FRIDAY 19TH JULY 2024

Naira depreciates to N1,630 at parallel market, N1,566/$1 at official window

Concerns Mount over Retroactive Taxation of Banks’ Profit in Finance Bill

Edun: No plan to reintroduce beverage tax Lawmakers slash salaries by 50% over nationwide hunger Atiku: The demon is in your allowance, not salaries, commends decision

shore up its revenues as well as address health concerns.

Also yesterday, members of the

House of Representatives resolved to slash their salaries by 50 per cent for six months as part of their sacrifice to support the ongoing hardship in the country.

The investors stressed that the proposed amendment to the Finance Act 2023, could hurt investors' confidence

At Last, FG, Labour End Weeks of Feud, Settle for

N70,000 National Minimum Wage

Tinubu says he's being careful not to make mistakes in driving economy along with labour FG to transmit wage bill to NASS next week Wage increase now to be negotiated every three years We're accepting it with mixed feelings because of economy, says Ajaero MAN,

After several weeks of back and forth, the federal government and organised labour, yesterday, settled for N70,000 as the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers during a meeting on the contentious issue.

The meeting, the second in seven days, was held at the instance of President Bola Tinubu at State House, Abuja. It had in attendance representatives of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), led by their respective presidents, Comrades Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, respectivel. Tinubu explained to the labour leadership that in pegging the

(TUC),

Festus Osifo;

Nigeria

Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of state for Labour and

Chuks Okocha, Juliet Akoje and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Deji Elumoye, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe, Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Okpebholo Attacked in Benin, One Dead as Edo Govt Warns Shaibu

PDP taunts APC, says guber candidate empty, deceptive

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, was yesterday reportedly attacked on his way from Benin Airport, by people alleged to be members of Edo State Security Network and state-sponsored thugs led by Francis Inegbeniki.

According to a terse statement by the legislative aide to Okpebholo on Media and Communication, Godswill Inegbe, there was one casualty while the candidate and others who sustained injuries, had checked into a hospital for proper care.

monthly minimum wage at N70,000 he took into consideration economic variables in the country.

According to a release issued by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, the president stressed, "We must look at the parameters of things. Here, I have a speed limit, and I must pay attention to traffic warnings; slippery when wet, curved roads, and be careful not to have an accident. That is why I went as far as having this meeting today.

“We are driving this economy together. Let us look at the tenure of review. Let us agree on that, and affirm three years. Two years is too short. We affirm three years. We will review.

“I am going to move from the tripartite committee. I am going to edge a little bit forward, looking at the review that we have done. Yes, no one in the federal establishment should earn less than N70,000. So, we are going to benchmark at N70,000.”

Tinubu explained the federal government’s offer to increase the national minimum wage from N62,000 to N70,000, with an assurance that it would be reviewed after three years, instead of five years.

The president said he had to intervene in the negotiations, knowing the economic challenges faced by many Nigerians, and the need to provide urgent succour.

He was quoted as telling the labour leaders, "I have heard all your presentations. You came here with the intention to get something on behalf of your members. It has been tough globally. And if you review my track record, I have never been found wanting in ameliorating the problems of workers. I belong to the people and to all of you in leadership. Without you, this job is not interesting.

“You challenged the thinking faculty of leadership, and we have reviewed the position. I have consulted widely, and when the tripartite committee submitted their reports, I reviewed them again and started to think and rethink.

“Last week, I brought the workload to you because we have a timeline. We have a problem, and we recognise that you have a problem too. We are in the same economy.

“We are in the same country. We may have different rooms, different addresses, and different houses; we are just members of one family that

and send a wrong signal about Nigeria’s investment climate if passed into law.

The global investors are worried that it has never happened before that a law would be backdated just to tax because the government is desirous of taxing foreign exchange earnings of banks earned in 2023.

“During the unprovoked brutal attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured with bullets wound, while one of the policemen has been declared dead.

“Senator Monday Okpebholo is at this moment admitted in an undisclosed hospital in Benin receiving medical attention, and other members of his entourage who were victims of the brutal attack are in various hospitals in Benin City.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government, has alleged willful destruction of state facilities by persons believed to be working in

must care for each other.”

Tinubu explained that renewing the hope of Nigerians extended to providing infrastructure that would improve their livelihoods and create an inclusive economy that all could participate and benefit.

He added that the government was committed to reducing the cost of transportation with the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses, which will be cheaper and efficient, and also assured the labour unions of providing buses that will be deployed across the country.

The president said the entitlements of members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) would be considered. He urged the Ministries of Finance, and Budget and Economic Planning to look at the possibility of clearing the backlog.

At the meeting, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, thanked the president for his consideration of the issues, as the “father of the nation”, and scheduling of two meetings to resolve the initial impasse.

Akume stated, “Mr. President, at the tripartite meeting, and the resolutions of the government, organised private sector and labour unions, we were all united as one family to promote and grow our economy, and deepen our democracy, by implication, to the benefit of all. Basically, that is what we are saying today. We have a listening president here.”

After the two-hour meeting, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Ajaero; and Osifo took turns to brief newsmen on the outcome.

Idris told reporters that both the federal government and organised labour settled for N70,000 as minimum wage for the least paid Nigerian worker. He also said the president promised Nigerians massive investment in infrastructure and renewable energy as boost in the wake of the wage increase issue.

Idris added that the withheld salaries of SSANU and NASU members in public universities were to be immediately addressed

connivance with the former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in the guise of enforcing a judgement reinstating him in office.

Shaibu was alleged to have led thugs through the Airport Road axis of Benin City, attacking innocent citizens and unleashing mayhem on private citizens, who were going about their lawful businesses.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, the state government has warned Shaibu to desist from resort to violence in the pretence that he was enforcing a judgement.

“He is reminded that he is not above the law and is liable for the

by Tinubu.

He stated, "Today is a happy day for Nigeria. You recall that last week, we had a meeting here and the organised private sector and the sub-nationals have also held their various meetings with Mr. President following the submission of the tripartite agreement to Mr. President.

"Labour came last week. They had meeting with Mr. President. They asked for adjournment for a week to go and consult further. They did those consultations. They have come back today and we have met with Mr. President.

"We're happy to announce today that both the federal government and organised labour have agreed on an increase on the N62,000. The new national minimum wage that we expect us to present to the National Assembly for legislation is N70,000.

"But that is not all. There is also a boost, like Mr. President has assured in ensuring that massive investment is going to be made in the area of infrastructure. There is also a deepening of the investment of the federal government in renewable

The apex bank disclosed its approval for additional liquidity injection in a circular dated July 18, 2024, which was issued by A.A Mahdi on behalf of CBN Director, Trade and Exchange Department, and addressed to all BDC operators and the public.

The approval came as the naira closed at N1,630 to the dollar yesterday at the parallel market, compared to N1,620 on Wednesday.

Intra-day activities saw the local currency decline to N1,650 in the early hours of yesterday.

However, the news of new liquidity injection into the market helped the naira to appreciate to N1,630/$1.

The local currency also closed at N1,566.82 to the dollar at the NAFEM window on Thursday, gaining N14.83 from N1,581.65/$1 on Wednesday.

Daily transaction volumes surged by 152.54 per cent, reaching $273.14 million, compared to $108.16 million recorded on Wednesday.

Additionally, the highest spot rate

wanton destruction perpetrated by him and his co-travellers.

“Shaibu’s violent tendencies is well documented and he has been warned at different times by respected figures of society, including the revered Benin Monarch to shun violence.

“We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence that he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Edo State Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgement has been filed.”

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday said the latest revelation that the candidate

energy.

“More money is going to go into the acquisition of more buses, the CNG buses. Nigeria is going to be more CNG-compliant, according to the president.

"We're moving in this transition to renewable and all other things that Mr. President has assured labour.

“The issue of SSANU and NASU is also going to be looked at. And we are happy, we are very thankful of the role that the organised labour has played today.

“They recognised the federal government's role in ensuring that we have the local government autonomy, and also ensuring that both the organised labour and the government are on the same page today.

"They have seen the magnanimity of the president and today the leadership of labour said they didn't come here for negotiation. Not at all, they came here in that deep sense of patriotism to ensure that Nigeria remains united, Nigeria becomes more prosperous and it is in that spirit that they are in agreement with what the federal government

observed was N1,650, compared to N1,500 recorded as lowest spot.

The central bank explained that the intervention was particularly necessary given the continued distortions in the retail end of the market, which was feeding into the parallel market and further widening the exchange rate premium.

It added that the move followed on-going reforms in the FX market, with the objective of achieving an appropriate market determined exchange rate for the naira.

The circular further directed BDCs to sell FX to eligible endusers at a margin not exceeding 1.5 per cent above the purchase rate from CBN.

Essentially, a forward premium is a situation in which the forward or expected future price for a currency is greater than the spot price. It is an indication by the market that the current domestic exchange rate is going to increase against the other currency. It is frequently measured as the difference between the current

of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election, Monday Okpebholo, allegedly presented falsified and conflicting birth records to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),further confirmed APC’s duplicitous agenda towards the people of Edo State.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP stated: "This reported presentation of falsified birth documents coming on the heels of earlier revelation of submission of forged INEC voter card by the APC governorship candidate only points to the reprehensible and deep-seated

has done today.

“We want to thank labour for their patriotism. We also want to thank Mr President, the federal government, the sub-nationals and organised private sector for going through this painstaking effort, but also ensuring that at the end of the day Nigeria is the winner for it all."

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Onyejeocha, said, henceforth, wage review negotiation would no longer be held in five years but three.

She stated that Tinubu also directed both the finance and the budget and economic planning ministers to come up with a template for the payment of the withheld salaries of SSANU and NASU members in public universities.

The minister said, "The president said he will not disappoint and he showed that this afternoon. Recall that labour saw Mr President last week, and they asked that he should give them one week to consult more.

“And, of course, at the end of the day, the consultation came, and became very fruitful because the president said he has to be a father.

Okpebholo

inclination of the APC to cheat.

"Such alleged criminal tendencies if allowed in governance will destroy ethical standards, entrench mediocrity, institutionalize fraud and deception as official policies of State to the detriment of the development and wellbeing of the people of Edo State."

That it is not the issue of the law of who is right, or who will blink first, that he is our father, like he has always said.

"That we should end the issue of give me 1,000 add 1,000 and all that. That, first and foremost, the review of this minimum wage policy has to be reduced to three years, that five years is too long a time to get any minimum wage review, that's not very healthy.”

Onyejeocha said the president asked the relevant ministries to “go back to the books, because he has the discretion to look into the issue of SSANU, NASU and all that, so that their money should be paid.

“And they should work out the modalities, whether it's 50 per cent, or whatever, but that he has given that waiver to be paid, because, of course, there is issue of no work, no pay. And that that issue has to be laid to a rest.”

Ajaero said organised labour accepted the president’s offer of N70,000 with mixed feelings as a result of the prevailing economic

spot rate and the forward rate. When a forward premium is negative, it is equivalent to a discount.

Meanwhile, the Finance (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposed heavy financial sanctions on banks, including imprisonment of their officials, who fail to pay the windfall tax to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

President Bola Tinubu had sought the National Assembly’s nod to amend the Finance Act, 2023, to impose and charge windfall tax on banks and to provide for the administration of the tax and matters related thereto.

Under the proposed legislation, any bank that fails to pay the windfall tax to the service and has not executed a deferred payment agreement before December 31, 2024, commits an offence and shall, upon conviction be liable to pay the tax withheld or not remitted in addition to a penalty of 10 per cent of the tax withheld or not remitted per annum. In addition, interest at the prevailing CBN minimum rediscount rate shall apply. The request for the bill’s presentation for second reading was presented by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who said the amendments sought in the Finance Act 2023 were to impose a onetime windfall tax on the banks on foreign exchange gains realised in their 2023 financial statements. Bamidele said the amendment to the Finance Act was also designed to further provide for general tax administration in the country. Specifically, the proposed amendments to the Finance Act, 2023 are required to impose a one-time windfall tax on foreign gains realised by banks in their 2023 financial statements to fund capital infrastructure development, education and healthcare access as well as public welfare initiatives to give sound and solid footing to the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration.

“Under Nigeria’s jurisprudence, you cannot backdate laws. Trying to backdate the law just to take monies from banks will send the wrong message about the country.

“If they want to pass a new Finance Act for 2024 or 2025, they can do so, but backdating a law just to tax banks will not be good for the country,” a source who pleaded to remain anonymous said.

“This is a bill to amend the 2023 Act seven months after it took effect. It introduced retroactive taxation on banks for foreign exchange traded in 2023, for whose accounts have already being audited, taxes paid and approved by shareholders. Now, they want to go back and tax the banks.

She stressed that this coming up at a time the banks are struggling to raise fresh capital, put additional burden on the financial institutions.

Part of the proposed legislation

states: “The Principal Act is amended by inserting after section 29, new sections “30 - “33” and renumbering the sections appropriately. There shall be levied and paid to the benefit of the Federal Government of Nigeria a tax of 50 per cent on the realised profits from all foreign exchange transactions

of banks within the 2023 financial year.

“The Federal Inland Revenue Service – shall assess the realised profits, collect, account and enforce payment of tax payable under section 30 in accordance with the powers of the Service under the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007; and in the exercise of its functions in 32(a) above, may enter into a deferred payment agreement with the assessed banks, provided that such deferred payment agreement is executed on or before 31st

December 2024.

“Any bank that fails to pay the windfall tax to the Service and has not executed a deferred payment agreement before 31st December 2024, commits an offence and shall, upon conviction, be liable to pay the tax withheld or not remitted in addition to a penalty of 10 percent of the tax withheld or not remitted per annum and interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria minimum rediscount rate and imprisonment of its principal

officers for a period of not more than three years.” Meanwhile, the resolution by members of the House of Representatives to slash their salaries by 50 per cent for six months, followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu Okezie, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50 percent of their monthly salaries to support

EKITI MONARCH VISITS LEADERSHIP OF SENATE...

L-R:

Food Sufficiency: Southern Governors' Forum Plans to Promote Regional Trade, Says Governor Abiodun

states had decided to promote interstate and inter-region trade to foster food security and sufficiency. Abiodun also disclosed that

Ogun State had decided to establish farmers' markets across the state to ensure food security. The governor spoke when he

received members of the newly constituted Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), led by the

FG Still Swaps Crude in Exchange for 1m Metric Tons of Petrol, Says Ex-NNPC Official

Petrol landing cost rises to N1,117/litre

Peter Uzoho

A former Chief Operating Officer in charge of the Upstream Business Unit at the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Bello Rabiu, has said that the country through the state oil firm still exchanges 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil for about 1 million metric tons (MT) of petrol, equivalent to 1.341 billion litres.

Rabiu said the finished products were being supplied through the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement simply known as crude swap between some international traders and NNPC, which is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria.

The ex-NNPC official spoke just as petroleum downstream operators under the aegis of Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) disclosed that the current landing cost of petrol into the country now stands at N1,117 per litre

Also, the Founder and Chief Consultant at B. Adedipe Associates Limited, Abiodun Adedipe, posited that the frustration in the Nigerian petrol supply value chain was caused by the unavailability of feedstock for local refineries, particularly 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery, which has the capacity to meet domestic petrol

demand.

The trio spoke at a webinar organised by MEMAN, where the stakeholders called for a truly fair and competitive petroleum downstream market to keep the supply and prices of products at a reasonable level.

In his presentation, Rabiu argued that the removal of petrol subsidy as claimed by the federal government was not enough to depict deregulation.

He maintained that it also required the creation of competitive market environment that will guarantee the supply of products at commercial prices to customers.

Rabiu, who is now an independent consultant, condemned the importation of petrol solely by NNPC, saying, “This is a monopoly, which is against deregulation procedures "

He said: “With consumption capacity estimated at about one million MT (1.341 billion litres) of currently being supplied through DSDP importation programme of NNPC, whereby local and international traders are contracted to lift Nigerian crude oil owned by NNPCL and deliver petroleum products in ex-Lagos.

“This remains the only supply source of PMS in the Nigerian market due to inability of other players to

secure forex for direct importation. Thus, NNPC is effectively the only supplier of PMS in Nigeria today.

“Being the only supplier and importer of PMS in Nigeria, NNPC is currently the determinant of PMS price as other players are only adding their margins to arrive at pump price depending on location."

He therefore called for a review of the current business model and institutional arrangements of the deregulation policy which has resulted in one dominant player's power to import and fix the prices of petrol across the nation.

Rabiu added that this was not consistent with the provisions of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 which envisages the participation of multiple players operating under open competitive environment, with multiple supply sources from import and domestic refineries under a level playing field, aimed at delivering products at lowest possible prices at the pump.

“Under the current model, No one knows the actual cost of importing a litre of PMS into the Nigerian market except NNPC. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) no longer publish the pricing template to enable the

citizens know the official landing cost of any product Ex-Lagos since the announcement of full price deregulation and total removal of PMS subsidies,” he said.

According to him, this situation has resulted in total lack of accountability and substantial revenue leakages that cannot be quantified due to lack of transparency in the process.

"If we can be told what Customs duty is daily in Nigeria, we should be equally told how much is the fuel being imported.

“For example, NNPC insists there is no more subsidy in the pricing of PMS but the difference between the Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and PMS open market prices clearly shows some elements of subsidies or hidden cost recovery in the open market prices of PMS across the nation” he stated.

Speaking at the session, Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Mr. Clement Isong, revealed that the current landing cost of petrol into the country now stands at N1,117 per litre.

He also disclosed that the landing cost for diesel stands at N1,157 per litre, while that of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) is N1,217 per litre, explaining that the administrative cost and freight cost were among the cost components.

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Ayorinde Olabomi.

Abiodun, who is the chairman of Southern Governors' Forum (SGF), said southern states had no reason not to promote trade among themselves, with all the fertile land and human capacity in the region.

He said, "As a matter of fact, my colleagues and I in the southern part of Nigeria have met and have said that we have no reason not to promote inter-state or inter-region trade.

"There is no reason why someone from the South-east or South-south is not buying yam or tomatoes from somebody in the South-west. There is no reason why someone from the South-west is not buying rice from Ebonyi.

"We should be able to attain food security and sufficiency within our region because we have the human capacity and the necessary arable land. There is nothing we do not have to ensure we achieve this objective."

Abiodun said the farmers' markets would be sited at strategic locations across the state, including Asero in Abeokuta and Ogere along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He also said plans have been concluded to move the Kara Cattle Market from its present location to Ogere, where the cattle merchants can have access to a good atmosphere.

He stated, "Our Ministry of Agriculture is working on establishing a few things, one of which is the farmers’ markets at strategic locations across the state, and I think this is another initiative we can collaborate.

"One will be at Asero in Abeokuta. One will be somewhere

around Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which is around the Ogere area, which we have also designated as our livestock and animal husbandry area.

"We are proposing to move the Kara Market to somewhere along there, where we have land, and we can provide them with additional land for expansion.

"We believe that with the number of small holder farmers we have in Ogun State, it will be an advantage to them if we have the farmers' market located in strategic places."

The governor stated that his administration saw agriculture as a way of ensuring food security, creating employment, and generating revenue. He added that the Federal University of Agriculture should be at the forefront of the food security effort, saying that is the purpose for its establishment.

He also promised to collaborate with the institution in some ways, including cassava production, and said the Iyana-Camp to Alabata road was already being considered by his administration.

Earlier, Oba Olabomi described Abiodun as one of the best governors in the country, and called for collaboration with the state government.

The royal father said FUNAAB was poised to contribute its quota to ensure food security in the country. He urged the state government to take advantage of the several training programmes, research and development that the institution had to offer.

The pro-chancellor appealed to Abiodun to assist the institution by reconstructing the Iyana-Camp to Alabata road, which had been destroyed by the activities of trucks.

IG Restructures Petroleum Task Force, Appoints New Commander to Tackle Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has restructured his Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB), and appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Bayonle Sulaiman as the new Commanding Officer.

The move is in obedience to President Bola Tinubu's directive to the military, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, to

combat pipeline vandalism, and oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

President Tinubu had on Tuesday ordered the military, police, NNPCL and other security agencies to deny oil thieves freedom of action in Niger Delta region to improve production of crude oil and help revitalize the nation's ailing economy.

The presidential directive is not unconnected with the latest report by Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),

that Nigeria's average crude oil production dropped by 7% to 1.23 million bpd (ex-condensates) in March 2024 from 1.32mbpd in February, marking the second consecutive month on month decline, after reaching a 2-year high of 1.43mbpd in January 2024. However, a statement by Force Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IGP ordered the new Commanding Officer of the GP-STFPIB, to lead the task force on the mission to

combat illegal activities in the petroleum industry, including oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

Adejobi noted that the new Commander, who has exhibited his prowess in similar taskforce operations, was previously Squadron Commander, Police Mobile Force 20, Lagos.

Egbetokun also decried the trend of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering which pose significant threats to

the environment, economy, and energy security. He noted that these illegal activities not only result in significant financial losses but also devastating environmental consequences, including oil spills, pollution, and habitat destruction.

He further ordered the Commander to hold firmly the reins of the office and ensure deterrence by prosecuting all individuals found culpable, and deploy his assets to prevent

economic sabotage in the upper and downstream sectors of our oil sector in Nigeria. Egbetokun also appealed to all relevant stakeholders in the oil industry and well-meaning Nigerians to work hand-in-hand with the police and other security agencies to collectively curb this menace and share credible intelligence with security agencies to expose any untoward plans promoting this crime and others alike in the country.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, said southern

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe (Aladesanmi 111); President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola during the monarch’s courtesy visit to the leadership of the Senate at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja … Wednesday

NEWLY INAUGURATED GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UNAAB VISIT ABIODUN...

L-R: Ogun State Head of Service (HoS), Kehinde Onasanya; Aragbiji of Iragbiji and Chairman/Pro Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture (UNAAB), Abeokuta, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Ayorinde Olabomi; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Vice Chancellor, UNAAB, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde, and the Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, during a visit by the newly inaugurated Governing Council of UNAAB to the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday

UN Resident Coordinator Calls for SDGs Acceleration to Meet 2030 Target

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Following the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report 2024, which revealed that only 17 per cent of the SDGs targets were currently on track, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, has taken the advocacy for rescue and acceleration towards the achievement of the SDGs to the sub-national level.

The resident coordinator on Wednesday concluded a one-week working visit to Lagos, Enugu and Anambra states, where he engaged with governors, commissioners, private sector, civil society, traditional rulers, women and youth groups, and other critical stakeholders.

According to a statement on Thursday, in all his engagements Fall strongly advocated the acceleration of the SDGs to meet the 2030 target with a view to improving

Ondo Announces Termination of BEDC Services in Selected LGs over Incessant Power Outages

Fidelis David in Akure

The Ondo state government has called on interested power distribution companies to take over distribution of power in the Southern Senatorial Districts of the state due to incessant power outages in the areas.

The government declared four local governments in the southern senatorial district of the state as unserved due to alleged failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to restore power to the areas for the last 14 years.

Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Energy, Alabi Johnson, stated this in statement made available to Journalists in Akure yesterday.

Specifically, Alabi explained that the step was part of efforts towards improving electricity infrastructure and supply to the area without further delay.

He said: “This initiative aligns with the declaration of Ondo South as an unserved area, underscoring the government’s commitment to addressing the region’s electricity

“For years Ondo South has had no grid electricity which has stifled development, economic activities and agitations of various kinds in the region due to this, the state government has been engaging with various stakeholders on the way forward.

“On May 4, 2023, the Ondo South Senatorial District was declared an unserved area in accordance with the Ondo State Power Sector Law (OSEPSL) 2020 PART II Section 7 (p)."

According to him, the declaration was based on the Disco’s non-compliance with established conditions for adequate electricity supply.

"It was identified that four Local Government Areas within Ondo South-Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje, and Ese-Odo be declared as unserved areas.

This pronouncement is critical for guiding interventions and developing independent electricity distribution networks.

“After the completion of the Ode-Erinje Transmission Sub Station, it was expected that the situation would improve but it was found that the two out of the four local governments that should have benefited, immediately from this project are still lacking not because there is no power to feed the people but because the Distribution Company (Disco) is not ready to build the necessary infrastructure to distribute the power.

“By this extension, the Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Ayedatiwa has directed the Ondo State Power Company to wade into how to end the crisis of having to involve consumers in payment for damaged infrastructure, which is illegal by the Ondo State Electricity power sector law 2020(OSEPL).

“Consequently, the identified four local government areas within Ondo South-Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje, and Ese-Odo-areas that had previously been declared unserved will be opened to any investors to bid for distribution and subsequent licensing.

“The Ondo state government will henceforth not condone any act that is unlawful by any Disco operating within her territory.

By this announcement, the Disco currently operating in these four local governments are to immediately report to the Ondo state electricity regulatory bureau for further instruction,” he said.

the wellbeing of the people and the planet.

The resident coordinator was received in Enugu by the state governor, Peter Mbah, who acknowledged that the UN was established for public good. Mbah added that the vision of his administration aligned with the UN mandates and the SDGs.

Reflecting on his time in Enugu State, the resident coordinator said, “My visit to Owo Smart School, Enugu State, was an eye opener and a confirmation that with the right leadership, nothing is impossible. I saw first-hand how technology was deployed to ensure quality education, thus, placing students on the path to a brighter future.”

At a Type-3 hospital in Agbogugu Community, Fall noted the use of innovation in health and how commitment to expanding primary health centres could improve access to health services, leaving no one behind.

Engaging with women and youth groups, the resident coordinator said he was impressed by the young people taking action to accelerate the SDGs in Enugu State, and acknowledged the women’s clamour for increased female representation in politics.

He urged all Nigerian women to remain optimistic about having more women in political leadership.

In Anambra State, Fall engaged with Governor Charles Soludo, and they discussed issues around poverty

alleviation, environmental threats, social protection, health, education, innovative financing, and the need to leave no one behind.

At the palace of Eze Uzu II of Awka, Anambra State, His Royal Highness Obi Gibson Nwosu, who was represented by the prime minister, Engr. Benjamin Okoye, Fall addressed the Council of Chiefs. He stated that traditional rulers were key to accelerating the SDGs and improving peoples' wellbeing.

Addressing state commissioners, permanent secretaries, and other senior government officials at the UNICEF South-East Zonal Policy Dialogue on Child-sensitive Budgeting in Awka, Fall emphasised the readiness of the UN in Nigeria to support South-east in accelerating the SDGs in the sub-region.

He visited Eziabor Village, Oko, which is one of the over 1,000 active erosion sites in Anambra State.

According to him, “I saw a soil erosion disaster site that required interventions of the federal government, the state government and all development partners, to save lives and livelihoods. Anambra State needs all the support it can get to sustainably address the challenging situation of devastating soil erosion in the state.”

At the Onitsha market, Fall acknowledged the industrious nature of the people. He said, “I saw the vibrancy and resilience of the people, oiling the wheel of commerce and entrepreneurship while contributing

to the development of not only Anambra State but the entire South-east and beyond.”

Fall called for a diligent integration of innovation and skills development into commerce, which he emphasised would be an effective enabler of SDGs acceleration.

In Lagos, the resident coordinator engaged with Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the UBA and Transcorp Groups, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and emphasised the role of the private sector in rescuing and accelerating the SDGs in Nigeria.

Fall acknowledged the contribution of Elumelu to youth development in Nigeria and Africa, especially through the platform of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

He stated, “It's always a pleasure to engage with you and your team, always reflecting on the youth bulge in Nigeria and Africa and the inherent demographic dividend. Young people offer great opportunities for national development.”

At the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) joint press briefing with Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, and Sterling One Foundation CEO, Ms. Adepeju Ibekwe, the resident coordinator restated the UN’s collaboration with Sterling One Foundation to ensure continuity of the summit, which started in 2022.

He expressed optimism that the forthcoming ASIS2024 would help

provide some insights on how best to rescue the SDGs in Nigeria and Africa.

Fall said regarding his interaction with young people in Lagos, “It's so amazing and inspiring to hear vibrant young people – the Timbuktoo cohorts – speak about their tech-driven innovative solutions to societal problems, such as climate change, access to credits, rent payment, medical supplies, among others.

“With so many young people embracing tech and innovation, we see a ray of hope for a brighter, better future – a future of innovative solutions for the present and future generations in Africa.

“For the Timbuktoo cohorts, you're our hope. You're also our pride.” The resident coordinator emphasised that technology and innovation would be critical for Africa to leapfrog and transform the society.

According to him, Fintech could play a vital role in expanding financial inclusion, which would, in turn, help reduce inequalities, create jobs, and reduce inequalities. The resident coordinator is the highest-ranking representative of the UN Development System at the country level. He leads UN Country Teams and coordinates UN support to the country in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The resident coordinator is the designated representative of – and reports to – the UN Secretary-General.

Senate Introduces Bill to Establish Local Government Election Commission

Rejects agency to regulate transport industry, profession

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

A bill seeking the establishment of a federal agency for the conduct of local government elections in Nigeria was introduced in the Senate yesterday.

Titled "Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024 (SB. 531)," the bill was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, and passed first reading at plenary. Also, yesterday, the senate rejected a bill meant to establish an agency that would be saddled with the responsibility of regulating the road transport and the transportation profession in Nigeria.

The bill, titled: National Road Transport Council In Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 (SB. 324), was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Oyelola Ashiru. It failed to scale second reading because of the popular opinion of lawmakers that Nigeria didn't need additional agency at the moment.

However, Part of the draft of the first bill read: "To establish the National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC) responsible for conducting elections to the office of the Local Government Chairman and Councillors, and any other matter thereof to do with local government as a third tier of

government.

"The National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC) is hereby established as an autonomous body mandated to organise, oversee, and conduct elections for the offices of Local Government Chairman and Councillors across all states."

The proposed legislation listed the functions and powers of NILGEC to include conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections for Local Government Chairman and Councillors, among several others.

On the second bill, the senators expressed their willingness to support any legislation that would reduce the numbers of the federal

agencies in line with the Steve Oronsaye's report currently being implemented in the country.

In his contribution to the debate on the Bill, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, vehemently opposed the bill. "The police have the traffic division and they do their job so diligently so that if there are roadblocks you will find them trying to manage traffic. If there are accidents they do everything to establish who is wrong, who is right, and prepare to go to court if the party decides to go to court," he said.

Oshiomhole, however expressed regrets that the FRSC had not been performing its responsibility well.

25TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF FIDSON HEALTHCARE...

L-R: Managing Director/ CEO, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis A. Ayebae; Chairman, Mr. Segun Adebanji; and Company Secretary, Yomi Adebanjo, during the 25th Annual General Meeting of Fidson Healthcare Plc held in Lagos ... recently

LCCI Laments Drying up Funds from Private Sector to Govt’s Treasuries

Says Nigeria is heading towards difficult debt management situation

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has lamented that the high yielding federal government’s bonds and treasury bills are drying up funds from the private sector to government treasuries.

The President of LCCI, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, raised the lamentation yesterday in his address on the state of the economy where he stated that Nigeria is borrowing far beyond its capacity to repay.

Idahosa also estimated that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be tempted to hike interest rate again in its next meeting after increasing same in May 2024.

He said: “With the high treasury bills and bond yields, the government attracts investments from local and foreign portfolio investors. This is, however, crowding out the private sector from accessing credit and we lament the drying up of funds from the private sector to government treasuries.”

The LCCI also believed that the MPC in its oncoming July’s

meeting “may be tempted to hike rates further since inflationary pressures and money in circulation remain high.

“However, we recommend that the MPC consider an easing disposition to interest rates in the face of multiple burdens on businesses.

“The recent hikes in the MPR have directly translated into higher interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses to access credit for working capital, expansion, and sustainability.”

He added that the private sector, which “serves as the engine of growth and employment generation in Nigeria, is plagued with increased borrowing costs, reduced investment incentives, heightened uncertainties in the policy environment and a pressured foreign exchange market.”

Commenting on the country’s upward surging public debts, the president of the LCCI said that the chamber had always said that “Nigeria is borrowing way, way above its capacity to pay” and is clearly heading towards difficult debt management situation.

He clarified that the country’s assets are different from its capacity

to fulfill its debt obligations because those assets would not be converted into cash to pay debts.

“The government is saying that our GDP is big enough but the revenue to pay the debt is nowhere near enough.

“This means that we are seriously over borrowing and it is clear that the government is heading towards a very difficult debt management situation. There is no question about that,” Idahosa said.

He also urged the federal government to consider the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and the Nigerian Iron Ore and Mining Company (NIOMCO) by adopting the best arrangement that would free them from all hindrances and ultimately make them operational and viable.

“We have consistently advised that the model of NLNG management can always be adopted with other projects like the ones in the solid minerals sector.

“To ramp up investments in this sector, we need to deploy more relevant research and technology to trace more mineral deposits,

refine minerals with value addition to them, and make more statistics available for planning and strategy,” he said.

The LCCI also said that the government should learn from the hindrances the country is presently experiencing in the Niger Delta because the government failed to allow small crude refineries to operate under some supervision and standards.

Further according to the chamber: “For the solid minerals sector, we should adopt an inclusive strategy that integrates Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) policy into a broad rural development strategy aligned with development plans at all levels of government and linked to other national rural sector strategies.

“This will make the solid minerals sector more integrated and linked to other sectors, with more activities that will generate more jobs in rural areas.

“We urge the government to develop a comprehensive industry strategy to attract mineral exploration investments, reignite mineral development, accelerate new mineral discoveries, and

UNICEF Flags Off Fathers for Good Health Group to Improve Efficient Medicare Across Bauchi

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has established what is known as ‘Fathers for Good Health Support Group’ which members as to act as agent of change to improve effective and efficient healthcare service delivery across Bauchi State.

The aim is to enhance massive uptake of vaccines and fight against disease outbreaks in Bauchi state particularly among women and children under five years.

The group’s take-off was facilitated by Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF under the leadership of the Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist, Mr Eki George.

While interacting with journalists shortly after the inauguration of the group on Wednesday in Misau, headquarters of Misau Local Government Area, he explained that the support group was established in two Local Government Areas of Ningi and Misau with 360 fathers as members in the pilot programme to promote vaccine uptake by their families and children. He explained further that the two selected LGAs were Zero dose ones, the low performing LGAs in vaccine uptake across the state and with a high number of children that have never received a single dose of vaccine which he said, was a recipe for disaster.

According to him, “This is one of our gender projects which came about from some of the work we have done with the federal government immunization programme across the country."

Eki George added that, “Consistently, some issues around uptake of polio vaccines have actually come up and one of them that has been a reoccurring issue is the issue of fathers or head of a household not giving permission for their children to be vaccinated."

The SBC Specialist added that, “Because of this, you get to homes where a woman tells you sorry, I can't vaccinate my child because my husband has not given me the

permission to do so."

He added that, “It became very obvious that the role of men in vaccine uptake is becoming very critical. As a response to that, UNICEF as an organization decided to work with the National Healthcare Development Agency and the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to pilot what we know as “Fathers for Good Health Support Group."”

“It's a support group of men selected from their own communities and using the knowledge that we have taken them through to talk to other fathers to see how we can resolve the issue of children not being vaccinated because fathers are not giving consent.”

encourage optimal utilisation of Nigerian mineral resources in line with the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles for sustainable growth.

“Furthermore, we urge the

government to address the sector's funding issue and increase access to finance to develop value-added products by establishing seed funds and attracting foreign and local investments.

MDCAN Denies Bribery Report by NBS, Says It's Attempt to Dent Doctors' Image

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) yesterday denied allegation by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that Nigerian doctors take bribe from patients before treatment.

NBS had reported that 42 per cent of health workers receive bribe to speed up the procedures, while 15 per cent also take bribe to finalise the procedures.

But MDCAN, in a reaction took exception to the report, describing the NBS data as false and a mischievous attempt to denigrate, dent the image and reputation of members of the profession.

In a statement signed by the President of MDCAN, Prof. Aminu Mohammed, the association dismissed the allegation as lacking in merit, adding that even though Nigerian doctors are among the least paid in the world, they are hard working and will not condescend so low to demand for bribe from patients before treatment.

He argued that the report was done in a bad taste because doctors are not the only workers that work in health institutions, either public or private.

Mohammed said: "To us, this unfounded allegation is baseless and totally unacceptable. We are demanding a total retraction of the so called report which is meant to portray Nigerian doctors in bad light."

He challenged NBS to avail them access to the methodology and the geographical area they covered to warrant the conclusion, warning that the allegation was grossly

unfair to Nigerian doctors despite the hard work and resilient by the doctors to remain in the country to practice.

Although MDCAN agreed that their are bad eggs in every profession, it said it was wrong to generalise, especially as some doctors have shunned greener pastures abroad to stay back to serve in the country.

Mohammed said that if there are people that are demanding and taking bribes from patients and their relatives in health facilities in the country, such group must be identified and punished by relevant authorities.

He added: "All what we are doing in the country is sacrifice. It is not that we cannot move out for greener pasture, but we decided to be patriotic and remained in the country despite so many challenges. We are the one that shoulder the responsibilities of the doctors that have left the country. To wake up one day and label us as corrupt and bribe takers is discouraging.

"As a law abiding citizens, we want to give NBS the benefit of the doubt by asking it to avail us their methodology and raw data. If we discover that their methodology is right and have significant samples and proportion of Nigeria covered that allowed them to arrive at this conclusion, we can now look inward to see how we can make amends.

"If on the other hand, the methodology and sample size are not enough to make this far-reaching conclusion, we will seek for retraction of the report and demand for apology in both print and electronic media."

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

EGBIN POWER, USAID EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POWER

SECTOR IMPROVEMENT...

Dangiwa: N5.5tn Required Annually to Bridge Nigeria’s Housing Deficit

Reps back minister’s request for N500bn minimum annual budget

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, yesterday disclosed that Nigeria will need about N5.5 trillion annually to build roughly 55,000 housing units every year if the country aspires to close the current housing deficit in the next 10 years.

Speaking in Abuja when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat led by Abdulmumin Jibrin, Dangiwa

requested that for a start, Nigeria could begin by budgeting at least N500 billion for the sector annually.

Stressing that the state of housing in Nigeria still has broad challenges, he explained that Nigeria does not only have inadequate housing supply to meet the population growth, but that many of if the existing ones were substandard.

Dangiwa stated that addressing the housing challenge in Nigeria will involve a combination of not only newly built houses, but a renewal and a slum upgrade programme.

Being a low income country, the minister said that Nigeria has a high cost of building materials problem, with 85 per cent of Nigerians, which is 43 million households, having less than N1.1 million purchasing power per annum.

Quoting a recent PwC housing survey, Dangiwa said that 75 per cent or 31.6 million of the 42 million housing units were substandard.

He added that 97 per cent of land is still unregistered, which means that over $300 billion is still characterised as dead capital, coupled with high

construction cost, importation of building materials, inflation, low access to mortgage, among others.

He argued that if the 97 per cent of land was registered, people could use the land to acquire credit, listing the ongoing renewed hope cities as well as renewed hope estates as some of the ongoing programmes of the ministry.

The minister also called for a review of the Land Use Act, listing other challenges as N300 billion unpaid liabilities, inadequate budgetary allocation, untimely release

Air Peace, Arik Air Deny Being Blacklisted by Lessors

We have never engaged in aircraft dry leasing - Air Peace

Chinedu Eze

The management of Air Peace has reacted to reports indicating that it was blacklisted by lessors on dry lease (long term leasing) along with other airlines, saying that it had never engaged in dry lease and it had never been blacklisted.

In another related development, the shareholders of Arik Air also denied that the airline was blacklisted by lessors during the period under the management of the founder.

Air Peace in the statement signed by its management stated:

“Our attention has been drawn to erroneous claims by a newspaper outlet (not THISDAY), and a host of other media outfits who on the 17 July, 2024, published an article titled "13 Nigerian Airlines Blacklisted for Contract Breaches," which incorrectly included our airline.

“Air Peace has consistently operated with the highest standards of ethics and professionalism since

our inception in 2014. Contrary to the misleading information presented in the article, Air Peace has never dryleased any aircraft since the inception of the airline and, as such, couldn't have breached a non-existent contract and has never been blacklisted by any lessor.

“We have never breached any contractual obligations. Our financial dealings have always been conducted with utmost integrity and transparency, with no breaches of payment terms.”

Likewise, in a statement signed on behalf of Arik Air shareholders by Aideloje Godwin, they reacted to reports indicating that Nigerian airlines were blacklisted by lessors for reneging on leasing agreements.

According to the shareholders of Arik Air, “We wish to clarify that Arik Air Limited founded in 2006 has a verifiable good record of transactions of acquisition of aircraft with no-default in repayments to the international credit agencies that

financed acquisition of her aircraft up until 9 February 2017 when it was forcefully taken over by AMCON through an exparte order of the Federal High Court.

On its part, the Air Peace management also said that its operations remain robust and compliant with all relevant regulatory and industry standards, adding that Air Peace is committed to maintaining excellent service and operational efficiency, setting a benchmark in the West African aviation sector.

It also noted that the inclusion of Air Peace in the said publication is both misleading and damaging to its reputation, adding that the allegations were completely unfounded and have no basis in reality.

The airline said: "Air Peace, by virtue of its vantage position and rising profile, has been subjected to several smear campaigns aimed at distracting it from its ultimate goal of connecting cities and generally improving aviation travel within

Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

“Air Peace is, however, open to constructive criticism but frowns at attempts to bring it down by misinforming the world about its operations.”

Air Peace further stated that it connects people to most of the cities in Nigeria and has extended its operations to many destinations in West Africa and beyond.

It further elaborated: “Air Peace has placed Nigeria’s aviation industry firmly on the global map, showcasing the capabilities of a Nigerian airline across various fronts, notably excelling in maintaining an unparalleled safety culture.

“The airline’s visionary goal is to be ever dependable through the creation of seamless connections and network options for its extensive domestic, regional, and international markets. The heartbeat of Air Peace’s success lies in its strategic approach to fleet modernization and route expansion.

of funds, shortage of manpower as well as problems with office accommodation.

He explained that there are currently over 300 ongoing cases of litigations of which some have been concluded, but with payment of some lawyers still pending.

“Even though some of them you have started addressing them for us, there is a massive historic mismatch between the housing and urban development needs of our country versus the budget adequacy.

“Because for the population of over 200 million Nigerians, whose growth is 2.5 per cent growth annually, you find that you need

55,000 housing units annually over the next 10 years to meet the housing deficit. These 55,000 houses per annum means you need N5.5 trillion per annum if the houses are N10 million each.

“So all these cannot come from the government, this N5.5 trillion. However, we must do more as a government in terms of additional allocations to housing and urban development,” Dangiwa stated. He acknowledged that there had been a massive historic housing deficit and mismatch between the housing and urban development needs of the country versus budgetary provision.

Civil/Public Service Reform: BRACED States Adopt Benin Declaration

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City

In an effort to transform the civil/ public service in the South-South region, BRACED states on Thursday, formally finalised plans to adopt key components in the Benin Declaration.

The BRACED Commission, in partnership with the Edo State Government, hosted a pivotal strategy retreat for all Heads of Service of the Commission, comprised of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) states, at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy from July 3rd to July 5th, 2024.

The strategy retreat, themed ‘Leadership in the Public Sector: Strengthening Public Institutions,’ brought together Heads of Service from all South-South States and at the end of the retreat, participants drafted and signed the “Benin Declaration,” a comprehensive roadmap for public services in the BRACED states over the next three years.

In a document made available to journalists in Benin-City by the Director General of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service, Imuwahen Ajoonu, the BRACED states' heads of service have shown commitment to the transformative initiative agreed at the retreat.

The key element in the document is, "Digital literacy and paperless operations: By December 31, 2027, which will ensure that the civil and public services in the region will be digitized, transitioning to paperless operations to enhance efficiency and transparency.”

Further according to the document: "Capacity Building: By December 31, 2026, 50 per cent of all civil and public servants in the BRACED States will have undergone basic skills training or attended specialized courses. This will be facilitated through the John OdigieOyegun Public Service Academy in Edo State, as well as other national and international centers.

Withheld Salaries: Police Stops Protesting Varsity Workers from Marching to Fed Secretariat

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Protesting members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) on Thursday clashed with policemen as they tried to march to the Federal Ministry of Education and Labour and Employment located within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

The demonstration, organized by the Joint Action Committee of both unions was to protest federal government's failure to pay SSANU and NASU members’ salaries withheld during their national strike in 2022.

The protesting workers held placards asking the federal government to pay "us what you owe us."

Salaries of members of the university-based unions who participated in the 2022 nationwide strike were withheld by the

General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, said the unions had prepared letters they would present to both ministries.

administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The unions said meetings with the government over the withheld salaries have not yielded positive results.

Hundreds of protesting workers gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja as early as 8 am chanting solidarity songs as SSANU and NASU leaders addressed them.

The unions were prepared to march to the Federal Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Employment. However, heavily armed police prevented them from leaving the Unity Fountain area.

The police used a truck to blocked the entrance gate of the Unity Fountain and said there under instructions not to allow the workers march on the streets.

Efforts by the protesters to negotiate their exit were unsuccessful until leaders engaged with Department of State Security (DSS) personnel who eventually allowed a select group to proceed by vehicle to deliver protest letters to the ministries.

L-R; Chief of Party, Power Africa – Nigeria Power Sector Program (NPSP), Tunde Gbajumo; Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Anthony Youdeowei; Ag. CFO, Egbin Power, Yetunde Sorinola; Coordinator for Power Africa, Richard Nelson and Chief Corporate Services Officer, Egbin Power, Emmanuel Udu during the visit of Power Africa/USAID to Egbin Power Plant in Ikorodu, Lagos...yesterday

Niger Announces N20,000 Wage Award for Civil Servants

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Bago, has announced another N20,000 wage award for all category of civil servants in the state three months after the first release.

The governor also announced the release of vehicles to members of the state House of Assembly, Judges, the Chief Imam, state Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman, commissioners and security chiefs in the state.

Bago made the announcements in Minna yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at

the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre.

He also announced the purchase of 50 patrol vehicles to be shared among the security agencies in the state while the students’ unions will be given a bus.

He said the release of the N20,000 wage award to workers and vehicles to the beneficiaries was in appreciation of the supports they have given to the his administration.

The governor also disclosed the approval N2 billion for the payment of scholarships to students of the state origin in institutions of higher learning.

He disclosed that civil servants should be allowed to purchase the grains to be released by the government at subsidised rates, adding that they should pay for the grains in four instalments.

On the planned nationwide protest, Governor Bago distanced the state from the protest describing it as “unreligious and not in tandem with the culture and traditions of the state.”

Bago called on the people of the state to remain peaceful and continue to pray for the state and the government as well as support government programmes and policies.

13 Suspected Killers of Traditional Ruler Arraigned in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The 13 suspected killers of the traditional ruler of Koro community in Ekiti local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Aremu Olusegun Cole, were yesterday arraigned before a Judge, Justice Umar Zikir of the state High Court in Ilorin for the offences of kidnapping and culpable homicide.

The suspects, Godwin Jacob, Olofela Oyebanji, Adefolalu Ayodele, Tewasie Francis, Babatunde Samuel, Godwin

Joseph, Issa Mumee, Miracle Solomon, Abraham Kehinde, Muhammed Bello, Muhammed Muhammed, Ahmadu Umaru, Muhammed Dankai, and Saliu Murtala.

According to the charges before the court, the suspects were accused of causing the death of Onikoro of Koro, Oba Aremu Olusegun Cole, and the kidnapping of his wife, Olori Iyabo Aremu

The charges further revealed that they demanded the sum of N100 million as ransom for the

release of the kidnapped victims but N12 million was later paid. The Director of Public Prosecution, Muhammed Akande, informed the court that the offences against the suspects are capital in nature which requires them to have legal representative, saying the office of the public defender will volunteer to render legal service to any of them who needs it.

The trial Judge, Justice Zikir, however, granted bail to two of the suspects who were initially on bail.

Bankers’ Committee to Complete National Theatre Renovation

The Bankers’ Committee is on the verge of completing the renovation and upgrading of facilities at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

The committee disclosed this to the media during a parley and tour of the new-look National Theatre complex.

The renovation exercise commenced in July 2021 following approval by the federal government and the subsequent handover of the national edifice to the Bankers’ Committee.

Speaking on the Bankers’ Committee’s restoration of the National Theatre, Group Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCo), Mr.

Segun Agbaje, said: “I don’t think there are many countries in Africa that have the talent that we have in entertainment and the arts. All you can do when you have talented people, is to give them a platform to showcase their best. We will try to give a platform, where Nigerians who are in my opinion the best, have a chance to show the world that they are the best….”

By restoring the glory of an iconic asset, the Bankers’ Committee aims to unlock opportunities for the youth in the creative sector, leading to job creation, income generation, foreign exchange generation, thereby developing a creative and entertainment centre with much needed community spaces for Nigerians.

The facilities were upgraded to match the best standards of theatre and performance in the world. The entire Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system was replaced, fire safety standards upgraded, power, water supply and sewage systems were all replaced. Upgrade of interior design with the installations of Audio Video Lighting (AVL), world stage engineering system, 11 lifts, solar power, new furniture for spaces and restoration of Artworks including those on the internal wall panels and the building façade.

Chivas Regal Launches Campaign to Celebrate Creativity

Chivas Regal, a Scotch whisky brand, has announced the launch of its transformative “I Rise, We Rise” campaign, celebrating the power of collaboration and creativity.

This campaign underscores Chivas Regal’s commitment to championing the journey of talents and positioning itself as the brand for those who embody the spirit of collective success.

At the heart of this groundbreaking initiative is Nigerian artist BNXN, formerly known as Buju, whose distinctive

voice and energetic performances epitomise resilience and the spirit of rising above challenges.

BNXN’s journey from emerging talent to global sensation resonates deeply with Chivas Regal’s philosophy of shared success.

Commenting, Managing Director for Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Michael Ehindero, expressed enthusiasm for the campaign, stating: “At Chivas Regal, we believe in the power of collaboration and mutual support in achieving greatness. The ‘I Rise, We Rise’ campaign celebrates

the spirit of creativity and resilience, exemplified by BNXN, TG Omori, and Sore Adebisi. Their collaboration embodies our brand’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a community where every individual can thrive.”

According to the company, joining BNXN in this visionary endeavor are his longstanding collaborators, TG Omori and Sore Adebisi. TG Omori, celebrated as one of Nigeria’s leading music video directors, brings his insight and journey to the campaign.

Alleged N17.8bn Debt: Court Orders CBN, EFCC to Investigate Afex Accounts in 28 Banks

Wale Igbintade

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to carry out individual investigation on the accounts of the Afex Commodities Exchange Limited in 28 banks across Nigeria following its inability to pay alleged N17,808,452,467,107 loan facilities granted by Guaranty Trust Bank. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the motion exparte following

an application filed by GTBank’s counsel, Chief Ajibola Aribisala (SAN).

The investigation, which is to cover the period of February 27, 2024, to May 27, 2024, is to ascertain whetherAfex Commodities Exchange maintain accounts with the 28 banks, and whether there has been any falsification of the account statements of the company in the 28 banks listed on the face of motion paper.

The court also gave the CBN and EFCC minimum of 30 days from the date of service of the orders on them to file their report to the court.

Specifically, the court ordered Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Providus Bank Limited, and Union Bank Plc jointly and along with any other listed banks found, based on the reports of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria, to have misdirected the court as to the true state of the accounts of the defendant/respondent in their custody to transfer same into the account of Afex Commodities Exchange Limited’s account with account number 0425755319 with Guaranty Trust Bank Limited.

The report on the foreign affairs ministry under Tuggar is unfortunate, writes JOHN ADEKUNLE

BETWEEN TUGGAR AND HIS TRADUCERS

Part of the enduring damage to the culture of public debate over the years is the hijack of the civic space by the uninformed who peddle false narratives with astonishing vehemence.

Sadly, today, the malady seems to have assumed epidemic proportion. I blame this partly on the permissiveness of the social media which enables idle minds, mischief-makers and paid mercenaries to pollute the air with what is now generally known as “fake news” or “alternative facts” easily.

A clear illustration of this syndrome can be seen in a very sensational report syndicated in some online publications few days ago which blatantly twisted facts in Nige-bassador Yusuf Tuggar in particular and misrepresented the reality of Nigeria’s foreign service in general.

Laden with inconsistencies and contradictions, the report came short of sounding the death knell on Nigeria’s foreign policy, accusing the Foreign Minister of the Tinubu administration of junketing the world in-

The author of the report want the Foreign

to the inability of ECOWAS to rein in the coupists in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali after suspending them and later readmitting them. Just as they blame Tuggar for the non-appointment of substantive ambassadors to Nigeria’s missions abroad since those serving were recalled last year.

Perhaps, before going ahead to address those stated allegations, it may help to understand the undercurrents. Well, it is open secret that there has been a “clash of interests” in the Foreign Ministry in recent of some feathers as well as the suspension of some personnel over alleged unethical conduct. Just as it is also a known fact that, in the eyes of right-thinking Nigerians, the Foreign Minister has exhibited thorough professionalism by insisting that due process be followed to establish the truth or otherwise over a serious allegation leveled

Rather than allow the matter be swept under the carpet in the name of “espirit de corps”.

It is, therefore, not unexpected that those -

contestation of interests in a given polity. But in this particular instance, the least one to character assassination of a damn good career diplomat who has added value to Nigeria’s foreign service over the years. I say this from the insight of a retired ambassador who, therefore, has more than a passing interest in the defence of national interest in the foreign service.

Having followed Tuggar’s career in the foreign service, I can vouch that he is one of Nigeria’s very best among his generation. His last posting before being appointed by President Bola Tinubu last year was Germaas a Grade A country. Germany is undoubtedly the biggest economy in Europe. You don’t send a nonentity to such province.

To begin with, let us even pretend that the referenced report is not a hatchet job sponsored by some wounded interests. By suggesting at all that the Foreign Minister should “siddon put” in Abuja and be only betrayed an abysmally poor understanding of diplomacy and the job of a Foreign Minister for that matter. Seriously? But there is clearly a big distinction between Minister of Interior and Foreign of the author expressed in that report. In any case, only the thoroughly uninformed will assume that the Foreign Minster could have embarked on foreign shuttles without informing the President and securing his approval. Again, the author seems unaware that part of the duties of the Ministerdent or the Vice President on occasions as may be asked.

The allegations that the Ministry is unand that the Minister’s absence creates a vacuum are mere gossips because ministries have established bureaucratic system headed by the Minister who executes the policies and decisions of the President by delegating responsibilities.

last century is America’s Henry Kissinger. While contextualizing the dynamics of foreign relations in contemporary age, this is what he has to say: “The revolutionary character of our age can be summed up in three general statements: (a) the number of participants in the international order has increased and their nature has altered; (b) has vastly grown; (c) the scope of their purposes has expanded.”

Against this backdrop, the germane that these critics expect Ambassador Tuggar to best serve Nigeria’s foreign policy interest?

Look at the case of visa ban on Nigerians by the UAE. This was inherited from the last administration. But through constructive engagement spearheaded by the Foreign Ministry under Tuggar, the matter has now been resolved with the authorities in Dubai opening their doors for Nigerians to visit again.

The issue of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso should be situated within the broader context of regional politics involving the heads of state of ECOWAS. Nigeria’s intervention in Niger following the coup by General Abdourahamane Tchiana was not unilateral.

Dr. Adekunle, a retired ambassador, writes from Lagos

Nigeria is a country at war with itself, writes JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA

NNPC AND THE NIGERIAN CULTURE OF SABOTAGE

I got engaged in a discussion with my friends whilst travelling through Central America. The discussion moved across different subjects and jurisdictions. We went from the United States and its elections, dwelling on President Biden’s challenges and the possible effects of the Trump shooting. We navigated Asia and the modern successes of Japan, South Korea and Singapore. We debated the effect of democracy on development. And then one of them looked at me and asked, “JJ, what is the update on Nigeria?”

That was the elephant in the room, at least from my point of view. Time came to address it and some of the conversation focused on what we missed from the military era. One of them gave examples of what South Korea and Singapore successfully did with some form of autocratic governments, and why we never really had a military government that used the

roads and went on the rampage, destroying cables and pipes. According to reports, they also mounted a road blockage, preventing movement in and out of the refinery. They then set out to party on the road.

This is one of several examples of how Nigeria gets sabotaged. When it is said that something does not work in Nigeria, it is important to take an extra look to be certain that such was intended to work in the first place. Because like success, failure can be a design. Whilst the majority clearly benefit from a working system, there are people who find their means of livelihood in chaos and inefficiencies.

Nigeria’s refineries must work. Refining our crude in the country helps to create jobs, moderate prices and ensures that we are less dependent on what happens elsewhere for

opportunity of their absolute powers to advance development. Then someone said, “I heard Murtala Muhammed was great, but he ruled Nigeria for less than six months. I wonder how much greatness any leader could have achieved in less than six months”. Another said, “it helps that one was alive and conscious during the Yar ‘Adua era, because he has also been deemed great by a section of Nigerians. Even though nothing in the period he ruled suggests such an accolade.”

At this point, after we had gone through the various leadership periods, including the democratic era, one said, “if we don’t have a consensus on any one great leadership era in our history, is that not as much an indictment on these leaders as it is on our people and the elites? The leaders changed, the people and the elites were the constant. It is hard not to think we got the leadership our elites and may be the people wanted or deserved. If not both.”

Someone shared an old story on Dr Tai Solarin, the People’s Bank and the Ibrahim Babangida military government. That despite Tai Solarin’s best intentions and efforts, the People’s Bank failed because the people Dr Solarin was surrounded with by the government to lead the bank and the people that the bank was intended to benefit combined to run the bank down. In this case, even with a man of integrity leading the board of the bank, the system was strong enough to drown the bank amidst corruption and bad loans. Tai Solarin had to resign when he realised he could not save the bank and could not get the government to enforce its own rules on accountability.

A more recent story suggests that that culture prevails. Within hours of the NNPC GCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, informing members of the National Assembly that the second phase of Port Harcourt Refinery Rehabilitation was almost completed and was on time to begin production in two months, some young people in their hundreds allegedly besieged the refinery in the Eleme area of Port Harcourt. They reportedly blocked

our supply of petroleum products. The buck ultimately stops at the government’s end. So, they must ensure the security of lives and properties and nip this sabotage and others like it in the bud. The security forces must take up the challenge of protecting essential infrastructure.

In another breath, those who said the Dangote refinery was never going to work are now the first to scream, “why are they importing crude to refine in Nigeria?” Context is everything. If the refinery has the capacity to process different combinations or grades of crude, it will have to source some of those grades from abroad because Nigeria does not have all the grades. It is mostly a private entity; it will always be driven by the need to ensure its stakeholders are rewarded with profit.

Whilst Nigeria’s got the Bonny Light, the US blend is called WTI — West Texas Intermediate. The Dangote refinery reportedly issues tenders periodically for these specific crude grades to be delivered within a set timeframe and quantity. Some of that need is met by local supplies whilst the rest is sourced from abroad.

It is not as much a case of capacity within the country to supply as it is a case of choice to prefer a variety of blends. You don’t make the same amount of profit on different blends of crude. Sometimes, the choice of crude is influenced by the margins available on profit. Too many people want Nigeria to be wrong so bad, offering them a context as to why things could be different from their perception is to make enemies of them. Stories like Ademola Adeyemi-Bero’s First &EP and their NNPC experience never go viral.

Omojuwa is chief strategist, Alpha Reach/ BGX Publishing

FOCUS

With Giants Campaign, FirstBank is Truly Woven into the Fabric of Society

The ‘Giant in you’ campaign of the First Bank has again confirmed the common expression that ‘apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ given the history of the financial brand and its legendary relevance to the growth of enterprises, within and outside Nigeria. Raheem Akingbolu reports

In its usual creative conjecture, 13O-yearold First Bank Plc, has hit the airwaves and other media outlets with various visuals to articulate its new campaign ‘The Giant in You’.

Breaking down the central message, ‘there is a giant in you’ the campaign stylishly reminds the bank customer that ‘First Bank Puts You First so you can’ before giving the match order, ‘Live the Giant-Life.

For a bank that settles for the big ‘elephant’, as logo and has remained strong for 130 years, worlds like giant, tall and strides, used in the various visuals are simply validations of its robustness, endurance, doggedness and tall ambition.

As part of the ways to convey the bank’s message to its array of patrons, SO&U, the creative agency behind the campaign cleverly selected its cast and buildings, including First Bank’s corporate headquarters, to reflect the bigness, the tallness and the boldness of the 130-year-old financial institution to rule the world as far as banking and business support are concerned.

Unraveling the ‘Giant’ strides...

Among other reasons, the new campaign must have been conceptualized to position First Bank as a ‘giant’ and ‘future-ready’ institution that is dependable, innovative and proactive in supporting its customers and stakeholders win in the race to the future and be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities and possibilities of that emerging future.

Driven by the conviction that consumers want to turn their big dreams into giant successes, the new campaign reminds the consumer that in today’s world of constant disruptions and integrated experiences, the customer needs a strong, stable and supportive partner, with the appropriate platforms, innovative solutions and networks to not only support their aspirations but also be responsive and adaptive enough to anticipate their needs and empower them to success.

Looking through the visuals and the television commercial, it’s easy to conclude that the campaign narrative is not about the brand but the customer. For instance, the creative path illustrates the world as it moves and changes at lightning speed, the customer is reminded that just like the world, everything within it is also changing, from economies to businesses and even opportunities.

“We recognise that to be in sync with the world will require a forward thinking and future ready mindset …and we have created the atmosphere, products and services to help our customers,” the bank stated.

To underscore ‘the big idea’ and the ‘bringing out the Giant in you’ theme, key visuals speak to the essence of the campaign and are accompanied with long and straight legs in a demonstrative form to take the purported giant step. Here the messages are passed under the following; ready to take giant strides?, strides into the future, let’s take giant strides together, stand tall, stand out, think giant solutions, among others.

Facts and figures...

Like Coca-Cola, the world number one brand, one other thing that has consistently worked for the FirstBank brand is that the promoters have never, for once allowed complacency to set in. The implication of this is that the bank is not only the oldest, it is one of the most digitally compliant banks. Currently, First Bank stands tall via First Bank digital solutions, employs market-leading digital platforms and solution driven products and services.

Besides, the use of AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) by the bank enables the financial brand to initiate 85 percent of its transactions via digital platforms leading to quick responses to customers needs and satisfaction. In this regard, First bank has been recognised by interswitch as the first financial institution in Nigeria to achieve 100 million sustained monthly transactions in electronic payment and it has hit N1 trillion transactions through the Firstmonie Agent network.

Speaking during the unveiling of the new thematic brand campaign, Head, Brands and Stakeholder management at First Bank, Yinka Ijabiyi, reiterated that First Bank came up with the new campaign because of its belief that there is a ‘giant’ in every customer, every employee and every stakeholder.

He said, “This campaign was informed by our belief that there is ‘giant’ in every stakeholder -a giant dream, a giant possibility, a giant idea, a giant life and a giant future waiting to be birthed. Our commitment is therefore to provide all necessary business support, financial know-how and platforms to bring out the giant in every customer,”

Ijabiyi further pointed out that the campaign was conceptualised by the bank in a bid to show customers in its 130 years, that it has been supporting and creating giants and that it has no plan to stop anytime soon.

He said the bank, in its celebration of its 130 years in business, came up with a campaign that speaks to the business

essence of its brand which is making giants of its customers.

“We have always done it and the fact we have been around for such a long time means good to everybody as we have been supporting businesses, individuals and government in those years.

“We are making giants and there is no business that interacts with us that does not see the benefits in their business. We are making giants in our customers and we will not stop.

“We are the partner with tailored solutions for every customer, employee, and stakeholder. We have what it takes to turn dreams into giant successes. FirstBank’s services are designed to help customers “giant-size” their dreams, offering businesses the platforms and solutions needed to grow, innovate, and achieve remarkable success.”

Ijabiyi added that the array of products, solutions and services offered by First bank cannot be compared with any financial services in Nigeria.

For its customers, the bank said “We would enable, inspire and support you with our world of financial services to help you to giant-size your dreams and live your best life”. It also said it “would give businesses and business owners the right platforms and solutions they need to grow, initiate and execute bold ideas”.

Meanwhile, the creative agency behind the campaign has hinted to the media that the unveiled materials were mere ‘tip of the iceberg’ as efforts are ongoing to domesticate the same campaign in local languages to

connect with customers across the major ethnic groups in Nigeria.

A peep into the past...

When the promoters said First Bank was “truly the first, many grudgingly agreed. But deep inside its competitors – the possible grudging camp – is the truth regarding the extreme distance the bank has given others in performance and people relevance of its operations! They knew the bank was not bluffing. Not only has it rediscovered itself, but the ability to shed its ancient mindset in terms of operations and blend with modern trends in banking have left many agreeing that perhaps, the saying that the older the wine the better it gets in taste actually applies to First Bank. To this end, it’s not by accident that First Bank has produced at least two former governors of the CBN and a Finance Minister, including Chief Joseph Sanusi and the current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Perhaps the current campaign is an offshoot of a story-telling Television Commercial, by the bank to reflect the beginning of modern banking and how the bank has consistently grown with Nigeria’s enterprises through partnership and innovation.

The referenced TVC says it all: A combination of historical renaissance and quite prescient validation of the innovation that usually drives its bewitching communicational ads. From the groundnut pyramids of the north, which was the symbol of the regions commercial edge and the cocoa bean mountains of Western Nigeria to the rubber plantations of the East and Mid-eastern region, First Bank has applied its new campaign to remind its decades-old patrons, customers, and even competitors, that the beat has refused to abate.

Throughout the campaign, First Bank subtly registers itself in the minds of the banking public that it’s entirely Nigerian –past, present, and the future. The well-crafted historical simulation captures how First Bank opened its first branch in Lagos in 1894 and started helping merchandise and local traders to grow their businesses. The excitement and enthusiasm on the faces of the bank’s early customers after getting their cash books from the Lagos office say it all. Like someone who has gotten a glimpse of what the future holds with banking, the customers express surprises and happiness. The commercial captures the mood and goes back in memory lane on how the bank has helped many people succeed in their ventures. Subtly, the narrator takes viewers to Kano and reveals how the then richest men in the commercial city were making their deposit of 20 bags of Silver in an atmosphere that looks like the first operational day of the bank.

Perhaps the beauty of the commercial lies more in the way it strikes a balance between the ancient and the modern days through setting and swapping of background colours. This was cleverly explored in referencing the way the bank transformed into an online haven, driven by technology.

While reminding the patrons of the bank’s transformation and technological advancement, the narrator is quick to talk about the expansion of the bank beyond the shores of Nigeria to the West-African region and beyond. The TVC also positions FirstBank as a socially responsible brand by touching on various initiatives it has embarked on. Specifically, First Bank’s contribution to Sports through its support for football and athletics is captured very well. The ‘Giant in You’ is another chapter as the bank begins a fresh journey after operating for 130 years.

FirstBank MD, Olusegun Alebiosu

Will APC Abide by Existing Zoning Formula in Anambra?

David-Chyddy Eleke reports that indications are rife that recent debate on zoning of the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State for the 2025 governorship poll may cost it victory, if not well managed

Anambra has an unwritten zoning arrangement for the governorship position, and this rotates between the three senatorial zones in the state.

The arrangement even though already existing became more pronounced in 2012, in the twilight of the administration of then governor, Mr Peter Obi. Obi had insisted on the then ruling party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) producing a candidate from Anambra North as a way to make for balance, after Mbadinuju from the South had finished a four year term, and central senatorial zone where Obi hails from just finished eight-year term. Before then, Ngige who held sway for three years was also from central.

This prompted Obi to insist on North, which is perceived as a minority zone in the state to produce the next governor on basis of equity, as it was believed that if the contest was declared open to all zones, they may never be able to have a shot at the position. Obiano’s emergence from the North then sealed the zoning agreement and left it standing.

As Prof Chukwuma Soludo rounds off his first tenure, the clamour for governorship has heightened. But contrary to claims of zoning, the APC seems to want to scuttle the arrangement, by insisting on throwing open the contest to all interested.

In June, a group of elders from the party under the aegis of All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Forum and led by Chief Innocent Obi, met and reinforced the Anambra zoning formula. The group said if APC would upstage the ruling party in the 2025 governorship election, it must field a southern candidate in line with the zoning agreement.

Obi while speaking during the briefing said: “For me, an agreement is an agreement whether written or not. There’s a system already at work in Anambra State. Anybody who denies that is not saying the truth. As elders, we should say it the way it is.

“An arrangement is on the ground. During the 2022 election, the party that pretended that zoning is nonsense suffered for it. They suffered because someone who contested under their platform did not come from where that post should go.

“Whatever decision our party comes up with, the elders must go with them because we’re under them. The elders will be pleased if the candidate comes from the South. If you ask me, the South has done four years and the South has four years extra,“ he concluded.

There have been various positions on the matter too. A chieftain of the party, Mr Pope Amaefuna in a recent opinion piece insisted that any attempt by the party not to field a candidate from the South, and a popular one at that, would cost the party victory.

He said: “The politics of Anambra State has enjoyed relative stability, equity and fairness, thanks to the adoption of the zoning principle. Major political parties acknowledged the power rotation formula as reflected by the choice of candidates paraded in Anambra elections in the past decade.

“In reality, APC can no longer afford to continue playing opposition politics in Anambra State and all hands must be on deck to ensure a power shift in the 2025 governorship election.

“Considering the disposition of the Anambra electorate, if the APC makes the mistake of failing to field a strong and popular candidate from Anambra South in favour of parading a candidate from any other zone, then it is safe to kiss the governorship aspirations of the party goodbye as the move would truncate the remaining four years tenure of Anambra South.

“The implication is that a new candidate from any other zone might tentatively lay claims to an eight year tenure instead of four and that is the last thing any right thinking Anambra wants at this epoch.

“Very importantly, the proponents and advocates of no zoning should be wary of what they preach as they risk swallowing their own vomit.

“Considering the political culture of Anambra State today, any party that did not abide by the zoning formula adopted by stakeholders in rotation of the governorship seat of the state stand no chance of winning the forthcoming guber poll and historical indices support this position.

“Any APC member who is currently crusading for no zoning has been compromised and commissioned to work against the party and such a character should be considered enemy of the party who are actively working against the party interests,” Amaefuna stated.

Meanwhile, another group within the party, under the aegis of APC Progressives Media in a press release argued that the zoning arguments were aimed at misleading the Anambra APC into falling into a political trap designed to annihilate the party’s gubernatorial chances in 2025.

The group said: “After careful examination, we have confirmed that the authors of these articles are unknown to the Anambra APC and are neither card-carrying members of the party nor affiliated with it in any way. Therefore, we can understand their ignorance about the traditions of the APC in Anambra State.

“The APC in Anambra State has no history of zoning the gubernatorial election. Instead, every candidate who has contested under the umbrella of the APC since its formation has done so on the strength of their popularity and acceptance within the party fold and that of the voting public. For instance, in 2013, when the APGA zoned its candidate to Anambra North, the APC chose its candidate from Anambra Central, with aspirants from all zones contesting in the primaries.

Sani: Striving to Fulfil Promise Made to Kaduna People

John Shiklam writes on how Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state is striving to deliver on one of his campaign promises - mass, affordable housing to the people.

Kaduna state governor, Senator Uba Sani, seems to be in a hurry to fulfill his electoral promises to the people of Kaduna state.

The provision of mass and affordable housing is one of the top priority areas of his administration.

This was one of the reasons for organising the Kaduna International Housing Exhibition 0.1, held in Kaduna between July 1 and 2, 2024. The exhibition with the theme, “Kaduna Sustainable Housing Development -A Model for Northern Housing Reforms,” marked a significant milestone in the efforts not only to fulfil campaign promises, but to address the housing needs of the people.

It underscores the vision of the Sani’s administration for a future where every individual and family in Kaduna has access to safe, affordable and dignified house.

The exhibition served as a platform to exchange ideas with industry leaders, and explore innovative technologies and practices that can further enhance the housing sector in the state.

It was an opportunity for developers, investors, and policymakers to collaborate towards finding solutions to the challenges in the housing sector and sustainable urbanisation.

Sani used the forum to showcase, strategies, successes and his vision in the efforts to provide decent and affordable housing for the people of Kaduna state since he assumed office.

Speaking at the occasion, the governor who was represented by the deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, noted that homelessness in Nigeria and across the globe is a major concern, pointing out that fashioning effective strategies to address housing deficits has become very imperative.

According to him, the provision of affordable houses for Kaduna state citizens is one of the key priorities of his administration.

“We are committed to addressing the housing deficit in Kaduna State in line with our administration’s policy thrust and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. We have adopted a holistic approach towards filling the identified gap”, the governor told the gathering. According to him, the approaches adopted include, partnering with local and international investors, the introduction of Social Housing Scheme and the Development Lease Agreement (DLA) among others.

Sani said the “Qatar Charity, in partnership with the Kaduna State government, is constructing mass housing for the Less privileged and Kaduna Economic City, all in Millennium City, Kaduna. I recently performed the groundbreaking for the construction of the 3,319 hectares at Nuru Suraj, Ungwar Dosa New Extension Layout.

“This project is being executed through a Public - Private Partnership. Nuru Suraj and Kaduna State Government are working together to develop 35,000 plots for our people”, he said.

According to him, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the Federal Housing Authority have embarked on mass housing projects in the state because of the conducive atmosphere that has been created, coupled with the attractive incentives.

Sani explained that the Social Housing Scheme, which is being funded directly from the State budget, is being implemented by the State Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Under the scheme, four Housing Estates were

being developed with a total of 654 units ranging from one to three bedroom, semi-detached houses.

The state government has also attracted many investors (Real Estate Developers) and has partnered with them in the construction of mass housing estates across Kaduna metropolis under public private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The governor said his administration has provided unencumbered land to the developers and facilitated all approvals and permits for construction of houses free of charge.

The government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with each developer with details of tenure and agreed off-take prices of the different types of houses to be developed.

The governor said the DLA programme was initiated to bring private participation into the housing programme. A total of 1,103.52 hectares of land had been allocated to 52 private developers to build different types of houses for off - takers within Kaduna, adding that the developers are expected to deliver over 25,000 units of houses, with over 10,000 now completed; most of which have been sold and occupied.

The Kaduna State Development and Property Company (KSDPC), a state owned Limited Liability Company saddled with, among others, the responsibility of building houses and selling same to the public has been recapitalised to engage in real estate business.

Sani said the company had been able to build a number of houses - Premium, Medium and Low Income for sale to the general public.

He commended KSDPC and Kaduna International Housing Exhibition Limited (KHEL) for organizing the event, noting that attracting investments in the housing sector will contribute to efforts by the government to revitalise the economy of the state.

Sani called on local and international investors to avail themselves of the huge opportunities in the housing sector in Kaduna State.

In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the provision of adequate housing is not just a basic human need, but a fundamental right that underpins sustainable development and social cohesion.

NOTE:

Editor, Editorial Page PETER

ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

BEYOND THE AGRICULTURE CENSUS REPORT...(11)

This is time for the Tinubu administration to give practical effect to the much talked about diversification of the economy

Continued from yesterday

Agriculture remains the dominant sector of the economy, contributing about 24 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It is the largest employer of labour, employing more than 36 per cent of the labour force. But been undermined by many challenges. As the ‘National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) Report 2022’ has

of inputs like seedlings and fertilizers to inadequate irrigation and outdated system of farming, all leading

With a population of more than 200 million people, agricultural making the country a net importer of food. It is projected by experts that Nigerians, particularly in the Northeast, are facing acute hunger.

neglect cash crops like cocoa, oil palm and groundnuts, country’s economy. In the early 1960s, Nigeria’s palm

coming from dispersed smallholders. The case of cocoa is lamentable because Nigeria used to rank among the trees, and promote the local consumption of cocoa-based products to boost prices. Also, the famous

With a population of more than 200 million people, agricultural productivity is insufficient, making the country a net importer of food

demand for food and employment. That is important necessities of life, including food and healthcare, are becoming luxuries.

of millions of idle youths condemned to the street uncontrolled demographic bulge has put the country these challenges remains incoherent. This is therefore time for the administration of President Bola Tinubu

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, 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

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Letters to the Editor

hallmarked the groundnut boom in the 1970s started

the establishment of the African Groundnut Council under the aegis of the African Union to promote the production, consumption and exportation of groundnut oil in six countries of Africa including Nigeria, has helped matters. Like the case of oil palm, groundnut production is done today mostly by small holders. Worse, the largely subsistence

its people.

To the extent that reliable and timely statistics are

‘National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) Report

capable of putting millions of our young people to

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.

UPSCALING LEGAL PRACTICES IN NIGERIA

ing behind in their profession. The Nigerian legal system facesFor Nigeria's legal system and practitioners to regain promi-

this era is indeed a step in the right direction. One critical issue in this context is the automated bill of

The importance of automated bill of charges in a technologi-

tional corporations, readily embrace automated billing. Clients

sential. The era of manual or paper-based billing is outdated. To

an encyclopedia. Traditional paper billing is prone to loss, untidi-

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seize this opportunity in the digital age. The LegalDigital NG encountering LegalDigital NG's database is a rare opportunity. pertinent questions. In conclusion, LegalDigital NG stands as a premier real-timesionals, researchers, and students, about the latest court rulings and legal resources. Through its commitment to excellence, LegalDigital NG continues to set the standard in the legal industry.

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

Airport Operators Groan over High Cost of Service Delivery by Government Agencies

Chinedu Eze

Operators of state and privately owned airports have cried out over the exorbitant cost of compulsory services provided by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET). According to the regulatory policy of the federal government on air travel, the agencies must provide these services to state owned and privately owned airports to ensure they align with given standards. The services include air traffic control, aviation security, fire cover service and weather prediction.

The grouse of the state airport operators is that the agencies charge too much for these services and if they withdraw their services the airports would be forced to close.

The airport operators are lamenting that the cost of paying for these services are higher than the revenue they generate. So they charge airlines for using their airports, which the airlines transfer to passengers, but at the same time the airlines still pay the agencies through five per cent ticket sales charge, which the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) collects and shares with NAMA, NIMET, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

FAAN also collects Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from the passengers through the airlines.

The Managing Director of Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, Anambra state, Martins Nwafor, told THISDAY that immediately an airport starts operation the aviation agencies start billing it with no waivers, making it compulsory for the airport to set aside funds to pay for these services if it must continue to operate.

“We pay NAMA, NIMET, FAAN and they still share from the five per cent ticket sales charge which NCAA collects on their behalf. In Anambra, whatever is generated from passengers they share from it and they still charge for their services.

FAAN has passenger service charge, which it collects from passengers. It operates over 22 airports. It is not supposed to be providing service at other airports that are owned and managed by others. Being at other airports and providing services makes them a regulator, which they are not. They are service providers like other airports in the country.

“FAAN provides Aviation Security (AVSEC) and fire service. If the Federal Government has it as policy that FAAN must provide security service at the airports, so be it, but what of fire service. They are not supposed to provide such service because every state has its own fire service. We have witnessed occasions where FAAN fire service

workers have taken the management of fire equipment, which they are not familiar with and they used it wrongly and spoilt it. They give you very little service and ask you to complement and still charge you,” he said.

State owned airports in Anambra, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and some in the northern part of the country are maintained at huge cost. For example, in Anambra State, the airport uses eight generators.

Also, speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of Asaba International Airport, Delta State, Mr. Christopher Penninck, said the state airports pay for air navigation services, meteorological services, fire services, Aviation Security

(AVSEC) and other costs, including maintenance, so because of the charges the airport managements have to also charge the airlines that operate into the airports and the airlines also collect the money from the travellers through airfares. Pinninck said the state airport operators pay these aviation agencies that provide the aforementioned services, yet the airlines still pay the five per cent ticket sales charge. In other words, the air traveller is double charged by the aviation agencies which collects money from the airports and from the airlines, hence the high cost of tickets.

BUSINESS AND TRADE DELEGATES…

Critical stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry have applauded the appointment of Dr Abubakar Dantsoho as the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) describing it as putting round peg in round hole.

This is as they eulogised the tenure of Mohammed Bello-Koko as the managing director of the NPA stressing that Koko recorded major achievements that will stand the test of time.

President Bola Tinubu had last

week replaced Bello-Koko as NPA boss after two years of impactful leadership especially securing funding for the rehabilitation of the dilapidated nation’s seaport.

Bello-Koko had negotiated a loan of $700million from Citibank to be funded by the UK Export Finance (UKEF), an export credit agency, for the rehabilitation of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Bob Yousuo, described the

appointment of Dantsoho as timely.

Yousuo, however, urged him to revamp and reorganise the NPA for modern days effective port operations that meet international best practice.

According to him, “Dantsoho is the man the CAP fits with his years of service as a technocratic with the NPA, he will revamp and reorganise the NPA for modern days effective port operations that meet international best practice.”

Speaking Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), said Dantsoho’s vast experience and

leadership skills would usher in a new era of progress and efficiency within the NPA.

“As key stakeholders in Nigeria’s inland waterways, BOAN is eager to see the continued development and enhancement of our ports under his stewardship. We are confident that by working together, we can navigate the challenges facing our industry and achieve greater success in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

“We look forward to a fruitful and collaborative relationship with Mr. Dantsoho and the NPA, and we are ready to support initiatives

that will enhance the operations and efficiency of our inland waterways.

Once again, congratulations to Abubakar Dantsoho. We wish him a successful and impactful tenure,” BOAN said in a statement.

On their part, clearing agents under the aegis of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), described Dantsoho as the right man for the job.

The association in its congratulatory message signed by the National President, Frank Ogunojemite, said expectations are

high as Dantsoho mounts the saddle as the new NPA Boss.

Ogunojemite advised the new NPA MD to synergize with sister agencies and relevant stakeholders to revitalize the Nigerian Ports for seamless ports operation as well as economic advancement.

“We commended the appointment of Abubakar Dantsoho as the new MD of NPA because he’s a round peg in a round hole. From APFFLON, our expectations and industry expectations are high as Dantsoho mounts the saddle as the new NPA boss, “he stated.

Eromosele Abiodun

L-R: DBT Country Director, British Deputy High Commission, Mark Smithson; Chief Operating Officer, Charterhouse Lagos, Angela H atcher; His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, John Humphrey; Director of Communications, Admissions and Marketing, Charterhouse Lagos, Damilola Olatunbosun, dur ing the United

Business and Trade Delegates visit to Charterhouse Lagos… recently

Unifying W’Africa with ECO

West Africa is a huge market of over 400 million people, but lingua franca, state boundaries have created many barriers. Chinedu Eze writes that the introduction of ECO currency may close the segmentation of a people bound by similar cultures and also boost the huge market in the sub-region

Afortnight ago, countries in West Africa hinted that they were at the verge of introducing the subregional currency, the ECO, which many believed would unify West African countries in the areas of trade and investments.

The plan to introduce ECO currency had almost tripped into coma before it was suddenly revived to rev the hope of actualising the major objective of building an economic community.

Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), met and advanced plans to launch the single currency initiative, known as the ECO.

Reports indicated that the initiative was envisioned to propel economic growth and development throughout the West African sub-region, a plan that had since reviewed Nigeria’s endorsement.

The single currency is part of the features in the three-in-one identity cards planned by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and set for roll-out by August.

A statement from the Ministry of Finance recently stated that Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, emphasised the critical role the ECO would play in fostering economic growth and development in the region, further emphasising Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to its successful implementation.

The meeting marked a significant milestone on the path towards realising the ambitious goal.

DIVISIVENESS

It has to be noted that the first sub-region in Africa to come together was the countries of West Africa under the ECOWAS. It was established by the Treaty of Lagos in May 1975 to promote economic trade, cooperation, and self-reliance. The organisation had the objective to harmonise agricultural policies and to facilitate the free movement of peoples, services, and capital between members.

Travelling through the first four states of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana, showed that the idealism that whelped ECOWAS has remained elusive for almost 50 years that the sub-regional body was established.

Reports from the financial circles indicate that the introduction of the ECO would go a long way in bringing the sub-region together through trade, travel and reinventing the old cultural and ancestral affinities.

The Yorubas live between Nigeria and Benin Republic, the Ewe live between Togo and Ghana and so are the Akan community with estimated population of 20 million people that live in both Ghana and Ivory Coast, and they are the largest ethnic group in the two countries. There is also Gur Community that is distributed in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast and Benin.

GRUELING ROAD TRAVEL

In West Africa, there are people of similar cultures who are divided by colonial experience and colonial language. They have so much in common but they emphasise on what separates them because of nationhood and loyalty to their colonialists.

This is why travelling through West Africa by road has become such a torture. The diplomatic protocol involved in traveling by road is so cumbersome and grueling that travellers are treated with so much suspicion, as if they are criminals. Yet, more people travel by road than they do by air. Traveling by air across West Africa is simple without much procedure but it is not the same with travelling by road. There is no rail line that connects any part of West Africa; unlike what obtains in Southern

Africa and East Africa. So the main means of travelling across the West African sub-region is road, but because of the barriers to easy movement by road, trade among the nations of the sub-region is significantly curbed.

Recently at the 7th Accra Weizo, a West African travel expo on travel and tourism, speakers pointed out inhibitions to free market in the sub-region, which negates the principle of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). There are many tourist destinations, including hotel and resorts along the Atlantic coast in many West African nations. There are beautiful tourism attractions, which are bewildering and amazing but they do not receive enough guests because of inhibitions on road travel across West African states.

The delays at the boundaries, the crude procedures and the covert hostility which a traveler must soften with bribes, leave many who travel by road frustrated. The state diplomatic policies seem to be atavistic to free movement, a system exacerbated by those who implement the rules, whom you must ‘wet their palms’ to thaw at their tough, unfriendly mien. Using one currency across the states in West Africa may ease these inhibitions.

ADVANTAGES OF ECO

The matter is exacerbated by the fact that you have to change currency at every country you arrive and the value of the currency of each country is different from the other.

Ambassador Uko told THISDAY that part of the problems of travelling, tourism and trade is that you have to change currency on your arrival at every country, noting that the prevailing common currency across the sub-region is the naira and CFA franc. According to him, ECO will solve the problem of transaction in the sub-region. Citizens across the countries can now trade with one currency, observing that this will enhance travel and tourism.

“You can now pay the bills in one currency in all the countries. It harmonises pricing, but the biggest advantage is ease of transaction. The challenge is always, how do I pay the man in Ghana, in Togo, in Benin Republic, but ECO will solve that challenge,” he said.

IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS

The organiser of Accra Weizo, Ambassador Uko, during the event in Accra Ghana two weeks ago, noted that in trade, number is important. He remarked that with over 400 million people, West Africa could become economically empowered with free market and seamless travel.

“Numbers give a lot of power and we have the numbers. What we are trying to do is to get West Africa to operate as a domestic market. There is power in that. This year we decided to go further. We decided that the problem is not at the airport. The problem is at the land border. A lot of people are not privileged to fly like us, so they have to travel by road. So we decided to do a road trip across the four countries that are together, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana. We did four days road trip together. We don’t want to tell you the stories we met at the border. What happens in Benin stays in Benin. What happens in Togo stays in Togo.

“But it was an exciting experience having to travel with Ghanaian tour operators, Nigerian tour operators, Benin tour operators, Togo tour operators. And we found out that we are neighbors to Togo, but most Ghanaians don’t know Togo. And we discovered other borders, that Aflao is not the only border between Togo and Ghana.

The story

WATCH

Boom Era for Ghana’s Hospitality Sector

Chinedu Eze

High cost of international travel, the growing attraction of hotels and resorts in Africa have influenced a rethink among Africans who in the past, travelled to Europe, the US and some parts of Asia for holiday.

From Nigeria to Ghana and to other parts of Africa, the hospitality industry is beginning to boom because of higher patronage and the new tendency for Africans to spend their money at home.

Reports indicate that among the key pillars of the tourism sector, the hotel industry stands out as a significant contributor to Ghana’s economy, providing employment opportunities, fostering tourism, and showcasing the country’s rich culture and hospitality.

In a recent trip to Ghana during the Accra Weizo Travel Expo, THISDAY spoke to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Accra City Hotel, Yaw Mamphey, who talked about the rapid growth of the hospitality industry in Ghana, the growth of hotels because of surging demand and how his own hotel is expanding to meet the demand of the segment of the market it belongs.

According to Mamphey, “As much as possible, we cover a very wide range of segments. But predominantly, because you have a lot of business people coming to Accra be it on a daily basis or maybe weekly. So, we accommodate these individuals because you want to come into the city, quickly do your business, and you are out. And when you are in the city, you want to stay in a place which is close to all the major avenues of businesses you are coming to attract. That is where Accra City becomes very relevant, and we understand the needs of different markets. So for example, majority of Nigerian flights coming into Ghana are coming in the morning. So we are ready for them. Those who want to do early check-in, we will check you in. You check in, you drop your luggage, and then straight you are in town transacting your business. You finish, because we are close by, wherever you are doing your business, you come back, you rest, and then you relax.”

Mamphey further said: “So, yes, we will cater for a lot of business travelers. The same way, weekends too, we get a lot of travelers who are coming to our Accra to shop. So they come, drop their luggage, go into the shopping district, the largest shopping area, Makola. We are just a minute walk from Makola. When you enter, you can get anything Ghanaian you are looking for. Apart from that, Accra is also developing to be a major shopping fashion destination and we are close to all the major fashion houses in the city. So you come, you drop your bag, you go and do your shopping and we have one of the top chefs in our hotel, Chef Matthew. He has won numerous international awards. So after a long day in town, you come back and you come to our restaurant, you are sure to get a wide variety of dishes, with specialized and Ghanaian authentic dishes. Your jollof, your wachi, your fufu, you can get all of them. Of course, if you also want continental dishes too, excellent. We provide all of these. We also have a wonderful line of buffet selection. If you do not want to select from the menu, you can then run through our buffet selection and then have something to enjoy.”

Since Accra is becoming a fast growing city, hotel service has become very competitive and they have tailored their services to the need of their guests, he said. Mamphey believes that with the rapid way the city is growing, existing hotels may not meet the need in the foreseeable future.

“Personally, I would say we need more hotels in the city of Accra, more than we currently have, because the more hotels we have in the city, at a highest standard, five-star, four-star, three-star, we will be able to hold a lot of huge international events. So for me I love competition, so I won’t say more hotels

coming on board would mean that we are not going to get business. We actually need more hotels in the city. That would be the only way we can host a lot of big international events, sporting events, entertainment events, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition) events, AU events, ECOWAS events, we need more hotels. So I don’t think it would be a bad business for us if there are more hotels in Accra. We actually need more hotels than we currently have. And for us, the strategic location of Accra City Hotel, being in the middle of the government business, the commercial business, the entertainment business, we are strategically in an ideal location which would always favour Accra City Hotel,” the COO said.

According to him, the Accra City hotel has been operating for over 35 years but changed name to Accra City Hotel recently. He emphasised that the hotel has thrived over the years because it has efficiently met the needs of its guests.

In the hospitality industry, tour operators are very critical because hotels rely on their recommendation to have guests. According to Mamphey, tour operators are very important to his hotel.

“They are actually very integral to us. So we do not play with tour operators at all. As much as possible we work hand-in-hand with tour operators and at any given time we do very special offers and deals for tour operators which you will not find anywhere. So at any given time we are looking out for them, when we approach them, we are looking to give them the best of deals so they can bring in volumes into the city of Accra.

“However, what sustains hotel and keep the guests coming is the standard of the hotel, which depends on maintenance. Many hotels that were the rave of the moment yesterday may have diminished to less than footnote today due to poor maintenance, Mamphey said, adding that maintenance is very critical to the management of Accra City Hotel.

“Maintenance it is key to us. It is for that we have a strong team of over 20 staff in the maintenance department and as I mentioned we are a 35 years old hotel, so certainly you know that you have equipment, the building, you need to refurbish, you need to change equipment and it is this that keeps us relevant. Because the last thing you want is, when guests coming into your properties and they say your place looks too old or your things are breaking down, I don’t want to come there again. And that is what drives us to make sure our maintenance culture is paramount. It is for that reason we are still relevant in the Accra market. There are many hotels that have come and gone and are no longer in the market, but we are still relevant in the Accra business, because maintenance culture is our priority,” he further said.

Stories by Chinedu Eze

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially launched its Acculturation Programme aimed at transforming its organisational culture towards efficiency and excellence.

Speaking at the event, FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, emphasised the programme’s significance in cultivating a work environment where excellence, efficiency, and integrity are paramount

The agency said the initiative was driven by the Director, Special Duties, Mr. Henry Agbebire, and it includes a

comprehensive culture change training for all staff, guided by the new handbook. In addition, FAAN has introduced skyward shift, a monthly bulletin to keep staff informed and motivated.

It announced there would be the Managing Director’s Prize and Award for excellence and productivity to recognize outstanding performance.

Kuku highlighted the programme as a commitment to continuous improvement, urging staff to fully engage with the training sessions and materials.

“Change is never easy, but it is necessary for growth and

progress,” Kuku stated, expressing confidence in the staff’s ability to drive FAAN’s vision forward. FAAN said the Acculturation Programme would reflect the forward-thinking approach of the Minister of Aviation and Aeronautical Development, Festus Keyamo, in transforming organisational culture by equipping the ministry’s workforce with the essential values, skills, and mindset.

“With this programme, FAAN aims to exceed stakeholder and passenger expectations, positioning itself as a leader in the global aviation community,” the agency said.

Nigeria’s Ben Tukur Elected as Chairperson of ICAO AFI Plan FAAN Launches Ac culturation Programme to Foster Excellence

Nigeria’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, Ben Tukur, has been elected as the 5th Chairperson of the ICAO Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan).

The appointment took place during the 27th meeting of the AFI Plan Steering Committee, held as part of the 9th AFI Aviation Week in Libreville, Gabon.

The AFI Plan, established by ICAO in 2007, aims to enhance aviation safety in Africa through a sustainable and structured

approach. The plan is to promote active participation of all stakeholders in the aviation sector, including States, Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs), and Regional Accident Investigation Agencies (RAIOs).

Other objectives are supporting regional safety and investigation organizations by strengthening and integrating RSOOs and RAIOs to ensure effective and sustainable functioning.

It also aims at assisting long-term Infrastructure Planning through providing support to States in long-term planning, particularly regarding infrastructure development.

The broad objective of the AFI Plan is to improve aviation safety in Africa by providing a coordinated framework that involves all relevant stakeholders. The Plan’s specific objectives include: strengthening safety oversight and management capacity by assisting states in enhancing their safety oversight and safety management capabilities, increasing safety oversight implementation by raising the level of safety oversight implementation across the region.

Franklin Nechi: A Shining Star in the War Against Drug Abuse

Motivated to strive for something of value, Franklin Nechi, Chairman of Optiva Capital Partners, a leading Investment Immigration Wealth Management Company, is committed to help Nigerians optimise their overall wealth, financial and health, the latter being reason why he was found worthy to be inducted as War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassadors by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), writes Chiemelie Ezeobi

Franklin Nechi, Chairman, and Dr. Jane Kimemia, CEO of Optiva Capital Partners, the nation’s leading investment immigration wealth management company, were during the week inducted as War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassadors by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

They were honored as Worthy Ambassadors by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, in recognition of their commitment as positive role models for inspiring youths and supporting the Fight Against Drug Abuse.

Aptly described as a visionary leader by the NDLEA Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Mrs Archie Abia Ibinabo, she named Mr. Nechi a “Worthy Ambassador” by the agency in recognition of his exemplary leadership and commitment to inspiring youths and supporting the fight against drug abuse.

The prestigious induction ceremony was performed at a special ceremony held at Optiva Capital Partners head office in Lagos. Mrs. Ibinabo praised Mr. Nechi for being a positive role model and a shining example of responsible leadership.

“Mr. Nechi has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting the well-being of Nigerian youths and supporting the agency’s efforts to combat drug abuse. We are honoured to have them as worthy ambassadors and look forward to continuing our partnership in the fight against drug abuse.”

Mr. Franklin Nechi and Dr. Kimemia expressed their gratitude and humility upon receiving the award, saying, “we are truly honoured to be recognised by the NDLEA for our efforts in supporting the fight against drug abuse. As responsible business leaders, we believe it is our duty to give back to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

The WADA induction is a testament to the dedication of the leadership of Optiva Capital partners to making a positive impact on society and inspiring others to do the same.

In celebrating a remarkable individual, Franklin Nechi, as he was inducted as a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) ambassador of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), it was a re-affirmation of his unwavering dedication to the fight against drug abuse and his commitment to inspiring a drug-free Nigeria.

Franklin Nechi’s passion and leadership in the fight against drug abuse have been a beacon of hope for many. His tireless efforts to raise awareness, support rehabilitation programs, and advocate for drug policy reform have made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals and families.

He has also supported various initiatives aimed at empowering youths and promoting community development. His philanthropic efforts have touched the lives of many, providing hope and opportunities to those who need it most.

As a WADA ambassador, Franklin Nechi will continue to inspire and empower youths to make informed choices and live drug-free lives. His influence will help shape a brighter future for Nigeria, free from the scourge of drug abuse.

The induction of the leadership of Optiva Capital Partners as WADA Ambassadors of NDLEA was also a gathering to celebrate a remarkable achievement in the healthcare landscape of Nigeria.

Revitalising Grassroots Healthcare

Optiva Capital Partners, a visionary investment immigration wealth management firm, has demonstrated its commitment to the well-being of Nigerians by investing in healthcare delivery for all.

Through its acquisition of a hospital and rebuilding of a community health center, Optiva Capital Partners has shown that corporate social responsibility is not just a buzzword, but a tangible action that can transform lives.

To this end, Optiva Capital Partners has since commenced in earnest the construction, upgrade, and rehabilitation of Agboyi Ketu Healthcare

NDLEA AMBASSADOR…

L-R: Mrs. Amaka Okeke-Lawal, Executive Director, Optiva Capital Partners; Mrs. Archie Abia Ibinabo, Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Mr. Franklin Nechi, Chairman Optiva Capital Partners; Dr. Jane Kimemia , CEO Optiva Capital Partners; and Prince Don Okonkwo, Non Executive Director, Optiva Capital Partners, at the induction of Mr. N echi and Dr. Kimemia as War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassadors by NDLEA at Optiva Capital Partners headquarters in Lagos

facility in Lagos State. The rehabilitation covers the facilities, structures, the equipment, and totally upgrading the healthcare facility to ensure that women from that particular area are taken care of.

The objective of the firm, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to address maternal health care and reduce maternal mortality rate in Nigeria because different World Health Organisation reports state that Nigeria contributes up to ten per cent of the global maternal death.

Optiva Capital Partners will expand the healthcare facilities to accommodate more beds and enhance the quality of the maternity wards and labor rooms with state-of-the-art hospital equipment.

This is to ensure that a larger number of

“Franklin Nechi’s passion and leadership in the fight against drug abuse have been a beacon of hope for many. His tireless efforts to raise awareness, support rehabilitation programs, and advocate for drug policy reform have made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals and families”

women in Agboyi Ketu Local Government receive enhanced maternity care. Through its collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Optiva Capital Partners strives for a future where the number of women who lose their lives during childbirth is greatly minimised.

The rebuilding of Agboyi Ketu community health centre is a remarkable gesture that demonstrates Optiva Capital Partners’ understanding of the importance of grassroots healthcare.

By revitalising this critical facility, the company has ensured that primary healthcare services will be accessible to even more Nigerians, particularly in underserved communities.

This investment is a shining example of how corporate social responsibility can be used to bridge the gap in healthcare delivery.

Commitment to Quality Healthcare

In another demonstration of its commitment to the well-being of Nigerians by investing in healthcare delivery for all, Nechi also is on a quest to attract medical tourism to Nigeria- an audacious move.

The acquisition of a hospital is a significant milestone in the quest for quality healthcare in Nigeria. Optiva Capital Partners is not only injecting much-needed resources into the facility but is also committed to bringing expertise and cutting-edge technology to enhance healthcare delivery.

This investment is a testament to the company’s dedication to improving the lives

of Nigerians, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.

It’s no gainsaying that Optiva Capital Partners’ commitment to healthcare is not limited to these physical infrastructure investments. The company is also committed to implementing programs aimed at promoting health education and wellness initiatives.

By adopting a holistic approach to healthcare, Optiva Capital Partners is empowering Nigerians to take control of their health and wellbeing. This investment in healthcare is a testament to the company’s leadership and vision. Optiva Capital Partners has shown that businesses can be a force for good, driving positive change in the lives of people and communities.

As a responsible corporate citizen, the company has set a high standard for others to follow, demonstrating that investment in healthcare is not only a moral imperative but also a sound business decision.

Franklin Nechi’s Magic Wand with Optiva Franklin Nechi, the audacious investment immigration wealth manager of note is inspired by the love he has for making peoples’ wealth open more doors for them, their families, and even generations to come, such that today Optiva Capital Partners is the choice investment immigration firm in the country.

Optiva Capital Partners, Africa’s leading investment immigration wealth management company has steadily, over the past fourteen years built a growing reputation amongst investment savvy Africans who seek quality service in investment immigration, investment advisory, and wealth management.

In all of these bespoke services the company’s unwavering commitment is to provide clients with the opportunity to protect, grow, enhance and optimise their wealth, and ensure they get the benefits of secured Capital through Multiasset funds, Global equities, Corporate funds; and also achieve Optimal Diversified Portfolio Optiva Capital Partners is reputed to be one of the fastest-growing brands in the wealth management sector, easily recognised as the largest in investment immigration.

Beloved for its customer-centric focus, deep commitment to structured process, and its extensive network through its elite global partners, this fast-growing brand has come a long way since it began operations in 2010.

Through firm determination and clear definition of the company’s raison d’etre, Optiva Capital Partners has grown its staff strength from just about 15 in 2017 to over 1000 currently, with over 21 branches across Nigeria and significant presence across Africa.

Optiva Capital Partners longstanding purpose encapsulated in its core values of service, professionalism, collaboration, and excellence; premium product innovations; and elite global partnerships, have all added up to a winning formula.

As the leading investment immigration service provider, the company assists its clientele to save long-term through investment immigration with a commitment to help clients to save on what they would have been spending on through its bespoke investment immigration services.

Mrs. Archie Abia Ibinabo, Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) inducting Mr. Franklin Nechi, Chairman Optiva Capital Partners, as War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassador

Recapitalisation: Jaiz Bank Raises N18.7bn Out of N20bn Capital Requirement

James Emejo

With N18.7 billion of verified capital out of N20 billion, Jaiz bank Plc is set to become the first financial institution to scale the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s recapitalisation hurdle for the banking industry.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Jaiz Bank, Dr. Haruna Musa, who gave an update on the bank’s efforts to meet the new capital threshold, explained that the institution harvested N10 billion via a private placement in which its top investors injected the sum.

Addressing journalists at the bank’s 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja yesterday, he pointed

out that prior to the announcement by CBN, the board had been proactive in meeting the new capital structure.

Musa said, “Looking at our current verified capital by CBN, which is about N18.7 billion, we have only N1.3 billion shortfall, and again, we have N10.4 billion to bring in.

“So, we are almost 99.9 per cent completed and we are awaiting final clearance and by the grace of God Almighty, we are going to be the first bank in Nigeria to cross the new CBN capitalisation requirements.”

Under the new capital regime, non-interest banks with national and regional authorisations are mandated to raise their minimum

capital thresholds to N20 billion and N10 billion, respectively.

Chairman, Jaiz Bank Plc, Alhaji Mohammed Bintube, said the bank is currently investing in people through agriculture and technology funding.

He said the bank will continue to finance its clients in the agricultural sector in a bid to bring down food inflation in the country.

He said, “Most importantly, we want to do responsible banking by financing the real sector, sustainable banking, investment in technology and also helping the government to finance the sectors, especially agriculture, where you know, we are faced with food inflation.”

Access Bank Rewards First Promo Winner with SUV

Access Bank Plc, has celebrated the first winner of its Access Diamond Xtra Season 16 campaign by presenting an SUV at an official ceremony in Lagos.

The grand prize winner, Onyemachi Uchenna Modestus, a businessman, expressed his surprise and gratitude, having initially doubted the authenticity of his win.

“I didn’t expect this to come my way,” he said. “I got a call recently from Access Bank’s head office, saying I had won a car, but I was skeptical. However, the bank kept calling, trying to convince me with

evidence that it was real and I was in safe hands. After much thought and investigation, I confirmed it was indeed true and came down for the official presentation today.”

At the ceremony, the Group Head of Consumer Banking at Access Bank, Njideka Esomeju recounted the history and evolution of the Diamond Xtra campaign, launched in July 2008.

She emphasized that the initiative, which offers a blend of savings and current account benefits, has positively impacted over a million lives.

Esomeju explained, “We started this in July 2008 with the first scheme. Over

the years, we’ve provided a variety of rewards based on customer feedback, including salary for life and vehicles. This year, the choice of rewards was heavily influenced by customer surveys to ensure we meet their preferences.”

On his part, Senior Retail Advisor for Retail Banking at Access Bank, Robert Giles highlighted the importance of growing the bank’s savings book to support lending to customers.

He noted that over five million of Access Bank’s 60 million customers are saving with Diamond Xtra, highlighting its impact on people’s lives over the past 16 years.

PalmPay Reassures Customers of Seamless Payment Transactions

In its continued drive to financial inclusion across Nigeria, PalmPay, a Fintech company has continued to give customers unlimited free transfers to all banks.

The feature, which was introduced earlier in the year, has been allowing users to make transfers to all banks within the country without incurring any bank fees.

Giving further details about the benefits of the feature, PalmPay’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, stated, “We are committed to ensuring smooth and easy transactions with our free transfer feature. This shows our dedication to providing accessible and

affordable financial services to our over 30 million users and every Nigerian. We believe everyone should have access to affordable financial services. PalmPay is dedicated to driving economic empowerment in Nigeria by offering top-tier products such as money transfers, bill payments, credit services, and savings through its app and mobile money agents. Users can send and receive money seamlessly, pay bills effortlessly, shop with ease, and earn discounts and cashback while performing these transactions.”

According to Nwosu, by eliminating transfer fees to all banks on its app, PalmPay

has empowered its millions of customers to enjoy endless fund transfers to family and friends, pay their bills seamlessly, and manage their finances more effectively.

PalmPay is a leading Africa-focused Fintech platform committed to driving economic empowerment in Africa. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay brings top-tier products into the pockets of everyday Nigerians. With this, we are able to drive financial inclusion. PalmPay offers money transfers, bill payments, credit services, and savings on its app and via its mobile money agents, Nwosu said.

Oke-Ona, UBE Primary School Emerge Victorious in Nestlé Quiz Competition

Nestlé Nigeria proudly announces the winners of the 2024 Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) Quiz Competition. The prestigious title was awarded to Oke-Ona United School, Ilugun Elega, in Ogun State, and UBE Primary School Pasali in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These exceptional students showcased their profound understanding of healthy nutrition, hydration, physical activity, and sustainability, which are the core pillars of the N4HK initiative.

Across Lagos, Ogun, and the FCT, 135 eager children competed for the title of 2024 N4HK quiz champion.

At the Ogun State finals held in Abeokuta, Oke-Ona United

School, Ilugun Elega, secured the first position, followed by St. Peters Primary School, Siun, in second place, and China Nigeria Friendship School Igbesa, AdoOdo, Ota in third place. In the FCT, UBE Primary School Pasali emerged victorious, with Science Primary School (SPS) Abaji taking second place and Science Primary School Kwali securing third. Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, highlighted the significance of this initiative: “By focusing on children’s health and wellbeing, Nestlé for Healthier Kids aims to create a lasting positive impact on future

generations. Equipping children with healthy habits early on can have profound effects on individuals, families, and communities. We are incredibly proud of the students’ performance and their enthusiasm for learning about healthy living. I congratulate all the participants and extend heartfelt gratitude to our partners: the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Health, Ogun State Ministry of Education, and Ogun State Ministry of Health for their invaluable support and collaboration.”

Blend

Djeno (Congo),

(Equatorial Guinea),

Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria),

Murban (UAE)

Merey (Venezuela).

L-R: President/CEO of Avila Naturalle Limited, Dr. Temitope Mayegun; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mr. Wamkele Mene, during the presentation of the Certificate of Origin to Avila Naturalle at Nigeria’s Inaugural Shipping Through AfCFTA GTI event in Lagos… yesterday.

Kayode Tokede

Airtel Africa, 23 Others Lift Stock Market by N262bn

Kayode Tokede

The stock market segment of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday took a positive stance as investors buy-side actions in Airtel Africa Plc and 23 others increased market capitalisation by N262 billion.

The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) gained 470.89 basis points or 0.47 per cent to

close at 100,503.21 basis points from 100,032.32 basis points it opened for trading.

Consequently, market capitalisation rose by N262 billion to close at N 56.908 trillion from N56.646 trillion it closed the previous day.

However, market breadth closed negative, as 24 stocks gained relative to 29 losers. United Capital

emerged the highest price gainer of 9.92 per cent to close at N39.90, per share.

Oando followed with a gain of 9.76 per cent to close at N18.55, while Africa Prudential advanced by 9.55 per cent to close at N9.75, per share.

Learn Africa rose by 9.38 per cent to close at N3.85, while R.T. Briscoe Nigeria and Associated Bus Company appreciated by

9.09 per cent each to close at 72 kobo and 84 kobo, respectively.

On the other side, Linkage Assurance and Veritas Kapital Assurance led others on the losers’ chart with 10.00 per cent each to close at 90 kobo and N1.08 respectively, while Vitafoam Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.67 per cent to close at N19.15, per share.

Zenith Bank lost 7.00 per cent to close at N37.20, while Livestock Feeds depreciated by 6.84 per cent to close at N2.18, per share. The total volume of trades decreased by 64.27 per cent to 392.795 million units, valued at N8.333 billion, and exchanged in 9,013 deals. Transactions in the shares of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) led the activity with 39.748 million

shares worth N1.803 billion. Veritas Kapital Assurance followed with an account of 36.059 million shares valued at N39.791 million, while FCMB Group traded 31.603 million shares valued at N242.254 million. United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 29.384 million shares worth N689.790 million, while Cutix traded 28.642 million shares worth N190.504 million.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF JULY 18/24

during the presentation of ‘Effective Leadership Award in Sustainable Agriculture Sector Development in Nigeria’, to Onuoha by GYADI in Lagos… recently

L-R: General Secretary, Egbe Bobakeye lsonyin, Otunba Femi Oyetayo; Social Secretary, Bola Folorunso; President, Alhaji Kola Abdul; the Saderinren of lsonyin, Oba Omotayo AbdulRasheed Cossy Salami; Female President/lyalode Egbe, Olori Toyin Ogunnuga; and Treasurer, Alhaji Tasiu AbuBakre, during the courtesy visit of executive members of Egbe Bobakeye lsonyin to the palace of Oba Salami in lsonyin, Ogun State… recently

L-R: Minister of Works, David Umahi; Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle; and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja… recently

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

L-R: Chairperson, Parents Teachers’ Forum (PTF), Newfield School, Mrs. Aminat Moshood; a year-two pupil, Azeezat Adetayo; Officer in Charge of Magodo Police Station, ASP Robert Aziba; Head of Newfield School, Magodo, Phase 2, Mrs. Yemisi Odusanya; and school Head Boy, Al’anann Ogunfowoke, during the presentation of Our Heroes Certificate to the police ‘who are adding valuable service and dedication to the people of Magodo’, Lagos… recently

L-R: Head of Corporate Services, Ailes Group, Boheje A Egbe-Okpenge; Chairman/Chief Executive Officers, Ailes Group, High Chief Michael C. Onuoha; President/CEO, Global Youths Awareness and Development Initiative (GYADI), Prince Ejighionwu Ebei; and Business Development Executive, Ailes Group, Miss Omozele Abulime,

L-R: Chief Sustainability Officer, Lagos Free Zone, Vishal Shah; Onilekki of Lekki, His Royal Majesty Olumuyiwa Ogunbekun; Team Captain, Iwerekun Community Senior High School, Idowu Olaitan; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Free Zone, Adesuwa Ladoja; Group Finance Director, Tolaram, Dinesh Rathi; and Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Commerce, Cooperatives, Trades and Investments, Hauwa Adeeyo, during the prize presentation to Iwerekun Community Senior High School, the winner of the 8th edition of Tolaram Science Challenge, organised by Lagos Free Zone in Lagos… recently

L-R: Marketing and Communications Manager, Schneider Electric, Anglophone West Africa, Omobolanle Omotayo; Lead, Economic Intelligence Unit, Access Bank, Oluwaseun Olaoye; Country President, West Africa, Schneider Electric, Ajibola Akindele; President, Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Jennifer Chukwujekwe; Managing Director, M&E Kaiser Limited, Jamila Faniyi; Executive Director, Telios Development, Michael Adesanmi; Key Representative, Lagos State Office of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Raheem Sulaimon; Key Account Manager, Property Developers and Interior Designers, Schneider Electric, Funmi Adepegba; and Channel Sales Director, Anglophone West Africa, Schneider Electric, Nurudeen Oyedeji, during ‘The Future of Property Development’ conference held by Schneider Electric in Lagos… recently

DIAMONDXTRA SEASON 16TH CAR PRESENTATION...

250,000 Vehicles to be Converted to CNG Annually, Says Oworu

John Shiklam in Kaduna Programme Coordinator of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), Folarin Oworu, has said that 250,000 vehicles are being targeted for conversion annually beginning from 2025.

The Presidential CNG initiative (CNGi) is one of the measures adopted by President Bola Tinubu's administration aimed at mitigating the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the masses.

Speaking on Thursday at Kaduna Park Rally, the conversion centre, Oworu, said pioneer beneficiaries of the conversion are commercial vehicles.

He said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with key stakeholders in the transport

unions had been signed.

He said the conversion in Kaduna kicked-off with 100 conversion kits, adding that the next point of the rally would be Lagos.

Oworu said before the year runs out, the 36 states must have been covered.

He said: "What we are doing in Kaduna today is front to back CNG conversion mobilisation. Mr. President has decided to make conversion free for the road transport unions, that is, the NURTW, NATO and other road transport unions.

"The idea is to bring down the cost of commercial transportation by converting the vehicles of transport unions to make their running cost cheaper.

"The idea is for them to translate

Again, NiMet Urges Nigerians to Heed Climate Change Warnings

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike yesterday tasked Nigerians to heed climate warnings in line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) Initiatives.

Anosike said that recent decades had seen increasing frequency and intensity of flooding across the country, noting that heat wave and heat stress were gradually becoming a regular occurrence yearly.

The NiMet DG, while speaking at the Tree Planting and Climate Action Summit themed ‘Treemendous Strategy for a Sustainable Future’, held at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra state, explained that weather storms (thunderstorms, line-squalls, rainstorms etc.) are now becoming more violent.

"Mudslides, erosions, including coastal inundation are not left out. All these are consequences of the changing climate with attendant human and socioeconomic losses to affected communities and the nation at large," he said.

Anosike, who was represented by a Director in the Directorate of Applied Meteorological Services(DAMS), Mrs Glory Onyegbule, was speaking on added that over the years, NiMet had developed mutually beneficial partnerships with research institutions and the academia across the country for the overall good of the nation.

"These partnerships have played significant roles in improving climate knowledge, climate risk management, disaster risk preparedness, climate appreciation and awareness among others," he added.

The NiMet boss said that human actions through deforestation, urbanisation, transportations, industrialisation, indiscriminate waste disposal, land use, have contributed immensely to the rapidly changing climate.

Combating the cause and effect of climate change, he said, requires the collective action of all citizenries at national, state and local government levels including communities.

He further said that NiMet carries out early warnings through the annual seasonal climate prediction (SCP).

this savings up to the end users by making transportation cheaper.

"We are starting here in Kaduna, and from Kaduna, we shall move to Lagos, and before the end of the year, we would have gone round the whole 36 states.

"The signing of the MoU was done by the conversion partners we have at the various locations

where commercial vehicles will go and have their vehicles converted.

“The conversion kits are one 100 per cent free. The conversion cost is 100 per cent free. That is the agreement in the MoU.

"So we are targeting close 250,000 conversion of vehicles per year, starting from next year.

"The conversion kits worth N1

million to N1.5 million depending on the type of kits you have.”

In his goodwill message, a former National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Najim Usman commended President Tinubu's initiative on the P-CNGi agenda, aimed at converting commercial vehicles to CNG. He lauded the president for his support to the transport sector and the decision to provide free conversion kits to commercial vehicles, estimated to benefit one million vehicles. Usman called on all transport unions to key into the programme, which aims at reducing transportation cost.

Soludo Plans Review of Education Curriculum in Anambra to Accommodate Coding, AI, Robotics

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has commenced plans to review educational curriculum in Anambra State to include coding, artificial intelligence and robotics.

The Managing Director of Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), stated this during an event for signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and Bliss Team Educational Services Limited (Bredhub-UbTech), an ICT company.

Agbata who was at the event said the MOU was in line with Governor Soludo's manifesto to review the educational curriculum of the state to allow students to do coding, launching, AI and robotics.

He said: "So it’s no coincidence

that we are here today to flag off initiative where students of COOU will have a good time with real-time robotics that is disrupting the world.

"The university system must continue to play an important role, akin to the revolution played by Stanford University that birthed Silicon Valley, one of the top tech capitals in the world.

"We hope that COOU will play a leading role to energize the Anambra tech drive that Mr. Governor has been dreaming of."

Earlier, the acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha, said the university has been looking forward to this kind of disruptive creativity that will benefit students and staff of the university.

She said: "The signing of MOU for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Education, makes me feel a bit fulfilled

as it aligns with my administration's desire to add academic and social bites in the institution.

"When we came into this university, we wanted to add academic and social bites in what we are doing. This has in-turn made the university a beehive of academic activities within the last seven months of my administration.

"We drew inspiration from Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Two professors from the school, Prof. Umedum and Prof. Agofuru have already done 13-weeks training on AI and Robotics Education in readiness for this project.

"We have to key into this because there are so many things we will learn. It will also be open to outside community too, including those people consuming Mkpurummiri (hard drug) with a view to keeping

them busy and change their psyche so that they can become more productive to the society.

"Part of what we do here is community service to both our internal and external publics with a view to giving back to the society."

Managing director of Bredhub, Ahamefula Michael, in his speech said: "You have to up your knowledge of artificial intelligence and robotics so that you can live in a society under the current 4th Industrial Revolution. We are creating industrial revolution in this part of the world; we want to produce students with real knowledge who can provide solution to society's problems."

Students of the institution were later given opportunity to experience robots and also taken through lessons by experts from Bredhub-UbTech on how to program them.

Tinubu Canvasses Enhancement of Economic Value in Nigeria's Bilateral Relations

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday called for the enhancement of the economic value of bilateral relations between Nigeria and partner nations.

The President spoke when he received Letters of Credence from the Ambassadors of Portugal, Jorge Adao Martins Dos Santos; the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Biu Quoc Hung; and the State of Kuwait, Salim Khalifa Mohammed Almuzayen, at the State House, Abuja.

President Tinubu, according to a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, expressed

his appreciation for Nigeria's longstanding relations with Portugal and the shared interest in the areas of trade and culture, as well as partnership in oil and gas, which has translated into gains for both countries.

His words: “It is good to have you in Nigeria. I am happy you are familiar with Nigeria and the environment. I believe that with your presence, our bilateral relations will be further improved. I am happy you are also present in other West African countries.

“I have been informed of your economic interest in Nigeria. We need to work together for more

localized productions as regards mineral deposits. I have an open-door policy, and you can always reach me through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.”

In his response, the Ambassador of Portugal said investors from his country have a keen interest in Nigeria, and that the trade with Nigeria on gas predated the war between Russia and Ukraine, and will be sustained.

“I will work on our agreements on improving economic relations. There is no shortage of interest in the areas of development where we can be partners. We are one of the highest

buyers of gas from Nigeria, and we remain grateful for the supplies.

“We have long-standing mutual relations when it comes to energy. Before the Russia and Ukraine war, we have been getting our gas from Nigeria. Portuguese companies are also handling the rail line construction from Kano to Niger Republic. It will be ready in two years,” the Portuguese envoy said.

At the meeting with the Ambassador of Vietnam, President Tinubu said the manufacturing sector in Nigeria is ready to benefit from the automation skills and technology of the Asian country.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

L-R: Director, Lagos Zonal Office, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Oghenero Ugoji; Senior Retail Advisor, Retail Banking, Access Bank, Robert Giles; DiamondXtra Season 16 Car Winner, Uche Onyemaechi Modestus; Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, Chizoma Okoli; Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, Njideka Esomeju; and Deputy Director, Lagos Zonal Office, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Nkiru Onuzulu during the DiamondXtra season 16 Car presentation ceremony to the winner held in Lagos on Wednesday SUNDAY ADIGUN

AFRICA LAMPS AWARDS' MEDIA BRIEFING...

Atiku: Tinubu’s Govt Exhibiting Despotic Traits, Says National Assembly Enabling It

Beware of hero-worshippers, Momodu admonishes president

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of exhibiting despotic mannerisms and high-handedness, saying the National Assembly is, sadly, an enabler of the tendencies.

Atiku’s comments followed Wednesday’s removal of Senator Ali Ndume as Chief Whip of the senate after an interview in which he accused Tinubu of being unaware of the suffering of the citiens.

Similarly, in an open letter to the president, renowned journalist and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, advised Tinubu to be wary of hero-worshipers.

In a statement, Atiku said in the evolution of systems of government, a major concern for thinkers was a governmental framework that would reduce the high-handedness of the executive arm of government.

According to him, "It was thought, and rightly so too, that a participatory approach to governance, such that will make the government derive its legitimacy from the people will better serve the interest of the masses.

"And, thus, to make sure that the executive does not go overboard in the application of its powers, the legislative arm of government was

conceived as a means of protecting the people from the authoritarian tendencies of wielders of state powers.

"Regrettably, however, the democracy in Nigeria in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, has become an anathema to that general principle of democracy as providing primary protection for the people against executive excesses.

"This ugly tendency is being manifested by the steady posturing of our National Assembly, especially the Senate, of taking a reverse course in its core function and becoming a puppet in the hands of the President.

"It is uncharitable that whenever members of the Senate stand on the floor of the red chamber to perform their statutory duty of calling the executive to order, they are immediately reprimanded for doing so.

"When Senator Abdul Ningi called attention of the country to the incident of budget padding in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, rather than calling for a thorough investigation into the observation, the reaction of the Senate was to hand him a suspension.

“Today, the people of Nigeria are victims of an ambiguous budget framework upon which appropriations for the current fiscal year are hinged in the face of multiplicity of appropriations.

"Only yesterday, Senator Ali Ndume called for the President to wake up to his responsibilities and provide succour to address the biting hunger and poverty in the country.

“Ironically, the response of the @ NGRSenate to his patriotic warning is to relieve him of his principal office as the Chief Whip of the Senate."

The former vice president said despite persistent appeals to the government to put its priorities on cancelling the excruciating hardship in the land and suspend the idea of spending scarce resources on the purchase of new aircraft for the presidential fleet, the senate took a stand against the people.

Atiku said the lawmakers ignored the voice of altruism by decorating the president with controversial purchases of an aircraft and a yacht amid the worst material conditions of the average citizen in the history of the country.

He stated, "We are, therefore, beginning to see a pattern in which the National Assembly has become an enabler of executive recklessness, and the concerns of the people stand in the nadir of priority list of the legislature.

'"This emerging reality must stop. The health of our democracy is being compromised by this unholy alliance between the executive and the legislature and portends a dictatorship

that will worsen the lot of the people."

Momodu, in his letter, expressed concerns about the state of the nation and urged the president to beware of hero-worshippers. He asked Tinubu to sanction the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for publicly disrespecting Tinubu in the Rivers State crisis.

In a post shared on his Instagram page, Momodu, who has a longstanding relationship with the president, emphasised the need for truth and fiscal responsibility in governance.

He wrote, “Your Excellency, I have decided to write this open letter to you as a concerned friend and brother. As you’re aware, I’m a member of opposition, but you and I have had a long history together.

“I owe you only one thing, truth. It is very obvious that the first thing that takes flight in the Presidential Villa is truth. The reason is simple. Some Nigerians are experts in hijacking men and women of power. The deification process is often swift and irreversible.

“I’m writing to you today, not because I expect you to act on my suggestions, but to put it on record that someone gave you the true picture of things. I’m also hoping that some of your friends will read and interpret to you, in a sober moment.

“Nigeria is in big trouble. Our

Tinubu’s Aide Presents Laptops, Industrial Training Course Licences to Abuja Students

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAPTVEE), Abiola Arogundade, has donated 50 laptops and 50 industrial training course licenses, valued at over N80 million to students of the Government Science and Technical College, Garki, Abuja.

The laptops were equipped with appropriate software to support a six-month training programme in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Engineering, according to a statement from her office.

During the ceremony at the College in Area 3, Arogundade emphasised the significance of the donations in line with the presidential mandate to promote innovation in technical education.

“We are giving licences to 25 students for each of these courses who will each also receive a laptop which is already configured with the appropriate software downloaded to

enable the beneficiaries to do the course effectively,” she said.

At the presentation, the need to focus on promoting technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship education was reinforced, with an emphasis on enhancing the advancement of technical and entrepreneurial skills among the students.

“It is the beginning of a journey into stimulating innovation in technical education in the country which is one of the major pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration,” Arogundade disclosed.

She urged the students to seize the opportunity presented by the training, envisioning them as future entrepreneurs in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence.

She emphasised the potential for the students to utilise the skills acquired to become self-sufficient and contribute to the nation's technological advancement.

Underscoring the importance of upscaling the skills of the nation’s

workforce, she highlighted the potential impact of robotics engineering and artificial intelligence on Nigeria’s industrialisation and productivity.

The SSAP-TVEE also emphasised the need for Nigeria to advance in industrialisation and technology and join the league of developed nations.

Drawing parallels with leading countries in the use of Robots and Artificial Intelligence, she encouraged the students to strive for excellence in their chosen fields, envisioning a future where Nigeria achieves significant progress in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

Arogundade expressed gratitude to Messrs. De Lorenzo International for their generous support and looked forward to continued partnership with the company.

“The initiative represents the beginning of a journey towards stimulating innovation in technical education in the country, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.

“The donations of laptops and training course licences symbolise a significant step towards fostering innovation, enhancing technical education, and empowering students to become key contributors to Nigeria's technological landscape,” she disclosed.

She also pointed out that currently many interventions were going on in Nigeria in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence adding that by the donations, her office was contributing to Tinubu’s mandate of promoting technical education in Nigeria.

Arogundade, who said the donations to GSTC were the beginning of a series of such gestures to technical institutions across the country disclosed that the next in line for the donations was Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) in Lagos. She said that Robotics Science and Artificial Intelligence equipment will also be donated, adding that the courses being given to any technical institution would depend on the ones they indicated interest in.

economy has virtually collapsed. And what’s the way out? You’ve been wasting too much money at a time that requires absolute frugality.

“Please, stop this reckless propensity for wasting scarce resources. Purchasing presidential jets, building outlandish monuments, distributing cash as palliatives, etc., are signs of a failed and careless government.

“If you can curb the excessive spending of your government, you will free up a lot of resources for serious development. I believe you’re frittering away our resources because you desperately crave a second term.

“But the best assurance of a second term is performance. Nigerians are not expecting you to turn water into wine but they don’t want you to turn their wines into water.

“In the name of God, beware of those hero-worshippers at the National Assembly, who have turned you into God. Ndume is your best friend. Listen to him. There’s danger ahead.

“You must enforce discipline as a leader. Your new disciple, Nyesom Wike, has publicly disrespected you in the Fubara matter. You need to sanction him before he throws Nigeria into total chaos.”

Security Agencies in Edo to Begin Raid, Disarming of Unlicensed Arms Bearers

The Edo State Government is working with security agencies to commence a massive raid across the 18 local government areas of the state to disarm persons bearing unlicenced arms and ammunition.

The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this after a closed-door Security Council Meeting, held at the Exco Chamber, Government House, in Benin City.

The governor, who acknowledged the progress recorded so far by the special team set up by the government to review and curb the incidence of cultism in the State, said the State will intensify efforts to totally wipe out all criminal gangs and ensure the safety and security of the people

“We just concluded our security council meeting where we reviewed the security situation in Edo State, looking specifically at incidents relating to security over the last one month. We also reviewed incidents in the first six months in 2024.

“In the last one month, we have seen a decline in insecurity incidents such as cultism, homicide, and kidnapping which are the top three crimes in the State that we have been tracking,” he said

Noting the gains recorded by the special team, the governor said that after the last security council meeting, the state set up a special team to look into the issues of crime and crime-rated activities, headed by the Director of the Department of State Service (DSS).

“The team swung into action and from the report we have got so far, we have seen a decrease in cultism and homicide related

to cultism as was the case for the first five months of this year.

“The council decided that we are not relenting and that we are going to increase the tempo of activities. We have given the team the list of all reports we have received till date on the activities of Okaigheles in all the different communities.”

“Part of the strategy is that raids will be carried out and the homes of identified members of those gangs will be raided. We would intensify most of our activities to locate people who are keeping arms in the communities and their homes, with a view to disarming those who have no authority to keep arms.

‘Council analysed in-depth, the security report presented. It revealed that there are about five local governments that we need to focus on specifically since these local governments account for over 50 per cent of incidents in the state.

“We are going to be having meetings weekly over the next four or five weeks with members of the security council of these local governments with a view to understanding in greater detail what is going on there and narrowing our investigations to communities where these incidents occur very frequently,” the governor said.

On his part, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Funsho Adegboye said the new anti-cultism law was effective and commendable as the State Police Command recorded zero incidents in the Spstate within the period under review, especially during the popular 7/7 day, where cultists used to have a field day to celebrate their activities.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja. And Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos

L-R: Ben Memuletiwon, Editor Crest Online; Eze Anaba, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors; Shina Philips, President, Africa LAMPS Awards; and Mustapha Isah, News Editor, Silverbird TV, at a media briefing last week

NDLEA AMBASSADORS...

L-R: Executive Director, Optiva Capital Partners,Mrs. Amaka Okeke-Lawal; Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs.Archie Abia Ibinabo;Chairman, Optiva Capital Partners, Mr. Franklin Nechi; CEO, Dr. Jane Kimemia, CEO; and Non Executive Director, Optiva Capital Partners, Don Okonkwo, at the induction of Nechi and Kimemia as War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassador by NDLEA at Optiva Capital Partners headquarters in Lagos....yesterday

We Don’t Provide Security for Illegal Mining Sites, Miners, CDS, IG Deny Claims

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have denied allegations that they provide security for illegal mining sites and miners in the country. They both spoke while responding to a query by the Committee Chairman that the members of the Armed Forces and the police were providing security for illegal miners based on reliable reports at a hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Mineral Resources, chaired by Hon Jonathan Gaza, with stakeholders on illegal mining.

Musa, who was represented by the Director of Operations Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, said they only provide protection for legitimate requests made by legitimate miners, who operate in conflict-inflicted areas. He said, "the Armed Forces of

Nigeria is ever ready to give all the necessary support needed to stop this illegal mining. It is not our primary duty but part of our responsibility as per the constitution is that whenever the civil authority task us to do something, we have no obligation than to do that"

“So the Armed Forces to convey here that we are ready to support all the agencies involved in stopping illegal mining including the civil defence, police and the Ministry and so on.

“Now to the question that you asked if the military is protecting any minefield or illegal miners. Most of the time, you find out that from reports reaching us from reliable sources that the military and police providing protection for illegal miners.

“I want to state categorically clear that is a fallacy. It is not true. If there is any such allegations, please we would want to know which of the mines or who brought the allegations so that we would take it up from there. If there is any such

Bago: We’ve DemocraticallyMaintained Elected Leadership in Our Local Govts

Says he does not need FAAC to function

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said his administration has maintained democratically elected leadership in all the 25 local governments in the state.

The governor, who was reacting to last week's Supreme Court Judgement granting financial autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country, however, said he did not the allocation from the federation account to function and deliver on his promises in Niger. Bago also said the state government had maintained "cordial relationship" with the local governments.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting, where the governor gave the scorecard of his more than one year administration, Bago said the synergy between the state and local governments has brought about several developmental initiatives.

These, he claimed, included the ongoing construction of 556km of roads and the amonization of local government staff salaries with that of the state.

In addition, he said the relationship had also ensured prompt and regular payment of salaries and allowances for local government staff and the settlement of salary shortfalls up to October 2020, amounting to N3,366,421,735.53.

"We have gone ahead and effected the payment of wage bonuses to all the local government staff, support security agencies, and the vigilante, morally and otherwise," adding that the state government has continued to partner the local governments to provide some essential services ranging from electrification to pipe-borne water and healthcare services."

He disclosed that the state government did not depend on the handouts from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to finance its projects or move the state forward, adding also that, "I do not need FAAC in Niger State, the roads I am building, the projects I have undertaken are not being done by FAAC.

"We are producing and that is the secret behind what we are doing. There are people, who have invested in Niger State in the next five years," he boasted.

allegation, we want to know who brought that up, but as it is that is pure lies sir."

The IG, who was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ademola Hamzat, said no responsible organisation paid

by the public would do anything that would be against the wish of the people.

“The police, yes, we give guards to some individuals, who we can establish are under serious threat especially in terrorism inflicted areas.

But from my own office, there is nothing to show that we protect any illegal mining site. We don't do that.

“We have a procedure to even grant whoever we are going to guard. The procedure should be

we should know what you do for a living first and you must be able to establish to us what the reasons are the reasons you want personal guard, because the police is supposed to provide general service to the people"

Shettima Seeks Sustainable Global Collaboration To Drive Nigeria's Economic Inclusion

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said there is an urgent need for financial innovation to drive Nigeria's economic and financial inclusion agenda.

This, he said, is in line with the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu's administration to bringing over 30 million unbanked Nigerians into the formal financial sector.

Shettima made the call Thursday during a high-level policy dialogue between the Nigerian government and private sector stakeholders held in Washington DC, the United States capital.

The initiative, which brought together government officials, regulators, law enforcement agencies, and fintech industry leaders at the George Washington University, aims to leverage innovative approaches to drive a sustainable and inclusive

financial system in Nigeria.

Addressing the participants via video conference, the Vice President, according to a release issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, highlighted President Tinubu's commitment to bringing over 30 million unbanked Nigerians into the formal financial sector in line with the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.

"We must develop a sustainable collaboration approach that will facilitate the adoption of inclusive payment to achieve our objective of economic and financial inclusion," he stated.

The dialogue focused on addressing critical challenges in Nigeria's fintech ecosystem, including regulatory oversight, security concerns, and trust issues that have hindered the widespread adoption of innovative financial solutions.

Participants explored strategies to

enhance interagency collaboration and strengthen the overall effectiveness of the financial services sector.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, said, "While the Office of the Vice President has given priority to economic and financial inclusion, it is expected that each agency of government will continue to play their statutory role collaboratively to achieve the set objective."

Also speaking, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in charge of Financial System Stability, Philip Ikeazor, noted the need for ongoing collaboration among all players to achieve the objectives of the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion.

Director General of the National Information Technology Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, proposed "a Digital-first approach and the need to fuse Digital Literacy with Financial

literacy as a means to address trust issues affecting the inclusive payment ecosystem."

This is just as the GMD of Moniepoint, Tosin Eniolorunda, said, "Addressing trust issues that have slowed down the adoption of innovative Fintech solutions for economic and financial inclusion can be addressed through public-private collaborations."

In his remarks, the Technical Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, explained that the gathering will eventually evolve into a mechanism that will provide relevant information to the Office of the Vice President to facilitate effective decision-making for economic and financial inclusion. The high-level engagement resulted in various recommendations covering rules, infrastructure, and coordination, with a focus on implementable actions and clear accountabilities.

CONCERN MOUNTS OVER RETR OACTIVE TAXATION OF BANKS’ PROFIT IN FINANCE BILL

Nigerians.

The lawmakers also appealed to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest to maintain peace, eschew violence and open the windows for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels in order to address their issues.

However, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who commended the lawmakers for the decision to slash their salaries for the benefit of suffering Nigerians, said the real demon was in their allowances.

The House made the appeal following the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, he said the citizens of Nigeria have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest to address their grievances.

Isiaka noted that maintaining peace and engaging in constructive dialogue with the government was crucial for the resolution of issues facing the nation.

He stressed it was undeniable that

Nigeria was facing significant challenges, saying the challenges had plagued the nation for far too long.

The lawmaker added that the issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty had weighed heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian.

Isiaka, however, added that the challenges were not unique to Nigeria alone, stressing that these were issues that countries across the globe grapple with on a daily basis.

He emphasised that in a world constantly changing and evolving, no nation was immune to the complexities of governance and development, saying the road to change was not an easy one.

The House, therefore, resolved that:

“This honorable House appeals to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest in Nigeria to consider a different path. A path of patience, dialogue and collaboration. Prioritise peace and open channels for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels

“Be it further resolved that all stakeholders should uphold the principles of democracy, respect human

rights. And uphold the rule of law in their actions and engagements.

“We trust that through peaceful engagement and dialogue, we can collectively work towards building a better and brighter future for Nigeria.”

However, commending the lawmakers, Atiku said much as the slash by the members of the House of Representatives salaries is commendable, it was a drop in the ocean, saying the demon is in the allowances of the lawmakers and not in their salaries.

He suggested that what was desirable was in the across-board-expenses as Nigeria as a nation could not sustain further borrowing as a way of life and fund continued irresponsibility in government.

Atiku, who took to his X account, wrote: "The sacrifice of members of the House of Representatives is commendable.

"But it is a drop in the ocean. The demons are in the allowances and not the salaries of lawmakers and government officials in general.

"Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted implementation of the Oronsaye Report? Recently, the ballooning of MDAs with the attendant cost implications has been observed. "There's too much wastage and prioritisation of non-essential expenditures. What is desirable is an across the board cut in expenses. We can no longer afford to borrow money to fund continued irresponsibility in government," he stressed Meanwhile the the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun has clarified comment attributed to him about Federal Government's plan to reintroduce beverage tax, describing the report as false and misleading.

Members of the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition (NASR) and Gatefield, a public strategy firm, had during the week paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Finance, where they appeared to solicit taxes to curb the consumption of sugary drinks and consequently reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

UNSCHEDULED INSPECTION VISIT TO LAGOSHOMS SANGOTEDO...

Niger Delta Pollution is Political, Says Environmentalist

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Renowned environmentalist and Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, has alleged that the pollution situation in the Niger Delta region is politically motivated, saying that the government has not shown serious concern on the effects of the pollution on the people in the region. The environmentalist also criticised Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for divesting its facilities to companies that lack financial capacity to manage the assets.

Dr. Bassey stated this yesterday, during the training of Eco-defenders in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, organised by HOMEF. It would be recalled that SPDC in a press statement on January 16, 2024, had revealed that it reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, to Renaissance, a consortium of five companies comprising four exploration and production companies based in Nigeria and an international energy group. The oil multinational also revealed that "Renaissance comprises four Nigerian companies, ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, and

circumstances.

He said, "Well, we were here last week and we're here now. What has been announced in terms of the amount of N70,000 happened to be where we are now. But the good thing about it is that we will not wait for another five years to come on review.

"Rather than settling on a figure that we wait for five years, is like we'll have to now negotiate even two times within five years, with a view to going up. That is one of the reasons we decided to reach where we are today because of the proviso that 'you can review in the next three years’.

"The other one, we came with other issues in the basket, like the issue of SSANU, NASU and others, especially with the affront by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, we brought it to Mr. President and talked on the need for that matter to be addressed.

"And, magnanimously, he asked the agencies concerned to work out the modalities for the payment of those workers in the universities."

Ajaero said the president promised some incentives, like CNG buses, which would lessen the burden that Nigerian workers were passing through, “but you

Waltersmith, and one Genevabased company, Petrolin, involved in exploration, production, and oil trading".

The statement added: "The assets on sale are estimated to be worth $2.8 billion. Initially, Shell will receive USD $1.3 billion and then a further $1.1 billion, on completion of the sale. But here comes the rub: Shell will provide a loan of up to USD $1.2 billion to the buyers to help them buy their stake in SPDC".

Reacting to the transaction, the HOMEF director regretted that the Nigerian government is allegedly celebrating a company that is loaning fund to companies coming to manage the assets, describing the move as a shame and injustice on the people. He said the government is only interested in endorsing the document for divestment of the oil companies instead of ordering them to restore the environment they have damaged during their operations in the Niger Delta communities.

His words: "We have always said that pollution in the Niger Delta is not accidental but political. It is a decision made by those who are benefiting from the pollution. The oil company is benefiting from the pollution because they are not doing the cleanup, that is profit for them. The people die; the

can see that we are taking this with mix feelings because of the situation of the economy”.

The NLC president added, "We have to move ahead, despite the situation, and the negotiation can’t linger, coming from N62,000 to N70,000 and then with the proviso that we are coming back soon to negotiate it. We're taking it back to our constituency to see how they can get a buy in. So that's what has transpired this afternoon.”

Speaking during an interview on Arise News last night, Ajaero asserted that a monthly salary of N70,000 would be adequate for Nigerian workers if the federal government took decisive action to reduce the cost of essential goods and services He stated, "Now we talked about the price of food or incentives needed, if you address this as well as crash the price of a bag of rice to N40,000 or N30,000 and it is in the market, you can crash that of transportation drastically, and then you get the refineries working, N70,000 would be enough for a worker."

Ajaero, however, expressed scepticism about CNG as a solution, emphasising that addressing accommodation and

less the number of people complaining about the pollution is a gain for the oil company and also for the Nigerian government.

"The government doesn't care about the people and the environment. So, this training is to make people really layout foundational basis on how to follow up with what they see.

"The unfortunate situation in Nigeria is that the oil companies and the Nigerian State are working hand

in hand. They are having the same kind of benefits and so regulating an activity from the Nigerian government is difficult and very slow in coming.

"The oil companies have so much manipulated the government and the government stands against the people. For example, in the issue of divestment; when the say there should be no divestment without responsibility, without the company first cleaning up the mess they

have caused over 70years and pay reparations for the damage they have done, the government is more willing to just endorse the document and tell them to go, because they believe in the so call local content."

Further according to Bassey:

"Even Shell Petroleum Company is giving a loan to the company buying its assets. They are giving them $1.2billion for the sale. That means the company buying Shell

doesn't have money. It is a shameless transaction that is in the open and government is celebrating it. They should be held to account".

The environmentalist added that "The challenge for us is why we want to step up monitoring and defending, so that government had to realise that they are in the office to defend and work for the people. They are not there to work for themselves".

Group to Tinubu: Review Tax, Pension Policies Lauds president on LG autonomy, others

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

A civil society group (CSO), Civil Society Organisation on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI), has called on President Bola Tinubu to review his government's tax and pension policies.

CSCHEI's Director-General, Kunle Yusuf, made the call yesterday at the inauguration of the group's Advisory Committee in Abuja.

According to him, the group made the call based on the prevailing economic situation and poverty level

transportation issues would have a more significant impact.

Osifo, in his own remarks, said, "Yes, just as being said by the three previous speakers, the Minister of Information, minister of state labour, as well as the NLC president, they've laid the accounts of what transpired in today's meeting.

"The president made a pronouncement or announcement of N70,000. That by next week, they should put finishing touches to the bill and do the transmission to the National Assembly.

"But why this became a catch is actually because we from the organised labour, we have been pushing that the issue of five years’ review is, to me, so much, that a lot of economic indices may have changed, because we are in an era where things are moving very fast in terms of both macro and micro economic policies.

"But with the caveat that this is going to be done every three years. The next review will be in three years. And after that pronouncement, we from labour just as has been said, we have received what the president has promised from both ends.”

When the tripartite committee

in the country.

He said: "With the economic situation and poverty rate level at the moment, we hereby recommend that Mr. President should review the Presidential Committee on food security to reduce food scarcity in our land; review tax reform policy to a eliminate double taxation; review pension policy, House Mortgage Financing."

Yusuf also called on the President to "direct the federal government agencies to create more relationships with donor agencies, development partners and international organisations for synergy and more cooperation."

met, the government team and the private sector offered N48, 000, then shifted to N54, 000, N57, 000, N60, 000, and finally N62, 000.

On the other hand, organised labour started with N615,000 demand, then N500,000, to N497,000 and finally N250,000.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), in a statement, commended Tinubu for bringing the long drawn negotiation to an end.

Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, urged Tinubu to be mindful of the promises he made to the private sector on how to enable them cope with the latest minimum wage.

Ajayi-Kadir stated, “We commend Mr. President for achieving this breakthrough and look forward to the promised assistance.

“On the side of the private sector, we should hold on to the promise of Mr. President that the federal government will find a way to assist us to pay the minimum wage agreed with labour.

“In this regard, I would assume that reference would be made to the demands made by the OPS (organised private sector) at the concluding stage of the tripartite negotiations.”

Organised Private Sector

He also urged President Tinubu to create an avenue for cordial relationship between the Presidency and Civil Society Organisations, community-based organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations for public policy influencing purposes because they are agents of development and links to the masses.

Commenting on recent developments in the country, Yusuf said "the Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria applaud Mr. President for bold steps taken on local government autonomy, student loans, new Ministry of Livestock, administrative engagement

of Nigeria (OPSN), while commending Tinubu for ending the protracted minimum wage crisis, acknowledged his commitment as well.

OPSN comprises Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA); MAN; National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME); and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) Spokesperson on labour, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, who is also the director general of NECA, stated, “While we commend the president for putting to rest the immediate issue of the national minimum wage, we also note, most importantly, his commitment to support the sub-nationals and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to pay the new wage.”

While affirming that consultation was still on-going within the OPS, Oyerinde stated,

between the Presidency and national labour unions on salary scales and aggressiveness in marketing the country to the global market."

He also commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for being proactive in addressing the nation's security challenges, especially in Delta and Kaduna states. According to him: "It takes a visionary leader to project development during turbulence. The civil society in Nigeria are ready to collaborate with the military on public policy influence, advocacy on extremism, radicalization and cyber-security crimes."

“During the consultations at the National Minimum Wage Committee, the OPS strongly expressed concern about its ability to pay the N62,000 recommended by the tripartite committee.

“In fact, the N62,000 was premised on the understanding and agreement by the government representatives that the government will take definite steps to reduce the current economic burden on the OPS.

“The supports requested included the reversal of increase in electricity tariffs, CBN redemptions of all outstanding forwards for companies in the productive sector, a freeze on introduction of new taxes and levies on businesses for the next five years, duty exemption on imported conversion kits, and government subsidy on procurement of same.”

Similarly, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) applauded Tinubu's approval of N70,000 as minimum wage.

A press statement by President of NANS, Okunomo Henry, in Kano State, said the bold move demonstrated a clear commitment to revitalising the economy, boosting workers’ morale, and fostering sustainable growth.

Henry said the significance of the decision could not be overstated, adding, "A higher minimum wage will not only enhance the purchasing power of workers but also stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and reduce income inequality."

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai; Director, Quantity Surveyor Department, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Hakeem Ilesanmi; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola, during on unscheduled inspection visit to LagosHOMS Sangotedo Phase 2 , Eti - Osa, Lagos State...yesterday

DEEPENING DIASPORA RELATIONS…

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi(right), and Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission(NiDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during a visit to UAE Embassy in Abuja ...recently

Afe Babalola: Mushroom Satellite Campuses Bane of Nigeria’s Education

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has stated that unless the National Universities Commission (NUC) takes decisive step towards closing down all mushroom institutions and study centres across the country, the Nigerian educational system will continue to witness a backward trend.

Babalola stated this yesterday at the Alfa Belgore Hall, ABUAD, when he was conferred with the Fellow of King’s College, London, for his transformative contributions to education and society.

According to the eminent lawyer

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and elder statesman, “The biggest menace facing quality education today, especially in Nigeria and across Africa, is the proliferation of mushroom, satellite institutions and campuses, including study centres that have long deviated from their original conceptualisation and intent.

“There are many of such institutions that had been pronounced illegal by authorities but which are still operating, allegedly, and which commenced operations, even without the permission of NUC.

“What we expect is for the National University Commission (NUC) to close down all mushroom universities. There are

many universities which are illegal, which commenced operations without the permission of NUC.”

Specifically, Afe Babalola described such institutions, as

‘major weapons’ fashioned against quality and functional education in Nigeria and the world at large.

The legal luminary said: “I recall that the NUC had once

published their names. But why don’t they arrest owners of such illegal universities, why don’t they close them down?

“Why can’t they make

the members of staff of such universities face punishment, and put them before the court of law; yet, they are even building new ones everyday.”

One Unilorin Student Dies, Five Injured in Lone Auto Crash

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Management of University of IlorinUnilorin), Kwara state yesterday said that one student of the institution has been confirmed dead during a lone auto crash that occurred along the university road, Ilorin, the state capital.

The management, however,

said that those students that sustained serious injuries have been attended to at the University Health Centre.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the auto crash was said to have involved a small commercial bus, popularly called “Korope” due to the tyre burst while on motion.

It was also gathered that the

auto crash, which occurred close to the university gate, saw some of the university security officials trying to manage the situation.

An eyewitness account told journalists that one of the victims of the accident lost her arm, while another female victim was said to appear lifeless on the road.

However, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the

university, Mr. Kunle Akogun, who confirmed the story in a statement, however, said that those involved in the accident were being treated in the school clinic.

The statement read: “The management of the University of Ilorin is saddened to announce the occurrence of a motor accident on campus this(yesterday) afternoon.

House Committee Decries Current State of Nigerian Institute for International Affairs

Sunday Okobi

The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has decried the current state of infrastructure at the apex Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), declaring that the state of the Institute is unacceptable,

regrettable and reprehensible.

The committee led by its Chairman, Hon. Wole Oke, and other members of the committee, who were on an oversight visit to the Institute in Lagos yesterday, expressed dismay at what they saw and heard about what used to be the premier foreign policy

academy for Nigeria and Africa, “in fact the African version of the London Chatham House.”

The committee members, who condemned the utter neglect and dilapidated state of the infrastructure at the Institute, were unanimous that “sadly, the place is now an obvious poor shell of

its former stature,” declaring that for a Think-Tank of that pedigree to sink into such a dire shape, “responsibilities and laws must have been broken, and fidelity to its core mandate abandoned.”

They therefore, agreed that the place demands and deserves urgent intensive care and attention for

Tinubu’s Loyalist, Onokpasa, Decries Attacks on Yahaya Bello, El Rufai, Others

A member of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential Campaign Council for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Jesutega Onokpasa, has again, decried the sharp division and bad blood going on within the ruling APC, warning that it is high time the alleged gang-up against those who played key roles in the

emergence of President Tinubu stopped.

Onokpasa, a staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu, claimed that certain individuals in the party and within Tinubu’s government were not relenting in their plot against former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and his Kaduna State

counterpart, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. He warned some Tinubu’s appointees, who he said were using the instrumentality of power to torment Bello and El-Rufai to desist, saying the contributions and support of the former governors in the victory of the party were unquantifiable.

Lamenting in a video clip the

speedy recovery and rehabilitation. Oke said: “We must be deliberate in prioritising the legacy status of this monument as the cornerstone of not just Nigeria, but as Africa’s foreign policies incubator, integrity, and sustainability.”

He therefore, promised that they would rally all that is necessary and follow up on every constitutional step to help return life to the Institute’s critical infrastructure and depleted human resource capital.

current ordeals of the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and his family members, Onokpasa said Ganduje was a victim of political vendetta, noting that it was bad that members of the same political party could be tearing themselves up to the advantage of the opposition.

IPI Board: Presidency, Stakeholders Celebrate Adedoyin’s Re-election

It was a joyous night recently as the leading lights of Nigeria’s vibrant media industry gathered to honour one of their own, Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin over his recent re-election as a Director representing Nigeria and the African Continent on the Global Executive Board of the International

Press Institute (IPI).

They were joined at the dinner, organised by IPI-Nigeria to celebrate Adedoyin’s achievement, in Abuja by prominent officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Senator Salihu Mustapha (Kwara Central Senatorial District); Hon. Yinka Aluko (Ilorin East/ Ilorin South Federal Constituency); former Minister of Power and Steel and ex-Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Olu Agunloye; Special Adviser to the President on

Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mr. Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi; Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Relations.

Sanwo-Olu Commends Nova Bank’s Conversion to Commercial Banking

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended the entrance of Nova Bank into Nigeria’s commercial banking market with the opening of its first branch office in the state.

The branch opening marked the first milestone of the bank since the

Central Bank of Nigeria granted its commercial banking operation license to operate as a national bank.

The governor stated this at the opening of Nova Bank’s first commercial branch in Lagos, while commending the dedication of the bank’s board members, management and shareholders in trusting their investments in

the country-s economy.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the country must encourage its citizens that still believe in investing their funds in the economy by providing an enabling environment and policy for them to move forward.

He said: “When you see all of the disruption, the global challenges, when you see all of the uncertainty,

all of the risk profiles that are abound almost everywhere but more importantly now in the economy. But you still see investors, shareholders that are committed in this environment, that still believe that there’s a need for them not to take their money out, we need to commend them and we need to encourage them.

Over 2,000 Persons to Benefit from SPDC Medical Outreach in Bayelsa

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Over 2,000 persons, including aged men and women, children, especially those with impaired visions, are expected to benefit from the three-day Shell Petroleum Development

Company ((SPDC) Gbaran community Vision First Plus medical outreach, which began last Wednesday at the oil and gas-rich Nedugo community in Bayelsa State The programme, in collaboration with the Bayelsa

State Ministry of Health, is expected to offer a wide range of accessible, quality assured health care services which range from promotional to preventive and to curative care with the assistance of on-site doctors and healthcare professionals.

So far, over 700 people have benefitted in the three days programme aimed at alleviating the health deficiencies of the rural dwellers who are the direct sufferers of the environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the categories of candidates to be excluded from the post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(Post-UTME). The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed the set of candidates to be excluded as “candidates from outside Nigeria who applied through UTME/DE modes are exempted from the Post-UTME screening test, but can be screened after admission. Candidates with disabilities, including but not limited to those who are blind, deaf, mute, autistic, amputees, lame, paralysed, have Down syndrome, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, albinism, cerebral palsy, and disfigurements, are exempt from the Post-UTME screening test. “All institutions should clearly disclose this exemption in their advertisements for the Post-UTME screaning test and strictly enforce this policy,” Oloyede said. Earlier, stakeholders pegged the minimum benchmark scores for admissions into universities as 140; and polytechnics and colleges of education at 100 respectively.

Oluchi Chibuzor

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Paris 2024: FG Dangles $5,000 on Each Gold Medal

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has said it will lavish any athlete who returns home with a gold medal at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris with $5,000 cash.

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja.

Nigeria will be represented by 82 athletes in 11 events at

the 33rd Olympic Games slated to begin in Paris next Friday.

He told reporters that the offer was to motivate the athletes to aim for gold medals at the Games.

In addition, he said athletes who win silver medals will get $3,000 while winners of bronze medals will smile home with $2,000.

"Any Team Nigeria athlete that wins a gold medal at the

Paris 2024 Olympics will earn $5,000.00,"

Enoh said adding: "Winning a silver medal will earn the athlete $3,000 and a bronze medal feat will be given $2,000.00. We are determined to encourage Nigerian athletes".

He also assured local and international athletes that their camping allowances will get to them and will not be diverted by officials.

The minister also revealed that the ministry has already paid the local camping allowances of athletes in Nigeria.

"Our athletes are camping locally in Nigeria and Germany. The camping allowances of all the athletes and officials in Nigeria have been paid.

"Hopefully, the athletes and officials in Germany will get theirs before departing Paris, France," he said.

Super Eagles Overtaken by Cote d’Ivoire

Femi Solaja with agency report

AFCON 2023 champions, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire have overtaken the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the current ranking released by FIFA yesterday. With the spate of poor results from the ongoing World Cup qualifying tournament, Nigeria dropped from 38th to 39th position and now rank fifth in the continent.

There has been a steady drop in the Eagles' ranking lately following dismal post-AFCON 2023 performances.

Most appalling is the fact that Super Eagles have not won any World Cup qualifying match since their 2-0 defeat of Liberia on 13 November 2021.

They have since gone seven matches without winning any. In contrast, Morocco continue to hold on tenaciously to the first position in the continent.

Nigeria moved 14 places up to 28th position in the world after AFCON in February but since suffered a decline in the last three consecutive rankings.

The Super Eagles were not in action

FIFA RANKING

in July, but teams in Europe and South America were in action, as the Copa America and Euro Championships took place.

Argentina emerged as champions of the Copa America while Spain were champions of the Euros. The result showed that the Abiceleste maintained their place at the peak of the rankings. Spain’s victory at the Euros also saw them move five places up to third in the World.

Other African teams also dropped because of their lack of action.

Morocco dropped two spots to 14th, Senegal dropped one spot to 19th, and Cote d'Ivoire dropped one spot to 38th.

The top ten teams in the world include; Argentina, France, Spain, England, Brazil, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Colombia, and Portugal while while the top ten teams in Africa are: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon, Mali, and South Africa.

Enyeama’s Son

Joins LOSC Lille

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama proudly announced that his son has joined Lille’s U18 team.

The former Nigerian international who had an outstanding career with LOSC Lille, took to social media to celebrate this significant milestone, expressing his gratitude and joy.

Enyeama’s connection with Lille

dates back to July 2011, when he transferred from Israel to join the French club. His remarkable skills quickly earned him the No. 1 shirt for the 2013-2014 season, under coach René Girard.

Alongside a robust defensive lineup, Enyeama achieved an extraordinary feat of 11 consecutive clean sheets from September to December 2013, a period during which Lille’s defence became nearly impenetrable. During his tenure from 2011 to 2017, Enyeama made 164 appearances and maintained 65 clean sheets, leaving an indelible mark on the club’s history. His performance included a near-record streak of 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal, just shy of the Ligue 1 record.

Now, Enyeama’s legacy is poised to continue as his son steps into the spotlight with Lille’s U18 team. Sharing clips of his son’s goalkeeping prowess, Enyeama’s pride was palpable. His social media post, accompanied by the caption “God is the greatest. Home sweet home. Back home in a different skin,” drew enthusiastic reactions from fans and former teammates alike.

Beach Soccer AFCON: Supersand Eagles

Head to Nouakchott, to Play Mauritania

After five years in the international wilderness, Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles will depart Nigeria to Nouakchott on Friday morning for their 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against their Mauritanian counterparts, slated for Saturday.

The match, which is the first of a two-leg fixture, will have Egyptian officials take charge. Hany Farouk

El-Sayed Eleraky is the referee, with Ahmed Mohamed Elwan Nofal as Referee 2 and Ibrahim El-Sayed Mahgoub as Referee 3. Khaled Mohamed Elewa will serve as the timekeeper, while Moroccan El Mansouri Taha will be the commissioner.

The NFF had appointed Abdullahi Isa, a veteran goalkeeper who later became assistant coach of the team, as the new Head Coach of the

Supersand Eagles, with Christopher Kadiri as Assistant Coach and Bashar Samaila as Goalkeepers’ Trainer.

Experienced players Victor Tale and Emeka Ogbonna are among the playing body, which also includes Arome Isah, Adams Taiwo, Emmanuel Ohwoferia, Godwin Tale, Egan-Osi Ekujimi, Chidozie Frank and Hassan Abdullahi.

The return leg is scheduled for

Saturday,

Lloris Slams Argentine Winning Team over Race Row

Former France captain Hugo Lloris has described the controversial song sung by some Argentina players as an "attack on French people" but hopes it was a mistake that the players involved will learn from.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is facing sanctions from the Premier League club after posting a video on social media that the French Football Federation said included alleged "racist and discriminatory language".

World governing body Fifa is also investigating the video, in which several members of the

Argentina squad - celebrating their 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America final - take part in a song originally sung by Argentina fans questioning the heritage of France's black and mixed-race players.

Fernandez has since issued an apology on social media.

Lloris, France's most capped player and their captain when they won the 2018 World Cup, said he was shocked by the behaviour.

"It doesn't matter if you are in a moment of euphoria because you have won an important trophy,"

he said. "It demands even more responsibility when you are a winner.

"You don't want to hear or see this kind of thing in football. We all stand against discrimination and racism.

"I just think and hope it is a mistake. We all make mistakes sometimes and hopefully they will learn from it."

Former Tottenham captain Lloris, 37, signed for Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles FC in December and was in the United States as Argentina won the Copa America

in Miami.

He was on the losing side in the 2022 World Cup final as France lost on penalties to Argentina.

"They [Argentina] are the face of football right now, in South America, in the world. They deserve a lot of credit for what they have done on the field for the last four or five years," Lloris said.

"But when you win, you are an example for others, especially kids.

"It was a proper attack on the French people, especially for the French people who have some African origin and family."

Super Eagles' defender, Ola Aina in contest against Simon Adingra of Cote D'Ivoire in the final match of AFCON 2023

Vincent Enyeama's son in action

Sports Minister, John Enoh

27th July in Nigeria.

After the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 debacle that made the NFF quietly eject the team from the international sphere, a group of enthusiasts, led by Mallam Mahmoud Hadejia, had kept the beach soccer fire burning around the country with the annual Nigeria Beach Soccer League and a range of tournaments.

WHY GOVERNORS SHOULD ALIGN WITH PRESIDENT TINUBU ON LG AUTONOMY

two-thirds of state assemblies (24 out of 36) for the amendments to sail through and the amendments that sail through would then be sent to the President for assent.

The Senate, in a motion by the then Chairman of the Senate ad-hoc committee on Constitution Review, Ovie Omo-Agege, said during plenary that 27 out of the 36 state assemblies had forwarded their resolutions on the constitution amendment bills to the National Assembly. Presenting his committee report, Omo-Agege said 35 bills satisfied constitutional provision, having been approved by not less than 24 state assemblies. Nine bills could not scale through. Prominent among the bills voted against by the state parliaments was the one seeking to grant financial and administrative autonomy to the country’s local governments. Also among the bills that did not sail through are the ones seeking the abrogation of state-local government joint account and establishment of local government as a tier of government, meaning a majority of the state assemblies, and by extension the governors, never wanted local governments to have absolute freedom.

It’s perhaps in realisation of this, and the overarching need for local governments to be financially empowered to cater to the challenges at the grassroots that President Tinubu took upon himself the crusade for financial autonomy for the local governments. He mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to institute a case against the governors at the Supreme Court. This is with a view to reinforcing democratic principles through full financial powers and effective devolution of power to the councils and ensuring genuine representation at the grassroots through periodic elections. In the suit, the FG sought the enforcement of full autonomy of local governments in Nigeria and also for an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically-elected local government chairmen, and constituting caretaker committees in their place. It also asked the court to make an order permitting the funds meant for the LGs to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the constitution

as against how the governors take advantage of Section 162 (6) at the detriment of the local governments.

The Supreme Court’s verdict was very emphatic and unequivocal. All the reliefs sought by the FG were granted. The apex court ordered direct payment of council allocations, saying the 774 local councils in the federation should manage their funds without interference or deduction from any quarter. According to the apex court, it is unconstitutional for state governors to retain and utilise LG statutory allocations paid through them. The seven-man panel of the court led by Justice Emmanuel Agim also declared that a state has no power to appoint a caretaker committee, while it is mandatory for a local government council to be democratically governed.

“In this case since paying them through states has not worked, the justice of this case demands that the local government allocations from the Federation Account should henceforth be paid directly to the LG councils,” the apex court ruled. On the dissolution of democratically elected councils and appointments of caretaker committees by governors, Justice Agim held that it is a mandatory duty of the state governments or governors, under Section 7 (1) of the Constitution, to ensure their existence.

“A democratically-elected local government is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,” the court added.

This landmark judgment is a critical step forward. It has now become imperative for the governors to file behind President Tinubu in ensuring that local councils become an independent and self-governing tier of government. The governors’ buy-in is important because when the chips are down, the state chief executives will still play an influential role in the election of local government chairmen. The governors must understand that to ensure genuine grassroots development and further strengthen our democracy, the local governments must be empowered financially.

This is part of the democratic re-engineering and restructuring the nation yearns for. Indeed, not a few Nigerians are looking forward to the restructuring of the country

WHY NIGERIA MUST SECURE ITS BORDERS

operating in Kainji Lake National Park. It analysed the dynamic factors in the cultural relationship between Northeast of Benin Republic and Northwest Nigeria and the activities of extremists and non-violent reformist movements such as the Yan Izala movement and the Jama’at Tabligh and drew a scary deduction that a very problematic situation is emerging along the Nigeria-Benin border. The picture is not different from what obtains in many parts along our Northern borders. The free movement of armed extremist groups is compounded by the large swathes of unoccupied spaces spreading from the western corridor of the Southwest and Northwest, across the Northern and Northeast borders and down along the Eastern corridor of the Northeast and Southeast of Nigeria. Over time, the battle against insurgents and bandits has assumed a relentless cat-and-mouse game, heavily complicated by the porous borders and extensive unoccupied spaces. This provides numerous hideouts and escape routes from which bandits can easily slip through and flee to other unoccupied areas and sometimes across the porous borders when faced with intense pressure from the military. The ease with which bandits cross into neighbouring countries not only exacerbates the challenge, but also provides them opportunity to regroup and rearm to launch new attacks once the military’s focus and attention shifts elsewhere. This vicious cycle of violence and evasion makes it difficult for security forces to establish long term stability in most of the affected areas.

It is preposterous to believe that Nigeria has absolute control of activities along its vast borders. It is the lack of presence that is exploited by the various armed groups to freely smuggle in weapons and ammunition and use the unoccupied spaces as staging areas to perpetrate violence in Nigeria. Nigeria’s porous borders contribute largely to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country. In its report for the year 2020, the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss based non-profit organisation, estimated about 6.2 million assorted arms illegally held in Nigeria, which is far beyond those in the custody of security and law enforcement agencies. The fact remains that Mr President and all those in charge of Nigeria’s security architecture must realise that insecurity in the country cannot abate until deliberate and conscious efforts are made to secure Nigeria’s borders.

under this president, given his antecedents. Apart from his numerous struggles for the entrenchment of democracy in the land, even as governor (1999-2007), he fought many battles with then President Olusegun Obasanjo on matters bordering on true federalism. Many would recall the issue of creation of 37 additional local governments in Lagos State during which he dragged the Federal Government to Supreme Court when President Obasanjo stopped the federal allocation to the state. In its ruling, the Supreme Court okayed the process leading to the creation of the councils and described the creation of the 37 new councils as legal, but declared them as inchoate because they had not been listed in the constitution as LGAs. Asíwájú Tinubu’s ingenuity came to play with the new councils becoming Local Council Development Areas. Today, these LCDAs have helped to expand the frontiers of development in Lagos.

There is also the matter of ownership of lands and granting of development plans in the states. Asiwaju Tinubu as Lagos governor filed a case at the Supreme Court to determine who had the power to control urban and regional planning in a state. Two of the issues determined were: whether the ownership rights of the federal Government over land in state territories include the power to control and regulate town planning and physical development in relation to such land. And, whether all approvals, permits, and licences granted by the 1st defendant (federal government) or any of its agencies for any construction, building or physical development, or use of land in Lagos without the consent of the plaintiff are not illegal, null, and void. The Supreme Court granted the states power to grant building approvals and other development plans in the states where such federally-acquired lands are domiciled while not denying the federal government the right to also acquire lands in the states.

For President Tinubu, restructuring has indeed begun. The President has been working to reinforce existing laws, promoting their judicial interpretation and, in some cases, outright amendments in a bid to strengthen democracy and engender fiscal federalism. It is

In his book ‘When States Fail: Causes and Consequences’ published in 2004, Robert Rotberg examined the multifaceted phenomenon of state failure, identifying its root causes among which is the inability of the state to control its borders. Porous and unprotected borders exacerbate internal security threats which lead to unregulated flow of weapons, insurgents and contraband. Rotberg’s analysis underscores the diverse perspective that the failure to secure borders is both a symptom and a cause of state collapse. Nigeria is obviously not a failed state; the latter is, however, the fear and reason why conscientious and timely efforts are necessary to rejig our border security arrangement so that the effects of the porous borders do not allow the country to degenerate into a failed state. Nigeria’s current border security arrangement leaves much to be desired. It is grossly inadequate to secure the country from threats and intruders especially around the Northern borders. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi

a measure of his commitment to restructuring that one of the first bills he signed into law as the country’s President was the Electricity Act 2023, which he signed on June 6, 2023, barely eighth day in office, marking a significant milestone in the sector. The new law focuses on enhancing the regulation and management of the electricity value chain with the active participation of the sub-national governments. This, thus far, has resulted in the process of devolution of regulatory powers to three states – Enugu, Ekiti, and Ondo - to set up their electricity markets.

Importantly, the Nigerian Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee led by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele is still busy working on comprehensive tax reforms, including reforms to the country’s value-added tax (VAT) and other taxes that will restructure the system and further advance fiscal federalism in the end.

Back to the issue of LG autonomy. There is still more work to be done. Like the state governors, the National Assembly must take concrete legislative actions to support the vision. The laws governing local government elections must be reworked to transfer the responsibility of conducting these elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission as opposed to the state independent electoral authorities, which are only independent in name. This legislative initiative is crucial to eliminating the undue influence of state governors over the local government election process and ensuring the integrity of the polls. This change will be a significant move in complementing President Tinubu and Supreme Court’s efforts towards achieving genuine local government autonomy and enhancing democratic governance in Nigeria.

Speaking when he hosted some Yoruba elders on April 16, 2024 at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu had pointed out that the matter of restructuring would be systematic, saying when the economy is properly on a firm footing, steps would be taken on restructuring so that it will be on a solid footing. “As I said in Akure, our approach to it would be as if a baby is learning how to walk. If the baby is rushed, it will fall,” he had said.

•Rahman is a Senior Presidential Aide.

extremists’ groups, and yet the borders are wide open providing supply routes for the adversary? Perhaps this factor, among some others prompted the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, to note upon his retirement in February 2021 that ‘insurgency in Nigeria might not end for another 20 years’. His experience based on our inability to effectively control our borders underscores a significant gap in our national approach.

Tunji-Ojo acquiesced to this while inaugurating a 13-man Integrated Border Governance Committee in September 2023, to develop a plan to adequately secure Nigeria’s borders. The violence often unleashed on the citizens by well-armed extremist groups and bandits who infiltrate the borders has shown that the nation can no longer rely on the Nigerian immigration and Customs Service alone for the security of the borders. Those criminal groups who violate the borders and fizzle into the adjoining unoccupied spaces within Nigeria to take abode have shown overwhelming capability that the two agencies cannot match.

So far, the strategy employed by the military in the past 15 years, though offering some momentary relief, is nonetheless insufficient to achieve the security the nation deserves. The military has shown much tenacity and resilience even under conditions that are invariably not conducive. How can one describe a situation where the military is confronting bandits and

To address the gap, Nigeria must develop an integrated border security system that would combine physical security measures with modern technology, like strategies used in the US, Turkey and India. It must consider the use of ditches, walls, wire barriers, surveillance devices and armed drones where necessary. Nigeria could also emulate India and the US, where border security force is established to deal with infiltration of terrorists, arms smuggling and illegal trafficking of people along the borders. Now is the time to build a credible, robust and bellicose border security guard force that will be well equipped to serve as the primary focus in the overall integrated border security arrangement. In addition to its primary task of securing the borders, the border guard force would also provide security and protection to the existing border control agencies and enable them to perform their duties without hindrance. The border security guard force which must be well resourced could be placed directly under the Nigerian Army or the Defence Headquarters to prevent issue of rivalry and enhance coordination.

As part of the much talked about rejig of the nation’s security architecture, the military high command may consider a strategic initiative to relocate some of its military formations and units proximate to our vulnerable borders and areas of high threat intensity. By this, a pre-emptive strategy to deal with the threats far away would be established, and the bandits would be denied the oxygen required to breath violence hinterland. As it stands today, the forests adjoining our borders which provide haven to bandits and criminal gangs must be secured and failure to do this will perpetuate this cyclical conflict for years to come, as already predicted.

•Olawumi, a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army and former NYSC Director General is a member of THISDAY editorial board

Tinubu

Financial Times to President Tinubu

“Hunger levels are soaring and millions of children are foregoing meals and school. Nigerian politicians love to be seen handing out bags of rice. Corruption needs to be tackled. It does not help that Tinubu’s own vast wealth is not easy to decipher... Without a properly joined-up and articulated plan, Tinubu’s bitter medicine will not cure Nigeria’s ills. It will just leave a bad taste” –Financial Times of London’s report, paints a gloomy picture of ‘Tinubunomics’, says it is so disjointed it barely deserves the name.

TUNDERAHMAN

GUEST COLUMNIST

Why Governors Should Align with President Tinubu on LG Autonomy

Governors have been acting tonguein-cheek in their reactions to last Thursday’s verdict of the Supreme Court, which stripped them of their suffocating grip over the money meant for local governments in the country.

As a collective, the governors unreservedly endorsed the judgement. Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRazak AbdulRahman, who spoke on behalf of the governors, said the forum welcomed the apex court’s ruling granting financial autonomy to the councils, describing the verdict as a relief from the burden on the governors. Addressing State House Correspondents on the matter after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, Governor AbdulRazak was flanked by the Chairman of All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Dr Bala Mohammed, suggesting they were all in agreement with Governor AbdulRasak in his pronouncement.

“Our Attorney-General has applied for the enrolment order, which we will study carefully.

But by and large, governors are happy with the devolution of power in respect of local government autonomy. It relieves the burden

how much states expend in bailing out local governments, and that’s the issue there,”

Governor AbdulRasak said, adding that his government in Kwara State had never tampered with local government funds.

However, it was learnt that the governors were not happy with the decision of the federal government to take them to court and are merely playing to the gallery. For instance, a few days after the NGF Chairman spoke, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, described the case as a distraction. He questioned the sustainability of local governments receiving allocations from the federal government. Speaking with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governor said: “They said there is a judgment of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy. I think it is just a distraction. We must face the real issue that we have. The issue that we have is that we are not producing enough. We are not productive. Maybe it may be part of the problem, we want to have value for what is being shared but our problem is productivity.”

It may be argued that it is customary in our clime for an opposition governor to toe

JOHNSONOLAWUMI

GUEST COLUMNIST

a different path from that of the President from a different party and this may be correct. However, the opposition of state governors to local council financial autonomy has never been in doubt. It has always been vainly concealed. In a report in The Punch newspaper of January 25, 2023, state houses of assemblies across Nigeria had rejected nine constitutional amendment bills, including the proposed legislation for financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils. The state assemblies were believed to have done so at the promptings of their governors who exert considerable influence over legislative processes at the state level. The rejected bills were part of the bills that the National Assembly transmitted to them for concurrence. The National Assembly had in March 2022, voted on 68 bills aimed at further amending the 1999 Constitution. At the end of the exercise, 44 of the bills were approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and transmitted to the state assemblies for concurrence. A simple majority of votes was required in at least

Continued on page 39

Why Nigeria Must Secure its Borders

In Washington DC on Monday, 30 April 2018, then President Muhammadu Buhari and his host, then United States President Donald Trump, addressed a joint press conference to mark the end of the twoday visit of the Nigerian leader. Buhari made some requests, among which was the US assistance in getting weapons and equipment to support Nigeria’s fight against the deadly Boko Haram terrorists that were rampaging the Northeast zone of the country. Interestingly, it was not President Trump’s promise to assist Nigeria that caught my attention, but his response to an unrelated question posed by one of the White House correspondents, Cecilia Vega of ABC News. She veered off to the turbulent issue of the Mexico border closure which was top on Trump’s political agenda.

True to his style, Trump took his time to explain to the audience the imperative of strong border security. He described the proposed wall as a critical measure to enhance national security, arguing that it was essential to stop illegal immigration as well as drug and human trafficking. The closing statement by Trump was instructive. He emphasised that ‘any country that cannot secure its borders cannot control

its own territory or ensure the safety of its citizens’. For the visiting Nigerian president, that message was either lost or not properly assimilated.

Many factors have been attributed to the spate of insecurity in Nigeria over the past decades. Some of these are the rise of extremist groups, ethnic and religious tensions, economic disparities and poverty, weak governance and corruption, armed banditry and criminal gangs, as well as the effects of climate change that is fuelling farmer-herder clashes. In recent times, people have also referred to the activities of illegal miners in collaboration with some foreign groups. These factors have given rise to the activities of several non-state actors with unrestricted access to sophisticated weapons and ammunition used to regularly perpetrate violence against innocent people and members of the security forces and agencies. In dealing with the threats, the country must be able to analyse the strategic centre of gravity of the violent non-state actors to enable it to provide appropriate response in both kinetic and nonkinetic forms.

In military strategy, strategic centre of gravity refers to the primary source of power that

provides the violent non-state actors their strength, freedom of action or will to fight. It is a concept propagated by the renown Prussian military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz in his seminal work ‘On War’ published posthumously in 1832. In its broad outline, the term is used to describe the focal point in an adversary power and strength which, if targeted would lead to its collapse. The centre of gravity could be tangible or intangible and the focal point could be the leadership, economy, capability, popular support or suitable alliances. The accepted norm is that once a centre of gravity is identified, the state must deploy the appropriate organ as the main effort, and this organ must be well resourced to unhinge the centre of gravity.

In tackling the spate of insecurity especially across Northern Nigeria, it appears that there has been no specific consensus, careful analysis and identification at the political level of what the strategic centre of gravity of the threat is, or it is simply overwhelmed with the intricacies of dealing with centres of gravity that could trigger political complexities and dimensions. The reason is obvious; anyone schooled in the business of crisis and violence management would understand without equivocation that

in Nigeria today, what gives the various armed groups their strength is the unrestricted access to weapons and ammunition. This is the centre of gravity of the armed groups and bandits, which the government must focus and direct its attention. This can fundamentally be achieved by addressing the issue of our porous borders and the several swathes of unoccupied spaces across the country.

On record, Nigeria has a total of 84 crossing points along the borders, many of which are unmanned. The terrain along the borders facilitates unofficial crossings in several areas apart from the official crossing points. Since the emergence of Boko Haram Terrorist activities with their firepower, many of the crossing points along the Northeast borders have been abandoned with the insurgent group enjoying freedom of action. Only recently, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael Institute’, a leading think tank and academy on international affairs raised an alert on the increasing presence of violent extremists in the Kainji Lake National Park, many of whom infiltrated through Benin Republic. It further

Friday, July 19, 2024Price:

Tinubu

on governors. Our people really don’t know