IMF: Nigeria Must Sustain Economic Reforms to Turn the Corner
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu will in the first week of September embark on
DURING IDRIS’ WORKING VISIT
L-R: News Editor, Focus on Africa, Alice Muthengi; Senior News Editor, Africa Digital Content Hub, Vera Kwakofi; Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris; Asst
Okon Bassey in Uyo and Linus Aleke in Abuja
THEIR ROYAL MAJESTIES AT NBA CONFERENCE...
FAO: 31.8 Million Nigerians Grappling with Food Insecurity
Nigeria partners UN agency to strengthen sufficiency
Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), yesterday said that over 31.8 million Nigerians were suffering from acute food insecurity, worsened by malnutrition among women and children across the country.
The organisation disclosed this in its 2024 Cadre Harmonise report, published in collaboration with other development partners including GIZ.
The report pointed out that the surge in food commodity prices occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, as well as security challenges, had further placed millions of Nigerians in a precarious situation.
During their joint review meeting on the Implementation of the Food Systems in Nigeria, the stakeholders advocated a multi-sectoral approach of collaboration to tackle food insecurity.
They stressed that the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the private sector must play a role to complement nutrition efforts.
The partners further pledged their unalloyed support to transform the food system in Nigeria.
While earlier declaring the meeting open, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Emeka Obi, said the objective of the meeting was to discuss the status
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) have emerged as top-performing agencies, according to the 2024 half-year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance report.
Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Jumoke Oduwale, disclosed this during a press conference held by the council yesterday, in Abuja.
The report assesses the performance of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in delivering efficient and transparent services to the public.
“I would like to specifically commend the top three MDAs in a particular order, the NCDMB with an 80.1 per cent score, SON with a 78.2 per cent score, and the NAQS with
of the implementation and for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to make presentations in addition to giving updates on the activities implemented for the food transformation pathways, in Nigeria.
In a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Julie Osagie-Jacobs , the permanent secretary, appreciated the support of development partners, particularly GIZ and others for their dedication in moving the food system forward in Nigeria while noting that their collective efforts would continually lead to innovative solutions that would strengthen the food systems.
Also, National Convenor of Food Systems in Nigeria/Director, Social Development, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Sanjo Faniran, hailed all stakeholders for their dedication in moving the food system forward.
He added that the review meeting was also to identify gaps, successes and challenges, offer recommendations as well as peer review, among MDAs. A total of 24 MDAs attended the review meeting Meanwhile, in a bid to strengthen food security and boost agricultural productivity in the country, the federal government has stepped up moves to foster a global partnership with
the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who disclosed this in Abuja while receiving a high-level WFP delegation led by the newly appointed Regional Director, Mr. Chris Nikoi, stated that the visit was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food security and boost agricultural productivity in Nigeria. This, he added, was in line
with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga said in a statement that the meeting also attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, explored opportunities for partnership and collaborative initiatives to drive Nigeria's agricultural growth.
"The engagement further provided an opportunity for the WFP delegation to highlight the numerous opportunities for partnership and also expressed their readiness to support Nigeria’s agricultural sector through collaborative ventures.
"Key among these initiatives are service delivery programmes focused on the provision of fertilizers and seeds, which are essential for enhancing farming output and ensuring food security," the statement said.
In his remarks, Edun commended the WFP for its proactive engagement and underscored the significance of the interventions in advancing the administration’s reform agenda, particularly in the areas of enhanced food availability and agricultural production.
He assured the delegation that the Ministry of Finance would take the necessary steps to facilitate the implementation of the proposed initiatives.
AFC Arranges Funding for 1.8m Tonnes Methanol Plant in Akwa Ibom, Set to Generate 18,000 Jobs
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, is arranging a project development facility to support Africa’s largest gas-to-methanol plant, the organisation has said.
Stressing this in a statement, the AFC said that this is with the aim of significantly reducing CO2 emissions by offsetting flaring of natural gas and turning it instead into a valuable chemical for solvents, paints, plastics and car parts.
“The project in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, targets producing an initial 1.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of methanol, diversifying the local economy and generating over 18,000 jobs,” the corporation added.
AFC said it had committed development stage financing to de-risk the project and enable it reach financial close, along with providing financial advisory services to the sponsors to raise the required project financing and support successful delivery of the transformational project.
The venture is led by Blackrose, a
Top 2024 Transparency, Efficiency Compliance Report
a 74.8 per cent score,” Oduwale said. She said the top three MDAs were singled out for their exemplary performances on the ease of doing business.
Oduwale stated that the report saw a significant increase in the number of MDAs scoring above 50 per cent in their efficiency compliance, rising from eight MDAs in the 2023 half-year report to 20 in the current period.
The report, which covers the period from January to June 2024, ranks MDAs based on their compliance with Executive Order 001 (EO1) on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment, signed into law in May 2017.
Oduwale explained that the EO1 Directive, aimed at improving public service delivery in Nigeria, was further solidified by the signing of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 in February 2023.
While commending these agencies,
Oduwale emphasised the importance of continued improvement in service delivery across all MDAs to enhance Nigeria's business environment.
She stated that the inaugural 90-day regulatory reform accelerator, launched in February 2024, played a critical role in driving the performance of MDAs in the report.
Oduwale said agencies that consistently submitted their monthly transparency and efficiency reports were better positioned to excel in the accelerator programme.
She added that the 2024 Half-Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report provided detailed insights into the progress made by MDAs and highlighted areas needing further improvement.
According to her, “February of 2023, the Business Facilitation Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed into law, codifying in its entirety the EO1 Directive. Since 2018, the secretariat
has tracked and run information on the compliance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with the directives contained in this piece of legislation. Based on monthly reports submitted by each MDAs and assessed using an efficiency and transparency methodology, weighted 70 per cent for efficiency and 30 per cent for transparency, respectively.”
Oduwale also acknowledged challenges facing the business climate, both locally and globally, which is characterised by uncertainties and rapid changes.
However, she expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria's business environment.
Oduwale reiterated PEBEC's commitment to driving reforms that would enhance effectiveness, transparency, and collaboration among MDAs, to ensure that Nigeria continued to become an increasingly easier place to start and grow business.
project development and investment firm, and co-developed with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, which are cofinancing alongside AFC.
“Most of Nigeria’s 200 cubic feet of natural gas reserves – the largest in Africa, accounting for a third of the continent’s total – remain unexploited, presenting a substantial opportunity to bolster the country's natural resource beneficiation and enhance climate resilience,” it stressed.
Gas flaring has been a significant hazard for local people since the beginning of oil production, emitting chemicals linked to respiratory and other health issues.
In his comments, the Chief Executive AFC, Samaila Zubairu, said: “This innovative project is transforming an immense negative for Nigerians into a very significant positive by harnessing this country’s abundant gas reserves as a unique opportunity to become a global leader in low-carbon manufacturing and energy systems.
“This strategic collaboration with Blackrose and IFC underscores our dedication to supporting Africa’s pragmatic transition to net zero, emphasising rapid industrialisation, local job creation, and socio-economic advancement through the production of methanol, a versatile and low-carbon industrial feedstock.”
The project will be implemented in two phases, each with an installed capacity of 1.8 MTPA, the organisation said.
Phase one, it said, will produce low-carbon methanol, an industrial chemical essential to the manufac-
turing of hundreds of everyday products, including solvents for the pharmaceutical industry, paints, plastics, automobile parts and construction materials.
“This is also a lower emissions alternative fuel used in hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as shipping and industrial boilers, with applications for cooking stoves and fuel cell solutions.
“Phase two of the project will expand methanol production to include ammonia, a critical feedstock for fertiliser production,” the AFC pointed out.
It stated that methanol is produced using synthetic gas predominantly from coal and natural gas, explaining that by utilising best-in-class energy efficient production methods, the plant will achieve a much lower net carbon intensity.
According to the AFC, this is when compared to traditional methanol synthesis techniques, while also reducing CO2 emissions by converting gas that would otherwise have been flared.
“Additionally, the project incorporates plans for carbon capture and offset strategies as well as the use of external hydrogen to bring targets even closer to carbon neutrality.
“Once operational, the gasto-methanol plant is expected to generate more than 2,500 local jobs during the construction phase and a further 16,000 jobs indirectly by catalysing manufacturing activity and economic diversification,” the corporation noted.
AFC has 43 member countries and has invested $13 billion across Africa since inception.
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
L-R: Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad; Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III; NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau; and Ooni of Ife, His Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during the panel discussion at the ongoing NBA conference 2024 ...yesterday
DELTA STATE MARKS 33RD ANNIVERSARY...
L-R: Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, HRM Pere Luke Kalanama VIII; Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Major Gen Felix
of the state’s creation in Asaba…yesterday
Soludo: I Haven't Borrowed a Dime as Governor of Anambra
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has described a report by Daily Trust Newspapers that his government plans to borrow N245 billion to finance the 2024 budget as fake news. Soludo made the revelation while responding to questions by journalists after a state broadcast to mark the 33rd anniversary of the creation of Anambra State.
He said for close to three years of his being governor, he had not borrowed a dime.
Soludo stated, "The news that I want to borrow N245 billion to fund the 2024 budget is fake news. I have tried to find out from the rest of my team where that was coming from and to know if there is any such plans that I'm not aware of. So, it is certainly fake news.
"Let's be clear, and I want to make some points about borrowing. I have a view about borrowing. Every enterprise, be it private, government or whatever that wants to scale up their activities will look at the cost of funds, the opportunity and the time value of those money and it
can make sense.
"You can borrow today to provide goods and services and tomorrow the economy will generate enough resources to pay back. So, borrowing in itself is not a bad idea. Every prosperous country that ever developed and grown big lived on some form of debt or another.
“So borrowing is not a negative word, but this administration under my watch, we have a particular view about borrowing and we have very narrow stringent criteria for borrowing. We are not just going to borrow just to finance this or finance that.
Tinubu Appoints Akinde, Uz'Okpala to Board of Bank of Industry
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Rotimi Akinde and Mrs. Ifeoma Uz'Okpala as Executive Director, Corporate Finance & Risk Management as well as Executive Director, Large Enterprises Directorate respectively to the Bank of Industry (BOI) effective, Monday, August 26, 2024.
Akinde is a finance professional with over 20 years investment and corporate banking experience and an extensive track record covering capital raising , including debt, equities and hybrids.
He is also a corporate finance (mergers & acquisitions, privatisation advisory and project finance) person, a statement by the Head, Public Relations Division, BOI, Theodora Amechi, said.
Prior to joining the bank, he was an Associate Partner, Project & Corporate Finance at the Infrastructure Delivery International (IDI), where he worked on the UKNIAF programme and promoted green finance as well as structured debt solutions for subnationals.
He worked previously as the Corporate Finance Advisor at the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), providing financing initiatives, modelling and funding structures for the infrastructure team, the bank said.
He served within Corporate Banking as the Group Head & Assistant General Manager, Multinationals at UBA Plc, prior to which he was Vice President, Corporate Finance & Advisory at UBA Global Markets, now United Capital.
Akinde, according to the statement, was a Privatisation Adviser & Head, Oil & Gas Team at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), where he closed on the divestiture and sale
of the federal government’s equity interest in 11 oil services companies and achieved the sale of all the federal government’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) assets.
He was an Assistant Manager in Lead Bank Plc, within both the Investment and Corporate Banking Groups, it added.
Prior to this he had worked in the financial sector in the United Kingdom as an analyst with Barclays Funds, London.
He also holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; earned a Masters Degree in International Securities, Investment & Banking from the University of Reading, UK and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD.
On the other hand, it stated that Uz’Okpala joined BOI in September 2014 as Group Head, Large Enterprises Credit and later served as the Chief Risk Officer of the Bank before her appointment.
As Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, the statement stressed that she played a crucial role in managing and mitigating risks associated with
the bank’s operations, while also providing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk support.
“ She offered invaluable ESG support within transactions and provided the roadmap for attracting impact investments.
Uz’Okpala is a seasoned Credit and Risk Management Professional, with a career spanning over 30 years in the financial sector.
“She commenced her career at International Merchant Bank (IMB) and progressed through key roles at MBC International, First Bank, Stanbic Bank, and UBA. Her versatile expertise includes Internal Audit, Corporate Finance, Credit Evaluation and Origination, Foreign Operations, and Risk Management.
“She is an alumna of the University of Nigeria, where she attained a BSc. In Accountancy and a graduate of the prestigious Lagos Business School.
“Uz’Okpala is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), an Honourary Senior Member (HCIB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and Member of the Chartered Risk Management Institute,” the statement added.
"In 2022, the House of Assembly, when we had our supplementary budget, actually approved for us to borrow N100 billion. To this moment, we haven't borrowed a kobo out of that. Last year 2023, we had deficit in our budget, about ninety something billion.
"This year, we have a budget deficit of about N121 billion and until this moment we have not borrowed one kobo of that. The reason is that we have been working on projects, on programmes that will be bankable. We are insisting that we borrow for bankable projects, for projects that will create and add value.
"So far we are working on some major infrastructural projects that will generate resource payback. The moment we are ready for that, that is when we will gladly and proudly approach the market to be able to scale up our transformational trajectory."
Soludo added, "If you also realise recently, there was a publication of states receiving N438 billion from the World Bank, it was a World Bank loan, but Anambra's name is not on that list. We deliberately opted out of that loan, and someday I will explain why we took the decision to opt out of that loan.
"All I'm trying to say is that we take the issue of borrowing very seriously, and we are not going to borrow, unless we show you where that money is going to go and what value it will add.”
The governor also said, "That report by Daily Trust that Anambra was planning to borrow N245 billion to finance the 2024 budget is nothing short of blatant falsehood and everybody must regard it as such.
“Even in our budget, the deficit we have is 121, so how can you be planning to borrow N245 billion when you have a budget deficit of
billion. That makes it ridiculous in the first place. I don't know where they got their source from, but wherever they got it, it is pure fake news."
Speaking on the 33rd anniversary of the state, Soludo said:, "Anambra was created from the old Anambra State on 27 August 1991. I want to felicitate with Anambra people all over the world.
"Thirty-three years after, we are on the right path and we are the top five or six most viable economy, and in poverty index, we rank the lowest, and have the largest urban cities with four major cities in the state. "We rank lowest in out of school children in the country and this is indicative of the laurels we win. In health we are second only to Lagos in low infant mortality rate."
Soludo said his government would strive to maintain the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
To Boost Transparency in Tax Collection, ICPC Inaugurates Anti-corruption Unit in FIRS
James Emejo in Abuja
The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, yesterday constituted a 12-member Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to entrench transparency and accountability in tax collection processes and operations.
The unit, inaugurated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the FIRS Headquarters, was charged with the mandate to ensure zero tolerance for unethical acts and corruption within the revenue-collecting agency.
Speaking at the occasion, Adedeji, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Koleosho, urged the newly inducted members of the anti-corruption unit to live above board, saying “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”
In a statement by Special Adviser to the FIRS chairman on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, Adedeji charged members of the unit to reflect the core values of the agency which he said abhor corruption.
He tasked them to bring integrity and transparency to bear in their roles and responsibilities.
He said, “The easy part of being a member of FIRS anti-corruption unit has just been done. The real work starts now. The FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji believes that he who comes to equity must
come with clean hands.
“The staff of FIRS and by extension, the taxpayers as well as the general public should be able to relate with the integrity you bring to this responsibility."
The Coordinating Director of Support Services Group, FIRS, Mohammed Abubakar, said the FIRS would continue to provide support for the anti-corruption unit and urged the inductees to be good examples of people imbued with honesty and integrity.
Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, said the FIRS ACTU members would be supported to deliver on their mandate.
Represented by the Director, System Study and Review of ICPC, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, he said, “With this inauguration, the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of the FIRS has been empowered to deliver on its mandate which includes periodic sensitisation of staff on the ills of corruption; examination of systems, processes and procedures that are prone to corruption and offering solutions; and developing and reviewing code of ethics for staff and ensuring compliance with same."
Aliyu said the body would also monitor the budget and its implementation by the FIRS, coordinating the deployment of the ethics and integrity scorecards and undertaking a preliminary investigation into complaints and reports received.
He said, “The ACTU is not set
up as a parallel authority to the management. Rather, they are to work closely with the management to build a reputable agency.
"I therefore implore the FIRS to see the unit in this light and support it by providing a conducive environment for it to function, provide funds and office accommodation as well as incorporate members in various standing committees as contained in the extant circular of the Federal Government."
The Director of the anti-corruption unit, Hajia Sa’adatu Yero, however, hailed Adedeji for being truly intentional about strengthening the anti-corruption unit.
Yero said, “ACTU is entrusted with the critical responsibility of preventing corrupt practices within the service through effective implementation of the anti-corruption measures and mechanisms. ACTU strives to eliminate unethical practices, ensuring the highest standards of integrity and transparency in the operations at FIRS.
“ACTU of FIRS is made up of representatives of the various groups in the Service and other relevant functions. Since its inception, the unit has been performing exceedingly well by collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders such as the ICPC, the Nigerian Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure all corruption and unethical risks of the Service are tackled effectively.
Mujakperuo, Orhue I and Delta Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during the 33rd anniversary celebration
N121
Akinde Uz'Okpala
1St GEnDEr AnD SOCiAl nOrMS SuMMit 2024...
L-R: Deputy Resident Representative, United Nations Population, Koessan Francis Kuawu; First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Social Norms and Harmful Practices Specialist UNFPA West and Central Regional office, Dr. Zubaida Abubakar, and representative of the UN Resident Coordinator, Country Representative at World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, during the 1st Gender and Social Norms Summit 2024, held at the State House Conference Center, Abuja... yesterday
Gbajabiamila: Presidency May Push for Amendment of NEITI Act to Ensure Adequate Funding
Says FG to take steps to meet FATF's May 2025 removal deadline
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday said that the presidency may trigger the amendment of the law setting up the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) to ensure the organisation gets adequate funding for its work.
Speaking during a visit to the NEITI headquarters in Abuja, Gbajabiamila described NEITI as the backbone of the extractive industry in Nigeria, given its core function of ensuring transparency and efforts at freeing Nigeria from the ‘shackles of corruption’ and other financial crimes.
He acknowledged that prior to the establishment of the organisation, there had been a lot of opaqueness in the oil, gas and mining sectors, but explained that since the advent of NEITI, it had largely fulfilled its mandate of plugging many financial holes in the sector.
“This is a reform institution and you're carrying out your reforms in a way that meets the international best standards. Obviously, there will be other things that we may need to look at.
“Again, working with you as it relates to funding, in terms of not getting anything from the work that you do, we'll look at an amendment to the law, a new legislation, and we'll be looking to you to make proposals, we'll look at it, and see how far we can go with that,” the chief of staff said.
Having worked closely with the organisation as Speaker of the House of Representatives, he lauded the Dr Ogbonnaya Orji-led NEITI for passionately pursuing the interest of Nigeria.
On the reason for the visit, Gbajabiamila described it as ‘anomalous’ for
the presidency to have agencies such as NEITI under it without really knowing exactly the extent and the depth of what they do and how they do it.
“There's still a lot to be done, as you rightly observed, in terms of the funding, and we've seen that ourselves, as opposed to hearing from you. You talked about funding, which obviously is a perennial, constant problem.
“We're hopeful that moving forward, we'll collaborate a lot closer, work more directly with you, and be able to address that particular challenge to the extent that we can address it,” he added.
Also on the entourage of the chief of staff was the Permanent Secretary, State House, Olufunso Adebiyi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff) Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, along with other key presidential aides.
Gbajabiamila pledged to mobilise both political and social support for NEITI's initiatives, ensuring that the organisation’s efforts to enhance governance in the extractive sector are sustained and expanded.
In his remarks, Orji noted that NEITI's success in promoting transparency and accountability was largely dependent on the political will and backing of the government.
He expressed optimism that the visit would strengthen the partnership between NEITI and the federal government, explaining that the visit marked a significant step in the government's efforts to bolster transparency and good governance in Nigeria's extractive industries.
According to Orji, the job of NEITI includes blocking leakages, strengthening systems, and improving processes.
“By this, we help create an environment that fosters economic
justice, environmental safety, and attracts investment. Since our inception, NEITI has made the extractive industry increasingly more open for public scrutiny to build a transparent and accountable sector.
“Our interventions have led to legislations. This office, recommended the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which is now passed under your watch and impactful reforms such as ongoing unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC),” he said.
Orji reiterated the recovery of revenues to the tune of over $7.2 billion due to its efforts, exploring that NEITI remains at the forefront of addressing global challenges such as climate change, energy transition, and combating illicit financial flows.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila yesterday expressed optimism that the presidency will take concrete steps to ensure Nigeria’s removal from the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey list before May 2025 deadline.
Gbajabiamila gave the assurance during a fact-finding visit to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) office in Abuja.
Responding to a request from the Director and Chief Executive Officer of NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, who sought high-level intervention to meet the FATF action plan implementation deadline, the chief of staff pledged the federal government’s determination to address the deficiencies that led to Nigeria’s listing.
On February 24, 2023, Nigeria was
placed on the FATF Grey List due to rising capital inflows and shortcomings in combating money laundering, terrorism, and arms financing.
The FATF is an independent intergovernmental organisation that promotes policies to protect the global financial system by evaluating jurisdictions based on their Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (AML/ CFT/P) standards.
Continues online
EU Insists Democratic Governance Indispensable to Nigeria’s Upliftment
The European Union, EU, has insisted that democratic governance remains the best way of uplifting Nigeria.
This was the parting words of the outgoing Europe Union Head of Delegations to Nigeria and West Africa, Samuela Isopi, who is departing the country after four years stay in the country.
Speaking at a farewell programme organised by the EU Monday night, Isopi also said Nigeria remains Africa's leader in the area of innovation.
She said the EU was proud to invest significantly in the transformative power of Nigerian self-determination, stating that on a personal note she remains “particularly proud and grateful for our partnership and support to Nigeria's democracy. This is something which is very dear to my heart.” She added that: “Democratic
Nigeria Seeks Japan, Others' Cooperation in Tackling Security Challenges in Africa
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has decried the spate of security threats in Africa and its implications for the continent’s development.
The minister made the lamented while speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held from August 24th to 25th, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. He said that Africa’s security and development landscape is increasingly witnessing complex threats in the form of terrorism and transnational organized crimes, noting that these
vices are destabilising Africa’s peace and security architecture, undermining the pursuit of democracy and good governance, and disincentivising foreign direct investors from investing on the continent.
He however reiterated Africa’s commitment to leveraging the TICAD's multidimensional approaches to addressing the root drivers of the security challenges encumbering its development.
Tuggar also stated that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the presence of foreign mercenaries, the impact of climate change, and the availability of safe havens encouraging illicit financial
flows are worrisome to the continent, adding that the continent loses an estimated US$88.6 billion annually to illicit flows or the equivalent of 3% of its GDP.
Tuggar also drew attention to the activities of cryptocurrency pirates undermining macroeconomic reforms on the continent by attacking local currencies.
He posited these exogenous factors are responsible for the Unconstitutional Change of Governments (UCGs) being witnessed on the continent, stressing that these security challenges could be the reason for the perceived decline in Japanese investment in Africa.
governance in Nigeria remains the key inspiration of Nigeria, and remains the best way to uplift a stronger and better Nigeria. A Nigeria that cares for its people and lives up to its aspirations. In everything we have done together, our support has always been genuine and true.”
Isopi, in her assessment of Nigeria, noted that: “On innovation, Nigeria is a leader of the continent and I am very proud that the European Union and its member states have decided to invest significantly in the transformative power of Nigerian self-determination.
“On access to human development, Nigeria is now fully united to solve problems and I am pleased with the critical support that the European Union has provided. The European Union, as I have also mentioned in the past, remains by far Nigeria's loudest voice and counts for about one third of Nigeria's foreign trade.
“It is a balance that nobody would believe is in jeopardy. The European
Union is also by far Nigeria's most active and hundreds of European companies are absolutely contributing to its economic growth, diversification of its economy, and most importantly, its jobs.
“I am proud of the work we have done with Nigeria for and with Nigerian innovators, Nigerian women, Nigerian civil society, and all the Nigerians who work every day to build a better future.”
She stated that Nigeria and Europe have continued to grow closer ties, noting that: “At the end of this week I will be leaving Nigeria. I will also be leaving Africa after serving in this unique continent for 10 years, 10 incredible years since 2014, as EU ambassador and as ambassador of my own country.
“And now that I am leaving, I am even more convinced that the European Union and Nigeria are so much closer. We are neighbours, we are both global players, we stand for
the same values. We have so much to give to each other and so much to gain from working together. And this mutual awareness has been at the very heart, at the core of my initiative in Nigeria.
“I am personally delighted to have found in the Nigerian government, the previous one and the new one, a formidable counterpart, open to engage in all areas of our partnership, from peace and security to governance, human development, and digital aid.
“I am proud of what we have done together for so many areas that are vital to the betterment of Nigerian society. Agriculture, agricultural activities, sustainability, the value chains that are so important to all of us, support and security.”
She also stated that: “Nigeria has everything it wants to take it out of all its challenges. A diversified society, a rich culture, a robust civil society, a vibrant manufacturing sector, a dynamic media landscape.”
Governor Yusuf Presents N99 Billion Supplementary Budget to Cover Wages, Others
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has written to the State House of Assembly seeking for the approval of 2024 Supplementary Budget with N99, 221, 503, 569. 90 to cover new minimum wage for the state civil servants.
However, the governor's request letter was read on the floor of the house during plenary presided over by the speaker, Ismail Falgore.
According to him, the governor is seeking for their approval in pursuant of Section 122 (A and B) of the 1999 Constitution in order
to accelerate and execute priority projects aimed at improving the wellbeing of the citizens in the state. He said that from the supplementary budget, N33,761,174,555.64 has been earmarked for personnel cost, N34,492,888,103.44 for overhead cost and N30,969,440,940.80 for capital expenditure.
While speaking to journalists shortly after the presentation of the letter to the house, the State Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Musa Shanono, said “the initial budget of the state for 2024 was N437, 338, 312, 787.
He said: "If you merged the original budget with the supplementary budget, passed into law, it will bring the 2024 budget to the tune of N536, 559, 816, 357.84” “The supplementary budget will also be used to cover new minimum wage payment.” While reiterating government commitment to focusing on infrastructural development, human capital development, improving the health and educational sector, Shanono stressed that the supplementary budget will also cover the new minimum wage payment among others.
Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
GODWIN OMOIGUI.
FG Parleys BBC on Curbing Fake News among Nigerian Youth
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The federal government has sought the support of the BBC World Service to tackle the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation and fake news among youth in Nigeria and the world over.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this appeal yesterday on a working visit to the British Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in London as part of a bridge-building and cooperation
James International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the Nigerian government to sustain ongoing economic reforms for the country to get better and achieve the desired economic growth that will lift the majority of citizens out of poverty.
The multilateral institution also urged the federal government to address governance and business regulation bottlenecks to grow the economy at five to eight percentage points annually.
IMF Resident Representative for Nigeria, Dr. Christian Ebeke, gave the advice yesterday in Lagos at the “Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) International Business Conference and Expo 2024, Invest Nigeria”. In his presentation, titled, “Nigeria Must Stay the Course on Reform Agenda,” Ebeke stated that the country was faced with acute policy trade-offs that stemmed from inherited imbal-
Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with other security agencies, were working tirelessly to ensure the safety of critical state assets, as well as guarantee increase in oil production to boost economic activities. Musa said this yesterday, when he received Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.
Equally, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, directed the Air Component Commanders to intensify their efforts in the ongoing operations to deny terrorists and other criminals freedom of action.
Abubakar gave the directive yesterday during a virtual meeting with the commanders.
Lagbaja said the recent protests in the country, primarily driven by discontent over economic issues and government policies, resulted in significant unrest and, in some cases, violence.
He stated, "This situation reminded us that as an Armed Force, we must not only focus on physical security and defence of the nation, but that food and social security issues can snowball into physical security challenges.”
Lagbaja said the protest held between August 1 and August 10 was largely driven by provocative and inciting social media traffic, although it was professionally managed by the Nigeria Police, supported by the military and other security agencies.
The chief of army staff said the challenge the protest posed was a pointer to the fact that the military must always remain professional.
He stated, "It is obvious that some of the protest organisers hold contrary opinions from the government on how the security forces managed the situation.
"However, I believe it was carefully handled, and I commend our commanders and troops for
efforts between the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and foreign and local media houses.
He described misinformation and fake news as key challenges that hinder progress and erode trust between government and the people.
He called on the BBC to further strengthen mechanisms for addressing the aforementioned challenges by also working in concert with its foreign partners to combat these threats and ensure the media ecosystems remain
ances. He added that Nigeria’s outlook was predicated on strong policies since “higher and durable growth required macro stability and further reforms”.
He said IMF believed that Nigeria’s economy was currently turning the corner, but warned that the country must sustain the bold reforms.
According to him, reforms in governance and business regulations can lift Nigeria’s output by 6.4 per cent in the next three years.
Ebeke said, “When we look at Nigeria, it is always better to compare it with what it aspires to be, which is to be a large emerging market nation.
“So, we want to compare Nigeria with India, China and Indonesia. We strongly believe that this is where Nigeria should be.
“But you can see that governance and business regulation remain something that needs to address. Compared to other emerging markets, governance
conducting themselves in the most professional manner as they worked with the Nigeria Police and civil authorities to effectively control the situation.
"Nonetheless, I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the destruction of public facilities, as well as looting as witnessed in some states.
"As investigations are instituted into the actions of both the protesters and security forces, I join other well-meaning Nigerians in condoling the families and loved ones of those who tragically lost their lives during the protests.”
Musa, on his part, said the military had been able to markedly decimate terrorists, insurgents and other criminals operating in the country.
A statement by Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the CDS, who received the finance minister in his office, assured him of the readiness of the armed forces to continually defend democracy in Nigeria.
Musa expressed appreciation to the minister for his support to the military in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
Edun, on his part, appreciated the armed forces for keeping the country together and protecting democracy at all cost. He said this will allow the economy to thrive and businesses to prosper.
Abubakar, at the meeting, charged the air component commanders to consolidate on the significant successes recently recorded in various theatres of operation across the country.
He also stated that the dedication and tactical efforts of the air component commanders had led to a series of successful missions, including eliminating key terrorist leaders, disrupting activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals, and safeguarding key national assets.
Abubakar tasked the commanders to continue to hit the adversaries hard until they succumb to superior might.
credible and responsible.
The minister held the meeting with the BBC’s top management, headed by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the BBC News and Director of the BBC World Service, Mr. Jonathan Munro.
He noted that fostering of understanding remained a key element that would fast track development.
''The media plays an indispensable role in shaping the right narratives, fostering understanding, and driving development. As such, it is incumbent on media
remained a challenge in Nigeria.
At different levels, it could be corruption, rule of law or other governance indicators. The same thing can be said for business regulation.
“Over the last decade, there has not been enough progress in reducing the gap between Nigeria and other emerging markets in terms of governance and business regulation.
“Governance and business regulation are where more actions are still needed.”
Ebeke asserted that Nigeria could lift its economic output by 6.4 percent if it could do the type of reforms India and other emerging market countries did, simply by reducing the gaps in governance and business regulation by 25 per cent.
He stated, “If you divide this six by three, you will have an additional two percentage points of growth. Right now, Nigeria is growing at three per cent. It means that this country can grow at five per cent by simply reduc-
He said, "We must not rest on our laurels. The security of our nation depends on our continued resolve and unwavering commitment.
“I charge you to intensify your efforts and push forward with even greater determination. The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide all necessary support to ensure the success of our missions."
Applauding the outstanding performance of the commanders so far, the CAS also highlighted the critical role they had played in ensuring the safety and security of the country. He said the service, and indeed the entire country, were proud of their achievements.
Abubakar told the air com-
presidential spokesperson, would also engage in strategic meetings with 10 chief executives of major Chinese corporations with assets under management totalling over $3 trillion across various sectors, including ICT, oil and gas, aluminium production, seaport construction, financial services, and satellite technology development.
Ngelale said the visit was expected to yield immediate and long-term benefits for the Nigerian economy and people.
He stated, "President Bola Tinubu will depart for the People's Republic of China, most specifically, Beijing, from the nation's capital within the first week of September, to engage in a series of meetings and activities with immediate and future benefit to the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian people.
"First and foremost, His Excellency, Mr. President, will conduct site visits to two major Chinese corporations: Huawei Technologies, as well as the China Rail and Construction Corporation, (CRCC). This is with a view to achieving one of Mr. President's top agenda items, which is the completion of the Ibadan to Abuja segment of the Lagos to Kano high speed rail line.
houses with global reach to deepen their understanding of the socio-political, economic, and cultural characteristics of the societies they report on,'' Idris said.
He also underscored the vital role the BBC plays as a longstanding narrator of the Nigerian political journey, stressing that it was important for the BBC to balance its reporting on Nigeria by highlighting the progress and successes of the country and adopting deliberate content that inspires hope for a brighter future
ing the governance bottlenecks and the business regulation bottleneck by just 25 percent only.”
He added that if Nigeria could deepen the reform further to 50 per cent, the country would enjoy much more growth dividend that would be 12 percentage points higher.
The IMF country representative said, “Nigeria needs to grow at least by five or eight per cent every year, above the population growth. This is good for businesses and this is a particular growth in a period when interest and inflation rates are high.
“In our (IMF) recent research that we have done, we see a case for structural reforms. What it has shown is that when you start looking closely at where Nigeria lacks behind vis-a-vis other emerging markets, there are issues, such as governance and business regulation that need to take precedence.
“Closing these gaps will trigger much durable growth acceleration and more inclusive growth also
manders, “Your relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to duty have not gone unnoticed, and the recent operational successes are a testament to your leadership and the professionalism of the men and women under your command. We must, however, continue to hit them hard until they succumb to our superior might.”
However, the air chief stated that the challenges were far from over and called on the commanders to maintain the momentum. He urged them to remain vigilant and to continue to leverage on intelligence, precision strikes, and collaborative efforts with sister services to neutralise the remaining threats.
"Thereafter, His Excellency, Mr. President, will meet 10 selected chief executive officers of 10 major Chinese corporations with assets under management totalling over $3 trillion US dollars across multiple sectors of the economy, including information and communications technology, refining oil and gas, aluminium production, seaport construction, harbour construction, and dredging services, financial services, satellite technology development, as well as many other critical sectors."
The presidential adviser also disclosed that Tinubu was scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, and would be signing several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
He said the agreements would focus on key areas, including green economy, agriculture, satellite technology development, media enterprise development and promotion, blue economic development, and national planning cooperation.
The meeting would also provide a platform for the two leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest, spanning economic cooperation, national, regional, and international
The minister posited: ''Nigeria has a flourishing youth population with uncommon zeal to seize positive opportunities even in the face of immense challenges, a situation that warrants more emphasis on positive outcomes in Nigeria".
He praised the BBC for expanding its operational reach in Nigeria by creating more language options in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin, saying it had helped in the cascading of information and the employment and training of many more Nigerians.
in Nigeria”
According to him, Nigeria faces acute policy trade-offs resulting from inherited imbalances, which informed President Bola Tinubu’s seriousness in reforming the economy.
Ebeke said, “When we look at Nigeria, we have to look at the history at least over the past 10 years. Most of the red indicators are the result of inherited policies that exasperated the balances.
“So, last year was a moment of clarity for policymakers and they rightly took significant reforms to change the path for the economy.”
In his address at the conference, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said his administration had implemented policies and initiatives that would attract investments, create opportunities, and drive growth.
Sanwo-Olu said, “One key area of focus for us is infrastructure development: upgrading and expanding our transportation and logistics networks, telecommunications, healthcare, education and digital ecosystem infrastructure.
“We are well aware that the kind of growth that we seek to unleash will not happen without a solid foundation of infrastructure that is able to keep ahead of our rapidly-growing population.
“As one of Africa’s start-up capitals, we are especially keen to invest in digital infrastructure to power the innovative ideas of our people. Agriculture and food security are also priorities, in line with a national focus on these areas.
“In addition, we are developing our tourism and entertainment sector, with various investments in hospitality, leisure, and cultural
security, and other pressing global issues.
According to him, "Mr. President will also meet with his Chinese counterpart in the person of President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed. The MOUs will involve agreements in deepening cooperation, in green economy, in agriculture, in satellite technology development, in media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.
"This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across, not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional and international security."
Ngelale also disclosed that the president, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will join other African leaders at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and deliver key remarks on behalf of the region addressing critical matters of mutual interest between China and Africa.
He added that the president would also participate in the high-level peace and security
infrastructure to showcase the best of Lagos and Nigeria.”
The governor added, "Lagos, Africa’s economic hub, offers a conducive business environment, a strategic location, a vast market, and a pool of energetic talent. Our administration has implemented and continues to implement policies and initiatives to attract investments, create opportunities, and drive growth.”
According to him, the government has also embarked on port rehabilitation at the Apapa and Tin-Can ports, among others, to enhance port efficiency and improve road and rail transport system so as to reduce transportation cost and improve maritime security.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, also wooed foreign investors to the country, stating the state and the federal government would continue to create a business friendly environment.
Oyetola urged the “business community to take advantage of these incentives by engaging in capital intensive ventures such as offshore renewable energy”. He said, "We are working together to increase market value assets. Our goal is to make Nigeria a hub of maritime activities in Africa.”
President of LCCI, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, said the conference was pivotal in Nigeria’s journey toward stabilising the economy and driving sustainable economic growth and development through the creation of “an enabling environment that supports business growth, encourages innovation, and ensures that local and international investors feel confident in their investments”.
plenary, where he would share Nigeria's perspective on regional and continental security challenges. He stated, "Furthermore, Mr. President would thereafter join the FOCAC Summit, where several African heads of state will be present to engage with Chinese leaders on various important matters.
"At this FOCAC Summit, President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will deliver remarks on behalf of the region and certainly would proceed to the high-level peace and security plenary, where he will further deliver remarks on peace and security in the region and in Africa in his capacity as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"This engagement is expected to yield very tangible, immediate and future dividends for the sake of the Nigerian economy and the benefit of the Nigerian people and the president is placing a premium on deliverables, ensuring that this is not a talk-shop, but that this is something that will yield results for our people, justifying any expenditure that is made during this trip."
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IN N I ge RIA
Dike Onwuamaeze and Segun
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
LCCI InternatIonaL BusIness ConferenCe & expo 2024...
Nigeria Receives 10,000 Doses of Mpox Vaccine from United States
To begin vaccination this week FG moves to expand training facilities for health workers
onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja
The federal government has taken delivery of 10,000 doses of Mpox vaccine donated by the United States government.
Mpox disease has been declared a matter of global health concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with countries in the East African region accounting for most of the casualties.
Also, as part of the efforts of the present administration to expand the healthcare value chain in the country, the federal government has given the newly established Federal University of Health and Allied Sciences a mandate to commence studies in September.
Although there have been no casualties recorded in Nigeria so far, the number of infected persons has reached 40.
US ambassador, Richard Mills who presented the vaccine to Nigerian government officials in Abuja, yesterday said the US government has prioritised support for Global Health Security, particularly in most vulnerable countries.
"I am pleased to be here with you today on the occasion of the handover of 10,000 doses of JYNNEOS Mpox vaccines donated by the United States Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID). "These vaccines will support the
Government of Nigeria’s response to the current Mpox outbreak which has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation. Recognising that a public health threat in one place is a global health concern for all," he said
He said the United States government, through USAID, remains a committed partner with Nigeria to strengthen systems that can effectively prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.
According to the ambassador, USAID has funded projects including MRITE and Breakthrough Action are integral in the provision of technical support at the national and sub-national
levels.
Speaking during the formal handover of the vaccines, the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, said it was a two-dose primary series for use in persons who have never received smallpox vaccine and a single booster for individuals previously vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine When asked when the vaccination would commence, Aina said the Mpox vaccine would be immediately deployed to areas with a high risk of infection.
He said one of the decisions the agency has taken was to vaccinate
Whistleblower’s Arrest: Nigeria Risks Degenerating into Banana Republic, Obi Warns
Chuks okocha in Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticised the persistent harassment of journalists in Nigeria by the authorities.
According to Obi, the federal government’s penchant of using security and intelligence agencies to arrest and detain investigative journalists could push the country towards becoming a Banana Republic.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed the arrest of Bristol Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, who runs the anonymous whistleblower account on X.com with the username @99% OPPRESSED, PIDOMNIGERIA.
In a statement, Friday, force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi
revealed that PIDOM was arrested on August 5 in his hotel room in Rivers State for “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations.”
Reacting, Obi, in a statement on his X account, Tuesday, drew attention of the National Assembly to the Freedom of Information Act and the rights of Nigerians to access information.
His words: “The fundamental right to free speech is inextricably linked to the right to access information about government activities and decision-making.
“The alarming trend of government agents suppressing information unrelated to national security or interest underscores the urgent need for operational alignment with the Freedom of Information Act.
“Citizens rely on journalists and the media to hold those in power accountable, particularly when governments err or overreach.
“Investigative journalists, who play a crucial role in uncovering truth, are protected by the laws that guard and protect freedom of expression in a democracy.
“It is therefore deeply disturbing and unacceptable that Nigerian investigative journalists have of late been subjected to harassment, abduction, detention, and other draconian measures by agents of the government.”
The former governor of Anambra State urged the federal government to release PIDOM, arrested by the police last week, and emphasised the need for an open society where citizens can exercise their right to free speech.
He wrote: “The disappearance and detention of PIDOMNIGERIA, a journalist, is a grave concern Nigerian authorities must be held accountable for his whereabouts and any alleged wrongdoing.
“If such actions continue, Nigeria risks degenerating into a Banana Republic where journalists are silenced or simply disappear for simply doing their job.
“This is not the Nigeria we want or deserve. We demand justice, accountability, and an end to these egregious attacks on press freedom. We seek an open society in which citizens express themselves freely, have access to unclassified information and in which government is fully accountable to the citizens. These are the minimum requirements of the new society we seek.”
Ogun Border Town Residents Raise the Alarm
James sowole in
Residents, leaders and concerned citizens of Iwoye-Ketu, a border town in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State have raised alarm over spate of kidnappings, killings allegedly being perpetrated by individuals suspected to be from the Fulani ethnic group residing within the community.
According to residents, the situation has not only threatened the peace and security of the community, but has also evoked painful memories of the tragic events of 2002.
The concerns of the residents and citizens, were expressed by the Iwoye-Ketu Development Forum, in
a statement signed by the forum’s leaders, Chief Semiu Usman-Legitan and Comrade Wale Fadipe, made available to journalists.
The community leaders warned that without swift and decisive action, Iwoye-Ketu could face an even more devastating conflict.
The statement said: "In recent months, the situation in IwoyeKetu has deteriorated rapidly. Our community has become a hotbed of kidnappings, killings, and other violent acts.
“The perpetrators of these heinous crimes have shown no regard for human life, attacking and hacking our people to death at the slightest provocation.
“The frequency and brutality of these attacks have instilled fear and anxiety among our people.”
The forum highlighted that IwoyeKetu’s status as a border town has made it particularly vulnerable to criminal elements who exploit the porous borders to carry out their activities.
The statement noted that the geographical location of the community has exacerbated the security challenges, making it imperative for authorities to act immediately.
Further according to the statement, "August has been particularly harrowing for the community, with three separate kidnapping incidents reported.
"Among the victims of the ongoing
violence are Kabiru Ogunrinde, who was killed while assisting police officers at a crime scene, and Eric Adekanmbi, who was brutally murdered while attempting to secure the release of kidnapped victims."
The forum’s leaders also addressed a recent video circulating on YouTube by an influencer named Dara, which alleged that Chief Enoch Alaye, head of the Regency Council, and the Divisional Police Officer of the Imeko Police Division were protecting the Fulani group and supporting the violence against the Yoruba people in Iwoye.
The forum categorically denied these allegations, describing them as baseless and a distraction from
people at high risk, like health workers, and people living in areas with high infection rates.
The Executive Director said NPHCDA was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to effectively check the spread and control of infectious diseases in the country.
Meanwhile, as part of the efforts of the present administration to expand the healthcare value chain in the country, the federal government has given the newly established Federal University of Health and Allied Sciences a mandate to commence studies in September.
Speaking during a visit of the university's management team to his office in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the vision of government was to create opportunity for training of more health sector manpower to boost healthcare delivery in the country.
aborisade
Representative of the Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan, has described a former governor of the state, Idris Wada, as a true statesman.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated this in a congratulatory message she sent to the former governor on the occasion of his 74th birthday.
She praised Wada's dedication to public service and his contributions to the development of the state.
She wished him good health, wisdom, and many more years of service to the nation.
the real issue, which is the need for effective law enforcement.
“The suggestion of any collusion is baseless and distracts from the critical need for effective law enforcement,” the statement emphasized, adding that: "We call for a thorough investigation into these incidents and demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved as detailed in our petition.”
While the forum acknowledged the cooperation of local security agencies, they stressed that the situation had outgrown the capacity of local forces and urged the Nigerian government, international organisations, and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently.
"I am very happy that by September you will commence the training of the first set of students under the banner of the Federal University of Health and Allied Sciences in Enugu.”
The minister said that the new institution was envisioned to train other health professionals aside from medical doctors.
"Nigeria needs to expand her human resource base in the area of health and we were deliberate in not making it a place to train doctors because we have enough institutions dedicated to training of doctors and dentists in the country.
'So you should focus on another human resource. We need more institutions of allied health sciences in the country that will focus on training more nurses, medical engineers and such unique areas like health economics," he said.
Continues online
Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote: “"Happy 74th birthday to a true statesman and dedicated public servant! May this special day bring you joy, peace, and celebration.
“Your unwavering commitment to the development of Kogi and Nigeria as a whole is truly inspiring. As you mark this milestone, I wish you continued good health, wisdom, and many more years of service to our nation.
“May your life be filled with love, laughter, and the knowledge that your contributions have made a lasting impact.” Wada, born on August 26, 1950, in Dekina, served as Kogi State's governor from 2012 to 2016.
“We unequivocally condemn the violence being perpetrated against the people of Iwoye-Ketu. No one should have to live in fear of being kidnapped, killed, or maimed in their own community,” the statement added.
The forum called for the deployment of additional security forces to Iwoye-Ketu, thorough investigations into the violence, and the establishment of a permanent security presence to deter future attacks. They also sought support from the international community, emphasizing that the violence in Iwoye-Ketu is part of a broader pattern of ethnic violence that requires a coordinated response.
L-R: Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Annett Gunther during the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) International Business Conference & Expo 2024, themed 'Invest Nigeria', at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos... yesterday
Abeokuta
sunday
in Abuja
Sixth CuStoDiAn MEntorShip ConfErEnCE...
Oluremi Tinubu Canvasses Stiffer Laws, Punishment to Curb Rising Rape Cases, Gender-based Violence
Wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has canvassed stiffer laws and penalties for offenders in the wake of the alarming rate of rape cases and gender-based violence nationwide.
Declaring open the First Gender and Social Norms Summit, organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with her office, at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, Mrs. Tinubu urged law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to take decisive action.
She expressed concern over the increased spate of rape cases and gender-based violence, which she described as alarming.
The First Lady specifically called on the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Senate President to enforce stricter laws and punishments for perpetrators of rape, sexual abuse, and gender-based violence.
According to her: "The spate of rape cases and gender-based violence has reached an alarming rate. Every single day, we hear about rape cases, even our babies are violated. Do we allow this trend to continue or do we look the other way?
“That is why I am calling on the law enforcement agencies, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Chairman of the National Assembly, who is the Senate President, to appropriate and enforce stiffer laws and punishment to perpetrators of rape, sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence.
“No guilty party should be allowed to go free and start roaming the streets looking for the next victim”.
She noted that the summit provides
a common platform especially for stakeholders, including Wives of State Governors, to create awareness, exchange lessons learned and promote effective strategies for preventing and responding to GBV and other harmful practices.
“We must also develop statespecific action plans and promote the allocation of adequate resources in government budgets to support gender equality initiatives and GBV prevention programs. Each state has its unique cultural, social, and economic contexts, and our plans must reflect this diversity.
“There must be improved legislation to give, and enforce appropriate punishment to perpetrators of rape, sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence, who are dangerous and not deserving of roaming the streets. We have to speak not only firm and tough but act accordingly”, she said.
In his speech at the occasion, Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, emphasised the critical role of education in addressing GBV and harmful social norms.
He praised the First Lady for her commitment to advancing women's rights and noted that education is the key to empowering girls and ensuring their safety.
Mamman highlighted the Nigerian government's provision of free and compulsory basic education, stressing the importance of creating safe and supportive school environments for girls.
The minister pointed out that girls are more vulnerable than boys and require better facilities, hygiene, and safety measures in schools.
He disclosed that recently, his ministry collaborated with the Ministry of Justice to establish a standard operating
procedure for addressing violence in schools, which has received positive feedback adding that the government has also revived the National Safe Schools Programme to enhance security in educational institutions.
In his goodwill message, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, stressed the need to address deeply entrenched gender norms that perpetuate violence against women.
Represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Beatrice Jessy-Agba, the AGF noted that societal practices often condone such violence, rooted in patriarchal frameworks that dictate women’s roles and behaviours.
Fagbemi highlighted the prevalence of harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage, which are upheld by social norms that pressure families to conform, often at the expense of girls' well-being.
He called for collaborative efforts
with community and religious leaders to challenge these beliefs and empower women through education and economic opportunities.
On his part, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mustapha Fall addressed the urgent need to confront gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices in Nigeria, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage.
According to him, dismantling the social norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.
Fall expressed gratitude to Mrs. Tinubu for her unwavering support in advancing gender issues and empowering women.
He highlighted alarming statistics, noting that Nigeria has the second highest rate of FGM globally, with 86% of affected women undergoing the procedure before age five pointing out that Nigeria has the highest
number of child brides in Africa, with an estimated 22 million girls married before adulthood.
Also speaking, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, Koessan Kuawu, commended First Lady for her leadership in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful social norms.
He noted that the summit represents a united effort to tackle pressing issues affecting millions of women and girls in Nigeria.
According to him, despite ongoing initiatives, Nigeria continues to face high rates of harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, which are often perpetuated by entrenched social norms.
Kuawu highlighted that Nigeria has the second highest rate of FGM globally, with 86% of affected women undergoing the procedure before age five. He also pointed out that nearly one in three ever-married women
in Nigeria has experienced violence from their partners.
Also, Emir of Shonga, Haliru Yahaya, emphasised the importance of engaging traditional leaders in community programmes aimed at combating gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices. He noted that without the support of local leaders, initiatives may fail to resonate with the community. Yahaya highlighted the challenges posed by practices such as FGM and early marriage, regretting that the gains the made in tackle the menace was erased by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing poverty. He hailed the efforts of Mrs. Tinubu and the Women Affairs Ministry in addressing these issues and urged stakeholders to work closely with traditional leaders to ensure they are informed and supportive of initiatives aimed at protecting women and girls.
Alleged Infraction: Mmobuosi Opens Up After Exoneration By Police
The founder of Tingo Group, Mr. Dozy Mmobuosi, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, saying that the false narratives of infraction against him and his business interests are baseless, unfounded and deliberate plot by certain powers in the West and in Nigeria for selfish reasons.
Mmobuosi stated this on Saturday during a press conference at the Tingo House on Victoria Island, Lagos.
In the press briefing titled: “My
Battles with Western Powers: Setting the Record Straight”, Mmobuosi told journalists about the circumstances leading to the accusations against him.
According to Mmobuosi, his decision to invest in the beverage and telecom industries, as well as the acquisition of Sheffield United, a historic British football club, has been met with resistance and intimidation from the American government and other powerful forces for obvious
Troops Nab Suspected Killers of Taraba Monarch
Wole Ayodele in Jalingo Troops of 6 Brigade, Sector 3, Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested the suspected killers of the traditional ruler of Chanchanji in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, HRH Tanimu Kunbiya. The traditional ruler was killed along with his son, Yusuf Kunbiya at Jankindo village on the 19th of July while returning from a burial ceremony in Takum. The suspect, Mela Selim, was arrested on August 21 by troops in conjunction with other security agencies, who have been on his trail since the killing of the traditional ruler. According to a press release by the acting Assistant Director, Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni, Selim, said to be
a kingpin of a militia group, was undergoing interrogation while efforts were being intensified to arrest other members of his criminal gang.
Aside from Selim, according to the release, troops also arrested a suspected kidnapper, David Musa, believed to be working with a kidnap kingpin, Ephraim, also known as 'skin the body'.
In another operation carried out by troops on 20 August 2024, two suspected gunrunners identified as James Nuhu and Dan-Asabe Ango were arrested in Wukari Local Government Area of the State.
During interrogation, both suspects were said to have confessed to be involved in series of crimes within Wukari and environs while they also mentioned one Ibrahim Philemon as the armourer, who kept the weapons and proceeds of the
criminal syndicate. Philemon was later arrested in his house by troops in a follow-up operation while items including a safe cabinet containing large quantity of 7.62 millimeters ammunition and assorted weapons were recovered.
In the sane vein, 7 suspects, who were said to have been involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities were arrested by troops of the Brigade, in conjunction with other security agencies, who acted on intelligence on movement of suspected terrorists along ChikaiBantaji Market road in Wukari Local Government Area.
The seven suspects were also said to have confessed to being in possession of illegal firearms, which they used in perpetrating their crimes while another terrorist kingpin and arms trafficker named Isyaka Yusuf
was also arrested at Bantaki market. Similarly, two suspects, identified as Muhammad Usman and Abdulgadir Sule, who were found in possession of 13 mobile phones, 3 motorcycles and the sum of fortyseven thousand, one hundred and fifty naira (N47,150) were arrested by troops along Wukari-Ibi Road in the Wukari Local Government Area and they're currently undergoing investigation.
Furthermore, Combined troops of the Brigade and other security agencies received intelligence on the movement of two members of the Konyo-led militias along TakumKatsina Ala road in Takum Local Government Area and mobilised to the location where they conducted covert operation which led to the arrest of two suspects, Fidelis Nyitar and Isaiah Ioraa.
reasons.
He added that he did not commit any wrongdoing in the United States but being a patriotic Nigerian by investing in Nigeria to contribute his own quota to the development of the country.
Mmobuosi also cited Tingo’s massive investment in agriculture, beverage manufacturing, media, telecoms, and state-of-the-art healthcare services in Nigeria, saying that the firm’s flagship product, Tingo Cola, is a testament to his commitment to quality and excellence.
He said: “I am compelled to address the series of orchestrated attacks and false narratives against me and my business interests, Tingo Group and its subsidiaries. My decision to invest in the beverage and telecom industries, as well as my acquisition of Sheffield United, a historic British football club, has been met with resistance and intimidation from the American government and other powerful forces for obvious reasons.
“It is no secret that my success as a Black African serial entrepreneur has been perceived as a threat by some. The notion that I, a Nigerian, could achieve such milestones is difficult for some to accept. However, I will not be deterred; I will continue to invest in my country and other friendly and fair countries.”
Denying allegations of wrongdoing, Mmobuosi said: “I want to categorically deny allegations that I floated the DOZIE stocks to defraud
shareholders. These claims are baseless and motivated by malice.
“My organization has made significant investments in agriculture, beverage manufacturing, media, telecoms, and state-of-the-art healthcare services here in Nigeria. Our flagship product, Tingo Cola, is a testament to our commitment to quality and excellence.
“I make bold to say that I have never received any form of donations from anyone or any groups. Should there be anyone with evidence to the contrary, let the person call me out, rather than resort to malicious publications.”
Mmobuosi further disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force has exonerated him and Tingo Group over alleged fraudulent diversion of funds and falsification of financial report.
He said: “I want to specially thank the Nigeria Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for their diligence during months of investigation and the courage afterwards to clear, without fear or favour, Tingo Foods, Tingo Mobile and myself of fraud allegations.”
On the need for support of Nigerian investors for positive economic growth, Mmobuosi said: “I passionately urge the Nigerian authorities to continue to support patriotic entrepreneurs like myself, Aliko Dangote, and a host of others who have invested heavily in our great nation. We deserve encouragement, not hindrance and character assassination.”
Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Segun James in Lagos
L-R: Founder and Group Managing Director, Custodian Investment Plc., Mr. Wole Oshin; Rapper, Mr. Jude Abaga (MI); Fashion Entrepreneur, Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi; CEO, Alder Consulting, Mr. Leke Alder; and Comedian, Mr. Atunyota Akpobome (Ali Baba), during the sixth Custodian Mentorship Conference held in Lagos... at the weekend
Crime&Punishment
Funke Olaode
For four good years, they languished in detention for an offense punishable by the law. They were accused of breach of peace in 2020. But the quartet of Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Usseni, and Azeez Isiaka heaved a sigh of relief and embraced freedom last week when Magistrate B.O. Osunsanmi of the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos cautioned and discharged the defendants after their counsel T.D Ojeshino pleaded to the court to tamper justice with mercy that they were first-time offenders Osunsanmi cautioned and discharged the defendants of a one-count amended charge dated August 22, 2024, brought against them by the police.
Trouble began for Joigbo, Sodiq, Shola, Kamilu, Usseni, and Isiaka on November 23, 2020, at Ebutte Metta in the Lagos magisterial district when they were accused of conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 168(d) of the law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015. The amended information was read to the defendant on August 22,
2024, to which they pleaded guilty.
The judge also asked the defendants whether they understood the content of their guilty plea and the obligation of the court to give out the maximum sentence on the charge.
The defendants admitted the plea bargain amended one-count charge. While their one-count charge was being read out, the prosecution counsel and Director Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, urged the court to sentence the defendants according to their guilty plea agreement dated August 22, 2024.
But the defendants’ counsel, T.D. Ojeshino, begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
“My lord, I plead the court to tamper justice with mercy as the defendants are first-time offenders. Some are breadwinners of their families and still young of age. They have spent more time in prison over four years since 2020 they have been in custody. They have suffered and learnt their lessons,” he stated.
Osunsanmi, having found the defendants guilty and they have spent over four years in prison cautioned and discharged them to go home and be of good behaviour.
Lawyer, Edo Govt Reaches Out-of-court Settlement over College of Education Rift
Wale
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Odiana Eriata and the Edo government have reached an out-of-court settlement over the alleged directive to wind up Edo State College of Education, Igueben Campus.
The applicant (Eriata) had suit number B1010S 2022, prayed the court for a declaration that the purpose of the transitional provisions of Section 33 of the Edo State College of Education Law, 2020 is to ensure the continuity of the academic activities of the College of Education, Igueben despite the repealing of College of Education, Igueben Law 1981.
He also prayed the court for a declaration that the action of the 1st and 2nd Respondents terminating the admission of students of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic sessions of the College of Education, Igueben, all in the name of restructuring was not only ultra vires but also against the spirit and intendment of Sections 9 and 33 of the Edo State College of Education Law, 2020.
Joined in the suit marked 13)101 05/2022 are the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Edo State College of Education (Igueben as Main Campus).
Odiana is also seeking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies and representatives from disrupting and shutting down the academic activities of the fourth respondent in the guise of restructuring and for whatever reason.
The respondents filed their response denying the claims and stated that the institution was still running and academic activities were ongoing.
Following the court’s directive for an out-of-court settlement of the matter and consideration of the parties, the parties met and resolved to settle the matter.
One of the agreed terms is that
the respondents will ensure the continuity of academic activities at the College of Education, Igueben, despite the repealing of the College of Education, Igueben Law 1981, which is the purport of the transitional provisions of Section 33 of the Edo State College of Education Law, 2020.
Another is that the first to third Respondents, their agents, privies and representatives will not take any steps or actions aimed at disrupting and shutting down the academic activities of the fourth respondent in the guise of restructuring and for whatever reason.
The parties also agreed that the Edo government will continue to adequately fund the institution from time to time based on budgetary allocations and that the academic rights of the students of the College of Education, Igueben shall be guaranteed by the Respondents even in the transition period of the said institution.
Upon filing the terms of settlement dated February 9, 2024, a virtual court session was fixed for the parties to testify that they signed the settlement terms.
The virtual hearing took place on May 31, 2024, and June 7, 2024, respectively, wherein Eriata testified under oath that he signed the terms of settlement while Ekhiovbiye Michael Osayamen, the acting Registrar of the fourth respondent, equally testified and confirmed signing the terms of settlement on behalf of the first to fourth respondents.
In the course of proceedings, Mr. I.U. Omoruyi, counsel to the Respondents and Mr. J.l. Eboh, counsel to the Applicant respectively adopted the terms of settlement and urged the court to enter same as its judgment in the matter.
Accordingly, the trial judge, Justice Joy Oghogho Okeaya-Inneh, adopted and entered the settlement terms dated February 9, 2024, as the court’s judgment, which shall be binding on all the parties.
Go Home, Sin No More: Magistrate Discharges Four Accused of Breach of Peace Businessman
Funke Olaode
The Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a businessman, Olanrewaju Adiyade to 18 months’ imprisonment for stealing the sum of N5.940 million.
Magistrate T.O. Abayomi found him guilty as charged, convicted and sentenced him.
Olanrewaju, who is in the oil and gas business was arraigned before the court in a charge marked O/02/2021 by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
He was docked a two-count charge for stealing and obtaining the money under false pretence from one Chief Ramoni Onokoya.
The Police said his offences are punishable under sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
During the trial, the prosecutor, S.O. Ayodele called two witnesses: the nominal complainant, Chief Onokoya and Mr. Uche Benjamin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who investigated the crime.
The prosecutor also tendered various documents, and was admitted as exhibits by the court.
The convict denied allegation of stealing but was unable to absolve himself of fraud allegation.
The defendant counsel, C.U. Olayanju, told the court that he did not steal the money but asked for the complainant’s permission to use it when he had a life-threatening accident and admitted at UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State.
He therefore urged the court to discharge him of the two charges. However, while delivering judgment, Magistrate Abayomi said after examining all the submissions made before the court, cleared the businessman on obtaining
by false presence charge. Magistrate Abayomi however, uphold the charge of stealing the sum of N5.940 million against him. In sentencing the convict, the magistrate after weighing both the mitigating factors and aggravating factors, said, “Based on the foregoing, I held that the prosecution has proved the second count charge of stealing against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, contrary to the defendant’s counsel submission, this is not failed transaction between parties but a clear case of unlawful conversion by the defendant.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been urged to obey the court order regarding relocating timber dealers from the Okobaba Foreshore in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, made this call in a statement on Monday.
Timber dealers, sawyers and other stakeholders had approached the Federal High Court, Lagos Division in April 2016 to stop the planned forceful eviction of all occupants of
The Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has emphasised the need for greater synergy between the judiciary and legal practitioners to address the growing issue of frivolous cases.
Justice Alogba made this call at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos,
Okobaba Foreshore in Ebute-Metta to Agbowa Ikosi, without a concrete alternative location for their trades and businesses.
The Lagos government, the governor, the attorney general, the commissioner for physical planning and urban development, and the National Inland Waterways Authority are listed as defendants in the suit.
In the suit, timber dealers, sawyers, tug boat owners, pullers, and other stakeholders contend that the Lagos government should not force them out of the Okobaba Foreshore without
during a cocktail organized to welcome lawyers nationwide to the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association. His call to action aims to restore public confidence in the judiciary by curbing unnecessary litigation that clogs the court system and delays justice delivery.
Alogba highlighted that frivolous
an alternative location suitable for their businesses and trades.
The plaintiffs in the suit are claiming that they have occupied the foreshore lawfully since early 1950, they have developed the foreshore and they have their businesses there through which they maintain themselves and their families.
They claimed that their forceful eviction was to pave the way for the allocation of their land and places of occupation to strange developers who were never part of the efforts made to develop the Okobaba Foreshore,
cases waste the court’s time and erode public trust in the judiciary’s ability to deliver timely and fair justice.
He urged legal practitioners to exercise more discretion in the cases they bring to court, ensuring that only those with substantial legal merit proceed.
According to him, this approach
spanning decades of improvement upon the land.
On the other hand, the Lagos government claimed it had an alternative location for the plaintiffs in Agbowa Ikosi, which it has developed as a permanent site. The plaintiffs, however, visited the said location and discovered that it was not developed and there were no allocations suitable for their business. They, therefore, sought an order of injunction to restrain the Lagos government from implementing their forceful eviction without developing an alternative location.
would help to reduce the backlog of cases, improve efficiency, and enhance the judiciary’s credibility. The chief judge’s appeal is in line with broader judicial reforms being advocated across Nigeria, including the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to handle less complex cases.
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ALIYU GAYA argues the need to protect entrepreneurs and others by enforcing the law
THE TRAVAILS OF THE RICH
Corporate blackmail is fast becoming the fancy of some netizens, corporate bodies, individuals, especially fly-by-night persons who target the rich and their businesses for diverse reasons. It’s not restricted to Nigeria, though.
The likes of Aliko Dangote, Leo Stan Ekeh, Mike Adenuga have at one time or another faced a blizzard of corporate blackmail. The corporate blackmailer’s intents are multifarious: to make easy money (ransom), damage the reputation of their target, ruin an enterprise or cause emotional trauma on their victims.
In the United States, a country with unapologetic capitalist culture, blackmail is considered a serious crime under federal law and every state law. Culprits can be jailed for over a year and/or with huge fines in some cases. The same applies in Europe and Asia where the blackmailer is neither spared nor pampered.
Nigeria has a panoply of laws including the Cybercrime Act to deal with corporate blackmailers. But the laws are made weak because in some cases the legal processes are convoluted and drag leisurely making the suspects to exploit loopholes within the system to dodge conviction. The blackmailers are like the cunning fox. They know that reputational damage is a high risk for their victim hence they often drag the case in the court of law to keep it perpetually in the front burner of public discourse. No successful business owner wants his/her affairs including the affairs of the organisation to be a subject in the media. It’s often said that bad public relations is good PR. Not in this case. Bad media exposition even when it’s all lies and crass fib has a way of propagating itself in the media space and in the minds of right-thinking persons in the society. It’s worse in these days of internet and social media. A lie consistently told begins to assume a halo of truth if not countered effectively and in time too. This is the psychology that drives the corporate blackmailer.
A few instances of corporate blackmail and embarrassment. Nigeria’s highly successful business honcho, Mike Adenuga, had his office brusquely raided in 2006 by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The raid and ‘arrest’ of Adenuga were widely exposed in the media. At the end, it turned out that Adenuga had nothing sleazy in his closet that the accusers could use to nail him in the court of law. But he was sufficiently terrified and blackmailed such that he had to go on temporary exile from Ghana to UK.
Another Nigerian business success story, Aliko Dangote, has been in and out of blackmail, sometimes from competitors, career blackmailers who want a chunk of his money, or even public institutions who rather than help his business empire to thrive and keep thriving, prefer to bring him down. The latest of such serial blackmail is the running campaign to discredit his $20 billion refinery. First, they claimed it was non-existent, that failed. They switched to, it can never take off, that also failed. They tried the fib that the refinery was producing low quality products; this also failed. Then, there was that disingenuous yarn that he had no approval, no licence for the project yet the same federal government acquired 7.5% of an unlicensed company shares with public fund? This, again, failed to fly. There were many more but they all crashed as does every lie.
Then, there was the failed but long-drawn
corporate blackmail against Leo Stan Ekeh, the listless and gifted founder of the Zinox Group, a global conglomerate spanning ICT, e-commerce, real estate, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, and more. His case is such that pools tears in the eyes. A case of a fry threatening to swallow a barracuda. Several studies have identified envy, money (ransom), extreme competitiveness, desire to tarnish a reputation, a knack to hurt an enterprise and inflict emotional pain on the business owners as some of the drivers of corporate blackmail. In some cases, it may just be one of the factors named above. But in the case of Ekeh, it’s a combination of envy, extortion and reputational damage. Why does he always get the fat jobs from governments and corporate Nigeria?
The case of Ekeh is one that tasks your state of sanity. It got me thinking about how much premium Nigerians, nay Africans, place on their brightest and best, especially those who by sheer dint of hard work, tenacity, courage to dare the odds, burrowed their way from the lowest nadir of their enterprise to the zenith of it.
What has come to those who have followed Ekeh’s life odyssey from Nigeria to India to the United Kingdom and back to Nigeria, as a surprise is the desperation by a few people to pull down the man who gave Africa a voice in the global ICT space, an area where India, for instance, has become a global force. India has created tech billionaires in this century. The Shiv Nadar family, Azim Premj family, Jay Chaudhry, Byju Raveendran among others make up this list of worthy Indians. India protects her billionaires. They are not blackmailed for being successful. These entrepreneurs, especially those in the tech space, play critical roles as enablers of India economy. For this, the government and the people of India protect them. This is what is lacking in Nigeria. Those who show capacity to create wealth through entrepreneurship are often left to the vagaries of jealous competitors and atrocious blackmail from those who are failing and even those who have failed in their businesses.
Nigerian entrepreneurs like Ekeh and many others across the country built their businesses from the scratch. They deserve praise for their industry and deserve to be protected from blackmail hawks. The various but failed attempts to link Ekeh and any of the companies associated with his name to unhealthy corporate governance smacks of desperation and primitive show of disrespect for a man whose collateral is integrity.
Gaya, public policy analyst, writes from Kano
The forthcoming election is one in which the adventurous perception of the electorate should be deployed in defence of the popular will rather than in defence of privilege, argues LINDSAY BARRETT
COMMONSENSE VS BLUSTER: AMERICA’S UNIQUE
POLITICAL ADVENTURE
The emergence of Kamala Harris, a middle aged woman of Jamaican and Indian heritage, as a credible contestant for the Presidency of the United States of America reflects the spirit of adventurism that has become an integral factor in the governance of the USA in recent years. This element of democratic adventurism has been an important aspect of the competitive methodology of electoral choice in the American polity ever since Barack Obama became the first black President of the USA in 2008. In an ironic twist it was the same factor of adventurous choice that led to the election of an irredeemable autocrat named Donald Trump as Obama’s successor. In spite of the fact that Trump used terminology that was profoundly anti-democratic as the core sentiment of his political vision in his campaign for office in 2016 the political system accommodated his worst attitudes to a surprising extent. As a consequence, although he conducted a deeply misogynistic campaign against Hilary Clinton, and actually failed to gain a popular majority he was able to claim victorious ascendancy through the deployment of electoral votes. In his response to Kamala Harris’s challenge to his effort to return to office Trump’s blustery abuse has made it plain that he expects to use the same tactic against her.
It is clear that Donald Trump’s approach to political contest is based on personal conceit and opportunism, two elements of human behaviour which he is adept at deploying. Before he entered the political arena in 2015 this aspect of his personality had been successfully utilised in his career as a reality show host on television, and he transferred this success to the political arena by assuming that the electorate would succumb to his blustery blandishments. He was proven right in 2016 but after four years in power the insubstantiality of his presumptions had begun to be recognised by the average voter and he lost the attempt to hold on to power. However, his response to public rejection has been so vehement that he has provoked the worst instincts of public disenchantment in the American electorate. His response to Kamala Harris’s emergence has shown that he intends to use this emotion to provoke the adventurous spirit of American political sentiment to support and justify his most selfish attitudes. In confronting this reality Kamala Harris has adopted exactly the opposite formula of contestation by articulating a vision of governance based on common sense rather than bluster.
Donald Trump on the other hand has chosen to accelerate his annoyance in response to Harris’s calm sense of sanity and good order in the hope that some irrational elements of the electorate will be inspired by his habitual bluster.
The gravest danger that this situation poses is to the survival of a sane and stable order of democratic governance in America. While the sense of adventurous competitive choice might have encouraged diversity and change, as in the case of the election of Obama, it was the same spirit of adventure that led to the experimental selection of Donald Trump in 2016. The major challenge
that has evolved from this conjunction of boisterous rhetoric and systematic decisionmaking is for common sense to become the motivation that ignites public sentiment as opposed to conceited bluster. It is however very dangerous to assume that the outcome of this interaction will always result in the best and most representative result for the electoral community. The eventual result of such adventurous contestation can lead to some of the most distressing results if the process is allowed to be manipulated by formal allies of the more opportunistic participant, and Donald Trump is clearly hoping to be able to take advantage of any such opportunity. In that case Kamala Harris’s team of supporters and the Democratic Party’s officials must be extraordinarily vigilant over the conduct of the forthcoming polls. They must campaign energetically in the so-called battleground states in the weeks before the elections with the effective objective in mind of mounting serious defence of controversial results after the elections, especially if Harris is declared victorious.
In the days, weeks and months following the polls Donald Trump’s penchant for blustery rhetoric and manipulative conspiracy theories will be unveiled most vehemently if Kamala is declared the winner. If she loses the contest he will probably mount a boisterous verbal assault on her credibility in order to regale his supporters with proof of his superiority and to justify his dysfunctional victory. In such an event the ascendancy of his blustery character will be revealed in all its splendor and Kamala Harris’s attempt to consolidate the common sense view of earlier government decisions will be rubbished totally by the machinery of state led by Donald Trump. The unique element of this electoral competition is not only defined by the unusual origin of the Democratic Party’s candidate but also by the dangerous consequences that are threatened if she loses. For this reason, some knowledgeable observers have described the forthcoming contest as the most vital and controversial Presidential contest to take place in the USA for more than a century. In fact, this is one contest in which the adventurous perception of the electorate should be deployed in defence of the popular will rather than in defence of privilege. Kamala Harris has demonstrated the eloquence of common sense in only a few days while Donald Trump has for a long time exhibited the undeniable resilience of self-willed bluster. The American electorate now has a unique opportunity to demonstrate the relevance and true value of its adventurous decision making to preserving genuine democracy at the polls.
Barrett is a Jamaican-born Poet, Novelist and Journalist
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
THE ABUSE OF EXPATRIATE QUOTA
The law on expatriate quota should be enforced
The allegation by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) that Indians are abusing the expatriate quota system in the oil and gas industry should be dealt with by relevant authorities. According to PENGASSAN president, Festus Osifo, Indians are taking over low-level jobs in a blatant abuse of the expatriate quota system. “In Sterling Oil today, it will amaze you to discover that we have more Indians working there compared to the number of Nigerians,” said Osifo who added that the union have been engaging the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) without result. “In fact, up to vulcanizers, you have Indians carrying out such low jobs and functions in their plants as operators and some are even gate keeping operators.”
that should pay attention to this problem are busy fighting government policies. For instance, there are repeatedly reported cases of companies in the food and beverages industries engaging technicians and paying them as engineers. This is in addition to placing them over their professional superiors as supervisors and bosses, simply because the latter are Nigerians.
The subsisting abuse of expatriate quota should be viewed as a serious economic crime and treated as such
Despite the local capacities that exist in this sector which holds prospective job opportunities for thousands of Nigerians, many jobs are arbitrarily and unlawfully filled up with expatriates by some firms in the oil and gas sector. Sadly, the misapplication of expatriate quota is the norm in many sectors of the Nigerian economy. The concern is not just that Nigerians are denied the available opportunities in these areas, but that many companies exceed their legitimate quota. From the deployment of unqualified personnel to the re-designation of individuals in a manner not consistent with their training and skills to giving them undeserved positions, expatriate quota has become a serious issue of concern.
Much more rampant are cases of foreign firms that bring in all category of personnel, from cleaners, drivers to specialised skills personnel, all in the name of using the expatriate quota. Meanwhile, the law provides for such skills and capacities only when they are unavailable or may be difficult to source locally. The labour and trade unions
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI
SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI
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Letters to the Editor
This is in spite of the fact that the nation faces a frightening youth bulge. This is in addition to graduate unemployment and a prevailing national economic downturn. These are not the times for abuses that impact directly and visibly on the nation’s ability to deal with routine matters of human capital deployment for national development. This is unacceptable even at the best of times. In this regard, the subsisting abuse of expatriate quota should be viewed as a serious economic crime and treated as such by the relevant authorities.
One of the issues thrown up by the recent internal management problem within Seplat Energy Plc is the abuse of expatriate quota by many companies, especially in the oil and gas sector. Although the federal government discontinued the suit filed against Seplat Energy Plc and its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Roger Brown for allegedly breaching the extant provisions of the Immigration Act, 2015, the withdrawal of residency status itself was rather telling.
While the federal government must go beyond the oil and gas sector in dealing with this issue, we urge that the authorities also make public details of what categories of skills that are not covered by the expatriate quota, what constitutes abuse of such expatriate quota and what long and shortterm penalties may apply in cases of default. These measures will spread awareness about the abuse and help in curbing it across all sectors of our national economy.
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.
THE PURCHASE OF NEW PRESIDENTIAL JET IN ORDER
The federal government has unveiled the new Presidential Jet -Airbus A330 which it acquired against widespread criticism. Many Nigerians had argued that the acquisition would be insensitive given the country's economic challenges; hence suggested that existing aircraft should be overhauled while others maintained that the purchase was a necessity rather than a luxury. The government as an act of being transparent and accountable should make public the cost of the Jet.
The current presidential fleet consists of old aircraft that have become unreliable and consume high maintenance costs. The President was forced to use chartered flights to Saudi Arabia and from South Africa; the Vice President also had to cancel an official visit to the United States due to faulty presidential aircraft. It is more cost-effective, safer, and convenient to have a functional presidential fleet than frequently chartering flights. New planes consume less fuel, require less maintenance, and are more reliable than older ones.
The President and the Vice President require a functional and reliable presidential fleet to perform their duties optimally. They are often required to travel to attend summits, and meetings, engage in foreign missions, respond to emergencies, etc. Lest we forget, Presidential Jets are also a symbol of national pride and
the status of office. Also recently a good number of high-profile persons including the former President of Iran have died in air mishaps; a call for caution. New planes have better visibility, navigation systems and are more resilient.
It is important to note that three aging presidential aircraft were put up for sale in June 2024. The Presidential Jet is an asset. It is an investment that will facilitate effective governance. While wastage in governance should be minimized, cost containment should not be over-emphasized. A leader can save a lot of money during his tenure whilst leaving important things undone; sometimes as a result of lack of initiative. More important is tackling corruption and ensuring that government expenditures pass the cost-benefit assessment before they are incurred.
The outcry over the purchase of the President Jet is understandable considering the current economic hardship in the country. The government should therefore sensitize people on the benefits of the purchase and reassure people that it is working on improving their welfare. The government should also fast-track the implementation of policies that will reduce economic hardship in the country.
Kenechukwu Aguolu FCA,CBAP, PMP, kenerek1@gmail.com
30 PIECES OF SILVER
The saying about rats deserting a sinking ship could now be rewriten as rats joining a sinking ship with the actions of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Although not a rat, he is certainly a deserter having left his supporters, his donors, and his family heritage. What will he gain from this, a new job or nothing if Harris wins the election? What is the current value of the biblical 30 pieces of silver?
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
Fatigun: Lack of Good Govt Bane of Kwara’s Underdevelopment
a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Chairman of Ekiti local government council in Kwara state, Hon akintola Fatigun, in this interview speaks on issues around Kwara politics as well as governance in the state in the last five years. Hammed Shittu brings excerpts:
What is your understanding of what is happening in Kwara politics.
Kwara State today has no bold and respected voice speaking for her at the national level. The type of representative and respected leadership that the state had in late Dr Olusola Saraki, late Major General Tunde Idiagbon, late Major General Abdulkarim Adisa, Brigadier-General Theophilus Bamigboye, Major General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba, up to the period of Dr Bukola Saraki is now absent and lacking.
The present government is a government of anyhow. It has no respect for anyone and nobody also respects it within and outside Kwara State. That is why the governor does whatever he likes. He has no respect for the constitution, no respect for the rule of law, or governmental process or procedure.
There is nobody that can talk to the governor or call him to order. Nobody can advise him and get him to retrace any wrong step he takes. It’s the first time this will be happening in the state. When Dr. Bukola Saraki was the Governor, his Dad, the late Oloye, and some first-class traditional rulers across the three senatorial zones could call him to order if he took any steps that were considered wrong.
At that time, consultation before any major policy or programme was initiated was usually extensive. The political party or the Governor could decide that a person will be appointed a cabinet member representing a particular local government, but the traditional rulers or opinion and thought leaders in the area will object to his nomination. They could even come up with acceptable alternatives. This process made the government very representative and inclusive.
What we have now is a sad departure. We now have a Governor who presides over the affairs of Kwara state from outside the state and a lot of times from outside the country. You can count on your fingertips the number of times the State Executive Council hold meetings. It is even doubtful if the government ever held security council meetings or meetings with the state’s traditional council. And this is despite the mounting security challenges facing the state. We have a junketing head of government, who you can count the number of days he spends in the state. The governor thinks he is smart when, once in a while, he makes a show-off by boarding commercial planes to hoodwink the people.
Provision for the welfare of the people in the state is zero. An overwhelming majority of our people are hungry. Roads across the state are in poor condition. We have never had it this bad. Governance is at its lowest level. Kwara is now depressed.
Some people believe that the 16 years of PDP in the state’s administration is also a waste. What is your take on this submission?
That is a submission not supported by facts. It is a careless submission based on hatred, envy, jealousy, and selfishness. It is the basis of the propaganda that was concocted in 2018 - 2019 during the O to Ge era. As a journalist, are you saying the establishment of KWASU, Aviation College, Ganmo power station, community health insurance scheme started by PDP, Medical Diagnostics Centre, Shonga farm, resuscitation of Ogbondoroko cashew industry, Mandate housing estates, establishment of KWIRS, building of the new secretariat, construction of Geri Allimi Underpass, construction of the first and only, standing flyover in the state, the construction of Kosu-bosu - Chikanda - Ilesha - Baruba Road, are all waste? Road construction and development were done across the state in those years. Ilorin was cited as one of the cleanest state capitals in the country during the tenure of Dr. Bukola Saraki.
We are talking about a lackluster concentration of construction work on just a street in the entire state - that is Ahmadu Bello Way as we are now experiencing.
What we have now is a one-street development. The clean state capital has given way to a very dirty, unkempt, and abandoned town. The good people of Kwara submitted to heavy, ill-motivated propaganda and blackmail of “Se Awon Nikan Ni” in 2019 and we can all see where it has led us.
We are now saddled with a completely inept government. It is now a government of “Ko Si Enikan Ti O Le Ba Mi Wi”. One of the leaders of the ruling party, APC, in the state told me that their government is run like a Kiosk run by an illiterate trader, who only operates when the owner is around and the shop is closed, even when the owner goes to the bathroom. Even with my investigations on the art of governance in the state, the state Deputy Governor cannot preside over any meeting or take
any decision. Once the lord of the Government House is not around, everything shuts down till he shows up again. You can see for yourself, that the Government House has been under lock and key for the last five years, which tells you that there is no government. All we have is an absentee Emperor.
All these things you are saying seem to be pointing to the fact that you want us to believe that Kwara State is missing Dr. Bukola Saraki’s leadership. Is that so?
Is it not obvious? Let me tell you, Saraki cannot be governor, Senator, Reps member, local government chairman or councillor again. So, his contributions to the development of the state cannot be for any personal gain. Also, since he left public office over five years ago, have you noticed any drop in his standard of living? No.
Up till now, he travels across the country in
We now have a Governor who presides over the affairs of Kwara state from outside the state and a lot of times from outside the country. You can count on your fingertips the number of times the State Executive Council hold meetings. It is even doubtful if the government ever held security council meetings or meetings with the state’s traditional council. And this is despite the mounting security challenges facing the state. We have a junketing head of government, who you can count the number of days he spends in the state. The governor thinks he is smart when, once in a while, he makes a show-off by boarding commercial planes to hoodwink the people.
hired private jets. That shows that he is a man who does not need a public office to emphasise his importance and worth. We in Kwara State need his influence, connections, network, experience, intelligence, and organizational ability to draw national benefits to our state. Let us start with our representatives in the National Assembly. When PDP and Saraki were in control of the politics of Kwara State, our senators and representatives used to head choice committees in the National Assembly. Zakari Mohammed was chairman House of Reps committee on Universal Basic Education, the former speaker of the state assembly, Hon Ali Ahmad was chairman of the Committee on Justice, Hon. Ahman Patigi was chairman of Water Resources, for many years, late Funke Adedoyin was deputy chairman of Committee on the Army. Senator Shaba Lafiagi was chairman, Senate Committee on National Intelligence, and the late Senator Rafiu Ibrahim was chairman of Committee on Banking and other financial institutions. These are committees through which numerous projects and developments were attracted to the state.
Today, what do we have? We have secondrated committees and this is happening because we don’t have a top voice, no one to make a case for Kwara State. We are just like a sheep without a shepherd. In the federal cabinet, Kwara State nominees used to have choice ministries. - Defence, Housing, Health and Communication. Hon Bio Ibrahim was Transport minister when the transport ministry was massive and a special reserve of top politicians. The ministry then supervised the Nigerian Port Authority, NIMASA, Nigerian Inland Water Way, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and Nigerian Shippers Council are all under him.
Now, under Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, the representative from Kwara State who is nominated under politics is the Minister of Youth who is not even in charge of NYSC. The AGF that we have got his appointment based on a personal relationship with the president. This happened because the state has no leadership that is selfless and respected at the national level. All our senators and Rep members during PDP have choice committees because we have a leader in Bukola Saraki who is selfless, respected, influential, and can make things happen nationally and internationally.
But what did those in Kwara do to pay back Saraki?
As a result of envy, we harassed him with heavy blackmail and character assassination. All kinds of lies were circulated about his person. They claimed falsely that he was following federal allocation accruing to Kwara State with a private jet as if the money was paid in cash in Abuja to the state commissioner for finance. They lied that he was collecting N2 billion from the state allocation every month to fund his lifestyle. Since he left public office over five years ago and the PDP is no longer in control of the Kwara State government, is he still collecting the N2 billion every month? Has his lifestyle changed from when he was in government? No. He is still spending hundreds of millions of naira to assist and support Kwarans.
His NGO, ABS Foundation, is sponsoring various initiatives in the area of health, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and sports development and he still reaches out during Christian and Muslim festivals to Kwarans. He gives palliative support to those affected by natural disasters and mind you Is Governor Abdulrasaq still paying him the N2 billion from the state allocation to fund his lifestyle and projects?
Kwara needs a leader like Dr Saraki who is selfless, respected, wise, influential, and kindhearted to give us the federal muscle, the big cover, and wise guidance to survive in Nigeria today.
Fatigun
As CSOs Slam Tinubu's Move to Extend IGP's Tenure via Police Act Amendment
The bill to amend the Police Act was speedily passed by the Senate on July 23, 2024, following an appeal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to continue to serve his four-year term despite reaching the statutory 60-year terminus of civil servants. Sunday Ehigiator and Esther Oluku write on the position of Civil Society Groups, as they call on the President to shun what they described as attempt to “subvert the law in Egbetokun's favour”
In an unexpected turn of events at the National Assembly, the Senate swiftly passed a bill to amend the Nigerian Police Act 2020 on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The amendment introduces a new clause under Section 8, which contradicts the Service Act's provision that public servants must retire after 35 years of service or at 60 years of age.
Notably, this change affects the tenure of the current Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, appointed in June 2023 for a four-year term set to end in 2027. However, Egbetokun is scheduled to turn 60 on September 4, 2024, which would normally mark the end of his civil service career.
To accommodate the new clause, the Senate modified Section 18 of the original Nigerian Police Act 2020 by replacing subsection (8) with the following revised clause:
“(8) Notwithstanding any other provision, every police officer shall serve in the Nigeria Police Force for 40 years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first.”
Whereas, Section 18 (8) of the current Nigeria Police Act states: “Every police officer, upon recruitment or appointment, is required to serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a maximum of 35 years or until they reach the age of 60, whichever occurs first.”
Speedy Passage Despite Breach of Rule of Law Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, prompted by a presidential letter, led the push to amend the Police Act. He argued that the amendment aims to allow the Inspector General to serve their full appointed tenure unless the appointing authority decides otherwise.
However, Senator Seriake Dickson countered that the amendment contradicts existing provisions and suggested stepping down the bill for further consultations.
Despite dissenting voices, the bill passed its first, second, and third readings in under 20 minutes, without broader consultation on this critical issue.
The Police Amendment Bill rests on four key objectives: ‘Extend police personnel's service years to enhance experience and expertise; Retain experienced personnel, reducing training and recruitment costs; Boost morale, performance, and job satisfaction within the Nigerian Police Force; and Address the shortage of experienced police personnel’.
Criticism
Like so many others, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies criticised the amendment to the Police Act, arguing that it undermines its intended objectives and advocating for maintaining the current 35-year service limit or 60-year retirement age.
The institute pointed out that the recruitment age range for the Nigeria Police Force is 18-25 years, resulting in varying retirement ages. It challenged the amendment's justifications, stating that retaining experienced personnel and reducing training costs is not a valid reason to extend service years, as police personnel are recruited annually and retire at different times.
Additionally, the institute argued that extending service terms may not improve morale, performance, and job satisfaction and that the claimed shortage of personnel is inconsequential due to annual recruitment exercises.
The group's argument stated that firstly, “the retention of experienced personnel and reduction in the cost of training and recruiting new officers "cannot be a justifiable ground for increasing the service years of police personnel. Police personnel are usually recruited annually.
“At the point of entry, they are not of the same age. They do not retire at the same time. Therefore, there can be no question of depletion of experienced personnel in the NPF as there would always be experienced hands available to discharge police duties even as experienced hands retire.”
Secondly, the group argued that “the extension of the service term will not improve the morale performance and job satisfaction in the workforce of the Nigerian Police Force as the rigor of the work may not make an extension a preferred option for officers.”
Thirdly, it noted that the topic of shortage of personnel “is inconsequential as the Service conducts yearly recruitment exercises to on-board new officers hence the amendment cannot be justified on the ground.”
It stated that most of these officers are underutilised hence the need to train and take advantage of new officers rather than extend the tenure of officers who have reached their retirement ages.
HURMA Calls for Adherence to Due Process
A human rights advocacy group, Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) has called on the federal government to follow due process in the replacement of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, as the latter will on September 4, 2024, attain his 60th year being the statutory terminus for civil servants in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Executive Director HURMA, Mr. Buna Olaitan, stated that the need to address this irregularity in the adherence to due process is imminent as the Legislature in a bid to circumvent the process has proceeded to amend, in a day, the Police Act to extend Egbetokun's stay in office.
Olaitan who decried the hasty amendment of the Police Service Act which according to him, did not allow for wider consultation is an aberration to existing legislative procedure and needs to be checked.
Continuing, he shared that with a knowledge of his statutory disengagement from the office next month, Egbetokun ought to have proceeded on his terminal leave and an appointment to replace him ought to have been made to make for a seamless transition.
He also said: “Mr. Kayode Egbetokun was appointed as Inspector General of Police in the year 2023, to hold office till his retirement upon 35 years in service or attainment of the age of 60.
“Mr. Kayode Egbetokun's official records, he is due for retirement by
September 2024 when he attains the age of 60 having been born on the 4th day of September 1964.
“Our concern is that Mr. Kayode Egbetokun should have proceeded on his terminal leave and hand over hand to another credible officer to hold forth in an acting capacity before the appointment of a substantive Inspector General of Police in line with the provision of Section 215(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered).
“It is amazing to note the overzealousness of the distinguished members of the National Assembly in passing a Bill to amend the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, to accommodate 'sit tightism' of Mr. Kayode Egbetokun in office despite the attainment of mandatory 60 years of age.
“Based on the foregoing, we urge Mr. President to abide by the Oath of Office sworn to upon becoming the president of all Nigerians.
“In line with the Oath of Office, we plead with the President to use his enormous constitutional powers to save Nigeria Police from the internal conspiracy and disloyalty among the officers that may arise as a result of compromise of career progression, particularly, at a time like this that our great country is very fragile.”
On his part, Member of, the HURMA Legal Aid Committee, Mr. Lekan Alabi, explained that Nigerians need a Police leadership that can address the modern challenges bedeviling Nigerian societies and prayed the President as a matter of urgency, respond to this matter.
He said: “We need a Police IG that can serve the current situation of Nigeria. We want people to be able to go back to their farms. We want people to go back to the market. We want children to go back to school.
“We want our women to move freely without being harassed by anybody. The only institution that can do this is the Police. We have written to Mr. President, the letter has gotten to Mr President and we believe he will read our letter and come out with an informed decision.”
RULAAC Kicks
For Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma said: "The Police Act 2020 prescribed a four-year tenure for the InspectorGeneral of Police. It was, therefore, expected that a person to be appointed Inspector-General of Police should have no less than 4 years before his/her retirement date. The Police Act also required that the Police Council meet to advise the president on the appointment of a new IGP when there is a vacancy, among other roles.
"Unfortunately, former President Muhammadu Buhari, in all the appointments he made while in office, was not known to have ever convened the Police Council, but instead, single-handedly handpicked and appointed an officer of his choice as IGP even when the officer’s retirement date was far behind the stipulated tenure of office.
"In appointing the current IGP, President Tinubu
also followed this similar path by appointing him when he had barely two years to retire.
"President Tinubu was expected to avoid the wrongful, patently illegal, and unconstitutional steps of the past, which led to controversies and judicial challenge of appointments made by the president. This, unfortunately, became the norm.
"The President was expected to live by example and demonstrate his oft-repeated commitment to the rule of law and constitutionalism by ensuring that the appointment of the next IGP to replace Egbetokun who was expected to retire in the first week of September 2024 was done in total compliance with Constitutional and Statutory stipulations.
"The appointment was expected to have been devoid of nepotism or other forms of favouritism or partisan political considerations. Unfortunately, the President has continued with the anomalous practice of extension of the tenure of a 'preferred IGP'.
"The negative effect is that while his mates would retire on the due date, he remains in service and office, stagnating the rise of numerous officers under him. This is unfair. It kills morale and breeds discontent and indiscipline.
"President Tinubu is not known to have consulted the Police Council, which he chairs, to secure the concurrence of its members in the appointment process, as required by both the Constitution and the Police Act.
"It is appalling that politics of self-interest could be taken so far as to amend the Police Act in order to achieve the extension of tenure of an IGP who otherwise was due to retire and vacate office.
"It was expected that President Tinubu would avoid a repeat of the pitfalls, errors, and brazen illegalities of the past. He was looked upon as a self acclaimed democrat to ensure that appointments are based on legal and constitutional stipulations, merit, competence, qualifications, seniority, and existing line of succession.
"The President has betrayed the hope and expectation that he would chart a refreshingly new course, in tandem with his expressed commitment to the rule of law and the undertaking he publicly gave in his inauguration address on May 29, 2023."
Implications
Speaking on the implications of the president’s action if allowed to pull through, Nwanguma said the action of the President “is undemocratic, abusive, lacking in transparency, and setting a negative precedent.”
According to him, “The passage of the bill without a public hearing is undemocratic and goes against the principles of separation of powers and public participation in governance. This implies that the voices of the people are not heard, and the democratic process is subverted.
“The speedy and unchallenged passage of the bill raises concerns about abuse of power and violation of due process. The implication is that the President is using his influence to extend the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police without following due process, which may undermine public trust and confidence in the government.
“The lack of transparency and accountability in the passage of the bill implies that the government does not value the opinions of the people and lacks transparency in its decision-making process.
“The speedy passage of the bill sets a precedent for future Executive Bills to be passed without proper consultation or scrutiny. This may erode the integrity of the legislative process and weaken democratic institutions.
“The actions of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) portray them as a parliament that lacks independence and panders to the whims and caprices of the executive arm of government.
“The National Assembly is a weak and ineffective institution incapable of upholding the principles of democracy and checks and balances. It's a rubber-stamp parliament that merely follows the directives of the president and his political allies.
“It's an undemocratic parliament that does not represent the interests of the masses but instead serves the interests of a select few. It undermines the essence of democracy by reducing the voice of the people and placing too much power in the hands of the executive arm of government.”
He therefore called on the president to refuse to sign the bill into law and maintain the rule of law in the police institution and hierarchy.
IGP Egbetokun
President Tinubu
Ajayi: Polytechnic Proprietors Must Invest in Faculty, Curriculum to Produce Competitive Graduates
Dr. Busayo Ajayi is the founder of Ajayi Polytechnic, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State. In this interview with select journalists, he explained why polytechnic proprietors must prioritise academic excellence by investing in faculty and curriculum to produce competitive graduates. Funmi Ogundare presents the excerpts:
What inspired you to establish Ajayi Polytechnic, and what kind of support do you provide students?
Today, one of my dreams that became a reality, is Ajayi Polytechnic, a private polytechnic, established, to raise giants through inclusive entrepreneurship and innovative technological education. If I must be frank, entrepreneurship and innovation education are now inevitable, judging by the number that are graduating from institutions of higher learning in the last few years, with at least, 60 to 70 per cent of them unemployed, either because they are unemployable, or other deficiencies. We believed that our entrance into the educational sector at this point would assist in plugging the dysfunctional tertiary education in Nigeria, which, over the years, has resulted in graduates who are not adequately prepared to face the challenges of building their entrepreneurial capabilities. At Ajayi Polytechnic, we are determined to train and produce technical and skilled manpower that will become industrial giants and providers of solutions to the myriads of economic problems of nations. Towards this end, we seek to provide education that will develop skills, knowledge, behaviour, abilities, entrepreneurial mindset, and understanding attitudes in our graduates. We have evolved procedures that would inculcate acceptable work habits in our graduates, in line with the best practices anywhere in the world, and shall continue to follow up on those procedures.
The polytechnic was approved and licensed to operate by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) in May 2017. The institution also has all necessary approvals and fulfils procedures of Ekiti State Government’s Education Ministry, the National Business and Technical Education (NABTEB), in Technical and Vocational Training, as well as certification in September 2018. The vision of the polytechnic is to raise giants and produce skilled technicians and managers who are entrepreneurially driven. This is set to be achieved through inclusive entrepreneurship and innovative technological education. The objectives of the polytechnic, which, over the years, the institution has worked tirelessly to achieve, include training and producing giants who will be able to develop the skills needed for promoting businesses based on technology.
It is also to provide a well-trained workforce in the field of business, applied science, engineering, and technology, to provide necessary technical knowledge and skills for the nation’s agriculture, industrial, commercial and economic development while also providing the required training and skills that will equip the students to be enterprising and realise their self-worth. We are also out to provide necessary training in appropriate vocational skills that will make individuals, to be self-reliant, gainfully employed, or become an employer of labour, job creators, and provide improvement in technical education
through consistent research and development, as well as establish regular contact with other institutions and organisations globally.
How do policies and programmes implemented align with the overall vision of the polytechnic?
In a bid to continue to improve the quality of education in the polytechnic, the institution put in place policies and programmes that have greatly helped in achieving its vision. Some of these policies are approving and inculcating compulsory skill acquisition programmes in the curriculum of the polytechnic, which has made it compulsory that before any student can graduate and be certified to have graduated, such a student must have acquired at least one skill, and be able to demonstrate such skill in a practical manner that is required. Some of the available skills are laptop and phone repairs, fashion designs, cosmetology, solar installation, graphics designs, data analysis, computer programming, as well as web designing.
It has also become a standing policy at the polytechnic that no faculty member will be employed without first having, at the minimum, a master’s degree or already on it, with glaring evidence. The council of the polytechnic believes so strongly that policies such as these would ordinarily help improve the quality of education in the institution, and many of the faculty members employed are already researchers in the making. The policy of the polytechnic also has it that entrepreneurship training and seminars are infused into the curriculum, such that students are often given projects on starting a mini business and going through the
entrepreneurial processes of sustaining such a business. What I call soft skills are also infused into the curriculum of the polytechnic so as to mould well-rounded students who can compete with their colleagues in the labour market, anywhere. The personal development of our students is very important to us. We monitor the students’ personal development. The management, too, monitors the impact of our programmes from time to time. The polytechnic also has a firm policy on internship and SIWES programmes. All our students are exposed to internships within and outside the campus through the ITF SIWES programmes, which enable them to acquire work experience before they graduate. Our impact is feasible even though we are not making a noise about it. Our survey revealed that none of our graduates is unemployed after completing their education with us. We are raising solution providers, not problem compounders. The fact that we have been noticed and recognised despite not making noise about our strides is encouraging and will motivate us to do more. We are more determined to sustain our achievements.
How was the polytechnic able to maintain its corporate integrity despite the challenges in managing higher institutions in Nigeria?
Early this year, we won an integrity award from a very reputable source. We did not even know that we were being noticed. This further attests to the fact that we are genuinely maintaining our corporate integrity, vision and mission. From the onset, we resolved to do things in a different way. We are creating our own brand. We are innovative, and we have continued to encourage our students to think alike, creatively and innovatively, so that they and the institution can stay ahead of the industry. We resolved not to compromise our integrity as an institution. We conduct our business with utmost transparency and zero tolerance for student molestation, extortion, harassment and other vices that currently pervade many institutions in Nigeria. We are student-centred. In our institution, all we do, we do for our students. We are student-centred in terms of course delivery, policy-making and infrastructural development. Little wonder that I declared a 50 per cent scholarship for students during this period to help them have access to quality education. Excellence is important to us. As an institution, and more importantly as a brand, we strive hard to continuously improve the quality of delivery for our students so that they can compete with their counterparts anywhere.
What makes your institution stand out and a place to be for students?
The polytechnic can boast state-of-the-art laboratories for engineering, sciences and technology programmes. We get commendations from accreditation teams anytime they come over to check our resources. We boast of reliable, highspeed internet connectivity across the campus. We also operate one of the most reliable CBT hubs
in the country. Besides, we have an extensive online library with access to open access resources, such as journals and textbooks. Our physical library is well-stocked with the latest academic resources. We have a specialised laboratory for programming, software engineering and data science. Our engineering workshops are wellequipped for hands-on training.
What do you think about how the quality of education can be improved?
Improving the quality of education, especially polytechnic education in Nigeria requires a collaborative effort from stakeholders. The government needs to increase the funding of education, particularly polytechnics, by allowing private polytechnics to access TETFUND. If you look at it, the number of private polytechnics in Nigeria keeps increasing on a daily basis, and students going to these schools are Nigerians, who will, in turn, come back to contribute their quota to the economy of Nigeria after graduation. The government needs to partner with private polytechnics so that students who choose to attend private polytechnics will not be at a disadvantage. We should correct the narrative that only students from rich families enrol in private institutions. This is not true. It would interest you to note that almost all public institution school fees are even higher than Ajayi Polytechnic school fees. I challenge you to do your research on this. You will discover that the fee we charge students here is not up to the amount public polytechnics collect from their students. Despite this, we are providing quality education. The polytechnic proprietors and management also need to prioritise academic excellence in their entire citadels of learning by investing in their faculty, the institution itself, and the delivery of curriculum so that the polytechnic products can compete favourably with their counterparts from other levels of education. We need to ensure that we are developing our students’ knowledge, skills and behaviour.
We should stop making students think that higher institutions are certificate factories. One of the reasons why we are facing economic challenges in the country is because the majority of the stakeholders in the education sector are not doing the right thing. The industry should also be invited to collaborate on curriculum development so that they can have a robust curriculum that can cater for the needs of the industry, thereby producing graduates who are employable. All institutions need to genuinely imbibe entrepreneurship training and students’ personal development, including soft and hard skills acquisition. They should also provide internship assistance to polytechnic students, especially during SIWES or Industrial Attachment, so that they can gain more practical experience.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
ECOBA Lagos Continues Tradition of Prize Sponsorship at Edo College Graduation
Edo College, Benin, recently held its annual graduation and prize-giving day in what has become a tradition of celebrating academic excellence.
The prestigious event, which has become a cornerstone of the school’s yearly calendar, was marked by the continued support of the Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), Lagos Branch, under the auspices of the ECOBA Lagos Education Foundation (ELEF).
The association has maintained its commitment to sponsoring prizes that recognise and reward outstanding academic achievements, and at this year’s ceremony, awarded prizes endowed by its members in 25 categories cut across different subjects and endeavours, including sports, drama and music, including a prize for the best Geography teacher. In addition, ELEF awarded two trophies that
are annually given to the cleanest boarding house and the best class in French, with the latter prize being donated by the late Ambassador Vincent Okobi.
Dignitaries graced the ceremony, including former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, a distinguished old student of the school and the global president of ECOBA.
Igbinedion, represented by Elvis Obaseki, the MD of ITV and an old student himself, conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the graduating students. He applauded their hard work and encouraged them to uphold the integrity and character that the school instills.
“Your bonds and friendships formed
here are invaluable; some of us are beneficiaries today because of the fact that we went to Edo College,” he said, highlighting the enduring connections fostered by the school.
Dr. Reuben Osahon, the immediate past worldwide president of ECOBA, who delivered the keynote address, underscored the transformative power of education and the profound impact Edo College has on its students. He urged the graduates to be exemplary school representatives, carrying forward its legacy of excellence.
The chairman of the occasion, Sir Zicsus Awen, echoed these sentiments, commending the school for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence. He lauded the students for their dedication and hard work, which have become synonymous with the institution.
The Principal, Mr. Justice Aigbe, who con-
gratulated the students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, also acknowledged the collective effort of the students and the school community.
Prof Enosakhare Samuel Akpata, the chairman of ELEF who sent a goodwill message, was represented by Nosa Iyekekpolor, the National Legal Adviser of ECOBA.
The prizes, sponsored annually by the ECOBA Lagos Education Foundation, testify to the alumni community’s enduring support and dedication to nurturing future leaders. The continued partnership between the school and its illustrious alumni enhances the academic experience and reinforces the values that Edo College stands for.
This year, 123 students graduated, with Master Osariemen Graham winning the prize for the overall best student.
Ajayi
Kayode Tokede
On the back of the recent in Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 26.75 per cent, by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the average maximum lending rate in Nigeria’s banking sector dropped to 28.89 per cent in July 2024 from 29.11 per cent June 2024.
Maximum lending rate is upper limit of interest rates for loans to the sector, which might apply to higher-risk scenarios or different loan structures.
With the average maximum lending rate at 28.89 per cent, bank customers are expected to witness a hike on lending to real sectors, a factor contributing to weak business activities.
The banking sector lending rate in Nigeria averaged 14.17 per cent from 1961 until 2024, reaching an
all-time high of 37.80 per cent in September of 1993 and a record low of 6.00 per cent in April of 1975.
In 2020, the average maximum lending rate reached a peak of 30.73 per cent when the MPR rate stood at 13.5 per cent
Analysis of the CBN “Money market indicator” data revealed that the average maximum lending rate opened January 2024 was at 27.07 per cent when MPR was at 18.75 per cent and dropped to 26.55 per cent in February 2024, when the monetary policy committee of CBN hike MPR to 22.75 per cent.
In March and April 2024, the banking sector average maximum lending rate stood at 29.38 per cent and 29.49 per cent, respectively, amid 24.75 per cent MPR.
However, in May 2024, the average maximum lending rate was at 28.67 per cent when the MPR stood at 26.25 per cent. Before the end of
half year of 2024, average maximum lending rate hits a new record of 29.11 per cent in June 2024, while the MPR was flat at 26.25 per cent.
In a move to tightening liquidity and curb raising inflation the MPR of the hike MPR to 26.75 and the banking sector average maximum lending rate dropped to 28.89 per cent, the CBN’s money market indicator revealed.
However, the steep increase in the policy rate has sparked concerns regarding the potential impact on the cost of credit for businesses already facing economic hardships.
Each bank offers different lending rates that reflect their respective approaches to lending to the manufacturing sector.
As of July 5, 2024, THISDAY gathered from CBN’s data that in the manufacturing sector, Stanbic IBTC Bank, followed by FCMB, Sterling Bank Plc and Unity Bank
Plc have the highest maximum lending rate in the banking sector.
Stanbic IBTC reported a maximum lending rate of 50 per cent; FCMB, 40 per cent; Unity Bank, 38 per cent and , Sterling Bank, 37 per cent in the manufacturing sector.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had lamented that the average maximum lending rate charged by banks on loans to its members rose to 35 per cent in second quarter (Q2) of 2024, up from 28.6 per cent in first quarter (Q1) of 2024.
The report by MAN had showed that the 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.
The report 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.”
Analysts have predicted that the maximum lending rate would increase further as the MPC of the CBN hike rate to 26.75per cent at the late meeting in June 2024.
The average maximum lending rate had closed 2023 at 26.62per cent on the backdrop of CBN hike in MPR to 18.75per cent.
The unanticipated rise in MPR has impacted on the banking sector lending rate as the CBN sustained pressure in tackling inflationary pressure.
This unprecedented move has not only set the MPR at its highest level to date but also reflects the CBN’s determined effort to address the persistent pressure on foreign exchange and inflation.
The decision has garnered praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which commended the MPC’s resolve to tighten monetary policy further by increasing the policy rate to 26.75 per cent.
Analysts have attributed the increase in lending to the hike in MPR and severe macroeconomy challenges.
The recent announcement, made by CBN Governor, Dr. Yemi Cardoso, had highlighted the central bank’s proactive approach towards monetary tightening amidst challenging economic conditions.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reported that the currency in circulation surged to an unprecedented N4.05 trillion in July 2024, marking an all-time high. According to the CBN’s Money and Credit Data, this figure represents an 11.05 per cent increase since the beginning of the year and a significant 56.17 per cent rise compared to the same period in 2023.
Analysis of the data revealed that the year began with N3.65 trillion in
circulation in January 2024, a stable figure reflecting a typical post-holiday economic environment.
February saw a modest rise to N3.69 trillion, a 1.18% increase from January, while March recorded a more substantial jump to N3.87 trillion, marking a 4.76 per cent month-onmonth increase. The upward trend persisted in April, with the currency in circulation hitting N3.92 trillion, up by 1.39 per cent from March, driven by heightened consumer spending during the Easter period. May and June continued this
trajectory, with the currency in circulation reaching N3.97 trillion in May and peaking at N4.04 trillion in June, representing monthly increases of 1.07 per cent and 2.11 per cent, respectively.
Experts have attributed this trend to a growing lack of confidence in the banking system, “as more Nigerians opt for cash transactions amid economic uncertainty. This shift was particularly notable since September 2023, when Olayemi Cardoso assumed office as CBN Governor, with currency in circulation then standing at N2.76
Meanwhile, despite this surge in currency circulation, Nigeria’s economic growth remains sluggish, with a projected growth rate of 2.9 per cent to 3.1 per cent for 2024, among the slowest in West Africa.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 3.19 per cent yearon-year growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Q2 2024, slightly up from 2.98 per cent in Q1 2024 and 2.51 per cent in Q2 2023.
Inflation, however, continues to be a pressing concern, with the headline
inflation rate climbing to 33.40 per cent in July 2024, up from 29.9% in January, according to the NBS.
In response, the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to a record 26.75 per cent in an effort to curb inflation and stabilize the economy. This move underscores the CBN’s commitment to aggressive monetary tightening amidst ongoing economic challenges.
Analysts suggest that the spike in currency circulation may be indicative of increased government spending
aimed at mitigating the hardships faced by Nigerians.
“However, this influx of money into the economy has also fueled inflationary pressures,”they said.
Speaking, Vice President of Highcap Securities Limited, David Adnori, explained that increased government spending leads to higher inflation, as more money in circulation drives up the cost of goods and services, ultimately eroding purchasing power.
Nume Ekeghe
FG to Set Up $500m MAMA Fund from World
Arthur Eriye
The federal government is expected to establish the Maternal Mortality Action (MAMA) Fund as part of an ongoing World Bank loan deal worth $500 million.
This is according to a Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Nigeria:
Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Programme. Nigeria expects the World Bank to approve a $500 million loan for this scheme next month.
The program is part of the HOPE Health Program’s $65 million Investment Project Financing (IPF) component, which aims to improve
access to high-quality healthcare services across Nigeria.
According to the World Bank document, the MAMA Fund will focus on strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) services across Nigeria, targeting rural and underserved populations.
The fund, with an allocation of $15 million, will support both public and private sector innovations aimed at improving maternal and child health interventions.
The document read: “MAMA fund innovation “investments” is focused primarily on Primary Health Care (PHC) strengthening in lagging and climate vulnerable
Omosehin Explains Reasons for Compulsory Aviation Insurance Law in Nigeria
Ebere Nwoji
Te commissioner for Insurance, Segun Ayo Omosehin has explained reasons for compulsory insurance of aircrafts leaving the shores of Nigeria, saying the whole essence was to create local content to protect the economic interest of Nigeria.
Omosehin also noted that innovations in the aviation system such as the evolving landscape of the aviation sector, marked by advancements like electric and hybrid aircraft, predictive maintenance, and automation of air traffic control systems, come with new risks that require robust insurance mechanisms to mitigate.
He stated this at the Chinet Aviacargo 2024 Conference in Lagos in which aviation insurance stakeholders called for NAICOM’s review of its aviation insurance policy to ensure that airlines stop paying double premium further explained that certain laws were made by a country to protect certain aspects of its economy, noting that the whole concept was to create local content to protect the economic interest of Nigeria.
“It is aimed at protecting the economic interest of that nation. And before I come to aviation, I will go to a slightly bigger one which is the local content policy that was announced for the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Prior to the enactment of that law, most of the oil majors in this country that were operating in Nigeria never believed there was anything good about Nigerians. As a matter of fact, crudes were imported from abroad to Africa, up to the point when we then had to wake up” he explained.
States, allowing them to address legacy issues and “prime the pump”. These types of service delivery innovations would aim to expand coverage or quality of services at the population level with an emphasis on under-served rural populations.
and quality of maternal and child health interventions, but also partnerships with the public sector to test new approaches or scaling up services for improving the delivery of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNACH) services.
Group Business Editor
Eromosele abiodun
Deputy Business Editor
Chinedu Eze
Comms/e-Business Editor
Emma Okonji
Asst. Editor, Energy
Emmanuel addeh
Asst. Editor, Money Market
Nume Ekeghe
Correspondents
Kayodetokede(CapitalMarkets)
James Emejo (Finance)
Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)
Reporter
Peter Uzoho (Energy)
Arthur Eriye
Stakeholders have called for synergy at the federal, state and local governments to produce credible climate change data.
The call was made at the Stakeholder’s Consultation Workshop on Data Analysis towards the preparation of Nigeria’s First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) to the UNFCCC in Abuja. It held from Wednesday, August 21 to Friday, August 23, 2024.
The workshop was organized by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) Secretariat with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
He said insurance plays critical role in aviation industry, noting that the future of the aviation industry was full of potential, but with that potential comes the need for comprehensive risk management strategies.
“The MAMA Innovation Fund will be designed to support public and private sector innovations aimed at increasing utilization and quality of maternal and child health Interventions. The establishment and operation of the MAMA Fund will support not only private sector innovations aimed at increasing utilization
According to him, these risks are managed through global risk transfer mechanisms like reinsurance, which spread risks across continents, ensuring resilience in the face of unforeseen events.
Stakeholders Call for Synergy in Gathering Credible Climate Change Data
Speaking during the workshop, a representative of the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Arum Nnamdi said data collection should cascade down to the local governments; hence capacity building is needed for those at sub-national level.
While commending efforts of the NCCC, he said more needed to be done to carry the sub-national components along as data is sourced from the localities.
The Deputy Director and Head of Climate Change Department said states must have people that understand the issues of climate change and sponsors.
He noted that the Enugu State
Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, is very much interested in green environment.
“Our governor has shown political will to tackle climate change, by establishing smart schools. The governor is taking the state back to its original design,” Nnamdi said.
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, NCCC, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, stressed the need for credible and quality data towards the preparation of Nigeria’s First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) to the UNFCCC.
The Director-General/CEO said Nigeria is on course to meet the December 2024 deadline for submission.
Africa Insurance Women to Hold Maiden Conference in Nigeria
The Africa Insurance Women Association (AIWA) is to host its maiden International Conference for Women in Insurance from November 2 to November 6, 2024, at Lagos Continental Hotel.
The conference organisers said the ground-breaking event would gather industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the globe to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities within the insurance industry, with a special focus on the pivotal role of women in shaping its future.
According to the organisers, the theme of the conference centers on
“The Future of Insurance: Trends, Challenges, And Opportunities,” and the conference will feature a series of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and cultural performances.
Speaking on the relevance of the conference, AIWA President, Mrs. Margaret Nkechi Moore said participants would have the unique opportunity to engage with distinguished speakers and experts, including top executives, government officials, and influential figures from the insurance sector.
She said the event would also provide a platform for networking and knowledge-sharing among professionals dedicated to advancing
the insurance industry in Africa.
Also speaking, the Chairman Local Organising Committee of the event, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, also highlighted the significance of the event, saying,
“The AIWA conference is not just a gathering; it’s a movement towards a more inclusive and forwardthinking insurance sector. Our goal is to foster discussions that will inspire actionable strategies, and I am honored to be part of an event that is poised to make a lasting impact on the industry.
The collaborative spirit we bring to this conference will undoubtedly resonate throughout Africa and beyond,” she stated.
“The fund will support interventions critical to ending preventable maternal, newborn, and infant deaths including midwifery; emergency obstetric and newborn care; maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response; obstetric fistula and other obstetric morbidities; digital capabilities and technologies.”
Letshego MFB Rewards 20 Customers in Savings Promo
Nume Ekeghe
Letshego Microfinance Bank Nigeria has announced the first 20 winners of its “Save & Win” promo, each of them receiving a cash prize of N100,000.
The promo, which launched on June 1, 2024, is designed to reward customers for their commitment to savings, with monthly raffle draws running through December 2024.
10 customers were rewarded for their savings in June, with another 10 following in July, showcasing Letshego’s dedication to fostering a culture of savings and financial discipline among its customers.
Speaking on the promo, Managing Director of Letshego MFB Nigeria,Nkosana Ndlovu, said: “It’s an exciting time for us at Letshego as we celebrate the winners of our
Save & Win Promo. This initiative is more than just a reward; it’s a testament to our commitment to enhancing financial inclusion by encouraging a strong savings culture among Nigerians.
Congratulations to all our winners – we look forward to recognising more loyal customers in the coming months.”
One of the lucky winners Mr. Idowu Salami, said: “I was surprised! I never thought I would be a winner. This money will be very useful for my business.”
Similarly, another lucky winner, Mr. Innocent Nwogbala, a long-time customer of the bank, said: “I’m very happy because I’ve been with Letshego since the beginning. I’ll be telling everyone at Alaba International Market to open an account with Letshego MFB.”
Agusto and Company Limited, a leading pan-African credit rating agency, held its first seminar in Ghana following its recent market expansion.
The event, titled, “The Impact of Credit Ratings on the Debt Capital Market in Ghana,” was a breakfast seminar that brought together key stakeholders, including market participants and regulators.
The firm in a statement noted that prominent figures at the seminar included Mr. Augustine Simons, Head of Ghana Fixed Income Market, Mr. Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director of African Subsidiaries at Access Bank Plc, and Mrs. Yinka Adelekan, Group Managing Director of Agusto & Co. Their discussions focused on the need to expand
funding options for financial institutions and companies in the real sector to enhance liquidity while supporting sustainable growth and development.
It states: “Mr Kumpayi highlighted the funding challenges facing African institutions which ranged from weak access to capital markets, high costs, limited credit ratings and volatility in exchange rates. He also highlighted the funding opportunities including blended finance options, securitization and structured financing and green and social impact bonds. He encouraged banks operating in Africa to work towards adopting international best-practice on governance, regulatory and compliance matters to increase confidence from international and domestic investors.”
Ebere Nwoji
Nume Ekeghe
Vice Principal, Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare & Treatment Home School, Ajani Israel presenting the letter of appreciation to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, accompanied by Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Folake Ani-Mumuney (first left) and Head, Sponsorship, Partnership, Events & Collaborations, FirstBank, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande (third left), during the FirstBank visit to Modupe Cole, Yaba, Lagos… recently
ProPerty & environment
Ayobami Akindipe: We Still Provide Quality, Affordable Homes Despite Challenging Economic Times
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ace Real Estate Development Limited, Ayobami Akindipe, has said his company would stick to their primary goal of providing quality, affordable luxury homes to many Nigerians, despite the challenging economic times.
Akindipe said his original plan when he set up his company was to provide great homes for Nigerians, a vision that is still alive, he said.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ayobami established and institutionalized Ace Real Estate Development Limited. Over the past four years, the company has continuously evolved, expanding from predominantly selling land to other aspects of real estate development, including housing provision, construction, and general real estate advisory and management services.
At just four years of establishment, Ayobami’s Ace Real Estate, aside from numerous land allocations in various sites, is on the verge of delivering three upscale homes across Lagos—Number 31, 78 Residence, the newest addition, Two3Four Residence and a massive
project coming soon in Orange Island. All these luxurious real estate developments are located in the upscale parts of Lagos, including Lekki Phase 1, Ikate and Victoria Garden City.
In the early days of Ace Real Estate, through uprightness and commitment to client satisfaction, Ayobami led the team to deliver Ace City, Vision City, Crystal City, Prime City, Domaine City, and many more.
Ayobami’s vision goes beyond just selling land and beautiful homes. It encompasses the entire ecosystem of the real estate sector, leading to the launch of Ace Academy in 2022. The academy is charged with the responsibility of training youths to embrace various entrepreneurial opportunities in the real estate industry. After only two years since its inception, Ace Academy has trained over 20,000 Nigerians for free and certified them, also providing them with the prerequisite skills to become entrepreneurs or create alternative income streams.
The story of Ayobami Akindipe, born in Lagos 27 years ago, is one of resilience and determination.
His journey is marked by numerous challenges, yet he has turned these challenges into opportunities. Ayobami had to drop out of school because he couldn’t afford it. Before and after then, he has taken on various jobs to survive and strive for something greater. At just 8 years old, he became a photographer when someone handed him a brand-new digital camera. He used it on the streets, making petty cash by taking pictures of people and printing them out. By age 13, he was a bricklayer, and at 15, he returned to photography and also became a filmmaker. In his teens, he also became a graphics designer, sold drinks on the streets, and even sold yam flour in markets.
Ayobami has done nearly everything one can think of as a young man trying to survive and pursue something meaningful. Real estate came to him as a vision from God after he had done so many things and needed direction. Starting his business was incredibly tough, especially when it came to raising capital. But through sheer determination, he managed to push through, and he has kept going no matter what obstacles he faced.
Across Lagos, particularly, and parts of Abuja, Ayobami has continued to leave credible real estate landmarks that
have not only beautified the skylines of these cities but also brought tranquility to satisfied investors.
Born to the Akindipe family of Ondo State in southwest Nigeria in 1997, Ayobami received his primary and secondary education in Lagos before studying Law at Kogi State University. Since then, he has vigorously pursued his passion in the real estate industry, yielding outstanding results and providing a platform for youth development and empowerment.
Recently, in acknowledgment of his numerous achievements in the real estate industry, Ayobami received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Young Entrepreneurs International Summit in Lagos. In addition, a few years ago, Ayobami received other accolades, including the ECOWAS Youth Council, Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Excellence and Integrity, the Icon of Societal Transformation by the National Association of University Students, the Golden Role Model Award by the Nigeria Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative, among others.
Ayobami, the young king ruling Nigeria’s real estate industry at just 27 years old, who has created about 54 direct jobs and over 2,000 indirect jobs, keeps building.
Bennett Oghifo
Akindipe
TGI Foods SPV Floats N25bn Series 1 & 2 Commercial Papers
Kayode Tokede
TGI Foods SPV Plc, a special purpose vehicle established by the Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, has announce the launch of its N25 billion Series 1 & Series 2 Commercial Papers Issuance under its three-year N100 billion Commercial Paper Issuance Programme.
In a statement, the company said the commercial paper programme will support the working capital requirements of TGI Foods’ co-promoters, West African Soy Industries Limited (WASIL) and WACOT Rice Limited, “both of which are integral parts of TGI Group’s expansive food manufacturing and processing footprints in Nigeria.”
Vice Chairman of TGI Group, Farouk Gumel noted that, “this issuance demonstrates TGI Foods’
continued determination to invest in Nigeria’s food sector and support our national ambition of self-sufficiency in staple food items.”
He further reiterated the Group’s commitment to strategic alliances to further champion Nigeria’s food security cause.
“This Commercial Paper programme marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to secure flexible financing that supports our operations and growth initiatives,” Gumel said.
Commenting on the issuance, financial advisors and dealers to TGI Group, expressed their confidence in the SPV and its promoters. “We are therefore happy to work with TGI on this, as we continue to be enthused by the huge potential this holds for all parties” said Lanre Buluro, Managing Director, Chapel
Hill Denham Advisory Limited.
The Managing Director at Afrinvest Capital Limited also said, “By supporting TGI Group on this programme, investors are voting for sustainable national food security while deepening the capital market.”
Group Managing Director/CEO of Lighthouse Capital Limited, Ugbede Nelson Attah, added “
The strategic vision and execution demonstrated by TGI Group through this issuance exemplify the type of forward-thinking leadership needed to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.”
The Managing Director/ CEO of PAC Capital Limited, Humphrey Oriakhi stated, “This initiative presents a unique opportunity for investors to align with a purpose-driven venture that promises both substantial financial returns and positive social impact.”
Alaro City Set to Hand Over Smart Apartments to Homeowners
Alaro City, in collaboration with Universal Homes, is set to host the grand opening and handover of the first phase of Universal Homes apartments ending August 2024.
The apartment block is now officially ready to welcome its new owners, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s real estate and urban development landscape.
Located within Alaro City, an expertly planned urban
development in the Lekki Free Zone, these uniquely designed apartments have been designed to redefine modern living.
Alaro City is setting new benchmarks by blending cutting-edge technology with sustainability and communityfocused designs, ensuring that residents enjoy not only comfort and convenience but also an environment that fosters long-term growth and well-being.
Managing Director of Alaro City. Yomi Ademola in a
statement said, “This development is a testament to our unwavering commitment to building a city that meets the highest standards of modern living, while preserving the environment and encouraging a sense of community.
“The completion and handover of the first phase of Universal Homes signifies the beginning of a new chapter in Alaro City, where residents can enjoy the benefits of smart home technology in a serene, well-planned urban environment.”
Baobab’s Savings App Hits N1.3bn Funds in 64 Days
Baobab Nigeria’s recently launched savings app, Jollof+, has achieved a significant milestone, attracting over N1.3 billion in savings just 64 days’ post-launch, the company has said. “This achievement highlights Jollof+’s crucial role in promoting financial security for Nigerians amid rising inflation,” Baobab said in a statement.
Commenting on this remarkable achievement, the Chief Innovation and Digital Strategy Officer, Baobab Nigeria, Babatunde Baruwa, said, “Like most
fintech innovations, Jollof+ initially faced doubt, with many questioning the sustainability of our 21.6% interest rate. However, Baobab Nigeria’s strong foundation as a microfinance bank with over a decade of experience in the Nigerian banking sector and 38 physical locations nationwide has reassured users of our credibility. So, are you safe financially? Yes, you are.”
He further elaborated on the app’s features, stating, “Jollof+ offers a range of digital financial solutions
tailored to the needs of Nigerians during these challenging times. Our Jolloflock feature allows users to lock their savings and earn a 21.6% net interest per year, while Ajo+ helps users save towards goals like buying a car or paying rent, with a 16.5% net interest. Even funds left in the Jolloflex wallet earn a 10% net interest, and our Babybox feature supports saving for children’s future with a 15.5% annual interest. We are thrilled to have earned the trust of Nigerians, as evidenced by the N1.3 billion saved within just 64 days.”
Montblanc Celebrates 100 Years of Meisterstück
Montblanc, the leading global Maison for luxury business lifestyle, celebrates the 100th anniversary of its icon, the Meisterstück writing instrument. The first Meisterstück was introduced in 1924 when Montblanc still went by its first name, Simplo. The story goes that some customers began to request a writing instrument for “Sunday-use” – one that would be special, offering a finer experience not meant for everyday use.
The first Meisterstück writing instrument range was developed by the Simplo Füllfedergesellschaft (later Montblanc-Simplo) in 1924. Right from the start, the number “4810” – referring to the height of the Mont Blanc
Mountain in meters – has been intrinsically tied to the Meisterstück. The four digits were prominently shown on its packaging, engraved on the cap, and – since 1930 – on the nib.
Another attribute considered characteristic of Montblanc today was introduced with the Meisterstück – the notable use of the gold colour. It was in 1928 that two gold rings were first added to the cap, not simply as a decorative element, but to strengthen the cap and reduce the risk of cracks.
The Meisterstück reflected global trends of reconstruction and innovation. In the late 1940s and 1950s, it adopted a streamlined design, retaining classic features. The 149 model,
introduced in 1952, became a future classic, with innovations like the Doué models and ‘Wing nib’ enhancing the collection.
Speaking on the relationship between Polo and Montblanc, the Executive Director of Polo, Jennifer Obayuwana, said “Polo has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Montblanc. For decades, Montblanc has exemplified the pinnacle of craftsmanship and timeless elegance. As they mark 100 years of the iconic Meisterstück, we celebrate a legacy of innovation, artistry, and excellence. Montblanc’s pursuit of distinction resonates with Polo’s values, and we look forward to many more years of shared success and mutual inspiration.”
The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $87.33 a barrel on Monday, compared with $86.00 the previous Thursday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference
following: 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).
Kayode Tokede
TotalEnergies Marketing, 48 Others Advance Market Cap by N271.6bn
Kayode Tokede
The stock market segment of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday closed in the green as price increases in TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc and 48 others lifted the overall capitalisation by N271.6 billion.
The NGX All-Share Index rose by 472.85 basis points or 0.49 per cent, to close at 96,510.13 basis points. From 96,037.28 basis points the
stock market opened for trading.
Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value gained N271.6 billion to close at N55.437 trillion from N55.166 trillion it closed the previous day.
Sectorial performance was broadly positive, as the NGX Oil & Gas Index (+4.1per cent), NGX Banking Index (+1.5per cent), NGX Insurance Index (+1.3per cent), and NGX Consumer
Goods Index (+0.5per cent) indices inched higher, while the NGX Industrial Goods index closed flat.
Also, the market breadth closed on a strong positive side, as 49 stocks gained relative to 14 losers. John Holt, Julius Berger, NEIMETH International Pharmaceuticals and TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each to close at N3.08, N143.00, N2.20 and N619.30 in that
order, per share.
Oando, Okomu Oil, FBN Holdings and FBN Holdings followed with a gain of 9.98 per cent to close at N57.85, N417.70 and N22.60 respectively, while Eterna rose by 9.96 per cent to close at N25.40, per share.
On the other hand, University Press led the losers’ chart by 9.58 per cent to close at N2.17, per share. Cutix followed with a decline of 6.25 per cent to close at
N3.00, while Vitafoam Nigeria declined by 5.17 per cent to close at N18.35, per share.
Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) shed 5.08 per cent to close at N11.20, while Linkage Assurance lost 5.00 per cent to close at 95 kobo, per share.
The total volume of trade increased by 13.48 per cent to 443.157 million units, valued at N5.635 billion, and exchanged in 8,493 deals. Transactions in the shares of Veritas Kapital
Assurance topped the activity chart with 83.077 million shares valued at N122.402 million. Access Holdings followed with 55.966 million shares worth N1.064 billion, while Universal Insurance traded 29.073 million shares valued at N9.508 million. FBN Holdings traded 23.646 million shares valued at N519.532 million, while FCMB Group transacted 20.917 million shares worth N158.903 million.
PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF AUGUST 27/24
PERSPECTIVE
Ajayi: A Dawn of New Era at DSS
Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu
The video, which has gone viral on social media, of workers at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS), jubilating over the change of guards at the leadership of the organisation, aptly captures the words of the Christian Holy Book at Proverbs 29:2, which reads, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice…” This opens the people to the fact that several teachers make a man, but one man can change the world.
That is the meaning of the celebrations around the ascendency of Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, an eagle-eyed security buff and an astute spymaster to the headship of the DSS. It speaks to Ajayi’s dexterity and adroitness at his job, an obsession that had occupied him since joining the service in 1990.
A scion of the clerical family of Reverend and Reverend Mrs. A. Ajayi of Odogbolu in Ogun state, the new sheriff at DSS comes to the job with demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism, and dedication to duty, spanning several state commands where he was noted for his zest for excellence. Starting in 2010 as state director in Bauchi state where he effectively managed the security situation and contained the spread of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Ajayi moved on to stamp his imprint on the security master plan of Nigeria with the strict management of the Enugu Command in 2015 where he left indelible marks containing the rise of non-state actors. He was between 2015 and 2016 in Bayelsa state as State Director working to ensure that militancy and violent activism were effectively managed. In all these roles, Ajayi left no one in doubt that the skies are not the limit.
Ajayi’s reward for the effective management of the Bayelsa State Command was a move to Rivers State where, between 2016 and 2019, he worked very hard to achieve high marks and acclaim in stemming the tide of militancy and violent crimes as well as ensuring that the 2019 general election in the state was without security challenges.
Having succeeded in Rivers state, Ajayi’s next duty post was Kogi state where he was instrumental in making the state count among the least terrorised states in Nigeria with the containment of non-state actors while insulating the state from the devastating actions of terrorist groups.
Ajayi, as assistant director-General at the DSS,
worked in the office of the President, before his appointment to head the spy agency. He is considered one of the most resourceful spy masters still in the service of the DSS. He has played key roles in several high-profile operations and has been instrumental in shaping the agency’s response to evolving security threats. His deft management of security challenges within and outside Nigeria’s borders, won for him, accolades that now count as positive marks to the value he brings to the job.
A disciplined officer who is never tired of learning, Ajayi ascends office having fully prepared himself for the top job by taking detective courses in security, strategic management and protection in Israel, the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). Through the different certificate courses, Ajayi was exposed to new and modern techniques in security threat detection
and management.
He, therefore, brings to the job experiences earned over three decades of consistent participation in the management of security challenges in Nigeria. His appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, considered by most Nigerians, as a round peg in a round hole, comes at a time when the morale of the staff of the DSS is at its lowest. This is demonstrated by comments and expressions by staff of the agency as Ajayi’s predecessor was retired.
In appointing Ajayi to the office, President Tinubu demonstrated his commitment to departing from a practice that had creatively destroyed the growth of the organisation. The practice of recalling retired operatives to head organisations like the DSS, works only to kill morale and destroy commitment to excellence. Such practice had stultified growth and impacted negatively on the willingness of staff
to apply themselves to the execution of the core mandate of the agency. Here, President Tinubu got it right and deserves commendation. However, the tasks ahead for Ajayi need not to be restated. As an ‘insider’, he knows where the balm was wrongly applied. It is now his assignment, as a core professional, to rejuvenate the organisation, rebuild trust and commitment among the personnel and also, bring back the vigour with which staff express themselves through giving their best to their jobs. These should be his lowest-hanging fruits. They should also be the initial steps towards the re-making of the Department of State Security.
His new leadership also comes with the euphoria of the birth of a new baby. It comes with loads of expectations from Nigerians. Many Nigerians have, on social media, expressed the belief that Ajayi will pull DSS away from the practice of presenting itself like a rabble-rouser and adjust itself to a new work ethos that would make it nip security challenges in the bud, or, bust insecurity cells rather than raising alarms. What this means for most Nigerians is that Ajayi is taking over the DSS at a most critical time in Nigeria’s story. For them, his appointment is seen as a bold step towards revitalizing the DSS and enhancing its capacity to tackle emerging security challenges.
Nigerians now look forward to enjoying the proceeds of Ajayi’s experience and professionalism in counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and strategic intelligence gathering and analysis. Having played key roles in several high-profile operations, Nigerians also now want to feel his impact in shaping the agency’s response to evolving security threats. They want to see a reformed DSS, one that is operationally efficient with improved intelligence-gathering capabilities and with better and stronger inter-agency collaboration. Nigerians are thirsty for a DSS that is empowered with innovative strategies to tackle emerging security threats. Nigerians would like to celebrate Adeola Ajayi as Nigeria’s most impactful spy chief. Before they do that, however, Ajayi and his new leadership team ought to know, that escalating threats of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping have worked together to force Nigerians to live fearfully and tearfully in a country they call their home and one in which they look forward to living freely and peacefully. There is a feeling that Ajayi is primed to change the narrative. The challenge is now his. He has no option but to succeed.
•Uchegbu, s public affairs analysts, writes from Abuja.
Ex-NDPHC MD Hands Over, New CEO Pledges to Optimise Power Company’s Assets
The erstwhile Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Chiedu Ugbo, has handed over the leadership of the government-owned organisation to the incoming chief executive, Jennifer Adighije.
On August 19, President Bola Ti-
nubu announced the approval of the appointment of a new management team for the company, led by its new head, Adighije; Abdullahi Kassim as Executive Director (Generation) and Babayo Bello as Executive Director (Networks)
Others were: Mr. Emmmanuel Umeoji as Executive Director (Corporate Services), Mr. Omololu Agoro
— Executive Director (Finance & Accounts), Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as ED in charge of Strategy & Commercial, while Steven Andzenge is the ED, Legal Services.
At the event which took place in Abuja, the incoming chief executive, Adighije, pledged to ensure the optimisation of NDPHC assets, processes and leverage technology to
drive positive change in the power generation company.
“Our mandate is to execute and manage our National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) assets optimally, and so my vision would be built around optimisation anchored on three pillars.
“These are optimisation of the performance of our assets to
Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Announces 2024 AIG Scholar
Dike Onwuamaeze
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has announced Mr. Isiaka Salami as its “2024 AIG Scholar.” Salami, who currently serves as an Assistant Director, Federal Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria, was selected after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process that assessed candidates on their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to the public sector in Africa.
As the “2024 AIG Scholar,” Salami would join a distinguished group of public sector leaders who have benefited from the transformative opportunity.
He would commence his Master of Public Policy programme in September 2024, and is expected to return with a wealth of knowledge
and experience to contribute to Nigeria’s current public sector reforms.
The annually awarded scholarship provides outstanding African public servants the opportunity to pursue a Master of Public Policy degree at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, where they gain the knowledge and skills needed to lead and transform public service delivery.
Since 2017, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has awarded scholarships worth approximately £2,000,000 to 32 Africans with a demonstrated passion for public sector transformation.
Upon completion of their studies, the scholars are expected to return to their organisations within the public sector and become agents of positive change.
The Co-founder and Executive
Vice Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mrs. Ofovwe AigImoukhuede, stated that, “the Nigerian public sector is at a critical juncture where the need for transformation is not just a matter of urgency but of survival.
“At the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, we believe that highperforming public servants are the cornerstone of this transformation.
“By investing in exceptional public servants like Isiaka, we are ensuring that the future leaders of the public sector are equipped with world-class training that will enable them to deliver innovative and impactful solutions to the challenges the country is facing.”
She added: “Our goal is to build a critical mass of public servants who can transform the public sector from within; public servants who can lead Nigeria towards a
future where the public sector is synonymous with excellence, integrity, and service to the people.
The AIG Scholarship Programme is just one part of a multi-year, multi-billion-naira commitments that the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has made to build the capacity of Nigeria’s public servants.
To date, the foundation has expended over N2 billion and reached over 500 public servants with its training programmes and scholarships.
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is a public sector-focused philanthropic organisation founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede to improve the lives of Africans through transformed public service delivery and increased access to quality primary healthcare.
ensure that we’re able to improve significantly our revenue earning potential for building significant financial capacity. Number two would be optimising our processes to ensure that we’re able to drive organisational and operational efficiency.
“And number three, for me, which is the most critical, is how we would leverage technology and human capital to drive positive change in the organisation and with our stakeholders, external stakeholders in particular. And why number three is very crucial to me is because our human capital is our greatest asset.
“ Our human capital is the powerhouse that will drive sustainable, positive change,” she stated.
She thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Vice President Kashim Shettima, who doubles as the Chairman of the Board for the privilege to serve, stressing that she would not take it for granted.
He called for support to ensure that the company is able to align with the president’s agenda for accelerating energy efficiency in the country.
In his remarks, the outgoing chief executive, Ugbo, expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as ex-Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for appointing him as well as Tinubu and Shettima for retaining him.
“ This is despite having the liberty to assemble their own team upon taking office on May 29, 2023. They graciously allowed us to complete our tenure in August 2024. This gesture is truly remarkable,” he stated.
While appreciating the support, dedication, and commitment of staff , who he said had been instrumental in sustaining the company over the years, with them Ugbo said he was able to navigate challenges and foster a culture of collaboration.
“ I take pride in what we have achieved as a team. Reflecting on my time here, I am reminded of the incredible journey we have shared. From the early days filled with uncertainty to the milestones that defined our path, I have been fortunate to work alongside such passionate and talented individuals.
“Each of you has played a vital role in shaping NDPHC, and I am deeply thankful for your contributions,” he stated.
He stated that Adighije brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the company, expressing his confidence that under her leadership, the NDPHC will continue to thrive and reach new heights.
“ My interactions with her have convinced me that she embodies the values we hold dear and possesses the vision and drive to propel the company forward,” he stressed.
Ajayi
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
polity
NNPC, Oando and Atiku Abubakar’s Attacks
temitope Ajayi
By his advanced age and eminent status as a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is by no means qualified to be an elder statesman. Statesmen are highly venerated and revered people to whom we go for advice, guidance and direction.
But sometimes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar behaves as if he should be removed from that exclusive club. Or how else can one interpret some of his utterances and statements? Or is the former vice president merely playing politics? But politics should have its season and time and should sometimes give way for nation-building and patriotism. Statesmen are not given to flippancy. Neither are they whimsical. They are measured in words and deeds, a quality that Alhaji Atiku has not demonstrated in public discourse since losing the last presidential election as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Atiku, obviously still stung by his electoral loss, can not see that a person of his profile must make interventions decorously and decently.
As a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku self-denigrates when he makes interventions that eschew basic decency and without weighing how such unguarded outpourings portray the country and the implications for businesses and state institutions.
A man who still nurses the ambition to be president despite being close to the Octogenarian Club should be mindful not to destroy the institutions of state upon which the government functions.
For reasons borne out of desperation and frustration arising from an unrealised presidential ambition, Alhaji Atiku and his attack dogs have been unrelenting in their assault on NNPC and members of President Bola Tinubu’s family without any justifiable reason. It is more telling that the attacks have been based on outright lies, half-truths, and deliberate distortion of facts to hoodwink the public.
In his recent tirades, the former Vice President falsely accused President Tinubu, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, and Oando Plc, where the President’s relative, Mr Wale Tinubu, holds sway as the Chief Executive, of unwholesome practice in a purely commercial transaction involving a downstream company where Oando had interests and the retail arm of NNPC.
For Alhaji Atiku, facts are not sacred if his politics is served. The damage he has inflicted on the economy and the public image of the entities involved in this matter means nothing to a man who wants to pollute the environment enough to create a credibility crisis.
While Alhaji Atiku, on whose authority false claims are regularly made via reckless press statements, is vicariously liable, it is pathetic that the defeated PDP presidential candidate parades media aides such as Paul Ibe and Phrank Shaibu, who also lack introspection. The two pitiable men, who must be seen working to justify their pay, have scant regard for the truth.
Ibe and Shaibu have a superficial knowledge of the issues they raised in many of their arid press releases. The two men are either too lazy to do the necessary research on the subject matter or at least seek the opinions of experts for proper education on the transaction dynamics involved in the OVH/NNPC deal and that of OANDO/ AGIP divestment.
In one of his press statements, Alhaji Atiku misinformed the public when he accused President Tinubu of mortgaging the country to his family members and associates. In his rage, he said NNPC puts its retail arm under the control of OVH, a company he alleged that Oando, led by Wale Tinubu, owns a 49% stake in. One would expect that a former Vice President of Nigeria should speak to facts and not innuendos. This is more so for a man who expects the public to take him seriously. To start with, Wale Tinubu and Oando do not own a 49% stake in OVH after Oando sold its downstream business.
Evidence declines to support any of the wild claims contained in the Atiku’s press statements. NNPC has rightly responded to Atiku and set the records straight in a statement issued by its Chief Communication Officer, Femi Soneye, on 22 August 2024. In the statement entitled ‘OVH Acquisition: The Facts by NNPC Limited,” Soneye firmly pushed back against Atiku’s tissue of lies thus:
“At the time NNPC Ltd acquired OVH in 2022, Oando (in which Mr. Wale Tinubu has equity interest), had fully divested its equity in OVH to the two other partners – Vitol and Helios. Oando began its divestment in 2016, with Vitol and Helios coming in as equity partners, leading to the name change
from Oando to OVH. In 2019, Oando fully divested its equity interest in OVH, resulting in Vitol and Helios holding 50% equity interests, respectively.
“Upon acquisition of OVH by NNPC Ltd, NNPC Retail Ltd and OVH effectively became subsidiaries of NNPC Ltd. However, based on professional advice and sound commercial considerations, NNPC Ltd opted to merge NNPC Retail Limited into OVH, and then retain NNPC Retail Limited as the company name post-merger. The first step of merging NNPC Retail Ltd into OVH has been completed, and the post-merger renaming of NNPC Retail Ltd is ongoing. Contrary to the false alarm, neither Wale Tinubu nor the President has any interest in the OVH acquisition.”
Providing more significant details and clarity on the OVH/NNPC deal, Mr Femi Awoyemi, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Proshare decried how political actors like Alhaji Atiku pursue personal political agendas at the expense of the economy and public good, arguing that “players seeking to push self-interested agendas must come with evidence and not innuendos.”
Mr Awoyemi averred: “Despite misgivings about an entity, I, as a member of the governance community, understand that it is unhelpful if we allow misrepresentations to replace objectivity and accountability.
“On this note, I offer my thoughts on the NNPC-OVH issue without holding a fort for any party. Public and analyst records available to our economic and market intelligence (EMI) unit affirm that Oando Plc was out of OVH three (3) years before NNPC Retail chose to buy it out. (OVH stands for Oando, Vitol, and Helios). A review of Oando’s financial statements shows that it divested its downstream business (OVH) in three tranches: 60%, 35%, and 5%.”
From the dates of Oando’s divestment from its downstream business, which started with the first one to OVH on 30 June 2016 and ended with the final exit on 29 November 2019, the company no longer participated in subsequent transactions between OVH and NNPC Retail.
We are in a political environment where politicians like Alhaji Atiku are constantly plotting and scheming, using every fair and foul means, but it should not be so. After all the divisive rhetoric of electioneering, a nation deserves healing time when the focus should be solely on nation-building and governance.
Alhaji Atiku is not willing to yield any space. He wants to remain in the election mood till the next electoral season, dishing falsehoods in industrial quantities to create his alternative universe. He is acting out the Trumpian playbook, which is to constantly push out falsehoods in the forlorn hope that they would gain currency and that people would believe.
That was why Shaibu doubled down on the lies on the OANDO/AGIP deal when the ones by Paul Ibe did not gain traction. In a scathing and uninformed statement issued by Shaibu, Alhaji Abubakar queried the Oando/AGIP deal, seeking to know why the transaction has gone through while that of SEPLAT/Mobil is yet to
be fully consummated. Alhaji Atiku’s cheap shot and laborious attempt to draw false equivalence should never be lost on anyone. If the former Vice President and Shaibu had applied themselves well, they should have known that the circumstances around Oando/AGIP and SEPLAT/Mobil were different.
Industry regulator the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) gave an update on divestment activities by the International Oil Companies in a statement issued on Monday, August 26, 2024. Its Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Olaide Shonola signed the statement. The issues involved in the two upstream deals differed.
While both transactions predate the current administration, Oando/AGIP did not face the legal encumbrances faced by SEPLAT/MOBIL. On a comparative basis, through a letter dated February 24, 2022, Mobil notified the regulator of its intention to assign 100% of its issued shares to Seplat Offshore Energy Limited. NUPRC did not consent to this assignment because Mobil should have obtained a waiver of pre-emption rights and the consent of NNPC. The matter was held up in court in Suit No: FCT/HC/BW/173/2022 Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited versus Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Development Nigeria Inc., Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc., and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The transaction could not have been concluded until the parties resolved the dispute. According to the statement by NUPRC, NNPC and MPNU resolved their dispute in June 2024, and MPNU, by letter dated 26 June 2024, informed the regulator of the resolution of the dispute. Upon resolution of this dispute, the Commission communicated its no-objection decision to the assignment via a letter dated July 4, 2024, and requested MPNU to provide information and documentation required under the Commission’s due diligence checklist to enable the Commission to conduct its due diligence as required under the PIA. MPNU, by letter dated 18 July 2024, provided the information requested by the Commission. Accordingly, MPNU’s application to the Commission for consent is undergoing due diligence review under the same divestment framework applied to the NAOC-Oando and Equinor-Chappal divestment. The Commission’s due diligence process is ongoing and within the 120-day timeline required by the PIA.
Unfortunately, Alhaji Atiku ignored the facts above in the transactions to make a mountain out of a molehill as part of his grand design to misinform the public and continue his needless war of attrition against President Tinubu.
The PDP presidential candidate has elected to seek and push darkness. Where Alhaji Atiku and others like him see only despair, President Tinubu will continue to work toward building a virile society and a buoyant economy while holding on to the promise of a greater Nigeria.
•Ajayi is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Shettima: Tinubu Govt’s Promises to Business Owners Not Mere Rhetoric
Inaugurates ultra-modern MSME clinics fashion, ICT hubs in Makurdi
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday, inaugurated an UltraModern MSME Clinics Fashion & ICT Hubs in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, saying it was just the beginning of greater things to come under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He expressed confidence that the hub would match global standards, with the potential to create roughly
48,000 jobs annually in the state.
The Vice President who was represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, noted that the speed at which the hub was built after the MSMEs Clinic was launched in the state earlier this year was a clear indication that promises made by the Tinubu administration to entrepreneurs were not mere rhetoric.
He said: “Today, as we commis-
sion this dual-purpose MSME Clinic, we bear witness to two critical truths. First, it proves that our promises to entrepreneurs are not mere rhetoric.
“Secondly, it affirms that the most durable interventions we can achieve as a government are born from strong intergovernmental partnerships. We are delighted to witness the fruition of these projects, and I am honoured to be part of this milestone.”
Shettima explained that the Benue
Fashion & ICT Hub and other hubs as well as shared facilities established across Nigeria are the federal government’s intervention targeted at fostering a conducive business and regulatory environment for MSMEs in the country to thrive and prosper.
The Benue MSME Hub, according to him, was one of the largest ever inaugurated by the federal government.
He said, “With over 200 pieces of
cutting-edge equipment to support fashion manufacturing and more than 100 ICT devices in the cluster, this hub can ramp up production, provide ICT training, and achieve economies of scale.
“It is equipped to produce a wide range of fashion items, including military uniforms, school uniforms, and corporate wear, both for Benue State and beyond.
“Beyond providing this cluster, the hub will also house a one-stop shop
Ezeobi: Substandard Wires, Cable Import, Undermining Efforts of Local Manufacturers
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The Chairman of Zobis Electrical Wires and Cables, Engr. John Ezeobi, has said importers of substandard wires and cables into the country have been undermining efforts of genuine local manufacturers of the product in Nigeria.
Ezeobi, while speaking yesterday, estimated that the annual market value of cables and wires in the country amounts to over N200 billion.
According to him, “But when considered against the backdrop of such other sectors like oil and gas, power and real estate which source their cable and wire needs directly from manufacturers, the market’s overall value significantly exceeds the N200 billion estimate.”
He said the potential of the industry was huge because as the country’s population increases, so does the demand for housing,
infrastructure, and industrial cables and wires also increase.
He lamented that importers of substandard cables and wires capitlise on the gap in the industry which has created demands for affordable alternatives even as they failed to meet up with the standard. Consequently, he said unscrupulous importers have amassed billions of naira in profit even when they undermined the efforts of genuine Nigerian manufacturers.
These substandard cables and wires, Ezeobi said posed a significant risk because of their poor quality.
Despite these challenges, he said industrialists have continued to trudge on through strategic massive expansion and collaboration with the Nigerian government, expressing optimism that they would harness the full potential of the domestic market.
“The prospects within the industry are vast, and if effectively tapped,
they could have a transformative impact on the national economy,” Ezeobi added.
The ongoing demand for housing, he said, created a huge market for electrical cables and wires as every new structure requires this aspect of housing components.
He added: “As the real estate market expands, the electrical cable and wire industry stands to benefit significantly, further fuelling Nigeria’s economic growth.”
where MSMEs can engage directly with federal government agencies to resolve their regulatory issues.”
The one-stop shop, he further explained, would ensure that businesses requiring support or services from agencies such as NAFDAC, BOA, CAC, ITF, SON, NEPC, SMEDAN, and others can be attended to under one roof.
Shettima expressed the federal government’s readiness to partner with state governments and its resolve to continue to create opportunities that meet the country’s demands, saying interventions such as the MSMEs Clinic fashion and ICT hubs represent.
Noting that MSMEs are the lifeline of communities across the nation, he said they are the bedrock of stability at a critical phase of the nation’s economic transition in times like this, even as he said it would be “impossible to grow the Nigerian economy if the growth and success of MSMEs do not remain a top priority”.
Atiku Abubakar
Swearing-in of the permanent SecretarieS...
LP Crisis: Otti Wants Abure-led Executive
Sacked, Seeks NEC Meeting for August End
Calls for dissolution of all executives, from ward to national level, for peace’s sake
chuks okocha in Abuja
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has asked the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of Labour Party (LP) to prepare for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on August 31. Otti also told Abure that all party executives, from ward, local government, and state, to the national, should be dissolved for a new leadership.
The move followed the noninvitation of LP to the third quarterly meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the politi-
cal parties.
At two of the meetings with INEC, Abure was asked to leave the gathering, and during last week’s quarterly meeting with political parties, the electoral umpire did not invite LP.
It was in view of the above that the only governor of the party charged the Abure-led NWC to call a NEC meeting to discuss the leadership crisis in LP.
But Abure fired back, saying there is no leadership crisis in the party. He said the national executive of the party was properly and constitutional elected at the March 29 national convention in
Nnewi, Anambra State.
Reading from a communique of the NWC on August 26, the LP national chairman said the meeting was called at his instance to brief NWC members on his recent meeting with Otti.
He disclosed that the governor stated his intention to convene a NEC meeting on August 31 in order to dissolve the National Executive Committee, state executives, local government executives, and ward executives on the grounds that their tenures had expired.
Abure stated, "The National Working Committee (NWC) consequently notes as follows:
The national leadership hereby states unequivocally that there is no vacuum in the leadership of our party and conscious of the fact that the tenure of the executives was to last till June 2024.
“The national convention of the party was held in March 27, 2024 at Nnewi, Anambra State, at which the governor of Abia State was ably represented by his deputy, who also doubled as the chairman of the convention committee.
“It must be noted that most of the government functionaries from Abia State, including the deputy governor, commissioners, Chief of Staff, and indeed all the Labour
NEDC, NPC Collaborate to Tackle Poverty, Out-of-School Children in North East
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the National Population Commission (NPC) have resolved to work together to address issues of poverty, out-of-school children, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), inadequate infrastructures, climate change and environmental vulnerability.
The agencies made this known on Tuesday in Abuja when the Chairman of NPC, Hon. Nasir Kwarra, led a delegation to the NEDC office in Abuja.
The agencies also resolved to develop comprehensive geospatial maps of the North East that highlight population density, infrastructure, and resource distribution.
The Managing Director/CEO of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali on Monday said NPC is a good source of data, adding that collaborating with them would ensure NEDC works efficiently in the delivery of its mandate.
He stressed that plans have been concluded for the provision of a free health insurance scheme for vulnerable households and individuals affected by insurgency across the North-East region of the country.
He was of the opinion that the initiative would go a long way to support families in the region who
were victims of the Boko Haram insurgency activities.
Earlier, Kwarra stressed that NPC has data and other necessary information that NEDC could leverage to deliver services and programmes to the people in the Northeast region.
He said: “Our decision to visit NEDC is germane as a body charged with the responsibility to generate data for socio-economic and demographic activities in the country, we are obligated to share experiences with your commission.
“These experiences are important to planning and execution of development programmes. Right now, the NPC is on a nationwide campaign for birth registration. And as for the conduct of population census, we are on top of the game.
“We have geo-spatial data of the country on roads, streets, communications masts, bodies of waters and demographic mappings on houses, and communities. This information will go a long way to assist your commission to deliver on its mandate.
“There is urgent need to address issues of poverty, out of school children, girl child education, internally displaced persons, inadequate infrastructures, climate change and environmental vulnerability.
“The NPC has data and other necessary information that your
commission could leverage to deliver services and programmes to the people in the Northeast region.
“We are also preparing to organise a regional summit on out-of-school children and the Almajiris question. We hope to bring in the Northeast governors, the Ulamas and other religious leaders to address the challenges. I believe that these are practical ways we can address the problems”.
Making a presentation on behalf of NPC, Aisha Abdulaziz said
one of the areas of collaboration between both agencies included the conduct of household surveys and socioeconomic assessments to gather data on living conditions, health, education, among others.
She added that it also included the use of mapping to identify priority areas for intervention, ensuring that NEDC’s efforts are targeted and “Develop comprehensive geospatial maps of the North East that highlight population density, infrastructure, and resource distribution.”
insists there’s no vacancy in NWC
Party State Assembly members, led by the Speaker of the House, Senior Special Assistants and other aides of the governor, were present at that convention.
"It must be stressed that the laws of the land, which include the following: the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the Labour Party Constitution, and indeed, all other laws of the land were adhered to in convening that convention.”
The communique also read, “Article 14 of the Labour Party Constitution provides that it is only the national chairman and the national secretary of the party who can convene the meetings of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee and National Convention or any other national meeting of the party.
“In the exercise of that power, therefore, on the 20th of December, 2023, the national chairman and the national secretary of the party issued notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the convening of the national convention of the party that was scheduled to hold in March 2024.
"It must be noted that Section 82(1) of 2022 Electoral Act provides as follows: Every registered political party shall give the commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose
of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act.
“It was in fulfilment of this provision that the national chairman and the national secretary of the party issued notice to INEC on the 4th of December 2023. When it became apparent for logistics reasons that the convention would be held at the earlier venue, another notice for change of venue was issued to INEC on the 14th of March, 2024.
“Again, another notice for a change of venue was issued on the 20th and 21st of March 2024. It is, therefore, clear that the party has fulfilled its obligation under the Electoral Act and the constitution of the party.”
Abure added, "It is safe to conclude that Labour Party under this leadership has complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act, constitution of Nigeria and the Labour Party constitution in convening the national convention of the party that was held at Nnewi, Anambra State, on the 27th of March, 2024.
“Therefore, for any person(s), group or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired, it is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to put the party in comatose.”
EFCC's Boss Tasks Youths on Positive Use of Technological Skills
alex enumah in Abuja
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, yesterday, charged youths in the country to deploy their technological skills for the benefit of the country and for their individual development, rather than negative and fraudulent purposes.
Olukoyede spoke at a Nigerian Youth Stakeholders’ Conversation in Abuja, with the theme, “Digital Economy Transition: Pathway to
Global Competitiveness.”
A statement from the commission said Olukoyede, who was represented by Director, Public Affairs Department, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said there was so much opportunity for youths in the digital space to demonstrate their technological skills, instead of using such skills for fraudulent activities.
He said the commission identified with the objectives of the programme aimed at harnessing the tech-skills of young Nigerians for the country's economic development and personal
growth of the citizenry.
Olukoyede was quoted as saying, in the statement, “All of us are aware of the tremendous skills that our young citizens possess, especially in technology. We are all aware of the marvellous things Nigerians are doing, especially in the fintech ecosystem.
“I doubt there is any other country in Africa that has the type of resources that this nation has in terms of the deployment of technology by young persons in all areas of development.
“Technology is something you cannot run away from, it is the future of the whole world, and we must ensure that youths, who are having these skills, deploy them for the benefit of our nation.”
While pointing out that the reputation of Nigeria was at stake, owing to the negative use of technology, Olukoyede stressed that as long as young Nigerians continued to defraud citizens of other countries of their hard-earned money, Nigeria’s reputation would continue to suffer.
R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; sworn-in Permanent Secretaries, Ojo Akin-Longe, and Queeneth Orobedo, during the swearing-in of the permanent secretaries at the Government House, in Benin City.
adedayo akinwale in Abuja
NIGERIA OIL AND GAS OUTLOOK 2024...
L-R: Managing Director, Savannah, Nigeria, Pade Durotoye; Manager, All Contracts, Tetracore Energy Group, Oladele Alani; Managing Director, RainOil Gas Limited, Emmanuel Omuojine; Moderator, Panel Session and Head, Procurement and Admin, Axxela, Abimbola Olumide Zachariah; Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Tominiyi Owolabi; and Chief Executive Officer, PowerGas Africa, Sumeet Singh, at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Outlook 2024 tagged 'Maximising Nigeria's Natural Gas - Trends and Outlook for Monetisation' held at The Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos... recently
INEC Holds Mock Accreditation of Voters September 10 Ahead of Edo Guber Election
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it would hold mock accreditation of voters ahead of the Edo State governorship election scheduled to hold on September 21. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued yesterday, revealed that the mock accreditation would hold on September 10. Olumekun said, “In continuation of preparations for the Edo State governorship election holding on Saturday 21st September 2024, the commission is test running the deployment of the Bimodal Voter
Accreditation System (BVAS) and result upload to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal for the election using live voters in select locations in the state.
“For this purpose, the commission has designated 12 polling units across six Local Government Areas (LGAs) covering the three Senatorial Districts of the state as centres for the mock accreditation.”
Olumekun added that in Edo Central, the exercise would take place at Eguare Primary School, Eguare 1, and Uwenujie Primary School, Uwenujie, in Esan Central Local Government Area, as well as Eguare Primary School 1, Ewohimi, and Eguare Okhuesan (Former L. A. School 1), Emu, in Esan South East
Northern Students Demand Troops Deployment to Campuses over Insecurity
Says 125,928 PVCs out of 184,438 collected Ex-national auditor, Moghalu, quits party
The students’ wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG- SW) has called for the deployment of security to campuses.
Addressing a news conference yesterday in Kaduna, National Coordinator of the CNG- SW, Hassan Adamu, expressed concern over growing insecurity in campuses in the North.
He lamented that banditry attacks and kidnapping of students were becoming the new normal, saying insecurity has led to the withdrawal
of female students from school.
The group, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the security architecture of the country to tackle criminal elements as students "will no longer tolerate flimsy excuses and blame game.
"We call on the president to revisit the approach and reform the security architecture of the nation. We will no longer tolerate flimsy excuses and the blame game.
"We also request for the deployment of troops to all campuses to ease the anxiety among students," the group said.
Local Government Area.
He stressed that in Edo North, Usokwi Iyogbe Azama Primary School, Yeluwa, and the polling unit at Institute of Continuing Education Road, Auchi, in Etsako West Local Government Area, were the designated centres, while Uhonmwora Owere Primary School, Uhonmwora-Ora, and Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongidda-Ora, will serve as centres in Owan West Local Government Area.
The national commissioner stated that in Edo South, Western Boys’ High School 1 and Ologbosere Primary School 1 were the designated centres in Ikpoba Okha Local Government
Area, while Idia College I and Payne Primary School 1 would serve as centres for Oredo Local Government Area.
Olumekun stated, “The mock exercise will be held on Tuesday 10th September 2024 at the designated polling units from 8.30am to 2.30pm.
“A graphic image containing the names and locations of the centres has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.”
Meanwhile, INEC announced that a total of 125,928 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) were collected, out of 184,438 voters’ cards ahead of the
September governorship election.
The commission had announced that the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo State would be available for collection at two levels, first, across all the 192 wards from August 22 to August 26, and, secondly, in all the 18 local government offices.
Olumekun, in another statement, said the commission had concluded collection at the ward level.
He stated, “The commission is pleased to announce the conclusion of the collection at Ward level. Learning from the lessons of previous collection of PVCs, the commission
has carefully packaged all the PVCs by Poling Units, Wards and LGAs. “We also produced the collection register, providing details of the voters whose cards were ready for collection and uploaded same to our website. “In addition, we contacted them using the addresses provided at the time of registration. “As a result, out of the 184,438 new PVCs available, 125,928 cards were collected by voters, representing 68.3 per cent of the total. “This is the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days since the commission introduced the CVR ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.”
APC NWC Restrains Benue Caretaker Committee from Dissolving LG Structure
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has restrained the Benue State Caretaker Committee of the party from dissolving the local government structure of the party.
This was as a former Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), George Moghalu, has resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Benue State High Court, last Wednesday, restrained the APC
NWC from dissolving the State Working Committee.
But in spite of the court order, the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC later announced the dissolution of the Agada-led SWC in clear contravention against the court order.
Addressing journalists after the NWC met with the members of Benue Caretaker Committee on Tuesday in Abuja, the party’s Deputy National Women Leader, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, said the terms of reference had been stated and the caretaker committee had been asked not to go beyond it.
“This evening, the National Working Committee of our great party met with the newly formed caretaker committee to administer the affairs of APC in Benue State for six months.
“This call was a result of complaints from Benue that the committee has dissolved some local government party executives. This made the NWC to summon the seven-man caretaker committee to read to them clearly their 'Terms of Reference.'
“Their terms of reference as stated by the APC is to administer the party in Benue State for six
Obaseki launches Benin City, Edo regional development masterplans
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, said all economic development parameters were indicative of the fact that Delta had witnessed steady growth since its creation, which bestowed upon it the status of an emerging power-house among the federating states in SpeakingNigeria. at a thanksgiving service to mark the 33rd anniversary of the creation of the state, at Government House Chapel, Asaba, Oborevwori stated that the journey had been eventful and fulfilling, with the road filled with trials and triumphs, tests and testimonies.
The governor stated, "I am proud to say that in 33 years of existence, Delta State has evolved into a strong, vibrant, strategic component of the Nigerian"Judgingfederation. by all the indices of development, the state occupies a pride of place in the Nigerian federa- tion. Both locally and internationally, our people are renowned for their entrepreneurial drive, passion and ingenuity.
"Let us continue to unite in prayer, seeking God's blessings and protection for our state and may His divine presence be felt in all we do and may we all remember that our trust is in Him alone. Only God can protect, guide and lead
us to succeed as a state.”
Oborevwori added, "As we use this opportunity of this anniversary to take stock, I want to assure all Deltans and residents in the state that it can only get better from here."
Meanwhile, the state govern- ment said there was no truth in the trending claims in some online newspapers that the governor took a loan of N40 billion shortly after assuming office last year.
"For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state categorically that the Delta State Government did not borrow N40 billion," Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeayi Osuoza stressed.
Osuoza added that available
records showed that "the Sheriff Oborevwori administration has not borrowed any dime till now".
He said it was misleading and unfair for anybody to misconstrue the decision by Oborevwori admin- istration "to graciously guarantee a N40 billion loan facility for ALGON (Association of Local Governments of Nigeria), to enable it offset the unpaid pension liabilities of retired local government personnel".
"Repayable over a five-year period, the loan is to be repaid through direct debits to the local government councils,” Osuoza said.
Relatedly, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, launched the 30-year Benin City and Edo
Regional Development Masterplans.
The event was part of activities lined up to celebrate the state’s 33rd anniversary, with the theme, “The Glory of the new Edo Nation.”
Obaseki was joined by two former governors of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Professor Osarienmen Osunbor, among others.
The governor said at the launch of the development plans, “These are two critical documents that would help us tidy up our administration and summarise what we have been trying to do in the last eight years. It will also guide and establish a trajectory for where our state is heading in the next 30 years.
months and also to conduct the election for the forthcoming local government elections.
“It is also part of their mandate to constitute the logistics that will conduct the elections from the LG to the ward level. And this has been clearly stated to them.
“They have no business dissolving, of course, dissolving any committee. Their terms of reference have been clearly stated and they have been asked not to go beyond their terms of reference.”
Meanwhile, Moghalu, in the resignation letter dated August 26, which he personally signed, was addressed to the Chairman Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi, Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State and copied to both the Local Governments Area (LGA) and State Chairmen of the party. His expected dumping of the APC, which has been a matter of intense speculation since the beginning of the year, finally came on Tuesday.
The letter read: "I bring you good wishes of my dear family and to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership of the APC with effect from today, August 26, 2024.
"Please, kindly accept this as my personal decision. It is my utmost desire and expectations that all of us will continue to maintain cordial relationship that we have built together over the years "I wish you and all the members of the party the very best. Please, accept as always the assurance of my best regards.”
John Shiklam in Kaduna
OMOTAYO FANIRAN CELEBRATES 50TH BIRTHDAY…
L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Tek Top Express Logistics, Omotayo Faniran; former Chairperson, Ojodu Local Council Development Authority,
Olusola Kokumo; Chief Executive Officer, Jewelry Hub, Olukemi Faniran, and Founder, DAKODA Foundation, Damilola Azeez, at the 50th birthday celebration of Faniran in Lagos… recently
Police Arrest Suspect Supplying Army Uniforms to Bandits in Kaduna
John Shiklam in Kaduna
The operatives of the Kaduna State police command have arrested a suspect supplying army uniforms to bandits.
Spokesperson of the command, Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Kaduna.
He also said two suspected armed robbers and two car thieves were arrested while one suspect was neutralised. According to him, one locally made pistol with cartridge, two vehicles and unsewn army camouflage
Operator Harps on Improved Fertility Mgt Regulation
The Managing Director, Bridge Clinic Fertility Centre, Sunny Ekhalume, has appealed to the federal government on the need to implement a regulatory framework on the issue of fertility management in Nigeria in order to protect patients.
He urged the government on the need to invest more in healthcare delivery, not only fertility clinics, as part of efforts to strengthen the healthcare sector in the country.
Ekhalume stated this recently at the fertility workshop in commemoration of the world In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Day
celebration, to mark the birth of the first IVF baby. He also stated that the world IVF Day is set also to remove the stigma around IVF, adding that the public perception is that IVF babies are not normal babies.
“But I tell you that the first IVF baby in this clinic is about 25 years old now and they are somewhere abroad doing their masters excellently,” he said.
He remarked that IVF babies are normal babies, adding that the objective of the facility is also to remove the stigma around IVF and IVF babies.
Jameson to Eliminate Cartons for Sustainability Promotion
Raheem Akingbolu
Jameson, a leading Irish whiskey brand, has announced a significant milestone in its journey towards sustainability with plans to eliminate cartons outer packaging from its product branding.
As part of its parent’s company, Pernod Ricard Nigeria’s efforts to promoting sustainability, this move is a major important step towards reducing its carbon footprint.
According to the promoters of the brand, this innovative move is aimed at minimising waste and reducing the our environmental
impact of Jameson’s packaging on the environment. The exclusion of the carton casing will significantly decrease the amount of paper and cardboard used in the production process, resulting in an eco-friendlier packaging solution. This change will not only reduce waste but also conserve natural resources, aligning with Jameson’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Commenting, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Michael Ehindero said: “We are mindful of the environmental impact of our business activities.”
A Rousing Reception for Rema ahead of Homecoming Concert
Yinka Olatunbosun
Pulsating drums, dancers and others thronged the airport in Benin to welcome Afrobeats singer, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema. The ‘Ozeba’ crooner has kept his promise of returning home for his concert. with his arrival at his hometown.
His record label, Mavin, yesterday shared a video of his arrival on X: “Benin, your illustrious son; The Prince of Afrobeats - Rema is Home!” The concert, scheduled to hold August 30 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, was first announced
by the singer in July. Governor Godwin Obaseki made a previous attempt to host Rema in December 2023 but this plan was canceled for health reasons.
Rema’s latest album “HEIS” has ignited social media as it brought polarity into his fan base. While many hailed him for his experimental effort, others frowned on his new show of villainy in lyricism and personal brand.
This concert is expected to draw a mammoth crowd to the venue and enhance the tourism potential of a state with a longstanding reputation for preserving culture.
material were recovered from the suspects.
The statement said the arrests were made during
patrols and “stop and search operations” by the police.
The statement said: “On August 25th, 2024, around
1:20pm, during a routine patrol and stop-and-search operation on the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway, police officers
stopped a vehicle and found a black leather bag containing 15 pieces of unsewn military camouflage material.
Monarchs Want FG to End Show of Force in South-east
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in umuahia
The federal government has been urged to use dialogue to put an end to the ongoing agitations in the South-east geopolitical zone.
The royal fathers under the Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers made the call in a statement signed the
chairman, HRM Eze Innocent Nwaigwe and Secretary, HRH Eze C. Emelike, made available to the media yesterday.
They noted that past governments at the centre had chosen to believe that “brute force” would quell the agitations, adding that the President Bola Tinubu administration should not follow the same path that
has not achieved the desired results.
“For 25 years since the agitation began in the Southeast, no government has reached out to the agitators to genuinely engage them in a dialogue, to find out why they are pissed off with Nigeria as presently constituted,” the royal fathers said.
They pointed that the regular deployment of brute force by the federal authorities against the agitators has only resulted to mindless killings of youths while the agitation continues. The royal fathers recounted the carnages that have resulted from such show of force against agitators “to crush them by fire by force.”
Shettima: Benue Fashion, ICT Hub Represents FG’s Desire for Industrialisation
George Okoh in Makurdi
Vice President Kashim Shetima has said the Benue Fashion and ICT Hub is the federal government’s desire for industrialisation, describing it as the biggest in the country. He therefore called on the
government to ensure the hub becomes a reference point in the country.
The vice president, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, at inauguration of the Fashion and ICT Hub as
well as the remodeled Benue Printing House yesterday in Makurdi, commended Governor Hycinth Alia for his commitment towards the success of the SMEs clinic in the state.
While appreciating the Alia-led government for its
collaboration to ensure the success of the fashion hub and for his determination to deliver good governance to the people of the state, he promised to deploy monogram machines and other support as requested by the governor.
N’Delta: N’Assembly, PIND, Others Seek Operationalisation of PIA
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Chairman, Host Communities Committee at the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Deekor, has called for the operationalisation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure development and lasting
peace in Niger Delta region.
This came as the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has embarked on stakeholders’ dialogue aimed at building and creating wider awareness for the speedy implementation of the PIA.
Speaking at an event titled “Bridges Project: Host Community Development Trust (HCDTs) dialogue and experience sharing forum”, organised by PIND in collaboration with Ford Foundation, in Port Harcourt, Deekor noted that the
operationalisation of the PIA is slow.
Deekor, who is representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency at the House of Reps, urged impacted communities to take advantage of the opportunity as provided in the PIA to develop their areas.
APGA Crisis: Anambra Seals Edozie Njoku Faction’s Party Secretariat
David-Chyddy Eleke in awka
Anambra State Government has sealed the state party secretariat of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faction loyal to Edozie Njoku.
This is coming as the state Governor, Prof Chukwuma
Soludo, described the crisis in the party as a minor family misunderstanding, which would be settled soon.
Soludo, while briefing journalists, said: “Anambra people seem to have come to the conclusion that APGA is the party for the state. It’s no longer those years of burning down buildings and turmoil in the state. Anambra State is now stable because of APGA.
“That has been the reason for the progress we have witnessed here, and Anambra State seems to have come to a consensus that APGA is the party to develop the state.
“Under our leadership, APGA has never been stronger than what it is today. You asked this question about crisis because of the things you see in the media, about our party, but I know that things like these are normal during run up to election.
Oyebanji Installs Olu of Iyemero, Pledges to Tackle Trans-border Criminals
Gbenga SodeindeinadoEkiti
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has expressed his administration resolute commitment to wage relentless wars against kidnappers, bandits and marauding herders terrorising the state at border posts, to safeguard the lives of the residents.
criminals from Ekiti State.
Oyebanji said his government had fortified the border towns in partnership with conventional security networks, who were synergising with the natives and local hunters to ward off trans-border
In a bid to ensure development trickles to the grassroots, the governor promised to deploy the instrumentality of the Ekiti State Chiefs Law to ensure speedy and timely installation of traditional rulers, where there are vacancies.
Oyebanji made the pledges in Iyemero Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area, yesterday while presenting the Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment to the new Olu of Iyemero, Oba Bayo Akinsanmi Ayeni, from Onitedo Royal Dynasty.
Goldberg Boosts Cultural Heritage Celebration at Osun-Osogbo Festival
Ayodeji Ake
In the history of celebrating cultural heritage and the richness of African originality, Nigerian Breweries Plc, through its premium brand, Goldberg Lager Beer, has again made
a resounding impact at the just-concluded Osun-Osogbo Festival 2024.
This year, Goldberg took centre stage all through the period of the festival, pronouncing its presence in all traditional performances, celebrations, and cultural experiences.
The company said in a statement that from the opening procession to the paying of homage to the crowns of the past rulers, down to the procession of the votary maiden in company of the Chief Priestess to the Sacred Osun groove, Goldberg featured prominently at various locations, where it was enjoyed by dignitaries, performers, and attendees alike, reflecting the brand’s commitment to honoring cultural roots.
Lagos,
Morocco 2025: Ekong, Osimhen, Simon, 20 Others to Battle Benin Rep, Rwanda
AFCON 2023’s Man-of-the-Competition, William Ekong, forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi are back in the Super Eagles’ nest, for next month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Ekong was discountenanced for Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race in June as he was recovering from injury, while Aina, Awoniyi, and reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen were all out injured.
The same thing applied to Ola Aina who has not been available since the AFCON tournament where he played every minute of the tournament but is now back in the team after an injury spell with his club, Nottingham Forest.
There are three goalkeepers, including AFCON 2023 star, Stanley Nwabali, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards.
Bendel Insurance safe hands Amas Obasogie also returns, along with South Africa-based defender
Olisa Ndah and Taiwo Awoniyi, who have not been called since the 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on Matchday 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November last year.
The Super Eagles go up against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, 7th September, before flying to Kigali to take on the Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, 10th September.
All the players are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, 2nd September.
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance FC)
Defenders: William Ekong (AlKholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion,
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: Nigeria Draws Tough Opponents in Table Tennis
Team Nigeria is set for action as the table tennis event of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games begins on Thursday, August 29. The team has been drawn against formidable British and Chinese opponents in the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.
The eagerly awaited draw for the Doubles and Mixed Doubles events in Para table tennis was concluded on Monday, August 26, at the South Paris Arena, where the intense competition will unfold over 10 thrilling days. The draw results promise exciting matchups and the first four days of intense competition, highlighting para table tennis as a cornerstone of the Paralympic Games since its debut at the first Paralympics in Rome in 1960.
As one of the eight founding sports—alongside para-athletics, para-swimming, para-archery, snooker, wheelchair fencing, and wheelchair basketball—para-table tennis boasts a rich history that even predates its inclusion in the Olympic Games by nearly three decades.
Kayode Alabi and Faith Obazuaye will compete in the Mixed Doubles event, facing Great Britain’s duo of Joshua Stacey and Bly Twomey. Meanwhile, Alabi and Victor Farinloye will take on the Chinese pair of Huang Jiaxin and Peng Weinan. Alabi and Obazuaye will start their campaign from the Round of 32 in the Mixed Doubles, while Alabi and
Farinloye will begin their quest for glory in the Round of 16 of Men’s Doubles.
A confident Alabi expressed their readiness to defy the odds: “We are ready for any opponent we face because we are well prepared for the challenge in Paris. There is no doubt that we are facing strong opponents, but we are not going to give up easily and hope to progress to the next stage,” said the African Champion in Class 6. Team coach Nasiru Sule is also optimistic about their chances but acknowledged the difficulty ahead: “It is not going to be easy at all because they are a strong team, but we will give our best.”
According to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), para-table tennis has grown significantly, and in Paris 2024, an impressive 280 athletes will compete in 31 medal events, showcasing the sport’s remarkable evolution and rising popularity. At the Rome 1960 Paralympics, approximately 130 athletes competed in 11 medal events, marking the beginning of the sport’s extraordinary journey at the Paralympic level.
The Singles draw is scheduled for August 30, adding to the growing excitement. With the competition fast approaching, anticipation is high for what promises to be an unforgettable Paralympic Games.
Colombia 2024: Falconets Lose Narrowly to Mexico in Final Test Game
Two-time silver medallists, Nigeria lost by the odd goal to Mexico in an entertaining encounter in Bogota on Monday evening, which served as their final test before the 11th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals kicking off on Saturday.
The Mexicans scored the only goal of the match in the 20th minute but had to withstand the onslaught of attacks from the Nigeria side on the turf of the Club Banco de la República.
President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who attended the match alongside Chairman of the Technical and Development Sub-Committee Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and Head of
Women’s Football Amina Daura, praised the Falconets for their impressive display and charged them to be encouraged by the good showing and their victory over Australia in another friendly on Friday last week, as they countenance the global finals. Nigeria will take on Korean Republic in their first match of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals at the 10,000-capacity Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota on 2nd September – the same venue where they will confront three-time champions Germany two days later. Their final match of the group phase is against Venezuela at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali on 7th September.
England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael
Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England);
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, with Osimhen , ChukwuEze and Lookman during the
this year
Super Eagles Stars Get Chance to Impress New
Coach, Labbadia, Live on StarTimes
Football fans are in for a treat this week as StarTimes is airing a plethora of matches featuring Nigerian players across various leagues.
It will be an avenue for these players to show the stuff they are made of to newly appointed Super Eagles German Coach, Bruno Labbadia, ahead of the 2025 AFCON and World Cup qualifiers coming up shortly.
From the glamorous Spanish La Liga to the thrilling Bundesliga, Saudi Pro League and the competitive Carabao Cup in England, the excitement is set to soar.
After the exciting games played on Tuesday, the Carabao Cup takes centre stage again on Wednesday, with several Nigerian talents vying for glory.
Nottingham Forest's dynamic duo, Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina face a stern test against Newcastle United.
Awoniyi's cameo against Southampton last weekend hints at a potential starting role against the Magpies, while Aina's full-time appearance might see him rested.
Other Nigerian-laden teams in the Carabao Cup include Brentford, featuring Frank Onyeka, and a potential all-Nigerian clash between Cardiff City's Jamilu Collins and Southampton's Joe Aribo.
With Brentford and Southampton both losing their last league matches,
they will be keen for redemption in Wednesday's League Cup matches.
In Spain's La Liga, Sadiq Umar will be targeting more playing time as Real Sociedad hosts Alaves at the Reale Arena.
Umar who featured for 23 minutes in the away win over Rayo Vallecano will hope to get more chance to fight for his opening goal in the La Liga this season.
Beyond Europe, StarTimes brings you the Saudi Pro League, where Super Eagles captain William TroostEkong has joined forces with football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ekong's Al Kholood will be aiming for victory against Al Riyadh on Thursday at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
As a newly promoted team, Al Kholood will be relying on Ekong's experience to solidify their defence. With StarTimes, football fans can enjoy all the action live on the StarTimes Sports Premium, Sports Life, Beta Sports and World Football channels. Also, fans can catch the games live on the StarTimes-ON app for just N600 weekly.
Shooting Stars Unveil Players, Kits
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Monday, unveiled some fresh legs to be paraded for the 2024/25 season. Also unveiled were the home, away and alternative jerseys to be used by the team in the coming season. The eight players unveiled included, goalkeepers Abiodun Akande from Rivers United, Mustapha Lawal from Sunshine Stars, centre defender, Ojietefian Sylvester, from Enyimba, left-back, Ikouwem Udom, who joins Anenir Sportif De la Marsar of Tunisia,
midfielder, Abubakar Aliu from Lobi Stars, Adebayo Abayomi formerly of Remo Stars, Bolaji Sakin Simeon, who is teaming up with the Oluyole Warriors from Congolese side, AS Otoho and striker, Ayanrinde Samuel, who last featured for Sporting Lagos FC.
While speaking during the unveiling, Executive Chairman of the Oluyole Warriors, Honourable Babatunde Olaniyan Akoro, said that the club hopes to improve on the performance of last season, hence the recruitment of quality legs who will
be able to complement the efforts of the retained players. He disposed that the team retained most of the best legs from last season's squad, to give room for continuity, explaining that the club deliberately ensured coach Gbenga Ogunbote remained with the club for that purpose as well.
Honourable Olaniyan, who revealed that the club would be gunning for the league title this season, also stated that a few more players would still be unveiled as the
Ibadan soccer lords intensify efforts for a rewarding 2024/25 season. Coach Ogunbote, in his own words, said the recruitments were done to specifically solve the problems encountered in some departments last season.
While speaking, the General Manager of the club, Dimeji Lawal, expressed hope that the new additions to the Oluyole Warriors will add quality to the team, assuring the followers of the club a successful outing.
(Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
last AFCON 2023 tournament early
Governor Godwin Obaseki (left) and his wife, Betsy displaying the WAFU-B trophy won by Edo Queens FC at a reception held for the team on return from Cote d'Ivoire... on Monday. The team was rewarded with N100million for the victory in the sub-regional tournament
MISSILE
Minister of Power to Past Govts
“It is unfortunate that Nigeria has experienced bad governance over the years. Nigeria has gradually gone down, and the efforts being made by President Tinubu is the right way for us to get out of these challenges. The sector (Power) was almost jinxed before we came in... Within one year that we came into office, we have been able to increase power generation from 4,000 megawatts to 5,155 and have a target to move it to 6,000...” --MinisterofPower, AdebayoAdelabu,blamespastgovernmentsforthepoorstateofPowerinthecountry.
ERICTENIOLA
gu EST COL u MNIST
How the Constitution Deleted Tradition
On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, Kenya held its general election during which the President, governors, senators and members of the National Assembly were elected. The results of the elections were announced on August 15, 2022. William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto (57) had 7,176,141 votes, that is 50.5% of the total votes while Mr. Raila Odinga (79) had 6,942,930 votes, that is 48.8%. The results were announced by Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (1EBC).
On September 5, 2022, Kenya’s Supreme Court affirmed the election of Mr. William Ruto as President of Kenya. He was sworn in on September 13, 2022 as Kenya’s fifth post-independence President.
On March 24 this year, Senegal, a country not too far from us with a population of 18million people held its Presidential election. A former tax Inspector, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye (44), was elected President. His party had 54% of the total votes. He was sworn in on April 2 in Dakar.
On May 29 this year, South Africa had its Presidential election, the ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), won 159 of 400 seats—short of 201 seats needed to have a majority. After winning 40% of the total votes, the African National Congress was forced into coalition with Inkatha Freedom Party and the Democratic Alliance.
On June 29, the ANC Leader, Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (71), a billionaire and the 13th richest man in South Africa, was sworn in as the President of the Republic.
On February 25 last year, Nigeria had its Presidential election. On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu of APC scored 8,794,726 votes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of PDP scored 6,984,520 votes, Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party had 6,101,533 votes while Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP scored 1,496,687 votes.
Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu scored 38.61% of the total votes cast, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar scored 29.07%, Mr. Peter Obi scored 25.4% while Rabiu Kwankwaso scored 6.40%. There were 93.4 million registered voters. The turn out was only 26.71 % in a country that is assumed to be over 200 million.
Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu scored 25% of the votes cast in 30 states more than 24 states Constitutionally required. He was sworn in on May 29 last year as President of the Republic.
The election was not confirmed by the Supreme Court until October 26 last year. In short, President Tinubu GCFR waited for over five months as President, in suspense. Definitely something fundamentally is wrong with our constitution. There are many defects in our 1999 constitution. My worry is that the constitution guarantees winner takes all. The constitution guarantees politics of exclusion. As it is now, unless you are very very close to the executives or you belong to a caucus of the ruling party in the centre or in the states, you can never be given an opportunity to serve however brilliant, competent or patriotic you are. Certainly, Nigeria’s problem did not start with the implementation of the 1999 Constitution but it had made worse our problems.
Our journey in the Presidential system of government began on October 18, 1975, when the then Head of State, Brigadier General Murtala Mohammed GCFR (8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976), inaugurated the Constitutional Drafting Committee, headed by Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams SAN (16 December 1920 – 26 March 2005) at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. Professor Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi (82) from Ilesha in Osun state, was then the Director General of the Institute.
He declared the stand of the then Supreme Military Council on that day. The following were his declarations (a) unambiguous commitment to a federal system (b) Elimination of “cut-throat political competition based on a system or rule of winner-takes all,” characteristic of Nigeria’s political past. (c) De-emphasising of institutionalized opposition to the ground in power and development of “consensus politics and government” based on a community of all interests. (d) Decentralisation of power e) Evolution of a free fair electoral system to ensure adequate representation at the centre (f) Depoliticisation of the census (g) The formation of “genuine and truly national political parties.” However, because of the “harmful effects of a
proliferation of national parties,” criteria were to be evolved whereby their number could be limited. Interestingly but in vain (echoes of Ghana’s “Union Government”, “the Supreme Military Council is of the opinion that if during the course of your deliberations, and having regard to our disillusion with party politics in the past, you should discover some means by which government can be formed without the involvement of political parties, you should feel free to recommend.” But this was to be as much a non-starter as the Constituent Assembly ‘s decision to insert a clause outlawing military coups.
(H) Establishment of an executive presidential system, in which the President and the Vice-President would be elected and granted clearly defined powers. The method of their assumption of office would have to “reflect the federal character of the country.” So, too, would the choice of members of the Cabinet, who need not in future be drawn from the legislature alone.
(I) Constitutional restriction on the number of new States.
On January 11, 1976, General Murtala Mohammed attended the Addis Abba extraordinary summit conference of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U.) on the liberation struggle in Africa. On that day he gave a speech titled “AFRICA HAS COME OF AGE”. The speech was a denouncement on America’s role in Angola. He declared “Mr. Chairman, Africa has come of age. It is no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It should no longer take orders from any country, however, powerful. The fortunes of Africa are in our hands to make or mar. For too long have we been kicked around; for too long we have been treated like adolescents who cannot discern their interests and act accordingly. For too long has it been presumed that the African needs outside “experts” to tell him who are his friends and who are his enemies. The time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for ourselves; that we know our interests and how to protect those interests; that we are capable of resolving African problems without presumptuous lessons in ideological dangers, which more often than not have no relevance for us, not for the problem at hand.
Nigeria has come to this Assembly determined to co-operate with you, Mr. Chairman, and with all member States to put a stop to foreign interference in our Constitutional matters, As an African nationalist of distinction, I trust you will guide our deliberation to fruitful conclusions of which our people will be proud of. I thank you.”
To me the denouncement of America by General Murtala Mohammed looked contradictory when on October 18 1975 he has just forced on us without a referendum or a plebiscite, the American Presidential system of government.
Maybe if he has not been assassinated, thirty-two days after his speech in Addis Ababa on February 13, 1976, we would not have adopted or retained the Presidential system of government today. His successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo carried on with that policy, without review.
On September 21, 1978, the then Head of State, General
promulgated Decree Number 25 which proclaimed the 1979 Presidential Constitution. Twenty-four hours earlier, he dissolved the Constituent Assembly.
In a broadcast to the nation on that day, General Obasanjo declared, “we have accepted the Presidential form of government and the supporting structures and institutions which go with the system. We have accepted the principle of separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary and the clauses entrenching the powers, functions and the independence of each of these estates of the realm. We believe that the fundamental principles and directives of state, the provisions of safeguarding the rights and liberties of individual and such other provisions meant to ensure greater sense of accountability and probity in public life, are essential elements in giving a new and fresh sense of direction to our national life.
In short, the Supreme Military Council saw the consti- tutional document as a most commendable framework within which party-political activities can be resumed. Indeed, in the light of our experience in government, we went further to make such minor adjustments as we believe necessary to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of government, come October, 1979.
We have also made some other amendments which we believe were necessary to strengthen the continued existence of a disciplined and just society as well as ensure consistency and continuity of national policy. I am sure, you are now all very conversant. Essentially, these amendments concern:
(a) The strengthening of the judiciary by relieving the judicial officers of the responsibility for mundane administrative matters which detracts them from the more important business of efficient and quick dispensation of justice (b) Bringing the conditions of service of judicial officers in line with those of other public officers, while bearing in mind the special nature of the judicial service (c) Consciously using certain institutions such as the Armed Forces, the Federal Courts as-vehicles to stress and promote the indivisible unity of the nation rather than the competitive aspect of a Federalism
(d) Ensuring consistency and continuity of our national policy on such matters as the development of indigenous languages, the promotion of such notions as equal access to justice and maintaining a non-expansionist foreign policy based on co-operation and peaceful co-existence with our neighbours.
We are, of course, aware, and I am sure that no member of the Constituent Assembly can claim that the constitution is a perfect document. Neither is the Supreme Military Council claiming that all the necessary adjustments which the general public may consider desirable or necessary have been made. But I believe that the essential thing has been done: that is to have a document which, despite all its imperfections, is capable of launching us in the right direction.
Of course, the constitution as a living document, can be changed, as and when necessary, in the light of the experience gained in working it. This, I believe, is the most we can hope for, given all the circumstances including the short-time constraint, in which the constitutional issues were debated, discussed and approved.
The coming months would pose testing challenges not only to the participants in the ensuing political activities, but also to the mass media who have responsibility of interpreting and informing the public of the issues, as well as correctly conveying the public mood to those vying for political leadership.
I am sure you will rise to the occasion and not let the nation down.”
It is left for all to judge whether the hopes of General Murtala Mohammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo had been met with the implementation of the Presidential System of Government.
That is not to say that the process for the Presidential Constitution went unchallenged, of course it was challenged. I remember that two members of the Constitutional Drafting Committee wrote a minority report disengaging themselves from the Presidential System of Government.
They were Dr. Y. Bala Usman, then Senior Lecturer in History at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Dr. Segun Osoba, then Senior Lecturer in History at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Their reports
were not considered by the Constituent Assembly. The then Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, Mr. Justice Egbert Udo Udoma (21 June 1917 – 2 February 1998) made sure that their minority report did not see the light of the day.
I remember three of my colleagues who covered the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly at that time, Femi Ogunsanwo of THE DAILY TIMES, Mohammed Haruna of THE NEW NIGERIA, Tunde Thompson of DAILY SKETCH and myself tried in vain to get a copy of the minority report.
Since then, till today, there has been a clamour that the Presidential System of Government is not suitable for us. It is getting stronger these days. Let us take an example with the issue of our culture and tradition. In the third Schedule of the 1979 Constitution, the following were named as members of the Council of state. They were “the President, who shall be the Chairman; the Vice-President, who shall be the Deputy Chairman; all former Presidents of the federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; all former Chief Justices of Nigeria are citizens of Nigeria; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; all the Governors of the States of the Federation; the Attorney-General of the Federation; and one person from each state, who shall as respects that State be appointed by the Council of Chiefs of the State from among themselves”.
In part II Section 178 of the same 1979 Constitution declares that there shall be a State Council of Chiefs which shall comprise of “a Chairman and such number of persons as may be prescribed by Law of the House of Assembly of the State; the Council shall have power to advise the Governor on any matter relating to customary law or cultural affairs, intercommunal relations and chieftaincy matters; the Council shall also have power to advise the Governor whenever requested to do so on---(a) the maintenance of public order within the State or any part thereof and (b) such other matters as the Governor may direct”.
If you look at the 1999 Constitution, one will notice the absence of the institution of traditional rulers. No institution represents our culture better than the institution of traditional rulers.
The Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that “to destroy a people you must sever their roots “. James Baldwin added that “ know from whence you came, if you know from whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go”.
The Wikipedia tells us constantly that people without culture and tradition are a lost people yet our constitution has deleted that vital institution out of existence.
Traditions are a vital part of how we interact with the world around us. They provide a sense of identity and belonging that helps to shape our culture and our lives. Valuing your traditions is an important part of developing a strong sense of self and understanding the cultures that shape us.
At the core of traditions is a shared set of beliefs, values, customs, and rituals that are passed down from generation to generation. These traditions can be passed down through family, religion, or even communities. They serve as a reminder of who we are and our connection to the past. By valuing traditions, we honor the people who came before us and the struggles they faced in order to make our lives better.
Valuing your traditions also helps to connect you to your cultural roots. It allows us to appreciate and celebrate the unique qualities of our heritage. This can be done through learning about traditional foods, stories, and practices. Learning about these things can help us to understand our identity and how we fit into the larger cultural landscape. This can also help build bridges between generations and foster a sense of unity amongst family members and communities.
Traditions also provide a sense of purpose and can help guide us in making decisions about our future. They can provide us with a framework for making decisions that reflect our values, beliefs, and customs. Valuing our traditions helps us stay true to who we are and reminds us of the importance of preserving our culture for future generations.
Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR,
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi