SUNDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2024

National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) that the country was producing 1.8 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate. A THISDAY review of the

delayed October production figures by the NUPRC, which is the oil and gas sector upstream regulator, indicated that Nigeria produced 1.538 million bpd of crude oil and condensate. The three-month low

production data released by the NUPRC contradicted the report announced by the national oil company and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Oil), which specifically put production at 1.808 million bpd.

Production

Although the NNPC also said that oil and condensate production in August was 1.7 million bpd, the report by the sector regulator indicated that the country only produced 1.57 million bpd for that month.

This showed a whopping difference of 130,000 bpd during the month. Also, the disparity between the 1.808 million bpd celebrated

PDP Govs to Tinubu: Review

Economic Policies to End Hardship

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Worried by what they called the economic hardship foisted on Nigerians by the policies and decisions of the federal government, the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare of Nigerians.

In a communique issued after their two-day meeting in Jos, Plateau State, which ended yesterday, the governors who noted the concerns of Nigerians over the seeming divisions within the party’s ranks and files, stated categorically that they remained resolute in their determination to ensure unity and cohesion of what they described as the great party

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

University of Oxford Invites Jimoh Ibrahim, Australian PM to Talk on Mega Projects

Senator representing Ondo Southern Senatorial District, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has been invited by University of Oxford to the 2024 Oxford Major Programme Management Conference to talk on mega projects.

According to the invitation letter signed by Daniel Armanios, BT Professor and Chair of Major Programme Management, Saïd Business

that Nigerians trusted as the best platform for democratic governance.

School, University of Oxford, the billionaire business mogul and the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gilland were invited to talk on the same subject matter. It would be recalled that Senator Ibrahim’s PhD programme in the United Kingdom university was based on abandoned mega projects.

The letter sent by the Conference Technical Chair

to the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reads in parts: “We are tremendously humbled and honoured to invite you to speak at the 2024 Oxford Major Programme Conference that will be held on December 7, 2024 at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

“This conference will bring together practitioners, academics, and global

leaders striving to get major programmes, large-scale initiatives, done.

“This conference will cover a wide range of sectors from infrastructure, defence, and transportation to health and non-profits, and therefore offer a unique opportunity for partnership, learning, and growth.

“The conference will provide

a platform to showcase the global benefits brought by major programmes as well as to identify the leading thought leaders and practitioners in the field.

“The purpose of the conference is to recognise challenges, celebrate successes, and provoke thought in the unique surroundings of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

“Lastly and why we thought of you, the conference will play host to important conversations about the development of major programmes in different regions, including sub-Saharan Africa.

“We would especially welcome you to speak about your experiences in Nigeria including the establishment of the University of Fortune – itself a major programme.”

The governors also alleged that the APC manipulated the results of the Ondo State governorship election after openly buying votes, adding however that they were still studying the election documents.

In the communique signed by the Chairman of the PDP

While accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the results of the Edo State governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governors described the poll as a rape of democracy.

Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, the governors said they accepted the latest postponement of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in empathy with Governor Eno Bassey of Akwa Ibom State, whose wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled

REJECTS ANTI-SOUTHERNER TAG, SAYS IT ALSO CRITICISED BUHARI’S ADMINISTRATION

This is just as the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) yesterday reaffirmed its rejection of the Tax Reform Bill, saying it threatened national cohesion and was “conceived in bad faith.”

Speaking on ‘News Night’, an ARISE NEWS Channel programme, Aliyu said that while the forum may be political, it remains impartial and not partisan.

“I think that’s an unfair judgment to say we criticise the government because a southerner is at the helm of affairs,” he said.

“We were huge critics of the last northern-led administration, and our records can verify this.

“We have consistently brought attention to government actions and pressed for improvement when necessary.

“The ACF’s official position is that selecting candidates is the responsibility of political parties.

“We’ll assess which candidate is better for the country and the north. We’re not partisan, but rather political, and our interest is the entire northern state and its benefit to the whole country.

“We don’t take sides, and we’re not against any person, including the current president.”

Aliyu’s remarks came in the wake of the reported announcement that the ACF will support a northern candidate in the 2027 general election.

On Wednesday, ACF National Chairman, Mamman Osuman, announced the support of the forum for a northern candidate in the 2027 general election.

Subsequently, the ACF suspended Osuman for issuing an unauthorised statement, adding that he did not consult with other leaders and members of the forum before making the remark.

Aliyu said that the ACF’s primary concern is ensuring leaders prioritise grassroots needs, adding that collaboration between federal and state governments is crucial for progress.

“First of all, let me say that we engage the governors at the governors’ forum level. We also engage the governors at the individual level,” he said.

“We also engage the traditional rulers. And where there is responsibility at the sub-national level, we bring their attention to that. We are not totally blaming the national government for all the wars in

the country.

“Just like the north, any part of the country will have to wake up at the sub-national level to do the right thing and so the federal government will complement those efforts. But such economic policies, the macro-economic policies, are actually defined by the government at the centre.

“If things are going right or wrong at the centre, they should address it. At the micro-level, the state governments or the governments at the sub-national level will handle that. And we are talking to them.

“So, we are not saying we are heaping all the blame on one person or one location. No. We are saying all people at the leadership level should wake up to their responsibility and also be aware that the people at the grassroots are complaining.

“So, we expect to see the promises the government made. That changes will come soon and that succour will come to the people.”

Northern Elders Forum Reaffirms Rejection of Tax Reform Bill

Meanwhile, NEF has criticised the manner of the implementation of the Tax Reform Bill, alleging that key stakeholders, including members of the National Economic Council (NEC), were sidelined during the process.

The convener of NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, in a communique after the forum Board of Trustees’ second bi-annual meeting, in Abuja, warned against policies that could further marginalise the north’s resource potential.

The forum lauded the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers for opposing the bill, dubbing their stance “patriotic” while urging Northern politicians in the National Assembly to speak out against it.

He said: “The meeting seriously maintained that, in its present form, the Tax Reform Bill is conceived in bad faith, poorly packaged and it is a palpable threat to our unity and national cohesion.

“The Board-in-session, condemned in very strong terms, the conspicuous loss of voice on this burning issue

by the overwhelming number of elected politicians in the National Assembly from the region, and fiercely warned, that indeed, the days are fast gone, when such conspiratorial connivance against the vital and strategic interest of the region, either by those within or outside the region, would be condoned or even tolerated

“In consideration of the deteriorating situation in the education sector in the country in general and the North in particular, the Board-in-Session was alarmed by the high percentage, now about (60 per cent) of students in Northern Nigeria, who involuntarily were not able to return to their institutions of higher learning, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and legal studies, due to high costs of tuition fees and unaffordable daily transportation to and from schools.

“The meeting went on to discuss the explosive crisis of out-of-school children now estimated to be 20 million in the whole country, of which over 80 per cent comes from the North. Against this troubling reality, the Board-in-session expressed serious doubt, on the viability and efficacy of the much-touted Federal Students Loan Scheme as a panacea to this malignant malady.”

by the NNPC was about 270,000 bpd less than the volume released by the NUPRC.

On November 14, the NNPC and the petroleum ministry announced that Nigeria had hit the 1.808 million bpd mark and was on its way to achieving two million bpd by this December.

The national oil company said that along with its partners, it had revved up crude oil and gas production to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd).

“The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders based on the mandates that we have from the President, the Honourable Minister, and

for the NEC meeting.

The governors advised the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to call the NEC by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the party.

“The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the party,” the communique said.

“The forum empathises with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led federal government.

“The forum calls on the president to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.

“The forum wishes to pledge that all PDP governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.”

The communique added: “The forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.”

Crisis engulfed the PDP since the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, assumed office following the

the Board,” the NNPC’s Chief Executive, Mele Kyari had explained.

lso, the ‘Chief War Room Coordinator’ and Senior Business Adviser to Kyari, Mr. Lawal Musa, disclosed that when the team was inaugurated on June 25, 2024, production was at 1.430 million bpd.

According to him, the team swung into action, culminating in “sustaining the production recovery to 1.7 million bpd in August and hitting the current 1.808 million bpd in November.”

He added: “We are confident that with this same momentum and with the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially on the security front, we can see the possibility of getting to 2 million bpd by the end of the year.”

However, the information released by the NUPRC showed that Nigeria’s oil output for

removal of the substantive National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu by the court.

At the 98th NEC meeting held on April 18, 2024, the party leaders approved the formation of a reconciliation and disciplinary committee, as well as the conduct of Ward and State Congresses.

They also mandated the North-central Caucus to consult widely on the issue of replacing the acting National Chairman with a substantive National Chairman.

However, the 99th NEC meeting, originally set for August 15, was postponed to October 24, 2024, and later rescheduled for November 28, 2024, before it was indefinitely postponed due to its clash with the burial of Governor Eno’s wife.

Reacting to these developments, including the latest postponement, the PDP Governors’ Forum emphasised its commitment to maintaining the unity and cohesion of the party.

“The forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party in empathy with our colleague, Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

It advised the NWC to call NEC by the first week of February 2025.

“The forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful

last month was the lowest in the last three months.

In January, oil and condensate production was 1.64 million bpd; it was 1.539 million bpd in February; 1.43 million bpd in March; 1.44 million bpd in April, and 1.46 million bpd in May.

In June, it was 1.50 million bpd; 1.533 million bpd in July; 1.57 million bpd in August; 1.54 million bpd in September, and 1.538 million bpd in October.

Statutorily, it is the function of the NUPRC as the upstream regulator to: “Maintain records on upstream petroleum operations, particularly on matters relating to petroleum reserves, production/exports, licenses, and leases.”

Normally, the commission releases Nigeria’s production data every second week of the month, while typically, production computation is done monthly and not weekly.

votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. “Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in the Ondo elections, where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people,” the communique explained.

While acknowledging the good work of the majority of the members of the National Assembly, the forum urged the federal lawmakers to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally.

The governors commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident, which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira, and also with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker explosion in the state.

Governors who attended the meeting included Senator Mohammed (Bauchi); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) – host governor; Agbu Kefas (Taraba); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

The Delta and Enugu state governors were represented by their deputies - Monday Onyeme and Ifeanyi Ossai, respectively.

The meeting, held at the Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, was also attended by the members of the principal organs of the party – members of the NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), federal lawmakers, former governors, and former ministers.

NUPRC data showed that oil and condensate production slowed in Forcados from 7.29 million barrels in September down to 5 million barrels in October, while it rose marginally from 6.1 million barrels to 6.2 million in Bonny terminal.

Also, for the month, Nigeria produced 1.33 million bpd of its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota out of the 1.58 million bpd allocated to it by the international oil cartel.

Last year, OPEC cut Nigeria’s oil production quota, which was initially 1.8 million bpd, to 1.58 million bpd after years of the country’s inability to meet its target.

Nigeria blames massive oil theft, pipeline vandalism, ageing infrastructure as well as waning investment for the prolonged oil production deficit.

MARITIME SAFETY IN FOCUS...

L-R: General Manager, Special Duties, National Inland Waterways Authority, Lokoja, Dangana Mohammed; President, Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Funke Agbor (SAN); Chairman, Starzs Investment Company Limited, Greg Ogbeifun; Convener/Coordinator, Maritime Writes Project, Ezinna Azunna; Chief Host, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu; Director and Head of Fisheries Resources Department, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Dr. Patience Obatola, during the book launch to celebrate the third African Maritime Art Exhibition in Lagos…. yesterday

Yuletide: Notify Your Passengers of Intending Flight Delays, NCAA Tells Airline Operators

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised members of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) to reach out to their passengers either through Short Message Service (SMS) or other means possible to alert them on any intended disruption of flights, especially as the festive season draws closer.

This was even as the agency urged passengers to know their obligations to various airlines, as they cannot walk into the airport a few minutes before departure and expect VIP treatments.

The NCAA gave the hint in Abuja yesterday during its consumer awareness programme, which aimed to sensitise air travellers about their rights, duties, and responsibilities to enhance their travel experience in Abuja.

The initiative, it said, seeks to foster increased adoption of a robust artificial intelligence-driven digital innovation consumer rights’ protection and dispute management.

He was speaking at the sidelines of the event held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo stated that the initiative became necessary to bridge the knowledge gap among air travellers, airlines, and aviation agencies.

He noted that in the past, the gap had led to misunderstandings and poor consumer experiences for many travelling on both domestic and international flights.

Najomo said the awareness was to alert passengers and inform them of their rights and for the airlines to also know their rights.

"It's not every passenger that we

Minimum Wage: No Going Back on December 1 Deadline, Says NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said its December 1 ultimatum to state governors who failed to implement the new minimum wage by the end of November 2024 still stands.

The NLC’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Benson Upah, confirmed this in a text message sent to THISDAY in Abuja.

Recall that the NLC had given state governments an ultimatum of December 1, 2024, to implement the new minimum wage.

“Yes, the ultimatum still stands. Nothing has changed,” Upah said.

Meanwhile, more state governments that are yet to reach an agreement with organised labour in their states are currently trying to meet the deadline.

The Sokoto State Government on Monday met with the state chapter of the NLC and urged the representatives to submit its proposal for the wage adjustment.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Gobir, made this known during the meeting.

“Go and bring your proposal for the new minimum wage implementation and I assure you that I will facilitate the process of quick harmonisation,” Gobir said.

The Sokoto State NLC Chairman, Abdullahi Jungul, lauded the

government’s apparent commitment to the wage review.

He urged civil servants to remain calm, assuring them that the union would submit its proposal promptly.

The state NLC has since submitted its proposal.

In a bid to meet the deadline, the Zamfara State Government last week announced that it would soon commence the payment of the new minimum wage after the ongoing verification of workers in the state.

The state government explained that the delay in implementation was due to the activities of ghost workers.

Recall that the state, under the leadership of former governor, Bello Matawalle, did not implement the 2019 minimum wage of N30,000.

Also, in a bid to meet the ultimatum, the Taraba State Government announced the implementation of a new minimum wage.

The implementation is with effect from November 2024.

This was disclosed in a statement recently by the state Head of Service, Paul Maigida.

“I wish to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, has approved the implementation of N70,000 new minimum wage for workers in Taraba State with effect from November 2024,” the statement read.

all support or back up all the time as we also back up the airlines when they are right. So, the awareness campaign is to tell the public that these are your rights but, these are your obligations too. There are certain indices, according to the regulations that you must follow. You cannot just blame the airlines if you are late for a flight that you are supposed to be there two hours before departure; it is not possible. The NCAA will educate you more and this awareness has been done all over the nation's airports.”

On delayed flights, Najomo explained that it happened all over

the world seamlessly and Nigeria isn’t an exception.

He said: “If flights are delayed, after two hours, snacks and refreshments are given.

“After three hours, refunds are made. If you pay cash, you get cash back and if it's online, it takes two weeks. After four hours, hotel accommodation and refreshments that's if it's night, are provided.

"So, there are indices and regulations that we must follow. It's there and a lot of people don't know their rights and that is why we are carrying out this awareness.

“My appeal to the airlines is to advise their passengers well on time if there is going to be any delay and I know no airline will bring its airplanes out, sell tickets, and delay the flight. There are so many indices to delays and I recently told operators in a symposium to advise their passengers on time through SMS so they can reply.

“We are here to bridge the gap to ensure things are done seamlessly, especially these periods when airlines are going about getting more facilities and there are more planes," Najomo advised.

In the same vein, the Director, of

Public Affairs, Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said under Najomo’s leadership, the NCAA has rebranded itself and is performing optimally.

"We are assuring Nigerians that the consumer protection department is not relenting”, he said. Achimugu added that the agency stands with the Nigerian people and the Nigerian airlines, "We will continue to improve awareness and educate the passengers more so that the issues surrounding flight disruptions would be well spelt out to passengers.

FG Makes U-turn, Says Rivers will Receive Federal Allocations Despite Legal Battle

BBarely 24 hours after the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) stated that the federal government had halted statutory allocations to the Rivers State Government in compliance with a court judgement, the OAGF has reversed itself, saying that the state will continue to receive its allocations following an appeal by the state government.

A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had on October 30 described the disbursement of monthly allocations to the state since January as a clear constitutional breach and halted it.

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, announced on Friday that it halted

the disbursement of October revenue payment to Rivers State, citing the Federal High Court judgement.

He emphasised that the federal government would respect the court order with due diligence until a contrary order was issued.

But at the hearing of the appeal filed by Governor Siminalaye Fubara at the Appeal Court on Friday, the governor, through his lawyer, Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), prayed a three-member panel of the court led by Justice Hamma Barka, to vacate the order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ali and other lawyers to the appellants urged the court to allow his client’s appeal and nullify the lower court’s order.

But the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of

Assembly, which obtained the Federal High Court judgement, asked the court to dismiss the appeal.

They made their submissions in court through their team of lawyers led by Joseph Daudu (SAN).

After the parties adopted their respective written addresses, the Court of Appeal panel said the date of judgment would be communicated to the parties.

Speaking to an online medium, Mokwa said although there had been a court order stopping the distribution of allocations to the state, the decision of the Appeal Court overrides the previous order.

He confirmed that the appeal effectively overrides the earlier court decision, stressing that allocations to the state will continue pending the outcome of the legal process.

“We are going to obey court orders. Yesterday, after a report that the state would not be paid, the Rivers State government sent a notification of appeal to that effect,” he said.

“So, logically, we are going to obey court orders. The notification depicts that there is a stay of execution, which means we will maintain the status quo. It means the state will be given allocation,” he added.

In December 2023, Governor Fubara presented an N800 billion budget estimate to the Edison Ehie faction of the House of Assembly. In July, the state House of Assembly and Martins Amaewhule, the factional speaker, instituted a suit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and nine others.

ICPC Tracks FG’s N10bn Projects in Osun

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

To ensure value for money, accountability, and transparency in the implementation of public projects, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has commenced tracking of N10 billion projects executed by the federal government in Osun State. The commission started phase 7 of the project tracking exercise at Boripe community, Egbedore Local Government Area of the state, Temidire

Estate, Osogbo, among others.

The N10 billion projects include eight solar-powered boreholes, 120 solar street lights and some kilometres of drainage in the community.

The ICPC tracking team leader, Mary Oke, said the commission will track projects valued at N10,470,872,906.60 in Osun State, to ensure that government-funded projects provide value for money and are executed according to specifications.

Oke disclosed that the exercise was part of the commission’s mandate

to promote accountability and transparency in the implementation of public projects.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is in phase 7 of its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Exercise in the state.

“The exercise, which includes assessing the status of various constituency and executive projects, is to also ensure that public resources are judiciously utilised to deliver quality infrastructure and services

to the citizens.

“Relevant stakeholders, including community members and civil society organisations should support the tracking exercise by providing the commission with relevant information that can aid in achieving its objectives”. Meanwhile, the treasurer of the Boripe community, Egbedore Local Government Area of the state, has stated that the federal government projects had impacted positively on the lives and economy of the community.

James Emejo in Abuja

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

SECURING INVESTMENTS…

In its quest to bridge the 2024 budget deficit and fund some key infrastructure projects, the federal government has borrowed an estimated N5.63 trillion from local investors through the FGN Bond market in the first 11 months of 2024.

The federal government, through the Debt Management Office (DMO), sought to borrow an estimated N5.6 trillion but eventually received N5.63 trillion, statistics compiled by THISDAY have shown.

The DMO’s monthly auctions revealed that investors' subscriptions in the period under review stood at N6.81 trillion as demand for long-term instruments grew significantly amid its double-digit yield.

The auction results by DMO showed that February 2024 had

the highest offer, subscription and allocated amount to investors, with the lowest amount of FGN Bond offered to the investing public in November.

The debt office had in February 2024 offered N2.5 trillion to the investing public and it witnessed a subscription amount of N1.9trillion.

The DMO, however, allotted N1.49 trillion to investors.

For the November 2024 auction, the DMO offered N120 billion to the investing public, evenly split at N60 billion for each bond series.

The FG, thus raised over N346.16 billion at its November 2024 bond auction from N289.6 billion in October 2024, reflecting higher allotments despite a reduction in the amount offered.

The auction conducted by the DMO on November 18, 2024,

featured reopening of the 19.30per cent FGN APR 2029 (5-Year Bond) and the 18.50per cent FGN FEB 2031 (7-Year Bond).

Compared to October when it offered N180 billion, the November auction saw a 33.33 per cent reduction in the total amount offered.

The DMO placed N60 billion on offer for each bond, representing a drop from N90 billion offered in October.

Despite the lower offerings, total allotments rose significantly, climbing by 19.50 per cent to N346.155 billion from N289.597 billion in October.

For the 5-year Bond, N63.530 billion was allotted, while the 7-year Bond recorded an allotment of N282.625 billion.

In contrast, the October auction allotted N57.237 billion and N232.360 billion for the 5-year and 7-Year Bonds,

respectively.

However, investor interest far exceeded expectations, with total bids amounting to N369.585 billion—a 208 per cent subscription rate.

This oversubscription highlights the market’s appetite for fixedincome instruments amid evolving macroeconomic conditions.

Investor demand remained strong but moderated slightly, with total subscriptions in November reaching N369.585 billion, a 5.06 per cent decline from October’s N389.321 billion.

The 5-year Bond attracted N75.560 billion in subscriptions, up from N60.737 billion in October. Conversely, the 7-year Bond saw subscriptions drop to N294.025 billion from N328.584 billion.

Marginal rates increased in November 2024, reflecting tightening

Uncertainty as NERC’s Deadline for Meter Update Expires Today

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

There is uncertainty over the fate of electricity consumers who have not updated their meters as the deadline given by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) expires today.

THISDAY gathered that there were no official figures of the percentage of Nigerians that had complied with the directive out of the 6.1 million metered customers from the 13.3 million registered electricity customers in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

In a brief alert to power consumers in the country, the power sector regulator had stated that updating the metering devices was free of charge and urged all electricity customers to comply.

“Update your meters with a Key Change Token (KCT) before the deadline on November 24, 2024! Don't miss out — stay connected and enjoy uninterrupted power. Contact your Distribution Company (Disco) today,” the message from NERC on its X handle, stated yesterday. A large number of electricity

consumers nationwide, especially those who own homes in Nigeria but have not been in the country since the announcement was first made will be affected by the directive.

THISDAY also gathered that many Nigerians were not even aware of the meter upgrade request while others haven’t been able to update for sundry reasons.

NERC had warned that customers who failed to meet the deadline risk being unable to energise or load their prepaid meters.

According to the agency, the

software currently operated by the meters in the country will go out of use today (November 24).

“If you have a prepaid meter, it may be time for an update.

From November 2024, you may not be able to recharge your meter. However, updating is easy and free.

“Discos shall commence issuance of two free KCTs which will update your meter,” NERC had stated several months ago.

Many electricity consumers have complained of not being able to load their tokens after the upgrade, while others were unaware of the process.

Obasanjo Warns Youths against Drug Abuse

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed to African youths to avoid drug abuse, describing it as a destructive habit that can cut lives short.

Speaking at the second edition of the ‘Fly Above The High’ sensitisation programme on drug abuse, organised by the Recovery Advocacy Network at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the former president highlighted the growing menace of drug consumption across sub-Saharan Africa.

“Against the notion that Africa was only being used as a transit hub for drugs coming from Latin America, the consumption of drugs in Africa has become an issue, growing worse over the last decade,” Obasanjo said.

The former president urged those grappling with addiction not to conceal their struggles but to seek help to escape the catastrophic consequences of drug abuse, including untimely death.

Obasanjo recounted his experience as Chairman of the West African Drug Commission, an initiative under the Kofi Annan Foundation, where their findings revealed a distressing reality.

“We went round West Africa believing we were free from drugs that mainly come from Latin America to North America and Europe.

“But to our dismay and pain, we found out that West Africa had become a centre for drug consumption in a very bad way.

“That was more than 10 years ago, and the situation has since worsened. What applies to West Africa applies

to all other parts of Africa,” he said.

Sharing a personal story, Obasanjo described the tragic loss of a cousin who succumbed to a drug-related death despite multiple rehabilitation efforts.

“Addiction is a form of disease. Some diseases cannot be cured but can be managed. People with addiction should not hide it; they should seek help before it’s too late,” he advised.

The former president urged society to support those battling addiction, saying, “A word of prayer for them can prove to be a turning point.”

President of the Recovery Advocacy Network, Dr Kunle Adesina, emphasised the need for intensified campaigns against drug and substance abuse.

“The essence of this gathering is to educate young people on the evils of drugs. Psychoactive substances, no matter how harmless they seem, have ruinous effects. Prevention is key,” Adesina said.

He revealed alarming statistics, noting that 14.3 million Nigerians have used some form of substance in the last six months, with one in five users being female. He called for stronger legislation and collective ownership of the fight against drug abuse.

A mental health expert, Dr. Sam Abah, delved into the impact of drugs on the brain during his lecture titled: “Rewired for Dependency: How Drug Use Affects the Brain.” He cautioned that addiction severely damages the brain, leaving victims’ lives in jeopardy.

liquidity conditions.

The 5-year Bond’s marginal rate rose to 21.00 per cent from 20.75 per cent in October, while the 7-year Bond’s rate increased to 22.00 per cent from 21.74 per cent.

Bid ranges in November also highlighted robust investor competition, with the 5-year Bond receiving bids between 19.00 per cent and 21.90 per cent, and the 7-year Bond bids ranging from 18.00 per cent to 23 per cent.

The rise in marginal rates suggests a broader trend of upward pressure on borrowing costs, potentially influenced by inflationary trends and monetary policy adjustments.

Investing in government securities, for example, through Bonds, offers several benefits and is considered a low-risk investment option.

FGN Bonds, among other instruments, are debt obligations issued by the government to raise funds, typically for budgetary and development needs.

With the deficit in the 2024 budget put at N9.18 trillion, the FG seems committed to borrowing more from

the domestic market.

Commenting on government securities in Nigeria, analysts attributed the strong demand for FGN bonds to attractive yields, which offer investors high returns on their investments. They stressed that the oversubscriptions also revealed that investors have confidence in the federal government’s ability to meet its debt obligations.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf stated that the FG notified the general public of borrowing more in 2024.

He said, “With all the volatility and foreign exchange issues, it makes sense to borrow at the domestic market rather than borrowing from the international market. It is all a reflection of our macro economy environment challenges and weak fiscal policy of the government. All this borrowing also is a reflection of the weak financial position of the government and it will continue like that.”

Tinubu Back in Abuja

After Attending

G-20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has returned to the nation's capital, Abuja after attending the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The president's official aircraft, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by 10.20pm yesterday.

President Tinubu, in the company of his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was received on arrival by top government officials, including his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; his Finance counterpart and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani; National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The president had earlier departed Galeao Air Force Basa (SBGL) Airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 10.30 a.m. (local time) yesterday.

While in Brazil, President Tinubu expressed support for the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, championed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, describing it as "bold and visionary step" and "a significant milestone

to eradicate global hunger and poverty."

He also expressed Nigeria’s readiness to represent Africa on the United Nations Security Council. On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, the President held bilateral talks with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, who commended the Tinubu-led administration’s economic reforms and the positive indicators.

President Tinubu also presided over the signing of a $2.5 billion Letter of Intent between the Nigerian government and the JBS S.A, a Brazilian company and one of the top three largest meat processing companies globally.

The president had left Abuja for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last Sunday, November 17, after hosting the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a state visit to Nigeria. He was accompanied on the official trip by top government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Ministers of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; Art, Tourism, Culture and Creativity, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

Kayode Tokede

James Sowole in Abeokuta

L-R: Managing Director/ CEO, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr. Andrew Ikekhua; Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Mrs. Joy Teluwo; Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Ayo Omosehin; President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Mrs Yetunde Ilori, Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Mrs. Bisola Giwa-Osagie; and Executive Director, Technical, NEM Insurance, Yemi Mayadenu, during the 2024 Insurance Directors Conference held in Lagos…recently

PARTNERING THE MEDIA...

PANDEF Rejects ACF Claim, Says Only Niger Delta Endures Marginalisation

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has stated that the Niger Delta is the only region in Nigeria that can rightfully claim marginalisation or impoverishment.

PANDEF was responding to a Thursday remark made by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to President Bola Tinubu, which claimed that the economic policies of his government were impoverishing the North.

However, the National Spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Christopher Ominimini, in a statement yesterday, stressed that oil, which is found in the Niger Delta region, is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. Yet, the people of the region have not seen corresponding development.

Ominimini said that decades of oil exploration and extraction activities in the region had resulted in pollution of farmlands, rivers, and the environment, but the region has yet to see the benefits of this wealth.

He expressed dismay that while the revenue from oil extracted from the Niger Delta goes to the federal government, revenue from other regions is kept within those regions, which he described as an injustice. The statement read: “Our resources feed the nation, while resources from other geopolitical zones, including the North, are kept for their own use and personal gain.”

He continued, “The gold deposits in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country have not been considered for the benefit of the entire country, but rather for the indigenes and top individual businesses, including foreign nationals like the Chinese and Lebanese, all for individual benefits.”

“Why do other regions mine and control their resources, while the oil and gas from the Niger Delta are controlled by the Nigerian state?”

Ominimini argued that this selective injustice hurts the nation’s progress, stating, “Selective injustice or justice in a nation usually

Defence Minister Reaffirms Tinubu’s Commitment to Restoring Peace, Stability in Nigeria

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano and Arinze Gideon in Enugu

The Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in the country. This came as Abubakar also said that the federal government was committed to ending insecurity in the South-east.

He called for robust support for security operatives in their ongoing efforts to combat insecurity, emphasising that peace is vital for national development.

He urged Nigerians to continue to support the federal government with prayers while maintaining confidence in the security forces, whose unwavering dedication is crucial to sustaining these achievements.

A statement from the minister’s Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mati Ali, indicated that the minister made the call at the opening ceremony of the 45th International Trade Fair, organised by the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, yesterday.

He stressed that improving the security situation in the country will

lead to enhanced economic growth and development.

“Let me use this occasion to reemphasise that improved security will pave the way for enhanced economic development in the country,” the minister was quoted as saying.

The participation of the minister, who was a former National President and is now a Lifetime National Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, underscores his strong ties to the business community and his commitment to promoting economic development in Nigeria.

According to the statement, the minister’s longstanding relationship with KACCIMA further highlights Badaru’s dedication to advancing trade and industry in the region.

In another development, Abubakar said the federal government was committed to ending insecurity in the South-east.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Defence Ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogbuike, the minister stated this while addressing military officers during an operational visit to Enugu State.

backfires.”

He alleged that the insurgency in Northern Nigeria was linked to the theft of solid minerals, including underground raw gold, and questioned why the government destroyed local petroleum refineries in the Niger Delta while turning a blind eye to illegal mining in the North.

PANDEF also called on the federal government to provide a legal framework for artisanal miners to operate. He added that this would create jobs, reduce the waste of Nigeria’s earnings, boost technological knowledge, and decrease corruption, particularly as the country continues to import refined products.

Despite the oil wealth in the

Niger Delta, Ominimini highlighted that the people of the region do not know how much oil and gas are extracted, as efforts to meter the oil flow stations or the export terminals have been unsuccessful. Furthermore, most of the oil block owners are from regions outside the Niger Delta, reinforcing the lopsidedness of Nigeria’s system.

“The Nigerian state is wicked to the Niger Delta Region,” Ominimini said. “The rulers prefer collecting penalties from international oil companies for flaring gas rather than addressing the environmental disaster caused by gas flaring, which could be converted for domestic use and economic purposes.”

He went on to say, “Our fishing and farming activities are now

impossible as our ecosystem has been destroyed by oil exploitation. Our lifespan is shortened, and we bear the brunt of the oil exploitation alone.”

Ominimini lamented that no one in the federal government cared about the plight of the Niger Delta people, but warned, “If things do not change, God will come to our rescue.”

He also pointed out that despite the oil found in the Niger Delta, oil block owners are mostly from other regions, and there is little or no corporate social responsibility from the International Oil Companies (IOC) or the federal government.

The statement concluded: “Our people have been excluded from participation in the oil industry. It

seems like a well-planned scheme against the people of the Niger Delta. How can the only two executive positions on the NNPCL board be occupied by Northerners? What a shame!”

Ominimini also questioned those complaining about marginalisation, saying, “Where were those complaining now when they were in positions of authority?”

“The only region that can truly claim marginalisation or impoverishment in Nigeria is the Niger Delta Region,” he concluded. “PANDEF believes that justice must be holistic, and the most impoverished people in Nigeria are those of the Niger Delta. This must be addressed without delay.”

Outcome of Constitutional Review will Bring True Federalism, Deputy Speaker, Kalu Tells Nigerians

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has urged Nigerians not to be skeptical about the forthcoming constitutional amendments, promising that the outcome will bring true federalism.

Kalu stated this at the South-west Retreat for Speakers and Principal Officers of the State Houses of Assembly, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

This is just as the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi tasked the legislators to regard politics as a call to service and not a money-making business enterprise to rip the people they are representing.

The theme of the retreat, which was sponsored by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCRO), was: “Strengthening Democratic Governance at the sub-national level.”

Speaking with journalists, Kalu, who is also the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee of the House, revealed that the House had received 161 proposals on the amendments in the constitution, which according to him will take effect from January 2025.

He harped on the effective collaboration between the Green Chamber and state Houses of

Assembly, saying they are the fundamental body to facilitate the constitutional review.

Kalu said: “In the amendment of the constitution, there is a process that the constitution abides with and one of them is the participation of the state legislation.

“You cannot amend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without the involvement of the state legislatures. They occupy the cardinal, fundamental position in the structure of the amendment of the Constitution.

“This visit is to strengthen our relationship. A constitution review is being done and brought back to the legislators.

“We are here today to see the South-west Caucus of the House of Assembly to inform them of the process and how far we have gone in our efforts to have a constitution review by December 2025.

“161 proposals have been received from the memorandum given out to the public. Federalism will be the decision of Nigerians based on submission by them when we call for a document.

“We are working on what Nigerians said should be included in the new constitution. We will get our information from the town hall meeting we will commence by January, 2025, people will be incorporated”

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, Mr. Paul Chukwuma has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of governing the state with theories acquired from foreign agencies. Chukwuma, who addressed a press conference in his country

home in Umueri, Anambra State, said the theories and data bandied by foreign agencies have no bearing with practical realities on the ground in the state.

The Pro- Pro-Chancellor of Olivia University, Burundi and former Auditor of APC, said the state was in a mess, stressing the need for the citizens of the state to join hands with him to remove Soludo and set the state on the right path again.

He said: "Anambra is in a mess and we must all join hands to salvage the state, and it will be in our collective best interest to remove the incumbent governor.

"Every day, people are being kidnapped and people are harassed for tax - no economy develops that way. We need to remove ourselves from Economic theories and come down to everyday life experiences.

"The letter 'A' is for an apple, but

where is the apple? We want to bring in a government that must apply local indices to solve our problems, not using IMF, World Bank theories and data to run Anambra State. "Security will be our number one priority when we come on board. Tackling security is not rocket science; it's something that can be done. I'm prepared to solve the problem of Anambra and I have the mental capacity to do so," Chukwuma stated.

L-R: President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba; Executive Director, Operations, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mr. Muhammed Ibrahim; Executive Director, Corporate Services, NDIC, Mrs. Emily Osuji; Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Ali M. Ali; and Director, Communication and Public Affairs, NDIC, Mr. Bashir Nuhu, during the 2024 NDIC - Editors’ Forum, in Lagos… yesterday

SUNDAY ADIGUN

WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNER…

NDIC Reaffirms Commitment to Reimbursing Heritage Bank’s Uninsured Depositors

Nume Ekeghe

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has reaffirmed its commitment to reimbursing depositors of the defunct Heritage Bank with balances exceeding the N5 million insurance coverage.

The corporation also called on customers to ensure their Know Your Customer (KYC) is accurate to ensure seamless transactions and prompt repayments in the event of bank closures.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDIC, Bello Hassan, reiterated this at the 2024 NDIC-Editors’ Forum in Lagos yesterday.

Hassan, who was represented by the Executive Director, of

Corporate Services, Mustapha Muhammed, noted that uninsured deposits represented a significant portion of Heritage Bank’s total deposits.

He said the corporation was actively working to recover debts and liquidate the bank’s assets to enable the reimbursement of these funds.

He said: “Having largely reimbursed depositors their insured deposits, the corporation is committed to ensuring that depositors with balances exceeding N5 million are also paid the balance of their deposits. These uninsured deposits represent a significant portion of the total deposits in Heritage Bank. In this regard, the corporation is already working assiduously to ensure

Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea’s Students to Write NECO’s SSCE, BECE

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Students from Niger Republic and their counterparts from Equatorial Guinea are now to write the National Examinations Council’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) following the accreditation of institutions in the two foreign countries.

The accreditation of the foreign schools was the outcome of the visit of the team to the schools in the two countries.

During the exercise, the facilities in the schools were found to be suitable for students to use during the examination.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Azeez Sani, the accreditation team inspected classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer laboratories, workshops, examination halls and sports facilities to determine their adequacy and suitability for NECO examinations.

He said the accreditation of schools in the two

countries was done “after a thorough evaluation and comprehensive assessment,” leading to the institutions being granted full SSCE and full BECE accreditation status.

“The accreditation of additional foreign schools is a testament to NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and assessment beyond the shores of Nigeria,” Sani said in the statement.

He added that with its expanding global presence, “NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, thereby offering opportunities for students worldwide to benefit from its expertise, thus contributing to the advancement of education in Africa and beyond.”

Sani said that the development candidates from these countries, in addition to those from Benin Republic, Togo, Cote’d Ivoire, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are participating in the ongoing NECO SSCE External.

The Director of Information noted that UNHCR School in Diffa, Niger Republic is the first NECO SSCE External Centre outside Nigeria.

that depositors with amounts over the maximum insured amount of N5 million are paid through liquidation dividends from the realisation of the defunct bank’s assets and recovery of debts.

“The corporation has already initiated the process of debt recovery and realisation of investments

and physical assets of the defunct bank to ensure timely payment to the uninsured deposits of the defunct bank,” he explained.

Speaking on the challenges delaying reimbursement of some depositors, Hassan highlighted issues such as inconsistencies in depositor’s data, the absence

of Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and name mismatches.

To address these issues, he urged depositors to ensure strict compliance with KYC regulations.

He stated: “I wish to reiterate that the Corporation is not unaware of the case of some depositors who are yet to

Barau Donates 1,000

access their guaranteed sums. This development is a result of reasons ranging from reconciling inconsistencies in the defunct bank’s depositor’s database to the absence of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), placement of restrictions on some accounts and in some cases name mismatch.

Operational Motorcycles to Kano Police Command

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Deputy Senate President (DSP), Barau Jibrin, yesterday donated 1,000 operational motorcycles to the Kano State Police Command as part of the efforts to boost security in the state.

Speaking at the official handover of the motorbikes at the police headquarters, Jibrin stated that the Kano North Senatorial Zone will be given 700 vehicles while the remaining 300 will be for the state command.

He said: “I will not say

anything without thanking the officers and men of the police force, along with their colleagues in the DSS (Department of State Services) for the way they are working to ensure that peace reigns in Kano State.

“Indeed, Kano State is one of the few states in the entire North-west region that peace reigns; where there is no banditry, and other acts of terrorism.

“We thank you for allowing us to sleep with our two eyes closed. God Almighty has also made a favour to us in Kano for which we say our gratitude

to Him and indeed to thank you for your job,” he explained.

The Deputy Senate President also promised to continue to support the police in the state.

He also promised to provide for the Kano Central Senatorial Zone in two months and subsequently, the Kano South Senatorial Zone.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, the Kano State Police Commissioner, CP Salman Dogo, thanked the Deputy Senate President for the donation.

“This unwavering support and generosity underscore the critical importance of collaborative efforts between the law enforcement agencies and government leadership in advancing our collective mission of serving and safeguarding the people of Kano State.

“The provision of these motorcycles symbolises more than just a mode of transportation; it represents a tangible investment in the capabilities and morale of our dedicated police officers, enhancing their operational efficiency and response readiness.”

INEC to Resume Nationwide Voter Registration February 2025

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will commence nationwide continuous voter registration (CVR) in the first quarter of 2025.

The electoral body said the exercise would commence at the local government area level and later extend to registration areas.

In a memo dated November 20, 2024, the commission’s Sec-

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit has recovered unexploded military ordnances in Maiduguri.

The police said the explosives were recovered on November 22, 2024, following reports from vigilant residents.

Acting swiftly, police said the Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and

retary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, asked Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to make some arrangements for the exercise.

“Kindly provide the following information for adequate preparation for the exercise: Status of INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) and accessories in the state,” the memo reads.

“Status of both coloured and black/white heavy-duty

Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team was deployed to secure the affected areas.

All ordnances, it said were safely evacuated without any loss of life, injury, or property damage, and normalcy has been restored.

A statement issued on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “In the Dala Kacchallah area, the

printers and availability of CVR Forms/materials.

“The commission is considering commencing the exercise at Local Government Area (LGA) level and later devolve to Registration Area (RA) level.

“The state offices are expected to identify and select staff that will work as voter registration officials.

“You are to please prepare the information of uncollected

operatives recovered six (6) unexploded projectiles and one (1) mortar bomb near an uncompleted building. Reports indicate that the items, washed ashore by recent flooding, were abandoned by local scavengers. Similarly, at the Gwange Riverbank, a military hand grenade was discovered.

In both instances, the EODCBRN team safely removed the ordnances, declared the areas

Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to facilitate the printing of the Register of uncollected PVCs for display during the exercise.”

In July 2022, the electoral body suspended the CVR exercise ahead of the 2023 general election. However, INEC conducted voter registration exercises in states in which off-cycle elections took place.

safe, and conducted explosive risk awareness campaigns to sensitize residents”.

Commending the professionalism and prompt response of the EOD-CBRN Unit, the NPF spokesman said thr Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has assured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to ensuring public safety and security.

L-R: Lead Government Affairs Advisor, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Mr. Abimbola Olujide; Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, Mr. Soga Oduselu; Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; Corporate Affairs Advisor for African Region, Chevron, Mr. Esimaje Brikin; Warri Area Manager, Chevron, Mr. Momodu Rilwanu; and Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, shortly after a courtesy call on the governor by the management of Chevron in Asaba…recently

Olusegun Adeniyi pays tribute to an accomplished statesman, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari who clocks 80 today

As Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari marks his 80th birthday today, it is important to reflect on an extraordinary journeythathasprovidedamasterclass in navigating multiple worlds: from the traditional institution of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara State to the horizon of the academia and corridors of global power. At the end, what sets Gambari apart isn’t just his impressive credentials, though they are remarkable; it’s how he has wielded knowledge as a bridge between these different worlds. While many academics remain ensconced in the Ivory Towers, Gambari understood very early that scholarship must serve society. And that has made all the difference.

In the world of diplomacy, as they say, there are two types of ambassadors: Those who follow protocols and those who create pathways. Gambari belongs firmly to the latter category. A former lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria who also served as Director General, Nigeria Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Gambarihasleftindeliblemarks.Duringhistenure as Minister of External Affairs (1984-1985), he brought a refreshing perspective to Nigeria’s foreign policy. He advocated for what he called ‘concentric circles,’ a strategic framework that prioritizedNigeria’sdiplomaticengagementswith Africa and the world at large based on overlapping spheres of national interest.

What sets Gambari apart is not that he is fortunate to have held prestigious titles at home and on the international stage. It is the difference he brought to bear during those stewardships. As Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the United Nations, for instance, he introduced innovative approaches to conflict resolution. In Myanmar, he initiated what became known as the ‘Gambari Method’ – a patient, multi-layered approach to engagement that recognsed the complexity of internal political dynamics while maintaininginternationalpressurefordemocratic reforms. In Angola and Darfur, his footprints tell stories of tireless shuttle diplomacy.

A Scholar, Diplomat and Prince Before You Emigrate

It’s the season of emigration in Nigeria. Young people and the not-so-young believe economic migration will solve the challenges they face living here. And indeed,therearechallenges.Whatisusually not factored into the plans is the fact that wherever one goes has its own issues. And thisvariesfromplacetoplace.Unemploymentand underemployment are rife in Nigeria. Electricity, potable water supply, transportation and security are of poor quality or non-existent. Even when one has a job, the pay is low and prospects for growth opaque. Going abroad therefore seems a viable option because it appears people are paid very well and all the comforts of life are accessible and in abundant supply.

The first thing to note are the environmental challenges, culture and weather. Many Nigerians are stumped by racism, where you’re hated and treated badly simply because of the colour of your skin. It’s something most of us in this part of the world have no experience with. Of course, there’s racism in Nigeria. Nigerians are treated badly by fair (and not so fair) skinned immigrants in Nigeria, but usually take it in their stride. The bad behaviour is attributed to mental challenges with the perpetrator. This is probably why Nigerians don’t react badly to racist behaviour. However, in Europe and America, racism is not necessarily overt, but it’s there. So, expect it. Language is another cultural issue. It’s amazing to discover that English spoken in English speaking countries like the USA, Canada and the UK is not the English we speak. It takes some time before you begin to ‘hear’ them. Then, they have idioms and turns of phrase which are

Gambari’s unique approach to diplomacy has been the insistence on listening to the ordinary people (not only the elite) in the resolution of disputes. ‘Peace,’ he would often say, ‘cannot be imported; it must be homegrown.’ This philosophy informed his creation of local committees that brought together traditional leaders, women’s groups, and youth representatives – a model that would later be replicated in other conflict zones. When the Rwanda genocide broke out in 1994, Gambari was Nigeria’s UN Permanent Representative. Unfortunately, all his warnings (along with Colin Keating of New Zealand and Karel Kovanda of the Czech Republic) that the killings in Rwanda were genocidal went unheeded. By the timetheUNpaidattention,hundredsofthousands of people had died. In April 2021, President Paul Kagame publicly referenced Gambari’s intervention at that most

critical period. According to Kagame, while many world leaders were stonewalling in response to the tragedy, some people and countries stood out. “And one of them is an African country that we shall alwaysbeproudtocallagoodfriend,representedby a man I remember, called Ibrahim Gambari. Nigeria stood out and said there is a problem, and we must call it what it is. Professor Gambari was there, and we shall always be proud of Nigeria,” Kagame said in his speech to mark Kwibuka27, an event held annually to remember victims of the genocide. Meanwhile, when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Gambari as Chief of Staff in 2020, many wondered how he would handle the rough-and-tumble of domestic politics. What they didn’t realise was that Gambari’s approach to governance had always been guided by what he termedthe‘threepillarsofeffectivepublicservice’: Intellectual rigour, pragmatic engagement, and

ethical leadership. At the Villa, he introduced systematic approaches to policy coordination that drew from his academic background while remaining practical in application.

In ‘retirement’, Gambari’s establishment of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development speaks to his understanding that Africa’s future lies in building strong institutions rather than depending on strong individuals. The Centre’s unique approach to policy research, combining academic rigor with practical policy applications, reflects Gambari’s own life philosophy. As he thereforeturns80today,hislegacyextendsbeyond an impressive curriculum vitae. His contributions to Nigeria’s diplomatic history are distinctive not just for their breadth but for their philosophical underpinning.

Evenat80,ProfessorGambaricontinuestochallenge conventional wisdom. His recent writings on the future of global governance and Africa’s place in it reveal a mind still actively engaged with contemporary challenges. His vision of a world where diplomacyservesasatoolforhumandevelopment rather than mere statecraft remains as relevant as ever. As friends and well-wishers gather today in Abuja to celebrate this milestone, they are honouring not just the achievements but the intellectual legacy of a man who shows that it’s possible to be both a thinker and a doer, a traditionalist and an innovator, a global citizen and a proud son of Ilorin. In an era where public service often lacks intellectual depth, and academia frequently loses touch with practical realities, Gambari stands as a bridge between these worlds. To the professor, diplomat, adviser, and perpetual student of life, I say happy 80th birthday. Your journey from the dusty streets of Ilorin to the gleaming halls of the UN, and back to the heart of government in Nigeria, serves as a testament to the power of guided ambition and principled leadership. May your next decade continue to inspire and guide those who believe in the power of knowledge in the service of humanity. And may God grant you long life and good health.

•AdeniyiisChairman,THISDAYEditorialBoard

related again to culture. After culture is weather. Most of us are surprised at how cold it can get in the Northern hemisphere. Note that it get’s really cold in South Africa and East Africa too. But never like EuropeandAmerica.Itnevergoesbelow22degCin West Africa except perhaps in elevated places like MambillaorObuduinNigeria.AfterleavingNigeria, someofourpeoplehavehadtocomebackbecause they couldn’t handle the cold.

Cost of living is usually a surprise because it’s at a scale far higher than here. Transportation by bus and train in the UK is very expensive compared to Nigeria. A three hour train ride could cost over a 100 pounds if you don’t book well in advance. You will pay over a 1000 pounds for a tiny flat of 1.5 rooms. Electricity costs are not cheap and taxes cannot be dodged. If income does not exceed expenditure by some margin, life becomes intolerable. And it’s difficult to get a decent income when one is an undocumented immigrant.

And then there are legal issues. Children cannot be reprimanded in a hard way, neither is corporal punishmentacceptable,itisconsideredtobeabuse. And it could become a matter for the government welfaredepartment.Wivescouldrequestthattheir husbands leave the home under an accusation of potential violent behaviour. The police will enforce this request when invited. There are good reasons for these stipulations, but they are also open to manipulation,andinthehandsofanimmoralpeople, weaponized and used as part of the ammunition in marital disputes. Here in Nigeria the balance of power in marriage tilts to the advantage of men, across the Atlantic, this is reversed. Without considering this shift men continue in the way of their ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere with painful outcomes.

Onfood.ItisinterestingtoseeNigeriansandother Africans trying to replicate food they ate at home in their new places of abode. When travelling back aftersometimeattheirnativehomes,bagsarefilled with food and condiments. This is because food is cultural, and habits extremely difficult to change. Since most Nigerian meals are full of spices and peppers, adjusting to bland food is tortuous. After going without home food for a while, it seems like one has not eaten for a long while. In effect there’s a psychologicalsensationofstarvationeventhough it’s not real, mounting further pressure on mental health and the feeling of well-being.

There are however advantages. The major benefitsoflivingintheWestandthedevelopedworldin general are the functioning infrastructure such as electricity, potable water, roads and then schools, healthcare and an atmosphere of security. There’s also a feeling that even if one has a relatively rough time, the children would do better. So, because of the perceived advantages, many will sell all their possessions, even borrow money in order to move to Europe/America. Depending on the visa requirements of the targeted country, intending emigrants arrange themselves to fit. It’s either you gain admission for a course that will allow you bring spouse and children, or get qualifications for an on-demand profession. Unfortunately, the target nations keep adjusting their requirements as the initialgentletrickleofimmigrationbecameamassive influx. The authorities in the targeted countries restrict the admission of certain skin colours, usually brown and black. Not because they no longer need those skills but for political reasons. And also, the increased pressure on accommodation and services. Provision for schoolrooms, houses and healthcareareusuallyplanned10-20yrsinadvance

in developed countries, and is based on projected population growth. An influx of immigrants with their children over a short period adjusts existing projectionsandbudgetsupwards.Thisalsoimpacts politics and elections.

Then, getting a job doesn’t come easily. You will need to find out what works in your new environment. Just as the immigration process requires careful study and application, the employment requirements also. Same applies for those who prefer self-employment. It may be a good idea to understandtheprocessofgettingtranscriptsfrom your school before you leave Nigeria. Be prepared to do volunteer work in your new country if paying jobs don’t come quickly. This is so you have some trackrecordofworkinyournewenvironmentinyour resume.Somepeoplegetrecruitmentconsultants to guide them especially to rework their resume. This may cost money.

Do note that getting a decent job without proper immigration documents is a mirage. And there are immigration document scams. Once abroad, you will discover that there are crooks everywhere, and not only in Nigeria. And without documents you’re as vulnerable as a new born baby. On top of this the police does not care for you since they see you as a criminal too.

Overall, emigration is not new to mankind. Men have been moving from place to place for a very longtime.Butit’susefultonotethateachcountryis differentandrequiresadjustments.Somechanges are obvious and adjustments easy. Some are more complex and adjustments will have to be learnt. But learn you must, or you’ll be miserable. And of course,homeremainshomeifabroadisnotworking.

Osinupebi wrote from Lagos.

Wole Osinupebi

Prof. Gambari

Flowers for Onyema Ugochukwu’s Octogenarian Ascent

Tunde Olusunle

Rest assured of convivial reception whenever you stop by his address in Abuja or back home in Umulenso, Umuahia, Abia State. Kolanuts, bitter kola, añara, (egg plants), and ose oji, (groundnut and pepper paste), receive you as is a standard Igbo cultural practice. You savour the best of beverages, subject to your choice. The finest of Cognac XOs and VSOPs were preferences in years past. Properly aged whiskeys have become more fashionable as we all age and manage our wellness parameters. Wine connoisseurs and subscribers to softer liquids will also have their fill. Undoubtedly, he is a man of style. His sitting room typically snowballs into a theatre of vibrant discourse and robust conversations.

The subject could be anything: Economy, politics, international affairs, sports and more. Get set to engage this living encyclopaedia. You will be amazed at the sharpness of his memory, the width of his insights and the depth of his interventions. He makes sure to congratulate me whenever my favourite team in the English Premier League (EPL), Arsenal, excels. He also sympathises with me when the outcome of a game is dampening and I wear a long face. He is that perspicacious. For his humongous attainments in life and the reverence he commands, Onyema Ugochukwu is a very humble, sober, maybe shy, temperate personality. He bestrode the corridors of the pristine Daily Times of Nigeria Plc with his towering frame. But he is a most amiable gentleman, an intuitive economist, a thorough-bred journalist, a painstaking administrator and thrifty personality. He is a diligent and loving husband, a caring and concerned father and a doting and grateful grandfather. He cherishes his quietude and abhors noise making. But he “loses” the battle when his grandchildren, predominantly boys for now, come visiting like they did on his recent 80th birthday. They wholly and effectively took over his house, spontaneously converting into a functional “amusement park!” But you could discern from his face the joy of grandfather-hood as he and his wife of 45 years, Joyce Ugochukwu, a veteran medical practitioner, try to moderate the energetic enthusiasm of the toddlers.

Regular callers like us, those we call ama’la in Igbo, home boys that is, knew Ugochukwu would commemorate his ascent to the octogenarian hierarchies this year. I have been associated with him for about 35 years now since the charismatic media revolutionary, Yemi Ogunbiyi gave me a job in the Daily Times in 1990. I was adopted by both paragons and I have never been far from them. I have a fair idea of milestones close to their hearts. Ugochukwu’s Abuja home underwent a tangible makeover which he always complained to me upset his equilibrium while the process was on. Just in case he thought the lawn in front of his house where a number of family events took place in the past would suffice for his 80th, however, his children, select kinsmen and friends had other plans.

Ugochukwu’s trajectory commands thanksgiving in every way. He was the third of seven children. Except for his immediate younger sister, Chinyere Achinivu, all the others are no longer with us. More touching is the fact that none of his siblings attained the age of 70, nay 80. There was therefore no shying away from celebrating the goodness of God. From New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Warri, family members, relatives, in-laws, friends, former colleagues were already streaming into Abuja days before the programme. Boisterousness and festivity enveloped the air, setting the stage for a memorable event. A thanksgiving service was held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of Unity, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, Saturday, November 9, 2024, the very date of Ugochukwu’s milestone and was attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Flagbearer of Labour Party, (LP) during the 2023 elections, Peter Obi and former Permanent Secretary and Ambassador at various times, Godknows Igali and his wife, were also present. Obasanjo used the

opportunity to pay tribute to Ugochukwu who was his Director of Publicity back in 1998, when he, Obasanjo, first dabbled into partisan politics. He acknowledged the name-calling Ugochukwu endured from his kinsmen at the time. They could not fathom why he chose to work for Obasanjo, when former Vice President Alex Ekwueme also from the Igbo country, was contesting the same election. He celebrated Ugochukwu for his multisectoral contributions to national development. He lauded him in particular for emplacing a sustainable road map for implementation by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as foundation Chairman, over two decades ago.

Rainbow Marquee and Event Centre in Garki, Abuja was the venue of the reception. Days before, Ugochukwu was apprehensive about the cavernous size of the auditorium, noting it might just be half empty with the kind of restrictions placed on attendance. By the time he and his family joined his guests straight from church, however, Ugochukwu was astounded. He barely could believe what his “eyes were telling him.” The marquee was brimming and bustling. His guests by the way were not from the mass of those admonished by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to “eat wherever they found food!” Sometimes in life, we never know the depth of veneration we command in people’s hearts, until we are privileged to be honoured at events like Ugochukwu’s. What could have been more gratifying than having former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali and his wife Marian and former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, topping your guest list? Senator representing Ugochukwu’s Abia Central Zone, Austin Akobundu, who chaired the programme, and the Member Representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Obi Aguocha, were in attendance. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator for Abia South Zone, was represented by his wife, Florence Nwamaka, while former

From the NDDC family, “ancient and modern,” came former Managing Director who was also pioneer Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Timi Alaibe. There was also the former NDDC Commissioner for Cross River State, Professor Eyong Nyong; the recently retired legal adviser to the commission, Steve Igbomuaye and former protocol head, now multibillionaire entrepreneur, Julius Rone representing the old era. Incumbent Chairman of the commission, Chiedu Ebie; Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Boma Iyaye, topped the present generation of the NDDC leadership. Not forgetting the Corporate Affairs Director of the organisation, Seledi Wakama.

The NDDC solidarity was as remarkable in numbers as it was in goodwill. They supported the production of two books to commemorate the event. Obasanjo wrote the Foreword to one of the books, “Galvanising Development in the Niger Delta: Selected Engagements by Onyema Ugochukwu,” jointly edited by this writer and the eminent journalist, John Araka. The second publication, a dedicated anthology of tributes to Ugochukwu, titled: “Testaments and Testimonials: Celebrating Onyema Ugochukwu at 80,” was edited by Tunde Olusunle. The work is an anthology of about 90 attestations to Ugochukwu, predominantly by professional colleagues, old and young. Hakeem Bello one of the contributors to the volume, fittingly describes it as a “collector’s item.”

Deputy Governor of Abia State, Oko Chukwu Ude, also graced the occasion. So did former Health Minister, Professor Alphonsus Nwosu and his wife; former Senators representing Abia Central, Chris Adighije and Nkechi Nwogu, and running mate to Ugochukwu during his gubernatorial quest in 2006/2007, Chinwe Nwanganga and his wife.

Other dignitaries at the event included Olusegun Runsewe, former Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC); Nebolisa Emodi, retired Permanent Secretary, State House Administration and Reverend Benson Ezem, Chairman of Cosmo Base Group and his wife. Uba Agadaga, former member of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC); Nonso Ogbunamiri, a Lagos-based multipreneur; Umeh Kalu, SAN, former Attorney-General, Abia State and Handel Okoli, also a renowned attorney and adviser in the Obasanjo/ Atiku government, made it to the event. Segun Ilori, Legal Adviser, Green Energy Limited, and Tivlumun Nyitse, Professor and former Chief of Staff in Benue State, honoured the programme. Emeritus Librarian, the septuagenarian Tunji Okegbola; adviser to the former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Nwosu and his wife; long-serving media adviser to Babatunde Fashola, SAN, former Lagos State Governor, who was also Works Minister, Hakeem Bello, topped the Daily Times alumni who celebrated their senior colleague. Paul Mumeh, media aide to former President of the Senate, David Mark; Joe Ibekwe, Convener of the FLED International Leadership Institute, and longtime Ugochukwu photographer, Tumo Ojelabi, all of them “Timesmen,” showed up for their former boss.

What better way to profile an anthology with contributors from the media like: Yemi Ogunbiyi; Dan Agbese; Tola Adeniyi; Felix Adenaike; Lade Bonuola; Olu Obafemi; Chidi Amuta; Godini Gabriel Darah; Ben Obi; Dare Babarinsa and Ayo Akinkuotu? Tributes from Solomon Odemwingie; Emma Agu; Lanre Idowu; Omar Farouk Ibrahim; Lanre Idowu; Ohi Alegbe; Nduka Nwosu; Gbenga Adefaye; Eniola Bello; Idang Alibi; Gboyega Okegbenro; Olusegun Adeniyi; Segun Ayobolu; Segun Ilori; Lizzy Ikem, Angela Agoawike and Martins Oloja also feature. Gbenga Ayeni; Tunde Rahman; Al Bishak; Salisu Na’inna Dambatta; Lawal Ogienagbon and Dan Akpovwa, equally celebrate Ugochukwu in this volume. Ugochukwu’s globality resonates from the pages of this book. You find a man who is Igbo by birth and origin, but pan-Nigerian in thought and outlook. Ugochukwu’s colleagues, friends and associates come from all over. Tunde Ipinmisho, an Emeritus Editor who served under Ugochukwu in Daily Times always remarks about Ugochukwu’s politeness and culturedness: “He tells you “thank you” for whatever you do for him, no matter how little,” Ipinmisho says. The 319-page innovative assemblage of tributes, is indeed a treasure trove. The two books presented at the programme were published by the rising Ibadan-based Kraft Books Limited and reviewed by Gbenga Ibileye, Professor of English at the Federal University Lokoja, (FUL). They were formally presented at the reception and handed over to guests for free, consistent with the desire of the honoree. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar noted at the event that at the height of his famous acrimony with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ugochukwu refused to take sides.

According to him, Ugochukwu was a conciliator who tried as much as he could, to mediate between both sides. He described Ugochukwu as an “extremely dedicated and passionate Nigerian, a credible and perfect gentleman.” Turning to Mrs Ugochukwu on the table they all sat, Atiku said: “Madam, you are very fortunate to have him.” He prayed for good health and many more years for Ugochukwu. Akobundu expressed utmost delight at the rare honour of chairing Ugochukwu’s landmark, a legend he defers to as “Dee,” (elder in Igbo) and leader.” The revelry flowed over to the home of the Ugochukwus, late into the night, with still a lot to savour. Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), teaches Creative Writing at the University of Abuja.

Senator representing Abia Central Zone, Austin Akobundu and Chairman of the event receiving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Distinguished Guest, to the reception in honour of Onyema ugochukwu on his 80th

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo whispering to Onyema ugochukwu at the church thanksgiving commemorating ugochukwu’s 80th birthday in Abuja

Ukraine’s Use of ATACMS: The Challenge of Russia’s

New Nuclear Doctrine and Oreshnik Missile

Crises and conflicts exist in international relations because it is always fraught with order and counter-order which often amount to an encounter, and if not quickly and carefully managed, always result in disorder. There is nothing wrong in introducing an order. However, it is when an order is perceived not to be fair or just, or discriminatingly implemented that room for a counter-order arises. A counter-order necessarily raises an encounter which is either peacefully negotiated or resolved by manu militari or by outright use of force.

For example, the 100-year war in Europe, which actually lasted for about 116 years, considering that the fighting was not continuous, was basically about a rift between the French and English crowns. The war lasted from 1337 to 1453. The main causal factor was that the English King, Edward III, grandson of Phillip IV of France, was denied access to the French throne, and therefore, he opted to retaliate. The denial to the claim of French throne was the order. The retaliation was the counterorder. The discontinuous battles for over a century constituted the encounter. The poor management of the battles led to the disorderly world.

Additionally, there was also the 30-year old war which was prompted by Emperor Ferdinand II’s decision to compel Protestants to accept Catholicism, especially in light of the weakening power of the Holy Roman Emperor and the need for religious uniformity. It was resisted by the Protestants. Eventually, the conflict culminated into the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia which introduced the state system in international relations. In the same vein, World War 1 and II had the same factors of order and counter orders as dynamics. It is against this background that the deployment of US ARACMS by Ukraine into Russian territory and Russian reprisal of deploying Oreshnik in Dnipro, Ukraine should be explained and understood.

Ukraine’s Use of ATACMS and Russia

ATACMS means ‘Army Tactical Missile Systems.’ It was a rocket artillery tactical ballistic missile developed in 1991 in the United States. Many countries - Australia, South Korea, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates - have acquired the system. It was designed in 1986 by Ling-Temco-Vought. About 50 ATACMS reportedly had been acquired by Ukraine apparently to be used in self-defence. Eight of the 3,700-pound, precision-guided rockets were launched against Russia’s munitions depot in Bryansk in self-defence against Russian Special Military Intervention in Ukraine. Its use has been largely restricted by the United States until of recent when authorisation of the United States was given by President Joe Biden for its use. The restriction placed on any country in possession of the ATACMS is to ensure cautious use and apparently to prevent unnecessary aggravation of conflict between the United States and Russia, two major nuclear powers.

However, The New York Times had it that President Joe Biden ‘had authorised Ukraine to fire American-made ATACMS at targets inside Russia’ on Tuesday, 19 November 2024. The firing is restricted to Kursk Oblast in Western Russia ‘where an approximately 20,000 strong Ukrainian force is defending a 250-square mile salient against a Russian-led corps with more than 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops. The target of the Tuesday ATACMS raid, the 67th Main Missile and Artillery Directorate Arsenal, is just west of Kursk.’ As told by the CNN, ‘the White House publicly authorised Ukraine, Sunday (17 November) to fire missiles it supplied into Russia proper, which it swiftly did Monday (18 November). Moscow responded by using an experimental medium-range missile, with hypersonic speeds and a multiple warhead system usually reserved for nuclear payloads, to strike Dnipro.’

And true enough, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted that five of the GPS-guided rockets, which were packs of about 1000 grenades-sized bomblets, were shot down. This development has prompted Russian reactions. First, there was a

review of the Russian nuclear defence doctrine. Second, Russia hit Ukraine with a new missile nicknamed Oresknit. Third, Russia opted to violate the oil sanctions against North Korea as reportedly revealed by satellite images. Without doubt, the more important aspect is the new nuclear doctrine.

The new doctrine is that ‘an aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear State, but with the participation or support of a nuclear State’ is ‘a joint attack on Russia.’ This is a new development involving the movement from an attack by one country on another country, compelling a collective defence. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is one good illustration of this point. Put differently, an attack by a non-member of the NATO is considered an attack on all other members of the NATO, and therefore, requiring collective defence. Several alliances have this type of collective defence provisions.

In the context of the Russian new nuclear doctrine, an attack is not only direct, it can also be by complicity. If a non-nuclear State attacks Russia with the support of a nuclear State, such a support given to the non-nuclear States is considered a direct attack on Russia and this warrants a reciprocal attack on such a supporter. In this context of the use of the ATACMS by Ukraine, Russia not only holds the United States and the United Kingdom responsible for the attack, but also members of the NATO that are particular neighbours of Russia.

What is noteworthy about the reciprocal attack on the supporters of Ukraine is the threat of use of nuclear weapons. Many interesting issues are raised at this juncture. First, there are varying views on the likelihood of use of nuclear arms by Russia. More notable is the view that Russia is only bluffing. As noted by Professor Steve Fetter, a University of Maryland Public Policy

Explained interrogatively, who can accurately predict what Russia has in its arsenal? Who knows whether Russia is prepared to damn the consequences of a nuclear war? What is the meaning of a court giving a death sentence to a suicide bomber taken to court for prosecution, and was sentenced to death? Is it not better to avoid the type of Japanese strategic miscalculation of 1941 by attacking US Pearl harbour? Are the United States and Russia not developing more dangerous weapons that are yet to be tested? After the deployment of the ATACMS and the Oreshnit, will there not be further attacks and counter-attacks? Will Russia not still come back to nuclearize fresh battles against Ukraine or any considered Western enemy? The late President of France, General Charles de Gaulle, said France lost the battle but not the war after WW II. Does the detonation of the ATACMS on Russia imply winning the battles or the war? While the Japanese attack on the Pearl harbour prompted the delayed entry of the United States into World War II, the use of nuclear weapons by Russia has the potential to precipitate a third world war, compelling the use of nuclear arms making US to also become the first and major victim of its nuclear invention. Africa should therefore be more cautious in not serving as a proxy theatre in the making of the nuclear war. This is the challenge that has to be addressed by all African leaders.

expert in nuclear weapons policy and a former White House member of staff, ‘Ukraine’s Firing of United States Long-Range Missiles (is) Unlikely to Prompt Escalation in War.’

One major rationale for this thinking is that Russia is on record to have been threatening to use nuclear weapons in self-defence if necessary and in response to the Western support for Ukraine. As further observed by Professor Fetter, ‘some people have concluded that these are all bluffs, and so far, they have been… [T]he revision of their nuclear strategy and the statement that it will be major escalation if Ukraine uses the ATACMS is also probably a bluff.’

I was a post-doctoral student at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, in 1989. I was part of the US Foreign Policy Process Programme under the management of Professor Marc Destler, and, therefore, I do have a good idea of the seriousness of purpose always attached to policy analysis and conjectures. In other words, Professor Fetter’s analysis of the likely attitudinal disposition of Russian President Putin can be taken as a Russian bluffing. However, it is precisely the seriousness often attached to the non-likelihood of use of nuclear arms that has the great potential to precipitate a nuclear war. A war that is planned should not be confused with a war that is imposed on one.

In this regard, because of the belief, which can be erroneous, that President Putin cannot afford the luxury of engaging in a mutually assured destructive nuclear war. The policy of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction), which is a principle of deterrence according to which any nuclear attack by one superpower cannot but also warrant a reciprocal overwhelming nuclear counterattack in such a manner that both the initiator of the first attack and the victim would both be annihilated at the end, is the pillar on which Professor Fetter et al is relying. And true, this was a popular doctrine during the first Cold War. The tenability of the MAD doctrine is remote in the second Cold War that is already in the making and that is between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China, on the one hand, and between the United States and Russia, on the other hand.

Consequently, contrarily to the observation of Professor Fetter of the University of Maryland, President Putin can use nuclear weapons and cause more damage to the West than what the West might be able to do in reaction. This is largely a function of the intensity of the first initial nuclear attack. It is useful to learn lessons from the Little Boy and Fat Man atomic bombs used by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 during World War II.

Put differently, when the Japanese launched a surprise military attack on US Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941 at about 7.55 am local time, which lasted for about one hour, they did not know that the United States had more than conventional weapons to which the Japanese were used. Possession of atomic weapons by the United States was not known to the world. The strategic calculation of the Japanese was to prevent the United States from entering into World War II on the side of the Allies by destroying the Pearl Harbour. Japan also thought that it would take Americans, at least, six months, before the reconstitution of the harbour and US entry into the war against the Axis Powers (Japan, Germany and Italy.’ And true, the Japanese destroyed the harbour, made it ineffective for war purposes, and delayed US entry into the war. Many cruisers, destroyers and anti-aircraft training ship were damaged.

Most unfortunately for Japan, the United States had atomic weapons that were waiting for opportunity to be tested and the Japanese miscalculations gave the opportunity to launch the ‘Little Boy’ at about 8.15a.m., on August 6 from a B-29 bomber Enola Gay. It contained 26,000,000 pounds of high explosives. On August 9, 1945 the United States detonated a second atomic bomb, code-named the ‘Fat Man, on Nagasaki. Not less than 100,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed. The very destructive impact of the attacks compelled the surrender of Japan unconditionally to the Allies on August 15, 1945 and thus bringing World War II to an end. Even though the United States is on record to have the best missile technology and having the fastest ones like the Minuteman III Missile and the Trident 2 with a range of 11,000 km at a speed of 13,000 mph, it cannot but be a strategic miscalculation to underrate Russia.

Russian Nuclear Doctrine and Oreshnik Missile

Russia’s new nuclear doctrine should not be simply looked at from the perspective of the Russo-Ukrainian war. It actually has global implications, especially for Africa, a continent of non-nuclear States. The Russian new nuclear doctrine is about attack by non-nuclear countries and active support to them. Russia is at hot war with Ukraine and not with European or African countries directly. The problem here is which countries are considered non-nuclear states?

Grosso modo, it is only the Five Permanent Members (P-5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that are often referred to as the Nuclear Weapons States (NWS). By implication, Ukraine is not a nuclear State. By detonating the ATACMS on Russia means that the Russian new doctrine is referring to Ukraine as a non-nuclear State. More importantly, the United States and its other allies that are giving assistance to Ukraine are also eligible to be attacked by Russia, regardless of whether they are NWS, like France and the United Kingdom, or not.

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Tariff Review Looms as Telecoms Firms Struggle with Economic Challenges

As indications emerged last week that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may have begun consultations with relevant stakeholders on the proposed tariff increase in the telecoms sector, there is a need to be thorough in the deliberations so that the outcome will be acceptable to both the operators and subscribers once and for all, writes Festus Akanbi

From the outset, it was very obvious that the recent unilateral review of tariffs by Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, was going to ruffle feathers in the Nigerian telecoms industry.

The audacious price increase, according to industry analysts, was the climax of the subtle move by industry operators to bend the hand of the regulators to accede to the demand for tariff increase in the face of the rising cost of operations and the unabated damage to telecoms facilities in the country.

In Nigeria, increases in the prices of goods and services are largely affected by political and economic considerations, given the economic situation, which has increased the tension in the country.

For a nation that just experienced some mass protests against the high cost of living, analysts said it would have been suicidal for the government to ignore Starlink’s action although they believed the time had come for a review of tariffs in the telecoms sector. Again, they argued that Starlink’s action amounted to jumping the gun since the issue of upward review of tariffs for telecoms services is still being discussed by the regulators.

Although the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) promptly intervened to overrule the unilateral tariff increase, other stakeholders, including the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCAN) and the Association of Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ATCON) have continued with a groundswell of campaign for a new tariff regime which they said will reflect the current economic realities in Nigeria.

Starlink had on the last day of September announced a 97 per cent price increase for its monthly subscription from N38,000 to N75,000. For new users, the company also increased the Starlink kits (hardware) by 34 per cent from N440,000 to N590,000.

The company in a message to its customers in Nigeria cited “excessive inflation” as the reason for the increment.

The announcement sparked controversy in the Nigerian telecoms sector as local operators accused the NCC of a double standard for allowing Starlink to increase prices, which they are not allowed to do so despite years of appeals to the regulator.

The NCC, however, responded saying it did not approve Starlink’s price increment. The telecoms regulator pointed out that Starlink’s action contravened Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and its license conditions regarding tariffs.

NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, later announced that the commission had commenced pre-enforcement actions against Starlink for implementing price increments without the approval of the regulator.

Muoka was quoted as saying “The proposed increase is still under discussion with relevant agencies. He said it would be premature to determine what exactly the percentage increase would be. “I know that discussions are still ongoing as regards tariffs,” he was quoted as saying.

“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review its subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Muoka said. He explained that the commission was

“surprised” when the company announced the price changes, despite having filed a request with the NCC for a price adjustment, which the regulator had yet to approve.

He added, “The action of the company appears to be a contravention of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and Starlink’s Licence Conditions regarding tariffs.

Agitation for Tariff Increase

As predicted by some analysts, the development has triggered a fresh wave of calls for a review of internet data tariff, voice calls, and short message services (SMS) by some stakeholders comprising ATCON and ALTON, who argued that the current economic realities do not favour the retention of the current tariff regime.

On the other hand, subscribers’ associations like the Association of Telephones, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria, (ATCIS), insist that telecoms operators do not have any justification to propose a tariff hike, owing to the current economic realities.

Stakeholders in the telecommunications sector represented by ATCON, and ALTON, insist that the telecoms sector may not survive if the NCC, the sector’s regulatory body, fails to approve a new tariff regime.

They argued that rising operational costs, weakening naira, and increasing energy and infrastructure maintenance prices have severely affected telecom companies.

According to them, no other illustration can capture the severity of the operating environment than the negative financial performance of telecom operators in recent times. For instance, the telecom giant, MTN, in its first half (H1, 2024) financial statement, reported an after-tax loss of N519.1billion, driven by forex volatility and inflationary pressures.

Its closest rival, Airtel Africa, Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator by market share, also reported after-tax losses to the tune

of $89million for its full year ended March 2024.

To make matters worse, incessant vandalism, fibre cuts, and theft of equipment already cost telecoms operators billions of naira to replace, in addition to the service disruption the concerns trigger.

While internet data prices have remained relatively stable in the past decade, calls for an upward review by telecoms operators may change the status quo.

Suspending New Orders

With the rebuttal from the telecoms regulator, Starlink suspended the announced increment with a warning that “without these approvals, our ability to continue delivering service is at risk.” The company noted that while it is committed to providing high-speed internet in Nigeria, it would need regulatory support to make the improvements necessary for a better customer experience.

The company reportedly suspended orders for its residential kits in five major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Benin City, and Warri because it was at capacity in those areas with a note that the suspension would be lifted after securing approval from the NCC for its recently announced price increment.

The company, however, allows orders for its high-end Business Plan, in which it is allowed to charge N159,000 for a monthly subscription compared with the Residential Plan, which costs N38,000 per month.

New Service to Guarantee Quality Service

Meanwhile, the ATCON President, Tony Emoekpere argued that the current tariff structure is no longer tenable and a price increase has become imperative to guarantee quality service delivery.

“These tariffs have been frozen for such a long time and to keep them stagnant is unrealistic,” Emoekpere said.

“We understand the fact that any price increase will have an effect but what the tariff hike will provide is better quality of service

to subscribers.”

Emoekpere said in its talks with the NCC, the regulatory body urged telecom operators and companies to focus on improving the quality of their services and explore other measures rather than a tariff hike. He however expressed confidence that approval is imminent.

“I don’t think there will be a rejection; I think the worst-case scenario is that the NCC may approve a lesser percentage of what is being requested,” he added.

Subscribers Kick

The President of the Association of Telephones, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria, (ATCIS), Sina Bilesanmi, condemned the proposed tariff hike, especially in the face of Nigeria’s current economic decline.

He believed there is a need for telecoms operators to consult the subscribers and other stakeholders if there would be any upward increase in tariff. He said telecoms operators should call for a proper stakeholders’ meeting, where details of the proposed tariff hike can be discussed with consumers. “They cannot do it alone, all stakeholders must agree,” he said. People are struggling to make a living and you now expect these same people that you are offering bad services to meet up with the new tariff. It makes absolutely no sense,” she said.

Meanwhile, the president of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), Adeolu Ogunbanjo, disclosed that his organisation proposed an increase of 10 per cent as a better alternative to loading shedding.

Load shedding happens when telecom operators shut down some cell sites and rotate connectivity.

He said the tariff hike would boost the telco’s profitability and, in turn, help improve the quality of service to endusers.

“Rather than allowing the telecoms industry to be killed, we should allow an increase of no more than 10 per cent so that they can survive,” he said.

Telecom mast

Cardoso: Empowering Women for Sustainable Economy

In this piece, James Emejo writes that the central bank’s renewed commitment to improving women’s access to finance remains a key strategy for fostering sustainable economic and social welfare

Onlyrecently,theGovernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, signed a tripartite agreement with chief executives of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) to unlock significant funding to women-owned businesses under the Women Entrepreneurs Finance (We-Fi) Code initiative.

The We-Fi Code is a commitment by financial service providers (FSPs), regulators, development banks and other financial ecosystem players to work together to increase funding provision to Women-owned and Womenled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (WMSMEs) around the world.

The initiative complements other central bank programmes aimed at boosting gender parity in the financial services landscape.

Cardoso, citing the Women’s World Banking survey, noted that though Nigerian women’s entrepreneurial activity was higher than their male counterparts by four per cent, 75 per cent of the women’s potential market in Nigeria remained unserved or underserved, leading to N294 billion financing gap amid huge market potential yet to be fully tapped.

The apex bank boss, who publicly disclosed his fascination with facilitating funding to women, added that this was one of the commitments he made during his confirmation hearing at the Senate.

Speaking during the country’s Public Declaration of Commitment to the global initiative in Abuja, Cardoso said, “I’ll share my experience. About a year ago—I was privileged to appear before the Senate for my confirmation hearing. One of the things I mentioned was my commitment to gender equality. I gave real examples of efforts I had made before assuming this position to help bridge the gender gap. The records are there, and you can find them online.

“Now, a year later, I am proud to say that we have made progress. I can boldly affirm to those who witnessed that Senate hearing that I have delivered on my commitment. This is just one step in a larger journey, but I want to assure you all that my dedication to this initiative remains unwavering. Earlier, I mentioned that this wouldn’t be just talk, and I meant it. I will give everything I have to ensure this succeeds.”

Providing statistics, he said over 400 million women entrepreneurs around the world have vast potential to grow their businesses, add value to the economy, and create jobs, but that they lack the financing to achieve their goals.

This group, he said, represented a $1.7 trillion growth opportunity for financial service providers (FSPs) and $5 trillion to $6 trillion in potential value addition to the global economy.

However, he said: “And some of the statistics we have heard around the world; we have a situation where women entrepreneurs are performing better in a lot of indices than men.

“But in Nigeria, we have a gap.And that indeed is a challenge to all of us to work together, and put hands together to ensure that we can bridge that gap.

“And also, to challenge the banking industry - because the opportunities that the banks may have had before in one direction are beginning to close. New opportunities are coming up.

“And those opportunities, I believe, are opportunities that the banking industry must take very seriously, and challenge themselves to come up with new and innovative products that will ensure that they can play their part in bridging that gap.”

Cardoso stressed that the code should not be seen as another talk shop, adding that he would personally ensure that it succeeds.

Huge Funding Potential

Therefore, he said the initiative offered a tremendous opportunity to unlock the economic potential of women entrepreneurs across the country to help them expand their businesses and contribute to the overall economic growth.

According to the apex bank boss, the central bank, BoI and DBN, have emerged as the national champions to make the Public Declaration of Commitment to the We-Fi Code.

He said, “We are committing to leading by example and urging all the stakeholders in the financial ecosystem to also adopt the code as part of our collective drive to enhance the financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.”

According to him, the Financial Inclusion Delivery Unit within the CBN serves as the coordinator for the implementation of the code and has been charged with the responsibility of monitoring its impact on women’s financial inclusion and the overall National Financial Inclusion Strategy goals.

The CBN governor noted that presently, the

code has been implemented in 23 countries globally as Nigeria joins the global movement to ensure that Nigerian women entrepreneurs are better empowered to realise their full potential.

Cardoso said, “The national commitment to the We-Fi code signifies a powerful step forward towards the empowerment of women entrepreneurs as contributors to rapid economic growth and social development of our beloved nation, Nigeria.

“This is a clarion call to you all to join the national coalition, sign up to the code, and also introduce improved measures that will enhance financing for WMSMEs, as well as the collection of gender-disaggregated data, to track progress on overall women’s financial inclusion in Nigeria.”

Women Financing as New Goldmine for Banks

According to Cardoso, banks once focused on financing the oil and gas sector of the economy to make their money adding that opportunities in this sector were gradually diminishing.

He said women’s financing presented a new goldmine for financial institutions to explore.

He said, “Indeed, this is a very significant moment. As we’ve heard from the statistics, around the world, women entrepreneurs are outperforming men in many indices. However, in Nigeria, we still have a gap, and this presents a challenge for all of us to work together and bridge that gap. We must challenge the banking industry as well.

“The opportunities that the banks once focused on are beginning to close, and new opportunities are emerging. I believe these new opportunities are ones the banking industry must take seriously. They need to challenge themselves to develop innovative products that will help bridge this gender gap.

“Fortunately, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If we look at what’s happening in other parts of the world, as we’ve heard today, we can see successful examples. We can adopt models that work and apply them here.”

Inevitable Enterprise

Central banks and other financial institutions often emphasise financing and supporting women to foster their economic participation which often results in significant economic, social, and developmental benefits.

There is a general consensus that advancing

financing to women can boost economic growth and productivity, explore untapped potential, enhance financial Inclusion as well as promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Improving funding support to women has also gone beyond just a matter of equity given the ability for financial stability and risk management; innovation and entrepreneurship, and reducing gender gaps and disparities in access to finance and resources.

The CBN, like other central banks, have policies aimed at reducing gender disparities as part of inclusive monetary and fiscal strategies.

Cardoso stressed that one doesn’t have to be a woman to support the course.

He said, “Now, I am not a woman—as I’m sure you can all see—but I don’t need anyone to tell me why this initiative is so important.

“With the collective will of the CBN’s leadership, as well as our partners who have come together for this initiative, we will succeed in bridging the gender gap. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s economy thrives. We shouldn’t view this as just a ‘gender issue’. It’s about galvanising all the resources we have, and this is a crucial part of that effort.

“I want to assure everyone here today—our stakeholders, partners, and all of you—that by working together and combining our collective efforts, we will succeed.”

The CBN’s Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion in Nigeria is a roadmap to address the financial exclusion of women in Nigeria. The framework was developed in 2020 by the CBN, Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), and a gender subcommittee. It’s based on international best practices, Nigeria’s Sustainable Banking Principles, and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

The apex bank had embarked on several initiatives to advance women’s financial inclusion and close the gender gap in the banking sector.

The Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion focuses on what can be done in the financial sector to advance women’s financial inclusion.

The We-Fi Code further reaffirmed the apex bank’s deliberate steps to empower women economically and bridge the gender gap in the banking sector.

According to Cardoso, women’s resilience and influence advance economic activities and play a significant role in advancing the economy.

CBN building, Abuja

Olufemi Soneye: What Utapate Light Crude Means for Nigeria’s Economic Growth

In this interview with Venessa Obioha, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the nigerian national Petroleum Company Limited, Olufemi Soneye, explains all there is to know about the Utapate sweet crude blend which was officially launched on the international stage. According to him, the executive Orders of President Bola tinubu have created an enabling environment which makes the job of the company easier. excerpts:

All the talks about Utapate Crude need expatiation. What is it all about, specifically, OML 13?

Since Mr. Mele Kyari assumed the role of Group Chief executive Officer (GCeO), of nnPC Limited, he has significantly enhanced oil production in nigeria, driving remarkable and unprecedented transformation in the upstream sector. this has even been made possible and easier by some of the executive Orders of President Bola Ahmed tinubu. without some of the reforms engendered by those presidential orders, some of the giant strides being recorded may not have been possible.

First, let me state that the good news is that the reserves of OML 13 are 330 Million barrels of oil, 45 Million barrels of condensate and 3.5tCF of gas. the location of the asset in question is Akwa Ibom State, eket, to be specific. the field discovery period was between 1953–1987 and is extensively covered by Analogue, 2D & 3D Seismic Data. the number of fields in OML 13 are, originally, 14 fields in the acreage; 11 under nePL’s operatorship three farmed out to marginal operators (Qua Iboe, Stub Creek and eket). the total coverage area is 1987 sq. km. In addition, there are two significant discoveries of about 400million barrels and 1.2tCF of gas currently under appraisal. the average well depth in the field is 3000million. Its oil export terminal is FSO tulja Kalyani, 40km Offshore Akwa-Ibom State.

What makes Utapate so important?

Utapate is of the Light Sweet Crude blend and its sulphur content is API 44, 0.065%. the blend is being processed through unique heat-based treatment and product conditioning in the modern processing facility to improve its properties. the entry of the Utapate crude oil blend into the market is coming barely a year after the nnPC Ltd

announced the launch of nembe crude oil, produced by the nnPC/Aiteo operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint venture (Jv). this remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the nnPC Ltd to increasing nigeria’s crude oil production and growing its reserves through the development of new assets. As I said earlier, this achievement under Kyari is contingent on the favourable operating environment created by Mr. President.

When did the federal government allocate OML 13 to NPDC (NELP) and when did the execution of the OML13 FTSA agreement commence? People

also ask about when the spudding of oil under the NEPL operatorship. And what is the number of producing fields in the block?

the allocation was done in 2017, while the execution agreement was done in 2019. the spudding of oil first well under the nePL operatorship happened on February 1, 2021.

Utapate Field had been the only developed field at the time of take-over. However, exploration and appraisal activities have been carried out by nePL/ nOSL with 3 field development plans for Akai, ekim and Ibotio approved with other field development plans underway.

How many number of wells have been drilled since the commencement of the asset redevelopment project?

40 (7 exploratory, 5 appraisal and 28 oil development). the multi-rig Deployment Strategy with a Cluster Drilling Location management was deployed to achieve an accelerated drilling campaign in the OML-13 Acreage, with a 2 x 30,000bopd Oil and Gas processing facility. the achievement of the first oil during the current field redevelopment was on February 24, 2023

What are the current daily and monthly production rates?

the daily production rate is between 40,000 and 41,000 bpd.the monthly production is about 1.2mbpd

In terms of production increment, what are we looking at?

we are looking at additional development drilling in 2025 and 2026 and the construction of a Main Flow Station (MFS) processing facility of 100000barrels of oil capacity and 250MMSCF to incorporate production from other fields within the block as well as 3.5 million barrels of crude oil terminal and Single

Point Mooring for export.

What’s the total number of export cargoes? I’m pleased to say that five of seven cargoes planned for 2024 have already been achieved. the date of the first export was on July 24, 2024.

the sixth cargo will be loaded on november 28, 2024. the seventh cargo will be loaded in December 2024. the method of crude oil evacuation from OML13 is a subsea pipeline, barging and storage on FSO for export.

the Utapate field development plan, executed between 2013-2019 and approved in October, included converting wells and facilities from swamp/ marine to land-based operations. the plan involved a multi-rig drilling campaign for 40 wells and the development of significant infrastructure such as production facilities, storage tanks, a subsea pipeline and an offshore loading platform to facilitate crude oil evacuation and loading.

In terms of equity structure with partners, what is in place?

It is currently operated by nnPC e&P Limited and Sumedha energy Limited. the equity structure is at 55%:45%, respectively.

Over the years, such exploration projects have suffered the consequences of community resistance. What is being done to keep the oil flowing? we have in place the Spud-Baby Programme, a Community Support Programme for mothers whose children are born on certain drilling days within the entire 13 local government areas, by offering grants to support the mothers and the newborn babies. we have enjoyed peaceful co-existence with our host communities. the incorporation of OML 13 HCDtF is also progressing well.

Istanbul Restaurant: We Present Traditional Recipes in Modernised Way

Istanbul restaurant and Café, a high-end turkish restaurant recently opened its doors to customers in nigeria. In an interview with Venessa Obioha, Chef emre İdrisoğlu gave insights into his background, the unique philosophy of the right product and good food of the restaurant, and what customers should expect after every visit

Can you tell us about your background and what Nigerians should expect?

I have been a chef for over 33 years with experience in turkey and other european countries. One of the biggest reasons I entered this profession was my family’s close ties to the restaurant business. From a young age, I grew up with a deep love for cooking, which led me to pursue formal education in culinary arts. My mother was an extraordinary culinary artist, and her dishes were loved by everyone. tasting her creations from an early age only deepened my interest in this art. Seeing the happiness of others as they enjoyed the dishes inspired me to go further in this profession. today, introducing turkish cuisine in nigeria and creating a fusion that combines different cultures brings me great joy. when the opportunity came for me to go to nigeria, I grabbed it with both hands. I saw it as a challenge to my culinary skills given that nigeria also has an array of cuisines that are loved worldwide. turkish cuisine is among the world’s richest, with a unique array of flavours, historical roots, and deep culinary heritage. Uniting this variety with the warm culture of nigeria brings both professional and cultural fulfilment.

What informed the “Right Product, Good Food” philosophy of the restaurant?

I have always believed in the philosophy of “right product, good food” the quality of cooking depends on the freshness and naturalness of the ingredients. without fresh and well-grown produce,

it’s impossible to create an ideal dish. throughout my career spanning 33 years, I’ve stayed true to this principle, and it’s the foundation of my success. when I cook, I don’t just bring my culinary knowledge to the table; I also blend in elements from different world cuisines to create something unique. watching people enjoy these flavours has always brought me great happiness. this is in practice in Istanbul restaurant. From the feedback we have received, it is reassuring that nigerians and other nationals have accepted the Istanbul restaurant philosophy.

What makes Istanbul restaurant stand out from the rest?

we are not in competition. we only added varieties for those interested in turkish and intercontinental cuisines. we also run an open kitchen system where customers see as meals are been prepared. the open kitchen concept is a movement in the restaurant industry where food is prepared in plain sight. It provides customers with direct access to information about hygiene, professionalism, and culinary excellence. An open kitchen allows the chef to demonstrate their cooking skills to diners. It also delivers visual entertainment, offering customers an experience to remember.

Another aspect of our restaurant is our portion control system where meals are prepared to suit our guests. this ensures our dishes remain fresh and delicious. In our restaurant, we aim to serve every guest fresh, healthy, and quality food. we have been able to ensure a steady supply of ingredients sourced locally. nigeria’s fertile lands allow me to source nearly all the ingredients I use for turkish cuisine locally. this not only benefits the local economy but also allows us to cook turkish dishes freely and authentically.

Can you tell us a bit about Turkish cuisine? turkish cuisine follows the principles of the Mediterranean diet, considered one of the world’s healthiest. It emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and lean proteins. It is diverse, steeped in history, and admired worldwide for its unique blend of flavours and ingredients. At Istanbul restaurant, we present these traditional recipes in a modernized way. while entire lambs were once

cooked with rich sauces, today, we serve these meats in portioned plates with contemporary flavours. the essence of modern turkish cuisine lies in preserving authentic flavours while adapting them for today’s tastes.

At Istanbul restaurant, we incorporate these flavours in ways that suit our nigerian guests’ palates while staying loyal to traditional turkish dishes. Historic turkish specialities, like Belen tava and Ankara tava, are cherished by both our turkish and nigerian guests alike.

What are some of the challenges in operating a restaurant in Nigeria?

It is not peculiar to nigeria. running a restaurant is challenging; working in the kitchen requires even more patience and love. Cooking in 200-300-degree heat daily requires a true love for this profession. I believe cooking has to be done with passion to have real meaning. Our job doesn’t have fixed working hours; if someone prefers an eight-hour workday, maybe they should choose another profession. But as a chef, you must be prepared to work 17-18 hours a day. For us, our customers are more than just patrons; they are guests. One of Istanbul restaurant’s primary policies is to ensure our guests leave satisfied. Greeted at the door by our hosts, our guests are accompanied to their tables and offered complimentary items such as water, bread, and sauces to help them settle in. After taking their orders, I oversee the process with great care. the positive feedback we’ve received and seeing guests leave with gratitude makes us incredibly happy.

Soneye

Idrisoglu

NNPCL’S SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE

The recent attainment of 1.8 million barrels of crude per day is something to crow about, reckons ADE OLUSOKAN

It is a major milestone in the history of crude oil exploration in Nigeria. The nation is gradually hitting the mark for the crude oil quota from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), thereby revving up the nation’s earnings and setting the country on the path of sustainable growth.

Under the visionary leadership of Mallam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the company has achieved remarkable milestones, transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Among these achievements is the recent attainment of 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) in crude oil production and 7.4 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) per day in gas production.

Unperturbed by the well-oiled campaign of critics, Kyari remained committed to best global practices, innovation, collaboration, and resilience in steering the company and the nation’s energy sector toward sustainability and growth.

Since assuming leadership, Mele Kyari has demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s energy sector. His tenure has been marked by bold initiatives and strategic decisions, aimed at ensuring that NNPC Ltd remains competitive and profitable in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.

Kyari’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and transparency. By fostering partnerships with key stakeholders and deploying cutting-edge technologies, the NNPCL, under his watch, has created a culture of accountability and efficiency within the company. This has not only led to increased production levels but has also restored confidence in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

One of the most notable achievements under Kyari’s leadership is the recent increase in crude oil production to 1.8mbpd and gas output to 7.4bscf per day. This milestone is a significant improvement from the 1.43mbpd recorded in June 2024 when the Production War Room Team was inaugurated.

The Production War Room, a strategic initiative envisioned and established by Kyari, played a pivotal role in this success. The strategic team comprises experts and key stakeholders, and implemented a series of interventions across the production chain to address inefficiencies and security challenges. Through collaboration with government and private security agencies, as well as Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the team restored production levels and set the stage for sustained growth.

The success of the Production War Room and the subsequent production milestone would not have been possible without the collective efforts of various stakeholders. Speaking on the achievement, Kyari praised the team for their dedication and highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving progress.

“The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders,” Kyari remarked.

Other stakeholders, including Chief Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board of Directors, and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State

for Petroleum (Oil), also commended the team’s efforts and pledged continued support.

In addition to an increase in crude oil production, the rise in gas production to 7.4bscf per day is also a testament to NNPCL’s focus on diversifying Nigeria’s energy portfolio. As the world transitions to cleaner energy sources, natural gas is emerging as a critical bridge fuel. Nigeria’s abundant gas reserves position it as a potential leader in the global energy market.

Under Kyari’s leadership, NNPC Ltd has prioritized gas development, aligning with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative. The company’s efforts in this area include expanding domestic gas infrastructure, promoting gas-to-power projects, and exploring opportunities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

The NNPCL also played a key role in deepening the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. These efforts include partnering with NIPCO Gas Limited to build 35 CNG stations across Nigeria. NNPC Retail has also trained over 1,000 auto mechanics on how to convert vehicles to CNG, aided with toolboxes,coveralls and generators, among others. The PCNGi supports the deployment of CNG vehicles and helps individuals and businesses convert their vehicles into CNG. The initiative aims to: reduce dependence on fossil fuels; enhance energy independence; lower energy costs for citizens; provide economic relief; reduce transportation cost and contribute to Nigeria’s national goals of reducing emissions and combating climate change.

The increase in crude oil and gas production has significant implications for Nigeria’s economy. As the country’s primary source of revenue, the oil and gas sector plays a crucial role in funding government initiatives and driving economic development. The recent milestone positions Nigeria to better meet its OPEC obligations while boosting foreign exchange earnings.

MICHAEL OWHOKO argues that the problem of Nigeria is rooted in the structure of government

RECREATING NIGERIA TO AVERT COLLAPSE

As a multiethnic society, Nigeria has been struggling under a political framework that is unsuitable, anomalous, and inimical to its future, resulting in discordant policies and delivery setbacks. And until the political structure veiled in unitary configuration is discarded and replaced with federalism or, in the alternative, confederation, Nigeria risks collapse.

Nigeria is a hypothesis that has been undergoing experiment, which can now be confirmed to be unworkable due to improper political system.

After careful evaluation of its complex diversity, nothing suggestive that the country can ever overcome its challenges with the current system. It is like using palm oil as a substitute for aviation fuel to power an aircraft and expect it to fly. The country is on the wrong trajectory, and incapable of producing any form of prospects, except there is a change of system.

The 1999 Nigerian Constitution is in structure, content, spirit and intent, a unitary constitution when viewed against the backdrop of the Exclusive list which has 67 items and the Concurrent list with 13 items, an indication of strong centre, weak states.

The constitution is incompetent to resolve Nigeria’s unending woes. It is antithetical to the essence of the country’s amalgamation, where hitherto different independent nations, now have their destinies determined and centrally regulated against their vision and values.

What Nigeria needs is a completely new Constitution with features of federalism, characterized by decentralization or devolution of powers to the federating units or regions, with authority over control of natural resources in their domains, together with liberty to pursue their dreams and aspirations in line with their peculiar potentials, values and needs. This will enable them to develop at their pace independently without any statutory interference from the centre. Otherwise, the country can be restructured into a confederal system where the regions or federating nationalities should have obligation to wholly manage their affairs, except for responsibilities relating strictly to army, foreign affairs, currency, and perhaps, internal trade, which should be ceded to the central government to administer with full power and authority. These options are the only way Nigeria can be saved from a looming catastrophe, as elasticity of endurance is waning fast.

As a consequence of the unitary system, there is a growing feeling of ethnic and regional subjugation among ethnic nationalities, resulting in system disloyalty. Policies enunciated by government designed to reposition the economy, reform the political system, eradicate profligacies, and even eliminate terrorists’ organisations in the country are covertly frustrated with complicities of persons from aggrieved regions or sections.

Put differently, differences in values, culture, heritage, tradition, history, language, geography and belief system, have led to clash of visions, interests, goals and priorities among federating units or regions, which have further thrown up centrifugal forces that have held the country hostage. This is a complex inherent challenge and source of division in the country. This portends danger, and a signal of emerging trouble, particularly within the context of young generations of people in the various ethnic nationalities whose

opportunities, talents and creativity are repressed by quota system and intrinsic flaws in the unitary structure.

Running a country with people working clandestinely at cross purposes to advance ethnic and regional agenda offers no hope of achieving any deliverables beyond cosmetic progress. Also, the unitary system breeds economic injustice among federating states or regions. By allowing some states or individuals to freely harness, harvest and utilise mineral resources and cash crops, including groundnuts, cocoa, rubber, palm oil and solid minerals n their domains, while depriving other regions like Niger Delta of resources in their territories, is a major flaw in the system. It is not only unjust; it triggers insurrection. Specifically, to single out the oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta Region for expropriation through obnoxious Petroleum Act of 1966 which now forms part of Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution, is tantamount to robbing Niger Delta people to service other regions. Government has used the law to legalise ownership, with proceeds shared among federating units or states, implicitly depriving the Niger Delta people of control over their resources.

Regrettably, the people of the region alone suffer from hazardous effects of oil exploration. The ecosystem of the region has been destroyed, as agricultural and fishery activities are no longer generative. This is further compounded by the depletion of their land which have been constantly acquired by the government and allocated as oil blocks to individuals and organisations. Unitary system in a plural society like Nigeria encourages high-stakes investments in politics induced by unhealthy ethnic and regional competition among politicians in an effort to grab power at the centre or federal level, and in turn, use it to control and distribute resources and appointments for ethnic and regional advantage. Such unwholesome quest for power has no place in federalism, where power is decentralized to federating units.

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

NIGERIA’S DISMAL MO IBRAHIM SCORE CARD

The recent Mo Ibrahim Index report is an embarrassment

The latest report from the Mo Ibrahim Index of Africa Governance (IIAG) is another sad reminder of what governance has become on the continent. It’s a stinking score card on anti-corruption measures, protection of civil liberties and caring for the environment in most African countries. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the 2024 report is that Nigeria is one of the eleven countries on the continent with the highest level of deterioration in governance in the last decade. Slumping three places from 30th to 33rd on the continent, Nigeria is ranked as one of the worst-ruled countries in Africa since 2014. This should concern critical stakeholders in the country.

According to the 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), overall governance and security was worse in 2023 than it was a decade earlier in most Africa countries, while the rise in junta-led governments may drive greater conflict, fuelling a trend of deteriorating living standards. After years of steady progress, Africa’s overall governance performance once again turned messy in 2022, the report further revealed. Meanwhile, Nigeria scored 45.7 per cent, flopping on absence of armed conflict (2.1 per cent) and scoring 39 per cent on security and rule of law and 47.3 per cent on accountability and transparency. On anti-corruption, Nigeria scored 28.9 per cent, 47 per cent on inclusion; 43 per cent on equality; 59 per cent on women equality; 48.6 per cent on economic opportunity; 41 per cent on infrastructure and 44.6 per cent on health; 51 per cent on education; 44 per cent on social protection and 45 per cent on sustainable environment.

While the

latest

preference for mediocrity has become the norm. And although there is a semblance of government in place, real governance is seriously absent. What many discerning country men and women now do is independently provide for themselves. Indeed, Nigeria’s present ranking speaks volumes of the quality of governance in the country. Yet, the reality is that, even without these figures, it is apparent that governance is at its lowest ebb, and many of the people in charge at practically all levels have not lived up to expectations. If the first duty of any government is the provision of the basic needs of security, welfare and a sense of purpose, can those at the helms of affairs in our country claim to have lived up to these ideals?

Mo Ibrahim Index report on Nigeria did not come to many as a surprise, it should be a wake-up call for those in authority

SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

editor DAViDSON iRiEkpEN

deputy editors FESTUS AkANBi, EJiOFOR ALikE

Managing director ENiOLA BELLO

deputy Managing director iSRAEL iwEgBU

chairMan editorial Board OLUSEgUN ADENiYi

editor nation s capital iYOBOSA UwUgiAREN the oMBudsMan kAYODE kOMOLAFE

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED

editor-in-chief/chairMan NDUkA OBAigBENA

group executive directors ENiOLA BELLO kAYODE kOMOLAFE iSRAEL iwEgBU

Established in 2006 by a Sudanese billionaire and democracy advocate, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is dedicated to strengthening the African voice on global stage by providing data and analysis to assess challenges on the continent and how they are being addressed or ignored. Published since 2007, the IIAG assesses the public governance performance of 54 African countries every two years while the data comes from 49 independent sources, some of which are financially supported by the Foundation.

It is not difficult to see how the Mo Ibrahim foundation arrived at its dismal conclusion on Nigeria. A cursory glance at how citizens access the good life in terms of water, shelter, education and all the other basic amenities shows that governance is far removed from the people. In its place, crass opportunism, hurriedly formulated and wrongly implemented policies and a

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

Over the years, the IIAG report has presented the framework for citizens, governments, institutions and the private sector to assess accurately the delivery of public services, and policy outcome across the continent. “We must work harder to ensure that progress is felt in the everyday lives of our people and better reported when that is the case,” founder and chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, wrote in the report. “Because unmet expectations, especially for the young people, fuel frustration and anger, the best triggers for unrest and conflict.”

While the latest Mo Ibrahim Index report on Nigeria did not come to many as a surprise, it should be a wake-up call for those in authority. It is important for the government, at all levels, to take this report seriously and begin to work on making improvements in critical areas.

Letters in response to specific publications in THiSDAY should be brief(150-200 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 (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer

LETTERS

NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC REFORMS AND OUTLOOK FOR THE YEAR 2025

There have been divergent opinions about the economic policies adopted by the administration of President Tinubu since it came into power on May 29, 2023. Those opposing the policies can be categorized into two groups: those who are ignorant about the workings of the policies but are genuinely concerned about the short-term hardships they have caused, and opposition parties and their followers who have decided to oppose any policy introduced by this government. The President has repeatedly stated that he was aware of what Nigerians were going through.

One striking observation is that many of those opposing the economic reforms of this government are suggesting a return to the status quo—reversing the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. This suggestion is absurd, as these policies are the very ones that have destroyed the

Nigerian economy over the years. Trillions of naira that could have been used for building infrastructure, improving healthcare and education, enhancing the military capabilities of the Nigerian security agencies, and funding research and development were spent on fuel subsidies and defending the naira.

When President Tinubu assumed office, the country was in dire straits: high levels of insecurity, poor infrastructure development, a debt service-to-revenue ratio as high as 97%, a forex backlog of $7 billion, and many state governments struggling to pay salaries. The Nigerian economy was in a state of comatose in need of radical reforms. During his national broadcast on the occasion of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2024, President Tinubu stated that Nigeria must either reform for progress and prosperity or continue business as usual and risk collapse. It is common sense that to

achieve different results, things must be done differently.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have commended the economic policies of this administration and emphasized the need for them to be sustained. The good news is that the reforms have already started yielding results. The federal government has commenced the implementation of a national minimum wage, with state governments following suit at varying rates. Insecurity levels have dropped, students are benefiting from a student loan scheme, the inherited forex backlog has been cleared, the debt service-torevenue ratio has fallen to under 70%, foreign direct investments worth over $30 billion have been recorded in the past year, and the nation’s foreign reserves have risen to $40 billion. These are indicators of progress.

In 2025, with oil production expected

to hit two million barrels per day and domestic refining capabilities improving, the value of the naira is likely to strengthen, creating a positive multiplier effect on the cost of goods and services. The living standards of Nigerians will improve as their purchasing power increases and inflation drops. Businesses will thrive in 2025, leading to higher employment rates as household consumption rises and the cost of doing business decreases. Additionally, the impact of the current administration’s efforts to diversify the economy, improve infrastructure, and enhance security nationwide will further boost economic activity in 2025. These projections are based on the assumption that there will be no major pandemics or other crises locally or globally. Kenechukwu

Chidimma Adetshina: The People’s Queen

Although c hidimma Adetshina may have stepped away from beauty pageantry for now, her achievements - despite facing xenophobia - have cemented her place in history, Vanessa o bioha reports

Last Sunday night in Mexico, many Nigerians believed that Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria, was on the verge of claiming the crown of Miss Universe on the international stage. The signs were everywhere at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Adetshina soared through the rounds, first making the expanded list of 30 semi-finalists, then progressing to the final 12 after the swimsuit segment, and finally securing a spot in the top five after the evening gown competition. Adetshina, a law student, earned even more accolades during the questionand-answer rounds. Her brilliance shone, particularly in the second round, where she was asked to share her message with those watching.

“As a woman who has faced adversity, I feel like I have a powerful story. I don’t stand here as Chidimma Adetshina, I stand here as a symbol of hope, a beacon of faith, as someone who has persevered with grace. I believe I have fought for not only myself, but for Africa,” she responded.

Indeed, Adetshina has fought a battle of acceptance and identity. Her heritage first became a public debate in July when she participated in the Miss South Africa pageant, which sparked xenophobic attacks including cyber bullying. Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina had always identified as South African, having only visited Nigeria once as a child. South Africa felt like home, and when she decided to enter beauty pageants in 2022, it was naturally her first choice. Although she wasn’t accepted that year, her determination saw her try again this year, reaching the finals—where all hell broke loose.

Her South African identity came under scrutiny as many questioned whether she was “South African enough” to represent the country. A petition calling for her removal from the competition gathered more than 14,000 signatures before it was taken down.

“I am representing a country, but I don’t feel the love from the people I’m representing,” she said back then in an interview with Sowetan Live.

Nigerians decried the backlash as xenophobic, drawing parallels to the racial tensions that have long affected the Nigerian community in South Africa. Between 2019 and February 2022, the News Agency of Nigeria estimated that at least 128 Nigerians were killed in the country.

Adetshina eventually withdrew from the competition, but soon after her exit, she received an offer to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria. In what seemed like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she emerged victorious in the Nigerian

competition, earning her the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the global stage.

While some may have seen her victory in Miss Universe Nigeria as a consolation, Adetshina proved her worth on Sunday night, earning widespread support. Nigerians and others across social media cheered her on, hoping she would follow in Agbani Darego’s footsteps by making history for Nigeria once again — Darego stunned the world in 2001 as the first Nigerian to win Miss World. The predictions for the crown swayed between Nigeria, Thailand, and Denmark, with nationalities far and wide rooting for Adetshina.

However, the crown ultimately went to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig. Though Adetshina did not take home the coveted title, her peers celebrated her even more than the winner. As she walked to join her fellow contestants after the announcement, she was enveloped in a warm embrace. At that moment, she was the people’s queen, much like the late Muhammad Ali, who became the people’s champion for using his platform to fight social injustice. Adetshina refused to let xenophobia define her. Instead, she rose above it, becoming a beacon of hope, perseverance, and resilience.

“I’m so excited,” the model gushed in a post-event interview clip shared on Miss Universe Nigeria X page. “I don’t have words to describe what I’m feeling right now, but I’m so proud of myself. I just made history.”

As the first runner-up of the Miss Universe pageant, Adetshina became the first Nigerian—and the first contestant from Africa—to advance that far. She was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin, Adetshina admitted that her goal was simply to make it to the top 30, but she exceeded her expectations. She expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she received not only from Nigerians but also from Africans.

“It’s an overwhelming experience. I never expected to receive so much love and support and it feels so refreshing to actually feel so loved and respected.”

Despite her historic achievement, Adetshina has decided to quit pageantry.

“Finishing in the top 2 is still a shocker for me. Honestly, I am done. Pageantry was a real traumatic experience for me,’’ she said during an interview on Silverbird Television.

She went on to discuss the impact of cyberbullying on her mental health.

“People don’t understand how I felt; I was down and didn’t want to do Miss Universe. But I’m done with pageantry, and I want to focus on myself and who I am and further my education.”

Though she didn’t take the Miss Universe crown, Adetshina’s journey is far from over. As she hinted at her plans to hit the runway and pursue a career in acting, it is clear that her future holds even more promise.

Joel Benson on Making ‘Mothers of Chibok’

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

Award-winning director Joel ‘Kachi Benson recently premiered his latest documentary on the tragic Chibok girls’ abduction at the annual documentary film festival Doc NYC in New York. The documentary follows the lives of four mothers over a farming season, capturing their perseverance in the wake of the 2014 tragedy when Boko Haram militants kidnapped their daughters in North-east Nigeria. The documentary is lauded for Benson’s visceral portrait of the mothers’ resilience, faith, and enduring hope.

Speaking on his journey making the film, Benson shared that he returned to Chibok in 2021, two years after he made his award-winning virtual reality ‘Daughters of Chibok’ which fetched him the prestigious Best Immersive Story award at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, making him the first African filmmaker to win in that category.

“In the almost three years that I spent making this new film,” he began, “observing the women tirelessly plant and harvest peanuts, season after season, I noticed how much their hard work is often diminished by the middlemen who undercut their profits, leaving them with barely enough to sustain their families. For years, their hard work has been undervalued, their livelihoods dictated by others

who benefit from their labour. But what if we could change this dynamic and place the power directly in their hands?”

Passionate about impact storytelling, Benson is keen on providing new lenses to see these women.

“For the past decade, the world has been telling the same story of Chibok—one of tragedy, loss, and victimhood. But I’ve witnessed something greater, something the media has overlooked,” he said.

He described the women as “not just survivors; they are heroines. They have not forgotten their daughters, but they’ve continued living, finding moments of joy, laughter, and purpose.

“This film captures their full humanity - not just the sorrow - but the strength, the courage, and the quiet moments of triumph. It’s time the world sees these women for who they truly are, not as victims, but as warriors of hope. This is a side to them that not very many are familiar with. And this is why I chose to make Mothers of Chibok – a film about women bravely holding onto hope in the face of adversity.”

‘Mothers of Chibok’ will embark on a home tour in Nigeria on a yet-to-be-disclosed date.

D’Banj Shines in HUE on Lanre Da Silva Fashion Runway

Nigerian music superstar D’banj stole the spotlight at Lanre Da Silva’s Runway Renaissance Initiative, recently held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Closing the show for HUE, a rising Nigerian fashion brand led by Abisoye Olorunnimbe, the ‘Koko Master’ wowed the audience with his striking look. HUE, known for its signature blend of Nigerian fabrics and luxury haute couture, presented its ‘Blossom’ collection—a vibrant display of bold prints and elegant designs. D’banj wore a standout golden hoodie embellished with African prints that captured the essence of the collection.

“Our Blossom collection celebrates individuality, confidence, and the vibrant spirit of Nigerian fashion,” said Olorunnimbe.

A University of Manchester law graduate with over a decade of experience, Olorunnimbe has elevated HUE to one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising fashion brands. “By sourcing unique fabrics worldwide and blending Nigerian textiles with haute couture, we aim to put the country’s talent on the global stage sustainably,” she added.

HUE has graced different fashion shows in Nigeria and abroad and is a regular participant at GTBank Fashion Week, Adire Lagos, and Fashion Souk, among others.

The star-studded event featured appearances from

celebrities like Bisola, Aiyeola, Mimi Onalaja, Kate Henshaw and Funke Kuti, aligning with Lanre Da Silva Ajayi’s mission to promote collaboration and sustainability in fashion.

Speaking on the significance of the project, Lanre Da Silva said, “The Lanre Da Silva Ajayi (LDA) Runway Renaissance aims to empower the fashion industry by supporting talented designers and small-scale producers who prioritize sustainability. By providing a platform for these emerging creatives, we seek to inspire a more conscious approach to fashion, benefiting both people and the planet.”

Spotify’s Skate Noise

Unites

Music Lovers and Skaters

Recently, music streaming giant Spotify transformed Lagos Island’s WAF Skate Park into a vibrant hub of music and culture. Powered by the energetic youthful exuberance of skaters, the event highlighted the growing skate culture that is quietly redefining today’s generation.

Coloured by afrobeats sounds, the event, hosted by Ire Culture, was where music endorphins and sports adrenaline coalesced. While many were present to imbibe the music, others were bedazzled by the gravity-defying stunts of the skaters who, with years of practice, impressed the audience with their sleek moves and effortless

manoeuvring of the man-made landscape.

On the music side of things, the disc jockeys OOO, Dutty Yosa, and WEAREALLCHEMICALS impressed with their dexterity on the turntables.

Performances by Rigo Kamp, Siraheem, and Cruel Santino also captivated the crowd, with Uncle Bubu wrapping up the event with his DJ set, making the night even more memorable.

“Spotify’s commitment to amplifying diverse voices and cultures is at the heart of our mission. Skate Noise is a testament to that commitment,” says Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa.

Uduak Isong Launches Closer Film Night, Celebrates Nollywood’s Online Creatives

Nigerian filmmaker Uduak Isong, in celebration of creatives in the film industry primarily showcasing their productions on streaming platform YouTube, brought together some of the industry’s prominent figures to mark the launch of Closer Film Night (CFN).

The maiden edition, staged at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, served as a platform to showcase online creatives who have continually produced remarkable works to entertain Nigerians. It featured awards that celebrated outstanding achievements in Nollywood and honoured exceptional talent within the industry.

This exclusive event also served as a launchpad for ‘Teacher Dorcas,’ a high school film about a spirited young woman, Teacher Dorcas, posted to head a class of very unruly students. The plot reveals an inspirational story following the passionate teacher (played by Bimbo Ademoye) as she navigates the challenges of her adolescent students, discovers their strengths, and strives to make a positive impact on the school and community. The film features other Nollywood stars such as Lateef Adedimeji, Lasisi Elenu, Calabar Chic, and Chuks Joseph, while introducing

Uduak

several upcoming actors.

Directed by Isong, the film presents an ensemble of fresh faces.

“We have to grow the industry, and the best way to do this is to invest in people to whom we can one day pass the baton,” she explained.

“The next level for me is hopefully a collaboration in the UK because I moved to England about four years ago. So I’m hoping to do a project that cuts across both continents.”

Isong started showcasing some of her movies on YouTube a few years ago as a means to reach a wider audience.

Patience Okhuofu to Direct Epic Film on Queen Idia

Iyke Bede

The story of Idia, Queen Mother of the Benin Empire and one of Nigeria’s historical female icons who fought to secure victory for her people, is set to reach the big screen soon, brought to life under the direction of Patience Okhuofu.

Queen Idia, a powerful and influential figure in Benin Kingdom in the 16th century, played a significant role in her son, Oba Esigie’s ascension to the throne and in securing victories during his reign, particularly through her strategic insights and support. Known for her wisdom and strength, Queen Idia is celebrated not only as a warrior and political advisor but also as a symbol of female empowerment and resilience in the Benin Kingdom.

In recent history, the Benin Ivory Mask, a work commissioned by her son to celebrate her influence, has become a symbol of Nigerian and African culture. In 1977, it was made the face of the FESTAC ‘77 Festival.

“As

Iyke Bede

Iyke Bede

Still from Benson’s ‘Mothers of Chibok’

D’Banj Shines in HUe

Isong

patience Imobhio and patience Okhuofu

a child, I heard countless stories about figures from the Benin Kingdom, particularly Queen Idia. I was always fascinated by her — by what she embodies and stands for. These stories were passed down by the elders, shared at their feet, and they left a lasting impression on me,” said Okhuofu who studied theatre arts.

The Trio Igniting Future of Fashion

A new fashion reality TV series, Style Magnate, is a first of its kind, but the brilliance of the show lies in the hands of three women: Abisola Omolade, the showrunner; Yolanda Okereke, who serves as a producer and the show’s fashion principal; and Dr. Busola Tejumola, the driving force behind Showmax’s growing African content. Together, these women, through the show, are discovering and grooming the next wave of fashion designers. Vanessa Obioha writes

by:

omolade

Tejumola okereke

The Trio Igniting Future of Fashion

By now, you have probably heard about Style Magnate, the new fashion reality TV series streaming on Showmax. The show pits 16 designers against one another, each bringing a unique vision and style, all competing for the coveted N100 million prize. From avantgarde couture to sustainable street-wear, these contestants are redefining African fashion and breaking new ground. Guided by industry experts like Mai Atafo, and hosted by Joseph Benjamin, Style Magnate delivers creativity, drama, and a look into the future of fashion in Africa.

But the brilliance of the show lies in the hands of three women: Abisola Omolade, the showrunner; Yolanda Okereke, who serves as a producer and the show’s fashion principal; and Dr. Busola Tejumola, the driving force behind Showmax’s growing African content. Together, these women, through the show, are discovering and grooming the next wave of fashion designers.

Abisola Omolade:

The Visionary

Style Magnate is a first of its kind, shifting the focus of reality TV in Nigeria towards fashion. For Abisola Omolade, the show’s synergy stems from her dual passions—her love for fashion and her professional experience in the film industry.

Originally from Ekiti State, Omolade is no stranger to the spotlight. A former beauty queen, she holds degrees in accounting, screenwriting, and the business and art of television. She won the Best Art Direction at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for the movie ‘Over The Bridge.’ Her fashion journey was largely influenced by her mother, whose impeccable sense of style left a lasting mark. “She always stood out at events and family gatherings, leaving everyone in awe of her appearance. She paid great attention to how we dressed and presented ourselves, which sometimes led my peers to comment that I was always overdressed for the occasion jokingly,” she recalled.

Omolade’s mother ran a fashion house which inspired Style Magnate. The fashion house produced ready-to-wear items that were exported for sale.

“The designers worked on a strict timeline for production that encompassed everything from fabric sourcing and selection to final labelling and packaging. The sense of urgency that arose as deadlines approached was notable and substantial, as there were consequences in terms of pay cuts for failing to meet targets.”

Witnessing all of these was valuable in creating the show.

As the showrunner of Style Magnate, Omolade is on a mission to challenge common misconceptions about fashion.

“Fashion is often perceived as a realm exclusively for the wealthy, with many assuming that it revolves around high incomes and luxury brands,” she explained.

She hopes the show will debunk this idea by showcasing how accessible fashion can be.

Through features on thrift shopping, upcycling, and DIY projects, the show demonstrates that personal style doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

“Fashion can be embraced on a budget by anyone seeking to curate a unique and fashionable wardrobe.”

Beyond affordability, Omolade wants to redefine the perception that fashion is superficial. “By highlighting the narratives behind different outfits and illustrating how personal style influences confidence and mental well-being, a new perspective of fashion is defined and emerges, emphasizing the deeper significance of fashion beyond mere appearances,” she said.

Putting the show together, however, wasn’t without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles Omolade faced

was overcoming skepticism about the authenticity of a reality fashion show.

“Many individuals held the misconception that a reality show simply involved acting, leading to doubts about the presence of authentic designers,” she revealed. There was also some resistance from designers who either struggled to understand the vision or requested compensation for participating. “This situation was somewhat amusing, considering that the show’s objective was not centred on any specific individual but rather on presenting and introducing the upcoming generation of designers to the fashion world. The show also aimed to instill the values of business management and sustainability within the industry,” she added.

Sustainability and body positivity are at the forefront of current conversations in the fashion industry, and Omolade ensured these topics were a focal point in the show. “We dedicated a whole week/ episode towards this, promoting sustainability in fashion by embracing upcycling as well as promoting models of different body types.”

Cultural representation also plays a key role in Style Magnate. “Fashion is a universal language,” Omolade noted, adding that the show explores design and styling from different cultures to broaden the designers’ perspectives. By embracing fashion across borders, she hopes to give

contestants a deeper appreciation of global design influences.

At its core, the show aims to inspire aspiring designers, regardless of their backgrounds. “To believe that they can achieve global recognition and establish a prominent brand by honing their talents and entrepreneurial skills. Luckily, Showmax has provided a platform that cuts across all social strata, making the show available and accessible to all.”

Yolanda Okereke: The Creative Force

Yolanda Okereke is a well-established name in the fashion world, with over 15 years of experience as a costume designer and stylist in Nollywood. On Style Magnate, Okereke who is a graduate of chemical engineering, takes on the critical role of fashion principal, where she not only guides and mentors the designers but also provides invaluable industry insights that shape the show.

As a lead producer and mentor, Okereke’s responsibilities on Style Magnate extend beyond the camera. “Working as Lead Producer alongside my fellow producers was exciting, but the creative side was even more fun,” she shared, giving a nod to the show’s creator and showrunner, Omolade, whom she describes as “a ball of energy and a fountain of creativity.”

But as Fashion Principal, her role was particularly demanding. “I spent a lot of time with the Magnates, giving counsel and supervising, day in and day out, monitoring their progress on and off-screen, and I still had to sit at the table of Judges to give the verdict. It’s a heavy mantle. As a mother hen, it’s difficult to let one of your kids go. That was the hardest part for me.”

Her years of experience in fashion shaped her approach to her role on the show. She described herself as both compassionate and firm. “In this business, clients know what they want, and without delivering, you lose those clients. I believe I bring the right balance of compassion and expertise that is particular to Nigeria yet with global standards.”

She curated the judging panel and facilitators with the goal of ensuring every contestant leaves with valuable knowledge. “I wanted every talent to take something away from the show.”

Managing creative differences and high expectations is another area where Okereke shines. “I handle it the only way I know— straight to the point but with encouragement and a sprinkle of sugar and spice. But on other days, it’s pure honesty with a resounding ‘No.’ My watchword is that just because you didn’t win today doesn’t mean you’re not the best. It takes a lot of bravery to go on a show like this and be judged under such scrutiny. I applaud them. I enjoyed every moment I spent with them.”

For Okereke, working on Style Magnate is also about personal growth. “I’m evolving as an artist and a businesswoman. Entrepreneurs are the new rock stars, right? This series gives me the opportunity to showcase a different side of the YOLANDA OKEREKE brand. It’s about empowerment, support systems, and building tribes. That’s been a personal goal for me - showcasing not just my work as one of the leading costume designers on the continent but also what I stand for.”

What excites Okereke the most about this project is the opportunity to help others break into the fashion world. “The industry has changed significantly since I started, so being able to be a part of a show that creates a platform to give others opportunities excites me considerably, especially on a pan-African platform such as Showmax. It’s also a way of giving back.”

Busola Tejumola: The ExecutiveVisionary

At the helm of content for Showmax, Dr. Busola Tejumola is responsible for shaping the streaming platform’s bold vision to become Africa’s leading entertainment hub. She is the Executive Head, Content and Channels, West Africa for MultiChoice.

With shows like Style Magnate, she believes that vision is coming to life.

“It’s not just about telling stories—it’s about showcasing the rich diversity of our narratives,” she said. “Style Magnate does exactly that, putting a spotlight on the incredible evolution of the Nigerian fashion industry. We’re witnessing a new wave of designers leading with creativity and innovation, and it’s important that we showcase their talent to the world.”

Tejumola sees the show as part of Showmax’s mission to tell authentic African stories.

“With Showmax, we’re amplifying these voices and staying true to our mission of delivering authentic African stories. Style Magnate provides emerging talents with a platform to display their creativity and gives them the opportunity to make their mark on the global stage. Sharing the journeys of these Magnates is something only Showmax can do - and we’re proud to champion that.”

She described Style Magnate as a show that not only diversifies Showmax’s content but also sets a new entertainment standard. By blending creativity, innovation, and culture, it offers viewers an engaging behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and successes of young African designers, a first for Nigerian reality TV.

Okereke

Tejumola

Omolade

HighLife

Kindness in Action: Lessons from Lolo

The proverb “When the drumbeats change, so must the dance,” fits the person of Lolo Jennifer Madubuko, whose dance has always been one of compassion, simplicity, and farreaching generosity. Through her JDM Global Foundation, especially, the fair lady has almost singlehandedly reshaped the rhythm of hope for countless Nigerians, proving that kindness is a transformative force.

JDM Global Foundation has left an indelible mark on communities like Nkwoagu in Ebonyi State. Recently donating a borehole to Christ Anglican Church in the community, the foundation has improved access to water, a precious resource often taken for granted. This project has directly enhanced the lives of the people as it is a targeted intervention, bringing real relief.

Even more recently, the foundation awarded scholarships to ten pupils in Anambra State, showing the depth of Madubuko’s commitment to ensuring that financial barriers do not limit a child’s potential. She also distributed educational materials to schools across the state to complement her mission of equipping young minds for a brighter future.

What about her other initiatives, like the provision of a motorcycle to an unemployed youth—does it not show that Madubuko supports economic empowerment at the grassroots level?

With gestures such as these, Madubuko has created ripples of opportunity, even encouraging recipients to become self-reliant, while simultaneously inspiring others to do more for their communities. So, whether by enhancing digital literacy, improving healthcare access, or providing relief to underprivileged families, the fair lady’s Foundation is tackling Nigeria’s pressing issues with Indeed, this kind of generosity only stems from a deep personal philosophy. Madubuko, it seems, believes kindness is not reserved for the wealthy but for anyone willing to help. Thus, her simplicity shines in her ability to blend empathy with action, proving that small deeds, when multiplied, can create powerful change.

with KAYoDe ALFreD 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous Globacom: Leading the Class on Corporate Resilience

Years ago, a taxi driver in New York worked late nights to fund his education. Today, that same man, Chief Mike Adenuga Jr, sits atop Globacom, a Nigerian telecoms giant celebrated for its resilience and unmatched vision. Because of his unique business perspective, the Globacom of today is an industry pacesetter.

Globacom’s rise in Nigeria’s telecoms landscape wasn’t easy because it had to compete with multinational giants. Yet, the company was able to carve a niche with affordability and innovation, becoming a household name in the process. Others raised prices, but Glo focused on customerfriendly packages, going on to prove that understanding the market beats size any day.

2024 has been a year of milestones for Glo subscribers. From network expansion to massive customer rewards, the company keeps its users smiling. Even the most pessimistic of these customers now know that Glo initiatives like “Christmas is every day” aren’t just gimmicks—they’re part of a

strategy to build long-term customer loyalty. Beyond mobile networks, Globacom is bridging the digital divide in Nigeria. Its digital skills training, serving up to 100,000 monthly learners, makes it clear that the company is a tech enabler through and through. How else would one label an organisation that is investing in future talents and creating an army of tech-savvy Nigerians ready to tackle global challenges?

Glo’s ambitions extend to entrepreneurship. With planned digital innovation hubs in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Abuja, hubs that promise to make Nigeria not just a consumer of tech but a creator on the global stage, Glo is certainly committed to fostering homegrown startups.

Even in such a crowded industry as telecoms, Globacom remains uniquely Nigerian, resilient in the face of challenges and forward-thinking in its strategy. Its story, shaped especially by Adenuga’s brilliance, is a reminder that with vision and determination, even the toughest competition can be outclassed.

Green Energy International Leads with Innovation in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector

its Rivers oil terminal and is thus set to revolutionise local energy operations. This milestone is evidence of the company’s goal to integrate sustainable solutions with the nation’s energy infrastructure, thereby reinforcing Nigeria’s position in the global oil and gas market.

Established in 2006, GEIL has consistently prioritised energy innovations that benefit local communities and align with international best practices. Its Otakikpo Marginal Field project, for example, has incorporated Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) processing and power generation, the goal of which is to foster economic development and energy security in host communities. So far, it has achieved this.

onshore oil export facility. Once commissioned, this terminal will provide critical support for stranded oil fields in the Niger Delta, and address long-standing logistical bottlenecks surrounding crude production.

Anthony Adegbulugbe, Green Energy’s chairman and CEO, brings decades of expertise to this endeavour. A former adviser to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, Adegbulugbe’s leadership, which is underpinned by a stellar career in energy policy and planning, has helped the company remain a driving force in Nigeria’s energy transformation.

Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), a pioneer in Nigeria’s energy landscape, is nearing the completion of

The Rivers oil terminal represents a historic achievement. Expected to be operational by March 2025, it is widely considered as Nigeria’s first indigenous

Who is After Senator Wamakko?

When the axe forgets, the tree remembers. In Sokoto State, where both history and leaders are highly respected, Senator Aliyu Wamakko’s reputation is taking hits. Critics have brought out sharp accusations about his poor record. Are they just complaints, or did Wamakko upset someone powerful who’s now out for revenge?

Wamakko, who has spent decades in politics, is being accused of leaving behind little for the people of Sokoto. His time as governor is said to have produced weak projects; his nine years as senator have been described as impossibly unimpressive. People are asking: what has he really done for his district?

The worst comparisons are with his predecessor, Senator Ibrahim Lamido, who has spent less time in office but has achieved more. Lamido is praised for helping young people get educated and supporting victims of insecurity. Wamakko’s critics argue that he

hasn’t done anything nearly as meaningful or impactful in his district.

But some people think these attacks on Wamakko are too organised to be random. Could it be that he annoyed someone powerful along the way? Sokoto politics is full of rivalries and grudges, so maybe this is payback. If so, Wamakko may have underestimated his opponents.

But how does someone who ruled Sokoto for years, in a state where leaders are respected like elders, find himself in this mess? Maybe he forgot the rules of Nigerian politics—when to give, when to smile, and who to stay on good terms with.

Meanwhile, Sokoto’s residents are cheering for Lamido, who is tackling insecurity and supporting widows, while Wamakko’s achievements look small in comparison. If Wamakko has done good work, where are his defenders? Silence from his camp makes

Strategic partnerships have been integral to Green Energy’s success. Collaborating with Atlantic Terminal Infrastructure Ltd., GEIL is achieving construction milestones efficiently. These alliances have helped the company to deliver on ambitious projects while maintaining high ethical and operational standards.

w amakko

people wonder even more.

Whether these complaints are fair or not, it’s clear that Sokoto’s political drama is heating up. The big question is: can Wamakko recover, or has the damage already been done?

How Agboola Ajayi Lost Woefully to Governor Aiyedatiwa

Agboola Ajayi’s 2024 governorship run in Ondo State was a tragic comedy. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seemed to have handed him a ticket but forgot to give him the “umbrella” to shield him from the storm. In the end, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa rained on Ajayi’s parade, leaving him soaked and shivering at the polls.

Ajayi’s loss wasn’t a quiet stumble; it was a loud crash. Even in his hometown, Ese-Odo, where he should have danced freely, Aiyedatiwa led by nearly double the votes. If home support is a solid roof, Ajayi’s was clearly thatched and leaking profusely.

The PDP’s house was no better—a

mansion divided against itself. Ajayi couldn’t rally party members after the primaries, which led to defections by key aspirants. Some switched camps so fast that Ajayi was left standing alone in the cold political market.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), with a chest bursting with cash, turned the election into a grand auction. Naira notes reportedly flew like confetti at a wedding, while PDP’s financial offerings looked more like pocket change. Voters didn’t just turn their backs on Ajayi; they turned their wallets to the highest bidder.

To make matters worse, Aiyedatiwa had the full backing of Tinubu and nine APC governors. They came, saw, and conquered. With the bonus of incumbency, Aiyedatiwa

wooed traditional rulers and community leaders, appointing enough assistants to populate a small village. Ajayi simply couldn’t match the arsenal.

Even former governor Olusegun Mimiko, who might have been Ajayi’s saving grace, stayed as neutral as a referee at a friendly match. Without Mimiko’s endorsement, Ajayi’s chances shrank faster than yam under a goat’s watch.

What’s next for Ajayi? He could return to the drawing board—or perhaps switch parties, again. After all, this is a man who has worn more political jerseys than a football fan on harsh days. For now, though, he’s left to lick his wounds and count his losses.

Adenuga

Ajayi

Adegbulugbe

2027 Lagos Gubernatorial Race: Who Will Succeed Sanwo-Olu?

The Lagos political scene is buzzing as talks about Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s successor begin to surface. With 2027 still a few years away, names like Obafemi Hamzat, Mudashiru Obasa, Tokunbo Abiru, and Femi Gbajabiamila are quietly entering discussions.

Hamzat, the current Deputy Governor, is from a powerful family legacy rooted in Lagos politics. His late father, Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, was a founding member of the influential Justice Forum, which gives Hamzat a firm base within the political structure that has shaped modern Lagos.

Then there is Obasa, the longest-serving Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He commands immense grassroots support and is known for his resilience in overcoming political challenges. Obasa’s strong ties to local communities particularly make him a force to reckon with, not to mention his alignment with the Mandate Group further strengthens his position.

Other names, like Senator Tokunbo Abiru and Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are also being mentioned as

Intrigues as Taxman, Zacch Adedeji’s Friends, Foes Make A Beeline

for His Abuja Home

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, is rapidly becoming the centre of attraction in Abuja. Known for his groundbreaking tax reforms, Adedeji’s rise in influence has drawn admirers and critics alike to his doorstep, each eager to bask in his growing spotlight.

Under his leadership, the FIRS has achieved historic milestones, including surpassing revenue targets and streamlining Nigeria’s tax system. Adedeji’s efforts to unify taxes and integrate technology have made tax compliance easier for businesses and individuals. These accomplishments have positioned him as one of Nigeria’s most influential policymakers.

One standout reform is the introduction of windfall taxes on banking profits from forex policies, a move that boosted revenue and curbed financial disparities. Coupled with his advocacy for equitable VAT distribution, Adedeji has cemented himself as a champion of balanced fiscal policies benefiting all Nigerians.

Yet, while many flock to his residence armed with compliments and camaraderie, their intentions often

The Nigerian government must take a firm stand against the spread of fake news and rumours, especially when they target prominent figures like Mike Adenuga. False claims about his health have stirred unnecessary panic, so it is left to the government to address this spate of misinformation to maintain public trust.

appear misplaced. A proverb says, “The man who eats without labour builds his house on sand.” Adedeji’s success is the fruit of discipline, not flattery, a lesson many of his new companions might ignore.

Indeed, the scene around Adedeji’s home paints a comedic picture. The same voices that once doubted his competence now echo with praise. Instead of adopting his ethic of diligence, some opt for the shortcut of flattery, forgetting that genuine respect is earned, not bought.

Moreover, Adedeji’s insistence on integrity extends beyond policies. By training FIRS staff and enforcing accountability, he has transformed the agency into a model of professionalism. Those who hope to emulate his success would do better to embody these values than to queue outside his home with platitudes.

As the taxman continues his transformative work, the growing crowd around him serves as a reminder: success attracts admiration, but it also tests character. For Zacch Adedeji, his accomplishments speak louder than any flattery, leaving Nigerians to hope that his influence continues to inspire systemic change.

potential candidates. Abiru’s corporate ties and Gbajabiamila’s national profile add intrigue to the mix. But neither’s grassroots influence seems solid enough for them to contest against Hamzat or Obasa.

One thing that is clear from all the debates is that the 2027 race will not just be about personalities but also alliances. Lagos has never run on the personalities of individuals, so the grassroots and familiarity with them will certainly contribute to who emerges as the top dog. So, as the underground work begins, such strategic considerations will shape the landscape of campaigns.

As an African proverb goes, “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” Here, it is also obvious that the grass is why the elephants are fighting in the first place. But the people would only care about who best represents their interests, which is what all aspirants, whether out in the open or biding their time, should be bearing in mind now.

Time for FG to Take on Fake News Merchants, Rumour Mongers

Adenuga’s impact on Nigeria and Africa is undeniable. As the chairman of Globacom, he has contributed greatly to the Nigerian economy. Moreover, his entrepreneurial journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Africa’s richest individuals is an inspiration to many.

So, Adenuga’s health is vital not just to his family, but to the economy of Nigeria. The stronger he is, the more people can draw from his experiences to put in more effort in driving various industries in the country.

Of course, Adenuga’s influence goes beyond business. His generosity and commitment to supporting the Nigerian people have earned him the respect of many. From educational initiatives to his contributions to telecommunications, Adenuga has proven that wealth can be a powerful tool for positive change.

The misinformation about Adenuga’s health shows that there is a larger issue of how false narratives can harm society. For a country like Nigeria, where rumours spread quickly through social media, the government needs to be proactively involved, stepping in to combat these damaging stories and promote the truth.

This should especially apply to people like Adenuga whose work ethic is legendary. Far from being a recluse, the man continues to work on projects that drive the country’s growth, proving that age and wealth do not deter his active involvement in national affairs.

So, the Nigerian government’s response to such rumours should not just be about addressing a single incident but creating a culture of accountability.

Prince Femi Akinruntan Celebrates Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s RemarkableVictory

“The child who does not cry will not get the mother’s breast.” This Yoruba proverb speaks to the value of resilience and the determination to achieve victory against all odds, just as Prince Femi Akinruntan celebrated Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s remarkable win in the Ondo State governorship race.

Akinruntan’s joy at Aiyedatiwa’s victory is evident. As a figure with deep ties to Ondo’s progress, Akinruntan expressed his satisfaction in seeing Aiyedatiwa emerge victorious despite the challenges faced. It is a moment of pride for all who understand the immense stakes in this race, particularly when a leader with such experience supports the outcome.

Aiyedatiwa’s win was impressive, given the intense political atmosphere and the fierce competition he faced. Securing 366,781 votes, Aiyedatiwa defeated his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi, by a wide margin. The odds against him, including allegations of electoral malpractices and accusations of voter intimidation, did little to deter the governor-elect’s success in winning

the trust of Ondo’s people.

Despite the challenges, Akinruntan, a man who has built his legacy on resilience and foresight, likely knew that Aiyedatiwa’s victory was not only possible but probable. Akinruntan’s experience in handling the complexities of business and politics in Ondo gives him an insight into the political dynamics that outsiders may overlook.

Both Akinruntan and Aiyedatiwa are legends in their own right, with Akinruntan’s leadership in the oil industry and Aiyedatiwa’s political triumphs shaping the future of Ondo. They are individuals who understand the power of hard work, vision, and commitment. Their paths may differ, but their shared dedication to Ondo’s prosperity unites them.

Ondo is undoubtedly better for having both of these men at the helm in their respective domains. Akinruntan’s legacy in the energy sector has revolutionised Ondo’s place in Nigeria’s industrial landscape, while Aiyedatiwa’s leadership promises to continue

this transformation with political stability and growth.

At this moment, both Akinruntan and Aiyedatiwa are a symbol of what is possible when resilience, vision, and hard work come together for the good of the people. Under their leadership, Ondo is likely going to be brighter.

The Slow Path to the Africa Energy Bank

The Africa Energy Bank, spearheaded by Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), is an ambitious project. Scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2025, the bank aims to provide essential funding for oil, gas, and energy projects on the continent, reducing dependence on foreign capital. But it has been slow.

According to reports, despite the bank’s promising potential, financing remains a significant barrier. While $5 billion in initial capital has been set as a goal, only a portion has been raised. APPO member countries have committed to contributing, but the funds are not flowing as quickly as expected, which is hindering the bank’s ability to meet its 2025 launch target.

Commentators have pointed out several factors that might be responsible for this slow pace in securing funds. The ongoing global shift towards renewable energy is one, and reduced investment in fossil fuels is another, both of which have made it more challenging to attract financial backing for oil and gas projects. With the uncertainty from these external pressures, investors are clearly hesitant to commit significant resources to the project.

Furthermore, the global divestment from fossil fuel projects, especially from international oil companies, has compounded the situation. With more than 88% of financing for Africa’s largest fossil fuel companies previously coming from foreign sources, the reluctance to invest in hydrocarbons has left African projects vulnerable to international financial trends.

If the financing issues are not addressed promptly, the Africa Energy Bank may fail to deliver on its promise. This could leave many energy projects stalled, further perpetuating the energy crisis in Africa. Then, the continent’s aspirations to use its vast energy resources for development could remain unfulfilled, which could translate to long-term economic stagnation and energy insecurity.

Ultimately, without accelerated funding and stronger financial commitment from member countries, the project risks falling short of its goal. Then, the expectations about reducing energy poverty and harnessing the vast hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of Africa’s growing population would have been for nothing.

Sanwo-Olu

Ibrahim

Adedeji

Akinruntan

Tinubu

g ood r iddance for d anladi u mar

There is no other way to write this but just straight to the point. The announcement that the Senate has stepped in and gotten rid of this person has given not only me but the whole country a huge sense of relief. Mbok, the man was everywhere. We remember the role he played during the Justice Walter Onnoghen saga in which a just and upright man was disgraced out of office on the platform of the CCT that this person had turned under Buhari into a caricature. As if that was not enough, the next thing is seeing him fighting in the open market and bringing public

ridicule and opium upon himself and his office.

Rightly, the Senate through its leader Senator Opeyemi moved in and had about 84 senators invoke a clause to kick this “irritant” into the gutter with the admonishment that never again should Nigerians be saddled with this kind “yeye” official.

For me, when you weaken institutions, people like this slip through the cracks and emerge in positions of influence and power and then use that to unleash mayhem on Nigerians. I really do thank the

Senate for behaving seriously out of character on this one. They have done right which is making me want to ask them, “wetin happen this time” because this our Senate under this dispensation “na one kind o.”

I really do hope that this would mark a great sign of better things to come from them. This was a masterstroke and they should not even leave it at that but should push for prosecution of this individual if there is any cause so as to serve as a deterrent to others like him. Thank you.

Umar

I have seen a list and I counted about 14 spokesmen with convoluting and confusing nomenclature. The whole thing is complex and worse than confusing, and the sad thing is that they are all on payroll, complete with official benefits.

Then you now add the ego that comes with the whole thing and all you get is a confusion worse than the biblical tower of Babel.

Mbok, Obong Tinubu, what exactly do we need 14 of these people for?

This is bigger than just looking for a job for the boys na. They simply are just running into each other’s feet, catfighting like market women and not really pushing the job which is to sell the President’s image.

Obong Tinubu, let me tell you very clearly that you have the worst public image of a sitting President since Abacha and this can be traced directly to these “little” men that are representing you.

In that your team, you have Tunde Rahman who has the depth, calmness and maturity to build a beautiful image for the presidency but we don’t get to see or hear of him much but na all these Kikuyu soldiers dem Bayo dem and now this Bwala Iscariot that we are seeing and hearing all over the place throwing up a chaotic image for the Presidency.

This whole thing is making us miss great presidential spokesmen like Duro Onabule, even Chukwumerije and the great Dr. Reuben Abati who ensured cohesion, professional funnelling of information and a stout defence of governmental policy.

Mbok, Obong Tinubu let’s just have one, abeg, the rest can be farmed out as sole administrators to various farmlands and regions shebi it’s looking like we are in a monarchy abi?

a daniel Bwala in The lions’ den Dressed like a Kenyan Kikuyu farmer, he strolled onto the dais and announced himself something. I just dey look with consternation, asking myself what is even wrong with him? He cannot calm down and behave like my brother Seyi Law who after being appointed Special Adviser to the Governor for something has been running around Ondo State like he is the founding father.

He sat very comfortably and spoke like he had just won the presidential elections. Na common appointment o, yeye appointment sef. All 14 of them o and he was just one of the 14 and immediately, he assumed authority.

Mbok, not a few minutes later, they poured him cold water. As he was about to remove his drenched clothes, they poured him another round of smelly fish water and as he was spitting out the water, they slapped

him. He did not see the slap which blinded him and led him to the backwater of spokesmen.

A non-principled man is like this Daniel. His public utterances have kept him within the backwaters of Nigerian public space. His shamefaced U-turns on policies, issues and allegiances made him a prime character for a regime struggling for acceptance, but alas a crocodile is a crocodile and before you knew it, he wanted to take over and his coup failed.

Me just dey laugh for here. This Daniel no be the biblical Daniel that tamed the lions o, this one will want to eat them if they give him the slightest opportunity. Well, wetin concern us, is it our government?

a liTTle prayer For davido

This genius has just announced that he would be donating about N300million to orphanages to mark his birthday. This is not the first time he would be doing something this magnanimous to the underprivileged as he continues to be that one artist whose love for humanity continues to resonate.

At my age, I should not be really “famzing” over the chewing gum generation with their idol, but there is something about this particular artist that resonates with me.

Many weekends I find myself

scouring through his videos, documentaries, and features on him and I must confess, he is the only one that I am following on Instagram. I continue to marvel at the way he handles his fame, his longevity as an artist being another source of attraction and his love for tradition as you see him bow to his parents and elders, then his approach to his civic duties – elections in Osun, front row in the firsts protests which led him to a meeting with the IG of Police amongst others.

Davido continues to interest not only me but also millions of Nigerians which makes us watch and pray for him as we begin to see his dainty efforts at transitioning in his music career away from teenager-driven tunes to a much more mature ensemble as can be seen with his collaborations with such beautiful dated wines like Angelique Kidjo. Happy birthday Aburo and may God grant you a long life and continued prosperity. Please don’t forget orphanages in Shomolu o. Thank you.

Bello Fadile: a Tragic ‘coup ploTTer’

I must confess that like many Nigerians, who sorely believed that the 1995 coup was a phantom, do now owe General Abacha some modicum of an apology.

presidenT Bola TinuBu and his BaBel oF spokesmen

d avido

Tinubu Fadile

He had rounded up many prominent Nigerians including this Col Fadile and accused them of plotting to overthrow his government. This action elicited a lot of hue and cry from the public because it was said to be a phantom as at that time, there was no real evidence of a plot.

Chief Obasanjo lost his freedom, Musa Yar’Adua lost his life and others like Beko Ransom Kuti and Chris Anyanwu paid very dearly for their involvement or otherwise.

Now, I have just seen a review of the book written by his publishers that says that indeed there was a coup. This Fadile has finally come out to say that indeed there was a plot and although the review that I have read did not state the involvement or otherwise of the aforementioned “heroes” of democracy, it as a matter of fact mentioned that the Holy Mary according to the author did not allow the soldiers to see his “coup speech” despite three attempts at it.

Mbok, today is a sad day for democracy and Nigerians. So, all of these years we abused and railed Abacha even though that one get “him own” and that is why it was easy to sell the narrative of the phantom coup, so na true.

Hiding under the canopy of restoring democracy by planning a coup is a thinly veiled lie that Fadile’s superiors had used in the past and we saw what came out of it. Na the same restoring democracy bring IBB, na him bring Abacha sef and we all saw what they restored.

This Fadile is a “wicked” man o. He kept quiet all of these years only to come and write one yeye book and confess. He is lucky that we are in a democracy because if this were a military regime, he would see a personalised decree backdated now now, and his family would be running to a white garment church for a miracle.

What this means is that we all have to be very careful about how we jump on issues, especially issues like this.

Mbok, where can I get the book –Nine Lives- I need to read it end to end so that I can take my time and finish this Fadile person, a tragic “Coup Plotter.” Kai, so there was a coup. Fear this life o.

GenerAl Femi oluYede: ZombieS everYwhere

My brother, should I say congratulations on your new appointment or should I just keep quiet on that part considering the sad circumstances that led to your emergence? But let me first send in my condolences on the passing of your immediate predecessor as I hear that he was a fine soldier and a gentleman. Anyway, my brother, I am sure you have seen the video of your colleague General showing power on the main road. I know you have seen it because I have seen a report issued by your PR people saying that an investigation has been ordered on the matter.

A whole two-star General? This one is “bolekaja” General o. Why would he allegedly be involved in something like this no matter how badly he was triggered? Why? This shows a lot about the institution that you head. It is very sad that after the over 100 years of life of the Nigerian Army and

Abiodun Shob A njo: PA l PA ble e xcitement

I must remain very grateful to those who have given me the opportunity to write this column o. You will soon know why. As a young jobless boy in Lagos, I had two people I used to look up to – Prince Nduka Obaigbena and Mr. Biodun Shobanjo and the reason was simple: bowties.

These two used to adorn bowties and looked very regal in them. So, when I started work in a little advertising agency wanting to be like Mr. Shobanjo, I would go to Yaba and buy an “okrika” bowtie. I would wear it so proudly that for a moment, I felt I was Mr. Shobanjo.

These two without knowing, sculpted my growth trajectory in both media and advertising. Because of them, I went into both spaces with alarming failure. I have failed in almost everything I have put my hands on in both media and advertising but it still did not and has not dampened my enthusiasm about my love for both men. I have a picture of Mr. Obaigbena hanging on the wall of my bedroom. I took a picture with him during Covid. He had the mask on and did not know that I had taken the picture. Now for Mr. Shobanjo, I have never met. I only read about him, see him from afar and have my brother

Mudi talk glowingly about him. The closest I came to meeting with him was going to see my brother Bolaji Okusaga who was running Quadrant for him at the time but Bolaji carry me go eat afang making me miss the opportunity.

So, you can imagine my excitement when my sister Tosh Adefeko showed me a letter written by the legendary Biodun Shobanjo stating that he reads this column and that he was ready to “show” me pepper during the upcoming interview on my podcast.

Mbok, I screamed o, ran out of the toilet and called Duchess. Finally, I not only get to meet one of the most iconic Nigerians ever but get to sit with him for 45 minutes to talk to him o.

If you guys don’t know Shobanjo and his contributions to marketing communications, PR and advertising, then I cannot help you. This is the man ooooo. My God this is the man and I get to meet him finally 40 years after I came to Lagos.

I cannot wait. I have bought the shirt and shorts I will wear, complete with white socks and I will hold my “okrika” bowtie for hand and ask him to sign an autograph for me o. Mbok, see Ibibio man in Lagos making waves, Kai.

despite the gallant men and officers including my great townsman 001 who was the very first Nigerian to be enlisted into the Army that have passed through, we still get to see these things happening.

My plea, my dear General, is to go beyond the investigation and put in place clear terms of engagement between your men and civil society abeg. The wahala is too much.

Soldiers will be walking on the main road, with their chest out and fists clenched just looking for who to beat. The stories are everywhere and now Generals have joined in fighting on the streets and bullying people up and down.

Mbok, they should carry their frustration and go and fight the Lion in UI zoo and leave hapless Nigerians alone. The beating we are getting from the agbado economy is enough for us to come and add “unknown soldier” to the matter.

What is it na? Even me, though I have been threatened by one even that one na navy general, me I kuku trust myself, I gave him the abuse of his life, threatening me with Naval ratings armed to the teeth over alumni election.

My mama fight civil war, I grow up near barracks, and I go command secondary school so you cannot use soldiers and threaten me. But then again, those of us who are just innocent and harmless like this young man beaten up and arrested simply because he overtake Oga as reported nko? This was just too much abeg, especially for an Army that has its work cut out for it in the South-east and North-west.

By the way, one man has sent a video threatening to destroy Nnewi if they bury Senator Uba there. Can you kindly send this Major General and his boys after that man, because he be like say this your General no too busy as he dey fight for main road? Msheww.

mc oluomo: A Pitbull And the 2027

electionS

I have always known that this man will never agree to the Appeal Court judgement. Which judgement in this jungle that we have found ourselves? The report is out that my paddy has ignored the judgement and hunkered down on the seat. If anybody thinks that this fight is about NURTW, then hunger must have scattered his senses I swear. This fight in my head is about the 2027 elections, simple, and my brother will certainly be mad to just walk away from such a sensitive and all-pervading structure because of one “yeye” judgement.

The whole thing is just unfolding, grab your popcorn and watch. You will have fun. Thank you.

nonnY

uGbomA:

A Quick Shout out.

Mbok, let me quickly just holla my sister and good friend, Nonny Ugboma, the former Executive Secretary of the huge MTN Foundation. Nonny who left to go pursue a PhD has come back to town and has quickly jumped into the thick of things. I hear she is on some kind of national assignment in Abuja and I really do wish her well. Well done my sister and let’s catch up soon.

Shobanjo

As Ifeanyi Ubah Goes Home in a Blaze of Glory

The late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah would be compared with a shooting star across the midnight sky that suddenly disappeared unannounced when many were still amazed by its beauty.

Until his death, the senator who represented Anambra South Senatorial District touched many lives, he gave laughter to many homes, fed many hungry mouths, gave succour to many hearts and gave hope to many hopeless.

Though his style and approach to some issues may be distasteful to many, he held his passion with absolute conviction, fighting many battles that would easily cowered the faint hearts. He dared the mighty, ventured into the unknown, and took the trophies everywhere he went. He was simply fearless!

Since his death was announced in July, tributes have been pouring in for the man whose milk of kindness has variously been described as second to none.

The man, who was also the Chairman, Capital Oil, was generous to a fault. He was unapologetically committed to the upliftment of his community, while also helping the course of humanity.

Society Watch gathered there were many remarkable tributes about the countless lives he touched and the enduring legacy he left behind during his lying-in-state.

Ubah was described as a tenacious businessman, philanthropist and public servant. Throughout his lifetime, he dedicated himself to the service of the people of his state and constituency.

As the titan went home last Friday in a blaze of glory after his remains were committed to Mother Earth, it became obvious that the nation as a whole would surely miss a shrewd businessman, distinguished politician and man born to serve humanity.

Ondo Guber Election: A Happy Ending for the ‘Lucky’ Man

“Friendship is like paper. It will never be the same once crumpled’’

The just-concluded governorship election in Ondo State was one filled with many intrigues and shocking stories. For Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, it was no doubt a story of a happy ending, particularly going by the battles he fought on the road to securing the top job.

Back in 2021 when his late boss, former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu picked him as his running mate for that year’s election, it was generally believed that the succession battle would be smooth and without rancour.

It was reported back then that Aiyedatiwa, an established Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, had a sterling relationship with the first lady. The relationship, which sources claimed was business-related, was one reportedly built on trust and seemed like one birthed in heaven and consummated on earth.

It was gathered that Aiyedatiwa was introduced to the first lady by a friend who at the time was said to be a senior aide to Akeredolu. In no time, the ever-smiling Aiyedatiwa earned the trust of the first lady who at the time would swear by Amadioha, the god of thunder, on the loyalty of the now-Governor Aiyedatiwa.

It was once a chummy relationship that was the envy of many in the state.

Providence played a sweet and melodious tune for Aiyedatiwa to dance when an intractable disagreement broke out between Governor Akeredolu and his thendeputy, Agboola Ajayi, who was subsequently dumped when the race for the second term began. Talk at the time was that Agboola was ambitious to take over his boss’ position. The search for a trusted and loyal deputy did not take long, as Betty reportedly remembered Aiyedatiwa.

It was, therefore, a huge shock for many in the inner circle of the late governor when the first lady took the battle to her erstwhile ‘good boy’ while the husband was on the sick bed. Back then, no one could ever have predicted that the duo would one day live like cat and mouse.

The camaraderie did not last, as they parted ways in one of the messiest circumstances, accusing Aiyedatiwa of alleged treachery and betrayal of trust. However, in politics, such an occurrence is not strange but no one foresaw the crumbling of their friendship so soon.

In the heat of the crisis and before his death, Akeredolu moved to remove Aiyedatiwa through the House of Assembly but failed. Aiyedatiwa was almost

What has Bright Echefu got to offer this time around? Can he be trusted? These are the questions that are agitating the minds of many Nigerians when the businessman launched his latest Pay-TV, LUFT TV.

The uncertainty swirling around his new venture is somewhat expected. The man has broken the hearts of his lovers, not once but twice, three years apart.

Echefu came out with Telecom Satellites Limited, TSTV in 2017. Touted as the first and only fully indigenous Pay-TV operator in the country, TSTV entered the industry on October 1, 2017, with enticing offerings that raised the hopes of many Nigerians. Its decision to launch on the country’s Independence Day was said to be symbolic of a declaration of ‘freedom’ in the PayTV industry.

He promised Nigerians ‘heaven and earth’ as excitement rented the air while many saw it as a way to finally escape from the shackles of DStv and GOtv. But the promise faded soon after the launch. He staged another comeback three years later with the promise to offer Nigerians the best

Again, Oil Mogul, wale Tinubu, Shines!

If bells could ring for every achievement, Jubril Adewale Tinubu’s would chime ceaselessly.

In fact, it has become a tradition that any time Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, appears on the scene, the bells will sound impressively in honour of the extraordinary oil and gas mogul, whose impact will resonate for generations to come.

He is one of Nigerian business magnates redefining the tapestry of the African economic sector, particularly the oil and gas business.

Many are aware that Tinubu had a background in Law. But sometime in the early 1990s, the Lagos Stateborn serial entrepreneur found the allure of oil and gas so irresistible that he dumped his first love, law. Thereafter, he followed his heart’s desire by floating the Ocean and Oil business organisation.

Today, the business has not only earned him fame and wealth but has also contributed in great measures to the economic development of Africa and beyond.

Again, Tinubu shone brilliantly during the recently held Africa Energy Week (AEW), which is the African Energy Chamber’s annual event, uniting African

energy leaders, global investors and executives from across the public and private sectors.

Quite expected, all eyes were on him at the recent interactive conference, exhibition and networking event held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CITCC).

In a category, comprising other high-profile deals in the sector and across Africa, Oando won the award in recognition of the Company’s recently completed landmark $783 million acquisition of the Agip from the Italian Energy firm Eni on 22 August 2024.

The Deal of the Year Award, it was gathered, recognises the most transformative and impactful deal in the energy sector – honouring excellence in negotiation, strategic alignment, innovation and collaboration, while celebrating deals that drive advancements in energy and economic growth.

Receiving the award, a visibly excited Tinubu said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive the ‘Deal of the Year’ award from Africa Energy Week.

“This award is more than just an accolade for a successful deal closure; it represents a public

like a pariah; many people didn’t want to touch even a ten-foot pole. But immediately after the death of the former governor and Aiyedatiwa was sworn in, his home instantly became a mecca of sorts while those who despised him in the past now go to him with hats in hands.

Pay-TV experience. However, it was yet another failed promise, as its service remained intermittent, leaving subscribers who had invested in the company’s decoders with constant complaints.

TSTV completely went off the radar again in March last year and has remained absent to date with no particular explanation to subscribers beyond intermittent apologies for ‘technical glitches’ during its active days.

Society Watch gathered that TSTV is currently embroiled in a N380 million fraud-related case filed against it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). So it was not surprising that when he unveiled LUFT TV recently, many listened to his statement with complete incredulity.

Echefu spoke about the TSTV, which has remained off the radar severally, saying it is not dead. He hinted that TSTV subscribers would soon be onboarded onto LUFT TV.

Like the popular quote “Promises are worse than lies. Because you make others hope for something that you’re not sure you can give,” it is doubtful if many would ever trust him again for the third time.

acknowledgement of the culmination of 30 years of grit, hard work, resilience, and sheer belief in our vision. It is a testament to my belief that with the Humans of Oando, impossible is nothing. I’d like to thank the dream team, the Humans of Oando, our financiers, and partners for their belief and role in making this award a reality,” he added.

Gas King, Julius r one’s Giant Strides

Amidst the global current economic headwinds, especially the uncertainty hovering over the oil and gas terrain around the world, a situation that has led many businessmen to gnash their teeth, Julius Rone, remains one Nigerian businessman playing a very significant role in bridging the gap and creating new waves of transformation and renaissance in the gas sector.

Rone is undoubtedly a huge testament to having faith in oneself. The Delta State-based business mogul has remained focused and committed to his vision of championing the LNG in the country.

The serial entrepreneur has established himself as a businessman of note who holds a special place among the class of businessmen in Africa; he is blessed with unparalleled disposition, unequalled business wisdom and ingenuity to see opportunities where others see failure.

Surely, 2024 has been an eventful and blissful one for the Delta State-born. He is ending the year a happy man with strings of success stories

to his credit.

A few weeks ago, in a groundbreaking development, UTM Offshore Limited secured a $350m loan with the African Export-Import Bank for the finance of the project considered

the first and most remarkable in the gas industry.

Many would recall September 2024 when Rone was granted a construction licence by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to build Nigeria’s inaugural floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. The project, expected to produce 2.8 million metric tons of LNG annually, aligns with the government’s objectives for gas expansion and utilisation of Nigeria’s proven gas reserves. It was revealed that UTM was initially authorised to construct a facility with a capacity of 1.2 million tons per annum in 2019, but this was later enhanced to 2.8 million tons due to rising demand for LNG in the market.

Without a doubt, Rone’s uncommon daring spirit and survival instinct have made him overcome the teething challenges.

Aiyedatiwa

wale Tinubu

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS &

A publicAtion

Meaningful Connections for These Times

abuja open house, the federal capital’s flagship art event, breaks new ground with a strategic date change, unleashing a fresh wave of creative expression and innovation. okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

Quite remarkably, Abuja Open House, the resplendent annual art extravaganza, has pulled off a stunning calendrical sleight of hand this year—a daring departure from the status quo! In a bold stroke, the organisers have shattered the shackles of tradition, pushing the dates forward by one month—from the usual October 26 to 30 schedule to November 28 to December 1. But the question is: would this strategic shift yield a more auspicious outcome? Only time (and the art world’s cognoscenti) will tell, but one thing’s certain: Abuja Open House has just become the most anticipated art event of the season.

Under the current circumstances, this federal capital city’s four-day galleryhopping odyssey will be greatly poised to reap significant benefits from its new dates, having sidestepped potential clashes with prominent art festivals in Enugu and Lagos. By yielding to the whims of necessity, this shift in its dates enables it to command greater attention from the art community.

Of course, this year’s deft creative calibration also attests to the organisers’ adaptability and savvy. As expected, this scheduling convenience brings a symphony of benefits, including increased foot traffic, heightened engagement, and an art community abuzz with anticipation. Now, aficionados no longer torn between attending multiple festivals can indulge in the federal capital city’s vibrant visual feast without distraction.

Then the fact that this year’s installment, as the fourth, seeks to consolidate on the gains of the previous ones by exploring signs and meanings is affirmed by its theme, “Semiotic Connections.” A further elaboration of this theme du jour suggests that it wraps a rich mosaic, interlacing the threads of Abuja’s cultural DNA. The past, present, and future converge, illuminating growth trajectories and birthing novel opportunities for artistic expression. Analytical thinking meets creative genius as contemporary art practice is redefined. The result? A kaleidoscope of perspectives, refracting the essence of the city’s cultural landscape.

Every previous iteration of the Abuja Open House, also known by its abbreviation AOH, signifies a pivotal moment of growth, marked by discovery, sharing, and learning. As the organisers note, this progression forms a triangle of creative excellence. Analogous to a pyramid, the AOH establishes a solid foundation, converging and synchronising the framework that explores Abuja’s creative spaces, connects creatives, and encourages fervent art consumption.

“Abuja may appear soulless from afar, as many have described it in the past,” explained Ndubuisi Nduwhite Ahanonu, who co-founded the IICD Center alongside the late Harrison Ikibah, in an earlier interview. “However, deconstructing this

psychological stereotype is part of the IICD Center’s mission. Our distinct approach operates as an open, thematic, experimental art space, integrating pedagogical and creative processes within the industry.” Besides repositioning the ideology and

creative narratives of Abuja’s art scene, the centre operates an international artists’ residency programme, fostering innovative synergies and creative collaborations.

As its brainchild, the AOH, in keeping with its tradition, offers a rich cultural buffet, nurturing a deeper appreciation of art and inspiring collective exploration. Through curated conversations with visionary speakers and thematic exhibitions featuring talented contemporary artists, this vibrant platform empowers the community to engage with art on a profound level. As a demonstration of its transformative impact, it has instilled confidence in creatives and fuelled the city’s art ecosystem, encouraging innovative initiatives and contributing to Abuja’s artistic growth.

The 2024 edition unfolds with a private opening and art exhibition, titled Synchronicity, on Thursday, November 28, at 5 pm, which will be hosted by the Nordic Villa, Abuja.

The following day, Friday, November 29, kicks off with an opening conference at 9 am at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, followed by a digital art exhibition, titled Tech and Hospitality, at 1 pm. In the evening, an art exhibition will take place at 6 pm at the Atrium Gallery, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters.

On Saturday, November 30, an artists talk titled “The Artist, the Curator, the Gallery, and the Collector” will be held in collaboration with Treasures4Life AGH at 11 a.m. Later that day, another art exhibition will open at 6 p.m. at Moeshen Gallery.

The event concludes with a closing ceremony, an Abuja Open House Prize announcement, and an art exhibition titled Ways of Seeing on Sunday, December 1, at Fraser Suites, Abuja.

This year’s edition features an exceptional lineup of talented artists. Behnaz Chahkandi and Yetonyon Nunayon Taiwo exhibit their works at the Atrium Gallery, while Philip Adaramola, Michael Osa-Afiana, Umi-Amara Ibrahim, Safiya Adam, and Sadiq Suleiman display their creative genius at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The Fraser Suites group salon exhibition brings together an impressive collective of Luke Osaro, Ogunleye Adeleke, Franklyn Enebeli, Ayooluwa Akinrinola, and Abdul-quadr Olamide Ojelade, offering a diverse and captivating display of artistic expression. Chinedu Chidebe’s solo exhibition at the Nordic Villa presents an intimate and thought-provoking experience where art and emotion entwine.

All this will be preceded on Wednesday, November 27 from 10 a.m. to noon by an exclusive by-invitation-only curtain-raiser event at the US Embassy, where speakers will base their talks on the topic: Art as a Tool for Diplomacy and The Role of Cultural Diplomacy in Shaping Global Society.

None of these activities, meanwhile, operates outside the ambit of the International Institute for Creative Development (also known as the IICD Center), which collaborates with the U.S. Embassy. Founded in 2010 as a direct offshoot of the Ford Foundation’s mentorship programme, the IICD has significantly contributed to developing future cultural managers in Nigeria. Recently, it has played a pivotal role behind the scenes in positioning Abuja’s art scene as a distinct cultural identity. EdIToR okechukwu uwaezuoke/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

As the federal capital’s leading visual arts event, Abuja Open House has consistently animated 22 venues over four days, cementing its position among the nation’s top cultural events. Previously mooted plans to extend its activities to underserved populations deserve serious consideration.

One of the Abuja Open House exhibitions at the Nordic Villa

Another Abuja Open House exhibition

Abuja Open House

Elizabeth Ekanem: Exceptional Service as Soul of Customer Experience

Having gained expertise in customer engagement in the banking industry for over a decade, elizabeth ekanem, Head of Customer experience, Kuda Microfinance Bank shares her insights on what makes customer service exceptional with Yinka Olatunbosun

Facts need no sugar coating: customers are happy when service is great. And no one understands this better than Elizabeth Ekanem, the Head of Customer Experience at Kuda Microfinance Bank. Having travelled through the hoops of customer engagement in the banking industry for over a decade, Ekanem has gained expertise in complaints resolution and management in reputable financial institutions before securing her spot at Kuda.

Sharing her knowledge, she explained how exceptional customer service extends beyond resolving issues for customers. Using her work at Kuda as a reference point, she revealed how customers become loyal to a brand.

“It is basically anticipating a customer’s needs, being accessible and being empathetic when you are speaking to the customer,” she began. “We offer empathetic support and we are continually improving all our processes; our services are based on the feedback we receive.

“At the end of the day, the resultant effect is to make the customer feel valued and eventually fosters loyalty through trust and brand engagement. It is creating a memorable experience for customers at every interaction they have with us.”

As a tech-driven financial institution, Kuda’s customers usually engage with the brand using various electronic channels like emails, in-app chat and social media. Feedback is taken at every interaction.

At the onset of fintech in Nigeria’s economy, there were apprehensions from sceptics who had doubts about the efficiency of tech-driven banks in a country where national grid collapse is the new normal.

Another factor that is responsible for the initial apprehension about digital banking is that people were concerned about being able to engage physically with the bank the same way as they would do with an all-brick-and-mortar bank. Ekanem disclosed that helping customers focus on the benefits of digital banking has helped to boost confidence in the system.

“As a bank, we stand out by providing what we call a tech-driven approach to personalised service. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar banks, where you have to pay your way to get to the location to make complaints or get an issue resolved, we have embedded every service in our app.

“Whatever you need to do, we don’t want you to leave the comfort of your home. You can stay wherever you are and sort out that issue. We already have a pop-up on your screen telling you what is required for you to make your engagement with us seamless. We emphasise a smooth user experience in-app and prompt resolution of issues. In every interaction you have, if you click on that transaction that you want to report, as soon as you submit it, at the back end, a ticket is issued to notify you that the transaction has been received by the bank, and even the timeline that it takes to resolve these issues are documented.”

For her, the strength of customer service delivery lies in the ability to combine technology with personalised service to make sure that engagement with customers is transparent and as seamless as possible.

Indeed, feedback has taken a different dimension with the digital technology disruption. Feedback used to be delayed before the internet revolution. But today, social media have become platforms which disgruntled customers leverage to make complaints public. Sometimes, negative remarks can go viral and spark online outrage as seen in several examples of supposed reputable banks. Ekanem disclosed how Kuda has managed to steer away

from such escalations through innovation. She maintained that feedback should not be dreaded. Rather, it should be a driving force to innovate and improve services.

“I always tell people that if your customers stop complaining or giving you feedback, it means that they have lost trust in your organisation. For us, customer feedback is a driving force for our innovation. It influences our product update and service enhancement; once we get feedback, we act on it. When a customer complains, read between the lines. There are so many things you can deduce from customers’ complaints to come up with new ideas.

“By actively listening to customers which we are doing, we can quickly identify weak points or areas that we need improvement and adapt to our customer needs. We appreciate every feedback we get because that’s how we show we listen to our customers. Feedback is a driving force to innovate, to improve on our service.”

Citing the self-help app as an example of an innovation that came as a result of response to customers’ feedback, she explained how empathising with customers who often wait in queues propelled the bank to create sustainable solutions to customers’ needs.

“We had a situation where a customer complained about the difficulty in submitting complaints to the bank,” she continued. “We came in and decided on what to do to ensure that customers do not wait so long in a queue when they need to report their issues. That’s why they send emails or reach out to us in-app. We came up with the self-help app. Instead of going back to give us the transaction to give us the information we need to fix that issue, we will just click on a button, and all the information will be on a form, and we will give you an opportunity to review the form. And if everything is fine, we give you a space to write your comments to tell us what else you’d want us to do. We have dropdowns that give options for transactions, and once you submit it, we are already at work.”

Ekanem further explained that to go ‘above and beyond’ means to be empowered. As a team lead, she ensures that her personnel are trained to read between the lines. Every interaction with the customer should not be taken at a face-value level. By thinking ahead of the customer, the customer experience becomes seamless.

“As a business person, if you have a business account with us and transactions live in your balances, we celebrate successes and we celebrate

you also. We create experiences about things that are personal and satisfying to our customers. That’s how we have embraced and embodied the theme of ‘Above and Beyond.’ We are not basic but we are above and beyond.”

One of the best things that can happen to a bank is to have customers act voluntarily as foot soldiers, promoting the brand based on their personal experiences. This is how customer loyalty is solidified. And it is not achieved overnight.

“Building a long-term relationship depends on the customer’s journey with your business,” she explained further. “From the point of advertising to turning customers into brand advocates, a joinery keeps changing. What a customer experiences today is different from what he would experience tomorrow. We engage in regular communication with our customers. We try to align with their goals. We are seeing in leaps and bounds how customers are building and even referring others to us. That’s how to build long-term relationships not just with the customer but people around them. Regular communication is also important.”

Understanding that customers’ needs vary is vital to developing an inclusive framework for delivering exceptional customer service experience to all. This is where empathy comes in. Ekanem ensures that her team members develop the attribute to serve customers accordingly.

“Some customers learn swiftly and some just want to take their time to interact with the app. When they hit a roadblock, they need to know that they can reach out to the bank. And we are there to help them through that process.

“Once we know it is a challenge of language barrier, we let our customer service personnel help them in the language they understand. When you empathise with customers in unique situations, you are able to address their concerns to create a lasting positive impact on us as a business. Now we offer support in all the three major languages in Nigeria. Once a customer reaches out to us and we link him up with the support personnel in the language they understand.

During the cash crunch, many credible banks suffered an in-app failure of some sort, forcing many customers to migrate to digital banks. Ekanem explained how Kuda had earned some measure of public trust despite not operating a sheet-of-paper kind of business.

“We have earned public trust by ensuring transparency, security, and reliability,” she said. “Glitches happen but the speed at which you come back is very important. It is apt for you to send customers emails to inform them in case there is a glitch. When a customer goes in-app and he sees what the issue that he is going through is, he will be assured.”

Customers’ expectations keep evolving every day. Hence, Ekanem ensures that improving on service delivery is vital to customer retention. The introduction of customer satisfaction surveys has helped them to get the information and data needed to execute trend analysis.

Training employees as front liners prepares them for customer engagement. With the right tools, customers’ demands are met. When asked what advice she would give to an organisation that is struggling with customer relationship management, she reiterated the points she stated earlier: “listening to customers, taking feedback seriously, conducting trend analysis and taking actionable steps to improve.”

The mother of three values her work and manages to balance this with her love for her family. The devoted mother was animated when she recalled the support her children offer whenever she had to do virtual meetings from home.

“Once I’m done with work, then it is family time. If an issue is shared with you and it has been sorted out, I do that even from home. Still, there is a clear-cut line between family and work life and I have gotten the best of both worlds.”

elizabeth ekanem

IN THE ARENA

Role of Academics in Electoral Frauds

With the widespread electoral malpractices that characterise elections in Nigeria, the recruitment of academics from universities as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and election officers has come under scrutiny, Davidson Iriekpen reports

one of the strategies introduced by military regimes was the appointment of academics from the Nigerian universities as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the years. When the country returned to democracy in 1999, this practice was sustained.

When Professor Attahiru Jega was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, he expanded this practice to include the deployment of university academics as election officials in the 2015 general election as part of the efforts to ensure the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.

Under the arrangement, vice-chancellors functioned as Returning Officers at the federal and state levels, while lecturers and other academics played roles at the local government areas levels.

To Jega, academics are intellectuals with embodiment of honour and integrity and would be less susceptible to inducements by unscrupulous politicians who would try to seduce them to subvert the will of the electorate.

Jega was also of the view that lecturers knew that their honour and integrity, as elite members of the society, were at stake, and that they would not soil their reputation and career by aiding electoral malpractices.

While justifying his decision, Jega said: “We were looking for people with integrity, and we have no doubt that there are many people with integrity in the Nigerian university system. So, it is like a ready-made constituency to get the kind of people we need for the job to be done. That is not to say that only in the universities can you find people of integrity. We know that anybody who has risen in the system to become a vice-chancellor will not for anything damage his or her reputation by pandering to the wishes of politicians.”

Since then, the commission has continued to sustain the policy because of what it feels is its salutary effects on the electoral process. However, from the experience gathered from several elections, Nigerians have realised that the aim of using academics in the electoral process has been defeated.

It is now obvious that academics, like other professionals, are human beings and there-

fore corruptible. Professors and other lecturers have been aiding electoral malpractices since the return to democracy in 1999.

With the results of Nigerian elections being increasingly tainted by all kinds of manipulations, many Nigerians believe that if academics, entrusted with such sensitive assignments because of their professional calling could aid such fraudulent practices, then the aim of hiring them has been defeated.

Ironically, while reacting to the 2019 general election, Jega had expressed disappointment with university lecturers for “allegedly conniving with politicians to undermine the integrity and outcome of this year’s general elections.”

He made the observation at an event at Bayero University where he was once a vice chancellor and currently a lecturer.

It would be recalled that in 2021, a High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, convicted and sentenced a returning officer, Prof. Peter Ogban, to 36 months imprisonment for election fraud.

Ogban of the Department of Soil Science, University of Uyo, acted as the Collation/Returning Officer in the 2019 National Assembly elections. He was accused of manipulating and falsifying the scores of election results in

While Ogban was convicted, the charges filed against Professor Ignatius Uduak, have suffered repeated adjournments.

Uduak was alleged to have made efforts to rig the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District election.

With these cases and many others, it is obvious that not all academics are men of honour and character. Those who act as the commission’s returning officers at federal, state and local government levels connive with politicians and their political parties to alter and write results in their favour.

Even those with mathematics, engineering, business administration and accountancy background are known to have embarrassed themselves during collation of election results by failing to reconcile the figures, having connived with politicians to falsify the results.

It is a known fact that the Nigerian politicians have compromised some academics the same way they compromised the judiciary.

Many Nigerians are no longer surprised that academics involved in election management allegedly danced to the tune of these politicians, who have unhindered access to the state treasury and idle cash running into bil-

p OLITICAL NOT e S

lions.

Consistently, INEC has been facing criticism. It became worse after the last general election, particularly over the failure of the IReV platform during the presidential election, which it blamed on a technical glitch.

The platform was central to post-election litigation, but the petitions challenging the results of most of these elections were dismissed by the tribunals and the courts.

The electoral umpire also faced criticism over the conduct of its officials during the Kogi, Imo and Edo states’ off-cycle governorship elections.

Concerns have also been raised about the appointment of partisan individuals, card-carrying members of political parties and known allies of politicians into leadership roles within commission.

Perhaps this is why former President Olusegun Obasanjo last week said INEC needed institutional reforms. He therefore called for the sack of its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and other officials.

In a paper he presented at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, in the United States, the former president described the 2023 general election and others as a “travesty”, adding that the reform of the electoral system is a key agenda for the country. He also called for shorter tenures for INEC officials and a more rigorous vetting process to prevent the appointment of partisan individuals. It, therefore, behoves on INEC to hinge the appointment of election officials on character and integrity. As the commission prepares for the next general election in 2027, the time to start headhunting credible individuals to conduct the elections as officials is now. It should appoint men of integrity from all professions to conduct elections.

It is ridiculous and condescending for academics to promise the Resident Electoral Commissioners of their willingness to do anything they want with election results.

Academics should remember that their reputation is at stake. Integrity counts and this is the time for those with integrity to stand tall in the determination to build a just society.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the National Assembly should do everything possible to provide a legal framework for the implementation of a wide range of Reforms for the electoral body.

A Daniel Bwala Has Come to Judgment

AformeraidetoformerVicePresidentAtiku Abubakar,DanielBwaladidnotbargainforwhat he received last Monday when he resumed duties after being announced as Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications.

The announcement of his appointment as Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications at the State House, had left many wondering on who would lead the president’s information management team with Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, already acting the position.

Onanuga had been doing the job, issuing statements and making pronouncements on behalf of the president since the exit of Ajuri Ngelale, who was Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

In September, Ngelale resigned, citing health reasons.

OnhisfirstdayattheStateHouse,Bwalametwith correspondents and expressed his commitment to remain focused, despite potential criticisms. He clarified his role, saying, “I came to introduce myself and the responsibilities assigned to me by Mr. President.”

Heelaboratedonthenatureofhisresponsibilities, explaining to journalists that he replaced Ngelale as the official spokesman of President Tinubu. But to Bwala’s apparent shock, a few minutes after, Onanuga announced the re-designation of Bwala as Special Adviser on Policy Communication to the president — which implied that he would operate away from the Presidential Villa.

According to Onanuga ‘s statement, Mr. Sunday Dare, who was Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation, is now Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications.

“Mr. Daniel Bwala – announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication, is now Special Adviser Policy Communication,” Onanuga added

ContrarytoBwala’sclaim,Onanugastressedthatthere is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency and that all the three Special Advisers will collectively serve as spokespersons for the government.

There are strong indications that Bwala would be speakingfortheOfficeofSpecialAdvisertothePresident on Policy Coordination, headed by Hadiza Bala Usman, rather than the president.

Many Nigerians believe that Bwala’s new designation was a demotion.

Bwala

Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas.

Yakubu

BRIEFING NOTES

Who Will Stop Nigerian Army Brutality?

The recent dehumanisation of the about-to-wed couple in Abuja by a major general of the Nigerian Army and his men shows that a few bad eggs in the organisation have become unrepentant threats to the lives and human rights of Nigerians despite the end of military rule 25 years ago, ejiofor Alike writes

Since the end of military rule in 1999, a few rogue military officers and men whose acts of gallantry only manifest in the dehumanisation and killing of policemen and innocent civilians in unprovoked attacks have continued to pose threats to the lives of innocent Nigerians with no deliberate measures taken to stop these acts of criminality and brutality by successive civilian administrations.

The latest victims of these lawless officers are Vershima Mker, and his partner, Lami Jennifer Iorvihi, who are about-to-wed partners.

Mker, an Abuja resident, and Iorvihi were recently brutalised and injured by Major General G.S. Muhammed and Corporal A. Abubakar of the Nigerian Army on Gwarinpa Road in Abuja.

In the video clip posted on X last Tuesday by Rufai Oseni of the ARISE NEWS Channel, Mker, who was seated in his car, repeatedly asked helplessly, “How did I pass your car?” while he was being beaten by Muhammed and his men.

Many who watched the video had feared for Mker’s life when the soldiers hit him with a strong object and he shouted “Oh God” in pain, while Iorvihi, who was sitting beside him in the car, screamed “Jesus!”

Despite the cries of their victims, the senior officer and his men continued hitting Mker in his belly and other parts of his body, raising concerns over his life.

Mker eventually removed his seat belt and followed his attackers to their black jeep parked where one of the soldiers landed a slap on his face.

The video ended when one of the soldiers discovered that Iorvihi was recording the incident, and ran towards her, shouting, “Bring the phone! Bring the phone!”

However, in a petition addressed to the acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, the victims’ lawyer, Tom Uja, narrated how the soldiers further bundled the duo in a car boot and drove them to a police station in Gwarinpa where they spent eight hours in detention.

Uja demanded the dismissal of the officers and a N150 million compensation on behalf of Mker and Iorvihi

“Our clients are university graduates who are intending to get married soon and as part of their preparations, were in Gwarinpa, visiting relations and intending guests. While driving on 3 Avenue, Gwarinpa, the said Major General G.S. Mohammed driving with his convoy also joined the road with sirens blaring from behind.

“Despite the crowded sideways, our clients made haste and parked for the Major General. Yet the Major General G.S. Muhammed and

his convoy blocked our clients and started beating and insulting them in a way that even prisoners of war are never treated. The video coverage and pictures released to us by our clients show Gen. G.S. Muhammed personally beat up our clients alongside Corporal A. Abubakar.”

“The brutal army general and his details handcuffed our clients, pushed them into the boot of one of their vehicles and took them to the Gwarinpa Police Station where the Army General ordered our clients to be detained until he would give word for their release.”

The statement added that the duo was detained for eight hours until Muhammed personally went to the Police Station and forced his victims to write an apology to him under duress before they were released.

But in the military authorities’ characteristic style of shielding their officers and men involved in similar incidents in the past, the Nigerian Army said in

a statement on Wednesday, that the COAS, Lt. General Oluyede had ordered a probe of the incident.

The description of the criminal assault and dehumanistion of the helpless and unarmed about-to-wed couple as an “altercation” by the statement has raised strong suspicion of possible cover-up.

The statement claimed that the circumstances leading to this incident were not clear at the moment.

No circumstances could have justified such an act of lawlessness by a senior army officer.

A few rogue officers and men of the Nigerian Army have been behaving as if the institution operates outside the Nigerian Constitution.

Even if a policeman or a civilian commits an offence against military personnel, soldiers are not the law courts that should pass death sentences on law breakers.

The human rights community should put pressure on President Bola Tinubu to end this practice of the military sitting over its cases.

Before the Nigerian Army hides under another investigation to shield their officers, the military

Notes for file

should reveal the identities of the rogue soldiers who murdered an Inspector serving with the Lagos State Police Command, Monday Orukpe at the Trade Fair area of the state on August 3, 2022.

The then General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Umar Musa, had apparently justified the action of the soldiers when he claimed that they beat Orukpe to death because he shot at one of them.

No law allows soldiers to pass a death sentence on a policeman who attempted the life of a soldier. A responsible military should have allowed the law to take its course.

The Lagos State Police Command had challenged the GOC to show Nigerians the soldier allegedly shot by the slain policeman.

The military’s practice of assuming the role of a judge in its own case is a ploy used to shield their officers.

In November 2023, soldiers of the 23 Armoured Brigade in Adamawa State mobilised armoured trucks and invaded the police headquarters in Jimeta-Yola and killed a police officer.

The military should reveal the identity of the senior officer who ordered the invasion of a sister security agency.

Some personnel of the Nigerian Army tortured to death the Manager of Hotel Royal Damgrete, Umuahia, Abia State, Mr. Achimugu Etubi, on April 13, 2024.

What was the outcome of the investigation ordered by late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja?

In June, an assistant director at the Ministry of Defence, was beaten by a group of private soldiers in Command Secondary School, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, sparking protests at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Another civilian staff of the ministry, Mr Ifeanyi Onuamegbu, who was attached to the Laboratory Department of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH) in Ojo, Lagos, died on March 31, 2024 in his office after being tortured by some personnel of the Nigerian Navy whose services were procured by a civilian lady with whom he had an altercation.

The Nigerian Army and the military authorities should produce their personnel involved in these acts of lawlessness before hiding under another investigation to shield the attackers of the about-to-wed couple.

This is why the probe ordered by the acting Chief of Army Staff is unacceptable as the outcomes of previous probes by the military authorities into similar atrocities against policemen and civilians by soldiers never saw the light of the day.

Calling Sokoto Governor to Order

Gradually, Sokoto State is turning into a state where the people live in fear of harassment and intimidation due to Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s high-handedness since he assumed power in 2023.

Governor Aliyu is accused of joining autocrats in the harassment of those who hold dissent views.

Recently, a woman, Hamdiyya Sidi, was arrested and put in prison for allegedly lamenting the rising killings and general insecurity in the state.

In a viral video, Ms. Sidi revealed how bandits pillaged their villages without any restraints, and how displaced women seeking refuge in the state capital are now being sexually exploited due to abject poverty and squalor.

A media aide to the former Governor

Aminu Tambuwal, Shafi’u Tureta, is still languishing in a correctional centre in the state after he was arrested, arraigned in a magistrate court and remanded for allegedly criticising the governor’s wife, Fatima Ahmad Aliyu.

Tureta, who was arrested by operatives of the state police command in August, was accused of posting a video of the governor’s wife allegedly holding a lavish birthday party with some guests who were throwing dollars.

The video stirred up the internet as Nigerians lamented the alleged waste of resources amid the country’s ongoing economic downturn.

Tureta equally shared a video of the governor purporting that he was struggling to construct a sentence in English and another which alleged that the governor failed his

secondary school examination with an F9 in English. A global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has already raised the alarm over the arrests and detention of those with opposing views.

In a statement posted on its X handle, the group decried the governor’s action, saying it was undemocratic to arrest and secretly prosecute Sidi for exposing the state’s humanitarian crisis. It added that the intimidation against the woman is unlawful and threatens Nigerians’ right to freedom of expression.

Governor Aliyu should instead channel his strength and energy on how to resolve the insecurity, poverty and other challenges facing the state.

Last week, it was reported that 25 persons had been killed in an outbreak of Gastroenteritis in 18 local government areas of the state.

Aliyu

General oluyede

Obasa: Blinded by His Ambition

Attempt by the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to use Thursday’s budget presentation by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to settle political scores will forever hunt him and hurt his career, writes Shola Oyeyipo

Whoever seeks the peace and progress of Lagos State, and understands the import of the sneering show of shame exhibited last Thursday by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, during the 2025 budget presentation by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, must have experienced a rather concerning spectacle.

Inspired by overt complex but shackled by biological defects to properly process his thoughts and actions, Obasa took Lagos on a short excursion of the unsightly guttering that most likely gave rise to him.

From the audacity of his veiled threat to a sitting governor and his open, yet, appalling demand for absurd appeasement, it seemed the gloves are off now.

There appears to be no more hiding place or pretence between him and the governor he now brazenly and openly considers a rival rather than the partners they are meant to be. All that had been in the realm of speculations or mere rumour have been stamped to be true. Thanks to the unthinking speaker.

At the presentation of the 2025 budget, an event, which by practice and convention, always presents a global city like Lagos, an opportunity to further put itself on the world map, Obasa chose to make a mess of it on account of non-existent political rivalry, accentuated by poverty of ambition, to expose the joke that he is.

He probably didn’t even realise that there could be some foreign investors watching from different parts of the world – London, New York, Paris, Beijing, Brussels – to see the trajectory of the economy of a megacity in the coming year?

Or isn’t it the same budget presentation that Lagos used to invite seasoned economists and captains of industry to witness, just to show the importance attached to the event and take them through plans for the year in focus? As a serious business, budget presentation has never been a charade that Obasa has suddenly turned it into, thus desecrating the hallowed chamber.

The reason this despicable showing was more worrisome is because it came from the longest serving speaker in the state. At least, for now. To add to this infantile demeanour is that the whole thing was not spontaneous. Obasa and his thoughtless allies in the assembly actually orchestrated it all, spending quality time to plan plain shamelessness.

This included their decision to not applaud the governor after his speech and also not to wear agbada for the occasion but to sport sunshades. Even Gen-Zs would do better. But before you think this is an exaggeration of what might have happened, especially if you didn’t watch the event, you may want to read some of the excerpts from the drivel the speaker called speech.

“…That being said, it is necessary to harp on the fact that under democracy, this arm of government remains independent. This House, of course, recognises this and will always be so, even though we work hand-in-hand with other arms of government.

“It is also important to state here that this House is a sanctuary and temple, just like every other temple anywhere where we all worship. No one will violate any temple and expect the gods to accept

his or her sacrifice.

“And if such happens, there must be an appease to the gods to accept such atonement. No amount of intimidation or coercing will disintegrate or change the belief of all the members of this institution!

“Today, we want to assure Mr Governor that this honourable House will look at the budget and do the necessary scrutiny as usual. But it should be noted that this institution remains resolute. We will never be disgraced, abused, or ridiculed in the name of creating a seamless working ambiance.

“Let me also emphasise that those who live in glass house must not throw stone as the saying goes. This also brings to my mind, according to our people: eni ba yara logun ngbe. Meaning, the god of iron recognises the swift ones.

“In other words, those who are facilitating or planning to interfere in this House or destroy the cohesion of this institution should also be prepared for same fate.

“May I use this medium to sensitise us more on the need to build and sustain our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), regarding our focus for 2027. We need to continue to

mobilise people just as I do frequently.

“I have made it a personal task to mobilise people on the platform of Mandate, which has been misconstrued by some political detractors as being selfish aspiration on the ground for me to become governor of the state.

“There is the need, however, to correct this wrong impression. My concern is about building our party, and whatever we do is mainly for this cause.

“To the blackmailers who have embarked on the mission to distort and redefine our mission, let me state it unequivocally here. Our intention is to promote our party on the platform of Mandate.

“Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given a serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better of…”

So, Obasa and his travel buddies are now gods to be appeased? He went on to conclude that those who had been before him were not better off? What is he even saying here? The question is, who is he close to in all the boxes of consideration for leadership – from speakership to governorship? The closest anyone can relate to him in terms of disposition is MC Oluomo, who unfortunately has even kept and maintained a better steeze in public.

From day one, Obasa has remained a defacing character to the beautiful portrait of Lagos. No less an error of

choice, which speaks, sometimes, to the warped leadership recruitment process for crass political correctness in the state. He has reduced the very essence of the cosmopolitan description of the state and makes leadership appear like a free-for-all.

The question on where Obasa derives his “borrowed confidence” from will be asked at other times. But if he is stoking crisis in the state or picking on Sanwo-Olu because of a reward that will never come, then he must be a very poor student of history.

He is no more than a cannon fodder – an expendable more or less – who would be used maximally and dumped when all that is left is sheer nuisance without values. Again, if he thinks in considering worthy characters for the Lagos governorship, he would ever cross anyone’s mind, then he must have slept for too long, struggling to wake up from a choking nightmare.

The fact that he even found the budget presentation an appropriate forum to denigrate an office he aspires to, promote political agenda and hint at group affiliation (Mandate), is in itself a failed strategy that is sure to consume him, ultimately.

The countdown to 2027 has begun, without a doubt, and everyone who saw his fickle display of power yesterday would be back to remind him of this very shameful event, by which time he would be no more than a used up clod.

Obasa

WORKSHOP ON NUTRITION…

L-R: Sector Counsellor, Food and Agriculture, Danish Consulate, Ms. Sanne Chipeta; Senior Vice President, FMDQ/ Executive Secretary FC4S Lagos, Mr. Emmanuel Etaderhi; Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Eva Edwards; Consul General of the Danish Embassy, Ms. Jette Bjerrum; Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products, NAFDAC, Dr. Rametu Momodu;

Scientist, Nutrition and Health,

Wema Bank Restates Commitment to Combating Fraud, Protecting Customer’s Interest

In commemoration of International Fraud Awareness Week 2024, Wema Bank has emphasised the bank’s commitment to championing fraud awareness and thereby protecting its customer’s interest.

This was disclosed at a stakeholder’s seminar hosted by the financial institution in accordance with the global theme for International Fraud Awareness Week 2024, tagged: “Share A Story, Stop A Scam,” held at Wema Bank Head Office in Lagos. Representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and KPMG, among others were in attendance.

Representing Moruf Oseni, the MD/CEO of Wema Bank, Tunde Mabawonku, the bank’s Executive Director of Retail and Digital Business, noted that fraud and scam are no longer news and with each day, fraudulent tactics continue to evolve.

He stated that with the evolution of digital banking, the bank has a role to play and that is why the financial institution has remained unrelenting in the fight against fraud.

“Awareness is key, so while we do the backend work of constantly innovating, running checks and advancing our security framework, we go a step further in ensuring that our customers are also

Shettima Pays Tribute to Late FEDECO Chief, Kurfi, Ex-NIA Boss, Zakari

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday paid tribute to two distinguished elder statesmen from Katsina State, former Executive Secretary of defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, and ex-Director General of Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari, who passed away recently at 93 and 81, respectively.

The vice president described the late elder statesmen as the last of the great titans to have emerged from their time.

Speaking during his visit to the Kurfi family residence in Katsina, Shettima said: “We’re here at the behest of President Bola Tinubu to convey our condolences to the family, government and people of Katsina State over the sad demise of our elder statesman, late Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi (Maradin Katsina).”

Reflecting on Kurfi’s passing, the Vice President noted solemnly: “He is the last of the great titans. In African folktale, when such an elderly person dies, a part of history goes.”

He prayed a peaceful response for the deceased saying: “May Allah grant his soul eternal rest and reward him with Aljannah

Firdaus. May Allah also grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

During his subsequent visit to the family of Ambassador Zakari, Shettima reiterated: “We are here on behalf of President Tinubu to offer our condolences to the family, to Katsina Emirate Council, the government and people of Katsina State over the sad demise of our elder statesman, Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari (Talban Katsina).

“It’s a huge loss but he lived an eventful life worthy of emulation by all of us. It’s actually a celebration of life and not the celebration of death.

“If any of us here would have a worthy life as his own, it’s something that we’re all craving for. May Allah grant his soul eternal rest and reward him with Aljannah Firdaus. And may Allah grant the family, the people and government of Katsina and by extension, the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” the vice president said.

Shettima praised both deceased elder statesmen for their significant contributions to Nigeria’s development - Kurfi in electoral administration during the Second Republic, and Zakari in diplomacy and national security as the former head of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency.

equipped to, on their end, complement the work we do in terms of maintaining their financial security; and we do this through awareness, information and education.

He added that the bank’s commitment to driving fraud awareness goes beyond International Fraud Awareness Week, noting thar awareness is a lifelong journey.

According to him, with the digital evolution on constant proliferation, fraudsters are

getting more creative in their tactics and the onus is on every one to keep spreading the word about rising fraudulent antics and how to handle them, to ensure that more people are aware and equipped to stay ahead of these fraudsters

“The theme of the 2024 International Fraud Awareness Week, ‘Share a Story, Stop a Scam’, highlights the significance of this awareness, information and education in combatting and mitigating

fraud across the globe; a mindset we continue to embody through our very own AntiFraud campaign. As a bank that prioritises the financial security of our customers, we have over the years undertaken the responsibility of not only keeping our security framework up-to-date, advanced and reinforced against fraud but also educating our customers, equipping them with the knowledge and resources they need to protect themselves from

fraud on their end.

“We launched an anti-fraud campaign with this very focus and this two-way approach to combatting fraud holds great potential and as we continue to empower our customers and the general public to combat fraud, we take this moment to reiterate our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security and prioritising consumer protection as we continue to empower lives through innovation.”

NACCRAN Demands Apology from Nigeria’s Consular in Mali

Segun James

The National Council for Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN) has demanded an unreserved apology from Nigeria’s consular in Mali, Mr. Ugochukwu C. Chime for what the council described as his alleged defamatory statement against its officers.

NACCRAN contributions to the war against human trafficking was acknowledged by the United Nations (UN) in 2011, when it was awarded the special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

In a statement issued at the weekend by the South-west Coordinator of NACCRAN, Mr. Samson Olapade Adefioye, the council appealed to the

federal government to call Chime to order over his alleged defamatory statements against the council’s officers.

While acknowledging the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, and his counterpart at the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi for their efforts in combating child trafficking in the country, NACCRAN urged the two agencies not to allow the war against child trafficking to fail.

The group lauded President Bola Tinubu for maintaining listening ears to the cries of Nigerians and exhibiting open door policy since his assumption of office.

According to him, President Tinubu, ever since he was the Governor of Lagos State, had been a leader with a godly passion for the plight of the led.

He insisted that President Tinubu deserves commendation for assembling a progressive team of ministers who share the same vision to move Nigeria forward and project the country’s good image to the world, to work with him.

Speaking on its efforts at combating child trafficking to Mali, NACCRAN noted the challenges it has faced from the office of the Nigerian Consular in Mali. It commended NAPTIP Director General and his members of staff for their cooperation and support in the

Mob Set Two Anambra Revenue Agents

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

An irate mob at the weekend set ablaze two men alleged to be touts collecting revenue for the Anambra State Government. The victims were set ablaze for causing the death of an innocent passer-by at Old Market Road along Venn Road by Egerton in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to eyewitnesses, as the revenue touts dragged the steering of a tipper with the driver, he lost control of his vehicle and rammed into the bystander, killing him instantly.

A gory video circulating on

social media showed the mob beating two of the revenue agents with objects and setting them ablaze.

A man, who made the video recording of the incident said:

“There was chaos in Onitsha this morning as an angry mob set ablaze two revenue touts, while four others were lucky as they managed to escape.

“The revenue collectors, numbering about six, were chasing the tipper driver over a certain amount they asked him to pay.

“As they were chasing him, some of them were dragging

fight against child trafficking. NACCRAN praised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice, and the Director General of Human Rights Commission, for their support in their fight against child trafficking in West Africa.

NACCRAN was created in 2005 by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in conjunction with United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) to ease the plight of Nigerian children, and upgrade the lives of women and youths.

NACCRAN was then grouped into six geo-political zones, and the South-west zone has been operating along with other five zones to promote the rights of the child.

Ablaze over Man’s Death

the steering wheel with him, but unfortunately, in the process, the tipper driver lost control and rammed into a passer-by, killing him instantly.

“Immediately, the revenue collectors saw the damage they had caused, they tried to flee the scene, but the Onitsha mob got angry and descended on them, setting ablaze two of them instantly while four of them managed to escape.

“This is one death too many that has been going on in Anambra State in the last two years. The person who the tipper driver rammed into is

known. We cannot continue like this anymore. These revenue touts of the state government have killed more Ndi Anambra than non-state actors,” he said. Another source also said:

“Onitsha was hot this morning at Egerton by Old Market Road. Revenue men were dragging steering with a tipper driver because he refused to give them a bribe and, in the process, the vehicle ran over an innocent man; then seeing the result of their stupid action, they tried to run away. But the angry people chased and caught two of them.”

Senior

Arla Foods, Ms. Mette Bach Kristensen;and Managing Director, Arla Foods Nigeria, Mr. Peder Pedersen, at the workshop on nutrition in the dairy sector in Lagos…recently

ANOTHER ELECTION, ANOTHER HEADACHE

Ballot stuffing did not stop. Prof Maurice Iwu stopped the manual registration of voters and introduced electronic “capturing” of biometrics. This was to tackle multiple registration. We heard later that politicians were still getting phantom voters registered by using palm kernel as finger prints.

Prof Attahiru Jega introduced card readers for voter accreditation but politicians still sabotaged it. The card readers started failing. The back-up option was hijacked to perpetrate multiple voting in some areas. This was common during the 2015 general election. Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, the current chairman, introduced the BVAS as an improvement on card readers because of its capacity to accredit voters as well as scan result sheets and upload them to a server. He also introduced IReV for the public to view the results uploaded at each polling unit. These innovations were aimed at improving transparency and credibility but Nigerian politicians still devised ways to sabotage them.

My fear then is that we might have settled for electoral malpractices as part of our democratic culture. For one, it seems vote trading has come to stay, and this is often blamed on poverty. Only very few candidates have genuine followers. They, therefore, do not have to induce voters. So far, I know of only two presidential candidates with such clout in the fourth republic. People loved them — although much of that affection was influenced by ethnic and religious sentiments and very

OBASANJO VS APC

In 2015, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo openly collaborated with the APC to dethrone President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP — a party on whose platform he was twice elected president. Obasanjo launched constant, ferocious attacks on Jonathan in conjunction with then APC Candidate Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, even tearing his PDP membership card in front of TV cameras. But speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University nine years later, Obasanjo lamented that Nigeria has become a “failed state” owing to the policies of “Baba Go-Slow” (referring to Buhari) and “Emilokan” (Tinubu). I can now officially claim that I have seen it all. Wow!

well boosted by the support of neutrals who sincerely believed those candidates were messiahs. Otherwise, vote buying is the norm. Millions of poor voters always look forward to the “reward”.

Violence is another terrible aspect of the ingrained culture. It is understood that politicians must have “tough guys” for “security” during elections, although they are used mostly to suppress voting, to intimidate voters, to disrupt polls in “enemy territory” and, in several instances, to kill and maim opponents. These political thugs — many of them labelled as “road transport unionists” — are well known and celebrated as tin gods in their communities. Police know these gangsters but feel helpless because of the influence of their principals. Some gangsters have become billionaires — since they are well treated by their principals. They occupy highly coveted positions. Has this too come to stay?

We have also created a culture of elections by court injunctions. Nigeria has descended into a state that a judge can even grant an injunction to stop the police from providing security for an election simply because an opponent complained that the state budget was not properly passed! Judges now determine who should be party chairman and secretary, who should be the resident electoral commissioner (REC), who should be a party’s candidate and who should be declared the winner. If this trend continues, we may not need to vote again. We will just sit at home and wait for the

courts to pick candidates, allocate votes and announce winners. We are inching towards that every day. We have a culture of blaming the INEC chairman (whoever it is per time) for all the woes that betide the electoral system. Ironically, the INEC chairman is in Abuja while elections are taking place in over 176,000 polling units across Nigeria. Whatever shenanigans occur in Ikot Ekpene, Ngor Okpala, Fiditi, Erin-Ile, Michika and Funtua are attributed to the chairman. I saw a meme after the US election saying the only person who could change the results in favour of Kamala Harris was Mahmoud, the INEC chairman. People easily forget that what the chairman does in a presidential election is to sum up the scores announced by returning officers who come in with the results from all the states.

As the returning officer for presidential elections, the INEC chairman cannot change a single digit in the results already announced by the returning officers in state capitals, but he is held responsible for all the malfeasance in 36 states, 774 LGAs, 109 senatorial distracts, 360 federal constituencies, 8,809 wards and 176,846 polling units. The INEC chairman is held responsible for the shooting, vote trading, ballot snatching, and rigging. He must be a superman! When PDP was in power, APC always called for the sack of INEC chairman anytime they lost an election. They were on Jega’s case until they finally won in 2015

And Four Other Things…

PARASITES AND CO

I find the datasets coming out from the detailed figures on VAT revenue and distribution very interesting. They put a lie to the received wisdom that only a part of the country is benefitting disproportionately from the commonwealth. As I have always argued, many of these assumptions are myths. By the time we see and analyse the raw data, things are not as lopsided in favour of one region as they are often portrayed. So many states across the regions and geo-political zones are parasites on federally collected revenues, but those who have made careers on promoting the myths will never agree. Next: let us exclude oil revenues and calculate how it will affect every state. Busted.

SPOKE IN THE WHEEL

I have still not seen anything to convince me that President Tinubu prepared for decades to lead this country. He cannot even decide what kind of media team he wants, with so many spokesmen answering “special advisers” — unprecedented in both civilian and military eras. Choosing a spokesman is usually one of the earliest and (I dare say) easiest appointments but in 18 months, Tinubu does not seem to know who or what he wants. Appointees being re-designated just days after appointment is the simplest confirmation of the ad-hoc way that Tinubu has adopted as his own governing style. We have now been officially informed there are three spokesmen. Seriously?

RESOLVING THE CONTROVERSIES AROUND THE TAX BILLS

Also, I find appealing the provisions that have the potential to streamline and consolidate different taxes, eliminate multiple taxation, reduce the tax burden for those in the lower income brackets and make it more difficult for the rich to evade taxes, expand the possibility of getting tax refunds (through establishment and funding of refund accounts by tax types) and provide protection to tax payers (through the tax ombudsman).

I am equally well disposed to the idea of single revenue collection agency not necessarily because it is the global norm or a guarantee of efficiency but because it can help in reducing the cost of revenue collection to the Federation, the over-resourcing of certain super agencies and the perverse incentives and distraction that revenue-collection pose to regulators. Let organisations like Customs, NIMASA, NPA, NUPRC and others face their primary responsibilities and provide assessments that the tax agency can use for its work. However, it is important to put enough guardrails around the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), ensure that efficiency is not sacrificed on the altar of consolidation, and that its operations are funded according to its need, rather than on a fixed percentage of its collections.

But there are some sections of the bills that will need another look. This is not just because of the needless heat being generated already but also because some of these provisions are either based on shaky assumptions or because some of these sections may lead to abuse, future disputes or may achieve the opposite of their intended goals. This set of questions should always guide designers of reform interventions: what problem are we trying to solve and why; what exactly will our intervention achieve; where is the evidence and how compelling is the evidence that the intervention will achieve the intended and not the opposite effect; who do we need to get on board, what will be their concerns and what do we say to get them onside; who is likely to lose out and how do we manage their loss? Reform, as stated earlier, is not just a technical exercise. And the more contentious an issue is or can get, the more time is needed on these questions.

The provisions on the Value Added Tax (VAT) have been the most contentious part of the tax reform bills so far. Sections 142 to 156 of the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) dwell on definitions and modalities of VAT while sections 187 to 189 spell out goods and services that are exempted from VAT or will attract zero VAT. Section 146 is on VAT rates and in Subsection C it states that VAT rate on taxable supplies will increase from the current 7.5% to 10% in 2025, then to 12.5% from 2026 to 2029 and to 15% in 2030. This has not generated so much debate or controversy, including among the populace, largely because of the spin that the bills are pro-poor. Also, Section 77 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) proposes a new sharing formula among the three tiers of government: FG’s share to decrease from 15% to 10%; states’ share to increase from 50% to 55%; and LGAs’ share to stay

same at 35%. This has not been controversial either, and has been framed as FG’s magnanimity.

The sore point is in Section 22(12) of the NTAB which states that all VAT returns should attribute the “derivation of taxable supplies by location in a manner prescribed by the Service (the proposed NRS)” and the caveat to the proposed formula in Section 77 (c) which says “that provided that 60% of the amount standing to the credit of states and local governments shall be distributed among them on the basis of derivation.” The VAT due to states is currently shared this way: 50% on the basis of equality of states; 30% for population; and 20% for derivation. The proposal in the bills is to change the formula to: 20% for equality, 20% for population and 60% for derivation (which will now be for where the taxable supply happened rather than the corporate office where the VAT was paid).

On the surface, there is nothing wrong with this. It has been argued by the proponents that this will ensure greater equity (as VAT is currently attributed to where the tax is paid and this arrangement disproportionately favours Lagos and four other states). It has also been argued that a more “equitable”, location-based definition of derivation would incentivise states to do more to improve economic activities and consumption in their

and he became their hero. It is now PDP’s turn to cry — anytime they lose.

For as long as we continue to attribute all the faults in the entire electoral system to the INEC chairman, we will not be able to have a robust diagnosis of the ailments and proffer the right antidotes. The INEC bosses have their faults (we know how openly partisan Iwu was — he did not even pretend) but the electoral system is bigger and wider than the electoral commission. The securities agencies can make rigging impossible if they are not induced to do otherwise. For me, we need a holistic diagnosis so that we can see how many loopholes we can plug decisively. We should not allow our narrow thinking to empower the enemies of democracy to prevail. We deserve better.

I have to add here that it is not a hopeless situation for us, no matter how complicated. I am encouraged that although our elections might be troubled, we still hold them as and when due. That is progress. We stopped an attempt to elongate presidential tenure via a subterranean constitutional amendment. Progress. Technology has helped us clean up the voter register. Many states that used to churn out millions of votes are now recording realistic figures. Progress. A sitting president lost an election and conceded. Big progress. The biggest challenge today is how to curb the desperation of politicians to win at all costs. That, to me, is responsible for this cancerous culture of electoral fraud.

NO COMMENT

Dr Eric Odo, the “executive chairman” (our politicians love this “executive” title) of Igbo-Etiti LGA, Enugu state, has given us some food for thought by appointing senior special assistants (SSAs) on garden egg, yam and pepper. He could not believe that people made fun of him, so he had to come out to explain himself. Odo said the appointments are meant to boost production of these crops in large quantity “to satisfy local demands and for export”. He described his critics as “disgruntled individuals, bad losers and opposition”. Well, I am a lover of the divine “ofe oha”. Fellow Nigerians, don’t I have the right to be disgruntled that he did not appoint an SSA for oha soup? Wonderful.

domains. But it is also obvious why VAT is a sensitive issue and why these arguments are not very persuasive. One, VAT is now the highest revenue item at FAAC in terms of net revenue and half of it goes to states. In the FAAC disbursement for the month of October 2024, for example, VAT accounted for N622.31 billion out of the total N1.41 trillion, meaning VAT alone accounted for 44% of the total revenue shared. For most states (except Lagos and the oil producing states), VAT is their major revenue source. So, states are very sensitive to VAT. Two, the current formula is not as unequitable as it has been made to appear. Only 20% of the VAT available to states is shared on the basis of derivation, and the remaining 80% is shared equally (50%) and by population size (30%).

Of the N266 billion available for states to share for the month of August 2024, half of it or N133 billion was shared equally, meaning each state received N3.7 billion on the basis of equality. Sum of N80 billion (30% of the VAT for states) was shared on the basis of population of one state in relation to the total population of the 36 states. The only place where Lagos and four other states (Rivers, Oyo, Delta and Bayelsa) had an edge was in the distribution of 20% of the amount available to states, which came to N53 billion in August 2024 and was still shared by all though in proportion to the contributions.

The five top contributors to non-import VAT received considerably less than they contributed to the pool. Lagos, which has been made the strawman of this discourse, got N40 billion or 15% of the N249 billion attributed to it as its contribution to non-import VAT. But the 31 other states that contributed less to non-import VAT got considerably much more from the VAT pool available to the states. The 31 states are evenly spread across the country, but the real outlier is Imo State that contributed N235 million to the pool but received N6 billion or 2550% more than it contributed. It is not one of those states derisively tagged as parasites or lazy.

The point here is that even if location of consumption is misattributed in how derivation is currently defined, the formula has taken care of that and ensures that everything evens out in the sharing and all states get substantial revenues from the VAT pool. The current formula is by no means perfect and can be improved upon, but we shouldn’t make the perfect the enemy of the good.

The proponents of the change have argued that only Lagos and a few other states would be adversely impacted by the proposed change in attribution of derivation. This is not a strong argument. Revenue distribution is a zero-sum thing. There will be losers and winners. The way to make this case is to use actual numbers and compare what each of the 36 states will receive against what they current received in a particular month or a number of months and show the workings behind the simulation. I have looked closely at the current figures and I don’t think it is only northern states that will lose out, contrary to the claim by the northern governors. Osun, my state,

contributed N1.81 billion to non-import VAT in August and received N5.91 billion from the VAT pool available to the states. I will like to see what Osun will get under the proposed formula and if it will be more than the N5.91 billion of the derided formula.

How do we expect states that will lose out to immediately bridge their budget gaps? Most of the things that have been recommended like enhancing consumption and economic activities at best have medium-term utility. If the presidency bullies its way through on this, please do not be surprised that states that have prepared budgets on the basis of the current formula will look for other ways to boost their revenues by looking for things to tax. If you insist that everyone must eat what they kill, then they will definitely look for what to kill. Beware of unintended consequences.

Even if there is a rationale for increasing derivation, why go from 20% to 60% in one stroke? What is that urgent problem we are trying to solve that is worth risking all for? If we want to use 60% for VAT derivation, what stops the oil-producing states from asking for 60% as derivation too since the constitution says minerals derivation should not be less than 13%? FG currently receives 15% of VAT, which the NTAB proposes should be reduced to 10%. So, why is FG the one leading the discussion on how the portion of the VAT for states should be shared? Why is this a hill that the FG is ready to die on? And, how did a tax reform effort suddenly veer into the volatile territory of revenue sharing?

Sharing revenue among and within tiers of government in a federal system is always a hot-button issue. This doesn’t mean it is a no-go area. But it requires less haughtiness and more inclusiveness. Each tier of government is usually invited to submit memoranda individually and jointly. Nigeria has a rich history and literature in this area, right from the Phillipson Commission of 1946 to the last iteration in the early 1990s. What our history shows is that derivation is always the most contentious bit, with entities changing their positions in an opportunistic way. While making submission to the Okigbo Commission of 1980, (old) Bauchi State described derivation as “diabolically against the principle of national interest” while (old) Oyo State submitted that derivation ran “counter to federal principles”. The progenitors of these states had a different position when produce was a major revenue earner. And talking about federalism, it is important to balance the need for providing relief to low-income earners with the need not to constrain the taxing capacities of some states. Increasing non-taxable income to the first N800,000 will definitely affect what some states can make from PAYE, which is largely a state tax. Nigeria operates a progressive tax system It is wrong to assume that states are equal in terms of the size of their formal sector, how much their workers earn and their taxable income. FG can set a reasonable base after consultation with the states which should then set their tax income brackets based on their realities.

Tinubu

ENGAGEMENTS

Democracy as Minority Rule

There is a shrinking feeling about it all. With each off -season election that is conducted and results announced, we feel smaller and more unfree as a polity. Our elections bring about more insecurity; unpopular electoral outcomes require goons and thugs to protect illicit incumbents. And of course a larger number of election related court cases spring up to create work and money for an army of lawyers and judges. The state of alienation of the majority of the people is palpable. The elation and celebration is mostly among the minority of those who happen to have ‘won’ in this particular election. For the rest, the majority of consequential electorate, it is an overwhelming sense of betrayal, of being hoodwinked and ousted from what was meant to be a general celebration of democracy and collective empowerment.

As we conduct more elections, the size of our voter population seems to be shrinking. In fact, it seems to be running in inverse relation to the longevity of our democracy. The more the number of years we celebrate as a “democracy”, the smaller the voter population seems to be running. After 25 years of unbroken democracy, our sense of democratic participation and involvement seems to be thinning out, shrinking as we conduct more ‘successful’ elections. In short, many more Nigerians now feel excluded from the process of leadership selection than they did in 1999. It is worse. In order to guarantee more security on election day, the population of policemen, soldiers, State Security Service personnel, civil defense personnel and other paramilitary personnel swamp voters, candidates and election officials. The atmosphere is one of a garrison event. Voting venues sometimes look more like mini garrisons with uniformed personnel in full battle gear menacingly on patrol in election venues. You wonder who the “enemy” is really as these personnel brandish assault rifles and handguns. These scenes hardly remind you of a ritual in praise of freedom to choose leaders. People are frightened. Sensible people either stay away to be safe or avoid these scenes of undeclared war. In any case, more often than not, the end results that are declared often run counter to the real expressions of the wishes of the people. Even if peoples’ express wishes are reflected in the results, those ‘elected’ do whatever they wish, not what the people voted for. The frightening prospect about Nigerian democracy is that fewer and fewer people are coming out to vote. People register and obtain voters cards for identification purposes, not necessarily for voting.You never know which bank or government office might need a voters card for identification! Otherwise, people register as voters and prefer to stay home and safe on election days!

Recently, in rapid succession, off-season governorship elections have successfully held in Edo and Ondo states. In spite of charges of rampant vote trading and other minor familiar bad behaviour among political mobs, the elections largely testified to a degree of democratic commitment. The announced results have since formed the basis for a peaceful transfer of power from one gubernatorial dispensation to its successor. The aggrieved have since proceeded to courts and tribunals in a shameful tradition that only castigates the sorry quality of our elections. To that extent, democracy can be said to be alive and well in Nigeria. We hold periodic elections. Elaborate logisitics are laid out. Big money is often wasted. Results are announced. Election officials and political hacks cash out and go home richer from a season of harvest. Some even build new houses.

Yet for all the appearance of democratic progress, Nigeria may be sliding more into minority rule than progressing with democracy as majority rule. The most classic definition of democracy is the rule and triumph of the majority as a result of credible elections. Yes, the majority is a statistical dominance which overwhelms the minority. It presupposes that those qualified to vote participate in the ballot and overwhelm the minority in a triumph of the majority. Majoritarian prevalence is the essence of democratic rule. If however, the reverse obtains, a situation in which the minority prevails over the majority and their electoral verdict comes to determine who

rules, then we may have enthroned a curious minority rule. Something is wrong when an exercise that was intended to serve majority rule ends up repeatedly enthroning minority rule.

In both Edo and Ondo, the new governors were elected by less than 25% of the registered voters. In Edo, only 24.49% of the 2.6 million registered voters cast their votes. Similarly in Ondo, less than 500, 000 or 25% of the registered 2 million voters cast votes. Other registered voters either stayed away or could not be bothered that something important was taking place in their states on the election days. This trend merely accentuates a trend that had gathered steam in the 2023 presidential election.

In the 2023 presidential elections, only 26.72% of registered voters cast their votes mostly for the three main candidates with a smattering of votes for the other numerous candidates of the nearly 80 parties. That dismal turnout and the overall result cast a pall over the election and its confusing nature has lingered and tormented the incumbency of Mr. Bola Tinubu as president till date. For good reason, Mr. Tinubu is viewed more as a ”minority” leader on account of being sworn into office on the basis of less than 9 million votes in a population of over 80 million registered voters and a national population of 200 million odd people.

Literally about 24.9 million voted in that presidential election in what is a 44-year low in voter turnout. Tinubu got 8.8 million votes to be sworn to rule over a nation of over 200 million with over 80 million registered voters!

The conventional wisdom in established democracies is to reduce low voter statistics to low voter turnout. Thereafter, all manner of explanations and academic explanations are sought for low voter turnout. What however is breeding in Nigeria is not just low voter turnout in an established democracy. It is a deepening malaise. It is a progressive mass apathy, a turning away from democracy. It is a vote of no confidence in democracy and its serial disappointments over the years. People have been losing interest over time to elections and their efficacy as instruments for democratic change.

An election may change the personae that drives a democratic government. But elections in Nigeria have failed serially in improving the quality of governance, the quality of live of the people. If we reduce the essence of democratic governance to the qualitative change in the lives of the people, then elections must mean more than periodic rituals. They must mean the use of elections to replace a less effective an ineffective government with a more effective one. In it all, democracy and the elections that power it must be a change mechanism to empower a more effective governance in the delivery of good governance. If periodic elections fail to empower leadership that brings about positive change in the life of the people, then elections begin to lose their import and meaning.

In recent years, people are more excited by the entertainment value of the ritual of election season. There are the massive campaigns, mass movements, the garish party -inspired costumes and of course the gifts, cash handouts, items of “stomach infrastructure” and other inducements to drive partisan followership. Outside these fleeting elements, the actual ritual of voting means nothing. Most people have already concluded that the elections will not fundamentally change their lives from the perspective of real governance action.

At best, the ritual of democracy and elections becomes a class thing. The elite tend to see elections as the business of the lower classes, those who are gullible, who can be enticed with petty cash inducement, small gifts, and empty promises . These are people who can afford the time and inconvenience to go out and wait endlessly in the elements to cast a vote and justify their petty inducement packages.The elite are too busy with other important things and cannot afford the inconvenience. In any case, their existential conveniences have been guaranteed by their social and occupational entitlements and position. They reduce good governance to material good things. Why queue to vote if you have water, electricity, a car, personal security guards or some left over cash to send junior to a nice school? Active political choice at election time is therefore left to active party members, the few that can be mobilized, induced or bought to vote for chosen candidates.

On election day, the elite wait in the comfort of their cozy homes while their servants, gatemen, divers, cooks, stewards, nannies and other menial and servile dependents troop out to vote and decide on who rules the next dispensation. When subsequently the governance process

goes awry and society fares poorly, the elite leads in the criticism and complaints. This is the contradiction of Nigerian democracy.

The vast majority of people , namely, the elite, the rural and urban majority are alienated from the electoral process. People spend years going through a democratic ritual of elections without seeing any positive changes in their life circumstances. Nothing changes. Therefor, over time, the majority of people see little or no point in subsequent elections. The outcome is a succession of ‘minority’ governments over time. This is the underlying logic of the recent results that we have seen in recent times. Our low voter turnout means the prevalence of minority rule, government by the minority over the majority. Yet, it is the verdict of this statistical minority that goes to determine the outcome of our elections. This minority elects the next president, the next set of governors, legislators , local government officials etc. In effect, we have a democracy controlled by a statistical minority left to rule the lives of the majority. The result is a succession of minority governments with the majority of the populace left to grumble and complain for the next four or so years.

A statistical minority government does not exactly fit the conventional definition of “minority “ rule. We are used to minority rule by minorities defined in terms of ethnicity, race, caste or class. That is usually a political ruse deliberately foisted by a political elite that wants to dominate power as in Apartheid old South Africa or America before universal suffrage and the end of slavery.

Statistical minority rule such as we are witnessing recently in Nigeria is something else. It is the result of the disfigurement of democracy by political and social manipulation and usurpation. In an assumed democracy, if a ruling elite is empowered by a demographic minority to rule over the majority, it is the fault of democracy itself. If democracy fails to deliver good governance, the life of the people worsens over time and democracy itself is endangered. The minority can be manipulated to commandeer the electoral process to produce results that place minority governments in place.

But these minority governments cannot in themselves guarantee or protect democracy as a value system. It is the delivery of good governance alone that can ensure majority participation and mass election participation. Democracy can only mean majority rule when governance guarantees good governance for the majority. It becomes the business of the majority to troop out to protect and defend democracy with their votes.

Tinubu

Saka, Nwaneri on Target as Arsenal Return to Winning Ways

Iwobi scores consolation goal as Fulham crash 1-4 to struggling Wolves

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

Two players with Nigerian ancestry, Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri got Arsenal title challenge back on track by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 to secure a first win in five Premier League matches.

Two other Super Eagles players, Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina were in action for the visitors who lost all three points at the Emirates to the Gunners.

Arsenal’s form dipped in recent weeks amid a tough

fixture schedule and a number of injuries, which meant Mikel Arteta’s side were nine points behind leaders Liverpool before kick-off on Saturday.

Arsenal dominated from the outset at Emirates Stadium and Bukayo Saka gave them the lead after 15 minutes, exchanging passes with Martin Odegaard before beating two defenders and slamming a strike into the top corner.

Ghanaian Thomas Partey, who came on as a half-time substitute, doubled the hosts’ lead when he curled in from 20 yards, before youngster Nwaneri added a third late on to secure the win.

Forest have been the surprise

TP Mazembe Are Winners of CAF Women’s Champions League

Democratic Republic of Congo side, TPMazembe are officially the champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024.

A highly tactical and hard fought 1-0 victory in the final played in El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi against former champions and hosts, AS FAR saw the DR Congo side crowned the new champions of Africa for the first time – wiping away tears of their 2022 group stage exit.

With the crowd backing the hosts, Mazembe showed great resilience and courage in taking the match to the former champions who remain in search for what has been an elusive second title for them.

The deciding goal of the fourth edition of the tournament came courtesy of a converted spot kick by Mar-

lene Kasaj in the opening 10 minutes, which Mazembe protected throughout the match to seal the historic victory.

Despite the early concession, AS FAR kept believing and surged forward in search of the leveller, but a resolute Mazembe defense kept the clean sheet throughout the opening half. Coming back from the break, it was surprisingly Mazembe who looked more dangerous as they came out strong in an attempt to kill off the game. The hosts eventually found their rhythm but again were met by a disciplined Mazembe defense, who kept the former champions at bay to secure Africa’s most sought-after women’s club football crown. In addition to the coveted CAF Women’s Champions League trophy, TP Mazembe also take home $600 000 in prize money, while runners-up AS FAR take home $400 000.

package of the season so far and came into this match with the same number of points (19) as the Gunners.

However, they struggled to get a foothold in the game and failed to muster a shot on target - with tame headers from Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez their best opportunities.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber thought he had put the hosts in front when he tapped in from close range before Saka’s opener, but Mikel Merino was offside in the build-up.

This match was Arteta’s 250th in charge of Arsenal in all competitions - and he will hope victory sparks a run of form that will help his side close the gap on their rivals at the top.

Elsewhere,Alex Iwobi scored his third Premier League goal of the season yesterday, but it proved to be a scant consolation for home team Fulham after they eventually fell 4-1 to struggling Wolves.

Iwobi opened scoring in the 20th minute for the London club.

But this proved to be the tonic the visitors needed as they

fought back to draw level in the first half, before they scored three more goals after the break.

Fellow Super Eagles star Calvin Bassey played the entire game and was booked in first half stoppage time. Fulham remain ninth on the table with 18 points from 12 matches, while Wolves climbed out of the relegation zone with nine points.

At Etihad, James Maddison scored twice as Tottenham romped to a 4-0 victory over a Manchester City side that has now lost five games in a row for the first time since 2006.

Pedro Porro drove home a third before Brennan Johnson added a last minute fourth on an incredible night that saw the end of City’s 52-match unbeaten record at Etihad Stadium, stretching back to just before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

NpFL: Insurance Spank Kwara Utd, Coach Odigie Steps Down for Ikhenoba

Adibe emenyonu in Benin City

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin yesterday enjoyed the new Coach Greg Ikhenoba’s bounce after they defeated visiting Kwara United 3-1 to begin the process of crawling out of the drop zone they are in at the moment.

Insurance’s long-serving Coach Monday Odigie quit the job before thie match kicked off.

Insurance’s forward, Nazir Mohammed, put the homers in front in the 18 minutes of play following a well-taken right footed shoot that caught kwara Utd goalkeeper, Nurudeen Badmus, napping.

However, Emmanuel Ogbole restored parity for Kwara United from a defensive blunder by Emmanuel Ugwu five minutes later.

Despite countless missed scoring opportunities by the Benin Arsenal, Nazir Mohammed, again put Insurance in front after a goal mouth scramble to end the first half 2-1

Insurance veteran attacker, Austin Ogunye, in the 85th minute dented the hope of Kwara United going to Ilorin with at least a point after a well positioned header.

Speaking to sports journalists during a post-match interview, Bendel Insurance’s stand-in Coach Greg Ikhenoba, commended his boys for the victory.

Coach Ikhenoba promised to work on his team ahead of their visit to Lafia against Nasarawa United this weekend.

He maintained that the team is work in progress, especially playing against all odds, and

Lagos Wins 14th All-Stars National Veterans Football Tourney

Olawale Ajimotokan in abuja

Lagos ended a 14- year drought to clinch the 14th All-Stars National Veterans Football Tournament, defeating for- mer champions Abia in a thrilling final. The match, hosted in Abuja, lived up to expectations with an electrifying display of skill, resilience, and passion from

both teams. From the first whistle, it was a fiercely contested encounter as Lagos sought to rewrite their history, while Abia aimed to reclaim the trophy they last won several years ago.Parading ex-internationals like Friday Ekpo, Shola Popo, former Imo State FA Chairman Amanze Uchegbulam, and other notable players reminiscent of the legend- ary Enugu Rangers of the

1970s and 80s, Lagos used physicality and experience to counter Abia’s taller, more skillful lineup.

After 50 minutes of regulation play—25 minutes each half—the match was deadlocked, leading to a tense penalty shootout. Lagos triumphed 3-2, sending their supporters into a frenzy.

President of Lagos All- Stars, Mojeed Adegbindin, expressed his delight, and reflected on the long journey to victory.

charged his boys to be clinical in front of goal.

On his part, Kwara United gaffer, Tunde Sanni, said his team did not play their normal game against Insurance, adding that “Kwara United play better than this”.

Bukayo

TP Mazembe Ladies were last night crowned winners of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League after defeating host country team AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final

“It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo” – PDP Governors’ Forum reacting to Edo State governorship election PDP Governors to INEC

SIMO N KOLAWOLE

Another Election, Another Headache

Call her naïve but she spoke the minds of millions. I am talking about the woman interviewed by TVC during the Ondo state governorship election last weekend. Asked how the voting went, the woman, speaking in Yoruba, said: “Everything went peacefully. We have voted and we have collected money. Everything went well.” A lady (probably her daughter) sitting next to her was trying to restrain her from talking about the money part, but she resisted, repeating the same line about the voting and the money. For all you care, she was not naïve: she was just discussing a typical day in a voter’s life. In most parts of Nigeria, voters eagerly look forward to doing this quick business on election day. Call him paranoid but he was not naïve. In another video from the same election, a man, on seeing some guys at the polling unit, started warning others about a looming danger. He kept telling the people (including a policewoman): “Be at alert... some people have surrounded this place… be at alert...” Before he finished delivering his security advisory, gun shots had started ringing out and, in the words of the legendary Fela, “everybody scatter scatter”. Now running away, the man added frantically: “I told you earlier on…be at alert…” In parts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, election day is a day for sorrow, tears and blood. What is election without the shooting? Who does that?

Call them sore losers but they know the game. After APC’s Lucky Aiyedatiwa was declared winner, the PDP rejected the result. In a statement issued by Hon Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, he said his party, all “lovers of democracy in Nigeria” and “across the world” have just witnessed the “worst election” conducted

by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”. He called it the “height of electoral swindle, deceit and manipulation”, and added that the election “witnessed widespread merchandising, monetisation and barefaced vote buying and voter suppression”.

WAZIRI ADIO

POSTSCRIPT

By the way, nobody loses elections in Nigeria: when you don’t win, it is because your opponent rigged. Democracy is practised in different shapes and sizes across countries and continents but the values of free and fair elections are non-negotiable. But in Nigeria, credible elections are still trying to find a home. Our elections are blood-stained. Votes are freely bought and sold. “One person, one vote” remains largely an aspiration. The judiciary is not reliable on matters of justice and is often an interloper. I acknowledge that the countries we call “democratic” today also went through a similar teething process and became refined along the way. But this is my worry: is Nigeria enjoying this underdeveloped electoral system so much that it is now stuck with it? Or is it still in transition?

I am particularly worried because we have been practising electoral democracy in fits and starts since 1960 but the transgenerational enemies within are refusing to let go. My excuse used to be that the military interventions of 1966 and 1983 stunted our democracy. I also used to say if the military had allowed our politicians to wobble, fumble and rediscover itself over time, Nigeria’s democratic culture would have been much refined and more advanced by now. But we have now enjoyed uninterrupted democracy for 25 years and we are still struggling with holding credible and peaceful elections. Does it mean our elections have plateaued at the wrong point on the learning curve?

Our electoral process has gone through different phases of reform since 1960 but they are always undermined by desperate politicians who will stop at nothing to get into power. There was a time we used wooden

ballot boxes and people would vote inside kiosks. This was to guarantee secrecy and avoid voter intimidation. Votes would be collated and results announced at a centre later. In those days, electoral officers could even keep the sensitive electoral materials at home a day to voting. Because of the malpractices that came with the self-regulation, we started to amend the procedures in order to give confidence to the voters and protect electoral integrity. But things did not change.

Experiments performed by Prof Humphrey Nwosu as chairman of the electoral commission in the early 1990s were to refine our practices. He restored the ancient open ballot system whereby voters would openly queue behind the posters of their candidates. This was considered retrogressive; it created so many complications (for families especially) that it had to be abandoned. He then came up with the modified open ballot system: you would vote inside a booth but the ballot box would be outside. This was to prevent ballot-stuffing. To grow “grassroots politics”, he tried “Option A4” by which presidential aspirants had to contest at four levels — ward, council, state and then national.

Chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack, the electoral boss under Gen Sani Abacha, came up with the transparent ballot box that looked like a “puff puff” show glass (a version of which we use till this day, replacing glass with plastic). The intention was to curtail ballot-stuffing. Let everyone see what is in the box. I joked then that what we needed was transparent honesty, not transparent ballot boxes.

Resolving the Controversies around the Tax Bills

There are many compelling reasons to significantly increase Nigeria’s tax revenues. We need to transit from an extractive economy to a tax economy. This will provide us a good cover against the volatility of commodity markets and further enhance the capacity and locus of citizens to hold those managing their common wealth to account. We need to optimise the size of our economy for revenue purposes. And crucially, we need to raise enough non-debt revenues to meet our mounting developmental needs. These are not things we are doing well. According to the OECD, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio was 6.7% in 2021, lower than that of our poorer neighbours, and much below the African average of 15.6%. Our federal and state budgets, which are hardly fully-funded and rarely wholly-implemented, pale in comparison to the budgets of our peers, despite the fact that most of these comparator countries have much fewer populations to cater for. Also, we keep running larger budget deficits, depending increasingly on debt, devoting more budgetary allocation to debt service, and yielding more to the vicious and suffocating cycle of debt and debt service. For these and other reasons, it is commendable that the President Bola Tinubu administration has prioritised tax reforms. On 7th July 2023, roughly a month and a week after assuming office, President Tinubu announced the formation of a fiscal policy and tax reform committee, headed by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, then a partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and a well-regarded tax expert. Tinubu inaugurated the committee on 8th

August 2023, gave it a broad but one-year mandate, and charged it to, among other things, harmonise and transform our tax system, make the business environment more conducive and competitive, improve Nigeria’s tax profile, and achieve “a minimum of 18% Tax-to-GDP ratio within the next three years.”

The committee has been hard at work in the last 15 months. On 3rd October 2024, the president forwarded four executive bills, which emanated from the work of the committee, to the National Assembly for consideration. These are: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill 2024; and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill 2024.

The tax bills have dominated political discourse in the last one month, generating a lot of heat and surfacing a lot of bad blood in the polity, both offline and online. It is probable that things could have turned out differently if more effort had been invested in political management. For bills with provisions that have revenue implications, one way or the other, for state governments, it is a bad look that matters had to get to the level where northern governors, the National Economic Council (NEC) and the president are not on the same page. On 28th October 2024, the Northern Governors’ Forum asked northern legislators to reject the bills because some provisions are deemed to be against the “interests of the north.” Three days later, NEC asked the president to withdraw the bills to allow for “wider consultations and consensus building.”

By the way, NEC is a constitutional body charged with advising the president on the economy and is a veritable platform for building political consensus on policies. It is headed by the vice president and its membership includes all the state governors, irrespective of party or region.

On 1st November 2024, the presidency said thanks but no thanks to NEC. In a way, it reminded everyone that NEC is merely an advisory organ and announced that the president would not withdraw the bills and that the legislative process would continue. There is an exciting threat of a showdown between the governors and the president on the one hand and between the governors and the legislators on the other. I salivate for political drama, but it is clear that everyone involved should have acted differently: the reform team, the northern governors, NEC and the president.

A rash of explainers, claims and counter-claims, and clarifications have since rent the air. Insults, abuses and slurs have also become standard fare, further fouling the space and blocking reasoned discourse and necessary consensus-building on an important policy issue. This pass is totally avoidable. The political actors have many formal and informal platforms to raise objections, receive explanations, and achieve consensus. Clearly, such channels were not fully explored or utilised.

It is intriguing that NEC was briefed on the bills almost a clear month after the president had transmitted the bills to the National Assembly. It is not unreasonable for the governors to have been given draft copies of the bills for their inputs and for some consensus to have been

brokered and achieved among the governors on the one hand and between the governors and the promoters on the other hand on the contentious areas. Asking governors to go to legislative public hearings to make their case is tad condescending.

This is a major failure in political management, and this is all on the president. If those he appointed do not know or are too carried away or are not attentive enough, the president who is an experienced politician should know that building and sustaining political consensus and a strong coalition around reforms is a critical success factor. Reform is not just technical, it is political. Also, presidential might is a precious commodity that retains its mystique when not tested.

I think there are many good parts of the tax bills that should not be put at unnecessary risk. The provisions on corporate tax amount to the most consequential reforms we have had in that area in 30 years. The Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) proposes to reduce the tax that companies pay on their profits from 30% to 27.5% in 2025 then to 25% by 2030. The last time we had a major reduction in corporate tax was in the 1990s, from 40% to 35%, then to 30%. We have kept the 30% since 1996. The bill also proposes the consolidation of different taxes and levies paid by companies into one levy, and a reduction from 4% to 2% by 2030. This should increase the profitability of companies, enhance their capacity to create jobs and promote overall economic growth.

Continued on page 61

Yakubu Mahmoud, INEC chairman