THURSDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2024

Pinnacle Oil & Gas Explains Deal with Dangote Refinery for Use

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of Lekki Terminal

Nigeria Grieves as Army Chief Passes

Tinubu, Buhari, Atiku, Saraki, Akpabio, Barau, Obi, Abbas, Badaru, Matawalle, new COAS, CDS, NGF, others mourn Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja First lady, Shettima's wife pay condolence visit to widow Monarch, family, demand corpse’s release to community

Abakaliki and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Nigeria was yesterday thrown into

mourning following the passing of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Taoreed Lagbaja, who submitted to protracted illness, Tuesday night in Lagos. He was aged 56. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a release by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo

announced Lagbaja’s passing.

Tinubu, World Leaders Congratulate Trump on His Election as 47th US President

Nigerian president says victory reflects trust, confidence Americans placed in his leadership Hopes for global peace, prosperity Kamala Harris calls presidentelect, concedes defeat Dow surges by over 1,400 points

the early hours of yesterday.

While Trump scored 292 electoral college votes out of the required 270, Harris had 224. In the same vein, Trump had over 72 million in the popular vote to complete his routing of Harris, who garnered 67.2 million votes.

Tinubu, in a release in Abuja by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he was looking forward to strengthening

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Vitol, Trafigura Lead Buyers as Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery Ramps Up Output

Oil facility refines estimated 45m barrels so far Africa must lead its own energy future, declares Lokpobiri

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Vitol Group, Trafigura Group and BP Plc are the dominant buyers of fuels from Nigeria’s giant new Dangote oil refinery near Lagos that’s reshaping petroleum trading in Africa and Europe, Bloomberg reported yesterday. The trio have accounted for the vast majority of the plant’s shipments since flows began ratcheting up around the middle of this year, according to data from Precise Intelligence, a new oil-and-gas trading analytics firm based in Geneva.

Once it’s fully up and running, Dangote should be able to process about 650,000 barrels a day of crude into products including gasoline and diesel.

That will far exceed the fuel-making capacity of any single plant in Europe or Africa, helping to reshape the regions’ oil and fuel trading. The emergence of Dangote has already trimmed a glut of Nigerian crude, it said.

Since starting up, the refinery has loaded almost 6 million tons of fuel, Precise’s data showed. That’s equivalent to almost 45 million barrels. Loading

rates averaged about 35,000 tons a day in October, its data added.

Dangote itself said late last month that the refinery had reached processing rates of about 420,000 barrels a day of crude. The plant is also selling into the Nigerian market.

Vitol and Trafigura declined to comment. Dangote and BP didn’t respond to requests to comment,

Bloomberg stressed.

The composition of fuel cargoes loading from Dangote is closely watched because it offers clues into where the refinery is at in terms of starting up different processing units.

Precise’s figures show that automotive gasoil — diesel — is the biggest cargo type being lifted, followed by fuel oil. Together, they account for

TINUBU, WORLD LEADERS CONGRATULATE TRUMP ON HIS ELECTION AS 47TH US PRESIDENT

the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

“Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens,” Tinubu said.

According to the president, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulated the people of the country on their commitment to democracy.

Tinubu said he believed that given Trump’s experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Acknowledging the United States' influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader said he trusted that Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.

But as Trump emerged ahead of Kamala Harris in the race, a host of world leaders congratulated the MAGA (Make America Great Again) supremo for the election win.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; his Australian Prime Minister, Antony Albanese, and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, were among the world leaders, who extended wishes to Trump shortly after he made the victory speech.

In his victory speech, Trump thanked his supporters for electing him back and said this period would usher in a new era of national reconciliation.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president. America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate – wow that's good," Trump declared to his supporters in Florida.

Prime Minister Modi, among the

and the Dangote refinery would immediately put at the refinery's disposal additional storage and additional distribution channels, reducing the need for trucks to queue endlessly waiting to load at the refinery.

“It will also allow more efficient load out to buyers who may opt to convey their products by sea to other inland markets like Warri, Port Harcourt or Calabar saving the significant costs of overland distribution.

“It was in line with this that we entered discussions with Dangote Refinery and jointly executed a pipeline interconnection agreement in 2022, which would facilitate the development of a pipeline to facilitate the efficient distribution of their products across the country.

“The agreement is still in place, and we are yet to be informed of any change in Dangote's appetite regarding the project,” the company stated.

This model of connection between refinery and storage

first to extend wishes, congratulated 'friend' Trump on his historic election victory and expressed confidence about working together.

"Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership," he tweeted.

"Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," he added.

Albanese also took to X and congratulated Donald Trump, who is now set to become the 47th president of US.

"Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory," he stated.

The Australian PM expressed working with its close ally and ensure partnership not only at the government but also on a people to people level.

"Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future," he said.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, who had met Donald Trump even during his visit to the US recently, congratulated him on what he called "greatest comeback".

He said Trump's historic return would usher a new beginning of new relationship between the Jewish state and the US.

"Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," he said

Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, congratulated the new president-elect for his second term, hoping for the new administration to strengthen the relationship between Pakistan and the US.

EXPLAINS

terminals, Pinnacle said, is not its invention, explaining that it’s rather a time tested and proven model operating across the world in other petroleum hubs such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ulsan (South Korea) and the likes. These hubs, it contended, host multiple refineries and multiple terminals such as Pinnacle's. This, Pinnacle explained, is what informs its view that the Lekki hub requires not even just one terminal like its own, but rather three or more, and perhaps even more refineries in the future.

Upon its review of the earlier release by Dangote, Pinnacle stressed that it found it to be replete with inaccuracies and gaps. Thus, while the company said it would generally not be drawn into exchanges on corporate issues in the public media, it pointed out that it has a duty as a responsible corporate citizen to put all the facts on the table. It stated that this was to ensure that public discourse on the matter or on the future direction of the

French President Emmanuel

Macron congratulated Donald Trump for closing in on a victory and said both countries would work for more peace and prosperity.

"Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

Italian leader, Giorgia Meloni, congratulated Trump for his reelection.

"On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump," she said.

She further stressed that Italy and the United States were “sister” nations held by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship.

Ukranian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, congratulated Trump and voiced hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

"Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory!" Zelensky said on X.

Harris, Biden Call to Felicitate Trump

Harris called Trump yesterday to congratulate him on winning the presidential election, a senior aide to Harris said.

The aide said the vice-president called Trump to congratulate him on winning the presidential election. The aide also said Harris discussed with the president-elect the "importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans."

Trump declared victory in a speech to supporters early yesterday morning, alongside his family and running mate, Senator JD Vance.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president," Trump said at his election headquarters in Florida.

Nigerian petrol distribution market has the benefit of a number of salient facts as well as improved appreciation of the operations of the Pinnacle Lekki Terminal.

“The Pinnacle Lekki Terminal is a world class refined products terminal with designs and approvals for over 1 billion litres of storage capacity, of which over 300,000,000 litres of storage are already in place, receiving products from a Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility and a Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) facility, both of which are connected to our storage via a network of over 40km of deep-sea pipelines.

“This facility is equipped to both receive or export refined products in a very efficient manner that reduces handling costs and loading time. Our facility has been in operation since 2021 and has during this period proved to be the most efficient refined products handling facility in the country.

“It provides services not only to Pinnacle Oil and Gas

"And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and for your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body," he added.

At 78, Trump will be the oldest president ever to assume office. Republicans also had success in some key Senate races and will gain control of the upper chamber.

Control of the House remains undetermined, with votes still being counted in numerous races, although Trump’s party was in the lead.

The White House said yesterday that President Biden spoke with Trump by phone and congratulated him on his victory.

He also invited Trump to meet with him in the White House, and their staff will coordinate a date in the future, the White House said.

The president will address the nation today to discuss the election results and transition, the White House said, but did not specify a time for the president's address.

The White House disclosed that Biden "expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasised the importance of working to bring the country together."

In the call, Trump campaign said he acknowledged Harris for her "strength, professionalism and tenacity."

"President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier today, where she congratulated him on his historic victory," said Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director.

"President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country," he added.

Former President George W. Bush extended congratulations to Trump on winning a second term in office, and to Vance for his election as vice president. The 43rd president also thanked Biden and Harris for their public service.

Limited, but also to numerous market players in the Nigerian petroleum industry. It is well known that this facility saves the country a huge amount in forex denominated handling costs compared to what obtains in competing facilities across the country,” it added.

The facility, Pinnacle said, is not a refinery and is not even a substitute for a refinery, but rather a ‘wonderful’ complement to any refinery, by providing them additional options for product storage and expanded channels for efficient products dispatch across the country either by vessel or by truck.

Regarding the allegation that its facility blends sub-standard products, Pinnacle Oil and Gas rejected the notion in its entirety, explaining that in any case, it is well known to all persons knowledgeable on the Nigerian oil industry, that there are clear standards for petroleum products either imported or locally refined. In addition, it observed that

more than 60 per cent of what’s being collected from the plant. Other fuels include gasoline or petrol and jet fuel.

Nigeria’s former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar described Trump’s victory as a testament of resilience, adding also that it was an inspiring parable of courage in the face of adversity.

''This triumph, without a doubt, will stand as an enduring testament to the resilience and vitality of the democratic process – a timeless reminder that democracy, with all its trials and tribulations, remains a force for good in the world.''

Writing on his X account, Atiku said, ''I closely followed the presidential election in the United States of America, watching with bated breath as the nation decided its future.

''It is with even greater satisfaction that I now reflect on the result, which heralds a resounding victory for President Donald Trump, @realDonaldTrump, and the Republican Party, @GOP.''

According to him, ''The narrative of President Trump’s political journey, marked by his struggles and triumphs, shall serve as an inspiring parable of courage in the face of adversity — a lesson in the art of rising after every fall, and ultimately, emerging victorious.

''As the world rejoices in the euphoria of his remarkable comeback, it is to be hoped that President Trump will continue his resolute advocacy for credible elections worldwide and remain steadfast in dismantling antidemocratic forces wherever they may lurk.

''The lesson for us in Nigeria is the integrity of the process that ensures a credible outcome. It is the expectation of every Nigerian that the Trump administration will stand resolute in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria and other places in the world.

''I also extend my warm congratulations to the people of the United States, whose unwavering faith in the power of democracy and the sanctity of the ballot has once again shown the world the true might of the people's voice. ''

On his part, the Labour Party

there are eminently qualified regulators charged with the responsibility of enforcing these standards.

“Our operations have always met those standards and will continue to do so. Our facilities have also always been open to these regulators for inspection and monitoring, and that will not change in the future,” it affirmed.

Pinnacle made it clear that its only focus is and will remain the delivery of refined products to Nigerians in the most cost-effective manner possible to ensure that the ultimate pump prices of refined products do not further impoverish the average Nigerian.

“In prosecuting this crusade, we see Dangote not as an enemy or competitor but as a partner towards the evolution of a petroleum hub that will serve not just the Nigerian market, but even the international markets, rivalling any other petroleum hub anywhere else in the world,” the company stated.

presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, expressed the hope that Trump's victory would help to deepen democracy globally and engender the much-needed peace in the World. Obi commended the US electoral officials as well as the people of America for conducting a successful poll.

Harris Concedes Defeat in National Broadcast

Vice-President Harris, unlike Trump in 2020, conceded defeat in a national broadcast. Harris started her concession speech, formally ending her campaign and bowing out of the presidential race.

“Hear me when I say: The light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting,” Harris said. Her remarks took place at her alma mater, Howard University, where supporters gathered last night to watch results roll in. She delivered a concession speech after Trump won the 2024 presidential election, thanking her family, staff and supporters. She said Americans must accept the results of the election and assured there would be a peaceful transition of power.

Invoking her campaign mantra “When we fight, we win,” Harris said the fight can take a while but “that doesn’t mean we won’t win. “Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win,” she said to cheers.

“The outcome of the election was not what we wanted,” she noted, adding: “Not what we fought for. Not what we voted for. But hear me when I say: The light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” she added.

Dow Surges by Over 1,400 Points

Meanwhile, US stocks rose sharply yesterday morning following a decisive and consequential victory for Trump in Tuesday’s US presidential election. The Dow soared 1,400 points, or 3 per cent in morning trading, reaching a new high. This is the first time the Dow has gained more than 1,000 points in a single day since November 2022.

If the Dow maintains its implied gains throughout the trading session, it will mark the sixth-best point gain ever for the index — but nowhere close to a record percentage gain. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both rose by 1.9 per cent. Markets were mostly juiced by the fact that the election was decided relatively quickly. The election — and the widely held belief that Trump and his allies could contest the result in courts — has served as a cloud over the US economy and stock market in recent months.

Markets, in particular, crave certainty, and the clear path forward will allow companies to adjust their business and hiring plans.

Bitcoin also rocketed to a new high above $74,000 yesterday morning. Trump had warmed up to cryptocurrencies in recent months after broadly opposing them in his first term.

Dangote

INAUGURATION OF NEWLY REBUILT AND EXPANDED 250-BED STELLA OBASANJO HOSPITAL...

L-R: Former Edo State Governor, John Odigie-Oyegun; former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan; Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the inauguration of the newly rebuilt and expanded 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital, in Benin City ...yesterday

Presidency: Over 100,000 Vehicles

Already Converted from Petrol to CNG

More than $200m invested across value chain

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The presidency disclosed yesterday that since the launch of the Presidential CNG Initiative, over 100,000 vehicles had been converted from petrol to CNG/bi-fuel, saying more conversion centres are springing up across the country.

It stated that in addition, investors were ramping up the development and deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure, with over $200 million already invested across the value chain.

A statement titled, "Status Update on the Presidential CNG Initiative," issued

by Project Director/CEO, Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), Michael Oluwagbemi, said thousands of new jobs and economic opportunities were also opening up along the line.

Oluwagbemi said the statement became necessary to address certain misinformation regarding the PCNGI.

He stated, "As a response to the high cost of petrol and the attendant rise in the cost of transportation, following the removal of fuel subsidy, President Bola Tinubu launched the Presidential CNG Initiative to provide a cheaper and cleaner energy source for Nigerians.

"Since the launch of this groundbreaking initiative, the response

has been positive as Nigerians are embracing and converting their petrolpowered vehicles to CNG-enabled vehicles – with over 60 per cent reduction in the amount of money they spend on fuel.

"To date, over 100,000 vehicles have been converted from petrol to CNG/ bi-fuel-powered, and more conversion centres are being established across the country.

"In addition, investors are ramping up the development and deployment of CNG infrastructure, with over $200 million already invested across the value chain. Thousands of new jobs and economic opportunities are

opening up along the line.

"Going by the level of progress being made as regards the adoption and deployment of CNG infrastructure, we are concerned over certain instances of misinformation against this epochal initiative by a section of the media."

The statement said Nigeria spent about $10 billion annually on subsidy, regretting that CNG, which has the potential to save the country $3 billion and adding $2 billion revenue to the national purse in the next three to four years, is now an issue of toxic debate.

The statement noted that one of

After Successful IT Upgrade, Zenith Bank Assures Customers of Exceptional Service Delivery

Zenith Bank Plc yesterday assured customers of exceptional service delivery and improved customer experience following the successful completion of its information technology infrastructure upgrade.

In a statement made available to THISDAY the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, expressed gratitude to all customers of the bank for their patience and support during its recent IT infrastructure migration to a new and more robust operating system.

Emphasising the bank's commitment to delivering unparalleled service experience, Umeoji said: "We undertook such an extensive endeavor in other to better position Zenith Bank Plc for improved service delivery to all our valued customers and provide memorable banking experiences at all our touchpoints,” adding that the bank now has one of the best

technology infrastructure in the Nigerian banking industry, and is well positioned to ensure customers experience exceptional service delivery going forward.

Furthermore, the statement noted that: Zenith Bank has continued to distinguish itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service offering, unique customer experience and sound financial indices.

The bank has remained a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.” It added: “The bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 15th consecutive

year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine. The Bank was also awarded the Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020 and 2022; and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria 2023 and 2024 in the International Banker Banking Awards.

“Further recognitions include being recognised as Best Bank in Nigeria for the fourth time in five years, from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024 in the World Finance Banking Awards.

Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for three consecutive years, from 2022 to 2024, ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa

for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.”

The Bank’s commitment to excellence saw it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021; Bank of the Year for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024 at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

The Bank also received the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards, Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the THISDAY Awards 2020, Bank of the Year 2021 by Champion Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2022 by New Telegraph Newspaper, and Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

the issues raised against the CNG initiative and its implementation was ease of conversion.

It said, "We see this as an opportunity rather than a challenge, and we are already deepening the development of CNG infrastructure with our partners."

The statement explained that the number of conversion centres had risen from seven in 2023 to more than 140 across the country, and certainly not 50 centres as claimed by critics.

Oluwagbemi maintained, "In addition, more than 2,000 Nigerians have been employed in these conversion centres, with more jobs in the offing as CNG penetration ratchets up.

“In the past year, the private sector invested over N2 billion to establish these conversion centres, and another N6 billion to N10 billion will go into setting up more centres to meet the targeted 1,000 centres required to transform the nation's energy dynamics.

Chevron Reveals Plan to Embark on Drilling Revival in Nigeria, Angola

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Oil giant, Chevron, has said it is expanding its exploration acreage in African oil producers including Nigeria and Angola, where it sees the potential for a production revival despite years of decline, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

The company’s Vice President, Global Exploration, Liz Schwarze, said that Chevron was interested in ramping up its activities in the African countries where there had been a decline in production in recent years.

West Africa is “such a hydrocarbon rich part of the world and relatively under-explored compared to other jurisdictions,” said Schwarze. While some peers area heading for the exit, Chevron is adding multiple blocks.

In Nigeria — where oil production has slipped about half a million barrels a day over the last five years — Chevron acquired a stake in a new exploration block and made a separate discovery last month, Schwarze said.

The company also took on two deep-water licenses in nearby Equatorial Guinea, another declining

producer. “The proof is in the action,” Schwarze said in an interview with Bloomberg in Cape Town.

The biggest crude producers on the continent have fallen far below their peak production levels as oil majors have focused their investments elsewhere, or departed countries completely after decades of operations. Frontier exploration remains an important aspect of Chevron’s search for resources on the continent, Schwarze added.

The company started drilling a well in Egypt this month and plans to start an exploration campaign in Namibia in December. In Angola, which quit the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) last year following a slump in its crude output, Chevron added deepwater blocks 49 and 50. Chevron’s recent oil discovery in the Niger Delta, also has the potential to produce up to 17,000 barrels per day. The discovery, termed a “near-field find,” was made with the Meji NW-1 well within Petroleum Mining Lease 49, according to a statement from Chevron released last month.

NCDMB Advocates Annual 'Final Investment Decision Week' to Meet Oil Production Growth Target

Reveals five upcoming upstream projects to unlock 350,000bpd, 1BCF of gas per day for judges on legal issues in telecommunications by the Commission which started in Lagos ... yesterday

Peter Uzoho

As part of strategies to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and enhance revenue accruing to the national treasury, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has advocated the introduction of a one-day annual programme dedicated to signing final investment decisions (FIDs) on new oil and gas projects.

Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, made the proposal yesterday in his presentation at the ongoing 2024 African Oil Week, holding in Cape Town, South Africa. Ogbe also announced that NCDMB had applied the presidential directives in approving five oil and gas projects, which were currently

in the funnel. He said the projects had expected production values of one billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (1bcfp/d) and 350,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd).

An FID is the final point in an energy project in which the company or partners owning and operating a project give the final approval for development and releasing of funding for commencement.

Ogbe stated that the FID week, if adopted, could be incorporated into the existing annual international oil and gas conferences, and would feature international and indigenous operating companies.

He posited that dedicating one week every year to FID signing could compel companies and relevant regulators to fast-track their processes to meet the deadline.

MTN Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Impact in Nigeria, Unveils New Logo

Emma Okonji

The MTN Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary with a stakeholder conference in Abuja, highlighting two decades of significant contributions to communities across Nigeria.

The event provided a platform to reflect on the foundation's accomplishments, unveil a new logo, vision, and mission statement, and launch its Y’ello Impact Report, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development.

The conference brought together prominent individuals from both the private and public sectors, who gathered to honour the extensive impact of MTN Foundation’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) over the last 20 years.

A keynote address was delivered virtually by Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, who commended the foundation as a leading example of CSI in Nigeria.

Mohammed stated, “MTN Foundation embodies the transformative power of public-private partnerships. Its investment in education, healthcare, digital literacy and youth empowerment has touched the lives of countless individuals. By providing scholarships, supporting maternal and child health and helping young people develop skills for the future, the initiatives build resilience in our communities and create pathways for sustainable growth.”

Guests at the event witnessed the unveiling of MTN Foundation’s new vision and mission statements along with its logo, heralding a new era of impactful initiatives where they are most needed.

During the unveiling, Executive Director of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the foundation’s unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable growth within Nigerian communities and expanding its outreach across the country.

“We have evolved over the years, but one constant remains: our desire to do more. We believe that so much more can be accomplished,” Sanya stated.

Sanya articulated the new vision of MTN Foundation, which aspires to enhance the quality of life for all Nigerians and transform communities nationwide.

“At MTN Foundation, we envision a Nigeria where no community is left behind," Sanya said.

Sanya further outlined the foundation’s mission moving forward, which encapsulated its commitment to holistic socio-economic development.

“Our mission is to consistently enhance the well-being of our communities by fostering investments through collaborations and partnerships in capacity building, health, and economic empowerment," Sanya said.

Ogbe also indicated that the idea of an annual FID week had already been broached to Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and international operating companies. He said the proposal was being considered.

The NCDMB helmsman was represented at the African Oil Week by Director, Projects Certification and Authorisation Division (PCAD), NCDMB, Abayomi Bamidele.

He said the proposal for an annual FID Week was geared towards addressing the insufficient FIDs signed by the operating

companies and the limited number of new projects being developed in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. These worrisome developments, according to him, contributed to Nigeria’s dwindling crude oil production and the negative impact on revenue.

Ogbe suggested that the Nigerian oil and gas industry needed to have at least one or two FIDs on major projects to be signed every year, to catalyse activity in the local service sector and the national economy, and ultimately increase crude oil and gas production and revenue for the country.

Making reference to the three Presidential Directives (PDs) rolled

out by President Bola Tinubu in March for the oil and gas industry, the NCDMB boss said the agency had complied fully with the directives as it related to fast-tracking the contracting cycle and eliminating middlemen with no demonstrable capacity from participating in the oil and gas value chain.

The PDs included Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance, Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Cost and Timelines, and Presidential Directive on Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, among others).

Ogbe announced that NCDMB had applied the presidential directives in approving five oil and gas projects, which were currently in the funnel. He hinted that the expected production values of those projects are one billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and 350, 000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Commenting on strategies that would ensure sustainable local content development in African nations, the executive secretary stated that local content had to be promoted as a national agenda and supported by all institutions, businesses, decision-makers, investors and citizens.

Africhange Secures IMTO Licence to Streamline Remittances to Nigeria

Emma Okonji

Africhange, a leading cross-border remittance service provider, has announced that its Nigerian subsidiary, Currenzo, has secured the International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The strategic move significantly improves Africhange’s ability to facilitate inward remittances for immigrants and diaspora communities sending money to Nigeria.

Nigeria remains one of the largest recipients of remittances in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief, in 2023 alone, remittance to Nigeria accounted for 38 per cent of the region’s $54 billion total.

For many Nigerian individuals, these funds are essential for education,

healthcare, and daily living, making accessible and cost-effective remittance solutions vital.

With the IMTO licence, Africhange is positioned to deliver a trusted service that improves access to much-needed financial support across borders.

Founded in 2020, Africhange offers an extensive range of currencies and services that simplify international money transfers.

By leveraging advanced technology, the platform minimises the cost and complexity of cross-border transactions, enhancing the immigrant experience and supporting communities, especially those of African descent.

After four years of deep market understanding, maximising unit economics, and reaching cash flow positivity, Africhange is now poised to raise funds in the coming year

to fuel rapid expansion and bring its impactful solutions to even more users worldwide.

The new IMTO licence allows Africhange to manage inward remittances directly into Nigeria without relying on intermediaries.

By removing third-party involvement, this capability enables partnerships with local banks, streamlining payment processes and lowering costs for customers.

CEO of Africhange, David Ajala, said: “As an immigrant-founded company, we understand first-hand that sending and receiving money across borders is a key part of daily life for our users, who are immigrants of African descent.

“Securing the IMTO licence allows us to offer a faster, more affordable way for people to support their loved ones back home.

“For Africhange, it means we’re

stepping into a new era where we can empower both individuals and businesses to make seamless, direct transactions in Nigeria. We’re excited about the doors this opens to bring greater impact to the lives of the communities we serve.” Head of Growth of Africhange, Tega Gabriel, added: “This IMTO licence acquired from the CBN brings incredible opportunities to form direct partnerships with Nigerian banks and other international money transfer operators. Connecting directly with local partners lets us speed up transactions and improve the remittance experience for our users sending money to Nigeria. As we scale, these partnerships will strengthen our reach across Nigeria and beyond, bringing us closer to our vision of accessible financial services for the global diaspora.”

AMCON Denies Dispute With Heyden Petroleum, Says it Has Discontinued Pending Litigation

Wale Igbintade

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has denied having any pending dispute with Heyden Petroleum Limited, stressing that all issues between them have been settled

amicably.

Some online platforms published that Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, in Lagos, had in suit No AMC/67/2024, granted AMCON an interim order to take over assets of Heyden Petroleum Limited over

alleged of indebtedness.

However, a statement signed by Jude Nwauzor, AMCON's Head, Corporate Communications, the Corporation said it has formally discontinued its pending litigation against Heyden Petroleum Limited, particularly Suit No. FHC/ AMC/67/2024. The statement added that as a responsible debt recovery agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is not the practice of AMCON to engage in a media trial of obligors who are meeting their obligations.

PHILLIPS CONSULTING LIMITED DIGITAL JURIST AWARDS...

L-R:

Digital Jurist Awards held in Lagos...recently

UN: Nigeria Needs $10 Billion Annually to Achieve SDGs 2030

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

United Nations (UN) says for Nigeria to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), the country needs $10 billion annually.

Deputy Secretary General of UN, Amina Mohammed, made the disclosure virtually at the 20th MTN Nigeria Foundation (MNF) celebration on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mohammed said huge resources were needed for the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 and this cannot be done by government alone.

She stated, "Achieving our global goals will require resources far beyond the reach of governments alone. It will require us to mobilise support from all sectors, with the private sector engagement at the heart of our mission in Nigeria.

"Achieving the SDGs will require ten billion dollars annually, a challenge that no government can meet alone. Bridging this gap requires bold partnerships and contributions to

the private sector from foundations like MTN Foundation and from international partners.

“It also requires creating a foundation of trust by tackling corruption, addressing illicit financial flows and fostering an environment where investments benefit all excellencies.

"The United Nations stands ready to accompany the MTN Foundation and other private sector partners on this journey, amplify our collective impact together. We can accelerate action on the SDGs, foster innovation and address systemic barriers to development.

"Through these partnerships, we can expand green and digital transitions in a way that leaves no one behind, ensuring that progress reaches all communities."

Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, said, "For those two decades, we have stayed the course in transforming lives, empowering communities and investing in Nigeria's future. At MTN Nigeria, we take great

pride in our commitment to concrete social investment that is long term and of high impact.

"Also, we allocate one per cent of our profit after tax to the foundation to make it possible for these 50 major projects across education, healthcare and economy."

Acting Chairman, MTN Nigeria Foundation, Dennis Okoro, said, "As we celebrate two decades of the foundation's remarkable contributions to Nigerian social economic development through empowering communities, driving social impact, improving access to education, healthcare, skills, funding community infrastructure, we hope to impact more.

"Since its inception, the Foundation has invested over $30 billion in more than 50 unique projects and initiatives positively impacting approximately 31.3 million Nigerians in 3,323 communities nationwide.

"As we gather to celebrate two decades of impactful philanthropic

and transformative community engagement, we are inspired by the theme of this milestone event, 'Unlocking Private Capital for Sustainable Development in Nigeria'

"We recognise the critical role that private capital plays in driving economic growth, fostering innovation and ultimately uplifting communities. Over the past 20 years, the MTN Foundation has been steadfastly committed to bridging gaps and creating opportunities across our nation.

"Our job, underscored by collaborations with dedicated stakeholders, has been one of progress, learning and unwavering dedication for social causes.

"We are driven by the belief that, harnessing the collective potential of the private sector, we can contribute significantly to national development goals and improve the quality of life of all Nigerians."

Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, appreciated MTN Nigeria and their

Minister of Marine/Blue Economy Harps on Opportunities to Ensure Nigeria's Sustainable Development

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adeboyega Oyetola, yesterday consented that harnessing innovation, embracing sustainability, and fostering collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector would create a thriving marine and blue economy that can contributes significantly to Nigeria's sustainable development.

Speaking at the 2024 International Conference of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (I FEDS), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife yesterday, the minister also urged Nigerians to work together to unlock the potential of oceans and coastal resources by creating prosperity for people while preserving the health of our marine ecosystems for generations to come.

Oyetola who was represented by the Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, also noted that future of Nigeria is blue, and it is up to Nigerians to shape it.

The Minister who spoke on the theme: “Advancing Entrepreneurship Education and Practice for Sustainable

Development in Africa” stressed that the Marine and Blue Economy represents a blue gold mine of entrepreneurial opportunities for African entrepreneurs and researchers.

According to him, "I stand before you not just as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, but as a partner in our collective journey towards sustainable development and economic prosperity. "

He said: "The Marine and Blue Economy represents a frontier of immense potential for Nigeria and indeed, all of Africa. It is a sector that, if harnessed correctly, can drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute significantly to our national and continental GDP."

He posited that for the purpose of the conference, "I will be discussing Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Marine and Blue Economy, with an emphasis on the synergies that must exist between academic institutions like Obafemi Awolowo University, the government and private sector to fully optimise these opportunities."

He noted that as "the Minister for the Marine and Blue Economy, it is with great pleasure that I outline the existing opportunities within this sector and shed light on the initiatives we are

currently enacting to fully tap into the rich potential of Nigeria's marine and blue economy sector. "

Oyetola emphasised that, "Nigeria has an expansive coastline of 853 kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean, and a maritime area of 46,000 square kilometres within the Gulf of Guinea. Our marine resources are both vast and varied. Our exclusive economic zone spans over 200 nautical miles, achieving a recent extension of 16,300 square kilometres -approximately five times the size of Lagos State.

"Additionally, Nigeria features an extensive resource of inland waterways, with the potential to support an intra-regional trade sphere through a length of 10,000 kilometres. Strategically situated navigational routes link Africa with North and South America, Europe, and Asia, making the maritime sector a crucial catalyst of our nation's economy.

"Thus, the blue economy sector promises a wealth of benefits for the growing youth population of our beloved nation, offering scope for innovation, sustainable growth and fruitful entrepreneurial paths.

"The economic prospects offered by

our blue economy are substantial and remarkable. In specific terms, I wish to underline some potential entrepreneurial opportunities within the sector:

Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Marine and Blue Economy."

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy however highlighted some key areas in entrepreneurial opportunities which he said includes Shipping and Ship Building, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Ship Recycling and Ship Repairs.

Others includes Cadet Training and Seafaring, Freight Forwarding, Shipbroking and Chartering, Ports and Related Services, Port Management, Cybersecurity and Data Science, Maritime Professional Services and Marine Insurance.

Maritime Research and Development: Engaging in maritime research and development involves working on innovative technologies and solutions to address challenges in the maritime sector, fostering growth and sustainability.

customers for providing them with funds.

Odunayo said, "We're grateful to MTN Nigeria, grateful to our customers, because they keep us here, because it is based on the patronage of our customers that MTN can give the foundation anything to work with."

According to her, the foundation has repositioned for the future.

She added, "We have repositioned today with the unveiling of our new

identity, our purpose, our vision, our mission, and our logo.

"We have repositioned for the next 20 years, and we are building an MTN foundation that is future fit, and that will do much more within our communities, and help to build our nation, Nigeria. "One of the greatest challenges has been, the fact that you have little, but the needs are overwhelming. So our resources are not limitless."

Nigeria Accounts for 20% of France’s

Trade with Sub-Saharan Africa, Says DG FNCCI

Sunday Okobi

The Director-General of the FrancoNigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Mr. Moses Umoru, has stated that Nigeria accounts for around 20 percent of France’s trade with sub-Saharan Africa.

He disclosed further that Nigeria is France’s leading trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and the fourthlargest in Africa, behind Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

In a recent chat with journalists on the significance of French Week 2024, which will take place in Lagos from November 8 to 15, Umoru stated that France has continued to play a strategic role in Nigeria’s development.

Its business presence totals over 100 companies and contributes to over 10,000 direct jobs.

The DG recounted that French companies, including TotalEnergies, continue to expand their investment in the energy sector with its recent drive to invest $6 billion (around €5.5 billion) over many years in Nigeria's energy industry, particularly in gas and offshore projects.

Fanmilk Nigeria, which was acquired by Danone, and continues to partner governments in various states as well as expand its investment in Nigeria with the recently launched production line in Ibadan, Oyo State.

While stating that Schneider Electric reinforces its operations in Nigeria with the inauguration of its new office facility recently and empowering individuals, communities, and industries with sustainable energy solutions, Umoru

also mentioned that “Access Bank Plc also revealed its plans to foster France-Nigeria trade by establishing a commercial presence in Paris, capital of France.

SPIE Global Services Energy, unveiled a technical training centre in Port Harcourt to train Nigerians on the technical aspects of its operations and boost local content in the energy service sector.

Umoru said the French Development Agencies (AFD) and Proparco have continued to support Nigeria’s development by funding sustainable projects in Nigeria.

“Business France supports the establishment of French Companies in Nigeria by organizing various missions cutting across multiple sectors, among others,” he stated. According to him, the 2024 French Week aims to celebrate the impact of the French presence in Nigeria while highlighting the impact and collaborations made by French and Nigerian companies.

Umoru said the 2024 French Week is organised by the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the patronage of the French Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria. He noted that the 2024 event lined up has been carefully put together to project the FrancoNigerian business relations with a high-level business forum with the theme: ‘Enhancing France-Nigeria Relations Through Sustainable Investments and Partnerships’, and tagged: ‘A Tech Startup conference and pitch session in partnership with French Tech Lagos, A cultural evening, among others’.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Partner, Digital Technology Consulting, Phillips Consulting Limited, Jason Ikegwu; Chief Financial Officer, Pcl.,Michael Adedigba; Chairman/CEO, Pcl, Foluso Phillips; Partner, Business Solutions and Training, Pcl, Modupe Thomas-Owoseni; Chief Operation Officer, Pcl, Olawanle Moronkeji and Partner, Commercial, Pcl, Dele Phillips, during the Phillips Consulting Limited

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

Tinubu’s Executive Clemency, and Other Side of Empathetic Leadership

Stanley Nkwocha writes about the implication of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Tuesday’s pardon of 119 suspects including minors arrested on august 1, 2024 during protests in some parts of the country.

President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the case of pardoned suspects arrested during the August 1, 2024 protests exemplifies empathetic and compassionate leadership. Invoking his constitutional power of executive clemency, commonly known in our clime as presidential pardon, the president ordered their immediate release.

His act of mercy extended beyond ordering their release; the president hosted them at the presidential villa.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who received the pardoned suspects on Tuesday on President Tinubu’s instructions, asked them not to sin again and to be responsible citizens.

The Vice President’s message, which reverberated through the magnificent edifice of the State House Auditorium, demonstrated the president’s commitment to addressing concerns surrounding the suspects’ arrest and ensuring their welfare.

Senator Shettima emphasised that the release of those arrested during the August 1 protests was based on humanitarian grounds. He told them that despite overwhelming evidence against them, President Tinubu chose to give them another chance, urging them to become responsible citizens contributing positively to Nigeria’s growth.

As the Vice President acknowledged, the devastating impact of the protests resulted in over N300 billion in losses, primarily affecting private property through looting and business disruptions. He cautioned the suspects against involvement in violence and destruction, instead encouraging them to seize the opportunity to reform and contribute to societal growth. Shettima tasked state governors with ensuring the rehabilitation of the pardoned suspects and facilitating their reintegration into their respective communities.

However, some legal experts have contended that discharging and acquitting suspects charged with treason through a mere presidential pardon, without considering the weight of the offense, would send the wrong signal to the public.

The president’s prerogative of mercy, these lawyers argued, could be interpreted to mean that in Nigeria, one can commit a very grievous criminal offense such as treason and get away with it, even receiving a pat on the back.

But it is clear from Vice President Shettima’s address at the reception for the released suspects

that the president’s move is not only a positive step toward promoting justice but also reflects an unquenchable desire to protect citizens’ rights, particularly those of vulnerable populations. It aims to address the root causes of social unrest and promote national cohesion.

Shettima’s address also highlighted the Tinubu administration’s efforts to stabilize the economy, improve public welfare, and prevent violence. The president has consistently emphasized the importance of dialogue, urging protesters to suspend further action and engage in constructive conversation.

As part of the government’s comprehensive reform agenda, President Tinubu’s administration has initiated several key programmes to address Nigeria’s economic and social challenges.

The implementation of Tax and Fiscal Reforms has streamlined revenue collection while ensuring equitable distribution of resources. The strategic removal of petrol subsidy, though initially challenging, has freed up substantial funds for critical development projects.

The administration has also launched social welfare initiatives, including an innovative Student Loan Programme to enhance access to higher education and a Consumer Credit Scheme to boost purchasing power and stimulate economic activity. The unification of the foreign exchange market represents a bold step toward creating a more transparent and efficient monetary system.

In the agricultural sector, significant

investments in commercial agriculture aim to boost food security and create employment opportunities. The Expanded National MSME Clinics provide crucial support to small businesses, fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth across the nation.

Healthcare infrastructure has received particular attention, with major upgrades going on in key tertiary hospitals across all six geo-political zones. This initiative aims to reduce medical tourism and improve access to quality healthcare services nationwide.

The administration has also embarked on ambitious infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways. These transformative projects will enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, and stimulate economic growth across different regions of the country.

These initiatives, among many others, demonstrate the government’s commitment to implementing comprehensive reforms that address both immediate challenges and long-term development goals, while promoting inclusive growth and national prosperity.

For those whipping up political, ethnic, and religious sentiments against the government, let it be known that no nation thrives when politicians and statesmen politicise every issue. Unfortunately, this trend threatens Nigeria’s progress. Unequivocally, hoisting Russian flags and advocating a military takeover constitutes a treasonable offense.

The issue raises concerns about the country’s future and the need for responsible public commentary. The politicisation of sensitive issues undermines national unity and security. Statesmen should prioritise the nation’s well-being over

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who received the pardoned suspects on Tuesday on President Tinubu’s instructions, asked them not to sin again and to be responsible citizens. The Vice President’s message, which reverberated through the magnificent edifice of the State House Auditorium, demonstrated the president’s commitment to addressing concerns surrounding the suspects’ arrest and ensuring their welfare.

partisan interests.

Nigeria requires constructive dialogue, addressing grievances, and fostering patriotism. Politicising sensitive matters only exacerbates division and hinders progress. Leaders must prioritise national interests, ensure accountability, and promote a unified Nigeria.

Effective governance demands statesmanship, not opportunism. Nigeria’s future depends on leaders who prioritise the nation’s well-being over political expediency. President Tinubu’s decision to release the suspects arrested during the August 1 protests was an exercise of the prerogative of mercy. This power, granted by Section 175 of the Nigerian Constitution, allows the president to grant pardons, respite, or substitute less severe punishments for individuals convicted of offenses. In this case, Tinubu’s executive clemency demonstrates his commitment to mercy and justice, particularly for vulnerable populations. President Tinubu’s decision serves as an example of responsible leadership, balancing justice with compassion.

The protests, which began as a call for better governance, took a worrying turn when the suspected protesters were seen waving Russian flags and advocating military intervention. This raises questions about who’s really behind these actions and what their true motives are. Are these young people truly aware of the implications of their actions, or are they being manipulated by external forces?

Some experts suggest that opposition and civil society elements are exploiting these situations to gain power, rather than working toward the betterment of the nation. This approach is not only harmful but also undermines the democratic process. Attempting to acquire political power through the backdoor is, indeed, shameful and undermines the legitimacy of the protests’ claims. The focus should be on addressing the root causes of social unrest rather than politicising the situation. Nigeria is not alone in this. Genuine reforms take time. President Tinubu’s administration has initiated policies aimed at improving the economy and reducing corruption. Nigerians must prioritise national interests over individual or party agendas. By working together, we can address the challenges facing our nation and build a better future for all.

-Nkwocha is Senior Media Assistant to Vice President Shettima.

Tinubu

Shettima

FEaturEs

Empowering Nigerians for Economic, Social Change through ‘The Blueprint of How’

Precious Ugwuzor writes that to tackle the prevailing economic crises, Mfon Ekpo, a renowned leadership expert and development strategist, is set to return The Blueprint of How Conference to empower individuals with tools to turn their ideas into impactful, sustainable ventures that drive economic and social change

To empower individuals with the right tools to turn their ideas into impactful, sustainable ventures that drive economic and social change, The Blueprint of How Conference, hosted by renowned leadership expert and development strategist, Mfon Ekpo, is set to return to Abuja for its 8thYear edition, from November 14th to 17th, 2024 in the Federal Capital Territory .

This transformative seminar is designed to empower individuals with the tools to turn their ideas into impactful, sustainable ventures that drive economic and social change.

Since its launch in 2016, the Blueprint of How has been a beacon of empowerment for both men and women across Africa.

Convened 30 times over the past seven years, this eighth year edition promises a dynamic mix of immersive sessions, high-level discussions, and personalized coaching under the leadership of Mfon Ekpo, CEO of The Discovery Centre and founding partner of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team.

Participants will engage in deep learning experiences centered on leadership,change management, producing innovation from economic chaos , and human-centered design thinking, specifically tailored to address local challenges with global insights.

Key Highlights of the Conference Include aVIP Session on November 14th, a closeddoor meeting with the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited – Sir Gabriel Ogbechie (OON), NigerianBillionaire businessman, philanthropist and Vanguard’s

Business man of the Year 2023 who founded the Rainoil Group, one of Nigeria's largest indigenous oil and gas companies.

Commenting on the event, Mfon Ekpo said, “The Blueprint of How is more than a conference — it is a movement to empower individuals with clarity, direction, and actionable plans needed to create sustainable, impact-driven ventures.

“Currently ranked the 15th largest crude oil producer in the world, Nigeria and its various producing sectors should be categorised by a diversity of players with significant investments, infrastructure and products that drive the economy and the social welfare of its citizenry.

But that expectation is still unrealized with the country facing its highest inflation rate since 1996, intensifying a general sense of frustration and despair.

Now, more than at any other time in our history, we need to find innovative ways to create wealth. Therefore, to respond to these issues and empower people to produce innovative wealth capable of triumphing over prevalent economic indices, the 8th Year edition

of The Blueprint of How is themed – “The Money Edition”.

Recognised for its significant contribution to social impact, Mfon Ekpo and the Blueprint of How seminar was shortlisted by the UK’s British Council Alumni Awards for its work in Nigeria.

These awards honour international leaders making significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries.

This four-day Conference is expected to attract participants , entrepreneurs and thought leaders from across Africa and beyond.

Now in its 31st installment and its eighth year , The Blueprint of How has inspired over 2,700 participants from 76 cities across three continents, making it a truly international seminar

She said a spot can be secured can be at The Discovery Centre- info@thediscoverycentre.com.

Mfon Ekpo is an award-winning development strategist, maritime lawyer, and international speaker who has delivered keynote addresses at prestigious institutions such as Oxford, Yale, and Harvard.

She has mentored on the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme and served as a global advisor on leadership and social impact initiatives.

NSCC Drafts Media Veterans to Energise Mandate

The National Senior Citizens Centre came into existence through the instrumentality of an Act of the National Assembly signed into law in 2017 with a mandate to cater for the needs of senior citizens in Nigeria. Indeed the enabling law states in Section 16(2)(d) of the 1999 Constitution that "it shall be a State policy to provide adequate social services and an improved quality of life for the elderly".

Pursuant to this mandate the Agency became operational in 2021 with the appointment of Dr Emem Omokaro as its pioneer Director General with oversight by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as well as Federal Ministry of Health.

The functions include "identify the needs , training and opportunities of senior citizens in the country and be responsible for the provision of health , sports , recreational, educational and social facilities for the benefit of senior citizens all over the country.

Other crucial functions include evolving and keeping records as well as a detailed data base of senior citizens across the country and also initiating and developing productive activities and work schemes for their livelihood.

Records show that the agency has engaged in skills acquisition programmes in partnership with a few private organizations in the past two years amongst other activities.

However it was only in the last few weeks that the spectre of public attention beamed on the Centre after the inauguration of a Media Roundtable hosted by the Centre and the subsequent investiture of a glamorous team of cerebral Media veterans led by the mercurial eclectic television producer of Nigeria Television Authority fame Olorogun Peter Igho that the National Senior Citizens Centre grabbed the headlines and irresistible visibility in the media space nationwide.

At the Media Roundtable held in Abuja , the Director General NSCC Dr Emem Omokaro using well produced and lucid multi-media platforms accompanied with statistics and

graphics outlined the State of the aged in Nigeria today , the designated assignments of the Roundtable as well as her demands for cooperation and collaboration pointing out the Centre's desire to utilize the humongous star power and visibility of the Media veterans gathered at the venue in Abuja to amplify the activities and use intense advocacy to draw attention to the mandate of the Centre.

The Director General reiterated the intention of the Centre to create "Renewed Hope" for the elderly within our society by giving them better quality healthcare , recreational options and deserved good living at the twilight of their lives. She named the group Goodwill Ambassadors of the Media and Movie industry and appointment

Olorogun Peter Igho DanJikan Kabi as the Coordinator with famed stars like Chika Okpala , Joke Silva , Alhaji Idi Farouk, Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, Lantana Ahmed , Marie Bewell , Dr Danladi Bako and Cyril Stober amongst other members. Sequel to

the dinner and Roundtable evening , an investiture formalizing the existence and mandate of the team was done by the Special Adviser to the President on Heath Dr Safiya Anas and that set the agenda for the Goodwill Ambassadors to hit the ground running.

The group's Coordinator, Peter Igho convened a strategy meeting that evening and intense deliberations took place with robust contributions from members which lasted over three hours fashioning out the operationalization of its assignments.

The deliberations and outcomes were outlined in a Communique by the body.

These include Advocacy visits to top functionaries of government, the Legislature traditional rulers , civil society organizations Embassies and private financial corporations in an an effort to create more awareness of not only the existence of the Citizens Centre but to join in driving it's mission and vision.

The Communique also states that a database covering retired veterans from the Media industry will be created and well administered tapping into the membership of such bodies as the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Association of Movie Producers , Actors Guild of Nigeria and so many others.

Others outcomes of the strategy meeting include the production of Radio , television and social media content to promote the mandate of the National Senior Citizens Centre using the immense aura and gravitas of the Media veterans now christened Goodwill Ambassadors.

State Governments and Local Government authority councils will be engaged for greater reach and involvement of senior citizens within the rural communities.

Without doubt , this laudable initiative which is a product of brainstorming by Dr Omokaro and Olorogun Peter Igho, surely has not only opened a new vista

in the collaborative efforts to get a better life for the elderly in Nigeria but also will provide mental and occupational engagement for the veterans.

Not only will they be putting the senior citizens of Nigeria on the front burner , but it will prepare the young and trendy of today as well as provide them with an insight into the lives they will be saddled with when they age beyond sixty years old.

For now and in the past growing old has been associated with impending suffering, desolation, isolation , destitution total abject poverty and neglect. This change desired by all and sundry is the catalyst for this major initiative bringing to existence the National Senior Citizens Centre and its mandate, mission and vision.

It’s not by accident but certainly a masterstroke by the effervescent Director General of the Centre Dr Emem Omokaro to successfully draft Peter Igho former Director General National Lottery Regulatory Commission, almost sixteen years into retirement to pilot this media veterans intervention on behalf of the Citizens Centre.

It is not to say that the activities of the National Senior Citizens Centre have not made front page news , but the added incentive of the huge media appeal these veterans bring to the table cannot be underestimated or undervalued.

The singular action of engaging the right tools and right personnel , in this case Peter Igho paved the way for the veteran producer of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA') famous television drama "Cock Crow at Dawn" Peter Igho to mobilize high grade media seniors and elders like Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya) and Tony Akposheri (Zaki) of NTAs "Masquerade" fame to join the train in the sensitization and mobilization of the citizenry , young and old to drive the agenda of better life for senior citizens of Nigeria so that ultimately growing old would not be a depressing prospect but a destination worthy of being experienced and enjoyed.

•Danladi Bako PhD, OON Member, Goodwill Ambassadors, NSCC Abuja.

For a Sustainable Tomorrow, Azura Power to Unveil Solar Car Park at UNN

Precious Ugwuzor

Azura Power West Africa will on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, unveil a 240 KW installation of state-of-the-art Solar Car Park at the University of Nigeria Nsuka UNN, Tuesday the 12th of November 2024.

The ceremony will be performed by the Minister of power Adebayo Adelabu as part of initiative that aligns with Nigeria's energy transition goals, and the President Bola Tinubu administration power sector reforms.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Azura Power West Africa, Murtala Bello disclosed that the initiative is part of Azura Power's "Power to Change" program, which exemplifies the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility and

sustainable development in local communities and the nation at large.

“Every year, Azura Power allocates $1 million to support projects that promote sustainable livelihoods, health, education, and infrastructure.

The solar car park is

not merely an addition to the university's facilities; it represents a significant step towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering educational and social development through renewable energy”.

“As Nigeria embarks on its energy transition journey, Azura Power is honored to contribute to this vital endeavor. The solar installation at UNN will cater for approximately 2,650 engineering students, meeting 75% of the faculty's energy needs.

Peter Igho, NSCC National coordinator

Danladi Bako

Ibom air increases fleet with two new aircraft, writes ANIETIE USEN

IBOM AIR SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS

The purchase of two new aircraft on the same day was described as a rare feat by aviation experts in Nigeria. Ibom Air, one of Nigeria's most decorated and favourite airlines, November 1, 2024, celebrated the arrival of two new aircraft, among the four new aircraft it has purchased in the last one year.

As usual, Akwa Ibom government and people, the sole owners of the airline, gathered at the Victor Attah International Airport to hail the only successful government-owned airline in Nigeria. The two new aircraft that touched down at 2pm, Friday, November 1, 2024, were the Canadian made CRJ 900 series of Bombardier, renowned globally for its efficient performance on short and medium-haul.

Apart from its reputation for high performance, even in bad weather, CRJ900 is also celebrated in the industry for fuel efficiency, comfort, modern cabin design that includes larger windows, improved lighting, and higher cabin pressure. In addition, the CRJ900 has a strong takeoff and landing performance, advanced avionics and flight system, which allows for operational reliability and flexibility as it can operate from shorter runways.

For Ibom Air, the two new aircraft instantly swelled it fleet to nine aircraft, made up of seven CRJ 900 and two Airbus 200-300 series. But for the delighted and jubilant people of Akwa Ibom, the two new aircraft called for nothing short of celebration. They rolled out their red carpet, drums and dancing shoes as the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, his deputy Senator Akon Eyakenyi and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, led the rest of the people to pray and thànk ‘the Almighty God of Akwa Ibom State’ for his benevolence.

“Sometime ago, someone said to me why do you celebrate every time Ibom Air buys a new aircraft and I told him that as long as I remain Governor, we will celebrate any time we acquire a new aircraft. We celebrate because it is not easy for a State government in Nigeria to operate a commercial airline. We celebrate because Akwa Ibom remains the only State in Nigeria that runs a successful and profitable airline. We celebrate because God is steadily increasing us. We will continue to celebrate because we are investing in the right things for our people.

“All of these calls for celebration because…we recognize that without God, we would not achieve anything. But this is not just about celebration. It is about thanksgiving to the Almighty God that we, who were once nobodies can now run airlines, build towers and stand out in the commity of sub-nationals in Nigeria. That is a good reason for celebration” Governor Eno said.

The governor went ahead to announce other mega projects that are afoot under his watch and pledged also to complete all projects started by his predecessors. “Two days ago, we gathered in Lagos across party lines to celebrate Akwa Ibom's continuous ascendancy, with the groundbreaking ceremony of the 18-storey Ibom Towers, an iconic tower that speaks to the power of vision and creative application of funds for the most benefit of our people.

“Between now and the first quarter of next year, we will be doing the groundbreaking for our 4-star hotel in Abuja because we are

determined to convert all our moribund properties to commercial ventures.

“By next year, the MRO [maintenance, repair, and overhaul] workshop behind me here will be completed. We are putting so much money already into this important project and we are at 95% completion. Then we will begin to earn money in foreign currency.

“Later on in December this year, we are going to partially open the brand new tear rubber international terminal of this airport and then it will be fully opened by the first quarter of next year. Funding is nearly completed”, the Governor said.

But the Governor was not done yet. “This month in November, we are commissioning 72 projects. We are building more roads across the State. We are building compassionate homes for the aged, while new hospitals and new schools, are being commissioned on a regular basis. Through the Akwa Ibom Bulk Purchase Agency, we are distributing free food to all our 31 Local Government Areas. I've just approved the payment of N1.2 billion for gratuity to our retirees.

“Before the end of December, we are flagging off the international market in Ikot Ekpene, the judiciary quarters in Uyo, our special ambulance services that will cover the entire State. A week from now, we shall be harvesting from the employment portal a total of 5,000 young undergraduates and we'll pay them N50,000 each. I'd like to say to the Akwa Ibom people that I am following up closely on the Ibom Deep seaport project. You can check, we are meeting all our commitments to our consultants and very soon we will open the road to the Deep Seaport itself…On top of that, we are laying the foundation in the next two weeks for our aviation village near this airport,” the governor said to the roaring applause of the crowd.

But it was the Board Chairman of Ibom Air, Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob and the CEO of Ibom Air, Captain Mfon Udom, who gave the excited audience some insight into the two new aircraft and the beautiful new International Wing of the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA). Said Jacob: “We have drawn from the support of the governor to be able to put together this uncommon feat…The new aircraft is fully funded and financed by the State government in a manner that is not known in the management of public finance. His Excellency has graciously funded the aircraft with what we call shareholders loan; deploying public funds to create wealth and assets in a way that the money will come back to the coffers of the government for use in other developmental areas”.

DANIEL IGHAKPE reckons that incorporation of vocational studies in the incoming basic education curriculum is in order

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TO THE RESCUE

While reading a national daily recently, I was happy to learn about a new basic education curriculum which will be out soon. What made me so happy about this news is that some new vocational subjects will be incorporated into the new basic education curriculum.

This is indeed a very welcome development! In a country like Nigeria where formal employment opportunities are limited, fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through the incorporation of vocational education and training into the school curriculum can ultimately serve to create a more self-sufficient workforce and reduce dependency on government jobs. Incorporating vocational subjects into our education curriculum helps to equip students with essential skills that can help them to become more

implements, sewing machines and other necessary infrastructural resources. It is also important that parents, educators, and even the government recognize the relevance of scholars studying vocational subjects/courses. Vocational education and training provides students with life skills that can help them become productive entrepreneurs, as it breeds creative and innovative ideas. And in the long run, it also impacts on the economy and increases personal freedom.

Vocational, entrepreneurship, or skill acquisition programmes include: Agriculture/ farming and processing, garment making/ tailoring/sewing/fashion designing; cooking, catering and baking; hair styling and making;

creative, innovative, and practical-oriented in their learning and endeavours. This can help them to not only thrive in the job market but also emerge as employers of labour, thereby contributing to the reduction of the rate of unemployment and in effect, poverty in Nigeria.

The inability of our educational system to provide youths with the demands of industries has led to increased frustrations. The learning and teaching that takes place in Nigerian schools, even at the basic education level, must look beyond simply promoting literacy and numeracy. Vocational education and training needs to be given serious attention, too.

For example, currently in many primary schools, there is a subject known as Pre-vocational Studies. While working as a Primary School Class Teacher, I was once privileged to teach this subject. In the course of my teaching, I found out that, even for me as an adult, this subject was very interesting and contained a lot of valuable knowledge and skills that are very useful. The subject Pre-vocational Studies is usually divided into two parts: one, Agriculture and two, Home Economics. These two areas contain a lot of practical knowledge and skills which both boys and girls can learn, even at a very early age. This knowledge spans from different kinds of crops and how they are cultivated, to the rearing of different kinds of farm animals. It also includes learning how to cut, sew and make different kinds of stitches and clothing items, etc.

If the theoretical learning of such subjects in the classroom can be comple mented with practical work, as is usually indicated in the textbooks, I strongly believe that it can help to build in the pupils a strong interest and love for the subject. They would thereby learn hands-on skills that can prove to be of much value to them now and in the future, thus helping them to cultivate the quality of being self-reliant individuals who can adapt to future challenges. After all, the holy scriptures says in Proverbs 22:6: Train up a boy (or child, youth) in the way he should go; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

It is also vital that schools (both private and public) have the necessary resources needed to teach vocational studies in schools. These may include things like farm space, farm

barbing; photography; musical instruments training; video editing; event decoration and management; interior design; cobbling; make-up and gele tying; carpentry; painting; plumbing; building and construction works; GSM repairs; satellite or TV antenna installation, digital literacy in IT and Robotics; and so on. These can help students to discover and develop their latent hidden talents and potential.

What is left to be anticipated now is that adequate preparations be put in place for this new basic education curriculum that is planned. These preparations can include putting proper structures and systems in place for its implementation, such as a comprehensive training of the teachers that are to implement this new curriculum, provision of learning materials, as well as the improvements to the vocational educational infrastructure. The government should also ensure that public schools as well as low-cost private schools are equipped with the tools, facilities, and teaching aids required for hands-on learning. It has also been suggested that shared vocational training hubs be established in local communities where multiple schools can access and share the equipment and workshops that are necessary for effective training.

There is also a need for the government to collaborate with the private sector. Vocational education necessitates stronger partnerships between schools and industries to ensure that students gain valuable real-world experience. Companies can provide internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training, thereby helping students transition smoothly from school to the workforce.

It is indeed a laudable initiative that the government is introducing vocational education and training into the new basic education curriculum. We eagerly look forward to its successful implementation!

Ighakpe teaches at City Pride Schools, AmuwoOdofin, Lagos

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

BEYOND THE VOLUME OF PLASTIC WASTE

The use of plastic materials should be regulated to protect the environment

Apparently responding to a recent report which identified Nigeria as the second plastic pollution hotspot in the world after India, the federal government has launched a road map to tackle the menace with the support of the private sector. “Nigeria faces a significant challenge in managing the large volume of plastic waste being generated in the country,” said the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who also chairs the Nigeria National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP). “This challenge also creates a wealth of opportunities for a massive circular economy across the plastic waste management value chain.”

We endorse the idea to use what has become a problem to “stimulate job creation, foster the establishment of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, and attract private sector investment, including foreign direct investment through building the necessary infrastructure for the plastic economy.” But there must also be a campaign to discourage the use of plastics in Nigeria. Every household or office or neighbourhood in the country has various types of plastics that are not reusable, and which at end-of-life are littered on the streets, caught in fences and trees, dumped in drains, rivers and lagoons, the ocean and all manner of places where they cannot decompose. Every year, the federal government only perfunctorily ‘marks’ the World Environment Day without bringing some of these issues that impact on the future of the country into public discourse.

zambique, Malawi and Niger. Others are Rwanda, Madagascar, Senegal, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Tunisia and Kenya. Botswana and South Africa have imposed huge levies on plastic bags. This has led to many retailers charging a fee on plastic bags and consequently a reduction in its use in both countries.

Scientists have raised global concern that plastics pose unimaginable danger to humanity and may reach crisis levels unless deliberate actions are taken to reverse the trend. The warning is particularly important for Nigeria since it is believed that plastic bags that are used daily can take between 10 to 1000 years to decompose, while plastic bottles can take 450 years or more. Yet, because single-use plastics are light, strong, can be shaped easily and cheap to produce, they are littered around the entire landscape.

There is urgent need for government at all levels to trigger actions that would control the production and use of plastics that are not reusable or cannot decompose

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) believes the disposal of plastic waste needs to be handled with urgency and that everyone has a critical role to play in mitigating the issue at the household, national, regional, and global levels. With worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment, there is an urgent need for government at all levels in the country to trigger actions that would control the production and use of plastics that are not reusable or cannot decompose..

The government needs to take concrete actions to protect the environment and rid it of plastics as some African countries have done by placing a ban on plastic bags, which are the most used form of plastics. Some of the African countries that have banned plastic bags include Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Mo-

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI

CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO

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

Letters to the Editor

According to experts, the process of manufacturing plastics and its disposal through burning is harmful to workers and that it does not decompose makes farming cumbersome and kills livestock. Also, studies show that single-use plastics are harmful to the environment and have suggested that manufacturers of plastics can switch to reusable products because single-use plastics’ waste can take decades to decompose in landfills/ dumpsites. Nigeria should take a positive position on the eradication of plastic pollution in the overall interest of the people and future generations.

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

NIGERIANS AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE

The advent of social media has been no doubt life transforming and life defining for many people around the globe. Nigerians are no exceptions.

That, suddenly, communication can be social, seamless and synchronized, with many people around the world able to connect with each other and enjoy unprecedented access to hitherto closed spaces is nothing short of a miracle.

As communication has grown across various social media channels, governments everywhere have become attuned to its ills as well as the dangers it poses to them.

The most authoritarian governments around the world have tried to shut down social media or at least, to regulate it until it is no threat to them.

Even in liberal democracy, there is a recognition of the need for laws regulating social media because truth is, social media has not just grabbed unprecedented access to information and communication to global citizens, it has also become a favorite playground for global master criminals.

Thus, many life-changing connections made on social media have been directly counteracted by the many times it has been used for destructive purposes.

According to Cable.co.uk, and We Are Social in 2024 report., Nigeria, Africa’s most populous democracy and economy, ranks in the top five for countries with most social media usage daily. Despite Nigeria’s population of about 200 million people, and teeming number of young people, this is still huge.

The report states that Nigerians spend an average of three hours, twenty-three minutes daily on social media. With three hours, forty-three minutes on social media daily, Kenyans spend the most time on social media every day.

Should this be a worry? In a country where cost and access to the internet remains prohibitive, it is a wonder that Nigerians are making efforts to stay connected.

This connection has changed lives in Nigeria by redefining how Nigerians can connect with each other. It has given many young and budding entrepreneurs and creatives the opportunity to showcase their talents to the world, bringing life-changing incomes along with it.

But it has not been all good. Just as social media has been an unprecedented opportunity to connect, giving people a voice to change their lives, it has also been a breeding ground for fake news and hate speech which have proven particularly destruc-

tive of social ethos, threatening the very foundations of civilization. Very often on social media, a spark of fake news or hate speech is ignited, and because the space is particularly attuned to lies and misinformation, a firestorm of lies and hate is soon set off, spreading fast and incinerating lives and reputations in the process.

This does not mean that efforts by the government to regulate the space in the past have been sincere. If anything, those efforts have been driven by the need to regulate how much of a tool for holding government to account that social media is.

While social media has been transformational thus far, Nigerians must also recognize the need to regulate what is at once a bounteous harvest and a bombshell.

Agents of mischief whose ultimate aim is the destabilization of society and government abound on social media. Discretion is the better part of valour and in a space as numerous as space itself in the words of Emily Dickinson, prudence is a prize as well as the podium. It is also the price users should pay for the infinite possibilities available there.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

Emma

Okonji

The Nigerian telecommunications industry is fraught with challenges that have become a litmus test for the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to tackle.

Prominent among the challenges are the interconnect debt issues among telecoms operators and the over N200 billion Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt owed telecoms operators by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs). Both challenges have lingered for so long and they are already affecting telecoms operations across networks as well as the telecoms subscribers.

Disturbed by the prolonged

Emma Okonji

The West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) has unveiled critical recommendations aimed at harmonising consumer rights and standardising complainthandling procedures across the region’s telecommunications sector.

The WATRA Access and Consumer Experience working group recently held its first inperson meeting in Banjul, Gambia, where representatives from eight National Telecommunications

challenges and their negative impacts on telecommunications service offerings, NCC has identified the challenges as key priorities for immediate resolution.

THISDAY investigation revealed that NCC has addressed the interconnect debt issues to an appreciable end, and has commenced fresh moves to also address the controversial USSD debt that has been alleged to have accumulated to over N200 billion as at October 2024.

An insider source from NCC, told THISDAY that NCC called all parties involved in the interconnect debt issues to a meeting, where the debts were reviewed and resolved and immediate decision was taken for the payment of all outstanding

interconnect debts owed by different telecoms operators. “All outstanding interconnect debts had since been cleared,” the source said.

Interconnect debt is the accumulation of stipulated amount of money recorded over a period of time for all telecoms calls that were generated from one network and terminated on another network. Although telecoms operators were supposed to reconcile the amount of calls that were generated and terminated on each other’s networks, but some operators deliberately allowed the stipulated amount to accumulate without off-setting the bills, a development that led to the accumulation of huge interconnect debts that ran into

billions of naira before it was addressed.

After successfully resolving the interconnect imbroglio, the customer-centric regulator is currently addressing the USSD debt, with all intents and purposes to also reach amicable conclusion.

THISDAY investigation also revealed that extensive negotiations have been ongoing to resolve the USSD debt issue, with NCC designing a framework that will determine the issues surrounding the controversial N200 billion debt, which accumulated over the years between the banks and the telcos.

“NCC is currently looking at what is fair, what is accurate, and when there is a successful transaction that requires billing.

The banks charge the customers using the USSD code but do not remit to the operators that own the USSD platform.

NCC, which regulates the telecoms industry and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which regulates the banks are currently reviewing the debts afresh. The regulators are also reviewing claims from banks that the monies were deducted directly from subscriber’s bank account, controlled by the banks and not directly from the airtime on the mobile phones of the subscribers, controlled by the telcos,” the source told THISDAY.

Deposit Money Banks and the telecoms operators have been at loggerheads since 2019, over the non-remittance of USSD fees

charged by banks. As at 2019, telcos said the accumulated USSD debt was N32 billion. The figure continued to accumulate to reach N42 billion as at March 2021 and N80 billion as at November 2022, until it rose to reach N120 billion in June 2023 and over N200 billion in October 2024. Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, had threatened to go to court to challenge the banks and had also threatened to withdraw the USSD services, should the debt continues to liger. He however told THISDAY that ALTON would wait for the outcome of the fresh negotiations between the two regulators before implementing the threat actions.

Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) gathered to share best practices and propose practical solutions to better protect consumer interests across West Africa.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo. The working group focused on establishing a unified framework to protect consumer rights and ensure efficient handling of complaints across the region. By adopting common standards, WATRA

aims to create a more transparent, reliable, and consumer-friendly telecommunications environment for millions of users.

Stating the need for the harmonisation, the Executive Secretary of WATRA, Aliyu Aboki, said: “WATRA remains committed to protecting the rights of consumers in the telecommunications sector and ensuring that their concerns are addressed effectively and uniformly across member states. The harmonisation of consumer rights and complaint procedures

is a vital step towards building a more inclusive and fairer telecommunications space across West Africa.”

The four-day session featured extensive discussions on key consumer rights, such as the right to information, the right to choose, the right to fair contracts, and the right to accurate billing. The group emphasised the importance of protecting users’ privacy and security and ensuring consumers can opt out of unsolicited electronic messages. Additionally, each NRA

shared their existing procedures for managing consumer complaints, highlighting the use of call centers, green lines, and digital platforms for processing grievances.

To streamline these efforts, the working group recommended adopting the complaint processing times proposed by Senegal’s ARTP, setting a standard for time-bound responses across the region. The harmonisation is expected to lead to faster resolution of consumer complaints and a more consistent approach to addressing grievances.

that the recommendations will significantly enhance the consumer experience across the

By establishing uniform procedures, we can ensure that every consumer, regardless of their location, receives the same level of protection and service.”

WATRA’s Chairman, Amara Brewah, said: “The collaborative spirit shown at the meeting has been exceptional, and we are confident

region.

NAICOM Threatens to Sack Boards of Weak Insurance Firms

Weak insurance firms in the country may soon lose their position in the market as the National Insurance

Commission (NAICOM), has vowed to replicate its recent action in African Alliance Insurance in firms showing signs of weakness and unable to meet their claims

and other obligations.

NAICOM has last week sacked the board and management of Africa Alliance Insurance and appointed an interim board and

management to henceforth oversee the affairs of the company.

The commission said with what happened in African Alliance and the long period of grace it gave

LASG: We’re Putting Up Robust Call-up System at Lekki-Epe Corridor

In a bid to streamline truck movement along the Lekki-Epe Corridor and prevent the challenges faced at Apapa, the Lagos State Government, in partnership with Callup Technology, is implementing a robust Call-Up System designed to ensure smooth operations in the area.

Speaking on the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Seun Osiyemi, clarified that contrary to recent media reports, the Call-Up System is being fine-tuned to create a

Ebere Nwoji

Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, said it grew its gross written premium to N6.017 billion in 2023 financial period, marking 7.99 per cent increase from last year’s N5.572 billion figure.

The company, said its insurance revenue surged to N6.083 billion, showing 21.11 percent growth and an increase of N1.060 billion compared to the previous year.

The Chairman, Mr. Clem Baiye,

Ebere Nwoji

Organisers of the 2024 Almond Insurance Industry Awards have announced winners of this years various categories of the award which took place recently in Lagos, saying Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State clinched the Special Recognition Award at the event .

According to a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer,

Kayode Tokede

Babcock Business School, a subsidiary of Babcock University has announced a strategic partnership with ThinkCyber Nigeria to bridge Cybersecurity training gap for professionals in Nigeria. The partnership marks a pivotal moment in the quest to enhance cybersecurity training in Nigeria, equipping future professionals

seamless and efficient solution.

The initiative aims to prevent congestion and enhance safety by avoiding the bottlenecks previously experienced at Apapa. Osiyemi explained that the training of key stakeholders is already underway, with members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers receiving handson experience with the system’s software. “In addition to NUPENG,

disclosed this at the company’s 30th annual general meeting held in Lagos.

He further announced 118.20 per cent increase in investment income for 2023, compared to 2022, driven by rising money market and bank deposit rates.

“The increase in money market and bank deposit rates in the economy has led to a growth of 118.20 percent in the investment income of our company for the year 2023 when compared with

Almond Productions Ltd, the organisers of the award, Faith Ughwode, the General Insurance Company of the Year Award went to Leadway Assurance Ltd while Life Insurance Company of the Year Award went to AIICO Insurance plc.

The Takaful Insurance Company of the year Award went to Noor Takaful Insurance Limited. Ughwode, further said the Insurance Brokers Company of

with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle the challenges posed by an increasingly interconnected world.

Speaking to journalists at the Babcock Business School in Lagos, the Head of Babcock University Business School, Professor Akintoye Rufus emphasized the urgent need for industry-aligned training in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

all Free Zones, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote and Lagos Free Zone have been integrated into the Call-Up System,” he noted.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, emphasised that lessons learned from the Apapa/ Tincan corridor are being applied to ensure a more efficient rollout. “I was involved in the Apapa Port call-up, and we are determined to avoid the same mistakes. Our goal

the year 2022 figures,” he said.

He said in line with the inflationary trend and in order to ensure that the company’s assets were valued at current market prices, the investment property was revalued and the fair value gain of N478.500m included in the Statement of Profit or Loss.

He added that the gain on the value of the revaluation of head office property was included in the Other Comprehensive income statement. He further

the year award went to Kayode Awogboro while Insurance CEO of the Year Award was won by Mr Tunde Fajemirokun , the Managing Director AIICO Insurance plc.

The Insurance Broking Company of the Year was won by Insurance Brokers of Nigeria.

The Micro Insurance Company of the year Award went to Goxi Microinsurance Co. Ltd

While the Insurance Woman of the year was won by Ebelechukwu

The partnership centers on the implementation of ThinkCyber’s CYBERIUM ARENA, an innovative cyber simulation environment that provides students and corporate professionals with hands-on experience.

He stated, “Our collaboration with ThinkCyber is transformative. It enables us to equip our students and industry professionals with practical skills necessary to combat

is to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned when the Lekki system goes live,” Giwa stated.

Managing Director of Call Technology Services Limited, Mr. Timi Koleolu, echoed these sentiments, noting that while the system is ready for deployment, collaboration remains key. “We are committed to carrying all stakeholders along in this process to ensure that the system is robust enough to manage the complexities of the Lekki-Epe Corridor,” he said.

informed that profit before tax of the company soared to N2.095 billion, representing a 239.17 per cent increase from N617.691million, while profit after tax rose by 224.71 per cent to N1.931 billion in 2023 from N549.584 million in 2022. He stated that the shareholders’ fund grew by 68.55 percent from N6.952bn in 2022 to N11.718bn in the year under review, while total assets reached N18.855 billion, reflecting a 52.24 percent increase or N6.436bn from the previous year.

Nwachukwu, Managing Director Royal Exchange Assurance. The Most Valuable Insurance Customer of the year award went to Dangote Group while The Life Achievers Award was presented to sir Ogala Osoka . Also Almond Insurance Industry Life Achievers Award was presented to Val Onumah while the Almond Insurance Industry Special Recognition Award went to Mrs Modupe Dallas- Olusanya.

current and emerging cyber threats effectively. This immersive learning experience is critical in preparing them for the complexities of the cybersecurity landscape.”

Opened in September 2022 in Ilishan, Ogun State, the Babcock Business School employs a unique 30/70 training model, where 70per cent of the curriculum is dedicated to practical, hands-on experience while 30per cent focuses on theoretical knowledge.

to the company to adjust and the company’s poor attitude of dribbling the regulator, an operational line has been drawn for insurance companies in the country.

The Deputy Commissioner for insurance Technical, Dr. Usman Jankara, said this at a recent press briefing in Lagos, stating that the regulatory action taken against African Alliance Insurance Plc has set in motion the operational line. He warned that henceforth any company that crosses the line would be greeted with appropriate regulatory action.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Insurance Ayo Olusegun Omosehin, echoing his Deputy Commissioner Technical, said the Commission would ensure that all directors whose position were taken over through regulatory intervention, would be registered in NAICOM’s Black Book. Omosehin maintained that such individuals would never be allowed as directors nor hold any executive position in the insurance industry, stressing that they can go and start a new life in sectors where they are accepted, but not within the industry.

Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc has said that it achieved a remarkable financial performance in the third quarter 2024, achieving 117 per cent year-on-year growth in profit after tax, from N697.8 million in Q3 2023 to N2.339 billion in 2024.

The company said the significant growth reflected its focused strategy on enhancing operational efficiency, shareholder value, and delivering an exceptional experience for its customers.

The company’s Managing Director, Dr Adaobi Nwakuche, commenting on the result said the results highlighted Veritas Kapital’s robust financial foundation, with significant year-on-year growth in key metrics.

Announcing the result she said

“Net insurance and investment results increased by 168 percent reaching N4.030 billion, while insurance revenue expanded by a notable 425 percent moving from

N3.068 billion to N16.099 billion.

According to her, Gross Premium Written also saw an impressive uptick, climbing from N4.087 billion in Q3 2023 to N18.540 billion in Q3 2024, marking a positive trajectory in the company’s financial health and market standing. She attributed the success to the company’s continuous efforts to adapt to industry demands and prioritise customer and stakeholder satisfaction.

“Our impressive Q3 results demonstrate the strength and resilience of our strategy in delivering value to our stakeholders, even amid challenging economic conditions. Nwakuche, echoed these sentiments, disclosing a 69 percent increase in the group’s total assets, reaching N41.580 billion, and 18 percent rise in shareholders’ funds, now at N19.235 billion. These results reinforce Veritas Kapital Assurance’s standing as a stable and trusted player in the Nigerian insurance sector,” she said.

Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, will host the second edition of the African Takaful and Non-Interest Finance Conference.

The Conference, according to a statement from the organisers has been scheduled to hold in Lagos.

The statement further said the conference, with the theme, “Islamic Finance and Takaful: Building Resilience in a Volatile World,” is expected to bring together industry leaders regulators, experts, and stakeholders across Africa and beyond to discuss the imperative of Islamic finance in a volatile economy.

According to the statement, some of the notable speakers expected at the conference include, Executive

Director of the Agent for Inclusive Innovations and Development (AIID); Bashir Hassan, Managing Director, the Micro insurance Centre at Milliman, Michael McCord, Executive Director Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Farhan Noor. According to the statement, the Managing Partner and Lead of Verraki Partners, Social Sector Practice Mohammed Garuba, will moderate the sessions. The Managing Director, Noor Takaful Insurance Limited Rilwan Sumonu, said the conference would help the company advance its ultimate goal of becoming a key player in Africa’s non-interest finance sector.

Ebere Nwoji

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L-R; Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mayokun Ajibade;; Deputy Governor, CBN, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi; S A to Finance Minister, Sanyade Okoli; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria, Wale Edun; Director, Monetary Policy Department, Dr. Ladi Bala- Keffi and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Cardoso shortly after the G-24 governors’ meetings at the ongoing lmf/World Bank’s Annual Meetings 2024 in Washington DC, USA

Photo: Abiodun AjAlA

Protecting the Rights of Telecoms Consumers

The Nigerian Communications Commission, has continued to assert its consumer-centric regulatory authority on telecoms operators, insisting that telecoms consumers’ rights must be upheld in the midst of avalanche of promos, tariffs and bonuses introduced by the operators, that seem to be fast depleting consumers’ data and airtime in a confused manner, writes emma okonji

As the year is gradually winding down, telecoms operators across networks have continued to woo their subscribers with different categories of promos, tariffs and bonuses that appear enticing at the surface level, but equally come with some terms and conditions that are not made clear to the subscribers.

Often times, subscribers jump at the promos and tariffs without taking time to study the terms and conditions of such promos and tariffs, only to realise at the middle of a particular promo or tariff, that their accumulated data and airtime, which they thought could have lasted for a longer period of browsing hours or talk hours, suddenly begin to deplete fast in a manner that puts them in a confused state.

Known for its consumer-centricity, and in order to address consumer pain-point in the area of tariffs, promos and bonuses, NCC has called for a simplified tariff system across networks and has equally directed all telecoms operators to submit their restructured tariff plan to the NCC on a weekly basis and to publish same to all their subscribers before November 30, 2024.

ConsumeRs’ Pain PoinTs

Consumers’ pain points vary from network to network, based on the different operators’ tariff plans and promos offered to their subscribers.

In order to address the pain points, NCC conducted a survey on consumers’ needs and value as they relate to tariffs and promos, which showed that consumers value quality of service to promos and tariff plans that do not add value to them.

According to the survey report, most telecoms subscribers do not have clear understanding of the various tariff plans and promos being offered to them by their operators, because at the end of the day, it turns out that most of the promos and tariffs are the sources from where telecoms consumers’ pain points emanate from, giving them room to become suspicious of their telecoms service providers.

The ultimate goal of the NCC’s survey was to ensure that telecoms consumers, irrespective of their networks, attain certain level of satisfaction, and to also meet their

expectations with decent experiences across networks, but the survey report revealed the contrary. NCC realised that there were some elements of promos that were being converted and translated into tariffs, unknown to the consumers. In some cases, operators apply different effective tariffs to bonus accounts, resulting in different tariffs for the main account and bonus account, and the information is not communicated to consumers, which often times, leads to uninformed decisions on the part of telecoms consumers.

NCC is of the view that telecoms consumers have the right to know the full details of whatever service they subscribed to, and the expected value they are supposed to get from such subscriptions.

NCC expects that all current tariffs featuring bonuses or promotional elements should be classified strictly as promotions and thus should be submitted to the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC for quality of service evaluation.

midnighT Calls

In the past, free midnight calls were used as baits to lure telecoms consumers into a tariff plan that remain ambiguous to many. The operators assured telecoms consumers that the midnight call tariff plan would reduce their cost of talk time and many subscribers believed and subscribed to the plan, only to discover that they were not getting value for the midnight calls, because it resulted to network jam as huge numbers of subscribers were awake all nights, just to make free midnight calls at the same time, a development that made the NCC to compel operators to scrap midnight calls across all networks.

Consumers that welcomed the scrapping of midnight calls, said what was important to them was the value they were supposed to get, and not the free talk time that resulted in network jam and made rubbish of the entire free midnight calls.

unRealisTiC Bonuses

It has also been discovered that the bonuses offered

by telecoms operators, have been unrealistic to a large extent. Some operators will offer a recharge data bonus of N5,000, but will apply high tariff rate on such bonuses, unknown to the telecoms consumers, that will suddenly discover that their data is fast depleting than usual.

Some of the affected subscribers even accused the operators of stealing their data because it depletes at alarming rate, due to the high tariff rate that has been attached to it, unknown to the consumer. The same applies to bonus voice calls. While subscribers will be expecting that they would be charged the normal rate of N20 per minute call, they would be surprised that their calculation of three hours talk time, based on the bonus given them, would only last for less than an hour and they would be wondering what happened to their bonus airtime, unknown to them that bonus airtime comes with higher tariff rate that was not disclosed to them as at the time the bonus airtime was given to them.

NCC is of the view that a situation where bonuses attract higher tariff rate than the normal call airtime from the main account, should be discouraged.

For the purpose of transparency, NCC has also said that every airtime in both the main account and the bonus account should have equal tariff rate that must deplete at the same rate for voice and data, adding that consumers should have real value for their data subscription and voice airtime.

nCC’s diReCTive

In order to protect telecoms consumers from unhealthy promos, bonuses and tariffs, NCC has issued a directive to telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities.

The directive aims to provide clear, easy-tounderstand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to subscribers.

The directive, titled, “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” was

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

issued on July 29, 2024, which mandates Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a comprehensive table showing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.

According to the directive, the table should contain all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, including details on add-ons, their prices, how consumers can opt-in or out, terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover policies.

The guideline is the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.

The objectives of the simplification guidelines are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness of promotional elements of tariff plans, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information so that they make informed decisions, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardising tariff structures.

Service providers are also required to display all relevant information about their tariffs, such as the name of the plan, price, validity period, price-per-second for on or off-network and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.

“Operators can maintain existing bonus-led tariff plans till 31st December 2024, within which period operators are expected to educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans,” the directive further stated.

The guidelines further mandate that MNOs must communicate tariffs to subscribers in clear language and a user-friendly format, with full disclosure of a subscriber’s tariff plan via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

“Operators must offer stand-alone data bundles at fair prices to avoid tying consumers with products they do not need, while bonuses on promotions must be stated in actual value,” the NCC directive added.

NCC also emphasised that while complying with the guidelines, operators must also meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) standards set out in the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations.

MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, ABUJA

Invt i ation to the 8th Meeting

National Council on Hydrocarbons of the

The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Honourable Minister of State for

Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, cordially invite you to the 8th Meeting of the National Council on Hydrocarbons (NCH).

Theme: "The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021: The Journey So Far"

Date: Monday, 9th - Friday 13th December 2024

Time: 9:00 a.m. Daily

Venue: State Events Centre, Asaba, Delta State

Special Guest of Honour: His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor, Delta State

The meeting will convene Executive Governors, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, CEOs of Oil & Gas companies, Honourable Commissioners, and other key stakeholders in the sector Join us as we discuss the progress of the PIA and future directions for Nigeria's oil and gas industry

Announcer: AMB. NICHOLAS AGBO ELLA Permanent Secretary

programme, Daniel Obembe; Head of Programme, GIZ Centre for Migration and Development (GIZ-ZME), Sandra Verauijten; and Executive Director, KAP Group, Seun Soyinka, during the KAP Film and Television Academy advanced video editing and sound design programme in partnership with GIZ-ZME graduation ceremony in Lagos…recently

Managing Director, Starcom Media Perspectives, Mr. Jude Odia; Business Development Manager, Dyque Royal Energy Limited, Mr. Isaac Kome; Public Relations Manager, Dyque Royal Energy, Mr.

and President, Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria,

Awards where Dyque won the Most Innovative Energy Brand of the

L-R: Group Managing Director, MOJEC Group/Virtuitis Solaris, Chantelle Abdul, and acting Managing Director/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, during the MOU signing between REA and its strategic partners, held in Abuja...recently

R-L: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance African Energy Co. Limited, Tony Attah; Chief Strategy Officer, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, Mr. Aliu Suleiman; Executive Secretary, African Refiners and Distributors Association(ARDA), Mr. Anibor Kragha; Chairman, Eko Petrochem Refinery and Chairman, CORAN Board of Trustees (BoT), Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho (rtd); Chairman, CORAN and Chairman, OPAC Refineries, Mr. Momoh Jima Oyarekhua; Founder, Nigeria and Entrepreneurship: Summit and Honours (NESH) Foundation, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju; and Head, Client Relations, Anglophone West Africa, Afrexim Bank, Mr. Peter Adeshola Olowononi, during the inaugural Summit of the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Associations of Nigeria in Lagos...recently

L-R: Head Coordinator, Indomie Fan Club, Faith Joshua; first place winner, Indomie Online Teachers’ Quiz, Nkiruka Afube; third place winner, Indomie Online Teachers’ Quiz, Oluwapelumi Ademusayo; second place winner, Indomie Online Teachers’ Quiz, Okeke Alexander; and Group Corporate Communications and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Temitope Ashiwaju, at the Indomie Teachers’ Seminar, held at the NPA Sport Event Hall, Nigerian Port Authority, Lagos...recently

L-R: Dean, School of Tourism, Film, Performing Arts and Cultural Studies, Lagos State University, Professor Tunji Azeez; one of the participants of the

L-R: Associate Pastor, Christ Healing Evangelical Church, Funmi Fakorede; Host Pastor, London branch in United Kingdom, Moses Jamiu Adenowo; General Overseer of the church, Samuel Babatunde Ogunfowokan; GO’s wife, Pastor Cecelia Ogunfowokan; Pastor in charge of Women Affairs of the branch, Mrs. Oyinlola Adenowo; Youths Pastor, Mrs. Sola Adeoti; and the Men’s Fellowship Pastor, Victor Shode (behind), during the 21st year anniversary and thanksgiving reception of the Royal Chapel Church in London, UK...recently

L-R:

Olaotan Fawehinmi;

Tolulope Medebem, at the 2024 Brandcom

Year, held in Lagos... recently

PERSPECTIVE

Taiwan is Invaluable to INTERPOL and UN Climate Activities

Andy Yih-Ping Liu

Taiwan’s exclusion from Interpol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) deprives these organizations of a valuable partner in the fight against crime and climate change, while raising concerns about the effectiveness of the esteemed organizations in addressing pressing issues on a global scale.

It is common knowledge that Taiwan’s unique geopolitical position in the Asia-Pacific region and its advanced capabilities of utilizing high-technology in law enforcement and environmental protection make it an invaluable partner in combatting transnational crime and mitigating the effects of climate change.

In the latest trend of calling for Taiwan’s participation in all kinds of international organizations and institutions, US plus EU, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc. have greatly acknowledged Taiwan as an indispensable partner in providing specialty and know-how, to assist the world to fight off or build up a more effective collaboration in terms of no-one-left-behind and integrate Taiwan into the world team.

However, Taiwan has been excluded from INTERPOL for 35 years, making it difficult for Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to track down gangsters and combat fraud on a timely manner. Because Taiwan is kept out of the world’s preeminent international crime-fighting alliance, Interpol, we posit that the world’s largest international police organization, which relies on cooperation between its member countries to combat organized crime, terrorism, and cyber threats, needs to rethink its stand on excluding the Island nation from its network.

Similarly, UNFCCC aims to address

the issue of global climate change through international cooperation and coordination.

Taiwan’s exclusion from the UNFCCC has hindered its ability to contribute its expertise and resources to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development.

The island nation has made significant

progress in developing renewable energy sources and implementing climate change mitigation strategies, making it a valuable partner in global efforts to address climate change. As the main theme of UNFCCC COP29 focuses on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Joint Crediting

Mechanism (JCM), it is urgently crucial to highlight the importance of Taiwan’s participation in this significant global event. Taiwan’s involvement in these discussions is essential in addressing pressing environmental issues and contributing to the collective efforts towards a sustainable future.

Taiwan’s exclusion from Interpol and UNFCCC not only undermines its ability to contribute to global security and environmental protection, but also violates its right to participate in international organizations. The diplomatic isolation of Taiwan has led to its exclusion from international bodies, despite its clear capabilities and willingness to cooperate with the international community. As a responsible member of the global community, Taiwan deserves a seat at the table in organizations such as Interpol and UNFCCC to contribute to global efforts to address pressing security and environmental challenges. Therefore, by allowing Taiwan to participate in international organizations, the international community can benefit from its expertise and resources in combatting transnational crime and mitigating the effects of climate change. It is our considered opinion that it is about time that member states, including Nigeria, should support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in relevant international organisations such as the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), especially in the COP29. The global community will be better served by such noble decision, as Taiwan contributes its quota in advanced science and technology in these two organizations and other global bodies.

•Yih-Ping Liu is Taiwan’s Representative/ Chief of Mission in Nigeria

HURIWA Slams Political Leadership for Imo Killings as Armed Men Kidnap Catholic Priest

Tony

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Wednesday, in reaction to the detonation of explosives at Orlu International Market condemned the unprecedented killings of citizens in Imo State by both well-armed non-state actors and armed state actors.

In the unfolding reign of terror in the state, gunmen yesterday kidnapped Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Azubuike, the parish priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Obollo Community, located in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, who lamented that the killings in Imo State have become widespread and bloodied attributed the killings to the failure of political leadership and the refusal of the Imo State Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explore alternative peaceful, negotiated and non-kinetic methodologies of conflict resolution.

HURIWA recommended comprehensive peaceful negotiations as a solution to the systematic killings of citizens by both armed non-state and armed state actors even as he described Imo State as the killing field of South-East Nigeria.

HURIWA also described the explosion of IEDS at Orlu International market as a crime against humanity,

even as he called out political leaders in Imo State, including Governor Hope Uzodinma, for failing to unify the people and convince the federal government to adopt the non-kinetic method of conflict resolution rather than the kinetic method that has turned the

State to a killing field.

HURIWA said: “The truth is that Imo State has since the last four years, degenerated from the peaceful place that it used to be, to a bloody killing field by both armed state and non-state actors.

“The main reason for these unrelenting killings in Imo State is the clear failure of public office holders in Imo State to bring all stakeholders and true representations of all the aggrieved groups together to concretely work for peace and progress of the state.

PEBEC Launches Subnational Tours to Enhance Business Environment in Northwest Nigeria

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) is embarking on a series of subnational tours across Nigeria, beginning on November 12th in Katsina State.

This initiative, according to a statement signed by Project Manager, PEBEC Secretariat, Aimeya Okpebholo, aims to strengthen Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) reforms at the state level by fostering collaboration between government entities, the private sector, and international partners.

The three-day tour (November 12-14) will include town hall meetings, stakeholder engagements, and an exhibition showcasing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Participants from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states

are expected to attend.

The statement read: “The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) is set to begin its Subnational Tour this November with the tour making its first stop in the North West Region of Nigeria.

“The PEBEC Subnational Tour is specifically tailored toward deepening the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) reforms at the subnational (state) level through strategic engagements with state governments, private sector, regulatory agencies, international partners, and the business community.

“The North-West edition of the PEBEC Subnational Tour will bring together government and private sector participants from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara to the host state Katsina State, the home of hospitality.

“The tour will feature townhall sessions, technical deep dives, private sector stakeholder engagement sessions, MSMEs exhibition, and a special fireside panel session with the North-West governors.

“The PEBEC Subnational Tour is an opportunity for MSMEs, Large Companies, and Entrepreneurs in the North West Region to directly engage state governments and sector-specific regulators.

“The tour will hold from the 12th to the 14th of November at the Katsina State Secretariat Complex and registrations for the tour can be done at bit. ly/PebecSubnationalTour.

“This tour aligns with the PEBEC’s goals to improve Nigeria’s business climate, foster trust and transparency between businesses and regulators, and enhance the perception on the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Icheku in Owerri

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Yih-Ping Liu

UBA: Investment in Technology Catalyst for Growth Across Africa

Oluchi Chibuzor

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has once again reiterated its unwavering commitment to increase its investment in cutting edge technology and training to support the growth of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria and across Africa which will in turn help them contribute meaningfully to their economies and the continent as a whole.

The bank gave this pledge during the 38th Lagos International Trade Fair, at Tafawa Balewa Square, in Lagos.

UBA’s Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, who addressed participants at the event, said, “The banks investment in cutting

edge technology are currently yielding tangible business value, and this high level commitment has proven to be instrumental in delivering enhanced customer experiences and optimising operational efficiency, all of which continues to yield positive outcomes from all areas of our business.”

This feat, Fashola noted, continues to engender their growth and success stories, as well as reinforce the bank’s passion and commitment to support SMEs at every step of their journey.

He added, “it is for this reason that we are constantly evolving, with innovation and are very intentional in our investment in cutting edge technology, dedicated to

SeamlessForGood Unveils Mentors for Codeable

Eriye

SeamlessForGood, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of SeamlessHR, has officially kicked off Its Codeable Mentorship Program with the unveiling of mentors.

The event which took place in Lagos set the stage for what promises to be the most impactful mentorship programme ever.

The Codeable Mentorship Programme is an initiative designed to empower individuals with disabilities and those who have been incarcerated or recently released. The program leverages technology and mentorship to provide transformative opportunities for participants who have traditionally faced barriers

to inclusion.

In her address, the Program Director of Codeable, ‘Toun Akinsunmi emphasized the importance of the mentorship programme, saying, “Some of us are where we her today because of mentorship. Through this initiative, the mentees can ride on the shoulders of the mentors to chart the course of the lives and careers. We believe that everyone deserves a second chance and access to opportunities. The Codeable Mentorship Program is designed to uplift individuals who have faced significant barriers, giving them the tools to build successful careers in technology.”

This pioneering initiative seeks to close the opportunity gap for those often excluded

putting the power to succeed in the hands of our customers as it concerns our wide range of products.

Head of SME Banking, Babatunde Ajayi, underscored the critical need for comprehensive SME support, highlighting UBA’s strategic approach to providing enhanced capital access and targeted financing solutions that address financing disparities for small businesses, as well as women and youth entrepreneurs.

“Our support for the Lagos International Trade Fair is beyond the acquisition of customers; it’s more about providing value to them. We have partners across Africa, and as such, we can bring value to them and use this opportunity to showcase our products.

Mentorship Program

from the tech industry, connecting participants with seasoned professionals who will offer invaluable guidance, skills development and career prospects. The program aims to support successful reintegration into society, providing a pathway for acceptance and long-term success.

After a rigorous screening exercise, SeamlessForGood has finally selected a group of professionals across industries who have decided to volunteer as mentors, offering to guide and support participants through their personal and professional development. The mentors will play a crucial role in helping mentees develop critical career skills while providing personal support during their journey of re-entry and growth.

BIC Bolsters Operations, Appoint New General Manager

BIC, a global-leading manufacturer of stationery, lighters, and shavers, has announced the appointment of Anthony Amahwe as the General Manager to lead its Nigerian operations. This strategic move underscores BIC’s commitment to driving sustainable growth, innovation, and leadership excellence in the region.

Anthony Amahwe brings extensive experience in executive roles, including his tenure at FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, where he successfully identified market opportunities and led initiatives that boosted growth, profitability,

and distribution efficiency.

With a diverse background spanning regional, national and international markets, Amahwe will lead BIC’s strategic efforts in Nigeria. His dynamic skill set and proven track record in strategic leadership have consistently driven business success.

“I am deeply honored to join BIC, a brand that holds a special place in the hearts of consumers worldwide for its quality and innovation,” said Anthony Amahwe.

My focus will be on harnessing the rich opportunities in the Nigerian market by

leveraging BIC’s legacy of excellence, commitment to sustainability, and dedication to delivering exceptional value to our customers.

I am excited to lead the talented team in Nigeria and to drive strategies that will enhance our market presence and positively impact local content, job creation, and the local economy. We will build on BIC’s strong foundation to unlock new avenues for growth and continue to innovate in ways that resonate with the needs and aspirations of the communities we serve.”, he added.

Access, HACEY Partners on Improving Maternal Healthcare

Sunday Ehigiator

A social and developmental organisation, HACEY, has partnered with Access Corporation to improve maternal health outcomes for mothers at Meiran Primary Healthcare Center, Lagos.

The initiative is part of a country-wide project by HACEY themed project Agbebi targeted at reducing maternal mortality and strengthening maternal health responses through raising awareness and maternal health knowledge, encouraging communitybased support groups for

expectant mothers and providing birthing items to reduce the financial burden of out-of-pocket procurement.

Project Agbebi’s outreach to Meiran Primary Health Center covered the three prongs of the project’s wrapping up with the donation of 100 birthing kits to participants.

HACEY Lead, Project Agbebi, Mr. Bamidele Oyewunmi, explained that through various online and physical channels, the project is fostering safe spaces where mothers can communicate

MARKET INDICATORS

with health professionals and psychologists thereby bridging the maternal care gap and reducing maternal mortality rates.

“HACEY has developed “Project Agbebi” as a response to some of the maternal health delays to improve maternal health outcomes in Nigeria.

“Project Agbebi’s primary goal is to reduce maternal mortality by improving access to safe and essential birthing kits, empowering women to make informed health and financial decisions, and fostering communal support for pregnant women.

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $87.33 a barrel on Monday, compared with $86.00 the previous Thursday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket

Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

L-R: National Operations Manager, Telema Synger; Head of Marketing, Nengi Akinola; and Integrated Marketing Manager, Oludare Kafar, all from BetKing Nigeria, during the launch of the BetKing Danfo Lagos Casino game in Lagos... recently

Arthur

Okonkwo: FBN Holdings Targets N730bn Capital Base by Q1 2025

Kayode Tokede

The Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings, Nnamdi Okonkwo, yesterday revealed that the Nigeria’s premier banking group plans to attain a N730 billion capital base by the first quarter of (Q1) 2025, stressing that the financial institution aimed to exceed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) minimum recapitalization requirement

of N500 billion for international authorisation.

Speaking to the capital market community during the Group’s “Facts Behind the Rights Issue” presentation in Lagos, Okonkwo outlined the Group’s comprehensive strategy, which began with the raising of a N150 billion rights issue exercise on November 4, 2023.

Okonkwo revealed that the Group’s capital base currently at N230 billion will be bolstered

through its ongoing Rights Issue and subsequent capital raising strategies which had already been outlined.

“This initial phase is all about securing N150 billion through our Rights Issue by offering of 5.98 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N25.00 per share to existing shareholder on the basis of one (1) new ordinary share for every (6) ordinary shares held as at October 18, 2024.

“This Company’s plan to

recapitalize our commercial banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, (Firstbank),” Okonkwo stated.

According to Okonkwo, the right issue price of N25 per share offers current shareholders a compelling investment opportunity, as the rights issue price is set at a discount to the current market value.

He urged shareholders to accept their rights partially or in full with the possibility

to apply for addition rights, adding that shareholders can trade all or some rights by instructing their stockbrokers or directly on the NGX platform.

He stated that shareholders can take no action, as their shareholding gets diluted.

He further revealed that FBN Holdings will seek shareholder approval to raise an additional N350 billion at the upcoming Annual General Meeting

(AGM), ultimately reaching the N730 billion capital target by early 2025. “When we are done, we will be over N230 billion higher than the regulator-stipulated capital.”

Highlighting the use of the proceeds from the N150 billion rights issue, Okonkwo noted that it will be channeled into strengthening the operations of FirstBank, as well as financing digital banking expansion, automation, and investments across its international branches.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF NOVEMBER 6/24

HealtH & lifestyle

ChampioningTransformative Healthcare in Ekiti through Holistic Health Systems

In striving to be a regional health hub, and even beyond, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that from infrastructural development to service delivery, health financing, public health security, community engagement and social mobilisation, health information system, health workforce and capacity development, leadership and governance, and research, Ekiti State government has invested considerably in delivering a transformative healthcare system that is robust, resilient, and inclusive

The inalienable right of every Nigerian to equitable access to quality healthcare cannot be overstated. A firm believer in this right, the Ekiti State government has continuously underscored its commitment to not just delivering a healthcare system that works, but also one that is robust, resilient, and inclusive.

For Governor Biodun Oyebanji, keying into the right initiatives that leverage digital solutions for the improvement of the health sector was key. To achieve this, he walked the talk with the appointment of the Dr. Oyebanji Filani to head the Ministry of Health and Human Services as Commissioner.

With his knowledge on health financing and policy reform, Filani, who also doubles as the chairperson of Nigeria health commissioners forum, has been able to bring the right mix of technology and policy reforms in tailoring and driving the health systems of the state, a feat he acknowledged was based on the level of support the ministry has gotten from the governor.

Suffice to say that in Ekiti, the government has demonstrated significant commitment to improving the health status of the populace through a holistic approach to health systems development with particular emphasis on strengthening primary health care system as a way of promoting universal health coverage.

Governor Oyebanji’s administration has also invested considerably in the health sector, which has upped the health indices of the state, as shown by the data mined from January to August 2024 on infrastructural development, service delivery, health financing, public health security, community engagement and social mobilisation, health information system, health workforce and capacity development, leadership and governance, and research.

Infrastructural Development

In terms of Infrastructural development, the state government has installed a new mammogram machine at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital to increase access to early detection of breast cancer; upgraded the Ikole Specialist Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre; as well as the the upgrade of the Ekiti State Drug and Health Supplies Management Agency warehouse to a pharma-grade facility.

According to the commissioner, this milestone was achieved through a signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Government of Ekiti State as the upgrade not only elevates the hospital’s status but also secures increased federal support and resources, thereby enhancing the quality of care and expanding the range of services available to patients.

Also, The Global Fund provided a Toyota Hilux program utility vehicle for Tuberculosis and HIV Control Program, ensuring that TB and HIV control efforts are efficient and effective, while IMPACT procured an Hilux and a bus for utility purposes, enhancing the capacity for program monitoring.

The state government also constructed a 1.85km HMB/Doctor’s Quarters road, including a bypass to reduce burden of health workers going to give care at the hospital. However, beyond this, at the moment, renovation of nine outstanding general hospitals and equipment are ongoing in Ijan Ekiti, Ijesa Isu, Ilawe, Okemesi, Efon Alaaye, Iye Ekiti, Ayede Ekiti, Ilupeju / Itapa Ekiti, and Ifaki Ekiti general hospitals, as well as the Government House Clinic in Ado Ekiti and Hospitals Management Board, also in Ado Ekiti.

Health Financing

As a core function of health systems, health financing pushes for progress towards universal health coverage by improving effective service coverage and financial protection. In Ekiti, this ethos is also key for its Ministry of Health and Human Resources.

Presently, they have enrolled all 3.6 million residents of Ekiti into the Ulerawa Health Insurance Program, with almost 400,000 citizens utilising free, high-quality healthcare services this year alone while 19,000 pensioners were also enrolled into the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme for increased access to essential healthcare services.

Not done, the state registered over 1,000 persons for surgery, with 548 free surgeries performed, including herniorrhaphy, caesarean sections, cataract surgeries, myomectomies and lump excisions—transforming the lives of many residents. It also disbursed ₦100 million to 105 individuals for medical support, enabling access to critical treatments, surgeries, and medications.

Expatiating, Filani said as of September 2024, Ulerawa, the Ekiti State Government’s flagship health insurance program has enrolled 3.6 million residents and 403,371 citizens have utilised free, high-quality healthcare services. “Ulerawas has paid over two hundred and seventy-three million naira to PHCs in reimbursement for residents who has utilised free, high-quality healthcare services in ANC, Under-5 Malaria, Bacterial Intestinal Infection, Diarrhoea, Measles, Micronutrient Deficiency, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Family Planning, Immunisation Tranche 1, Immunisation Tranche 2, Adult Malaria, Delivery, Referral ANC, Xerophthalmia, Referral for Under-5s.”

In terms of the Basic Healthcare Provisional Fund (BHCPF), he noted that it offers a basic minimum health package that covers maternal and child health, care for vulnerable groups— including people living with disabilities, sickle cell warriors, the elderly, pregnant women, and children under five years—and general treatments such as malaria .

As of August 2024, the fund had enabled 179,059 residents to access vital health services, with ₦421,774,350 disbursed to 175 accredited Primary Health Care facilities across the state as capitation payments. In addition, 1,950 enrollees benefited from advanced treatments after being referred from PHCs to secondary

healthcare facilities, with an additional ₦63,525,897.26 paid for these services.

Attention to Service Delivery

As a core function of health systems, Service Delivery takes shape in Ekiti by providing patients with the treatments and supplies they need at the moment.

For 210,619 girls between the ages of 9-14, they were vaccinated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, achieving 91 per cent coverage, as well as an increased number of individuals on HIV treatment to 93 per cent of the estimated cases of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Infact, the Ministry has made significant efforts in enhancing HIV service delivery as part of a broader strategy to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and to scale up prevention, testing, and treatment services across the state.

As of December 2022, 8,536 individuals were on HIV treatment, which increased to 11,465 by June 2024, according to the National Data Repository (NDR).

Additionally, the 95-95-95 cascade of care has shown notable improvement: in the first 95, related to case finding, Ekiti is at 93 per cent; in the second 95, concerning linkage to care, Ekiti is at 95 per cent; and in the third 95, pertaining to viral suppression, Ekiti stands at 97 per cent.

Not done, they also distributed 71,430 Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) to improve the prevention of malaria, as well as provided 600,603 vitamin A supplements, with 81 per cent coverage for children (6-59 months) while screening 1,600 civil servants, focusing on hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, with timely referrals.

Also in the kitty were 1,307 women, who were screened for cervical cancer, which led them to identify 19 positive cases, with 15 receiving treatment. Additionally, to drive demand generation for maternal and child health services, the ministry recruited over 350 volunteer workers under the Ekiti State Health Vanguards (EKSHV) in all 16 LGAs.

More importantly, the MOH&HS has improved emergency medical care by successfully integrating its ambulance services into the National Emergency Medical Systems and Ambulance Services. This integration has markedly enhanced response times and coordination, ensuring that emergency medical care is delivered more efficiently across the state.

For Tuberculosis control, the state made significant progress through strategic integration of TB services with various public health programs and the optimisation of diagnostic capabilities across all healthcare tiers, leading to

improved TB case detection and management. Another significant stride made by the state is in combating malaria through a multifaceted approach designed to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. According to the commissioner, central to these efforts has been the comprehensive distribution and monitoring of LLINs across all LGAs.

In the state, the implementation of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week (MNCHW) twice a year has been a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to improve maternal and child health as the ministry provided 600,603 vitamin A supplementation in addition to malnutrition screening, deworming tablets, reaching 81 per cent of children aged 6 to 59 months.

Public Health Security

With public health security, which is a framework for protecting populations from external health threats, such as pandemics by improving the ability to detect, prevent, and respond to infectious diseases through public health surveillance and partnerships between states, the Ekiti State government has been in form.

To do this, in 16 LGAs, they distributed essential medical items to primary and secondary health facilities while carrying out the quarterly infection prevention control (IPC) supportive supervision, across health facilities, as well as successful cholera sensitisation campaign, which led to zero reported cases.

The Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services has strengthened disease surveillance, public health education, and healthcare delivery across the state. Through routine data collection and analysis, the Ministry closely monitors epidemic-prone diseases and supports real-time tracking on SORMAS and SITAWARE.

Monthly supervision ensures the effectiveness of malaria programs, while the Rapid Response Team actively monitors all 16 LGAs for emerging health threats, including malaria and diphtheria, and engages in community sensitization.

The ministry has also promoted health screenings and community outreach, such as a cervical cancer screening initiative that reached over 1,300 individuals in early 2024 and raised awareness through rallies and advocacy visits.

Additionally, a health screening for civil servants covered 1,600 individuals, assessing them for hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Essential health supplies are consistently distributed to primary and secondary facilities across the state, with ongoing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supervision and yellow fever vaccinations to reinforce public health measures. Intensive case searches for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases have been conducted, with emergency response coordination maintained through the Public Health Emergency Operating Centre’s call center.

L-R: Governor Biodun Oyebanji; Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji; former Minister of state for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa; and Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, Ekiti, Dr. Oyebanji Filani

Governor Oyebanji and others during the Installation of a new mammogram machine at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital to increase access to early detection of breast cancer

Community Engagement and Social Mobilisation

In terms of community engagement and social mobilisation, the state has issued public health advisories on Diphtheria, Cholera, and Mpox, which were widely disseminated, raising awareness and strengthening prevention efforts across the state, as well as conducting extensive cholera sensitisation campaign in all LGAs, resulting in zero cases being reported.

Paying attention to social mobilisation, they have also boosted acceptance of vaccines by carrying out a robust and inclusive social mobilisation strategy with state health educators leading advocacy visits to key ministries, such as Women Affairs, Education, Local Government, and the Teaching Service Commission, fostering sector-wide collaboration.

For a holistic approach, religious leaders were involved while extensive outreach campaigns were conducted, and radio jingles were aired at peak times to maximise public engagement.

For the HPV Vaccination campaign, the ministry also organised town hall meetings to address concerns raised by vaccine-hesitant schools and churches. In addition, letters were distributed to schools to keep stakeholders informed. These efforts led to the successful administration of the HPV vaccine to 210,619 girls aged 9-14, achieving a coverage rate of 91 per cent and making substantial progress in preventing cervical cancer.

One of the highpoints was the introduction of Ekiti State Ekiti State Health Vanguards (EKSHV), who are trained officers from to drive improvements in maternal and child health in their respective communities.

For Global Health Days, the state commemorated several global health observance days through public events and awareness campaigns, reinforcing key health messages and promoting healthier lifestyles like the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on February 8th, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, strengthening the fight against FGM in the state.

Other days like the World Hypertension Day was marked on May 17th, 2024, through a road walk and public campaigns; 2024 World Health Day through a road walk on “My Health, My Right,” emphasizing the importance of individual health rights; World Malaria Day; World Tuberculosis (TB) Day; and Breastfeeding Week highlighting the significant health benefits of breastfeeding, helping to promote maternal and infant health across the state.

Health Information System

To build digital systems of open data that are used to generate strategic information for the benefit of public health, the government provided tablets to 177 primary health facilities to improve patient data management and streamline health insurance claims and at the same time, compile a comprehensive database to integrate traditional medicine into the broader healthcare framework.

This is important because in an era where data drives decision-making and the efficient delivery of health services, Ekiti State has made substantial progress in developing a robust Health Information System (HIS).

For the state, a key aspect of the data management was the tracking of Health Expenditure data across the entire health sector. This they have done by closely monitoring and analysing information, thus ensuring accountability and better resource allocation for health initiatives throughout the year. Also, the ministry conducts Monthly LGA Data Validation Meetings, which have been institutionalised across all LGAs since January 2024, to review data reporting tools from each

facility. According to the commissioner, regular engagement addresses data discrepancies and ensures harmonisation of health data, further strengthening the state’s health information system.

In recognition of the importance of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine, the ministry compiled a comprehensive Traditional Medicine Database, an effort to critically integrate traditional medicine into the broader health system, ensuring that practitioners are recognised,, regulated, and monitored, thus allowing for a more inclusive healthcare framework.

The ministry also updated the Health Partners Database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information on partners contributing to the state’s health initiatives. In addition, Human Resources for Health Data from various regulatory bodies were collected and updated, ensuring the availability of accurate workforce data for planning and capacity-building efforts.

Health Workforce and Capacity Development

Even with technology, the import of a workforce with the right capacity cannot be overstated. A firm believer in this, the government trained 200 health workers and 20 medical professionals on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). For the GBV and FGM trainings, they were done to build their capacity as frontline service providers and community leaders while 34 mid-level and senior health managers completed a rigorous Healthcare Management and Leadership training program organised in collaboration with the Center for Epidemiology and Health Development and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Also, senior-level staff from the State Ministry of Health attended an executive course at Lagos Business School Executive Education; 48 state officers and 80 LGA officers across 16 LGAs participated in State Level Leadership and Management training; and 350 facility-level staff were trained in quality improvement modalities to enhance health service delivery across the state.

For monitoring, evaluation and surveillance trainings, they participated in the NMDR and surveillance training by NMEP in Lagos. Furthermore, state officers organized cascaded training on integrated Polio and VPDs surveillance for LGA teams in August 2024, followed by an annual training for community informants. Training on malaria surveillance, including a refresher for DHIS2 use, was also conducted for logistics and M&E officers in Akure, Ondo State.

Others include Health Logistics and Laboratory Capacity Trainings for molecular lab scientists on PCR diagnosis for LASSA fever, while laboratory scientists at secondary health facilities received training on microscopy and logistics management while training on logistics management was also provided for LGA Logistics Officers.

Several capacity-building programs on data management were organised on HMIS digitisation and NHMIS-LMIS Data Triangulation in Lagos and Ado-Ekiti, as well as trainings for malarial M&E officers on DHIS2.

Leadership

and Governance

The Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services has demonstrated strong governance and leadership in its approach to public health, focusing on proactive monitoring, community outreach, and resource management. Through strategic oversight, the Ministry has created an effective system for tracking epidemic-

prone diseases, enabling swift responses to emerging health threats across the state. This governance model prioritises datadriven decision-making, with Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) data collection as a foundational tool.

It’s leadership in managing malaria programs showcases its commitment to public health at both local and state levels as the monthly supervisory visits ensure that malaria initiatives are implemented effectively, while any issues identified are promptly addressed to maintain program quality. The Ministry’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) further supports this work by actively searching for cases of malaria and other epidemic-prone diseases in all LGAs.

Community engagement has also been a core part of the Ministry’s leadership strategy. Recognising the importance of public awareness in disease prevention, the ministry has led several sensitisation campaigns targeting specific health issues, such as diphtheria. Through public education and outreach, it has effectively communicated preventive measures and treatment options to communities, while improving safety standards for medicine distribution, ensuring community health and safety are prioritised through license renewals for Private Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs). Preventive health screenings illustrate the ministry’s proactive governance approach in protecting public health. Early in 2024, a cervical cancer screening campaign reached over 1,300 individuals across all LGAs, including hard-to-reach communities.

In a further demonstration of its commitment to good governance, the ministry has ensured a consistent supply of essential health commodities to both primary and secondary facilities across the state. Through efficient resource distribution, the ministry has maintained the continuity of medical services, strengthening healthcare infrastructure in a way that enhances community resilience against health crises.

The ministry’s infection prevention efforts also underscore its leadership in facility readiness and safety. Quarterly Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supervision for healthcare worker management is conducted, providing facilities with ongoing support to enhance preparedness for health threats. Another pillar of the ministry’s governance is its efficient use of digital platforms for real-time disease surveillance. By integrating the SORMAS and SITAWARE systems, the Ministry has enhanced its capacity to monitor and respond to health threats as they arise, demonstrating a commitment to modernising public health infrastructure. This use of technology exemplifies the Ministry’s forward-thinking approach, ensuring that Ekiti State remains agile and prepared in the face of potential outbreaks.

Research

In 2024, the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services conducted three pivotal studies to gain insights into healthcare utilisation and accessibility across the state. These studies—focusing on facility-based deliveries, willingness to pay for health insurance, and community health network mapping—were part of a data-driven approach to better understand the healthcare landscape and identify barriers to effective healthcare delivery and insurance enrollment.

To address the decline in facility-based deliveries, the Ministry commissioned NOIPolls to investigate why fewer births were taking place in health facilities. This study highlighted key factors such as the attitudes of health workers and the influence

of spouses on women’s choices regarding delivery locations. The findings provided the Ministry with evidence-based insights to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing skilled birth attendance, addressing these identified barriers to improve maternal health outcomes across Ekiti State.

In assessing the willingness to pay for statesponsored health insurance, the Ministry aimed to ensure the sustainability of ULERAWA, Ekiti State’s health insurance scheme. With support from GIZ-Backup Health, the Ministry partnered with the Devstork Platform for Development (DPD) to conduct a study on the willingness and ability to pay (WATP) for health insurance premiums among citizens in both formal and informal sectors. This research explored citizens’ willingness to allocate a portion of their income for insurance and identified the factors influencing their decision to enroll. By understanding these dynamics, the Ministry aims to tailor the scheme to be more inclusive and financially accessible for all residents.

The third study was a community health network mapping and assessment of barriers to healthcare and health insurance across Ekiti State, supported by GIZ. This assessment focused on identifying structural and logistical obstacles communities face in accessing healthcare services and enrolling in health insurance. The mapping aimed to pinpoint gaps in healthcare infrastructure and highlight specific challenges that prevent people from accessing essential services.

Collectively, these studies provide the Ministry with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare needs and obstacles facing Ekiti State residents. The data gathered will be instrumental in shaping policies, enhancing service delivery, and improving healthcare access, ensuring that Ekiti State’s health system is responsive to its communities’ unique challenges and needs.

National Demographics Health Survey’s Indices for Performance

All these above stated indices were supported by the recently released 2024 National Demographic Health Survey, which also highlighted Ekiti State Performance.

When it comes to teenage pregnancy, there has been a significant decrease in the proportion of teens (aged 15-19) that get pregnant in the past four years in Ekiti State, which has implications for improved maternal and child outcomes, thus contributing to socio-economic progress by increasing educational attainment.

As against 2019 and 2024, more women have access to family planning, which leads to healthier outcomes and enables women participate better in the workforce. Also within the same period of review, there has been an increase in health facility deliveries as more women are delivered of their babies by a skilled birth attendant, thus reducing neonatal mortality and promoting strengthened health system.

Also, the proportion of children aged 12 to 23 months, who have received child survival vaccines has significantly increased compared to five years ago, thus protecting them from life threatening diseases and even death.

Excitingly, Ekiti has significantly improved the early childhood mortality indices in the past five years, which is a reflection of the quality of care and nutrition offered.

Through these initiatives, the Ekiti State government has undoubtedly, channeled focus on accountability and accessibility in proactive healthcare in its efforts at disease prevention, resource management, and community engagement, which perhaps explains the deep commitment to building a healthier and safer Ekiti, while setting a standard for effective public health governance.

Ongoing renovation of nine General Hospitals across the state

Equipping of renovated facilities with life saving equipment

Gamin G Week

Mastercard’s Partnership with League of Legends Promises Winning Combination

d avidson a braham writes that Mastercard has taken active steps to integrate itself into the League of Legends ecosystem

Mastercard, one of the world’s leading financial service companies, has long been associated with innovation and global influence in the payment industry. In recent years, the company has extended its reach beyond traditional financial sectors and into the rapidly growing world of esports. One of the most significant collaborations in this space is Mastercard’s partnership with Riot Games, the developer behind

League of Legends (LoL), a game that has grown to become a dominant force in the world of competitive gaming. This strategic partnership has transformed the landscape of esports sponsorships while providing benefits for the gaming community and Mastercard’s global brand.

As esports continues gaining legitimacy and recognition, financial partnerships such as this represent a major shift in how traditional corporations engage with newer, digital-first industries. Mastercard’s involvement

with League of Legends exemplifies how two vastly different sectors—finance and gaming—can unite to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

Mastercard’s role in global sponsorship

One of the cornerstones of this collaboration is Mastercard’s role as a global sponsor of the League of Legends World Championship, widely considered the most prestigious tournament in the LoL esports calendar.

Tinubu Unveils National Lottery Trust Fund Strategic Plan

To reposition the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) for greater efficiency and effectiveness, President Bola Tinubu has unveiled a comprehensive four-year strategic plan to transform NLTF operations and maximise impact on Good Causes across Nigeria.

The event at the Aso Villa Banquet Hall in Abuja marked a significant milestone in NLTF’s history.

Speaking on behalf of Tinubu, Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, expressed confidence in the strategic document being unveiled, emphasising its potential to enhance the federal government’s outreach to marginalised communities.

“This move is part of President Tinubu’s efforts to drive economic transformation, ensure security, enhance food production, and improve social services,” said Akume. “Through the National Lottery Trust Fund, the president believes that help will reach many Nigerians, providing support to vulnerable individuals and communities.”

He commended the executive secretary for his leadership and looking forward to seeing more prosperous results.

In his keynote address, NLTF’s Executive Secretary, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, commended the president for his effort to introduce the Revenue Assurance Platform (RAP), which he said will help the lottery industry achieve its mandate.

“I want to appreciate our father, President Bola Tinubu, for his role in reshaping the lottery industry in Nigeria through the introduction of the Revenue Assurance Platform. I am honoured to present to Mr. President and the public the four-year strategic plan of the NLTF developed within the first two months of my tenure as executive secretary/CEO,” said Adeyanju.

The NLTF boss added, “I express my profound appreciation to Mr. President for appointing me to serve our great nation, Nigeria. As a proud Nigerian, I

solemnly pledge to discharge my duties in line with Mr. President’s expectations and those of our fellow citizens. Today marks a significant step towards enhancing our mandate and deepening our impact on Nigerian communities, as envisioned by Mr. President.

“Since 2005, NLTF has successfully implemented over 306 projects nationwide, touching lives and transforming communities. NLTF is committed to delivering GOOD CAUSES and worthwhile interventions across various sectors and in communities in need. Our

In February 2025, Lagos will host the highly anticipated Africa Gaming Expo (AGE), a landmark event continually transforming the landscape of gaming, fintech, and allied industries across the continent. The 2025 edition promises an immersive experience, offering an exclusive look into emerging technologies, strategies, and future directions for these highgrowth sectors.

Bringing together industry leaders from gaming, fintech, and banking, AGE

Lagos positions as a crucial platform for exploring the innovations and insights driving Africa’s digital economy. And just like last year, attendees will gain access to cutting-edge advancements offering valuable knowledge for businesses and stakeholders in these intersecting fields. The expo will also highlight the transformative role of technology in shaping the gaming ecosystem across Africa, from eSports to online sport betting, and emerging digital platforms.

AGE Lagos 2025 goes beyond the confines of a typical gaming expo, aiming to foster year-round collaboration and

strategic plan aligns with the current administration’s vision for sustainable development and social welfare.”

Senator Victor Umeh, speaking on behalf of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, praised the Executive Secretary for outstanding achievements within a few months of appointment. Umeh expressed confidence in the strategic plan, emphasizing its potential to achieve great heights.

Hon. Canice Moore, House of Reps Chairman of Inter-governmental Affairs and Special Duties, represented the Speaker

House of Reps. He commended the new leadership of the agency and pledged support of the house to the agency.

The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strategic plan’s focus on providing Good Causes across Nigeria.

Jisalo assured that Nigerians will benefit from the strategic document prioritising meaningful interventions.

With millions of viewers from around the world, the event presents an ideal platform for Mastercard to engage with a global audience, particularly the younger demographic heavily involved in gaming and esports. By prominently featuring its brand in such a high-visibility event, Mastercard has succeeded in capturing the attention of millions of potential customers who may not have previously engaged with traditional financial products.

As a global sponsor, Mastercard is not just a passive player in these events. The company has taken active steps to integrate itself within the League of Legends ecosystem, providing fans with exclusive experiences, promotions, and offers tied to the game and its competitive events. This includes Mastercard’s famed ‘Priceless Experiences’, reimagined for the gaming world. These experiences might range from virtual meet-and-greets with star players to behind-the-scenes access during major tournaments. By aligning its brand with these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, Mastercard has found an innovative way to foster a deeper connection with its target audience.

Fan engageMent like never beFore

A standout feature of this partnership is Mastercard’s emphasis on fan engagement. Beyond plastering its logo on event banners or commercials, Mastercard has taken meaningful steps to offer fans exclusive and memorable experiences, ensuring their connection to the brand feels genuine and valuable.

Whether it’s through event giveaways, limitedtime offers for in-game items, or special access to tournaments, Mastercard’s involvement brings fans closer to the action. This is critical for building customer loyalty, especially within the esports community, which often views large corporate sponsors with scepticism. By offering tangible value and exclusive opportunities, Mastercard manages to sidestep this challenge, positioning itself as a partner that enhances the fan experience rather than detracting from it.

Perhaps one of the most innovative aspects of this partnership is how Mastercard has integrated its payment solutions into the League of Legends ecosystem. Fans can use Mastercard products to purchase tickets to major events, buy in-game items, and access exclusive promotions. This creates a seamless and convenient experience for users while further embedding the Mastercard brand into the League of Legends universe. The ease with which fans can use Mastercard’s services encourages repeat use and builds long-term brand affinity.

Mastercard’s integration with payMent solutions

Through this partnership, Mastercard has also been able to showcase its cutting-edge payment solutions in an industry that prioritises digital convenience and innovation. The gaming community, particularly in esports, is known for its high levels of online activity, making it a natural fit for Mastercard’s digital payment technologies.

thought leadership within the industry. With a diverse audience that includes gaming stakeholders, tech enthusiasts, and industry experts, the event will provide ample opportunities for participants to expand their reach and amplify their brand’s visibility in a rapidly growing market. For brands and investors, the event serves as a fertile ground for forging strategic partnerships, potentially paving the way for joint ventures, marketing initiatives, and cross-promotional campaigns that could shape the future of gaming and fintech in Africa.

Furthermore, AGE Lagos promises unparalleled networking opportunities, enabling attendees to connect with key players and gain insights that will drive growth and success in one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Registrations are open for AGE Lagos 2025, and gaming enthusiasts, industry stakeholders, and innovators are invited to secure their place in what is set to be Africa’s most impactful gaming event planned to hold at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites from February 25 to 27, 2025.

iyke bede

L-R: Permanent secretary, ministry of special Duties and intergovernmental affairs, Dr. maryam keshinro and the minister of special Duties and intergovernmental affairs, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo and Comrade Tosin adeyanju

L–R: Hon. adamu Dauda, Comrade Tosin adeyanju and Dr. mike omeri

BIG 5 CONSTRUCT EXHIBITION...

Petroleum Saga: Marketers Tackle Dangote in Court, Allege Planned Monopoly Recipe for Disaster

Seek dismissal of suit

Three oil marketers have argued that the alleged planned monopoly of the energy sector by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals would bring the country more harm than good.

The three marketers, AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, made the submission as third, fourth and seventh respondents in a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum.

Dangote, in the suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, specifically sought the nullification of the import licences issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and five other oil companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/

CS/1324/2024, the plaintiff equally sought the sum of N100 billion in damages against Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for allegedly continuing to issue import licences to NNPCL and the five oil companies for importing petroleum products.

But the three respondents, in their replies to the suit, claimed that the plaintiff did not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians, adding that there is nothing before the court to prove the contrary. In their counter affidavit in opposition to the suit, the three respondents claimed that they were well qualified and entitled to be issued import licence by the first defendant to import petroleum products in Nigeria within the

Economic, Financial Crimes Hard to Investigate in Nigeria, Admits

EFCC Chairman

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Executive Chairman Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has admitted difficulty investigating and prosecuting financial and economic crimes in Nigeria.

He made the confession at the 9th Annual Conference on Financial Crime, Cross-Border Crime and Governance Integrity in Abuja.

Olukoyede, who was represented at the occasion by the Head of Creative Communication on Financial Crime, EFCC, Chris Oluka, said investigating financial crime is also herculean for lawyers and judges to adjudicate because of involvement of a lot of financial trails.

His words: "Financial crime particularly is very hard to investigate and then prosecute. And even for lawyers and judges to adjudicate is usually hard because it involves a lot of financial trails that need to be investigated, opened and all that.

"That is why it takes a lot of effort to do this. And the judicial space in our country is also overwhelmed, so to speak. It is why sometimes some cases linger more than the expectation of the public.

"But it is not the fault of the EFCC.

Sometimes this whole thing is about the laws sometimes and then about bottlenecks also regarding this whole thing, the fight against corruption.

"Sometimes you see a judge having several cases and it is difficult to handle each and every one of those cases on an individual basis. But I know with the support of Nigerian citizens we will get there."

He also called for elimination of judicial bottleneck in fighting corruption and flayed politicians for using foundations and NGOs to cover up corrupt practices as well as weaponising corruption through constituency projects for the purpose of winning election.

Equally. the chairman, Open Africa Foundation, Tunji Aworinde, said EFCC is under-resourced in fighting corruption and should very well resourced to be more effective.

“We have made recommendations to the Presidency and National Assembly that we should have one anti-corruption institution like the FBI and the National Crime Agency in the UK for effectiveness and for efficiency.

“We do hope that those who have the power to review the law are going to do this going forward,” Aworinde said.

meaning of Section 317(9) of the Petroleum Industry Act.

They further argued that vesting the plaintiff with the power of monopoly in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, as it sought vide the instant suit, will kill competitive pricing of petroleum products in the country, and further deteriorate Nigeria's critically ailing economy "and unleash untold hardship on Nigerians, all of which constitute a recipe for disaster in the polity ".

They observed that if "Nigeria puts all her energy eggs in one basket by stopping importation of petroleum products and allowing the plaintiff to be the sole producer

and supplier of petroleum products in Nigeria, with liberty to determine the prices at which it supplies the products, the prices of petroleum products in Nigeria will continue to rise and energy security will elude Nigeria".

In addition, the three respondents stated that in the event of any breakdown in or obstruction to the production chain of the plaintiff, which stops it from producing, Nigeria will be thrown into energy crisis, as Nigeria did not have the reserves that would last it for at least 30 days, and so would need to order, pay for freight and import refined products into tanks in Nigeria.

They further submitted, "That amidst the glaring absence of any credible and demonstrable proof that the Plaintiff refines and supplies adequate petroleum products for the daily use/consumption of Nigerians, giving the plaintiff judicial imprimatur to be the sole supplier of refined petroleum products to Nigerians, thereby encouraging monopoly in a major aspect of Nigeria’s oil industry, is a recipe for disaster in Nigeria’s energy sector."

The respondents told the court that granting the reliefs sought by Dangote refinery, which solely aimed at making the plaintiff a monopolist in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, was a

design to leave Nigeria and Nigerians at the mercy of the plaintiff with respect to availability and cost of purchasing petroleum products in the country. Besides, they argued that the import licences lawfully and validly issued to them did not in any way whatsoever cripple the plaintiff's business or its refinery.

The import licences issued to the respondents, they claimed, were in line with the provisions of Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and other relevant laws. The three oil marketers, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the suit filed by Dangote refinery.

ESG: Stakeholders Harp on Carbon Market’s Transformative Power to Drive Sustainable Investments

Dike Onwuamaeze

Stakeholders in the Nigerian industrial sector as well as public officials at federal and state levels have emphasised the transformative power of the carbon market to drive sustainable investments in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos at the Pan-African Private Sector Environmental Solution Governance (ESG) Forum 2024 with the theme “The Carbon Market: Driving Investment for a Sustainable Africa,” the Managing Director of BAT West and Central Africa, Mr. Yarub AlBahrani, said that participants at the forum were gathered with a shared vision of harnessing “the potential of the carbon market as a transformative tool for driving investments that will shape a prosperous and resilient future for the African continent.”

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved that the remaining 127 kilometres of the rehabilitation of the AbujaKaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway be redesigned using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) instead of asphalt. The contract divided into three sections was awarded to Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) plc on 20th December, 2017 at an initial sum of N155.7

Al-Bahrani stated that Africa is standing at the crossroads of unprecedented opportunity and pressing environmental challenges.

He said: “As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, the carbon market offers Africa a unique chance to lead in climate action while attracting much-needed investment for sustainable growth.

“The forum today provides a platform for exploring how carbon credits, emissions reduction strategies, and innovative financing models can unlock new pathways for industries across the continent to thrive while addressing the urgent need for environmental stewardship.

“By leveraging the carbon market, we can generate economic opportunities that uplift communities, advance clean technologies, and build more sustainable industries.”

Speaking in the same vein, the

of

billion with a completion period of 36 months, a statement yesterday by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed said. However, it stated that only Section II (Kaduna-Zaria) has been completed and partly handed over, with Section III (Zaria-Kano) partially completed, while Section I remained in a deplorable state worsened by continuous wear and tear, as well as the vagaries of the weather.

In order to ameliorate the suffering

Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said that MAN is undoubtedly in solidarity with the forum as it recognised the overwhelming importance of giving priority to economic growth and social benefits while striving to mitigate the effects of climate change.

According to Ajayi-Kadir, MAN is enthused by the theme of the 2024 edition of the forum as the carbon market could reinforce efforts at promoting sustainable manufacturing practices, de-risk investment in the sector and engender accelerated growth.

He said: “The carbon market is, therefore, a critical factor for us as a just and veritable financial incentive to transition to a low-carbon economy.

“It will facilitate renewable energy projects and enhance our capacity

of road users on the alignment, and most especially, in line with the agenda of the present administration to enhance critical infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth, the ministry said the section was redesigned and re-scoped.

“It was divided into two phases with section 1, phase 1, covering 38 kilometres, redesigned to be built with CRCP and awarded to Messrs Dangote Industries Ltd., who subcontracted it to Messrs Hitech

to take maximum advantage of our abundant solar and wind sources.

“It will engender energy efficiency improvements; drive the development of green infrastructure development and aid sustainable land use practices.”

In his goodwill message to the ESG’s forum, the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor, commended the organisers of the forum for advancing and promoting social and governance priorities across Africa, adding that Nigeria could play a critical role in supporting carbon market developments. According to Barikor, Nigeria should lead the green carbon market because it offered a powerful mechanism for attracting investment of the future.

Africa Construction Ltd.

“However, due to the slow pace of work and abandonment of the remaining 127 kilometres, also considering the plight of road users and, most importantly, its socioeconomic impact as a gateway to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from the North, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has, continuously engaged the company to accept the final reviewed contract sum and remobilise to site.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

L-R: Business Development Manager, Edmund Okwuasaba; Sales and Marketing Manager, Billakurti Srinivasarao; Managing Director, Bernard Longe; General Manager, George Kachouh; and Brands and Marketing Manager, CDK Integrated Industries, Abimbola Onagbade, at the Big 5 Construct Exhibition held in Lagos recently…

Obasanjo, Jonathan, Tambuwal, Igbinedion, Odigie, Others Celebrate Obaseki’s Impact in 8 Years

Commend upgrade, expansion of 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital

We’ve delivered all our promises to Edo people, placed our state on path of prosperity, says Obaseki

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan; former governor of Sokoto State and Senator for Sokoto South, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; and former governors of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbiendion and Odigie Oyegun, among other prominent leaders, on Wednesday, took turns to pour encomium on Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his sterling and impactful leadership in Edo State over the last eight years.

The leaders celebrated the governor for his commitment to the welfare of Edo people, prioritizing nuanced reforms and projects across various sectors of the state’s economy, including health, education, economy, and

infrastructure, among others, which have significantly impacted and improved the lives of Edo citizens.

They spoke when the governor led them to the commissioning of the newly rebuilt and expanded 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the Crèche, and Food Court, at the State Secretariat Complex, among other projects, in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Others at the event included Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Professor Darlington Obaseki; Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha; former First Lady of Cross River State, Obioma

Imoke; wife of the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 governorship election, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; Provost of the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences (ESCNS), Professor Patricia Ukaigwe; members of the State Executive Council; and traditional rulers.

Commending Obaseki for his multi-sectoral reforms over the last eight years, Obasanjo described the governor as a builder who had impacted the lives of his people.

He said, “I want to thank you for remembering my late wife, Stella Obasanjo. I was here before and coming here now, what I see is wonderful. You are not only a builder but you are a reformer who has positively impacted the lives of his people.

“I commend you for improving on some of the things your predecessor did like this Stella Obasanjo Hospital.”

Reminiscing on incidents that led to the construction and naming of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the former president stated, “When this hospital was established 17 years ago, it was to keep the memory of my late wife. By honouring her, you are also honouring me.”

Describing the governor as a pacesetter, Obasanjo advised political leaders on quality and efficient service in whatever responsibility given to them at the national, state, or local government level.

Mrs. Jonathan, while commending the governor for

NDPHC CEO Visits 435mw Geregu Power Plant, Says Coy Working to Boost Generation

The Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), Jennifer Adighije, yesterday carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the 435mw Geregu power plant in Kogi, pledging to ensure that generation is ramped up soon.

Adighije, who visited the plant along with her top management team, further noted that she was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to strengthen the national grid.

Speaking at the site of the plant, she pointed out that the new management was actively engaging with Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to expedite action on long standing requests for ‘no objection’ certificates.

According to her, this is so that contracts can be awarded for required works that will boost generation and transmission infrastructure nationwide.

The Geregu National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) power plant, a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT), was completed in 2013 and is owned by the NDPHC. It is one of the several projects

under the NIPP initiative, aimed at increasing Nigeria's power generation capacity, comprising gas turbine and steam turbine generators, 132/33kV transmission substation and a 330kV transmission line to national grid.

It has increased power supply to surrounding states of Kogi, Niger, Kwara, and Abuja, reduced power deficits in the region, created jobs and economic growth and improved reliability and efficiency.

Some of the challenges of the plant include: Gas supply constraints, transmission infrastructure limitations as well as maintenance and operational issues.

As a young and dynamic management made up mostly of engineers, Adighije noted that the team understands the issues bedevilling the industry and is proactively busy at resolving them.

She promised to prioritise staff welfare, explaining that only that can guarantee satisfactory service and stressing that the new management would ensure constant on-the-jobtraining for employees.

“We are committed to delivering on our mandate. The cardinal priority is on staff welfare, which is

why I insisted on coming here to meet you, familiarise with you, and to associate with you. The issues, operational issues, we can resolve from Abuja.

“We've already started resolving some. So that is a demonstration of our commitment to our manpower, and because we know that when our manpower are happy, our machines will be happy. So I want to let you know that we understand the issues,” she said.

She also promised to resolve the issue of staff disparity and staff dichotomy, which I do not agree with, because we are one family, explaining that the management was already working on it subject to board approval.

While appealing for patience, the affected staff must understand that the NDPHC also have financial constraints.

“I'm sure you know our operational limitations, grid limitations, and all of that, that impacts our revenue earning potential, and therefore, as such, we are duty-bound to ensure that we spend prudently and judiciously.

“So we'll prioritise our needs, but like I said, rest assured that you have the commitment of this

leadership. We're a responsible leadership, and you are our primary responsibility,” she added.

She acknowledged that recently, the transmission grid network has been very vulnerable to disruptions, and therefore, it was expedient for management to ensure that the power plants and equipment are working and performing optimally.

“This is to render services to the transmission grid that would ensure that there's grid stability, and that would ensure that we're able to sustain the performance of the power sector as a whole. So a number of challenges have been thrown up.

“For instance, there are ancillary services, spinning reserve services. We want to ensure that we're able to offer those solutions to enhance the grid stability and to build further resilience for the grid, in line with Mr. President's renewed hope agenda for energy security.

“So far, we are satisfied. I dare say we have the best manpower in the industry because we have the largest fleet in the industry, and so we have the capacity to offer the best services to ensure that there's power sector stability and energy security,” she stressed.

the project, said Obaseki had restored hope to the people of the state while repositioning Edo as a hub for quality and affordable healthcare services in the country.

She stated, “The newly rebuilt Stella Obasanjo Hospital is a testament to the power of a visionary leader and a commitment to build a strong healthy state and nation.

“This hospital has become a shining example of what can be accomplished and for the wellbeing of our people. We commend you for this great effort and we can see the realization of your dreams to deliver quality and accessible healthcare.

“This is a testament of establishing Edo State as a regional hub in terms of quality and affordable healthcare services as it brings hope to Edo people.”

According to Mrs. Jonathan, “This hospital will serve as a reference centre bridging the gap between primary healthcare and specialised healthcare and ensuring that everyone irrespective of their background will get the care they

need.

“I thank the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and the people of the state for keeping the legacy of our late First Lady through this hospital. The efforts of this hospital will not only improve healthcare but raise the bar for effective service delivery in our nation, Nigeria.”

In his response, Obaseki said his government had delivered on promises made to the people of the state and placed the state on the path of sustainable growth and development. He said, “This is not just infrastructure but about sharing some human values of compassion, care, and hope; that is what this facility is all about.

“I didn’t know how bad our healthcare system was until COVID-19 hit the world. It was the turning point for us as nobody could move, even the wealthiest amongst us. I said to my God that if he helps us through COVID-19, I will do something remarkable for our healthcare system and our people in Edo State.

Niger to Overhaul 600 Electricity Transformers

Laleye Dipo in Minna

In a bid to improve electricity supply to parts of Niger State, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has committed to his administration overhauling 600 defective electricity transformers of different capacities.

Speaking on Wednesday at the flag off of the "Bago Electrifying Niger State" project, the governor said already 60 of the transformers have been repaired.

The governor explained that the state which is hosting four hydroelectric dams in Nigeria "cannot continue to depend completely on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), for the repairs or procurement of transformers".

He disclosed that about 200 transformers procured by his administration are set for distribution to "deserving

communities" which he believed would boost their economies.

Bago also disclosed that the government had paid over N1 billion debt owed to the AEDC after which the government "established a partnership that would ensure Nigerlites enjoy consistent power supply with AEDC."

He urged both the AEDC and the benefiting communities to protect the transformers before appreciating the company in charge of the transformers for doing a good job so far.

The Director General, Niger State Electricity Board, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed Katamba, said the project, which is in line with the "New Niger Agenda" of the present administration is aimed at reducing the cost of procuring new transformers by about 80 percent and saved the state N20 billion.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

L-R: Digital Marketing Specialist, inq. Nigeria, Gbenga Olaoye; Head of Marketing, inq. Nigeria, Martina Ogbebor; Executive Chief Sales Officer, inq. Nigeria, Peter Evbota and Head, Customer Success, (Operations & Experience) inq. Nigeria; Fortune Uzoka, at the 2024 Technology Innovation Award Ceremony in Lagos...recently

UNVEILING OF THE LITF...

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Chairman, Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), Dr. John Momoh; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mrs. Oloruntoyin Atekoja; Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Founder of LITF, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters; former Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Donald Duke and Nigerian Entrepreneur & Philanthropist, Mr. Yemi Idowu during the official unveiling of the LITF at Lagos House, Marina, on Tuesday

Aviation Stakeholders, NIA, Others Brainstorm on Aircraft Leasing Insurance

To meet international leases and financiers in January

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo on Wednesday held a stakeholder engagement meeting on creating a new partnership between the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on aircraft leasing.

The meeting, Keyamo said had been convened at the instance of the vice president, who actually compelled him to go and speak with all the stakeholders

regarding the issue of aircraft insurance and the demands of international leases and financiers and how to balance that with local content requirements in Nigeria.

Keyamo, who spoke to the press shortly on the sidelines after the closed-door meeting with various stakeholders in Abuja, said: "We have had a very, very robust discussion; very grateful to the leadership of the National Assembly on insurance. They are here, and they actually provided useful support and guidance to

all of us regarding how they are also thinking.

"The airline operators of Nigeria, they spoke their minds, the Nigerian Insurance Association, they spoke their minds. And I think we are beginning to understand ourselves.

“We have reached a resolution that there is need for further engagement on this issue, we also have reached a decision that there is need for the Nigerian Insurance Association to further engage international resource

and finances to understand their position and their capacity."

According to Keyamo, “the capacity they have is part of the rebranding of the Nigerian image to the world, and every sector in Nigeria has a duty to rebrand and let the world understand how we are and what we are capable of that came out of this meeting today, and they will be traveling with us to Dublin to meet international financiers who have invited us in January.

"The distinguished members of National Assembly will be there

2027: It’s Time for Peter Obi to Make Decision on Merger, Says Group

A socio-political group, the Collective Movement (TCM) yesterday argued that the time was ripe for Nigerians to know about the much-talked-about proposed merger of some opposition political parties gearing up to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Founder of TCM, Franklin Ekechukwu, in a statement, said that time had come for a clear identity of the parties to hit the ground running, given that there isn't much time for dilly-dallying.

He explained that making the names of the parties known would

help to promote a sense of unity and purpose among the merging parties and their leaders.

According to the TCM’s founder, revealing the emerging opposition parties will mark a significant step towards creating a robust opposition, capable of challenging the APC's dominance.

“The organisers need to hasten the process to ensure the merged party is well-prepared for the 2027 elections. It will also build public awareness by introducing the merged party before the public, creating a sense of identity and recognition, and establishing credibility to demonstrate a clear vision and purpose, thereby attracting

potential supporters and partners.

“Additionally, it will mobilise support and rally members and sympathisers around a shared goal, fostering a sense of belonging and commitment,” the group added.

Ekechukwu reiterated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi's combination would produce a better result for the country and present Nigerians with a clear choice in 2027.

He, however, urged Obi with his vision for a better future, for every Nigerian, and the unborn generation, to align with the former Vice President, Atiku, who shares a similar vision to his.

According to TCM's founder, the combination of Atiku and Obi will end the myriad of economic, social, and political problems the nation is facing.

Ekechukwu recalled that Obi’s readiness not to be one of those preoccupied with 2027 while Nigerians are suffering from hunger, poverty, insecurity, and other pressing challenges, demonstrates humility and commitment to one’s love for his country and her people.

“Atiku Abubakar is accepted across the board, a national treasure, nation builder, and experienced leader. He is a bridge across the nation and the only candidate who can unite Nigeria.

EFCC Unveils Forensics Laboratory in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has unveiled it chemical forensics laboratory in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Unveiling the laboratory at the Commission's Port Harcourt Directorate yesterday, Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, said it will enhance and fast-rack their oil and gas investigations and strengthen the commission's extractive industry fraud section.

Olukoyede who disclosed that the laboratory took two years to build,

said it would enable the EFCC to conduct comprehensive analysis of petroleum products and crude oil samples for investigative and prosecutorial activities.

He described the project as a significant milestone in the history of the commission in its journey towards advancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.

"We celebrate a significant milestone in the commission's journey towards advancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector”, he said.

He explained that the commission, over the years, was relying on external agencies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), for its product and sample analyses which often caused delays in critical oil and gas-related investigations.

Olukoyede expressed appreciation to the MacArthur Foundation for funding the project and strengthening the fight against corruption in Nigeria, as well as the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) for supervising and guiding the project

from inception to its completion.

"I extend my deepest gratitude to the MacArthur Foundation for their unwavering commitment to strengthening anti-corruption institutions in Nigeria, and to our implementing partners for guiding this project from inception to this important milestone”, he said.

In her remarks, Head, Programs, CDD, Mary Okpe, stated that the support for the project was to enhance the technical capabilities of the EFCC, and also to serve as a beacon of progress for all anti-corruption agencies within the country.

with us. Airline operators will be there with us. And this is a challenge for all of us, all sectors, to rebrand."

Continuing, he said: " The chairman of Nicon was great,

immense, because he actually opened our eyes to a couple of things that we did not see before. So, gentlemen, that was what discussed on this meeting; it was fruitful."

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) is seeking the assistance of global development partners for its North East Stabilization and Development Masterplan.

The commission made available the Masterplan to global development partners at the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) headquarters at N’Djamena, Chad.

This Masterplan is a framework of the NEDC to accelerate the regional recovery effort as it steps up sustainable implementation of programmes based on the needs of the six states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe that constitute the North East region.

The plan is in addition to humanitarian interventions and disaster support.

In N’Djamena, the commission

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Out of 405 inmates currently at the Suleja Correctional Center, 168 of them are said to be persons "Awaiting Trial".

Deputy Controller of the Correctional Center, Mr. Ibrahim Yau, made the disclosure during a visit by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN).

The visit by the Unit in Charge of decongestion at LACoN's headquarters in Abuja, was to provide free legal services to inmates awaiting trials but without legal representation.

The team headed by Oliver Chukwuma, besides offering legal counseling where necessary would and at the end ensure access to justice to those concerned by following up on

led by its Managing Director/ CEO, Mohammed Alkali, with his team met with the Executive Secretary of the LCBC, Amb. Mamman Nuhu, who is also the Head of Mission of the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF). Alkali at the meeting, emphasized that the LCBC's strategies for recovering the Lake Chad Basin are similar to those of the NEDC in the recovery of the Northeast region as contained in the Masterplan.

He noted the NEDC views the LCBC as a strategic partner in the quest to actualise its developmental programmes as the regional body's activities strongly impact on the states of the North East. LCBC Executive Secretary, Amb. Mamman Nuhu, on his part, said: “We certainly have a lot to do together. So, at our technical level we will come up with recommendations on how we can work together and form stronger partnership.

their matter to various courts within FCT and environs.

In a statement by LACoN's spokesperson, Mrs. Amaka Agbaih, the Deputy Controller, who has just been promoted to the rank of Controller of Correctional Service, appreciated the council for their efforts at ensuring the release of inmates at the custodial center.

Yau, while commending the Council, pointed out that the facility at the center, "has the capacity for 250 inmates but have been stretched to 405 with 168 as awaiting trials inmates". He went further to say that running of the custodial center is not easy judging from what is presently obtainable in the country.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

2024 ALMOND INSURANCE INDUSTRY AWARDS...

L-R: Managing Director Rex Insurance Limited, Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN); Award recipient, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu; her husband, Dr. Ike Nwachukwu; Council member, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Patience Ugbuajah; Senior Manager, Finance, Rex Insurance Limited, Nnena Don-Okonkwo; and Senior Manager Corporate Communications, Rex Insurance, Mr. Wilson Okoh-Esene, during the presentation of the Insurance Woman of the Year award to Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu at the 2024 Almond Insurance Industry Awards held in Lagos ... recently

NIGERIA GRIEVES AS ARMY CHIEF PASSES AT 56

Tinubu, who expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time, wished Lagbaja eternal peace and honoured his significant contributions to the nation.

Tinubu also directed the postponement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting till another date to be announced, in honour of the dead.

In addition, Tinubu he ordered that flags be flown at half-staff nationwide for seven days in honour of the departed general.

Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu.

His military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987.

On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.

Throughout his service, Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership.

Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and two children.

Meanwhile, Nigerians from different walks of life have continued to mourn the passing of Lagbaja.

Leading the pack was former President Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the sitting Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibril Barau.

Others were a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Ministers of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawalle; the new Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Olueye; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), among others.

Also, yesterday, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu and wife of the VicePresident, Hajia Nana Shettima, paid a condolence visit to wife of the deceased, Mrs. Mariya Abiodun Lagbaja.

In another development, the people of his Ilobu Community in Osun State, family, and their monarch, His Royal Majesty, Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan II, have demanded the release of his body to community.

Muhammadu Buhari

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has describing Lagbaja as a patriot and outstanding officer, who served the nation with utmost diligence.

In a statement, Buhari said he was deeply shocked by the news of death,

adding that the nation had lost one of its finest soldiers.

Going down memory lane, the ex-President said, “When I was the Commander-in-Chief, Lagbaja, as one of the commanders of army, caught my attention as one of the bravest officers, who served the nation with utmost devotion.

“In the various frontlines of internal security operations, including Operation Zaki in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States, General Lagbaja left no one in doubt about his military capabilities.

“He left his indelible footprints as a professional soldier and inspiring commander wherever he served. I pray to the Almighty to repose of his soul and reward his courageous services to the Nigerian Army and the nation.”

Oluremi Tinubu

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, expressed sadness over the demise of the three-star General.

Mrs. Tinubu, who immediately paid a condolence visit to Lagbaja’s widow, Mariya, in company with Mrs. Shettina, in a condolence message personally signed, said, "It is with a heavy heart that I received the sad news of the demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja.

"Throughout his career, the late Chief of Army Staff exemplified valor, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to the service of our dear country.

"I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Mrs Mariya Abiodun Lagbaja, children, family, friends, colleagues and associates. May Almighty God comfort and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace."

The First Lady who was also accompanied by the wife of the National Security Adviser, Hajia Ribadu, was received by the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Oghogho Musa, who prayed for the family.

While comforting Mariya, and the children, Mrs Tinubu noted that only the Lord could determine when a man dies.

She urged them to be comforted by the good life and legacies he left behind while urging the children to remain focused and pursue the ideals their father lived for.

Atiku, Saraki, Obi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Peter Obi, yesterday, joined Nigerians in mourning Lagbaja. They each described it as a shock to Nigeria, the military and a personal loss to his family.

Atiku said, ''The passing of any soul diminishes us all, for in the departure of one, a part of humanity fades away. It is with a heavy heart and sorrowful spirit that I received the news of the tolling

of the bell for the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who was called from this world in the very prime of his life.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his grieving family and to the Nigerian Army, to which he dedicated his service with unwavering honour and distinction. May his soul find eternal peace and rest.”

Saraki, who was President of the 8th senate, said, ''General Lagbaja’s contributions to safeguarding our nation and advancing peace and security in our communities will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude.

''To his grieving family and the entire Nigerian Armed Forces, we extend our deepest condolences. We pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) grants him a place amongst the righteous in Al Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.''

Obi, on his part, wrote: ''I have just read the official announcement of the unfortunate death of Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

''On behalf of my family and the Obidient family, I sincerely condole with the entire Lagbaja family, the Government of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Army over this painful loss, which has indeed created a big vacuum in his family and our dear nation.

''May God Almighty, who called him home at this time, forgive his sins, grant him eternal rest, and grant his family, Nigeria's military, the Nigerian government, and all of us the fortitude to bear his sad and irreplaceable loss. May God protect and bless his family always.''

Akpabio, Barau, Kalu

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, his deputy, Jibrin Barau and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation Orji Kalu, have described Lagbaja as a fine officer, who gave his all for the territorial security and unity of the country.

Akpabio, in a statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, yesterday, said he received the news of the death of the late military chief, with shock, a few days after he had spoken with the President and was upbeat about his return to office.

“His death, coming at a time the country needed his wealth of experience in tackling and bringing to an end insecurity in some parts of the country, is a huge loss to the country and the security community.

"He was a fine, committed and dedicated officer, who served the country with all his might, even at the risk of paying the supreme price. On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I commiserate with the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the military community, the larger Lagbaja family on this great loss.”

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, also extolled the virtues of the late

Army Chief, saying he contributed immensely to the overall security sector of the country.

"It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who died last night in Lagos after a period of illness.

"Lt. General Lagbaja served with honour, courage and dedication throughout his distinguished military career. His appointment as Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 19, 2023, reflected his confidence in his leadership, vision and commitment to the security of our nation.

"Lt. General Lagbaja’s life was marked by a relentless devotion to Nigeria and its people. His legacy will be remembered not only in the annals of our Armed Forces but in the hearts of all who knew and respected his work.”

Former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, described the deceased as a gallant and patriotic officer, noting that he demonstrated a high level of professionalism in various capacities in the Nigerian army.

Kalu conveyed his condolences to the government and people of Osun State, while praying to God to comfort the deceased's wife and children.

"The late General Lagbaja served the country meritoriously in various positions in the Armed Forces. He was known for his patriotism, doggedness, professionalism and integrity. The deceased left behind a good legacy for his family and loved ones to uphold."

Tajudeen Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has described Lagbaja’s passing as a huge loss to the Armed Forces and Nigeria as a country.

Abbas, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, recalled how Lagbaja, after becoming the army chief, went round military bases across the country, especially in the North-East and North-West, to motivate soldiers at the battlefields.

Further describing him as “a gallant military officer,” Abbas noted that the late Army Chief recorded modest achievements in a short period as the COAS.

The Speaker commiserated President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Lagbaja family, the people, and government of Osun State over the loss, and prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Chief of Army Staff.

Badaru, Matawalle, Oluyede

Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and the Minister of state for Defence, Bello Matawalle, have condoled with Tinubu over the demise of Lagbaja, who passed Tuesday night. Speaking with newsmen yesterday shortly after the postponement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, the Defence Minister described Lagbaja’s

death as tragic and a great loss to the nation.

"It's really very sad. It's really tragic. So, what is this opportunity to condone Mr. President over this heavy loss, indeed, his family and the entire Nigeria? It's a great loss for our country.

He was a gallant officer, very hardworking and and has been in all the theaters of war and he has done commendably well for this country. It's a very, very, very sad loss.

Matawalle, on his part, said, "We enjoyed working with him, because, as the Honorable Minister said, he's a gallant officer, and it's a great loss to this nation. All we can say is ask God to bless the family, and we urged Nigerians that we continue praying for the spirit of Lagbaja.

"We send our condolences to the family of the deceased and Mr. President, because it's a great loss to our nation., Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja was a warrior."

Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Olatubosun Oluyede, described as regrettable the demise of his boss, Lagbaja.

Oluyede told reporters that Nigeria under the leadership of President Tinubu did all possible best for the COAS to be alive.

"It’s highly regrettable. I mean the country as a whole under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, did the very best for him to be alive with us today. But as we all know, we all belong to God and He takes when He feels necessary for him to do so.

"It's on a very sober note that I am talking this moment because the entire Nigeria Army is actually is a sorrowful mood because we have lost our leader, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja.

“He was someone that gave his all to Nigeria. He was a selfless leader, very passionate about Nigeria and he led the Nigeria Army very well. He was courageous, he was known to be thorough and a professional to the core.

“So, it’s a big loss to us. And all we can say at this moment is that we pray that the good Lord will find a place for him to rest.”

CDS, Armed Forces of Nigeria

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, yesterday, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), conveyed his condolences to Tinubu, family of the late General and all Nigerians.

A statement by Acting Director Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the CDS described the late COAS as a courageous, hard working, reliable, loyal, and dedicated service chief whose tireless efforts and unflinching commitment to the security and well being of the nation was unparalleled.

"Therefore, his passing is a tremendous loss, not only to his family, the Army and the AFN but also to the entire nation and humanity.

"Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s

legacy of exceptional service and loyalty leaves an indelible mark on the Nigerian Army, the AFN and the national defence security landscape.

"Appointed as the Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2024, he demonstrated exemplary leadership, spearheading the establishment of the Nigerian Army Aviation Wing and playing instrumental roles in multiple security operations across the country."

Nigeria Governors’ Forum

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has sent her profound condolences to Tinubu, the Nigerian military establishment, and the Lagbaja family on the loss of the former chief of army staff.

A statement by Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that, “Our hearts are especially with the family and the Nigerian Army at this difficult moment.

"We are comforted by the unforgettable memories of his unblemished services to our country. Even in death, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja stands honoured for his bravery and dedication to a greater, united Nigeria.

“We ask Almighty God to forgive his shortcomings, admit him to aljannah Firdaus, and give his family the strength to get through this tough phase of life.”

Inuwa Yahaya

Chairman of the Northern States Governors' Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has described the late COAS as a distinguished officer, who served the nation with remarkable courage and dedication.

"General Lagbaja’s life and career were defined by commitment to the Nigerian Armed Forces and an exceptional dedication to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty amid the ongoing challenges posed by insurgency, banditry, and other criminal activities," he remarked.

The NSGF chair also noted that the late Lagbaja embodied the values of discipline, bravery, and integrity that characterised the finest traditions of military service, adding that his leadership played a significant role in strengthening the nation's defence framework and upholding peace and stability.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor and the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has describedhis death as a colossal loss to Nigeria. He commiserated with Tinubu, security chiefs, the Nigerian Army and the entire Nigerians over the death of the Chief of Army Staff. Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Lagbaja, as a dutiful and committed soldier who served Nigeria passionately.

OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 10TH AFRICAN CONFERENCE...

Israeli Envoy Alleges Iran Behind Terrorism

Globally, Including in Nigeria, Rest of the

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has alleged that Iran is at the centre of global terrorism and political unrest, insisting that without a change in the present Iranian political leadership there may be no peace in Middle East and parts of Africa.

Speaking in Abuja during the screening of the documentary “We Will Dance Again” directed by Yariv Mozer, shown to commemorate the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack, he noted that: “The source of this war and the source of the instability is Iran.

“Iran is responsible and Iran is

the backer of Hamas. Iran is the backer of Hezbollah, Hutus and all the instability in the Middle East.”

He further alleged that: “They are pumping millions of dollars, billions of dollars, expertise, weapons in order to destabilize the entire region. They know what they are doing. Iran has also made attempt to destabilize Africa and West Africa and they are beginning their action also in Nigeria.

“Iran under a radical leader is a regime that is sponsoring terror, destruction and mysteries for millions not least for the Iranian people, and the quicker that the world takes action against Iran to remove the leadership and change the leadership the quicker

the world will be a better place.”

He said: “The world needs to stand together against terrorism. Terrorism in Israel will not stop in Israel. We have seen radical terrorism here in Nigeria like in Israel.

“We have learnt that when it starts in Israel it never finishes there. Countries that face terrorism needs to work together, United to stop it, because I promise you the terrorists are all working together, terrorists do not recognize borders, they do not recognize the states or any other thing.

“So, we all need to come together, share our expertise and work together to stop terrorism.

“Israel is ready to share and work

together with anybody who wants to tackle and stop terrorism.”

Freeman said: “Israel’s demand is very clear - that the world understands terrorism. Nigeria has been the victim of terrorism, the particularly extremist terrorism and we will need to stand together, side by side all those countries who are fighting against terrorism to ensure that the world is a better place.

“We need to ensure that Hamas can never carry attack like we just saw again. I will say that what we just saw was one place that was attacked. We hadn’t looked at the villages and communities, we didn’t look at the other 900 people who were murdered and their children

Sanwo-Olu Urges Engineers to Embrace Innovation for Resilient, Sustainable Cities

Governor Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos State yesterday called on engineers to harness advanced technology and innovative practices to foster resilient urbanisation capable of withstanding climate change and other unforeseen challenges.

He made this known, at the 46th annual conference and 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), themed "Sustainable Development: Building Resilient Cities."

Represented by Dr. Adekunle Olayinka, Special Adviser in the Office of Works, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards

and adopting best practices to support sustainable design and engineering solutions.

He affirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with ACEN to create cities that are both resilient and sustainable.

He said: "I encourage you to align with government initiatives, engage local communities, and uphold practices that promote sustainable design and engineering solutions. Together, we can build cities that are resilient, sustainable, equitable, and just."

Earlier in his remarks, ACEN President, Kam-Selem Bukar, highlighted the theme’s relevance, noting the crucial role consulting engineers play in shaping the future of cities. "Urbanisation

and environmental challenges require innovative solutions and a strong commitment to sustainability," he said.

Bukar expressed optimism about discussions on how engineers can leverage their expertise to create urban spaces resilient to climate impacts and inclusive for all.

The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala also underscored the vital role engineers play in sustainable development, particularly during challenging economic times. She stressed the need for engineers to support frameworks that encourage innovative design, responsible resource management, and inclusive urban planning to

enhance citizens' quality of life.

"This involves creating a solid partnership among all stakeholders, government, private sector, and engineering institutions to bring initiatives that can attract development and bolster resilience across our cities and communities," she stated.

Oguntala who was represented by Dr. Felicia Agubata, NSE Vice President for the South-East Zone, added that ACEN's commitment to advancing the government’s vision of a developed and resilient Nigeria demonstrates its forwardthinking approach and dedication to national growth.

"Your vision sets the standard for professional excellence and the importance of building enduring, resilient infrastructure," she stated.

Sule Abolishes State/LG Joint Account in Nasarawa

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has abolished the joint account system between the state government and the 13 Local Government Areas in the state. Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, disclosed this at a press conference yesterday in Lafia.

Ahemba explained that the action complied with the decision

of the Supreme Court on the autonomy of the area Councils in the country.

He further said the administration of Governor Sule was law-abiding and had decided to grant full autonomy to Local Government Areas in the state to enable them to achieve their full potential.

"The governor is one of the accountable and transparent administrators in the country who believes in the rule of law and has nothing to hide,"

he added.

On the implementation of the new minimum wage, the governor's aide said that the state government was willing to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.

"You could recall that the governor wanted to implement the new wage since August with the arrears of three months. But the organised labour preferred the implementation of their promotions first, and the governor agreed with their request.

"The state government is ready to begin a discussion on the new minimum wage now that the promotion was successfully implemented and the template was released by the federal government," he added. He, therefore, assured that the state government would continue to prioritise the welfare of the citizens through the provision of quality infrastructure and investment in the agricultural sector to address hunger and poverty.

in their bedroom, killed and burnt alive, and raped.”

He noted that the ideology of Hamas has shown that there won’t be peace in the Middle East unless they are wiped off.

“Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and want the death of every Jew, that is the words of Hamas. Anybody wants to see peace in the Middle East, Hamas must be destroyed. There cannot be peace while Hamas is still existing.”

The envoy added that: “In 2005, Israel left the Gaza Strip, we withdrew all of our soldiers, all of our Jewish citizens, all of the communities, settlement. Since 2005 there haven’t been single Israeli inside the Gaza Strip, when we left there, we left communities, buildings, agriculture settlements, opportunities for people and for Palestinians in Gaza, to build a better future.

“But in 2007, when they elected Hamas and Hamas came into

Sahel

power, since then they have run a brutal dictatorship and taken all international aids and used it to build terrorism, tunnels and build weapons.

“They have impoverished their own people; they created a dynamics where they cannot live. They cannot have decent lifestyle. So, if anybody is responsible for what happens it is Hamas.

“Israel has stated clearly, we want to have peace with our neighbours. The Palestinians say if you withdraw you will have peace. We withdrew and we received rockets and terrorism. So, it is not a reality, the death of any innocent is an absolute tragedy.

“The death of an Israeli or Palestinian child is the same tragedy, the mother mourns, the father mourns, it doesn’t matter. The question is who would we put the blame on for those deaths.”

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday, sensitised residents of Rivers State against involvement in illegal migration, smuggling and human trafficking.

The sensitisation exercise which held across boarder states in the country was aimed at stopping incessant illegal migration of Nigerians, and also tackle the issues of dangerous smuggling and trafficking of young persons abroad in disguise for greener pastures.

Speaking during the sensitisation campaign in Port Harcourt, the Comptroller of NIS, Rivers State Command, Yabagi Abdulmajeed, disclosed that the programme was an idea of the Comptroller General of NIS.

He said the mandate is to have the sensitisation campaign carried out in states where there are boarders linking the country to other nations.

Abdulmajeed regretted that people would prefer to endanger their life and future in a bid to be smuggled out of the country, stressing that such action, alleging economy reason has no positive gains.

He said: "The sensitisation programme is a noble idea of the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS).

"It has become widespread in the country. You and I know how it affects the economy of the country and increase level of criminality, others.

“It is the idea of the federal government to see how this can be curb, then the Service being the major player needs to come in partnership with NAPTIP. We are handling our own state by state.

"We have to sensitise the community, we have to let the community know why supporting trafficking or smuggling of migrants is a very dangerous thing because we know some families even encourage it.

“They release their minor, children for economic reason, but the negative aspect of it is that is going to affect the family and also the society at large."

Noting that the Command is in collaboration with other security agencies to tackle the menace, Abdulmajeed stressed: "If this had to be taken care of, we had to talk to the family, the parents first.

“This is because some of these people think they are doing the right thing and the parents are encouraging them. But we had to let them know the negative parts of it, what happens to the children after then.

It came up because the Service is looking at issues that has been going on in most the states in terms of smuggling, illegal migration and trafficking.

Funmi Ogundare

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

L-R: The Chief Operating Officer, GET Consortium, Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye; Representative of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Adenike Ojumu; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi; and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, at the Opening Ceremony of the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity hosted by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with GET Consortium yesterday

BRaCE FOUNdaTiON EMPOWERMENT WORKsHOP…

L-R: Head of Speech Pathology and Special Education Unit, Federal

and, Executive Director, Brace Foundation, Dr

Group Demands Immediate Resignation of IG over Incarceration of Minors

adedayo akinwale in abuja

The Lygel Youths and Leadership Initiatives has demanded the immediate resignation of the Inspector General(IG) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun over incarceration and arraignment of the minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protest. It added that failure to resign, it would be left with no other option than to approach the court to interpret whether Egebtokun violated Child’s Rights Act or not.

yesterday in Abuja.

He said it is becoming worrisome that the state of abuse of the police has degenerated to the abysmal use of law as

The Director, Legal Compliance of the group, Lekan Oladapo, disclosed this while addressing a press conference

FG Provides N1bn to MSMEs Business Owners in Bauchi

segun awofadeji in bauchi

The federal government, through the Bank of Industry (BOI) has provided the sum of N1 billion to 1,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business owners in Bauchi state.

Speaking during the sensitisation of the beneficiaries in Bauchi, the Manager, Bank of Industry, Bauchi state branch, Mallam Isa Nadada, said the aim of the intervention is to revive the MSMEs in all the 774 local governments across the country.

According to him, each of the beneficiaries would be given the

‘Delta

sum of N1 million, and the target of the federal government is to have 75,000 MSMEs as beneficiaries in order to create job impacts.

Represented by Project Officer, BOI, Bauchi branch, Mr Kabiru Musa, Nadada explained that the core mandate of the bank is not only to disburse funds but also to create job opportunities in order to relieve some burdens on the federal government “The interest rate is soft because it’s nine per cent all inclusive, either it is a term loan or a working capital. The tenure of the facility is three years and there is a six month moratorium.

is Tackling the Issue of Ghost Workers’

Omon-Julius Onabuinasaba

Delta State Head of Service (HOS), Sir Reginald Bayoko, has said that the issue of “ghost workers” is not a significant problem in the state Civil Service contrary to the impression that might be created by some media reports. He said that whereas most of the state workers who traveled for various overseas training often returned to the country and to their respective duty posts in the state civil service, it was only the case of few deviants who absconded or remained abroad that was given much publicity in the media.

However, the Delta HOS assured

the people that the Oborevwori administration has zero tolerance for such misconduct especially salary fraud, adding that perpetrators of absenteeism and their accomplices will not escape appropriate sanctions. Bayoko made these remarks as a special guest at the Delta State NUJ (Nigeria Union of Journalists) Hangout in Asaba.

The HOS warned that employees who fraudulently draw salaries without performing their assigned duties, including those who remained abroad after overseas training but whose names remained in the regular payment voucher, must face stringent repercussion such as outright dismissal.

Foursquare Inaugurates Facilities at McPherson Varsity

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Rev. (Dr.) Sam Aboyeji, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art students’ hall of residence, cafeteria, and bakery at McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State. The multi-million naira projects are aimed at providing conducive living and learning environments for the students of the university.

Aboyeji, while speaking at the event, praised the university’s

management for prioritising students’ welfare and academic excellence, emphasising the importance of quality education and infrastructure in shaping the future leaders of Nigeria.

He hailed the giant strides of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Francis Igbasan, towards ensuring adequate and quality education to students of the institution, stating that he has lived up to expectations and the entire Foursquare Gospel Church are proud of him and not disappointed for appointing him to head the institution.

an instrument of acerbating violence on the Nigerian minors without any pretext.

Oladapo noted that his organisation considers it an

aberration to the law and common sense putting the Nigerian children in a despicable human condition.

He pointed out that

‘Illegal Mining, Logging Activities Has

Wole ayodeleinJalingo

The Chairman, Taraba State Committee on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Deforestation, Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Faransa (rtd) has raised the alarm that mining and logging activities have had devastating effects

on the ecosystem of the state.

Addressing a press conference in Jalingo yesterday, Faransa lamented that illegal miners have caused serious environmental damage which must be urgently addressed before the country have another Ogoni on its hand.

He disclosed that his committee

the process of the recent arrest, incarceration and the arraignment of the minors under pitiable condition are condemnable.

Destroyed Taraba’s Ecosystem’

has gone round all the mining sites and communities in the state and have witnessed the extent of havoc caused to the environment by mining activities first hand.

He, however, maintained that the state government remained committed to environmental safety while supporting legitimate mining activities.

“Taraba State government was not opposed to mining or legitimate investments in the sector, but was concerned about the damage to the environment and the need for operators to comply comprehensively with all extant laws guiding their operation”

Kaduna to Spend N90bn Rehabilitate Water Board

John shiklam in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government plans to spend N93 billion in the next four years to rehabilitate the state water corporation.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Kaduna, Commissioner of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ibrahim Hamza, said the state government is determined to water holistically address the water sector which had suffered neglect in the past 10 years.

Hamza said three months ago, Governor Uba Sani declared a state of emergency in the water sector after which he appointed Kabir Rufai as substantive Managing

Director of the Kaduna state water corporation (KADSWAC), to actualise set goals. Hamza said staff of KADSWAC will be returned to the state payroll till 2027 when the corporation must have fully stabilised to run as a commercial entity.

He said the corporation will collaborate with the 23 local governments in the state to maintain generators for water operations.

“Kaduna State is investing heavily on the rehabilitation and retrofitting of all water treatment plants and distribution mains, with emphasis on sanitation and hygiene,” the commissioner said.

NSCDC Nabs Five for Crude Oil Theft in Rivers

Michael Olugbodeinabuja

Operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad [CG’s SIS] of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have arrested five suspects for involvement in illegal dealings and siphoning of crude oil from the flowline.

A statement by the spokesman of the NSCDC noted that the suspects were arrested at a location known as “Sambisa Forest” in Umuedeokwara, Odagwa Community, Etche Local Government Area in Rivers state with one manifold channeled inside a large dug-in reservoir and were packaged into cellophane nylons and sacks estimated to be over 100,000 litres. Babawale said the feat was recorded following credible intelligence tip-off from locals on the activities of the suspects in the area.

He said: “Consequently, operatives of the squad swung into action and discovered that some economic saboteurs had stolen and siphoned crude oil into a large dug-in pit and packaged it in cellophane nylons and sacks around Rivers and Abia States boundaries, respectively. He said five persons were subsequently nabbed with all the suspects confessing to the crime during a preliminary investigation carried out by the squad at the crime scene and afterwards.

Nigeria’s Youngest Lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu, to Participate in World Parliamentary Programme in France

Nigeria’s youngest lawmaker, Hon. Rukayat Shittu, representing Owode Onire at the Kwara State House of Assembly will join other peers across the world for the

Organisation of Parliamentary Work Programme in France.

This initiative is jointly organised by the French Senate and National Assembly and coordinated by Campus France.

The programme will offer young

lawmakers and other parliamentary workers a unique platform to engage in high-level parliamentary training and knowledge exchange.

A statement issued in Ilorin which was personally signed by the lawmaker, Hon. Rukayat Shittu, a

copy of which was made available to THISDAY yesterday said: “The programme is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of legislative processes, policy formulation, and international governance standards

SafeLify Launches One-Stop App to Enhance Travel Experience

SafeLify International is launching a comprehensive travel application in Nigeria to enhance the travel experience.

The app will offer an integrated interface providing services like ondemand logistics, legal assistance, healthcare, and hospitality.

The CEO and Founder, SafeLify, Dr. Bisi Tofade, emphasised that these services aim to rebuild travelers’ trust in Nigeria, boost investment opportunities, and simplify travel.

The brand is registered in the United States of America (USA) and plans a virtual launch in Nigeria on 9th November 2024,

ensuring its offerings align with international standards.

“SafeLify is a technological company poised to respond to two major questions that travelers have which are security and safety.

“SafeLify has imagined all of those scenarios where a traveler would have an unplanned emergency, and has put together

an array of global services that enhance travelers’ experience,” said Tofade.

“We have created an innovative and revolutionary suite of safety, legal, wellness, and health packages that resonate with the needs of these individual travelers who come into the country.

Delta Community Debunks Defamatory Publication against Monarch

Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom has reacted to a defamatory online story on the kingdom’s traditional ruler, saying “it was published with the intent to tarnish the reputation of His Majesty, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom.” According to the publication,

the said monarch was petitioned for land-grabbing, arming killer squads, kidnapping and convicted for a crime overseas of theft of $300 computers 30 years ago before he was enthroned as king. According to Palace sources, at the time of

the alleged incident, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku was not in the United States (US) and was studying for his Masters degree in business administration at the University of Edinburgh.

However, in a statement signed by, the Palace Secretary,

Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi said “this malicious story is part of an ongoing campaign against His Majesty and his family, launched by individuals seeking to disrupt the peace and integrity of the Ogwashi-Uku community.”

Hammed shittuinIlorin

Esther Oluku

Neuro-Psychiatrc Hospital Yaba, Dr. Temitope Amodu; Vice Chairperson, Brace Foundation, Mrs Godrey Ogbechie; Chairman, Brace Foundation, Dr Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie;

Soibi

Godwin-Clark at the Brace Foundation Special Needs Empowerment Workshop held in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

THURSDAYSPORTS

Osimhen Returns as Ekong, Lookman, 20 Others Invited for Benin, Rwanda

Duro

Reigning Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, has returned to the Super Eagles’ after he missed the first leg of the AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya and the reverse fixture that was botched due to the ill-mannered conducts of the North Africans last month. Osimhen missed the Libyan game after coping injury at Turkish champions Galatasaray.

In the 23-man list of invited players by Coach Augustine Eguavoen and released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday, the Napoli player on

loan at Galatasaray, along with Captain William Troost-Ekong, Atalanta of Italy’s Ademola Lookman and effervescent winger, Moses Simon, and 19 other Eagles will seek for six points against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the closing rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign this month.

Also in the squad are usual suspects like goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel. The midfield have the likes of Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-

10 Ex-internationals

All is now set for the  novelty match organised to usher in the Governor-elect of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his Deputy, Rt Hon. Dennis Idahosa.

The organisers yesterday reeled out preparations towards the November 10th match during a Press briefing in Benin City.

The spokesperson for the organiser and former Edo State Football Association Chairman, Frank Ilaboya, said all is set for a top-notch novelty match.

“We are set for the match. Over 10 ex internationals are coming. Among those coming are Super Eagles interim Manager, Augustine Eguavoen, Felix Owolabi, Mutiu Adepoju and Bright Omokaro.

Others include; Samson Ozogula,

The 6th Lagos Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open is set to commence today, November 7, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Participants from the United Kingdom, Iran, Iraq, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and host Nigeria will compete in this prestigious event.

At a press conference held yesterday, the initiator and President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), Sunday Oyebode, expressed his excitement over the impressive turnout for this year’s tournament.

He noted the significant growth in participation, with players from Europe, Asia, and Africa confirming their attendance. “We are thrilled that the tournament continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Baldwin Bazuaye, Beijing Olympic Games goalkeeper, Ambrose Vanzekin, Peter Obanor, Tony Emedofu and Prince Oritsuwa Afejuku.

Ex Bendel Insurance goalkeeper,  Austine Iyamu, William Enobakhare and Tony Mentie are also listed for the game.

“From the Akpakomiza side, the list is full of political heavyweights led by the Gov-elect himself, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa.

“Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will lead the others involving the State Party Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe and State party Secretary, Lawrence Orka. Others are Pastor Ize Iyamu and Hon Matthew Urhoghide.

The registration this year was impressive, and we are happy to see the event attracting more players worldwide,” Odebode said.

ITTF Para Manager, Pablo Perez, highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in para table tennis, which has motivated the ITTF to support the tournament as one of the sanctioned events in Africa.

“We are particularly thrilled with the growth of para table tennis in Nigeria. The performance of Nigerian players in major international competitions is a testament to the country’s hard work. Nigeria is truly making a mark with Isau Ogunkunle being the only African medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“We are proud to witness another tournament this year and commend Odebode and his team for their efforts,” Perez stated.

Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.

Home-based defender, Victor Collins of Nasarawa United will join up with the group for the first time, and there is a return for gangling forward Sadiq Umar, who plays for Real Sociedad in Spain.

Defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are also listed, while France-based defender Gabriel Osho will hope to play his first competitive game for fatherland, after his inability to honour a first call-up in the summer due to injury.

Missing from Eguavoen’s squad is the duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and

Benjamin Tanimu.

The Super Eagles will fly directly to Abidjan on 11 November, for the confrontation with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade FelixHouphouet-Boigny on Thursday, 14th November, before traveling down to Uyo for the final qualifying game against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Monday, 18th November.

Currently top of their Group D, the Super Eagles will be certain of a place in the final tournament if they get a point against the Cheetahs, which will take then to 11 points, and with only final-day opponents Rwanda capable of catching up with them on points.

However, with a current tally of seven goals for and none against

(following the CAF Disciplinary Board’s award of three points and three goals for the botched Matchday 4 encounter against Libya), the Super Eagles stand head and shoulders above the Amavubi, who have one-goal deficit and five points in their favour going into the final two matchdays.

INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders: William TroostEkong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho

(AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)

Ademola Lookman Again on Target as Atalanta Win in Stuttgart

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Ademola Lookman was again on the scorer’s sheet as Atalanta went away in Germany to beat Stuttgart 2-0 to now climb to ninth in the UEFA Champions League standing on eight points from four matches. Until yesterday, Atalanta had only won a game and drew two matches. But Lookman ensured that the Europa League champions maintain their recent winning streak both in Europe and in the Italian topflight.

After a goalless first half, Atalanta Coach, Gian Piero

Gasperini introduced Charles De Ketelaere. And within six minutes, that move paid off as the Belgian surged down the right after the Italian side had won the ball high and squared for Ademola Lookman, who had the simple task of turning the ball into an unguarded net. Stuttgart had a chance to to immediately respond, as the electric Chris Fuhrich receiveda give-and-go and found substitute Ermedin Demirovic, but the striker somehow fired wide of

the near post. However, as the game entered the closing stages the onus was on Stuttgart and substitute Jarzinho Malanga nearly provided the leveler they craved as his effort deflected narrowly wide off the near post. Zaniolo however put the game beyond the reach of the hosts as he slotted home a sloppy defensive error. That ensured Atalanta’s positive recent record against German opposition extends to just two defeats in eight matches, while Stuttgart succumb to just a

C’Brugge

Bodoe/Glimt v Qarabag E’Frankfurt v Sl’Prague

Elfsborg v SC Braga

FCSB v Midtjylland  Galatasaray v Tottenham  Ludogorets v Athletics

Nice v FC Twente

U’Gilloise v Roma

Ajax v Mac’Tel Aviv

Alkmaar v Fenerbache

Dy’Kyiv v Ferencvaros  Hoffenheim v Lyon

Lazio v FC Porto

Man Utd v PAOK

RFS v Anderlecht

V’Plzen v Sociedad

third defeat in 14 outings. Elsewhere, another Nigerian, Victor Olatunji got on the scorer’s sheet for Sparta Prague but his effort was not good enough to earn his side a share of the spoil as French side Brest pick all three points in the 2-1 away victory.

Ikhazuagbe

Coach Augustine Eguavoen (second right) and Victor Osimhen (right)

Ademola Lookman was on target as Atalanta defeated Stuttgart 2-0 away in Germany last night

MISSILE

Ishaku Abbo to Senators

Aliko Dangote to Federal Government

“I never had a child in my life until the unholy court ruling that sent me back home. So, I think the judgment was in my interest. When God wants to bless you, he uses your enemies to bless you. Just imagine me staying at the Senate for eight years without a child; so, the money is for who?" –Former Adamawa Senator, saying his removal by the Appeal Court allowed him to concentrate on his family, and within two months, his two wives were delivered of two children.

“To ensure sufficient feedstock availability we will need to stop mortgaging crude. It is unfortunate that while countries like Norway are putting oil proceeds into a future fund through their national wealth funds, in Africa, we are spending oil proceeds from the future today” - The President of Dangote Group, on why the federal government should ensure the availability of crude feedstock for local refineries.

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Enter President Donald Trump II

Is there Justice for Workers in Nigeria?

DThe National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) held its 2024/2025 Legal Year ceremony yesterday in Abuja. With a retired Justice of Supreme Court, Ejembi Eko as Chairman, I was the guest speaker. Below is a slightly abridged version of my presentation that speaks not only to labour justice and public interest but also the rule of law and the role of Judges in Nigeria.

Iuring a brief meeting between father and son, the late President John Kennedy reportedly asked: "Dad, can you lend me some money?" Seeing the look of disapproval from his father to what had evidently become incessant demand, Kennedy was said to have added: "Don't worry dad, this time I will pay back." The late ambassador Joe Kennedy (Sr) laughed and said to his son occupying the White House: "That will be the day!" What I took from the story is that U.S. constitutional constraints and the strength of their institutions, limit what a United States President can do, even for himself when confronted with personal challenges.

consider it an honour and a privilege to stand before this august gathering as you celebrate the 2024/2025 Legal Year. I expect many of you may be wondering what qualifies me to be here and why a journalist is presenting a paper on labour justice and public interest. Perhaps I should let you in on a secret. I got the invitation for this assignment when I met an energetic man playing ping pong (table tennis) sometime last year. Had I not been introduced to the gentleman before I watched him toss the ball upward with his left hand and strike it fiercely with his right, it would have been difficult for me to believe that he was the Honourable Justice Benedict Kanyip, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN). Even though we exchanged contacts that day, I decided not to dwell too much on the promise because I thought it was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions people make while in a jolly mood. But early this year, the honourable justice followed up with a call to remind me that I would indeed be the speaker at the 2024/2025 Legal Year ceremony. I cannot thank Justice Kanyip enough for the honour.

We may argue that American public officials, no matter how highly placed, cannot shun accountability without consequences, but many of the assumptions that people around the world have about their democracy have been shattered in recent years. But first, let me congratulate President Donald Trump whose rise, fall and rise (again) is beyond remarkable. Following his defeat in 2020, many publications wrote his political obituary and perhaps only a few incurable optimists believed at the time that Trump would ever return to the White House. He was dragged before many courts. His mug shot was taken like any common felon even before he was eventually convicted. At some point, Trump was also ostracised by social media mogul. Twitter (now X) was the first to de-platform him (ironically, the new owner, Elon Musk became his biggest supporter and financer in this election) before Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitch followed and YouTube removed many of his videos. To cap it all, Parler, the app where most of his supporters were then camped, was yanked off by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Despite all these, Trump took the Republican ticket with ease and has now won the election with larger margins than he did the last time.

Let me also appreciate other Judges of this court. My understanding of the contributions of the NICN to labour jurisprudence in our country has been enriched in recent days. To prepare my paper, I spent considerable time at the Court’s library. And, as it is with most libraries in Nigeria, the environment could be better. But I was fortunate to encounter two dedicated library staff who painstakingly provided me access to relevant materials, including ‘Digest of Labour Cases in Nigeria (1960 to 2012)’ and ‘Digest of Judgements of National Industrial Court (1978 – 2006)’ edited by Oluwole Kehinde with foreword (to both books) written by a former President of this Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo. These materials, and a few others I browsed through, catalogue hundreds of cases decided by this court to advance the course of justice for workers in Nigeria.

In the months and years ahead, there will be books (and movies) not only on how Trump rebuilt the Republic Party in his own image to become an electoral winning machine but also on how he has exploited the weaknesses in the Democratic Party whose majority in American politics was once considered unassailable. Interestingly, last November, John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira released “one of the most influential political books of the 21st century”, according to New York Times but the lessons were ignored. Titled, ‘Where Have the Democrats Gone? The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes’, the authors revealed how the party has alienated its critical constituencies: the industrial working class, the small towns, the newly immigrated, the Christian community etc. The authors—who in 2002 wrote ‘The Emerging Democratic Majority’—also argue that the party has been hijacked by shadowy interests that now call the shots. “Controversial views on social issues had begun to surface during Obama’s second term—not so much in Washington, but on college campuses and social media and in the foundations, publications, and groups that were aligned with the Democratic Party,” they wrote. In her review of the book last December, Jessica T. Mathews, an American international

I have been asked to speak on labour justice and public interest. There could not have been a better time to interrogate this topic in Nigeria as both labour and government were recently locked in negotiating an appropriate national minimum wage—the lowest amount of salary that employers of labour, whether in the private or public sector, should earn in the country. After much drama, it is gratifying that the two parties were able to reach a consensus on the issue, despite the fact that the agreed amount cannot even buy a bag of rice in the market. The situation of workers in Nigeria is further complicated by the fact that those in the informal sector are practically excluded from any form of labour justice. Today, the only avenue for redress for most is to appear on radio programmes. That is how Ahmed Isah, an activist and on-air personality who anchors ‘Brekete Family’ on Human Rights Radio Abuja, has become not only the ‘Ordinary President’ for the vulnerable of our society but also their ‘Chief Justice.’ Such is the flagrant violation of workers’ rights by all

affairs expert, wrote that the issues driving most Democratic voters away include “trade policies that led to factory closures; spending bills that seemed to primarily benefit the poor at the price of higher taxes; immigration; and cultural issues such as abortion, guns, and furores over sexual identity.”

levels of government and the private sector that even foreign owned entities operating in Nigeria have been emboldened to treat our people with disrespect. In a clear breach of extant labour laws, many of these companies resort to unwholesome practices that deny their Nigerians workers job security and appropriate benefits. Even where there are statutory compensation provisions for work-related diseases, injuries, disabilities, or death, they are mostly observed in the breach. In several cases, affected workers or their next of kin receive little or no compensation for death or permanent injuries, including when they occurred while carrying out assigned duties.

The issue of sexual identity is indeed the deal-breaker for some Democrats. There was a hint of that in the social media post by Kamaru Usman (globally renowned as a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist) on Tuesday. Born in Auchi, Edo State to a retired Major in the Nigerian army, Kamaru emigrated with his parents to the United States at age eight. This was the message posted on his X (formerly Twitter) platform with a photo of himself and Trump on election day: “Growing up Democrat and starting to understand the state of politics over the last few decades I know how I want to live and how to raise my family.” Trump responded to the message, viewed by more than 30 million people: “A great honor, from a great fighter. Thank you!”

The concept of Labour justice and public interest are interwoven. Any initiative that engenders fair treatment in the workplace impacts positively on societal wellbeing. Indeed, the United Nations (UN) has on many occasions highlighted the importance of access to justice which essentially means the right to have one’s cause heard before an impartial arbiter. The international reference point for the concept of labour justice, as we are all aware, is the International Labour Organization (ILO) which, in several instruments, enshrines the right of workers to access justice without encumbrance.

Since most Americans vote for different reasons, as it should be, Kamaru was only expressing the kind of sentiment that swayed some people against the Democratic Party. The idea that your child can go to school a son and return as daughter, leaving you helpless, is a sore point for this category of voters. But there are other concerns. As Teixeira and Judis wrote in their book, the party has alienated those who see its leadership as supporting “strict gun control” in a country where many love their guns, opposing “measures that might reduce illegal immigration” at a period when nationalism is rising not to mention its “insistence on eliminating fossil fuels” which is taking away jobs, especially from rural America. The situation was not helped by how Vice President Kamala Harris appeared quite unprepared for the office to which she aspired, perhaps due to the way she emerged the presidential candidate in the first place.

This includes access to courts and other formal dispute resolution mechanisms in pursuit of effective remedy.

Now that Trump is returning to the White House, what should Americans and the world expect? Eight years ago, I was in the United States in the days preceding his first election in November 2016, for a ‘Fellows Alumni Reunion Conference’ of the Harvard University Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs with the theme, “Confronting New Realities in an Uncertain World”. At that period, there was a great deal of apprehension about what could happen should Trump win. I recall Prof. Joseph Nye prefacing his dinner speech with a report in New York Times of that day that Hillary Clinton had 83 percent chance of winning: “That is 5/6 but who is going to feel comfortable if, like Russia Roulette, they put a gun to your head and say you have 1/6 possibility of your head being blown off?”, the former American Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs asked.

The parameters in any given jurisdiction to measure labour justice include fair wages, which indicates that workers are to be compensated by their employers in a manner commensurate with their output; safe working conditions that guarantee protection from foreseeable danger and defence of their inalienable right to organize protests and negotiate collectively. There are of course several others, including not being discriminated against on basis of religion, race, gender, age etc. If these parameters encompass the principles and practices that ensure fair treatment and protection of workers in their employment context, it goes without saying that the aim of labour justice is to address power imbalances between employers and workers, and to promote the dignity of labour.

Unfortunately, despite a plethora of legislation and the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to numerous conventions that should guarantee access to justice for workers, the reality is quite different. This can be glimpsed from the way key aspects of labour justice are resolved in our country. Not necessarily to the satisfaction of workers. These include freedom from discrimination, the ability to engage in collective bargaining, modalities for addressing unfair dismissal, among others. This then brings me to the issue of specialized labour court which the NICN represents in Nigeria.

As it turned out, most of the fears about what Trump would do as president turned out to be misplaced. But if democracy is about healthy debate, respectful discourse and freedom of choice, Trump remains a threat to the American brand. In June 2020 while Trump was campaigning for re-election which he eventually lost, Wendy R. Sherman, a Harvard Kennedy School professor and former American undersecretary of State for political affairs (201115) wrote on the shrinking “moral authority of America”. This assigned role, according to Sherman, who led U.S. negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal, include “calling out human rights abuses, engaging with the world and the institutions of the world to be better; to fight for democratic values, to welcome people fleeing torture and death...to help ensure a better, more just world.”

The evolution of industrial courts can be traced to 1806 in France, 1869 in Germany and 1919 in the United Kingdom. But it was not until 1976 that authorities in our country signed on to the idea with the NICN. Established to address labour justice in all its ramifications, the court became functional in 1978. In the early years, the NICN faced several challenges that affected its effectiveness and efficiency. But even when operational, the court provided no reprieve for aggrieved workers for decades as its judgments were unenforceable due to the lack of laws and procedures required of a Superior Court of record.

The problem started with the Supreme Court decision in the case between the National Union of Electricity Employers (N.U.E.E.) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The apex court held that, despite the provisions of Decree 47, the NICN had neither exclusive nor coordinate jurisdiction with state high courts. The fact that the court was powerless for about 28 years of its operation was acknowledged on 5th May 2003 by the then NICN President, Justice Adejumo in a scathing remark. This was the way he put it: “The NICN remained practically moribund. The court sat only in Lagos for those years. It was clearly unknown and its decisions and pronouncements hardly respected.”

The interesting thing is that Trump really does not care much about the rest of the world. Since he came on the scene a decade ago, he has shown clearly that he has little or no interest outside the United States which means that playing the role of a global cop is not for him. In his interview with New York Times before the 2016 election which he eventually won, his view was sought about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s order to detain thousands of Turkish citizens. Asked whether he would press Erdogan “to make sure the rule of law applies,” Trump responded: “When it comes to civil liberties, our country has a lot of problems, and I think it’s very hard for us to get involved in other countries when we don’t know what we are doing, and we can’t see straight in our own country.”

The extent of justice available to workers in any given society is a function of the extent of rule of law available in that society...If there is anything to take from what transpired before last Saturday’s local government election in Rivers State, it is the willingness on the part of an alarmingly increasing number of judicial personnel to accept and play the role of hitmen for influential political actors as against serving the interest of the country and the public good.

It is safe to conclude that Trump will have no time sermonising about civility, rule of law etc. anywhere there are elections in other countries. We saw during this election cycle and the two previous ones he participated in, that Trump was expecting nothing short of victory. Any other outcome would have been because he was ‘rigged out’. Meanwhile, throughout this campaign, as he did for most of his presidency, nobody was too high or low to demonise. He ‘elevated’ his main opponent and Democratic Party candidate from being ‘phony Kamala’ to ‘Radical Left Lunatic’ and he never forgot to throw jabs at others, including ‘Sleepy Creepy Joe’ (Biden), ‘Nasty Nancy’ (Pelosi), ‘Crooked Hillary’ (Clinton),

‘Foul Mouthed (Ilhan) Omar’, ‘Crazy Arnold’ (Schwarzenegger), ‘Brainbird’ Nikki Haley, Gavin ‘Newscum’ Newsom, even though he had ‘Lying Ted’ (Cruz) on his side this time. He may have contested for, and won a democratic election, Trump uses the template of autocrats. But this ‘end justifies the means’ approach to politics has twice been validated by American voters so who are we to query him?

The problem, however, is that in words and deeds, he has jeopardized the ‘moral authority’ that has for decades factored Washington into the calculation of principal actors at every election cycle in numerous countries, most especially in Africa. In the world in which we live, I don’t know whether that is good or bad.

The constitutional amendment of 2011 assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan changed the narrative by altering sections 6 and 254 of the 1999 Constitution and including the NICN as a Superior Court of record with coordinate jurisdiction with High Courts. The amendment also expanded the jurisdiction of the court to handle human right cases emanating from the workplace. The court is also saddled with jurisdiction to resolve disputes between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and government. Before I continue with the issue of labour justice and public interest, let me make a general point about justice administration in Nigeria. It is important because the extent of justice available to workers in any given society is a function of the extent of rule of law available in that society. It is doubtful that citizens as workers can expect a higher degree of labour justice than what is available within the larger society. In her speech at the special session of the Supreme Court commemorating its new Legal Year and the induction of the latest set of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on 30 September 2024, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun emphasised that obedience to court orders will, under her watch, be “non-negotiable”. And that “No individual or institution, irrespective of their standing, will be permitted to treat the judgments of our courts with levity or disregard”.

As stated earlier, it is remarkable that Trump is going back to the White House despite everything that has happened in the last four years. But in his piece, ‘We Are, Officially, Doing This Again’, respected American political writer, Jim Newell wrote yesterday that Trump’s victory came as no surprise because “incumbent party had never won in an instance where so many Americans felt things were on the wrong track, and didn’t this time, either.” Democrats, according to Newell, tried for eight years to argue that Trump is a danger to the country and its democracy. “The case was made. And the voters who decided this election either didn’t buy it or concluded that it was worth the risk. Now we all get to find out together.”

No doubt, interesting days are ahead for the United States. And the rest of the world.

This, indeed, is as it should be in a society governed by ‘rule of law’. But ‘rule of law’ is not the same as ‘rule of judges.’ According to worldjusticeproject.org, “The rule of law is a durable system of laws, institutions, norms and community commitment that delivers four universal principles: accountability, just law, open government, and accessible and impartial justice”. In contrast, ‘rule of judges’ denotes impunity towards the law by the very persons who ordinarily are invested with the functions and responsibilities of upholding ‘rule of law’. It is a situation in which a judge places himself/ herself above the law or makes himself/herself the law rather than a servant of the law or shepherd of the . Regrettably, the loud and overpowering noise of the latter is becoming definitive of Nigeria’s judiciary in the perception of most people. Nothing gives better expression to that than the statement, “Go to Court” by conscious wrong-doers, often followed by by their hand-in-glove judges! Aside the indiscipline of conflicting judgements, there is also the disgraceful issue of courts of coordinate jurisdiction nullifying one another since forum shopping has been institutionalised in Nigeria. In recent days, we have seen how the judiciary has been dragged into the power struggle between the godfather and his godson in Rivers State. If there is anything to take from what transpired before last Saturday’s local government election in the state, it is the willingness on the part of an alarmingly increasing number of judicial personnel to accept and play the role of hitmen for influential political actors as against serving the interest of the country and the public good. That should also be of serious concern to Justice Kekere-Ekun.

I still cannot fathom how any self-respecting Judge would grant an injunction, using subterfuge to restrain the police from performing their primary responsibility of restoring law and order during an election process...

When I learnt last weekend that Dr Ngozi Anyaegbunam had passed, I felt a deep sense of loss. About three weeks ago, I just remembered that I had not spoken with her for more than a year (she used to call me occasionally, especially after reading my column) and I made a mental note to call her the next day. It was late at the time. Somehow, I forgot to make the call until I heard about her passage. An accomplished professional and a fantastic human being, Anyaegbunam was at different times a lecturer at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and a respected editor both at Daily Times and Champion newspapers. In her memory, I am republishing for the online edition my column of 11 January 2007, ‘But the Cactus Survived’, which she provoked.

Trump