TUESDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2023

Non-Interest

in

trail in the non-interest banking space in the half year 2023 as it posted impressive performance in financial indices, particularly

recording the highest Tier-1 capital in the sub-sector of the non-interest banking industry in the six months period.

latest Obi spoke on “The Morning At Last, CSU Releases Tinubu's Academic Records, Deposition Today

Request No. 2: A true and correct copy of any diploma issued by CSU in 1979 to Mr. Tinubu.

Response to Request No. 2: CSU does not in the ordinary course keep copies of student diplomas, and after diligent search cannot locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr. Tinubu in 1979, hence has no documents responsive to this request

after it set NlC, TuC suspend Planned Nationwide strike for 30 days... Page 8 uK government Takes diezani to Court over Bribery Charge... Page 36 place today in court. Although the institution failed to produce an original copy of Tinubu’s 1979 certificate in it Response to Request No 2. "CSU does not in the ordinary course keep copies of students’ diploma, and after diligent

which was the highest in the banking sub-sector and surpassed analysts’ projections. Continued on page 33 alex enumah in Abuja Chicago State University (CSU), yesterday, on the order of Judge Nancy Maldonado of United States District Court of Illinois, released the academic records of President Bola Tinubu in its custody. Deposition of CSU staff will take

mance Obi: No Country Floats Currency without Adequate Supply Says he would have devalued, borrowed to stabilise naira, boosted capital inflow through export Declares FG’s financial palliatives, subsidy removal done haphazardly James emejo in Abuja and Funmi Ogundare in Lagos The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday, criticised the President Bola Tinubu administration over the floating of the naira without detailed consideration of the supply-side implications. Obi said the ill-thought-out policy had subjected ordinary citizens to untold hardship and negatively affected the economy. Documents say Tinubu attended CSU, and "High School graduated from, Government College, Lagos" senate Committee Chairman on gas Commends Tinubu’s CNg Project... Page 32

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene

SIGNING OF THE $60 MILLION TRADE FINANCE FACILITY FOR ACCESS BANK...

Front Row (L-R): Executive Director, African Subsidiaries, Access Bank Plc. Seyi Kumapayi; and Director and Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance, British International Investment BII, Admir Imami; Back Row (L-R): Team Lead, Strategic Investments, Access Bank Plc. Kehinde Adeoti; Head of Office and Coverage Director, Nigeria, BII, Benson Adenuga; Coverage Manager, Nigeria, BII, Adeola Ukoha; Investment Manager, Trade and Supply Chain Finance, BII, David Banson; and Head, Trade and Global Transaction Banking (Africa), Access Bank Plc. Rowly Isioro at the official signing of the $60 million trade finance facility for Access Bank Plc in Nigeria and five of its pan-African subsidiaries in Lagos… recently.

FG Releases Blueprint on Digital Economy, Plans to Train 3m Tech Talents

Prioritises

Emma Okonji

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, yesterday, released a strategic blueprint for digital economy.

The blueprint focuses on five major pillars of knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and trade, as roadmap outlining the goals and objectives of the ministry.

The strategic plan, which was released via the X (Twitter) handle of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, highlighted some initiatives and projects that would be achieved by 2027.

Under the knowledge pillar, which was the first on the agenda, the Minister said government would work with industry stakeholders to train three million tech talents and prioritise job placement by the end of 2027.

According to the Minister, within the same period, the level of digital literacy of Nigerians would increase to 70 per cent, with a plan to position Nigeria to be among the top 25 percent

digital jobs by 2027

of research globally in six key areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Blockchain Technology and Additive Manufacturing.

According to the strategic plan, “Government is committed to talent development. We have set the ambitious goal to train three million early to mid-career technical talents over the next four years.

“The trainings will cover techenabled and tech-adjacent skills, core tech competencies and advanced proficiencies, designed to power our workforce to thrive in a constantly evolving technology landscape.

“Ultimately, our strategic intent is to train at least 1.5 million of the skilled professionals within our local talent pool and facilitate opportunities for another 1.5 million of our talented individuals to excel in the global talent marketplace, preferably through remote opportunities.”

Under the second pillar, which is centered around policy, the Minister said when properly designed and executed, the policy would provide a platform for innovation and

entrepreneurship to thrive.

“Over the next four years, our policies will focus on encouraging investment, research and development and the protection of intellectual property. By so doing, we will attract talents and investments to stimulate the nation’s innovation ecosystem.

“We have identified nine priority policy, regulatory and strategic initiatives for review and implementation, which includes: National Broadband

Plan, National Policy on Digital Public Infrastructure, National Policy on Telecommunications, National Blockchain Policy, National Digital Economy Bill, Nigeria Startup Bill, National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, National Data Strategy and National Digital Literacy Framework,” Tijani said.

In the area of broadband review and implementation, the Minister said the government would support the exiting plan to achieve 70 per

cent broadband penetration by 2025.

The Minister said the third pillar, which focuses on infrastructure, would address spectrum management, digital public infrastructure, among others, with a plan to achieve up to 50 per cent utilisation of identified spaces for innovation and tech related initiatives.

He also said the fourth pillar of the strategic blueprint, which focuses on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Capital, would provide a

roadmap for Nigeria to harness the potential of innovation, entrepreneurship and capital, as catalysts to transform Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Minister, in the document, said the fifth pillar of the strategic blueprint would serve as a roadmap in positioning Nigeria to become a major player in the African and global technology ecosystem, designed to grow inter-African trade by 500 per cent by 2027.

Betta Edu Commences Verification of National Social Register in Six Lagos Villages

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has flagged off the verification of the National Social Register (NSR) in Makoko and some other suburbs in Lagos State, with a promise to get Nigerians a social

Tinubu Congratulates General Akinrinade on His 84th Birthday

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu rejoiced with the former Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade (rtd), as he marks his 84th birthday today.

The President in a statement issued yesterday, by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, offered his heartfelt tribute to the elder statesman for his remarkable and enduring contributions to the advancement of Nigeria, both during his military service and as a civic leader following his retirement from active duty.

Recalling Akinrinade's excellent service to the nation during his time serving as Minister in the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Industries, and Transport, the President emphasised that the General's relentless dedication to the public good was a worthy example for future generations of Nigerians to emulate.

"His selfless service to our country has greatly contributed to national development," the President affirmed. Beyond his official contributions, the President fondly remembered Akinrinade's substantial participation

in the affairs of NADECO during the tenure of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and applauded the elder statesman's bold and courageous efforts during those turbulent times in the nation’s history. Tinubu expressed hope that Akinrinade's stellar qualities of integrity, self-discipline and excellence as both a public officer and as a gentleman would continue to inspire servicemen and all citizens alike. He prayed that God Almighty would grant the revered statesman sustained health and fulfillment in the years ahead.

register with integrity. The exercise, which commenced simultaneously across the country in line with President Bola Tinubu's ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ would last for three weeks.

Speaking shortly after she carried out door to door verification of the register at the remote Lagos suburb, the Minister, who was ferried in a canoe to the riverine villages, said the federal government was ready to put money into the hands of Nigerians to assist them in their businesses, education of their children, livelihood, and job creation. She said those who were captured would be checked to know if they deserved to be on the register or not, while areas left out would be covered.

"The federal government is going to put money into the households in Nigerians to assist them in terms of their businesses, livelihood, education, to be able to pay fees for their children, improve access to social services, subsidise their daily transportation cost, give them spending power to provide for basic health care needs, job creation etc.

"For us to do this, we need to verify the NSR. The President has

approved that we go down to the grassroots and ensure that the NSR is a true reflection of truly poor people.

"We need to verify that people on the list live below $1.95 cents a day and are affected by multidimensional poverty and sincerely are those who need help; those who have no business being there should be removed those who need to be on the register should be included.”

Speaking further, Edu said: "We are doing both community targeting and geographical targeting, we have seen that certain areas of Oko Agbon, Adogbo, Migbewhe, Makoko, Sogunro and Apollo villages have been covered by NSR, while certain areas have not been captured, we will capture them.

"The activities we will flag off here are being carried out across the country, working with states and communities. Our State governors will chair the steering committee at state while the local government areas and community leaders will be involved to get NSR with Integrity.

"We want to ensure that those who will be getting the money are those who truly need it with zero political social or personal

interference,” she said.

On his part, the new National Coordinator for the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), Abdulaziz Danladi, who described Edu, as a field and community-oriented Minister, said her passion for the job would be supported by all the foot soldiers. Danladi, said strengthening the social safety nets and social protection system in the country was a core strategy to help end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.

He explained that the core mandate of NASSCO was to lay a strong foundation for rigorous and reliable evidence of poor and vulnerable households in Nigeria which the Minister was championing.

The highpoint of the visit by the Minister, who was accompanied by the Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees migrants and IDPs, Mr. Aliyu Tijani Ahmed and Director General NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi as well as other top members of the Minister’s team, was the distribution of food items and expanded medical outreach to the vulnerable in Makoko community in Lagos state.

PartnershiP of aLat and WakanoW...

L-R: Chief Digital Officer, Wema Bank, Segun Adeniyi; CEO Wakanow Nigeria, Adenike Macaulay; Executive Director, Lagos Directorate, Wema Bank, Oluwole Ajimisinmi and Divisional Head, Retail and SME, Wema Bank, Ayodele Olojede at the partnership announcement of ALAT and Wakanow held in Lagos… recently

NLC, TUC Suspend Planned Nationwide Strike for 30 Days

Sign 15-point MoU with FG Minimum wage committee to be inaugurated within one month

FG to urge state govts to implement wage awards for their workers Accepts to vote N100bn for provision of CNG buses for mass transit To implement various tax incentives for private, public sectors

deji elumoye and onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja

The two-day meeting between the federal government and the organised labour to resolve the dispute arising from withdrawal of subsidy on price of petrol ended last night with the signing of a 15-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two parties.

The organised labour is made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Hon Simon Lalong, who read the communique issued at the end of the closed-door meeting held at the State House, Abuja, said following the conclusion of discussions between labour and government, both the NLC and TUC accepted to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite nationwide strike previously scheduled to begin today.

On behalf of the federal government, the MoU was signed by Lalong; the Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha. On the side of the organised labour, the MoU was signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC President, Festus Osifo and Secretary General Nuhu Toro.

Ajaero and Osifo, stated that all parties committed to henceforth abide by the dictates of social dialogue in all our future engagements.

The MoU stated inter alia: "Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS) by the federal government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the NLC and the TUC issued a strike notice which had elapsed and they were poised to embark on a strike billed to commence on Tuesday, the

3rd of October, 2023.

"Consequently, a meeting was called by the federal government to avert the strike and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:

"The federal government grants a wage award of N35,000 only to all federal government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

"A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.

"Federal government suspends collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months beginning from October, 2023.

"Federal government accepts to vote N100 billion for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Provisions are also being made for initial 55,000 CNG

conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme, whilst work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.

"The federal government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for private sector and the general public.

"On the leadership crises rocking the NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the federal government commits to handling Labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts. A resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.

"The issue of outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.”

UAE Delegation Arrives Nigeria to Renew Relations, Flights Resumption

Chinedu eze

As follow up to the visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently, a delegation from the Middle East nation arrived Abuja on Sunday, to finalise discussions on the possible lifting of visa ban on Nigeria and also conclude on when airlines from both countries would resume flight service to both countries. other's destinations.

Reports indicated that the five-man delegation from the UAE was expected to meet Nigerian officials over the next few days to restart diplomatic relations between Nigeria and UAE.

The UAE last year withdrew its airlines - Emirates and Etihad Airways - from operating to Nigeria and also stopped issuing visas to Nigeria in reaction to Emirates revenues trapped in Nigeria, which the government failed to remit to the airline.

The delegation comprised state

officials, including Alshehhu Rasheed, Teo Teck San, Almannaei Khalid, Alhosani Talal and Janahi Asma.

Tinubu recently made a stopover in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE on while returning from the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, to

kick-start discussions on renewing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to reports, the Nigerian President held meeting with President of Mohamed bin Zayad al Nahyan during the stop over on the issues concerning the restoration

of diplomatic relations and was expected that Emirates Airlines 21 flights a week, comprising two daily flights to Lagos and one daily flight to Abuja from Dubai would be restored and UAE would in turn restore Air Peace flights to the Middle East nation.

The agreement added: "The federal government commits to pay N25,000 per month for three months starting from October, 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.

"The federal government will increase its initiatives on subsidised distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.

"The federal government should urge state government through the National Economic Council and Governors’ Forum to implement wage award for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.

"The federal government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August broadcast to the nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises. The MSMEs beneficiaries

should commit to the principle of decent jobs.

"A joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.”

It stated further, “All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all our future engagements.

"The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.

"This Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.

Speaking after signing the MoU, the NLC and TUC Presidents said labour will not hesitate to review the agreements if any of them was not implemented after 30 days.

Peter Obi, Ex-NBA President, Others Ask Edo Youths to Revive Spirit of Production, Self-reliance

adibe emenyonu in Benin City

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the February 25th, 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi; the immediate past President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata; Social Critic, Mr. Dele Farotimi, have counseled Edo State youths on the need to imbibe

Garba Shehu: Buhari Brought Nigeria Out of Economic Hardship

Chuks okocha in Abuja

A former senior special assistant on media to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Garba Shehu, has insisted that contrary to insinuations, his principal brought Nigeria’s economy out of crisis.

Shehu made the remark while dismissing claims that Buhari’s administration threw Nigeria into myriads of problems leading to the current hardship in the country.

In an interview with BBC

Hausa Service, Shehu said no past administration found itself in economic hardship like Buhari’s, and noted that no government in the world could solve all the problems a nation faces.

According to the former senior special assistant to Buhari, “If there were hardships or problems, these should be looked into, to know how they came about.

“No administration in this country found itself in economic issues like Buhari’s because of our dependence on oil and prices,

which went down.

“We also had the Coronavirus pandemic. Nations shut their doors, and the economy plummeted. But, Alhamdulillah, Buhari brought the Nigerian economy out of that crisis.”

The First Lady, Remi Tinubu, had noted that President Bola Tinubu inherited a damaged economy from Buhari, and noted that Tinubu was not a magician but would work to fix the things damaged in the country

According to the first lady,

her husband inherited the current challenges in the country, adding that the president was determined to fix them rather than blame past leaders.

“All we inherited are things that had happened many years ago. We are not here to put blame on any administration but to fix what has been damaged. My husband is not a magician. He is going to work and I believe and hope that we will have peace in this country. The best is yet to come to us,” she said.

the culture of self-reliance, remain steadfast on ethical standards and also cultivate the spirit of production, as a means to better the state.

The trio and others who spoke, including the former Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Anselm Ojezua and the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Lilian Salami; also harped on citizens rights and obligations, and the need to always hold government accountable by seeking justice where necessary.

They all spoke during the symposium and launch of three hand books: “Citizens Rights and Obligations,” “Ethics, Values and Youth Re-orientation, and “Cottage Industry for Agro and Mineral Raw Materials Processing in Edo State,” organised by Unuedo Renaissance in Benin City, capital of Edo State.

While Obi, Akpata, Farotimi and Ojezua spoke as guest speakers, Salami who served as chairperson of the event gave the keynote address.

When Senate Sets Agenda for New CBN Management Team

Senate’s first assignment last Tuesday after returning from a six-week recess was the screening and confirmation of the new management team of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Senators used the opportunity to set agenda for the helmsmen of the nation’s apex financial institution, Sunday Aborisade reports

Senators were not expecting a busy and hectic session last Tuesday being the first legislative day after their annual holiday but the inclusion of the screening and confirmation of the newly appointed management team of the Central Bank of Nigeria in the Order Paper extended the plenary from the normal 2pm period till late in the evening.

The leadership of the 10th Senate did not help matters as the principal officers led by the presiding officer, Senator Godswill Akpabio, filed into the chamber almost two hours behind schedule.

As if that was not enough, the plenary dissolved into closed session shortly after the usual opening rites.

The rules of the red chamber was slightly adjusted after the lengthy executive session to enable the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, read the President Bola Tinubu’s official communication requesting the screening and confirmation of the CBN helmsmen, and allowing them inside the hallowed chamber for the exercise.

The nominee for the position of the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, and the deputy governor-nominees, Messrs Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor and Bala M. Bello, were given opportunities to address the Senate.

Each of the nominees gave brief introduction of themselves and what they planned to do in order to reposition the apex financial institution.

All of them admitted that the immediate past leadership of the CBN completely lost focus having jettisoned the bank’s core mandate and engaging in activities outside their scope.

The new team pledged to uphold the mandate of the CBN by coming up with short, medium and long term solutions to the current economic challenges facing the country.

The senators in their various observations

enumerated the various mistakes made by the past CBN leadership and specifically catalogued the actions taken by them which completely made them to derail from their core mandates.

Apart from warning the Cardosoled management team of the CBN to avoid the mistakes of the past, Senators also offered useful advice on what they should do to make them succeed.

Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Osita Izunaso, urged the new leadership of the apex bank to start opening their books for proper auditing by the office of the Auditor General for the Federation in accordance with the Act which established the bank.

On his part, Senator representing Jigawa North West, Babangida Useni, appealed to the new CBN board to think outside the box by coming up with friendly foreign exchange regime that would keep

the manufacturing firms in business.

Useni noted that 370 industries had become moribund in recent time quoting a report by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. He urged them to come up with policies that would do to revive them.

Abia South Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abia South, noted that beyond fantastic policies which his colleagues were demanding from the CBN helmsmen, they should have the courage to resist undue influence from the political class.

Corroborating the fears expressed by Abaribe, Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah, appealed to the team to end foreign exchange recycling among certain influential people in the country

Chairman of Senate Committee on Banking Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, asked what mechanisms that would be put in place to stop the distortion in the financial stability.

Also contributing, Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, called for thorough investigation of the current directors of the apex bank to explain their

roles in the various policy somersault of the past administration at the CBN.

Fadahunsi said, “The new team should thoroughly investigate all directors in the CBN and monitor their activities. They are the ones implementing policies and they contributed greatly to the rots being uncovered at the apex bank.

“The former deputy governors who had served the bank should be brought back as consultants since all the new team were appointed from outside of the bank. The directors who are involved in the roundtrip should be probed.

“A forensic expert should look into the books of the directors particularly those in the foreign exchange. The most worrisome aspect is that so investors can get the dollars. There is need for thorough investigation, a forensic expert who should found out how are CBN disbursing dollar.

“The unit that handles the Anchor Borrower programme and those in the foreign exchange should be made to expose how the last CBN management mismanaged the nation’s earnings in foreign exchange.

Apart from this, the nation’s borders should be reopened”.

Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu asked whether the new team could stabilise the naira.

In his submission, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, said government must intervene to stabilise the country’s currency, the Naira, noting that the market forces cannot bring stability to the naira against the dollar.

“The challenge we deal with now is everybody seems to have submitted completely to the so-called market forces and rely on the invisible eyes of Adams Smith to regulate and determine the value of the naira.

“It is now clear, after the Ibrahim Babangida’a started the devaluation, that the market forces can never stabilise the naira. The state must intervene.”

Each of the nominees gave brief introduction of themselves and what they planned to do in order to reposition the apex financial institution. All of them admitted that the immediate past leadership of the CBN completely lost focus having jettisoned the bank’s core mandate and engaging in activities outside their scope. The new team pledged to uphold the mandate of the CBN by coming up with short, medium and long term solutions to the current economic challenges facing the country.

Akpabio Barau

Oshiomhole

Cardoso

Kudos and Knock for Oyebanji as Ekiti Governor

Members of opposition parties including the people’s democratic party and action democratic party applaud as well as fault the performance of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti state as he marks 300 days in office. Gbenga Sodeinde reports.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji has no doubt performed creditably well in his first 300 days in the saddle as Ekiti Governor. His achievements within such a limited time in his four-year tenure have continued to attract praises from people of the state at home and abroad not leaving out members of the opposition parties.

One of such opposition voices giving kudos to the Ekiti State helmsman for his performance so far is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2022 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State, Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle.

Elebute-Halle in a recent interview with THISDAY commended Governor Oyebanji for what she described as “his good performance so far, particularly in the area of road infrastructure”.

The ADP chieftain, who doubled as ADP Presidential Campaign director-general in the just concluded general elections, commended Oyebanji for his pro-people projects and humanitarian gestures saying, “Governor Oyebanji is a very humble man. We share some attributes particularly in the areas of humanitarian gestures. Look at how far he has affected lives of some individuals positively in Ekiti in the recent time.

“Apart from this, Oyebanji is service-driven. If you look at what he has been able to do in the last few months, he should be commended. Politics apart, let’s be sincere!

“Before now, Ekiti State seemed to have been completely cut off from the rest of Nigeria, but under him, most of our federal roads that were hitherto in deplorable state are being fixed and reconstructed. For example, Ijan-Ijesa Isu, AdoIlawe roads are getting attention.

“Now, one can now link and connect any part of the country within a short time. I felt if God has given us a leader who is doing well like this, one should say thank you to him for taking good care of the Ekiti people. But that is a service he has sworn to give us and he is doing it well.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 18, 2022, election in Ekiti State, Mr. Bisi Kolawole, also commended Governor Oyebanji, for his remarkable achievements within a short space of time.

Kolawale who made the assertion during a courtesy visit to the Governor in his office in Ado Ekiti noted that Oyebanji’s visionary and purposeful leadership was being appreciated by the people of the state.

According to him, “So far so good, he has done well, the whole idea is to take Ekiti to the next level and he’s on the right track.

“He’s doing very well and I hope God will help him to sustain the pace.

“He was one of the pioneer people that spearheaded the creation of Ekiti State, if am not mistaken, he was the secretary, so, doing very well now is part of the project long ago. So there is nothing strange even about his

performance because I would not have expected anything short of that,” Kolawole stated.

Another PDP chieftain, and one of the noted critics of the APC, Lere Olayinka at a forum recently said “as for me, Governor Oyebanji is doing well and I won’t be blinded by politics not to acknowledge that.”

The PDP chieftain apparently felt highly impressed with the performance of Oyebanji, declared during a meeting with some PDP leaders in Ado Ekiti that Oyebanji deserves Ekiti’s collective support and urged the people to give him their support

According to him: “If you pass through Ita Awure – Aramoko – Igede Road this time last year and now, you will see the clear difference and this can’t be hidden even if you don’t like the face of the governor. Personally, I remember how many times I had issues with my vehicle’s tyres on that road.

“Also, I have seen the governor even visiting those who contested the guber election with him, including those who even challenged his election up to the Supreme Court.

“He is running government across political party lines and for that, there is peace in the state. That’s what Ekiti needs at this time.”

While former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose of the PDP said God was kind to Ekiti State to have made Oyebanji the governor, describing him as a listening and pragmatic leader, who is well prepared to offer diligent and excellent service.

Fayose who urged Ekiti people to support the new administration of Oyebanji so that he can improve the economic situation of the state and deliver on his promises to move the state forward.

Fayose said, “Governor Oyebanji had started very well judging by some of the steps he had taken so far, adding that the support of the people is what is needed so he can do more. In fact, God is kind to Ekiti State for giving us a governor like Biodun Oyebanji who is a pragmatic and

attentive leader.

“The former governor who said he was ready to offer his support and counsel at all times, maintained that the governor needed good advice from well-meaning leaders and citizens of the state on the best way to move the state forward, in the face of a global economic crisis.

“You are now the face of Ekiti, you need everybody to gather advice, you need good counselling, especially in a state where some people are looking for manners from above. I will continue to offer my advice, and when we have observations we call you to tell you.

“Support this governor, he’s not the Governor of APC, he’s not the Governor of PDP, though he contested under his party but he’s now the governor of Ekiti State. So, he needs all the support to succeed, and I know he shall succeed because he has started very well.

“I am not here to play politics, I am a PDP man when it is time for an election. I will fight you but right now you are the face of our state. You are the governor of our State. What I have seen of you is that you are a listening governor, you are well prepared to serve,” the statement added.

But despite all these avalanche of commendations, there is a PDP chieftain who decided to toe a different path of criticism rather than commending or praising the governor for all he has been doing in Ekiti within his first 300 days in office.

A former PDP State Chairman in Ekiti state, Gboyega Oguntuwase, however has a different opinion about the performance of Governor Biodun Oyebanji saying he saw nothing good that he could count as an achievement of the present Oyebanji/ APC led government in Ekiti state. He added that all he could see so far is that Governor Oyebanji is a very handsome looking gentleman, humble and lovable.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Kefas Takes Definite Steps to Develop Taraba

Since assumption of office as governor of Taraba State on 29th May, 2023, Dr Agbu Kefas, has left no one in doubt about his commitment and determination to chart a new course for the state in a bid to attain its full potential.

Kefas inherited a state that is rated very lowly in all indices of development including human and economic and development.

It used to be rated as one of the poorest states in the country despite its vast human, natural and mineral resources.

Aside the civil service, the vast majority of the people of the state are basically farmers, majority of whom engages in subsistent farming as industries and companies that are supposed to drive economic activities are non existent even though the state is blessed with numerous minerals that are basic raw materials for industrial growth.

Though previous administrations in the state made attempts to set up an industrial base for the state with the establishment of cottage industries such as Taraba Oil Mill, Taraba Timber Company, Taraba Poly Products, Taraba Feeds and Taraba Food Processing Company, such business concerns became moribund after few years of operation. Though the last administration in the state made attempts to revive some of such companies, many of them were revived while others remain comatose.

To make matters worse, the Taraba Vegetables Company, established by the Ishaku administration which gulped over N4 billion became moribund even before the expiration of the lifetime of the administration. As at today, the Company, which was one of the star projects of the administration, has become desolate with all the billions gone down the drain.

Similarly, Kefas inherited a civil service that is disoriented and largely ill motivated as well as a very large pool of retirees that had lost hope in the system due to epileptic payment of pensions and non payment of gratuities.

It is noteworthy that Taraba is one of the two states in the federation that did not implement the new minimum wage of N30,000.

It was therefore not surprising that Kefas’ inauguration on May 29th was greeted with so much excitement and euphoria as there was high expectations from the generality of the people that considering his background as a clergy who have been committed and devoted to charity and charitable endeavours over the years, he would make a difference by making the interest and welfare of the people a priority.

Addressing the people of the state during his swearing-in at the main bowl of Jolly Name Stadium in Jalingo, Kefas promised to tackle the economic challenges being faced by the vast majority of the people using youth and women empowerment as a tool.

He equally assured that his administration would tackle the menace of insecurity that has been bedevilling

the state over the years.

Being a security expert, the governor assured that he would engage all the stakeholders including traditional institutions, professionals, youths and other security experts to find a lasting solution to the insecurity bedevilling the state just as he specifically made strong commitments to revamp the educational and health sectors.

According to him, “my government shall make the necessary amenities and facilities available for better welfare of our people and we must ensure that the people are proud to call Taraba their own. My determination as governor is to make available proper health care and quality education to our people”

Though the Kefas administration did not embark on any construction project in its first 100 days in office, the administration is however being rated by residents as the most focused, most impactful administration in the state within just 100 days since its creation in 1991. The period under review was not only eventful, it revealed a governor that is on full throttle to rewrite the history of the state.

Kefas, having realized that the resources accruing to the state is grossly inadequate to develop the state and that there is need to seek partnership and collaboration that would fast track its growth particularly in the area of investment, embarked on several shuttle diplomacy to various international and local organizations to seek partnership.

Among such organizations are the World Bank; TETFUND; Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as well as the Chinese and Czech Embassies where he had talks with the Ambassadors of the two countries.

Others are the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority; the German Embassy; the European Union; Simba Group (for the supply of Tricycles) and representatives of German CUTEC E&E Ltd (for climate change and waste management).

It is worthy to note that all the organizations have pledged their commitment and readiness

to partner with the state.

And to announce the magnitude of his dream for the state, the Kefas administration sought and secured a N206 billion loan from a consortium of banks payable within four years. The loan is to be repaid through federal allocation (FAAC), Joint Account with LGS (JAC), VAT and internally generated revenue (IGR). The loan was obtained to finance the revolutionary policies of the administration in education, health, power, agriculture, infrastructure, civil service, mining etc.

Operation Make Jalingo Clean

Not oblivious of the huge burden he has to shoulder, Kefas hit the ground running with the launch of Operation keep Jalingo Clean within 24 hours of his inauguration.

To achieve the objective, over 300 youths and adults were engaged to sweep the streets and were placed on a stipend of N15,000 monthly. Though the renumeration may seem paltry, it was enough to attract unemployed graduates who have hitherto been idle over the years as well as other petty traders since the duration of work is 5am to 7.30am.

Local Government Election

Within the same span of 24 hours, he dissolved the existing caretaker committees in the 16 local government areas and directed the transfer of Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) to their respective local government areas to take charge of the running of the councils.

And in his determination to ensure proper governance at the local government areas, he has directed the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) to conduct elections into the Councils and November 18, 2023 date has been fixed for the poll.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Oyebanji

Governor agbu Kefas of Taraba State seems determined to lay a new foundation for the state as evident in his programme of action since his inauguration in May, 2023. Wole Ayodele reports

Kefas

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

THE URGENT TASK BEFORE CARDOSO

The CBN must regain its esteem as the custodian of financial wisdom

Mr Olayemi Cardoso has assumed office as the 12th Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu and subsequent confirmation by the Senate. He is coming to that exalted office along with four newly appointed deputy governors at a moment of great expectations and tremendous anxiety created by two immediate factors: One, the prevailing circumstances about his predecessor, Godwin Emefiele, who remains in incarceration amid allegations of impropriety; and two, free fall of the Naira in the exchange rate markets due mainly to speculations as dollar becomes a store of value for many Nigerians. There are of course other challenges associated with the economy at a period most Nigerians can hardly afford the basics of life.

Regardless of the fancy figures and statistics being bandied in recent years, most Nigerians remain massively impoverished. Our youth cannot find work even though they keep trooping out of institutions annually. Banks continue to lend mostly to those who either do not need the loans or have no intention to repay them while majority of deserving prospective borrowers’ grumble. In general, our banks have no stomach for innovation and remain risk averse on venture capital. It is quite encouraging though that Cardoso has promised to address these broad concerns during his confirmation hearing, an indication that he has a firm grasp of the basic political and macro-economic environment into which he is stepping. What he does with this seeming awareness is an entirely different matter.

Cardoso must learn from the experience of his predecessor that dabbling into partisan politics is a slippery slope. Occupants of CBN Governor’s office or its equivalents in most jurisdictions, including notably the United States and the United Kingdom, try very hard to keep away from politics while

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Letters to the Editor

dealing with the larger issues of mediating between the socio-economic objectives of the incumbent political dispensation and the monetary and fiscal policy measures required to achieve those objectives. But beyond side-stepping political booby traps that unfortunately terminated Emefiele’s tenure, Cardoso has the additional task of reverting the CBN to its requisite advisory and mostly technical intermediary roles. In this regard, his identification of developmental economics as a viable policy springboard deserves commendation and support when it comes into effect. This would seem to be the most credible route for ensuring that the CBN becomes more relevant to the needs and aspirations of ordinary Nigerians.

These are the realities that confront us and the CBN has a critical role to play in mitigating these disasters through its management of the banking sector and the general economic direction of the nation. In summary then, the CBN must create the monetary environment in which most Nigerians can honestly hope to realise their dreams for a better life through honest dealings in the nation’s financial system. For a people that have been acknowledged as hard working and enterprising, that is not asking for too much.

Ultimately, then, the best way to counsel Cardoso is perhaps to remind him of what the CBN is not. It is not a traditional government Ministry nor is it a political platform. It is not a philanthropic outfit nor is it a non-governmental charity. Most crucially, he must neither be an errand boy of the presidency nor set out on an ego competition with politicians and corporate show men. Instead, the CBN must regain its hallowed esteem as the custodian of financial wisdom and the government’s treasurer of last resort. In this regard, it must remain the epitome of accountability and should not hide under its regulatory authority status to violate the very rules from which its credibility and sanctity derive.

We wish Cardoso all the best as CBN Governor.

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

BETWEEN OBASANJO AND TRADITIONAL RULERS

Following what it deemed a public show of disrespect to traditional rulers by former President Olusegun Obasanjo , the Yoruba Council Worldwide has threatened a lawsuit against the former president if he fails to apologize.

Age is sage or at least should be sage. Wisdom also comes with age, or so the saying goes. In Africa of which Nigeria is very much a part of, old age is regarded as a blessing as it is widely believed that wisdom comes with age.

In 1999, fresh out of incarceration by the military government of Sani Abacha, Olusegun Obasanjo, himself a former military president, ascended the dizzying heights of Aso Rock to begin Nigeria’s latest romance with democracy.

Tasked with charting Nigeria’s course on this new path, the agenda for Obasanjo was clear – put Nigeria on the strongest footing going forward.

In eight years during which he huffed and puffed, a strong showing as president, was tempered with moments of indiscretion and irascibility such as when he attempted to elongate his tenure in 2006.

That the odious dream breathed its last in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian Senate arguably remains the greatest

legislative triumph in Nigeria’s recent memory.

Obasanjo left office in 2007 but not before midwifing the short-lived presidency of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. When the ship of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of which Obasanjo was a founding father, farcically fell apart in the 2015 election, Obasanjo’s red face was somehow tempered by his public renunciation of the party some months earlier.

He however, quickly became one of the staunchest critics of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Cutting, controversial and confrontational, the former president always seems to have his take on sundry national issues much to the chagrin of his detractors who feel he is responsible for many of Nigeria’s problems.

At an occasion at Iseyin Obasanjo was said to have ordered some traditional rulers at the occasion to stand up and greet the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, in a way that was primed to humiliate them.

For his actions at the outing, he has since attracted much opprobrium.

In Nigeria, traditional rulers remain critical custodians of customs and traditions. Equally important, they serve as trust-

ed and respected institutions which unite different parts of the society. When the British colonialists touched down in Nigeria after the Berlin Conference, the resistance they met was eventually broken when they decided to go through well- established traditional institutions. The policy of indirect rule was a roaring success in the North but a spectacular failure in the South, especially in the Southeast.

Little has changed regarding traditional institutions since except that there has been a deliberate design to water down the power and influence of traditional institutions by successive government administrations.

How has this been done? Those who seek to do this have found the carrot and stick approach handy. Sitting government officials usually threaten traditional rulers in many subtle ways.

So when the royal fathers stood and sat at Obasanjo’s ridiculous command like scolded school children, there was a shocking sense in which carefully concealed disrespect and conceit had spilled to the fore.

Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com

The CBN must create the monetary environment in which most Nigerians can honestly hope to realise their dreams for a better life through honest dealings in the nation’s financial system

FOCUS

Cardoso: Injecting Fresh Air into CBN

The four key objectives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) includes to ensure monetary and price stability; issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency; promote a sound financial system in Nigeria; and act as banker and provide economic and financial advice to the federal government.

However, the country’s weak fiscal space which created very wide space in terms of funding and interventions in critical sectors of the economy, saw successive leadership of the country’s central bank, through its development finance mandate, intervening in certain sectors of the economy.

While some of the initiatives were laudable, over the years there have been calls for the CBN to focus mainly on its core mandates so as to deliver the expected outcomes to the generality of Nigerians.

Indeed, from his response when he appeared before the Senate last week for his confirmation as the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, gave a clear indication that he was prepared to heed the call to ensure that the apex bank focuses purely on its core mandate as well as to inject fresh air into monetary policymaking at the bank.

Cardoso, also pledged to address identified distortions and ensure a conducive atmosphere for different categories of investors.

Tinubu had on September 15, nominated Cardoso as the new CBN Governor to serve for a period of five years. He was appointed alongside Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor and Bala M. Bello, as deputy governors.

Cardoso was at various times Chairman of Citibank and also served as Commissioner for Budget and National Planning when Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State (1999 – 2007).

He took over from Emefiele, who resigned following his suspension and detention as CBN Governor since June 9, 2023,

Before his confirmation, Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, one of the then deputy governors, had been in charge of the apex bank in acting capacity following his appointment by Tinubu.

Cardoso is from Lagos state and received his early education at Corona School Ikoyi and St. Gregory’s College in Lagos for his primary and secondary schooling. His father, Felix Bankole Cardoso, made history by becoming Nigeria’s first indigenous Accountant-General of the Federation in 1963. In 1980, he earned his Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University.

He furthered his education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS) and graduated as a Mason Fellow with a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2005.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to both the private and public sectors, Aston University honoured Cardoso with an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2017. He is also distinguished as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. Cardoso held the position of Chairman on the board of Citibank Nigeria and played an active role as a member of the Cities Alliance’s Africa Think Tank Group, dedicated to addressing urban development challenges.

He has served on the board of MRS Oil and chaired the board of EFinA. Previously, he served as the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget for Lagos State and was the founding Chairman and Co-Chair

of the Ehingbeti Summit, an economic summit in Lagos State.

Cardoso, while responding to questions from Senators last week, promised to pursue, reset, evidencebased monetary policy and measures to address challenges in the country’s foreign exchange market and stabilise the exchange rate.

He described the current exchange rate in Nigeria as very worrisome but pledged that the new management of the apex bank would in the coming days, come up with rules that would be open and transparent to the players and stakeholders in the economic sector to understand. He identified short, medium and long term strategies to address it.

Cardoso said, “On the issue of foreign exchange which everybody has been talking about, it is very worrisome to everybody. It goes without saying that for the sort of country we want, we need to have an exchange rate that is very stable for a country that we all dream of.

“There are short and medium term measures. The major short term measure has to do with balance of payments over a period of time like the sort of things that are being done already with respect to ensuring that we are getting more petroleum resources and diversifying in the economic base of the country.

“That, I believe, will continue by the present administration and of course it will take time I think we should take that as a medium term approach. There are two very important issues that we will have to address if we are confirmed.

“It is what I will term un-correlational issues. We are aware that there are unsettled obligations by the CBN. Whether it is $4 billion, $5 billion or

we believe very strongly that size matters.

“The economic policy proposal of the administration identified a set of physical reforms and growth patterns that will be achieved in $1 trillion GDP within eight years.

“In reviewing selected growth targets that can achieve $1 trillion GDP growth in comparison with selected countries with large population and similar characteristics as Nigeria, it is interesting to identify micro-economics indices that point to Nigeria’s economic trajectory being faithful to implementation of the proposed economic reforms.”

Speaking further on inflation, Cardoso said: “On the issue of inflation and the price of goods, the jury is out, some people will say structure, some others will say it is money supply issue. Truth is, it is a combination of both.

“If indeed it is food inflation we need to ramp up food production. That is the effort that the fiscal side will tackle and it is tackling and we will collaborate with them to ensure that it happens.

“If it is energy we know the challenges of energy that if you were importing things into the country that has energy component, automatically you are importing inflation.

“The whole objective of ensuring that the energy side of the country is ramped up. We will also work very closely with the fiscal side to ensure that it happens.

Also, speaking with a group of investors in his office in Abuja, Cardoso said under his leadership, the new management team at the apex bank would do its best to tackle impediments to liquidity in the foreign exchange market in Nigeria.

$7 billion, I don’t know but definitely the immediate priority is to ascertain the extent.

“We need to find a way to take care of that. It will be naive for us to be expecting to succeed if we are not able to handle that side of the foreign exchange market.”

Speaking further, he said: “Secondly, we have to be transparent so that any of the players in that market will understand. We have to come up with rules that are transparent also.

“You cannot reasonably expect serious foreign investors, portfolio investors full direct investment, without addressing the short term measures.

“Those players who will have direct impact on our market will not do so if we do not have an open transparent system that everybody understands, that can be relied upon, and which is not subject to review at will without the involvement of critical stakeholders.”

He noted that relatively, reliable studies had shown that in the past 10 to 15 years, at least 50 per cent of inflation had been as a result of money supply and deficit financing.

He said, “This is a big problem, at least it certainly has been over a period of time and it’s something we have to face frontally.”

He added that the CBN would ensure that the issue of deficit financing would not be a problem for the country.

Cardoso, enumerated plans to help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to achieve its projection of $1trillion GDP growth within eight years.

He said, “What is important to us is the element of economic growth. Our feeling is that in identifying the important issues with economic growth,

While disclosing plans to formally unveil his agenda for the monetary and financial sector in the days ahead, Cardoso stressed the importance of credibility and transparency in implementing the central bank’s monetary policy.

To achieve this, he said the apex bank would focus on strengthening its data-gathering system to ensure that only verifiable data would be relied upon for evidence-based decisions. According to him, the CBN would also adhere to rules that are known, acceptable and transparent for the conduct of monetary policy.

Speaking further on liquidity management, he said his team had a short-term goal of addressing structural issues within the financial system that gave rise to the liquidity challenge in the first instance.

On the relationship between the monetary and fiscal authorities, the new CBN Governor said there would continue to be consensus between both authorities to harmonise their positions on the interest rate and inflation. He, however, said the Bank would remain open to different views in its push for greater transparency.

Furthermore, Cardoso said the bank would only provide strategic policy support to critical sectors of the economy while allowing experts to take charge of such critical sectors, given that the expertise lies within other relevant agencies.

In their remarks, the investors, led by Mrs. Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, said they were at the CBN to discuss ways of strengthening collaboration to boost foreign investment in Nigeria.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the new leadership at the CBN is prepared to reform monetary policymaking at the bank as well as strengthen collaboration with the fiscal authorities so as to stimulate economic growth in the country.

Cardoso

Uzoamaka Eleko

Pers P ective

Gov. Uzodinma’s Burning Passion For Imo Youths

Gideon Ayogu

There is something undeniably remarkable about the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma. Love him or hate him, one thing that has become apparent about the man is that anything he sets his mind to; he goes about executing it with the utmost care, attention and to the highest standards possible.

The recent graduation of 15,000 youths from the Skill-Up Imo Programme, a pet project of the Imo State Government anchored under the Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government is a pointer to this fact about Uzodinma.

A laudable initiative, the Skill-Up Imo Programme represents a futuristic capacity development scheme focused on empowering youths of the state with cutting-edge digital skills that will keep them relevant in the 21st century. The programme combines hard technical skills with soft employability skills, transforming beneficiaries into groom well-rounded professionals who can ply their trade at any level in the local and global digital economy.

The programme, which covers entry and advanced-level digital skills such as computer appreciation, device repairs and maintenance, content creation, web design and development, Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data Analytics, Cybersecurity etc., has been applauded by many as a useful tool to engage the budding human capital in the state, while also harnessing and unleashing their latent potentialities in the digital economy to improve the fortunes of the state.

Uzodinma has often received high praise from admirers and critics alike for the quality of roads he has built since he assumed office, along with the way he has lit up these road networks. Indeed, there is a school of thought that he has constructed the best quality of roads ever seen since the inception of Imo State.

However, the special thing that has set him apart and further endeared him to the youths of Imo State is knowledge democratization. For the first time in a long while, youths of Imo State have found a governor who is eager to empower them with 21st Century knowledge, rather than use them as political thugs to actualize selfish ambitions.

Interestingly, what is happening with the ongoing

Skill-Up Imo Programme is the culmination of a promise made by the Imo State Governor. When he first assumed office, Uzodinma promised that he would change the lives of the youths and make them global citizens. In one of the major steps he took towards actualizing this vision, Uzodinma shocked many watchers when he approached the-then Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami for the release of Dr. Chimezie Amadi, one of the best technocrats in the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to head the newly created Ministry of Digital Economy and e-Government as Commissioner.

Ordinarily, a selfish politician would have appointed a lackey or one of his stooges to ensure loyalty or subservience or even to make

political noise of this instrumental venture. But in his appointment of Dr. Amadi, Gov. Uzodinma showed the extent to which he was willing to go in rewriting the narrative of the sheer strength of the human capital in Imo State. It is an open secret that round pegs are meant for round holes and Dr. Amadi’s appointment has indeed been a masterstroke. Under the guidance of Uzodinma, he has established the commendable Skill-Up project, while also putting in place global best practices and processes to not only equip participants with cutting-edge skills that would aid them secure gainful employment, but also empowering them with entrepreneurial knowledge that would see many succeed on their own.

This project, which commenced two years ago, is gradually putting Imo State on the map as a leading digital hub in Nigeria, but also making it the beautiful bride of tech giants and other corporates looking for quality human capital to recruit. About 5000 youths were graduated from the first batch of the programme – a number that many tertiary institutions in Nigeria would struggle to accommodate in their graduation list. Most of these participants were fed and received stipends for their transportation in the course of the programme and upon graduation, received either laptops, tablets or smartphones.

These giant strides have not gone unnoticed and as a result, some notable and well-meaning citizens of Imo State have jumped on board to support the Imo State Government in this outstanding initiative. Consequently, several graduates of the Skill-Up Imo Programme have been employed in firms owned by leading Imolites. A good example is the Zinox Group owned by arguably Africa’s biggest tech guru, Leo Stan Ekeh, which was in the news for employing many graduates of the scheme.

In a country where unemployment statistics is at double-digits, the action of the Imo State Government in onboarding another 15,000 youths for the empowerment programme is nothing short of astounding. This batch of 15,000 participants underwent four months of intensive training by a faculty comprising some of the best minds in Nigeria and even from abroad. The participants also benefitted from exposure to trainings by several Imolites in the Diaspora.

Upon graduation, the participants received either a brand-new Zinox or HP laptop at a well-attended graced by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Nkiru Onyejeocha, many Distinguished Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, captains of industries and much more.

Currently, the news is that another set of 45,000 is being recruited for the next cohort of the programme.

Now, the interesting development is that these Imo youths who recently graduated from the Skill-Up project are also catching the attention of global tech giants. This is due to the structured contents and processes upon which the SkillUp Programme has been built, all of which is transforming the 3R Digital Learning Centre into a Centre of Excellence in Africa. Some of these tech giants from Europe, Canada, Singapore, etc. have had the privilege of visiting the centre to see things for themselves. Owing to the conviction from the evidence on the ground, a number of them have expressed interest in a partnership with the Skill-Up Imo Programme under the Imo State Government which will see some graduates of the programme come over for an exchange programme to further shore up their global competitiveness and marketability.

It is remarkable that Governor Uzodinma has gone even further by promising to support the selected graduates by subsidizing their trip abroad to facilitate the partnership. The driving ambition behind this gesture is the fact that some of these graduates may eventually return to Imo State to establish startups after working for a few years in these countries, while others may even choose to work remotely for these global brands.

This is worthy of commendation and celebration.

For a state that once held pride of place as a beacon of light in the South-East and which in recent times seems to be struggling to reclaim its glory days, there is ample evidence that with the Skill-Up Imo Programme of the Uzodinma administration, Imo State is on the march towards becoming the envy of other states in Nigeria once again.

• Mr. Gideon Ayogu, Future Economy Analyst

Embracing Effective and Strategic Leadership: A Path to Nigeria’s Progress

Dr Alim Abubakre

As Nigeria celebrates its 63rd independence anniversary, it is a moment of reflection and an opportunity to chart a brighter future for the nation. I have an individual social responsibility to share insights on effective and strategic leadership informed by my privilege of engaging over 4,000 leaders globally. Every time I speak with leaders, I observe that they agree that executives in government and business play pivotal roles in shaping Nigeria’s destiny.

The billion-dollar question is, what values do Strategic leaders in Nigeria need to succeed in this fast-paced, increasingly volatile and competitive world?

Peter Drucker, a management guru, once asked, “What needs to be done?” This question, along with another critical inquiry, “What is right for the enterprise?” should guide the decisions and actions of our leaders. These two questions encapsulate the essence of effective and strategic leadership.

Successful leaders from emerging countries have demonstrated the below-listed qualities, providing valuable examples for Nigeria.

SMART action plans

Leaders in countries like India, China, and Brazil have excelled by developing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) action plans. For instance, leaders in UAE (tax-free income initiative has made it a hub for global talent) and Estonia (e-residency programme stimulating start-up growth and innovation) have leveraged global and local talent to boost employment generation and national renewal.

Taking responsibility

When Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore to independence,

he took full responsibility for the decisions made. His commitment to good governance and economic development transformed Singapore into a global economic powerhouse. Furthermore, Strategic leaders take responsibility for their decisions, a trait exhibited by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African female DG of WTO. Dr Ngozi’s new focus on sustainability and commendable efforts to inspire the WTO to focus on its core values and strive to update the WTO rulebook to address 21st-century challenges should inspire leaders in Nigeria to take responsibility.

Effective communication

China’s leaders have understood the importance of effective communication in conveying their vision for the country’s growth. Their consistent messaging has rallied the nation behind their goals. On the home front, leaders like MKO Abiola and Tony Elumelu are known for their effective communication skills, rallying stakeholders around a shared vision for entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and political liberation in the case of MKO.

Turning challenges to vitamins

Leaders in South Korea, faced with adversity after the Korean War, turned challenges into opportunities by investing in education and technology. Today, South Korea is known for its innovation and economic strength. I observed that effective and strategic leaders embrace what we say at TEXEM and what Albert Einstein said: “Failure is success in progress.”

Productive meetings

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, is renowned for running productive meetings.

His ability to facilitate discussions and encourage collaboration has contributed to his company’s success. For those who prefer a Nigerian example, I share the nation’s icon, Amina J. Mohammed, Nigeria’s Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ms. Amina is adept at running productive meetings and fostering international cooperation despite the diverse interests of the UN’s five veto-wielding countries.

Emphasising “we” over “I”

In Malaysia, leaders like Tun Abdul Razak emphasised collective efforts over personal gain, fostering unity and inclusivity in the nation’s development. I asked the top leadership of Oracle during some work with this organisation what makes you so successful in database technology. Their resounding response “is always have a strong team better than you.” If Oracle could embrace this mantra, so could Nigerian leaders.

Stakeholder engagement

Brazil’s leaders, especially during the Lula da Silva era, effectively engaged stakeholders to address issues like poverty and inequality, leading to improved social and economic conditions. Also, one of Aliko Dangote’s unique selling points that is valuable, difficult to imitate and rare is his ability to engage with various stakeholders to build a successful enterprise, employing tens of thousands, providing revenue for thousands of suppliers, generating revenue through tax for government and contributing to national growth.

Building strong teams

China’s tech giant Tencent, led by leaders like Pony Ma, empowers its teams to innovate and take ownership of projects, resulting in continuous growth and innovation. Also, the founders of Nigeria, such

as Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Ehahoro and Ahmadu Bello, set aside their differences to collaborate to negotiate independence for Nigeria, which is now celebrating its 63rd anniversary this October 1.

Upholding a moral compass

John D. Rockefeller, a titan in the oil industry, believed that “good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” His commitment to ethical business practices set a standard for corporate responsibility.

Embracing the values of effective and strategic leadership articulated in this article is not just a choice but imperative for Nigeria’s progress in the 21st century. My experience with diverse, successful global leaders has revealed that if Nigerians incorporate these qualities into their leadership practice, they will succeed in championing good governance and nation-building in Nigeria. It requires leaders to look beyond personal interests and focus on the nation’s collective well-being. Sun Tzu wisely noted, “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” Effective and strategic leaders grasp opportunities to create a better future for all that will endure.

As Nigeria marks its 63rd independence anniversary, let us heed the wisdom of these leaders and commit ourselves to embracing effective and strategic leadership.

In the words of Alfred Sloan, former CEO of General Motors, “The job of a leader is not to create greatness in people, but to create the conditions under which greatness is possible.” It is time for our leaders in government and business to create these conditions for a prosperous and united Nigeria.

•Dr Alim Abubakre is the Founder of TEXEM, UK, is on the London Business School Africa Club advisory board and is a Sheffield Business School Senior Lecturer.

Uzodinma

CBN: The Task Before Yemi Cardoso’s Team

Fair Hearing’s Insufficiency to Categorise Ground of Appeal as Ground of Law

Page IV

CBN: The Task Before Yemi Cardoso’s Team

Quotables

‘This administration shall also guarantee excellent conditions of service, and remuneration good enough to appreciate the onerous duties of judicial officers at all levels.’- AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN

‘….We have reached certain agreements, that inure to the benefit of the Nigerian workeragreements on wage….salary increments….We pray, believe and hope that the strike will be called off…. Labour and Government are not adversaries….’ - Rt. Hon. Olufemi Gbajabiamila, CFR, Lawyer; Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Mohbad: Coroner Holds Preliminary Sitting, Adjourns to Oct 13

Page V

Page V

PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, CON, SAN, FCIArb,, PH.D. LLD

Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.

This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.

The writer of this column, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria’s pioneer human rights league, on October 15, 1987, the Universal defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Prof Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

BRIPAN Calls for Stronger Legal and Regulatory Framework for Business Restructuring and Insolvency

Page V

'Nigeria, Not a Debt Risk Nation’, Discussants

National Assembly and Legislative Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy of the Legislature

The height of hypocrisy in this country, sometimes seems unparalleled! And, it’s all the more painful when it comes from Government, especially elected officials who were ‘voted’ into office to represent the interests of the people, but end up representing their own personal interests instead, while the people are left to their own cruel fate. I watched the screening of the new Central Bank Governor (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso and the Deputy Governors, and found it incredulously funny that the Senators, some of whom were members of the 9th Senate, could be “dissing” the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele for breaching Section 38 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, by unlawfully granting the Buhari administration Ways and Means Advances like running water, contrary to the conditions set out in the aforementioned Section 38, particularly Section 38(2) & (3). Section 38(3) (b) of the CBN Act provides that there shall not be securitisation of Ways and Means advances. Was the 9th Senate not the one, towards the end of their tenure, who then went ahead to assent to President Buhari’s unlawful request that the illegal Ways and Means Advances be securitised? During the aforementioned screening, the 10th Senate also mentioned several interventions undertaken by the immediate past CBN Governor, that were not part of the core mandate of a Central Bank, and hoped that the new Governor would concentrate on implementing sound monetary policy and only that which concerns a Central Bank, instead of descending into the arena as an Industrialist, Trader, Farmer, Herder, Businessman, Politician etc. As if the 9th Senate took any meaningful measures, when Mr Emefiele was ultra vires the CBN mandate.

The Role of the Legislature

Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023)(the Constitution) gives the National Assembly (NASS) and State Houses of Assembly the power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the country and States, respectively. See the case of Nwokedi v Anambra State Govt & Anor (2022) LPELR-57033(SC) per Abdu Aboki, JSC. Imagine the 9th Senate ratifying the breach of its own law, Section 38 of the CBN Act, by approving the securitisation of the Ways and Means Advances? How orderly was that? Sections 88 & 89 of the Constitution give NASS oversight and investigative functions over issues that it has the powers to make laws for, that is, all the items on the Exclusive Legislative List and those set out on the Concurrent Legislative List in the first column, Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution. Items No. 5, 6, 7, 15 & 24, are some of the related financial issues on the Exclusive Legislative List like Banks, banking, currency, exchange control and Item 50 - Public debt of the Federation, which fall under the purview of NASS for lawmaking, oversight and investigation.

When the CBN announced its disastrous currency redesign policy in October 2022, knowing that global best practices requires a minimum of six months to implement such a policy, how active was the rubber stamp 9th Senate, in trying to stop its implementation and what did they do when so much suffering was unleashed on their constituents all over Nigeria, those whose interests they were elected to represent and protect? Nigerians really suffered during that time. While some Senators did call for an extension of time on the deadline for the use of the old notes to April 2023, some like Senator Uba Sani (now Governor of Kaduna State) called for the Senate to give the useless currency redesign policy legislative backing, complete with the January 31 irrational deadline.

The truth of the matter is that, more light is shone upon the Judiciary and Executive and how they carry out their functions, while the Legislature is almost ignored when it comes to its activities, with public focus being mostly on the fact that Legislators are overpaid.

How well did the National Assembly conduct its oversight functions, with regard to the CBN and all its unlawful activities? At one of the rowdy sessions on the Naira redesign policy, Senator Suswan had stated that the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had always shunned Senate invitations, and urged the Senate to ignore the Policy! How? Why? In a country that the Senate, which is meant to be the highest lawmaking and oversight body representing the people, is up and doing, how can the Governor of the Central Bank ignore its invitations to appear?

Either the members have compromised themselves to such an extent to the CBN Governor, that they have become nothing but a toothless bulldog in his eyes, or he only takes instructions from a ‘coequal’ higher power, the President (Executive arm of Government) or a combination of both.

My point? With the change in baton on May 29, 2023, Nigerians are not only looking to improvements in the way the other arms of government carry out their functions, they are also looking to the Legislators to start to do their work, part of which is to monitor the daily conduct of the Executive on how it is ruling,

onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com

onikepob@yahoo.com

and to monitor the activities of other agencies. What are all the various Committees that stand in both Houses of the National Assembly, for? Decoration?

The Legislature, their Constituents & Environmental Pollution

Last week, we published a news story titled “SERAP: Recognise the Right of the Niger Delta People”, calling for the Federal Government and other key players to “recognise the right of the people in the Niger Delta to a clean and healthy environment”; it goes without saying that the Niger Deltans are entitled to same. See the case of Centre for Oil Pollution Watch v NNPC (2018) LPELR-50830(SC). But, again, it reminded me of how NASS has abdicated its responsibility for protecting the interests of their constituents as far as environmental pollution is concerned, especially NASS members from the oil producing Niger Delta areas; ditto for the Federal Government/Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA)/NOSDRA (National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency) and the National Orientation Agency. Their failure includes not calling community members to order, when the need arises. We have always had the impression, that the the International Oil Companies (IOCs) are solely responsible for environmental pollution and despoliation. This is not entirely true. While it is true that there will always be mishaps on the part of the IOCs, and they are certainly responsible for a good number of the spillages, some local community members are also culpable, because they damage oil installations in their bid to steal oil for themselves, ending up causing leakages that result in oil spillage. Also, believing that the IOCs have a bottomless pit of funds, community members damage the oil pipelines in order to lay claims against the operating IOC for compensation due to spillage. Some also operate illegal storage facilities and refineries, which also cause environmental pollution.

Most interestingly, a player in the oil sector explained to me that when there’s a spillage caused by the IOC, and the IOC immediately tries to go in to contain it, the community members sometimes prevent the IOC from reaching the spillage area to stop it. The longer they are prevented from gaining access, the bigger the spillage area expands, and the bigger the spillage area, the higher the amount of compensation to be paid! Why would anyone facilitate the further destruction of their environment, just to make money? False claims ‘nkò’? Communities claiming that there has been a spillage in their area, with no verifiable proof of same; or making bloated claims for compensation. This kind of behaviour is off-putting for any investor, and enough to make them flee. Why would investors be interested in doing business in hostile host communities, where the news of their antics would have spread far and wide? And, honestly, we need their investments. While no one condones negligence on the part of the IOCs, there must be better dispute resolution mechanisms put in place, in the interest of all the parties involved.

What role has NASS, particularly the Niger Delta NASS members played, in educating their constituents on the dangers of their schemes to get compensation from IOCs, and the negative effect on their immediate environment and health? Or how detrimental the blocking of good CSR Initiatives of the IOCs by community members is, to the development of their communities? Have they educated them on the fact that many of their actions which they may feel they are punishing the IOCs or displaying their strength as host communities, amount to nothing more than cutting off their noses to spite their faces? That because of the unending problems caused in host communities, IOCs have fled offshore and left their onshore assets behind - a repellent to FDI. How do we re-attract the IOCs? How

do we attract new FDI, apart from the Chinese?

The Bodo Example

Take for example, the Bodo (Gokana, Rivers State) Oil Spill of 2008. It was an operational spill, which spread because the community denied Shell access to the spillage site. There was a £55 million settlement reached, that Shell agreed to pay to the community members as compensation for the spillage. It is alleged that after Shell had paid about £35 million through the Lawyers out of the agreed £55 million, the community refused them access to clean up the area. Another habit of communities, is to ask for compensation to do the clean up themselves, even if the local contractors may not have the capacity to do same. A Bodo Mediation Initiative had to be established, simply to settle the clean up imbroglio. Up till now, I can’t say the clean up of Bodo has been completed. I stand to be corrected. My question is, what have NASS members done, to bridge the gap between community members and IOCs, in order to create a more cordial relationship between them? Hand in hand with the National Orientation Agency, this is part of their role as elective representatives, since they are representatives of the people and they are possibly one of the most primary contacts to the people. Has NASS exercised any oversight functions on NOSDRA, to ensure that the Agency lives up to its mandate as far as oil spillage goes? See the NOSDRA (Establishment) Act 2006, particularly Sections 5 & 6. What have they done to foster a progressive atmosphere in their communities, so that meaningful CSR projects can be implemented in peace and not in pieces, for the benefit of the people? Au contraire, I understand that NASS members too sometimes create more problems, as they also want to get a piece of the action, reap whatever benefits they can for themselves, and have all their brothers’ and sisters’ companies also do the clean ups from oil spillages, and also get all the local content contracts, whether or not they are qualified to carry out these functions. The infighting between community members, makes matters worse. This is just another example, of NASS failing in their constitutional duties to constituents.

Conclusion

NASS members, also need to take a leaf from their own book of advice and grilling of nominees. Just as they expect Yemi Cardoso and his team to adhere to the CBN Act (unlike the previous Emefiele team) and set the CBN back onto the right track, similarly, Nigerians expect NASS to start earning their overbloated salaries by not only passing good laws, but performing their investigative and oversight functions properly.

For example, both the Senate and House of Representatives have Committees on Aviation, yet, it is the norm for practically every local Nigerian flight to be delayed, while a good number are cancelled without prior notice - as it is always announced over the airport public address system, due to “operational reasons”! Safety is also an issue, in local air travel. What have those NASS Aviation Committees/NASS done to address this? Nothing. A country where one cannot plan, when it involves local air travel - a necessity for the average working person!

In July, I had an appointment in Liverpool, UK. I decided to go by train and planned my trip from London to Liverpool from Lagos. Everything worked seamlessly, and at exactly 5.03pm as is stated on the Train Timetable, my return train pulled into London Euston Station and I was able to get to my 5.45pm appointment which had also been scheduled in advance. In contrast, less than two weeks ago, I got to Abuja Airport at 3pm to catch a 4.15pm flight to Lagos; the flight had been delayed till 8.45pm with no prior notice! Another time, I got to the airport at 12 noon to catch at 1.15pm flight; I was still at the airport waiting at 6pm, with no information. Naturally, I missed my appointment in Lagos. Daily, Nigerians are unable to keep up with prior important commitments, because they are stranded at various Nigerian airports. And, NASS hasn’t hauled in the airlines to explain, nor are they concerned that a country that doesn’t adhere to global best practices to produce the best outcomes, will never be an attractive spot for FDI. The fact that IOCs for one, are divesting themselves of their onshore assets, means that they would rather forgo their profit, instead of facing our ‘wahala’. This narrative needs to change now. We are four months into the Tinubu administration, and it is obvious that for our economy to enjoy any form of ‘Renewed Hope’, we need to attract and re-attract FDI. But, we see that in the last few years, if anything, foreigners have been leaving Nigeria in droves, for many reasons including but not limited to pervasive corruption in Nigeria, poor work ethic, hardship of doing business, inconsistent Government policies, irrational economic policies, insecurity, and problems with host communities. This has caused a major setback, preventing us from achieving the Section 16 Economic Objectives of the Constitution. The National Assembly needs to step up to the plate.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas

"NASS members, also need to take a leaf from their own book of advice and grilling of nominees. Just as they expect Yemi Cardoso and his team to adhere to the CBN Act (unlike the previous Emefiele team) and set the CBN back onto the right track, similarly, Nigerians expect NASS to start earning their over-bloated salaries by not only passing good laws, but performing their investigative and oversight functions properly"

Fair Hearing’s Insufficiency to Categorise Ground of Appeal as Ground of Law

Facts

The Appellant (now late and substituted by his Executors), while he was a Judge of the High Court of Borno State Judiciary, applied for, and was granted a Right of Occupancy over a parcel of land along Lagos Street, Maiduguri, in 1981. The right was granted with express and implied covenants for payment of yearly rents by the Appellant and to erect building on the land worth N100,000 within two years of the grant of the Right of Occupancy. The parcel of land was subsequently registered and covered by Certificate of Occupancy Number BO/7505, dated 11th May, 1989, with the condition that future annual rents payable is advance on 1st January each year, without demand, direct to the land section of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, and fulfilment of other conditions, including developing the land within a time frame.

The Appellant took possession of the land, paid fees, annual rents, bought blocks and trips of sand to develop the said plot of land. He later transferred his service to Lagos State Judiciary in 1992, and retired in 1999 as a Chief Judge. However, the Appellant stopped paying rents to the 2nd - 4th Respondent since 2000. Consequently, the Appellant’s Certificate of Occupancy No. BO/7505 was revoked in the year 2005, pursuant to Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Lands Use Act, 1978.

Meanwhile, while the Appellant was away, a certain Mr Felix Olufabiya was in charge of the land who eventually informed him of adverse developments on the plot by one Mallam Jubril Satumari, who was the 1st Respondent in this appeal (Substituted by Abdulrahman Satumari). It was discovered that the 2nd - 4th Respondent had revoked the Certificate of Occupancy No. BO/7505 on 24/1/2002 addressed to the Appellant through his former address, “High Court of Justice, Borno State”. The same plot was allocated to the 1st Respondent, who was issued with Certificate of Occupancy No. BO/154176. The Appellant felt aggrieved by the action of the 2nd – 4th Respondent, revoking his right over the land and the Certificate of Occupancy. He commenced an action at the High Court of Justice, Maiduguri via Writ of Summons, setting out his claims. On the 30th day of April, 2007, the trial court dismissed the Appellant’s claims and entered judgement in favour of the Respondents. Dissatisfied, the Appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Appellate Court affirmed the decision of the trial court, and dismissed the appeal. The Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court, on seven grounds.

At the Supreme Court, the Respondents filed their respective Preliminary Objections challenging the competence of the appeal, on the basis that the Grounds of Appeal are of mixed law and facts, and the Appellants did not seek the leave of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal before filing same.

Issue for Determination

Whether all the Grounds of Appeal which are of mixed law and facts or grounds of facts, filed by the Appellants without seeking and obtaining leave of court before filing, are competent to activate the jurisdiction of the court to determine the appeal.

Arguments

Arguing the Preliminary Objection, counsel for the 1st Respondent contented that the Grounds of Appeal contained in the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal are incompetent, because the said grounds are either grounds of mixed law and facts or grounds of facts, and no prior leave of court was sought for and obtained before filing the said grounds of appeal, thereby rendering the grounds of appeal incompetent to activate the jurisdiction of the court and deserves to be struck out - OFORKIRE v MADUIKE

(2003) 5 NWLR (Pt. 812) 166. Responding to the submission of the 1st Respondent, counsel for the Appellants argued that the Preliminary Objection of the 1st Respondent is incompetent because the 1st Respondent failed to accompany the objection with a written address, and the written address of 1st November, 2017 would not be sufficient to

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja

On Friday, the 7th day of July, 2023

Before their lordships

Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-ekun uwani Musa abba aji Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Tijjani abubakar emmanuel akomaye agim Justices, Supreme Court SC/438/2015

Between

1. Mr abduL raHMON adISa adaGuN

2. MrS aMudaLaT OLaNreWaJu OyeLOLa aPPeLLaNTS

3. Mr MarOOF MOraKINyO adaGuN

4. abduL HaFeeZ OLuWaSeyI adaGuN and

1. abduL raHMaN SaTuMarI

2. THe PerMaNeNT SeCreTary, bureau OF LaNdS aNd SurVey (bOrNO STaTe) reSPONdeNTS

3. HON. aTTOrNey-GeNeraL (bOrNO STaTe)

4. bOrNO STaTe GOVerNMeNT (Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC)

cater for the objection filed on the 9th day of January, 2018; counsel submitted that permitting so would amount to putting the cart before the horse, and that would not be allowed by the court. He contended further that the Preliminary Objection must be dismissed, because it is speculative and an afterthought.

Counsel posited that the Grounds of Appeal are competent. Relying on the decision of Supreme Court in BRITTANIA-U {NIG) LTD v SEPLAT PET DEV CO LTD (2016) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1503) 541 at 592, he argued that a Respondent who challenges an Appellant’s Grounds of Appeal, has a duty to satisfy the court that the grounds of appeal belong to a classification different from the one the Appellant assigned to it.

Counsel stated that the 1st Respondent failed to demonstrate that the Grounds of Appeal are of mixed law and facts, and urged the court to dismiss the Preliminary Objection.

Counsel for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondent, arguing their Preliminary Objection,

contented that the appeal number contained on the Notice of Appeal filed by the Appellants to the Supreme Court, was different from the appeal number at the Court of Appeal. He argued that the appeal determined by the lower court was CA/J/209/2012, but the Appellant chose to appeal against CA/J/209C/2012. Counsel relied on the case of KENTE v ISHAKU (2017) 70 NSCQR 1 at 26, to emphasise that the right of appeal under Section 233 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) cannot arise under a Notice of Appeal directed against a non-existent decision of a court of law, and that such appeal is an exercise in abuse of court of process. Counsel submitted further that the Grounds of Appeal filed by the Appellants are either grounds of mixed law and facts or grounds of facts simpliciter, and no leave of the lower court or the Supreme Court was sought for and obtained by the Appellants before filling the appeal. He argued that the appeal is incompetent, as it is incapable of activating the jurisdiction of the court - ONYEME OKE & ORS v AMOS EKE ORS (1982) 12 SC 218. Refuting the submissions, counsel for the Appellants argued that the Preliminary Objection should fail ab initio, because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Respondent did not file and or issue a Notice of Preliminary Objection, and the grounds upon which the notice of the objection is premised. On the issue of the appeal being against non-existent appeal, counsel posited that even on the face of it, the objection is at

best technical, most frivolous, amounts to an abuse of court of process and a complete waste of precious time and scarce litigation resources. Counsel submitted further that all grounds 1-7 of the Notice and Grounds of Appeal and the particulars of error, fall within grounds of law simpliciter. Counsel urged the court to dismiss the Preliminary Objection, and the appeal be heard and determined on the merit.

Court’s Ruling and Rationale

Deciding on the issue raised by the Respondents, the Apex Court scrutinised both the Grounds of Appeal and the particulars filed by the Appellants, to determine whether the grounds are of law or mixed law and facts. The Supreme Court noted that issues of mixed law and facts, facts and law alone are very delicate, and intricate; they entail complex mixture in most cases making it difficult to navigate through the muddle and untie. Though it is observed that some Appellants craft their Grounds of Appeal and assign to them inappropriate nomenclature “Grounds of Law” just to circumvent the requirements of Section 233(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) on the mandatory requirement for leave to appeal where the grounds of appeal are of mixed law and facts, the court must do a community reading of the Grounds of Appeal and their particulars of error, to unveil the status of the Ground of Appeal.

In ground one of the appeal, the issue of fair hearing was raised because the lower court only addressed issues 1 and 2 in the appeal, and abandoned issues 3 and 4. On this point, Their Lordships held that merely raising the issue of fair hearing, is not sufficient to categorise a ground of appeal as ground of law without more. In determining the real nature of a ground of appeal, the court is required to consider the ground complained of along with its particulars to determine whether the ground is of law alone, facts or mixed law and facts. The Supreme Court reiterated its position on the point that the appellate court always has the right to adopt or alter the issues for determination submitted by the parties, and doing so does not infringe upon an Appellant’s right of fair hearing by the court who has re-formulated the issues for determination.

On grounds 2,3,4,5,6,7 the Apex Court found them to be grounds of mixed law and facts, as the grounds are challenging the decision of the lower court, where the court held that the Appellant had not proved his claim. It is clear from reading the grounds and their respective particulars of error, that they are grounds of mixed law and facts. The Supreme Court held further that the Appellant cannot make his way to the Apex Court and file an appeal on grounds of mixed law and facts without obtaining prior leave of court, as required under Section 233(3) of the Constitution. The Grounds of Appeal as filed are deficient and incompetent; therefore, they are liable to be struck out. The court relied on its earlier decision in AI MAJIR v JALBAIT VENTURES NIG. LTD & ANOR. (2021) 1-2 SC (Pt. 2), where it held thus - “Where leave first sought and obtained is the sine qua non, under Section 233(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, for a valid or competent appeal, unless the leave was first sought and granted to the Appellant to appeal, any appeal lodged or filed in defiance of the said mandatory provisions, will be void and a nullity ab initio ...”.

Having resolved the Preliminary Objection against the Appellants, their Lordships unanimously struck out the appeal.

Appeal Struck Out.

Representation

Adewunmi R. Fatunde, Esq. with A. Umoso, Esq. for the Appellants.

M.E. Oru, SAN, with N. Adanu, O. Egelamba, A. Moses and O. Adaramola, for the 1st Respondent.

K.S. Lawan, Esq, with U.I. Ujah, G.O. Elias and N.U. Usman, for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

“….merely raising the issue of fair hearing, is not sufficient to categorise a ground of appeal as ground of law without more”

Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC

Mohbad: Coroner Holds Preliminary Sitting, Adjourns to Oct 13

Stories by Steve Aya

The premises of the Justice Candide-Johnson courthouse, Ikorodu, Lagos, was on Friday, September 30, jam-packed with people, as the Coroner inquiring into the cause of death of 27-year-old musician, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad, held its preliminary sitting. However, journalists were barred from the courtroom and witnessing proceedings. Court officials said this decision was ordered by the Chief Registrar, Tajudeen Elias. It was also gathered that, this move was taken as a crowd control measure.

The deceased's family counsel, Mrs Funmi Falana, told journalists after the sitting that Magistrate Adetayo Shotobi discussed the modalities of the inquest with all counsel, including the format that witnesses will take to testify. She added that the legal team will present their

witnesses at the next hearing, fixed for October 13.

"The essence of the Coroner, is to inquire into the cause of death. It is an inquisitorial sitting, so what we had today was to decide on the modalities as to how and when, and regarding the witnesses that will testify."

Other interested parties that attended the sitting, include the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and a music record label, TNKAY Music.

The inquest is pursuant to the extant provisions of Sections 14 & 15 of the Coroner Systems Law of Lagos State, Cap C15, Laws of Lagos State 2015. And, it is in response to a letter written by the Chambers of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, to the office of the Chief Coroner over the controversial death which was said to have occurred in the Ikorodu area of the State.

Mohbad died on Tuesday, September 12, and his

SCGN Set to Hold Annual Corporate Governance Conference in Lagos

The Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN) on Tuesday, announced its readiness to host the 2023 edition of its prestigious Annual Corporate Governance Conference in Lagos.

The theme of Conference is, “ESG and Corporate Governance: Aligning Strategies for Sustainable Success”.

According to the organisers, the hybrid event is scheduled to hold on October 5, 2023 at about 10am in Victoria Island, Lagos, under the distinguished leadership of its President, Mr Muhammad K. Ahmad, OON.

#upjudicialsalaries

The organisers also disclosed that the Conference is a prominent event for Governance professionals, C-suite Executives, Industry Leaders and Regulators.

In an interview with journalists, Mr Ahmad said that this year’s theme underscores the growing significance of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) principles in the contemporary business landscape.

He said, “Strong governance requires Board oversight and accountability on ESG. Rather than a check-the-box exercise, ESG must be the way to go for positive development”.

death has led to a great outcry and several protests, amidst calls by many, for a thorough investigation into the matter due to the questionable manner of his

death and burial. Before his death, he had made a series of accusations of being bullied and harassed by his former Manager, Naira Marley who owns the record label, Marlian

Music.

He was buried the next day. A few days later, Police authorities exhumed the singer’s body from his grave in Ikorodu.

While an autopsy has since been carried out, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjaminn Hundeyin. said the result is being awaited.

'Nigeria, Not a Debt Risk Nation’, Discussants

The current perception that Nigeria is a high-risk debt nation that could default on its debt repayment, has been debunked by participants at this year’s Capital Market Solicitor’s Association annual business summit.

Speaking on the theme, “Recent Development in Sub- Saharan African Sovereign Debt: Implications for Nigeria’’, the Keynote Speaker, Razia Khan, said that Nigeria is actually on the pathway to a strong economic recovery. She stated that, years back, the nation along with some African countries like Zambia and Egypt was on the path to debt

crisis, with debt rescheduling and the attendant cost looming. However, averting the debt crisis was a commendable option that the nation took. Khan hailed the current economic reforms, which she said have positioned the country on the way to economic reforms.

Also Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Debt Management Office, Mrs Pat Oniha, stated that because Nigeria has been running its budget in deficit, the nation's debt profile has grown rapidly over the years. She also noted that Nigeria’s internally generated revenue

has been very low, while the cost of servicing our debt is very high. Oniha, however, stated that the nation’s debt is well spread and structured, in such a way that Nigeria will not need to restructure the repayment conditions or default in its payment.

Mr Charlie Robertson, the Group Chief Economist of Renaissance Capital Africa, on his part, stated the need for the nation to develop the local market and reduce the population.

He stated that while the nation's spending on health, education, and Agriculture has been reduced to next to

nothing, these three are actually important for the nation to develop economically.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Capital Market Solicitor’s Association, Mr Chike Obianwu, stated that recent events in the debt profile matters of Ghana, Congo, Egypt, and Argentina have become a matter of concern to countries like Nigeria, and Lawyers in the capital market in particular, hence, the theme for discussion.

Other participants who spoke in the same direction include Mr David Alexander-Gardner, Johannes Juette, Stuart Martty, and Dr Godfred Bokpin.

BRIPAN Calls for Stronger Legal and Regulatory Framework for Business Restructuring and Insolvency

Legal and economic experts have advocated a stronger and more stringent regulatory regime, in business restructuring and insolvency. They spoke in Lagos at the 2023 International Conference of the Business Recovery & Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN), with the theme: “Insolvency and Restructuring Law and Practice in Nigeria: Looking to the Future”.

The two-day event featured two keynote speeches by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN and President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Ken Opara. Other legal and financial experts who spoke were Dr Anthony Idigbe, SAN; Dr Chinyere Almona; Dr Olusegun Omisakin;

Dr Aurelie Gurrea-Martinez; Mr George Etomi; Olawale Akoni,:SAN; Justice Ebiowei Tobi of the Court of Appeal; Dr Olawakemi Pinheiro, SAN; Mr Kofo Salam-Alada and Henry Fomah.

Others were Ms Oluwaseun Mamoye; Richard Healey; Ms Samira Musayeva; Amala Umeike; Rogers Turyasingura; Michael Out; Haruna JaloWaziri; Oluwaseyi Fayemi; Bidemi Olumide; Ms. Jenifer Omonhe and David Ekanem.

The Conference ended with a gala night, which had the theme: “Africa futurism”.

Speakers explored strategies for managing public debt, optimising insolvency and restructuring laws for economic growth, as well as opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade

Area Agreement (AfCFTA).

Mr Agabi noted that some corporate entities become insolvent, due to lack of support by the Government. He stressed that without an enabling environment, such as good roads, regular power supply and security, businesses cannot thrive; instead, more will go bankrupt.

“Wrong Government policies are responsible for the collapse of businesses and the Naira”, the former AGF said. He, therefore, urged the Government to do more to help businesses survive. Agabi also said the number of goods imported must be reduced, by boosting manufacturing. “If the Government is going to help the people, it must first help itself”, he said. The former AGF faults a situation where the

country imports over 70% of goods it consumes, saying no economy can grow that way.

“The business environment is not conducive. The Government must go out of its way to help businesses”, Mr Agabi added.

Dr Opara, represented by CIBN Director of Economics & Strategy, Dr Oreitan Adigun, said the existing legal framework for business recovery and insolvency practice is “stagnant”. He stressed the need, to continually enhance the capacity of insolvency practitioners.

According to him, the finance industry is the lifeblood of the economy, while the legal sector is the backbone that provides structure, stability and protection for it, both working together for a powerful economic system.

“We must acknowledge the continuing sacrifices, and the working conditions of our current Supreme Court Justices and other Judges in Nigeria….We appreciate the urgency in reviewing the remuneration of judicial officers which has not been done for over a decade, as an integral component of our judicial reforms….”Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN

Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka Mohbad

L-R: Mr Kalu Okorie; Mr Asamah Kadiri, SAN; Mr Ayodele Akintunde, SAN; Ms Seun Mamoye; Mr Richard Healey; Mr Bamidele Odunowo and Mr Albert Folorunsho

L-R: David Alexander Gardner, Dr. Godfred A. Bokpin, Johannes Juette; Mrs Pat Oniha; Stuart Matty and Razia Khan on the screen who joined via Zoom at the CMSA Annual Business Summit

demoCraCy

Law as a Vehicle for Good Governance and National Integration in Nigeria (Part 2)

Introduction

The first part of this discourse, was essentially an introduction. It prefaces what is to come with a discussion of the conceptual framework, with a focus on the foundational issue of law as analysed by such philosophers as St. Thomas of Aquinas, (“the Natural School of law”); John Austin (“Legal Positivism”); Roscoe Pound (“the Sociological School”); Jeremy Bentham (“the Utilitarian School”) and Oliver Wendel Holmes (“Legal Realism”). In today’s installment, we shall start off with the meaning of law and more on to National Integration. Enjoy.

Conceptual Framework

Law (continues)

The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, (The Living Dictionary), defines law, at page 909 as:

(1) The whole system of rules, that people in a particular country or area obey.

(2) A rule that people in a particular country or area, must obey.

The Black’s Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, describes "law" on page 884 as:

“(1) That which is laid down, ordained, or established.

(2) A rule or method according to which phenomena or actions co-exist or follow each other. (3) Law in its generic sense is a body of rules of action or conduct prescribed by controlling authority and having binding legal force. (4) That which must be obeyed and followed by citizens subject to sanctions or legal consequences is a law. (5) Law is a solemn expression of the will of the supreme power of the State.”

We live in a democratic society. Our laws must be seen as reflections, or demonstrations of the interest and will of the people.

National Integration

National integration, or Nation building, or National cohesion, or National unity, or National Loyalty, or National patriotism or the National Question is quite a complicated phrase. It answers the question of existence. It has been seen as a process, and a means - depending on the idiosyncrasies and societal appreciation of the authors.

Jocob and Tenue, define national integration as “a relationship of community among people within the same political entity… a state of mind or disposition to be cohesive, to act together, to be committed to mutual programmes”. They were referring to a society of people, of living in oneness and harmony.

Viewed as process, Morrison said, it is a process by which members of a

social system develop linkages, so that the boundaries of the system persists (sic) over time, and the boundaries of sub-systems become less consequential in affecting behaviour. In this process, members of the social system develop an escalating sequence of contact, cooperation, consensus and community (Morrison, Donald G. et al (1972). Black Africa: A Comparative Handbook. New York: The Free Press).

According to Elaigwu in Aderonke, (Aderonke, M. “Federal Character Principle as a Recipe for National Integration in Nigeria: An Overview.” International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences. Volume 2(6), 2013:65-84. www. garph.co.uk), national integration is determined by the degree to which members and groups in a plural society adapt to the demands of national existence while co-existing harmoniously. On the practical note, national integration is a process, not an end in itself, and it is usually affected by contending social forces. It is a

process leading to political cohesion and sentiments of loyalty, towards a central political authority and institutions by individuals belonging to different social groups or political units. It is a process whereby political actors in distinct national setting are persuaded to shift their loyalties", expectations and political activities towards a new centre, whose institution possess or demand jurisdiction over preexisting nation- State”.

According to Duverger, it simply means the forging of agreement among the members of a State on the extent of unity they wish to have, as well as the type of political structure and institutions they desire. (Duverger, Maurice (1976). The Study of Politics. Hong Kong: Nelson Political Science Library).

It is also seen as the consensus on the limits of political communities and regimes. It is also a “process of unifying a society, which tends to make it a harmonious city, based on an order its members regard as equitably harmonious.” (Liddle, R.W. (1970). Ethnicity, Party and National Integration: An Indonesian Case Study. New Haven: Yale University Press).

Etzioni (1965) has argued that a community can only be considered cohesive, when it meets the following touchstones:

•It has effective control over the use of the means of violence;

•It has a centre of decision making, capable of effecting the allocation of resources and rewards; and

•It is a dominant focus of political identification, for a large majority of politically aware citizens. (Etzioni, A.

(1963). Political Unification. New York: Holt Rhinehart and Winston.

Poser: does this variable pay bare the meaning of national integration?. How do you recognise National integration? Is it by it's antithesis? What institutions of governance, can National integration be easily inferred from?.

Karl Deutsch, seems to have considered these issues when he defined integration as “the attainment, within a territory of a ‘sense of community’, and of institutions and practices strong enough and widespread enough to assure, for a long time, dependable expectations of peaceful community.” (Deutsch, Karl et al (1966). Political Community and the North Atlantic Area, Integrational Political Communities: An Anthology. Gardens City: New Doubleday. Deutsch, Karl W. (1974)).

By living together as a community and resolving disputes when they arise, national integration seems to be in existence. Little wonder Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu sees it as ‘active nation-building’ which means “forging out a nation out of our diverse ethnic groups.” In his words, the failure to achieve this in respect of Nigeria is that: “Today, the result is that tribalism and ethnicity have become a potent source of friction, rather than diminish in the face of an emergent, virile and modern nation.” (Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Emeka (1989). Because I am Involved. Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd).

Ogunja it’s, believes that national integration relates to the building of nation-States out of disparate socio-economic, religious, ethnic and geographical elements. According to him, this entails the translation of diffuse and unorganised sentiments of nationalism into the spirit of citizenship, through the creation of State institutions that can translate into policy and programmes in line with the aspirations of the citizenry. (Ogunjemite, Lewis O. (1987). “Federal Character as an Integrative Mechanism: Alternative Political Future for Nigeria.” In Stephen Odugbemi (Ed.). Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) Publication. Lagos).

National integration is therefore, the process of unifying a multi-ethnic country, not necessarily into a singleethnic one, but into a united indivisible entity where primordial affiliations are made secondary for the greater good of the united nation. It can also be seen as the building of a national State, but of disparate social, economic, religious, ethnic and geographical elements, which entail the translation of diffused and unorganised sentiments on nationalism into a spirit of citizenship through the creation of State institutions that can translate into policies and programmes and aspirations of the citizenry. (Oni, M., & Ogundinwin, A Four Republics: A Critical Discourse of the Culture of Political Parties, In Osuntokun, A, Ukaogo, A., Akachi, O (Eds). Nigerian Studies- Readings in History, Politics, Society and Culture. New Jersey: Goldmine and Jacob publishers, 2010). (To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Society cannot exist without law. Law is the bond of society: that which makes it, that which preserves it and keeps it together. It is, in fact, the essence of civil society”. (Joseph P. Bradley)

“National integration is therefore, the process of unifying a multi-ethnic country, not necessarily into a single-ethnic one, but into a united indivisible entity where primordial affiliations are made secondary for the greater good of the united nation”

Reforming Nigeria’s Judiciary: A Comprehensive Approach to Justice and Welfare

Introduction

The Judiciary is a cornerstone of any thriving democracy, tasked with interpreting and upholding the rule of law. In Nigeria, the Judiciary plays a vital role in ensuring justice, and maintaining checks and balances. However, reforming Nigeria’s Judiciary goes beyond enhancing legal processes; it also entails improving the welfare packages of judicial officers. This article delves into the crucial need for comprehensive reform, that addresses both the structural deficiencies within the Judiciary and the welfare of its officers.

The Need for Judicial Reform

1. Ensuring Judicial Independence: A key pillar of any just legal system, is the independence of the Judiciary from political and external influences. Reforms should prioritise safeguarding this independence through financial autonomy for the Judiciary, and transparent processes for the appointment, discipline, and removal of Judges.

2. Enhancing Access to Justice: A significant challenge in Nigeria is the limited access to justice for many citizens, due to financial constraints and slow legal processes. Reform efforts should focus on increasing the number of courts, simplifying procedures, and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, to ensure more timely and affordable access to justice.

3. Combating Corruption: Corruption within the Judiciary erodes public trust, and compromises the integrity of the legal system. To tackle this, transparency and accountability mechanisms, must be established and strengthened. Regular audits, stringent ethical standards, and an independent body to investigate corruption allegations, are essential components of such reforms.

Improving Welfare Packages of Judicial Officers

1. Competitive Salaries: Judicial officers, including Magistrates, should receive competitive salaries commensurate with their qualifications, experience, and the high demands of their positions. Adequate remuneration reduces the temptation of corruption, and ensures a dedicated and motivated Judiciary.

2. Pension and Benefits: A comprehensive welfare package, should include robust pension plans and benefits for judicial officers. This ensures that retired Judges have financial security, which is crucial to maintaining their independence and reputation.

3. Healthcare and Insurance: Access to quality healthcare and insurance coverage should be provided, to safeguard the health and well-being of judicial officers and their families.

4. Housing: Adequate and dignified housing facilities should be provided for judicial officers, especially those serving in remote or underserved areas. This not only improves their living conditions, but also encourages qualified individuals to take up judicial positions in all parts of the country.

5. Continuing Education and Training: Judicial officers should have opportunities, for continuous education and professional development. Training programmes keep them updated with evolving legal principles, and enhance their effectiveness in the courtroom.

Conclusion

Reforming Nigeria’s Judiciary is not only about improving legal processes, but also about ensuring the welfare of its officers. By addressing structural deficiencies within the Judiciary and enhancing the welfare packages of judicial officers, Nigeria can build a more robust, transparent, and accountable legal system. Such comprehensive reform is essential for upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights of its citizens, and maintaining public trust in the Judiciary. It is a crucial step, towards building a stronger and more just Nigeria.

Addressing Illegal Mining and Smuggling of Nigeria's Natural Resources

Introduction Nigeria, a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, has long grappled with the menace of illegal mining and the smuggling of these valuable assets. This illicit activity, poses a significant threat to the country's economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social stability. To tackle this

Reformation of the Judiciary, Illegal Mining and 'Japa' Syndrome

These series of succinct articles by Oluwarotimi Rhodes-Vivour touch on three topical issues, Judicial reforms, Illegal Mining in Nigeria and the exodus of youths from Nigeria to seek greener pastures, now known as the ‘Japa’ Syndrome, hitting the nail on the head in identifying the problems by proffering solutions for them

issue effectively, Nigeria must implement a comprehensive strategy that combines law enforcement, regulatory reforms, and community engagement.

The Scope of the Problem

Illegal mining and smuggling in Nigeria primarily target resources like crude oil, solid minerals, and precious stones such as gold and gemstones. These activities deprive the Government of muchneeded revenue, fuel corruption, and degrade the environment. Moreover, they often lead to conflicts and insecurity in mining communities, as rival groups vie for control over resource-rich territories.

Addressing the Issue

1. Strengthening Legal Frameworks

- Nigeria must bolster its legal and regulatory frameworks, related to mining and natural resources. This includes stricter penalties for illegal mining and smuggling, as well as improved coordination among relevant agencies.

-Implementing a transparent and accountable licensing system, can help track and regulate mining activities. It should also ensure that local communities benefit from these resources.

2. Enhancing Surveillance and Enforcement

- Invest in modern technology such as satellite imagery, drones, and geospatial data to monitor mining areas more effectively. This can help identify illegal operations, and track the movement of smuggled resources.

- Increase the capacity and training of law enforcement agencies, to combat illegal mining and smuggling. Specialised units should be formed, to focus exclusively on these issues.

3. Community Engagement and Development

- Establish partnerships with local communities, in mining areas. Providing them with alternative livelihood opportunities, education, and healthcare, can reduce their dependence on illegal mining.

- Create platforms for dialogue between Government officials, mining companies, and community leaders, to address grievances and

ensure equitable distribution of benefits.

4. International Cooperation

- Collaborate with neighbouring countriesm to curb cross-border smuggling of natural resources. Sharing intelligence and jointly patrolling borders, can be instrumental in reducing illegal activities.

- Seek assistance from international organisations and donors, to build the capacity of Nigerian agencies and support sustainable mining practices.

5. Public Awareness and Education

- Conduct public awareness campaigns, to educate citizens about the negative consequences of illegal mining and smuggling. Highlight the importance of preserving natural resources, for future generations.

- Encourage responsible consumer behaviour, by promoting the purchase of legally sourced and ethically produced minerals and gemstones.

Conclusion Addressing the issue of illegal mining and smuggling of Nigeria's natural resources, is a complex task that requires a multifaceted approach. By strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing surveillance and enforcement, engaging local communities, fostering international cooperation, and raising public awareness, Nigeria can mitigate the damage caused by these illicit activities. The sustainable management of its abundant natural resources is not only crucial for the nation's economic prosperity, but also for the preservation of its environment and the well-being of its citizens.

The Japa Syndrome in Nigeria: To Be or Not to Be

Introduction

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a growing trend among its youths, known as the "Japa syndrome." The term "Japa" is a Nigerian slang derived from the Yoruba language, which means "to run away" or "escape." This phenomenon reflects the increasing number of young Nigerians leaving their homeland, in pursuit of better opportunities abroad. The Japa syndrome raises important questions about the factors driving this trend, and its implications for Nigeria's future. In this article, we will explore the Japa syndrome, and examine whether it is a symptom of Nigeria's problems or a legitimate pursuit of individual aspirations.

Push Factors

Several push factors, contribute to the Japa syndrome. One of the primary drivers, is economic instability. Nigeria has faced long-standing challenges such as high unemployment rates, inflation, and a lack of economic opportunities, particularly for its burgeoning youth population. The desire for a better standard of living often pushes young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, where they believe they can achieve financial stability.

Another factor, is the prevailing insecurity

in the country. Nigeria has grappled with issues like terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, leading to a sense of insecurity and a loss of faith in the ability of the Government to protect its citizens. This insecurity compels many to consider leaving, in search of safer environments.

Education also plays a role. Nigerian students and professionals aspire to receive high-quality education and training, which they perceive as lacking in their home country. This leads to a significant brain drain, as many talented individuals leave to study and work abroad.

Pull Factors

On the other side of the equation are the pull factors, which attract young Nigerians to other countries. These include better job prospects, access to quality education, improved healthcare, and the chance to live in a more stable and secure environment. Many believe that pursuing these opportunities abroad, is the key to personal success and happiness.

The Diaspora Effect

The Japa syndrome, has given rise to a substantial Nigerian diaspora community. While this community contributes to Nigeria's economy through remittances, it also fosters a sense of detachment among its members. The question arises: can this diaspora play a positive role in Nigeria's development, or will it further fragment the nation's identity?

To Be or Not to Be

The Japa syndrome raises a fundamental question: Is it right for young Nigerians to leave their homeland, in pursuit of better opportunities elsewhere? While there are valid individual reasons for seeking a better life abroad, this phenomenon also highlights the need for systemic change in Nigeria.

Addressing the root causes of the Japa syndrome, such as economic instability, insecurity, and a lack of quality education and healthcare, should be a priority for the Nigerian Government. Creating an environment where young Nigerians feel valued and can thrive, is essential in curbing this trend.

Additionally, the diaspora community can play a pivotal role in Nigeria's development. Leveraging their skills, knowledge, and resources to invest in their home country, can contribute to economic growth and social progress.

Conclusion

The Japa syndrome in Nigeria is a complex phenomenon, driven by a combination of push and pull factors. It reflects both the aspirations of young Nigerians for a better life, and the systemic challenges they face in their homeland. To address this issue, Nigeria must work towards creating a more stable, secure, and prosperous environ ment for its citizens. While individual choices to pursue opportunities abroad are valid, the nation should strive to make "staying" a more attractive option for its youth, thereby ensuring a brighter future for Nigeria and its people.

Oluwarotimi Victor Rhodes-Vivour Esq, Public Leadership Credential Candidate, Harvard Kennedy

“Judicial officers, including Magistrates, should receive competitive salaries commensurate with their qualifications, experience, and the high demands of their positions. Adequate remuneration reduces the temptation of corruption, and ensures a dedicated and motivated Judiciary”

Oluwarotimi Rhodes-Vivour

CBN: The Task Before Yemi Cardoso’s Team

Behold, there is a new Sheriff in the Nigerian banking and financial sector, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, who takes over as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Along with his Deputies, Dr Cardoso successfully passed through screening by the Senate last week. Being a CBN Governor at a time when the nation’s economy seems to be in disarray, is not a tea-party. With spiralling inflation, a high rate of unemployment, rising prices (Stagflation), the Naira at it lowest ebb, foreign investors fleeing from Nigeria, what magic can the Cardoso-led CBN do, to stabilise Nigeria’s economy and infuse cutting-edge monetary policy at this time, to turn things around?

Adetilewa Adebajo and Dr Sam Amadi examine and analyse the challenges ahead of CBN’s new team, and proffer possible ways to surmount them

The Change of Guard at the Central Bank of Nigeria

Adetilewa Adebajo

The new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, in responding to the questions from the Senators during his confirmation hearing, pledged to commit himself to governance and compliance at the highest global standards. This, he stated, has

been the hallmark throughout his brilliant career. The Senators, to their credit, did their bit by asking all the pertinent questions given the antecedents of the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Senator Orji Kalu, in particular, asked point blank; if the President makes a request that is not in line with CBN statutes, would the new Governor have the spine to say no?

“The first task is to restore confidence, reputation and integrity to an institution, that has over the last eight years, overreached itself and violated its own statutes. The next task after this, is to review the current situation with the Nigerian Economy in stagflation, and come up with effective monetary policies that will address the problems….”

Great Expectations

The great expectation now, is for a reformed and Independent CBN which will return to its core functions of monetary policy, price stability and reserve management.

The challenges ahead for the Apex Bank Governor, are significant. The first task is to restore confidence, reputation and integrity to an institution, that has over the last eight years, overreached itself and violated its own statutes. The next task after this, is to review the current situation with the Nigerian Economy in stagflation, and come up with effective monetary policies that will address the problems, especially of runaway inflation, unemployment, and poverty. The Nigerian economy requires economic growth of 8-10% on a sustainable basis, to get us out of this state. This must be the target. While we

have lost about US$250-300 billion of our GDP in the last eight years, the new Governor is projecting US$1trillion GDP economy in the next eight years.

There is no doubt that the challenges are significant. It is therefore, imperative, that the new Governor builds a strong experienced team around himself, with capacity in the area of economic policy formulation, monetary policy and price stability. At all levels, they must build and test solid economic models with relevant data, to play out scenarios that will guide policy decisions. The competence and integrity of new appointments into the Governing Board of the CBN, will be a litmus test and clear signal of intent. More important, the additional appointments into a newly constituted Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), aside the Governo r and his Deputies who all have limited monetary and price stability experience, is

Central Bank of Nigeria Headquarters, Abuja

CBN: The Task Before Yemi Cardoso’s Team

of significant importance and a critical success factor.

Foreign Exchange

The interaction with the fiscal authorities will be critical, because the mismanagement and lack fiscal discipline is what has led to an unsustainable debt burden that is now affecting the supply of foreign exchange (FX) in the economy. 95% of revenues are going towards debt servicing, and future oil revenues have been committed through various opaque forward contracts and oil swaps. A fundamental task is to work with the Government to unravel these forward contracts and swaps, in a bid to reconcile and determine the real position of our revenues. This also has to be complimented with the savings from the subsidy removal, because as oil prices go up the subsidy savings erode.

Clearing the FX backlog has to happen over time in a structured manner, to restore confidence and stability to the market. There are no quick fixes, as reform of the FX markets are long overdue. Retaining the US$20-25Billion of yearly diaspora remittances in the banking system, and the development of an interbank FX market is also a priority. There is also need to restore confidence in the domiciliary accounts, and return to a position where 25-30% of money supply was in FX held in domiciliary accounts.

Ways and Means

Real yields and real returns as are currently negative as a result of cost push inflation, driving up the demand for FX. Therefore, moving the economy out of stagflation and taming runaway inflation is paramount. An immediate end to the inflationary and illegal 30 trillion Naira ways and means financing, is another priority. The legal limit of the ways and means according to parameters stated in Section 38 of the CBN Act 2007 currently, should not exceed 1 trillion Naira.

Restructuring CBN’s Balance Sheet

The CBN balance sheet is 30 times over the ways and means limit, and in dire need of restructuring. This illicit financing is also a significant revenue line for the CBN, as it is charging Government interest at 20%. The ways and means are being financed with N10 trillion from Government deposits, N10.3 trillion from open market operations (OMO) and N11.5 trillion cash reserve requirements (CRR) debits from the banks. These are funds that should otherwise be available for

the private sector, to stimulate economic growth.

In the process of restructuring the CBN balance sheet, all the intervention loans and related institutions such as NISRAL, need to be reconciled and transferred to the relevant development banks namely Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and Development Bank of Nigeria. These institutions have the expertise to properly evaluate, disburse and manage loans. Once the central Bank has restructured and cleaned up its balance sheet, restoring ways and means to statutory limits, it can then concentrate on reconciliation and rebuilding its external reserves. This, in a manner that will support the economy, and in line with CBN statutes. With yet another US$100 oil price on the horizon, presents an opportunity to shore up our reserves.

Conclusion

Turning the Nigerian Economy around is not as difficult as it seems, it’s about positioning, focus, instilling confidence and doing the right things. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. To deliver desirable results,

CBN needs to provide policy consistency over the next one year and restoring confidence backed by a solid budget and sustained structural reform on the fiscal side.

The Excess Crude account in 2008 was in excess of US$18Billion which saw us through the global financial crisis today, its near zero. Even the stabilisation fund domiciled with our Sovereign Wealth Fund, does not have the capacity to resolve the problem it was set up by law to address. The bane and Achilles heel of the Nigerian economy, which the new Governor must be mindful; The inability of Nigeria to build up buffers to enable it withstand the inevitable economic shocks and cyclical downturns, in a global financial economic system.

Adetilewa A. Adebajo

The Tasks Before the New CBN Board of Governors

Dr Sam Amadi

The new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and Deputy Governors, have come to office at a bad time. The bad time, is in two senses. First, they take over from a CBN Board whose exit is to the credibility of the Central Bank. The Governor and his Board members have guaranteed tenure, as part of policy framework to secure their independence. They are appointed by the President, and approved by the Senate. To remove them before end of tenure, requires that the President addresses the Senate and secures two-third majority approval of Senators. In the present circumstances, there was no such address and Senatorial approval. The current Board had been appointed to

replace them, before the rumour of the old Board’s resignation became public. Whatever actually happened, it is clear that the old Board did not voluntarily resign, and the President may not have followed due process as provided in the CBN Act, before appointing the new Board.

The second inauspicious moment, is the financial state of the Nigerian economy. The new Board of the CBN takes over at a time the Naira is at its all-time weakest position. Today, $1 exchanges for about N1000. Credibility of the monetary policy is in tatters, as a result of the malfeasance of the previous Board. The President has appointed a sole investigator to look into the affairs of the Bank, and revelations so far, point to large-scale corruption and misdirection of monetary policy by the old Board. This situation points to urgent need for a reset. What should the new Governor and his team do, to reset and reestablish confidence in Nigeria’s financial market?

Rebuild Confidence

The heart of banking is confidence, confidence of the people in the safe custody of their money. In today’s world of complex financial engineering that results in multiple forms of Collateralised Debt Obligations (CDO) and other Assets Based Securities (ABSs), we often forget that the essence of banking is confidence. I like the story rehashed by Cambridge University Economist, Professor Ha-joon Chang, from the Disney movie, Mary Poppins. It goes like this: “Michael does not understand. Even though he has given back to his father the very thing that has

“The President has appointed a sole investigator to look into the affairs of the Bank, and revelations so far, point to large-scale corruption and misdirection of monetary policy by the old Board. This situation points to urgent need for a reset”

CBN Governor, Dr olayemi Cardoso

Cont'd from page IX

caused all the trouble, it has not made things right again. Why are grown-ups so strange? Michael wanted to use his tuppence coin to buy bird feed from that old lady sitting on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral, but his father tricked him out of it. His father said he would show what more interesting things could be done with Michael's money, when he and the children (Michael was with his sister, Jane) get this work.

When Michael and Jane got there, this very old man called Mr Dawes, the 'directors' (as he called them), and even their father started singing about depositing his tuppence in Dawes, Tomes, Mousely, Grubbs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank (what me). They said that this money would make him part of all these Things he had never heard of in strange places - 'railways through Africa; dams across the Nile; fleets of ocean greyhounds; Majestic, selfamortising canals; and plantations of ripening e. Mesmerised by the song, Michael momentarily lost concentration and opened his eyes first, at which point Mr Dawes, surprisingly for such an old man, snatched the coin. He somehow made all the bank's customers rush to withdraw Naturally, Michael shouted 'Give me back my money!", but their money, the bank refused to pay them, and chaos ensued. He and Jane in the end, managed to grab the coin back from the old man and ran away, but upon returning home they found that his father had been fired from work for what had happened given to his father, but father has not got his job back. Why did what he said cause such a problem? Why did all these people want their money back too? More confusingly, how could the bank refuse to pay the customers their own money?”

This story illustrates the real backbone of banking. It is about generating and sustaining confidence. We are fortunate that, we have not suffered any significant bank run. The state of the banks is stronger today, this is in part due largely to the consolidation policy which has resulted in banks having a stronger asset base. But, with the tales of corruption coming out of the Apex Bank, it might be that things have fallen apart. The new Board, should take a look at the quality of banking supervision. There may be need to strengthen Financial Regulation through reviewing prudential guidelines, to ensure that banks stay within

comfort zones to continue to serve customers’ needs and avoid both Liquidity and Solvency Crisis.

The responsibility of prudential regulations falls directly on Mr Philip Ikeazor, as the Deputy Governor in charge of Financial Systems Stability (FSS). He comes with great experience, as a seasoned bank executive who understands the complexities and risks that mindless risk-taking by banks can cause the shareholders, as well as the financial system through systemic contagions.

Enable Credit

The second important role banks play in economic development, is to enable credit. Through the confidence people have in the stability of money deposited with them, banks create wealth through extension of credits to enterprises in the form of loans. This is one of the most important roles of banks, in modern economy. The origin of banking goes to efforts by people who have social trust in their small circles, to deposit values to persons they trust. They are given some notes, which indicate the nature of the custody. If the person or entity who holds custody is credible, the note can be used for commercial transactions, thereby creating wealth. Today, because banks

are not required to have the money to back up all the deposits they have, and there is little risk of a run on them because of effective regulation and deposit insurance, the banks are at liberty to create credits beyond their cash holding. This is the heart of banks, as an instrument of wealth generation. We need to be a credit country, where there is sufficient financial support for entrepreneurial engagements that can create wealth. Through its prudential regulations, the Governor and his team should incentivise increased credit creation for real sector investments, as part of its strategic direction of the economy towards full employment as much as possible and stable macroeconomic environment. The new Board should continue to insist on strong lending activities to medium and small enterprises as its priority focus, in order to energise production and create sustainable wealth.

Monetary Stability

The Central Bank’s main function is monetary policy, and this requires it to control inflation and the exchange rate to ensure a good environment for economic development. The traditional emphasis has always been to fight inflation, because of its destabilising effects on economic growth. At 25.80% inflation, Nigeria needs to bring down the inflation rate. How this is possible with two headwinds of rising energy costs and Naira devaluation, is a difficult proposition. The Ministry of Finance and Central Bank seem to have decided to defend the Naira, by seeking non-orthodox means of increasing dollar supply in the economy. The pitch for more diaspora remittance, has not worked. The Government is borrowing dollars from the African Development Bank (ADB), to pay with crude swap through the NNPCL.

What is clear is that, the new Board will need to restore institutional integrity in the management of monetary policy. The current inflation is also caused partly by the recklessness of the previous Board, in surrendering its independence to the President and his team. The revolution in central banking across the world has been to reinforce the independence of monetary authorities, and to separate management of fiscal and monetary policies to safeguard the economy. The last Board commingled the two, in an unwise manner. The challenge before Dr Yemi Cardoso, is whether, considering his relationship with President Tinubu, he can maintain the independence required of a modern central banker. He has to reject the politicisation of monetary policy, even as he lends monetary policy as an instrument of economic development policymaking.

Many economists opposed to neoliberalism, often quarrel with the idea of the independence of the Central Bank. In their view, the depoliticisation of the Bank may actually lead to an irresponsible and ineffective bank that does not support developmental priorities. But, we can engage in stimulating economic activities through open market operations and prudential regulation, without committing monetary policy to short term political interests. In fact, the value of a central bank is that it acts as a counter majoritarian institution in monetary policymaking, to safeguard society from the dangerous urgency of political ideas and interests of the ruling clique.

Conclusion

At this time in our history, and considering the terrible state of monetary policymaking, Yemi Cardoso should strengthen the independence and integrity of the Central Bank of Nigeria, if he wants to end successfully.

Dr Sam Amadi

“The new Board should continue to insist on strong lending activities to medium and small enterprises as its priority focus, in order to energise production and create sustainable wealth”

CBN: The Task Before Yemi Cardoso’s Team

New CBN Deputy Governor, Mrs Emem Usoro

New CBN Deputy Governor, Philip Ikeazor

RATES AS AT Oc TO b ER 2,2023

Amid Declining Production, Oil Sector’s Contribution to GDP Down 11.2%

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s declining hydrocarbons production has continued to take its toll on the oil and gas sector’s contribution to the economy, falling by as much as 11.27 per cent in terms of its input to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in one year.

Data from the latest audit released by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) covering 2021, indicated that the sector from which Nigeria earns about 90 per cent of its foreign exchange, only contributed a paltry 7.24 per cent during the period compared to the 8.16 the previous year.

“In 2021, the sector contributed 7.24 per cent to Nigeria’s total GDP of N173.5 trillion ($434.17 billion). This was a decrease of 11.27 per cent compared to the 2020 contribution of 8.16 per cent of the N152.32 trillion ($381.11),” the document stated.

However, the industry contributed an even lesser 5.9 per cent to the total real GDP recorded in the last quarter of 2021, which was about 2.3 per cent decline from the previous quarter.

From other sources reviewed by THISDAY, particularly the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and Statista, the figures of the sector’s addition to the GDP have since NEITI concluded work on the

recent report, even gone worse, declining to 6.63 in Q1, 6.33 in Q2, 5.66 in Q3 and 4.34 per cent in Q4 2022.

In its stead, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, has since taken over, contributing 18.44 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP in the second quarter of 2022, a 6.55 per cent growth rate from Q1 2022. Before now, the contribution of the oil sector dominated the country’s GDP bottom line.

In relation to exports, the NEITI report stated that crude oil contributed N14.40 trillion ($36.55 billion) of the total export of N18.91 trillion ($ 47.31 billion) in the 12 months under consideration.

This, it said, represented 76.22 per cent of the total exports in 2021 and a marginal increase of 0.8 per cent compared to 2020, which was 75.42 per cent.

The relatively higher export value in 2021 compared to 2020, the report noted, was due to an increase in crude oil price in 2021. The average equity crude price in 2021 was $66.97 per barrel compared to the average price of $41.65 per barrel in 2020.

“The total government revenue generated in 2021 was N10.75 trillion, to which the oil and gas sector contributed N4.358 trillion. This represents about 40.55 per cent of the total revenue compared to 51 per cent in 2020,” it added.

Nigeria’s oil production has been declining since 2020, initially triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Before then, the country produced as high as 2.2 million barrels per day.

Although at first the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) blamed the inability to restart the oil wells shut down due to several technicalities, however, they later told the public that the resource was being massively stolen in the Niger Delta.

Aside oil theft; the government has also blamed vandalism for its inability to meet its Organisation

of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota. In August Nigeria was only able to produce 1.18 million bpd of its allocated 1.742 million bpd.

This simply means that Nigeria loses as much as 560,000 bpd to theft and vandalism despite its current desperate need for FX to stabilise the crisis-ridden foreign exchange market.

In terms of how many people the industry employs, the report stated that although NEITI requested employment from the 70 companies (NLNG inclusive) close to a dozen did not respond.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

The Lagos State Chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), has warned that the nation’s poultry industry would collapse if urgent steps are not taken by the federal and state governments to protect the sector.

The association also faulted the 200 per cent charged by importers of maize in the country and urged

the federal government to grant its members licenses to import maize and soya in order to reduce the cost of poultry products and end the monopoly of existing importers of the commodity.

The PAN expressed concerns that the availability and prices of maize, soya and wheat, which are the major components of feed in the industry have gone to the extreme, pointing out that production of eggs

and other poultry products is at risk in the country.

The Chairman of Lagos Chapter of PAN, Mr. Iyiola Mojeed, said that the issue of egg glut has come to stay on a permanent basis.

“Maize can be produced all year round in Nigeria. The ledger chunk of the maize used in our industry is sourced from the northern part of the country and as we all know, the issue of banditry has driven most of

the farmers away from their farms, many of them have relocated to other regions and engage in other economic activities like many seen in Lagos riding “Okada” this is seriously affecting the industry.

“So we are crying to governments at local, state and federal levels to protect this industry from total collapse because if the problems we are facing now are not addressed immediately, it could lead to the

total collapse of the industry,” Mojeed lamented.

He said that the collapse of the sector would have a profound negative impact on human lives in Nigeria. “In developed countries the wellbeing of poultry farmers are not taken for granted, their government’s do all they could do to assist the industry but in Nigeria the reverse is the case. So we are appealing to the government

to come to our help considering the importance of our industry, “he said.

According to him, the association is proposing a stopgap solution to address this problem and prevent total collapse of the industry, because the business is no longer profitable.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Gilbert Ekugbe

Nigeria’s First Privately-owned 100MW Solar PV Module Assembly Factory Takes Off in Lagos

Peter Uzoho

All On, a Shell-funded impact investment company, and Auxano Solar Nigeria Limited have brought to operation Nigeria’s biggest fully-automated 100 Megawatts (MW) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) module assembly factory located in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

The plant is targeted at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported solar panels, thereby driving down foreign exchange costs and creating economies of scale in the use of climate-smart alternative energy sources.

The landmark solar PV

assembling plant, financed by All On, as part of its $2 million investment in Auxano Solar in 2021 has the capacity to produce 150 solar panels daily, 3,000 panels monthly, and about 72,000 panels yearly.

Speaking at the inauguration, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, All On, Caroline Eboumbou, said the facility represented a significant milestone in the growth and development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria and Africa at large.

According to her, All On has been there with Auxano from the early days – from a $50,000 investment in 2018 to a much

larger $1.5 million investment in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 disruption to an additional $500,000 in 2022.

She said: “The success of Auxano as the first privatelyowned solar assembly factory is a triumph for the promotion of local manufacturing within the Nigerian renewable energy sector.”

Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, who was represented at the event by Shell All On board member, Hans Nijkamp, said: “The Auxano project is a visual representation of what we at Shell, hoped to achieve when

Arnergy Advances Renewable Energy Collaborations with Stakeholders’ Engagement

we established All On in 2017.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Auxano Solar Nigeria, Chuks Umezulora, emphasised that inaugurating the 100MW automated solar panel factory was a dream come true.

Umezulora stated: “Nigeria may be behind on so many things necessary for development, but I am determined to be a part of the solution. This factory is my contribution to the growth of our economy, and I hope my story of grit and dedication inspires someone to try something even bigger. Go for it, because you can.”

Fitch Says Nigeria’s Inflation to Reach 27.5% by Year End

Emmanuel Addeh in a buja

Nigeria’s inflation will shoot to 27.5 per cent by the end of 2023, following the impact of the economic reforms embarked upon by the Bola Tinubu-led administration, a report released by a Fitch Group’s Unit, Business Monitor International (BMI), has said.

BMI Research provides

macroeconomic, industry and financial market analysis, covering 29 industries and 200 global markets and in 2014 was acquired by Fitch Group. The report was released at the weekend.

The prediction made in its ‘Sub-Saharan Africa Monthly Outlook’ covering the month of August, tracking key developments in West Africa is seen as largely

conservative, since the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) August data showed Nigeria had already hit 25.8 per cent.

However, in the report which also included the political risk assessment of the region, the Fitch unit noted that while the rising inflation will pressure the government into ramping up spending to cushion

Nigerians from the rising inflation, it will fall short of demands outlined by trade unions.

The labour unions have now given notice that they will embark on an indefinite strike on October 3. On Sunday morning , Tinubu said, among others, that he will release funding in the sum of N35,000 each for each low level worker.

NCDMB, Waltersmith Refinery, Partner on Graduate Retraining

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in conjunction with Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited have commenced a 12-month Nigerian Content Remedial

Group Business Editor

Eromosele abiodun

Deputy Business Editor

chinedu Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent Raheem akingbolu (Advertising)

Correspondents

Emmanuel addeh (Energy)

KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets)

James Emejo (Finance)

Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)

Reporters

Nosa alekhuogie (ICT)

Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Ugo aliogo (Development)

Training Programme for young university graduates.

The programme kicked off in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with 29 trainees expected to focus on general skill sets and specialised skill sets that would fit them for oil and gas industry operations.

According to a statement from the organisation, the programme would introduce the participants to entrepreneurship, health and

safety at work, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and engineering materials, under the general skill sets which are compulsory for all the trainees.

“Specialised skill sets, where participants are required to concentrate on one or the other of the many competencies available, include Project Management, Scrum Master, Quality Management System

ISO 9001:2015, Welding and Fabrication, Mobile Crane Operation, Plumbing and Pipe-fitting, and Mechanical Engineering Designs,” it added.

At the kick-off ceremony, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation of NCDMB, Mr. Akintunde Adelana, said the programme was for human capital development which is central to the mandate of the board.

Mbah to Deliver Keynote Address at Nigerian Indonesian Trade, investment Forum in Jakarta

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah will give the keynote address at the Nigerian Indonesian Trade and Investment Forum scheduled for Jakarta, Indonesia this October as the state and the Indonesian government pursues mutual prosperity, capital flows, and diversification of Indonesian industries into Enugu State.

This was made known at a world press conference organised by the Nigerian Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) in Lagos where the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia; President of the Nigerian Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ishmael Balogun; and Director, Indonesia Trade Promotion

Centre, Lagos, Hendro Jonathan Manurund, spoke on the huge trade and investment potentials between Nigeria and Indonesia.

Speaking, Prof. Onyia said the forthcoming Forum themed “Rediscovering Business Potential in Nigeria”, was aimed at exploring and stimulating greater trade and investment between Nigeria and the southeast Asian nation across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, power and transport sector.

Onyia said that Enugu stood to benefit greatly from the Forum given the state’s abundant resources and potentials, stressing that the state was poised to “become Nigeria’s most remarkable success stories driven by industrialisation and structural economic transformation,

Emma Okonji

Arnergy, a leading African CleanTech has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding sustainable energy solutions through its stakeholder engagement events, scheduled to hold October 4, 2023, at the Fraser Suites Hotel in Abuja.

The events will delve into sustainable energy solutions, tackle critical issues, and advance a brighter future for Nigeria’s energy landscape.

During the first event titled: “Solar Solutions for Sustainable Real Estate Development,” experts will explore the potential of solar energy in reshaping Nigeria’s real estate sector.

President of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Mr. Ayo Ademilu, will present the keynote.

Giving details of the events, COO of Arnergy, Omobola Omofaye, said: “We believe that sustainability is critical to the modern real estate business. Through these

events, we are connecting the dots between real estate, clean energy, and a smart future.

“Our mission is to reshape energy accessibility across industries, making energy not only sustainable but intelligent.”

In one of the events, selected panelists will discuss the theme: “Financial Viability and Pathways to Solar Adoption,” which will feature luminaries from Urban Shelter Limited, Modern Shelter Systems and Services Limited, Sterling Bank Plc, and Arnergy Solar Limited.

CEO of Arnergy, Femi Adeyemo, said: “Arnergy is at the forefront of providing innovative energy solutions to improve economic outcomes and power a sustainable future.

“These events bring together key stakeholders to drive the adoption of renewables and accelerate the growth of solar solutions and mini-grid developments.”

Global Diesel Shortage Worsened by Russia’s Ban on Exports

Emmanuel Addeh in a buja

The global shortage of diesel and the attendant rise in prices, has been made worse after Russia announced a temporary ban on diesel exports to all countries except Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, while aiming to stabilise its domestic market.

According to Reuters, Russia’s fuel market has faced recent challenges, including scheduled maintenance at oil

responsible public financial management, robust growth in trade and investment, and sustainable and inclusive infrastructural development”.

On her part, the Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Adaora Chukwu, said the state’s partnership with the Indonesian government was based on Governor Peter Mbah’s initiative to move the state from a $4.4 billion dollar to $30 billion dollar economy.

“Nigeria hopefully will gain and attract investment, industries and capital in the partnership and for the Indonesian government, it will be a mutual prosperity effort, with Enugu State giving expertise in some areas,” she said.

refineries, transportation bottlenecks, and the depreciation of the ruble, incentivising fuel exports. Following the challenges, Russia restricted exports to address diesel and petrol shortages and prevent a potential fuel crisis.

The shortage has also impacted Nigeria, exacerbated by the action of Russia which is the world’s largest diesel exporter, making diesel prices in Nigeria exceed N1,000 per litre.

Bulk Power Restored in Birnin Kebbi Substation after Blackout

Emmanuel Addeh in abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated that bulk power supply has now been restored to Birinin Kebbi and its environs through the Birnin Kebbi Transmission Substation.

The bulk power restoration work was carried out by a team of substation, lines, and PC&M engineers of TCN, who

converged from different TCN regions nationwide, s statements from the company, signed by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said.

She explained that this was to ensure expedited repair works and that bulk power was quickly restored to Kebbi and environs in spite of the enormity of the fire incident and its effect on the substation.

Emmanuel Addeh in abuja

FG Reaffirms Commitment to Eliminating Dog Mediated Human Rabies by 2030

Gilbert Ekugbe

The federal government has joined the rest of the world to mark the World rabies day in line with the global initiative to eliminate dog mediated human rabies in the next seven years.

In line with the federal government’s disposition, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Federal Ministry of Environment, at a joint press briefing with the “All for 1-One Health for All,” focused on collaboration and strengthening the overall health systems by ensuring that “One Health” would be adopted by all stakeholders.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said that this year’s World Rabies Day was significant as it marked the 17th anniversary of when countries of the world came together to celebrate, create awareness and promote health to keep the world safe to attain the highest level of health and wellbeing.

Kyari revealed that rabies was the deadliest disease known to man with a fatality rate of almost 100 per cent if adequate prophylaxis was not instituted immediately following an exposure.

He added that it was zoonotic in nature, affecting all warm blooded animals and man and is transmitted through bite of an infected animal.

He stressed that in Nigeria, dogs

are responsible for approximately 99 per cent of these exposures, noting that the burden of the disease was not known but it has been reported from every state in Nigeria occurring all year round with devastating outcomes in humans and livestock.

Also speaking, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed that scientifically, rabies is caused by Lyssavirus that leads to progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, adding that the virus is spread through the saliva of the infected animal by biting or scratching another animal or human being.

Alausa revealed that it was estimated that rabies was responsible for 59,000 agonising

Stakeholders Seek Enabling Policies to Stimulate Local Manufacturing of Solar Components

human deaths every year with most people living in poor rural communities in Africa and Asia.

In his address, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said that reports indicated that most dogs were unlicensed, not vaccinated regularly and roam freely within communities without the owners guide, adding that stray dogs are main sources of the infection.

Salako stressed that these dogs interact with one another with an exposure window for transmission of the virus from an infected dog, especially while competing and struggling for waste food from waste bins and improperly disposed food waste in the municipalities.

Food Production: Agric Stakeholders Advocate Agricultural Biotechnology

Gilbert Ekugbe

Stakeholders in the nation’s agriculture value chain have emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to adopt agricultural biotechnology to achieve increased food production in the country.

The move is coming at a time when the country is struggling to meet its food needs amid skyrocketing prices of food commodity in different parts of the country.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, stated this at a one day editors’ interactive session on

navigating biotech frontiers for accurate science communication in Lagos.

He stated that biotechnology is a transformative field that has the potential to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world at large, adding that biotechnology is at the forefront of driving positive change from agriculture to healthcare and environmental conservation to industrial innovation.

“This will empower them to make informed decisions about its applications and impacts on our society. This Lagos editor’s interaction seeks to foster a collaborative relationship between the media and the agricultural biotechnology

community. We hope to create an open and constructive dialogue, where we can share knowledge, address concerns, and work together to communicate agricultural biotechnology’s benefits and challenges effectively,” he added. Also speaking, the Head, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) & Biotech Awareness, Ms. Iweajunwa Sarah Ogochukwu, said that the objectives of the workshop among others was to enlighten, keep participants up-to-date with the developments in agricultural biotech as well as addressing the misconception about the safety of the technology while also building the capacity of participants for improved editorial decision-making on issues

related to agric biotech.

On her part, the Director, Agricultural Biotechnology Department, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Dr. Rose Gidado, said Nigerian agriculture is especially vulnerable to climate change and its associated occurrences of higher temperatures, extended droughts, floods, and other circumstances, reducing agricultural production across the country, particularly in the northern states.

“Biotechnology offers new tools for increasing agricultural productivity and protecting food crops from climate changes such as heat, floods, and drought,” Gidado said.

No Policy Tweaks Expected as OPEC Ministerial Panel Meets Tomorrow

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies knows as OPEC+ is unlikely to tweak its current oil output policy when a panel meets tomorrow (Wednesday), Reuters has reported, as tighter supplies and rising demand drive an oil price rally.

Ministers from the OPEC and allies led by Russia, known as

OPEC+, meet on October 4. The panel, called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) can call for a full OPEC+ meeting if warranted.

Oil has jumped towards $100 a barrel for Brent crude , the highest since 2022, as tighter supply, due partly to OPEC+ output cuts and rising demand, outweighs concern about stubborn inflation and weaker economic growth.

Four OPEC+ sources who declined to be named said the committee would probably not make any changes to existing policy during Wednesday’s online meeting.

“Nothing has been discussed. It will probably be a normal meeting with emphasis on the OPEC+ agreement,” one of the sources said.

In focus will be an expected update on plans by Saudi Arabia

and Russia on their voluntary cuts. On September 5, they extended cuts amounting to 1.3 million barrels per day to the end of the year and said they would review the cut decisions monthly.

With oil rallying, some analysts have cited an increasing probability the Saudi voluntary cuts will be reduced. Others expect the curbs to be extended into 2024.

Stakeholders in the Nigerian solar energy sector have stressed the need for the federal government to formulate and implement policies aimed at encouraging local manufacturing of solar components and equipment in the country.

The stakeholders include operators, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and financial institutions.

Speaking at the event, Southwest Zonal Coordinator, REA, Mr. Owoyemi Adewale, pointed out that the cost of developing and manufacturing solar systems and components in Nigeria was so high hence the need for government to intervene and support players in the sector, who want to venture into local manufacturing.

He stressed that high cost of operation hamper solar operators from manufacturing locally which makes them resort to importing the products as they consider that option more convenient and profitable.

“If we really want Nigerians to adopt renewable energy,, the cost must be very minimal and affordable where every average Nigerian can have a solar home system. So, in a nutshell, there must be duty-free for imported solar

components and then, the lending rates for solar manufacturing must be very low at single digits.

“So, the policy of the government must be emphasising on the loan aspect of the manufacturing business and giving them at a rate that is minimal. There is nothing that stops the government from giving a loan to a genuine manufacturer at zero percent interest. That is an area government needs to look at if we want to develop the sector, “Adewale noted.

Executive Director, Gennex Technologies, a solar solutions firm, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ilo, who acknowledged that financial barriers still hinder the adoption and penetration of solar energy in Nigeria, called for collaboration between the government and the private sector to accelerate local production and utilisation of solar energy.

She noted that as countries in Africa deal with many economic challenges, which are worsened by high energy cost, there was no better time to look inwards to spur production of renewable energy inputs in the continent.

Chief Executive Officer, Kartel Energy Limited, Ola Ogunsemowo, echoed the need to make funds available for companies willing to venture into manufacturing of solar systems and components locally.

NIPR Commends DSS for Elevating Public Relations to Directorate Cadre

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has commended the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, for elevating public relations to a directorate cadre.

The NIPR also lauded the security organisation for appointing a certified member of the institute Dr. Peter Afunanya, as the pioneer Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications of the Service.

In a letter of commendation dated September 28, 2023 and signed by the NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, the institute said the DG’s bold and strategic initiative will further reposition the DSS for optimal value delivery to all stakeholders.

Neliaku stated that the institute

recognises the premium that the DSS places on citizens engagement, noting that Bichi understands the value of public relations as a management function.

On the import of the new development at the DSS, the NIPR President said, “Both decisions project you as an administrator who knows the value of reputation in nation building and development, and more importantly, as a law abiding leader.

“Your action has placed your organisation among the few government agencies that comply with the provisions of the Act of National Assembly that established the NIPR in 2004, which prohibits quacks from practicing public relations in whatever name or form without certification and licensing by the Institute,” he said.

Peter Uzoho

L-R: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, Geoff Amaghereonu; Chairman, Board of Directors, Emmanuel Kanu Ivi and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, Mobolaji Adewumi during the Bank’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in Lagos… recently

Opuwei: Coastal Carrier Barges Will Address LPG Storage, Distribution Constraints in Nigeria

Chief Executive Officer, Dateline Energy Services Limited, Mr. Wilson Opuwei in this interview, talked about the Liquefied Petroleum Gas coastal transportation carrier barge project, the partnership with Naval Dockyard Limited amongst other issues. Peter Uzoho presents the excerpts:

Can you provide an overview of the LPG Coastal Transportation Carrier Barge project being built in Nigeria? What are the primary goals and objectives of this project?

One of the key objectives of the Lagos kick-off event is not only to document this concept as 100 per cent Nigerian, being first of its kind in Africa, but to promote our Local Content capabilities.

Specifically, showcasing the vast shipbuilding experience, technological expertise, and niche skill-sets domiciled within Naval Dockyard, with whom DESL is collaborating towards utilising their world-class fabrication facility to deliver this venture.

Also our Nigerian technology and designs have been adapted by an international organisation known as Citra Shipbuilders of Indonesia, with whom DESL have entered into agreements for the construction of two units of LNG Carrier Barges, which kick-off ceremony held recently at the GASTECH 2023 International Conference in Singapore.

That event was witnessed by Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas); Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources; Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), amongst other key industry players, thus putting Nigeria in the global gas map as a technology provider.

Furthermore, our plan is to support government’s effort towards creating jobs and career opportunities for our people, especially for long-term industrial activities as these.

What motivated DESL to invest in the development of an LPG/LNG carrier barges for coastal transportation? What market trends or factors influenced this decision?

As practitioners in the oil and gas industry, we always evaluate and carry out extensive Research and Development (R&D) initiatives, whilst using our experiences as operator to identify some challenges faced within gas development and commercialisation value chain.

These are majorly processing, evacuation, and storages, to which our LPG and LNG carriers would address such evacuation, distribution, and storage constraints, locally and around the African region.

DESL along with our strategic partners are investing towards building, owning and operating a fleet of LPG, LNG/CNG Carrier Badges, virtual pipeline solutions for conveyance of natural and processed gas resources for shuttle and distribution between bigger crafts to storage and off-take facilities as foreign currency earner.

Nigeria has a rapidly growing energy demand. How does DESL’s LPG/LNG carrier barges align with the local energy needs and government initiatives?

As at today, most of the LPG consumed locally are produced and exported through international vessels, then re-imported into the country before being stored and distributed by a few companies.

Our gas carrier barges would mitigate the domestic distribution challenges, as one barge can carry up to 4000 m3 of LPG, which is equivalent to more than 300 trucks by road, and can provide for the riverine communities, then traverse the northern part of Nigeria through the inland waterways quicker.

Our midterm plan is to build a fleet of LPG, CNG, and LNG Carrier barges, with a view to supporting the activities of the bigger marine crafts, as well as the storage facilities, and exporters.

Could you discuss the key features and specifications of the LPG carrier barge? How does it stand out in terms of capacity, safety features, and environmental considerations?

Our barges are designed for the Nigerian waterways, as well as the West African regional coastline, having a draft of 3.5Mtrs, width of 22Mtrs, Length of 100Mtrs. She can get to shallow waters and creeks. We also plan to engage with the Ministry of Blue Economy towards dredging the Inland Water ways so that barges can traverse through to Northern part of Nigeria.

Safety is a crucial concern in energy transportation. How does DESL plan to ensure the safety and security of the LPG cargo, crew, and the environment during transportation?

DESL is a safety conscious organisation, having won the award of Shell Global 20-Million LTI Free Man-Hours, Net Goal Zero Company in 2013, which was the first of its kind in Nigeria.

We are HSE compliant, whilst working with the Nigerian Navy to provide Real Time security. Furthermore, the barges are designed to be full proof technologically advanced crafts, and security measures are in place.

What role does technology play in the LPG/LNG carrier barges project? Are there any innovative technologies or practices being implemented to enhance efficiency, monitoring, and risk management?

These barges are designed as clean energy solutions and technologically advanced equipment, having considered environmental and related factors, as even the power generators are fuelled by LPG/CNG.

Developing a project of this scale involves collaborations and partnerships. Can you elaborate on the stakeholders involved in this project, especially your relationship with the Naval Dockyard Limited?

DESL operates a consortium type structure wherein all parties involved would be adding value to the process.

So, aside from partnering with the Naval Dockyard Limited, which has a great Naval Architecture, DESL’s engineering and design team would comprise of engineers from National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), Nigerian National

Petroleum Company (NNPC) Shipping, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), amongst other stakeholders who we expect to bring their expertise to bear in our final designs. Our aim is to have a vessel that takes care of operational challenges.

LPG/LNG transportation involves regulatory compliance and adherence to safety standards. How is DESL addressing these challenges to ensure seamless operations and regulatory approvals?

DESL would not only work with International Classing Agencies which would class and approve every level of our construction, but would also work closely with the NMDPRA towards delivering a world class marine craft out of Nigeria.

Logistics and infrastructure play a significant role in energy transportation. Could you discuss the logistical aspects of the LPG carrier barge, including loading and unloading processes, and the infrastructure required?

We have ongoing arrangements with gas producing companies including NNPC subsidiaries, and a few local gas off-takers who plan to utilise our barges; also our barges will serve as a major means of shuttle and distribution for an international company that is building a coastal LPG storage depot.

Are there any future expansion plans or considerations for similar projects in other regions beyond Lagos?

Definitely, our midterm plan is to own a fleet of LPG, and LNG carrier barges. However, upon our announcement, we have been getting requests from clients ordering for us to build similar, even as we plan to unveil the first prototype by December 2023.

Can you share insights into the timeline for the project’s completion and commencement of operations? Are there any milestones or significant dates to look forward to?

Our target completion period is 14 months from when we lay the keel, hopefully by December 2023, by which time our ordered steel would have arrived the Naval Dockyard. However, our team would be working to perfect the engineering and designs modifications.

The participation of Nigerian shipowners in the Cabotage trade and crude oil lifting has remained low despite the Cabotage and Local Content Acts. How worried are you about this?

We decided to engage the maritime and shipping stakeholders so that we can get a first-hand view of their experiences and challenges, and also engage alongside towards finding lasting solutions to some of the issues.

Do you think that Nigeria has the capacity to man coastal vessels and coastal barges as required by the Cabotage Act of 2003?

Nigeria has more than enough maritime personnel and professionals with capacity to man any vessel, or undertake technologically complex operations. We can also pride ourselves that right here in the Naval Dockyard we have some of the best Naval Architects whose designs are now being adapted around the world.

Opuwei

“DESL along with our strategic partners are investing towards building, owning and operating a fleet of LPG, LNG/CNG Carrier Badges, virtual pipeline solutions for conveyance of natural and processed gas resources for shuttle and distribution between bigger crafts to storage and off-take facilities as foreign currency earner.”

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu; wife of the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Elizabeth Egbetokun; Ogun State Head of Service, Kolawole Peter Fagbohun; and Police IG, Kayode Egbetokun, during the grand reception in honour of ‘illustrious ambassadors’ of Ogun State at Ilobi/Erinja High School in Yewa…recently

L-R: (back row) Baale of Abule Ijesha, Chief Haruna Alli-Dawodu; Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Kayode Omiyale; Group Corporate Communications and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Temitope Ashiwaju; and National Coordinator, Indomie Fan Club, Mrs. Faith Joshua; ( front row) Darasimi Abdulraheem of MPT School; Abdulrasheed Sumayyah of Onike Girls Junior High School; Oluwadamilare Joseph of Federal Science and Technology College; and Chidinma Oji of Cedec International School, during the Indomie Educational Scholarship cheque presentation to primary and secondary school students in Yaba LCDA in Lagos…recently

L-R: Group Chief Executive Officer, Prima Garnet Africa and former President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Lolu Akinwunmi; Director, Marketing Communication, 9mobile, Saidat LawalMohammed; Head of Creative Services, 9mobile, Adeola Kayode; and Managing Director, Rinot Limited. Ifeoma Osubor, receiving the ‘9mobile special recognition and supporter of advertising’ award at the 50th annual general meeting of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) in Abuja…recently

L-R: Director, AEC Unity Network Limited Consortium, Mr. Lateef Bakare; Finance Director, AEC Network Limited, Dame Tito Obaigbo; Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr. Olukorede Kesha; Minister of Works, Dr. Dave Umahi; Chairman, AEC Network Limited Consortium, Chief Kenny Martins; and Head of Public Private Partnership, Federal Ministry of Works, Mrs. Abimbola Asein, during the minister-press parley on the proposed LagosAbuja Greenfield Super Highway Project (470km) in Lagos...recently

aBaYOmi aKiNYeLe

L-R: Guests, Mr. Segun Odumade and Mr. Babatunde Okeniyi; deceased sons, Mr. Deji Odujinrin and Gbenga Odujinrin; guests, Mr. Femi Banwo and Mr. Ade Odunuga, during the burial reception for late Mrs. Margaret Olayemi Odujinrin at Regal Hall, Ikoyi, Lagos ...recently

PHOTO: aBiODUN aJaLa

L-R: Partners, Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie Chambers, Ozofu Latunde Ogiemudia, Yinka Edu, and Adeola Sunmola, at the 5th annual ICE summit in Lagos…recently

How Absence of LG Autonomy Fights Educational Child Rights Implementation

Kuni Tyessi writes that with the structure of governance in place and with the local government being denied autonomy, mopping off out-of-school children/Almajiri from the streets despite existing laws will continue to remain a distant cry from reality

It’s no longer news that Nigeria is one of the countries that has the best laws with regards to the rights of children in acquiring basic education and their protection in and outside school premises. However, the implementation of the laws which should qualify as an ass to be ridden upon is lacking, thereby making mockery of the Child Rights Law which in the SDGs, with respect to education sits as number four.

Out of the 36 states of the federation, Kano is the latest in assenting to the bill of the Child Rights Act, leaving only Bauchi to remain in the cold despite 30 years of being in existence as a proposal. With such gesture from the legislature and principally from the executive, it is expected that all state governments will beam their searchlights and place more priority on basic education through more budgetary allocation and the provision of counterpart funding to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for untoward release of funds which will cater for infrastructure, teacher training, writing materials, books, etc.

Sadly, this isn’t the case due to limitations placed on local government chairmen by state governors who have vehemently fought and stood against local government autonomy which should be responsible for the effective and smooth running of public schools, thereby making the state governors culpable in the increasing figures of out-of -school children which latest figures have pegged at swinging numbers of 18.3 and 20.1 million.

Moreso, the concurrent list that education falls into has not helped matters as it has further strengthened the principal state actors. This is not forgetting the unserious role of some state governors in accessing the multi billions of funds domiciled in the nations apex bank by UBEC. The latest from the Commission reveals that in the capital budget implementation report, a total sum of N162,284,117,592 was allocated to the states as UBE grants between 2019 and 2022. For 2021 matching grants, only 11 states including Kano have accessed the funds, leaving out 25 states including the FCT as of April 30, 2023. In other words, 2022 funds are yet to be accessed and the current year, 2023 is already folding away.

Insurgency and climate change have been documented as factors that have led to the rise in the number of out-of school children. But even so, at this juncture, one is bound to ask why the number of the out-of- school children/ almajiris has continued to soar even in states that have been relatively peaceful and have been accessing the funds up to 2021.

In conversations with almajiris and some stakeholders at Kasuwan ’Yan Kura in Kano State, and which was supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on ’child rights implementation and country programme results’, indigents of the state no doubt understand the gravity of the plight of the out-of-school children/almajiri and way forward which they advise has to be full autonomy for local government chairmen.

The almajiris spoken to who have all come from states like Jigawa, Katsina and Gombe, have all been enrolled into Koranic schools and have to beg for alms or go into child labour and hawking to provide basic needs for themselves. Although several are aware of the free offer to public schools, they do not

attend due to poverty, lack of school uniforms and occasional exploitation from the teachers, but will be willing to enroll if government’s ’free’ offer can be 100 percent free.

Alhaji Sa’adu Koguna, a businessman of over for decades in Kano is of the belief that local government autonomy has the ability to end the menace of out-of-school children. Acknowledging that he also has out- of-school children in his household as a result of poverty and sometimes hunger despite being knowledgeable about formal education, he says: “In Kano alone, there are many of these children who are not just roaming the streets but also sleep in the streets. Many of them as a result of poverty have left their villages and states and have come here for a better life. Due to

absence of local government autonomy, what is meant for all is being amassed by just a few and this is the sad reality.

“I still remember when funds were provided for the running of local governments, before you know what’s happening, the monies would have been scattered. Take Kano state government for example, when funds for the 44 local governments have been provided, some will get about N150 million, some might get N70 and there’s even the one that gets just as much as N250,000 and this is based on size and population. So he (governor) just gathers the remaining and takes them overseas to keep. So I’m of the opinion that to curb the menace of out-of school children, every local government should be given full autonomy. “

Mallam Ahmed Sani in collaborating with Koguna says “Emphasis and strict monitoring must be on the local government because; I can recall that when funds have been disbursed, meetings

are held in hotels to share the monies. But with local government autonomy, when there’s strict vigilance on them and how the funds were spent, this will change. That is why you will see that a local government chairman most times is unable to build something as small as a culvert simply because there’s no money.

"The money is actually there, but the chairmen are not given the money and have in turn become puppets to the state government. So it is what the governor says that they must do. But once they’ve been given autonomy, everyone will feel the impact of the money and issues of out- of-school children will be nipped in the bud.”

Still again, another respondent, Sagir A. Mohammed in support of local government autonomy has this to say: “With local government autonomy, dilapidated schools can be renovated and uniforms given for free and with the possibility of launch to encourage enrollment and full participation, classrooms will be refurbished, the poor will be assisted generally in the face of basic needs which are usually rights, especially for children. But as it is now, there is nothing of such. So my advice to the government at the center is to ensure autonomy for the local governments. “

With calls for revisit to the dicey issue of local government autonomy, optimists and believers in the dreams of the Nigerian child in getting sound education will be dependent on the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do the needful in ensuring that the right to education is achieved and stands non-negotiable.

With local government autonomy, dilapidated schools can be renovated and uniforms given for free and with the possibility of launch to encourage enrollment and full participation, classrooms will be refurbished, the poor will be assisted generally in the face of basic needs which are usually rights, especially for children. But as it is now, there is nothing of such. So my advice to the government at the center is to ensure autonomy for the local governments

School children

When Nigerian Generals Bow to God in Thanksgiving

Ben Adam Shemang

Just take a second look at the photo again. Who did you see? Let me tell you: from left is Mrs. Oghogho and her husband, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, next are Major General Nuhu Angbazo (rtd.) in flowing blue attire and his wife, after him is Major General Obinna Ajunwa, former General Officer Commanding, 81 Division who is in pink and at the extreme right is Corporal Stephen Ogunfowashe.

They danced their souls out at the ECWA Good News Church on Sunday 17th September, 2023, in Maitama, Abuja. It was thanksgiving time and the Church was full to the brim with Christians and Muslims alike. They had gone to the Church to celebrate with the Angbazos for the wonders God has done to them, especially, the general.

The Angbazos have a lot to thank God for; especially for saving General Nuhu Angbazo through turbulent times. You recall the plane crash of 17th September 2006? That ill-fated Dornier 228 – 212 crashed with 15 senior military officers and three crew members on board.

They were going for a retreat at the Obudu Mountain Resort in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

General Angbazo, a colonel at that time survived. Another officer who survived the mishap who was a Lieutenant Colonel that time, is the immediate Past General Officer Commanding 81 Division, and current Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, here in Abuja.

You know the miracle of God? It was a small school boy, Master Detimbir Chia, who discovered the wreckage of the plane in his father’s farm. The two Generals, Angbazo, Ajunwa and three other personnel were alive! The boy picked one of the phones of the victims and thank God, he remembered his father’s phone number called him and told him of the wreck on their farm and the father in turn, told authorities about the incident and organised an immediate rescue!

You see why the Angazos have reasons to thank God? But if you think that was the end, you are wrong, it is just scene one!

The second big miracle happened because as if that plane crash was not enough of getting close to death and trauma for the Angbazos, on August 31st this year 2023, a vehicle crashed into his car from behind shattering it into a complete wreck.

“People thought it was all over for me and my driver, Corporal Stephen Oguntowashe”, the General pointed at him at the altar, “look at him and see me, we came out alive and none of us

had a scratch, no clothe we wore got torn. God did it”, he said.

“This is why we are here to thank God”. The congregation went into ecstasy shouting loud and

prolonged “Halleluyah”.

The general went into the third miracle.

“And now look at the next miracle! My driver, Corporal Stephen Oguntowashe, married six years ago, no child and just

yesterday, the wife gave birth!”General Angbazo announced. Tears of joy flowed freely in the Church.

General Angbazo read the mood in the Church and decided to inject some humours as he turned to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. “You see him, he was my junior at the Nigerian Defence Academy and we were basketballers. My House would defeat every House but Musa would ensure his House defeated me and my House”. There was applause in Church. “Let me forgive you for always defeating me and my House, and one thing I know about you, you are always serious in all you do”. General Angbazo concluded, as again, there was laughter in among the congregation.

When the microphone was passed to the Chief of Defence Staff, as expected, the congregation went dead in silence to hear General Musa’s response. “You were my boss in NDA and in different Commands. You taught me to always be the best and thank you for forgiving me for always beating your House”. Applause followed.

General Musa urged Nigerians thereafter to always support their military at all times, emphasizing God remains the ultimate in all he does.

The clergy took time to pray for the service chiefs, Nigerian leaders and for peace in the country.

That plane crash of September 17, 2006, claimed lives of Generals like, AN Bamah, JO Adesunloye, JO Agboola, PM Haruna, JTU Ahmedu, SO Olubu, B Duniya, SM Lemu, TJ Braimah and MB Bawa, then two Wing Commanders namely EO Adekunle and O Balogun, and NA Mohammed, a Lieutenant Colonel.

“What about the boy who discovered the plane wreckage?” I asked General Angbazo. “The Army authority ensured he joined the NDA, as he, the boy at that time requested. Today, he is a Captain in the Nigerian Army and now my adopted son” General Angbazo said.

And truly, Captain Detimbir Chia is with the Nigerian Army, serving his father’s land.

“Ï will continue to bow in thanksgiving to God Almighty as I worship Him” General Angbazo concluded.

General Nuhu Angbazo was General Officer Commanding 3rd Division and also Director Military -Civil Relations, among other Command duties before his retirement.

-Adam Shemang was Director News, Voice of Nigeria, now works for Deutsche Welle Radio.

General Angbazo with the CDS, General Musa during the thanksgiving

The accidented car

People thought it was all over for me and my driver, Corporal Stephen Oguntowashe”, the General pointed at him at the altar, “look at him and see me, we came out alive and none of us had a scratch, no clothe we wore got torn. God did it”, he said. “This is why we are here to thank God”.

63rd indEpEndEncE AnnivErSAry thAnkSgiving SErvicE...

L-R: The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike worshipping during the 63rd independence anniversary thanksgiving service held at the National Ecumenical Christian Centre, Abuja…Sunday

Obaseki: Edo to Purchase New CNG Buses to Boost Free Transport Scheme

Commiserates with families of victims of Koko Junction tanker explosion

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed the state government has placed orders for new Compressed Natural Gas

(CNG)-buses to boost its fleet for the state’s free transport scheme.

The governor, who disclosed this in his Independence Day speech, noted that his administration was, “taking critical steps within the limits

of the resources available to us as a state by initiating and implementing policies and programmes to respond to the recent fuel subsidy removal policy by the federal government.”

According to him, “We have

introduced free transport service for passengers on all routes operated by the state-owned Edo City Transport Service (ECTS), among many support programmes that the Edo State government has put

Senate Committee Chairman on Gas Commends Tinubu’s CNG Project

Barely 48 hours after President Bola Tinubu announced interventions to cushion the pains of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians in his speech to mark the country's 63rd Independence, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, yesterday, urged the President to expeditiously mark his words with action by sending a 2023 Supplementary Budget to kick start the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project and other projects in the gas value chain, which are cheaper than the use of fossil fuel.

According to a statement, the Senator also advised against extra budgetary expenditure through ‘Ways and Means,’ saying the legislature was ready to support and bring succour to the people.

He was quoted to have said this after the Interdenominational Service on Independence Day.

Jarigbe commended Tinubu on his CNG revolution to power vehicles. He said the noble initiative would ameliorate the hardship of the citizens.

He also emphasised the need for the President to come up with a supplementary budget to enable the

government fund the gas value chain, including the provision for CNG infrastructure and CNG vehicles, adding that the workshops and trainings would need to be funded.

He advised the President not to embark on extra- budgetary expenditure because it would be inconsistent with the provisions of the law.

He stated that the National Assembly, under the leadership of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was poised to support the lofty programs of his administration, adding that a 2023 supplementary budget would be most appropriate, instead of the ‘Ways and Means’ approach of the previous administration, which is currently a major issue of contention in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In his Independence speech, the President had explained that,"At my inauguration, I made important promises about how I would govern this great nation. Among those promises, were pledges to reshape and modernise our economy and to secure the lives, liberty and property of the people.

“I said that bold reforms were necessary to place our nation on the path of prosperity and growth. On that occasion, I announced the end of the fuel subsidy."

In announcing the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, the implementation of the policy came with severe hardship on the people and "I am attuned to the hardships that have come. I have a heart that feels and eyes that see.

I wish to explain to you why we must endure this trying moment.

Rationalising the fuel subsidy withdrawal policy, the president explained that, "Those who sought to perpetuate the fuel subsidy and broken foreign exchange policies are people who would build their family mansion in the middle of a swamp.

"I am different. I am not a man to erect our national home on a foundation of mud. To endure, our home must be constructed on safe and pleasant ground," he pointed out. He promised that though, "reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require. We now carry the costs of reaching a future Nigeria where the abundance and fruits of the nation are fairly shared

Oba of Benin Tasks Immigration on Border Security, Staff Welfare

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin has tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on effective policing of porous Nigeria borders and improve capacity to deal with security threats.

Oba Ewuare II gave the charge when the Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Edo State Command, Uba Waziri, led his management team to the palace in Benin City.

The traditional ruler also enjoined the leadership of the NIS to prioritise the welfare of their personnel, as a critical building block to reach a nadir and succeed in battle field.

According to him, "I am sure you know that our border is very porous, especially in Northern part of Nigeria. I wonder how the Immigration Service has been protecting our borders with the right equipment.

"The situation is almost like the Nigerian Army. In protecting our borders, it is very important to look after them (personnel); provide the facilities, the equipment, training and welfare for our Immigration officers because their job is not easy", Oba Ewuare II said.

He also pledged the Palace support for management of the Service to discharge its duties and commended the Public Relations officer of the State Command, Kenneth Ake, for

his giving a good account of himself.

Earlier in his address, Waziri, said he was at the palace to pay respect to the Oba of Benin as tradition demands and also thanked the traditional ruler for the support the Benin Kingdom had been giving the NIS over the years.

The Immigration Controller, solicited for Royal prayers and support during the visit.

Waziri was enlisted into the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent in July 1993, and was deployed to Edo State as the 25th Service on February 23rd 2023, after serving in other parts of the nation.

among all, not hoarded by a select and greedy few.

“A Nigeria where hunger, poverty and hardship are pushed into the shadows of an ever fading past.

"There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago. I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future.

in place to reduce the challenge, sufferings and exorbitant cost of living faced by Edo people.

“We are glad with the salutary impact of this initiative which covers 13 intra-city routes and several intercity city routes daily, covering towns and villages within the State’s three senatorial districts.

“Over three hundred thousand residents have benefited from the scheme in the first two weeks of the palliative programme, while we expect over 1,500,000 residents are projected to benefit in the initial two months of the free transport initiative. We have placed new orders for additional CNG-run buses to increase the fleet.”

On other measures being adopted to ameliorate the effect of the hardship caused by high transport fares, he said: “We also launched a 24-hour free Wi-Fi service in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other public places in the State to provide unlimited internet access to

workers and other residents to enable them work effectively and efficiently from selected public spaces.”

Meanwhile, Obaseki, has commiserated with the families of the victims of the petrol tanker explosion at Koko Junction, in Delta State. In a statement in Benin City, yesterday, the governor expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, noting that the loss of lives was regrettable.

He said, “We are saddened by the news of the petrol tanker explosion in Koko Junction, Delta State.

“We commiserate with the government and people of Delta State over the tragic incident. We sympathise with the families of the victims.”

Obaseki urged, “Nigerians to desist from attempting to scoop petrol whenever there is an accident involving tankers. It is pertinent to consider safety first and report to appropriate authorities in such instances.”

Senator Yar’Adua Hails BUA Cement over Price Reduction

Asks

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Chairman, Senate Committee on the Army who is representing Katsina Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Abdulaziz Yar'Adua, has commended the board and management of BUA Cement Plc under the leadership of the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for reducing the price of cement.

Yar'Adua, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, said the firm, which is Nigeria’s second largest cement company, by its action, had identified with the socio-economic crisis currently confronting Nigerians.

The Senator said the decision by BUA to reduce the price of cement to N3,500 per bag, was highly commendable. He urged the company to extend the gesture to other consumable products being produced by it.

Yar'Adua warned marketers and retailers to abide by the new price regime.

He also appealed to other manufacturers to emulate the worthy gesture of BUA by also slashing prices of their products to make lives much easier for Nigerians.

He said, "This commendable

initiative demonstrates BUA Cement's commitment to its corporate social responsibility and its dedication to the development of Nigeria's building materials and infrastructure sectors.

"The reduction in the price of cement is indeed a palliative measure that will significantly ease the financial burden on the Nigerian masses.

"It will also, simultaneously drive the growth and development of our great nation.

"By making cement more affordable, BUA Cement is directly contributing to the realisation of our country's infrastructural goals and empowering individuals and businesses within the construction industry.”

He added: "I would like to urge BUA Cement Plc to extend this laudable initiative to its food production subsidiary, which includes essential items such as flour, oil, rice, and sugar.

"Ensuring that these vital commodities are more accessible and affordable will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians and greatly contribute to the development of our country.

"I also call upon marketers and retailers to play their part by ensuring that BUA Cement's reduced prices

reach the end-users as intended.

"It is our collective responsibility to act patriotically and implement this price change in an efficient and transparent manner. By doing so, we can maximise the benefit to the Nigerian masses and reinforce the positive impact of BUA Cement's decision.

"Furthermore, I urge other companies operating in Nigeria to emulate the example set by BUA Cement PLC and enhance their corporate social responsibility efforts.

"The private sector plays a pivotal role in our nation's development and stands as a major beneficiary and stakeholder. It is imperative that these companies align their interests with the well-being of Nigeria and actively contribute to the betterment of our society.

"In light of this, I call on the federal government, state governments and local governments to intensify their commitment to the welfare and prosperity of their constituents.

"The prudent management of resources, combined with a genuine dedication to the needs of the people, will go a long way in bringing ease and development to every corner of our nation.

Nigeria's 110,000 Bpd Additional Oil Production Boosts OPEC Crude Output in September

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Oil output by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose for a second straight month in September, a Reuters survey found yesterday, led by increases in Nigeria and Iran. This was despite ongoing cuts by Saudi Arabia and other members of the wider OPEC+ alliance to support the market.

Even with the rise in volume of drilling, Nigeria is still far behind in terms of meeting the OPEC’s

Show,” on ARISE News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

Asked what he would have done differently if elected president, the LP presidential candidate said he would have devalued the currency, and borrowed to stabilise it, while also taking aggressive measures to boost foreign capital inflow through export promotion, among others.

The former governor berated the federal government for approving N35, 000 for federal workers as part of the palliatives following the removal of petrol subsidy. He described the measure as a product of “limited thinking, which, again, produces limited outcomes”.

Obi said, “You can’t float a currency you don’t have supply in control. It is like building a non-gated house in a crime-ridden society.

“You have to have a defence mechanism; nobody floats what you don’t have supply of. I believe now we have a new CBN team, they have to look at the overall monetary policy.

“Again, it is not something you announce haphazardly. Nobody floats his currency without adequate supply. If we don’t have adequate supply, there are pressures and criminality in our FX regime.”

He said the Tinubu administration should have, “Worked to eliminate those criminality and excesses in our FX regime. The naira was under pressure and a bit overvalued. So, what they would have done is to devalue the currency; we were at N412…devaluation of over N600 would have been it, while trying to manage the supply side by making sure we deal with other issues.

“What controls your exchange rate? It’s your reserves. And what controls your reserves? It’s your exports. You should encourage those things that will start dealing with the issues of earning more FX while trying to manage what you have rather than leaving it open to market forces.

“I can tell you that not even in the developed world has anyone left its currency to market forces because, sometimes, you might not control it and now it is difficult to control.”

He added, “And that is why I said this announcement effect would have been well thought through by

quota of 1.742 million barrels per day.

Last month the country managed to produce 1.18 million barrels per day, according to self-reported figures.

Nigeria has blamed massive oil theft for its inability to ramp up production. The shortages started since the COvID-19 pandemic in 2020 and had recently got worse.

Last month, OPEC pumped 27.73 million barrels per day, the survey found, up 120,000 bpd from August.

Production in August had risen for the first time since February.

The rise in September was led

a proper economic team and by consultation before announcing.”

Specifically, Obi said, “I would have devalued the currency and still ensure that what is available is used by the real sector.

“I am involved in a little bit of finance and I know that in every country involved, they are even trying to borrow money…yes you can do that.

“You are not just borrowing to defend the currency but to stabilise it temporarily while you are working aggressively on your exports.”

Obi also spoke against the continued dollarisation of the economy.

According to him, “The dollar has become an underground currency of the economy, it shouldn’t be. We have a currency called naira. All the things people are using the dollar to do, which are not productive, should be removed.

“Today, even if you want to do party primary, people are sharing the dollar, this is not our currency and there should be stiff penalties in dealing with that issue.

“If people earn it legitimately, let them spend it the way they want, but in a situation, where it has become a means of corruption and criminality in our system, we should be careful in managing it.”

Obi criticised the method through which petrol subsidy was removed, and insisted it was not well thought out by the current administration.

He said instead of doing things haphazardly, he would have “removed the corruption and criminal” aspect of subsidy and “remove the excess demand that is not factual and by doing this, you would have reduced it by 50 per cent”.

He said, “Let me reiterate my position; and I said fuel subsidy is an organised crime, as it was being practised.

“If you go and look at my tweet of September 19, 2022, and read my manifesto – the manifesto of the Labour Party – it showed clearly how we would have approached it. Fuel subsidy is an organised crime and I have said this repeatedly that it is going to be removed.

“During the campaign, I mentioned that what we were consuming is far above what we are supposed to be consuming. And if you listened to

by Nigeria, which has been battling with crude theft and insecurity in its oil-producing region, Reuters said.

Iran, which has been boosting supply despite the United States sanctions, also pumped more, with output hitting the highest level since 2018.

Nigeria managed a sizeable boost in exports in September without any major disruption to shipments, according to shipping data and sources in the survey, increasing output by 110,000 bpd. The country is targeting a further recovery by

Governor Isa Yuguda’s interview recently, he said that a friend of his who was involved in fuel subsidy gains and everything told him that it was criminal and that he was even tired of making money through that type of crime – and that it should be removed. Which shows that there is a criminality and corruption side of it.”

Obi stated further, “And since subsidy has been removed, our consumption is just about half of what it is…

“For me, the approach is to remove the corruption and criminal side of it, remove the excess demand that is not factual and by doing this, you would have reduced it by 50 per cent.

“The remaining 50 per cent is what I would have, after consultation with various stakeholders, been able to find a way in an organised manner, to remove and show the proceeds of removal and the gains of the removal to be invested in a critical investment area, including education, health and pulling people out of poverty.

“When you do it in an organised manner, with proper palliatives that are well structured, not just haphaz-

search cannot locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr Tinubu in 1979, hence, has no document responsive to this request," the released document stated.

But the university was able to produce diploma certificates of other graduates not requested by Atiku the released documents, as suspected by former vice President Atiku Abubakar, exposed variations in signatories and logo as well as revealing the fact that the president attended the university after he “graduated” from Government College, Lagos, in 1970.

In its compliance to the request for records, CSU stated that; “The documents responsive to this request which CSU, after diligent search, has been able to locate are produced herewith and Bates labeled CSU 008n through CSU 0010. The students’ names on these diplomas have been redacted for privacy reasons. CSU is also producing, Bates labeled as CSU 0011 and 0012, diplomas produced for other CSU students (with their names redacted for privacy) which match

next year.

In Nigeria, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which has the mandate to release the country’s production on a monthly basis is yet to do so.

But Reuters stated that the secondlargest increase came from Iran, the survey found, which pushed output to 3.15 million bpd. This is the highest since 2018, the year Washington re-imposed sanctions on Iran, according to Reuters surveys and separate figures from OPEC.

Analysts have said the higher

ardly, you would have been able to see Nigerians go along with you.”

He also said, “One of the things we are suffering with this announcement is what I can call announcement effect. You see, policies like these are not what you would just announce haphazardly.”

Obi said he remained positive after the recent election tribunal judgement, adding, “When I look at what is happening now and comments of respected Nigerians and Nigerians, in general, it underscores the erosion of value that comes from the urgency of building a new Nigeria where things would be properly done based on people saying the truth, doing things rightly within the laws and behaviours that is required of a modern society.”

On the N35,000 provisional wage award approved for federal workers, Obi said, “For me, it is the issue of the temporality of it. If I am correct, he (Tinubu) said this will last for six months, or is it going to be permanent?

“If you look at what this government has been doing since inception,

the format of the Tinubu replacement dated June 27, 1997,” the university wrote. Many however believe the deposition today would bring clarity on all the issues

Maldonado had, in a ruling, ordered CSU to make all requested documents available before the court by noon yesterday, Chicago time.

The released records contained 32 documents.

Tinubu's primary and secondary education, like his university, had remained subjects of major controversy.

Besides the variations in the names of signatories in the certificate and number of persons, who signed various certificates issued in 1979, there was also a huge variation in the logo of the institution.

The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused Tinubu of forging his CSU certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the 2023 presidential election. He had on August 2 applied to a US magistrate court for an order of discovery compelling the CSU to release the academic records of Tinubu.

Iranian exports appear to be the result of Iran's success in evading US sanctions and Washington's discretion in enforcing them as the two countries seek better relations.

Output from the 10 OPEC members that are subject to OPEC+ supply cut agreements rose by 80,000 bpd, the survey found. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf members maintained strong compliance with agreed cutbacks and extra voluntary reductions.

Top exporter Saudi Arabia kept August and September output close

you could see announcements with limited thinking, which, again, produces limited outcomes.”

The LP presidential candidate called on the leadership of the country to deal with the issue of oil revenue leakages in order to stabilise the currency.

He said, "To secure Nigeria, we need to deal with the issue of oil revenue leakages. I can assure you that we will stabilise the currency, as you will be able to export more and earn more revenue. Going around in an unsecured war-torn area does not work."

He expressed concern about the quality of leadership in the country, saying things are currently bad and need to be dealt with.

He stated, "There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land, water or air, except our leadership. Character, competence, capacity, and integrity are the foundation of building a good leadership. Things have to be done differently in Nigeria with the properly team."

Asked if he would work with the Tinubu administration if given

into CSU in September 1977.

The document confirmed Atiku's allegation that the Tinubu admitted into CSU in 1977 was a female and with social security number 231-06-0595.

The document further revealed that Tinubu claimed to have graduated from Government College, Lagos, in 1970. But the college was not founded until 1974.

Similarly, a University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education, Tinubu attached as part of his credentials, showed Physics, Chemistry and Biology as three subjects he sat for in the November/ December exam in 1970.

The released documents further showed that Tinubu's record, following his consent, was released to one Mr Wole Afolabi on June 28, 2023; the document was signed by Jamar Orr, who also last year asserted that Tinubu graduated from CSU in 1979.

to 9 million bpd, the survey found, as the country extended a voluntary 1 million bpd output cut to provide extra support for the market.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates increased output slightly, while Angolan supply showed the largest decline in the group of 50,000 bpd due to a drop in exports. However, OPEC's output is still undershooting the targeted amount by about 700,000 bpd, mainly because Nigeria and Angola lack the capacity to pump as much as their agreed level.

the invitation, he stated that he was challenging, to a logical end, the process through which the current administration came into being.

According to him, "The process through which one comes into office is far more fundamental and what they do thereafter. It is important that people come through the right door.”

He explained that with alleged falsification of credentials by a leader, there was no way such a leader would do the right things.

Obi stated, "That is not good, morally, and a sign you should be giving to the society. There are so many great people in the world who did not go to a formal school or with bad academic records, so you don't have to have all the degrees in the world to be great. But you need to be honest about your background, using great people like Abraham Lincoln, as instances, so we can know where exactly you are."

On what the country could have done differently on the issue of Niger Republic, Obi said he was completely against military intervention as a process for leaders’ emergence.

position on the authenticity of a letter from Westberg (the “Westberg Letter”) on CSU letterhead regarding Tinubu, including who requested the letter, who prepared the letter, and to whom it was sent; and (5) CSU’s position on the authenticity of the Orr Documents and other facts regarding why the documents were certified, if Mr. Orr was authorised to do so, who requested the documents, and to whom they were sent.

Atiku and PDP, which came second in the last presidential election with over six million votes, is seeking the nullification of Tinubu's presidency on the grounds of substantial noncompliance with the electoral laws, massive irregularities, corrupt practices, among others.

The former vice president alleged that Tinubu ought not to have contested the February 25 presidential election over alleged criminal offences bordering on forgery, perjury and possession of double citizenship.

No bank has achieved this feat in the over 100 years of banking in Nigeria.

TAJBank also made history early this year as the first corporate entity in Nigeria’s history to list the first tranche of N100 billion Sukuk Bond on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) after the successful issuance.

A further analysis of the latest audited financial statement of the non-interest and most innovative lender in H1 2023 showed that its total assets rose from N212.021 billion in December 2022, to N335.017 billion at the end of June 2023, indicating a 58 per cent increase while its gross earnings increased by 67 per cent, from N136.149 billion at the end of December 2022 to N227.031 billion as of the end of June this year.

Other highlights of the bank’s financial scorecard in the first half (H1) of 2023 reflected that the financing also significantly increased

by 62 per cent from N78.235 billion recorded as of December 2022, to N126.725 billion in H1 2023; the deposits base surged to N251.250 billion from N161.958 billion as of December 2022; while its total equity grew by 88 per cent from N19.135 billion in December 2022, to N36.706 billion as of H1 2023.

Speaking on the bank’s superior performance in the period under review, TAJBank’s Founder/CEO, Mr. Hamid Joda, attributed the feat to the increasingly proactive strategies being adopted by the management to respond to emerging trends in non-interest banking and deployment of the right resources, especially the well-trained personnel, to meet the expectations of the bank’s customers.

He said: “What I can say about TAJBank’s latest scorecard is that we have demonstrated that hard work pays. As we have maintained over the past three years, our interest is in our customers and we are pursuing this goal with all resources available to us to tell the whole

world that ‘TAJBank is the way

to go’ in non-interest banking.

n on-In T e R e ST bA nk I ng: TAJ bA nk Le ADS I n T I e R -one C A p ITAL , pb T the payment of dividend to its shareholders at the end of the 2022 financial year, barely three years of its debuting in the banking space.

“To demonstrate our commitment to this customer-friendly corporate slogan, we are investing in world-class technologies and digital payment solutions in our services nationwide. Also, in pursuit of our non-interest financial inclusion drive, we have also opened five branches this year and plan to open more in other states in the next few months,” Joda assured.

In his brief remarks, the bank’s Co-Founder/Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, linked the successes to the bank’s shareholders and customers, saying that “our thanks go to our growing customers and shareholders whose belief in our vision and capacity to drive TAJBank to the leading edge of market competition has taken us this far.

“Let me assure them that TAJBank’s management and staff will continue to do its best to serve them better and protect their interests, which we value so much in all areas of operations,” the banker added.

Although Tinubu had objected to the release and approached a district court to review the grant of the application by Justice Jeffrey Gilbert, after listening to parties in the suit, Maldonado held that there was need for the said documents be released to Atiku.

She subsequently adopted the ruling of Gilbert and gave Monday as deadline for the university to comply with the order of court.

In the court documents, CSU, through its lawyer, Michael Hayes, told the district court, "After diligent search", the CSU "has been able to locate" and "produced herewith and Bates labelled CSU 0001 through CSU 0007", true and correct copy of any diploma for a Bachelor of Science degree issued by CSU in 1979.

Hayes pointed out that in respect of Atiku's request for a true and correct copy of any diploma issued by CSU in 1979 to Tinubu, the institution could not lay its hands on it.

Apart from the copies of CSU's certificates, other documents released included a Southwest College Transcript, which Tinubu was said to have used in gaining admission

But Atiku had in his revised subpoena specifically requested true and correct copies of four document: (1) an example of a CSU diploma for a Bachelor of Science degree issued in 1979; (2) Tinubu’s diploma issued in 1979; (3) any examples of a CSU diploma that “contains the same font, seal, signatures, and wording (other than the name of the recipient and the specific degree awarded)” as the copy of the diploma that was purportedly issued to Tinubu on or about June 22, 1979; and (4) certain other CSU documents that were apparently certified and produced by Jamar Orr (an Associate General Counsel at CSU) in other Nigerian proceedings, as well as communications relating to these documents (the “Orr Documents”).

In addition, Atiku sought a deposition by CSU pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 30(b)(6), seeking to explore five topics through deposition: (1) the authenticity of the documents produced by CSU in response to the application and how and where CSU located the documents; (2) CSU’s position on the authenticity of other CSU documents related to Tinubu, purportedly, produced by CSU in another Nigerian proceeding (“Enahoro-Ebah v. Tinubu”); (3) the contents of an affidavit from CSU’s registrar Caleb Westberg; (4) CSU’s

But a five-member panel of the presidential election tribunal, in their unanimous judgement delivered on September 6, dismissed Atiku and PDP's petition for lacking merit.

While the tribunal held that the petitioners did not prove allegations made against the conduct of the presidential poll, it refused to consider and determine the allegations of certificate forgery and perjury against Tinubu on the grounds that they failed to list the allegations in their main petition.

Bent on proving the allegations, Atiku approached the US court for additional evidence, which he hoped to tender before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, where he had already filed an appeal against what he claimed was a "perverse" judgement of the presidential tribunal.

He predicated his application on Order 2 of the Supreme Court Rule, which stipulates, "A party, who wishes the court to receive the evidence of witnesses (whether they were or were not called at the trial) or to order the production of any document, exhibit or other thing connected with the proceedings in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the Act, shall apply for leave on notice of motion prior to the date set down for the hearing of the appeal.

UNESCO AFRICA ENGINEERING WEEK...

Olu of Warri: No Conflict Between Traditional Thrones, Christianity

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ògíame Atúwàtse III, has said the insinuation of conflict between the traditional thrones and Christendom was not true.

The monarch who stated this when he received the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, in his Palace in Warri, Delta State, stressed that the two were not necessarily antithetical to each other.

He also debunked the assumption that traditional institutions were

synonymous with superstitions and the worship of creations made by human hands and reasoning.

He, however, noted that the two institutions could play a complementary role that would contribute to the growth and development of the country.

The Olu who stated that he was elated by the visit, said the Soun’s choice of Warri kingdom as his first place of visit was divinely directed, just as his choice for the throne was divinely ordained. He noted that traditional rulers owe it to God to lead to the benefit

of their people, especially against the fast-changing technologically driven world.

"We have a divine obligation to lead in righteousness, justice, fairness and equity and they are not empty abstractions but compelling ideals.

“Only when driven by a singular commitment to these ideals can we lead our people into visible, functional development materially, mentally and spiritually,” the king stated.

He said the Warri traditional throne and that of Ogbomoso were bonded by the same tradition and

should collaborate in areas of mutual interest to the benefit of their subjects. In his address, the Soun of Ogbomoso advocated for the adoption of, “Cultural Diplomacy for Development” to transform traditional institutions into impactful partners in the quest for accelerated growth and development for the people."Your Majesty Ògíame and I are destined to lead in using what I have termed cultural diplomacy for development to transform our traditional institutions into impactful partners in the quest for accelerated

Independence Day Broadcast: NECA Tasks

Tinubu on Definitive Implementation Timeline

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has reacted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day address to the nation with a call on the government to be more definitive on its pronouncements and also match its announcement of palliatives with expedite actions and timelines for implementation.

Speaking in Lagos, the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stated that “while we commend the president’s commitment to fix the economy and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and organised businesses, more definitive, broader interventions

with timelines for implementation will also be very important. The President’s address was full of intent, without definitive timelines for implementation of the laudable plans.”

Commenting on the presidential address, Oyerinde noted that, “the provision of CNG buses and further increase of the social safety nets investments to cover another 15 million households are commendable.”

He however pointed out that all Nigerians, including organised businesses were affected by the fuel subsidy removal, hence the need for the wage award which has since been extended to all workers.

“Having mentioned the procurement of the CNG buses in his

August address to the nation, we had expected a more definitive and time-bound pronouncement on when the buses will be procured and put to use.

“It is important that the procurement should be accelerated to aid the populace and reduce transportation pressures.”

He also highlighted that, “the need for wider consultation and private sector engagement cannot be over-emphasised. While government continues to roll out its plans to ameliorate the challenges on the populace, more definite efforts with realistic time-lines should be made to revive the economy and the organised private sector being the engine of national development.

“It is not enough for the federal

WAEC Appoints Dangut New Head of National Office

Funmi Ogundare

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, as the Head of the Nigeria National Office ( HNO).

He succeeded Patrick Ehidiamen Areghan.

Born on October 2, 1967, in Mbar District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, Dangut attended Government Secondary School, Riyom from 1981 to 1983 and Government Science School, Kuru, from 1983 to 1986, where he

obtained his WASC/SC in 1986, both in Plateau State.

From there, he proceeded to the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, where he bagged the award of Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production in 1991.

He bagged a Masters degree in Animal Science in April 1994 from the University of Ibadan and Doctor of Philosophy (Animal Science, 2017), from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and finally, Master of Education (Administration and Planning) in 2020 from the National Open

University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Dangut is an astute scholar with various educational publications in international and national journals.

He has also presented numerous keynotes and other papers at international and national conferences/ fora. He is an active member of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) and the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).

Until his appointment as the Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Dr. Dangut was the Deputy Registrar/HNO’s Office. He is married with children.

government to dole out money in the name of palliatives to state governments, a more innovative, effective and traceable distribution and monitoring mechanisms should also be put in place to measure the impact and efficiency of the implemented schemes.”

growth and development for our people.

"Your majesty’s masterful play as the lead cultural ambassador of the Iwere people is evident today in our country and around the globe.

"We and others who discern this virtue can see how it will attract ever-needed economic progress to your people.

"Our observation of these noble sentiments in your majesty’s reign is the motivating choice of the great kingdom of Warri as our first port of call in our gesture to reach out and make friends and partners as we commence our sacred duty to lead the people of Ogbomoso Land," he stated.

The new Soun was installed on September 8, 2023, succeeding Oba Jimoh Oyewumi who transited to the great beyond, on December 12, 2021.

He was a senior pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) before his call to the throne. Both Warri and Ogbomoso have rich histories that date back centuries.

The Soun was accompanied on the visit by Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani (rtd), Prof. Shola Adepoju (rtd),

Air Vice Marshall Bolaji Adigun (rtd) - Akogun of Ogbomoso Land and Pastor Agu Irukwu.

Olaoye, used the occasion of the visit to announce scholarship for 10 children, six girls and four boys, from Warri kingdom in Ogbomoso through Junior and Senior Secondary School beginning next academic session.

"Your Majesty, I would like to kick-start this new reality by inviting you to send 10 Itsekiri children, four boys and six girls, to Ogbomoso on our full scholarship through Junior and Senior Secondary School – JSS and SSS - beginning next academic session.

“We fervently hope that this gesture will be reciprocated by your majesty, thus enabling the educational exchange to start and seal this relationship between us - as a first step.

"Once again, I thank you for the immense goodwill demonstrated by the exceptional warmth we have received today. Your majesty Ògíame, we very much look forward to welcoming you as a special guest in Ogbomoso for the ceremonies of our formal coronation," he stated.

Nigeria @ 63: River Basin MD, Ahmed, Foresees Bright Future with Tinubu

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Managing Director, Benin-Owina River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), Salihu Ahmed, has said Nigeria getting to be 63 has been a good and rough journey.

Ahmed, made the assertion in Benin, capital of Edo State, while speaking with journalists on his thoughts on Nigeria's 63rd Independence Anniversary in Benin City, capital of Edo State.

Ahmed who said he appreciated the vision of the founding fathers who though it wise to agitate for independence, noted that the best period for the country going through history was the discovery of crude oil who made Nigeria super rich, an economic giant and a father Christmas to many nations. However, he said gains was shot lived as Nigeria went into long successive military administration which failed to right the wrongs According to him, "I indeed ap-

preciate the vision of the founding fathers who thought it wise to agitate for the independence.

"The best period for Nigeria going through history was the discovering of crude oil which made the country super rich, economic giant and father Christmas to many nations.

"Unfortunately, the gain was short-lived no thanks to the long successive military administration which couldn't get it right."

He, however, expressed happiness about the country experiencing 63rd anniversary and uninterrupted democratic rule for 24 years from 1999 to date.

Concerning the present economic situation in the country, the BORBDA boss expressed optimism that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu possesses the magic wand to change the fortunes of the country and, therefore, requires a little more time to reset the system and create a brighter and more rewarding future for us all.

On the capacity of the president to meet the yearnings of the people and also lay a solid foundation for a prosperous Nigeria despite the temporary setbacks the country may be facing, Ahmed said he was a staunch believer in Tinubu's ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, and urged Nigerians to exercise little patience as he tried to refit and re-engineer the economy while also dismantling the systemic clogs preventing good governance.

Ahmed who described himself as an incurable optimist, further noted that though the task before the president may look herculean, he would certainly not disappoint, having performed a similar feat in Lagos.

He further explained that though the removal of the fuel subsidy may seem harsh, it was, however, one of those painful and hard decisions needed to be taken to clear the Augean stable before the country can make a fresh start.

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele and South African Minister for Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa (middle) with other participants during the 9th UNESCO Africa Engineering week and 7th African Engineering Conference held in Pretoria, South Africa, …recently

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

At thE FUnErAl mAss OF sEnAtOr AlImIkhEnA's WIFE...

Tribunal Nullifies Sule's Election, Declares PDP's Ombugadu Governor

We’ll challenge the judgment, embattled governor vows Atiku, PDP congratulate winner

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has nullified the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, and declared Dr. Emmanuel Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thevalidly elected governor of the state.

But the governor, who vowed to appeal the judgment at the Appeal Court, also appealed to the his teeming supporters to remain calm.

This was as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the leadership of the PDP, have congratulated winner of the election, Ombugadu.

Delivering the over four hours judgment virtually, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, maintained that the evidence presented by the petitioner indicated that, Ombugadu scored majority of the lawful votes cast during the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

Ajayi consequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Ombugadu of the PDP. Justice Chiemelie Onaga, also, aligned with the verdict of the chairman of the tribunal, adding that the petitioner scored the majority of the lawful votes.

In resolving the preliminary objections, the tribunal held

that APC's objections on BVAS Machine/Screenshots tendered by PDP was over-ruled because the BVAS reports were pleaded, relevant and admissible.

The tribunal further dismissed the objections and delved into the merits of the petition. Votes of Chiroma Electoral Ward was deducted by the tribunal, having compared the entries in Polling Units results with the ward result, even as the incorrect votes ascribed to Gayam Electoral Ward was also deducted.

The incorrect votes ascribed to Gayam ward was deducted, while Chiroma and Gayam Wards were regularised.

The tribunal, therefore, ruled that the law recognised that only the Presiding Officers could cancel Polling Units results, hence Ashige Electoral Ward results was restored by the tribunal.

The tribunal agreed entirely with the second Petitioner on Kanje-Abuni Electoral Ward as votes wrongly added to APC were deducted, while the petitioner's votes unjustly reduced were added. In addition, Alwazan Mada Polling Unit votes were restored in favour of the second petitioner, PDP.

The tribunal held that the petitioners' witnesses were all competent witnesses as the evidence of the petitioners' witnesses were all admissible, and went on to agree

with the second petitioner on all contentions on over voting and votes of political parties in the four Polling Units discountenanced and accordingly deducted as prayed by the petitioners.

The tribunal equally upheld all the contentions of the first and second petitioners.

Thus, by a majority decision of 2 to 1, the tribunal upheld the prayers of the petitioners that the votes were indeed inflated, and consequently sacked the incumbent governor and affirmed Ombugadu as duly elected, having polled the

majority of lawful votes cast.

In a dissenting judgment, Justice Ibrahim Mashi dismissed the petition for the inability of the petitioner to demonstrate how he scored the majority of the votes.

Counsel to the petitioner, Johnson Usman, said the majority judgment has affirmed Ombugadu as the lawful elected governor of the state.

Sule, however, has rejected the judgment.

Speaking to his teeming supporters of the APC stock at the Government House, he said the judgement would be challenged

at the appeal court, and called on people to remain calm and law-abiding.

He promised to continue discharging his duties as governor with more vigor.

Atiku, while congratulating Ombugadu, in a brief statement, said, "My warmest congratulations to Mr David Ombugadu of the PDP, who has been affirmed by the election petition tribunal in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as the duly elected Governor of the state.

"Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and the people's will,

once determined, should always be upheld.”

The PDP leadership while congratulating Ombugadu, said the Tribunal upheld the Will of the people and declared him winner of the election.

According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, "The unfaultable verdict of the Tribunal is victory for Democracy and the triumph of the Will of the people of Nasarawa State in their quest to liberate their state from the stranglehold of corrupt, oppressive and manipulative forces.

Enugu State Targets $30bn Economy with Indonesia Trade Relations

The Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Adaora Chukwu, has disclosed that the State has gone into partnership with the Indonesian government in the quest for the State to achieve a $30 billion economy. She stated this on the sidelines of the Nigeria Indonesia Trade and Investment (NIITF) news conference with theme: "Rediscovering Business Potential in Nigeria," held

Firm Moves to Revolutionise Healthcare Staffing in Nigeria through Technology

Oluchi Chibuzor

ProLocums, a healthcare staffing platform that aims to revolutionise and transform healthcare profession by matching expertise with availability has been launched.

The platform with strong focus on bridging the gap in the healthcare industry offers a wide range of opportunities for medical doctors, medical officers, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, optometrists, nurses, medical lab scientists, physiotherapists, veterinary doctors, auxiliary nurses, pharmacy technicians, and dental assistants.

Speaking during the virtual launch of the platform recently, the Chief Executive Officer of ProLocums, Feyi Adeyemi, said "our platform is designed to empower healthcare professionals by providing them with convenient and efficient access to locum opportunities that align with their expertise and schedules."

"By offering a comprehensive platform that connects professionals with locum opportunities across the country, ProLocums aims to reduce unemployment and underemployment rates among healthcare practitioners.

“The platform's connectivity extends beyond immediate com-

munities, providing practitioners with the means to work in areas with the greatest need."

According to Adeyemi, the platform's user-friendly interface simplifies the process of offering locums opportunities, thereby ensuring that healthcare professionals could focus on what they do best—providing exceptional care to patients.

"ProLocums is now open for registration to healthcare professionals and facilities across Nigeria. Powered by advanced algorithms, ProLocum's platform swiftly matches healthcare professionals with positions that align with their qualifications and preferences."

in Lagos, yesterday.

According to Adaora, the government would achieve the $30 billion target through strategic partnerships and collaboration with various international and local investors to harness the various investment opportunity in the State.

She said the partnership would be a perfect avenue to showcase Enugu State's readiness for business.

Fielding questions on the benefits of the partnership to both economies, she said the forum would help to open up newer opportunities for investors, several business arrangements, trade, export arrangement between the both economy and government.

She further explained that the government had adopted the Integrated Sector Growth Strategy (ISGS) model, which implies that no sector would be prioritised above another, with synergy and connections of every sector to the other.

She noted that modernisation of the agric sector and strengthening of the value chain would translate into full agro-industrialisation. It would also involve the tech sector, the ICT innovation. She stated that the State was strategically well positioned in terms of location and what it has to offer. According to her, Enugu has solid minerals, coal for example, which would begin to be explored, adding that given the power sector decentralisation, the State would be

available to partner and diversify power generation to boost power supply in Enugu State.

"Nigeria hopefully will gain and attract investment, industries and capital in the partnership. And for the Indonesian government, it will be a mutual prosperity effort, will need Enugu State give expertise to some areas,” she added.

In a bid to make the environment safe for businesses, she explained that the government in its first move had tackled the security challenges experienced in the state such as the illegal sit-at-home order.

She noted that the State was one of the safest and conducive for business and investment.

She also said efforts have been made to strengthen regulatory and legal framework to ensure the elimination of bottle necks to allow investors to come in.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Enugu State, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the move was to also spur trade activities between both countries, explore the myriad of investment opportunities in the state across key sectors such as energy, power and transport sector.

The SSG noted that the state in Nigeria’s historical context, played a pivotal role in catalysing economic growth by serving the energy needs of the nation and beyond.

He added that its abundant mineral resources, fertile lands with rich plantations supporting production of the best cashew,

sorghum, rice, cassava, and other agricultural species placed Enugu as a vantage investment destination.

Onyia pointed out that the state's breath-taking natural landscapes presented viable investment opportunities in eco-tourism, while its predominantly youthful population provided a wealth of human capital.

"Enugu is blessed with untapped natural gas reserves and our vast natural gas reserves have imposed a responsibility on Enugu to drive the Nigerian green economy transition.

"I am happy to announce that Enugu is one of the first states to attract investment in CNG-powered buses and the state has the potential to be a leader in the clean industries of tomorrow," Onyia said.

"Enugu State is a vital trade and investment gateway into the southeast region as it boasts of a multi-modal transport infrastructure to support trade activities between the South-eastern region, Northern Nigeria, as well as the rest of Africa," he said.

Furthermore, Onyia said the state's economic transformation plan underscored a three-pronged strategy of boosting sector productivity, reforming key state institutions, and creating cross-cutting social sector programmes and services.

He revealed that the state's vision under the Peter Mbah-led administration was to make Enugu one of the top three revenuegenerating states in Nigeria and to attain a zero per cent poverty headcount rate.

Gilbert Ekugbe

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), with Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, after the funeral mass of the wife of Senator Francis Alimikhena, Monica, at Igiode, Agenebode, in Etsako East Local Government Area, at the weekend.

Obaseki Celebrates Chief OgbebOr at 80...

UK Government Takes Diezani to Court over Bribery Charge

EFCC obtains arrest warrant for former minister, begins extradition process

alex enumah, kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Wale igbintade in Lagos with agency report

A former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday, appeared before a London court over a charge relating to bribery, levelled against her by the United Kingdom government.

This was just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has obtained an arrest warrant for Diezani Allison-Madueke, adding that it had initiated extradition proceedings for the former minister.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who appeared before a Westminster Magistrates Court, was reported

to have given her name, date of birth and address.

According to report, the former minister who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was being arraigned by the British government for receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury goods, flights on private jets and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts.

Reuters however, stated that the former Minister’s lawyer, Mark Bowen informed the court that his client intends to enter a not guilty plea, when she would be asked to take her plea.

Alison-Madueke, who was Minister for Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015, fled Nigeria at

the inception of the former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, following plans by the new administration to prosecute her over corruption allegations.

Although, she had claimed to have left Nigeria for overseas treatment of a life threatening disease, she was yet to return to the country since 2015.

Also efforts by the immediate past administration to repatriate her to face charges of corruption in Nigeria, was unsuccessful until her arraignment today. She would be the second highprofile Nigerian politician to face prosecution in Britain in recent years, following James Ibori, a former Governor of Delta State, who was convicted of fraud and

money-laundering in 2012 and received a 13-year jail sentence, Reuters observed.

Alison-Madueke was arrested in London in 2015, shortly after stepping down as minister, and was charged in August with six bribery offences. She has spent the past eight years on police bail, living in St John's Wood, an expensive area of London.

The charges against her, read out in court, all related to events alleged to have taken place in London.

Prosecutor Andy Young said she was alleged to have accepted a wide range of advantages in cash and in kind from people who wanted to receive or continue to receive the award of oil contracts which he said were worth billions of dollars in total.

Olubadan Threatens to Disown Wives, Children over Allegations against Brother

kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

There’s a simmering crisis in the royal family of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, as the monarch, yesterday, threatened to disown three of his children over some allegations levelled against his younger brother, Senator Kola Balogun.

The Olubadan, who stated this in a statement personally signed in reaction to the allegations by three of his children namely, Aremo Femi Balogun, and Princesses Yinka and Bukola Balogun, described the allegations against the former federal lawmaker, who represented Oyo South Senatorial District, as unfounded and criminal character assassination

He added that he would not spare any of his wives, who might be found towing such dishonourable path along with the three children.

Aremo Balogun, had in a letter, requested that all funds and assets belonging to the Olubadan, allegedly under the care of Senator Balogun, be produced within seven days.

The letter, dated 29 September, 2023, was addressed to the former lawmaker while Sectional Heads of the Alliwo Family, state Commissioner of Police, and the Ag. Commander, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Command, were copied. He listed the assets to include the Abuja residence of Oba Balogun; five luxury property, plus a luxury hotel and four (4) luxury vehicles

all in Lagos, among others, adding that, Senator Balogun, had in his possession, monies running into several millions of naira, belonging to the traditional ruler.

In his reaction, however, Oba Balogun, in the statement dated October 2, said the allegations had no iota of truth, declaring that the motive of such action was not only defaming, but also clearly a case of criminal character assassination.

The statement read in part: “My attention has been drawn to the various grievous allegations leveled against my kid and loving and only surviving brother, Dr. Sen. Mohammed Kolawole Balogun.

“The allegations were made by some of my children, led by Aremo Femi Balogun [and] which I am aware has gone viral.

“It is unfortunate to note that none of the allegations has atom of truthfulness whatsoever in it and only the author of such baseless and unfounded allegations can come up with the motive of such action which is not only defaming but also an assassination of character.

“I must publicly acknowledge the invaluable role my brother has been playing in my life. He is the only one that has been with me through thick and thin.

“It is not immodest for me to say that he towers above all of my children in attention and care for my life and wellbeing and for which I will be eternally grateful to the Almighty Allah for blessing me with such a wonderful brother.

He is one in a million.

“Since the publication was out, all attempts to speak with the author of the offensive and odorous report have been futile."

He, however, appealed to his younger brother, not to take offence with his Aremo whose action, he said, was out of sheer ignorance and exuberance.

“Nevertheless, I have to publicly plead with my brother not to take offence with his nephew, who must

have reasoned out of sheer ignorance and exuberance, because, even in law, none of the allegations, I repeat, none of the allegations could be proved.

“For every sane person, the publication amounts to criminal defamation of character and a violation of public peace which also stands condemnable. Just like every other families, we are bound to have differences, but, such should not be taken to the level of damaging the personality of one another.

The advantages included a delivery of 100,000 pounds ($121,620) in cash, the payment of private school fees for her son, and the use and refurbishment of several luxurious properties in London and in the English countryside.

They also included the use of a Range Rover car, payment of bills for chauffeur-driven cars, furniture, and purchases from the upmarket London department store Harrods and from Vincenzo Caffarella, which sells Italian decorative arts and antiques.

District Judge Michael Snow granted Alison-Madueke bail but imposed terms including an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, an electronic tag to be worn at all times and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.

Her next court appearance would be at Southwark Crown Court, which deals with serious criminal cases, on October 30.

Reuters observed that Britain, Nigeria's former colonial ruler, has long been a destination of choice for affluent members of the Nigerian political elite seeking to enjoy the benefits of their wealth.

London is a global moneylaundering hub but it remains rare for public figures like Alison-Madueke to face prosecution for corruption-related offences, the report added.

Meanwhile, the EFCC yesterday said that it has obtained an arrest warrant for Allison-Madueke.

A statement issued by the antigraft agency disclosed that it had initiated extradition proceedings for

the former minister.

"The Commission is on course on her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts.

"The EFCC welcomes, with keen interest, the arraignment of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, following alleged bribery allegations.

"Although the charges preferred against her at the London court are diametrically different from the 13-count charges bordering on money laundering the EFCC has raised against her, it is instructive to note that criminality is criminality, irrespective of jurisdictional differences", it said.

A statement issued by Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyedele, noted that, "no crime can go unpunished. The money laundering charges for which Madueke is answerable to the EFCC, cover jurisdictions in Dubai, United Kingdom, United States of America and Nigeria.

"To bring the former minister to trial in Nigeria, an arrest warrant has been obtained and extradition proceedings have been initiated. The commission is on course on her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts".

The ex-minister was charged alongside her brother Doye Agame who is charged with conspiracy to defraud and businesswoman Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde who is charged with bribing and conspiring to bribe a foreign public official.

JTF’s Operation Udo Ka II Raids Four IPOB/ESN Camps

Recovers fresh, old corpses Terrorists killed as air strikes hit Borno’s logistics base

kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and tony icheku in Owerri

The Troops of Joint Task Force South East 'Operation UDO KA II' has said it raided alleged four camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it's armed affiliates the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Ihube, Aku and Umulolo in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, on Sunday, 1 October 2023.

In another development, fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force struck the logistics base of terrorists in the Tumbuns on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

Spokesperson for the Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, in a statement posted on his X account, stated that during

the operation, troops encountered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) enroute the camps.

He also alleged that the camps were being used to perpetuate atrocities such as cannibalism, occultic practices and ritual killings to instil fears into the law abiding citizens.

According to him, "These were evident from many fresh and old corpses discovered while clearing the entire camps. Also The houses of the 2 spiritual leaders/herbalists that took to their heels were destroyed.

"Furthermore, the shrine of the wanted terrorist Amobi Chinoso Okafor AKA Temple, where human sacrifices are being made, was destroyed."

The statement proffered that Joint Task Force neutralised two

IPOB/ESN members while four were arrested.

It listed Items recovered from the camps to include different denomination of the Biafra currencies, one new power bike, four motorcycles, solar panels. Others were POP cements and petroleum tanker suspected to have been hijacked from it's owners

"Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations. All law abiding and good citizens of the South-East region are enjoined to act against these devilish terrorists by providing timely, credible and reliable Information which will lead to ending the menace of insecurity

occasioned by activities of the terrorist group in the region," the statement counseled residents of the South-East region.

Meanwhile, a war update issued by the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, has said air strikes hit terror hideouts destroying the logistics base of the insurgents.

It said the air interdiction was undertaken following intelligence that showed the activities of terrorists in the locations constituted a threat to military formations and law-abiding Nigerians residing within the locations.

It said similar air strikes were also undertaken at Tumbun Shitu after structures believed to be terrorists’ hideouts were tucked under thick foliage.

L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; the Osaguobaro of Benin Kingdom, Chief (Barr.) Bright Ogbebor; his wife, and former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, at the 80th birthday thanksgiving of Chief Ogbebor, in Benin City, at the weekend.

BirthDAy cElEBrAtion AnD Book lAunch...

22 Katsina LGAs Affected By Insecurity, Radda Tells IG

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Miffed by the spate of insecurity in Katsina State, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, has revealed that 22 out of the 34 Local Government Areas of the state were affected by terrorism. Radda, who spoke when he paid

a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun in Abuja, decried what he termed wanton attacks on communities in the state.

A statement by Radda’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, quoted the governor as saying the spate of insecurity in

Ganduje Boasts APC'll Win Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo Polls

Presents party’s NWC to Buhari

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has boasted that his party would win the forthcoming off-season governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States. He made this known shortly after he presented the newly reconstituted National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his country home in Daura, Katsina State, yesterday.

Ganduje said, "The purpose of coming to Daura to see the former President of Nigeria,

Muhammadu Buhari, is to introduce the newly reconstituted National Working Committee of our great party, APC to him.

"And also for us to pay homage to him; show our solidarity and to thank him for what he did for this country within eight years. We also congratulate him for the Independence celebration.

"63 years of development for which eight years must be apposition to his (Buhari) administration. We have three off-season elections coming up in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states. We will also win these elections. So, we are happy with the development."

the state was as a result of a forest with a length of 800 kilometres bordering eight local governments in the state.

"However, our administration has already recruited 1,500 youths, who are currently undergoing training on how to work with security personnel in the fight against insecurity in the State.

"As such, I will use this forum

to invite you to the Passing Out Parade of the Community Watch Corp Officers, who are about to complete their training. Indeed, your presence at the closing ceremony would boost the morale of the Corps members," he said. He therefore, solicited the effective collaboration of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) towards tackling the security challenges facing

communities in the state.

Responding, Egbetokun, expressed gratitude to the governor and assured that his visit would serve as a morale booster to the Nigeria Police in its commitment towards securing lives and property of citizenry.

The police chief assured that Katsina State would be among the six states to benefit from a

special intervention for security agencies by the presidency.

"We shall also provide more security vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and combat gadgets to officers and men of the Katsina State Police Command," he said, even as he lauded the efforts of Radda towards addressing the security challenges in the state.

Tinubu, Northern Govs Mourn Renowned Educationist, Shehu

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe President Bola Tinubu and northern governors have expressed shock and deep sadness over the passing, yesterday, of a foremost Nigerian educationist and one of the pioneer medical doctors from Northern Nigeria, Professor Umaru Shehu. He was aged 92.

The president, in a release by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, described Professor Shehu's death as a big blow to the country, saying his death had closed a glorious chapter of illustrious service to Nigeria, Nigerians,

and humanity as a whole.

"Emeritus Professor Shehu was a giant, even among that legendary generation of pioneering indigenous professionals in our country, and the story of his life is saturated with many first, golden steps across the realms of medical practice, school administration, and humanitarian services.

"The renowned Professor of Medicine has always served Nigeria meritoriously and bestowed on all Nigerians a sense of pride with his indelible breakthroughs and innovative approaches to the administration

of health and medical education around the world. Nigeria was indeed blessed to have him as both a patriotic son and as a worthy global representative in his fields of endeavour."

Tinubu shared his profound condolences with the people and Government of Borno State, the deceased statesman's family, the Nigerian medical community, and so many others, who were grieving around the world over the colossal loss and prayed for the repose of his soul.

Also, the Chairman of Northern Governors' Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muham-

Lukman: Labour, FG's Negotiation Should Be Expanded to State, Private Sector

A former National Vice Chairman of the APC, North-west, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has said the ongoing negotiation between the federal government and the organised labour should be expanded to include all employers, organised private sector and state governments.

Lukman, in a statement issued yesterday, commended both the federal government and the leadership of the NLC and TUC for the landmark resolutions reached on October 1, 2023, which removed the threat of the proposed October 3, 2023, nationwide industrial action.

According to him, it was important that the negotiation between the federal government, on one hand, and the NLC and TUC, on the other, be expanded to include all employers inclusive of organised private sector and state governments. The APC chieftain was of the opinion that putting in place framework for negotiation between employers and organised labour

was what was required to correct the perceived injustice in the workplace in all sectors and in every section of the country.

Lukman, however, pointed out that some of the challenges that could readily be identified included, for instance, what happens at the end of the six months of implementing the additional N35,000 payment to federal employees?

He stressed that while, "Government has announced its intention to open negotiations for the review of minimum wage in the country, should Nigerians expect that agreement for a new minimum wage will be reached within the six months?

"If agreement for the new minimum wage is to be reached within the six months, should Nigerians expect that the new minimum wage will not be less than the aggregate of the current minimum wage plus the additional N35,000 being offered for the next six months?

“In which case, since the current minimum wage is N30,000, should Nigerians therefore expect a new national minimum wage at least N65,000?

"Before attempting to explore any probability of a new N65,000 minimum wage, perhaps, it will be necessary to first check the implication of additional N35,000 to all federal employees.

“Based on records of Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), the total number of workers in the Federal Civil Service is 720,000, with a monthly cost of about N320 billion. Additional N35,000 to all categories of federal employees will mean an additional N25 billion to the monthly personnel cost of federal government, which is about a 7.7 per cent increase."

Lukman pointed out that if the minimum wage was to be increased to N65,000, the additional cost to the federal government would be less than 10 per cent.

He queried: "What about workers at states, local governments,

and organised private sector? Can states, local governments and organised private sector also be given similar offers?

“Can these categories of employers afford any additional offer? If not, what contingency measure should be taken to capacitate these categories of employers to mitigate the sufferings of their workforce occasioned by the withdrawal of subsidies?

"Finding answers to these questions is at the root of challenges of managing labour relations in the country. In fact, inability to address these questions is responsible for all the challenges of guaranteeing the ability of all employers to comply with statutory provisions of minimum wage in the country."

The former Director General of Progressives Governors Forum said as it was beyond the federal government, many state governments and some big private employers, were already in default of existing statutory provision of national minimum wage of N30,000.

Lukman alleged that not up to 20 states governments have implemented the N30,000 minimum wage, while almost all the 774 local governments are in default.

He noted: "If the revenue indices are anything to go by, the truth is that Nigeria is poor. With a federal budget of about N20 trillion, which is about $30 billion, Nigeria is operating at about 10 per cent its spending capacity.

“Countries like Brazil, India, Indonesia and even South Africa are operating budgets of more than $200 billion.

"At the state level, except for Lagos State, none of our states has a N1 trillion budget. In fact, most states' budgets are below N250 billion. With reference to personnel cost, average monthly costs for state governments are more than N2 billion. Many states generate less than N1 billion monthly. Average receipt from the federation account is between N3 and N4 billion.”

madu Inuwa Yahaya, has received with heavy hearts, the passing of Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu, a distinguished elder statesman, and Northern Nigeria's first Professor of Community Health, who died at the age of 97.

According to a press release issued by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe, Yahaya described the late academic as a true luminary and erudite scholar, whose demise leaves a huge void in the realms of knowledge and leadership in Nigeria.

He said the loss of Shehu has created a profound void, not only for his family, Borno State and the University of Maiduguri, but indeed, the entire Northern region, Nigeria, and the global academic community.

"Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu was not just a name but a repository of wisdom, a beacon of knowledge, and an embodiment of dedication to his people and country. His illustrious career in several universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria the University of Maiduguri, as well and his role as a co-founder of the Borno Elders Forum and the Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation have left an indelible mark on our society.

"A towering figure in academia, Professor Shehu's contributions as the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science and his distinguished position as Professor Emeritus of Community Health at the University of Maiduguri have indeed enriched our nation's intellectual heritage. His global recognition as the Editor-in-Chief of the British Medical Journal was a proof of his exceptional capabilities," he said.

L-R: Lead Consultant, Alcatrack International, Alhaji Audu Siyaka; Former D.G, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Wife of the Author, Dorathy Fasua and Managing Director, Navy Hotels, Abuja, Rear Admiral Kasimu Bushi, during the 52nd birthday celebration/Colloquium and Launching of 5 Books by Dr. Tope Fasua, in Abuja, recently ... Photo: ENOCK REUBEN

MaRKiNG NiGERia’s iNdEPENdENCE aNNiVERsaRy……

L-R: Member, Board of Trustee,

Oil Theft: Two Pregnant Women, 28 Others Perish in Fire Incident in Rivers

Blessing ibunge in Port Harcourt

Two pregnant women and about 28 persons were reportedly burnt to death in a fire incident that occurred at an illegal oil refining site in Rumucholu community in Ibaa, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

THISDAY gathered that the

incident occurred last Sunday night when some persons where trying to set up an illegal refining site in the said area.

A community source, who pleaded anonymity, said the fire incident occurred as a result of attempt by illegal refiners who tried to set up refinery at a location where the Government

Security Agencies (GSA) and PINL had previously destroyed about two weeks ago.

Another source in the community, who gave his name as Daniel Emma, said

the victims had gone to trade on the petroleum product before the fire ignited from the refining site.

Emma revealed that most of the affected victims were

people from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre LGA, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua Local Government Area (LGA).

He narrated: “More than 40 people were there at the site.

They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when fire caught. The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude.

Gunmen Attack Ebonyi Community, Burn Buses, Others

Kill nine in fresh attack in Plateau

Benjamin Nworie in abakaliki

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Cosmo Base Consortium Limited, Benson Ezem, has proposed that the time has come for all genuinely patriotic Nigerians to come together and insist that the rule of law and due process must be entrenched in the national ethos. He made the call while baring his mind on Nigeria’s progress since attaining independence 63 years ago, “with little or nothing to justify our self-rule.”

Ezem told THISDAY that Nigeria

has paid huge and unpleasant prices in development due to the absence of the rule of law and due process in governance.

According to him, “There must be respect for due process and rule of law in government businesses, political governance, and even corporate governance before the country can start making a headway.”

Ezem, who is a renowned architect and infrastructure development expert, was exasperated that after over six decades, Nigeria is still groping in the dark and couldn’t get things right in any sector of the economy.

Ekiti at 27: Fasuan Commends Oyebanji for Progressive Initiatives

Gbenga sodeinde in ado ekiti

Elder statesman and Chairman of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan, has commended the state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for his progressive initiatives towards bringing more development to the state since creation 27 years ago.

Fasuan, who equally turned 92 years last Sunday as Ekiti indigenes marked the 27th anniversary of the state, expressed satisfaction that despite the various challenges that had confronted the state, it is making

gradual progress against all odds since it was created in 1996.

Oyebanji was the secretary on state creation while Chief Fasuan was chairman many years ago.

The elder statesman spoke to journalists during a visit by the governor to his residence in Ado-Ekiti last Sunday.

Chief Fasuan recalled the ordeals of the committee and admitted that the emergence of Oyebanji as the state governor has further raised hope that the development envisioned by the founding fathers would be actualised faster.

A’Ibom: Udofia to Appeal Tribunal Judgment

The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Akanimo Udofia, has rejected the judgment of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which dismissed his petition against the declaration of Umo Eno as governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Udofia in a statement said he would be appealing the judgment because of his commitment to upholding the principles of democracy, good governance, and shared prosperity to the Akwa Ibom

people.

While affirming his belief in the rule of law and the judiciary, Udofia stressed that the electoral process should be a reflection of the will of the people.

According to him, “The decision by the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal regarding the outcome of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election is shocking, unjust, and unacceptable. We are disappointed and at a loss as to how the tribunal arrived at those outcomes in the face of glaring evidence of infractions on the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) have attacked the popular Ezzamgbo Eke Junction in Ohaukwu Local Government area of Ebonyi state.

This is just as gunmen, again, attacked Adu village in Kwal district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State killing at least nine persons, even as several others were injured. The armed men in Ebonyi were said to have invaded the

junction at the early hours of yesterday and started shooting sporadically.

The gunmen, who were said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order, also burnt three commuter buses, one tricycle and four motorcycles.

Confirming the incident, the

Ebonyi State Police Spokesman, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, a Superintend of Police (SP) said that no life was lost. She added that operatives of the command have been dispatched to the scene and it environs to fish out the perpetrators.

APC Tasks Security Agents to Fish Out Killer of Woman Member in Kogi

ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for November 11th governorship election in the State has called on the security agencies to fish out the killer of a woman and member of APC who died in Koton Karfe at the weekend.

Spokesman/Director, Media and Publicity, Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo, made this call while addressing newsmen in Lokoja yesterday over the death of a woman member of the party who was allegedly killed by SPD thugs at a political rally in Koton Karfe, Kogi Local government area of

the State.

Fanwo explained that the governorship candidate of APC, Ododo Ahmed Usman is uncompromisingly committed to issue-based campaigns that is devoid of violence, ethnocentric narratives or divisive tendencies.

“Issue-based campaign entails tailoring our promises, assurances

and social contract with the peaceloving people of our dear state through the media to the people. Ododo Ahmed Usman, OAU, wants the people of the state to be convinced by the legacies of the system he served in, his promises of consolidation and continuity, his antecedents and competence, as well as his message of unity.”

Group Laments Slow Pace of 2024 Hajj Preparations by NAHCON

ahmad sorondinki in Kano

A civil society organisation has lamented the slow pace with which the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is handling the preparation for the 2024 Hajj.

A statement signed by the National Coordinator, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), Ibrahim Mohammed, in Kano, said the commission has about four months to conclude this year’s Hajj preparations. The faith-based group,

therefore, appealed to NAHCON to exploit the limited time available even though “all registered Mutawiff in Saudi Arabia have their allotted pilgrims, it is still like moving from known challenges to unknown but certain headaches.

“Nigeria has about four months from now to conclude all necessary arrangements such as collection and deposit of pilgrim’s fares, signing of MoU, and engagement with service providers both at home and in Saudi Arabia.

LP Guber Candidate, Pela, Vows to Appeal Judgement in Delta

sylvester idowu in Warri

The 2023 Delta State Labour Party (LP) Governorship Candidate, Deacon Kennedy Pela , has challenged the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal given on September 29th

2023, describing it as another miscarriage of justice.

The Tribunal led by Hon. Justice Chibuzo H. Ahuchaogu had dismissed the petitions filed by the governorship candidates, Deacon Kennedy Pela of the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressively Congress (APC)

Candidate Senator Ovie OmoAgege and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate,Kenneth Gbagi challenging Sheriff Oborevweri of the PDP’s victory.

Reacting to the judgement, Pela, in a statement he personally signed and issued

yesterday, vowed to seek redress at the court of appeal. He maintained that the tribunal erred on virtually all grounds against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2023 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Threat: Group Wants Election Tribunals in South-east to Deliver Judgement Electronically

adedayo akinwale inabuja

The National Coalition Against Terrorism has called on the Chief Justice of the federation, Kayode Ariwoola, to direct all election petition tribunals sitting in South-east to deliver their judgement electronically.

The National Coordinator of the group, Terrence Kuanum, made the call while addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja. He said the call became imperative following information at its disposal which indicated that the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra

(IPOB) and other criminal elements are preparing to cause chaos and unrest if the judgement does not favour their interests.

The group said it was no longer news that the governorship election tribunal in Kano was under threat by some elements which led to the

delivery of the judgment through electronic means.

It added that it was also aware of several threats to life and property in the South-east over the activities of the IPOB and the unknown gunmen which had resulted in so many loss of lives and property.

NSCDC Arrests Two for Alleged Human Traffickers in Ondo

Fidelis david in akure

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have arrested two suspects for alleged human trafficking of three girls from Akure, the Ondo State capital to Libya.

The suspects, Mr. Babatunde Oluwasola (a.k.a ‘Osanle’), 56, and Mrs. Dada Fowowe (a.k.a Iya Alaso), 47, were arrested after the father of one of the victims reported to the state command of NSCDC.

A statement that was signed

by the Public Realtions Officer of NSCDC, Ondo State, Aidamenbor Daniel, explained that one of the victims, a 15-year- old girl until her departure lived with her parents in Akure.

The statement reads: “Mr Babatunde Oluwasola a.k.a

‘Osanle’, 56years, carpenter from Osun State but resides in Akure recruited 3 girls from Akure to Lybia sometimes around April 2023. He got one of them with the help of Mrs. Dada Fowowe “a.k.a Iya Alaso,” 47 years, trader from Ondo-State

We Must Entrench Rule of Law, Due Process to Make Nigeria Work’

Navy Sailing Club, Chief Jasper Ogbuagu; Commander, Navy Ship Way/Chief Host, Commander Mohammed Dahiru, and Commanding Officer, Nigeria Navy Ship NNS Quorra, Commodore Adamu Yahaya, during the club’s boat race to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary in Lagos... yesterday daN uKaNa

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogoin umuahia

Peseiro Recalls Iwobi, Omeruo, Others for S’Arabia, Mozambique Friendlies

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Nigeria’s senior national team Head Coach, Jose Santos Peseiro, returned to his old reliable defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Bright Osayi-Samuel, as well as midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Terem Moffi as the Super Eagles prepare for this month’s international friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.

After experimenting with a couple of players and appears not to have arrived at the right mix to

put Super Eagles quality above the pedestrian display against minnow São Tomé and Principe in an AFCON qualifier last month, Peseiro settled for Omeruo and Osayi-Samuel to help tighten the leaking defence.

He also called up fresh face Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, a midfielder with Hatayaspor FC of Turkey for his first Peseirocap.also decided to retain the trio of Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye and Olorunleke Ojo in goal. Yet-to-be-capped defender

Jordan Torunnarigha is also called.

Wilfred Ndidi, who captained the team against Sao Tome and Principe, as well as Raphael Onyedika and forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho have also been invited.

The Super Eagles take on the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia in the city of Portimão, Portugal on Friday, 13th October 2023, starting at 5pmbefore a clash with the Mambas of Mozambique in the same city three days later.

The players are all expected to arrive in Faro, Portugal on Tuesday, 10th October.

Both encounters have been arranged as tune-up games for the Eagles ahead of the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, in which the three-time African champions host Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Uyo on 17th Novemberbefore travelling away to play Zimbabwe four days later.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS: GOAlKeepers: francis

Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

DefenDers: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

MiDfielDers: Wilfred ndidi (Leicester City, England); raphael

Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex iwobi (Fulham FC, England); fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayaspor FC, Turkey)

fOrWArDs: Kelechi iheanacho (Leicester City, England); samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Saka, Partey Back for Arsenal Clash with Lens Tonight

Ancelotti admits Real Madrid trip to Napoli tricky one

Bukayo Saka is available for Arsenal's Champions League trip to Lens tonight, despite limping off injured in the win at Bournemouth on Saturday.

The forward is joined in the squad by midfielder Thomas Partey, who has been out since August with a groin injury.

The Gunners were forced to cancel their pre-match news conference due to travel delays on the eve of the match.

Their chartered flight was grounded for three hours at Luton because of bad weather.

Arsenal are currently top of Group B on their Champions League return after a six-year absence, following the 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven in their opening match.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid are set to play one of the best teams in Italy in what promises to be their toughest group-stage game, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday ahead of their Champions League clash.

LaLiga leaders Real began their quest for a record-extending 15th European Cup with a last-gasp 1-0 home victory over Union Berlin last month, while Italian champions Napoli, who are currently third in Serie A, won 2-1 at Sporting Braga. Tonight’s clash at the Diego

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Armando Maradona Stadium could be pivotal to both sides' aims of taking top spot in Group C.

"We'll play against one of the best teams in Italy. They did very well last year. It will be a competitive and evenly matched game as they have a high level," Ancelotti, who once managed Napoli, told a news conference.

"It's going to be the toughest game of the group stage for us. I don't want to say that we're used to it, but the shirt of this club weighs on us."

The match will also see Ancelotti return to Naples after he managed 73 games at the club from 2018 to 2019, leading the team in an unbeaten run in the Champions League group stage before being sacked with the team in seventh place in Serie A.

MfM, Bayelsa Whales Begin Chase for Tickets to final

The battle for the final two slots for the 2023 Zenith Bank Women's Basketball League will begin at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, with MFM Women Basketball Club and Bayelsa Blue Whales looking to secure one of the two slots.

Two other teams; Nigerian Cus- toms and Air Warriors secured two slots from the Savannah Conference and now, the Atlantic Cnference teams will battle to win the two other slots to complete the Top Four Final Phase.

The Second Phase of the Atlantic Conference was postponed due to

the recently concluded National Youth Games and with the arrival of all teams, hostilities will begin today with Bayelsa Whales and MFM taking on Dolphins and Sunshine Angels respectively.

MFM, who finished second in the last edition will have to be at their best as they are currently third on the table coming from the First Phase where they won three games while losing two while Bayelsa Whales on the other hand are second with four wins and a

loss against undefeated First Bank who is poised to finish top of the table.

First Bank will hope to continue their impressive form when they meet IGP Queens who also hoping to create upset and get a slop to be in Lagos for the finals scheduled for later in October.

OTHER FIXTURES Dolphins vs Bayelsa Whales Sunshine Angels vs MFM IGP Queens vs First Bank

Action will begin in the first edition of the 1XBET Cup today in the DBI Conference as Capital Avalanche takes on Cheche Star FC, while Soccer Touch will lock horns with Fackson FC at the NITEL Sports Ground in Oshodi.

It will be the turn of Group B teams on Wednesday at the same venue as Bariga FC and G. Innovation do battle in their first game while Ifako FC and Emiloju FC takes to pitch for the second game.

On Thursday, Group A matches will resume as Cheche Stars Fc takes on Soccer Touch, while Capital Avalanche confronts Fackson FC. The conference will, once again, come alive on Friday as Bariga FC test their might against Emiloju FC, while G. innovation dares Ifako FC in Group B. Hostilities will continue in the Conference next Tuesday to determine the two teams that will proceed to the 1X final eight.

Chairman of 1XBET, Dr Femi Babalola, urged the teams to adhere strictly to the the rules of the competition, show their

skills and eschew violence. He noted that 1XBET was ready to take take its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes to the grassroots. He said," We are excited to be the sponsor of this football tournament that will ensure grassroots participation. The players must play according to the rules of the tournament. I will also urge the teams to eschew violence and give their best at all times.

Coordinator of the tournament, Waidi Akanni said the competition would have five conferences with eight teams, out of the 40, qualifying for the 1X final eight. He also said that the idea behind the tournament is to give nonleague players an opportunity to showcase their talent.

"We are ready to begin the tournament and I am hopeful that the non-league players who will be involved will see this as an opportunity to show what they can do. It strictly a community-based programme and what happens to the players after the tournament will be strictly a personal thing," he added.

Joe poroma Wins Car at iBB Golf Club Tournament

In a thrilling display of skill and determination, golf enthusiasts at the prestigious IBB Golf Club in Abuja witnessed history in the making as Joe Poroma emerged the overall winner of the 2023 Independence Golf Tournament and drove home with a brand new car from PAN Nigeria Ltd.

After three days of high profile and tension soaked golf, Big Joe Poroma played an impressive 5-under to outclass over 400 golfers from Nigeria and four other African countries- Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda.

The Independent Golf Tournament which celebrated Nigeria’s 63rd Anniversary in spectacular style was hailed by fans and players as raising the bar in Nigerian golf and setting a new definition of excellence in the entire African continent.

Big Joe attributed his victory to “a cool head, perseverance, a fighting spirit and a gorgeous golf course that is just such a delight to play on.”

The new winner pointed out that: “I didn’t set my aim at winning the car. I was just out to have a great game of golf and support my Nigerian golf team mates in outshining the other countries. So, I just let my golf

flow and I’m absolutely thrilled that I won the trophy along with a gleaming new car from PAN Nigeria.”

The IBB Golf Club Tournament, known for its competitive spirit and exceptional playing conditions, attracted golfers from all corners of the region. Amidst fierce competition, Big Joe's unwavering focus and unmatched talent shone through, making him the star of the event. His precision on the greens and remarkable consistency throughout the tournament were key factors that propelled him to victory.

"This victory is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and a genuine love for the sport of golf," Big Joe expressed with gratitude. "I am deeply honored to have won the first prize and to have my name associated with the IBB Golf Club's rich history."

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Captain of the IBB Golf Club, Dr. Banjo Obaleye , said “we are determined to give golf its rightful place in Nigeria. Golf tourism to Nigeria is estimated to be over $16 billion. As a country, we haven’t even scratched the surface and at the IBB Golf Club, we want to be at the vanguard of changing the golf narrative.”

Thomas Partey (left) and Bukayo Saka were listed in Arsenal’s squad to Lens for this evening’s UEFA Champions League group stage match in France

CSOs to Gbenga Daniel

“We wish to bring to the attention of the Senate and the general public the worrisome actions and statements being made by Senator Gbenga Daniel, which have now contributed to the creation of tension and division within Ogun State. Over recent months, Senator Daniel has engaged in a series of public attacks on Governor Dapo Abiodun, resorting to inflammatory rhetoric and actions that are detrimental to the peace and progress of Ogun State” --Comrade JohnsonOkuwatobi,onbehalfof21pro-democracygroups,petitionSenatetocallDanieltoorder.

TUESDAY WITH REUBEN ABATI

abati1990@gmail.com

Taking Odia Seriously: Honour To The Poet

Last Thursday, I was invited to review a book on Odia Ofeimun, one of Africa’s leading poets and public intellectuals, a committed, “empathetic scholar” as Professor Tunji Olaopa describes him elsewhere. Our own Odia is not a man to be disappointed, he is our “Baba”, our ‘Owalen” as many of his brothers from his Iruekpen clan or Esan West kingdom of Edo State call him. But Lagos, the subject of Ofeimun’s anthology: “Lagos Of the Poets” can be often multidimensionally treacherous, the product of the chaos that is built into its structure, sustained by the inability to transform the city to serve the purpose of those who live therein on a sustainable basis. Professor Wumi Raji and Kunle Ajibade had been on my matter, in literal “Yorubanglish.” I promised them I would be there and indeed immediately I stepped off the set of The Morning Show on Arise TV, I started heading out towards Rights Hall, Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja, Head Office of the CDHR, the venue of the event. The car was properly fuelled and that is a statement not to be taken lightly in Tinubu’s Nigeria.

But the road laid in wait, not for a sacrifice, but in mischief. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had served notice that it would embark on “a total and indefinite strike” on Tuesday October 3 in protest over the decision of the Tinubu administration to remove fuel subsidy, which resulted in the pump price of fuel jumping up by over 300%. Organized Labour raised its objections and at negotiation meetings presented a set of demands before the Federal Government. The same Federal Government set up a Presidential Steering Committee and sub-committees but this yielded no results as government officials abandoned the negotiating table, and resorted to appeals to Labour to be patient and understanding. Understand what? Labour issued a 21-day warning notice. The government kept begging.

The NLC later embarked on a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6. Government officials including the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Vice President at the last meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) continued to preach without addressing the issues. By that Thursday when I set out for Ikeja, the entire stretch of Awolowo Road was blocked by queues at petrol stations. People had embarked on panic buying of petrol, ahead of the announced Labour strike, with NUPENG having declared that all petrol stations would be shut down. I had to struggle through the traffic, endure the terrible potholes on the Third Mainland Bridge, which had been shut down on many occasions in the recent past for repairs, but where shortly after the repairs, the same potholes would return, putting motorists on that bridge in a state of prayer with fervent hope that the day would not come when those potholes would become craters and vehicles on that bridge would begin to drop into the ocean below. An imaginable calamity!

I finally made it to Ikeja to meet even more difficult traffic hold-ups. I was lucky it wasn’t one of those days when the rains fell. When it rains in Lagos, it could be practically impossible to travel from one side of the city to the other. By the time I reached Rights House, the book presentation ceremony had begun. It was well attended: Adeyinka OlumideFusika, SAN, Chair of the occasion, Professor Kayode Soremekun, former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Femi Falana SAN, Professor Mike Ikhariale, my former teacher at the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Akin Onigbinde, my former colleague at Ogun State University (now OOU), Senator Yunus Akintunde representing Oyo Central, Molara Wood, writer and editor; Managing Director of The Guardian, Martins Oloja, Kabiru Aregbesola, representing his father Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of the Interior, who later joined us straight from the airport. Editors. Reporters. Poets. Novelists. Word merchants. I met all the Mainland people already seated. The city of Lagos inflicts psychological terror on residents with its structural divisiveness. I know people who live and work on the Island who will never cross

the bridge to the Mainland and vice versa. I was not even allowed to take a glass of water before Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, the compere, announced that it was good I had arrived “in time” or “on time” – I arrived late anyway- and I should immediately present my review. It was an assignment I was glad to take seriously.

One of Odia Ofeimun’s famous books, the product of a 2003 lecture at the University of Ibadan, is a collection of essays titled “Taking Nigeria Seriously” in which he reflects on issues about the making and the unmaking of Nigeria, the contradictions that have turned an otherwise promising country, of enormous potentials, into the very opposite of its original value, or perhaps something dangerously close to that due to the absence of enabling leadership opportunities, and an inevitable descent into the lower depths. Those who know Odia, the title of the third part of the book under review: “The Odia We Know”, know him to be a man who takes everything that he does seriously. It is this single-minded devotion to his craft, and to his environment, to society that has been a defining characteristic of his polyvalent genius, encountered in virtually every facet of his persona as a poet, writer, polemicist, journalist, dramatist, producer, essayist, publisher, literary critic and entrepreneur. The last definition may seem odd to many but it is true, for as Chairman and Founder of the Hornbill House of the Arts, Odia has had a long experience running an enterprise, even if the main substance of that enterprise is literature and ideas, not money. Hornbill House has nonetheless produced profit in that regard: it published Tade Ipadeola’s The Sahara Testaments, winner of the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2013. It is also the publisher of Obari Ogomba’s Grit, a play that has been shortlisted for the 2023 NLNG Literature Prize, both a firm confirmation of how Odia Ofeimun takes literature seriously too, not just as creator but also as promoter of the genres. While Odia Ofeimun takes what he does seriously, it is noteworthy that the publication under review is an affirmation of the man himself being taken seriously. Essentially, the book – Odia Ofeimun: In Search of a Common Morality – Essays, Tributes and Conversations (Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press, 307 pp.) is the product of a conference in honour of the subject, on March 16, 2020, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, held at the University of Lagos. Three years later, the presentations at that conference and other materials have now been put together for posterity in a book form by a troika of editors and scholars: Wumi Raji, Sylvester Odion- Akhaine and Akin Adesokan. The editors have done

a praiseworthy and remarkable job of putting a fence around that year 2000 septuagenarian celebration, and whereas they claim that “the readers will be encountering for the first time what represents more or less a sustained critical engagement with Ofeimun’s writings”, I doubt if indeed this is the first effort of its kind. I refer the editors to an earlier book: Vicky Mnguember Sylvester (ed.) Critical Perspectives on Odia Ofeimun (Lagos, Ibadan: Malthouse Press, 2012, 271pp) with contributors including Kole Omotoso, Onookome Okome, Tanure Ojaide and Effiok Uwatt. But whereas this earlier book focused mainly on Odia Ofeimun’s texts, what can be seen at first glance in the latest appraisal is the extensive scope of the content, the depth of the analysis, the array of scholars and friends taking Odia Ofeimun seriously, and the focus on not just the literature, but also informed portraits of the man and his life and times, that is a near-balanced coverage of the literary and the biographical.

It is not difficult to see why this is so. Odia Ofeimun is one of the most impactful, productive, influential public intellectuals that Nigeria has produced in the past four decades, with his contributions to poetry, journalism, literary criticism, public affairs and stage presentations forming a formidable part of the canon. His influence is cross-disciplinary, multi-dimensional –politics, literature, drama, activism, journalism, culture, and as a person, he remains one of the most actively engaged citizens of our time. What further stands him out is his courage, his conviction and the sheer daredevilry with which he reinvents himself. Long before the Labour Party became such a movement in contemporary Nigerian politics, Odia Ofeimun had made an attempt to become a state Governor on the platform of the same party in pursuit of his oft-stated optimism that Nigeria can be rescued and saved through direct involvement of the “right persons” in the governance process.

The book is divided into four parts, with a total of 18 chapters. The reference in the title to common morality is extracted from Akin Adesokan’s “The Fragmented Poetics of a Common Morality” in Part I titled “Critical Essays” – seven in total in this section. It would appear however that the common morality that is referred to is the humanistic temper that underlines Odia Ofeimun’s writings: his deep interrogation of what makes us human, what makes us less human and what could make us more human, across all the spectrums of human experience. These seven critical essays examine Odia’s writings, not the entire oeuvre but his essays, his poetry infused by what Idaevor Bello and Lizzy Onyeiwu call “the tradition of resistance writing”: “The Poet Lied”, “A Handle for the Flutist”, “Under African Skies”, “London Letter,” “Go Tell the Generals”, “I will ask questions with stones if they take my voice.” The city is a central symbol and referent in Odia Ofeimun’s writings. In “A Melting Pot: Representations of the Lagos Imaginary”, Professor Wumi Raji examines Ofeimun’s book of selected poetry, “Lagos of the Poets” (2010).

The discursive, research-oriented tone of the critical essays is sustained further in Professor G.G. Darah’s “Odia Ofeimun and the Dialectics of Nigeria’s Long Revolution” and Sylvester Odion-Akhaine’s review of “the Politics of Odia Ofeimun” both drawing attention to and exploring his interventions with regards to issues of nation-building, federalism, national conference and the centrifugal tensions in the Nigerian process. It may be said that this first part of the book for deliberate, obvious reasons is the more rigorous part given the academic, research-based flavour of the contributions. Two poems follow - by Professor Niyi Osundare and Okinba Launko – Professor Femi Osofisan’s nom de plume. The editors describe this section of the book “as an interlude”. Osundare and Okinba Launko are Ofeimun’s contemporaries, members together, with Kole Omotoso, Bode Sowande, Tanure Ojaide, Funso Aiyejina, Abubakar Gimba, Festus Iyayi, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Tunde Fatunde, Zaynab Alkali, Buchi Emecheta…of the second generation of writers who helped to shape the ideological character of what came later.

A much easier offering is Chapter III of the book titled: “The Odia We Know”, a collection of friendly, appreciative tributes to the subject by Owei Lakemfa, Rauf Aregbesola, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Yewande Omotoso, Omowunmi Segun, Chris Dunton, Ogaga Ifowodo – presented in form of personal encounters and relationships with the poet, revealing how in the course of his career within the community, Odia as he is fondly called, or Uncle Odia as Yewande Omotoso and Chris Dunton refer to him, has been a source of inspiration and a mentor to many not just through his craft but also his example and generosity of spirit.

In Chapter 5, Professor Biodun Jeyifo’s keynote address during Odia’s 70th birthday is reproduced, an even-handed, first-hand portrait of the subject by a fellow-traveller through the decades titled “When Poverty is Wealth – in Connection with the Word (for Odia Ofeimun at 70).” Chapter IV is titled “Conversations” and here in three Chapters: 16-18, we hear directly from the celebrant himself in three major interviews: his romance with the word, his life, literature and struggles – a more directly biographical section of the book which lends it a fresh momentum and appeal through story-telling and the vehicle of reminiscences.

There is no doubt that apart from documenting an important milestone in the life of Odia Ofeimun, a poet and writer of the first rank whose love for literature and language is in a class of its own, this book will generate further discussions about his art and thoughts as well as interest in his entire oeuvre. Few writers have been as prodigious and as compelling. It is important that the essays in the book do not convey any hint of hagiography or undeserved praise - for although it was Ofeimun’s 70th birthday, the commentators and critics know him well enough to understand that he could not be swayed by any form of flattery. Ogaga Ifowodo tells him to write the long-awaited, long-promised book on Awo, otherwise “Nigeria would not forgive him.” Omowunmi Segun’s portraiture of Ofeimun at poetry reading sessions in a critical but humorous tone, is right on point, a well-pointed jab below the belt, but it speaks more to the man’s passion for the word, written or spoken.

Adesokan, one of the editors, tells us that Odia Ofeimun is a writer that we will continue to encounter deep into the future. He is right. Ofeimun’s place in the world of letters is more than assured. After more than 40 books of essays, poetry, criticism and public affairs analysis, we can only look forward to a feast and a harvest of more words from his fecund imagination. The present book does not in any way, comprehensive as it may seem, exhaust the many possibilities for analysis that Odia Ofeimun’s work offers: his unionism for example as Secretary General and later President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and the many battles he had to fight; his journalism before and after the military era as columnist/member of the editorial board of The Guardian and later as Chairman of The News Newspaper, and of course his practical involvement in politics either as Private Secretary to Chief Obafemi Awolwo, or as a Labour Party Gubernatorial aspirant who had progressive ideas about how society could be organized for growth and development but was limited by his own idealism in a political environment where commerce and vainglory prevail.

As we look forward to Odia Ofeimun’s continued service in the literary vineyard, the editors have enriched our libraries and the growing bibliography on Odia Ofeimun’s writings by publishing this book that should be of interest to students and teachers of literature, culture and politics alike. People like Odia are hardly ever remembered when national honours and other diadems are given out, mostly to the undeserved, but it is his kind who speak and write truth to power who represent the vanishing oases of sanity and humanity in this land where the people’s hope for a better tomorrow is stained by the blood of the innocent and the wickedness of persons in high places. It is about time Nigeria and Nigerians began to take themselves seriously.

Odia Ofeimun