THURSDAY 15TH AUGUST 2024

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of Edo Guber Poll Will Be Met with Full Force

the September 21 governorship election

FG Approves Implementation of Zero Duty, VAT Exemption on Selected Food Items NSA: Attempts to Disrupt Peaceful Conduct

policy takes effect today, expected to crash food prices

James Emejo in Abuja

The federal government yesterday approved the regulation for the implementation of a Zero per cent Duty Rate and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on selected basic food items.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, confirmed the development to THISDAY yesterday evening.

in Edo State would be viewed as an assault on the very essence of the country's democratic values. Ribadu, who was represented

Hassan Yahaya disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He added that those planning

National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, further explained that the new policy will take effect from August 15, 2024 (today) till December 31, 2024.

The measure aims to mitigate the high cost of food items in the Nigerian market by making essential commodities more affordable for citizens.

Maiwada also stressed that the initiative was part of the govern-

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) also disclosed the development in a statement, adding that President Bola Tinubu okayed the implementation through finance minister.

Keyamo Leads Delegation to Europe Over Abuja Second Runway Project...

Page 42

Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos and Linus Ikechukwu in Abuja

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

(NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,

NASENI, MINIStry Of DEfENCE, DICON SIgN LANDMArk MOU...

L-R: Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Minister of state for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle; Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu; and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, at the MoU signing to establish an ammunition production factory at the Defence Industries Corporation (DICON) in Abuja... yesterday

WHO Declares Health Emergency Over Mpox

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The World World Health Organisation (WHO), has declared Mpox disease a global health emergency.

The WHO’s designation of Mpox as a “public health emergency of international concern” is intended to prompt emergency response by member countries and to begin preparations against possible outbreak of the Mpox disease in their territories. It will also afford them the op-

portunity to share vaccines, treatments and other key resources with poorer nations.

This will be the second time in three years that the WHO has designated an Mpox epidemic as a global emergency.

It had previously done so in July 2022, when the disease affected nearly 100,000 people, primarily gay and bisexual men, in 116 countries, and killed about 200 people.

The decision of the apex world

health body came on the heals of a similar declaration by the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention - Africa CDC on Tuesday.

WHO said the health emergency became necessary following the rapid spread of Mpox since the beginning of the year with the Democratic Republic of Congo alone reporting more than 14,000 Mpox cases and 524 deaths.

According to WHO, those most at risk included women and children under 15.

While declaring the Health emergency, WHO’s Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said, "The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of Mpox in eastern D.R.C., its detection in neighboring

countries that had not previously reported Mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying."

He said the outbreak has spread through 13 countries in Africa, including a few that had never reported Mpox cases before.

"What we’re seeing is tip of the iceberg" because of weaknesses in the surveillance system, Says Dr. Dimie Ogoina, Chair of the emergency committee convened by WHO and an infectious disease physician at Niger Delta University in Nigeria. This is something that should concern us all," he said.

On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

declared a “public health emergency of continental security.”

The centre had warned last week of an alarming rate of spread of the viral infection, which is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

"Most cases are mild but it can kill.

We declare today this public health emergency of continental security to mobilise our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act swiftly and decisively,” Director General Jean Kaseya said in a briefing that was live-streamed on Zoom.

According to the Centre, Mpox outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known

as Clade I.

"But the new variant, known as Clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, particularly among children," said the Centre.

Director General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, said in the briefing that the continent needed more than 10 million doses of the vaccine, but only about 200,000 were available. He promised that the Africa CDC would work to quickly increase the supply to the continent.

“We have a clear plan to secure more than 10m doses in Africa, starting with 3m doses in 2024,” he added, without saying where the vaccines would be sourced," he said.

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Deputy Director General, Media and Publicity for the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Rev. Olu Martins, has described Tuesday’s Edo South Campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin-City as "a display of cacophony and rally without a rallying point."

In a press statement, Rev. Martins said every time people rally all over the world, people rally behind ideas.

"There is nothing sound or concrete to hold on to from APC Tuesday rally that Edo people can pinpoint out or hold on to, other than loud talk, clanging cymbals and continued insult on the intelligence of the masses.

"In addition, they even boasted the shoprite will be destroyed and the Edo

Emmanuel Addeh

In a step towards enhancing Nigeria's defence capabilities and achieving self-reliance in military hardware production, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence.

The partnership, a statement from NASENI’s Director of Information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, said marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria's quest to strengthen its defence infrastructure through indigenous innovation and technological advancement.

During the MoU signing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman of NAS-

people be held under the vice grip of hungry political vampires whose only preoccupation is the primitive accumulation of wealth using state powers.

"Usually when people rally, they rally around ideas. Ideas of development, ideas of economic advancement or ideas of educational improvement.

“Unfortunately the APC doesn't have such ideas as the Nation under the party continues to grapple and struggle with hardship and disillusionment of an uncertain tomorrow.

"Even as a civil society practitioner, whenever we are going to protest, there is always a reason why we rally, but what we all saw on Tuesday at the APC rally was just a show of shame as no ideas, no ideology was propounded to move the Edo Nation forward.”

ENI, Mr Khalil Halilu highlighted the importance of the Military Industrial Complex (MIC), as not just a strategic initiative but a national imperative.

Halilu emphasised that in a rapidly evolving global security environment, it was crucial for Nigeria to position itself to address emerging threats with home-grown solutions.

"Today, we are embarking on a journey that will redefine Nigeria's defence landscape and secure our nation's future," said the NASENI Executive Vice Chairman.

"This partnership between NASENI and the Ministry of Defence is a testament to our commitment to harness Nigeria's scientific and engineering expertise in the service

Segun James

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, charged the leadership of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to be transparent and accountable in their service to the people.

He also implored the Fund to be responsible and responsive in rendering quality service for the benefit of Nigerians, especially those who need NSITF services in the public and private sectors.

The Governor gave the charge during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund

of national defence," he added.

NASENI's track record in research, development, and manufacturing, the statement said, positions the agency as a key player in the establishment of the MIC.

The new military industrial complex will serve as a hub for the development, production, and maintenance of military equipment, ranging from small arms to advanced defence systems.

The project aims to create a robust ecosystem that supports the needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces while fostering the growth of local industries, thereby reducing reliance on foreign imports.

"This MoU represents the begin-

(NSITF), Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, and the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity led by Senator Diket Plang and Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati, respectively, at Lagos House, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu, while reiterating his administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants, said the Lagos State Government, which had a robust insurance package in place for the workforce, was willing to collaborate with the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund to achieve its objectives as well as explore the benefits of the

ning of a long-term collaboration aimed at enhancing our defence capabilities through innovation and indigenous production," the executive vice chairman continued.

"Our goal is to ensure that our military is equipped with the best tools to defend our nation, and through this partnership, we will lay the foundation for a self-reliant defence industry that will also contribute to Nigeria's economic growth," he stressed.

Halilu expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, and the entire ministry for their unwavering support and confidence in NASENI.

"We are ready to work tirelessly to

Fund for workers and Lagosians.

He said the two-day retreat organised by NSITF for the leadership of the Fund and members of the National Assembly would be for the benefit of Nigerians, adding that the Fund should work toward ensuring that people get the dividends of democracy for a better and more sustainable nation for future generations.

Sanwo-Olu also commended the National Assembly for their commitment to make Nigeria better and for deeming it fit to be in Lagos for the retreat by NSITF and to proffer solutions on how to make the organisation better

ensure that the vision of a Nigerian military industrial complex becomes a reality. We owe it to our nation, to our Armed Forces, and to the generations yet unborn," he said.

This MoU signifies the start of a strategic partnership that will elevate Nigeria's defence capabilities and contribute to the broader goal of national security and economic development.

Other stakeholders present to witness the signing of the agreement included the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar-Audu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Kana and senior officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

than what it is.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of NSITF, Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, called for support from the Lagos State Government, noting that Lagos State's acceptance of the Fund will send a strong signal to other states.

He said the two-day retreat, themed: "Building a Stronger NSITF," was organised by the Fund to deepen stakeholder engagement to support the organisation. Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang, said the National Assembly was committed to ensuring the NSITF performs its functions to ensure that employees and employers in both the public and private sectors are protected and compensated when at work in case some hazards take place. Plang, representing Plateau Central in the Senate, commended Sanwo-Olu for his performance in office, saying all governors should come to Lagos to learn.

In his address, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati, described Sanwo-Olu as one of the best-performing governors in Nigeria today. He also commended Sanwo-Olu's commitment to worker welfare, saying Lagos is known to be paying more than the minimum wage to its workers even before the current approved minimum wage.

in Abuja

The PresidenT and his Predecessors...

Ahmed

and

Africa Can’t Complain If Tribe is Hero in Middle of Nothing, Says Tinubu in E’Guinea

Declares tribalism has no place on continent Reiterates need for peace, unity for development and prioritising stability, democracy for progress Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea sign bilateral agreements on security, oil and gas

deji elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said Africa must stop complaining about her existential challenges for as long as tribe remained the hero in the middle of nothing.

Tinubu, who stressed the importance of peace and unity in Africa's development and contended that without peace, progress was impossible, however, added that "Tribalism has no place in Africa.”

The president also emphasised that peace, stability, and democracy were the keys to the continent's progress and development.

Speaking at a dinner organised

in his honour by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, Tinubu stressed that Africa must take charge of solving its own problems, rejecting external expectations of conflict and instability.

Earlier, the president and his host had sat for talks and signed agreements in various areas, including petroleum, and security, among others.

Tinubu urged African leaders to prioritise peace, stability, and progress, saying, "The time is now" to take action.

He highlighted the brain drain and talent loss Africa faced due to poverty, archaic judicial systems, and tribalism, emphasising that

those issues must be addressed to foster development. The Nigerian leader also appealed to international organisations to invest more in African research and development.

"We have to work together to make peace the focus of our development in order to really develop. Without peace you cannot develop.

"Our problem is not that we don’t know what to do. We identify them, we understand what to do. Our problem is how and when we should do them and I say the time is now.

"We better roll our sleeves, put on our nickers and move for peace,

stability and progress.

"Why are we complaining about healthcare problem if our doctors cannot have a home in their continent, if our nurses are faced with destitution, if our judicial system is archaic, if tribe is the hero in the middle of nothing?

"Tribalism has no place in Africa, we have to take the continent and take it strongly and do it together, help one another, develop our resources for our progress, find solutions among ourselves, dwell on research and developement, reward those research and development programmes, bring out the results, don't sell it out.

"To the international organisations,

Ogun Launches Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme

Ogun State Government, yesterday, launched a health insurance scheme designed for the formal sector, comprising public servants and workers in the organised private sector, as part of activities lined up for the 2024 Public Service Week.

Governor Dapo Abiodun had launched the scheme for the informal sector in February 2022, allowing artisans, market women, traders, and other residents making a living through non-organised environments to benefit.

Abiodun, during the official launch of the scheme at Obas Complex, Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, disclosed that his government would pay 50 per cent of the premium for every worker registered in the scheme.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said it was in the interest of the present administration to ensure the well-being and welfare of public servants, who were the engine room of the government.

He stated that the theme of the 2024 Civil Service Week, "Building a Socially Responsive Public Service in the 21st Century: A Place of Ethics and Values," resonated deeply with the current administration’s aspirations and ideals for the public service.

Abiodun stated, "I hereby reassure all public servants that their wellbeing will remain a priority in the government's development agenda, as demonstrated in our payment of a N100 million counterpart fund, which has granted the state access to the federal government's Basic Health Care

Provision Fund since February 2020.

“And the launch of the Informal Sector of OGSHIS in 2020; and the provision of a N100 million take-off grant for the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency in November 2020.

"Also, as part of palliative support in the health sector earlier in the year, we released N310 million as an equity fund to provide health insurance access to low-income residents of the state, part of which facilitated free surgeries for over a thousand residents.

“Additionally, we have released the sum of N324 million to support 3,300 pregnant women in the state for free under the scheme tagged Ibidero. This includes covering their antenatal and postnatal care, as well as providing a N5,000 token after delivery."

Abiodun emphasised that the success of the scheme was a collective effort requiring close collaboration with health officials and stakeholders to ensure the system was effectively implemented, well-monitored, and continuously improved.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, stated that since close to 80 per cent of Nigerians paid out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare, the majority of citizens were prone to the dire consequences of catastrophic health expenditures.

Coker encouraged residents of the state to take advantage of both the informal and formal sector schemes, emphasising that these programmes serve as financial risk protection against undue health expenses that can plunge individuals into extreme poverty.

She stated, "I am delighted that His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, whose prioritisation of health has

demonstrably led to improvements in our health systems, is launching this scheme today. This is no longer just a plan. So, rest assured, this scheme is here and here to stay."

Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, in his welcome address, said good health was integral to the smooth and successful socio-economic endeavours of the people, underscoring the reality of the common maxim, "Health is wealth."

Onasanya added that the current administration's understanding that healthcare was central to improved productivity of the workforce was

evidenced by the governor's decision to launch the formal sector health insurance scheme. He stated that the scheme would directly impact the well-being of not just workers, but also their relatives.

Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Chapter, Comrade Ademola Benco, while delivering his goodwill message, described Abiodun as worker-friendly and conscious of the welfare of workers. Benco commended the governor for paying 50 per cent of the premium for every worker registered in the scheme.

we say thank you. We are partners. We'll continue to partner, but put more than half of the results of research and development here in the continent, we have a lot of youths to cater for, millions of them yearning for progress," he said.

The President also highlighted the need for collective action to address conflicts in regions such as the Congo Republic and the Sahel.

According to him, "Our gathering here today is a significant milestone in the history of Africa and particularly West Africa, between Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

"I am very happy to have listened to the very deep thinking coming from my brother, the President of Equatorial Guinea on Africa.

"Yes, it is Africa that must solve its own problems. They want Africa wretched and raggedy, full of conflicts, antagonism of one another, but we're saying no.

“Peace, stability and democracy are the way forward for a progressive development and we agreed on that. We definitely will continue to promote peace and stability throughout the continent.

"Some others of our brothers in shackles, are still there at each other's throat. We must work together, do everything possible to promote peace between them.

"What we are seeing in the middle of the region, Congo Republic and other areas of the Sahel is not pleasant

for our today and promising for our tomorrow."

President Mbasogo, in his remarks, expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for accepting his invitation to visit Equatorial Guinea, hailing the strong relations between the two nations.

The host president reiterated his satisfaction with the growing cooperation between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, citing areas such as education, mining, hydrocarbons, trade, defense, agriculture, and investment.

He praised Nigeria's extensive experience in agriculture, trade, tourism, and economic development, and expressed his desire for a mutually beneficial exchange of experiences between the two countries.

He also emphasised the need for African solidarity, calling for stronger regional and international cooperation to address challenges such as maritime crime, security threats, and economic diversification.

President Mbasogo stressed the importance of strengthening constitutional institutions, fighting against injustices, and advocating for greater African representation on the global stage, particularly on the UN Security Council.

He also thanked Tinubu for his visit, expressing confidence that the new spirit of cooperation between their nations would deepen their ties and promote mutual benefit for their people.

PMI: Economic Activities Declined in July, Contracted for 13th Consecutive Month

The composite Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) stood at 49.7 points in July 49.7 points.

The performance indicates a contraction in economic activities for the 13th consecutive month.

According to the PMI Survey Report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the period under review, the index however showed improvement compared to the 48.8 points recorded in the previous month.

The report pointed out that new orders and employment contracted at a slower rate compared to the levels recorded in June.

The sectoral breakdown also showed that the services sector

recorded expansion for the second consecutive month while the industry and agricultural sectors registered slower contraction when compared to the level recorded in the previous month.

The index gauges the direction of economic activities in the country for a specific month.

The survey respondents were the company's purchasing and supply executives, drawn from three sectors of the economy, including agriculture, industry, and services.

According to the report, PMI within industry, manufacturing, construction and mining & quarrying; electricity, gas & water supply sub-sectors all recorded contractions in the review month.

However, the Composite Output Index stood at 50.3 points in July 2024, indicating growth in production level for the first time after five consecutive months of contraction.

The survey stated that of the 36 sub-sectors reviewed, 16 reported growth in production during the review month, while 17 sub-sectors registered a decline with transportation equipment reporting the highest decline while the remaining three sub-sectors were stationary.

The PMI also put the composite level of new orders index at 48.8 points, which indicated a contraction in the volume of new incoming businesses/orders.

The report noted that of the 36 sub-sectors reviewed, 25 reported

declines in new orders with chemical and pharmaceutical products recording the highest decline while nine sub-sectors reported increased levels of new orders in the review month. It added that cement and forestry, however, remained stationary.

In addition, at 48.7 index points, the composite Employment Level indicated contraction in July for the seventh consecutive month. The index, however, improved in the review period when compared to 48.3 points recorded in the previous month. Also, 18 subsectors reported a contraction in employment, with printing and related support activities recording the highest decline in the review month.

L-R: Former President Muhammadu Buhari; President Bola

Tinubu;

former President Goodluck Jonathan, at the president's office after the National Council of State meeting at the State House on Tuesday

James emejo in Abuja

James sowole in Abeokuta

COUrtEsy visit tO PArAllEx BANk...

Nigeria, Brazil, Others Set to Benefit as New Drilling Technology Gives Access to over 5bn Barrels of Oil

Brent oil holds above $80

An oil production breakthrough that producers say can safely tap ultra-high pressure fields could put up to 5 billion barrels of previously inaccessible crude into production, analysts have said.

Earlier, Chevron disclosed it had pumped first oil from a field at 20,000 pounds per square inch pressures, a third greater than any prior well.

Its $5.7 billion Anchor project employs specially designed equipment from NOV Dril-Quip and drillships from Transocean, Reuters reported.

The Number 2 US oil firm began pumping from the first Anchor well on Sunday, with the second already drilled and close to being ready to turn on, said Bruce Niemeyer, head of Americas oil exploration and production.

A 2010 blowout at Gulf of Mexico's Macondo prospect killed 11 workers, fouled fisheries and covered area beaches in oil.

Transocean was the operator of the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon vessel and BP was the owner of the Macondo project. Both are involved in the new, higher pressure well developments.

Today, the industry is employing new drillships and equipment that has been created to cope with the extreme pressures that are a third greater than encountered in the Macondo failure.

"The industry has done their bit to safely deliver the barrels, with the new technology," said Mfon Usoro,

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has kicked-off the distribution of approximately 900 metric tonnes of 30 trucks of assorted fertilizers to farmers in the territory.

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, flagged-off the ceremony yesterday in Abuja.

The assorted fertilizers were donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to the FCT Administration for distribution to farmers in the nation's capital.

Mahmoud also described the event as a manifestation of the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's strategic response with a view to addressing the global challenge of food shortages.

While acknowledging the challenges faced by the populace regarding the high cost of food items, she expressed the commitment of the administration

a principal analyst who focuses on Gulf of Mexico operations at research firm Wood Mackenzie.

The new gear promises Chevron's Anchor and similar projects by Beacon Offshore Energy and BP will deliver a combined 300,000 barrels of new oil, and put 2 billion barrels of previously unavailable US oil within producers' reach, she said.

"These ultra-high pressure fields are going to be a big driver for production growth in the Gulf of Mexico," Usoro added

“Similar high-pressure, hightemperature oil fields that would benefit from the 20k technology are found off the coasts of Brazil, Angola and Nigeria,” said Aditya Ravi, a Rystad Energy analyst. The Gulf of Mexico will be the proving ground for the new gear, it added.

Including non-US fields, more than 5 billion barrels of known oil and gas of known resources globally could benefit from the technology, Ravi said. Those volumes equate to about 50 days of current global production, Reuters added.

Meanwhile, oil prices were broadly steady yesterday, as concerns that conflict may spread in the Middle East and threaten production in one of the world's major regions for crude production eased slightly.

Brent crude futures slipped 10 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $80.59 a barrel in the morning, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 19 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $78.16 per barrel. After hitting a seven-month low of

to proactively implement measures to address the situation.

Her words: "As you may recall, within the past two months, we have undertaken several initiatives to enhance food production. In collabora- tion with the World Bank and Islamic Development Bank, we achieved a significant milestone by providing farmers with a comprehensive range of agricultural inputs.

"Building on this success, we also successfully distributed the palliatives approved by Mr. President, bringing much-needed relief and succor to the residents of the FCT."

She however assured that the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat had fully adhered to the distribution guidelines outlined by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which includes the setting up of a broadbased ad-hoc committee to strategize and come up with distribution plans that would ensure the fertilizers reach

$76.30 at the beginning of last week, Brent rose more than 3 per cent on Monday to cap a five-day run of gains, closing at $82.30 a barrel.

"The recent rally in crude came to a halt yesterday with prices falling

back as fears of a retaliatory attack on Israel by Iran receded, with the risk premium slashed," said Ashley Kelty, an analyst at Panmure Liberum.

Iran had vowed a severe response to the killing of the leader of Hamas

late last month. Three senior Iranian officials have said that only a ceasefire deal in Gaza would hold Iran back from direct retaliation against Israel for the assassination. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement but it is fighting in Gaza against Hamas after the group attacked Israel in October. To counter Iran, the United States Navy has deployed warships and a submarine to the Middle East.

Hate Speech, Ethnic Profiling: South-east Traditional,

Religious Leaders Demand Tough Action against Perpetrators

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Traditional and religious leaders in the South-east geopolitical zone have condemned the festering hate speech and ethnic profiling pervading the national landscape, saying the federal authorities should descend heavily on perpetrators.

The leaders, under the aegis of Joint Body of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders on Peace and Conflict Resolution,” in a statement, expressed "grave concern" over the ballooning ethnic hatred.

Representatives of the traditional and religious leaders that signed the statement included Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, and the immediate past Chairman, Enugu State/South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu.

Other signatories were Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most

Rev. Chibuzu Opoko, and Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke.

The joint body stated, "The resurgent escalation of hate speech and ethnic profiling targeting Ndigbo community was becoming common, thereby posing ‘significant threat to the unity and stability of Nigeria’.

"The destructive potential of hate speech and ethnic profiling cannot be overstated. History has shown us how quickly unchecked hostility can lead to catastrophic consequences, such as the tragic events of the Rwandan genocide and the Nigeria Civil War.

"We must learn from these painful chapters of our history to ensure they are never repeated."

The body added that Nigerians should be alert at "recognising that the path of division and hatred leads only to destruction".

While it commended President Bola Tinubu for condemning and issuing a warning to ethnic bigots and merchants of hate speech in his

speech on August 4, the joint body said prompt action was needed as "it may be disastrous if the law tarries".

it stated, "More concrete steps and visible actions need to be taken to urgently address this issue, which we note is not specifically linked to the #EndBadGovernance protests but has rather become a recurring theme of Nigeria’s socio-political turbulence."

In order to stem the tide and prevent ethnic bigotry and hate speech from spiralling out of control, the prominent South-east leaders called for "legal and legislative action".

They stated, "We urge the government to immediately sanction and prosecute all those using and supporting the use of hate speech and ethnic profiling against Ndigbo and other ethnic groups.

"We also urge the National Assembly to expedite the passage of comprehensive legislation that criminalises hate speech and ethnic profiling, with stringent penalties for offenders."

The statement noted the need for education and creation of awareness on the dangers of ethnic bigotry, saying that a nationwide campaign should be launched immediately "to educate citizens on the dangers of hate speech and the importance of ethnic harmony".

It said, "This can be achieved through public service announcements, workshops, seminars, media and community outreach."

The leaders added that "all lovers of peace in Nigeria should undertake or support this at individual and corporate levels".

The joint body called on community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders across Nigeria "to initiate dialogue sessions within their communities to foster understanding and cooperation among different ethnic groups".

It stated that the media had a crucial role to play in stopping ethnic bigotry and hate speech on their tracks through manifest responsibility and accountability.

the intended beneficiaries.

The minister thanked partners for their support in training of agricultural extension agents and farmers, stressing that the administration was committed to sustaining this synergy and continuing the efforts to empower agricultural stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary for success.

She also urged FCT residents, particularly the youth population, to take advantage of the vast arable land that the FCT is blessed with and venture into agriculture, no matter how small.

On his part, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Hon. Lawan Kolo Geidam, described the donation from the CBN as an apt and timely response to mitigate the adverse impact of the current global food crisis, exacerbated by climate change, low production, and high prices on Nigerians.

Mary Nnah

To empower and inspire young Nigerians, 7Up, Nigeria's leading beverage brand, has unveiled Ms. Boluwatife Akinola as the 14th recipient of the prestigious 7Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship award.

This fully funded MBA scholarship at the esteemed Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is awarded annually to a Nigerian resident who has been admitted to HBS but is unable to fund their education.

The unveiling ceremony, held at SBC's head office in Ijora, Lagos, recently, was attended by dignitaries and representatives from Seven-Up Bottling Company.

Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Nkemdirim Agboti, commended the Chairman of SBC, Mr. Faysal El-

Khalil, for initiating the scholarship programme, while also appreciating the efforts of the Managing Director, Mr. Ziad Maalouf, for sustaining and building on the initiative.

The 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship, established in 2010 to commemorate SBC's 50th anniversary, has successfully awarded 14 recipients and has grown to become a testament to SBC's commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to giving back to the society.

Past recipients of the scholarship have gone on to achieve remarkable successes, including Misan Rewane, who is involved in upscaling the employability skills of fresh graduates across West Africa, and Olujimi Williams, Mayowa Kuyoro, Oluwasola Olaniyan, Bankole Makanjuola, Chidozie Ibekwe, Ahmed Alimi,

and Ms. Oreoluwa Agunbiade. Ms. Boluwatife Akinola, the 2024 recipient, expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am deeply honored to receive the 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship."

"This opportunity is a dream come true, and I am committed to using my education to make a significant impact in Nigeria by returning to contribute my quota in reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria." As a business, Seven Up Bottling Company continues to guarantee a greener future for Nigeria by inspiring and enabling young Nigerians through various initiatives such as SME

Up, Pepsi Football Academy, and Pepsi Music Academy, amongst others.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Olunma Izejiobi, Uzoma Anyanwa, Abdul-Rahman Buhari, Desayo Ajisegiri, Dafi Rogers-Halliday,

Scale

L-R: Mr Frank Alarapon, Head, Digital & Innovation, Parallex Bank; Mr. Ope Adu, SSA to Lagos Governor on Sports Marketing & Admin; Mr. Lekan Fatodu, Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission; Mr. Olufemi Bakre, MD/CEO, Parallex Bank; and Mrs. Bodunrin Olanipekun, Asst. Chief Sports Officer, Lagos Sports Commission, during a courtesy visit to the bank by the management of the sports commission …yesterday

EIU: Further Delay to Dangote Refinery Will Have Negative Effect on Nigerian Economy

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has said any further delay to the commencement of petrol production at the Dangote refinery will have a negative effect on Nigeria’s economic projections.

The London-based EIU is the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, providing forecasting and advisory services through research and analysis, such as monthly country reports, five-year country economic forecasts, country risk service reports, and industry reports.

EIU said in its latest report on Nigeria, “Delays to the Dangote refinery's ramp-up in petrol production – we expect full capacity to be reached only in 2026 or later – would perpetuate a nexus between the public finances and the management of the naira.

“As the federal government unofficially subsidises petrol (the official subsidy was scrapped in June 2023), currency losses feed into a widening budget deficit that is becoming more challenging to finance.

“This provides extra incentive for the central bank to revert to stronger management of the currency, as we already expect, but the degree of market intervention could become heavier.”

EIU argued that ongoing fuel imports would reduce the currentaccount surplus from the 1.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that it currently projected for 2025, potentially leading to lower foreign reserves and the return to a more rigid and unstable foreign exchange system.

It added, “The Dangote fuel refinery is potentially transformational for Nigeria, which has always been an oil exporter and fuel importer. This fact is often regarded as a failure and an embarrassment by politicians, businesses and the media alike, but the new refinery has the ability to change this.

“However, a highly anticipated start to petrol production at the facility has met delays. We expect a major ramp up to take place in 2025, but recent events make it likely that reaching full capacity will not happen until well into 2026, and there is a downside risk of peak production being delayed further.”

EIU said the Dangote refinery had been producing since January 2024, and had since March been exporting varying volumes of fuel oil, naphtha, nitrogen fertilisers, gasoil, jet fuel, and diesel.

The report regarding the refinery, “It has a 650,000 barrels per day

G Approve S Impleme

ment’s broader effort to address food security challenges and ensure that basic foodstuffs were accessible to all Nigerians.

He emphasised that while the temporary measure was intended to address current hardships, it did not undermine the long-term strategies put in place to safeguard local farmers and protect manufacturers.

The customs spokesman added that the implementation of the policy will focus on addressing the national supply gap.

He explained that to participate in the zero-duty importation of basic food items, a company must be incorporated in Nigeria and must have been operational for at least five years, and must have filed annual returns and financial statements and paid taxes and statutory payroll obligations for the past five years.

Maiwada said companies importing husked brown rice, grain sorghum, or millet needed to own a milling plant with a capacity of

NSA: ATT emp TS To D IS rup T p e Aceful c o ND ucT of eD o Guber p oll W I ll b e m e T WITH f ull f orce

commitment to peace for weakness.

Ribadu stated: “The governorship election in Edo State is about a month away, and campaigns have begun in earnest, albeit with pockets of inter and intra-party squabbles.

“Accordingly, given the violent antecedents of some politicians and their supporters in the State, the NSA, who doubles as the Co-Chair of ICCES, has warned that any attempt to undermine, interfere with, or disrupt the peaceful conduct of the polls would be viewed as an assault on the very essence of our democratic values.”

The NSA, therefore, reassured the electoral body that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to peaceful election was unwavering.

boilerplate capacity, which is enough to supplant fuel imports entirely (Nigeria consumed 514,000 bpd in 2022) and detach the pump price of fuel in Nigeria from exchange rate fluctuations.”

With petrol de facto subsidised by the government, EIU pointed out that locally produced fuel would have significant benefits for the fiscal position, as well as the currency, given that petroleum products account for between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of the country's goods import bill.

EIU stated, “The Dangote refinery was supposed to start producing petrol

at least 100 tons per day, operated for at least four years, and have enough farmland for cultivation. Similarly, those importing maize, wheat, or beans must be agricultural companies with sufficient farmland or feed mills/agro-processing companies with an out-grower network for cultivation.

The basic food items eligible for the zero per cent duty rate include husked brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat and beans.

by June but, following setbacks, the target was postponed until July and later extended to August, which still appears to be optimistic.

“The refinery has encountered a range of problems, both practical and political in nature. The most publicly discussed issue is how the refinery can secure a reliable pipeline of crude oil feedstock at affordable prices.

“NNPC, the state oil firm, has not been able to provide enough volume. The government has promised to deliver 450,000 bpd of oil to the refinery through NNPC in a pilot scheme, sold in naira, but the state

The statement further noted that the Federal Ministry of Finance will periodically provide the NCS with a list of importers and their approved quotas to facilitate the importation of these basic food items within the framework of the policy.

The policy requires that at least 75 per cent of imported items be sold through recognised commodities exchanges, with all transactions and storage recorded.

oil company is not in a position to make this a reliable arrangement.

“Crude production in Nigeria is stubbornly low, as a result of oil theft and underinvestment. Output was 1.31m bpd in July, against an OPEC+ target of 1.38m bpd. NNPC receives a varying minority share of this and, moreover, a sizeable quantity (about 90,000 bpd) is being committed as loan collateral.”

The report said Dangote refinery had bought some oil cargoes from abroad, but added that currency mismatches would render an import dependent model unsuited to selling petrol locally in naira, as the government wanted.

EIU reiterated that International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria had been demanding a $3-4/ barrel premium over the price that they are getting elsewhere, probably reflecting the cost of diverting supplies away from their regular buyers or because their oil is committed in long term contracts.

It stated, “The premium is judged too onerous by the refinery, which has appealed to the government to intervene. The government could enforce a regulatory provision – the domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO) – that compels IOCs to sell crude to local refineries, but the

Companies must keep comprehensive records of all related activities, which the government can request for compliance verification.

If a company fails to meet its obligations under the import authorisation, it will lose all waivers and must pay the applicable VAT, levies, and import duties, Maiwada added.

regulator has opted against doing so. Political pressures might force a change, but it is hard to say this with confidence, given the trade offs.

“The government will not want to further undermine the investment climate for IOCs by insisting on the DCSO, at a time when several of them are attempting to divest from the country.

“There are also concerns within government and a web of influential industry players that the Dangote refinery is trying to establish a monopoly on petrol supply. Ensuring that the facility has access to cheap crude would cement its market power.

“Tensions between government regulators and refinery management have been palpable. The most likely outcome is for the impasse with IOCs to continue. Other issues warrant long-term view of full capacity.”

EIU said another reason to expect delays was the question of installed capacity at the refinery.

On the non enforcement of the DSCO, it stated that there was a dispute swirling between the refinery's management and the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) after Farouk Ahmed, the latter’s chief executive, claimed that the Dangote refinery was only 45 per cent complete mid-July.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has promised to drive reforms as well as build and improve on the foundation laid by her predecessor, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan as encapsulated in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP-25).

She made this known yesterday upon assumption of duty, where she was received by Permanent Secretaries along with Directors and staff of the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Walson-Jack thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment and for reposing confidence in her, promising to escalate ongoing reform initiatives in the service, deliver on the mandates of the office, in sync with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

While courting the support of management and staff of the Of-

“Those planning to disrupt the elections should not mistake the current administration's commitment to peace for weakness.

“We will defend the integrity of the polls using every lawful means at our disposal, and anyone attempting to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections will face the full force of the law.

“Law enforcement agencies are on high alert and ready to swiftly and decisively deal with anyone trying to undermine the polls,” he said.

Ribadu told the Edo electorate to vote confidently, knowing that the government was with them and determined to protect their voices.

aggregate index score of the manufacturing sector decreased from 53.5 points to 51.9 point in Q2 2024.

Furthermore, the report indicated that lending rate to manufacturers during the period under review for Zenith Bank Plc was 30 per cent on the average while Access Bank Plc and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) were 32 per cent apiece. For First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Ecobank Plc, it was 35 per cent.

It added: “The continuous hikes in MPR have tightened financial conditions for the productive sector, with the average maximum lending rate charged by commercial banks on manufacturers’ finances rising to 35 per cent in Q2 2024 from 28.6 per cent in Q1 2024.

“This has not only increased the cost of goods but has also further compounded the inflationary problem and threatened employment in the sector.”

MAN blamed the ‘erroneous disposition’ of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fighting inflation with continual hiking of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) for the current lending rate to the manufacturing sector.

“As the CBN continues to hold the erroneous belief that inflation in Nigeria is primarily money-induced, it has persistently increased interest rates in an attempt to curb the escalating inflationary pressure, which reached a 28-year high of 34.19 per cent in June.

“The MPC's decision to further hike the MPR by 50 basis points in its July meeting brings the total increase to 1,525 basis points since May 2022, when the committee began its aggressive rate hikes.

“Unfortunately, inflation has continued to defy the antidote of increased interest rates, as the inflationary problem in the country is largely driven by supply-side deficiencies and other structural bottlenecks,” MAN stated.

It asserted that before the recent increase in the MPR, available data revealed that none of the five top banks charged a maximum lending rate below 30 per cent.

It warned that the MPC’s decision would further “escalate the cost of borrowing, limit access to credit, and discourage investment in the manufacturing sector.”

The association, therefore, expressed concern that the capacity of the manufacturing sector to play its strategic role of stimulating economic growth has been further constrained by the increase in interest rates.

“The new rate will further limit the growth of the manufacturing sector, as the purchasing power of consumers, production levels, competitiveness, and sales will further decline beyond measure.

“Specifically, the recent increase in the cost of borrowing will escalate production costs, prices of finished goods, unemployment, and social instability and lead to the closure of more manufacturing concerns and constrain the capacity of the sector to compete effectively in global and regional markets,” it said.

The manufacturers’ association observed that while the devaluation of the Naira has more than doubled the value of manufactured exports from N131.15 billion in Q1’23 to N268.7 billion in Q1’24, the share of manufacturing in non-oil exports has consistently declined from 30.2 per cent in Q2’23 to 15.1 per cent in Q1’24, even below the recorded share of 19.8 percent in Q1’23.

“This reveals the waning competitiveness of the Nigerian manufactured export in the global market. This is occasioned by the high cost of doing business, especially the rising cost of borrowing for manufacturing investment.

“It is also noteworthy to acknowledge the critical link between domestic investor confidence and foreign investor sentiment.

“As increasing interest rate contributes to low domestic

He said the penalty also applied if the company exported the imported items in their original or processed form outside the country.

investor confidence, foreign direct investment in the sector had also declined $191.92 million in the Q1’24, marking a significant drop of 25 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 57 per cent year-on-year. It was $256.12 million in Q1’23,” it said.

It stated that it was expedient that the CBN should prioritise the survival of manufacturing in making monetary policy decisions. This would enable the sector to effectively play its role as the key driver of employment creation, productivity, stable foreign exchange earnings, and sustained economic growth.

It, therefore, implored “the CBN to be domestic production centric by taking a detour from continuous hike in MPR and allow time for the real sector to recover from the impact of previous hikes.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, yesterday said that indigenous manufacturing of arms and ammunition in commercial quantity, will lower the pressure on Naira and improve its value in the foreign exchange market.

Matawalle, also disclosed that the country was grappling with a significant demand for ammunition, with the military alone requiring approximately 200 million rounds each year.

He added that when the needs of other paramilitary forces and the police are factored in, the total annual requirement for ammunition surges to a staggering 350 million rounds.

The minister made this disclosure on Wednesday, when the ministries of defense, steel development, and the national agency for science and engineering infrastructure (NASENI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to facilitate massive production of arms and ammunition in Nigerian through the military industrial complex.

He however, expressed optimism that the country was on track to begin exportation of arms and

He maintained that the NCS under the leadership of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, remained committed to supporting government policies to enhance food security and promote economic stability. The service, therefore, urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully in implementing the initiative for the benefit of all Nigerians.

ammunition in no distant time, through the revitalised Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

Matawalle who doubles as the board chairman of DICON, said: "I made a promise to Mr. president that as far as we are in ministry of defence, before the expiration of these four years, DICON will be exporting its military capability.

“ Therefore, all we need from all of you is prayers and your dedication. We should look at it as our own baby. If today, we are manufacturing even 60 or 70 percent of our military hardware and ammunition, the ministry or military need for forex for importation of arms and ammunition every year would have reduced minimally.

“The requirement of just military is about 200 million rounds of ammunition per annum. Put together, other paramilitary agencies, and the police, we would be looking at about 350 million rounds of ammunition per annum".

He noted that if the military industrial complex was able to achieve the projected volume of arms and ammunition, the country will not have the problem of foreign exchange pressure because the ammunition will be purchased with local currency.

According to him, if the military or police or civil defence are buying from DICON, they will pay in Naira, and the pressure of sourcing forex will be eliminated.

Speaking at the singing of the MoU, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, highlighted the strategic importance of Ajaokuta in the initiative, saying, "Ajaokuta provides the perfect platform for the military industrial complex.”

He noted that the collaboration was not only expected to enhance Nigeria's defence capabilities but also to stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign imports.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Dangote

Walson-Jack fice, Walson-Jack disclosed that she intends to use technology in driving transformation in the

that

sacrosanct.

Embrace Military Culture of Courage, Loyalty, Respect, Officers Charged

ikechukwu aleke in abuja

The Force Commander, Multinational Joint Tasks Force (MNJTF), Maj Gen Ibrahim Ali, yesterday charged new Military Staff Officers at MNJTF Headquarters to embrace the cherished military values of courage, loyalty, and respect.

The Force Commander gave this charge during a brief but colourful induction ceremony for the new Military Staff Officers at HQ MNJTF N’djamena Chad. He further

urged them to remain steadfast and dedicated to the principles that guides the mission. Gen Ali added that the induction ceremony marke not just the beginning of their journey with MNJTF but also the continuation of a legacy built on dedication, honor and unwavering commitment to the mandate of MNJTF.

A statement by Chief Military Information Officer, HQ MNJTF N’djamena Chad, Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba, said the force commander highlighted the

Hands Off Politics, NLC Cautioned

Chuks Okocha in abuja

Northern Obidients Youth Assembly (NOYA) has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to desist from intimidating the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and other officials of the ministry.

The warning came after the NLC called on the federal government to caution the minister and her officials against interfering in the union’s right to political participation.

The NLC’s demand followed a letter from the Director/Registrar of Trade Unions(TUC), Falonipe Amos, cautioning the union against meddling in political parties’ affairs.

NOYA Coordinator, Hussaini Murkhtar, accused the NLC of operating outside its established Act and meddling in politics instead of focusing on workers’ welfare.

unity and common purpose that bind the MNJTF family together.

“As ambassadors of your countries, you are now part of a team that transcends

individuality. We are united by a common goal – to ensure that peace and security return to the fringes of Lake Chad,” he said.

Encouraging the new officers

to embody the values of courage, loyalty, and respect, Major General Ali emphasised the pivotal role they will play in shaping the future of the MNJTF.

He said: “Your contributions are vital to our success. Lead by example, inspire those around you, and always keep sight of the greater good we strive to achieve”.

Kumuyi Storms Rivers for National Change Programme

Tasks Nigerians on moral, positive changes in society

Blessing ibunge in Port harcourt

The General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams F. Kumuyi, has called on Nigerians to join hands in tackling the issues of corruption and abnormalities in the society, stressing the need for collective efforts for positive change Pastor Kumuyi made the call

He vowed that NOYA would resist any attempt to use the NLC to destabilize political parties, especially the Labour Party.

The NOYA Coordinator urged the NLC to obey the laws of the land and act within its established Act, warning that any attempt to truncate democracy would be met with resistance from Nigerians.

He said: “I think at this point, what the NLC should focus on is to obey the laws of the land and acting in line with the Act that set them up instead of threatening a serving ministry.

“This is an act of hooliganism and thuggery and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. The NLC have the mandate of protecting the welfare of workers but in recent times they have lost focus and become more interested in politics.

He commended the TUC for its exemplary leadership and professionalism. Murkhtar alleged that the NLC has become a tool for silencing opposition parties and promoting a one-party state.

yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, after arriving for the six-day global conference on Positive Change and Social Impact commencing today, at the Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. Kumuyi had initiated a group called “Change Makers International Initiative (CMI)”, a non-denominational and non-religious movement to drive the change mission. The CMI would be carrying out the vision of providing solutions to the myriads of problems facing the society, beginning with the heads of families. The programme, which aims at achieving the mandate of positive change in the society, would commence in the state, from August 15 to 20, this year.

Speaking with journalists, Kumuyi explained that the Change Makers International Initiative was borne of the premise of changing the ills and wrong actions in the society. He noted that individuals, families, religion leaders and government have lost grip in handling humanity to sanity based on the rising corruption in the society.

Enugu PDP Elects Council Chairmanship Candidates

Gideon arinze in Enugu

Ahead of the October 2024 local council election in Enugu State, the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), yesterday, elected the party’s chairmanship candidate for the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

The party had also earlier

elected its councillorship candidates for the 260 electoral wards of the state on Monday.

The yesterday’s exercise, which witnessed mass turnout of party’s delegates and stakeholders in the 17 LGAs saw the eventual candidates clear the polls in most places following weeks of consensusbuilding preceding the exercise.

Many aspirants, who spoke at the venues, declared support for the eventual winners, urging their supporters to vote for them. However, only two former council chairmen, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh of Nkanu East LGA and Hon. Obiora Obeagu of Isi-Uzo LGA, were returned as the party’s candidates for the forthcoming council elections. At the party’s chairmanship primary election held at Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, Hon. Okechukwu swept the entire 42 votes cast by the 42 delegates to emerge winner, while Hon. Obeagu polled all the 33 votes cast by 33 party delegates at Ikem, Isi-Uzo LGA, to emerge victorious.

Declining Trust in Hospital-based Care Worrisome, Says NGO

Omolabake

Fasogbon

A non-governmental organisation, Sustainable Development Goals for Her Initiative (SDGforHer), has decried the apathy for conventional healthcare in underserved communities, highlighting the urgency to intensify sensitisation in this regard. It noted this as being detrimental

to the Nigeria’s health care profile as well as heightens mortality risks in the country.

During a health drive for women in Makoko community in Lagos, Founder of the organisation, Hannah AyilaranOmon, observed a trend of distrust for orthodox care among over 200 women reached during the exercise, worrying that the

situation was almost the same in rural communities.

She cited inherent dangers of this mindset to have fuelled wrong and late treatment of ailments, as she reiterated organisation’s objectives to safeguard women and children’s health, while preventing avoidable deaths.

The founder explained that the outreach held in partnership

with Total Health Trust and Alternative Bank’s Food Bank project sought to enrich physical health of women who are mostly victims of marginalisation. She said: “This exercise aligns with our goals of driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that pertain to women, including gender equality and good health.

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

Ibeneme: Otti Poised to Meet High Expectations of Abia People

a United states-based engineer and member of abia state advisory Council and Diasporan Commission, Bob Ibeneme, in this virtual interview with Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo, speaks on the burning desire of abia Diasporans to assist Governor alex Otti realize his vision for a New abia.

It is over a year since a new government came on board in Abia State. How do Abia people in Diaspora perceive the administration of Governor Alex Otti?

A - Before Dr. Alex Otti’s emergence as the Governor of Abia State, he was already quite popular with the Abia Diaspora community.

In 2014, when he announced his intention to contest the governorship election, he understood the importance of the Diaspora community and actively sought their support. Supporting Otti was easy because he was the most qualified, experienced, and prepared candidate for the position. Although he won the 2015 election with a landslide victory, we all knew what happened to the mandate given to him by the Abia people.

In 2019, he made another attempt, and the Diaspora community supported him once again. By 2023, with the intervention of principled individuals like Professor Nnenna Otti, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the mandate was safeguarded from the die-hard political class who sought to cling to governance indefinitely. Otti has a robust support base among the Diaspora, including the popular Diaspora Alliance for Good Governance group, which comprises top Abia Diasporans who are well-accomplished and distinguished in their respective fields. These individuals came together to give him massive support.

So, I can confidently say that Abia Diasporans are very happy with the governor’s performance since he took office. Many of us now walk with our shoulders high because the governor has proven that our decision to support him over the years was indeed the right one.

When Governor Otti won the election, the Diaspora Alliance for Good Governance installed billboards at strategic locations across Abia that read, “It is a New Abia, Keep the Faith, and Stay Strong.” This demonstrates the extent of belief and confidence they have in Otti.

Today, across the state, we can all agree that it is indeed a New Abia, with significant changes from the old norm. The faith of Abians in the leadership of Dr Alex Otti has been magnified.

Are there specific policies and programmes already put in place by the Governor to justify your optimism of a New Abia emerging through the Otti administration?

Consider the civil service reforms: Governor Otti ended the core and non-core workers dichotomy, ensuring prompt payment of salaries and fair treatment of all workers, regardless of political affiliation and whether they work in ministries or parastatals. Now, Abia civil servants are more motivated than ever before. I receive commendation text messages from Abia civil servants in my constituency, praising the governor. One of them wrote to me about gaining field experience from on-the-job site exposure due to Otti’s policy of using staff in the Ministry of Works for road maintenance. Also, consider Otti’s appointments: they are all based on merit, equity, and justice. Gone are the days when mediocrity was rewarded with appointments due to political connections. One of the Abia Diasporans who visited Nigeria in May called me upon his return, saying that Aba now looks like a city, clean and not stinking as before.

I had the privilege of joining the governor to flag off the Clean Up Abia program shortly after his inauguration. I witnessed how refuse was dumped on major roads. We all remember how we had to cover our noses to avoid the stench from refuse dumps in the streets of Aba and Umuahia. Today, the Clean-Up Abia policy is changing the narrative of Abia and its major cities.

An infrastructure revolution is underway in Abia State, courtesy of Governor Otti’s administration, and security has significantly improved. It is no longer news that Abia is now becoming the beautiful bride of investors in the Southeast region of Nigeria. These achievements are a

result of Otti’s leadership, and the trust people have in him. These milestones are significant, and the Diaspora community is taking note, hence the rising popularity of Otti among the Diaspora.

You were appointed into the Abia Diaspora Commission as one of the commissioners. This is a novelty in Abia, what does it entail?

The Governor in his wisdom, appointed me and four eminently qualified Abians, namely Chief Okey Agbara, who serves as the chairman, Ambassador Dr. Annie Onu-Onwuchekwa, Chief Leon Ibeka, and Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe, to the Abia State Diaspora Commission. I remain very grateful to His Excellency for this privilege to serve.

As members of the Commission, we are Abia Ambassadors, providing a link for Abians in the Diaspora to participate in the development of Abia State in line with the vision of Dr Otti. It is our duty to leverage the network, skills, knowledge, and experiences of Abians living abroad for the development of Abia State.

In terms of government policies, it is our responsibility to promote these

policies within the Diaspora community and ensure their voices and inputs are incorporated into Abia governance.

Can the Commission be able to engender capital inflow into Abia in terms of Direct Foreign Investments (DFI)?

Definitely. We will explore the most attractive and cost-efficient means for capital inflow, investments, and technology transfer by Abians in the Diaspora. We are tasked with promoting cooperation and interaction between Abians in the Diaspora and organizations, as well as state and local authorities. Additionally, we will carry out other duties aligned with the governor’s vision to advance the Commission and develop Abia State.

We will liaise with other relevant government agencies to generate concessions of land for infrastructure or opportunities for Abians in the Diaspora. Presently, the Commission is working on a comprehensive database of Abians in the Diaspora. As I mentioned earlier, we have very competent and well-grounded members in the Commission. Together, as a team, we will serve the Abia State government and the Diaspora community to the best of our abilities.

He is already doing that by creating an enabling environment for security and businesses to thrive in Abia State. His policies are diaspora-friendly, and he has the political will to make decisions that align with the principles of diasporans. He has a fantastic diaspora outreach approach and a mechanism for consultation. In the last three months, he has been to the US and UK delivering lectures focused on good governance and accountability and engaging with Abia diasporans.

What’s the level of involvement of Abians staying abroad in the affairs of Abia, their state of origin?

With the emergence of Dr Otti as the Governor of Abia State, we have witnessed a significant increase in the involvement of Diasporans in the affairs of Abia State. The executive cabinet now includes some Diaspora members. Last Christmas, Abia experienced the highest number of Diasporan visits for the holiday season. In the Southeast, we love to celebrate Christmas in our villages, and December 2023 recorded the highest number of visitors.

We also have numerous Abia cultural organizations across the globe eager to engage with the Commission. The level of involvement of Abians in the Diaspora has significantly increased. Members of the Diaspora community are reaching out to the Commission, seeking ways to partner with the state government to develop Abia.

These are all positive signs pointing to better days ahead for Abia State. Leadership is indeed everything. The leadership of Dr Otti has restored hope and confidence in the people of Abia, and that confidence is attracting investors to the state.

In actual terms, can Diasporans really influence things here at home in terms of how people make democratic choices during general election cycles?

This is a very interesting question. There is a common misconception that diasporans cannot influence the outcome of elections in Nigeria, but that is wrong.

I would like to give you an example. During the voter registration and PVC collection periods, our group, the Diaspora Alliance for Good Governance, tasked all our members in the diaspora to mobilize their constituencies to register and collect their PVC voter cards. We came up with a strategy we called “Card to 10K.” What this means is if you register and have your PVC, we will give you N10,000. I can tell you that this worked out very well, and the results were quite impressive.

During the elections, we ensured that our candidate’s manifesto was broken down into our native language and summarized in English with illustrations so that even a layperson could understand the policies and plans of our candidate, Dr Otti. The simplified manifestos were also turned into jingles that played constantly on radio stations. Fliers were shared in churches and markets, and a public address system played the summarized manifesto jingles in busy areas and on market days. We had informative billboards and a strategy we tagged “Weekend to Call,” which means members were expected to call political leaders in their LGAs and try to convince them to support our candidate.

It wasn’t just leaders in Abia; we also tried to engage prominent individuals here in the States who were not showing interest in politics to encourage their people to support our candidate. During the elections period, we organized young graduates in our various wards to conduct voter education on how to thumb print at the Labour Party logo. We also sent delegates from the US who were on the ground to ensure everything went smoothly and to provide us with real-time feedback. So, if you look at the efforts and analysis, you can agree with me that even though we are in the diaspora, our contribution was very much felt. This is just one example of how individuals and organizations in the diaspora significantly contribute to making democratic choices. It is only an ignorant politician who will ignore the contributions of diaspora groups in Nigerian politics. Our principal understands their role and contribution, and that is why he takes everything about diasporans very seriously, appreciating their efforts toward the growth of the state beyond politics.

NOTE:

Ibeneme

The parking system will enhance order in the streets, argues SAMUEL OMOJOYE

LAGOS AND THE ‘ON-STREET PARKING’ SOLUTION

Globally, the non-availability of sufficient parking spaces in major cities is a serious concern. This is largely because the demand for parking spaces usually outstrips the available supply, thereby giving rise to a myriad of parking challenges. If not well-managed, this could lead to traffic congestion and air pollution, amongst others.

This is where a carefully planned effective parking management system becomes expedient.

Worldwide, as cities expand and evolve, the imperative to re-imagine parking paradigms becomes more pressing. Hence, most cities deploy a spectrum of strategies to optimize parking utilization and curtail parking-induced traffic.

Cities like Singapore and London, for instance, use dynamic pricing to regulate parking demand by adjusting fees based on factors such as time of day, location, and demand fluctuations. This strategy aims to incentivize drivers to use alternative transportation options or park in less congested areas.

Smart parking technologies, such as sensors, data analytics, and mobile apps, are revolutionizing parking management in cities like San Francisco and Barcelona. These systems allow real-time monitoring of parking availability, guiding drivers to vacant spots and helping alleviate traffic congestion.

Tokyo and Amsterdam are improving urban mobility by integrating parking facilities with public transit networks. This strategy promotes a combination of driving and alternative transportation modes, including park-and-ride facilities, bicycle parking hubs, and seamless transit connections, for commuters.

Strict enforcement of parking rules and zoning laws is vital in cities like New York and Sydney to deter illegal parking and ensure compliance. Deploying measures such as parking enforcement officers, CCTV surveillance, and automated ticketing systems helps uphold order and safety on urban streets.

Considering its growing population, limited landmass, and continuous economic activities, Lagos experiences a high demand for parking spaces. The existing parking infrastructure is inadequate to address the parking needs. As earlier stated, this is not peculiar to Lagos. Several major cities contend with similar challenges.

The issue of insufficient parking infrastructure is not necessarily an affirmation of a lack of concerted efforts towards the same but more a result of rapid urbanization.

Though the pursuit of effective parking management in Lagos is understandably fraught with obstacles, it yet brims with potential. Undoubtedly, optimizing the utilization of existing public spaces to create reg-

ulated parking environments and curbing unauthorized parking is crucial to nip the challenge in the bud.

Cheerfully, in the last four years, the state government has been making renewed and commendable efforts to redefine parking management. This is being done through comprehensive urban planning frameworks, substantial investment in infrastructure, and the implementation of a robust parking policy.

This, no doubt, is a step in the right direction.

In my view, the establishment of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) and the implementation of the Lagos State Parking Policy certainly reinforces the government’s resolve to provide innovative parking solutions. It represents an audacious attempt to scientifically address the state's parking challenges while charting a course toward sustainable urban development that is hinged on effective parking management.

To consolidate the gains of the current dispensation in the sector, considering the ‘On-Street Parking’ option might be a viable solution to confront this longstanding issue.

‘On-Street Parking’ involves designating portions of public roads for parking vehicles. It is a regulated form of parking that allows for the use of designated spots on streets and major roads for timed parking. It’s a common method of parking that aptly suits urban and suburban areas. It not only optimizes the use of limited urban space but also brings about numerous economic benefits that can further catalyse diverse economic benefits.

This kind of parking can be done on one side of a carriageway or two sides of a dual carriageway, depending on the size of the road. To be able to accommodate ‘On-Street Parking’, a road must be up to 9.5 meters in width minimum.

This parking mode helps to regulate the already existing roadside parking and check indiscriminate parking. When properly regulated, it introduces a structured approach to managing vehicular traffic. By designating specific areas and times for parking, congestion around popular destinations can be minimized, thereby improving overall traffic flow and reducing travel times.

In addition, the practice enables the provision of additional parking spaces, especially in areas with high parking activities and limited parking facilities. ‘On-Street Parking’ will not only increase parking capacity but will also help to maximize urban public spaces. This efficiency is crucial for a city like Lagos prone to gridlock due to heavy vehicular movements.

· Omojoye writes from Palmgrove, Lagos

The new director general of SEC and his colleagues need support of market operators to navigate the inclement operating environment, writes SOLA ONI

WHO’S AFRAID OF EMOMOTIMI AGAMA?

I have always known him by reputation. Our paths never crossed until November last year, when I was invited by the Head, External Relations of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mohammed Bagudu, to serve as an observer, during a two-day training for the Capital Market Editors in Lagos. I knew that the invitation was a coded way of requesting me to intervene during the brainstorming sessions. I honoured the invitation as an opportunity to interact with the current Editors to share some experiences, having reported the market during the Call-Over Trading System up till early 90s.

When I was introduced, Dr Agama welcomed me warmly, as if we had known each other for a long time. This is understandable as he was at SEC when I was at The Nigerian Stock Exchange (now NGX). There is no doubt that the immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI), a subsidiary of SEC, is a consummate teacher. He was on top of the subject matter and each time I intervened, he highlighted my points and urged the participants to take my contributions seriously.

Given the substance and essence of the training, I wrote a piece entitled: “Anatomy of the SEC’s Capacity Building for Financial Press”. It was published by many print and Online Newspapers. Agama was very happy with the publication and he expressed this through a text message to me.

He hit the headlines in April this year, when he was announced the Director General of the Commission, succeeding the unassuming Dr Lamido Yuguda, I sent him a congratulatory text message. His exponential rise from Deputy Director to Director General can be regarded as a touch of fate. But nobody can question Agama’s credentials. He has built for himself a solid wealth of experience at the Commission in addition to his pedigree as a Chartered Management Accountant, Chartered Stockbroker, Investment Banker and Economist. He sits atop a team of seasoned stockbrokers. The new SEC Board also comprises some seasoned stockbrokers. But this comes at a cost. Public expectation is high as if they have silver bullet to attack the myriad of challenges plaguing the Nigerian capital market, a derivative of the economy.

To be the High Priest of SEC is a no mean feat. It is indeed a hot seat. Until a clearcut autonomy is made, SEC Director General will always be at the mercy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Finance and occasional muscle- flexing by the National Assembly members, who regard the Commission as a cash cow that must declare profit annually and possibly pay dividend.

In early September, 2021, the National Assembly, put SEC under pressure on the issue of profitability, when the lawmakers announced that the Commission posted a deficit of N9 billion in three years. But in a swift reaction, SEC stated that it had remitted N1.5 billion into the federation account. As a form of transferred aggression SEC unwittingly raised dust by increasing annual registration fees of the dealing member firms. But it was later resolved for, a credit to the former administration. That period, I wrote a piece, entitled: “SEC and the Burden of Regulation”, where I argued that the in the United States of America, United Kingdom, China and Japan amongst others, SEC performs similar roles like that of Nigeria- promotion of market environment that is worthy of public trust. But unlike Nigeria, they do not remit funds to the government.

One of the immediate tasks before the Commission’ new Board, is to enlighten the National Assembly that SEC is not-for-profit and the Commission should be supported by the government through grants as done in some jurisdictions to supplement the cost of monitoring the market for enhanced investor protection.

Agama and his team have started well as applications are said to be treated expeditiously. But let nobody envy the team. The Team has a mountain of Key Performance Indicators (Kpis), including

confidence building of the internal staff. A new administration may embark on staff audit, which is usually a double-edged sword. Appropriate communication model has to be deployed because internal staff constitute a group of critical stakeholders in implementing an organizational vision and advancing brand its recognition.

The on-going bank recapitalisation is the first major assignment of Agama and his team. It will also be a litmus test of investor confidence in the Nigerian bourse. There are growing concerns that a few fat cats among the issuing houses are crowding out other dealing-member houses through abuse of vending agreement and setting up of dedicated porter to maximize profit and gain undue marketing advantage under the recapitalisation scheme. The Commission should peep into this before it metamorphose into oligopoly market.

The Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso is losing weight over the apex bank's struggle to fight the scourge of inflation. But the bank's model has made investment in the money market instruments more attractive than other asset classes and thus undermining investment

in the capital market. Many investors have yet to recover from the huge capital loss they suffered in the comatose primary market where some issuers deceived investors and raked money without sanction from the regulator.

The legacy issue of unclaimed dividend is haunting the market despite the Commission’s use of information technology for seamless processes.

More sophisticated products are emerging and smart promoters are desperate to bypass SEC and swindle unsuspecting investors . The Commission must be on top of the game. It should put the development of commodities ecosystem on its prayers to the government to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Activities of corporate raiders and crises of sudden changes in majority shareholding in the quoted companies are concerns in the market.

The apex regulatory body today supervises over five securities exchanges apart from other operators. Every new administration comes with its vision. The new team may wish to update the Capital Market Masterplan in view of the rapid changes in the global capital market. But no vision can succeed without stakeholders’ engagement. Who’s afraid of Agama? Agama and his colleagues need constant support of market operators to navigate the inclement operating environment. They must consult. They should take advantage of many talents in the market. SEC has a lot to put in place to build a strong brand voice and upscale investor confidence. The strength of the new Team should be drawn from the immutable words of Abraham Lincoln that “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Best wishes to the new Team.

Oni, an Integrated Communications Strategist, Chartered Stockbroker and Commodity Broker, is the Chief Executive Officer , Sofunix Investment and Communications

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ZULUM AND THE GREAT GREEN WALL

Desertification is a threat, particularly in the north. Zulum’s tree-planting campaign is commendable

From the beginning of time, trees have always served as a source of oxygen, shelter, medicine and food. Today, their value continues to increase, and more benefits of trees are being discovered as their role expands to satisfy the needs created by our modern lifestyles. Trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. Because trees are that important, contemporary town planning strategy encourages project owners to build into the landscape, leaving the trees where they stand.

Even when accelerated desertification is threatening food supply in the Northern part of the country while rapid deforestation is shrinking agricultural productivity in the South, many key stakeholders are either unaware of the scale of the problem or fail to make the connections between the growing human and food security issues and the creeping effects of climate change. It is for this reason that we commend the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum for his tree planting programme while we urge other governors to follow his path.

initiative, according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), snakes the Sahel region from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East. Eleven countries were selected as intervention zones for the Great Green Wall: Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan. The total area of the GGW initiative extends to 156 million hectares, and stretches 8,000 kilometres across Africa, with the largest areas located in Niger, Mali, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

Trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

In establishing the state’s agency for the Great Green Wall (GGW), Zulum said the objective is to protect Borno’s degrading environment, address problems of desertification and maintain the ecosystem. He warned against indiscriminate felling of trees and mandated the secretary to the government to liaise with the state’s lawmakers to strengthen their environmental laws. The need for consistent policies on the environment is also addressed by what is known as the Great Green Wall Accelerator.

To check the movement of the desert inward, the federal government signed into an initiative known as the Great Green Wall (GGW) that mandates countries that are exposed to the desert to plant trees as a fence to hold back the sand dunes. Launched in 2007, the GGW

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA

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

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

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TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

Since its launch in 2007, a lot of progress has been made in restoring the fertility of Sahelian lands, the UNCCD said. While some countries started the implementation activities as early as 2008, others joined as late as 2014, when the declaration was ratified. In Nigeria, the GGW programme is being implemented in the northern frontline states of Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe. But only Borno State has domesticated the GGW initiative, according to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar. “The Agency is elated and happy to note that Borno is the first state in the country to domesticate the GGW Act by establishing the State Agency and appointing the pioneer Director General,” said Saleh at Kawuri in Konduga Local Government Area of the state, where Zulum launched the state’s 2024 tree-planting exercise with 10 million assorted seedlings, a programme in the GGW initiative to hold the desert back.

We enjoin other governors, especially in the North, to join Zulum in the tree planting campaign. Trees may take a long time to grow to maturity, yet they control climate by moderating the effects of the sun, rain and wind. Their leaves absorb and filter the sun's radiant energy, keeping things cool in hot weather. In addition to influencing wind speed and direction, they shield us from the downfall of rain. Nigeria must copy the good strategies employed by countries that have successfully controlled the impact of climate change.

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

NIGERIA AND CRISIS OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

Certainly, when a people begin to do things in such a way as to defy their rules or behaviours, it is only proper for a scientific research to be conducted so as to find out the reason(s) behind such behavioural change. In fact, for leaders, it is essential to continuously study the behavior of the people in order to decode their actions and inactions in response to government decisions for the sake of the government's sustainability and continued law and order in the polity. If however, this is not done accordingly, there is every tendency that in time, a government may not know that it has lost the confidence of the people.

An example of such situation is that of the present Nigeria, which its people, who in their usual antecedents are most unlikely to protest against hardship and pain, went to the streets to express dissatisfaction on how things are happening in the country. Just as the haranguing of the taciturn is altogether a surprise and definitely attention seeking, Nigerians, in unison, going out to the streets to express anger is astonishing and thus a clear message to the government that all is not well in the country. And true to it, most Nigerians are going through untold hardship, increasingly perceiving the miasma of hopelessness with each passing day.

The people cannot be well and happy in an economy that has

its currency becoming valueless at the end of every business day. This implies that at every sunrise, the Naira in the hands of Nigerians can buy less than what it could the previous day. And with government's refusal to subsidize fuel and electricity, the economy, which is already unproductive, has nosedived the more, leaving entrepreneurs at the receiving end. The nation's economy now has no middle class. Poverty is at every corner of Nigeria with illiteracy buttressing it.

This economic downturn has had a ripple effect on the social fabric of the nation. Crime rates have skyrocketed as young people, desperate for survival, resort to illegal activities. The once vibrant and bustling cities are now ghost towns as businesses close down and unemployment soars. The health sector, already in a deplorable state, is now on the brink of collapse. Hospitals lack basic amenities, and patients are forced to purchase essential drugs and supplies. The educational sector is not spared either. Public schools are dilapidated, and teachers are poorly remunerated, leading to a decline in the quality of education.

The political landscape is equally fraught with challenges. The ruling class is more concerned with self-enrichment than the welfare of the people. Corruption is endemic, and public

funds are siphoned into private pockets. The electoral process is marred by irregularities, and the voices of the people are often ignored. The lack of accountability and transparency has eroded the trust between the government and the governed.

The security situation in the country is also a major concern. Banditry and kidnapping have become commonplace in most parts of the country. The people live in fear and uncertainty, as their lives and property are not safe.

It is evident that Nigeria is at a crossroads. The government must take urgent steps to address the myriad of problems facing the nation. This includes revamping the economy, improving the standard of living, providing adequate security, and promoting good governance. The government must also listen to the voice of the people and implement policies that are in their best interest.

The time for empty promises and rhetoric is over. The people are demanding action. The government must deliver on its promises or risk losing the trust and confidence of the people. The future of Nigeria depends on the choices made today.

Mukhtar Jarmajo, dattuwamanga@gmail.com

ProPerty & environment

AfDB Calls for Increased Private Sector Engagement in Climate Finance

Bennett Oghifo

The African Development Bank has said that there is an urgent need for increased private sector involvement in climate finance at a key meeting of African finance ministers.

The Bank’s Director for Climate Change and Green Growth Department, Prof.

Anthony Nyong stated this at a conference on “Sustainable Horizons: Climate Action Strategies for Ministries of Finance in Sub-Saharan Africa” that was organised by the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action (CFMCA), in Kampala, Uganda, recently.

Nyong stressed that the private sector financed less than 3 percent of adaptation

activities in Africa between 2019 and 2022.

“We need to mobilise $213.4 billion annually from the private sector to close Africa’s climate financing gap by 2030,” Prof. Nyong stated. He identified perceived high investment risks and poor credit ratings as significant barriers to private sector participation.

Nyong joined a panel titled

Unique Opportunities and Challenges for African Ministers of Finance, moderated by Uganda’s Minister of State Planning Amos Lugoloobi.

Mr. Bock Kalokh, Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone; and Mr. Joseph Ng’ang’a, CEO of the Africa Climate Summit and interim CEO at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.

Minister Kalokh emphasised the urgent need for increased financial resources to implement mitigation and adaptation strategies by 2030. He stressed the importance of strategic investments for resilient economies, noting that a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions stem from the agriculture sector.

“Do we need further

evidence before action? Do we wait to be on life support before we act? It is time to act, and we need to act now,” Kalokh stressed. He called upon ministries of finance to prioritise funding for climate action and disaster mitigation, citing the escalating climate crisis and unclear climate finance architecture as significant challenges.

Family Partners NCF on Symbolic Tree Planting

Adibe Emenyonu writes on the planting of memorial trees in Nigeria and France in honour of late Prof. Unionmwan Joseph Edebriri, OFR. by his family in conjunction with the Nigerian Conservation Society (NCF)

Professor Unionmwan Joseph Edebriri was a teacher, literary critic, translator and promoter of African arts and culture. He was also a Professor of French and a Barrister at- Law. He studied French in the Universities of Nigeria, Dakar, Tours, Caen, Paris and Dijon.

Born in Benin-City, present day Edo State Nigeria on 1st April 1942 into the family of Chief Osawe Edebiri, late Esama of Benin Kingdom, Unionmwan was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (B.A. (Hons) degree in French and Russian by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1965. As

an undergraduate, he showed academic promise when he won a University scholarship in Nsukka, a French Government scholarship for the year-abroad programme in Dakar and Edward Blyden prize for Academic excellence on graduation. He also demonstrated leadership as Assistant Secretary of the Student Union, Secretary of the United Nations Student Association (UNSA), Nsukka Branch, member of the 4-man University of Nigeria Delegation on an Exchange programme to Netherlands, member of the two-man Delegation of the

All-Nigeria United Nations Student Association (ANUNSA) to the 15th Annual conference of the International Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN) in Geneva, the ANUNSA Delegate to the ISMUN – OXFAM Conference in Oxford, the ANUNSA Delegate to the ISMUN workshop in Paris, and the pioneer President of the West African Confederation of United Nations Student’s Association (WACUNSA).

In 1965, he won a Federal Government of Nigeria Scholarship to study for a Master’s Degree in France. He obtained

representatives of NCF during the symbolic planting of trees in honour of Prof. Unionmwan Joseph Edebriri in Benin-City... recently

M.A. French at the Sorbonne in 1968. The French Government then awarded him a scholarship to study for the doctorate degree. In 1970, he became the first Nigerian to earn a Doctorate d’Université (Ph.D) in French Literature from the Department of French Literature at the Sorbonne for his thesis on “L’individualisme dans l’œuvre de Georges Duhamel” written under the supervision of M. le Recteur Marius – Francois Guyard.

Again, on the basis of his academic excellence, the French Government awarded him a scholarship to train for a French language Diploma course in 1971 and in 1982 he undertook a postgraduate summer course in French in the University of Dijon, France.

Years later, for his legal education, he attended University of Lagos (1984 – 1990) and the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991.

He began his career in 1971 and has taught various aspects of French Language and Literature in University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, (1971-74), University of Lagos, (1974 – 2007), and University of Benin, Benin City, (2009-2021).

Edebiri has also supervised several undergraduate projects, postgraduate dissertations and

theses. He was the co-supervisor of the first candidate to obtain a Ph.D. in French in the University of Lagos in 1990. Many Universities in Nigeria have benefited from his services as external examiner for their undergraduate and postgraduate examinations just like some Nigerian and foreign universities which requested him to assess the publications of their staff for promotion to associate professorship and full professorship. He has served on the Editorial Boards of many scholarly journals and as an editorial consultant to some national and international reputable journals before his demise in November, 16 2023.

In recognition of this exemplary life, his family organised a tree planting programme in his memory. The trees were planted in Benin-City, his place of birth; in Lagos, his longest lived-in city; France, the country where he earned his Ph.D; and Abuja, his city of transition to glory.

The symbolic tree planting took place in two different locations in Benin-City Vis: University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School, and University Staff where a total of 20 trees were planted.

The tree planting exercise was performed with Prof. Victor Edosa Omozuwa, Prof. Tony Afejuku, a retired professor of English Literature,

University of Benin, staff and pupils of University of Benin Demonstration School, family members and staff of NCF.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Osamaghioghamwenwi Edeko (Nee Edebriri), said it was one the ways the family has chosen to honour their own. Mrs Edeko, a lawyer by profession also enthused: “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. As a family, one of the ways we have chosen to honour our father’s memory is through strong, unique and symbolic gift; a gift which will grow strong year after year with so many benefits; and this gift is planting trees in his memory.”

Explaining the rationale behind the tree planting, she said trees are vital to life and living, noting that as the biggest trees on the planet, they give oxygen, store canon, stabilize the souls and give life to the world’s wildlife.

“Three’s also provide us with the materials for tools and shelter, they help to clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80 percent of world terrestrial biodiversity. Forests provides jobs to over 1.6 million people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 20 percent of all medicines.

Rivers State Investment Summit Receives Critical Support of Stakeholders

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Rivers State boasts the second largest economy in Nigeria, next to Lagos State, with ample investment and growth opportunities in critical sectors such as real estate, manufacturing, agriculture, international trade, transportation, tourism, ICT and energy.

Recently, the State Government hosted the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit themed ‘Rivers Emerge: Advancing Pathways to Economic Growth and Sustainability’ in Port Harcourt the capital city. The key goal of the summit was to explore dynamic trends, foster insightful dialogues, and build strategic partnerships that will propel Rivers State into a prosperous future.

In his welcome address, Chibeoso Abolu, chair of the local organizing committee, stated that the theme of the summit, “Rivers Emerge: Advancing

Pathways to Economic Growth and Sustainability”, reflects our collective aspiration to harness innovative strategies and sustainable practices for a thriving economic future.’ According to him, ‘we are living in an era of unprecedented change and opportunity, where global interconnectedness and technological advancements are reshaping the economic landscape’. Through keynotes, thought - provoking panel and interactive sessions, the two – day summit featured sub – themes on Infrastructural Development and Security for Sustainable Progress in Rivers State, Empowering the Future: Leveraging Education and Technology for Youth and Women Empowerment; Harnessing the Blue Economy: Investment Opportunities for Sustainable Coastal and Maritime Sector Growth and Tourism, Creative Economy and Today’s Investment Opportunities in Tourism and Creative Startups, among

others. The government of Rivers State recognized that infrastructural development and security were twin pillars in her quest to achieving sustainable progress and so, the summit opened with a panel session on Infrastructural Development and Security moderated by Sandra Ekpe Agho, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Noranova Resources Company Limited and the Rivers State Chapter Director of International Forum for Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG) Nigeria. The International Forum for Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG) Nigeria is a voluntary non –profit organization of women professionals in the energy, oil and gas sector. A significant highlight of the summit was the showcase of “Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas,” an organization dedicated to empowering and advancing the roles of women in these critical sectors. The organization emphasized the

importance of gender diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and sustainability. The global goals of WEOG, Rivers State Chapter are to support the career development of board and executive level women in the industry through access to new career, business opportunities and peer – to peer networking, to promote female thought leadership, increase the percentage of women board members and top executives; liaise with government, private sector, local and international community in achieving the diversity and inclusion in SDG with tangible measurable results, to set up platforms for necessary mentorship, support, business, career and personal growth and to promote STEM education for the girl – child, sensitize women on breast and cervical cancer education through advocacy, strategic partnerships and collaborations. Sandra Ekpe Agho is a performance driven

professional with experience spanning over a decade with vast knowledge in Drilling, Evaluation, Completion and Production in the Upstream sector of the Oil and Gas industry. She is well grounded in field installation and operations, technical support, project management, business development and sales. She leverages her local and international exposures in the industry to upsell and cross sell technical partner’s technologies to national and international oil firms in Nigeria. Under her leadership, Noranova Resources Company Limited has made significant strides in the energy oil and gas sector, championing sustainable practices and pioneering projects that contribute to economic growth and environmental stewardship. The infrastructural development and security panel x – rayed the importance of road networks, ports and waterways, energy infrastructure, telecommuni-

cations, healthcare facilities, education infrastructure as well as law enforcement, cybersecurity, community policing, emergency response systems, border security and counter terrorism as critical to current and future socio – economic progress of the state. The panel concluded that stakeholder’s commitment is critical to achieving and sustaining the future economic growth and development of Rivers State. The infrastructural development and security session featured Rumundaka Wonodi, founder and chief executive officer, ZKY Energy Ventures; Tunji Disu, Commissioner of Police, Rivers State; Tonte Davies, an experienced urban planner and acting administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Urban Planning and development; Utchay Okorji, a real estate professional and Godfrey Ohuabunwa, chief executive officer MultiMesh as panelists.

Family members of late Prof. Unionmwan Joseph Edebriri, friends, staff and students of University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School, Staff and pupils of University of Benin Staff School, and

Emma Okonji

The total figure for the registration, renewal and restoration of Nigeria’s .ng domain name dropped slightly in July this year to 226,454, after a major leap in the months of May and June this year, which recorded 223,891 and 226,702 respectively.

This is according to the latest statistics released by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

According to the statistics, the total .ng domain name registration, renewal and

Emma Okonji

Ahead of the 2024 World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA-24), that is billed to hold October 15-24, 2024 in New Delhi, India, the Secretary-General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, has called for a common and harmonised Artificial Intelligence (AI) standard that will foster global digital inclusion and trust.

The ITU Secretary-General, who will deliver an opening remark at the assembly, has called on the Telecommunication Standardisation Advisory Group, including member countries of ITU, Nigeria inclusive,

restoration, reached 223,891 in May 2024, and further increased to 226,702 in June 2024, before sliding slightly 226,454 in July 2024.

THISDAY had last month, reported an initial steady growth of Nigeria’s .ng domain name, which grew from 212,890 in December 2023 to reach 215,496 in January 2024, before increasing again to 217,527 in February 2024, with a further increase to 220,216 in March 2024, with and another increase to 222,820 and 223,891 in April and May 2024 respectively, before reaching 226,702 in June 2024.

Although the summation of .ng domain name includes registration,

to begin to consider the need for a common AI standard that will promote universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.

According to her, WTSA-24 is coming at a time when standards are taking centre stage in global governance discussions.

“We are standing in a moment, which some have called ‘a fragile and special moment’, where realising the true value of standards is more important than ever to foster inclusion and trust in digital and emerging technologies.

“When the UN SecretaryGeneral, António Guterres was on stage just a few weeks ago, he highlighted ITU’s leadership role as a neutral platform for

renewal and restoration, but the latest statistics on Nigeria’s .ng domain name, as released by NiRA, showed that registration alone reached 8,066 in May 2024, and it increased 8,164 in June 2024, with a further increase to 8,607 in July 2024. The .ng domain name renewal alone was 5,545 in May 2024, and it decreased to 5,028 in June 2024, before increasing to 5,743 in July 2024, while the .ng domain name restoration alone was 140 in May 2024 and it increased to 142 in June 2024, with a further increase to 209 in July 2024.

The ccTLD .ng domain name is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, which has the .ng at the suffix of every official email address that

all parties to develop common technical standards and a level playing field for innovation.

The UN Secretary-General told the ITU Council that harmonising AI standards would be crucial for both regulators and the industry, warning that fragmentation will especially harm developing countries and small businesses,” Bogdan-Martin said, adding that countries are beginning to launch new collaboration initiative to develop comprehensive standards for AI watermarking, multimedia authenticity, and deepfake detection.

Policymakers, according to her, are moving fast to address deepfakes, and we are working

originates from Nigeria. In the United Kingdom, official email addresses end with .co.uk. In United States of America, they end with .com, while in South Africa, the official email addresses end with .co.za.

Nigeria had initially maintained steady growth in the adoption and usage of .ng domain name across different sectors of the economy and the growth had attracted commendations from the global community of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), before sliding a little last month.

Penultimate month, ICAN commended Nigeria for surpassing the 225,000 mark for all registered

hard to provide them with the essential technical tools they need.

“Hopes and fears around AI have created greater awareness of the role that standards play in driving global technological progress. That is why, at our first AI Governance Day in May, all the ministers, regulators, and leaders from the UN, industry, and academia made it clear that they want interoperability among technology platforms and regulatory approaches, as well as international technical standards to support these frameworks. This is also why standards feature prominently in the recent UN System White Paper on AI governance, led by ITU

.ng domain names in the country, when Nigeria attained the 226,702 in June this year, before it slightly slipped to 226,454 in July last month.

Speaking about the development, President of NiRA, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, assured Nigerians of the strategies been put in place to ensure continuous growth of .ng domain name across the country.

According to him, the strategic collaborations between NiRA and some government agencies, are aimed at driving growth and populating Nigeria’s .ng domain name.

“NiRA holds a pivotal role as the steward of Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), which is a crucial element in advancing the nation’s digital ecosystem. NiRA also recognises the significance of collaborating with strategic partners who share in NiRA’s vision and can assist in achieving its vital objective of populating Nigeria’s .ng domain name,” Akinsanya said. Recently, Nigeria participated in the Coalition for Digital Africa DNSSEC Roadshow, organised in collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and NiRA, aimed at deploying Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) and enhancing internet security for the .ng domain,” Akinsanya further said.

and UNESCO,” Bogdan-Martin further said.

While thanking India for the hosting right of WTSA-24, the ITU Secretary-General said the objective would be to ensure that every member country is well-positioned to meet emerging standardisation demands from a growing range of stakeholders.

While also applauding member countries for the key role that their standards sector plays in various partnerships for resilience to natural hazards and green digital action, Bogdan-Martin said by next year ITU would mark its 160th anniversary, insisting that standards have guided ITU through one technological

revolution after another.

“With every breakthrough, we have come together to develop the standards required to thrive in new frontiers. That’s what our standardisation processes are built for. Together, we build mutual trust and understanding, creating the confidence to continue innovating and investing. I’m encouraged to see more stakeholders involved in this critical work than ever before. Going forward, our work must be efficient, effective, and focused on global impact, and our trusted standards must help everyone to benefit from the latest advances in technology,” Bogdan-Martin added.

NIGERIA FINTECH FORUM…

L-R: Group CIO, Access Bank, Venkatesh Ratham; Chief Technology Officer, First Bank, Adewale Alami; Head Partnership, PalmPay

Team, UUBO, Yinka Edu; Head, Data and Analytics, Stanbic IBTC, Olutoyin Ogunmola; and Fintech

Forum in Lagos… recently

Nigeria Customs: Food Import Duty Waiver will Cost FG N188bn

Arthur Eriye

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that the federal government may forgo N188.37 billion in revenue over the next six months due to the duty waiver granted on the importation of staple foods.

Additionally, the NCS revealed that Nigeria spent N3.82 trillion on importing wheat, beans, rice, and maize between 2020 and 2023.

The Comptroller-General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, who spoke during a press conference in Abuja, emphasised that the revenue forfeiture demonstrates the government’s commitment

to prioritising food security over short-term revenue goals.

On July 8, 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150day duty-free import window for food commodities to ensure a reduction in food inflation in Nigeria. The food commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.

The government also collaborated with states to expand land cultivation across the country. Consequently, the government suspended duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders.

Giving updates on the directive,

Adeniyi explained that the government’s initiatives, while crucial for addressing the nation’s food security challenges, have significant implications for the customs service.

According to him, as the agency responsible for trade facilitation and revenue collection at the borders, the NCS finds itself at the intersection of these policies and their practical implementation. He pointed out that the most immediate and substantial implication is the revenue forfeiture, as the government has committed to making food more accessible and affordable for its citizens.

“The removal of tariffs and import duties on key staples, rice, wheat, maize, and sorghum (beans) for the next six months represents a considerable sacrifice in terms of potential revenue. Projecting based on recent trends, we estimate that the six-month tariff suspension could result in a revenue forfeiture of approximately N188.37billion,” Adeniyi said.

Analysing this, he explained that from 2020 to 2023, the total import of these food items, including beans, maize, rice, and wheat, was N3.82trillion

“During this period, these commodities generated N192 billion in customs duty and

PalmPay: Collaboration, Innovation Key to Financial Literacy

Stories by Emma Okonji

PalmPay, a leading Africa-focused fintech platform, has stressed the need for collaboration and innovation among banks and fintechs to drive financial inclusion at the last mile.

Head of Partnerships, PalmPay, Chibuzor Melah, made the call while speaking on a panel session during the Nigeria Fintech Forum, which held recently in Lagos, with the themed: ‘Building the Next Frontiers for Nigeria’s Fintech’. The event brought together,

key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including regulators to discuss the rapid advancements in Nigeria’s financial technology industry.

Speaking on the theme: Rewriting the rules: Building an Open, Innovative and Collaborative Bank of the Future, Melah noted that “PalmPay is a technology driven company that believes in collaborating and innovating to deliver value to customers.”

According to him, “What has given us success in the

past five years of operation is our investment in data, which gives us insights into customer behaviour. This enables us to create tailor-made solutions suitable for our customers. Our insight driven strategy has helped us reach out to the unbanked thereby building trust in open banking. We have succeeded by collaborating with other players in the financial sector. We believe that there’s still a lot more to do in building trust, driving financial inclusion in the last mile.”

Giving instances about the

financial sector that has undergone incredible changes, as described by the EFInA Access to Finance (A2F) Survey 2023 report, that the formal financial inclusion in Nigeria has grown significantly from 56 per cent in 2020 to 64 per cent in 2023, Melah said: “This success can be attributed to collaborative efforts between banks and fintechs but more collaboration can take place. Interestingly, the challenges we face today have opened opportunities to collaborate to gain new markets, deliver new products to benefit the economy.”

SeerBit, Kuda to Empower Businesses with Payment Solutions

SeerBit, a leading Pan African innovator in secure and seamless payment solutions has announced a strategic partnership with Kuda, a digital bank renowned for its commitment to financial inclusion, to boost the reliability and convenience of online payment for businesses and other users.

This collaboration empowers

businesses of all sizes to provide a wider range of bank account payment options at SeerBit checkout, giving consumers increased flexibility in their payment choices.

CEO of SeerBit, Mr. Omoniyi Kolade said: “We believe everyone deserves access to convenient, accessible and secure payment options. Our partnership with Kuda offers an opportunity to

expand our bank network and offer our customers a solution that caters to a broader customer base, thus fostering financial inclusivity and driving business growth.”

Noting the benefits of the collaboration, he added that: “This partnership caters to an even wider range of customers by offering Kuda as an alternative bank account payment method.”

Speaking about the partnership,

Managing Director, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Musty Mustapha, said: “Our partnership with SeerBit underscores our commitment to providing secure and user-friendly financial services. With their Kuda Pay ID, our customers can make online payments without the fear of exposing their debit card details, ensuring peace of mind in every transaction.”

AVEVA Unveils New Software Capabilities and Pricing Structure

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software driving digital transformation and sustainability, has announced updated capabilities and commercial models for their award-winning InTouch Unlimited HMI/SCADA software.

New features, optimised commercial models, and pricing make it easier for end users, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and systems integrators (SIs) to develop and scale HMI/ SCADA applications from

edge-to-cloud, with the ability to incorporate analytics and CONNECT, AVEVA’s industrial intelligence platform.

AVEVA InTouch Unlimited empowers system integrators with the most comprehensive suite of HMI/SCADA technology available in the market today. It is an all-inclusive licensing package available in perpetual and subscription models with unlimited tags, clients, and scalability. The InTouch Unlimited package features

comprehensive process historian and reporting functionality, equipping users with the ability to collect and unlock the value of data sourced at the edge, and from multiple plants and systems spanning the enterprise.

AVEVA’s Senior Vice President, Monitoring and Control Business, Doug Warren, said: “AVEVA InTouch Unlimited provides unprecedented value for our system integration partners.

This new offer, coupled with our focus on technical enablement

through the Heroes HQ forum and bite sized video-based training content, makes choosing AVEVA HMI/SCADA products easier than ever.” According to Warren, InTouch continues to be an innovation leader in HMI/ SCADA since the technology’s inception over three decades ago, and AVEVA is committed to delivering products that make it easy to evaluate our software portfolio, develop tailored solutions, and scale to meet growing business needs.

N562 billion in levies paid to the government,” the CGC said.

The customs boss added that wheat alone accounted for N3.78trillion in import value, generating N189 billion as duty and N561 billion as levy.

“Maize imports were valued at N34.3 billion, contributing N2.3 billion in duty. Rice, despite import restrictions, saw N195million in import value, yielding N19million in duty and N97million in levy. Beans imports were valued at N731million

contributing N146million in duty,” Adeniyi stated.

Meanwhile, Adeniyi stated that the Compressed Natural Gas initiative of the President, while not related to food, would reduce transportation costs by approximately 60 per cent.

“This could indirectly but significantly benefit food security by potentially lowering food transportation costs, making food more affordable across the country,” he said.

Glovo, a pioneering multi-category app, has announced the expansion of its partnership with SPAR Market, one of Nigeria’s leading retail operators.

Initially launched as a pilot programme in November 2023, the partnership now extends to all 10 SPAR outlets in Lagos and Abuja, enhancing convenience and efficiency for urban consumers.

The initial rollout across five SPAR Market stores yielded outstanding results, prompting the extension to 10 store locations across Lagos and Abuja. Through the partnership, SPAR Market and Glovo are enhancing the grocery and retail landscape by offering customers the flexibility to have their groceries and household items delivered quickly and efficiently to their doorsteps. This partnership supports SPAR Market’s goal of developing a

seamless omni-channel experience, while Glovo strengthens its position in Nigeria’s growing e-commerce market by expanding its grocery and retail offerings.

Speaking about the initiative, General Manager of Glovo Nigeria, Lamide Akinola, said: “This expansion reflects our commitment to enhancing the Glovo experience for our users. By partnering with SPAR Market, we are able to provide a broader range of products and ensure timely delivery, making everyday shopping easier and more convenient for our customers.”

Head of Commercial for Glovo Nigeria, Kolawole Adeniyi, added: “We are delighted with the positive impact our partnership with SPAR Market has had. Expanding to additional stores allows more people to enjoy quick and reliable grocery delivery.”

Stories by Agnes Ekebuike

The Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode Limited, Dr. Peter Adewale Obadare has been appointed as the first Professor of Practice (Cybersecurity) in Nigeria. Obadare’s letter of appointment as a Professor of Practice (Cybersecurity) by Miva Open University, Abuja, dated 1st of July 2024, was signed by the University’s Registrar, Iheanyi Akwitti.

The position of Professor of Practice is awarded to distinguished individuals of recognised professional standing, with significant track record of exceptional professional experience in their field.

The Professor of Practice appointment will offer Obadare, arguably the most ‘credentialed’ global digital trust leader,

cybersecurity strategist, and GRC thought leader, the opportunity to draw from his extensive industry and professional expertise, to provide links for students in theoretical principles, conceptual and functional application of cybersecurity knowledge, consequently, bridging the gap between academia and industry.

According to him, “I am truly honoured to join Miva Open University as a Professor of Practice in Cybersecurity, the first in Nigeria, and thrilled to work with the University in deepening ‘town and gown’ relationship.

“This appointment offers the opportunity to give back to the society and I look forward to synergising with other faculty members to stimulate growth and value creation.”

Nigeria, Chibuzor Melah; Partner, Banking and Finance

Practitioner, Hazel and Hooreb Consultant, Ifeoma Abidoye; during the Nigeria Fintech

Amodu: How AI is Transforming Financial Security in Africa

In an exclusive interview with MARY NNAH, Chief Revenue Officer of Pastel Africa, Anthony Amodu, shares his insights on how artificial intelligence is transforming financial security in Africa. With a focus on innovative solutions for fraud detection and prevention, Amodu discusses Pastel Africa’s cuttingedge technology and its impact on the fintech and banking industries.

Can you share your insights on how AI is revolutionising financial security, and what role Pastel Africa plays in this transformation?

AI is already playing a transformative role in financial security globally. For example, companies such as Stripe, MasterCard, Paypal, JPMorgan Chase and other internationally recognized banks and financial institutions are using AI to prevent fraud and money laundering, bolster cybersecurity, manage identity, and conduct risk management.

Particularly in regions like Africa, where traditional financial systems face challenges such as limited infrastructure, high levels of fraud, and a largely unbanked population, AI has the power to offer solutions to some of these decade-old challenges. Furthermore, AI can automate many of the currently manual processes in order to increase efficiency and productivity.

At Pastel Africa, we are at the forefront of this revolution on the continent, leveraging AI to create more secure, inclusive, and efficient financial ecosystems. We do this by working with our clients to leverage their data to access tailored ML and AI based solutions such as real time transaction monitoring for fraud detection, AML, and credit decisioning engine. We are leveraging local data to build AI models that are robust and responsive to the unique needs of the enterprise players in the continent. For example, we are the first company to offer advanced AI-based models, trained on African user and transaction data, to detect and prevent transaction fraud in real time.

How does Pastel Africa’s partnership with FintechNGR enhance its mission to combat fraud and boost financial security?

Pastel Africa’s partnership with FinTech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) significantly enhances our mission to combat fraud and boost financial security by leveraging the collective expertise, support, and innovative ecosystem

that FintechNGR provides.

FintechNGR serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and best practices among stakeholders in the financial technology sector. Through this partnership, Pastel gains access to a broad network of fintech innovators, regulatory bodies, and financial institutions, enabling the sharing of insights, best practices, and cutting-edge technologies.

What specific AI-powered solutions does Pastel Africa offer to detect and prevent financial fraud?

Through our Sigma suite of solutions, Pastel Africa offers Transaction Monitoring that empowers financial institutions to detect and prevent fraud in real-time. Our advanced machine learning models analyze thousands of signals, including transaction patterns, customer demographics, and behavioral data, to accurately assess the

risk associated with each transaction. By replacing manual, rules-based systems, our AI-driven approach provides a more dynamic and effective solution to fraud prevention. Regular retraining of our models ensures they continually adapt to evolving fraud patterns, keeping your financial security robust and up-to-date.

How do you see the future of financial security evolving, and what innovations can we expect from Pastel Africa?

As financial systems become increasingly digital and interconnected, the need for robust security measures will continue to grow, as fraud also becomes more complex. We can expect a shift towards more proactive and predictive security measures, where financial institutions not only detect threats but anticipate and neutralize them before they occur. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, AI will play an increasingly critical role in identifying complex patterns and anomalies that human analysts might miss.

At Pastel Africa we continue to use feedback from clients, new advancements in AI and ML, future trends and regulatory requirements to improve our solutions. We are exploring innovations that will further enhance real-time fraud detection, leveraging deep learning techniques to improve accuracy and reduce false positives. Additionally, we are also already developing additional solutions, based on our extensive knowledge of the industry and rich databases, that will make financial systems both more secure and user-friendly.

How can the theme of this breakfast meeting, “Transforming Financial Security with Technology: AI Vs Fraud,” contribute to improving Nigeria’s economic growth and stability?

The transformation of financial security

with AI is crucial for Nigeria’s economic growth and stability by enhancing trust in financial services. As AI strengthens fraud detection and prevention, it builds confidence in the financial system, encouraging more people—especially the unbanked and underbanked—to engage with formal financial institutions.

For many Nigerians, the fear of fraud has been a barrier to accessing banking services. By using AI to create a more secure environment, we can help break down this barrier, enabling more people to participate in the financial system. This increased participation not only boosts financial inclusion but also drives economic growth, as more individuals and businesses gain access to credit and financial services.

What role do you believe AI-powered financial security solutions can play in reducing corruption and illicit financial flows in Nigeria?

AI-powered financial security solutions can play a transformative role in reducing corruption and illicit financial flows in Nigeria, AI-powered financial security solutions can play a significant role in reducing corruption and illicit financial flows in Nigeria by providing more effective tools for monitoring and detecting suspicious activities. These solutions can analyze vast amounts of transactional data in real-time, identifying patterns and anomalies that might indicate corrupt practices or illegal financial movements.

For example, AI can help track and flag unusual transactions, monitor high-risk accounts, and provide insights that human analysts might miss. By automating these processes, AI reduces the opportunities for corruption to go unnoticed, making it harder for illicit financial activities to thrive.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Akinyemi: Strategic Communications Key to Public Trust

A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a PR consultant, Kayode Akinyemi, in this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, bares his mind on communications management around the just concluded national protest and advises the government on strategic communications and crisis management. Excerpts:

Can you appraise the federal government’s communication approach?

The core issue lies in the communication strategy. While the government has initiated numerous populist and propeople projects—such as cash transfers to the poor, loans to SMEs and large corporations, a student loan scheme, agricultural programs for the youth, and road projects—these initiatives are poorly communicated to the public. The various information units within government ministries, departments and agencies are not effectively publicizing these efforts.

It is important to note that government and private sectors engage tested and experienced Journalists to handle their information management. However, I believe that this is a gross error committed over time. Journalists are trained to report news or give an account of events timely and accurately, and in some cases engage in investigative reporting.

Whereas, strategic communications and PR experts engage in deliberate, planned and sustained programmes to achieve an understanding between the government and its various stakeholders.

Though this is your opinion, I think this can be countered with many factors, but I think you hold on to this because you are a PR practitioner. Besides, most journalists acquired the same certificates and professional qualifications of the so-called PR experts?

No, this is neither about me nor about my colleagues in the Marketing Communications industry. My position is in line with global standards and how we can move our dear country forward. Please, we should not politicise this and we should not personalise it.

By nomenclature, officials managing government information go by the designation of Media Adviser or Chief Press Secretary –meaning that they are restricted to managing relationships with the media segment alone.

The question is – what happens to other stakeholders of governments?

I think the right thing to do is to get strategic communications and PR experts involved in managing government communications with a view to having communications activity planned for a year or a four-year duration of an administration.

A strategic communications expert will, in an ideal situation, advise his principal to communicate the status of a state or the nation when he is taking over to enable the citizens to have a clear picture of how bad or good the situation was before his principal assumed office. Also, a step further would be for the communications expert to convince his principal to do things differently.

Looking at the activities of the

government in the last one year, is it that the government is not doing enough or the communication approach was wrong?

The government is indeed making significant strides in sectors like; power, infrastructure, education, health, and agriculture. However, the lack of effective communication creates the impression that little is being done. That explains why I have consistently urged the government to embark on a deliberate, planned and sustained strategic communications plan to drive the government activities and disseminate the same to the populace effectively to engender feedback.

Going forward, what advice can you give in this regard?

I think the government should differentiate between media advisors and communication/ public affairs advisors, and engage both to achieve optimal results. There is a need to create a synergistic structure, establish a Directorate of Communication and Public Affairs to work in synergy with the National Orientation Agency and special assistants on community engagement to effectively publicize government activities. Government should provide adequate funding to the various agencies of information, communications and public affairs for effective delivery. One of the reasons government and private sector communications fail over the years is poor funding. Information and communications agencies’ budgets are usually the last when budget allocations are considered. The earlier the government and private sectors begin to see the importance of communications to the success of their existence the better.

What role can feedback mechanism play in all these?

Before considering the roles of feedback

mechanisms, I think the first thing is to urge governments at various levels to invest on feedback mechanisms through its strategic communication personnel. It should be noted that feedback should not be seen as a terminal activity; rather feedback should start from day one of the communications plan so that the executors can easily identify the point at which the programme derails from the set objectives and this will help in rectifying the error.

More importantly, feedback mechanisms will help the government to know whether or not their programmes are accepted by the governed. Finally, the government needs to reappraise its engagement strategy, invest in citizens’ engagement via different formal and informal fora to regain the trust and confidence of the citizens.

What is your take about the just concluded protest by Nigerians on good governance?

The protest reflects the divergence between the peoples’ expectations and the reality on the ground. The Renewed Hope Agenda promises general economic improvements for both individuals and the nation. However, because of the long years of hardship and suffering, the people expect magic or sudden economic transformation to take place. This is the premise on which the ‘protest’ is based on.

The country is grappling with hunger, food insecurity, inflation, and overall hardship. Although the government has implemented several economic reforms—such as unifying exchange rates to curb forex arbitrage, removing fuel subsidies to free up revenue for infrastructure, and offering education loans to assist indigent students, along with various grants and loan schemes for SMEs and large corporations to bolster the productive sector—many citizens remain unaware of these efforts.

Amodu

Akinyemi

HealtH & lifestyle

TheSilentKiller: Nigeria’s Unrelenting Fight against Tuberculosis

In Nigeria, a silent killer is claiming thousands of lives and leaving families devastated. But with determination and courage, the country is fighting back against the deadly scourge of tuberculosis. To combat this menace, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, recently in Lagos, launched the Private Sector Strategy to End Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria. This milestone event marks a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to defeat the disease, which has ravaged countless lives and communities. Writes Mary Nnah

In the densely populated streets of Nigeria, a silent killer lurks in the shadows, claiming countless lives and devastating families and communities.

Tuberculosis (TB), a curable disease, has ravaged the country for far too long, leaving behind a trail of sorrow and despair.

However, in a bold move to combat this scourge, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, has launched a Private Sector Strategy to End TB, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at harnessing the resources and expertise of the private sector to defeat the disease.

The launch event, held at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, was a testament to the power of collective action. Development partners, stakeholders, private sector representatives, public health practitioners, and media professionals gathered united in their quest to vanquish TB. The atmosphere was electric, filled with organisationshope and determination as Nigeria takes a significant step towards ending the disease.

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, delivered a keynote speech that emphasised the crucial role of private sector engagement in the fight against TB.

“Public-private partnerships are essential to accelerating progress against TB. By combining our expertise and resources, we can deliver innovative solutions that make a real difference,” he said, his voice filled with conviction.

The minister highlighted the alarming statistics of TB in Nigeria, citing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global TB Report 2023. In 2022, an estimated 479,000 people fell ill with TB in Nigeria, with a funding gap of USD 273 million for TB control efforts. He urged private sector organizations to leverage their resources, technology, and influence to support TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care.

Prof. Pate showcased successful private sector engagements in TB care, including Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to TB care, Philips’ health technology innovations, and Cipla’s affordable TB medications. He emphasised the need for collective action, stating, “We must work together and explore all avenues to bridge the substantial gaps in resources, innovations,

and interventions required to effectively control and eradicate TB in Nigeria.”

The Nigerian government is seeking support in three critical areas: providing molecular diagnostic machines to cover the 52% of local government areas without them, ensuring TB services are available in 50% of health facilities that currently lack them, and securing sufficient drugs to meet treatment requirements for TBinfected persons in 2025.

The minister expressed confidence that with private sector support, Nigeria can significantly reduce the burden of TB and create a healthier and more prosperous nation. He appreciated the commitment of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria in facilitating private sector engagement and acknowledged the support of USAID, the Global Fund, Stop TB Partnership Geneva, and other partners.

Prof. Pate urged stakeholders to “harness the strengths of private sector organizations against TB through this partnership.”

“Let us work hand in hand, leveraging our collective strengths to achieve our shared vision of a TB-free Nigeria”, he noted.

His words were met with resounding applause, a testament to the commitment of all stakeholders present.

Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, emphasised the significance of the private sector’s engagement in the fight against TB.

“Today, we lay the foundation for a stronger partnership between the public and private sectors to address the scourge of TB in our country,” he said, highlighting the urgent need for collective action.

“We must work together to mobilize the much-needed resources to combat TB in Nigeria”, he said.

Dr. Anyaike painted a stark picture of the devastating impact of TB on individuals, families, and communities, stressing that “TB remains a major health issue that requires our unwavering commitment and innovative approaches to combat it effectively.” He acknowledged the progress made in recent years but emphasized the need for increased efforts, stating, “Despite our progress, TB still poses a significant threat to our nation’s health and prosperity.”

The strategy launched aims to leverage the private sector’s resources, expertise,

and reach to enhance TB control efforts. Dr. Anyaike urged private sector organisations to “leverage their resources, expertise, and innovative ideas to significantly improve the fight against tuberculosis.” He emphasized the importance of mobilizing resources to improve TB case detection and treatment adherence, ultimately reducing the TB burden in Nigeria.

Anyaike expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Stop TB Partnership Nigeria for their support and leadership in the fight against TB. He also appreciated the contributions of development partners and stakeholders, stating, “Your dedication and collaboration have been instrumental in getting us to this point. I am confident that with your continued support, we can achieve our goal of ending TB in Nigeria.”

Anyaike urged stakeholders to “embrace this strategy and collaborate in a coordinated and sustained effort to end TB in Nigeria.”

He emphasised the importance of collective action, stating, “Let us seize this opportunity to make a lasting impact and ensure a healthier future for all Nigerians.”

He reiterated the importance of the private sector’s engagement, stating, “This is a call to action for private sector organisations to leverage their resources, expertise, and innovative ideas to significantly improve the fight against tuberculosis.” He expressed optimism about the potential impact of the strategy, stating, “Together, we can reduce the TB burden and create a healthier and more prosperous nation.”

Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, emphasised the significance of the private sector’s engagement in the fight against TB.

While stressing the importance of collective action, she said, “Let us work together to mobilize the much-needed resources to combat TB in Nigeria”, she said.

“Today, we gather to celebrate a significant step forward in our relentless fight against TB. We will continue

to advocate for increased resources, health policy reforms, and service integration for TB in Nigeria,” she added.

Ogbuji-Ladipo highlighted the progress made through advocacy efforts and collaboration with state and non-state actors. She emphasized the importance of mobilizing critical stakeholders for increased domestic resources to support TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, and reducing stigma and discrimination associated with TB.

She expressed gratitude to Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and partners for his support, stating, “Your invaluable support and collaboration have been the cornerstone of our success, creating a robust framework for sustainable impact.”

The Private Sector Strategy launch is a testimony to the continued commitment of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ending TB in Nigeria.

The Private Sector Strategy to End TB in Nigeria marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to combat the disease. With collective efforts and a coordinated approach, Nigeria can make significant strides towards ending TB and creating a healthier future for all.

As the country moves forward in this fight, the stories of those affected by TB serve as a reminder of the devastating impact of the disease. TB has claimed countless lives and devastated families and communities, leaving behind a trail of sorrow and despair. However, with the private sector’s engagement, there is hope for a brighter future.

The strategy aims to leverage the private sector’s resources, expertise, and reach to enhance TB control efforts, mobilise resources to improve TB case detection and treatment adherence, and ultimately reduce the TB burden in Nigeria. By combining forces, Nigeria can bridge the substantial gaps in resources, innovations, and interventions required to effectively control and eradicate TB.

With collective efforts and a coordinated approach, the silent killer can be defeated, and a healthier future can be secured for all Nigerians.

As Nigeria moves forward in this fight, the world watches with bated breath, hoping that this bold initiative will pave the way for a TB-free future.

Stakeholders at the event

Family Seeks Justice over Alleged Negligence, Extortion by Hospital in Death of Patriarch

In what appears to be another case of medical negligence in the Nigerian health system, the Onua family is currently seeking justice over alleged negligence, extortion, and intent to invade justice, by one of the largest Neurosurgical hospitals in Enugu State, Nigeria, Memfys Hospital, in handling the treatment of their late father, Mr Samson Onua. Sunday Ehigiator and Esther Oluku report

The story of Mr Samson Onua, a patient of Memphis Hospital, Enugu, was brought to the knowledge of THISDAY by the family after having been under the care of the hospital for over two months.

Unfortunately, in the course of filing this report, news arrived that Mr Samson Onua has passed on from complications arising from his sores.

Family’s account

According to Mr Onua’s son, Mr Rodwell Onua, Mr Onua was referred to Memfys Hospital after he sustained a spinal injury from a fall he had while trying to use the restroom in February. He was being managed at a particular hospital until he was referred to Memfys Hospital for further care.

At Memfys Hospital, the family was advised that Mr Onua would have to undergo spinal surgery to correct the spinal injury which had paralysed him from his waist downwards.

The family agreed and made the necessary payments for the surgery but afterwards, the situation worsened. Rodwell who explained the problem following the surgery said; “During the surgery, I think there was a complication. For a person who didn’t have any major health challenges, his lungs stopped functioning well. They said he would have to undergo a tracheostomy. After the tracheostomy surgery, he was placed on a ventilator.

“The situation was financially draining. The hospital just kept giving us bills. We were not seeing any improvement and he was in the Intensive Care Unit after his surgery.

“I had to open a GoFundMe account to raise funds. We managed to bring him out of the ICU and just soon after, he was rushed back to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) again. When they eventually brought him out from the ICU we saw this mighty bed sore.

“This is a huge hospital but the level of neglect for a person under their care is shocking. Because, how is it possible that the hospital representatives did not know or see the sore if they have been taking care of him?”

Mr Rodwell said the family had tried to get an explanation for the deterioration of their father’s health from the hospital to no avail. Hence, his sister, Ms Blessing Onua, reported the matter to the police.

Alleged extortion

Also speaking with THISDAY, Blessing Onua, a daughter of the deceased, said, “I took the case to the Police. The police redirected me to a lawyer because of the magnitude of the case and the reputation of the hospital. When I contacted the lawyer, he wrote a petition to the hospital.

“The Police station which is an Area Command advised me to refer the case to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu state which the lawyer also wrote.”

According to Ms Blessing Onua, bed sores or pressure ulcers were part of her fears when her father was being kept in the ICU for a prolonged period and she got reassurance that with optimal care from the medical team at Memfys hospital, it would not occur.

The family only got to find out after her cousin who was stationed at the hospital to look after her father revealed that he had spotted a large sore on their father when the medical team was screening him for a bed bath.

She stated that upon the family’s discovery of the situation, the Medical Director had promised to take a percentage responsibility for the financial cost of treating the bedsore but upon meeting the account team to get the rebate promised by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), she was asked to get a signed authorisation from the CMD.

Upon going back to get the rebate authorisation, the CMD reneged on his promise saying that he would not be able to grant a rebate anymore.

Alleged attempt to invade responsibility

According to Blessing, the hospital sent her a report discharging Mr. Onua. When she went to confirm the discharge report, she was invited to the office of the CMD.

She said: “That evening, I received a medical report stating that my Dad had been discharged. On seeing that, I was anxious to know what they meant. I was told that the owner of Memfys Hospital wanted to talk with me. So I went. He started telling me some things that I’d never heard of.

“When we arrived at the hospital initially, we had a biopsy to check if he had a prostate and the result was negative.

“But to my greatest surprise, the doctor said there were traces of cancer in my Dad’s prostate. Again he said my dad had some kind of stroke. They were just bringing up a lot of things. So we asked them what the way forward was.

“They said that since we requested treatment of the bedsore in a petition we had sent for negligence through a lawyer, they have agreed to do the plastic surgery. I told them aside from doing the plastic surgery, my dad is still not in good health. His condition has deteriorated after the surgeries.”

THISDAY’s effort

When THISDAY called Memfys hospital to confirm their side of the story, the Front Desk officer on two occasions, promised to send the number of the Head of Communications to our correspondent, but never did. Upon calling again to re-request the number, the hospital stopped taking THISDAY’s call.

THISDAY however was able to get the contact and contacted the doctor who was said to have taken care of Mr. Onua in the ICU of Memfys Hospital, Prof. Ndubuisi. However, he declined to comment.

Response of the Chief Medical Director, Memfys Hospital, Enugu

Meanwhile in an audio conversation with a member of the Onua family, which THISDAY was privy to, the Chief Medical Director, Memfys Hospital, Prof. Samuel Ohaegbulam, explained to the family that contrary to the thought of the family that Mr. Onua just had a headache, medical assessment done proved that Mr. Onua had other underlying health problems. He said: “The story we got from the family when he arrived here was that they thought he had a headache but when we extradited the assessment, what we saw on assessment was that he didn’t just have a headache. Even if he had a headache, he had additional problems in the head.

“He had a disastrous spinal cord injury. There are other problems. We’ve done all the tests to find out if we can put a finger on them but we have not succeeded. What else do you want us to do?

“We are not magicians. The only area where we want to investigate is to see if the prostate is related to that. We saw some changes in the brain stem which is critical to the brain.

“In the course of the series of tests, we discovered he was anaemic, some indicators were very high pointing to cancer of the prostate so we had to verify to make sure where we stand because we can’t do a major surgery with all those problems.

“It took us almost a week to reach a point on it. The prostate, we couldn’t dismiss but since there was no sprain on the prostate, we could relieve the pressure of the spinal cord.

“We can’t convince you for what we have done and we can’t take the blame for everything that has happened. We have done our best but our team may not have yielded the expected result. It is beyond us. What is the cause of the deterioration? We don’t

know. Many other factors may have added to the problem.”

Responding to the allegation of extortion posed by the Onua family, Memfys CMD stated that contrary to the assumption of the Onua family that adequate care was not given to the patient resulting in the bedsore, the amount paid was only for intensive care and the standard was the same everywhere in the world.

According to him, “The Intensive Care treatment is not drugs, Google it. You requested to leave and we obliged. If you want to stay, we accept. That is the condition of that process. The condition is that if you continue to care, he is now a new patient. Even if you don’t have the cash to pay, you have to tell us how it would be paid. That’s all.

“We cannot give a guarantee as doctors but you are forcing us to do that. Was it an infection? Was it growth? We couldn’t confirm that. The MRI could not say what it was. What is causing the anaemia, we couldn’t see any open bleeding so usually what causes that is something more serious and he came with anaemia.

“What is the cause for the deterioration, we don’t know. Many other factors may have added to the problem.”

Shades of secrecy around the patient’s care

Although Memphis Hospital holds that the stage of the pressure ulcer was stage 3, images captured from Blessing’s camera and analysed by a nurse close to the family showed a depth that may have reached the bone lesions of the patient indicating that the sores may have reached stage 4.

Blessing told THISDAY that the hospital had barred her from seeing the wounds or capturing images of them. She also revealed that a doctor (name withheld) whom she approached to know the current state of the wound advised her to go very early in the morning but on each occasion, they never allowed her to see the wound after her initial capture.

Expert analysis

With the images (rated 18) of the sore captured by the family and made available to THISDAY, we went ahead to seek expert analysis of the case with consideration to the issues raised by the Onua family, a medical doctor with commendable years of practice who pleaded animosity explained that “Usually, bedsores or pressure ulcers are a complication that happens for bedridden patients.

“They are turned occasionally. In my facility, every two hours but that does not mean that the patient may still not have the pressure ulcers.

“The patient is bedridden; he is on ventilation and has assisted ventilation so

there is something in the throat that affects the turning of the patient so you can’t turn the patient to the left or to the right all the time because of the attachment.

“Pressure ulcer is a very unfavourable complication that happens with bedridden patients and with the patient in the Intensive Care Unit attached to a ventilator, it happens but before it got to grade 4, they should have called the plastic surgeon to review it.”

Speaking on the ethics of concealing the information on the state of the patient until the family found out, she said: “That is wrong. They should have told the relatives of the patient when they came in for review even over the phone. There may be other things too, such as a patient’s nutritional status.

“I’m not happy that they concealed this wound until it got to stage 4 because from what I can see in this picture, it has already gotten to stage 4. It didn’t just jump to stage 4. I can’t really say what they did for the patient whether there was appropriate wound care to prevent the spread of the wound, but I will advise the family to call in a lawyer, only then can the truth be unravelled.”

Concerns

over cases of medical negligence in Nigeria

In recent times, there have been growing concerns over several cases of medical negligence in Nigeria ranging from failure of medical practitioners to promptly attend to patients in emergencies, lack of proper attention to patients’ complaints during care, to making wrong diagnoses, which often, leads to the demise of the patient.

Medical negligence refers to the failure of healthcare providers to fulfil their professional obligations, breaching the duty of care and not exercising a reasonable degree of skill The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), under the powers conferred on it by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 20042 issued a Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 (“the Code”).

The Code, which codifies the rules of professional conduct for medical practitioners, also regulates the conduct/activities of medical practitioners in Nigeria. For instance, the Code states that all medical practitioners and dental surgeons owe a duty of care to their patients in every professional relationship, however, medical negligence recorded in Nigeria often relates to a lack of proper care of the patient. To curb this, it is very instructive to mention that medical practitioners, like any other professional, are not immune from criminal prosecution for reckless or negligent conduct in Nigeria. They can be prosecuted for obvious misconduct committed while carrying out their professional duties.

This is as seen in the case between The Lagos State Government V. Dr. Ejike Ferdinand Orji (Unreported Decision in Suit LD/8963C/2019).

On 20th January 2023, Honourable Justice A.A Akintoye sitting at the High Court of Lagos State (the Trial Court) delivered judgment in respect of a criminal charge of medical negligence preferred against one Dr Ejike Ferdinand Orji (the Defendant).

The Trial Court, in its well-reasoned judgment, found the Defendant liable for recklessness and negligence in the provision of medical care and services that unfortunately led to the deformity of the left limb/leg of his patient, one Master Somi Ezi-ashi (Somi or the Patient). In the context of the decision of the Trial Court, more Nigerians need to know that they have a right to life and dignity. As enshrined in Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), 1999, provides that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, Section 34(a) states that “no person shall be subject to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment…”

Similarly, section 33(1) of the constitution provides that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”

Summarily, until Nigerians are fully aware of their rights, and aren’t shy to demand them, and with the support of the state, take legal actions against any medical practitioner found culpable, only then can issues such as medical negligence be fully nipped in the board.

The Onua Family

Strengthening the Quality of NOWA Schools through a Future in Artificial Intelligence, ICT

The recent remodeling of an ICT Laboratory and some classrooms at the Nigerian Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Secondary School in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, by Captain Maksum Mohammed, Commanding Officer Forward Operation Base (FOB) Bonny, was not just targeted at giving back to a system that made him, but to also strengthen the academic quality in the school through a future in artificial intelligence and technological advancements. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes

“We are in an ICT world right now and whether we like it or not, it rules the world and we have to key into it. I would like to see students bringing out coding results from here and even Artificial Intelligence results from here…We would want to see some students from NOWA Secondary School or even Navy Schools build robots.”

Those were the aspirations and hopes of Captain Maksum Mohammed, the Commanding Officer Forward Operation Base (FOB) Bonny, at the inauguration of the remodeled Mrs. Blessing Ijeoma Ogalla's ICT Laboratory and some classrooms at the Nigerian Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Secondary School in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos State under the leadership of the commandant, Commander UL Gurama.

Giving Back

While his quest to imbibe technology into the hearts of the young students was inspiring, it was his motive that was more laudable given that it was spurred by the culture of giving back.

For Captain Maksum, acknowledging one’s root is no brainier and giving back to that same foundation, is even better.

A proud product of navy schools- from primary and secondary, which culminated at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), it was a trajectory his alma mater was certainly proud of.

“The Navy made me what I am today. My father was in the Navy. I attended the Navy Primary School then to Navy Secondary School before I proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy. I remember while back in school, my colleagues were children of the Chief of the Naval Staff and even Chief of Air Staff. That was because the school was good enough.

“The facilities was one of the best we could find at that time. So upon coming here to make this intervention, I came with that mindset in

my head, thinking I would see something close to that. But to my shock. It wasn't so and I decided that it was necessary for me to at least bring it up to what I've always known Navy schools to be having attended one in my formative years.

“So it was based on that I took it personal, and this is the result. We thank God. And also I saw it as an opportunity to give back, because my education all through me becoming what I am today was almost free of charge.”

With that in mind, he set to work and in two months, gave the school a massive uplift that astounded all the dignitaries that came for the inauguration of the project.

Inauguration

On a certain Friday in July, the NOWA National Vice President Mrs Zainab Akpan led some NOWA Zonal Directors, executives, members and wife of Captain Maksum, Mrs. Joycelyn, to inaugurate the remodeled structures.

Mrs. Zainab Akpan, who represented the National President, Mrs. Ijeoma Ogalla, said NOWA Secondary School Ojo since the commencement of academic activities in January 1996 has continued to maintain excellent standard in its academic pursuit, adding that “this is evident in the remarkable achievements within the period of its establishment. It is of no doubt that this remodelled computer laboratory will further enhance excellent standard of the school”.

Noting that the event was yet another giant stride by NOWA in enhancing quality education through the NOWA Schools, which are known for excellence, she went on to “appreciate the support of the Nigerian Navy under the visionary leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, for his steadfast commitment and assiduous efforts towards NOWA achieving her objectives. You are indeed a pillar to the Association.

“ I also want to thank the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan for unrelenting support to NOWA while not forgetting the Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, BONNY, Captain MA Mohammed for his effort in making the remodelled Mrs Ijeoma Blessing Ogalla Computer Laboratory a reality.”

She further urged and encouraged the users of the computer laboratory to put it into good use for the benefit of mankind.

Paradigm Shift by ICT and Aspirations for Tech Advancement

Acknowledging that ICT has brought about a paradigm shift in traditional views and methods of teaching — learning process, Mrs. Akpan said “The essentiality of Computer Laboratory in any academic environment cannot be underscored. The indispensability of Computer Laboratory to teaching emphasises the proper understanding of the subject matters, hence, laboratories are important component of learning in schools.

“ A computer laboratory, being a great place for students, helps them to enhance their learning by having better understanding of concepts that are being taught in classrooms. It contributes to higher level of academic achievement if used effectively and properly. Welldesigned computer laboratory not only make learning easy but also help students in achieving good academic results.”

Corroborating, Captain Maksum said: “Whether we like it or not, we are in an IT world right now. It rules the world. So we don't have no choice. You have to key into it if you want to live well in this digital age. So my advice to the students is to utilise this to the best of the ability.

“I would like to see students bringing out coding results from here, artificial intelligence results from here. And we wouldn't mind going a little bit more to intervene a little bit more if it is necessary to achieve that result. We want to see some students from NOWA Secondary School build robots. That is my dream, and I hope and pray that the students will come to the reality of this dream as well.”

NOWA Schools

How did NOWA Schools start off and how have they been able to sustain excellence in running the respective schools? Started as component of the NOWA Welfare System, it was established to meet the yearnings for quality academics for children of officers and ratings. That has since extended to encapsulate children of civilians.

Over the years, the school has established itself as a force that provides an enabling environment for self-actualisation through academic excellence.

From NOWA Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos to NOWA Secondary School, Offa, Kwara State; NOWA Secondary School, Atimbo, Cross River; and NOWA Secondary School, Karshi, Abuja; the quest for academic excellence rings true.

For the primary session, the women group boasts of NOWA Primary School, Ojo, Lagos; NOWA Primary School, Okoko, Lagos; NOWA Primary School, Mobil Road, Lagos; NOWA Primary School, Offa, Kwara State; NOWA Primary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar; NOWA Primary School, Karachi, Abuja; NOWA Primary School, Warri, Delta State; and NOWA Primary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

For Captain Maksum, the laudable act of remodeling the laboratory and classrooms did not just end there as he pledged to do more as long as the future of the students are secured and given a platform, same way the navy schools did for him decades ago.

NOWA members in front of the newly renovated modern computer laboratory

The interior of the newly renovated computer lab

Captain Maksum Mohammed (third left); his wife, Mrs. Joycelyn Mohammed (fourth left); NOWA National Vice President, Mrs. Zainab Akpan (middle); Mrs. Abimbola Izu (fourth right); Commandant NOWA Secondary School, Commander Gurama (third right), and other NOWA members

Mrs. Akpan unveiling the plaque

The Comfort Entrepreneur: Miracle Moses Onuoha's Vision for Fluidé Home

From passion to profit, Miracle Moses Onuoha's journey as the CEO of The Fluidé Company Limited, a thriving bedding, bath, home goods, and wellness brand, is a shining example of the power of innovation and dedication. As he prepares to launch Fluidé Home's Abuja store in early August, Onuoha, in this interview with MARY NNAH, shares his story of turning a personal passion for comfortable living into a thriving business, and how his unique approach to home goods and wellness is poised to disrupt the industry

Congratulations on the upcoming launch of your Abuja store! What inspired you to expand Fluidé Home to the capital city?

Expanding to Abuja was inspired by client interaction and feedback. We understand that bedding and home goods are personal items that customers and people will prefer to feel and touch before purchase. Abuja being the centre of the country just made sense to us, we also noticed we have some pull and growing clientele from here, so why not bring the Fluidé experience closer?

Abuja represents a vibrant and diverse market with a growing demand for premium home decor and wellness products. We believe that our presence here will allow us to better serve our customers and meet the increasing demand for our products.

You have a passion for traveling and exploring diverse cultures. How do your travels influence your approach to designing and curating home goods at Fluidé Home?

Traveling has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me. When I travel, my must visits are beddings and home goods stores. Just experiencing the product and imagining the thought process that went into creating them inspires me, this kind of exposure has allowed me to bring a global touch to Fluidé Home.

Last year I had the opportunity to visit some top bedding and home goods manufacturers in Europe, to learn more about texture, design, fabric composition and how all these components come together to influence the comfort level of a product. This also has helped in the decision making process of choosing our collections and designs.

Take us back to your journey, how did you transition from a career in PR and digital marketing to founding Fluidé Home?

I am quite introverted, my home is a place where I store up my energy so I do my best to make it very comfortable and functional. However it was after the pandemic I decided to turn this passion into a business. I realised there was a gap in the market for products that combined comfort, functionality and aesthetics. It was difficult to find quality products that had the perfect combination of cool, aesthetics and functionality. This was the pivotal moment that inspired me to create a brand that would cater to these diverse needs, providing products that are cool, functional and promote both physical and mental well-being, and to make the home a comfort haven. My career in PR and digital marketing equipped me with valuable skills in brand building, communication, and customer engagement. With this, I realised I can apply my skill in PR into building a business that will be an extension of me.

You've achieved remarkable growth and success at Fluidé Home. What leadership strategies have contributed to your accomplishments, and how do you plan to sustain this growth?

I like to think of two things that have brought me this far, one is team-work, the second is maintaining a customer-centric approach that ensures we are always attuned to our customers' needs and preferences. Investing in our team’s development and creating a supportive work environment has empowered the team to excel. We focus on the welfare of our team, the work culture is more interactive, no idea is a bad idea to us, everybody has a creative idea to move the business forward during our creative meetings. I think it has really given us the opportunity to take everyone along and move with the vision.

Reflecting on your journey so far, what have been some of the most significant challenges you've faced, and how did you

overcome them?

A significant challenge we faced was in July 2022. We had just officially launched our store in Lekki phase 1, one week after, the rains came and unknown to us, we had a very bad leaking roof. The property managers did not mention or warn us about the leakage. When the rains came, it poured inside the store, destroying all the furniture and fittings we just installed. We were lucky to save the goods. After that, we had to stop receiving walk-in clients, to repair and redo the place. For a month we redid the interiors while we only took online orders. It was a difficult time but we used it as an opportunity to also upgrade the look and feel of the store. We were able to overcome it because we saw the devastation as an opportunity to try a new look for the store. We took the negative situation and made it a positive one and we still enjoy that renovation till today.

Your brand prioritizes self-love, wellness, and healthy living. How do you ensure that these values are reflected in your products and customer experience?

We believe dearly that good sleep can fix a bad mood, improve wellness, promote health, quality of life and make people generally happier. That is why we do our research and source high quality bedding and functional home goods that will promote relaxation and self care. Our products are designed with these principles in mind, using materials that promote comfort and well-being. Additionally, our customer service is geared towards creating a unique and customised experience for

our clients because everybody sleeps differently. We educate our team on how they can impact positive and supportive experiences to the client and ensure that every interaction from purchase to after sale service, leaves our customers feeling valued and appreciated.

What approaches do you use to motivate and empower your team members, and what advice would you give to aspiring leaders?

I believe teamwork makes the dream work and my mentor always says, you can only go as far as your team. To motivate and empower my team, I focus on creating a collaborative and inclusive work environment where everyone feels heard and valued. I encourage open communication and provide opportunities for growth and development. Recognising and celebrating achievements, both big and small, also plays a crucial role in maintaining high morale. For aspiring leaders, my advice is to lead with empathy, be adaptable, and always be willing to learn and grow alongside your team.

What sets Fluidé Home apart from other home goods brands, and how do you stay ahead of industry trends and innovations?

Fluidé Home stands out due to our commitment to quality, unique design, and our wellness-centric approach. We prioritise creating products that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also contribute to the well-being of our customers. Travel gives me

In the next few years, I envision Fluidé Home as a leading name in the home decor and wellness industry, known for our commitment to quality, innovative products that are sustainable, and continues to enhance the lives of our customers. We will continue to broaden our product range to include more wellness-oriented items and enter new markets both domestically and internationally

the opportunity to see what people in the industry with advanced technologies and innovation are doing. Continuous research also helps us stay ahead, and keep an ear to the ground for emerging consumer preferences. We also invest in innovation by exploring new materials and technologies that enhance our product offerings.

What milestones do you hope to reach in the next few years?

In the next few years, I envision Fluidé Home as a leading name in the home decor and wellness industry, known for our commitment to quality, innovative products that are sustainable, and continues to enhance the lives of our customers. We will continue to broaden our product range to include more wellness-oriented items and enter new markets both domestically and internationally. We are also exploring collaborations with other brands and designers to bring innovative products to our customers. Additionally, we plan to expand Fluidé’s presence to Europe, to reach a wider audience and make our products more accessible.

Looking back on your journey, what are some of the most memorable moments or achievements that stand out to you, and how have they shaped your vision for Fluidé Home?

A memorable time for us as a brand was when we caught the attention of big names like Tiwa Savage, Toke Makinwa, Lola OJ, Beverly Naya and others. We were only two weeks in business, operating only online when Lola OJ saw one of our sponsored ads and patronised. She gave a review because she was pleased by the customer service, the review caught the eyes of Toke Makinwa and Tiwa Savage who contacted and patronised on multiple occasions. Meeting them changed the game for us, if we count our blessings at Fluidé, we count these first three names. Toke Makinwa and Tiwa Savage went ahead to leave their reviews on many occasions after purchase, this gave us a platform that we still enjoy till today and it opened us to the support of their family and fans Their support gave us hope and strengthened the vision even more, I mean if Tiwa and Toke uses Fluidé and loves it, everybody will.

How do you balance your role as CEO with your passion for traveling and exploring new cultures?

Balancing my role as CEO with my passion for traveling requires careful planning and prioritisation. I try to combine my trips with work so that they align with business opportunities, such as visiting factories and exploring new markets. This allows me to combine work and exploration seamlessly. For future trips, I have Sweden in September which is totally for relaxation and France in October which is for work, but I am looking forward to this trip because it is to the South of France.

What message would you like to share with your customers and the community as Fluidé Home expands to Abuja, and what can they expect from the new experience centre?

As we expand to Abuja, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our customers and the community for their unwavering support. The new Fluidé experience center in Abuja will offer a unique and immersive shopping experience, showcasing our latest collections and providing personalised design consultations for hotels, rental apartments, interior designers and individuals who seek quality products for their homes and projects. We are excited to bring Fluidé closer to our customers in the Capital city and look forward to continuing our journey of enhancing your living spaces with Fluidé.

Miracle Onuoha

WHO: 480,000 Vulnerable People in Borno to Get Nutrition Commodities

Arthur Eriye

The World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed that no less than 484,000 vulnerable people will be reached during the lean season with drugs and nutrition commodities in Borno State.

WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, stated this while donating essential medical and nutrition commodities to the Borno State Government in Maiduguri.

Mulombo said 3,200 children under five years with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications under admission at the stabilization centres in the state will also be provided with the kits.

Represented by the team lead, World Health Emergency, Dr Ann Fortin, Mulombo explained that the services will target population in securitycompromised locations with limited access to healthcare

centres.

“The current donation targets explicitly reaching over 484,740 vulnerable populations, especially those in security-compromised locations with limited access to healthcare services and over 3,200 children under 5 with SAM and medical complications under admission at the stabilization centres in Borno will be provided high-quality treatment services utilizing these SAM kits,” he said.

The Country Representative remarked that WHO, in 2023, had supported the State Government in reaching over 1.6 million vulnerable populations, including children between 0-59 months, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and adolescent girls with critical interventions.

“These essential commodities include life-saving medicines, nutritional supplements, and medical supplies for treating

and preventing malnutrition and common childhood illnesses.

“Other services provided by the organization included Malaria treatment, multiple micronutrient supplementation for pregnant mothers, Vitamin A and deworming for children and deworming across hard-to-reach locations,” he added.

Mulombo said the commodities would mitigate the heightened morbidity associated with the lean season, thereby reducing maternal and child mortality rates across the state.

He commended the State Government for its unwavering support and dedication to improving healthcare services.

Items donated include lifesaving medicines, nutritional supplements, and medical supplies for treating and preventing malnutrition and common childhood illnesses.

CHI Sweeps Top Honours at Africa’s Most Admired Brands Awards

Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), a leading manufacturer of fruit juices, value-added dairy and snacks, has reaffirmed its market leadership by clinching top honours at the prestigious Africa’s Most Admired Brands Awards. The event, held at the Civic Center in Lagos, recognized brands within the Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) portfolio.

Chivita 100% was celebrated as the Most Admired Natural Juice Brand, lauded for its exceptional quality and pure fruit extracts, free from added sugars, artificial flavours, and preservatives. Chivita Happy Hour a was honoured with the Most Admired Children’s Drink Brand award, while Hollandia

Evaporated Milk was named the Most Admired Milk Brand of the Year.

The awards, organized by African Brands magazine, which is renowned for its impartial analysis and insights into African brands, the awards highlighted the significant achievements of the Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) brands.

Chivita 100% fruit juice exudes the essence of nature in its most wholesome form, blending the convenience of modernity with nature’s bountiful offerings. Chivita Happy Hour is a range of refreshing fruit drinks that ensure every sip bursts with flavour guaranteed to keep

you smiling. While Hollandia Evaporated Milk is made from the finest quality milk and provides a source of essential nutrients for daily nutritional needs, ensuring you stay ahead with dairy power.

Marketing Director at Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), Mrs. Toyin Nnodi, expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting that the awards reflect the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence in product quality and consumer satisfaction.

“These awards inspire us to continue pushing the boundaries to meet consumer needs, align with their lifestyles, and enhance their experiences,” Nnodi stated.

Stransact Chartered Relocates to Victoria Island

In a bid to consolidate its operations after 16 years of delivering compelling Accounting, Tax, and Audit services across two continents, Stransact Chartered Accountants and Audit, an RSM correspondent firm in Nigeria, has announced its relocation to its new and improved and much larger state-of-the-art corporate headquarters located in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The company announced on Tuesday that the company is well positioned to be a big player in Nigeria’s financial consulting space with the move to its ultra-modern corporate

headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking on the development, the lead partner Eben Joels said, “We’re happy and excited to relocate to our new office space in Victoria Island. More than anything, this move represents our continued ironclad commitment to serving our clients and helping them foster business growth through our technologysupported financial expertise and experience-backed business consulting services.”

He added, “The move stems from our unprecedented growth in the last year and will enable us to maintain closer

contact with our customers. Besides, our new corporate headquarters captures the essence of who and what we are as a brand.’’

The management of the firm said it is poised to serve its clients better, with improved facilities fitted with state-of-theart audio-visual studios and significantly larger office spaces for an increasing number of team members.

Poised for impressive growth and steady expansion, the firm said it will be better able to accommodate its increasing number of team members, upgraded conference facilities,

MTN-MUSON Scholarship Program Opens for Music Talents

The MTN Foundation, in partnership with the Musical Society of Nigeria, has announced the opening of applications for the MTN-MUSON scholarship program.

This program was designed to identify and nurture talented young Nigerian musicians, providing them with the opportunity to hone their skills and take their music careers to the next level.

The foundation said in a statement that the program offers a fully funded two-year diploma course in music, covering a range of disciplines including classical

music, jazz, and popular music.

Successful applicants will receive world-class training and mentorship from MUSON’s esteemed faculty, as well as access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources.

According to the foundation, the initiative is part of its commitment to supporting and empowering young Nigerian talent.

“The MTN-MUSON scholarship program has consistently proven to be a catalyst for the careers of young Nigerian musicians. Scholars also benefit from an environment that fosters

creativity, collaboration, and innovation beyond technical training.

“Whether it’s mastering an instrument, perfecting vocal techniques, or understanding the business aspects of music, this scholarship offers a well-rounded education that prepares scholars for diverse opportunities in the music world,” the statement highlighted.

Applications for the program are now open and will close on August 18, 2024. Interested candidates can apply online through the MUSON website.

Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

The Governor, Rivers State, His Excellency, Sim Fubara (right) with Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu (left), during a courtesy visit by the FirstBank CEO to Governor Fubara…recently

Stock Market Drops by N790.38bn in Three Days as Investors Trade with Caution

Kayode Tokede

The local stock market for the third consecutive session has recorded profit-taking, dropping by N790.38 billion as investors trade with blue chip stocks caution.

The market capitalisation that opened the week at N55.978 trillion, dropped by N790.38 billion or 1.41per cent to close yesterday at N55.187 trillion.

Consequently, the Nigerian

Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) Week-till-Date (WtD) dropped by 1.41 per cent to close yesterday at 97,199.60 basis points from 98,592.12basis points it closed for trading last week.

Sequentially, the stock market Month-to-Date (MtD) and Year-to-Date (YtD) returns moderated to -0.5per cent and +30.1per cent, respectively.

On market performance outlook, Afrinvest Limited said “we anticipate the market to

extend the bearish performance as the market remains short of positive triggers.”

However, the market capitalisation dropped by N108 billion yesterday was influenced by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; Oando, Nigerian Breweries, Cutix, NEM Insurance and Academy Press.

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth closed negative as 22 stocks

advanced, while 25 declined. Guinea Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at 44 kobo, while R.T. Briscoe Nigeria and Honeywell Flour Mills followed with a gain of 9.87 per cent each to close at N1.67 and N4.12 respectively, per share.

Secure Electronic Technology appreciated by 7.14 per cent to close at 45 kobo, while Linkage Assurance rose by 7.06 per cent to close at 91 kobo, per share. On the

other hand, Oando led the losers’ chart by 9.95 per cent to close at N36.20, per share. Cutix followed with a decline of 9.92 per cent to close at N5.36, while Academy Press lost 8.70 per cent to close at N2.73, per share.

Japaul Gold & Ventures down by 7.89 per cent to close at N2.10, while Red Star Express declined by 6.98 per cent to close at N4.00, per share.

The total volume traded

advanced by 47.38 per cent to 315.302 million units, valued at N5.480 billion, and exchanged in 8,365 deals. Transactions in the shares of Veritas Kapital Assurance topped the activity chart with 38.419 million shares valued at N48.596 million. Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) followed with 36.329 million shares worth N1.654 billion, while Universal Insurance traded 23.195 million shares valued at N7.028 million.

Thisday Afrinvest Index Down 0.3%

Thisday Afrinvest 40 index dipped 0.3% to print at 4,267.05 points due to price depreciation in GTCO ( 0.2%), TRANSCORP ( 2.2%), and FIDELITY ( 2.0%). Cumulatively, these stocks account for 11.6% of the index.

Thursday, August 15, 2024

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Bears Maintain Dominance… ASI down 0.1%

In line with our expectation, the bourse closed negative due to selloffs on OANDO ( 10.0%), SEPLAT ( 1.3%), and NB ( 4.5%). Consequently, the NGX ASI declined 0.1% to 97,248.82 points while YTD return and market capitalisation fell to 30.1% (previously: 30.2%) and ₦55.2tn (previously: ₦55.3tn) respectively. Likewise, activity level waned as volume and value traded declined 47.4% and 60.4% to 315.3m units and ₦5.5bn, respectively.

Negative Sector Performance

Performance across the sectors within our purview ended bearish as five indices lost while the AFR ICT index closed flat. Price depreciation in NEM ( 6.2%), AIICO ( 2.7%), FBNH ( 1.8%) and FIDELITY ( 2.0%) drove the Insurance and Banking indices down 0.9% and 0.3%, sequentially. Trailing, the Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas indices dipped 0.2% apiece due to profit taking in NB ( 4.5%), OANDO ( 10.0%) and SEPLAT ( 1.3%). Lastly, the Industrial Goods shed 2bps due to selloffs on CUTIX ( 10.0%).

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth, eased to 0.04x (previously 0.05x) as 22 stocks advanced, 25 declined, and 71 closed flat. In the absence of positive catalysts, we expect the weak performance to persist today.

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 12-August-2024, unless otherwise stated.

Gamin G Week

Edited by nseobonG okon-ekonG

Why Playing GG & Over 2.5 in El Clásicos is Secret Gold Mine

Millions of people place bets on every single El Clásico matchday, but not all succeed. Those who focus on betting options with a higher probability of success, such as GG and Over 2.5, are more likely to win, writes davidson abraham

El Clásico, the fierce rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, is one of world football’s most highly anticipated fixtures. These matches draw millions of viewers worldwide, as fans eagerly await the thrilling encounters and intense drama that only such high-stakes matches can deliver. However, beyond the spectacle on the pitch, El Clásico also presents lucrative opportunities for sports bettors. A close analysis of the last 10 Clásicos reveals why betting on GG (both teams to score) and Over 2.5 goals is a gold mine for those in the know.

cOnsistent OUtcOmes in recent clásicOs

In the last 10 Clásicos, Real Madrid has emerged victorious six times, while Barcelona has won four. These matches are known for their high intensity and attacking

play, leading to a high number of goals. This trend is not just a recent phenomenon but a characteristic feature of encounters between these two football giants. Each team possesses a potent offensive lineup, contributing to the likelihood of both sides finding the back of the net and generating a high-scoring affair.

Understanding gg and Over 2.5 bets

GG (Both Teams to Score): This bet predicts that both teams involved in the match will score at least one goal.

Over 2.5 Goals: This bet predicts that the total number of goals scored in the match will be three or more.

sUccess rates in recent clásicOs

The data from the last 10 Clásicos shows that GG bets have been successful in 7 out

of 10 matches, translating to a 70% success rate and Over 2.5 bets have been successful in 9 out of 10 matches, which is a 90 per cent success rate.

the secret tO cOnsistent earnings

Betting on GG and Over 2.5 in clásicos has proven to be highly rewarding. Here’s why:

1. High success rates: With a 70% success rate for GG and 90% for Over 2.5, the likelihood of winning these bets is significantly higher than many other betting options.

2. Lower risk, steady returns: While betting on such outcomes might offer lower odds compared to more speculative bets, the consistency of these results makes them less risky. Bettors are more likely to secure steady returns over time.

things started moving online. many state governments did not know how to generate revenue from this industry. that’s where we came on board. We came on board again, not just even helping them in terms of the law or in terms of revenue collection, but we came in terms of investing in a proper state lottery, but i think they did not understand what it meant, and many people felt threatened. they did not seem to understand the structure of the transaction. there was a bit of frustration. eventually, we went on to work in anambra state for years, maybe seven years or thereabout, but the full value of what we could have brought couldn’t succeed because it became politicised.

– Yahaya Maikori, Principal Partner, Law Allianz

3. Exploiting predictability: The attacking prowess of both Barcelona and Real Madrid means goals are almost guaranteed. By leveraging this predictability, bettors can make informed decisions and increase their chances of winning.

Millions of people place bets on every single El Clásico matchday, but not all succeed. Those focusing on betting options with a higher probability of success, such as GG and Over 2.5, are likelier to win. While betting on riskier options might offer higher returns, they have a higher chance of losing money. By choosing more predictable outcomes, bettors can minimize losses while making reasonable profits.

making smart betting decisiOns

Choosing the right betting options in El Clásico requires more than just luck; it demands a strategic approach. Understanding team form, player availability, and historical data can provide valuable insights. For instance, the presence of star players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Karim Benzema in the past, who have a knack for scoring in big matches, can significantly influence the outcome of the games.

cOnclUsiOn

El Clásico is not just a spectacle for football fans but also a treasure trove for smart bettors. The historical data from the last 10 matches clearly shows the profitability of betting on GG and Over 2.5 goals. With high success rates, lower risk, and steady returns, these betting options present a secret gold mine for those looking to make the most out of one of football’s greatest rivalries. By making informed and strategic betting decisions, bettors can consistently turn a profit and enjoy the thrill of El Clásico even more.

The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has donated vital medical equipments to Ijebu Jesa General Hospital in Osun.

Comrade Tosin Adeyanju Adeyanju, NLTF’s Executive Secretary/Chief

Executive Officer who Governor Ademola Adeleke received, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing him to lead the agency. He praised the president’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly in terms of health.

The NLTF boss noted that the agency has implemented various projects in Osun State, including distributing sports equipment to 62 primary schools and first aid equipment to 9 public schools between 2017 and date. Adeyanju said that the commissioning and presentation of medical equipment to

Ooni Hails NLTF’s Adeyanju for Transforming Lives Through Good Causes

The Executive Secretary/ CEO of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, has been described as a blessed ‘man capable of transforming lives through good causes.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, made this known while receiving Adeyanju at his palace as part of the programme to mark the presentation of vital medical equipment to Ijebu Jesa General Hospital in Osun.

The Ooni of Ife praised Adeyanju as a responsible son and thanked the president for appointing him.

“He is our son and a fortune child who is responsible and deserving of commendation. I want to thank President Bola Tinubu for appointing Tosin Adeyanju who is one of the formidable youths in the country. He is our son, whom we believe will not disappoint his roots.

“Though we know that there are challenges in the country which we know the president is up to the task, we continue to wish the very best, and by the grace of God, you will succeed,” said the Osun monarch.

He added, “Honourable Faleke is part of us here; we want to thank him too for discovering a lot of youths and God will be with you.”

The monarch urged Tosin to be impactful and put the country first, using the lottery fund to spread development across Nigeria and do more impactful youth activities.

Adeyanju said, “I am so happy to pay the Oonirisa a visit as my first official assignment outside Abuja since my appointment. I am emotionally elated and surprised for what I have

seen here. I never believed that small me could be received this way.

“I am here to further tell the people of Osun that Mr President cares about the people of Osun, as he is interested in reaching out to the downtrodden anywhere you are, either PDP states, APC or APGA.”

He stated that the NLTF is an intervention agency that has been silent for a long time but is now ready

to intervene in areas such as sports, disasters, education, agriculture, and health.

He expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to lead the agency and drive the president’s agenda in that sector. Adeyanju also thanked the president for finding him worthy of the position and promised not to disappoint the people of Nigeria and the monarch, Ooni of Ife.

Ijebu Jesa General Hospital is a significant contribution to the healthcare sector in Osun. Some of the equipment donated were 1 X-ray mobile Machine, four 4 Infant Incubators, three Haematocrit Centrifuges1, 0 Suction Machines, five Autoclaves, three Defibrillators (AED) Automatic and Functional self-test, two Electrophoretic tanks/machines, two Physiotherapy equipment, two ENT Diagnostic sets, 10 Sphygmomanometers (Digital and Manual) and three Caesarean section instruments.

He urged the community to take ownership of the equipment and utilise them appropriately for the benefit of the citizens. Adeyanju also announced that the NLTF’s monitoring and evaluation team would visit all the projects executed for feedback and encouraged the community to provide feedback and suggestions.

The NLTF boss praised President Tinubu’s efforts in improving the healthcare sector and prayed for God’s blessing on the president’s endeavours.

Adeleke commended the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) for its intervention in Osun’s health sector.

“I am pleased to host the Executive Secretary and his team at the Government House,” Adeleke said. “I thank you for choosing a hospital in Osun State for this intervention. The support will help the health sector of our state, and we appreciate your efforts.”

The Osun governor noted that he had been informed of the numerous interventions of the NLTF in the state and expressed his desire for more partnerships with the agency.

“We have been told of many interventions of the agency, and we look forward to more benefits,” Adeleke said. “We seek partnership with your agency to support our efforts in developing the state.”

Adeleke also highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Osun State and called for support from the NLTF in promoting it.

“Osun State has great cultural heritage, which can be supported by your agency,” he said. “We appreciate your effort to support our efforts, and we look forward to working with you.”

High Chief Oladele Fasewu, the Odofin of Ijebu Ijesa and representative of the paramount ruler of the benefiting community, said, “I am delighted to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Tosin Adeyanju, for the generous donation of health equipment to our community hospital. The hospital, which was built by our community, has been greatly enhanced by this gesture.

“I must emphasise that the equipment donated is of high quality and is not easily found in our state. However, I appeal to the government to provide the necessary personnel to manage the hospital effectively. This will ensure that our community benefits maximally from this kind gesture.”

Governor Adeleke (left) and Adeyanju

Ooni of Ife (left) and Adeyanju

Tribu T e

Peter Odili: A Citizen of Humanity at 76

Christopher unuigbe

His life is a tapestry of devotion to God, service to humanity, and unwavering commitment to nation building. As one of the remarkable leaders Nigeria has ever produced, the pages of Peter Odili’s life narratives are laden with the stories of countless lives he has impacted, as well as his indelible imprints in politics and health sectors. A former governor of Rivers State, his outstanding leadership, accomplishments and values are honoured as he celebrates 76 years birthday today.

The elder statesman will surely enjoy avalanche tributes and goodwill from friends and political allies. This is indeed the indisputable evidence of his success in the nation’s political climate. He is being celebrated for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence. His transformative impact in the state’s politics and philanthropic endeavours have uplifted individuals and communities locally and across Nigeria.

The respected political figure who has become a star, beacon of hope and a reference point, not only in Rivers State but Nigeria as a whole.

He achieved this by a mixture of sheer grit and hard work, as well as love for humankind. Odili is seen as the godfather of Rivers, having taken over the reins just as the country birthed a new democratic rule. Irrespective of the obstacles thrown his way, he emerged from his tenure in glowing terms, owing largely to the principles and values he lives by.

He literally gives to the Jew as much as he does to the Gentile, hence, the deluge of prayers and well wishes from all and sundry he enjoys today.

In the past years, Odili, who is the founder of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), has evolved as a statesman whose utterances at public engagements tug at the heartstrings of those currently holding elective offices to keep the sanctity of their promises to the people.

Born in 1948 in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers, his parents, Chief Philip Celestine and Princess Janet Okwei Odili, despite their limited resources, ensured he lived a comfortable life under colonial rule.

This prepared him for life’s challenges and he tackled them with a spirit of resilience that foreshadowed his future endeavours. From the halls of academia to the corridors of power, his unwavering commitment to excellence and service became the bedrock of his character.

Setting out on a path of scholarly pursuits, young Odili embarked on a journey that began at St. Michael’s School, Oguta II, and Sacred Heart School, Onitsha. His academic journey continued at the renowned Christ the King College in Onitsha and proceeded to the University of Nigeria where he studied medicine and embarked on a medical career that would later become a platform for his remarkable impact. The institution was more than a learning ground for the academician, as he encountered a pivotal connection - the love of his life, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

Upon the completion of his one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Odili was hired as a Resident Staff Physician at Medical Consultation Centre, Port Harcourt. Though it was a short stint, Odili’s passion for service was excellently displayed. It’s no-brainer that he’d set up his private medical practice, PAMO Clinics, where he served as the Resident Clinician-in-Charge for two years. Of course, it was an act of Providence, inching him closer to his true calling. His establishment of the hospital till date stands as a shining example of his commitment to providing accessible healthcare to all, a testament to his belief that every life is precious and deserving of the best possible care. He would later pursue a specialist programme at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Almost immediately after, providence smiled at him when he was nominated, courtesy of a former United States President, Bill Clinton, into the 10-member roundtable committee charged

with the responsibility of shaping Africa’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the workplace.

Dr. Odili’s influence extended far beyond the confines of his medical practice. Heeding the call of public service, he stepped onto the political stage, his vision and leadership quickly becoming evident. In 1988, he was elected a member and leader of Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly and was later elected to the National Constitutional Conference, where he served as the Chairman of the Conference Committee on State Creation.

In 1992, he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, where he laid the groundwork for a transformative era in the state’s history.

And at the peak of the struggle for the laying of the foundation for the Fourth Republic, Odili first served as National Vice Chairman (South-south) Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), and later as National Secretary.

He was the Founder and Leader of Rivers Platform in 1998; Founder and Leader of the Restoration Team as well as the State Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); elected Executive Governor of Rivers State in 1999 and served two terms.

It was in that capacity that he took the country by storm and became a reference point in the nation’s political calculations. He not only embarked on a visionary quest to uplift his people, his commitment to their well-being guided his every decision.

Odili was at various times the National Chairman, PDP Fund Raising Committee (2000); and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Housing and Urban Renewal (2001).

Under his astute leadership, Rivers State experienced a renaissance, with infrastructure

projects that propelled the state to new heights of prosperity. Roads were paved, bridges were built, and schools and hospitals were established, transforming the lives of countless individuals. The National Independent Power Project (NIPP), one of his beautiful brainchildren, illuminated homes and businesses, fuelling economic growth and improving the quality of life for all.

Moreover, the Government House, once a modest abode at best, underwent a remarkable metamorphosis. Odili’s visionary approach resulted in the creation of a grand and distinguished edifice that stands today as an architectural masterpiece, leaving an indelible mark on the cityscape.

Emerging from the hallowed halls of academia, Dr. Odili embarked on a medical career that was nothing short of extraordinary. With the kind of dedication that would make marathon runners blush in shame, he served his community with distinction. His deep-seated compassion for his fellow human beings endures in the wistful faces and curved lips that reminisce on the lifesaving medical magic he wrought in those days.

In academia, Odili’s imprint is equally bold. He founded the first wholly private medical university in Nigeria, PAMO University of Medical Sciences. Last year, he unveiled the 250-bed integrated PAMO University Hospital. The purpose-built multispecialty, tertiary care private hospital offers patient care services across a range of medical and surgical specialties.

Beyond his political and academic endeavours, Odili’s benevolence radiates through his philanthropic efforts. From donating vital medical resources during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to empowering countless families through various initiatives, his heartwarming

contributions have touched lives far and wide. One of Odili’s commendable qualities lies in the serene haven he has artfully crafted for his family. While being married to a prominent woman in the nation naturally invites its share of media scrutiny, the duo has adeptly sidestepped such commotion. Remarkably, their tranquil way of life, coupled with the fact that their union has blossomed into a family of four cherished children, stands as a major accomplishment amid the spotlight’s gaze.

Indeed, his 76 years of life reflect the harmonious blend of wisdom and transformation that has marked his journey on earth. This milestone serves as a testament to the profound impact Odili has made, both on an individual level and within the larger community. His relentless pursuit of personal growth and self-awareness, coupled with his willingness to embrace change, has set the stage for a legacy that continues to flourish.

As many celebrate this momentous occasion, they not merely focus on the achievements of a remarkable man but also on the qualities that have defined his journey. Dr. Odili is a man of unimpeachable integrity, a leader who has consistently placed the needs of his people above his own. His resilience in the face of adversity, his tireless commitment to justice, and his boundless compassion serve as an inspiration to us all. Indeed, many individuals approach their later years unsure of their standing in the annals of history. As he gracefully navigates his elder statesman years, Dr. Odili has no such worries to contend with. His name is already secured in the hallowed hall of legends that transcends the boundaries of time and space.

•Unuigbe writes from the United Kingdom

Odili

perspective

African Winter? Youth Uprisings in Nigeria And Africa

By Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire

Asocial media post replacing tomatoes with more affordable watermelon seeds went viral amidst double digit inflation that is spiralling out of control in Nigeria. In a nation with some of the most arable land on earth, people are going hungry. The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria and #EndHarship protests were a reflection of the desperation of people determined to have their hardships addressed and their pain eased.

Nigeria’s over 200 million citizens are a nation of entrepreneurs, innovators who are no strangers to managing tough circumstances, without the services states usually provide. Nigerians epitomise the expression ‘turning lemons into lemonade.’ They generate their own electricity, source their own water, find creative (not always wholesome) ways to earn money and even negotiate with kidnappers when family members are abducted. Right now though, that resourcefulness is being strained to its limits. As previously reported, egregious policy decisions of fuel subsidy removal and devaluation of the Naira advocated by the IMF and World Bank have created untold suffering and made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians. Reports of the Nigerian president contemplating the purchase of new presidential jets while many Nigerians languish in hunger, unemployment, insecurity, hardship and myriad other deprivations feel like a slap in the face and salt in the wound.

Inspired by the Kenyan protests that have shaken President Ruto’s presidency and captured global attention, protest organisers in Nigeria have used social media platforms to organise anti-government and anti-corruption protests.

Predictably, the response from President Tinubu, accused of stealing last year’s Nigerian elections, has been terribly out of touch and unduly heavy-handed, typified by overzealous reactions from security forces, with reports of teargas being deployed to disperse peaceful protesters. The Nigerian police was quick to refute reports by Amnesty International of 13 people killed in the first day of the protests.

President Tinubu, in a televised address on Sunday the 4th of August, three days after the protests began, called for an end to the protests, saying that the rallies have turned violent and blaming “a few with a political agenda” These classic disingenuous disinformation tactics, designed to distract by falsely accusing nameless, faceless, unidentified political opponents are the refuge of the wretched and incompetent. Their purpose is to shift focus from the real issues plaguing the nation.

The #EndHarship protests are borne out of acute, protracted and persistent suffering- breastfeeding mothers unable to nurse their babies, families struggling to eat, double digit inflation translating

Protesters demanding for a better government

into exorbitant prices for staple foods, farmers forced off their lands by bandits. Hunger, insecurity, unemployment and desperation have converged into a pitiful stranglehold that has forced people on to the streets to demand relief!

Simply telling protesters to go away, while they remain hungry, insecure and unemployed is not the answer. Neither is misrepresenting or downplaying it as politically motivated dissent. Nigerians witness national resources being plundered and wasted by greedy and selfish politicians, while the gap between rich and poor; the political elite and the electorate grows wider than ever.

Nigerians have had enough! Some trade union leaders have warned that ‘A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin beckons for serious intervention by the government’.

The venal Nigerian Government has resorted to what it does best: capturing institutions, arms of government, unions, political parties and even parts of the media with slush fund. It has paid lip service to the people’s suffering without proper engagement or concrete action.

The youth in particular have powered these protests with their activism on social media.

Africa, the world’s youngest continent, with a median age of 19 is replete with Gen Z (Born 1997–2010), a pragmatic generation of digital natives who mobilises themselves for a variety of causes and expect their leaders to deliver the

promise of great hope. Their distaste for rising inequality is creating a movement against the failure of Africa’s political class to meet their expectations and deliver a democratic dividend. Africa’s youth are disenfranchised, disempowered, unemployed, hungry and hopeless; they are frustrated and angry. We are witnessing the outpouring of their anger in protests from Kenya to Uganda to Nigeria.

In Uganda demonstrators were arrested from among groups of protesters who were marching and shouting anti-corruption slogans in different parts of the capital, Kampala on Tuesday, the 23rd of July. The protest was organised on social media with hashtag #StopCorruption. President Museveni, who has been in power for almost four decades, in his typically bombastic style had warned that protesters would be ‘playing with fire’.

Kenya’s government has appealed for the protests to stop, while an attempt by the police to ban demonstrations was overruled by the courts. Even after President Ruto granted the key demands of the protesters, including the scrapping of planned tax rises and the dismissal of almost the entire cabinet, the calls for his resignation remain as strident as ever. The demonstrators’ focus has shifted to the president’s legitimacy, corruption in his government, his capacity to keep his populist campaign promise and police brutality.

As for Nigeria, online protest calls, inspiration from events in Kenya, the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and endless widespread pain

has galvanised people on to the streets despite warnings and threat of military action against violence. Government attempts to enlist traditional and religious leaders to discourage the protesters from proceeding have failed; the protesters simply didn’t ‘buy it’. Something has shifted; the old order seems to have been abandoned. Authorities must grasp the power of social media to influence cultures, shape opinion (for good or ill) and to marshal unstoppable movements. They fail to do so at their peril.

Care must be taken, however, where ethnic tensions simmer just below the surface, that disparate, diffuse and largely leaderless movements do not themselves become co-opted and corrupted by bad actors. Rallying around common grievances against government corruption, bad leadership, unemployment, failure to provide basic goods and honour the social contract must remain the focus. Infiltration by looters and criminals bent on vandalism, anarchy and destruction can turn an inalienable constitutional right to protest peacefully into something ugly, providing the government with an excuse for a violent crackdown.

That protesters in Daura bombarded former President Buhari’s house shows that no one is safe from the unleashing of youthful anger and frustration, which if unrestrained could morph into violence as they feel compelled to make their point and to enforce reform and change.

The government must provide sustainable structured solutions to the problems. Temporary ‘palliative’ measures are not sufficient. There have been reports of bags of food which were donated by the government as ‘palliatives’ to help the most vulnerable being repackaged and sold. The government’s response must be measured, planned, organised and monitored to ensure that any corrective actions reach those for whom they are intended. Redressing the decisions that have caused distress and resulted in unrest must also be carefully, tactfully and humanely managed. The welfare of Nigerians must come first, not subordinated to IMF, World Bank or any other outside interests.

There is something about this wave of protests in Africa that is reminiscent of the Arab spring movement. In 2010 a young Tunisian vegetable seller set himself alight to protest against police harassment. That gesture from Mohamed Bouazizi sparked protests against the cost of living and the country’s authoritarian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia would be the first of a wave of revolts across the Arab world as people rose up to protest against authoritarianism, corruption, and poverty. Some wonder whether we are witnessing the beginning of Africa’s moment. Has the continent reached its nadir and could these be the convulsions that foreshadow birth pangs of an African Winter?

Arts Envoy Deepens US, Nigeria Cultural Ties Through Poetry

James

Nigerian American poet, Salome Agbaroji, who is the 2023/2024 United States National Youth Poet Laureate and who as part

Dangote

of the US Department of State’s Arts Envoy Program had performed at the White House, the United Nations, and the Golden Globes Pre-Show, among many other prestigious stages was in Nigeria to perform some of

her works.

During her visit to Nigeria, Agbaroji, a first-year Harvard University student, traveled to Enugu to connect with her roots and immerse herself in the local arts and culture scene.

She visited the Center for Memories, a repository of the rich history and culture of the Igbo people, hosted a poetry workshop at the University of Nigeria’s Window on America, and headlined an evening of discussions

Cement Launches Students Industrial Internship Scheme

The Dangote Cement Plc has launched a novel Internship Scheme for students of tertiary institutions in the country that would see the students undergoing a one-year internship fully funded by the leading cement company.

The scheme, according to the Dangote Cement Lagos Regional Sales Director, Mr. Tunde Mabogunje during the induction of pioneer students of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, has been designed to provide practical and hands-on the job experience for excellent Engineering students in higher institutions across Nigeria. He was quoted in a statement to have explained that the scheme was part of Dangote Cement’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and offers a unique opportunity for engineering students to apply the knowledge

they’ve gained in classrooms and laboratories to real-world situations. By combining their academic learning with practical, on-field training, students will emerge as well-rounded engineers.Mobogunje said: “We are kicking off this phase of the scheme in Lagos and Kano States. A total of 20 students are involved with 10 students selected from each of the two states. In selecting the interns, we wrote to the authorities of Yaba College of Technology and Kano Polytechnic requesting for the list of the best performing students in Building Studies.

“We are to train the selected students on the right application of cement with specific reference to Dangote Cement in accordance

with Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) prescriptions. The interns are to be deployed to various building project sites while technical officers from Dangote Cement will be on the ground to monitor them.”

The Dangote Cement boss pointed out that the project underscores the company’s belief that the acquisition of vocational and technical skills is vital to the well-being of any sector in particular and the economy as a whole.

“They are vital prerequisites for growth. However, the dearth of vocational and technical skills has hurt the building sector. This internship programme is apt and a major step in the right direction towards addressing the gap. As trainees gain practical field experi-

ence, they will be well-prepared to become well-rounded professionals and make significant contributions to the industry.

“At Dangote Group, we are committed to providing vocational training to young Nigerians to equip them with a range of valuable skills. To address gaps in some of our plants, we recruited graduates from engineering and technology-based programmes and trained them in various aspects of industrial operations. These technicians were subsequently deployed to our plants in Obajana, Ibese, Gboko, as well as our sugar and salt refineries in Apapa and Ikeja. They have demonstrated that, with the right training and orientation, young Nigerians excel in every assignment they undertake.

and networking with the creative community in Enugu.

In Lagos, Agbaroji conducted workshops for young poets and spoken word artists, visited the University of Lagos to meet creative arts professors and students, and hosted a poetry slam competition for high school students.

To conclude her visit, Agbaroji joined Nigerian spoken word artist and 2022 Lagos International Poetry Festival Slam Champion Deborah Johnson for a moderated conversation about their work in the creative industry. The event featured poem recitations and an open mic session, where Agbaroji and other artists shared their work.

Audiences in Lagos and Enugu, including high school and university students, art professors, and emerging and established poets and artists, found Agbaroji’s work relatable, engaging, and enjoyable. Agbaroji’s desire to share her talents in poetry through mentorships and workshops resulted in meaningful connections and cultural exchange with the Nigerian literary community. The activities in both cities inspired young

students to envision a future in the creative arts through poetry.

Reflecting on her visit, Agbaroji expressed appreciation for being able to connect with Nigeria’s vibrant art scene through the U.S. Arts Envoy Program. “I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to visit Nigeria for the first time through the Arts Envoy program. Watching a participant start a poem during our workshop, collaborate with others, and then perform it live at our open mic night was incredibly uplifting,” Agbaroji added. US Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Julie McKay highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges like Agbaroji’s visit to Nigeria and their ability to bring Americans and Nigerians together to share ideas and expertise, and promote mutual understanding and freedom of expression.

“One of the most empowering opportunities we can offer young people is a platform where their voices can be heard,” McKay said. “Poetry is an inspiring platform for youth to express their creativity and sense of self.”

segun

Celebrated

TINUBU IN MALABO...

President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (R) welcoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the People's Palace Court in Malabo, on the first day of his three-day official visit to Equatorial Guinea .... yesterday

Keyamo Leads Delegation to Europe Over Abuja Second Runway Project

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has led a delegation to Helsinki in Finland and Vienna in Austria, for critical factory inspections and familiarisation meetings with two of the world’s leading aviation infrastructure equipment manufacturers - Vaisala and Frequentis AG - for the supply of equipment for the construction of the on-going Abuja second runway.

Keyamo, in a statement yesterday, in Abuja, by his Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, noted that the collaborative approach was expected to significantly improve the efficiency of air traffic management and weather forecasting in Nigeria.

He added that the visit was a crucial step in ensuring that the country's aviation infrastructure was equipped with the latest technologies to enhance safety and efficiency. According to him, "The partnerships we are forging with industry leaders like Vaisala and Frequentis AG are vital for the successful implementation of our projects, such as the Abuja second runway."

The delegation included the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Faruk Ahmed Umar; the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Charles Anosike; and the Director of Engineering, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr. Abiola Adejare.

This visit was initiated by the

Managing Director of Avsatel, Georg Eder MBA, and his deputy, Engr. Abdullahi Bayi, alongside the project's Chief Consultant on Airfield Lighting (AFL), NavAids, Communications, and Meteorology, KEFE Engineering Limited, Engr. Mohammed Sodiq.

The first stop for the Nigerian delegation was in Helsinki, Finland, where they inspected the weather radar at Helsinki Airport. This was followed by a comprehensive meeting with the management and a visit to the manufacturing plant of Vaisala OYJ, the world’s largest developer and manufacturer of meteorological equipment. The delegation was received by Vaisala’s Mauri Vapola, Application Manager; Juha Salmivaara, R&D Manager; and Kimmo Rustolainen, Director for MEA for Central Asia and Ukraine.

During the visit, the Vaisala team provided an in-depth overview of the company’s core specializations, including: Automatic Weather Observing Systems (AWOS), Runway Visual Range (RVR), Windshear Alert Systems, Weather Radar Integration, Lightning Information Integration and Runway Management.

The Nigerian delegation was then given a tour of the meteorological equipment at Helsinki Airport, providing valuable insights into the operational efficiency and technological advancements of the equipment.

The delegation’s next stop was Vienna, Austria, where they met with the management and visited the manufacturing plant of Frequentis AG, a global leader in voice communication and control systems for air traffic management. Vice President and Head of Global Sales Group for Frequentis AG, Dr. Bernd Novak, presented an overview of their state-of-the-art Voice Communications Switch.

UNICEF to Fathers: Support Breastfeeding Wives to Achieve Six Months Exclusive Suckling

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has enjoined fathers to support their breastfeeding wives in all ramifications to enable them succeed in exclusively suckling their infants for the first 1,000 days of life.

The call was made by the Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Philomena Irene, in a presentation at the opening of a two-day media dialogue, titled, “Beyond Mothers: Analysing the Role of Fathers and Family Members in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding for Child Survival,” held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Irene stressed that the role of the fathers was to aid their wives with childcare and household chores so the

NSE Confers Fellowship, Honours Exceptional Engineers

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has honoured its exceptional members, including the seasoned information technology engineer and service management expert, Dagogo Bruce Buowari. During the ceremony which took place in Abuja, NSE President and Chairman-in-Council, Margaret Aina Oguntala, emphasized that the society’s decision to recognize and confer fellowship on the engineers stemmed from their exemplary contributions to the profession and the nation.

Oguntala highlighted that the fellowship acknowledges past achievements and charges recipients to continue serving with excellence and integrity.

These distinguished engineers are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and serve as role models for the next generation.

"The fellowship is a testament to their dedication, skills, and commitment to advancing engineering in Nigeria and globally," he said. Reacting to the award, Buowari expressed a sense of fulfilment and described the fellowship as the culmination of hard work, experience, and a rigorous screening process, even as he pledged to continue supporting the profession and giving back to society. Buowari’s commitment to the NSE extends beyond his professional achievements and includes his involvement with critical industry stakeholders, such as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

He has represented Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) in some federal government committees, including the Presidential Decade of Gas Initiative which focuses on shaping the future of gas as a development driver in the country.

mothers could take time to breastfeed babies.

According to her, "They are to also talk with family members, including grandmothers, about committing to breastmilk only for the baby's first six months – no water or other liquids or foods – as well as talk about the need to feed the baby milk, eggs, and green or orange fruits or vegetables every day.

"The fathers are to ensure that animal source foods are always available for the baby by keeping for the family milk and eggs that might otherwise be sold or by purchasing milk and eggs as needed, beginning at six months.

"They are also to check in with their wives about how the plan for feeding the baby is going, at least once a week.”

The call to action, according to Irene, was to close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities, stressing that "we must engage all actors along the Warm Chain of Breastfeeding support: civil society organisations, governments, policymakers, health systems, workplaces, communities, and parents."

The nutrition specialist added, "We call on all stakeholders to invest in breastfeeding support to alleviate social inequalities and promote sustainable development in BFO States."

Following the presentation, the

duo of NAMA MD and

DG, Engr.

Ahmed

and Prof. Charles

discussed the importance of synchronising weather and radar applications on the same software platform to enhance safety and operational effectiveness.

Firm Replies Falana, Says Cargo Tracking Contract Legitimate, Duly Approved by FG

The operator of the federal government's International Cargo Tracking Noted (ICTN) scheme, Antaser Nigeria Limited has faulted a report attributed to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, that the award of the scheme to it did not follow due process.

The firm in a statement urged the rights activist as well as an online publication to get their facts right before making such weighty allegations.

The online publication in its recent report had attributed the allegation to Falana that the award of the ICTN project to Antaser Nigeria Limited did not follow due process.

Responding via a statement signed by the company's General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Emmanuel Aiyegbeni, the firm refuted the allegations, and urged Sahara Reporters and Falana, "to make use of the Freedom of Information Act to verify the facts from all relevant agencies and ministries involved in the procurement process and share their findings with the public."

In proving that the project was legitimately awarded, the GM

Corporate Communication recalled that the scheme which started as the Transport and Port Management System (TPMS) was initially suspended by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration due to some port reform.

"But shortly after, the government and all the stakeholders saw the immense benefits of ICTN and demanded its immediate reinstatement. Shortly after reinstatement, the contract was terminated due to TPMS’s non-remittance of the actual accrued revenue to the federal government.

"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed that Antaser Afrique Bvba, as a technical partner to TPMS, promptly remitted all monies due to the government, leading to Antaser Afrique’s complete exoneration, while TPMS was indicted, prosecuted, and eventually convicted."

Aiyegbeni, also noted that the re-introduction of ICTN under President Muhammadu Buhari was initially plagued with irregularities, including several anticipatory approvals to various representative companies including an attempt to foist yet another agent on the Nigerian ICTN scheme.

Basic Education: UBEC Harps on Significance of Research, Advocates Adherence to Timelines

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Executive Secretary, ES, of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, has stressed the significance of research in critical areas of the basic education sub-sector.

Bobboyi also advocated research delivery in accordance with timelines, noting that strict adherence to specific timeliness in research will ensure the avoidance cases of abandoned research.

The remarks by the ES were made during a three-day workshop organized for members of the

research project screening committee by the UBEC’s Digital Resource Center (DRC).

Represented by the National Coordinator of the UBEC DRC, Professor Bashir Galadanci, the ES revealed that the workshop designed to provide orientation and guidance to the screening committee members was also meant to keep the participants abreast of the task before them and equip them with the requisite tools and information to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Also speaking, the Head of the Research Unit, UBEC DRC,

Dr. Phebe Jatau, noted that the inauguration of the screening committee marks the beginning of a milestone and a journey that will shape the future of research activities in the DRC.

She stated that the three-day activity will also avail the DRC the opportunity to onboard the research screening committee members with the prerequisites and terms of engagement of the research project.

During the workshop, the committee members engaged in interactive sessions as they reviewed the research manual, policy docu-

ment, and work plan respectively. Furthermore, discussions were held to understand the criteria for selecting research materials, the goals of the UBEC DRC project, and the overall vision of the organization. The workshop was essential to ensuring that the screening committee members were well-prepared and aligned with the objectives of the research project. It also provided an opportunity for the members to establish working relationships, clarify roles and responsibilities, and set the groundwork for future collaboration.

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

NiMET

Faruk

Umar

Anosike

45TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING...

Adelabu: Nigeria’s Power Problems Result of Inaction of Previous Administrations

Says power supply rose 27% in one year, subsidy not sustainable Laments incessant vandalism, seek collaboration with

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday blamed Nigeria’s electricity woes on the ‘actions and inactions’ of previous governments, but said the Bola Tinubu administration was set to turn around the sector with the ongoing wholesale overhaul.

Speaking in Abuja during a visit to his office by the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO) organisation, Adelabu disclosed that the efforts of the current administration has led to a 27 per cent rise in the supply of electricity to Nigerians.

CIMICO comprises several Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and security personnel and government agencies, including the Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), fire service, among others.

Adelabu stated that his job at the ministry was to expand energy assets to reduce or completely eliminate energy poverty, both in the urban, semi-urban, and rural communities in Nigeria.

“And we all know that it is much easier to build afresh than to repair. What we have seen in the power sector today is the reflection of the actions and inactions of past administrations. Over 60 years of our existence since independence, we have not done the right thing for the power sector.

“Which is why a nation of 220 million people, we are still running around 5,000 megawatts of power.

It is shameful. South Korea of 49 million people has 130,000 megawatts of power. That's how they had their industries developed.

“If you get this (power) right, it is almost automatic that every other critical sector will be developing. Our markets, our population, they are supposed to be a blessing and strength to us,” the minister stated.

On the need for the appropriate legislation, the minister stated that President Bola Tinubu recently signed into law the Electricity Act, which has taken care of the over-centralisation of power supply.

With the decentralisation of the sector, he stated that sub-national governments can now play in the entire power segments from generation, transmission and distribution and even regulate power sector within their own territory.

“The government will play its role to de-risk it while attracting foreign and local investment. So that Act has settled that, and we have seen that a number of states are now receiving their regulatory autonomy, which we believe will galvanise further development in the industry.

“And we have also seen a lot of investment flow into the sector. Because the problem that we see today is not accidental. It was intentional. The investment in generation, the investment in transmission infrastructure, and the activities, improved activities of the distribution companies. That's why we can see that there's some noticeable improvement.

“We've been working on the National Integrated Electricity Policy,

and Strategic Implementation Plan that will detail what we need to do as a country. That will serve as our bible to know where we are going as a sector,” Adelabu noted.

On electricity pricing, the minister stated that Nigeria cannot afford to continue to subsidise power supply for its citizens.

“I'm entitled to a subsidy. But

does the government have enough to fund the promised subsidy? No!

So all the promised subsidies have been piled up in the form of debts to the power generating companies,

Nationwide Hunger Protest a Wake-up Call to Every Nigerian, Says Bauchi Governor

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has declared that the recent nationwide hunger protest represents a wake-up call to every Nigerian, from the presidency to the sub-nationals.

Mohammed said he had no apology for criticising the policies of the federal government that had inflicted hardship on Nigerians.

The governor spoke on Wednesday during the opening of the State Executive Council meeting held at Government House, Bauchi.

He said as leaders at the national level, he had the responsibility to say the things that later generated some controversy. He added that they were not meant to cause pain or insult to anybody, but to put the situation in its right context.

Mohammed stated, "All of us here, as leaders, members of councils, commissioners representing local governments, know what is going

on there; you represent them here.

“Of course, we know we had to listen when the cries of Nigerians were raised loud against bad governance in areas of limitations and inadequacies, where the expectations of our people have not been met for whatever reasons."

According to him, "We have scare resources to manage; that is why I said we must use the little resources we have to do so much. Nobody cares; nobody will listen to you if you begin to pass the buck to complain and say this and that.

"In our style of leadership, we don't blame our predecessors. That is why God brought us here to manage the situation, to make it better. We know we are not in charge of national policies and programmes, but we must be able to implement national programmes as loyal federalists while at the same time looking at our own challenges and making sure we are connecting with the people.

"Certainly, when something is so

spontaneous, as a protest, you cannot be spared no matter how good you are and so we are not just blaming the federal government for everything, we also have to look at ourselves and make sure we do things that will put food on our table and make things easier.

"We have seen the spatial inflation; the macro-economic indices even globally are not favourable and the national policies brought under this administration is not favourable for us because we have the blame.

“We are not on our own and that is why I spoke as opposition constructively and somebody who means well to the president and to the government and people of Nigeria.

"Having said that, whoever made any blaring and very bad comment on me, that is the cost of leadership and I have no apology for that. I am not doing it to cause any disaffection or to insult anybody. Precisely, we are not also spared in what I said, it is not about partisan politics, it is about responsibility."

Ugwu-Nwogo

The coronated Eze Aro IX of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Majesty, Eberechukwu Kanu Oji has filed an appeal at the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal asking the appellate court to preserve his kingship by voiding an ominous court order.

An Abia State High Court in Umunneochi had in a ruling on July 31, 2024 ordered the Abia State Government to withdraw the staff of office issued to Oji thereby rendering his coronation on July 27, 2024 a nullity.

But in a notice of appeal filed at the Appeal Court Owerri Division, dated August 2, 2024, the Aro monarch and other joint appellants

said they were dissatisfied with the court order and urged the appellate court to set it aside on three grounds.

The appellants faulted the entire decision and orders made by the lower court, saying that it committed errors in law by making orders that "amounted to substantive reliefs" without full hearing of the matter.

The appellants contended that the court orders were averse to them at the interlocutory stage. This is because the lower court mandated the state governor to withdraw the staff of office and certificate of recognition from Oji and hand them over to his rival, Godwin Kanu Idei.

Part of the particulars of errors outlined by the appellants was that the respondents commenced their action "by the writ of summons

and statement of claims filed on January 24, 2024, seeking in the main declaratory reliefs".

On the second ground of appeal, the appellants said that the judge at the lower court erred in law when he made the orders without adhering to the principle of fair hearing.

According to the appellants, the judge issued the orders "with the full knowledge that the appellants and their counsel were not served hearing notice for the sitting of the court on July 31, 2024".

They therefore pointed out that making orders that affected them without serving them hearing notice amounted to "substantial miscarriage of justice".

Meanwhile, the Aro monarch and the other defendants/appellants have

also filed a stay of execution notice at the lower where the order for the withdrawal of certificate of recognition and staff of office emanated.

In the stay of execution notice dated August 2, 2024, filed by their counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala, who is at the head of the legal team, the defendants/applicants hinged their demand for stay of execution on three grounds.

They maintained that they were not served hearing notice as required by law hence, "the court proceedings of July 31, 2024 and the outcomes thereof are a nullity".

The defendants/applicants also faulted the inclusion of Governor Otti and two of his commissioners as defendants in suit No. HUM/1/2024.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has applauded the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for initiating an investigation into the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over allegations of misappropriation of N90 billion grant the commission by the federal government as subsidy for the 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

CISLAC said that its concerns are further heightened by Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with corruption as the country ranked 150 out of 180 on the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International.

It further said that the CPI score, which reflects the perceived levels of public sector corruption, underscored the urgent need for reforms in the country, particularly NAHCOM.

CISLAC particularly said that the widespread looting during the 2024 Hajj exercise was alarming, stressing that it was worrisome because of the religious significance of the event.

CISLAC said that with the ICPC’s

investigation underway, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are hopeful that the case will serve as a turning point in the fight against corruption in the Thesecountry. were contained in a statement by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, who noted that in spite of the substantial payments and the allocation of federal government subsidy, many pilgrims received substandard treatment, thereby raised serious concerns concerning the management of the funds by NAHCON.

In the words of Rafsanjani: “We commend the ICPC’s efforts to expose this monumental fraud and urge them to ensure that corruption is rooted out of our public institutions”. The CISLAC Executive Director stressed that persistent fraud and institutional failures have significantly contributed to the country’s deepening poverty, saying that with over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, according to figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the diversion of public funds intended for citizens’ welfare has exacerbated the nation’s socio-economic challenges.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Emmanuel

in Umuahia

L-R: Chairman Nigerian-British Golf Committee Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Uwamai Igein; Honourary Life Vice President NBCC, Olabintan Famutimi; NBCC Member/MD FIC Professional Networks Plc, Rafiat Onitiri; Chairman Programmes Committee NBCC, Tajudeen Ahmed, and Chairman Marine & Logistics Committee NBCC, Ikenna Nwosu, during NBCC's 45th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos… recently

Wedding ceremony of earnest ezenna's son...

Senator Victor Umeh; former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,

I Never Collected Kickbacks from Contractors, Ex-Kano Gov, Shekarau, Says

State govt claims protesters carted away Ganduje's corruption trial documents, estimates over N1bn in losses

A former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, yesterday, boasted that he never took any negotiating percentages from any contractor, while he was governor of the state.

This was as the Kano State Government, has accused protesters during the recent hunger demonstration of carting away corruption charges documents on the former governor of Kano State,

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who has been facing multiple charges before the state High court. The government has also estimated about N1 billion in losses as a result of the violence that broke out during the hardship protests. However, Shekarau, who spoke highly of his leadership as governor, challenged any contractor, who had worked with him in the last 44 years to say openly if he ever demanded any percentage.

In 2018, an online newspaper, published a video of a Ganduje, receiving bundles of dollars from contractors, which he stuffed into his “babanriga”, a local outfit.

It was against this background that the Kano government filed an eight-count charge against Ganduje for allegedly collecting $200,000 from a contractor.

The state government also accused Ganduje of collecting $210,000 kickback from “people and entities seeking or

holding the execution of Kano State Government contract and or project for the remodelling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent).”

But speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN) 70th anniversary, scheduled to commence on October 12, 2024, Shekarau, said the organisation had shaped his life spiritually and otherwise.

Abbas Makes U-turn, Withdraws Counter Subversion, Other Related Bills

chuks okocha, adedayo akinwale, Juliet

and aminat Hassan in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas,has ordered the withdrawal of Counter Subversion Bill sponsored by him which proscribed harsh punishments on offenders.

chuks okocha in Abuja

Special adviser to former VicePresident Atiku Abubukar, Paul Ibe, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of superintending over a National Assembly that undermined the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Account Commission (RMFAC) in fixing the salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly.

He said while this was going on while Nigerians working were wallowing in poverty.

Ibe said the courageous statement by Senator Sumalia Kawu, has vindicated former President Olusegun Obasanjo that it was morally unfair for the National Assembly to fix its salaries and allowances.

"Senator Sumaila Kawu has courageously stepped up to assert that his monthly take home is N21 million in allowances apart from about N1 million in salary, thus vindicating former President Olusegun Obasanjo's accusation that it was immorally wrong of the

This was as a result of public outcry on the proposed bill which sought to criminalise subversive activities by associations, organisations and other proscribed groups in the country.

The bill by the speaker sought to punish between two to five years imprisonment or a fine of N2 million and N15 million both on individuals

and organisations or both on those found guilty.

The bill sought to provide a legal and institutional framework to detect, prevent, investigate criminalise, prosecute and sanction subversive and related activities and to also regulate the procedure and determine how the provisions of this act shall be executed.

After an initial statement explaining that the bill was not targeted at any individual or group, the Speaker of the House in another statement signed by his special adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Musa Abdullahi Krishi, withdrew the bill.

Senator Godswill Akpabio-led NASS to fix own salaries and allowances in contravention of the laws of Nigeria.

"The position of Sen. Sumaila (I do hope that the chopping Sen. Akpabio will not suspend him like Ningi or strip him of his position like Ndume) not only confirms what Obasanjo said, it also puts a lie to the official response of the Senate that it does not fix its own salaries and allowances.

“In an institution populated with lackeys with no balls to hold the reckless executive to account, Sen. Sumaila's courageous act is worthy of commendation.

"It is, however, ironic that the NASS which is saddled with the task of making laws for the good governance of Nigeria, is the one that is breaking the law and undermining the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC), which is the commission that is constitutionally empowered to fix salaries and allowances of public officials, including members of the NASS.”

"In response to the voices and concerns of the people, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., has decided to withdraw the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislation.

"This decision follows his extensive consultations with a broad range of stakeholders and a careful consideration of the nation's current circumstances."

Meanwhile, Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement,Omoyele Sowore, has knocked the House of Representatives for introducing the Counter-Subversion Bill 2024.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, described the bill as “buffoonery” and predicted that it will lead to an earlier-than-expected resurgence of the #EndBadGovernance movement.

In a post on his X account, yesterday, he said, “The buffoonery of this “House of Twerps” is the reason #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria revolt might resume earlier than usual.”

The former governor who is also the chairman of the organising committee said MSSN would introduce new programmes and processes that would consolidate the fostering of unity and also encourage members to participate in politics and governance.

He revealed that he had less than N100,000 in his account when he contested for the governorship election.

"When I contested the election, I had less than N100,000 in my account, and my entry into politics was not by choice but by persuasion.

"I have never taken any negotiating percentages with any contractor. I always challenge them—if any contractor who has worked with me in the last 44 years knows that I have asked him for a percentage or brought any money, let him come out and say so.

"Secondly, none of my commissioners has ever brought one naira to me in the name of feedback from a contractor. No local government chairman, during my eight years as governor, has ever given me one naira. I have never tampered with their allocations,” he said.

Shekarau added that all they did then, through the state assembly, was to create guidelines, rules, and regulations governing their operations, and they allowed them to do their jobs with their councillors.

Meanwhile, Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has paid an on the spot assessment visit to the Kano State High Court that was vandalised by thugs during the nationwide protests some few days ago. The Governor was conducted round the court premises by the Attorney

Disagrees with

Nigeria Doesn’t

chuks okocha in Abuja

A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and former parliamentary adviser to President Shehu Shagari, Tanko Yakasai, yesterday said Nigeria did not need a new constitution, saying Nigeria’s constitution was not the problem, but those operating it.

The aged politician was reacting to call by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen, who recently visited President Bola Tinubu and canvassed a new constitution.

In a statement, yesterday, Yakasai

said without a change of mindset and conduct of the country’s leaders, “even the most perfectly crafted constitution will fail to deliver progress and stability.”

The elder statesman said internal cohesion and “rigorous debate” must be prioritised by The Patriots before engaging in external advocacy.

“I have observed with deep concern the recent visit by some members of The Patriots to the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where they canvassed for a new constitution for our beloved country, Nigeria,” he said.

“As a founding member of this

esteemed group and an elder statesman committed to the well-being of our nation, I must express my reservations about both the process and the content of the submission made during this visit.

“First, it is regrettable that due process was not followed in articulating the views that were presented to the president. A matter of such national importance requires thorough consultation, inclusive deliberation and the consensus of all founding members.

“The exclusion of key voices, particularly in a group like The

General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar of the High Court, Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other High Court Judges of the State.

A statement by the Governor's Spokesperson Sanusi Bature, said the hired elements destroyed properties at the high court worth N1 billion during the violent protest.

The statement described the vandalism as a master-minded and staged-managed mission in which the hired miscreants carted away corruption charges documents on former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who has been facing multiple charges before the state High Court.

"It is very unfortunate that enemies of Kano State hired undesirable elements to vandalized one of the historic public buildings with a mission of averting corruption charges against the Ag. National Chairman of APC and former governor of the state Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family and aides.

“The miscreants destroyed virtually all units of the High Court including the office of the State Chief Judge with loss accruing to more than one billion naira through stealing of office equipment, destroying offices, burning cars and other relevant materials crucial to the dispensation of justice."

The governor however called on youths in the state to desist from being used by detractors to engage in violence, rather they should concentrate in skills acquisitions for better future emphasizing that government will not relent in securing the lives and property of people of Kano State.

Patriots, undermines the credibility and unity of our mission. It is essential that our decisions and representations are rooted in collective wisdom and not rushed or unilateral actions.

“Second, I align with the views expressed by President Olusegun Obasanjo that the core problem facing Nigeria is not necessarily the constitution or the tenure of office. The crux of our challenges lies in the attitude and character of those who operate the constitution.”

Yakasai said the president should tread carefully and consult widely on the demand by The Patriots.

L-R:

Chief John Nnia Nwodo; former Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc, Dr. ABC Orjiako; Chairman /CEO Fano Group of Companies, HRH. Eze Damilan Emeka Obianigwe; and Chief Tony Ezeani , at the wedding ceremony of Earnest Ezenna, son of Chief Tony Ezenna, Chairman, Orange Drugs Limited in Lagos ... recently

akoje

adedayo akinwale in Abuja and ahmad sorondinki in Kano

BOOK PRESENTATION ON “IMPACTFUL PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CUSTOMS MANAgEMENT"...

Enrollment Under National Health Insurance Scheme Hits 18.7

The Director-General/Chief Executive, of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr.

Kelechi Ohiri, yesterday, disclosed that the total enrolment rates in the health insurance scheme was currently at about 18.7 million at both the national and state levels.

This represented an increase of about 11 percent in less than a year, compared to a low enrollment base of about 16 million in Q4 2023. Ohiri told THISDAY that the

growth was an indication that ongoing efforts by the authority, and various state government institutions working in the health insurance space were

Zulum Says Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has stated that the Maiduguri dry inland port would begin operations in the next six months.

Zulum, made this known in Lagos, yesterday, while addressing journalists after a courtesy call to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Pius Akutah.

The Governor expressed confidence that the establishment of the NSC, while providing job opportunities to young people, would also boost the state's economy.

He said: “Establishing the inland dry port in Maiduguri will bring many opportunities to the government and people of Borno state. It will generate employment, taking thousands of young children off the street. This is very important.”

Zulum added that: “Borno State shares borders with three countries, namely Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The inland dry port will enhance trans-border trade. This is what we are looking for. The relationship between our border countries will improve, the economy of the nation will grow very well, and our GDP will increase.

“We are trying to divert our attention from mono-economy, which is oil, by investing in other opportunities. I think Nigeria will be great soon.”

“The federal government is working to ensure rail lines are rehabilitated under President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives. They are in the process of rehabilitating all the roads, and thousands of trucks are entering Maiduguri daily.”

He however noted that: “Establishing a good road system will fast track the process. Even in the absence of rail, the efficiency and effectiveness of the road transportation system are okay for now for the inland dry port. We expect the project to be ready in six months.”

On his part, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Pius Akutah, noted that if established, the Maiduguri Dry Inland Port would boost transborder trade, considering that Borno is neighbouring three countries of Cameroon, Char and Niger Republics.

The NSC CEO added: “As the Governor has said, it is important for Borno State as a border town to these three countries, to have an Inland Dry Port. The benefits that will accompany such cannot be overemphasised.

“With the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in place, you cannot overemphasise the need to have this kind of critical infrastructure in a place like Maiduguri, Borno State that has a boundary with three countries within the area.

“I have been to Borno and I

have seen the consistency of his Excellency in terms of his words and his passion for development of Borno State.

“When he said six months, I believe him and I know the work will be done. For instance, the transit park area the Excellency has developed

has one of the critical infrastructure to even service the proposed IDP.

“Now, what needs to be done is for those involved to look at the political will of His Excellency to see how they can quickly agree among themselves for the project to become a reality

Million

yielding fruit. He added that the enrolment figure had already surpassed the presidential target for the year by eight percent demonstrating its capability of meeting and exceeding the 2027 target.

The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, recently announced that as of the end of 2023, an additional 750,000 Nigerians had signed up for health insurance within the first 100 days of the Tinubu administration.

Since the beginning of 2023, the NHIA under its current management led by Ohiri had been working on various strategic measures to shore up the figures

in pursuit of the administration’s target of universal coverage by 2030.

He said the NHIA is currently leading an ongoing review of capitation fees paid to healthcare providers. The fees are fixed payments to healthcare providers based on estimated value of services to patients. They constitute a key incentive for achieving improved quality of services and attracting enrollees. Already a temporary rate has been agreed, pending the announcement of a revised rate.

The initiative is among several measures targeted at improving synergies with public and private sector partners – and ultimately enrolment figures.

We Won't Abandon Persons Displaced By Conflicts, Natural Disasters

UN applauds Tinubu’s progressive refugee policies

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, assured global donor organisations and development partners that President Bola Tinubu's administration would fully support initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of persons displaced by conflict and natural disasters within and outside Nigeria's borders.

Shettima gave the assurance while playing host to a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) led by its Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Mr. Raouf Mazou, on a courtesy visit to the State House, Abuja.

Commending the United Nations system for its assistance to Nigeria over the years, the vice-president said, "I know how vital the UN system is. You have assisted us tremendously in addressing our challenges in the northeast and the nation as a whole."

He assured the team of President Tinubu's continued collaboration and partnership with key stakeholders in addressing critical issues affecting the well-being of citizens and other persons affected by conflict and natural disasters in the country and elsewhere.

"For Nigeria, we will continue to

accommodate our brother Africans displaced by conflict and natural disasters. I want to assure you that our partnership with the UN family will only be strengthened.

“We are open to new ideas for collaboration, especially the UN's emphasis on sustainable resettlement of refugees. By embracing sustainable pathways in resettling people, we can avoid donor fatigue," he emphasised.

UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Mr. Mazou, highlighted Nigeria's exemplary treatment of refugees and discussed plans for enhancing support and transitioning towards sustainable

development strategies.

Mazou expressed gratitude to Nigeria, saying, "I would like to thank Nigeria for receiving a large number of refugees primarily from Cameroon.

"Nigeria has been exemplary in its treatment of refugees. The host communities are playing an essential role in making sure that these persons are resettled.

"The World Bank has a facility for refugees and host communities and we would be accessing these facilities to see how we can bring additional support primarily to help the host communities.

Demand Apology from Dogara, Bauchi PDP House Caucus Implores CJN, Others

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

John Shiklam

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has urged public office holders and elected government functionaries to shun ostentatious lifestyles and manage public resources to alleviate the current economic hardship in the country.

In a statement in Kaduna, by spokesperson of the forum,Tukkur Muhammad-Baba, said those negative virtues by public official largely contributed to the recent nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance by ordinary

Nigerians.

He said Nigerians were living in terrible condition, stressing that it be a grave mistake to ignore the condition of things.

"The existential conditions of citizens, ostensibly, the rationale behind the protests are dire and need urgent attention; and it will be a grave mistake to ignore this.

"Far too many citizens lack education, access to health facilities, economic opportunities and basic necessities to live comfortable or bearable lives. Confounding the dire living

conditions has been the challenges of insecurity in the country," it stated.

The forum urged President Bola Tinubu, to immediately commence the process of engaging Nigerians on the state of the nation as he promised in his last broadcast.

The statement added that, "Such consultations ought to be well-organised and purpose-driven to include representatives of the people, community-based organisations, interest groups, professional and trade associations; regional interests groups, religious clergy..."

Bauchi State PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives, has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the affected Judges that delivered the judgement on Bauchi Governorship election in 2023 to demand that former Speaker Yakubu Dogara recant his allegation, apologise to the judiciary, the President and the country and undergo counselling to purge him of failure induced melancholy. This was contained in a statement by Hon. Mansur Manu Soro, representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, Chairman, and Hon. Sani Ibrahim Tanko, representing

Shira/Giade Federal Consistency, as Secretary of the Caucus respectively.

Other members were Hon. Aliyu Aminu Garu ( Bauchi), Hon. Bappa Aliyu Misau (Misau/Dambam) Hon. Adamu Hashimu Ranga, (Ningi/ Warji), Hon. Auwalu Audu Gwalabe (Katagum federal) and Hon Mohd Dan Abba Shehu (Zaki).

The Caucus which made the call in statement titled:'Dogara’s cheap path to Tinubu’s Heart', stated that, "We further call on the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take steps to discipline Hon. Dogara for betraying the fundamental principles, values and ethics of the Association through his allegation

on Justices of the Supreme Court.

"By insinuating that the President gives them directive on how and who to give favourable judgment to, through his naked dance in the public, Dogara has cast the most damaging aspersion on the integrity of our judiciary. "It is disturbing enough to accuse the judiciary of partiality or miscarriage of justice. But when a former Speaker of the House of Representatives pointedly suggests that the President of the country could be a vehicle for the miscarriage of justice, that is a terrible situation. We condemn this extreme desperation on the part of Dogara."

James Emejo in Abuja

in Kaduna

L-R: Chairman of Image Merchants Limited, Publisher of PRNigeria, Dr. Sule Yau Sule; Co-author of the book, Kabir Abdulsalam; Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku; Co-author of the book, Maryam Umar Na’Allah; and Immediate past President of NIPR, Dr. Muktar Surajo, during the book presentation titled; Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management, written by Kabir Abdulsalam and Maryam Umar Na'Allah, held in Abuja... recently PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

PACT FOR PROGRESS…

L-R: Partner, J O Fafunmi and Co, Mr. Olukayode Fabunmi; Faculty Director, Lagos Business School(LBS), Prof. Uchenna Uzo; President, Association of Professional Party Organisers and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN), Mrs Gbemisola Ope; Board Executive, APPOENN, Mrs Olufunbi Akinyosoye, and Director of Executive Education, Lagos Business School, Mr. Victor Banjo, during the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between APPOEMN and LBS in Lagos… recently ETOP

Coalition Accuses Tinubu of Complicity in Rivers Political Crisis

Blessing IbungeinPortharcourt

The Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT) has accused President Bola Tinubu of alleged complicity in the lingering political crisis in Rivers state.

The group alleged that the President is selective in his reaction to the happenings in the state, especially the face-off between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The coalition made the allegation yesterday while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, on the state of politics, which they claimed is affecting development in the State.

Speaking, the convener of the group, Sunnie Chukwumele, accused the Presidency of being in sympathy with Wike against the people of the state, adding that Tinubu is more interested in an individual than

Osun Spends N2bn on 267 Micro Projects

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Osun State General Manager, Community and Social Development Agency, Mrs. Funmi Abokede, yesterday revealed that the state government had committed about N2 billion for the completion of over 267 micro projects across the state this year.

According to her, the projects also included facilities to alleviate the problems being faced by persons with disabilities.

Speaking at the media engagement on programme for result (P for R) and Osun

Cares (DLI 1.4) programme implementation, Abokede noted that the funds was made available by the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, because of his interest in the development of the state.

According to her, “Governor Adeleke has continually given full support for micro projects widely spread across the state.”

The general manager stressed that community Action for Resilience and Economic stimulus of the agency would equally focus on the provision of water, education, health care and sanitation.

Usmanu Danfodiyo Varsity Names Garba Vice Chancellor

Ayodeji Ake

The Governing Council of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, has, at its 168 (special) meeting held yesterday approved the appointment of Professor Bashir Garba, as the new Vice Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. According to the press release signed by Pro-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the appointment is for a single term of five years and will be effective from September 1, 2024.

Professor Bashir Garba, a staff of the university released on Leave of Absence to Sokoto

Kayode Tokede

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has welcomed two new members to its board of directors.

They are Mr Ademola Adebise, a respected figure in the Nigerian financial industry, and Mrs Olufunmilayo Adedibu, a distinguished lawyer with a wealth of experience in legal practice and banking. Their appointments as the bank’s non-executive directors follow the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN),

State University, was born June 6, 1966. He attended University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto), and University of Jos where he obtained Bachelor of Science (B.sc) in Applied Chemistry and Masters Degree in Applied Organic Chemistry in 1988 and 1994 respectively. Thereafter, he obtained his Ph.d in Applied Chemistry at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto in 1998.

Professor Garba, an indigene of Sokoto-South Local Government Area of Sokoto State, started his working career as a Graduate Assistant at the Umanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto on 1989.

Board

underscoring their credibility and competence.

Adebise, a seasoned banker with over three decades of experience, recently served as the Managing Director of Wema Bank Plc. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to FCMB. Recently, he was appointed by the federal government as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Family Homes Funds Limited. His career spans various sectors of the financial industry, including technology, risk management, and strategic planning.

about eight million people of Rivers. He said the President’s appointees from the state were not representing him and what he is known for, considering the current political

situation in the state. Chukwumele said: “The presidency under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is in sympathy and support of his Minister of the

2024 Poll: 29 Mimiko’s Political Associates

Fidelis David in akure

Twenty-nine political associates of a former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

FCT against the people of Rivers State. Mr President is more interested in an individual more than eight million citizens with not less than three million Rivers’ votes.

Join APC in Ondo

This comes amidst rumours that the former governor will soon join the ruling party. The associates, who defected yesterday served with Mimiko as governor. They include: former Chairman of PDP, Hon Ebenezer Alabi, former commissioners, Jide Adejuyigbe, Gboye Adegbenro, Tunde Atere, Ajani Oladipupo and Chief Yele Ogundipe. Also former members of the House of Representatives, Joseph Akinlaja, Alaba-Lad Ojomo, Kolade Akinjo, Gboluga Ikengboju and a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele.

Other appointees include Eni Akinsola, Funmilola Oluwadare, Solomon Adelegan, and Femi Bosede.

In a statement signed by the defectors after visiting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, they noted that they have resolved to join the ruling party to help galvanise support for the governor ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

Irate Mob Sets Community Ablaze as Gunmen Kill Monarch in Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Gunmen have assassinated a traditional ruler the Onu Itama, HRH, Shagari Ebijego on Monday evening near his palace in Itama community, Dekina Local Government Area in Kogi State.

Sources hinted that the hired assassins were trailing the

monarch while he was taking a stroll within his palace around 9.00p.m when sporadic shooting started.

It was gathered that the lifeless body of the traditional ruler was found on the road close to his palace in Itama community.

Family sources said that even though they could not finger the reason for the assassins, but the late Onu Itama, has been involved

Family sources pointed out that subjects of the late traditional ruler and his personal guards could not come out to ascertain what was happening immediately until the shooting seized and assassins fled the scene with their motorcycle to unknown destination.

in series of chieftaincy tussles and land dispute matters with some groups of people in the community since his assumption of office.

The Itama community which was thrown into mourning mood since the sad incident took place started witnessing another scene of uprising crisis as arsonists took over the community.

Otu Flags Off Construction of $350m Cross River Railway Project

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The Cross River State Government in partnership with some private investors has commenced the construction of a 365-kilometres railway which will to be completed with an estimated cost of US$350 million.

Funmi Ogundare

The state Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the project at the Tinapa Free Zone Resort in Calabar, said the railway line would connect the southern part of the state to its northern extremities.

At the event, which took place

The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) yesterday called for the implementation of policies that will drive sustainable economic growth amid widespread poverty, insecurity, corruption, and other challenges confronting the country.

The President and Chairman of the Board, Manason Rubainu, who made this call at the APBN board meeting hosted by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Lagos, pointed out that pervasive poverty and hunger are severely impacting industries and enterprises.

last Tuesday, Otu disclosed that the project is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) funded initiative driven by Messers Reinhoke LLC in partnership with the state government.

The governor said that the railway project is one of the fruits yielded by the Investment Summit held in August 2023 at the Calabar International Convention Centre. He said at summit, the state government had a robust engagement with financial, infrastructure and social investment players, seeking buy-in in the growth trajectory of the state’s economy.

He stressed the need to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and invest in technology and education to create a resilient workforce.

Rubainu also emphasised the urgency of addressing violence, terrorism, and banditry, calling for comprehensive security reforms,

enhanced training for security personnel, improved intelligence, and community-based initiatives. In an interview with journalists, Rubainu underscored the importance of involving professionals in policymaking and implementation to better address public needs and restore confidence in governance.

FG to Empower Women, Transform Fashion Industry

Kuni Tyessi in abuja

The federal government is set to empower women across the country through the innovative Scrap to Bank (S2B) programme, a poverty alleviation and economic

empowerment initiative.

The project, if expanded could significantly impact Nigeria’s economy with the potential to contribute up to $100 billion to the country’s GDP.

Minister of Arts, Culture and

Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, announced this during a visit to the S2B project office on in Abuja.

The S2B programme, implemented by The Fashion Academy, the Association of Spouses of Nigerian Ambassadors (ASNA), African

Women’s Banking Initiative (AWBI) in partnership with the ministry aims to transform scrap materials into valuable household items such as pot holders, table runners, tissue holders, kitchen gloves, pillows and coasters, among others.

PSHAN Annual Gala & Awards Night to honour Excellence in Nigerian Healthcare

Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) has announced the call for nominations in anticipation of the 2024 PSHAN Annual Gala & Awards Night. This prestigious event, slated for Friday, October 25, 2024, will honour and celebrate individuals and organisations, who have made

unparalleled contributions to advancing healthcare in Nigeria. Nominations are open across five categories: Federal, State, and Local Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies; Media; International Agencies, Local NGOs, and Healthcare Institutions; Individuals; and The Organized Private Sector. PSHAN invites the public to recognise remarkable individuals and organisations who have significantly impacted the healthcare landscape by submitting their nominations for the 2024 PSHAN Annual Gala & Awards Night. Highlighting the importance

of the awards, the Managing Director/CEO of PSHAN, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, said: “These awards recognise the remarkable individuals and organizations that are revolutionising Nigeria’s healthcare landscape through their dedication, innovation, and leadership.

Adebise, Adedibu Join FCMB

UKUTT

Mikel, Drogba Want Osimhen’s Chelsea Deal Finalised

Napoli Sporting Director, Chelsea Chiefs

Only Chelsea remains in the chase for Victor Osimhen as PSG are now busy looking at other targets and there was never any truth in interest by Arsenal, according to Top Transfer Expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Transfer Expert reported today that big-spending Premier League club Chelsea never ended their interest in the Napoli striker.

However, both Napoli and Osimhen have never been comfortable with a loan transfer to the London club.

The player’s release clause of about 130 million Euros as well as his huge salary, which is beyond the pay ceiling at Chelsea were among the issues that had to be dealt with.

Napoli have been clear on their

TRANSFER NEWS

interest in Romelu Lukaku and a swap deal involving Osimhen has been discussed.

There is also the question of the player’s wish to play in the UEFA Champions League, which Chelsea cannot offer him at least for this season.

It is now expected that talks will re-open on this transfer this week.

Romano also said PSG have also moved on by looking at other transfer targets after initially agreeing personal terms with Osimhen.

PSG wanted the released clause reviewed downwards significantly. He was also very clear that

Arsenal was not interested despite some reports to the contrary.

“No truth to Arsenal links (for Osimhen).

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles Captain, John Obi Mikel, has revealed that Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is doing everything possible to bring Victor Osimhen to Stamford Bridge.

According to Football Italia, multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia and Calciomercato. com reported that Napoli Sporting Director Giovanni Manna is currently in London for a new meeting with Chelsea and he hopes to get the deal done over the next 24 hours.

While Chelsea values Lukaku at over €40m, Napoli's idea would be

in talks in London

closer to €30-35m including add-ons. Osimhen has a release clause in his contract worth €130m, but would probably be prepared to accept nearer to €100m plus bonuses.

In a bid to do everything possible to bring Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, Mikel said he will try and convince Osimhen to sign for Chelsea, disclosing that Drogba is also doing everything possible to make the transfer go through.

“I hope that Chelsea fans will finally see him come to the club,” Football Italia quoted Mikel.

“I’ll make sure I send him those text messages and calls, making sure Chelsea is his top priority.

“But it seems like he loves the club and wants to come to Chelsea.

Mbappe Scores as Lookman's Atalanta Fall to Madrid in Super Cup

Femi Solaja with agency report

Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman failed to reenact his Europa Cup final win last May yesterday as UEFA Champions League Champions, Real Madrid posted a 2-0 win against the Italian side in the Super Cup final match in Warsaw, Poland.

The result leaves only Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George and Celestine Babayaro as the only Nigerian players to have won the Super Cup for their respective clubs in Europe.

The win gives Real Madrid its sixth time winning cup which itself is a record. Kylian Mbappe made his first appearance for last season's Champions League winners and scored on his debut after Federico Valverde had put Real Madrid ahead with half an hour to play.

Carlo Ancelotti's side could have filled their boots even more in the second half if it wasn't for a fine display from Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso, with Real Madrid claiming their sixth UEFA Super Cup title - more than any other side in the competition's history.

Naturally, all eyes were on Mbappe from the first whistle and it took just 15 minutes for him to have his first effort at the Atalanta goal. A clever cut-back from Valverde allowed the Frenchman a shooting opportunity but a wonderful lunging block from Isak Hien denied the debutant.

Despite the frightening quality in Real Madrid's starting lineup,

Atalanta weren't in Warsaw just to make up the numbers. They were willing to go man-for-man with the Spanish giants and press them deep in their half, even forcing Eder Militao to divert the ball onto his crossbar halfway through the first period.

In the first half of little goal-mouth action, Madrid spurned the perfect opportunity to take the lead on the brink of half-time. Vinicius Junior's pass found Rodrygo in space inside the Atalanta penalty area but the Brazilian smashed his effort off the top of the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Madrid was almost made to pay

for a mediocre first-half showing just two minutes after the restart.

A delicate cross from Marten de Roon was floated to the far post and Mario Pasalic's excellent header was met with a brilliant fingertip save from Thibaut Courtois.

However, Atalanta's hopes of taking a surprise lead were dashed with 59 minutes on the clock. Vinicius' exquisite darting run down the left flank saw him reach the byline and slot the ball across the six-yard box for Valverde to tap home, with Madrid turning the heat up at precisely the right moment.

The reigning La Liga champions should have had a second less

than a minute later when Vinicius raced through on goal, but Musso's outstretched arm rebuffed the Brazilian's effort. Jude Bellingham could have scored from the subsequent corner, with Atalanta calling on their goalkeeper to produce another remarkable stop to keep them in the game.

But Atalanta could only keep Madrid out for another ten minutes and it was that man Mbappe who grabbed his first goal. Bellingham's smart pass found the former Paris Saint-Germain star in the box and he made no mistake from ten yards, lifting the ball high into the top corner with his right boot.

La Liga: Nigeria's Chrisantus Uche Targets Bright Start with Getafe on StarTimes

The 2024-25 La Liga season kicks off this evening with Nigerian midfielder Chrisantus Uche set to make his debut for Getafe against Athletic Club.

Uche, 21, joined Getafe from AD Ceuta on a four-year deal, becoming the third Nigerian to play for the club, following in the footsteps of Peter Etebo and Ikechukwu Uche. StarTimes will broadcast all 380 La Liga matches on its Sports Premium channel and for six hundred Naira weekly on StarTimes-ON App, with select games also airing on Sports Life.

Today's season openers include Real Betis vs. Girona, in addition to Getafe's away match.

Uche's

Getafe has a modest history of European success, having finished

5th in La Liga in the 2018-19 season and advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.

During their last campaign in Europe, they remarkably beat Ajax 3-2 on aggregate before losing to Inter Milan 2-0 in the Round of 16.

With Uche on board, Getafe hopes to replicate past glories and push for a possible return to European football.

The Nigerian midfielder has already made a notable impression, scoring Getafe's only goal in their friendly match against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, August 3.

I’m sure he has all the big clubs wanting to sign him. I think if we can secure his signature, it would be fantastic for the club.

“Didier is also speaking to him, sharing his ideas and what the club

means to us. We all want to see Victor come to the

If it happens, it happens. It’s a huge

but if we can match it and get him to the club that would be fantastic,” concludes Mikel.

The first in a series of human development workshops for various personnel of clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will hold on August 16, 2024, for Media Officers of the clubs.

Other scheduled workshops would hold for Coaches, Chief Security Officers, Supporters Club Chairmen and Administrative Managers and Captains.

The Benue State Government is the host of the workshop for Media Officers in Makurdi, the state capital from August 15-16.

The event has the objective of equipping participants in the use

of modern digital tools to enhance their reporting and projection of their respective clubs and by extension, the NPFL.

According to the league organizers, attendance is mandatory, as participants will receive crucial instructions on leveraging media to promote their clubs effectively. The workshop underscores the significance of media in the growth and success of football as a global business.

By empowering Media Officers with cutting-edge digital tools, NPFL clubs can enhance their visibility, engagement, and overall brand value.

A total of 30 women coaches have intensified their learning in the second of a three-module CAF C-License Coaching Course that started in the Federal Capital, Abuja last month.

The first module, held at the NFF/FIFA Technical Centre, MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja held 15th – 25th July, and was followed by a two-week internship at various clubs by the coaches.

“The second module started on Monday, and we are generally impressed by the discipline, dedication and commitment of the coaches to the entire programme,” NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com.

Former Nigeria captain and coach Eguavoen also confirmed that this second module, which will come to a close on Friday, 16th August,

will be followed by another twoweek internship, 23rd August – 4th September.

The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place from 9th – 19th September.

Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lawrence Ndaks.

Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There is also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.

Team Nigeria’s devastating and disastrous performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics has resonated with the Government College Ughelli, GCU Relays as well as similar Grassroots Athletics Competitions.

Team Nigeria went to Paris with huge hopes of harvesting medals in Track and Field, especially in the Relays, Hurdles and Jumps, but sadly returned without podium finishes.

And now, Athletics followers and enthusiasts, have renewed Calls for a speedy return to the erstwhile Inter-Collegiate Athletics Competitions, Nationwide, such as the GCU Relays, in its Sixth annual edition.

Indeed, fundamental to the Aims and Objectives of the GCU Relays is ‘’the development of outstanding secondary school Athletes for schools and nation’’.

‘’More importantly, to promote Sprint events in which Nigeria has a comparative advantage over the Marathon. Nigerian athletes are natural sprinters. GCU Relays will give greater prominence to the short-distance races of 100m -400m and their corresponding Relays’’.

The inaugural edition of the GCU Relays produced Godson Oghenebrume as the proud winner of the Victor Ludorum prize, whilst wearing the colours of Afiesere Grammar School, Ughelli and was part of the Paris Olympic Relays Quartet that fell by the line. He progressed steadily from the GCU Relays into national stardom before betting in the United States of America on a Sports Scholarship. Sunday Akitan, representing Yewa College, Ilaro carted home the Victor Ludorum diadem in the second edition before making the natural progression to the national Track Team, first with the juniors and later into the senior team.

In the meantime, massive support for Sprint events has come from both GCUOBA Ancient mariners Prof. Oritsegbemi Omatete and Roy Odoko, urging Bank Executives to focus more (Sponsorship) on Sprints rather than the Marathon events. The 2024 GCU Relays holds on November 9th, at the school’s Tartan Tracks with the hopes of producing and discovering Future Olympic talents.

club.

transfer fee,

Real Madrid players celebrating the 2-0 win against Atalanta in the Super Cup match in Warsaw, Poland yesterday

Danladi Bako to John Enoh

“There are too many jobbers occupying top positions in the Federations who feed on the system. The National Olympic Committee must be revamped through new elections into the executive, and performance-driven persons put in charge. Government must be definite and intentional in funding scholarships to designated universities of sports in the United States, China and Cuba for student youth games products”--Respectedbroadcastjournalist onthetaskbeforetheSportsMinisterfollowingtheParis2024Olympicsdisaster.

Oil Theft: Still the Same Old Story

In an interview with Financial Times published last Friday, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu sounded more upbeat about the Nigerian oil and gas sector than he was two and a half years ago. As an industry player, Elumelu had lamented in March 2022 that the reason Nigeria could not meet its OPEC production quota “is not because of low investment but because of theft, pure and simple!” At the same period when oil companies were shutting down production, a former Seplat Energy CEO, Mr Austin Avuru stated that “the entire export pipeline network has been surrendered to vandals and illegal ‘bunkerer’ thus the phrase, ‘crude theft’ which crept into the industry about 2010 has taken on a new meaning.”

It is heartwarming that Elumelu is no longer reading from the Book of Lamentations, essentially from a reduction in theft. “42,000 barrels of crude are pumped out daily. Theft still takes away about 18 per cent of production,” Elumelu admitted while posing a fundamental question for which there has been no answer. Asked about those behind oil theft, Elumelu adopted the Nigerian style of answering a question with another question, but he left no doubt as to who should be held accountable for the problem. “This is oil theft; we’re not talking about stealing a bottle of Coke you can put in your pocket. The government should know, they should tell us,” Elumelu replied before he added: “Look at America — Donald Trump was shot at and quickly they knew the background of who shot him. Our security agencies should tell us who is stealing our oil. You bring vessels to our territorial waters, and we don’t know?”

Elumelu would not be the first to raise questions about the nature of this crime and why perpetrators should not be difficult to fish out. At the session with the federal government in 2022, then Managing Director, ExxonMobil Nigeria, Mr Richard Laing (now chairman & CEO of its affiliate companies in Nigeria) described the situation in our oil sector as organized crime because “the engineering involved points towards a high degree of sophistication and technology, as well as the distribution.” With these criminal cartels investing in barges, canoes, speed boats and large wooden boats which they use in their illicit business, it is difficult to fault Laing. Yet, to imagine that the country suffers such enormous revenue depletion while begging for foreign loans is, to say the least, lamentable.

With the controversy over where to secure feedstock for the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, mismanagement of both the upstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry in Nigeria is now an open sore. But nobody should be under any illusion that the problem of oil theft is being addressed in any sustainable manner. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is currently working in collaboration with the military and other security agencies to declare a fresh war on oil theft in the country based on a “fresh mandate” from President Bola Tinubu. “We know that Nigeria relies so much on crude oil production, so we want to use this medium to appeal to the communities, to have an understanding,” the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa told Nigerians. “Yes, we know trust has been a problem, but they can trust us, they can trust the government, that we want to do things differently. Everyone will be carried along”. Considering the way their trust has been abused

over the years, most Nigerians would have taken Musa’s words with a pinch of salt. Besides, this episodic approach to a fundamental challenge that has been with us for many decades can only achieve short term results. “A tanker will be commandeered, its tracking devices disabled, and its cargo siphoned off onto a smaller ship in an isolated location and sold on the black market”, according to a report once published in oilprice.com, an authoritative news outlet for oil and gas, which detailed the modus operandi of the criminals. “Fuel theft in Nigeria is so systemic it will not be slowed or stopped any

time soon. Doing so would be tantamount to eliminating drug trafficking in Colombia”, argued Dr Terry Hallmark, an international oil and gas expert whose career as a political risk analyst spanned more than three decades, in a piece he wrote for Forbes magazine in 2017. I cannot count the number of columns I have also written on this vexatious issue of oil theft.

In one, I referenced the 2003 United States-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) report which stated that oil theft accounts for 10 percent of Nigeria’s daily production. That was more than two decades ago. Today, between 20 to 30 percent of oil production is lost to these criminal cartels. Describing oil theft as Nigeria’s most profitable private business, estimated to yield between $750 million to $3.5 billion annually (as of that time), HRW said “in theory it should be easy to stop its theft (it is hard to hide a tanker and easy to trace its owner)”. Apparently not in Nigeria! According to the HRW report, “Illegal oil bunkering-long prevalent in the Delta-has become a sophisticated operation that no longer requires the cooperation of oil company staff to operate equipment at wellheads or allow access-though there are still reports that they are involved.”

The bunkerers, the report further claimed, “tap directly into pipelines away from oil company facilities and connect from the pipes to barges that are hidden in small creeks with mangrove forest cover. Frequently, both in the riverine areas and on dry land, the police and military are involved in the process or are paid off to take no action against those tapping into pipelines.”

Oil theft is not a new challenge in Nigeria; it has been with us for decades. The problem is that even when suspects are apprehended, investigations are usually bungled. In May 2014, for instance, the late former Bayelsa State Governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha, testified before the Senate Committee on Public Finance and Revenue. “I had one experience. Tankers were loaded in Bayelsa. I got the information and laid ambush for them and arrested them. About 14 big tankers and they were handed over to the police,” Alamieyeseigha told the senators. “They

Tales from The Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics ended last Sunday in Fance with the focus now on Los Angeles 2028 for which many countries are already preparing. But that is not the Nigerian way. Preparations will only start a few weeks to the 2028 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, there is a report on the number of medals ‘won’ by our country in Paris being circulated on WhatsApp that I find quite instructive. There is also a similar cartoon since we know how to create humour out of every tragedy. Both tell a compelling story of Nigeria. First, the report which I have slightly edited: “For those who may not know, Nigeria performed creditably well at the just concluded Olympics in Paris with five gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals. Here is the breakdown: Gold in Shot Put: Yemisi Ogunleye (Germany); Gold in Men’s Football: Samuel Omorodion (Spain); Silver in Men’s Football: Michael Olise (France); Silver in Women’s Hammerthrow: Anette Echikunwoke (USA); Gold in Men’s Volleyball: Barthélémy Chinenyeze (France); Silver in Women’s 400 Meters athletics: Ebele Agbapuonwu, (Salwa Eid Naser, Bahrain); Gold in Men’s Basketball:

Femi ‘Bam’ Adebayo (USA); Bronze in Women’s Basketball: Ezi Magbegor (Australia); Bronze 4x400m women: Yemi Mary John (GB); Bronze 4x400m women: Victoria Ohuruogu (GB); Gold in Volley Ball Women: Paola Egonu (Italy). Now to the award-winning cartoon by Wilfred Orhue. On the medal podium are the United States for Gold, China for Silver and Japan for Bronze. A man carrying a Bible and Quran and the green-white-green flag was standing by. The caption: ‘Team Nigeria will now lead us in the closing prayers.’

With N9 billion expended and a total of 84 athletes (and no doubt, hundreds of idle officials and politicians), Team Nigeria is returning from Paris with zero medals. And just like the Tokyo Olympics, four years earlier, our officials failed to do even the basic things at the Games. The cartoon therefore explains the tragedy of our country which a former Super Eagles Manager, Mr Berti Vogts, once summed up most memorably: “Nigerians spend a lot of time attending workshops and seminars, the rest in prayers. Yet, at the end, nothing works.” That narrative must change!

were charged to court and the judge ordered that the product should be tested to be sure if they were crude oil. NNPC was invited, they came, took the sample and after a week the result came out as agro-chemical and before I know it, all of them had been released”.

There was no follow-up regarding Alamieyeseigha’s claim which pointed to official complicity. But it is also typical. On 18th May 2013, then Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Director General, Patrick Akpobolokemi told journalists in Abuja that “There are some big vessels under my custody belonging to organised piracy and crude oil thieves,” before he promised: “Very soon, I will release all the big names in the syndicate.” Akpobolokemi, who was in April this year acquitted over a case of N8.5 billion brought against him by the EFCC, has not been held accountable on the issue that impinges not only on our economy but indeed, our national security.

Meanwhile, I commend recent efforts by the NNPCL, the military and other security agencies to reduce the menace of oil theft in Nigeria. But I have not seen anything to suggest they are any different from the usual episodic interventions we have witnessed in the past. As I have argued repeatedly on this page, the capacity to undertake oil theft to the magnitude being reported in our country is not available on the streets. It is therefore organised crime and must involve big actors across the oil and gas value chain. Until the federal government musters the courage to deal decisively with what clearly threatens the economic well-being of Nigeria and our national security, these occasional ‘presidential mandates’ will only continue to yield momentary drama.

Elumelu