TUESDAY 13TH AUGUST 2024

Alleged 5.4bn Shares: CBN, FBN Holdings

Ask Court to Dismiss Barbican Capital‘s Suit

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LAUNCH OF CNG-POWERED BUSES...

EU Warns Elon Musk Following Planned Trump’s Interview on X

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja European Commissioner, Thierry Breton, yesterday warned X owner Elon Musk that the company may face penalties if it doesn’t address the spread of illegal content. Breton referred to riots that have taken place in the UK, triggered by disinformation related to a fatal stabbing attack, as well as a conversation Musk is due to hold with Donald Trump. Breton warned Musk that the

L-R: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Chairman, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Mrs. Winifred Akpani; and Vice Chairman of DAPPMAN, Mrs. Amina Maina, during the inauguration of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-Powered Buses in the Presidential Villa, Abuja ... yesterday Continued on page 9

Tinubu Inaugurates 30 CNG Buses to Ease Transportation

ZENITH BANK'S 'FACTS BEHIND THE OFFER'...

L-R: Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Louis Odom; Executive Director, Mr. Adamu Lawani; Chief Executive Officer, NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo), Mr. Femi Shobanjo; CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Mr. Jude Chiemeka; Group Managing Director/CEO, NGX Group, Mr. Temi Popoola; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON; Chairman, NGX Group, Mr. Ahonsi Unuigbe; Executive Director, Mr. Henry Oroh; Executive Director, Mrs. Adobi Nwapa; and Executive Director, Mr. Akin Ogunranti during Zenith Bank’s ‘Facts Behind the Offer’ at the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) ... yesterday.

NEW HEAD OF FEDErAl CIVIl SErVICE SWOrN IN AT FEC...

L-R: Immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, shortly after swearing in of the new Head of Civil Service at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja … yesterday

Nigeria’s Oil Output Rose by 930,000 Barrels in July in Major Boost to FX Inflow

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government’s aspiration to earn more foreign exchange got a boost in July, with oil production rising by as much as 30,000 barrels per day, to climb to 930,000 barrels of oil last month .

In all, Nigeria’s crude oil production in the month of July rose to 1.307 million bpd, the Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), released yesterday showed.

The addition of 30, 000 bpd in July crude oil production, was an improvement on the production figure for June which stood at 1.276 million bpd, based on direct communication with Nigerian authorities.

But secondary sources indicated that Nigeria’s daily average crude oil production in July was 1.386 million bpd, an increase of 16,000 barrels compared to June’s figure of 1.369 million bpd.

Nigeria also maintained its position as Africa’s largest oil producer, with Libya following closely, producing 1.175 million bpd in July.

But despite the appreciable rise, the country is yet to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota of 1.58 million bpd.

As of last night, the upstream regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had yet to release its own data for the month under consideration.

Usually, the condensates are

outside the OPEC calculation, but is usually added by the NUPRC, meaningful that with the projection, Nigeria’s condensates products which is about 300,000 bod daily could boost production for the month close to 1.6 million bod.

Recent, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, stated that the country was aiming to reach a daily production of 2 million barrels by 2025. Nigeria blames massive oil theft, pipeline vandalism as well as outright theft of its oil for its inability to meet its OPEC quota and by extension satisfy its aspiration to raise output considerably.

The country is desperately in need of FX to boost the value of the Naira compared to the dollar, a yearning that has remained largely hobbled

due to underproduction of crude oil. Meanwhile, underwhelming data so far this year and expectations of softening Chinese demand growth has prompted OPEC to cut its forecasts of global oil demand growth this year and next, in the first downward revision since the organisation issued its initial estimate for 2024 a year ago.

Global oil demand is set to grow by 2.11 million bpd in 2024, a still "healthy" growth pace, well above the historical average of 1.4 million bpd seen prior to the pandemic, OPEC said in the MOMR.

The latest demand growth estimate is 135,000 bpd lower than the assessment of a 2.25 million bpd increase from July. The downward revision reflected actual consumption data for the first and second quarters

of this year, "as well as softening expectations for China's oil demand growth in 2024," OPEC said.

Total world oil demand is anticipated to reach 104.3 million bpd in 2024, bolstered by strong air travel demand and road mobility, including trucking, as well as healthy industrial, construction and agricultural activities in non-OECD countries, according to the cartel.

OPEC also trimmed its 2025 demand growth forecast to 1.78 million bpd, slightly lower than the increase of 1.85 million bpd expected in last month's report.

"The global growth forecast is subject to many uncertainties, including global economic developments," OPEC said.

The latest monthly report contained the first acknowledgment

by the organisation that Chinese oil demand growth could disappoint this year.

The latest signals from China have been of sluggish economic indicators and uncertainties about whether the authorities could manage to reinvigorate the economy.

Despite OPEC's first downward revision to its 2024 oil demand growth forecast, the gap between the cartel's growth assessment and that of the International Energy Agency (IEA) remains at more than 1 million bpd more optimistic outlook from OPEC.

The IEA's monthly report is due out on Tuesday, August 13, and could see another downward revision from the agency, which has been flagging weaker oil demand growth, including in China, so far in 2024.

Also, Lokpobiri has said that all

industry players will need to collaborate to solve the many problems of the oil and gas industry.

“Collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of our petroleum resources and ensuring sustainable growth for all Nigerians. In my meeting with members of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), we emphasised the importance of working together to meet our deliverables.

“Our discussions focused on implementing strategic measures that align with our shared goals of enhancing productivity and driving economic prosperity. We are committed to overcoming the challenges in the sector, ensuring that our collective efforts lead to tangible benefits for the nation and Nigerians,” he stated on his X handle.

Food Scarcity: Gov Abiodun Starts Distribution of Fertilisers

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Monday, flagged-off the first phase of the distribution of fertilizers to different categories of farmers with a promise to aggressively tackle food scarcity in the state.

About 7,000 out of 12,000 farmers earmarked for the scheme, will benefit from the first phase, in which a total of 24,000 bags of

fertilizers will be distributed.

Speaking at an event held at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun acknowledged the growing disparity between food supply and global food production, which has led to scarcity.

He said: "It is widely known that the global population is growing exponentially while the overall food production is falling and struggling to keep pace. We will be more aggressive in tackling food

inflation.

"The initiative symbolises more than just the distribution of fertilizer. It represents our collective resolve to support the agriculture sector and ensure that farmers have the resources they need to cultivate their land effectively and efficiently.

"The provision of the right type and adequate amount of fertilizer is crucial to boost crop yields, enhance quality, and ultimately secure food supply for our state and the nation."

Truck Hits TCN Power Tower, Throwing Parts of North-west into Darkness

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday disclosed that its electricity supply infrastructure in North-west Nigeria had been impacted by the impact of a truck which hit one of its towers in the region, throwing some areas into darkness.

A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the TCN, Ndidi Mbah, stressed that the event occurred on Sunday, around Kano at about 9.28am.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that a trailer carrying a container drove into the

base of TCN’s tower T16 located in Gunduwawa Village, Gezawa Local Government Area, Kano State, on Sunday, August 11, 2024, destroying the tower and causing outage in several communities in the North Western part of the nation.

“At about 9.28am, August 11, 2024, the Kano–Hadejia 132kV Transmission Line tripped, losing about 16.6MW. Trial re-closure of the line to enable continued bulk power supply failed, prompting the immediate dispatch of a patrol team to survey the line.

“ The team found that a trailer truck carrying a container had hit tower T16 situated in Gunduwawa and destroyed two legs of the tower

causing it to buckle and fall,” Mbah stated.

The incident, she said, caused the tripping of the line, cutting off supply as the tower fell on the container and hit a nearby residential building damaging a part of it.

Although no life was lost, the incident, the TCN said, has been reported to Gezawa Divisional Police Station and the driver has also been detained.

“Unfortunately, this has put Hadejia, Gumel, Gagarawa, Nguru, Mallammadori, Birniwa, Kafin-Hausa, Auyo, Guri, Kaugama, Taura, Garki, Maigatari, Babura, Kirikasamma, Machina Local Government Areas in

Jigawa and Yobe States in darkness.

“Presently, there is no alternative source of bulk power supply to two of TCN’s substations, the Gagarawa and Hadejia substations. This means that the affected areas will not have supply until the tower is repaired,” the TCN stated.

The company pledged to do everything possible to quickly dismantle the damaged tower, re-erect a new one and restring the lines to enable the resumption of bulk power supply to the two substations to enable the Distribution Companies (Discos) offtake power for its customers within the affected areas.

The distribution, the governor noted, marks another significant milestone in the ongoing commitment to ensuring food security and empowering farmers, emphasizing that agriculture remains the backbone of the nation's economy, creating and providing sustenance and reliable job opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

He noted the challenges farmers are facing in terms of unstable market prices and climate change, adding that with the right support and incentives, farmers could drive and transform the nation's agricultural sector.

He added: "12,000 farmers will benefit from this program. In the first phase, at least 7,000 farmers are to benefit. This distribution spans various categories of farmers, including the Nigeria Cassava Association, Rice Farmers Association, Maize Association of Nigeria, Farmer Allotees, Agro-services Crop Farmers, the Agricultural Development Programme, the Farmer Settlement and Estate Farmers, Tree Crops Farmers, and farmers in all 20 local government areas.

"It is gratifying to note that the ongoing cooperation of states and the federal government on this transformation agenda, particularly in agriculture, will create several opportunities. It will serve as a viable business venture, and we should all come together to ensure

its success."

The present administration, the governor said, has designed and implemented programs and interventions through the implementation of the "Building Our Future Together" agenda as encapsulated in the ISEYA mantra.

According to the governor, reforms such as the allocation of agricultural lands to investors in the sector at Imasayi, Afon, OkeOdan, Mamu, and the Odeda Farm Settlement, as well as the allocation of land to members of the State Executive Council, House of Assembly members, and High Court judges, were geared towards operationalizing our back-to-land agenda.

He said his administration has given materials to 50 cassava women farmers in collaboration with the National Agriculture Land Development Authority, empowered 3,000 farmers with farm inputs under the Ogun N-CARES project, as well as provided capacity building for 12,000 farmers under the Value Chain Development Programme. In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, said the administration has positively intervened in farming activities by giving 1,000 farmers, especially those from farm settlements, a 50 percent reduction in purchasing fertilizer, pesticides, and cassava stems.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

James Sowole in Abeokuta

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

AMBODE

VISITS SANWO-OLU...

Bello: FCCPC to Engage Market Leaders, Others

Over Exploitative Pricing of Consumer Goods

and Emmanuel

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr. Tunji Bello, yesterday disclosed that the commission would engage leaders of markets and other stakeholders in the supply and distribution chain, as part of a broader initiative to check exploitative pricing of consumer goods.

In a statement, Bello said while the exchange rate had impacted the value of the Naira, prices charged are, in most cases, disproportionate for imported products and excessive for locally produced ones.

He said the unfair practice was prevalent in the retail segment of the distribution chain where some market associations are engaged in price fixing at the expense of consumers.

He noted that by working with market leaders, the commission

believes an understanding could be reached on reasonable pricing of products to eschew undue profiteering at the expense of consumers at a time of economic challenges.

The FCCPC boss added that such interaction, which would take place across the country, would be sustained by the commission to foster a better market culture that makes allowance for the trader’s margin without leaving buyers exploited.

Bello said, "The commission’s

advocacy for Nigerian consumers in this direction is consistent with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

"Already, the commission has mandated the operators of supermarkets to visibly display the prices of products displayed on their shelves to shoppers for transparency and avoid an ambush situation where they only get to know of the prices after payment would have been made at the counter and

FG Must Lead in Commercialisation of Indigenous Research Outcomes, Engineering Experts Insist

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

To end the pervasive neglect of the outcomes of indigenous research and development, experts in the field of engineering have urged the federal government to show the way in promoting the application of the local engineering innovations.

The advice was among the four recommendations in a communique issued by engineers after brainstorming at the international conference hosted by the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The conference themed, "Engineering for Sustainable Economy, Security and Agricultural Development", was the third in the biennial event. It attracted no fewer than 1,651 partcipants from various fields of engineering.

In the revised communique signed by the Dean, Engineering Faculty of MOUAU, Prof Edwin Ahaneku, and Prof. Bethrand Nwankwojike, the conference planning committee chair, the experts stressed the important role of the FG in the applications of indigenous research outputs.

According to the engineers at the conference, "the Federal Government of Nigeria should take the lead in the adoption, standardization and commercialization of indigenous engineering innovations and inventions for growth and prosperity of engineering industries in Nigeria".

To this end, the conference participants recommended that "public-private sector collaboration

should be vigorously pursued and encouraged by government at all levels to advance local production of agricultural, manufacturing, communication and surveillance systems".

They noted that the PPP approach in promoting local innovations in research and development could be achieved "through policy initiatives and incentives by providing adequate grants for research and development".

"Government and organized private organizations should redouble efforts in engineering infrastructures investment and enforcement of safety standards and regulations in their operations to advance agricultural and industrial development in Nigeria," the experts said.

They also called for sustainable economic practices and national strategy for empowerment of our citizens with our engineering research outputs.

These two-pronged initatives were identified as "crucial to enhancement of Gross Domestic Products(GDP), cyber and food security indices of the nation".

In the course of their "exhaustive deliberations" between July 3 and July 5, 2024, the participants observed that "Nigeria of today needs serious relief from the dwindling conditions in all facets of the human development index".

They also pointed out that Nigeria's economy "holds immense potential for growth and diversification but presently vulnerable due to its over- reliance on unmanufactured export and imported consumer goods".

"Nigeria has enough human

and material resources as well as indigenous research inventions/ innovations to revive her devastated economy and security," the engineers noted in the communique.

While lamenting the huge payments by government in combating crime instead of focusing more on "human empowerment aspect of national security", the participants

concluded that the approach "is counterproductive".

The technical sessions of the international conference involved the presentation of 94 papers with the lead paper presented by the Executive Director/CEO, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization(NCAM) Ilorin - Engr. Dr. Kamal Abdulgafar Rasheed.

receipt issued."

He added that the engagement was pursuant to Sections 17(l) (s),116 (2),124,125,138 and 155 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

Meanwhile, the economy is currently under a high inflationary environment, following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the local currency, leading to the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the rate of change in goods and commodities, further rose to 34.19 per cent, in June compared to 33.95 per cent in May.

Food inflation increased by 15.62 per cent year on year to 40.87 per cent compared to 25.25 per cent in June 2023.

Month-on-month, the food index also increased to 0.26 per cent to 2.55 per cent compared to 2.28 per cent in May.

Similarly, the All items less farm produces and energy" or core inflation, which excludes the prices of

volatile agricultural produces and energy stood increased to 27.40 per cent year on year in June, up by 7.34 per cent compared to 20.06 per cent in June 2023. Month on month, the core index increased by 0.05 per cent to 2.06 per cent in June compared to 2.01 per cent in May.

Food inflation was attributed to increases in prices millet whole grain, garri, guinea corn, etc (bread and cereals class), yam, water yam, coco yam (potatoes, yam and other tubers class).

Others are groundnut oil, palm oil, etc (oil and fats class) and catfish dried, dried fish-sardine, mudfish (fish class) among others. On the other hand, core inflation resulted from the highest price increases in rents (actual and imputed rentals for housing class), journey by motorcycle, bus journey intercity (under passenger transport by road class).

Other contributors include accommodation service, consultation fee of a medical doctor, laboratory service, x-ray photography, (under medical services class), and pharmaceutical products.

BDAN: Windfall Tax Huge Burden on Banks with Ongoing Recapitalisation

Nume Ekeghe

The Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) has called on the federal government to reconsider the recently imposed 70 per cent windfall tax on profits generated from foreign exchange transactions by banks.

The tax, set to apply from 2023 to 2025, has raised significant concerns in the banking sector, particularly regarding its timing and potential impact on ongoing recapitalisation efforts.

In a statement signed by BDAN’s, Chairman, Mustafa Chike-Obi, the association acknowledged the government's intentions behind the tax but described the levy as, "excessively burdensome and ill-timed."

The body reiterated that the high tax rate could stifle growth and innovation within the banking industry, ultimately affecting the quality of financial services available to customers and the broader economy.

Chike-Obi highlighted the need for greater consultation and dialogue between the government and stakeholders in the banking sector before

enacting such significant changes.

He added: “We, the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (LTD/GTE) wish to formally address the recent imposition of a 70 per cent levy on the profits realised from foreign exchange transactions by banks for the financial years 2023 to 2025.

“We acknowledge and respect the intentions of the government in implementing this decision; however, we feel it is essential to express our concerns regarding the magnitude of the levy, its timing and the ambiguities surrounding its implementation.

“While the imposition of this windfall tax appears to be a response to the current economic climate, we suggest that a 70 per cent tax rate is excessively burdensome and ill-timed, particularly considering the ongoing bank recapitalisation efforts.

“Such a high levy has the potential to stifle growth and innovation within the banking sector; ultimately affecting the quality of services we provide to our customers and the broader economy.

“Moreover, we believe that it is vital for all stakeholders in

the banking sector to have been consulted prior to the enactment of such significant changes in the Finance Act 2023. Open dialogue and negotiation are essential to ensure that policies are both equitable and effective.

“A primary concern lies in the ambiguities of the language in this amendment which leave critical questions unanswered. Such as, whether the windfall tax will be implemented as a Total Tax charge on banks, incorporating other taxes already levied such as Company Income tax, Tertiary Education Tax, National Information Development Levy (NITDL), etc.

“We also request clarification on what constitutes “FX transactions” to be taxed and the treatment of banks that may incur losses rather than gains during this period. We urge the government to provide clear guidelines on this matter to avoid further uncertainty.”

The statement further noted that Nigerian banks are already among the most heavily taxed globally, citing the existing AMCON levy imposed on total bank assets. BDAN

urged the government to consider consolidating all taxes and levies on banks in the future to alleviate the sector's tax burden.

“It would also be critical to reassure the banking community that future levies and taxes will not be arbitrarily imposed.”

Speaking further, Chike-Obi who is the Chairman of Fidelity Bank added: “In view of these concerns, we respectfully urge the National Assembly to revisit this amendment and engage in constructive discussions with stakeholders in the banking sector.

“By collaborating, we can develop a framework that effectively balances the need for revenue generation with the imperative of fostering a thriving banking environment that supports sustainable economic growth.”

The association further commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for recent efforts in stabilising the banking sector, stated that they remain committed to supporting and collaborating with regulators, government entities, and other stakeholders to find solutions that benefit all parties involved.

James Emejo

Addeh in Abuja

L-R: Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a courtesy visit by Ambode at the Lagos House, Alausa, ... yesterday

NIgErIA-BrItAIN ASSocIAtIoN (N-BA) 2024 PrESIdENtIAl cocktAIl...

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA), Miss Olajumoke Adeola; N-BA Patron, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, GCVO, CFR; N-BA President, Mr. Sola Oyetayo; representative of the Lagos State Governor and the State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; and N-BA Assistant Honorary Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Olanbiwoninu during the 2024 N-BA Presidential Cocktail held in Lagos ... recently

Sanwo-Olu to Unveil Digitalised Lagos Revenue Portal Thursday

In a bid to simplified non-tax payment process by residents and corporate entities in Lagos, the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would this Thursday formally inaugurate the innovative Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP) for the benefit of all stakeholders in the nation's commercial nerve centre.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Opeyemi Ogungbo, announced this in a statement issued yesterday.

He said the innovative online platform was designed to simplify how Lagos residents and corporate entities perform their civic responsibilities in the form of non-tax payments, making the entire process more efficient, convenient and secure.

Ogungbo, stated that the proposed launch of the LRP was in line with the governor’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda and his continuous drive to improve the quality of life for Lagosians.

He stated, "The innovative online platform was designed to simplify how Lagos residents and corporate entities perform their civic responsibilities in form of non-tax payments, making the entire process more efficient, convenient and secure.

"As earlier established with the e-Tax platform for all tax payments managed by the LIRS. LRP is another milestone in the Administration of our Governor; Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

"The LRP scheduled to be launched by Mr. Governor on Thursday, 15th of August 2024, represents a significant leap towards modernising our revenue collection system."

Ogungbo maintained that the advanced technology would streamline the state's collection processes into a friendlier and more accessible selfservice portal for everyone in Lagos.

He explained that the LRP aggregates all Lagos State bills and payments across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, making it a one-stop-shop for all taxpayers.

He added that the portal allows Lagosians to manage and print their bills and make payments online through multiple available channels such as Card, Bank Transfer, POS, USSD, QR Code, among others, from the comfort of their homes or offices.

This, he said, eliminates the need for physical visits to Lagos State service stations and bank branches, saving time and reducing hassle for their taxpayers.

According to the governor's side, the portal ensures secure and seamless payment processing, guaranteeing that transactions are both safe and efficient.

"This means that every payer receives an Instant Revenue Receipt after successful payment and also allows them to seamlessly VALIDATE these receipts to avoid paying to the wrong hands. This aspect of the LRP is critical in providing peace of mind to our taxpayers.

"Additionally, the portal facilitates easy payer registration, so Individuals and businesses can now register as payers and access their profiles online, simplifying the entire registration process," Ogungbo stated. Furthermore, he noted that the LRP also allows for amendment and reversal request, saying payers could request changes or reversals on their payments, which significantly reduces errors and disputes along the transaction value-chain, payers,

banks and MDAs.

The statement added, "Comprehensive view of payment and receipts is another valuable feature of the portal. Users can view and download their payment history (remittance statement) and receipts, providing easy access to their records.

"LRP is available on both secure web and mobile application channels. This will allow taxpayers to access the portal on-the-go, making it even more convenient. The portal is designed

to allow for seamless integrations with current and future technologies; thereby allowing for scalability, robustness, confidentiality and data integrity without compromising data privacy regulations.

"This one-stop-shop provides Lagosians with timely support and promotes ease-of-doing-business within the State, therefore enhancing their overall experience.

"In conclusion, the LRP is a significant step towards modernising revenue

collection and administration in Lagos State, by providing a user-friendly, efficient, and secure platform, the government aims to increase compliance, promote transparency, efficient service delivery and grow revenue for developmental projects. "As the portal continues to evolve, it is expected to impact on the state's revenue administration system. We are committed to continuously improving LRP to meet the needs of our citizens and businesses in Lagos State."

Obaseki Appoints, Swears in Joseph Eboigbe as New Edo SSG

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has sworn in Mr. Joseph Eboigbe as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Eboigbe’s appointment followed the resignation of Osarodion Ogie, who held the position until August 9, when he left to pursue a political career as running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21 governorship poll in the state.

Before his appointment, Eboigbe had served as Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning and, later, Commissioner for Finance. He is also the chairman of the 20-member

transition committee to pilot the smooth transition to the next administration.

Obaseki, who inaugurated the new SSG at the EXCO Chambers at Government House, in Benin City, expressed confidence in the capacity of Eboigbe to deliver.

The governor described Eboigbe as an astute, diligent, and detailed man who had proven himself under his administration.

He said, “The new SSG is an old hand. He has been part of this administration. He served as a former Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning and later as Commissioner for Finance. Currently, he is the chairman of the transition committee; we couldn’t find a better person than him. He

was there in the beginning and will help us finish strong.

“We know him well to be an astute professional, very diligent, and detailed in any assignment he is given to do. I have no doubt in my mind that he knows what to do in helping us to finish strong and ensuring we have a perfect transition and succession to the next administration. I congratulate you and thank you for accepting to serve.”

In his response, Eboigbe thanked the governor for the confidence in him.

He added, "This is a very huge assignment, especially few months to round up this administration. I am committed to excellence, Sir, and promise to discharge my

responsibilities to my utmost ability and exceed all expectations set for me.”

Obaseki, in an earlier statement, had wished the out-gone SSG Ogie the best in his aspirations and expressed belief that “he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in pursuing his quest to serve the Edo people”.

A statement, Monday, by Special Adviser to the governor Obaseki on Media Project, Crusoe Osagie, said, “The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, who, in line with extant laws has stepped down from his position to pursue his ambition to run as the deputy governor of Edo State.”

The Police, yesterday, said that they had included protection and promotion of human rights in the curriculum of police training institutions to train police personnel that would respect the rights of citizens, while discharging their constitutional duty of law enforcement.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said this in Abuja, during the Nigeria police force youth summit, organised to commemorate the 2024 United Nations International Youth Day Celebration, as well as engage with Nigerian youths on national security.

He noted that he had ordered the divisional police officers across the federation to leverage volunteers, such as special police constabulary, and vigilante groups to provide adequate security within their areas of responsibility. Egbetokun also disclosed that the police had since flagged off farm patrol in Northeast, to enable farmers return to their farms to ensure food security.

He celebrated the achievements of the anti-cult unit of the force, which was set up to checkmate cult activities in secondary schools in Nigeria.

Noting that bad eggs were not peculiar to the police alone, the IGP said society got the kind of police it deserved as police personnel were recruited from the population, adding that the police had put mechanism in place to fish out its own bad eggs.

In a keynote address, the former Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, told the police that the dimension of security threats in Nigeria had migrated from physical to the digital space.

He identified these new threats to include, misinformation and disinformation, hacking, espionage, subversion amongst other cyber crimes.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, who was represented by Director General, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndache, appealed to the youths to work with the president to move to nation to the next level.

IYD: Obasanjo to Train Youths on Cassava Farming

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), yesterday, disclosed plans to train youths in cassava farming in an effort to empower them and work towards food security and self-employment. The pilot scheme would involve about 200 youth participants who would be trained, given land to cultivate, supervise the farm, so that they would become their own employers.

The chairperson of the Youth Development Centre of the OOPL, Dr. Bisi Kolapo, disclosed the plan of the Youth Centre, at an event to commemorate the 2024 International Youth Day, held at the Amphitheatre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta. While the theme of the 2024

International Youth Day is "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development", Obasanjo Centre programme featured Agbeloba: "Exploring Cultural Ways to Transform Food System in Nigeria."

The event, where various speakers spoke on youth development, also featured stage plays, cultural dance, interactive sessions and musicals, depicting importance of agriculture as a means of youth employment and to ensure food security.

Kolapo, urged youths to emulate former President Olusegun Obasanjo by being focused and positive on what they are doing, advising them not to allow anything to hinder them from making a difference.

This is just as the youths were also urged to imbibe healthy habits that promote sustainable environment and help to fight effect of climate

change which also impact negatively on agricultural production.

The youth were told to shun anti-social vices such as internet scam, abuse of drugs and substances among others and concentrate on using their energy productively to enhance food production.

Kolapo said: "You can always allow the life of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, born in the village of Ibogun over 85 years ago to inspire you to be great in life.

"Notwithstanding Baba Obasanjo's early struggle in life, he is today a renowned farmer, a world leader, an entrepreneur and father to many across the world. You too must click to progress and greater heights as theme of this year International Youth Day implies.

"You must join the efforts to tackle the prevailing hunger in the land by embracing agriculture. It is time for

our youths to channel their productive energy to overcome the challenge of food crisis in the country".

In her welcome address, the Programme Manager, Youth Development Centre of OOPL, Omolara Kehinde, said Nigeria has food problem because people, particularly, youth are not ready to farm again.

Kehinde urged the youth to use the digital platforms to enhance food production.

She said that this would be in line with the International Youth Day 2024 theme "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development."

Kehinde urged the youth to stop seeing agricultural practices as being dirty encouraging them to embrace even if it is backyard farming to support whatever the bigger farmers are also bringing into the market.

Peter Uzoho

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

Serve Nigeria, Civil Service with Integrity, Tinubu Tells New HoS

Describes Yemi-Esan’s tenure as exceptional

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday, administered the oath of office on the new Head of the Civil Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, charging her to serve the nation with integrity and transparency.

The President also paid tribute to the immediate past HoS of the Federation, Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan, describing her tenure

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday, inaugurated 30 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses at the State House, Abuja, aimed to ease the burden of transportation on the citizens brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy.

This was as the Chairman of Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Winifred Akpani, described the formal unveiling of the buses as a game changer for the transport sector.

Tinubu had assured that the buses would help ease transportation challenges faced by Nigerians, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.

In the first phase of procurement, 30 buses were acquired from Innoson Motors, an indigenous vehicle manufacturing firm.

At the symbolic ceremony performed at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu disclosed that commercial

5.4bn

5,386,397,202 shares representing 15.1 percent of FBNH overall share listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE.

It stated that its shares purchases and dates of issue, were adequately captured by FBNH appointed Registrars, Meristem Registrar and Probate Service Ltd and further acknowledged in the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), which contained its value of shares with the bank.

However, FBN Holdings Plc in a written address in response to the Motion on Notice filed by its counsel, Babajide Koku, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that the plaintiff deliberately concealed the fact of an ongoing verification exercise by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of its alleged significant shareholdings, according to court records seen by THISDAY.

The bank stated that the primary purpose of instituting the suit was to circumvent the verification exercise and the decision taken by the CBN against Barbican Capital Limited (Plaintiff).

It stated that on 7th of July 2023, the plaintiff in accordance with the regulatory laws and policies notified the defendant (FBN Holdings Plc)

Vanessa Obioha

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has continued his tradition of sharing a summer playlist, releasing his 2024 selection on his official X account. With the post already amassing over 11 million views and 84,000 likes, it’s clear the list has resonated with many.

“As summer winds down, I wanted to share some songs I’ve been listening to lately—and it wouldn’t be my playlist without an eclectic mix,” Obama wrote. “I hope you find something new to listen to!”

True to his word, the playlist features a diverse array of artists from across the globe, representing different generations and genres. They include Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em,’ Bob Marley and The Wailers’ ‘Them Belly Full (But We Hungry),’ and Charli XCX ‘365.’

as exceptional. He said: "We must learn from her commitment to duty, loyalty, and great vision. She served our nation exceptionally well with dedication, guiding the civil service through significant transformation and reforms.

''Her dedication to enhancing efficiency, transparency, and professionalism has set a high standard for public administration in this country.

''As she steps down, we express

vehicles in Nigeria make up about 80 per cent of the nation's petrol consumption, costing the country trillions of naira monthly.

Five of the 30 CNG buses were driven to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, where the President officially inaugurated them for public use.

The President said, "I am very honoured to be here, it is a great expression for me to receive these buses on behalf of the government and making a significant innovation to transportation system.

"Utilising natural gas to power our transportation industry is the next way to go. For many countries especially Nigeria, with our own gas, if we work harder, be productive and innovative, it is an economic necessity that we should embrace.

"I noted the recent yearnings of many ordinary Nigerians on transportation. I thank Innoson Motors and others. We have been committed to change this narrative

that it had acquired units of shares and therefore held a shareholding amounting to about 4,770.269,843 units of shares.

The shareholding was about 13.3 percent of the defendant’s shareholding.

It stated that by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines for Licencing and Regulation of Financial Holding Companies in Nigeria (issued pursuant to the Central Bank Act of 2007 and Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act 2004), Financial Holding, Companies (including the Defendant) required prior approval to be sought from CBN before the purchase of a FHC’s shareholding of 5 percent and above; or if the share units are purchased on the secondary market, to notify the CBN within seven days from the date of the purchase to obtain a ‘No Objection’ or approval from the CBN.

It stated that pursuant to the CBN Guidelines, the FBN Holdings Plc vide a letter dated 10th of July 2023 notified the CBN of the purported new shareholding of the plaintiff which exceeded the minimum threshold of five per cent

two million views on YouTube and more than 60,000 likes. Tems’ inclusion comes via her

our deep gratitude for her unwavering commitment and the significant impact she has made in our country. We thank you very much,'' Tinubu said.

Speaking to newsmen after being sworn-in, Walson-Jack thanked the President for the confidence reposed in her.

According to her: "I must also thank the outgone HoS, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, for her mentorship and guidance throughout my career.

in this country.

"If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we would definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people.

“These buses along with the CNG being convertible is very encouraging and promising to enhance our transportation system. Countries like India have mandated CNG for commercial vehicles since 2004 and in Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 per cent of our petrol demand costing us trillions of naira each month.

"The solution is here. We have it, we will work on it. We promise you things will get better; prosperity will be achieved.”

Describing the formal unveiling of the buses as a game changer for the transport sector, Akpani told newsmen after the inauguration, “We are very proud to say these buses have been designed, manufactured

shareholding and therein sought the CBN's approval.

The CBN responded to the defendant's letter and requested the plaintiff to produce documents for the verification process of the shareholding.

Sequel to the receipt of the CBN's letter, the defendant forwarded the same to Barbican Capital Ltd and recommended that the plaintiff (Barbican Capital Ltd) should provide the requested documents relevant to the verification process, but the plaintiff failed, refused and neglected in providing all the requested documents.

Consequently, the CBN vide a letter dated 29th of January 2024, informed the defendant that it was only able to verify only 3,110,400.619 units of shares out of the plaintiff's then 4,770,269,843 billion shareholdings due to insufficient documents.

The defendant added that it communicated the verification status to the Barbican Capital Ltd., however, the plaintiff failed, refused and or neglected to provide the relevant documents to the CBN to date.

Meanwhile, before the CBN letter of 29th of January 2024, the defendant

reimagining of the afro-soul classic ‘Love Me Jeje,’ originally performed by Seyi Sodimu and Shaffy Bello. This isn’t the first time these artists have been featured; Rema’s ‘Iron Man’ appeared in Obama’s 2019 playlist, while Tems’ ‘Vibe Out’

''I look forward to building on the existing reforms in a way that will bring innovation and creativity, so that the civil service can be more effective and efficient to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda,'' she said. Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

She has held key positions in several ministries, including Power, Water Resources, Education, and

and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company in Nnewi.

“These are hybrid buses that will run on CNG. Each of these buses is capable of transporting 100 people and they also have alternative use of diesel.

“They are hybrid buses and we are very happy today that we can present these.

"We continue to assure this government of our full support as marketers. We will continue to go the extra mile to ease the problems of all of us not just the downtrodden but everybody.

“We believe that these buses will be put to use especially since we know that more donations are coming and we thank the President for this opportunity.

“I’d like to state that as part of our delivery, we’ve made provision that each of these buses will have two drivers and we are going to have trained at the facility that they have been manufactured.

had published its unaudited financial statement for the year ended 2023, in December 2023. Therein, it captured the plaintiff's shareholding to be 4,886,062,743 in accordance with data gathered from its Members’ Register.

"Further to the verification by the CBN, (the defendant's Regulator), the defendant has published its Audited Financial Statements for the year end 2023 and its Unaudited Financial Statements for Q1 2024.

“As a regulated entity, the Defendant revised the stated Plaintiff's shareholding to be in accordance with the verified shareholding by CBN.

"Rather than regularise its status with the CBN by providing relevant documents to the CBN necessary for the verification of its unverified shareholding, the plaintiff has instituted this suit in a bid to activate machinery of justice to compel the defendant to defy its regulator, due process, regulatory laws and policies by mandating it to recognise all of the plaintiff's purported shareholding obtained without CBN’s approval which as at the time of filing the

the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.

She is credited with initiatives, such as the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH) and contributions to labour relations and the national minimum wage.

She is an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and an alumna of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

Walson-Jack is the author of the novel, 'Roses in the Thorns.'

“Here, we request that whoever gets the buses at the end please can they contact DAPPMAN so that we can arrange those training, because we think is very important that these buses are properly handled for durability and that they can go a long way.

"We are very sure that this will contribute in bringing down transportation costs and we know that if transportation cost comes down, food and so many other things will follow.

“Since transportation seems to be one of the big issues we have in Nigeria.

“So, on behalf of DAPPMAN, we are very happy to present this set of buses to the federal government of Nigeria."

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said NNPC contributed 10 of the 30 buses presented by DAPPMAN to the President.

His words: “We committed 10 CNG buses to DAPPMAN which is what we have delivered today. We are excited to be part of this initiative. Although it is an NNPC initiative, for us in the Foundation, we are committed to our area of focus which

is energy and the environment. As you know, these are CNG buses, they are clean energy buses, aside from that, access to energy is one of the key areas we are focused on.

“So, it aligns with our vision and objective, so we are excited that we are part of NNPC's drive towards making sure that people have access to energy, especially towards making sure that people have access to duel fuel which is environmentally friendly.”

Commenting on its significance to the economy, Arukwe said: “It’s very significant because for example filling those 10 buses will cost a little money. We know that CNG apart from being clean is much cheaper because is cheaper to fuel the vehicle the price is going to be way down.

"So, for the public, this is the way to go. Because once they can pay their transport fare as we know people move around a lot, these are very big buses that can take up to 100 people, so it is significant that if we have more CNG buses, the transport fare will be greatly reduced.

“It will help the economy in terms of people moving around which is different from what we have with the PMS.”

EU was prepared to "make full use of our toolbox" under the Digital Services Act, including interim measures, to protect EU citizens from "serious harm."

The Commission also told Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino that the company may face penalties and restrictions in Europe if it doesn't address the spread of illegal content, including incitements to violence and hate speech, on its social media platform.

"I am writing to you in the context of recent events in the United Kingdom and in relation to the planned broadcast on your platform X of a live conversation between a US presidential candidate and yourself, which will also be accessible to users in the EU," Thierry Breton, European commissioner for the internal market, wrote in a letter that was posted Monday on X.

made the 2022 list.

Obama’s summer playlists have become a significant endorsement for artists, often boosting their global reach, even though sometimes short-lived. Apart from reflecting his eclectic taste in music, it has become a cultural barometer, putting both emerging and established artists in the spotlight. The tradition began in 2015 during his second term in office as a partnership with Spotify to engage young Americans in politics. Now, it has evolved into an eagerly anticipated annual event, typically released towards the end of summer in the U.S.

Over the years, several Nigerian artists have made the cut, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Ayra Starr. With Tems and Rema making the list this year, it shows the global appeal and recognition of Nigerian music.

"We are monitoring the potential risks in the EU associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjunction with major political - or societal - events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections," wrote Breton.

"I therefore urge you to promptly ensure the effectiveness of your systems and to report measures taken to my team," he added, as quoted by CNBC.

Following receipt of the letter, Yaccarino called it "an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US."

"It also patronises European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions," Yaccarino wrote on X.

Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, was set to host Donald Trump on Monday evening on Spaces, the streaming platform of X.

Billed as an unscripted conversation by Musk, the Spaces session

will be one of the few campaign events Trump does this week. The Republican former president is still trying to find his footing in a newly competitive race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. The commissioner reminded Musk of due diligence obligations set out in the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) — legislation requiring social networks and streaming media platforms to prevent the spread of hate speech and other harmful content on their platforms — amid an investigation of X into potential breaches of the law.

Breton warned Musk that the EU was prepared to "make full use of our toolbox" to protect EU citizens from "serious harm."

Given X Corp.'s reported 300 million users worldwide (of which one-third are based in the EU), X is "designated as a Very Large Online Platform" with a legal obligation to follow European laws and specifically the Digital Services Act, wrote Breton. Riots that have taken place in the UK in recent weeks were sparked by disinformation that spread on X and other social media platforms, falsely identifying the perpetrator of attacks on children attending a dance class in an English town as an asylum-seeker.

Since then, Musk has made a series of incendiary comments about the situation in the UK on X. At one point, he suggested the violence taking place on British streets could end up in a civil war, writing, "Civil war is inevitable."

Musk's comments have been denounced by British officials. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week there is "no justification" for such comments. Musk also shared an image of a fake headline that was made to look like it had come from "The Telegraph" newspaper's website,

The new HoS, Didi Walson-Jack

Rema Tems

GLAD TO MEET YOU...

Petroleum Engineers Allay Fears of Job Losses, Industry Capacity Erosion with Ongoing IOCs' Divestments

Say Seplat, Oando, Renaissance have needed competence to optimise oil blocks Operators lament suffocation by over 40 regulators

Peter Uzoho

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council has assured Nigerians that the ongoing divestment of onshore oil and gas assets by international oil companies (IOCs) would not lead to job losses and technical capacity erosion in the industry when the local companies buying the assets finally take possession.

The Chairman of SPE Nigeria Council, Mr. Salahudeen Tahir, gave the assurance in Lagos, at the just concluded 47th Nigeria Annual

International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) 2024, with the theme, "Petroleum Industry Value Chain: The Inevitability of Midstream and Downstream Development." Tahir, also pointed out that the indigenous Nigerian oil firms buying the assets from the IOCs including Seplat Energy, Oando Plc, and Africa Renaissance, among others have the requisite technical competence, funding partnerships and wealth of experience to operate and optimise the assets and deliver value from them as done by the IOCs.

He spoke just as operators in the upstream petroleum sector decried alleged suffocation of their businesses by 40 regulators with attendant multiple taxes, fees paid in United States' dollars.

The Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production sector has continued to witness a gale of onshore portfolio divestment by the IOCs over the past few years due largely to general unfavorable operating environment coupled with the global portfolio rationalisation by the multinationals.

Currently, ExxonMobil, Eni, Shell,

TotalEnergies and Equinor have all put their onshore assets in Nigeria on sale, and a couple of Nigerian independent companies are buying those assets, with the divestment transactions now at different stages of completion.

However, questions have been raised by some concerned stakeholders about the ability of the local operators pushing to acquire the assets to operate them optimally with the same kind of technical competence and transparency showcased by the IOCs.

The stakeholders also expressed

2024 World Youth Day: Abure, Edeoga Charge Nigerian Youths to Compete for Leadership Positions

As Nigeria joins other nations of the world to commemorate 'World Youths Day,' national chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Barrister Julius Abure, and other party chieftains have challenged Nigerian youths on the need to prioritize leadership roles in Nigeria and beyond.

According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, Barrister Abure, made the remark on Monday in Abuja while addressing the youth wing of the labor party, insisting that the Nigerian youths have failed to challenge for leadership positions in Nigeria, unlike their counterparts all over the world.

He said: "The Nigerian youths have failed to be role models in Nigerian politics. The Nigerian youths should be able to show capacity and tenacity in the character of leadership."

The LP national chairman, however, suggested that leadership should make policies to be able to harness the energy and potential of the Nigerian youths.

He said: "Bye and large, it could only be the Labour Party which can achieve this and we are not resting on our oars. But I still challenge the Nigerian youths not to resort to instruments of violence and destruction but viable tools for good governance."

While corroborating, the 2023 Labour Party governorship flag bearer in Enugu State, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, said that there is a need for

youth idealism in Nigeria with an emphasis that being a youth is a mental disposition.

According to Edeoga, "We need to define what youth stand for. So, our support for the youths must be a project that equals building the next generation of our country. So, identifying with the youths is a creation of mind which bothers on how the country survives.

“It also bothers on those who have the capacity and energy to pilot the affairs of the country. I agree that the government and other agencies need to put up youth policies to drive youth focus in Nigeria, maximize their potential, and make it the main driver of the nation's economy.

"We know that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe started as a youth, General Gown also ruled this country as a youth, and General Muhammadu Buhari was also at the age of 30 when he ascended the leadership".

Hon. Edeoga, while admonishing the youths, warned that #Japa syndrome is not a solution to the immediate hardship being experienced in the country.

His words: "It is a sign of surrender; the Nigerian youths should be able to stay back and fight for their rights and save their country. Do not surrender to a bad government; the Nigerian youths must have hope and, above all, say no to drug abuse and other vices that shame your images".

Also speaking earlier, the national youth leader of the party, Prince Kenedy Ahanotu, said that days are gone when the Nigerian youths

are regarded as tools for political violence but time for self-discovery.

He said that the 2024 International Youths Day, themed “Harnessing the Energy of the Youths for National Economic Development”, is apt as the energy in the youths around the world is what drives the national economies.

"For us in Nigeria, we feel that the youths have not been given adequate opportunities to express themselves politically and to exhibit the potentials that God has given to them. For instance, I believe that Nigeria was at its early stage when the likes of Yakubu Gown, General

Muhammadu Buhari, and others were allowed to lead the country, and that was even when the country was doing well, but today, the case is different.

“It is a situation where we have people who are supposed to be retired and watch their children lead the country, still agitating to be in government. I don't see the reason why we have people the age of 70 and above still in government and the same people attend international meetings and have handshakes with the presidents of other nations between the ages of 30 and 40 years.

worry as to whether the takeover of the assets by Nigerian locals would not result in loss of jobs by the current staff working for the multinationals in the divested businesses.

But in allaying those fears, the SPE Chairman explained that the new owners of the assets would still retain and make use of the same personnel working for the IOCs, adding that the fear of job losses, erosion of technical competence and transparency should not arise.

According to him, the local companies buying the assets including Seplat, Oando, Renaissance and others have the wherewithal to operate those onshore assets and deliver high value to Nigerians and their partners.

Tahir explained, "In the onshore, we are seeing Shell moving out of the onshore space and there is a company, African Renaissance taking over. That same African Renaissance are taking the same manpower as Shell is leaving.

“These are experts, people that have been doing this job for many years. So, it's the same people that they are taking.

"Also, Eni is leaving the onshore. As Eni is leaving Agip, Oando takes over and it's the same people that are working there that Oando will retain. You are not bringing in novices.

“Same with Seplat, if Exxon moves and gives Seplat their asset, it's the same people that will be working there for Seplat. Each of these companies have their code of conduct and business ethics, they have their governance processes which they are mandated

to abide with.

"So if there is a feeling that because one IOCs is exiting in one place and we are going to lose technical capacity and transparency, I would want to tell you to be rest assured that it's the same capacity and transparency exhibited by the IOCs that you are going to see happening with the indigenous companies taking over these assets."

To further ensure that the local firms taking over the divested assets play by the rules, the SPE chair pointed out that there are checks and balances in the system.

According to him, the industry has regulators such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nige- rian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) that regulate activities of the sector including ensuring job security for Nigerians.

Meanwhile, operators in the Nigerian oil and gas industry have decried the suffocation of their businesses by over 40 regulators and the attendant multiple taxes, and fees that are present in the industry. They lamented that there were too many bottlenecks usually encountered in their efforts to comply with the regulatory procedures, saying that has forced investors to now start looking for solace in other countries.

Continues online

Gov Sani Flags Off Distribution of 500 Trucks of Fertiliser to Farmers

John Shiklam in

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has flagged-off the distribution of 500 trucks of fertiliser (about 15 metric tonnes) to farmers in the state.

Speaking at the occasion on Monday in Kaduna, Sani said the event marks a significant milestone in the journey towards revitalization of the agricultural sector and ensuring food security in Kaduna State.

He said that 240,000 bags will be distributed to 120,000 smallholder farmers for free.

The governor said the benefiting smallholder farmers were carefully selected by an all-inclusive, nonpartisan committee.

He added that the committee

was made up of representatives of the Kaduna State Chapter of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, Kaduna Elders Forum, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and religious bodies, among others.

The governor said the initiative clearly demonstrates his administration's steadfast commitment to empowering farmers and re-energizing the agricultural sector.

Sani said: "Agriculture is not only the backbone of our state’s economy but also a vital contributor to our overall growth and development.

"According to our latest GDP report, agriculture contributes 42.81 per cent to Kaduna State's GDP and

employs 42 per cent of the total workforce.

"Our state is a significant player in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, ranking first in the production of ginger, contributing 76.4 per cent to the national output.

"We also lead in maize production, contributing 7.4.per cent of the national yield, and we rank second in soybeans production, contributing 9.4 per cent.

Additionally, we are proud of our contributions to tomato, sorghum, rice paddy, and cowpea production, where Kaduna consistently ranks among the top producers in the country."

According to him, these rankings underscore the government's pivotal role in feeding the nation and driving

agricultural productivity.

He said N22.54b was allocated to the agricultural sector in the state's 2024 budget, noting that it is a significant increase from previous years and a resolve to cultivate a vibrant agricultural ecosystem. According to the governor, since taking office in May 2023, remarkable progress had been made in enhancing food security, promoting rural livelihoods, and driving economic growth across the state.

He said some of achievements recorded include: "Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona) initiative, a part of our broader palliative programme, targeted at 42,000 small holder farmers and cooperatives across the state's 23 LGAs.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Hassan Imam (left), and Managing Director/ CEO, Bank of Industry Limited (BoI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, when Keystone Bank executives visited the BoI CEO at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos…recently.

Kaduna

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

As CJN Ariwoola Retires from the Bench Next Week...

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode ariwoola, who is bowing out of the Bench on august 22, 2024, has been able to turn around for the better the judicial arm of government during his two-year tenure, writes Alex Enumah.

Come Thursday, August 22, 2024, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola would bow out of office as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and by extension the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the nation’s judiciary. Ariwoola would be leaving the office of the CJN after two years of manning the helms of affairs at the country’s third arm of government and 13 years on the bench of the apex court in Nigeria.

No doubt, for Ariwoola, August 22, would be a remarkable day in many respects. First, is the attainment of the glorious age of 70, and also the honour of a well deserved valedictory court session which eluded his two immediate predecessors; Justices Walter Onnoghen and Ibrahim Muhammad. However, his greatest joy is the fact that he achieved his goal and dream of ensuring that the apex court for the first time attain its full complement of 21 justices.

For the apex court and the judiciary, Ariwoola’s valedictory court session would be ending what would have become a bad omen of not celebrating justices who had given their all not just in the service of humanity but, in representing the Almighty God in the aspect of justice dispensation. The apex court did not hold any valedictory court session for Justice Onnoghen in 2019, after he tendered his resignation, two years to the retirement age of 70 years. Similarly, Justice Muhammad who coincidentally resigned two years to his retirement was also denied any valedictory service.

Although, it has not been established, but it is believed that the same corruption allegations that took Onnoghen out of office might have also dealt with his successor, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, who had voluntarily resigned from office, citing health ground. Unlike Onnoghen’s case when the allegations of corruption came from outside the Judiciary, that of Muhammad was from 14 of his colleagues on the same bench at the apex court. Their allegations were contained in a form of protest letter wherein they complained about the non-availability of basic amenities both in their chambers and homes, which according to them was capable of shutting down activities at the apex court.

But, Ariwoola could be said to be lucky to have survived similar corruption allegations as well as pressure placed upon him by some lawyers and civil group to resign from office over the appointment of his relatives to the bench and National Judicial Council (NJC). Besides allegations of nepotism and corruption, pressure also came from politicians who had claimed that the outgoing CJN, would be loyal to the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Recall that when the appeal against the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal got to the apex court, Ariwoola despite being the number one justice and with years of electoral jurisprudence recuse himself and allowed other justices to hear and determine the appeal.

From the moment he assumed office as CJN in October, 2022, Justice Ariwoola did not hide his intention to redeem the battered image of the judiciary. He had on several occasions charged stakeholders in the justice sector to ensure fairness, equity and the rule of law prevail at all times. Ariwoola had severally warned that his administration “will not condone any act of recklessness, abuse of power and public trust”. He usually advised judges to see their jobs as a rare privilege not only to serve but to also give a good account of themselves.

“Trust is a burden and you must dis -

charge it with utmost sincerity, honesty and transparency, because conscience is an open wound healed only by truth. You must rise and operate above every sentiment that might play out in the course of your adjudication in the various tribunals. There is no doubt that temptations, tribulations, intimidations and even sheer blackmails may be unleashed on you but as thoroughbred Judicial Officers, you must guide your loins to rise above them and do what will earn you accolades from your creator and also from the court of public opinions”, he had once charged judges.

In putting words to action, Ariwoola had through the NJC investigated reported cases of corruption against judicial officers and meted out sanctions to justices found culpable. He also summoned some heads of court over the menace of conflicting and contradictory court orders by judges of coordinate jurisdiction in the wake of the Kano emirship tussle. Unfortunately however, he

is yet to do anything to curb same in Rivers State.

Besides the desire to see an effective and efficient justice system, Ariwoola had a strong desire to ensure that in his time the bench of the Supreme Court attains the constitutional provisions of 21 Justices.

At a special court session to mark the opening of the 2023/2024 legal year, the outgoing CJN had vowed to break the jinx over the realization of the composition of 21 justices on the bench of the Supreme Court. In his remarks, Ariwoola had assured that he would do everything possible to ensure that the apex court attains its full compliment of 21 justices before he retires. As at the time, the CJN made the statement, the bench had depleted to as low as 10 Justices including Ariwoola. Even at its full complement the bench is still overworked with huge number of cases in their dockets, owing to the litigious nature of Nigerians, who must take every case up to the Supreme Court. While observing that efforts were made by his predecessor to increase the number but was unsuccessful, he disclosed that, “As soon as I assumed office on the June 27, 2022, I immediately got down to work

From the moment he assumed office as CJN in October, 2022, Justice Ariwoola did not hide his intention to redeem the battered image of the judiciary. He had on several occasions charged stakeholders in the justice sector to ensure fairness, equity and the rule of law prevail at all times. Ariwoola had severally warned that his administration will not condone any act of recklessness, abuse of power and public trust. He usually advised judges to see their jobs as a rare privilege not only to serve but to also give a good account of themselves.

on this urgent and immediate need in particular.

“Though we have not gotten them on board yet, I can convincingly assure the litigant public that within a very short while, the Supreme Court of Nigeria will, for the very first time in its history, get the Constitutionally-prescribed full complement of 21 Justices.

“That is one of the legacies I have been working assiduously to leave behind as it now seems that the Court has been somewhat ‘jinxed’ from meeting its Constitutional requirement since that piece of legislation was enacted several years ago”, he said.

This dream eventually came through on February 26, 2024, when the 11 justices recommended to President Tinubu for appointment took their oath of office. Recall that the NJC under the Chairmanship of Justice Ariwoola had in December last year recommended their appointment.

Among the 11 Justices were Justice Haruna Tsammani, who presided over the five-member panel of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court and Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, a member of the panel. Others included Justice Jummai Sankey, Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa, Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein, and Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya

The rest were Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru, Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar and Justice Mohammed Baba Idris.

The last time the court got close to achieving its full complement was in 2020, when eight justices were elevated from the Court of Appeal to join 12 other justices on the bench of the apex court to make it 20.

So, as Ariwoola leaves office on August 22, if he has not made any recommendation for appointment to fill his soon to be vacant seat at the apex court, his successor, Justice Kudirat Kekere-ekun, who is today the most senior Justice next to Ariwoola, should as a matter of urgency make one to sustain the legacy of full complement of the apex court’s bench.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2022, appointed Ariwoola as acting CJN, following the resignation of then Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, on health grounds. He became substantive CJN in October, 2022, after his confirmation by the Senate. He became a Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC) in 2011, after spending six years at the appellate court.

Born August 22, 1954 in Iseyin, Oyo State, Ariwoola went to the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, for his primary education. He then proceeded to Muslim Modern School in the same town from 1968 to 1969 and later attended Ansar-Ud-Deen High School Shaki, Oyo State where he completed his High School.

The 1980 law graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) was called to the Nigerian Bar and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate in July 1981. He started his career as a State Counsel on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the State Civil Service for private practice. He had worked as Counsel in Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo (SAN) between October, 1988 and July, 1989 when he established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co – a firm of legal Practitioners and Consultants in Oyo town in August 1989 from where he was appointed in November 1992 as a Judge of Oyo State Judiciary, before his elevation to the appellate court in 2005, and Supreme Court in 2011.

Ariwoola

LAWYER

Takeaways from the #EndBadGovernance Protest

LAWYER

Takeaways from the #EndBadGovernanceProtest

Quotables

‘We still have a few States - Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi - groups of people who started a subversive campaign, waving flags of other countries and openly calling for a military take over of government. This is not a protest, but an offence of treason.’ - Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, Inspector General of Police

‘I never thought in my wildest imagination, that what started as a peaceful protest, would snowball into a campaign by some elements for an unconstitutional change of government. Whichever way you look at it, it is totally unacceptable….’ - Femi Falana, SAN

Page IV

Augustine Alegeh, SAN is 60! Page V

Protest: What Next?

The #EBG Protest: Picking the Pieces

The #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria Protest (#EBG) should generate a good amount of food for thought, at least for any right thinking government. Of the utmost importance, is the fact that the people are starving, and palliatives can never be a substitute for sound economic policy. They are just a temporary measure, at best. Swift action is required. If a policy unleashes more suffering and hardship than good on the people, then there needs to be some rejigging, because ignoring the plight of the people is neglecting their welfare, and by virtue of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023)(the Constitution) the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government.

Fuel Subsidy

The Protesters' first demand is the reintroduction of fuel subsidy, in order to reduce the astronomical cost of living. I have said before that an independent auditing body of repute should have been engaged, to audit the activities of NNPC, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and all other related agencies, to among other things, ascertain exactly how much fuel Nigeria has truly been importing, how much fuel we actually require per month, and how much has gone to subsidising scam and corruption. That way, the funds being diverted to subsidise scam, could have been stopped, and perhaps, the subsidy phased out in stages until we have a proper local refinery regime in place, instead of the cold turkey policy that was implemented by the Tinubu administration.

The Dangote Refinery (DR) and any other functioning refinery, are low hanging fruits for putting such fuel regime in place; but, instead, our ears are filled with stories of sabotage against DR by Government Officials, instead of the FGN encouraging it to be up and running, so that Nigerians can benefit from it.

Simply speaking, if we had been paying a subsidy on importation of 10 litres of fuel a month, but our actual requirement is 2 litres, then it would mean 8 litres is a scam! I recall about 10-12 years ago or so, when several companies were indicted for subsidy scam, some were accused of claiming from NNPC or PPMC (I can’t remember which body), for refunds on cargoes that were never even imported! Or could the Federal Government impose price control policies for essential goods and commodities, to ease the hardship on the people? - see Item 62(e) of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution and the Price Control Act 1977 (PCA) (though fuel, and not most of our staple foods apart from flour, milk, sugar and salt are included in the Section 4 First Schedule to the PCA- this can be rectified). I’m sorry to say, but, a good number of Nigerian traders have a penchant for taking advantage of situations, to earn astronomical profits on the goods they sell. But, beyond palliatives, economic policies must be reviewed. Nigerians have no money to eat.

Ethnicity/Tribalism

Another low hanging fruit for thought following #EBG, is the worrisome issue of ethnicity/tribalism. Some argue that the North didn’t show this much enthusiasm for protest during the eight-year Buhari administration, not even during #EndSARS, because President Buhari is a Northerner. But, now that we have a Yoruba President, with #EBG they went on a rampage with gusto and aplomb. The fact that Russian flags were flown and paraded around Kano, coupled with treasonable calls for military intervention, is also a great support for the tribalism story of North against the Tinubu administration. These days, the habit of reducing everything including the most important matters to issues of ethnicity and tribalism, I find rather awkward, particularly at such a time as this, because poverty and hunger have no tribe or race - everyone suffers when they have no food to eat, even animals too, that’s why they are always on a hunt for prey to devour! I will discuss the issue of hunger further, below.

However, the bitter truth is that, all over the world, there are many negative stereotypes/discriminations like racism, tribalism, gender and religious discrimination and so on, and that’s why, globally, there are all sorts of laws and international charters against discrimination - see Section 42 of the Constitution. And, while it isn’t too surprising when the uneducated and uninformed display their ignorance, it is shocking when we realise that those who are expected to know better, are cut from the same cloth of lack of knowledge - they are shallow and sciolistic. Many also use these divisive stereotypes for their own personal gain, for instance, in politics and the workplace - take Republican Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump, for example - his fixation on race and his unintelligent comments, even about US Vice President and Democratic Presidential Candidate, Kamala Harris’ ethnicity and origins, more or less portray him as a racist; but, this will certainly earn him votes among bigot groups like the KKK and other White supremacists.

In 2017 or so, I recall writing about what was at the time called ‘the Kaduna Declaration’ - some mindless Northern Youth groups had given all Igbos in the North a three month ultimatum to leave all the Northern States, and at the same time, called on all Northerners in

onikepo braithwaite

onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The Advocate

“…poverty and hunger have no tribe or raceeveryone suffers when they have no food to eat, even animals too…. But, one thing the #EBG has certainly been successful at, is showing that Nigerians can no longer be taken for granted by Government. The Youths have started to demand accountability, and this is a good outcome, because without accountability in governance, Nigeria will continue to regress”

the South East to return home. Recently, a hateful online media handle operated allegedly by an unenlightened Yoruba group, Lagospedia, called for an ‘Igbos Must Go’ Protest, that the Igbos must leave Lagos. What nonsense! Like I said in 2017 and I repeat now, firstly, Sections 41(1) & 43 of the Constitution guarantee freedom of movement and the right of citizens to acquire immovable property in any part of Nigeria. I had stated unequivocally then, that the Kaduna Declaration was a threat to national security, and I reiterate that position today concerning the Lagospedia tweet. It goes beyond just being reckless; it is a criminal offence, which for one, falls within the purview of Sections 51(1)(b) & 62 of the Criminal Code Act 2004 (see Section 417 of the Penal Code) - that is, exciting hatred or contempt against any class of persons in such a way as to endanger public peace; this offence attracts 3 years imprisonment or fine or both, upon conviction.

In the Nigerian context today, tribalism/ethnicity is simply a distractionary tactic - instead of joining hands to peacefully demand good governance and accountability from all tiers of government, without which Nigeria can never progress, instead we waste precious time hating and fighting ourselves based on ethnic sentiments, and achieve nothing as a people. We have taken our eyes off the ball!

Hunger

Back to the issue of hunger, another low hanging fruit for thought. While we cannot divorce the policies of the Federal Government from the pervasive hunger in the land, it is time to take note of some other facts, as hard or bitter as they may be.

It has been repeated frequently, that the level of hunger in Northern Nigeria is higher than in the South, meaning that there appears to have been a deep-seated starvation up North over the years, not just today. The issue of insecurity/ Herdsmen/ Farmers crisis which have plagued the Northern States more, has worsened matters, as people are

not able to go to their farms anymore for fear of being killed, maimed or kidnapped. If the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) doesn’t tackle insecurity seriously, then this situation will persist, and the prices of food stuff may never become as low as they should, despite the fact that Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of arable land. Even in the South, there are areas where people cannot go to their farms.

State and Local Government: Joint Responsibility in Good Governance However, I don’t think it would be speaking out of turn to state that successive Northern leaders have failed the North mostly. In over 60 years since Independence, Nigeria has had more Northern Heads of State, ruling for long periods of time, and in the last 25 years of democracy, indigenous Governors of the Northern States. Could the anger in the North, therefore, be more deep-rooted than #EBG? A rebellion against their own leaders as well?

Unfortunately, because of Nigeria’s culture of lack of accountability and failure being a stimulant for promotion, for instance, we have Governors like Abdullahi Ganduje and Bello Maitawalle who were not exactly paragons of good governance in their States, who have been rewarded with new positions; with Ganduje who is now facing charges filed by Kano State Government against him and some others for the diversion of N57.4 billion being made the Chairman of the ruling APC, and Maitawalle who couldn’t secure Zamfara State, strangely being appointed as Minister of State of Defence. Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, doesn’t restrict the primary purpose of government to the Federal Government only. Section 5(2) of the Constitution more or less replicates the powers of the Federal Government for the Federation, in the State Government for the States, setting limitations to State Government power in Section 5(3) of the Constitution. Additionally, Section 7 of the Constitution also provides for democratically

elected LGCs whose functions are clearly stated in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution, including the provision of primary, adult and vocational education (see Section 18(3)(a) & (d) of the Constitution) and the provision and maintenance of health services in the area covered by the LGC. See the case of AG Lagos State v AGF & Ors (2003) LPELR-620(SC) per Samson Odemwingie Uwaifo, JSC where the Supreme Court held inter alia that the legislative power of the House of Assembly gives the States the exclusive function for the planning, layout and development of their respective areas. Also see the case of Knight Frank & Rutley (Nig) & Anor v AG Kano State (1998) LPELR-1694 (SC) per Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, JSC (later CJN) on the functions of the LGC. A good chunk of governance, lies in the hands of these two tiers of government.

I saw on the internet that UNICEF stated that, presently, Nigeria has up to 18.3 million out-of-school children, one of the highest, if not the highest number in the world. The FGN has nothing to do with primary school education. Education is not on the Exclusive Legislative List; Items 27 & 28 on the Concurrent Legislative List inter alia empower the FGN to deal with University, post-primary, technological and professional education. Primary school education is the preserve of the State and LGCs - see Item 30 on the Concurrent Legislative List & Section 7 Fourth Schedule to the Constitution Paragraph 2(a). Why have the State Governors and LGCs not been called out, for their failure to meet their own Section 18(3)(a) of the Constitution primary school free and compulsory educational objectives? For instance, the 2017/2018 academic session, the National Common Entrance Examination (that is, Primary to Junior Secondary school exam) cut-off mark was published for all the States. While Imo State had the highest cut-off mark of 66%, Sokoto was 7%, Zamfara, 12%, and Yobe, 20%. A cumulative failure of the Governments and LGCs in those Northern States vis-à-vis primary education; it didn’t have much to do with the Buhari FGN administration at the time. Even if there is a viable argument that insufficient funds are being budgeted by the FGN for education in Nigeria, the other side of the coin is that, if Imo State could have attained a 66% cut-off mark on that lean budget, the Northern States could also have done much better. While the Federal and State Governments are meant to have properly equipped Teaching Hospitals, it appears that the LGCs are responsible for providing and maintaining health services in their areas (see Sections 17(3)(d) & 7 Fourth Schedule Paragraph 2(c) of the Constitution). All tiers of government have failed in this, but it is only the FGN that is held responsible for this dereliction. The Constitution puts food security in the hands of the three tiers of government, yet, the FGN is the only one being held responsible for the fact that even staple food stuff have been priced out of the reach of the common man.

Conclusion

Whether the #EBG has been successful or not, cannot be determined immediately, because while some of the demands may be able to be addressed immediately, many others require time. But, one thing the #EBG has certainly been successful at, is showing that Nigerians can no longer be taken for granted by Government. The Youths have started to demand accountability, and this is a good outcome, because without accountability in governance, Nigeria will continue to regress. Section 6(6) (c) of the Constitution ousts the jurisdiction of the courts to hold government accountable for not delivering good governance - see Chapter II of the Constitution) - this is an anomaly. The need for a free and fair transparent electoral process is imperative, in order to achieve better accountability in governance, by being able to easily vote out non-performers.

Nevertheless, there are low hanging fruits for Government to pick, to satisfy some of the #EBG demands immediately - increase the tempo of the fight against corruption; stop reckless expenditure; buckle down on the fight against insecurity; do a cabinet reshuffle and drop non-performers; get rid of all those useless government agencies, cut the cost of governance; do a downward review of the remuneration of all political office holders; reduce the electricity tariff; release the #EndSARS Protesters who have no charges filed against them and prosecute those who have forthwith; create jobs and opportunities for the teeming Youths. In short, collate the demands of the #EBG, and address them.

Finally, now that the LGCs have gained their financial autonomy, the excuses for non-performance due to lack of funds should be considerably reduced. LGCs have an important role to play, and Nigerians hope that with this new independence, a better crop of people will be interested in manning the LGCs, instead of lackeys of the State Governors. During #EBG, many Governors didn’t show up to be counted, in spite of the fact that along with the LGCs, they are directly responsible for the people of their States. Along with the FGN, the State Governments and LGCs must also be held accountable to Nigerians, for their own failures in governance. Luckily, the LGC Chairmen are not covered by the Constitution’s Section 308 immunity clause, which means that if they are caught with their fingers in the till, they can face criminal prosecution immediately.

Elements of the Defences of Provocation and Self Defence

Facts

The Appellant was arraigned before the High Court of Delta State on a charge of murder punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria as applicable to Delta State. The particulars of the Appellant’s offence were that the Appellant murdered one Jerry Adarerhi on 30th April, 2007. It was alleged that the Appellant had a quarrel with the deceased who was her landlord, and his family, which led to a fight, and the Appellant had gone upstairs to her room and had come back with a broken Coca-Cola bottle, with which she stabbed the deceased at the back of his neck. It was further alleged that the deceased was talking to PW2 with his back turned to the Appellant, when she stabbed him. The Appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

During the trial, the Respondent called five witnesses, and also tendered five exhibits during trial, among which were Exhibit “A” - the statement the Appellant made to the Police on 24/4/2007 which was admitted in evidence after a trial-within-trial was conducted, and Exhibit “E” - the second statement the Appellant made to the Police on 15/5/2007. In the Appellant’s statement in Exhibit “A”, she stated that after the fight between her and the deceased had been separated, she went upstairs to break a bottle and brought it down with her to stab the deceased. In Exhibit “E” however, she stated that while the fight was on, she was able to get hold of a bottle and hit the deceased on the head with it. The Appellant was the only witness for the defence, and she raised the defences of provocation and self-defence. At the end of trial, the trial court convicted the the Appellant for the offence of murder and sentenced her to death by hanging. In its evaluation of evidence in convicting the Appellant, the trial court preferred Exhibit “A” to Exhibit “E” as the true narration of events. Dissatisfied with the judgement of the trial court, the Appellant filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal. However, the appeal was dismissed. Aggrieved, the Appellant filed a further appeal at the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination

The Supreme Court adopted the sole issue distilled by the Appellant for the determination of the appeal as follows: Whether the Court of Appeal was right in affirming that there was no evidence before the trial court upon which it could sustain the alternative defences of provocation and self-defence in favour of the Appellant.

Arguments

Counsel for the Appellant argued it was not in dispute that the Appellant raised the defence of provocation and self-defence timeously at the trial court, and thus, the burden was on the prosecution to negate the said defences through some more compelling evidence. Counsel relied on LADO v THE STATE (1999) 9 NWLR 369 at Pg. 384 Para A to further submit that the general burden of proof imposed on the prosecution in criminal cases is even more onerous in murder trials, and where there is some evidence of provocation or self-defence, then the prosecution must prove the absence of such provocation. Counsel argued that the trial court was wrong, after having found initially in its judgement that the Appellant raised the defence of provocation and self-defence timeously, but later went on to hold in the said judgement that the defences were an afterthought. He submitted that, the court cannot be allowed to approbate and reprobate on the same issue before it. He further submitted that the decision of the trial court to convict the Appellant was perverse, and ought to have been set aside by the Court of Appeal, as it runs counter to the evidence adduced before the trial court. Counsel urged the Supreme Court not to find contradiction in the extra-judicial statements of the Appellant’s - Exhibits ‘A’& ‘E’ and to hold that the law is settled that where the circumstances surrounding a particular event in a criminal case are susceptible to two or more interpretations, the court should adopt the interpretation that is favourable to the Defendant. Conversely, Counsel for the Respondent argued that the ingredients of the offence of murder were proved against the Appellant beyond reasonable

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja

On Friday, the 2nd day of February, 2024

Before their lordships

Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-ekun Mohammed Lawal Garba Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju adamu Jauro emmanuel akomaye agim Justices, Supreme Court SC/766/2014

Between

TINa OKOROdudu aPPeLLaNT

And THe STaTe

ReSPONdeNT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, JSC)

doubt, through the credible evidence of the prosecution witnesses particularly PW1, PW2, PW3 and the Appellant’s extra-judicial confessional statement in Exhibit ‘A’. Counsel argued that there was evidence on record which established that the deceased died of the stab wound inflicted on him by the Appellant, and the Appellant in Exhibits ‘A’ and ‘E’ and her oral testimony before the trial court also admitted that she stabbed the deceased with a broken Coca-Cola bottle, even though she had claimed it was out of provocation and in attempt to defend herself. Counsel argued that there was no evidence in support of the Appellant’s defence of provocation and self-defence, and the intention to cause the deceased grievous harm was duly established against the Appellant. Counsel insisted that before the trial court convicted the Appellant based on Exhibit 'A', it subjected the document to a veracity

“…. the defendant must prove that (a) the act of the deceased was obviously provocative; (b) the provocative act had deprived the defendant of self-control…. (c) the provocative act came from the deceased; (d) the sudden fight between the defendant and the deceased was continuous, and the defendant reacted instantaneously to the provocation before there was time for passion to cool; and (e) the retaliatory act of the defendant in repelling the provocation was not disproportionate….”

discussion with PW2 tallies largely with the Appellant’s first statement in Exhibit ‘A,’ in which she stated that she went upstairs, broke a bottle, came downstairs, the fight resumed and she stabbed the deceased, notwithstanding her claim that she did so to defend herself. The Court held that it was clear as held by the two lower courts, that the Appellant did not act in the heat of passion, and she had enough time to form an intention to cause grievous harm to the deceased when she climbed the staircase to her room, searched for an empty bottle, broke it, went back downstairs by the same staircase, located the deceased and stabbed him on his back.

The Apex Court held further that at no time in the Appellant’s statements did she indicate that the deceased had a weapon before she went to get a weapon, even if there was an ongoing fight which was not borne out by the evidence. The Court held that it was not in doubt that the initial fight between the Appellant and the deceased and his family satisfied the requirement of provocation, however, she would have been able to successfully claim that mitigating factor if she had stabbed the deceased in the course of the fight, or if there was a second fight between the Appellant and the deceased. The Court held that it was satisfied, that the trial court and the Court of Appeal properly considered and rejected the defence of provocation raised by the Appellant

On the defence of self defence raised by the Appellant, the Apex Court held that self-defence being an absolute defence to the charge of murder assumes that, the defendant not being the first to assault the other person, was attacked so ferociously that he feared imminent loss of his life and used every means at his command at the time to defend himself. The defence is open only to a defendant who is able to prove that he was a victim of an unprovoked assault, causing him reasonable apprehension of death or grievous bodily harm and a necessity to save his own life. The Court further held that where self-defence is raised as a defence, there must be proof that the defendant tried extricate himself or withdraw from the attack but was unable to do so, and the means used by the defendant must not be disproportionate to the danger offered. If the act of self-defence is committed after all danger from the assailant is past, that defence will not be available to a defendant. The Court relied on its decision in UWAGBOE v STATE (2008) LPELR-3444 (SC) PP. 18-19, PARA. G.

test. He submitted that the evidence of PW1- PW3 were neither contradicted nor controverted under cross-examination, and the trial court was right to have relied on them to convict the Appellant. He urged the court to affirm the concurrent findings of the two lower courts.

Court’s

Judgement and Rationale

The Apex Court held that for a defendant to successfully establish a plea of provocation to rebut the evidence of premeditation by the prosecution in a charge of murder, the defendant must prove that (a) the act of the deceased was obviously provocative; (b) the provocative act had deprived the defendant of self-control i.e. the provocative act was such that it led the defendant to actually and reasonably lose self-control; (c) the provocative act came from the deceased; (d) the sudden fight between the defendant and the deceased was continuous, and the defendant reacted instantaneously to the provocation before there was time for passion to cool; and (e) the retaliatory act of the defendant in repelling the provocation was not disproportionate to the action reacted against. The Court relying on SHANDE v STATE (2005) Q.C.C.R. VOL. 3 PG. 1 @ 10 LINES 17-41; (2004) ALL FWLR (PT. 223) PG. 1955 @ 1972 PARAS. C-G and STATE v DAU (2021) LPELR-56601(SC).

The Supreme Court held that it was evident that the testimony of PW2 that after the Appellant and the deceased had been separated in their initial fight, the Appellant went upstairs and returned with a broken bottle to stab the deceased who was in a

The Apex Court held there was evidence on record, rightly believed by the trial court, that (a) The Appellant had a quarrel with the deceased and his family which led to a fight before the parties were separated by neighbours, and the deceased had sent for a carpenter while his wife had gone to call the Police; (b) The Appellant went upstairs to her room, and came back with a broken Coca-Cola bottle; and (c) The Appellant stabbed the deceased on the back of his neck, while he was talking to PW2 with his back turned to the Appellant. The Court of Appeal was thus, right, to affirm the decision of the trial court on the findings of fact that (a) The Appellant was the assailant in this case; and (b) She was not a victim of an unprovoked assault, causing her reasonable apprehension of death or grievous harm.

The Court held in agreement with the lower courts that, Exhibit ‘A’ represents the true nature of events, while Exhibit ‘E’ is an afterthought as it relates to the circumstance of the stabbing, and the trial court was right not to place much weight on it for that purpose. The Court held that it was clear that the Appellant stabbed the deceased while she was still in a rage and purposely to retaliate about the earlier fight, therefore, neither the defence of provocation nor self-defence was available for the Appellant. The Apex Court held that, contrary to the argument of the Appellant, there was no contradiction in the reasoning of the trial Judge when it held that the Appellant had raised the defences timeously, but that the same were not available to the Appellant on a closer consideration of the evidence, and in light of the circumstances of the case.

In conclusion, the Apex Court held that there was no legal basis for it to disturb the findings of fact of the two lower courts, as they are not perverse.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation

Fedude Zimughan with Chiemeziem Nzeagum for the Appellant D.E. Agbaga for the Respondent. Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

Honourable Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, JSC

Dame Priscilla Kuye - Happy 60th Birthday, Learned Silk

Iwish Augustine Alegeh, SAN, a happy 60th birthday. May God give him long life, in good health, peace and joy. May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire and protect you. Amen. Congratulations.

Dame Priscilla Kuye (The 17th President)

O.C.J. Okocha, SAN - Wishing Alegeh Joyful Celebration Augustine Alegeh, SAN took the Nigerian Bar Association by storm in the year 2014, when he won the election as President of our once and forever great Association. He was massively supported by the “Midwest Forces”, the Learned Friends from the former Midwest Region of Nigeria. Austino, as I call him, was an impactful President, and I wish him a happy, happy 60th Birthday Anniversary, and a very, very joyful celebration.

O.C.J. OKOCHA, OFR, SAN, JP, DSSRS (The 19th/ Millennium President)

Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN - Alegeh is Worthy to be Celebrated Augustine Alegeh, SAN is a friend and worthy colleague who has worked with me in a couple of cases, and whose deep knowledge of the law, both adjectival and procedural, I respect. He has a good carriage and decent disposition to fellow colleagues, both juniors and seniors alike.

When he wanted to contest the office of President of the NBA, he sought my support but I plainly informed him that I could and would not give him my nod, for obvious reasons. He understandingly aligned with my ‘brutal frankness’ or unbending position, contested the election and eventually won.

Throughout his eventful and rancour- free two year tenure as President of the NBA, he deferred to and gave me unalloyed respect as one of his predecessors-in-office, just as he did to all former Presidents before him. At a defining moment when the practice of law faced a critical challenge, he, like his immediate predecessor-in-office, beckoned on me to lead the NBA legal team to challenge the prohibitive law. When we succeeded in court, he did not only personally write to appreciate us, he also celebrated us at the AGM.

Augustine is not mean, small, petty or vindictive, but mature and dignified. As his elder, senior and professional colleague, I join the league of his friends and well-wishers, both at home and in the diaspora, in saying Happy 60th Birthday to a jolly good fellow, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria and respected senior citizen of our country; wishing him bountiful returns of the day. May he be taller and greater than us. And, may the lines continue to fall unto him in pleasant places.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN (The 20th President)

Augustine Alegeh, SAN is 60!

Last Thursday, the 27th President of the Nigerian Bar association (NBa), Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, CON, SAN turned 60. His family members and friends turned out in large numbers to felicitate with him, and be a part of the series of activities to mark this milestone. THISDAY LAWYER Team took birthday wishes, from some of his fellow Past NBa Presidents and the President-elect of the NBa

of the universal system of the Vote!!! Kudos, to my dear brother!!!!

Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN (The 23rd President)

Chief J.B. Daudu, SAN - Alegeh is a Trusted and Dependable Bar Leader

For one who has given impactful leadership in the Nigerian Bar Association, I can only wish Augustine Alegeh, SAN, my brother and friend, a resounding Happy Birthday as he turns 60. There is no doubt that he has a lot more to offer his nation, hereafter. Austin, may you continue to wax stronger in strength and good health, in the years ahead.

Holy Book, a friend who is more than a brother. And, there’re plenty I know whose back he’s always had, through thick and thin. Loyalty and dependability, are his hallmarks and watchwords. As he marks this milestone age, I wish Austin all the joys and blessings that he wishes himself. By the Almighty’s Grace, laughter and celebrations will be his lot for the rest of his years, and the Lord will grant him length of years to see his tribe multiply multiple folds. Happy birthday, Austin my friend and brother. God bless and keep you. Many happy returns.

Paul Usoro, SAN (The 29th President)

Prince Lanke Odogiyon - Austin, Welcome to the Club of Senior Citizens Congratulations to Austin Alegeh, SAN, Past President of the NBA, as he turns 60. I welcome him to the Club of senior citizens. As a Legal Practitioner, Austin is a very enterprising Lawyer with an extraordinary business sense. This showed in his tenure as President. I remember his Annual General Conference in Abuja. It was beautiful. He made money for the Association. I wish him long life, in good health, fulfilment and prosperity. Many happy returns of the day.

Prince Adelanke Odogiyan (The 22nd President)

Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN - Alegeh, Initiator of NBA Universal SuffrageVote President Alegeh attains a major milestone at 60!!! As one of my successor Presidents, Austin’s major achievement will be remembered as democratising the electoral process of the NBA by the introduction

Chief J.B. Daudu, SAN (The 25th President)

A.B. Mahmoud, SANAlegeh Will Continue his Leadership Role

Mr Alegeh, past President of the NBA is a very distinguished leader of the Bar. He has made immense contributions to the Nigerian legal profession. I wish him a memorable day, as he clocks 60 years. I'm confident he will continue his leadership role of the Bar, to uplift the profession and the country.

A.B. Mahmoud, SAN (The 28th President)

Paul Usoro, SAN - Augustine Alegeh, SAN @ 60 It’s a joy to celebrate Augustine Alegeh, SAN @ 60. I’ve known Austin for upwards of 20 years, as a colleague and a friend. Indeed, more as a brother, and I say that advisedly. For those who have Austin in their corner, persons whose back he has, I can testify that Austin is, to paraphrase the

“Mr Alegeh led the Bar with vision, dynamism and exceptional skill which resulted in trailblazing innovations, most notably the implementation of universal suffrage for all Lawyers, personalised stamps, automatic insurance cover for Lawyers, completion of the NBA House etc….”

Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata - Alegeh is Like the Rock of Gibraltar Augustine Alegeh, SAN, is not merely an exceptionally successful and talented legal practitioner; he is a truly remarkable human being with a heart of gold. I've always maintained that, he is one of the kindest individuals I've had the privilege to know. While he means different things to various people, I regard him as my elder brother and a mentor - a rarity in today's world. His friendship is as dependable as they come, akin to the steadfast nature of the Rock of Gibraltar. When he fights in your corner, you can rest assured, for his loyalty is unwavering and his commitment is unshakeable. His integrity and compassion, set him apart in both his professional and personal lives. What truly distinguishes him, is his ability to balance his formidable legal acumen with genuine warmth and approachability. In an era where success often comes at the cost of personal relationships, he has mastered the art of excelling in his career while nurturing meaningful connections with friends, family, and colleagues.

Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata (The 30th President)

Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN - He Set New Standards for Excellence Within the NBA I wish Augustine Alegeh, CON, SAN, a resounding, happy birthday. As he marks his sixtieth birthday anniversary, I cannot express my deepest gratitude and admiration for the immense impact he has had in my life and career, as well as on the entire legal profession in Nigeria. He is an exemplary leader, a dedicated family man, and a true gentleman. My association with Mr Alegeh, began during my tenure as Chairman of the NBA Abuja Branch. I also served ahad the privilege of working closely with him between 2014 and 2016 when I served as General Secretary of the NBA under his leadership as President. Serving as General Secretary under his visionary

tenure as President of the NBA was not only an honour of a lifetime, but a truly transformative experience. His visionary, dynamic and pacesetting leadership remains epochal. His dedication to the principles of justice, unwavering commitment to the rule of law, and tireless efforts to advance the legal profession left an indelible mark on the NBA, and on all of us who had the privilege of working closely with him. Mr Alegeh led the Bar with vision, dynamism and exceptional skill which resulted in trailblazing innovations, most notably the implementation of universal suffrage for all Lawyers, personalised stamps, automatic insurance cover for Lawyers, completion of the NBA House etc. These landmark changes not only empowered every Lawyer in Nigeria to have a say in choosing the Association’s leadership, but ensured prudential utilisation of funds and enjoyment of tangible benefits by members.A man of principle and tenacity, Augustine Alegeh is unwavering in his fight for what he believes is right. He is known for his generosity and willingness to help those in need. As he celebrates his 60th birthday, the outpouring of tributes from all corners, and the gathering of well-wishers to honour him are a testament to the impact he has made.

His tenure was marked by groundbreaking achievements, that set new standards for excellence within the NBA. He guided the Association with wisdom and integrity, championing the cause of legal reform and ensuring that the voice of the Nigerian legal community was heard, loud and clear. His leadership not only strengthened the NBA, but also inspired a new generation of Lawyers to aspire to the highest ideals of our noble profession.

His 60th birthday is very special to me, as it coincides with a period during when I prepare to take up the mantle of leadership of the NBA. This means a lot to me, as it also underscores the importance and impact serving under Mr Alegeh had on my life. His friendship and leadership will no doubt have a profound effect on me, as I prepare to assume this responsibility.

I will surely be stepping into big shoes, left by him and other past leaders of the Bar. I pray for God’s grace, to do my very best to be an exemplary leader. The lessons I learnt while serving under his guidance have been invaluable, and they will undoubtedly shape my approach to this new responsibility. His mentorship, support, and encouragement have been a cornerstone of my journey, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I wish him continued success, good health, and abundant happiness. May the years ahead be filled with joy, peace, and the satisfaction of knowing that his contributions to the legal profession and the broader society, will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.

Once again, I wish him a happy birthday. I thank him for his exemplary leadership, and for the profound impact he has had on my life and the lives of so many others.

Warm Regards.

Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN President-Elect, NBA

Takeaways from the #EndBadGovernance Protest

The gathering storm of the much-hyped #endBadGovernance, eventually escalated into a nationwide protest where lives were lost in some Northern States, including Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and the FCT. The 10 ‘days of Rage’ as envisioned by the organisers came to an end on Saturday, august 10, leaving many asking whether the protest actually achieved any purpose, and whether President Bola ahmed Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast addressed any of the grievances laid out by the Protesters. In this discourse, Dr Dakuku Peterside; Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Inibehe Effiong and Dr Ayodele Akeronye dissect the issues in the protest, its causes and effects, to determine whether the protest which caused the nation so many man hours, at a time when the country’s economy is shaky, achieved its objectives, also making suggestions on how to deliver better governance, going forward

#EndBadGovernance Protest: What Next?

Dakuku Peterside

Global Summer of Discontent

The protests that swept across Nigeria in the summer of 2024, whether you choose to call them "Days of Rage", "Hunger Protest", or the "#EndBadGovernance Movement," formally ended on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The final three days of the demonstrations were sombre, dedicated to mourning and honouring the brave souls who lost their lives in the struggle. As the nation

begins to reflect on these events, three critical questions come to the forefront: Did these protests achieve their intended objectives? What tangible gains, if any, were secured? And, crucially, what comes next? These questions demand thorough examination, and will undoubtedly be dissected in the days to come. If this movement can catalyse a shift in the trajectory of Nigerian politics, it may well be

remembered as a watershed moment in our history.

“….this administration must embrace a new approach to governance - one that goes beyond mere protest management and instead seeks to engage citizens, particularly the youth….The protest has set the stage for a new era of political engagement, one in which the voices of the people must be heard and respected”

Nigeria’s participation in what many are now calling the global "summer of discontent", is not an isolated phenomenon. Across the world, democracies have been grappling with waves of protests, each characterised by unique local grievances, but all sharing a common thread: a deep dissatisfaction with the status quo. From the streets of London to Dhaka, Nairobi to Caracas, and from European capitals to cities in Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Burundi, citizens have risen to demand change. These movements, though varied in their specifics, share a collective yearning for better governance and an end to systemic inequities. Yet, while these global protests resonate with a shared call for justice, Nigeria’s situation is distinct, shaped by its own set of economic challenges and political dynamics.

The #EndBadGovernance Protest: Triggers

The #EndBadGovernance protest

in Nigeria was not triggered by a single event, but rather, by a complex interplay of factors, chief among them the public's growing frustration with the Government’s handling of both the economy and national security. This toxic combination of economic mismanagement and pervasive insecurity, has led to unprecedented levels of hunger, anger, and poverty across the nation. The immediate catalysts for the protest was the removal of fuel subsidies and the sudden decision to float the Naira - two policies whose poor execution only exacerbated the nation’s already dire economic situation. These policies, rather than providing relief, plunged the country into deeper economic turmoil, igniting a wave of discontent that had been simmering for years. Now that the days of rage have ended, it is imperative to reflect on the journey, to assess the outcomes, and to consider the road ahead.

Were the Goals Achieved?

In the aftermath of the protests, it is natural to question whether they achieved their goals. The Government, as reflected in the President’s recent address, did not concede to any of the protesters' demands, demands that were largely driven by a

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his August 4 Nationwide Broadcast

Takeaways from the #EndBadGovernance Protest

youthful and increasingly disillusioned populace. A superficial analysis might suggest that the protests failed, but such a conclusion would not only be premature, but also misleading. The focus of on hunger and the restoration of fuel subsidies as key issues were not an end, but rather a means to an end. From this perspective, the protests were indeed, a significant success, though perhaps, not in the most obvious ways.

It is important to recognise that many young Nigerians understand the necessity of removing fuel subsidies, as part of a broader strategy to revive an economy that has long been on life support. However, they also acknowledge the profound failures in the Government’s design and implementation of this policy - failures that have led to severe economic dislocation, affecting both the rich and the poor. The protests, therefore, were not simply about reversing a single policy, but about highlighting the broader inefficiencies that have characterised the current administration’s approach to governance.

The #EndBadGovernance protests succeeded in doing what few movements in recent memory have: they shone a glaring spotlight on the deep and pervasive discontent, with the current administration’s handling of the economy and governance more broadly. The protests delivered a clear and unequivocal message: the issues of corruption, the need for governance reform, and the demand for higher-quality leadership can no longer be ignored. The Government’s ineffectiveness in engaging with young people and the broader citizenry was laid bare for all to see, highlighting a significant disconnect between the rulers and the ruled. This disconnect is not new, but the protests brought it into sharp relief, galvanising public opinion against poor governance and demanding greater accountability from those in power.

For the government, these protests have also exposed the stark socioeconomic disparities and regional dynamics between the North and South of Nigeria. The protests highlighted the fact that the challenges facing the country are not uniform; they vary significantly from one region to another. While the South has seen relatively more economic development, the North remains mired in poverty, underdevelopment, and insecurity. This disparity is a ticking time bomb, and if left unaddressed, it could lead to even greater unrest in the future. I remain hopeful, however, that the Government will seize this opportunity to address these deep-seated issues, particularly in the North, where the demographic challenges pose a significant threat to national stability.

Going Forward

As we look to the future, this administration must embrace a new approach to governance - one that goes beyond mere protest management and instead seeks to engage citizens, particularly the youth, in meaningful dialogue and policymaking. Youth participation in governance is not just a desirable goal; it is an essential component of any strategy aimed at ensuring accountability and driving reform. The Government must also

take decisive actions to reduce the cost of governance and replace its reactive, knee-jerk approach to policymaking with a more thoughtful, inclusive, and consultative process, particularly when it comes to major economic policies.

One of the most important lessons to emerge from the protests, is the need for political leaders in countries like Nigeria, which are pursuing growth and development, to strike a delicate balance between the prescriptions of international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, and the welfare of their citizens. While these institutions often provide necessary financial support and guidance, their recommendations can sometimes be at odds with the immediate needs and realities of the local population. Governments have a duty to prioritise the well-being of their citizens above all else, even when this means pushing back against external pressures. It is time for our leaders to demonstrate that they value us, the citizens, above all else, and to take meaningful steps to ensure that our voices are heard, and our needs are met.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the #EndBadGovernance protest of 2024 have left an indelible mark on the Nigerian political landscape. The protest has set the stage for a new era of political engagement, one in which the voices of the people must be heard and respected.

Dr Dakuku Peterside

“One of the most important lessons to emerge from the protests, is the need for political leaders in countries like Nigeria, which are pursuing growth and development, to strike a delicate balance between the prescriptions of international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, and the welfare of their citizens”

Beyond the Protest

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

Background

Take it Back Movement’s Involvement

& Planning the Protest

Against all odds, the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests made good their threat on August 1, 2024, when they trooped out with other Nigerians to protest against hunger, hardship and the suffocating economic policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu. All over Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja, Kano, PortHarcourt, Benin, Aba and Abeokuta, they spoke with one voice to the Government, that people are hungry and they are suffering. The prelude to the protest was that, a declaration was made for the commencement of protest on August 1.

The response of the Government to the protest was the predictable blackmail, threats and attempts to suppress the campaigns. The security agencies became confused, and began to speak with different voices. Whilst the Police claimed that the organisers were faceless and unknown, the Department of State Security stated that they were known agents of foreign mercenaries trying to destabilise the nation.

Most Nigerians agreed with and supported the protest, except as to the duration and the modalities. Fears were expressed in many quarters that there has never been any peaceful protest in Nigeria, properly so-called. It is either the protest is hijacked by hoodlums, or disrupted by hired thugs. They then referred to the #EndSARS experience of 2020, when lives were lost and property destroyed beyond contemplation. But, of course, this was only a smear campaign to discourage the protest, when it was realised that President Tinubu as leader of the opposition in 2012 supported and encouraged the Occupy Nigeria protests against fuel subsidy removal. It was peaceful and well coordinated.

On Friday July 26, 2024, one of the leaders of the Take It Back Movement, Comrade Omoyele Sowore, reached out to me to facilitate Police coverage for the protest. I asked about the locus of the organisation, and he furnished me with a document showing that it was duly registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission on 20th June, 2019, although the legal consequence of that is another matter entirely. With that, I was more comfortable to lend support to the protests. Also, I had in mind the October 2020 experience and wanted us to avoid a situation where the Police claimed that organisers are faceless and unrecognised, which may lead to violent confrontations and then bloodshed. So, I wrote to the Police and DSS to provide coverage for the protests, relying on Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act of 2020. I made sure I shared drafts of my letters with Comrade Sowore, for his input and approval. The Police responded by confirming that two Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in all the zones and all Commissioners of Police in all the States, had been designated to offer protection for the protests. They demanded details of the protest venues, and also requested for a meeting to discuss the modalities.

Given my background, my services were rendered pro bono and without any condition to the protest. With the response from the Police, my task was half done. So, I reached out to Comrade Sowore, and we both agreed to furnish lists of some of the venues for the protest. This, to me, was the way to go, at least, to ensure that the protest was peaceful and well coordinated. I did a letter to the Police wherein, I stated Some of the venues of the proposed protest. I then took time to consult with other known Comrades, the Nigerian Bar Association and some Civil Society Organisations. This was meant to coordinate the process, and guard against confrontations between the Protesters and the security and law enforcement agencies.

I received a WhatsApp message from Damilola Adenola, introducing himself as the representative of Comrade Sowore

Takeaways from the #endBadGovernance Protest

who would accompany me to the meeting with the Police. Upon further consultation with other Comrades, we thought it best to have a virtual meeting with the Police, in order to have wider participation and cut costs of travelling from Lagos to Abuja for everyone. Comrade Sowore then forwarded to me the names of representatives of the Take It Back Movement to attend the meeting, which eventually held on July 30, 2024. At the meeting, we made it clear to the Police that it would be a peaceful outing, if the Police is able to nip in the bud the emerging trend of hired thugs who were going around the cities, especially Lagos, to threaten citizens from exercising their fundamental rights.

With the meeting, it became clear to the Police (or so it seemed at the time), that the organisers of the protest were not miscreants and unknown persons and entities. This should help to douse the fears being expressed in certain quarters, that the protest was being organised to destroy and loot.

Conspiracies and Campaign of Calumny

Of course apologists of the ruling party went to town with my letter, accusing me (falsely though) of setting up the South West for destruction. They reasoned that once no single State from the South East was mentioned, then there would be no protest in that region and indeed, all other areas not mentioned. They began to circulate this falsehood in all their WhatsApp and social media platforms, purely for the purpose of raising ethnic bias, and to get the people of the South West to back out of the protest.

When we look back into the history of Nigeria, we would see that the struggle for Nigeria’s independence was coordinated from Lagos and the South West, so, too most students union struggles like the Ali Must Go, Anti-SAP protests, anti-military protests, June 12 protests and Occupy Nigeria protest. The Yorubas in particular, have a rich history of determined resistance against all forms of injustice and oppression, and they don’t discriminate in this regard, even if it is against one of their own. So, you see a Wole Soyinka opposing an Olusegun Obasanjo from being appointed as United Nations Secretary-General; you would see a Gani Fawehinmi as the most notable critic of an Olusegun Obasanjo President. I then began to wonder the origin of this new set of rabid and intolerant generations of government loyalists in the South West, who see any and everything only from the pristine of ethnic alliance. The focus has always been on the issues, not the person, his tribe or his faith. I was glad however, that they were all ranting on empty vessels as no reasonable person took them seriously.

On the eve of the protest on July 31, 2024, news filtered out that the Lagos State Government had obtained an order from the Court to restrict the protests to Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu. How will citizens in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu and other locations travel to Ojota just to protest? I knew that the Government was baiting for trouble. Not stopping there, certain persons who claimed to

be traditionalists, announced the celebration of their traditional Oro festival to coincide with the August 1 protest, and when added to the machete-wielding thugs going round the city, there would likely be some confrontation. I therefore, made a personal appeal to the protesters to streamline the plan and to limit the protest to just one day or at most, three days. Comrade Sowore was quick to reach out to me that I should amend my statement, so that it would not confuse their supporters, a request which I gladly obliged him, since my appeal was personal in the first place, and my intervention between them and the Police had been concluded.

The Protest

And the protest commenced on August 1, 2024. The turnout was massive, the spread was unprecedented and the support was overwhelming. Suffice to state it that, the Government was thoroughly rattled, especially with the outcome from the Northern part of the country. The response was then to sponsor thugs to disrupt the protests, especially in Abuja where buses were dropping anti-protest protesters at the same venue of the main protest. By afternoon of August 1, the protests had turned violent in some locations in Kano and Borno States, with recorded cases of mass looting and destruction of property. Some deaths were already recorded, and it was escalating. This surely was not the intention of the organisers of the protests (or so I was made to believe), the concomitant effect of which would mean that the protest wouldn’t last ten days.

“I specifically requested that they should vacate the protest grounds so as not to give room for the violence that was brewing, as the protests had got out of control, especially in the Northern States, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag"

I made a statement, commending Nigerians for their peaceful conduct, and urging the Police to observe acceptable standards in handling the protest. The protest eventually entered its Day Two on August 2, by which time, it was manifest beyond any doubt that trouble was brewing. We had cases of further looting of warehouses, confrontations between supporters of the Government and the protesters, and cases of looting of the property of private persons, such as the woman who complained bitterly that before she got back from the protest venue, her shop had been looted by her fellow protesters. I then made another personal appeal to the protesters to call off the protest and embrace dialogue with the Government, based on their charter of demands. I specifically requested that they should vacate the protest grounds so as not to give room for the violence that was brewing, as the protests had got out of control, especially in the Northern States, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag.

Conclusion

I have gone this length to show how I became involved in the protests, because I got to know later that the same boy, Adenola, whom I had shielded from the Police, claimed on national television that I never represented the protesters as Counsel. We used to call this “infantile radicalism” in those days in school, when young Comrades with little or no experience, work to undo themselves. The logic of the young man was that, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I could not be hungry enough to feel the pangs of the protesters. So, the Take It Back Movement didn’t know of my status before I was engaged? What has hunger and status got to do with the struggle? May I never go hungry, in order to fight for the people. Obafemi Awolowo, Gani Fawehinmi, Alfred Rewane, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, Balarabe Musa etc, were not poor by any standard. And, even Comrade Sowore himself cannot be classified as a poor man! Will a poor man have the resources to send letters from Lagos to Abuja, or arrange flights to lead Adenola to meet with the Police? Talk about ignorance.

In order to avoid any issue of conflict of interests, I had declined all media invitations to speak on the protesters. So, I take it that Adenola’s appearance was more of a set up by the media, to provoke my response. I mean if I knew that poverty was the basis of legal representation, I would gladly have declined the instructions, while still supporting their protests in my own way. I verily hope that some useful lessons have been learnt by the organisers of the protests, one of which is the need to reach out to and network with people with experience in prosecuting mass struggles. A Lone Ranger cannot successfully combat the forces of oppression, against the masses.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer, Lagos

Nationwide Protest: A Warning to Nigeria’s Kleptomaniac Political Elites

Inibehe Effiong

The mass civic action that greeted the country from 1st August, 2024 with the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, has expanded the conversation about the role of the government and the efficacy of citizen engagement in our political process.

While the protesters, consisting mostly of young disenchanted Nigerians, demonstrated courage in the face of State- sponsored harassment, President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders failed to take advantage of the momentum to gain relative legitimacy.

Notice of the nationwide protest, was given weeks before it commenced. Yet, the national and subnational governments did not exhibit the leadership expected of them.

Takeaways from the #endBadGovernance Protest

The point must be made, that protest is a fundamental right guaranteed by the supreme law of Nigeria. While Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guarantees the right to freedom of expression, Section 40 guarantees the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. These twin constitutional rights, embody the right to protest.

APC/Buhari Regime Rubbished the Country

Since the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power in 2015, the country has been bedevilled by worsening economic crisis, political instability, pervasive insecurity and endemic corruption. The eight years of the Buhari regime saw the wilful, systematic and vicious destruction of democratic institutions and disdain for the rights of Nigerians.

President Tinubu knew that his predecessor had rubbished the country, he knew that he was inheriting a Nigeria in dire need of redemption. However, many of us knew that a Tinubu Presidency, was not going to bring the much desired positive change. Tinubu is part of the oppressive political establishment, that is holding our country to ransom.

Government’s Insensitivity and/to the Protesters Demand

Given the bad state of affairs that Buhari left behind, particularly the debilitating economy inherited by Mr Tinubu, upon his assumption of office on May 29 2023, one would have thought that this President would be sensitive to the demands of protesters, and take advantage of the national agitation to assuage a deeply troubled, angry, hungry and suffering population, by addressing the demands of the protesters in a meaningful way.

The key demands of the #EndBadGovernance protesters include: reversal of economic policies that have further impoverished the country, such as fuel subsidy removal, increase in electricity tariffs, floating of the currency, etc; reduction in the cost of governance; increased budgetary allocations for health and education; electoral reform, with particular emphasis on implementation of the report of the Hon. Justice Muhammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee, and compulsory electronic transmission and collation of results.

These demands are reasonable and patriotic; they are borne out of the realities that confront us today. The suggestion that the protesters are demanding things that are impossible, is neither sincere nor altruistic. If President Tinubu, the National Assembly, the 36 State Governors and the State Houses of Assembly are interested in the progress of the country and the welfare of our countrymen, addressing these demands should not be problematic.

Regrettably, the Government resorted to wild propaganda and unwarranted attacks on the protesters. The mindless killing of protesters, the use of teargas and thugs to attack and disrupt peaceful protests, arrest and detention of organisers of the protests, and the general deployment of unjustifiable

force to intimidate Nigerians for expressing their frustrations with the horrible state of the country, stands condemned.

It took days before an uninspiring presidential broadcast, was delivered. Mr Tinubu’s broadcast, did not offer hope.

In the end, the youths of our country have demonstrated again, that they are capable of confronting the forces that are holding Nigeria down. This, for me, is a major achievement.

The protests should serve as a reminder to our kleptomaniac politicians, that their day of reckoning is approaching. In a democracy, power belongs to the people.

While I deprecate the violence that greeted some parts of the country, it must be stated that the government is the primary instigator of violence. The failure to secure peaceful protesters, and the attack on them by criminal elements working for the government, should be investigated. The victimisation of protesters and organisers by security agencies, must end immediately.

Inibehe Effiong, Legal Practitioner and Human Rights Activist, Lagos

The Right to Protest in Nigeria: Charting a Path from #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria to Good Governance

Dr Ayodele Akenroye

“The eight years of the Buhari regime saw the wilful, systematic and vicious destruction of democratic institutions and disdain for the rights of Nigerians. President Tinubu knew that his predecessor had rubbished the country… However, many of us knew that a Tinubu Presidency, was not going to bring the much desired positive change”

Introduction

Since August 1st, 2024, Nigeria has been facing a wave of protests under the banner of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. This movement, deeply rooted in Nigeria’s history of civil resistance, is more than just a reaction to specific policies – it is a challenge to the very foundations of Nigeria’s political system. Nigerians are fed up with bad governance, corruption, and the rising cost of living that has left millions struggling. The protesters, with 19 specific demands, are calling for comprehensive reform and real accountability in governance. Despite President Tinubu’s appeal on August 4th to pause the protests and open a dialogue, the demonstrations continued.

This movement is a wake-up call, for rethinking the social contract between the Nigerian Government and its citizens. As the most populous country in Africa and with the continent’s largest economy, how Nigeria manages this movement will have a big impact on its democratic future and it’s standing globally. To truly grasp the importance of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest and figure out the way forward, we need to look at Nigeria’s history of protests, the current situation, the laws around the right to protest, and the international guidelines for State actions. Addressing both the immediate demands of the protesters and the deeper issues within Nigerian governanc e, is crucial for creating a solid plan for reform.

Historical Context: The Evolution of Protest in Nigeria Nigeria’s history of protest is a key part of its national identity, stretching from the fight against colonial rule to today’s movements. Take the 1929 Aba Women’s Riots, for example, where women stood up to British colonial powers, setting the stage for

future activism. After independence, student protests tackled issues of neocolonialism, while labour movements like the Nigeria Labour Congress fought against economic inequality. The years of military rule from 1983 to 1999 were especially tough for protesters, with brutal crackdowns under leaders like Sani Abacha. A stark example is the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni leaders in 1995. The annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election sparked a major pro-democracy movement that, despite heavy resistance, played a crucial role in Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999. This strong tradition of civil resistance, continues to shape activism in Nigeria today.

Contemporary Landscape: From #EndSARS to #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria

Since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, the right to protest has been a hotly debated issue, with several key movements shaping today’s conversations. The #OccupyNigeria movement in 2012, for example, showed the power of peaceful protests when thousands took to the streets to oppose the removal of fuel subsidies, leading to significant policy changes. In 2014, the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, sparked by the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, turned into sustained protests that brought attention to broader issues of security, governance, and women’s rights in Nigeria.

The #EndSARS protests of 2020, marked a major turning point. Initially focused on disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, it quickly grew into a nationwide demand for broader governance reforms and accountability. The Government’s harsh response, especially the events at Lekki Toll Gate, drew international condemnation and sparked renewed debates about the limits of State power and the right to protest.

Building on the momentum of #EndSARS, the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria movement has emerged as a

Takeaways from the #endBadGovernance Protest

more comprehensive critique of Nigeria’s political leadership and institutions. This movement is significant, not just for its broad demands, such as reducing the cost of governance and reinstating the oil subsidy removed last year, but also for its ability to unite Nigerians across regional, ethnic, and religious lines and its savvy use of social media and advocacy. While it might appear that the objectives of the protesters have not yet been met, they have demonstrated the collective willpower to express their grievances and hold the government accountable.

President Tinubu’s response, which focused more on his administration’s achievements than directly addressing the protesters’ demands, has left many feeling that their concerns were not truly heard. The heavy-handed response from authorities, including intimidation and arrests of protest leaders, echoes past government reactions and only deepens the distrust between the people and those in power.

Legal Framework: The Gap between Theory and Practice

In theory, Nigeria’s legal framework strongly protects the right to protest, but in practice, its enforcement often falls short of international standards. The 1999 Constitution, through Sections 39 and 40, guarantees freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, in line with international human rights norms. However, these rights are not always consistently upheld, and political influences often affect their implementation.

Nigeria is a signatory to several international treaties, like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which further commit the country to protect the right to protest. Yet, there is a clear gap between these international commitments and how they are applied domestically. For example, the Public Order Act of 1979 is still used by the Government to restrict protests, even though a 2007 Court of Appeal ruling in All Nigeria Peoples Party v Inspector-General of Police decided that Police permits are not required for peaceful assemblies. This misuse of legal tools reflects a broader problem, where laws meant to maintain public order are instead used to limit civil liberties.

Similarly, the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011 and its 2013 amendment have been used to crack down on protesters by labelling them as terrorists, blurring the line between peaceful dissent and actual security threats. This not only undermines protest rights, but also damages the credibility of genuine anti-terrorism efforts. Although Nigerian courts have sometimes played a key role in defending the right to protest, their rulings are not always enforced, and law enforcement agencies often ignore court orders. This creates a climate of impunity, where legal protections are ineffective in practice.

In short, while Nigeria’s laws and Constitution theoretically protect the right to protest, their real-world application is hindered by selective enforcement, political interference, and the misuse of legal tools, leading to a significant gap between legal ideals and reality.

International Law Principles: Setting

the Standard To really grasp where Nigeria falls short in handling the right to protest, we need to look at the international legal principles that should guide government actions. The UN Human Rights Committee’s General Comment No. 37 highlights key points: there should be a presumption in favour of allowing peaceful assemblies; States have a duty to facilitate these gatherings, and restrictions should only be imposed under very limited circumstances. Blanket bans on assemblies are not allowed, spontaneous assemblies should be protected, and the right to use public spaces for protests must be upheld. The Siracusa Principles offer further guidance, stating that any restrictions on rights like freedom of assembly must be clearly defined by law, serve a legitimate purpose, be necessary in a democratic society, be proportionate, and applied without discrimination.

The Way Forward: A Roadmap for Reform

To meet the demands of the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria movement, and ensure Nigeria’s actions align with its constitutional promises and international commitments, the Government needs to make some major changes.

First, there is a need for legislative reform. The outdated Public Order Act should be replaced with new laws that clearly protect the right to peaceful protest, and antiterrorism laws must be adjusted to prevent their misuse against peaceful demonstrators. A new Protest Rights Protection Act

“President Tinubu’s response, which focused more on his administration’s achievements than directly addressing the protesters’ demands, has left many feeling that their concerns were not truly heard”

could help by codifying the right to peaceful protest, and setting up clear accountability measures.

Second, Police reform is crucial. Crowd control tactics should focus on de-escalation and keeping protesters safe. All law enforcement personnel should receive mandatory human rights training, and there should be investments in non-lethal crowd control equipment and community policing efforts.

Third, accountability mechanisms are a must. An independent civilian oversight body should be set up to investigate and prosecute cases of excessive force against protesters. It is also important to ensure transparent investigations into all allegations of Police brutality during protests, and to create a compensation fund for victims of protest-related violence.

Fourth, dialogue and engagement should be prioritised. Designating protest liaison officers to facilitate communication between protesters and law enforcement can help, as can establishing regular forums for dialogue between government officials, law enforcement, and civil society groups. Developing an early warning system to identify and address potential sources of protest before they escalate, is also key.

Fifth, addressing root causes is fundamental. Implementing strong anti-corruption measures, enacting economic reforms to reduce inequality, improving living standards, strengthening the electoral system to ensure fair elections, and investing in education and skills development, especially for youth, are all essential steps.

Finally, public education is vital. Nationwide campaigns should be launched to educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities when protesting. Civic education, including the right to protest, should be included in school curricula, and communitylevel workshops on peaceful protest techniques and cooperation between citizens and Police should be conducted.

Conclusion: From “End Bad Governance” to Good Governance

The #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria

movement represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Nigeria. It highlights the resilience and democratic spirit of the Nigerian people, while showing just how much work remains to create a truly responsive and accountable government.

The right to protest is not a threat to democracy but its lifeblood. By embracing and protecting this fundamental freedom, Nigeria can strengthen its democratic institutions, and move towards a more just and equitable society. How the Government responds to this movement, will be crucial for the future of Nigerian democracy. Will officials engage with the protesters’ demands, or resort to repressive measures?

Moving forward requires courage, commitment, and a readiness to embrace change. It calls for everyonegovernment officials, law enforcement, civil society, and citizens - to come together and ensure that the right to protest is not just a legal formality, but a respected practice. Only then can Nigeria truly emerge as a leader in African democracy, and honour the sacrifices of those who fought for its freedom.

As we face this pivotal moment, we should remember Chinua Achebe’s words: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” The #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria movement, challenges leaders to rise up and tackle the deep-rooted issues in Nigerian governance.

The world is watching, and history will judge. The time for real reform is now. Let Nigeria use this opportunity to build a more open, just, and democratic future - one where every citizen's voice is heard and respected, and where peaceful protest is seen as a crucial tool for positive change. By doing this, Nigeria can turn the call to #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria into a reality of good governance, and set an example for the continent and the world.

Dr Ayodele Akenroye, International Criminal Law Scholar, Toronto, Canada

polity

Benjamin Kalu: Deft Legislator, Social Engineer

By louis Achi

His legislative interests traverse national development, women/youth inclusion and empowerment - and project implementation. But these simply scratch the philosophical and pragmatic essence of the unassuming Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

Deputy Speaker Kalu brings critical skill sets to his crucial responsibilities at the nation’s Green Chamber. He certainly needs them because they are helping him to reposition his immediate constituency, region and Nigeria at large and to optimize the core democratic advantages the nation’s federal legislature confers.

Afterall, it’s a given that powerful visions attract ideas, people and other relevant resources. They create the momentum and will to actualize changes. They inspire individuals, complementary organizations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best.

These are the strong points of Rt. Hon. Kalu and critical democratic stakeholders expect him to leverage them and also enlist his impeccable professionalism, discipline and persistence to change the traditional narrative of the legislation in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region. He is doing this.

Rt. Hon. Kalu rejects staying tamely at the end of received policy prescriptions. He covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive legislative engagement with stake-holders, policy makers and sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in much of his career trajectory. He is defined by his sheer kinetic energy and revels in pushing new frontiers.

Indisputably a refined, highly focused legislator and patriot, Rt. Hon. Kalu embodies the Nigerian spirit. With a sterling career as an international businessman and legal practitioner, Kalu’s daring trajectory in Nigerian politics propelled him to the 6th highest political office in the nation, emerging as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives in June 2023. He has continued to serve the people of Bende Federal Constituency, his immediate legislative zone and the nation at large.

Perhaps not surprisingly, these ingrained attributes have come to define his sterling legislative trajectory. As one of the key leaders of the 10th House of Representatives, Kalu wears the dual hats of Chairman, House Committees of the Whole and on Constitution Review. Cut to the bone, Kalu has added considerable value to federal legislation and national development in several impactful ways - through proactive legislative processes, manpower development, project implementations, and project management. He currently serves as chairman of the Reps Constitution Review and Amendment Committee which is responsible for reviewing and amending the Nigerian Constitution. Rt. Hon. Kalu is indisputably a key legislative force through adroit engagement with his peers in the initiation and eventual passage of the milestone Southeast Development Commission, SEDC, bill into law.

Not many will easily forget that Kalu sponsored the bill which was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and later signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. Throughout the process, Kalu was a strong advocate for the bill, emphasizing its importance for the development and rehabilitation of the Southeast region.

As the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kalu played a key role in guiding the bill through the legislative process, closely engaging with other lawmakers from the Southeast region to ensure the bill’s passage. Being the statesman he is, Kalu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the bill into law, demonstrating his support for the President’s vision for the region’s development.

The SEDC law is expected to play a crucial role in the reconciliation and reintegration of the South East region, which has been affected by decades of neglect and unrest. The Commission will focus on promoting socio-economic development in the region by addressing infrastructure deficits, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for the people.

The SEDC will be responsible for reconstructing and rehabilitating roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region as a result of the effects of the destructive 1967-70 civil war. It will also focus on creating jobs and promoting employment in the region, particularly in the areas of agriculture, industrialization, and housing and urban development.

Very importantly, the commission will work to

address poverty and inequality in the region by promoting economic growth and development, and ensuring that the benefits of development are shared equitably among all sections of the population. It will also work to promote peace and stability in the region by addressing the underlying causes of unrest and conflict, and promoting dialogue and reconciliation among all stakeholders.

In birthing this new milestone reality in the challenged Southeast zone, he demonstrated and leveraged uncommon expertise, commitment, capacity and dedication. Further, as a dedicated and focused federal legislator since 2019, he has played a vital role in shaping policies and implementing projects that contribute to national development.

Rt. Hon. Kalu is the chairman of the Reps Constitution Review Committee, no less a very loaded responsibility. It could be recalled that the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) was established pursuant to Section 62 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Order 18 (9) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. It is a special committee charged with the following responsibilities:

“Recommending the alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and other Acts that require alteration in accordance with sections 8 and 9 of the Constitution;

“Receiving and considering proposals (bills) for alteration of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) referred to it by the House;

“Creating a forum for relevant stakeholders and members of the public to make inputs to the Constitution review process with a view to enacting laws that address the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people;

“Building a robust collaborative synergy with the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and with the 36 States Houses of Assembly whose resolutions are part of the legislative journey of the constitution review process;

“Liaising with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations, multi-lateral and supranational agencies and bodies to achieve a wholesome amendment to the Nigerian constitution.”

Kalu has also proposed and supported various bills and motions, including the Acts Authentication Act and the Nigerian Communications Act and more. His legislative exertions have not gone unnoticed by an appreciative society. Kalu has received several awards and honours for his contributions to law making, including the Outstanding Reps Member of the Year by the Democracy Heroes Award Africa in 2022 and the Most Valuable Parliamentarian by OrderPaper in 2023 and many more.

Beyond the legislative chambers, Kalu launched the Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) in an effort to restore the region to its once illustrious past and illuminating glory. The project champions a non-kinetic approach to resolving the region’s insecurity issues. Significantly, this has made a difference, notwithstanding that more needs to be done. He is also the founder of the Benjamin Kalu Foundation, a charity organization.

Rt. Hon. Kalu was born on May 5, 1971 in Agbamuzu, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. and holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, a Master of Law in Terrorism and International Humanitarian Law (Distinction), and a Bachelor of Law (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Calabar.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing his studies at the Nigeria Law School in Enugu State, Nigeria. In addition to his formal education, Kalu has obtained several certifications in Migration and Human Rights from John Cabot University, Italy, Illicit Trade from the University of Groningen, Netherlands, Governance and Development from Miami Herbert Business School, Miami University, USA.

He also has certifications in Environmental Crimes from the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Italy and International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIARB) at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He is a member of the African Union Pan African Parliament; Member of the ECOWAS Parliament; Fellow of OSHAssociation United Kingdom; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of International Arbitrators (CIARB UK); Member of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); and Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Managers (F.Inst.AM). Kalu who has clearly scored high in social engineering, though a topnotch legislator, is happily married and blessed with lovely children

Olympic Disaster: Nigeria’s Sports Sector in Shambles, Ajunwa, Ojugbana Declare

Mary Nnah

Nigeria’s dismal performance at the just concluded Paris Olympics has continued to spark outrage and disappointment among sports enthusiasts, with many calling for a complete overhaul of the country’s sports administration.

Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, and a veteran sports analyst, Charles Ojugbana, have slammed the country’s sports leadership, describing it as a “disaster” and “disappointing”.

The duo made their views known while featuring as guests on the Arise TV News, where they shared their expert analysis and insights on Nigeria’s Olympic performance. Ajunwa, who won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, expressed her frustration, saying, “It’s disheartening that Nigeria always tells the same story of failure. We never plan, and that’s why we fail. We’re

always reactive, never proactive.

“We wait until the last minute to prepare, and then we wonder why we don’t win medals. I cried like a baby when I saw our athletes struggling. It’s like we’re not serious about sports. We’re just participating for the sake of participating, not to win.”

Ajunwa said the athletes were devastated and confused as they were given meagre training grants, which demotivated them.

“How can you expect athletes to perform when they’re not motivated? I know what it takes to win an Olympic medal. I’ve been there, done that. But our athletes are not given the support they need to succeed. They lack the right training, equipment, and motivation. It’s like sending a soldier to war without a gun,” she said.

Ojugbana, known for his scathing critiques, described Nigeria’s performance as a “culture of incompetence,”adding that, sports

was intentional, but that Nigeria’s approach was haphazard.

“We sent 82 athletes, but no one knew what they were doing. We had athletes competing in rowing,

swimming, and cycling – sports we had no business competing in. We should focus on our areas of strength, like combat sports and athletics.

“We need to learn from other countries like Botswana, which sent just 11 athletes and won two medals. We need to invest in our athletes, provide them with the

right training and equipment, and motivate them to perform. We need to have a clear plan and strategy for sports development, not just a bunch of disjointed programs.”

International Youth Day: Aiyedatiwa Promises Global Opportunities for Youths

Fidelis David in Akure

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday,reiterated his administration’s commitment to work with the private sector and development partners to build the capacity of young people in the state. The governor made the disclosure at a symposium to mark the 2024 International Youth Day, held in Akure with the theme: ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development’

Represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, the governor said the youths were the driving force of the economy and must be prepared to be globally competitive.

“I want to reiterate that our administration is irrevocably committed to human capital development. Our government has concluded arrangements to explore global opportunities and partner the private sector and development partners to build the capacity of our teeming youths for sustainable job creation,” he said.

The governor also encouraged the youths not to see Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a complex tool, noting that there were many young people and children around the world with groundbreaking inventions.

Interacting with the youths, the guest speaker for the occasion and former House of Representatives member for Ilaje Ese-Odo federal constituency, Kolade Akinjo, charged the youths to continuously push the frontiers of knowledge and find innovative

approaches to solving local problems. Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, thanked the governor for his youthfriendly policies that have positively impacted young people in the state. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, Orioye Gbayisemore, urged the youths to take advantage of youth empowerment initiatives of the state and federal governments, especially the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund.

Hon. Benjamin Kalu

The federal government as well as the 36 states and 774 local governments in Nigeria shared about N12.45 trillion in the first six months of 2024, with N626.33 billion of that amount accruing to oil-producing states as 13 per cent derivation fund.

A THISDAY analysis of data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) since the beginning of 2024 showed that in January the three tiers of government shared N1.67 trillion; it was N2.07 trillion in February while N2.33 trillion was disbursed between the federal government and sub-national governments in March.

In the same vein, in April, the total amount shared was N1.87

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise [CPPE] has expressed worries over the growing incidents of regulatory irritations, distractions, and frustrations inflicted on the Nigerian manufacturing sector.

The Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, expressed this concern yesterday in a press statement titled, “Need to Ease Regulatory Burden on Investors.”

Yusuf said: “There are disturbing tendencies of overbearing regulatory dispositions, disproportionate

trillion; N2.19 trillion in May, while in June the federal government, states and local governments got N2.32 trillion in total. These funds amounted to N12.45 during the period.

The revenues made by the entire tiers of government was about N7.25 trillion higher in comparison with a figure of N5.2 trillion for the same period of January to June 2023.

Essentially, the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) sits every month to disburse revenue from various sources to the federal government, states and local councils.

This is even more critical because many sub-nationals are not able to generate enough Internally

sanctions, obstructionist actions, outrageous fines and penalties, intimidation and high handedness.

“There are also worries about multiple regulatory fees and levies, duplications and overlapping responsibilities, regulatory repression and weak stakeholder engagement.”

He, therefore, appealed to the regulatory agencies to exercise more discretion in exercise of their powers and support the aspiration of the present administration to create and enabling environment for investment to boost domestic production, reduce import dependence, conserve foreign

Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund their projects, leading to illiquidity without monies from FAAC.

The current FAAC revenuesharing formula allocates 52.68 per cent to the federal government, 26.72 per cent to states, and 20.60 per cent to the local governments.

For the same period (January to June 2023) the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in an earlier statement had said that a total sum of N5.2 trillion accrued to the Federation Account as captured in its monthly report to the FAAC by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Given that figure, a THISDAY computation further revealed that put side by side with the monies generated last year in the first half,

exchange and elevate investors’ confidence.

“This does not detract from their primary responsibilities of the agencies to protect consumers, ensure competition, promote standards and quality and protect the environment.

“But they do not have to suffocate investors in order to achieve this objective.

“Public pronouncements by some of the agencies had the unintended consequences of demarketing local brands, an action which is detrimental to the country’s aspiration to boost domestic production, grow

accruals to the federal government and the federating units skyrocketed by as much as 139.4 per cent this year in H1.

Similarly, the oil-producing states received an additional 13 per cent derivation fund, aside their other usual statutory accruals.

The nine key states that get this special funding include: Delta, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, and to a lesser extent, Anambra, Abia and Imo states.

For the period under review, which spans January to June this year, these states raked in N626.33 billion extra from the 13 per cent derivation fund, which is primarily for oil-producing areas.

A breakdown of this amount showed that in January, N57.92

investment, expand exports, earn foreign exchange and create jobs,” he said.

The CPPE also said that regulatory agencies should appreciate the context in which businesses in Nigeria are operating.

It said: “The headwinds are profound and multifaceted, which is why many large companies declared huge losses in their latest financial results.

“Many have shut down; some have scaled down their operations while several others have left the country. Businesses are grappling

billion accrued to the states as 13 per cent funding; N85.10 billion in February and N166.24 billion in March.

In April, the oil-producing states received N90.12 billion; it was N120.45 billion in May, while the total revenue from the 13 per cent derivation in June was N106.50 billion.

Compared with the first half of 2024, the nine oil producing states shared a lesser sum of N544.9 billion from the federation account last year, a further review of NBS figures revealed.

Aside the fact that oil prices have stabilised at about $80 per barrel for over one year, the devaluation of the Naira by the Bola Tinubu administration has also seen more

with the challenges of exchange rate depreciation, currency volatility, high energy cost, high electricity tariff, high cost of logistics, weak purchasing power, soaring inflation, high cost of funds, high cost of cargo clearing, insecurity in parts of the country and many more.

“These are enough troubles for manufacturers and other investors in the economy. The regulatory agencies should not be perceived as adding to this multitude of problems.”

According to Yusuf, it is important that the regulatory agencies should bear in mind that “running a business

funds being made available to states due to exchange gain.

Also, apart from the 13 per cent derivation fund, a further 3 per cent is provided for host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), from the oil companies operating expenses (OPEX). In January 2024, most of the N1.67 trillion to the three tiers of government saw N875.38 billion recorded from the Statutory Account, N287.74 billion from Exchange Gain, and N18.60 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). Besides, of that amount, N492.51 billion was from Value Added Tax (VAT).

in the country at this time is a herculean task.

“The CPPE believes that the regulatory agencies can discharge their functions effectively without jeopardizing investment sustainability and growth.

“Regulatory agencies should see investors as partners in the Nigerian project for the growth of the economy and not as objects from which to extract financial value of all types,” he said.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Ekpo: Developing Nigeria’s Gas Resources will lead to Economic Prosperity

Arthur Eriye

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has asserted the federal government’s firm resolve to advance the nation’s gas resources as this would reduce the cost of living as well as foster economic prosperity of the country.

He stated this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when he visited the facilities and projects of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), where he serves as the co-chair of the Governing Council.

He said that Nigeria is endowed with vast natural gas resources of about 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, emphasizing the necessity to harness these

resources effectively to drive economic development.

He underlined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unalloyed support to the gas sector, with initiatives extending to the entire value chain, notably gas development, distribution and penetration. Federal Government’s drive, according to him, is geared to lower the cost of transportation, the cost of living and impact every part of the country positively.

He listed some of the key initiatives his ministry is pursing to include investments in critical gas infrastructure development to support the transportation and distribution of natural gas across the country, promotion of domestic gas utilization for

power generation, industrial applications, and transportation as well as strengthening NCDMB’s capacity to build capacity and enforce local content policies.

Other laudable initiatives reeled out by the Minister include encouraging and supporting gas-to-power projects to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity, expanding Nigeria’s capacity to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to international markets, to generate revenue and position Nigeria as a key player in the global gas market and strengthening the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the gas sector to create an enabling environment for investment and innovation.

Amo Farm Launches Noiler City to Enhance Access to Protein Foods

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited (AFSHL) has launched its Noiler City that would provide convenient and innovative way for city dwellers to access fresh eggs and meat directly from their homes.

The launch is in recognition of the urgent need to offer an affordable and reliable protein source for urban residents.

The Noiler City package would offer a comprehensive and costeffective solution for urban poultry farming at an affordable price of N150,000.

The Group Managing Director of Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, said: “We are excited to launch Noiler City, a project dedicated to empowering urban residents to take control of their food supply and address escalating food costs.

He said, “Noiler farming has already proven its value in rural communities, providing over a million households with a reliable source of meat and eggs. By bringing this successful model to the city, we aim to enhance food security and selfsufficiency for urban families.”

Oduntan said that the Noiler City initiative would build on the success of introducing Noiler birds to rural communities, which has significantly enhanced food security for over 1.4 million households through this sustainable farming model..

The Business Development Manager at AFSHL, Mrs. Itoro

Awala-Ale, highlighted the significance of the package, stating that, “our inclusive package is designed to empower city dwellers, regardless of their experience in poultry farming or space limitations, to thrive in urban environments.

“Once the hens start laying,

you will enjoy a steady supply of fresh eggs right in your backyard, enabling you to grow your food and provide a consistent source of protein for your family.”

According to her, the AFSHL is committed to enhancing food security and self-sufficiency across Nigeria.

NERC Enlightens Electricity Consumers, Resolves Complaints in Calabar

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has urged electricity consumers to utilise the NERC Contact Centre and the its forum offices to resolve complaints.

At a NERC town hall meeting and complaint resolution forum in Calabar, Cross River State, the NERC Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, Aisha Mahmud said NERC was committed to improving customer satisfaction by the electricity Distribution Companies (Discos).

“We are here in Calabar to resolve problems just as we have done in several parts of the country, and it has been a huge success. Complaints are to be resolved on the spot, and NERC will ensure this is done, except for some technical issues that require investigation by the Disco,” a statement from the power sector,” the regulator said.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Power

and Renewable Energy, Eka Williams, commended NERC for organising the event where issues were resolved instantly by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).

“What NERC has done today is commendable and we must thank them for taking the proactive steps in organising a town hall meeting to engage the electricity consumers in Calabar on their rights and obligations,” Eka noted.

The member representing Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Joseph Bassey, the statement said, recalled how NERC once resolved his overbilling complaint as the Disco adjusted his bill and gave him credit units.

“So, I want to use this platform to encourage you as my constituents and electricity consumers in Calabar to visit the NERC forum office in Calabar and make your complaints whenever you feel cheated or underserved by Port Harcourt Disco.”

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

FG Launches Ride Sharing CNG Conversion Incentive Scheme

Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government through the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has launched the ride sharing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme, Speaking at the launch of the Ride Share Compressed

Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Incentive Programme and PI-CNG’s My CNG App, he noted that the initiative reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to providing accessible and affordable transportation for Nigerians.

The minister, according to a statement in Abuja by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, saluted

the Programme Coordinator of the Presidential CNG Initiative and critical stakeholders in the project for working tirelessly to make it a reality.

He also implored Nigerians to stop attacking President Bola Tinubu and the people he said were working to change the fortunes of citizens, especially following the decision to end fuel subsidy.

The minister acknowledged the pivotal role that the transport sector plays in the movement of goods and services, and the impact of the recent removal of fuel subsidy on that role.

Executive Vice Chairman of National Agency of Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalid Halilu, in his speech described the

launch of the scheme as a milestone achievement in the deployment of technology to boost CNG utilisation as vehicular fuel in Nigeria.

He commended partners, P-CNGi, Portland Gas and Dana Motors for their faith and commitment to the project.

Programme Director, Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, said

transportation forms about 15 per cent of average family spending as Nigerians now spend more on fuel to move around.

He thanked President Tinubu for approving the 50 per cent discount for the Ride Share drivers scheme saying it will bring down transportation cost in the country.

FG Decries Slow Pace of Work on Enugu-Onitsha Road

The federal government has decried the slow pace of work on the EnuguOnitsha road, stressing that it is reviewing the performance of all inherited ongoing and new road projects nationwide.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, a statement from his spokesman, Uchenna Orji, said has directed the contractors handling the construction of the 107km Enugu – Onitsha road dualization to brace up for the implementation of the policies of the current administration

with respect to speed and quality of work.

Umahi spoke during a meeting of the ministry with MTN that is funding the construction of Enugu – Onitsha road dualization under Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the government of Enugu state and the two contractors handling the project under the scheme – RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, in Abuja.

He said: “Let me express

my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It’s one of the worst roads in this country. Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and the Nigercat had completed.

“The contractors are not kind enough to even put stone base on the diversion points. So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project.”

TCN: N5bn Spent on Repairs of Vandalised Power Assets in Five Months

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that it spent N5 billion in the first five months of 2024 repairing and replacing equipment destroyed by vandals.

The Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSP) in the TCN, Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, therefore condemned the frequent vandalism of

electricity transmission facilities across the country.

“He revealed that the company has spent over N5 billion to repair or replace damaged equipment in the last five months,” excerpts of news from the TCN’s website showed.

The ED who spoke during a two-day meeting with all General Managers in TSP, at the corporate headquarters, urged relevant stakeholders

and security agencies to step up their efforts to protect electricity assets across the country.

While regretting that resources earmarked for other developmental projects have been re-directed to address vandalised equipment, he however assured that management is working tirelessly to address the issue.

He said that this included a meeting with the National

Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to solicit his support and intervention.

Ajiboye explained that the meeting was crucial in the context of the deregulated electricity market, where General Managers, as key stakeholders in TCN, need to come together and explore ways to enhance TCN’s performance.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Finance and Account,

Mr. Chukwuka Ochijie, encouraged participants to shift their focus away from the challenges and instead, offer pragmatic and actionable solutions that can drive the company forward.

He stressed that funding was a significant challenge for the company, and urged participants to focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on the problems.

“I encourage you to

identify our unfinished projects, analyse the causes of delays, and provide recommendations for prompt action. Although funding has always been a challenge, and it’s even more severe now, management has consistently worked diligently to secure resources and address our most pressing needs,” he said.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Japan to Boost Power Supply in Ogun, Lagos Axis with $500m Investment

Arthur Eriye

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has invested $500 million to boost power supply in the Ogun and Lagos corridor.

Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, revealed this over the weekend when Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State paid him a courtesy visit.

Adelabu, in a statement, by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, described the agency’s investment as a boost to the Nigerian economy.

Tunji quoted Adelabu as explaining that the gesture was

meant to strengthen transmission infrastructure along Lagos-Ogun Industrial area.

According to him, the investment will particularly cover Agbara, Mowe and Shagamu industrial clusters.

“We also have the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) projects, the highlights of which include boosting power transmission infrastructure within and outside the Ogun industrial corridors. Also ongoing are some Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN)’s projects aimed at enhancing power supply to Ogun.

“All these will involve

building additional power transmission substations and upgrading existing ones as well as reconductoring existing weak high voltage power lines and new extensions for capacity strengthening and expansion,” Adelabu said.

In his remarks, Abiodun applauded the minister for the overwhelming noticeable improvements in power supply across the country.

He also commended Adelabu on the ongoing turnaround being witnessed in the nation’s power sector and enjoined him to sustain the momentum, which he said would further galvanize the economy.

StreSERT Launches Kotter Change Certification Courses in Nigeria

StreSERT Integrated Ltd (SIL), a leading indigenous management consultancy and provider of learning and development solutions, has announced the launch of Kotter change certification programs and courses in Nigeria.

The Kotter Training Change Certification Programs and Courses are meant to advance the development of change leadership capacity in the public and private sectors.

Kotter is the pioneer and the global leader in change management consulting and training. With over 40 years of experience, Kotter has helped thousands of organizations around the world navigate complex change initiatives. Their world-renowned methodologies and frameworks provide a proven approach to leading successful change and transformation.

The company stated that Kotter was keen to provide its

training certification programs and courses to the Nigerian market in a bid to support leaders and organisations in Nigeria and West Africa build the necessary change leadership capacity required to succeed in today’s world – where change is no longer episodic but constant.

“Kotter Training is delighted to partner with SIL to deliver our change Training certification programs and courses to Nigeria and West Africa,” said Kotter’s Chief Commercial and Growth Officer, Kathy Gersch “Together, we can empower leaders across Nigeria and West Africa to lead successful transformations that drive exponential organizational growth and performance.”

“We are excited to partner with Kotter Training to bring Kotter Training programs and courses to a Nigerian audience, as we believe that it not only adds to our value proposition

to clients, more importantly, it supports organisations as they build genuine change leadership capacity and drive successful transformations,” stated Patrick Awodu, COO of SIL.

He noted that in the face of increasing economic volatility and uncertainty, and with rapid technological advancement, what organisations in both public and private sectors in Nigeria and Africa needed most today, is sustainable change capability that will enable them successfully adapt and transform to meet the needs of their various stakeholders.

He also added that the company’s strategic partnership with Kotter Training empowers SIL to deliver the world-renowned Kotter methodology, equipping leaders and their organisations with the tools and frameworks needed to navigate complex organizational change initiatives.

Ayanfeoluwa Emerges Overall Winner of African Capital Alliance Foundation ‘Ethical Living’ Competition

OtelaJa Ayanfeoluwa, a CMS Grammar School Bariga student, has emerged as the Overall Winner of the ‘Ethical Living’ Essay Competition sponsored by the African Capital Alliance Foundation (ACAF).

At the grand finale of the Project which took place in Lagos, Oseni Aaqibah Akorede of Akande Dahunsi Memorial High School, Osborne, Lagos, and Ogunlowo Ayomide of Boys’ Senior Academy, Lagos clinched the first and second runners up positions respectively.

Three Hundred and Fifty Three (353) students from ten (10) selected schools approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Education

participated in the essay writing competition titled, “My Role as a Youth and the Strategies I Will Deploy in Creating a More Ethical, Just, and Equitable Society”.

The Chairman of the African Capital Alliance Foundation (ACAF), Dr. Okey Enelamah, in his remarks, said that it is essential for a society to instill and invest in ethical values especially as the world faces various challenges.

According to him, to make a lasting impact, ethical values should become our daily life, stating that ‘We can only receive transformative power when we make an ethical living as a mantra’

He advised that it is daily choices that make a good society

adding that ‘the value you build today will save you tomorrow. The youths have the power to save the society’.

‘We need to foster an environment that fosters ethical standards.

At the African Capital Alliance Foundation, we are moved by the concept of a good society where people take responsible actions daily”, he added.

An educationist and former Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, in her keynote address titled ‘The Transformative Power of Ethical Living’ said that a nation must make conscious decisions to do the right thing at the right time in all circumstances.

Synergy Gap Barrier to Africa Tax Revenue Growth, Says ACFE

Omolabake Fasogbon

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Lagos chapter has cited lack of cooperation amongst African nations as being responsible for the continent’s underperformance in areas of tax growth and target. The association noted further that African countries, especially those who complied with international tax standards like transfer pricing regulations, have not reaped commensurately for their efforts.

President of ACFE, Dr. Titilayo Fowokan emphasized

strengthened synergy among Africans, asserting that only such would catalyse reforms and engenders expected output from measures aimed at unlocking tax wealth in Africa.

Fowokan while reacting to the outcome of African Caucus Meeting in Abuja, recently, lauded reforms to tackle global economic shocks by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, however restated need to localise policies tailored to regional reality.

The tax professional, in particular, expressed confidence in fostering global co-operation to

unlock Africa’s fiscal potential.

She said, “This, would enhance countries’ ability to get their fair share of tax from the multinationals, more so, countries that have signed on to transfer pricing regulations can effectively curb Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and block revenue leakages. It is imperative for each African country to be each other’s keeper by creating a business environment that encourages flow of investment within the region through African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) implementation”.

Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab

(Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

L-R:CEO Kenyon International, Dr Victor Ekpenyong; Regional Director, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Africa, Oghogho Effiom; President, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International, Terry Palisch; and Executive Commissioner Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Amadasu Enorense, at the opening ceremony of Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) 2024 in. Lagos....recently

Adaora: Zenith Bank to Experience Exponential Growth with N289.4bn Fresh Capital

Kayode Tokede

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Umeoji Adaora, yesterday expressed confidence that the lender’s N289.4 billion recapitalisation exercise is poised to drive its financial performance exponentially and increase shareholders’ return.

Zenith Bank in following the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive is offering 5,232,748,964 new ordinary shares by way of a rights issue at N36.00 per

share and based on a ratio of one ordinary share for every six ordinary shares held by existing shareholders.

It is also raising 2,767,251,036 ordinary shares of 50 kobo at N36.50 per share by way of public offering. This brings the total capital raising exercise to N289.44billion.

Speaking to the capital market community during Zenith Bank’s “Facts Behind the Offer” in Lagos, Adaora stated that the bank is a futuristic financial

institution that values the loyalty of its existing shareholders.

She noted that on that note, it is equally responsive to the yearnings of prospective investors who want to be part of its success story, and opted to have a combined offering to accommodate both groups.

She expressed that the board and directors at Zenith Bank are very conscious of not diluting its existing shareholding structure, which is why it is offering 65per cent to existing

shareholders’ and 35pepr cent to the public.

“We are very confident that after the ongoing recapitalization exercise, the bank will experience exponential growth, and shareholders will get greater value for their investment,” she said.

On the use of the proceeds, she explained that Zenith Bank has a track record of efficient capital utilization and expected to execute 35 per cent of the proceeds realized from the

combined offering to fund its expansion strategy, increase footprint in Africa and other parts of the world.

“20per cent will be used to enhance our IT infrastructure and digital capabilities and the balance of 45per cent will be deployed as working capital to support the real sector of the economy with a focus on the retail and SME segments,” she said.

She explained further that Zenith Bank’s dominant footprint

in Nigeria, West Africa, and international network presents exciting growth opportunities.

“We currently have subsidiaries and representative offices in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, UK, UAE and China; and we recently obtained a banking license to commence operations in Paris. We are going to leverage on the Paris subsidiary to consolidate our business in the African Francophone region starting from Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroun.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF AUGUST 12/24

FlAvour oF NIgErIA FooD FEStIvAl IN BrAmptoN, oNtArIo...

Tinubu Applauds Creative Zeal of Nigerian Youths

President Bola Tinubu yesterday, celebrated Nigerian youths on the occasion of the International Youth Day and extolled their creative zeal and ability to drive digital adoption, trends and innovation in Nigeria and beyond.

to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.'

The International Youth Day is celebrated every August 12, and the 2024 theme was, 'From Clicks

Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, affirmed that within the nation's youths was the excellent spirit and

pearl of transformation to digitally innovate Nigeria to prosperity and global acclaim.

The President acknowledged the strides of youths in diverse spheres, especially in developing

billion dollar technologies and innovations to make the world a more prosperous and evolved place.

The President praised Nigerian youths in Ebute Metta, Lagos, with only a ring-light and a camera, creating legitimate income and wonders in amusement; young woman entrepreneur in Aba, creating inimitable fashion pieces, and the young man in Kano, creating pathways for sustainable agriculture through agro-technology.

The federal government yesterday, finally paid the outstanding 45-month minimum wage arrears owed staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Non-payment of the arrears, which dated back to 2019, had often pitted NiMet management against the staff of the agency and the labour unions.

In May this year, the unions had planned to embark on industrial action on Monday, May 20, 2024. However, following an intervention by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and their Senate counterpart, the unions suspended the strike action after an agreement was reached on Sunday, May 19, 2024, during a special session convened by the House Committee on Aviation Technology led by Chairman, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, with NiMet management and representatives of the unions present.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for authorising the payment of the arrears.

“Mr. President has demonstrated

once again that he is a workerfriendly president. The issue of the unpaid 45-month wage arrears predates this administration, but still, Mr. President has cleared the outstanding.

“I wish to thank the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) for the role he played.

“Also the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, and members of the Committee for their sacrifices and timely intervention. I wish to also thank the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and the members of the Committee.

"I thank all the others who played different roles in the process. We expect that staff and the unions will show Mr. President appreciation by working hard and staying focused to ensure that NiMet continues to achieve its mandate."

Staff of NiMet, through the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC) thanked the President, Keyamo and the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Aviation as well as Anosike.

future remains up for debate.

A new report on, "The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs,” published by the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium has revealed that 92 per cent of information technology (IT) jobs would see a high or moderate transformation due to advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The biggest change would be experienced by mid and low-level positions, as manual tasks become less relevant or easily replaceable by this technology, the report said.

According to the report, while there was no doubt, AI would be a paradigm shift for society, but the extent to which it will replace human workers in the

To get a better idea of how AI would change the labour market for technology professionals, the recently formed AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium published the new report. The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium comprises some of the industry’s leading names — Cisco, Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP — with advice from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO). Others are Chain5, Communications Workers of America (CWA), DigitalEurope, the European Vocational Training Association (EVTA), Khan Academy, and

In a release dated August 12, 2024, and signed by Comrade Okechukwu Nwokoro, Secretary NJAC and Branch President of SSASCGOC, NiMet, the unions

expressed profound gratitude for the collective intervention in ensuring the payment of the outstanding minimum wage arrears owed to NiMet staff from 2019 to 2022.

Tinubu stressed that it was in furtherance of harnessing the creative talents of the youth that his administration relaunched the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

The facility is a N110 billion fund

dedicated to empowering the youth in priority sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and development. The Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) programme, the 3Million Technical Talents Scheme, the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP) are also some of the programmes to empower the nation's young people, and create millions of IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive.

On the special occasion to celebrate the youths, the President assured Nigerians that his administration was poised to making Nigerians dreams come alive in a sustainably expanding, inclusive economy.

Set to revoke defaulters’ subscription in 8 weeks

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development yesterday announced the commencement of the issuance of first offer of provisional allocation to the outright subscrib- ers of houses under the National Housing Programme (NHP).

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, disclosed this in his office in Abuja.

The issuance of the first batch offer of provisional allocation which began in April, 2024 was sequel to the review of the conditions and procedures for the sales of houses under the NHP conveyed

SMEunited.

The study argued that the biggest changes would be seen in mid-level (40 per cent) and entrylevel (37 per cent) technology jobs, as certain skills and capabilities become more or less relevant.

AI ethics, responsible AI, rapid engineering, AI literacy, and large language model (LLM) architecture are expected to rise in importance in this new era, while traditional data management, content creation, documentation maintenance, basic programming and languages, and research information will become less relevant.

Based on this development, the report noted that critical skills were needed in all IT jobs, including AI literacy, data analytics, and

on December 29, 2023 via a circular Ref no. DPBH/645/1/43.

Ogunbiyi disclosed that a number of outright payment subscribers had completed their payments, while some had started making deposit payments, but yet to complete their payments, according to a statement by Director (Press & Public Relations), Salisu Haiba.

Accordingly, he also reminded the subscribers under the 1st batch offer of provisional allocation of the NHP housing units that the validity period for the completion of all payment was 90 days.

"By this information, the ministry is informing all the first batch outright subscribers who are yet

rapidTheengineering. consortium is therefore seeking to empower workers to reskill and upskill.

This comprehensive analysis provides insight into the impact of AI on tech jobs, as the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium is comprised of some of the industry’s leading names — Cisco, Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP — with advice from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFLCIO), Chain5, Communications Workers of America (CWA), DigitalEurope, the European Vocational Training Association (EVTA), Khan Academy, and SMEunited.

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, yesterday, said the current security threats confronting the nation were daunting, but surmountable as long as the military and other security agencies continued to work together as a team.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, AVM Edward Gabkwet, stated that the CDS also called for continued collaboration and cooperation among the services and other security agencies.

Musa, who said this while being briefed at the Strategic Operations Centre, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, emphasised the need for increased discipline among personnel, stressing that "all hands must be on deck" to achieve the desired results".

He expressed delight at the high level of synergy among members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) amid the numerous operational successes being recorded against terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers

and other criminal elements in the country.

The CDS applauded the military for the renewed efforts in the fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta region, which he said was in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu towards ramping up oil production in the region.

Appreciating NAF personnel for their unwavering dedication and hard work, Musa assured that he was fully committed to providing all necessary support to enable the NAF and other services rid the nation of its security challenges. He encouraged the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, to maintain the momentum and continue working collaboratively with other services to ensure the security and stability of the country.

“We must continue to enhance our synergy and intensify air operations to combat terrorists and other criminal elements, curbing their operational freedom and fostering favourable conditions for successful ground operations by our troops,” he said.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

L-R: Representative of The Olu of Warri kingdom, Adeniyi Ifetayo; Nigerian Canada-based Actor Titi Kuti; Convener, Flavour of Nigeria Food Festival in Canada, Mr Chukwuebuka Anyaduba; Special Guest of Honour, and Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau; and Nollywood Actor, Uzee Usman, during the festival in Brampton, Ontario Canada…recently

MTN NIGERIA DONATES N1BN, 4600 DIGITAL DEVICES TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT...

L-R: MTN Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe, paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Kashim Shettima, where he handed over MTN's N1 billion donation to the government's Food Support Programme, as well as 4,600 units of educational devices to be distributed in schools across the federation held in Abuja at the weekend

Atiku: If There’s

No Evidence Yet of Better Economy, then

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, Atiku Abubukar, has said if by now there is no evidence of improvement in the quality of life of the citizens, amid agonising hardship, then President Bola Tinubu has nothing to offer.

Speaking through his spokesman, Paul Ibeh, Atiku said it was disappointing that the Tinubu administration had to wait for

Nigerians to take to the streets to draw its attention to the desperate times.

The former vice president said, with regard to Tinubu, “There were certainly challenges before now, that’s why you were given the mandate. We know so many things were done wrong under Buhari.

“The economy went into recession twice under the last APC administration, because it knows nothing about economics. Nepotism, corruption were at a high.

“Whatever Buhari did wrong we

Tinubu

are seeing a higher dimension under Tinubu. What we are witnessing today is Buhari pro-max. Divisions under Buhari have become craters under this government.

“How can the cost of basic food items come down when farmers can still not go back to their farms due to insecurity?

“Look at all the drama over the Dangote refinery, this is one refinery that the last administration, in spite of its failings, invested $20 billion tax payers’ money in.

"We had thought by now our

DICON at 60: Defence Ministry Places Restrictions on Arms Importation

The Ministry of Defence, yesterday, placed restrictions on importation of certain caliber of arms and ammunition into the country.

The ministry said the restrictions were in accordance with the new defence industries corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Act signed by President Bola Tinubu, in November 2023.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, reiterated this restrictions, while fielding questions from newsmen at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.

He also noted that the ministry equally ordered ministries, departments and agencies of the government, seeking to procure arms and ammunition to clear with it before going ahead with the procurement to ensure that arms and ammunition that could be sourced locally are not purchased from foreign companies.

Kana further averred that the ministry also barred bureau of public enterprises (BPE), from issuing no-objection to MDAs seeking to procure caliber of arms and ammunition that were manufactured in Nigeria to protect the nation's military industrial complex.

He said the new DICON Act actually provided a veritable platform to partner other indigenous

companies to ensure local production of arms and ammunition.

The Act, he said further strengthened the relationship between DICON and other critical stakeholders, in making sure that the ministry of defence, and other security agencies procured from indigenous companies first before thinking of going abroad.

According to him, “The law now makes it mandatory for us in ministry of defence, the office of national security adviser, ministries of interior, police affairs and all other security organisations in Nigeria to prioritise locally manufactured arms and ammunition in their procurement.

"If you are procuring arms and ammunition using government funds, you have no right to procure abroad unless it is not produced in Nigeria. That is why the Minister of State for Defence, has mandated me to develop a clear system whereby any ministry, department or agency of government that is procuring arms and ammunition must seek clearance from the ministry.

“We have already written to the Bureau of public procurement not to issue no objection to any MDA, unless there is clearance from the minister of state through a committe in the ministry of defence. This is a good time for local production and this is time for people who have money to invest in the military

industrial complex.

“The return on investment for any body that invest in military industrial complex is hundred percent, within five years period. The president has directed national agency for science and engineering infrastructure (NASENI), to partner with ministry of defence and we will sign an MoU to begin production of small ammunition in Nigeria."

Has Nothing to Offer

domestic needs will be met and exports will generate the much needed foreign exchange for our development, but here we are

asking questions. “What is going on? Did this administration enter into any partnership with foreign interests to

ruin this investment? Sadly, there is nothing in the horizon to show that this government is ready to solve our nation’s problems.”

Shaibu Impersonating Deputy Governor, Disregard Him, Edo Govt Warns the Public

The Edo State Government has cautioned persons and organisations against dealing with the impeached Deputy Governor of the State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, who has resorted to impersonation by engaging with private and public organisations in pursuit of selfish interests.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, the government said: “It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that the former Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has been carrying out correspondence with different institutions and organisations both within and outside the State in a clear case of impersonation.

“In the interest of the safety of these organisations, we want

to restate that Shaibu is not the Deputy Governor of Edo State and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.”

He clarified that the issue of Shaibu’s purported reinstatement was still active in court and the next hearing for the two separate motions filed by the State Government and the Edo House of Assembly challenging the purported reinstatement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court was fixed for 24 September, 2024.

He added: “The State through the Attorney General of Edo State and the Edo House of Assembly by their lawyers, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, and Ken Mozia, SAN, respectively, had in the motions sought an order

for a stay of the execution of the purported reinstatement and an order suspending the judgment and restraining Shaibu from parading himself or attending any official function as deputy governor pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

“Therefore, the status quo is that His Excellency, Omobayo Marvelous Godwins, remains the deputy governor of Edo State and any correspondence carried out by any other person, including Philip Shaibu is an act of impersonation, and anyone who deals with him does so at his or her own risk.

“Security agencies are, by this notice, alerted to the potential breach of peace and are urged to hold Philip Shaibu responsible for any security breach in the State arising from his ignoble actions.”

Kano Police Nab 873 Suspects for Various Crimes During Hunger Protests

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Kano State Police Command, has announced the arrest of 873 suspects for commiting various crimes during the recent #EndBadGovernanceprotests# in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Kano, yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Salman Dogo, paraded the suspects at the Police headquarters, Bompai.

He said out of the number, 76 suspects arrested for raising Russian flags during the protest have since been transferred to the force headquarters in Abuja, the

federal capital for investigation.

"Welcome to this press conference today to provide a comprehensive update on the recent violent incidences that resulted in wanton destruction and looting of government and private properties in Kano State instigated by hoodlums under the guise of nationwide protest.

"The Kano State Police Command has worked diligently and professionally towards addressing the aftermath of these events, and these efforts resulted in the arrest of eight hundred and seventy-three (873) suspects and recovery of large quantity

of exhibits as follows.

"Arrest and prosecution of six hundred (600) suspects for various offences, including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, riot, theft, mischief and arson.

Arrest and prosecution of One hundred and Fifty (150) suspects for violating the curfew enforced by the Kano State Government.

"Arrest of an additional six (6) suspects linked with masterminding the destruction, setting ablaze and looting of the Kano Printing Press (KPP) are undergoing investigation.

"Arrest and transfer of seventysix (76) suspects flying Russian

flags, including a foreigner to Force Headquarters, Abuja for discreet investigation on charges of sedition" he stated among others.

CP Dogo, explained "Forty one suspects were arrested for other major crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, car theft, while two (2) AK-47 guns were recovered as exhibits.,

The police also recovered substantial properties looted by the hoodlums at Audu Bako Secretariat, NCC Office, High Court Complexes, Kano Printing Press (KPP) and Super Markets.

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

LAGOS PREMIERES JOURNEY TO BLOOM...

L-R: Consultant for The SKY Girls Project, Dr. Peju Adenusi; Senior Consultant, Good Business, Alice

and Empowerment Initiative, Tomisin Adeoye; and representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic

Lagos …weekend

Rivers APC: Court Sacks Okocha Led-CTC, Reinstates Emeka Beke as Party Chairman

We'll challenge judgement, says Okocha

A Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku, in Port Harcourt, has sacked the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state led by Tony Okocha as inaugurated by the National Working Committee of the party.

Some members of the party, Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye and others, had filed the suit seeking that Chief Emeka Beke's leadership of the party be reinstated after they were suspended and subsequently removed from office by the national leadership of APC.

However, Justice Aprioku during his ruling, yesterday, issued a perpetual injunction restraining Okocha's led CTC from distracting the Beke's APC leadership pending the expiration of their four years tenure.

The court also told the national leadership of APC to recognise Beke's

suit stood to the tune of about 5,397,409,262 billion units," the defendant added.

Also, the CBN in a 60-paragraph depose to by Orjiakor Nwabueze, a Deputy Director, Banking Supervision Department of Central Bank of Nigeria, stated that for the verification exercise, the plaintiff through its parent company submitted a claim of 5,450,999,924 shares of the Defendant's shares and wanted its consent/ approval for the shareholding.

He stated that the CBN (3rd party) in the exercise of its powers as regulatory and supervisory authority and before granting the consent/ approval required needed to satisfy itself that Plaintiff and the group are indeed owners of the shares put forward.

He added that the CBN demanded from the plaintiff and its group evidence of the purchase of shares being claimed by the plaintiff with a view to verifying the shares and satisfying itself that the shares were actually purchased or that they belong to the Plaintiff and its Honeywell Group Ltd.

executive as authentic leadership of the party till the expiration of their tenure.

Justice Aprioku further slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for supporting the dissolution of elected executives of APC through out the suit.

He therefore, cautioned that "leadership of political parties must learn to obey their own constitution and stop acting recklessly and in impunity in managing their own party."

Aprioku held that the National Working Committee of APC failed to prove reasons for the actions, which they said was in violation to the party and Nigeria Constitution, insisting that they relied on hear say allegation of anti-party activities which was not demonstrated by the defendants in the suit.

The judge, who dismissed preliminary objections by the defendants on the issue of justification and application for joinder by a set of

The verification exercise to be carried out by the CBN is to ensure compliance with the relevant statutory provisions on the acquisition of shares and to ensure transparency.

He added "In the course of the verification exercise, Plaintiff and its group could only provide evidence for the purchase of 3,110,400,619 shares representing 8.67 per cent of the shares of the Defendant and could not provide any evidence of the purchase of the remaining 2,340,599,305 shares representing 6.52 per cent of the shares of the Defendant being claimed by the plaintiff and its group.

"Whilst the verification of shares was ongoing, the CBN having realised that necessary documents were not supplied or provided, wrote the letter of 5th January 2024, to the Defendant notifying it of some documents/information not provided to aid the verification exercise.

"The 3rd party (CBN) instructed the plaintiff and its group to provide materials/evidence to prove its purchase/ownership of the outstanding 2,340,599,305 shares to enable it to

individuals who had earlier sought to join in the suit further held that the national leadership of APC disobeyed their own constitution by not giving fair hearing to the party executive and thereby awarded N300,000 as cost in favour of Beke's APC.

Meanwhile, Okocha has stated that his leadership would challenge

judgement of Justice Aprioku in Apex court, advising his supporters to be calm and remain focus to commitment to party. Okocha who briefed journalists in Port Harcourt, in reaction to the judgement, saying the ruling did not come to them by surprise, because it was influenced.

Okocha, who revealed that he has been reappointed by the party to continue manning the affairs of the party in state, stressed that he did not lobby to be in the position but the NWC of the party found him worthy after they discovered that the Beke leadership was involved in alleged anti-party.

In his reaction, too, Beke thanked the judiciary for upholding justice in the party's leadership tussle. Beke, who spoke with journalists, after the judgement at the party's secretariat in Port Harcourt, said it was a victory for democracy and a testament to the party's commitment to the rule of law.

Mohammed: Dogara is Opportunistic, Known for Betrayal, Inconsistency, Sinking

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, has slammed the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, describing him as a hypocrite, opportunistic political turncoat and political conman

verify their authenticity. The 3rd party is still expecting the Plaintiff and its group to come back with relevant materials to enable the 3rd party take a decision to grant consent/ approval or not to the outstanding shares.

In the meantime, the 3rd party by its letter of 29th January 2024, communicated the Defendant about the outcome of the verification exercise conducted so far and specifically that only 3,110,400,619 shares (representing 8.67% of Defendant's total shares) of the total volume of shares being claimed by the Plaintiff and its group could be verified while 2,340,599,305 shares (representing 6.52% shares of Defendant's total share capital) could not be verified.

"The 3rd party (CBN) being the regulatory and supervisory authority, its decision must be given effect to by the Defendant.

"Defendant by its letter of 28th May, 2024 communicated the plaintiff's counsel to convey the position of the 3rd party on the verification exercise to the plaintiff.”

He stated that the plaintiff was

known for betrayal, inconsistency and unstable. Mohammed also stated that it was the prevalence of opportunistic characters like the former Speaker masquerading, as opinion leaders and advisers, in the corridors of power, that the country has sunk into the morass that led to the

not challenging the outcome of the verification exercise carried out by the CBN as the supervisory and regulatory body, contending that as far as the outstanding shares, being claimed by the plaintiff, to the tune of 2,340,599,305 shares (6.52%) remain unverified, Plaintiff cannot claim any right/benefit on those shares.

Meanwhile, counsel to FBN Holdings Plc, Babajide Koku, SAN, has urged the court to join apex bank as a third party to the suit by way of a Third Party Notice, which was granted by the court.

The crux of the Third-party Notice is to bring the CBN as a party to the suit for the effective determination of questions and issues raised by the plaintiff.

However, the plaintiff’s motion for interim injunction and interlocutory injunction were not granted.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji granted the Third-party Notice, but did not grant the motion for interlocutory injunction.

The matter has been adjourned to October 2, 2024, for hearing of the substantive suit.

Ortom Pleads with Benue PDP Members to Embrace Peace

Immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has appealed to his supporters and those of Senator Gabriel Suswam, to sheathe their swords and work towards maintaining peace and unity within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Ortom admitted that in politics, differing opinions and positions were inevitable, but the differences often served to deepen the democratic process and contribute to enriching discourses within political parties. In a press statement by his media aide, Mr Tever Akase, in Makurdi, Ortom pointed out that he and Senator Suswam shared a long-standing friendship and mutual respect as leaders within the PDP

and would always find amicable solutions to whatever political disagreements that mightarise, by prioritising the greater good of the party and its members. He called on all stakeholders to remain committed and focused on the shared objectives and aspirations of PDP, as they have always done. He commended PDP members in the 23 local government areas

of Benue State for their peaceful conduct in the recently concluded Ward Congresses of the party and expects them to exhibit the same spirit during the forthcoming Local Government and State Congresses. Ortom further urged the party members to support the State Caretaker Committee of the party set up by the National Working Committee, to enable it succeed in its assignment.

present quagmire.

According to a press release by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado, the governor accused Dogara of exploiting other people's misfortune for his personal benefit.

The governor was responding to the recent statement by Dogara berating him for attacking President Bola Tinubu over the nationwide protest against bad governance.

The release titled: 'Dogara’s Opportunistic Diatribe and Hypocrisy', stated that it was not a statesman, patriot and quintessential administrator like him whose transformational administration was placing Bauchi State on the path of sustainable development.

"Those familiar with Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara’s penchant for exploiting other people’s misfortune for personal benefit will easily see through his latest diatribe against the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed."

In a publication titled, “On Governor Bala Mohammed’s Latest Tirade and Truculent Buffoonery”, the former Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives shaded

falsely claiming that the UK was building "detainment camps" on the Falkland Islands for rioters.

He has since deleted the image, which had also been posted by the co-leader of the far-right Britain First party, Ashlea Simon.

UK officials had already been critical of Musk even before disinformation over the stabbings occurred. In an interview published by the Times newspaper last week, the UK.'s technology minister, Peter Kyle, said that Musk is "accountable to no one" and that dealing with platforms like his can be like negotiating with foreign governments "simply because of the scale and scope that they have."

The commission, which is the European Union's executive arm,

Mohammed for saying the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were inflicting untold hardship on the people of Nigeria.

But Mohammed stated: "As usual, the opportunistic political turncoat left the substance of the current national discourse in an ignoble and unpretentious effort to ingratiate himself with a president who, but for providence, would have been a victim of Dogara’s legendary betrayal.

"All along, Dogara had been looking for an opportunity to retrace his step after abandoning Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the candidate of his party in the 2023 presidential elections, for another candidate on the pretext that he was averse to a joint Muslim ticket.

"Unfortunately for the political conman called Dogara, it was common knowledge that his real reason was the loss of the Vice Presidential slot, which he had severally bragged was already in his kitty. So, what has changed? Or is he now at home with the ticket? Maybe after finding himself adrift due to his inconsistency and treachery," he added.

started an investigation last year to assess whether X is in breach of the DSA. That investigation is ongoing. Breton said that the EU "cannot exclude potential spillovers in the EU" from illegal content being distributed on X, even when it's in the context of another jurisdiction's affairs. The commission also has the power to levy fines of as much as 6 per cent of a company's global annual revenue if they break the DSA.

This commission has previously accused X of breaking the rules regarding dark patterns, which are deceptive tactics used by companies to push people to use or pay for certain products and services, advertising transparency and data access for researchers.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

George Okoh in Makurdi

Railton; Country Director, SKY Girls Nigeria, Adenike Odutola; Executive Director, Youth Development

Education, Mr. Yemi Ajani, at the Lagos premiere of Journey to Bloom at Ikeja City Mall,

PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

SEVEN-UP HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD…

L-R: Chief Marketing Officer, Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC) Limited, Norden Thurston; Head, Legal & Corporate Affairs, SBC, Nkemdirim Agboti; 2024 Seven-Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship recipient, Boluwatife Akinola; Managing Director, SBC, Ziad Maalouf; 2014 scholarship recipient, Sola Olaniyan, and Head, People and Culture, SBC, Yinka Olufade, at the company’s HBS scholarship award presentation in Lagos…recently

Nasarawa Assembly Raises the Alarm over High Rate of Kidnapping

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday raised the alarm over high rate of kidnapping in communities across the state.

Consequently, the House directed the chairmen of the 13 local government areas of the state to collaborate with traditional rulers and security agencies to convene a security summit with the aim of finding lasting solutions to the menace.

Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Adamu Oyanki, on the growing rate of kidnapping in the state, during the House proceedings in Lafia.

“All local government chairmen should collaborate with traditional rulers and security agencies in their domain to summon a security

summit within two weeks to find lasting solutions to the issue of kidnapping in the state, “The kidnapping law passed by the Nasarawa

State House of Assembly should be strictly obeyed and anyone found wanting be dealt with according to the law,” the speaker insisted.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Danladi Jatau, gave the directive while reading the House resolution on a matter of Public Interest raised by the

Ondo PDP Inaugurates Caretaker Committee

Fidelis David in akure

The Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDPD) Caretaker Committee constituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) has been inaugurated. The Committee was inaugurated yesterday by the National Vice-chairman (South-west), Kamoru Ajisafe in Akure.

Ajisafe charged the party members to be resolute and focused on winning rather than concentrating efforts on the past, saying: “What is before us is valuable, better, and more profitable than what has gone.”

Ajisafe, who acknowledged the last primaries that produced Agboola Ajayi as transparent, fair, and credible noted that nobody ever thought he could win the primary considering the permutations on ground He thanked the leadership of the party in the state for their steadfastness and stressed that the optics was in favour of PDP winning the governorship election in Ondo. He also called for a minute’s silence in honour of former State Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Adams, who died on 14th February, 2024 before the expiration of his tenure.

Global Crusade With Kumuyi Holds Mega Rally in Warri

Sylvester Idowu inWarri

Global Crusade With Kumuyi (GCK) is holding a five-day mega rally with the theme “Possibilities of Faith in Christ” in Warri, Delta State.

The crusade, which kicks off on August 22 will end on August 27 at Urhobo College, Effurun, will have Pastor W. F. Kumuyi ministering and Jody Mcbrayer as guest music minister.

Announcing the preparations for the crusade over the weekend, Delta State Overseer of GCK, Pastor Pius Idume, disclosed that

the visit of Pastor Kumuyi for the crusade was in collaboration the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

He said the crusade, which is holding six years after the first one in the oil city, will attract ministers, youths, professionals, monarchs and top government officials. Chairman of PFN in Delta and Founder, Heroes of Faith International Ministry, Dr. Kingsley Enakirerhi, stressed the need for ministers to work in unity and ensure the success of the event.

South African Pageantry Races against Identity

Yinka Olatunbosun

The past weekend was a mindboggling one for most Africans and immigrants on the issue of identity as Miss Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from the prestigious South African Beauty Pageant competition.

Adetshina had advanced to the top 11 finalists when she was called to be removed from the contest due to her mixed heritage and allegations of parental identity fraud.

Her dual citizenship-South Africa and Nigeria-had raised questions

about her eligibility to represent South Africa in the Miss South Africa pageant. This prompted the South African Department of Home Affairs to launch an investigation following a request from the pageant organisers to verify Adetshina’s citizenship. The probe revealed prima facie evidence suggesting that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman 23 years ago to secure citizenship for Adetshina. Home Affairs plans to press criminal charges against all implicated parties once the investigation is complete.

Candidates’ Performance Reduces by 7.69% as WAEC Releases 2024 WASSCE Results

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has stated that it recorded 7.69 per cent decrease in the performance of candidates who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Compared to last year’s 79.81 per

cent, WAEC said the percentage of candidates who obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, this year is 72.12 per cent.

The Head of Nigerian National Office (HNO) of the council, Dr. Amos Dangut, stated this in Lagos yesterday while announcing the

release of the results for school candidates.

He said the council would investigate the actual cause of the decreased performance.

The HNO also emphasised that the results of candidates who are sponsored by states indebted to the council would not be released now until payment is made. “We appeal to the concerned to do so to enable the affected schools/ candidates access their results,” he stated.

According to him, 1,814,736 candidates registered for the examination from 25,126 recognised secondary schools in the country, and 1,805,216 candidates sat the examination.

Osun Wants NCC to Sanction MTN over Unpaid Statutory Taxes

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The consultant to the Osun State Government on telecommunications infrastructure, Mr. Rotimi George Taylor, yesterday urged the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to sanction

MTN over unpaid dues of over N900 million to the state government.

The consultant, who is also the chairman of Global Transactions Limited, made the call while addressing a press conference with journalists in Osogbo. Taylor, who also reacted to

the recent donation of N1 billion to the Nigerian Government’s Food Support Programme and 4,600 units of digital devices for distribution to schools by the telecommunications provider, MTN Nigeria, noted that the company like MTN should have fulfilled their constitutional obligations before the donations. He expressed sadness that “imagine a company like MTN that laid over 270km of cables in Osun State and refused to pay Statutory Taxes, is being allowed to make that donation without paying the taxes which can never happen in elsewhere.”

Niger Restates Commitment to Policies that ‘ll Enhance People’s Growth

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government has restated its commitment to pursuing and implementing policies and programmes that will improve the condition of living of its people.

The state acting Governor,

Yakubu Garba, gave the assurance in a broadcast to the people of the state yesterday.

He said: “Let me assure you that our administration is deeply committed to your welfare and well-being, initiatives such as selling grains at a 50 percent discount across all 25 local government areas are part of our ongoing efforts to support you.”

Garba added that the administration “will soon roll out more initiatives that will directly benefit our people as we strive to deliver more excellent and more impactful outcomes.”

On the recently concluded #Endbadgovernanceprotest in the country, the acting governor appreciated the people for not participating in the protest, saying the position taken has sustained the peace existing in the state.

FRSC Confirms Fatal Accident that Killed Five in Abia

EmmanuelUgwu-Nwogoinumuahia

It has been confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Abia State Sector Command, that five persons lost their lives in the road crash that occurred on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway last Sunday. In a statement issued yesterday, the Corps Commander of the Abia State Sector, Ngozi Ezeoma, said that the initial fatality figure of 11 dead reported in the social media was incorrect.

Sunday Okobi

As part of its efforts to provide a platform for training and capacity building for scholars and researchers in non-STEM disciplines, the Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos (CEDHUL), has concluded all

Oyewale in Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, is set to unveil a flagship healthcare intervention that will deliver free medical services to people in all parts of the state. Ododo made this known

According to her, the accident occurred at Egbelu Mbutu by Cherubim bus stop, Isialangwa South Local Government Area of Abia State at about 1.45p.m. on last fateful Sunday. She added that “preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was fatigue.”

Ezeoma explained that the crash involved a Toyota Previa with registration number BKL 291 ZI travelling to Enugu which rammed into an unnumbered stationary Mack truck.

“Eleven persons were involved in the crash, they include six male adults, two female adults and three male children,” Ezeoma said. The CC stated that at the time of the crash, four persons (two male adults and two male children) died on the spot, while three injured persons were taken to the hospital.

UNILAG Organises Digital Humanities Conference for Non-STEM Disciplines,

plans to organise a bespoke capacity building, research and development workshop.

The workshop is also part of its goals to raise and equip a new generation of humanities graduates who have the 21st century digital skills for the competitive job market.

while addressing members of the Nigeria Medical Association(NMA) and other healthcare professionals who were at the government house in Lokoja on his invitation following the conclusion of a three-day medical outreach

In a statement issued and made available to THISDAY yesterday by the Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos, and the convener of the workshop and conference, Professor Tunde Ope-Davies (of the English Department), he said the Lagos

under the NMA in Kogi State.

Speaking at the meeting, the governor, who expressed express appreciation to the medical professionals on behalf of the state government for the success of the free medical outreach in the state, reiterated

Others

Digital Humanities Workshop and Conference 2024, with the theme: ‘Exploring Opportunities and Possibilities in Digital Humanities and Digital Cultures’, would take place from August 14 to 16, 2024, at the Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

his commitment to sustain investment in the health sector, He stressed that the free medical outreach is in line with his campaign promises to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to the people of the state.

Ibrahim

T H e 2024 P A r IS OlY m PI c S

and in the process, became the most decorated gymnast in American history. Suni Lee, a former Olympic all-round champion and US gymnast was diagnosed with an incurable kidney disease in 2023. In Paris, she won gold at the all-round team finals, a bronze in uneven bars and yet another bronze at the all-round competition. She did all that while battling two types of incurable kidney disease. Julien Alfred, 23, won the women’s 100 m race to claim St. Lucia’s first Olympics medal. She also won a silver medal in the women’s 200 metres. The tiny Caribbean-island of St. Lucia, and her home town of Ciceron broke out in joyous ecstasy. Juju as she is known is now a national hero in St. Lucia. Adriana Ruano, 29, won the first ever gold medal in the shooting women’s trap final for Guatemala. Kaylia Nemour, 17, made history for her country, Algeria and for Africa by being the first from the continent to win a medal in gymnastics. Carlos Yulo, 24, of the Philippines won two gold medals in men’s floor exercise and vault- the first also for his country. Sifan Hassan became the first athlete in 72 years to win medals in the women’s 5,000, 10, 000 and marathon races; a haul of gold and two bronze medals within the space of five days, with a total distance of 62,195 km covered. History was made in the women’s floor final with the first all-black gymnastics podium ever in the Olympics with Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade (gold), Simon Biles (silver) and Jordan Chiles (bronze). Chiles has reportedly been stripped of the bronze medal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and replaced with Romania’s Anna Barbosa who was upgraded from 4th to 3rd but she remains a most worthy Olympian. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana won Africa’s first ever 200m gold at the Olympics and was the anchor of Botswana’s 4 x 400 relay team which took silver. The Government of Botswana was so excited, the President declared a half-day public holiday in celebration On August 9. Similarly, Leon Marchand became an instant hero in France having won four individual gold medals in swimming. Emma Hayes, who spent 12 years managing the women Chelsea football team, winning seven WSL titles, five FA Cups, and the League Cup twice. She has just led the US Women’s football team to golden victory barely two months after she took over the US National team. The Olympics has always been about individual heroism. But it is also about national pride.

There were many special moments as well: Simon Biles and Jordan Chiles paying homage to Rebeca Andrade in a gracious and humble manner; North Korea and South Korea athletes taking a selfie together in a gesture that showed sports transcend politics. Romance blossomed too: Brazilian triple jumper Almir Dos Santos proposed to his girlfriend Talita Ramos, Massimo Bertelloni proposed to Alessia Maurelli, Liu Yuchen to Huang Yaqiong, Paton Otterdahl to Maddy Nilles, Alice Finot to Bruno Martinez, Pablo Simonet to Maria Campoy, Jean-Emmanuel Mestre to Charline Picon, Kathryn Treder to Alev Kelter, Justin Best to Lainey Duncan and so on and so forth - a firm confirmation that love is indeed in Paris. Many others who may not have won a medal found love. There were pregnant athletes in attendance too: Alysia Montano, 38, American, in the 800m race, Amber Jo Rutter of Team GB, a mum that shoots and got a silver medal in women’s Skeet and Yaylagul Ramazanova of Azerbaijan who said she felt her baby kicking as she competed in the archery event. These women athletes pushed the boundaries of possibilities at the Paris Olympics. And there were delightful moments of laughter. French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s penis knocked off the crossbar during the semi-final heat in pole vault becoming a trending sensation as a result. He did not make it to any podium but he ended up getting a $250, 000 offer from an adult entertainment company which thought his bulge could be an asset beyond the Olympics.! Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, 25, caused quite a stir with her gender appearance, only to go on to win the gold medal in the women’s boxing welterweight category. Yusuf Dikec, 51, won a silver in the mixed team 10 m air pistol event but he became a popular character in Paris, because of his steeze. While other shooters wore high tech gear, Dikec was non-challant, he wore regular eye glasses, kept his left hand in his pocket and yet got a silver medal. Other athletes thought this was some form of magic and they started putting their hands in their pockets too. Yet another star attraction in Paris was Snoop Dogg, 52, American rapper and actor, (real name Calvin Broadus Jnr.) who carried the Olympic torch and also worked as a broadcaster for US host, the NBC Channel. Snoop Dogg was all over the place, having fun and being himself. NBC paid him US$ 500, 000 per day. Some people are in this world just to catch cruise and enjoy. God, when?

On Sunday, August 11, the Olympics ended on a note of great excitement, grace, pomp and satisfaction on the part of the organizers after 16 days, 329 events and 32 different sports. Tom Cruise, in a “Mission Impossible” kind of stunt abselled from the top of the Stade de France, for the closing ceremony, giving it a feel of the surreal. He took the flag from Simon Biles and the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, jumped onto a motorcycle and rode out of the arena. The next Olympics in 2028, will be hosted in Los Angeles, the home town of Snoop Dogg. In this Olympics, the United States led the medals table with a total of 126 medals, followed by China with 91, Australia, 53, France 64 and Great Britain, 65. How did Nigeria fare? We were present for the 16 days that the event lasted but we won nothing. We participated in 12 sports. We sent 88 athletes. Nigeria spent N9 billion. We came home empty-handed. We, however, made little history that may be useful for the future. Our female basketball team, D’Tigress managed by Rena Wakama, fought valiantly and got to the quarter-finals, the first time any African team would go to that far in Olympics basketball. Ms. Wakama, 32, has since been named the Best Female Basketball Coach at the 2024 Olympics by the International Basketball Federation. Samuel Ogazi made it to the 400 m Olympics final, the first athlete to do so since Innocent Egbunike did so 36 years ago. And for the first time in a long while, something very unusual, the Minister of Sports, John Enoh could boast that all the athletes representing Nigeria got their training allowances and bonuses. This is something we are supposed to celebrate. But Nigeria’s participation was generally marred by the failure of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Olympics Committee to submit Favour Ofili’s name for the 100 m race. The sheer incompetence of both bodies is not new: they did the same thing at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 denying 14 athletes the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. They have repeated the same offence this year in Paris, and the best they can do is to trade blames. Nigeria’s men’s 4 x 400 relay team was disqualified for a lane violation in the semi-final. While no Nigerian made it to the podium in Paris, it has been reported that our athletes despite not winning any medal, partied hard and ate to their heart’s content. But the big shame was seeing Nigerians carrying the flag of other countries. Yemisi Ogunleye who won gold for Germany in shot put is from Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti State. Samu Omorodion was part of the Spanish football team that won gold in the men’s category. He is a Nigerian. Rasheedat Adeleke, the fastest

female athlete in Ireland is a Nigerian too. She was part of Ireland’s 4x4 women’s relay that came fourth. She holds Ireland’s national record in 60m, 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m. Annette Nneka Echikunwoke who won silver in Hammer Throw for the United States represented Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics but she switched to the United States because of the incompetence and corruption of Nigerian officials, and now she is described as the first American woman to win a medal in Hammer Throw. There is also Antoinette Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu (can any name be more Nigerian than that?) but she competed at the Olympics and got a silver medal not for Nigeria but Bahrain. In her case, she not only abandoned Nigeria, she even changed her name to Salwa Eid Naser to identify fully with her chosen country and new religion. There may well be other Africans who have switched loyalty to other countries. Winfred Yavi, who previously represented Kenya, but is also now a Bharain athlete in 3,000 m steeplechase won gold in Paris, setting the new Olympic record in that event.

Most African countries are guilty of underinvestment in sports facilities. Nigeria is worse. Those who lead the various sports Federations are corrupt and incompetent. Many of the athletes on the continent prefer to switch to other countries because there are better training facilities abroad and better rewards for talent.

At the Paris Olympics, Hong Kong promised its

a new generation of journalists to pursue their individual craft with passion and integrity.

In the field of philanthropy and humanitarianism, Prince Obaigbena’s contributions to various causes run into billions of naira. He ensures that his contributions which are usually not advertised focus on his pet areas of the media, education, healthcare and social development. Here are some notable aspects of his philanthropy:

1. Media and Journalism: Through his media enterprises, Nduka has been instrumental in promoting freedom of the press and supporting investigative journalism in Nigeria and beyond.

2. Education: Obaigbena has supported educational initiatives, providing countless scholarships and funding for educational programs to help underprivileged students gain access to quality education.

3. Healthcare: Nduka has contributed to healthcare projects, supporting medical facilities and initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery in derserving communities.

4. Social Development: The Duke has been involved in various social development projects,

gold medalists - $768,000, Kazahkstan offered $250, 000 for gold, France - $87,00; Singapore - $745,000; Indonesia - $300,000. Sports has become big business. In a globalized world, athletes are entrepreneurs and they would, like everyone else, migrate to where they can gain the best comparative advantage for their talent. In Atlanta 1996, Nigeria won two gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals. But we have since lost the magic due to years of indolence, rascality, and the failure to treat sports as a strategic vehicle for diplomacy and national development. Sports Minister, John Enoh says there would be consequences for the failure of the AFN and Nigeria’s IOC at the Paris Olympics. What consequences, if we may ask? The least that we can ask for is that Nigeria should begin to prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and not wait till the very last minute. We can also probably expect that the Nigerian athletes going for the Paralympics also in Paris, from August 28 – September 8, will do much better. Nigeria does not care enough for the physically challenged among its people, but ironically, this much neglected compatriots have historically done better at the Olympics: a pungent, bitter irony of a country where the blind see better than those with eyesight, and the lame are faster than those who can walk. While Nigeria deals with its multiple dilemmas, let us tell the people and government of France: merci!

including those aimed at poverty alleviation, community development and empowerment of marginalized groups.

5. Cultural Promotion: Nduka has also supported cultural initiatives and awareness, promoting African arts, culture and heritage through sponsorship of various events and media coverage.

His philanthropic endeavours reflect his commitment to leveraging his influence and resources to drive positive change in society. As we celebrate Prince Nduka Obaigbena’s 65 years on mother earth, we honour this greybearded man’s unquantifiable contributions to journalism; his unwavering dedication to the truth; his visionary leadership; and his rare sense of patriotism. His legacy is a testament to the power of the pen in shaping societies and the enduring importance of a free and independent press. Happy Birthday, Nduka, the prince of Owa Kingdom and the Duke of journalism, May your journey continue to inspire and illuminate dim paths for all in many years to come. Amen.

Jubilant D'Tigress players at the just concluded Olympic Games in Paris

Paris Olympics: Tinubu Lauds D'Tigress Coach, Rena Wakama, On Recognition as Women Basketball Best Coach

Thanks, Nigerian contingent for the sportsmanship and discipline displayed during the games

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated D’Tigress' coach, Ms Rena Wakama, on her recognition as the best coach of women's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, put up a spectacular performance at the Olympics, becoming the first African basketball team to play in the quarter-finals at the Olympic Games.

The President, in a release issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that the recognition of Ms. Wakama, 32, by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), further confirmed her wellestablished leadership qualities and dedication to excellence.

President Tinubu commended the team, the coach, and all those who played a part in the unprecedented

Former International, Onye Hails

Peter Obi and Uzodima over Support for Former Football Stars

Former international, Onye hails Peter Obi and Uzodima over support for former football stars

Former Nigeria international footballer, Kingsley Onye, who in his playing days was called " Mature" has hailed both Peter Obi and Hope Uzodimma for their support for former football stars.

Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State recently appointed Emmanuel Amuneke as the chief coach of Heartland FC. He also handed the coach unhindered access to him, as governor.

“This is highly commendable”, remarked Onye who had featured for the club in the 1980s when it was known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale.

Onye at once captained the club as the youngest player ever to do that. He noted that Uzodimma has brought into play his background in sports.

The governor in the 1990s was

the chairman of the weightlifting federation. Onye is particularly delighted about Amuneke's choice as Heartland coach.

He believes that the club under the former Super Eagles star will discover its way back to glory.

Heartland had consistently been inconsistent in spending time alternatively in the Nigeria Professional League and the second-tier league - Nigeria National League.

Onye, based in the United Kingdom promises to back his former club by providing three bus-loads of supporters to attend Heartland’s home matches.

In a similar vein, Onye praised Peter Obi for his humanitarian assistance to the family of former Enugu Rangers player Harrison Mecha. Similar support was reportedly offered to the family of Stanley Okoronkwo, another Rangers player of the 1970s.

Mary Udoffa, Joseph Jimoh Win Zenith Bank Masters

feat at the Olympics, enjoining them not to relent or become crestfallen but to remain resilient and determined for greatness.

The President affirmed that winning trophies and medals is the ultimate goal in competitive sports, but nothing trumps the place

of good sportsmanship, discipline, and sacrifice shown by all those who held the Nigerian flag at the Olympic

My Mind and Body Have Been Reset, I Will Smoke Dricus Du Plessis, Says Israel Adesanya

Two-time UFC Middleweight champion and MMAmegastar, IsraelAdesanya, is ready in the quest for his title against current Champ Dricus Du Plessis this Saturday, with his mindrefocusedafteralonglayoff,theNigerian-bornNewZealanderinaninterviewwith Stake.com, saidheislookingtoawinagainsttheBrazilianforacareernewheight.

You have been out of action for a long time, how prepared are you for the fight?

Nationale, now Heartland FC I think he’s going to shoot straight away. I doubt he’ll want to strike with me for too long. This is something that people always say, but I’ve shown before that I

Mary Udoffa on Sunday emerged as the girl's singles champion of the Zenith Bank Next Generation Masters following a hard-fought title match against Etoro Bassey of the GEUF Academy in Uyo.

The Lokoja-based winner who, like her opponent, was making her second bid for the crown trailed for most of the match until she squared up at 6-6 in the pro set. Tied again at 8-8 the match was decided by a 10-point tiebreak which Udoffa won 10- 8.

The boys' title was won by Joseph Jimoh from the Aurum Academy in Abuja who had a pretty straightforward 9 - 3 pro set victory over Henry Aina from Ondo State.

Aina who had rallied from behind to beat John Peter of Lagos in the semifinals, was out of his depth in the finals trailing 0-4 before getting on the scoreboard. Jimoh was however too solid to allow another comeback and dropped only two more games before sealing his victory.

The tournament which features the best prospects to become senior champions has become the stepping stone to stardom at the national level.

The guest of honour, Mr Ifeanyi Ezeokoli, commended the players for the very high standard of tennis skills they displayed and urged them not to rest on their oars until they become Grand Slam champions. Ezeokoli who is the Group MD of Incel Tourism, like he did last year, gifted the players N500,000 Naira. Director of the International Tennis Academy, and organiser of the Masters, Godwin Kienka, said he was very happy with the impact the competition is making.

"This tournament is giving these young boys and girls a lot of confidence to take on and overcome their seniors. Khadijat Mohammed who won last year went, four months later, to win the Dala Hard Court senior championships in Kano and Emmanuel Akpan one of the finalists in the boys category last year, displaced the senior champions at the Davis Cup Group 2 playoffs in Abuja in July and won all his matches against five nations to lift Nigeria into Group 2. These results give a lot of credit to our selection process which is very scientific and objective. Kienka said.

This is the longest layoff in my whole fighting career. I kind of got forced into taking a break because my body needed it. Not because of the fights, but the training camps. My mind, body and spirit needed it, and I’m glad I got the break I needed and reset myself, and reaffirmed myself. Let’s go!’

My team is everything you need. I’m a friendly guy and a lot of the people I connect with feel like they’ve known me for years, but my team are the ones who will always be around me because they understand me. I’ve been here before, I’ve lost before and I know how things change, so for me, the defeat didn’t shake me. You watch this, in 10 days, I’m going to smoke this fool. I’ve been here before, but I’ll play the game a little differently this time.

Going by the first bout, how do you hope to overcome a very formidable opponent like Du Plessis?

Dricus Du Plessis is a guy who fights the way he fights, and he gets a lot of success, but it leaves him very vulnerable. When you fight a guy who is very precise and lethal like me, come on, it will be quite different. The highlights will always be there. The way I fight will always produce highlights, and those are nice bonuses, but I don't look for them, they just show up.

wrestle too. It might not be how everyone else wrestles, but I can wrestle too, that’s why I ended up becoming a world champion.

What are the innovations you want to bring into this duel? I love everything, but it depends

on the specifics. Sometimes when we’re grappling, I learn something and I’m like, oh yes, I want to get in on this! With the striking, it’s super repetitive, but you have to do it and you do it like you love it because you can never train the fundamentals too much. I’m always excited to learn and get in the cage and get it on.

The last fight seems to demystify you going by the trend of the fight, how do you hope to overcome that?

I need to prove to the doubters that I am still ‘The Israel Adesanya’ It’s not so much about the belt. For me, it’s when people doubt my skills after what I’ve done in this game and the classics that I’ve made. The main driving force is for me to prove to myself that I am still me, I am still Israel Adesanya, and what drives me is proving me, to me.

Your BJJ coach Craig Jones, will not be available for your fight because he is involved with his programme. What are your thoughts about the whole thing? Craig Jones in the CJI is great, I will be there in spirit. He is my guy any day and even before this thing happened, he told me that he got the investment and was going to run it the same week as ADCC. If I wasn’t fighting, I would be there. I love to see a guy who keeps it real and himself gets the credit. Me and him get along and understand each other.

D'Tigress coach, Rena Wakama

Israel Adesanya

Kingsley Onye as the youngest captain of the then Iwuanyawu

Games.

President Tinubu also thanked the Nigerian contingent and wished them success in their respective endeavours.

TUESDAY

abati1990@gmail.com

Obaigbena to President Tinubu

“So, Tinubu came, he announced two major reforms. At ARISE TV, we believe and agree that there should be subsidy removal and a market-driven exchange rate, but not at the same time. The strategic error was removing the subsidy and floating the exchange rate at the same time. We needed a stable exchange rate to modulate the subsidy removal” --Chairman,THISDAYandARISETVMediaGroup,PrinceNduka Obaigbena,saysthetwomajorreformsatthesametimehaveweakenedtheeconomy.

WITH REUBEN ABATI

The 2024 Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics Games, July 26 – August 11 began on a tentative note, but it has turned out to be a memorable, successful, sensational event, which not only lived up to the billing, but was also a masterpiece showcase of French history, culture and hospitality. The French have every reason to congratulate themselves, history was made, there were emotional moments, records were broken, marriage proposals took place in the city of love and lights in what Thomas Bach, the retiring International Olympic Committee (IOC) Chairman calls “Seine-sational” - in obvious reference to the fact that the Paris Olympics, after 100 years since France last hosted it, began in the open, along the Seine River which courses through Paris. Athletes from 184 countries marched on the Seine in 90 boats, across 3.7 miles, surrounded by dancers and serenaded by singers (French Pop star Aya Nakamura and legendary Celine Dion). Ahead of the Olympics, France had just concluded its snap parliamentary elections with fears that the febrile politics of the elections could affect the Olympics but that didn’t happen as both the far-right and the far-left in French politics buried their ideologies to receive and host the world. There were also fears about security after

Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh

the attack on targets across Europe and the rising threat of terrorism and extremism. France deployed 75, 000 police officers around Paris, and also got friendly countries to send troops in support. The United Kingdom contributed 50 special constables, Spain sent 142 civil guards,

171 police officers, 10 horses and dogs; the United States sent 94 police officers and the FBI; in total, 40 countries including Qatar, South Korea, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Morocco and 31 European countries contributed a support force of about 2,000 police officers in what was a statement about the value of international security operation. In the end, security did not constitute a problem. It was bon. It was magnifique.

There were a few hitches though. During the opening ceremony, there was an embarrassing mix up with the national anthems of North Korea and South Korea, the drag queen sequence and the parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” which drew the ire of the Catholic Church, Christians and which in other quarters led to death threats. During the group stage men’s basketball game between South Sudan and Puerto Rico the wrong national anthem was played for South Sudan, a gaffe that the South Sudanese did not find funny at all. At the athletics Olympics village, there were complaints about substandard food, hot accommodation and cardboard beds. Team Great Britain ended up hiring a chef, many of the American superstars relocated to hotels. Transportation to the event venues was also inconvenient for the most part. River Seine

MIKEOZEKHOME

gave the organizers grave concerns, as the heavy rain showers on opening day further polluted the water, raising the level of E-coli, making it difficult for the river to be used for the men’s and women’s triathlon. The planned games on River Seine were rescheduled, all the same, three German athletes reported that they had been infected, athletes from Belgium and Switzerland also fell ill.

But we witnessed, nonetheless, the triumph of the human spirit, the defining characteristic of the Olympics since its Athenian beginnings, and its re-invention in modern times in 1896 by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin. Memories of the Paris Olympics will linger and endure in terms of the drama, the colourful, historyladen displays and the use of the cityscape of France, with the Eiffel Tower looming large in the background. Andy Murray, the British tennis star, announced his retirement during the Olympics. Novak Djokovic, won the men’s tennis singles final, a gold medal at last at the Olympics, practically fulfilling a dream. Simon Biles who had to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, due to a condition called “twisties” made a remarkable comeback, to win three gold medals and a silver in gymnastics

How Nduka Obaigbena Changed The Tune

He recently marked his 65th birthday. Precisely on 14th July, 2024, having been born on the same date in 1959. Prince Nduka Obaigbena has certainly changed the tune.

Today, I celebrate my good friend Obaigbena, a visionary man of excellence, a trailblazer in the realm of Nigerian journalism and a true pan-Nigerian patriot. As the founder, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of ThisDay Media Group and ARISE News Channel, Prince Obaigbena has left an indelible mark on the landscape of Nigerian media and beyond. His latest innovation Arise Television threatens to pull the rug from the feet of globally respected CNN.

Born into the royal family of Owa Kingdom, Delta State, Obaigbena attended Edo College, Benin City; the University of Benin; the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; and the Advanced Management Programme at the University of Cape Town.

Prince Obaigbena’s journey into journalism began with a profound commitment to innovation, and a relentless pursuit of truth and excellence. Not many Nigerians know that Nduka was a fledgling cartoonist in one of the students’ journals at his then University of Benin where he used the pseudonym “Lekeleke”. Not many Nigerians also know that before founding This Day, he had founded ThisWeek magazine which

debuted in the 80s and became the flagship magazine in Nigeria. I should know this because I was the legal adviser to the magazine and the Duke himself at their then Ogunlana, Surulere, Lagos location. I should also know this because

I had handled many of their top cases, including one defamation case against the late respected Prof. Tam David-West, a case that landed me in the DSS gulag in April, 1986 (38 years ago), at the DSS’s Awolowo road, Ikoyi, Lagos office. Not many Nigerians also know that the Duke’s restlessness and incredible ambition had seen him being the Nigerian correspondent to two of the most respected international publications, the NewsWeek and Time magazines, earning good dollars at a time many of his peers were just comfortable with white collar jobs that came with accommodation and a car as soon as they finished from the University. Nduka’s creation of ThisDay in 1995 therefore marked the dawn of a new era in Nigerian print journalism, showcasing his remarkable talents. ThisDay quickly distinguished itself with its bold, investigative reporting, comprehensive coverage of national and international events and sheer dedication to high-quality journalism. Under his able leadership, ThisDay has not only continued to entertain and inform; but it has also been shaping public opinion, building national institutions and bridges of understanding, holding leaders accountable and responsible to the Nigerian people; and giving voice to the voiceless.

By 2013, Prince Obaigbena, a former President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of

Nigeria (NPAN) had looked beyond the print media and expanded his media reach and influence with the launch of ARISE News Channel. This 24-hour international news channel has become a beacon of accurate and unbiased reporting, offering a fresh African perspective on global news. ARISE News has bridged gaps between continents, highlighting the stories that matter from Africa to the world and vice versa.

The Duke has shown an uncanny penchant for innovation, breaking new grounds and introducing new formats and platforms into the Nigerian media space, including ThisDay Music Festival.

Beyond the pages of newspapers and television screens, Prince Obaigbena’s contributions to journalism are also evident in his commitment to nurturing talents and fostering innovation. He has provided platforms for young journalists to grow and hone their skills. He has consistently pushed for advancement in media technology and practices, ensuring that Nigerian journalism remains competitive on the global stage.

The Duke’s impact extends to his sustained advocacy for press freedom and a determination to create a more informed and enlightened society. Obaigbena has not only elevated the standard of journalism in Nigeria, but has also inspired