THURSDAY 13TH JULY 2023

Tinubu Defends Subsidy Removal, Seeks N500bn Approval from House for Palliatives

Says policy to benefit majority of Nigerians Declares he's aware people going through hard times

Deji Elumoye, Ndubuisi Francis and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday defended his decision to remove petrol subsidy, just as yesterday, he requested the House of Representatives to amend the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act in

order to accommodate N500 billion for palliatives to vulnerable Nigerians. The president in a letter addressed

to the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajuudeen, which was read at plenary yesterday, said the amendment was

Alleged N13.5bn Debt: You Lied, There Was No Supreme Court Judgement in Your Favour, Honeywell Group Replies Ecobank... Page 8

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GOVERNORS OF CLASS 99 VISIT TINUBU...

L-R: Former governors Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Orji Kalu (Abia), Bisi Akande (Osun), and Segun Osoba (Ogun); Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Governor George Akume (Benue); President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former governors Lucky Igbenedion (Edo), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom) and Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); L-R from the rear: Former governors Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Donald Duke (Cross River), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi), Yerima Ahmed Sani (Zamfara), Attahiru Bafarawa (Kano) and James Ibori (Delta), during the courtesy visit of governors of ’99 class to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

Military OffensivePlansagainst Terrorists, Bandits in Zamfara, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue

Continued on page 10

Komolafe: There’s Now Regulatory Certainty in Oil, Gas Sector

Says oil rigs count on the rise, now 25 Reveals $880m, 40% of $2.2bn lost to crude oil metering errors in 2022

NNPC: Nigeria expecting $20bn FDIs in upstream oil, gas sector by 2024 Country redeems $500m Eurobond obligation to international creditors

IOCs demand fiscal incentives, enabling business environment

yesterday, announced that the gradual return of investments to the upstream sector has led to the increase of the

RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT...

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)

Continued on page 10

The Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol (left) being welcomed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

Ndubuisi Francis, Emmanuel Addeh, Peter Uzoho and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The military high command, yesterday, hinted at plans to launch a comprehensive military offensive against non-state actors responsible for killings in Zamfara, Plateau, and Benue states, as well as Southern

MALALA VISITS PRESIDENTIAL VILLA...

Oil Companies Urge Gencos to Offset $1bn Gas Supply Debts to Restore Confidence Industry regulator says new price regime ready

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Oil majors operating in the country yesterday called on the federal government to compel electricity Generation Companies (Gencos) to offset the about $1 billion legacy gas debts owed them.

However, the generation companies have several times called on the federal government to pay all the debts owed them, apparently to enable them liquidate their creditors' debts.

Speaking through the Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Richard Kennedy at the opening of the ‘Decade of Gas’ secretariat at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority office in Abuja, the operators said the payment will help restore confidence in the sector.

Kennedy, who was represented by the Joint Venture Director of the company, Mr. Cosmas Iwueze, also assured of the companies’ support for the initiative which ends in 2030.

In all, the decade of gas policy is expected to deliver 10 projects that would significantly impact the economy in which the government’s target is to attract $14 billion in foreign direct investment, raise $12 billion in revenue through royalties and taxes, and create two million jobs during the period.

“The decade of gas is to ensure that we re-establish investors’ confidence in the industry. You do this by ensuring that all the legacy debts owed to the industry operators

are paid and also ensuring that we have a cost-reflective gas pricing,” Kennedy added.

According to him, when that is done, the fiscal incentives must be very clear and would thereafter apply to all other projects while the industry must also get the infrastructure to bring them to the market right.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the development of gas was a priority programme for the current administration.

“It’s been a long journey with gas in this country. We have gone from being a major exporter of LNG to looking into our future when gas is going to play a big role in the industrialisation of our country,” she noted.

She also said the government was determined to resolve all the legacy issues that had bedevilled the industry and therefore attract investment into the gas sector.

The Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, said as part of efforts to make the gas supply to power sector attractive, a new gas price regime would be announced soon after the approval by the president.

He added that the decade of gas declaration by the federal government was a deliberate effort to ensure that between 2021 and 2030, gas would become the main source of energy in the country.

Farouk noted that to make the project successful, the government put together a team of stakeholders

composed of the oil companies (sponsors group), and government agencies regulating the sector.

“The new price of gas will be revealed after further consultations and approval from the president. We need a price that gas is sold to power and to industry at a level that incentivises the producers to invest in the sector and so that they

can produce more gas,” he stressed.

He noted that the authority had already engaged the relevant stakeholders like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the matter.

He added that NMDPRA had also consulted the commercial sector that have all aligned with the new pricing template.

“Recently we have been engaging with all the stakeholders in arriving at the domestic price for gas.

“Very soon after the review with the Adviser today (Wednesday), we want to release the new price for the sector.

“We have consulted with NERC. We have consulted with the commercial sector and we have all

aligned on the pricing and today we want to release the new price,” he stated.

The Coordinator of the Decade of Gas Centre, Mr Ed Ubong, who also spoke at the event, also aligned with the stakeholders reasoning that the Lagos debts have to be settled to make considerable progress in the sector.

Dakolo: Big Interest Groups Responsible for Continuous Oil Theft in Nigeria

Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos

The Chairman, Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, Bubaraye Dakolo yesterday, argued that highly placed Nigerians with deep interest in oil exploration, were responsible for the continuous theft of the nation’s crude oil, and not the errand boys that were arrested.

Dakolo yesterday, accused the federal government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), for turning their eyes away from the real oil thieves and chasing shadows, in order to divert attention.

Dakolo, who spoke as a guest on the ‘Morning Show’ on Arise News Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, faulted

the recent destruction of MT Tura II oil vessel in Warri, Delta State that was arrested last week on the Nigerian coast with full loaded stolen crude oil.

According to him, apart from the monumental waste on the part of the government in the destruction of the fully loaded vessel with crude oil right inside the coast of Nigeria, both the oil and the vessel would contaminate the water and pose serious health hazards for the Niger Delta people who carry out fishing activities inside the water.

He said this would be the second time the federal government would arrest and destroy oil vessel on the coast of the country, after the first destruction was carried out in 2022. He described the action as uncivilized, saying it would lead to total destruction of the

Keyamo: Igbo Elite Shouldn’t Be Blamed for Escalating Violence in South-east

Emmanuel

Addeh in Abuja

Former Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN) yesterday maintained that the current violence in the South-east should not be blamed on Igbo elders. He stated on his Twitter handle that it was understandable that many of the Igbo elite were n r speaking up because of their personal safety and the safety of their families.

“I think it is time to call a spade, a

spade: the simple reason the elites in the South-east are finding it difficult to speak out against those killing and dehumanising their own people in the East is the fear of reprisal attacks against their own properties and family members back home by these ‘unknown gunmen’.

"I have spoken to my friends privately and they have admitted this much. Let’s not put unnecessary pressure on these elites. It’s a difficult situation for them. Their silence does not mean support for

what is happening there,” the former minister of state of the Niger Delta ministry added.

Keyamo stated that it is the responsibility of the federal government to restore law and order in all parts of the country, adding that he was absolutely certain the government of President Bola Tinubu will do it.

“Besides, we cannot isolate a region and its elites in a country where we see ourselves as one. It is our collective responsibility to

assist the FG in restoring order nationwide.

“The only thing I ask is that these same elites must either now be silent or totally support the efforts of the federal government (be it military or otherwise) in restoring order to that region.

“ When they initially kicked against operation ‘PYTHON DANCE’ in the East, little did they know that the situation would degenerate to this level of savagery. Now, they know,” he added.

evidences that would have been used to prosecute the actual oil thieves in a competent court of law.

“It baffles me as a Nigerian that our law enforcement agencies do not know when large volume of crude oil is loaded into vessels from oil terminals, which takes days and weeks to load, and the vessel will be intercepted on the same Nigerian coast only after it has been fully loaded and sailing out of the coast.

“Nigeria has lost over 1.6 million barrels of crude oil, which amounts to well over $1 million, which is in billions of naira, to the recent oil vessel destruction. The 1.6 million barrels of crude that was destroyed with the vessel, is approximately what Nigeria produces in a day for the international market, and it was destroyed in such an uncivilised manner, thus bringing huge loss to Nigeria at a time when the country is in need of money,” Dakolo said.

He further said the NNPC staff members were supposed to know when the loading of the oil vessel was going on at the oil terminal, adding that law enforcement agencies are always positioned at loading bays, yet they would turn away their eyes from the real oil thieves and continue to chase shadows who are supposed to be errand boys for the real oil thieves.

He called on the federal government to put a stop to oil vessel destruction, insisting that the effect of the destruction will poison the waters and kill people with strange diseases.

“The real oil thieves are those who have oil blocks and oil gulf, who have houses in Banana Island

in Lagos, Asokoro area in Abuja, and also in the US, and in the UK. Such persons cannot pass the night in the creeks of the Niger Delta, but will be using errand boys to continue to steal our common wealth. Government knows who the real oil thieves are and should go after them. What they do is to find ways of releasing their errand boys after each arrest,” Dakola said.

He alleged that the government deliberately destroyed the oil vessel, just to do away with proof of evidence in order to set the real oil thieves free from any complexities. Reacting to the development where the federal government uses private security agents who are not professionally trained to guard oil pipelines and the Nigerian waterways, Dakolo argued that Nigeria lost it the moment it started contracting the protection of oil wells and oil pipelines to private persons who have no business in government.

“The action of the government shows that it has lost confidence in security agents, but I will strongly advise the government to fix the Nigeria economy and make naira as strong as the dollar in order to deter people from vandalising oil pipes,” Dakolo further said. He therefore advised the government to equip the Customs, Navy, Airforce, and the Police and make them capable of doing their job effectively.

He said the government could stop oil theft if it actually wanted to do so and put an end to the game, but lamented that the government was not ready to end the game because those involved are still connected to the government.

L-R: United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Amina Mohammed; Pakistani Female Education Activist, Malala Yousafzai; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Malala ‘s Father, Ziauddin Yousafzai and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, during Malala's visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja …yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

INAUGURATION OF NEWLY APPROVED LAGOS COUNCIL OF OBAS...

FG: New Trade, Investment Policies to Boost Growth, Economic Development

stakeholders hail move

James Emejo in Abuja

The federal government yesterday said the launch of the country’s first trade and investment policies would boost the local economy and facilitate increased foreign and domestic trade.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, DR. Evelyn Ngige, stated this at the opening of the stakeholder’s sensitisation workshop on the maiden Nigeria Investment Policy (NINP) and Trade Policy (NTP) in Abuja.

On May 10, 2023, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the implementation of the first Nigeria Investment Policy (2023-2027) and

the review of the Trade Policy of Nigeria (2023 -2027).

Both policy documents marked the beginning of a new era in Nigeria’s investment climate of our country. Ngige said both frameworks represented significant milestones in the journey for economic growth and development. She stressed that the ministry remained committed to improving the domestic investment and business environment in order to position the country as one of the world's preferred investment destinations. She pointed out that the development of the first investment policy as well as the review of the country’s trade policy were useful outcomes of the sustained efforts of the ministry.

The NInP focuses on three pillars namely investment promotion, investment facilitation, and sustainable development, with the objectives to develop the investment policy framework, especially fast-tracking the process of Nigeria’s economic diversification, improving investment and business climate to attract both domestic and foreign direct investment.

The policy also seeks to improve investors’ experience and confidence through ensuring compliance with global best practices, while generating inclusive domestic growth for employment generation and wealth creation.

On the other hand, the review of the TPN was aimed towards the

alignment of the document with emerging issues in global trade and Nigeria's long-term goals of economic diversification, increased investment, employment generation, wealth creation, inclusive growth, sustainable development and export expansion.

Represented by the Director, Policy, Planning, Research and Strategies in the ministry, Mr. Babagana Alkali, the permanent secretary added that the TPN represented a comprehensive approach to addressing existing challenges and creating a competitive trade-enabling environment.

Essentially, the TPN 2023-2027 seeks to promote trade as a catalyst for economic growth and development and recognises the positive

Shettima: Tinubu’s Govt’ll Accord Priority Attention to Girl-child Education, Gender Empowerment

Receives UN deputy scribe, Mohammed, Malala, at State House

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has given an assurance that the Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to the issues of girl-child education and gender empowerment.

Shettima further assured that Tinubu would also promote same issues in the policies and programmes of the federal government, under his watch.

The vice president, according to a statement issued yesterday, by the Director of Information in his office, Mr. Olusola Abiola, stated this in his remarks while playing host to a delegation from the United Nations, led by the UN Deputy Secretary-General (UNDSG) and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, Mrs. Amina Mohammed. Mohammed, was accompanied on the visit by the Co-Founder Malala Fund, Ms. Malala Yousafzai and other officials.

Shettima reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to issues of education and empowerment of women, noting that “President Tinubu is fully and unequivocally committed to the girl-child education and gender empowerment initiatives,” he added.

According to him, “the SDGs goals 4 and 5 will be vigorously pursued by the present administration. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

is a passionate and committed advocate of girl-child education. He believes in the empowerment of our women. He believes that the prosperity, the respect of every society is directly proportional to the way they treat their women folk.”

The vice president then commended the UNDSG and the Co-founder of Malala Fund for their efforts in promoting girl-child education among other initiatives.

“Amina Mohammed stands today as a symbol of hope for the African woman for her resilience, commitment and disposition and most importantly in her integrity. She is an oasis of hope in an unending ocean of poverty and depravity, while Malala as an icon of hope and change in a despairing world,” Shettima noted.

He assured the Malala Fund of the federal government’s partnership with the organisation for the greater good of Nigeria.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the UNDSG, Amina Mohammed and Co-Founder of Malala Fund, Malala Yousafzai, commended the federal government for their efforts in promoting goals 4 and 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, observing progress in the areas of gender equity and education of girls across the country.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting with the President, Mohammed, said she came around with Ms Yousafzai so her story

and influence could be exploited to strengthen education, especially for the girl-child in the country.

Her words: "Ten years ago, Malala made her speech at the UN. She is the UN Peace Messenger. This time around you decided on her 10-year anniversary she wanted to make the advocacy for education here in this country. We have large number of out-of-school children.

"We know that the quality of education is not what every child should have in this country and

an advocacy to an administration that is coming in; that believes in education, is an important timing.

"So, her voice, her inspiration, not just to government, but the rest of society, to governors that we met yesterday, is extremely important as this administration begins its journey of the next four years".

On her part, Yousefzai, said her message to the Nigerian government was a call for free and quality education for every child in the country.

impact of trade on competitiveness, employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction as well as aligns with domestic policies that enhance productivity, macroeconomic stability and promote good governance.

Also speaking at the workshop, Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr. Ezra Yakusak, said the engagement with stakeholders came at an appropriate time when there is the need for innovative approach to maximize the vast potentials in the country for economic inclusiveness and sustainable growth.

He said although the concept of export and investment promotion are seemingly at variance, a critical examination of the two concepts clearly indicates that they are closely connected and critical to the development of any nation.

Yakusak, stressed that an effective investment policy plays a crucial role in promoting export growth by creating a conducive environment for both domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI), supports exportoriented industries, builds critical infrastructures to stimulate export activities, creates opportunity for foreign markets access and promotes technological development.

He said these elements were critical catalysts that propels economic development which the new policy seeks to achieve.

He added, “We at the NEPC will support any policy or instrument that will positively change the trade trajectory of the nation and bring about foreign exchange earnings, job creation and economic

diversification.”

On her part, Director, Investment Promotion Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Gertrude Orji, said the approval came at a time when the country is making concerted efforts to achieve economic recovery and growth.

She said, “You are all aware that before now, Nigeria did not have a single comprehensive document on Investment policy, all that was in place were Investment related laws and regulations of MDAs and agencies.

“In 2018, the immediate past Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, having realized the need for the country to have a holistic and link-based Investment policy document, approved that the Department of Investment Promotion should develop a detailed and sustainable investment policy that will provide a comprehensive roadmap for boosting domestic, regional and international investment in Nigeria.”

She also explained that the process of reviewing the 2002 Trade Policy of Nigeria began in 2011, having realized the need to align with the current trend of the global and domestic economy.

She said the workshop therefore seeks to sensitize stakeholders and the general public on these two policies and their implications for the trade and investment environment in Nigeria.

This is as the organised private sector representatives including NACCIMA, also commended the launch of the policy documents.

Researchers Develop 3D Bioprinting Technology for Eliminating Cancer Cells

dubuisi Francis in Abuja

A three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology capable of eliminating cancer cells using the function of immune cells has been developed for the first time in the world.

Through joint research with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), institute under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and ICT, developed a 3D bioprinting technology using natural killer cells (NK cells) as a new method of immunotherapy for treating cancer. The outcome of the research was announced on Biomaterials Research, a renowned journal.

According to the research, allowing the 3D-printed hydrogels to encapsulate NK cells helps to prevent the loss of NK cells and enables a majority of those cells to home in on the tumor cells. Pores form in the hydrogel, and NK cells that retain cell viability are released after a certain amount of time, which allows for the performance of immune functions.

Although NK cells are generally used for immunotherapy, the method of injecting NK cells via intravenous injection has not shown effective results in clinical trials on solid tumors. This is because NK cells are incapable of retaining an appropriate level of viability and fail to target solid tumors.

On the other hand, by using the newly developed technology, NK cells can be injected into the hydrogel, printed, and then cultured in a 3D environment, which enhances the cell viability and activity of NK cells and enables those cells to confront cancer tissues.

Principal Researcher Su A Park of KIMM was quoted as saying, "This technology can help to significantly improve the functionality of NK cells that are used for cancer treatment. We expect to contribute to the treatment of cancer patients through this newly developed technology." This research was carried out with the support of the project for the "Development of multiscalevasculature-laden skin composite tissue for evaluation of implantable

nano-bio-sensors" sponsored by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the project for the "development of UnTACT systems for critical illnesses" conducted by the Convergence Research Center of the National Research Council of Science and Technology.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) is a non-profit government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT. Since its establishment in 1976, KIMM is contributing to economic growth of the nation by performing R&D on key technologies in machinery and materials, conducting reliability test evaluation, and commercialising the developed products and technologies.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, during inauguration of newly approved Lagos State Council of Obas, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, ... yesterday

SIGNING OF N195.3BN CONTRACT FOR PORT HARCOURT RING ROAD PROJECT...

Alleged N13.5bn Debt: You Lied, There Was No Supreme Court Judgement in Your Favour, Honeywell Group Replies Ecobank

Obinna Chima

The Honeywell Group had responded to an allegation by Ecobank Nigeria Limited that it was indebted to the financial institution to the tune of N13.507 billion following a Supreme Court judgement, describing the allegation as completely false.

Honeywell, in a letter by its lawyers, Wole Olanipekun & Co, that was signed by Bode Olanipekun on behalf of the law firm, dated July 10, 2023, stressed that neither Dr. Oba Otudeko, nor the Honeywell Group was a party to the Supreme Court decision/proceedings.

It maintained that the Supreme Court did not at any time grant or award any claim in favour of Ecobank.

A copy of which was addressed to the Managing Director, FBN Holdings, obtained by THISDAY yesterday, also urged the parent company of FirstBank to ignore and decline the request by Ecobank that the holdco should reject the recent strategic investment in FBN Holdings by way of share purchase.

The Honeywell Group in its latest strategic investment in FBN Holdings through its affiliate company, Barbican Capital Limited, had last week purchased 4,770,269,843 FBN Holdings shares in a cross deal worth N87.8 billion. The company had also

said its investment in the holdco was to create value for shareholders.

Barbican is owned by Honeywell Group and Otudeko.

But piqued by the development, Ecobank Nigeria Limited through its lawyers, 'Kunle Ogunba & Associate had written to FBN Holdings, and had advised it against approving or accepting the investment due to outstanding “humongous indebtedness” by the company and its founder, Dr. Oba Otudeko.

Specifically, Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), alleged that the Honeywell Group and Otudeko were indebted to the bank to the tune of N13,507,052,417.99. It had further alleged that with the investment in FBN Holdings, Honeywell Group and Otudeko were diverting funds that ought to be for the repayment of the loan.

But in response to Ecobank, the Honeywell Group in the letter titled: "Re: Shares Belonging to Honeywell Group Limited, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Anchorage Limited, Siloam Global Services Limited and Dr. Oba Otudeko in FBN Holdings Plc or in Any Other Entity," described the claims by Ecobank as false.

It stated: "We (Wole Olanipekun) write at the instance of Dr. Oba Otudeko and Honeywell Group (our clients,), whose attention has been drawn to a letter dated 7th July,

2023 (written on the instruction of Ecobank Nig. Ltd.) with the above subject. "Even though the author(s) of the letter refused to deliver copies to our clients, and/or the other entities referred to in the letter (which has been widely circulated in the media space), it is our instruction to respond.

"Whereas, the letter falsely alleges that there was a decision of the Supreme Court in SC/CV/210/2021 made on 27th January, 2023, "affirming the indebtedness" of our clients and that the decision also "commanded" our above stated clients to perform certain acts, neither Dr. Oba Otudeko, nor Honeywell Group Plc was a party to the Supreme Court decision/proceedings and no order was made against them.

"Thus, the further statement in

the letter that "…..the actions being taken by Dr. Oba Otudeko is (sic) .... in order to frustrate the enforcement of the judgement of the Supreme Court against him" is without any factual or inferential basis arising from the express terms/contents of the judgement."

Honeywell noted that Ecobank was the defendant in the claim at the Federal High Court which culminated in the decision of the Supreme Court in SC/CV/210/2021. "The bank had no counterclaim right from the Federal High Court through to the Supreme Court and, naturally, the Supreme Court could not have, and, indeed did not grant or award any claim in favour of the bank.

"The sum of N13,507,052,417.99 (thirteen billion, five hundred and

seven million, fifty two thousand, four hundred and seventeen naira, ninety nine kobo) stated in Ecobank's letter is/was not contained in the Supreme Court decision or any extant Court decision in Nigeria or elsewhere.

"No order of court has also awarded the same or any judgement sum (as debt owed) at all in favour of Ecobank as a liability from our clients or any of the Honeywell companies."

It therefore urged the Managing Director of FBN Holdings to, "ignore and decline all the requests contained in the said letter." "As you are aware, the duties of the Chief Executive Officer of a financial institution are statutory and they do not extend to the various actions Ecobank's letter

requested you to perform, including but not limited to intervention in transactions between third parties on the Nigerian Exchange.

"The level of seriousness to be ascribed to the letter can easily be appreciated from its title which has referred to "Shares … in FBN Holdings Plc or in any other entity" as if the responsibilities of your office extend to the outfit(s) vaguely/nebulously referred to as "any other entity.

" We are convinced that you also appreciate the confidentiality obligations incumbent on your person, office and institution which are inconsistent with the requests in Ecobank's letter; especially when there is no express order of Court mandating such disclosures.

Benin Port: Edo NLC Hails Obaseki on Emergence of Preferred Bidder, Mota Engil Africa

Obaseki prioritising investment in health sector, says commissioner

In a statement, Edo NLC Chairman, Odion Olaye, while hailing Obaseki for the ambitious endeavour, said the project would open up various sectors of the state’s economy and provide thousands of jobs for Edo people, thus leading to a viral and productive economy.

Fasoranti Congratulates Tinubu as New ECOWAS Chair

Governors too

Chuks Okocha and Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The national leader of Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu, on his emergence as chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Pa Fasoranti also tasked the president to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians and that of members of the ECOWAS communities, even as governors of the 36 states of the federation have greeted the president, too. Fasoranti’s message was contained

in a press statement by the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi.

According to the statement, Pa Fasoranti expressed optimism that the president would use the opportunity he has as Nigerian President and Chairman of ECOWAS “to better the lot of Nigerians and uplift the conditions of the region’s citizens with a view to ensuring that Nigerians and Africans generally experience a new lease of life that everyone would be happy about.”

The statement also quoted Fasoranti as reminding the president of the welfarist ideas contained in his manifesto that he (Tinubu) shared with him when he visited him in

Akure in October, 2022.

“The ideas contained in the ‘Renewed Hope’ manifesto, if faithfully implemented, have the potential of enhancing the welfare of Nigerians, uplifting the status of our country and earn greater respect for our race among the global communities.”

On their part, the governors, in a statement by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said, "On behalf of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), I congratulate His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his emergence as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He noted, “We salute Your Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, on the remarkable achievement of the emergence of Mota Engil Africa, as the preferred bidder for the Benin Port Project.

“After a 75-year journey fraught with obstacles, the Benin Port Project is now poised for initiation, thanks to Your Excellency’s visionary leadership.

“This ambitious endeavor is set to revolutionise the state's economy, serving as a game-changer that propels Edo to new heights.

“This momentous milestone fills us with immense joy and pride. It will open up various sectors of the State’s economy and provide thousands of jobs for our people, thus leading to a viral and productive economy.

“The implications are significant, with the potential to foster economic growth, attract investments, and create wealth for the people of Edo. We have closely followed every step you

have taken to realise this project and commend your unwavering dedication and perseverance in overcoming challenges.”

Olaye added, “The NLC eagerly anticipates the commencement of this transformative endeavor, which holds the promise of a prosperous future for Edo State. Once again, congratulations to Your Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and the people of Edo on this remarkable achievement.”

Meanwhile, Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samuel Alli, has said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government was prioritising investment in the healthcare sector, focusing on the primary healthcare system, in order to improve the health expectancy of Edo citizens and enhance access to quality and efficient healthcare services.

The Commissioner, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said the government had introduced the state’s Health Insurance Scheme to reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure and is strengthening the primary healthcare system to bring healthcare closer to the people.

He noted that the upgrade and

revamp of health institutions in the State including the Stella Obasanjo and the Edo Specialist Hospitals and other reforms in the healthcare sector were aimed at repositioning the State as the healthcare hub of the nation.

According to him, “One of the key sectors that this government focuses on is the health sector because it’s a developmental programme and to carry this out, the governor has instituted reforms to improve the health expectancy of Edo citizens and improve their access to quality health care.

“Specifically, the Edo Health Insurance Scheme was launched for Edo State citizens to reduce the out-of-pocket health expenditure in the State. Before now, Edo State had one of the highest out-of-pocket expenditures in the whole country.”

Alli added, “Coming to secondary and tertiary healthcare, we have the infrastructure upgrade in Edo Specialist Hospital which has been completed. The facility is well-equipped and has been running for the past four years now, providing quality services. It’s a multi-specialist hospital, and it’s able to provide a different range of services to our citizens.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Edo State Chapter, has applauded the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on the emergence of a preferred bidder for the development of the Benin Port.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara (R) in a handshake with the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Dr. Lars Ritcher after the signing of contract for Port Harcourt Ring Road Project in Government House, Port Harcourt, ... yesterday.

Fashola: Tinubu Here for the ‘Long Game’, Will Soon Endear Himself to Nigerians

Says president does not surrender to challenges

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Erstwhile Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday said that the fact that President Bola Tinubu waited patiently for eight years for Muhammadu Buhari to serve out his term before throwing his hat in the ring showed he’s a ‘long game’ political player.

In a keynote he delivered at the 2023 Standard Chartered Treasury Leadership Forum (TLF) themed:

“The Blueprint for Tomorrow” at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, Fashola stated that those who do not fully know the president will soon see him unfold.

He admitted that though the Lagos gathering was not political, but when confronted with challenges, nobody can avoid an assessment of the role of leadership in any country.

Describing leadership as a critical factor, the former Lagos governor stressed that Nigeria has just elected a new president who “will reveal

himself to those who do not yet know enough of him by the leadership he will offer”.

He maintained that if morning shows the day, some of the decisions taken so far, especially on the economic front, are already impacting the market and exciting investors.

The senior lawyer and ex-Chief of Staff to Tinubu, reminded his audience of how Tinubu came to power by forging a merger of political parties in 2013 with

Buhari, arguing that it would be the first and only successful merger of political parties in Nigeria for a long time.

Recalling that the result of the merger unseated an incumbent president, a rarity in these parts, he stressed that everything the then opposition said was impossible, Tinubu and his party proved them wrong. Fashola noted that these remain important leadership traits that impact business and investment .

“The merger indicates his ability to forge partnerships, waiting for eight years for his partner to run his term before seeking office shows that he is a faithful partner and can sustain policy.

“The reforms he is initiating are not a fleeting fancy, he is here for the long game as permitted by Law. An example is the Judicial reforms led at sub-national level in Lagos which have gained national acceptance,” the former governor stated.

Nigeria , the largest democracy

on the African continent, he assured, has just produced a political leadership whose record shows a capacity to thrive against the odds.

“It would be a very hard search to find a leader who won an election against such odds. That kind of resilience and resolve must stand the country in very good stead as she confronts tomorrow with a leader who does not surrender,” he added.

the previous 20 rigs.

The Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, who spoke during a panel session at the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, disclosed that the gas flare commercialisation bid process gas has now been concluded and that successful bidders will be announced in the coming days.

However, Komolafe, while speaking during a separate interview on Arise News Channel, disclosed that 40 per cent of the ‘fiscalised’ crude oil theft last year was due to metering errors in the industry.

This was just as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday revealed that Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) worth about $20 billion was expected to flow into the upstream sector of the nation's oil and gas industry between this year and 2024.

The Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mr. Bala Wunti, made the disclosure during a separate panel session at the NOG Energy Week at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

Wunti made the disclosure same day Nigeria redeemed $500 million

Eurobond obligation to global creditors, bringing the total amount of securities so far redeemed by the country in the International Capital Market (ICM) to $1.8 billion.

But, the House of Representatives yesterday, resolved to constitute an ad hoc Committee to investigate crude oil theft in Nigeria with a view to curbing economic loss to the country and ensuring that everyone complicit in the act was brought to book, and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

On his part, Komolafe, at the event, while announcing that the gradual return of investments in the upstream sector had led to the increase of the country's oil rig count to 25, up from the previous 20 rigs, attributed it to the gains of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He added that in the one and a half decades of lack of clarity and uncertainty in the oil sector, Nigeria lost almost 74 per cent capital expenditure (Capex) in the industry

"We all remember that passing the PIA itself did not occur almost one and half decades and within this period, you can refer to this period as period of uncertainty, that is the period where there was no statutory regulatory certainty as to

how to take investment decisions.

"So, that itself impacted negatively on the attraction of investment, and now, we are in a PIA regime. The period of certainty and of course, within the period, as had COVID and all that.

" Investment is gradually flowing into the country. I will say that within the period of uncertainty, investment gravitated to other jurisdictions in a manner that we lost almost 74 per cent of the capex in the industry. But now, we have looked at the rig count, because it's a measure of improvement in investment.

"Within the year, I've carefully followed the rig count. The rig count has grown from the period of January to now moving from 20 rigs to about 25 rigs in the country and the graph is picking like that, which means that the industry is gradually responding to the regime of clarity and certainty that I alluded to in my opening remark," he said.

Komolafe also disclosed that the gas flare commercialisation bid process had been concluded and that successful bidders will be announced in the coming days.

However, contributing in a panel on "Defining the Roadmap for the Future of Nigeria's Upstream Sector", the Managing Director of

TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster, called for the creation of attractive fiscal terms and an enabling environment to enable the operators to undertake big projects and deliver value to the country.

Represented by the Country Adviser, Multi Energies, TotalEnergies, Mr. Adewale Fayemi said creating the right investment environment was crucial in developing new projects.

"There has to be the right incentives in place. But I think the discussion is on. But without having the incentives in place, it's going to be difficult for investors to say yes, we're bringing these projects online," he said.

Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Petroleum Company (SNEPC), Mrs Elohor Aiboni, stressed the need to review the fiscal terms in the industry in order to boost investors confidence.

Noting that capital was sensitive, she noted that it goes where investment climate supports it.

“There are factors that will drive those projects and first is around the fiscals which is very critical. So, there must be right and clear fiscal terms to support the execution of the projects,” she stated.

Also at the conference, chief executives of the International oil companies (IOCs) from TotalEnergies

TINUBU DEFENDS SUBSIDY REMOVAL, SEEKS N500BN APPROVAL FROM HOUSE FOR PALLIATIVES

supplementary budget to provide palliatives to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

The letter read: "I write to request for the amendment of the 2022 supplementary Appropriation Act.

The request became necessary to provide necessary palliatives to mitigate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.

"Thus, the sum of N500 billion has been extracted from the 2022 supplementary appropriation act of N819.536 billion for the provisions of palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. I seek the expeditious consideration of this request."

Relatedly, Tinubu yesterday, said subsidy removal was done in the interest of the larger Nigerian society.

He also explained that he was conscious of the hardship efforts to revive the economy, especially the removal of fuel subsidy, had imposed on Nigerians, assuring that savings from the policy would be to the benefit of all Nigerians.

The president, who stated this yesterday when he received in audience members of the Class of 1999 Governors, which he is a member of, at the State House, Abuja, assured Nigerians that the framework for palliatives to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal was being worked out.

He canvassed for more patience from Nigerians, as government speeds up the process and ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer.

His words: “I understand that our people are suffering yet there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the relief that comes after the pain. Nigeria is reborn already with fuel subsidy removal. It is a rebirth of the country for the largest number over a few smugglers. Please tell the people to be a little patient.

"The palliative is coming. I don’t want cash-transfer to fall into wrong hands. I know it pinches and it is

difficult. In the end, we will rejoice in the prosperity of our country.

“We served as governors and sat in this Council Chamber. All I wanted was democracy and the salvation of the country. I never thought I was going to be here as President, but God Almighty has brought me.”

Tinubu assured the governors and Nigerians that he would work towards, “unity, equity, stability, and prosperity of the country.”

“My commitment to that democratic value is unwavering.

I am overwhelmed and honored by the numbers of you here.

“I have an open door policy. You are my advisers. We went into the pond and wrestled with a pig. We got dirty, and cleaned up. That is why I am here today”.

The president noted that the country would not make meaningful progress without fixing electricity, assuring that his administration will harness gas resources, and explore every opportunity to ensure stable power generation and supply.

Commenting on security, Tinubu,who had earlier met with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to review situation in the north east, appealed to Nigerians, especially Plateau State, to sheathe their swords and use dialogue in resolving conflicts, adding that issues of borders were man-made, not created by God.

“We will do everything possible to stabilise the country,” he added.

Speaking earlier, the former governors in a speech by its Chairman and ex-governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, urged the president to pursue his vision for a greater Nigeria with vigour, steadfastness, and resilience, trusting their support for development policies, and promising to provide the necessary social structure for actualization.

“We are here with you. We are your foot soldiers, and you can tap into our experience. You are a person who believes in Nigeria. With your

good leadership, Nigeria will take its place,” Igbinedion said. Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Igbinedion said “we came to congratulate Mr. President and also to thank him for making one of us the Secretary to Government. We came to assure him that he has our full support and prayers for the bold steps he has started to take, for his initiatives and also let him know that this is beyond party politics, we’re now talking about the Project Nigeria, therefore all hands must be on deck to give Mr President the needed support and encouragement to foster a better a better nation.

“We also seized the opportunity to

MILITARY PLANS

KOMOLAFE: THERE’S NOW REGULATORY CERTAINTY IN OIL, GAS SECTOR Kaduna.

congratulate him as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS and assure him that we’re with him and anytime he wants to dig into the wealth of experience of this very prominent and well-founded members of Class of ’99, he should be rest assured that we’ll continue to give him the necessary support.

“On his part Mr President assured us that it is his dream to see a better Nigeria and he also wants us to let you know that the decisions that he has taken so far might be painful, but it's just like a child birth; in order to celebrate a child, you must go through labour.

EP Nigeria Limited, Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron raised concerns on the high investment risks in the industry and called for fiscal incentives and an enabling environment for their operations.

However, speaking on Arise News Channel, Komolafe, disclosed that 40 per cent of the ‘fiscalised’ crude oil theft last year was due to metering errors in the industry.

A THISDAY calculation of the amount that was lost to the anomaly given the $2 billion indicated that the amount was $880 million was lost to the phenomenon.

Speaking further, Komolafe said: “Let me give you a rough picture. Only last year alone, the nation lost $2.2 billion, and based on the forensic audit we conducted, we found out that about 40 per cent of that figure was attributable to metering errors and that’s what that regulation intends to cure,” he stated.

He also said the recently enacted regulation on the issue of gas flaring which prohibits the practice, would take care of the problem as Nigeria moves to eliminate the burning of its abundant gas resources.

He admitted that gas flaring had been going on for some time, but said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has now prohibited the practice through section 104, while flaring is now considered one of the major pollutants nationwide.

According to him, the commission was working to ensure that gas flaring becomes a source of wealth by the taking over of the flared gas, announcing that the auction awardees will be announced soon.

He said the exercise has now been concluded, but explained that the NUPRC was bothered by the practice of flaring which now attracts a penalty of over $2 per 1,000 Standard Cubic Feet (SCF) as prescribed.

Komolafe said it had become a major climate project to decarbonise the environment, stressing that it was dear to the NUPRC as a regulator to ensure the deployment of cleaner sources of energy.

Although Nigeria is currently flaring about 10 perc cent of its gas produced, Komolafe said the challenge was being resolved by the commission and is determined to eliminate through the ongoing Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (GFCP).

The NUPRC boss who also spoke on illegal oil bunkering, noted that as a technical and commercial regulator, the issue was being addressed in so many ways, including outright kinetic means.

However, he said the commission was collaborating with the security agencies since the agency doesn’t bear arms and would need their cooperation.

Meanwhile, speaking on the topic: "The Investors Perspective: Assessing the Attractiveness of Nigeria's Energy Sector", Wunti said a couple of upstream projects were already advancing towards Final Investment Decision (FID).

He listed the projects as the TotalEnergies' Pereowei, Shell's Bonga North, Chevron's Agbami as well as ExxonMobil's Owowo field and others were all reaching FIDs and that they would cumulatively result in FDIs amounting to between $18 billion to $20 billion in a matter of months.

"About four days ago, TotalEnergies in partnership with NNPC launched a major tender for a project. That tender is going to rake in significant foreign direct investment. SNEPCo is about to take FID on Bonga North.

"That will rake in an investment in the neighbourhood of $4 billion. Going back to Total, we are restarting the Pereowei project. It's a tie-in project, clean project. We expect something in the neighbourhood of over $2 billion investment.

" We are significantly advancing on the Agbami gas project. That is bringing in significant couple of billions of foreign direct investment," Wunti added.

In addition, he said the NNPC was

OFFENSIVE AGAINST TERRORISTS, BANDITS IN ZAMFARA, PLATEAU, KADUNA, BENUE

It said military commanders were meeting to find a lasting solution to the security challenge, stressing that the military will not allow the ongoing killing of women and children in the affected states.

The suggestion came as the governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, bemoaned the precarious security situation in his state, lamenting that people were being killed daily in the state.

Speaking while receiving the Zamfara State governor at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the planned military operation was in tandem with presidential directives and the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The government’s renewed hope agenda is expected to guarantee economic development, peace and stability, not just in troubled spots, but also in the whole country.

Lagbaja dismissed the proposal of amnesty programme for bandits, saying an existing amnesty in the state is being exploited by armed bandits to terrorise the citizenry. He said the military operations and

intelligence chiefs were working to synchronise the operations of the 1 and 8 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna and Sokoto, on a strategy to encircle the bandits and wipe them out.

The army chief disclosed that as part of the strategy, commanders of 1 and 17 Brigades had been given some independence to intervene in some operations to ensure security in Zamfara State.

Lagbaja said, “We are working to find a lasting solution to the insecurity being experienced in Zamfara State. Just yesterday, I tasked the chief of military intelligence to tinker on ways to address the issue and other regional groups that operate in Zamfara State, because we will not have a situation where some people constitute themselves into lawless groups and just go into communities and kill children and defenseless women."

Lagbaja told the governor that as a security proposition, the issue of amnesty being suggested by some people in the state was a non-starter. He said this was considering that an earlier amnesty granted the bandits was exploited by them to kill and terrorise people.

He stated, "The Chief of Operations (Army) is working to synchronise the operations between 1 Division and 8 Division that we have so that when they push on the south these criminal elements will not have the freedom to migrate. But when they push them from the north, they do not have the freedom to migrate, they can be quickly encircled and completely destroyed."

Earlier in his remarks, the governor of Zamfara State lamented the perilous security situation in the state, calling the situation worrisome.

Lawal said, "There was never a day that passes by without people being killed in one area or local government or the other and this is very, very worrisome for us because without security, basically there will be no development without security. People will not be able to go to farm and produce what they consume and beyond.

"Without security our children will not be able to go to school, which is a serious setback for the people of Zamfara and the environment."

Equally speaking while receiving the Plateau State governor, Caleb

Mutfwang, in his office, the army chief said the military had already received reports from the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, and was applying some measures.

"We will stop at nothing to provide combat enablers that will bring lasting peace to the Plateau," Lagbaja stated.

He said the operations will be extended to Benue and Southern Kaduna.

Lagbaja stressed the need to constitute an early warning mechanism in local councils, working with troops, even as he called for a stakeholders meeting to try to address the security situation before the application of kinetic measures.

Earlier, the Plateau State governor said his state was at a challenging juncture and needed the support of the security forces.

He said, "We want to seek the support of the army and security agencies to ensure that the situation is brought to an end. We will continue to collaborate with the army to ensure that sectarian crisis are contained so that we can live in peace."

2023 TREASURY LEADERSHIP FORUM OF STANDARD CHARTERED BANK...

Senate Constitutes Panel to Review DBN's N483bn SMEs Intervention Loans Under Buhari

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate yesterday, set up a sevenmember to review an alleged uneven disbursement of N483 billion by the Development Bank of Nigeria SMEs. The funds were disbursed to the SMEs through the micro finance banks.

The Senate raised a seven member adhoc committee to investigate the matter and report back to the Senate in four weeks for further legislative action.

The panel would be chaired by Senator David Umahi, while senators Babangida Oseni, Ali Ndume, Sani Musa, Tokunbo Abiru, Ipalibo Banigo

and Chizoba Chukwu, would serve as members.

The red chamber took the decision after an extensive debate of a motion by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) which was supported by 64 other senators.

The motion was titled, "The need to holistically investigate the disbursement of loans by Development Bank of Nigeria, NIRSAL and related Banks to micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria from 2015 to date."

The motion, earlier moved by Ndume and three others was investigated by an ad hoc committee in the 9th Senate and a report was

submitted by the panel headed by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East).

Deliberating on the motion at plenary yesterday, the Senate noted that the huge disparity and un- even distribution of half a billion naira to states in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and the states in the country in 2021 by the Development Bank of Nigeria .

Ndume said the bank’s Annual Integrated Statutory Report 2021 obtained by him on 13th July, 2022, from the its website showed that the bank disbursed loans worth N483, 000, 000, 000 out of which only 11 per cent went to the 19 states of northern Nigeria, while 47 per cent

went to Lagos State alone.

He also noted that the 11 per cent of the loan that went to the entire northern totals about N53.1bn while the 47 per cent that went to Lagos State alone totals about N227bn.

Ndume further added that the South-West accessed the lion’s share which was 57 per cent of the total loan, which was estimated to be about N274, 740, 000,000 only.

He expressed worry that the South-South Zone accessed 17 per cent, (N81, 940, 000, 000); Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the NorthCentral Zone, 11per cent, ($53, 020, 000, 000) only; the South-East Zone, nine per cent, (N43, 380, 000, 000);

House to Probe Alleged Award of Fictitious Contracts, Other Infractions by NIMASA

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday set up an ad-hoc Committee to investigate the alleged fictitious contract awards, gross mismanagement of billions of naira and lopsided placement of Directors by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and report back to it within three months for further legislative action.

The resolution on NIMASA followed the adoption of a motion on the 'Need to Investigate Alleged Fictitious Contract Awards, Gross Mismanagement of Billions of Naira and Lopsided Placement of Directors by NIMASA," moved by Hon. O. K. Chinda, Hon. Victor Ogbuzor, Hon. Cyril Hart, Hon. Manu Soro, Hon. Manuchim Oowuzuirike during plenary yesterday.

Chinda, while presenting the motion noted recent developments in the alleged award of questionable and phoney contracts, fraudulent forex

transactions, lopsided placement of Directors and other unwholesome and corrupt practices at NIMASA.

"There have been several allegations of questionable, inflated and fictitious contract awards particularly for non-operational speed boats, security surveillance contracts and Deep Blue Water Contract, revenue leakages and the award of contracts to cronies of the Director General and other top management staff of the agency," he said.

He raised concern about alleged under remittance of debts owed the country by shipping firms, with the consent and connivance of the agency.

"Aware that the agency is alleged to have entered into a very dubious contract with a firm known as XPO Marine Limited’ for the lease of six speed boats, each at the rate of $173,930.00 monthly, without a Need Assessment for such facility being carried out by the relevant departments of the agency, the said XPO Marine Limited had earlier

been indicted for defrauding the agency to the tune of $80,000 in revenue.

"Also aware that the security surveillance contract called Deep Blue Water Contract’ is suspected to be a conduit by the management of the agency to pilfer funds. A security contract tagged National Integrated Surveillance and Waterways Protection’ is also said to have been awarded to an Israeli firm, HSLI Systems and Technologies Limited at the cost of $195,300,000 00, despite an existing facility, which is a simple internet subscription via Lloyds Intelligence Platform for such operations," he added.

The lawmaker further said, "cognisant of the fact that the agency is also said to have an existing surveillance system (called Lloyd's List Intelligence) for tracking the movement of vessels on Nigeria's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

"Also cognisant of the fact that there is evidence that the agency's legal department counselled against

Group Adopts Musical Strategy to Restore Peace in S'East

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

A musical group, Mr. M and Revelation has adopted music as a potent strategy of restoring peace in the troubled south eastern part of the country, as it hosts daily prayer and praise sessions.

The sessions are held at the Halleluyah City Glory Castle in Enugu State.

The musical band based in Enugu, capital of the defunct Eastern Region, which has immensely influenced Nigeria's music industry with their

diversity and creative ingenuity believes that music is a channel to reach millions with the message of Christ and His love.

Their style of music cuts across different genres, with the fusion of cultural instrumentation, which has endeared them to many.

Speaking to youths from the South-east region in Enugu recently, lead vocalist of the group, Promise Miracle urged youths in the area to embrace peace at all times.

The impact of the message passed by Miracle to the youths has seen

many of them embracing peace and spending more time learning new craft within the location and premises of the glory castle.

Mr M and Revelation's consistency in churning out pure African sound has registered them as a household name in Africa.

As part of efforts to further restore sanity to the region, the group recently held a 24-hour ‘No Limit’ worship experience, the first of its kind in the South-East. That experience alone led to scores of testimonies and restoration.

the consummation of the contract on grounds of some fraudulent claims in the agreement, but same was not heeded to. "The facilities claimed by HSL1I is said to be an existing surveillance infrastructure provided by KMBTS Limited, also an Israeli firm whose contract with the agency at the instance of the agency's former DG had long expired"

"Further aware of other allegations such as abuse of office and lopsided appointment and placement of Directors of the Agency in favour of some interests to the detriment of others and 1n breach of S. 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as other unwholesome practices within the agency.

the North-West has 5 per cent, (N24, 100, 000, 000) and the North-East accessed only 1 per cent, N4, 8bn

He said the DBN existed to alleviate financing constraints being faced by Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria by providing finance, partial credit guarantees, and technical assistance to eligible financial intermediaries on a market-conforming and fully financially sustainable basis.

The Senator Ahmad Lawan-led 9th Senate set up an adhoc Committee to probe Ndume's claims and the panel chaired by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), investigated the development and submitted its report which was debated, passed and sent to the executive for implementation.

Former Minister of Finance, Budget and National planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, had urged the development bank to relax its criteria which had made it difficult for other geopolitical zones to access the loans.

He also said that the 13 per cent of the loan that went to the north totalled about Fifty Three Billion , One Hundred and Thirty Million Naira (N53,130,000,000) while the 47 per cent that went to Lagos State alone totals Two Hundred and Twenty Seven Billion and Ten Million Naira (N227,010,000,000) only.."

According to the breakdown of the loan presented by Ndume, "the South West got 57 percent worth N274,740,000,000; South South got 17 percent worth N81,940,000,000; North Central got 11 percent worth N53,020,000,000; South East got 9 percent worth N43,380,000,000; North West got 5 percent worth N24,100,000,000; North West and

North East got just One percent worth N4,820,000,000."

The Development Bank of Nigeria exists to alleviate financing constraints being faced by MSMEs in Nigeria through providsion of finances , partial credit guarantees and technical assistance to eligible financial intermediaries on a market - conforming and fully financially sustainable basis.

Ndume, also noted that the top five sectors considered for the loan were oil and gas (42.0 percent), manufacturing (16.0 percent) , agriculture, forestry and fisheries (7 .2 percent), trade and commerce (6.3 percent), and transportation and storage (3.5 percent), However, there was mild drama as senators took time to dissect the motion Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa) while suggesting an addition prayer asked that the adhoc panel should extend its assignment by looking into all intervention loans by the Central Bank of Nigeria including the Covid-19 palliative, the anchor borrower loans and other palliatives. The additional prayer was dropped on the pretext that would make the assignment of the adhoc committee unending.

Senators Orji Uzir Kalu (Abia North);

Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West); said Ndume had the notion that his North East zone was shortchanged but forgot that the development bank had laid down procedures to disburse loans.

They, however, appealed to their colleagues to allow Ndume's motion to be given a second look to clear all doubts.

Aregbesola Urges INEC to Link

Voter Registration with NIN

The immediate past Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to link voters’ registers with the National Identification Number (NIN) database in order to maintain the integrity and transparency of the country’s elections.

He went on to explain that by doing so, the era of underage voting and numerous registrations would come to an end.

Aregbesola, made the remarks while presenting the lead paper, “Towards Free, Fair, and Credible Elections,” at the 7th International

Conference of the Professional Statisticians Society of Nigeria (PSSN) at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

“I am suggesting a more seamless registration system that will be continuous and terminate only a few weeks before the election, to allow for compilation and printing of cards. This registration should be synced with the NIN.

“It will automatically eliminate underage voters and the possibility of multiple registrations. More importantly, people should be able to do the registration online, on their own, just like most application processes we have today.

"They should only go to the INEC office for biometric data

capture and card collection only," the former governor said.

According to him, the second factor in the electoral process, "is the delineation of voting constituencies and polling units. This should be population-based. There is also always chaos on election day as voters will be running helter-skelter, trying to find their polling units.'

"There should be a system of notification or personal checks to avoid this confusion,” he added.

The former governor of Osun also advised INEC to train political parties on the precise roles they wou play in elections, as well as to ensure smooth and seamless distribution of electoral materials.

L-R: Head of Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited (SCBN), Mrs Ibiyemi Okuneye, Chief Executive Officer, SCBN Ltd, Mr. Olukorede Adenowo, Keynote Speaker, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Board Chairman, SCBN Ltd, Mr Foluso Phillips and General Manager/Head Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, SCB Nigeria and West Africa, Mrs Dayo Aderugbo in a group photograph at the 2023 Treasury Leadership Forum of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited with the theme, "The Blueprint for Tomorrow" at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos... yesterday

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

THIS IS OUR SCORECARD...

UN Report: 122 Million More People Pushed into Hunger Since 2019

Says Africa remains worst-affected region

Obinna Chima

Over 122 million more people are facing hunger in the world since 2019 due to the pandemic and repeated weather shocks and conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report published yesterday, jointly by five United Nations specialised agencies. If the trends remain as they were, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending hunger by 2030 would not be reached, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned.

The 2023 edition of the report revealed that between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, with a mid-range of 735 million.

This represented an increase of 122 million people compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While global hunger numbers have stalled between 2021 and 2022, there are many places in the world facing deepening food crises. Progress in hunger reduction was observed in Asia and Latin America, but hunger was still on the rise in Western Asia, the Caribbean and throughout all subregions of Africa in 2022.

"Africa remains the worst-affected region with one in five people facing hunger on the continent, more than twice the global average," it stated.

“There are rays of hope, some regions are on track to achieve some

2030 nutrition targets. But overall, we need an intense and immediate global effort to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals. We must build resilience against the crises and shocks that drive food insecurity-from conflict to climate, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres through a video message during the launch of the report at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The heads of the five UN agencies, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu; IFAD President Alvaro Lario; UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell; WFP’s Executive Director Cindy McCain; and WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote the report’s Foreword.

“No doubt, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of Zero Hunger by 2030 poses a daunting challenge. Indeed, it is projected that almost 600 million people will still be facing hunger in 2030.

"The major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition are our “new normal”, and we have no option but to redouble our efforts to transform agrifood systems and leverage them towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) targets.”

It noted that food security and nutrition situation remained grim in 2022.

The report found that approximately 29.6 per cent of the global population, equivalent to 2.4 billion people, did not have constant access to food, as measured by the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity. Among them, around 900 million individuals faced severe food insecurity.

"Meanwhile, the capacity of people

to access healthy diets has deteriorated across the world: more than 3.1 billion people in the world – or 42 percent – were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021. This represents an overall increase of 134 million people compared to 2019.

"Millions of children under five continue to suffer from malnutrition: in 2022, 148 million children under five years of age (22.3 percent) were stunted, 45 million (6.8 percent) were wasted, and 37 million (5.6 percent) were overweight.

"Progress has been seen in exclusive breastfeeding with 48 percent of infants under 6-months of age benefiting from this practice, close to the 2025 target. However, more concerted efforts will be required to

meet the 2030 malnutrition targets," it added.

The report also looked at increased urbanisation as a ‘megatrend’ affecting how and what people eat.

With almost seven in ten people projected to live in cities by 2050, governments and others working to tackle hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition must seek to understand these urbanisation trends and account for them in their policymaking.

"In particular, the simple rural and urban divide concept is no longer sufficient to understand the ways in which urbanisation is shaping agrifood systems.

"A more complex rural-urban continuum perspective is needed considering both the degree of

connectivity that people have and types of connections that exist between urban and rural areas.

For the first time, this evolution is documented systematically across eleven countries. The report illustrates that food purchases are significant not only among urban households but also across the rural-urban continuum, including those residing far from urban centers.

"The new findings also show how consumption of highly processed foods is also increasing in peri-urban and rural areas of some countries.

"Unfortunately, spatial inequalities remain. Food insecurity affects more people living in rural areas. Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 33 per cent of adults living in rural areas

and 26 percent in urban areas.

Children’s malnutrition also displays urban and rural specificities: the prevalence of child stunting is higher in rural areas (35.8 percent) than in urban areas (22.4 percent).

"Wasting is higher in rural areas (10.5 percent) than in urban areas (7.7 percent), while overweight is slightly more prevalent in urban areas (5.4 percent) compared to rural areas (3.5 percent)," it added.

The report recommended that to effectively promote food security and nutrition, policy interventions, actions and investments must be guided by a comprehensive understanding of the complex and changing relationship between the rural-urban continuum and agrifood systems.

Plateau Governor Laments Increasing Incidence of Human Suffering Due to Insurgency

Seeks NEMA intervention NEMA: We are awaiting reports on displaced persons

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, yesterday, described the increasing incidents of human suffering following recent insurgency in the state as worrisome.

To this end, he called for the intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

However, on its part, NEMA said it was awaiting reports on those displaced in the state crisis.

Kano Government Pays N1.5bn for 57,000 NECO Candidates

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Kano State Government has spent N1.5 billion on the payment of National Examination Council (NECO) for 57,000 students of various secondary schools across the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the State Deputy Governor, Ibrahim Garba.

He said the payment was part of government’s policy to reposition the education sector for optimal performances. He

said the Deputy Governor of the State, Aminu Abdulsalam, charged the benefiting students to put in their best for better results in the examination to justify government’s huge investment in their academic pursuit. "Kano State Government has allocated over N1.5 billion to cover examination fees for more than 57,000 students enrolled in Secondary Schools, Technical Schools, and Islamic/Arabic Secondary Schools throughout the state.

“You need to put in your best and remain committed so that you can come up with good results of

the examination, that can make the state and your family happy and proud of you,” he said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Malam Umar Doguwa, announced that a committee had been set up by the state government to assess the state of boarding schools earlier shut down with a view to reopening them. Doguwa, commended the state government for enhancing its schools feeding programme, adding that, more furniture would soon be provided to the schools across the state.

Mutfwang, who paid a courtesy call on the Director General, NEMA, in Abuja, said Plateau State had been in the news of late, saying, "we are not happy about it but that is the reality."

Speaking on the sidelines shortly after the brief meeting, he noted: "We have had a lot of incidences of insurgency in the last two to three months that has assumed the dimension of a national disaster. "Whenever a life is lost, it is a subject of concern, but where you have over 200 people who have lost their lives, it requires a new dimension."

According to the governor, "As a result of the insurgency, we have a lot of internally displaced people who are today in IDP camps, we have a lot of unsettled communities and of course once you have such crisis, the incidence of human suffering also increases and once you have human beings suffering from hunger, displacement, every responsible government must do something to be able to address some of those conditions and there is no other agency that is saddled with the constitutional responsibility as a nation to address those issues other than NEMA."

Mutfwang, further said, “while we appreciate individuals, NGOS, corporate organisations for coming

to the aid of the unsettled and bereaved people, we have also come to say thank you to NEMA because they have done a lot in addressing these issues and we are appealing to them to do more because we know they have the capacity to do more.

"I can assure you that government is doing a lot to address these issues. The new GOC 3rd Division who also oversees the Special Task Force of the Army resumed duty last week Saturday and moved his operational base to Mangu which is a clear departure from the past and as I am talking to you, apart from dealing with issues of insurgency and stopping the infiltration into Mangu, there are also a lot of community relations and dialogue going on amongst community leaders to forestall future occurrence and reassure people that they can still live together because Plateau is a multi-religious, multicultural, multi-lingual state.

“We have to find the right mechanism to be able to live in peace with one another and so, government is addressing the issues but first of, we must be able to secure the areas that are under threat and we are doing that with every resource at our disposal and by the grace of God, I am confident that soon, this issue will be a thing of

the past," he assured.

Responding, the Director General, NEMA, Mustpha Abib Ahmed, said whenever disaster hits, he quickly request for on-the-spot assessment to get a report and the agency respond swiftly.

According to him, "We will not turn our backs on plateau state or any other state."

Speaking on the flood issue, Ahmed said: "The floods of last year which affected farmers, they lost crops and farmlands; already in all the 36 states of the country including the FCT, items are already there for the farmers.

"We are waiting for the directives to flag off. Food security is very important, we have to safeguard that and get farmers back to the farm and for those displaced, I am waiting for the report, NEMA is there for the distressed, we will definitely reach out, we will make sure everybody is taken care of."

The NEMA DG maintained that all those who lost their farm products due to 2022 flood, "all items are already in the stores in the 36 states including the FCT waiting for presidential directives from the Vice President for the flagging off next week."

He, however, said NEMA would continue to be there for the displaced across the country.

L-R: Company Secretary, Champion Breweries Plc, Chief Tosan Aiboni; Board of Directors: Samson Aigbedo; Helen Umanah; Thompson Owoka; Chairman, Dr. Elijah Akpan; Imo-Abasi Jacob; Olufunminiyi Alabi; Frederik Kurt Linck, and Alhaji Shuaibu Ottan, during the 47th Annual General meeting of the company held in Lagos... yesterday

As Tinubu, APC Close their Defence Before Election Petition Court...

The ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu last week closed their defence barely after they opened it, in two separate petitions challenging their victory at the February 25, 2023 presidential poll. The question is, has the evidence of the sole witness done substantial justice in defence of the petitions? Alex Enumah reports.

Whether the task before lawyers representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC), is simple or insurmountable is not certain. However, what is certain is that the job is truly not an enviable one. This is so because Tinubu’s continued stay in office as president squarely rest on their shoulders as well as the quality and evidence of witnesses presented in defence of their victory at the February 25, 2023 presidential poll.

The PREPEC had on June 23, adjourned to July 3 for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to open their defence in the petitions filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

Atiku and Obi are among three petitioners seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s election as president over alleged irregularities, corrupt practices and non-compliance with the electoral laws during the conduct of the last presidential election.

The other petitioner, the Allied People’s Movement ( APM) had closed its case two days earlier after calling only one witness to prove its claim that Tinubu ought not to be on the ballot over alleged double nomination of his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and one Kabir Masari, who was initially a “place holder” Vice President nominee.

Specifically, the APM in its petition marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023, is contending that the withdrawal of Kabiru Masari, who was initially nominated as the vice presidential candidate of the APC invalidated Tinubu’s candidacy in view of Section 131(c) and 142 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

However, after the APM closed its case, the respondents who took turn to cross examine the witness, announced that they would not be calling any witness in defence of the election but would rather rely on the May 26, 2023 judgment of the Supreme Court, which according to them, has put to rest every thing surrounding the nomination of the Vice President. Based on this, the five-member panel of the PREPEC led by Justice Haruna Tsammani then fixed July 14 for parties to adopt their final written addresses in the petition.

Meanwhile, Atiku and Obi before closing their individual petitions called in a total of 40 witnesses to substantiate their allegations against the February 25 presidential poll that returned Tinubu of the APC as president.

Atiku and Obi’s grouse is that INEC failed to transmit election results in real-time as promised by its Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood. They also submitted that Tinubu ought not to be on the ballot over alleged perjury, discrepancies in his academic records in addition to alleged criminal forfeiture.

Atiku in his petition marked: CA/ PEPC/05/2023, specifically told the panel that, “the non-compliance substantially affected the result of the election, in that Tinubu ought not to have been declared or returned as the winner of the election”.

Similarly, Obi in his petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, insisted he and not Tinubu won the presidential election; accusing the electoral umpire of manipulating the scores recorded in the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, as well as falsifying figures at various collation centers across the country to favour Tinubu and APC.

To buttress their individual petitions and convince the justices to sack Tinubu as President, while Atiku called 27 witnesses, Obi called 13, including experts and INEC’s adhoc workers who acted as Presiding Officers during the election.

The testimonies of the witnesses among others are that INEC deliberately refused to comply with its guidelines requiring it to transmit election results real time, from the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) to the INEC’s Results Viewing ( IReV) portals, adding that INEC’s claim of encountering some “technical glitches” while uploading the presidential election results was untrue.

The petitioners had brought in video evidence which was played before the panel showing Mahmood and INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, assuring Nigerians and the international community that there is no going back on electronic transmission of election results.

Besides the testimonies of the witnesses, the petitioners presented before the court bundles of evidence such as polling units’ results, wards’ results, local government areas’ re-

sults, states’ results as well as the final result, which they said INEC manipulated to make Tinubu president.

Many of the results tendered and admitted as exhibits were blurred. According to Professor Eric Ofoedu, a Mathematics Professor and witness of Obi, “over 18,000 result sheets uploaded to the IReV portal were blurred”.

He claimed the above fact was discovered at the end of his investigation and analysis of the February 25 presidential results uploaded on the IReV portal.

In addition, they brought in certified copies of Tinubu’s academic records, front page of Tinubu’s alleged Guinean passport and a notarized judgment of a United States Court which allegedly ordered Tinubu to forfeit the sum of $460,000 over alleged complicity in drug related offences and money laundering.

However, at the resumption of trial on July 3, specifically for the respondents to open their individual defence, they closed their defence shortly after opening it. While INEC and Tinubu called in just one witness each, APC opted to adopt the witness and evidence of Tinubu as its own defence against Atiku and Obi’s petitions.

The announcement of the closure of the cases of the respondents came as a surprise and shocking to some, especially those expecting colorful and exhilarating legal fireworks as was evident during the case of the petitioners.

Recall that INEC during the pre-hearing session indicated that it would call two witnesses to defend the election it conducted on February 25 which is being challenged by Atiku, Obi and the APM, while Tinubu and the APC planned 39 and 25 witnesses respectively. Even, if Tinubu and APC did not call up to half of the witnesses earlier planned, very few had expected they will call only just one witness to counter the 40 called by Atiku and Obi. Same expectations go for INEC who is at the center of the litigation.

A lot of persons had expected INEC to call in more and credible witnesses in defence of the general election which the European Union (EU) in its final report, released a few days ago described as disappointing for not being transparent, marred by irregularities, violence, intimidation, among others. Although, arguably,

it is not the number of witnesses a party called in support of his or her case that determines the failure or success of the case. The point is whether the evidence of the sole witness is strong enough to invalidate that of the 27 called by Atiku or that of the 13 called by Obi; who testified of how INEC deliberately refused to transmit results electronically, falsified results at collation centers, insisted INEC’s claim of technical glitches were false.

Led in evidence by INEC’s lawyer, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, the witness, Dr Lawrence Bayode, INEC’s Deputy Director, Information Technology (IT), told the court that the technical glitches which occurred during the uploading of the presidential election results were handled through their Cloud Trail Log downloaded from their account with the Amazon Web Service (AWS).

He explained that the Cloud Trail Log is a device used to monitor their account with the AWS. Bayode further claimed that the technical glitch or glitches did not affect actual scores of candidates in the election because once stored in the BVAS it remains intact. In addition, the witness informed the court that INEC “does not have a collation system”, hence the collation of the election results were done manually.

However, under cross examination by Atiku’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the witness who claimed to have supervised the configuration of the BVAS, said the device does have an in-built mechanism to select or distinguish presidential election results from the National Assembly results conducted same day with same machines.

He also admitted that as at March 1, when INEC declared Tinubu as winner of the presidential election not all the results from the election had been uploaded unto the IReV

Questioned further, the witness admitted that INEC did not file a formal report of the said glitches to AWS because they didn’t need to.

Although, Tinubu just like INEC called in just one witness to defend his victory at the poll; the evidence of the witness dwelt more on his qualification to contest the February 25 presidential election.

Led in evidence by Tinubu’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, the sole witness, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, dismissed all criminal allegations against Tinubu, stressing that a United States Report as far back as 2003 cleared Tinubu of any criminal allegations; be it forfeiture or drug related.

Speaking on the sum of $460,000, Tinubu was said to have forfeited to the United States over alleged complicity in drug deals, the senator who claimed to be a member of the Nigerian Bar and the New York bar, observed that the forfeiture was in respect of a civil suit rather than criminal. Bamidele pointed out that the court document relied upon by the petitioners did not contain any conviction or sentencing.

those expecting colorful and exhilarating legal fireworks as was evident during the case of the petitioners.

Tinubu

At the resumption of trial on July 3, specifically for the respondents to open their individual defence, they closed their defence shortly after opening it. While INEC and Tinubu called in just one witness each, APC opted to adopt the witness and evidence of Tinubu as its own defence against Atiku and Obi’s petitions. The announcement of the closure of the cases of the respondents came as a surprise and shocking to some, especially

Obi

Atiku

Otti's Quest for Prostrate Elephant City’s Rebound

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo writes that Governor Alex Otti dreams big for Aba, otherwise known as Enyimba the City of Elephant. Upon assumption of office, he assured Abians that his government shall work with the best to fix Aba. But beyondworking to retain the city’s status as a leading trade destination in Nigeria and across West Africa, he also pledged to ensure that Aba’s manufacturing base is restored for the comprehensive development of Aba.

If there is any one issue that political gladiators in Abia State have found a common consensus over the years, it is Aba. Every politician that has governed the state or aspired to preside over its affairs recognises that the commercial hub of Abia is lying prostrate.

They all agree that Enyimba City (City of Elephant), as Aba is fondly called, needs special attention to spring up. This fact was not lost even on the military leaders that had administered the state before the present democratic dispensation was ushered in 24 years ago. But none of the past leaders had taken the bold and courageous step to hoist the fallen elephant back on its feet.

Aba has so many things going for it. The city is a centre of commerce, industry, innovation and creativity. It is globally acknowledged as a city with the highest concentration of small and medium scale enterprises(SMEs) in Africa. The World Bank gave Aba this enviable title. The city has huge supply of artisans that design and produce things that make people gaze in amazement.

There's hardly any machine part that cannot be fabricated in Aba. The city stands out in the production of shoes, bags, belts and other leather products. It also has a pride of place in the area of clothing with a very vibrant and creative garment industry. Enyimba City boasts of at least 15 big markets, some of which are specialised markets for particular type of merchandise.

The famous Ariaria International Market stands out among all the market and attracts patronage from across the West African subregion and beyond. Aba is, therefore, the major source of internally generated revenue (IGR) for Abia State. There is this truism that once you fix Aba you'll fix Abia. That is why no government in Abia can overlook Aba and hope to achieve anything at the end of the day. At every election cycle Aba has always been a big campaign issue. And ideas on how to revamp the decayed infrastructure and prostrate economy of the industrial and commercial nerve centre has never been in short supply. But the political will was never there to shake things up and bring about a holistic rejuvenation of the city fondly referred to as Enyimba City. And so the infrastructural deficit has continued on downward spiral without abetting.

But the new governor of Abia, Mr. Alex Otti has promised to chart a new course and bring about a total revamping of Aba. He has inspired renewed hope and belief among the residents of the commercial city in particular and Abians in general. Otti's believability index is high.

It stems from the fact that he is not only an accomplished private sector operator but also the first person to emerge as Abia governor on the platform of an opposition party. He became the chief executive of Abia on the vehicle of the Labour Party.

This stunning achievement was a major break from the past mediocrity of power succession relay which the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) perpetuated in Abia for over two decades. So, there is absolute hope in Abia that things would definitely change as the old things of the PDP have finally passed away.

Otti has already demonstrated his readiness, eagerness and commitment to reverse the negative fortunes of Enyimba City and give it a major face-lift. All through his electioneering he stressed that he would give Aba a priority attention in his development agenda. In his zeal for the good of Aba, Otti did not wait to formally take over the reins of power before he started manifesting his eagerness to give priority attention to Enyimba City.

On April 27, 2023 Otti caused unease in the then government of Okezie Ikpeazu when he brought the construction giant, Julius Berger to inspect the Port Harcourt road Aba, which was abandoned by the previous administrations in spite of the strategic importance of this very road to the economy of Aba.

Officials of the Ikpeazu administration fumed that Otti was walking faster than his shadow and undermining a government that was still in power. But residents of Aba cheered in admiration as a team of Julius Berger engineers walked the length of the 5.9 kilometre road doing their assessment of what needed to be done to reconstruct the abandoned road.

Due to the high level dilapidation of Port Harcourt road so many businesses were killed off in that area of Aba and value of properties

plunged as residents relocated when the road became impassable. In fact, Port Harcourt road was abandoned by government to become a stretch of refuse dumps and pools of water overgrown by weeds.

The general condition of Aba and Umuahia, the capital city was nauseating. The two cities were left to be taken over by refuse as the Ikpeazu government apparently switched off governance machinery after the ruling party lost power in the March 18 governorship poll.

To save the situation, Otti went to Aba on May 31, barely 48 hours after he took oath of office as the new governor and supervised a massive clean-up exercise. He personally picked up shovel and scooped refuse and also tried his hands on the steering of a pay loader deployed to scoop wastes into disposal vehicles for evacuation.

Otti has a burning zeal to make Aba blossom. He amply expressed this sentiment in his inaugural speech.

He said: "Aba is a city that is very dear to my heart and critical to my leadership agenda. I believe that many Abians have the same attitude towards Aba. I intend to work tirelessly to restore the glory of our beloved Enyimba City".

To actualise his plan for Aba, the governor had initially planned to create a full-fledged ministry to drive his transformation agenda for Enyimba City. However, on a second thought he realised that the bureaucracy usually associated with the operations of ministries could be a drawback.

The transition committee he set had also in its report recommended that designating a ministry for Aba would not achieve the purpose speedily. Instead, a department or agency directly under the supervision of the governor was recommended as best option to drive the transformation of the mega city faster.

To this end, Otti has appointed a Senior Special Assistant on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Uche Ukeje, who is an architect by profession. He is saddled with the responsibility of driving the vehicle for the rapid transformation of Aba as envisaged by the governor. While the infrastructural transformation of Aba is expected to commence soon, Otti has already embarked on sanitisation of the economic activities in the city.

Just as Aba is the numero uno revenue basket of Abia State, the city is also the major source of revenue leakages which previous administrations had failed to checkmate.

Enyimba City also ranks in extortion, multiple taxation and tax evasion that have been plaguing commercial activities. Otti has declared the bazaar over for the various syndicates engaged in perpetuating revenue

flights, extortion and sundry activities sabotaging the economy of Abia. He has set in motion the machinery for reorganising market leaderships to make them accountable and transparent in their activities.

With eyes set on freeing Aba from all the anti-business practices of the past, Otti on July 3, 2023 launched a digital tax payment system. He said that the new system would effectively put revenue fraudsters and extortioners out of business and allow industrialists, traders and transporters to breathe freely in doing their legitimate businesses.

In explaining the many benefits of the new tax payment model Otti said that it is a win-win for everybody. He said: “By simplifying tax compliance procedures, we have removed barriers for businesses, encourage formalisation, and stimulate investment. This initiative empowers entrepreneurs, enabling them to focus on their ventures' growth and expansion, ultimately leading to job creation and economic prosperity for our state". The new method of tax payment would expectedly be a welcome relief for those engaged in doing legitimate businesses in Aba who have been suffering under the oppressive business environment created by touts. Otti gave the Aba business community a cheering news that he has found solution to the problems associated with payment of taxes. "We are also optimistic that this model will eventually eliminate and reduce the risk of extortion, promote transparency, increase tax compliance, strengthen ease of doing business in Abia state and empower these businesses to operate within a legally defined framework and environment”. the governor said.

Both the organised private sector and the informal sector of the Aba business community have expressed delight at the steps already taken by the new governor to put things in proper order. This was evident during the familiarisation tour of the commercial city by the SSA on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Ukeje, who also met with major stakeholders of the city.

The leadership of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(ACCIMA) told Ukeje that the OPS was encouraged by the first steps taken by Otti to fix Aba.

The President of ACCIMA, Chief Jerry Kalu, who spoke on behalf of his group, recalled Otti's campaign promise to create a special vehicle

He lauded the Abia governor for making haste to keep his promise so early in the life of his administration. Kalu acknowledged the widely held belief that any effort made for Aba to work would ultimately translate to making Abia State and the entire South East work.

The SSA thanked the Chamber for its consistent faith in the city and promised that Aba would be made to rebound. He assured the ACCIMA leadership that the new administration was determined to make Abia top the rung in the ease of doing business ranking in Nigeria in 12 months period. Ukeje praised the resilience of the Aba entrepreneurs, whom he said have continued to remain and grow their businesses in Aba in spite of the infrastructural decay and lack of support by previous administrations in the state.

The SSA on Aba Rejuvenation also met other stakeholders, including the leadership of the Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association(ALPADA). He told them that Otti's promise to prioritise Aba urban renewal and reconstruction was still on course.

Ukeje said that aside from addressing the huge infrastructural deficit of Aba, the present government would also develop a masterplan to guide the development of the city for the next 30 years.

The man overseeing Aba renewal reminded the Aba landlords that Otti has unquenchable passion to transform Aba into one of the most modern commercial and industrial cities in the world. He asked for their cooperation and support to make this dream come true. In their various contributions, some of the landlords that spoke identified the challenges facing the commercial city and its residents and pleaded with the new government to tackle them.

The knotty issues, according to them include lack of access roads into and within the city, indiscriminate location of markets and motor parks, lack of drainages, ineffective waste management, insecurity, lack of portable water and other basic amenities. In fact, the Aba landlords pointed out some specific roads they would like Otti's administration to give priority in its reconstruction agenda.

From all indications the Aba landlords would have their wishes translated to reality. Things are already looking good for Aba and the horizon is bright for a massive rebirth. Few days ago the board of directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced the approval of $115 million loan for Abia State. The loan is specifically meant for road rehabilitation, erosion control, and solid waste management in Aba and Umuahia. The fund would be used to tackle the infrastructural challenges in the two beneficiary Abia cities.

Under the loan deal Aba would enjoy the lion share of having a total of 190.43km of roads slated for rehabilitation while Umuahia would get 58.03km of roads. The roads totalling 248.46 km would be rehabilitated to asphaltic concrete standards at varying cross sections. The entire project, including the waste management and erosion control components was expected to be completed in 2029. This loan has effectively resolved the issue of political will needed to holistically reconstruct Aba. Previous administrations lost the will power to embark on any meaningful transformation of Aba when confronted with the prospect of paying enormous compensations to property owners. Obviously, Otti would not entertain such fears now and chicken out of the Aba transformation agenda.

The AfDB loan stipulates that Abia State government would provide $23.80 million in counterpart funding for compensation to people affected by the project and implementation of a Resettlement Action Plan. So, Governor Otti would not be scared to pull down any structure that stands on the way for the reconstruction of Enyimba City.

Otti dreams big for Aba. He has assured Abians that his government "shall work with the best to fix Aba". He has further stated that "beyond working to retain the city’s status as a leading trade destination in Nigeria and across West Africa, we shall also do whatever is necessary to see that Aba’s manufacturing base is restored".

With this huge fund from the AfDB, the new Abia governor can afford to assure and reassure Abians that their beloved Enyimba City, the pride of the South East zone, would rise again. There's no stopping it.

Otti

Otti has a burning zeal to make Aba blossom. He amply expressed this sentiment in his inaugural speech. He said:

"Aba is a city that is very dear to my heart and critical to my leadership agenda. I believe that many Abians have the same attitude towards Aba. I intend to work tirelessly to restore the glory of our beloved Enyimba City"

www.thisdaylive.com

A CYCLE OF MULTILATERAL KILLINGS

There must be an end to impunity, argues OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

Continued from backpage

AFRICA: TOWARDS REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Regional aspiration as shared by West African statement, academia and citizen alike reflects a general desire to break out of ºthe cycle of poverty and a denial of all that divides the region including barriers to free movement of good, service, labour and capital among the partnering countries. As it is, the quest for regional desire also constitutes a response to manifest incapacity of the countries to meet domestic need and the search for solution on how African can improve their share of the world trade without compromising the welfare of the nation.

See page 21

HOW TO GROW NIGERIA’S ECONOMY

The Nigeria judiciary should look at issues dispassionately, argues Oseloka H. Obaze Leroy Ubani

See page 21

EDITORIAL

OF CULTS AND STREET VIOLENCE

The signing of ECOWAS Treaty with Switzerland in 2017 provides a new ambitious blueprint for economic integration and development in Africa. However, one of the remarkable features of this historic event was the relative lack of analysis on the implication on these moves on West African nations, particularly the major macroeconomics issues, political conflict, insecurity and economic backwardness facing the region before the treaty was drafted.

Historically, the first effort made to enhance economic integration is dated back to the establishment of the West African Economic Community (CEAO) in 1972 through the conversion of the much older customs and economic integration, union douanier et economique de l’ Afrique de l’ Quest (UDEAO) which was disbanded on the 14th March 1994. The other economic communities are the Mano River Union (MRU) established in 1972 and the Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS), formed in 1975 (ECOWAS, 2010). The major emphasis in creating each of the three communities was the liberation of intra-community trade and regional road network to enhance free flow of resources within the region.

In line with this thinking, progress recorded by these three countries has been mixed. Highpoints of their achievement includes the remarkable advancement in the transportation and telecommunication network through external funding of the costa highway and PAN African Telecommunication Network that now linked the regions (World Bank, 2000, 2006). Notwithstanding the impressive performance recorded, effort to integrate these West African countries to meet the demand of globalization and break the vicious cycle of poverty affecting the region seems impossible to realize. Probably because of poor regional security, diverse in cultures, institutional difficulties and fear of domination caused by elevated political struggles in the region.

Moreover, the external forces in regional integration in Africa have played various roles to either advance the integrative scheme or undermine them. They are positive and negative forces. One of the instruments employed by the positive external forces on the integration scheme in Africa is foreign aid. Some African countries depend on foreign assistance infrastructural development.

Though, there have been divergent views on the effects of foreign aid by various scholars. In the last two decades, reports have indicated that ECOWAS accounts for the rising share in foreign aid inflow globally. The rising rate of foreign aid could be attributed to numeral factors, which includes the decision made by some donor agencies and more advanced countries to provide the means to finance poverty reduction measures, attend to humanitarian needs and bridge the development gap in less developed regions of the world. It should be noted that aid contributes to economic development in two ways. First, aid can accelerate the attainment of a steady-state potential growth rate by a country with limited capital. Second, aid can improve a country’s ultimate steady growth rate because it brings transfer of technology (knowhow) and encourages good governance and practices.

Undoubtedly, the growing influence of China in West Africa and African at large is overwhelming. The Chinese aid assistance has been at an increase with the intent of providing a robust overseas development programme estimated at tens of billions of dollars since 2000. It was revealed, “that at least 70% of China’s overseas aid was sent to Africa from 2000 to 2019”. Though some researchers argue that “Chinese aid substantially improves economic growth”, while others maintain that the huge assistance is geared towards

undermining Western efforts to use aids in promoting “democracy and political reform, at a time when the US is pulling back on overseas spending.”

Whereas, the vertical integration of the African economy during the colonial era is a major impediment to the self-reliance and collective economic cooperation of ECOWAS. One of such was monetary cooperation between France, the member states of the CFA Zone formulated in the 1960s in a colonial pact. The CFA franc region epitomizes a state-controlled zone of cooperation based in Paris, from where the priority is the interests of France. The peripheral countries that are members of this zone are economically weak in West and Central Africa.

The operational logic of the CFA currency was entrusted to a common central bank (comprising BCEAO and BEAC). The inscription of African names is deception as it has no economic impact. They are mere

a challenge to facilitate monetary union among West African countries.

The former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari while delivering a keynote address in the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Niamey, Niger Republic recognized “that some key unresolved issues remained such as delinking the CFA franc of the UEMOA from the Euro” (Aliemen,2020). It is imperative to note that a large part of their foreign reserves of francophone countries is sealed within the French treasury under the colonial-era agreement with France, therefore limiting their ability to enact a meaningful monetary policy in ECOWAS.

Second, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had agreed to embrace a single currency, the francophone countries hastily launched ECO. This action by the francophone countries had caused a division with the other anglophone and luxophone countries in the ECOWAS countries who intended to adopt the new currency but are relatively slow. President Buhari noted that foreign interference and so-called advice may not be in our best subregional interest...need for UEMOA to return to the agreed roadmap of the ECOWAS Single Currency by complying with the established framework under the roadmap and cooperate with other member countries in achieving the objectives of the programme.

bureaucratic institutions whose monetary policies are dependent on French Bank. They merely exist to give the impression that the CFA countries have monetary control over their currencies, which in reality is not the case. The francophone CFA Zone countries have maintained a monetary system arranged by their former colonial master.

The CFA zone economies are relatively very vulnerable. This is occasioned by the operational mechanism of the CFA franc, which is considered to be asymmetric. The monetary solidarity of the CFA zone countries was designed to benefit France. The CFA monetary cooperation has not produced an efficient and major banking/financial system in the CFA countries.

For instance, in 1990, of the 107 banks within the CFA countries, 42 were declared bankrupt. To remedy the situation, the banking network was constituted, which increased the tie and strongly dependent on the banks in metropolitan France.

Given the above, France does not encourage external trade bilateral relations of a member CFA with other nations. For instance, when Senegal crude oil was discovered in Saint Louis, the country turned to Venezuela to help in its exploration instead of France. Paris considered this act as a betrayal of cooperation agreements that are tied to all CFA countries, and their resources solely to France. There are other instances, the crisis relating to uranium in Niger, gold in Mali, petrol in Chad, raw materials and the transfer of public utility shares in Cote d’Ivoire, DRCongo, all to protect French interests.

Several efforts have been made since April 20, 2000, in Accra, Ghana, when six leaders of West African countries indicated an interest in proceeding to monetary union among the non-CFA franc countries of the region by January 2003. As planned, the initial step was to guarantee a broader monetary union including all the ECOWAS countries in 2004. To actualize it, the six countries accepted to reduce their central bank financing budget deficits to 10, setting up a common central bank, among others.

Despondently, one of the impediments has always been whether the French Treasury’s guarantee of convertibility of the CFAto the euro, at a fixed uniformity. The CFA franc is pegged to the Euro and that makes it

President Bola Tinubu has emerged as the new chairperson of ECOWAS as he took over from the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, who had just finished his tenure at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government. To underscore his commitment towards regional integration, the Nigerian President declared that he would prioritize political stability, peace and security, regional economic integration and strengthening of the ECOWAS institutions, declaring that democracy and good governance remain the abiding cornerstone of peace and sustainable development. While decrying the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa where soldiers have toppled the popular mandate of the people through barrel of guns, President Tinubu charged ECOWAS to stand firm in defence of democracy.

However, external forces have greatly impacted regional integration in West Africa. The United Nations system, nonviolent state actors, among others have positively promoted regional integration in Africa including foreign national government such as China. Other foreign national government such as France has undermined regional integration of the Economic Community of West African State. France has officially granted political independence to francophone countries in the West African region, yet has strong integrative bond that determines and enjoys all the colonial advantages of pro-independence periods. Paris considers any relationship outside her with francophone Africa as a betrayal. French government controls their monetary policy of the UMOA, a sub monetary organization of eight francophone countries in West Africa. This integrative scheme with Francophone Africa has adversely impacted the ECOWAS monetary policy. This was predicated on the hasty launching of the ECO by the francophone members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries, and this has caused a division with the other Anglophone countries in the 15 ECOWAS Countries who want to adopt the new currency.

Hence, I would recommend that since certain external aids appear to have an abysmal impact on selfreliance, hence, ECOWAS must be selective in accepting foreign assistance. Some of the foreign aids can mortgage the future of the West African sub-region. Second, the francophone African States should reconsider their monetary union with France. The francophone countries should create an independent national currency that is elastic like the supranational organization such as the European Union national currency before the emergence of the euro. This will fast-track the ECO monetary policy of ECOWAS single currency.

ECOWAS should be selective in accepting foreign assistance, argues FELIX OLADEJI

There must be an end to impunity, argues

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

Continued from backpage

A CYCLE OF MULTILATERAL KILLINGS

The president is correct. But he must go beyond merely preaching. He should help facilitate a dialogue for peace in the region if we are to end the cycle of revenge killings that has claimed the lives of thousands in the two states. Eleven years ago, precisely on 8th July 2012, Senator Dantong Gyang Dalyop and Hon. Gyang Fulani, then Majority Leader of the Plateau State Assembly, were attending a mass funeral for dozens of their people killed in BarkinLadi local government area when a gang of gunmen invaded the burial ground, shooting in all directions. The two lawmakers did not survive the massacre that claimed dozens of lives. Following

the tears have dried and the pains have revisit of several issues that are critical

the resultant political tensions that have been pervasive over the years arose principally because of the politicisation of accumulated grievances. And it is not helped by the ethnic-settler controversy that is founded on division and hate. This is an issue that has become a serious challenge not only in Plateau State but in several places across the nation. And until, and unless, we address it, we will never be able to build a united society.

TO GROW NIGERIA’S

After years of using it to secure plumb and lucrative political offices, in which much is taken away from the common wealth and returning little value to the Nigerian people, the sweet and tantalizing political rhetoric that served the elite so well as guaranteed honey pot should take some back seat, while Nigerians figure out some measures to return the country to economic viability.

It was originally thought out as formula for inclusion in order to accommodate all sections of the country with a view to generate an even development and not a mere narrow design for elite accommodation and exclusion of the majority sectors of the society. What originally was designed to redress some imbalances has produced a system of privileged and exclusion, concentrated on a narrow range of elites, whose most obvious criteria

critical factor of value creation and multiplication. The fact that our current economic trajectory is vitiated by low productivity, far below its potential means that the future is bright, if we develop an original economic paradigm that is concentrated on optimizing the country’s economic potential. A deliberate strategy of geo-economic consideration will emphasize the productive potential of identified geo-economic zones with the intention to formulate and execute industrial and agricultural policy that aligns to the critical imperative of optimizing the economic and productive potential of each of the geo-economic zones. Geo-economic zones could further be mapped out into geo-economic areas with each zone and area designed to align to a national economic value chain.

that tragedy, I wrote a column, ‘Fire from the Mountains…’

I leave readers with excerpts from that column as I urge President Tinubu to work with stakeholders in the Middle Belt region to end what has now become multilateral killings.

It was bad enough that the victims were brutally massacred in their homes before one now considered the indignity of a mass burial. Unfortunately, it was at that emotionally vulnerable state at the scene of a multiple funeral that Senator Dantong Gyang Dalyop and others were callously ambushed in a second round of violence that ultimately consumed no fewer than 40 people. Given the nature of the crisis which led to that bloody madness, it would be very naïve of anybody to consider this as the end of a cycle of revenge that brought about the pogrom. And that is where the federal and state governments have now been left with a serious challenge which would require tact and commitment on the part of critical stakeholders.

All the political, traditional, and religious leaders in Plateau State join forces if we are not to witness an escalation of this tragedy. What happened at the weekend was almost like a scene from a horror movie. That explains why it is nothing but gratuitous insult for some people to be dwelling on the irrelevant fact that there were no gunshot wounds on (some of) the victims who were, to all intents and purposes, simply murdered. There is also need for a serious inquisition into the role of the security agencies at the scene of the tragedy to ascertain their level of professionalism in such a panicky environment.

While we commiserate with the families who lost loved ones, it is important for those who are already talking carelessly to understand that making divisive and incendiary statements at a time like this can only compound the situation. Whatever the grievances (real and imagined) by the contending parties, this is not an auspicious moment to air them. When

It is not too late for a political negotiation that will put an end to the ethnic strife and bloodshed. For that to happen though, it is important for all critical stakeholders to rise to condemn this massacre, not rationalise or justify such cold-blooded mass murder. It is also important to avoid a reprisal that can only worsen an already bad situation. It is natural that at a time when emotions run high, reason will be at a very low ebb. Yet except the relevant authorities move in quickly, (and I am not talking of drafting in some military men who will run away at the sight of danger as happened last Sunday), there could be further acts of anger and retaliation between the contending parties. And this will be most unhelpful.

We must explore all the possibilities for peace, though that is contingent on not bringing in mercenaries who may exploit the situation to further their own nefarious agenda. The fear is that there may already be some tell-tale signs in that direction, and we know that without peaceful coexistence and tolerance, the city of Jos and indeed Plateau State, will be in perpetual eliminate the other through what has become a bilateral genocide, to borrow a phrase coined in Rwanda. To therefore put the brakes on the violence, there is the need to checkmate all appeals to hate, force and guilt by association. I will recommend for the people a 75 second puts this issue in proper perspective: http://www.seedsofpeace.org/#.

At the end of the day, all the contending parties must come to the sober realization that they have only been losing lives, wealth and their peace children are being wrongly socialized because their religious and cultural teachings about the sanctity of life are being cheerfully violated. The local economy has crashed and a land that was a haven of peace and agricultural productivity now exports only tales of man’s inhumanity to man.

The failure of our security agencies and whatever may be their current tactics for dealing with the challenge in Jos is also evident. It is particularly worrisome that no arrests are made after these killings, implying that there is probably no real grip on the situation. This only encourages what has become a national culture of impunity. As the nation therefore mourns the distinguished Senator and other victims of this tragedy, let the people of Plateau State embrace the legendary admonition of Ukpabi Asika: “Enough is enough”.

Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board

is a jaundiced access to the seat of power in Abuja.

The geopolitical zones have triggered the most feverish proclivity to power mongering, a convenient bargaining chip for the invasive vandalizm of the country’s commonwealth. If it was originally designed to generate a certain sense of inclusion and provide a practical effect to the country’s federal structure, it has however, degenerated to a cesspool of chaotic abuses characterized by indolence, drudgery and sheer hedonism. It is the country’s arguable signpost of decay.

The intention of the concept of geopolitical zone remains noble, but nothing is given as it is, without deliberate and concerted efforts to steer it in the direction of its expected outcomes. The mechanics of geo-political zones degenerated to toxic zones of political infighting, spilling out bands of marauding incompetents, noxious and parasitic gladiators incapable of bearing witness to the honest strivings of the original intentions of the concept. While it would merely amount to throwing the baby with the bath water for any advocacy to dispense with the concept of geopolitical zone, it might become imperative especially with the urgency to rebuild the economy and give the people a new lease of life, to shift emphasis to geo-economic zones as key to broad participatory economic revival. To give effect to the long desired strategy of economic diversification; tapping from the endowment of the various parts of the country and aligning, such horizontal efforts to vertical national value chain, an economic model that would take our domestic efforts in combination to the secondary inputs of foreign investments is urgent imperative for consideration. The concept of geo-economic zones would start with establishing a credible economic geography of the country in which natural endowments and comparative advantage of each zones should be mapped out and articulated. The fundamental crises of Nigeria whether security or socio-political, arise from a fundamental contradiction of the growing and expanding needs of a fast growing population against the background of inadequate and even dwindling resources to meet the needs. This fundamental contradiction is reinforced by low and underdeveloped productive forces. Any meaningful strategy to resolve a broad range of Nigeria’s existential crises, including security, economic and political must proceed from the proper understanding of the fundamental contradiction which is basically a growing population with expectation for good life against inadequate resources to meet the growing needs and a concerted effort to resolve it. A deliberate strategy of economic recovery must focus on increasing productivity as a

Geo-economic zones unlike geo-political zones would not pile pressures on the economic fortunes through primitive extraction and vicious elite entitlement but would challenge the creative and imaginative resource of the entire population, generating a healthy contest for optimum production based on the comparative advantages of the respective regions, zones and areas. Nigeria’s main challenge of economic recovery is to optimally deploy her productive potential especially in mobilizing her huge endowment in manpower and natural resources. The distribution of Nigeria’s resources endowments across all regions, zones and areas means the country sits on a potential wealth to be triggered to the benefits of all her people and the rest of mankind. The pursuit of politics and its innate Nigeria’s implication for primitive accumulation of wealth have distorted that natural benefits that should derive from her economic geography, spawned a hedonistic elite given to pleasure and avarice without the slightest exertions in the direction of productivity. The trend of the hegemony of avaricious elite vegetating on the mundane pleasure without commensurate work output is unsustainable and the entire gamut of the current existential crises has its origin from it.

The state must be refocused from the morbid dispenser of the common patrimony to an essential mechanism to call out the latent strength of the people to generate and create wealth.

A common refrain that the country must be positioned to attract foreign investment is good but it is even better that the country should be calibrated to fully mobilize the productive capacity of the Nigerian people through targeted industrial and agricultural policies that automatically make productive activities attractive and rewarding. The politics of geoeconomic zones would generate substantive inclusion because it would not be about what would be taken out or to be benefited but what be created, generated and given in, to the national system and build a bigger common wealth.

For a genuine return to productivity as the critical fundamental to restoring Nigeria’s economic viability is not derived from the opportunistic and simplistic campaign slogan of “from consumption to production.” in our context, we mean the institution of a credible and efficient State, engaging in practical policy explorations, not derived from any economic orthodoxy but incrementally attempting to “cross the river by feeling the Stone,” as China’s reform Patriarch, Deng Xiaoping stated at the start of Chinese economic reforms in the early 1980s.

The increasing complexity of Nigeria’s politics and the challenging electoral trajectories can only be mitigated by refocusing on economic expansion through an enhanced and targeted productivity. The idea of geo-economic zones may not be the last word in the strategy of recovery and social stability but would afford a roadmap in which other issues of expanding productivity would mix to re-arrange the national destiny from one, immersed in narrow political profiteering to economic selfredemption.

Onunaiju is a research director of Abujabased Think Tank

HOW

ECONOMY

CHARLES ONUNAIJU canvasses economic expansion through enhanced and targeted productivity

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL OF CULTS AND STREET VIOLENCE

Security agencies must do more to curb the menace

The rate at which cult-related violence is spreading across the country should worry those in authorities. For the umpteenth time in Lagos last week, cultists went on the rampage in the Bariga area, killing three persons. The gunshots which reportedly started at Idi-Aba area, considered to be the den of cultists and drug dealers, soon spread to several other areas. A week earlier in the Bariga area which has become the operational headquarters for cult-related crimes in the state, two people were hacked to death in what was attributed to revenge killings. With reports that the cult group whose members were killed had written letters to some areas announcing that they would avenge the death of their slain colleagues, these criminal gangs now behave as though above the law.

As a state increasingly becoming the new epicentre of this deviant behaviour, the authorities in Lagos should be concerned about this growing lawlessness. During the last Easter holiday, four suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities were killed in series of bloody clashes at Ijanikin area of the state. Several others sustained machete cuts during the attacks. Unfortunately, the madness is not restricted to Lagos. That cult wars and gang violence have exacerbated the climate of lawlessness and fear in the polity is no longer in doubt. The menace has become so widespread that armed robbers, drug peddlers and other sundry miscreants are now being recruited into the fold.

In many states of the federation, cultists of various stripes act with impunity, killing, raping and maiming victims while causing widespread destruction. Yet the authorities seemed helpless. For sure, cultism is not new in Nigeria. For years, several

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

Letters to the Editor

another either for personal/family protection or for the promotion and safeguard of certain interests. But today, cultism has become almost like a status symbol, especially on our campuses where members snubbed by a student of the opposite sex. From our school campuses to the streets, these criminal gangs operate without restraints.

A few years ago, some prominent people in the society were among 67 suspected cultists arrested and quizzed in Benin City, the Edo State capital, by men of the special squad deployed in the state to curb the growing killings and cult activities. In the days preceding the deployment of the police team, some criminals said to be members of ‘Eiye’, ‘Black Axe’, ‘Buccaneers’, ‘Aiye’ and ‘Jurist’ confraternities had unleashed hell on the streets of Benin. The body count was 22 dead. Among those arrested for their alleged involvement in the mayhem were 14 Junior Secondary School students between the ages of 12 and 15.

In June 2013 about 20 persons were killed due to a confrontation between members of the ‘Eiye issues. Earlier in January 2011, residents of Benin City were under siege during a similar violent clash between the same rival cult groups in what was described as a battle for supremacy. Over 26 suspects were killed during the fracas. What is particularly disturbing is that the authorities seemed bewildered in tackling the endemic problems of cult wars. While no plausible explanations have been provided, most people believe that many young men are encouraged because there are hardly convictions for the crime. And if this persists, Nigerians may have to brace up for more gang violence.

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

HAS TINUBU FORGOTTEN NORTH’S AGRICULTURE?

On October 17, 2022, at Arewa House, Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented to the north, his blueprint for the region. He said he would fight bandits and terrorists with the technology the Buhari administration began to use in 2022. Tinubu pledged to turn the North’s fertile land into grain fields. The dairy economy and agro-allied industries would be promoted as he accelerates the Mambila Project and rejuvenates existing power stations. He vowed to exploit the gold in Zamfara, and iron ore in Kogi State. Tinubu also promised to bring back to school the millions of North’s out-of-school children through incentives. He further promised to create a special commission for Almajiri education including employing Almajiri teachers.

So far, President Tinubu has appointed some Special Advisers (SAs), appointments seen by many political pundits as the direction of his administration’s policies and programs. Of the portfolios SAs, agriculture gets none. Has Tinubu forgotten agriculture or has he major policy and programs planned for the sector?

The North needs a unique recovery program in the agriculture sector - the mainstay of the region’s economy is now devastated by banditry, insecurity, floods, and corruption. Some of the previous administrations’ beautifully designed programs for agriculture have been abused. Many ‘real’ farmers have tearfully complained that the custodians of the

programs and projects have hijacked the benefits.

The Anchor Borrowers Programme, Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), Youth Farm Lab, Paddy Aggregation Scheme, Agricultural Trust Fund, Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative (PEDI), Food Security Council, etc., including other CBN interventions programs, are good. However, the implementation and targeting were not 100 percent successful. For example, under the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) fertilizer blenders benefit from government resources, and smile to the banks, while the farmers for whom the scheme was primarily designed for, buy fertilizers through their noses. Instead of the N5,000 per bag, as envisaged by the programme. A bag of fertilizer now costs between N20,000 and N25,000

Despite the shortcomings of some of the programs, Nigerian agricultural production has improved. For instance, rice milling created many productive jobs. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said, the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) supported about 4.57 million smallholder farmers who cultivated over 6.02 million hectares of 21 agro-commodities across the country. The programme has helped to improve the national average yield per hectare of these commodities, with productivity per hectare almost doubling within the eight years of the programme’s implementation.

Also, statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisa-

tion (FAO), indicated that some of these programmes contributed significantly to the increased national output of commodities, with maize and rice peaking at 12.2 and 9.0 million metric tons in 2021 and 2022. However, one of the fundamental bottlenecks that these projects and programs faced, were its managers. For instance, the last two Ministers of Agriculture were somehow ‘disconnected’ from agriculture. Moreover, some of the managers of these programs and projects are not agro-enthusiasts nor farmer-friendly. With workable and real farmer-friendly agricultural policies, programmes, and projects, President Tinubu will have a golden opportunity to directly ‘talk’ to millions of northerners. What should Tinubu do? First, his Minister of Agriculture should not only be an agricultural enthusiast, but an agile practicing farmer who understands the entire agricultural value chain, politics, and markets. A personality who understands the needs and global trends in agriculture and has a connection with real farmers and private initiatives. Tinubu’s minister of agriculture should be someone who sees agriculture from the prisms of entrepreneurship, wealth creation, and national GDP growth. Tinubu should also appoint a Special Adviser on agriculture and an advisory team on agriculture which should be

populated by competent real farmers. The Chairman of the Forum for Agricultural Commodities Association, Sadiq Darewa once said: The Tinubu administration should sustain and improve upon programs and projects that have clear benefits for Nigerians. At the same time, those that have wasted Nigerians’ time should be rejected.

Tinubu may wish to sustain but redesign all the current agricultural policies, programs, and projects. He needs to remove the obvious opacity which characterizes most of the programs.

Tinubu should bring real farmer associations and groups on board to assist the government in redesigning the programs. They have a good grasp of what went wrong with the schemes, programmes, and projects and how to rejuvenate them for millions of real farmers in the country.

The redesigned and improved programmes should incorporate livestock production and the establishment of more herbicide and pesticide factories. Nigeria has no business spending billions of naira on importing water mixed with some chemicals, it should work on reducing the cost of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs including labour and transportation costs.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja

In many states of the federation, cultists of various stripes act with impunity, killing, raping and maiming victims while causing widespread destruction. Yet the authorities seemed helpless

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

GEAPP: Osinbajo Champions Campaign for Clean Energy, Economic Growth, Job Creation in Africa

Emma Okonji

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, has commenced campaign for the transition to clean energy systems that are driving economic growth, generating jobs and sustainable livelihoods, and helping to meet urgent climate goals.

The commencement of the campaign is sequel to his recent appointment as the global advisor for Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), with immediate effect.

The campaign, which started from Lagos in Nigeria, is expected to cover

other African countries, designed to empower individuals and small businesses with electricity that comes from renewable energy.

At a press briefing in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of GEAPP, Mr. Simon Harford, who spoke about the campaign, said it started from Ikorodu market in Lagos, where traders were provided with roof-top solar panel that generates electricity 24/7 to power their businesses.

According to him, over 700 million people globally have no access to electricity, including Nigeria, while half of the global population lacks access to affordable, sufficient and reliable

energy to power their lives and businesses, adding that GEAPP is determined to provide access to clean energy to people globally, including Nigeria.

“The roof-top solar energy that we installed in Ikorodu market has significantly improved businesses, as traders now have increased customers and sales, due to constant electricity supply from our roof-top solar panel. We are determined to cover the entire Nigeria with clean energy and Prof. Osinbajo will support GEAPP’s partnership with governments to enhance the enabling environment and delivery effectiveness to unlock

faster and greater capital flows into the clean energy sector. He will also continue his activity as a leading advocate for Just Energy Transitions in Africa including scaling up Africa’s share of the global carbon market via the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI),” Harford said.

Osinbajo who also spoke at the press conference, stated his resolve to champion access to clean energy in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

“I am particularly happy that I will be working with GEAPP to drive clean energy in Nigeria and Africa. I am fascinated by the level of partnerships that GEAPP

is building with the Nigerian government to promote clean energy in the country. Nigeria needs access to clean energy and energy access is central for us as a country, because it is at the centre of our development. If Nigerians do not have access to sufficient clean energy that is required for development, it will set us back as a country. Our emphasis at GEAPP is provide access to electricity that will drive economic growth and job creation, and help Nigerians and the rest of Africa to conquer poverty and diseases,” Osinbajo said.

Speaking about his plans to

champion clean energy in Nigeria and the rest of African countries and the impact it will create on the people and businesses, Osinbajo said the objectives of achieving the goal remained clear, but explained that he would device means on how to address the peculiar needs of different countries in Africa that GEAPP will be working with.

“Once governments see the economic benefits of the GEAPP’s initiative on transition to clean energy, I am sure they will buy into the initiative.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Digital Lending: FCCPC Insists On Deletion of Operators’ Apps over Defamation, Harassment

Raheem Akingbolu

Operators of digital lending apps

who defame and harass Nigerians in an attempt to recover loans, will have their apps deleted on Google, Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera, has disclosed.

Speaking on Arise News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspaper on the recent activities of the commission, Irukera further stated that the strategy to delist

loan applications found harassing customers has led to significant reduction and those left have met the stated ethical requirements.

He further added that once a loan app has been delisted due to consumers harassment, there would not be a second chance. He also said genuine people in need of the loans should not be made to suffer frustrations to get loans.

“We would make sure that any app that is on google but defames consumers would not have the opportunity to do legal

business in Nigeria anymore. You cannot because there is a high rate of default, begin to engage inappropriate ways of recovering loans. People who truly have a problem and those who don’t fail to make a payment should not be subjected to the inconvenience of frustrations or harassments that accompanies these defamatory messages, ”e said.

The FCCPC Boss also spoke on involving the use of AI to boost the processes involved in money lending by these online banks,

saying FCCPC will regulate its application to forestall abuse of consumer rights. He said, “AI is an emerging space that regulators are trying to put their hands around, both from the competition standpoint and the consumer protection stand point. We welcome the use of technology that promotes efficiency and some level of precision however, even in the use of AI, any technology that gives you inappropriate access to people’s privacy or gives data controllers some level of control or

access, we would challenge that.”

He also stated that there is a platform dedicated where reports on the conducts of these online banks can be tabled at lenderstaskforce@thefccpc.gov.ng.

To this end, he pointed out that the public can also make use of the complaint platform on the commission’s website.

While reviewing the various legal battles the commission has involved in, in the last five years, the DG said the FCCPC has had five years of a zero loss record in

AS AT WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023

judicial processes.

He said, “Because I am a regulator, I welcome judicial challenges to what we do. The one thing I am very strict about is that we would stretch the law to its maximum limit and elasticity but we would not step one inch beyond the law.

“We are confident and we welcome the judicial challenge. For instance, I go to court myself and I might say in the almost five years of the FCCPC, we have a pretty good run. we have a zero loss from the judicial process.”

Ojuolape: Population and Housing Census Essential for Devt, Address Gender Inequality

As the Representative in Ghana, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape led the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency (UNFPA)’s strategic partnership with the Government of Ghana in conducting the Population and Housing Census in 2021, dubbed the first digital census in Africa. Two years after, he is leading a similar effort towards Somalia’s 2024 Census as the current Country Representative in Somalia. Ojuolape, an international development expert and an Alumnus of Bocconi University Milan and Harvard Kennedy Executive Programme, shares with THISDAY the significance of Population and Housing Census in addressing gender inequality, which is a vital UN Sustainable Development Goal. Excerpts:

In the interest of our readers who may be meeting you for the first time, who is Niyi Ojuolape, and what does the UNFPA as an organisation do?

Iam Edward Adeniyi Ojuolape, Representative of the UN Sexual and Reproductive Agency (UNFPA) in Somalia. I served in the same capacity in Ghana before arriving here and I was a Deputy Representative of UNFPA in Congo DRC. Prior to that I also served as Chief of Staff (ad interim) to the UNFPA Executive Director, late Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin. Before joining the UN, I held executive roles in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA). As an organisation, UNFPA serves several objectives, which include family planning, gender-based violence prevention, reduction in maternal mortality and gender inequality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as variegated youth-focused services. Also central to what we do is supporting the 10-year-old girl in a world of 8 billion through a variety of means. Helping societies become conscious of practices that keep women and girls out of school and limit their agency and ability to make decisions about their health and sexual and reproductive lives. Because, when societies empower women and girls to exert autonomy over their lives and bodies, there are important knock-on effects for development.

What is the significance of World Population Day?

It is an annual commemoration on every July 11th. It was established in 1989 and essentially seeks to raise awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, maternal health, human rights and poverty. In effect, it is a time to reflect on the most concerning population issues. This year, the UNFPA wants the world to reflect on how to unleash the power of gender equality and to do so by uplifting the voices of women and girls. We believe this is the most sustainable path to a world of thriving communities.

Let us talk a bit about the conduct of census in Africa. There has been some serious interest in that regard in the last five or so years?

You are right and we should applaud and commend this progress. A few examples come to mind. In North Africa, Egypt and Algeria held population censuses in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In East Africa, Kenya did so in 2019, and Rwanda had its fifth housing and population census in 2022. In West Africa, Ghana conducted its sixth population census in 2021, and in Nigeria, talks about a 2023 population census are ongoing However, when you consider that the UN benchmark for census conduct is for countries to do so, once in every ten years, then you can see there are still gaps and most countries do not keep to the 10 year schedule for a recount. There are reasons for that, obviously, with resource or security constraints presenting some challenges. At any rate, we are dedicated towards assisting governments work through these hurdles.

From your assessment and experience, how much difference does population and housing census really make in the development process of a country?

It does make a tremendous difference in fact. The gains and knock-on effect of population census are enormous, particularly in identifying the gender inequality gap and presenting an opportunity for governments to take the right steps to uplift all facets of society that are being left behind. To be clear, census is an important stock-taking exercise for any country. As a government, in order to effectively and sustainably improve the lives of the people, you have to know their numbers and their situation. How many are they, who are they, when were they born, where do they live, what do they do?

That leads to the question of who is lagging behind, educationally, economically, politically, etc. Is it women and girls (which is often the case)? How many are getting education? How many

are employed? How much agency can they exercise over their lives? What about political representation for women? You then start asking, how do we design opportunities and allocate resources to level the playing field? To ensure women have more opportunities for economic mobility and are in position to plan their lives and families better. In a nutshell, the gendered data produced during census can lead to valuable interventions towards gender equality. Countries like Rwanda, South Africa and Iceland, to mention a few, are examples of states who identified through their census data wide gender inequalities in economic and social life and used policies to plug these gaps.

What was your experience during the Census in Ghana and what worked so well in that period?

UNFPA’S partnership with Ghana on the census delivered the desired objective. It was quite successful. We had a strong and dedicated partnership

with the Government of Ghana and we saw a transparent and digitalized population and housing count. We got on board expert statisticians, demographers, while also co-mobilising the necessary technological, human, and financial resources. But then, no two countries are the same. Given dissimilar historical and political developments, every country will have their peculiar strengths and challenges. The vital thing is to evaluate and put in place the necessary conditions for a smooth census exercise.

How will you describe Somalia’s state of preparedness keeping in mind some of the security concerns in the country?

There is political will from the Somali government regarding the census after five decades since the last one. So we are consulting together, studying what other countries have done, especially within the sub-region and mobilising accordingly. It is not just the UNFPA by the way, there are other partners such as UNECA and the U.S Census Bureau. In my estimation, it is a development that excites many Somalis. The government will expectedly derive key insights to inform policies that will tackle some of the challenges currently faced in the country.

Also note that two-thirds of the Somali population are estimated to be people under 30. Opportunities and resources for young people are one of the building blocks for a thriving society, and this a demographic we care deeply about. So we are excited for the country too. Somalia also have one of the most thriving diaspora communities dedicated towards growth and development in the country. They too will be keenly looking forward to it. With respect to security, it is a crucial concern due to locations where the government does not maintain complete control. However, technological solutions are being explored and there are a host of technical advisers providing the needed guidance.

Thank you for your time, Mr. Ojuolape… Thank you for having me.

Ojuolape

“Census is an important stocktaking exercise for any country. As a government, in order to effectively and sustainably improve the lives of the people, you have to know their numbers and their situation”

“The gains and knock-on effect of population census are enormous, particularly in identifying the gender inequality gap and presenting an opportunity for governments to take the right steps to uplift all facets of society that are being left behind. To be clear, census is an important stock-taking exercise for any country.”

CWG, Dell, Mitsumi

Assure Customers on Tech Solutions, Data Security

Emma Okonji

CWG, an Information Technology

(IT) solution provider, in collaboration with Dell Technologies and Mitsumi Distribution, on Tuesday in Lagos, organised a customer forum, where it showcased the latest emerging technologies and informed organisations on how best to leverage the technologies through collaboration, to boost profitability.

Experts: Collaboration Key to Cashless Adoption in Nigeria, Job Creation

Emma Okonji

The Managing Director of Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), a subsidiary of SystemSpecs Holdings Limited (SHL), Mr. Deremi Atanda, has called for deeper industry collaboration to foster the adoption of digital payments in Nigeria. He made the call during his presentation at the 2023 Digital Pay Expo Conference held recently in Lagos.

Also, the Executive Chairman of Phase 3, Mr. Stanley Jegede, has called for collaboration between technology companies and institutions of knowledge in order to foster national development and job creation.

Jegede who spoke at a recent career fair in partnership with

the Nile Turkish University of Nigeria, said to fortify the nation’s ICT readiness and foster a vibrant digital economy on the continent, enhanced industry collaborations on information communication technology development across sectors would be of imperative.

Giving insight to the discussion that focused on the importance of discovering and also adopting the factors that drive cashless adoption, Atanda stressed how transitioning financial services to a cashless payment model could foster socio-economic development.

“Contactless payment can greatly increase the use of cashless transactions. For us in the developing economy, which Nigeria partly

belongs to, financial inclusion is crucial, and it depends on digital inclusion. Ultimately, this is about socio-economic growth, because cashless is not an end, but a means to improve and speed up payment, which benefits the whole ecosystem,” he said.

Africa, especially Nigeria, has seen a meteoric rise in the Fintech industry, which has dismantled traditional barriers and ushered in a new era of financial inclusion. However, the advent of contactless payment promises to completely transform how people transact goods and services on the go.

Experts predict that contactless payments are set to surpass cash and card payments in the near future,

DCC: Digital Currencies Will Boost Job Creation, Innovation

Digital Currency Coalition (DCC), the largest coalition of crypto asset practitioners and founders in the African digital currency space, has said digital currencies can serve as catalysts for job creation, innovation, and sustainable development.

The coalition therefore called on Nigerians to embrace and leverage the opportunities presented by digital currencies and blockchain technology, to further advance the country’s digital transformation agenda.

The coalition, in a statement jointly signed by its members comprising the CEO of Tradefada, Seun Dania; CEO and Co-founder of Quidax, Buchi Okoro; CEO and Co-founder of Nestcoin, Yele Bademosi and PMO, Digital Currency Coalition, Geoffrey Nwokolo, said: “We firmly believe that embracing and leveraging the opportunities presented by digital

currencies and blockchain can make a significant contribution to the nation’s economic advancement. While we acknowledge the potential risks and challenges associated with this emerging sector, we emphasise that with proper regulation and strategic implementation, digital currencies can serve as catalysts for job creation, innovation, and sustainable development.

“As the leading voice in the digital currency and blockchain space, DCC stands ready to collaborate with the government, leveraging our expertise to shape a robust and future-oriented digital currency ecosystem. We are committed to demonstrating to the nation’s leaders how embracing digital currencies can lead to sustainable job creation, especially for the young population, fostering independence and freeing up national resources for other social causes.”

According to them, DCC

acknowledges the positive steps taken by the government in formulating a national blockchain policy and applaud the collaborative approach that involved stakeholders within the blockchain space, including the Digital Currency Coalition, in creating the policy and facilitating its implementation.

They however expressed moderate concerns regarding the inclusion of provisions for the taxation of digital assets in newly enacted fintech-focused legislation, adding that the provisions come at a time when the sector’s potential is still hindered by challenges such as the nationwide banking service ban on its operators.

The coalition reiterated its commitment to working handin-hand with the government, regulators, and industry stakeholders to ensure the responsible growth of the digital currency industry in Nigeria.

Verve Surpasses 50m Payment Cards, Consolidates Market Share

Emma Okonji

Verve International, Africa’s first domestic payments scheme has announced a remarkable new milestone in its business, with over 50 million issued payment cards, while consolidating its growing market share in Nigeria - in terms of card issuance and transactions.

The development comes barely a year after the scheme announced it had issued 35 million cards in Nigeria in March 2022, translating to 42 per cent growth in issuance volumes year-on-year (YoY).

Verve has become the payment card of choice across various tiers of banking service and particularly within the burgeoning fintech space in Nigeria.

In October 2022, Verve and Opay

announced a significant partnership in Nigeria, rolling out the OPay Verve Instant Debit Card, directly linked to OPay user wallets, thereby making it easy and convenient to make payments for goods and services, essentially empowering millions of Opay users to transact with Verve cards directly from their wallets Verve, as Africa’s premier and leading domestic payment cards scheme, is focused on addressing peculiar market challenges in Africa by providing secure and cost-effective payment options for individuals and businesses to exchange value. Verve offers both virtual and physical cards that facilitate payment for an increasing number of international services in local currency, and has made significant progress in this regard, having achieved merchant

as they are growing rapidly with a 15.4 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).

Reiterating Remita’s contribution to the advancement of cashless transactions in Africa, Atanda emphasised that collaboration among stakeholders would create revolutionary technology that would make financial transactions easier and more accessible.

“While cashless payments offer clear advantages and development potential, we must not overlook the key dependencies involved. The development of cashless payments should be accompanied by careful consideration of regulations and standards to maximise its benefits,” he added.

Tagged: ‘Tech-Driven FutureBuilding Tomorrow’s Innovation’, the forum exposed organisations to the capabilities of emerging technologies, and how such technologies could protect the entire ecosystem from internal and external attacks, as well as data recovery in order to reposition organistions for profitability.

Senior Systems Engineer, Dell Technologies, Adekunle Windapo, in his keynote address, said partnering Dell Technologies would help organisations to remove the barriers to innovate.

He stressed the need for innovation and the use of technology to empower the people, adding that Dell has invested $7.9 billion in research and development.

He advised organisations to invest in technology in order to remain relevant and competitive, adding that Dell Technologies, though its solutions, will help organisations to turn their ideas into innovation for profitability. He stressed the need for collaboration, and explained that without collaboration, no organisation could successfully innovate. He advised organisations to simplify their Information Technology (IT)

processes to enhance productivity.

He spoke about cloud services offered by Dell Technologies and further advised organisations to take advantage of its cloud service offerings. “Dell Technologies offers multi-cloud technology solutions as-a-service and I strongly advise organisations to take advantage of the solution.” Windapo said.

Laying emphasis on Dell Technologies Edge solution, Windapo said it would allow organisations to raise large amount of data and be able to move data from one location to a safe location.

Data protection solutions expert at Dell Technologies, Mr. Ashraf Helmy, in his presentation, said: “Data protection is key to all organisations and our solution helps in protecting data that is stored either in the cloud or on-premise.”

Helmy emphasised the need for organisations to always backup their data and have a robust data recovery plan, which he said, was different from data availability and protection.

He spoke about cyber threats, adding that 30 per cent of cyber attacks come from insider attacks. He therefore stressed the need for organisations to protect their data and the entire ecosystem, using robust IT solutions.

The Chief Operating Officer at CWG, Mr. Afolabi Sobande said the customer forum was put together by CWG to address how businesses could ride on emerging technologies like Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive their businesses to profitability.

acceptance with platforms such as Netflix, Showmax, Amazon Prime, Facebook, Microsoft, Uber, and Flywire. Verve also has a number of major partnerships in the works, underscoring its strong resolve to continue to drive such partnerships that provide users in Africa convenient opportunities to access global services in local denominations.

On the African front, Verve cardholders are provided with the benefit of using the Verve card in Nigeria and over 21 other African countries, underscoring the company’s resolve to ensure the seamlessness of transactions across the continent, particularly for the critical mass of consumer demographics, whilst driving value and efficiency for African financial institutions.

L-R: Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Onari Brown; Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr. Dirisu Abdulmumini; Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola and Director, Marine Environment Management, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Heaky Dimowo during IMO MEPC 80, in London… recently

Emma Okonji

5G: Era of Innovation, Connectivity

The recent launch of Airtel’s 5G network across four states in Nigeria, with plans to cover the entire country by the end of the year, positions it as top contender in next generation of digital communications that will herald a new era of innovation and connectivity, writes

In a ground-breaking move, Airtel Nigeria, three weeks ago, unveiled its 5G network in four states, heralding a new era of connectivity and innovation in Nigeria’s technology space.

In order to enable all telecoms subscribers across the country experience the new wave of 5G, Airtel, during the launch, promised to roll out its 5G network across the country by the end of the year. Paired with the introduction of affordable 5G devices, the launch promises to transform the tech landscape, offering unparalleled opportunities for entrepreneurs, innovators, and for those in the creative industry.

The introduction of 5G by Airtel Nigeria represents a pivotal moment in the telecommunications industry as it further improves access to fast connections across the country.

5G

NETWORK

With remarkably improved download and upload speeds, notably lower latency, and more reliable connectivity, 5G is set to revolutionise how Nigerians interact with technology. According to industry experts, 5G is projected to be up to 100 times faster than 4G, with latency as low as one millisecond. This level of connectivity will supercharge a wide range of applications, including cloud computing, telemedicine, cloud gaming, Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Reality (VR), Internet of Things (IoT) and smart homes.

According to a recent report, 5G is projected to contribute $2.2 trillion to the global economy by 2034, and Airtel’s foray into 5G, positions Nigeria at the forefront of the technological revolution, offering its customers the opportunity to harness the immense potential of the transformative network.

AIRTEL’S ASSURANCE

Speaking at the event, Airtel’s CEO, Carl Cruz emphasised the transformative potential of 5G, stating that, “5G ushers in a new era of innovation that breaks boundaries and presents a new wave of economic benefits for this generation and the next, and we cannot wait to see how young people all over the country explore this new world of instant and unbroken connections to unleash a revolution in creativity.”

According to him, the advent of 5G creates a fertile ground for innovation across various sectors.

“With 5G, we can only be limited by the limits of our imagination,” Cruz said, adding that the sentiment perfectly aligns with Airtel’s current marketing campaign, ‘A Reason to Imagine’, which seeks to inspire individuals to dream big. “The campaign signifies the company’s commitment to inspiring and empowering its customers to explore new frontiers and achieve more. With 5G technology, Airtel is making it possible for individuals and businesses in various industries, such as tech, medicine, fashion, retail, communications, and media, to explore new frontiers and bring ambitious ideas to life.

“The launch of Airtel’s 5G network has the potential to significantly impact Nigeria’s economy. With faster and more reliable connectivity, businesses can optimize their operations, driving efficiency and productivity. For instance, industries like telemedicine can flourish with 5G’s low latency, enabling real-time consultations and remote surgeries,” Cruz further said.

Emma Okonji

5G AS ENABLER

With its incredibly low latency, 5G allows for seamless and instantaneous communication between healthcare professionals and patients, regardless of their physical locations.

Real-time consultations through 5G-powered telemedicine can greatly improve access to healthcare, particularly for individuals in rural or underserved areas. Patients can connect with doctors remotely, receiving prompt medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment plans without the need for in-person visits. This not only saves time and travel costs but also reduces the strain on healthcare facilities and resources.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global telemedicine market is expected to reach a value of $559.52 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4 per cent. The integration of 5G technology into telemedicine is projected to be a key driver for this growth, as it overcomes the limitations of previous network generations, enabling high-quality and uninterrupted video consultations and data transmission.

Furthermore, 5G will foster the growth of cuttingedge technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, enabling businesses to enhance customer experiences and develop new revenue streams. The Internet of Things (IoT) will also thrive, revolutionizing how industries manage their assets and collect valuable data for smarter decision-making.

According to recent market reports, the global 5G technology market is projected to reach a value of $667.9 billion by 2026, with a significant portion expected to come from emerging markets like Nigeria. In Nigeria specifically, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimates that the 5G network has the potential to generate an additional $140 billion to the country’s economy within the next decade.

STAKEHOLDERS’ VIEWS

Industry stakeholders who strongly believe in the efficacy of 5G, have said Airtel’s strategic entry into the 5G space is well timed to position the company as a major contender in the race for technological dominance in the region.

According to them, as Nigeria embraces this new era of connectivity, it is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders to collaborate and foster an enabling environment that supports the rapid deployment and adoption of 5G technology.

To fully harness the potential of 5G, the stakeholders are of the view that Nigeria must invest in the necessary infrastructure and ensure regulatory frameworks that promote healthy competition, innovation, and consumer protection.

Collaborative efforts between the government, telecommunications providers, and other relevant stakeholders are essential in addressing challenges such as spectrum allocation, infrastructure deployment, and cybersecurity. By actively supporting the rapid deployment and adoption of 5G technology, Nigeria can attract foreign investments, stimulate job creation, and enhance its global competitiveness, some of the stakeholders said. With a thriving 5G ecosystem, the country can unlock opportunities for digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and socioeconomic development, propelling Nigeria into a brighter and prosperous future.

Interswitch Fosters Innovation with Technovation Competition

Emma Okonji

Africa’s integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch, has successfully concluded the second edition of its Technovation competition, a hackathon aimed at nurturing innovation and creativity among its employees.

The initiative showcases Interswitch’s commitment to fostering innovation and creating impactful solutions that address diverse challenges across the African continent.

The competition, which spanned several weeks, provided a unique platform for Interswitch employees to explore their problem-solving capabilities and devise innovative solutions to real-world problems. With a strong focus on technology-driven

advancements, the program provided participants with the necessary tools, mentorship, and a platform to develop groundbreaking ideas and transform them into viable prototypes.

Following a review of numerous entries, five teams were shortlisted to compete at the grand finale. The chosen teams include Paystars, The Innovators, Team Spark, Team Flash, and The Pioneers who pitched solutions focused on healthcare, food and financial technology.

At the end of the keenly contested pitch session, which took place in Lagos recently, Team Flash emerged winner of Technovation 2.0, receiving N1,000,000. Team Spark followed closely behind in second place, wining N750,000 and Team Paystars emerged in third place, winning the sum of N500,000.

Speaking on the successful completion of the Technovation 2.0, Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), Akeem Lawal, emphasised the significance of empowering employees to design solutions that address Africa’s unique challenges. He said: “At Interswitch, we firmly believe that the key to driving meaningful change in Africa lies in nurturing and empowering our talented people. The Technovation 2.0 competition is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our unwavering belief in the transformative power of technology. By supporting our staff members in their pursuit of groundbreaking solutions, we aim to create a brighter future for Africa.”

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 11July-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

Clarion Call for Awareness on Sickle Cell Disease

In commemoration of June 19, 2023, World Sickle Cell Day, themed, ‘Building and Strengthening Global Sickle Cell Communities, Formalising Newborn Screening and Knowing your Sickle Cell Disease Status’, the Coalition of Sickle Cell Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria recently held the ‘Red Umbrella Walk’ across the country to demand more collaboration and awareness on sickle cell issues in the country.

Sunday Ehigiator

reports

In today’s world, the silent battle with mental health persists. As social media interactions overshadow genuine human connections, a growing number of Nigerians, both young and old, grapple with overlooked mental health concerns. The World Health Organisation in a 2022 report estimates that about 20 million Nigerians suffer from various degrees of mental illness or disorder. For individuals struggling with mental health, the overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and isolation easily convince them that they are undeserving of happiness. But true happiness, a deeply personal and relative concept, often begins with the profound journey of self-discovery and self-awareness—a quest to understand oneself, foster personal growth, and safeguard emotional well-being.

Emotionally, self-discovery and self-awareness become the compass that guides us through the tumultuous tides of our inner landscapes. They unveil the hues of our emotions, unmasking their triggers and patterns, empowering us to develop effective strategies to manage stress, overcome challenges, and forge a path towards a healthier and more balanced emotional well-being.

There is a level of fulfilment that comes with self-discovery and self-awareness. By being true to oneself, it is easy to stay authentic and purpose-driven. Also, sticking to one’s core values plays a long way in developing a true sense of identity.

A notable role these components play is to help individuals foster healthy and enduring

relationships. They provide individuals with the ability to understand their needs, establish boundaries, and refine their communication styles. Moreover, they enable individuals to identify patterns that might otherwise lead to unresolved issues, negatively impacting their emotional and mental well-being.

Among the many advantages of selfdiscovery and self-awareness, personal growth and development stand out. They empower one to identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and make positive changes in your life. However, their value extends far beyond personal growth. They are invaluable tools for managing mental health challenges. They are like censors that raise alarms when your emotional state is on a dive. Recognizing their importance becomes a shield against distress, prompting individuals to seek appropriate support early on.

While traditional counselling and therapy sessions have long been the go-to solutions for addressing mental health issues, plethoraofthoughts.net, a card game, offers a delightful and harmonious alternative. Serving as a healing guide, each revealed card in the game imparts valuable advice, providing a profound source of guidance and support.

Embedded within the game’s design are therapeutic elements carefully woven into the fabric of play. It consists of three different cards. The thought-provoking question cards beckon players to embark on a journey of self-awareness and healing. Meanwhile, the

advice cards, brimming with wisdom and practical tips, extend beyond the game’s boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on all aspects of life. Additionally, the bonus cards deliver kind messages of support, each bearing the instruction “give this card to someone who...” in the bottom left corner, spreading a sense of interconnectedness and empathy.

Plethora of Thoughts can be played by two to six players. However, it offers the opportunity to play alone.

Players have to, first of all, find the question cards, shuffle them, and then divide the advice and bonus cards among themselves equally. Then a player will need to draw a question card and be open to answering whatever question is on the card on how it relates to them. This sense of vulnerability rids shame and encourages players to be willing to seek help.

The other players thereafter will give a piece of advice they think would help the player or a bonus card. It is important to understand that some people need comfort while some need advice. There are no wrong answers in this game, just suitable advice. Each player must explain the logic behind giving that card and how the message would help the player who drew the question card. The player asking the question will then decide which player’s card feels the most helpful and reward them with the

question card to keep. Each player must take turns in drawing the question card, and the player drawing the card will not participate in advising on that round. The more question cards a player is awarded, the more the player is developed throughout this game. The game aims to have the most question cards amassed. The same advice card can be used in different rounds of the game. Once the question card is awarded to the person who gave the best advice, the next player must draw a card and repeat the process.

Beyond the game itself, Plethora of Thoughts fosters a profound sense of connection and community. Within its play, players shed the cloak of vulnerability, defying the societal stigma that often perceives it as a weakness. The game acts as a catalyst, revealing the shared struggles and triumphs of mental health journeys, and uniting individuals in their pursuit of well-being. Through this bonding experience, players navigate the labyrinth of their emotions hand in hand, finding strength, understanding, and support in one another.

More importantly, Plethora of Thoughts stands as a testament to the transformative power of games. Its ability to foster emotional healing, promote self-awareness, and forge genuine connections transcends the realm of play, serving as a guiding light for those embarking on their mental health odyssey. With each card drawn and shared, a chorus of voices rises, reminding us all that we are not alone in our struggles. Together, we navigate the vast tapestry of our emotions.

IG Expresses Commitment to Partner Drug Salvation Foundation on Appropriate Training for Police

The acting Inspector-General of Police; Ag IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbeyokun, recently expressed commitment to giving officers and men the appropriate training to tackle the menace of drug abuse.

The IG made this commitment when the National Coordinator, Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria Sensitisation Training for Nigeria Police Force, Mr Wilson Ighodalo, paid a courtesy call at Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Ighodalo, who doubles as the founder, The Drug Salvation Foundation, said he went to brief the acting Inspector General of Police on the ongoing police program for personnel training and capacity building.

As the earlier press released by the acting Inspector-General of Police, had expressed his commitment to work closely

Ighodalo with the acting IG with experienced trainers, subject matter experts, and community stakeholders to develop this comprehensive training program. He firmly believes that this training initiative will foster a

stronger bond between law enforcement and the communities while empowering police officers to build trust, understand diverse perspectives, and proactively address issues that affect public safety and well-being”

Ighodalo noted that lending support to the NGO by the Police boss will go a long way in motivating them to give their best to the society on the fight against drug abuse.

He presented to the Acting Inspector-General of Police; Ag IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbeyokun, PhD, NPM, the First Phase Pilot Reports on Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) Sensitisation Training for Nigeria Police Force for mindset engineering of the Nigeria Police Force on effective response to drugs and related organised crime prevention.

The immediate former IGP Usman Alkali had supported drug control in Nigeria by approving training for Police personnel on “Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria Sensitisation Training for the Nigeria Police Force” Drug Prevention,Treatment and Care (DPTC) Sensitisation Training for the Nigeria Police Force.

Another interesting aspect of the training is the addition of combating cultism and using sports, especially sports to engage youths and steer them away from criminal activities.

The Drug Salvation Foundation is building the capacity of Police on decriminalisation and respect for the human rights of drug users, the search for more effective responses by law enforcement authorities and the

community generally must be stepped up.

“Police also need to adopt harm reduction approaches to reduce the negative consequences of drug use for those who continue to use illicit drugs due to addiction. The IGP is determined to bridge the gap between the Police and the public through professionalism.”

“Nigerians also expect to see a Police Force that is very disciplined and focused on her traditional responsibility of fighting crime and protecting society. But above all, supporting the Police with laurels can motivate the Force to give its best at all times as promised by the Acting Inspector General of Police.”

Meanwhile, Ighodalo also paid a courtesy visit to the newly promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG Frank Emeka Mba, mni.

The Red Umbrella Walk Participants in Kwara State

Executive Director of the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI) and current Chairperson of the Coalition, Ms Toyin Adesola

Festus Abigail Champions Campaign for Menstrual Hygiene

Stories by Mary Nnah

Treasure Foundation, stands at the forefront of a crucial movement: normalising menstruation and empowering young girls.

With a steadfast commitment to ending period stigma and organisation have dedicated themselves to improving menstrual health and hygiene management and fostering open conversations about this natural bodily process. Their efforts are helping to shape a world where menstruation is embraced as a normal fact of life by 2030.ing the right knowledge and resources during adolescence can positively impact a girl’s life trajectory.

The foundation’s programmes are designed to empower these girls, equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need

to manage their menstruation with confidence and dignity.

One of the foundation’s key initiatives is its focus on firmly believes that every girl deserves access to clean and safe menstrual products. Through the free distribution Foundation ensures that girls who face financial constraints are not deprived of this esand her team are fostering a sense of normalcy surrounding menstruation while eliminating the anxiety and embarrassment that may arise from inadequate menstrual hygiene.

“In commemoration of is proud to uphold the global We are committed to ending period poverty, period stigma

normal fact of life by 2030”, she noted.

organisation actively promote open conversation and sensitisation about menstruation. They strive to challenge the taboos and misconceptions that have long plagued this topic. Through awareness campaigns, workshops, and community Treasure Foundation encourages dialogue that breaks down barriers, educates communities, and empowers individuals and society to support menstrual health and well-being. “We firmly believe that by openly talking about menstruation, we can dismantle the stigma associ“When we address the topic with knowledge, compassion, and respect, we pave the way for a future where menstruation is seen as a normal part of life, free from shame or discrimination.”

Postpartum Hemorrhage (Pph) Part 1

Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) is defined as severe vaginal bleeding following childbirth. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines postpartum hemorrhage as losing more than 500 milliliters (mls) of blood within 24 hours of vaginal birth and more than 1000 mlsafter a caesarean (C-section) birth.

Postpartum hemorrhage occurs when bleeding is severe enough to cause symptoms of excessive blood loss or a significant change in heart rate or blood pressure. PPH can occur immediately or up to 12 weeks after birth.

Festus Abigail addressing students during the event Maxxconnection Unveils Maxxcare to Provide Access to Basic Healthcare

The leading experiential and consumer experience firm, launched a platform to provide access to basic healthcare for the underprivileged and less privileged in the society tagged

The agency which started operations in 2013 announced at the media conference activities to celebrate a decade in business at its corporate head

the managing director/chief executive officer, Owolabi responsible organisation and an organisation that is sensitive about its environment, it was necessary that it gives back to

society and also support the government in some critical area of need.

been doing some activities in the area where we are operating from in terms of corporate social responsibilities in the past. Now, we have seen the need for us to support the government in a particularly critical area which is healthcare. Therefore, we are launching would be used to allow people without means to access basic healthcare such as blood pressure, oral care, eyesight checks, blood sugar and others.

focus areas are high-density populations such as rural communities, parks and

garages etc where people cannot access basic healthcare, to support the government to provide these basic primary healthcare to them.”

He said that the exercise would be periodic and the identified areas would be visited with some medical practitioners and checks would be carried out on them.

places because if you ask them to come to you they might never show up therehealthcare solutions to their neighbourhood.

PSHAN Draws Roadmap for Attaining Universal Health Coverage by 2030

The recently concluded 2023 Conference with the theme, ensure that the Nigeria health sector is moved towards attainby 2030. The conference created a platform for stakeholders to examine the obstacles hindering Nigeria’s health system, identify opportunities for innovation and collaboration, and explore strategies for building resilient and sustainable health systems that can cater to the needs of all Nigerians. It brought together experts and stakeholders from various fields, including healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and private sector players on one

platform through which they discussed ways to provide an ideal road map for intellectual discourse on opportunities that can be explored on the journey Coverage in Nigeria by 2030

that by fostering collaboration and driving innovative solutions, the conference aimed to build a more robust health system that can deliver quality healthcare to all Nigerians.

could not have happened at a more opportune time, adding, “This is a transition period, with the new administration setting its agenda for the next four years.

needs for limited resources,

it is critical to recognise that Nigerians’ good health and well-being remain a key driver of economic growth.”

stakeholders and subject-matter experts agreed, that innovation and multi-sectoral collaboration, using the whole-of-society and government approach, is critical Coverage.

building sustainable health systems in Nigeria required addressing all the issues in an integrated manner, which will ensure that the health systems in Nigeria can genuinely address the health needs of Nigerians, guarantee improvement in the population’s health outcomes and move the country towards Coverage by 2030.

PPH can affect anyone after giving birth. It has many risk factors, yet approximately 40% of hemorrhages occur in women who have no identified risk factors. The majority of PPH cases occur shortly after the placenta is delivered which is most commonly caused by the uterus failing to contract properly after childbirth. This causes a significant drop in blood pressure, which can restrict blood flow to the brain and other organs resulting in a medical condition known as shock; a dangerous condition that can result in death. However, early detection and treatment can prevent complications leading to death with full recovery to health in a patient.

TYPES OF POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE

PPH is classified into two types occurs within the first 24 hours of giving birth.

rhage - this occurs between 24 hours and 12 weeks after delivery.

RISK FACTORS

prone in women who haveplacental issues such as placenta accreta (placenta that grows too deeply into the uterine wall(womb) and remains attached to the wall after childbirth), or placenta previa(placenta covering or near the cervical opening), or placenta abruption (early detachment of the placenta from the uterus), or retained placenta.

or stretched uterus due to multiple pregnancies, giving birth to a large baby (over 4kg) or too much amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

(ICP) - a condition that impairs the flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine by either slowing or stopping the flow.

flow to the heart is reduced, preventing the heart muscle from receiving enough oxygen.

blood pressure that happens when standing after sitting or lying down.

that occurs when blood is replaced with fluids that do not contain adequate clotting factors such asproteins in the blood that form blood clots to stop bleeding.

in pregnancy when the membranes that surround the fetus and the amniotic fluid are infected by bacteria.

by the onset of high blood pressure and significant amount of protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

syndrome or postpartum pituitary necrosis).tive labour of duration >12 hours leads to excessive bleeding.

blood has a low level of hemoglobin which carries oxygen to the tissue. The more severe the anemia, the more likely the lower level of oxygen to tissues.

during vaginal delivery.

blood-related conditions.

CAUSES OF POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE

to the uterine wall and provides food and continues to contract in order to deliver the placenta. This is referred to as the third stage of labor. Contractions also help to compress the blood vessels that connect the placenta to are not strong enough to stop the bleeding leading to 80% of PPH.

The four Ts (tone, trauma, tissue, and thrombin) are the major causes of PPH.

atony is characterized by a soft and weak uterus following delivery. This occurs when the uterine muscles do not contract sufficiently to close the placental blood vessels. This causes a steady loss of blood following delivery.

of bleeding caused by damage to the vagina, cervix, uterus, or the area between forceps or vacuum extraction during labor hematoma (blood collection) can form in a hidden area and cause continuous bleeding hours or days after delivery.

occurs when the entire placenta does not separate from the uterine wall and remains partially in the body. It is usually caused by placental conditions that impair the womb’s ability to contract after delivery.

- Coagulation disorder or a pregnancy condition like eclampsia can impair the body’s ability to clot. Even a minor bleed can become uncontrollable as a result of thrombin deficiency

Leadway Pensure Pays N140bn to 76,000 Retirees as Retirement Benefits

Ebere Nwoji

Leadway Pensure, has announced that it has paid over N140 billion as retirement and terminal benefits to over 76,000 retired workers who has been saving into the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS).

Team Leader Customer Relationship Management Department of Leadway Pensure, Mr Kelechi Uche stated this at a training organised by Leadway Group for members of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.

Uche said Leadway Pensure has shareholders funds in excess of N8.6 billion, against N5 billion required by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

He stated that the assets under management of the company was N780 billion. According to him, Leadway Pensure was formed by a consortium of three finance service organisations namely; Leadway Holdings Limited., MBC Securities and Prestige Assurance Plc.

He noted that in terms of quality assurance, PenCom had adjudged Leadway Pensure as one of the best in the industry, which signifies its quality service delivery and best in class corporate governance.

Speaking on the 25 per cent Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) balance for mortgage approved by PenCom, Uche stated that

Leadway was committed to providing financial support for its RSA holders to access the fund and become house owners before retirement.

He noted that RSA holders must however meet the conditions and guidelines stipulated by PenCom to access the fund.

“Some of the conditions are that; the RSA of the applicant shall have both employer and employee’s mandatory contributions for a cumulative minimum period of 60 months. An offer letter for the property duly signed by the property owner and verified by the mortgage lender. The application for equity contribution for residential mortgage shall be in person and not by proxy, among others,” he said.

World Bank Inducts Ogunbiyi, 14 Other CEOs into Private Sector Investment Lab

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi and 14 other CEOs have been inducted by the World Bank to make up the private sector investment lab.

Announced last month, the Lab is expected to identify and focus on specific approaches that can be implemented and scaled by the World Bank to mobilise capital more effectively, with the ultimate goal of crowding in greater levels of private finance.

According to a statement obtained from its website, the founding members comprise a core group charged with developing solutions to address the barriers to private sector investment in emerging markets, stressing that the quality of their individual and combined expertise, leadership, and success in business and

finance underscores the growing momentum, and level of commitment, for public and private collaboration to address global challenges and urgently scale development solutions.

Drawing on the experience of the 15 CEOs and Chairs that comprise the Lab’s core membership including leaders from AXA, BlackRock, HSBC, Macquarie, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Ninety One, Ping An Group, Royal Philips, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered, Sustainable Energy for All, Tata Sons, Temasek and Three Cairns Group, the Lab would build on the World Bank’s current work to address existing barriers and develop solutions which support private sector investment in emerging markets.

“This includes ideas for improved financing structures, ways to better align the World Bank with the needs and speed of private finance, approaches

to balancing and allocating risks across investors, and reimagine new partnerships,” World Bank said.

The Lab will begin work in the coming weeks, initially focusing on scaling transition finance in renewable energy and energy infrastructure.

The World Bank, President, Ajay Banga, said the multilateral institution is on a mission to create a world free of poverty, but on a livable planet.

“Achieving this vision demands that we build a better bank, but also reimagine partnerships and pull in the private sector to confront and beat – intertwined development challenges like poverty, climate, and fragility,” the World Bank President said.

Banga stated that the business leaders who are lending their time, talents, and expertise to this work are a crucial piece of the puzzle.

FCTA Woos Foreign Investors to Generate Revenue

Olawale Ajimotokan

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has restated that its ongoing efforts geared at mobilising stakeholders and harmonising revenue collection systems in Abuja was geared towards wooing both local and foreign investors to the capital city.

The FCTA Permanent Secretary Adesola Olusade disclosed this at a one-day Townhall Meeting, organised by the FCT-IRS to further harness stakeholders’ support for the implementation

of the harmonisation initiative.

Olusade said it was imperative to make Abuja more investment friendly for intending investors.

He noted that the decision to embark on the revenue collection harmonization drive in collaboration with the six Area Councils was also in sync with global best practices.

“By simplifying and consolidating our revenue collection systems, we aim to attract more investment, stimulate economic growth, and create employment opportunities.

“This will enhance the FCT’s reputation as an investment-friendly destination and contribute to the overall development of the region,” he said.

Also Speaking, Chairman of FCT-IRS, Haruna Abdullahi explained that the processes of the harmonization were duly backed by extant laws and regulations.

He averred that apart from increasing revenue generation for the benefits of both the government and citizens, promoters of the initiative, also want to enshrine transparency and accountability in the systems.

LAPO MfB Disbursed N74b to MSME’s in H1 2023

Sunday Ehigiator

LAPO Microfinance Bank

Limited (LAPO MfB) has said that it disbursed over N74 billion to Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSME’s) in the first-half of the year 2023.

In a statement issued by the bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Oluremi Akande, it stated, “LAPO MFB remains committed to its core

mandate of providing easy access to credits to owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises as well as members of low-income households who are financially excluded from the formal financial sector. This underscores our firm resolve to continue to promote economic activities and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.”

Akande reiterated, “LAPO MfB, in the last decade,

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

disbursed over N1 trillion to owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

Our 2023 strategic objective is to disburse over N200 billion by the end of the financial year.

“LAPO Microfinance Bank is committed to its over 30 years mandate of social and economic empowerment of members of low-income households and owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises in a sustainable manner.”

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 16 JUNE, 2023

Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko (left) presented the authority’s plaque to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, during his working visit to the management of NPA at the Corporate Headquarters in Lagos...recently

Gilbert Ekugbe

Champion Breweries’ Market Cap Hits N32.9bn, Operating Profit N2.3bn

Kayode Tokede

Champion Breweries has experienced significant growth in market capitalisation to N32.9 billion during the 2022 financial year, the company’s Chairman, Dr. Elijah Akpan has announced.

Also, he said the company’s operating profit also rose to N2.3 billion during the period. Speaking during the

Champion Breweries Plc 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, he said the success represents a remarkable increase and underscores the market’s recognition of its company’s value and potential. He also noted that the company’s continued journey towards profitability during the reporting year reflects in its positive performance across various

financial indicators.

“I am pleased to inform you that Champion Breweries experienced significant growth in market capitalization during 2022. At the end of the year, our market capitalization stood at N32.9 Billion, compared to N18.4 Billion at the end of the previous year” he said Champion Breweries’ operating profit experienced significant growth, rising to

N2.3 billion, with profit after tax increasing to N1.58 billion. This is attributable to a notable increase in revenue, with an additional N2.7 billion compared to the previous year.

“This growth in revenue reflects the successful execution of business strategies, market demand, and potentially expanding customer base. It also indicates improved operational efficiency, effec-

tive cost management and demonstrates the company’s ability to generate sustainable profits and create value for its stakeholders.” Dr Akpan stated

Looking ahead, he said the company anticipates a dynamic and evolving business environment in Nigeria. “The recent fuel subsidy removal will have an adverse effect on consumer

purchasing power. “As the subsidy is removed, the price of PMS may increase, putting additional pressure on consumers’ budgets and potentially affecting their ability to spend on other goods and services. We will remain proactive in navigating any uncertainties and leveraging opportunities to drive sustainable growth and value for our shareholders” he concluded

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF JULY/12/23

TickerPricePriceChg%

DEAPCAP0.3310.0%

COURTVILLE0.8810.0%

GOLDBREW2.679.9%

MORISON2.589.8%

JOHNHOLT1.509.5%

DAARCOMM0.268.3%

GUINEAINS0.278.0%

BERGER10.707.0%

UPDC1.241.6%

ZENITHBANK34.350.7%

TickerPricePriceChg%

TANTALIZER0.27-10.0%

VERITASKAP0.36-10.0%

ACADEMY2.25-10.0%

PRESTIGE0.54-10.0%

TRANSCORP4.23-10.0%

ABCTRANS0.45-10.0%

ETRANZACT8.55-10.0%

FBNH19.35-10.0%

NEM5.49-10.0%

CADBURY16.75-9.9%

TickerVolumePriceChg%

UBA177.8-0.7%

JAPAULGOLD110.3-9.7%

TRANSCORP87.1-10.0%

FCMB86.5-5.7%

ACCESSCORP65.4-4.2%

ZENITHBANK40.30.7%

VERITASKAP38.4-10.0%

UNIVINSURE37.7-9.7%

FBNH36.2-10.0%

FIDELITYBK35.9-6.6%

TickerValuePriceChg%

UBA2443.3-0.7%

ZENITHBANK1333.80.7%

ACCESSCORP1124.2-4.2%

DANGCEM757.2-9.6%

DANGSUGAR752.3-1.3%

FBNH705.2-10.0%

GTCO672.20.3%

FCMB577.9-5.7%

NESTLE504.4-1.3%

MTNN437.40.0%

As Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno Sets Sail

Adroitly navigating numerous contrived hurdles on the path to his ascendancy as the fifth elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, assures a golden era for the “Land of Promise” as he sets sail, writes Louis Achi

Up-close his sheer vibration of energy is reminiscent of an active volcano’s. In a sense he is one. But this dimension could only fairly be applied to the intensity of his mission focus and rugged determination.

At the level of small talk you could hardly best him. But for the top-notch industrialist and sturdy Shepherd of Christ more at home with deep analyses and action this trend of dialogue could pall easily. With his life story he has certainly proven that faith, entrepreneurship, public administration and now politics fundamentally address human development.

An interview session with him clearly leaves little doubt that indeed Akwa Ibom State means business. Meet His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, governor of the “Land of Promise.” The clarity of his driving inspiration to transform his state is compelling.

Hear him: “I come as a priest and I come as a king; and the two roles will be interwoven and interchangeable as I govern Akwa Ibom with godly influence.”

Perhaps, from a clergyman’s bent for exact semantics, he quickly corrects THISDAY’s reference to his predecessor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel, as his political godfather: “My worthy predecessor, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel is my political father who supported me against all odds to make this day a reality.”

With notable humility, Governor Eno consistently acknowledges that “My predecessor has made this State ready for economic explosion. We would connect the dots and have our people A.R.I.S.E with us for greater glory and growth.” The governor’s “A.R.I.S.E” agenda which resonates with Akwa Ibom people stands for: Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance/Advancement, Security Management and Educational Advancement.

Many observers view the governor’s A.R.I.S.E agenda as a robust and easy-to-digest economic blueprint if implemented to the letters and spirit.

Picking a specific development niche to illustrate his contention that his predecessor has indeed made the state “ready for economic explosion,” he observes that “From aviation development, where today we are the only sub national with a thriving airline in the nation, the Ibom Air, to the smartest Airport Terminal building, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

the longest Taxiway in the nation, with Category 2 Certification, our story has been one where, as providentially stated in Job 22: 29: “when men are cast down, then thou shall say there is lifting up.”

Significantly, the emerging consensus from aviation experts is that Ibom Air flying from the state-owned

Victor Attah International Airport has indeed positioned Akwa Ibom State on the international business pedestal, boosting the state’s corporate image and heightening her perception as a true highly-rated industrial destination.

Through massively up-scaling the development positives firmly recorded by his predecessor, former Governor Udom, Pastor Umo Eno, now in the saddle, promises he will undoubtedly improve the infrastructural profile and economic opportunities, which have impacted the lives of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

As a notable expert in wealth creation, Governor Eno knows that when an enabling environment is created, private investments and capital will flow in to harness opportunities and in the process more wealth is created.

Governor Eno recently demonstrated his penchant for optimal usage of time when he visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, last week. He apprised the President on Akwa Ibom’s developmental strides and directly solicited his support for the completion of the Ibom Deep Sea Port project, the Calabar-Itu Road and the Export Free Zone license for the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO, ) hanger at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, which is the only MRO in West Africa.

According to Governor Eno, “Politics is over. It’s time for governance. We must do whatever it takes to bring the dividends of democracy and good governance to the people of Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State in particular”.

Also while in Abuja, the clergyman governor inspected the remodelled Akwa Ibom State Liaison office in Abuja and declared that the six-floor magnificent property must earn revenue and add more value to the State government, in addition to its role as the office of the State government in the Federal Capital City.

Accordingly the governor immediately directed that only one floor of the six-floor choice property located in the Central Business District of the federal capital be used as the Liaison Office proper, while the five remaining floors be leased out to reputable blue-chip companies in search of up market and deluxe accommodation.

His words: “I am a businessman and I know that such a high class and high quality complex in the centre of Abuja, made possible by my predecessorgovernor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, can add more value and do more good to Akwa Ibom in addition to its pride of place as our home base in Abuja.”

A strong believer in well thought out measures, as Governor Eno settles in to guide his native state along the exciting road of his governance vision, Akwaibomites are bathed in powerful expectation. Certainly, as he gives meaning to his self-set targets of agricultural revolution, rural development, infrastructural maintenance/advancement, security management and educational advancement, a golden era for a new Akwa Ibom will unquestionable emerge.

Governor Eno perceptively dismisses the poser of whether being a shepherd of Christ and now governing men is potentially conflicting. He told THISDAY that, “There is no conflict. Before God brings you to a larger audience; before He puts you on the stage, He would have tried you like gold, refined you in the furnace before he showcases you. I have been pastoring for 23 years.

“So there really is no conflict. It’s a higher responsibility in God’s vineyard. After all, Akwa Ibom is God’s own state. And Akwa Ibom has God’s own people. So rather than remaining the pastor of a few, you’re now a pastor of over seven million people. You are expected to lead with compassion. You are expected to be focussed. You are expected to lead with the fear God.”

As it were, a powerful vision draws in ideas, people and other resources. It creates the momentum and will to make change happen. It inspires individuals, complementary organizations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best. Importantly, Governor Eno brings to his new executive mandate, impeccable professionalism, discipline, unswerving faith and steely persistence to change the traditional narrative of governance.

No less a child of providence, who wields influence and authority with alluring humility and exemplary focus, to-date he unabashedly maintains this unique footing. An unwavering sense of duty, demonstrable integrity and almost a child-like faith in his beloved God, form the navigational compass of his existential journey.

SOKAPU Urges Sani to Correct Alleged Injustice Against Southern Kaduna by El-Rufai

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), yesterday called on Governor Uba Sani to correct the injustices perpetrated against the Southern Kaduna people by his predecessor.

Speaking in a telephone interview, spokesman of the group, Luka Binniyat, said the union was hopeful that the governor will not continue with the alleged sectional and discriminatory policies of ex-governor Nasir el-Rufai.

He called on the governor to operate an all inclusive government that will be fair to all sections of the state and give them a sense of belonging.

Biniyat urged Sani to do everything within his power to ensure the security of lives and property in the state.

He said: “Our expectations from the government of Uba Sani is that he will significantly turn away from the sectional and discriminatory policies of his predecessor, Nasir el- Rufai and run an all inclusive government.

He noted that the appointments so far made by the governor are not too bad.

“We have seen the appointments he has made of recent, but it is not too bad. We are not scoring him yet, but it is a far departure from the el-Rufai government.

“We understand that the reappointment of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) who served for eight years under the el-Rufai administration was allowed to stay as a result of passionate appeal or so.

So we believe that the SSG is there in acting capacity. The appointments are not totally satisfactory but fairer than el-Rufai’s.

“He has not finished making the appointments. There are commissioners and board appointments to be made, there are still ministers and other federal appointments to be made. So we are expecting that there will be fairness in all these appointments,” he said.

The SOKAPU spokesman urged the governor not to see the Southern Kaduna people as people who are irrationally combative or against a Muslim being the governor of the state.

He said the Southern Kaduna people were against leaders like el-Rufai who did not believe in equality. “We are against any leader who does not take us as equals to Muslims in Kaduna state. We are stakeholders in Kaduna state and should not be treated as inferior.

“El-Rufai finally confessed in a recording that was widely circulated that he is a bigot and a sectional leader,” he stressed, adding that “the legacies of el-Rufai are not legacies that any just and fair minded leader will want to associate himself with.”

He alleged further that el-Rufai created a fourth tier of government that he called “municipal councils”, alleging that the $350 million loan the former governor took was mostly channelled towards the municipal councils.

“El-Rufai excluded Christian areas in the provision of infrastructure. If you go to Kafanchan for example, the area where the emirate is located has

nylon tarred roads, street lights and good drainages. The palace of the Emir of Jama’ a was reconstructed. “Just directly opposite the emirate where our people are living, the

roads are dilapidated, drainages have collapsed, you will not believe that we are in the same state and same local government headquarters.

“Throughout the tenure of

el-Rufai, there is no one village in Southern Kaduna that benefitted from a two-kilometre road project or culvert or bridge. The loan that he took on our behalf only benefitted

a section of the state.

“So it is the turn of Uba Sani to do justice, to balance this inequality and injustice el-Rufai wrought on us,” he said.

Rivers Government Signs N195.3bn Ring Road Contract with Julius Berger

Fubara donates N20m to slain police officer’s widow

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers government has signed a contract with Julius Berger for a N195.3 billion Port Harcourt Ring Road project to decongest Port Harcourt city, transversing six local government areas.

The Attorney General, Prof Zaccheus Adangor, Commissioner for Works, Dr. George Kelly-Alabo and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Ebere Emenike, signed the contract on behalf of the government, as Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr. Lars Richter, Assistant Regional Manager, Rimon Marisho, signed for the German construction giant.

After signing the contract, Governor Siminalayi Fubara explained that the ring road is his legacy project, and construction should be completed within 36 months, with the contractor receiving over N150 billion in mobilisation.

Fubara said, “This is something previous governments had con-

ceived. Some had so much money. Some save hundreds of billions of naira in bank accounts but couldn’t venture into it. The total value of the contract is N195.3 billion, and we are paying (mobilising) you 77 per cent, which is over N150 billion immediately after this event. Once will confirm 55% of the initial fund release, we will commence payment of the balance.”

Fubara sought cooperation with the government, contractor, and from communities the road project will pass through, daring “any traditional ruler, chiefs, with youths who try to disrupt or sabotage the project will immediately be suspended and prosecuted.”

In his speech, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr Richter, thanked the governor for the trust reposed on the company and assured of delivering the project on schedule with high quality as exhibited in the previous projects entrusted to them by the previous administration.

Meanwhile, the governor has presented a cash endowment of N20 million to the widow of a slain police officer, the late Inspector Collins David. David was recently killed on active duty while serving under the Ahoada Division of the Rivers State police command.

Presenting the cheque on behalf of the governor yesterday, at the police headquarters, on Moscow Road Port Harcourt, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said the gesture is Fubara’s demonstration of commitment to ensuring that the families of policemen who lost their lives in the cause of serving the state are not left in dissolution.

He commiserated with the state police command led by the commissioner, Mr Emeka Nwonyi, over the officer’s death.

“This is in continuation of the traditions of Rivers state government security architecture, to partner the police and other security agencies in the fight against crime and to let you

know that Rivers state government will always stand with you; this is a token of support,” he explained. He added, “We understand money cannot replace a life, but it is a way of showing support to the men and officers who serve in Rivers state. Whenever we hear that your gallant officers either sustain a life-threatening injury or lose their lives in the service to the state, the government of Rivers state will, as a point of duty and commitment, come to commiserate with affected officers or their families and render any possible support to ensure that our officers understand that we value their services.”

While commending the relentless efforts of the state police command and, in particular, the strategic fight against criminality by Nwonyi, the governor maintained that his collaboration with the security agencies shows that the Rivers government and the people appreciate the efforts of the police in the state.

Governor Umo Eno

ANYAOKU PAYS LAST RESPECTS TO SUBOMI BALOGUN...

Renowned Industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi (L) and former Commonwealth Secretary general Chief Emeka Anyaoku, during the Final Burial Ceremony of late Otunba Subomi Balogun in ljebu Ode, Ogun State....recently

Shettima: Current State of Affairs Requires Teamwork

We’re poised to tackle challenges in north, says Yahaya at meeting with vp

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Segun

Awofadeji in Gombe

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed that the state of affairs in the country required the cooperation of all citizens irrespective of differences in political affiliations or religious persuasions, tribal and sectional backgrounds to support the Tinubu administration in its noble objective of transforming the country.

This was as the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Chairman of Northern States' Governors' Forum, at a meeting with the vice-president, pledged to lead the process of sustaining peace in the 19 northern states in Northern Nigeria, saying he aimed to change the narrative and create room for more development in the region.

However, the Vice President spoke yesterday, when he received in

audience, the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives led by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, in his office at the State House, Abuja.

Speaking after the introduction of the principal officers, Shettima solicited the support of the House of Representatives for the actualisation of the agenda of the Tinubu administration.

According to him, “the President is determined to redefine the meaning and concept of modern leadership. He started firing on all cylinders from day one.

“The president has proved his competence, his capability and his commitment. I urge you, the Rt Hon Speaker and the esteemed leadership of the House to support the President in his noble objectives of transforming this nation.

“The state of affairs in our country requires that we coalesce into a single

force irrespective of differences in political affiliations or religious persuasions, tribal and sectional backgrounds, because what binds us together supersedes what divides us.

“It is very difficult to remove the building blocks holding this country together. We are a kaleidoscope of colours. We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny, so, let’s work together. We need this country to work and this government is willing to work for the good of the nation.”

Earlier, Abbas while introducing the new principal officers, assured Shettima of the House’s support for all federal government programmes and policies, noting that, “We are willing to partner and collaborate with you to work on everything that is in the interest of the Nigerian public.”

Meanwhile, Yahaya, who also spoke after a meeting behind

House Urges NUC to Halt Increase in School Fees by Federal Varsities

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representative, has urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately halt the implementation of the increase of fees by federal universities in Nigeria.

The House has also mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education and Services (when constituted) to investigate the increase of fees by Federal Universities across the country with a view to finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the tertiary education sector. These resolutions followed the

adoption of a motion calling to suspend the implementation of increase in tuition fees of universities moved by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki at plenary yesterday.

Madaki noted that citing the poor funding of Tertiary Education and rising inflation in the country, Federal Universities across the country increased their tuition fees by 100% to 200% while hostel fees were increased from 50% to 100%.

"The Universities that hiked their fees include Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Uyo,

University of Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Federal University, Dutse, among others.

“The hike in fees by the universities is happening against the worsening poverty level in the country, inflation and high rate of unemployment and the recent fuel price hike."

He, however, stressed that the increase could cause disruptions for a number of students who cannot not afford the fees and, while many of them would be forced to defer their studies, others could drop out.

closed doors with Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stated that he would work with the support of the federal government and various state governments to find solutions to the problems in the region.

“As the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, I will ensure that we get to the roots of all the problems and through the support of the federal government and the various state governments.

“We will come up with the solutions; things that will trigger positive actions and reactions and very soon, by the grace of God, the narrative will change and we will have a peaceful north that is contributing to the development and

KOMOLAFE: THERE’S

prosperity of Nigeria.”

The Governor also planned to replicate the formula used in Gombe State to sustain peace in all parts of the region, according to a press release issued by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House.

"There is peace in Gombe for so many reasons like the nature of our people. We are a mixture of people of several ethnic groups and religions living together peacefully. Within a family, you can have people of different faiths but having the same parents and because of that, the background is so unique that we have built on it to sustain the relationship.

NOW

working with ExxonMobil towards bringing the Owowo project to light, adding that those positives were being recorded because of the presence of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the renewal of the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC).

"Put all these together, you will see an outlook between this year and next year of somewhere in the neighbourhood of $18 billion to $20 billion of foreign direct investment," he stated.

While noting that a lot of opportunities abound in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, Wunti pointed out the players need to understand the changing investment climate and make their projects bankable in order to secure funding. He further said: "We know where we are today: energy transition is real. We can take whatever position we want to take, we have our desires, but the reality is, capital has become what it is.

Tension in Bayelsa Community as Youth Leader Exiles 28 Chiefs for Attending Sylva's Birthday

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

There is a growing tension in OpuNembe community as the crisis rocking the once peaceful kingdom in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State got messier at the weekend, when the youth leader exiled 28 chiefs and elders from the ancient town for attending the birthday ceremony of former Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva.

No fewer than 28 chiefs and prominent individuals from the community were sent on exile by the president of the community's youths body, Mr. Ayerite Moses, who accused them of plot to plan another attack on the community.

The Opu-Nembe Council of

Chiefs had in a statement last month, accused Sylva, of sponsoring the attack in the community and subsequently passed a resolution to denied him access to the community.

The spokesman for the affected chiefs and elders, Chief Monday Degi, during a press conference in Yenagoa, appealed for permanent occupation of military personnel in good numbers to forestall further unleashing of mayhem.

He said the youths have destroyed over 20 houses and properties worth hundreds of millions in the community.

Speaking further, Degi, alleged that the youth president who had been having clashes with one Mr. Kojo Sam, a close ally of Sylva, over

personal economic and financial dealings, was in the habit of sending armed youths to destroy and loot houses and personal properties of persons perceived to be close to his enemies.

The affected chiefs who claimed that their right of citizenship and indigeneship of Opu-Nembe community was being infringed upon, blamed the Executive of the Chiefs' Council of Opu-Nembe for leaving the matter unchecked until an invasions of the community by armed youths in July, 2021 and in February 2023.

Degi said, "there was peace and tranquility enjoyed by the Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) community before inauguration of the present Youth Body in May 2020.

This relative peace and tranquility continued until Mr. Ayerite Ebinimi Moses led Youths leadership and Mr. Kojo Sam (their master) had issues bothering on their personal economic and financial dealings.

"These issues were left unchecked or put under control by the Execu- tive of the Chiefs' Council until alleged invasions in July, 2021 and in February 2023 of the Opu-Nembe, Bassambiri, Community. As it is usual with clashes of rival gangs or Youths, there were casualties.

"Rather than dealing with socalled invaders, which they claimed they know, the Ayerite Ebinimi Moses-led youth leadership, hiding under the guise of these invasions has been wreaking havoc on the Opu-Nembe Bassambiri community.

“Secondly the government is focused on security and is working day and night together with the security agencies in the State to ensure that there is compliance with law and order and that is feasible to a reasonable extent in Gombe.

“Then there are issues that have to do with resources especially land, because our people are peasant farmers, those involved in crop production and livestock production so in-between, because of the encroachment of our grazing and forest reserves plus the cattle routes, issues resulted into rustling, banditry and kidnap for ransom, which is prevalent in the North-West and North-Central.

REGULATORY CERTAINTY IN OIL, GAS SECTOR

"In the international market, capital has become very discriminatory against fossil fuels. We also know that capital is becoming impatient, it's very impatient today. Everybody wants to invest today and harvest tomorrow. Nobody wants to invest and wait for 10-year cycle to be able to get returns."

Wunti said the industry must attract the capital by structuring themselves to speedily key into the global dynamics and narratives around carbon management and carbon emission management.

He added: "Good enough, we have a very decent balance between gas and oil and gas has been agreed as a transition fuel. We in Nigeria, we don't look at it as transition fuel, we see it as destination fuel. There is no analysis that doesn't show gas playing prominent role in the next three to four decades.”

Nigeria Redeems $500m Eurobond Obligation to International Creditors

Nigeria yesterday redeemed $500 million Eurobond obligation to global creditors, bringing the total amount of securities so far redeemed by the country in the International Capital Market (ICM) to $1.8 billion.

Incidentally, the $500 million Eurobond obligation matured yesterday, its due date.

The redemption provided an opportunity for the country to reaffirm a commitment to meeting its debt service obligations.

The Debt Management Office which conveyed the development via a statement recalled that the debt instrument was issued in July 2013.

"The Eurobond was issued in July 2013 (as part of a dual-tranche USD1 billion Eurobond) for a tenor of ten (10) years at a coupon of 6.375%per annum.

"Nigeria had previously redeemed a $500 million Eurobond in July 2018, another $500 million Eurobond in January 2021, and a $300 million

Diaspora Bond in June 2022.

"These, together with the $500 million Eurobond redeemed today, bring the total amount of securities redeemed by Nigeria in the International Capital Market(ICM) to $1.8 billion.

"Nigeria's successful redemption of its Eurobonds and Diaspora Bond in the ICM over the past six years is a demonstration of its strong debt management operations and planning," the DMO said.

Nigeria's external debt stock, including Eurobonds stood at $42.671 billion as of March 31, 2023.

Of this amount, Eurobonds which are commercial loans, accounted for $15.618 billion.

With $1.8 billion Eurobonds so far redeemed, Nigeria still has an outstanding in excess of $13 billion securities to clear in the international capital market.

House of Representatives to Probe Crude Oil Theft

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate crude oil theft in Nigeria.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the ‘Need to Investigate Crude Oil Theft and Loss of Revenue Accrued from the Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria,’ moved by Hon. Philip Agbese, at plenary yesterday.

Agbese, noted that in recent times, the media had been replete with news on the loss of trillions of naira as a result of crude oil theft and loss of revenue from oil and gas exploration in the country.

He noted that reports had revealed that about 40 per cent of crude oil losses were due to inaccuracies in measurement and theft as metering errors continued to occur as a result of poor maintenance of metering facilities, thus resulting to lack of transparency in hydrocarbon accounting.

LAUNCH OF WAKANOW ABUJA CORPORATE OFFICE...

Lukman Counters Omisore, Says NEC's Approval

Not Needed to Constitute Advisory Council

Insists party leadership starved Tinubu, other party candidates of funds

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party does not need the approval of the

National Executive Committee (NEC) to Constitute the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the party. The ruling party had in 2022 replaced the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party with the NAC, but more than oone year after the Senator Abdulahi Adamu-led NWC

assumed office, the ruling party has not constituted NAC.

But while speaking on a national television on Tuesday night, the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore said the NWC would seek the approval of NEC for the constitution of NAC.

NEPC Condemns Importation of Palm Oil into Nigeria

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has condemned the continued importation of palm oil into the country.

It lamented that despite Nigeria being one of the biggest producers of oil palm, the country was still importing the product which is unhealthy for its economic survival.

The Deputy Director, Akwa Ibom State Coordinating Office of NEPC, Mrs. Pauline Ndulaka, made the complain during a one-day training workshop for palm oil producers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

Ndulaka, noted that producing palm oil in line with the global best practices would help to sell the product in the international market seamlessly.

"The place of palm produce in our National Development cannot be overemphasised be it in the area of oil palm fruit, palm oil, palm kernel oil, palm kernel cake (PKC), refined palm oil, palm shell, empty fruit Bunch (EFB), palm fibers, sludge, oil palm roots, oil palm trunk, oil

palm leaves, etc.

"In 2014, the federal government of Nigeria listed 13 strategic export products drawn from the three core areas of Agro-Industry, Mining/ Allied Produce, and oil and gas industry and palm oil is among the thirteen products under AgroIndustrial Products.

"The NEPC in furtherance of the policy came up with a supportive programme- One State -One Product (OSOP) initiative which is designed to create employment in the states through value-addition e.g. identified products, among others.

"All the states in the south-south listed palm produce as one of their major OSOP products, it is pertinent to mention that Akwa Ibom State has chosen palm oil as their number one OSOP product," she added.

Also speaking, the DirectorGeneral of the Association of Nigerian Exporters, Obong Joseph Idiong admonished the potential exporters not to relent in efforts to engage in export business to attract foreign currency.

Declaring the event open, the

Akwa Ibom State Permanent Secretary for Trade and Investment, Mr. Oliver Udoukpo commended NEPC for the initiative, adding that the ministry would continue to collaborate with the agency to boost export in the state.

On her part, the State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agricultural, Mrs. Mary Ukoette, said the state government was taking decisive steps to boost palm oil production through the establishment of Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited.

Reacting, during a media briefing with select journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Lukman said Omisore was either incompetent in the running of the affairs of the party or he was ignorant.

"I listened to Omisore, it is either he displayed incompetence or ignorance on the running of the party. He said we are going to NEC with a proposal for a National Advisory Council. Go and read the constitution, we don't need the approval of NEC to do that. These things are straight forward. It is not rocket science. It's either you are ready to do it or not.

"It is clearly spelt out in Article 13 (b) and the composition is very clear -former president, former senate president etc. There is even a proviso that if the person is indicted for criminal offence he is excluded. This is in the constitution so why are we debating it?

"We don't have to go to NEC to do that. That was why we were

elected in March and by April 2022 , we should have had a national advisory council. If the organ was operational maybe all the issues I raised would have been addressed because they are the conscience of the party," he stated.

Lukman noted that some of the issues for the consideration of NEC included quarterly reports of the party's activities to NEC; presentation of financial reports of the party, as well as presentation of proposed national budget of the party ,among others.

The party chieftain also lamented that the leadership of the party starved President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party in the 2023 elections of funds.

He said when Adams Oshiomhole was the chairman of the party, he ensured that every candidate of the party in thee 2019 elections was given financial support.

Lukman added: "Talking of national budget, we are just coming

out of elections whereby we are not able to sustain past precedence. What was the past precedence? Under Adams Oshiomhole in 2019 every candidate of the party received something from the national secretariat.

"This last election, no candidate of the candidate received a dime from the party. Talking of finances in our constitution, the NEC is supposed to approve some form of sharing formula.

"I am aware that each state chapter has received about N20 million out of the N30 billion, put together that is about N700 million less than a billion which is less than 3 per cent of the total income that has been earned.

"Yet we want to sweep this under the carpet. We are having states, zonal, local councils and ward levels which are left on their own. The whole question of funding of the party has not been addressed," he added.

Akpabio Constitutes Selection, Special Committees

Tinubu seeks service chiefs’ confirmation

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, constituted the Selection Committee and eight other Special panels in line with the rules of the red chamber.

Akpabio, who announced the list on the floor during plenary, also read an official communication from President Bola Tinubu, seeking the Senate screening and confirmation of the appointment of the new Chief of Defence staff

Otti Makes 30 Fresh Appointments, Clarifies Kanu’s Designation in Enyimba FC

Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti has increased the size of his aides with 30 fresh appointments.

The new additions included two Special Advisers, 10 Senior Special Assistants, six Special Assistants as well as heads of agencies and parastatals.

The governor also clarified the appropriate designation of Nwankwo Kanu, naming him as the Chairman of Enyimba International FC of Aba.

The commissioner for information had earlier told journalists in his maiden briefing after the maiden meeting of the State Executive Council, that Kanu was appointed to "supervise" Enyimba International FC.

But in the list of the new appointees released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. Mr. Kazie Uko, the Abia-born football legend was clearly designated as "Chairman" of Enyimba FC.

This has cleared the confusion in the media over Kanu’s exact role in Enyimba FC as he was variously referred to as "Sole Administrator", "Supervisor" and even "Manager" of Enyimba.

In the new list, the Director of Alex Otti's campaign, Hon Iheanacho Obioma, was named Special Adviser, Political Affairs. Eyebrows were raised when his name was conspicuously missing in all the previous appointments.

The other Special Adviser in the fresh appointments was Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, designated

as Special Adviser, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Aside Kanu, another appointee that attracted attention was Mr. Martins Okechukwu Justice, whose stage name is J. Martins. The Abia-born music star was named by the state governor as his Special Assistant on Tourism and Entertainment.

It also included: Prof Ijeoma Iheukwumere - Senior Special Assistant, Environment; Mr. Odinakachi Eric Eme - Senior Special Assistant, Multilateral and Donor Agencies; Mr. Nwaka Inem - Special Adviser on Trade, Commerce and Industry; Magdalene Ugoanusi - Senior Special Assistant, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dr. George Chidozie - Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties; Okorougo Aji - Special Assistant, Lands and Housing; Dr.

Obioma Nwogbe - Senior Special Assistant, Transport; Mr. Chukwunenye Alajemba - Senior Special Assistant, Homeland Security; Joshua Onyeike - General Manager, ASOPADEC; Dike Nwankwo - Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency; Dr. Uloaku Ukaegbu - Director, Abia State Agency for Control of AIDS, and Dr. Eric Egwuibe - Senior Special Assistant, Budget and Planning.

Also, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, was appointed Senior Special Assistant, Finance; Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke, GM, ASEPA; Mr. Daniel Chinagozi - Special Assistant, Digital Economy; Mr. Chinedu Ekeke - Deputy Chief of Staff (cum Senior Special Assistant on Sports and Youth Development), and Dr. Oluebube Olunna Chukwu - Senior Special Assistant, Due Process.

and the service chiefs.

The appointees are Major General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence staff (CDS), Maj. Gen. Toareed Abiodun Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Rear Admiral Emmanuel. A Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff (CHS) and Air Vice Marshal H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff (CAS).

Akpabio named himself as Chairman of the Selection Committee saying his Deputy, Barau Jibrin, would be the deputy.

He said all the eight newly elected principal officers from both the majority and the minority caucuses of the Senate would serve as members of the panel.

He also announced Senator Titus Zam as chairman of the Rules and Business, while the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele would serve as the deputy Other committees announced by the Senate President were Senate Services, Sunday Karimi (chairman); Williams Eteng Jonah (deputy); Ethics and Public Petition, Okechukwu

Ezea (chairman), Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha (deputy) Public Accounts, Aliu Wadada Ahmed (chairman), Onyeka Peter (deputy); National Security and

Intelligence, Shehu Buba Umar (chairman), Asuquo Ekpenyong (deputy); Legislative Compliance, Garba Musa Maidoki (chairman); Ede Dafinone (deputy) and Media, Adeyemi Adaramodu (chairman), and Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi (deputy) He said the Appropriations Committee would be chaired by Solomon Adeola (chairman) while the Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume would serve as the deputy.

Akpabio said the Appropriation Committee was set up in anticipation that President Tinubu would soon forward a Supplementary Budget to the red chamber.

Tinubu's letter on the service chiefs confirmation was dated July 5, 2023 and addressed to the President of the Senate.

The letter noted that the request was in compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. Cap A20 Laws the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and asked the Senate to act expeditiously on the request, considering the level of insecurity in the country.

Akpabio said the service chiefs would be screened on the floor of the Senate because the red chamber had yet to set up its standing committees.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

L-R: General Manager, North, Wakanow Nigeria,Pius Ogbaje; Key Account Manager Air France/KLM, Antonia Umunna; Chief Executive Officer, Wakanow Nigeria, Adenike Macaulay; General Manager, Lufthansa Northern Nigeria, John Opara; First Vice President, Sabre, Emmanuel Isola at the Official Launch of Wakanow Nigeria Corporate Travel Centre in Abuja ...recently

EMERGING AFRICA GROUP IS FIVE…

L-R: Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Toyin F. Sanni, Emerging Africa Group (EAG) and Chairman, Chief(Mrs.)

of EAG in Lagos…recently

Jihadists from Niger, Mali, Libya Have Taken Over Sokoto, House Member Cries Out

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A member of Tangaza/Gudu Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, Hon. Sani Yakubu in the House of Representatives has raised the alarm that jihadists from Niger, Mali and Libya and the local bandits have taken over Tangaza Local Government of Sokoto State.

The lawmaker raised the alarm

while moving a motion on the floor of the House yesterday on the need to end killings, banditry, kidnappings and cattle rustling in Tangaza/Gudu Federal Constituency of Sokoto State

Moving the motion, Yakubu narrated that on July 1, 2023, bandits attacked three communities namely: Raka, Raka Dutse and Filingawa in Tangaza Local Government killing 45 people,

Emerging Africa Marks Fifth Anniversary, Eyes Listing on NGX

KayodeTokede

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emerging Africa Group (EAG), Mrs Toyin Sanni has said that the leading financial services firm is pursuing listing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in order to enhance its visibility and credibility in the Nigerian capital market.

Mrs Sanni stated this while speaking at the fifth year anniversary of the group in Lagos, disclosing that the firm is set to launch the Emerging Africa Technology Limited Mauritius and Emerging Africa Technology Fund Mauritius, which is expected to manage $50 million Technology Fund. According to her, this will position Emerging Africa Group at the forefront of technological innovation in Africa.

Other set ambitious goals in the next five years, she mentioned include: establishing hubs in six geo-political regions of Nigeria and

key African markets, positioning Emerging Africa closer to clients and facilitating better service delivery, undertaking bond issuance to provide financing for critical infrastructure projects, contributing to Africa’s development and economic growth, among others. She said: “These milestones represent our unwavering commitment to driving positive change in Africa, embracing innovation, and delivering exceptional financial solutions. We remain steadfast in our determination to foster sustainable economic growth, create opportunities, and empower communities across the continent.”

Mrs. Sanni said when Emerging Africa Group embarked on the journey 2018, the vision was to become the leading catalyst for Africa’s emergence as a key global origin and destination for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focused investments and finance.

Unity Schools: FG Releases 2023 National Common Entrance Results

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The federal government has released the results of the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for 110 federal government colleges, also known as unity schools, across the country.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Andrew David Adejo, yesterday announced the release of the results of the examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) on June 3, 2023.

Adejo released the results to the public shortly after the NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi, officially presented the report to him at a news conference in Abuja.

He said: “A total of 72,865 pupils registered compared

while some sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatments at the General Hospital Gwadabawa.

He added that the bandits also

rustled livestocks, looted shops houses and razed storage facilities. The lawmaker noted that the attack was not unconnected with the communities’ refusal to succumb

to bandit’s imposition of levies and purported laws announced by the criminals. He explained that the constituency is surrounded by

two forests,Tsauna Forest, that stretches over to Gwadabawa, Illela and Niger Republic and Kuyan Bana Forest, that stretches to Gudu and Niger Republic.

Retired Appeal Court Justice Seeks Conclusion of Election Matters before Swearing In

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

A retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Ige, yesterday, advocated for the conclusion of pre and post election matters before the swearing in of winners of election in the country.

This is just as he called for

the decentralisation of the Supreme Court for more effective administration of justice.

Ige of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who made the call yesterday at the Valedictory Court Session, held in his honour at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, said concluding the

election matters before swearing in would enhance the sustenance of democracy in the country.

According to him, by concluding the post-election matters before the winners are sworn in, it would be of mutual benefit to all the stakeholders in the electoral process and adjudication. He also stated

that pre-election matters should be concluded before the general elections.

He said: “As the name implies pre-election matters instituted and determined before the holding of elections conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

Bayelsa Guber: Politicians Warned against Unguarded Utterances

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Politicians in Bayelsa State have been warned against making utterances capable of derailing the peace in Bayelsa State, ahead of the November 11, governorship election.

The charge by a concerned

group, the Network of Bayelsa Professionals (NBP), forms part of efforts to discourage politicians, particularly the gubernatorial candidates, from the path of rancour and bitterness in their campaigns.

Co-ordinator of the group, Mr Agbada S. Agbada, in a

statement made available to journalists, noted that while individuals reserve the right to aspire to any elective office, such aspirations must be pursued with decency and moderation to preserve the relative peace the state has experienced in the past few

years.

The group commended Governor Douye Diri for demonstrating exemplary leadership by his consistent accommodation of dissent, criticisms, tolerance for the opposition in the state as well as commitment to peace.

Asset Recovery: Benue Gov Denies Witch-hunting Ortom

GeorgeOkohinMakurdi

The Benue State Government has said that not witch-hunting, embarrassing, humiliating or oppressing any citizen and law abiding resident of the state.

The government made the clarification following insinuations

by opposition elements in the state that the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration was set to humiliate his predecessor, Samuel Ortom by all means.

The government position became necessary due to the misconceptions by the spokesperson of Ortom, Terver

Akase and the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bemgba Iortyom that the Assets Recovery Committee invaded and carted away vehicles belonging to the former governor at a repair workshop in Makurdi on Tuesday.

Reacting to the allegations, the

Chief Press Secretary, to Governor Alia, Tersoo Kula, said both the former governor’s aid and the PDP Publicity Secretary were only out to dish out blatant lies when in their inner conscience were aware that their master was allegedly guilty of looting Benue assets.

NYSC Certified Mbah’s Certificate, INEC Witness Tells Tribunal

to 71,738 for 2022 with Lagos State having the highest number of 18,644 and Taraba with the lowest of 102. With 38,801 female registrants against 34,064 males, we are making progress with bridging the gender parity; 69,829 pupils sat for the examination.

“Three thousand and thirty six (3,036) pupils were absent; seventy six (76) pupils had the highest score of 203; the lowest score was 01 mark and this was scored by six (6) pupils.”

Adejo noted that the National Common Entrance Examination is for admission into Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) of Federal Unity Colleges.

Adejo said that the admission criteria for selection of qualified candidates into the colleges “60 per cent, merit; 30 per cent, equality of state and 10 per cent, exigency.”

A subpoenaed witness from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) called by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, has told the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Enugu that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to the commission by the Enugu

State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, was certified by the NYSC.

The witness, Mr Dimas Friday Emmanuel, while under cross examination by Mbah’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), averred that Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate was forwarded to the NYSC for authentication, stressing that the NYSC certifies

only a document emanating from it.

Olanipekun had said to the INEC witness, “Have a look at Exhibit EPT01/A, B, and C, particularly the NYSC Certificate there, that Certificate which you said Mbah forged was certified by the NYSC”, to which he replied in the affirmative.

“Am I correct to say that NYSC can only certify a document in

its possession and a document emanating from the institution?” Again, he said “Yes”.

On further cross examination by the counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), the witness, who is a legal practitioner, also admitted that Mbah’s NYSC Certificate carried a stamp of the NYSC, certifying the document.

NDDC Boss: Project HOPE ‘ll Create 10,000 Jobs for N’Delta Youths

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has assured that the newly flagged-off Holistic Opportunity Project of Engagement (Project HOPE), would create over 10,000 jobs for youths and women

in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, disclosed this yesterday during the flag-off of the project at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State’s capital.

Project HOPE was set up to tackle the challenges of youth restiveness and give succour to the youths of the Niger Delta

region.

The project is also designed to create a comprehensive potential resources database of the youths’ population of the region, with a focus on their needs, qualifications, skills, passion, interests, and employment status.

Ogbuku said that the project is holistic while assuring its

sustainability, just as he encouraged the Niger Delta youths and women to embrace the opportunity, adding that NDDC has chosen to do things differently.

He said: “We have from day one said we want to do things that are more sustainable. We can’t be doing things in the old way and expect different results.”

Kogi Guber: Police Warns Political Stakeholders against Violence

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Ahead of the November 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, the Nigeria Police Force Zone B Headquarters in conjunction with Kogi State Command has read a riot act to critical stakeholders

in the forthcoming election that admonished them to ensure violence-free governorship polls in the state.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Babatunde B. Ishola, stated that the Nigeria Police would not entertain any

form violence before during and after election in Kogi State.

Ishola disclosed this while speaking at stakeholders’ meeting on election security with the theme:

“Strengthening Community Engagement Towards Violence-free November 2023 Governorship

Election in Kogi State,” at the Police Command Headquarters in Lokoja on Wednesday.

He explained that the meeting became an imperative in view of the ongoing electoral processes ahead of the governorship election in Kogi and two other states.

Onikepo Akande, during the fifth anniversary celebration

RECOGNITION FOR HARDWORK…

Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers in Anambra, Rescue Abducted Woman

Thunder strike kills three suspected kidnappers in Kwara

David-Chyddy ElekeinAwka and Hammed Shittu inIlorin

Operatives of Police in Anambra State have gunned down two members of a gang suspected to be kidnappers. This is coming as the Anambra State Commissioner of Police(CP), Aderemi Adeoye, has warned police operatives in the state to desist from incessant

arrest of innocent citizens.

This is just as a thunder strike has reportedly killed three suspected kidnappers in the agrarian Oro Ago community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Adeoye, who spoke to journalists in his maiden press conference after being posted to the state, said that the command was ready to flush

Former Minister Appointed SSG in Borno

Michael OlugbodeinMaiduguri

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has appointed the former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development in the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Mallam Bukar Tijani, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The governor also reappointed Prof Isa Marte as his Chief of Staff.

The two appointments were announced by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, in a statement issued yesterday. The statement noted that Zulum considered Tijani’s very high level experience from his

services as a minister from July 2011 to September, 2013, and as an assistant secretary-general/Assistant director-general (ASG/ADG) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Tijani, according to the statement, through both offices and other national positions such as being the national coordinator for Nigeria’s National Programme for Agriculture and Food Security, as well as his coordination of the World Bank’s Fadama Project, visited about 50 countries for different official engagements and made significant contributions to the development of agriculture and food security in Nigeria, Africa and at the global level.

Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation for Launch Today

The Alli-Balogun Dynasty of Lagos will today launch the Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation and also hold a 90th anniversary special prayers session to celebrate the passage of their Progenitor, Sheik Aliu Makanjuola Alli-Balogun popularly known as Alli Oloko who died on July 13, 1933 at the age of 103 years. The celebration of life and times of this legend whose wealth traversed generations will hold today at the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.

According to a joint statement signed by the great great

grandchildren of the business magnate, renowned lslamic Scholar and philanthropist, Alhaja (Mrs.) Lateefah Yoyinsola Aderemi- Makanjuola (lya Adinni of Alli Oloko Wasinmi Mosque) and Dr. Gbolahan Alli-Balogun, the launch of the Foundation and the 90th anniversary remembrance became imperative to continue to honour the legacy of a man whose name has continued to resonate in Lagos and beyond, having touched so many lives in his life time, even after 90 years of his transition.

Obaseki Mourns Mother of Former Aide

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has mourned the passing of the late Pastor Mrs. Juliana Ewemade Ehikhamhen, mother of Comrade Emmanuel Orukpe Ehikhamhen, a former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Surveillance.

In a statement, Obaseki described the late Juliana Ehikhamhen as a kind, compassionate and loving woman, noting that she will be remembered for her peaceful nature and love for family and community.

out criminal elements in the state. He said: “I’m not in the habit of asking criminals to relocate to

other states, our promise to them is that we will flush them out by ourselves.

“Already we have started. What you see here are arms recovered from a gang of suspected kidnappers, and behind you are two members of the gang who were neutralised.

Court Adjourns Trial of Four Suspects Arrested for JAMB Registration Malpractice in Ondo

Fidelis David in Akure

A Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, yesterday adjourned the trial of four suspects arrested for registration impersonation and examination malpractices of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in Ondo State.

The registration impersonation suspects are Timilehin Akinwale, Olayinka Mustapha, and Peter Okereke, while Feranmi Adesuyi was arraigned for examination impersonation.

According to the charge sheet, “The first three defendants committed the impersonation act on February 15 at Aina

Awaw International College, Ilu Abo in Akure, which was a CBT centre for JAMB registration and examination.

“That you Okereke Peter, 29; Akinwale Timilehin, 22, and Mustapha Olayinka Idris, 23, on February 15, 2023, at Aina Awaw International College, Ilu Abo, a CBT Centre for JAMB registration

and examination in Akure, Ondo State, within the jurisdiction of this court did impersonate Folarin Damlok, Kazeem Imisi, and Tijani Sheun respectively, during CBT JAMB registration contrary to Section 3(3)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004, and punishable under the same Section.

Enugu Tribunal: Fourteen Parties Protest Alleged Attempt by LP to Tamper with BVAS

A coalition of 14 political parties in Enugu State has protested what they described as an attempt by the Labour Party (LP) to tamper with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in the conduct of the March 18, 2023 governorship

election.

The parties said that contrary to the court’s order that the LP and its governorship candidate be allowed to inspect the machines, LP wanted to tamper with them as against the provisions of the law.

They accused LP of displaying “rascally behaviours”, warning that nobody should set the state on fire.

Addressing newsmen at INEC’s state headquarters in Enugu yesterday, one of the 14 party chairmen present and a

gubernatorial candidate in the March 18 election, Dr. Afam Ani of the All Peoples Party (APP) said: “We were invited by INEC for BVAS inspection because a court gave an order that the LP should come and inspect the BVAS today.”

Church Disowns Two Staff Members Allegedly Arrested by NDLEA

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The management of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry has dissociated itself from all the allegations leveled against two of its staff by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The ministry in a statement issued in Warri, Delta State, yesterday said it was not part of any conduct towards the aim and objectives of the mission.

It was gathered that the two staff members, Ebipakebina Appeal, who had been working with it as a driver since 2018,

and Adewale Abayomi Ayeni of its Call Center unit, who had been working with the ministry since 2019, were recently indicted by NDLEA of being in possession of hard drugs at the point of arrest.

But in swift reaction, the management of the ministry

in a copy of the disclaimer made available to journalists in Warri, noted that even though the suspects mentioned had been working with the ministry for some time now, and the church cannot condole acts contrary to the vision on which the ministry was founded.

New Obas’ Chamber ‘ll Boost Ekiti Monarchs’ Relevance in Governance, Says Deputy Gov

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, has described the newly constructed Traditional Council Chamber for the monarchs in the state as a masterpiece that will inject inclusivity into governance in

the state.

Afuye posited that the edifice is replete with modern facilities and accessories that will guarantee comfort during regular meetings of all Ekiti Obas, which she stressed, would further make them good allies and partners to drive Governor

Biodun Oyebanji’s policies.

The deputy governor gave the hint in Ado Ekiti yesterday while inspecting the newly constructed ultra-modern Traditional Council Chamber and the renovation work being undertaken at the deputy governor’s office.

The inspection team also

included the Special Adviser, Bureau of Special Project to the Governor, Tope Ogunleye; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi; Executive Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Adegboyega Morakinyo, among others.

Osun Assembly Commended for Repealing ‘State of Osun’ Law

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

‘State of Osun’ law after 13 years of its existence.

Osun

State to ‘State of Osun’.

The governor said: “I am saddened by the news of the passing of Late Pastor Mrs. Juliana Ewemade Ehikhamhen, who died at the age of 69.

“Mama was a kind, compassionate and loving woman who lived an exemplary life. She espoused strong family values and impacted positively on everyone who came in contact with her.

“She will be remembered for her peaceful nature and love for family and community. She will be sorely missed.”

The General Overseer of Sufficient Grace International Christian Church, Rehoboth Arena, Okinni, Osun State, Bishop Seun Adeoye, has commended the state House of Assembly for repealing the

The human activist cum cleric in a statement issued in Osogbo, the state capital yesterday also lauded Kanmi Ajibola who had approached the court of law over the reordering of the name of

The Lead Bishop of the Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC) in Nigeria also commended the Civil Societies Coalition of Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) and the media for standing up with the people

during the struggle to put things in the right perspective in the state.

He stated: “I knew all the efforts of Ajibola. We were always in court together over this matter. He spent his time, energy and resources without help from anyone.

Police Apprehend Ward Head for Receiving Stolen Motorcycles

Laleye Dipo in Minna

A ward head in Paiko town in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State has been arrested by the police for allegedly receiving and selling stolen motorcycles.

Twenty-three stolen motorcycles were reportedly found in

possession of the ward head, and the registration number plates were removed from them, which were stolen and sold.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement made available to journalists in Minna last Tuesday said the Ward’s

head has already confessed to committing the crime while two of his accomplices have been arrested.

Abiodun named the Ward head as a 45-year-old Hussaini Mohammed, and the accomplices, Isah Umar, 20, a resident in Paiko town, and a 25-year-old Hussaini Ibrahim of Bosso area,

near Minna.

According to the police spokesman, “During interrogation, the two suspects confessed to the crime and claimed that they stole four motorcycles along with one Nafiu presently at large, and gave it to one Junaidu also at large, who sold them to Ward’s head.

L-R: Chief Cali Dibang; Brig. Gen. Victor Cletus of COS Army Signal Headquarters, Apapa, and Deacon Philip Ushigiale, during an award presentation to Cletus by the Calabar Unified Forum in Lagos... recently

Leon Balogun Returns to Glasgow Rangers

Super Eagles’ defender, Leon Balogun, has rejoined the Scottish side Glasgow Rangers as a free-agent player.

The 35-year-old lanky defender announced his departure from the English Championship side Queens Park Rangers yesterday. He confirmed his Rangers

return in a short video after joining the team in a training camp in Germany.

“I am just excited, to be honest, it is still a bit unreal but it is very real, so I am just really happy

to be back at Rangers – it feels like coming home.

Since I left, I have always felt a lot of appreciation and love from friends I have made in Glasgow and around the club and now that I am back it is nice, to say the least.

“I know second is no option,

I know what people are going to say very quickly if we are not performing so it is time to get to work, put our best foot forward and make sure we get the results that we need", he said.

Balogun has been brought in for defensive cover after the club confirmed a long-term injury blow

for Leon King on Tuesday.

The latest development may see the defender stage a return to the National team after his exploit at the AFCON 2022 qualifying round of matches with the Super Eagles.

confirmed to have switched from Italian outfit Cremonese to the Scottish team on a four-year deal. He replaced Alfredo Morelos after his departure at the end of last season.

Another Nigerian international, Cyriel Dessers, was on Monday

Lobi Stars Beat Akwa United to Top Group B

After defeating Akwa United 2-0 to top Group B of the ongoing Naija Super 8 Tournament yes-

terday and book their ticket to the semi final, Lobi Stars, have insisted that they are now ready to challenge for the title.

The Makurdi side topped the group with seven points from three games played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. Akwa United finished second

The 28-year old Super Eagles forward joined on a deal believed to be around £4.5million. with six points.

In the other group match also played yesterday, Rivers United defeated Yobe Desert Stars 1-0 to take third spot in the group. Kazie Enyinnaya scored the winning goal in the 25 minute of the match.

Rivers United finished the match with 10 men after one of their players received a straight red card in the 87th minute.

The other two semi-final slots will be decided today when Sporting Lagos and Katsina United face each other in the final Group A match, starting at 4:30pm.

Katsina United currently sir top of the table on goal difference with four points from two games. Sporting Lagos are second with four points from two games. Remo Stars are third with four points from three matches, while Enyimba have been eliminated from the competition after losing two of their three matches.

Lobi Stars started the game knowing that a draw would be enough to qualify, while Akwa United had already booked a semi-final slot with two wins from two matches.

15 minutes into the game, a cross from the right side found its way to Joseph Atule, who was left unmarked in the six yard box. The winger chested the ball into an open goal to give

A goal-mouth rush during the Akwa United (white shirt and orange pants) versus Lobi Stars match of the ongoing Naija Super 8 tournament in Lagos yesterday. Lobi defeated Akwa United to top the group

Odegbami Excited by Fresh Hope for Former Nigerian Athletes

Former Green Eagles Captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, has showered praises on Air Peace for the proposed Diplomacy Wall of Fame initiative to be unveiled in Lagos on July 28.

Odegbami said it was thoughtful that the airline remembered ex-athletes who made the nation proud in their prime, adding that it was a fresh hope for many facing different challenges in various aspects in life.

At a brief but colorful ceremony in Lagos this week, the CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said arrangements have been concluded to bestow honours on some of the forgotten former national athletes.

The 1976 Olympics athletes who were recalled from Montreal, Canada on the eve of the Games due to New Zealand’s sporting romance with apartheid South Africa and the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winning team players are amongst the beneficiaries of Onyema’s large heart.

The ex-athletes apart from being the ambassadors of Air Peace are to enjoy 12 free return tickets in addition to one international flight yearly in addition to cash reward on July 28.

Odegbami however said the decision to write the names of all these athletes in gold would mark a turn-around in how ex-internationals are treated in the country.

“This is a very good initiative. It is very great to recall that the 1976 Olympics athletes with great potentials for medals are being honoured now for their patriotism. It was open for us then to decide to compete as individuals but there was a collective decision to respect

the stand of Nigeria by boycotting the Games.

“I recalled the then Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, provided a brand new DC 10 Nigerian Airways aircraft to take us back to Nigeria.

He recalled the many potential medalists in the team to include

Charlton Ehizuelen, the Nigerian men’s 4x400m relay team, Davidson Andeh, Obisia Nwakpa amongst others.

“In the future, I expect more corporate organisations to emulate Air Peace by coming up with initiative that will put smiles on the faces of former athletes,” concludes the ex international fondly called Mathematical.

Nigeria, Ghana, Togo Battle

Budapest

Kunle Adewale

Relay Tickets at

As the finale of the Lagos Athletics Club Series takes centre stage at the Yaba College of Technology this Friday, July 14, relay teams from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic will slug it out for better times to be amongst the 16 qualified teams for the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships taking place next month.

The Lagos Athletics Club Series is an initiative of the Lagos State Athletics Association (LSAA) with the aim of reviving healthy competitions among athletes across the country as 27 clubs and three schools will be aiming to share from

for

Lagos Meet

the grand prize.

According to the Technical Director of LSAA, Enefiok UdoObong, the one-day meet promises to be exciting as the relay events – 4X100m and 4x400m will be the main highlight as teams are jostling for tickets with the required qualifying time.

“I can confirm to you that after the success of three legs in February, April and June, we are set for the grand finale which also provides an opportunity for teams to secure the qualifying time for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

“We will have teams from Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria.

Some of our best athletes in sprint and relays will also be present to compete. I look forward to new records and excellent performance from the athletes,” Udo-Obong said.

For the chairman of LSAA, Solomon Alao, the staging of the tournament was aimed restoring the glorious era of athletics.

“The Lagos Athletics Association is always on the lookout for innovative ideas to catalyse development and support growth. We identified that in all of the years of athletics sport or sports in general, the one singular component of the community of systems that has remained constant over the years is the ‘Athletics Club’.

Lobi Stars the lead. The winger doubled Lobi Stars' lead eight minutes later after he was put through on goal to slot past the goalkeeper.

Atule's movement proved difficult to handle for the Akwa United defence, and he almost bagged a first half hat-trick when his left footed shot narrowly missed the top corner. Gift Elkanah then produced a good save to deny Lobi Stars a third goal in the 42nd minute.

Despite having less of the possession, Lobi Stars continued to fashion the best chances in the match. Elkenah again denied the Makurdi side in the 55th minute with a fingertip save to parry Okoromi David's looping shot over the bar.

In his post match interview, Lobi Stars coach, Bala Abubakar, said his team now plays with hunger and character, adding that they would be ready for any opponent in the semi-finals.

Akwa United coach, Fatai Osho, on the other hand said his objective was to give room for other players to perform since the Uyo team had already booked the semi final ticket.

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.

Alcaraz in S’final, Tunisia’s Jabeur Dethrones Rybakina

Spanish top seed Carlos Alcaraz moved into the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time and will face Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in the last four.

Alcaraz beat Danish sixth seed Holger Rune, another 20-year-old, 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-4 in his quarter-final.

Unseeded Chris Eubanks' dream run was ended by 27-year-old Medvedev in a thrilling five-set contest.

Medvedev, who had never been past the last 16 before, beat the American 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

Now Alcaraz and Medvedevwho have both won major titles on the US Open hard courts - will attempt to reach their first finals on the Wimbledon grass when they play in the last four on Friday.

In the other semi-final, Serbian second seed Novak Djokovic, who

is going for a record-equalling eighth men's title, faces Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner.

In the women’s singles, defending champion, Elena Rybakina, lost in the Wimbledon quarter-finals as Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur avenged her defeat in last year's final.

Sixth seed Jabeur came from a set down to win 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-1 in a reverse of the match 12 months ago.

The Tunisian clinched the second set with a timely break of serve at 5-4 and then dominated the decider. Jabeur will play Aryna Sabalenka who powered past Madison Keys in the semi-finals today.

NNL Job: Ebi Egbe Hails

NFF on Aluo’s Appointment

The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Group, Ebi Egbe, has given a pat on the back to NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, for getting the right people to lead the nation’s domestic league.

Egbe in a statement issued in Lagos during the week said the appointment of seasoned sports journalist, George Aluo, as chairman of NNL is the right way to go. He noted that with the appointment, both the NPFL and NNL have quality chairmen that can take Nigerian football to higher heights.

“I say a big thank you to Gusau and his vice, Felix Anyansi-Agwu for making the right appointments. Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye is a great administrator doing well in the NPFL...with George Aluo now in charge of NNL then our football on the home front is good to go.

I am confident we are going to see a fantastic league in 2023/2024 season,” Egbe stated. He however urged the NFF to ensure that both the NPFL and NNL teams play their games on quality pitches where footballers can fully express themselves.

Femi Solaja

Hyacinth Alia to Sam Ortom

“The case of the Government House is particularly pitiable with vandalised furniture, window blinds, electronics, and other household appliances.This isbesidesthecartingawayofallvehicles,includinganambulanceanda presscrewbusattachedtotheofficeofthegovernor.Atthelastcount,29 vehiclesattachedtothegovernor’soffice,arestillnowheretobefound”

—CurrentBenueGovernoronhisimmediatepredecessor

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

A Cycle of Multilateral Killings

In a desperate call that can only exacerbate the security challenge in Plateau State, a member of the House of Representatives urged his traumatised constituents to defend themselves.

On Monday, Hon. Dachung Bagos said that 19 people were killed within 24 hours last weekend in Jos South and Mangu local government areas of the state. “Hundreds have lost their lives since May 2023, and villagers can’t go to their farms, several displaced persons, lands taken over, farmlands destroyed”, said Bago who released the details (name and age) of the people killed in his federal constituency. “In the face of this kind of breakdown in the will and capacity of the government to protect the people and their communities, law-abiding citizens must organize to protect themselves”, he admonished. While it is difficult to blame Bagos for asking his people to embrace what amounts to self-help given the breakdown of law and order in the area, his prescription offers no solution to the killings that have ethno-religious undertones and feed on ancient animosities. Sadly, officials of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Berom Youth Moulders continue to trade accusations on the spiral of violence that have left hundreds gruesomely murdered and maimed, communities razed, huge swarths of farmlands destroyed and thousands of cattle missing. Because we live in a nation where people suffer from collective amnesia, it is important to remind readers that this is not a new crisis in a region where identity has become

a matter of life and death.

On 3rd September 2018, Major General Idris Alkali (rtd) disappeared while travelling to his farm in Bauchi

from Abuja. The family alerted army headquarters. Acting on intelligence, the army narrowed its search to a pond in an abandoned mining pit in Dura–Du District, Jos South Local Government Area and brought in dredgers. On 29th September, they found Alkali’s black Toyota Corolla car, a customised white T-Shirt with Nigerian Army logo and his name inscribed on it as well as a pair of canvass shoe belonging to him. Eventually, the body of General Alkali was found in an abandoned well in Guchwet village of Shen district, Jos South Local Government Area of the state. But in searching the pond, the army also pulled out two additional vehicles, a Toyota bus reportedly declared missing with the driver three months earlier and a Rover car declared missing with its occupants since 2013. These of course were victims of barbaric killings whose families had searched in vain for their whereabouts.

An eye for eye, as the saying goes, makes the world go blind. But that is what is happening today in many parts of Benue, Plateau and a few other states in the Middle Belt where the people have been reduced to undertakers. Every day comes with multiple burials. When a society is in decline, as I wrote five years ago, people look for solutions where they do not exist. In Nigeria, identity politics has become the new form of expression. Therefore, we must locate this tragedy within the context of the tit-for-tat ethno-religious violence that has for years defined Jos and environs. We cannot continue to manipulate differences while trading hate yet

expect peace or development.

I have on different occasions written as to how artificial differences are magnified and manipulated in Nigeria for sinister ends. That is not what obtains in some other African countries. Two weeks ago, I was in Sierra Leone for their presidential election. One of the things I learnt from that country is how identity politics on which most Nigerians tear themselves apart means nothing to their people. Even though 78 percent of Sierra Leoneans are Muslim, both President Julius Maada Bio and his rival, the main opposition candidate, Dr Samura Kamara are Christians! Even Bio’s immediate predecessor, Ernest Bai Koroma who was in power for 11 years is a Christian. I pray for such a time in Nigeria when the faith people profess or the ethnic group to which they belong would matter less than the ‘content of their character.’

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday expressed sadness and grief over the latest round of violence and killings in both Plateau and Benue States. “It is most unfortunate that in this orgy of violence, an innocent eight-month-old baby in Farin Lamba community of Vwang District, Jos South Local Government, died in a conflict she knew nothing about”, the president said. “A major consequence of perennial conflict is always the tragic loss of innocent lives. To build virile, peaceful, and prosperous communities demand tolerance and forgiveness for every perceived wrongdoing.”

Continued on page 21

Joe Irukwu and the ‘Nigerian Delinquents’

Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and foremost Insurance guru, Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu, died last Sunday, 11 days to his 89th birthday. I met him only once, but it was memorable. On 15th August 2014 in Abuja, I reviewed his book, ‘Nigeria at 100: What Next?’ at the public presentation chaired by Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah. I had been approached for the assignment by one of his children. In the late Joe Irukwu’s memory, I am publishing excerpts from that review (of nine years ago) titled, ‘The Past is Another Country’.

==================================

…If the young generation is made to believe that our past does not matter, how then can our children develop a sense of belonging and patriotism to a nation they don’t know? That of course is by the way, but we must commend Professor Joe Irukwu for documenting essential epochs and the dominant issues in our journey to nationhood. Reading through ‘Nigeria at 100: What Next?’, it is easy to understand why the author comes to the same conclusion as most writers that the greatest problem confronting Nigeria today is that of leadership at practically every level and in all strata of our society.

Part One provides historical background to the nation now called Nigeria, right from the British annexation of Lagos in 1861 through the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 to what many now cynically call the flag Independence in 1960. Even though briefly, the book deals with such landmark events as the resistance of three monarchs (the Nana of Itsekiri, Jaja of Opobo and the Oba of Benin) to the British incursion; the post-colonial constitutional developments; the First Republic and its acrimonious elections and census; the tragic military interregnum and the civil war; the Second Republic democratic experiment and

why it failed; the military rule that followed and finally, the return to democracy in 1999.

For each of these periods, the author provides the lessons that were ignored as well as what might have been had we followed a different trajectory. Yet despite being a participant (or at least a ringside observer) in some of these events so aptly captured, the author adopts the detachment of an unbiased reporter which I consider refreshing for someone of his generation. In Part Two, the author deals with the impediments to nation-building in our country and the factors he identifies include the challenge of leadership and pervasive corruption. However, in presenting this twin-challenge in five chapters, the author relies on his earlier thesis that the Nigerian space

has been hijacked largely by a group of men and women he describes as delinquents. I shall return to this shortly.

Part Three is titled ‘Repairing the damage and healing the wounds: reconciliation, transformation and patriotism’. While the author advocates for a united and stable Nigeria, he nonetheless believes that such a goal is better achieved by strengthening the ethnic and regional organizations. That the author would adopt this position is not difficult to understand since he is a former president of Ohaneze Ndigbo. However, he ends that section of the book with some enduring lessons that would serve the nation, but he tempered them with some caution. Part Four, which is the last section of the book, has five chapters and is appropriately titled ‘A roadmap for the future’. The author advocates the reformation of the family, restructuring of the polity and a complete national reconciliation.

In all, Irukwu has given us a fascinating collection that speaks to a period like this in our nation when there is an intense contestation for power between and among the major geo-ethnic groups and a growing apprehension, in several quarters, of an impending national crisis. What a book like this does is to remind us about where we come from, the mistakes we made in the past, the lessons we refused to learn and their consequences.

With the maturity that comes with age, experience and exposure, Irukwu’s patriotism shines through the collection. He agonises over the challenges we face while at the same time, proffering his own solutions to some of them. At the end, what the author says most clearly in ‘Nigeria at 100: What Next?’ is that we can overcome the human and institutional barriers that have for decades held the country back if critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project embrace a more productive and cooperative form of engagement.

While the author’s account of the civil war may be considered too brief, he nonetheless provides

us with the enduring lessons and the more I reflect upon them, the more I wonder whether we have learnt anything from the tragic episode. The first lesson, according to Irukwu, is that in war everybody loses, at least to certain degrees: The wasted lives and resources as well as the missed opportunities when compromise, which is not necessarily a bad thing, could have helped to avert such tragedy. The second lesson is that no society can be peaceful if a section of it is either in turmoil or rendered vulnerable due to acts of omission or commission by relevant authorities. While the author is of a strong conviction that the formation of a national political party provides antidote to such situation, whatever that may mean within the context of Nigeria, there is yet a bigger message embedded in his narrative which those who pay close attention would see in the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

The third lesson, according to the author, is that we should never paper over our differences. We must discuss them and find acceptable ways to accommodate one another rather than allow misgivings arising out of conflicts to fester. While that is clear enough, the fourth and last lesson from the author with respect to the civil war is that we should never externalize our problems. With graphic illustration, Irukwu teaches us that solutions to domestic problems, like charity, must begin from home.

Reading through ‘Nigeria at 100: What Next?’, it is easy to conclude that the past was a much better country. Unfortunately, that has become the story of our nation as we almost always look back to “the good old days”. Notwithstanding, the author still believes and argues rather forcefully that the future holds better prospects, if we all play our part…

ENDNOTE: May God comfort the family of Professor Irukwu and may He grant his soul eternal rest.

President Bola Tinubu

Late Joe Irukwu