THURSDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2023

Tinubu Welcomes PEPT’s Verdict, Seeks Collective Effort to Build Nigeria

Pledges to exceed people's expectations in service delivery PDP, LP reject tribunal’s ruling Buhari, Ganduje, govs, APC, others react to judgment

By our correspondents

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday,

responded to the news of his electoral victory affirmed by the Presidential Election Petition Court, from India, where he was participating in the G-20 summit, and saluted the diligence, undaunted thorough-

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Nigeria

Secures

ness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law. He however, urged his cocontestants, Atiku Abubakar of the Continued on page 39

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and

Election Court Validates

Tinubu’s Presidency

Five key takeaways:

1. Abuja now effectively 37th state, 25% votes not required

2. BVAS dumped

3. Electronic transmission of results discretionary

4. Tinubu’s $460,000 forfeiture not criminal

Deji

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday, validated the election of Bola Tinubu as the President of Nigeria, satisfied that he was duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes and that the petitions against him lacked merit and were liable to be dismissed.

The court further held that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, failed to prove allegations of substantial non-compliance, amongst others, against Tinubu, during the February 25, presidential election.

The ruling, which lasted over 12 hours and delivered by Justice Haruna Tsammani, however, addressed five fundamental issues in the various petitions, which have become the takeaways from the ruling.

They are that Abuja has effectively become Nigeria’s 37th state, and did

Continued on page 39

NIGERIA/INDIAN ROUND TABLE BUSINESS...

L-R: Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee; Executive Vice Chairman, TVS Supply Chain Solution Ltd., Mr. R. Dinesh; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Bharti Mittal, during presentation of gift to Nigeria's President at Nigeria/India Presidential Roundtable Business Community Conference at Le Meriden, New Delhi, India. ... yesterday

Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah in Abuja, Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos

Nigeria Secures $14bn Fresh Investment Pledges from Indian Businessmen

Tinubu hails Indian investors, urges them not to procrastinate as Nigeria offers best return on investment Nigeria signs three MoUs with India on digital technology, successful ecosystems, investment opportunities

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The on-going first official visit of President Bola Tinubu to India has started yielding results as Indian investors yesterday, assured the Nigerian leader of their readiness to facilitate fresh $14 billion investment into the West African country.

The investment pledges formed the bedrock of the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and Conference held in New Delhi, the Indian capital, on the second day of Tinubu's visit to the Asian nation.

According to a statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, listed the new investments to include Indorama Petrochemical Limited, which pledged a new investment of $8 billion in the expansion of its fertilizer production and petrochemical facility in Eleme, Rivers State.

Jindal Steel and Power Limited, one of India's largest private steel producers also committed to investing $3 billion in Nigeria, following discussions with Tinubu on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, India.

Similarly, the founding President of SkipperSeil Limited, Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, announced that following Tinubu's personal intervention, he would be investing $1.6 billion in the establishment of 20 100MW power generation plants across the states of northern Nigeria, amounting to 2,000MW of new power within the next four years.

Additionally, Tinubu approved finalisation on a new $1 billion agreement to bring the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to 40 per cent self-sufficiency in local manufacturing and production of defense equipment in-country by 2027, through a comprehensive new partnership with the Managing Arm of the Military-Industrial Complex of the Indian Government.

Another Indian firm, Bharti Enterprises, which is a major firstgeneration corporation in India, with interests in telecom, space communications, digital solutions, insurance, processed foods, real estate, and hospitality, expressed its commitment to invest an additional $700 million in Nigeria, with work set to begin immediately.

Tinubu is attending the G20 at the invitation of India, which currently

holds rotating Presidency of the bloc.

According to the statement, Tinubu in the course of the NigeriaIndia Presidential Roundtable and Conference on the sidelines of the G20, commended Indian investors for significant investment pledges amounting to nearly $14 billion, saying, "we are ready to give you the best returns for investment possible, there's nowhere else like our country. Nigeria offers the best returns for investment today, so invest now."

Emphasising that under his pragmatic leadership, agreements must now manifest in industries and jobs on the ground in Nigeria, Tinubu expressed gratitude to all Indian companies and individuals who have responded positively to his administration's efforts to improve Nigeria's macroeconomic and investment climate.

"Do not procrastinate. Don’t be frightened about investments in Nigeria. Bring it on. Ask your questions and make your requests. The trade and investment opportunities are enormous.

“I have a team, and I am the captain of that team, and I assure you that we solve problems," the president affirmed.

Prospective investors were informed by Tinubu, that in Nigeria, there was no free lunch or shortcuts, but that he has, "good economic policy for the investors as well as able men and women in leadership and on the ground, who can drive the goal of broad prosperity through investment and infrastructure.

"I will captain and lead the course of investment, development, and prosperity for the largest democracy in Africa and for investors from the rest of the world," the president added, reiterating that Nigeria was open for business with intelligent, innovative, capable, and highly committed individuals in government, who were ready to drive the largest economy in Africa to destiny.

The president also told the Summit that, "he is proud," that the Nigerian stock market had broken records in its consistent bullishness since he assumed office.

Also speaking, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who addressed the roundtable whose theme was, "Building Partnerships with Renewed Hope for a Diversified

and Prosperous Economy," thanked Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Mr. Naveen Jindau, for the new $3 billion investment in iron ore processing and steel development in Nigeria.

Commending the Tata group and so many others who immediately responded to Tinubu's bold and decisive moves to correct the major systemic faults in the macro-economic and investment climate in Nigeria, the Finance Minister noted, "I also wish to thank Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, for his continued commitment to invest in the first phase at least $700 million dollars more in Nigeria."

The minister further used the opportunity to explain the underlying principles of Tinubu's eight-point strategy, emphasising that his agenda aimed to promote growth and job creation, poverty reduction, food security, improved

access to capital, inclusivity, business and citizen security, and fair play on a foundation of rule of law and anti-corruption.

Responding on behalf of investors, the Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, told the president that: "You have unified the FX market. You have freed up crucial capital to upgrade your public infrastructure. Now, you have just dropped your prepared remarks and have spoken from your heart.

“Our investors have heard from a leader who is doing everything possible to attract capital to Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians and our companies.

“Mr. President, we will bring these investments to Nigeria, and with your inspiring leadership style, we can only do more and more."

Also at the event, Nigeria's Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and his counterpart from

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Co-operation in the field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions, to be implemented at total population scale for digital transformation.

The Minister also signed an MoU with the Central Square Foundation for Co-operation in the field of Sharing Successful Ecosystems, which involved interventions relating to education technology, to be implemented at population scale for digital economic transformation.

Under the watch of Nigeria's Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, a third MoU on Infrastructure Development was signed between the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Limited (InfraCorp) and Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India, which helps investors looking for investment opportunities and options in India.

Closing the interactive session, the Director-General of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, noted that the Presidential Roundtable served as a robust foundation for Indian businesses looking to engage with Nigeria and would encompass cooperation across key areas, such as capacity building, skills development, agriculture, and the enhancement of digital and physical infrastructure, among others.

"Under the determined leadership of President Tinubu, the CII is prepared to dispatch a high-level delegation to Nigeria, and we are keen on establishing a second presence in Africa, with Nigeria as our target destination," he added.

Tinubu, thereafter met individually with each of the top pledging investors to finalise on the next steps to ensure that no environmental encumbrance stands in the way of their success in Nigeria.

Oramah Urges Developed Countries to Honour Their Promise on Climate Finance to Developing Nations

The President of the African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah has called on developed economies to honour their commitments to developing nations towards climate finance.

He made the call in his opening speech for the Head of State Panel on the theme “New Climate Finance Architecture,” at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, where leading decision-makers – from Africa and the wider international community gathered to discuss Africa’s exposure to climate change and its associated costs, with solutions and commitments for action to be formalised in the “Nairobi Declaration.”.

The event – convened by the African Union and hosted by the Government of Kenya – aims to create a forum in which government officials, policymakers, climate experts, businesses, civil society organisations, and international delegates can develop Africa-centric solutions which could be presented to the broader global community at the forthcoming COP28 in Dubai

in November.

A statement explained that Afreximbank’s participation reflected the institution’s recognition of the centrality of climate change amongst Africa’s various challenges, as rising temperatures and sea levels, droughts, and floods further constrain the continent’s economic development.

At the Summit, a delegation led by Oramah contributed to high-level discussions on climate finance, and several initiatives to support African states in developing future-proofed, green industries, which can accelerate economic development whilst also safeguarding the continent’s – and the world’s – ecological and climate security.

In his speech, Oramah commented that “the problem hasn’t been the deficit of ideas but the lack of action on the part of almost all stakeholders.” He stated that, “we must call on developed economies to honour their commitments to developing nations towards climate finance. In the absence of firm global action,

Africa is implementing concrete actions and putting forward pragmatic proposals to mobilise global resources to deal with the challenges of climate change.”

The bank’s commitment on climate change, which it was promoting at the Summit, was focused on climate adaptation.

“Afreximbank is working to coordinate and support programmes which mobilise finance for climaterelated initiatives, optimise naturebased solutions on the continent, and promote African food security and sustainable water supply, as well as investing in improvements to systems which manage and contain disasters when they occur.

“Specific proposals and initiatives led by the bank include a collaboration with Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) to create a product that protects African economies against food security that arises from climate-induced disasters.

“Afreximbank finances the premiums and provides food import finance, while ARC provides the insurance capacity,” the statement

noted.

Oramah added that with funding at just $1billion, this product was grossly underfunded, saying there was scope for the World Bank and capital-rich economies to step in by providing capital to this fund.

“Secondly, a global carbon tax, which many countries have advocated for, could also become a major source of liquidity for the climate insurance programme.

“In addition, Afreximbank is increasing its support for its member states in navigating an already precarious climate landscape.

“Through investments in the continent’s infrastructure to lay the groundwork for a low-carbon transition, as well as advocacy for Africa’s specific energy needs, it is rallying support for the development of African natural gas and energy reserves, which can in turn, accelerate the realisation of Africa’s renewable energy potential,” it added.

LAGOS BANKERS' NITE...

L-R: Council Member Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Rafiat Onitiri; MD/CEO Coleman Wires & Cables, George Onafowokan; MD/CEO Skystone Capital & Investment Ltd, Ola Olabinjo, and GM/Group Head Business Development BUA Group, Tajudeen Ahmed, at the CIBN Lagos Chapter's Bankers' Nite, held in Lagos…recently

OYETOLA VISITS LEKKI DEEP SEAPORT...

L-R: Managing Director, Lekki Port, Mr. Du Ruogang; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani; and Chief Operating Officer, Lekki Port, Mr.

Citing Inflation, High Landing Cost, Others, NERC Approves Increase in Prices of Pre-paid Meters

Single phase meters now N81,975, Three Phase N143,836

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), yesterday, announced the approval of a 40 per cent increase in the price of single phase prepaid meters from the previous N58,661.69 to N81,975.16.

In addition, NERC moved the price of the three - phase smart prepaid meter from N109,684.36 to N143,836.10, an increase of over 31 per cent.

The order to review the unit

costs of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations, was jointly signed by the commission’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba and the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.

Explaining that the order took effect from September 6, 2023, the power sector regulator explained that it would remain in force until amended or revoked by subsequent orders issued by the commission.

NERC stated that it was relying on the part of the law which

mandates it to ensure that no licensee shall supply electricity, after the expiry of the date appointed by the commission, except through installation of a proper meter in accordance with the extant regulations. Accordingly, it listed the objectives of the metering programme as the closure of the metering gap through accelerated roll out of meters and the elimination of the prevalent practice of estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

In addition, it stated that the

move would help attract private investment in the provision of meters and metering services in the sector as well as enhance revenue assurance at the retail end of the industry.

NERC explained that the closure of the metering gap for end-use customers was fundamental to the financial sustainability of the NESI as end-use meters provide revenue assurance to both the utility and their end-use customers.

“The Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme is one of the four

Oil Theft: Navy Destroys Another Vessel Laden with 20,000 Litres of Kerosene in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Navy has again destroyed a vessel used for illegally refined product confirmed to be kerosene in Abuloma jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The vessel, MV OFUOMA laden with about 20, 000 litres of illegally refined product was arrested by the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) alongside a wooden boat used for transferring the product into the vessel.

THISDAY gathered that the product, vessel and the wooden boat were set ablaze at the middle of the sea very far from any human settlement.

Speaking at the site of the destruction yesterday, Commander, Joint Task force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, said the product was set ablaze after the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority tested and confirmed it to be illegally refined.

Represented by Maritime Component Commander Operation Delta Safe, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, Ferriera said the vessel MV OFUOMA was intercepted by the troops on August 27, 2023, in Abuloma.

He said the arrest and destruction

of the product was in line with mandate to eradicate the region of crude oil theft, vandalism and other criminality, adding that vessel MV CECELIA earlier arrested on August 25, 2023, had been burnt.

"In line with mandate of Joint Task Joint South-south Operation Delta Safe, the Joint Force is determined to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the fight against crude oil theft, vandalism and other criminality in Niger Delta Region.

“This can be attested to with the numerous achievements that have been recorded in cause of our operations.

"It would be recalled that on August 15, 2023, our troops intercepted a vessel MV CECELIA in Port Harcourt, which was used as storage and dispensing unit for illegally refined product. The vessel was later handled after thorough investigation and confirmation that the product was illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.

"In same vein, on August 27, 2023, another vessel MV OFUOMA was discovered and intercepted by own troops with more than 20, 000 litres of illegally refined product suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil in Abuloma jetty in Port Harcourt.

"You recall that we witnessed the taking of samples of the product by some officials of the Nigerian

Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for testing, while parading the vessel and the suspects. It is noteworthy that the result is out and the product failed the standard requirements for AGO and thus confirmed to be illegally refined.

"With the confirmation of the illegality of the product being stored by MV OFUOMA, the

vessel is today being handled in line with the Extent Directive you have witnessed."

Ferriera stressed that the destruction of the vessel and product would serve as a deterrent to others who may be intending to be involved in the nation's economic sabotage. He urged the general public to continue to support the operations with credible information on such crime.

frameworks in the regulations for the provision of meters to end-use customers in NESI.

“Section 8(1c) of the regulations provides that the costs of singlephase and three-phase meters issued by MAPS, inclusive of all other associated costs of installation and warranties shall be at the regulated rates approved by the commission.

“The commission notes that the significant changes in macroeconomic indicators, such as inflation and changes in the foreign exchange rates have necessitated a review of the regulated rates for MAP meters,” NERC maintained.

NERC said it also considered relevant data on the significant changes in macroeconomic indicators from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) as benchmarks for the meter price review.

According to NERC, the new order will ensure the fair and reasonable pricing of meters to both MAPs and end-use customers and ensure its ability to recover reasonable costs associated with meter procurement and maintenance while ensuring that their pricing structure allows for a viable return on investment.

In addition, NERC noted that it

would help evaluate the affordability of meter services for consumers, aiming to prevent excessive pricing that could burden end-users and make sure that they are able to provide meters to customers in the prevailing economic realities.

The commission further stated that the approved meter prices were exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), but inclusive of the revised Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) sealing cost which is N842.80 per unit of single phase and N1,100.80 for three phase meters.

While urging all MAPs to adjust their prices to reflect the approved rates, NERC stressed that they shall supply meters previously paid for by end-use customers prior to the commencement of the order at the prevailing rate when payment was made by the customers without additional increase in cost.

“All Discos and MAPs are to develop/implement customer enlightenment campaigns on the rice review along with a schedule on the implementation of their meter rollout plans.

“All MAPs shall continue to file monthly sales and meter installation returns with the commission,” the power sector regulator stated.

Obaseki: FG Lacks Capacity, Can’t Fix Federal Roads

Faults naira devaluation, says policy pulling more Nigerians into poverty

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the federal government lacks the capacity to effectively manage itself and cannot be trusted to fix federal roads in the state, noting that the state government would work with the newly inaugurated local council chairmen to build alternative roads to end the suffering of residents and other users of the federal roads in the state.

Obaseki, while addressing journalists in Benin City, said his government remained committed to advancing development in all communities and improving the

livelihoods and welfare of the people of the state. The governor said, “The federal government as you know today lacks the capacity to manage itself not to talk of building these roads. It will take a while for them to be able to build and fix those roads. Fortunately, we have had other connections, so our priority is to design and work with the state and local governments to build alternative state roads. “Infrastructure is important and we should be able to move our people, their goods and services across the state to bring development.

“Today, we are in a crisis in our country. What is hurting Edo is the advantage we have in terms of our location of being at the core of the country and therefore being connected with roads owned by the federal government. When we build those roads, they will be barricaded and restricted for use.”

Decrying the current economic realities in the country which had continued to impoverish more citizens, Obaseki noted, “As you know today, we are facing very harsh economic times and it's tough. Every day, the naira

gets devalued and more people go into poverty as they can’t feed themselves.

“As a people and a society, we can't turn our eyes and abandon our people. We must look for a way to strengthen them and ensure that our citizens don't go to bed hungry.

“The poorest of the poor and the weakest in the society must not go to bed hungry and must be taken care of as it's our responsibility as a government. We can't wait for palliatives but rather create our own palliatives for Edo people; that surely, we will do for them.”

Laurence Smith during the official visit of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to Lekki Deep Sea Port at Itoke Village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos …. yesterday

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Moghalu: It’s Too Early to Have Honest

What is your assessment of the current government at the centre?

I’m one of those people who don’t believe in this 100 days thing. President BolaTinubu-led administration, in fairness, is still too young for anybody to think of an honest assessment. This, our administration is three months plus.

So it won’t be fair to start making a proper assessment of the administration.

However, I must be honest enough to say that the initial steps taken are quite courageous. He points to the direction of an administration that is committed to delivering on its promises. Because in these times, for you to run an administration, one thing you must have is courage to take very strong and hard decisions.

So I must say the government has started well, but requires all the citizens to keep supporting the government, keep encouraging the government, because we’re all part of the system.

Perhaps I should ask you if you have reconciled with APC?

I never quarrelled with APC. There was a disagreement, which was on principle. And the moment the issue was resolved by the court, I moved on. I was injured, I felt disrespected, I felt humiliated in a party I can boldly claim to be one of the founders of.

I’m not a joiner. So I had to follow the judiciary route as a Nigerian who believes that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. And fortunately enough, the three stages - we went to the High Court, to the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court - they all gave judgment in my favor. So I made my point. So for me, that phase has passed. Then we continued with our party.

What is your assessment of the new national leadership of the APC and the chances of the party winning the staggered elections in three states?

The new leadership of Dr. Umar Ganduje, it is not up to one month. So what basis are you going to assess him? The point is that he’s experienced, you can’t take that away from him. Somebody who has been special advisor, somebody who’s been Commissioner, somebody who’s been deputy governor, somebody who’s been governor.

I think if there’s any experience that is required to hold any public office, I think Dr. Ganduje has enough of it. But to whom much is given much is also expected. Everybody is expecting him to lead the party well, and like you rightly observed too, and there is a staggered election in three states, which provides his current leadership of the party an opportunity to demonstrate capacity.

So we have three states’ elections in November. So I expect that he will work very hard to deliver. Get everybody on board, and see to it that the party wins the elections in the three states that are going to be contested for in November.

The APC has had six national chairmen in 10 years. Most of them were sacked following internal crisis that bedevilled the party. What do you think should be done to stop this trend?*

That goes to show that it is a human organisation. Because, like I keep telling people, wherever there’s a human organisation, interests certainly would clash. Whenever there’s a human organisation, there are developments that may require you to change the way you are. You are not apt, you’re not fixated on a particular position, and that may have been what has happened in the issue of Chairmen of APC.

Don’t forget that it is only in this last instance that it involved the Chairman and Secretary. Usually, you find out that it is only the chairman because the box stops on the table of the chairman. He is the leader of the party. So, any failure in leadership or any feeling of such will now be pointed at the chairman just as the way he will get all the glory if the party wins any election or scores any positive feat. So changing up our chairmen for me, it doesn’t matter so much. It’s about getting the right people at the right time to do the right job. So if it requires changes till

will get the best, to God be the glory.

One of the reasons why Senator Abdulahi Adamu was asked to go was based on alleged corruption. And, surprisingly, Ganduje that was brought to replace him reportedly has a corruption case against him.

Is that an indication that the present government is corruption-friendly?

The point here is, are we not living on speculation? Is there any judgement, any indictment of Ganduje? There’s none. It is all about what is being said. We have strong anti-corruption agencies. Nobody has come out to say, Ganduje is corrupt. Nobody has taken him to court. No judgement is pronounced. I am confident that our party wouldn’t have allowed him to be chairman if there’s a conviction or if there’s a pronouncement over him.

As of now, it is still in the realm of speculation. Even the one we are talking about, Adamu, is still in the realm of speculation because it has not been proven. You know, we’re very quick in this country in sentencing people to prison without even hearing them out. But meanwhile, the truth still remains that you don’t have evidence to prove that these people committed these offenses they’ve been accused of because if you had evidence, you go to court and the judiciary is there. If they find you guilty, they pronounce you guilty, and it is only

at that stage, that you can boldly come out and say that somebody is corrupt. Otherwise, you’re living in the realm of speculation.

For 2023 presidential poll, your party fielded a muslim-muslim ticket, after the ouster of Adamu, the party still fielded a chairman who is a muslim and the National Secretary who is also a muslim. Do you think your party is sensitive enough to the Christians in the party like yourself and the general public?

I think the party is sensitive. It is not about the sensitivity of the party now. When the party fielded muslim-muslim ticket, Nigerians ignored that and then chose competence, chose capacity to deliver. Yes! muslim-muslim ticket was presented, but it did not override the other benefits. People felt that it’s better for them to deal with so-so and so-so persons based on their capacity and the belief they have in them in the ability to deliver and the expectation.

So for me, that did not matter at all. Because it has happened it has happened. We had an opportunity to say we don’t accept it. And then when you look at the party, it was circumstantial. For political expediency, the presidency is in the south, a Chairman has to come from the North. In the north today, truth be told, we have more muslims than we have Christians. Just like we have more christians in the south than we have in the north. So I wouldn’t be surprised that the person who emerges from the north is a muslim. Then coming to the south, the Secretary emerging became also circumstantial because from the

area where he comes from, there are families that they have christians and muslims together.

In fact, I didn’t even know the Secretary is a muslim until recently and you don’t even need to go too far to find out. Our president in his house, the president is a Muslim, the wife is not only a Christian but a pastor. So how do you balance that? He goes to show that the issue of religion does not matter even in the homes. So let the emphasis be on the capacity and the ability of the people to deliver on the responsibilities assigned to them. Because if they do very well, nobody will remember whether they are christians or muslims. It is when the person now fails, you start looking for other problems to bring up.

I keep telling people, there is no supermarket in Abuja, for example or a market in Abuja that only muslims go to. There is also no market here in Abuja that only christians go to. There are no shops here you can say you must come from the north to buy from them or you must come from the south to buy from them. These things are not necessary.

The important thing is what do we do as a people to better the living condition of our people so that government can impact on them and I think that’s where the emphasis is for now.

You are coasting to the finish line, looking back now, how would you assess yourself? What would you beat your chest for and say I’m a satisfied person and what are those unfulfilled dreams?

Let me put it this way. I would rather find it very difficult to start assessing myself by saying I did very well or I did not do well.

But I would rather prefer a situation where those who worked with me, those in NIWA who worked with me from the date I came in up to the date I will be leaving to the glory of God, for them to be in a position to say this man who came here did well or he did not do well. But what I am going to do is to avail you of a brochure that contains all our projects from 2019 that I came in up to this month, by the 29th, my first term will end.

So that you can be able to look at the projects, you can be able to see them, you can be able to see the list so that when you’re speaking or when you’re writing, you write authoritatively. But I feel satisfied and I sincerely appreciate the former president, my former ministers, the two of them, who provided me the opportunity, who gave me this platform to serve. I also appreciate my colleagues in NIWA from the least person to the highest person, I’m eternally grateful, but most importantly, I thank God Almighty, who literally gave me good health, protected me, guided me and assisted me through to this point.

But I am very satisfied with the little I have contributed in building that agency. If nothing else you will say today, the NIWA you know today was not the same NIWA in 2019.

Four years is very small for you to achieve all, what are those things you wished were completed under your watch?

There is quite a lot that still has to be done. But don’t forget that this is a relay race. You do your bit, you hand over the baton to somebody else to do. Just like somebody handed over the baton to me.

Even if I do a second term, I would still certainly one day hand the baton over to somebody. There is still quite a lot to do in NIWA because I believe very strongly that the potential in the riverine sector, the maritime economy is enormous and we need to explore it.

The government needs to invest further in that sector to be able to reap the benefits that abound in that sector.

Like I always say, Nigeria has the advantage of over 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, though it’s only about 3,000 and some fractions that are all year round navigable. You can also access 28 states of our country by water if our channels are all open.

So even if it is this we achieve, then we have achieved a milestone. If nothing else, by the time we move bulk cargo by water, you remove them from the road, we save our road infrastructure.

President BolaTinubu-led administration, in fairness, is still too young for anybody to think of an honest assessment. This, our administration is three months plus. So it won’t be fair to start making a proper assessment of the administration. However, I must be honest enough to say that the initial steps taken are quite courageous. He points to the direction of an administration that is committed to delivering on its promises. Because in these times, for you to run an administration, one thing you must have is courage to take very strong and hard decisions. So I must say the government has started well, but requires all the citizens to keep supporting the government, keep encouraging the government, because we’re all part of the system.

Moghalu

Aletor: I Will Revive Edo’s Battered Economy If Elected Governor in 2024

An aspirant for the 2024 gubernatorial poll in Edo state under the platform of the Labour Party, Adolphus Arebanmhen Aletor, in this interview with Adibe Emenyonu, speaks about his plan for the heartbeat of the nation especially in resuscitating the state’s ailing economy.

Motives for your governorship aspiration?

I want to describe my aspiration as a call to service. I usually say that I am blessed to have taken the decision to run for governorship considering my political experience. Apart from students’ union politics, I have not been in politics but have cut my teeth in the mainstream corporate world. My type of business has exposed me to the grassroots and that is where I find my strength. When I do business with ordinary citizens by providing them with financial services, I realized that their quality of life has reached an unimaginable deplorable level, worse than when we were growing up. Quality of life is supposed to be improving and not declining. To further make it worse, I am able to easily identify solutions but in most cases, I see past governments, in trying to provide solutions, first make things worse before making an attempt to solve them. They complicate simple things. So every time I see government policies versus execution, I am appalled at the result and the ultimate impact on the life of ordinary citizens.

Many times, the government uses indices and statistics to defend the quality of life.

But what are statistics if the ordinary man on the street cannot feel the prosperity that the government is preaching?

So for me, the driving force to service is to seize the opportunity to use simple methods and approaches to creating a good life for our people. This good life is attainable and it cuts across all sectors of the economy, be it education, health, transportation, housing, agriculture, infrastructure, and so on and so forth.

Areas of priority to push forward?

The economy of Edo state has been badly beaten. The current government has struggled to deliver what the people want. Our people yearn for quality education. Investment in this sector has not made much impact as children still study in deplorable conditions. We can tinker with

the model of operating our schools such as allowing missionaries or old boys/girls associations to run them while the Ministry of Education will have time to focus on quality assurance. The health sector especially in the areas of primary health care has not received sufficient attention. Most diseases can be tackled at this stage to avoid escalation. Nothing is wrong with having health Centers/Dispensaries in the 192 wards of Edo state.

Road infrastructure deserves a declaration of a state of emergency. Using partnerships to ensure roads are in good working conditions will not be a bad idea.

Insecurity, including food, lives, and property will also take a front row. There is a forecast of food shortage this year and this is largely due to climate change, flooding, herdsmen attack, wars, rural-urban migration, etc.

Each of these factors requires that they be analyzed and solutions provided. The area of youth engagement and industrialization will go together. Gone are the days when you gather youths in a place

and share face caps and tell them stories. Industrialization will form the bedrock for their engagement and employment. Edo state is ripe for an industrial hub/ village with all the resources like energy, road, water, labor, etc facilitated by the government. Manufacturing, assembling, and delivery industries will thrive in an industrial village more thereby creating jobs and prosperity.

What will you do differently to distinguish you from the crowd of constraints?

The government has largely taken the citizens for granted for too long. We have seen government officials carry out unconstitutional acts, negating the rule of law and plundering the lives of ordinary men. We want a people-oriented government where the constitution is respected and the rule of law is upheld. For instance, should Edo state not have in place a solid local government governance structure?

Apart from denying the citizens the power to choose their leader, the act is unconstitutional and stifles grassroots development. Our people have been made to accept less as the best. We plan to introduce local government reforms that will decentralize power and give the

We want a people-oriented government where the constitution is respected and the rule of law is upheld. For instance, should Edo state not have in place a solid local government governance structure? Apart from denying the citizens the power to choose their leader, the act is unconstitutional and stifles grassroots development. Our people have been made to accept less as the best. We plan to introduce local government reforms that will decentralize power and give the people a sense of belonging in governance.

people a sense of belonging in governance.

Gender balancing that has been downplayed will see women take critical roles in our kind of government.

Attention will be given to food, food, and food. A hungry man they say is an angry man. We will take steps to encourage food production and explore the agricultural value chain. Regional associations shall not be limited to politics. A South-South regional development bank to cater to common major infrastructural development will be established especially now that energy/power and rail have been removed from the exclusive list. It is time to explore regional strength instead of waiting for the federal government.

Your message to Edo people?

Edo state is the heartbeat of the nation. The heart is the powerhouse of the body.

The heart has vigour and a vibe.

We have not seen that in Edo in a long while. My charge to the people of Edo state is that; I will make good situations in our State better, I will make better situations best.

And for those situations that have become worse, they will receive a new lease of life and become good.

We shall, together grow the situation in Edo state to be the best. Edo state will become an Educational hub as it used to be, Edo state shall become a medical tourism destination to harness and expose our gynecological, orthopedically, psychiatry, and other ancient medical expertise available in the State.

Edo state shall become a food hub, sports destination, technological hub, city of culture, ancient history, and artifacts destination.

If only I could do all these alone, I would jump in, but that is not feasible. We are in it together. That is why I make this charge and I urge you all, the good people of Edo state to stand up and support me in my aspiration to be the next Governor of Edo state come 2024.

God bless the good people of Edo. God bless Edo land.

Aletor

NDDC in Search of Realistic and Implementable Budgets

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, recently engaged critical stakeholders of the region to fashion out an implementable budget for the agency in 2024 fiscal year, Okon Bassey reports

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Inspired by the desire to entrench collaboration, cooperation, partnership and synergy in the development of the Niger Delta Region by all key stakeholders and States in the Region, the Executive Management of the NDDC convoked a twoday Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Budget Conference on the proposed NDDC 2024 Budget christened “Budget of Reconstruction".

Before now several knocks had trail the activities of the NDDC over failure to always provide adequate budgetary provisions for the developmental needs of the nine states of the Nìger Delta region.

Worried by the spate of criticism that had been following the commission's activities, the current management of the NDDC recently summoned critical stakeholders of the region to a meeting in search of a workable budget to meet programmes of the commission.

The two days gathering which took place on August 21st and 22nd, 2023 at Ibom Icon and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had as its theme "Partners for Sustainable Development, Forum-NDDC 2024 Budget Conference”; while attendance were drawn across the representatives from the nine States of the Niger Delta Region, International Oil & Gas Companies, Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCON), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Youth Group among others.

The Executive Director, Finance & Administration (EDFA) of the NDDC, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd.), gave an ìnside why the forum was held saying the 2024 Budget of the Commission was geared towards stakeholder participation and restructuring of the Commission’s entire budgeting process in order to achieve realistic and implementable budget, as well as the achievement of strategic goals and objectives through the instrumentality of Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

"We have gathered here today to give an account of the process the Niger Delta Development Commission has undertaken in the preparation of the NDDC 2024 Proposed Budget.

"The Budget Cycle of NDDC started in April 2023 with the inauguration of the Management Budget Committee and eventual issuance of the NDDC 2024 Budget Guidelines by the Managing Director/CEO.The 2024 Budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission is christened the “BUDGET OF RECONSTRUCTION”.

"The Philosophy behind this is that it is the first time since 2018 that the full Budgeting Cycle of the Commission is strictly followed by the system and also full commitment of the Executive Management to do what is right. This represents a fresh start for the Commission and attempt to return it to its original mandate.

"The Strategy to achieve the “Budget of Reconstruction” is multi-pronged approach, which are:Stakeholders participatory budgeting: This is the involvement of all the stakeholders (internal and external) of NDDC in the Budgeting process of the Commission.

"The stakeholders will be firmly determined

by a thorough Stakeholder mapping process. Restructuring of the entire NDDC Budgeting Process: The entire budgeting process of the Commission is being restructured in other to achieve a realistic and implementable Budget.

"The approved Budget Cycle will be adhered to as much as possible so that the NDDC 2024 Budget will get to the National Assembly via the Presidency by 30th September 2023.

"We have set out our strategic goals and objectives for 2024 which are centered on the drive to implementation of Legacy Projects and Programmes through the instrumentality of Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) as well as setting outside 20% of each state revenue for payment of legacy debts and 10% for counterpart funding.

"This NDDC Budget is a product of participatory Budgeting process, which was done by the State Project Committees in conjunction with their respective stakeholders. The Stakeholders will also be key in the quarterly Performance Implementation process of the Commission.

"We have gathered here today as critical stakeholders to review, harmonize and adopt the Budget for onward transmission. It is our expectation that by the end of this exercise, duplications of projects will be completely eradicated while having Regional projects ownership.

"This exercise we are holding today is in fulfilment of this present Executive Management promise to the Niger Delta people that NDDC Budget will be participatory and transparent. The documents that the various States Stakeholders will be working with are products of NDDC State Project Committees with some stakeholders in the various States.

For the Managing Dìrectort/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the gathering came 16 years after presidential directive for the commission to renew its commitment as a region and as a people.

"Today, under a new leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose famed work in rebuilding Lagos state as governor emboldens all of us to believe, once again, that there is hope for Nigeria and the Nìger Delta region, in particular, we are laying a fresh foundation for the kind of partnership needed to facilitate regional sustainable development.", he noted.

Dr. Ogbuku said the stakeholders forum was aimed at providing a veritable platform for achieving effective budgeting system in line with the ‘’Renewed Hope’’ project of the Federal Government.

"This conference is very vital. For one, it helps to revive the platform of the partners for sustainable development forum which was created as part of the regional master plan implementation guideline, to bring all service providers and project implementers to the same table to fashion a common pathway based on shared vision for the development of the Niger Delta region.

"For another, it affords all of us the incentive and opportunity to pool our

resources together, initiate projects and programmes within the obligatory goal of building a better region and empowering our people.

"By so doing, we would, arising from the conference, galvanize our energies for a common purpose, eliminate duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process, reduce incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reduce wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional developmental initiatives by all stakeholders."

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore urged the NDDC to evolve budgets that will meet the development needs of the states and communities in the region.

Belgore who was represented by the Director of planning and statistics, Alfred Abbah, lauded the current management of the Commission for the stakeholders forum initiative.

"I am happy to be here today to deliver the Keynote address at this forum of critical Stakeholders to prepare a draft 2024 budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), focused on a common quest for the development of the Niger Delta Region, and by extension, the country at large.

"This forum, themed: “Partners for Sustainable Development Forum-NDDC 2024 Budget Conference”, presents a veritable atmosphere towards achieving effective budgeting system for the NDDC, in line with the ‘’Renewed Hope’’ project of the Federal Government.

Commending the current management of the Commission for this initiative, he noted that this has not happened in a long while, and it is the first, since the ministry started supervising the Commission.

"Undoubtedly, NDDC budgets over the years have been faced with challenges, which included belated submission, delayed approvals amongst others. These challenges have led to low/poor implementation of which this conference intends to address.

"I will encourage the Commission to continue to evolve and adopt a budgetary process that is in tandem with the stipulated provisions of the relevant Establishment Act. The Sections 18 and 19 of the NDDC Act, require the Commission’s Board to submit a Budget proposal of a succeeding year, no later than 30th September of the current year, thus the 2024 Budget of the Commission ought to be submitted by 30th September, 2023. The Commission is procedurally to submit the Budget proposal to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs who submits to the President, C-in-C after scrutiny and review. Upon submission, the

President then transmits it to the National Assembly.

"The way forward is to embrace robust and innovative pathways anchored on transparency and Stakeholder participation towards right-budgeting, thus maximizing the available resources to address the most critical needs of the people.

"On our part as the supervising Ministry, charged with the responsibility of coordinating the overall developmental efforts and activities in the Niger Delta Region, we promise to always provide and avail the Commission all the necessary assistance needed to ensure passage of your annual budgets and consistent flow of statutory contributions from the Federal Government.", he stated.

A communique issued at the end of the conference tasked the authority of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to strike a balance between meeting the political demands and serving the people of the region by executing people centric projects.

Participants noted the strategic importance of the PSD forum in the Budgetary Process which aimed at eliminating duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process; reducing the incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reduce wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional development initiatives by all stakeholders.

Noting that the PSD Forum, was last held in 2016, stakeholders unanimously agreed that the forum be held quarterly for the various stages of budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

In the communique, the NDDC was urged to operate a lean budget that will allow commencement and completion of projects within a certain and realistic budget cycle. Also, it was resolved that the budget of the Commission should have a spread to cover the several ethnic nationalities and communities in the region.

"For the 2025 Budget, less of new projects should be captured in order to ensure the quick completion of all ongoing projects under the 2024 budget.

"The timeline for payment of contractors should not exceed 45 days, allowing for 15 days buffer after which penalties will accrue for non-payment of contractors.

"That a town hall meeting and engagement of the several ethnic nationalities of the region be convoked prior to budget sessions. This is to ensure that the budget receives inputs from the people directly.

"That due to flood predictions and impact on the region, there is need for provisions for flood control measures in the 2024 Budget under regional provision, as well as provision of IDP camps in the LGAs of the region for flood impact reduction.

"To ensure equity amongst all the LGAs regarding the 2024 budget, the Commission should identify deserving ongoing projects with significant completion status and where the funds committed to such projects are insufficient, funds may be drawn from the legacy debt to argument.", the communique stated.

Stakeholders

NDDC-2024 budget forum

Across section of stakeholders during the NDDC 2024 budget forum

Town & Country, A Fragrance Crafted in ‘Winston Churchill’s’ Smell

Sunday Ehigiator in this report writes about the recently launched ‘Town & Country’ perfume from the Crown Perfumery archives of Clive Christian, in collaboration with Seinde Signature in Nigeria, which reenacts the smell worn in 1925 by former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

Crafted from the Crown Perfumery Company archives from 1925 to join the Crown Collection in 2023, ‘Town & Country’ was recently launched in Lagos State Nigerian by Clive Christian in partnership with Seinde Signature and by extension, Providus Bank, to give fragrance lovers in Nigeria a feel of Winston Churchill smell in 1925.

The Famous Crown Love Story

“The foundation of our brand is rooted in a British great love story and it centres on Queen Victoria and Prince Albeit. When Victoria became Queen at 18 years old all the people around her didn't think she could rule on her own and there was a lot of pressure on her to find a husband. “So the husband she ended up settling for was Albeit who was her cousin, a German Prince. They had a long, beautiful, lasting relationship centred around one particular flower, the orange blossom.

“The orange blossom was so important to them because, in the early British days, they were not expressive emotionally. British people are more reserved, particularly in the nobility classes; they find it hard to express deep emotions, so they develop this cool language, which is the language of flowers called ‘Floriography’.

“And with this language, I could give you a flower and it will say everything I want to say. So I don't have to say a word at all. You see someone you like and you give them a flower, they know it is time to break up and give you a flower you know a give you a flower you know it is over. The message is in the type of the flower. You could communicate deep emotions with flowers.

“So Albert and Victoria meet each other, they like each other and there is a problem, Albert cannot propose to Victoria because she is the Queen. You are not worthy to propose to a Queen so only Victoria can propose to Albert. And when the Queen proposes, you can't say no. So when Victoria proposed, Albert said yes but he was always worried that she would never know that he loved her because she would think he married her. After all, he had to.

“So when she proposed he gave her beautiful brooches designed with the orange blossom and in the language of flowers Orange blossom means my love is true, my love is eternal. And it meant absolutely everything to them so their whole life centred around this flower.

“On her wedding day, she wore orange blossom earrings and a necklace and carried Orange blossom in her bridal bouquet. They had lots of kids and in 1861 Albert got sick and died. Queen Victoria spent the rest of her life mourning him for forty years and

launch

Town & Country Perfume, recently held in Victoria Island Lagos

she famously wore black for forty years. In those years, the single focus of her life was to remember Albert, she went to West London, and half of it was built with monuments to Albert.

“All she wanted was to stay home and think about her late husband. The mourning clothes she wore used to come with what was called ‘The Widow's Veil’ but you can't wear the crown and the veil together because of the way it was designed.

“She has to choose to wear the crown or the veil and she picks the veil all the time, so a special Jeweler in London designed a very special crown that she could wear together with the veil and this is a crown that is commonly associated with Queen Victoria, it is called ‘The Small Diamond Crown’.

“When she died, this was the crown that was placed on her coffin. But in all those times that she was doing all that to remember Albert, one of the things that she did was that there was a man called William Thompson who used to help Victoria and Albert design perfumes for each other, they were big perfume lovers.

“Victoria would sit with William Thompson to make a perfume for Albert and Albert would sit with him to make perfume for Victoria. So when she was remembering her dead husband, she gave the exclusive right of ‘The Small Diamond Crown’ to William Thompson in 1872 to use this special small crown on every product he would ever use for the rest of eternity.

“So no other company except William Thompson's company called ‘The Crown Perfumery Company’ and his descendants can use the image of it. So this is the crown that you will find on top of all our bottles.

“The Crown Perfumery Company later became Clive Christian perfume in 1999. So we carry this beautiful heritage and legacy of the famous British love story.”

The above is a background to how Clive Christian came to be using the signature small diamond crown cover on all her bottles as narrated by Clive Christian's Regional Director for Northern European, the UK and Africa, Mr Tate Torongo, during the official launch of ‘Town & Country’ in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Clive Christian Clive Christian went on to become a luxury British perfume house that creates the world’s finest perfumes. Timeless classics, with intense, exquisite and lasting formulations for pure perfume pleasure, which is the ultimate form of self-expression.

The brand’s predecessor, the Crown Perfumery Company established in 1872, is the only house ever to have been granted permission to use Queen Victoria’s crown on its bottles, an image that defines every bottle of Clive Christian perfume to this day.

In 1999 Clive Christian Perfume launched the Original Collection, pairs which include 1872, X and No.1.

This was followed in 2010 by the Private Collection. The Noble Collection, whose first pair launched in 2016, celebrates eras of architectural and horticultural prominence and style.The perfume house launched Addictive Arts in 2017; inspired by mood-enhancing ingredients. In 2019 launched the pinnacle of luxury perfume, before eventually launching ‘Town & Country’ in 2023.

The Crown Collection

The Crown Collection first launched in 2020 and has risen to become one of the leading collections under the Clive Christian perfume house.

In its eye-catching signature red bottle, these perfumes tell a story from the past, a secret formula from the brand's archives in the storied Crown Perfumery Company, re-imagined for the modern-day connoisseur of this luxury perfume house.

Celebrating a unique heritage, guarded by the Clive Christian brand, the Crown Collection sits at the very heart of the perfume house's story; from its intimate relationship with Queen Victoria to its position as a leading house for the eras.

Town & Country

The Town & Country Perfume is no exception to Clive Christian’s lists of luxury niche perfumes. First crafted in 1925, the perfume is said to have been worn by Winston Churchill and was a defining scent for the house loved by British and global royalty, celebrities and influencers of the day.

“Paying tribute to a heritage like no other, this modern-day blend pays tribute to the sophisticated elegance of London Town and the quiet rejuvenating freshness of the country”, says Torongo.

Town & Country

According to him, “Today, Town & Country takes the signature herbaceous blend referenced from the old formula books with clary sage and juniper. Mossy and musky woody tones echo the heritage woods and spice of 20thcentury storytelling.

“It is reimagined with the Clive Christian hallmarks of complexity, concentration and dedication to the finest ingredients- perfectly crafted for self-expression.

“It consists of 207 ingredients, belonging to the ‘Spicy Woody Amber Fragrance Family, with 25 per cent concentration.”

“It is crisp with refreshing notes from the most elegant of herbs resting on a deeper base, capturing the natural beauty of the countryside and the elegance of London Town.

“The top notes are lemon, juniper, bergamot, and clary sage. The heart notes are, cardamom, white tea, sandalwood, and olibanum, while the base notes are, grey amber, cedarwood, Kashmir fusion, and patchouli.”

The Partnership

Speaking on the partnership with Clive Christian and Providus Bank, the MD/CEO of Seinde Signature, Seinde Olusola, said, “Clive Christian coming into the Nigerian space with their prestige all over the world further projects what we stand for as the best in the country.

“Apart from validating our business, that we don't do fake, and being in direct communication with niche manufacturers, Clive Christian's partnership further expands the Nigeria niche market.

“This Town & Country cost £400 and we sell in all our stores at the Naira equivalent. So even though they are not exclusive to us alone in Nigeria, they approached us for collaboration. And after several meetings in Italy and London, we finally made it happen.

“This is the first time it is launched in the Nigerian market with the help of Seinde Signature Limited.

“Clive Christian is about 150 years old, we have all their other products in our store, but Town & Country is just being introduced to the market and they are doing so through Seinde Signature.”

Speaking on the partnership with Providus Bank, he said, “Our partnership with Providus goes as far back as October 1, 2022. We understand that if any of their customers use their cards in any of our stores they get a specific discount, while they talk about us to their customers.

“So the partnership at both ends is all about customer acquisition. We get customers through them and they also get customers through us.”

L-R: Founder Mintyn, Eze Amuchie; Clive Christian's Regional Director for Northern European, the UK and Africa, Mr Tate Torongo, and the MD/CEO Seinde Signature, Seinde Olusola, at the official

of

BUSINESS REVIEW

Still on Oando’s Audacious Moves to Grow Asset Portfolio

Afew days after the announcement of Oando’s planned acquisition of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), there are excitements that Oando’s audacious move to bridge the gap created by the wave of divestments by some international oil companies will spur other local players to fill the emerging void, reports Festus Akanbi

In what looks like a precursor to the anticipated gale of acquisitions in the nation’s oil industry under the current political dispensation, the public disclosure of the planned acquisition of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), a subsidiary of Italian energy group, Eni, by Oando Plc, a Nigerian multinational energy company operating in the upstream, midstream and downstream, is set to break the glass ceiling in the history of acquisitions for value in Nigeria.

On Monday, it was reported that Italian oil major Eni has signed an agreement with Oando, an energy solutions provider listed on both the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, for the sale of all its stake in Nigerian Agip, a wholly-owned subsidiary focusing on onshore oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, as well as power generation.

Analysts reacting to the audacious move by Oando said the acquisition should be seen as a pointer to the important role indigenous actors will play in the future of the Nigerian upstream sector apart from the mileage the investment decisions will give the Nigerian company which is quoted both in Nigeria and in Johannesburg stock exchange.

Based on 2021 reserves estimates, Oando said its total reserves stand at 503.3m barrels while the transaction will deliver a 98 per cent increase. In addition, the transaction grows Oando’s exploration asset portfolio through the acquisition of a 90 per cent interest in OPL 282 and a 48 per cent interest in OPL 135. The sale is expected to nearly double Oando’s reserves to 996 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Taking Advantage of Acquisition Opportunities

Those familiar with Oando’s statement of mission weren’t surprised at the bold steps being taken to position the company as a leading integrated energy company operating in Africa. The company said the acquisition, which is subject to necessary regulatory approval will give Oando the scale and capability to pursue a range of new projects and acquisition opportunities. These, the company listed to include a multitude of farm-in and acquisition opportunities to realise its medium-term to long-term strategy. According to the company, its immediate focus is on Nigeria, saying it is evaluating other opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea.

Analysts said right now, international oil companies are increasingly focused on deeper offshore opportunities and have undertaken major onshore divestments, thus offering unique acquisition opportunities for indigenous independents in reserves, resources, and production.

The latest acquisition by Oando did not come as a surprise to oil industry watchers given the path which the company has threaded since its formation.

Oando sees Nigeria as the bedrock of its stable of assets which is also crucial in its near-term strategy of acquiring near-producing fields. It maintains that it has successfully built a vast portfolio of oil and gas assets and acts as both operator and partner to Nigerian and Multinational companies. OER holds interests in 14 licenses for the exploration, development and production of oil and gas assets located onshore, swamp, and offshore.

Organic Growth

The Company has strategically focused its growth on organic means through the optimisation of its existing portfolio, developing proven but undeveloped assets; and inorganic means, through governmental bid rounds, as well as acquiring unutilised near-term production assets from international oil companies during divestment programmes.

Oando PLC is organised functionally into several operating divisions: Upstream: Oando Energy Resources (OER, The leading indigenous exploration and production company in Nigeria) and downstream- Oando Vitol and Helios (OVH Energy), Oando Trading.

Oando Energy Resources is a leading African exploration and production company. An independent oil and gas company with world-class operations, the company is at the cutting edge of Africa’s upstream sector, with significant investments in a robust portfolio of oil and gas fields, as well as participating interests in onshore and offshore producing assets.

NAOC, on its part, has interests in four onshore blocks and two onshore exploration leases as well as two power plants in Nigeria. Apart from Oil Mining Leases (OML) 60, 61, 62, 63, NAOC also has interests in the Okpai 1 and 2 power plants with a total nameplate capacity of 960 megawatts as well as in two Onshore Exploration Leases (OPL) 282 and 135, for which it also holds operatorship.

However, NAOC’s participating interest in the Shell Production Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture of 5 per cent, is not included in the perimeter of the transaction and will be retained in Eni’s portfolio.

“Following the transaction completion with Oando PLC, Eni will maintain its presence in Nigeria through Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE) and Agip Energy and Natural Resources (AENR), reiterating the company’s commitment to its employees health and safety, as well as to the environment.

Also in a statement announcing its agreement with Eni for the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares of NAOC, Oando listed some of the highlights of the deal as the increase in its current participating interests in OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63 from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.

It also increases Oando’s ownership stake in all

NEPL/NAOC/OOL JV assets and infrastructure which include 40 discovered oil and gas fields, of which 24 are currently producing, approximately 40 identified prospects and leads, 12 production stations, approximately 1,490 km of pipelines, three gas processing plants, the Brass River oil terminal, the Kwale-Okpai phases 1 & 2 power plants and associated infrastructure.

Unlocking Opportunities for Indigenous Actors

The man behind the record-making deal, who is also the Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC, Wale Tinubu, said that the agreement underscored the role indigenous actors will play in the future of the Nigerian upstream sector.

“The synergies created by this acquisition will unlock unparalleled opportunities for us to re-align expectations, enhance efficiency, optimise resource allocation, and significantly increase production.”

Tinubu explained that the latest investment decision aligns with the company’s strategy of acquiring, enhancing, appraising, and efficiently developing reserves, adding that “Today’s announcement is not just an important milestone for the future of Oando; it brings to bear the

important role indigenous actors will play in the future of the Nigerian upstream sector.”

According to Tinubu, having achieved the significant milestone, Oando was looking forward to closing the transaction and harnessing the full potential of the enhanced platform to accrue value for local communities, stakeholders and shareholders.

Tinubu and Oando’s Success Story

Tinubu, who began his career in 1990 as an attorney, specialising in corporate and petroleum law assignments, has no doubt, carved out an enviable position as one of Nigeria’s most venerable dealmakers, placing himself atop the pecking order in Nigeria’s oil industry. The company has become an African success story. It now has six subsidiaries; Oando Production and Development Company; Oando Refinery; Oando Trading Company; Oando Marketing; Oando Power Company; and Oando Energy Services. It has over 500 petrol stations in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, the Republic of Benin, and Sierra Leone.

Like the other assets in contention, it was learnt that the current deal will have to be approved by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC).

Wale Tinubu

canvasses a shift from a GDP-centric view of the world to a humancentric one

See page 25

SO FAR, SO HOPEFUL

Governor Namadi is leveraging his experience in the private sector and government to hit the ground running, reckons

BASHIR IBRAHIM HASSAN

See page 25

EDITORIAL ENFORCING WILDLIFE PROTECTION LAWS

The continent must rise quickly to make democracy work well as military takeovers spread, MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE writes

AFRICA’S GROWING COUP TOLERANCE

The memories of the April 22, 1990 military coup in Nigeria have refused to leave me. I left my house in Ojodu, Lagos that morning for a church service in Ikeja, oblivious of the historic a cousin in Ikeja led me into the gathering of his neighbours listening attentively to the voice of Gideon Orkar who was addressing the nation “on behalf of the Nigerian armed forces.” After digesting the broadcast, I came to the conclusion that the plan to unseat the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida would not stand. And I told my fellow listeners so. There was something silly about plotting to dismember Nigeria in a coup announcement.

That attempt lacked some critical elements the two successful ones in the 1980s, namely those announced by generals Sani Abacha and Joshua Dogonyaro, had. Orkar and his gang had hoped that Nigerians would troop to the streets and celebrate their liberation from heaven knows what. Whatever their projections and objectives were, they simply generality of the people. That misadventure, clearly did not pass the popular test. It also marked the last time the khaki boys made open moves to wrest political power from civilians in Nigeria.

Since then, however, some other countries in Africa have been reminding the world that the very act of grabbing seats of government via the gun may not become extinct soon. For the record, our continent has for so long held the unenviable position of the region with the highest number of coups. In a report published by two American researchers - Jonathan Powell of University of Central Florida and Clayton Thyne of University of Kentucky - last month, of all the 486 coup attempts recorded globally from 1950 to 2022, Africa alone accounts for 214, of which 106 were successful. Its closest rival, Latin America, has 146 attempts with 70 successes. Out of the 54 African nations, 45 have witnessed political power seizure drama at least once.

of the continent’s coups just within the last four years can be really concerning. Riding on sustained mass protests in Sudan, its ex long-time ruler, President Omar al-Bashir, was sacked in 2019 by the armed forces under Ahmed Ibn Auf. Two years later, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan sent Auf packing. Now, the hostilities between government soldiers and paramilitary rebels have brought the once prosperous country to its knees while struggling to prosecute a transition to civil rule programme. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali was removed in 2020. The following year, another coup took place in the francophone nation. Its strongman, Col. Assimi Goita, still holds the reins in Bamako.

It was the turn of Chad in April 2021 when President Idriss Deby who had held onto power for 31 years was gunned down while visiting his troops engaged in prolonged battles against rebels in the northern part of the country. His son, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby, then succeeded him

immediately.

Tunisia registered what’s popularly called self-coup in 2021. President Kais Saied utilised the violent unrest in many parts of the nation to oust the government of Hichem Mechichi. It was the turn of Burkina Faso in January 2022 as President Roch Marc Christian Kabore’s time was ended by Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba who was also kicked out in September by Capt. Ibrahim Traore for failing to frontally tackle the nagging challenge of Islamist insurgency. Today, the coup king in Ouagadougou and his Malian counterpart are the staunchest sub-regional supporters of the new junta in Niger which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in July this year.

As if to achieve some regional balance in the continuing equation of leadership turmoil, Gabon, in truth an overdue candidate for change at the helm, has now stepped forward from the Central African zone. President Ali Bongo who had led the oil-rich country since 2009 and whose father, Omar, had virtually pinned the former French colony down from 1967 till Ali took over, was only denied the opportunity to enjoy another rigged term in

man whose health is visibly compromised and in dire need of delicate nursing, who ought not to even be a local councillor, had enough time to shoot a video while under house arrest, appealing to his supporters to “Make noise! Make noise!! Make noise!!!” on his behalf. Such pitiable sight. So, the fellow actually felt that there were numerous people out there who genuinely loved him and his family. The delusion caused by absolute, unending power must be deep indeed. Students of power succession especially at the national

Leaders should do peer checks. True democracy doesn’t have viable alternatives. Matters shouldn’t degenerate further before the African Union (AU) and regional groups start issuing lame communiques. If the current trend graduates to full-scale coup craving, going down the cliff will become inevitable

intriguing, if not worrying.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who was also a military head of state in the 1970s expressed his apprehension and the minds of many close watchers of the African political scene some days ago in an interview with TheCable online. He recalled what he observed in 2021 in Guinea Conakry after the overthrow of President Alpha Conde. The coup executioners led by Col. Mamady Doumbouya had the full support of the young people and looked set to be in power not for few years but a generation. Conde, lest we forget, had manipulated his country’s constitution to enable him to run for a third term - a practice that has since caught the fancy of autocrats across the continent. Troubled by that experience, Obasanjo travelled to Addis Ababa to bare his thoughts to the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who was also deeply worried about similar situations in his home country, Chad, and also Mali and Burkina Faso.

Obasanjo made a sobering submission on the subject: “I was the one who in 1999 advocated that if you are not a government backed by the constitution, you should be suspended from the African Union, and these chaps (soldiers in government) don’t even mind any suspension. I told him (Mahamat) that all the instruments we had used in the past would not work and asked what he would do about it. He told me about his challenges, especially with his country. So, we have a situation where we have a continent where we have to rethink democracy. The liberal democracy we are copying from settled societies in the West won’t work for us.”

Even diehard optimists won’t argue with that viewpoint coming from someone who had also toyed with the idea of getting the Nigerian National Assembly to make room for supposed to be winding up his tenure in 2007. Apparently in response to the intervention in Libreville, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Paul Biya of Cameroon tinkered with the military hierarchies of their own countries to forestall such a surprise. But how long can panic measures go in injecting stability into the architecture of power changes in a continent already saddled with all sorts of challenges?

It doesn’t help that ours is a place where colonial masters who handed over political and, in strange ways, authority in some in complaints and excuses. The leaders should do peer checks as none exists at the moment. Its limitations notwithstanding, true democracy doesn’t have viable alternatives. Matters shouldn’t degenerate further before the African Union (AU) and regional groups start issuing lame communiques. If the current trend graduates to full-scale coup craving, Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

TAKING G20 TO THE LAST MILE, LEAVING NONE BEHIND NARENDRA MODI

NARENDRA MODI canvasses a shift from a GDP-centric view of the world to a human-centric one

TAKING G20 TO THE LAST MILE, LEAVING NONE BEHIND

‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – these two words capture a deep philosophy. It means ‘the world is one family’. This is an all-embracing outlook that encourages us to progress as one universal family, transcending borders, languages, and ideologies. During India’s G20 Presidency, this has translated into a call for human-centric progress. As One Earth, we are coming together to nurture our planet. As One Family, we support each other in the pursuit of growth. And we move together towards a shared future - One Future - which is an undeniable truth in these interconnected times.

The post-pandemic world order is very different from the world before it. There are three important changes, among others.

will emerge from our presidency, along with a Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre.

In 2015, we launched the International Solar Alliance. Now, through the Global Biofuels Alliance, we will support the world to enable energy transitions in tune with the benefits of a circular economy.

Democratising climate action is the best way to impart momentum to the movement. Just as individuals make daily decisions based on their long-term health, they can make lifestyle decisions based on the impact on the planet’s long-term health. Just like Yoga became a global mass movement for wellness, we have also nudged the world with Lifestyles for Sustainable Environment (LiFE).

Due to the impact of climate change, ensuring food and nutritional security will be crucial. Millets, or Shree Anna, can help with this while also boosting climate-smart agriculture. In the International Year of Millets, we have taken millets to global palates.

The Deccan High Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition is also helpful in this direction.

Technology is transformative but it also needs to be made inclusive. In the past, the benefits of technological advancements have not benefited all sections of society equally. India, over the last few years, has shown how technology can be leveraged to narrow inequalities, rather than widen them.

Nigeria is full of people of insatiable ambition but whom, when presented with power and authority, they look vacant in terms of both ideas and the resolve to deliver on campaign promises.

One state where everyone seems pleased with the choice they have made is Abia, where banker-turned Governor Alex Otti is turning things around for the better. Up north, it’s in Jigawa State. Jigawa, one of the safest places in Nigeria to live is, indeed, bubbling with good ideas under its brand new Governor, Umar Namadi.

There’s something about Umar Namadi

accountant who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, could quit the position of Group Financial Controller at Dangote Industry to go into his own private business and the risky terrain of partisan politics.

his All-Progressives Congress (APC) party

people in the right places. In addition to the right people as commissioners, we also have a veteran administrator as Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Also, in the next few days, we will announce the appointment of seven technical advisers who are professionals as technical adviser on health, basic education, higher education, ICT, energy, environment and agriculture. In addition to these, the Civil Service, being the critical engine room that will drive government policies, will be rejuvenated through training, retraining, and discipline and enhanced welfare.”

At the recent CEO conference hosted by BusinessDay, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi factory Governor Namadi established in the state before he even joined politics, noting its high quality, at the time he (Adesina) was Minister of Agriculture. This, Adesina, did while standing on a podium before the high caliber local and international dignitaries at the conference.

First, there is a growing realisation that a shift away from a GDP-centric view of the world to a human-centric view is needed.

Second, the world is recognizing the importance of resilience and reliability in global supply chains.

Third, there is a collective call for boosting multilateralism through the reform of global institutions. Our G20 Presidency has played the role of a catalyst in these shifts.

In December 2022, when we took over the Presidency from Indonesia, I had written that a mindset shift must be catalysed by the G20. This was especially needed in the context of mainstreaming the marginalized aspirations of developing countries, the Global South and Africa.

The Voice of Global South Summit, which witnessed participation from 125 countries, was one of the foremost initiatives under our Presidency. It was an important exercise to gather inputs and ideas from the Global South. Further, our Presidency has not only seen the largest-ever participation from African countries but has also pushed for the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.

An interconnected world means our challenges across domains are interlinked. This is the midway year of the 2030 Agenda and many are noting with great concern that the progress on SDGs is off-track. The G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on SDGs will spearhead the future direction of the G20 towards implementing SDGs.

In India, living in harmony with nature has been a norm since ancient times and we have been contributing our share towards climate action even in modern times.

Many countries of the Global South are at various stages of development and climate action must be a complementary pursuit. Ambitions for climate action must be matched with actions on climate finance and transfer of technology.

We believe there is a need to move away from a purely restrictive attitude of what should not be done, to a more constructive attitude focusing on what can be done to fight climate change.

The Chennai HLPs for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy focus on keeping our oceans healthy. A global ecosystem for clean and green hydrogen

For instance, the billions across the world that remain unbanked, or lack digital identities, can be financially included through digital public infrastructure (DPI). The solutions we have built using our DPI have now been recognised globally. Now, through the G20, we will help developing countries adapt, build, and scale DPI to unlock the power of inclusive growth.

That India is the fastest-growing large economy is no accident. Our simple, scalable and sustainable solutions have empowered the vulnerable and the marginalised to lead our development story. From space to sports, economy to entrepreneurship, Indian women have taken the lead in various sectors. They have shifted the narrative from the development of women to women-led development. Our G20 Presidency is working on bridging the gender digital divide, reducing labour force participation gaps and enabling a larger role for women in leadership and decision-making.

For India, the G20 Presidency is not merely a high-level diplomatic endeavour. As the Mother of Democracy and a model of diversity, we opened the doors of this experience to the world.

Today, accomplishing things at scale is a quality that is associated with India. The G20 Presidency is no exception. It has become a people-driven movement. Over 200 meetings will have been organised in 60 Indian cities across the length and breadth of our nation, hosting nearly 100,000 delegates from 125 countries by the end of our term. No Presidency has ever encompassed such a vast and diverse geographical expanse.

It is one thing to hear about India’s demography, democracy, diversity and development from someone else. It is totally different to experience them first-hand. I am sure our G20 delegates would vouch for this.

Our G20 Presidency strives to bridge divides, dismantle barriers, and sow seeds of collaboration that nourish a world where unity prevails over discord, where shared destiny eclipses isolation. As the G20 President, we had pledged to make the global table larger, ensuring that every voice is heard and every country contributes. I am positive that we have matched our pledge with actions and outcomes.

Modi is Prime Minister of India

wrestled power from the stranglehold of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. Instead of aspiring to, or lobbying for, a political appointment, he recalls: “I was in Abuja when my name was submitted as Commissioner to the Jigawa State Assembly for screening. To be fair to the Governor, he never contacted me. Maybe he knew that if he had contacted me, I would reject it and he knew that was what I would do. But because he took me by surprise, it would have been an embarrassment for me to say ‘No, I don’t want it.’ So, that was how I became the Commissioner.”

Indeed, that was how he also became a running mate to Gov. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Deputy Governor from 2019 to May 2023. A similar scenario would also unfold preceding his emergence as Governor. assignment, “when he asked me to go get the form for Governorship. I never believed that I would become the Governor. Because he is my boss, I could not tell him no.”

So much is for another “accidental public servant” for the easy ride of Umar Namadi to the throne in Jigawa State. The challenge is now him by Gov. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on the one hand, and by the people of Jigawa State on the other.

Gov. Namadi was well prepared for the job. He has enunciated a 12-point agenda that straddles education, health, water resources, agriculture, environment, ICT, and other equally critical spheres of human endeavor. To show his intent, he has set up a 16-member State Executive Council of “people appointed based on their competencies, their reputations and their exceptional capabilities. Our vision is to simply take Jigawa to the next level in development terms,” he emphasized.

He elaborates on the criteria he used to make his selection: “The strategy is to get the right

Expectedly, Namadi has resolved to develop the entire agricultural value chain. “We will also review the agricultural policies to ensure that they meet our expectations. In addition to these, we will try to expand our cluster system of farming, a system introduced in 2016 that has really boosted agriculture in Jigawa State. We will boost dry season and rainy season farming.” He will continue the cluster farming scheme in the state, in which land and inputs, as well as extension services, are given to farmers as loan and, at the end of the harvest, they pay back in cash based on prevailing market price.

His administration will expand irrigation facilities to enable about three sessions of farming every year; encourage investors in out-grower schemes; as well as establish processing factories. “With that, more people will be involved and we will be able to expand production. We are focusing on rice, sesame, hibiscus, wheat, groundnuts and millets. We will improve the varieties and provide extension services to them,” he assures.

Although the IGR rate is low, Gov. Namadi is quite careful not to heap more burden on the people. “Before you introduce tax, you should be able to know if the economy can absorb the shock that its introduction will the economy. Meanwhile, he’s hoping to, generated revenues, at least by at least 49% of what is coming from the Federation Account. Meanwhile, he’s reorganizing the board of internal revenue to explore several other options for increasing our IGR without necessarily creating a burden on the people.

An important focus of the 12-point agenda is youth empowerment and education. He has broken the Ministry of Education into two — Basic and Higher Education. Also on Youth empowerment, we have created the Jigawa State Agency for Youth Empowerment and Employment, headed by a seasoned administrator, as the Executive Secretary. Currently, the agency has a portal that will take a census of all

Hassan writes from Abuja

SO FAR, SO HOPEFUL

Governor Namadi is leveraging his experience in the private sector and government to hit the ground running, reckons BASHIR IBRAHIM HASSAN

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

ENFORCING WILDLIFE PROTECTION LAWS

Nigeria should protect its wild species and their habitats

The recent conviction and sentencing of two Nigerians to four years imprisonment for conspiracy and unlawful possession of 839kg of pangolin scales and 145 kg of elephant tusks has received commendation from the West Africa Fund. The duo pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them before the Federal High Court by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). “We hope this signals a new era for Nigeria to become the regional leader in policing and prosecuting wildlife crime,” says Fund founder, Peter Knights. Unfortunately, in what has become an everyday spectacle in our country, itinerant traditional medicine sellers and owners of small circuses move around towns and cities dragging along fettered animals that have been declared endangered and near extinct by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and by the World Conservation bodies.

It is noteworthy that Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as “CITES”. The treaty aims to protect wildlife from over-exploitation from of protection for a large list of plant and animal species, working to protect their numbers in the wild. It does this by imposing a specialised permitting species. By those extra hurdles, CITES has created an rampant over-exploitation of the species it monitors. Nigeria has several animal and plant species that are listed by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) in the 2004 IUCN “Red List of Threatened Animals” as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction.

Regrettably, the government has not been able to adequately equip forest guards to stop poachers, who operate almost freely within the nation’s protected game reserves in Yankari, Bauchi State; Okomu, Edo State; Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Adamawa

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Letters to the Editor

and Taraba States; Cross River National Park; and Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State. The poachers are usually not interested in the orphans that they leave either to die of hunger or get picked up by people who sell them to itinerant medicine men or circus operators.

This unchecked thriving trade in wildlife in Nigeria led to the suspension of the country from CITES in March 2008. Five years earlier in 2003, were intercepted in Kano, international and local conservationists labelled Nigeria a hub in the illegal trade in endangered wildlife. The two captured female western lowland nine-year-old gorillas were subsequently sent back to their homeland in Cameroon to the shame of our country.

Incidentally, Nigeria was once said to have the most diverse population of monkeys and apes in the world, but as its forests have dwindled many animals have been hunted to extinction. Nigeria’s remaining gorillas are from a particularly endangered sub-species of the lowland gorilla: the Cross River gorilla that lives in the rugged mountainous jungle on the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The federal government recently employed some forest guards, but they can do more by mopping up the wildlife on our streets and sending them to conservation agencies that will later introduce them back into their natural habitats.

The 1999 Constitution prohibits the abuse of Chapter 50 on ‘Cruelly to Animals’ that any person who cruelly beats, kicks, ill-treats, over-rides, overanimal, or causes or procures, or, being the owner, permits any animal to he so used “is guilty of an

The authorities should not only make the law

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.

LETTERS

GOVERNOR FINTIRI’S 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

At this moment of economic challenges and hardship due tobe based on three categories: Firstly, support the vulnerable—the programmes to support the local economy; and thirdly, feasible and meaningful programmes and projects that are mainly for the future of the state.

Furthermore, politics should be kept aside, while facts and balanced insights should be the foundation of the assessment. Though,

The method the Fintiri-led government used in the distribution of the food items of the subsidy palliatives was not only open but well coordinated and justly distributed; the ‘reach the last unit’ method was employed, so it seems, and it was successful. The truth is, Adamawa State is among the few states in Nigeria that have put in place short, medium, and long-term strategies in the implementation of the fuel subsidy palliatives. The 60,000 bags of rice, maize, fertilizer, and the non-food items, including the 10 luxurious buses, will touch every family and the local economy.

The youth empowerment programme of the Fintiri government is what experts call ‘use our today for their tomorrow’. A classical

example is the Fintiri cabinet, which is fairly young and balanced. This is recommendable. The payment of WAEC and NECO fees is another avenue for helping young people and their parents. Furthermore, the resuscitation of the Skills Acquisition Centres and the development of agribusiness are another avenue for young people to become self-reliant and engage in productive jobs while being innovative and entrepreneurial minded. Another example is the unveiling of the Adamawa Agribusiness Support (ADAS) Programme with a seed capital of over N5 billion—a credit guaranteemally lend funds to the players in the agro-allied sector, who can Adamawa State government has spent over N2.4 billion to upgrade grain and cattle markets in 12 locations across the state. Agribusi-

The N10,000 additional salaries to state and local government workers and the implementation of the full minimum wage, including the payment of pensions, and gratuities will have a meaningful impact on the purchasing power of the workers and their families.

The proposed Mubi Roundabout Project, the Super Highway from FGC Yola to Yola Town, Malkohi Housing Estate, the public

health laboratory projects, etc. , are some of Fintiri’s babies in his governors will point to ongoing or completed projects in their 100tics aside, Governor Fintiri is good at taking bold and courageously sound decisions. Here, we come to the issues of a few supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who are ‘crossing the line ‘in their poor and third-rate thinking that they are promoting Atiku while castigating Fintiri for congratulating Minister Wike. One old woman, Zainab Mairago from Kaduna, went beyond decency in a video shared in social media. The truth is, this is a big challenge for Atiku to openly call them to order, as they are just unknowingly painting Atiku black while Fintiri is getting more sympathy and local support. The time is right for Atiku to speak. Politics and deAdamawa is one of the few states in Nigeria that were able to manage their internal security very well. How did Fintiri does it?rity agencies and community leaders.

Muhammad, Abuja

Nigeria was once said to have the most diverse population of monkeys and apes in the world, but as its forests have dwindled many animals have been hunted to extinction

Zayyad

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Despite Challenges, Telecommunication Sector Maintained Stable Growth in Telephone, Broadband Subscriptions in July

Emma Okonji

In spite of the initial challenges faced by Nigerian telecoms operators in expanding their network infrastructure as a result of the refusal of some state governments in granting them Right of Way (RoW) permit, the sector recorded a stable growth in telephone and broadband subscriptions in July this year, according to the latest statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Initially, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), were worried

about the hike in diesel, and the multiple taxes imposed on telecoms operations by state governments and federal government agencies.

They were of the view that such actions may retard the growth and development of the telecoms sector, despite its huge investment profile and contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

They were particularly worried that the refusal by some state governments to grant RoW permit to telecoms operators, may retard telecoms’ expansion, and erode its many gains.

In spite of their worries, the sector maintained a stable growth in the number of telephone, broadband and internet

subscriptions, including broadband penetration in the month of July 2023.

According to the latest statistics, which THISDAY obtained from NCC’s website, telephone subscriptions across networks, reached 220,860, 987, with a teledensity of 115.70 per cent in July this year, after reaching 220,086,951, with a teledensity of 115.30 per cent in June same year, a development that showed a stable growth in telephone subscriptions and teledensity across networks.

Subsequently, broadband subscriptions reached 89,730,341, with a penetration level of 47.01 per cent in July 2023, after reaching the same 89,730,341 subscriptions, with same penetration level

of 47.01 per cent in June 2023, which suggested a stable growth in both broadband subscriptions and broadband penetration in July this year.

The NCC statistics also showed a stable growth in the number of active internet subscriptions across networks in July 2023.

According to the statistics, the total number of active internet subscriptions across networks, reached 159,534,913 in July 2023, after reaching 159,498,826 in June 2023, which is an indication of a stable growth in internet subscriptions across networks in July this year.

The statistics however showed a steady growth in the number of active internet subscriptions

from January to June 2023, before maintaining a stable growth in July 2023.

From the statistics, in January this year, the number of active internet subscriptions was 156,244,368, and the figure grew to 156,987,433 in February 2023, and to 157,551,104 in March 2023. The figure further grew to 158,231,544 in April 2023, and increased again to 159,598,451 in May, before dropping to 159,498,826 in June this year, but rose slightly again to 159,534,913 in July this year.

The statistics showed that mobile (GSM) internet subscriptions topped the other internet subscription channels like Fixed Wired and the Wireless internet service offerings from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Voice over Internet Protocol

(VoIP) providers. Similarly, telephone subscriptions also grew from January to June 2023, before maintaining a stable growth in July 2023.

From the statistics, the total number of active telephone subscriptions in January this year was 226,226,754, and the figure grew to 227,179,946 in February this year. The figure however dropped to 226,161,713 and to 223,663,521in March and April respectively. It further dropped again to 221,258,372 and to 220,086,951 in May and June this year respectively, before increasing to 220,860,987 in July 2023.

Expert Proffers Solutions to Sustainable Growth in Africa’s Economy

Emma Okonji

Worried about the declining economic activities on the African continent, where the economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa dropped to 3.6 per cent in 2022, from 4.1 per cent in 2021, and with a projection that economic activity in the region will further decline to 3.1 per cent in 2023, the Head of Sales, Africa Regions and International, Global Markets at Standard Bank, Sola Adegbesan, has said the solution to African challenges lies in the hands of Africans.

Adegbesan, in a report that was distributed by African Media

Agency (AMA) on behalf of Africa. com, called on African government to be self-reliant and to promote the creation of innovative financing solutions to fund projects that could lead to sustainable economic growth in all the continent’s 54 African countries.

In the report, titled: “Why Africa Needs to Find Solutions to its Own Problems,” Adegbesan said: “Africa needs to craft its own solutions to solve its problems. It starts with the promotion of a mindset of self-reliance. Africans need innovative financing solutions to fund projects that could lead to sustainable economic growth in all

the continent’s 54 African countries. However, these funding solutions need to consider the specific needs of different African countries. If this could be achieved, Africa will prosper and the standard of living on the continent will rise.”

“The need for alternative funding solutions has never been greater given the uncertain economic prospects the continent faces, “he said.

According to him, “Africa is hard at work pursuing Agenda 2063, a development blueprint and master plan for transforming the continent into the global powerhouse of the future. But the chances of this plan

to succeed could be enhanced if Africa stops importing solutions from the outside and, instead, develops its own solutions for its own local challenges. This is the best way to positively change the trajectory of its economic development.”

“We live on a continent that is well endowed with mineral resources. If these natural resources could be well managed, the sky is the limit for African countries. We are also on a continent with a predominantly youthful population that needs jobs. If this human resource could be harnessed and groomed, Africa

would be unstoppable. In fact, if this labour force could be skilled and exported around the world it could lead to greater inflows of Diasporic finance that could boost African economies, because human resource is a commodity of the future, “Adegbesan added.

Proffering solutions for Africa’s growth, Adegbesan said Standard Bank, which is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, strongly believed in Africa’s potential and would want to drive her growth forward.

“African destiny is tied to the African continent, and as a bank, we are committed to play our part

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in making sure that Africa grows and delivers on its potential. As a bank, we offer banking and other monetary expertise for free to African governments to use to reform their economies.

“While cognisant of the injustices of colonialism and the unequal manner in which African economies were incorporated into the world economy after independence, Standard Bank prefers to focus on solutions for the future, on what Africa can achieve if all nations could rally behind the idea of finding our own solutions to financing models,” Adegbesan further said.

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Ruto: Africa Must Generate 30m Jobs

Annually to Accommodate Growing

Gilbert Ekugbe

President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto, has stated that Africa must create approximately 30 million new jobs to accommodate the rapidly expanding workforce on the continent.

Ruto stated this at the opening

of Africa Climate Summit Ministerial Conference in Nairobi.

According to him, the target are not just numbers, but represents 30 million opportunities to build Africa’s future, adding that 30 million dreams can be fulfilled through climate-proof avenues of growth.

He explained that Africa’s

foremost asset is its young and growing workforce, educated, skilled and motivated to pursue industry, innovation and enterprise.

He stated that trillions of dollars globally are looking for ‘green investment opportunities’ as the pressure to tackle the climate crisis heightens, pointing out that Africa holds the key to accelerating

Workforce

decarbonisation of the global economy.

Ruto added that by 2025, the mining of battery-critical minerals like nickel, lithium, and cobalt is estimated to generate around $11 billion in value, urging African governments to take the next step and engage in value-added activities such as refining these minerals into

54 Countries to Attend Africa Internet Governance Forum in Nigeria

Emma Okonji

Nigeria is set to play host to

54 African nations and other continental Internet governance stakeholder blocs at the 2023 Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2023) in Abuja.

This year’s event, being the 12th edition of the annual forum, is being hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on behalf of the federal government, and is scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with the theme,

‘Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security, and Innovation.”

The Forum will serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration on Internet Governance among various sectors and regional initiatives to advance digital connectivity, address Internet Governance challenges, and empower Africa through digital transformation.

The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, in a statement, said the event would be preceded by the African Youth

Internet Governance Forum, which will take place from 13-18 September, 2023.

The series of events at this year’s programme will commence with the Parliamentarian Symposium, scheduled to take place from 18-19 September 2023 during which members of the Parliament from all participating countries will take the opportunity to consult and network with one another in a roundtable designed to better understanding of the roles of the legislature, and nudge deeper synergy with parliaments

on Internet Governance in Africa.

“As a crucial gathering of stakeholders and investors in Africa’s digital future, the AfIGF 2023 promises to be a rare assemblage of key stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, and a broad spectrum of actors in the private sector intentionally rallied to discuss important matters focused on the development, access, and governance of the Internet in Africa, ” Muoka said.v

MIPAN: Wrong Assumptions, Insights Killing Nigerian Businesses

Raheem Akingbolu

The Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), has identified wrong assumptions, wrong visions and unclear insights as factors aiding the failure of businesses in Nigeria, thereby crippling the overall economy.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the body held in Lagos, MIPAN President, Femi Adelusi, said business owners in Nigeria often live with the illusion that their strategies are working at the beginning but get to know late that they are not making progress.

The AGM with the theme: “Key Enabler to Running Healthy and Profitable Agency Business,” gave the speakers at the summit the ample opportunities to unravel the

challenges facing businesses and agencies amid economic and inflation crisis.

Adelusi said: “You may think you are making progress, but it may become too late before you realize you have not made the required level of progress. I have said here that key nuggets like insights and vision that unlock doors and ushers in limitless opportunities and potentials are necessary to grow businesses.

“One common thing for all of us either at the agency side or the client said is the fact that we just came out of the general elections. We are all affected by the removal of the oil subsidy and floating of the Naira.”

Speaking about the impact of the challenges on the entire marketing communications industry, he said: “Our industry remains a very engaged industry

and we need to continue to look at how we can evolve and add value to the business of our clients. We must remember that they are the views of Lady Golden Wave and we must continue to be consultants and bring top leadership into how we help their businesses to grow.”

Speaking on the theme of the event, the Group Head Procurement and Material Management, Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, Osuagwu Chidimma, said innovation and creativity cannot be overemphasised, noting that the theme is about the key enablers.

“It’s important for businesses to constantly ask themselves, what is the vision behind my agency? If you focus only on buying media for your clients

and making sure that you focus on your profitability, you may be short-timed and you may be short-sighted. Then you have many businesses that have been here before and they are not here anymore, principally because they did not focus on the right things,” he said.

Chairman/CEO of Graviti Hill Limited, Dr. Ken Onyeali Ikpe, stated that relevance is a key that every agency needs to acquire. “We build relevance by providing solutions. Hence, Relevance is that indispensable element,” Ikpe said.

CEO, X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, said there was a need for agencies to urgently adopt new revenue streams and enhance their brand-building efforts. He lamented the neglect of self-branding by agencies and advocated a shift in perception.

industry-grade metals which he said the value could quadruple to $50 billion.

“And if we consider the endto-end value chain for electric vehicles, including the battery pack and all other components, the market value skyrockets to an astonishing $7 trillion,” he added.

He said these figures are clear demonstrations that Africa can no longer afford a minimalist ‘short-termist raw-material-based approach, stressing that the time has come for Africa to break out of the shackles of low ambition.

“We must now begin to aim higher and strive for more, and better outcomes. And as we work towards capturing more economic value from these opportunities, we are not just building a resilient and prosperous continent; we are also contributing to a more balanced and stable global economy. We are not just a continent rich in resources, we are a powerhouse of untapped potential, eager to engage and fairly compete in the global markets,” he said.

He however, stated that

the overarching goal for the Summit is to chart a green growth pathway for the African Continent, setting the stage for Africa to lead the globe towards a more ecologically responsible global industrialisation, catalysed by financing that is accessible, adequate, and affordable.

“I therefore call upon all of us here to use the next three days to explore options as to how we can optimize Africa’s abundant human and natural resources to leapfrog towards a low carbon economy while opening new opportunities for climate finance, trade, investment, innovation, resilience, and green jobs,” Ruto said.

Also speaking, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Soipan Tuya, the climate change debate has entered a new era, saying that it is no longer just about tackling an environmental or development problem, but about addressing climate change in the context of justice.

9mobile to Partner Cross River State on Accelerated Development, Growth

Emma Okonji Telecommunications Company, 9mobile, has said it will partner Cross River State government to accelerate development and growth in the state.

Negotiations with the state government is ongoing and a proposal was made by the Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile, Juergen Peschel, during a business meeting with the state governor, Prince Bassey Otu, on the sideline of the International Cooperation and Investment Summit, which held in Calabar recently.

Peschel informed the governor that 9mobile would be open to partnership with his administration and would offer simple, straightforward services of benefit to the state.

Presenting the proposals to the state governor, Peschel said: “We propose to build a data

centre that will be instrumental in hosting any government data and form the basis of digitalizing administrative processes. This will be one of the enablers of improving security in the state and will be based on the ‘Build, Operate, and Transfer Model’. This centre will also help educate and partner with universities to deepen learning.”

He explained further that data centres are vital to global connectivity and the continuity of daily business operations. He said the benefits of having the data centre would be to support business applications and provide services such as data storage, management, backup and recovery, productivity applications, such as email, high-volume e-commerce transactions, powering online gaming communities as well as big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence which will be beneficial to the state.

L-R: Chairman, INGRYD Academy, Rex Mafiana; Chief Executive Officer, INGRYD Academy, Khadijat Abdulkadir; Director, Programmes and Coordination, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Omolara Adewumi and Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director, Training, INGRYD Academy, Osagie Aghedo, during a press conference on the INGRYD Scholarship Programme in partnership with LSETF in Lagos… recently

Solutions to Rising Prices in Nigeria

Managing Partner of

Inflation in Nigeria has increased unabatedly from 12.13 per cent in January 2020 to 24.08 per cent as of July 2023, which is 85 per cent increase in the Nigerian Composite Consumer Price Index from 310.2 points to 575.3 over the same period. In theory, inflation erodes purchasing power of consumers, creates economic uncertainties, impacts real return on investments, and induces wealth redistribution in favour of debtors. In Africa and other less developed countries, high inflationary trends have been linked to poverty, currency depreciation, social unrests, food crisis and many other negative outcomes. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), headline inflation rose by 24.08 per cent in July 2023 making it the highest rate in decades. World Bank also said high inflation pushed an additional four million Nigerians into poverty in the first five months of 2023.

Amidst soaring prices, Nigeria’s economic growth rate slowed to 2.51 per cent yearon-year (y/y) in Q2 2023 compared to 3.54 per cent in Q2 2022. The agricultural and industry sectors contributed less (23.0 per cent and 18.6 per cent) to the aggregate Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q2 2023 relative to Q2 2022 (23.2 per cent and 19.4 per cent respectively).

Disturbed by the in flation figures and the continuous rise in the prices of commodities, the Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Managing Partner of Verraki Partners, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, said the persistent rise in price of goods and services in Nigeria would continue to hurt consumers and businesses if immediate policy actions are not put in place to reverse the trend.

According to him, “Higher-than-expected inflation and slow growth may weaken the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals further, hence the need for urgent policy action to calm inflationary pressures and drive more inclusive

growth.”

DRIVERS OF INFLATION

The NBS report suggested that food, electricity, housing, and transportation are the major drivers of inflation in Nigeria, but Yusuf is of the view that current inflationary pressures are equally driven by growth in money supply, insecurity, agriculture value chain disruptions, exchange rate depreciation, increase in energy prices, amongst other factors. Addressing the issue of insecurity, Yusuf said the challenge of insecurity in many food-producing states in the country had significantly impacted food production and the

entire agricultural value chain. He said whilst the menace of armed banditry, kidnapping and farmland destructions remained widespread; the northern Nigeria where the bulk of food production occurs has been significantly impacted. In addition to insecurity which has been an issue for over a decade, Yusuf said the currency swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Q1 pushed many farmers to miss the opportunity to buy inputs and to plant, which is now leading to low harvests in Q3 and high prices.

He said between January 2022 and August 2023, the Naira had depreciated by over 90 per cent (to an all-time high of N784.9/US$) at the official (I&E) window. “Nigeria’s average monthly import bill is estimated at $2.8 billion, as the country remains largely import dependent for food, petrol, raw materials, and industrial equipment. Currency depreciation causes the prices of imported goods to become more expensive, thereby inducing inflationary pressures. According to the NBS, imported food inflation in Nigeria rose to a six-year high of 19.94 per cent in July 2023 largely due to the currency depreciation,” Yusuf said.

Another driver of inflation, Yusuf said, was in the area of high energy costs, insisting that energy prices are a major driver of inflation globally.

“The price of petrol in Nigeria has increased from an average of N176 in June 2022 to over N600 as of July 2023. Similarly, a 40 per cent increase in electricity tariff is likely to take effect in 2023, following the adjustment of electricity pricing model by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). These events mount significant pressure on inflation in Nigeria, as the cost of manufacturing and distribution of goods and services becomes exorbitant. More recently, the government’s announcement of subsidy removal from

petroleum products is bound to be inflationary, “Yusuf said.

IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESSES

Speaking on the implications of rising prices on business in Nigeria, Yusuf said not all inflation is bad, but stressed that when price increase is out of control, it affects just about every area of a business, including the ability of managers to plan.

“In simple terms, inflation translates to higher utility costs, higher energy (diesel, petrol, etc.) cost, higher equipment cost, rent or lease increases, greater transportation costs, and lesser quality of life for the employees as their purchasing power reduces. It also does force customers to curtail their planned spending, which could imply loss of business opportunities. The recent inflation trend in Nigeria is clearly not healthy and hurts businesses, “Yusuf added.

He listed some of the ways inflation hurts businesses to include: Operating expenses; Cost of goods and services; Profit margins; Borrowing costs; Contractual agreements; Competitiveness and Supply chain disruptions. In the area of operating expenses, Yusuf said increase in the operating expenses had become inevitable.

“This is driven by the jump in energy costs (particularly diesel and petrol), rent and employee wages. Businesses would have to adjust their budget to accommodate these increases, “he said.

In the area of Cost of goods and services, he said businesses are experiencing an increase in the cost of raw materials and other inputs needed in the production process. Consequently, operating margins will come under intense pressure as it becomes more difficult to transfer these cost increases to the consumers through higher product prices.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and

Verraki Partners, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, is worried just like every other Nigerian about the rising prices of goods and services in Nigeria and has proffered some solutions, writes Emma Okonji

Yusuf

Gulder Empowers Distributors, Retailers across Nigeria

Raheem Akingbolu

Gulder Lager Beer, a household name in Nigeria’s alcoholic beverage industry, has again demonstrated its commitment to changing lives.

The spotlight shone brightly at the Gulder Ultimate Reward event held recently in Lagos. The event, which will be etched in the minds of stakeholders

for a long time, is a further testament to the transformative power of loyalty, dedication and the pursuit of excellence. Gulder honoured its esteemed partners, who have played pivotal roles in the brand’s journey to excellence. The selected 15 retailers received ten crates of Gulder, while the ten winners in the regions were presented with 42-inch television

sets, generator sets, and deep freezers.. The winners were selected across Benin, Ibadan Lagos-North, and Lagos-South regions respectively.

Speaking about his experience, Tasho said: “Being a Gulder distributor is the best decision I ever made. It’s not just about business; it’s about being part of a family that rewards dedication and hard work. This car is not

Jumia Begins Brands Festival 2023 with Exclusive Offers

just a prize; it’s a symbol of the opportunities that Gulder provides to change lives.”

Brand Manager, NonLager and Craft, Nigerian Breweries, Chima Dim, said: “Gulder Lager Beer has always been more than a beverage; it’s a symbol of strength, determination, and the extraordinary. At the heart of our success are the dedicated partners who have embraced these values.”

Emma Okonji

Jumia, an e-commerce platform in Nigeria, has announced the launch of its annual brands festival campaign, targeted at promoting products across a wide range of categories at the best prices directly from top brands on the platform.

The campaign tagged ‘Beta products, Beta savings’ started on Monday, September 4th and will run through September 17th, 2023, offering millions of consumers nationwide the opportunity to buy original products from the official stores of several top brands such as Adidas, Oraimo, Nivea, Xiaomi, DeFacto, Tecno, Pernod Ricard, Infinix, Diageo, Itel, L&Oréal, Bacardi, Binatone, and Haier Thermocool.

Speaking on the initiative, the CEO Jumia Nigeria, Massimiliano Spalazzi, said:

“In these challenging times, the essence of the Jumia Brands Festival takes on even greater significance. We are not only championing authentic products, but also making them accessible at the most competitive prices. We understand the constraints faced by today’s consumers - the need for quality products that don't break the bank. Our collaboration with renowned international brands bridges the gap, ensuring that consumers can work within their budgets while obtaining genuine items.”

Brand Marketing Manager at TECNO, Thompson Ani, said:

“As a young global company, TECNO is in the process of rapid growth. Consumers can take advantage of the amazing offers during the campaign by simply downloading the Jumia App.”

Firm Integrates Telemedicine to Offer Affordable Healthcare Solutions

Emma Okonji

Interswitch to Boost

Payment Solutions with Techconnect 3.0

Emma Okonji

Interswitch, Africa’s integrated payments and digital commerce company, has announced the launch of the third edition of its Techconnect series, designed to enhance payment solutions.

The launch event is set to take place in five cities

across the country including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Abuja, and Lagos. The event will feature keynote speakers and panel sessions that will provide valuable insights into the digital payments landscape in the country, spotlight trends and best practices within the payment

ecosystem, and deliberate on other topical issues.

Speaking about the launch of Techconnect 3.0, the Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), Akeem Lawal, said the company organised the Techconnect event to bring industry players together to discuss salient topical trends

with the aim of deepening the growth of digital payment in the country.

He said: “We are thrilled to unveil the third edition of the Interswitch Techconnect series which was established to drive the growth of the payment ecosystem as well as provide expert guidance to businesses to enable them to thrive.”

Riquesa Africa Appoints Oluwatona Head of Business

Raheem Akingbolu

Riquesa Africa has announced the appointment of Olatunde Oluwatona as its new Head of Business and CEO.

In its bid to strengthen its impact within the continent’s marketing communications industry, Riquesa Africa seeks to harness Olatunde’s decade-rich experience in integrated marketing communications, spanning client/brand management

and digital marketing. The co-founder and Group Managing Director of X-Holdings, Adim Isiakpona, also stated: “Across the diverse agencies at X-Holdings, I believe that having the right set of people like Olatunde Oluwatona to transform the industry is key. His experience across different industries from telco’s to FMCGs, banking and entertainment will undoubtedly bring to life Riquesa’s ideas and

ensure targets are met.”

“As the new Head of Business, we are confident that Olatunde’s decade of experience within the integrated marketing communications industry will translate to devising groundbreaking business strategies to ensure Riquesa’s rise to a global marketing communications agency”, Isiakpona reiterated.

Speaking of the appointment, Co-founder and Group COO of

X-holdings, Ayodeji Razaq, said: “Olatunde’s passion for redefining the marketing communications industry is one we all at Riquesa Africa share. Olatunde’s influence, expertise and personal values of consideration and honesty make him a top pick for this role. With his successes in such conglomerates as Nigerian Breweries, NNPC, Huawei, and MultiChoice, we are elated to have such a visionary leader at the helm of affairs.”

Lafarge Africa Celebrates Top Performing Customers

Raheem Akingbolu

Lafarge Africa Plc has celebrated its trade partners nationwide in a bid to appreciate their effective distribution of its building solutions and products across the country, thereby contributing to the overall growth plan of its business in 2022.

The grand ceremony, which was recently held in Lagos, had in attendance over 100 customers, staff and distinguished guests.

Speaking on the sidelines with trade partners in Lagos, the Group managing director/ CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, expressed the company’s appreciation to their customers for helping to sustain the availability of

Lafarge’s products all over the country, and for their remarkable contribution to the company’s success in the past year.

In his welcome address, the Commercial Director, Lafarge Africa Plc., Mr. Gbenga Onimowo, thanked the customers for delivering the quality Lafarge Africa demands of its partners.

“I want you to know that as cherished customers, you are

the heartbeat of our supply chain. Your dedication ensures that builders and businesses throughout Nigeria can confidently access our quality products when they need them. Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate, but to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support that’s been pivotal in our ongoing journey of growth,” Onimowo said.

As access to affordable healthcare continues to pose huge burden on the African continent despite governmentbacked insurance schemes and the implementation of policies aimed at achieving universal health coverage, Wellahealth has restated its commitment to empower marginalised communities through its affordable healthcare technology solutions.

According to recent statistics, 90 per cent of Nigerian citizens have to pay out-of-pocket for their healthcare expenses, exacerbating the burden of poverty. Shockingly, a staggering 97 per cent of Nigerians lack health insurance to address prevalent illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea, and diabetes. The year 2021 alone witnessed over 200,000 deaths due to malaria in Nigeria, affecting an additional 61 million individuals, according to report.

Leading providers like WellaHealth in Nigeria focus

on covering common health needs such as Malaria, Typhoid, Doctor Access via a Telemedicine Service, Hospital Cashback, Heart and Diabetes check at affordable prices. The providers collaborate with local healthcare facilities, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies to ensure that medical attention is accessible within communities. Leveraging digital innovation, Wellahealth integrates telemedicine and other services at cost-effective rates, ensuring marginalised groups can benefit from modern healthcare solutions.

Identifying some significant obstacles to micro health insurance, such as the limited awareness and misconceptions about insurance concepts, which hinder enrollment, including sustainability issues, Wellahealth’s Marketing and Communications Lead, Mr. Joseph Okoroafor, said in a statement that micro health insurance programs frequently relied on a delicate balance between premium collection and payment of claims.

Airtel Nigeria Celebrates Asake for Outstanding Performance

Emma Okonji

Airtel Nigeria, has congratulated afrobeats singer Asake for winning the Album of the Year award at the 16th edition of The Headies, which held September 3 in Atlanta, United States of America.

In his message to the hitmaker, Airtel Nigeria Chief Communications Officer, Mr. Femi Oshinlaja, said the award category, which was sponsored by Airtel Nigeria, exemplifies the entire event.

“Considering the amazing quality of music that continues to come out of Nigeria and Africa, Asake has demonstrated that he is indeed at the pinnacle of his craft,

even though his music career is relatively young,” Oshinlaja said. He added that, “As a world class organisation that always celebrates extraordinary achievements, we are proud to be associated with the success of this gifted musician.”

Asake, who also clinched the Next Rated Award for being the most promising new act to emerge in the year under consideration, won Album of the Year with his debut, titled Mr. Money with the Vibes.

Airtel Nigeria said its continued sponsorship of The Headies is intended to help discover and promote exceptional talents such as Asake, while also boosting the efforts of the award organisers.

Minister for Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola (Middle) Managing Director/CEO Nigerian Ports Authority

Mohammed Bello Koko (2nd from left), Executive Director Lekki Deep Seaport Adesuwa Ladoja (2nd from right) and Chief Operating Officer Lekki Deep Seaport Laurence Smith during the maiden visit of the pioneer minister for Marine and Blue Economy to Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos...recently

Sydney Sampson: Heath Sector Needs to be Data-centric in Terms of Decision Making

In getting it right in terms of policy formulation and its implementation in the nation’s public health, Chief Executive Officer of Sydani Groups, Sydney Sampson advocates for a blend of technology and data. Celebrating five years of existence in corporate services, he says Nigeria isn’t doing too well in the health sector. Amongst other things, he spoke to Kuni Tyessi recently on public health financing and accountability, as well as need for partnerships, but especially on what the new administration can do to turn around the sector for good

What inspired the setting up of Sydani group and what do you hope to achieve?

It was set up with the vision to redefine excellence and to add value consistently to work that is done by anyone, be it the government, non-government, external and internal stakeholders; and one thing I always make clear is that the organisation was not a well thought out plan where I had a master plan of what to do. It was very organic and with organic things, there parts that are predictable and others are unpredictable. So as we grew and added value, clients came back for more and that also shaped how our trajectory of growth evolved.

One thing that remained consistent within our existence in the first five years is the ability to understand the problems that our clients want to solve and device very innovative ways of addressing those problems. At Sydani we don’t believe that impossibility exists if you apply yourself well enough to a problem and think through it, it can be solved. So we ensured that while adding value, we ensured that there is excellence in adding that value.

On excellence, can you be more specific?

It’s difficult to be specific about excellence but it can be defined in different ways depending on what one is talking about. Our target is not in a specific sector. We have several sectors where we provide and add value. Take for example, the Covid-19 vaccination programme in the health sector. We were funded to support the national government to support the optimization of that mission. We had a strategy that was working but wasn’t achieving the goals as expected in terms of the target of the number of people that had been reached by the vaccine and Sydani was contacted to help look at the country and help device a strategy that can help get the numbers.

So what we did in terms of talking about excellence was to define the strategy. In defining it, we got the government to adopt it and it was called the skilled strategy. After the first role out, we observed that there were some things that were not working and so we optimized it and made a few changes and called it the next version. Then we got the third version which had a lot of excellent things that was based on the learning of the previous ones. So it’s a process, it’s something that can be improved upon. So ours is how can we work on something and make it better. So it got to a time when we got the third version and that was the game changer and it broke out the charts in terms of the number of people that were reached and were to be reached and how it was to be done.

The federal government rolled it out and the process was applauded and it took us to breaking a lot of barriers. We changed all of that and showed that you can actually go in a different way to achieve excellence. Yet, there are still many things we want to improve upon as a learning organisation in achieving excellence.

In the public health sector, what has been the journey and challenges so far in the last five years?

In that space where we have quite a large portfolio of work, we have seen ourselves growing from team working to general relation work system that brings about leadership and governance work, health financing components, supply chain components, and many other aspects. So the biggest challenge has been finding the right people that we could work with. The kind of work we do needs smart people and persons that can think in a very innovative way. The biggest challenge is finding the right people to hire.

From the days when we were very young till now, this is a challenge we’ve always faced. We have really never lacked jobs to do, because people keep coming back to ask

for more. There’s enough work, but who are we going to use for the job? And when you get some really good hands, some get to japa. So we have to keep scouting for new hands. So this is the biggest challenge we have had.

Talking about the right kind of people, what exactly are you looking for?

We are looking for people who can think outside the box. The normal ways of thinking has to be innovative. As management consultants, our job is to be able to think outside the box. For the interviews, we throw a question at you and want to see how you can tackle it openly and how you can also learn on the job while trying to solve that problem.

We want people that have an open mind to solving problems and at the same time being specific about those problems that we pose at them. For us here, it’s not about qualification as long as you have your basic university qualification and you did well with a first class or second class upper. What we have discovered over the years is that when we interview about twenty people, you’d see that only one or two meet our requirement.

Will you say Nigeria is doing well in terms of public health financing?

We are trying to improve and there’s very little progress made. Are we doing well as a country? Certainly not! We are very far from the benchmark. We are very far from the standard. We are not doing well at all compared to many other countries in Africa. But are there opportunities to improve? Yes! Is the government doing enough to improve that? Yes they are. Can the government do more? Yes, for sure. Recently we heard that the Act for the national health insurance policy was passed and is creating a vulnerable group fund that will try to address that particular group of people that are unable to access care

because they don’t have the resources.

We also know that there are plans in place to make health insurance mandatory which again will make the government to provide more resources to be able to reach our teeming population. In terms of investment in health, how much is the government budgeting? Is it budgeting enough? No! The Abuja declaration is what we all know that the government is expected to allocate 15 percent of its revenue to health. Are we close to that place? No! We are probably somewhere around five percent. So we are not doing well. The problems in Nigeria are huge and I know the government is putting in a lot of effort but certainly I know there is much more they can do to improve on resource availability to get Universal Health Coverage which will make people to access the right care that they need and at the right time.

In terms of public health accountability, where will you place the country at the moment?

On a scale of ten, I can say- two.

What do you think the nation can do to improve it?

What we can do to change it is what I call Crowd Source Accountability and by this, I mean giving power to the people to hold the government more accountable. We know that there are CSOs and other entities that come out to hold the government accountable, but how are we bringing in technology and innovation in order to bring out the lack of accountability of the government. No body sets out to fail, but in the process of trying to set out to do something different and worthwhile, people may fail.

But if there was a system of the government that is people-led, and is

backed with technology that is able to provide that guidance, then that will be one step in trying to stem out lack of accountability. In the end, we expect the government systems to work. If the government that is the machinery is not accountable, all we can do is to continue to empower the people and push to get the government from two, to five, to seven and someday, they’d get there. But we can’t totally leave the government out of the Issue if we will have full accountability.

Moving forward, will there be openings for partnerships?

Our work is to support different entities including the government. We want to work with the government at all levels to help them deliver their mandate and this is at federal and state levels. We will look at the systems they operate critically and see how they can be optimized. Another is to ensure consistency in policies and ensuring that policies have the private sector in mind. So if government in defining its policies is deliberate in considering the needs of private businesses, then they would need to do more.

A new team is coming in and sometimes from what you see, there will be policy summersault and what the other team has done in the last eight years will be dropped and a new team will come in and change that instead of building on it. So of you have built your programme and strategy, you have to go back to the drawing board and change it and that isn’t good for businesses. So being able to sustain some of the things that are good and not throw the baby alongside the bath water and being intentional about the needs of private businesses is what I also think the government can do at the other end.

What advice do you have for the new ministers of health?

We want to partner with them all the way in designing their strategy, reviewing, refining what they have. However, the advice that I’d give the new ministers is that they should try to keep things a bit stable. A lot of things have suffered because of instability. There are programmes that are still running and so instead of total scrap, they should try to keep and maintain some of those programmes be they on nutrition, maternal/child health, HIV and others. Before making any drastic changes, it will be good to review them extensively, look at their merits, demerits, and where things need to be improved, such should be done and the not too good ones can be removed based on data. In emphasizing the data part because before any decision is made, it will be good to be data-centric in terms of how the decisions are made. Sometimesit’s easy to make quick decisions, but what is the data saying? What is research saying? How much evidence has been gathered before deciding on how to modify or cancel or create new things?Being able to ensure that for every decision that is made, as they come in and start making their own effort to improve the country is backed and based on evidence and this is something that will be very helpful as they come in.

What advice do you have for individuals and groups who want to start up organisations such as yours?

Nigeria is a difficult place, but don’t give up. Stay true to yourself; don’t let the surroundings dictate how far you can go. When we started, people laughed, they mocked, but stay true and stay consistent- consistency that will eventually shine through. A lot of people that come as stars quickly fade. The ability to shine and keep shining is what eventually gets you to a point where the world can’t help but to see.

Sampson

World Thrombosis Day: Early Detection of a Blood Clot is Vital

Helen

Okoye

One in four people globally are dying from conditions related to thrombosis. And even when the condition doesn’t kill, it can dramatically affect the quality of life of the people who suffer from it.

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel. This clot can slow or block normal blood flow, and even break loose and travel to an organ, which can be life threatening. Thrombosis is the often-preventable underlying pathology of heart attack, thromboembolic stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) – the top three cardiovascular killers worldwide. Shockingly, more people succumb worldwide to the life-threatening conditions caused by thrombosis than the total number of people who lose their lives to AIDS, breast cancer, and car crashes combined, every year. Despite thrombosis being a dangerous condition that can affect anyone at any age, many people might not think to check for it or even know that they’re at risk.

According to Dr. Helen Okoye, medical expert and spokesperson for the World Thrombosis Day (WTD) campaign, early identification and knowledge about different types of thrombosis can be critical to preventing those risks.

Arterial and Venous Thromboembolism

Broadly speaking there are two types of thrombosis with the classification depending on where in the body the clot occurs. Venous thrombosis occurs in the veins, while arterial thrombosis occurs in the arteries. Both of these are influenced by risk factors that are either inherited genetically or acquired through lifestyle, says Dr. Okoye.

Arterial thrombosis can result in heart attacks, strokes, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-strokes, and critical limb ischaemia if left untreated. Venous thromboembolism or VTE is a condition in which blood clots form, most often in the deep veins of the leg, known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, and can travel in the circulation and lodge in the

lungs, known as pulmonary embolism or PE.

Preventable and Treatable

The good news, says Dr. Okoye, is that thrombosis is a preventable and treatable condition, especially if detected early. To identify whether a patient is ‘at-risk,’ healthcare professionals will conduct a VTE risk as-

My Period, My Pride Drama Advocates Free Sanitary Pads for School Girls

Rebecca Ejifoma

Anike-Ade Funke’s drama series on menstrual health and hygiene, My Period, My Pride, intentionally advocates free sanitary pads for school girls across Nigeria.

The 13-week drama series, which debuted in August on Radio Nigeria Bond 92.9 FM, Lagos, reflects the challenges of the girl child as she struggles with education amid period poverty.

“It is a distillation of conversations and stories about menstruation as experienced by many families,” she added.

According to the author and multiple award-winning broadcaster, the initiative is an advocacy tool to demand free sanitary pads for school girls from the Nigerian governments across all levels.

While noting that the drama is not prominent in the menu of many radio stations in Nigeria, Funke described it as content and advocacy.

For Funke, a journalist and social campaigner, the drama series is coming when Nigerians grapple with the effects of subsidy removal on the family budget.

She went on to express gratitude to the McArthur Foundation Africa in Nige-

ria, under the leadership of Dr. Kole Shettima, “For supporting our work in the menstrual hygiene sector and giving impetus to our media campaign”.

On her part, the Senior Programme Officer, McArthur Foundation, Africa, Dr Amina Salihu, described period poverty as an equity, human rights, and socio-economic problem.

She emphasised: “Society and the state lose because we cannot understand the socio-economic dimensions.”

Salihu lamented that period poverty is a form of gender-based violence, cautioning that until policymakers recognise it, “we won’t be able to shift the needle regarding the right policies and laws”.

A veteran broadcaster, Mr. Ogie Eboigbe, acknowledged that the message can reach more people with radio.

He continued: “Even the mobile phones all have FM radios while drivers, owners of cars, and passengers are sure to hear and get the message.”

Renowned Agro-economy expert and former Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Prof. Sidi Osho, highlighted how the series would emphasise for the girl child many essential issues they should know about,

especially their physiology as females.

“It would bring to bear the importance of hygiene in menstruation, emphasising the evolution of eggs during menstruation to reduce the number of out-of-school children pregnant,” says Osho.

Accordingly, he is confident that the series would showcase the role that caregivers and mothers play in explaining more about sex education to their wards, especially for social growth.

“We hope the series will stimulate policymakers, the private sector, and industries to support this vision by giving sanitary towels to girls through this campaign,” the prof and chair of the Board of Illuminate Nigeria Development Network (INDN) under which the SPMC added.

My Period, My Pride series captures the first menstruation, menstrual cramps, anxiety over continued education due to period poverty, and menstrual hygiene talk.

It also outlines the effects of corporate and government intervention on schooling through donating menstrual items to school girls, the empowerment of women, child abuse and exploitation, and the significance of scholarships to indigent students.

sessment, which is a questionnaire about a patient’s age, medical history, medications, and specific lifestyle factors. Information is then used to discern a patient’s potential risk for developing blood clots.

From there, tests may be done, including a D-Dimer blood test, an ultrasound of the arm or leg to look for the DVT, or a

CAT scan of the chest with intravenous dye to look for a PE.

At-risk patients may be given appropriate prevention, referred to as “prophylaxis”, which can include anticoagulants and mechanical devices (compression stockings, intermittent pneumatic compression devices or rapid inflation venous foot pumps). If patient is in hospital, they may also be instructed to move around or do foot/leg exercises as soon and as often as possible.

“If you’re an at-risk patient at home on bed rest, you might be allowed to occasionally walk around the house or do some leg exercises in bed, at least. Whatever the case, it’s critical that you keep your legs moving and your circulation flowing,” says Dr. Okoye.

No discrimination

Blood clots can affect anyone, regardless of location, age, ethnicity, or race, even though certain factors put one at higher risk. “Thrombosis is a significant public health issue, yet so many people are unaware of it. Risk factors for thrombosis include hospitalisation, surgery, cancer, prolonged immobility, family history, oestrogen-containing medications, and pregnancy or recent birth,” says Dr. Okoye.

It’s imperative, therefore, that people know their risk factor, get tested if needed, and seek out medical treatment if they suspect they may have a blood clot. “Warning signs of a DVT in the leg can include pain, tenderness, swelling, warmth, and redness. For a PE, the warning signs include unexplained shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain, a rapid heart rate, and light-headedness or passing out,” says Dr. Okoye.

If detected and treated early, people who get a blood clot can go on to live long, healthy lives, concludes Dr. Okoye. “Understanding the risk factors and symptoms of a blood clot is knowledge that could very well save your life, or that of a loved one. A little education can go a long way in ensuring this happens.”

The Beacon of Healthcare: BT Health and Diagnostic Centre in Lagos State

Esther Adeyanju

Stepping into Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), I sought to understand the healthcare quality offered to the countless patients relying on it. The BT Health and Diagnostic Centre, prominently situated within the hospital, left a lasting impression on me. Its commitment to patient care was truly awe-inspiring.

In the heart of LASUTH stands a bastion of hope for many Nigerians: the BT Health and Diagnostic Centre; representing the paradigm of excellence, this centre has become synonymous with cutting-edge healthcare, making significant strides in cardiology, radiology, and laboratory diagnostics.

Open round-the-clock, the centre is always bustling, a testament to its unwavering commitment to patient care. Day or night, their dedicated team, comprised of highly qualified professionals, is ready to provide world-class medical attention to those in need.

Their adherence to the latest industry trends is evident in the state-of-the-art equipment that they employ, particularly in the various units of the centre (Cardiology, radiology and laboratory).

These state of art equipment from my findings were supplied, installed and maintained by PPC Limited, Nigeria’s leading engineering and infrastructure development company with footprints across

Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. With the latest innovations at each of these units’ fingertips, they ensure precise diagnoses and effective treatments.

As proud owners of one of the most sophisticated MRI machines in the industry, BT Health and Diagnostic Centre guarantees unparalleled clarity in imaging quality, an essential factor in many diagnoses. What further sets them apart is their prompt service. Patients can expect their test results within a remarkable 24-hour window, and in emergency situations, this waiting period is slashed to just six hours.

This efficiency can, quite literally, be the difference between life and death.

Operational quality assurance measures were also in place. Renowned consultants oversee the generation of test reports, ensuring that the results are accurate and reliable. This commitment to precision has earned the centre a reputation for providing medical insights that physicians and patients alike can trust.

Beyond their technological prowess, the centre stands as a beacon of professional growth. Committed to the continual career development of its staff, BT Health and Diagnostic Centre frequently organizes training sessions, ensuring that their team is not only equipped with the best tools but also the most current knowledge. This nurturing environment fosters a team of skilled professionals who

are not only proficient in their roles but are also passionate about making a difference in providing patient care.

With a daily footfall of not less than 500 patients, the impact of this centre on the community is palpable. It is more than just numbers; it is about the lives transformed, the illnesses diagnosed, the treatments administered, and the hope restored. For many Nigerians, especially those with limited access to healthcare facilities, the BT Health and Diagnostic Centre is not just a medical facility; it is a lifeline.

Worthy of note is one of the centre’s crowning achievements which is its partnership with PPC Limited. The partnership has borne remarkable fruit in the form of industry-leading diagnostic machines, installed and maintained by PPC Limited. The machines, recognized as the best in its class, is a testament to the collaboration’s dedication to excellence.

In a country where timely and efficient healthcare is often a luxury, the BT Health and Diagnostic Centre is rewriting the narrative, ensuring that every patient, regardless of their background, has access to the best healthcare facilities provided by PPC limited.

In a conversation with the Centre Manager, Dr. Wale Olusanya, he shared forthcoming plans to spread this standard of excellence to additional states in Nigeria, guaranteeing that residents across Nigeria can benefit from the expertise of seasoned professionals and consultants. .

Smile360 Wins NHEA 2023 for the 7th Time, Calls for Investment in Infrastructure

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Founder and CEO of Smile360 Dental Clinic, Dr Amy Shumbusho, has urged the government to invest in the infrastructure and resources necessary to provide high-quality dental care within the country.

She made the call after Smile360 clinched the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) 2023 for the seventh time for delivering exceptional dental services and setting the benchmark for excellence in the industry.

Speaking on the myriad challenges in the nation’s health sector, Shumbusho admitted that dentistry in Nigeria faces significant challenges due to the current medical tourism trends and “brain drain”.

She pointed out that many skilled dental professionals

were leaving the country, resulting in a deficiency of competent practitioners.

“These issues impact the quality and accessibility of dental care in Nigeria,” says Shumboshu, who is also Smile360’s Clinical Director.

“The government and other stakeholders must create an enabling environment encouraging dental professionals to stay in the country and attract those who left to return.”

To achieve this feat, the CEO recommended competitive salaries and benefits, improved working conditions, and more opportunities for professional growth and development.

Shumbusho highlighted some pragmatic steps the government could employ to promote local patronage of dental care and curb medical tourism.

“The government can invest in the infrastructure and resources necessary to provide

high-quality dental care within the Country.

“This includes improving dental facilities, ensuring the availability of modern equipment, and promoting the continuing education and training of dental professionals,” she outlined.

She also endorsed collaboration with private dental clinics to develop affordable and accessible dental care packages for all citizens.

She said: “The government needs to conduct public awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians about the benefits of receiving dental care locally and the risks associated with medical tourism.”

Reacting to their win at the NHEA 2023, she expressed: “We are incredibly honoured to have been recognised by the esteemed Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards for a seventh time.

“This prestigious recognition

is a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence and our mission to provide our patients with the highest quality dental care.”

According to Shumbusho, their consistent recognition from NHEA 2023 further underscores their efforts and motivates them to push boundaries and set new standards in dentistry.

Today, Smile360 provides Family Dentistry, Orthodontics and Invisalign, Prosthodontics, Maxillofacial surgery, dental implants, endodontics, periodontology, Laser dentistry, Hollywood Smile, and Smile Design.

The clinic leverages advanced dental technologies and techniques for superior outcomes; Smile360 offers new technologies, including digital dental imaging and CAD/ CAM technology, among others.

Has the Countdown to #Smokefree Nollywood Begun?

Philip

Jakpor

The recent convergence of movie practitioners on the auspices of Nollywood in Abuja to discuss the dangers of smoking in movies, is indicative that the Nigerian movie industry is now grasping the reality of the threat smoking in films pose to children and the uninformed. While the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations of 2019 contain provisions prohibiting tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, the enforcement of the policy has been largely restricted to and assumed to refer only to outdoor advertising and ads on radio, TV, and newspapers. While our attention was fixated on those platforms, the tobacco industry steadily ensnared the movie industry and digital media platforms which have become new frontiers for wooing young smokers.

A Study; Portrayal of Smoking in Nigerian Online Videos: A Medium for Tobacco Advertising and Promotion, conducted in 2014 by Adegoke Adelufosi shows that smoking and smoking imagery are prevalent in Nollywood. In the study, “26 of 60 online videos (representing 43.4 percent) assessed had scenes with cigarette smoking imageries… There were scenes of the main protagonists smoking in 73.2 percent of the films with scenes of female protagonists smoking (78.9 per cent) more than the male protagonists (21.1 percent)…”

More recent research by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in 2020 showed that out of 36 movies it screened in total, picked from English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba genres, twenty-two had scenes which glamourized smoking. Ten of the smoking scenes were unnecessary to depict the character of the actor or buttress the message being passed, while thirteen clearly depicted cigarette packs with some with brand names evidently v isible.

The convergence in Abuja was targeted at addressing these challenges and charting the course for the future which they believe should start with a voluntary code of practice for movie practitioners.

Foundation Gives Palliatives, Empowerment

Items to Ease Hardships in Abia Communities

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The economic hardships in the country keep biting harder by the day. While the bad condition is pervasive it appears the rural dwellers feel the punch more than those in the cities.

For this reason, city dwellers, who are seen to be well off, are being bombarded with save our soul(S.O.S) messages from rural folks in dire need of assistance to stay afloat.

On August 12, 2023 many people in the four communities that make up Umuchieze clan in Umunneochi Local Government of Abia State heaved sighs of relieve. The Founder/President of Ivyline Care Foundation, Dr Evangeline Ozonyiri brought palliatives to the people of Leru, Lekwesi, Lokpaukwu and Lokpanta.

The distribution of the palliatives and empowerment items took place at the Community Primary School, Leru, during the August meeting of the women.

“I’ve taken it upon myself to reach out to people with what I can afford,” Ozonyiri told journalists during the event.

The philanthropist said that she receives loads of text messages from people asking for help. And she could understand “what it feels

like” to be in need of essential things like food., adding that helping people is her own way of “spreading love”.

Ozonyiri said that, over the years, her Foundation, which motto is “touching lives”, has been spreading love in her immediate community, Leru, with palliatives. She usually carried out her kind gestures during occasions like Christmas and Easter, and also during the Covid-19 lock down.

This time around, she decided to extend her good gesture to neighbouring communities hence the inclusion of Lokpaukwu, Lokpanta and Lekwesi among the benefiting communities.

The target beneficiaries were indigent widows, widowers,

and other categories of less privileged members of the communities. However, women and youth groups were not left out on this very occasion. They were given building materials in suppport of their community development projects, and also implements for their farming activities.

Jubilation filled the air as the palliatives and empowerment items were distributed to the beneficiaries. In fact the Foundation had tailored the items to meet the immediate and long term needs of the beneficiaries. There were food stuffs and condiments, sewing machines, grinding machines, stoves, bags of cement, mattresses and pillows, farm tools, buckets and lots of wrappers. Even aerosol insecti-

cides were included to protect the people from mosquitoes.

In their remarks, community leaders profusely thanked Ozonyiri for having a heart of gold to give succour to the rural dwellers.

The President General of Umuchieze, Chief Peter Ogbukwe, an architect, commended the philanthropist for extending her palliatives to the entire Umuchieze clan.

The Financial Secretary of Lokpanta, Hon Aloysius Chiagozie, whose community was included for the palliatives, enthused that he “never knew we have this kind of person in our clan”. He urged Ozonyiri to sustain her efforts in amelioration of hardships among her people.

NAFDAC Cautions against Consumption of Calcium Carbide Ripening Fruits

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

and George Okoh in Makurdi

The National Agency for Food And Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), last Monday cautioned against the consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide.

The agency added that eat-

ing calcium carbide ripening fruits as well as buying drugs from hawkers promotes death in the society Director General of the NAFDAC, Prof. Mojo Christianah Adeyeye, stated this at a Media Sensitisation Workshop on Dangers of Drugs Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide held in Lafia,

the capital of Nasarawa State. Represented by the Director Chemical Evaluation and Research of the agency, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Adeyeye said drugs that are sold by hawkers in markets and streets of Nigeria are completely degraded as the elements that cure diseases become poisonous.

Regulation of smoking in movies is not new. In 1997 the US banned paid product placement of tobacco in films. India followed suit in 2005, insisting that such scenes glamorize the use of cigarette. Under India’s smoking ban, smoking scenes in any movie is prohibited, including any old or historical movies where, smoking was necessary to make the depiction accurate. Many countries have introduced similar stringent measures. The UK for instance, has a ban in smoking in cinemas and on set.

Research has shown that young people who are exposed to on-screen smoking are more likely to start smoking than those who do not see smoking in movies. This can have serious health implications, such as incr eased rates of lung cancer, heart disease, etc. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Global bodies like the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognise the need to regulate smoking in the film industry. Dr. Douglas Bettcher, WHO’s former Director for the Department of Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), in 2016 said: “With ever tighter restrictions on tobacco advertising, film remains one of the last channels exposing millions of adolescents to smoking imagery without restrictions.”

The quest to make Nollywood go smokefree will be a landmark feat no doubt. Nollywood is estimated to be worth around $5.2 billion and produces over 2,600 movies annually. It has grown significantly in recent years and is now recognised globally for its impact on African cinema and the entertainment industry. It is on this premise that the content that Nigeria produces matters. The kind of regulation that Nigeria also puts in place to sanitize the contents that hit the screens in homes matter.

By enacting the NTC Act 2015 and Regulation in 2019 the Nigerian government took a signifi cant step forward in protecting public health but pending when the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) will begin the enforcement, practitioners must work towards making films that portray nonsmoking behaviours as the norm. With this, they will not only be partnering with the government for the success of the policy but will also be putting Nigeria on the map of countries that are serious about addressing the tobacco menace.

L-R: Dr Mohd Ahmed, Prosthodontist Smile360; Damilola Ajewole, Practice Manager at Smile360; Dr Aaron Osei-Asbey, Orthodontist from Ghana; Dr Amy Shumbusho, CEO of Smile360; Timothy Ayeye, Hygienist at Smie360; Amaka Oboh, Business Development Coordinator; Nr Olanrewaju Akanbi, Treatment Coordinator at Smile360 during the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) in Lagos

AGM: Hearing Stalls in Suit Filed by Aggrieved FBN Holdings Shareholders

Wale Igbintade

Hearing in the suit filed by three aggrieved shareholders of FBN Holdings Plc over the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held on August 15, 2023, was stalled yesterday, as Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos, directed parties to address him on whether he coul proceed with the case, in view of the Notice of Appeal seeking stay of proceedings on the matter.

At the resumed hearing of the suit, Justice Aluko raised the issue suo motu and informed parties of the pendency of the Notice of Appeal filed by FBN Holdings Plc, asking him to stay further proceedings in the matter.

The Judge asked counsel in the matter to file Written Addresses of not more than five pages, on whether the court could continue to hear the case in view of the Appeal pending before the Court of Appeal and another application seeking a stay of proceedings.

However, counsel to the petitioners, Dr. Muiz Banire, while reacting to the observation submitted that a notice of Appeal cannot act as a stay of proceedings, adding that there was no appeal before the court since the appeal was yet to be entered.

Banire argued that the court could proceed with the hearing of the matter as his application had nothing to do with the issues raised in the appeal.

But Justice Aluko while interjecting him, said it would not be wise for him to close his eyes to the notice of appeal as that would amount to insubordination.

Counsel to the respondents, Mutalubi Adebayo, as well as counsel of parties seeking to be joined, Kazeem Gbadamosi, Adesoji Adedoyin, and Babajide Koku, all pleaded with the court to give them time to address the court on whether it could proceed with hearing of the matter in view of the pending appeal and the application for stay of proceedings in the case.

Consequently, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to September 23, 2023, for adoption of written addresses.

Some aggrieved shareholders, Olojede Adewole Solomon, Adebayo Oluwafemi Abayomi, and Ogundiran Emmanuel Adejare, had urged the Federal High Court for an order stopping the bank’s Annual General Meeting that held August 15, pending the hearing of their suit number FHC/L/CP/1575/23.

FBN Holdings Plc had in its Notice of Appeal asked the court to nullify an ex-parte order granted by Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, which stopped the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The holding company, in a Notice of Appeal filed on its behalf by its team of lawyers led by Mutalubi Adebayo, sought the upper court for an order allowing its appeal and an order directing that a different Judge of the Federal High Court Lagos be assigned to hear the substantive matter.

Advantage of Boabab Microfinance Bank to Grow Your Business’

Ibrahim Oyewale

Entrepreneurs, Small-scale business owners, market women and others have urged to take advantage of the establishment of Baobab Microfinance bank in Lokoja – Kogi State to expand their businesses.

The Chief Risk Office of Baobab Microfinance Bank, Mr. Babatunde Omolere disclosed this while speaking at the official opening of Baobab Microfinance Bank in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

He has described Kogi State as a conducive environment for business, stressing that Microfinance bank will uplift many vulnerable but hardworking dwellers in the State.

He explained that Baobab as tree with many branches, leaves, deep rooted roots and very strong than can survive for several years. He said the microfinance bank derived from the Boabab tree because it is a strong tree that provide shade for many things.

Omolere who went down

Patel:

the memory lane stated that the bank started in Kaduna with only one branch fourteen years ago. By the grace of God, the bank has 6 branches in Kaduna, 3 in Kano and 12 branches in Lagos adding that as at today the has grown to 38 branches in Nigeria.

“We are in Kogi State to open opportunities for the most financially vulnerable hardworking, businessmen and Women, ready to grow their businesses within shortest time and have been denied of financial access,” he noted.

He further explained that the came to Kogi State in February 2023, saying that the branch has over 750 clients and had successfully disbursed a total sum of N 650 million and commended the clients for their resilience in prompt payment.

Some of the Customers who commended the Bank said the Baobab microfinance bank has indeed transformed their various, saying that the coming of the bank was a

MARKET INDICATORS

blessing to Kogi State.

The Chief Executive officer, A two Z Multi Dynamics, Arize Atuegbu explained that it was an Engineer who worked on the office complex of Lokoja branch that introduced him to the bank, saying that the bank Portfolio officers asked only for his bank account and not too long he received alert for amount he requested.

Atuegbu said the Baobab microfinance bank is really in Kogi and has come to stay, calling on other businessmen, market women and other vulnerable to take the advantage of coming of the bank to establish new business of their own.

Mrs. Rose Ilonah who spoke on behalf of women folks lauded Baobab micro finance Bank for putting smiles on the faces of Kogi Women. Ilonah however enjoined market women, house wives to take the advantage of the bank to grow their business to reduce pressures on their husbands.

Trust-based CollaborationVital forVocationalYouth Employment

Ugo Aliogo

The Chief Executive Officer, Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Divya Patel, has stated that to accelerate youth vocational employment in Nigeria, trustbased collaboration is vital, noting that their work as an organisation involves being impact-driven and collaborative.

She stated that addressing youth unemployment requires that all stakeholders work with each other, share their experiences, be transparent about challenges and commit to action. Patel shared this recently in Lagos at the 2023 Ishk Skills Hub Graduation and

Skilling Conference. Designed to showcase the positive outcomes of the Foundation’s vocational training program, the conference also convened a panel to discuss how to overcome challenges hindering youth vocational skilling and employment in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Deputy Programme Director, Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Oje Ivagba, urged the government, at all levels, to stop considering vocational employment as a second choice to white-collar jobs, noting that if effectively positioned, vocational jobs can tackle the unemployment deficit in Nigeria.

He explained that over 500

Money

Ishk Skills Hub students who completed their training in 2022 also graduated formally at this event and had the opportunity to pose questions directly to the panel, comprising key stakeholders such as vocational training centers, government agencies and corporate employers.

He added that 50 graduates were also awarded with startup toolkits through the Ishk Award for Excellence.

According to Patel, “As an organisation, Ishk Tolaram Foundation’s purpose is to enable individuals to improve their quality of life. In Nigeria, we do this through healthcare and skilling.

OPEC DAILY

PRICE AS AT 25 AUGUST, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $85.71 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $85.84 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

BASKET

L-R: Ag Head Marketing & Brand Communication, Baobab Microfinance Bank, Samuel Oguzie; Abuja Regional Manager, Robinson Godwin; Lokoja Branch Manager, Babatunde Emmanuel; Chief Risk Officer, Babatunde Omolere and Business Head Abuja Region, Samuel Aikhuomogbe at the official opening of Baobab Microfinance Bank in Lokoja, Kogi State…recently

‘Take

Yuguda: Banks’ Growth Hinges on Capital Market Regulatory Framework

KayodeTokede

The Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda, has expressed that the remarkable growth witnessed in the Nigerian banking industry over the past decade is partly attributable to the capital market and commission comprehensive regulatory approach.

Yuguda, said this at the 2023 Chartered Institute of Bankers

(CIBN) graduates induction and prize award recently held in Lagos. According to him, “The harmonious relationship between the capital market and the banking sector is further exemplified by our role in facilitating capital raising, mergers and acquisitions for banks.

“By streamlining the listing process and ensuring adherence to high standards of transparency and corporate governance, we enable banks to tap into the

securities market as a means to secure funds from a diverse range of investors

“This synergy between the banking industry and the capital market is illuminated by the fact that only four out of the 25 banks that emerged from the Central Bank’s 2004 recapitalization exercise did not access the capital market before compliance.”

Yuguda charged the graduates on professionalism and adapting to changes in the financial world.

“Distinguished graduates, as you embark on your banking careers, remember the importance of integrity, good moral conduct, and adaptability.

“The financial world is evolving rapidly due to technology and global changes. Embrace these shifts as unique and timely opportunities to contribute positively to the banking industry”, he said.

He said the theme, “Navigating the Pathways of Banking Excellence,” aptly encapsulates

the journey that each of them embarks upon.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria for its determined commitment to nurturing industry-ready professionals.

Your dedication resonates with our shared vision of fostering a resilient, well-regulated financial ecosystem that can withstand challenges and foster sustainable growth.

“The most renowned profes-

sionals are celebrated today for building business empires and nurturing thoroughbred professionalism, achieving success through proper conduct, steadfast dedication, and a meticulous approach that allowed them to refine their long-term visions and goals.

He said the CIBN’s vision aligns with the Commission’s quest for transparent and fair conduct in securities business by ensuring that operators in the capital market play according to the rules.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF SEPTEMBER/6/23

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

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05Sept-2023, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF.

Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

GAMING WEEK

Edited by NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG | ikotibok@gmail.com | Tel:

Spotlight on Localisation of Sports Betting at 2023 SBWA Conference

Over the years, there has been an influx of operators into the Nigerian market, all seeking to grab a slice of the market share driven by over 60 million punters. While a handful of these operators have managed to secure a position leveraging either retail or online gaming channels, a majority of them have gone out of existence. Their disappearance has been mostly attributed to their inability to pay punters’ winnings or failing to meet regulatory requirements set by either state or national regulators.

Aside from Nigeria, this scenario is prevalent in other parts of West Africa, a geographical area home to

about 441 million people (United Nation’s August estimates), and is expected to reach 462 million by 2025. This population growth implies a growth in market size, but one that sadly may suffer from existing issues such as multiple taxation and licensing fees and lack of local content and infrastructure.

To address some of the issues, regulators, operators, and stakeholders from across the globe converged for the 2023 edition of Sports Betting West Africa SBWA, an annual gaming conference recently held at the Federal Palace Hotels and Casinos, Lagos.

Analysing the role internet penetration —which currently stands at 55.4 per cent in Nigeria

— plays in driving sales online, BETANO head of retail operations, Ahmed Olawale, argued that retail marketing remains investors’ best bet. In his paper presentation, he elaborated that less than 50 per cent of the 60 million punters have limited access to the internet. He further stated that over 60 per cent of revenue was generated via the retail channels that offered a fuller experience of the sports betting ecosystem, especially to those in the informal sector.

“The reason we have a low virtual contribution in the online space is because of the data consumption and the user experience. You can’t have the live user experience you have in the

retail shop when you play virtual games when you play online. The physical feel you have when you walk into the betting shops is quite different. Also, you don’t have your virtual games displayed the same appealing way online,” said Olawale. According to Olawale, the sports betting sector contributed 3.2 per cent to the national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023 and projects that it will reach 4.2 per cent in 2024. He noted that to maintain the growth trajectory, the sector must attract investments to spur growth. The first panel session of the conference’s third day addresses the issue of attracting foreign investments.

Tagged ‘Strategies for Attracting iGaming Investments to West Africa’, Country Manager of Melbet, Alexander Ezekiel and Global Business Development Manager of Mancala Gaming, Momo Alhassan, shared their perspectives on how localisation of gaming products and a unified regulatory system that allows for seamless operation will help attract investments.

“Investors need to understand the local markets. They need to understand and find new ways to synergize whatever product they are bringing from the foreign market into this space,” Ezekiel stated on the need to create USPs familiar to punters to attract and retain customer base. “You have to be innovative and flexible because there are a whole lot of opportunities that come into this space.”

On the other hand, Alhassan emphasised the importance of innovatively localizing gaming products to attain and maintain growth, pointing out that “there hasn’t been much cooperation in restructuring or developing games that are accustomed to our setup as Africans. These local games can be made into small games easily. It is just about rewriting the concept the winning lines, creating a multiplier for it, and calculating the algorithm and mechanics.

“If you see how much games providers are taking out of Africa, out of West Africa… but it is just because they are bringing the products based on their setup, and then we are playing it,” Alhassan explained. “We need to localize it, but we don’t have a single game studio so far in West Africa. Not until we begin to create games based on our customs and setups we cannot change the narrative.”

we take from that? We have to make the process seamless. The gaming authorities can change the narrative, take control.”

“In Europe, the biggest license you can get is the MGA. MGA is what is accepted as the biggest licence in the gaming sector. What can we take from that? We have to make the process seamless,” Alhassan explained further. “The gaming authorities can change the narrative, take control, and create something similar where they will be issuing licenses, but definitely, they should fuse it to the national licence, where they take the licensing from Lagos and fuse it to the national licence. In Europe, jurisdiction matters what licence you need.”

In another panel session, the Country Manager of Kaizen Gaming, Oyindamola Micheals, argued that investors were primarily concerned with making quick profits as soon as they began operation without properly strategising how to gain customer brand loyalty. In his analysis, he encouraged them to study and adopt principles applied by existing operators while leaving room for innovation that would allow them to break the mould.

In the final session, where ideas were exchanged on how to grow punters’ participation in poker games, Principal Partner of Law Allianz, Yahaya Maikori, reiterated the need to ‘sportify’ the game. That way, he believes that the stigma surrounding poker, based on how it has been portrayed in popular culture, will help increase interest and participation and may lead to inspiring players to toe the professional path.

NLRC, Police Renew Commitment to Ensure Integrity of Lottery System

In a significant stride towards ensuring the integrity and security of the lottery system, Lanre Gbajabiamila, the director-general of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), met with the Acting InspectorGeneral of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting highlighted the expanding collaboration between the two entities, aiming to fortify the nation’s lottery sector while upholding the rule of law.

Gbajabiamila expressed his appreciation for the warm reception from the Acting Inspector General. He seized the opportunity to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Egbetokun on his appointment.

The visit’s purpose was to

solidify further the existing partnership between the NLRC and the Nigeria Police.

Recognising the pivotal role lotteries play in both entertainment and socioeconomic development, Gbajabiamila, in his remark, stressed the importance of maintaining transparency, fairness, and security in all facets of lottery operations. This commitment, he noted, was instrumental in safeguarding public interests and the trust of stakeholders.

Gbajabiamila articulated the joint responsibility of both organizations in combatting fraud, manipulation, and any unlawful activities that could potentially erode public confidence in the lottery industry.

Specifically, he highlighted the NLRC’s reliance on police officers for monitoring and enforcing compliance within the lottery sector whilst seeking the cooperation of the IGP in directing police commissioners across the nation to allocate officers to assist the NLRC.

“We solicit your cooperation in directing commissioners of police nationwide to release Police Officers to assist the Commission whenever the need arises,” Gbajabiamila said.

Egbetokun assured the NLRC boss that appropriate instructions would be communicated to police commissioners across the country in this regard.

“The Nigeria Police will assist you in your monitoring

and enforcement duties. We will partner with you in investigating and fighting fraud, providing security needs for your personnel while you go about your lawful duties,” stated the inspector general police. “Know that I have taken note of your requests, and instructions will be given as regards police commissioners nationwide.”

The meeting further affirmed the NLRC’s mandate to ensure fairness, guidance, and safety within the lottery industry as the synergy between the NLRC and the police is poised to enhance the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement. It will also foster an environment where citizens can confidently participate in lottery activities.

The current battle over jurisdiction between the state and national regulatory bodies leaves the operator bearing the brunt. Ezekiel said it was not attractive to investors to pay national and state licensing fees and other minor taxes on the local government levels. He suggested unifying the process in a manner that ensures seamlessness.

Alhassan further explained that unified systems, as evidenced by the Malta Gaming Authority and other bespoke licences that offer limited operating capabilities, are the way to go, adding that in Europe, the biggest licence “you can get is the MGA. MGA is what is accepted as the biggest licence in the gaming sector. What can

In the face of challenges and opportunities, the sports betting sector in West Africa stands at a crossroads. The insights shared at SBWA shed light on the path forward. The industry can transform itself by leveraging the power of local content, embracing innovative approaches to game development, and harmonising regulatory frameworks. As the region’s population continues to grow, the gaming market holds immense potential. With collaboration between regulators, operators, and stakeholders, West Africa’s sports betting sector can evolve into a thriving ecosystem that contributes significantly to GDP and provides a safe and enjoyable experience for punters while attracting the much-needed investments for sustained growth.

Despite the allure of Nigeria’s booming sports betting sector, boasting a market net worth exceeding $2 billion and steadily growing, the reality for operators is anything but optimal, Iyke Bede

Egbetokun (left) and Gbajabiamila

WORKSHOP ENGAGEMENT FOR REGULATORS IN W/AFRICAN REGION...

NNPC Subsidiary Raises Questions over Agip-Oando Assets Sale Deal

Says its consent not sought before agreement was reached Oando insists deal still awaiting regulatory approval Oil workers want suspension of contract, shut down operations

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), a subsidiary of the national oil company, has raised questions over an ongoing agreement for the 100 per cent planned purchase of Agip’s onshore oil, gas and power assets by Oando Oil Limited. In a letter addressed to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) obtained by THISDAY yesterday, the NNPC exploration and production unit maintained that it had not been informed that the transaction was in the offing.

However, commenting on the letter by NEPL in respect of the deal, a source who preferred to remain anonymous said: “I find it shocking that the minders of our national wealth display such little intelligence. The company NAOC sold its shares. It did not assign any interest in the JV or the JOA. Corporate law establishes the company as a legal being. Shareholders can change at any time.

“The PIA however says that when there is a change in control of a company that has interest in a lease you require the consent of the Minister. These chaps in NNPC should know this. The announce-

ments clearly state that NAOC has sold its shares to Oando. There is very little, if any NNPC can do. We just continue to display to the international community how naive we are by these kinds of statements from NNPC who should know better.”

But describing the deal as ‘purported’, the NEPL stated that once it was made aware of the agreement between Agip and Oando, it would then know the next steps to take.

When THISDAY contacted NNPC's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Garba Muhammad, he noted that the letter was neither an objection to the deal nor an attempt to block it, but to ensure that legal issues do not arise in the future.

“The letter was sent by NEPL, an NNPC Ltd subsidiary. But please note that it is not an objection to the transaction.

“NEPL is only drawing attention to certain important clauses in the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA), which might have been overlooked in error. Adherence to those clauses will protect the transaction now and in the future,” he said, while confirming the authenticity of the letter.

It was earlier reported that NAOC, a subsidiary of Italian energy group, Eni, which has interests in four onshore blocks and two onshore exploration leases as well as two

power plants in Nigeria, was planning to buy over Agip assets in the country. The agreement was, however, still subject to regulatory approval, the company said.

Apart from Oil Mining Leases (OML) 60, 61, 62, 63, NAOC also has interests in the Okpai 1 and 2 power plants with a total nameplate capacity of 960 megawatts as well as in two Onshore Exploration Leases (OPL) 282 and 135, for which it also holds operatorship.

THISDAY, however recalls that the NNPC recently objected to the Seplat-Mobil deal, noting that it had the right of first refusal, according to the extant JOA. It is believed that the current case may be headed in the same direction.

In the official communication sent by NEPL signed by the Managing Director of the NNPC exploration company, Muhammed Zarah, the NNPC subsidiary noted that if confirmed true, the deal will be a breach of the existing JOA among the concerned parties.

“Our attention has been drawn to various reports circulating on different media platforms in relation to an alleged divestment of NAOC's participating interest in OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 to Oando Oil Limited.

“A duly signed press statement allegedly emanating from OOL dated 4th September 2023 affirms the fact

House Committee Summons Ministers, AGF, Others Over Failure of Mass Transit

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the failure of mass transit scheme in Nigeria, yesterday, summoned the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, over failure of the scheme.

The committee also summoned the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Accountant General for the Federation and the Head of Service of the Federation.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Victor Ogene, who issued the summon yesterday, said the committee decided to invite the ministers and others to supply it with requisite information regarding previous mass transit schemes in terms of disbursement.

Ogene said the committee was yet to get the document required, saying sequel to that, the agencies were invited to appear before the committee in September 11th and 12th at 11 a. m. “Additionally, the clerk of this committee is to invite the Managing Director of the Infrastructure Bank to appear on the same day and time," he added.

He also asked the National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Road Transport Employers of Nigeria to appear before it and warned those concerned not to treat the invitation with levity, adding that failure to appear would incur the wrath of the lawmakers thereby invoking its legislative power.

"Let me warn that this invitation is not frivolous, this is an invitation

extended to them by the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And if for any reason, any of them fails to honour this invitation, we shall invoke the full power of this committee as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended," he added.

The Abuja Investment Company Limited and National Union of Road Transport Worker had earlier appeared before the committee where they both made suggestions on how to stop the recurring failure of the scheme. Ogene further said: "In spite of strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the recess, members were able to make it,” adding that it showed the determination of the committee.

that NAOC has assigned its entire 20 per cent participating interest in the said OMLs to OOL.

“Whilst we are yet to confirm the authenticity of the said divestment, we would like to note that the purported assignment, if true, would have the following far-reaching contractual/legal implications in relation to the JOA dated July 1991 governing the operations of the NAOC/NEPL/OOL Joint Venture (JV),” NEPL said.

It reiterated that Clause 19.1.1 of the JOA provides that: "The party may assign or transfer its interest or any part thereof without the prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld’’. By virtue of the provision, a party seeking to transfer part or the whole of its participating interest in the JV, Zarah said, is obligated to seek the

prior written consent of the other parties.

“In this instance, NAOC did not inform NEPL of any proposed assignment of its participating interest to OOL or any other party neither, did NAOC seek and obtain the mandatory pre-divestment written consent and approval from NEPL in accordance with Clause 19.1.1. of the JOA.

“It is imperative for you to note that failure to obtain NEPL’s prior written consent and approval with regards to the alleged transfer of your interests in the joint assets constitutes a grave breach of the terms of the JOA and NEPL reserves its rights in relation to the said breach, including NEPL's entitlement to invalidate the purported assignment to OOL.

“Under the terms of the JOA, assignment of interest has implications on the transfer of operatorship.

Clause 2.4.1(i)(c) of the JOA provides that the operator shall cease to be operator and shall be removed by the non-operators if the operator assigns or otherwise disposes of, other than to an affiliate, all its participating interest.

“Furthermore, Clause 2.6.1 provides that in the event of cessation of operatorship arising from the above circumstance, the parties shall appoint one of the non-operators as successor operator,” it held.

The NEPL said it had highlighted the above provisions of the JOA to underscore the point that the ‘purported’ assignment, even if valid should by no means translate to transfer of operatorship to Oando. It explained that if NAOC's divestment turns out to be valid, it will become incumbent on NEPL

Continued on page 43

Dangiwa: We Will Back Land Use Reforms, Ensure Adequate Housing Data

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has pledged to back other stakeholders and the National Assembly to ensure that the country's Land Use Act is comprehensively reviewed and amended.

According to him, the initiative would help update the laws guiding housing, access to land, compensation, resettlement, and other land-related matters in line with current realities.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media, to the minister, Mark Chieshe, stated that the minister gave the assurance during a meeting with a World Bank delegation at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.

Dangiwa, observed that key provisions of the Act, including those related to compensation, were already obsolete and lacked relevance in guiding land-related matters in today's Nigeria.

"I have already issued a directive to the Directors of the Department of Land and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning to develop a robust framework for

engaging the National Assembly and stakeholders in reviewing the Land Use Act," he stressed.

While addressing the issue of housing deficit, the minister emphasised the importance of instituting a sustainable framework that generates credible, reliable, and scientific data to guide policy formulation.

He stated that he had already moved beyond simply discussing the problem to taking action by engaging the National Population Commission (NPC) to leverage the forthcoming population census to obtain baseline scientific data about the state of housing conditions in Nigeria.

The minister further assured the team that his leadership was determined to address all the challenges confronting the sector, as well as looking into the foreclosure law, which is essential for the growth of the mortgage industry.

He also noted that the ministry would collaborate with relevant agencies in the area of policy development to ensure urban planning receives adequate attention.

He added that the retreat for state officials of urban planning

scheduled to take place in October 2023, would be one way to discuss strategies to tackle the challenge of unplanned cities.

The visit by the World Bank team aimed to brief the new ministers on the existing collaboration between the World Bank and the ministry, ongoing projects and programmes in the housing, land, urban development, and mortgage finance sectors, as well as discuss avenues for further collaborations.

The leader of the delegation, Michael Ilesanmi, noted that discussions with the ministry on land acquisition, resettlement, and compensation began in 2014, with a deepening of the discussions in 2022.

"Land remains a significant issue in the sector. The Land Use Act faces various challenges, and while realities have changed since its enactment in 1978, not much has changed with the Act. I believe there are opportunities to revise the Act to make it more relevant today," he said. He added that issues surrounding acquisition, resettlement, and compensation were hindering development.

L-R: Country Manager and Managing Director, LM Ericsson Nigeria Limited, Peter Ogundele; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta; Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria-Ghana and Cameroon, Annika Hahn; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Ubale Maska and Director, Special Duties, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde at the workshop engagement for regulators in the West African region organized by Ericsson and Swedish Programme for ICT in Developing and Emerging Regions (SPIDER) at the NCC’s Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja... yesterday

USAID: We Have Facilitated $205m Debt, Equity Investment for Nigerian Agribusinesses

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Over the past five years, USAID has promoted private sector-led economic growth in Nigeria by facilitating $205 million in debt and equity investments for Nigerian agribusinesses.

This was revealed on Wednesday when the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) hosted a workshop on, “Leveraging Private Sector Engagement

to Promote Sustainable Impact.”

The two-day event highlighted the Trade Hub’s efforts to expand trade and investment opportunities and improve livelihoods and communities in West Africa.

A statement from USAID, noted that Nigeria was the largest economy and market in Africa and has a vast untapped pool of labour, creating great potential for economic growth.

It added that the country has an opportunity to become a leading exporter and hub for the West

Africa region and the broader continent.

It stressed that, the Trade Hub improves private sector competitiveness with a focus on increasing the agricultural productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers.

The programme has promoted Nigeria and West Africa’s regional and international trade. Using a market-based approach. The project also increases partnerships with firms in various sectors through a co-investment grant

ELECTION COURT VALIDATES TINUBU’S PRESIDENCY

not require the hitherto constitutional 25% votes in a presidential run; that INEC was not under any compulsion to use BVAS; that the electronic transmission of results was equally at the discretion of INEC; that Tinubu’s $460,000 forfeiture was not criminal in anyway and lastly, that the candidacy of the president was fit and proper.

According to the tribunal, which cleared the air on the controversial 25% of votes accruable to winner in Abuja, the Federal capital territory, said it was not a requirement for the declaration of result, adding also that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not under any legal compulsion to transmit results electronically.

The tribunal, which addressed both the pre and election matters, argued that the issue of the $460,000, allegedly forfeited by Tinubu to the United States government following his alleged involvement in drug dealings was not a criminal forfeiture.

A five-member panel of the court affirmed Tinubu's election shortly after it dismissed the three separate petitions filed by Atiku, Obi and the Allied People's Movement (APM).

The panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani held that the case of the three petitioners lacked merit and liable for dismissal.

"I affirmed the return of Bola Tinubu as duly elected as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," Tsammani announced at the end of over 12 hours delivery of judgments in the three separate petitions.

The panel, in the unanimous judgment, held that the petitioners all failed to prove allegations of irregularities, malpractices, corrupt practices, substantial non-compliance amongst others.

Specifically, the three petitioners had sought the nullification of Tinubu's election on the grounds that INEC did not comply with the guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 polls as it concerned electronic transmission of election results real time from the polling units unto INEC's Results Viewing (IReV) portals.

They further submitted that Tinubu ought to be disqualified from the polls on account of the double/multiple nomination of his then vice-president nominee; alleged forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 to a United States District Court for alleged complicity in drug related offences, and his academic records as well as alleged citizenship of Guinea.

The tribunal, against these backgrounds, held that the petitioners failed to establish beyond reasonable doubts claims of substantial noncompliance, irregularities, corrupt practices amongst others.

Specifically, the tribunal held that neither Atiku nor Obi was able to prove alleged incidents of over voting, manipulation of results amongst others.

Addressing Obi’s Petitions…

In the petition by Obi, the five-member panel stated that the petitioners failed to prove that Tinubu was found guilty of any offence involving any act of dishonesty, adding that evidence before the court showed that the forfeiture order against Tinubu was in a civil and not criminal matter.

Tsammani, though, agreed with

the respondents that Tinubu was neither arraigned nor convicted in the US over any alleged crime to warrant his disqualification, he pointed out that documents tendered by the respondents confirmed that Tinubu was given a clean bill of health upon an enquiry from Nigeria.

Further faulting the petition, the tribunal held that Section 269(1&2), provided that such documents must be given under the hand of a Police official and must be accompanied with a certificate showing that the police officer has powers to sign such documents.

It however, pointed out that even if Tinubu were convicted for the alleged offence, for him to be disqualified from the 2023 election, the purported conviction must take place within 10 years of the election.

Unfortunately, the forfeiture order was made nearly three decades ago.

It went on to dismiss claim by Obi and LP that the election that produced Tinubu did not comply with the Electoral Act, 2022, on grounds that results of the election were not transmitted real time to the INEC's Results Viewing (IReV) portals.

According to the judgment, there was nowhere in the Electoral Act, that stated election must be electronically transmitted for collation.

While pointing out that Sections 14&18 of the Electoral Act provided for the use of the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) for the purpose of accreditation of voters, Tsammani emphasised that the "IReV is not a collation system."

In interpreting the use of BVAS and the INEC IreV portal, the court said INEC was not mandated to use BVAS to upload election results to the IReV and that INEC could not be compelled to transmit election results electronically because it was not captured in the 2022 Electoral Act.

The court said only INEC had the right to decide what channels to use in uploading election results.

“By the provision of Section 52 and Section 65 of the Electoral Act, INEC is at liberty to prescribe the manner in which results can be transmitted. INEC cannot be compelled to electronically transmit results,” the tribunal held.

The court also held that the petitioners failed to prove that the glitches faced in uploading election results was deliberate to distort election results as alleged.

The court admitted that there were technical glitches in uploading results, but concluded that the petitioners failed to prove the exact polling units where election results were not uploaded electronically.

Ruling on preliminary objection, the court dismissed some of the evidence byObi, on the grounds that they were tendered outside of the 21 days required by law.

It said most of the evidence submitted by Obi were late and could not be joined to his petitions and were therefore struck out accordingly.

Having struck out the evidence of the affected witnesses, Tsammani went ahead to expunged their testimonies from the records of the court.

In the Petition By Atiku…

Addressing the petition by Atiku, the tribunal held that for

facility to improve private sector productivity, profitability, and competitiveness.

Since the Trade Hub was launched in 2019, the project has catalysed 93 private- sector investments across 16 West African countries.

In Nigeria, partners include fruit and cereal processing companies, agricultural input companies, financial advisers, investment firms, and anchor farms. The Trade Hub has awarded $82.6 million in co-investment grants

to these companies, generating over $463 million in sales, and creating over 60,000 jobs.

Speaking at the event, USAID’s Acting Mission Director Sara Werth, said: “Together, with our private sector partners and local and national governments throughout the region, we are so proud of the results we have achieved to date.

“As we continue to partner in the work necessary for sustainable economic growth, financial inclusion, and climate resilience,

today’s learning event provides the environment to fuel continued collaboration and build new connections.”

During the event, private sector partners shared their successes in leveraging Trade Hub funds and direct partnerships with investment firms and other businesses to unlock new private investment. They also discussed the strategies implemented to grow their businesses while navigating challenges and crises such as COVID-19, insecurity, and inflation.

any election to be nullified, there must be proof of substantial noncompliance, corrupt practices and other irregularities.

It observed that while the petitioners failed to give particulars of malpractices in their petition, the evidence of the few witnesses called could not be relied upon, having not witnessed alleged acts of irregularities or corrupt practices.

Atiku had called only 27 witnesses to prove his allegations of irregularities, and corrupt practices amongst others.

But it was the position of the court that the 27 witnesses called were inadequate, considering the fact that elections took place in over 176,000 polling units across the country, to which the petitioners claimed their agents monitored.

The tribunal observed that rather than call the polling units agents, who witnessed the alleged irregularities and corrupt practices, the petitioners called collation agents whose evidence were at best "hearsay".

On the issue of electronic transmission, the panel reiterated its earlier position that the Electoral Act did not make provisions for electronic transmission of election results, adding that IReV was not a part of the collation process.

Again, on the issue of qualification, the court held that the petitioners did not plead facts in the qualification and disqualification of Tinubu, hence the issue was discountenanced by the court.

The tribunal also took time to address issues relating to Tinubu's alleged citizenship of Guinea, academic records, and forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 to the US.

Atiku had in his reply to Tinubu,

submitted that he was constitutionally disabled from contesting for the office of President of Federal Republic of Nigeria because he forfeited the sum of $460,000 in a compromise agreement for narcotics related crime (proceeds of crime) in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.

He claimed, in addition, that Tinubu failed to disclose in his form EC9 that he held dual citizenship of Nigeria and Guinea, having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Guinea.

But, the tribunal maintained that Atiku and PDP could not smuggle new issues not pleaded in their petition on the grounds of non-qualification.

However, earlier, the tribunal had struck out several paragraphs relied upon by Atiku and PDP in seeking the nullification of Tinubu's election.

Besides, several exhibits including witnesses’ statements tendered to establish allegations of irregularities, malpractices against the February 25 presidential election were rejected and discontenanced by the tribunal.

It was the position of the court that several facts fundamentally required to support the petition were not provided by Atiku.

Atiku was said to have failed and neglected to name places where ballot boxes were snatched, the ways and manners the BVAS machine were manipulated and names of polling boots where alleged malpractices took place, among other allegations.

The petitioners, who claimed to have polled the majority of lawful votes was said to have failed to state in clear terms, the total lawful votes he claimed to have scored.

The court held that, while Atiku alleged that Tinubu did not score the majority of lawful votes, he refused to make the perceived lawful votes known in his petition to the Tribunal.

Similarly, the tribunal stated that the former vice-president made grievous allegations against Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government of Kogi, Friday Adejoh, but neglected to join them as respondents in the petition.

It was the position of the tribunal that failure to join the governor, who was accused of electoral fraud was fatal to the petition, because the governor was denied opportunity to defend himself as required by law.

The tribunal, in another breath, dismissed the allegations of over-voting all over Nigeria by the petitioner, adding that such pleadings ran foul of the law because the specific places where the alleged over-voting took place were not mentioned.

Earlier, while dismissing the petition by APM, the tribunal agreed with the respondents that the petition was incompetent, lacking in merit, and an abuse of court processes on the grounds that the case was a pre-election matter.

The tribunal stated that the case of the petitioner having been a pre-election matter ought to be filed at the Federal High Court, not before the tribunal.

It added that even if the tribunal had powers to hear the case, it had already become statute barred, having not been filed within 14 days as prescribed by law.

According to the tribunal, its findings showed that the case of the APM was premised on the

alleged unlawful nomination and sponsorship of the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, which ought to be a pre-election matter.

Tsammani observed that the issue of qualification and disqualification of a candidate was a constitutional matter, adding that the issue of nomination did not flow from the grounds of disqualification as provided for in the Constitution.

In further holding that the suit was incompetent, the tribunal agreed with the respondents that the petitioner lacked the necessary locus standi to file the case in the first place, since it did not participate in the primary election of the APC.

Meanwhile, delivering judgment in the main petition, the panel held that the petitioner failed to prove that Tinubu breached Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2022, when he nominated Shettima as his Vice, adding that it was the president's prerogative to choose his running mate.

It pointed out that Shettima did not knowingly allowed himself to be nominated in more than one constituency, and as such, the case of the petitioner was faulty because Shettima never obtained any nomination form for the position of vice-president and did not contest any primary election for the position.

In addition, the court held that the issue of alleged double nomination has been dealt with by the Supreme Court, and as the final court in the land, no other court could adjudicate in it.

"The petitioner failed to prove that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the February 25 presidential election on the grounds of double nomination," the court held.

TINUBU WELCOMES PEPT’S VERDICT, SEEKS COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO BUILD NIGERIA

Peter Obi of the Labour Party as well as their supporters to give his government the requisite backing in collective interest.

But the leaderships of the PDP and Labour Party have rejected the verdict of the tribunal, saying it was against reason, facts and evidence.

This notwithstanding, President Muhammadu Buhari, who among other notable Nigerians like the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, governors of the ruling party, and others, reacted to the tribunal ruling, said democracy and the people have won by the tribunal pronouncement.

Tinubu said he welcomed the judgment with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities.

The president, in a release issued by his Media Adviser, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, assured Nigerians of his renewed and energised focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation, following the judgment by the presidential tribunal in Abuja.

He recognised the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law.

The president stressed that his commitment to the rule of law, and the unhindered discharge of duties by the Tribunal, as witnessed in the panel's respect for the merits of the petitions brought forward.

He said it further reflected the continuing maturation of Nigeria’s legal system, “and the advancement of Africa's largest democracy at a time when our democratic system of government is under test in other parts of the continent.”

According to him, the presidential candidates and political parties that have lawfully exercised their rights by participating in the 2023 general election and the judicial process, which followed, had affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials.

Tinubu urged his valiant challengers to inspire their supporters in the trust that the spirit of patriotism would now and forever be elevated above partisan considerations, "manifesting into support for our government to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians."

He thanked Nigerians for the mandate given to him to serve the country while promising to meet and exceed their expectations, by God’s grace, and through diligent hard work with the team that has been put in place for that purpose.

PDP, LP PresidentialRejectCourt Judgment

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as well as the Labour Party, have rejected the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, because it was against reason, fact and evidence.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologun-

agba, the PDP said, "As a party, we have had an initial review of the judgment as delivered by the PEPC and we unequivocally reject the said Judgement in its entirety.

"The judgement is against reason, against the facts and evidence presented in Court; against the relevant electoral laws, guidelines and regulations as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Indeed, the judgment is generous in technicalities and very short in delivering substantial justice in the matter.

"The PDP, as a law-abiding political party, will with our lawyers, have a comprehensive review of the judgment and decide on the next line of action within the ambit of the law," he said.

The party called on Nigerians to remain at alert, calm and united as it continues to lead the charge to defend democracy and ensure that the will of the people as expressed in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election was respected and restored.

On its part, the Labour Party said it watched with dismay and trepidation the dismissal of petitions by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani and therefore rejected it.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said, "We reject the outcome of the judgment in its entirety, because justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people.

"Nigerians were witnesses to the electoral robbery that took place on February 25, 2023, which was globally condemned but the Tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the obvious."

According to the party, "What is at stake is democracy and we will not relent until the people’s will prevails. We salute the doggedness of our team of lawyers who fearlessly exposed the wrath in our system. We can only weep for democracy in Nigeria but we refuse to give up on Nigeria.

"Details of the party's position will be presented after consultation with our lawyers after the Certified True Copy of the judgment has been obtained. We urge all lovers of democracy to remain focused and hopeful because a new Nigeria is possible."

Buhari: Democracy, Our People Have Won

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his happiness with ruling of the Presidential Elections Petition Court confirming the victory of the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima in the February 25 election.

The former President, in a statement by his former aide, Garba Shehu, said the PEPC has “written history” by spurning intimidation and all manner of prejudice to deliver justice according law to a majority

AfDB Says $1bn to Boost Access to Climate Finance for Youth in Africa

Ugo Aliogo with agency report

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has announced a new $1 billion fund to accelerate climate financing for Africa’s youth businesses.

In a statement, it noted that the additional financing would boost YouthAdapt, a joint initiative between the Bank and the Global Centre on Adaptation.

The AfDB invited young

entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises in Africa to submit innovative solutions and business ideas that have the potential to drive climate change adaptation and resilience across the continent.

Adesina, made the $1 billion announcement during a HighLevel Intergenerational Dialogue: Africa Driving Climate Adaptation Solutions and Jobs, held at the Wangari Maathai Institute of Peace and Environment on the

outskirts of Nairobi.

The statement also stated that the institute, funded by the AfDB, was officially opened in 2022.

Adesina was joined by the 8th Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon; Chair of the board of trustees of the Graça Machel Trust, Graça Machel; and the African Child Policy Forum GCA’s CEO Patrick Verkooijen; Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports, Ababu Namwamba; Norway’s

Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim; Minister of Foreign Affairs for Barbados, Kerrie Simmonds; as well as other dignitaries.

Announcing the $1 billion-dollar additional funding, the Bank chief said: “African youths didn’t want little things being doled out to them. We have no option but to invest in our youths.

“Over the past two years, YouthAdapt has provided more than $1.5 million to 33 young

entrepreneurs across 19 African countries. Some have gone on to raise their profits by 200 per cent.

“Africa’s youth are the present. It is their views and perspectives that are going to change the continent. Failing to invest in the youth will hurt Africa, failure is not an option.”

In his remarks, Moon told the youths that, as global citizens, they should not be held back by national boundaries. He urged them to hold their

Multiple Taxes Will Hurt Economic Growth, Says NCC

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), yesterday, warned that multiple taxation was an impediment to economic in the country.

The Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management) of the Commission, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, gave the warning, at a regional stakeholders’ workshop on multiple taxation and regulations in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, attended by a law lecturer, Mr. Temidayo Ashonibare, and various stakeholders among whom were representatives of state governments, experts and telecommunication companies.

Adewolu, while speaking on the theme, "Multiple taxation: An impediment to economic development," explained that multiple taxation has continued to prove to be a bane on economic development in the country, stating that the aim of the workshop was to address the problem associated with multiple taxation and find a way to solve the problem.

He maintained that it was worthy of note to know that the National Tax Policy of 2017, emphasises the need to eradicate multiple taxation at all tiers of government, adding that the policy states that taxes similar to those being collected by a level of government should not be introduced by the same or another level of government.

Adewolu, while speaking further, said the paradox of multiple taxation was that it negatively impacts the ease of doing business, shrinks the tax base, incentivises tax evasion and complicate tax compliance.

According to him, "Despite the prospect of accelerated economic growth, the presence of multiple taxation, which the World Bank has termed ‘nuisance taxes’ has and continues to prove to be a bane on economic development in the country.

"However, before addressing how multiple taxation is an impediment to economic development, it is important to emphasise that taxation, in and of itself, is a veritable tool for economic development.

"The curious question, which this workshop will attempt to answer, is how a fiscal tool for economic development like taxation can become inimical to economic development.

“It is imperative therefore to correct some misconception about taxation, particularly the misguided notion of taxation as a penal tool on thriving business enterprise."

Adewolu noted that taxation was the backbone for public finance as it provides guaranteed and sustainable sources of funding for social programs and public investments, insisting that it also serves as a tool curated by the government to effectively and efficiently distribute our commonwealth.

"It is thus evident that taxation is critical for making growth sustainable and equitable. Thus, taxation by design is an instrument for economic development and it is important to acknowledge and support the initiative of all tiers of government in using taxation as an instrument for socio-economic development.

“However, supporting the tax initiatives by the various tiers of

government includes indicating where a category of taxes have become cancerous to economic development.

"These type of taxes typically manifests themselves in the form of multiple taxation and by design, they reverse growth, stifle innovation and discourage investment. In parabolic terms, they are the scarecrows mounted by government to disincentivise development.

"It is pertinent to note that the National Tax Policy 2017, emphasises the need to eradicate multiple taxation at all tiers of government. Specifically, the Policy states that taxes similar to those being collected by a level of government should not be introduced by the same or another level of government.

“The federal, state and local governments shall ensure collaboration in harmonising and eliminating

multiple taxation," he said. He further declared that the paradox of multiple taxation was that it does not lead to an increment in government revenue, stating that the crippling effect of the taxes was that it makes otherwise profitable businesses, unprofitable and negatively impacts the ease of doing business, shrinks the tax base, incentivises tax evasion and complicate tax compliance.

leaders accountable for the promises they make, urging them to challenge your leaders today, and use their voting power to ensure climate adaptation and finance are a priority.

Namwamba, highlighted that some of the initiatives the Kenyan government launched to drive climate adaptation.

He said: “We are recruiting a one million youth Green Army as Climate Action Warriors to support President William Ruto’s ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years. This, would increase the country’s forest cover from 12 per cent to 30 per cent.”

Namwamba, noted that Kenya was the first country to ratify the Sports for Climate Action Initiative under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The statement revealed that under the initiative, sports organisations would be able to pursue climate action in a consistent and mutually supportive fashion through disseminating good practices, lessons learned and collaboration.

MTN Invests in Green Energy to

Support

Nigeria’s Carbon Emission Target

Announces fourth edition of mPulse spelling bee

Emma Okonji

MTN Nigeria yesterday said it was investing in clean energy technologies as part of its efforts to reduce emissions thus helping Nigeria achieve its net zero commitments.

In its 2023 Climate Change Report, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company shared how it was partnering with a renewable energy Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme to deploy a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) power plan to supply both its corporate office, MTN Plaza and main data centre in Ikoyi.

Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 seeks to achieve low greenhouse gas emission, green and

sustainable growth by providing the framework to set a net zero GHG target between 2050 and 2070.

Nigeria’s aim is to reach net zero as early as possible in the second half of the century. Experts have concluded that energy transitioning is an intensive task that has to be gradual and intentional to ensure continual improvement and sustainability.

In its climate change report, MTN said its use of three 1.1 megawatt (MW) gas generators has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lowered energy costs by more than NGN570 million.

MTN Nigeria has also installed motion light sensors in buildings and switching centres to optimise power consumption. In addition, MTN Nigeria installed a 56-kilowatt

proof-of-concept solar project, delivering more than 4 000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity each month.

CEO of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, stated: "Our commitment to Nigeria goes beyond connectivity. We recognise the environmental challenges our nation faces, and we're dedicated to being part of the solution. Our investments in sustainable energy and infrastructure are not just good for business; they're essential for the future of Nigeria."

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has announced the fourth edition of the mPulse Spelling Bee Competition. This year’s edition began on August 21, 2023, and incorporates a blend of digital and on-site models, with the initial two rounds taking place on the MTN mPulse website. The

grand finale of the competition is scheduled to be held in Lagos.

“Targeted at primary and secondary school students between 9 and 15 years old, the competition is a proposition launched in 2020 to inspire a love for language and learning while promoting healthy competition among students.

“Since its inception, the competition has empowered over 40,000 Nigerian students with digital skills, educational materials, and adequate resources to maximise their potential,” a statement explained.

Speaking on the brand's dedication to education and youth empowerment, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of MTN Nigeria, Adia Sowho, expressed the brand's unwavering commitment to education and youth empowerment.

LAUNCH OF CHARTERHOUSE LAGOS...

L-R: Director of Communications, Admissions and Marketing, Damilola Olatunbosun; British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, ‘Bimbola SaluHundeyin; Head, Charterhouse Lagos, John Todd; Chief Operations Officer, Charterhouse Lagos, Angela Hencher; and President of the Nigerian Old Carthusians/former students Community, Mr Timi Austen-Peters, during the launch of Charterhouse Lagos, British 400-year-old iconic educational institution’s first school in Africa at Victoria Island,Lagos...yestarday.

PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI.

16TH ANNUAL BANKING AND FINANCE CONFERENCE...

L-R: Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc; Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu; President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr Ken Opara ; Vice President Kashim Shettima and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen Atiku Bagudu at the 16th Annual Banking and Finance Conference held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja…..on Tuesday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI CORRIGENDUM: The above picture was published yesterday with Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu wrongly labelled as Mr Akin Morakinyo, Registrar, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. We regret the mix-up and apologise for the embarrassment. The correct caption is republished above.

UNICEF: Nigeria Not Doing Enough to Tackle Child Malnutrition Challenges

Lagos, Kano, Katsina, Borno leading in food insecurity

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Port Harcourt

The United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) has said its findings showed that federal and state government were not budgeting enough funds that would adequately address growing cases of malnutrition amongst children in Nigeria.

It said four states - Kano, Borno, Katsina and Lagos - were presently ranked highest in the food insecurity ladder.

The UN agency said better funding was needed to help carry out sensitisation and advocacy campaigns in remote areas as well as provide for succor for children facing severe malnutruition in the country.

Speaking yesterday, at the opening of a two-day Workshop on Media Dialogue on Nutrition Financing in Nigeria, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the UNICEF Communication Specialist, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, said the dialogue was intended to identify funding gaps in national and budgets for addressing issues of child malnutrition and how to fill the gaps.

UNICEF Nutrition Officer, Nkeiru Enwelum, who delivered a paper

on, "Nutrition situation in Nigeria, An Overview of malnutrition in Nigeria and its impact on children," said that currently about 35 million in Nigeria were malnourished.

"About 35 million of under five children in Nigeria and out this we have 12 million of them malnourished. And we have about three million that wasted

in Nigeria,” she said.

In terms of rating, Enwelum said Nigeria ranks number one in Africa on data on malnourished children and number two in the world.

On hunger and food insecurity data, she said 17.7 million people were hungry in Nigeria.

Enwelum, also said about one

million people suffer from acute food insecurity in Nigeria.

According to her the states with highest number of people suffering from food insecurity in Nigeria were Kano and Lagos.

Although Kano, Borno, Katsina and Lagos ranked high in the food insecurity ladder, she said malnutrition was widespread in

the country, affecting people living in other parts of the country.

The UNICEF Officer listed forms of malnutrition as acute malnutrition, severe wasting, stunting and obesity

She added some of the diseases or resultant body malfunction arising from malnutrition were known as micro nutrient deficiency,

anemia, rickett, vitamin A deficiency (xerophamia).

Enwelum, also gave an assessment of progress being made on interventions in the health sector, saying exclusive breastfeeding was perhaps the only aspect of the SDGs that Nigeria was making progress and may likely meet the target by 2030.

Tinubu Reinstates Council of Legal Education, NHRC, NIALS Boards

Wale Igbintade

President Bola Tinubu has approved the reinstatement of the boards of three public institutions under the Federal Ministry of Justice, reversing an earlier presidential directive which had dissolved the boards of federal government parastatals, agencies, institutions and government-owned companies.

This was sequel to a request for exemption of the boards of some statutory agencies under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

In a letter seen by THISDAY, dated September 4, 2023, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal

Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, stated that Tinubu granted exemption to the boards of Council of Legal Education (CLE), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

Signed by the Solicitor-General, the letter was directed to the office the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and copied to all the chief executives of the three institutions.

Justice sector stakeholders had queried the dissolution of the boards.

It was noted that the NHRC governing council led by Dr. Salamatu Husseini, went through

Police Fire Tear Gas, Arrest Protesting Unilag Students Over Fee Hike

Funmi Ogundare

There was pandemonium at the University of Lagos, Akoka, yesterday, as security operatives from the state Police command, arrested students who were protesting hike in their school fees.

The management of the university had in July, announced an adjustment in the obligatory fees for both returning and new students which was supposed to take effect on September I.

The operatives, according to eyewitnesses, fired tear gas canisters to disperse the students who were coming from Sabo area of Yaba to

the campus. They were prevented from moving closer to the gate by the policemen who cordoned off the area.

The policemen who came in over 20 vehicles were joined at the university by the institution's security personnel as well as men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.

THISDAY gathered that admission seekers who wanted to get into the campus for the screening process and other visitors were turned back at the gate which was locked by the security operatives.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the President-elect of

the Faculty of Education Students Association, Balogun Oladeji, accused the Area Commander, ACP Ayodeji of ordering his men to shoot at students, adding that he also arrested some of his colleagues.

The arrested students he noted were Femi Adeyeye and Philip Olatinwo,saying that they would continue to lay siege to the campus until the duo were released.

As at the time of filing this report, THISDAY reached out to the Head of the Communication unit of the university, Mrs. Adejoke Alaga , for her comment on the issue, but she neither responded to the text message nor picked her calls.

Senate screening and confirmation in June 2021, even as it was almost midway through its tenure.

While stakeholders had queried the dissolution of the NIALS board traditionally headed by an incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria, it was also argued that the Council of Legal Education board was dominated by nonfederal government institutional representatives comprising the 36 state Attorneys-General, 16 representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a Dean

of an accredited Faculty of Law.

The federal government has only five representatives as members of the council, namely the Chairman, Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, and three persons appointed by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The recall of the Chief Emeka Ngige SAN-led Council of Legal Education board which was inaugurated by the immediate past administration on May 15, 2023, for another four-year tenure also became urgent due to pressing tasks

including impending approval of Bar Final Results and subsequent Call to Bar ceremonies of successful students slated for October10 and 11, 2023.

Tinubu had on June 21, 2023, exempted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from the list of dissolved boards of federal government parastatals, agencies, institutions and government-owned companies.

Prelate Tasks Tinubu on Policies to Tackle Youth Unemployment, Poverty, Enable Businesses

Peter Uzoho and Oluchi Chibuzor

Worried by the rising youth unemployment, intractable poverty and difficult business environment in Nigeria, the Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Worldwide, Dr. David Bob-Manuel, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to initiate policies to address the challenges.

Addressing journalists yesterday, in Lagos, at a press conference, which was part of the ongoing programmes marking his sixth annual induction thanksgiving as the Prelate, the cleric urged Tinubu to urgently reform labour market regulation in order to ensure jobs for the teeming youths in Nigeria.

Bob-Manuel explained that when the needed reforms were made, many youths would be gainfully employed, resulting in poverty

alleviation and drastic reduction of bandits' cells and vulnerable citizens across the country.

The Prelate, who gave the theme of this year's induction thanksgiving service as, "Made Alive in Christ", however, stated that, "The government of President Bola Tinubu can review and reform labour market regulations to make it easier for businesses to thrive and provide job security for workers.

"Supporting small and mediumsized enterprises through access to finance, training and infrastructure stimulates job creation and entrepreneurship. If all these suggestions are brought to fore and implemented, it will enhance productivity and reduce criminality to the barest minimum."

Regarding the cost of living crisis worsened by the removal of petrol scarcity, Bob-Manuel enjoined all the

tiers of government to aggressively support farming practices and agribusiness in order to generate employment in the rural areas.

He regretted that this crisis made the lives of the vulnerable citizens miserable, while imploring the government to urgently implement social safety programmes which would protect the vulnerable population from the impact of higher fuel prices.

The Prelate further said, "This may be in the form of provision of fertilizers to farmers, monetary transfers to the vulnerable, subsidies for essential goods and improved transportation system.

"Furthermore, I implore government at all levels to improve the quality of education and vocational training programs in order to equip the youths with the relevant skills for the job market."

US EQUIPMENT TO ENHANCE NDLEA OPERATIONS...

Tribunal Declares Natasha Winner of Kogi Central Senatorial Seat Ohere:

I’ll appeal the

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Kogi State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja,yesterday, declared

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as winner of the February 25 National Assembly election.

Judgement

The tribunal, therefore, nullified the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere, who expectedly, has vowed to appeal the ruling. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice K. A. Orjiako, who read

Radda: Attacks Won’t Deter Us from Eliminating Terrorists

Insists he’ll never negotiate with them

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Katsina State Governor, Dikko

Umaru Radda, yesterday, said the persistent attacks by terrorists on communities in the state would not deter his government from also eliminating the marauding hoodlums.

He explained that the urchins were seeking truce with the state government through their heinous activities, but his administration would never negotiate with them.

Speaking at a press conference to mark his administration's 100 days, Radda insisted that his government was adopting some security measures to combat the challenges bedevilling residents of the state.

He explained that over N7 billion had been spent by his government in the purchase of armoured personnel carriers, 65 Hilux vehicles, 700 motorcycles and other security gadgets to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the citizens.

He also added that the state government had recruited and trained 1,500 youths under its Katsina Community Watch Corps to work with security agencies in tackling security challenges in frontline local government areas of the state.

Radda noted that his government would not pay ransom

to terrorists for the release of abductees, but would accept any terrorist that genuinely denounced terrorism and other criminal acts.

According to him, "The issue of insecurity is of paramount importance to my administration. The creation of the Ministry of Internal Security and Katsina State Community Watch Corps was the beginning of institutionalising our strategy to deal with insecurity.

"We have so far recruited

1,500 community watch officers from the eight frontline local governments to empower our people to defend themselves. My administration had expended over N7 billion to procure armoured personnel carriers, 65 Hilux vehicles and 700 motorcycles."

He however, promised to spare no efforts in dealing decisively with the criminal gangs terrorising communities in eight local government areas of the state.

the unanimous judgment of the 3-man panel, said Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units of Ajaokuta LGA while that of Natasha was intentionally reduced in the same nine polling units by the INEC ward collation officers.

He explained that three other polling units results were deliberately not entered for Natasha in the same LGA.

The tribunal said Natasha’s result in the nine polling units of Ajaokuta LGA was 1073 against the 77 that was recorded by the ward collation officers while that of the APC candidate, Abubakar Ohere was inflated to 1553 against the actual figure of 1031.

"The Tribunal is also convinced that the petitioners 996 votes in polling units 009, 046 and O49 polling units of Ganaja village of Ajaokuta LGA was deliberately not recorded at the Ward Collation centre,” noting that, it is not the duty of collation officers to reject results submitted by presiding officers from polling units in election that followed the electoral guidelines substantially. His words: "The issues

raised by the petitioner is hereby resolved in favour of the petitioners and after making the proper correction, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan (PDP) having polled 54,074 against Abubakar Ohere (APC) who polled 51,291 is hereby declared the authentic winner."

The Tribunal subsequently ordered the 3rd respondent (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ohere and issue same to Natasha.

The Tribunal also condemned INEC for deliberately going out of its mandate of conducting a free and fair election to conniving with political parties to subvert the will of the people.

Justice K. A. Orjiako ordered INEC to pay N500,000 to Natasha for 'subverting justice' in the Senatorial election.

Meanwhile, Ohere, in a statement personally signed, said, "I received the judgement of the Tribunal with great shock. Particularly worrisome is the aspect bordering on the Tribunal’s decision that as Respondent, I ought to have filed a cross-petition to be able to challenge votes in an election

petition.

"I feel strongly that, that the decision is contrary to paragraph 15 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022. As a matter of fact, I presented before the Tribunal through my team of lawyers a decision of the Appellate Courts, which held that a Respondent does not need to file a cross-petition to challenge votes in an election petition, if the ground for challenging the election is ‘majority of lawful votes’.

"While I am waiting for my team of lawyers to give me full details on the judgment, I urge all my supporters to be calm and peaceful as their mandate is not lost. I verily know that I have the option of Appeal to the Court of Appeal, which I shall exercise after due consultation with my lawyers.

"I am confident that we shall triumph at the next floor of justice by pointing to areas where we strongly disagree with the ruling. Your mandate shall be protected. I urge my supporters not to be disturbed but to believe that we will get it right," he stressed.

OrderPaper Founder, Epia to Speak at Global IPU Event

The Founder and Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Mr. Oke Epia, has been invited to speak at a global seminar organised by the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN).

Epia wiould speak on the topic: ‘Public Petitions - Perspectives from Nigeria,’ from the viewpoint of civil society, including efforts made by his organisation to enhance and institutionalise public petitions in the context of Nigeria’s emerging legislature.

According to a statement, he would be joined on a panel by

Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, a four-term member of the House of Representatives (2007–2023), who chaired the Standing Committee on Public Petitions in the 8th Assembly.

The ex-parliamentarian would also highlight the challenges faced in the process and how they worked with civil society, in particular, towards strengthening the process.

According to the organisers, the virtual event scheduled for Wednesday, October 4 2023, was focused on public petitions and would address the processes and challenges arising from petitions submitted to the lower chamber

of Nigeria’s National Assembly.

Described by the IPU “as an important voice in Nigeria’s civic space,” Epia founded OrderPaper; an independent parliamentary monitoring organisation and public policy think-tank, in 2015 and has led the organisation to become a frontline non-state actor in the country’s civic space.

"He has over 23 years of experience spanning the public, private and non-governmental sectors and is currently a member of the National Steering Committee of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria," the statement added.

Termed the ‘Public Engage-

ment Hub Seminar,’ the IPU/ IPEN event was convened as part of efforts to assess how parliaments globally are enabling people to connect with and participate in the law-making, policy formulation and oversight processes that impact their lives now and into the future.

The Public Engagement Hub seminar, which would be held between 09:00 - 10.00 (WAT) through an in-conversation format, is championed by IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament and will be broadcast in English, French and Spanish.

"Building on the findings and recommendations of the

IPU-UNDP Global Parliamentary Report 2022 and the World eParliament Report Series, the hub is intended to encourage and assist parliaments to further develop their public engagement activities and share their good practice with others.

"The hub, which supports peer learning and knowledge exchange about public engagement with parliament, brings together parliamentary staff, academics, civil society and others to share experiences and good practices through webinars, case studies and an online networking platform," the statement added.

L-R: Country Director, Bureau of International Narcotics, Jason Smith; Deputy Assistant Secretary, US State Department, Mr. Tobin Bradley, and Secretary to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Shadrach Haruna, when Bradley led a team of US officials to hand over some equipment provided by the INL to enhance the operations of the agency at its national headquarters in Abuja ... yesterday

APC STAKEHOLDERS VISIT GANDUJE...

L-R: Member Representing Gwagwalada/Abaji, House of Representatives,

Central, Yakub Adamu and National Youth Leader,

Sule to DSS: Don't Spare State Officials Diverting Palliatives

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday, told the Department of State Services (DSS) not to spare officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) arrested for allegedly diverting relief materials of the state.

The Nasarawa State Command of the DSS had recently intercepted a suspected criminal syndicate responsible for diversion and sales of palliatives meant for distribution to the vulnerable in the state. However, in a statement by the

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, the governor said he received with sense of satisfaction, the arrest of the officials of NASEMA diverting federal government's palliatives for the state.

He therefore, maintained that he would not condone any act of indiscipline and criminality from any official of the government.

The statement stated: "As Chairman of the North Central Governors' Forum, Governor Sule is poised to support the DSS in casting its dragnet widely and getting to the

Musa Hails Tribunal Verdict Affirming

His Victory

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Sani Musa, has commended the election petition tribunal sitting in Minna, the Niger State capital, for upholding his electoral victory.

The tribunal in its verdict, yesterday, dismissed the petition filled by his opponent, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ibrahim Isiyaku, and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, in a statement, Musa described the tribunal’s verdict as victory for democracy, saying, "I want to appreciate the Election Petition Tribunal for the judgment rendered in the Niger East Election

and Oando to decide on a successor operator.“Please note that as holders of 60 per cent participating interest in the NEPL/NAOC/OOL JV, we are indeed concerned that the entire purported assignment was executed without due compliance with the terms of the JOA.

“We expect that all parties to the JOA will observe and comply with the terms of the JOA.

“In view of the foregoing, we request NAOC’s confirmation to NEPL, the authenticity or otherwise of the reported divestment to enable us to determine our next steps with regards to the management/operations of the assets,” the document stated.

When THISDAY contacted the General Manager, Business Support Group, Oando Energy Resources, Alero Balogun, she noted that the letter was directed at NAOC, and

Petition and the commitment to upholding justice.

"I would also like to express my appreciation to my dear brother Ibrahim Isiaku SAN for pursuing the case with dignity and civility.

Your dedication to the legal process is commendable.

"I sincerely appeal to my brother to join hands with me in our collective effort to work towards the development of our zone. Together, we can achieve great things for our community and people.

"I want to thank my supporters for their unwavering support and resilience throughout the judicial process. Your faith in our cause is deeply valued."

thus, it was unable to comment on it.

“However, we trust that, as requested by NEPL, NAOC will engage accordingly to ensure that their concerns are addressed.

“In the meantime, we would like to reiterate that Eni has not assigned its 20 per cent interest in the NAOC JV to Oando PLC.

“The statements Oando and Eni put out spoke to the signing of a sales and purchase agreement for the purchase of 100 per cent of the shares of NAOC Ltd by Oando subject to the fulfilment of conditions precedent, including receipt of all relevant regulatory and partner approvals,” Oando explained.

Oando added that it had earlier highlighted clearly that the transaction was subject to ministerial and all regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has shut

root of the activities of this nefarious syndicate, so that those found wanting are meant to face the full wrath of the law, no matter how highly placed.

"The Nasarawa State governor is ready to support the DSS and the judiciary in ensuring that, those

among our citizens in Nasarawa State, who might be found wanting at the end of investigation are punished accordingly, to serve as deterrent to other criminal minded public officials.”

According to him, some of the state officials arrested were alleged

to be part of a nationwide syndicate that specialised in diverting relief materials donated by NEMA for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and victims of flood in the state.

"The Governor, therefore, notes that it is unfortunate that, while

the federal and state governments are working relentlessly to alleviate the hardship being faced by the victims, some government officials will shamelessly collude with criminal elements and get involved in the diversion and sales of the relief materials."

NLC Mulls Indefinite Strike If FG Fails to Address Demands

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would deploy the same energy used for its two-day warning strike to implement an indefinite strike if the federal government fails to address its demands.

The labour movement had earlier given the federal government 21 days ultimatum to resolve the dispute over palliatives to cushion the impact of fuel price hike or face total and indefinite strike.

However, in a statement issued yesterday, to mark an end to the two-day warning strike, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the workers have made significant strides in achieving the goals set during National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which prompted the initiation of the warning strike. He urged the workers to return to their respective duty posts today,

down the Brass crude oil export terminal in protest against the plans by Italian energy group, Eni to sell NAOC, its local subsidiary to Oando Plc.

The oil workers, who expressed displeasure over the sale of Agip's oil, gas and power assets without prior consultation with them, had demanded that Eni put the sale on hold until they have been properly consulted and terms for transfer of services agreed.

The shutdown of the Brass crude terminal and other NAOC assets started on Tuesday, according to PENGASSAN sources.

"NAOC management only told workers about the sale on September 4, the day the deal was made public, having denied plans for any such sale when worker representatives asked at a meeting in July", PENGASSAN said.

Besides the Brass terminal, the

in accordance with the initial plan.

While commending Nigerians for their invaluable contributions and steadfast dedication to the cause, Ajaero vowed that, the, "NLC will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the voice of the people is heard and that our country moves in the right direction."

In the statement NLC said: "As we mark the end of the two-day nationwide warning strike today, at the stroke of midnight, we earnestly call upon you all to gracefully conclude the strike and return to work tomorrow, in accordance with our initial agreement.

"We would like to take this moment to express our profound appreciation for your unwavering determination and dedication, which played a pivotal role in the resounding success of this action.

“Your contributions during this warning strike exemplify your

joint venture operates four onshore oil blocks in the Niger delta, two onshore exploration leases, 12 flow stations, three gas processing plants and two power plants. NAOC also has a five per cent interest in the Shell-operated SPDC joint venture in Nigeria, which is not included in the sale.

The Brass terminal received 24,000 barrels of crude on September 4. Receipts averaged 27,000 bpd last month. The last tanker to load there, the Seavision, departed for Italy with a 349,000bl cargo on August 22, Argus Media reported.

Oando acquired its 20 per cent stake in the NAOC joint venture when it bought US firm, ConocoPhillips' Nigerian business for $1.5 billion in 2014.

Buying NAOC from Eni will lift Oando's interest in the joint venture to 40 per cent and increase its reserves by 98 per cent.

unwavering commitment to our shared cause.

"In the event that the government fails to provide the appropriate responses to our demands, we encourage you to maintain your steadfast resolve. The same passion and determination that fueled this warning strike will be crucial if we

find ourselves compelled to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike."

The NLC said it was not unmindful of the actions of detractors and fifth columnists, but would remain undaunted and more committed to the defense of Nigerian workers and people at any given time.

Electrical Spark Ignites Fire at MMIA, Lagos

Chinedu

Eze

Urgent intervention of the fire fighters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) saved the baggage handling area of the old international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, of FAAN, Mr. Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, explained in a statement that at approximately 0723 hours (7:23 am, Nigerian time) yesterday, a suspected electrical spark at the baggage hall ceiling ignited a fire, and wafted smoke that spiralled into the air, causing heavy panic, creating fear that the whole terminal was on fire.

Yakubu-Funtua, said the source of the smoke was identified as a burning lithium inverter battery installation at the basement of the facility.

“Promptly responding to the situation at 0730 hours the dedicated firefighters from the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Electrical Department of the Authority initiated immediate action.

"Their swift response and professional efforts have successfully brought the situation under control,”

the statement stated.

The agency said when the incident happened, the firefighters and rescue team evacuated everybody in the terminal and because it was early morning, only very few people were using the terminal who were largely airport staff.

“In accordance with our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of passengers, staff, and all airport users, the Terminal building was promptly evacuated due to the smoke that had permeated some areas of the facility,” the FAAN image maker added.

The old terminal, known as International Terminal 1, has recorded many fire incidents, which were usually put off promptly by the FAAN fire fighters, but stakeholders attributed the frequent fire incident to the age of the facility, lack of precautionary measures and obsolete equipment.

This brings to mind the insistence of the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo that the old terminal should be vacated and the new one, built by the Chinese, should be put in full usage with a deadline for relocation put at the end of September.

The Minister had said that the old terminal needed total rehabilitation and it cannot be in use while such rehabilitation is going on.

Abdulkareem Ajiya; Chairman FCT APC Stakeholders, Abdulmalik Usman; Chairman, APC, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje; APC Zonal Secretary, North

APC, Dayo Israel, during the Stakeholders visit to the APC National Chairman at the party's headquarters in Abuja ... yesterday

PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HOW TO MAKE NIGERIA WORK...

TINUBU WELCOMES PEPT’S VERDICT, SEEKS COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO BUILD NIGERIA

of citizens, whose wish is that the choices they made were respected.

“If anybody has won today it is the democracy and the people,” adding, “with the verdict of the Supreme Court, the election period is over and it is time to put the heat and dust behind us.

“From here, the new APC administration led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should get the support of everyone in order to deliver the promises it made to the people,” he said.

The former President also voiced his appreciation to all citizens for maintaining peace throughout this period and prayed for continued progress and development under the APC government.

He sent warm congratulations to the President, the Vice President and the All Progressives Congress on the victory in court, expressing his best wishes to them in fulfilling the peoples aspirations.

Accept Tribunal’s Verdict, Ganduje Tells PDP, LP

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to accept the verdict of the tribunal. Ganduje in a statement personally signed commended the tribunal for validating the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

He described the judgment as thorough, having addressed all the issues raised by the petitioners, and therefore urged the PDP and LP to cooperate with the present administration in its effort to address the challenges facing the country.

"I had no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the President would come out victorious, considering the massive support Nigerians gave him and our party the APC before and during the Presidential Election.

“May I also congratulate the Nigerian Judiciary for adjudicating on the issues arising from the presidential election without fear and favour by doing the right thing. With this judgment, a precedent has been set for electoral matters in the country," he said.

Ganduje also described the verdict as a true reflection of the presidential election, assuring the people that the Tinubu-led administration would live up to its electoral promises to reposition the country, achieve the desired growth and progress.

Barau: Verdict Reaffirms Nigerians' Choice of Tinubu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, has commended the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), affirming the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the the judgment had reaffirmed the choice of Nigerians

on Tinubu.

Barau, who gave the commendation in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, urged all the parties to accept the outcome of the tribunal.

He said Nigerians irrespective of party differences needed to team up with the present administration to address the challenges facing the country.

"The judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the presidential poll, has reaffirmed the choice of the electorate who trooped out on February 25, 2023, to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of our beloved country.

"Now, it is time for all to team up with the President to turn around the fortunes of the country positively for the benefit of all,” he said.

Abbas: Judgment Further Legitimises Tinubu’s Victory

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said the dismissal of the petitions against President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential election has only added more legitimacy and credibility to his government and administration.

In a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, the speaker congratulated Tinubu on his victory at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

Abbas said while the petitioners had duly exercised their rights by approaching the tribunal to table their grievances, the court had also duly weighed the arguments and evidence presented before it before arriving at the judgment.

The judiciary, the speaker added, had lived up to its name as the true arbiter in any case, based on the way it adjudicated on the presidential election petitions before it.

Abbas, therefore, hailed the judiciary for its critical role in the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, noting that the tribunal’s judgment has strengthened democratic processes in the country.

He also said the judgment had vindicated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which duly declared Tinubu winner of the presidential poll based on the votes the president received from Nigerians.

Sanwo-Olu: Tinubu Worked Hard for His Victory

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court, which delivered its verdict in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presiden, saying Tinubu worked hard for the victory.

Sanwo-Olu said the APC members across Nigeria and

Tinubu, worked very hard for the victory enjoyed at the February 25th presidential election, noting that the tribunal’s decision, which decided in favour of the president was comforting and also an affirmation of the will of over eight million Nigerians, who filed out to cast their ballots for the APC and Tinubu as their choice.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Nigerians had spoken through the ballots and the court has also validated the citizens’ decision by today’s judicial pronouncements, which upheld the victory of Tinubu during the 2023 presidential poll.

The governor said millions of Nigerians were not in doubt as regards the mandate freely given to Tinubu to steer the ship of Nigeria for four years based on his track records and laudable achievements as a two-term governor of Lagos State.

“What we are witnessing today is the beauty of democracy and the rule of law. We had an election in February this year, where over eight million Nigerians voted to elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"We ordinarily thought that the losers should have displayed good spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating the winner (President Tinubu) but they chose to contest the election results, which is within their rights. Now that election and the results have been upheld by the Court. I hope they would do the needful.

"I congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court.

“I also congratulate the leadership and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this very landmark judicial victory," he said.

He however, enjoined Nigerians across party divide to team up with Tinubu to deliver the real dividends of democracy to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope agenda of the incumbent administration, saying the judicial verdict was victory for democracy and the rule of law.

Abiodun: It Affirms Trust Reposed in Tinubu

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima on their victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Abiodun said the tribunal’s verdict was an affirmation of the trust reposed in the president by Nigerians as evidenced in the outcome of the presidential election.

He described the judgment as sound, detailed and comprehensive,

noting that the judges displayed unmatched courage in the discharge of their duties.

"It is heartwarming that the tribunal judges did not succumb to intimidation by the opposition, who deployed various antics to sway the judgement in their favour.

"The judgement is a further testament to the fact that the judiciary is the last hope of our people," the governor said.

Ogun APC: Judgment is Sound, Victory Well-deserved

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition, describing the victory as “well-deserved” and the judgement “very sound”

In a statement in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, the APC remarked that, “We had no doubt that Asiwaju won that election massively and decisively. That was well-known to the world. The petitioners were only at the Tribunal to use that as a trick to hold on to the remnants of their followers and to also rabble-rouse.

“The petitions as we have seen, are entirely incompetent and timewasters. We must also commend the judges for the detailed judgement that lasted several hours. The judgement is not only detailed, but also sound. It is a judgement that will serve as reference point for decades to come for lawyers, politicians, scholars and all other people interested in electoral litigations.

“We must not fail to commend the audacious courage of the judges, who stood their ground and on the side of justice despite harassment, intimidation and blackmail by opposition party supporters and their infantile antics.”

Lawyers Hail Judgement, Ask Atiku, Obi to Test Decision at S'Court if Dissatisfied

Some constitutional lawyers like Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, Professor Konyinsola Ajayi SAN, and Dr. Abiodun Layonu SAN, have hailed the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on the judgement, Nwobike said the verdict of the PEPC "is in accord with the established principles of law that govern and underpin election litigations in Nigeria."

He, however, said parties who were dissatisfied were at liberty to proceed to the Supreme Court to test the decisions of the Tribunal.

According to Nwobike, "The learned justices on the Tribunal’s Bench examined and resolved all the issues of law and fact in favour of the Respondents after considering the evidence led and the applicable laws.

"For instance, the Tribunal decided

that the 2nd Respondent was qualified to contest the presidential election and that the Order for forfeiture made by the Court in Illinois, United States of America was not a conviction within the contemplation of the provisions of section 137 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

"The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that the president was convicted in the United States of America as alleged in their respective petitions. The tribunal equally decided that INEC has the discretion on how to transmit election results.

"In my view, the judgement accords with the established principles of law that govern and underpin election litigations in Nigeria. I believe that the parties will proceed to the Supreme Court to test the decisions of the Tribunal. I will encourage all the parties and their supporters to abide by the decisions of the courts in this and all regards."

In his reaction, Professor Ajayi said the judgement was "a thorough examination of issues and a fair assessment of evidence, under rather tight conditions of law and thus a reasonable decision."

Dr. Layonu, on his part, said: "From the judgment, it was clear that the petitions were bereft of merit, even ab initio. Undoubtedly, any appeal, (which is not advised) would suffer the same fate. In a short expression, I will say that the judgments were sound, fair and jurisprudential."

However, human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, in his view said the verdict of the PEPC was not totally unexpected, given the stark realities facing us as a nation and the state of the law.

Adegboruwa, in a statement titled: PEPC verdict on 2023 presidential election: Time for Sober Reflection, said the principles of presumption of regularity of elections and that of substantial conformity made it extremely difficult to prosecute elections successfully.

"In this particular case, the burden placed upon the petitioners in order to upturn the election was practically insurmountable. To make matters worse, INEC practically fought the petitioners to a standstill, as if it was an interested party in the whole process.

"I honestly don’t think anyone expected a different verdict from what was delivered in Abuja yesterday, particularly the lawyers. The tension was completely unnecessary.

"This is why we emphasise always that the focus of anyone hoping to birth a true change in our electoral history should be on the electoral umpire. Without first unbundling INEC to make it more independent, non-partisan and effective, anyone declared “winner” will most often coast to victory in the election tribunal.

"The verdict should be a reason

for sober reflection by all, especially for the parties in court, their lawyers and all lovers of democracy. The petitions could have been decided purely on points of law and within few days of the election.”

Join Tinubu's Devt Agenda, Group Tells Atiku, Obi

Following the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal decided in favour of President Bola Tinubu, a group, Coalition of Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI), has called on the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, to support the president’s ongoing development agenda.

National Coordinator of the group, Okpokwu Ogenyi, while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja during a solidarity work in support of President Tinubu, said both Atiku and Obi should accept the outcome of the tribunal judgment.

The group also commended the Justices of the tribunal for delivering a sound judgment, noting that they embarked on the solidarity walk to celebrate the mandate the people willingly gave to President Tinubu, which has also being affirmed by the court

Asked for his message for both Atiku and Obi, he added, "They are Nigerians. But we, Nigerians, rejected them with the mandate to lead us through the ballot. They should accept the verdict of the court and move on with the President.

"We are saying that Atiku, Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are all welcome to be part of the administration. All we want is to ensure the success and progress of the Nigerian system, which we believe is going to be obtainable under the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

"It is a great indication that the world has agreed with the mandate of the Nigerian people that Asiwaju still remains the choice of the people. It is not a mistake that we are Nigerians by providence. And God Almighty has brought President Asiwaju to liberate the sufferings of the Nigerian people. Asiwaju has come with so many promises and he is fulfilling them.

"Within 100 days in office, he was able to sign the student loans Act into law. Within 100 days in office, he has initiated measures to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal that was done by the previous administration. Within 100 days in office, he was able to diversify the Nigerian economy recreating ministries and assigning them appropriately.

"Within 100 days in office, Asiwaju has continued to take giants strides. The world has come to reckon with Nigeria," he said.

L-R: Keynote Speaker and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Fayemi; Prof. Udenta Udenta, and Chairman, of the occasion and former President, Dr..Goodluck Jonathan; during the national dialogue on ‘How to Make Nigeria Work’ in honour of Udenta’s 60th birthday held in Abuja…Tuesday

PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

EYEING MORE INVESTMENT FROM INDIA ...

IYC Berates Northern Youths over Protest against Pipeline Contract Renewal

Sylvester Idowu inWarri

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has berated the Northern Youth Advocacy Group and Arewa Youth Forum for allegedly staging protests against the pipeline surveillance contract in the Niger Delta region.

IYC noted that it was strange and insulting to see northern youths, from another region without oil, staging protest against a pipeline surveillance contract in the Niger Delta and deciding who should take the contract or not.

Addressing newsmen in Warri yesterday, the spokesman of IYC,

Comrade Binebai Yerin Princewill, warned the northern youths to steer clear of issues affecting the Niger Delta, noting that they don’t experience what the people of the region are going through in the process of oil exploitation.

“As Ijaw people and Niger Deltans whose lands the oil and gas flows from, we find it strange and insulting to see Northern youths that are from a region without oil staging protest against a pipeline surveillance contract in Niger Delta and in the process deciding on who to give and not to give with a lot of provocative remarks against our region and

our respected leader.

“The he Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum

must know their boundary in this country, they should keep clear from activities of the Niger Delta, particularly to the Ijaw people.

We will not be tolerating this all the time. .

IYC has never protested against any Northerner not to be given

contract in his place or region. We have had too many of these kind of misguided protests against our people from the Northern youths.

Group Urges Tinubu To Give Southern Kaduna Ministerial Slot

John ShiklaminKaduna

The Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum (SKJF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to appoint a Southern Kaduna person to fill the state’s ministerial slot. Tinubu had earlier nominated former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai for the

ministerial appointment.

However, the senate withheld his confirmation, citing security reports from the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, SKJF said giving the ministerial slot to Kaduna South senatorial zone, will ensure fairness

and inclusiveness.

The statement jointly signed by Bali Ango and Lilian Zubairu, chairman and secretary of the group respectively, alleged that throughout the eight year administration of El-Rufai and former President Muhammadu Buhari, the area did not benefit from federal

appointments.

“The SKJF forum, an advocacy group that seeks to advance the cause of development of Southern Kaduna senatorial zone, through reportage, is appealing to President Bola Tinubu to allocate the ministerial slot for Kaduna State to the senatorial district,” the statement said.

Former Minister Tasks Stakeholders on Challenges in Non-oil Sector

NLC

Strike Stalls

Tribunal Judgment in Ogun

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The warning strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), over removal of fuel subsidy, stalled the judgment of the National/ State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, scheduled to be delivered yesterday.

The judgment, could not be delivered, as leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) locked gate of the Magistrates’ Court at Isabo, Abeokuta, venue of the tribunal’s sitting.

The warning strike which began on Tuesday was expected to end at the close of work yesterday.

The tribunal had fixed Wednesday for the judgement in a petition filed against the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola by the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dada Ganiyu Adeleke.

The State Chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Olanrewaju Ajiboye told journalists that judicial workers locked the gate in compliance with the national body’s directive on the two-day warning strike.

He said: “The tribunal is expected to sit today, but they (judges) are unable to sit because we have locked the gate of the Court in compliance with the directive of the NLC national body. This is why the Tribunal cannot sit today (Wednesday).”

When asked if he’s aware that election tribunal’s proceeding is time bound, Ajiboye responded: “We can’t throw the gate open and allow tribunal to sit; that will mean we intentionally sabotage the struggle of the workers most especially the judicial workers.

Tribunal Upholds Alli’s Victory as Oyo South Senator

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, upheld the election of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice A. M. Yakubu, dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Joseph Tegbe, who challenged the February 25, 2023 victory of Alli and ordered him to pay the sum of N500,000 each to the three respondents of Alli, APC and INEC.

Alli, in the election held in

over 2,400 polling units in the nine local government areas of the Senatorial District, scored 111,513 votes against Tegbe’s 92,481 votes.

In the petition, marked: EPT/ OY/SEN/04/2023, Tegbe, who is the first petitioner, had asked the tribunal to order a rerun of the election, alleging that Alli failed to garner the majority of lawful votes in the election which constituted non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral laws.

However, in its judgment, the tribunal held that the signatures of the majority of the witnesses who introduced themselves as PDP polling agents during the election did not match the documents signed at their respective polling units and the ones on their statements on oath.

Former Minister of State Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, has advised stakeholders in the non-oil export value chain on the importance of collaboration to overcome the challenges faced by the sector and ensure its growth.

Abubakar gave the advice at the 2023 National Policy Dialogue on Non-oil Export, organised by Talking Trade and Investment Global, Canada and FemiBoyede Consulting Nigeria Ltd yesterday in Lagos.

According to her, the present moment is the most opportune

time for finding solutions to the various challenges faced by Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, both in terms of demand and supply.

She said it was essential to create an enabling environment that facilitates the growth of non-oil exports.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policy event, in collaboration with the Network of Practicing Non-oil exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN), has the theme, “Prioritising Non-oil Export as a Catalyst for Nigeria’s Economic Revitalisation”.

OSGF Denies Budgeting N114m for Tinubu’s 100 Days in Office Media Chat

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has dismissed the authenticity of a document currently in circulation where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George

Akume, was alleged to have requested the Presidency to approve the sum of N114 million to organise a presidential media chat for the commemoration of President Bola Tinubu’s 100 days in office.

The Director Information, OSGF, Willie Bassey, denied the source

of the document when he was contacted for clarification yesterday.

The alleged money was said to have been proposed in a memo drafted on August 23, for a fiveman committee allegedly headed by the SGF to plan and organise a media chat and logistics for the commemoration of Mr President’s

100 days in office. Other members of that committee included the Permanent Secretary, State House, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and Permanent Secretary Political and Economic Affairs Office (PEAO).

Flooding: Edo to Support Residents in Riverine Communities

The Edo State Government has pledged support for residents of riverine communities in the state, noting that it has put in place adequate plans to provide relief to residents.

Addressing journalists, the

Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Mr. Kingsley Uwagbale, said that the relevant stakeholders, including EDO SEMA, Ministry of Public Safety and Security and NEMA have made adequate preparations including several visits to the various expected

flood impact communities to sensitise and access levels of preparation and put in place adequate response and recovery plans.

Uwagbale said: “Because we know this is going to happen, we have had to move quickly to ensure

that our IDP camps are in a good state in preparation for receiving potential victims of the imminent flooding.”

“The communities in flood impact zones have been urged to cooperate with their LEMC (Local Emergency Management Committee) and move upland.

100 Days: Fubara to Create N4bn Enterprise Fund for MSMEs

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has disclosed that the state government has concluded plan to create a N4 billion enterprise fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Fubara, who stated that the

project is in partnership with Bank of Industry(BOI), said it is an intervention to enhance job create and refuse puberty rate in the state.

The Rivers State governor made the disclosure yesterday in Port Harcourt, during a broadcast to mark his 100 days in office.

‘To Accelerate Youth Vocational

Ugo Aliogo

The Chief Executive Officer, Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Divya Patel, has stated that to accelerate youth vocational employment in Nigeria, trust-based collaboration is vital, noting that their work as an organisation involves being impact-driven and collaborative.

Fubara said the state government was also planning a Youth Entrepreneurship Development Trust Fund, to help create an enterprise culture and stimulate sustainable interest in entrepreneurial activities among the youths to advance self-employment and job creation.

He said: “To stimulate economic growth, enhance job creation, and reduce poverty we have concluded plans to create N4 billion Enterprise Fund in partnership with the BOI to facilitate the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the State.

Employment, Collaboration is

She stated that addressing youth unemployment requires that all stakeholders work with each other, share their experiences, be transparent about challenges and commit to action.

Patel shared this recently in Lagos at the 2023 Ishk Skills Hub Graduation and

Vital’

Skilling Conference. Designed to showcase the positive outcomes of the Foundation’s vocational training programme, the conference also convened a panel to discuss how to overcome challenges hindering youth vocational skilling and employment in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Deputy

Programme Director, Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Oje Ivagba, urged the government, at all levels, to stop considering vocational employment as a second choice to white-collar jobs, noting that if effectively positioned, vocational jobs can tackle the unemployment deficit in Nigeria.

L-R: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Rasaki Akanni Okoya, his wife and Managing Director, Eleganza Industrial City Limited, Mrs. Folashade Okoya, during Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and Conference in New Delhi, India…yesterday

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

CLEANER ENVIRONMENT ON THEIR MINDS……

L-R: General Secretary, Cleaning Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CPAN), Mr. Bola Odukoya; National President, CPAN, Dr. Tunde Ayeye; General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Dolapo Fasawe; and Director, Legal Services, LASEPA, Mr. Oshikoya Olatunji, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between LASEPA and CPAN in Ikeja, Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

Oyebanji Condoles Flood Victims as Five Escape Death in Ekiti

Gbenga

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has sympathised with those whose properties were affected by the flood that wreaked havoc in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday evening.

The governor, who thanked God that no life was lost in the flood that ravaged Ekiti state

capital, assured the people that his government would map out life-saving mechanisms to mitigate destruction of property in areas submerged by water.

THISDAY investigation revealed that property worth several millions of naira were damaged in areas like Eminrin Estate, Adebayo, Ita Eku, and Ilupeju Avenue, when the flood

Bolt Rewards Drivers in Contest

As part of its continued recognition and appreciation for service excellence, Bolt, a ride-hailing platform, has kicked off its Drive for a Prize campaign for new and existing drivers across the country. The campaign, in its fourth edition, is a driver support initiative aimed at celebrating its top-performing drivers by rewarding winners with various prizes, from home appliances to mobile phones to brand new TVs, amongst others.

The campaign is set to run for eight weeks, during which drivers have the opportunity to accumulate points. Each week, the driver with the highest points will emerge as the weekly winner, while new drivers will receive bonus points to kickstart their participation.

According to the company, the campaign has again recorded wide participation among drivers across 12 cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Benin, Kano, Jos, Uyo, Enugu, Ibadan,

Akure and Owerri.

Commenting on the campaign, Country Manager for Bolt Nigeria, Yahaya Mohammed, said: “We are excited to see drivers get rewarded in addition to their regular income. The ‘Drive for a Prize’ contest is just one of the ways Bolt appreciates and rewards drivers for their dedication to serving riders diligently and we hope that this initiative will further motivate drivers to continue delivering top quality service to riders.”

“This initiative is in line with our commitment to the welfare of drivers and we wish to use this opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation to drivers who are central to our operations. We are thrilled to continue this initiative which was inaugurated in 2020. At Bolt, we recognise that drivers are fundamental to the continued growth of our brand in Nigeria, and we do not take their commitment and efforts for granted”.

Bauchi, USAID Present Community Charter of Demand Template

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

As preparation for the Bauchi State 2024 proposed Budget takes centre stage, the State Government, with support from the United States Agency for International Development’s funded State Transparency, Accountability and Effectiveness Activity (USAID State2State) has presented to the public another innovative initiative of getting citizens inputs into the proposed Budget.

The new innovation that comes in the form of template known as Community Charter of Demand (CCD), will give citizens the chance to come together within their respective communities and list their priority needs with a view to having it incorporated into the 2024 proposed state budget.

The CCD template was officially presented to the public by the Permanent Secretary of the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mallam Idris Sale Giade in Misau yesterday

during the ongoing Bauchi State budget public hearing held across the Northern and Central Senatorial Zones of the State.

While presenting the CCD template to community/religious leaders, CSOs, FBOs and Local Government officials present at the hearing, the Permanent Secretary said that the CCD template is yet another avenue for citizens of Bauchi State to articulate their needs in order of priorities.

According to him, this singular act of making CCD template available to citizens has further given credence to Governor Bala Mohammed’s quest for productive citizens engagement and ownership aimed at entrenching good governance in conducting Government activities and programs.

Giade therefore, called on citizens of the State to avail themselves of the opportunity by highlighting key areas of their needs while filling the CCD template.

surged into some buildings during the heavy downpour, just as five persons narrowly escaped death on Ureje River in Ado Ekiti, as the river overflowed its bank along Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado

Ekiti.

The five persons were said to be coming from Ureje area and were making frantic efforts to navigate the heavily flooded bridge into the town, when they were overran

by fast flowing water and taken into its valley.

The Ureje river overflowed its bank due to torrential downpour that lasted for three hours, while

commuters entering Ado Ekiti and those traveling out of the metropolis to another town or state, were trapped for several hours, waiting for the water level to subside before crossing.

I’ll Industralise Imo if I Become Governor, Says LP Candidate

Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the November 11 Governorship Election in Imo, Sen. Athan Achonu, has pledged to industrialise the state if he is elected governor of the state.

Achonu made the pledge when he briefed newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

He said that arrangements have been concluded with some power generating companies to generate power for the state to boost his government’s industrialisation plan should he eventually emerge governor.

“We have mapped out six industrial layouts, two per

each geopolitical zone, with focus on job creation through industrialisation, and that is why I am focusing on power generation,” Achonu said.

He said that he was encouraged by the bill signed into law by the federal government which now permits states to

produce and generate their own source of power, noting that states now have every reason to pursue their industrialisation goal.

“I have concluded plans with Afreximbank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support industries.

Oborevwori Commends NYSC Members’ Contributions in Health, Education

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Governor Oborrevwori of Delta State has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for their immense and consistent contributions to the state over the years.

Oborevwori noted that the

impact of the contributions of the NYSC-members serving in Delta has remained resounding especially in the area of education, healthcare delivery and infrastructure development.

The governor gave the commendation yesterday at the closing of the Batch ’B’’Stream

II three-week Orientation Course of the Corps held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Campin Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon Johnson Erijo, the governor charged the participants to be optimistic

about Nigeria and brace up for the positive living in the different communities they will carry out their primary assignment during their service year in line with “the principles and virtues of perseverance, dedication to duty, loyalty, discipline and patriotism.”

Ondo Monarch Seeks Govt’s Intervention in Community Devt

Fidelis David in Akure

The Olu of Aaye Community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Akinola Sunday, has appealed to government at all levels and corporate organisations to help in

providing infrastructure and other social amenities in his domain.

Oba Akinola stated this yesterday while speaking with journalists in the community on the occasion of his one year anniversary.

He appealed to the

Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), and the federal government to consider his community ripe for Primary Health Care Centre and primary school in view of its population and size.

He said: “We don’t have Primary Health Care centre as

well as primary and secondary school here, and I have been speaking with stakeholders but I am yet to see positive result. However, I thank God that there is a private higher institution here, Millennium School of Health Technology. So, I thank God so far.

2024 Guber: Former Edo Council Chairman Declares Interest, Lists Security, Power, Agric as Priorities

Adibe EmenyonuinBeninCity

A former local government chairman in Edo State, Mr. John Yakubu, has declared his interest to run for the state governorship election holding next year.

Yakubu, who was the chairman of Esan Northeast council, made

the declaration at a media parley in Benin City, where he vowed to replicate his performance when he was chairman if elected as governor come next year.

Yakubu, who is the only visible aspirant on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), said that he was able to

perform while in office because he was focused and determined to leave a foot print behind as local government chairman during his tenure.

He recalled how he fought a battle with the former Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who made attempt to frustrate

his government by forcing local government chairmen in the state to sign an undertaking to have their monthly allocation deducted by 10 per cent, adding that while other 17 council chairmen took the undertaking, he refused to sign as the chairman of Esan North East Local Government.

Adeleke Calls for Global Partnership for Devt of Osun

The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has harped on the need to build a prosperous future for the state through the mobilisation of the potentials of every Osun indigene in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

Adeleke made the call yesterday while addressing the conference of Osun Indigenes

in Indianapolis, United State of America, where he called for global partnership for the state’s development.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, said: “Your support can make an indelible impact. Whether through

investment in vital sectors, collaboration on innovative projects or simply sharing your experiences, your involvement can pave the way for transformation.

“We recognise that you have navigated challenges abroad, and now we ask you to join hands with us to overcome challenges at home. Already, Governor Adeleke

has appointed a Special Adviser on Diaspora Matters to facilitate the collaboration and make you a part of our journey to greatness.

“Together, we can foster progress that reverberates through generations. Let us harness the power of our collective efforts to build a future that is inclusive, resilient, and promising.

A’ Ibom Augments FG’s Palliatives with N5bn

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State government has augmented the N2 billions federal government grant for palliatives with N5 billions.

Also, additional 100,000 bags

of rice has been procured for distribution to the 2,272 gazetted villages; cash transfers to 53,000 workers in the State for three months, levy-free Fridays for transporters and traders for three months.

Governor Umo Eno

disclosed this in a message to mark his 100 days ìn office saying , “all these have raised our contributions to the palliatives scheme to over N5 billion.”

Eno also said that to ignite it’s agricultural revolution in

line with his ARISE Agenda, the state government has acquired over 50 thousand hectares of land in all the 31 local government areas, to ensure food security and to get the people involved in agro-allied enterprises.

Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Osimhen, Oshoala Nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or

All invited 23 Super Eagles players at Uyo Camp ahead São Tomé clash

England's Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane and seven Manchester City players are on the 30-man shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d'Or.

City's Erling Haaland is one of 12 Premier League players nominated.

Argentina legend Lionel Messi is the overwhelming favourite to win and extend his record to eight Ballons d'Or after winning the World Cup.

Midfielder Bellingham and striker Kane both moved clubs this summer - to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.

Treble-winning Manchester City are represented by record-breaking goalscorer Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, World Cup winner Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Josko Gvardiol.

Croatia defender Gvardiol was not at City last season but Ilkay Gundogan, now at Barcelona, was and he also makes the shortlist.

The other Premier League nominees are Arsenal's Saka and Martin Odegaard, Liverpool forward

Nigeria Women Football League Unveils Strategic Direction Plan

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Board of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has unveiled the Strategic Direction and Action Plan for the growth of women football in the country ahead of the start of the 2023/23 season.

NWFL Chairman, Ms Nkechi Obi, said the strategic plan is in tune with the rise in the popularity of women football as one of the world’s fastest growing sports with an increasing record of corporate sponsorship, audience and match

day attendance.

Obi said the increasing opportunities for Nigerian players to play professional football across the world has necessitated the creation of a career pathway for the talents emanating from the country as not all of them can be fully absorbed in the foreign major leagues.

She noted the NWFL has developed the Women Football Rising as the platform to drive its growth strategy for 2023 and beyond.

“Women Football Rising is the

strategic platform developed by NWFL to exponentially grow women’s football in Nigeria through strong and sustainable football clubs. The platform will drive the empowerment of women football players in Nigeria through the gradual but sustained commercialization of club football and delivery of strategic objectives based on sustainable and scalable execution plan,” Obi said. She said to achieve those objectives NWFL has developed a five-pronged execution strategy based on extensive stakeholder

engagements across all spheres of endeavour to drive home its message of engagement and inclusivity.

According to her, the strategy will guide the activities of the NWPL and will be implemented at both league levels as well as among the participating clubs in the league.

She added that the Annual General Assembly scheduled for October 5, 2023ahead of the 2023/ 24 NWFL season in November will be the first step of implementing this strategy.

Hermoso Files Legal Charges Against Rubiales

Jenni Hermoso has filed a legal complaint over the kiss by Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales.

Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain's World Cup final win, which she says was not consensual.

Rubiales claims the kiss was "mutual and "consensual", but has been provisionally suspendedby football's world governing body Fifa.

The complaint means the 46-year-old could face criminal charges.

A statement from the national prosecutor's office said: "Jennifer Hermoso filed an express complaint for the facts that you

all know.

"The national court's prosecutor's office will file a complaint as soon as possible. The statement took place at the state attorney general's office to protect the privacy of the victim."

On 29 August, Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.

At the time, Spain's top criminal court said it was opening its investigation in light of the "unequivocal nature" of 33-year-old

Hermoso's statements, saying it was necessary "to determine their legal significance".

"Given the public statements made by Jennifer Hermoso, the sexual act she was subjected to by Luis Rubiales was not consensual," a statement said.

It added that legal experts would also contact her "to offer her the option of legal action, giving her the chance to contact National Court prosecutors within 15 days for information about her rights as a victim of an alleged sexual assault should she wish to file a complaint".

Jenni Hermoso (left) has filed a legal complaint against Spanish Football Federation President, Luis Rubiales for a non consensual lip kiss

Mohamed Salah, Manchester United keeper Andre Onana and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

There are two players who left European clubs this summer - Messi, who joined Inter Miami from Paris St-Germain, and current holder Karim Benzema, who left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad.

Five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr, was not nominated for the first time since 2003.

Bellingham, who joined Real from Borussia Dortmund this summer, is one of 10 nominees for the best young player award, the Kopa Trophy.

New Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is also nominated.

Arsenal and England's Aaron Ramsdale is one of four Premier League goalkeepers on the 10-man shortlist for the Yashin Trophy, for the world's best keeper.

Onana, Manchester City's Ederson and Aston Villa's Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina, are the others.

Saudi’s Al-Ittihad Unrelenting in Pursuit of Salah

As curtain falls on the Saudi Arabian transfer window tonight, Pro League side, Al-Ittihad, are afraid that time is running out in their bid to land Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

UK’s Telegraph Sport revealed last week the Saudi side were preparing a £150 million offer, which was submitted and rejected last Friday.

They are ready for a final bid this summer of £200 million for the Egypt forward but there has been no appetite on Liverpool’s side to engage in what would be a world-record deal. The current largest transfer fee of all-time is held by Neymar when he moved from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain for £190 million in 2017.

With one day remaining in the Saudi transfer window yesterday, sources close to Al-Ittihad believe it is too late to get a deal done before the 10pm deadline. Al-Ittihad’s interest in a deal for Salah, however, would be revisited in future windows if they did not land him this summer.

Salah has not made a public comment on the Saudi interest in him since it emerged he was a target. Liverpool have insisted the 31-year-old is not for sale. Their stance has been consistent and the Premier League record bid was rejected with hours of the English

transfer window closing.

Salah’s team-mates Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have moved to Saudi Arabia this summer while Roberto Firmino headed there as a free agent after his contract ran down at Anfield. Henderson gave an interview this weekinsisting his move was not motivated by money, although the contracts on offer in the SPL would make Salah among the best paid sportsmen in the world.

After the victory over Aston Villa at the weekend, goalscorer Dominik Szoboszlai revealed Salah had told team-mates he wanted to stay at Liverpool, which was endorsed by Jurgen Klopp.

“I’ve never had, and I don’t have now, doubts about his future, his commitment to this club,” said the Liverpool manager. “Believe me, you can’t imagine how much fuss the whole world makes and how calm we are with it. He’s our player, he wants to play here and that’s it.”

Philippe Coutinho’s move from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018 is the current most expensive Premier League transaction at £130 million.

NPFL 2023/24 Postpones Season Kickoff

The Board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced a postponement of the scheduled kickoff for the 2023/24 season citing the need to have members focus on the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which holds in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer explained that the League body yielded to representations from various stakeholders in reaching the decision.

"We have everything set for the kickoff in Ibadan on Saturday but following representations from multiple stakeholders" Owumi told NPFL Media Wednesday morning.

He said the postponement has been communicated to the clubs so they can stand down travel plans already m

"Note therefore that there will be no flag-off game this Saturday, September 9 as originally planned", the letter to the clubs read.

He said a new kickoff date will be communicated in a few days

Victor Osimhen (left) and Asisat Oshoala are amongst the nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or Award released ...yesterday

Muhammadu Sanusi to Muhammadu Buhari

“Inthelasteightyears,apartfromsycophancy,nothinghasbeendone.The sycophantsarethosebuyingthedollarattherateofN400andsellingitat therateofN600toN700.Aboywhohasnorecordofservicehasaprivatejet andownshousesinDubaiandEnglandjustbecausehewasbuyingdollaratso andsorateandsellingthem”—14thEmirofKanoonhowtheformerpresident mismanagedNigerianeconomy.

The United States National Intelligence Council provoked outrage in Nigeria when it published a May 2005 controversial report, ‘Mapping SubSaharan Africa’s Future’. Under the sub-heading ‘Downside Risks’, the report stated that “while currently Nigeria’s leaders are locked in a bad marriage that all dislike but dare not leave, there are possibilities that could disrupt the precarious equilibrium in Abuja. The most important would be a junior officer coup that could destabilize the country to the extent that open warfare breaks out in many places in a sustained manner.”

Quite naturally, many Nigerians were aghast by the US report coming just six years after the exit of the military. In his response at the time, then President Olusegun Obasanjo dismissed most of the assumptions that informed the conclusion. But he also noted most poignantly: “It is important for us to know that we are being rated low, not because of what is happening to us from outside but because of what we do to, for and by ourselves internally…” Whatever he may have meant, my reading of Obasanjo’s response is that whether as individuals or as a nation, we are the architects of our own fortunes or misfortunes.

It is within that context that I want to situate what is fast becoming an open invitation for military takeover of power on the continent, following recent palace coups in both Niger Republic and Gabon. In a trending video titled ‘Togo should be next’, a young Togolese x-rayed political developments in his country—where Faure Gnassingbe who succeeded his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema in 2005 is now also plotting for his son to succeed him—and concluded with a question on the seriousness of both ECOWAS and the African Union. He extended his analysis to Equatorial Guinea, where President Teodore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (who first came to power through a military coup in 1979 before winning a succession of sham elections) “has appointed his son as vice president, heir apparent and successor”, Cote D’Voire where President Alassane Ouattara has manipulated both the legislature and judiciary to give himself an extraconstitutional third term and Cameroon where the 90-year-old Paul Biya remains in power after 41 years despite being marooned mostly in Geneva, Switzerland. When you add Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni who has been in power since 1986, Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso, also in his fifth decade in power, Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki who has been president since independence in 1993 and others, you get a picture of a continent where power holders are not accountable to the people.

Of course, the situation in Nigeria is different from the scenario painted by the Togolese because we hold periodic elections in our country. No president has been able to stay beyond two terms of eight years—though not for lack of trying. We have also had an incumbent president defeated in an election. However, disappointment with the outcome of the 2023 general election has apparently led some of our young people to also engage in coup-baiting. It is a dangerous gambit. Most of us may not have witnessed the coup and countercoup that upended the First Republic and shattered the peace and prosperity of Nigeria, but we were around during the military era preceding the Second Republic in 1979 and the period after, between December 1983 and May 1999. The experience of those years is enough for us to say ‘Never Again’ to any suggestion of

military rule in our country. That we can even talk about military coup is one of the dividends of democracy. Under the military, any journalist

who wrote a column with my chosen headline would not sleep in his house that day, assuming he survives to tell the story.

I am aware that the only government most Nigerians (given our demographics) have experienced is the current civilian dispensation that is now 24 years old. But it is important to understand that things are not going to get better should there be a coup in Nigeria. Things are likely to get worse, on all counts. Under a military regime, the first thing to be suspended is the Constitution and the rights and liberties it confers on citizens. Suppression of the media will be automatic, and the courts will lose the limited powers they have to adjudicate over those freedoms. Military rule is about impunity and those who can abuse their authority to deny fellow citizens their fundamental rights would have no qualms appropriating to themselves what belongs to the public. With decrees and edicts, crimes and punishment can be invented at will to deal with ‘subversive elements’—just about anybody who disagrees with them. Retroactive laws, including to kill citizens (as it happened to Bartholomew Owoh, Lawal Ojuolape and

Bernard Ogedengbe) and torture could become routine again. On the economic front, things will likely spiral out of control because of international pressure and sanctions that would follow, as we saw in the nineties.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar was the last military leader in Nigeria, only stepping in after the death of General Sani Abacha to restore civil rule within ten months as promised. So, effectively, the last military regime in Nigeria, in the real sense of it, was that of the late Abacha. Interested readers can download free copies of my book, ‘The Last 100 Days of Abacha’ from my web portal, olusegunadeniyi.com, for glimpses of what transpired when the resources and institutions of state were pressed into the service of one man and his political aspiration.

At that dark period in our history, Nigeria was rendered a pariah state, with the economy in tatters. But it was in Abacha’s attempt to foist himself on us as another African ‘life president’ that we were confronted with unprecedented brutality.

NOTE: Interested readers can read the conclusion online.

Military Coups and Morbid Wish Pastor Gandhi, The Kabiyesi

Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday announced the approval of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland. Spanning five local governments, Ogbomosho is the second largest city (after Ibadan) in Oyo State. While the selection of Pastor Gandhi (as many of us from the old ‘Apapa Parish’ of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, know and address him) has come with excitement given his pedigree as a successful businessman, leader, and mentor, it has also raised several questions about faith and culture. I have heard many people ask whether a Pastor can be a monarch because of the notion that the traditional institution is tied to ‘occult practices.’

I dealt with this issue a few years ago during the crisis in Warri Kingdom arising from the tension between Pentecostal Christianity and tradition. I referenced Richard Niebuhr’s highly revealing book, ‘Christ and Culture’, to demonstrate how Christians have attempted to deal with the challenge of their faith against the background of old beliefs and customs. Niebuhr identifies five approaches which he listed as: Christ against Culture; The Christ of Culture; Christ above Culture; Christ and Culture in Paradox and Christ the Transformer of Culture.

Unfortunately, as I have also argued in the past, the Pentecostalism that has been embraced in Nigeria today fits into the paradigm of ‘Christ against Culture’, a notion which rejects all the traditional African mores as archaic, backward, and evil. The presupposition is that those traditions belong to some sinister gods that need to be dropped for us to prosper materially and spiritually. While expressions of faith differ from one denomination to another, the preponderance of opinion among pastors is that our traditional heritages (sometimes including priceless artifacts, dating back to centuries) are hindrances to our faith as believers hence we must do away with them.

There is nothing to support this extreme and warped, even if dominant, position. Aside from the fact that culture itself is not static, the

89-year-old Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, spoke to this issue in his 2010 memoir. As a young bachelor in the United Kingdom 64 years ago, the Awujale (who is easily the most respected monarch in Yorubaland today) was brought home to assume the throne of his forefathers. In a rather cynical manner, the monarch made several revelations in, ‘AWUJALE: The autobiography of Oba S. K. Adetona Ogbagba II’ which suggest that most of the rites associated with the traditional institutions and coronations are myths. Even though I highlighted some bits in a previous column six years ago, they are worth recalling: “…As part of the coronation process, the Odis (aafin attendants) embarked on the various rituals that would lead to my installation as the Awujale of Ijebuland. Personally, I can say here that there is nothing about these rituals that could not be made public. In fact, many of the Odis performing the rituals were themselves novices to the rituals and were actually trying out their roles for the first time. It must be remembered that my predecessor, Gbelegbuwa ascended the throne in 1933 and my ceremony

was conducted 27 years afterwards. Many of the Odis were at sea as to what was to be done. So, for many of them, it was all experimental and mostly guesswork. All the secrecy that they maintained about the rituals was, therefore, as I saw it, simply a ploy to extort money from the public, just as their fathers did before them. They deliberately made the rituals look very mysterious.”

The Awujale was not done: “…at the Owa Stream, the Elese of Ilese carried me on his back across the stream as custom had it that my feet must not touch the water. After this, according to tradition, the Elese must never come to Ijebu-Ode again to visit me for the rest of his life. Also, at Odo Esa, I passed an Iroko tree which, again by tradition, I was told I must never see again. Indeed, I was forbidden to ever pass that very road again or, according to tradition, I would die. I did not believe any of this of course and I have since travelled that road and passed the Iroko tree on several occasions! Also, at Ijebu-Imusin, there was again another tree which I passed and which I was never to set my eyes on again, yet I have also seen this one many times. So much for all these unnecessary taboos!”

All factors considered, I see no reason why any person who professes either Christianity or Islam cannot be a traditional ruler no matter how committed such a person is to his faith. Meanwhile, it is instructive that one of the first persons to congratulate Pastor Gandhi is the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Tellat Yunus Olushina Ayilara II, who called on all sons and daughters to “join hands with our Soun-Elect Prince Afolabi Olaoye in building a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous Ogbomosoland.”

He ended his statement with a prayer: “May Almighty Allah bestow upon him, knowledge and wisdom, grant him long life and good health, bless his reign and increase Ogbomosoland in abundance.”

I join the Soun-elect and my dear Pastor Gandhi, in saying Amen to that prayer. K’ade pe l’ori, ki bata pe l’ese!

The late Sani Abacha

Pastor Ghandi Olaoye...the Soun-elect