the Nigerian Bottling Company limited (NBC), Mr. Abifarin Oluwadamilola Elijah, over alleged injury sustained while working for the company.

Justice Elizabeth A. Oji, in her judgement held that the claimant failed to prove by evidence that the Defendant (NBC) directly or indirectly caused his health condition by lack of its duty of care.

On whether the claimant was entitled to the reliefs sought, the court held that the claimant failed

to prove most of the expenses he allegedly spent on treatment except for the sum of N80, 750.00 as proved.

Consequently, the court ordered the defendant to pay the claimant the sum of N80, 750 only.

The claimant had in a suit marked NICN/LA/329/2020, filed by his lawyer, stated that he was employed by the defendant on June 13, 2018, as a Syrup Process Technician at the Ikeja Plant.

The claimant in his statement of claim stated that during a night shift at the defendant’s Ikeja Plant B, he was ordered and forced by one Mr. Akin (a shift leader) to leave his department and join

another department for a rework of Pulpy orange (85cl), which involved lifting the heavy packs of juice, specifically three pallets of 5 Alive 85cl Pulpy Orange juice.

While the claimant was working, the claimant collapsed due to a sharp back pain as a result of backbone (spine) damage caused by carrying heavy loads.

On May 7, 2020, precisely at about 4:00am, the claimant visited the defendant’s clinic as a result of the injury and was given treatment and medication.

The claimant stated further that he visited Subol Hospital and he was placed on a total of 14-day sick leave. Subsequently,

the claimant was directed to the same Subol Hospital Ltd, wherein series of tests and x-rays were conducted, and the report dated May 8, 2020, addressed to the defendant, stating the present conditions and incapability the claimant was subjected to as a result of the injury developed in the course of his employment.

Upon further consultation with Holy Trinity Hospital, it was advised that the claimant should avoid sitting, standing and walking for long and any other activities that may complicate his medical condition.

prolonged lack of production capacity.

In May, the FDC said the price of oil traded lower compared to April, with on the average, the price of Brent crude dropping by 6.16 per cent to $75.49 per barrel from $83.66 in April.

Continuing, it recalled that oil prices fell by six per cent to close at $73.54 on May 31, after touching a high of $78.36 on May 24, with the decline attributed to the uncertainty that surrounded the US debt ceiling talks and Chinese demand concerns.

On the other hand, the FDC noted that oil prices rose by 3.14 per cent from $74.28 at the beginning of June to $76.61 on June 19, owing to further oil supply cut (1mbpd) by Saudi Arabia coupled with a pause in US Fed monetary tightening.

However, it stated that this gain had been wiped in sustained week-long losses between June 19 and June 23.

“Oil prices are likely to trade lower in the near term. Lower oil prices will be supported by weak global demand as central banks remain aggressive towards inflation and a weaker Chinese post-covid economic recovery. China is the second-largest importer of crude oil.

“Lower oil prices would reduce export earnings, decrease government revenue, and worsen the country’s trade balance. Crude oil accounts for 89.5 per cent of total

exports. Also, the country’s inability to meet its production quota could further weigh on fiscal revenue and decrease the allocation of funds from the federal government to states,” it warned.

On the hand, in the coming months, the FDC predicted that gas prices would remain high due to forecasts of a warmer weather condition in Europe, which could increase the demand for gas for cooling.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the second-largest export commodity in Nigeria, accounting for 10.4 per cent of total exports. Higher gas prices will help to compensate for the shortfall caused by lower oil prices, the report highlighted.

“Gas prices rose in the month of May despite subdued demand and high gas stockpiles in Europe. LNG increased by 4.52 per cent to close May at $2.31/mmbtu, up from $2.21/mmbtu at the beginning of the month.

“On average, it rose by 4.07 per cent to $2.30/ mmbtu compared to $2.21/mmbtu in April. Similarly, gas price climbed by 13.66 per cent to close June 19th at $2.58/mmbtu from $2.27/mmbtu. This was primarily due to supply outages in Norway and the planned shutdown of a key production site in Netherlands,” it added.

OBI CELEBRATE SALLAH WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN ONITSHA...

NDPB to Sanction More Banks, Telcos, Schools over Data Privacy Breach

Emma Okonji

Following the recent sanction of two banks for data privacy breach, the Nigeria Data Protec-

tion Bureau (NDPB) is currently investigating five other institutions in the finance and education sectors in Ogun State for various data privacy breaches.

The Chief Executive Officers and Vice Chancellor of the affected institutions risk paying two per cent of their gross earnings in the previous

year as fine or risk jail term or both, depending on the effect and consequences of the data breaches.

The National Commissioner/

Norway Announces Plan to Revamp Nigeria's 20,000MT Processing Facility in Ibadan

Gilbert Ekugbe

The government of Norway through the Norwegian Investment Fund (Norfund), has disclosed plan to upgrade an existing cocoa processing facility in Ibadan.

The move, according to Norfund, would bring the 20,000 metric tonnes annual capacity cocoa processing plant up to full operations while also creating job opportunities for the nation's teeming unemployed youths.

At a virtual press conference to highlight Norfund's future investment plans in Nigeria, the Investment Manager, Norfund, Obafemi Awobokun, said despite Nigeria being one of the top five countries in Africa in terms of cocoa production, it was yet to benefit from the gains of the global cocoa industry.

In his words: "The facility has been existing for many years which does about 20,000 metric tonnes of cocoa processing yearly, but has not been living up to full capacity for quite some time. Our investment will then go towards upgrading the facility and getting people back their jobs and eventually they would also go towards confectionery such as ready to drink milk, chocolates and the likes."

According to him, it is unfortunate that a lot of cocoa processors do not prioritise value add services in cocoa processing, noting that there are huge margins and employment opportunities that could spring up from value add services in cocoa processing.

"This means countries like Nigeria do not really benefit from the large cocoa industry globally, because we do more of cocoa beans and exporting as opposed to more manufacturing. In addition to upgrading the facility in Ibadan, we also want to do more value add production to get more margins and create more job opportunities," he added.

"Our investment is aimed at

creating more value in origin cocoa producing countries such as Nigeria and encouraging similar investors to see as Nigeria as a strategic investment destination, but even the agric industry as well," he stressed.

Also speaking, the Regional Director West Africa, Norfund, Naana Winful Fynn, said till date, Norfund has invested over $132 million and $535 million in Nigeria and across West Africa respectively.

She said the Norwegian government was upbeat about investing in Nigeria despite the harsh operating environment, adding that the source of its capital allows for long-term investment.

"It has been a very difficult few years from the Nigeria's standpoint and the companies we have invested in and many of the companies we speak with. The source of our capital

allows us to take a long term view on investments.

“Our capital is from the Norwegian government. What we are doing is taking risks alongside the other shareholders in the business," she said.

She added: "Even though the challenges Nigeria has faced in the last few years, we have continued to invest in the country and the reason for that is that as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) we believe in investing in both the good and the bad times and also a partner for challenging times."

She, however, stated that Norfund was excited to observe the changes taken by the present administration which she described as a positive change. She said the move would address some of the issues many investors have grappled with investing in the country.

"From Nigeria's standpoint including the currency issue not just from the exchange standpoint which seem to be narrowing, there has been a devaluation expected by most of the markets and the fuel subsidy which is extremely costly from a fiscal standpoint. “These are changes that are painful in the short term, but which I think from a long term perspective would make it easier for the country to attract other institutional investors," she averred.

"We really like to do more in Nigeria across all our investment centres. We are very much looking to deliver on our mandate of partnering with great management teams to support their financial and other needs. Nigeria is an extremely important market as we continue to build our West Africa businesses and portfolio," she assured.

CEO of NDPB, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who confirmed the sanction imposed on two Nigerian banks, told THISDAY in a telephone conversation yesterday that the banks were sanctioned after proper investigation on data privacy and protection was carried on them.

The banks are currently going through a six-month remediation course organised for their Data Controlling Officers (DCOs) and Data Processing Officers (DCOs), he said.

The implementation of the NDPB law commenced recently, after President Bola Tinubu signed it into law.

“NDPB has five institutions in its investigation list and their CEOs will risk paying heavy fine or go to jail after the breaches have been established.

“The minimum fine for data breach is N50 million and the maximum fine is two per cent of their gross earnings in the previous year.

“The two banks that have been sanctioned are currently going through six months remediation course. There are lots of data breaches going on in hospitals, hotels, aviation sector, transportation sector, and schools, which we need to address as

government agency,” Olatunji said.

According to him, poor handling of sensitive data had caused lots of harm to people, adding that the NDPB was working with government agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC), among others, to investigate over 110 data controllers and data processors for various degrees of data privacy and protection breaches.

He said lack of due diligence on the part of data controllers in engaging with data processors or vendors that have access to personal data of customers, has led to abuses and violation of people’s rights.

Olatunji said the NDPB law would ensure a sustainable digital economy and also strengthen the Nigerian economy, adding that the NDPB is putting plans in place to create 500,000 jobs in order to close the capacity gap in the sub-sector and help achieve President Tinubu’s goal of creating one million jobs.

NIS Promotes 7,000 Officers, Correctional Service Decorates 307 in Edo

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has promoted 7, 000 officers across different ranks and departments in the service as approved by its Board.

This was just as the Edo State Command of Nigerian Correctional Services has decorated 307 officers promoted by the Controller General of the Services, Hilaru Nababa, in Benin City, Edo State.

A statement from Acting Public Relations Officer of NIS, Kenneth Kure, disclosed that the promotion was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary of the Immigration, Civil Defense, Correctional and Fire Service Board, Alhaji Jafaru Ahmed. Kure stated: “The number of promoted officers and men included both senior officers who sat for the regular exams as well as junior staff who were upgraded as a result of acquiring additional qualifications.”

The Acting Comptroller General, Wuraola Adepoju, also approved the appointment of the erstwhile Service spokesman, Tony Akuneme as FCT Command Comptroller.

Comptroller Joseph Dada, was also appointed new Principal Staff Officer to the Comptroller General.

Dada, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has served in various commands in the NIS and was until his recent appointment, the Comptroller in charge of Marine Border Corps in the Service Headquarters, Kure said

The Service noted that 12 Comptrollers were recently redeployed to different states, including FCT, Kano, Jigawa, Ondo, Ogun, Mfum Border Control, among others.

The CG charged the officers and men of the Service to put the image of the Service above personal interests, saying the NIS remains a foremost Agency for international visitors.

She promised to prioritise

personnel welfare, asserting that henceforth promotion would be based strictly on seniority, hard work and dedication to duty.

Adepoju, decried the stagnation of some older officers, saying it was disheartening to see them remain at their positions, while newly recruited ones were moving over and above them in ranks.

“Any staff who is not well motivated cannot guarantee quality output,” she said.

In a related development, the Edo State Command of Nigerian Correctional Services has decorated 307 officers in Benin City, Edo State.

Speaking, the State Controller, Mrs. Philomena Emehinola, said 77 of the 307 elevated officers were at the state headquarters, Benin City, while others were from the various divisions of the Command.

She urged the officers to see the promotion as a call to higher responsibility and a means to be good ambassadors to the command.

"Today is a great day in our lives, for the first time in our history, a large number of people are being decorated. We have a total number of 307 persons promoted. In the headquarters alone, we are 74.

“I want to call on those officers that are decorated today to see the elevation as an opportunity to do more job, and that more responsibility has been put on your shoulders.

“I urge you to carry the flag of the Nigerian Correctional Service high, because it is no longer business as usual. The new Controller General has zero tolerance for nonchalant attitude to work.

“He is promoting us; he wants us to do more. He is putting us in positions, he wants us to deliver. We expect much from government but let be patient. Over 10,000 were promoted all over the nation, nobody would have believed that something like that can happen."

She also said the Correctional Service and other sister agencies

were working in collaboration to fulfill their mandate of making the state a safer one for everybody.

"In Edo, our sister security agencies are cooperating with us. We have men of the Nigerian Army stationed in all our facilities across the state. We have them in Benin Correctional Center, we have them in Oko, Ubiaja and Auchi, they are there. We have the Police, the Civil Defence and Department of State Service(DSS) all working together."

Also, speaking, one of the elevated officers, DCP Joseph Egwuatu thanked God for the promotion.

"Promotion comes from God with a little part of hard work and calls for more responsibility. For instance, there are some kind of duty that will not be given to some persons in a certain cadre. But as you progress, such duties can be assigned to you. As I am promoted, that means more are expected from me," he said.

Mr Peter Obi presenting cheques for projects to the leaders of Anambra Muslim Community through the, Sarki of Onitsha, Alhaji Iliyasu Yushau (left) and Sarki of Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna (right) in the presence of other Muslim Community Leaders, during the Eid al Adha celebration in Onitsha... yesterday

Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

FG Moves to Resolve NSITF Management, Workers' Dispute

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Following the intervention of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Daju Katchalon, key issues fueling the industrial dispute between the management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF) and the domestic unit of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions(ASSBIFI) and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees(NUIBFIE) have been resolved.

THISDAY gathered that the Permanent Secretary through a letter dated Thursday, June 22, 2023, had invited the parties to a conciliation meeting on Tuesday, where most of the issues were trashed out. ASSBIFI, NSITF- Domestic branch had embarked on the picketing of the offices of the Fund last Monday, to compel the management to honour agreements it reached with the union.

But the NSITF management had deployed the action of the union, describing it as flagrant disregard to laid down rules on conciliation. According to sources, all other disputed issues brought by the unions were resolved. It was agreed that the unremitted deductions for pensions and National Housing Fund (NHF) would be remitted in 15 months, starting from July 2023 – September 2024, while an internal memo would be sent out latest Friday, June 30, 2023, to inform

staff of the availability of pay slips to be printed on request or sent electronically.

The NSITF management and ASSBIFI also resolved that they would on Friday by 10am, resolve tax issues.

It was also agreed that promotion examinations and interviews for qualified staff members should be concluded on or before the end of August 2023, while the management was advised to advertise vacancies in future where necessary. The National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) which was also part of the meeting was mandated to monitor implementation and report to the government in two weeks.

A source at the conciliatory meeting however said a Memorandum of Understanding which was meant to be signed by the national leadership of ASSBIFI, NUBIFIE and the management of the NSITF could not be accomplished because of the disagreement over the demands of the union relating to the coalescing of Deputy Manager and Manager levels to achieve a nine-tier grade level as obtained in the public service. Subsequently, he said the domestic unions and the management were mandated to meet to resolve the issue on July 7, 2023, before an enlarged meeting to be convened by the Permanent Secretary on July 10, 2003 for the ratification of the MOU.

At the conciliation meeting held at the Conference Room of

the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Permanent Secretary expressed displeasure at the action of the union in attempting to shut down the NSITF offices.

She further conveyed deep reservations over the decision of ASSBIFI to resort to external help without exhausting the internal conciliation mechanism in the Ministry, over a purely human resources issues, noting that it smacked of “mischief.”

The union had written to the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation for intervention.

A source at the meeting quoted

Katchalon as saying, “bad enough, not one person came to me to report these matters, or remind me and seek for resolution. All we started seeing were accounts in the social media that bring the agency and the Ministry to disrepute.

“I summoned this meeting for a conversation that will be beneficial to all of us, taking all the issues one by one. I am open and will be fair to all. Your MD and Executive Director Administration told me you have been meeting, infact met last Friday because I had to call them back from retreat to meet with you,

because I said my house cannot be on fire, having also been briefed by my Director of Trade Union Services.

“But you now bypassed all to go the office of the Head of Service. And everything is on social media and everybody is asking what is going on in the NSITF again. Again why NSITF? It is not good for us.

“You might think you are trying to achieve whatever you set out for, but to be honest, it would have been the best if we had sat down and had this conversation before going public with your agitations.

Not doing it smacks of mischief.”

The Permanent Secretary also chided the management for poor communication with the union leadership.

Earlier in the meeting which stretched far into the night, Okenwa raised the issue of the Stability Group, a splinter group of the domestic unit of ASSBIFI, numbering over 3,000 staff and seeking for registration. The group had in a statement on Monday dissociated itself from the industrial action by ASSBIFI, accusing it of self-seeking agenda.

Obaseki to Place LASU Best Student on Salary, Sponsor Her Law School Programme

Marks 66th birthday, appeals for gifts to children with special needs

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed that the state government would place Aminat Yusuf, who graduated as the best law student from Lagos State University (LASU) with 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) on salary and sponsor her Law School programme.

The governor, who was represented by the Head of Service (HOS) Anthony Okungbowa, said other benefits have been approved for the outstanding student.

According to him, “This is an update on our daughter, Aminat Yusuf after the Government of Edo State honoured her in respect of her academic performance in LASU for graduating with a perfect CGPA of 5.00.

“Following this achievement, the government offered her automatic employment and the governor has now approved other things for her beyond the employment.

“The governor has directed that Aminat Yusuf will be sponsored

on scholarship for one year in the Nigerian Law School and that the government will be responsible for the provision of all her needs till she completes the programme."

Furthermore, he was quoted in a statement to have said: “The governor also approved that for every month that she will be in law school, she will receive an up-keep allowance equivalent to the salary of a State Counsel, which is almost N200,000.

“This is in recognition of the feat

Sahara Group, University of Nairobi to Promote Sustainability in Kenya

The Sahara Group and the University of Nairobi are working towards establishing a partnership aimed at involving more young Kenyans in the nation's march towards sustainability.

Both organisations met at the university’s corporate affairs division in Nairobi to chart a course for a sustainable future in Kenya through collaboration that will focus on giving students mainstream participation.

The partnership would prioritise using innovation challenges, Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) contests, creative writing and debate competitions, and thought leadership platforms to facilitate generational sustainability in Kenya.

Speaking following the meeting in Nairobi, Head, Corporate Com-

munications, Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma, was quoted in a statement to have said the partnership would be driven by the Sahara Group Foundation, Sahara's directorate for sustainability, and Asharami Synergy Limited, the energy conglomerate’s downstream company in Kenya.

"Sahara Group is on a mission to spearhead Africa's march towards sustainability and an inclusive energy transition and we welcome this opportunity to work with the University of Nairobi with great excitement.

“Together, we can enhance awareness creation and ultimately birth innovations that will create sustainable livelihoods and economic development in Kenya," he said.

Obioma said the partnership would commence with the involve-

ment a creative writing competition for university students in Kenya.

"How and what young Kenyans understand about the terms climate change, climate action, and energy transition will play a critical role in leveraging their energies and skills in promoting sustainability.

“Hopefully, through the art of storytelling, we expect the competition to create more awareness among young Kenyans and inspire innovative solutions that will help address environmental, social, and economic challenges in Kenya," he said.

The Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Nairobi, John Orindi, said the planned partnership resonates with the institution's ongoing efforts towards empowering

students to become change agents for sustainability in Kenya.

"The creative writing contest presents another opportunity for our students to contribute towards raising awareness and proffering solutions for issues like deforestation and pollution and suggest renewable energy solutions to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and adoption of clean energy technologies in households and businesses," he said. According to Orindi, the partnership could add more traction to sustainable waste management through initiatives on improved collection and the recycling of waste materials to conserve the environment.

Operations Manager, Asharami

Synergy Kenya, Lavinah Gonah, said the company remained committed to investing in and supporting partnerships that will create jobs, promote sustainable development, and galvanise action among young Kenyans as active participants in promoting sustainability in Kenya.

“Scheduled to run from July 1 – August 12, 2023, the competition is open to university students in Kenya. They are to send in short stories on “Creating a sustainable path for Africa’s energy transition” to creativekenyans@sahara-group. com. Entries should be in the form of creative stories that can facilitate the understanding and participation of primary/secondary students in conversations regarding energy access and sustainability,” she added.

she achieved in LASU. We are proud of her achievement and hope she would join us after her law school programme as we will write to NYSC to ensure that she embarks on her one-year compulsory youth service in the State.”

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has made a special appeal to all who want to celebrate his upcoming birthday anniversary to channel all gifts and donations to the Roseluyi Exceptional Students Academy, for children with special needs in Edo State.

In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, said, “As His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki has maintained that his priority as a leader is to aid the vulnerable in society, he is using this opportunity to encourage all well-wishers to actively participate in supporting this cause.

“With a heart for every child’s development, Governor Obaseki wishes to contribute to the success of the Roseluyi Exceptional Students Academy which has demonstrated excellent capacity in the development of children with special needs.”

He added, “The governor thanks all Nigerians, particularly the good people of Edo State, for their kind wishes and urges all to participate in this unique celebration to honour the children with special needs in the State.”

FASHOLA @60...

L-R: Wife of former Minister of Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola; her husband/the celebrant, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr Ibijoke and Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat during the 60th birthday of Mr Fashola at his residence in Lagos... yesterday

DIRI VISITS US CONSUL-GENERAL...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left) and Consul-General of the United States Embassy, Mr. William Stevens, during the governor’s visit on the America Independence celebration to the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of the envoy yesterday.

TINUBU: ON MY WATCH, NIGERIA WILL KNOW PEACE, STABILITY, PROSPERITY

At the same time, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, who spoke on behalf of his principal, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the people to unite behind Tinubu in his determination to make the country better.

Former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja; Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and governors, among others, felicitated with Muslims across the country for another successful Sallah celebration.

Tinubu stated that Allah would not burden the country with what it could not bear. He said, “I thank Almighty Allah for keeping us in good health till today and pray to Him to grant us robust health and prosperity.

“May our sacrifices turn to prosperity. We have to make the sacrifices and that is clear, we have to.

“But Allah will not give you a burden that you cannot carry. He is there for us. We must have faith in the country. Have faith in ourselves, believing that as citizens of this country, we must join hands to build the nation.

“No religious identity, no tribal identity, let us live with one another in joy and prosperity. Nigeria will see peace, stability and God will grant peace to those of us at the warfront.”

The president also prayed for Nigerian troops in the frontline in the fight against insurgency, saying it is his earnest desire and that of the country that they emerge victorious.

Hamzat, who spoke for SanwoOlu, felicitated Muslims across Nigeria and in the state, particularly, for the joy of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

He said, “It is our duty to pray for our leaders. We must pray for our president that God should help him to succeed in the task before him."

The Eid prayer, which started at 9am, was led by Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abu-Nolah.

The chief imam later performed the obligatory slaughtering of ram at the Eid prayer ground in celebration of the significance of the noble act of Prophet Ibrahim in total obedience to Allah's command.

The prayer was attended by Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and former Governor of Lagos State and immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who turned 60 years yesterday.

Others were Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, among other top government officials and politicians.

Meanwhile, Tinubu will today pay courtesy visits to three first class traditional rulers in Ogun State.

They are Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; and Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle.

The three royal fathers, who represent the three senatorial districts in the Gateway state, would receive the president at their palaces at different times.

The first port of call, THISDAY learnt, would be the Awujale Palace, followed by that of Alake and Olu, respectively.

The president will during the visits appreciate the royal fathers for their support to his one-month old administration as well as canvass their continued cooperation towards making their areas and the entire country uncomfortable for criminal activities.

Shettima: Our Govt Will Address Nation's Infrastructure Deficit

Vice President Kashim Shettima assured the people that the President Bola Tinubu administration would give prompt attention to addressing the country's infrastructure deficit.

DHQ: MILITARY REMAINS LOYAL TO CONSTITUTION, PRESIDENT

dislodging existential threats to the unity, security, stability and peace of the country.

“The symbolic values and virtues of unflinching faith and total sacrifice, which the Eidel-Kabir festival exemplifies, also hold true for the supreme sacrifices, which our defiant and courageous soldiers continue to make in the face of challenges to the peace, unity and sovereignty of the nation."

Musa, in a statement by Acting Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, assured of his unflinching support to officers and men of the Armed Forces as they continued to discharge their constitutional duties across the country.

Shettima made the pledge on Wednesday while paying Sallah homage to the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness, Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, in Maiduguri. He expressed hope that the infrastructure challenges in the country, including construction of the Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa and well as Damboa roads in Borno State, would be addressed.

The vice president, who spoke with newsmen after the Sallah homage said, "We went with His Excellency, the governor, to pay homage to the Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno. He raised some very poignant issues facing the society, especially with regard to infrastructure deficit.

"We conveyed to him the best wishes from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Shehu talked about issues concerning the roads that should be immediately address, especially the Gamboru Ngala and Dikwa roads. Certainly, it would be addressed; that of Damboa will also be addressed.

"I am here to assure him (the Shehu) of the maximum support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. All the challenges confronting us, we will survive it as a people."

In his remarks, the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, extolled the virtues of the vice president, saying he is a man of the people and a grassroots politician.

Zulum added that being the first visit of Shettima to the state as voce-president, "the visit is very important to Borno people and it is a home coming for our son."

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, who spoke in Kanuri, described Shettima as a worthy son of Borno State, stressing that the love the vice president enjoyed reflected in the massive support the people gave him.

At the Eid ground, Shettima prayed for the country's unity and progress.

According to a release by Director of Information in the governor’s office, Mr Olusola Abiola, Shettima observed the Eid prayers at the National Eid ground, Abuja, in the company of Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, among other faithful.

He called on Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice and forgiveness, and prayed for the unity and progress of the country.

Saraki Urges Muslims to Intensify Prayers for Nigeria

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, congratulated Muslims around the world on this year’s Eid-El-Kabir festival. Saraki urged Muslims to continue to pray

to Allah to intervene in the affairs of the country.

The former senate president urged Muslims to pray for the restoration of peace, unity, prosperity, security, and development across Nigeria.

In a Sallah message from his media office in Abuja, signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki noted the significance of the Eid-El-Kabir festival. He said it symbolised the test of faith of Prophet Ibrahim, who was the origin of the world’s biggest religions, and urged all Muslims to borrow some of the attributes of the man known as the father of faith.

Saraki said, “Prophet Ibrahim demonstrated unflinching faith in Almighty Allah and his creator compensated him by making him the father of the most prosperous nations today. He demonstrated patriotism by praying to Allah to bless his land and his forbears that will come from generations after him. Today, we can see the manifestation of Prophet Ibrahim’s prayers in the prosperity of the lands occupied by his offspring.

“It is for this reason that I use this occasion to call on Nigerians to also continue to pray for our country. We need to continue to request our creator to turn things around for the better in Nigeria. We need God to help us conquer our economic, political, social, and security challenges.”

Lagbaja with Troops, Hails Sacrifice in Combating Security Threats

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, expressed appreciation to troops of the Nigerian Army for their commitment and sacrifice towards combating emerging security challenges in the theatres of operation across the country. Lagbaja spoke as part of his goodwill message to troops and their families to mark the Muslim Eid -El-Kabir festival.

Expressing gratitude to the Almighty God for His protection and guidance, the army chief pointed out that the Eid-el-kabir festival represented the virtues of sacrifice and submission to the will of the Almighty God, as exemplified by Prophet Abraham and emulated by Prophet Muhammed. According to him, the season brings to memory the supreme sacrifice officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army make on a daily basis to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation is preserved at all times. He added that the celebration embodied courage, selfless service, discipline, integrity, respect for others and loyalty, which

Continued on page 36

OROSANYE REPORT: FG DISCONTINUES FUNDING OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES, COUNCILS

Mr. Ben Akabueze, conveyed the message via memos sent to the professional bodies.

Some of the memos obtained by THISDAY were addressed to the Registrar/CEO, Optometrist and Dispensing Optics Board as well as the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST).

They read: "I wish to inform you that the presidential committee on salaries (PCS) at its 13th meeting approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocation to professional Bodies/Councils effective 1st January, 2024.

"It was a recommendation in the Orosanye committee report and the recent Presidential Committee on Salaries. All the professional bodies and councils have been notified," he said.

Professional bodies in Nigeria are largely responsible for research and technology development in their fields, relying on government funding to conduct ethical reviews and propose and promote new professional standards. There are over 100 professional bodies in the country.

told THISDAY.

On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, in an interview with THISDAY, criticised the practice of supporting funding intervention to the affected entities.

He said, “This is a revelation and this shows that most professional bodies might be receiving allocations from the government.

bodies in health and other sensitive bodies instead of a blanket stoppage of funding.”

According to him, “These councils exist to ensure that standards are maintained and enforced. Most of the councils are in the medical fields and engineering, etc. I do not see why the government should stop funding councils of very sensitive bodies.

The defence chief also felicitated Nigerians on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, and appreciated the support of the citizenry to the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He urged Nigerians to show more faith in the zeal and ability of our troops to effectively combat threats to the security and stability of our dear nation.

According to him, “Your trust and confidence in our Armed Forces as collective partners and stakeholders in securing our nation cannot be overemphasised."

While wishing Nigerians a memorable celebration, the CDS also assured them that the security and stability of the country remained the sacred and collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

"The purpose of this letter therefore is to inform you that, in compliance with PCS's directives, this office will no longer make budgetary provisions to your institution, which means that you will be regarded henceforth as a self-funded organisation.

"For the avoidance of doubt, you will be required, effective 1st January 2024, to be fully responsible for your personnel, overhead and capital expenditures."

Confirming the memos to THISDAY, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Prof. Olumide Ayodele, stated that stoppage was a recommendation in the Orosanye committee report and the recent Presidential Committee on Salaries.

However, the development has generated mixed reactions from analysts who spoke to THISDAY.

While some hailed the decision of the PSC, others warned the discontinuation may imperil the nation’s healthcare system.

Some analysts had expressed surprise at the revelation that professional bodies were being surreptitiously funded by the government and questioned the rationale.

They described the support to the professional bodies as ridiculous.

A public commentator marveled at the lack of transparency in the funding support.

“And for some reason, it has never been in the public domain. The opaqueness in governmental affairs is something else,” the source who pleaded to remain anonymous

“To my amazement, most of these professional bodies will always speak out against subsidies knowing that they enjoy a form of subsidy from the government.”

Gbolade noted that, “According to best practices, professional bodies are supposed to use annual dues, research grants and private sponsorships to raise funds.

“I implore the government to remove all other unrealistic subsidies funding lifestyles of both public and private organisations with their officials and focus on providing realistic palliative to the masses.”

On the contrary, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, opposed a blanket stoppage, pointing out that not all professional bodies are funded by the government or have councils.

He said, “The government should continue to fund the professional

“Bodies like the Medical and Dental Council, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, and Nurses Council should be funded and regulated by the government.

If they are not funded, how can you ask questions or question their activities if they are not of good ethical standards.”

Ekechukwu said, “If they are not funded, standards are going to drop. The salaries of medical doctors on housemanship and residency nationwide, for example, are paid by the government through the council. There is no way the council nor the hospitals can afford to make such payments.

“Hospitals will start refusing to accept these medical personnel. Such medical students may take years after graduation to get placements for their statutory engagements in hospitals. Membership fees of these professionals to their professional bodies will never be enough to meet their financial needs.”

Nwagwu: There is Urgent Need to Reorganise INEC

Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform and Executive Board member, YIAGA Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu, in this interview with Emaneh Gabriel, speaks on salient electoral issues including pressing need for the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, to be overhauled to achieve optimum result.

Some individuals have asked that the Chairman of INEC be suspended or removed from office. How would you react to this, especially with the outcome of the 2023 poll?

A - Recently, there is a resurgence of attack, if you like, sometimes, not even institutional, I’m talking about personal attacks on the leadership of the the Independent National Electoral Commission.

For me, a lot of people use sophistry to engage election issues. Just recently, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, hugely respected because of his contribution to the struggle for the restoration of democracy and human rights in Nigeria had taken a broadside, asking for the sack of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and he hinged his call on what we know, which is the logistic challenges that dodged the 2023 presidential election.

But let me just say it clearly that for many people now, what they do is, ‘believe me, because my name is Olisa Agbakoba’, but we’re not just going to believe you because your name is Olisa Agbakoba. We’re going to believe you only from the point of the knowledge of the real issues that you are able to exude.

Number one, when he made that call, he stayed quite a lot on the issue of logistics. But anybody who followed the 2023 elections will have been able to look at the context in which that election held. The issue of the unnecessary colouring of the Naira, which brought about shortage of cash both for citizens and for institutions, and for an organisation like INEC that its activities actually depend on vendor relationship.

That catastrophic policy of the Central Bank was a setback for logistics for the election. We also know the issue of fuel scarcity during that period. The circumstance around that election was held around the period of fuel scarcity and the rest of them.

In good time, the issue of perennial and logistic challenge is something we’ve not been able to cure, because we’re also a big country.

And we’re also now battling with issues of insecurity, banditry in some parts of the country. So under that kind of climate, somebody who is a participant observer in election issues should not make the kind of call that Olisa Agbakoba made.

Even more importantly, he (Agbakoba) also said recently that he made a shocking discovery that our election is manual, and I asked him ‘Where have you been?’ if as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria you don’t know that election in Nigeria is manual, then it means that you have no right to make a call on issues that are not very substantive.

But a lot of people apart from Agbakoba share the view that the electoral umpire didn’t perform well in the election. Even though some of them did not call or are not calling for the sack of the INEC Chairman, the general feeling is basically on the inability of the Commission to transmit results in real time, as they promised.

The work of the leadership of INEC is to inspire confidence in the electoral process. And you don’t expect the leadership of INEC to come out to say before the election that there will be glitches. They should inspire confidence. And one of the ways to inspire confidence is a process that is their own. This process is entirely INEC’s initiative, the IREV. And I think many times we make that mistake. It is part of the reform process that the Professor Mahmoud-led commission initiated to help interested parties to follow the election.

Now, it is not a civil society creation. It is not a media creation. It is INEC itself that said, look, we’ve checked our records. There is no way anybody can get 1999 election results in the cloud. There is no way we can get 2007 election results in the cloud.

Now and I need this to be properly put in context and understood. The issue of transmission of results is an add on. I don’t know how many times we will put this, it is something

that is added. The conclusion of election collation announcement of results ends when form EC8a has been given to a party agent. Once the results is entered manually, because election is polling unit-centric. It is very important to underscore this. It is a polling unit event. When everybody has cast their votes and it is counted. It is recorded in a form called form EC8a, that form is given to the party agents. It is given to security. It is that result that is entered manually, that is now uploaded into the IREV. Now what does that tell you, results and announcements have ended.

Would you agree that INEC failed to educate citizens on some of these processes you have explained?

Nigeria is the only country where people say that you do not carry us along. You should carry yourself along, you should invest in knowing especially if you will have opportunity of public commentary.

Because the tragedy of public commentary is that ignorance parades as authority. Yes, there are institutions of states that have responsibility for voter education and for civic education. NOA for instance. Have

you bothered about the budget of the NOA? What is the budget of NOA to carry out these enormous responsibility? It is NOA that will talk on polio. It is NOA that will talk on water sanitation. But has anybody taken the pains to say this organisation that has this enormous responsibility, what is the amount of money that is available for them to do this work?

Civil society organisations are donor dependent. Oftentimes you touch these issues, but how much can we do? It’s is a big country. It is my worry, is not the citizens.

My worry is public commentary. We provide our platform for ignorant people to explain things that they know little or nothing about and cause a whole confusion.

In fact, part of my recommendation is that we should also begin to have a connection between mental health issues and election commentary. Because oftentimes what you see baffles you.

There were four reports issued before this election, citing the number of places political parties have presence in the 36 states of the country. Not many of us have interest, those reports are available. No one went to check to know where people have presence or where they don’t have presence.

INEC published the percentage of party agents that political parties have before this election. How many of us took time to find out what is the percentage of party agents that party ‘A’ had before the election?

Many of these political parties were claim-

We need to look at INEC from the point of whether the interventions that we have used over the years are still working. For instance, the issue of returning officers from universities. Politicians have known that either way you are going to recruit your returning officers from contingent universities and there is already collaboration with Vice Chancellors by politicians to try as much as compromise returning officers. And we saw evidence of that in some of those places. We need to see whether that’s intervention, we are not going to rejig it a bit. We want to also look at the appointment of resident electoral commissioners.

ing that they have citizen agents. That citizens will be the observers. That is preposterous. Preposterous because citizens agents do not get from EC8a, it is only accredited party agents that can collect form EC8A. So if you say you have citizen agents, it means you do not have agents at the polling unit level.

Are you trying to say that INEC does not have any blame in all that happened? They promised to upload results in real time. INEC assured Nigerians but at the end of it all, many Nigerians were not pleased.

Listen, issues of perennial logistic challenges that all of us know and I’m putting it in context that that’s what happened for the things that I and you also know. But that in spite of that INEC pressed forward.

There is no way we can dismiss the shenanigans that happened during the election, there are such issues. But the positives, and that’s the point for me, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

The positives are so many. Number one, challenge me that the president of a country, as you know how it is done, will just say okay, let me lose in my state.

The chairman of a ruling party, will lose his constituency to an opposition political party. Many governors lost their deposits for the National Assembly where they have taken as retirement places. Those positives for me is something that we can.

So, I’m not saying that there were no issues. An election is not a church service. Election is a competitive enterprise. We give comfort to the real people who cause challenges in the election. INEC does not cause voter suppression. Politicians do in collaboration with disgruntled INEC officials, right?

INEC does not unleash violence; politicians unleash violence, and their political parties. Now 90% of the time in discussing 2023 election, you focus on INEC and you leave the role of security agents. You leave the role of the political parties and their candidates and the role they play in making bad elections. INEC will bring its ballot box. In the most remote part of this country, there will be ballot box. INEC officials were killed in 2023 election, they are Nigerians. INEC officials were kidnapped. By whom? Who kidnapped them? Who murdered them. We provide comfort for the political class and their inability to embrace reforms and conduct themselves in a manner that allows for free and fair election. So, I’m not saying there were no issues and nobody can say that. But I am more interested in the positives. And I’m saying those who should criticise, when you say INEC said it will upload results real time and it didn’t do so.

I am saying that you are dealing with a moral issue. It has nothing to do with the law. Because the law has been satisfied when collation and announcements has been concluded.

But we should be concerned about the credibility of an election?

What is the credibility of an election? The credibility of an election is not a one stop thing. And that has been the one thing we have laboured to say. If you talk about credibility of election, are you going to take away that BVAS worked well in 98 percent? Is not part of the election.

I’m not bothered about outcome. Outcome of an election is a preoccupation of partisan people. If all you are bothered about is result, then you are not invested in process. Election is a process. I am more interested in processes that lead to that outcome.

Let the politicians be interested in outcome. I’m interested in, did poll open on time? If it opens on time, in what number of polling units did it open on time? If it didn’t open on time? What did INEC do to make sure that people who registered are not left out in casting their votes?

Nwagwu

With 'Jay

Jay: The Chosen One,' Showmax Leads in Content Diversification

With streaming platforms competing for eyeballs and subscriptions with local content, Showmax's decision to venture into original animation content with 'Jay Jay: The Chosen One,' marks a pivotal moment. It demonstrates the streamer's forwardthinking approach to catering to a global audience hungry for varied and inclusive storytelling, Vanessa Obioha reports

In the highly competitive movie streaming industry, content is king, and Showmax, an African-owned streamer, is shaping the African storytelling landscape with its latest investment in animation. The animated series 'Jay Jay: The Chosen One' has quickly gained a cult following among young audiences since its premiere last April. It has not only ranked as the most streamed kids’ content on the platform in Nigeria but also in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, surpassing popular international children's shows such as 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2,' 'Paw Patrol: The Movie,' 'Minions,' 'Kung Fu Panda' and 'Despicable Me.'

'Jay Jay: The Chosen One' serves as the first Nigerian original animation series on Showmax. The series breathes new life into the iconic football legend Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha's story by reimagining him as an 11-year-old Nigerian schoolboy who dreams of representing his school at a prestigious football tournament and discovers his extraordinary abilities to communicate with animals and using his “magic football” to protect them from poachers.

Beyond showcasing Jay Jay's talent, charisma, and impact on Nigerian and international football to youngsters who may not be familiar with his legend, the series serves as an enlightening tool on forest conservation, and climate change awareness. Showmax incorporates onscreen messages to amplify the message of environmental protection. Thus, the captivating and accessible format of the series aims to educate and inspire young viewers about Jay Jay's extraordinary legacy and the importance of preserving nature.

This is seen in the first episode where the audience is first introduced to Austin who not only realises his innate ability to hear and understand animals' language but stands up to bullies who tried to intimidate his friends as well as showcase his football skills.

Home to many local and international

Top 5

Bayo Adebiyi

TV shows and films, Showmax's venture into animation speaks volumes of its understanding of the diverse backgrounds of its audience. In the past few years, animation has recorded significant growth on the continent, with storytellers using it as a medium to bring historic indigenous tales to life. As of 2022, the African animation market size reached US$ 12.3 Billion according to a research study by the market research group, International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group (IMARC Group). It estimates the market growth will reach US$ 13.2 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8% during 2023-2028.

To be sure, animation is not entirely new to the continent. Niger-born Moustapha Allasane whose works date back as far as 1962 is often recognised as the Godfather of African animation. However, the number of African animators is not as

countless as sands, perhaps due to the lack of financial support given to content creators playing in that field. But as the Executive Head of Content, and West Africa Channels, at MultiChoice, Tejumola Busola noted, the company is looking to invest in that genre and support animators across the continent, Nigeria particularly.

With streaming platforms competing for eyeballs and subscriptions with local content, Showmax's decision to venture into original animation content with 'Jay Jay: The Chosen One,' marks a pivotal moment. It demonstrates the streamer's forwardthinking approach to catering to a global audience hungry for varied and inclusive storytelling. And what better channel to do this than through animation whose visual

appeal enhances the captivating nature of stories? The deliberate use of popular colloquial terms such as 'gbamsolutely' enhances the authenticity of its storytelling. By incorporating an original animation series such as 'Jay Jay: The Chosen One,' the platform showcases its commitment to embracing cultural diversity and promoting narratives that resonate with different regions.

Since its launch, the streamer has been intentional in how it tells its stories, adopting the strategic way of making local stories go global and meeting its diverse audience in their various cultural domains. Showmax's commitment to cultural diversity and regional narratives is evident through its investment in local content that celebrates cultural heritage and transcends borders.

One of the most compelling aspects of "Jay Jay: The Chosen One" is its ability to introduce a revered historical figure to a new generation. Celebrated for his extraordinary foot ball skills, Jay Jay might be unknown to many youngsters. Introducing him as an 11-year-old that goes through an adventure that teaches him valuable life lessons is a brilliant way of showcasing the heroic skills that the football legend has been accustomed to in his active years of football. The series not only expands the platform's reach to a broader demographic but also fosters cultural appreciation, representation, and knowledge among its viewers.

'Jay Jay: The Chosen One' represents a significant milestone in Showmax's commitment to diverse storytelling. Through embracing cultural diversity, captivating young hearts and minds, and introducing a new generation to the remarkable legacy of Jay Jay Okocha, Showmax showcases its dedication to entertainment that transcends boundaries. The series serves as a testament to the streamer's role in shaping the African storytelling landscape and its ongoing efforts to diversify its content slate.

Things You Didn't Know About Levene Hydrocarbon

Over time, rapid industrialisation and the expanding global economy have led to increased calls for a mix of energy options in the oil and gas industry to stem the tide of climate change, protect the environment and deploy cleaner variants of fuels across the developed world and the emerging economies.

This has resulted in companies that are operating in the hydrocarbon space diversifying their portfolios and offering even more value-added services to stay ahead of the curve.

Levene Hydrocarbon is a component entity within the Levene Energy Holdings group of companies, a conglomerate that has risen to become a leader in the integrated energy space in the African oil and gas market, especially with energy to power the energy transition agenda and is positioned to deliver cutting-edge results across various sectors of the market to meet the needs of its global client base, with robust operations in the upstream, downstream, midstream and renewable energy sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry. Levene Hydrocarbon is a critical business unit that drives Levene Energy Holding’s other businesses.

As a leader in the upstream exploration and production space, Levene Hydrocarbon has kept an impressive profile with significant and strategic plays in upstream asset acquisition and bitumen exploitation in Africa.

Here are five things about Levene Hydrocarbon that you (probably) didn’t know.

A major player in the Equatorial Guinea oil industry

Levene Hydrocarbon participated in the highly competitive Equatorial Guinea 2019 oil and gas licensing round, squaring off with other major companies. The company, operating as a consortium and working

in partnership with a US-based company and the state-owned GEPetrol, secured four oil blocks, including EG-03, EG-04, EG-19 and Block P. While three of the blocks are onshore in the Rio Muni Basin, the fourth one is an offshore asset with significant reserves of economic value. Levene Hydrocarbon seeks exploration partners to harness the reserves in this region.

Reacting to the success of the company in the bid round, Levene’s Executive Director, Upstream & Engineering Divisions, Bayo Adebiyi, said, “We, as Levene Energy are proud to be part of the future that is going to be great for Equatorial Guinea.”

The assets acquired in Equatorial Guinea demonstrate the company’s competence in securing profitable oil and gas projects, which it develops with investors.

A Pioneer in bitumen exploration in Nigeria

Levene Hydrocarbon has been allocated two bitumen blocks in Ogun State, Nigeria and is seeking investors for exploitation. Bitumen is an essential social Infrastructure commodity for Africa, which is needed for developing basic-to-advanced road networks across the continent.

Nigeria has the 6th largest bitumen reserves in the world, with a significant quantity which remains largely unexploited. The country, along with most African countries, still imports bitumen to meet their needs.

Large tracts of roads across Africa remained untarred, while bitumen exporting countries are reducing production. This opens a new vista of opportunities to boost production of the commodity in-continent for selfsufficiency and also to drive infrastructure upgrades.

Levene Hydrocarbon believes bitumen is an essential commodity that would help to build a resilient and sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa in general. Levene,

which holds 2 bitumen mining blocks, is a worthy investment partner for investors looking to tap into the use of bitumen to boost road infrastructure development across the African continent.

The Levene ESG advantage with bitumen

Levene Hydrocarbon is pushing its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy through a number of projects, especially its bitumen plays in Nigeria, for which it is seeking investors.

The idea is that companies which get involved in the project stand a huge chance of improving their ESG ratings as the development of the bitumen fields has a significant impact on social infrastructure across Africa. Hence, companies seeking to access green loans and bonds are better positioned to score high with institutional investors who are seeking out companies that have a strong ESG imprint.

Bayo Adebiyi, Levene’s Executive Director, Upstream & Engineering Divisions, states, “Nigeria and other African countries import bitumen, but local production can reduce imports and create a pathway to have the products serve as a transition commodity. Bitumen can be seen as enabling a renewable mode of living in Africa.”

As a transition commodity, bitumen is used to develop infrastructure which enables Africans access to other infrastructure for sustainable living. Consequently, with advanced and developed road networks, which is one of the major uses of bitumen across Africa, people can drive energy-efficient automobiles, including tricycles, motorbikes and electric vehicles.

Other than road networks, developing roofing sheets from bitumen can also advance the deployment of solar panels to provide electricity for use in homes and workplaces.

Centrepiece in the grand vision to become an integrated energy concern Levene Hydrocarbon is at the centrepiece

of Levene Energy Holdings' larger vision to be an integrated energy company, working to develop projects across the oil and gas value chain, from downstream to mid-stream to the upstream sectors.

According to Nzan Ogbe, the Founder and Pioneer CEO of Levene Energy Holdings, “The plan was always to own our assets and do a backward integration from exploring and developing our crude and gas assets, refining, and ultimately, selling those refined products to place us at every stage of the entire value chain.”

So, by acquiring and developing upstream hydrocarbon assets in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, the company is developing the needed feedstock to power refineries and other gas concerns across the value chain. Competitive advantage as an energy projects developer Levene Hydrocarbon has built a reputation for developing upstream oil and gas projects and is well-positioned to strike collaborations in developing new fields, especially in acquiring the requisite equipment and other support structures to lead projects.

Already, it has footprints in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea and is leading the development of major projects, acquiring relevant licenses from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to develop virgin fields.

This expertise positions it as a dependable partner in developing new oil and gas projects and expanding new frontiers in a project’s life cycle.

The brand is expanding on offerings and opportunities for discerning investors and potential strategic partners to take advantage of.

Connect with Levene Hydrocarbon by visiting the Levene Energy website: https://www.leveneenergy.com.

Jay Jay the Chosen One

A GOVERNOR AND HIS FRIENDS

Umo

See page 23

See page 23

EDITORIAL ISSUES IN THE ABUJA ESTATE FLOODING

Editors converge on Owerri, the Imo State Capital, to elect new officers for the Guild, writes TUNDE OLUSUNLE

EDITORS, OWERRI AND REMEMBRANCES OF ‘NKWOBI’

Owerri the capital of Imo State which prides itself as the “Heartland of the South East” of Nigeria, was taken up by the cream of the Nigerian media from Thursday June 15 to Saturday June 17, 2023. It was the second time in eight months that the topmost professional deck of the media will be guests of the state. Whereas the November 2022 event was the traditional annual converge of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), the more recent event was the Biennial Convention of the body. It holds every two years to produce new leadership for the Guild. This year’s edition was simultaneously deployed for the reappraisal of issues critical to popular governance. The event therefore had as its theme: “Post 2023 Election: Promoting Professionalism for Enhancement of Democracy and Good Governance.” Hope Uzodinma, Governor of the state, was chief host.

Aircraft after airplane landed on Thursday November 15, 2023 at the *Sam Mbakwe Airport,* located in Umuene Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala local government area of the state. They mostly conveyed enthusiastic delegates to the programme, from across the country. The quality, diversity and mammoth attendance Imo State in particular, and the South East. The exploits of criminal perverts masquerading as *unknown gunmen* and militias of the outlawed *Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB),* have collaborated to paint the South East of the country black in national consciousness. That very critical segment of the country has unwittingly been dubbed the axis of bonechilling killings, needless bloodletting, even barbaric savagery. The ride from the airport into the belly of Owerri cosmopolis was pretty smooth and uneventful. I engaged my driver in a conversation about developments in the state. The airport is a whistling ride of just about 20 minutes to Owerri and I grilled him about why that short distance cost N15,000. He attributed it to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

I missed the last conference of the Guild in that city, which doesn’t translate to my being a stranger to Owerri and indeed Imo State. I underwent the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps in the city between 1985 and 1986. The Owerri airport was still in gestation within the period and the singular occasion I accessed the city by air was through the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. I concluded my trip by riding in an airport cabby which took me through *Obinze* which hosts the *32 Field Artillery Brigade,* into Owerri. My one-year stint in Imo State, left me with sweet-savouring experiences worrying contemporary realities. Apart from demystifying stereotypes about subsisting postcivil war cannibalism and similar stories in our time, I met some of my best friends till date, from that NYSC year. I was quite adventurous too, never missing opportunities to visit *Oguta* and board the ferry across to *Awomama,* inhaling the soothing breeze of the lake.

Owerri had moulted considerably as I would

almost 40 years ago. I had to rely on my mental compass to identify sections of the Imo State capital with which I was hitherto very familiar. We had our four-week pre-primary assignment orientation at *Alvan Ikoku College of Education* on *Amakohia Road.* I was subsequently deployed to teach “Use of English” at the *College of Technology, Nekede.* Both institutions have been taken over by the federal government and summarily rechristened. I lived at *Ikenegbu Layout, MCC Road,* something of a highbrow the *Iwuanyanwu Stadium* being a soccer now an Assistant Inspector General, (AIG), I watched the games of the foremost football club in the state at the time, *Iwuanyanwu Nationale.*

That an election was in the air was evident as you stepped into the delegates’ accreditation venue of the event at the host facility,6 Rockview Hotel, Owerri. Back in time, the hotel used to be known as *Modotels* a part of a hospitality chain reportedly owned by Nigeria’s Second Republic Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, before the change of ownership and its concomitant change of name. Delegates

prospective voters. It was instructive that the polls into leadership positions in the Guild of Editors, was being taken so seriously.

Immediate past President of the Guild, Mustapha Isah welcomed delegates to the Convention. He noted that Imo State has host the annual conference and the biennial convention within months of each other. He expressed the collective gratitude of the Guild to Governor Hope Uzodinma who he noted is an authentic friend of the body. Justifying the theme of the convention, Isah noted that it was auspicious to appraise the performance of the media during the recent general elections. It is equally important, he said for the media to vis-a-vis their electoral pledges and promises during the electioneering.

Isah highlighted the myriad of tempests plaguing the media within the context of an underperforming economy. His words: “This convention is holding at a time the media in

Nigeria is facing enormous challenges. The cost of newsprint and broadcast equipment is prohibitive. The economy is underperforming making it impossible for media organisations to generate enough revenue from adverts and sales. I don’t even want to delve into the challenge posed by online media.” Isah alluded to federal government bailouts to some sectors of the economy which has not been extended to the media. He submitted that the media as a realm empowered to serve as watchdog to the establishment cannot be best of allies with the state. He enjoined the press to push back attempts at its asphyxiation and continue to perform its assigned responsibilities.

Host Governor, Uzodinma expressed the gratitude of the state to a preeminent body like the Nigerian Guild of Editors for preferring Imo State to other options, by scheduling two major events back to back, in Imo State. Owerri, he noted is the “hospitality capital of the South East.” He commended the Guild for courageously choosing a subject of common interest to all Nigerians such as the interrogation of reportage of the last elections. Said Uzodinma: “I’m impressed that you have chosen this path of self-examination which I consider germane in our collective bid to enhance good governance and strengthen our democracy.” According to Uzodinma, “while the media has the responsibility of holding addition encourage government through constructive criticism and well-intentioned suggestions on how things could be done Uzodinma used the opportunity to showcase the successes of his administration. A booklet titled *Imo State Is Looking Up In All Sectors* which contained his address, highlights highpoints of his administration. These include prompt payment of salaries and pensions, and the prosecution of a “prosperity agenda encapsulated in a three-dimensional pursuit of reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery” of the state.” He alluded to massive dualisation of roads in the state capital and across the three senatorial zones. Uzodinma also alluded to the ongoing dredging of Oguta Lake-Orashi River-Degema-Atlantic ocean mega project, which includes a river port. He noted that upon completion, the project will re-energise the economy of the South East.

It was dark when the day’s itinerary wound down. It was too late to begin to attempt a nighttime quest for our street-side *ugba,* *nkwobi,* *okporoko* and *angharan* joints of old. A feast of *isi-ewu* typically required “Bretton Woods stakeholder’s collaboration” between interested parties to fund, so it was an occasional indulgence. My accommodation was reserved at the *Immaculate Hotel* on the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road.

Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE)

Eno, Akwa Ibom governor, is a gentleman in the service of the poor, writes ANIETIE USEN

HOW NOT TO BENEFIT FROM YOUR CRIME JOSEF OMOROTIONMWAN argues the need to cleanse the electoral system of iniquities

Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom governor, is a gentleman in the service of the poor, writes

ANIETIE USEN

A GOVERNOR AND HIS FRIENDS

frenzy along the smooth, beautiful road from the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, my phone rang. The governor himself, the cynosure of attention, was on the line.

Your Excellency Sir”, I answered in a hurry.

“Please Sir, kindly go back to that bereaved out for me how the young children are coping with the double burial of their mother and father on the same day. Please give me a feedback as soon as possible”, the governor said with a depressed tone. “Okay Sir, consider it done, Your Excellency”, I replied, surprised and overwhelmed by his deep sense of melancholy.

convoy”, I ordered Abednego, my driver, as Austin my personal aide on the front seat, wondered aloud what could be the matter. “Take the next U-turn and let’s go back to the funeral venue where the governor just left”, I said.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, a known servant leader with the common touch had just returned from the Council of States meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja. In his company, in the Stateowned GulfStream Executive jet was the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, his deputy and other dignitaries. The governor who came to receive him, when he spotted a rural fruit market by the highway in Ekpene Ukim, Uruan LGA, a village in the precinct of the Airport. A dozen or so village women were selling fresh and roasted corn as well as assorted fruits harvested from their small nearby farms. The governor ordered the convoy to stop. Quickly he alighted from his Lexus LX 600 series, walked to the surprised women, chatted with them, laughed, bought some corn from each makeshift table, paid more than the value of what he bought before he gave out token money packed in envelopes to the jubilant women who besieged him to cheer and pour their love on him.

These struggling village women had never met a governor up-close before. Their joy knew no boundaries. It was clear this governor had made their day, as they jumped, screamed and turned ecstatic, some with their newborn babies in their hands and backs. As the governor stepped back to his car to leave, he noticed an ongoing funeral service next door to the street market. A husband and his wife, 43, were being buried. He walked up to the compound to console the bereaved family. He gave out a condolence purse in a white as the representative of the bereaved family. In a minute or two, he returned to his car looking sad and downcast by the sight of a relatively young couple buried on the same day.

Martha, the deceased woman being buried together with her husband, was one of the women selling roasted corn by the sidewalk of the highway. She had complained of stomach ache a few days before she died on January was inconsolable after the sudden death of poverty in Nigeria is poor health. This is and low life expectancy. Poor people in Nigeria face several health issues that lead to sudden deaths as they lack money and access would cure often results in death in many

poor homes and villages.

man, was lonely and hardly himself any longer after the death of Martha, his beloved wife. Feeding became a challenge. In any case, his appetite for food was hardly there any longer, even when his only child, Uduakobong, visited often with her husband 2023, about seven weeks after his wife died, leaves in the nearby family farm for the preparation of Afang soup by the daughter. He was found dead in the farm, with the Afang leaves tightly stuck to his hands.

Orphaned and left alone was their only child, Uduakong, 26, a dressmaker in Uyo. “My mother was nearly everything to me and to my father. She was not only my mother but my closest friend. Some people thought she was my sister because we looked alike so much, as she gave birth to me when she was a teenager” Uduakobong said. Narrating the circumstance of her death she said her mother complained of stomachache.

“We thought maybe it was ulcer pains since she sometimes ate late or once a day... Within one week the pains became too much for her and by the time I arrived the hospital with her, the doctor said she was already dead”, Uduakobong said, as she battled unsuccessfully to hold back her tears.

To make matters worse, Uduakobong’s father followed suit in a matter of weeks. “I was with my father the day before he died. There was no sign of any serious illness. He had gradually recovered from the shock of my mother’s demise. I normally come in for him. I was supposed to cook soup for him the next day and he went to the family farm to pluck some Afang leaves...That is where my father was found dead in the farm…I was devastated...It took the grace of God for me to overcome the pains of losing my wonderful parents within a few weeks...I couldn’t bear it...My father used to help my mother to roast corn by the roadside... I loved them so much and they were very proud of me as their only child...We did not even have the money to bury them and had to take a loan...But God honoured my parents and brought the State governor and all the big men and women in Akwa Ibom State to the burial without any invitation...The envelope the governor gave us was big enough to pay back some debts...This is a miracle from the God of The Apostolic Church, where my parents worshipped faithfully...That same God will never fail nor forsake Governor Umo Eno. Where have you heard that type of miracle before...”, Uduakobong said, with her jobless husband, David, a graduate of Business Administration who championed the burial, by her side.

Usen

is a Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor

JOSEF OMOROTIONMWAN argues the need to cleanse the electoral system of iniquities

HOW NOT TO BENEFIT FROM YOUR CRIME

From very early in life, attempts were made to inculcate in us, some virtues of life. Our parents maintained that the commission your crime was worse; and ruining others and the rest of society with your crime was worst.

Quite often, my late Uncle J.E. Igbinedion practiced his patois Latin on us: at the least prompting, he parroted, “Nullus Commodum Capere Potest De Injuria Sua Propria”, which, according to him, was a Common Law dictum his atrocities.

We soon began to discover by ourselves that the opposite is the case in Nigeria. This is one country that is truly a throwback to atavism.

Contrary to all the instructions in our formative years at home and the lessons in our catechism classes at school, Nigeria has shown that in the political arena, crime commission has become very attractive and its proceeds have more often been used to drag the entire society down.

tenure. That was the original position until quite recently when some changes were introduced into the equation in the case of governorship elections.

The elections to the Constituent Assembly of the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida years were conducted at the end of 1987. In the particular case of the election in Yenagoa Federal Constituency of then Rivers State, there were winners - defacto and dejure. The assembly was inaugurated in February 1988. Before then, one contestant dragged the declared winner in the Yenagoa case to court. We concluded proceedings by March 1989, and we were crossing the “t’s” and dotting the “i’s” on the eve of our departure from Abuja, when a man walked into the hall, waving court papers, and claiming to have won the Yenagoa Case. Apparently, he had driven all night to get to Abuja. He looked weather-beaten and more like a mental case. He looked helpless and stayed there until the Sergeant-At-Arms came to remove him. End of case.

We have insisted, perhaps with monotonous regularity, that the nebulous Constituency Project is a constitutional aberration. A situation where, directly or indirectly, money is put in the hands of a legislator for the purpose of providing pepper grinding machines that do not work, refurbished motorcycles, bore holes that hardly work beyond the day of commissioning, scattered all over the placeall for your political supporters and at billions of Naira to the taxpayer, cannot pass for anything but an open daylight robbery.

Apart from being an open fraud on the taxpayer, it is also a poor imitation of a criminal encroachment into the functions of the Executive branch. The Constituency Projects that eat up Trillions of Naira of our annual appropriations simply succeed in making nonsense of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers enshrined in our nation’s constitution.

Another serious evil plaguing our society today is the theft of elections. We wish to have free, fair and credible elections. But in an Election Year, some politicians work very hard to steal your hard-earned victories.

The latter category employs all the unfair measures to achieve their goal. They shoot, maim and kill opponents and in a bravado style, they snatch the electoral success, and ask you to go to court.

You proceed to the court and face a slow process that drags on almost forever. If you are lucky, you may be declared the rightful winner toward the end of the tenure and in some cases, after the tenure has ended.

After the decision of the highest court in your particular case and you have been declared the rightful winner, the usurper is asked to go home and steal no more.

Meanwhile, he has enjoyed, free of charge, a substantial part of the tenure, and you, the rightful winner, so-called, would have to just complete the few months and days left in the

Mr. Peter Obi was one of the contestants for the governorship of Anambra State in 2003. He won but Dr. Chris Ngige was declared winner instead. Obi went to court and the case dragged on for three and a half years, before he could reclaim the mandate. Obi was on his way to go and serve out the remaining six months of that tenure when it occurred to him that his tenure was four years, not six months. He headed back to court to determine that question and he won. That was the now have in many states of the country. That’s the situation we now have in Imo, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states, etc.

Our major concern here is that the Governors who falsely occupied those no more.

While their cases lasted, they enjoyed winner borrowed and struggled to stay and the State. The moral message we leave here is that crime pays. We make crime more attractive by encouraging the criminals and not penalising them.

The rate of recidivism will continue to remain high.

As a deterrence to election thievery, one is impelled to suggest that politicians who to refund all the perquisites they enjoyed

Like other measures, this soon collapses at the door-steps of enforcement.

We must therefore seek radical ways of removing this national shame from ourselves. From the experience of other democratic climes, the time has come to prune down the levels of our electoral cases shall begin and end at the SUPREME COURT. We are no longer excited by all that circus that goes on in the lower courts which add no value whatsoever to the entire process.

Secondly, all the gubernatorial and legislative election cases shall begin and end at the APPEAL COURT. There shall be no elections petitions tribunals, which in essence are mere tax-guzzling parasites.

Omorotionmwan

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ISSUES IN THE ABUJA ESTATE FLOODING

Regulators should be held to account

WTo the extent that our national capital should showcase the best in us as people living in a 21st century world, we are all diminished when repeated cases of flooding and sundry environmental challenges are encountered here as an annual event

Letters to the Editor

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

LETTERS

Eid-Kabir: Consumers Face Hardship as Transportation, Food Prices Hit Rooftop

Raheem Akingbolu

The 2023 commemoration of the annual Eid-Kabir has left a sour taste in the consciousness of millions of Nigerian consumers as a result of the high price of transportation, food items and livestock, which are essentially used in the celebration of any festival.

This year’s edition was heralded by a period of rising cost of goods, prompted by fluctuating foreign exchange, removal of fuel subsidy and government transition, which has left many organizations unsettled.

According to THISDAY survey,

most consumers have altered their consumption pattern in line with a workable scale of preference. Meanwhile, the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services, rose to 22.41 per cent in May 2023, while the food inflation rate in May 2023 was 24.82 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

At various ram and pepper markets visited by our correspondent in Lagos on the eve of the Eid day, consumers expressed their displeasure at the rate prices of commodities and transportation rise as a result of the removal of

fuel subsidy. However, there is a decline in the price of cooking gas, which has become a succor to many households.

A ram seller at Asade Market, Mangoro, Agege Lagos, Alhaji Muhamadu Anka, said price hike became necessary due to various factors affecting the business.

“I know how my customers feel this year but I’m helpless. The unexpected removal of fuel subsidy, which necessitated over 200 per cent on the price of fuel has become a big challenge as everybody has to factor it in. That is why the size of ram that would be sold for N50,000 in 2021 is being sold for between N100,000 and N200,000

this year. Years back, perhaps it was a cow that would attract as much as between N300,000 and N450,000 but this year, I have sold a N300,000 worth of ram and I have seen colleagues who sold the ones that were higher than that,” he said.

A civil servant with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Mrs. Funmi Ogbe, though a Christian, argued that all Nigerian consumers are currently feeling the pain of the subsidy removal. She said: “Prices of food items are no longer within the reach of the common man. I understand the Muslims will feel it more now

because they are buying in bulk but the truth is that everybody is affected. We should not forget that the prices of some commodities like imported rice, yam and other items are still on the increase as of May 29 when the new administration took off. The oil subsidy removal was like pouring petrol on an existing fire, you can imagine the outcome. My only solace is the hope of the long term benefits of the subsidy removal.”

Though drivers of commercial vehicles complain of low turnout at various parks, passengers interviewed, shared their anguish in the midst of the hike in price of transportation.

At Iyana Ipaja park, Mallam Tiamiyu Sodehinde, said he had to tell his wife and children to remain in Lagos while he traveled to Ijebu for Salah.

He said: “This is the first time in long years that my family will remain in Lagos and I will travel home alone. It’s not economical to travel with my family now because of the high price of transportation but I have to go to attend our family meeting. With what I have seen and heard from neighbours in the last three days, the removal of fuel subsidies would further hinder others from joining their families for the joyous occasion of Eid.”

YNV: Outsourcing Services with Deep Tech Skills Will Enhance Organisational

Emma

Okonji

Following the rise in the demand for digital technology skills at work place, coupled with the need for organisations to concentrate on their core values, YNV Tech Talent, a leading provider of tech, cybersecurity, and digital skilling solutions across the world, has said outsourcing remains the best option for organisations to adopt in order to become efficient and competitive.

The collective services of Tek

Efficiency, Global Economy Growth

Experts, elev8 and Cytek, under the YNV Tech Talent brand, has helped the company to play big in outsourcing business and to provide support to businesses in over 100 countries in deep technical skills.

Giving insight into the company’s global operations since it was established five years ago in Nigeria, the Country Manager of Tek Experts Nigeria, Mr. Olugbolahan Olusanya, said lots of Nigerians have been sourced after by Tek Experts and trained

by elev8 to provide deep technical support services to organisations within and outside of |Nigeria.

He said outsourcing as a business, would enhance organisational efficiency and drive global economy growth.

Industry statistics show that Information Technology (IT) outsourcing service is leading in Nigeria with 28 per cent, followed by Human Resource service with 16 per cent, Sales and Marketing services with 15 per cent, Financials

with 11 per cent, Administrative services with nine per cent, while other services put together, are leading with 22 per cent.

Speaking about the challenges of downtime in organisations, and how outsourcing had in the past, helped organisations to address difficult challenges, Olusanya told journalists on Tuesday in Lagos that the outsourcing business offered by YNV Tech Talent, allowed them to concentrate on their core values of service delivery.

“We understand what best practice is, and we manage the critical aspect of business for organisations, end-to-end solutions and provide advisory. Big organisations like Microsoft understand the power of outsourcing and Microsoft is currently outsourcing most of its operations to face its core value of software product development, innovation and creativity. Outsourcing will continue to grow big globally as technology evolves. Nigeria is a country with high rate of

MARKET DATA AS AT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023

unemployed graduates. Working with the Nigerian government, the unemployed graduate could be trained to effectively handle outsourcing for companies within and outside of Nigeria. What government needs do is to create the enabling environment for outsourcing business to thrive in Nigeria,” Olusanya said. Addressing the issue of tech skills gap in Nigeria, Olusanya

YNV: OUTSOURCING SERVICES WITH DEEP TECH SKILLS WILL ENHANCE

said: “The tech talent gap is a major challenge facing organisations in Nigeria. According to SAP research, 80 per cent of Nigerian companies expect to experience skills gap in the next year. This challenge is a major blocker for businesses to be able to grow.

“We are committed to helping Nigerians develop the skills they need to succeed in the global

workforce. Elev8 partners with the government, enterprises, and universities to provide unique opportunities for Nigerians to gain the skills and experience they need to begin and grow their career in the tech industry.

By having Tek Experts, elev8, and Cytek under the YNV Tech Talent brand, we can seamlessly help businesses to bridge the gap

between talent and opportunity, skill the current workforce and provide solutions to protect them from cyber attacks.”

Speaking about its expanded services, designed to provide a more comprehensive package for customers, Olusanya explained that the collective services of Tek Experts, elev8 and Cytek, would revolutionise and impact

the Nigerian IT market by bridging the tech talent and digital skill gaps whilst creating more comprehensive end-to-end IT talent solutions to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.

Head, Executive Business Development at Tek Experts, Mr. Wale Adeyemi, said: “With an existing footprint in Nigeria, Tek Experts’ global expertise in

IT talent sourcing and managed services, combined with elev8’s deep understanding of the local Nigerian market to empower workforces with innovative live and virtual instructor-led and self-paced training solutions will further drive digital transformation in Nigeria.”

The company continues to expand its locations and solutions

and aims to provide a more positive impact in the communities in which it operates. The company does this through partnerships that skill, re-skill, and up-skill talent whilst retaining such talent in the country by creating opportunities for around the globe, hence promoting the value of Nigerian talent globally, Adeyemi further said.

eGov Foundation, Compliance Professionals Set to Enhance Governance in Nigeria

Emma

Okonji

The eGov Foundation and Compliance Professionals Plc have partnered to improve governance in Nigeria through open digital public infrastructure deployments. eGov Foundation is a not-forprofit organisation that improves the ease of living for people through ensuring effective service delivery and good governance, while

Compliance Professionals Plc (CPP Limited) is a subsidiary of Compliance Professionals Plc Group (CPP Group) that helps individuals, organisations and states achieve peak performance while complying with local and

international laws and regulations.

The partnership is expected to facilitate the deployment of eGov Foundation’s DIGIT platform in Nigeria with the goal of promoting e-governance, ensuring statutory compliance, optimising revenue generation, and improving government performance.

DIGIT is an open, interoperable, free-to-use platform that offers solutions for citizens, first-mile employees, administrators, commercial players and policymakers. DIGIT uses a building block and shared data registries approach that ensures it can be reused, repurposed and extended to new sectors to solve

pressing problems. DIGIT has been adopted in 1500 cities and over 14000 villages in India with

over 250 million citizens served.

CEO, eGov Foundation, Viraj Tyagi, said: “We are excited

FG, MTNF, Others Call for Collaboration against Drug Abuse

Emma Okonji

The federal government has called on individuals and various organisations to join hands with the nation in the fight against drug abuse.

This was made known by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume on Monday, at the MTN Anti Substance Abuse

stakeholders conference held in commemoration of the World Drug Day at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

In his speech, the President said: “I implore everyone, from the religious leaders to traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, civil society leaders, well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with the government in fighting this scourge. We must come together to create a drug free nation where individuals

can thrive and reach their full potential.

“It is crucial we educate ourselves and others on the dangers of drug abuse and the need to stop stigma and discrimination. We must empower our youths with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their lives and provide them the resources they need to avoid falling victims to drug abuse.”

In his response, Chairman

and Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa said: “NDLEA remains committed to the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. We have intensified our operations, expanded our intelligence networks and collaborated with local and international partners to dismantle drug cartels, seize illicit drugs and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Eagle Schnapps Leverages Culture, Prayer in New Campaign

Raheem Akingbolu

As part of its commitment to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage and belief in prayer, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps has unveiled a new campaign themed: “Journey with authentic prayers,” to further connect with the market.

Speaking in Lagos at its unveiling, Managing Director of Intercontinental Distillers Limited (IDL), Chief Patrick Anegbe, said the campaign was launched to

remind Nigerians of the age-long cultural value of hard work and prayers, especially against the backdrop of current realities.

“You may recall not too long ago we invited you to witness the rebirth of the Eagle and like the eagle bird, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps has been rejuvenated, coming in a trendy sleek bottle and majestic new pack. Since the re-launch, there have been positive reviews and wide acceptance from the market.

“Today, we embark on a new journey with the authentic prayer drink, to inspire and to bring hope to our target audience with our new initiative. From generation to generation, our elders have passed on a recipe for success. The ingredients they say are — hard work, prayer and belief,” Anegbe said The company’s Head of Marketing, Mobolaji Alalade, said the initiative was a follow-up to the relaunch of the brand, which

was recently repackaged.

“After a wide acceptance of our new look Eagle Aromatic Schnapps by our consumers, we unveil an exciting initiative, themed: ‘Journey with Authentic Prayers’, which aims to change the way the target audience interacts with the brand. As part of the campaign, Eagles Aromatic Schnapps will embark on a market campaign, spanning multiple cities and regions in Nigeria,” he said.

about the digital transformation possibilities in Nigeria leveraging the DIGIT platform. We will facilitate this by providing the necessary support, documentation, and knowledge.”

Managing Partner, Compliance Professionals, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, said: “Compliance Professionals Plc will drive the transformative and institutional change required by government bodies in adopting DIGIT Platform for effective e-governance. It is our belief that this partnership will foster a strong bond between eGov Foundation and Compliance Professionals Plc, and meet the common goal of improving governance in Nigeria, Okauru

further said.

“It is often said that the economic growth of a country is significantly impacted when exposed to indicators of bad governance. However, different indicators influence the degree of impact. A lack of regulatory policies and frameworks, government’s ineffectiveness, lack of control on corruption, unaccountability, lack of transparency and compliance with the laws of the country have always been linked to poor economic growth and development. The DIGIT Platform will aid the effective functioning of government bodies and also promote e-governance.”

Consumers Commend Terra Cubes Unwav ering Price

Terra Seasoning Cube, renowned for its superior quality that elevates taste and flavour in dishes, continues to captivate its ever-expanding consumer base with its resolute consistency in pricing, defying the challenges posed by current inflationary trends and the escalating costs of foodstuff.

In a world where market fluctuations and inflation have become the new normal, leaving many brands to resort to desperate measures like compromising on quality or increasing price in a bid to offset costs, Terra Seasoning Cube has astutely recognized the significance of stabilizing the price of its product for its consumers.

Across all Terra Cubes variants of Chicken, Beef, Shrimp and Jollof Cubes, consumers are relieved that their cherished Terra Seasoning Cubes can still be purchased at the familiar price points of N50, N100, N200, and N500.

A devoted homemaker, Mrs. Eniye Jones, shares her relief and satisfaction in purchasing her beloved Terra Seasoning Cubes at prices she has grown accustomed to.

“I am delighted that brands like Terra Seasoning Cube allow me to meticulously plan my

monthly home-keeping budget, unlike other unpredictable brands that randomly raise prices with each market visit. Ever since my encounter with this extraordinary product about 2 years ago, I have continued to purchase my tasteful Terra Seasoning Cubes at the prices I’ve grown accustomed to,” she stated with heartfelt satisfaction

Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, Probal Bhattacharya stated that price consistency is a crucial aspect of the brand’s commitment to customer satisfaction.

“Across departmental stores, supermarkets, neighbourhood shops and open markets, we have ensured that for Terra Cubes the prices will remain the same. Our commitment to maintaining prices not only simplifies the purchasing experience but also cultivates enduring trust amongst our valued consumers,” he stated.

Deepanjan Roy, Group Executive Director – TGI said “We understand the challenges faced by consumers when it comes to budgeting for their meals and delicacies. By providing a consistent pricing model for our seasoning cubes, we aim to empower our consumers and enhance their culinary experiences.”

Okauru Tyagi

A Fitting United Nations Honour For Princess Orelope-Adefulire

The United Nations on Tuesday, June 20 conferred SDGs Champions award on the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, amidst praises from development partners and stakeholders.

The award was conferred on the former presidential adviser at an event held at UN House, Abuja, presided over by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mathias Schmale, in recognition of her ground-breaking achievements as supervisory head of SDGs implementing office in Nigeria since 2016.

Schmale, who hosted the event, teed off the accolades for Princess Orelope-Adefulire as he described her as an achiever and barrier breaker whose achievements as head of Nigeria’s SDGs office will be difficult to match.

“Your firm belief that the Sustainable Development Goals are for everyone everywhere, is a constant reminder that Agenda 2030 is neither for just one part of the country, nor for just one group of people.” Schmale noted.

Speaking in the same vein, UN Deputy Resident Representatives, Programmes, Lealem Berhanu Dinku who represented the UNDP Resident Representative Mohamed Yahya, noted that Nigeria made remarkable breakthroughs in the implementation of SDGs under Orelope-Adefulire leadership of OSSAP-SDGs.

According to him, efforts of Princess OrelopeAdefulire led to the country’s six geopolitical zones feeling SDGs impact in measures hitherto unknown.

Dinku added that the former SSAP-SDGs made significant strides in several SDGs fronts, citing the impressive collaborations and integration processes she initiated that resulted in such landmark accomplishments as the Integrated National Financial Framework, INFF, the Integrated SDG Simulation model otherwise known as the iSDG Nigeria Model among others.

“Your unwavering support for the SDG-aligned states development plans across 15 states, is truly commendable. By assisting these states in integrating the SDGs into their development agenda, you have demonstrated your commitment to ensuring the localization of the goals and fostering grass root progress towards sustainable development. Dinku stated.

“Your tireless advocacy for improved access to quality education, poverty alleviation, gender equality, sustainable energy, health and sustainable urban development has positively impacted the lives of countless Nigerians. “Your achievements serve as an inspiration to all, highlighting the power of dedicated individuals in driving sustainable development,” Dinku said, adding that the UN feels proud to have collaborated with the former SSAP-SDGs in the pursuit of a shared goals.

“At UNDP, we are honoured to have collaborated with you and the OSSAP-SDGs in pursuit of our shared goals. We applaud your outstanding contributions and look forward to continuing our partnership to accelerate progress towards the SDGs in Nigeria.”

The biggest accolade came from the First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, who was represented at the occasion by the APC national women leader, Bertha Edu, harped on the quality of Princess Adefulire’s character which she said was manifested in all the public offices she has held and her performances therefrom.

She noted that as the first female member of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and later Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Orelope-Adefulire concern for both women and the girl child was self-evident. During the period, the First Lady noted, she initiated the Domestic Violence Bill, which became a law in Lagos and has since been domesticated in other federating states.

“She is a great personality with a proven track record of transcendence and real time governance. Princess Orelope-Adefuire has diligently served Nigeria in many fronts and capacities, making invaluable contributions for the good of the society.”

The First Lady also stressed that Princess Orelope-Adefulire has demonstrated her commitment to the welfare of maternal and child health, poverty eradication even before her appointment as the head of the country’s SDGs Office, where she also excelled, a reason for which she is being celebrated.

“I thank the UN and the orgnisers of this award for finding it imperative to reward performance and dedication. This will go a long way in instilling sense of duty and encourage more people in their services to the nation, to give their best“, said the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Apparently overwhelmed with the adulation, PrincessOrelope-Adefulire,whowasaccompanied to the event by her husband, Chief Abiodun Adefulire, thanked the UN for giving her the award, not forgetting to also give credit to former President, Muhammadu Buhari, whom she said, gave her the opportunity to serve as his SSA on SDGs.

“I would like to use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, former President, for the opportunity to serve as SSAP-SDGs.”

She also paid tribute to the contributions of her team which she referred to as the SDGs family, the real engine room for the humble success she recorded. Not done, she singled out her husband, whom she described as the best husband in the whole world and one who stood as her backbone and pillar of support over the years.

In particular, she urged the UN to continue to assist and collaborate with the OSSAP-SDGs even more than the way it collaborated with her.

“Let me begin by thanking GodAlmighty for a day like this and the gift of life. It is difficult to express my feelings in spoken words. I am elated to stand here today as a recipient of the 2023 United Nations SDGs Champions’ Award from the United Nations’ system in Nigeria. This is a significant and momentous occasion in my life and that of my family. I am deeply honoured by the recognition of my modest contribution to the 2030Agenda for sustainable development,” she urged.

“Inacceptingthisawardtoday,letmeplaceon record my profound appreciation to the United Nations Country team, under the leadership of His Excellency, Mathias Schmale, for the commitment and tremendous support towards the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria.

Together, we have made significant progress in our collective desire to achieve the SDGs and leave no Nigerian behind,” she added.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, former First Lady, Aisha Buhari and Head of Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, were represented at the event and showered encomiums on the former presidential aide.

As the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has been instrumental in driving Nigeria’s remarkable

progress in the implementation of the SDGs. Her unwavering commitment and visionary leadership have positioned Nigeria as a global leader in sustainable development.

One of her key achievements is championing global recognition for Nigeria’s efforts in achieving the SDGs. Under her guidance, Nigeria successfully conducted country-led evaluations of SDG-3 on quality health and well-being for all and SDG-4 on qualitative and inclusive education and lifelong learning for all. This milestone makes Nigeria the first country in the Global South to conduct independent SDG policy evaluations, showcasing Nigeria’s dedication to evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development.

She played a pivotal role in the launch of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) globally, which maps out a sustainable financing plan to ensure Nigeria’s commitment to the SDGs is met.

Her leadership has also extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. She spearheaded Nigeria’s sponsorship of United Nations resolution A/77/L.64 on Strengthening Voluntary National Reviews through Country-led Evaluation. This resolution received support from twenty-four countries, including Russia, China, Jamaica, Senegal, and South Africa, further highlighting Nigeria’s influence and commitment to promoting robust evaluation mechanisms for monitoring SDGs progress worldwide.

Her strategic vision, collaborative partnerships, and innovative initiatives have positioned Nigeria as a trailblazer in the SDGs implementation journey.

On assumption of Office, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire immediately hit the ground running by ensuring that the required institutional frameworks were properly put in place for the effective implementation of the Goals.

These include a Presidential Council for the SDGs inaugurated by the President to provide high-level policy guidance and leadership as well as direction on the implementation. She also championed the setting up of the Private Sector Advisory Group, the Donors Partnership Forum and the Civil Society Strategy Group as key partners in the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria.

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire led Nigeria to present two Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development; first in 2017 and later in 2020 when the Nigerian team defied the COVID-19 challenges to present the second Voluntary National Review (VNR).

Under her leadership, OSSAP-SDGs also took steps to mainstream the 2030 Agenda into national, sub-national and sectoral poli-

cies, development plans and budgets as against embarking on standalone projects, which lack sustainable characters.

She has championed a massive investment and implementation of key intervention projects in a bid to fast-track the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria, while also ensuring that no one is left behind. The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs under her leadership embarked on several strategic interventions across the 36 states and the FCT. Between 2017 and 2022, her Office constructed and furnished over 9,000 Blocks of Classrooms; Constructed and equipped 66 Skill Acquisition Centres; and supplied 7,464 specialized Hospital Beds to different Hospitals across the country. Similarly, the Office has completed or about to complete the construction and equipping of a total of 43 units of 120 or 100 Beds Mother and Child Hospital (MCC); 27 units of 80 Beds Ultra-Modern Hospitals; and 195 number Primary Healthcare Centres across the country among other numerous projects.

For her outstanding service in public office which has spanned over 30 years, Princess Orelope-Adefulire has received several awards locally and internationally including the conferment of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 as well as the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award in 2023. She was awarded the International Public Servant of the Year Award in 2007 by the Scottish Widows - a UK-based Non-Governmental Organization and bagged the Lagos State Person of the Year Award in 2009. She received the Daisey George Award 2010 in USA, as an advocate of children’s protection and development.

In 2018, she was honoured by the International Women’s Society (IWS) in recognition of her efforts at empowering and defending the rights of women, youth and children. Similarly, in recognition of her contributions towards the attainment of SDGs 8 and 10 in Nigeria, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Global Membership Platform of the Association of Business Executives (ABE) United Kingdom in May 2019 and received the CSR and Sustainability Champions Award from SERAS CSR Awards Africa in 2018. She is also a recipient of the Guinness World Records for the most children reading aloud with an adult at a single location, which she achieved while reading with 4,222 school children in 2011.

Princess Orelope-Adefulire holds an Honorary Doctor of Arts (Poverty Alleviation and Technology Incubation) from the Lagos State University (LASU). The conferment of the SDGs Champion Awards by the United Nations is therefore the latest of the numerous feathers that are fitting perfectly on her cap.

L-R: Representative of the First Lady and APC National Women Leaders, Bertha Edu, UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, Mathias Schmale, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Chief Abiodun Adefulire and the conferment of SDGs Champions Award at the UN House in Abuja recently

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Dr . Monisola Adanijo: Promoting Edible Oil for Healthy Hearts

The Co-Founder and Chief Medical Director of Naveen Healthcare & Naveen Technology Services in Lagos, Dr MonisolaAdanijo, has built her pathway in medicine and cardiology in the public sector. With over two decades of medical experience, her bubbling passion for preventive cardiology led to the Naveen Healthcare 10,000 Hearts Project to help individuals detect, protect, and correct cardiovascular diseases and help improve staff health and productivity. In this virtual Q&Awith REBECCA EJIFOMA, the cardiologist encouraged more consumption of edible and safe oil for healthy hearts and the need for health regulators to formulate policies that will improve the production of functionally efficient edible oils against unhealthy and potentially unsafe cooking oils in the country.

There have been renewed calls for more functionally efficient staple foods in diets. How necessary is it in Nigeria?

“Functionally efficient food” means food/ ingredients that offer health benefits beyond their nutritional value. This valueincludes foods/ingredients fortified with vitamins and minerals. It is crucial to consume a balanced diet of all nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, fat (oil), minerals and vitamins.

Every food we eat must be food that heals, repairs or builds. Our diet must consist of food that offers added nutritional benefits. We cook most of our meals in Nigeria with oil. Hence, the oil we choose to cook with must have a positive effect on our health.

As a cardiologist, what are your views on more functionally efficient staple foods, especially those related to heart health?

It is better to consume more functionally efficient foods because they contain nutrients essential for heart health. The best cooking oils for the heart are those that have more “poly and monounsaturated fatty acids” than “saturated fatty acids” (which can predispose to heart disease).

Cooking oil, apart from giving our food flavour, also supplies the body with Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids fundamental for heart health. Some oils are also fortified with Vitamin A. Vitamin A is vital for eye health, building strong immunity and well-functioning reproductive systems. Vitamin D provides for healthy bones and skeletal systems and more.

Salt, apart from flavouring our meals, supplies the body with electrolytes and minerals like Iodine, which is essential in manufacturing thyroid hormones: which in turn affect the functions of body organs, including the heart.

We should avoid foods with no added benefits to health – like simple sugars. It is, however, important to note that we must eat heart-healthy foods/ingredients in moderation. Excessive consumption may have the opposite effect.

What is your take on a policy to encourage the consumption of more functionally efficient staple food?

All over the world, government agencies continuously regulate the food their citizens consume. This regulation is based on scientific and evidence-based research on nutritional value, safety, and effects of food/food products on the health of every member of their population.

Nigeria is no different. Our regulators, in conjunction with healthcare practitioners and stakeholders, need to develop, review, and monitor adherence to a robust food/ food products/ingredient policy for the well-being of all of us.

An indispensable part of the Nigerian diet today is edible oil because of its varied use across all classes of people. What is the impact of oil on our foods, and how can we consume functionally better oils?

There are different types of oils Nigerians use for cooking. The most prominent are vegetable oil and palm oil. Oils, in

general, are made up of fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids promote elevated blood cholesterol, “atherosclerosis and plaque formation” in our arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood supply to vital organs.

Unsaturated fatty acids reduce cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation and are generally good for the heart. Oils that contain these unsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) are preferred by Cardiologists. A readily available “heart-friendly” oil in the Nigerian market is Soya oil. These oils also contain Vitamins A, D, & E, which are also good for the heart and general health.

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls.

How can public enlightenment increase the level of awareness of the health benefits of edible oils that are functional and more nutritious?

Education and public enlightenment are vital in promoting good health practices among the population, especially when making the best food/ingredient choices. If people know better, they do better. Unfortunately, some assume these heart-friendly oils are “too expensive” or are for a “certain class of people”. This belief makes them choose oils they believe are cheaper. They are

short-term but will predispose to heart and other diseases, with long-term use of these unhealthy oils.

Our health agencies/regulators need to make mass education on nutrition and the effects of choosing the best cooking ingredients for their overall health. This enlightenment is best done via media outlets, influencers and opinion leaders in the health and wellness space.

What other parameters should consumers look out for when choosing edible oil?

When choosing cooking oil, it’s essential to look for the following: is it solid at room temperature? Oils that congeal at room temperature have a high amount of sat urated fatty acids or trans-fat. Heart-friendly oil will not congeal at room temperature. Even if it doesn’t congeal at room temperature, how much saturated fatty acid does it contain?

Heart-healthy oils should have less than 35 per cent saturated fat and more than 50 per cent unsaturated fat.

Ask these questions: Does the oil contain Omega 3/6 fatty acids? Is it fortified with added Vitamins like A, E and D? Is it readily available and affordable?

Most heart-friendly oils like Soya oil and Olive oil meet these criteria. Soya oil is high in polyunsaturated fats, particularly omega-6 fatty acids. This acid may help to lower cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and improve brain function and development. It also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that may help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals and improve overall skin health and may help to improve immune function.

Apart from polyunsaturated fats, Olive oil is also high in monounsaturated fats, which reduce systemic inflammation. It also contains antioxidants, lowers cholesterol levels and may help reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease and some cancers.

Could you cite global examples of a shift to better oils derived from superior productionand consumer education?

An example of heart-friendly oil is Soya bean oil. It is one of the most used edible oils in the world. There has been a shift towards increased consumer education and better production in many countries I shall list.

Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers of soya oil. There has been a significant shift towards sustainable soybean production in the country.

In Europe, there has also been a rising interest in sustainable soya oil production. The European Union has introduced regulations that require food manufacturers to use sustainable soya oil.

In the US, there has been a growing interest in “high oleic” soya oil, a healthier and more sustainable alternative to traditional soybean oil.

In Nigeria, there has been a shift towards soya oil in recent years due to concerns about the health impacts of consuming large amounts of palm oil.

In South Africa, there has been a growing interest in soybean oil in recent years. Egypt is one of the largest consumers of vegetable oils in the Middle East, and there has been an increasing interest in soybean oil in recent years. Egyptian consumers, like their counterparts worldwide, have become more aware of the health benefits of soybean oil, such as its high levels of unsaturated fats and vitamin E.

What is the role of regulators in increasing the use of functionally efficient edible oils?

Beyond policy formulation, there can be mass sensitization to highlight qualities consumers should look out for when choosing edible oil.

Our health regulators must formulate policies to improve the production of functionally efficient edible oils. There also must be a deliberate effort to grow the plants and produce these oils to make them readily available and more affordable than their imported counterparts.

Education of the population on the benefits of these oils is critical through television, radio and newspaper ads, jingles and articles, peer-to-peer teaching, and social media campaigns using influencers. Thought leader opinion pieces and healthcare professionals’ education cannot be overemphasized. There should also be legislation to ban the importation, production, and use of unhealthy and potentially unsafe cooking oils in our country.

Dr. Monisola Adanijo

Kelina Hospital Celebrates 250th Noninvasive Prostate Surgeries in Nigeria at 15

Rebecca Ejifoma

Kelina Hospital, a surgical health facility, is raising the bar in the nation’s healthcare system. Just at its 15th anniversary, the clinic is basking in the moment of recording 250 successful prostate surgeries using the advanced and non-invasive Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) procedure to reduce kidney damage, kidney failures and other life-threatening complications.

The Chief Medical Director of Kelina Hospital, Dr Celsus Undie, remarked on this during a media parley in Victoria Island Lagos.

According to the CMD, they have successfully carried out 250 HoLEP surgeries for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, a non-cancerous prostate

gland enlargement that can obstruct urine, cause damage to the kidney, and other lifethreatening complications.

While noting that the HoLEP procedure is used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, Undie said that benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate, is an ageassociated condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged, not cancerous.

His words: “The enlarged prostate may block or slow the passage of urine from the urethra, thereby causing damage to the kidney, kidney failure, bladder stones or other complications.”

He explained that about 20 per cent of men would develop benign prostatic hyperplasia in their 50s while increasing to 70 per cent by the time they reach 70 years of age.

Although Undie insisted that HoLEP is the most common surgery done in the facility, he said that the type of prostates seen in Nigeria is enormous. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is not the best procedure for them.

According to the CMD, TURP cannot remove enough prostate, and the patients may need to return to the theatre in the future and also have to be on a catheter for longer times after the procedure.

He, however, described TURP as a surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate. At the same time, HoLEP is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a laser to remove tissue blocking urine flow through the prostate.

Postpartum Endometritis (Part 2)

L-R: Managing Director UPS, Michael Umoh; General Manager Bwosi Nigeria, Mr Imana John; Africa Network Manager, Marken, Mr Jean Luc Tabiou; MD/CEO Bwosi Group, Mr Rogers Bwosi and MD, UPS Foundation, Bassey Anari, during the Grand opening of Marken Nigeria in Lagos recently

Marken Strengthens Clinical Logistics in Nigeria

Mary Nnah

Marken, the clinical subsidiary of UPS Healthcare, has opened its first business office in Nigeria.

As the clinical subsidiary of UPS Healthcare, Marken provides a best-in-class quality management system, clinical and commercial cell and gene supply chain solutions, a global GMP depot network, direct-to/from-patient, home healthcare nursing services and industry-leading expertise all under one roof.

With a presence in over 220 countries, Marken added the Nigerian office to its growing chain of operations recently with a promise to go beyond to connect patients with new

medicines, believing that when you truly go beyond, change becomes natural.

The new Nigerian office is located in Isolo, close to the Lagos International Airport.

Speaking on Marken’s ability to lead in clinical logistics in the country, Africa Network Manager, Marken, Jean-Luc Tabiou said, “We are driven by our passion for patients, Marken’s unique position within the biopharma and life sciences industry is unparalleled.

“We remain at the forefront of logistics innovation to bring new scientific discoveries to patients around the world. As a trusted partner, we take your trial from clinical to commercial and beyond with

our unique, ever-evolving portfolio of supply chain solutions,” he added.

Tabiou, who spoke about the importance of the Nigerian market to his organisation, explained that “the Nigerian market is a very big market, by 2050, Africa will be the most populous country in the world, but currently Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa because where there is life there are people and where there are people there is need for people to receive the treatment.

“ So, this market is very important because we can’t develop our footprint on the continent without considering Nigeria”.

Okhma Global, Abchealth Partner to Boost Access to Healthcare, Wellness

Mary Nnah

Okhma Global and African Business Coalition for Health (ABCHealth) have signed a partnership to develop the ‘Made to Live Africa Expo 2023’.

This was made known at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which took place in Lagos recently.

According to Okhma Global management, the aim of this partnership is premised on the belief that Africans have the right to good health and wellbeing and can live healthy lives. The Expo will be held at the Livespot Event center in Lagos in November 2023.

CEO Okhma Global, Mary Ephraim Egbas explained that

Made to Live Africa Expo is a health, wellness and fitness expo that will bring medical practitioners, hospital representatives, wellness experts, nutrition experts, health entrepreneurs, health influencers, fitness experts and corporate individuals.

The expo will also feature natural food experts, therapists, well-being and lifestyle businesses and members of the public for three days to educate, engage and inspire each other on living well and making healthy choices.

She said, “The project is poised to address the need to create a new orientation and perception of health. The expo is set to have various segments that leave attendees with various options that

are both educational and inspiring; from seven districts Medlive, fitness district, therapy centre, lifestyle corner and wellness zone to the conference and masterclass segments to the fitness festivals. In these divisions above, we aim to ensure all aspects of health are exposed and understood.”

The theme for the expo is ‘Investing in a healthier you’.

While speaking at the signing meeting, the CEO, ABCHealth, Dr Mories Atoki said, “Achieving universal health coverage in Africa is not a myth. Approaching the issues of health differently is pertinent and expedient for Africa’s Health and this is what the ‘Made to Live Africa Expo’ is all about.”

Last week, we started a topic on Postpartum Endometritis. We defined and discussed the causes and symptoms. This week, we conclude with diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of postpartum endometritis.

DIAGNOSIS OF POSTPARTUM ENDOMETRITIS

The patient is asked about their symptoms and medical background. A physical examination, which will include abdominal check, to look for infection-related symptoms such as uterine pain, and unusual vaginal discharge is done.

This is carried out to ascertain the uterus’ size, shape, and discomfort. A speculum could be used by the doctor to inspect the cervix and collect tissue samples for further analysis.

In order to pinpoint the precise bacterium causing the infection, cultures may be collected from the vaginal discharge or cervix. This aids in choosing the most efficient antibiotic course of action.

In some circumstances, imaging examinations like ultrasound may be carried out to assess the uterus and surrounding structures for any problems or the development of an abscess.

An endometrial biopsy may be performed where the diagnosis is unclear. This is used to establish the presence of an infection and rule out other possible causes of symptoms. A tiny sample of the uterine lining is removed and subjected to microscopic analysis. This can be used to check for infection-related indicators such as raised levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell count (leukocytosis). These tests can support the diagnosis of infection and inflammation in the body

TREATMENT OF POSTPARTUM ENDOMETRITIS

The most prevalent bacteria that cause postpartum endometritis are often targeted by broad-spectrum antibiotics. Depending on regional patterns of antibiotic resistance and unique patient variables, the particular antibiotic option may change. Antibiotics including Gentamicin, Ampicillin-sulbactam, Cefoxitin, and Ceftriaxone are frequently used. When the patient’s condition improves, the antibiotics may be shifted from intravenously administered to oral medications. Hydration is essential, particularly if a fever or decreased oral intake is present.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen can be used to treat pain and discomfort.

Antipyretic drugs might be used to reduce fever if it is uncomfortable or if it interferes with nursing.

Occasionally, surgical drainage of uterine abscesses or other localized pus collections is required. Usually, uterine aspiration or curettage is used to do this.

Hospitalization may be indicated in severe cases of postpartum endometritis. This makes it possible to keep a careful eye on the mother’s health and guarantees that intravenous antibiotics and supportive care are given in the right way. If the patient has other difficulties or risk factors, hospitalization can also be necessary.

PREVENTION OF POSTPARTUM ENDOMETRITIS

Giving antibiotics to pregnant women before they give birth can greatly lower their risk of developing postpartum endometritis, especially if they have certain risk factors including prolonged membrane rupture, protracted labor, or repeated vaginal checks. The particular antibiotic regimen will be determined by the woman’s unique situation and the managing clinician.

It is important to keep yourself clean while giving birth. During any invasive operations, such as vaginal exams or delivery, healthcare professionals should adhere to standard hand hygiene measures, use sterile gloves, and utilize clean tools.

Adherence to sterile methods is critical to reducing the risk of infection if a C-section is planned for or becomes necessary. In C-section instances, preventative antibiotics are typically given prior to surgical incision.

After delivery, it is crucial to keep the perineal area dry and clean. Women should be instructed to wash their perineum with warm water and a gentle soap (non- scented) before patting, not rubbing, the region dry. It is advisable to use fresh pads or sanitary napkins and to change them periodically to keep clean. Breastfeeding has been associated with a reduced risk of postpartum endometritis. The exact mechanism behind this protective effect is not fully understood, but it may be related to the hormonal changes and increased uterine contraction associated with breastfeeding immediately after delivery.

In certain cases, healthcare providers may recommend additional preventive measures. This may include the administration of additional antibiotics or antiseptic solutions before or after delivery, particularly for women with a high risk of infection.

after birth reduces the risk of postpartum endometritis. Getting up and moving around increases blood circulation, which promoteshealing and lowers the chance of infection.

CONCLUSION

Endometritis may seem a complicated health issue post-delivery, severity and occurrence may however be reduced if a woman immediately reports when she starts to feel warm, particularly tender, or have a foul discharge even when she has been discharged home. Although discomfort or tenderness does not always indicate an oncoming infection, it is still better that a thorough examination be done to rule out Endometritis.

NCC GETS PLATINUM APPRECIATION AWARD...

L-R:

Research Shows 130 Countries Exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies

A total of 130 countries representing 98 per cent of the global economy are now exploring digital versions of their currencies, with almost half in advanced development, pilot or launch stages, a closely-followed study showed.

The research by the US-based Atlantic Council think tank published yesterday, said significant progress over the past six months meant that all G20 countries with the exception of Argentina were now in one of those advanced

phases. Eleven countries, including a number in the Caribbean, and Nigeria, have already launched central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as they are known, while pilot testing in China now reaches

260 million people and covers 200 scenarios from e-commerce to government stimulus payments. Two other big emerging economies, India and Brazil, also plan to launch digital currencies next year. The European Central Bank

Shift in 2023 Elections Major Reason for Census Postponement, Says NPC Commissioner

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The National Population Commission (NPC), Federal Commissioner representing Edo State, Dr. Tony Aiyejina, yesterday, said the shift in 2023 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was the major reason why the NPC had to postpone the 2023 population census.

Aiyejina, who made the disclosure at an interactive media chat organised by the Commission in Benin City, capital of Edo State, added that while NPC shifted the date for the census to May, after INEC had shifted the general elections, the coming of the rains put paid to the exercise in order to uphold the principle of simultaneity which guides census exercises world over.

He however, assured that whenever the exercise comes up, it would not only be accurate, but would be reliable and auditable, and would be a clear departure from the controversies that trailed past census exercises.

He maintained that the introduction of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs) machines would eliminate all human errors of the past exercises. Dispelling the insinuation in the public domain that the Commission had expended the sum of N800 billion before the exercise was postponed, Aiyejina said contrary to that claim, “NPC had expended N200 billion out of the N800 billion budgeted for the exercise before it was postponed.”

“Let me say this, censuses of the past were riddled with controversies. One thing about the 2023 census is that the immediate past president Muhammadu Buhari did not attempt to teleguide the Commission.

“We opted for digital census, and we introduced the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) which are deliberately configured and can be tracked to monitor field work.

“This is to ensure that the census will not only be accurate, but it will also be reliable and auditable. But because elections and census in Nigeria have relationship, we intend to insulate census from politics.

“We though that a gap of two months or so after election will suffice. But whatever happened in INEC affected NPC which had to adjust its timeline from March to May, before we ran into quagmire due to the rain, which made the postponement inevitable. It is not because we did anything wrong or something went wrong,” Aiyejina explained.

Reiterating the importance of census, the Edo NPC Federal Commissioner noted that, “census is for future planning and not for the present government. This is why it is important that everything is done to make the figure accurate so that the government can plan well.

“Government needs accurate statistics to plan with scientific certitude. Nigeria can catch up with the developed countries of the world if we provide accurate census figures for the government to plan.”

Aiyejina stressed that with accurate census, the media could hold the government accountable, just as he allayed fears that the PDAs could

malfunction the way the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and urged Nigerians to be optimistic that the NPC would give the nation the best census ever.

He assured that the postponement notwithstanding, all the sensitive material for the exercise were warehoused at the Benin branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while other materials had been distributed to all the 18 local government areas of the state, where the District Police Officers (DPOs), had kept them save.

is on track to begin its digital euro pilot ahead of a possible launch in 2028, while over 20 other countries would also take significant steps towards pilots this year.

In the United States, though, progress on a digital dollar is only "moving forward" for a wholesale (bank-to-bank) version, the Atlantic Council's research said, whereas work on a retail version for use by the wider population has "stalled". US President Joe Biden had ordered government officials to assess the risks and benefits of creating a digital dollar in March 2022.

The heavyweight status of the dollar in the financial system means any US move has potentially enormous global consequences, but the Federal Reserve said back in January that Congress, rather than it, should decide whether a digital version is launched.

The global push for CBDCs comes as physical cash use falls and authorities look to fend off the threat to their money-printing powers from bitcoin and 'Big Tech' firms.

Sanctions imposed on the likes

of Russia and Venezuela in recent years have been another driver, including even for long-time U.S. allies like Europe, which wants to ensure it has an alternative to the Visa, Mastercard and Swift payment networks.

"Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the G7 sanctions response, wholesale CBDC developments have doubled," the Atlantic Council said, adding that there were now 12 multi-country "cross-border" projects being worked on.

It said that Sweden remained one of Europe's most advanced with its CBDC pilot, while the Bank of England is pressing on with work on a possible digital pound that could be in use by the second half of this decade.

Australia, Thailand, South Korea, and Russia all intend to continue pilot testing this year too.

Despite the growing interest in CBDCs, however, some countries that have launched them - such as Nigeria - have seen a disappointing take-up, while Senegal and Ecuador have both cancelled development work.

Foundation Lauds FG's Renewed Fight against Drugs, Substance Abuse

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

A non-governmental organiation (NGO), the David Folaranmi Foundation, has commended the federal government for its renewed

YIAGA Welcomes EU’s Report on Nigeria’s 2023 Polls

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth, and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa has said the report by the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission of the 2023 general election in Nigeria was a welcome development.

YIAGA also noted that the issues highlighted in the EU’s report were not new to the international community, adding that Nigeria has some lessons to learn from the just concluded general election in Sierra Leone.

The Executive Director of YIAGA

Africa, Mr. Samson Itodo, said this when he appeared in a television programme monitored in Abuja. He also noted that the EU’s observations were not intended to judge the credibility of the election process.

Itodo, however, quickly added that Nigeria has an existing bilateral relationship with the international communities thus, does not and cannot exist in isolation in its dealings.

In his words; “I don’t think the intent of the EU’s report is to assess and make judgment as to the credibility of the elections

process.”

Commenting on the reports coinciding with the ongoing post-election judicial process, Itodo explained that the reports were in no way whatsoever intended to influence the cases in court.

He further said; “There is nothing wrong with the timing of the European Union’s post-mortem report on Nigeria’s 2023 elections. I don’t think that the intention is to influence the current cases being handled by the court.

“It is not in any way an attempt to interfere with that process. It is just part of the practice in the

election observation ecosystem

“The EU has a comprehensive framework for measuring and assessing elections based on certain values and principles of the country in our electoral law and constitution,” Itodo said.

The European Union Election Observer Mission to Nigeria, on Monday, had presented its report on the 2023 general elections to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in which it had identified six areas for improvement in Nigeria’s subsequent elections.

commitment in the fight against drug/substance abuse, especially among young Nigerians.

The foundation also said there was the need for improved collaboration among the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and faith-based organisations to completely rid the country of drug abuse.

Founder of the Foundation, David Folaranmi, made this known yesterday, in Enugu, during a one-day symposium against drug/ substance abuse among youths with the theme: ‘Addressing the Drug Pandemic Among Our Youths: The Way Out.’

In his address, Folaranmi said the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), under the leadership of its Chairman, Buba Marwa, had invested a lot in tackling the scourge of drug abuse in Nigeria.

“However, we cannot leave it for the federal and state governments alone," he said.

“There is a need for everybody

to join in this noble fight to rescue our youths from the negative consequences of drug/substance abuse."

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Nnenna Folaranmi, said the foundation had done a lot to curb the menace of drug/substance abuse since its inception in 2019.

“We have been able to rehabilitate and revive over 100 drug addicts from the streets and given them a better life and a bright future," he said.

She noted that many persons the Foundation rescued from drug/ substance addiction have gone back to school, engaged themselves in meaningfully in skills and jobs and are doing well in the society.

“We have done this through our personal funding and commitment," she stated.

"Over the years, the foundation close counseling, follow-up and check on identified addicts have impacted so many young lives in the country”.

Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Danbatta; President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Prof Azikwe Onwualu, and Chairman, Board of MTN, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, during the NAE’s 2023 Technology Dinne held in Lagos... recently

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L-R - Director Marketing Communications, 9mobile, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed; 9mobile Brand Ambassador, BNXN; Chief Executive Officer, 9mobile, Juergen Peschel; 9mobile Brand Ambassador, Beauty Tukura; 9mobile Brand Ambassador, Samo Agbero/ Vader the Wild Card; Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile, Nkem Oni-Egboma; Chief Sales Officer, 9mobile, Victor Nwaobia, at a Press Conference to unveil the 9mobile Brand Ambassadors in Lagos ... recently.

Clark’s Accusations against Okowa at Variance with Reality, Aniagwu Insists

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The immediate past Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said the accusations by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark against former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were at variance with the reality in the state.

Aniagwu said this just as the Host Communities of Nigeria (Producing Oil & Gas), Delta State chapter, has said the immediate past governor did not divert or misappropriate the 13 per cent Derivation funds meant for the state.

Aniagwu, noted that Clark was being used to settle political scores by those who lost out in the governorship contest of the state, stressing that Clark had not been to Delta for a long time.

He insisted that those telling him (Clark) stories about Okowa’s administration were doing so for political reasons.

Speaking on a television programme monitored in Abuja, Aniagwu, said Clark and some other leaders had a different candidate in the state governorship election but were defeated because of Okowa’s performance and the credibility of the current Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.

According to Aniagwu: “In the run-down to the general elections,

the elder statesman and some other persons had their own candidate and for us in Delta we subjected the gubernatorial contest to the crucibles of democratic process.

“In the course of the contest, our present Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori defeated other aspirants and emerged the candidate of the PDP and after defeating them at the primaries they decided to pitch tent with the APC.

“When we proceeded to the general election, Deltans across the 25 local government areas, specifically 21 out of the 25 voted overwhelmingly for Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on account of two reasons.

“One, because of the performance of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and because of the credibility Oborevwori enjoys having presided over the State House of Assembly for six years and has shown indeed that he is a man that can be trusted with the resources of the state.

“These individuals having lost the election decided to throw mud on Okowa believing that he was the reason why they lost and hence they have progressed along that line,” he said.

Aniagwu also said Clark supported the former governor almost throughout his tenure and did not raise any concerns while he was in office thereby buttressing the fact that his accusations were politically

motivated.

He further said; “Let me place it on record that the elder statesman supported us overwhelmingly in 2019 and in the course of giving his support at that time, he was very clear on the performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“He was quite specific on the amount of milestones we have recorded in the creeks and of course in the coastal communities where he is from. Indeed, he was very clear on the amount of successes we have recorded and in the course of two years of our second tenure he was very much with us praising what we were doing.

“At his age, we believe that the elder statesman should begin to have discussions that will help advance the state rather than telling stories that he was told by individuals having different intentions,” Aniagwu said.

On Clark’s accusation that DESOPADEC law was amended to accommodate Ika ethnic nationality, Aniagwu said there was no truth in the accusation because Oil Mining Licence OML 147 is located in Obi-Ayima and Owa-Alidinma in Ika Federal Constituency with Pan Ocean as the company drilling from the oil field.

“Chief Clark has led a good life and has contributed immensely to national discuss in the past and we do not want individuals to lead him

No One Can Blackmail Me on Presidential Amnesty Programme, Says Ndiomu

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), has vowed not to be blackmailed to engage in fraudulent activities in the Amnesty Programme. He said this after briefing the new National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu on the activities of his office.

In a statement yesterday, in Abuja, Ndiomu noted that recent media attacks from some miscreants parading themselves as ex-agitators, were being sponsored by faceless groups and individuals.

“If you like, blackmail me to the heavens and back, I will not succumb to fraudulent activities.

“We will ensure that we stand our ground to do what is right and just for our people, and vigorously

pursue the intentions of the PAP,” Ndiomu affirmed.

He warned that those duly captured as PAP beneficiaries who were taking part in spreading false narratives, would be dealt with in accordance with the extant laws of the Programme.

He recalled that in the past, exagitators had been used as conduit pipes to siphon monies illegally from the PAP. He thus urged contractors who have outstanding payments to follow due process in pursuing their cause, rather than spreading and sponsoring falsehood.

“We are aware that those fighting back are those who have issues with their BVNs. How can only one person be receiving monthly stipends on several accounts linked to a single BVN? There are hundreds of cases like that. That is how deadly corruption is. When you try to fight

it, it fights back.

“We are aware that there are contractors who criminally connive with some staff of the PAP in the past to come up with bogus and fictitious contract sums. But my conscience will not allow me soil my hands with such fraudulent operations. It’s not going to be business as usual,” he stated.

Ndiomu had in the past discouraged ex-agitators from depending on the monthly stipends of N65,000, and look to more sustainable means of livelihood. He said the overdependence on the stipends has introduced a culture of indolence and laziness among our youth.

Part of measures to address this, was the recent launch of a Cooperative Scheme to provide a platform and means of viably engaging the ex-agitators into a more productive ventures.

in a direction that does not suggest he was telling stories that are not indeed in tandem with reality because the issues he raised are at variance with reality.

“We plead with him that being our father, he has a responsibility to guide all of us and let me also place it on record that we didn’t send anybody to beg him as alleged.

“The amendment we brought to bear on DESOPADEC was to improve the governance structure of the Commission and today DESOPADEC has been able to construct roads, build bridges and jetties, schools and linked communities like Utonlila, Ogbogoro, Ogheye-Dimigun in Warri North Local Government Area of the state.

“Okowa has visited the creeks much more than any leader in Delta State. We went to almost all the oil producing Communities in the state and we have advanced the construction of Trans-Warri Road with 19 bridges to Ode-Itsekiri and am sure the elder statesman is not aware of this.

“The storm drainages we are building in Warri and environs have largely mitigated the ravaging effects of flood thus paving way for the reconstruction of roads along such corridor,” Aniagwu said.

The former Commissioner for Information said Okowa administration established three new universities to improve access to higher education by upgrading existing three higher institutions, adding that throughout the eight months ASUU strike, all the four universities in the state

were in session because the state government provided for the schools what their federal counterparts were demanding.

“We are very proud of what we did in the eight years of our administration and we are very much willing to give account of that any time, any day,” Aniagwu stated.

Meanwhile, the Communities of Nigeria (Producing Oil & Gas) Delta State chapter has said Okowa did not divert or misappropriate the 13 per cent Derivation funds coming to the State.

The group, made up of Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ndokwa, and Ika ethnic nationalities, rose in defence of the former governor at a press conference yesterday, held in Effurun, Uvwie local government area. They commended Okowa for effectively managing the 13 per cent Derivation in the state.

Members of oil and gas producing Communities of Delta State, had last week, stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to demand Okowa’s probe and investigation, for alleged illegal and unlawful diversion of host communities 13 per cent oil derivation funds.

But the State Chairman of HOSTCOM, Sunday Enujeke, maintained that the funds earmarked for the development of oil and gas bearing communities were judiciously used to the best of their knowledge, insisting that Okowa has done very well in the management of the said funds.

He said the allegations of alleged misappropriation of the 50 per cent accruable to DESOPADEC from the 13 per cent Derivation Fund by Okowa was a calculated attempt to mislead, confuse, and incite the public against the person of Okowa.

"We observed with great concern and consternation, the orchestrated campaign of calumny against the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, concerning the alleged misappropriation of the 50 per cent accruable to DESOPADEC from the 13 per cent Derivation Fund.

"There is a deliberate attempt to distort the facts, misinform, and hoodwink the populace into fighting their proxy war against the past Governor.

"We are a registered body in Nigeria with RC number:23281, and saddled with the responsibility of advocating for accelerated development across the Oil and Gas communities of Delta State particularly, and Nigeria in general. As the name implies, we have the mandate to give the public first-hand information as it relates to the usage of our common patrimony which is the 13 per cent Derivation, as it relates to Delta State.

"We can state without any fear of contradiction that the funds earmarked for the development of oil and gas bearing communities has been judiciously used to the best of our knowledge and we unequivocally say that Senator Dr Okowa has done very well," he said.

10th Senate: Kalu Congratulates Akpabio, Pledges Loyalty

Former Senate Majority Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has congratulated the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and confirmed that he actually won the contest in a free, fair and credible manner.

The former Governor of Abia State, who stated this via a recorded video posted on his verified Facebook account, yesterday, however, pledged his loyalty to Akpabio.

He was reacting to media reports that some unnamed 22 Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were planning to leave the party for another opposition

party because of the outcome of the Senate election.

Kalu said, "Let me be honest with you, the election in the Senate was very transparent. Senator Akpabio won the election. It was free, it was fair. I congratulate the Clerk of the National Assembly, I congratulate the Clerk and all the Staff of the Senate. You know I cannot lie against my conscience. Akpabio won the election hands down.

"There was no controversy about who won the election. If there is anything another person wants to say, that is their business. Akpabio, to my conscience, to my seeing and to my honour, won the election

and we have since congratulated him," he stated.

Kalu, who also aspired for the office of the President of the Senate said, "There are no two Senate in the history of the Senate. There is only one Senate. On the 13th of June, was the day we decided to have one Senate.

"There is no pro and anti-Akpabio Senators. Even Senator Abdulaziz Yari, understands we have to work with Akpabio. He is the Senate President. We have congratulated him and I am using this Sallah period to appeal to our people to come together and work as one Senate,” he declared.

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Former Delta governor did not misappropriate 13% derivation, says HOSTCOM

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he described as the core values of the army.

A statement issued by Nigerian Army Headquarters said Lagbaja "urged the troops to leverage the spirituality of the occasion to pray for the army as it strives to combat security challenges in all theatres operations across the country".

Obi Fetes Anambra Muslims, Sues for Peace, Unity

Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, yesterday, celebrated the Eid al Adha with the Anambra Muslim Community in Onitsha. Obi called on Nigerians to embrace peace, unity and brotherly love.

Obi, who was visited at his residence by leaders of Anambra Muslim Community, said he decided to celebrate the Eid al Adha with the Muslim community in Anambra to show the brotherly love and unity that should exist among Nigerians, irrespective of tribal, political or religious beliefs. He said he wanted to start fulfilling his promise of helping to renovate the Awka and Onitsha mosques.

Obi said, "We are all Nigerians, and we will continue to live as one irrespective of our religious or political beliefs. What we owe each other is brotherly love and care, so we can live in peace and unity as a nation. We have no other nation but Nigeria and we must make it work.

"I know that times are difficult for everybody in the country, but if we rise above our religious, political and ethnic divisions, we will be able to surmount our challenges in unity. We will not give up on our nation, but continue to work for a New Nigeria that will be beneficial to every Nigerian."

The Sarki of Awka Muslim Community, Alhaji Garba Haruna, said they were thrilled by Obi's simplicity and consistency. Haruna said the LP presidential candidate had once again demonstrated that he was a truly detribalised Nigerian, by making out time to mark their Sallah celebration with them.

Diri Greets Muslims, as Bayelsa Ummahs Endorse His Reelection Bid

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, particularly, in the state on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Diri, in a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, yesterday, urged Muslim adherents to use the festival to renew their faith in their creator and in the unity of the country.

Diri noted that Eid-el-Kabir

was a feast of love, selflessness and sacrificial giving. He called on Muslims and other citizens in Bayelsa State to continue to live in peace and brotherliness.

In a related development, the Muslim community in Bayelsa State threw their weight behind Diri’s second term bid, alongside and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The Muslim Ummah gave their endorsement at a special banquet put together for the Muslim faithful by the Bayelsa State government to mark the Eid-el Kabir celebration at Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Council for Islamic Affairs in the state, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, said the Muslim Ummah were fully supporting the governor's re-election bid in view of the numerous verifiable infrastructural projects his administration had successfully executed in the state.

Mbah Promises Enugu Muslim Community Inclusive government

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, used the opportunity of the Eid-el-Kabir festival to visit the Muslim Ummah at the Islamic Centre, Uwani, and Central Mosque, Owerri Road, Enugu, to celebrate with them.

Mbah reiterated that the state was for everyone, and emphasised his commitment to his campaign promises. The governor stressed that Enugu metropolis would begin to enjoy pipe borne water again within the next 150 days.

The Muslim faithful in the state commended the governor for tackling insecurity head-on. They said they were impressed that he identified and celebrated with the entire Muslim Ummah.

Describing Enugu as a foremost cosmopolitan city in Nigeria, Mbah told the Muslim community, “You are an integral part of us. When you are celebrating, we are celebrating, and when you are in pains, we are also in pains because in Enugu State, we are one people.

“You will see in Enugu people from the North, West, Middle Belt, and the Niger Delta that the umbilical cords of their great grandparents were buried in our soil.”

Otti Lauds Abia Muslims for Helping to Birth New Government

Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti, expressed gratitude to Muslims in the state for the part they played in birthing his administration.

In his maiden Sallah message, Otti rejoiced with all Muslims across

Nigeria on this year's celebration of the Eid el Kabir festival.

"I particularly rejoice with the Muslim community in Abia State as they join millions of other faithful world wide to mark this most important religious feast in the Islamic calendar," Otti said, in a statement he personally signed.

He described this year's Eid el Kabir celebration as "remarkable for us in Abia, being the first in the life of this administration". The governor used the occasion to specially thank the Abia Muslim community for their "immense support".

He said, "I believe that our government is the answer to the many years of supplication to Almighty God by the people of Abia State and their yearnings for a credible leader that would lead them out of bondage and into a glorious era of socio-economic freedom and abundance.”

Bello Tasks Muslims to Embrace Spirit of Sacrifice, Generosity Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, extended heartfelt congratulations to Muslim Ummah around the globe as they marked this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

In his Sallah message he personally signed, Bello said, "Today, let us draw inspiration from the exemplary virtues demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim: his sacrifice, patience, steadfastness, generosity, and unwavering obedience to Allah's command and constituted authority. “These qualities should guide us as we face the contemporary challenges of nation-building, reminding us of our shared heritage and the destiny of national greatness that awaits the people of Kogi State, both within

and outside the country.

"The progress we have achieved in the past seven years would not have been possible without the sacrifices, understanding, and commitment of our citizens. It is their unwavering support that has propelled us forward.

"In my first term as Governor of Kogi State, the pursuit of harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice, and above all, prosperity were the cornerstones of our administration. These principles continue to define my leadership, policy and programmes of our administration in this second term.”

NGF Urges Nigerians to Remain Brothers’ Keepers

Kwara State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, urged Nigerians, irrespective of their political leanings, to be their brothers’ keepers and work for the unity and development of the country.

AbdulRazaq stated this in Ilorin shortly after observing his two Eid Kabir rakkats at Ilorin Eid Central Praying Ground to mark the Eid Kabir celebrations. The event was witnessed by millions of Muslim faithful, who thronged the Eid prayer ground.

The governor joined several other dignitaries at the central praying ground, where the Imam, Imale Sheikh Abdullahi AbdulHameed, led the proceedings.

He said, “We must first glorify Almighty Allah for allowing us to witness another Eid. Those that went to Hajj, we pray to Allah to bring them back safely. Our strength lies in

our unity, and we should maximize such unity and peace that we enjoy to bring more development to our state.

“Our main message is for peace and tranquillity. Let's be our brothers’ keepers. We all have hope in this country to attain greater heights.”

Obaseki Urges Tolerance, Sacrifice to Sustain Nation’s Progress

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, urged Nigerians to work together in unison, irrespective of their ethno-religious inclinations, to ensure the country’s progress.

The governor, in a statement to mark the Eid-el-Kabir festivities, urged Muslim faithful to imbibe the lesson of sacrifice, which he said was the hallmark of the season.

Obaseki stated, “I felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters as we mark the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

As we celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, I urge everyone to imbibe the lesson of sacrifice, which is the hallmark of this season. Let us endeavour to deepen our relationship with God and enhance our service to humanity as we reflect on the lessons of this celebration.

“I enjoin everyone to rededicate ourselves to our Creator, working assiduously to sustain the virtues of patience, tolerance and love. We are in dire straits as a nation, but it is a period that demands that we work together in unison and join hands across ethno-religious inclinations for our collective progress.

“We are working closely with security authorities to ensure our Muslim faithful have a peaceful celebration.”

Niger Acting Governor, Aliyu, Minna Emir, Others Pray at Sallah

Niger State Acting Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba; Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Faruoq Bahago; and former Governor Babangida Aliyu, were among prominent personalities that offered prayers at the Minna Eid prayer ground, yesterday, to mark this year's Eid-el-Kabir.

The two rakkat prayer was led by Chief Imam of Minna Central Mosque, Alhaji Abu Fari.

Fari admonished Muslims to continue to be their brothers’ keepers and work for the peace and progress of the state and the country as a whole.

Speaking with newsmen after the prayers, Garba emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence among the people, despite their diversity, saying without peace there would be no development.

He observed that the people had high expectation from the government and assured them that the administration would not let them down.

Aliyu applauded the federal government for the removal of fuel subsidy, which he stated was hitherto being used to service other things rather than providing for Nigerians. He said, "Any subsidy that does not go to the beneficiaries should be removed."

Aliyu, who appealed to wealthy Muslims to assist those who did not have in order to ameliorate their hardships, also enjoined the people to support the state government for it to succeed in the task of taking the state to greater height.

INEC to Prioritise Training of Adhoc Staff

Commences review of 2023 general elections July 4

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that priority will be given to the training of its adhoc staff as efforts to improve upon future elections in the country.

INEC's Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, made the disclosure yesterday, while speaking on Arise News Prime Time programme. Okoye, who spoke against the backdrop of the report of the European Union Election Observer Mission, also assured that the electoral umpire would

take a critical look at the report with the view of implementing recommendations within its powers.

Okoye, who observed that one of the complaints of the EU in the report released on Tuesday, bordered on the lack of adequate training of the adhoc staff who served during the last general elections, noted that over 1.5 million adhoc staff were deployed to over 176,000 polling units because of additional polling units created for the polls.

He said, "we are going to look into that and see how we can decentralise the training of the adhoc workers", in addition to introducing online training,

"so that we don't need to cluster everybody around the classroom in order to train them".

Besides, Okoye disclosed that from July 4, INEC would commence its internal as well as external review of the 2023 general elections, with a view of assessing its performance as well as looking at areas for improve performance.

He explained that the delay was to enable court cases over the conduct of the polls reach an appreciable state.

"Starting from July 4, we are going begin our internal and external review of the conduct of the election, we are going to

begin with the interaction and interphase with our Resident Electoral Commissioners....we have to wait a little bit to make sure that the judicial process is firmed up so that nobody will accuse the Commission of interfering on the judicial process, it has gone almost the whole hub.

"Moreover, we have three governorship elections in November, so we need to know the things we did right, the things we did do right, where we failed completely and then we begin to look for mechanism on how to consolidate on the progresses and successes recorded", he added.

Corporate Affairs, West Africa, MultiChoice, Caroline Oghuma; Super Falcons Captain and MultiChoice Brand Ambassador, Asisat Oshoala; Chief Executive Officer, West Africa, MultiChoice, Mr. John Ugbe; Executive Head, Content & West Africa Channels, MultiChoice, Dr. Busola Tejumola, at the unveiling of Asisat Oshoala as MultiChoice Brand Ambassador in Lagos...yesterday

Alex Enumah in Abuja

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Catholic Bishops Reject Bill on Council for Christian Education

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have expressed opposition to the Bill seeking to establish the National Council Christian Education current before the National Assembly.

The bill is being sponsored by Hon. Shawulu Kwewum, and five other lawmakers at the House of Representatives.

In statement signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji,, the bishops described the proposed legislation as unnecessary.

While the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had expressed support for the Bill saying it would help formalise Christian

Education as a course of study in our educational institutions, the Catholic bishops said that it will impede on the preservation of doctrinal differences among the various Christian denominations.

The bishops said: " The Bill is unnecessary and impracticable because of our doctrinal differences. Furthermore, our juridirical autonomy in terms of education is being surrendered to government.

"CAN should undertake a needs assessment if the needs of Christians in Nigeria that will require the support of government.

"Asking government to establish National Council for Christian Education simply because Muslims have one is counter

NSCDC Seeks Partnership with Media in Fight against Oil Theft, Vandalism

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called on the media to join it in the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Rivers State.

The newly deployed NSCDC Commandant in the state, Basil Igwebueze, made the call yesterday, in Port Harcourt, when a delegation of Energy and Maritime Reporters paid him a courtesy visit to commemorate the 2023 World Seafarers Day.

Igwebueze in his remark, noted that the media, as a critical stakeholder in the battle against illegal crude oil refining and vandalism, has contributed hugely in the protection of national assets.

He said the task of manning critical national assets to mitigate illegal dealings of petroleum and related products was not an easy task, hence the command welcomed all partnerships it could get to be able to checkmate the proliferation of illegal oil bunkering and arms in the country.

Igwebueze said, "It is also on record that some criminal activities occur on the waters. For instance, part of the insurgencies we are witnessing in the country, we have discovered that some criminals from the neighbouring countries enter into our territory through the waters.

"They import arms into the country, so when you talk of proliferation of weapons in the country, it is closely related to some criminal activities on the waters, on that effect, the federal government has helped to equip us

so that we can be in a better position to check all these, especially that of illegal oil dealings is where we have our mandate centered on.

"You (media) will be of immense assistance to us, report us as we are, when you discover someone with unruly behavior because the people that are charged with the responsibility are human so in their efforts they may err on the side of caution if they make some mistakes, then also advise us approximately to continue to guide them, to continue to urge them to perform their duties diligently."

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Energy and Maritime Reporters, Martins Giadom, expressed optimism that the media partnering the NSCDC would better report the achievements of the corps.

productive. It is imperative to revisit and properly examine the CAN's original purpose as opposed to what was expressed in the Bill presented to the National Assembly.

The bishop sad that if CAN. wants to tackle some of the challenges facing Christians, the body should initiate a bill to address the incessant unprovoked attacks on Christians in the north, denial of

access to lands to build churches and religious institutions and discriminating against Christians in admission to courses in higher institutions in the northern part of the country.

The bishops also said should CAN still feels to need to establish the Council for Christian Education, it should be ready to address the problem of doctrinal differences.

NERC: Stakeholder Consultation on New Electricity Tariff Rates Ongoing

Debunks purported tariff increase by July

Faults Discos' unauthorised communications to customers

Consumer group threatens legal action to stop purported 40% tariff hike

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday disclosed that the commission was currently holding stakeholders’ consultations on a new tariff rates before it would be announced to the public.

Also, the NERC dispelled the trending speculations of about 40 per cent electricity tariff increase, which power distribution companies (Discos) had said would take effect by July 1, 2023.

The NERC specifically faulted the Discos for disseminating "wrong" and "unauthorised" communications to their customers about tariff increase from July, and for failing to get clearance from the commission before pushing such messages out to the public.

An insider source at the power industry regulator, who spoke to

THISDAY, on condition of anonymity, added that no tariff increase was planned to take off in July, maintaining that the commission was still consulting with stakeholders on the matter.

This was just as an advocacy group in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum, has threatened to file a suit to stop the purported 40 per cent electricity tariff increase by July.

For the past one week, the media has been awash with news of electricity tariff increase up to 40 per cent, starting from July 1, 2023.

The Discos had also alerted customers under their respective networks of the purported tariff increase, citing the change in foreign exchange and the supposed tariff increase done after every six months.

However, NERC had been silent in the midst of the anxiety generated

by the said tariff increase by July, while many analysts and consumers have expressed mixed reactions about the speculated increase.

But speaking to THISDAY during a telephone chat, yesterday, the NERC official, who admitted that there would be an increase, but not in July, stated that the commission has not determined what the actual tariff would be.

The official further explained that the commission had finished its calculation for new rates but still needed to consult relevant stakeholders next month before the new tariff would be announced and implemented.

He explained that electricity tariff increase was driven largely by the cost of gas for generation as well as the cost of spare parts for the maintenance of power generators, which are all paid for in dollars.

The NERC official said, "We've

Eid-El-Kabir: Pray for Positive Transformation of Nigeria, Fubara Urges Muslims

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has urged Muslims across the country to always pray for leaders and the positive transformation of the country.

Fubara, made the call yesterday, while felicitating with the Muslim faithful in Rivers and across the country in commemoration of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

He further urged all Nigerians to imbibe the obligational character of sacrifice for the growth and development of the country, noting that the nation was passing

through a phase of recovery that would result in the well-being and prosperity of all.

The Rivers state governor said, “In the spirit of this special day, I urge all Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to reflect on the rare virtues of obedience, sacrifice and faith as exemplified by the Holy Prophet.”

Fubara also expressed hope that the prayers and sacrifices that come from this year's Eid-ei-Kabir would culminate in enhancing peace, unity and the advancement of the nation Similarly, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the

state, Eze Chukwuemeka, noted that that harmonious living was key to a country’s progress.

He hailed the former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other adherents of Islam across country on the Eld-El-Kabir celebration.

In his massage, Eze called on Muslims to use the celebration to promote love, peace, good brotherliness and the solemn impact of national bond on the country’s progress which he said were at the core of Atiku’s pact with Nigerians

during the general election.

Eze hailed Nigerians for, “developing the muscles to adjust to the difficulties of the trying moment and absorb the shocks it has triggered on individual subconscious and our national life”.

He therefore urged “Muslims brethren and all Nigerians to make sacrifices for the growth and development of our dear great country, as I am very hopeful that the prayers and sacrifices that come with this great celebration of Eid-ei-Kabir will bring peace, unity, and progress to our dear country Nigeria.”

not determined how much it will be. Definitely, there will be an increase but not in July. Because of the movement of the exchange rate, it has so many impact specifically on generation. So, it's the cost that is coming from generation that is causing it.

“So, we have a number of options to try to see how to manage it, and we've also asked the Discos to come too, let's sit down and talk because it's not something you just fix. There needs to be a way for everybody to agree how to communicate the message to the customers and then, even for the government too to be aware.

"So, you have to prepare it and package it and tell them that this is the implications. The one for fuel, everybody knew what it was right from time because from January, they had made appropriation for the subsidy. So, it was until the appropriation ran out of time that the subsidy was removed.

"But now, I think there is still some subsidy (on electricity) and on the basis of that, the commission is holding on. We've done the calculation actually and it's ready to be moved but we still need to consult. There will be consultation next month."

He also faulted the Discos for disseminating "wrong" and "unauthorised" communications to their customers about tariff increase in July and for failing to get clearance from the commission before pushing such messages out to the public.

He said the Discos also failed to explain to the consumers why there should be tariff increase, saying they only talked about foreign exchange without explaining how it impacts power generation.

Peter Uzoho

L-R: President, ShaddaiVille Ministries, Dr. Kunle Hamilton; Nollywood filmmaker, Funke Akindele; ShaddaiVille Co-founder, Mrs. Taiwo Hamilton; and Executive Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele at the presentation of an award of Fellow of the ShaddaiVille Leadership Academy to Akindele in Lagos on… Sunday

PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN.

COURTESY VISIT TO LCCI …

L-R: Sales Director, Japan Tobacco International (JTI), Oscar Anyachor; General Manager, JTI, Thomas Adams; Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Chinyere Almona; Vice President, Membership and Welfare Committee, LCCI, Ladi Smith, and Corporate Affairs and Communications Directors, JTI, Vivian Ikem during JTI’s courtesy visit to LCCI in Lagos…. recently

Insecurity: Anambra Vigilance Group Decries Impersonation, Proliferation of Arms

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) has raised the alarm over the proliferation of arms in the state, saying that the organisation is being impersonated by some people who are not their members, but carry pump action rifles about.

In a press release by the spokesperson of the group, Nweke Nweke, AVG stated that

it has been infiltrated by some people who carry pump action rifles, but are not their members, some of who they said, use them nefariously.

Nweke in a press release made available to THISDAY in Awka yesterday said the group would henceforth arrest and prosecute those who impersonate them.

He warned those impersonating the local security outfit in all nooks

Ondo Residents Urged to Pray for Akeredolu’s Quick Recovery

FidelisDavidinAkure

The Commissioner who just represented Ondo State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Gbenga Edema, has urged all residents of the state, regardless of their faith and ethnicity, to offer their prayers for the quick and swift recovery of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who is currently on medical leave.

This is just as Edema extended his warmest greetings and prayers to Muslims in the state and across the country on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.

In a statement issued by his Spokesman, Dr. Tob Loko, which was made available to newsmen, Edema congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the celebration, stating that it is a time to reflect on the need for sacrifice, obedience and faith in Allah.

According to the erstwhile lawmaker, Eid-el-Kabir is an opportunity for Muslims to renew their faith and commitment to Allah and to emulate the exemplary characters of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son, Ismail (AS), who demonstrated obedience and sacrifice in their devotion to Allah.

Bello Flags Off Construction of 13km Road in Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

As part of the continuation of his developmental strides in the state, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has flagged off the reconstruction of the 13.71 kilometers Itakpe-Kabba JunctionTotal road in Okene, Kogi Central senatorial district of the state.

The governor, while flagging of the road project, reassured the people of Kogi Central and the state in general that he would stop at nothing to ensure that he

and crannies of the state to make an urgent u-turn or face the dire consequence. He said: “It has become imperative to warn those that

armpit pump action guns under the umbrella of AVG, but are not known to the Homeland Security Ministry nor the operational wing of the outfit to refrain from such

activities with immediate effect.

“We call for urgent identificationcum authentication of all vigilante men working across the state.

“It has become imperative,

owing to the danger the operations of the none-recognised pump action gun bearer(s) pose in tackling the insecurity in Anambra State.”

Group Urges FG to Promote Capitalism for Improved Economy

Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt

An international organization, Liberty International, in partnership with the School of Graduate Studies, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), has called on Nigerians to embrace and promote capitalism for improved economy.

The group made the call yesterday during its one-day public lecture with the theme: “10 Fallacies of Anti-capitalist and what people in Nigerian think about capitalism,” held in Port Harcourt.

The African Representative of the Liberty International, Mr. Roland Dappa, said the aim of the

workshop was to create awareness on the need to promote the ideas of capitalism and also disabuse the minds of people who think that capitalism is bad.

Dappa said the workshop would also provide the reasons why capitalism should be adopted to improve the economy of the country

and welfare of the people. He urged government to make policies that would benefit the country, explore international trade policies and its benefits to the nation, also ensure opening of boarders to enable citizens enjoy ease of doing business with other neighbouring countries.

Makinde: We’ll Double our Pace in Developing Oyo

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, said his administration will double its pace on the path to attaining sustainable development in the state.

Governor Makinde made this

known yesterday, while playing host to Muslim leaders in the government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, who visited him in his house on the occasion of 2023 Ileya festival. The governor, who appreciated the Muslim community in

Oyo State for standing by his administration during Omituntun 1.0, promised to roll out the names of some new appointees very soon.

He said: “First, I want to thank the Almighty (Allah) for keeping all of us up until this moment; for us to witness another Sallah.

“About three months ago, we were all still out there campaigning and some people tried to sow the seed of division by introducing religion into the politics in Oyo State. But thankfully, they failed as our people did not listen to them, and we have a united Oyo State.

Oyebanji is Doing Well, He Deserves Our Support, Says Ekiti PDP Chieftain

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Lere Olayinka, has said that the State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, needs all the concentration he desired

to remain on the path of good governance that he has started. Olayinka, who was the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 in the last general election, said gone were the days of politics

delivers quality infrastructure to all parts of the state.

Bello explained that although the road is a federal road, due to the economic importance of the road to the people of the state as well as commuters who travel through the state, he would construct it.

He said “From this point to Kabba Junction to Total, spanning 13.7 kilometers, it is a federal road, and over the years, we have made a lot of requests to the previous administration and it all fell into deaf ears.”

Kano Residents Benefit from Fidelity Bank’s Food Initiative

Over 1,000 residents made up of women, children, widows and elderly men have benefited from a two-day feeding programme organised by Fidelity Bank in Kano State.

The event, which took place on Tuesday in Kabuga Satellite Town, Kano, was executed in partnership with the Misnoory Foundation and saw beneficiaries take home packs of food items containing rice, gari, tomato paste and meat to celebrate the Sallah season.

Speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc,

Meksley Nwagboh, noted that the event was an initiative under the social welfare pillar of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillar created to support the vulnerable and alleviate hunger in the society.

He further explained that the nationwide event is taking place under the auspices of the Fidelity Food Bank initiative.

“The Fidelity Food Bank Initiative is a CSR initiative that seeks to reduce the effects of extreme poverty by distributing food items to communities in need.

of bitterness that held Ekiti State down for a long period, adding that “As for me, Governor Oyebanji is doing well and I won’t be blinded by politics not to acknowledge that.”

Speaking during a meeting with some PDP leaders in

Ado Ekiti yesterday, he said those who abandoned the party during the last year governorship election and this year’s general elections cannot be the ones to take the front stage and act as spokespersons of the party.

Imo ADC Guber Candidate, Okoroma, Inaugurates Campaign Council

Amby UnezeinOwerri

The governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Imo State, Prof. James Okoroma,has formally inaugurated the local government campaign council of the party towards taking over the State in the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

Okoroma also declared his resolve to bring back enduring peace and security to Imo if elected governor of the State.

The governorship campaign council included the ones in charge of the three zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri as well as the campaign coordinators in the 27 Local Government Areas

of the State. Okoroma said that days are gone when people elect a leader who in turn do away with peace, respect and security of lives and properties of the citizens of the state.

He said that for peace to reign in the state, there must be need to employ conventional approach whereby everyone would be

involved in a round table including the aggrieved ones, the youths and the elderly to talk rather than adopt method of killing them.

The ADC guber candidate blamed the kind of leadership that are elected for societal and moral decay leading to lack of respect and insecurity in the land.

Emenike Enjoins Muslims to Make Sacrifices for National Growth

The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, has called on Muslims to sustain the spirit of sacrifices for the good of the

country as they celebrate this year’s Eid-el Kabir. Emenike, who made the call in his Sallah message to Muslims, implored them to continue to pray for peace and unity of Nigeria. He tasked them to look deeper into the essence of the Eid-el Kabir and apply its significance to their

obligations to the Nigerian state and to fellow citizens irrespective of tribe and religion.

According to him, “You are commemorating an event rooted in willingness to sacrifice as an act of obedience; this, therefore, is a call for every Nigerian to put the country first in every course

of action, policy or legislation.”

The Abia APC leader noted that Nigerians have been making sacrifices for the growth of their fatherland any time they were called upon to do so. Nonetheless, he added that they should not get weary as the job of nation building is not done yet.

FG’s Renewed Fight against Drug/Substance Abuse Hailed

GideonArinze inEnugu

A non-governmental organisation, the David Folaranmi Foundation, has commended the federal government for its renewed commitment in the fight against drug/substance abuse, especially among young Nigerians.

The foundation also said there was the need for improved collaboration among the government, private sector, NGOs, and faith-based organisations to completely rid the country of drug abuse.

The Founder of the Foundation, David Folaranmi, made this known yesterday in Enugu during a one-

day symposium against drug/ substance abuse among youths, with the theme: ‘Addressing the Drug PandemicAmong Our Youths: The Way Out’.

In his address, Folaranmi said the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the leadership of Buba Marwa had

invested a lot in tackling the scourge of drug abuse in Nigeria. He said: “However, we cannot leave it for the federal and state governments alone. “There is a need for everybody to join in this noble fight to rescue our youths from the negative consequences of drug/substance abuse.”

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Oshoala: Super Falcons Will Exceed Expectations at World Cup

Femi Solaja

Multi-times African Footballer of the Year winner, Asisat Oshoala, has assured Nigerian football fans that the Super Falcons will excel beyond the expectations of many as the team nears final preparation for the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals scheduled for next month in Australia and New Zealand.

TRANSFER NEWS...

HAVERTZ

Arsenal yesterday completed the signing of Germany forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea on a five-year deal until 2028 for £65m.

The 24-year-old spent three years at Stamford Bridge after joining from Bayer Leverkusen for £71m.

The fee for Havertz, who scored nine goals for the Blues last season, could rise with add-ons.

Havertz has scored 19 goals in 91 Premier League appearances and hit the winner in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.

He moves across London as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his Arsenal side following qualification for the Champions League after a six-year absence.

In a statement on his social media channels, Havertz said it was "with a heavy heart" that he was saying goodbye to Chelsea's fans.

"A big thank you for all your support, we achieved a dream of winning the Champions League together," he added.

MADDISON

Tottenham have signed England midfielder James Maddison on a five-year deal for £40m from Leicester City.

The 26-year-old has won three caps for England and helped the Foxes claim the FA Cup for the first time in their history in 2021.

He made 203 appearances for Leicester after joining from Norwich in 2018 for a fee of around £20m.

Maddison scored 10 Premier League goals last term but was unable to prevent the club from slipping to relegation.

Coventry-born Maddison scored 55 goals and provided 41 assists for the Foxes and his creativity will be a welcome addition to a Spurs squad that has lacked a top-class playmaker since the departure of Christian Eriksen in 2020.

MENDY

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has left Chelsea after three years to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.

Mendy, 31, is the latest high profile player to move to the country and follows former Blues teammates Kalidou Koulibalyand N'Golo Kantewho left the during this transfer window.

He won the Champions League in 2020-21 and kept 49 clean sheets in 105 games. Mendy was later named UEFA’s goalkeeper of the season and Best FIFA Men’s keeper for 2021.

He joined the Blues from French side Rennes in 2020 and was part of the Senegal side to win the Africa Cup of Nations. He made the decisive save in the penalty shootout to help his country beat Egypt.

Duro Ikhazuagbe

One of Nigeria’s former flamboyant boxers, Jerry Okorodudu, 64, died yesterday in Lagos.

The former boxer turned coach died while awaiting surgery to amputate his left leg made gangrene by foot ulcer.

He battled diabetes and high blood pressure for years with little support coming his way from the authorities he served with his youth.

His widow, Mrs Adenike Okorodudu confirmed the death of the former boxer fondly called ‘Urhobo Loud Mouth’ at the prime of his career.

Okorodudu was a Bronze Medalist at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. He was controversially edged out at the quarterfinals of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles on 3-2 split decision by North

said the narrative has changed going by the mind-set of the players in the team because everyone knows what is at

But

stake and will not want to let the nation down at this crucial stage.

“The narratives have changed now and we have many experienced players who are determined to use this global tournament to boost the fame of the nation and as well lift their respective blossoming careers.

“We want to go out there in Green-White-Green colour of Nigeria and make millions of Nigerians proud.

“We did not make it in the past beyond the group stage but the mind-set is quite different now going by the bonding in the team. I won’t be too optimistic of Nigeria winning the cup in August but we can go all the way to the final match which is not impossible.

“A target of semi final is a good one but at every stage of the tournament brings fresh challenges and we want to key ourselves in that contest,” she pointed out.

On her success with Barcelona Femeni and second UEFA Champions League success, she said it was a feeling that is still fresh in mind but attributes it to hard work and dedication.

“It is not easy to be two goals down and come back to win, but we achieved it and it was also on record that we were runner-up in the same tournament twice in the space of three years.

“However, the victory of last month no doubt had wiped off the sad memories of previous setbacks and I am looking forward to more glorious days with my team and my challenge now is that of Super Falcons who with the rest of my mates will aim to shock the world.

“My teammates are already waiting for me and eager to celebrate my European success with them and I will be glad to do so as well going by the conversations on-going on our WhatsApp platform.

“I can’t wait to reunite with all of them as we prepare to face the other best teams from other continents. I want to call on the media to do more for our women teams.

“Its unfortunate that the Super Eagles missed out at the last World Cup finals in Qatar but with the Falcons ready to go all the way, I had expected that banners and other outdoor communication would have been all over the places but I was wrong and hoped in future tournaments things will change for the better,” she noted.

She however expressed gratitude to corporate bodies and wellmeaning individuals supporting women football compared to when she was coming up because today many young talents out there will have role models to look up to.

Suspense Heightens as Naija Super 8 Wildcards

Unveiling, Draw Hold Today

Flykite Productions, organisers of the Naija Super 8, have announced that the two wildcard teams selected to participate in the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8 and the tournament draw will be unveiled today in a live broadcast show at the SuperSport Studios in Lagos.

According to the statement issued yesterday, the two wildcard teams were selected

Former Nigerian Boxer, Jerry Okorodudu,

Korean Sun Sho. It was at that edition of the Olympic Games Peter Konyegwachie won Silver in the Featherweight category.

Okorodudu who began his boxing career winning gold medal for Bendel State at the National Sports Festival, Oluyole ‘79, had 83 Amateur fights and 40 Professional boxing bouts.

He returned to Nigeria from the United States of America when his boxing career failed to thrive as he had conceived. He got engaged as a national team boxing coach until the appointment was controversially terminated.

Although not confirmed, there were speculations in sports circles last night that the Lagos hospital where he died has refused to release Okorodudu’s corpse to his family for interment until the settlement of outstanding bills in the region of over N1million.

Passes on

based on stringent criteria that would be revealed alongside the tournament draw ceremony live on Africa Sports On at 7pm on SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv ch. 209) and SuperSport Select 2 (GOtv ch. 64).

Managing Director, Flykite Productions, Jenkins Alumona, assured football stakeholders that the wildcard teams will complement the clubs that have already qualified for Naija Super 8 finals through the play-offs, which ended at the Eket Township Stadium on Sunday.

The qualified clubs include: Lobi Stars, Remo Stars, Yobe Desert Stars, Enyimba Football Club, Katsina United and Rivers United.

“This tournament remains committed to providing football fans an ultimate stadium experience and this is why we have prudently selected two wildcard teams that will strengthen the quality of the tournament and play exciting football that would enrich the stadium experience for the fans using stringent parameters that will be explained at the draws.

“From what we saw at the play-off games, I am excited about this tournament and I can assure the fans that they are set for unrivalled local football experience when Naija Super 8 tournament commences,” Alumona was quoted as saying.

Naija Super 8 tournament will be held at Lagos' Mobolaji Johnson Arena from July 7-16. The games, which will feature musical performances by top Afrobeats acts, will broadcast live on SuperSport.

Naija Super 8 is organised by Flykite Productions in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria and sponsors, MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi and Custodian Assurance.

The Super Falcons will play host, Australia, Canada and Republic of Ireland at the group phase and will aim to cross the mandatory three-

match into the knockout stage, a feat last achieved in I999 in USA when the team was eliminated in the quarter finals by Brazil.

yesterday, Oshoala

Asisat Oshoala...optimistic Super Falcons will deliver at the World Cup next month

The late Okorodudu

Baba-Ahmed to Former Governors

Quiteafewofourstategovernorsseemtothinkthatthepathofprogressisto demolishapasterectedbypredecessors,whodidnotbelievethattheywillleavetheir entirelegaciesatthemercyofbitterpoliticalopponents.Itseemsgovernorswho thoughttheyhadpowerstodojustaboutanythingtheydesiredhadnotreckoned withexpirydateswhensuccessorswillinvokethesamepowerstoundothemand their deeds—RetiredfederalPermanentSecretary,DrHakeemBaba-Ahmed

The Power Game in Freetown

The Lungi International Airport in Sierra Leone is constructed across an estuary, so most passengers access the capital city of Freetown through the ocean in a journey that takes between 35 minutes to an hour. Seated by my side last Friday evening was the YIAGA Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo, who married less than a month ago. Perhaps because it is a journey that he has undertaken several times in his sojourn across the continent, observing elections, Itodo seemed more amused than worried by what was happening around him. This despite his sensing that I was as troubled as many other passengers. Chuckling, Itodo said, “I bet most of the people here are worried because they are thinking about the OceanGate tragedy”, in reference to the Titan submersible that claimed the lives of all onboard while on expedition to the Titanic. But we survived!

I arrived Freetown last Friday for the 2023 general election in Sierra Leone where the presidency, 135 parliamentary seats, 22 Mayor/ Chairmen of Council and 493 councilors were to be contested. Not surprisingly, attention was mostly on the presidential election where the incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) was seeking a second term. Standing in his way were 12 other candidates, including Dr Samura Kamara of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC).

Five years ago, President Ernest Bai Koroma was constitutionally ineligible, having served the maximum two-terms of ten years (plus an extraconstitutional year due to delay in conducting the election) in office. He endorsed his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamara—who had also served as Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor—as candidate of the then ruling APC. No winner emerged at the end of the first round, although Bio led with 43.2 percent of the votes while Kamara secured 42.6 percent. The margin between them was just 14,734 votes. Kandeh Yumkella of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) came third with 6.86 percent of the votes. The remaining ten candidates made no significant impact at the poll. Since no candidate met the Constitutional provision of 55 percent votes to be declared elected in the first round, a runoff poll was subsequently held. Bio won with 51.8% of the votes.

With this year’s election pitching Bio and Kamara against each other again, it was always going to be a grudge match. And it was. Problems began when the mid-term population and housing census was conducted in December 2021. Prior to the exercise, opposition parties in the country had ganged up to challenge the motivation behind it. They alleged that the real intention of President Bio was political, essentially to redraw constituency boundaries ahead of this year’s general election. At the end, the outcome of the census left more questions than answers.

That was the background to the distrust of the electoral process that started long before the first ballot was cast last weekend. In his piece in the Sierra Leone Telegraph last September, Andrew Keili wrote that “There is little doubt that the SLPP prefers the use of the 2021 midterm census results for delineating boundaries and constituencies. The APC prefers the 2015 census results.” Keili then explained how a tool for planning became a weapon in the hands of Sierra Leonean politicians. “The census conducted during the tenure in governance of each party tends to give it an advantage in number of people

in party strongholds and accusations of ‘census fixing’ have now become the norm. We don’t seem to agree on how we should be counted and on our numbers.”

I bet one can say the same thing about Nigeria. Like our country, there is a strong ethno-regional divide in Sierra Leone. The main base of the opposition APC is in the North-west while that of the ruling SLPP is in the Southeast. Going by figures from the 2015 census when the APC was in power, the Northwest had a population of 56.2 to 43.8 for the Southeast. That gap between the two geo-political regions has been closed by the controversial 2021 census figures conducted by the current SLPP government. The Northwest now has 50.01 of the population leaving the Southeast with 49.99 of the population.

The acrimony and mutual suspicions from the census were carried to the registration of voters and eventually to the general elections last Saturday. Two weeks ago, Kamara called on the international community to intervene. “Enough is enough; we need international commissioners to conduct June 24, 2023 elections,” he said while calling for the resignation of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) Chairman, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh. The main grievance of Kamara and his party was that in all previous elections in Sierra Leone, ECSL used to release a comprehensive disaggregated data to all political parties and other important election stakeholders for review. Not this time.

With the slogan, ‘NO DATA, NO ELECTION’, APC supporters demanded that voting with registration slips should be allowed as against the ECSL position that only those with voter ID card could vote. The allegation was that during the distribution exercise, numerous voters in the Northwest regions (the APC stronghold) could not collect their cards, which could leave them disenfranchised. The APC protesters also called for manual counting of results by districts. Both requests were eventually granted and on the eve of the election, Kamara told protesters who were essentially his supporters: “Go home and prepare to vote on Saturday but you have to protect your votes.”

The election last Saturday had many of the

logistical challenges we grapple with in Nigeria. It was largely peaceful, though the opposition complained about lack of transparency in the manner results were being processed by the ECSL and highhandedness by security officials. On Monday, a top Sierra Leonean official visited me and sought my opinion on the election. I knew it was a tricky question, but I refused to dissemble. “If you are interested in my honest opinion, let me say straightaway that I believe the president is likely to win this election based on my projections from the people I have spoken to. I think he will secure more than half the total votes cast. But I don’t believe he can make the 55 percent mark so the election will go to a runoff...”

There was a sharp interjection of “No, no, no. We don’t want a runoff and there will not be one. The president will win on the first ballot.” I wasn’t surprised by the reaction. On many of the campaign billboards in Freetown, the inscription was about ‘No runoff poll’. Every government official I spoke to seemed obsessed about winning the election on the first ballot. It was just not about victory for the president, he had to do it without a runoff. Yet my projections tallied with that of the National Election Watch (NEW), a coalition of hundreds of registered civil society and non-governmental organisations, established in 2002 to observe and monitor the fairness, transparency, and credibility of public elections in the country.

For the 2023 elections, NEW claimed to have deployed 6,000 observers across the country, covering every polling centre. “Out of these observers, 750 were specially trained and deployed to a statistically representative sample of polling stations across all the 5 regions and 16 districts in Sierra Leone using the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology.”

After a disaggregation of the results data by districts from both the ‘partial’ result released on Monday (which they confirmed to be credible) and the final one released on Tuesday, NEW made this point: “The total valid ballots cast as announced by the ECSL for the first batch of results (representing 60% of polling stations) shows an average of 269 valid voters per polling

station, while the second batch (representing 40% of polling stations) has an average of only 188 valid votes per polling station.”

Using all the parameters to crunch the numbers from the data provided by the ECSL in the two instances, the projection of NEW is that President Bio could not have secured more than 53 percent of the votes while Kamara could not have secured more than 49 percent. The implication therefore is that no candidate would meet the 55 percent threshold required to avoid a runoff. In fact, shortly before the president was declared re-elected on Tuesday, NEW released a statement saying, “Based on our PRVT findings and the ECSL data announced thus far, we are confident that once all votes are counted with integrity, voter turnout will be 77.3% +/- 1.7% (between 75.4% and 79%); and no candidate will reach the constitutional threshold of 55% of votes cast in the first round.” But, going by the ECSL final tally, Bio secured 1,566,932 votes representing 56.17 percent of the total votes cast while Kamara secured 1,148,262 votes, representing 41.16 percent of total votes cast.

With 2,800,691 voters representing 83 percent national turnout, the total number of valid votes cast last Saturday was put at 2,789,808 while the total number of invalid votes was 10,883. But Kamara, who on Monday described the electoral process as ‘daylight robbery’, has rejected the declaration. “It is a sad day for our beloved country,” he tweeted after the announcement. “It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy. These results are NOT credible, and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission. I will rise above this travesty, and I commit myself to continue the fight for a better Sierra Leone.”

But the president has already been sworn-in for a second term. In his acceptance speech on Tuesday, he extended a hand of fellowship to his “brother and foremost opposition leader”, asking Kamara to join him in the task of nationbuilding. While responding to the partial result 24 hours earlier he had spoken to the heart of the issue. “For our sakes, we must avoid all provocative and retaliatory actions”, President Bio said while urging Sierra Leoneans to avoid any action capable of inciting violence. “We built our democracy from the embers of war. We should each be resolved to never go back to that dark chapter of our country’s history.”

Five Election Observation Missions in Sierra Leone played critical roles before, during and after the polls by meeting with stakeholders to ensure peace. President Goodluck Jonathan leads the West African Elders Forum, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo chairs the Commonwealth Group, former Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hallemariam Desalegne Boshe, is head of the African Union (AU), former Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) president, Mohammed Ibn Chambas chairs its mission and Ms Evin Incir leads that of the European Union.

Before the release of partial results on Monday, President Jonathan had led these observers to meet with Konneh who assured them that he would release to the parties all disaggregated data before making his announcement. I confirmed that the ECSL chairman was true to his word. While announcing the winner on Tuesday, Konneh also provided the breakdown of results which have been uploaded on the commission’s website.

President Julius Maada BioSamura Kamara