THURSDAY 21TH SEPTEMBER 2023

in Lagos

The naira came under intense pressure yesterday, leading to a significant depreciation as it fell to N990 to a dollar at the parallel market segment of the foreign exchange market, compared to the N950 to a dollar it traded the previous day.

On the other hand, on the official Investors and Exporters’ (I&E) FX Window, the nation currency appreciated marginally to N771/$1, compared to N777/$1 from the previous day.

The weakening of the naira to a record low took place on a day the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and

BOOSTING NIGERIA/JORDAN RELATIONS...

CBN Introduces Online Portal for Licencing of Microfinance Banks Manual submission ends

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced the unveiling of a new online platform for the submission of Microfinance Bank (MFB) licence applications, known as the CBN Licencing, Approval and Other Requests Portal (CBN LARP).

The platform effectively replaces the current manual process wherein prospective applicants for MFB licence physically submit their applications to the CBN.

In a statement, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, noted that in due course, the bank would also move other categories of licences to the online platform.

He said effective from September 25, 2023, MFB licence applicants would be required to submit both hardcopy and online applications via the CBN LARP as part of a parallel run that seeks to reduce paperwork and expedite licence approvals among others.

He said the online application system offers numerous benefits, including a simplified process, timesaving, enhanced communication, and robust security measures.

AbdulMumin, stressed that by digitising the application process, the central bank aims to improve

accessibility, reduce paperwork, and expedite licence approvals thus benefiting both applicants and the economy.

The CBN further stressed that the cover letter submitting the hardcopy application must also

December 31

note a valid application reference from the online submission to be accepted.

According to the CBN director, the parallel run would end on December 31, 2023, after which manual submissions of hardcopy

MFB licence applications will no longer be required and accepted. He said, “From September 25, 2023, prospective MFB applicants are urged to log on to www.larp. cbn.gov.ng to submit their respective MFB licence applications.

“Help and detailed guidance are available within CBN LARP to assist users in navigating the new platform. A user guide can also be downloaded from the platform.

“Applicants may contact the

dedicated helpdesk via email at cbnlarp-helpdesk@cbn.gov.ng for further information.”

The CBN however, pointed out that it shall continue to accept manual applications for all other licence types until further notice.

Ghana May Export Electricity to Nigeria as Country Achieves 85% Universal Energy Access

West African nation, Ghana, is making adequate plans and implementing policies and programmes to further grow its power sector to achieve 100 per cent universal energy access and probably export to her "big brother" nation, Nigeria.

The Head of Generation and Transmission Unit, Ministry of Energy, Ghana, Mr. Hanson Monney, stated this in Lagos, yesterday, while presenting the overview, progress and challenges of his countries' power sector at the 2nd Day of the Nigeria Energy Leadership Summit.

Monney, said Ghana has through a robust policy formulation and

implementation achieved between 80 to 85 per cent universal energy access in the country.

The Ghana official spoke a day after Nigeria, the giant of Africa and largest oil producer in the continent suffered her second national electricity grid collapse that plunged homes and businesses in total blackout.

With over 200 million population, Nigeria rarely boast of 5000 megawatts (mw) of power successfully generated, transmitted and distributed since the advent of grid electricity in the country till date.

Despite the unbundling and privatisation of the power sector in Nigeria, not much improvement has been achieved thus leaving the

majority of the citizens to resort to dangerous alternative energy sources.

However, in Ghana, according to Monney, the government was exploring all options including grid energy, mini-grid and the solardominated renewable energy to achieve the country's "Universal access to energy by 2024 and the president has charged that."

"So, we are working on all these things to make sure that the power system of Ghana continues to be as good as it is or even better, and then, maybe, we can be exporting more to our big brothers in Nigeria when the grid is finally settles. So, ladies and gentlemen, this is an overview of the Ghana power system and challenges."

JAMB Reverses Date for National Forum on Equal Access to Higher Education

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) has rescheduled its first ‘National Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria’ earlier scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 26th and Wednesday, 27th September, to Monday, 25th and Tuesday, 26th September, 2023.

The change in date was as a result of a possible declaration of Wednesday, 27th September, 2023, as a public holiday by the federal

government. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday, in Abuja, by the Board’s Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

The statement stated that the, “Board regrets all inconveniences occasioned by this change in date and calls on all stakeholders, including all Heads of Tertiary Institutions; Heads of Examination Bodies – the West African Examination Council (WAEC); National Examinations Council (NECO); National Business and

Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB); National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS); State Commissioners of Education; Heads of Schools of Persons with Disabilities; Deans of Faculties of Education and Heads of Departments of Special Education; Leaders and Members of Association of Persons with Disabilities and the General Public, to note this change and act accordingly.”

According to the statement, other information pertaining to venue and time remain as earlier announced.

The conference, which has as

its theme: ”Towards Increasing Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria” aims to boosting the enrolment opportunities of persons with disabilities in the Nigerian tertiary education system.

The statement urged the expected participants to indicate their interest by registering through a dedicated link.

“Registration for the conference is free. However, participants would be responsible for other associated costs, including transportation and accommodation,” he added.

He noted that achieving universal access to energy in Ghana, which implies getting the generated power to the lastmile was the most difficult part of the business because most of the communities were either island community, riverside or lakeside community which makes it difficult extending the grid.

To address the challenge, the official said, "So, now, we are trying to scale our renewable energy access and that is how we have planned in 2022 to scale up our renewable energy programme."

He added that the biggest challenge in the country's power sector had to do with financial sustainability, explaining, "There is so much debts that government has to shore up to make sure that the system is afloat because we have procured a lot excess capacity, that is coming with the attendant costs. So, these financial challenges require some policy actions to eliminate legacy debts."

The Ghana power official also pointed out that high electricity tariff was also a major issue plaguing the power sector in the country, wondering the usefulness of electricity without affordability, especially for industries.

"We saw that in Ghana historically. The industries have been subsidising the residentials and it should be the other way. Industries should keep afloat so that business can go on.

"So, we are trying to do tariff rationalisation where we move the block tariff that we have because in Ghana, the more you

consume, the more you pay. It shouldn't be that way. The more you consume, I think you should rather be given some rebate. So, that tariff rationalisation process is ongoing", he said.

He equally mentioned that another problem facing the Ghana power sector was gas supply security, thanking Nigeria for always supporting the country in the area of gas supply.

"Most of our gas is in the West. We get the east gas from Nigeria. Our big brothers are always sending some gas to support us and we thank Nigeria for that.

“But that is not enough, as we grow, we need to have more fuel supply security. Now, there is an 80-day shutdown of our gas. There is no gas in Ghana now. So, fuel supply security is really affecting the sector," Monney explained.

But in all the challenges facing the country's power sector, Hanson said the government has been taking the necessary actions to address the issues and further grow the electricity sector in the West African state.

"And what we are saying is that Ghana has adopted a holistic approach in the formulation of policies and plans.

“We don't leave one person to plan. We are doing it together -regulators, private sector and all that. So, we have something we call the Integrated Power Sector Master Plan to consolidate all the plans that we have over a long-term. So, this is what Ghana is doing or has been doing to keep our light on", he added.

James Emejo in Abuja

Peter Uzoho

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ( L) with King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, during a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly ... yesterday

BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION'S GOALKEEPERS 2023 FORUM...

Kalu: N'Assembly Will Enact Laws to Curb Multiple Taxation, Streamline Revenue Collecting Agencies

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said the parliament would enact laws that would effectively eliminate multiple taxation in Nigeria.

Kalu, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, while speaking at the World Bank Fiscal Governance and Institutions Project (FGIP) Focus Group Discussion.

The deputy speaker in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Levinus Nwabughiogu, said under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria has embarked on a path of fiscal reform that directly addresses some of the most pressing issues in the tax system and overall fiscal policy.

The deputy speaker stressed that the commitment to reform was a testament to the dedication of the federal government

towards achieving a more robust and equitable economic landscape.

Kalu noted: "One of the paramount challenges we are currently addressing as a government, is the issue of tax multiplicity, a labyrinthine web of taxes that has placed undue burdens on both individuals and businesses.

“Simplifying and rationalising this system is imperative to alleviate the compliance burden

and to foster an environment conducive to economic growth.

"In parallel, we have recognised the necessity of modernising revenue collection through automation. This strategic move enhances efficiency and, equally important, reduces opportunities for corruption and revenue leakage.

"Furthermore, we are in the process of streamlining the multitude of revenue-collecting agencies as a government. This

Abbas: Lifting Nigerians Out of Poverty Requires Paradigm Shift

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said lifting Nigerians out of poverty caused by the myriad of economic challenges would require a paradigm shift.

The Speaker stated this while addressing a delegation from the Civil Society Leaders Forum on Social Protection, which paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, yesterday.

Abbas, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, said the current challenges Nigerians were facing due to fuel subsidy removal would soon be history.

Reacting to statistics presented before him by the forum on the place of Nigeria in the global poverty index and why conditional cash transfer should be seen as a veritable tool for achieving social protection, the Speaker assured the delegation of his leadership's readiness to partner with the civil society to engineer lasting solutions to socio-economic challenges faced by Nigerians.

Abbas said: “Restructuring takes time as it has to get difficult before it gets better, and that this is the beginning. People need to understand that there will be difficulty along the way to better days."

He added: “Since I became Speaker, I don't think I have engaged any organisation that has made me feel a bit down on the revelations of where we are

as a country and the enormous challenges that we are facing (like yours).

"Thank you so much for being blunt, frank, and sincere about where we are and the likelihood of the consequences and how things can turn out if things are not done right. But I assure you, under my leadership, we will act."

Abbas, stressed the need for a shift from the old way of approaching policy issues with a view to achieving new results, just as he said his office would take up the challenge by creating a channel for social dialogue between civil society and the legislature as suggested by the forum.

"We need to partner with you so that you can continue to furnish us with information about where we are.

“You should continue to keep the pressure on us to really be on the right track so that we will be able to deliver and change the fortunes of this country,” he added.

He called on Nigerians to see the current economic hardship as the natural effects of some tough decisions, saying a level of difficulty has to set in before things could get better.

Abbas, also spoke to the question of partnership between civil society and the legislature for better budgetary allocation to critical sectors of the economy.

"I must have to also emphasise to you that when it comes to budgeting, our key issue in Nigeria is low revenue generation, and you need

to widen your scope in enlightening Nigerians on the need to pay taxes.

"Taxation is key to financing the budget in any nation, but we have a very low generating ratio in terms of revenue through taxation than other sources. If we can come up with an initiative on how to expand the revenue nets of the government, I'm sure more resources will be made available for critical sectors, which include education, infrastructure, agriculture, and health that you mentioned earlier," he said.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, outlined challenges brought on

poor Nigerians by the inability of successive administrations to prioritise social protection as a means of tackling poverty.

He noted that there were six key areas of concern that the 10th Assembly must urgently intervene in, using relevant legislative instruments, which included a permanent dialogue mechanism between civil society and the legislature; partnership on budget and policy issues; effective implementation of the Public Procurement Act (2007); proper oversight of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency, among others.

streamlining initiative aims to improve coordination and, crucially, reduce duplicity in tax administration, ultimately making our system more efficient, transparent and accountable.”

He added: "In the realm of tax legislation which is actually one of your objectives to get the buy in of the legislators, there are promising opportunities to introduce comprehensive reform bills that encompass a wide spectrum of objectives, including simplification, modernisation and consolidation of tax laws.

"These reforms hold the potential to bring about increased clarity and efficiency, benefiting both taxpayers and tax administrators.”

Kalu, pointed out that the parliament must consider how tax legislation could be strategically crafted to stimulate economic growth which while maintaining fairness and equity within the tax system.

He said this entails a thorough examination of tax incentives, deductions, and credits to ensure they align with overarching development goals.

According to him, consolidating tax codes by merging related provisions into one comprehensive law was another avenue to make the tax system more accessible and comprehensible for all stakeholders involved.

Kalu, assured that some sec-

tions of the constitution would be amended to introduce flexibility to the tax policy reforms.

He noted: "Within the ongoing constitutional amendment process, we intend to explore opportunities to amend pertinent sections that will provide greater flexibility for fiscal and tax policy reforms.

"This may involve decentralising certain tax powers, centralising others (as exemplified by the inclusion of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the Exclusive Legislative List), or introducing mechanisms for the automatic adjustment of tax rates based on economic indicators.

"Our tireless endeavors in the realm of tax and fiscal policy, led by President Bola Tinubu, signify a significant transition towards a more efficient, equitable, and investment-friendly environment. As legislators, we shoulder the responsibility of shaping the future of our nation's fiscal landscape.

"By simplifying tax-related bills, motions, and constitutional alteration bills in a manner that fosters economic growth and streamlines our tax system, we can collectively contribute to the sustainable development and prosperity of Nigeria. Let us persistently work together to advance these critical reforms for the betterment of all Nigerians", he said.

Tinubu Celebrates Wife, Oluremi, at 63

Describes

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated his wife of 36 years, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who clocked 63 years today.

The President, in a birthday message personally signed by him and sent to the First Lady, described Mrs. Tinubu as the love of his life, special person and ever shining trusted partner who for long has been involved in the uncertain dangerous, but principled stands against tyranny.

Tinubu's congratulatory message to his wife read: "Happy 63rd

birthday to the love of my life, Oluremi. My trusted partner in every venture, and the one special person who has consistently filled my days with joy and laughter over 36 amazing years.

"Today is not only a day to mark another year of your purposeful life but a beautiful reminder of the journey we have embarked upon together.

"Through all these years, we have shared in the uncertainty of dangerous, but principled stands against tyranny. Many cannot fully appreciate the sacrifices you made for us during that harrowing, dark

tyranny

era, but I do and always will.

"We have experienced adventure, love, and laughter. We have celebrated victories, and we have wrestled down the monster of defeat, and we have done all in an inextricable bond.

"Our bond has only grown stronger through thick and thin, and our love and commitment to each other has only deepened with time.

"Thank you for being the everpresent sunshine that brightens my darkest hours.

"Your kindness, your wisdom, and your inner and outer beauty

continue to amaze me more each and every day.

'As we celebrate your birthday, I want you to know how profoundly grateful I am for your serene presence in my life.

'I look forward to many more years filled with even greater laughter and love as we continue on this path together, which God Almighty had predestined for us.

"May the Good Lord, whom you serve with all your heart, continue to bless you with good health and longevity.

"Happy birthday, Iyawo Mi! Love always.”

L-R: Kenyan President, William Ruto; Co-chair BMGF, Melinda French Gates; Belgium Prime Minister De Croo and co-chair BMGF, Bill Gates at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers 2023 Forum in New York ... yesterday

her as ever shining trusted partner of 36 years Lauds her for being willing ally against anti-democratic moves,

TEF BREAKFAST ROUNDTABLE AT THE 78TH UNGA MEETINGS...

US Court Orders Chicago University to Release Tinubu’s Records to Atiku in Two Days

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of a United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division has ordered the Chicago State University (CSU) to produce all records relating to President Bola Tinubu to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar within two days of the court's order.

The court's order came a day after Atiku filed his appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to upturn the judgment of the presidential election tribunal which had on September 6, affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Judge Gilbert, made the order Tuesday night, while delivering judgment on an application for an order directing discovery from the Chicago State University in respect of Tinubu's academic records.

The application filed on August 2, was aimed at making available more credible evidence before the apex court to prove Tinubu was not eligible to have contested the February 25 presidential election.

The suit marked No 28C 6099 and titled: ‘Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar for an Order Directing Discovery from the Chicago State University,’ was brought pursuant to 28 U. S. C. 1782.

Atiku who came second in the February 25 presidential election is seeking the nullification of Tinubu's election on grounds of non-qualification amongst others.

Specifically, the former vicepresident maintained that Tinubu ought not to be on the presidential ballot on grounds of alleged perjury and forgery surrounding his academic records submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aide of his qualification.

Atiku is claiming that Tinubu forged his CSU certificate owing

to the discrepancies in the dates of the certificate CSU issued to him in 1979, and the one issued by the same institution last year, following a court order.

Based on the alleged anomalies, Atiku had approached the US court for an order directing the institution to release information regarding Tinubu's record to him, to prove his pending petition against the declaration of Tinubu as President, at the apex court.

However, in his ruling Tuesday night, the court held that the applicant, former vice-president of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has shown sufficient reasons why Tinubu's academic records should be released to him.

Besides, the court also ordered the school’s administrators to authenticate any documents submitted under oath.

A copy of the judgment obtained by THISDAY, noted that the court also frowned at CSU for seeking a protective order to prevent the applicant from accessing the said documents.

Judge Gilbert noted that the, “court may, for good cause, issue an order to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense.”

Adding that, "for all of the reasons discussed above, Atiku Abubakar’s application pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 for an order directing discovery from Chicago State University for use in a foreign proceeding [ECF No. 1] is granted."

The court further held that the institution "shall produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to requests for production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by the court) in applicant subpoena within two days of the entry of this

memorandum opinion and order.

“The deposition of respondent’s corporate designee shall proceed within two days of the production of documents. The parties can modify the dates set by the court by mutual agreement. Given the tight time frame under which the parties are operating, the deposition can, if necessary, occur on a non-weekday,” the court added.

Atiku had in his application for an order of mandamus compelling the CSU to release information regarding Tinubu's record, had argued that Section 137 (1)(j) of the Nigerian Constitution (amended in 2010) specifically stated that no one would be legitimately elected president of Nigeria if the person,

“has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Tinubu had on June 17, 2022, submitted a certificate to INEC that was purportedly issued in 1979 and signed by Elnora Daniel. But Ms. Daniel only arrived at CSU in 1998 from Hampton University, 19 years after Tinubu was said to have graduated. She left the school in 2008, following a financial mismanagement scandal, or 14 years before June 2022, when CSU issued yet a fresh certificate in Tinubu’s name under subpoena from a Nigerian lawyer who had inquired about Tinubu’s education there.

The irregularities prompted Atiku to file the suit to compel CSU to

produce records relating to Tinubu and make its top officials available for deposition to certify the produced records, according to the Nigerian opposition leader’s lawyers.

During a hearing on the matter on September 12, the CSU’s lawyer Michael Hayes, had said the school could not authenticate Tinubu’s certificate without the President’s consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.

Tinubu’s lawyers, led by Christopher Carmichael, argued that the court should not grant Atiku's application because it was a frivolous expedition aimed at soiling the Nigerian president’s image.

Carmichael, also argued that Nigerian Supreme Court would

not accept fresh evidence that was not produced during the tribunal proceeding.

But Atiku's team, led by Angela Liu, argued that the Supreme Court would accommodate the fresh facts under unique circumstances, especially as they were not available to the Court of Appeal, which is the court of first instance in a presidential election dispute.

In his ruling, Judge Gilbert held that courts across the U.S have traditionally taken a broad and liberal view in granting applications under Section 1782, a statute that allows the release of documents and evidence domiciled in the U.S. to be obtained and used in a foreign proceeding.

Gates Foundation Makes $200m Commitments to Advance SDGs

Honours global change makers

Chiemelie Ezeobi in New York

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) yesterday, reiterated its commitment to advance the 2030 global target of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by committing $200 million.

The 2030 target was agreed upon on September 25, 2015, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, when 193 world leaders committed to the 17 SDGs (Global Goals), a series of ambitious objectives and targets to achieve three extraordinary things by ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and fixing climate change, amongst others.

The foundation was responding

to the alarming reversal in progress on Global Goal 3 by announcing commitments totaling $200 million to help achieve universal access to family planning products and information, faster delivery of lifesaving health solutions, and a reduction in maternal and child mortality.

While the long-term commitment of up to $100 million was to help meet the demand in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for family planning supplies, the other long-term commitment of $100 million was to bring faster access to health products in low- and middle-income countries.

“Halfway to the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, our

CCECC: We'll Deliver Abuja Light Rail Project in Eight Months

Shettima lauds China’s commitment to Nigeria’s infrastructure development

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC), has expressed its commitment towards the completion of the Abuja light rail project in eight months.

Vice President Kashim Shettima extracted this commitment from the management of CCECC when its Chairman, Mr. Jason Zhang, led some members of his management team on a courtesy visit to the State House,

Abuja, yesterday.

The vice president described CCECC as part of Nigeria’s history, saying the Chinese construction giant has played a pivotal role in developing Nigeria’s landmark projects, adding that their commitment to the development of Nigeria and Africa is commendable.

According to him: "You have been in this country for 42 years.

We have to commend you for all the beautiful initiatives and support over the years. We share a lot in common

with the people of China, just as you have been with us through thick and thin. “You have the financial fire power and the willingness to support Nigeria and other African countries without interfering in our local politics. This we appreciate a lot". Shettima, assured CCECC that the present administration will sustain the existing relationship with the company and the people of China, saying the Abuja rail project, like others, remains dear to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of CCECC, David Waig, reiterated the company’s commitment towards delivering the project within the stipulated period, saying CCECC will go above board and leave no stone unturned in ensuring the delivery of the Abuja light rail line come May, 2024.

He called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to engage an operational company that would quickly see to smooth take off of the rail project.

annual Goalkeepers Report shows that on 18 indicators—from poverty to gender equality, education to food security, health to climate—the world is off track,” the CEO of the Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman said.

“But we also see where innovation, investment, and the extraordinary work of passionate change-makers around the world have the potential to turn the tide, saving the lives of 2 million mothers and babies by 2030," he added.

Hosting the Goalkeepers 2023, on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly week, the foundation brought to the forefront discussions on current and future efforts to achieve the Global Goals through concrete action and new approaches to development finance.

Participants included Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan; President William Ruto of Kenya; Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo; Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and more than 400 young changemakers from around the world.

The daytime event also featured special guests Jon Batiste, American musician and singer; David Oyelowo, actor, director, and producer; Titilope Sonuga, Nigerian poet and former poet laureate; and Sallie Krawcheck, founder of Ellevest.

Meanwhile, the foundation bestowed awards on some change makers and six world leaders across the globe, who have made recognisable contributions in their communities and around the world to

advance progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The awardees included Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter, Bono, and activists from Cameroon, Ethiopia, and the United States- Ashu Martha Agbornyenty, Eden Tadesse. Tadesse and the trio Aidan Reilly, Ben Collier, and James Kanoff, respectively.

“This year’s Goalkeepers Global Goals Award winners show us how human ingenuity and innovation can help tackle some of the world’s most difficult challenges,” said Blessing Omakwu, deputy director, global content and campaigns and Goalkeepers lead.

“Everyone has the power to make a difference in their communities, and these courageous and indefatigable advocates are helping tens of thousands of people live healthier, more productive lives," she added.

This year’s 2023 Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards Ceremony was hosted by Elaine Welteroth, award-winning journalist, TV host, and author, and was attended by global leaders, activists, and celebrities.

The event included special performances by Tiwa Savage, Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress; Usha Jey, Tamil dancer and choreographer; Zara Larsson, Swedish singer-songwriter; and the Harlem Gospel Choir.; Zara Larsson, Swedish singer-songwriter; and the Harlem Gospel Choir.

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left); Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony Elumelu (middle); Chief Executive Officer, IKEA Foundation, Mr. Per Heggenes; Chief Executive Officer of Generation Unlimited (GenU), Mr. Kevin Frey and others during TEF breakfast roundtable at the 78th UNGA meetings in New York, ... yesterday

Umahi Expresses Anger over Bad State of East-West Road, Summons Directors

Says project reviewed from N44bn to N144bn with no results

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed disappointment over the bad state of the popular East-West Road which has been under construction and rehabilitation for decades.

Speaking during an inspection of the highway which links all the states in the Niger Delta, the former Ebonyi state governor also accused the contractors handling the project of playing games.

“The gimmicks the contractors are using is the excuse of overloading. I am passing a vote of no confidence on the construction of this road. I wont certify anything on this road. The road has failed and it is not

acceptable to us. The road is full of potholes,” he said.

Umahi, an engineer, said that despite the government paying over N71 billion for work on the road, it has completely become dilapidated, even after the cost had bee further reviewed from N44 billion to N144 billion.

“Apart from the beautiful bridge you have built, the road has completely gone down. The project manager will need to tell his team to meet me in Abuja on Monday to tell me what has caused the failure on the road.

“ I do not accept that it is overloading of trucks. Our roads are not properly constructed and I demand that these roads must

be properly constructed. It is a fight that Nigerians must win,” he added.

The minster noted that he had also invited all the directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) with their engineers from Edo, Delta , Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.

According to him, aside the major areas that need serious work, FERMA will be able to attend to the small portions where dilapidation had been noticed.

Umahi also pledged to hold a meeting with the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to find out how the ministry and the agency can work together to ramp up work.

He explained that he had also discussed with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on how the build-up of traffic in the Edo axis can be ameliorated.

“He told me they they will need to design a bypass, so that the heavy trucks can stop moving through the town. It is by so doing that the gridlock can be stopped and business activities in the state can improve.

“We also have to look at our constituency projects to see how they can be meaningful and impactful and I will be discussing this with the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate,“ he said.

Meanwhile, the minister has said

that before he appends his signature to any final project certificate, he must be told how cost variations were arrived at.

Stressing that he was not against variation of prices and contract augmentation, he stated that he must first be intimated with the calculations, sketches, site joint measurements, variation site instructions, geo-technical reports and joint site evaluation reports.

“I have had meetings severally with the ministry of works directors, but it seems they have not understood this new policy or they are not interested. We cannot stay in the office and issue out payments to contractors without visiting sites or having knowledge of what is

happening at the sites,” he stated. According to him, where such variations are to take place, the new unit rate for items on prices or change of scope as well as quantities added must be aggregated.

To ensure proper monitoring, Umahi stated that projects must have resident engineers immediately, insisting that he will not honour any paper where there is no resident engineer from October 1. Demanding that daily site reports must also be made available on the ministry’s WhatsApp platform, Umahi directed the permanent secretary to immediately get all directors and staff to rework pending memos to comply with the new policy.

federation account between January and June 2023.

However, with the parallel market at N990/$1 and the official I&E window closing at N771, the gap between the official and parallel market has widened to N219

THISDAY spoke with some currency dealers in Lagos State, who revealed that the demand for the greenback seen yesterday was unprecedented, just as they attributed the development to speculative demand.

Mr. Ibrahim Salisu, while speaking in an interview with THISDAY, said: “Today started off normal but around 11:30 am till evening, we don’t know what may be responsible but dollar became scarce. I’m unable to find even $2000 as we speak.”

Another parallel market operator who spoke with THISDAY in Lagos, who pleaded to remain anonymous, also confirmed the speculative demand observed yesterday.

On the I&E window yesterday, the total turnover was $64.36 million compared to the daily volume of $71.01 million exchanged the previous day, as the supply of the greenback continued to wane.

Also, the highest spot rate of the day was pegged at N799.9/$1 while its lowest spot was exchanged at N475/$1.

Meanwhile, Shehu, yesterday disclosed that about N5.24 trillion accrued into the federation account between January and June 2023.

He said out of the gross revenue inflows, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) JV Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) amounted to N627.30 billion, which was captured and recorded by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FIRS), but utilised by the NNPCL for other FGN obligations.

Shehu, explained that the figures were captured in the

monthly report to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the CBN Federation Account Component Statement.

He, however, noted that the NNPCL did not remit any amount into the federation account during the period either as profit revenue or other revenues as contained in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, as its revenue performance could not be assessed because neither its revenue target was disclosed nor its revenue remittance to the federation account was provided.

A source however told THISDAY yesterday night that NNPCL's none remittance to federation account is essentially due to subsidy payment. "It had to net off the subsidy on importation of pms, since it was compelled to sell at far below cost price."

Nonetheless, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) remitted N823.51 billion while the FIRS recorded a gross collection of N3.65 trillion but remitted N3.02 trillion, retaining the difference as the cost of collection during the review period.

Shehu, in a statement made available to journalists, further disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) remitted N764.63 billion.

Also, the sum of N1.49 trillion was realised as Value Added Tax (VAT) while N83.02 billion accounted for revenues from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) out of which N3.32 billion was paid to FIRS as cost of collection.

The FIRS also received N82.03 billion and N3.32 billion as cost of collection on PPT/CIT and EMTL collections respectively in the period.

The report revealed that both FIRS and NCS together received N59.59 billion as cost

DANGOTE: NNPC READY TO SUPPLY OUR REFINERY WITH CRUDE OIL IN FEW WEEKS

The chief promoter of the $19.5 billion facility, reputed to be the world's largest single-train refinery, made the clarification following misconceptions drawn from a recent interview granted to S&P Global Commodity Insights, by the company’s Group Executive Director, Devakumar Edwin.

However, a portion of the interview, where Edwin had revealed why the commencement of production at the refinery had been delayed a bit was misconstrued in some sessions of the media to mean denial of feedstock supply by the NNPC.

But Dangote in the statement issued yesterday, said NNPC had never denied the company crude oil supply, contrary to some media reports making the rounds.

He noted that the NNPC had

of collection within the period under review while the NUPRC received N33.96 billion.

Similarly, N16.68 billion was realised from the solid minerals sector.

The RMAFC boss also revealed that N1.38 trillion was shared to the three tiers of government in accordance with the approved VAT sharing formula during the period while N1.11 billion was paid in consultation fees on VAT.

On the statutory allocations to the three tiers of government, Shehu said N3.06 trillion was shared among the tiers of government within the review period.

He said N48.10 billion was paid to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), adding that, “this money was collected by NUPRC as penalty on gas flared.”

He clarified that revenues on gas flare penalty used to be part of the federation account’s revenues before the PIA, 2021 which provided that such revenues should be paid 100 per cent to the NMDPRA.

Shehu, however, described

the 32.27 per cent statutory deductions of the total gross inflow into the federation account as superfluous adding that it constituted a drain on the treasury.

According to him, the sum of N1.69 trillion was deducted at source by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation as approved statutory deductions.

He said there was a further deduction of the sum of N70 billion by the FIRS under the name of FIRS Priority Projects in the second quarter.

He argued that the Nigerian economy at the moment required some pragmatic measures to enhance distributable revenues to the three tiers of government for the overall development and growth of the country.

The RMAFC, among other recommendations on the operations and management of the federation account, advised that payment of the cost of collection to revenue-generating agencies should receive a cost of collection that is commensurate to the revenue generated against its revenue

target in the Appropriation Act.

Among other things, the commission stressed the need for the government to review the payment of 100 per cent (less cost of collection) revenue realised from gas flared penalty to the NMDPRA, adding that the gas flare penalty was hitherto a Federation Account revenue component taken over by the PIA, 2021.

Other recommendations included the need to holistically review all legislations with respect to statutory deductions to allow for an increase in the amount to be shared among the three tiers of government; greater emphasis on the solid minerals sector to improve revenue generation therefrom and further achieve economic diversification;

It said no further deduction should be made by the FIRS under the ‘priority projects’ to avoid a repeat of the situation under NNPC where a large chunk of funds was deducted as first line charge under the NNPC priority projects; and that all accruals due on 13 per cent Derivation should be deducted as at when due to

UNEASY CALM AS TRIBUNAL NULLIFIES KANO GOVERNOR’S ELECTION

people headed home, afraid that there might be violent reactions to the tribunal judgement.

The governing party in the state, NNPP, expressed its resolve to appeal the tribunal ruling.

But an excited National Chairman of APC and former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, urged supporters of the party to remain peaceful.

The Kano State Police command imposed a 24-hour curfew as part of measures to forestall a breakdown of law and order across the state.

Some residents and business owners, especially at the Sabon Gari market, ran helter-skelter, and closed their business premises as news of the tribunal ruling broke.

But a combined team of security agencies was deployed in different parts of the state capital to try to allay fears.

INEC had presented to Yusuf, and directed that the certificate of return should be issued to Gawuna.

A member of the defence team, Bashir Muhammad Tudun Wada, said the tribunal had delivered its judgement but his client would appeal it.

Wada said, "It is a judgement, which we felt does not manifest the justice of the matter, and I can assure you this decision will be set aside on appeal.

“It is not a new thing. If you look at the decision that has been taken by the tribunal in Osun State, it is almost the same as this one. That the tribunal without evidence can go and look at the document that was tendered before it.

"I can assure you this judgement will not see the light of day in the Court of Appeal, by God's grace."

NAIRA WEAKENS TO 990/$1 ON PARALLEL MARKET AS DOLLAR DEMAND OVERWHELMS SUPPLY the commencement of refining operations at the facility.

rather been very encouraging and supportive in their business trajectory in the areas of oil and gas.

Dangote further said: “Being a shareholder and a responsive partner, it is an aberration to assume that the NNPC will in anyway do anything to truncate or delay the commencement of operations of our refinery. We will start refining with our Nigeria crude.”

“We deeply appreciate our partnership with the NNPC and its subsidiaries, under the leadership of Group Chief Executive Officer, (GCEO) NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari” Dangote concluded.

Through the refinery located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos Dangote intends to make Nigeria self-sufficient in fuels and free a huge volume for export thus ending the embarrassing title of Africa's largest oil producer that imports all its refined petroleum products.

Yusuf had been declared winner of the governorship election and returned as governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But head of the election tribunal, Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebey, during a ruling delivered via zoom, said the NNPP candidate did not win the governorship poll.

The tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf's votes as invalid, and held that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed.

Akintan-Osadebey, who led the three-man panel of the tribunal, gave the final judgment after cancelling some votes recorded by NNPP.

Among the reasons given by the tribunal for sacking Yusuf were that his name was not in the NNPP register submitted to INEC and over-voting.

The panel ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return, which

The APC lawyer, Sanusi Musa, SAN, said his team complained about three issues concerning the election, "That there was substantial noncompliance concerning refusal of INEC to apply the principle of margin of lead.

"Then the second thing is that we have clearly said Mr Abba Kabir Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election, because by the constitutional provision, Section 177 said that for somebody to participate in an election he must be a member of a political party and must be somebody sponsored by that political party.

"The third one is the issue of majority lawful votes cast, which we have successfully shown to the court that there was inflation of votes."

Ganduje, who spoke to journalists in Abuja after the ruling, commended the judiciary for delivering a fair and transparent judgement.

He stated, "Today (Wednesday)

is a historic day. We thank Allah for providing an enabling environment for the judiciary to deliver fair, transparent judgement in our favour and judgement that is true (reflection of the wishes of the people).

"We thank the judiciary, our party leaders in our state, we thank the business community, the various support groups. We have to commend everybody in Kano State for being patient and continuous prayers for Allah to give us victory.

"We urge them to continue to be peaceful, to continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner. We assure the business community that our new government, if we come in, In Sha Allah, under our able governor, Dr Yusuf Gawana, that business will flourish in Kano."

Gawuna, on his part, commended the judiciary for being fair and also thanked Ganduje, whom he described as his mentor, for his support.

Gawuna said, "It is a day that Allah has made fruitful for us to emerge victorious based on the judgement of today and, Alhamdulillah, we have to thank the judiciary for being fair.

"We know Allah is the one that has done it for us before, He is the one that has done it now and, In Sha Allah, He will do it for us in the coming time. We pray that Allah will give us the health and life to be able to deliver to the people on the right path."

Gawuna promised to continue the good work started by Ganduje, and said he would be fair to all.

He added, "Commerce, education, health are areas we have highlighted in our blueprint during our campaign.

“In Sha Allah, we will continue with what we have said. We’ll make sure Kano is free from insecurity

avoid refunds in the future.

Shehu said, “This is to guarantee accountability, probity, and transparency in the management of the Federation Accounts and disbursements to the 3-tiers of government.”

The commission also recommended that all NNPCL JV PPT should be paid to the federation account through FIRS, adding that such taxes should not be retained by the company in the name of financing FGN priority projects.

It said NNPCL should be made to remit promptly all revenues due to the federation account as and when due in compliance with the provisions of the PIA, 2021. The chairman, however, reiterated the commitment of the commission to ensuring the elimination of opacity in the management of the country’s commonwealth and promoting prudence, transparency and accountability in line with the new administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda which promises a new era for economic growth and development.

and other vices. We appreciate the support from the state and beyond."

Kano Police Dusk-to-DawnImposesCurfew

Kano State Police Command imposed a 24-hour curfew as part of measures to ensure law and order across the state.

In a press statement by the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, the police warned residents to stay calm as violators of the peace would be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

The statement said, "In view of the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force, alongside the relevant Internal Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, to preserve law and order in the state, the Kano State Police Command has mapped out strategies in that direction and call on the good people of the state to give the necessary confidence and support.

"Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined security forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies, including the entry and exits of the state to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the twenty-four hours (24hrs) curfew order.”

Gumel noted that the order was "communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September 2023, taking effect from 6pm of Wednesday, 20th September, to 6pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023.

"Finally, I wish to appreciate all the peace-loving people of the state and urge them to remain law-abiding as it’s in the best interest of all that we come together to maintain law and order in the state."

POLITICS

Senate Presidency and Mounting Agitation for Akpabio’s Removal

Sunday Aborisade examines the mixed feelings of admiration and deep repugnance Nigerians are expressing about the 10th Senate under Godswill Akpabio, the herculean task ahead of him including reported impeachment moves against him.

The emergence of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio in a keenly contested and tension-soaked election involving him and the Zamfara Central Senator Abdulaziz Yari, would for a long time be a reference point in the nation’s political atmosphere. The poll, involving the participation of just 109 people almost divided Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines.

The alleged heavy use of hard currency and the deployment of state apparatus and federal might, invariably ended the supremacy battle among the two gladiators in favour of the Akwa Ibom Senator.

Akpabio, a two-term governor of Akwa Ibom State, former Senate minority leader and Minister for four years in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, is naturally expected to have galvanised the required experience to lead the Senate based on his antecedents over the years but he was soon to discover that he needed more than that to be the first among the equals.

His first major task was when he presided over the debate on the planned hike of electricity tariff by 40 per cent. The then newly inaugrated senators had a robust debate on the matter and invariably resolved that the federal authorities in charge of the policy should suspend it forthwith.

However, the laudable decision generated a backlash for Akpabio and indeed, the 10th Senate when a video clip of how the decision on an additional prayer requesting that the electricity regulatory institution in the country should allow poor Nigerians to breathe, went viral.

Many Nigerians who reacted to the viral video accused the Akpabio-led red chamber as being insensitive to the plight of the suffering masses simply because the senators were laughing before and after the additional prayer was taken and adopted.

In his reaction to the insults that greeted the action rather than the commendations and encomiums from the people who had been saved from additional pains following the sudden removal of fuel subsidy, Akpabio described it as burden of leadership.

The rejection of the request by President Bola Tinubu to deploy Nigerian troops on military action against Niger Republic, based on reason and emotion was a great milestone achieved by the Akpabio-led Senate, an action that earned him accolades.

Despite the perception of Nigerians that the 10th Senate would be a continuation of the Senator Ahmad Lawan’s absolute rubber stamp era, Akpabio, during the debate on the issue, noted that his Senate was not at loggerheads with the executive

He assured Nigerians that the Senate will not conduct its affairs as a rubber stamp of the executive as its predecessor did, even with matters that hurt the federation.

He made it clear that the Senate does not legislate for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), despite the fact President Tinubu is the current Chairman of the sub-regional body.

The 10th Senate had also intervened in the industrial disputes between unions and the federal government in the last 100 days which had, among others, led to the suspension of the Resident Doctors’ strike immediately after their engagement with the Senate leadership.

Similarly, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, after an engagement with the Senate leadership, suspended its proposed joint industrial action meant to protest the inflation caused by the impact of subsidy removal without palliatives to cushion it’s effects.

The Senate delayed the commencement of its annual vacation by about 10 days to enable it to screen the ministerial nominees sent for confirmation by President Tinubu.

The lawmakers sat through odd hours

and non-legislative days including Friday, Saturday and Monday.

Despite the ‘bow and go’ courtesies extended to serving and former lawmakers among the nominees, the screening exercise was carried out with diligence and this led to the rejection of three nominees.

Observers said the development asserted the Senate on a strong pedestal of institutional integrity.

Out of the 48 ministerial-nominee President Tinubu sent to the Senate, 45 were successfully screened and confirmed.

The three nominees that were not confirmed are Mallam Nasir ElRufai (Kaduna), Senator Abubakar Danladi (Taraba) and Stella Okotete (Delta). Akpabio said the affected nominees were still having issues with their security clearance.

However, Akpabio’s parting words to his colleagues after the painstaking screening exercise when he informed them that the National Assembly Management had paid a token to their accounts for their enjoyment during their annual vacation, earned him attacks from within and outside the chambers.

The development came at a period the federal legislators were battling hard to explain their express approval of the $800 million World

Bank Loan and the N500 billion Supplementary Budget for President Tinubu which included a N7 billion package for the National Assembly to make working environment conducive for the lawmakers.

But the Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Eseme Eyibo, while commenting on Akpabio’s first 100 days, said the Senate President has shown commitment to the cause of good governance while focusing on deliverables that will uplift the quality of life of an average Nigerian.

According to Eyibo, the Senate’s suspension of its vacation to screen ministerial nominees through odd hours and nonlegislative days was a show of leadership commitment to the cause of good governance.

He also said Akpabio led the Senate to show sensitivity towards the economic pains that Nigerians are faced with by leading the Senate through the rejection of the proposal for a 40 percent increase in electricity tariff, which would have increased the burden on Nigerians in the face of dwindled resources.

He said: “The diligence in the ministerial nominees screening, which occasioned the decline on the approval of three nominees, asserts the Nigerian Senate on a strong pedestal of institutional integrity.”

As most Nigerians are looking forward to see the roles Akpabio and his team would play in the face of hardship occasioned by the sudden removal of subsidy, when the federal parliament resumes next week, news

Another interest group said to have infiltrated the ranks of the protesting senators were some electricity distribution companies who were said to have also reached an agreement with the presidency and Akpabio for an upward review of 40% of tariff. That agreement was, however, discountenanced on the Senate floor by Akpabio. Just like those being pushed out in the appointments in the financial sector, some northern business interest groups are believed to be more affected by the decision not to pay the petrol importers.

of moves to sack the uncommon senator filtered into the media space.

The syndicated media report alleged that the last official assignment of Akpabio before the vacation which is the sharing of committees did not go down well with senators who did not support his ambition to become the Senate President.

The story alleged that the aggrieved lawmakers were planning his impeachment and would do so by floating a political party to galvanise support from both senators across the political parties in the 10th Senate.

However, separate statements from the anti-Akpabio senators represented by the Adamawa North Senator, Elisha Abbo and the Spokesperson for the Senate, Adeyemi Adaramodu, dismissed the alleged impeachment plot as a ruse.

Real Reasons some senators are after Akpabio

Fresh details on the agitation against Akpabio have emerged with the revelation that the disaffection on committee appointments was only diversionary.

It was gathered that the real grouse of the group of senators was the suspicion of the incapacity of the Senate President to checkmate what some northern senators are calling the Yorubanisation of the country’s financial system and economy.

They are also, allegedly perceiving that Senator Akpabio’s lack of capacity to checkmate the domination of the Yoruba in the financial ecosystem is also his alleged refusal to deal with some powerful interest groups.

Akpabio is allegedly being accused of supporting Tinubu’s policies which had stopped some petrol importers and the electricity distribution companies from further improverishing poor Nigerians.

They cited the stopping of the 40 per cent electricity tariff hike and payment of outstanding money to fuel importers.

The senators who have their grouse against Akpabio after his emergence, accused him of lopsided distribution of Grade A committees mainly in favour of his supporters and to the discrimination of those who opposed him during the leadership contest.

While it was gathered that the allegation may have some substance, it has, however, emerged that some rivals of the Senate President may have regrouped using as a reason his apparent failure to check the lopsided appointments by the president in favour of the Yoruba, especially in the financial sector.

Among the senators who are alleged to have regrouped with a mission of standing up to Akpabio are some former governors drawn from the North and at least one from the South-South.

The group has now formally come out by presenting Senator Elisha Abbo (APC Adamawa North) as the face of the group.

Senator Abbo in a statement, accused Akpabio of marginalising his rivals in the leadership contest and their supporters in the distribution of the committee positions.

However, sources within the Abbo group have now revealed that the angst of the group was far more and go beyond the Senate President.

“The main issue is our fear that Akpabio cannot check this Yorubanisation of the financial system that is going on now,” a source within the group stated.

The source who spoke strictly on condition of anonymity, alluded to the appointments at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Customs, among others, that have recently been infused with Yoruba leadership.

The control of the agencies is besides the appointment of Yoruba Ministers in the financial sector and the blue economy.

Akpabio

Amit Kumar Saraf: Encouraging Made-in-Nigeria Products

Amit Kumar Saraf is the Chief Executive of Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Ltd and Starplus Battery, a leading inverter battery manufacturer and supplier in the country. With over 20 years experience managing industrial business, his business acumen and charismatic personality have remained commendable and regarded in the industry. In this interview, he emphasised the need to encourage made-in-Nigeria products, among other pressing issues. Rebecca

Ejifoma

reports

How did you find your way into the manufacturing business?

Manufacturing has been my passion right from inception. I've been in this line of business for the past 20 years. I've headed several projects like cement metal, to mention a few. Metal is a kind of recycling because it helps nature. Recycling helps to protect the environment and keep it safe. However, my business started expanding, and later, we introduced other products.

What makes this business unique?

It is unique because it is not harmful to the environment. You are recycling waste and converting it into fresh, usable products. Our uniqueness is consistency in quality, consistency in service, consistency in price and consistency in supply.

What were your initial challenges?

The challenge was getting capable hands to work with. Getting a skilled workforce and a good supply team was challenging. So, we had to develop our supply team. We found a way to work around it and surmounted those challenges with time.

What motivates you?

I get motivation from the environment,

people around me and from other businesses. I observe how people do business and make it, and I learn from their experience. I am learning and improving. I believe there is no end to learning. You have to know what

is happening around you and be well-informed.

You introduced your Starplus battery two years ago. What makes it different from other batteries?

Starplus batteries are tubular batteries manufactured in Nigeria. These batteries are used to power houses, ATMs and others. When you need 24-hour backup, you must use Starplus tubular batteries. It is different because it is longlasting. Also, it helps to minimise wastage and is eco-friendly. We are the first company to manufacture tubular batteries in Nigeria. We have our service centre known as Starplus Care. Anyone who needs our product can reach out to us. End users can call the number and get service directly from us.

Are you saying you have no competitors? Our competitors import from foreign countries, but our batteries are manufactured in Nigeria. So, there is no local manufacturer except us. We manufacture at our Sagamu factory. Our head office is at Fadeyi, Lagos.

Also, we have four branches in Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Onitsha. We started manufacturing lead eight years ago. A lead is found inside a battery. We were into manufacturing lead before going into tubular batteries two years ago. We get condemned batteries, process, purify and recycle. We are trying to reduce importation and encourage people to buy made-in-Nigeria products. Our products are 85 per cent made in Nigeria. Only 10 to 15 per cent of this product is imported.

Who is your target market, and how affordable are your Starplus products?

Our target audience is Nigerians and other Ecowas countries. We sell to people who like quality made-in-Nigeria products. Our products are quite affordable and readily available. We sell to people who like quality made-in-Nigeria. Our products are quite affordable.

What advice would you give young and budding entrepreneurs?

My advice to them is to remain innovative and work towards achieving their goals through hard work and consistency. Also, they should be well prepared. Always have the technical background and knowledge so the product cannot fail in the market.

Olumide Balogun: Answering Google's Top Most Searched Questions on AI

New search trends released by Google show that search interest in AI has reached an all time high in Nigeria.

The trends show that people have searched for AI more than ever in 2023 so far, with interest rising 310% since last year, and by 1,660% in the last five years. Google’s research also revealed the top trending questions being asked about AI across Nigeria.

What is Artificial Intelligence and how does it work?

AI is a type of technology that can learn from its environment, experiences and people, and that can understand patterns and make projections better than any previous technology before it.

AI models are trained and created by human engineers, who input data into the AI system to train it. For example, in 2012, we showed an AI model thousands of videos of cats on YouTube, so that it could learn to recognize a cat. Now, with advancements in technology, we could give an AI model hundreds of books on animals to read - and, using those, it would be able to describe a cat to us on its own despite having never been shown one.

Once AI systems are trained, they’re tested to see if they work well. You can do this by asking the AI model to describe or recognise a cat, for example, or even to generate a picture of one for you. Training AI models can take a long time - but once they work, they can be deployed into production so that you can use them at home.

When did AI start?

AI can be traced back to the early 1950s, when Alan Turing - a British mathematician - published a paper on “computing machinery and intelligence”. That kick-started the principles behind AI - but the first time anyone used the term was likely in 1956,

when John McCarthy hosted a conference at Dartmouth College called the Dartmouth Summer Research Project in Artificial Intelligence.

So AI is not new - in fact, AI research has been accelerating since the 1990s. Google itself became an AI-first company back in 2015. But the pace of AI development is accelerating - with more households able to access generative AI tools like text-to-image generators or chatbots - which has made AI a household phrase for maybe the first time ever.

Where is AI used?

AI has always been integral to many daily tools, from Google Translate to antilock braking in cars. Its transformative power, however, is being harnessed more profoundly now. In the heart of this evolution is the Google AI centre in Accra, laser-focused on Africa's unique challenges and aspirations. While innovations like Google DeepMind's AlphaFold impact global biotech, in Africa, we're

taking strides that resonate with local needs. We're collaborating to map remote buildings for better planning, using AI to predict challenges like locust outbreaks, and enhancing maternal health via AI-powered ultrasound.

AI's potential in sustainability is vast. In Africa, it's about thriving industries that respect our rich biodiversity. While the global health community benefits from protein sequence mapping, for Africa, it's a hope against diseases like malaria.

What can AI do and how can I use it?

Think of AI as a tool that’s really good at understanding patterns and making projections - better than any computer has been before - and that’s been taught to learn from its environment, experiences and people. When you put that ability to good use, you can use AI to do all sorts of amazing things: like helping doctors to screen for and identify cancer, predicting and monitoring natural disasters, or helping businesses to identify and reduce their carbon emissions.

You’re probably using AI all the time already, without realising. But you can now also use AI to help boost your productivity with experimental language tools like Bard; to translate even more languages on Google Translate; or to find the most fuel efficient route on Google Maps.

Is AI dangerous?

AI is like any other technology in that it can be used for good or bad, depending on the user. On the one hand, it has incredible potential to be used in ways that are beneficial for society - whether it’s protecting people from spam and fraud, translating hundreds

more languages, or forecasting floods up to seven days in advance. But it can also be used to amplify current societal issues - like misinformation and discrimination.

It’s really important that we get these tools right, working together to ensure we’re creating and using them responsibly. That means governments introducing regulation to help us seize the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks, as well as companies developing shared sets of standards and principles. At Google, we’re also led by our own AI Principles - which you can read online - to make sure we’re developing AI that is beneficial for society.

Will AI take my job?

As technology has developed, so too has the job market. At the beginning of the last century, people mostly worked in agriculture. Now we have hedge fund managers, cabin crews aboard widely-accessible commercial flights - and, as recently as 1995, web designers. So we’ve had these questions for a long time and, as a society, we’ve navigated them well.

That’s not to underestimate the potential of AI - which is essentially the ‘third wave’ of digital technology after the internet and mobile phones. It will be brilliant for people’s productivity and for economic opportunity - but it will also cause some levels of disruption. We’ll see a whole set of jobs that can grow - but the most profound change will be how many of our jobs will be assisted by technologies. AI will become a partner to many of us, helping us not just to make the repetitive tasks of our work more efficient, but sparking creativity and enabling us to spend more time on the bits of our jobs that we love and that challenge us. We’re already working with people to help them learn how AI can help them. Our Grow with Google programs have trained 7 million people and helped to close the digital skills gap in Africa. Governments, NGOs and the private sector can work together to bring similar schemes about - ensuring that everyone can benefit from AI.

Amit Kumar Saraf

Google West Africa Director, Olumide Balogun

Olumide Balogun

CONFLICTS AND THE WORLD PEACE DAY

Today, September 21st2023, is the International Day of Peace. Every 21stday of September was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate peace by the Resolution 55/282 in September 2002. It is devoted to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples, and thus urges member states to ensure its observance. Nigeria is joining other countries to mark the day.

This year’s theme is Action for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals, which is a call to action that our individual and collective efforts to foster peace should be accelerated to realize global goals including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is also a push for us to recognize how our individual and collective actions can affect and foster global peace.

But while we are celebrating peace and reminding ourselves of the need to promote peace

of competition over scarce resources, or seeming irreconcilable differences. Their use of force has destroyed millions of lives, livelihoods and property over conflict that should have been prevented, managed or resolved amicably. We have allowed our mindsets, emotions, and behaviours to work against us, and national interest. Our conflict habits have got us into trouble and therefore distorted Nigeria’s growth and development. The escalation of violence has made Nigeria infamous from terrorism; communal, ethnic and religious conflict; secessionism and cultism.

Therefore, as we celebrate this year’s International Day of Peace, let us eschew violence as we experience conflict in our day-to-day activities. Conflict is inevitable even in the best of relationships and work environments. Rather than giving up and make things worse, we can adopt a set of skills that produce better outcome for every

For many Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu’s right- point agenda, pointing towards economic re- engineering and radical overhaul of directive principles of state’s policies, appear heart- warming. The agenda, broad- based and corruption, is raising hopes and warming feet that had become cold in the wake of removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

While presenting the agenda to Nigerians recently, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, explained that, “the overriding conclusion is that we ‘re not where we should be and we also examined the President’s eightpoint agenda, that is the eight priority areas for moving the Nigerian economy forward and for delivering to Nigerians and those are basically food security, ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, particularly consumer credit, inclusivity in all its dimensions, particularly as regards youths and women, improving security, improving the

read about, Chukkol is building a system of stop- the- crime- before- it-breaks out. How? Through rigorous enlightenment campaigns across the country.

Now, it is no longer news that the EFCC’s public awareness machinery is revving in schools, market places, motor parks, religious houses and other public squares. No Nigerian has any excuse for committing economic crimes any longer, because campaigns against them are getting hotter than before. This is as good for the EFCC as it is good for the President’s economic agenda. We can only have enough for our Job creation, poverty alleviation, food security and other compelling needs of our nation are quite phenomenal. Even access to capital, inclusive youth and women development, coupled with adequate security are unmistakably essential for the nation. However, I feel that none of these President Tinubu needs to address himself seriously to this area by deepening and strengthening anti- corruption agencies, especially the EFCC and encourage its economy.

in places where conflict and violence are common, it is important to underscore the fact that there is no way there will not be conflict or dispute in our world. Putting it succinctly, conflict must exist in our everyday lives. Brad Pitt aptly describes it as, “happiness is overrated. There has to be conflict in life.” We live in the world of conflict. We must experience conflict or disagreement individually and collectively. Within our system (body, soul and spirit), there are times we feel conflict personally. Collectively, there are conflicts over beliefs, views and positions.

Thus, conflict is bound to happen. It is a common saying that conflict is natural. Without conflict, there will be no development. That is what the father of peace studies, Johan Galtung, describes as “positive conflict”. Positive conflict is constructive in nature such as restoration of relationships and the creation of social systems that serve the need of the whole population and the constructive resolution of conflict. It produces ideas, solves problems, provides an opportunity for people to expand their knowledge, skills and fosters creativity. It is when opposing ideas explored that a breakthrough in thinking can occur. There is no story if there is not some conflict. Thomas Paine says “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. The Chinese see conflict as an opportunity.

So as we celebrate the day, it is necessary to always remember Ronald Reagan’s saying that “peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” Since conflict will occur, we should handle or resolve it peacefully. We should avoid being physical or violent. That is, we should never let the conflict lead us to killing, destruction, displacement, violate people’s rights and casting aspersion on other people, and so on.

Unfortunately, Nigeria has grappled with this ugly side of conflict. Individuals, groups and communities have resorted to violence because

party involved in the conflict. Our emotions can work against us sometimes, but remember to be calm, feel the inner peace and be peaceful to others. Negotiation, mediation and other forms of dialogue and conflict management strategies can be embraced to peacefully resolve conflict, and prevent bloodshed. Let us avoid politicization of conflict but instead develop a win-win situation to conflict resolution.

From today on, let us pledge we shall be kind to ourselves by avoiding speaking angrily to one another or undermining others. If we stay in an empathetic frame of mind with others; we too will have peace of mind. This means that we should see conflict through our eyes. Nigerians should be sensitive to others’ position and perspective. Communication plays a critical role in these processes and forging mutual agreements. In all this, let us use today to remember that since there is no way there will not be conflict, it is our humanity’s obligation to promote peaceful resolution to conflict. One can say peace is a wellmanaged social conflict.

Let us avoid killing or destroying one another over what seems “an irreconcilable conflict”. Once our conflict is well managed, all our individual and collective actions for peace and ambitions for the global goals including the SDGs and Nigerian government’s policies and programmes will be realized. The legitimate needs and interests of all would be responded to if we give peace a chance. The citizens and non-citizens alike will be better for it.

I congratulate every Nigerian and other residents, and to say “Happy Peace Day”.

Babatunde is a part-time Professor at the Zhejiang Normal University, China, and a Peacebuilder at the Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja

companies operate, rule of law and of course, corruption in his government, is a trajectory of development and blueprint of hope for the nation and continued relevance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) as Nigerian most vibrant anti- graft agency.

By raising strong boulders against economic of the world in bolstering economic growth, because no enduring gain can be made if leakages caused by corrupt practices are not plugged in the larger economy. Corruption is more than a threat to economic growth, it is actually fatal blockage of all driving forces of development.

At the EFCC, bright lights of fresh thinking in the area of strategic alliances and partnerships

Acting Chairman, Abdulkarim Chukkol, has

gathering. Intelligence does not fall from the sky. It is about bridge- building, synergies and reliable linkages with critical stakeholders across the world. Intelligence- driven operations are like radiographic supports to surgeries. No surgeon in the world can magically work on his patient without adequate radiographic intelligence. With a driver like Chukkol, I see greater strides ahead in the crucial works of breaking hard nuts of corruption.

As good as intelligence is, timely and proactive frameworks in tackling graft are imperative. To achieve this, the EFCC needs to be ahead of both budding and hardened fraudsters in thinking and strategies. My have shown that, beyond what we know or

Already, the President is moving in this direction with the reported recruitment drive in the EFCC that is said to be broadbased. Feelers from the Commission paid to national spread and balancing in the recruitment. The South-West, South-East, South- South, North-Central and other geopolitical zones are having their dues. This is how it should be for national cohesion and Chukkol deserves commendation in this regard.

At this juncture, it is imperative to stress the need for collaborative engagement of all the key drivers of the economy in achieving the President’s agenda. Primarily, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is being disquiet in the foreign exchange market.

Equally, all revenue- generating agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Customs Service and others, need to review their strategies to save the nation searing pains of economic distress. Where does the EFCC comes in here? The Commission’s role is in ensuring that initiatives for driving the economy are no room for compromise and shadiness.

This should not be an uphill task for Chukkol especially, given his pedigree of competence and integrity. The rising

under the watch of Chukkol, in breaking hiding places of money launderers is laudable. This is one sure way of building strength for the President’s economic agenda.

Other means of building strength is checking abuses and infractions in our banks across the country are not healthy and we really need to commend the EFCC for its daily monitoring of all forms of transactions

businesses and professions, (DNFIBPs). Sani writes from Bauchi, Bauchi State

There is no development without conflict, argues OLALEKAN A. BABATUNDE

TINUBU’S AGENDA AND EFCC’S RISING ROLES

HAMMED SANI canvasses the strengthening of the anti-graft agency and its leadership for more impressive results

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

DISASTERS IN MOROCCO AND LIBYA

The catastrophe in Morocco and Libya provides lessons for Nigeria

Within a period of 48 hours, two horrendous disasters occurred in two North African countries - Morocco and Libya - claiming thousands of lives and causing incalculable economic loss. It started in Morocco on 8th September when an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 shook the country’s High Atlas Mountains, 71 kilometres from Marrakesh. Many remote villages and towns in the neighbourhood were destroyed, killing many inhabitants, and in

At the end, no fewer than 3,000 deaths were recorded with many more injured from massive boulders that smashed into them. In Morocco today, the air is stench of decomposing bodies because of the terrain that has made impossible.

Unfortunately, at a time the African continent and the rest of the world were mourning the untold loss in Morocco, ‘Storm Daniel’ made landfall in the burst of two dams. With that, large volumes of water at very high speed swept through the coastal North-eastern city of Derna, washing humans, houses, vehicles and everything on its path into the Mediterranean Sea. The death toll has exceeded 11,000 with about the same number yet to be accounted for. Meanwhile, decomposing bodies are still washing up the shores of the Mediterranean Sea at Derna.

Unlike the earthquake in Morocco, the heavy rainfall caused by Storm Daniel is an extreme weather event associated with climate change. In Libya, vulnerable populations are worst hit because of the regions that has made governance and maintenance convergence of climate-related disasters, protracted crisis, and economic instability in Libya creates a lethal cocktail that leaves people and communities

ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

grappling with minimal preparedness, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to essential services. This triple burden of challenges makes recover,” the International Rescue Committee (IRC) stated during the week.

According to experts, the absence of early warning systems exacerbated the death toll in Morocco and Libya. This same problem is in most of the developing world that are plagued with corruptiondriven insensitivity, which is being tendered as responsible for the burst dams in Libya. People saw the fault lines on the walls of the dams before nothing about it until the catastrophe that has now who have died in Libya’s have been saved had early warning and emergency management systems functioned properly,” according to a statement by the United Nations. The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) claims that most of the human casualties could have been avoided with better coordination by the authorities. Besides, if there had been a properly functioning meteorological service in Libya, they could have issued the warnings and the emergency management forces would have been able to evacuate the people.

While we commiserate with the people of Morocco and Libya and urge the federal government to lend hands of support, we must also note that the two dams in Derna were built in the 1970’s, and have not been maintained in 20 years, according to experts. Most dams in Nigeria are in the category of Derna’s and the devastation that occurred in Libya should be a lesson for our country. The Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), Clement Nze, recently observed some serious gaps in the nation’s early warning system that the federal government must address urgently. As conventional wisdom teaches, to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

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

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS

In this era of rapid technological advancements and an ever-increasing technology integration into the various aspects of our lives, it is pertinent for institutions to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital age.

In Nigeria, as in many other developing countries, the sigimprove various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, eduthese technological advancements and keep pace with global developments, it is crucial that institutions play a dedicated role in preparing the younger generation for the future.

The foundational role of institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, provides the ideal platform to inculcate the necessary skills in students. One of the most important skills for future technological development is digital literacy. This ininternet, and understanding how to source, evaluate, and use personal development but also for the socio-economic growth of Nigeria.

Collaboration with industry professionals is another crucial aspect of preparing students, and therefore Institutions should establish partnerships with technology companies and startups to provide students with real-world exposure and practical experience. By collaborating with industry experts, institutions can design curriculum and course structures that align with the rapidly evolving needs of the labour market. This ensures that graduates are equipped with the skills demanded by employers, thereby increasing their employability and contribution to the technological growth of Nigeria.

Furthermore, institutions should emphasize problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Technology is constantly evolving, and students must be prepared to adapt and learn new technological advancements throughout their studies. By fostering an environment that encourages innovation, creativity, and analytical thinking, institutions can enable students become proactive learners who can readily adapt to technological changes.

In addition to technical skills, institutions also have a responsibility to facilitate ethics in technology, because the rapidly advancing tech industry brings forth complex ethical dilem-

cybersecurity threats. Institutions should incorporate ethical courses and discussions into their curricula to foster a sense of responsibility and mindfulness among students. By doing so, students can become technologically literate individuals who are aware of the ethical implications and societal impact of their work.

It is worthy to consider also that institutions must invest in modern infrastructure and the latest technology to enhance the learning experience. Access to high-speed internet, cutting-edge software, and hardware resources are essential for students to explore and experiment with emerging technologies. By providing these resources, institutions can create an environment conducive for learning and technological exploration.

Lastly, institutions must also foster an entrepreneurial mindset among students. Nigeria is witnessing a surge in tech startups and innovation. By encouraging students to think entrepreneurially, institutions can cultivate a culture of innovation and help create job opportunities in the technology sector.

Miracle Aduraseyi Simire, Dept of Mass Communication, ABU, Zaria

The absence of early warning systems exacerbated the death toll in Morocco and Libya. This same problem is in most of the developing world that are plagued with corruption-driven insensitivity

Emma Okonji

More than two-thirds of the UN’s targets for sustainable development have benefited directly from digital technologies, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organisers of the ongoing Sustainable Development Goal Digital initiative (SDG Digital), holding at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. With digital technologies so closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the SDG Digital event highlights how safe, inclusive and scalable digital solutions can put the 2030 Agenda

for Sustainable Development back on track amid concerns that the world may miss the vision for people, planet and prosperity that was set in 2015.

The SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, a global analysis of the connections between digital technologies and sustainable development, was released as part of SDG Digital to provide a roadmap to governments on their digital transformation journey and to promote action and financing.

Both the ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin and the UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, said in the foreword of SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, that

with only a fraction of the SDGs on track at the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda, “It is urgent to ensure that everyone, everywhere can build their own digital futures.

“The recent breakthroughs in digital technology have unleashed unprecedented opportunities, and with them new avenues for digital innovation in our race against time to fulfil the promise of the 2030 Agenda.”

According to UN assessments, progress on half of the 169 SDG targets is either weak or insufficient at the 2030 Agenda’s halfway point adding that 30 per cent of the SDG targets have either stalled or gone in reverse.

With digital transformation demanding joint efforts between the private sector, financial institutions, civil society, the UN, governments and young people, SDG Digital brings together experts, policy-makers and business leaders to explore the achievements, gaps and solutions on how digital technologies can support the 2030 Agenda. SDG Digital highlights that the funding gap of over $3.7 trillion for the SDGs should focus international efforts on enablers, such as infrastructure and connectivity, as well as the pooling of resources through collaboration including the private sector and the utilisation of diverse financing methods.

The formal opening of SDG Digital is part of the UN’s SDG Action Weekend, a series of high impact initiatives focused on mobilising further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale between now and 2030. This includes the UN High Impact Initiative on Digital Public Infrastructure to scale inclusive and open digital ecosystems for the SDGs.

According to Steiner, “Digital public infrastructure represents the ‘roads and bridges’ of our new era on which countries can ‘transport’ a range of vital services to citizens, from e-health and e-government services to online

education and social protection.”

Earlier in the week, ITU announced a decline in the number of people worldwide without a connection to the internet to 2.6 billion people in 2023 from 2.7 billion in 2022.

According to ITU, the statistic on the global offline population is important for tracking connectivity, a foundation of using technology for sustainable development. At the current trend, the global targets for universal and meaningful connectivity are unlikely to be met by 2030, ITU said.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Telcos Seek FG’s Support for Protection of Critical

Emma Okonji

The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), have stressed the need for the protection of telecoms infrastructure, given its critical nature in accelerating data and voice transmission from one location to another, to enhance effective communication and financial transactions across all

sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The telcos are therefore seeking the urgent attention of government to come up with policy implementation that will protect telecoms infrastructure from theft, willful destructions and from undue interference from agencies of governments.

They decried a situation where agencies of governments will deliberately seal the sites of Base

Station Transmission (BTS), also known as base station, without minding the consequences of distorting the flow of voice and data communication from such BTS sites.

Most state government agencies, they alleged, seal base stations with impunity just because they want to impose certain state taxes on telecoms operations.

The telcos condemned a

development in Osun State, where the state government recently contracted an agency in the state to begin telecoms infrastructure installation audit, with a view to raising N500 million as revenue from telecoms operators that were dully licensed to operate in the state.

Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that the development in Osun State was

worrisome because according to him, it amounts to double taxation that will add to the 46 existing telecoms taxes imposed on telecoms operators across the country.

“Telcos are still facing challenges from Kogi State government that has imposed all manners of taxes on telecoms operations and has gone ahead to seal base stations in the state, without recourse to

quality of telecoms services in the state and its environ,” Adebayo said, while calling on the federal government and the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to stop the impunity of most state governments over the sealing of BTS sites.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

L-R: Company Secretary, Red Star Express Plc,  Mrs.Frances Ndidi Akpomuka; Group Executive Director, Sales and Marketing,  Mr Charles Ejekam; Chairman, Mr Suleiman Barau; GMD/ CEO, Mr Auwalu Babura,  and  Non-Executive Director,  Chioma Sideso,  all of Red Star Express Plc during the 30th Annual General Meeting of the company held in Lagos… recently

What is your view about the new Finance Act and the Nigerian tax system, and how do they affect startups and other small businesses in Nigeria?

Former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new Finance Act into law in January 2021. The law was an amendment of an existing law and the amendment favoured startups and small businesses operating in Nigeria. For instance, the old law mandates all businesses to pay as much as 30 per cent of their annual income as tax, but with the new Finance Act, it categorised the different sizes of small businesses that must pay tax, thereby not making it mandatory for certain size of businesses with less than N25 million turn-over per annum, to pay taxes to government. In other words, startups and small businesses with less than N25 million turn-over annually, are exempted from paying tax.

The new Finance Act also categorised medium size organisations and made provision for such category of companies to pay only 20 per cent of their annual profit as tax. Such medium organisations have annual turn-over above N25 million and less than N100 million. The new Finance Act made it clear that only businesses that have annual turn-over above N100 million, are mandated to pay 30 per cent of their annual turn-over proft as tax. What was obtainable with the old tax law was that every business irrespective of size was mandated to pay company income tax of 30 per cent of their annual profit as tax. So the new Finance Act has simplified tax payment in Nigeria. Again the new Finance Act offers bonus payment to organisations, whose annual turn-over is less than N100 million, and who pay their tax promptly.

In 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari also signed into law, the Nigerian Startup Act, which offers a lot of support and considerations for startup businesses in Nigeria. The Startup Act also exempts businesses that fall within the category of startups, from paying company income tax for the first five years of their business. To qualify to be a startup doing business in Nigeria, such organisation must be registered with the relevant government agency as a limited liability company and not as an enterprise.

Many startups are still bootstrapping, and most are running without proper structure because they are yet to validate their ideas. Why should such startups worry about taxes?

Startups should see payment of tax as an obligation and not something that is optional. As they strategise on how to grow their business, they should also worry and think about their tax remittances to government because it is a statutory duty and a law that they must abide to. As long as the business is located in Nigeria and the business is generating taxable income, then the business owner has an obligation to pay tax. Since it is a law to pay tax, any attempt to breach the law, makes it an illegality and government frowns at such illegality and there is a penalty for that. Apart from it being a law, it is also

the civic responsibility for small and big businesses to pay tax. Failure to pay tax can expose businesses to future liability that may turn out to be huge burden for them to bear. Government is serious about taxes because it a source of revenue for government.

Aside small businesses, a lot of big organisations evade taxes. What is government doing about such big organisations that evade taxes?

No doubt, Nigeria is faced with tax evasion from several organisations, amounting to revenue loss on the part of government, even though tax evasion is not peculiar to Nigeria as a country. So many factors may be responsible for tax evasion in Nigeria and corruption is one of them. People have created several loopholes for financial leakages and

they are adversely affecting revenue generation from taxes. Most times, the channels through which taxes are collected from businesses, create room for leakages. Some organisations even deduct taxes from employees and never remit same to government and the government is losing huge sums of money to such organisations, even though government is trying to tackle that challenge now.

The current tax reform system in the country is trying to bring all the channels for tax collection under one umbrella body, called the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS). When that is achieved, it will help to reduce tax leakages in Nigeria.

In your estimation, what percentage of SMEs and Startups in Nigeria comply with their tax obligations?

There was a report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2021, which stated that 80 per cent of small businesses in Nigeria do not pay tax, and these set of small business account for about 96 per cent of businesses in Nigeria and also account for about 84 per cent of businesses that provide employment opportunities in Nigeria. This simply means that only 20 per cent of small businesses in Nigeria comply with tax law.

What do you think is the current tax revenue potential of Nigerian Startups/SMEs and how can the number improve?

The same NBS report stated that the number of registered small businesses in Nigeria was 42 million in 2021 and what this implies is that only 20 per cent of 42 million small businesses pay tax, which goes to show that small businesses in Nigeria have the potential to generate huge revenue for government through taxes but they are not paying, which amounts to huge revenue loss to government. What government can do to improve the number of businesses that pay tax, is to build trust among Nigerian business owners by ensuring that revenues from taxes are used for the provision of social amenities

Ojo: Tax Evasion Inimical to Startup Business Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria

Despite many international agreements outlawing child marriage, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, study has shown that 43 per cent of girls in Nigeria get married before their 18th birthday and 16 per cent get married before the age of 15.

According to a report by a non-governmental organization, Girls Not Brides, 3 per cent of boys in Nigeria are married before the age of 18.

“Child marriage is most common in the North-west and North-east of Nigeria, where 68 per cent and 57 per cent of women aged 20-49 were married before their 18th birthday. In the North western state of Jigawa, 78 per cent of women aged 20-49 were first married before the age of 18, half of these women are in polygynous unions and 35 per cent of women have spouses who are older by at least 10 years, 63 of these women dropped out of school to marry, according to a recent study.

“It has been observed that early marriage can have detrimental effects on the growth and development of the girl-child. The argument is that when young girls are married off at a tender age, they are stripped off the opportunity to pursue education, personal aspirations, and self-discovery. Instead, they are thrust into adult responsibilities and roles, which can stunt their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth, “the report stated..

The International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 also called on countries to eliminate child marriage.

Despite near-universal commitments to end

child marriage, 19 per cent of girls get married before age 18, an average of tens of thousands of girls every single day.

Five per cent of girls get married before age 15. Girls that are married or enter informal unions early are denied the right to equality, education, and a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and that of their family.

EXPERT VIEWPOINTS

To bring a deeper insight into the discourse, THISDAY spoke to United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), National Programme Analyst,

ASRH/YD/Child Marriage Focal Point, Bahijjatu Bello-Garko, who stated that the high prevalence of child marriage in Nigeria is worrisome, adding that the statistics highlight the urgency in addressing the negative impacts, such as limited education, health risks and diminished opportunities for girls from all stakeholders.

She stated that the girls at greatest risk of early marriage are often those hardest to reach, adding that they often come from poor families, marginalised groups or rural areas, and they are also more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers,

robbed of the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential.

She lamented that child marriage threatens girls’ lives and health, and it limits their future prospects.

She remarked that girls affected by child marriage often become pregnant while still adolescents, increasing the risk of complications in pregnancy or childbirth, noting that these complications are often the leading cause of death among older adolescent girls.

Bello-Garko hinted that child marriage can lead to further isolation from family, friends and communities, and threaten girls’ psychosocial development, livelihood and health.

In the same vein, the Actionaid Nigeria, Manager, Social Mobilisation, Adeduntan Adewale, said child marriage not only limits the potentials of the girl-child, but also exposes them to a host of health risks, social isolation, and economic dependency, adding that it becomes imperative to delve deeper into the negative consequences of early marriage on the well-being and future prospects of the girl-child, as it remains a pressing issue in many parts of the world.

He said child marriage is a harmful practice with significant negative consequences, particularly for girls, noting that child brides are often forced to drop out of school, which deprives them of educational opportunities, limiting their ability to acquire knowledge and skills that are crucial for their personal development and future economic prospects.

Founder/CEO of Taxmingo, Mr. Richard Ojo, speaks about the implication of tax evasion and how startups and small businesses can be tax compliant and still remain competitive in business in today’s digital era. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:

Despite near-universal commitments to end child marriage, recent study shows that 19 per cent of girls marry before age 18, while five per cent marry before age 15, writes Ugo Aliogo

L-R: Group Head, Corporate Banking, Energy (Up & Mid-Stream), FirstBank, Temitayo

A. Osundosumu; Group Executive, Technology, Digital Innovation & Services, Callistus Obetta; Head, Treasury Sales & Derivatives Marketing, Adeola Abioye; Founder and Chief Consultant of B. Adedipe Associates Limited (BAA Consult), Dr. Abiodun Adedipe and Group Head, Transaction Banking, FirstBank, Mobolade Ojeahere at the FirstBank Corporate Customer Engagement Forum held in Lagos… recently

DSN Restates Commitment to Train One Million AI Talents in Africa

Emma Okonji

Having nurtured over 800, 000 data-driven innovators in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Africa, Data Scientists Network (DSN), has said it will meet its target of raising one million AI talents, equipped to build localised solutions that will improve the quality of life of over two billion people in emerging markets across Africa.

Data Scientists Network, also known as Data Science Nigeria, made the disclosure during the 5th edition of its annual 2023 AI

Bootcamp, which held in Lagos recently.

Over an intensive six-day period, the Bootcamp provided an interactive platform for participants from the data science industry and academia, featuring comprehensive learning sessions to equip them with cuttingedge knowledge and practical skills in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

Founder and Lead Mentor, Data Science Nigeria, Olubayo Adekanmbi, said: “The DSN Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp stands as a testament to our commitment to nurturing data-

driven innovators and building the largest community of AI talents, world-class researchers, and problem-solvers.

“We are immensely proud of the participants’ growth and transformation as they conquered challenges, collaborated with peers, and demonstrated the potential to revolutionise industries through AI.”

The AI Bootcamp commencing with a five-day free introduction to Artificial Intelligence classes, followed by a 50-day pre-bootcamp learning program, conducted in collaboration with Microsoft Nigeria.

Bolt Collaborates to Empower Drivers with New Initiative

Emma Okonji

Bolt, an African ride-hailing operator, in partnership with the Nest Innovation Park, has launched an innovative accelerator programme to empower drivers on an entrepreneurial journey.

To this effect, Bolt has opened applications for the Bolt Den, a €25,000 seed fund available to support business plans developed by Nigerian drivers that link to its Africa city vision, based around sustainable transport.

Speaking about the initiative, Bolt’s Regional Directors of Rides for Africa, Caroline Wanjihia, said: “Ride hailing has always offered drivers the flexibility to earn whilst pursuing

wider career opportunities. We hope this programme will take this a step further and support concepts that will transform drivers’ lives, make a real difference to communities and could even be incorporated into Bolt’s own operations.”

According to her, “Drivers are the heartbeat of our business, and we believe that offering more developed economic empowerment opportunities makes our platform a more attractive place to come. It’s a win-win and we hope to take the programme further afield in Africa.”

Co-founder at The Nest, Oluwajoba Oloba, said: “At The Nest, we maintain a deliberate and discerning approach when selecting our partners and undertaking

projects. “We hold a high level of enthusiasm for the Bolt accelerator program due to its alignment with Bolt’s commitment to the prosperity and welfare of its stakeholders, a quality that distinguishes Bolt from its counterparts.”

Managing Director EMEA at Coursera, Hadi Moussa, said: “We are thrilled to play a role in unlocking potential and nurturing entrepreneurship among Bolt drivers. Through the programme, we are not just fostering individual growth with vital business skills, but also positively impacting Nigeria’s economic landscape. It underlines our belief in the transformative power of education on lives and communities.”

Guinness Incorporates 50 W omen into Entrepreneurship

Raheem Akingbolu

Guinness, a leading premium beer brand in Nigeria, has expressed its undaunted determination to stand by Nigerian women to lift and support them in their businesses and other endeavours.

This was the highlight of the brand’s declaration at the women of the August Meeting, where it honours Igbo women from all walks of life.

True to its mission of empowering and advocating, Guinness collaborated with the August Meeting women to spotlight women achieving extraordinary feats in various Igbo communities.

The 2023 edition of the Meeting witnessed Guinness backing 250 women from diverse communities across Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia state. These women were equipped with mobile business infrastructure and tools, enabling them to excel in business ownership and become the best and brightest versions of themselves.

To delight the elegant women of the August meeting, Guinness treated the women to great music and energetic dancers for entertainment.

The Guinness experience was enhanced with trays of Igbo delicacies and chilled Guinness.

Marketing, and Innovation Director at Guinness Nigeria Plc,

Mark Mugisha, explained the role of Guinness in facilitating the August meeting.

“August Meeting transcends an event; it’s an experience Guinness deeply resonates with. It allows us to participate in the age-old celebration of women who are dedicated to making a significant, positive impact on their communities. As a brand, we are unwavering in our commitment to celebrating women in the most authentic ways possible,” Mugisha said.

The August meeting, a yearly gathering of Igbo women, and it is a platform where the brand’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is boldly manifested.

Fayrouz Hosts Consumers to Exclusive Brunch Event

Raheem Akingbolu

Fayrouz, a Nigeria’s leading carbonated soft drink brand, has hosted a brunch event themed ‘The Art of Fayrouz’’ in Lagos to further captivate its consumers with strategic consumer experiences. The brunch event, which served as the brand’s first official event after its recent relaunch featuring the brand’s new look and Apple-Watermelon flavour, was packed with glamour,

class, and fun.

Brand Manager, Fayrouz, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Oluchukwu Ohakawa said at the event that to remain relevant in the evolving industry, one must continue to reinvent oneself, hence the need for the new offering.

He said: “This is what we have done at Fayrouz. We understand that our consumers deserve more; therefore, we continue to reinvent ourselves to suit our customers’ needs based on

changing times.

“I am especially pleased with what we have done here, as this hints at our relentless commitment towards satisfying our consumers with exciting new flavour and targeted consumer experiences. Fayrouz is all about class; it’s about great taste. We would continue to uphold the standard that Fayrouz has always been known for and this event was not an exception.”

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 19Sept-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

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Addressing the Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria

Experts at the recently held ‘Positive and Wellness Summit 2.0’ which also doubled as the 15th anniversary of Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, SAMI, themed, ‘The Strength of it all” The Future of Non-communicable Disease in Nigeria’, spoke on ways to manage and address non-communicable diseases in other to curtail its surge and other impact in Nigeria. Sunday Ehigiator reports

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) are diseases that are not spread through infection or other people but are typically caused by unhealthy behaviours and genetics.

They are chronic diseases that result from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. NCDs are divided into four classes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74 per cent of all deaths globally. “Each year, 17 million people die from an NCD before age 70; 86 per cent of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Of all NCD deaths, 77 per cent are in low- and middle-income countries.

“Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers, 9.3 million, chronic respiratory diseases 4.1 million, and diabetes, 2 million, including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes.

“These four groups of diseases account for over 80 per cent of all premature NCD deaths. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of dying from an NCD. Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of the response to NCDs.”

Statistics also showed that NCDs are responsible for about 24 per cent of total deaths in Nigeria. These deaths are unnecessary as most NCDs can be prevented if the risk factors are dealt with. It was against this backdrop that experts at the ‘Positive and Wellness Summit 2.0’, deliberated on ways to manage and prevent NCDs.

About positive and wellness

In her welcome address, the Executive Director of SAMI, Toyin Adedolapo said the event was to create more awareness of non-communicable diseases, especially sickle cell.

“The awareness of non-communicable diseases is not much compared to communicable diseases like TB.

“We need the medical sector to collaborate with the corporate sector and the government to provide health financing for people with non-communicable diseases.

“One of the challenges of non-communicable diseases is health insurance. The insurance premium for non-communicable diseases is so high that sickle cell patients can barely afford it. That is why the government needs to look through and push for non-communicable disease financing, by beginning with a law on funding for non-communicable disease.”

Speaking on SAMI’s remarkable achievements in 15 years, she said, SAMI, is a non-profit organization founded in 2008 with a vision to create a society where Sickle Cell Disorder is reduced, and individuals and families affected by this condition can lead healthy, positive, and productive lives.

“Our mission to empower and improve the lives of people with sickle cell disease through education, awareness, and support has been nothing short of remarkable.

“Let us take a moment to celebrate our remarkable achievements throughout the years, including the ‘Xtracare Free Clinic’, which has reached around 13,000 cases, providing essential medical outreach to those in need.

“Our ‘Project W-Rescue’ has supported over 100 beneficiaries with medical and

hospital bills amounting to over N5 million, truly making a difference in people’s lives.

“Moreover, the ‘Adopt a Warrior’ initiative has placed 70 high-risk chronic disease patients on health insurance, ensuring they have access to necessary medical care. SAMI’s initiatives have extended beyond borders with the ‘Touch A Cell Radio Show’, funded by the Public Affairs Service of the US Consulate Lagos, reaching over 3000 people, educating and raising awareness about sickle cell disease.

“In collaboration with the Sickle Cell Health Initiative and Xcene Research Limited, SAMI has also hosted the firstever pain summit in Nigeria, educating 100 medical personnel on the challenges and management of pain.

“Today, as we gather here, we celebrate SAMI’s legacy of compassion, dedication, and resilience in the face of adversity. The positive impact they have made on countless lives has been nothing short of inspiring.”

The role of mental health

Speaking on the role of mental health in managing NCDs in Nigeria, Mental Health Therapist and Chief Executive Officer of Reuel Consulting Limited, Mr Totuse Francis admonished parents, guardians, and people living with sickle cell disorder and any other forms of non-communicable diseases, not to put all their hope in medication when dealing with crises associated with the disease.

Francis said, “The thing about dependency on medication is once the body gets used to it, and then it doesn’t work anymore, they increase the dosage and it goes on and on because the pain they experience is sometimes unexplainable.”

He explained that, sometimes the pain can make them feel like ending their own life when all the medications they

take seem not to be sufficient to take away the pain.

“Another aspect of this kind of experience that they have is addiction. There are different techniques in therapy to help patients who need help. There is psychotherapy, which is like talk therapy, there’s cognitive behavioural therapy, and there is just stop therapy, which factors in different aspects or different techniques during therapy.

“We adopt the one that works well for the person. It is different from medication where only psychiatry is to recommend medication.”

The Role of Neurology

Speaking on the role of Neurology in Sickle Cell Disorder management, Prof Mustapha Danesi a Consultant Neurologist said, “Black people are more prone to be Sickle Cell carriers.

“Sickle cell disease is quite common in this part of the world. It is very difficult to know the exact prevalence but we do have a large number of people here with sickle cell. I can’t say the exact figure but it is very large. The majority of sicklers in the world are found in Africa.”

Danesi explained that it is best to start testing immediately once they discover a person has sickle cell. Check the system to find out whether they have very high cerebral blood flow.

“So the earlier they start testing the better for the patient, because if you start testing early you will be able to discover those who are at risk and then give preventive treatment and preventive measures.

“So that at the end of the day, they will live a normal life, but if you don’t start early like in this part of the world you may have complications before you start taking treatments. So it is

better to prevent it than to start treating after they have had these complications.”

The role of good nutrition

Speaking on the role of healthy living and good nutrition in managing NCDs, Food Scientist and Nutritionist, Dolapo Coker who spoke on the Impact of Nutrition on Health, said, “Food is the major ingredient for wellness. The ingredients in the food contain micronutrients, vitamins, and enzymes.”

“You must never have a favourite food. Eat a variety of foods because of the micronutrients available in the various kinds of foods. Don’t run away from oil and fats because some of the vitamins are in the oils and fats. So if you don’t get oil, you will be losing some of the vitamins. Water is life, drink enough water. Engaging in daily exercise is very important.”

The art-therapy approach

Speaking on ways art can be therapeutic in managing NCDs, Art Therapeutic Coach, Olayinka Enahoro said, “People with mental health conditions are more likely to develop non-communicable diseases. Mental health issues like depression and anxiety can increase the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.”

Enahoro added that lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise can increase the risk for both mental health conditions and non-communicable diseases.

“Prioritizing both physical and mental health is crucial in preventing non-communicable diseases and achieving overall success. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

“Hence there is a need for you to practice mindfulness, exercise, and seek help when needed, while also understanding that, addressing mental health as part of preventive care can also improve overall health outcomes.”

L-R: Nutritionist, Mrs Dolapo Coker; Founder and Executive Director Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), Toyin Adedolapo and Keynote Speaker and Consultant Neurologist, Prof Mustapha Danesi at the event

NGO Fetes Over 500 in Palliatives, Medical Outreach

Mary Nnah

Stop Hurting People Foundation recently held a free medical outreach and gave out palliatives and Batik fabrics to over 500 people in Lagos.

The day was filled with various activities, from health talks to medical checkups - from blood sugar, high blood pressure and eye checks, as well as the dispensing of drugs, palliatives and Batik fabrics given to the attendees in line with the objectives of the non-governmental organisation.

The event, which attracted more than 500 participants, was held at City of Refuge Ministries International, Black Gate Alagutan, Lekki Expressway, Lagos State.

Pastor (Mrs.) Eunice Iferi Chukwuemeka, the initiator of the outreach, said, “As usual, what we do at Stop Hurting Foundation is alleviating the

people’s sufferings, giving them medical attention, giving them food, checking their eye health and recommending prescription glasses.

Chukwuemeka noted further that the empowerment had been an ongoing event for years and was usually observed twice or thrice a year, reaching out to the underprivileged in the society.

“We now observe the event once a year because we don’t have sponsors. We feel the pain of the people. As I would always say, I don t know why some Nigerians would have so much while others don’t have anything. Be your brother’s keeper by reaching out to somebody. We have nine medical doctors in the house to check their body health, do normal all-around checks, and give them medication. We have three opticians and three ophthalmologists to check their eyes and give them glasses. We have about

500 people registered and we are still counting because we stopped registration today.”

According to her, the outreach arrangement is a proper hospital setting where patients are given cards and they go see the doctors: “There’s a particular card we give to them, if they are ill, they come to our collaborating hospitals to take care of them and part of the payment is taken care of by the NGO. That’s our contribution to humanity.”

A nutritionist, Frank Ojile of Frank Kitchen, gave a talk on the importance of eating healthy, noting that fats and Monosodium glutamate (MSG) are major killers of the body.

“The seasoning put in our foods should be minimised or stopped to enhance healthy bodies. A lot of people are fond of seasoning cubes and oily foods. At the end of the day, it affects the immune system. These cubes and oil gradually

Charting Future of Healthcare: Medic West Africa 2023 Leads Conversion on Technological Advancements

build obesity into your system and doctors say once you are obese you are prone to other life-threatening diseases.”

“So, now we are advising people to reduce cubes, rather, they should strive to take natural spices instead of cubes. All organically processed flavours are recommended for your cooking. If you must use oil, it’s better to get palm kernel oil. You don’t need to fry; rather, cooked, roasted or grilled foods digest properly in the system and so do natural spices.”

For the host of the occasion, Bishop Oscar Ossai, the event was remarkable in several ways.

“We are in a low-income neighbourhood, so to say, and the level of needs in this low-income environment is crazy. You see what is doable, you see the challenges on the faces of the people and you are unable to help. You see how they just die of diabetes, blood sugar issues, blood pressure issues and other ailments.”

Climate Summit: WAIPH Urges Participants to Address Impact on Human Health, Economic Dev

Rebecca Ejifoma

The DG of the West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH), Dr Francis Ohanyido, has urged Africa Climate Summit (ACS) and Africa Climate Week 2023 (ACW) participants to address climate change’s impact on human health and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ohanyido called at the Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, for policymakers, practitioners, business leaders, and civil society representatives.

He implored attendees to collectively work towards formulating and implementing strategies and policies that mitigate and halt the detrimental effects of climate change.

“Africa is uniquely vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, with tens of millions of Africans already experiencing negative health impacts,” he emphasised.

These include heat stress, extreme weather events, and increased transmission of infectious diseases, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

According to Ohanyido, the dire situation is further exacerbated by increased climate-linked emergencies, with 25 per cent more climate-

related events recorded in the region between 2011 and 2021.

He quoted recent research showing that climate change poses significant challenges to primary healthcare services in Africa, leading to malnutrition, infectious diseases, heat-related conditions, injuries, and more.

The DG noted that the effects of climate change in SSA are farreaching, encompassing not only human health but also economic development and growth.

“The urgency of addressing these issues cannot be overstated,” says Ohanyido. “The government of Kenya is hosting both events from September 4 to 8, with the Africa Climate Summit from September 4 to 6. “This represents

in Africa

a critical opportunity to chart a new course for climate action in Africa.”

Ohanyido emphasised that Africa should not have to choose between climate action and development.

In his submission, it is imperative to pursue a greener developmental path while recognising the historical connection between economic growth and carbon emissions.

He admitted that Africa is pivotal in global climate efforts, boasting invaluable green assets and renewable energy potential.

The WAIPH DG outlined: “These factors underscore the importance of Africa’s voice

Participants at the Medic West Africa Conference 2022 exploring the latest technology in healthcare

Rebecca Ejifoma

From September 26 to 28, healthcare professionals in West Africa and beyond will converge on the Landmark Centre in Lagos state for the 2023 Medic West Africa Conference Exhibition to explore the latest technological advancements within the industry and participate in leading conversations to enable improvement for the sector. Indeed, the healthcare sector constantly evolves with advancements in technology, new care methods, dynamic shifts in patient needs and current world events, changing the face of global healthcare delivery.

Over the last century, while the global healthcare sector continues to witness a more patient-empowered shift in healthcare, West African countries have yet to embrace the potential of a technology-led healthcare transformation fully.

Thus, the Medic West Africa Exhibition and Conference has returned to transform healthcare systems across the region. As the leading healthcare trade platform in West Africa, Medic West Africa is bringing the region’s healthcare community together. It provides an exceptional networking hub for manufacturers, distributors, procurement professionals, dealers, medical professionals, and regulators. The conference showcases global medical advances and concepts that promote healthcare excellence. The conference will feature a comprehensive exhibition of the latest healthcare technologies and solutions.

Over 200 exhibitors and powerhouses to chart a course for significant progress

Over 200 exhibiting companies representing 32 countries, alongside over 4,500 healthcare professionals, are expected to attend this year’s Medic West Africa Conference and Exhibition.

Randox Laboratories, a global market leader within the in-vitro diagnostic industry, is leading the long list of exhibitors for the Medic West Africa conference as a platinum partner. With offices and distribution in over 145 countries, Randox laboratories develop innovative diagnostic solutions for hospitals, clinical, research and molecular labs, food testing, forensic toxicology, veterinary labs, and life sciences. Renowned healthcare powerhouses Qiagen and Erba Mannheim will also be exhibiting as Gold partners. While Qiagen delivers Sample to Insight solutions for molecular testing, serving more than 500,000 customers around the globe, Erba Mannheim will bring along its proven expertise for creating a social impact in the world’s developing nations by delivering innovative, affordable and sustainable healthcare solutions. Erba Mannheim has been hailed as a game changer in the IVD market following the launch of its next-generation NEXUS total lab automation system at MEDLAB 2020.

Leveraging local and international collaborations to create sustainable impact

and participation in shaping the global response to climate change.”

Therefore, he said the WAIPH stands in solidarity with all participants of the Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week 2023.

He implored them to prioritise the health and well-being of Africa’s people, as well as the sustainable development of the continent. The Director-General also encouraged active dialogue, collaboration, and the development of innovative solutions during these events and beyond to ensure that Africa’s future is one where climate change no longer threatens the health and prosperity of its people.

International Group Honours Nigerian Nephrologist

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

A Nigeria-based nephrologist, Dr. Olalekan Olatise, has been recognised at an international conference of nephrologists in Oman, where he presented papers on kidney transplantation in the country.

The International Nephrology Conference with the theme, Kidney Across Borders : Collaborating for Better Care, and attended by scores of medical experts and doctors all over the world, was organised by the Oman Society of Nephrology and Transplantation (OSNT).

Olatise who is renowned for his exceptional contributions in

nephrology, in a paper, titled “Vascular Access,” emphasized its rarity in Nigerian hospitals and advocated for more practitioners to embrace it as an advanced and less painful approach to patient care.

The founder of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, said the hospital under his leadership has successfully practised Vascular Access for two years without a single complication, stating that as a result of this it has been recognized by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) as a Centre of Excellence in Interventional Nephrology.

He acknowledged that there is still much work to be done

to bring Nigerian hospitals on par with their counterparts in developed countries, but saluted the doggedness of his colleagues back home and lauded the impressive pace at which medical practices in Nigeria is evolving.

While co-chairing another panel, he spoke on “Common Medical Complications in Kidney Transplantation : Our Experience”, during which he analysed a notable kidney transplant surgery performed in 2022 on a US-based Nigerian DJ, Jimmy Jatt, who produced a documentary detailing his exceptional treatment throughout the diagnosis, surgery and post-surgery phases.

The event is further supported by Amref Health Africa, BeyHealth, West Africa Private Healthcare Federation, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Healthcare Leadership Academy, Society for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria, and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, who will all lead various sessions during the congress.

These include three free live in-person Medic West Africa conferences featuring 30 speakers and 24 sessions – a Healthcare Leadership conference, a Quality Management conference, and a Clinical Management Conference. Organised by leading global exhibitions organiser Informa Markets, this year’s event marks the 10th anniversary of Medic West Africa. The event will also host the official launch of Medlab West Africa in partnership with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). The Medlab Congress will promote stakeholder dialogue in leadership and management affecting West African healthcare providers whilst providing a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic healthcare landscape in West Africa. It will launch laboratory conference tracks focusing on immunology, laboratory & quality management, and clinical microbiology, all of which are CPD accredited. Attendees will gain valuable insights into international healthcare quality standards and frameworks, learn from successful case studies of healthcare quality implementation in West African countries, and collaborate with other experts to foster improved healthcare outcomes.

The sessions will feature expert voices in the industry as facilitators, including Dr Donald I. Ofili, Director and Deputy Registrar of MLSCN Accreditation Service; Dr Akyala Ishaku, Director of Global Health and Infectious Diseases Centre, Nasarawa State University; and Dr Abdul Karim Sesay, Head of the Genomics Strategic Platform at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

A mission to transform the healthcare infrastructure in West Africa

Technological advancements across the global healthcare sector are expected to continue. New healthcare electronic technologies, such as 3D printing, wearable biometric devices and GPS tracking, are already being tested and introduced for clinical use. Medic West Africa is committed to driving significant progress for the West African healthcare industry by creating a conducive environment for businesses and stakeholders to connect, discourse, and explore the latest healthcare advancements in healthcare technology and solutions.

With a rapidly growing population and an ever-increasing demand for quality healthcare services, West and Central Africa must continue leveraging technological advancements to improve its healthcare sector, ensuring that patients in the region receive the quality healthcare they deserve.

Significance of Medic West Africa Conference

It is the largest healthcare event in the West African region, showcasing global medical advances and concepts that promote healthcare solutions. The conference provides a platform for connecting manufacturers and service providers in the healthcare industry.

Pastor Eunice Chukwuemeka (5th from left) flanked by medical officials during the outreach

Krishna: Lagos Free Zone Investing in Infrastructure to Enhance Ease of Doing Business

Oluchi Chibuzor

Lagos Free Zone, a subsidiary of Tolaram has said that it is investing heavily in the provision of critical infrastructure and ensuring ease of doing business, to facilitate foreign direct investment into Nigeria General Manager, Power & Gas, Lagos Free Zone, Prem Krishna disclosed this while featuring as a Panelist at the 3rd Edition of the Nigerian Ports and Trade Investment Forum, held in Lagos on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

The event with the theme, “Revolutionizing Nigeria’s Ports - Embracing Shifting Landscapes in Technology to Create World-Class Hubs for Trade,” organized by

Welcome 2 Africa International, was attended by industry experts and stakeholders in the Maritime Sector to explore new avenues for investment and innovative solutions to persistent challenges.

Krishna remarked that critical infrastructure such as Fire Station, compressed gas power plant, Truck Park, Medical Facility, Broadband Networks, Warehouses, Standard Factories, Central Processing Center, Helipad, Residential Tower and Security Command Center are already in place in the Zone.

He noted that the company is presently working on other infrastructure such as Piped Natural Gas, Commercial Tower, and Industrial Training Center.

He stated that the core strength of the Lagos Free Zone is its seamless integration with Lekki Port, which guarantees companies in the Zone the rapid delivery of cargo and raw materials, typically within 48-72 hours of landing at the port. This port and zone combination is paving the way for a business-friendly environment.

“The most significant advantage of the Lagos Free Zone is its seamless integration with Lekki Port. This unique combination makes it easier to do business and significantly expedites the process. Companies setting up in the zone can expect their cargo of raw materials to reach them within 48-72 hours of landing at Lekki Port,” he added.

Sundry Foods to Unveil Nigeria’s Largest Bakery in Port Harcourt

Sundry Foods Limited (SFL), a leading food services company in Nigeria, has said that it is embarking on an ambitious venture to establish the largest bakery in the country, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This strategic move, it said in a statement, is geared towards meeting the escalating demand for its Nibbles bread products, SFL’s distinguished bakery offerings known for its superior quality and premium ingredients.

Nibbles bread is the hallmark of SFL’s bakery services, characterized by its meticulous selection of the finest ingredients in bread making.

Head of Marketing, Nduka Mokwunye expressed the company’s vision in a recent

statement. This groundbreaking bakery boasts an impressive estimated daily production capacity in excess of 100,000 loaves of bread, marking the fourth addition to SFL’s bakery network, which already spans Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.

“We are excited about what the new bakery means to our numerous customers. It will help fill the gap that the current increase in demand of Nibbles bread has generated. It will also further our bakery products reach and reinforce our presence in the competitive bakery space in the country,” Managing Director/CEO of SFL, Ebele Enunwa said.

Enunwa reiterated SFL’s steadfast determination to proactively address gaps in

the food industry, aligning with the company’s founding principles.

He assured that SFL’s product offerings will continue to lead the food services industry in Nigeria, responding to evolving customer demands. He also stressed the company’s dedication to innovation, recognizing its pivotal role in staying current with industry trends.

It’s worth noting that SFL, in addition to its bakery services, owns and operates a portfolio of locally crafted food brands and services, including Kilimanjaro, Nibbles Creamery, Pizza Jungle, KiliGrill, and Sundry Foods Services, catering to the diverse needs of corporate organizations.

Stakeholders Explore Future of Finance, Ethical Issues across Continents

Emma Okonji

Industry leaders and stakeholders from around the world gathered to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of finance and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of the globe.

They met last week at a webinar on the ‘Comparing and Contrasting AI Adoption in Financial Services Across Continents’ organised by FintechGR and supported by Maycode.

The seminar, which was spearheaded by a member of the governing council at FintechGR, Dr. Jameelah Ayedun, with the theme: ‘The Global AI Landscape’, delved deep into the global AI landscape, examining the latest regional trends and their

impact on the economy, addressing the challenges, and seeking solutions. Ayedun welcomed participants and set the stage for an engaging discussion on the pivotal role of AI in financial services.

The seminar featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr. Jameelah Sharieff-Ayedun who delivered the opening speech. With speakers hailing from Nigeria, the UK, Israel, and the USA, the event offered diverse perspectives on AI adoption.

Some of the key highlights from various sessions of the seminar include: Regional Perspectives on AI Adoption; Regulation and Ethical Considerations; Government and Education’s Role, among others.

For the Regional Per-

Wema Bank Boss Bags Top 25 CEO Award

In recognition of his inspirational leadership, outstanding financial growth, innovation, and significant contribution to the success of the Banking and Financial Services sector, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, has been awarded Top CEO of the Year at the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs Awards.

The CEOs awards, the bank said in a statement, is a distinguished award that

celebrates the visionary leaders of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

It is an honour reserved specially for those who have not only exhibited outstanding financial growth but have also made significant contributions to the advancement and prosperity of their respective sectors. The award not only solidifies the role of Wema Bank in driving positive change in the society but also adds to the bank’s outstand-

L-R; Lagos Modern Trade Manager, Rite Foods Limited, Gbenga Samuel; Welfare and Logistics, TOR”Q Autofest, Kemi Irinoye; Winner Car Show Lomé 2023, Sam Drifter; Digital Lead, Rite Foods Limited, Olawale Odenusi; and Head of Media and Production, TOR”Q Autofest, The Fearless Showdown, Bakare Adebayo, during the “Car Show Lomé” 2023 a build-up to TOR” Q Autofest: The Fearless Showdown for car drifters and superbikes held at Eko Hotel, in Lagos…. recently

MARKET INDICATORS

spectives on AI Adoption, discussions were centered on the trends in AI adoption across different regions. Sultan Mahmood emphasised the need for collaborative efforts between governments and private sector companies to build a solid foundation for AI success.

Dr. Dee Allen highlighted the importance of upskilling and re-skilling the workforce and informed regulators about the opportunities AI offers.

Rony Ohayon discussed the significant benefits of AI in financial services but also cautioned about security and data privacy risks. Ibijoke underscored how AI addresses fraud detection, regulatory compliance, and transaction processing, ultimately improving customer experiences.

ing streak of achievements, innovations, and positive impact on the lives of diverse Nigerians across Nigeria.

Commenting on the award, the CEO of Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, said, “It is an honour to be recognised as one of the Top 25 CEOs in Nigeria. This award means a lot to us as a bank, considering the journey of transformation and innovation that we have embarked upon as an organization over years.

Money

OPEC DAILY BASKET 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).

Stock Market Slips by 0.03% Amid Profit-taking in Transcorp Hotel, 28 others

Kayode Tokede

FNegative investors ssentiments rock the stock market yesterday, as profit-taking activities witnessed in Transcorp Hotel Plc and 28 others caused a 0.03 per cent drop in Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index.

The NGX ASI declined by 23.50 basis points or 0.03 per cent, to close at 68,335.72 basis points. Similarly, the overall

market capitalisation value lost N12 billion to close at N37.401 trillion.

As regarding sectoral performance, the NGX Oil and Gas Index added 0.49 per cent and NGX Industrial Index appreciated by 0.02 per cent, while the NGX Banking Index was down by one per cent and NGX Consumer Goods index dipped by 0.38 per cent.

Analysts at InvestmentOne

Research said, “The Nigerian stock market recorded an uptick performance today on the back of bullish sentiments around the Consumer Goods and Industrial sectors.

“Going forward, we expect investor’s sentiment to be swayed by the search for real positive returns and developments in the interest rate space. We reiterate that this may be a great period to

pick up some quality names with a medium to long-term investment horizon.”

However, the market negative performance was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; Transcorp Hotel, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nigeria, NASCON Allied Industries and Nigerian

Exchange Group.

As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was negative, as 29 stocks lost relative to 27 gainers. SUNU Assurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at 88 kobo, while Berger Paints followed with a gain of 9.91 per cent to close at N12.75, per share.

Chams Holding Company and Oando appreciated by 9.77 per cent each to close at N1.46

and N14.60 respectively, while MRS Oil Nigeria rose by 9.47 per cent to close at N104.00, per share.

On the other hand, Transcorp Hotel led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N45.90, per share. Ikeja Hotel followed with a decline of 9.93 per cent to close at N2.72, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance lost 7.41 per cent to close at N1.00, per share.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF SEPTEMBER/20/23

FOREIGN DESK

China Rolls Out Carrot-And-Stick Strategy to Influence Taiwan Ahead Election

China launched a series of influence campaigns against Taiwan last week, unveiling a plan to promote integrated development across the Taiwan Strait while at the same time conducting large-scale military incursions near the island.

Beijing’s carrot-and-stick approach received mixed reactions from Taiwan residents.

Many view the plan, which promises to enhance access to China for Taiwanese investors and encourage Taiwan residents to study, work, and live in China’s southeastern Fujian Province, as an old trick that lacks substance. Others think it can help improve and diversify the economy of Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen and Matsu Islands.

“It feels like the Chinese government is trying to achi eve peaceful unification with Taiwan by offering a lot of economic benefits,” Edward Yang, a 36-year-old engineer living in Hsinchu City, told VOA in a phone interview.

But as China struggles to boost its slumping economy, Yang remains suspicious about the likelihood that Beijing can offer economic perks that would be attractive to many Taiwanese.

Others think the proposed plan includes many measures that are helpful to residents in Kinmen and Matsu and will benefit the long-term economic prospects of the two outlying islands.

Rwandan President Kagame to Run for 4th Term, Ignores West

Rwanda’s president declared he would run for a fourth term next year, saying that “what the West thinks is not my problem” after the United States and others criticised the earlier lifting of term limits to extend his rule.

President Paul Kagame made the announcement in an interview with the French-language publication Jeune Afrique published Tuesday.

The 65-year-old Kagame has been president since 2000 and was declared the winner of the previous election in 2017 with more than 98 per cent of the vote. He has been the de facto leader since Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

Next year’s election will be the first in which people born during Kagame’s presidency and knowing no other leader will be old enough to vote.

Kagame is one of a number of African leaders who have prolonged their rule by pursuing changes to term limits. In a 2015 referendum, Rwandans voted to lift a two-term limit. Kagame could stay in power until 2034 if he wins a five-year term next year and then another.

When asked what he thought the West would think of him running again, he replied, “I’m sorry for the West, but what the West thinks is not my problem.”

Kagame was reelected as chair of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front party earlier this year for another five-year term. The US-based watchdog Freedom House described Rwanda as “not free” in its latest report and said the party has been “banning and repressing any opposition group that could mount a serious challenge to its leadership.”

EU Withdrawing Funds for Zimbabwe Elections Body for Lack of Transparency

The European Union says it is withdrawing $5 million in financial support to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission because of a lack of independence and transparency in the country’s disputed August polls.

In a statement late Tuesday, the EU embassy in Harare said Brussels is pulling out its $5 million financial support to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission because of the way the commission ran the country’s August general election. President Emmerson Mnangagwa defeated Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change in the hotly contested August 23 election.

“We did not set institutions that underpin our democracy in chapter 12 of our constitution so that they can be funded by foreigners,” said Nick Mangwana, the government spokesman. “As government, we always provide for ZEC’s needs through the fiscus. So, as far as we are concerned, this is a non-event. We did not apply for this funding. And it’s withdrawal does not mean anything. ZEC will fulfil its mandate through the funding that it gets from the people of Zimbabwe.”

Cameroon Sees More Attacks on Schools, Civilians After Rebel Leader Killed

Cameroon officials say separatists resumed attacks on civilians and schools after a notorious insurgent leader and four

collaborators were killed during a raid this week.

The military said the slain rebel leader, aka Bitter Kola, was behind many atrocities, including the October 2020 murder of seven students at Mother Teresa College in Kumba.

Military officials reported on Tuesday that Kola was among five rebels killed in a raid on their hideout in Mofako Butu, a village near Kumba in the South West region.

Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong, the most senior Cameroon government official in the Meme district, where Kumba is located, said Kola and his fighters had torched several dozen schools, killed an unknown number of civilians and government troops, and abducted scores of others for ransom.

Separatists acknowledged that Kola and four of his close collaborators were killed. They said on social media platforms that at least seven Cameroon government troops died in the raid.

The government denied any troop casualties.

Capo Daniel, leader of the Ambazonia Peoples Rights Advocacy Platform, one of Cameroon’s separatist groups, said he is unhappy with the Cameroon military for displaying Kola’s body at a market square.

India Issues Canada Travel Advisory Amid Probe of Sikh Activist’s Murder

India on Wednesday cautioned its citizens, especially students, planning to visit or living in Canada “to exercise utmost caution” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that India’s government may have been involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil.

“Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the antiIndia agenda,” an Indian foreign ministry statement said. “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.”

Indian nationals made up around 40% of Canada’s international student body last year, the most of any country, according to the Canadian Bureau of International Education.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has denied what Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau called “credible allegations” that Indian government agents are linked to the murder of outspoken Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. The relationship between Canada and India has broken down, with both nations having expelled one another’s diplomats.

It’s unclear what evidence Canadian intelligence officials are investigating, but Indian leaders maintain their government is innocent.

Ukraine, European Allies Clash Over Food Import Bans

Ukraine lodged a complaint this week at the World Trade Organization after several eastern European states imposed import bans on Ukrainian

food products, exposing divisions in the European Union as its members try to support Kyiv in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Hungary, Poland and Slovakia banned the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products last Friday, saying the shipments were undercutting their farmers.

Kyiv confirmed on Monday that it had filed a complaint at the WTO.

“It is crucially important for us to prove that individual (EU) member states cannot ban imports of Ukrainian goods. That is why we are filing lawsuits against them to the WTO,” Ukraine’s economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said in a statement.

The WTO is not likely to make a ruling anytime soon, according to David Kleimann, a trade expert with the Bruegel research group in Brussels, Belgium.

Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged, Signals Another Hike Later This Year

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for the second time in its past three meetings, a sign that it’s moderating its fight against inflation as price pressures have eased. But Fed officials also signalled that they expect to raise rates again this year.

Consumer inflation has dropped from a year-over-year peak of 9.1 per cent in June 2022 to 3.7 per cent. Yet it’s still well above the Fed’s two per cent target, and its policymakers made clear Wednesday that they aren’t close to declaring victory over the worst bout of inflation in 40 years. The Fed’s latest decision left its benchmark rate at about 5.4 per cent, the result of 11 rate hikes it unleashed beginning in March 2022.

The Fed’s hikes have significantly raised the costs of consumer and business loans. In fine-tuning its rate policies, the central bank is trying to guide the US economy toward a tricky “soft landing” of cooling inflation without triggering a deep recession.

The Fed’s decisions Wednesday underscored that even while its policymakers approach a peak in their benchmark rate, they intend to keep it at or near its high for a prolonged period. Besides forecasting another hike by year’s end, Fed officials now envision keeping rates high deep into 2024.

They expect to cut interest rates twice next year, fewer than the four rate cuts they had predicted in June. They predict that their key short-term rate will still be 5.1 per cent at the end of 2024 — higher than from the 2008-2009 Great Recession until May of this year.

Azerbaijan, Ethnic Armenians Reach Nagoro- Karabakh Ceasefire

Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian authorities in the breakaway NagornoKarabakh region reached a ceasefire agreement Wednesday, a day after Azerbaijan launched an “anti-terrorist” operation.

The agreement, brokered by Russian peacekeepers, calls for separatist forces to disarm and Armenian forces to withdraw from the area.

Azerbaijani authorities and representatives from the ethnic Armenians in the region are also due to hold talks Thursday in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh about the area’s future.

The UN Security Council will also hold an emergency meeting on Thursday.

Armenian authorities said the fighting continued into Wednesday, leaving at least 32 people dead and more than 200 injured.

The violence brought international calls for peace, including Wednesday from Russia and Pope Francis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to the fighting and for all parties to focus on efforts to bring long-term peace to the region, his spokesman said in a statement.

The US State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by telephone Tuesday with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

US Warns Cases of Transnational Repression Mounting

High-level allegations this week that India was involved in killing a Sikh leader on Canadian soil are renewing fears that governments worldwide are no longer afraid to cross boundaries to silence dissenting voices.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the unprecedented accusation Monday, telling Canadian lawmakers that his government has “credible allegations” of India’s ties to the June slaying of exiled Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver.

India has rejected the charge as “absurd.” But the episode has worried top US officials who are tracking a growing number of cases in which critics are being targeted across nation-state boundaries.

“I won’t speak to that particular report,” said Kenneth Wainstein, the Department of Homeland Security’s undersecretary for intelligence and analysis, in response to a question from VOA about Canada’s accusation against India.

“But I will say … we have seen an increase in foreign nation-state efforts to repress and persecute people they see as dissidents here in the United States,” Wainstein said during an event at a Washington think tank on Tuesday.

“We’re seeing that from the PRC police stations that are set up here and [are] being used to monitor and harass people that they think are unfriendly to the regime,” he said. “We’re seeing in [sic] o ther countries who are targeting people here in the United States.”

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

Nigeria’s Male-dominated Sports Betting Industry Sees Success with F emale Director, Maha Otu

Until fairly recently, betting in Nigeria was largely an underground activity that didn’t have much appeal to younger generations. However, in recent years, there has been a renaissance in the industry that has attracted a new demographic — female bettors and executives.

Over a decade, sports betting companies have become increasingly popular. This is a result of experiencing significant growth that is attributable to several factors, such as a rise in technology, increased internet access, and growing interest in competitive sports.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has a large population of over 200 million people, and a significant percentage of this population are young people interested in sports and gaming. This has created a huge demand for sports betting services, and several companies have emerged to meet this demand by offering an array of services and products to retain and expand their customer base.

One such company is BetWinner, a Malta-based sports betting company that entered the Nigerian betting scene, vying to grab a significant lump of the multi-billion-Naira industry. Its emergence coincided with the third phase of the eased lockdown in September 2020. Aware of existing competition and the pandemic’s socio-economic impact,

the company developed a strong marketing strategy by opting to operate as an online-only platform.

To achieve this feat, the group of shareholders contracted the expertise of Maha Otu, a former telesales professional and customer care consultant, to join as the team lead. With a small workforce of five

persons, she conceptualised these strategies to penetrate the market and hit the ground running.

Within two years, that number had doubled in size in terms of direct staff employment. On the other hand, Otu recruited numerous ad-hoc staff for marketing purposes for its offline activities in Lagos, Oyo,

and Anambra. This expansion was also reflected in her official title at the company when she was promoted to director in 2021—an unprecedented feat in the male-dominated industry.

“Nobody actually expects to have a young person, let alone a young lady, be a director in a sports betting company in Nigeria,” Otu

Europe’s Second-tier Competition Begins This Week

The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League is set to kick off with a fascinating array of groups that promise competitive clashes and intriguing storylines, reports

Group A is headlined by West Ham United, the favorites to top the group. Under the guidance of manager David Moyes, the Hammers are hoping to replicate their impressive run in the previous season’s competition. Freiburg, managed by Christian Streich, must contend with the erratic spending of Olympiacos, a side with more European experience. The Greek team’s third-place chances may set the stage for Backa Topola, newcomers to European competition, to face a challenging debut.

Group B shapes up as the “group of death.” Brighton and Hove Albion, in their maiden European campaign, are the group favorites, boasting an impressive squad under coach Roberto De Zerbi. However, perennial giants Ajax and unpredictable Marseille are expected to vie for the second spot. Greek champions AEK Athens may pose a threat, particularly on their home turf.

Group C presents an open contest, with Real Betis the standout favorite despite financial constraints. Aris Limassol hopes to make a mark, while Rangers and Sparta Prague battle for second place. Rangers, despite potential cohesion issues, can rely on the

magic of European nights at Ibrox. Sparta Prague, however, won’t be pushovers.

Group D appears to be a straightforward affair, with Atalanta and Sporting CP expected to secure the top two spots. Both teams have shown inconsistency, but they remain favorites to advance. Sturm Graz, with their history of troubling Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg, could challenge if the favorites stumble. Polish champions Rakow Czestochowa face a tough test in this competitive group.

Group E seems lopsided, with Liverpool the heavy favorites. Returning to Europe’s second-tier competition, Liverpool is poised to dominate the group. Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Brighton’s affiliate club, aims to progress after reaching last season’s quarterfinals. LASK and Toulouse bring their unique qualities to the mix.

Group F promises an entertaining and closely contested group stage. Villarreal, despite managerial changes, remains the favorites. Stade Rennais, with significant summer investments, hopes to challenge for qualification. Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos could upset the balance, given their past successes in European competitions.

Davidson Abraham

Group G features Roma as the clear front-runners. Last season’s runners-up are expected to top the group. Servette, Sheriff Tiraspol, and Slavia Prague will battle for the second spot. Slavia Prague holds the edge, but Sheriff’s European experience makes them contenders.

Group H showcases Bayer Leverkusen as the dominant

force. Xabi Alonso’s side, focused on Bundesliga success, remains favorites to progress. Hacken, Molde, and Qarabag vie for second place, with each team viewing qualification as a historic achievement.

As the Europa League unfolds, these groups promise a captivating journey filled with surprises, upsets, and footballing drama.

told the Gaming Week team at her Ikeja office in Lagos.

“As team lead, I was the one that personally set up the company here in Nigeria, got the team, employed everybody initially, and then tried to grow the company. I think the shareholders saw something in me that maybe I didn’t see myself and decided to appoint me as a director in 2021.

“For me, at that point in time when we were all locked down, it was a time to learn, and I think for most people, too. I was initially thinking of leaving the industry and going into tech. But when I was appointed as a director, I had to take up this full responsibility and understand that I have a bigger role to play in the industry than what I thought,” she explained.

For me, at that point in time when we were all locked down, it was a time to learn, and I think for most people, too. I was initially thinking of leaving the industry and going into tech. But when I was appointed as a director, I had to take up this full responsibility and understand that I have a bigger role to play in the industry than what I thought,” she explained.

Leaving school in 2016, the Industrial Chemistry graduate of Kwara State University, Ilorin, had aspired to embark on a career in a brewery. But her dreams were shattered due to Nigeria’s persistent year-on-year increase in unemployment rates.

“As it happens, we have to make do with what we get in Nigeria. So, I started in telesales with a telco company, and from there I got a job as a customer service consultant in a sports betting company,” Otu noted. “I think that’s the best way to start; starting from the very bottom, interacting with customers and really understanding challenges that customers may face, both online and offline.”

One could be led to believe that her tale is that of an ‘overnight success’ due to her rapid ascent in the professional world. Instead, Otu disagrees with that assessment. Despite being taken aback by the shareholders’ choice to appoint her as director, she made it clear that her commitment to providing exceptional service remained unwavering to establish BetWinner as the leading sports betting brand. While Otu refrained from divulging her growth strategy, she is confident in the course she is charting for the company’s growth.

Otu. “Our goal is to ensure we continue improving technology and innovation to suit that target audience and to ensure we continue meeting the needs of people in the online space. That is my major goal. And that’s the strategy to just focus on the technological aspects of it.”

“We’re not looking at going retail for now. We want to first understand and gain that online audience, and then maybe we can look at retail in the future, but for now, it is online,” added Otu. “Our goal is to ensure we continue improving technology and innovation to suit that target audience and to ensure we continue meeting the needs of people in the online space. That is my major goal. And that’s the strategy to just focus on the technological aspects of it.”

Despite a growing interest in female bettors globally, the global sports betting industry has more men in critical roles such as operation, compliance and corporate. This pattern is also apparent in Nigeria. Slowly but surely, the narrative has begun to shift with Otu, who perceives her position in the industry as a portal to opportunities for other women.

Highly experienced and welltravelled, Otu leads with a ‘bigger picture’ mentality, which she has instilled into the company’s culture, fostering the development of every employee.

“It’s a male-dominated industry, and the truth about it is, even when, let’s say there’s an operations role or anything like that, it’s men that will be considered for that role, maybe because over the years, the industry has been male-dominated and success has been seen from men majorly,” she stressed.

Otu continued: “As someone privileged to be in this position, I also want to give people that opportunity as well. And BetWinner as a company, and a global brand as well, does not see gender when it comes to roles because most people I work with from other countries as well are women. Those are people involved in operations as well. We are very diverse and inclusive when it comes to gender. When it comes to roles, we are very inclusive. Women are involved in operations as well, not just mere positions.”

THU,

THU,

THU,

THU, 21 SEP LASK VS LIVERPOOL2x

THU, 21 SEP SHERIFF

“We’re not looking at going retail for now. We want to first understand and gain that online audience, and then maybe we can look at retail in the future, but for now, it is online,” added

Though the Akwa Ibom native has a firm grip on BetWinner, ensuring the effective management of its day-to-day running, she expressed concerns over the taxation system that has the state and federal governments at loggerheads.

SEP SLIGO ROVERS VS DERRY CITY2X

FRI, 22 SEP ZELEZNICAR VS PARTISAN BELGRADE 2x

FRI, 22 SEP MARISCAR MERSCH VS KAERJENG1x

Iyke Bede captures the phenomenal rise of Maha Otu from a telesales professional and customer care consultant to the team lead and, eventually, director of BetWinner, a sports betting brand

Otu

SIGNING OF MOU FOR THE HOSTING OF THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK 2023...

L-R; Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, Dr Olawale Fasanya; Director Enterprise Development & Promotion ,SMEDAN, Monday Ewans; President Global Entrepreneurship Network,Jonathan Ortmans; Director of Entrepreneurship UNILAG, Prof. Sunday Adebisi; and Managing Director, GEN Nigeria, Dr Olawale Anifowose; during a signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the hosting of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023 Nigeria at Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Melbourne, Australia... yesterday

Strike: Lalong Updates Shettima on Negotiations with NLC, TUC

Allays fears of indefinite strike SGF says independence celebration will be low key

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

In a swift move to avert the threat of indefinite strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Hon. Simon Lalong, yesterday, briefed Vice President Kashim Shettima about his discussions with the organised labour centre.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting with the vice president in

the company of Minister of State for Labour, Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha, at the State House, Abuja, Lalong gave the assurance of a smooth, harmonious negotiation with the trade union centres.

Asked if there was any hope for the government to avert the impending strike, the Minister said, “As for me I don't think there is any problem. We have fully spent time with the Nigeria Labour and

the posture of the president too is towards welfare and prosperity for workers.

“We have no doubt and that's why many of the meetings we have with them we are not ending up boxing ourselves, we were smiling, all of us. We hope that the best is going to come."

On what specifically the federal government was doing to arrest the industrial action, Lalong said "Don't

worry about that. That's why I said it's a friendly engagement we are doing with them. We don't have any fears about some of the things they put and also the suggestions and the package of the federal government."

He, however, could not confirm whether the strike would still hold tommorow or not, asking newsmen to direct the question to the NLC President.

His words: "I don't want to say

TikTok Faces $368 million Fine for Neglecting Children’s Data Privacy

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

TikTok recently received a $368 milon fine by European regulators over its negligence in ensuring children’s data privacy.

This significant penalty stands as the inaugural instance of TikTok falling afoul of Europe’s stringent data privacy regulations.

TikTok, whose mainland Chinese counterpart is Douyin, is a shortform video hosting service owned by ByteDance.

It hosts user-submitted videos, which can range in duration from three seconds to 10 minutes.

The enforcement of this penalty came from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, a pivotal privacy regulating entity for major technology firms situated predominantly in Dublin. The commission has levied a fine of 345 million euros against TikTok and delivered a stern reprimand, highlighting the platform’s violations that trace back to the latter half of 2020.

Investigations revealed a significant oversight in the platform’s sign-up process for teenage users.

The default settings rendered these accounts public, facilitating anyone to view and comment on the young users’ content. Such default configurations even imperiled children under the age of 13, providing them an unwarranted entry to the platform.

Furthermore, an ostensibly secure

“family pairing” feature, which aimed to grant parents enhanced control, exhibited vulnerabilities.

“This flaw permitted adults to activate direct messaging for users aged between 16 and 17 without obtaining their consent.”

The regulatory watchdog also stated that the platform subtly pushed teenage users towards choosing “privacy intrusive” preferences during sign-up and

content sharing. In an official statement, TikTok expressed disagreement with the regulator’s decision, specifically highlighting the extent of the fine.

Elaine Fox, TikTok’s head of privacy for Europe, said, “Most of the decision’s criticisms are no longer relevant as a result of measures we introduced at the start of 2021 — several months before the investigation began.”

With EU privacy laws coming into force in 2018, the Irish regulatory body has faced criticism for its perceived slow pace in handling investigations concerning major tech firms.

Amidst these pressures, the Brussels-based headquarters of the 27-nation conglomerate is stepping up to ensure more efficient enforcement of new digital regulations and social media content management.

Afreximbank Announces $500,000 Support for Earthquake Relief in Morocco

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced a $500,000 donation to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the Kingdom of Morocco and especially towards the hard-hit regions of Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Taroudant, Amizmiz and Marrakesh, following the devastation caused by a massive magnitude 6.8 earthquake.

The earthquake was the strongest to hit the nation’s centre in more than a century with a fatality rate reaching nearly 3,000, and many more injured. Historical and cultural sites have also suffered severe damage and many citizens have been left displaced.

According to a statement from the multilateral institution, the

donation would be channelled towards assisting the Government in its disaster recovery, relief, and reconstruction efforts.

It pointed out that the support would enable the provision of basic needs of food, water, clothing, and shelter as well as restoring power and other essential services to impacted families.

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Prof. Benedict Oramah said: “We are committed to helping the Government of Morocco recover from this devastating earthquake.

“Providing food, water, and shelter is vital in the aftermath of the earthquake and today’s donation demonstrates our continued

commitment to humanitarian relief efforts across Africa, in times of crises.

“It will lend a helping hand to support organisations on the ground as they continue recovery efforts. Our hearts and prayers go out to Morocco, a member state of the Bank and her citizens in these trying times.”

The statement pointed out that the support was consistent with the Bank’s response to humanitarian crises in its Member States including among others, the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Tropical Cyclone Idai in 2019, the Covid-19 relief efforts in 2020 and support to flood relief efforts in Southern Africa in 2022 and 2023.

that; I'm not the NLC President".

Also responding to questions from newsmen after meeting with the Vice President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, asserted that a nationwide strike at this time would not be in the interest of anyone. He also disclosed that the October 1, 2023 Independence celebration would be low key.

Commenting on the threat of nationwide strike by the NLC, Akume said "Labour leaders are very patriotic Nigerians and we want to believe correctly that nobody will want to cause a strike. It's not in the interest of the workers; it's not in the interest of anybody because this government is very determined

to ensure that the standard of living of Nigerians to create prosperity for. all. It's not something that can be done overnight.

“This government came into being on the 29th of May and we have a tenure of four years. So it will be inappropriate for we to begin to judge on the basis of few months we ha e spent in the office."

On what would differentiate this year's independence anniversary from those in the past, the SGF said, "This is going to be low key; we are not going on fantastic jamboree at the Eagle Square and other locations. It's a time for reflections; it's a time for all of us to think very deeply as a people and the journey forward and this journey is being charted by the captain of the ship."

Otti Enforces Eight Years Retirement Policy for Perm Secs, Directors in Abia

Emmanuel

Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The government of Alex Otti has dusted a dormant policy that regulates tenure of top civil servants and prevents sit-tight syndrome at the high echelon of the state work force.

The state Head of Service(Hos), Joy I. Maduka, made this known in a circular No. HSA/S.0001/ SUB.1/123 dated September 19, 2023, saying that it was in line with the ongoing sanitisation of the civil service.

It was the resurrection of a dormant circular No. HSA/S.0074/11/91 of August 1, 2011, which had pegged the tenure of Permanent Secretaries and Directors at maximum of eight years.

The circular was last implemented by the administration of Theodore Orji which later abandoned it after achieving a specific purpose.

The succeeding administration of Okezie Ikpeazu, ignored the policy and even gave extension of service to many public servants after retirement.

But the HoS said the present administration, "has found it necessary to reinstate (the) policy," on the tenure of Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Non-ministerial Departments.

She explained that the decision was part of the continuing reforms in the country, adding that the policy "will reinvigorate the Public Service, restore morale of officers, and unlock the new Abia of hard working officers".

"Accordingly, government has approved that Permanent Secretaries and heads of non-miniisterial departments shall hold office a term of four(4) years," the HoS said.

However, she stated that the four-year tenure was renewable for another four years, "subject to satisfactory performance and no more" while Directors "will compulsorily retire after serving eight years."

The HoS pointed out that notwithstanding the policy on tenure of the top civil servants, the extant Rule 02809 of the Abia State Public Service Rules would still apply.

BRIEFING ON HEADS OF NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AFRICA MEETING...

L-R: Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),

on

Mohbad: Osun Youths Give FG, Police 3-day Ultimatum to Fish Out Killer

Traditional ruler, Olawepo-Hashim call for justice

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Following the circumstances surrounding the death of a popular hip hop artist, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, thousands of youths yesterday, stormed the city of Osogbo, capital of Osun State to protest the mysterious death of the young musician.

The youths who gathered in their numbers at the Nelson Mandela freedom park, Osogbo, wore black dresses and carried placards with various inscriptions such as: "#JusticeforMohbad, "#WhoOffLight", "#FG must act now," among others, urged President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to fish out the killers of the deceased with three days.

Speaking at the protest ground, One of the conveners, Olusayo Ogunleye, said they embarked on the peaceful protest to demand justice for their brother, ‘mohbad,’ whom they believed there was more to his death.

Ogunleye. urged the concerned authorities to look into the circumstances surrounding his death with three days.

"We are here to seek justice for our brother, Mohbad. Whoever had hands in his death must be apprehended and punished. We want justice for the deceased. We are here to demand for justice for our brother. We are giving the federal government and the Nigerian Police three days to fish out the killer(s).

Echoing similar views, Fisayo

Aderemi called on the government to carry out thorough investigation into the death of Mohbad.

She asked the federal government to also look into the hospital where the artist gave up the ghost and set up committee to look into Marlian records and fish out the culprits as well.

"We want the federal government to look into the hospital where ‘mohbad’ died we want them to also look into marlian record he has a deep reason to be called upon for interview. "

Mohbad, a former signee of Marlian Records owned by Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley died last week at the age of 27.

Many unfounded reports making rounds on social media accused Naira Marley for his alleged involvement in Mohbad’s death.

Meanwhile, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Adewale Akanbi, has described the death of the hip-hop artist as colossal loss to the entire Yorubaland.

The Oluwo, who commiserated with the family of deceased urged the lovers of late hop hop artist to remain calm, assuring them that ‘Mohbad’ would get justice.

He made this known in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, and made available to journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

He however, asked the youths who have been embarking on a peaceful protest over the circumstances that surround his death to

go back home warning that the protest might have been hijacked by the hoodlums

“The demise of the rising artist, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly called Mohbad was a colossal loss to Yorubaland, Nigeria and the world at large. I commiserate with his immediate family and the entertainment industry.

"While calling on the government to ensure justice prevails on the circumstances surrounding his death, I appeal to the protesting youth to be calm, civil in their conduct and public demonstration.

“The ardent lovers of Mohbad are enjoined to leave the street and go home. The protest may be hijacked by hoodlums if not properly managed.

"Stakeholders are already working to ensure justice for Mohbad.

The youth should cooperate with the government by conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

"Once again, may the soul of the departed Mohbad rest in peace."

Relatedly, a former presidential candidate and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, yesterday, called on the Police to do "justice to the memory and spirit of late rising music star, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly known as Mohbad, by doing a thorough investigation of his demise, and ensuring that the culprits for the crime if any, do not escape the law."

In a statement from his media office in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim, explained that the death of the young man has again highlighted the terror that the grip of the underworld on the streets inflicts on the society.

According to the Global oil executive, "I deeply sympathise with those who truly love this fallen star, who tragically is becoming louder in death than in life. He has become a "Martyr" of a cause in a unique way."

He added that, "the death of the rising music star, Mohbad in very suspicious circumstances must be an occasion to free the society from the grip of the underworld.

"As a father who has a son in Arts and Music, two years older than Mohbad, I am worried and concerned about the grip of cult leaders, on some aspects of our musical lives and entertainment as well as the control of drug lords.

"The Mohbad saga has also further highlighted the dark side of entertainment financing in the absence of a well-structured and disciplined support system for

budding talents especially from poor homes."

He further stressed that, "at the root of the exploitation of talented young people is the weapon of poverty manipulated by rich but rough and wicked. It is time to end this evil!"

Olawepo-Hashim, therefore appealed to those in charge of security in Nigeria, "to allow and protect those who are pained by this sad occurrence and who want to peacefully embark on processions and vigils.

"Organised violence by malevolent forces should not be an excuse to deny those who are peacefully seeking justice for Mohbad the right to do so!"

The Police authorities, he said, "must ensure above all, that Mohbad gets justice in death!"

Edo Government Asks FG to Explain Source of N5bn Palliatives for States

Says its planned new city to house 50,000 persons

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Government yesterday, called on the federal government to explain the source of the N5 billion palliatives for states following the removal of subsidy

on petrol. It also stated that no less than 50,000 residents would move into a new city being planned to decongest the state capital. Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the Commissioner for

NNPC, Seplat Train 350 Teachers from Edo, Delta States

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to its host communities, over 350 teachers drawn from Edo and Delta States have been trained by Seplat/NNPC E&P during the 4th edition of the Seplat/Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).

The programme, held in Benin City, was geared towards equipping teachers with skills to effectively deliver knowledge to students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

Speaking at the event, Seplat Director, External Affairs and Sus-

tainability, Chioma Afe, explained that STEAM was to improve self-awareness and knowledge of teachers.

She said, "Beyond that, we want to re-orient our teachers. STEAM helps creativity. We can teach Science to students creatively," adding "teacher's leadership is the process where our teachers collaborate with others to improve teaching to impact teachers."

Afe, also noted that the programme would enable teachers to become advocates in their profession.

In his speech, Adviser, Community Relations, Levi Owunari,

who represented the Managing Director, NNPC E&P Limited, thanked Seplat for its unalloyed support for the sustained growth and progress of the company's oil and gas exploration pursuits.

According to him, "It is our pleasure as an organisation in partnership with SEPLAT to roll out the STEP Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme for our host communities.

"This programme is one of our CSR initiatives designed to provide and build the capacity of Teachers residing within the NNPC E&P Limited/SEPLAT operational communities.

"The CSR initiative aims to promote quality education in Nigeria through the training of secondary school Teachers in critical thinking, leadership and improving their competence to teach students through the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Methodology. Today marks the kick-off of the programme for the year 2023."

Commenting on the training programme, one of the beneficiaries, Beauty Tsenuwa said, "As I am here, am better than I came." Similarly, another beneficiary, Precious Awarita said: "As I speak to you now, Seplat runs in my veins."

Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the federal government needed to explain whether the financial donation to the states was from the 52 per cent share of the revenue allocation or from the 48 percent due the state governments.

He said over 1,500,000 passengers have benefited from its free inter and intra city transport to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy since September 11 when it started.

“We have carried 1,494,000 and 33,000 passengers for the intra-city and intercity scheme respectively,” he added.

According to him, "A lot of our people have been directly touched by this gesture. It was not a knee jerk programme by the state government but was properly planned.”

For the distribution of palliatives, Nehikhare said “We are still collecting data of the poorest of the poor to ensure that those who are directly affected will be the beneficiaries and will be devoid of politics.”

On the new city called Coral City, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo said the reason for the new city which she said started September last year was to reduce the pressure on the Benin City Centre.

She explained: “We have done the design and we have 1,300 plots available for different land uses: residential, commercial, multi-purpose, religious leisure, schools, markets, health centres, everything you need for a city to thrive and it is coming with full infrastructure like roads, drainages, power, telecommunication and others.

“We intend to house 50,000 people when it is fully completed. We have broken the project into four phases so that within the tenure of the current administration we will do the first phase with the expectation that the subsequent governments would continue the project. We opened for subscription with 467 plots to jump start the project.”

Mrs. Victoria Egbese; Secretary, NDLEA, Shadrach Haruna and Country Representative, United Nations Office

Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe, during the press conference on 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, HONLAF 2023 in Abuja ... on Tuesday.

PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

PRESENTATION OF AWARD...

L-R: Company Secretary, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Rukevwe

Ondo Assembly Begins Impeachment Process against Deputy Governor over Alleged Misconduct

Fidelis David in Akure

The Ondo State House of Assembly, yesterday, commenced an impeachment process against the state deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over allegations of gross misconduct, among other impeachable offences. This followed an emergency plenary session summoned by the Assembly in Akure, the state capital, amid heavy security presence.

THISDAY gathered that other allegations against the deputy governor included abuse of office

with actions likely to bring down Ondo State Government.

It was learnt that Aiyedatiwa, allegedly, approved millions of naira for the purchase of a bulletproof SUV for his personal use, to be sourced from the palliative fund, while Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was recuperating in Germany.

The Assembly directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to write Aiyedatiwa over the allegations levelled against him.

The petition, which had been

signed by nine out of the 26 members of the 10th Assembly, was read during the plenary presided by Speaker Olamide Oladiji.

Earlier, Majority Leader of the House quoted Section 188 of the Nigeria constitution to justify the need to write the deputy governor over the allegations, and it was seconded by the lawmaker representing Akoko South West II, Tope Agbulu.

Thereafter, the speaker ruled that the deputy governor should be served a letter after the

lawmakers voted unanimously. However, the deputy governor was yet to reply to the decision of the lawmakers at press time. As a source close to him said the impeachment notice had not b formally communicated to him.

Sources in government revealed that the governor and his deputy were at loggerheads over an alleged betrayal of trust on the part of Aiyedatiwa while he held forth.

There was also a noticeable crack in the state cabinet, with some members aligning with the

deputy governor while some distanced themselves from him.

The cold war within the state cabinet was attributed to an alleged bid by Aiyedatiwa to succeed Akeredolu in office in 2024. As a result, Akeredolu, two days after returning from his three-month medical vacation in Germany, disbanded the media crew attached to the office of Aiyedatiwa, confirming that all was not well between the first and second citizens of the Sunshine State. The affected aides included

Ariwoola: Political Cases Taking Monumental Toll on Us

Urges judges to redouble efforts, serve justice with fear of God

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has lamented the rise in political cases in the country, observing that it was already affecting virtually all courts in the country.

The CJN, who saw the development as a reflection of the times in the country, however, called on his colleagues to be up and doing and not disappoint the people.

Speaking yesterday during the swearing-in ceremony of nine newly appointed justices of the Court of

Appeal, he said, "Today’s ceremony is an indication of the times that we are currently in. Several novel crimes are being committed in the country that have now made litigations to go on a steady rise.

"Political cases, especially, are taking a monumental toll on our dockets. Indeed, the times we are in are not pleasant, to say the least. No court in the land is spared of this. We are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever rising in response to the challenges of the time."

Observing that the development

Abiodun Directs Immediate Payment of N1bn Gratuity

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has directed the Bureau of State Pensions, to commence immediate payment of gratuity to pensioners in the state.

The N1b gratuity was released to ease and bring succour to the senior citizens, who have served the state and the local government diligently.

The directive of Abiodun, was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary in the Bureau, Mr. Adesoji Adewuyi, during an interview with journalists in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He stated that the gratuity would cater to pensioners, who were scheduled for September and part of October 2014, adding that it would

also take care of part payments of Basic, Rent, and Transports (BRT) allowances for January and February 2013 of the pensioners.

Adewuyi stated that some pensioners with urgent medical needs were also attended to from the gratuity released, and pleaded with those who were yet to receive theirs to be patient with the present administration, assuring that all pensioners would be paid accordingly.

The Permanent Secretary commended Abiodun for the payment of a cash palliative of N10,000 for pensioners, to enable them to cope with the economic situation occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy for the period of three months with effect from July 2023.

has further confirmed claims that Nigeria continuously ranked among the most litigious countries in the world, he urged the people to imbibe the culture of less litigation and more of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, so that the courts could be freed of unnecessary burden and depletion of both human and material resources.

The CJN, therefore, charged the justices, "to fasten your belt and roll up your sleeves to face the challenges head-on. You must redouble your pace to catch up with the expectations of the litigants. As judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and sincerity.

"You must give good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the Court of Appeal so that you can subsequently earn an elevation to the Supreme Court to further actualise your dreams.

"I congratulate you all for your well-deserved appointments and wish you the best that you can achieve in these strategic positions you now occupy.”

The new Justices included Hannatu Laja-Balogun from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on May 24, 1999; Binta Zubairu also from Kaduna State and appointed a High Court Judge on October 31, 2001.

Others were Peter Obiora from

Lagbaja: How Army

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, said the country needed a healthy military-media relationship towards winning the war against terrorism.

Lagbaja represented by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Ibadan, Major General Bamidele Alabi, made the declaration yesterday, at the Nigerian Army (NA) Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) third quarter media chat held at the Tiger Officers' Mess, Agodi, Ibadan.

Present at the event were Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General Nosakhare Ugbo, Major General Bamidele Omozoje

Anambra State, became a High Court Judge on January 17, 2005; Okon Abang from Akwa Ibom State, appointed a High Court Judge on June 22, 2009; Asma'u Mainoma from the Federal Capital Territory, appointed High Court Judge on February 1, 2013; Lateef Ganiyu from Oyo State, became a High Court Judge on June 26, 2014; and Jane Iyang from Cross River State, who was sworn-in as High Court Judge on February 12, 2015.

The rest were Hadiza Shagari from Sokoto State, who was elevated to the High Court Bench on February 12, 2015; and Paul Bassi from Borno State, appointed to the High Court on July 14, 2017.

Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Abayomi Samson Adefolalu.

Last Friday, the deputy governor debunked rumour that he had resigned from office, declaring that his tenure would end on February 23, 2025.

He stated, "I wish to state that I, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, have not, do not intend and will not sign/author any letter resigning my position as the duly elected deputy governor in a joint ticket with my principal, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON.

"I took an oath the day I was sworn in along with Mr. Governor on February 24th, 2021 to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a four-year mandate, which terminates on February 23rd, 2025."

Aiyedatiwa, who reiterated his loyalty to Akeredolu, added that he remained calm and committed to the duties of his office and unruffled by the lies of desperate politicians and their agents.

He said, "I remain loyal to my principal and stand by the oath I took with the Bible to run the full cycle of the four-year tenure with Mr. Governor. To this end, I urge the people of Ondo State, the state Assembly, and the general public to disregard such letter now and in the future."

Can Sustain Counter-terrorism Operations

(rtd), Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), media managers and journalists drawn from all sections of the media.

Lagbaja, while speaking on the theme: "Leveraging Media to Enhance Nigeria's Internal Security Operations", insisted that a healthy military-media relationship is important to create a positive perception that would sustain popular support to the Army's counter terrorism operations and other operations being conducted to secure the country and protect innocent citizens.

The Chief of Army Staff, who was the Special Guest of Honour, maintained that the media remained a key partner in the Army's non-

kinetic line of operation for the security of the country, stating that the media chat was part of the civilmilitary cooperation activities aimed at keeping the media informed, dispel rumours and provide accurate and timely information to the media as an important segment of nation building.

He noted that at a time like this, the Nigerian Army under his leadership had adopted a multidimensional approach requiring the collaboration of all, especially the media in confronting challenges facing the country.

While re-assuring the country of the unalloyed loyalty of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the President and the Constitu-

tion, the Army boss appreciated the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication in carrying out their duties in the service of the country.

"At a time like this, when the nation is inundated with a myriad of internal security challenges, the Nigerian Army under my leadership has adopted a multi-dimensional approach requiring the collaboration of all especially the media in confronting these challenges.

“Thus, a forum such as this media chat is important for a more detailed examination of issues that relate to the Nigerian Army, in order to provide context and other perspectives to the issues,” he said.

Falana; Senior Manager, Technical, Ejiro Efekoha-Momoh; Publisher, BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun; Executive Director, Finance, Systems, and Investments, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Babatunde Daramola; Executive Director, Operations, Mary Adeyanju; and Managing Director Hallmark HMO, Dotun Adeogun, during a presentation of award to the Group Managing Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Eddie A. Efekoha, as one of Nigeria's Top 2023 CEOs by BusinessDay Media Limited at Federal Palace Hotel and Towers in Lagos

PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

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FG Awards N33bn to RCC for ElemeOnne Section of East-West Road Commences work on second section of PH-Aba road

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The federal government has committed N33 billion to a giant construction company, RCC, to commence work on the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West road in Rivers State.

The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, disclosed this yesterday, when he inspected the project and other ongoing federal government projects in the state.

Speaking at the site for the ElemeOnne road construction, Umahi said President Bola Tinubu sent him on working visit to inspect the level of work ongoing at the sites. He explained that the project became a necessary mandate after Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike,visited the president on the matter.

"This road from Eleme to Onne

Adesina: For Eight Years, Media Deliberately Misquoted Me

Yinka

Kolawole in Osogbo

Former spokesperson to erstwhile President Muhammad Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, yesterday, said the media deliberately misquoted his statements for the eight years he was in office.

Adesina spoke at a media chat organised by the Association of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo, Osun State Capital.

He added that some media outfit deliberately set him against the members of the public just because he was serving in

government.

“My biggest challenge during the eight years that I served with former President Muhammadu Buhari was the fact that a section of the media deliberately quoted me out of context.

“I eventually grew out of it and got used to the antics. Even while I had a television interview, it was turned upside down in the papers deliberately to make me an enemy of the public. But I outgrew it and it did not affect my duty throughout my tenure,” he said.

port, the Rivers State people led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governor Nyesom Wike-led delegation to come and see the president. The president directed that I should immediately come here and ensure that work has started. President has released N33billion in this project to RCC for them to start.

On a visit to the Port HarcourtAba section of the Port HarcourtEnugu road project, the minister commended the contractor, CCECC,

on what they have done so far, noting that the government was still owing the construction firm about N5 million, but assured them of completion of payment before the end of project.

"Thank you CCECC, beautiful work you have done. Excellent, beautiful bridges they have done. I gave them vote of confidence and I approve the work,” he said.

Umahi, who regretted that the project was not captured in the 2023 appropriation, assured the

people that he would discuss with the President on how to sort fund to complete the project.

"Now you have paid N18billion. I direct you to return to site immediately. You supposed to have done a total of 12kilometers. You said we are even owing you another N5 million, so I direct you to return to site and what you are to do on both lanes down to Ala-Ojii in Aba is to remove all the silts in all the ditches, fill it with sharp sand, less 30-45cm, fill the 45 with stonebase

in both lanes and allow vehicles to play on both lanes.

"And on this project, unfortunately, we only have N11billion in 2023 Appropriation. I am going to see how they get this, but I am going to report to Mr President to see if we can seek special funding for Port Harcourt-Aba road project. But I assure the contractor that funding will not be a problem. I want you to rule our your engineers, your machines, I will be coming to inspect the two lanes."

Experts Blame Social Media Disinformation on Domestic, Foreign Actors

Emma Okonji in Johannesburg, South Africa

Political researchers and analysts based in South Africa have blamed the spread of misinformation and disinformation on various social media platforms across Africa, on domestic and foreign political actors, that have vested interests in the African economy.

The experts spoke yesterday, at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, during the visit of the

second cohort of the MTN Media Innovation Fellows from Nigeria to the university, in continuation of their training programme, sponsored by MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with the Pan African University (PAU) in Lagos.

Although the experts said misinformation and disinformation spread faster through social media platforms during political campaigns and political era, they however said misinformation and disinformation did not start with the emergence

Bauchi Agog as Tribunal Affirms Mohammed Bauchi Gov

Dismisses

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State capital and environs erupted in jubilation yesterday following the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal's affirmation of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed as the duly elected governor of the state.

The 3-man tribunal led by Justice PT Kwahar, dismissed the petition by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and its gubernatorial candidate, Ambassador Saddique Baba Abubakar.

The tribunal affirmed that Mohammed, who was declared by the Independent National Electoral

APC, Saddique Abubakar's petition

Commission (INEC) as winner of the gubernatorial election, actually won the election with the majority votes cast.

The tribunal dismissed the APC petition for lack of credible evidence to discredit result of the gubernatorial election as declared by INEC.

The tribunal’s premises, however, erupted in Jubilation by members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in drumming and praises to show joy and happiness over the victory. Reacting to the verdict, Mohammed commended the tribunal for upholding his victory despite the indiscriminate demonisation of the

country's judicial system.

Speaking shortly after the tribunal affirmed his election, he called on his opponents to sheathe their swords and join him to harness enormous resources of the state to create a modern economy that would benefit everyone within Bauchi State as Nigeria's pearl of tourism.

"Today, the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Bauchi, revalidated the mandate that you gave to me last March. It was a profound judgment that will continue to resonate within multiple circles as a demonstration of judicial rigour and common sense and an affirmation of the

sovereign will of the people over political brinksmanship and an entitlement mentality.

"Our victory today is by the grace of Allah, who gives power to whom he wishes and takes it without consulting the holder. We are once again reminded that all power is held in trust on behalf of God.

“It is an unambiguous statement that despite the mischief of political merchants who arrogate to themselves kingmaker status and deceive some of our unsuspecting compatriots into believing that they can determine the destiny of others, God still reigns in the affairs of all his creations," he said.

of social media, but started years before emergence of social media platforms.

Given the implications of misinformation and disinformation on the African economy, the experts said such information has caused public harm and injuries to nations and individuals, through hate speech.

They however called on Nigeria and the media in Africa to be objective in their reports without taking sides with political actors who want to place their personal interests above national and continental interests. Describing misinformation as the broadcasting of information without verification, and disinformation as the deliberate spread of information, targeted at causing harm to individuals and organisations, Prof. Admire Mare, of the School of Communication, University of Johannesburg, blamed disinformation across Africa on domestic and foreign political actors who have vested interests in the African economy.

Head of Programmes at Media Monitoring Africa, that is based in South Africa, Thandi Smith, advised the media to be transparent and objective in their reporting, especially in political reporting, during election period.

Speaking on the topic: ‘Social Media, Misinformation and Electioneering Campaigns in Africa,’ Smith said Africa had three elections in 2023 alone from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo, adding that 74 countries globally

would hold elections in 2024, a development, she said, would need transparent and objective reporting from the media, for democracy to thrive in Africa and the world at large.

Smith, stressed the need for online content regulators across Africa to be cautious in regulating online news information, in order not to stifle the truth about online news information.

The Chairperson, Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN), Dr. Mashilo Boloka, said there would be need for regulation of online news information, based on the given constitution, in order to curtail hate speeches that are harmful to the public.

The experts however called for early education for the African citizens that would help create awareness among people about what constitute misinformation and disinformation.

They called on civil society organisations to do more in engaging with the people and in collaboration with different political groups in curbing misinformation and disinformation during election campaigns. The experts said access to information must be made easy for the African citizens and the media, in order to avoid speculations that could lead to misinformation. They also advised religious leaders to be mindful of what they preach and to align more with the teachings of their religion than with political issues.

L-R: CEO, Global Trade Policy, Dr. Femi Badejo (left), presenting the award for ‘Telecoms Brand of the Year’ to Glo officials, Director, Customer Care, Ms. Catherine Bomett; Group CTO, Rollout, Mr. Remi Makinde, and Head Enterprise Business Group, Mr. Zakari Usman, at the Marketing Edge awards held in Lagos...recently

UNITED NATIONS WOMEN ENGAGEMENT...

L-R: Chief Digital Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Dr. Olufemi Oyenuga; Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, UN Women, Ms. Beatrice Eyong; Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Region (ESARO) and Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa Region (WCARO), Dr. Maxime Houinato; Divisional Head, Business Support Service/ General Counsel, NGX, Dr. Irene Robinson-Ayanwale; Deputy Country Representative, Nigeria, UN Women, Mr. Lansana Wonneh; Head, Product Development, NGX, Chidinma Chukwueke-Okolo; Legal Manager, NGX, Nkemakonam Isiozor; Team Lead, Primary Market, NGX, Oyindamola Adeeko, and Team Lead, NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo), Martha Ibrahim, during the UN Women engagement with NGX in Lagos…yesterday

Rivers Guber: Fubara, Lulu-Briggs to Know Fate as Tribunal Reserves Judgment

Alex Enumah in Abuja

In a few days from now the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Siminalayi Fubara would know if he can continue to be the number one citizen of the oil-rich South-south state. This is following the reservation of a date for the delivery of judgment in a petition challenging his declaration as winner of the March 18 governorship election

in Rivers State.

After several hours of deliberation, the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday announced that judgment is reserved in the petition by governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

A three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Cletus Emifonye, made the announcement at the end of adoption of final written

Ogun Considers Special Court to Try Cultists

A Special Court is to be established by the Ogun State Government to try cult-related cases. Also to be set up is a Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force comprising all major security outfits, with the mandate to rid the state of the menace of cultism.

The state is also proposing an amnesty programme for would-be cultists who may wish to surrender their weapons.

These decisions were arrived at after a joint security meeting, held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday.

Governor Dapo Abiodun had on Tuesday hinted that his administration would enact a law that would pronounce the death

penalty on anyone caught engaging in cult activities in the state.

The governor spoke during a visit to the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, following days of cult-related clashes in Sagamu, which left many dead and others injured.

The meeting, according to Governor Abiodun, focused on providing adequate measures to eradicate cultism in the Gateway State.

Prince Abiodun said: “During the Joint Security meeting that took place today (Wednesday), we engaged in fruitful discussions regarding the implementation of measures aimed at combating cultism in Ogun State.

Ekiti Seals Deal with WEMABOD on Real Estate Development

GbengaSodeindeinAdoEkiti

EKiti State Government has sealed a deal with WEMABOD Limited, a subsidiary of Odua Investment Company, on some areas of collaboration between the state and the organisation.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who received the management and board of WEMABOD at the State Liaison Office in Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday signed an agreement with the company on three key areas, development of the informal sector of the state, real estate investment and housing scheme.

The governor said at the meeting that he was excited WEMABOD’s management was ready to change the narratives in terms of benefits accruable to the state on its investment in the company. He also commended the management of the company for taking steps at addressing various demands made by his administration.

Governor Oyebanji said he was bent on activating all economic potential and development prospects of the state with focus on completing ongoing projects and kick-starting new ones in a bid to build a more viable economy for the state and provide the people access to opportunities irrespective of their social status.

Emograms Old Students Plan Corpers’ Lodge in Delta

Tracy Amusa

The Emore Grammar School, Oleh, Old Students’ Association (Emograms-OSA) will today, Thursday September 21, lay the foundation for the Emograms Corpers’ Lodge project.

In statement, the association said the ceremony will hold in the morning in the school’s premises, Oleh, Isoko South Local

addresses by the parties in the petition. While Lulu-Briggs and Accord Party are the petitioners,

Fubara, and nine others are respondents. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),

had in March shortly after the governorship election declared Fubara, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) winner of the March 18 poll, on grounds that he scored the highest votes of 302,614, cast in the election.

Ohanaeze Youths Endorse Uzodinma’s Second Term Bid

Tony Icheku in Owerri

The Youth Wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide yesterday endorsed the second term ambition of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, insisting that the governor has initiated multifaceted developmental projects in the State that he needs to be

re-elected to consolidate on their gains.

The leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Youth Wing spoke at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Council Hall, Government House, Owerri when they paid a working visit to Governor Uzodimma after their week-long tour of Imo

State to assess the critical projects executed by the government of Sen. Uzodimma.

During the courtesy call, Governor Uzodimma urged the youths to avail him of an action plan on how to be relevant in the scheme of things, make themselves more robust and contribute more meaningfully to the society.

Led by Comrade Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the youths said they were delighted to visit the governor to “commend and encourage” him on his numerous developmental projects and to inform him that they were solidly behind his re-election so that he can “consolidate on his good works.”

Africa Can Overcome Major Challenges with AI, Says NCC

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has stated that Africa can overcome her major challenges of poverty, food

security, and access to healthcare, among others with adequate adoption and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

He stated this yesterday in his keynote address at the 11th edition of Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition holding in Abuja. Danbatta stated that AI has the

potential to provide solutions to major challenges faced by African countries, and as a continent.

“AI-powered solutions have the potential to address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges, such as limited access to healthcare, food security, financial inclusion, and infrastructure development,”

he said.

However, he noted that for Africa to fully embrace the benefits of AI, “we must address several critical factors. First, we must invest in building the necessary digital infrastructure. This includes expanding broadband connectivity.”

Kogi 2023: Ex-Chief of Naval Staff Promises Adequate Security, Youth, Women Empowerment

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The governorship candidate of Accord Party (AP) in Kogi State, former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Jibrin Usman, has assured the people of the state of adequate security if elected as the state governor

in the November 11 election.

He gave this assurance while speaking at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Koton Karfe, Kogi Local Government Area yesterday.

Usman explained that he was in the town to seek the people’s support ahead of the election,

noting that the time has come for the people of Kogi State to enjoy the real dividends of democracy.

He pointed out that as former naval chief, he facilitated the Naval Base in Banda between Koton Karfe and Lokoja, the state capital, whose presence

is instrumental to the relative peace across the state now.

The AP candidate stated that he was not the governor when this was done along with the Navy Secondary in Okura and another Naval Base in Idah all in Kogi State before retirement few years ago.

Osun Open to Development Partners for Progress, Says Adeleke

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has reiterated the readiness of the state government to welcome all development partners who are ready to support the state and his administration in the

effort to engineer the desired progress for the state.

The governor stated this at the opening ceremony of the 34th annual Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria being held in Osun.

The governor, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Public

Health, Dr Akindele Adekunle, stated that the government was pushing effort and activating action plans to rejuvenate the health sector of the state and thereby ready to welcome any development partners who is ready to support the government effort in the area of health and

other important sector in the state.

He said: “We see the Catholic Church as a partner in progress in the state and therefore enjoined them to do more by continuing to support my administration and people of the state in any area of their capacity.”

‘Delta Gov ‘ll Ensure Road Projects are Done to Specification’

Sylvester

The Special Adviser to Delta State Governor, on Projects Monitoring and Audit, Mr. Goodnews Agbi, has said that the current administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, would ensure that any road project awarded is executed

to specifications and standard.

He said the “MORE Agenda” of the Oborevwori’s administration would keep to the electioneering campaign promises he made to Deltans by bringing more socioeconomic growth to the state.

Agbi made the declaration yesterday in Asaba when he

assumed office at the State Secretariat, and promised that he would offer advices that would help the current administration to succeed and meet yearnings of the state.

Agbi also promised that the current government would constitute a task force across the

three senatorial districts to ensure all road projects are done to standard and specifications.

Also Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured of the commitment of his administration towards given equal attention to rural and urban roads in the state.

Government Area, Delta State and called on all members to attend.

The statement added that the project is being sponsored by the Lagos branch, on behalf of Emograms-OSA worldwide.

Emograms last year celebrated its Golden Jubilee , which was a celebration of the existence of the school and the great numerous alumni that have passed through the school in the past 50 years.

Tripple Gee Grows Earnings by 111%, Rewards Shareholders with Dividend

Yetunde Bello

The Chairman of Tripple Gee & Company Plc, Mr. Sam Ayininuola, has assured shareholders and other stakeholders of the company to expect improved performance going forward.

In his address to the shareholders at the 33rd Annual General Meeting

(AGM) held in Lagos, Ayininuola said despite the challenging operating environment Tripple Gee recorded significant growth for the year ended March 31, 2023, assuring stakeholders that going forward, “I see a bright and prosperous future for our great company.”

The company grew turnover by 111 per cent from N1.506 billion

in 2022 to N3.176 billion in 2023, while profit rose by 86 per cent from N98.1 million to N182 million in 2023. Based on the improved performance, the directors recommended the payment of 10 kobo dividend per share, which is 30 per cent higher than the seven kobo paid the previous year.

He said: “In spite of the daunting economic challenges, our company has maintained consistent growth in the last couple of years. The Board and Management have had to seize the bull by the horn, come up withfresh ideas and evolve policies which have enabled the company to safely navigate the harsh economic climate successfully.

Idowu inWarri

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

Own Goal Gifts Osimhen’s Napoli Win at Sporting Braga

Arsenal celebrate return to UCL after six years with 4-0 defeat of PSV

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates were gifted 2-1 victory at Sporting Braga last night after Sikou Niakate own goal handed the Italian League champions a UEFA Champions League opening victory in the final minutes of the clash in Portugal.

Osimhen hit the woodwork and provided the assist that helped Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo Fire

RESULTS

UCL

B’Munich 4-3 Man Utd

Galatasaray 2-2 Copenhagen

Arsenal 4-0 PSV

Sevilla 1-1 Lens

R’Madrid 1-0 U’Berlin

Bragga 1-2 Napoli

Benfica 0-2 Salzburg

Sociedad 1-1 Inter

Europa Conference

Lille 2-0 Olimpija TODAY

Europa League

Olympiacos v Freiburg

West Ham v TB Topola

Ajax v Marseille

Brighton v AEK Athens

Rangers v Real Betis

S’Prague v Limassol

Atalanta v Czestochowa

SturmGraz v Sporting CP

LASK v Liverpool

Pana’kos v Villarreal

Sheriff v Roma

Leverkusen v Haecken

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Napoli to the front in the added time of the first half.

The Super Eagles frontman fired several off targets in the second half to continue his goal-drought in a number of matches running.

Rudi Garcia's Napoli looked to be sharing the spoils in Portugal when Bruma flicked home a perfect header from Rodrigo Zalazar's cross with six minutes remaining. But with two minutes to go Niakate thumped Piotr Zielinski's

cross into his own net to give Napoli the Group C win at a soaking Estadio Municipal.

Napoli are now level on three points with Real Madrid, who beat Union Berlin 1-0 and travel to Napoli in their next fixture early next month.

And the Italian champions will need to be more clinical in front of goal against one of the tournament favourites after missing a host of first-half opportunities and allowing

Braga back into the match.

Garcia's team could have been leading Braga, in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2012, by three or four goals by the break.

And in the end Napoli had to be thankful that Pizzi's stoppage-time effort somehow stayed out after crashing into the inside of Alex Meret's near post.

Elsewhere, Manchester United were given a taste of what could have been as Harry Kane helped Bayern Munich to 4-3 victory over Erik ten Hag's struggling side in their Champions League opener.

GUNNERS BACK WITH A BANG!....

Bukayo Saka (left) was on target last night as Arsenal hammered PSV Eindhoven 4-0 to celebrate their return to the UEFA Champions League after six years absence

7TH NATIONAL YOUTH GAMES...

More Artistes to Perform at Opening Ceremony in Asaba

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, has added more artistes to the of those earlier picked to perform at the opening ceremony on Saturday.

Boy Spyce and May D are the latest addition to the list that include Khaid and Cooler Lane.

According to the statement issued by the LOC last night, the plan is to make the event all fun and memorable for the

youngsters coming to Asaba from all over the country.

“Like we promised, Asaba 2023 is planned to be a National Youth Games like never before. This is in consonance with the MORE Agenda of Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori,” an aide of the governor, Fred Edoreh stressed in the statement.

Meanwhile, over 4500 youths and 800 officials are expected to participate in the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba.

Chairman of Delta Sports Commission who also doubles as boss of the Local Organising Committee, Tonobok Okowa, assured all athletes and officials that this edition of the youth games will be like no other before it.

While promising tight security for all and sundry, Okowa said that the state had put in place all that is needed to have a memorable youth games.

He also informed that youths

Glo Commends Tobi Amusan’s Enterprise, Resilience

Globacom has commended the resilience and enterprise of athletics sensation, Tobi Amusan, who last Sunday won another Diamond League title in women’s 100metres hurdles.

Amusan, a Glo brand ambassador, won the race in 12.33secs in Eugene, United States, her third consecutive victory in the competition. She first won the title in 2021 with 12.42 seconds, and successfully defended the title in 2022 after running 12.29 seconds in Zurich, Switzerland.

She thus becomes the second

woman in the Diamond League history after Dawn Nelson-Harper to win a hat-trick of 100m hurdles titles.

The champion, who was unable to defend her World Championship title in Budapest, Hungary, due to distractions caused her by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), promised to come back “stronger and better”.

Globacom said in a statement yesterday that Amusan’s victory had shown that she was a talented professional who still had a lot to offer the world of athletics.

“With the third Diamond League trophy in her kitty, Amusan remains a true African ambassador at the world stage and an inspiration to millions of youths who look up to her as a role model”, the digital solutions company said in the statement.

It described Amusan as the quintessence of the Nigerian spirit of resilience and enterprise which Globacom symbolises, and urged her to continue to work hard, win more laurels and leave a mark that will be difficult to forget in world athletics.

It was no secret that the Red Devils would have liked to have signed Kane from Tottenham in the summer, but instead England's captain and record goalscorer opted for a career in Germany that has begun in stellar fashion.

At the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, the 30-year-old claimed both an assist and scored from the penalty spot to take his tally of goals this season to five in five games in all competitions.

At the Emirates Stadium in North London, Arsenal returned to the Champions League in style as they started their first campaign

in six years with an impressive 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven.

The Gunners wrapped up victory in their opening Group B game with a scintillating first half display that saw them race into a 3-0 lead on a rain-soaked night.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after eight minutes, pouncing on a rebound when PSV keeper Walter Benitez could only push Martin Odegaard's into the England winger's path. Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Odegaard contributed the other goals for the emphatic win for the Gunners.

Sports Minister, Enoh, in Spain for World Football Summit

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, is one of the sports personalities participating at The World Football Summit 2023 taking place in Fibes – Palacio De Congresos in Seville, Spain.

The Summit is the biggest global platform dedicated to the football industry.

It is also the gathering of the most influential professionals in the industry to discuss the most relevant topics, generate business opportunities and foster collaborations amongst nations.

According to an aide of the minister, Senator Enoh has already met with the Co-founder and Director of the World Football Summit, Jan Alessie and the Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samoura, to discuss possibilities of further assisting the country’s football development.

“The Honorable Minister’s participation at this summit will give him first hand knowledge of the business

of football and also help him open Nigeria up for better footballing and sporting opportunities.

“As he hopes to reposition sports in the country in line with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu, I believe this summit will enable the Honorable Minister to also interface with other sports personalities with the hope of fostering collaborations with other countries,” concludes the aide.

The World Football Summit is the platform that connects over 90,000 of the football industry’s decision-makers in an effort to generate new business opportunities and shape the future of the game.

Amongst some of the personalities to speak at this edition in Seville is Sevilla star player, Ivan Rakitic; CEO of Saudi Arabia Roshn League, Carlo Nohra; La Liga President, Javier Tebas, and the FIFA Scribe, Samoura amongst several Others. The Summit is to be rounded up today.

from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will compete in the 10-day youth sports fiesta. Okowa hinted that athletes will participate in 35 events during the festival which began yesterday and will run till September 30.

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh (left), with FIFA General Secretary, Fatma Samoura, at the World Football Summit in Seville, Spain...yesterday

Former First Lady Becomes Grand Patron of Nigeria Curling Federation

The Nigeria Curling Federation (NCF) has announced a former First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan as the Federation’s Grand Matron.

The NCF President Daniel Damola said the choice of Mrs. Jonathan was well-thought-out and also well-deserving of a woman who has invested her time and other resources to see that Curling as a sport in Nigeria stands out.

According to Mr. Damola, the former First Lady is one of the few Nigerians who ensured the country’s historic qualification for the Youth Winter Olympic Games

billed for South Korea next year.

“We acknowledge the kind heart of the former First Lady and that is why we have deemed it fit to accord her the prestigious position of Grand Matron” the NCF boss explained.

Responding, Dame Patience Jonathan expressed great delight in the honour bestowed on her even as she admitted it was a call to more service for the growth of Curling in Nigeria..

“My genuine appreciation goes to the World Curling Federation for acknowledging the drive towards improving sporting activities in our great nation. I am pleased to be

a recipient of this prestigious role and pledge to uphold the values and principles underpinning the sport.”

Mrs Jonathan while noting that sports plays a crucial role in fostering discipline amongst the youth and promoting national unity, stated that Curling offers an amazing opportunity for Nigeria to compete and excel on a global stage.

“I wish to reiterate my commitment to supporting and promoting the growth of curling in Nigeria, whilst recognizing and appreciating its potential to inspire our youth and empower them to create a legacy of athletic achievement and excellence.

Kennedy Peretei to Rotimi Akeredolu

“Akeredolu is beginning to fuel speculations that, against the advice of his doctors, he was hurriedly brought into Nigeria to foil an impeachment process. Does Akeredolu want to make Ibadan the capital of Ondo State?What is the hurry to resume all about if he cannot come to Ondo State? Would it not have made more sense if he was still attending to his health abroad?”—OndoStatePDPspokesmanontheailinggovernor whohasremainedinIbadansincereturningtoNigeria.

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

Tales of Sorrow, Tears and Blood

It says so much about our country that the government as well as our citizens appear oblivious to the monumental human misery in Morocco and Libya.

Given the magnitude of the catastrophe in the two North African countries, the federal government should have offered relief measures aside coordinating efforts at the level of individual citizens and corporate bodies to render support to the beleaguered people. Unfortunately, I would not be surprised if Nigerians are too consumed by their own existential challenges to be aware of what happened in Morocco and Libya. For such people, I will attempt to break it down.

It all started the evening of 8th September when a powerful earthquake struck a densely populated area near the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. The earthquake struck at 11 PM local time, which explains why in some cases, entire families were wiped out. With communities in the foothills completely flattened by massive boulders loosened from the mountains, no fewer than 2,946 people have reportedly died while the number of injured has been put at 5,674. Since when it rains on the continent, it pours, less than 48 hours after the tragedy in Morocco, ‘Storm Daniel’—regarded as the deadliest and costliest Mediterranean tropicallike cyclone ever recorded in history—landed in Libya after wreaking enormous damage in Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Two dams in the Libyan coastal city of Derna were destroyed, turning streets into rivers, as thousands of desperate

people were swept away with their houses and other possessions into the Mediterranean Sea. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) last weekend put the figures of death at 11,300 with 10,100 people declared missing.

I have read numerous heartrending stories describing these two African tragedies, some of which are almost of apocalyptic proportions. In the Morocco earthquake, for instance, Tayeb ait Ighenbaz was faced with the kind of choice nobody should pray to make: With his parents and his 11-year-old son trapped in the rubble, he had a few seconds to decide who needed his attention first. At the end, he saved his son but lost his parents. “It all happened so quickly. When the earthquake happened, we all ran to the door. My dad was sleeping, and I shouted at my mum to come, but she stayed behind to wait for him,” he lamented while recalling how he had to dig quickly to pull his son out of the rubble. “I couldn’t help my parents because the wall fell over half of their bodies. I saw my parents dying,” Tayeb reportedly said with tears.

Meanwhile, the situation in Libya has been described as “disastrous beyond comprehension” by an official of the World Health Organization (WHO). When the two dams collapsed in Derna, according to him, “the water was released like an atomic bomb.” In a note of anguish, the Libyan Minister of Civil Aviation, Hichem Chkiouat, lamented on Monday that many of the corpses

have remained where the water left them. “Bodies are lying everywhere – in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings. I am not exaggerating when I say that 25% of the city has disappeared,” Chkiouat told Reuters. A female local blogger, Sondos Shuwaib, recounted her horrifying experience. “There were corpses next to me, and corpses above me, and corpses beneath me...I am not able to comprehend what happened,” she wrote. “Sometimes I thank God for my survival – but when I remember my family…I wish I had died with them.”

The account of Husam Abdelgawi, a 31-year-old accountant, who spoke to the BBC, is equally gripping. Woken up by a barking dog, he was confronted with what he described as a “ghastly, unimaginable scene, worse than death itself to witness”. When water flooded his house, Husam and his younger brother were lucky to float on power cables still tethered to their poles which helped to ferry them towards a nearby building they entered through a third-floor window. It was from there they made it to a fifth-floor rooftop.

“The bodies of women and children were floating past us. Cars and entire houses were caught up in the current. Some of the bodies were swept by the water into our house,” Husam recalled.

With heavy rainfall accompanied by storms increasingly becoming a problem in a desert country, we need to learn the lessons of Climate Change we are yet to imbibe in Nigeria. But those are issues for another day. Video reports of

what happened in Morocco and Libya resemble scenes from horror movies. But while people all over the world are showing solidarity to the traumatised survivors in both countries, Nigerians are moving on as if nothing happened. It is true we have our own challenges, but I have also heard that the worst kind of poverty is when you believe you have nothing to give, especially to others in distress. As it is with individuals, so it is for nations.

With almost a million people affected by the tragedy in a country of 6.88 million people, where there are already more than 300,000 displaced people because of war, Libya faces a very difficult future. Morocco is also challenged but it has enough capacity to pull through. Climate change, according to President Bola Tinubu in his maiden address at the United Nations General Assembly, “severely impacts Nigeria and Africa. Northern Nigeria is hounded by desert encroachment on once arable land. Our south is pounded by the rising tide of coastal flooding and erosion. In the middle, the rainy season brings floods that kill and displace multitudes.” But he also did not forget to highlight the tragedies in Morocco and Libya, with a pledge: “The Nigerian people are with you.”

The president must match his word with action. The federal government, corporate bodies, and our citizens must rise for the people of Morocco and Libya in the spirit of African brotherhood and human solidarity.

Endorsing The ‘Dave Umahi Protocol’

Concrete roads require significant technical expertise, whereas laying bitumen roads is simple. This has resulted in all manner of people with political connections, including certified crooks, being in the business of road construction in Nigeria. It is therefore little wonder that many of the expensive asphalt roads across the country hardly survive beyond two rainy seasons before they collapse. Apparently determined to change that narrative, the Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umari has decided to go for concrete roads. And not surprisingly, the contractors are fighting back.

I have never met Umahi, but it is difficult to fault his argument that concrete roads are better suited for our environment. “We’ll redesign our roads in reinforced concrete pavement…I know that there are a lot of fights from contractors, but I am David, I am known for fight, and I will fight this because I have reported myself to Mr President” said Umahi last weekend at the State House. The former Governor of Ebonyi may be a David but if he imagines the only Goliath before him are the contractors then, he needs to be schooled in Abujapolitics. The real fightback will come from the National Assembly where budgets are usually cannibalized to take care of ‘constituency projects’, including perishable roads without designs—the kind of thing that Umahi wants to fight.

Arguments for concrete roads are quite compelling and I will rehash some that I once highlighted on this page. One, concrete roads have a long lifespan of between 25 and 50 years and do not require frequent repair or patching, unlike asphalt roads. Two, concrete roads can

support trucks and articulated vehicles carrying heavy loads with less impact than asphalt roads. Three, concrete roads do not get damaged by such things as leaking oil from vehicles or by weather conditions like excess rain or extreme heat. Four, it is now empirically proven that a vehicle, when run over a concrete road, consumes between 15 to 20 percent less fuel than when

on asphalt roads. Five, concrete roads are more environmentally friendly since asphalt (bitumen) produces highly polluting gases at the time of melting. Six, asphalt (bitumen which we import) is produced from petroleum, a wasting asset, whereas concrete (cement) is produced from limestone that is available in abundance, especially in Nigeria.

However, a major concern about concrete roads is that of safety. In rainy seasons, vehicles tend to slide on concrete roads, making them easily susceptible to accidents. In our kind of environment where motorists hardly obey traffic rules, that is a serious issue that we should not gloss over. There is also the challenge of maintenance. Since repairing concrete roads means replacing damaged slabs, that may also make its maintenance cost higher than that of asphalt. Notwithstanding, my vote is for concrete roads.

We can learn from India, which has the second largest network of the roads in the world (6,331,791 kilometres as of December 2022) after the United States. In India, the first concrete road was built in 1914 and because it remained pot-hole free for about 60 years, that has continued to encourage the trend in the country. If insanity means doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different outcomes, there is no reason we should continue to build asphalt roads that are often washed away after heavy rainfall when we have the option to build concrete roads that are more durable.

On Monday, I received a mail from a reader who wrote “with a sense of despair on how far things have degenerated in our dear country”, as he related his experience last Sunday on

the road from Lagos to Auchi, Edo State. He left Lagos at 9am but ‘was fortunate’ to have arrived his destination by 8.30pm (11 and a half hour for a journey that ordinarily should take no more than four hours) whereas many other travellers spent the night on the road. Around Sabongida-Ora, according to him, two trailers got stuck and blocked the road. “Communities along the road had erected barriers, but the tragedy of Nigeria was such that it became an avenue for youths to collect money from truck drivers before opening the barriers. Now this was where my luck came. I saw people going and coming by Okada and immediately hired one to take me to Afuze, a distance of about five kilometres”. He eventually continued his journey from Afuze to Auchi on another stretch of terrible road. “Next day I left for Abuja and that road is another sad story of where we are as a country.”

Why must we continue to waste money on building seasonal roads? Yes, I am following the debate. The contractors are protesting because they consider what I now describe as ‘The Umahi Protocol’ abrupt. I believe the Minister should dialogue with them on a transition plan. I also believe there should be a national policy on this issue. Unlike concrete roads that require specifications, asphalt roads, especially the kind being built by most contractors in Nigeria, are easily washed away after a heavy downpour. That explains why as many as five contracts can be awarded on the same road within a decade. According to Umahi, the president has already bought into his idea to change from asphalt to concrete for road construction in Nigeria. He can also count on my support.

Dave Umahi