MONDAY 14TH AUGUST 2023

Says Nigeria regressing forcefully to bottom on

Muslim Clerics: Niger Junta Now Ready to Dialogue with ECOWAS

Tinubu’s delegation

Says sacking Bazoum was in collective interest

PDP: APC desperate to drag nation to war for ulterior motives

War in Niger may signal end of ECOWAS, NLC warns

Lamido, HURIWA, Sani, others fault military intervention

Leader

A SOUVENIR FOR THE REAR ADMIRAL…

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah (left) presents a souvenir to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (right) during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, Thursday.

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi

Ezigbo in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina

MUSLIM CLERICS: NIGER JUNTA NOW READY TO DIALOGUE WITH ECOWAS

The junta also apologised to ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, for denying the ECOWAS delegation access to the country.

But Tchiani justified the decision to oust President Mohamed Bazoum, and said the intervention was informed by imminent threat to both Niger and Nigeria, which had to be averted.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, condemned what it called the desperation of Tinubu and his governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to plunge Nigeria into war with neighbouring Niger Republic based on ulterior motives.

Relatedly, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) advised the ECOWAS leadership and Nigeria against deploying soldiers in Niger, saying it may signal the end of ECOWAS.

Former governor of Jigawa State, Mr. Sule Lamido, also said the coup in Republic of Niger had exposed Tinubu as lacking much-needed knowledge and understanding of international diplomacy.

On its part, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) urged Tinubu to exercise prudence in committing the Nigerian Army to military actions in Niger without proper legislative concurrence in line with the constitution. HURIWA emphasised the need to uphold constitutional checks and balances to preserve democratic integrity and national security.

Former Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, said military incursion into Niger by an ECOWAS standby force would be synonymous with a declaration of war by Nigeria.

Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum also described as ill-conceived the ECOWAS decision to use its standby military force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. A statement by Lau, yesterday, said the coup leader and Islamic scholars deliberated on several issues, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that ousted Bazoum be reinstated.

The junta's newly appointed Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, said Tchiani gave the approval for talks with ECOWAS and was optimistic

that the talks with the regional bloc would take place in the next few days.

Zeine stated, “We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian president what they have heard from us. We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted."

Lau said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of Tinubu, who accepted their request to intervene. He added that the visit was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage the junta leader and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war in resolving the crisis.

The leader of the Islamic delegation, reportedly, met Tchiani for several hours in Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that Bazoum be restored.

Tchiani, in his response, said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter. He said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing an ultimatum to them to quit office.

The junta leader apologised for not according the team sent by Tinubu, led by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), access to the country. He said it was because of their anger over the ECOWAS ultimatum.

But Tchiani insisted the coup was well-intended to stave off an imminent threat that could have affected both Niger and Nigeria.

Tchiani, in a statement, traced the historical ties between the two countries, saying they are not only neighbours but also brothers and sisters, who should resolve issues amicably.

At the end of their meeting with the coup leaders, Nigeria's intervention team agreed to intensify the option of dialogue in trying to resolve the political crisis in that country.

Speaking with newsmen in Niamey after the meeting, a member of the intervention team and Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdulrahman, said contrary to reports in some sections of the

media, the team was well received by Tchiani and both parties had fruitful discussions.

Abdulrahman said, "We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and impress it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter. We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail."

Those on the team were Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul Izalatul Bida Waikamatul Sunnah; Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina, Director Daawah, JIBWIS; Sheik Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi representing Sheik Ibrahim Bauchi; and Dr Khalid Aliya, Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.

Others included Sheik Karibullah Nasiru Kabara, Leader, Khadriya group Nigeria; Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman; Professor Salisu Sheri, Deputy Secretary-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs; Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid; Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos; Professor Mansur Sokoto; and

Alhaji Mele Kyari.

PDP: APC Desperate to Drag Nigeria into War

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, condemned what it described as the desperation by Tinubu and APC to plunge Nigeria into a state of war by dragging the military into a needless conflict with Niger Republic.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said the APC administration’s insistence on drafting Nigerian soldiers into Niger Republic in defiance of the disapproval by the National Assembly and Nigerians, generally, validated apprehensions in the public domain about ulterior motives by the Tinubu-led APC to import crisis and destabilise the nation for political reasons.

PDP said, "While the PDP frowns on unconstitutional change of government in any part of the world, our party holds that the situation in Niger

Republic does not warrant any external peace-keeping effort and does not constitute any threats whatsoever to our national interest to justify committing our already overstretched military to harm’s way in a needless war.

"The insistence of the APC government to go to war in Niger Republic is already heightening tension in Nigeria. There are insinuations in the public that the APC is only desperate to deploy Nigerian military to Niger Republic so as to provoke possible external aggression from that country, thereby orchestrating a situation for the declaration of a state of emergency in Nigeria.”

It claimed the idea was “to cripple the judicial process on the 2023 presidential election and divert attention from the hardship the APC has foisted on the nation in the last two months.

"It is apparent that the APC is desperate to orchestrate a situation of ‘imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war’ so as

to have the excuse to declare a state of emergency under Section 305 (3) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

"The PDP holds that nothing else can explain why the APC administration is eager to go to war in Niger Republic while it has practically turned a blind eye to the insecurity situation in our country, even with the mindless killing of over 500 innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and other states of the federation since May 2023."

The party said also distressing was that APC was ready to deploy billions of naira to prosecute a needless war, despite the ailing national economy, crippled production sector, energy crisis, massive unemployment, frightening fall in the value of the Naira, and excruciating hardship in the country occasioned by APC’s illinformed, hasty and ill-implemented policies.

BAKARE: EMEFIELE’S CASE SIGNALS WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION IS CLAMPDOWN ON POLITICAL OPPONENTS

frantic race to the bottom” on Tinubu’s watch.

He spoke during his State of the Nation broadcast, with the theme, “Vice, Virtue and Time: The Three Things That Never Stand Still.”

Bakare described Tinubu’s presidential style as “leadership by impulse”.

He said the outcome of the last presidential poll was a testament to the rejection of All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Nigerian people.

The socio-political change advocate also stated that the handling of Emefiele’s case had sparked discussions regarding the need for due process and equitable application of justice.

He said considering the reported claims by the DSS that its actions were in line with “an order from above” the “handling of the Emefiele case has sent a signal to the world that the current president’s disposition to the war against corruption is primarily

motivated by a clampdown on perceived political adversaries while various other enemies of Nigeria remain untouched”.

Bakare said Emefiele should not “be made a scapegoat. There is every possibility that the erstwhile CBN’s governor did not act without presidential authorisation. If Emefiele is found liable for any crime, by all means, he should be prosecuted.

“However, considering the dynamics of the pre-election environment, and that the then presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu’s public allegation that the naira redesign policy was targeted at him, the optic of the president targeting Emefiele for prosecution after winning the election and being sworn in as president could be interpreted as a form of vendetta far beneath such a distinguished office.”

Bakare recalled that he had warned earlier that the politics of entitlement, the “emi lo kan” type of politics, “would breed an

SHAREHOLDERS ACCUSE OTUDEKO OF USING COURT TO STOP FBN HOLDINGS’ AGM

FBN Holdings from holding its AGM pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter filed before the court by three aggrieved shareholders of the bank.

But speaking to journalists, Chairman of TSAN, Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, alleged that Otudeko was behind the plot to stop FBN Holdings from conducting its AGM. Mukhtar urged the former chairman of the parent company, FirstBank, to refrain from biting the fingers that fed him.

“With what is going on now, I mean by the court order stopping the AGM, it is the minority shareholders that will suffer,” Mukhtar said. He added, “They are the ones who depend on dividend pay-out to pay rent and plan other things. Many are retired and eagerly look forward to the bank's AGM. It is the earning from their investments. But now the court is saying you cannot hold the AGM, which approves the dividend payment. What will happen to those shareholders? So, Otudeko should be considerate on this?”

Mukhtar, who had led minority shareholders to protest the move to stop the AGM, also warned Otudeko not to forget that First Bank contributed significantly to the growth of his business empire. He said Otudeko should not, out of self-interest, take actions that would destroy the wealth of many Nigerians, who are investors in FBN Holdings.

Mukhtar said in his 30 years’ experience in the capital market, he had not seen where someone would approach a court to stop a statutory meeting from holding.

According to him, “AGM is a meeting authorised and recognised by the laws of Nigeria. So it is absurd for a group of individuals to go to court asking to stop an AGM and worst still, for any court to grant such an order.

“I can’t understand what the judiciary is turning into. I have never

seen where a judge stops a statutory meeting from holding. I can give you several instances when, in the past, such matters were brought before the courts and judges dismissed them because you cannot stop a law from working.

"An AGM is a lawful meeting and no judge, who is progressive in mind and wants to uphold the protection of the law, should stop an AGM.”

Insisting that Otudeko was the one behind the move to stop the AGM, Mukhtar stated, “We are very sure that it is Oba Otudeko. He is the one behind this move to stop the AGM. Someone who has benefited immensely from this bank is now trying to destroy it.

Otudeko’s business activities enjoyed significant funding from First Bank of Nigeria. He was a director and rose to the position of Chairman in the past.

"Only recently, he bought into the bank and he is probably afraid that if the resolution to raise fresh capital is passed at the AGM, his holdings would be diluted. This is selfish and very bad for you to destroy an institution that has built your business empire.

"And he is having these fears due to the coming of certain investors, who have boosted confidence in the bank."

Mukhtar said further, "Secondly, he is afraid that if new directors come in, his bad record may be uncovered. But to us, most shareholders, these fears are unfounded. I don’t see any reason why any individual should be afraid of resolutions that will enhance the performance of the bank by bringing more money to the bank.

"As you know, the fabric of banking business is capital. Any bank that does not have enough capital to give out loans, finance businesses will not do well in the face of the strong competition.

"First Bank is a bank that has systemic value in the Nigerian economy and we should not play with it at all. That was why the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened in

the bank over a year ago, when the regulator noticed some anomalies, and you can see that the intervention has yielded good fruits.

"Now that the recovery in the bank is being consolidated upon, no one should thwart those efforts.”

The TSAN boss advised the regulators to intervene and stop the current move to scuttle the bank, which he said was capable of plunging the country’s banking sector and capital market into a serious crisis.

Mukhtar said, “The regulators should come up strongly and make it clear that no court can stop the statutory meeting of companies and passage of resolutions in such meetings.

"Secondly, I will ask the management of FBN Holdings to go ahead with their meeting. If I am the MD of FBN Holdings, I will go ahead and conduct my meeting because in Nigeria people can abuse processes.

"And my advice to shareholders is that they should always consider the implications of any step they are taking. They should seek knowledge to understand the laws and procedures and statutes of the capital market. It is very clear that conducting an AGM is a statutory meeting backed by law and nobody can stop the law from working.

"I don’t know why individuals, who have benefitted from the bank, are try to stop its progress. It is normal for directors to come in and go out. There is nothing political there.

"Once they complete their tenure, they go and others come. Why should some directors come through the back door and try to block others from coming, by going to court to stop a statutory meeting that is meant for the progress of the bank and Nigeria’s economy at large.

"Things like this should not be happening in the capital market because they don’t give investors

confidence and I believe regulators should stand up and stop this move that is capable of throwing First Bank into more trouble and, by implication, the entire financial system and nation’s economy.”

Similarly, National Coordinator of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Moses Igbrude, said, “A court order stopping FBN Holdings from holding its statutory AGM is bad because we are not aware of any operational issues or infringement within the company.

"But if it is as a result of major shareholder contenders, my appeal to them is to sheath their swords and work for the unity of the bank by putting their resources and expertise in the service of the bank.”

In her reaction, Mrs. Bisi Bakare of Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), said, “The court order is not a good move to us as investors and shareholders. My advice to whoever is behind it or those that are planning should stop it because First Bank is more important than any individual. If anything happens to First Bank, it is the whole Nigeria that will be affected.

"What is going to happen to their employees and other stakeholders? The former director that is creating problems in FBN should not allow a small bank to acquire it.”

In the opinion of Chairman of Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association, Mr. Eric Akinduro, going to court to stop the AGM was not the best for the company and investors.

Akinduro said, “The investors of FBN Holdings had over the years suffered a lot and we would not tolerate anything that would further endanger our investments. Looking at the company where it is today, we are not happy, but we believe things are getting better, particularly, when you consider the second quarter result.

imperial presidency, one that will slide towards dictatorship and will be intolerant of dissent”.

The CGCC pastor added, “It is rather preposterous that the DSS has reduced itself to a pack of Napoleon’s dogs let loose on perceived opponents of the president, when, in this same country, a militant like Asari Dokubo is openly breeding an armed militia in open support of the president, doing so with impunity and without as much as a slap on the wrist from the security agencies.”

Bakare, who contested in presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lost to Tinubu, said, “Fellow Nigerians, time is far spent on our journey to nationhood and it is abundantly clear that instead of advancing forcefully in the right direction, we are regressing forcefully in a frantic race to the bottom; there is simply no middle ground.”

He said the broadcast was to show the way out of Nigeria’s present national dilemma with the hope that the stakeholders of APC would “listen attentively and take this address as a wake-up call, laden with truths that could salvage a ship drifting in the gale of a socioeconomic and political Euroclydon”.

He added that he was perturbed by the needless suffering of Nigerians that had been normalised and perpetuated by bad governance and irresponsible public policy.

Bakare also condemned what he called the thoughtless removal of petrol subsidy and placing military option before diplomacy in managing the military’s takeover in Niger Republic as cases of Tinubu’s leadership by impulse, which he argued had unwittingly plunged Nigeria into chaos.

“It is in the best interest of the nation for Mr. President to consider intended and unintended consequences before committing to a course of action,” Bakare said.

He said Tinubu’s leadership by impulse also caused ECOWAS to put military invasion on the table from the very start before subsequently exploring diplomatic options with the coup plotters in the Republic of Niger. “President Tinubu once again put the cart before the horse, thus, placing Nigeria and the sub-region in a precarious situation,” he said.

Bakare urged Tinubu to kill corruption if he truly wanted the poor to breathe.

He said, “What is further clear concerning our domestic challenges is that, by imposing hardship on Nigerians without going after those corrupt individuals, corporations and government officials who have plundered Nigeria over the years in the name of subsidy, the president has picked the wrong fight.”

According to Bakare, “You can decide today to take the burden of reforms off the Nigerian people and go after the corporations and individuals who have plundered

our nation. You can decide today to stand with the poor and take the fight to the plunderers.

“Nigerians are asking why the poor have to suffer for the criminal activities of these individuals and companies.

“Even as the government attempts an economic reform agenda, we must realise as a nation that no economy can thrive on criminal impunity. There can be no successful economic reforms without economic justice.

“Economic justice includes placing the cost of reforms on those who caused the problems in the first place, rather than on the people.

“Without economic justice, the attempts to sanitise the sector, including the Petroleum Industry Act, the abrupt subsidy removal, the exchange rate harmonisation policy, and the announcement of palliatives will all amount to papering over the cracks of a broken-down wall while the foundation is fast caving in.”

He also told Tinubu, “A government that asked the poor to tighten their belts could not afford a bloated waistline. By nominating 48 ministers, the president is about to set a record for the highest number of ministers since 1999.

“This is not the kind of record expected of a supposed reform minded government. It is hypocritical for a government that has subjected Nigerians to untold hardship by adopting neoliberal policy prescriptions to then turn around and expand the size of government, thereby violating a core aspect of the same neoliberal principles.”

Bakare said the result of the 2023 presidential election showed that majority of Nigerians had already rejected APC. He stated that but for the crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which led to the emergence of the Obidient movement, PDP could have easily won the election.

Bakare stated, "The results of the last elections were a clear indication that Nigerians are fed up with what the APC has become. According to the results released by INEC, in the presidential elections, APC had 15.4 million votes in 2015 and 15.2 million votes in 2019, but by the 2023 elections, the APC’s support base had declined significantly to 8.8 million, with a loss of almost half of the traditional support base. If it were not for the divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the emergence of the Obidient movement of Labour Party (LP) that split the traditional support base of the PDP, the APC would have convincingly lost the 2023 elections.

“Even now, the party’s victory, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is being challenged in court. When I consider the vision and founding spirit that birthed the APC, I cannot but conclude that the APC is losing the plot."

DEEPER LIFE CHURCH 50TH ANNIVERSARY...

NSITF Targets to Generate N72bn from Workers’ Deductions

Ugo Aliogo

With over 720, 000 federal civil service workers across the nation, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is expected to generate not less than N72 billion from the deductions of one per cent from the payroll of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs).

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in a bid to support the NSITF to deliver its social security roles, approved the deductions of the percentage from the source. Social security, as enshrined in the Act establishing the Fund, is said to be the fundamental right of every citizen through Employees Compensation Scheme, ECS.

The Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), had put the figure of Nigeria’s bonafide workers at the federal level at 720,000. Disclosing this during one of its media chats, the BPSR noted that through the Integrated Personnel

Payroll Information System, IPPS, over 70,000 ghost workers were eliminated from government’s payroll, with over 10 trillion saved through TSA administration. It however noted that the federal government could save over N10 trillion from 70,000 ghost workers.

General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the NSTIF, Mrs. Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo, who disclosed this at a forum with the Labour Writers Association, LAWAN) stated : “We have remained diligent to our responsibility, which is the processing and payment of compensation to injured employees.”

“In the year 2023 alone, from January to June, we paid 8,959 claims under various contingencies, including medical expenses refund, loss of productivity, death benefits, disability benefits, retirement benefits, and further medical

Kano Inaugurates N6bn Pediatric Hospital

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf has inaugurated the recovered Hasiya Bayero Pediatric hospital, which would offer general pediatric services, surgery, child immunisation, nutritional services, research and training.

Addressing a mammoth crowd yesterday, at the hospital premises, located at Kano city center, Yusuf, lamented that the facility was abandoned, just as all the equipment were also stolen during the previous administration.

He noted that the recovery of Hasiya Bayero Pediatric hospital was part of the fulfillment of the campaign promises made by his party to recover the facility and to restore it to its original status for the benefit of the people, particularly children.

The State Governor expressed concern with the way and manner the previous administration shut and sold the hospital to an individual, who was said to have converted

it to a shopping complex

"The hospital is one of the few Paediatric hospitals in the country and offers a lot of healthcare delivery services to the public, which include among others maternal health care, immunisation, research and training.

"The brief closure of the hospital has caused a lot of hardship to the people, we promised to recover and recommission, which we have just achieved.

"We have given instructions for the immediate deployment of health and administrative personnel to the hospital to commence full operations. This will reduce the burden of healthcare delivery services to the people of the state," the governor declared.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf, urged medical personnel manning the hospital to make optimal use of it for the benefit of the common man

He described the recovery and re-commissioning of the hospital, as historic.

treatment.”

She added that NSITF was planning to amend its law to give a stronger penalty to erring employers to contribute for their employees.

Oji-Okoronkwo, however maintained that, if an employee

dies in the process of working, NSITF was empowered to take care of the family until the last child graduates from a higher institution of learning.

Such an employee, she said, must have registered and the employer must have paid up

to date. “compensations are not restricted to cash only, we have provided prostheses as part of our rehabilitative compensation programme to over 100 employees, which has enabled them to continue to live normally.

While listing its achievements,

the Corporate Affairs Manger said, “we are still working out the modality for deduction. NSITF remains steadfast in our commitment to the implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme ECS for the improved welfare of all Nigerian workers.”

Niger: Olawepo-Hashim Advises Tinubu against Military Action

Says Nigeria must return to policy of non-alignment

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A former presidential candidate, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has appealed to the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, to reconsider the decision to commit Nigerian troops to the invasion of Niger in pursuant of the ECOWAS’ resolution to reinstate the ousted civilian government in the country.

After Niger's military junta defied an ultimatum to reinstate elected President Mohammed Bazoum, leaders of the West Africa’s regional bloc at the second extra-ordinary

summit on the crisis in Abuja, last Thursday, had maintained that it was seeking a diplomatic solution but was yet to rule out using force to resolve the crisis. They had said all options are still being explored.

It had also demanded the unconditional release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The threat of an invasion, though not specific, raises tensions in and around Niger, a uranium producer that until the coup was an important ally of the West in the fight against Islamist insurgents devastating the Sahel region.

Olawepo-Hashim in a release issued yesterday, in Abuja,

explained that though, “the invasion of Niger Republic may achieve the objective of removing the military Junta in Niamey, it has the potential of escalating the security problem in the North West and North East of Nigeria as the remnant of the fleeing men loyal to the Junta will hibernate in forests between Nigeria and Niger to escalate what the bandits have been doing to Nigeria in the past few years.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress chieftain however reiterated the fact that, “nations go to war primarily to protect their national interests, but in this case, there is no national interest of

Nigeria at stake in Niger to warrant a commitment of Nigerian troops," adding that the problem in Niger is an internal problem of Niger and at best a Francophone problem.

According to him, “Nigeria must return to its traditional foreign policy of pursuing peace and security in Africa, policy of NonAggression and Non-Alignment.”

“We must remain Non Aligned to the interests of any foreign power at the Global stage as formulated by our founding fathers at independence. The policy of Non-Alignment championed by Nigeria and India earned the nation respect and friendship all over the world,” he added.

Exclusive Breastfeeding: Bauchi Assembly Proposes Enactment of Law to Extend Maternity Leave to Six Months

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

As part of efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding and boost child survival, the Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) said it has put a machinery in motion to enact a law that will increase maternity leave for working mothers in the state from three to six months

The Chairman, House Committee on Health of the Assembly, Hon. Lawal Dauda, disclosed this yesterday, at a media Dialogue organised by the Bauchi Field office of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to mark the 2023 world Breastfeeding week held at Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the State. Dauda, who represents Sade constituency in the state House of Assembly said the proposed law if enacted, would promote best breastfeeding practices and

save the lives of children under the age of five.

According to the lawmaker, "there have been agitations by stakeholders and international partners to extend maternity leave to support the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and healthy children in the state.

“We also had brainstorming meeting with key stakeholders including donor partners on enabling breastfeeding for working mothers.

“As House of Assembly members representing our constituents, we will ensure that there is improved breastfeeding practices that have potential to save lives of many children under five years.”

The lawmaker explained that, "at a recent plenary session after the workshop, the House reviewed the need to extend the current maternity from three months to six months.

“The request by Her Excellency, the First Lady of Bauchi State, was to make it to be six months. The Assembly members are committed to ensure that we pass that law.

“I assure you that since the First Lady is in the picture of what transpired there, she will encourage her husband to implement that law. Our responsibility is to pass law and I assure you that law will be history and Bauchi will be the first in the north-east to pass that law.

He added that: “We are going to engage public hearing before we pass that law. We will engage the Heads of ministries and agencies, traditional rulers and the traditional rulers so that we discuss with them since we are representing them.”

Also speaking in the same vein, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA),

Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, expressed the state government's readiness to enact a law that will support breastfeeding mothers with months of paid maternity leave and provision of crèches to breastfeed their babies in their workplaces across the state.

The Executive Chairman who said the present administration was passionate about the healthcare of the citizens noted that UNICEF and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency started the discussion on second of August with the Wife of the Governor, Aisha Bala Mohammed, during the flagging-off ceremony of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW).

He further disclosed that during the discussion, it was agreed that a law be proposed to the State House of Assembly to be enacted to create an enabling environment for working-class mothers to have maternity leave.

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano.

L-R: President of International Clergy Association, Zambia, Bishop Paul Mususu; CEO, The Rock Hospital, Accra, Ghana, Bishop (Dr) Charles Mensa Abban; General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Williams F. Kumuyi; his Wife, Esther Folashade Kumuyi; and Chairman Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK), Pastor Andrew Osagie during the 50th Anniversary Service of the Church held at the headquarters of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church, Gbagada, Lagos … yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

DIPLOMACY AT LAST?

ICAN President: Youths Now Prefer Careers in Social Media Influencing, Football Than Accounting Profession

Dike Onwuamaeze

The 59th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Innocent Okwuosa, has lamented that youths now prefer careers in social media influencing, music and professional football that promise quicker access to wealth than accounting profession.

Okwuosa, expressed his view during a recent courtesy call on the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, whom he told that one of the challenges facing accounting was how to attract young ones into the profession.

Okwuosa, who was received by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrud, during the visit said: “The youths no longer find accounting

profession attractive as professions like football, music, social media influencing and others that will make them rich overnight.”

He, however, commended Diri for supporting ICAN’s initiative that is enabling youths in Bayelsa State to pursue a career in accounting.

Okwuosa said: “But through the Accounting Technicians Scheme of West Africa (ATSWA) initiative of the institute, the Bayelsa State’s district of ICAN, with the support of Bayelsa State Government, has been able to attract many young people into the accounting profession in Nigeria.”

He said the state government has provided scholarship to young indigenes of Bayelsa to write the ICAN’s ATSWA examination, which is a middle level accounting

TAF Marks Second Anniversary with Charity Golf Tournament, Report Presentation

The Tamilore Areola Foundation (TAF) would on Saturday, mark its second anniversary with the "First TAF Golf Tournament," at the Ikeja Club, Lagos.

According to a statement, the tournament would feature 120 golfers from different clubs across Nigeria.

The TAF was founded in memory of Tamilore Areola as an establishment to promote charity, entrepreneurship and improved healthcare, as means of touching lives.

Announcing activities lined up for the anniversary celebration, TAF co-founder, Jeffrey Adebayo, explained that the Charity Golf Tournament draws its inspiration from Tamilore's personal connection with golf and the Ikeja Golf Club. He added that the foundation would also have its first report presentation and fundraising event on the same day.

"In her formative years, Tamilore actively participated in golf, and her father's involvement in the Ikeja Golf Club community fostered numerous friendships. Notably, golfers played a significant role during TAF's launch two years ago.

“This resonates deeply with our belief that the Charity Golf Tournament provides an ideal

platform for presenting the foundation's initiatives.

"TAF has had two years of impact hinged on our three key initiatives: charity, new path, and Isinmi Fund (healthcare), all of which were initiated by Tamilore Areola before her passing.

“Immediately after the tournament, there will be a fundraising event at the Upper Pavilion of the Ikeja Golf Club House, during which the foundation will present its first report to volunteers, donors and partners. The event will start at 5pm," Adebayo said.

He also called on individuals and corporate organisations to support TAF's mission to spread love and impact more lives.

"Individuals can volunteer their time and also make donations. Corporate organisations have a unique role to play as potential strategic partners in our programmes. “We've been fortunate to collaborate with partners in the past, and now, we're seeking more like-minded collaborators to amplify our positive impact.

“Your contribution, whether as a volunteer, donor, or strategic partner, holds immense potential to drive positive change through TAF's initiatives," Adebayo said.

qualification for school certificate and Ordinary National Diploma (OND) holders, from where they proceed to the professional examination of the institute.

Okwuosa noted that the Diri’s administration has enabled 126 students who have benefitted from the initiative of the state government to join the accounting profession.

“Some of these students have proceeded to the professional

examination of the institute and qualified as chartered accountants,” he said, adding that other state governors should emulate what Diri has done.

He also thanked the governor for appointing over 100 chartered accountants into the state’s civil service workforce and appealed to him to consider appointing more chartered accountants into the state’s service because it is the right thing to do.

According to him “the result of our research shows that there is a positive relationship between having more chartered accountants within a workforce and increased revenue generation and efficiency in service delivery of the government.”

In his response, the deputy governor on behalf of the state governor expressed appreciation to the ICAN’s acknowledgement of the efforts of the state government in educational empowerment of

the youth of which the ICAN ATSWA is a beneficiary.

He assured Okwuosa that the state would strive to increase the number of students in the scheme because an unenlightened society is a gruesome society.

He said the state government was focused on educational development, which would help to curb social vices among other challenges society is faced with when the youths are neglected.

SGF Denies Setting Up Panel to Constitute Boards of Parastatals

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has rebutted a publication (not by THISDAY) that the federal government had set up a panel to reconstitute boards of parastatals. The rebuttal was made yesterday, in a statement by the Director, Information OSGF, Willie Bassey.

He said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, reiterated that there was no truth in the story nor has government set up any ad-hoc committee as alleged to review the resumes of individuals who would fill such

board appointments as stated in the said publication.

“The visit of the two former Governors of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, to his office on Friday had nothing to do with such adhoc committee. It has everything to do with their recent appointment as ministers.

“Also, the reporter inaccurately quoted the spokesperson of the OSGF as indicating that 14 agencies were stipulated to have been exempted. Whereas, the release in question at the time only received the President's approval for two agencies- National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for

Food, Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC).

“In order to avoid inaccurate reporting, SGF admonishes media personnel to always cross-check information directly from authorized persons in his office rather than depending on some social media reports which may be inaccurate,” the statement said.

It would be recalled that two months ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had approved the immediate dissolution of the governing boards of all federal government parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned companies in the interest of the public and exercise of government's constitutional powers.

Although the SGF was given the latitude to dissolve and reconstitute the managements and boards of the agencies and parastatals, the dissolution did not affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Pending such time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the parastatals, agencies, institutions, and governmentowned companies are to refer matters requiring the attention of their boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory ministries and offices.

PIA: PIND Inaugurates Multi-Stakeholders Platform in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A non-profit foundation, the Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in collaboration with Ford Foundation have inaugurated a Multi-Stakeholders Platform (MSP) targeted at ensuring a positive collaboration that would achieve the implementation of chapter three of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which affects the oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region.

The objective of the MSP is to address key issues, build trust, as well as work towards a common goal of ensuring that community stakeholders maximise the benefits of the PIA in their respective communities by coordinating efforts that help to channel PIA Host Communities Development Trust (HCDTs) funds appropriately.

Inaugurating the platform in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Executive

Director of PIND, Mr. Tunde Idowu, explained that the MSP was one of the components of the Bridges Project of PIND that focuses on how to enable the PIA, the chapter that deals with community relations and how it could succeed well in the Niger Delta.

Idowu explained that the drivers of the MSP are the people that are really affected, the HCDTs, oil bearing communities members, adding that the NDDC and state governments are not commanders of the project but those people who are going to be impacted directly by the actions they will undertake.

Speaking further, the PIND boss said members of the MSP include: 15 members of HCDTs, 5 NGOs, 3 Oil Producers Trade Sector (OPTS), one from Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), three state governments representatives from the five selected states, PIND as secretariat and the Managing Director

of New Nigeria Foundation, Prof Femi Ajibola, as the chairman.

Idowu, expressed optimism that, "if we work hard and succeed, we will see a difference and I believe we do have a good chance here if really having a patro development in the Niger Delta, particularly, the oil bearing communities in the region."

He said "Half of the platform represent the HCDTs, so we want to come in there and impact in terms of best practices. We want to come in, listen to the challenges they have in achieving their development and come up with solution options. We believe with the presence of the participants here today; we can achieve a sustainable development in the area.

"I am hopeful that we can be able to impact in what happens at HCDTs level because the leaders of the HCDTs make up half of the platform."

Speaking further the PIND boss expressed, "My expectation is that the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta will seize this opportunity to really bring development down to their communities.

“Because when you look at countries that are developed, it's important for them to lay foundation to that development: what are the issues that drives development and to put in their resources in things that drives development.

"It is possible for us to be able to get a lot of development through the implementation of the PIA.”

Speaking with journalists at the inauguration programme, the Chairman of MSP, Prof. Obafemi Ajibola, noted that the platform, "brings in stakeholders, about 30 of us from the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDTs) who are presenting the communities, 15 of them across the five states.”

The Intervention Team on the crisis in Niger after their meeting with the coup leader in Niger, General Tchiani in Niamey on Saturday

INAUGURATION OF THE JOHN ODIGIE OYEGUN PUBLIC SERVICE ACADEMY…

ACI Chair Warns Auditors against Over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Chairman of Audit Committee Institute (ACI), Mr. Chris Ekeigwe, has advised auditors and accountants to tread with caution in putting trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for business and audit.

In his “A Letter to my Profession”, the fourth in the series, titled: “Audit Perspective on Artificial Intelligence”, Ekeigwe warned that absolute trust in AI by auditors and accountants in the audit process could be dangerous.

He added that the belief in AI’s ability to churn out flawless financial reports could spell doom for the corporate world just like the belief in the 1980s and 1990s that reports generated by personal computers were perfect.

Ekeigwe recalled that in the early days of personal computer, many professionals were made to believe that computers did not make mistakes, pointing out that that incorrect belief led to overconfidence and unquestioning reliance on computer reports by auditors, without diligent

verifications.

He noted that this led to the failure of auditors to timeously detect errors and fraud, and in turn resulted in the collapse of some companies in the 1980-2000s such as Barings Bank, Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), Wells Fargo, Enron, WorldCom, among others.

The finance expert warned that a throwback to that era will be even more disastrous, given the immense power of AI today.

He therefore asked accountants and auditors to be wary of the ongoing “persuading” calls by the tech industry assuring of the infallibility of AI, and the need to trust it.

He likened it to the sentiment of a Pirelli Tire advertisement that says: “power is nothing without control,” calling on the profession to insist that appropriate auditable controls are designed into AI technology.

Even with what AI can help them to achieve, he advised that auditors should be “unapologetically, courageously

PHED Targets N10b Monthly Revenue, Unveils New App

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has unveiled new application 'PHEDConnect App' targeted at improving service delivery in its area of coverage.

This was just as the company expressed belief that with the new technology, the monthly revenue collection of about N7billion could move to N10 billion and counting.

Unveiling the App and other innovations by the staff of the company at the weekend, the Managing Director, Dr Benson Uwheru, said the solution would reduce human interaction with the customers and move to seamless processes for higher revenue.

Other products unveiled were ‘Ibinabo chatbox and Intranet for internal interactions of the staff, especially in documentation.

Explaining the unveiled PHEDConnect app, Jonathan Dumnamene, said customers are now able to check bills, accounts, pay bills, check customer status, etc, without coming to PHED.

He said: “You can identify staff

by feeding their identity numbers into the APP and their details will emerge. You can trust then them. For those always haggling about overbilling, they can input the items they use in the house of office and it will calculate the energy the customer uses.”

He said customer could also track their transaction history.

“You don’t need to call PHED. You download the APP from google play store and start.”

Presenting the Intranet, another staff, Daniel Nkwocha, said: “With Intranet, there will be no need for emails or moving about with documents. The intranet champions in each department update the platform with information you need.”

On his part while presenting ‘Ibinabo chatbox’, Jideofor Ujah explained that, "it is bringer of good news. It brings us closer to our customers. Before you call customer care, chat with Ibinabo. Solve all your problems, chat with Ibinabo.”

Excited over the products, the Managing Director said he was happy that the products were unveiled on his birthday.

paranoid” and inquiring, in all circumstances, even when that makes them unpopular.

He maintained that the desires of the accountants and auditors for the truth should prevail if they do not put trust in the biased messaging about trust in AI.

Ekeigwe who lauded the enterprise of AI developers, described them as great inventors and the best and brightest in class who are creating value for society, but stressed that implicit in AI is fallibility inherited from its human creators.

“We have never made anything perfect in all human history, and it is unthinkable that AI will become

perfect before its creators,” he stated.

He, therefore, maintained that the messaging of absolute trust in AI is unwarranted and deceitful, and should not be bought wholesale by auditors whose control-thinking is a critical success factor for the corporate world. He insisted that AI deserves only measured trust.

“It is noteworthy that our generation fetishized technology to the detriment of control thinking, conceding, or attributing, unwarranted power to it. I see that happening again today with the cognitive impact of tech industry’s exuberating messaging that we should trust AI, even while we

see increasing signs that AI is not sufficiently reliable to warrant our implicit trust,” he argued.

In the face of what he described as the potential dangers of AI, he said that the concept of verify and verify is not a mere emphasis, but an expression of significance.

“Truly, verify and verify, in AI environment, influences the future performance of controls and results of audit, and, therefore, the future going-concern posture of an entity,” he added.

Ekeigwe said that one of the problems that audit has for dealing with AI trust is skills decay, namely, the obsolescence of skills due to rapid changes in AI technologies.

“By now we should have AI audit experts the way we quickly developed for earlier technologies, but those who have been working hard to develop the skills for auditing AI quickly get blindsided by AI technology turnover”, he said According to him, achieving enduring AI audit capability maturity will continue to be a challenge for the accounting/ auditing profession.

To checkmate the many surprises that AI will present in the future, he advised that the accounting/ auditing profession should commit to verifying with system thinking, control thinking, control design, human behaviour, among others.

Agora Policy: Why Nigeria Must Deploy Holistic Approach to FX Operations

Seeks standby arrangement for $10bn to aid liquidity

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Following the naira’s loss of over 40 per cent value since it was floated, Agora Policy, an Abuja-based think-tank, has recommended a holistic, economy-wide management approach to ensure the stability of the weakening currency.

In its latest policy brief themed: “Steadying Nigeria’s Fledgling Foreign Exchange Reform”, the Waziri Adio-led organisation, queried the speed with which the Bola Tinubu-led administration floated the naira, without any plan to boost dollar inflow.

Given the prevailing situation, Agora, in the brief, argued that without direct attempts to stem the tide, the temptation to return to the old ways of managing things might look attractive, which might in turn, blow away the current opportunity.

Agora explained that the extant attempt must be situated within the context of wider discussions about macroeconomic strategy, insisting that forex and monetary policies should be part of a comprehensive economic plan where the exchange rate serves as a tool for export diversification and for attracting capital flows to foster overall development.

“The long-stated objective of Nigeria’s policymakers is to diversify its export base...to ensure export competitiveness of these non-oil exports, exchange rates policies must look to deliver an extra layer

of competitiveness to export prices in a form that favours domestic industries.

“To this end, the goal of policymakers on FX is not nominal exchange rate stability but real exchange rate stability with an undervaluation bias. To this end, Nigeria’s FX policy must look to ensure a balance between real exchange rate stability that ensures non-oil export competitiveness and keeps inflation at a level supportive of domestic welfare.

“Nigeria’s economic managers must explicitly seek to achieve this balance and must demonstrate annually how their policy measures or adjustments deliver on these goals,” it added.

In creating a workable FX market architecture, Agora advised that Nigerian policymakers must envision a distinct set of supply forces, namely multiple FX sources which can be attained by removing all forced sale rights on oil exports presently held by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Rather, it advocated a situation where the CBN should be allowed to purchase its dollars like every market participant to manage naira liquidity at a level consistent with its own money supply objectives.

According to the think-tank, a credible FX reform will end the forced petro-dollar to naira conversions financed via the printing of new money. The goal, it said, is to create an FX market with diverse

players especially on the supply side, including the CBN, oil exporters, non-oil exporters, remittances, foreign portfolio investors, among others.

“In lieu of nominal exchange rate targeting, Nigeria’s central bank must have an explicit inflation targeting framework with clear annual and intermediate inflation target that are publicly known and must annually demonstrate how its policies achieve this objective.

“The CBN can have several inflation measures (consumer price index, producer price index, wage inflation etc) to prevent undue reliance on one metric and importantly it should demonstrate how its adjustment of policy instruments (interest rates and money supply) are enabling it move inflation within targets.

“Nigeria’s fiscal and legislative arms should be on hand to deploy censure to CBN governors unable to deliver within target inflation.

To avoid the egregious abuses over the last five years, Nigeria should look to divorce CBN control over development finance banks and capitalise these entities to fund underserved sectors of the credit market,” it added.

To help proper FX pricing, it pointed out that Nigeria’s central bank must work to deliver increased information about demand and supply trends and end the dark ages on critical data on trends across FX markets.

As in some markets like Singapore, the proposed CBN legislation, it said, must include requirements for publication of period data and analysis of trends in FX markets to the public.

“This requirement must impose penalties for non-compliance. Under the suspended CBN governor, the CBN commenced data censorship with the withdrawal of more in-depth data which created no transparency on FX markets,” it said in the brief.

Beyond developing deep and liquid spot markets, Agora Policy maintained that concerted efforts must be on including avenues for hedging without any arcane restrictions that look to curb speculation.

“The CBN should work with exporters and financial institutions to develop the means for importers to hedge against FX volatility risk to prevent demand front-loading. Nigeria should work actively to ensure that the large USD flows (including remittance flows) equilibrate within the official segments,” it added.

While stressing that Nigerian policymakers must be clear-eyed to have a system for dealing with periods when markets become volatile, the think-tank noted that there must be a clear operational framework for dealing with periods of external shocks which should include providing temporary liquidity, interest rate adjustments, communication and FX adjustments.

L-R: Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa; Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and his wife, Mrs. Victoria Oyegun, during the inauguration of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City, in honour of the former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie Oyegun on Saturday

FOR FOOD SECURITY AND SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY…

L-R:

Tinubu Rejoices with Foursquare General Overseer Emeritus, Farombi, at 85

Greets veteran journalist, Ray Ekpu on his 75th birthday

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with the General Overseer Emeritus of the Foursquare Church, Reverend Gabriel Olusoji Farombi as he marks his 85th birthday.

The president, in a statement issued yesterday, by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, acknowledged the decades of meritorious service to God and humanity rendered by Farombi as a foremost Minister of the gospel and his 15 fruitful years as the General Overseer of Foursquare Church in Nigeria.

Commending his outstanding contributions to the spread and growth of Christianity in Nigeria, Tinubu noted that under the leadership of Farombi, Foursquare's missionary work has made wide-ranging and positive impact on the lives of many Nigerians.

"On this special day, I

congratulate Reverend Gabriel Olusoji Farombi for attaining the graceful age of 85 years. I commend this great Nigerian and esteemed senior citizen for his steadfastness and dedication to the work of God, where he excelled exceedingly as the leader of Foursquare Church in Nigeria for 15 years.

“We are proud of the significant and indelible impact that Reverend Farombi has made in the lives of countless Nigerians as a leader and preacher. I pray for greater grace and good health for more years of service to God and mankind," the president prayed.

Tinubu also yesterday, sent a warm message of goodwill and felicitations to veteran journalist and celebrated columnist, Mr. Ray Ekpu, on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

The president described Ekpu's life as one that was synonymous with the struggle for freedom, democracy and the entrenchment

Firm Unveils Innovative Solution for Events Management

James Emejo in Abuja

An indigenous mobile solutions provider has unveiled a solution to provide a comfortable social environment for event managers and their respective audiences.

Speaking at the official launch of the Buzz Network in Abuja, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Buzz Web Services, Mr. Ishaq Yakubu, said the solution is created strictly for participants in the event organizing space to maximise profits and increase their reach.

He also disclosed plans to expand its operations beyond the shores of Nigeria to Ghana and South Africa.

He said the firm is a software development company, driven primarily by the, “undying zeal of a small team of young men to do great things” and support employment generation in the country.

The product solves the question

of where to buy and sell tickets through its flexible and innovative e-ticketing system and enables clients to retain ticket customers and capitalise on their interests.

He told THISDAY, “With Buzz, hosts, and organisers no longer need to poke their faces into other social spaces with contrasting themes from their intended audiences, hoping to market to the possible few that they can.

“Now, Buzz provides the perfect environment to market your shows, workshops, seminars, fairs, and festivals- a social setting where the audience that you are trying to market to wants to see you, as well.

"When it comes to events ticketing, we are solving the problem in a very unique way never seen before. For example, I'd like to say that we currently don't have competition in the country because nobody does it the way we do it."

of good governance in Nigeria. He said: "I join friends, family and admirers of the veteran journalist and respected columnist, Mr. Ray Ekpu, in celebrating his purposeful life as he marks his

75th birthday.

“In a career spanning over 50 years in the Nigerian media landscape, Mr. Ekpu has consistently demonstrated a dogged commitment to

progressive ideals.

"His pen has been deployed to the service of society through frank, analytical and engaging commentary that is uniquely characterised by his beautiful

prose.

“As he marks his 75th birthday, I send my heartfelt congratulations to this doyen of journalism on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria."

Oyegun: My Refusal to Compromise Led to My Early Retirement at Age 48

Says he’s fulfilled naming JOOPSA after him

Former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has disclosed that his refusal to compromise as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service during the Military regime led to his early retirement at the age of 48 years.

Oyegun, made the revelation in his closing remarks at the formal inauguration of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) an institution named after him by Edo State government to celebrate his 84-years birthday and 19-years meritorious service as a civil servant at the federal level.

The celebrant, who commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state and transformation of the State Civil/ Public Service, called on Civil/ Public Servants in the state to be committed, dedicated and upright in their service to the State as they will get their reward for it.

“I thank you Mr. Governor Obaseki and your wife, for honouring me when I am alive, I appreciate you and today I feel very fulfilled for this. I was glad when something was named after me, getting calls all around the world that they saw a building named after me, I told them my governor did it.

“Today, I am emphatically proud. I am proud that my name has been associated with an Institution of intense possibility. Naming this great idea after me is considered the peak of my Civil and Public Service career and I thank the governor for this honour,” he added.

Oyegun, who was also a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress

(APC), said he didn’t serve for long in the Federal Civil Service, but served for just 19 years not 35 years, however, he was able to leave his imprint in the sand of time, noting that he had the unique opportunity of serving with the best minds in the Civil service then and contributed his quota to the development of the service, State and the nation at large.

Commending the governor for his transformation of the State Civil Service, Oyegun said the governor sees the direction of the World and decided to prepare the State ahead.

“I am very aware of the transformational drive going on in the State, and also noticed the various hubs established by this Obaseki-led administration and shows that the governor is preparing the State for the future. Governor sees the direction of the world and doesn't want Edo State to fall behind.

“I commend and appreciate the governor for his decision to give first class graduates of Edo extraction an automatic employment for excellent performance in their academics and offer them opportunities. This step will make Edo citizens proud wherever they are in the world.

“It shows that there are people in authority who are watching to honour citizens of the State wherever they are because they noticed that citizens of the State have distinguished themselves and will be rewarded. Nothing inspired like recognition of talents, contributions, quality and ability of individuals.”

He called on civil servants to aim for excellence as it matters

in their career, noting, “'When you are doing your work People notice, your boss notice and will determine how you are judged in time to come.”

Oyegun further admonished civil servants to be courageous, maintain their integrity and stand for what they believed in and do the right things against all odds.

“I was called to manage the Nigeria Airways as Managing Director but refused because the Minister of Aviation was then a Military man. I refused the offer because he will not allow me to do my job. I was that fearless to tell him to his face politely that he will not let me function effectively and will lose credibility with passengers.

Giving instances of some of the things that transpired during his time as PS, he noted, “I was bold to tell the Military what I want as a permanent secretary to ensure I don't get into troubles. The IBB administration then posted me to various Ministries including that of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“The first thing the Military did was send me a list of people to be retired but I am not the one to retire them but write to the Public Service Commission with reasons. I sat with my Commissioner, an Armond Commander in the Military, who could not tell me what these people did but said the instructions are from the Supreme Headquarters.

“Three Military officers were appointed by the IBB regime to supervise the different import licenses and I was told that I will be the one to sign all the import licenses but I politely refused.

“I told them I can't do that because I was not responsible for it and where I come from we don't behave this way. Immediately after that conversation, I knew I would be sacked and I went to report myself to the Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation at that time.

“I went to my office, instructed my secretary to prepare a resignation letter, so I can retire before the Military could sack me. We all have a decision to make, it requires courage to take major steps to maintain integrity, defend what you stand for.

“When there was a crisis at the Ministry of Internal Affairs I was the only signatory of the Nigerian Passport at that time, I did all my duties and responsibilities, maintaining my integrity. I retired at 48 years after 19 years of service.”

The former Edo State Governor said the greatest problem facing Nigeria was the loss of values, ethics, morality and ability to tell rights from wrongs, noting, “The greatest problem we have in this country is not how many beautiful roads that you construct, or schools' roof coloured changed.”

He added: “We are now in a society that has lost its values, ethics, morality and ability to tell rights from wrongs and the focus should be how to change the system and that is where JOOPSA comes in as the academy will equip those that pass through it with re-orientation of the mind indicating that service, excellent performance, and integrity matters as all will be rewarded passing through the system.”

Strategic Partnership Management Manager(SiamKubota, Ms Corporation Co Ktd, Thailand), Taksina Suttisumpanich, Manager, Engine and Power Business(Siam Kubota Corporation), Mr Jirasak Sitthiwong, Manager, Senior Executive Vice President(Siam Kubota Corporation), Mrs Waraporn Osathapan, Nigeria's Ambassador to Thailand, Amb Oma Djebah, Minister(Economic Desk) Embassy of Nigeria, Bangkok), Mr Mohammed Haidara and Kubota Solutions Department Manager, Mr Amnart Butthongkamwong, during Ambassador Djebah’s tour of the expansive demonstration farms of Siam Kubota Corporation in Chonburi Province, Thailand...recently

As Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Await Ruling of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal…

Alex Enumah writes on the mounting heat on the judiciary, particularly the presidential election tribunal, as Nigerians await its verdict in three petitions against the election of Bola Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Although, it is the Supreme Court of Nigeria that has the final say or hold in its hands the fate of President Bola Tinubu, but the future destiny of Nigeria, its democracy as well as its territorial integrity for now rest squarely on the shoulders of four men and a woman; the five-member panel of justices handling the petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25, 2023 presidential poll.

This is attributable to two major factors; first, the strong dissatisfaction birthed by the announcement of Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the February 25 presidential poll and second; the increasing wave of coup d’etat in the West African sub-region, that seems to suggest that democracy is failing in Africa.

Except the military junta cave in and relinquish power to the ousted president Mohammed Bazoum of Niger Republic, it may be difficult to stop further military action in the sub-region. Already, the umbrella body of the sub-region; the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated a stand-by force that is hoped will be able to return the country to democratic rule, after the junta took over governance on July 26, 2023. The coup in Niger Republic is the sixth in Africa and the 5th in West Africa in the last three years. The take over signals only one thing; that democracy or put in another form, Africa’s democracy has failed and continue not to deliver the expected or desired goodies to the generality of the people, who are daily plunged down the poverty level.

Like the opposition in Ghana noted while reacting to ECOWAS planned invasion of Niger Republic, what obtains in Africa is not democracy.........

While one is not suggesting military take over, it would be pointed out that when the people’s wish in an election is not respected or manipulated, they are left with no other choice whose outcome could be disastrous.

Since the declaration of Bola Tinubu as President-elect on March 1, 2023, by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood, and his subsequent swearing-in on May 29, 2023, the country has continued to come under increasing tension.

Recall, that various groups had approached the court to stop the inauguration of Tinubu on grounds that he did not win majority of the lawful votes including claims that he was not qualified to contest the poll from the onset, but their request were turned down, leaving it squarely on the desk of the ‘five wise men’ of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, ably presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani.

The task before the election petition tribunal is no doubt daunting but not insurmountable.

They are being asked to do what has not been done before at the presidential level in the history of the country. Specifically, the petitioners; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi and his party, the Labour Party (LP) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in their respective petitions are asking the tribunal to rule that Tinubu did not win majority of lawful votes cast at the February 25 presidential election and should be removed as president.

The petitioners in addition, argued that INEC declared Tinubu president-elect against the constitutional provisions that a winner must score 25 percent of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) besides winning 25 percent of two-thirds of the 36 states of the federation.

Besides, they claimed that the presidential election was characterized with irregularities, corrupt practices and did not comply substantially with the electoral laws and as such should be nullified and a rerun election ordered to be conducted with the exclusion of Tinubu and his party, the APC.

In addition, the petitioners submitted that Tinubu ought to have been disqualified from the poll because of alleged offences ranging from complicity in drug trafficking, money laundering, perjury, certificate forgery and unlawful nomination of the vice president.

In proving their allegations, while Atiku called in 27 witnesses, Obi called 13 and the APM just one. The respondents which include INEC, Tinubu and Shettima and the APC, on their part, however called one witness each while the APC did not call any in their defence of the petitions.

After all parties had adopted their final written addresses for and against

the petitions on August 1, the panel had announced that judgment has been reserved to a date that would be communicated to all parties.

Going by the electoral laws, the tribunal has less than a month to deliver its judgment. According to Section 132 (7 and 8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, while an aggrieved candidate in a presidential election has 21 days within which to file his or her petition, the tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days.

Since the adjournment for judgment on August 1, the heat has been on the five wise men led by Justice Tsammani. Everywhere you turn it is “All Eyes on the Judiciary”.

On hand bags, T-shirts, it is same inscription drawing attention to the judiciary and with pay-offs like “let justice prevail....save our democracy”, “clear your conscience”, “preserve your integrity”, among others.

Whether in the conventional or social media, whether at the market place, church, mosque, any gathering of two or more people, the issue of discuss is the presidential election case and its probable outcome.

Fortunately, its import has not been lost on the panel whose members have shown a very good grasp of the law and dedication to duty especially at this particular point in the history of Nigeria. Right from the pre-hearing session and throughout the hearing and the final adoption stage, the panel has proved their worth and showed hope for the judiciary which has been under serious bashing from the public over alleged acts of corrupt practices, biases and favourable judgments to friends, family members and associates.

Only recently, a Senator in the 9th

Assembly had during a valedictory speech reminded some of his colleagues how, according to him, he had invaded the privacy of his wife, who was a former President of the Court of Appeal.

Recall also that former President Muhammadu Buhari had in the early days of his administration accused the judiciary of corruption and had allowed the Department of State Service (DSS) engage in a sting operations on the residences of some judges. It is also to the credit of Buhari that a serving Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was removed from office over alleged corruption and his successor also pressured by his colleagues on the bench of the Supreme Court to leave office over alleged corruption.

Besides, the apex court by its judgments over time has continued to lose respect and confidence of the masses who hitherto see the court as the hope of the ordinary citizens or “common man”. Till this moment, a lot of Nigerians have continued to wonder how the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Senate President, Ahmad Lawal found their way into the upper chamber of the nation’s legislature having contested the presidential poll.

The late jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Chima Centus Nweze, will be long remembered for his celebrated minority judgment, where he had told his colleagues that, “this decision of the Supreme Court will continue to hunt our electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come”.

In the disputed 2019 governorship election in Imo State, the late jurist who in his judgment observed that the substance of the then governor, Emeka Ihedioha’s matter was lost to time frame, reminded them that they had once set aside their own earlier judgment and therefore cannot use time frame to extinguish the right of any person.

“This court has powers to over rule itself and can revisit any decision not in accordance with justice”, he said before adding that, “This court has a duty of redeeming its image. I am of the view that this application should succeed. I hereby make an order setting aside the decision of this court made on January 14 and that the certificate of return issued to the appellant be returned to INEC. I also make an order restoring the respondents as winner of the March 9 governorship election.”

There is therefore no other better time than now for the judiciary to redeem its image by not just delivering justice the way they see it or know it, but like in the words of Lord Denim, justice in this particular time must be seen by all to have been done.

In essence, judgment must be delivered based on the law, the weight of evidence, the fear of God, their conscience and oath of office.

“Fortunately, its import has not been lost on the panel whose members have shown a very good grasp of the law and dedication to duty especially at this particular point in the history of Nigeria. Right from the pre-hearing session and throughout the hearing and the final adoption stage, the panel has proved their worth and showed hope for the judiciary which has been under serious bashing from the public over alleged acts of corrupt practices, biases and favourable judgments to friends, family members and associates.”

Justice Ariwoola Atiku Tinubu Obi

Stimulating FG’s Economic Growth with Tax Reforms

Deji Elumoye writes about the recent move by President Bola Tinubu to increase the revenue base of the Federal Government with the launch of a presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms.

President Bola Tinubu has never hidden his concern about the insufficient Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the government at the centre. This much he alluded to in the course of his presidential campaign that took him to all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which culminated in his election during the February 25, 2023 poll.

About one month after his inauguration, President Tinubu early in July, 2023 constituted a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms in line with his promise to remove all barriers impeding business growth in Nigeria. The committee   chaired by Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mr. Taiwo Oyedele comprise of experts from both the private and public sectors with responsibility for the various aspects of tax law reform, fiscal policy design and coordination, harmonization of taxes, and revenue administration.

Explaining the rationale for setting up the committee, the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Mr. Adelabu Zacch Adedeji, stressed that it was in recognition of  the importance of a sound fiscal policy environment and an effective taxation system for the functioning of the government and the economy.

According to him: ‘’Nigeria ranks very low on the global ease of paying taxes while the country’s Tax to GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world and well below the African average.

‘’This has led to an overreliance on borrowing to finance public spending which in turn limits the fiscal space as debt service costs consume a greater portion of government revenue, annually resulting in a vicious cycle of inadequate funding for socio-economic development.

‘’While some incremental progress has been recorded over the years, the outcomes have not been transformative enough to change the narrative”.

Adedeji outlined the key challenges in Nigeria’s tax system to include multiple taxes and revenue collection agencies, fragmented and complex tax system, low tax morale, high prevalence of tax evasion, high cost of revenue administration, lack of coordination between fiscal and economic policies, and poor accountability in the utilization of tax revenue.

The establishment of this committee, he said, reflected President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing these challenges and bringing about transformative reforms in fiscal policy and taxation.

To show the seriousness government attached to the committee, President Tinubu last Tuesday inaugurated the high-powered team at the State House, Abuja with a pledge  to break the vicious cycle of overreliance on borrowing for public spending, and the resulting burden of debt servicing it places on the management of Nigeria’s limited government revenues

The President mandated the committee to improve the country’s revenue profile and business environment as the Federal Government

moves to achieve an 18% Tax-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio within three years.

President Tinubu directed the Committee headed by renowned tax expert, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to achieve its one-year mandate, which is divided into three main areas: fiscal governance, tax reforms, and growth facilitation.

He also directed all government ministries and departments to cooperate fully with the committee towards achieving their mandate.

The President told the Committee members the significance of their assignment, as his administration carries the burden of expectations from citizens who want their government to make their lives better.

According to him: ‘’We cannot blame the people for expecting much from us. To whom much is given, much is expected.

‘’It is even more so when we campaigned on a promise of a better country anchored on our Renewed Hope Agenda. I have committed myself to use every minute I spend in this office to work to improve the quality of life of our people”.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Oyedele, noted that Nigeria’s revenue generation is below the African standard, though the nation’s collection costs are among the highest.

He, however, pledged the total commitment of members of the Committee to give their best in the interest of the nation.

According to him: “Many of our existing laws are out-dated, hence they require comprehensive updates to achieve full harmonisation to address the multiplicity of taxes, and to remove the burden on the poor and vulnerable while addressing the concerns of all investors, big and small.

“Our tax administration has improved but remains relatively basic, with instances of unregulated collections by untrained officers, particularly at the Local Government level, being widespread.

“Our revenue generation falls below even African standards, yet our collection costs

are among the highest. This is due not only to multiple taxes but also numerous collection agencies and fragmented revenue reporting procedures.

“Public willingness to pay taxes is strained because of a lack of trust in government, both among individuals and businesses, irrespective of size. The burden of tax falls heavily on those who comply, while those who evade often get away with little or no consequences. We need to change this.“The process of resolving tax disputes is protracted and costly, with inadequate mechanisms for many small businesses and vulnerable individuals to seek fair tax resolution, as professional services are often beyond their means”, Oyedele further said.

Commenting on the new committee on tax reforms, a Chartered Accountant with many years experience in Taxation, Policy and Strategy Formulation in the private sector, Mr Adeoye Adeyeye, backed the President’s positions on the need for tax reforms in the country.

He said apart from the fact that the current regime has a lot of inefficient practices, it is also responsible for the inability of government to raise needed revenues, which has resulted in borrowing to fund public spending and throwing the system into an asphyxiating cycle of debt servicing.

His words: “The inauguration of the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee could end up being one of the best decisions of the Tinubu Presidency. The following reasons are germane; some of our tax laws are outdated, the multiplicity of taxes has been a major hindrance to business growth, the cost of collection is high, our tax revenue to GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world, revenue loss due to inefficiency in collection, among others.

“If the number of taxes (currently over 60) payable by businesses and the agency of collection is centralised, more people would be brought into the tax net without necessarily increasing the tax rate. Also, the use of data to drive tax collection will be key

in achieving the objectives of the Committee. “I am of the opinion that government can achieve the target of 18 percent tax to GDP ratio in three years through the work of the committee. Also of note is the composition of the Committee- the members (especially the Chairman), are largely people who have distinguished themselves over the years. If more people are brought into the tax net, it gives people more impetus to demand accountability from the government. “Modernising and streamlining our tax regime will remove the absurdity of arbitrariness, which has discouraged businesses from coming into the economy and frustrated existing ones. We should all encourage and support the reforms coming into our tax and fiscal policy; the government needs all the revenue it could generate and reduce borrowings”, Adeyeye explained.

Also reviewing the President’s Tax Reforms Committee, the National Chairman of the Arewa Economic Forum, Ibrahim Shehu Yahaya also popularly known as Dandakata, hailed the President for making the move, saying it is aimed at streamlining collection of taxes, reducing possibilities of corruption and ultimately giving the economy a new lease of life. Drawing a connecting line with two other major steps taken by the President at saving the economy; subsidy removal and the abolition of multiple foreign exchange rates, he noted that all point to the direction that the Tinubu administration is serious about reforming and repositioning the economy.

According to him: “The new tax policy reform committee comes at the right time to close the gaps in tax collection in Nigeria, which is one of the lowest in the world with a GDP to tax ratio of 10.8 percent, according to the NBS. It’s pertinent to note that this initiative is in the right direction, given that the Mohammed Nami’s leadership at FIRS had tried to close this collection gap with a raft of incentives to defaulters and non-compliant individuals and businesses, which resulted in an increase of 56 percent in the amount collected in 2022, which came to about N10 trillion. The mandate of the present committee is to triple this figure in three years.

“This initiative is a very important economic tool in creating fiscal transparency, entrenchment of rule of law and getting our economy on the right track by eliminating avenues of loss of revenue and corruption. “It’s important to say that the committee started on a good note by trying to streamline collection in one location to improve transparency and make agencies more focused on their core activities.This, like the Treasury Single Account, will give the government a bird’s eye view on its income and attendant need for further reforms. If one adds this initiative to the removal of subsidy and the removal of multiple exchange rates of the Naira, one can see genuine economic reforms that will open up Nigeria for investment being done”.

Adedeji

Oyedele

“The inauguration of the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee could end up being one of the best decisions of the Tinubu Presidency. The following reasons are germane; some of our tax laws are outdated, the multiplicity of taxes has been a major hindrance to business growth, the cost of collection is high, our tax revenue to GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world, revenue loss due to inefficiency in collection, among others.”

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

RESTORING ORDER IN THE SOUTHEAST

All major stakeholders should join forces to restore peace in the zone

Last Thursday in Enugu, all the governors

While a combined technique of intelligence and law enforcement may help in containing the resurgence of criminality, it is also appropriate, like the governors suggested, to look beyond the legal to the political in resolving the Kanu conundrum

Letters to the Editor

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LETTERS

COUPS AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

This Week In Tech

Tech Top 5 News

NIGERIAN TELCOS GARNER N53.6BN FROM SMS AMID SOARING USAGE

According to a recent disclosure from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s telecommunications giants, including MTN, GlobaCom, Airtel, 9Mobile, and Smile Communications, collectively amassed a substantial N53.6 billion in revenue from Short Message Service (SMS) operations in 2022.

The NCC’s most recent annual report unveiled a remarkable statistic: a staggering 14.08 billion text messages traversed these networks over the year. At a standardised rate of N4.00 per transmitted message, this numerical revelation translates into an impressive N56.3 billion. This significant financial figure underscores the robust revenue stream these operators generate through their SMS services.

Furthermore, the data presented in the report highlights an extraordinary 48.8 per cent surge in the volume of text messages exchanged by subscribers within a mere year. This substantial increase signifies a transformative shift, propelling the number of SMS messages from 9.46 billion in 2021 to an impressive 14.08 billion in 2022.

In parallel, the volume of text messages received also experienced a noteworthy 11.06 per cent surge, resulting in a cumulative count of 11.8 billion messages. These collective figures culminate in an impressive total of 25.9 billion SMS messages sent and received over the year, reflecting this communication channel’s enduring popularity and utility within the Nigerian telecommunications landscape.

WHATSAPP ELEVATES VIDEO CALLS WITH NEW SCREEN-SHARING FEATURE

WhatsApp has announced the launch of its latest enhancement, the screen-sharing feature, which aims to bolster its video call capabilities. By incorporating this advancement, WhatsApp is positioning itself to rival other popular communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, and Apple’s FaceTime.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg of Meta Platforms shared that this innovative addition would enable users to seamlessly share various content, including documents, images, and shopping carts, all while engaged in video calls. The beta version of this feature was initially introduced to Android users in May.

The mechanism for utilising this feature is simple: users need only tap or click on the ‘Share’ icon to gain access to screen sharing. They have the flexibility to choose between sharing an individual application or their entire screen. This functionality mirrors the screen-sharing practices on platforms like Google Meet and Zoom.

The rollout of this new screen-sharing feature will occur in phases across iOS, Android, and Windows Desktop platforms. This incremental approach ensures a smooth and uninterrupted user experience. Although the feature might not be immediately visible to all users, it is anticipated to become universally accessible soon.

Simultaneously, WhatsApp has introduced support for video calls in landscape mode, adding a new layer of immersive visual engagement beyond the conventional portrait mode. This enhancement aligns harmoniously with the screen-sharing feature, creating an amplified and enriched collaborative experience for users engaged in various tasks.

MOOVE SECURES $76M FUNDING FOR GLOBAL EXPANSION, PROFITABILITY

Moove, a pioneering mobility fintech startup that emerged in 2020 to address the scarcity of vehicle financing in Africa, has raised a substantial $76 million in fresh funding. This funding initiative is spearheaded by Mubadala Investment Company, marking a pivotal step in the company’s trajectory.

Moove will use the infusion of capital to advance its mission of crafting the largest technology-infused financial services platform tailored for mobility entrepreneurs. The ultimate objective is to fortify its presence worldwide while striving to achieve profitability by the culmination of the current year. With an expansive vision in mind, Moove is set to broaden its horizons through global expansion and the introduction of multiple innovative products.

Comprising a blend of equity and debt, this funding round has attracted participation from existing and novel investors, including prominent entities like BlackRock. According to the latest data from the company, this round contributes to a cumulative funding sum surpassing the $325 million mark, incorporating both equity and debt-based investments.

Moove’s operational footprint extends across thirteen diverse markets spanning Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. The company is Uber’s

TECH PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

Lola Ekugo’s Vista of New Travelling, Shipping Possibilities

This week’s featured tech personality spotlights Lola Ekugo, the visionary behind Trans That NG.

With a secure online platform, Lola has orchestrated a brilliant concept that bridges the gap between travellers with unused baggage allowance and Nigerians seeking items or documents from overseas. This ingenious solution has rapidly gained popularity, offering a swift, secure, and dependable alternative to conventional, often costly, and time-consuming shipping methods.

Notably, Lola Ekugo embarked on another impactful endeavour in 2020, spearheading techstart.africa. This initiative is dedicated to kindling interest in STEM disciplines, empowering individuals with invaluable resources, skill development, mentorship, and internship prospects within the technology realm.

Lola’s active involvement extends to various influential roles, including membership on the Tech Committee of WimBiz, the Digital Transformation Committee of JA Nigeria, and her role as a mentor for She Leads Africa. Her exceptional contributions have garnered recognition from Fintech Africa, which acknowledges her as one of the key driving forces shaping Nigeria’s fintech sector.

Through Transthat, Nigerians can now relish their favourite international products more frequently without the burden of exorbitant travel expenses or steep shipping costs. Since its launch in June 2017, the company has offered various options. Buyers can secure products directly, while a streamlined ‘Transfer lite’ choice caters to document transfer needs. Travellers engaging with Transthat have a unique opportunity to earn supplementary income by leveraging their unused luggage space to assist requestors in purchasing items or transferring documents.

The platform’s intuitive system facilitates each transaction and safeguards the funds paid by the requestor, offering travellers a worry-free shopping experience. Unlike conventional setups, Transthat’s scope is not limited to exclusively online purchases. The platform accommodates a diverse array of requests, extending to items from local markets or galleries, even in the absence of online delivery services. This adaptability underscores Transthat’s commitment to catering to various user needs, making it a trailblazer in innovative, user-friendly solutions.

foremost vehicle supply partner throughout the EMEA region. The magnitude of Moove’s impact is underscored by its customers, who have completed over 21 million trips utilizing vehicles financed by Moove.

The recent funding attainment encompasses a spectrum of financial sources, encompassing $28 million in equity from a mix of fresh and pre-existing investors, with Mubadala Investment Company at the helm. Additionally, venture debt worth $10 million has been secured from funds managed by BlackRock and an additional $38 million from previously undisclosed sources over the preceding year.

TWITTER’S TRANSFORMATION, NOW X, PLANS VIDEO CALL FEATURE UNVEILING

The microblogging giant X, formerly Twitter, is set to revolutionise its platform by introducing a video call feature, as confirmed by X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino. The forthcoming feature will allow users to engage in video chat conversations without disclosing their phone numbers, preserving their privacy.

Yaccarino’s recent interview shed light on this transformative development, emphasising that the video call feature will redefine social interactions by enabling face-to-face engagement while safeguarding user confidentiality.

Despite this announcement, specific details regarding the feature’s rollout timeline remain undisclosed. It remains unclear whether video calls on X will be accessible solely to Blue Subscribers or extended to all users. Speculation arises from the platform’s trend of reserving certain features for subscribed users, aligning with Elon Musk’s strategy to enhance subscription rates.

The integration of video calls aligns with Musk’s broader vision of transforming X into an all-encompassing “everything app.” This strategic move underscores X’s commitment to expansion, attracting attention from both online communities and technology enthusiasts. As X continues evolving, this innovative leap into video calls marks a significant milestone in its ongoing journey.

In the interview, Yaccarino emphasised the company’s intentions to facilitate payments among users, friends, and creators.

She stated, “The rebranding marked a true liberation from Twitter, enabling us to break free from legacy mindsets and reimagine how everyone on Spaces, listeners, and global viewers, will experience a transformative shift. This shift will reshape the way we gather, entertain, and conduct transactions, all within a single platform.”

GOOGLE WORKSPACE INTRODUCES ESIGNATURE FEATURE, REVOLUTIONISING DOCUMENT SIGNING

Google Workspace has taken a monumental step by officially launching the open beta of its highly anticipated eSignature feature. This innovative addition empowers users to seamlessly and electronically sign documents directly within Google Docs and Drive. Gone are the days of using cumbersome processes like printing, scanning, or relying on external apps to sign documents prepared on Google Docs.

The introduction of the eSignature feature is set to redefine the document management landscape for Google Workspace customers. Solopreneurs and small businesses, often

grappling with the complexities of handling contracts and binding documents, stand to benefit immensely from this streamlining solution.

This cutting-edge eSignature feature encompasses a range of functionalities, including the ability to effortlessly request signatures, monitor the status of pending signatures, execute official contracts, and generate fresh copies of contracts tailored for each request. Looking ahead, the feature promises to elevate its capabilities even further. Planned enhancements include incorporating an audit trail feature and offering a comprehensive report detailing all signatories. Google Workspace will also introduce multi-signing capabilities and the ability to request eSignatures from individuals without Gmail accounts. Additionally, the future holds the promise of initiating signatures on PDF files.

While the global release timeline for the eSignature feature remains undisclosed, the beta version will be accessible to select Google Workspace customers, encompassing both group and individual accounts. The introduction of this game-changing feature comes without the need for any additional sign-ups, ensuring seamless integration into the existing user experience. With an impressive user base exceeding two billion monthly active users, integrating the eSignature feature within Google Docs and Drive carries profound implications. Although other third-party applications offer similar capabilities, the unique advantage of having this functionality within the Google ecosystem guarantees unparalleled convenience and efficiency for millions of users worldwide. As Google Workspace continues to evolve, this pioneering stride reaffirms its commitment to revolutionising digital collaboration and document management.1

RATES AS AT AUGUST 4,2023

H1: MTN, Dangote Cement Lead as 23 Firms Paid FG, States N297.3bn Tax

Kayode Tokede

MTN Nigeria Communication

Plc, Dangote Cement and 21 other companies paid Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), state revenue agencies a sum of N297.3billion as tax expenses in half year (H1) ended June, a decline of 11.6 per cent from N336.2billion in the corresponding half year of 2022.

The 23 companies are made up of financial institutions, FastMoving Consumer Goods (FMCG), petroleum marketing, Cement manufacturing, Agro—allied among other sectors operating in Nigeria and outside.

With some reporting losses due to hike in operating expenses and foreign exchange losses, the 23 companies cummulatiely generated

N1.06 trillion profit before tax in H1 2023 from N1.14 trillion in H1 2022.

Aside from paying the statutory 30 per cent income tax, companies operating in Nigeria are meant to pay Education tax, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) tax and Nigeria Police Trust Fund levy.

The tertiary education tax is imposed on every Nigerian company at the rate of 2.5 per cent of the assessable profit for each year of assessment, while the Act that established the Nigeria Police Trust Fund was meant to receive funds from a levy of 0.005 per cent of the net profit of companies operating a business in Nigeria and other various sources, which will be utilized for the training

and welfare of personnel of the Nigerian Police Force.

In the period under review, MTN Nigeria reported N71.7billion tax expenses in H1 2023, a decline of 18 per cent from N87.01billion in H1 2022, while Dangote Cement declared N61.26billion tax expenses in H1 2023, a decline of 34 per cent from N92.79billion reported in H1 2022.

The two companies in the period generated about N440.25 billion profit before tax in H1 20223, a decline of 17 per cent from N533.53billion in H1 2022.

The combination of Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery and Nascon Allied Industries where Aliko Dangote has a major stake as Chairman and investor paid a total sum of N67.44 billion as

tax expenses in H1 2023 from N107.02billion in H1 2022.

The CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola had in a statement stressed that compliance remains at the heart of the telecommunication giant business and embedded in the strategic priorities that underpin its ambition 2025 strategy.

He added that “Accordingly, we are pleased to have been recognised by the NGX as the listed company with the highest level of compliance with the Rules of the Exchange and other applicable laws and regulations.

“This follows our recognition by FIRS as one of the most taxcompliant organisations in Nigeria. These demonstrate our commitment to and track record of compliance and sound governance.

“Our Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) project reached a significant milestone with the Federal Executive Council’s approval to restore and refurbish the 110-kilometre Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. This has paved the way for the commencement of the project, which, once completed, will positively impact the lives of Nigerians and contribute to the country’s overall economic growth.”

About 191 per cent increase in tax expenses impacted on Nigerian Breweries’ Plc performance in the period. The multinational company declared N20.25billion tax expenses in H1 2023 from N6.95billion in H1 2022, leading to N67.8 billion loss before tax in H1 2023 from N25.7billion in H1 2022.

Capital market analysts have expressed the importance of companies remitting taxes to government agencies, stressing on the role played by listing on the Exchange that gives room for companies to be transparent in tax payment to government agencies where they operate. They added that the new government reforms may hike tax expenses on listed companies and reduce profit generation.

Earlier in July, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms and appointed Taiwo Oyedele as the chairman of the committee.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Amid Global Uncertainties, Investors’ Return in Stock Market Hit 27.64% YtD

Kayode Tokede

Despite global uncertainties, investors who invested in stocks on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) have gained 27.64 per cent Year-till-Date (YtD) on their investment, THISDAY analysis of market activity has revealed.

This is coming on the backdrop of federal government foreign exchange reforms and impressive corporate earnings by some listed firms.

Analysts believe the performance is a testament to the Nigerian

market’s steadfastness amidst global uncertainties as foreign and local investors renewed interest in banking stocks, among other listed sectors.

Meanwhile, the local bourse witnessed a subdued performance last week as investors’ interest in MTN Nigeria Communications (MTNN) and some Tier-1 Banking stocks ensured the market closed positively.

Specifically, the NGX All-share index gained 0.20 per cent Weeon-Week (WoW) gain to close at 65,325.37 basis points from 65,198.08

basis points it opened for trading.

In terms of sectoral performance, the NGX Banking and Insurance indices emerged as the gainers, recording a 1.26 per cent and 0.73 per cent week-on-week increase respectively.

Conversely, the NGX Consumer Goods, Industrial Goods, and Oil & Gas indices exhibited weakness, declining by 0.92 per cent, 0.39 per cent and 0.32 per cent respectively. This downward trend was influenced by cautious investor sentiment and sell-offs in select mid and high cap stocks.

Investors are prudently assessing the intersection of prevailing market and economic conditions on these sectors. The market breadth for the week was negative as 41 equities appreciated in price, 44 equities depreciated in price, while 70 equities remained unchanged. Guinea Insurance led the gainers table by 50.00 per cent to close at 39 kobo, per share. The Initiates Plc (TIP) followed with a gain of 30.56 per cent to close at 94 kobo, while Chellarams went up by 29.79 per cent to close to N4.40, per share.

On the other side, John Holt led the decliners table by 18.37 per cent to close at N1.20, per share. Dangote Sugar Refinery followed with a loss of 12.00 per cent to close at N33.00, while RT Briscoe declined by 10.42 per cent to close at 43 kobo, per share.

Overall, a total turnover of 1.741 billion shares worth N25.087 billion in 30,652 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 2.575 billion shares valued at N29.615 billion that exchanged hands previous week in 37,713 deals.

The Financial Services Industry

(measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.244 billion shares valued at N12.616 billion traded in 13,398 deals; contributing 71.43 per cent and 50.29 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 133.034 million shares worth N575.673 million in 1,572 deals, while the ICT Industry traded a turnover of 87.649 million shares worth N2.292 billion in 2,404 deals.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Cisco: Digitisation Will Displace 85m Workers, Create 97m New Jobs by 2025

Emma Okonji

The ongoing digital transformation and digitisation of processes across the globe will displace as much as 85 million traditional jobs and at the same time, create as much as 97 million digital jobs by 2025, according to Cisco’s prediction.

Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, Dr. Guy Diedrich, who gave the prediction in Lagos during the launch of Cisco EDGE Centre in Nigeria last week, however said only those that fail to acquire new digital skills would be displaced.

According to him, new digital jobs will be created and companies should begin the process of retraining their workers that are trainable and place them on the jobs that have demand for digital

skills and higher pay.

“So, digitisation will create opportunities to train millions of workers with digital skills from now till 2025. The point is that in Nigeria, there are youths who are young and determined to learn. So the Cisco EDGE Centre will offer them access to training and education that will lead to digital transformation,” Diedrich said. Also speaking during the launch of Cisco EDGE Centre in Nigeria, the Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer of Cisco, Fran Katsoudas, said: “With its vibrant economy and young population, Nigeria stands to benefit from the promise of an inclusive digital future. Cisco is here to help the nation with digital skills development, innovation and incubation as well as cutting

edge technologies.”

Coordinating Managing Director of TD Africa, Chioma Chimere, said: “Through this collaboration with Cisco, we aim to enable SMMEs scale rapidly by providing the tools, resources, and knowledge required to thrive in the digital age. By fostering skill retention and development, we can ensure that individuals are adequately empowered with the expertise to excel in the ever-evolving technology landscape.”

Director-General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, while commending Cisco for the launch of Cisco EDGE Centre in Lagos, said the centre would further accelerate digital transformation in Nigeria and create digital jobs for Nigerian youths.

NCS Defies Court Order, Holds AGM, Election in Bauchi

Emma Okonji

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of all Information Technology (IT) practitioners in Nigeria, last week, held its election in Bauchi State during its 2023 Annual General Meeting, against a Federal High Court order restraining it from conducting the election.

A member of NCS, Mr. Rogba Adeoye had gone to the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to challenge the formation of NCS’ electoral body, and got a ruling that restrained NCS from conducting any election until the hearing of the matter filed by Adeoye. The court had fixed November 22 for the hearing, but NCS defied the court order and held its election on August 9, 2023, where Dr. Muhammed Aliu Surajo was

elected as the new president of NCS.

Worried about the impunity of NCS to defy court order, Adeoye told THISDAY that he would be glad to escort the former NCS president, Prof. Adesina Sodiya to jail, for conducting an election against a Federal High Court order that restrained NCS from conducting the election.

Adeoye told THISDAY that NCS erred in the formation of the electoral body for the conduct of 2023 election because the composition of members of the electoral body negates NCS constitution. According to him, he drew the attention of Sodiya to the faulty process of establishing the electoral body, but explained that neither Sodiya nor the executive members of NCS listened to him hence he went to court to challenge

The Non-Interest Fund for RSA Holders

the illegality in the formation of the 2023 electoral body.

Upon the filing of a motion ex parte on July 17, 2023 at the Federal High Court in Lagos, by Mr. Rogba Adeoye, the court on July 18, 2023, issued an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Nigeria Computer Society, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, Mr. Segun Adekunle, Mr. Olufemi Williams, and their agents from holding the NCS election slated for August 9, 2023, pending the determination of the originating summons.

The court then adjourned the case to November 22, 2023 for report of service. Reacting to the matter, Sodiya told THISDAY that NCS followed due process and did not defy the court order in anyway, as alleged by Adeoye.

‘Nigeria’s Educational System Needs Maritime Integration’

As part of efforts to enable the nation attain maritime hub status in Africa, education experts and maritime veterans have encouraged the federal government to integrate maritime into primary and secondary school curriculum in the country.

The Project Coordinator of Maritime Writes Project (MWP), Ezinne Azunna made this call during the opening session of MWP’s 3-day Creative Writing Bootcamp at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre, today.

According to her, Nigeria is unlikely to fulfil its aspirations to be a leading maritime nation without imbibing maritime heritages and literature in primary and secondary school education.

“The maritime industry

contributes a lot to the Nigerian economy and global trade. Trade is part of the maritime industry and we are all dependant on trade to survive.

If a sector contributes hugely to the Nigerian economy, I think it’s time we focus our attention on it. The industry has over 100 professions in it, yet we are looking for youth empowerment. The maritime industry can provide that bridge.

“If we have maritime education infused into our curriculum, it means we are owning our maritime space and this will enable us do things differently. For a while, Nigeria has been trying to get into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Governing Council, we can position the nation better by prioritizing elementary maritime education,” the veteran maritime

journalist said.

Also speaking, the Head of Faculty, Maritime Writes Project, Dr. Taiwo Nolas-Alausa stated that initiative has been focused on promoting the Nigerian maritime sector by highlighting how it has enhanced the nation’s economy.

Taiwo, who is also the Director, Business Relations and Training, LCCI, encouraged the federal government, private and public sector organizations to prioritize the development of young people to enable them become assets to the nation and the world.

“The advantages of good writing skills are enormous. The first advantage is that a good writer can communicate, earn a living via writing, become famous and also teach morals,” he said.

Registration Opens for West Africa’s Manufacturing Event

Propak West Africa will welcome the region’s manufacturing industries back under one roof next month and registration is now open for visitors to sign up to attend the exhibition and conference.

With this year marking the tenth edition of Propak, a record number of visitors are expected to attend to discover the newest innovations and learn about new developments across the sectors. The special milestone event taking place from 12 – 14 September 2023 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos will celebrate over a decade of growth, collaboration and innovation that Propak has achieved since inception

in 2012, remaining the most trusted platform connecting the industries in the region. Key industry representatives from the packaging, plastics, printing and food processing industries will be present to mark the event with organisers looking forward to seeing over 5,000 visitors eager to take part and network with their peers.

Organisers are pleased to be receiving an overwhelming amount of support from partners with Propak West Africa 2023 being sponsored by Engel, Neofyton and Leatherback.

More than 200 of the world’s leading brands will be present at Propak this year, showcasing their

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) introduced the Non-Interest Fund, also known as Fund VI, in September 2021 by issuing the NonInterest Operational Framework. The Framework has the objective of, amongst others expanding coverage of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and promoting financial inclusion.

Fund VI is one of the Funds Types allowed under the Multi-Fund Investment Structure approved by PenCom. The Multi-Fund structure, or the Life-Cycle Investment Structure, seeks to align contributors’ risk appetite with their investment horizon at each life cycle stage. The Multi-Fund Investment Structure segregates the RSA Funds into 6 Fund types (Funds l to Vl). Three Funds (Fund I, Fund II, Fund III) are for active contributors, while Fund IV is for retired contributors. Fund V serve the needs of the Micro Pension Plan participants, and finally, Fund VI, which is the Non-Interest Fund and is available to both active and retired contributors.

THE NON-INTEREST FUND VI

The Non-Interest Fund VI is a fund type whose assets are invested in ethical and non-interest-bearing instruments in line with Non-interest Principles approved by the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE). The Non-Interest Fund VI seeks to attract employees with reservations about investments in interest-bearing instruments, thereby promoting financial inclusion within the Nigerian financial system. In addition, the overarching objectives of pension fund investments of safety and maintenance of fair returns on investments apply to Fund VI.

Fund VI assets shall not be invested in the production or trading of alcohol, pornography, weaponry, gambling/betting, speculation, interest-earning ventures, and other ventures of similar nature, contrary to non-interest finance principles and as may be determined by FRACE from time to time.

not required to pay any fee. Therefore, eligible RSA holders are only required to visit their respective PFAs to request the transfer of their pension savings from their existing Fund to the Non-Interest Fund by completing and signing a consent form issued by their PFA. The presence of the RSA holder is necessary for authentication. After that, the PFA will move the pension savings to the Non-Interest Fund and notify the RSA holder.

In a significant move aimed at ensuring compliance with Islamic Finance principles in the investment of Non-Interest Pension Fund (Fund VI) assets, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) recently issued the Revised Framework for the Establishment of the Pension Industry Non-Interest Advisory Committee (PINAC).

newest equipment and machinery and helping visitors to source the missing link in their supply chains. Both local and international companies from all corners of the globe have shown a real excitement for the upcoming event with all three halls now almost completely full, organisers are expecting this year’s exhibition to be the be the largest yet. Companies exhibiting this year include Afra Technical Concept, Blucher, Bobst, Miele, Process & Packaging Equipment, Reifenhauser Blown Film, SACMI, Sonnex Packaging Nigeria, TetraPak West Africa and Veepee to name just a few.

HOW TO TRANSFER PENSION SAVINGS TO THE NON-INTEREST FUND VI

It is important to note that membership in Fund VI can only be at the instance of the RSA holder. Accordingly, RSA holders in Funds I, II, and III and retirees in Fund IV can transfer their RSA contributions to the Non-Interest Fund by making a formal request to their Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) in line with section 7.6 of the Investment Regulation, which deals with transfers between fund types. The RSA holder is

PINAC is expected to assist in institutionalising monitoring mechanisms for effective compliance of Non-Interest Fund investments with ethical principles. The primary objectives of the Revised Framework for the Establishment of PINAC are to set out rules, regulations, and procedures for the establishment of PINAC, define the roles, scope of duties, and responsibilities of PINAC, outline the functions related to Shari’ah review and audit processes of Fund VI assets, strengthen the capacity of the pension industry to adhere to Islamic Finance principles in the investment of Fund VI assets, and defining the relationship and working arrangement between the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) and PINAC.

The creation of the Non-Interest Fund will complement other financial sector regulators’ efforts to promote the issuance of structured products that comply with the applicable principles of non-interest finance to provide viable investment outlets for pension funds.

For more information on the Non-Interest Fund pension, contributors and retirees should not hesitate to enquire from their PFAs and also refer to the Operational Framework For Non-Interest Fund on the Commission’s website www.pencom.gov.ng.

PENCOM DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar

Medical Tourism: Healthcare Entrepreneur Seeks FG’s Financial Intervention

Gilbert Ekugbe

FCMB Offers N10m Clean Energy Loan to Households, Small Businesses

Nume Ekeghe

Nigerian households and small businesses looking to acquire solar panels, batteries, inverters, and other green energy equipment now have access to as much as N10 million to buy these assets through the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Energy Finance Loan.

The loan is designed to help homes and small businesses like hospitals, schools, restaurants, bars, stores, hotels, and fashion places keep life and work going by using clean energy.

Commenting on the Energy Loan product, the Managing Director of FCMB, Mrs. Yemisi Edun, described it as, “another bold intervention by

the lender to unlock the potential of the renewable and clean energy sector, provide relief to Nigerians, and encourage clean energy.”

She said: “Access to energy drives economic growth and development. The FCMB Energy Finance offering is a reaffirmation of our commitment to eco-friendly energy finance to fight climate change, drive the growth of businesses, improve the quality of life, and accelerate development through environmentally sustainable energy solutions. With the removal of the petrol subsidy, more Nigerians are focusing on alternative energy sources to power their homes and businesses.”

In his comment, the Group

Head of Business Banking at FCMB, Mr. George Ogbonnaya, said “We understand the challenges individuals and businesses face in securing funding to provide clean and sustainable power. The FCMB Energy Finance loan is structured to eliminate these challenges. It is a flexible facility with two to seven years of repayment options at competitive interest rates. We urge Nigerians, especially small business owners, to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce energy costs for their homes and businesses.”

Speaking on carbon financing, the CEO of Consistent Energy Limited, Dr. Segun Adaju, said “The 2023 Electricity Act promotes privatepublic sector partnerships, allowing

private companies to participate in the renewable energy space and catalyze investments through carbon trading. The carbon trading market has become attractive, and more parties are beginning to promote carbon trading in Africa following the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) established in 2022 to unlock the potential of voluntary carbon markets for financing Africa’s energy, climate, and development goals. It is heartwarming that FCMB has keyed into this by providing a platform through the FCMB Energy Finance Loan product to provide the much-needed funding to Nigerians to acquire affordable clean energy sources’’.

NAFDAC Urges Collaboration among Stakeholders to Boost Export

Chinedu Eze

The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged stakeholders to collaborate and work in unison in order to increase and improve volume of exports from Nigeria.

The agency said the collaboration is important in order to ensure that export trade meets the requirements of the country’s trading partner in terms of quality, standards, quantity and certification.

In a paper presentation

entitled: ‘How to Improve Process to Increase Export in Nigeria’, at the CHINET 3rd Aviacargo Conference in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Unlocking the Logistics Barrier to Improve Agro Exports Products’, the Deputy Director, Export Division, Ports Inspection Directorate, NAFDAC, Mrs. Sanwoolu O.A. said, all exported produce that went through the export certification process have not been rejected.

Mrs. Sanwoolu said that there are factors that hinder the export of some products from Nigeria and that is why some countries reject

such products from the country. She identified non-adherence to standardized clearance procedure by stakeholders; freight forwarders, cargo handlers, airlines/carriers, regulatory agencies and poor interagency collaboration among sister re gulatory agencies as some of the hindrances to the rejection of Nigeria’s exports.

“Inadequate knowledge of stakeholders on approved packaging and labelling requirements by stakeholders in the export corridor, inadequate logistics at the

Bi-Courtney Opens Premium Departure Concierge at MMA2

Chinedu Eze

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services

Limited, operators of the

Confab Deliberates on Potentials of Technology in Driving Takaful

Ebere Nwoji

Issues bothering on transformative potential of technology in driving Takaful and non -interest finance in Africa was the main thrust of discussions at the maiden edition of African Takaful and Non-interest finance conference held in Lagos recently.

The two-day conference with the theme Leveraging Technology to Build on the Opportunities of Takaful & Non-Interest Finance in Africa was organised by Noor Takaful Insurance Limited.

Delivering his welcome remarks at the occasion, the Chairman, Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, Muhtar Bakare explained that the decision to organise the maiden conference was borne out of the commitment to deepen understanding and increase awareness about Takaful while also resolving the long-standing socio-economic contradictions on the African continent, notably the issue of mass poverty in Africa.

Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, (MMA2) has opened state-of-the-art lounge, MMA2 Premium Departure Concierge Service, to meet the expectation of airlines and passengers who demand such classic ambience before boarding their flights.

The Departure Concierge Service which ushers in a new era of luxury and convenience at the heart of travel in Lagos state is set to redefine the experience of high networth individuals, traveling within and around Nigeria.

Speaking during the launch of the MMA2 Premium

Departure Concierge Service at the airport terminal, the acting Chief Operating Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (MMA2), Tosan Duncan Odukoya said with the new service, passengers can experience a personalised departure process.

Odukoya said the facility goes beyond the ordinary, providing passengers with a luxurious waiting area that allows them to conduct business meetings on the go, adding that passengers can make the most of every minute of their travel time in the maximally utilized space.

export terminal and exporting regulated products without recourse to NAFDAC processes,” she said.

Expressing concerns over the high cost of medical tourism incurred by Nigerians, the Managing Director, Grover’s Hospital, Dr. Grover Anil, has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency introduce a special financing window for health care entrepreneurs at a single digit interest rate in its bid to checkmate medical tourism and achieve a virile health sector.

It is estimated that Nigeria spends over N664 billion yearly on medical tourism even as the country loses lots of medical professionals to foreign countries in search of greener pastures.

Speaking on the sidelines of a free women and children health check camp/medical outreach organised by Grover’s Hospital and the Rotary Club of Lagos Island District 9110, Anil said the move would give access to underprivileged people to have access to quality medical services while also ensuring that the nation’s health sector flourishes like its counterparts across the globe.

“The healthcare sector is one of the most critical sector in our society and if we are supported by way of duty waivers on the import of all the medical equipment, duty waivers on some of the life-saving drugs, this would ultimately reduce the price of drugs and would make services more affordable

and accessible to the Nigerian people,” he said.

Speaking on the medical outreach programme, the Managing Director, said the partnership with Rotary Club of Lagos Island, is aimed at serving the community by organising a free complimentary health check up camp, stressing that the programme is specifically designed as a maternal health for the needy and poor women and children who do not have access to good quality health care and medical services in the country.

“A lot of women in our community who do not have access to the good quality health care and medical services and cannot afford leading hospitals for their own check up, scan and some testing.

So we joined hands with the Rotary club of Lagos Island to organise this health check up camp. We do it annually and so far, over 100 under privileged people in the society have benefitted from the programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the president, Rotary Club of Lagos Island District 9110, Rotarian Ramesh Jain, said the partnership is a clear demonstration to reflect its mission statement which 8# service to others, calling all other organisations to emulate Grover’s Hospital to provide basic health care assistance and support to the less privileged in the society.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Clane, Oladipo Alabede; Chief Executive Officer, aYo Nigeria, Kayode Odetola; and Head of Growth & Marketing, Anchor, Esther Ahaiwe, during the session ‘Assessing Trends, Opportunities & Obstacles in the Fintech Ecosystem’ at the just-concluded Nigeria Fintech Forum held in Lagos… recently

Olaniyan: How FG Can Boost Operations of Technology Companies in Nigeria

Congratulations on your appointment as the first female Group Managing Director of Chams Holding Company Plc How did you respond to this appointment?

Well, I am humbled and grateful for the privilege to serve the company in this capacity. As the first female Group Managing Director of Chams HoldCo., I must commend Chams HoldCo for the rewarding culture and for aligning with global organizations to promote gender equity. Over the years, I have seen the Group evolve and grow to what it is today, so I’m set to advance the Group.

You have risen through the ranks to emerge as the GMD. What is your immediate preoccupation?

My current preoccupation is to lead the company in the right strategic direction, to create more value for the stakeholders while elevating the Chams brand. Chams HoldCo. plays key roles in the Fintech industry by deploying innovative digital solutions. Strategically, the Group will be repositioned to be more efficient and strive for business expansion.

You emerged as the GMD when the Nigerian economy is facing harder challenges, including rising inflation, general complaints over the pains of removal of fuel subsidy, controversy on the implementation of a unified exchange rate and prohibitive interest rate; what measures is Chams putting in place to create value for its shareholders?

Chams HoldCo. has been in operation for 38 years now, and so we have been through all kinds of economic seasons, and each time, we came out the other side. As I see it, the recent challenges provide an opportunity for companies to adapt innovatively. I am aware of the fact that the consequences will be far-reaching for all stakeholders, but we have to consider our options for strategic decisions to move forward. As we adjust to the economic realities, we’ll explore the benefits of the unified exchange rate to grow our business beyond the border.

Recently, Chams got a Holdco payment license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Can you provide an insight?

Chams HoldCo was granted the Payment Service Holding Company (PSHC) license earlier in the year, in January 2023 precisely. This is as a result of the existing Switching and Mobile Money Operators (MMO) licenses in the Subsidiaries. The PSHC license enables us to establish a business institution that will further increase the company’s pivotal tole in the payment industry across Africa and ensure global relevance and an opportunity to reposition the Group.

Chams is said to have repositioned. Can you explain the Company’s new structure and the major functions of the Company’s subsidiaries?

Chams formally transformed into a Nonoperating Holding Company Structure to effectively manage the Group’s resources and accelerate growth. The Holding Company is focused on investing in technology assets and portfolios as a result of the PSHC license from the CBN. With this new direction, Chams Holdco is now focused on strategic activities. The Subsidiaries have been structured for significant growth. Chamsaccess: Has a legacy of being an industry leader in delivering hardware solutions to financial institutions, from biometric capture machines to sophisticated cash counting machines, debit card printers, etc. It has recently partnered with Appzoneto deliver Do-It-Yourself (DIY) debit card printers being deployed across several banks in Nigeria. The implication is that bank customers can now within seconds obtain new debit cards without interacting with any bank staff, just like taking cash from the ATM. Chamsaccess pioneered the PenCentralsolution solving reconciliation problems in the Pension Industry. PenCentral currently processes Pension for nearly 1,000 employers, powering about N2B worth of Pensions monthly and growing about 40% quarterly.

Chamsswitch: The recent investors’ interest in Chamsswitch is not unconnected with recent milestones, including its partnership with the biggest card scheme in the world – UnionPay International, and poised to power cross-border trade and procurement transactions for large Corporates and merchants involved in

international trade.

Chamsmobile is a CBN-licensed Mobile Money Operator (MMO) with the brand name KEGOW,provides mobile wallet and Agency banking services. Chamsmobile has significantly simplified mobile banking services with features that speak directly to the need of the masses.

Cardcentre is currently growing its payment card manufacturing business for banks and fintech. The company experienced tremendous growth by acquiring significant new businesses in 2022. Cardcentre recently began printing SIM cards locally for MTN, Airtel, etc. It is expanding its SIM card printing infrastructure to deliver 3m cards per week to meet local demand.

How do the government’s unstable policies affect technology companies in Nigeria?

Just like policies affect other aspects of the economy and all kinds of businesses, policies affect technology companies too. As I mentioned earlier, our company has been in operation for 38 years now, and so we have witnessed various kinds of government policies and the aftermath of those policies. Some have been beneficial for business, and others not so much.

What has kept us thriving is our adaptability to these policies. Besides being a publicly quoted company, our businesses are regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria due to the operating licenses in the Group. Hence, we are accustomed to government policies.

Are there policy measures the Federal Government can put in place to enhance the operations of

technology companies in Nigeria?

At the moment, Nigeria, as a country, has sufficient policies on technology. A number of policies were established on Information and Communications technology, (ICT) and national Science and technology. We should focus on the proper execution of those policies to realize the objectives. Specifically, we will crave support for the existing innovation hubs or to establish new hubs by the different tiers of government.

How will you respond to the market perception that Chams has not been generating value for its shareholders since its inception?

This perception can be attributed to a lack ofadequate information. Though the company hasn’t been paying substantial dividends but Chams like many companies had it tough in the past, especially on the challenges of project execution in Nigeria. However, a strategic decision was made to change the business model and refocus the company to deploy innovative business solutions. Currently, Chams is on a growth trajectory, and this is being reflected in its share price on NGX We are confident that shareholders will soon smile to the bank.

What is your assessment of Chams’ 2022 financial performance?

The Chams 2022 Financial Performance was significantly improved compared to the previous year, even though a minimal Loss was reported due to impairments. However, the revenue grew by 57% compared to the Year 2021. A noticeable growth in the Assets and improved shareholders’ fund was achieved.

What should the shareholders expect in the 2023 performance?

Shareholders should have noticed an impressive performance in 2023 by now based on Q1 and Q2 financial results that were published. As of the mid-year, there has been over 130% growth compared to that of last year. And based on the ongoing business activities, the next half-year performance will definitely supersede that of the first half-year. Hence, the result is expected to be rewarding.

Is the plan by Chams to do the proposed right issue still on the drawing board? Can you shed light?

A number of business expansion is taking place. Cardcenter recently expanded into a new line of business such as printing sim cards for MTN, Airtel, etc.,and a plan is in place to produce the sim locally before the end of this year. Chamsswitch has just concluded the plan to process China Union Pay Cards. Considering the volume of business between Nigeria and China, this is a massive project that will require a lot of funds. Hence, there will be a need to raise funds, and different options will be considered, including the right issue.

Do you agree that Chams’ share price reflects the Company’s intrinsic value on NGX?

Chams HoldCo. has five Subsidiaries, and an Investor placed a value of N21 billion on one of the Subsidiaries early this year in a bid to acquire a significant interest. This speaks directly to the intrinsic value of the Chams HoldCo. and evidence that the company’s share is grossly undervalued. Going forward, we will make information about the company and its subsidiaries activities more available in the public domain.

Any plan to make Chams more visible under your administration?

At this stage, it is a necessity to make Chams’ brand and its activities visible. It is not just about visibility but our continued roles in upholding the tenets of Post Listing Requirements of NGX whereby quoted companies must provide regular information to the market. The brand management plan is in place to ensure that the company brand is visibly positioned by deploying an integrated communication model. The company will leverage strategic industry events to inform the market of the recent development within the group. Also, a number of corporate social responsibilities have been recently rekindled.

ow are you relating with the stakeholders?

Some of the reasons for our existence over 38 years is a result of the excellent cordial relationships between the stakeholders and us. We create exciting experiences for our customers and treat their feedback with utmost importance. We maintain good relationships with investors and shareholders by designing compelling and consistent company messages to build credibility with shareholders and shape investor perception. We engage our stakeholders by proactively asking for feedback which we incorporate to improve our strategy and service delivery. Moreover, we check in with our partners and provide timely communication to any feedback they may have. In addition, our relationship with government entities, particularly regulators, has been maintained by our compliance, transparency, and accountability.

Olaniyan

In this interview, an astute Chartered Accountant and the First Female Group Managing Director (GMD) of Chams Holding Company Plc, Mrs Mayowa Olaniyan, explains the measures the Federal Government should adopt to enhance the operations of technology companies as key drivers of economic growth and development.

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, MR BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU, REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE LAGOS STATE CABINET

His Excellency, Babajide

Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Your Excellency,

A PLEA FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION: A CALL FOR A FAIR REPRESENTATION IN THE LAGOS STATE CABINET

With sincere respect and on behalf of the esteemed Traditional Rulers, Community, Religious and Political Leaders, Artisans, Market Traders, Youth, Elders, and esteemed members of the APC party in Alimosho Local Government Area, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your resounding victory in the recent General Elections held in February of this year.

We also take this opportunity to celebrate our collective achievements in securing your victory, particularly in Alimosho LGA. Through combined the wealth of experience of our community, we played an instrumental role in contributing a remarkable Eighty-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine (83,629) votes, securing your Excellency’s triumph not only Local Government Areas in Lagos State.

We recall with pride the prominent position Alimosho LGA has historically held in the realm of politics, often referred to as “TINUBU COUNTRY” due to its consistent electoral strength since 1999. However, the recent unveiling of the List of 39 Commissioner-Nominees has raised perplexing

twelve (12) slots were allocated to ETIOSA-LGA, which garnered a modest twenty-three thousand (23,000) votes during your gubernatorial elections, in contrast to Alimosho LGA, which granted you a substantial mandate of 83,629 votes, earning a mere single slot.

with logical and political sensibilities. We beseech you to consider the praiseworthy precedent set by our National Leader and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He assigned ministerial positions to the six geopolitical zones in proportion to their contributions during his Presidential Elections, ensuring fairness and equity.

Hence, we appeal to your inherent sense of justice, equity, and fairness. We kindly request the allocation of at least three (3) slots for Alimosho LGA out of the total thirty-nine (39) positions. This reasonable plea is grounded in the fact that Alimosho LGA emerged at the forefront by providing the

Furthermore, it is important to underscore that since 1999, Alimosho LGA has never been granted a solitary slot. Historically, we have consistently been allotted a minimum of two (2) and at times, three (3) positions in prior administrations. It is pertinent to recognize that, based on the 2006 Population Census, Alimosho LGA is larger in both landmass and population compared to states like Jigawa, Yobe, Bayelsa, Ekiti, and even played a pivotal role in securing triumph for your second term and indeed outperformed other Local Governments across the State.

In closing, we humbly urge you to reconsider the composition of the Commissioners List and ensure that two additional positions are allocated to Alimosho LGA. This step would bring the total slots to three (3), in recognition of the adage that politics is fundamentally governed by numbers. Alimosho’s unparalleled contribution to the Electoral Votes Tank in Lagos State undoubtedly warrants nothing less.

With utmost respect, loyalty, and anticipation, we await your prompt action to rectify this incongruity.

SIGNED

CONCERNED LEADERS, CITIZENS, AND RESIDENTS OF ALIMOSHO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, LAGOS STATE.

‘NGX Working with CSCS, Euroclear to Create Dollar Settlement Platform for Fintechs

Kayode Tokede

Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has disclosed that it is working with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc and Euroclear to create a dollar settlement platform that will enable tech startups to raise in dollars.

The NGX stated that this would create opportunities for domestic investors to have access to their shares and at the same time, contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy through democratization of capital formation.

Speaking during the Annual A&O Fintech webinar themed; “Fueling Fintech: The Power of Capital, the Role of Regulation,” the Divisional Head, Capital Markets, NGX,

Jude Chiemeka, noted that although public markets are viable options for raising capital, fintechs have preferably opted for private markets because of regulatory rule of disclosure and stricter governance requirements that is necessary for listing publicly.

He explained that to address this issue, NGX received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a technology board for fintechs and tech companies to raise capital. Chiemeka stressed that the tech board is geared at encouraging tech firms to come to the market and raise capital in local currency, which would prove beneficial amid the high interest rate environment that had made foreign investors

hawkish.

Whilst stating that the issue of settlements may discourage fintechs from accessing capital in US dollars on the public market, Chiemeka revealed that the Exchange was working on a partnership that is directed at fixing that problem.

He said, “NGX is working with CSCS and Euroclear to create a dollar settlement platform that allows tech companies (start-ups or existing ones) to raise capital in dollars. We have reviewed listing procedures for tech companies who want to list. Requirements around number of shareholders, years of operation among others have been relaxed to catalyse these listings.”

WACT Hits 3m Man-hours Without Lost Time Injury

APM Terminals’ West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne, Rivers State, on Friday, recorded a significant safety milestone by achieving three million man-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) in its ongoing Phase Two terminal upgrade and expansion.

No Lost Time Injury (LTI), which is a key indicator of the effectiveness of an organisation’s safety program, means no injury was sustained on the job by an employee or contractor that resulted in the person being away from work due to his or her injury.

Speaking recently at an event to mark the three million manhours without LTI, the Country CEO of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, described the feat as an enormous achievement.

“My congratulations go out to each and everyone of you who has kept yourselves and your colleagues safe. Safety is not an individual thing; it is a collective thing. You look out for your brother and for your sister, and that is how we ensure that everyone gets home safe. This is the first duty for all of us. Whether you are handling containers or building materials, don’t take your eyes off the ball.

“We have a very big inauguration coming up, and we want to be ready for that, but there is not going to be any inauguration ceremony if we are not keeping each other safe. Despite all the stress, safety remains our primary obligation, and it is a huge achievement that you have managed to deliver the vast majority of this project without LTI. I am immensely proud.

“For APM Terminals, safety is the first element of our ‘safer, bigger and better’ strategy. This is a live illustration of the importance that we in APM Terminals put on safety, not only for our operators but certainly also for everyone that comes to our premises to work,” Klinke said.

Also speaking, WACT Project Manager, Kingsley Nwafor, said the three million man-hours without LTI demonstrates the commitment of APM Terminals WACT to a culture of safety.

“Most important to us is that we don’t just do the job, but we ensure that we get back to our families safe. I can assure you that this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of all the team members. It has not been easy to get to this milestone,” he said.

First Bank Opens UI Fully Automated Branch

Kemi Olaitan

The Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, has assured that the bank will continue to leverage on technology to give customers worldclass innovative banking services.

He gave the commitment at the commissioning of the FirstBank Digital Xperience Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

He said the centre which is the second to be opened by the bank is towards enhancing the existing relationship between the bank, the University of

Ibadan and the city of Ibadan, stating that the branch was established to put customers at an advantage in carrying out various activities on their own without interacting with anyone.

Adeduntan maintained that the days of customers getting stranded when engaging in banking transactions are over, insisting that the Digital Xperience Centre would allow customers to have added value to banking services driven by biometric.

He said, “Today is important with the commissioning of the First Bank Digital Xperience

MARKET INDICATORS

Centre within the University of Ibadan, the second by the bank after the remodeled Adetokunbo Ademola branch, Victoria Island, Lagos. This new centre is nothing but importance of the relationship between the bank and the University of Ibadan and the city of Ibadan as a whole.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, in his remarks, said the Centre will be a meeting point between town and gown, stating that the environment would be comfortable for the students as they will have a lot of experience to gain.

51,000 Children to Benefit as Bayelsa Trains More Teachers

Over 1325 teachers and headteachers from Brass and Ekeremor local government areas are set for career upliftment as they commence their BayelsaPRIME Induction Training in Yenagoa. Over 950 from southern Ijaw and Nembe will commence their training on 23, August 2023.

BayelsaPRIME is the state government’s basic education reform programme designed to improve the quality of education delivered to children in public primary schools and by extension, learning outcomes in the state.

An estimated 51,000 children in the four local government areas are expected to benefit from the reform programme which has seen the introduction of a new learning methodology in the public primary school system.

“This is a unique professional development opportunity for teachers that have been invited here for this historical training. At the end of the process, these teachers will have the capacity to deliver classes using a modern approach. Also, more children will be lifted from learning poverty

across our state,” the commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah said.

Teachers at the training are being taught new methods of teaching and learning, how to use technology to deliver impactful lessons, modern classroom management techniques, child protection techniques and many other skills relevant to the 21st Century classroom.

They are also being equipped with teachertablets, smartphones and other gadgets to improve teaching to enable them manage their classrooms and schools more efficiently.

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $82.06 a barrel on Friday, compared with $81.53 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 17 JULY, 2023

Deputy Managing Director, APM Terminals West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Jeethu Jose and the Project Manager, Vita Construction Limited, Ioannis Mavrommatis during an event to mark the 3 million man-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) at WACT, Onne Port, Rivers State…recently

Fidelity Bank’s Market Cap Hit N243.3bn Amid Private Placement Listing

Kayode Tokede

The market capitalisation of Fidelity Bank Plc hit N243.3billion last week after announcing the completion of its private placement on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). With the additional 3,037,414,308 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidelity Bank has now increased from 28,974,797,023 to

32,012,211,331 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The stock price of Fidelity Bank, thus dropped by 0.35 per cent Week-on-Week (WoW) to N7.60 per share from N7.95 per share it opened for trading.

The NGX at the closing of the transaction last week announced admitting Fidelity Bank’s 3,037,414,308 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N4.60 on its daily official list.

According to a notice obtained from the NGX, the listing follows the conclusion of the bank’s private placement.

The statement noted: “Trading Licence Holders are hereby notified that additional 3,037,414,308 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N4.60 of Fidelity Bank (Fidelity or the Bank) were on Friday, 11 August 2023, listed on the Daily Official List of the NGX.

“The additional shares listed on NGX arose from Fidelity’s private placement. With this listing of the additional 3,037,414,308 ordinary shares, the total issued, and fully paid-up shares of Fidelity Bank Plc has now increased from 28,974,797,023 to 32,012,211,331 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each”.

Fidelity Bank has continued to record impressive perfor-

mance across key income and balance sheet lines.

In 2022, the Tier-2 bank posted a five-year record growth of 112.9per cent in profit before tax. A review of the bank’s 2022 FY audited financials showed the bank’s profit before tax hit N53.7billion from N25.22billion reported in 2021, the highest in five-year.

The record PBT figure surpassed the 2022 financial year

target of N48 billion. Looking at its unaudited half year (H1) ended June 30, 2023 results, it is most likely it will beat the 2023 guidance.

Fidelity bank declared N138.4billion profit before tax in H1 2023, a growth of 138 per cent from N25.67billion reported in H1 2022, while profit after tax increased to N53.3billion in H1 2023, an increase of 133 per cent from N22.84billion in H1 2022.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF AUGUST/10/23

HOMES & DESIGN

THE AUT OGRAPH PLUS:

Cruxstone’s Timeless Edifice in Victoria Island

The Autograph Plus is a timeless edifice promoted by Cruxstone Development and Investment Limited, a reputable, globally trusted Real Estate developing company based in Nigeria. Cruxstone’s mission is to consistently create blue-chip real estate opportunities through innovative and excellent services, and its latest real estate investment project, The Autograph Plus, is situated at Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Operating as a hospitality enterprise, The Autograph Plus gives willing Investors an opportunity to own hotel apartment units managed by a reputable hospitality brand and earn a guaranteed minimum of 10 per cent per annum upon operation. With 86-unit apartments, The Autograph Plus comprises Hotel Suites; Studio Apartments; One Bed Apt & Lofts; Two Bed Apt & Lofts; Three Bed Apts; Four Bed Maisonettes.

The Autograph Plus will have rooftop lifestyle amenities which include: a rooftop edge pool, clubhouse, outdoor garden area, private VIP lounge, Business café and gym. Also, some general features and amenities that this investment property offers will include: concierge services; spa and sauna; state-of-the-art gym; multi-level parking; high-speed panoramic elevators; valet parking; meeting room; CCTV; 24-hour security; health station; private indoor cinema; 24hr power supply; rooftop edge swimming pool; retail spaces; rooftop lounge; restaurant and bar.

The MD/CEO of Cruxstone Development and Investment Limited, Dr. Adetoro Bank-Omotoye, stated, “This project represents a unique opportunity for investors seeking high returns on investment, capital appreciation, hedge against inflation, financial stability, and generational wealth.”

Bank-Omotoye added, “The hospitality industry is rapidly changing, and The Autograph Plus will offer a ‘home away from home’ experience suitable for a quickpaced contemporary lifestyle. As a leading provider of high-end accommodations in the city, The Autograph Plus is a popular choice for those seeking comfortable and convenient places to live or stay.”

The Autograph Plus is the latest edifice by Cruxstone Development and Investment Limited that is being rendered as a timeless hospitality real estate. Bennett Oghifo writes

Usoro: UBA Investing Heavily in AI, Predictive Analytics to Enhance Service Delivery

The Executive Director, Nigerian North Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc, Emem Usoro, boasts of over 20 years’ banking experience spanning customer service, retail, commercial, corporate banking and public sector, covering all the regions in the country. Before now, she was the Directorate Head, Abuja and North Central Bank and was also the Regional Director, Lagos Island region in charge of 32 branches in the Apapa and Lagos Island region, where she was responsible for developing, planning and implementing strategies to grow and turn around ailing branches, amongst other activities. She has a strong track record of winning and executing high-powered transactions. In this interview she speaks about the intervention of the bank in strategic sectors. Excerpts:

Given the global economic impact of the RussiaUkraine war on Nigerian and African economies which has greatly impacted global and business activities; how has UBA navigated these challenges to ensure continued growth and profit in the UBA Northern operations?

BBefore the advent of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, UBA had put in place a robust risk management framework to adapt to any emerging risk in all its countries of operations. Hence, the challenges of food security, supply chain disruptions, increase in fertiliser costs, increase in the cost of diesel and aviation fuel, etc, occasioned by the Russia-Ukraine war did not come to us as a surprise.

All we did was to review the sectors and customer segments that would be severely affected by the war and to activate the proactive measures we had in place, including but not limited to: Re-evaluation of the capacity of borrowing customers in affected sectors to repay as at when due, including the variation of repayment terms as necessary; reduction in banking costs for some affected customer segments; and aggressive financial inclusion drive to increase the number of the banked population, especially in rural communities in the north.

Others are active participation in special intervention schemes of the Central Bank of Nigeria (e.g. Anchor Borrowers Scheme, Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) aimed at increasing local food production, boosting the nation’s self-sufficiency and decreasing hunger in the land; greater partnerships with donor and multilateral agencies for the execution of various intervention programmes like the World Food Programmes in states like Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano and Abuja, where cash disbursements and fund transfers were made to hundreds of beneficiaries in excess of N12 billion. In line with United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these partnerships helped to reduce poverty and hunger, while improving the good health and well-being of the people of Northern Nigeria.

Consequently, our customers had more disposable income to save and invest with us. In conclusion, I will say that the Russia-Ukraine war provided a greater opportunity for UBA to positively impact the communities where we have business operations in Northern Nigeria; rather than the focus on continued growth and profit, which happened as a natural consequence of impacting of our business community positively.

How has UBA helped in curbing high inflation rates and food insecurity, amid the ensuing economic crisis especially in Northern Nigeria?

You will agree with me that it takes the interplay of fiscal and monetary policies to curb high inflation rates (a current global phenomenon) and food insecurity. Despite the tight monetary policy stance adopted by the CBN since its May 2022 meeting, inflation had not decelerated towards the CBN’s long run objective (currently at 22.79% as of June 2023). The continued rise in headline inflation, remained the biggest challenge confronting macroeconomic stability in Nigeria. Headline inflation has remained high due largely to a host of monetary and non-monetary issues such as unification of the foreign exchange rates , removal of fuel subsidy and hikes in the pump price of PMS from N195 to N617; high and rising price of various energy sources; and a host of headwinds confronting the food supply chain. In the circumstance, the fiscal authority needs to explore other avenues to expand the fiscal safety net in an urgent bid to improve its ability to respond to legacy and emerging shocks. Economic diversification and non-oil revenue sources, such as the expansion of the tax bracket, will enable the reduction of fiscal deficit and public debt to improve fiscal space.

With the bold steps on economic reforms taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his first few months in office, I believe we are on the path towards sustainable economic recovery and growth. Only recently, the president approved the setting up a new infrastructure fund which will enable states to intervene and invest in critical areas such as transportation (including farm to market roads improvements; agriculture (encompassing livestock and ranching solutions); health with a focus on basic health care, education especially basic education, power and water resources, all of these will improve economic competitiveness, create jobs

and deliver economic prosperity for Nigerians, these savings will complement the efforts of the infrastructure support funds (ISF) and other existing planned fiscal measures, all aimed at ensuring that the subsidy removal translates into tangible improvements in the lives and living of Nigerians. These support to the states would help to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal, though these policies may be for short-term adjustment, but I am confident that these reforms would lead to positive outcomes as our economy would witness competitiveness, increase in foreign direct investment and a boost in exports. While these policies hold immense potential, it is important to acknowledge potential shortrun challenges. The removal of petrol subsidies has led to temporary fuel price increases and the transition to renewable energy requires significant investment in infrastructure and technology. However, as a responsible corporate citizen, UBA is prepared to collaborate with the government, private sector entities, and other stakeholders to overcome these challenges. We can leverage our financial expertise to support infrastructure development and facilitate the transition to clean energy.

You’ve been setting out ambitious expansion into unbanked northern markets; what is the one goal above all others that you hope UBA northern operations under your leadership will have achieved by the end of 2023? And why is it so important?

For UBA Nigeria, our strategic goal remains to lead in Nigeria by having more than 15 per cent of the total deposit market share and being among the top three most profitable banks. In line with this, to make UBA a bank of choice in northern Nigeria and to have a UBA account holder in every nuclear family in Nigeria. That is why leveraging on digital technology to drive financial inclusion remains paramount in our

hearts, given the low level of financial literacy in Northern Nigeria.

Now, you mentioned your network and where that kind of reach is. Thinking of accessing the unbanked or the underbanked, do you consider current bank branch networks across Nigeria and Northern Nigeria to be sufficient?

Currently, our branch network is very optimal, and we would do more to leverage on our existing branch network, digital technology and partnerships with fintechs to reach the unbanked and underbanked for the purpose of financial inclusion and access to credit. UBA has deployed 610 agency banking partners in the north, who have reached over 1.5 million underbanked individuals, using e-channels such as agency banking, PoS and mobile money in rural areas. Furthermore, we have strategically deployed over 200 offline BVN devices, which currently process over 400 BVN numbers monthly. This in turn is used to open Tier 3 bank accounts to carry out transactions. However, we will not shy away from opening more branches in strategic areas whenever the opportunity presents itself and given favourable market forecasts.

And do you expect further branch expansion, like in physical bricks and mortar, as a future way of boosting financial inclusion and access to credit? Or is it all going to be down to technology?

Currently, our branch network is very optimal, and we would do more to leverage on our existing branch network, digital technology and partnerships with fintechs to reach the unbanked and underbanked for the purpose of financial inclusion and access to credit. UBA has deployed 610 agency banking partners in the north, who have reached over 1.5 million underbanked individuals, using e-channels such as agency Banking, PoS & Mobile Money in rural areas. Furthermore, we have strategically deployed

over 200 offline BVN devices, which currently process over 400 BVN numbers monthly. This in turn is used to open Tier 3 bank accounts to carry out transactions. However, we will not shy away from opening more branches in strategic areas whenever the opportunity presents itself and given favourable market forecasts.

In your efforts to boost financial inclusion in northern Nigeria, what is your thought on forming strategic partnerships with various state governments and other organisations such as NGOs? Have those partnerships proved to be fruitful?

To be modest in my estimation, in terms of strategic partnerships with various state governments and other organisations such as NGOs, donor and multilateral agencies to boost financial inclusion, UBA is clearly the leading bank. The statistics speak for themselves. We have profitably supported government at all levels (federal, state, LGs, National Assembly) and with intense focus on the value chain to finance short term loans and temporary overdraft facilities to meet urgent obligations; contract finance facilities and term loans to support infrastructural development, including but not limited to roads, bridges, hospitals, etc; special intervention loans such as Anchor Borrowers Scheme, CACS, and issuance of bonds for capital projects via SUKUK, FGN Bond, among several others.

What do you think is the most single effective solution for boosting financial-inclusion levels in northern Nigeria? Is the solution something that UBA can adopt, or is it currently adopting?

In my opinion, financial literacy remains the most single effective solution for boosting financial inclusion levels in Northern Nigeria. As of 2019, the literacy level in the north was 34 per cent, compared to 67 per cent in the South, according to the NBS. Furthermore, northern Nigeria is reported to have 16.34 million unbanked population, which represents 43 per cent of its population. I will like to enjoin the government at all levels (federal, state and local) to declare a state of emergency on the general low level of literacy in Northern Nigeria due to its ripple effects on the endemic insecurity, banditry, gross poverty and other vices in Northern Nigeria.

As a responsible corporate citizen, UBA has contributed significantly to the improvement of financial literacy in northern Nigeria as a way of boosting financial inclusion through deployment of 200 offline BVN devices and 610 agents across strategic locations in the rural areas of Northern Nigeria; periodic training of agents in the region on financial literacy who will in turn educate people around their vicinity, and strategic focus on our presence and visibility in market locations to spread financial literacy to the grassroots, among several others.

And thinking of innovation, new ideas, Nigerian banks have adopted Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Chatbots. Can you briefly explain some of the benefits of AI to the banking sector and growth of the Nigerian economy?

AI had had a significant impact on the banking industry, A1 is rapidly changing the quality of products and services the banking industry offers. Not only has it provided better methods to handle data and improve customer experience, but it has also simplified, sped up, and redefined traditional processes to make them more efficient. With the availability of technologies such as AI, data has become the most valuable asset in a financial services organisation.

Now more than ever, banks are aware of the innovative and cost-efficient solutions AI provides and understand that asset size, although important, will no longer be sufficient on its own to build a successful business. Consequently, banks are investing heavily in AI and predictive analytics to make better decisions and provide customised services to its customers. We are already seeing several areas in banking services that have been taking advantage of this disruptive technology. A1 is playing a significant role in customer services, support , fraud detection and prevention , risk assessment and credit scoring , data analytics and process automation within the banking industry.

Usoro

Maximising Factoring Potential to Boost MSMEs’ Financing

Several reports have identified the lack of access to credit as a key challenge limiting the ability and capacity of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to contribute significantly to economic development in the country.

Also, the requirements put in place by commercial banks prevent both MSMEs and large businesses from meeting from accessing credit from these institutions.

Analysts further wondered if businesses could even break even or make profits with the current double-digit lending rates.

Although there had been attempts by the government in recent times to boost credit to the MSMEs sub-sector in recent times, these interventions are still inadequate given the enormous financing gaps in the sector.

Yet, the sector, which consists of over 40 million traders and artisans is adjudged as the lifeblood of the Nigerian economy, with huge potential for job creation.

INTRODUCING ALTERNATIVE FINANCING MODEL

The introduction of financial factoring services as a panacea for MSMEs financing ordeals has gained momentum around the globe.

It is a type of debtor finance where a business sells its accounts receivable (invoices) to a third party called a factor at a discount. This allows the business to receive cash more quickly than they would if they waited for their customers to pay their invoices and is considered low-hanging fruit in providing huge financing lifeline to SMEs which are often starved of the funds they need to grow and contribute meaningfully to the economy.

BENEFITS

Among other benefits, factoring provides immediate access to cash, helping to smooth out cash flow and facilitate growth and as well as reducing the risk for the original business as factoring companies often conduct credit checks on customers.

It also offers a flexible finance option - unlike traditional loans, factoring is based on the value of the invoices, not the business’s creditworthiness.

A report by Pricewater House Coopers recently estimated that factoring could help unlock over $1 billion annually in financing for small businesses in the country, and could be directed at solving most of the financial challenges witnessed by MSMEs with traditional banking including excessive interest rates, credit profile constraints and insufficient collateral.

Factoring also offers MSMEs, particularly those with high-quality receivables access to cash flow and capital that would help maintain and grow their businesses.

The instrument remained a viable and long-term solution to the problem of limited capital which threatens the growth of small and medium-sized businesses in the country.

WIDESPREAD ENDORSEMENT

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and the African Export-Impot Bank (AFREXIM) have been at the forefront of advancing the adoption of factoring as a viable financing alternative for businesses.

The initiative is further supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the Financial System Strategy 2020, and the Debt Management Office (DMO) who all received factoring as a financing model that should be embraced.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive, NEXIM Bank, Mr. Abba Bello, said factoring remained one of the financing options that will mitigate the traditional challenges of SMEs in meeting the eligibility criteria for accessing credit from traditional banking institutions.

Speaking at the opening of the factoring training workshop under the auspices of Afreximbank /AfDB FAPA grant consulting activity in Abuja, Bello said it was important to make progress with factoring services, particularly against the backdrop of the AfCFTA and the need to promote financial inclusion and MSMEs’ development for economic growth and employment generation.

HUGE FINANCING BUFFER

Reports estimated that Nigeria’s factoring market is worth $6.6 billion due to the high informal sector and could increase to $27.1 billion with more formalisation of SMEs, a conducive policy environment among others. MSMEs account for more than half of the market at $3.5 billion thus validating the link between factoring and financing for SMEs.

However, to guarantee successful deployment in the country especially in instances of adjudication, the promoters said there was a need to have a law backing factoring

The NEXIM Bank Boss said in opting for factoring, he was concerned about the high level of informal trade in Africa.

He said, “While this challenge is a reflection of the large informal economy, it is also symptomatic of the dearth/poor access to export credit, particularly among the SMEs who are the principal players in cross-border trade.”

He said loans and advances disbursed by banks annually

to the non-oil export sector over the years were largely insignificant, adding that it was against the background of the credit constraints to SMEs that NEXIM Bank saw the need to partner with trade facilitating institutions namely Afreximbank and FCI and other Stakeholders, under the auspices of the CBN FSS 2020, to develop and promote factoring as an alternative trade finance instrument and an SME financial inclusion strategy.

Bello has repeatedly prevailed on the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the Factoring Bill into law and underscored the need for continued sensitisation, constructive engagement, and capacity building to stimulate necessary investment interests and sustain the momentum towards rapid development of factoring in the country. He said this will ultimately contribute towards improving Africa’s share in the global factoring volume and support the current efforts to boost Intra-African Trade, while also formalising informal trade.

He added that there’s a high degree of correlation between the global growth in factoring volumes and the increasing preference for trading under open accounts.

CONSTRAINTS

One of the greatest challenges to the implementation of factoring services in Nigeria had been the absence of relevant legislation to boost investors’ confidence in deploying the services –and analysts believed that until an environment of certainty is created, factoring will not grow.

For over six years the draft Factoring Bill is still awaiting passage at the National Assembly, thereby delaying the services in the country and frustrating efforts by potential foreign investors who wish to commit funds to the noble course.

Bello, however, said NEXIM Bank remained committed to facilitating the growth and development of the trade credit insurance market, and other key financial infrastructure that will engender a sustainable factoring ecosystem.

He reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to the current advocacy and partnership framework towards the promotion of factoring services adding that the training workshop will no doubt facilitate capacity building and technical skills acquisition preparatory to the introduction of factoring services in Nigeria.

He pointed out that the bank had over the years been engaged in joint advocacy with the CBN FSS2020, Afreximbank, Factor Chain International (FCI), and other stakeholders in the Nigerian Factoring Working Group to champion the passage of a draft Factoring Bill currently at the National Assembly, as well as the issuance of specific factoring regulation/ circular towards a transparent and credible service in the country.

According to him, the promotion of factoring services is strategically aligned with the bank’s mandate as a trade policy bank towards facilitating the mainstreaming of the informal sector into the financial sector of the economy with the attendant benefits of access to finance/working capital support, thereby enhancing financial inclusion of MSMEs among others.

NAVIGATING IMPLEMENTATION BOTTLENECKS

However, considering the tardiness on the part of the legislature to deliver the Factoring Act, the Technical Adviser to the NEXIM Bank MD, Mr. Hope Yongo, recommended that stakeholders should immediately commence pilot factoring

services leveraging existing commercial laws while still awaiting an Act of the National Assembly to back up their operation.

According to him, countries including Egypt and India among others, initially started factoring without a law. He believed that the positive results from its operation will speak louder and hasten the passage of the Bill.

Yongo particularly warned that waiting for the passage of the Bill by the legislature could further put Nigeria behind as well as hamper progress in its deployment.

He added factoring offers an opportunity to diversify the country’s non-oil export base and boost trading with neighbouring countries.

NO LAW, NO WAY

As rightly captured by the General Secretary, Factor Chain International (FCI), Mr. Peter Mulroy, despite the immense potential of factoring in the Nigerian economy, the delay or the inability of the legislature to deliver a law to support the practice will lead the country nowhere.

In an exclusive chat with THISDAY, he said, “You cannot have a successful factoring industry without laws and regulations and those don’t exist yet here in Nigeria.”

He said though the country has some elements of assignment laws under the common law, the “draft legislation currently in the National Assembly will cement and provide the certainty required to help factoring to blossom.

He warned, “You are not going to have people investing significant amounts of their money, their capital into something “if they don’t have protection in the courts from losses, frauds, and anything that happens - then they’re not going to do it and that that’s just a reality; you have to have the legal infrastructure.

“It will never be. Let’s say it will never be significant or it will never be important to the economy until the law and the regulations are adopted.”

He added that as of today, the CFI Academy has prepared banks and other financial institutions to effectively deploy factoring services, pointing out that the absence of a legal infrastructure was worrisome.

Mulroy further clarified that though there is presently a resemblance of factoring practices among some Nigerian financial institutions, these differ from the actual service.

He said, “It’s very interesting because in a way they’re doing a form of factoring, it’s not factoring; let me be clear, but they’re doing a form of invoice finance, it’s a loan to a seller.

“So, it’s not factoring because factoring obviously incorporates all the controls relating to the buyer and the buyer’s payment providing that liquidity to their suppliers, sellers, and producers.

“So, in a way, a lot of the institutions that were here already are doing some form of invoice finance. I call it the green shoots of factoring, it’s the seedlings sprouting, but they’re not full-blown plants and trees.”

He said, “But there’s DNA and that’s always good because then they have at least an understanding of the basic elements of factoring: but with the guide with the support from FCI, from the NEXIM Bank, and Afreximbank, we have now finalised the whole infrastructure providing them a full universe of what to look for and develop.”

“They have the right to assignment for example, but then I asked why isn’t a single institution in

Nigeria using it? Why are they doing loans? You know, a loan is just money I give to you and you repay me.

“Factoring is I give the money to you, but I collect the money from your customers, the buyers of your product and that is my source of repayment. That is factoring.

“That’s not what’s done in Nigeria today. So, I have to assume that it’s because of the law. People don’t have faith in signing factoring contracts.

“I personally belief that you’re not going to see really a significant growth until that’s accomplished.”

However, in his intervention, Head, Client Relations, Anglophone West Africa, Afrexim Bank, Mr. Peter Olowononi, said factoring presented an option as SMEs have been disproportionally affected by rising financing costs and related supply chain disruptions caused by these crises.

Olowononi also said Afreximbank, working with FCI, NEXIM and other strategic partners, will not relent in its efforts at supporting SMEs, factoring companies, banks and corporates in Africa with the requisite financing, capacity building, and technical assistance among other interventions.

He pointed out that the vulnerability of SMEs arises largely from the lack of access to affordable and effective finance, adding that lack of access to finance reflects a number of different underlying causes, including lack of firm skills in preparing bankable proposals, lack of SME finance skills in banks, risk-averse banks with excessive collateral requirements, lack of specialized financial institutions, shallow capital markets or a weak financial sector in general, amongst others.

He said ensuring the availability of adequate and appropriate financing to SMEs was essential to help them develop to their full potential, stressing that this will help SMEs grow and mature to take advantage of trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.

Specifically, Olowononi said factoring provides an important alternative to the other external financing sources available for SMEs such as bank loans, leasing, and venture capital among others adding that the service is emerging in Africa as well as providing significant market opportunities as evidenced by the growth of the industry in recent years.

He said currently, there are “40 African factors that are FCI members, not to mention those that are still to join FCI from a total of 184 companies offering factoring. Factoring volumes in Africa are in the north of EUR41.8 billion and are expected to reach EUR50 billion by 2025.”

According to him, “To ensure that factoring is effectively deployed to unlock the potential of African SMEs, more needs to be done, particularly in terms of scale, market expansion, and market participants. For instance, Africa remains a marginal player in the global factoring market accounting for 1 per cent of the EUR3.7 trillion global factoring volumes in 2022.

“In addition, the factoring volumes in Africa remain concentrated in a handful of countries, namely South Africa (89 per cent), Morocco (6 per cent) and Egypt (3 per cent) which account for about 98 per cent of the factoring volumes in Africa.

“Further still, the market structure is highly skewed. The largest five factoring companies in each market account for about 83 per cent of factoring volumes in those markets. When looking at market participants we also see that factoring in Africa is dominated by banks which represent 46 per cent of all factoring activity followed by banking subsidiaries with 27 per cent and 10 per cent non-bank finance companies.”

He said it was essential that factoring should be open to companies interested in the financial service to expand its reach to SMEs who are poorly banked by the banking sector.

In this piece, James Emejo writes that amidst the huge funding constraints for MSMEs in the country, the government, particularly the National Assembly should explore the opportunities presented by factoring services by swiftly creating the enabling laws to back its smooth operations.

Niger Coup: Embrace Diplomacy, Not War, Experts Warn Tinubu

Security experts have warned Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu against going to war with Niger, but instead seek dialogue and diplomacy with the junta as a means to resolving the crises in the country. Sunday Ehigiator reports

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed on July 26, 2023, in a coup led by his presidential guards.

ECOWAS leaders at a meeting in Abuja four days later gave the coup leaders a seven-day ultimatum to restore constitutional order or face the possible use of force. The regional body imposed sanctions on the coup leaders with Nigeria also cutting electricity supplies and closing its borders with the poor West African nation.

Following the refusal of the coup leaders to backtrack even after the now-expired ECOWAS ultimatum, West African defence chiefs said they had drawn a plan for military action as part of which President Tinubu wrote the Senate for permission to involve Nigerian troops in the action.

However, at an executive session on Saturday, August 5, the senators rejected the request by the president.

According to a senator who attended the meeting, senators agreed to pass a resolution condemning the coup and to commend ECOWAS leaders on their efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger, but they ruled out military options, just as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and security experts have also done.

NO WINNER IN WAR

Speaking with THISDAY, a Retired Comptroller, of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Chukwuemeka Patrick Pius, popularly known as CPP, said the situation in Niger will become more devastating should Nigeria decides to go to war, as nobody benefits from the war in the true sense of the world.

According to him, “First of all, I’ll be speaking from the backdrop of my being a student of history and philosophy, and also law and diplomacy for which I have a master’s degree, I believe that it was poorly and badly handled from the onset.

“I don't think a lot of circumspection was brought to play. War is a last resort after diplomacy has failed. Some scholars define war as an extension of diplomacy. So war is part of the diplomatic process.

“If we now go down to what is happening in the Niger Republic, I believe that giving an ultimatum even without first engaging in dialogue was an act of war, it’s a preparation for war.

“The very first day that ECOWAS gave them a 7-day ultimatum; it’s a declaration of war. So from that moment, the Nigeriens put themselves in a war setting. They knew very well that it has been declared not to forget that some people were sending letters to legislative bodies that have the power to give the go-ahead or not, they're aware of that and they know very well that if that go-ahead is given the next thing is for hostilities to commence.

“So something happened one day, and the following day people are given an ultimatum and the rest of it. Now let us look at the sovereignty of nations. What is happening there is the internal affairs of the Nigeriens so let us first of all be looking at what the problem is.

“If people sit down and ask themselves what is going on, what is the problem? And ask the parties involved "Why is this, why is it not so? You will discover that in the whole of Africa. That is what we are practising, forcing democracies or dictatorships of civilians.

“If you take the average African country and juxtapose their military dictatorship experience and the civilian democratic experience, you'll find little or no difference and Africans are beginning to realise this and you see the wave of dissatisfaction and people trying to seek help through some other means.

“The people are talking about coups, let us be very frank with ourselves, coups have been happening in Africa even after the militaries have been sent to barracks, coups have been happening.

“You want to change your constitution to spend more than the year that is permitted by the constitution you swore to uphold, you begin to change fundamental laws like your tenure and the rest of it and you're going to be the beneficiary.

“Don't forget that in our case in Nigeria, it has been tested by two leaders, that Obasanjo's regime was an open one, and that of President Jonathan was a technical extension of his tenure to six years.

“So you find African leaders or rulers as I'd prefer to call them, to overstay their welcome and it creates agitations and then they use the instrument of states, instruments of coercion, the legislative system, the judiciary system to put a stamp of authority on what is happening.”

EXTERNAL INFLUENCES AND NEED FOR AFROCENTRIC SOLUTION

CPP posited that what is happening on the African continent was largely due to influences from outside of the continent, and powers that have an interest in African resources. He, therefore, posited that there was a need for an Afrocentric conflict resolution method in resolving the crises

According to him, “These are the powers that are beating the drum that either ECOWAS or Nigerians or Nigeriens are dancing to.

“Africa over the years has decided to make itself the state within willing tools for external powers that are using the African countries to achieve their global or national interests.

“If you read between the lines you'll begin to see that the Russians, Americans, French etc. are somewhere, they are putting pressure

on somebody or some persons to do this, to do XYZ. And if we fall for it without using Afrocentric means of conflict resolution, we will keep dancing to the World views and aspirations of external forces and we would end up fighting other people's wars thinking that we're fighting our wars.

“So the interests for any perceptive scholar of international relations are so clear. Why is it that a country that is larger than Nigeria but poorer than Nigeria, less populated than Nigeria mostly in the Sahel Sahara is all of a sudden very important?

“It is because the raw and basic material for nuclear reactors and everything that has to do with nuclear science and the rest of it is in the bill; that is the price.

“In Nigeria, the price during the civil war and even now is oil. So without it, the British would not go to the extent of supporting federal forces, and other countries would not care about whether Africans are killing themselves or not, it is all to protect their interests.

“So the issue of whether or not we should go to war and the rest of it would not have arisen if due process was followed, and if people had sought advice from well-meaning

Nigerians and experts in the field.”

MILITARY RULE OFFERS NO POSITIVE SOLUTION

Also speaking with THISDAY on the crisis, The Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma said the military takeover of government in African countries cannot solve the people’s agitation for a better country.

According to him, “Before the military coup in Niger, there have been coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea Conakry, all in West Africa. At the moment, six West African countries are under military rule, indicative of a democratic recession in West Africa.

“This is not good for the democratic aspirations and struggles to entrench democracy in Africa. While most of these coups are inspired by bad governance, I do not think that military rule offers any positive solution to the tragedy of bad governance in Africa.

“What is required is for people to be empowered to take back their countries from the grips of corrupt, visionless and incompetent political leaders. Every necessary and legitimate measure should be taken to restore and entrench democracy and avoid the pitfalls that provide the pretext for military intervention.”

Speaking further on the best means to address the Niger situation, CPP said, “This morning I was going through the news newspapers and I read that the government is meeting with governors of the Northern states, especially those on the borderline States.

“For crying out loud these are things that should have been done from ab-initio because to levy war on the country is no tea party affair. Lives are going to be lost; people are going to be displaced.

“You may start the war and have the upper hand at the beginning but as time goes on you begin to discover that the other party too will begin to gain ground. Look at the Ukrainian-Russian war, just look at a superpower like Russia, that war has been going on for how many years now.

“They had the advantage; they overran their territory and the rest of them, yes. The first shock will come, the people will now try as much as possible to defend themselves to a particular point after which there's going to be a stalemate and then they will begin to counterattack and the rest of it.

“There's no small country when it comes to war today and there's no big country. When you underrate any country in war, then you're making a very big mistake because what you know they know it too and then people will come to their aid based on the fact that they're being oppressed and somebody said that because he's bigger than them he can overrun them and abuse them how they like.

“People will come to the aid of the weak one way or the other. So Nigeria must allow reason to prevail over brute force, coercion and threat. Dialogue and diplomacy is always the better option to war.”

Niger Republic Junta

President Tinubu

These are the powers that are beating the drum that either ECOWAS or Nigerians or Nigeriens are dancing to. Africa over the years has decided to make itself willing tools for external powers that are using the African countries to achieve their global or national interests

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER…

NLC Demands End to Harassment of Union Leaders by Police

Threatens to picket Police stations nationwide

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to stop the harassment of trade union leaders by the Nigerian Police.

It warned that if nothing was done to stop the alleged Illegal interference in the affairs of unions, Nigerian workers may be forced to resume work daily in all Police Stations around the country.

In a statement signed by NLC president, Joe Ajaero, the Congress accused the Inspector General of Police, "of illegal interference in the internal affairs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) which is one of our affiliates."

In the statement NLC said that, "It has become urgent that we bring to the notice of all Nigerians that just as we were preparing to receive our brothers from trade unions across the continent of Africa who have come to attend an Executive Meeting of the African Alliance of Trade Unions, we have been forced for the past three days to confront the illegal interference by the Inspector General of Police in the internal affairs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) which is one of our affiliates.

"Two days ago, some National officers of the Union who went voluntarily to the Police in response to an invitation by the IGP were unlawfully detained by the Police without any discernible reason other than to clandestinely force a scuttling of a properly convened Trade Union Programme.

"Nigerians should recall that the NURTW has had their lawful activities restricted and shackled in Lagos state and other South West states of Oyo, Osun and Ondo despite the pronouncement of the Courts to the contrary.

"Having felt unchallenged thus invincible, the same forces that forcefully took over the Union in these states and renamed them in some as Lands and Parks seek to expand their reach nationwide".

That is why the NLC calls on the IGP to deploy this energy to combating the insecurity challenges that confront Nigerians everyday everywhere around the nation instead of pursuing trade union matters that are not within his jurisdiction.

"We would not know why the burgeoning crime rate does not bother the Police neither does ridding our cities of crime infestations seem to be any worry to it rather than

chasing trade union leaders for incarceration.

"It is important that he should focus more on his job than this interference. If nothing is done to stop this, Nigerian workers may be forced to resume work dailyin all Police Stations around the Country.

"We will demand the repayment of the cost incurred by the National Union of Road transport Workers (NURTW) as result of the actions of the IGP if we are forced to resume at the Police Headquarters and Posts around the Country.

"Nigeria belongs to all of us and as major stakeholders, we are worried that these actions may further heat up the polity and cause greater disaffection amongst the citizenry," it said.

NLC urged the IGP to thread with caution and stop meddling in affairs that are clearly beyond the purview of his powers, adding that If Police receives a complaint against any trade union, it should try to refer such matters to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment which have the statutory powers to intervene.

NLC accused the government of seeking to completely takeover the leadership of the Union which they hope to use to seize the nation’s civic

space, muzzle voices of opposition and undermine democratic practices and aspirations in Nigeria.

NLC said it does not understand where the IGP derives the power to meddle in the affairs of trade unions when it is neither a court of law nor any other known arbiter in industrial disputes as stipulated in the constitution of the federal republic.

According to NLC, the Laws are very clear on how industrial disputes should be settled in Nigeria.

"We wonder why he has refused to submit himself to the supremacy of the law especially these timehonoured statutes and traditions.

"What is happening demonstrates a further extension of the same brutal power play at work which was used by the same actors to forcefully take over the Union which was established under the instrumentality of the Law. It is an unholy quest at expanding the hegemony of impunity originating from these same powers who may want to deploy the instrumentality of the IGP to spread this illegality around the nation.

"This definitely raises yet another ugly scepter in our nation’s democratic space and must be condemned by all patriots.

We will not allow the continued

Abuja Markets Crisis: AMML Urges Presidency, IGP, N'Assembly to Intervene

Says AICL board in clear violation of Tinubu’s order

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML), managers of markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has solicited the intervention of the Presidency, National Assembly ànd the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct one Mr. Sadiq Abubakar Maina, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) to obey subsisting court orders in order to guarantee peace and tranquillity in the markets.

AMML also alluded to the alleged flouting of President Bola Ahmed

Tinubu's recent directive dissolving all boards of federal agencies.

Legal consultant to AMML, Kunle Kolawole and the Company' Secretary/Legal Adviser, Edache Abuh Felix made the call during a joint press conference in Abuja at the weekend.

According to Kolawole, despite three subsisting court judgements by the Federal High Courts and National Industrial Court affirming the position of Alhaji Abubakar Usman as the substantive managing director of AMML, the AICL, FCTA and Maina had acted in the breach.

Tendering certified true copies of court judgments to buttress his point,

he stated that a Federal High Court, Abuja Division presided over by Justice D.U. Okonkwo had on July 10, 2023 delivered its judgment which affirmed Alhaji Abubakar Usman as the bonafide/substantive managing director of AMML

"By the same judgment, the Board of Directors AMML, reconstituted by the Minister of FCT under the chairmanship of Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Maina was nullified and set aside as illegally and unlawfully reconstituted.

"It is worthy of note that this judgement has not been set aside by any competent court of law, neither is there any order for stay

of execution of the judgment by any court of competent jurisdiction till date.

"Besides the above, on 26th July , 2023, the National Industrial Court entered another judgment, in the suit of Alh. Abubakar Usman Faruk vs. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Federal Capital Territory Administration, AMML and AICL with suit No. NICN/ ABJ/62/2023, based on the terms of settlement adopted by Alh. Abubakar Usman Faruk and AMML, by which the position of Alh. Abubakar Usman Faruk as the managing director was further confirmed," Kolawole said.

diminution of our nation and the remaining sound terrains that have kept us together as a people and as a country.

"The IGP should quickly hands-off from this unwarranted interference and allow other

relevant institutions that are also creatures of the Law to take charge of their responsibility unless he has been able to comprehensively deal with his major responsibilities and now seek to help other agencies of government discharge theirs".

NAFDAC Warns Hotels, Vendors to Adhere to Food Safety Practices

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned hotels and food restaurants to ensure that they maintain standard safety and quality of food served in their facilities.

The regulatory agency also reminded food vendors of the existence of a new law that prohibits food containing high level of trans fats.

It warned that non adherence or abuse of the safety standards could cause harm and serious health issues when they contaminate the food.

It said good hygiene practice and good manufacturing practice were prerequisites for food safety in any food operation and food facility.

NAFDAC's Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, quoted the Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as having disclosed this at the weekend, during a stakeholders’ engagement with operators of hotels and Quick Service Restaurants, popularly called eateries with the theme ‘’Safety and Quality of Food in Hotels and Eateries’’ in Lagos.

Adeyeye said good hygiene practice and good manufacturing practice when adequately implemented, would ensure that food prepared for customers is free of harmful micro-organisms that can cause harm and serious health issues if they contaminate the food.

The NAFDAC boss expressed grave concerns about health risks of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with the consumption of foods high in salt, sugars, saturated fats, and trans fatty acids, adding that “also of concern is the misuse of food additives for enhancing the

appearance of food, the colour, texture, taste, and shelf life.”

Adeyeye noted with dismay that, “proliferation of many NCDs is related to the foods we eat including other poor health conditions, such as impaired growth and development, micronutrient deficiencies, noncommunicable/communicable diseases, and even mental illness.”

According to the DG, adhering to the provisions of GHP and GMP ensure that food prepared was safe to eat and enables businesses to protect their reputation.

She advised operators to diligently comply with the Agencys Regulations and Guidelines concerning their operations as this is of immense benefit to their operations.

“This interaction could not have come at a better time considering the strategic role of your sector in the hospitality and food industries, added to the huge patronage you receive and the need to be constantly vigilant and mindful of the safety and quality of the food you prepare to ensure the health of the public,” she said.

Adeyeye, expressed hope that at the end of the forum, the sector would be better equipped with the technical know-how to ensure the safety and quality of food served in hotels and eateries.

Nigeria had in the past launched her first “National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (NMSAP) for the Prevention and Non-communicable Disease 2019-2025.”

Adeyeye said the policy document advocates for a multi-sectoral approach to reduce salt/sodium in food by 30 percent by the year 2025.

"Research has shown that excessive salt/sodium in the diet has been implicated in high blood pressure, heart diseases and stroke.

L-R Former Executive Director, Spring Bank PLC, Mr. Gbenga Fakile, Presiding Pastor, Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and his wife, Layide, shortly after delivering his State of the Nation address in Lagos .... yesterday.

SMILE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT AND COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY...

No Coup Request Before Military, Declares DHQ

Reiterates loyalty to constitution, president

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), weekend, said it neither received any request for military intervention nor solicited for one in Nigeria, adding that, the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained loyal to the Constitution and President Bola Tinubu.

The military high command, which had in an earlier statement on Saturday, declared that its establishment flourished under a democratic dispensation, however, said it was prepared at all times and willing and ready to defend the Constitution.

A statement by the Director Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, said contrary to reports on social media, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) never received nor made such declaration at any time to anyone or any group.

"The Defence Headquarters is concerned about a false and disturbing social media reports twisted to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) received request to effect change of leadership in the country.

"We want to use this opportunity to reiterate that the AFN never received nor made such declaration at any time to anyone or any group. We believe this statement came from those who do not wish the nation well. It is surely the wicked imagination of a few, who are not happy with the progress and wellbeing of our dear country.

"The AFN is very comfortable with democracy and remain loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The military is always willing and ready to defend the constitution

Abuja Cosmopolitan Varsity Appoints Carl Adams, Mani VC, Registrar Respectively

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, has announced the appointment of Carl Adams, a professor of information technology as the vice-chancellor of the institution.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the management also approved the appointment of Ibrahim Ahmad Mani, a former director of academic planning at Baze University, as Registrar of the university.

“Adams has over 35 years of experience in innovative and groundbreaking academic research from all over the world, including China,” the statement read.

“Formerly of the University of Portsmouth, Adams has published articles in top journals and has extensive university administration experience, including developing and managing research and academic processes at school, faculty and university level.

“Dr Mani is an expert in university administration, academic planning,

environmental impact assessment, sustainable environmental development, international consultancy, PR/ marketing, capacity building, aquaculture and fisheries, ICT, research, public speaking with broad experience in national politics at the highest level.

“Of recent, he is involved with issues of ecology and environmental sustainability with a focus on the Sustainable Developmeant Goals (SDGs).”

Cosmopolitan University was among the 37 private universities that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration granted operational licences to on May 15 to commence academic activities.

According to the statement, the university has started academic programmes with three faculties, namely: management and social sciences; medical sciences and science and engineering.

The university is set to admit candidates for the 2022/2023 academic session starting in September.

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"We urge those peddling such falsehood to desist from such or face the law. The military and indeed other

security agencies are on the look out for these agents of doom. We must all join hands to strengthen our democracy," it said.

The military high command,

had declared, in an earlier statement that the military establishment flourished under a democratic dispensation.

A statement signed by Director, Defence Information

(DDI), Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the military establishment would not engage in any act aimed at sabotaging the nation's heard-earned democracy.

Impeachment: Edo PDP Chides Shaibu, Sides with Obaseki

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Leaders of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have scolded the Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, for approaching the court over allegations that Governor Godwin Obaseki, was about to impeach him without exhausting dispute resolution mechanisms of the party.

The leaders, who met yesterday, in Igueben Local Government Area of the state, were drawn from Edo Central Senatorial District of the State.

Those in attendance were Chairman, Edo State PDP,

Hon. Tony Aziegbemi; former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustee (BOT), Chief Tom Ikimi, former Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Clifford Odia; former House of Representative member representing Esan South East/Esan North East Federal Constituency, Sergius Ogun and former House of Representative member representing Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Hon. Joe Edionwele, among others. In a communique issued after the meeting, they said: “An extraordinary meeting of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) in Edo Central Senatorial District held today, the 13th of August 2023, at Igueben and topical issues affecting the party in the state were reviewed.

“During the meeting, a vote of implicit confidence in the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, was moved by Chief Francis Ulinfun and seconded by Elder Johnny Abhulimen. The motion was unanimously passed by all the leaders in attendance on behalf of the Party in Esanland.

“The meeting noted with satisfaction the speedy and effective progress being made

on the peace and reconciliation efforts to unite the contending forces within the party, particularly in Esanland.

“However, the deteriorating relationship between our Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, was noted with utmost dismay.

“It is the collective view of the entire leadership of PDP in Edo Central that the controversy was unnecessary and avoidable, considering that the central issue of contention has to do with the issue of governorship succession at the end of the current tenure.

Adoji Faults Strategy of Fuel Subsidy Removal

Says Nigeria nowhere to be found seven years to SDGs target

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

A Development Economist and Policy Analyst, Dr. Victor Alewo Adoji, has said President Bola Tinubu put the cart before the horse in the manner he removed petrol subsidy as well as the manner in which it was going about mitigating its impact.

Adoji, while briefing journalists over the weekend, argued that, "A clear case of my claim is the suggestion of the payment of N8,000 per household for 12 million households over six months. Question therefore is how did they arrive at N8,000 and 12 million households at a time when we have over 133 million people living in extreme poverty, 41 per cent unemployment and galloping inflation which has been conservatively put at between 21 and 30 per cent?"

Adoji, said although he was an advocate of expunging subsidy from the equation of Nigeria's oil value chain considering the uncommon level of corruption in it, Tinubu would have first put in-place shock absorbers that

would cushion the devastating effects of its removal on majority of the citizens, “to avoid or at least mitigate the ‘cobra effect’ we are now confronted with as a people and a country looking forward to becoming a nation.”

He was emphatic that the failure of the president to establish the promissory or real cushion before announcing the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech was the reason for the lingering cries across the country today.

In his words: “I think the president put the cart before the horse. He clearly jumped the gun by removing the subsidy without adequate preparation made for those living on the edge of society or lower of society's ladder who are in the majority and hence the very loud hue and deafening cries all-over.

"Well, for someone who says he spent the past three decades wanting to be president of Nigeria, I will assume he is prepared. And, while it may be too early to assess him i think the first few steps he has taken are steps that i consider ill-informed and not well

thought-through. I hope he will steady the ship as we journey and regard the big delineation between intentions and real impact of the numerous decisions he will take.

"So, what I am trying to bring out here is that 90 per cent and up to 95 per cent of Nigerians are actually rural Nigerians. So, when you talk about rural communities and rural Nigerians, you are talking about the entire economy in terms of the impact of such policy.“

Most of them live on that, now those who actually live in the urban areas who are working cannot even meet their fixed expenditure.”

He added: “Now, someone who is relying on you can't get from you who is also relying on government who is not getting a good handshake from the government. It goes without saying that the situation is actually going to be more devastating for those in the rural areas those who live on transfer payments and whose means of livelihood has been taken away by clashes here and there."

Adoji, a Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) candidate for Kogi East Senatorial District in 2023 general election also noted that Nigeria was lagging behind in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

He said: "We are just about seven years this 2023 to the SDG target (2030) and of the 17 SDG goals, there is this metric with which we use to measure successes, they actually use them with colours; the green, amber and the red.”

Adoji, however expressed optimism that the election petitions tribunal would do justice to the case he filed before it, saying, “we have made our case before the tribunal, they have heard our cases.

“The respondents in this case have presented their cases which to us is a no case and we are waiting for the justices to do justice to the case before then"

L-R: Awardee, Mr Thaddeus Timbee; United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Matthias Schmale; Awardee, Mrs. Vera David- Emesiobum; Founder, Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment, Mrs Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins ; and National Information Officer, UN Information Centre, Mr Seyi Soremekun, during the SMILE Leadership Summit and commemoration of International Youth Day in Lagos...recently

RETREAT ORGANISED FOR NEW STATE EXCO…

Abbas Condemns Zaria Killings, Demands Investigation

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas

Tajudeen, has condemned the killings of two individuals at the Kofar Gayan area of Zaria during an attack by suspected bandits Saturday night. He described the killings, coming over 24 hours after the death of several individuals during the collapse of parts of the Zaria Central Mosque, as most unfortunate, barbaric and abhorrent

Suspected bandits, Saturday, invaded the area, shot sporadically, killing the two individuals, while they made unsuccessful attempts to kidnap several others.

Abbas, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, said the lives of Nigerians, wherever they were, should be protected, hence the need for the security agencies

to up their game in the protection of Nigerians and their property.

"The attack that led to the killings of our two innocent brothers at Kofar Gayan was most calamitous, horrendous, tragic, heinous and disgusting.

"It was most unfortunate that when innocent people were going about their normal and legitimate activities, others were planning evil to disturb the peace enjoyed by everyone," he said.

Expressing disgust at the killings

of the two innocent people, Abbas noted with concern, the recurring attacks in parts of Zaria and environs in the past few years, and therefore, called for a thorough investigation into the attack and the killings to unravel those behind

the dastardly act. He noted that the Zaria people were peace-loving and have been living peacefully over the years, saying the activities of the bandits should not be allowed to disrupt the tranquility in the ancient city.

"The action of those behind this dastardly act stands condemned, and I call on the security agencies to swing into action immediately to fish out the perpetrators. This evil act must not be allowed to go unchecked,” he said.

IG to Establish Special Squad to Tackle Communal Clashes

Ahmad Sorondinki, Kano.

The Inspector General of Nigeria Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said the Nigeria Police Force had concluded plans to establish a Special Intervention Squad (SIS) that would respond to communal clashes in the country.

Egbetokun made the disclosure during a courtesy call on the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Yesterday.

He said the current police

management has decided to constitute a squad, the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) that would respond to communal crisis in any state of the Federation.

According to him, where there was crisis or violent crime in Nigeria, the dedicated squad would easily be mobilised and deployed to tackle the situation.

"The importance of the squad cannot be over-emphasised, as its success will depend on the

cooperation and support the Police gets from the Kano State Government, as well as other state governments,” he said. He further explained that, members of the squad would be specifically trained, remunerated, and equipped, with modern gadgets in order to overcome the overwhelming security challenges.

"The special squad will be specially trained, we will specially equip them, we will kit them

MUSLIM CLERICS: NIGER JUNTA NOW READY TO DIALOGUE WITH ECOWAS

NLC: War in Niger May Signal End of ECOWAS

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned the leaders of ECOWAS and Nigeria not to go ahead with their decision to deploy soldiers in Niger to fight for the restoration of the ousted civilian government, saying it may signal the end of the body.

NLC said it had reason to believe that ECOWAS was a victim of its double standards or discriminatory policies, which had seen the body condoning coup and even celebrating coups.

Apart from the possibility of such aggressive action destabilising the entire region, including northern Nigeria, NLC said there would be loss of many lives in and out of the battle field.

It warned that such move could result in an unintended outcome "of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars."

In a statement signed by NLC president, Joe Ajaero, the labour movement said, "This is a euphemism for war, immediate war on Niger Republic, our consistently most peaceful neighbour. It will amount to stating the obvious that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress are averse to military rule.

“Indeed, the history of the struggle for democratic rule in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the illustrious contribution of the labour movement.

"Despite our unimpeachable

credentials in the popular struggle against military rule, we would strongly counsel against the use of military force to remove the military junta in Niger Republic, as the disadvantages clearly outweigh the benefits, from putting in danger the lives of the deposed President Bazoum and his family to the destabilisation of the entire region, including northern Nigeria, and loss of many lives in and out of the battlefield.

"Equally of significance is the unintended possibility of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars."

NLC added that ECOWAS also risked a spike in terrorism and insurgence across the region.

Lamido: Niger Republic Coup Crisis Has Exposed Tinubu

Former governor of Jigawa State, Mr. Sule Lamido, said the coup in the Republic of Niger had exposed Tinubu’s lack of knowledge and understanding of international diplomacy.

Lamido, who was Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, said the fact that Tinubu was an emperor with the total dominance of the most populous and prosperous state of Lagos did not confer on him any wisdom in diplomacy.

He counselled the president to harvest from the connection and wisdom of Nigeria’s former presidents and heads of state in dealing with the Niger crisis.

Lamido stated these while reacting to the stand adopted by ECOWAS on the coup d’état in Niger Republic. He noted that since the coup d’état in Niger Republic, Tinubu had found himself walking on a tightrope and in a state of dilemma on how best to handle the situation.

He further said since the senate, which is empowered by the constitution to authorise the president to approve war, had withheld its approval, the best available option left for Tinubu was to embark on damage control by harvesting from the connection, wisdom and experience of Nigeria’s former presidents and heads of state.

Lamido stated, “These leaders are highly respected and trusted not only in our sub-region but globally. There is, indeed, no love lost between President Tinubu and some of them, but certainly, on any issue that affects Nigeria, no matter how remote, those leaders will always be there for Nigeria.”

HURIWA: Unauthorised Military Action May Trigger Negative Consequences

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) urged Tinubu to exercise prudence in committing the Nigerian Army to military actions without proper legislative concurrence in line with the constitution. It said there was need to uphold constitutional checks and balances to preserve democratic integrity and national

security.

Addressing concerns about potential deployments of the Nigerian Army to foreign military operations in the neighbouring Niger Republic, with the aim of restoring democratic order, HURIWA underscored the gravity of adhering to constitutional safeguards.

It called on the National Assembly to ensure that Tinubu followed legal protocols in matters of national security, and fully comprehended relevant constitutional provisions and international agreements.

In a press statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA asserted that Tinubu's engagement of Nigerian troops in warfare or conflict without the National Assembly's requisite approval constituted a breach of constitutional trust and could potentially trigger impeachment.

The association stressed the significance of maintaining the foundational principle of checks and balances to safeguard democratic governance.

Sani Explains Implications of Military Action in Niger

Former Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, said military incursion into Niger Republic by ECOWAS would be synonymous with a declaration of war by Nigeria. Sani disclosed this during a media chat with some news men in Abuja. He said there was nothing wrong

properly and we will remunerate them specially. They will be well motivated to do their job.

"We have chosen Kano state, as one of the pilot states. But a lot will depend on the support we get from his Excellency. I honestly want you to take note of that and to take this as a request coming from the Nigerian Police to the governor," the IG added. Responding, Governor Yusuf called on the Inspector General to also support the state in the

with applying pressure on the coup leaders in Niger, but deploying military force against the Francophone country sharing a northern border with Nigeria had a lot of implications.

According to Sani, “Armed invasion of Niger by ECOWAS will simply be a war between Nigeria and Niger because Nigeria foots the bills of ECOWAS.

“If we are going to get into war with the Niger Republic, what will be the future of states like Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe, and Borno that share borders with Niger? What will be the fate of people living in these areas?

“Right now there are more than 303,000 Nigerian refugees that were sacked by terrorist groups living in villages in Niger Republic.”

The senator, who recalled experiences of the past, said, "If we get into an armed confrontation with Niger Republic, in the 21st century, there is no one-week war. There is no one-month war. It is years of war.

“What resources do we have to prosecute a war? Does our military have the experience to fight a war in the Sahel, or the desert?

“The coup happened when the French and U.S. had military bases in Niger. If these could not stop the coup, they could not protect Bazoum, and they could not restore Bazoum to power, is it the Nigerian army that has security challenges in Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa that will neglect these places and go fight a war in Niger?”

fight against drug abuse, armed robbery, phone-snatching and thuggery.

“We appreciate what you have been doing, the tremendous efforts you have been making in ending kidnapping, not only in Kano but in Nigeria as a whole," the governor said. He promised to ensure that all the security agencies in the state collaborate so as to face and deal decisively with security challenges.

Military Action in Niger Ill-conceived, Says Katsina Forum

Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum described as ill-conceived, the ECOWAS of decision to use its standby military force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

Reacting to the ECOWAS decision at a press conference in Katsina, the acting president of the forum, Mr. Tukur Malami, said it would lead to socio-economic and political disruption in the West African sub-region.

Malami said the amassing of troops and military hardware on standby was an intimidation and a threat to the Republic of Niger, which might hamper diplomatic approach to restoration of democracy.

According to the acting president of the forum, the best antidote against coup is good governance, founded on the basis of free, fair and credible elections.

Malami warned the Tinubu-led federal government to desist from supporting any aggression towards the Republic of Niger and its citizens.

He stated, "Doing so is in effect undertaking a proxy war for NATO and its allies, and will negatively and tragically affect people living in the northern states of Nigeria.

"It also amounts to self-inflicted injury by the Federal Government of Nigeria on its people, especially those living in the northern states, who will definitely be affected by the war."

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyenbanji, special Adviser on human capital development and allied matters, Gbenga Agbeyo, Special Adviser on rural mobilization, Mrs Oluremi Abington, Special Adviser on gender empowerment and mobilization, Mrs Kemisola Olaleye and Special Adviser on Governance to the governor, Odunayo Ayeni during a retreat organized for the new state Exco members in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State .. recently.

FORGING A PARTNERSHIP…

L-R: Company Secretary, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Alaba Ekundayo; Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Chinyere Almona; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, FITC, Chizor Malize, and Director, Business Education Services & Training, LCCI, Dr. Taiwo Nolas-Alausa,

Lagbaja: Army Will Partner Communities to Combat Security Challenges

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, has stated that the Nigerian Army would partner communities in order to combat security challenges bedeviling the country.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to support the troops in their battle against insecurity

in the country.

Lagbaja made the disclosure yesterday at the inauguration of 28 Support Engineer Regiment Barracks, Sifawa in Sokoto State.

The army chief said the essence of bringing the army closer to the people is to help to combat the emerging security challenges.

He noted that the new barracks would enhance regimentation

Adeleke Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Development

YinkaKolawoleinOsogbo

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has reiterated his commitment to the upliftment of youthS in the state, saying his administration is already putting in place a mechanism for young people to make good use of their potential.

The governor stated this in a message signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day, describing the youths as the future that must

and also help in bringing the security apparatus closer to people.

According to him, “I must

admit that the country has faced some security challenges all the way, but the troops have been responding to these challenges

across the country.

“We will continue to do all within our power to combat every security challenge

confronting the country and meet the expectations of the country in providing a secure environment for economic activities to thrive.

SDP Faults APC over Zonal Chairmen’s Defections to Ruling Party in Kogi

PDP, ADC biker over alleged collapse of structure for Melaye

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

in the State.

be nurtured and supported.

Adeleke, who acknowledged the creativity, resourcefulness, and potential of young people in the state, said the theme of this year’s event: ‘Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World’, underscores the interest of his administration in youth development.

He said his administration is revising existing policy on youth development and would create an implementation plan that would make it possible for young people to achieve the needed growth as well as prepare them for the future.

Ogun Trains 850 Stakeholders on New Teaching Methodology

Seven hundred and fifty Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers, 20 Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs), and 80 education officers in Ogun State, have been trained on the new method of teaching, to further promote efficiency and sustain an enviable education legacy that the state is known for.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of a three-week training, organised by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in conjunction with Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), the Special Adviser to the Governor in the Ministry, Prof.

Abayomi Arigbabu, said the training, which was the second phase of the exercise held in December 2022, was also to improve teaching and learning activities, develop teachers’ capacity, and encourage world standards educational systems.

Prof. Arigbabu noted that the training was part of the efforts of the present administration’s strides to sustain the legacies of the founding fathers of the education sector in the state, saying the huge investment of government in the sector is yielding faster results to the extent that other states and some institutes are making contacts with the ministry to learn from its success stories.

Bi-courtney Supports Olori Afolabi on Adire Festival in Osun

Bi-courtney Aviation Services

Limited has supported Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation (OJAF), to organise the maiden Adire Festival in Apomu, headquarters of Isokan Local Government area of Osun state.

The festival seeks to promote culture and empower indigent hard working youths who want to make a living through the making and sewing of Adire. The event, which took place in August 9, was also part of the activities marking the

60th birthday of the King of Apomu Kingdom, Oba Kayode Afolabi, Alapomu of Apomu.

In his speech, Oba Afolabi welcomed the guests to ancient town of Apomu. He said the town is a historical site with cultural heritage and historical identity which dates back to the 16th century. According to him, Apomu was one of the most important commercial centres in Yoruba land and also the oldest trans market in Yoruba land.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Kogi State Chapter has faulted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over defections of all zonal government chairmen and other party faithful to APC

This is just as the Peoples Democratic (PDP) has claimed that ahead of the November 11, 2023 Governorship election in Kogi State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Idah Local Government Area of the State

has collapsed its structure and declared its support for Senator Dino Melaye of the PDP.

The APC had last Thursday said all zonal chairmen of SDP had been received into the party to boost the chances the party’s flag bearer, Ododo Ahmed

Usman.

But in swift reaction, the SPD stated that their membership is very intact In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the party,Yahaya Bahawudeen copy of which was made available to newsmen.

Oyebanji Makes Ekiti Commissioners Sign Performance Charter

Gbenga Sodeinde inAdoEkiti

Ekiti State Government last Saturday concluded a three-day retreat for all members of the state executive councils and permanent secretaries, with each of the commissioners signing the

performance charter, which defined the minimum expectation from them.

This is as the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, reiterated his avowed commitment to the development of the state, stressing the administration’s zero

tolerance for indiscipline and poor performance.

Specifically, the governor told the political appointees that his friendship with them ended the day they took the oath of office to serve as commissioners and special advisers, adding that his

relationship with them henceforth would strictly be based on service delivery. The governor made it abundantly clear to the newly inaugurated commissioners, special adviser and permanent secretaries, that failure was not an option under his leadership.

One Feared Dead, Several Injured as Gunmen Invade Bayelsa Community

For the fourth time this year, the residents of Opu Nembe (Basambri), in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa state were again thrown into a state of horror, fear and panic as heavily armed men invaded the

community in multiple vehicles, shooting sporadically. Reports confirmed that the area was thrown into chaos at about 7pm when the gun men drove into town in as many as 24 Toyota Hilux vehicles and six Coaster buses, wearing face masks and dressed in the uniform of

the Nigeria Police Force.

The armed invasion led to one death and many injured while leaving the community folks in palpable fear and tension, not knowing when the next attack will come.

This is latest in a series of calculated armed invasions of

the Opu Nembe area of the Nembe local government, since January 2023. The motive behind the attacks is not clear, but available information from the residents identified some of the perpetrators as gunmen in the payroll of a notorious warlord.

Imo Guber: Uzodinma Drops Deputy, Picks Woman as New Running Mate

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo has picked Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru as his running mate for the 11 November governorship election in the state and dropping his current deputy, Professor Placid Njoku. According to the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the

unveiling took place at an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri.

The governor also presented his scorecard under his 3R Government of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery from 15 January 2020 to date. He said his administration

had laid the foundation for growth in all sectors of the economy and would consolidate on them to deliver an industrial, prosperous and safe Imo in the coming years.

Uzodimma said: “We have so much to campaign with. Our works speak for us.

FIRS. So, today, we are here to reinforce our genuine claim to re-election.

“I have picked a female deputy governorship candidate in the person of Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru.

“I believe she will add value to this ticket.

Otti Targets Good Governance in Abia with Civil Service Reforms, Says Aide

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Due Process, Dr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, has said that the ongoing reform of Abia State’s civil service would engender a total break from the

old ways of doing government business and usher in effective transparent governance.

Ukaegbu stated this while speaking with journalists on the ongoing wind of reforms blowing across Abia State.

Governor Alex Otti had last week inaugurated a nine-member

Civil Service Reform Committee, composed of individuals with diverse range of expertise, with Ukaegbu as the chairman.

“This assembly of experienced professionals underscores the seriousness with which the committee’s mandate is being pursued,” Ukaegbu said.

Other members of the committee are the State Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna; Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Emmanuel Oriaku and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Chinedu Ekeke.

Group Empowers 1,600 SMEs in the Niger Delta Region

Okon Bassey in Uyo

More than 1,600 Small and Medium Scale Businesses (SMSB) in the Niger Delta region have been empowered with grant to support and increase their capacities by the Niger Delta

Youth Professionals (NDYP).

The NDYP said that the empowerment of the SMSB has created over 4,922 direct and indirect jobs with more than 2,304 business owners trained on various entrepreneurship skills.

This was disclosed at the Niger Delta Micro Small and Entreprises Summit that was held during the weekend in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The Convener of the 3rd edition of the summit, Mr.

Moses Siasia, said that the gesture was with the support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

during a courtesy visit to LCCI by FITC officials in Lagos…

Julius Osahon in Yenagoa

ALL THE MESS THAT IS NIGER

Kenneth Kaunda, a close friend of Saddam in the Non-Aligned Movement, was persuaded to go to Baghdad. Kaunda later explained that when he warned Saddam that he faced American attack, Saddam replied that the Americans were bluffing, and he pointed to anti-war protests in the streets of New York and other American cities and said President George Bush could not possibly launch Operation Desert Storm. Tchiani could easily come to the same conclusion and, unless he is lucky, the same fate as Saddam. One of the most unfortunate twists I heard from Niger Republic last week was the coupists’ threat to kill President Mohammed Bazoum if ECOWAS’ Standby Force moves against them. Only the crudest and most callous person could say a thing like that. Having missed their chance to kill Bazoum during the coup, to do so now will inflame the situation and almost certainly guarantee their own downfall and death. If not in the hands of ECOWAS, then in a very likely counter-coup. Bloodshed in coups tends to unleash forces beyond the perpetrators’ control. How is anyone sure that there are no Bazoum sympathisers in the Nigerien security forces, given the country’s complex ethnic mix?

Nigerians from the Sokoto region, including me, are very familiar with the people of Niger Republic. All the major tribes of that

country, including Zabarma, Arawa, Tuaregs and Azibinawa, not to mention Hausa, are present in Northern Nigeria. Though all of them are Hausa speaking, they often stand out because of a slight difference in dialect, which to us sounds coarse. Many Sokoto people will see the threat to kill Bazoum in that light.

Nigerians’ memory of our interventions abroad often ends with Liberia and Sierra Leone. Most Nigerians forget that in 1978, after Chadian President N’garta Tombalbaye’s overthrow, rivalry between General Felix Maloum and warlords Hissene Habre, Goukouni Oueddei and Wadal Abdulkader Kamougue threatened to degenerate into civil war. General Obasanjo sent Nigerian peace keeping troops to that country, led by General Magoro. My late brother-in-law Lt. [later Colonel] Abdurrahman Shamaki was the contingent’s medical officer, and he told me many stories about the mission. President Shagari withdrew those troops in 1981 when Hissene Habre sneaked in from the north, with Libyan support, and overthrew the Transitional Government of National Unity [GUNT] headed by Goukouni Oueddei.

It is a reminder that rather than promote unity and stability, coups in Africa most often do the opposite. Right now, Niger looks calm but there is no knowing what

CHALLENGING THE NEW MINISTERS

Tigers is the quality of input to policy making and effective implementation of sound fiscal policies resulting in better development outcomes. Singapore's technocratic model is a ready reference. Their Ministers were at the fore of policy articulation and implementations. The exact opposite is true of most sub-Saharan African countries. In Nigeria, most Ministers in the past could hardly lived up to expectations where they ought to have added more value. They were simply passengers to nowhere. In the end, these category of persons in the Federal cabinet are proof that more than crude loyalty to personalities is required to keep a ministerial position. Nigerians expect no less and demand even more now.

Our new Ministers must dare to be different. This is a new epoch and a time to get it right if Nigeria would achieve socio-economic emancipation. It would be unconscionable for Ministers to expect redcarpet treatment and excessive office perks at this time the country is going through severe economic turbulence. The least we expect is for Ministers to roll up their sleeves from day one and go to work. They should refrain from pursuing an individualistic and narrow interests. They must eschew vision that conflicts with the overarching vision of the President. Instead, as Ministers of the Government of the Federation, they must make out time to engage with the President to internalise and understand his vision for the country and how their respective roles will align to achieve high quality governance, prosperity and citizen satisfaction.

The President also has the responsibility of setting the agenda, giving policy direction, spelling out goals and timelines for the Ministers. Ministers must know that the country's current mood, which is more pessimistic, gloomy and tense, must be systematically turned around through their actions, policies and altruism. By reason of greater awareness in the polity, the masses will resist any flagrant display of opulence and hedonism by the new Ministers. The average Nigerian is in economic pain and the Ministers must by their own lifestyles provide hope for a better Nigeria.

Nigerians want Ministers who can exhibit innovative thinking and demonstrate the capacity to develop practical, impact-oriented solutions. They desire and deserve Ministers as public servants with creative ideas to overcome the challenges we face as a people. Nigerians yearn for leaders who can unleash transformative action towards development and the new cabinet is expected to deliver no less. Any Minister with the archaic "I have come to chop" mindset will come to the shocking realization that this is the digital age of Nigeria. Youths and other stakeholders are gearing up to hold all officer holders, especially the Ministers, accountable and responsible for their actions in office. These savvy Gen Z advocates, although political neophytes, are armed with the democratisation of social media to advocate for transparency, justice, fairness and the rule of law. They have a strong voice and would make everyone hear them loud and clear. In recent years, they have communicated that they would actively engage in the political process and their expectations must be addressed. Let none take this demographic for granted.

Leadership in Nigeria now must not be business as usual. The new Ministers must accept this ultimate reality. Multiple stakeholders gearing to h old Ministers accountable will stay informed by educating themselves about the roles and responsibilities of the new Ministers and their portfolios. The alert citizenry shall monitor Minister's decisions and actions through participation in civil organisations programmes, engage in campaigns and political petitions as well as use their votes as their score cards to influence change in government.

Here is where those demanding accountability and accountable governance have their own job cut out for them. Challenging and holding Ministers accountable is an ongoing process that requires perseverance and collaboration with like-minded individuals and groups. Engaging in these activities in a lawful, respectful and constructive manner is essential for the most effective impact. Those

could happen down the road. One must not discount France and its ability to engineer a counter coup, when most Nigerien troops were trained by the French over several decades. One of the foolish aspects of this matter, as I see it, is the Nigerien coupists’ rush to switch alliances from France and USA to Russia, in the belief that Russia’s Wagner forces could protect them from ECOWAS or other intervention forces. In 1977 Somali President Siad Barre did such a switch, driving Russians out of a major Indian Ocean naval base and handing it over to Americans. It did not stop Somali clan lord General Mohamed Farah Aideed from driving Barre out of power, and Somalia’s descent into eternal disarray.

Russian Federation of today is not the old Soviet Union, a super power with the ability to reach any corner of the globe. Right now, the Russians have their own chestnuts burning in Ukraine and I doubt if they can spare a big force to protect new friends in Niamey. Putin is also hoping the Chinese could help retrieve his chestnuts from the Ukraine fire. As for Wagner forces, their position inside Russia itself is dicey since their attempted march on Moscow. Besides, if I were General Tchiani, I will read Eddie Iroh’s novel Forty-Eight Guns for the General, about Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu’s

experience with mercenaries, before I jump into bed with Wagner forces.

Nor is it clear, apart from reasons of opportunistic personal survival, why anyone should switch allies from the West to Russia. Where natural resources are involved, Russian oligarchs are no less greedy than Western corporate moguls. My final thought today is, why did our Defence Headquarters announce that some people tried to instigate soldiers to carry out a coup in Nigeria? Why tell us this story? Why not simply apprehend the would-be Nigerian Tchianis and hand them over to DSS?

In 1981, when businessman Zanna Bukar Mandara was said to have tried to get soldiers to stage a coup, he was arrested and tried. Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, who was Director General of the Nigeria Security Organization [NSO] at the time, once told me that, together with Military Intelligence, they thwarted many coups in the Second Republic. He said NSO monitored coupists when they held meetings in town, warned Military Intelligence when they were moving back to the barracks, and vice versa. However, when NSO monitored a meeting in the town, told Military Intelligence that they were moving back into the barracks but MI says no such meeting took place, “it means the top brass are involved,” Shinkafi said.

But her work in securing debt cancellation for Nigeria was notable. These impactful achievements are chronicled in various books and online resources. They make good resource and research material for the incoming Ministers. Akinwumi Adesina is forever remembered for his innovative agricultural policies that served people experiencing poverty. If a Minister wants to be among this league of much-loved ministers in Nigeria, now is the time to plan and work to create a legacy.

Ministers ought to be change agents. Nigerians like to feel the passion, sense of leadership, patriotism, integrity, creativity and inclusiveness that should be the hallmark of democratic leadership. They should possess excellent communication skills, expertise in the subject matter related to their portfolio, critical and strategic thinking skills, adaptability and resilience to succeed in performing their roles. Besides, Ministers should understand that the mechanisms of governance, public administration and policy-making are essential for a Minister to manage his or her portfolio effectively. They should have a genuine commitment to serving the public and positively impacting citizens' lives. Ministers, as heads of ministries, constitute the instrumentality of government functions. The government implements all her policies through the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) running a civil service structure that is apolitical and designed to serve the government of the day. It is important to note that no individual may possess all these qualities equally. However, striving to develop and exhibit them can contribute to effective leadership and governance.

on the watchtower to monitor government performance must remember that Nigeria has had good Ministers in the past whose work is worthy of emulation. As the watching citizens expect the new Ministers to live up to the lofty standards of the past, they are further enjoined to make time to learn more about these past Ministers to improve their performance. One such effective Minister was Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Though not perfect, her dedication to duty and Nigeria is selfevident. She embodied that strength of character and demonstrated a determination to succeed where others have failed. She had the mental rigour to push for reforms and changes that had short-term and long-term impact. Her restless creativity and boundless passion for serving Nigeria were infectious. Okonjo-Iweala came and served Nigeria rather than being served by Nigeria. Time will fail us to begin an enumeration of her successes as a Minister who served two different Administrations.

The Minister's role is crucial in shaping an efficient and effective ministry that delivers quality service to the people. The sum total output of government MDAs roughly corresponds with the total productivity of government in terms of policy creation and execution as well as procedural and operational efficiencies. This much should be clear to those appointed by this Administration. Based on the above, the principal function of the Minister is to organise, manage and direct all material and human resources available to the ministry to achieve their set mandate in line with the dominant ideology, goals and aspirations of this government. Therefore, ministers must see themselves as both the voice of the government and the voice of the people and the voiceless.

Finally, the role of a federal Minister is significant. Therefore, all newly appointed ministers should consider serving Nigeria in their respective capacities a great honour. They must be guided by transparency in decision-making, managing resources and accountability. Ministers must work to script with ingenuity in line with the philosophy that to whom much is given, much is also expected. Ministers must responsibility because they are responsible to the people, the Constitution of Nigeria and the President. Failure is not an option. The nation is looking up to the new Ministers to uplift it from the subsisting social and economic quagmire. This is a task Ministers can only fail to their peril. My dear compatriots, fellow countrymen and women, congratulations on your respective appointment.

President Tinubu

Chukwueze Opens AC Milan Goal Account

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigerian international, Samuel Chukwueze began his career at AC Milan with the Rossoneri’s opening goal in their 4-2 defeat of Serie C side, Novara, in the final pre-season friendly before the Italian Serie A season begins this Saturday.

The Super Eagles winger who switched to the Italian giants from Spanish Villarreal this summer window, bagged his first goal for Milan, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting it home for the opening goal nine minutes into the friendly. He came close for another goal on a few occasions but missed the chances. The former Golden Eaglet has added his natural free-flowing

flair to Milan’s attack thereby making him a worthy option for Christian Pulisic.

Interestingly, another player with Nigerian ancestry but a Swiss national, Noah Okafor who also joined Milan from Red Bull Salzburg, added a second to make it two goals in 16 minutes.

The 23-year-old Switzerland international who sealed a fiveyear deal running until June 30, 2028, is a product Basel academy. He made his professional debut in 2018 and scored seven goals in 54 games for Salzburg before switching to San Siro.

AC Milan boss, Stefano Pioli, had revealed while signing Chukwueze that the Nigerian attacking prowess, technicality and strength in one-

on-one situations were the main reasons the Italian giants lured him to the San Siro from Villarreal.

“We had spoken to each other a couple of times, we were looking for a player with these characteristics. He’s fast, technical, strong in one-on-one situations and attacks deep. He seems like a complete winger to me,” he said as quoted by calciomercato.com.

Two more goals by Calabria and Lorenzo Colombo sealed Milan’s victory as they round up their pre-season as the new Italian topflight kicks off on Saturday.

AC Milan will travel to Bologna in their first Serie A match of the new season on August 21, with Chukwueze hoping to make an instant impact.

Mbappe Back from ‘Wilderness’, Returns to PSG First Team

Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has returned to first-team training and is likely to stay at the French champions this summer.

The France forward, 24, had not been training with the first-team squad and was left out of PSG's 0-0 season opener with Lorienton Saturday. He has been in a contract stand-off amid a desire to join Real Madrid but could now extend his contract at PSG.

PSG said Mbappe was reinstated after "very constructive and posi- tive" talks.

The France captain watched the game on Saturday from the stands with France team-mate

Ousmane Dembele, who joined PSG from Barcelona for £43.5m.He was also left out of the pre-season trip to Asia.

Mbappe has one year left on his current deal and has so far refused to sign a new contract.

Last month, PSG gave Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal permission to talk to the playerafter making a world-record £259million bid. His reintegration has been arrived at following discussions between all parties in the past 24 hours.

PSG Chairman, Nasser AlKhelaifi, has been adamant he would not let the striker leave for nothing and it is thought some

kind of agreement is likely that will see Mbappe sign the one-year extension to his present deal as originally envisaged. That would run to 2025 and allow PSG to sell Mbappe to Real next summer.

"Following very constructive and positive discussions between Paris St-Germain and Kylian Mbappe before the PSG - Lorient game, the player has been reinstated into the first team training squad this morning," PSG said on Sunday. Mbappe, who joined PSG in 2017 initially on loan from Monaco before a 180m euro (£165.7m) transfer, has scored a club record 212 goals in 260 games.

Chelsea

Hold Liverpool at Stamford Bridge

PREMIER MONDAY, THISDAY 39 Samuel Chukwueze...opens goal account at AC Milan

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Octagon TKD over the weekend amassed 26 medals to emerge the overall winner of the 6th CCSF Invitational Open at M.K.O Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The host club garnered eight gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals, while Abuja-based Eagle TKD came second with five gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.

FCT came away with two gold medals while Alamo TKD and Martial Arts won one silver medal each.

Niger’s Prestis TKD was the only invited club that did not register on the medals table.

FCT’s Uneh Unique emerged the female athlete of the tournament while the male athlete of the tournament award went to Octagon TKD’s Jideofor Chukwumerije, whose explosive final with Achu Franco of Alamo TKD and Martial Arts earned the fight of the tournament award.

A total of 82 competitors competed in 15 categories across

With the successes recorded at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season in August, the Nigeria National League (NNL) has set September or the the first week in October as the kickoff frame-time for the new season.

Heartland were crowned champions last season following a 2-0 win over Kano Pillars in the final of the Super 8 in Asaba

kiddies, cadets and juniors levels.

The children relished the occasion where there was a free morning aerobic fitness class, fun table tennis, video games areas and a bouncing castle.

Meanwhile, the organiser of the CCSF tournament, Chuka Chukwumerije, has urged the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation to adopt his roadmap for preparing for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Chukwumerije, who won a bronze medal at Beijing 2008, said he had for the past 20 years trained youths on the basics of taekwondo with some of them emerging national champions as well participating at the Olympics.

“So, I think I have basically shown the roadmap on how you can do it. I have done this for 20 years. I am sure the federation will do its best to try and prepare us for the Olympics. Really I wish them all the best and hope they will in Paris continue the good work that we have already set up,” Chukwumerije said.

while Sokoto United, Adamawa United, Ikorodu City and Smart City survived at the relegation playoffs in Kano.

Chairman of the NNL board, George Aluo, gave the hint on the plans for the coming season which according to him, will centre around matching the kickoff date with the Europeans season which would be in line with the

L-R: GM Sales & Distribution, Lagos Region GM Business Development (S & D) MTN Nigeria, Oladipo Jolaosho; Executive Head Corporate Affairs, West Africa, MultiChoice, Caroline Oghuma; Sponsorship Manager MTN Nigeria, Njideka Ken-Odogwu and Executive Head, Marketing, West Africa, MultiChoice, Tope Oshunkeye, at the 2023/24 MultiChoice New Football Season Watch Party in Lagos...yesterday

directive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau.

The Nigerian football season at all level has always been at variance with the rest of world but the NFF leadership has vowed to buck the negative trend.

The NNL Chairman reiterated the stand of the country's governing body and revealed that it's

board will key into it as part of its agenda at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

"First of all, I'm happy that we have concluded the season with the relegation playoffs. We now know the relegated clubs to the NLO and those who are remaining in the NNL and, having ended the league successfully, we are now going to look at the

of both sides while the defensive deficiencies illustrated why Caicedo has become a prized target.

Liverpool dominated the early stages, Mohamed Salah striking the bar before the Egypt forward delivered a stunning pass for Luis Diaz to slide home the opening goal after 18 minutes.

Chelsea, in their first Premier League game under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, rallied and drew level with an equaliser from new signing Axel Disasi, who scored from six yards after Liverpool failed to clear a set-piece.

Both sides had further chances - with Liverpool keeper Alisson saving well from Ben Chilwell and Nicolas Jackson - but neither could find a winner.

Elsewhere, Tottenham began life after Harry Kane with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Brentford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

Kane's move from his boyhood club to Bayern Munichwas confirmed on Saturday, and goals from Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal earned new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou a point on Sunday.

2023-24 season,” he stated.

"The first thing before we start the season is to hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the club owners will come in and then we will rub minds with them as a board and decide when the new season will start."

He then confirmed that the AGM would decide the direction of the new season.

"We are looking at September or October in line with the directive of President of Nigeria Football Federation Ibrahim Gusau that we should align our league with the rest of the world, the Nigeria Premier League will be starting later this month so we are looking at September or worst case scenario first week of October."

MISSILE

Philip Shaibu to Detractors

“Political jobbers sold a dummy to the governor (Obaseki), my elder brother to provoke more crises so they can benefit from it.The claims are not only baseless but also malicious attempts by political jobbers hell-bent on misleading the governor with the singular aim of damaging my reputation and sowing seeds of discord between me and Obaseki. It is a privilege to serve as Obaseki's deputy" –Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, dismissing claims that he was plotting to impeach his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

MAHMUDJEGA

VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

Watching an online video clip of the warm reception accorded in Damagaram, Niger Republic to the region’s new governor, recently posted there by coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani, I remembered some local Sokoto events following the December 31, 1983 coup in Nigeria that toppled the Second Republic.

My [now late] father was Head of Service of old Sokoto State on that day and had been so for only three months. When he heard the coup announcement on that Sunday morning, and the local announcement by the army that commissioners should surrender themselves, he was not sure whether it affected him, since he was a career civil servant but a member of Governor Garba Nadama’s State Executive Council. He remained indoors that day and for the next two days, probably waiting to be arrested.

On the third day, soon after Major General Muhammadu Buhari appointed new military governors for the states, a green Army vehicle arrived at our house and told our father that Commander of 7 Brigade in Sokoto, Brigadier Sani Sami, wanted to see him. I do not know if he took a small bag with him, expecting to go into detention. But when he got there, the Brigade Commander told him to go and mobilise senior civil servants and traditional rulers and, as Head of Service, lead them to the airport the next day to receive the new military governor.

GUEST COLUMNIST

Niger’s

coup leader, Gen. Tchiani

The next day, it was a calm delegation that led Brigadier Garba Duba from the airport to VVIP lodge, where he temporarily stayed. There and then, he told our father that when Buhari swore them in the previous day, he told them that when they go to their states, if they find that the Head of Service is a career civil servant, they should confirm him as Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service [SMG]. Duba then told

him to draft a letter appointing himself as SMG, for the governor’s signature. I was not surprised this happened because years earlier, the toppled Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah wrote in his book that when African soldiers stage a coup, they find it comfortable to work with civil servants because both institutions are bureaucratic in nature and have the same hierarchical culture.

From the video clip I saw in Damagaram, the soldiers went beyond mobilising civil servants and chiefs to mobilise dancing troupes and youth groups, in a clear attempt to show that they are popular. While the December 1983 coup in Nigeria was welcomed by most people because of the economic collapse in the Second Republic’s final months and the near total disappearance of rice, sugar, milk and detergents from the shops, the soldiers made no to attempt to organise street demonstrations in their support. In fact, Nigerian soldiers often do not like even shows of support. On February 3, 1976 when General Murtala Mohammed created seven new states, he said in his broadcast that “[This government] will not tolerate provocative demonstrations or celebrations, by any individual or group, in support or against the creation of states in any part of the country.” Phew!

Which brings me to the issue of the demonstration held by some people in Kano at the weekend, against ECOWAS military intervention in Niger Republic. To be fair, a lot of people in Northern Nigeria are

apprehensive about the threatened military action against the Niger coupists, which they fear could mar the centuries-old, extremely close cultural and commercial links with that country. Not only Northerners; I think people from many parts of Nigeria are dubious about the proposed military action, not the least because they believe this country has higher priorities. Northern Nigerians have however been in the forefront in this matter because different parts of Nigeria have different views of neighbours. South Westerners see Benin Republic as our essential neighbour; the people of Cross River and Adamawa see Cameroun as the main neighbour; Borno people are most closely affiliated to Chad, while the people of Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi think of Niger Republic as Nigeria’s principal neighbour.

Trouble however is, those demonstrations in Kano could have the unintended effect of encouraging the Nigerien coupists to dig in and reject peaceful solutions, under the belief that Nigerian government will not be able to mount a military campaign because there is domestic hostility to it. I am saying this for a good reason. In January 1991 when American and their allied forces were massing in the Persian Gulf region to drive out Iraqi forces from Kuwait, the world desperately shopped around for anyone who had an influence on Saddam Hussein. African statesman and Zambian President

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All the Mess that is Niger DAKUKU PETERSIDE

Challenging the New Ministers

Three recent developments are the focus of people with a keen interest in the political affairs of Nigeria at the moment. The first is whether ECOWAS, which means Nigeria, in real terms, will go to war in Niger Republic. The second is the brouhaha over the Naira versus Dollar exchange rate, having severely affected the living standards of a broad spectrum of Nigerians. The third and by no means the least has far reaching implications on the shape, form and character of the Tinubu presidency. At least in its first constitutional term. This is the next Federal Executive Council with raging questions on whether or not the incoming Ministers are the "messiahs" Nigerians expect. In my view, one packs the most weight of these three significant developments. It is the quality, capacity and effectiveness of these Ministers appointed by the new President and Commander-in-Chief. I hold this view since the impact of our cabinet Ministers on policy and their individual momentum is

what could directly determine the quality of governance and, by extension, the living standards in our country now and in the near future. Not surprising, the stakes were high and the tension palpable until the President released the last of the list of ministerial nominees two weeks ago for confirmation by the Senate. From informed commentaries so far, it is evident the list was received with mixed feelings.

There were huge expectations that technocrats, intellectuals, politicians with proven record of performance and highly skilled and talented Nigerians would dominate the cabinet. Some feel this expectation still needs to be fully met, given that the new-mint cabinet is dominated by old political war-horses with a sprinkling of professionals, youths and women.

Although inferentially, the President is expected to choose persons of good character, integrity and capacity for his team of cabinet Ministers, politics is not arithmetic. Political exigencies sometimes

trump these qualities in the melting pot of choice of ministerial nominees. The President, as Head of State and leader of his party, must strike a delicate balance between the conflicting intricacies inherent in making such choices. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find tainted persons, political jobbers and hollow men make their way to the cabinet. Politics will always be politics and not necessarily about what is best for the President, the government he leads or the Nigerian people. But that is where base or mundane considerations also end.

We have arrived the business end of things for a government in which citizens have invested so much expectations now that those nominated as Ministers have been screened and cleared by the Senate. With the confirmation, they must now work hard for the country. Regardless of who nominated them or how they were nominated and got cleared by Senate. It does not matter if some had to bow-and-go with the attendant drama. Or making the list by being somebody's

stooge or friend, the most important thing is that they have made it to the cabinet. The point to note is Nigerians have expectations of the new Ministers. The current social and economic crisis occasioned by the agenda of the President to transform the economy and make it viable now and in the future creates a fait accompli scenario for hard work by those in the policy engineering room of the Administration. It remains to be said that in this period of unmitigated uncertainties, the new Ministers hold the key to driving the President's vision and implementing policies that will lead Nigeria to a better position socially, economically and politically.

Ministers occupy the highest office in the Executive wing of the ruling elite. Ministers, as individuals and as a collective, can significantly influence a country's economic trajectory and quality of governance. One major success factor of the famed Asian

Continued on page 38