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Tinubu Will Present 2024 Appropriation Bill to National Assembly in Nov., Senate Reveals Lawmakers to engage finance, budget ministers Wednesday Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The Senate revealed yesterday that

President Bola Tinubu, would present the 2024 appropriation bill to the National Assembly in November for consideration and passage before

the end of the year. Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola, disclosed this in Abuja during an interview

Say deliberations on MTEF-FSP to commence next week with journalists after the inaugural meeting of his committee.

Adeola, who is senator for Ogun West Senatorial District, said the

National Assembly expected the federal government to present the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy

(MTEF-FSP) next week for scrutiny.

He also hinted that his committee Continued on page 9

Obaseki: Nigeria ‘ll Be in Deeper Trouble if We Don’t Cut Waste... Page 6 Thursday 26 October, 2023 Vol 28. No 10424. Price: N250

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DSS Confirms Release of Ex-EFCC Chair, Abdulrasheed Bawa, After 134 Days in Detention... Page 34

House to Investigate N7tn Interventions in Power Sector since Privatisation Governors hail signing of Electricity Act 2023 into law We'll integrate renewable energy into power architecture, says ECN boss Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The House of Representatives, yesterday, resolved to investigate

all the financial interventions, which amounted to over N7 trillion, in the power sector since its privatisation to ascertain whether the funds were judiciously utilised.

The resolution came as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commended the signing of the Electricity

Act 2023 into law. AbdulRazaq, who also confirmed that the federal government had invested over N7 trillion in electricity, described the new law as a significant milestone

towards stable and efficient electricity supply in Nigeria.

Equally yesterday, the newly appointed Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria

(ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, promised that his agency would work towards the full integration Continued on page 9

Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Face Judgment Today We’re confident judiciary won't fail Nigerians, PDP, LP declare Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja About 72 hours after it heard and reserved judgement in two appeals filed against the election of President Bola Tinubu, the Supreme Court has fixed today for judgement.

The judgement would draw the curtain on the legal battles relating to the 2023 presidential election.

Both the Peoples Democratic (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, have, again, expressed the confidence that victory would come their respective ways.

Justice John Okoro, who led six other justices of the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court, had on

Monday announced that judgement in the presidential election litigations had been reserved. That was shortly after lawyers representing parties in the appeals had identified and adopted their various processes in the appeal.

"Judgement is reserved to a date that would be communicated to parties," Okoro had held.

A notice issued to parties yesterday indicated that judgement had been fixed for today.

The notice issued by a Registrar of the Supreme Court, Zainab Garba, read in part, "Take notice that judgement will be delivered in the above mentioned matter on Thursday, October 26, 2023, before Continued on page 9

ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY EMBLEM LAUNCHED...

National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalike Jibril (rtd) (L) decorating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the 2024 Armed Forces PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Remembrance Day emblem, during the launch at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday

Court Dismisses ExxonMobil's Suit against NMDPRA... Page 6

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Group News Editor: ÙÎÎã ÑÏØÏ Email: ÙÎÎã˛ÏÑÏØÏ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͸΀͸ͻ ͻͽ͸ ;΀ͺ͹˜ ͸΀͸΁ ͿͿͿͿ ͻͺͺ˜ ͸΀͸Ϳ ͼ͸͹ ͸ͽ΀͸

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TINUBU RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF AA RANO...

L-R: Managing Director of A.A Rano Group, Hon. Saidu Aliyu; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Chairman/CEO, A. A. Rano Group of Companies, Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, during a courtesy visit of the company to the Presidential Villa Abuja... yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

Shettima: Nigeria Emerging Best Investment Hub for Agribusiness Says nation exploring innovative strategies to achieve food, nutrition security Leads govt delegation to Norman Borlaug international dialogue in US Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to foreign investors to invest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, assuring them that the country is ready for agribusiness. Shettima said Nigeria was the best place to invest, given its 70 million hectares of underutilised arable land, which, according to him, was 75 per cent of the country's total land mass.

Shettima made the call in Iowa, United States, during the 2023 Norman Borlaug International Dialogue.

He noted that there were substantial opportunities in Nigeria for local and foreign investors to boost agricultural productivity.

The Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, also referred to as the "Borlaug Dialogue," is a gathering of individuals from more than 65 countries prepared to address cutting-edge issues related to global food security and nutrition.

Speaking at this year's edition of the dialogue, with the theme, "Harnessing Change," the vice president, according to a statement issued yesterday by his media assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, told the gathering that under President Bola Tinubu's watch, Nigeria had demonstrated that the Agrifood sector was a top priority.

Delivering his address, titled, "Nigeria's Agribusiness Roadmap for a Prosperous Future," Shettima said, "Our primary objective is to empower our farmers and attract investors. We are increasing primary production to harness the economic potential of agro-processing and industrialisation.

“This is why, upon assuming office, the president declared a state of emergency in agriculture.

"The connection between food and national security is too significant for us not to be alarmed by happenings around the world, whether in response to unforeseen disasters, like the COVID-19 pandemic, or the geopolitical frictions around us."

Emphasising Nigeria's unwavering belief in the power of partnership, the vice president explained that it was for this reason that the country prioritised interventions, which he said presented profound economic opportunities for investors.

He listed the interventions to include the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (NAGS), Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Green Imperative Project (GIP), and Special AgroIndustrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programmes.

Shettima stated, "Allow me to share that Nigeria understands the essence of partnerships in sustaining the dreams and promises that have brought us together today. This is why we are already collaborating with institutions, such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank, and the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID) to achieve food and nutrition security in Nigeria and beyond.

"With the invaluable support of our partners, we are exploring innovative strategies to transform this quest for food security into a thriving enterprise."

The vice president highlighted critical areas Nigeria was assisting its farmers to increase productivity, including essential infrastructure for

President Bola Tinubu has told the Minister of Health, Dr Ali Pate, to speak less about the challenges facing the health sector, but engage with development partners to evolve new reforms that would improve the health and well being of Nigerians.

The president who spoke when he had audience with the minister at the State House, Abuja, specifically directed Pate to pursue a very ambitious sector-wide programme that would improve population health outcomes.

He told the minister to explore ways of working seamless with state governments and community leaders as well as traditional leaders

to ensure that Nigerians get better quality services to deal with health issues.

He listed some of the health issues as malaria, immunisation, maternal and child health, reproductive health, among others.

Pate who met with the president alongside a development partner with Susan-Buffett foundation, Prof Seniat Fisseha, assured that going forward, plans were on to design social action fund aimed at reaching communities.

He said government would work to get the trust of the community dwellers, through which they will be empowered and supported to solve issues that are very simple but afflicting many of the people at the grassroots level.

National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).

"This is why we are helping our farmers increase production and providing essential infrastructure for industries in peri-urban areas to expand their capacity.

“This is the wisdom for our resolve to establish Mechanisation Service Centres in all our 774 local government areas to facilitate essential primary production services."

Ethiopian Airline Never Had Plan to Set Up in Nigeria, Says CEO Reveals Nigeria suspended national carrier project to address concerns Chinedu Eze The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, has said the East African carrier never had plan to set up an airline in Nigeria, but was invited by the country’s federal government to partner with it to establish a national carrier, Nigeria Air. Tasew, who spoke to journalists from Nigeria in Addis Ababa yesterday, disclosed that because of the pedigree of Ethiopian Airlines it was invited by the federal government of Nigeria to help it set up a national carrier in a partnership

arrangement and because of the airline’s engagements it initially resisted the invitation but later agreed due to long relationship it has with the West African country.

According to him, while Ethiopian Airlines and the Nigerian government were preparing the shareholding structure, it received message that some companies and airlines in Nigeria were defaming Ethiopian Airlines and the federal government and had gone to court and obtained a court order to stop the establishment of Nigeria Air. This, he said, prompted Ethiopian Airlines to want to withdraw, but

Tinubu to Pate: Talk Less, Act More to Hasten Reforms in Health Sector Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË

industries to increase their capacity.

According to him, "With about 70 million hectares of underutilised arable land, which is 75 per cent of our total land area, Nigeria offers a substantial opportunity to both local and foreign investors to boost agricultural productivity.

“This is why we've embraced the TAAT, GIP, and SAPZ programmes and are investing in agricultural research through the

Speaking with newsmen after meeting with the President, the minister said: "While having an audience with the president, we discussed some important issues regarding the health and social well being of Nigerians.

“As we all know, the president is very committed and has directed that we do all that we can to improve the health and well being of all Nigerians as part of his renewed hope agenda.

"Accordingly, in recent days he has approved three important steps for us to move forward with that and has asked us to talk less and do more. And in that spirit he in fact, has asked us to pursue a very ambitious sector-wide programme to improve population

health outcomes, using the basic healthcare provision fund as a basis for reviving our primary health care system.

“This would be done working with state governments and community leaders, traditional leaders to ensure that Nigerians get better quality services to deal with the issues that bother them, whether it's malaria, whether it's immunisation, maternal and child health or reproductive health.”

According to him, there were also plans to unlock the value chain in the healthcare space, with the president approving an initiative presidential initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain that will help drive the medical industrialisation agenda with clear targets.

the Nigerian government insisted that it should continue the process of establishing the national carrier for the most populous nation in Africa.

Tasew, emphasised that Nigeria Air was already established before Ethiopian Airlines was invited to go into the partnership.

He, however, stressed that Nigerians would benefit hugely from the national carrier if it was eventually established because the federal government said that Nigeria does not have dependable airlines in the domestic and international market.

This, he said, has led to foreign airlines charging high fares on the Nigerian route and exploiting Nigerian travellers; so, government wanted strong, dependable airline with capacity, remarking that if the national carrier is established, it will help existing airlines to improve their operational standard to compete effectively in the market to the benefit of air travellers in the country.

Tasew explained: “In May, of 2022, when I took my current responsibility (as Group CEO), a request came from the Nigerian government asking ET (Ethiopian Airlines) to participate in a bid and help the Nigerian government to setup a Nigerian flag carrier. It came in writing.

“Initially we didn’t want to go into that. We said we have other initiatives in other countries and we were busy. But the Nigerian government insisted that Ethiopian Airlines is an African airline, it has to help the Nigerian government in

setting up the national carrier. So, we had to respect them.

“So, we had to submit proposal, we had to respect the Nigerian government. And we thought that the Nigerian government had choices, ET being one; because they had also requested other airlines in the Middle East, Europe to participate in the bid. I don’t know whether they participated or not.

“We submitted our proposal and we received a letter from the Ministry of Aviation, saying that Ethiopian Airlines has been selected to be a partner to setup the airline.

“Then we heard that some companies in Nigeria, including airlines started defaming and objecting the establishment of the airline and defaming the name of the government and Ethiopian Airlines.

“At that time, we thought that if the Nigerian government doesn’t want it, the Nigerian public doesn’t want it, we could as well withdraw.

But the Nigerian government insisted that no, that this is a strategic issue for Nigeria and we have to continue.

“When these group of people went to court, and brought a court order, we had to defend ourselves, we had to go to the court, together with the Nigerian government, including the Ministry of Transport.”

According to him, “Nigeria Air was already established by the Nigerian government before we were invited. It has its own leadership, it was doing a lot of things, it had started requesting for the Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC), making preparations.

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IMMUNIZATION TO PREVENT CERVICAL CANCER...

L-R: Sapeyi of Garki, Dr Usman Ndakupi; Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Services, Prof. Ali Pate and FCT Mandate Secretary, Health Service and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe watch the Director, SusanT. Buffet Foundation, Professor Senat Fisdeha immunizing a child during the immunization to prevent cervical cancer at the Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Center Abuja......yesterday

Obaseki: Nigeria ‘ll Be in Deeper Trouble if We Don’t Cut Waste Urges digitalisation of govt processes to reduce cost, ensure transparency Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has raised the alarm over the high rate of wastage in government, especially at the federal level, warning that the country would be in deeper trouble unless the nation takes deliberate steps to cut down waste.

This was as the governor reeled

out the gains of his administration’s e-governance system, calling for the digitalisation of government processes across all levels of government in the country, in order to ensure transparency and reduce cost.

Obaseki spoke as a panelist during a plenary on “Reinventing Government: Digitalisation of Public

Institutions,” at the just concluded 29th Nigerian Economic Summit, in Abuja.

The governor said, “We need to reinvent governance. You can't reinvent government unless you digitalise and open up your systems.

We have no option. We have to be efficient.

“We have to be efficient to support production. Especially at the federal government level; the waste is too much and unless we change, we will be in trouble. In fact, we are already in trouble and if we don't change, we will be in deeper trouble.”

Obaseki, while sharing his Edo State e-governance experience at

the event, said digitalisation of government required the political will and commitment of the political leaders because of resistance from civil servants.

He noted that sometimes even when the political leader has a well-thought-out and noble policy, getting civil servants to implement

Tinubu Sacks NIWA, Shippers’ Council’s Heads, Names New CEOs Asks Senate to confirm Aliyu as ICPC chairman Yohanna takes oath as Adamawa North Senator Deji Elumoye and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of two new Chief Executive Officers in parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in line with the recommendations of the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The new appointees, according to a statement issued yesterday, by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, were Alhaji Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji as Managing Director / CEO of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Mr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima as new Executive Secretary / CEO of Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC).

Oyebamiji replaced George Moghalu at NIWA, while Ukeyima replaces Emmanuel Jime at the NSC. Oyebamiji, is a graduate of Banking and Finance and holds a Master's degree in Public Administration and Business Administration.

He is an Economist with industry experience of more than 28 years before he entered the public service.

In the public service, he first reversed the downward trajectory of the Osun State Investment Company Limited before serving as the Osun State Commissioner of Finance for eight years.

Ukeyima is a graduate of Law and holds a Master's degree in Public International Law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He most recently served as the Head of the Central Authority Unit, International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

According to the statement, Tinubu

charged the new appointees in the vital sector to faithfully implement the policies and programmes of the Minister in pursuit of the expeditious and efficient attainment of bolstered revenues and investments as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda's Blue Economy strategy.

Meanwhile, Tinubu yesterday, asked the Senate to screen for confirmation, the appointment of a lawyer, Musa Aliyu, as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Aliyu, is currently serving as the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Jigawa State.

The president also asked the red chamber to confirm Saka Bolaji Suleiman and Prof. Gaji Dantata as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

The requests of the President were contained in two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and red at plenary

by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau who presided.

Tinubu said, “In compliance with the provision of section 3, subsection 6 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, Establishment Act 2000, I am pleased to present for confirmation, by the Senate, the appointment of Mr. Musa Aliyu as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC.” The appointment of Aliyu, according to statement by the Special Adviser), Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, last week, was sequel to the request of the outgoing chairman of the

commission, Bolaji Owasanoye, whose statutory tenure still remains over three months, “to proceed on pre-end of tenure leave beginning on 4 November 2023”.

Owasanoye’s tenure is statutorily due to expire on February 3, 2024.

In a similar vein, the President said,

“In accordance with the provision of section 154 of section 1 and 3, paragraph 12 of Part 1, of the third schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointments of the under-listed two

persons as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

“Commissioner, number one, Saka Bolaji Suleiman, and number two, Professor Gaji Dantata.”

Barau referred the two executive requests to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

same was a challenge and in his case, he had to insist.

The governor stated that until the digitalisation exercise in Edo State, civil servants, public office holders, and the executive operated in silos, adding that the story has now changed.

The Obaseki-led state government, over the past seven years, has pursued bold and transformative reforms to digitise work processes in the civil and public service, transiting service delivery from an archaic, analog, and strenuous mode to a digitised, seamless, and efficient mode.

“All files are now processed through the service-wide e-government platform, ensuring quick turnaround time. Today, the State is the most digitally connected in Nigeria and operates the most digitised civil and public service, with all local governments connected to fibre optics.

“Edo State is also the first in the country to have entirely shifted to a digital mode of administration.”

Court Dismisses ExxonMobil's Suit against NMDPRA Affirms Authority’s power to regulate operations of IOCs Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Exxon Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The dismissal was sequel to a formal withdrawal by the plaintiff. .In a rather dramatic twist, Exxon Mobil on the day fixed for judgment, applied to discontinue the proceedings, and moved the court to strike out the suit. In response, Counsel to the Authority moved the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that issues have been joined and there was need for a settled precedent from the court.

The court ruled that the proper order to make in the circumstances is one for dismissal of the suit.

Responding to the development, NMDPRA's counsel, Dr. Emeka Akabogu stated that the win is also a big step in the country's efforts against oil theft, as it ensures separate monitoring of activities in the different streams of the oil and gas value chain undertaken by related interests.

This ruling holds considerable significance for the petroleum industry in Nigeria as it affirms the regulatory mandate of the NMDPRA as set out in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 over all midstream and downstream operations including those of international oil companies involved in such activities.

Mobil had in an originating summons dated June 16 but filed June 19, sought the determination of which regulator had the authority to designate and approve its operations as integrated operations under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The suit was triggered by the NMDPRA’s challenge of the NUPRC’s approval of Mobil’s operations as integrated upstream operations.

However, after lawyers to parties in the suit adopted and argued their brief of arguments on July 27, Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed October 25 for judgment.

But when the matter was called for judgment, counsel to Mobil, Ituah Imhanze, drew the court's attention to its motion seeking discontinuation of the suit.

Imhanze said the motion was

filed on October 23 and served on NMDPRA, the sole defendant in the matter.

“We have an application dated and filed on October 23. It is for my lord to discontinue the suit,” he said.

Responding, the senior lawyer who did not oppose the application for withdrawal, rather urged the court to dismiss it instead of striking it out.

“We urge my lord to dismiss this suit and award very, very high cost,” he added.

But Imhanze disagreed with Etuwewe, arguing that he would not concede to any cost because as a minister in the temple of justice, he had the duty to bring whatever happens in the course of a case to the notice of the court.

The lawyer hinged his argument on the recently released presidential policy directives which touched on the substance of the suit.

Justice Ekwo, consequently, dismissed the suit but declined to award cost against Mobil.

“Rather than award any cost, I will ask parties to go and remain in peace,” he said.

Mobil had approached the court

to challenge the competence of NMDPRA to regulate certain aspects of its operations like butane lifting which it maintained were integrated to its Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) and thus within the exclusive regulatory purview of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

By its originating summons filed on 19 June 2023 in suit No. FHC/ ABJ/CS/844/2023, the plaintiff argued that the implicated operations were designated as 'integrated petroleum operations' in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA) and consequently prayed the court to restrain NMDPRA from all attempts towards licencing or any other form of regulation of those operations.

In response, NMDPRA through its lawyers Ama Atuwewe (SAN) and Dr. Emeka Akabogu argued that NMDPRA was empowered under the PIA to regulate all midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria and that the particular operations in question were outside of what the law envisaged as ‘integrated petroleum operations’.

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OPENING OF THE 3RD WEST AFRICA CAPITAL MARKET CONFERENCE...

L-R: Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria/Chairman, West Africa Securities Regulators Association, Mr. Lamido Yuguda, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Tope Fasua during the opening of the 3rd West Africa Capital Market Conference, themed “Infrastructure Deficit and the Sustainable Financing in an Integrated West Africa Capital Market”, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos,... yesterday

Stakeholders Call for Massive Investment in Gas, R&D as PTI Summit Ends in Abuja Seek inter-agency collaborations Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Operators, researchers and leaders in the Nigerian hydrocarbons industry yesterday said that massive investment in gas exploration and infrastructure will act as a major game changer for the country in the coming years.

Reading from a communiqué emanating from a two-day programme organised by the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Abuja, the Director of Research and Development, PTI, Dr. Tina Isichei, stressed that the government should also seek to liberalise the sector.

The event was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, among other heads of agencies in the sector.

The Dr Henry Adimula-led institution, noted that the conference resolved that Nigeria must develop structured standardised systems and be deliberate in developing new technologies for her gas infrastructure value chain to ensure sustainable development.

“Nigeria should leverage on the impact of divestment in the oil and gas industry to make a bold statement that we have come of age and have acquired the technical, managerial, and financial capabilities to develop the oil and gas industry.

“We need to develop gas investment solutions for the short, medium and long term as energy is the biggest catalyst for economic and national development. Nigeria has been blessed with natural gas resources in addition to oil and

currently has a reserve of 207TCF. This is enough to support developments by leveraging digitalisation, innovation and technology across board.

“It is projected that by the year 2050, Nigeria will be the 3rd most populous country on earth, after China and India, thus necessitating an urgent need to think out of the box and proffer sustainable solutions to the country’s energy crisis.

“Considering the government policy of 2020-2030 as decade of gas, government should speed up the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) investment and ensure all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importers set up a processing plants in Nigeria so that the commodity will be readily available and at affordable price,” the communiqué stated.

Besides, the players called on Nigeria to vigorously embark on the energy transition without compromising its already developed energy resources and the developmental need of our country.

“The federal government should take full advantage of the abundant gas reserves to diversify the Nigerian economy into agriculture, Information and Communication Technology (ICT),” the participants resolved.

Stakeholders also urged the federal government to liberalise the gas sector, formulate guiding policies and regulations that must be obeyed and allow the private sector to drive the economy.

According to the industry players, the future of the African oil and gas industry depends on deepening strategic collaborations between the continent’s oil and gas producers.

To keep up with the new trends in the sector, the participants urged the government to establish centres of excellence in PTI and universities to address contemporary human requirements in the oil and gas industry.

Besides, they advised the government to ensure and support collaboration between industry and the academia to build talent and knowledgeable workforce to meet up with the current energy transition need.

In addition, the stakeholders urged the government to encourage

more tertiary institutions and corporate bodies to go off the national power grid by investing in CNG, LPG or renewable energies since this energy usage is cleaner, cheaper, and environmentally friendly.

Furthermore, it urged the sector to collaborate with the academic institutions in Nigeria such as the PTI to research into the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data technology to improve the gas exploration, distribution and utilisation in Nigeria.

“Data mining, Block chain, AI and Internet of Things (IoT) are

The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) yesterday announced that it had secured a grant from the European Union (EU) for its nuclear safety cooperation project in the country.

A statement by the Head, Information and Protocol Unit, NNRA, Mrs Ekaette Bassey, stated that this followed the visit of nuclear safety experts to Abuja to discuss the commencement of the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC).

The project, the NNRA said, would help in enhancing the regulatory

framework for nuclear safety in Nigeria.

The EU Experts, it said, were in Nigeria to interact with their counterparts in NNRA on the modalities for the implementation of the first bilateral cooperation project on nuclear safety and the safe management of radioactive waste in-country to be supported by a grant from the EU. In his opening remarks at the event, the Director General of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris, while commending the EU, said the grant covered a period of two years from October 1, 2023 to September 31, 2025.

He indicated that the implementation of the project will be closely

Energy Bank (AEB) in-country to easily facilitate oil and gas energy projects financing.

“For Nigeria to be among 50 developed nations by the year 2050, we have to believe in ourselves and make vigorous efforts to support R&D for the purpose of domesticating many technologies.

“Nigeria must expand sources of funding R&D to PTI and other academic institutions through incentives like tax credit etc. Research should be coordinated so that outputs can be market driven,” the participants stressed.

Tinubu Okays N18bn Assurance Policy for Families of Fallen Heroes Launches 2024 armed forces remembrance emblem appeal Raises N160m from emblem launch Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved N18 billion for the Group Life Assurance benefits and other entitlements for families of fallen heroes of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The president, who announced the approval at the launch of the 'Emblem Appeal' for the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the State House, Abuja, also gave an assurance of his government's continued support to the armed forces by repositioning the three forces and ultimately providing a safe and conducive country for all who have found home within the Nigerian boundaries.

To show the men and women of the nation’s armed forces that their efforts and sacrifices are appreciated, President Tinubu also called on businesses in the country to key into the patriotic spirit by supporting them in various ways, including giving them preferential treatment and offering them discounts and rebates on goods and services.

Tinubu said, "I wish to assure Nigerians that my administration will continue to reposition and strengthen all Nigerian security agencies. It's a commitment that we must take seriously. Our foremost objective is to provide a conducive environment, free from threats and criminalities,

NNRA Secures Two-year EU Grant for Nuclear Safety Cooperation Project in Nigeria Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

gaining interest by Exploration and Production (E&P) companies, agricultural sectors, refineries and petrochemical companies; more investment needs to be carried out on their effective utilisations in-country,” the communiqué stated.

It urged the ministry of petroleum to ensure the integrity and security of supplies of CNG and LNG to the various plants, thereby increasing gas penetration and utilisation by local users, for power, transportation, industrial and domestic purposes.

“Nigeria should ensure the domiciling of the proposed African

monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure compliance with international best practices and regulations. Idris stated that part of the grant is meant for the NNRA to implement some aspects of the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission.

According to him, the IAEA sent a team of 12 senior nuclear regulatory experts from 11 countries and three of its staff to Nigeria to review the country’s radiation and nuclear safety regulatory framework and activities against relevant IAEA safety standards and international nuclear safety treaties.

The DG also indicated that recently,

in July 2023, the IAEA conducted an International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission to Nigeria.

“The mission made up of eight international experts from the United States, France, Argentina, Indonesia, Romania, Lebanon, Slovakia and Pakistan together with NNRA staff and with the assistance of the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) visited facilities with high risk nuclear and radioactive material.

“These included the Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor (NiRR1) located at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

to enable all who reside within our borders to thrive and live in peace.

“For this reason, we owe a debt of gratitude to our gallant troops, who have risen to the challenge of securing this great nation."

The president added, "In appreciation of the sacrifices of the men and women of our armed forces and to underscore this government's commitment to their welfare, I have approved the sum of N18 billion for the payment of the Group Life Assurance benefits and other entitlements to the families of service members who love their lives in the line of duty."

“I also call on businesses to key into the patriotic spirit and support our service personnel, whether in the form of preferential treatment, discounts, or rebates on goods and services."

The president also noted that men, women and officers of the armed forces had invested and sacrificed much to preserve the nation’s unity and charged everybody to see it as an obligation to jealously guard the unity bought with the lives and blood of the fallen heroes.

"It has therefore fallen on us as a people to honour the memory of the valiant officers, men and women who had paid the supreme sacrifice and to provide a decent and humane standard of care for all who have served our dear nation.

"The 15th day of January is symbolic because it marks the end of the Nigerian Civil War. The occasion gives us cause for reflection and reminds us of the price that has been paid for the continued unity of this country.

As the beneficiary of that sacrifice, we have an obligation to guard that unity jealously and sincerely," stated the Nigerian leader.

Tinubu, however, acknowledged the significant relief that the relentless efforts of the security forces have brought to the nation, especially the most troubled parts, further expressing his confidence that Nigeria will steadily defeat its security challenges.

He also lauded the state governors for the support they have consistently given to the Nigeria Legion in their various states, even as he challenged federal and state government agencies and parastatals to continue patronising the veterans and their fallen comrades' families.

While launching the 2024 remembrance day emblem, the president charged all Nigerians, particularly dignitaries at the event, "donate generously, and support our veterans and dependents of fallen heroes and to encourage all of us to donate generously."

While giving his address, the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, listed efforts made by the Tinubu government to restore peace, order and security nationwide and the successes that have been achieved.

He noted that in the process, many armed forces members had lost their lives while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

"Faced with a myriad of security challenges in our motherland, our armed forces are working in concert with other security agencies to restore normalcy to the Nigerian multifaceted security challenges.

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Senate Moves to Bar CBN Governor, Deputies from Partisan Politics Process to amend apex bank’s Act scales second reading Sunday AborisadÏ ÓØ ÌßÔË Two bills that seek to prevent a serving Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Deputy Governors of the regulatory body from partisan politics scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate yesterday.

The proposed amendments which were however consolidated into one bill equally sought to reposition the apex bank for efficiency.

One of the consolidated bills titled, “Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) (Amendment) Bill 2023” was sponsored by Senator Steve Karimi (APC - Kogi West).

The second one was titled: “A Bill to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, and for matters connected therewith, 2023” was sponsored by Senator Darlington

Nwokocha (LP - Abia Central).

The immediate past governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, had attempted to contest the 2023 presidential election primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while in office.

The move was widely condemned

by Nigerians who wondered how a serving public servant could seek an elective office contrary to extant provisions of the constitution.

Karimi, one of the sponsors of the consolidated bills explained that it was aimed at amending the CBN Act to allow for greater accountability and transparency in the running of the bank and to prohibit the use of foreign currency in local transactions in Nigeria.

Karimi’s proposed amendment to section 9(2) of the CBN Act read: “Notwithstanding the Provisions

of this Act or any written law in existence, the Governor and the Deputy Governor of the bank shall not participate directly or indirectly in partisan politics, nor contest any election, during their tenure in office."

The Kogi West lawmaker’s bill also seeks to prohibit the use of foreign currency for domestic transactions in Nigeria.

The bill seeks amendment of Section 20 of the CBN Act, by inserting Section 20(A) immediately after the existing section 20, before the existing section 21.

The proposed amendment read: “20(A) Prohibition of the use of foreign currency in democratic transactions: "(1) No person or body corporate shall use any foreign currency as a means of exchange for goods, services and other transactions in markets supermarkets, hotels,

restaurants, airports and other places of business in Nigeria except by a bank, licenced Bureau De Change and other financial institutions duly authorised by the CBN to trade, deal and use such currency and no individual or business entity in Nigeria shall advertise, denominate or price its goods or services in any currency other than the Nigerian naira and kobo. “(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to: (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of N250,000.00 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or both such fine and imprisonment; “(b) in the case of a corporate entity to a fine of N1,000,000 and a conviction of three months to its officers

or directors who authorised or undertook the transaction."

On his part, Nwokocha who sponsored the second bill, listed the general principles of his bill to include: “This bill seeks to address all anomalies that has hindered the advancement of the apex bank to handle the ailing economy of our nation."

He said, “The thrust of this amendment is to create a peoplecentered central bank by delivering price and financial system stability and promoting sustainable economic development.

“As the nation grapples with economic issues, we need to reposition the CBN to grow the economy, regulate the exchange rate and unauthorise financial transactions and dollarising the economy.

“This bill seeks to provide for

petitions on March 21.

The tribunal, on September 6, delivered its judgement thereby, bringing the 60 days expiration date of the apex court to November 5.

The two appeals slated for judgement are those of Atiku and his party, PDP, and Obi and LP. The third appeal filed by Allied People's Movement (APM) was dismissed by the Supreme Court during Monday's proceedings, shortly after the appeal was withdrawn by the party's lead counsel,

Mr. Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume. The appellants had approached the apex court to ventilate their grievances over the judgement of the presidential election tribunal, which had dismissed their separate petitions against the February 25 presidential election for lacking in merit.

The five-member panel, led

by Justice Haruna Tsammani, held that the petitioners could not substantiate their allegations of irregularities, malpractices, and

non-compliance with the electoral laws, among others, they levelled against the presidential poll.

Dissatisfied, Atiku raised 35 grounds of appeal wherein he argued that the tribunal erred in arriving at the conclusion that his case was lacking in merit, while Obi presented 51 grounds to prove that the lower court's judgement was perverse and should be set aside.

During Monday's proceedings at the apex court, Atiku, represented

by Chief Chris Uche, and Obi, through his lead lawyer, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, urged the court to allow their separate appeals and nullify Tinubu's election.

The respondents, on the other hand, urged the court to reject the two appeals and uphold the judgement of the presidential election tribunal, which affirmed the declaration of Tinubu as validly elected president.

Earlier, Atiku had while moving his application for leave of the apex court to present fresh evidence of forgery against Tinubu, pleaded with the court to look into the matter because of its constitutional and democratic implications.

Uche informed the court that the fresh evidence was crucial to his appeal before the court, adding that the court has inherent jurisdiction to entertain the application and decide on it.

In urging the apex court to grant the application, Uche had submitted that the court should not be preoccupied with whether the application was not properly

Akpabio among other things: Separate the head of management from the head of the governing board in line with national and international good corporate governance practices; “Establish a proper governance architecture for the monetary authority for optimal policy and operational effectiveness;

TINUBU, ATIKU, OBI FACE JUDGMENT TODAY the Supreme Court of Nigeria, sitting at Law Court District Area, Abuja."

Although, the apex court has 60 days by law to hear and determine appeals against the judgement of the presidential election tribunal, it fixed judgement within three days of taking the appeals challenging the judgement of the tribunal.

If delivered, the judgement would be coming 10 days before its expiry date of November 5, 2023.

According to Section 285(5)

(6)(7) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, a petitioner has 21 days to file his petition against an election from the date election results were announced. While the tribunal is bound to hear and deliver its judgement in writing within 180 days from the date the petition was filed, the apex court has 60 days to do same.

INEC had on March 1 declared Tinubu as winner of the presidential election, while Atiku and Obi subsequently filed their separate

HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE N7TN INTERVENTIONS IN POWER SECTOR SINCE PRIVATISATION of renewable and alternative energy into the country's power architecture.

The resolution of the House of Representatives was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at yesterday’s plenary by Hon. Ademorin Kuye.

Moving the motion, Kuye recalled that the federal government in 2013, unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and sold 18 utility firms to private investors, resulting in six generation companies (GenCos) and 11 distribution companies (DisCos).

Kuye added that the privatisation of Nigeria's power sector was necessary due to the failure of the defunct PHCN to attract investments, but the industry had not meet Nigerians expectation.

He stressed that the federal government had spent over N7 trillion on direct interventions in the power sector, despite privatising the industry, since November 2013.

These included, according to him, the Presidential Power Initiative, a strategic approach to address Nigeria's unreliable and inadequate electricity supply.

He noted that but for the interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of over N1.3 trillion, the country’s power sector would have collapsed due to liquidity, poor performance, suppressed tariffs, lack of infrastructure at the transmission and distribution ends, and weak regulations and oversight.

Kuye noted that since the privatisation, the power sector had undergone various financial interventions, including those from International donor agencies. He said the World Bank had approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $486 million aimed at upgrading the wheeling capacity of the Nigerian electricity transmission grid, including the rehabilitation and expansion of transmission substations across Nigeria.

He added that the African Development Bank (AfDB) provided a facility of $300 million to the TCN for the purpose of expansion and rehabilitation of existing northern corridor transmission lines, particularly in the North-west and North-central regions.

Kuye noted that the French Development Agency also provided a facility of $170 million for transmission infrastructure expansion around Abuja metropolis and neighbouring states.

The lawmaker added that Japan International Cooperation Agency

(JICA) provided a facility of $238 million for transmission infrastructure expansion within the South-west region of Nigeria, among others.

He expressed concern that revenue generation and collection had been the major challenge of the power sector, as DisCos lamented revenue shortfalls attributed to low electricity tariff or electricity revenue that might be accruing to the wrong accounts.

Kuye also lamented that out of the 11 DisCos in Nigeria, banks had taken over six, which he listed as the AEDC, KADECO, KEDCO, BEDC, IBEDC and PHEDC, due to poor financial performance and management.

He stressed that the Aggregate Technical and Commercial Collection (ATC&C) loss was an actual measure of the performance of a power distribution system as it includes both technical losses and commercial losses. He said it showed the gap between input energy into the system and the units for which the payment was collected; The lawmaker said improved ATC&C loss reduction would be achieved if DisCos adopted a combination of other strategies that would ensure reduction in technical and commercial losses in addition to aggressive deployment of meter assets.

Kuye noted that the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry was facing threat due to the poor performance and transparency of DisCos and NERC's ability to sanction erring stakeholders.

He expressed worry that the National Power Grid had collapsed over seven times this year, despite the huge investment in the power sector, which he said explained the persistent electricity shortage in the country.

The House mandated "the Committee on Power to investigate all the financial interventions in the power sector since privatisation with a view to determine whether the funds were judiciously utilised and report back within six weeks for further legislative action".

NGF Hails Signing of Electricity Act 2023 into Law

The NGF chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made the commendation while speaking at a seminar organised by the forum and the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF) in Abuja AbdulRazaq said the federal government had invested over

N7 trillion in the generation of electricity in Nigeria.

According to him, "If you look at what is happening today in Nigeria, the government has injected about N7 trillion in the electricity market.

It is expected that any intervention is an input into production. And being an input, what that means is that the output must exceed the input."

AbdulRazaq added, "I expect that everybody feels frustrated that the power industry is not doing well, that UKNIAF will sit down and analyse the advice they have given, the consultation that they have given to previous governments that have not worked, what are the hitches?

Where have we got it wrong?

"And from there we begin to leverage on those solutions and go ahead with the new Act that has given privileges to state governments to own electricity.

"We have been seeing so many organisations working tangentially with one another."

Director General of NGF, Asishana Okauru, in his contribution at the seminar, said the “Electricity Act 2023 represents a significant milestone towards achieving a stable, reliable, and efficient electricity supply for our people.

"It provides a legal framework for private sector participation in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity."

According to Okauru, "We are often told that the amendment of the constitution and the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 open the sub-national electricity market to stakeholders and players in the industry. This makes perfect sense, but to laymen and, perhaps, a majority of the populace, particularly those residents in the states, this is mere jargon. '"Our task, therefore, is to facilitate the simplifying of this very complex and highly technical endeavour in a way that both the government and the governed will fully appreciate what is happening, how it should happen and the benefits of it all."

He stressed, "On our part at the NGF, we plan to unveil a support effort that will caption the Nigeria Sub-National Electricity Markets Support Programme (NSEMSP).

"This is going to be a flagship project of the forum and it will be designed to facilitate the development of sustainable, competitive and diversified sub-national electricity markets in the country."

In his comments, the leader of UKNIFA, Mr Gill Atkinson, pledged

the cooperation and support of the United Kingdom government and other international organisations to find solutions to electricity crisis is Nigeria.

We'll Integrate Renewable Energy into Power Architecture, Says ECN Boss

The newly appointed Director General of ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, promised that his agency would work towards the full integration of renewable and alternative energy into the Nigerian power architecture. Abdullahi stated this yesterday, when he officially assumed office in Abuja.

He pledged to vigorously drive President Bola Tinubu's energy transition plan.

The director-general, who addressed his staff at the commission's head office, also expressed his readiness to look into the welfare issues with a view to boosting staff morale.

The energy expert described the commission as important but underrated and provided some insight into his agenda for the agency.

Abdullahi said, "I would like to share my vision of the direction the commission will be heading under my stewardship, with the dedicated support of our staff and stakeholders.

"We will ensure the integration of the renewable and alternative energy policy structure into the mainstream National Energy Architecture.

"We will also ensure the immediate facilitation of the actualisation of the Energy Transition Plan.

"We will facilitate research and development funding and partnership initiatives in the energy sector."

Abdullahi also pledged to ensure an improved welfare consideration for staff of the commission that would be commensurate with standards in the energy sector.

The new ECN director-general also spoke on plans to collaborate with stakeholders, including the subnational bodies.

"With the new legislation in place, there is room for a larger scope of operation and cooperation with the states for deepened economic development built on a robust energy sector for the benefit of our people," he added.

The acting General Manager, Abdulazeez Elama, had while handing over commended President Bola Tinubu for putting the agency in the hands of a tested professional in the energy sector.

pleaded or whether it was coming late, but look at it on its merit.

He further argued that the fresh evidence was germane to good and credible governance in the country because it was predicated on the issue of eligibility for anyone seeking the highest office in the country.

The fresh evidence Atiku sought to tender was the academic records of Tinubu, which were handed over to him by the Chicago State University (CSU) on October 2.

The 32-page document was released to the former vice president on the orders of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America.

The US court had ordered CSU to release the said documents to Atiku, despite Tinubu's strident objection, because the court was convinced that they would help Atiku establish his allegation of forgery and lying on oath against Tinubu.

The senior lawyer pointed out that submitting forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was a serious constitutional issue that must not be ignored.

"No matter the time it is brought, the court has a duty to look at it," Uche had said, adding that the apex court should side step technicality and adopt the principle of substantial justice in this instance.

Responding to the questions on jurisdiction and legality of the Continued on page 36

TINUBU WILL PRESENT 2024 APPROPRIATION BILL TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN NOV., SENATE REVEALS had invited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Budget, Atiku Bagudu, for a meeting next Wednesday.

Adeola said the National Assembly would try to ensure that the 2024 budget had 55 per cent capital expenditure.

He said the 10th Senate would maintain the January to December budget cycle, which the 9th National Assembly started.

The senator stated, "I want you to take cognisance of the change of government on May 29. There is teething problem because there is a change of government.

"The new administration has a new mantra that encapsulates its vision and there must be challenges.

We will do a thorough job on the budget.

"Our job is to verify the budget to meet the expectations of the people.

We will look into it thoroughly.”

Adeola said, "We are expecting the MTEF next week and immediately we receive the document, the committee on finance will go into work and look into it. The finance minister and the Minister of Budget and Planning are working round the clock.

“I assure you that we won't break the tradition, we will have the budget as and when due. We will keep to the tradition of January to December budget cycle."

The senator said there was nothing like padding in the budget process.

He said, "It has to do with nomination of projects to the budget document that will meet the yearnings and the needs of the people, I would not regard that as padding.

"It is still part of government document, we look into and it has an expectation. Budget is an estimate but implementation is another thing. So I don't believe in budget padding, it never exists in my diary."

Meanwhile, the naira sustained its slide against the dollar, as it weakened further on the parallel market, where it exchanged at N1315/$1 yesterday, compared to N1,310/$ to the dollar it closed the previous day.

On the other hand, on the official Investors and Exporters’ (I&E) FX window, the national currency closed at N801.10/$ yesterday, compared to the N847.77/$ it closed the previous day.

On the I&E window, intra-day trade from the data obtained by FMDQ showed that the highest spot rate exchanged at N891/$ while the lowest spot rate recorded was N730/$.

The official I&E window reported a daily volume turnover of $100.18 million, which was a 13.71 per cent increase compared to the $88.10 million recorded the previous day.

The arbitrage between the parallel FX market and the I&E window has now widened to N514/$.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 26, 2023

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Belgore: Post-Election Cases Must Be Concluded Before President, Governors Assume Office

Abuja-based legal practitioner, Muhammed Mustapha Belgore, in this interview argues that going forward, relevant laws need to be amended to ensure election petitions are dispensed with before President and governors are sworn-in, for them to have their full legitimacy while in office.

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hat is your view on the conduct of the 2023 general elections and the transition that followed?

First of all, I think it is cogent to understand that no election in the world is perfect, even where technology is deployed because it is a human endeavour, it concerns humans and you can’t find perfection in any human exercise. Even in the so-called developed countries, elections are never without loopholes.

I am sure that if you cast your mind back to the election in the United States that ousted Donald Trump and returned Joe Biden, you will remember that there were complaints about the legitimacy of the process.

So the 2023 general elections in Nigeria might not have been perfect but I am an incurable pessimist and I believe that we are getting there and that despite the alleged irregularities the legitimate winner of the election with majority of the lawful votes cast was President Bola Tinubu.

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in an unprecedented 13-hour judgement dismissed the petitions of the PDP, LP and APM for lack of merit and insufficient evidence. What is your legal standpoint on the judgement?

I have read the judgement. My legal standpoint on it is that it was a flawless one and the Hon. Justices did a fine job and they made the judiciary proud. What I could notice from the beginning was that the petitions were watery and speculative as they lacked the necessary precise facts in support of the grounds of the petition. The petitions were couched in a generic manner and lady justicia requires you to be specific about your allegations so that both the court and the respondents are not at a loss as regards to what the exact contention is about.

Take the example of the Labour Party’s petition. They alleged that there was a forfeiture order made against the 2nd Respondent which allegedly rendered him unqualified. Now there was no evidence that it was a criminal forfeiture, which is a requirement and that it was pursuant to a conviction. Now let us even assume without

Belgore conceding that it was a criminal conviction, it was already status barred by the 1999 constitution (as amended) as 10 years had elapsed.

The PDP on its part contended that the 2nd respondent submitted false information to the 1st respondent and that was tantamount to an allegation of forgery which required them to have produced the original document along with the fake one or at least a correspondence from the institution denying the document. None was evidenced before the court and so it made their pleading result in pouring water in a basket.

As for APM, the Supreme Court had cleared Shettima of the allegation of double nomination. The infallible Supreme Court had delivered a judgement to the effect that he had relinquished his senatorial nomination before being nominated for Vice-President and the Court of Appeal was bound by the decision on the basis of stare decices.

So that allegation was dead on arrival.

The 25 percent Abuja matter has refused to go away despite the pronouncement of the court. Were you surprised at how the Tribunal interpreted section 134 of the 1999 Constitution?

I am not surprised that it has refused to go away. With due respect, Nigerians can be very gullible as they latch onto what is a non-issue just to tie their inability to achieve their desire to something that is not commonsensical.

What I could glean with a bird’s eye view of the situation was that the moment President Tinubu won the election, Atiku’s supporters and especially the OBIdients did not keep quiet about it, in fact they tried to make it the sole ground in the court of public opinion for why the return of Tinubu as President was an illegitimate one. They exhibited all manner of bullying and embarked on a mission to brainwash Nigerians as they did during the campaigns. It was an unfortunate event to find a billboard located in the Federal Capital Territory saying “all eyes on the judiciary.”

So, they not only tried to brainwash Nigerians, they despicably tried to blackmail the judiciary and paint it in disrepute.

I thought that was really unfortunate. To have made it a mission to crush the dignity of the third arm of government was a no no, and I felt the sponsors of such a billboard should have been prosecuted and brought to book. These were laymen who understood nothing about the law, like a striker in a football pitch suddenly believing he has the skill to be a goalkeeper.

Now to the issue of Section 134 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which I do not need to reproduce here. It was not a provision drafted by the lawmakers so as to make the Federal Capital Territory superior to every other state.

The contention was that the provision had the term “and” in it which meant it was conjunctive.

However the Justices of the PEPT and judicial officers generally in their wisdom interpret laws not by the letters but by trying to understand the wisdom of the draftsmen. There are three main rules which judicial officers employ in their wisdom to interpret laws. They are the Literal rule, the Golden rule and the Mischief rule.

Now the most learned justices of the PEPT

in their wisdom must have applied the golden rule of interpretation in order to arrive at the decision that having 25% of votes in the FCT is not sacrosanct to win a presidential election, and they had the full judicial discretion to interpret is as such.

I therefore in my humble view find that the Tribunal’s decision was the right one.

Some opposition figures and Abuja residents are saying that if the Supreme Court affirms the ruling of the Appellate Court on Abuja’s status, they will seek further judicial interpretation on whether the city should also have a governor, House of Assembly and three senators.

I am glad you said opposition figures. How do they even want to achieve that, will the Senate and the Members of the House of Representatives listen to them, will they amend the law simply because some citizens are crying foul over what is a non-issue? I think they should find other things to focus on as they will only be wasting their time.

The Tribunal also gave INEC the discretionary powers to choose when and how to transmit election results to the IREV portal.

Won’t this precedent be a clog in the wheel of the progress we want to make in the use of technology to promote transparency?

Well I think you can argue that it will and you can also argue that it won’t. I am in favour of INEC being able to choose when and how to transmit election results to the IREV portal, this is because our nation is at a point where we need to empower our institutions more and not individuals. Nigerians love to always see the negative side of things, but I think INEC should enjoy that discretion. It is not about the size of Nigeria, if we have the right people heading our institutions, such as a competent INEC chairman with the yearning to do right by the people, INEC’s independence is very paramount.

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

Ogunwale: Adeleke Has Brought Much Relief to Osun Pensioners A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Osun state, Senator Kolawole Ogunwale in this interview with Yinka Kolawole, says Governor Ademola Adeleke has brought so much relief to pensioners in the State of the Living Spring through regular payment of their entitlements.

O

land in crisis-ridden Orolu-Irepodun local government area?

Governor Adeleke who ensured that the parcel of land in contention between Orolu and Irepodun local government areas of the state are seized by the state government, yes of course he has right to claim the land.

The Governor has done the best thing by taking over the land in question, why should people result to killing each other just because of land.

All states where such happened or occurred government will take over such land. Take for instance it happened in Offa/Erinle in Kwara State also between Okene/Ogaminana in Kogi state, however that is the best solution for settlement.

sun state Governor Ademola Adeleke was recently applauded for paying pensioners salaries and allowances his predecessor failed to do, what is your take on this ?

The present administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke will not neglect pensioners salaries or gratuities of the state pensioners. I will not expect that from him because Adeleke is from a wealthy home, humble home where he has been tutored to be truthful. Adeleke has fulfilled beautiful part of his campaign promises that he would not disappoint the entire people of the state in all ramifications.

What is your reaction to Osun state Governor’s resolve to spend the Palliative Fund on three projects and programmes in the state?

Palliative the governor talked about was indeed excellent on the maiden Edition of Ipade Imole, a Public accountability Platform, at Aurora Event Center in Osogbo especially on the projects and programmes with the additional buses to ease transportation cost, rehabilitation of health centres and the purchase of food items.

For him to have used the money to further ensure good utilization of the fund from half

Ogunwale of a trillion Naira from the federal government he has done very well.

Also for Governor Adeleke not to have put the money in the bank to yield intrest that shows he his running a good government.

Your take on Osun Government’s take over of disputed parcel of

On the state infrastructural development, the state Governor contended that he would not borrow money to fund ongoing infrastructure upgrade. Is that approach right?

Our people should be rest assured that this administration has not and will not borrow to fund ongoing infrastructure upgrades because the governor is from humble family and he “Adeleke” would not use the state resources anyhow, he is a prudent person. He will be pursuing value for money and public private partnership. Our financial plan is sustainable.

You were recently appointed as Chairman Board of Directors of Ilesa College of Health Technology, what are your plans and achievements recorded in a short time you assumed office?

College of Health Technology is now an accredited college. For now all our courses are fully accredited. On Infrastructural development of the institution, class rooms, laboratories are to be given facelift to meet current educational standard.

My period will witness the needed development, already all our teaching staff are excellent including the Provost of the College, Dr. Lateef Olanrewaju, who has been working with me for excellent transformation of the college.

What about the issue of some PDP chieftains in the state that left the party?

Governor Adeleke is the leader of the party therefore he could bring them back to the party.

But before that he can set up committee of elders to look into the matter and make recommendation to the Governor before he can know what to do. Also elders in the party can as well advise the governor on the matter. It’s my hope that the governor will bring back anybody that may be involved, because he has a listening ear.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

NAPTIP: Raising Public Consciousness in Tackling Human Trafficking With 631 convictions in its 20 years of existence, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, is not resting on its oars to fulfill and sustain its mandate. Recently in Lagos, the agency partnered the Canadian Government to train its Public Relations and Public Enlightenment Officers on how to dispell news and raise public consciousness through effective storytelling, social media content and community engagement

I

n its two decades of existence, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has continuously intensified measures at tackling trafficking in persons. Beyond creating awareness on the inherent dangers, they have also rescued so many victims, taken them through rehabilitation and even arrested and convicted the perpetrators.

Evolution of NAPTIP As the agency charged to tackle the menace of human trafficking, the brief of NAPTIP is tasking.

Created on July 14, 2003 by the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2003, the agency is the Federal Government of Nigeria’s response to addressing the scourge of trafficking in persons. It was in fulfillment of the country’s international obligation under the Trafficking in Persons Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Transnational Organised Crime Convention (UNTOC) of which Nigeria became a signatory to the UNTOC and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol on December 13, 2000.

Although the Bill was passed by the National Assembly on July 7, 2003 and Presidential Assent given on July 14, 2003, the law which is operational throughout the country created NAPTIP as a specific multi-disciplinary crime-fighting agency and the nation’s focal institution to fight the scourge of trafficking in persons in the country using the four pronged approach of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership.

The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 went through an amendment in 2005 in a bid to further strengthen the agency. However, in 2015, as a result of the new trends in the crime of trafficking in persons and the need to further strengthen the institutional framework, the Act was repealed and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 was enacted.

The new Act received Presidential assent on March 26, 2015.

Roles of NAPTIP Accordingly, the roles of the agency include to enforce and administer the provisions of this Act; co-ordinate and enforce all other laws on Trafficking in persons and related offences; adopt effective measures for the prevention and eradication of trafficking in persons and related offences; and establish co-ordinated preventive, regulatory and investigatory machinery geared towards the eradication of trafficking in persons.

The agency is also to investigate all cases of trafficking in persons including forced labour, child labour, forced prostitution, exploitative labour and other forms of exploitation, slavery and slavery – like activities, bonded labour, removal of organs, illegal smuggling of migrants, sale and purchase of persons; encourage and facilitate the availability and participation of persons who voluntarily, consent to assist in investigations or proceedings relating to trafficking in persons and related offences; while enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement agents and other partners in the suppression of trafficking in persons.

It also creates public enlightenment and awareness through seminars, workshops, publications, radio and television programmes and other means aimed at educating the public on the dangers of trafficking in persons; establish and maintain communications to facilitate rapid exchange of information concerning offences under this Act; conduct research and strengthen effective legal means of international co-operation in suppressing trafficking in persons; and implement all bilateral and multilateral treaties and conventions on trafficking in persons adopted by Nigeria.

They are also to strengthen co-operation and conduct joint operations with relevant law enforcement and security agencies, international authorities and other relevant partners in the eradication of trafficking in persons; co-ordinate, supervise and control the protection, assistance and rehabilitation of trafficked persons and all functions and

DG NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi(m) flanked by DG, International and Intergovernmental Relations at Immigration Refugees and Citizenship, Canada (RCC) Heather De Santis; DG, the International Policy and Partnerships Directorate, Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA, Natasha Manji, and other staff of NAPTIP activities relating to investigation and prosecution of all offences connected with or relating to trafficking in persons; and adopt measures to identify, trace, freeze, confiscate or seize proceeds, property, funds or other assets derived from trafficking in persons or related offences.

Not left out are its roles to conduct research on factors responsible for internal and external trafficking in persons and initiate programmes and strategies aimed at the prevention and elimination of the problem; facilitate rapid exchange of scientific and technical information concerning or relating to trafficking in persons; and collaborate with government bodies both within and outside Nigeria whose functions are similar to those of the agency in the area of the: movement of proceeds or properties derived from trafficking in persons and other related offences; identities, location and activities of persons suspected of being involved in trafficking in persons and other related offences; and exchange of personnel and other experts.

Essentially, they are to establish and maintain a system for monitoring transborder activities relating to trafficking in persons in order to identify suspicious movements and persons involved; deal with matters connected with the extradition and deportation of persons involved in trafficking in persons and other mutual legal assistance between Nigeria and any other country in trafficking in persons, subject to the supervision of the minister; and initiate, develop and improve special training programmes for personnel of the agency and relevant law enforcement agents charged with the responsibility of detecting offences created under this Act. Arrests and Convictions In recent years, NAPTIP, presently led by its Director General, Dr. Fatima WaziriAzi, has intensified efforts to fulfill these roles. In the two decades of its existence, NAPTIP had secured 631 convictions in its fight against human trafficking in Nigeria among the recent convictions were two high-profile transnational human traffickers based outside the country.

Waziri-Azi made this disclosure at the recent flag off of a two-day workshop for Public Relations and Public Enlightenment Officers of the agency, in collaboration with

the Canadian government.

Harping on the agency’s achievements, the DG said out of the 631 convictions, 80 were secured in 2022 and 55 between January and October 18, 2023, adding that "for the first, on March 8, 2023, we extradited a high profile human trafficker back to Italy to serve out her 13 years sentence and this we did with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Justice, International Police, INTERPOL and the Nigeria judiciary.

“Four weeks ago, we secured the conviction of a high-profile transnational criminal, a Nigerian based in Belgium, responsible for trafficking tens of girls all over Europe. She was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of N24 million naira".

Premium on Public Enlightenment Meanwhile, who best to give face to these achievements and put them in limelight than the public reactions and public enlightenment officers of the agency.

Knowing the all important role these persons play in the fight against human trafficking, the agency recently partnered the Canadian Government to train them. Thus, drawn from the 32 state commands nationwide, the public relations and enlightenment officers, were brought together so they can speak with one vision and purpose.

According to Waziri-Azi, the training of the public relations and enlightenment officers was the first of its kind in the history of NAPTIP. She noted that it came about because it was necessary for everyone to speak with one voice and under one vision, as the vocal anti-human trafficking law enforcement agency in Nigeria.

She said: "We have had in the past where we have this disconnected silos, different PROs and Public Enlightenment officers doing their own thing and we felt it was important bringing everyone together to enhance their capacity in the area of strategic communication so that we can be seen as one agency, speaking with one voice, under one vision.

"The objective of the training is to raise awareness on the issue of human

The objective of the training is to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking, with a view to dispelling news and raising public consciousness through effective storytelling, social media content and community engagement, in order to ensure that the harsh reality of the crime is not hidden

trafficking, with a view to dispelling news and raising public consciousness through effective storytelling, social media content and community engagement, in order to ensure that the harsh reality of the crime is not hidden; “Preventing vulnerability which is paramount by crafting messages that resonate and encourage. Too often, victims and witnesses of human trafficking remain silent due to fear of coercion or a lack of trust in authorities.

Here, strategic communication plays a crucial role by assuring confidentiality; “Shaping policy: effective communication can mobilise support for policy change, advocacy campaigns that spot life policy gaps, combined with data-driven reports can rally public support and push lawmakers to take action; “International collaboration: trafficking knows no borders. Strategic communication serves as the bridge facilitating the exchange of best practices, insight and resources among nations."

Canada's Support As an effective partner in the fight against traffic in persons, the Director-General, International and Intergovernmental Relations at Immigration Refugees and Citizenship, Canada (RCC) Heather De Santis, noted that the training showed the importance Canada and Nigeria attached to their collective efforts to address irregular migration, as well as ensuring that the borders and entering points in the movement of people were effectively and well managed.

She said: "The government of Canada works diligently with domestic law enforcement agencies and bilateral international partners to not only enhance our own border management practices but also advance and support safe and regular global migration.

“This includes helping the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling. In doing so we work with regional and multilateral partners such as the United Nations to show our own best practices and strategies from Canada’s own national strategies to combat human trafficking from 2019 to 2024”.

On the training she said to see the result of work in action, the training received was vital to encourage awareness, promote vigilance, adding that there was need to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and increase number of officers who have enhanced knowledge use of data in tackling human trafficking.

Also speaking, the Director General, the International Policy and Partnerships Directorate, Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA, Natasha Manji, applauded NAPTIP’s efforts in the fight against human trafficking, adding that there agency also commemorated its 20th anniversary like NAPTIP. Stating that such milestone calls for review and reflection, with a view to creating an enabling footing that would stand in the next 20 years, she noted that "for all of us here today, the shared priority in protecting our immigration and border management become paramount.

"People are in the move more than ever before and Canada continues to see increased legal pathways for movements of people in business, education, work and family.

But we know that with the increased opportunity for movement comes increased interest by criminals to exploit people.

These two sided realities make it much more important that we collectively find a way to partner in preventing, detecting, disrupting and probably prosecuting those criminals.

“No matter the capacity in which we work, it is not only to address the problems in front of us now, but also to think bigger and beyond ourselves. We need to ask ourselves what action we should take now that our citizens will be glad for in 20 years from now".

Decrying that increased opportunity for movement also increases opportunity for exploitation, she added that the training is key in tackling human trafficking because changing the narrative comes down to sending the right message, thus, they need to be proactive and reactive.

T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 26, 2023

SEUN AWOGBENLE argues the need to strengthen our industrial base to meet our local demand, and enough to export

INTERROGATING OSHIOMHOLE’S INFANT INDUSTRY ARGUMENT Former Labour leader, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, now senator, on Tuesday, September 26, made a most instructive argument in a parliamentary debate since the turn of the current Senate. During the screening of the Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso, and his four deputies, Oshiomhole offered a telling point of note on the country’s economic management, calling for a need to interrogate current assumptions.

While I did not agree with Oshiomhole in part, on the need to revert to a hardpegged foreign exchange regime and jettison the current forex reforms, I think that his point on protecting local industries from

foreign competition, is quite valuable and offers a refreshing perspective. Hear him, “If we allow Nigerians to import everything without restriction and you have limited dollars available, the Naira will continue to suffer devaluation. The game of competition presupposes equality and a level playing field, you cannot ask a featherweight champion to engage a heavyweight champion in the name of competition.”

Now, listen to his punchline. “Nigeria needs specific tools to protect industry at home and not pretend that a man with one leg can compete in a race with a man with two legs”. I find those perspectives quite valuable, especially at a time when we need a robust economic blueprint to meet our current challenges. Unbeknownst to Oshiomhole however, his position is rooted in the infant industry argument, which was first canvassed by Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in 1790.

Hamilton argued that critical industries cannot flourish with foreign competition and that developing a country’s industrial base requires some protectionism. Some of the countries that have applied this economic thinking previously include the United States (1816–1945), Canada (1879–1950), Japan (1945–1970), South Korea, and Taiwan. In essence, most of the advanced economies today have had a period of protectionism, looking inward and boosting their local industrial base before opening up to global trade.

For the avoidance of doubt, this opinion is not an endorsement of wholesale protectionism. I am, in fact, for a liberalized foreign exchange market, and moreso, as a development economist in training, I am inclined to lean towards free-market principles.

However, there is a lot of economic common sense (apologies to Sen. Ben Murray Bruce) in what Oshiomhole has canvassed, which also explains why we must apply homegrown and tailor-made solutions to our challenges, which sometimes can be measures of protectionism and free-market.

Our current challenge is that the contribution of industry to GDP is largely suboptimal and inadequate to meet both our local demand and exports. Rather than enhance our industrial base, we have become an import-dependent nation, relying on everything from abroad. In 2021, for example, the contribution of industry to GDP was 20 percent, considerably eclipsed by agriculture at 25 percent. In most advanced economies, sectoral contributions to GDP are mostly in the order of services, industry, and agriculture. The agricultural contribution to GDP should be somewhere in the region of 10 percent or even less. Services and industry are the two critical sectors for growth.

Most classic economic arguments lend credence to this common knowledge. For example, the stages of economic growth espoused by American economist Walt Rostow, known as Rostow’s stages of economic growth, revealed that the first stage of five is usually dominated by traditional society, otherwise known as subsistence agriculture, whereas at the take-off stage, every economy would witness a significant rise in investment and development of manufacturing.

While the idea of free trade is largely beneficial, the reality is that developing economies like Nigeria are mostly the losers, especially as our industrial sector is still struggling, which is evidenced by our negative balance of payments. It can sometimes even be argued that imports can drive down prices, but in reality, overreliance on imports also creates unfair competition that cripples local industries, weakens local currency, and creates unemployment.

What we must do urgently is strengthen our industrial base to meet our local demand and have enough to export, so that we can maximize the gain of free trade and stop getting the short end of the stick. This idea has since been popularized by the “grow what we eat and use what we produce” campaign.

I must, however, apply a note of caution, that within the current trend of globalisation, protectionism is not sustainable and can only be an interim measure. As one would see from the examples of countries like the United States and Canada that I cited earlier, who are now the leading proponents of global trade, each of these world powers had a phase of protectionism, which provided them with an opportunity for economic reset.

Whatever the solution or approach, however, I can tell you that the road ahead will not be easy. Putting our economy back on the path of progress will require a painstaking and robust economic plan that is homegrown and tailored to our peculiarities, but I strongly believe that yes, we can!

Awogbenle, a Development and Public Policy Professional, writes from the United Kingdom.

He can be reached via seunawogbenle@gmail. com

The Taraba State government is placing high premium on education, writes LUKA DANBOYI

KEFAS, EDUCATION AND ‘BIG IMAGINATION’ “It is not beyond our power to create a world characterized by drug addiction, crime and in which all children have access to a good criminality. That these children also present education. Those who do not believe this have a ready pool for recruitment by terror gangs small imaginations.” proves the adage that an idle mind is the In another year, three decades would have devil’s workshop, that if governments passed since Nelson Mandela, unarguably cannot engage their people meaningfully, one of the greatest leaders and statesmen of the devil is always around the corner to our time, issued that irrefutable admonition. ÀQG PLVFKLHYRXV WDVNV IRU WKHP 7KDW LV Taken from his autobiography, Long Walk to the ugly spectre Kefas, through his bold Freedom, published by Little Brown & Co, in interventions, is poised to redress.

1994, it is one of his many iconic postulations in For the records, Kefas inherited an the area of education. educational sector that was crying for Now, fast forward to 2023, and read the UHGHPSWLRQ 1RW IRU ODFN RI HͿRUW E\ KLV headlines below, taken from some Nigerian predecessor, Darius Ishaku, an architect. newspapers.

Though some appreciable improvement Ы 7DUDED :K\ , 'HFODUHG 6WDWH RI (PHUJHQF\ had been recorded before Kefas mounted LQ (GXFDWLRQ *RY .HIDV 'DLO\ 3RVW -XQH WKH OHDGHUVKLS VWDEOH ÀYH PRQWKV DUUHDUV 2023). of salaries of primary school teachers prior Ы *RY .HIDV 2UGHUV )UHH 7XLWLRQ IRU 3ULPDU\ to May 29, 2023, had lowered morale so Secondary School Pupils in Taraba (Vanguard much so that during the 2023 May Day July 7, 2023), celebration, Peter Jediel, Taraba State Ы 7DUDED *RY DSSURYHV 1 DOORZDQFH chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress for corps members (PUNCH, September 24, (NLC) pointedly asked Ishaku who had 2023) and RQO\ GD\V OHIW LQ R΀FH WR VHWWOH WKH DUUHDUV Ы 7DUDED *RY 6ODVKHV 9DUVLW\ 7XLWLRQ )HHV E\ of teachers’ salaries.

50% (PUNCH, July 5, 2023) Like many other states, Taraba has also Kefas, full name Dr. Agbu Kefas, to whom VXͿHUHG WKH SUREOHP RI WKH GLVFULPLQDWRU\ posting of teachers to schools in urban and rural areas. As usual, wives of top SXEOLF R΀FHUV JRW SULYLOHJHG SRVWLQJV ostensibly to the urban centres where their husbands worked and resided while the less privileged, who more often than not lacked the requisite academic and professional grounding, were deployed to the rural areas. The result is that the school system is saddled with a combination of GLVJUXQWOHG DQG LQ VRPH FDVHV XQTXDOLÀHG WHDFKLQJ VWDͿ ZKR LQYDULDEO\ FDQQRW JLYH more than their competences or motivation can provide. those headlines were attributed is the governor Luckily for Taraba State, true to his of Taraba State, one of the smallest states in the EDFNJURXQG DV DQ R΀FHU DQG XQOLNH WKRVH country with a population of 3,331,885, making who would ascend the throne before it the 32nd out of 36 states by population. But thinking of what to do, Kefas assumed by a curious logical inversion, out of the 13.5 R΀FH FOXWFKLQJ D URDGPDS WR DFKLHYH ERWK million out-of-school children of primary school tactical and strategic goals in the education DJH LQ 1LJHULD LQ DV UHSRUWHG E\ 81(6&2 sector. His actions so far demonstrate that Taraba State accounted for 338,973, placing it he possesses the strategy for exorcising 12th on the rung. the unholy trinity of poor access, acute *RLQJ E\ WKH WRWDO QDWLRQDO RXWORRN RQH VKRUWDJH RI WHDFKLQJ VWDͿ DQG GLODSLGDWHG FRXOG EH IRUJLYHQ IRU FRQVLGHULQJ WKDW ÀJXUH infrastructure that have all along bedeviled as small. However, when it is realised that the education sector in the state. it represents over 10 per cent of Taraba 7KXV LQ KLV ÀUVW SUHVV FRQIHUHQFH WKUHH 6WDWH·V WRWDO SRSXODWLRQ WKDW ÀJXUH EHFRPHV GD\V DIWHU DVVXPLQJ R΀FH RQH RI KLV ÀUVW VWDWLVWLFDOO\ VLJQLÀFDQW 0RUHRYHU MX[WDSRVHG major policy statements was to declare a against Nelson Mandela’s axiomatic statement, state of emergency in basic and post-basic that fraction would seem unacceptable and education in the state. As shown in the indefensible. newspaper headlines above, the pillars of It is reassuring that, so far, the statements the education emergency included, free DQG DFWLRQV FUHGLWHG WR *RYHUQRU .HIDV DOLJQ and compulsory education at the primary with Mandela’s position, that it is the mark of and secondary levels in the state; 50 percent responsible leadership to treat access to basic reduction in fees in tertiary institutions in education as the inalienable right of every child, the state, and a pledge to boost the training where basic education refers to any level up to and welfare of teachers. In addition, Kefas secondary school graduation. The United States capped his revolutionary measures by takes that for granted with the understanding announcing mind-boggling cash incentives that by age 18, every child should have to members of the National Youth Service graduated from high school and in a position to Corps (NYSC) scheme serving in Taraba take their destinies into their hands.

State. Under the scheme, NYSC members Back home in Nigeria, despite pious deployed to the state would be paid N25, pronouncements of intent and even policies 000 every academic term. In addition, aimed at domesticating the free education those serving in schools would receive an dictum, in practice it has been observed more in additional N10, 000 monthly. the breach as shown by the disquieting army of children, who roam the streets either as beggars Danboyi or street traders. The net impact is the social is an Abuja-based civil servant from Taraba dislocation experienced all over the country State

21 4

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY OCTOBER 26, 2023

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

AMCON AND THE CHALLENGE OF BAD DEBTS AMCON offers little shelter from the storm

I

HͿRUW DW UHFRYHULQJ DQG UHVWUXFWXULQJ EDG ORDQV 7KH n the wake of the global crisis that almost excitement that followed the creation has dimmed due EURXJKW VRPH ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV WR WKHLU NQHHV to the inability to successfully put the debt recovery in 2008, the Asset Management Corporation of issue to rest. AMCON was supposed to recover these Nigeria (AMCON) was created as a vehicle to loans within the stipulated time frame and return UHYLYH GLVWUHVVHG EDQNV E\ H΀FLHQWO\ UHVROYLQJ VDPH WR JRYHUQPHQW FRͿHUV WR VXSSRUW WKH HFRQRP\ the non-performing loans. In pursuit of this But as of June 2020, a decade after AMCON came into goal, AMCON purchased eligible banks’ assets being, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stated that worth N4.02 trillion at a price of N1.76 trillion with a non-performing loans in banks stood at N1.2 trillion. mandate of restructuring opportunities for borrowers.

This represented about 6.4 per cent of the N18.9 trillion Unfortunately, the failure of some bank customers gross credit of the banks to the economy during the to repay loans has largely frustrated AMCON’s set period. objectives. Besides, key players in the aviation sector The introduction of the Global Standing Instruction have also queried the corporation’s mission in the sector, (GSI) by the CBN is to curb the activities of those who arguing that rather than save Aero and Arik airlines take bank loans without thinking of paying back. A under its receivership from collapse, the fortunes of the critical element of the GSI carriers have continued to provides that should a dwindle. customer default in paying Established by the act up the loan or accrued All its appeals and threats, including shaming the chronic debtors on of the National Assembly interest upon maturity and in 2010, with an intended has no funds in the account the pages of newspapers did not achieve much. Instead of achieving a 10-year lifespan, there being operated with the is no doubt that the reduction, the debts are mounting bank, the Nigeria Intercorporation’s mandate of Bank Settlement System stabilising the banking (NIBSS) will be instructed sector was immediately T H I S D AY to debit from any other bank’s account where the felt with the take-over of more than N5 trillion loans EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU customer has funds, be it joint or family account. The and injection of fresh funds into the sector. Indeed, DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA impact of the measure is minimal at best. The AMCON some banks are perhaps still operating today due MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO Act itself was amended twice, in 2015 and 2019, for to AMCON’s intervention in the industry. Besides, DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU PRUH H΀FLHQF\ CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI AMCON has sold assets in excess of N500 billion and EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN The last amended signed into law by the immediate has resolved about 5000 Eligible Bank Assets (EBSs).

THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE past President Muhammadu Buhari empowered The corporation has till date recovered about N1.6 AMCON “to take possession, manage, foreclose, or trillion out of accumulated liabilities. sell, transfer, assign or otherwise deal with the asset AMCON has also paid over N2 trillion to the Central or property used as security for Eligible Bank Assets Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “The fundamental objectives (EBAs), and related matters.” As always AMCON has T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D for the establishment of AMCON was to rescue EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA often blamed the slow pace of our judicial process as commercial banks and some underlying strategic GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, one of the major challenges to its recovery mandate. businesses in Nigeria from the brink of collapse ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI All its appeals and threats, including shaming the through acquisition of non-performing loans and to DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, chronic debtors on the pages of newspapers did not ANTHONY OGEDENGBE GLVSRVH RI WKH XQGHUO\LQJ DVVHWV LQ WKH PRVW SURÀWDEOH achieve much. Instead of achieving a reduction, the DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI manner,” said the chief executive of the corporation, SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH debts are mounting and have reached N16 trillion Ahmed Kuru. “Without mincing words, I can tell you ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI as the corporation has continued to purchase new WKHVH KDYH EHHQ H[HFXWHG HͿHFWLYHO\ µ CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI non-performing loans from banks outside its original However, same cannot be said of the corporation’s DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO mandate.

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

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LETTERS A CURIOUS CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER Half measures. Band-Aids. Papers over cracks. One can describe Nigeria’s attempt at poverty eradication in many ways and still have a lot left in the tank.

What won’t Nigeria give to eradicate poverty? A monstrous problem, entire budgets and even generations have been guzzled up in an attempt to eradicate it.

Successive administrations have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at the problem, or so they said, but the problem has SHUVLVWHG 3RYHUW\ LQ 1LJHULD KDV EHFRPH DQ D΁LFWLRQ DV ZHOO DV D V\PSWRP $Q D΁LFWLRQ PDQ\ \HDUV LQ WKH PDNLQJ $ V\PSWRP that has manifested for many years.

In November last year, Nigeria’s population struck 217 million. %HIRUH WKHQ D GDPQLQJ UHSRUW E\ WKH :RUOG %DQN SXW WKH ÀJXUHV RI Nigeria’s poor at about a 100 million.

What sort of country has almost half its population wallowing in extreme poverty? Can any country experience serious development with millions of its people languishing beneath the international poverty line?

The gravity of the problem of poverty in Nigeria is best understood by singling out some of the problems that are directly linked to the grotesque specter of unemployment.

Youth crime and restiveness as well as poor education are only

some of them. Malnutrition among children is another understatHG EXW SRWHQW HͿHFW RI SRYHUW\ Nigeria has always sought to shell and solve its biggest conundrum. But many of the steps it has taken so far have careened into controversy almost as soon as they have started. In a country batWHUHG E\ FRUUXSWLRQ LW LV QR VXUSULVH WKDW HͿRUWV WR HUDGLFDWH SRYHUty have themselves become mired in corruption in the recent past.

On May 29 2023, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president. He has since recognized that the Nigerian situation is as tight as the race which produced him.

In his bid to ensure that the noises made prior to his election were at least the right ones, he has launched the conditional cash transfer program. According to Betta Edu who is the Minister for +XPDQLWDULDQ $ͿDLUV WKH VXP RI 1 ZRXOG EH WUDQVIHUUHG WR WKH EHQHÀFLDULHV RQ D PRQWKO\ EDVLV IRU WKUHH PRQWKV ZKLFK DPRXQWV WR 1 IRU HDFK RI WKH EHQHÀFLDULHV The scheme Is targeting 15 million households and a total of about 61 million Nigerians as it seems to blunt the sharpest edge of poverty in the country. There should be no mistake about it. The scheme, which is projected to cost one trillion Naira targets Nigeria’s most vulnerable. Experience has shown that it can well be a lifeline.

But as well as being a lifeline, isn’t it another stopgap measure?

Does one of Nigeria’s monstrous problems not deserve decisive solutions? For how long does Nigeria expect to keep circulating measures that at best paper over the cracks of the poverty grinding down its considerable population?

Poverty in itself is a mark of injustice, inequity, and inequality.

On its own, it tells a chillingly complete story of what could happen when resources are not evenly distributed. In Nigeria, it also tells of corruption and a startling lack of vision.

There is really no explanation for the fact that so many people in D FRXQWU\ WKDW LV ÀOWK\ ULFK OLYH XQGHU OHVV WKDQ D GROODU D GD\ ,W KDV taken years to render Nigerians dirt poor. It will take years to make them prosperous once again.

Successive governments have shown no appetite for the considerable task of setting Nigerians on the way to lasting prosperity.

Many have favoured stop-gap measures.

But rooting out poverty takes a lot of planning, policy and patience. It is a considerable job. But if the current administration can commit to it, Nigeria would no doubt reap a harvest of bountiful fruits in the near future.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

22

THURSDAY OCTOBER 26, 2023 •T H I S D AY

OPEN LETTER TO NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF EX-AGITATORS, PHASE 1, IMO STATE CHAPTER No. 20B Owerri / Porthacourt Road, Owerri 23rd October, 2023 The National Security Adviser Three Arms Zone Abuja.

Sir,

RE: COMPLIMENTS ON THE RE-AWARD OF THE PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE CONTRACT TO TANTITA SECURITY SERVICES LTD. The above subject matter refers.

Delta son. Following the prevailing mood of the nation now we say enough of oil theft and sabotage.

We seize this opportunity to congratulate you on your well deserved appointment as the National Security Adviser to Mr. President of our beloved nation Nigeria.

Taking into cognizance your antecedents in public service, we know that you are a round peg in a round hole.

Moreso, the modus operandi of Tantita Security Services Nig Ltd is such that grassroot of catchment areas are fully engaged and the Company is not compromising in their quest to eradicate oil theft thus our support.

We wish to inform that we; as the apex leaders of South East extraction with particular interest in Imo State that made up of the Phase 1 Presidential Amnesty Programme and the only Phase in the South East region, hereby categorically state that; the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta region was never and is not presently fought by any particular tribe *LYHQ WKDW WKH 1LJHULDQ HFRQRP\ ZDV LQ D GH¿QLQJ alone in the Niger Delta region. Therefore, in order not moment; where the mainstream of economy was to escalate the insecurity already experienced in the seriously shaking before the decision of awarding the South East region, we are of the opinion to allow the above mentioned contract to Tantita Security Services matter rest as it is.

Nig. Ltd, that contract award; gave rise to an evolutionary turnaround of events that brought about the rise in our We want to vehemently reject any act by the purveyors FUXGH RLO DQG JDV SURGXFWLRQ DQG UH HFKRHG FRQ¿GHQFH of this ill motivated and parochial ideas to desist from on the part of multinational oil and gas industry players XVLQJ 1LJHU 'HOWD UHJLRQ IRU VHO¿VK SXUVXLW and other stakeholders.

For sustainable peace, all leaders must mutually work It is worthy of note to state that prior to award of the together to achieve our collective regional and national job to Tantita Security Services Ltd, Nigerian Agip Oil goal’s interest which Tantita represents for now rather Company was on a brink of downsizing her staff strength than fanning the embers of disunity, after all, we have consequent upon near zero output occasioned by illegal other company still doing surveillance work yet there is bunkering activities in the region. Today the story is no Agitations against them. positively different given Tantita Security dexterity and commitment to the clarion call to stamp out the ugly Rather than acknowledging and applauding the scenario she met. Many oil and gas companies whose Company behind the upsurge and success story of the Security is managed by Tantita can attest to the new rise in crude oil and gas that Nigeria is enjoying today, order brought Tantita Security Services Nig Ltd. most people, including the oil thieves and those who EHQH¿W WKHUHIURP DUH DJLWDWLQJ IRU WKH UHYRFDWLRQ DQG Recently, Nigerian National Petroleum Company decentralisation of the said contract, to enable them Limited (NNPCL) awarded contract of pipeline continue with their acts of criminality and economic rehabilitation of nation’s pipeline to some companies sabotage of the Nigerian state and economy. like AA Rano, MRS OIL and Gas etc, by this standard, WKHVH FRPSDQLHV DUH PRVW TXDOL¿HG KDYLQJ JRQH We hereby state, without mincing words; that we are through award process and we all are comfortable not of the tribe or group agitating for a revocation or with it. Today our own son and big brother has secured decentralisation of the said contract awarded to Tantita renewal of surveillance contract of oil pipeline through Security Services Nig. Ltd. We express our total support Tantita security services Nig. Limited, having also gone to the Federal Government of Nigeria and Tantita through rigorous award process, we urge the Niger Security Services Nig. Ltd. in our collective bid to rid Delta leaders and stakeholders to support their own. the oil and gas sector of economic sabotage.

We also seize this opportunity to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria and NNPCL for re-awarding the Pipeline Monitoring/Surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services Nig Ltd with a handsome handshake and loads of appreciation.

Today its Tantita, tomorrow it could be another Niger Do accept the assurances of our highest esteem.

SIGNED NWOKOTUBO ANDREW VOCOR 08033180259

PRINCE EMEKA IGWE 08033837360

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

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Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

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OPR

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Report: How Evolving Power Architectures Will Capitalise on Full Potential of 5G, Edge Computing

Emma Okonji A report published by Mobile World Live, a premier destination for news, insight and intelligence for the global mobile industry and sponsored by Vertive, which focuses on hardware, software and data analytics to improve global businesses, has revealed how evolving power architectures would capitalise on the full potential of 5G and Edge Computing, while stressing the importance of 5G technology for economic growth and digital transformation.

According to the report, pervasive connectivity is rewriting the rules of business

and it’s happening much faster now that organisations around the world have fully embraced digital transformation.

“As a result, convergence is accelerating across industries.

Telecommunications operators are converging with IT services providers, by offering enormous bandwidth and ultra¬fast processing speeds that can be used to develop and deliver new products.

Organisations are converging with telecommunications providers, by standing up private highspeed networks for their own use and packaging voice, data, and video in a single offering.

Business models are converging, as partners work together in new ways to enable exciting industry use cases. Computing is converging, as it becomes embedded in more processes, shapeshifts across devices and form factors, and guides how humans interact with the world.

And equipment is converging, as high¬ performance IT equipment now sits next to both AC and DC power equipment at edge and access sites,” the report said.

It further explained that 5G would create $13.2 trillion in new economic opportunity by 2035, “as everyone wants to be a 5G leader, to seize the opportunities that the transformative mobile

wireless technology will enable.

5G provides processing speeds that are up to 100¬times faster than Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology; supports 100times more connections than 4G; offers latency that is less than a millisecond; and delivers reliability that is 99.999 per cent guaranteed.”

The report predicted that as a result, organisations will use 5G to unleash incredible innovation around the world, adding that the development of 5G networks also means that supporting power requirements are changing fast. This trend is creating both challenges and opportunities for telecommunications operators and other organisations

to master.

The report also maintained that the adoption of edge computing to support workloads such as digital workspaces, video conferencing media streaming, and more, as well as the continued global rollout of 5G, has set the stage for even more data ¬rich use cases, where processing speeds, latency requirements, and other factors are even more critical.

The report described edge infrastructure as the physical compute infrastructure such as servers, power, cooling, and enclosures that are installed on networks between end devices and core data centres.

It identified four different edge

models that are key to supporting fast-paced digital business growth globally to include: device edge, micro edge, distributed edge data centre, and regional edge data centre, adding the infrastructure pose both challenges and opportunities for telecoms operators.

Giving details how the edge infrastructure will reduce energy consumption, the report said highdensity racks would require more power and cooling, necessitating that telecommunications operators find more efficient solutions to control power use and costs.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

FG Reaffirms Commitment to Scale Up Nigeria’s Port Rating in Global Maritime Gilbert Ekugbe The federal government has restated its renewed commitment to scaling up Nigeria’s port rating in the global maritime space.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola stated this yesterday during the commissioning of the Mission to Seafarers (MTS) Centre in Lagos.

He said the move is apt especially with increasing global competition, which has become imperative for nations to make conscious efforts to deepen the competitiveness of their ports.

He added that improving Nigeria’s balance of trade which is crucial to strengthening the value of the naira and creating employment

is top on President Bola Tinubu’s policy agenda, stressing that given the pivotal role that the maritime sector plays in actualising the noble objective, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, under his leadership, is determined to equip seafarers and all maritime workers with the enabling tools to tackle and overcome work-related challenges.

According to him, “This is part of our concerted effort to ensure the maximisation of the comparative advantages that our maritime resources present.

The reconstruction of this MTS facility will undoubtedly scale up Nigeria’s rating in the global maritime community.

“I was highly elated when

I received the report of the commissioning of this Seafarers’ Center by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). My joy is rooted in the realisation that this purpose-built facility, designed to provide vital social, psychological, and emotional support to the crewmen and women who drive global trade in and out of Nigeria, signposts the seriousness of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in enhancing the maritime sector to add greater value to the national economy.”

He pointed out that the commissioning of the facility is timely and very much in tandem with the economic goals of the present administration.

“I must commend the

management of the Nigerian Ports Authority for their visionary intervention in transforming this facility, which I was told was in poor condition at the beginning of this year, into a regional best-in-class that it is today,”he said.

He challenged all heads of maritime agencies to be more audacious and innovative in spearheading smart initiatives like this, which creates opportunities and open up new vistas of growth.

“You can be rest assured of my unflinching support towards the implementation of such initiatives.

Let me remind all stakeholders that the sustainability of investments such as this rests heavily on how well we maintain them. I hope that the importance of this facility will

not be lost on its users,” he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, said with over 90 per cent of global trade which accounts for half of the world’s economic output constituting an important economic driver that helps to spur development and reduce poverty going by sea, every member of the maritime and indeed the global community is directly or indirectly a beneficiary of the service of seafarers.

“So it makes sense to reserve well-furnished and equipped spaces such as this all over the world for seafarers to unwind and regain psychosocial balance,” he said.

He pointed out that the decision to urgently reconstruct and fully equip the facility to acceptable global standards derives from its persuasion at the Authority that Shore Leave for Seafarers, which this facility affords is a necessity and not a luxury.

“It is essential for this special category of men and women who spend weeks on end holed up with only work mates for company to get on shore to interact and access internet to contact family, seek welfare, to secure medical or psychological support if needed and to have a break from the work environment,” he added.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS Change Updated Time DESCRIPTION Price Yield (%) October ^13.53 230.00 25, 100.95 12.78 2023 MAR-2025 ^12.50 22October 98.78 13.11 -7,00 JAN-2026 25, 2023 ^16.2884 October 108.14 13.25 0.00 17-MAR-27 25, 2023 ^13.98 23October 99.32 14.18 0.00 25, FEB-2028 2023 ^14.55 26October 100.15 14.50 0.00 APR-2029 25, 2023

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Change Time Discount Yield (%) October -9,00 25, 16.84 16.95 2023 October 14.69 14.92 6,00 25, 2023 October 19.21 19.65 8,00 25, 2023 October 11.29 11.44 9,00 25, 2023 19.21

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

SMEs: Scaling Growth Via AFCFTA Ugo Aliogo writes on how Small Medium Scale Enterprises can scale growth through the African Continental Free Trade Area

T

he World Economic Forum (WEF) in its January 2023 report stated that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which was signed in 2018, ratified in 2019 and officially launched in 2021, created a single market in Africa, offering tremendous opportunity for unlocking business potential across Africa and the world.

Taking into account the additional benefits from increased foreign direct investment (FDI) expected from the AfCFTA, the World Bank projects that the AfCFTA could lift 50 million people out of poverty, raise overall incomes by 8 per cent, increase intraAfrican exports by up to 109 per cent and increase international exports by 32 per cent by 2035.

The report revealed that the adoption of the AfCFTA would accelerate intra-African trade and develop regional and local value chains, creating new business dynamics that offer investors access to a population of 1.7 billion people with combined business and consumer spending reaching $6.7 billion by 2030.

The report said four high-potential sectors were initially selected by the AfCFTA to analyse in its PrivateSector Engagement Strategy as sectors representing opportunities for companies looking to invest in Africa: automotive; agriculture and agro-processing; pharmaceuticals; and transport and logistics. These four sectors are expected to see rapid acceleration in production and trade volumes under the AfCFTA, given that they have a high potential to meet local demand with local production.

The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Mr. Wamkele Mene, said AfCFTA offers the opportunity for women led Small Medium Scale (SMEs) businesses to scale and expand their market as an SME. He also stated that for instance in Togo, businesses would now have access to new markets in East Africa, in Southern Africa, and in Central Africa, adding that they offer an opportunity to expand into a market of 1.3 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3.4 trillion.

He added: “It is a significant opportunity if we have the right mechanisms to support our SMEs. That’s why we are launching the Trade Finance Facility.

That’s why we are also launching the African Trade Gateway, along with African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank). The African Trade Gateway will be a digital platform that will provide market and due diligence information about your counterparts, including the rules of origin, customs procedures, as well as payments transfers platform.

“Some countries will indeed be immediate beneficiaries because they have the export capacity already. It is also true that there will be countries that will experience short-term revenue loss. To

mitigate that, along with Afreximbank we are mobilizing funds for what we call an AfCFTA Adjustment Facility.

“This fund is not going to be for budget support; it will be to support specific value chains in specific productive sectors of the economy, for example, textiles and agro-processing. In collaboration with Afreximbank, we have mobilized $1 billion, and there is an opportunity to increase that sum. We project a need of between $7 billion and $10 billion.

“We also need to change our mindset. And that is to look at tariffs not as a revenue-generating tool but as a tool for industrial development, to foster the development of the productive sectors, and, when necessary, to protect infant industries and prevent dumping.”

“So that’s the long-term strategy that we should be thinking of. In the short term, In February the Heads of State are expected to approve the adjustment facility so that countries can access it,” Mene saud.

SMES GROWTH IN 2023

From all indications, AfCFTA presents a lot of opportunities African countries especially Nigeria for trade and investments, however, there is need to Nigeria Small Medium Scale Enterprises to tap into the opportunities available to scale their businesses to tap into the opportunities in the business.

The Nigerian government in July this year, revealed its plans to energise the sector with N125 billion, as part of its efforts to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

Recently, the federal government said it recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. The government is committed to revitalising sector with N125 billion. Out of the sum, the government will spend N50 billion on Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. The target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.

Ultimately, the programme would further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, the federal government said it plans to fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion.

Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 to N1million at 9 percent interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months.

The current administration recently announced that it intended to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.

The federal government said it will strengthen the manufacturing sector and increase its capacity to expand and create good paying jobs. They are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024.

“The objective was to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises, will be able to access N1 billion credit at 9 per cent per annum with a maximum of 60 months repayment for long-term loans, and 12 months for working capital, “the government said.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMES

Meanwhile, a report by the Associate, Tax Services at PwC Tanzania, Goodluck Msuya, said AfCFTA is expected to provide increased opportunities for all types of businesses to expand their customer base and increase their exports.

“So not just large businesses, but also SMEs which are such an important component of the commercial landscape in Africa. Meanwhile another report by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said SMEs account for about 85 per cent of employment and contribute about 35 percent to GDP in Africa, “he said.

However, the World Bank in a related document estimates SMEs to represent about 90 per cent of businesses and more than 50 per cent of employment worldwide, where formal SMEs contribute up to 40 per cent of national income (GDP) in emerging economies. “Therefore, effective implementation of AfCFTA must have a positive impact on the growth of SMEs.” The PWC report added: “Opportunities in sectors ranging from agro-food processing, textiles, leather value-added products, cosmetics and technology, are ones that come to mind in the context of SMEs, in particular for those SMEs ready to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship.

But the opportunity is not just about direct cross border trading, but also about increased in-country opportunities for SMEs that can become part of the value chain supplying the ultimate exporter. Another potential positive impact of the AfCFTA is the potential for increased access to funding and investment including for SMEs. “Overall, for SMEs to fully benefit from the agreement, they need to be equipped with the

right tools and strategies to take advantage of the opportunities AfCFTA presents. A key strategy for SMEs will be to effectively leverage technology to enhance operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve their overall competitiveness and generally achieve more sustainable outcomes/ growth. One example is to use e-commerce platforms, which can help SMEs reach new customers and expand their reach beyond their domestic markets (for example, to sell our coffee to West Africa) and do so at reasonable cost. Additionally, e-commerce platforms can also help SMEs reduce their costs by automating certain processes, such as inventory management and accounting.

“Another aspect that SMEs will need to be on top of is regulatory aspects including tax implications arising from cross border trading activity. More generally, SMEs will need to build up their understanding of the AfCFTA agreement and find mechanisms to effectively engage with relevant stakeholders to eliminate bottlenecks (whether Government, business support organisations, business associations, trade regulators). Whatever the case, while there are clearly several challenges for SMEs seeking to realise opportunities arising under AfCFTA, these are surmountable - and the incentive to overcome these challenges is there as clearly the opportunity is huge.”

“One possible challenge of the AfCFTA for SMEs is the potential for increased competition from larger businesses and multinational corporations. The agreement aims to create a single market for goods and services, which can lead to increased competition among businesses. This can be particularly challenging for SMEs, which may not have the same resources and capabilities as larger businesses. According to the World Bank, SMEs in Africa face significant barriers to entry, including a lack of access to finance, limited access to markets, and high costs of doing business.”

Benefits of AfCFTA Recently, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund in a report stated that the focus on value chain development in the manufacturing sector has been seen by experts as a critical factor that would ensure that trade under the AfCFTA translates into poverty and unemployment reduction, adding that as a result, MSMEs need to key into the AfCFTA by ensuring they possess adequate knowledge in their trade while embracing collaboration across the value chain.

The report expressed confidence that the federal government has set the ball rolling through stakeholder engagement and the review of the National Trade Policy

‘NIGCOMSAT Strategically Positioned Local Content: FG Backs Bans Foreign to Deliver FG’s Blueprint on Economy’ ARCON, Production Advertisements

Emma Okonji

The newly appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Mrs. Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, has pledged support for the accomplishment of all federal government projects, beginning with the strategic blueprint on the economy that focused on five pillars of Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation and Trade, as announced by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

Egerton-Idehen spoke in Lagos during her first official visit to inspect NICOMSAT’s facilities domiciled in the city, and to also interacted with industry stakeholders, clients, partners and the media.

She said NIGCOMSAT was assigned a critical role to play in accelerating Nigeria’s collective prosperity through technical efficiency, especially in the area of infrastructure development.

According to her, “As challenging as the responsibility may seem, it is not unachievable, as NIGCOMSAT Limited, a critical infrastructure of the federal government, is strategically

positioned to achieve the five pillars of the ministry’s blueprint, thus showcasing government’s commitment to building a strong digital economy.”

She further said: “The federal government understands the role of NIGCOMSAT in increasing access to, and advancing communication capabilities in the industry for the populace, especially the underserved and un-served population. In recognition of its important role, NIGCOMSAT is committed to raising its competitiveness with emerging technologies. We are aware of the

ever-changing market landscape due to new technologies and market entrance, and we are determined to increase our relevance and thrive alongside delivering the mandate, which the Minister has set in his blueprint that will serve as roadmap outlining the goals and objectives of his ministry.”

She was optimistic about fostering partnership with the public and private sectors for strategic innovation and seeing key players in the industry collaborate to help drive the Nigerian economy to greater heights, in line with the aspiration of the Minister.

Report: 18% Project Professionals with AI Skills Have Practical Experience Emma Okonji Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading organisation for the project management profession, has revealed through its PMI research that only 18 per cent of the project professionals with artificial Intelligence (AI) skills have got practical experience.

In a statement made available to the press, PMI stated that the organisation is empowering

millions of global project professionals worldwide to adopt, embrace, and leverage AI, machine learning (ML), and generative AI (GenAI).

According to PMI, it is developing the tools, resources, and learning opportunities, including a free introductory online course entitled ‘Generative AI Overview for Project Managers’ – project professionals need to leverage AI-powered technology while preserving the human touch

in project management.

According to McKinsey, GenAI and other technologies have the potential to automate work activities that absorb 60 to 70 per cent of employees’ time today. But tools cannot automate interpersonal skills, the invaluable and very necessary skills project managers bring to projects. Communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and strategic thinking – skills PMI calls “power skills”

– will continue to be crucial to project success.

President/ Chief Executive Officer of PMI, Pierre Le Manh, said: “I see an incredible opportunity to elevate the leadership role of project professionals in their organisation, thanks to the AI-driven disruption,” adding that “Project professionals are natural learners, problem solvers, innovators, and they get things done.

Raheem Akingbolu The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has broken his silence over the lingering debate in the advertising industry over reform and called on the leadership of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), to insist on local content and production.

Speaking during his oversight visit to the ARCON office in Abuja, the minister pointed out that presently, many opportunities in the industry are lost to other countries despite Nigeria’s rich capacity, which he said is the pride of Africa.

While describing the current development as nothing but unnecessary capital flight, the minister stated that, “I am aware of the audience measurement insight being handled by your office; I am hopeful that you have achieved some milestones regarding this important issue, to ensure maximum return on media investments.

He described ARCON as pivotal in regulating advertising practices and ensuring that practitioners adhere to the highest standards.

“Advertising is not just business, it is also a way to engage the nation, promote our culture and values, and reflect our diversity. It also provides direct and indirect job creation and inclusion. I am therefore committed to working closely with ARCON to

promote innovation. Our collective goal is to ensure that the sector in Nigeria not only meets international standards but also serves as a catalyst for national development,” the minister added.

In a related development, ARCON has banned the production of indigenous advertisements in foreign countries, adding that such would reduce unemployment and improve the national economy.

This was contained in a statement signed by ARCON Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, on Monday.

The statement partly read, “All commercials to be exposed to Nigerians should be produced in Nigeria. Create jobs for our youths, help grow and develop the support service sector of the industry and circulate the money within the Nigerian advertising ecosystem.”

When contacted, Fadolapo explained that there was no going back on advertising industry reform after the announcement of his reappointment as the agency’s DG. He said, “It takes a village to produce an advert. Sometimes, the cost of producing an advert can be as much as N500 million depending on the magnitude of the advert. Now, these advertisers prefer to take this huge amount of money to South Africa, Kenya, or any other country, thus, enriching that country’s economy.”

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

25

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R: Executive Director, Technical, Linkage Assurance Plc,Okanlawon Adelagun; Head, Financial Institutions/Direct Corporate SBU, Oluwaseun Oyelere; Insurance Industry Ambassador, Aderonke Coker; President/Chairman of Council, CIIN,Edwin Igbiti; MD, Enterprise Life, Funmi Omo; Adeyemi Kehinde Kolade of Leadway Assurance Limited; Registrar/CEO, CIIN, Abimbola Tiamiyu; and Head, Distribution Channels, Leadway Health, Temilade Adewoye Daniel-Owo, all members of panel at the CIIN Ambassador’s Project held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Center, Ikeja, Lagos… recently

‘Diversity, Innovation, Key to Equitable Access to Insurance’ Raheem Akingbolu Dive In, a renowned festival promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the insurance industry has celebrated its fifth anniversary in Nigeria. Eminent industry leaders and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) experts convened to address the pivotal role of intersectionality in businesses and

the need to eradicate biases and foster an inclusive culture across the Nigerian business sector to drive innovation.

The “Driving Innovation in Insurance” virtual event, sponsored

by Aon and held recently, is now available to watch on the Dive in website until the end of October.

Notably, the event is CPD certified and recognised by The Chartered

Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and various global institutes, enabling viewers to earn CPD hours.

The festival, attracting professionals from around the globe, featured notable speakers such as Richard Leftley, a distinguished digital insurance pioneer and consultant at the International Finance Council,

Fortunate Anozie, Founder of Unyte Africa, and Adebowale Banjo, Co-founder of MyCover. ai. The event was moderated

by Temi Badru, a lawyer and award-winning public speaker.

Richard Leftley, initiated discussions with his keynote speech. He emphasized the fundamental importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion

in developing innovative solutions to bridge the gap for the majority of uninsured Nigerians. Leftley’s career trajectory, spanning traditional insurance practices

Fintech Week Harps on Talent Investment, Training Emma Okonji

FG Promises to Improve on Data Protection, Security Participants at the ongoing Nigeria Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The federal government has promised to improve on the security and privacy of the personal data of citizens with the aid of the existing data protection law.

The National Commissioner and CEO of the National Data Protection Commission (NPDC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji disclose this at the opening of a two-day dialogue on internet governance organised by Accountability Lab Nigeria in Abuja.

He said in an effort to enhance data protection and privacy for

Nigerians, the federal government had resolved to be proactive in safeguarding personal information to ensure compliance with global data regulations.

Olatunji, who was represented by the Head, Innovation Unit, NDPC, Chiderah Ikeokonkwo, said the federal government was committed to creating more awareness to Nigerians, and strengthening data protection mechanisms to instill trust and confidence among Nigerian citizens.

He said: “Everything we do these days is connected to technology and as a result of that, we need to be

able to have some control over the use, the access, what exactly is being done with these information that we exchange online.

“So, at the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, we regulate the processing of personal data, which means that we superintend over issues of data protection and privacy in all sectors of the economy and so in terms of work, the kind of work that we do with civil society organisations like accountability lab, it centres around stakeholder engagements.

“We also organize trainings you know, any form of capacity

building just to make sure that we are doing something to positively increase the awareness on data protection and privacy in Nigeria and to also make sure that we’re building the number of experts on the issue of data protection and privacy.

“If people are aware of what happens when they are exchanging information online, then they will be better informed about how they can protect themselves online.

Because most of these platforms are free of charge. It’s free to use and then we process your information, usually based on consents.”

Medallion Data Centre Expands, Unveils LOS2 Data Centre in Lagos Emma Okonji Medallion Data Centre, this week, unveiled a second Data Centre in Lagos, called the LOS2 Data Centre, designed to accommodate more customers’ data, having reached full rack capacity with its first Data Centre facility, located in Lagos.

Speaking at the unveiling of LOS2 Data Centre in Lagos this week, the CEO, Medallion Data Centre, Ikechukwu Nnamani, said: “We are pleased with the commissioning of our new data centre in Lagos, called LOS2 Data

Centre, which is a Tier 111 Data Centre that comes with one mega watts Information Technology (IT) Load facility. The new Tier 111 Data Centre will help us to extend the current peering and connectivity process we had in LOS1, our first data centre facility in Lagos that has reached its full rack capacity.

We decided to build a second Data Centre facility to accommodate more customers’ data.”

He said the company had commenced preparation for the building of a third Data Centre facility in Lagos to accommodate

the ever-growing needs of Data Centre customers.

Giving insight about the size of Data Centre market in Nigeria, Nnamani said the market remained large and accommodating to all operators, whom he said, were just scratching the surface of the Data Centre market in Nigeria.

Vice President, Market Development at Digital Realty Group, Mike Collins, said the LOS1 Data Centre facility played host to several organizations, including the Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria, and that there

was need to expand the facility to accommodate more players.

“It is exciting now that we are able to build and expand on the LOS1 Data Centre facility and ready for our customers to continue to grow and expand their business and to also help make the internet infrastructure in Nigeria stronger and better,” Collins said.

According to him, there has been high demand from existing customers to expand our data centre in Nigeria as the economy grows, and as people use mobile and social media more.

9mobile Celebrates 15 Years of Innovation, Excellence Emma Okonji Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS) trading as 9mobile has announced its 15th anniversary in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in its journey of providing telecoms services to customers across the country. The brand, which commenced its journey into the Nigerian market on October 23, 2008, with the disruptive ‘0809ja’

campaign, has been at the forefront of innovation, delivering cutting-edge telecommunications solutions to meet the evolving needs of businesses and individuals.

Over the past 15 years, 9mobile has affirmed its heritage as a truly Nigerian company renowned for youthfulness, innovation, reliability, and outstanding customer service.

Throughout its journey, the company has continuously embraced

technological advancements, ensuring that its services remain at the forefront of the industry. From the early days of voice services to today’s high-speed internet connectivity, cloud solutions, and digital communications, 9mobile has consistently adapted and evolved to meet the demands of the digital age.

Speaking about the anniversary, its CEO, Juergen Peschel, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate our

15th anniversary, a significant milestone that showcases our dedication to providing top-notch telecommunications solutions.

“We owe our success to our loyal customers, partners, investors, regulators, and the hard work of our talented team. Some of our staff have been with the business since inception and this anniversary is a testament to their unwavering support and commitment.”

MTN Partners Adbot to Offer Automated Digital Ad Services to SMEs Emma Okonji MTN Nigeria and Adbot, an adtech company, have announced a partnership to bring MTN’s Thryve Google Ads services to all SMEs on the MTN network.

The collaboration empowers SMEs

to enhance their online visibility, taking advantage of the Thryve Google Ads Bundle, which provides 1Gigabyte of data, a minimum of 10 website conversions and 500 ad views on Google: tackling a key challenge SMEs face - access to new markets. The proposition aims to support SMEs

in maximising their online presence and reaching a broader audience.

The platform enables efficient Google ad campaign management, driven by simple inputs from business users like target location, keywords and ad copy. Adbot’s system extends these inputs, launches

campaigns, and leverages machine learning for continuous optimisation, ensuring optimal click-through rates at minimal costs. MTN, in partnership with Adbot, levels the playing field, making effective Google Ads accessible to businesses of all sizes in Nigeria.

to groundbreaking digital solutions, illustrated the necessity of adaptability across diverse demographics to overcome traditional barriers.

Fintech Week, organised by Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR), in partnership with Jackson, Etti & Edu; MainOne; and infobip, have stressed the need for organisations to invest in young talents that are technology savvy and willing to learn new technology skills.

Speaking during one of the panel sessions on the first day of the event, which commenced on Tuesday in Lagos, and moderated

by Tech Entrepreneur and Investor, Mr. Olumide Soyombo, the Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa at Mastercard, Mrs. Ebehije Momoh, stressed the need for organisations to invest in young talents that are technology savvy.

According to her, Mastercard as an organisation has continued to invest in people to raise talents among Fintechs.

Managing Director of SystemSpecs Technology Services, Mr. Demola Igbalajobi, who represented the Founder and CEO, SystenSpecs,

Mr. John Obaro at the panel session, also talked about the need to train and re-train people in the technology space to acquire new skills in emerging technologies.

He pointed out the opportunities in leveraging emerging technologies and how emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) could enhance technology development among organisations and the Nigerian economy.

US Consulate General in Lagos, Mr. Williams Stevenes, in his goodwill message, said the United States government remained interested in developing technology skills and trade in Nigeria. According to him, trade and investment are key priority areas for the US government in developing the Nigerian economy, and pledged the support of US government for the Nigerian Fintech Week.

In his opening remarks, the President, FinTechNGR, Ade Bajomo, spoke on issues around the theme of this year’s Nigeria Fintech Week: ‘Fintech-Resilience, Innovation and Diversification’.

Nigerian Breweries’ Maltina Teacher of the Year Wins N6.5m Adeola Adedunke Adefemi of Keke Senior High School, Agege, Lagos has emerged the winner of the 9th edition of the coveted Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition at the Grand Finale held in Lagos recently.

Adefemi, having emerged as the winner, received a total cash prize of N6.5 million. Additionally, she will be rewarded with an allexpense paid capacity development training in the UK, and the Fund will also build either a fully equipped computer laboratory or a six-classroom block worth N20 million for her school in her honour.

Azuh Chike of Ezemu Girls Grammar School, Delta State emerged as the first runner-up, with a total cash prize of N1.5 million while Adam Abdulqadir Ndi of Model Science College, Niger State, emerged as the second runner-up, with N1.25 million cash prize. In addition, 27 other teachers who emerged as state champions from their respective states received N500,000.00 each.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed that there are growing national efforts to bring back the glory days of teachers in Nigeria. He noted that the new national teaching policy developed by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with education stakeholders addresses the career path, remuneration, teaching standards, qualification, capacity development and other vital issues to revitalise the teaching profession.

Delivering the special remarks on behalf of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, lauded Nigerian Breweries Plc for its significant contributions towards making the teaching profession an enviable one amidst the low morale. He noted that the Lagos State government appreciates the significance of such competition in improving the quality of teaching and students’ performance.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023 T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Stakeholders Canvass Interbank, Inter-agency Collaborations to Combat Financial Crimes United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, hosted stakeholders and industry regulators to its Fraud Awareness Week, an initiative which is aimed at empowering customers with knowledge and tools to protect them against fraud and financial malpractices in the banking and financial sector.

The week-long event saw huge participation from key stakeholders across the financial sector who expressed concerns about the rising cases of fraud and how this crucial issue can be combatted.

As part of its awareness campaigns, the bank held a Stakeholders’ Round-Table panel session, and the Guest Speakers at the event were the Head, Cybercrime Investigation, Advance Free Fraud Economic & Financial Crime Commission {EFCC} Lagos State Command, Mr

Abbah Sambo Usman; Managing Partner; Akin Adesomoju & Co, Barrister Akin Adesomoju; the Chief Risk & Compliance Officer.

Others were AG, Head, Corporate Services Directorate, Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System, Mr. Temidayo Adekanye, Manager, Cyber and Intelligence Mastercard Customer Solutions Center, West Africa, Peter Ehizogie and Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head, Legal Department, Police Special Fraud Unit, Barrister E.A Jackson.

While welcoming guests earlier at the event, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who was represented by the Group Internal Auditor, Gboyega Sodiq, emphasized the critical significance of the Stakeholders’ Round-Table session, underscoring that it forms a central component of

UBA’s commitment to combatting fraud and safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s financial systems.

He said, “In a rapidly evolving world of finance, where technology and innovation are transforming the landscape of financial services, the need for robust fraud prevention measures is more crucial than ever before.

“This year’s campaign is encapsulated in two simple yet powerful slogans: “UBA won’t ask; so don’t share,” and “Stay Secure, Stay Alert, Stop the Fraud.” These slogans serve as a reminder that as a bank, we will never request sensitive information such as PINs, passwords, OTPs/token responses, or personal details via email, phone calls, or any other digital channels.”

L-R: Head, Marketing and PR, Chika Nnadozie; MX Group Head, Joy Tim-Ayola and Product Manager, MX, Okwara Stephen, all of Samsung West Africa, during the unveiling of Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Buds FE (Fans Edition), in Lagos... recently

FCMB Honoured with Agribusiness Investment Award First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has been honoured with the Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Award 2023 for its outstanding contribution to transforming agricultural finance and supporting the sustainable, long-term change needed to end chronic hunger and poverty in Nigeria. The award, presented by Feed the Future Nigeria, the U.S. Government’s Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative, celebrates innovative and impactful partnership with FCMB. “We are immensely proud to receive this recognition.

This award emphasises the

importance of responsible investment in agriculture and reaffirms our commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture value chain, “said Managing Director of First City Monument Bank, Mrs. Yemisi Edun.

“Our partnership with Feed the Future Nigeria demonstrates the potential of innovative financing models in agriculture. We believe that responsible persuasion and creative solutions can lead to a brighter future for agribusiness in Nigeria, stated Kudzai Gumunyu, Divisional Head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil

Exports at FCMB. The partnership has focused on five key value chains - rice, maize, soybean, cowpea, and aquaculture – across seven strategic regions: Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger. Recognising that smallholder farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the agribusiness ecosystem, the partnership has prioritised capacity-building, equipping these vital stakeholders with the tools and knowledge they need to access the financing and financial services they deserve.

Sundry Foods Opens Kilimanjaro Branch in Kaduna Sundry Foods Limited (SFL), has said that it opened a branch of Kilimanjaro, Nigeria’s fastest growing quick service restaurant brand owned and operated by the company in Kaduna, the first in the former capital of northern region.

The development, the company said, follows the recent opening of Sapele branch of Kilimanjaro

by SFL,in the planned effort to cover major towns and cities across the country.

The new branch, it said in a statement, is located along WarriSapele Road, opposite Keystone bank, Ajorgordor, Sapele, Delta state.

Head Marketing, Nduka Mokwunye said the Kaduna branch, which opened at the weekend is located at the popular Galaxy Mall, 22, Mohammadu Buhari Way

(Waff Road), off Independence Road, Kaduna.

“Today, we proudly opened Kilimanjaro, our flagship restaurant brand in the capital city of Kaduna.

The opening of this branch is remarkable-a first for us in the north- west part of the country, that reinforces our long-term commitment to investing in our growth in Nigeria and establish the company as a truly nationalbrand, “Executive Director SFL, Nnamdi Opara.

Opara reiterated that the company provides meals that people love and serve them through its chain of restaurants, canteens, bakeries and direct to their homes all over Nigeria through various e-commerce channels.

He said: “Over the years, we have continuously improved on our

products and services with the aim to maximize customer experience at all our touch points. Whether it’s that hot, crispy crust pizza or our delicious beans and plantain, we draw commendation of our customers who love our food.’’

According to the statement, the new outlet is coming in fulfillment of a promise made by the company to bring its quality products and services closer to its customers and the public and in accordance with the company’s growth plan for 2023 and beyond.

It further revealed that with the new outlets, Sundry Foods now operates out of over 185food service outlets across the country, even as plans are underway to increase the company’s footprints in major cities in the 36 states of the country.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) August, 2023

Money Supply (M3)

65,445,154.2

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

552,553.58

Money Supply (M2)

64,892,600.61

-- Quasi Money

40,870,301.28

-- Narrow Money (M1)

24,022,299.33

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,295,309.10

---- Demand Deposits

21,726,990.23

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,144,158.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

58,300,995.27

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

87,273,966.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

32,511,333.17

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

54,762,633.63

--Other Assets Net

13,347,376.27

Reserve Money (Base Money

19,429,603.25

--Currency in Circulation

2,660,138.92

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

16,769,464.34 428,519.21

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

August 2023

Inter-Bank Call Rate

3.89

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

18.75

Treasury Bill Rate

5.13

Savings Deposit Rate

5.26

Zitra Investments Holds Investment Forum

1 Month Deposit Rate

7.31

3 Months Deposit Rate

7.55

financial markets, we design products to meet the needs of our sophisticated clients. Our mission is to empower individuals and small businesses to achieve their financial goals, ”he added.

Some key stakeholders in the business sector and other financial services industry such as Olagoke Balogun (CEO of So Fresh), Tobi Amira (VP Loans of Monie Point), Moses Akintunde (CEO, Sycamore and a host of others held different panel sessions sharing insights on the role of credit on small businesses, growing a business in Nigeria and what 2024 has in stock.

6 Months Deposit Rate

8.30

12 Months Deposit Rate

8.13

Prime Lending rate

13.99

Maximum Lending Rate

27.59

Leading investments and lending company, Zitra Investments, celebrated its 3rd year of operations last week as they remain committed to proving essential financial services to individuals and businesses alike. Founded in 2020, the company aims to improve its community and the economy with quick and seamless access to collateral-free loans to new and already established businesses and individuals in need.

The company last week hosted an investors’ forum in commemoration of its 3rd year anniversary with the theme, Providing Enabling Environment for Small Businesses to

Grow. Managing Director/CEO, Babatunde Obadero noted that access to credit facilities in Nigeria is among the lowest globally as small businesses are forced to operate with limited and expensive credit facilities. He said that since it began operations years ago, it had been committed to supporting individuals and small business owners across the country.

“Zitra prides itself as a knowledge and technologydriven company. With access to cutting-edge technology we are able to serve the needs of the under-served in the financial market. Using our knowledge of the economy and

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 29TH SEPTEMBER , 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $97.48 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $97.08 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

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MARKET NEWS

Shettima: Capital Markets Can Help Bridge West Africa’s Infrastructure Deficit KayodeTokede The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, yesterday said that the infrastructural deficit in the West African sub region are better tackled from inside and not through foreign borrowing alone, stressing that the job of the capital market in Nigeria and across the region is therefore cut out for it and this extends to Africa at large.

Shettima stated this at the

opening ceremony of the 3rd West Africa Capital Market Conference (WACMaC) with the theme: “Infrastructural Deficit and Sustainable Financing in an Integrated West African Capital Market,” held in Lagos.

Shettima who was represented

by Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Tope Fasua said the centrality of capital market to Nigeria’s development trajectory especially

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to the evolution of corporate sector, industries and most importantly infrastructural development cannot be over emphasised, adding that thus, it is a time of intense competition among nations and resources, and with advancement in technology, nations are able to reach to nations with their products just as businesses have their fingers in billions of pockets the world over.

The Vice President said “In-

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novations has turned out more than ever to be both a potent advantage and disadvantage depending on one’s readiness to engage. In deed it is said that the best way to prepare for the future is to create it.

Where are we on this? Whereas capital market development in any nation is not an easy task, much less its maintenance and sustainability.

“We must commend the efforts of entities, governments,

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corporates and individuals across West Africa who have over the time come together to put in the shift that got us here. There are three exchanges in the sub region, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote I’voire with others coming up.

“The question is why have other West African nations not developed their exchanges? How do they hope to leverage on the advantage of capital formation, corporate governance and also to get companies fund

in them to someday play big in the global stage?”

The Vice President, therefore, urged regulators and operators to be deliberate on how to meet the challenges the capital market presently faces by meeting young West Africans online, creating apps that they can relate with, using block chains where necessary to show transparency and to give them control that they seek.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Emzor: Fighting Malaria withTrailblazing Incountry API Production in Nigeria

As part of measures to tackle the menace of malaria, Nigeria pharma giant, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, in partnership with European Development Bank has kicked off plans to produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, APIs, for antimalarial products in Nigeria, a first of its kind in the sub Saharan Africa. After a five-hour tour of the expansive Emzor Campus in Shagamu, Ogun State, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the API plant, which will be ready by February 2024, ushers a new dawn in the accessibility and affordability of drugs to fight Malaria, which is a leading cause of illness and death, especially in young children in the continent Malaria is a big deal. Why, you may ask? n 2020 alone, according to statistics by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), an estimated 627,000 people died of malaria—mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria occurs mostly in poor tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In many of the countries affected by malaria, it is a leading cause of illness and death. In areas with high transmission, the most vulnerable groups are young children, who have not developed immunity to malaria yet, and pregnant women, whose immunity has been decreased by pregnancy. The costs of malaria – to individuals, families, communities, nations – are enormous.

But it’s not all depressing news. Infact, within the last decade, the CDC report titled ‘Malaria’s Impact Worldwide’ noted that increasing numbers of partners and resources have rapidly increased malaria control efforts, adding that this scale-up of interventions has saved millions of lives globally and cut malaria mortality by 36 per cent from 2010 to 2020, leading to hopes and plans for elimination and ultimately eradication.

I

Emzor’s API Trailblazing Project to the Rescue Here in Nigeria, a pharmaceutical giant has stepped up to help speed up the elimination of malaria through its production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for antimalarial products.

Seen as a new dawn in Africa’s Pharmaceutical Industry, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries recently undertook the trailblazing part to pioneer the mass production of APIs in Africa with the goal being to ensure commodity security and access to quality products across the continent.

The API plant, which is currently being built in the company’s expansive Emzor Campus in Shagamu, Ogun State, and will be ready by February 2024, is dedicated to production of antimalarial APIs via tech transfer in collaboration with a technical partner with a planned capacity of 400MCT annually.

In the long run, beyond curbing capital flight, the increased production of this APIs incountry will make a huge impact in the fight against malaria as it will not just increase access for users, but also ensure its affordability because it eliminated middle men from the production process.

According to the Chairman of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, Emeka Okoli, the main objective of the project is “setting up a factory in Nigeria to produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for antimalarial products.

“At present, Emzor produces antimalarial FPP’s and is targeting API production as part of its growth strategy, backward integration and supply chain security. Also, help in part pioneer the mass production of APIs in Africa, ensuring commodity security and access to quality products across the continent.

“Emzor has partnered an Indian company, Mangalam Drugs & Organics Limited, a world renowned WHO/FDA approved producer of antimalarial APIs, intermediate and other specialty chemicals. Emzor has already signed an Agreement with Mangalam, who will advise and manage the implementation of the project as a tech transfer partner.”

Partnership with European Development Bank Giving wings to this top of the mill production was the partnership from the European Development Bank (EIB).

The API Plant which will be completed by first quarter of next year is being funded with the loan grant of €13.85 million by

L-R: CEO APIFA, Mr. Frankline Keter; Communication Manager, West and Central Africa, Isabelle VOVOR; Group Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Dr Stella C. Okoli, OON; Investment Officer, Project Finance Division, EIB, Mr. Arthur Delor; and Chairman of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Emeka Okoli, at the Emzor Factory Tour in Ogun State with officials of EIB EIB and it forms about 54 per cent of the entire financial implication of the plant construction.

A willing partner, EIB described the API Project as a new dawn in development and growth of Africa’s pharmaceutical industry. After the tour of the factory in Ogun State last Monday, the bank’s Investment Officer, Project Finance Division, Corporate Finance and Global Activities Department, Arthur Delor, said: “the Emzor’s API Project is a trailblazer in Africa as well as a new dawn in the development of pharmaceutical industry in the content. “ It is a great leap in the sector and the first of its kind in the sub Saharan Africa. It will ensure production of high quality products and its affordability in Africa. The API Project will indeed make a great impact and will resoundingly facilitate development of standards in the industry.

“The bank is glad to contribute to the project. This is because it will support global development. We believe that it is time for developing countries to start to be developed. Africa should be less dependent on importation, in this regard, local manufacturing is one of the best way to take Africa out of its current challenges. Africa as a place should start to contribute to global development, not just to depend on others and our choice of Emzor is very appropriate to pioneer this project in Africa.

“Emzor is well established and well positioned to make Africa, especially Nigeria a hub of quality products and supply chain. Emzor has a legacy of efficiency and good standards. It is a pharmaceutical industry we believe and know with adequate facilities and resources to make big change in Africa’s pharmaceutical development and growth.”

APIFA’s Input Apart from EIB who setup a dedicated fund for the development of API manufacturing in Africa, Emzor also found partnership in API for Africa (APIFA), a non-profit organisation championing API production in Africa.

A thought partner providing access to financing, insights and support for access to markets.

In his remark at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of APIFA, Frankline Keter, who saw the project as an opportunity for the Kenya-based organisation to achieve its main aim and objectives said “At APIFA, our main aim is to facilitate the local production of APIs and other health products and technologies (HPTs) in sub-Sahara Africa.

“We do this by working with a multitude of critical stakeholders from the private sector, public sector, research institutes, and civil society, to address a major market challenge,

Emzor’s API Project is a trailblazer in Africa as well as a new dawn in the development of pharmaceutical industry in the content.

It is a great leap in the sector and the first of its kind in the sub Saharan Africa. It will ensure production of high quality products and its affordability in Africa. The API Project will indeed make a great impact and will resoundingly facilitate development of standards in the industry

the lack of not only API manufacturing capacity in sub-Sahara Africa, but also affordable medicines.

“It is a great privilege to witness this ceremony. This is a big deal in Africa, Emzor is setting the pace. This project will not only boost African Continental Free Trade but also encourage as well as support local producers to invest.

What is left for us is to celebrate and congratulate ourselves for this great season in Africa.”

Call for Support to Local Manufacturers Also speaking at the event, the founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr. Stella Okoli encouraged government to do more in helping local manufacturers, “Government has a lot to do in supporting local manufacturers.

“It is a fact that the prosperity of the nation resides with local production.

This is how the dwindling economy can be successfully revived. As a company, we are playing our part and we shall continue to do so.

“From day one, we have determined not to let our country down, we are here to do the right thing in the pharmaceutical industry, producing high quality drugs.

And we are advancing to the next level, by pioneering API manufacturing in Africa,” she harped.

Emzor Manufacturing Campus Treasure Trove Emzor is certainly not resting on its oars to churn out quality but affordable drugs for society. At the moment, the company’s fourth factory named ‘Emzor Manufacturing Campus’, seated on a 60-hectare site in an industrial zone on Lagos -Ibadan/Abeokuta Benin interchange in Shagamu, Ogun State is a treasure trove of life saving utilities.

From housing an Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) Plant to Cephalosporin Plant, Intravenous Fluids (IVF) Plant, Penicillin Plant, Gas Plant and other support utilities, the factory at present, produces close to 20billions tablets annually.

With this trailblazing innovation, Emzor has taken the lead to ensure access in the global fight against malaria.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

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NEWS

Dettol Partners Federal Ministry of Water Resources to Celebrate 2023 Global Handwashing Day Precious Ugwuzor Nigeria’s leading advocate for hygiene, Dettol, has partnered the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to commemorate the 2023 Global Handwashing Day (GHWD).

Themed ‘Clean Hands Are Within Reach,’ the event which held in Abuja on the 16th of October 2023, reaffirmed the hygiene advocate’s unwavering commitment to promoting regular and proper hand-washing education in Nigeria.

Speaking on the commemoration of GHWD, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, represented by Director of Water Quality, Mrs Elizabeth

Ugoh said “Global Handwashing Day recognises the simplicity and complexities around hand hygiene and the need for collaboration and coordination between multiple and interconnected actors across all levels of the hand hygiene system from the national to the state, local and community levels.

“It is a call to action to build reliant, resilient and sustainable systems to create an enabling environment in which hand hygiene can be practised across homes, schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities and other community settings.”

“The federal government has over the years demonstrated its commitment to the development of the Nigeria Roadmap to Hand Hygiene

for All, launched last year to chart the path to a sustainable hand hygiene culture among the populace. “ I would like to appreciate the contribution of our partners towards the successful commemoration of this year’s event and all other development partners for their support, in the promotion of sanitation and hygiene, through programmes and activities aimed towards the attainment of the SDG Goal 6 for Water and Sanitation,” he stated. Delivering a goodwill message at the commemoration event in Abuja, External Communications and Partnerships Lead, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh stated, “Handwashing with soap isn’t just a routine; it remains

a cornerstone of hygiene, an act so simple yet profoundly impactful that has shown to break the chain of infections.”

“While hand washing can reduce the risk of diseases significantly, many around the world, including in Nigeria, still lack access to basic hygiene services. This lack is particularly pronounced in rural areas and among disadvantaged populations.

“Reckitt through its Dettol brand is committed to its fight to ensure that access to quality hygiene and health solutions is a right and not a privilege for only some. This drive is what propelled our Dettol Clean Naija Initiative which is an integrated multi-level campaign aimed to educate Nigerians on personal

& national hygiene issues.

“The initiative endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is a testament to our commitment to creating a healthier Nigeria.”

She further enjoined the government to prioritise hygiene and allocate resources to address the statistics.

“Governments, non-governmental organisations, private sector and individuals all have a role to play in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages she concluded”.

A look back at Dettol’s legacy reveals a consistent and passionate drive over the past nine years, inspiring public health campaigns to revolutionise hygiene habits

among Nigerians of all ages and genders.

Specific programs such as the “School Hygiene Quest Program” and the “New Mum’s Program” have been instrumental in instilling new hygiene habits, particularly in children across various educational levels.

Dettol’s unwavering dedication, in conjunction with its esteemed partners, is making an indelible mark on the health sector.

With a goal of impacting at least 6 million individuals with proper hygiene habits by 2025, the brand has also partnered with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa to bring a much-needed hygiene behavioural change to communities around Nigeria.

Annual DAAF Memorial Merit Awards for Best Health Reporters Instituted Precious Ugwuzor

L-R: Chairman, Reddington Hospital Group, Dr. Yemi Onabowale; CEO Duchess International Hospital Ikeja, Dr. Adetokunbo ShittaBey; Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Peter Mckavanagh and Cardio Thoracic Surgeon, Professor Bode Falase, during the press conference to mark Duchess International Hospital’s 2nd anniversary with subsidized and affordable Open-Heart-Surgery in Lagos recently

Duchess Hospital Ikeja Marks Second Anniversary With Subsidised Affordable Open-Heart Surgery Mary Nnah As part of events leading up to the second anniversary of the Duchess International Hospital, the hospital recently embarked on a week-long cardiac surgery mission aimed at delivering subsidised, affordable “openheart surgery” to a total of nine patients with a variety of life-threatening heart diseases who would not otherwise have been able to afford the full cost of complex heart surgery.

Speaking at a press conference to commemorate the event, Chief Executive Officer of the Duchess International Hospital, Dr Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey, said the Duchess has been working on this landmark initiative in collaboration with Friends of Nigeria Save-A-Heart Foundation, United Kingdom.

He explained that the combined team of 22 highly trained and experienced specialist professionals comprising cardiac perfusionists, theatre practitioners, intensive care nurses, cardiac anaesthetists and interventional cardiologists was made up of 11 highly skilled professionals from the Duchess International Hospital and 11 members of the Save-A-Heart Foundation visiting team from the United Kingdom.

The Chief Executive reiterated the hospital’s mission to reverse medical tourism and its commitment to institutional collaboration and cooperation to achieve good patient outcomes and global standards of evidencebased practice

According to the Duchess Hospital Chief Executive, the hospital is working closely with institutions and professionals globally to attract the “brightest and the best” talent to offer their expertise to Nigeria, while at the same time investing in training and development to build capacity locally for the benefit of patients at home.

“This is one of the ways in which we are offering global best practice in medical services right here in Nigeria while at the same time reducing medical

tourism and capital flight”, Shitta-Bey, said.

Speaking at the event, the head of the UK medical mission, Dr Onyii Nzewi said Save-A-Heart Foundation is pleased to collaborate with Duchess International Hospital to provide affordable openheart surgery to restore hope and bring smiles to numerous individuals and families who have lived with the effects of complex heart disease and cardiovascular conditions for a very long time.

Nzewi commended the management of Duchess Hospital, Ikeja for providing a worldclass medical environment for Nigerians. He remarked that the team, working with their counterparts at the Duchess International Hospital, was able to achieve this landmark objective through a combination of highly skilled expertise and cutting-edge medical infrastructure available specifically for cardiac surgery at the Duchess International Hospital.

Pediatric Partners Hospital Turn 12, Resolves to Revolutionising Children’s Health Care in Nigeria Mary Nnah Founder, Dr Ekuase Sanusi, Founder, Pediatric Partners Hospital, a centre committed to delivering quality and affordable healthcare to children in its community from newborns through adolescents and young adults, has said that her hospital is on its way to revolutionising healthcare in Nigeria for children.

Speaking during the 12th anniversary of the hospital recently in Lagos, Sanusi said, “The experience has been a phenomenon. We have made a lot of strides in the care of children and we are on our way to revolutionising health care in Nigeria for children. We are not what we want to be but we are not where we used to

be and it’s exciting.”

Speaking further on how her hospital intends to revolutionise health care in Nigeria for children, she noted, “The way we have been doing it for the last 12 years is making sure that all our staff are trained in the basic Pediatric care; we explained to our staff about the importance of checking out the numbers - there is something about a child’s heart beats, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rates when they come in. Those numbers don’t lie. They tell when a child is very sick. It is important for any facility that is taking care of children to know what a normal heartbeat, respiratory rate blood pressure and oxygen circulation of the child are. When these are abnormal. It means

there is a problem you have to investigate the child. ” The Pediatrician said further, “We have taught our nurses and doctors just the standard of medicine and how important it is to make sure that the patient experience is not painful. A child comes with a high fever and he/she is screaming, we take care of the fever first and that calms down the child, and then we get a good history examination, and do our lab tests if it is needed. Once you have a history and physical that is very good, your diagnosis is already made. You don’t necessarily have to do blood tests or anything. Based on what the parents are telling me and what the child looks like, I can tell you what is going on with the child.”

The annual Dr AbdulAziz Anako Fache (DAAF) Memorial Merit Awards for the best reporters in both Print and Electronic Media have been instituted in Abuja.

In a released signed by its Media Adviser, Onche Odeh, it said entries for the two categories of awards ,which carry a monetary prize of N250,000 for each beneficiary, will take effect from March 2024 while the award ceremony will hold in September next year.

The Fache Family instituted the annual merit awards to immortalise its illustrious son and seasoned medical practitioner who died tragically of cardiac arrest on 22nd September, 2022 at the age of 53.

Immediate older brother of the deceased and retired Director of Public Affairs (NAFDAC), Dr Abubakar Jimoh, announced the memorial merit awards at a lecture and award ceremony

organised by Association of Nigeria Health Journalists ( ANHEJ) to honour him after 30 years of meritorious service at NAFDAC. Dr Jimoh said the annual merit award was instituted in honour of Dr Fache to promote hardwork, dedication, diligence, and excellence in health reporting in Nigeria.

He said, “ Dr Fache was a multi talented scholar, seasoned medical doctor, Lawyer and Author of Literary works. This award will help reduce pain, shock and irreparable loss of the rare Gem. “ A concerned friend of Fache Family, Hajiya Memunah Aliyu, fprmer Executive Director of Aso Savings and Loans Limited, has donated N500,000 to this cause and the awards fund will continue to increase as more donors have made pledges”.

President of ANHEJ, Mr Joseph Kadiri commended the worthy efforts of the Fache Family and urged other Well meaning Nigerians to emulate this kind gesture.

Lluvia Health Organisation Inaugurates Board, Laments Failure of PHC System in Nigeria Sunday Okobi The foremost health agency in Nigeria, Lluvia Health Organisation, has described Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare (PHC) system as disheartening, lamenting that the system still faces the same challenges that have plagued it over the years such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, limited access to essential medicines, and poor data management.

The organisation, whose mission is to enable children and adolescents to lead healthier, happier lives by providing nutrition, life skills, and play and arts in hospitals, decried the situation as pathetic during the inaugural board meeting, where Dr. Kabiru Atta, Country Representative, Engender Health, was appointed as its chairman.

The Executive Director/ Founder Lluvia Health Organisation, Dr. Amenze Eguavoen, who exclusively disclosed this to THISDAY, stated that the appointment of Atta reflected his significant contributions to public health in Nigeria and his contributions to the mission and vision of Lluvia Health, adding: “It is expected that under his guidance, Lluvia Health will successfully accomplish its mission.”

According to Eguavoen, “It is disheartening to see that Nigeria’s primary healthcare system still faces the same challenges that have plagued it over the years such as inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, limited access to essential medicines, and poor data management.

“These issues collectively hinder the delivery of basic healthcare services, including immunisations, antenatal care, nutrition services, and treatment of common childhood illnesses.”

She noted that at Lluvia Health Organisation, “we recognise that a strong and well-functioning primary health system is crucial for child health and development which is why it’s so disheartening to see the system fail the most vulnerable members of our society, the children and women.

“We remain committed to being part of the solution to improving access to primary healthcare services by partnering the government and other institutions to support national nutrition, child, and adolescent health policies and strategies. We would do this through our projects on nutrition, life skill development, and play and arts in hospitals for emotional and mental.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Edited by NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG | ikotibok@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324

NLRC Hosts Gaming Conference to Boost Lottery in Nigeria

I

n its commitment to boost lottery business in Nigeria, the National Lottery Regulatory Commission is organising a two-day International Gaming Conference at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos from October 31 to November 1. Last year, the NLRC held a similar event at the same venue, thus establishing an annual convergence that is fast becoming a compelling meeting for stakeholders in the gaming sector.

This year, the discussions which will centre on processes that can become popular enough to replace traditional products or services in the Nigerian gaming sector seek to fire the ambition of operators to introduce new products and

services, in order to launch the industry into its next phase of development.

Lottery and gaming industry giants from United States, UK, South Africa, Guinea, Botswana and other countries of the world have indicated interest to participate in the conference organised by NLRC. The event is the brainchild of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director-General, of National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Zephaniah Jisalo, billed as special guest of honour is expected to set the tone for deliberations focussed on, ‘Innovation and Disruption:

Core Strategies for Success’, while Mr. Sam Awulu the Director General of National Lottery Agency, Ghana would deliver the Keynote Address. There will be goodwill messages from Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports and Honourable Ahmed Aliyu Abdulahi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs. Prominent speakers at the conference include Dr. Aminu Waida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission and Dr. Bello Maigari, the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund.

Gbajabiamila

Maigari

Green Lotto Paints Ilasamaja Community ‘Green’ with Five-a-side Football Contest Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that one of the leading lottery companies in Nigeria, Green Lotto, has chosen a disadvantaged neighbourhood in Ilasamaja area of Mushin, Lagos, to ignite an annual football contest which has the potential to grow into a massive fiesta in a short time

P

olar Bed FC of Ajeabo Community in the Ilasamaja area of Mushin has emerged winners of the five-a-side football championship sponsored by Green Lotto, Nigeria’s leading lottery brand.

The outstanding grass root football club was crowned champions at the final of the five-a-side competition held at the Ajeabo Playing ground on Sunday October 22.

Polar Bed had an unbeaten run from the start of the competition. The club defeated Ojo FC 1-0, to emerge winners.

The winner of the competition went home with N200,000, while the Runners- up, got the sum of N150,000.

The winners were presented with a trophy and medals while runners-up received medals for coming second in the keenly contested final.

Winner of the competition last year and defending Champion Babalola FC won the third place by defeating Church Close FC. A major highlight of the football contest was a novelty match between staff of Green and leaders of the Omonigbehin community.

Explaining the involvement of his company, the Head of Brand Marketing Communications at Green Lotto, Mr. Imoudu Asekhame, said, “At Green Lotto, we put our customers first and strive to give them all round value whether in an experiential manner or otherwise. That is why we are happy that the Green Lotto five-a-side tournament resonated well with our people who are also football lovers.”

Throwing more light on the tournament, he said, “We all know that Nigeria is a football-loving nation and the Green Lotto five-a-side tournament is not just another soccer tournament. It is designed to create an opportunity for our customers to celebrate and represent their communities.”

Team members of Polar FC

L a g o s Lo t t e ry B o ss Commend s Sanwo-Olu for International Honour Nseobong Okon-Ekong For bringing home the trophy, as it were, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, Mr. Bashir Are, has commended Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu for according him the support that ensured his recent appointment as a trustee of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).

Recounting the gains of LSLGA’s participation at the just concluded IAGR in Bostwana, Are reasoned that his strategic

positioning of Lagos resulted in the announcement of Lagos as the Africa headquarters of the International Gaming Standards Association.

In recognition of his expertise, experience and dedication to the proper regulation of gaming in line with global best practices, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority was appointed and announced as a member of the board of trustees of the International Association of Gaming Regulators at its recent conference in Botswana. Mr. Are

fittingly dedicated the honour to Sanwo-Olu and to his team at the LSLGA. “If you have all the brilliant ideas in this world, without the support of your principal, in this case, Mr. Governor and a team of dedicated staff, your success will be limited. That is why I am very grateful to Governor Sanwo-Olu who supports our work in the gaming industry as an integral part of his THEMES agenda. We cannot quantify the gains of having Lagos as the Africa headquarters of the International Gaming Standards Association,” said Are.

ADVISORY: +18 PERSONS UNDER 18 MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN BETTING, GAMING OR LOTTERY ACTIVITY

He added that the tournament is also inspired by the need to create a platform to engage and support young football talents who have the energy and passion for the game and seek the right exposure.

A leader of the community, Honourable Yinka Esho, member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin Constituency I, praised Green Lotto for its continued sponsorship of the football championship, He said the competition has the potential of exposing the youths of the communities to achieve greatness in football both locally and internationally.

In 2022, Green Lotto launched its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in partnership with the 13th Nigerian Queen, Abimbola Abayomi (Queen AIRA), focused on youth empowerment and employment. Through this initiative, the company has so far created employment opportunities and given business support grants to youths of Egbe-Idimu and Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDAs. The five-a-side tournament is a street football competition featuring 24 teams representing different streets in Omonighehin Community in Ilasamaja area of Mushin. Polar Bed FC is constituted by residents of streets adjoining Ilasamaja Primary School and Moriamo Ajoke. One of the CDA chairmen of the community, Mr. Orunsolu Modiu commended Green Lotto for recognising and honouring his area with a football contest.

He prayed that the years ahead will witness greater exhibition.

The company used the opportunity to conduct brisk business as its sales kiosks were set up around the pitch for persons who participate in lottery. Many participants welcomed the idea of bringing the game closer to them in their neighbourhood.

Speaking on the objective of the competition, Asekhame said it was the brand’s way of demonstrating its deep commitment to mental growth and physical development. He added that in the last five years, “Green Lotto has built a large community of believers and therefore leveraging on platforms such as football offers us a unique opportunity of engaging and interacting with some of our key stakeholders who believe in the Green Lotto brand.”

He also explained that the aim of the initiative is to groom young people to channel their energy towards sporting activities as this will help check delinquent activities.

“Football is a sport that enhances healthy living and physical development.

At Green Lotto we tend to support our consumers and our community and this is our way of supporting grassroots football in Nigeria,” he stressed. “We believe that engaging in relevant exercises and sports like football is necessary for a healthy mind and body that is why we are proud to be part of the five a-side football competition.”

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

GAMINGWEEK TEAM Nseobong Okon-Ekong ikotibok@gmail.com | 08114495324 Iyke Bede ikennabede@gmail.com | 0703 044 7714 Akeem Lasisi lasaisai@yahoo.com | 08023687884 Vanessa Obioha vaysylver@gmail.com | 08069838305 Davidson Abraham davisiano.adm@gmail.com | +971 56 744 6013

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ACADEMY OF MEDICINE SPECIALTIES OF NIGERIA PRESS BRIEFING...

L-R: Professor of Anatomy, Prof. Ademola Oremosu; Consultant Gynacologist and Obstetrician, Emeritus Prof. Frank Osato Giwa-Osagie; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, Dr. Sonny Kuku and President of the Academy, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru during the press briefing to announce the forthcoming Annual General Meeting and the 3rd Induction Ceremony of the PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA Academy in Lagos...yesterday

US Delays Gaza Invasion to Deploy Air Defences in Middle East Netanyahu: Israeli war cabinet will determine timing of Gaza invasion Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad leaders discuss how to achieve 'victory'

Kingsley Nwezeh ÓØ ÌßÔË áÓÞÒ ËÑÏØÍã ÜÏÚÙÜÞÝ Israel has agreed to delay a ground invasion of Gaza to enable United

States to deploy air defence systems to protect U.S. troops in the region.

The Jewish nation, yesterday, continued to pound Gaza, launching more airstrikes ahead of a possible

ground invasion as the conflict with Hamas entered its 19th day.

But Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday, said Israeli war cabinet will determine

Bauchi Flags Off Vaccination against Cervical Cancer in Women Segun AwofadejÓ ÓØ ËßÍÒÓ The Bauchi State government has flagged off campaign for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer among women of reproductive age.

The focus of vaccination are girls aged 9-14 in order to ensure that they are well protected against the virus as they grow up to maturity preparatory to childbearing period.

Speaking during the flag off ceremony at Government Comprehensive Secondary School Bakari Dukku, yesterday, Governor Bala Mohammed, expressed optimism that the HPV vaccine would reduce the burden of cancer in the state.

Mohammed, said his administration, in collaboration with development partners, was prepared for the mass vaccination of female children aged 9-14 years across the 20 local government areas in the state against the disease.

He further said the exercise would be taken to health facilities, public and private schools, markets places, social gathering, religious places and communities in order to reach out school girls.

He then called on parents, caregivers, school proprietors and managers, headmasters and principals of government, private and faith-based schools to avail their children and students of the rare opportunity to receive the very important vaccine.

In his address, State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adamu Umar Sambo, said the introduction of HPV vaccine was a rare privilege which would reduce the chances and burden of infection of cervical cancer, especially among young girls, aged 9 - 14 in Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole.

He stressed that Bauchi State government was ever ready to support any public health intervention aimed at strengthening the health

system, especially improving the lives and well-being of women and children.

He added that the administration under the leadership of Mohammed placed high premium on health sector where it has invested in infrastructure and equipment, apart from being committed to the obligation of MoU arrangement with development and donor partners in spite of the dwindling resources and multi

sectoral demands in governance.

In his opening remarks, Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, enumerated some of the warning signs of cervical cancer in a woman of reproductive age.

According to him, the signs include: “Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods, menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual.

the timing of the invasion. His assertion came as the head of Lebanon's Hezbollah met top leaders of the Palestinian militant factions, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and discussed what their alliance must do to "achieve a real victory for the resistance", Hezbollah said on Wednesday.

Netanyahu said Gaza invasion would be determined by the war cabinet.

“It should be like this so that we can save our soldiers’ lives. I want to be clear, the timing of the IDF action, the timing will be set unanimously by the war cabinet, together with the chief of staff,” he said.

Reports earlier Wednesday said Israel agreed to delay a ground invasion of Gaza so the U.S. could deploy air defence systems to protect U.S. troops in the region.

Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, President Joe Biden emphasised the need for humanitar-

ian aid to enter Gaza while reiterating his support for Israel, saying, "Israel has the right, and I would add, responsibility, to respond to the slaughter of their people.”

Israel has also reportedly agreed to a request by the United States to delay its ground offensive to allow more time for hostage negotiations, humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza and for the U.S. to move air defence systems into the region Biden and other U.S. officials had urged Israel to hold off on a planned ground offensive in part because of threats to U.S. troops from militant groups in the region once an invasion of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory starts.

Meanwhile, the head of Lebanon's Hezbollah met top leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and discussed what their alliance must do to "achieve a real victory for the resistance", Hezbollah said on Wednesday.

Part of an Iran-backed regional

alliance, the heavily armed Hezbollah has had daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces along the Israeli-Lebanese frontier since war broke out between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7.

The meeting involved Hezbollah's Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri and Islamic Jihad chief, Ziad al-Nakhala, Hezbollah said in a statement.

It did not say when the meeting took place.

"An assessment was made of the international positions being taken and what the parties of the Axis of Resistance must do ... to realise a real victory for the resistance in Gaza and Palestinian and to halt the brutal aggression," Hezbollah said.

"There was agreement on continuing the coordination."

Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that two more of its fighters were killed, increasing the death toll in its ranks to 40 fighters since the start of the conflict.

Infrastructure Bank Seeks to Attract N1tn in Five Years Embarks on recapitalisation to raise minimum share capital to N10bn in immediate-term, N100bn within 18 months Privatisation drive produces Norrenberger as core investor, as bank unveils new corporate logo

James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË The acting Managing Director/ Chief Executive, The Infrastructure Bank (TIB), Nkiru Chime, yesterday disclosed that the bank is currently undergoing a recapitalisation drive to make it more resilient.

She said the bank plans to raise the minimum share capital to N10 billion in the immediate- term and N100 billion in the medium-term, within the next 18 months.

Norrenberger Financial Group recently emerged as the core investor of TIB following a privatisation exercise that resulted in the private sector entities holding 79.56 per cent equity in the bank.

The federal government which is represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) holds a 10 per cent stake in the bank while the state governments represented by the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) accounted for 5.22 per cent of equity holding in TIB. Also, all local governments in Nigeria represented by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria

(ALGON) account for 5.22 per cent stake in the rebranded infrastructure company.

The bank has consequently unveiled a new corporate logo to reflect its new equity composition.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, Chime said the privatisation of TIB was meant to bridge the funding gap that exists between the availability of public funds and the immense capital requirements of infrastructure projects. She said the company would be committed to unlocking developmental opportunities and accelerating socio-economic development in various sectors.

She said the bank would also create avenues for forward-looking and innovative solutions in infrastructure development, as well as mobilise funding and attract private sector participation in sustainable Infrastructure projects - and deploy capabilities and technical know-how of successfully- operating entities in the financial services industry to bear on the bank's operations.

She said, "Under Norrenberger's leadership, TIB has emerged as a

trailblazer in the realm of PublicPrivate Partnerships (PPPs).

“This innovative approach to Infrastructure financing has set the stage for collaboration between the public and private sectors, unlocking new avenues for funding and project execution."

She also told THISDAY that, "We are excited about President Bola

Tinubu's ambition for this country and we are excited at what we have seen so far.

"We believe that the new government is going to be the beginning of the journey for the transformation of the infrastructure landscape in Nigeria.

"It is what we have been expecting and it is what we believe the country deserves. We can already see the tax

reforms that are ongoing and we can already see all the policies being put in place by the government to enable the environment."

Chime said, "We believe that private sector participation is key in ensuring that the right kind of capital is attracted to Infrastructural development and we see the government doing things already to make that happen.

Tinubu Appoints New Resident Electoral Commissioners for Lagos, Rivers, Seven Other States Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of nine new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a term of five years each, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

The appointments, according to a statement issued yesterday, by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, was in line with the powers

vested in the President by Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and Section 6 of the Electoral Act (2022).

The new RECs include Mr. Isah Shaka Ehimeakne, Edo State; Mr. Bamidele Agbede, Ekiti State; Mr. Jani Adamu Bello, Gombe State; Dr. Taiye Ilayasu, Kwara State and Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, Lagos State.

Others were Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa; Prof. Mohammed Yalwa,

Niger State; Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, Rivers State and Mr. Abubakar Fawa Dambo, Zamfara State.

Tinubu expects the new appointees to abide by the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct in the discharge of their duties, in accordance with his determination to facilitate the establishment of a new and sustainable standard of transparent, fair, and conflict-free electoral conduct in Nigeria.

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GRAND LAUNCH OF THE DEFINED INITIATIVE FOR DIGITAL EDUCATION...

L-R: Managing Director, Odu'a Investment, Mr. Adewale Raji; Secretary to Ogun State, government, Mr. Olatokunbo Talabi; Chairperson, Odu'a Investment Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; Akarigbo of Remo Land, Oba Babarunde Adewale Ajayi; Chairman, Odu'a Investment Company Limited, Bimbo Ashiru and Member, Odu'a Foundation Advisory Council, Chief Biodun Shobanjo, during PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA the launch of the Defined Initiative for Digital Education, Innovation and Economic Development by the Foundation in Lagos…recently

Ganduje to NNPP: Our Stolen Mandate in Kano State Will Be Retrieved

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congres(APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the mandate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, which he alleged was stolen, would soon be retrieved at the appellate court.

Speaking on the victory of the former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the National Chairman, described the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s (NNPP) government as unpopular.

He expressed the APC's optimism that Doguwa's victory at the Tribunal would be the game changer in the democratic norms and principles in Kano State.

Ganduje, who congratulated the people of Doguwa/Tudunwada Federal Constituency and Kano state at large, stated that the victory came at a time when the State was dominated by unpopular voices of NNPP. "The court vindicates Alhassan Ado Doguwa as a hero of democracy and upholder of the tenets of rules of law, who believes in legal adjudication. Soon, our stolen mandate would be retrieved just like that of Doguwa,” Ganduje boasted.

"We commend the courts for upholding the popular mandate of the people because Doguwa's victory at the tribunal was a victory for democracy and a plus for the National Assembly," he said.

The National Chairman of the ruling party, said the presence of Doguwa in the green chamber was seriously needed to put the National Assembly on its right

path, insisting that his contributions to the wellbeing of the country could not be quantified.

"When Ado Doguwa held sway as the House Leader with Femi

as the Speaker, everyone saw good leadership at play because of maturity and upholding to the tenets of the principles of rules of law," he added.

The Department of State Service (EFCC) yesterday, confirmed the release of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, after 134 days.

A brief statement issued last night by Spokesman of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said the former EFCC boss was released by the security agency.

sembly elections tribunal sitting in Kano had on Monday, dismissed the petition filed by the NNPP candidate for lack of merit and legal value.

PANDEF Backs Call for Abia, Imo, Ondo Exclusion from NDDC Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has formally supported the call for the exclusion of Abia, Imo and Ondo states from the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had addressed a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, where he made the call.

Also at the meeting of PANDEF in Abuja, yesterday, the South-South leaders re-echoed the call for the amendment of relevant sections of the NDDC Establishment Act 2000.

They said the essence was to extricate the three non-South South States (Abia, Imo, and Ondo) that were integrated on political grounds, from the Commission.

The meeting was attended by the National Leader, Chief Dr. E. K. Clark; the PANDEF National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien; Members of the PANDEF Board of Trustees, National and State Officers, as well as former National and State Legislators, Governors, Ministers, and other critical Stakeholders.

Those in attendance also included

Hon. Nduese Essien, former Minister of Lands & Housing; Amb. Dr. Godknows Igali; Senator Musa Adede; Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange; Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw; Dr. Cairo Ojoubgoh; Solomon Asemota SAN; and Rt. Hon. Stella Dorgu.

Others were, Hon. Olivia Agbajoh; Obongawan Grace Ekong; HRM King Dr. Suanu T.Y. Baridam JP; Hon. Egho Ogene; Hon. Bassey Ekefre; Hon. Bernard Mikko; Prof. G. G. Darah; Prof. Uduak Umoh; Prince Okareme Maikpobi; HRH Diepreye Amadein; Chief Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN; Chief Barr. Obo Osaro; Hon. Ottos Akuephel and Dr. Ken Robinson, among others.

PANDEF also condemned the continued gross “annexation” of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, where all top strategic management positions are occupied by persons from the north, while Niger Delta indigenes were marginalised and circumscribed to peripheral standings, in both the management and operations of the industry The group also cited the recent humongous Pipeline Maintenance

Contracts awarded by NNPC Ltd to the exclusion of qualified firms from the Niger Delta as a typical example.

It called on President Bola Tinubu to guarantee the appointment of someone from any of the six South-South States as the next Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

"Anything short of that would be a great disservice to the Niger Delta people," PANDEF added.

Earlier yesterday, the Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, had declined comments on the call by the group's founder, Chief Edwin Clark, who had asked President Bola Tinubu to remove Abia, Imo and Ondo states from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

When confronted yesterday, at the National Assembly for his comments on the development, Essien, told journalists that he had not read the newspapers which published the reports of Clark on the issue.

He said, " I have not read any newspaper today. I will speak on it after reading the reports."

DSS Confirms Release of Ex-EFCC Chair, Abdulrasheed Bawa, After 134 Days in Detention Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Ganduje then charged Doguwa to continue to serve his people with vigor and unwavering commitment.

The States and National As-

"DSS confirms release of former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, a few hours ago (today 25th October, 2023)", it said.

Bawa was arrested on June 14, hours after his suspension

by President Bola Tinubu.

The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Willie Bassey, in a statement announcing Bawa’s suspension, cited “weighty allegations of abuse

of office levelled against him” as the reason for the president’s decision.

Since his arrest, the DSS has kept mum on the specific offences for which Bawa was arrested, the level of investigation and whether charges would be filed against him in court.

Human rights groups and lawyers protested his long detention without trial.

A statement by the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, shortly

after Bawa’s suspension on June 14, said the embattled EFCC chair arrived at the facility of the DSS in response to an invitation.

“The Department of State Services has invited Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him,” the DSS spokesman had said.

The PANDEF Chairman was at the National Assembly to chair the public presentation of a book, ‘Boldness to Succeed: The Journey of Life,’ written by a Director at the National Assembly Service Commission, Tom Paul Etuk.

Etuk in his book, chronicled the story of his life especially how he was pushing wheelbarrow at the popular Idu-Karimo market in Abuja as a graduate to eke a living before providence smiled on him and he met Essien in 2002.

Essien, at the time, who was the Deputy Senate Whip, had recommended him for appointment at the NASC from where he rose through the rank to become a director.

Speaking at the book presentation, the former principal officer of the Senate described the publisher as a humble and programmatic individual who had penchant to succeed.

He challenged everyone whom God had blessed, to reciprocate God's blessings upon their lives by also assisting less privileged persons to grow.

In the book Etuk, chronicled his grass to grace story and sought to inspire and motivate the younger generation of Nigerians not to give up on life or take to crime in the midst of societal challenges.

The Director who hails from Ekparakwa Clan in Oruk-Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, recalled that after he lost his father at a very tender age, his upbringing was characterised by years of hunger, tears, poverty, mockery and a sudden, temporary loss of memory while sitting for an examination.

However, in the midst of the challenges, he maintained an unwavering faith in God and engaged in several menial tasks even as a university graduate while severally applying and waiting for gainful employment.

As a university graduate, he took

to wheel barrow pushing business at Idu, Karmo and Wuse markets in Abuja, among other menial jobs to survive.

According to him, he faced many adversities, which could have made him give up on life or take to crime while growing up, but decided to take some bold decisions such as escaping from an orphanage home as a young boy because he felt he would not fulfil his destiny there.

He recalled how he suffered public disgrace in search of employment when he was arrested at Eagles Square in Abuja, by men of the Nigerian Army for trespassing and taken to Kuje Prison, but was released upon intervention by a good Samaritan.

At another time, he was among those whose employment into a federal parastatal in Abuja was cancelled because there were petitions alleging misconduct in the recruitment process.

These successive spells of misfortune, according to him, followed him everywhere he went to seek for job, yet he refused all counsels to seek help from ungodly places, preferring to hold on to God. Etuk, who obtained his Bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of Uyo in 1994 and a master's degree in Business Administration (Entrepreneurship) from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in 2016, admitted in his book that providence finally smiled on him as he was divinely connected to former Deputy Senate Chief Whip and philanthropist, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien and others who played key roles in his transformation.

The foreword to the book was written by Chief Edwin Clark who described the author as a honest and hardworking man who has demonstrated wisdom and courage to put together the book to inspire and motivate young people in Nigeria and around the world.

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WIMBIZ 22ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE...

L-R: Chair, Conference Planning Group, Tech Sub-Committee, Enimien Inegbedion; Executive Director, WIMBIZ, Hansatu Adegbite; Chair, Conference Planning Group, Molade Adeniyi; Vice Chair, Dr. Joy Isa, and Chair, Conference Planning Group, Communications and Publicity Sub-Committee, Tolulope Olorundero during a press conference to announce WIMBIZ’ 22nd Annual Conference billed to hold on November 2nd and 3rd, held in Lagos…yesterday

Salihu Lukman: Five Months After, Tinubu's Government Lacks Direction Says president promoting culture of imposition within party

Adedayo Akinwale ÓØ ÌßÔË The former National Vice Chairman, North-west of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman has lamented that five months after President Bola Tinubu assumed office, his administration has not been able to define the direction it wants to go.

Lukman in a statement issued yesterday, titled, "APC: The Inconvenient Reality", said it was unacceptable that President Bola Tinubu would

inspire party members fight against the culture of imposition, only for him to initiate actions that risk compromising him as a leader who tolerates, if not promotes imposition within the APC. According to him, the emergence of APC in 2013, raised the hopes of Nigerians that the party would provide a different model of party administration such that processes of candidates’ selection and party governance could allow for broader

membership participation.

He added: “How have we as a ruling party performed? Have we been able to present a new model of party governance? Or did we collapse and therefore metamorphosed into another PDP in the name of APC? While as individuals we will have different explanations to the reality called APC today, the reality is that, as a party, it is yet to emerge as the model Nigerians expected when the it emerged in 2013. “Incidences of

imposition of candidates and allegations of vote buying unfortunately have gradually found strong expression in APC. With serving Governors alleged to be exercising what could be considered monopoly control of party structures at state levels, APC primary is reduced to window dressing activity, producing anointed candidates. Internal party contests are being muscled out of existence.

Inducements to party leaders at all levels have graduated beyond rational

Niger NNPP Crisis: Anti-Kwakwanso Group Stops Caretaker Committee from Accessing Secretariat Laleye Dipo ÓØ ÓØØË The crisis plaguing the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has deepened, following the refusal of the anti-Rabiu Kwankwaso elements of the party

in Niger state to allow the caretaker committee to access the party’s secretariat.

The Mamman Damisa-led state executive has also repainted the state secretariat of the party and is set to

Group Urges Tinubu to Withdraw Appointment of Auditor General Juliet Akoje ÓØ ÌßÔË A group, Defenders of Constitutional Democracy (DCD) yesterday called on President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the appointment of Mr. Shaakaa Chira as the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) and direct the Federal Civil Service Commission to follow due process in the nomination for the position.

The group further urged the Senate not to confirm the appointment, alleging that it was an abuse of seniority in the civil service.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the National Coordinator of DCD, Abdullahi Aliyu, said that the president was misled by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to breach the seniority order by appointing a junior director ahead of his seniors.

"As a group that is committed to defending constitutional democracy, we cannot sit idle and watch when things are not going well. The appointment of Mr. Shaakaa Chira is in complete breach of Civil Service Rules and Regulations. We wish to request that you withdraw the appointment with immediate effect and

order for the right thing to be done," the group said.

According to Aliyu, Chira is number 18 on the seniority list of directors in the Office of Auditor General, wherein there are 17 directors who are his seniors. “ He was promoted to the rank of director in 2022 and should not have been nominated and appointed over and above very senior directors. He has been in only one department since 2010 and started heading a department only last year December.

“The man was promoted in January 2021 and the exercise conducted was from September 2022 to early 2023," he added.

According to the group, no reason was given for the sudden jettisoning of the first process for the appointment of Auditor General, which was concluded in 2021.

“Why was that initial process cancelled and some directors prevented from participating in the latest arrangement that produced Chira?" he queried.

Aliyu stressed that besides being a junior director, Chira had not headed any unit before his ‘shocking’ appointment as AuGF.

print its new logo on the walls of the office and its fence, it was learnt.

Besides, the Damisa committee also declared as illegal the caretaker committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, insisting that his own team remains the only body legally recognised by the constitution.

"We are not recognising any caretaker or working committee.

The constitution of our party empowers the Board of Trustees (BOT) to reinstate us which has been done," he added.

The August 14 letter which reinstated the state leadership of the party, was signed by Dr Boniface Aniebonam and was made available to THISDAY.

He further stated that his group was only loyal to the Agbor Major national leadership, insisting that his they were waiting for a court decision before putting its new logo on the walls of its offices and fences.

A national leader of the party, Abdulhamid Danladi, reacting to the development, accused some members of the party of pursuing personal interests to the detriment of the overall interest of the party.

Danladi accused some members of the party in the state of taking actions that compromised the 2023 general elections.

Danladi who lost the senatorial election for Niger North Senatorial zone said that the party had started to rebuild ahead of the next election.

comprehension.

“Beyond all these, cost of party nomination forms in APC have become the most expensive in the political history of Nigeria. Recall that in 2014, ahead of the 2015 general elections, cost of APC Presidential and Gubernatorial nomination forms was respectively, N27.5 million and N5 million. In 2019, it was increased to N45 million and N22.5 million for Presidential and Gubernatorial nomination forms respectively.

“It rose to N100 million and N50 million in 2023 respectively. At this rate, by 2027, the cost of APC nomination form for Presidential election will not be less than N250 million.

That of Gubernatorial election may not be less than N125 million.”

While acknowledging that high cost of nomination forms for candidates for election assisted in mobilising large-scale financial resources for the party, this he said had also brought about allegations of large-scale corruption by APC leadership especially at national level.

“For instance, in 2023, APC realised more than N32 billion from sales of forms to aspiring candidates under the leadership of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu. Unfortunately, allegations of mismanagement of the funds accrued to the Party by Sen. Adamu, Sen. Iyiola Omisore and Ahmad El-Marzuq, National Chairman, National Secretary and National Legal Adviser characterised the two-year tenure of Sen. Adamu between March 2022 and July 2023, which led to their resignations.

“Apart from allegations of mismanagement of financial resources, there were alleged cases of arbitrary and discretionary management of the party by Sen. Adamu, on account of which virtually all structures of the APC, notably, National Advisory Council, National Executive Committee and National Caucus, were frozen.”

According to him, between 2015 and today, the APC has continued to function with most of its structures as provided in the party’s constitution not operational.

He alleged that powers of these structures were usurped by leaders of the party, mainly the National Chairman and the President who should be the moral leader of the party mainly expected to act as the conscience of the party.

“Between 2015 and 2023, during the tenure of former President Buhari, many party leaders and members were able to leverage the ‘moral authority’ of the former President to contest and seek redress of Constitutional infractions by leaders of the party. This is largely responsible for many of the internal leadership contestations in APC since 2019. Those contestations resulted in changes of leadership of the party at different times.

“Sadly, experiences since the emergence of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the new moral leader of the APC produce a new reality whereby potential infractions may be created by initiatives directly coming from the President himself.

Labour Party Calls for Onyejeocha’s Sack Settle your crisis, leave me alone, minister responds Chuks Okocha ÓØ ÌßÔË The Labour Party (LP) yesterday asked President Bola Tinubu to relieve the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, of her appointment over her alleged failure to concentrate on her job.

The party equally urged security agencies to invite her for questioning over her alleged role in the contrived crisis within its ranks.

National youth leader of the party, Kennedy Ahanotu, made the demand on behalf of the party at a media parley in Abuja.

“We are therefore calling on the present government to relieve Onyejeocha of her ministerial role as she has lost focus, and she has

refused to concentrate on the assignment given to her,” he stated.

The leadership of the party also drew the attention of Nigerians to what it called an “unholy alliance” between Onyejeocha and some of its expelled members led by Chief Lamidi Apapa, whose purpose, it said is to ensure that crisis is sustained perpetually in the party.

Giving reasons why the minister should be sacked, the youth leader said the she will go to any length to instigate and fund crisis within the party. “We are however aware that the former lawmaker is fighting a personal and proxy war against the party, " he added.

But in a reaction, media aide to Onyejeocha, Gabriel Emameh,

described the comments as a paid campaign against the minister, especially coming less than 24 hours after some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cautioned some of her traducers within and outside the party.

"Ahanoto has forgotten so soon that the crisis in LP started even before the inauguration of the party's presidential campaign council in 2022.

"Why Ahanotu and his gang believe that Onyejeocha is the source of the problems that have ripped LP inside out since it lost the presidential election is not just arrantly illogical but obsessive and demonic.

"Despite all the pre-election posturing, it was all too clear to

every discerning mind that LP was a fantasy house built on sand, of which its loss at the presidential poll has continued to expose its rotten underbelly,” he said.

The minister said that as a strong believer in the rule of law and in the sanctity of the courtroom as well as the judiciary as the citadel of justice, she is optimistic that a Daniel will also come to judgement at the Appeal Tribunal.

"That is not to say that she is not supremely happy and proud of her new national assignment. As a matter of fact, she wishes with all devotion that the idlers in LP and their sponsors should get meaningfully busy and lay off her back with their irritations,” Emameh explained.

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INSPECTION TOUR OF FLOODED AREAS OF ISHERI NORTH...

L-R; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Olalekan Shodeinde; Hon. Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab; Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle RotimiAkodu; and Permanent Secretary, Office of Enviromental Services, Gaji Omobolaji; during an inspection tour to Flooded areas of Isheri North, Lagos State.... yesterday

INEC: We Expect Improved Performance of BVAS, IReV in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Guber Polls Removes Sylva's name in amended list of candidates APC kicks, says delisting former minister’s name from Bayelsa governorship list premature Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, said it was looking forward to improved performance of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result upload on INEC Result Viewing (IReV) in the forthcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states scheduled to hold on November 11.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in Abuja at the quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs).

He said the Commission had accredited 145 organisations deploying 7,896 observers for the off cycle elections taking place in the three states.

The INEC chairman noted that in the next few days, accredited organisations would be invited to collect identity cards for their observers.

Yakubu stated: "As you are aware, the Commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States two weeks ago.

"By doing so, we tested the efficacy of the BVAS for both biometric authentication of voters and the

upload of results to the IReV. Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal.

"We have received no adverse report so far. By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful, and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond."

The electoral body noted that the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship elections were critical to the Commission.

Meanwhile, the Commission has released amended lists of candidates for off cycle governorship elections.

The amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, indicated that the name of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were not included for the Bayelsa election.

In the list signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose OriaranAnthony, the Commission cited court order as the reason for removing Sylva's name from the amended list.

Also, for the Imo governorship election, the commission included the

names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, for Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election.

In the meantime, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on INEC to withdraw its amendment lists of candidates for the Bayelsa governorship election, due to its

removal of Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver from the list of candidates for the Bayelsa election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, in a statement issued yesterday, said the action by INEC might not be unconnected with the High Court judgement of October 9, 2023 which disqualified Sylva as the candidate of the party.

The ruling party stressed that its candidate and party promptly appealed the judgment and brought other processes seeking stay of the judgment’s execution.

Morka, added that recognising the extreme urgency of the matter, the Court of Appeal granted an order of accelerated hearing of the matter now fixed for definite hearing on

Friday October 27, 2023, stressing that INEC was a party in the matter and had been served with all relevant filings and orders in this matter.

He insisted that removing the party's candidate from the list of governorship contestants in Bayelsa would foist a situation of helplessness on the appellate court, the candidate and APC should the appeal succeed.

Delta Proposes N714.4bn As 2024 Budget Estimates Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Executive Council yesterday approved the 2024 state budget proposal totalling N714 billion at a meeting presided over

by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, who stated this while briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting at the Government House Asaba, said that the budget estimates comprised capital expenditure of N397 billion, representing 56 per cent of the proposed budget while N316 billion, representing 44 per

cent of the budget, was earmarked as recurrent expenditure.

Ekadeyan, who was flanked

by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Festus Ahon, described the 2024 proposed budget as "a people's budget", noting that it was based on a national exchange rate benchmark of N750 to one dollar.

Aside attention to infrastructural projects, massive urbanisation and various empowerment and job creation programmes, the Oborevwori administration will also support small scale businesses with single-digit loans and intensify healthcare delivery activities across

the state, Ekedayen noted.

The commissioner said: "The budget size is N714.4 billion, broken down into capital and recurrent components of N397 billion capital, representing 56 per cent, while the recurrent component is N316 billion, representing 44 per cent.

"The budget was premised on the vision of the present administration and encompassing largely on the activities and programmes that will drive the M.O.R.E agenda.

"It is still a proposition because the House of Assembly will still have to look at it and approve

at a later date. However, broadly speaking, it's a budget that the people will be happy and proud of because a lot of impactful and developmental projects will be embarked upon.

"The people should expect new townships and massive road infrastructures, with emphasis on quality; people should also expect some new expansions in the healthcare institutions we have in the state."

The state government will continue to fund small businesses across the state in 2024, he further said.

apex court was to "redo what we have done", as the court had earlier resolved the issue some months back, even before hearing commenced at the tribunal.

While stating that the apex court was not bound to hear every appeal brought before it, the presiding justice stated that the senior lawyer ought to have withdrawn the petition at the tribunal when he was confronted with the apex court decision on the matter.

APM, in its petition, had sought the disqualification of Tinubu on grounds of alleged unlawful and double nomination of his vice presidential candidate.

APM argued that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the February 25 presidential election, having violated the provisions of Section 142 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Abuja, National Legal Adviser of Labour Party (LP), Kehinde Edun, said, "We are expected to win. Which law says that the Supreme Court should not listen to fresh evidence? Once you have a compelling fresh evidence, as we have, the Supreme Court is bound to accept it.

"It is part of the Supreme Court rules to accept fresh evidence when there is the need for it. This is the law of the land and cannot be refused or rejected this time around."

The LP legal adviser stated, "Nigerians are confident that the judiciary, being the last voice of Nigerians, justice shall prevail.

"We won the election. Labour Party is not thinking that the decision of Supreme Court to deliver judgement is because of the FBI report."

Edun explained that the FBI report had nothing to added or include in the petitions before the apex court, saying what is to be added as evidence has been added to enable the justices of the Supreme Court do justice to the issues at hand.

Similarly, PDP, in a statement by it National Publicity Secretary,

Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said the party believed that “issues of the February 2023 presidential election; the barefaced violation of rules and the laws, the brazen manipulations and falsifications in perversion of the electoral process, have put democracy in a precarious situation”.

Ologunagba said Nigerians and, indeed, the whole world, “Look forward to the Supreme Court for justice in the hope that the court will apply the laws, including the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and INEC Guidelines and Regulations in delivering substantial justice in the matter.”

According to the PDP spokesperson, "The earnest expectation of Nigerians and lovers of democracy across the world is that the Supreme Court will use this case to firmly validate the maxim that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.''

Ologunagba said Nigerians were optimistic in hoping that the Supreme Court would dispense substantial justice according to law and fact in the appeal.

T I N U B U , AT I K U , O B I FAC E J U D G M E N T TO DAY documents, raised by one of the Supreme Court justices, Justice Emmanuel Agim, the senior lawyer had maintained that the Court of Appeal was not like other election tribunals that were bound by 180 days. He disagreed that the fact that the deposition took place in the office of Atiku's lawyer robbed it of any legality, since parties, including Tinubu's lawyer, agreed to the place of deposition and were present and did not raised any objections.

He pointed out that the deposition was carried out on the orders of a United States District Court and was as such valid.

On why CSU did not issue a letter disclaiming the certificate Tinubu presented to INEC, Uche explained that the institution might have considered deposition better than a written letter, adding that the issuance of two conflicting letters on the issue by the institution necessitated the deposition.

The senior lawyer argued that the Supreme Court as the custodian of the constitution should admit such evidence and invoke Section 137 of the constitution to deal with the issue in place of technicalities.

Uche argued regarding the

Supreme Court, "As a Court of Policy, Nigerians are looking up to this court to look at the fresh evidence and come up with a conclusion that would set the country on the path of credible governance.

"This court must jettison technicalities to do substantial justice to the instant case. The elapse of the 180 days cannot and should not tie the hand of the Supreme Court in doing justice on matters affecting the highest office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

He maintained that Tinubu was not constitutionally qualified to contest the election at the time he did and that the Supreme Court must be courageous enough to disqualify him accordingly.

However, the respondents, in adopting their replies, urged the court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit.

But lead counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, pointed out that all election tribunals were established by Section 285 of the Constitution and the Court of Appeal was not exempted, as it was bound by the 180 days for the hearing and determination of election petitions.

Similarly, Tinubu's lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, while aligning with the submission of INEC on jurisdiction, pointed out that the deposition Atiku sought to present before the court was not admissible even in the US. Olanipekun explained that for it to be admissible, the deponent would have to come before the court to adopt the deposition.

Besides, Olanipekun, while submitting that INEC ought to have been a party at the deposition, argued that the issue was at large, as the court would not know where to place it within the petition or arguments of the appellants.

Equally responding, All Progressives Congress (APC), through its lead counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi, urged the apex court to dismiss the application on the grounds that the applicant ought to have started at the very court trying the matter.

At the end of adoption of processes, Okoro announced that judgement had been reserved in the two appeals.

In dismissing the appeal of APM, Okoro drew the attention of Machukwu-Ume to the fact that what he was asking of the

We Are Confident Judiciary Won't Fail Nigerians, Say PDP, LP

Atiku and Obi once again declared they were confident of victory.

Speaking with newsmen in

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COURTESY VISIT BY IFC...

L-R: IFC Senior Country Manager, Nigeria, Kalim Shah; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mamuda Mamman, and Principal Investment Officer, Infrastructure, IFC, Christian Mulamula, during a courtesy visit from IFC to the Ministry in Abuja... recently

NCDMB Boss Warns against Tinkering with the Petroleum Industry Act Olusegun Samuel ÓØ ÏØËÑÙË The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, has advised that making unending changes to the structures set up by Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA) could kill the confidence of investors and stall new projects in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking on Tuesday, at a panel session at the recently concluded

Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja, the Executive Secretary explained that the PIA 2021 contains adequate provisions to ignite growth in the energy sector and advised the federal government and key stakeholders to avoid the temptation of tweaking the law at every turn.

He hinted that, “policy somersaults kill the confidence of investors.

Once a nation or economic sector is known for trial-and-error initiatives, it makes the investors adopt

a wait-and-see attitude or move on to other entities.”

While acknowledging the need to seek areas of improvement, he cautioned that, “it is injurious to the investment climate if we are in a perpetual state of policy modifications or amendment of laws that we are yet to even progress to full implementation.”

Wabote, remarked that it took the Nigerian oil and gas industry almost two decades to pass the PIA, saying

during the time many stakeholders of the industry had blamed the lack of passage of the then Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as the reason for the lack of investment in the oil and gas industry.

He charged players of the industry to complete ongoing projects and deploy the provisions of the PIA to simulate the necessary growth in the energy sector.

Dwelling on ideas that would ignite the growth of the industry, the Executive Secretary recommended timely decisions on lingering issues on divestments, assignments and acquisitions, bid rounds, inter-agency collaborations, sanctity of contracts,

and others.

He also canvassed for the speedy completion of the Dangote Refinery project and the delivery of products into the economy.

Speaking further, he listed the Presidential Power Initiative in partnership with Siemens and the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries as ignition points for growth, stressing need to get them across the finish line.

“The construction of the 615km AKK Pipeline is an ignition point for growth, we need to keep at it till completion, otherwise, it remains a pipe dream,” he added.

The Executive Secretary also

harped on the need to set Local Content practice as a National Agenda to address recurring dislocations in the economy.

He recalled that Presidential Executive Order 003 requires that MDAs must give preference to made-in-Nigeria brands in eight products.

He pointed out that the implementation has been abandoned in public procurement. He insisted that the successes recorded in the practice of Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry needed to be replicated and sustained across other sectors of our economy to promote local manufacturing and productivity.

Sule: Gyunka's Reckless Remarks on Me Exposed His Ignorance US Supports 18,000 Nigerian-owned Small Businesses Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday said former senator Philip Gyunka was ignorant of recent developmental strides in the state hence his reckless remarks on his administration.

Gyunka, a former senator representing Sule's Nasarawa North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was said to had made some uncomplimentary remarks made on the administration of the state governor when he featured as guest on a national television to discuss the recent split judgement of the governorship election petition tribunal in Lafia.

However, reacting in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, Auld stated that such unwarranted remark on him was not only reckless, but also exposed Gyunka's ignorance of what was happening in the State.

Sule said: "It is a public knowledge that my administration has recorded unprecedented achievements in all facets. This remains a fact that cannot be argued anywhere because the giant strides are not only visible but can also be felt and touched across the state.

"For the records, it is pertinent to point out that my administration has initiated and executed over a hundred projects, cutting across all sectors of the economy and completed several others that were inherited from the previous administrations in Akwanga Zone, made up of Akwanga, Wamba and Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Areas since inception in 2019."

He said that his administration facilitated the establishment of a Mobile Police Training College at Endehu, Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area.

"We have constructed the of Gudi - Moroa road. Gudi - Ungwan

Dorowa road, Alushi - Wakama road, Rinze - Ngare -Ancho - Baba - Andaha road, Andaha - Numa Bayan Dutse roads, all in Akwanga council.

“We also constructed the Kagbu - Atsoko - Kagbu Wana road in Nasarawa-Eggon and Wamba township roads,” he stressed.

Other projects the governor outlined to have been executed by his administration in Akwanga Zone included; the Akwanga and Nasarawa-Eggon Neighborhood Markets, Wamba Modern Markets and completion of the Akwanga Model Hospital.

"We wish to remind Gyunka and indeed, his co-travellers who, for retrogressive opposition politics have refused to see any project executed in the state and Akwanga Zone in particular by the present administration that the VIP Lodge at Akwanga was also remodelled by my administration.

to Access $244m in Agricultural Investments Michael Olugbode ÓØ ÌßÔË ËØÎ Ugo Aliogo The United States government has said that it supported 18,000 Nigerian-owned businesses through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a statement, it said that the $15.7 million Agribusiness Investment activity assisted small businesses in seven states – Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger.

The statement further explained that the initiative mobilised more than N188 billion ($244 million) in agricultural investment, thereby providing access to finance, and bolstering their businesses.

The statement hinted that the

small businesses are now able to expand business operations for increased food production, specifically for aquaculture, cowpea, maize, rice, and soybean.

The statement further stated that agriculture accounts for a substantial part of Nigeria’s economy and 35 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce is employed in the sector.

It added that Nigerian agriculture has economic potential if the high cost of doing business, limited access to finance and investment, and high regulatory barriers can be addressed.

The statement said that by supporting agriculture and food security programmes in collaboration with the federal and state ministries to increase agricultural

productivity, USAID has partnered with Nigeria to help address these challenges.

The USAID/Nigeria Economic Growth and Environment Office Director Michelle Corzine stated: “We have seen remarkable improvements in the agricultural sector, and it is essential that public and private-sector actors continue to collaborate to ensure that we continue to improve the business environment for Nigeria’s farmers.”

The statement added more than 150 people attended the closeout event, including the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, USAID officials, and public and privatesector partners.

Bank Signs $40m House to Investigate Nigerians Involved in $11bn P&ID’s Bogus Deal Fidelity Deal with Afreximbank, Ex-lawmaker, Uwak congratulates FG, cautions on arbitral awards

Alex Enumah ËØÎ Juliet Akoje ÓØ ÌßÔË The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committees on Justice and Financial Crimes to investigate the conduct of Nigerians involved in the P&ID deal of $11 billion deal.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Kama Nkemkanma at plenary.

Nkemkanma while presenting the motion expressed excitement at the judgment of the Business and Property Court in London on Monday, which halted the enforcement of the $11 billion arbitration award in favour of

P&ID against Nigeria in a case marked CL-2019-000752.

He recalled that in the judgment delivered by Justice Robert Knowles, it was held that the process through which P&ID secured a 2010 contract to build a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State, was fraudulent.

“What happened in this case is very serious indeed, and it is important that section 68 has been available to maintain the rule of law," he said.

The lawmaker further noted that Nigeria has been involved in a fight with P&ID since the company accused the Nigerian government of botching a deal by failing to provide gas to them leading to the situation

where the country suffered a $6.6 billion judgement debt in 2017.

Meanwhile, a former member of the House of Representatives, Robinson Uwak, has joined other well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate the federal government and President Bola Tinubu, over the country's victory at the London Court of Arbitration.

Uwak, who described the victory as a welcome relief for the country, particularly at a time of severe economic and social difficulties, put the sum at over N11 trillion.

"I join all well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate President Tinubu over the victory of Nigeria at the British Commercial Court, Business and Property Section which on

Monday nullified the arbitral award of $11 billion (with accumulated interests) against Nigeria.

"I consider this lifeline given to us as a huge opportunity to save our foreign reserve, which has depleted considerably and revamp the potency of the naira.

"I equally see this as a mild rebuke to our domestic and external contracting where breaches are rife, and the corruption among some cadres of the civil service," he stated.

He urged the new administration to address the situation by urgently introducing reforms that would curtail fraud and corruption in the country, adding that, there are still pending international arbitrations involving Nigeria.

JohnVents to Boost Cocoa Export

Nume Ekeghe

Afreximbank in collaboration with Fidelity Bank Plc acting as the local administrative agent, has entered into a $40 million agreement to facilitate a pre-export finance facility for JohnVents Industries, with the aim of boosting cocoa exports in Nigeria.

The deal was signed at the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) in Houston, yesterday, at the conclusion of the two-day event which hosted a broad range of businesses, regulators, members of the diplomatic corps, and an array of guests.

Fidelity Bank in a statement noted that the event was aimed at increasing the pipeline of Nigerian businesses that export into the US market, providing the diaspora market with more ethnic product options and enabling exporters to build capacity to improve product quality and meet international standards.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, stated: “Developments on the global scene have necessitated the need to constantly seek viable alternatives as businesses work to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving macro-economic environment.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 26, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

IOD FELLOWSHIP INVESTITURE...

L-R: President/Chairman of Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Director (CloD) Nigeria, Alhaji Tijjani M. Borodo; Managing Director, Remita,Mr.’Deremi Atanda; Second Vice President, CloD Nigeria, Amina Oyagbola, and Director General/CEO, CloD Nigeria, Dele Alimi, at the 2023 Fellows’ Night and Investiture ceremony in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Pray for Peaceful Guber Election in Imo, Uzodimma Urges Catholic Bishops Tony Icheku in Owerri Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday urged Catholic Bishops in Nigeria to intensify their prayers for peace and progress in the country in general and in particular, for a peaceful conduct of election in state come November 11.

Gov Uzodimma, while delivering his speech at the 5th

National Mission Congress of Nigeria ( NAMICON) taking place at Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, further asked the clergy not to relent in chastising politicians when they err and to commend them when they do the right thing, “with the development around the globe all eyes are on Nigeria as the spiritual light of the world.”

The four- day event holding

Court Sacks Soun of Ogbomoso Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso, yesterday, nullified the selection and installation of Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

The state government had announced Olaoye, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and based in the United States of America (USA) as the new Soun and the kingmakers of the town subsequently installed him on September 8, 2023.

However, Mr. Kabir Olaoye, one of the contenders for the Soun of Ogbomoso stool,

dragged him to court, saying he was not eligible for the position of Soun of Ogbomoso.

The presiding judge, Justice K.A. Adedokun, while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed

by Kabir, restrained the governor, attorney general and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Oyo State either by themselves, agents or officials from presenting any instrument of office in any form of ceremony or issuance of certificate of installation to Ghandi pending the hearing and final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court.

APSS Appoints Moghalu as Chair of Board The Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS), a Pan-African, private sector-led non-profit organisation that promotes trade and investment in Africa, headquartered in Accra, Ghana, has announced the appointment of Professor Kingsley Moghalu of Nigeria, as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors.

Professor Moghalu, one of Africa’s eminent political economists and development practitioners, served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, and subsequently as Professor

of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Massachusetts, USA. He is the CEO of Sogato Strategies LLC, a macroeconomic, investment and geopolitical risk consultancy, and the President of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET), a public policy think tank.

Moghalu previously worked in United Nations System for 17 years, rising to the rank of Director.

from October 24 to October 27 has the theme: ‘Fear not, for I am with you.’

The Imo governor, who expressed happiness over the

Chairman of Xcellon Capital Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, said: “We welcome the admission and approval by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutierrez, and feel quite honored to be accorded such rare privilege. We consider ourselves truly outstanding and standing out in the midst of such an elite group of corporate entities around the world.”

Peterside expressed his company’s strong commitment to live and operate according to the philosophy espoused by the UN Global Corporate Compact.

for the will of God to prevail in the election.

“Pray for a peaceful election that will glorify God,” he said and assured the people that his

administration would continue to support the Church in all her activities as well as facilitate the mission of the Church across the globe.

Africans Must Invest at Home for Economic Growth, Says Nigerian Statesman

SundayOkobi

Africans and Nigerians in particular have been urged to wake up to the imperatives of innovating and investing in their homeland as the first line option for economic growth and development of the continent.

An industrialist and President

of Blue Orange Initiative and Promoter of Colonades Hotels and Hospitality Range, Okemili Charles Odunukwe, made the remark yesterday on the occasion of his recognition as “Dynamic Entrepreneur Of Excellence” by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School, in Awka, Anambra

State.

He said: “Nigerians and Africans must wake up to the imperative necessity to innovate and invest in their homeland as a first line option for economic growth, sustainable development and political stability.

The craving to take resources made here, acquired or stolen, to stash and

hide in overseas safe havens is at the centre of our current misery, multiple insecurity and criminalities, because investments are not enough to generate peace and passion for nationalism. The few that are there are closing down as naira, our currency, is being driven to the pit of value suicide.”

Labour Party’s Candidate Shines as Diri, Sylva Shun Bayelsa Debate Olusegun Samuel inYenagoa

The Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, was outstanding at a debate organised on Monday for party candidates ahead of the November 11

election.

But the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Douye Diri; the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Mr. Timipre Sylva and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mr. Simeon Imomotimi Karioru, were

conspicuously absent and failed to send representatives.

The debate was held in Yenagoa was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Ijaw Diaspora Council (IDC), Institute of Mass Communication & Information Management of

Nigeria, and Kabkaechi.

Apart from Eradiri, candidates of Accord Party, Idikio Warmate Jone; Action Peoples’ Party, Mercy Kemelayefa Ogege and Social Democratic Party (SDP) Binalayefa Osuluku, were present at the debate.

Northern Govs Urged to Emulate Embattled Yusuf of Kano State Daji Sani in Yola

North East Youth Progressive Unions (NYPU) and the Coalition for Democratic Rights Group have called on governors from the North-east and by extension the entire northern governors to emulate the good work of

the embattled Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State in the education and capacity building and appealed for justice in his case at the Court of Appeal.

The Chairman of NYPU, Mr. Kabir Hassan Sambo, said during a press conference yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State that the

embattled Governor Yusuf within the last five months has paid for the tuition, feeding, and accommodation of 1001 post graduate students sent to India.

He further revealed that the governor has also paid the Senior Secondary school examination fees (NECO) for 57,000 students,

Tuition fees of 7,000 students at Bayero University, and tertiary institution students in Kano are now granted 50% discount on their fees. Furthermore, he has reopened 26 skills acquisition institutes for training and empowerment of residents of Kano State.

Flood: Ogun to Demolish Buildings on Drainage Channels James Sowole in Abeokuta The Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, said that buildings erected on water drainage channels at Isheri, a border community between Lagos and Ogun State, would be demolished.

Abiodun also stressed the need for drainage master plan in the area located in Ifo Local Government Area of the state to address longstanding drainage issues that is responsible for incessant flooding in the area.

The governor disclosed the plan after inspecting the

flooded community, which was his second visit to the ravaged area in 48 hours. He said that many houses were constructed on drainage channel.

The governor inspected the flooded community and accompanied by the Minister of State, Environment and

Sanitation, Dr. Isiaq Salako, and Minister of Water Resources, Professor Joseph Utsev.

Abiodun appreciated President Bola Tinubu for responding swiftly to his government’s call in finding immediate solution to the flooding problem.

Hope Project: NDDC Deploys 370 Collation Officers, Supervisors Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt

Niger Delta Development Xcellon Capital Admitted The Commission (NDDC) has 370 collation officers to UN Global Compact deployed and supervisors for the Xcellon Capital Advisors (XCA) has been admitted into the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The company said in a letter received and signed by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutierrez, it was stated that XCA is now admitted into the global elite of corporate citizens that are bound by the ideals of pursuing sound corporate charter that encompass several key aspects, that includes Sustainable Development Goals SDGs) to drive business awareness and achieve long-term growth.

Commenting, the Executive

timing of the congress, coming close to the governorship election in the state next month appealed to the priests to use their spiritual positions to pray

registration of youths to benefit from its Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement (HOPE)

project.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who made this disclosure yesterday, during the deployment ceremony at the Rivers State Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Centre in Port Harcourt, said the collation

officers and the supervisors were selected from the 185 local government areas in the nine Niger Delta states.

Ogbuku said that the youth development and empowerment scheme was designed to create a comprehensive resource database of the youth population of the

Niger Delta region, noting that it would provide a platform to empower youths of the region on sustainable basis.

He charged the collation officers and supervisors to register the youths, following the transparent process already established by the commission.

Neconde Energy Debunks Alleged Impoverishment of OML 42 Host Communities

Peter Uzoho

Neconde Energy Limited, the joint venture partner of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) on the oil mining lease (OML) 42, has refuted allegations of impoverishing its host

communities in the Niger Delta.

A foremost independent oil and gas company with stakes in developed oil fields and gas reserves in the Niger Delta, Neconde Energy, in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its legal department, claimed that the reports were not only false and unfortunate but were

a product of blackmailers.

While setting the records straight, the company, which had been managing the OML 42 oil asset as a joint venture partner of the NEPL since 12 years ago, noted that remaining silent when truth was viciously violated by falsehood was not a strong suit of the promoters

of Neconde Energy Limited.

It said when wilful and harmful falsehood masquerading as investigative journalism by a blog, alleged that Neconde Energy Limited was impoverishing its host communities in the Delta, the company’s management now sought to set the records straight.

39

T H I S D AY ˾ , ͺ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ajibade’s Strike Saves Super Falcons Blushes against Ethiopia

Nigeria’s Super Falcons forced Ethiopia’s Lucy to a 1-1 draw in a 2024 Olympic Games football event qualifier in Addis Ababa yesterday.

The more illustrious, nine-time African champions were stunned when Ethiopia took the lead, barely six minutes of play as Birkie Amare made hay from a corner kick.

The hosts held on to the lead till end of first half, in a game that witnessed too many missed chances by the Nigerian team that reached Last 16 at the last World Cup in Australia and New Zealand few months ago.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s scorching shot from the edge of the box, six minutes after the restart, restored parity at the Abebe Bekila Stadium.

With Asisat Oshoala in the topstriking position, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday operated from the wings, with Michelle Alozie switched to left back to allow Nicole Payne take charge at right back.

Oluwatosin Demehin and Akudo Ogbonna took control at the centre of the defence, and with Christy Ucheibe and Halimatu Ayinde unavailable, Peace Efih joined Toni Payne and Ajibade to string things together in the middle.

Both teams found it hard to create many opportunities in a tight first period, though Asisat Oshoala should have done better with an opportunity from Payne’s cross halfway into the period.

After Ajibade restored parity, the Falcons took full control, and substitute Ifeoma Onumonu should have put Nigeria in the lead in the 64th minute, only to be denied as she cocked the trigger.

Payne and Onumonu combined to create a gilt-edged opportunity in the 79th minute, but once more Oshoala failed to make hay.

The Falcons thought they had won it when Onumonu towered above all to head into the net on the dot of time. However, Algerian referee Lamia Atman spotted foul play in the build-up.

The Super Falcons were a team

O LY M P I C Q UA L I F I E R without a coach or a game plan as Randy Waldrum, who guided them to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New

Zealand stayed away and assistant coach Justin Madugu stood in for him. Waldrum’s contract situation with the NFF has yet to be resolved,

officials said.

Both teams will clash again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, with the winner on aggregate to proceed to the third round, where the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture awaits.

NNL Board Postpones League Kick off Date The board of Nigeria National League (NNL) has announced the postponement of the kick off date of the 2023/2024 league season to a yet to be announced date.

The league originally planned to kick off on Saturday October 28 according to the NNL was postponed to enable clubs conclude registration for the new season.

According to a statement by the NNL, the board in arriving at the decision took into cognizance the inability of teams to meet up with the Wednesday, October, 25 registration deadline because of the economic situation facing the country.

"We regret to announce that the 2023/2024 league season

originally planned to kick off this Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital has been postponed to a new date which will be communicated to teams once clubs finish formalization of registration process.

The statement explained that with the latest development, clubs are now advised to conclude their registration on November 3, 2023 noting that once registration is concluded, the board of NNL will announce a new date for the commencement of the league.

Teams are however warned that failure to meet up with the new registration date means non-participation in the second tier league.

BOWFT 2023: Heartland Queens, Delta Queens Record First Victories Adibe Emenyonu ÓØ ÏØÓØ ÓÞã

Super Falcons' Michelle Alozie (in front) trying to get away from an Ethiopian player during their Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia...yesterday

Heartland Queens FC of Owerri secured their first victory at the 2023 Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament (BOWFT) with a 2-1 win over Royal Queens FC in the second Group C clash of the tournament yesterday.

The showdown took place at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Sports Complex, with Alex Ogul from Royal Queens netting the opener in the 24th minute of the first half.

Heartland Queens managed to level the score in the 28th minute before sealing their victory few minutes to the halftime break.

Royal Queens labored in vain to equalise.

Elsewhere at the mini-stadium of Western Boys College in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Delta Queens claimed the Group D lead with three points following a 1-0 win over Ekiti Queens FC. In a post-match interview at the Western Boys College mini-stadium, Delta Queens’ Most Valuable Player of the match, Lucky Mary, expressed appreciation to the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, for providing a platform for young girls to showcase their talents in the game of football.

Yusuf’s Goal Harmless as Zaidu’s Porto Cruise Behind Barcelona NFF Celebrates Adebutu @ 88 Nigerian international, Alhassan Yusuf, was on target as Belgium’s Royal Antwerp lost 1-4 to Zaidu Sanusi’s FC Porto. Zaidu was

UCL RESULTS Feyenoord 3-1 Celtic 2-2 Newcastle 0-1 PSG 3-0 Leipzig 3-1 Young Boys 1-3 Barcelona 2-1 Antwerp 1-4

Lazio Atletico Dortmund AC Milan C’ Zvezda Man City Shakhtar FC Porto

TODAY EUROPA S’Prague v Brighton v Liverpool v B’Topola v Olympiacos v Marseille v Limassol v Rakow v Sturm Graz v Molde v Union Saint v Panathinaikos v

Rangers Ajax Toulouse Freiburg West Ham AEK Athens Real Betis Sporting Atalanta Hacken LASK Rennes

C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E

not in Porto’s line up as he is yet to recover from the muscle injury that has kept him on the sideline.

Midfielder Alhassan who was in the starting line for Antwerp due to the absence of injured Mandela Keita, fired the curtain raiser in the 37th minute.

However, that goal appeared to have jolted Porto back to life.

On return from the first half break, Coach Sergio Conceicao’s lads pumped four goals into Antwerp’s net with Evanilson scoring hat trick.

The win moves Porto on six points to second behind Barcelona on maximum nine points in Group H. In the earlier fixture in the group, Barcelona's Ferran Tor-

Gakpo Available for Liverpool as Toulouse Visit Anfield Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo will be available for his side's Europa League group match with Toulouse tonight, says manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 24-year-old has been sidelined since picking up a knee injury in the Reds' defeat at Tottenham last month.

Liverpool sit top of Group E following wins over LASK and Union Saint-Gilloise.

But Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are all unavailable to face Toulouse at Anfield.

Klopp said Robertson has had an operation on a shoulder injury, while Thiago and Bajcetic are "not in team training".

"Cody is in full training now since Sunday, which means he is

res scored one goal and assisted another as his side held off Shakhtar Donetsk to maintain their perfect Group H record in the Champions League.

Torres opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a rebounded effort after Fermin Lopez hit the post. The ex-Manchester City forward then set up Lopez for Barca's second eight minutes later. Heorhii Sudakov scored a second-half consolation goal but the hosts held on.

Barcelona who are five-time winners, last lifted the trophy in 2015.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated Chairman of Premier Lotto Limited, Chief Kessington Adebutu, as the billionaire industrialist clocked 88 years on Tuesday, 24th October 2023.

Adebutu, undoubtedly one of the most respected corporate titans on the African continent, founded the Premier Lotto Limited, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, and which is currently the Official Lotto Partner of the Nigeria Football Federation.

“The Nigeria Football Federation wishes to celebrate our father, Chief Kessington Adebutu as he marks

the age of 88 in good health and sound mind. He is an outstanding success in the delicate terrain of running a global company that is also doing so much in the area of philanthropy. We appreciate him and his company for being the Official Lotto Partner of the NFF. “We pray for an even longer life for this amazing man, in good health and sound mind. He is, no doubt, living a full, fruitful and fulfilled life and we know he is a very happy man,” President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said on Wednesday.

EUROPA available for the squad," Klopp added.

"Whatever we do with that we will have to see, but that's good as well."

Liverpool's opponents Toulouse lifted the French Cup last season their first major trophy - but have won just three of 11 matches this campaign.

"Toulouse deserve all of our respect and it's a really interesting story of them winning the French Cup," added Klopp.

"We hope we'll go long into the competition, but to do that you have to make decisive steps and tomorrow is one of them."

L-R: Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi; Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh and Marketing Director, NB Plc, Emmanuel Oriakhi during the official visit of the Minister to company…recently

Thursday, October 26, 2023

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Senator Sunday Karimi to Nigerians “A minister has more than three land cruisers, Prado and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions. Why us? If you go to State Houses of Assembly today, most of them before they were even inaugurated, the governor would have bought vehicles for them, even local government chairmen. I drove the vehicle my local government chairman uses. So, why the National Assembly?”—Senate defence for purchasing the 2023 model of Toyota Landcruiser SUVs for 107 Senators at N160 million each.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Nigeria and the $11 Billion Scam THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

I

had just arrived Abuja from Beijing, China on Monday when news broke that Nigeria won its case against Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited, which had been seeking enforcement of a controversial $11 billion judgement debt in its favour. The Commercial Courts of England and Wales upheld Nigeria’s prayer that the said gas processing contract was obtained by fraud. The judgement affirms the position of Nigeria’s lawyer, Mark Howard, that P&ID obtained the contract “by telling repeated lies and paying bribes to officials.”

While we should rejoice about the court victory, I hope President Bola Tinubu, his Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and other senior officials paid attention to the careful words of Justice Robin Knowles about public service in Nigeria. “This case has also, sadly, brought together a combination of examples of what some individuals will do for money. Driven by greed and prepared to use corruption; giving no thought to what their enrichment would mean in terms of harm for others,” the Judge said before breaking it down for those who may not get his message. “Others that in the present case include the people of Nigeria, already let down in so many ways over the history of this matter by a number of individuals in politics and administration whose duty it was to serve them and protect them.”

When on 3rd September 2020, Sir Ross Cranston of the UK High Court of Justice Queen’s Bench Division Commercial Court granted Nigeria’s application for an extension of time to fight the case based on new evidence, three things became evident. One, had the P&ID promoters and their Nigerian collaborators not been too greedy, they probably would have walked away with about $400 million loot and an oil block. But they insisted on $2 billion and now they have nothing! Two, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was instrumental to the temporary reprieve Nigeria secured at the time and should take the credit for Monday’s final judgement. Three, because the P&ID scammers were targeting Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) assets, the suspended Governor, Godwin Emefiele, took the lead in the efforts to have the judgement upturned. Unfortunately, when the statement read at the Villa by Fagbemi on Monday was being drafted, according to an impeccable source, it was resolved that credit should not be ascribed to certain individuals. Such pettiness!

Before I come to the role played by Osinbajo and CBN under Emefiele as well as the critical lesson that should serve authorities in Nigeria about this judgement, let me also claim some vindication. I took special interest in the case because this scam was consummated in January 2010 under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who was then in a Saudi Arabia hospital. When in my 5th September 2019 column, ‘Yar’Adua and the $9.6 Billion Question’ I defended my late principal, I got some angry responses from those I suspected were working for (or at least sympathetic to) the P&ID scammers.

The company’s main promoter, the late Michaeal Quinn (who died of cancer in 2015) was known to many top Nigerians and a few believed they should defend him despite overwhelming evidence that he wanted to dupe Nigeria. Now that Justice Knowles has confirmed the whole scheme to be a fraud, let me recall some of what I wrote more than four years ago before I conclude.

I started with how all the senior officials of the Yar’Adua administration, including his Attorney General and Justice Minister, Michael Kaase

Prof. Osinbajo Aondoakaa, SAN, Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Yakubu and Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Emeka Ezeh knew nothing about the transaction. “We still do not know the exact sum of this vexatious deal. Yet P&ID was reported to have spent approximately $40 million in pre-contract expenditures. The $9.6 billion Nigeria is expected to pay is made up of a $6.59 billion profit the company claims it would have made over a life project of 20 years and the balance of $3 billion accumulated interest since 2012 when the judgement was given. It is interesting that it would take some ‘Oyinbo’ people to teach Nigerians the real meaning of ‘419’!”, I wrote back then.

I added: “According to their statement, ‘P&ID and the Nigerian Government entered into a 20year Agreement – known as the Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) – to refine natural gas for powering Nigeria’s electricity grid. The GSPA would have been very profitable for both P&ID and Nigeria and have generated an additional 2,000 megawatts of power for the national grid.

Such a major increase in low-cost electricity supply brought by the P&ID project would have been transformative for millions of Nigerians.’

“Should these extraordinary benefits meant to

accrue to the country not have elicited publicity on the day the deal was sealed? Do you sign such a contract in secret with intended beneficiaries, in this case Nigerians, not told of their good fortune?

The quantum of the award also raises questions about the integrity of the Arbitral Tribunal. Do you award anticipatory profit recoverable over 20 years, especially when neither risks nor obligations were put on the partner? It is trite to argue that before committing a country to anything that has financial implications, the Ministry of Finance, the AGF and the office of the president must be involved, not just the supervisory ministry. In this case, none was involved.”

I then concluded four years ago: “Whatever the eventual outcome, we can take certain lessons from the unfortunate saga. One, we must put in place a well-articulated National Arbitration Policy…

Finally, we must institute measures to ensure that Nigerian public officials who sign contracts on behalf of the rest of us do not sell the country cheap. Tying us to scandalous obligations after trading away the jurisdiction for arbitration in case of legal redress is the kind of action that would normally attract capital punishment for erring public officials in some countries!”

With Monday’s judgement, appropriate lessons must be learnt. Over the years, Nigeria has paid billions of Dollars on spurious judgement debts, and I understand many scammers were also waiting in the wings to pounce had we lost this case to the P&ID. What these international crooks (and local collaborators) do is to get some Nigerian public officials, target a thriving sector, sign some dubious ‘agreements’ that are skewed against Nigeria, wait for some time, and then approach the courts for enforcement. That’s how many idle billionaires have been created in the country.

Meanwhile, after the CBN had been made to deposit $200 million in court in 2020, Emefiele was involved in hiring fresh British lawyers to fight Nigeria’s case. I understand that to date the CBN has expended about $40 million on legal services.

The late former Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari and former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu also played critical roles for Nigeria to establish a case of fraud on this transaction. But the main man on this issue is Osinbajo. In his 2020 ruling, Justice Cranston confirmed that Osinbajo’s ‘fraud on the nation’ declaration in June 2018 turned the table against P&ID in Nigeria’s favour. According to Cranston’s judgement, Osinbajo’s involvement began in 2017 after he was intimated by the then Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, SAN. Let’s hear from the Judge: “Following a meeting, on 13 March 2017, Mr Malami wrote to Vice President Osinbajo, who was acting president at the time, exploring five ‘scenarios’ and making recommendations on each. The first

The minimum responsibility of the Tinubu government therefore is to expose and prosecute the identified traitors who abused their fiduciary duties for illicit gains.

Charges should also be filed against the foreign scam artists at P&ID to deter those who specialise in duping our country. Beyond that, we must begin to build a new culture of ethics in the Nigerian public space.

was to negotiate a reasonable settlement. The second was to undertake a ‘forensic and extensive examination of the original contract, Award and other Processes to discover loopholes to upset or vary the Award.’ The merits were said to be that a loophole might be discovered, for example, fraud, technical grounds, or a conflict of interest of the arbitrators. The other options were to inquire whether there was the possibility of an appeal, an investigation by the EFCC and a challenge to the recognition and enforcement of the award.”

On 17 March 2017, according to the Judge, Malami wrote another letter to Osinbajo on the earlier scenarios. “Scenario 1 was now expressed as ‘the urgent need’ (emphasis in original) to negotiate a settlement. The scenario about involving the EFCC was that it should be directed to undertake a discreet investigation of the matter, and also to ascertain the personalities and beneficiaries behind P&ID. There was a further letter from Mr Malami to the Vice President dated 29 March 2017. On 6 April 2017 the Vice President approved in manuscript on the letter its proposal to pursue settlement negotiations. There followed on 16 May 2017 (and afterwards) without prejudice settlement discussions with P&ID. After P&ID stated in September 2017 that it intended to enforce the Final Award, on 7 December 2017 the Vice President granted approval to negotiate further. However, settlement negotiations broke down. The Attorney General, Mr Malami, together with then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Emmanuel Kachikwu wrote to the Vice President on 23 May 2018 in light of US enforcement proceedings which P&ID had initiated, recommending the reopening of negotiations with P&ID while efforts were being made as regards the enforcement proceedings. On 12 June 2018, the Vice President’s office reported that he had agreed with the recommendation and would take up the matter with the President. That same day, 12 June 2018, the Vice President wrote to the President recommending the reopening of negotiations with P&ID. The President approved this recommendation on 26 June 2018.”

All the offers made to the P&ID promoters failed because they thought they had Nigeria by the balls. According to Justice Cranston, in his minute to the 23 May 2018 joint letter by Malami and Kachikwu, Osinbajo said he considered the transaction ‘a fraud on the nation’, and that there might be “a need to independently review and investigate the entire affair more diligently”. That was the turning point because Osinbajo then recommended to Buhari that the judgement should be challenged. With Emefiele buying into the idea, CBN decided to fund the legal fees. Now that Osinbajo has been vindicated, it is shameful that Fagbemi could not summon the decency to acknowledge the role played by the former vice president. But history will be kind to Osinbajo on the issue. The same goes for the CBN under Emefiele who is currently being punished for his political foolishness.

Overall, if there is anything that the P&ID scam has exposed, it is that in the Nigerian deep state, there exists a corps of bureaucrats who specialize in misleading political leaders on technical contracts for their personal gain. The minimum responsibility of the Tinubu government therefore is to expose and prosecute the identified traitors who abused their fiduciary duties for illicit gains. Charges should also be filed against the foreign scam artists at P&ID to deter those who specialise in duping our country. Beyond that, we must begin to build a new culture of ethics in the Nigerian public space.

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