THURSDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2022

Fallout of Naira Redesign, Analysts Back CBN’s Cash Withdrawal Policy

Say

CBN deputy governor-nominees to explain new policy to Senators during screening on Friday

weight behind the latest decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to limit cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate organisations following the currency

redesign programme.

This was just as the Senate disclosed that it would on Friday screen the two CBN Deputy Gov ernors who have been nominated

for second term, adding that they would use the session to clarify the new cash withdrawal limits to the lawmakers.

They are Mr. Edward Adamu

TRUTH & REASON

charges

cap on cash withdrawals under the new dispensation,

Thursday 8 December, 2022 Vol 27. No 10103. Price: N250

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited yesterday reaffirmed that with the return of Forcados and partial restoration of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), Nigeria’s oil production had hit 1.6 million

per day (mbpd). NNPC explained how the national oil company was able to ramp up crude oil production, which had fallen significantly, with the collaboration of the security agencies, regulators, oil producing communities, and other stakeholders.

Speaking on Arise News

THISDAY/ARISE GROUP HOSTS LIBERIAN LEADERS...

move will boost monetary policy effectiveness, tax compliance, may strengthen naira Urge apex bank to reduce bank

and Mrs. Aisha Ndanusa Ahmad, who were reappointed for a second and final term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The central bank had placed a Continued on page 10

restricting the maximum cash withdrawal over

Chuks Okocha, James Emejo, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Analysts yesterday threw their

L-R: Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Former Vice President, Republic of Liberia and Opposition Presidential Candidate, Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai, and Former Liberian Commissioner for Maritime Affairs, and Chairman of Lonestar Communications Corporation, Liberia’s largest mobile phone service provider, partnered by MTN, Benoni Wilfred Urey, when they were hosted by THISDAY in Lagos on Tuesday

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja, Emma Okonji, Nosa Alekhuogie, Peter Uzoho and Gilbert Ekugbe in Lagos

Adedayo Akinwale

Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

PDP PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN OSHOGBO...

Osinbajo to Vietnamese President: Nigeria Best Place to Invest in Africa

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, told the Vietnamese President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, that Nigeria was the best, most natural destination for investment

in Africa, adding that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam could lever age the cherished friendship with Nigeria to gain entry to the vast Nigerian and African markets.

Osinbajo made this declaration in Hanoi at a meeting with Phuc,

who also expressed strong com mitments to leverage and deepen the existing diplomatic relations and friendship with Nigeria for economic development, especially, in the areas of agriculture, oil and gas, and telecommunications.

Audit Queries: Senate Threatens 100 MDAs with Zero Allocation

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate yesterday threatened to withhold the 2023 capital budget of 100 Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) until they answer queries raised against them by the Auditor General of the Federation.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, gave the threat on the floor of the Senate, while ruling on a point of order raised by the Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

Urhoghide who came under a point of order had drawn the attention of his colleagues to the fragrant disregard of heads of federal MDAs to Senate invitations to answer queries raised against them by the Auditor General for the Federation.

He lamented that the agencies' heads who were public officers were disrespecting the Senate despite the fact that Sections 88 and 89 of the constitution gave the red chamber powers to summon them.

Some of the MDAs listed were Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ministries of Interior, Transportation, Mines and Solid Mineral Development, Information, Communication, Petroleum, Defence, Police Affairs, Sports, Works and Housing, and Women Affairs.

Others were, State House, Presi dential Fleet, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Independent National Electoral Commission, North East Development Com mission, Nigerian Intelligence Agency and the Nigerian Air Force among others.

Urhoghide said, "The agencies that have vehemently refused to appear before our committee, this list of agencies and the amount that is against their name are staggering.

"I crave your indulgence that we invite through your order either by way of warrant of arrest or anything so that these agencies can come so that we can complete our report and submit to this Senate.

“Coming under order 42, 95 which clearly explains the mandate

of the committee of public account of the Senate."

Lawan upheld Urhoghide's point of order and insisted that the public officers who utilised funds appropriated for their MDAs must give account.

He said, "Your point of order are sustained fully and completely, totally sustained, you are right on the dot to bring to the plenary your grievances. Secondly, I once served as Chairman of the public account committee for eight years.

"Reading this list at plenary, gives the agencies opportunity to now know if they were not aware before for those that may claim ignorance.

"I am taking the opportunity here to advise that in the next one week if the name of any agency is here, that agency should reach the committee on public account of the Senate to sort out when the agency would appear before the committee.

"If there is no communication whatsoever and no cogent and verifiable reason are given we will Slash the budget of the agencies"

Elon Musk Briefly Loses Title As World’s Richest Person To LVMH's Arnault – Forbes

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Twitter owner and Tesla boss, Elon Musk, briefly lost his title as the world's richest person on Wednesday, according to Forbes, following a steep drop in the value of his stake in the electric-car maker and a $44 billion bet on the social media firm.

Bernard Arnault, the chief execu tive of luxury brand Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH and his family briefly took the title as the world's richest, but were back at No. 2 with a personal wealth of

$185.3 billion, according to Forbes.

Musk, who has held the top spot on the Forbes list since September 2021, has a net worth of $185.7 billion. Musk took over the title from Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, Reuters reported.

Tesla shares, which have lost more than 47 per cent in value since Musk made his offer to buy Twitter earlier this year, were down 2.7 per cent, the report said.

Musk's net worth dropped below $200 billion earlier on November 8 as investors dumped Tesla's shares on worries the top executive and

largest shareholder of the world's most valuable electric-vehicle maker is more preoccupied with Twitter.

Tesla has lost nearly half its market value and Musk's net worth has dropped by about $70 billion since he bid for Twitter in April. Musk closed the deal for Twitter in October with $13 billion in loans and a $33.5 billion equity commitment.

Besides Tesla, Musk also heads rocket company SpaceX and Neu ralink, a startup that is developing ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect the human brain to computers.

According to a statement by the media assistant to the vice-president, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo informed Phuc about his engagements in Hanoi and restated that there was great potential for stronger and more fruitful collaborations between Vietnam and Nigeria.

According to him, “building on our friendship, we are looking forward to a greater number of Vietnamese investments in Nigeria and Africa by extension.”

He re-emphasized the advan tage of Nigeria’s membership of AfCFTA, saying Nigeria offered one of the best investment destinations in Africa, some of the best invest ment conditions in Africa, because among other things, Nigeria was

the gateway to Africa.

“We believe that if Vietnam investments come into Nigeria, it will have the potential of penetrat ing the gates of West Africa and the entire continent."

The Vice President identified areas of investments for the Vietnamese business community to include renewable energy, solar power plants (in furtherance of international agreements to reduce gas emission by 20%) and telecom munications, noting that Nigeria was a fantastic opportunity for investment.

Phuc, who welcomed Osinbajo to Vietnam, saying "we appreciate the gesture of you coming from Africa based on our cherished friendship and partnership,"

assured the vice-president that further discussions would be held on the aspirations of Vietnamese entrepreneurs investing in Nigeria, especially, in the areas of agriculture, technology, telecommunications, oil and gas, among others.

On agriculture, Phuc specifically said, rice production was one of the strengths of the country, and as such, the collaboration between both countries could enhance Nigeria’s rice production capacity.

Commenting on Osinbajo’s pre vious meetings with his Vietnamese counterpart and Prime Minister, the president noted that the out come of the interactions has been good, saying, "we have reached a consensus on many issues, we have a lot of potentials to explore."

Meta: We Are Working to Combat Fake News Ahead of 2023 Elections

Meta (formerly known as Facebook), has announced steps it was taking to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s 2023 elections.

This, it listed to include efforts to combat the spread of misinformation and to make political advertising more transparent.

It stressed that the work would continue in the lead up to, during, and after voting and builds on Meta’s experience and learnings from supporting elections across Sub-Saharan Africa and globally.

Commenting at the event, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Adaora Ikenze said, “We know we have an important responsibility when it comes to helping keep people safe during the elections. Using lessons from the past including input from experts and policymakers across the national spectrum, we’ve made substantial investments in people and technology to reduce misinformation, remove harmful content on our platforms, fight voter interference and promote civic engagement during the elections.

“We continue to work closely with election authorities and local partners in Nigeria to

ensure we’re preparing for the specific challenges in Nigeria and taking appropriate steps to stay ahead of emerging threats.

“Some of the steps we are taking to prepare for the Nigerian elections include: A dedicated cross functional team spread across the world as well as locally focused on the Nigerian elections. This includes a number of people from Nigeria and people who have spent significant amounts of time in the country, as we recognise that local understand ing is critical.

“The team also includes in dividuals with global expertise in misinformation, hate speech, elections and disinformation. These teams are working hard to prevent any abuse of our services before, during and after Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

“Locally, we also have staff who reside in Nigeria and work in the public policy, & public policy programmes and communications.”

Ikenze listed others to include keeping people safe, noting that since 2016, “we have quadrupled the size of the global teams working on safety and security to about 40,000 people, and have invested more

than $16 billion in teams and technology in this area.”

“This also includes over 15,000 content reviewers, who are located across the globe, in every major timezone. Col lectively, these reviewers are able to review content in more than 70 languages- including Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

“On WhatsApp bulk or automated messaging is a violation of our terms of service. If we find instances of people misusing the service, we remove those accounts. We continue to constrain forwarding and earlier in 2022 we announced that any message that has been forwarded once, will now only be able to be forwarded to one group at a time, rather than five, which was the previous limit.

“When we introduced the same feature for highly for warded messages, it reduced the number of these messages sent on WhatsApp by over 70 per cent.

“We also label ‘forwarded' and 'highly forwarded' messages to highlight when something has been shared mul tiple times. We’ve introduced forward limits to Messenger too, so messages can only be forwarded to five people or groups at a time.”

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; National Chairman, Sen. Ayu Iyorchia; Vice Presidential Candidate and Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa; Chairman, Presidential Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the PDP presidential campaign in Oshogbo, Osun State, ...yesterday

Bloomberg: How NNPC Funded Purchase of Chevron’s Asset with $300m Aid from Dantata’s Firm

Loan to be repaid with 8,000bpd over four and half years

One of Nigeria’s wealthiest families, Sayyu Dantata, funded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) purchase of oil blocks from Chevron Corporation, offering an insight into how the firm could back its ambitious expansion plans, a Bloomberg report said yesterday.

A subsidiary of MRS Holdings Ltd provided the NNPC $300 million to buy two shallow-water licenses divested by Chevron,

the news medium said, quoting the state-owned company’s most recent financial statements.

The transaction was completed in May and the financing is secured against crude from producing fields within NNPC’s portfolio, it said.

According to Bloomberg, the forward sale agreement was concluded between NNPC and Bahamas-registered Bestaf Funding Ltd, according to the financial statements and an emailed response from NNPC

Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya.

Bestaf, it said, is a group of companies that is part of MRS, a Lagos-headquartered conglomerate belonging to the family of Sayyu Dantata, the 53-year-old younger half-brother of Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote.

MRS is active in the storage, retailing and distribution of petroleum products, and one of its subsidiaries is among the firms with which the NNPC swaps crude for imported gasoline to

meet Nigeria’s needs of the fuel.

According to the report, Bestaf companies develop real estate, manufacture lubricants, store shipping containers and provide support vessels. MRS and Bestaf didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Recently transformed into a fully commercial venture, the NNPC, it stated , is looking to grow its presence throughout Nigeria’s energy sector.

The company purchased Chevron’s 40 per cent operat-

PTAD Lauds Buhari on Prompt Payment of Pension

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr. Chioma Ejikeme has applauded the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for prioritising pension-related issues in the country.

Ejikeme, who gave kudos to the president yesterday, in Calabar, Cross River State, while delivering her address at the PTAD stakeholders’ forum for the South-south region, said from available facts, the Buhari-led administration had made payment of pensions an un-written first line charge.

She tasked whoever would succeed Buhari to also be favourably disposed to issues related to pensions.

Ejikeme said controls and processes that had been put in place since the establishment of PTAD have contributed immensely to the change being witnessed in the management of the Defined Benefits Pension scheme.

"Our journey from field verifications, mobile verifications to putting together a solid database of pensioners, benefit computation, ensuring the regular payment of monthly pensions and paying long overdue pension arrears to pensioners have been a progressive one filled with creativity, dedication, commitment, persistence and milestone

achievements.

"Since our last stakeholders’ forum for the south-south region held in Uyo, PTAD has carried out a series of activities which include: Completion of the payment of arrears arising as a result of the consequential adjustment to pensions as a result of the increase in minimum wage of April 2019, to the four operational departments in the Directorate; "Complete liquidation of the 126 months outstanding liabilities due to Ex-workers of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation; complete payment of the 219 months of inherited liabilities to ex-workers of New Nigeria Newspaper Limited; and complete payment of the 100 months of inherited liabilities to ex-workers of NICON Insurance.”

She listed others to include the complete payment of the 96 months of inherited liabilities to ex-workers of Delta Steel Company (DSC).

Speaking on the activities of PTAP, the Executive Secretary said: "We have implemented the 9.7 per cent increment to ExPHCN workers with attendant arrears paid, we have paid part-payment of the arrears owed NITEL/MTEL pensioners. Two weeks ago, we paid another 15 months arrears to 5,907 pensioners out of the outstanding 63 months of the inherited unfunded pension liabilities.

“The remaining half of the NITEL/MTEL pensioners will get their 15 months arrears’ payment soon."

The PTAD boss admonished pensioners against patronising pension fraudsters.

She said no staff of PTAD would call or send any message requesting for payment or ask anyone to call a certain phone number before their arrears or gratuity will be paid.

The Director of Pensioners Support Services, Mrs. Nneka Obiamalu, while speaking on the topic: "New Narrative," said from January 2014, till date, over N7 billion had been paid to next of kin of 3,832 deceased

pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme of the PTAD.

Speaking on behalf of the pensioners who attended the event, the National Vice-President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Benjamin Ettah, expressed delight and commended PTAD for their transparency and prompt service delivery.

"The experience before PTAD was hazardous. Pensioners were dying due to irresponsibility by pension organisers. There was delay in payment, there was massive fraud but when PTAD came onboard, all those things have ended. Now pensioners are paid as at when due and we are happy," Ettah said.

ing stakes in the licenses — Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 86 and 88 — after pre-empting negotiations between the US major and local firm Conoil Producing Ltd. The NNPC is also trying to buy four blocks that Seplat Energy Plc agreed in February to acquire from Exxon Mobil Corp. for $1.3 billion.

Ajiya, it added, declined to comment on whether the financing model used to take over Chevron’s permits could be emulated to purchase Exxon’s assets, saying such a disclosure “would amount to intrusion into our business strategy.”

The NNPC will repay Bestaf over 4.5 years and is expected to deliver 8,000 barrels of crude per day to Dantata’s company throughout the duration of the contract between the parties, according to the financial statements.

The oil is the “sole repayment guarantee” and will be lifted by an MRS unit operating as Bestaf’s trading agent, according to Ajiya. The proceeds shall be deposited into a designated account held at the African Export–Import Bank “for regular repayment,” he said.

Afreximbank loaned Bestaf the $300 million to fund NNPC’s asset purchase, according to Ajiya. Afreximbank and a Bestaf company signed a memorandum of understanding a year ago for $1 billion to support the firm’s commercialisation of the gas

deposits in OML 86 and 88 under an agreement with the NNPC. Bloomberg added that Afreximbank didn’t respond to a request for comment.

In July this year, a Director at Conoil Plc, Dr. Ebi Omatsola, accused NNPC Limited and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kyari, of doing “illegal stuffs” in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Speaking in Lagos, at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists’ (NAPE) divestments workshop , Omatsola accused the NNPC of denying Conoil Producing, the right to acquire OMLs 86 and 88 from Chevron, after the company had emerged the preferred bidder and had done all the due diligence.

“I was hoping he (Mele Kyari) would be here, I would challenge him. He’s been doing illegal stuffs for the last four years. You have no right like you have done for Seplat on ExxonMobil. You have no right like they did for us on OML 86 and 88 of Chevron,” Omatsola had insisted.

Although it has continued to double down on acquiring lucrative oil and gas assets in recent times, the national oil company has also received flaks from industry players who accuse it of embarking on a “grabbing” spree even if it has not managed the assets under its portfolio efficiently.

Senate Summons SPDC Over Alleged Contract Breach

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions yesterday summoned the man agement of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over an alleged breach of contract involving the oil firm and Messrs Omire and Associates.

The Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, gave the order when the matter came up for hearing during the sitting of his Committee.

Lawyers to Messrs Omire and Associates, Mr. K.K. Peters had in a petition to the Senate alleged that the multinational oil corporation refused to pay his client’s service

charge for its contractual dues in respect of contracts NGO1001316 (A28) and NGO1003128 (A29) awarded to his client in 2008.

He also alleged that the SPDC short-paid his client for three years by converting his payments from Dollar to Naira and that all entreat ies made to the Company to be paid fell on deaf ears.

He requested that the Senate should look into the matter and direct the SPDC to among other things, pay his client N335,070,000 and $5,942,000 being the cost of the contract from 2009 to date.

The lawyers of the petitioner and SPDC were invited to appear before the Committee on October 18, 2022..

The lawyer appeared but did not make a presentation because SPDC did not show up. Both parties were thereafter re -invited to appear before the Committee yesterday but only the lawyer was there.

Akinyelure said lawyers to the SPDC had said the case was in court and would therefore not appear before the Senate panel.

He said the SPDC claimed that it had secured a Court judgment barring the National Assembly from entertaining the case.

He said, "We hereby ruled that the court papers should be made available to the Committee before Friday.

We want to see the content of

the judgement.

"A Court had earlier ruled against SPDC and asked it to pay the man. Since then, they have been dodging the man.

"We are also probing the claims by the SPDC lawyers who claimed that the man had signed necessary documents to accept settlement. That is why the SPDC management must come.

"They claimed that the petitioner had agreed to collect $11, 800 and N1. 06m as full and final settlement.

"When the SPDC lawyers brought the settlement agreement before us, the petitioner disowned it, claiming that his signature was forged."

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Says N7bn paid to 3,832 relatives of deceased pensioners

FROM NIGERIA WITH LOVE...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN pays a courtesy call to the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi…. yesterday

SANWO-OLU RECEIVES OLUREMI TINUBU AND NANA SHETTIMA AT MARINA HOUSE...

AfDB Mobilises $8.9bn for Africa’s Low-income Countries, Highest in 50 Years

After a year of intense negotiations and a difficult global economic outlook, development partners of the African Development Fund (ADF) have agreed to commit a total package of $8.9 billion to its 2023 to 2025 financing cycle.

This, according to a statement yesterday, was the largest replenish ment in the history of the Fund.

The ADF is the concessional win dow of the AfDB, providing grants and soft loans to the continent’s low-income countries.

“The $8.9 billion replenishment package includes $8.5 billion in core ADF funding and $429 million for the newly created Climate Action Window.

“ADF-16 core funding represents a 14.24 per cent increase over ADF-15 of $7.4 billion. It is a strong endorse ment of the African Development Fund and its impact in tackling the continent’s multiple development needs, including recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the effects of climate change, fragility, debt, and economic vulnerabilities.

“Algeria and Morocco contributed to the Fund for the first time. They join Angola, Egypt, and South Africa

on the list of contributing African countries. The Kingdom of Morocco hosted the fourth and final meetings of the new replenishment (ADF16),” the statement added.

An elated President of the AfDB Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina applauded the impressive funding package.

He said: “I am impressed by the huge commitment and efforts of the ADF donor countries in stepping up support for Africa’s low-income countries, especially at this time of great economic, climate and fiscal challenges.

“This is the power of global part nerships and effective multilateralism in support of Africa.”

This replenishment came as the African Development Fund celebrates its 50th year anniversary since its establishment in 1972.

“The Fund is achieving significant impact and in the past five years alone, it has helped to connect 15.5 million people to electricity, has given 74 million people to access improved agriculture, and 42 million people access to water and sanitation.

“In addition, 50 million people have gained access to improved

transport. The Fund’s resources are also helping to build and rehabilitate 8,700 kilometers of roads.

“ADF-16 will support two strategic framework and operational priorities: developing sustainable, climate-resilient and quality infra structure; and governance, capacity building and sustainable debt management in recipient countries. It will also focus on empowering women and girls as a condition for achieving inclusive and sustainable

development.

“The ADF-16 replenishment will deliver even more impacts over the next three years. It will help to connect 20 million people to electricity, 24 million people will benefit from improvements in agriculture, access to water and sanitation for 32 million people, and improved access to transport for 15 million people,” the statement added.

Commenting further, Adesina

said: “These are impressive devel opment impacts. These expected impacts of the ADF will advance the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union. They will allow the African Development Fund to build on its reputation as being ranked the second-best concessional financing institution in the world.

“We will deliver more, better, efficiently and in partnerships with

bilateral and multilateral partners. We will foster a climate-smart, resilient, inclusive, and integrated Africa

“African low-income countries are the most vulnerable and least prepared to tackle climate change. The Climate Action Window and the commitment to provide 40 per cent of the core financing of the ADF 16 replenishment towards climate finance will help to build climate resilience in Africa,” he added.

FG Reads Riot Act to Sugar Manufacturers

Says raw commodity allocation now based on performance not size of refinery Aims to attain self-sufficiency by 2033

The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, yesterday said going forward, the annual raw sugar quota allocation to operators would

be based on their performances in the outgoing year.

He said operators must hence forth, buckle up, if they are to benefit from the allocation, adding that the, “old order of allocating raw sugar quota based on the size of the

Lawmakers Bicker, Postpone Passage of Bill to Remove N’Assembly from Contributory Pension Scheme

hydro-carbon in Bida Basin

Members of the House of Representatives at plenary yesterday argued over the final passage of a bill seeking to amend the Pen sion Reform Act, 2014, to exempt personnel of the National Assembly Service from the contributory pension scheme and to establish the National Assembly Service Pensions Board.

The lawmakers had on Novem ber 24, during its Committee of the Whole chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, passed the bill sponsored by the Chairman, Committee on National Planning and Economy Development, Hon. Olododo Cook.

However, there was rowdy session yesterday, when it was presented for third reading, to be subsequently transmitted to the president for assent.

The Deputy Chairman Commit

tee on Pensions, Hon. Bamidele Salam had a raised a point of order urging the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to step down the third reading of the bill, saying any attempt to exempt certain classes of people from the contributory pension scheme may lead to the collapse of that system.

He said, "I don't see the need to exit the National Assembly from this contributory pension scheme. The overdoing consideration has been that any attempt to exempt certain classes of people from the contributory pension scheme may lead to the collapse of that system. This will open a flood gate of other demands by other critical sectors."

Corroborating Salam's statement, another member of the Committee, Hon. Bem Mzondu, said the right procedures to the bill's passage was not followed.

He reminded the Speaker that he didn't grant the Committee their

request for a public hearing to be held on the bill before sending it to the Committee of the Whole.

He said, "The right procedures were not followed. We requested for a public hearing, we wrote to your office but our requested was not considered. If we open this flood gates of exit, many requests will come in.

“It means the pension scheme will collapse. Because every agency wants to exit the pension scheme. I plead this should be stepped down."

Countering their statements, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, making reference to the standing order of the House said the Speaker has the right to commit any bill to Committee of the Whole.

Wase, while insisting that not all bills must go through public hearing, queried his colleagues opposing the bill’s passage on if they don't care about the welfare of the people serving them.

"This bill didn't come today, there was first and second reading and today we are committing it to third reading. Not all bills must go through public hearing. I don't know why any matter that pertains to national assembly we are the first to raise issues, is that we don't care about the welfare of the same people that are serving us?," Wase said Agreeing with Wase, the Chairman House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Hassan Fulata said the bill was brought to the relevant committees but they couldn’t do their job and was discharged and recommitted to the Committee of the Whole.

Also, the lawmakers passed through third reading a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps, to facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch and nation building.

refinery has changed based on the approved National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) Phase 2.”

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists, the NSDC boss said the council’s next phase of activities would be anchored on verifiable data and innovation toward a seamless operation.

He added that in line with the expectations of President Muham madu Buhari and Nigerians, the country shall in the shortest possible time attain self-sufficiency in sugar production, and subsequently export to countries within the continent.

“As provided by the Phase 2 Plan, we shall tinker a bit with what we had in the past,” he said.

He stressed that the master plan was not about sugar production alone, “we count largely on its ability to take millions of our people out of poverty, develop infrastructure and improve the economic status of communities hosting sugar projects.”

He said, “We are quite optimistic about our projections in the sugar industry. We shall rely heavily on the use of verifiable data and modern technology to drive phase 2 of the master plan.

“The sugar sector holds tremen dous opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians in terms of job creation for our youths, increased revenue, and general economic prosperity for the nation.”

Adedeji said, “I just returned from the 31st edition of the annual International Sugar Organisation conference in London, United King dom. This annual event plays host to members of sugar-producing nations where they gather to deliberate on

ways to grow the sector as well as share ideas on emerging trends and practices within the industry.

“The central message in this year’s edition was the need to produce sugar where it is consumed. This is a wake-up call to Nigeria and countries within the continent because we are net importers of the commodity.”

The NSDC boss also announced the arrival of two new investors to the sugar industry, assuring that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nasarawa State Government and one of the investors as well as another between the Oyo State Government and the second investor would be performed in a fortnight.

He said, “All the necessary policy and technical guidelines have been concluded. These new investors would focus on the field and agricultural aspect of the NSMP which is the engine room of the NSMP.”

He added that the council’s agenda going forward was to focus more on other by-products that can be gotten from sugarcane, stressing that the industry has grown from being a sugar industry to a sugarcane-based industry.

He said, without doubt, the journey to self-sufficiency in sugar production isn't without some bottlenecks, “but we are as optimistic and upbeat as ever that the council under my watch would put necessary measures in place to ensure that all the lofty economic goals captured in the NSMP are manifestly realised for the overall benefit of Nigerians.”

Udora Orizu in Abuja

James Emejo in Abuja

L-R: Wife of APC Presidential candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; wife of APC vice presidential candidate, Mrs. Nana Shettima; First Lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and APC Deputy National Women Leader (North), Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Lagos House, Marina...yesterday

German Police Arrest 25 Over Far-right Plot to Overthrow Govt

German authorities yesterday arrested 25 people suspected of plotting to use the armed force to storm parliament and violently overthrow the state, marking one of country’s largest ever raids targeting right-wing extremists.

Majority of those arrested were accused of being part of a “terrorist organisation,” according to the public prosecutor’s statement, while the remaining three — including a Russian national — were detained on suspicion of being supporters.

According to Washington Post, in addition to the arrests, police searched the properties of a further 27 indi viduals who were being investigated on an “initial suspicion” of being a member or having supported the organisation.

The statement noted that more than 3,000 police officers were involved in the raids, which took

the counter (OTC) by individuals and corporate organisations per week to N100,000 and N500,000 respectively.

The bank, in a letter dated December 6, 2022, which was addressed to all Deposit Money Banks, and Other Financial Institu tions, Payment Service Bank (PSBs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), and Microfinance Banks (MFBs), also stated that third party cheques above N50,000 shall not be eligible for OTC payment while extant limits of N10 million on clearing cheques still remains.

The new withdrawal regime which may be targeted at curbing vote-buying as the 2023 elections draw closer, among others, further pegged the maximum cash with drawal per week via Automated teller Machine (ATM) at N100,000 subject to a maximum of N20,000 cash withdrawal per day, adding that only denominations of N200 and below shall be loaded into

the presidential candidates and party chairmen ahead of the 2023 elections.

Laing said they welcomed Ni geria's commitment to democracy and the president's commitment to secure the elections.

"We talked a little more detailed about the conditions necessary for that to happen. And the concern about insecurity. And the importance of the people on the day and encouraging more people to register because they need to turn and vote on the day of the election. That means no intimidation and a secured

Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, also clari fied the much-reported 700,000 barrels per day losses incurred by the national oil firm.

Wunti explained that based on all the calculations, Nigeria was losing, on the average, over 700,000 barrels per day. He explained that in hydrocarbons accounting, the figure included engineering losses, oil theft, as well as what would have been produced due to shutdowns, which he described as op portunity losses.

Before the recent recovery, he stated that Nigeria was losing about 21 million barrels per month and up to $1.9 billion every 30 days.

“If you take an average oil price of $90, that will translate to somewhere in the neighbour hood of $1.9 billion losses that we suffered,” he said.

Wunti stated that at least 68 vessels had been impounded since the renewed fight against crude oil theft, saying some of the culprits are being prosecuted by the appropriate authorities.

He said the collaboration between the security agencies, local community contractors, and NNPC led to the return of Forcados, while Brass and Bonny,

place in 11 of Germany’s 16 states.

“Democracy is well defended,” Justice Minister Marco Buschmann tweeted afterwards. “It’s suspected that an armed attack was planned against constitutional bodies,” he added.

The accused subscribe to a range of conspiracy theories, including QAnon and the extremist Reichs bürger movement, which denies the existence of the modern German state, the prosecutor’s statement said.

“They are firmly convinced that Germany is currently governed by members of a so-called ‘deep state,’” it said, adding that they are “united by a deep rejection of state institutions.”

The group was prepared to use violence — including the murder of state representatives — to carry out its aim of replacing the existing

ATMs while the maximum amount that can be withdrawn via Point of Sale (POS) terminal was limited to N20,000 daily.

It was also meant to discourage hoarding of the local currency in a bid to check inflationary pressures as well as address critical security issues.

However, speaking in separate interviews with THISDAY, analysts said the new CBN policy would support monetary policy transmis sion.

They said the policy would positively enhance the monetary and fiscal space as well as improve the profitability of the banking sector.

The analysts, however, cautioned that the slow adoption of e-banking, the rise in cybercrime coupled with an election year, and other macroeconomic factors could slow the benefits of the policy.

Wealth Management and Busi ness Development Consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said the effective

environment. And people feeling they can vote for the candidate they want.

"The UK doesn't have a preferred candidate. We are committed to free and fair elections. But we will work with whoever presidential candidate that emerges from the election. UK and Nigeria have a very strong partnership and we want Nigeria to succeed, and democracy is part of it," she said.

Meanwhile, the Director, Contact and Mobilization (North-west), of the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Hon Aminu Jaji, has distributed 70

which were shut down due to force majeure, were expected to begin operation soon.

He pointed out that while the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) was yet to fully return, it had now been partially restored, leading to the increase in reported production figures.

“Forcados is back, Bonny will soon be back,” he assured.

Before now, Wunti stated that the industry was using technology sub-optimally, which made it very difficult to have an end-to-end visibility of NNPC’s infrastructure.

Wunti stated that there was currently about 350,000 bpd to 400,000 bpd augmentation to the volume being produced hitherto, adding that Nigeria drills about 1.6 million bpd currently.

According to him, NNPC now has the capability to see its assets fully from end-to-end, and about 70 per cent of identified illegal refineries have been deactivated.

“It is just mind-boggling what we have discovered and we could see the level of sophistication where illegal connections were put on our trunk lines,” he stated, describing it as a very complex situation.

He stated that there were sev eral layers of security protecting the country’s oil infrastructure, explaining that every level is

order in Germany with its own form of government, the prosecutor said.

The group’s central “council” was headed by an individual named as Heinrich XIII P.R., whom German news media identified the individual as Prince Heinrich XIII, 71, a descendant of the House of Reuss, a royal dynasty from the German state of Thuringia.

“Since November 2021, the members of the ‘Council’ have regularly met in secret to plan the intended takeover of power in Germany and the establishment of their own state structures,” the statement said.

Members believed that “liberation” would be assisted by the intervention of the “Alliance” — a secret society of military and governments, including those of Russia and the United States. Heinrich XIII had reached out

ness of monetary policy hinged on being able to mop up excess liquidity and having the majority of the population included in the financial system.

He said, “Several initiatives by the CBN have tried to encourage both financial inclusion and a cashless society, however, these have been largely ineffective. The new CBN policy will certainly aid in accelerat ing the monetary policy objectives, whilst also tackling the insecurity challenges and encouraging financial inclusion.

“Though there will undoubtedly be implementation challenges, it is a step in the right direction for sanitizing the economy. The excess liquidity floating around in the economy needs to be mopped as this will also help inflation.”

Also, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said the step taken by CBN in limiting cash withdrawal

cars to all the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State in support of Tinubu's presidential campaign.

A statement released Wednesday by Jaji's media office stated that, the distribution was made on Tuesday while flagging off his campaign for House of Representatives for the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency held at the Kaura Namoda stadium.

Jaji while addressing journalists described Tinubu as a credible poli tician with a wealth of experience to tackle security and economic challenges and lift Nigeria to a greater heights.

now monitored by other levels to check underhand dealings.

The reduction in produc tion had cut the contribution of foreign exchange earnings from crude oil export from 90 per cent, when production was high, to 78.5 per cent as of the third quarter of 2022, THISDAY learnt.

As crude theft increased, the federal government and some private security groups, including Tantita Securities Service, owned by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), and Maton Engineering Limited, were contracted by the government.

Wunti stated, “The new security architecture relies on technology. What it does is to bring together the security and intelligence agencies on one table, the regulators on the other, and then bring in the community into the other angle and without the community, we can’t achieve that.

“Today, we are able to detect and we able to respond. The success that we recorded is es sential because of this improved security situation. We are now almost at an average of 350,000 to 400,000 bpd increase. At a certain level we recorded up to 450,000 bpd increase.

“That is why you can see we

to Russian representatives inside Germany, the prosecutor’s office said — although it added there were no indications of a positive response to his overtures.

The council also had a military arm, which would have been involved in the armed takeover of the state. This body included former members of Germany’s armed forces, and recruitment efforts were targeted toward members of the military and police.

There is a suspicion that individual members of the group made prepa rations to use arms to force their way into the German Bundestag, or parliament, prosecutors said.

Greens party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz drew parallels to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“At the latest since January 6, 2021, we have known that anti-democratic

would not only curb vote buying, and terrorism and encourage digital payments, but also reduce the pressure on foreign currency.

“In other words, the measure would improve the value of the naira against other currencies. It is always a play of demand size against supply size. If there is a scarcity of naira, foreign currencies would become surplus in the market to exchange for scarce naira.

“It will also help CBN to man age the supply of the redesigned currency which may not be very available to cover the demand for it in all states of the federation at the same time,” he said.

Also, an economist, Mr. Tope Fasua, said the policy could address the current exchange rate gaps.

He said, "The policy will also be a good step in strengthening the value of the naira. At this rate, if this is played right and it is sustained, we may see a scenario where the naira/dollar rate comes down and the naira can strengthen a little bit against the dollar when there is not much money flowing after the dollar.”

On his part, Professor of Finance and Capital Markets, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said the cash withdrawal limit was part of the currency redesign package, adding that the two are mutually dependent.

He said, “It goes without saying that cash withdrawal limit is an integral part of currency redesign meant to reduce the amount of currency circulating outside the banking system.

“If the experience of India's demonetisation exercise is anything to go by, then it's evident that

are now from 1.1 million bpd daily to about 1.59 million bpd as at this morning (yesterday). So, these are some of the things that we are able to record based on the new security architecture.”

He assured that the collective resolve of private and govern ment securities would lead to further improvement in crude oil production, which would, in turn, reflect in foreign exchange earnings by the country.

According to him currently, about 638 illegal refineries, out of 763, have been destroyed, even as the security architecture is being institutionalised.

Wunti said, “We have incapacitated almost about 70 per cent of what we have identified and we will keep identifying some of them. It is mind-boggling what we discovered even as operators and every one of us saw the kind of sophistication, where illegal connections are put on every major trunk line, including direct export lines on Forcados.

“It couldn’t have been possible without the collective resolve of the private security guards anchored by the communities. We have short to medium and long term visibility. I can tell you we have succeeded to an extent to stop this menace.

“The question now is how to stop its growth. That is why we

speech can also be followed by ac tions directed against democracy and parliament,” he said. “Today, the German security authorities have succeeded in putting a stop to such plans to seize power.”

The Reichsbürger or “Reich citizen” movement subscribes to a state based on Germany’s preWorld War II borders. Modern laws and governments are considered illegitimate, and some believe that descendants of former German royal families should be reinstated in their positions.

It is a small extremist fringe that has grown in recent years, rising to more prominence during the pandemic, when its members took to the street alongside a mix of conspiracy theorists and other right-wing groups. The movement is made up of small groups active

imposition of cash withdrawal limits by monetary authorities, following a demonetisation exercise, is a norm.

Uwaleke said, “If depositors of old currency notes are able to exchange them for new naira notes which get withdrawn from the banks, then the primary aim of currency redesign is defeated.

“That said, I expect it to give impetus to financial Inclusion as Nigerians become compelled to embrace alternative payment platforms.

“It now behooves the CBN to ensure that bank charges on money transfers and other related charges are reduced to the barest minimum.”

On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, described the cash withdrawal limits as a step in the right direction by the CBN, adding that the measure would to a large extent reduce the cash in the economy to an acceptable minimum as stipulated by CBN guidelines.

He added, “The measure will also boost the value of the Naira when there is less of N500 and N1000 naira notes in circulation as it is being done with major currencies in the world like the US Dollar, British Pound Sterling, and the Euro.

“This policy implementation will go a long way to increase the use of other means of transactions like internet banking, USSD, ATMs, and POS to boost the cashless policy of the CBN.”

He said, “We know that our economy has been a cash economy for a long time so these measures will initially cause disruptions in the economy but things will settle

introduced checking the checker. What that means is that we have four layers of visibility.”

Wunti also said persons ar rested in connection with the criminal oil theft and bunkering activities were currently being prosecuted. He said in due course, their identities would be disclosed to the surprise of Nigerians.

He said, "And the new secu rity architecture was anchored on basically on rectangular architecture layered on tech nology. It brings together the security and intelligence agency at one angle, the regulators at another angle, the operators at another angle, and then brings in what was almost zero – the community – into the other angle, and without the com munity you can't achieve that.

"That is just the innovation and we layered it on a technol ogy – Command and Control Centre. I'm glad this media house has visited that Command and Control Centre. Today, we have end-to-end visibility, we are able to detect, we are able to deter and we are able to respond.

"We are still making a lot of improvement and that's what you call the 3DR: we first detect, we deactivate, and we destroy and then we remove.”

Wunti blamed the current fuel

across borders and online, with German intelligence warning that some subgroups have rapidly grown in recent years.

In 2021, the movement was estimated to include about 21,000 people nationwide, according to a report by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, which estimated that about 10 percent of those were “violence-oriented.”

“The investigations provide a glimpse into the abyss of a terrorist threat from the Reichsbürger milieu,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “The suspected terrorist organization uncovered today is — according to the state of the investigations — driven by violent overthrow fantasies and conspiracy ideologies.”

in the long run and the economy will be better for it.

“The policy will also deter cash hoarders and politicians carrying cash for vote buying, terrorists and kidnappers will also not be getting large sums as ransom with these new measures."

Similarly, the Head, of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co, Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi said, “In the long run, it is a well thought out policy and is something that would help the economy. However, in the short run, there might actually be some hiccups and can cause some dislocation in the economy.”

According to him, “The cost of printing naira from the CBN’s perspective is going to reduce significantly because the volume of naira that would be printed every year would reduce significantly.”

He said the policy would also enable the federal government to better track MSMEs’ activities going forward and boost tax compliance.

“This policy would also help improve tax remittances and can actually increase compliance with the various tax laws. And it would also help in tracking illicit flows to an extent it would reduce kidnapping and terrorism.”

Olubunmi said the banking sector also stood a chance to benefit from increased transaction charges from using digital payment channels.

“From the banking perspective, it would reduce the cost of operations for banks because most of the bank branches would be closed. And the charges attached to internet banking would increase non-interest income

scarcity in the country on hiccups around the product distribution system, saying supply is not the reason for the disruption in the value chain. He explained that the task of making any product available rested on 4As – making available, affordable, accessible, and in an acceptable format.

He added that guaranteeing security of products rested on the supply, distribution and retail, pointing out that the challenge in Nigeria has always been more around distribution than supply.

He said there was about two billion litres of petrol in stock, saying the volume would only make impact on the people if all of it were sent to filling stations.

Wunti explained, "Needless to say, 60 to 65 per cent of the country source their product from Lagos. At the last count, we only have 35,000 trucks. That 35,000 crisscross this country. They go to Maiduguri, Sokoto, Calabar and the rate at which they make their turnaround has changed significantly from one week to 10 days. Now, they hardly do once in a month. That brought about several constraints.

"We all know what the problem was in the last supply disruption. Around Apapa axis, there was a blockage. No truck

UK: We've No Preferre D Pre SID e NTIA l C ANDIDAT e IN N I ger IA

NNPC: Ho W We rAIS e D Cr UD e oI l Pro DUCTI o N from 900,000b PD T o 1.6mb PD

fA llo UT of N AI r A r e D e SI g N , A NA lYSTS bACK C b N’ S C ASH W ITHD r AWA l Pol ICY

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY )

Monguno: Attackers of INEC Offices, Crude Oil Thieves Will Not Go Unpunished

National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) in this interview speaks on salient issues, including the fate of miscreants attacking INEC offices in the country and those stealing crude oil in the Niger Delta region. Deji Elumoye brings excerpts:

How concerned are you that few months before elections there are attacks on INEC facilities and what are the guarantees that election will hold in most of these places especially in the North-West and North-central where some of them have fled their communities?

The elections will take place, we have said that. By the grace of Almighty they will take place in an atmosphere bereft of intimidation and violence, we’ll try as much as possible to maintain that.

For those people who’ve been going around burning offices, killing people, I have already said it, the security agencies have been given that instruction. Visit them with all you have and let them understand that there are consequences for bad behavior; that we are determined.

Everybody is a Nigerian, everybody is free to do whatever he wants to do, but don’t cross the line and move into another person’s territory. That you want to destroy government prop erty, property set up by taxpayers money? How dare you? Who the hell are you? In a normal society, this is not tolerated, and I believe we’re normal society.

A number of state governors are prevent ing opposition politicians from campaigning in their states. What will the security agencies be telling governors involved in this knowing the security implications ahead of 2023 elections?

Well, it’s not something that’s new to us. It’s been like that, going all the way back to 1999. And if you want, you can say going all the way back even to the Second Republic, probably the First Republic.

We had a press briefing with the Chairman of the Independent National Election Com mission about a week ago and we emphasized the need for everybody to operate on a level playing field. One thing I can assure you is, the President has given clear directives. The people’s will must prevail. What happened in Anambra or Osun and Ekiti is what we want to happen all over the country. Let the people choose their leader, whoever they want, then later, they can decide.

But in the process of electing who governs them, we must be mindful of the fact that there are people who are hell bent on forcing or bully ing and cornering their opponents. It’s not even a function of numbers or a function of money. It’s a big problem. It’s a problem that’s also linked with complex. Because if you are really who you are, you don’t need to hire thugs. If you cannot restrain your thugs, the government will do that for you. And you will be called on the carpet and you will answer questions. We have a lot of politicians and I’m not being specific about any politician or party. This virus has to be contained. I have given a clear warning that any politician who engages in any unpalatable activity, the use of thugs and I know we have a lot of political thugs, straining at the leash, foaming at the mouth, desperate to bite and taste blood. But we’re going to apply everything within the powers of the government. And I’m not saying that we’re going to just operate in a manner that is not regulated. The government is not going to embark on anything that is uncontrolled, we will operate on the straight and narrow, confining ourselves to legality. That I can assure you, the President has given his directives. And we’re working on that.

So those elements who think they can deny other people the political air to breathe and reach out to the local community should have a rethink. And I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again, these political elements should call their thugs, their Capo regimes to order. They should have a nice, quiet fireside chat with them, and advise them that when the law enforcement agencies come there’ll be no hiding place.

Is vandalisation of pipelines in the

Niger Delta over and when do we expect full production of crude oil?

We’re all aware of the security situation in the Niger Delta; it’s a combination of so many factors. It’s not something that started today; it’s been going on for a very long time. The security agencies have tried various methods, working with international oil companies with the State governments, entities have been created, like the Ministry of the Niger Delta, the NDDC, the Amnesty Program. Nothing seems to be working, because the result that is required, of those people inhabiting those areas, we have not been able to actually help the security agencies to solve this problem.

Everything is about intelligence, and people go about vandalizing pipelines and other things.

For as long as the security agen cies are shielded from getting the information, as long as the oil companies...oh, yes, obviously, there will be collaborators, undoubt edly. But the best way to deal with this situation, is to work with the security agencies, the intelligence agencies, and also self help in the

sense that each small community needs to get the type of information it needs to block the emergence of these activities.

Let me just inform you that the Ministry of Niger Delta as well as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and these other entities that have mentioned right now, the converse, they’re working on something, they are trying to use a method that has not been used before.

I’m not at liberty to say what but we’re hoping that before the end of the first quarter of next year, there will be a significant improvement.

Some people are saying that the chal lenge of insecurity in the North-east has lingered for so long because of government’s policy of de-radicalization, re-integration and rehabilitation and that those criminals granted these privileges are same persons causing problems for the security agencies. Has the intelligence community been able to establish this opinion?

On the de-radicalization, reintegration and rehabilitation, this is usually a phase in asym metric conflicts, especially where you have a large number of people who have participated in murderous activities, criminal activities, who are willing to sheath their swords; lay down their arms. And as long as it’s sincere, it is genuine. Again, there’s no gauge to measure what is in a man’s heart and this is where you require the efforts of the local community, the efforts of the experts, religious leaders, traditional leaders,

Ulammas, Baales, whatever; they need to be involved in this.

Obviously, like you said, there will be those people, those fringe elements, who will bounce back to their old ways. It happens everywhere. It is up to the wider society, the local community to spot those people and then bring them back. So it’s not a very, very straightforward thing. It’s something that you match over time before you get to the promised land.

The intelligence community, of course, is aware of these characters, because there’s a stratification or compartmentalization. There’s a level of involvement. There are some who are just sympathizers, there are some who are just noisemakers, and there are some who are active participants, violent people, murderous people, some who have crossed the rubicon in terms of being addicted to substances, and helping them is going to be quite a while.

How can the local government chairmen serve in this non-kinetic approach by the government at the grassroots?

You have hit the nail on the head. Today, and I’m just coming from the president’s parley with the participants of Course, 44 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.

The paper they presented to government basically, on the need to strengthen the local governments. The local government is the most critical component of governments.

For as long as it is bereft of autonomy, for as long as it is emasculated, for as long as it has been driven underground and it is not func tional, a lot of things will follow. The harder we will try to solve the problem of insecurity, the more aggressive it becomes at the local level, because these elements keep popping out of local government levels, before they reach areas that they’re not supposed to reach. They must have manifested in many ways at the local, it is extremely important.

I know that some arms of governments are also working to see how the local governments can be strengthened. Obviously, they have a vested interest, there will be resistance, but the only way in which we can secure this country, outside the traditional methods that have been used, is to strengthen the local government. The quality of people who preside over the day to day affairs of the local government must be people of impeccable character; must be people who have the interests of the local community at heart; people who are accountable.

And for as long as the local governments are suffocated, strangulated and made incapable of carrying out their functions, then, of course, these places become vulnerable to the vagaries of society.

Of course, this is a democracy. Unless the people understand and accept they’re able to realize the efficacy, the importance of the local government, and gravitate from the federal and state to the local government to give power to the people, because that is what democracy is all about, we will continue to be in a political wheelchair.

What are you doing to get those still in captivity freed especially the children that were kidnapped in Niger state, the Chibok girls etc?

For those who are still out there in the hands of these vicious animals, the security agencies will have to continue to work with the governments at the state level, not just using the kinetic effort, but also the non kinetic means.

It is basically an intelligence driven process, which means that it’s going to be, unfortu nately, painstaking because sometimes you can end up having, you know, attracting collateral issues but I can assure you that they’re working on that.

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

Monguno

For those people who’ve been going around burning offices, killing people, I have already said it, the security agencies have been given that instruction. Visit them with all you have and let them understand that there are consequences for bad behavior; that we are determined. Everybody is a Nigerian, everybody is free to do whatever he wants to do, but don’t cross the line and move into another person’s territory.

Umeh: I’ll Speak for South East in the Senate

Why do you want to go back to the Senate?

Well, going back to the Sen ate is in line with my desire to continuously defend my people, fight for their rights in a Nigeria that has been very unjust to them over the years. Our people appear challenged in this country and nobody can pretend about it. Therefore, we need very strong characters to represent them in the National Assembly. National Assembly is the centre of all activities of government. You can see that it is in the National Assembly that all federal government plans are given approval, whether to be or not to be. Federal budgets are brought to the National Assembly for approval. Major appointments are brought to the Senate for confirmation, so the oversight function given to the Senate is a major one.

So, any group of people or constituency that yearns to have very strong representation in the affairs of Nigeria must send very strong people to the parliament. It is there that things are discussed, debated before approvals are given, so that presidential actions can always be reviewed to see if approval will be given or not.

The essence of having Senators with repre sentative capacity is to ensure that you have someone who will sit in there and look at those programmes of the federal government of Nigeria and dispassionately weigh them the way they affect your people. If they are not accommodating of your people, you stand up and say so, and through your representation, your people will always be accommodated.

I was at the eighth Senate for 17 months and before I even got there, I had become aware of the challenges our people face, so, when I got there, as soon as I settled down, I started moving motions, bringing the plight of our people to the centre stage and asking for those things they have done that did not include our people to be revisited.

I was there for 17 months and that 17 months, our people saw my outputs and interventions in critical areas. I viewed all government action in relation to how they affected my people. Any time government did anything that excluded my people, I raised objections. I was able to achieve a lot, so Senate is a place where you talk, not a place you go to sit down and mop and say that you are doing underground work.

Summarily, my desire to go back to the Senate is to go and continue contributing in national debate on the things that will make governance in Nigeria very efficient, through the process of lawmaking. The National Assembly can make laws that can make governance good, because anything the parliament does not approve, the executive cannot implement. The President no matter what he wants to do and the National Assembly says no, he will not be able to do it, it is the National Assembly that will bring about checks and balances.

Nigeria as presently constituted needs a very strong and virile National Assembly that is very conscious of impact in the lives of the people, so when government is not living up to expectation, the parliament should intervene.

So, we need very strong representation from the South East, not just Anambra Central, that is why when I was in the parliament, my eyes were everywhere, looking at the activities of government, and how they impacted on the people of the South East, either through neglect or marginalization.

I know that the 10th National Assembly will be a very crucial one because you can see how the country is wobbling, and ev erything appears to be collapsing, both in the economy, national cohesion, practice of equity and fairness, there are all generally lacking. The next National Assembly is one that would be compelled by all these to look at how Nigeria can be rearranged to promote national coexistence and cohesion.

We have also seen that urgent actions are needed in the executive, and we have to work hard to complement the new executive that Nigeria will have and support with a robust National Assembly. A docile parliament will be against the people, and a vibrant parliament will be on the side of the people. The parlia

ment will not keep mute when the country is being run aground. I am going to be part of that discussion.

I am going to be part of the mak ing of a new Nigeria and that New Nigeria will not be possible with cowards, who are afraid of speaking truth to power. That parliament must be one that is very dispas sionate and always view the actions of government on how they affect the people. That is what I intend to do, and at my age, I believe that I still have such time to engage in such process.

You lost in the last APGA senatorial primaries through what was said to be a conspiracy. Now you are in Labour Party, who are your supporters in your new party?

I will say, I am very well known in the state, my supporters go beyond party lines. For what I have stood for and represented over the years, people have come to identify me as someone who has a distinct character in pursuing the course of justice. It is not by coincidence that I go round and people acknowledge me everywhere. I have through my engagement over the years been identified as someone who stands very strongly for justice. On national issues, I have always been identified as someone who stands for equity and justice and maybe because of my experience, coming from the Igbo nation of Nigeria and I have always desired that the ground should be level for everyone in Nigeria. I have been identified as a national voice in Nigeria, working

against injustice. My supporters are not just in the party that I have operated for 20 years, that is APGA. People in PDP identify with me, people who are not even in politics have also identified with me. Anywhere I go to, even old women identify me and hail me. It shows that my supporters are not limited to just APGA. It is true that I led APGA for 10 years and did lot of battles for the party and through that Anambra turned around, and that cannot be discussed without my name.

I have been part of every new leadership in Anambra State, starting from Peter Obi, Obiano and the current government of Soludo, I have played major roles in bringing those governments, but on the platform of APGA. In 2011, I led the APGA to victory in Imo State and we produced Okorocha, all in my efforts to strengthen regional cohesion in the South East. Coming out of a major contribution in win ing victory for Prof Chukwuma Soludo, but you all heard it that there was a primary in APGA and I was said to have lost. It didn’t go down with many people, both the Igbo people in Nigeria and in the diaspora. People were embarrassed by that news, but it was a result of a well planned conspiracy to stop me. I leave it at that, and I have moved on. One thing that was important was that within 24 hours of the APGA senatorial primary, I got a call from my brother Peter Obi who felt it was unacceptable. When he called me, he expressed shock at the news of my loss. He is somebody that I have worked with over the years, and he knew what happened to me. He knew the forces against me and he said it was not good for our people that somebody like me could be treated that way. After that he told me to consider coming over to the Labour Party that he was going to be the presidential candidate the next day. He called me from Asaba where there were having their convention. I said okay, that if he emerged victorious in the convention, I will consider it, and in the evening he called me back and said he was now the candidate and

The parliament will not keep mute when the country is being run aground. I am going to be part of that discussion. I am going to be part of the making of a new Nigeria and that New Nigeria will not be possible with cowards, who are afraid of speaking truth to power. That parliament must be one that is very dispassionate and always view the actions of government on how they affect the people. That is what I intend to do, and at my age, I believe that I still have such time to engage in such process

that we can continue our discussion.

I told him that his emergence was partial fulfillment of my desire that the presidency should come to the South East at this time. It is an advocacy I have been leading in previous months and almost one year. I told him now that he had become the candidate, there was no way I could see anyone from the APC or PDP, that in my consideration, he was the only one worthy of our support and that we will support him and let’s see what can come through from it.

At that time, Labour Party was relatively unknown, no one gave it a chance. Then he told me I should also consider joining the party that senatorial primary was for 3rd of June, which was just few days away then. And he said if I was still interested in running for a seat in the Senate, I should consider it. I said it was okay, and that while I’m supporting him to be president, I can still be running for Senate, and that it can make it a stronger movement for us in Anambra State.

I considered his idea, I consulted my people, and even before then, my followers were calling me and asking me to go for Labour Party, but I didn’t tell them I was talking with Peter Obi.

So, on 3rd of June, I was surprised how people (journalists) knew, and you came and took the news by surprise, and I became the candidate. So, my support base is still intact. All the people that have identified with my activities, everybody rejoiced when they heard of my joining Labour Party.

Many of our people who regretted my not going back to the Senate in 2019 were very sad, thinking that the road had come to an end, and that through the APGA primary, that I had been shut out again, but when the Labour Party opening came, it revived their broken spirit.

I got calls from everywhere, both in United Kingdom, America, Europe and South Africa. I didn’t know my people were so appreciative of my contribution over the years. So, my support base is much stronger now than when I was in APGA. The truth is that the APGA people, some of them regretted what happened at the primary. They fought that conspiracy against me, that was why I was able to be edged out by just 11 votes. Remember that my opponent put people in hotels, shared dollars. I didn’t put anybody in any hotel, so the conspiracy nearly failed, but I see it as a design by God for me to leave the party.

We are going into the election next year, and I can tell you that my supporters are far more than when I was in APGA. People I stepped on their toes while fighting for APGA are from the opposite side, and I can tell you that they are now relieved that I am no longer there. They have started seeing me as friends and have become my supporters.

Your two main opponents in PDP and APGA are in the National Assembly, knowing how you were edged out of the primary election by forces that may still be against you in the main election, what are you doing to forestall such?

Every contest no matter how tough will produce a winner. I have never taken any of my opponents for granted, I see all of them as strong contenders, but the good thing about this election is that it is a general election, and the entire people of the senatorial zone will be voting, not a handful of people picked and given money to vote for someone.

Comparing me with my opponents in the election, without being immodest, I can say we are not comparable. Our people easily identify me as one who always fight for their rights. The fact that they were able to gang up against me in APGA through a small decision making process will not guarantee that there will be a repeat in the general election. The people of Anambra Central have demonstrated that they are not happy with the APGA primary, and they are gearing towards making a statement to correct that.

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

Former National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Senator Victor Umeh, in this interview with David-Chyddy Eleke speaks about his quest to return to the Senate under the platform of the Labour Party in 2023.

Umeh

Doctoral Honour for Obinna Iyiegbu for Astute Role in Administration, Tech

Take a second look at these pictures illustrating this story again: the excitement, the cheerfulness and the bliss being expressed by Chief Obinna Tochukwu Iyiegbu - popularly known as Obi Cubana, are immeasurable and untold.

True, he confirmed that while speaking with THISDAY - immediately he received an award from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) recently.

‘’Today is one of the happiest days in my life; I have received many awards – both in Nigeria and outside the country; but this one is unique. The fact that it is coming from home means a lot to me”, Obi Cubana stated.

The entrepreneur and philanthropist was excited about the award of Doctor of Business Administration (Honorary Cosa), which was accorded him, along with four other eminent personalities from different sectors by the ESUT at its convocation in Enugu recently.

Accompanied by his beautiful wife, Barrister Ebele, family members and hundreds of business associates/friends to the university - located in Agbani, in Enugu State, to receive the award, Obi Cubana arrived the Convocation Ground of the university amidst thundering, standing ovation and hailing by members of the Students Union Government, led by its leaders.

It took the combined efforts of both local and state security agents present at the event for him to move from the car part to the chair reserved for him at the event. Hundreds of students were surly excited to see Obi Cubana, who hails from now famous Oba, in Anambra State. Even the visitor of the school – Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, could not resist standing up to welcoming him to the ceremony - attended by hundreds of people.

Conveying the nomination to the awardee, in a letter with reference number: ESTUT/ HA/11/22/07 dated August 30, 2022, the Vice-Chancellor of the ESUT, Prof AloysiusMichaels Okolie, said that the decision to accord him the award was in line with the vision of the founding fathers and the motto, which emphasises ‘’technology for service.’’

‘’Sir, in with this fundamental mission, the management identified you as a relentless and astute administrator that fits into the vision of a new Nigeria and technologicallydriven institutions’’, the Vice-Chancellor explained.

Reading the citation of the chairman of the Cubana Group of Companies, the University’s Orator, described him as ‘’an entrepreneur, philanthropist, people developer, business leadership consultant, and founder and CEO of the Cubana group – a conglomerate with interests in the entertainment, hospitality and real estate business.’’ Dr Iyiegbu hails from Oba in Idemili Local Government of Anambra State.

According to the orator, ‘’His parents, Sir Alex and Mrs Ezinne Iyiegbu were renowned educationists. His father was a French teacher and Principal, while his mother was a Headmistress. He was educated at the prestigious Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from where he graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science (Second Class Upper) Honours degree in Political Science.’’

While the mandatory National Youth Service took Obi Cubana to Abuja, where he served at the National Assembly for his primary assignment, on completion of his national service, Obinna, like his peers, experienced a period of unemployment - during which he struggled to make ends meet.

Apparently undeterred, but determined to make a success of life, the young Obinna opted to become self - employed. True, in 2001, he teamed up with a childhood friend to create his first business – a relaxation garden.

However, following the forced closure of his garden by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the resilient Obi Cubana picked himself up, licked his wounds and moved on. In 2006, he teamed up with another set of friends to establish the Ibizza Night Club, Abuja and this – as stated in

his citation, marked his formal entry into the entertainment and hospitality industry, which he now bestrides like a colossus.

‘’The Cubana Group was established three years later, and today, the Cubana Group is a globally recognised brand that is synonymous with luxury and pleasure in the world of entertainment, hospitality and real estate. Chief Iyiegbu also has thriving business interests in the building construction, communication technology and alcoholic beverage industries’’ the orator added.

Referred to as ‘’a people developer’’, Obi Cubana, as he is fondly called, is said to derives immense pleasure from helping young entrepreneurs to establish and grow

their businesses. To date, he is credited with providing ‘’seed funding for over 500’’ of such businesses in different parts of the country. And he follows this up with business counselling and motivation.

The orator continued, ‘’His desire to give back to society led him to establish the KIEK Foundation through which he works with his wife, Ebele, to provide feeding, medical treatment and free education to less privileged children. His target is to train 1,000 out-of-school children.’’

In recognition of his ‘’achievements in the field of entrepreneurship and philanthropy’’, Obi Cubana has been

the proud recipient of many honours, titles and awards.

For instance, he holds the Igbo title of “Okpataozuora”, which is a public acknowledgement of his philanthropy. His many awards include the ‘’Hospitality Icon’’ (Sun Newspapers, 2020), ‘’Man of the Year’’ (News Agency of Nigeria, 2021) and ‘’Entrepreneur of the Year’’ (African Canada Investment Summit, 2022).

Dr Obinna Iyiegbu is happily married to Barrister Ebele, and the marriage is blessed with four biological and one adopted children.

In an emotional laden-voice, Obi Cubana promised to worked with ESUT authority in order to help develop many infrastructures that will uplift the school.

L-R: Barrister Ebele Iyiegbu; Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Dr. Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana) after the Enugu State University of Science and Technology accorded Doctor of Business Administration ( Honorari Cosa) on Obi Cubana, in Enugu — recently

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, recently accorded Chief Obinna Tochukwu Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, with Doctor of Business Administration, Honorary Cosa. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, who was at the event reports

(L-R) Obi Cubana being decorated by the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Prof Aloysius Michaels Okolie during the convocation ceremony in Enugu recently

#THISISNIGERIA

Footprints: Past. Present. Future

“A

s I speak to you, the president’s people have finally given in to the constitution. But has anything really changed? Did those playing with our destinies understand the gravity of their actions? You and I know the answer to that. Just like you, guys, I have had enough. Enough, this time, is enough.”

OOn February 26, 2010, during the succession crisis in the Nigerian presidency, Chude Jideonwo sent an email titled, “Where Is the Outrage?” to about two dozen people. He declared, “Young people should be on the streets, showing their rage at how our future is being ruined.” The message would spark the first Enough is Enough protest in March 2010.

10 years later, in October 2020, a different generation had also had enough and they also took to the streets to protest police brutality - #EndSARS. They created the #5for5 Demands; shut down a major expressway in Lagos; drew significant numbers in at least 10 states across the country and got decent numbers in various locations in the diaspora. They also got global attention and changed the dynamics of crowdfunding via crypto.

As we prepare for a general election when young people want to turn “protest to power”, it’s important to reflect on the lessons that have been learnt over the last twelve years. It was March 2010 and my friend, Bisola Edun, invited me to a protest in Abuja. It sounded like fun and I agreed to go with her. I had just finished my MBA, came back to Nigeria, and was completing my NYSC service year with a friend’s company that was doing some work on the upcoming 2011 elections.

The March 16, 2010 historic EiE protest in Abuja happened, followed by the protest to then Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on April 14th. The name ‘Enough is Enough’ was one of the slogans of the Tunde Bakare-led Save Nigeria Group (SNG) protests of January 2010. Interestingly, their first protest in Abuja was on my birthday - January 12th!

After the two protests, the coordinators and participants continued to meet to discuss what next - I had time to engage

so I became the de facto secretariat. The general sense was that we really couldn’t protest every time we are upset and expect things to shift. We then decided to focus on getting young people to channel their energy into participating in the electoral process - Register to vote | Select credible candidates | Vote and Protect their votes.

We opened an office in January 2011 with funding from Omidyar Network and the MacArthur Foundation. We hired a Program Manager who resigned in February. Elections were in April and because I had spent the most time on the EiE Project, I agreed to oversee our activities through elections and we would then hire a new Program Manager. 11 years later, I’m still here!

EiE’s story has become a reflection of my journey with Nigeria. I was born and raised in Ife. I grew up believing that anything was possible. Ife had two things - the university and the Ooni’s palace. Nevertheless, as campus kids, we believed we could do and become anything we wanted. University of Ife campus kids of a certain period is a veritable list of who is who in different sectors across Nigeria today. I grew up believing in Nigeria. My father was a professor of public administration so politics and governance were everyday conversations. My mother had an interesting life path - nurse, psychologist, counsellor, social worker. They both believed very much in Nigeria and Nigerians. My father went abroad for many years but was always clear that he would retire and move back to Nigeria. Two of his closest friends still live outside the country. My mother moved back to Nigeria to set up an old people’s home, clearly seeing the demand that we now have 20 years later. Sadly, she was murdered in a car-jacking.

I believe in Nigeria and Nigerians and I’ve spent the last 11 years telling Nigerians that we deserve better and we can do better. Have we made an impact - certainly! That’s why the theme of our 10th anniversary was #OnePerson - the simple idea that one person can and does make a difference; amplifying many

examples to reinforce that narrative. Has the impact been enough - no. But it’s a journey and I am committed to it for as long as I breathe!

In 2019, as we prepared for EiE’s 10th anniversary in 2020, we thought it would be nice to document our story. We had done videos for our fundraising dinners in 2014 and 2018, but we thought a book would be a nice record of the EiE Story. It was a plan we had for our 5th anniversary in 2015 but we couldn’t execute. As we talked about it, we decided we didn’t want a chronology of events, but a more reflective take on EiE’s activities and our impact on civil society in Nigeria and the larger democratic space. The ideas coalesced around a chapter for each year written by people who have been part of our journey - founding members, supporters, partners and funders.

We gave the book the title Footprints with the subtitle - Past. Present. Future - as an ode to how we see the EiE Story and its impact. The book was to be launched in Q3 or Q4 2020. COVID-19 hit in March and put our plans on hold.

It’s now 2022 and the story has been told. On Monday, December 12th, there’ll be a public presentation of our book telling the EiE Story through our words, some of our work and the reflections of our friends. One of the significant things that has happened since EiE started that I’m really glad we could capture in this book is the #EndSARS protests. In 2019 as we planned our anniversary, we thought it would be great to organise another protest since we started from a protest and we still had poor governance outcomes. However, we knew very clearly that without a trigger, it will not have the impact that we wanted in terms of numbers. Therefore, when #EndSARS happened, my colleagues and I were quite excited that we got the birthday protest we wanted! Chude Jideonwo wrote the email that got the Enough is Enough movement started and he graciously agreed to write the postscript reflecting on the 2020 #EndSARS protests relative to previous protests, especially our beginnings with

the 2010 Enough is Enough protests.

It has been a rough road leading an organisation that wasn’t planned and in some ways didn’t have “owners”. The founding members allowed me to run with it and figure things out as they led their own organisations. While I was grateful for the vote of confidence, it was also a very lonely journey as I didn’t know what I was doing half the time. It was very fluid and I kind of got stuck trying to make sense of the organisation; trying to give it life and figure out what to do as initial advocates focused on entrepreneurship or joined partisan politics. I didn’t expect to be here this long but for our 5th anniversary when we hit on the “Office of the Citizen”, I knew I had found something I could run with. EiE then became a platform where I could use my voice and talk about the Nigeria that I wanted to leave for my children. I went from being stuck on what to do, to execution. We realised that the shift that we want to see, either from the perspective of elections or from the perspective of citizens’ engagement had to come from citizens who understand their rights and responsibility.

In figuring all this out, we lost time and funding opportunities. I had a personal challenge that made me inactive for about 6 months in 2017; and in 2018, a key Team member exited. Nevertheless, our structure and processes have gotten better and I’m looking forward to what EiE will become in the next 10 years as we consolidate our programs to deepen our impact. Through it all, it has been a privilege to lead an incredible team of young Nigerians who have sacrificed greatly for this country over the last 12 years. History will be kind to us; of that, I am sure.

God bless us and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

– Yemi Adamolekun is the pioneer Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria). She has an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics (LSE) and an MBA from Oxford University’s Said Business School. This is an excerpt of her introduction to the book referenced

-Yemi Adamolekun

Six months after it acquired MainOne, for $320 million, Equinix, a global digital infrastructure company, has rolled out its expansion plan for the Nigerian and West African markets.

The plan, it stated, is designed to augment its long-term strategy to become a leading African carrier-neutral digital infrastructure company on the continent.

Also, Equinix has presented its 2022 Global Tech Trends Survey, which focused on 100 business

leaders in Nigeria, in the areas of supply chain, cybersecurity and recruitment.

Presenting the expansion plan at a media parley in Lagos, the General Manager, Nigeria Sales at MainOne, an Equinix Company, Mrs. Bunmi Ogun, said MainOne would be partnering AMSIX to deploy leading global internet exchange presence in Lagos, which will increase local peering of traffic in Nigeria.

“It will also extend Equinix fibre to Lagos, to enable interconnection of Lagos Data Centres with Equinix

Data Centres globally, while using AfriConnect Service offering to bring new content providers to West Africa,” Ogun said.

The Director, Digital Transformation and GTM Strategy at Equinix, Mr. Matt George, who presented the survey report, said over half of businesses in Nigeria were already planning to expand locally, despite supply chain, cybersecurity and recruitment challenges.

He said as part of the Equinix 2022 Global Tech Trends Survey, 100 business leaders in Nigeria were

interviewed about the opportunities and challenges their organisations are facing, and their plans for the future.

The data revealed that there are huge opportunities for Nigeria’s businesses to successfully expand into new markets and reach new customers.

According to the report, 54 per cent of respondents are planning on expanding in an existing country in the next 12 months, 34 per cent into a new region and 33 per cent into a new country, while 93 per cent of Information Technology (IT)

leaders in Nigeria said enhancing customer experience remained a priority for them.

The report however said a number of potentially limiting factors were identified by businesses when it came to global growth including concerns and challenges in supply chain, cyber security, and staff retention and recruitment.

In the area of supply chain challenges, the report explained that 55 per cent said their business was plagued by global supply chain issues and shortages, while 50 per cent specified the global

microchip shortage as a threat to their business.

In the area of cybersecurity challenges, the report said there were some significant concerns around cybersecurity in Nigeria.

“As part of their digitalfirst strategies, 85 per cent of respondents in Nigeria confirmed a key priority is improving cybersecurity. 88 per cent said complying with local market data regulations was critical, while 85 per cent highlighted the need to

Chinedu Eze

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that African carriers are expected to post a loss of $638 million in 2022, narrowing to a loss of $213 million in 2023 and projected that passenger demand growth of 27.4 per cent is expected to outpace capacity growth of 21.9 per cent.

IATA also stated that over the year, the region is expected to serve 86.3 per cent of pre-crisis

demand levels with 83.9 per cent of pre-crisis capacity.

“Africa is particularly exposed to macro-economic headwinds, which have increased the vulnerability of several economies and rendered connectivity more complex,” the global body said.

IATA also said it projects a return to profitability for the global airline industry in 2023 as airlines continue to cut losses stemming from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to their

business in 2022.

It said that in 2023, airlines are expected to post a small net profit of $4.7 billion—a 0.6 per cent net profit margin and that would be the first profit since 2019 when industry net profits were $26.4 billion (3.1 per cent net profit margin).

IATA said in 2022, airline net losses are expected to be $6.9 billion (an improvement on the $9.7 billion loss for 2022 in IATA’s June outlook). This is

significantly better than losses of $42.0 billion and $137.7 billion that were realized in 2021 and 2020 respectively. “Resilience has been the hallmark for airlines in the COVID-19 crisis. As we look to 2023, the financial recovery will take shape with a first industry profit since 2019. That is a great achievement considering the scale of the financial and economic damage caused by government imposed pandemic

restrictions. But a $4.7 billion profit on industry revenues of $779 billion also illustrates that there is much more ground to cover to put the global industry on a solid financial footing. Many airlines are sufficiently profitable to attract the capital needed to drive the industry forward as it decarbonizes. But many others are struggling for a variety of reasons. These include onerous regulation, high costs, inconsistent government policies, inefficient

infrastructure and a value chain where the rewards of connecting the world are not equitably distributed,” said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh.

“On the cost side, jet kerosene prices are expected to average $138.8/barrel for the year, considerably higher than the $125.5/barrel expected in June. That reflects higher oil prices exaggerated by a jet crack

Emma Okonji

www.thisdaylive.com

opinion@thisdaylive.com

ALL SHALL HAVE PRIZES

Akwa Ibom runs a transparent government, argues LEKAN ADEFILA

WHAT MANNER OF MOTHER TONGUE RENAISSANCE?

These are indeed very interesting times at the Federal Ministry of Education, strangely. With less than three months to next year’s general elections, the polity is agog with various shades of melodrama, producing all sorts of to the country’s tons of issues, providing little or no excitement for the present, giving no real hope for the future. Having watched their politicians engage in the absurd as usual since the party primaries without displaying the much-needed capacity for leadership, Nigerians appear to have thrown their hands up in the air and, in the process, lost their instinct to be shocked.

by its core functions. It exists primarily for communication purposes. Human beings, generally, stand a better chance of understanding and also developing allegiance towards those who share their languages with them. A lot is often achieved by way of interpersonal bonding, organisational cohesion and inter-group integration. Nigerians are no exceptions. The present move by the federal government, is, therefore, appropriate, at least theoretically.

Actualising this mission, however, is a totally

on which side one falls, of their relevance in comparison to others, has continued to have implications for the unity and integration of the country. The undercurrents of this minority suppression may not be as pronounced as the other crises facing the nation today but their

bound to boil over at some point.

BUHARI, GOVERNORS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI writes about the need to examine the charade called local government elections across the country

From a sector better known for superintending over protracted strikes by tertiary institutions’ trade unions, actions that should ordinarily earn it encomiums could actually set the stage for confusion if not clinically planned and executed. Only last month, the study of history was ordered back into secondary schools after 13 years, a move praised by individuals and groups that sense the possibility of true national reawakening. And now, a new National Language Policy has proceeded from the ministry and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The thrust of the document is to start the process that would restore the survival, glory, strength

tools of instruction in primary schools and gradually blend them with English language in junior secondary schools. All that blueprint may soon prove simplistic. Here is why.

Not long ago, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, came under verbal

remedies to the problems under his jurisdiction.

his bravery in doing a frank, albeit somewhat awkward, self-assessment. Truth is, pulling these decisions that are capable of initiating socio-cultural, if not political, revolutions from this politically charged period, should attract scrutiny. It must be said that institutionalising our vernaculars is clearly noble, probably coming on board late. Considering Nigeria’s political history, this step ought to have been taken by the leadership that took over directly from the colonialists, in my opinion. And I don’t mean singling out the so-called major languages for recognition and preferential treatment the way the nation has been doing or four languages and upgrading them far above the rest on the pretext of population superiority have caused damages. No self-respecting people should watch the language handed down to them from previous generations become extinct. Of all the things that constitute people’s traditions and cultures, language is one of the most distinctive. It’s a ready, time-tested identity, a rallying point and point of reference, a thing of ethnic or national pride.

the opposition the minister’s announcement has attracted to itself. Why should a project of this magnitude and importance be kept

The worn argument of government being a continuum, of starting a programme and expecting the succeeding one to continue with and complete it doesn’t hold here, particularly in our own environment where that hasn’t become a norm. In what looks like a sudden

to ponder over the full weight of the course he is spearheading. For the record, though, he did mention some of the hurdles before the scheme. The development of instructional materials and the recruitment, training and

Add to those ones government’s awareness of the need to preserve the numerous cultures in the country and their idiosyncrasies. The choice of the languages to be adopted from a teeming number of over 600, according to the minister, will be guided by the predominant ones in given areas. But going to the extent of and will be treated accordingly can only be politically correct and has no actual linguistic or professional value.

enshrined in the constitution. Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo enjoy statutory privileges. Whether

they surely have far better exposure than the rest local languages. That places them on loftier pedestals. The fallacy, or reality depending

Other pitfalls will certainly challenge the attempt to teach our pupils in their mother tongues. One concept that can’t be overlooked is standardisation. The teaching and learning of languages have everything to do with it. For any language to be admitted into the elite circle of the standardised ones, it must maintain a generous presence in the world of the written, printed word, not only in the form of educational or academic books but other spheres also. Like the highly developed languages of advanced societies, the rudiments of any language that is serious about elevated usage must be established in the realms of lexis, structure, semantics and other aspects of language development. These components form indispensable parts of promoting and maintaining standards. Failure to properly situate them would invite anarchy, the outcomes of which could reverse the very goals on target.

Did the authorities in the education ministry apply rigour to the processes that produced the homework in relation to textbooks and trained teachers is not a walkover as it is constrained by time. None of those items can surface overnight. Just as the entire programme cannot

linguistic and cultural space by the top three is not even limited to them. One can predict that the atmosphere will be replicated across the country as the widely spoken languages are chosen above the weaker ones. It remains to be seen the depth of our capacity to see through such projects that are not manifestly viable economically.

That brings us to the amount of awareness creation and orientation needed to put it on a sound footing. In many parts of the north, for example, Hausa has completely replaced some indigenous languages. Many people in those areas know little about their own mother tongues beyond words of greetings. For such,

print are not even up for discussion. Most of them have since resigned to overwhelming accepting the situation as their destiny.

education. Largely due to the teaching I was exposed to at the kindergarten level then ago, I can still write, read and speak my native language, an experience I shall cherish for the rest of my life. This worthy venture, no doubt, deserves the right push.

Dr Ekpe

No self-respecting people should watch the language handed down to them from previous generations become extinct. It is a ready, timetested identity, a rallying point and point of reference, a thing of ethnic or national pride

MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE writes that it takes more than pronouncements to make local language education work

The day of the plaque was not the day of the award itself. The place of the award was not the place of the plaque either. Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel

for a work well done as the chief steward of his mandate and state. The plaque was not ready, but the ceremony was gorgeous as he was in an ambience festooned with the who is who of African security. The award was given by African Watch, and it was a good day to be Governor Emmanuel and a citizen of Akwa Ibom State. It goes without saying that it was a great day to be a Nigerian.

But in a coincidence, the day the plaque arrived in Uyo, the helmsman of Akwa Ibom State was also giving the state two important jewels. The visionary of Ibom took deliveries of two new planes. They are the A320-200 aircraft. They have

the Federation Accounts Allocation

very detailed submission and calculated the sums accruing to the states.”

He also disclosed that the state follows the International Public Sector Accounts for distortions. “It is also worthy to point out that the state’s budgets and annual World Bank and it is practically impossible attention.”

he says, have often been incorporated into the budget for key projects. And the projects are not far to seek.

They include the Coconut factory, the of the world; the Jubilee Syringe factory, a delicately woven idea to bring medical care to the people by taking care of a rare area of need and provision; the Kings

food on the table; for sports, he took on the stadium at Eket, with its picturesque appeal and impressive architecture, and making it into a duel for national unity as well as serving as a place not just for sports

already hit the commercial clouds for Nigerian travellers, handy for the coming yuletide season.

The people of the state saw their governor honour them with two new gems. And the governor was himself honoured for his good work. He loves the titles but the work in his people’s lives. As honours man but a man that honours a title.”

It is not only a moment of award and stewardship, it was also a time to give account. It is an oil-rich state but it was an example that it is not a place or government of squander.

It was happening in the context of an assertion by the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that all oil-producing countries received money owed them since

commissioner, Linus Nkan, he released only state with a clear accounting. While some other states were trying to make acrobatics of their spending, Akwa Ibom was forthright.

Nkan revealed that state had received government gave the state N160 billion. It was due to receive N41.4 billion, but N26 billion has been remitted this year. He disclosed that the payment is phased quarterly for ease of release. It is still expecting its balance.

Say Nkan: “The agitation for the refund of the arrears, which were deducted from the earnings due to the oil-bearing states

Isolation. To support Ibom Air, he visited for its high-tech facility and smartest in the country. He confronted the environment with the IBB Flood Control. The Dakkada Smart Building has a sort of showy quality to it, the tallest in the region, its facility for business and its appeal to the Lagoscentric oil elite. Of course for God, not far away from Dakkada is the worship Centre, too: Ring Road III; Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road and Efaini PKO Factory Phase Two. All on for the eyes.

“It is a real honour for me to visit Akwa

outside Lagos and I’m truly impressed.”

But we cannot overemphasise the road infrastructure, an array of them across Akwa Ibom State. For instance, no one could be blind to the commissioning of the internal roads like the Rev. Akwatang

Amaowo Avenue, Obong Okon and Professor Stella Idiong Arts gallery Street, one and two. The dualized 29 kilometreNdon Eyo Road has two bridges and a Akpan. Also the 2.59 kilometre Atiamkpat – Ikot Ese Ishiet Road has a spur in Onna. This is accompanied with the Emergency Gully Erosion rehabilitation works at Nung Ikono Ufok- Ishiet Road. The 9 km Ulliong-Edikor-Uduetta Road also has a spur in Udung Uko local government

Adadia Road has two roundabouts. He also commissioned the 14km Abak Nsekhe Akpa Nkuk-Ikot Etim-Ikot Ikara road phase III, the 4.94 km Ibesit Okpkoro/Ikot Ibritam Road as well as the Nung Ukim Ikono Akpa Etok Ekpang Road with spur to Ibiaku Ntok Okpo Road.

from Uyo

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI writes about the need to examine the charade called local government elections across the country

BUHARI, GOVERNORS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Continued from the backpage

had promised to conduct LG polls in June this year before COVID-19 put a spanner in the works. But in the last one conducted 13 years ago, it was 100 percent victory in both the chairmanship and councillorship positions for the then ruling PDP in the state! In Benue State, COVID-19 did not prevent the LG polls

PDP winning all the 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship seats. In June this year, the 196 councillorship positions in Cross River State.

produced an interesting outcome. After winning all the 25 chairmanship seats, the ruling PDP in the state conceded a single councillorship position in Ward 2, Aniocha North local government area, (home base of the then minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe 424 councillorship positions. Ebonyi will hold its LG polls this Saturday. In the last one conducted in April 2017, PDP won all the 13 chairmanship and 171 councillorship seats.

councillorship seats. In Ekiti State, the last local government poll held in December 2017 and predictably, the then ruling PDP won all the 16 chairmanship and 177 councillorship seats. In Enugu State where the poll held in 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship positions. In Gombe State, the then ruling PDP won all the 114 councillorship and 11 chairmanship positions in the February the ruling APC won all the 27 chairmanship positions and 636 of the 645 councillorship positions. In June 2019, the ruling APC won positions in Jigawa State.

seats in Kano State. In August 2014, the PDP cleared all the 34 chairmanship and 361 councillorship seats in Katsina State. In October last year, the ruling APC in Kebbi State won all 21 chairmanship and 223 councillorship positions. Elections into the 57 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State were conducted in July 2017 with the ruling APC winning all the chairmanship positions. The party also won 369 councillorship seats while the PDP won four seats, and Accord Party, the remaining three.

26 chairmanship and 147 councillorship positions in Nasarawa State. In October 2016, the ruling APC won the chairmanship positions in all the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs in Ogun State. The party also won 346 out of the 349 councillorship seats. In

APC won all the chairmanship seats in the 33 local government councils and the 35 Local Council Development Areas.

PDP won all the 23 chairmanship and 302 councillorship positions. In Sokoto, the chairmanship and 234 councillorship seats at In June this year, after the Taraba State

chairman, Dr Phillip Duwe declared PDP candidates the winners for both chairmanship and councillorship positions in all 16 local government councils, he urged the defeated candidates and parties to understand that ‘leadership comes only from God.’ But after the February 2017 LG poll in Yobe, the state electoral commission chairman did not beat about the bush: “Having received and compiled the election results, all the 17 candidates of the APC in the chairmanship category are declared winners.” And in the LG polls conducted in April last year by the then outgoing Governor Yari of Zamfara State, his APC cleared all the 14 chairmanship and 147 councillorship seats.

It must be noted, however, that on local government polls, Governor Nasir

what perhaps remains the only semblance of a competitive election was conducted by the Kaduna State Independent

the end, the ruling APC won in 12 local

local government areas, with results from three local government stalemated.

Ordinarily, the essence of voting is for citizens to decide how they are governed. But in a situation in which Nigerians have been conditioned to believe that exercising their franchise in local government elections is simply a waste of time, then something is wrong with our system. To change the trajectory of our country, there must be institutional reforms, beginning with the charade we now call local government elections. Aside from wasting enormous resources on these meaningless elections, the governors do not even pretend that they consider them serious. In Gombe some years ago, the state government engaged a contractor to supply ballot boxes for the LG polls. The contractor went to China for the procurement, but the election was conducted, and winners declared before the ballot boxes were eventually delivered.

In their book, ‘How Democracies Die’, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argued that while there is a general tendency to believe that a democracy is imperilled only by military adventurers, it is now the elected leaders who most often subvert the very process that brought them to power. These are men who have no qualms “rewriting the rules of politics to permanently disadvantage their rivals”, the authors wrote before adding, “The tragic paradox of the electoral route to authoritarianism is that democracy’s enemies use the very institutions of democracy—gradually, subtly, and even legally—to kill it.”

It is in the enlightened self-interest of the governors to change the current narrative on local government elections in the country.

ENDNOTE: While President Buhari is right on the money (literally and

Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board

ALL SHALL HAVE PRIZES

Akwa Ibom runs a transparent government, argues LEKAN ADEFILA

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

DEALING WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Blindness is a public health emergency which deserves adequate attention

One of the most neglected health challenges in Nigeria is blindness, with reports suggesting that 4.2 million persons are visually impaired. The Resource Center for the Blind (RCB), a non-governmental organisation, recently called on government at all levels as well as corporate organisations to ensure inclusive opportunities for the visually impaired and people with special needs. “We can no longer turn a blind eye to poor vision. Blindness does not just exacerbate existing poverty in poor countries; it also causes people to become poor,” said RCB Director, Temitayo Ayinla-Omotola.

However, with just about 700 ophthalmologists to a population of more than 200 million people against the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of one to 50,000 people in developing countries, it is evident that Nigeria is seriously challenged. Yet, the visual impairment of one person, according to WHO,

million Nigerians are either spending their productive hours as caregivers, or are unable to live quality lives because they have a blind family member to take care of. Also worrisome is that several millions of others who are partially impaired are likely to go totally blind as well if nothing is done to address the burden. This is a problem for the authorities in the health sector. Sadly, many of these Nigerians are within the productive years, and are likely not going to make ends meet for themselves and their families, a scenario that fuels poverty for themselves and the society. The real tragedy is that despite the worrying indices, Nigeria has not taken the public health challenge as a priority, as there are currently no special available healthcare interventions or social programmes against visual impairment, commonly caused by glaucoma, cataract, and trachoma. But the leading cause of visual impairment is uncorrected

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor

refractive errors.

With many of our health professionals relocating abroad due to the nature of our reward system, it is instructive that Egypt, a fellow African country, million, while the South African population of 57 the eyes of its citizens. That Nigeria, which prides itself as the giant of Africa, and the biggest economy on the continent, has less than a thousand ophthalmologists per one million citizens, is shameful. This therefore calls for urgent intervention from the federal and state governments, as well as healthcare stakeholders, including development partners.

There is an urgent need to put up programmes that would ensure the requisite intervention the challenge of blindness deserves in the country. should establish a programme for blindness, just as it has done for Lassa fever, HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. They should also put in place policies that would encourage doctors to major in eye care. With the disease known to have a close relationship with poverty and illiteracy, it should set up social intervention programmes to support treatment and management of the health challenge in persons

Of important consequences are the number of outof-school children who will end up not getting proper education because they are blind and unable to learn; the inability of children to attend school because the bread winners of their homes, who should take them through school are blind and unable to earn money for their educational support. Nigerians should also do well to prevent risk factors associated with blindness, which include smoking, unhealthy diets and hygiene, direct sunlight, injuries to the eyes, among others. Since the situation we are in is that of emergency in the menace of blindness in our country.

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

LETTERS

FESTIVE SEASON AND THE DRUG USE EUPHORIA

As the year 2022 gradually winds down and a new calendar tions with hundreds of “end of the year” parties by various schools, institutions, public and private organisations, entertainment empires and their signed artistes. My mind is however drawn to the number of drug parties that are already taking place leading to the Christmas and New year celebrations with the use of poisoned (narcotics laced) alcoholic drinks, cakes otherwise known as brownies, tiny nylons of wrapped crack

rooms of parties and after parties of some celebrations. No doubt, as humans we will always have reasons to cele brate though not limited to seasonal trado-cultural, religious and non-religious celebrations, it can also be for other reasons like birthdays, marriages and graduation ceremonies, career paths promotion or simply just for relaxation with family members and friends. While it is worthy to note that positive celebrations of any kind are good for our health and mind, it’s disheartening that a number of our youths, adults and celeb

rity role models use the slightest opportunity to celebrate as a means to engage in euphoric use of illicit narcotic substances that have been medically proven over time to have adverse

Drug use, its attendant addiction and ultimate sad end is before us, even more at this season except we wish to turn a blind eye to what we see in our individual environment and the results of drug seizures and arrests made by the new ND LEA under the distinguished Chairmanship of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), in the last 22 months. No doubt the time

It is disheartening that the uncontrolled social media posts from young persons and celebrities in Nigeria and around the world, showcasing their use of highly addictive substances like Cannabis, Heroin, Cocaine, Crystal meth and pharma ceutical opioids like Tramadol, Diazepam and their look alike designer’s pills have attracted peers, children and fans all over the globe leading a majority of the young population into the adventures of drug use and avoidable diseases. We cannot but at this season lend a word for the wellbeing of our young ones

in Nigeria.

The drug use pandemic is an issue we are trying to shy just because it hasn’t come home to roost. In either case, let me remind us that our inaction will continue misleading a minori ty of persons to push the boring but dangerous narrative of legalising cannabis in Nigeria and as well reinforcing the drug use culture.

Again, it is that time of the year, so is it going to be business as usual? Would you as a good friend to your friends, colleagues and family allow any one or yourself to go into the euphoria of celebrations with “igbo and shayo” and enter the new year another percentage? Whereas this is a pertinent question to ask but it is more of a call to join the many stakeholders in Nigeria especially the NDLEA, UNODC, and Brig. Gen. Marwa and his team in a united front against drug use, abuse and addic tion. I bring you season’s greetings.

Francis Okogun, Benin City, Edo State

About 18 million Nigerians are either spending their productive hours as caregivers, or are unable to live quality lives because they have a blind family member to take care of

Ensuring Speedy Adjudication in Digital Era

Technology is fast changing the way people live and work, especially in today’s digital era, where technology drives automation processes to achieve better results. In the financial sector, emerging technologies have made financial transactions faster, convenient and reliable. In the judicial sector, emerging technologies have enhanced speedy delivery of justice in legal matters, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has continued to collaborate with the judiciary, as part of its Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVP 2020-2025), to further seek the nation’s judiciary to be part of Information Communications Technology (ICT) trends, that will facilitate speedy delivery of court cases.

In line with its SVP 2020-2025, NCC, last week, in Lagos, organised a workshop for Nigerian judges, with the theme: “The Digital World and the Future of Adjudication,” with judges from the federal and state high courts and appeal courts in attendance. The workshop was meant to build capacity within the judiciary, deepen their knowledge in emerging technologies and to further expose the judiciary to new technology trends that would enhance performance in legal matters.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Speaking at the 18th annual capacity-building workshop for judges, the Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Prof. Adeolu Akande, urged the legal luminaries to make greater contributions towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in Nigeria.

While stating the centrality of a functional adjudicatory system as bedrock for any civilised society, Akande said there was the need to constantly equip judicial officers with the requisite skills for effectual adjudication, especially in the digitized world, where the rate if technology development t is fast ahead of laws.

Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, in his welcome address, said the internet brought several challenges, hence the need for judges to be exposed to the benefits as well as the challenges associated with new technologies.

The EVC said through the workshop, judges would be exposed to disruptive technologies, the rights of data subjects, and jurisdictional issues in the digital age, which have continued to make the ICT industry a dynamic one.

According to Danbatta, “The increased reliance on telecommunications, as well as the growth experienced in the sector, has introduced some issues of legal connotation which will be deliberated upon by various experts during this workshop. One of such issues is the ownership of online content and materials.

“So, it is envisaged that with the increase in the amount of online content, as well as the economic value attached to it, there will be a rise in conflicts as to ownership of online content and materials.

“It is necessary that your lordships are well prepared for the imminent increase in litigation in this area. Furthermore, with an increase in the number of transactions and businesses taking place in the online space, it is also expedient for your lordships to be exposed to the peculiarities of adjudicating conflicts in this era of digital presence and online identity.”

He stated that the Commission conceived the idea of the forum, as part of its strategic partnership and collaboration, as a forum to further build the capacity of the distinguished judges with practical insights on the emerging issues in the field of telecommunications.

“Hopefully, this workshop will illuminate these challenges and proffer ways to meet the dynamics

of the changing times. I, therefore, enjoin you to freely make contributions and raise issues that would assist the commission in coming up with adequate regulatory measures that would enhance development in the communications sector of the economy. We assure you that every view expressed would be respected and considered in this regard,” Danbatta said.

DELIVERING JUSTICE WITH TECHNOLOGY

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, commended the Commission for the annual forum while assuring the telecom regulatory of the commitment of the judiciary to using technology for justice dispensation as well as support a more robust legal ecosystem for sustaining socio-economic growth of Nigeria through telecoms sector.

Represented by Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Ariwoola said, through the use of ICT, the judiciary has improved, not just in judicial administration and services, but also in infrastructural development.

Ariwoola said regardless of the benefits of digitalisation there are bound to be liabilities and risks involved with its introduction and usage as she highlighted such risks to include Cyber Crime, Data Piracy, and Hacking among several other vices.

The Chief Justice said the path to effective and efficient justice delivery in Nigeria lies in the collective ability to continuously improve the nation’s justice sector with the use of ICT tools. “The Nigerian judiciary is committed to achieving lasting structural and ethical reforms that would reposition it to adequately meet the aspirations of court users and the public for the reliable, effective and efficient administration of justice through the use of ICT,” he said.

Speaking about the challenges faced by the judiciary, the Chief Justice of Nigeria said the judicial system had long been challenged with delays in dispensing justice. He however, with the introduction of ICT into the judicial space, many of the difficulties associated with the conventional methods are gradually being dispensed with.

“The path to effective and efficient justice delivery in Nigeria lies in our ability to continuously improve our Justice sector with the use of ICT tools,” Ariwoola, said.

MAKING THE JUDICIARY ICT COMPLIANT

The Chief Justice of Nigeria said, the judiciary in collaboration with technology experts, have put certain measures in place to make the judiciary ICT compliant to some extent.

According to him, “In our effort to ensure that the Nigerian Judiciary becomes ICT compliant, we have inaugurated the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee (JITPO-COM) in January 2012 to chart a course for the introduction of Court Technology into the Nigerian Courts. The vision is to enhance the efficient and speedy disposal of cases. A committee was set up with the mandate to assist the judiciary meet the fast-evolving needs of its judicial officers, court employees, key stakeholders and the general public, by using Information Technology (IT) to improve the general performance of the Nigerian Judiciary.

“Among many others, the Committee is saddled with the responsibilities of formulation of a policy for the safe, secure, and seamless adoption of technology in the Nigerian Judiciary. The Judicial Information Technology Policy (JITPO) Document was consequently produced, launched and implementation commenced. This document laid a clear roadmap for the implementation of ICT projects in Nigerian Courts. The Committee has updated the Policy Document to reflect advances in technology, lessons learned and the way forward.”

Speaking about court automation processes, the CJN said: “In our desire to automate the Nigerian Judiciary, we have developed and deployed the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) software. Indeed, the backbone of the court automation project is the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS). The goal of the NCMS is to provide for a seamlessly interfacing electronic platform for case management by all the courts in Nigeria. Some States High Courts are completely automated since October 2020, using the NCMS to receive and assign cases.

“In addition to the above, the Committee retrofitted the Courtrooms in the Supreme Court of Nigeria to serve as model Technology Leveraged Courtroom (TLC). The Retrofitting exercise is aimed at enabling courts to leverage technology to enhance performance and access

SIX MONTHS AFTER $320M ACQUISITION OF MAINONE, EQUINIX ROLLS OUT EXPANSION PLAN

future-proof their businesses. According to IT specialists in Nigeria, the most feared threats were cyberattacks at 73 per cent, security breaches and data leaks 68 per cent,” the report said.

On staff retention and recruitment,

spread that is well-above historic averages. Even with lower demand leading to reduced consumption, this raised the industry’s fuel bill to $222 billion (well above the $192 billion anticipated in June).

“That airlines were able to cut their losses in 2022, in the face of rising costs, labor shortages, strikes, operational disruptions in many key hubs and growing economic uncertainty speaks

the report said despite having one of the youngest populations and workforces in the world, 58 per cent of IT decision makers in Nigeria, viewed shortage of personnel with IT skills as one of the main threats to their business. The survey showed

volumes about peoples’ desire and need for connectivity. With some key markets like China retaining restrictions longer than anticipated, passenger numbers fell somewhat short of expectation. We’ll end the year at about 70% of 2019 passenger volumes. But with yield improvement in both cargo and passenger businesses, airlines will reach the cusp of profitability,” said Walsh.

that among the most common concerns for businesses in Nigeria are candidates with the wrong skill sets applying for jobs at 56 per cent, pay and compensation at 49 per cent, changing expectations around ways of working at 41 per cent,

IATA projected that in 2023 the airline industry is expected to tip into profitability, remarking that airlines are anticipated to earn a global net profit of $4.7 billion on revenues of $779 billion (0.6 per cent net margin), adding that this expected improvement comes despite growing economic uncertainties as global GDP growth slows to 1.3% (from 2.9% in 2022).

and the retention of current talent at 38 per cent.

Managing Director, MainOne, an Equinix Company, Funke Opeke, said: “The acceleration in digital transformation in Nigeria reinforces the need for businesses

IATA identified passenger and cargo growth as the main drivers of the expected profitability, observing that passenger business is expected to generate revenues of $522 billion and that passenger demand is expected to reach 85.5 per cent of 2019 levels over the course of 2023.

The global body also projected that cargo markets are expected to come under increased pressure

to justice. This was first implemented in Courtroom 1 of the Supreme Court to serve as a model. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has since replicated this at selected Federal Courts. The Technology Leveraged Courtrooms (TLC) have features that include Technology Enabled Judges’ Bench, HighDefinition Audio / Video Recording Equipment, For-The-Record (FTR) Court Reporting Software, High Technology Mobile Podium for presentations, Document Camera, Enhanced Room Audio Speakers and Viewing screens in the gallery.”

COMMITMENT

The CJN said the Nigerian Judiciary would continue to be committed in order to achieve lasting structural and ethical reforms that would reposition it to adequately meet the aspirations of court users and the public for reliable, effective and efficient administration of justice through the use of ICT.

“Indeed, no effort was spared in the selection of the best technology solutions and implementation partners as only the best is good enough for the Nigerian Judiciary and the legal profession as a whole. Nigerian Judiciary is committed to employing cutting edge technology to enhance justice administration and providing our citizens with the justice system they deserve.

“Information and Communication Technology has played a central role in contemporary judicial work and life, both on and off the bench,” the CJN said.

IMPACT

According to Danbatta, NCC has been driving the Nigerian government quest for a digital economy that will support national development and economic diversification, adding that the drive has led to the broadband penetration in Nigeria increasing by 91.70 per cent in the last four years.

“The country’s broadband penetration increased from 21.21 per cent in April 2017 to 40.66 per cent in April 2021. The Commission’s data show that in April 2021, 77,605,500 million Nigerians were connected to the Internet, up from 40,481,570 million in April 2017. The current broadband penetration as at June 2022 stands at 44.30% with more than eighty-four million internet subscriptions in the Country. These strides are outcomes of the Commission’s regulatory management of the Industry as well as its focused implementation of policies and strategies of the federal government of Nigeria

“The drive is also mirrored in the important role that telecommunications plays in connecting businesses, governments and the society at large. As a result of the economic and social disruptions caused by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, more people across the globe have become increasingly reliant on telecommunications infrastructure for information, meeting social distancing restrictions and working from home. It has become clear that the connectivity of people being driven by the Commission is one of the key factors that facilitated Nigeria’s successful navigation of the disruptions caused by this historic pandemic.

“More so, one of the most dynamic developments related to the digital economy has been the rise of social network platforms which has set the stage for unprecedented platforms of social interactions, dialogue, exchange and collaboration. These platforms have opened up multiple avenues for entrepreneurship, business connectivity and engineered several activities that support ease of doing business in Nigeria. Clearly, access to the internet and the platforms have bridged the gap between entrepreneurs in other climes with young Nigerian business owners,” Danbatta said.

to have access to single points to interconnect locally. Increased speed of connectivity, increased flexibility of connectivity, and reduced cost of connectivity were identified by IT decision-makers in Nigeria as the most beneficial aspects of

in 2023.

“Revenues are expected to be $149.4 billion, which is $52 billion less than 2022 but still $48.6 billion stronger than 2019. With economic uncertainty, cargo volumes are expected to decrease to 57.7 million tonnes, from a peak of 65.6 million tonnes in 2021. As belly capacity grows in line with the recovery in passenger markets, yields are expected to

interconnection. MainOne provides a rich interconnection ecosystem that allows customers connect to each other multiple telecoms networks, and Cloud, Payment and Content Providers in a single location.”

take a significant step back. IATA expects a fall of 22.6% in cargo yields, mostly in the latter part of the year when the impact of inflation-cooling measures are expected to bite. To put the yield decline in context, cargo yields grew by 52.5% in 2020, 24.2% in 2021 and 7.2% in 2022. Even the sizable and expected decline leaves cargo yields well-above pre-COVID levels,” IATA also said.

The rate at which technology is evolving in today’s digital era is fast affecting all sectors of the economy, including the judiciary. To this end, Nigeria must put measures in place to ensure speedy adjudication of cyber and related crimes, writes Emma Okonji

AFRICAN AIRLINES MAY RECORD $638M LOSS IN 2022, $213M IN 2023

FSDH as Enabler for Growth of Female Led Businesses in Nigeria

FSDH Group, a financial services powerhouse recently hosted the 2nd edition of its Women in Business Initiative themed, “Women on the Rise; Leveraging Technology, Community and Capital.” The event, which held in Lagos was well attended by women and men from all walks of life, especially those in Business and Technology. FSDH Women in Business Initiative was set up last year as FSDH’s contribution to the female economy - enabling more women in the world of business to thrive in their chosen areas of endeavor. The event targeted business leaders, startup founders, leading career

women from different aspects of the female economy and focused on how women can leverage technology, utilize community and get empowered with capital.

In her opening address, MD/ CEO FSDH Merchant Bank, Bukola Smith said “In the post-pandemic era, the world has seen tremendous growth in the adoption of technology and it became pertinent for us to address the numerous possibilities of Technology, Community and Capital as key components to business success. This initiative affords us an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the female economy in Nigeria, and we will do so by empowering women with

capital and supporting their businesses at scale.”

Delivering the Keynote Address, Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne Technologies spoke about the impact that her network and community had in growing her business through the years.

“Community was essential as I raised the first 3million of 240million to fund MainOne as a greenfield company. To get my community to provide capital to fund my vision, I had from my savings, hired advisors, consultants, prepared feasibility assessments, negotiated engineering construction contracts, applied for licenses and even began to engage international investors to convince

my friends and family that their money was going into a credible venture that would yield returns” Now, there are many more opportunities for us as women to lean on, to build, and to pivot as we achieve the success that we desire” she said.

The first panel discussion, anchored by Olive Emodi, Award Winning Compere featured Tosin Olaseinde, Founder Money Africa, Damilola Olokesusi, Founder Shuttlers, and Debola Deji-Kurumi, Transformation Catalyst & Founder Immerse Coaching Company, highlighted the important role of female communities in the growth of businesses. In their conversations, the women established that visionary women

NCC Restates Commitment to Digital Transformation, Insists on 5G Spectrum Auction

Emma Okonji

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has restated its commitment to support government’s digital transformation agenda, through the planned auction of two additional 3.5GHz spectrum licenses for the massive rollout of the country’s Fifth Generation (5G) network in 2023.

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who restated the commitment at the TechTV Digital Agenda Forum, which held in Lagos recently, said the Commission

would not be distracted by any group, having put all necessary measures in place to ensure the success of the spectrum action this December.

Speaking during the forum, Danbatta encouraged Nigerians to support the digital transformation agenda of the federal government, adding that it will open vista of opportunities for Nigerians and Nigerian businesses.

The forum, which had the theme: ‘Looking Forward 2023 - Convergence of 5G, AI, IoT and Blockchain’, was a platform to review the activities and progress in the nation’s ICT industry

in 2022 and an insight into expectations for 2023.

According to Danbatta, the NCC is working to ensure a comprehensive digital transformation as a key driver by converging and harnessing the successes of various emerging technologies for the common good of the nation’s transformation agenda.

Ghanaian Consul General in Lagos, Samata Gifty Bukari, thanked the Nigerian Communications Commission for providing an uncommon regulatory prowess that other African telecom regulator are emulating as the NCC continues to create an enabling telecom

environment for investors.

Country Executive Lead, West Africa, Intel Corporation, Rita Ndidi Amuchienwa, who delivered the keynote address, stated that the firm would continue to invest in education, especially skills for innovation and artificial intelligence.

CEO, InfoSoft Nigeria Limited, and the Chairman of the Digital Agenda Forum 2022, Pius Okigbo Jnr, noted that education remained critical to creating the future that everyone desire, and therefore called on governments at all levels to make education a priority.

Lai Mohammed: Nigeria’s Economy Already Feeling the Positive Impact of Advertising Industry Reforms

Raheem Akingbolu

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has declared that the nation’s economy has started enjoying the impact of various reforms embarked upon by the Ministry of Information to strengthen advertising practice in Nigeria.

Speaking at the National Advertising Conference 2022, held in Abuja, the minister pointed out that the government embarked on reform initiatives of the broadcast space to strengthen the ecosystem, encourage

inclusive growth as well as attract investment to the industry.

According to him, these initiatives have not only brought improvement to the ecosystem but enhanced the competitive ability of the Nigerian brand.

In August, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON law banned the use of foreign models and voice-over artists in any advertisement targeted or exposed in the Nigerian advertising space with effect from October 1, 20222.

This is in line with the Federal Government’s policy of developing local talent, inclusive economic growth and the need to take necessary steps and actions aimed at growing the Nigerian advertising industry

Presenting the new ARCON law to the media, the Director General of ARCON, Olalekan Fadolapo. said existing advertisements and campaigns were permitted to run out of their terms, adding that subsequent applications for revalidation for continued

exposure of such materials would not be granted by the Advertising Standards Panel of ARCON.

Also under the law, any organisation using unlicensed agency for its advertising purposes will be prosecuted

The new law which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari recently creates and provides a regulatory framework for the Nigerian advertising and marketing communication industry and all matters related to it.

are set apart from the normal everyday woman primarily because they are purpose driven and focused on accessing all the resources they need to unlock the future they desire.

The second panel featured Solape Akinpelu, Founder HerVest, Olu Akanmu, Co-CEO O-pay Nigeria, Ashim Egunjobi, Investor Octerra Capital and Yanmo Omorogbe, Co-founder Bamboo. This session highlighted the numerous ways women could position their business for global funding opportunities.

Another highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the FSDH Women in Business Desk which will in fact provide female led businesses with access to finance, network, business education and markets. In her announcement, the Head, Women in Business Desk, FSDH Merchant Bank, Gold Nwoke stated that the bank was

willing to hand-hold women to create bespoke products and services that would help their business growth.

Furthermore, FSDH as part of its commitment to truly empower businesses announced a soon to commence Incubator Program for female tech entrepreneurs in the country. The program will run for 6-weeks and will include intense learning and mentorship sessions, Masterclasses covering various areas of business and ultimately a pitch day that will culminate in non-equity grants for a select few.

FSDH has and will continue to bridge the gap that women led businesses face in accessing funding, and will provide more opportunities and platforms for women to access capital, community, network and investor opportunities for the growth of the economy.

Expert: How Technology Can Impact Oil, Gas Trading

Emma Okonji

Given the newly inaugurated Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), local oil and gas traders/operators have been advised to leverage technology if they truly desire to join the global oil and gas community.

The Chief Executive of Flagship Energy Limited, Mr. Osagie Ediale, who gave the advice in a statement released in Abuja recently, said the deployment of technological initiatives for procurement in the oil and gas sector, would certainly boost operations, adding that the adoption will make operations in the sector to be seamless as all the perceived or imagined bottlenecks will become things of the past.

Ediale said in the statement, that technology was fast dominating every operation and all human activities, so introducing it

to the oil and gas sector especially in both the upstream and downstream areas should be encouraged.

“Elsewhere in the global community, technology has been adopted in virtually everything and so we should leverage this locally by making it a way of life,” Ediale said.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent to the PIA, Ediale said indigenous operators like Flagship Energy, were looking forward to supporting the growth of the Nigerian economy through technological innovations and efficient business strategies in the light of the complexities in the oil and gas sector.

“Knowledge of information technology driven discipline, which require specialised skills set and deep financial capability are key drivers of the sector,” Ediale explained.

L-R: Award winning Compere, Olive Emodi; Commercial attache for Nigeria at the US embassy, David Russell; Chief Executive Offic er Shuttlers, Damilola Olokesusi; Executive Director, FSDH Merchant Bank, Taiwo Otiti; Founder/CEO, Money Africa, Tosin Olaseinde; Managing Director/CEO, FSDH Merchant Ban k, Bukola Smith; Founder/CEO, MainOne Technologies, Funke Opeke; Managing Director, FSDH Asset Management, Toyin Owolabi and Founder, Immerse Coaching Company, Debol a Deji-Kurunmi at the recently concluded FSDH Women in Business Event held in Lagos

Oluchi Chibuzor

BUSINESS CONFERENCE…

Airtel Commits $1.3m Data to UNICEF Digital Learning Programme in Nigeria

Emma Okonji

Telecommunications services provider, Airtel, has partnered the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), under the Reimagine Education Initiative, designed to connect 620 primary schools in Nigeria to digital learning in the next three months.

The partnership, which was signed in Lagos at the weekend, is expected to benefit 300,000 students across the country with access to the internet

and devices.

Airtel, a telecom company with broadband access, will be providing free data connectivity worth $1.3 million to the schools, for a period five years.

In the first year of the five-year partnership, Airtel will provide all the resources for digital learning to the 620 identified schools including reliable broadband connectivity, tablets, and free access to a world class curriculum through the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP).

The NLP was developed jointly by the Federal Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Microsoft, as an e-learning platform with online and offline capability that enables continuous access to quality education. Airtel’s support to the e-learning platform will benefit students with uninterrupted access to quality learning materials. Airtel is also providing free access for any Airtel subscriber to Youth Agency Market Place (YOMA), a

UNICEF digital platform for skilling, up-skilling and encouraging young people’s engagement.

Currently YOMA has 115,000 users in Nigeria. The number is expected to grow with Airtel support, especially for young people living in hard-to- reach areas with low access to data or connectivity.

During the signing of the partnership deal between Airtel and UNICEF, the Managing Director and

Farmer Emerges Overall Best in Computer Tr aining Programme

Emma Okonji

Madaki Abeh, a farmer in Okoh A, in Karu Local Government, in Panda Development Area of Nasarawa State, one of the communities within the vicinity where Pandagric Novum, makers of Supreme Feeds operates, has won the overall best performer in the computer training programme organised by

the company.

Speaking at the award presentation and convocation, CEO Pandagric Novum, Bruce Spain, said the impact of the training would go beyond the nine successful participants.

“This is the real success to me, that the impact is not just now and for these people alone, but for the hundreds of lives they would touch in the future. Our goal as an organisation, is to contribute

in our own way to closing the digital divide, especially in the communities where we operate,” Spain said.

Representing the community at the convocation, Chief of Attat, Danladi Azeto praised Pandagric for the good work done in the community.

According to him, Pandagric is an answer to yearning and aspirations of the community. General Manager HR

and Enterprise Services, at Pandagric Novum, Mojisola Garba, who coordinated the training programme, said two of the participants were already employed in the organisation. According to her, the programme is an ongoing one which aims at equipping eligible people in the community with the necessary skills for potential future employment in the organisation and elsewhere.

Noah’s Ark, X3M Ideas Win at 2022 LAIF Awards

Raheem Akingbolu

It was a night of honours, recognition and celebration of creative excellence at the 2022 Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards, where Noah’s Ark Communications and X3M Ideas stole the limelight.

The award ceremony, organised by the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), themed “All Ideas are Welcome”

which took place on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw Noah’s Ark emerge 2022 Agency of the Year, winning 50 medals - 9 Gold, 18 Silver, and 23 Bronze.

Speaking at the event, the Director General, Advertising Regulation Council of Nigeria, ARCON, Dr. Lekan Fadolapo applauded AAAN for keeping the flag of creativity flying

through the sustenance of the LAIF Awards noting that the event has become the biggest showcase of creativity in the West African sub-region.

In his welcome remarks, the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Steve Babaeko, reiterated that the LAIF Awards remains the biggest award in the West African sub-region, stating

that it is a huge platform to celebrate and honour excellent creative works of marketing communication practitioners.

“We want to celebrate the overflowing passion of our young practitioners, the wisdom/experiences of the legends who got inducted into the LAIF Hall of Fame. It is a platform to celebrate our marketing communications community”, Babaeko said.

Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Surendran Chemmenko til, said: “Airtel has completed the process of providing free access to the two digital platforms for the targeted beneficiaries. Airtel has committed $1.3 million worth of complimentary data for the two platforms and data provision for learners in the year alone. Twenty schools in Lagos and Kano will be connected in December 2022, while the connection

of the remaining 600 schools will be concluded before the end of February 2023, complete with ultra-modern routers tablets and mobile broadband network.”

According to Chemmenkotil, education, especially digital learning, forms a significant part of Airtel’s sustainability agenda for Nigeria and it will stop at nothing to bridge the huge digital gap that currently exists in mostly rural primary schools across the country.

License Operators on Rural Connectivity

Industry stakeholders have tasked licensed Mobile Virtual Network Operators on the need to expand connectivity to rural, un-served and underserved areas of the country, to enable all Nigerians have access to connectivity.

While applauding the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for announcing the licensing of MVNOs in the country, the Managing Director, Wireless Technology Labs, Satya Mekala, advised MVNOs to include rural connectivity strategies in their plan in order to serve those in rural communities. Giving instances where over 45 million Nigerians are without connectivity, Mekala said by building rural networks, MVNOs could acquire huge customer base that would make them stable and achieve a faster return on Investment (ROI).

Speaking about the

sub-topic, ‘How to build a successful MVNO business in Nigeria’, Mekala said the success of any MVNO is heavily dependent on choosing the right strategy to acquire sufficient subscribers.

To choose the right market segment to acquire a lot of subscribers quickly, the acquisition strategy must be well designed as this is one of the highest costs for an MVNO. “It is about the means available to access the service offering as MVNOs offering data services only, may want to subsidize smartphones. This can create huge debt in the beginning,” Mekala stated.

The Managing Editor of Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju, said the increasing number of mobile subscr ibers, technological advancements, and demand for connectivity, have played an important role in creating a significant opportunity for MVNOs to thrive in the sector.

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, Premier Oiwoh; Chairman, Committee of e-Business Industry Hea ds (CeBIH), Celestina Appeal; Director, Consumer Protection, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Rashida Monguno and Director, Payment System Management, CBN, Musa Jimoh, a t the annual conference of CeBIH, in Lagos… recently

Emma Okonji

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Spotlight on Heath Hazards Posed by Unbranded Coloured Drinks for Children

Prof. Moji Adeyeye said that the measure is very necessary to checkmate the production and consumption of food, bottled water, drugs and other related products used by children, adolescents and young adults which could result in tragedies.

In view of this, Mrs Uzoamaka Obiorah, a Clinical Psychologist in Benin, Edo state opines thus: “sub-standard drinks abound around us and the increase in the sugar added to these drinks can cause tooth decay, cavity problems and increase calories that can cause weight gain for children”.

Ahealthy nation is a wealthy nation in the web of any developed or developing country and this cuts across all facets of the machinery of governance in every country.

It is important to maintain clean environment in order to eliminate the chances of pollution and contamination of edibles as well as outbreak of diseases, which presupposes that all edibles should meet standard specifications before being introduced into the market.

However, attention is drawn to the multiplication of children’s drinks found all over the country, both ones with label and without label and the health hazards these pose to the end-users who are mostly students of various cadre and future leaders.

The FAO, (Food and Agriculture Organisation) is an arm of the United Nations which provides strategic national development programmes and strategies aimed at reducing poverty, improving food security and management of natural resources. Recently, the Assistant Director-General of the Organisation, Abebe Haile-Gabriel visited Nigeria over food security agenda with the aim to strengthen the objectives of humanitarian bodies who advocate security of food in the country.

The body then discovered that some parts of Nigeria is facing high risk of food insecurity due to so many factors which include: armed conflicts which has disrupted basic livelihoods,

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Coalition Against Counterfeit Pharmaceutical products (CACCP), an umbrella body in conjunction with Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NiroPharm) and Pfizer is seeking collaborations with relevant stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry in the fight against counterfeit pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

This was at its inaugural forum to discuss the way forward in the fight against counterfeit pharmaceutical products which was held in Lagos.

shortfall of food production and consequently reduction to market access as well as the declined impacts of Covid-19 in the chains of food supply.

The major trend of activities in the country presently is in politics and all interests seem to be geared towards ensuring that the masses are properly educated and aware of their civic duties so as to vote rightly for better candidates in the next political dispensation.

While this tempo is on, it is very imperative that other sections of governance must be given proper attention to avoid possible outbreak of fatalities which can cause immense loss to the nation.

A look at the market proves this point in clear terms: who are the manufacturers of these products, what is the quality of the drinks, how are they safeguarded against sale after expiration, what dangers do they pose to human health if improperly produced and how can the anomaly be checked?

THISDAY spoke to some stakeholders on this issue and they reiterated the health concerns these brand of drinks pose.

Dr. Oyetunde is a medical doctor in God’s Apple City (GAC) hospital located at Ojodu in Lagos. She frowns at the fact that these ‘hazardous drinks are in circulation at all’ and suggests that they must be immediately gotten rid of from its source. She explains that

“substandard drinks can cause diarrhoea, liver and kidney failure, multiple organ disease and increased mortality rate”.

She further called on the Regulatory bodies for foods and drugs in Nigeria like NAFDAC, SON, FDA etc to have more robust approach in ensuring safety of all the products (drinks, foods, drugs etc) in circulation, both in the urban and rural regions.

The medical practitioner also says that there should be decentralisation of these regulatory bodies, such that they have their offices/representatives in each local government area of the nation for remote penetration and discharge of their duties.

Adding that citizens should be regularly educated on ways to detect authenticity of any purchased drinks and feedback phone lines for any suspicious product should be made publicly available while defaulting producers must be publicised after thorough investigations and valid proofs.

Few months ago, the Nigeria National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), banned the production of alcohol in sachet and small volumes, yet these products still fill the markets.

Then, the Director-General of NAFDAC,

Mrs Obiorah further said the additives used in sweetening some of these drinks have adverse effects can affect attention and concentration and can make one very hyperactive”. She further calls on government to make the producers publicize the contents of any drink and the health implications of exceeding the daily consumption.

Yet another health worker, a practicing nurse, Mrs Oluchi Uba observes that “the immune system of children is fragile and such products can cause breakdown” and further added that government must retrieve such products already in circulation in order to stop more harm and also serve as a caution to them and deterrent to other prospective ones.

Earlier this year, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), headed by the Director General, Mallam Farouk Salim, sealed about 30 shops containing suspected sub-standard automobile products; similar fate should be extended more vigorously to edibles, especially those consumed by children.

Mrs Victoria Aniude Ogechukwu, the school Proprietress of Victorious Children School in Ojodu, Lagos laments the effects of these products thus “from stomach upset, vomiting, colouration in the mouth, tongue and lips” and bemoaned government’s mild attitude to accosting all defaulters, while charging NAFDAC and all other related agencies to wake up to their duties.

The Convener, Yomi BadejoOkusanya (YBO) his decision was borne out of the desire to take a firmer stand against counterfeit pharmaceutical products in Nigeria through engagement and advocacy, with hope to kick off an intense national advocacy campaign against counterfeit pharmaceutical products.

For the West Africa Country Manager at Pfizer, Olayinka Subair counterfeit medicines don’t cure any disease. “They put patients’ health at risk because of their contents. It ultimately impedes the Nigerian healthcare system.

He further lamented that as a result of this act,

“Lives are lost and medical conditions worsened due to this cankerworm. It is not an individual’s battle; it requires collective effort”.

Subair emphasised the need for Nigerians to champion the anti-counterfeit cause, especially as regards healthcare. We need to join hands together because there is no shortcut with health.

He emphasised: “Due process must be followed to get the best results. Unlike commodities, fake drugs are life-threatening. This means patients should only buy prescribed medicines from accredited pharmacies and not quacks or roadside vendors.”

The President of NIRO-

PHARM, Femi Soremekun recalled that In recent years, the fight against counterfeit pharmaceutical products has taken new dimensions due to the global influx of counterfeiting syndicates.

“It is like a race against time for pharmaceutical companies –the cost to our collective health and economies is enormous,” he bemoaned.

He emphasised that pharmaceutical companies are perplexed over the years as to how best to nip the challenges in the bud. The challenges are overwhelming owing to the sophistication of the activities of counterfeiters.

“Combating counterfeit

pharmaceutical products is a herculean task, one that requires strong collaborations between government agencies and key stakeholders because of the impact,” Soremekun admitted.

For most African nations, it is said that battling counterfeit pharmaceutical products is even more challenging due to the lack of synergy between key stakeholders in the industry and government agencies.

To stall this trend, the president insisted that there is a strong need for collaboration. “Stakeholders must look beyond the surface which is most times in-ward. They

must look at the root cause which in most cases boils down to (identity) or patent, what marks counterfeit from original pharmaceutical products.”

Soremekun cautioned that trade in counterfeit goods not only damages economic growth but also undermines good governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government, and can ultimately threaten political stability. “In addition, in some cases, such as that of fake pharmaceuticals, counterfeit goods can have serious health and safety implications for citizens.”

The immune system of children is fragile and such products can cause breakdown... government must retrieve such products already in circulation in order to stop more harm and also serve as a caution to them and deterrent to other prospective ones

Some

Warri LG Boss Distributes Hospital N17M Equipment to PHCs

the donation was in line with his administration’s efforts to boost health care delivery in the council.

worth 17 million naira to the

Tidi, who made the first tranche donation at a brief ceremony at the Warri South Council main Secretariat recently said the second tranche delivered to the council next week.

The Chairman, who was represented by his Vice Chair-

cater for the health needs of the health centres adding that the health care needs of the people of Warri South Council area remains a top priority of his administration.

Tidi urged the health workers to take care of the medical facilities and ensure that they were put into proper use for the benefits of the people.

Care Centres.

care delivery in the council. Some of the medical Sanction Machine Manual,

FERTILITY

Gymnastics And Infertility (Part 2)

Last week, we started a topic on gymnastics and infertility. We discussed the benefits of exercises and some of the effects of extreme workouts on the female body. This week, we will be talking about some high and moderate risk sports for women and effects of extreme exercises on the male body.

HIGH-RISK SPORTS FOR FEMALE GYMNASTS

Others are, Stethoscope Sphygmomanometer, Cuscow

weighing machines, etc.

Infertility may be more common in women who play very intense sports, such asBallet, Basketball, Cycling, Gymnastics, Long-distance running, Swimming etc.

MODERATE SPORTS FOR FEMALE GYMNASTS

minutes to 1 hour

TREATMENT FOR ATHLETIC AMENORRHOEA

less strenuous sports body fat

pill or hormone therapy if dietary changes and reduced exercise do not result in the return of regular menstruation strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis is a problem.

MALE GYMNASTICS AND INFERTILITY

Certain exercises can improve sperm

National Blood Commission Inaugurates Blood Safety Club to Encourage Youth Donors

The National Blood Service Commission has inaugurated Safety Club to mobilise and encourage young people to become voluntary blood donors. This is to mark the maiden edition of the National Blood

a Civic Responsibility” alongside a Life”.

Osikomaiya said the day is set aside to boost voluntary blood donation as a civic responsibility, appreciate stakeholders, and bring voluntary blood donation to the consciousness of Osikomaiya, this would be done through massive sensitisation and public enlightenment activities, expanding the stakeholder’s collaboration for blood donation across the country to advocate for more support from decision

makers at all levels towards the provision of safe blood and blood products as well as ensure blood establishments and hospitals are working together of safe blood for our country Nigeria.

While acknowledging that the National Blood Service Commission under the leadership

Safety Club, she said this would discourage risky behaviour amongst students.

“It will build capacity to address social issues and engender positive behavioural change and to encourage students to research blood and blood products to of blood services,” she added. the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service in partnership with the management and staff of has organised a voluntary blood

donation drive to commemorate the event.

The blood donor day celebration was held simultaneously at

students and staff to save lives by donating blood for those that

is the first privately owned medical institution in Lagos

Basic Clinical Science section and approved the partnership between the institution and LSBTS, outlined that the blood donated would add to the

Organisation’s recommendation to meet the safe blood

Osun Gov Urged to Pay COVID-19 Adhoc Workers

Osogbo, Osun State Capital,

all to no avail.

State government, and other relevant agencies to intervene, and direct immediate payment of allowances and other entitlement of all ad hoc staff, who

exclusively in

displeasure to the concerned authorities for delay in payment of their entitlement they have made several entreaties to the heads of various concerned units including the area office,

They, however, believe that the current move through the media will yield positive results, because there is no trade union to take up their matter. They therefore called on the new Governor, Senator the matter.

to achieve the proper balance when working out and to exercise extreme caution when attempting to have a child.

Strenuous activity or the use of steroids may be one cause of infertility in men, but it is not the sole factor. To address infertility, a man must address other issues such as alcohol usage, smoking, drug addiction, dietary behaviors, and sleep cycle in addition to exercising.

Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle is critical for men not only for longevity men who are obese have lower fertility than men who are in the normal weight range, while men who are underweight also of sperm.

EXERCISES THAT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON MALE FERTILITY

if he wants to employ exercise to improve particularly weightlifting, raises testosterone levels in the body. Testosterone stimulates the germ cells in the testicles to produce sperm. It affects the maturation and general the brain to fill the body with testosterone. in spermatogenesis and an increase in the heart pump faster. Those thumping beats experienced during gym sessions causesthe heart to work efficiently and this results in a healthy blood provision to the penis and testes.

EXERCISES THAT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MALE FERTILITY

larly the testicles, might impair fertility in males by reducing the availability of total free testosterone, changing the release of the luteinizing hormone, and lowering sperm production. Competitive cycling and triathlons, for example, should be done in

moderation to avoid prostate irritation, lower testosterone levels, and physical stress on the body.

The following are some exercises that may have a negative impact on male infertility:

the use of steroids, which might induce testicular shrinkage

and keep your legs moving, but it also scrotum heats up, and sweating raises the temperature even more. Cycling for more than five hours per week may lower sperm motility and count.

day, five days a week, reduces sperm interval training, on the other hand, is a superior option.

levels are low at high elevations. Over time, it results in low sperm count and poor progressive motility.

FERTILITY PRESERVATION FOR GYMNASTS.

fertility preservation. It does not necessarily suggest that they will be sterile. It all comes down to having more control allows you to preserve your gametes before beginning intense training. It also allows gym goers and trainers to keep put aside your concerns about exercise and sperm health and begin pushing your body with rigorous workouts.

CONCLUSION

Regular exercise offers cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and neurological benefits because it enhances circulation, protects the heart, lowers cholesterol, increases physical endurance, strengthens bones and muscles, and helps control body weight and blood sugar levels. It also relieves stress and enhances sleep and that, unless there is a contraindication, participating in sports is always preferable than not participating, however you must know how to adapt it to each instance and personal circumstances.

So, if you’re trying to conceive, avoid becoming obsessed with going to the gym every day. If you are in good health, eat a balanced diet, and have a healthy weight,

of exercise four or five times a week is sufficient.

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Chairman of Warri South Local

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Mrs Divine Iniovosa, Vice Chairman of Warri South, (2nd left) presenting the equipment to Dr Oritsematosan Sagay, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health care Authority, Warri South (right) while others look on

Aesthetic Medicine: Connecting Nigerian Physicians to Latest Technologies for Optimum Results

Mary Nnah

These days, aesthetic beauty treatments are extremely diversified with a rise in requests for non-invasive treatments but with the same results as surgery.

To keep up with these changes, doctors who are seeking to increase their business cannot ignore the trends and resort to using innovative, proven technologies that excel in terms of effective results, quality, and safety and are capable of being combined to create customised aesthetic procedures that best fit the needs of each patient and bring the Nigerian aesthetic industry into the future.

With this ethos in mind, a 2-day workshop titled: “Regenerative Aesthetic Machines: Introduction To Morpheus 8 And Hydracool Plus With Dr. Sach Mohan”, was recently held on regenerative aesthetic machines.

The workshop was aimed at introducing the most innovative and performing equipment for Aesthetic Medicine by connecting Nigerian physicians

to the latest technologies that can optimize results for their patients and their businesses.

It was jointly hosted by Medica Group, Pharaon Healthcare with Expiation International who was recently appointed as the country representatives by the Medica Group to distribute their aesthetics machines portfolio in Nigeria, including two of the world’s best aesthetic machines, Morpheus 8 manufactured by InMode and HydraCool Plus by EMA Aesthetics.

The workshop was an engaging event delivered in Lagos and Abuja with four live training sessions scheduled from morning to afternoon followed by a dinner presentation in the evening.

A treatment station was operating with both InMode technology and EMA Aesthetics featuring diverse expert training and live chats on safety, settings, and science. The workshop was attended by physicians, dermatologists, surgeons, nurses and the staff of clinics and MedSpa’s who watched live presentations ranging from minimally-invasive to non-invasive treatments for the face, presented by Dr. Sach Mohan of Revere Clinic, London

and Anthony Ghaoui of Medica Group, Dubai.

They also got to participate in group Q&A sessions and one-on-one discussions with Dr. Sach Mohan, Cosmetic Physician and Founder, Revere Clinics, one of Europe’s foremost Cosmetic Dermatology and minimally invasive Aesthetics clinics.

Dr. Mohan is a highly respected, talented Cosmetic Physician who has played a key role within some of the UK’s largest cosmetic groups in a career spanning over 16 years. As a Clinical, Commercial and Educational KOL, Mohan also has a wealth of experience evaluating new technologies, developing protocols and launching new medical devices for skin and body applications.

At the workshop, Dr. Mohan said, “In my Clinic today I find that the needs of my international patients have changed a lot, there is an increasingly strong demand for minimally invasive and completely holistic treatments that address multiple skin issues. I find it an honour to be allowed to be working alongside InMode and its state-of-the-art aesthetic devices that have been designed

to perform effective treatments that suit African skin. I firmly believe this is why the company finds itself as one of the first entrants into the continent.”

He added further that the ongoing learning, research and development on the ground in Nigeria will also undoubtedly grow the wide range of treatments and help drive revenue for the first adopters’ dermatology clinics in the coming year.

The workshop organiser, Expiation International Projects Limited (Expiation Nigeria), continued the aim to deliver exceptional services to skincare professionals across Nigeria.

Based in Abuja, FCT, they are proud to be recognised as a first-grade medical goods supplier that delivers efficient and quality service to clients wherever they are based in the country.

The company is keen on patient safety and client reputation which is why they prioritise working with only regulated and trusted manufacturers/suppliers to enable them consistently provide the highest quality products at all times.

Stanbic IBTC Upgrades Healthcare Short-Term Loan

Stanbic IBTC Bank, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, in line with its contributions to an improved healthcare sector in the country, has upgraded its short-term loan solution within the healthcare value chain.

This upgrade ensures a flexible repayment period, with affordable interest rate and zero collateral to enable sector players access better financing and achieve optimal service delivery.

The healthcare short-term loan, which now offers a longer tenor of 12 months, affordable interest rate and zero collateral will foster more investment in the sector and enhance strategic relationships to generate new businesses.

Speaking at the Medic West Africa Conference, Jane Ike-Okoli, Head, Specialized Sectors, Stanbic IBTC Bank, noted that effective collaboration between the financial institutions and healthcare organizations is key to advancing Nigeria’s health sector.

She advised financial institutions to be more intentional about complementing the government’s efforts. She said, “Stanbic IBTC has a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry and its intricacies. This knowledge inspires us to continue to design innovative yet affordable solutions to boost healthcare businesses across the country.”

According to her, despite Nigeria being Africa’s largest healthcare market, challenges in the health sector include inadequate healthcare infrastructure and insufficient financing.

“Stanbic IBTC is passionate about driving change, hence our partnership with key stakeholders in the healthcare sector to improve access to healthcare finance. We achieve this by offering flexible funding options for healthcare businesses and providers and strategically partnering with the players in the healthcare ecosystem.

“Our healthcare solutions are tailor-made for businesses in the sector who need working capital to expand healthcare operations, acquire medical equipment, facilitate medical research, and ultimately grow their healthcare businesses,” she stated.

Babatunde Akindele, Head, Coverage, Commercial Clients, Stanbic IBTC Bank, also stated that the newly improved healthcare short-term loan is a necessary investment.

“Healthcare is a basic need that everyone should access easily. The pandemic has increased the pressure on the health sector by revealing the urgent need to expand healthcare facilities. Stanbic IBTC has taken yet another step in the right direction to improve healthcare infrastructure and enable qualitative service delivery, which will restore the hope of many Nigerians,” he said.

The growth of the Nigerian healthcare sector rests on impactful and innovative finance solutions positioned to create a level playing field for businesses to thrive. Stanbic IBTC has said it remains committed to blazing the trail in this regard.

YEDI, NEPWHAN Seek More Collaboration to Reduce Plights of PLWHA

Oluchi Chibuzor

Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI) and Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has stressed the need for more public and private collaboration that will help reduce the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

This, according to them, would continue to support programmes that facilitate access to health services and promote healthy behaviours that allow adolescents to reach their full potential in adulthood.

To this end, YEDI, an adolescent health organisation and implementing partner for Grassroot Soccer, held an outreach programme recently in Lagos to further raise the awareness on HIV/AIDS in

the state.

Speaking at the event, which is to commemorate 2022 World AIDS Day, the Executive Secretary, YEDI, underscored their effort on community development in Nigeria using proven, effective and innovative development approaches.

“We leverage on the health educators to mobilise the public and also use our volunteers to go out to those disadvantaged communities to create awareness about the programme.

“Government should not relent their effort beyond knowing your status, but ensuring drugs are available for people who react positively to HIV.The problem is that HIV/AIDS is still there and we cannot shy away from it. People must know their status. We have young people that are still

involved in risky behaviour, so we must still continue to create awareness about HIV and most importantly prevention. People do not know which mode HIV can be transmitted, so there is continuous effort about awareness.”

However, for NEPHWAN members present at the event, the plight of living with HIV is affecting their chances of retaining their job especially when going for drug pick up.

“So some of them coming to the clinic have lost their job because they are not granted permission to go and collect their drugs. Most people that come for their drug pickup at times for them to give an excuse in their working place is a big challenge for them.”

“More worrisome for us is that in some facilities we pay to pick up our drugs which is not good, I do not want to

mention their names. This has been our struggle for years. Let the government help us to solve this challenge which has made some patients not to come and pick up their drug.

Commenting on the programme, the partnership Programme Manager, Grassroot Soccer, Dr. Babatunde Odusolu, said out-of-school youth must be empowered with life skills urgently.

“Now, this life skills allows us to communicate healthy behaviours to adolescents, it allows us to empower them with information about their health, sex reproductive health, rights, financial component. That life skills leads to leadership and livelihoods; so is a stream of activities in Lagos and Kano. The project takes them out of the streets and empowers them with information.”

Championing a world of total inclusion and equal opportunity for persons living with visual impairment has been the core mandate of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) since its establishment in 1968.

This time, however, why technology is rapidly growing exponentially, making life and connectivity easier, members of NAB are feeling left out.

Hence, the association has called the attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria to enforce all regulated financial institutions to make their websites, mobile applications, money wallets, and USSD among others to be usable and accessible for persons with disabilities in the country, particularly the blind and other clusters that may have accessibility issues.

Speaking at a media parley on Conducting an Accessibility Audit of Banks’ Websites and Mobile Applications for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria, its Administrative Officer, Mr Adeola Aina registered their grievances.

Some of the challenges listed are not being able to complete transactions while using the USSD due to timing. “Some of the bank apps can’t be accessed except we are assisted. At times, we have to put off the talk back to access some of the facilities on the app. By doing so, we can’t continue the process because we are unable to see what to click on next. There are so many challenges we are facing I must confess,” he decried.

Aina further noted their demands. “Our demands cut across physical barriers which prevent people with disabilities from entering the banks. People in wheelchairs can’t go into banks. The cashiers’ counters are always too high for dwarfs and such.

“Someone that’s hearing impaired can’t communicate with the bank officials. The blind for instance, have issues around filling tellers, not getting atm cards because of blindness,” he lamented.

Aina, therefore, outlined the need for a policy document that includes people with disabilities in all aspects of financial activities in the country.

The administrative officer noted that they realised that a lot of disabled people were excluded from the things that happen in the financial institutions like physical access to the banks and ATMs. “This audit is for access to websites and apps of the financial institutions. The audit is being sponsored by Disability Rights Funds (DRF).”

Rebecca Ejifoma

Association of Blind Seeks Accessibility on Bank Mobile Apps, USSD

L-R: Dr. Sankey Babangida, Dr. Chito Nwigwe, Adanma Okoro, Dr. Linda Echenim of Skin 101 Clinic and Dr. Sach Mohan at the workshop in Abuja

PSHAN COVID-19 Hesitancy Research to Unravel Uptake Fears in Nigeria

Oluchi Chibuzor

The Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) has partnered French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company, Sanofi, on Vaccine Hesitancy Assessment in Nigeria (VHAN) Program to achieve 100 percent vaccine uptake in the country.

As part of the implementation activities for the program, a thorough research will be done to understand the drivers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Nigerians.

Speaking recently in Lagos, the acting General Manage, PSHAN, Dr. Tinuola Akinbo-

lagbe, said their intention is for the results of the research to inform decisions by relevant stakeholders to upscale, deploy COVID-19 and other vaccination campaigns.

Explaining the rationale behind the assessment, she stated that vaccination remained one of the greatest achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control due to its effect on protecting individual health, public health and creating an enabling environment for economic revitalization.

She maintained that vaccination programs have contributed to the decline in mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19,

adding that for success to be recorded vaccination programs rely on achieving high uptake levels and achieving herd immunity.

She stated that the six months project which entails cross-sectional study would be conducted in one state in each of the geopolitical zones in Nigeria would aid health actors in Nigeria to design awareness campaigns.

According to her, “Thus far, vaccination coverage shows a high tendency towards inequity in access and low uptake in comparison with advanced economies in other continents.

“Currently, less than four per-

cent of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated, compared with 54 percent of the United States and about 65 percent of the UK. In Nigeria, only 1.8 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

“The COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Assessment in Nigeria (C19-VHAN) study seeks to understand the drivers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Nigerians.

“Our intention is for the results of the study to inform policymakers decisions to upscale and deploy COVID-19 and other vaccination campaigns.

Teslim Sanusi Kicks off Free Medical Service for 8,000 Indigent Nigerians to Mark 80thBirthday

Mary Nna

As part of giving back to society, former Managing Director of Cosmic Insurance Brokers, Dr. Teslim Sanusi, has taken his 80th birthday celebration this year to the grass-root people with the offering of free medical services to 8,000 beneficiaries.

Speaking on this move, Sanusi disclosed that his family, friends, Lions Club,and the Insurance Brokers organised the medical outreach where many would be given free eyeglasses, conduct free eye screening and treatment, free cataract surgery and tutorials on prevention and management of diabetes, among others.

The exercise would be held at five locations.

“In all, we hope to do 8,000 Free Eye Screening Exercise; 800 Free Cataract Surgeries, and donations of eyeglasses in the following locations: Ilupeju Lions

Diabetes Centre at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital; LCIF/MD 404 Eye Centre at State Hospital, Ota, Ogun State; Insurance Brokers House Erin Ile Progressive Union (EPU) Shopping and Warehouse Complex, Erin Ile, Kwara State and Eye, Diabetes and Dialysis Complex Erin-Ile, Kwara State”, he noted.

He said “I decided to show love to my country’s people by bringing basic medical service to their doorstep and enlightening them of the need to be health conscious at all times.

“ It was sad to see the indigent trying to survive yet faced with some health challenges. It is necessary to put smiles on the faces of these people.”

Sanusi added that government and corporate bodies who supposed to champion the crusade for giving, are erring.

“This is part of the root cause of the lack of love and the pervasive spread of criminality,

poverty and destitution in a country like ours that is so hugely blessed.

“In the event of not being able to afford the basic things of life, many turn to other inordinate ways to survive. It would continue to remain my submission that for as long as there are no efforts to create comfort for the poor, the security of the few in our society will never be guaranteed.

“Instead of spending huge expenditures on financing security, which to me is a reactive measure, the government needs to do more in deliberately giving and providing social welfare and championing the course of the needy. The same should be the lot of the private sector, to guarantee their sustainability and business survival.”

Moreso, he said taking on board with a rethinking the need for the needy is the need for employers to adhere to the law mandating them to allow for at least one

per cent recruitment quota for the physically disadvantaged, bearing in mind that an orderly and all-inclusive society could only be achieved when every being has a strong sense of contentment and belonging, irrespective of what providence has foisted on them.

Sanusi emphasized the words of legendary Mother Theresa, “the world would be a clean place if everyone sweeps his doorsteps”.

“ In doing this, I am most delighted that the planning committee has lined up the following programmes, focusing on Free Eye Care; Screening and Treatment cum surgeries as well as treatments and provision of blood testing equipment to ensure this indigent Nigerians get the opportunity to access qualitative healthcare.”

Five years ago, Dr. Sanusi also held a similar free medical exercise at the venue when he turned 70.

Verve Partners WellaHealth to Offer Free Health Benefits to Cardholders

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

WellaHealth, a health technology providing access to quality and affordable healthcare to Nigerians has partnered with Verve to provide access to quality and affordable healthcare services to Verve cardholders.

Marketing and Communications Lead, Joseph Okoroafor, WellaHealth Technologies in a statement issued yesterday said the partnership was part of the strategy employed by WellaHealth to get more Nigerians covered

and reduce out-of-pocket payment for healthcare expenses.

He said: “Today, only three percent of Nigerians are covered by any formal health plan in the country meaning that more Nigerians, over 97 percent, pay from their pocket for health services that could hitherto be covered by a health scheme like WellaHealth’s and save them from unplanned health expenditure.”

Joseph explained that throughout the lifespan of the health technology startup, WellaHealth continues to provide

quality health service by using community pharmacies and alternative care pathways as envisioned by the company’s CEO, Dr. Ikpeme Neto.

The Business Development Lead of WellaHealth, Collins Jacobs said the company has an array of different health packages that are readily available to Verve Cardholders and provides subscribers with cover for Malaria Test and Treatment, Treatment for Fever and Pains, Treatment for Cough and Cold, Treatment for Stomach Upsets and Allergies, Blood Pressure and Blood

Sugar Checks with access to talk to a doctor 24/7 and much more, as long as the subscriber has an active plan.

“WellaHealth’s partnership with Verve offers a unique opportunity for Verve’s cardholders to be covered by a health plan in line with the National Health Insurance Act that mandates all Nigerians to get a health cover. It is also a testament to the vision of the team at Verve and we are happy WellaHealth is positioned to help them achieve their vision,” he noted.

AfyaRekod Trains Jigawa Officials on TechnologyinUniversal HealthcareDelivery

AlyaRekod, a universal patient portal recently led a four-day workshop to explore the role of technology in delivering universal health care to Jigawa State officials.

The interactive workshop was to explore the invaluable contribution AfyaRekod’s unique approach and the use of technology can make to delivering universal healthcare plus the challenges to execute this integrated approach across its diverse mandate.

AfyaRekod is a patientcentered health data platform built on Al and Blockchain technology headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with a presence in five African countries.

Its mission is to bridge the gap between health care and treatment for health care facilities and institutions to access and assist their patients anywhere, anytime through tools and resources accessible on the platform Jiwaga Ministry of Health has a key focus on achieving universal healthcare.

The state has put in place favourable measures to ensure all resources that could help achieve this are identified and invested on.

The Permanent Secretary Jigawa State Ministry of Health, Dr. Salisu Babura Ma’azu, said they were thrilled to learn from AfyaRekod team and to also be part of the discussion on the contribution of technology to provision of universal healthcare.

“ Learning from a team that is already putting this into practice is fantastic, In Nigeria’s Jawaga state, we are aiming and working towards achieving universal health care for all patients,” Ma’azu said.

On his part, the General Manager AfyaRekod, Umuhany Zuhudi expressed excitement hosting officials from Jigawa State Ministry of Health for a free workshop on digitisation of health care and the contribution of technology towards achieving universal healthcare.

He described the programme as a contribution to their overall mission, an Africa where quality healthcare is accessible to all patients.

ICEHD Calls for Policy Reform, Health Security for Women Farmers

Sunday Ehigiator

Against the backdrop of climate change, the International Centre for Environmental Health and Development (ICED), has called on policymakers and stakeholders to decisively influence policy reform as well as health Insurance for women farmers to achieve climate justice in Nigeria by 2023.

Speaking during the recent Policy Advocacy Forum and Book Launch, held in Lagos, the Program Officer of ICEHD, Mercy Joshua, noted women are the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on natural resources, becoming more vulnerable than men to climate change impacts.

She said: “We are calling on policymakers and all stakeholders to influence policy reform for mainstreaming gender in agricultural budgeting and financial I inclusion, to active climate change justice.

“Nigeria’s climate has been changing, evidenced by the increase in temperature, variable rainfall, rise in the sea level and flooding, drought and desertification, and land degradation, these changes bring a gendered impact, as it disproportionately affects women and widens gender inequities.

“As climate change hits Nigeria, small-scale women farmers count losses because they play vital roles in

agricultural production and are key to Nigeria’s food security.”

Speaking further, Joshua said amid these challenges, the initiative has with the support of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) embarked on a two-year project on ‘Climate Justice and Economic Resilience for Women Farmers in Nigeria’.

“The project aims to increase the number of rural women farmers in Nigeria skilled in climatesmart agriculture, publicly projects women’s voices on climate justice and advocate agricultural reform to advance women’s rights, and sensitive policy officials on gender/climate change,” she revealed.

Also speaking at the event, Dr Ndudi Bowei, said that the project has been educating the women farmers on climate change and the way forward.

“We causally cater to widow female farmers. Since this project came up, we have been like partners at ICEHD and I also have been an advocate for climate justice.

“A lot of them don’t know that what has been affecting their crops and farmland is climate change. They only know that the weather is changing and the rain routine has changed, but this project has been initiated to educate and enlighten the farmers,” she said.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

General Manager Community Affairs, Projects and Development TotalEnergies, Mr Godspower Nwachukwu, Eze Ekpeye Logbo and one of the LG chairman in Rivers during the distribution of relief materials

Substandard Goods: SON Vows to Strengthen Collaboration with Stakeholders

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has stated that it will strengthen its collaborations with stakeholders in the industrial sector of the economy to combat the influx of substandard goods in the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of the agency’s 50th anniversary celebration in Lagos, Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim,said the standards body would also increase its level of campaigns and engagement with the public to fish out and prosecute peddlers of substandard goods in the nation.

He added that the in fight against substandard and falsified products, the global substandard and falsified product industry in 2021 was estimated to be $4.3 trillion, lamenting that the overwhelming figure, justifies the need for a robust collaboration between SON and Industry to fight this scourge.

“In this regard, I urge Industry to invest substantially in brand protection activities to safeguard their intellectual property and associated brands against counterfeiters, copyright pirates and producers of substandard products. Rest assured that SON is determined to rid our marketplace of these substandard and falsified products. As we confidently stride into the Next 50 years and beyond, I solemnly declare, that Industry shall find in SON, a faithful and loyal partner,” he assured.

He also advocated for industry to remain steadfast in compliance with standards and government regulations as well as give maximum cooperation to SON in various initiatives intended to strengthen the organisation.

According to him, the fight against substandard goods is a collective effort, pointing out that the agency is on a national assignment to educate and engage the public and industries to reduce the influx of substandard

goods to the barest minimum.

He however, stated that in over the last two years, SON had concentrated on some critical areas that adds value to the industry which he listed as strengthening the National Metfology System to raise the profile of the National Metrology Institute Enugu as a significant component in Nigeria; faithful implementation of the Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy as the framework of the development and publication of National Standards and increasing SON’s technical competence in conformity assessment services through the accreditation of our Product Certification Department.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Evelyn Ngige, lauded SON for 50 remarkable years of valuable contribution to industrialisation.

FMN Drives Local Content Development Through Prize for Innovation Competition

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has announced the commencement and call for applications in the second edition of its ‘Prize for Innovation” (PFI) Competition.

The annual competition, which started in 2021, promotes new ideas to boost the quest for food self-sufficiency in Nigeria.

“This year’s edition is themed, “Innovative techniques for local content development in the food and agro-allied sector,” and will focus on facilitating the use of local content within the Nigerian food value chain, for sustainable food production.

“Prospective participants

in this year’s competition are expected to put forth their innovative and cutting-edge solutions to ensure Nigeria’s food & agro-allied sector, moves from a dependence on the importation of raw materials to prioritize local capacity development.

“In the first category, small and medium businesses operating within the food and Agro-allied sector, participants will send entries to compete for a chance to win the grand prize of N5 Million while the first and second runners-up win N3 Million and N2 Million respectively, “it said in a statement.

Beyond the cash prize, FMN

said it will provide value-based opportunities to the top 5 finalists selected to pitch their ideas to judges in the live event. “These opportunities will include training, seminars, and networking opportunities. In the second category, students in undergraduate and postgraduate levels with an interest in the food and agro-allied industry, are eligible to send in applications which will be judged by the general public as a viewers’ choice format. The winner in this category will get a cash prize of N300,000, while the first and second runners-up will win N200,000 and N100,000 respectively, “it added.

Rainoil Bags ISO 9001:2015 Certifications

Rainoil Limited, has successfully implemented the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard aimed at retail sales, bulk storage, and logistics of refined petroleum products, liquified petroleum gas, and lubricants in order to improve its processes, procedures, and products. ISO 9001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system. Organizations use the standard to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customers’ and regulatory requirements.

The Director General of

Standard Organization of Nigeria, Mallam Farouk Salim who was represented by Deputy Director, Management Systems of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nwaoma Oluije, presented the certificate to Rainoil Limited executives at the Rainoil Headoffice on Monday, saying the certification is a landmark achievement in the pursuit of service excellence and has elevated Rainoil Limited to the privileged class of Quality Management Systems Certified Organizations in Nigeria.

According to Salim, the adoption of the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system

framework reflects Rainoil Limited’s vision of always providing quality products to their customers.

Expressing delight at the company’s achievement, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie OON, said the certification affirms Rainoil Limited’s adherence to internationally acceptable standard requirements and the ability of the company to get it right the first time and always.

Ogbechie assured the team of the Standard Organization of Nigeria that the company will ensure the system remains healthy.

NBC Shines at SERAS Awards

Leading consumer packaged goods company, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited. has emerged one of the top winners at the 2022 SERAS – CSR Awards held in Lagos.

At the just concluded 16th edition of the Award ceremony, NBC bagged awards in two categories, Best Company In Net Zero Transmission and OPSWASH Award For Best Company In Water and Sanitation, for its contributions towards

environmental sustainability.

According to the Organizers of the award, NBC won the award as the Best Company In Net Zero Transmission in acknowledgement of the company’s investments in optimising its energy mix to incorporate more renewable energy sources, while the company was declared the winner of the OPSWASH Award For Best Company In Water and Sanitation category in recognition of its commitment to water

use and stewardship in its host communities.

Receiving the Awards on behalf of the company, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, NBC, Ekuma Eze, stated, “As a key player in the manufacturing industry, these awards are in recognition of our innovative work and visionary leadership, notably in the fields of environmental sustainability, water stewardship and combating climate change through our net zero carbon goal.”

MARKET INDICATORS

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022

Money Supply (M3) 49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors 50,601.36

Money Supply (M2) 49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money 27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1) 21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks 2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits 18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA) 5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA) 27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) 61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net) 21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA 0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA) 0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS) 40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net 6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money 14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation 3,210,664.98 --Banks Reserves 10,829,686.9 --Special Intervention Reserves 390,557.8

Gilbert Ekwugbe

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE

L – R; Head, Investment Banking, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Kenneth Ero; Ondo State, Honorable Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; Managing Director, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Bayo Rotimi; Liaison Officer, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mrs. Opeyemi Fatokun; and Divisional Head, Corporate Banking, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Olanipekun Osundina during the Bank’s Executive’s courtesy visit to Ondo State...recently

SEC Projects N5trn Capitalisation for Shariah Products by 2025

KayodeTokede

The Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda yesterday in Abuja said that the revised edition of the Capital Market Master plan (2021 – 2025) that was recently launched has a projection of 50 listings of Shariah-compliant products with a market capitalisation of at least N5 trillion by the year 2025

Yuguda, who was represented by the SEC’s Executive

Commissioner Operations, Mr. Dayo Obisan at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for local Shariah talent for Non-Interest Capital Market, said that the Non-Interest Capital Market (NICM) also has the following new targets: ensuring 100 retail Shariah-compliant products; and projection of 1 million or more direct investors in Shariah-compliant products with at least N5 trillion investment by institutional investors in Shariah

compliant products.

Yuguda noted that with these new responsibilities, promoting capacity-building programmes, such as the Workshop, on Shariahcompliant processes and products (Regulators and Operators) has become necessary for the NCIM.

He said the Commission, in recognising the potentials of the Non-Interest Capital Market for economic growth, dedicated a component in its ten-year (20152025) Capital Market Masterplan

for the speedy development of the Market in the Financial system.

Specifically, Yuguda said the Masterplan provides clear Strategic Objectives for the development of the Market, one of which is the “encouragement of the development of stakeholders for the Market” and today’s workshop is evidence of the realization of this particular objective.

The stride and significant achievements recorded by the

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED

Masterplan he said, is evidenced by the last ranking of Nigerian Islamic Finance in 13th place on the global Islamic Finance Development Indicator 2021, with the assets under Management valued at N2.30 billion; which is higher than countries like Bangladesh and Turkey.

“As you may be aware, the major difference between Conventional Finance and Non-Interest Finance is the application of Shariah prin-

ciples. This simply means that Non-Interest Financial Market cannot exist without experts in Islamic commercial jurisprudence (FiqhulMu’amalat Al-Maliyya). Therefore, this Workshop will help in fast-tracking the development of experts for the Market. We believe that it would be a magic lamp for developing our local Sharia talent, not only for Nigerian Capital Market but for the Nigerian Financial system in general.

ASOF 07/12/022

MAIN BOARDDEALS MARKET PRICE QUANTITY TRADED VALUE TRADED ( N )

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 06Dec-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF.

Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

Coral Balanced Fund

4,067.71 4,095.86 4.76%

Coral Income Fund 3,688.77 3,688.77 6.82% Coral

100.00 100.00 14.27% FSDH

1.13 1.13 0.00%

N/AN/AN/A CAPITAL

MERISTEM

NORRENBERGER

Fund

CAPITALTRUST

halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Capitaltrust

CARDINALSTONE

mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4

Fund NameBid PriceOffer PriceYield / T-Rtn

CardinalStone

CORDROS

1,175.09 1,175.09 8.86%

Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.29 102.29 9.20%

Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 12.53%

PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

PACAM Balanced Fund 1.55 1.59 -1.32%

PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.45 11.60 3.01%

PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.59%

PACAM Equity Fund 1.39 1.41 -1.99%

PACAM EuroBond Fund 117.43 120.71 3.30%

SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

SCM Capital Frontier Fund N/AN/AN/A

SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.09 11.02%

STANBIC

Fund

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

Stanbic

1.38 1.39 9.92%

Fund 331.32 331.33 5.81%

257.74 9.02%

1.00 11.34%

11,769.24 6.54%

Fund (USD) 1.36 1.36 5.15%

120.52 3.09%

114.41 114.41 7.55%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

GAMING WEEK

Edited by NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

Game Awards 2022 Holds Today

The Oscars of video games, the Game Awards, will hold today at the Microsoft Theatre, Los Angeles, USA. Now in its ninth edition, the awards reward the best in video games, eSports and content creators, writes Vanessa Obioha

About 108 games are nominated in the 31 categories of awards, including the latest addition, Best Adaptation of a Video Game IP into another form of media. Most of the nominees in this category are collaborations with Netflix, such as ‘Arcane’ which is based on ‘League of Legends’ and produced by the streaming giant in collaboration with Fortiche and Riot Games.

The nominees of Game Awards are selected by a jury of around 100 media outlets. The winners are determined by fans who cast their votes before the ceremony.

This year boasts many big contenders such as ‘God of War: Ragnarok’, which scooped 10 nominations, the highest of the edition. It was nominated for Game of the Year, Best Performance, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Action/ Adventure, and the award for Innovation and Accessibility, among others.

Produced by Santa Monica Studio, ‘God of War: Ragnarok’ is the sequel to 2018’s ‘God of War’. It is an action-adventure and narrative-driven game that follows Kratos and his son, Atreus, as they try to survive the dangers of the nine realms.

Another fan favourite is the action role-playing game developed by From Software, ‘Elden Ring’. The video game has scooped up positive reviews since it launched in February 2022.

Other contending games include ‘Horizon Forbidden West’, ‘A Plague Tale: Requiem’ and ‘Stray’.

Beyond the contest, Game Awards serve as an avenue to reveal upcoming video games. Game Awards host and producer Geoff Keighley hinted there would be at least 40 announcements at the event.

Expected announcements at the awards include Electronic Arts’ debut of the full trailer of ‘Star

‘Tekken

‘Elden

occasion.

Total Wagers for Qatar World Cup to Draw $35bn

A combination of factors, including playing during the winter months when fewer people are on holiday, compared to past World Cup tournaments held in summer, have shot the expected wagers up to an all-time high by 65% more than previous editions, writes John Bamidele

Barclays Plc analysts have predicted that this year’s World Cup in Qatar will have a 65 per cent increase in wagers more than the previous edition after a surge in online gambling during the pandemic. According to Barclays, the figure will be a $35 billion increase. The jump in sports betting is expected to boost profits of sports giant Ladbrokes parent Entain which Barclays says has more world cup exposure than Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment occasioned by the former’s strong presence in Europe and Latin America, according to Bloomberg.

James Rowland Clarke, an analyst, noted that “betting activity is being helped by matches played at prime times for Europe during winter months when fewer people are on holiday, compared to past tournaments held in the summer. This gives an extra boost to the gambling industry which has also benefited from the stickiness of growth generated during lockdowns.”

He added that “match result in Qatar so far have been marginally operator-friendly because as of midday Friday there had been five tied games, an outcome that generally

benefits odds compilers as most bettors tend to wager on one team winning.”

Entain’s wider European and Latin America exposure is seen as giving it an edge over Flutter, which has more concentrated exposure to the United Kingdom and Italy. According to a Bloomberg report, Barclays rates the stock overweight and has an equal-weight recommendation on Flutter, raising revenue and earnings estimates for both.

Meanwhile, wagering on the tournament in the United States is expected to be relatively small, with Bloomberg Intelligence forecasting

$1.7 billion of bets, just a fraction of the $7.6 billion wagered on the Super Bowl and $3.1 billion on NCAA basketball’s March Madness according to analysts Brian Egger. Barclays further cited data from betting intelligence firm H2 Gambling Capital, saying customers of licensed bookmakers will stake about $400 million on each group match played at this World Cup, about $1 billion per knockout game and up to $2.5 billion on the final. Analysts, however, cautioned that the cost-of-living crisis and the lead-up to Christmas could result in pressure on customers’ betting wallets.

With Ambassadorship Deals, Bet Companies Keep Old Football Stars in

Akeem Lasisi writes that sports betting companies are shinning limelight on respected soccer idols by further enriching them as brand ambassadors in various degrees

When they were on the pitch, they were a delight to watch. They were playmakers, goal-getters and bringers of joy to millions of soccer-loving Nigerians and others elsewhere. This, perhaps, is the least tribute you can accord venerable soccer stars like Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Dan Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Adebayor. They gave the best of their talents to the game

and to posterity.

But years after stardom, they, like a few other lucky peers, remain audible and visible. Among forces keeping them in form, betting companies stand to be counted. These particularly are the outfits that made them brand ambassadors in various degrees so that they are not just further enriching them but are also shining

the limelight on the soccer idols.

JAY JAY OKOCHA: BETKING

Whenever one is thinking about icons of sensational football, Jay Jay Okocha –Augustine Azuka Okocha – is one of the figures that come to mind. The former Super Eagles striker, who also played for

top teams that include PSG and Bolton Wanderers, unleashed electric fun on many stadia he played. He quit football in 2008, but he keeps gaming courtesy of BetKing, which unveiled him as an ambassador in 2021.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Wars Jedi: Survivor’. The sequel to ‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ was officially announced in May 2022, with a teaser trailer showing the return of hero Cal Kestis and his trusty droid companion BD-1.

8’,

Ring DLC’ and ‘Dead Space’ are expected to be announced at the

This year’s Game Awards marks the first time the award is returning to an in-person gathering since 2019. Nonetheless, the award, which Keighley revealed would be shorter than previous editions, can be streamed on social media platforms such as Twitch, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Perhaps one of the highlights of the night will be the appearance of former James Bond star Daniel Craig as well as the performance of ‘Blood Upon The Snow’ from ‘God of War: Ragnarok’ by popular musician Hozier, and the live presentation by Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida.

Adebayor: 22Bet

Amokachi: BetBonanza

Kanu: SportyBetIkpeba: Bet9ja

Okocha: BetKing

Bimpe Akingba: Government Agencies Feed on Vulnerability of Sports Betting Industry

In the past two years, Bimpe Akingba has been on top of the multi-faceted issues in the Nigerian gaming industry. Her involvement goes back to 2014 when she was head of legal and compliance at 1960 Bet, the biggest operator in the sports betting sub-sector. Her current designation as Executive Secretary for the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (ANB), the trade group of sports betting operators, has conferred on her the face of an industry buffeted on all sides by government agencies at the federal, state, and sometimes local levels. Akingba recently welcomed the Gaming Week team to the ANB secretariat for a healthy discourse.

Tell us about goals of Association of Nigerian Bookmakers

The association is the trade group for investors in the sports betting business. Operators might be competitors, or they are competitors. Definitely, there are common issues affecting them, and this brought about the need to set up an association for the purpose of having a common voice, especially regarding issues affecting the industry.

I must commend the operators. In terms of regulation, it hasn’t been an easy ride for them. There is the issue of double taxation and the overlapping regulatory function

between the federal regulatory body and the states. That has eaten deep into the profit of the operators and has opened space for some other government agencies to come in and feed on the vulnerability of the industry.

We have seen government agencies that are not part of the regulators come up and pick the operators and accuse them of underremitting either to the federal of the state governments. On the path of regulation, it is a crossfire for them; but that is why the association is here. One of the main aim of the association is the resolve this

double taxation issue. That has been our focus. Sometime in 2020, the association instituted a legal action on behalf othe operators against

the National Lotteries Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the states lotteries board, asking the court to interpret who has the powers to regulate the industry for the court to actually analyse the industry as it is right now based on the evidence we put forward- that the industry as it is right now; the way it is being taxed does it amount to double taxation? That is something that regulators have been running away from for a long time. None of them actually sees it from the viewpoint of the operators. Our main question to the court was does what the federal and states do amount to double taxation? If the court answers in the affirmative, then is double taxation constitutional? The court answered in the affirmative that taxation of the industry as it is today amounts to double taxation; and that double taxation is unconstitutional.

That is a point that I am happy is out there and the regulators; whether state or federal, whatever seems to be their drive now know that what is currently happening in the industry is an anomaly and it needs to stop.

Once we resolve the issue of regulation and we have a standard, other things will fall in place. That is the major issue.

Because of that issue, regulators

The business end of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup is upon us with four juicy ties getting the quarterfinals under way, tomorrow, Friday, December 9 –Croatia takes on favourites Brazil before Argentina face off against Netherlands and then on Saturday, Portugal takes on Morocco before the mammoth showdown between England and France.

CROATIA VS BRAZIL: Brazil and Croatia will be playing for one of the four semifinal berths and Brazil are clear favourites to win this one, coming off the back of an incredibly sensational 4 -1 demolition of South Korea. While Croatia who were runners up of the last edition of the World Cup should never be written off too easily as they keep on upsetting odds, time and time again. Brazil should be able to go through to the semis at the expense of Croatia.

The game, which promises to be a trilling encounter, should yield two goals at the very least.

NETHERLANDS VS ARGENTINA:

Argentina will take on The Netherlands on Friday , December 9 in what will be the repeat of one of Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal ties. Netherlands and Argentina eliminated the United States and Australia respectively. Both sides are yet to show their best versions and haven’t been all too convincing in their displays as the competition enters into its latter stages they will be kin to change that narrative as they contest for a slot in the semifinal.

It is a game in which any of the teams could go through, but

moments of individual brilliance from the likes of Lionel Messi could turn the game on its head in a flash. As the odds indicate bookmakers have picked Argentina as the favourites for this tie.

ENGLAND VS FRANCE:

On Saturday, December 10, England will take on France in a tie that is arguably the game of the Matchday. Both teams have displayed impressive performances so far as they possess skilled and talented attacking players. The Three Lions defeated Senegal 3-0 in the Round of 16. On the other hand, the defending champions dominated Poland 3-1 to reach the quarter final. Considering their previous matches in the FIFA World Cup 2022, both the teams are expected to score and any of the two sides expected to advance in what promises to be a magnificent clash of titans.

PORTUGAL VS MOROCCO:

After a Round of 16 that saw most of the big name teams cruise to the quarterfinals, Morocco is the exception. After beating Spain last round, Morocco takes on a Portugal side that obliterated Switzerland. Portugal is favoured after that Switzerland performance last round. As Morocco hopes to become the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals we must also keep in mind that they played 120 minutes in their last match and that Portugal has won both of its previous World Cup quarterfinals, in 1966 against North Korea and in 2006 against England. Portugal is expected to eliminate Morocco and advance into the next round.

Global sports betting and casino brand, 22Bet.ng has recently commissioned four functional water borehole facilities and newly renovated public toilet facilities at markets in Ibadan -Ojoo Meat Market/Ojoo Lagos Park, Bodija Market Iwo Park Garage, Agbowo Park/ University of Ibadan (UI) StudentResidential Area, and Apete Market, Close to Apete Garage/Poly Ibadan Student Residential Area, respectively.

The provision of the water borehole and renovated public toilet facilities, done in partnership with Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, are part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of 22Bet. ng, whose portfolio includes Esports, 22Bet Casino, 22Games among others, to ensure its betting services caters for all punters. The facilities will, no doubt, provide the needed succour for both the market men and women as

well as residents of the communities.

Last September, 22Bet.ng provided functional water borehole facilities to two key regions of Ibadan - Moniya Market and Gbagi International Market, a popular market in the heart of the state capital, respectively.

Inaugurating the borehole facilities, which included brand new generators (one for each of the four facilities, respectively), the Director General of Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, Hon. Olajide Boladuro, commended 22Bet for the facilities.

“Oyo State Gaming Board is the agency of Oyo state government, charged with the responsibility of regulating betting, lottery, pools and all gaming activities for the purpose of accountability, improve transparency in the industry, stakeholder’s confidence, revenue generation, and utilising proceeds earned towards good causes and community development,” he

stated. “And 22Bet.ng happens to be one of those that are licensed to operate betting or lottery activities in the state.”

He added, “22Bet.ng has been different, they have really separated themselves in the sense that in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the community and to Oyo State, it has been doing the most. This is not the first project - water borehole and toilets - in Oyo state we are commissioning this year. We have earlier done in Moniya Market and Gbagi International Market, respectively, and they continue to do it. So when they came and told us that they want to provide more water boreholes and renovate more toilet facilities, it is a welcome development for us. A government cannot always do everything; so as a form of support, it is a laudable and commendable project.”

Abdulazeez Musibaudeen

Ojasope, who represented the Babaloja of Ojoo Market, Alhaji Abdullai Akanbi, said, “We thank 22Bet for providing this water borehole facility and brand new generator. We also thank our able governor of Oyo State for this laudable and important project. God will continue to bless them abundantly.”

The Iyaloja of Ojoo, Alhaja Fausat Oluwakemi; Akowe Oja, Deaconness Olaide Nureni, and other market leaders were full of praises and prayers for 22Bet.ng, saying that 22Bet has shown that it is committed to the socio-economic development and well-being of the people and the communities.

22Bet restated its commitment to continue its corporate social responsibilities to the region of Oyo and other parts of Nigeria, said its Country Manager/COO of West Africa, Mr Fikayo Ogunfuye.

Akingba

At Osun Rally, Atiku Reiterates Restructuring as Only Alternative to Nigeria’s Prosperity

Pledges constitutional role for monarchs Titi Abubakar says vote for her husband will ensure country’s unity Adeleke: Atiku is detribalised, experienced

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, renewed his call for the restructuring of Nigeria at a rally yesterday in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital. Atiku maintained that restructuring was a major factor that would guaranty stability and economic growth in the country.

The PDP presidential candidate also pledged to ensure constitutional role for traditional rulers, if elected president next year

Atiku’s wife, Titi Abubakar, urged indigenes of Osun State to vote for

her husband, describing him as the only symbol of unity among the current presidential candidates.

The former vice president, who spoke to a mammoth crowd in Oshogbo, said, "Our only objective is to make sure that the current challenges of insecurity, disunity, economic deprivation, lack of jobs for our young men and women and the future of this country through restructuring can be achieved. These I promise you. I am going to start doing them from day one."

Atiku said, "Restructuring means empowering Osun State with more resources and authority with what needs to be done.

"It also has to do with how to provide the infrastructure needed for development, invest in education and healthcare in Osun State and bring about industrialisation for the economic benefit of the people of Osun State."

He said he was in the state to thank the people of Osun for voting PDP in the last governorship election, urging them to do same at the forthcoming presidential election.

Atiku added, "I have only come to thank you for what you have done; you are a wonderful people for returning PDP to power in the last state elections. I believe by returning PDP to power you will strengthen

NJC Reinstates Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia as Judge of Federal High Court

Wale Igbintade

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has reinstated Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia as a judge of the Federal High Court.

In a circular dated December 5, 2022, titled: "Reinstatement of Honourable Justice RN OfiliAjumogobia to the Federal High Court Bench," signed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, it stated that the reinstatement takes immediate effect, adding that there shall be consequential posting

The 3-paragraph circular read: “Your Lordships are by this Circular letter notified that at the Meeting of the National Judicial Council held on the 1st of December, 2022, the Council reinstated the Hon. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia as a Judicial Officer.

“The reinstatement takes instant effect and there shall be consequential posting.”

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge bordering on money laundering and breach of public trust.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court however discharged Ofili-Ajumogobia while granting her application to quash and dismiss the allegations.

The application to quash was

filed and argued by her counsel, Mr. Olawale Akoni.

Akoni told the Lagos court that the application was sequel to an order of Justice Binta Nyako of Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which quashed all the recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Akoni also told the court that by virtue of the judgment of Justice Nyako delivered on November 28, 2019, in the suit between Ofili-Ajumogobia and NJC, the

judge had quashed the council’s report and recommendations, and that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had been reinstated.

While ruling on the arguments and submissions by the parties, Justice Allagoa said: “I have looked at the application; I have also looked into the counter-affidavit of the prosecution, it is not indeed controverting the application.

“I am satisfied that the applica tion has merit, the prayers sought for are hereby granted as prayed.”

this authority by voting PDP in the next general election because a federal government controlled by PDP and a state government controlled by PDP in Osun State is to the greater good of Osun people.

"I appeal to you and plead with you to come out in greater numbers than you did in the last state election and vote for the PDP in the next general election; that is the only way that you can secure your future and the future of your children.

"We promise you, we will not fail you. We are not like APC because we have done it before, we have the experience, we have got the people who have the capacity to bring about changes, we are not new as far as governance is concerned in Nigeria.

“So, my fellow brothers and sisters, my in-laws, are you going to vote for your in-law or not? God bless you all'.

Atiku also assured traditional rulers in the country of a place in the scheme of things if voted into office next year.

Before the rally, Atiku met with a broad spectrum of stakeholders at a town hall meeting held at Atlantis Civic Centre, Osogbo.

Atiku had first declared his promise of a constitutional role for monarchs on Tuesday at Ede, when he led his campaign on a courtesy visit to the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal.

At the palaces of Ooni of Ile-ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Owa of

APC administration had bastardised everything in Nigeria which, saying this calls for proactive steps before it is too late.

The presidential candidate assured Nigerians that the economy would be given the desired attention.

He appreciated the three mon archs for the warm reception they gave to him and his entourage.

The former vice president reiter ated his promise to traditional rulers during the rally.

He told spectators at the park that he would “explore the possibility of carving out constitutional roles for the traditional institution to assist in governance, if I am elected.”

Atiku said, “As you all know, as the Wazirin Adamawa, I am a stakeholder in this project of proposing to engage our royal fathers in assisting the government to run the affairs of the country.”

He promised “to institute a special programme for historical cities, like Ile- Ife, to be upgraded to world-class cities so as to boost their tourism potential.”

The PDP vice presidential candi date, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, told people of the state, “You did well to vote Governor Adeleke. You have rescued Osun from the hands of wicked people. Now ensure that you come out in

Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Confused, Atiku/Okowa Mocks

The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, yesterday, mocked the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, fol lowing the intractable confusion that has hit his campaign.

In a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesperson for the campaign, the group said Nigerians were not surprised that the central Command and coordinating structure of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign was already collapsing with members becoming disori ented, completely disillusioned and crestfallen following series of unending criminal allegations.

He said Nigerians had become

disconnected with the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket given the exposure of smelly past and constant display of vacuity, incoherence and lack of vision by the APC presidential candidate.

"The disenchantment, which has continued to grow with the many unpresidential gaffes of Tinubu, however, came to its height after his embarrassing outing at the Chatham House on Monday, where he exhibited a pathetic vacuity and lack of capacity to lead a nation as complex as Nigeria, by directing questions put to him on economy, security, youth development and even about his personal life to others to provide answers.

“Patriotic Nigerians in the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign are no longer at home with Asiwaju Tinubu’s inability to give a concise explanation to many scandals around him, including the reported connection with narcotics syndicate for which he was made to forfeit a whopping sum of $460,000 through the order of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.

“The Tinubu/Shettima messag ing has since become disjointed, disconnected and uncoordinated as its helmsmen are currently losing their voices,” Ologbondiyan stated.

He said it was pathetic that the Tinubu/Shettima APC Presidential Campaign, has no

record of performance to present to Nigerians given the disastrous seven and a half years of the APC in office.

"It is more ludicrous that the Ti nubu/Shettima’s shameful attempt to appropriate the achievements of other Lagos State governors are being poohpoohed by Nigerians. No individual can claim to have built Lagos!" he stated

Moreover, Ologbondiyan said the Central theme of “Renewed Hope” has failed to gain traction among Nigerians, including APC members as it is a direct irony of the reality of Asiwaju’s lack of vision and solution to the problems brought to our nation by his APC.

greater numbers to vote for PDP and Atiku.”

Similarly, Chairman of the Atiku/ Okowa Campaign Council (APCO), Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, recalled that Osogbo used to be an electricity generation hub and pledged that, this, among many other things that went wrong under APC misrule, would be restored.

Director General of APCO, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, urged the people to vote for Atiku and PDP.

“I expect you, as people of conscience, to repeat that feat and vote for Atiku and PDP,” he added.

The former vice president’s wife, Titi, while addressing the gathering, urged the people of the state to vote her husband, saying he has the capacity to unite a divided nation like Nigeria.

According to her, "We are more divided than we were before. Atiku wants to bring unity, to bring this country together.

"So, Atiku is going to bring back that lost glory. Atiku is going to unify us, he is a unifier. Atiku has come to rescue Nigeria; Atiku has come to restructure Nigeria, Atiku has come to give our children good education.

"There will be no more Boko Haram, there will be no kidnapping, there will be no abduction. All of these are going to stop, but it has to start with you people.

"If you give Atiku your votes come February 25, that is when it will be possible for Atiku to make you great. I implore you, don’t sell your conscience; don't sell your vote.

I know there is hunger in the land and it is the APC that brought all these predicaments to us, but if Atiku is voted for, he is going to change the state of this country, not just Osun alone.

"The youth are the most unem ployed in Nigeria and Atiku has promised women and youths 60 per cent in his cabinet and he is going to fulfil it. Atiku is a man of his words.”

The recently sworn in Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State said, "Our incoming president is a detribalised person. He loves everybody, no matter where you come from. That is why he is the best man to do this job. He is experienced.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Ijesha Land, Oba Adekunle Aro molaran; and the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Atiku said the unity of the country was sacrosanct. He alleged that the present

THE NIGERIA POWER SECTOR AWARDS 2022...

ICPC Confirms Arrest, Detention of D'banj over Alleged Fraud

Artiste denies any dealing with N' Power FG: We’re working with ICPC on successful investigation

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commis sion (ICPC),yesterday, confirmed the arrest and detention of Mr. Oladipo Oyebanjo, otherwise known by his stage name, D'banj, over an investiga tion of alleged fraud associated with the N-Power Programme.

But the artiste, in a statement, has denied "any contractual or incidental relationship whatsoever with any group or persons within or outside government in relation to the disbursement, operations, access or control of the operation of any government fund through an agency or its subsidiaries."

Also, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Man agement and Social Development, has said it was in close collaboration with ICPC to support the successful determination of the investigation into the fraud in N-Power Programme.

The N-Power is a scheme set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 8th of June, 2016, to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment, and help increase social development.

A statement issued by the agency, in Abuja, claimed that in line with its mandate, the commission had received numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira following the approval and release of such funds to the beneficiaries by the federal government.

It said many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by the government.

"About 10 persons have been

invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud, and have been granted administrative bail after their detention," it said.

The commission further said "several invitations to Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured. Mr. Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, 6th December, 2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners.

"The investigation will be allencompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled," it said, add ing that, the statement was necessary to set the record straight in view of the reports awash in the media.

"The investigation is ongoing and the commission prefers not to preempt its outcome and also avoid the frenzy of a media trial," ICPC added.

Nevertheless, D'banj, in a statement by his legal representative, Law Cor ridor, said, "reports concerning the arrest and detention of Mr. Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo was misconceived, malicious and prejudicial to the justice system anywhere in the world and we would advise that the general public be well guided.

"We acknowledge the fact that the ICPC is currently investigating allegations of diversion of N-POWER funds as already stated by the com mission and we continue to hold the expectation that the commission will stay the course of professionalism in this matter.”

The law firm noted that as a

matter of policy, D’Banj and his management did not engage in business dealings unless they are legitimate, properly documented and obtainable in law.

The statement read: "D'banj was officially invited by the ICPC in respect of the investigation a month ago, however, he sent in letters through his attorneys to the commission in respect of his schedule in South Africa and promised to visit the commission, when he returned.

"On Monday the 5th of De cember, 2022, D’Banj freely and of his law-abiding accord, went

to the commission at about 2pm immediately he arrived Abuja. The officers of the commission advised that he returned the following day as it was late for any interview on said Monday."

The firm said D’Banj returned to the commission the following day being Tuesday the 6th of December, 2022 as earlier agreed and voluntarily submitted himself to the commission to make their inquiry and investigation.

"D’banj has encouraged the com mission to carry out its investigation thoroughly to ensure that characters

attempting to bring him into such ridiculous activities must be brought to book.

"It is inconceivable that D’banj whose very career is a reference point for hard work, diligence and honesty would lend his reputation built steadfastly over the years to acts of such accusations, which he must now stoically suffer through while clearing his name.

"The general public is advised to resist the urge to buy into media sensationalism, which is unsurprising but regardless, harmful to the course for the truth, which D’banj has willing

set himself on by honouring the ICPC’s summons.

"We retain the hope that the thoroughness of the ICPC will in no time exonerate D’banj of all and every allegation levelled against his person and it is for this reason that we implore the general public to stay guarded against malicious traducers, who may be attempting to soil his image for their own purposes," the statement signed by the Assistant Team Head, Litigation, Maryam El-Yakub Musa, stated.

Sanwo-Olu Joins South-west Women Rally for Tinubu

Wife of the President, Dr. Aisha Buhari, yesterday led a regional campaign to the South-west to galvanise women support for All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The Mobolaji Johnson Pavilion in Onikan throbbed with political activities, as Lagos hosted the maiden Southwest rally of TinubuShettima Women Presidential Campaign Council (TSWPCT), drawing thousands of women from all the six States in the region.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joined the women at the rally, after he received the TSWPCT leadership team at the State House in Marina in a courtesy visit.

According to a statement yester day, Aisha Buhari was represented by the wife of the APC presidential candidate, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.

In the entourage was Shettima’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, First Lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke SanwoOlu, Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, Borno First Lady, Dr. Falmata Zulum, wife of Speaker, House of Representa tives, Mrs. Salamat Gbajabiamila, Lagos Deputy Governor’s wife, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, and APC National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, among others.

Sanwo-Olu said creation of a women's arm of a presidential cam paign council was unprecedented in the history of national politics, saying the initiative would reinforce the foundation of gender balance and inclusive governance entrenched within the APC government.

The governor described the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket as “a national project”, maintain ing that the team was the most competent, given the track records

TotalEnergies, NNPC Support 20 Nigerian Youths on Agribusiness

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

TotalEnergies and one of its partners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday officially handed over empowerment kits to 20 young people trained on agri-business operations.

The oil firms also equipped the beneficiaries with starter packs to manage their own businesses and exit the unemployment market, including sealing machines, scales for measuring weight and packaging facilities to allow the youths process agro-crops, fish and poultry.

It came days after a similar event in Cross River State, which centred on post-harvest manage ment of agricultural produce from primary production to processing

and marketing.

The company and its partner stated that the essence of the pro gramme was to empower the youths to become financially independent in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty, zero hunger and decent work and economic growth.

According to the oil giant, the programme would help beneficiaries learn how to add value to the agricul tural value chain through processing, packaging and distribution of farm produce in order to reduce losses and wastages caused by the paucity of reliable means of preservation.

Aside the starter packs, the beneficiaries also received a certificate of appreciation and had a company registered for them to kick off their

businesses.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, the Country Chair and Managing Director, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster said the agri-business sup port programme was part of efforts by the company and its partners to encourage entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.

Sangster who was represented by the company’s General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Kenechi Esomeju, noted that the programme aligned with United Nations sustainable goals.

“The agro business support pro gramme is to help beneficiaries learn how to add value to the agricultural value chain through processing, packaging and distribution of farm

produce in order to reduce losses and wastages caused by paucity of reliable means of preservation,” Esomeju explained.

The top official of the company explained that the beneficiaries underwent six weeks of training in the business of processing and distribution of farm produce after which they were empowered with starter packs.

He said the youths were also trained on marketing, book keep ing, store record keeping and fund administration.

In his comments, the Chairman of Pioneer Global Resource and Integrated Energy Limited, Mr. Igho Okotete urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the knowledge acquired during the training.

of Tinubu and his running mates in governance.

He said: “This is the first time in the history of our democracy that a presidential candidate will have a women’s campaign council working with the party. It goes to show that the Government of Tinubu will sit on the foundation of gender balance and inclusion.

“I am delighted to see our women organising and putting themselves forward, without watch ing from the back seats. Women

have been on the frontline with us and you have come out to embrace this ticket. This is an assurance that we are on the right track.

“This campaign is not about the success of our party alone, it is also about our future and about the coming generations. When the Government of Tinubu and Shet tima is formed, we will ensure that gender friendliness and equality are reflected on every programme of the administration with the youth and women.

EFCC Auctions 435 Forfeited Vehicles in Lagos

Wale Igbintade

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the auction of 435 vehicles, which are subjects of final forfeiture orders in Lagos, in line with the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Act 2022.

A statement by EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren stated that the exercise, scheduled to take place across the agency's commands, started on Tuesday in Lagos with the inspection of items by the public. While the auction began yesterday and will continue until Thursday (today).

The items are available at 40 Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; 14 Cameroon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and CVU Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Speaking during the opening ceremony yesterday, Dr George Ekpungu, secretary to the anti-graft agency and chairman of the EFCC

Asset Disposal Committee, ADC, said, “The exercise, which is the first of the planned auction of forfeited properties across EFCC Zonal Com mands and EFCC Headquarters, is being carried out in accordance with the (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022. It is being conducted in conjunction with the Bureau of Public Procurement to ensure compliance with all extant laws."

While welcoming the auctioneers to the centre, he thanked sister agencies, including the Nigerian Army, invited to provide adequate security and orderliness.

The nine auctioneers allocated to the Lagos zonal command of the EFCC to dispose of the 435 cars at the designated centre on 14 Cameron Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, are Rihanna Auction Limited; Kamyus Consult Limited; Areogun Resources Limited; BIS N JEG; Integrated Services Nig. Ltd;Mau & Sons Ltd.; Langar Aghaji & Co.; Fagobe Company Ltd and Musa Kira and Co.

Continues online

Kingsley Nwezeh and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

L-R: Mrs. Gladys Makoju presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Group Executive Director, Sahara Group, Mr. Kola Adesina; MD, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Dr. Benson Uwheru and CEO, Ikeja Electric, Mrs. Folake Soetan, at the inaugural edition of the Nigeria Power Sector Awards 2022 held in Abuja…recently

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STANDARD ORGANISATION...

Buhari in Guinea Bissau, Says Nigeria Will Sustain Democracy, Good Governance in Africa

Guinea Bissau names two roads after Nigerian leader CoS, Monguno, six others get merit award

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed the commitment of Nigeria to work with Guinea Bissau and other countries towards sustain ing and strengthening democracy and good governance in not only West Africa but the entire African continent.

The President gave the assurance during a one-day state visit to the embattled West African country, yesterday, giving words of encourage ment to the people of the country for standing with the democratically chosen government of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló against

threats by undemocratic forces.

Buhari, according to a release by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, also welcomed the conferment of the country’s highest national honour, the Amilcar Cabral Award, on him and the naming of a major street in Bissau, the capital city, after him.

According to the President: “In the course of this one-day official visit to Bissau today, we had an opportunity to review the state of our bilateral relations, and to share concerns on the challenges facing us in the region. I very much appreciate the naming of two roads in my honour, as well

as being conferred with the highest honour of Guinea Bissau.

“I am personally grateful to you, your government and the people of this fine country. I believe all of these were possible because of the persevering stand of Nigeria in ensuring that Guinea Bissau remains on the side of Democratic Governance.

“Nigeria’s strong stand through the ECOWAS, in insisting and pushing for the full implementation of the Conakry Peace Agreement by imposing sanctions on 19 individuals,who impeded the implementation of the Conakry Agreement, helped to restore peace

that now prevails in Guinea Bissau.

“Guinea Bissau and Nigeria have come a long way. Our cordial rela tions date back to Guinea Bissau’s liberation struggle from Portugal, when Nigeria supported the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.

“Nigeria, has on its own, as well as through ECOWAS, intervened at critical periods in the life of this country, making immense direct contributions as well as, by support ing international efforts on the peace process in Guinea Bissau. This fact has further reinforced our relations, enhanced understanding and trust between our two countries.”

2023: Atiku's Wife Canvasses Votes for Husband, Bauchi Gov

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

A support group, Princess Rukayya Atiku Campaign Organisation (PRACO), has called for support for the Peoples Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to ensure victory in the 2023 election.

The group also canvassed votes for the Bauchi gubernatorial candidate, Senator Bala Mohammed.

On Tuesday, Princess Rukayya Atiku Abubakar, alongside PRACO members, arrived in Bauchi for the

North-East PDP Women Town Hall Meeting to drum support for her husband and other PDP candidates.

Abubakar called on women in the region to resist the temptation of selling their votes.

"We are here to encourage participation in politics among women and youths in order to produce leaders like Atiku/Okowa and Governor Mohammed who have the competence and capacity to govern Nigeria," she stated.

According to the former vice president's wife, PDP has what it takes to solve Nigeria's problems,

including insecurity, unemployment, and poverty. She added that the PDP North-East Women Town Hall meeting was a platform to discuss strengthening and deepening women’s political participation.

"We are here to educate PDP women in the six states of the NorthEast region on what is expected of them in the forthcoming elections," she further stated. "Secondly, we are calling on all PDP women and their leaders to support the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Bala Moham med, who is contesting a second

term, and all other PDP candidates in the region contesting in the 2023 general elections."

The First Lady of Bauchi, Hajiya (Dr) Aisha Bala Mohammed, urged the women to be at the forefront of the electioneering and not sit at home. She told the PDP women in the region to vote for God-fearing leaders.

Mohammed pointed out that Nigeria will experience genuine development with the right leadership. The Bauchi first lady warned the women against selling their votes for instant gratification.

FALLOUT OF NAIRA REDESIGN, ANALYSTS BACK CBN’S CASH WITHDRAWAL POLICY

in the banking industry,” he said.

On the downside, he said: “Nigeria is still a cash-based economy. In the last ten years, the pace of adoption of internet banking and digital banking has increased significantly but predominantly, there are still some areas that are still cash-based.

“So, if not properly handled, people might find it difficult to transcend. A lot of the MSMEs would struggle especially in the rural areas to adjust to this directive.”

In his contribution, a former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metu, argued that the policy could be counter-productive and inconvenience the poor.

In a statement, he signed, Metu said it was inconceivable that in an economy bedeviled with random and multiple bank charges, the central bank would decide to inflict the lowest level of citizens with a mandatory acquisition of PoS machines.

According to Metu, "This exposes

the poor to multiple deductions by banks and may be an opportunity to fleece the people.

"How do you expect Nigerians to patronise the banana and fruit sellers? Should we stop buying from petty traders because of network delays in effecting transactions? What of the attendant ceaseless and multiple deductions from the accounts of these petty traders?

"What of the security scare of waiting to confirm payments by the roadside?" he asked.

He called on the CBN to mitigate these measures with a freeze on withdrawal charges by banks and introduce policies to ensure that transfers and transactions were not impeded by network problems.

Senate Panel to Screen CBN Deputy GovernorNominees on Friday

Meanwhile, the Senate will on Friday screen Adamu and Ahmad, who had been reappointed for a

second and final term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President had in a letter read at plenary on Tuesday by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, asked the red chamber to confirm the appointments of the two deputy governors.

Buhari in the letter read by Lawan during plenary, said the request was pursuant to Section 8(1) (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (Establishment) Act 2007.

The Senate President while ruling on a motion by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Phillip Aduda, on the issue of the newly announced CBN policy on withdrawal limit, said the two nominees would address the matter during their screening exercise.

Aduda in his motion, asked the Senate to discuss the issue of the planned N100, 000 withdrawal per person per week at plenary.

His position was corroborated by Senator Gabriel Suswan, who urged the Senate President to allow

the debate on the matter.

Lawan said debating the matter without much information or fact on the policy could amount to exercise in futility.

The Senate President said, "We have an opportunity to screen two nominees for the position of Deputy Governor of the CBN.

"I think it is after their screening we should take this motion. These people are there in the CBN, why can’t they come tomorrow. "

Suswam, disagreed with Lawan and said, "I think you should have allowed us to discuss this motion for the sake of Nigerians."

Lawan insisted on his earlier position and said, " No distinguished there is a misunderstanding here."

He said, "I told you what my personal opinion is. My personal opinion is this weekend is off but we have an opportunity, the Committee on Banking will be screening two deputy Governors of the CBN.

"This is one major issue they should raise with them. On Tuesday

The President then congratulated the people of Guinea Bissau for rallying around Abhay, a name he fondly calls “the energetic and visionary President Embalo.”

Buhari further encouraged the people of Bissau-Guineans to sup port the entrenchment of democratic values in their country, saying, “You should always ensure that the electoral process is conducted in free and fair conditions.”

President Buhari ended his address by assuring President Embalo of the continued disposi tion of Nigeria towards reinforcing cooperation with Guinea Bissau both at bilateral and multilateral levels.

On his part, the President of Guinea Bissau praised Nigeria for always standing with them in their 20 years of instability.

He said: “You have assisted us with our elections. You have assisted in stabilizing Guinea Bissau. I assure that your support for democracy in this country and the entire subregion is much appreciated by the people, who as you have seen trooped to greetEmbaloyou.''further assured Buhari that he would follow in his footsteps in ensuring free and fair elections in his country and leaving on time, when his tenure ends.

He equally thanked the president for assisting the country with 70 doctors, who performedthe dual duties of training the Guineans and

next week we can take a motion but let’s have something solid."

Aduda had in the aborted motion , sought for debate from all senators on the planned policy before the President of the Senate, intercepted him and said that it was too early to debate the policy .

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Uba Sani, confirmed on Wednesday that the nominees would be screened on Friday (Tomorrow)

He said, "They will be screened on Friday. They will get the letters inviting them for the screening on Thursday.”

Ahmad, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter-holder was first nominated deputy governor in October 2017. She was confirmed as the first female DG in charge of the Financial System Stability directorate which is responsible for ensuring a safe and sound financial system in Nigeria, a core mandate of the CBN. With over 25 years policy

performing surgeries in the country without their citizens, having to travel to Portugal.

On the “Amilcar Cabral Award” conferred on the President and the major street named as Muhammadu Buhari Boulevard, Embalo said the two events reflected the most solemn moment of the country and a recognition of the stabilising role the president has beenplaying in the life of his country, as well as the his defence of democracy and its values throughout the subregion.

Embalo promised to re-invite Buhari to commission the new Presidential Villa, now under construction even after leaving office, and the edifice is to be named Muhammadu Buhari Villa.

Nigerian officials that received the country’s merit award were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd); the Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Others included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Sarki Abba and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure. The President had since left Guinea Bissau for Katsina State and is now in Daura, his hometown.

and financial industry experience, she holds an MSc in Finance & Management from Cranfield University UK, MBA (Finance) from University of Lagos and a second class upper Bachelors degree in Accounting from University of Abuja. Ahmad has been credited with bringing dynamism and a strong combination of academic qualifications and private sector experience to her role as deputy governor FSS.

On the other hand, Adamu, a quantity surveyor by training was nominated to the role of deputy governor, in February 2018. He was later confirmed as DG in charge of the Corporate Services directorate following a 25 year career culminat ing in his role as HR Director at the CBN. He is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna and fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Institute of Credit Administration. He began his career with the Unified Public Service in 1983.

L-R: Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Elton Edorhe; Director General/CEO, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), Mr. Farouk Salim; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Evelyn Ngige; former DG, SON, Prof. John Akanyan, and another former DG, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, at the 50th Anniversary of SON and Book Launch in Lagos…. Yesterday

PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

ECOBA AWARD AND PETROLEUM CLUB QUARTERLY DINNER

2022...

INEC: Harvesting of Voters’ Information Genuine Exercise

formed part of the inventory of uncollected PVCs.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, acknowledged a viral video circulating of some of its staff at its FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Office, Lagos, extracting Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) from Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and entering same into their cellphones, saying it was a genuine exercise, which

This is as INEC has said some 132,626 PVCs belonging to voters in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State have yet to be collected, even as it disclosed that it had relocated six local government area collation centres due to the insecurity.

However, while noting that the PVCs inventory exercise was genuine and authorised by the commission to complete the

collection guidelines, INEC said there was no cause for alarm and warned Nigerians to be ware of fake news and disinformation.

According to INEC, "The makers of the video insinuated that they were doing this for the purpose of undermining the 2023 General Election. The Commission wishes to state categorically that this is far from the truth".

According to a statement by National Commissioner and chairman of Voter Education, Festus

Okoye, "The video shows staff of the Commission harvesting VINs from PVCs, but only as part of an inventory of uncollected cards, provided for in the new guidelines for the management and collec tion of PVCs, approved by the commission for implementation nationwide.

"In its determination to enhance the rate of collection of PVCs, the commission decided to establish a PVC collection process that included an online component.

Airtel Wins 5G Licence, Emerges Sole Bidder for Additional Two Lots in 3.5GHz Spectrum Auction

Emma Okonji

Airtel Networks Limited has emerged as the sole bidder for the additional two lots in the 3.5GHz spectrum auction that would drive 5G rollout in Nigeria.

The emergence of Airtel as the sole bidder has forced the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to cancel the entire auction process, compelling it to announce the telco as the winner of the 3.5GHz spectrum for the 5G licence.

According to a statement released yesterday by the NCC, which was signed by its Direc tor, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, only two operators expressed interest in the auction of the 3.5Hz spectrum band. They were Airtel Networks Limited and Standard Network. But only Airtel was able to make payment for the Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as at December 5, as stipulated in the Information Memorandum (IM) guiding the auction process.

Standard Network could not meet up with the IBD payment, a development that compelled NCC to announce Airtel as the sole bidder of the spectrum auction.

According to the statement which explained the current status of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, Airtel met all the provi sions of the IM and therefore emerged as the sole bidder for the 3.5GHz spectrum auction.

Part of the statement read: "The NCC hereby announces that by the close of business on Monday, December 5, 2022, only

two companies expressed interest in the auction of the 3.5GHz Spectrum band namely; Airtel Networks Limited (Airtel) and Standard Network & Connections Limited (Standard Network).

“However, only Airtel paid the Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as stipulated in the Information Memorandum (IM) whereas, Standard Network sent an email appeal for the deadline to be extended by 12 working days which was not acceptable in view of the auction timetable.

Having met all the provision in the IM, Airtel has, therefore,

loaded can leave and that created a problem. If you stay one day without delivering product to Lagos, you need a minimum of one week to supply at higher rate to address that.

“If you waste two days, it will take you almost three weeks to close the gap and if you waste three days, it will take you one month. That is the problem.

"Even as at today, we have about two billion litres. That two billion litres are supposed to be in our stock, in our depots, either NNPC or other private depots. What constitutes this two billion litres is what you have in the marine and what you have in the stock, in the depots. But your ability to take this two billion litres to the stations is where the problem lies."

He, however, assured that all the stakeholders were working round the clock to ensure the issue was resolved, adding that Nigerians would have enough

emerged as the sole Bidder.

"Consequently, there shall be no further bidding and the Commission will proceed to the Assignment Stage in line with the published Informa tion Memorandum guiding the licensing process."

The NCC had fixed December 16th and 19th for the mock and actual auction, but with the recent development the dates would automatically be cancelled.

Airtel had participated in the initial 3.5GHz spectrum auction in December 2021, but could not continue with the bidding process

fuel to serve them during the yuletide.

NMDPRA Blames

after reaching a certain bidding threshold. It eventually withdrew from further bidding, leaving Mafab Communications and MTN that emerged as winners.

MTN has since rolled out its 5G network in some states but Mafab was yet to roll out.

MTN had indicated interest to bid for the additional two lots in the current 3.5GHz spectrum auction, but faced opposition from industry players and the regulator, who felt MTN may monopolise the 5G market in Nigeria, if allowed to bid a second time.

"The procedure entails that registered voters with access to the internet could go to a dedicated portal to ascertain whether their PVCs are ready and to find their locations for subsequent collection.

"All they are required to do is to provide their details such as name, date of birth, state of registration or the last six digits of the VINs that they provided/received during registration, to locate their cards," Okoye explained.

He said this would improve the PVC collection process, without prejudice to those, who wished to go directly to the collection centres.

"For the newer PVCs, that is, those from the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) that took place between January and July 2022, the VINs were harvested automatically and made available online.

"However, for the older uncollected PVCs that predate the new guidelines, their VINs must be harvested manually and painstakingly for upload to the PVC collection portal (www. voters.inecnigeria.org). The portal will also improve the records of the Commission regarding col lected and uncollected PVCs," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, yester day at a meeting with stakeholders at the state headquarters of the

commission, listed the affected local councils as Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Orumba North, Awka North and Awka South.

Agwu, who addressed all political parties' representatives, traditional rulers, and civil society groups, said, "The collation of PVCs has been extended to Saturdays and Sundays in Anambra State. We need enough security to carry out this function. If people fail to collect their PVCs, they will be shortchanging themselves and doing a disservice to the people of their area."

She added that, "The 2023 general election will be free, fair and credible, not only in Anambra State but the entire country. We have done the necessary work, and we hope to deliver."

According to her, 1,960 PVCs have not been collected in Ayam elum, 6,222 in Dunukofia, and 4,589 in Idemili South. In Anaocha, 885 PVCs remain uncollected, 6,656 in Orumba South, 12,274 in Onitsha South, 16,256 in Idemili North, 12,675 in Aguata, 7,009 in Njikoka, 10,755 in Ogbaru and Anambra East, 7,717.

Others were Nnewi South (1,841), Awka North (1,153), Anambra West (1,387), Orumba North (2,393), Oyi (7,982), Onitsha North (9,990), Ihiala (4,058), Nnewi North (8,700), Ekwusigo (3,350) and Awka South (4,971).

Nationwide

Fuel Scarcity on Logistics Constraints, Others

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Author ity (NMDPRA) has blamed the current nation-wide fuel scarcity on multiple factors, including logistic constraints arising from the offloading of petroleum products from Mother vessels into Daughter vessels rather than direct discharge to tanks. Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, stated this yesterday, when he made an unscheduled inspection visit to some petroleum products coastal depots at Apapa, Lagos, to monitor supply and distribution situations at the depots.

Some of the depots he visited included TotalEnergies, NIPCO, Mobil, Conoil, and Honeywell.

Ahmed assured Nigerians of hitch-free supply of petrol during the yuletide season and beyond, noting that there is more than enough stock onshore and in depots across the country to meet the country's need.

He said NNPC had imported adequate petrol and had enough stock on shuttle vessels coming into depots across the country, urging Nigerians to be calm as the queues in filling stations would be a thing of the past in no distant time.

"As you can see, the depots we have visited so far, they have been very active loading their trucks and unloading them massively and almost the lowest load out depot we visited was the one that says they are doing between 70-120 trucks per day,” he added.

Responding to a question about punitive measures against marketers selling above the official pump price, Ahmed said the authority was yet to ascertain if

the allegations were true.

He stated, "Of course, we have information that they are selling above official price, but the record that we saw in terms of actual records in their finances, showed that that they are selling at official price.

“But the allegation is that they sell above official price and then, they have different ways of col lecting additional profits which is just an allegation, which we will need to really confirm before we take any action. But we are looking at that and we are on top of the situation."

Speaking also, Managing Direc tor and Chief Executive Officer of NIPCO Plc, Mr. Suresh Kumar, said the company's opening stock was about 28 million litres as of the time of the agency's visit, stressing that unlike last week, the stock situation has drastically improved.

Kumar said, "I can say that last week, supply was a bit challenged. As at today, even the number

of ships at Apapa has increased. We have like three ships in Jetty now and we are expecting two more to come.

"So in the days to come, we feel that this 28 million stock will be improved to like 50 to 55 million litres. We have been doing five million litres per day and we expect this trend to continue for the next one week."

On his part, Managing Director, 11 Plc (formerly Mobil Nigeria Plc), Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, opined that to address the fuel scarcity in the country, marketers should load more at a period when the demand for petroleum products was high until every consumer was satisfied.

He said, "The panic buying is being aggravated whenever there is scarcity in the country. We have to load more because anyone who used to buy little is now buying more because of the fuel scarcity situation. We have to load more till we have calmness."

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and DavidChyddy Eleke in Awka

L-R: Managing Director/CEO of Bank in Gambia, Mr. Chuks Ugha; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Lawson Omopkhodion; Chairman, Edo College Old Boys Association Lagos branch (ECOBA), Mr. Charles Isa and Director Special Duties External Relation Technical Cooperation NIMASA, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, at the Edo College Old Boys Association Lagos branch presentation of award to mark 2022 Annual Dinner Award of the College held in Lagos ...recently

PHOTO: MUBO PETERS.

Says it’s part of processes to take inventory of old PVCs 132,626 remain uncollected in Anambra as commission relocates collation centres

WORLD OF GLAMOUR EXHIBITION…

Police Arrest, Detain Officer for Shooting Man to Death in Lagos

Sanwo-Olucommiserateswithdeceased’sfamily

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Lagos State Police yesterday arrested and detained an inspector who shot and killed one Gafaru Buraimoh in the Ajah area of the state on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

The Lagos State Police Spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the officer was immediately disarmed.

“A full-scale investigation has commenced. The Lagos State Police Command through the

We Have Fulfilled Our Promises to Rivers People, Says Wike

Harcourt

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike said he has fulfilled his promises made to the people in terms of development projects.

Governor Wike made the assertion yesterday, at the flagoff of Elekahia internal roads in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, performed by Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor mocked peddlers of negative propaganda against his administration, who alleged that Elekahia community, among Rebisi communities, had been denied development projects.

“You know in politics, people are good in propaganda. I’m sure, so many of you, people have told you I was not going to do anything for the Elekahia community. I’m sure.”

Governor Wike also said that his administration always make sure there was funds available before projects are awarded.

“If I award a job and there is no money, you will say I’ve abandoned the projects. It’s worse. It is better not to award the project, than award it and abandon it. We have awarded it and said that this project must be completed in 6 months time and we have mobilised the contractor,” he said.The Rivers State governor said the eventual flag-off exercise of construction work on the roads is an evidence that Elekahia community is not neglected.

The governor noted that no good politician like him can neglect Elekahia community that has remained as a strong hold of political support to his administration since 2015.

A’Ibom to Deliver 128km Road Projects in Oruk Anam Council

Okon Bassey in Uyo

In line with his complete agenda scheme, the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has said more than 128 km road projects would be delivered to the people of Oruk Anam local area of the state before the end of his administration.

The governor gave the assurance at Ikot Ibritam, the headquarters of Oruk Anam local government area yesterday while conducting journalists round various road project sites being embarked by the state government.

Gov. Emmanuel, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Mr Essien Ndueso, noted that the road projects were at various stages of completion.

He observed that the massively constructed road

infrastructure has opened up the area to evacuate it’s agricultural produce within and outside the state.

Ndueso said: “This is the first time in Akwa Ibom state we have a governor executing projects simultaneously in all the local government areas in the state.

In Oruk Anam local government area alone , we have over 128km completed and ongoing road projects . We have 5.1km Martha Udom Emmanuel’s road in Obio Akpa to open up the campus of Akwa Ibom state University linking up the host community of the university.

“There are other intervention projects by the state government in the state University. This includes facilities in the Department of Mass Communication and Faculty of Agriculture.

Area Commander, Elemoro and Divisional Police Officer, Ajah has since notified and established contact with the family,” he said.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the Command assured them that the remote circumstances leading to the shooting would be brought to a speedy and

conclusive end, while equally ensuring that justice is served.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, has sympathised with the family, friends and associates of the late Buraimoh.

The governor expressed sadness over the death of the late Buraimoh, pledging that the state government would

work with the police in their investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the shooting that led to the untimely death of an innocent citizen, with a view to ensuring that justice is served.

He said: “No one deserves to die in that manner. Buraimoh was one of our million citizens with hope for a better life. His

death is a sad episode for me personally and the State as whole because injury to one is injury to all.

“I am aware that the Lagos State police command has immediately arrested, disarmed and detained the police officer involved in the shooting incident and has also begun a full scale investigation in the matter.

Auchi Poly Expels 40 Students for Result Falsification

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, said it had expelled 40 students over results falsification and deficiency at the point of entry into some programmes at the institution.

The expulsion, which was contained in a statement by the Information and

Public Relations Unit of the institution yesterday signed by Adebola Ogunboyowa, said the students were expelled following the outcome of the regular verification exercise for 2020/2021 academic session. According to Ogunboyowa, the affected students were involved in forgery and falsification of results to gain

admission into National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.

Ogunboyowa said the expelled students cut across different departments in the polytechnic, adding that the Rector of the institution, Dr Salisu Umar, had proposed 12 new programmes to commence

in 2022/2023 academic session. The PRO listed the programmes as follows: Printing Technology; Welding and Fabrication Technology; Procurement and Supply Chain Management; Library and Information Science;Taxation; Leisure; Tourism Management Technology and Social Development.

2023: Enugu Catholic Diocese Restates Support for Mbah

Members of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu made up of leaders and representatives of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Catholic Youths Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), among others, have declared their support and adopt the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Peter Mbah, as their

preferred standard bearer come 2023.

The group, otherwise known as the Catholic laity, from different parishes in the diocese converged on Enugu yesterday to declare support for Mbah yesterday at an interactive session which afforded hundreds of the Catholic leaders the opportunity to listen to the governorship hopeful and his agenda for

the people of the state.

The members, who expressed satisfaction with the impressive and robust manifesto exhaustively presented by the PDP gubernatorial standard bearer, commended him as a man with a generous heart who will fulfill God’s purposes for the state by championing the right moral values, lifting people out of poverty and catering for the

general welfare of the citizens. While adopting Mbah as their collective choice in the entire diocese, the Chairman of the CWO, Professor Okechukwu Adonai, the CWO Chair Lady, Mrs. Juliet Ani, youth leaders, Maxwell Okwudiri and Okonkwo Anthonia presented a gift of the Holy Bible to the guber candidate as a symbol of authority to lead the state.

Abia APC Guber Candidate, Emenike, Inaugurates Campaign Council

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike yesterday inaugurated his 2022/23 campaign council, comprising 1,740 members.

Among those at the inauguration ceremony were serving and former

ministers, party candidates, six retired generals, including three former General Officers Commanding(GOCs), former Commandant the Nigeria Army School of Infantry, Jaji and former Director of Military Intelligence.

Speaking at the event, Emenike said that the time has come for all well-meaning Abians to rise up and join in the liberation movement to free their state

from the hands of those running the state down.

He described members of the campaign council as the “ambassadors APC in all the polling units of Abia” and charged them to double and redouble their efforts to achieve a landslide victory the, against opposition party come 2023.

He reminded the party faithful that the liberation battle

would not be easy given that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power for over two decades entrenching their vicious roots across the state.

However, the APC governorship hopeful vowed to uproot the party that has held Abia down so that the mission of developing Abia could begin in earnest in 2023.

Makinde: We’ll Complete Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road

inIbadan

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, assured residents of Oke Ogun Zone 2 comprising Atisbo, Saki West, Saki East, Oorelope, Irepo and Olorunsogo local government areas that his administration would complete the Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho road in due course.

This is just as he said the administration will also go ahead to fix the Igboho-Kishi-Igbeti road

with a view to linking the Irepo/ Oorelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency to the burgeoning economy of Saki, a commercial nerve centre of the state.

The governor, who stated this at the Town Hall meetingi, said the government embarked on the construction of the road and that it would complete it, urging residents of the axis not to allow themselves to be deceived by some politicians.

Makinde, who carried out an inspection tour of the road, said he would hold a meeting with the contractors of the project and that they would begin the asphaltic tarring of the road, which connects Saki West, Saki East and Oorelope local government councils.

The governor had, earlier on Monday, at the consultative meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, informed party faithful that his administration

would continue to meet their yearnings in terms of governance, project delivery and improvement of the welfare of party loyalists.

He called on the electorate in the axis to support all candidates of the PDP in the 2023 general election, stating that he is happy that reconciliation efforts in the state have been successful so far adding that everyone needs to be on the same page for the success of the party.

Blessing Ibunge in Port

Kemi Olaitan

L-R: Founder, World of Glamour Exhibition, Dima H Ghraizi; Chief Executive Officer, Hervest, Solape Akinpelu; Founder, Owning My Greatness Limited, Adeola Kingsley-James; Managing Partner, GLG Communications, Omawumi Ogbe, and Founder, Her Network, Nkem Onwudiwe, at the second edition of the World of Glamour Exhibition in Lagos…recently

REWARDING PERFORMANCE……

lPMAN Requests NNPC to Sell Petrol to Members at Official Ex-depot Price

Peter Uzoho

The Ejigbo Satellite Depot of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to sell petrol to its members at the same regulated depot price of N148.17 per litre sold to Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

The Chairman of IPMAN Ejigbo Depot, Mr. Akin Akinrinade, made the appeal in Lagos, yesterday, while addressing the media.

Akinrinade wondered why private depots get petrol from NNPC at official rate of N148. 17 per litre while NNPC sells to IPMAN members at N220 per liter ex-depot price.

He, however, issued seven days ultimatum to NNPC to work out a concrete arrangement for IPMAN to buy fuel at regulated price of N148.17 per litre.

He said lPMAN had an agreement with NNPC on fuel supply but that the national oil company has refused to adhere to the agreement.

He said, “We have noticed

FCTA Warns Fuel Stations over Indiscriminate Queues

The Transportation Secretariat of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned the operators of filling stations in the FCT that it would no longer tolerate the chaotic traffic gridlocks along the routes traffic gridlocks associated with their activities along the streets.

The Deputy Director, Information, Transportation Secretariat, Ughamadu Ifeanyi, issued the warning yesterday in a statement on behalf of the Secretary, Transportation Secretariat.

He said the warning had become imperative following

the discomfort the motoring public were subjected to while trying to pass through the routes where the stations are located within the FCT.

The Transportation Secretariat subsequently directed all filling stations within the city of Abuja to maintain only one - queue - lane to avoid disrupting the free flow of traffic along the road leading to and from their stations failing which decisive actions which may include closure of access to the Stations will be carried out.

The statement said the directive is to forestall any security as well as social threats to the public.

Green Africa Leads in On-time Performance

Chinedu Eze

New start-up carrier, Green Africa Airways said it has beaten other airlines in on-time performance, which indicates that it has the minimal flight delays in the domestic flight operations.

The airline said that for most air travelers today, on-time departure of flights ranks high on their list of concerns, noting that this expectation is usually not met, especially in Nigeria, where most airlines delay flights frequently and due to these disruptions, many customers in Nigeria usually have a “Plan B” when booking their flights.

“A new airline, which started operations in August 2021, has quietly earned its place as a top player in delivering on-time and reliable services to its customers. What is even more impressive is the level of efficiency that the

airline has displayed in the face of some of the peculiar challenges facing the airline industry in the region. The airline is Green Africa, a value carrier that is arguably the most affordable airline in Nigeria today,” the new indigenous carrier said in a statement.

It explained that On-Time Performance (OTP) in aviation is measured as a percentage of scheduled flights that departed at the published time plus a 15-minute buffer.

“A look at the OTP results for Green Africa from June to November 2022 shows that out of the 3,404 flights the airline operated during that period, 82.37 per cent were on time. This is the highest reported OTP record in the Nigerian aviation industry during the period, thus earning the new airline the title of “Nigeria’s New King of OTP”.

the price disparity at which NNPC is selling petrol to major marketers at regulated price and the private depot are selling to the independent marketers at N220 per litre.

“Major marketers are selling

at the rate of N170 per litre in their stations and retail outlets are selling at N169 at their stations.

“The private depots are selling ex-depot price at N220 per litre to us, which means that

after paying N220 per litre, we still have to add other costs like transportation, logistics among other costs.”

According to the chairman, this has led to an increase in the price of petrol at IPMAN

stations, adding that members now sell at N250 per litre and above to stay in business.

“We are no longer comfortable with this because Nigerians now see us as the black sheep.

Peter Obi in Taraba, Promises to End Poverty

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has promised to utilise the human and natural resources in Taraba State to bring prosperity to the state and end poverty.

Obi, who stated this at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo on

Wednesday in continuation of his nationwide campaign, promised to change the fortunes of the state and Nigeria in general, if given the mandate to rule the country come 2023.

According to him, “I will make Taraba an economic hub and a tourist centre for Nigeria. The untapped mineral resources and

the Mambilla Hydro is enough to transform the economy of the country and create job opportunities for Nigerian youths.

“The insecurity in the country is persisting due to lack of job opportunities. I will bring the country back to her days of greatness and the citizens will smile again,” he stated.

The presidential hopeful also assured the people of the state and Nigerians in general that, the issue of ASUU strike would be a thing of the past if he was elected the president of the country.

He stated that the fifty months of ASUU strike since 1999 was a disaster and inimical to the the actualisation of a productive nation.

West Africa Elders’ Forum Tasks Nigeria on Peaceful 2023 Polls

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The West Africa Elders’ Forum, has called on Nigerians to ensure that the 2023 elections were credible and conducted in a violence-free atmosphere.

The forum said the 2023 general election would signal to the rest of the region that democracy has

come to stay and discourage the trend of democratic recession in West Africa.

Head of the WAEF Prelection Mediation Mission and former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, stated this at a news conference while presenting the forum’s post-mission statement yesterday in Abuja.

While noting that the 2023 general election in Nigeria was of great significance for West Africa and the entire African continent, Koroma said, “We call on all Nigerians to exercise their rights to civic participation both before and during the coming elections without fear while also respecting the rights of others to

do the same.

“Our region, West Africa, of late, has experienced some reversal in democratic practice with unconstitutional changes of government in some countries. At the heart of the instability within the sub-region are the issue of disputed elections and citizen disaffection.

Diri Orders Distribution of Relief Materials, Lauds Donors

Governor Douye Diri has ordered the distribution of fresh relief materials donated to Bayelsa and acknowledged local and foreign donors, including nongovernment organisation (NGOs) and governments.

Speaking yesterday at the weekly state executive council meeting in

Yenagoa, Diri disclosed that the government received donations in cash and other forms.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri restated his administration’s commitment to transparency, assuring the people that they would not be left in the lurch regarding flood donations.

He listed the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, the Akwa Ibom and Lagos, which donated N100 million and N50 million, respectively, PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar (N55 million), and the SPD presidential flag bearers, Adewole Adebayo

(N10 million) as some of the donors.

The governor also disclosed that the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria donated $100,000; Access Bank, N100 million; Zenith Bank, N20 million; Linkage Assurance, N20 million; Sterling Oil N15 million, Paache Construction, N10 million and AITEO N50 million among others.

OML 130: Group Alleges Plans to Violate Local Content Laws, Inflate Rig Cost

Peter Uzoho

The South-South Reawakeing Group (SSRG) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its partner, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited of allegedly conniving to undercut

the Nigerian Content laws in order to “load” NNPC an extra $107,500 daily cost in hiring an operational rig for the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 jointly operated by the two firms.

OML 130 is located in the deepwaters of the Niger Delta adjacent to the Nigeria Sao-Tome

Joint Development Zone. The block contains the onstream Akpo gas-condensate field, and Egina, which is under development by TotalEnergies.

SSRG in a statement issued yesterday by its Coordinator, Joseph Ambakaderimo, which was sent to THISDAY, alleged that the NNPC

and TotalEnergies were plotting to violate the standard procurement process involved in hiring a rig for OML 130 in the next drilling campaign.

It added that a local oil company, PALMERON Nigeria Limited, had participated and won the open competitive tender for the OML

Fashola: FG Completes 83 Internal Roads in Federal Tertiary Institutions

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has stated that the federal government has completed a total number of 83 internal road

projects in various federal tertiary institutions in the country.

The minister made the disclosure in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday at the handover of a 2.75 km (asphalt overlay) internal road constructed

by the federal government in the University of Ilorin.He said the ministry had intervened in 64 internal road projects in various federal tertiary institutions and handed over a total of 46 as at March 2022.

According to him, “We now have another 18 ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 19 roads in similar institutions across the country making it a total of 83.

Norrenberger Savours Success of Abuja Fitlife Event

Kate Ejisu

Norrenberger, a financial services group has partnered with Bodyline Fitness and Gym to host the largest gathering of fitness enthusiasts

and dignitaries in Abuja.

The event brought together over 1,500 participants and close to 3,000 registrants to one location for a premium fitness and fun experience with an

opportunity to network with the broader fitness community and financial advisors. It was also an opportunity to sensitize the public on the importance of fitness, wellness, health and wealth.

The event featured fun and entertaining fitness activities and competitions including a half marathon, Abuja Fittest challenge and Abuja Strongest challenge in male and female categories.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

L-R: President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr Faruk Umar; former Director-General, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Dr Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited(NGX), Mr.Temi Popoola , at the Made of Africa Awards Nite organised by NGX in Lagos…recently

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe

Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

‘No Small Teams Anymore’, FIFA Boss, Infantino, Hails Best Group Stage

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed the group stage of the Qatar World Cup as the “best ever” and said the number of upsets and geographic breadth of the teams progressing indicated that football was becoming ever more global.

Former champions Argentina, Spain, Germany and Brazil all suf fered shock group-stage losses and Africa, Asia and North America were represented in the last 16 along with traditional powerhouses South America and Europe.

Infantino said the matches — “played in beautiful stadiums” — had already attracted a TV audience in excess of two billion viewers.

“Fantastic atmosphere, great goals, incredible excitement, surprises, small teams beating big teams,” he said in comments released by FIFA yesterday.

“Well, there are no smaller teams and no bigger teams. The level is very, very equal.

“For the first time as well, national teams from all continents going to the knock-out phase, for the first time in history. This shows that football is really becoming truly global.”

Infantino has pushed through the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 for the next edition, which will be held across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

DURO IKHAZUAGBE Reporting live

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that engagement was the only way to improve human rights.

Infantino said he had been delighted with the number of fans crowding into the stadiums and fan zones in the country and thought the final TV viewership figures would exceed five billion.

“At the end of the day, we simply want to give some joy and some smiles to people all over the world,” he added.

“That’s what football is about, that’s what the World Cup is about, and that’s what should also happen from now until the end.

“We have already seen some great action on the field, which, (ultimately), is the most important part of what you do.”

DURO’s DOHA ADiary

Morocco’s Atlas Lions Changing the Narrative for Africa

Now, the men have been separated from the boys. With Portugal’s 6-1 whitewash of Switzerland in the last game of the Round of 16 on Tuesday night inside the magnificent Lusail Stadium and Morocco’s stunning 3-0 shock of former champions Spain at the Education City Stadium here in Qatar, only contenders are now left for the quarter final battles. And for us Africans and Arabs here, the Atlas Lions have proved to be our worthy ambassadors. And all thanks to the clean-shaven Walid Regragui, 47, the coach who has now made Morocco the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Morocco have also joined the exclusive list of African teams that have attained this status in global football. First to reach this milestone were the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon who shocked the world at the 1990 edition hosted by Italy. It was at that tournament that a 38-Year-oldAfrican from Yaounde, Roger Milla, created history as oldest player to score at the World Cup. Next came the Teranga Lions of Senegal. With that maverick but temperamental El Hadji Diouf in their midst. Senegal shocked then champions France on the way to achieving the quarter final status. Eight years later, Ghana’s Black Stars repeated the feat at South Africa 2010. The Ghanaians were on the verge of making history as first African team to qualify for the semi-final of the World Cup when Luis Suarez truncated that dream with his hand ball on the goal line. The resultant penalty was wasted by Asamoah Gyan who slammed that kick against the cross bar. And so ended Ghana’s dream.

Messi’s W’Cup Chase with Argentina Takes Centre Stage in Q’final Duel

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi’s hopes of winning an elusive World Cup will come up against the tactical scheming of veteran coach Louis van Gaal as Argentina face the Netherlands in tomorrow’s quarter-final at Lusail.

Messi, 35, once again carries his

nation’s hopes on his shoulders as he looks to crown an extraordinary career that includes seven Ballon d’Or awards and multiple club titles, but only one Copa America to show for his efforts with Argentina.

Messi can expect little in the way of sympathy from the 71-year-old

Enrique Slams Critics Following La Roja’s Exit

Embattled Manager of Spain, Luis Enrique, has hit out at criticism of his team following their penalty shootout defeat to Morocco, arguing that he's happy with how his side performed.

The former World Champions crashed out in the first knockout round for the second World Cup in a row, missing all of their spot kicks after drawing 0-0 to the Atlas Lions over 120 minutes of play.

Enrique's side dominated posses sion in the match but struggled to create any chances, having just one shot in target in over two hours of football. In fact, despite having the ball just 23% of the time, Morocco had their own opportunities to win the match on the counter-attack.

When asked whether his team couldn't control the match though, the Spain manager strongly disagreed, saying the only thing missing from the performance was an end product.

“Were you watching the game? Where have you been, with your back turned?" he said.

"If we have done anything, it was dominating the game. We can be blamed for having generated

few chances. We lacked the goal.

"I am more than satisfied with what my team has done, who have executed my idea of football perfectly. I am proud of them."

He added that he's happy with how his players performed and that his only regret was that he didn't give more minutes to Pablo Sarabia, who was denied a likely match-winning goal by the post in the dying embers of extra time.

Van Gaal, who is determined to give the Dutch their first World Cup title after runners-up finishes in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

The coach’s planning will largely focus on containing Messi and catching Argentina on the break, as Van Gaal thumbs his nose at his critics by playing a brand of football at odds with the usual attacking Dutch approach.

The tactical plan is key to his side’s hopes of winning on Friday as the Dutch look to take revenge for their semi-final defeat in 2014 when Argentina beat them in a shootout.

“We can surprise teams with our plan. We were also the better team then and Messi didn’t see much of the ball,” the coach told reporters this week.

He can also point to a run of form that has seen the Dutch go 19 games without defeat since he returned to the hot seat for a third spell 15 months ago.

Messi spoke briefly about the Dutch threat after Argentina’s 2-1 win over Australia in the round of 16, where he marked his 1,000th career appearance by scoring and being named Man of the Match.

“Another difficult one is coming,” he said.

Messi can expect vocal support from Argentine fans in Qatar, who are set to vastly outnumber their orange-clad Dutch counterparts.

On the losing side against Germany in the 2014 final, where Argentina failed to add to World Cup triumphs in 1978 and 1986, Messi was grateful for the support.

“These are incredible moments. We want to thank all the people who are here. The whole of Argentina would love to be here,” he said.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is still sweating on the fitness of Angel di Maria, who missed the Australia game due to a left thigh injury but returned to training yesterday.

Walker Vows to ‘Pocket’ Mbappe

England’s wing-back, Kyle Walker, has backed himself to keep Kylian Mbappe at bay when England face France in the World Cup quarter-final.

Mbappe has been in glistening form since the tournament got underway in Qatar and fired Les Bleus to the last eight with a sensational brace against Poland.

But Walker has played down the fuss surrounding the 23-year-old and insisted England are focused on playing France as a whole, not just Mbappe.

Speaking in a press conference

ahead of the clash, he said: “The game isn’t England vs Mbappe, it’s England vs France.

“We will give respect but I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him [Mbappe] to score. It’s do or die as if we lose, we go home.

“I do understand what I need to do and that is to stop him. It is easier said than done, but I don’t underestimate myself. I have played against some great players at Man City and England, I treat it as another game, I take extra care and give him the respect he deserves, but

not too much respect.”

Walker drew on the fact that he has already played against Mbappe several times in the Champions League with Manchester City, where he has often given a strong account of himself, but again was focused on the bigger picture.

“He is a fantastic player in great form. It is not going to be an easy task, but as a professional footballer you want to play against the best and I think he is one of the best if not the best in the world at the moment,” he added.

It is against this backdrop that Morocco’s feat against the La Furia Roja on Tuesday night means the world to Africans following the Mundial here in Qatar and those watching on television around the world. The Atlas Lions who have now kept three clean sheets in four matches at Qatar 2022, also set record as the second country in World Cup history to win a shoot-out without conceding. The first was Ukraine in 2006 when defeating Switzerland 3-0.

When Regragui was appointed following the departure of Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic in August, several football followers sneered derisively, wondering what this indigenous coach was going to achieve. The fact that he led Wydad to the Moroccan league and CAF Champions League double last season didn’t mean much to them. But after Regragui produced the formula which masterminded the win for the ages against mighty Spain in the last 16 on Tuesday night, he has become a legend of a sort in that North African country.

The Atlas Lions produced an amazing defensive performance, allowing Spain possession without threatening danger, before winning a penalty shootout to set up a last-eight clash with Portugal.

Morocco first grabbed attention at the World Cup here with a goalless draw against Croatia, the runners-up four years ago. He developed a winning mentality that Morocco would see how they fared against Belgium before their final group game against Canada. The Moroccans, however, stunned the second-ranked Belgians 2-0 to ease their passage to the last 16 for the second time in their history.

Following another victory over Canada, Regragui became the first Arab coach to lead a team to the knockout rounds.

"I told (my players) we should be proud of ourselves," Regragui said. "It is an opportunity that may not be repeated. Unfortunately, I did not play in the World Cup. God has now given me an opportunity to make history as a coach. I am the happiest person in the world right now," he stressed with satisfaction.

"I think Africans can go far, why not dream of winning the cup? We want the next generation to dare to dream,” observed Regragui at the post match on Tuesday night. From the first minute against Spain, those familiar with Moroccan football felt that the 2010 world champions had a long night ahead of them.

Regragui relied on the usual mixture of North African style, combining committed defence with counter-attacks led by Hakim Ziyech, who returned to the national team when Regragui took over from Halilhodzic. But Regragui's importance extends far beyond on-field tactics. He gives his team confidence and motivates them in his own unique way.

Regragui has managed to convince his players they are playing for all of Morocco and, as a result, the team camp has been different from before.

Regragui decided to invite the players' families to the camp her in Doha. Although 14 of the 26 players in the Moroccan squad were born abroad, their love for their country is clear.

"We fought and made the Moroccan people happy. We made history and Morocco deserves it. The Moroccan people made us united on the field," Regragui gushed with pride as his players threw him up in celebration of their famous win against Luis Enrique’s men.

As the Atlas Lions prepare to take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on at the Al-Thumama Stadium on Saturday, the Moroccan, Arab and African world will hope that the fairy-tale story continues, leading them to set a new standard for African teams in the Mundial. It is not mission in possible as Morocco have beaten Portugal before in 1986. History can repeat itself.

FIFA was heavily criticised in some quarters for awarding the hosting rights to Qatar because of allegations of corruption and human rights violations. Infantino rounded on European

critics of the host nation in his pre-tournament address, accusing them of hypocrisy and adding

Saudi Arabia players celebrating the famous opening Group B 2-1 win against Argentina last month in Qatar

Ronaldo Refuses to Train with Portugal's Reserves

Ahead of the quarter final clash against the Atlas Lions of Morocco, Cristiano Ronaldo did not train with Portugal's substitutes yesterday and instead insisted on joining the starters for a gym session, according to reports in Spain.

The 37-year-old was axed by Portugal boss Fernando Santos during his side's impressive 6-1 win against Switzerland in the

last-16 of the World Cup.

His replacement, Goncalo Ramos, netted a stunning hat-trick to fire Portugal into the World Cup quarter-finals, validating Santos' decision to drop the country's superstar.

Santos admitted last week that he was furious at Ronaldo for acting out after getting substituted during Portugal's group stage victory

against South Korea.

According to Marca, the former Manchester United forward is continuing to cause a stir in Qatar, failing to turn up for training with the Portuguese substitutes.

The Spanish outlet claim that Ronaldo instead went for a lowintensity gym session with the starters, despite playing less than 20 minutes against Switzerland as

a substitute.

Portugal's official Instagram account later uploaded a series of pictures of the squad training at their base in Qatar. Within it the substitutes, such as Rafael Leao, Ruben Neves and Joao Mario, can be seen doing ball work.

Ronaldo is later pictured on the grass but in trainers and doing resistance-band work separately. Antonio Silva - who was an unused substitute - was another pictured doing gym work too.

It is understood the Portugal camp were 'surprised' not to see Ronaldo among the substitutes on the field, admitting that he did not feel any discomfort and was in perfect condition to train.

Santos' decision to drop the icon ended Ronaldo's streak of 31 matches started at major tournaments.

The Portuguese forward had not started an international match from the bench in a major competition since Euro 2008, which ironically

came against the Swiss.

Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez joined in his fury after watching 74 minutes of football without the striker on the pitch against Switzerland.

After the last-16 clash on Tuesday, Rodriguez took to social media to vent her frustration.

She said: 'What a shame we didn't get to enjoy the best player in the world for the 90 minutes. The fans haven't stopped claiming you and screaming your name.'

Portugal takes on Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday, after the African nation dramatically knocked out Spain on penalties in the last 16.

Following his side's blistering performance against the Swiss, Santos could well keep his disgruntled superstar out of the starting line-up for the remainder of the tournament.

Ronaldo dramatically left Manchester United last month in the wake of his explosive

bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, which heavily criticised the club's organisation, facilities and manager Erik ten Hag.

The forward's former Red Devils team-mate Gary Neville lay out some harsh truths to Ronaldo ahead of Portugal's last 16 tie.

He told ITV before kick-off: 'Well what happened at United, the suggestion was, it was because (Erik) Ten Hag was trying to make a move on him, he's trying to establish his authority.

'This is a manager (Santos) who's got an unbelievable relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for eight years.

'And there are a lot of fans of Cristiano Ronaldo who aren't willing to tell him the truth. I think he does need to listen to the truth, that it's becoming a little bit of a scruffy end.

'The petulance, the stomping around, the sulking it's got to stop because it doesn't reflect well on him at all.'

Brazil Dancing Not Disrespectful, Says Croatia's Lovren

Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said Brazil players' celebratory dancing after scoring goals is not disrespectful, ahead of their World Cup quarterfinal clash tomorrow. However, the veteran centre-back and his side are aiming to prevent the five-time World Cup winners and tournament favourites from having the chance to celebrate.

Youth Winter Olympics: Team Nigeria Lands in Finland for Qualifiers

Team Nigeria has arrived in Lohja, Finland to compete in the World Junior-B Curling Championships scheduled to take place from December 8-19, 2022.

The Nigeria Junior Curling team to Finland is made up of 11 junior curlers (five boys and six girls) who travelled in the company of two officials of the curling Federation.

Those to fly Nigeria’s Green and White colours in Finland are; Dan mola Adedamola, Chukwuemeka Daniel, Charles Idongesit, Umoren Aniedi and Kamsiyochukwu Emmanuel Dike. Others are Oku Jasmine, Uchegbu Nelly, Oku Olamide, Uchegbu Gift, Kalejaiye Deborah and Oluwanimifise WaleAdeogun.

The Federation’s Youth Directors

Charles Neimeth, Scott Hill and Lyne Laganiere will also be joining the team in Finland to offer the needed support.

Before departing from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja en route for France to Finland, the Nigerian contingent expressed great optimism even as they promised to be good ambassadors of the country.

Team Nigeria will be competing against 21 other countries in the male category and 24 other teams in the female category as they officially begin their qualification quest for the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics billed to take place in Gangwon Province, South Korea.

The Boys’ team will begin their campaign on Thursday, December 8th with opening-day games against

Latvia and Australia.

The Nigeria boys will thereafter face Italy and Spain on Friday before battling Hungary and Poland on the third day of action.

The women’s competition begins on Thursday 15 December after the conclusion of the men's event.

According to the organisers, all medal-winning teams will secure qualification for the World Junior Curling Championships 2023 to be held in Fuessen, Germany from February to March 2023.

Having worked hard in the past months with the resources at his

disposal, Daniel Damola, President of the Nigeria Curling Federation, believes the country will do well in Finland.

“This is a very young team of boys and girls from ages 10 to 19. They have trained so hard and it is now time to expose them to real ice because the curling game is played on ice slides.

“I’m optimistic that soon, this young team will put themselves on the world map”.

Apart from Nigeria, Kenya is the only other African country that will be competing in Finland

Hazard Quits International Football

Belgium captain Eden Hazard, yesterday announced his retirement from international soccer aged 31 after his team's group-stage exit at the World Cup.

Crack London-based Nigerian boxer and West African Boxing Union (WABU) featherweight champion, Taiwo “Esepor” Agbaje will face Richard Taruc Pumicpic of the Philippines for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental featherweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 27 on 26 December.

The event will take place at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

Details of the event, which is the biggest boxing show in Africa, were disclosed yesterday in a statement by the event organisers, Flykite Productions. The WBF title clash, which headlines the six-bout show, according to the statement, has all the trappings of an explosive encounter.

The undefeated Agbaje, a knockout specialist, is taking on the most high-profile opponent of his career so far. Pumicpic, the equally knockout-savvy Filipino. While Agbaje has won nine fights by knockout, the Filipino has won seven within the distance.

The show will also stage a national super featherweight challenge duel between Michael

Adesodun and Idris Aloma; national super lightweight duel between Bartholomew Abuchi and Adeyemi “Spirit” Adekanla; as well as a national bantamweight face-off between Opeyemi “Golden Boy” Ibrahim and Sodiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke.

In the two other bouts, graduate boxer, Sikiru “Iya Eleja” Shogbesan will square up with Sodiq Oyakojo in a super featherweight chal lenge contest, while female ring artists, Sofiat Lateef and Abosede Akinsanya will clash in a national middleweight challenge bout.

The event, sponsored by GOtv and refreshed by Pepsi, will also feature live musical perfor mances by top music stars and an internationally-recognised Dee Jay.

The statement quoted the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Flykite Productions, Jenkins Alumona, as saying that boxing and music have been brought together to provide premium end-of-the-year entertainment for fans as reward for their support for GOtv Boxing Night.

The forward played in all three Group F games but did not score as Belgium beat Canada, lost to Morocco and played out a goalless draw with Croatia to finish third.

Hazard made his international debut in 2008 and scored 33 times in 126 appearances. He helped Belgium reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions France, and

beat England in the third-placed playoff.

"I have decided to put an end to my international career. The succession is ready," Hazard wrote on Instagram.

"A page turns today... Thank you for your love. Thank you for your unparalleled support. Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008... I will miss you."

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez stepped down from his role last week Thursday following a disap pointing tournament in Qatar for the team ranked second in the world.

"Our goal is to try to stop the whole team, of course, Brazil has a lot of individual quality, we are ready for that fight," Lovren told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Honestly, everyone can do what they want to celebrate, I have no issues with that.

"I don't see any disrespect. I think Brazilians were born with songs, with dancing, it's part of their culture."

Lovren has played with several Brazilians during his time at Liv erpool and at current club Zenit Saint Petersburg, and he says they have exchanged messages.

"I think I have been in contact with all of the Brazilians I have played with, except the guys we're playing in two days, they have wished me good luck," Lovren continued.

The 33-year-old defender agreed that Tite's side are fancied to win the clash at the Education City Stadium.

"They are the favourites, but we have no problem with that," said Lovren.

Lovren has played alongside 20-year-old Josko Gvardiol in Croatia's mean defence, and says the RB Leipzig centre-back is far better than he was at the same age.

The defender looked back to the days when he began with the national team, alongside players including Josip Simunic.

"I learned from everything they did – maybe they were tougher with me than I am with Josko," Chijioke Mbaoma notched a hat trick yesterday morning to take Enyimba International to the top of the NPFL-Dozy Mmobuosi Founda tion pre-season tournament in a 4-3 win against Bendel Insurance.

On Matchday 2 of the tourna ment, ten-man Shooting Stars fought spiritedly to hold Rangers to 1-1 draw and stay second behind Enyimba. The result means Enyimba are guaranteed a place in the finals irrespective of the outcome of the remaining games.

Nwobodo gave Rangers the lead after 56 minutes but Samuel Ayorinde brought Shooting level and was picked as the man of the match

Enyimba and Insurance had a firework filled first half that produced five goals with Insurance leading 3-2 to the dressing room.

Mbaoma scored the first of his three goals eight minutes into the match but Insurance levelled up through Divine Nwachukwu on 30 minutes. Micah Odojumo put the Edo Arsenal up five minutes later

said Lovren.

"Of course, I try to talk to him as much as possible, give him some constructive feedback. He has great quality, he's way ahead of me at 20 years old, it's no wonder every club in the world is interested in his services."

but Mbaoma equalised after three minutes only for Sodje Stevens to hit a possible goal of the tournament a minute after.

The second half saw Chisom Okereke bringing Enyimba back few minutes after the restart while Mbaoma completed his hat trick.

The former Heartland player, who was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) said after the match that his goals is a sign of what he's bringing on the field to Enyimba.

"I joined Enyimba to score goals and it has only started from this tournament which I have the confidence we will win", Mbaoma told the media.

In the last group matches of the tournament which returns to Mobalaji Stadium, Lagos from the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne, Rangers will face Bendel Insurance while Enyimba play Shooting Stars. The top two teams will play the final tomorrow to determine the overall winner

The tournament has a N100m prize package.

Ronaldo, 37, was dropped to the bench during Portugal's 6-1 victory against Switzerland on Tuesday

Dejan Lovren

World Bank to Nigeria

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

THE VERDICT olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Buhari, Governors and Local Government Y

ou may accuse President Muhammadu Buhari of many things but not flippancy. He is a man who rarely speaks and on the few occasions he does, he picks his words. So, when a man like that concludes a prepared text at a public ceremony and then adds that he has a personal experience to share by way of ‘digression’, people pay attention. That was what happened last week at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) Senior Executive Course No. 44 (2022) with the theme, ‘Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities’. The president pointedly accused an unnamed governor of stealing 50 percent of the money belonging to local governments in his state.

Before I proceed, it is important to put context to the presidential accusation. On 22nd May 2020, President Buhari signed Executive Order No 10, which sought to grant financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary in the 36 states, in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended by the 4th Alteration Act, No.4 of 2017. The Executive Order was challenged by the 36 Governors who argued that it goes against the letter and spirit of our federal constitution. And in a six to one decision by Justices in February this year, the Supreme Court agreed with the governors by declaring Executive Order 10 unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever. That was the background to the presidential lamentation. “If the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman (of local government), but he (chairman) will sign that he received N100 million. The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with,” said the president who cannot be accused of not knowing what he was talking about. ‘‘And then the chairman of the local government must pay salaries and to hell with development. When he pays salaries, the balance he will put in his pocket. This is what’s happening in Nigeria. It’s a terrible thing; you cannot say the person who was doing this is not educated. He was a qualified lawyer, he was experienced, yet he participated in this type of corruption.”

Because the president referred to a specific governor (current or former) who happens to be a lawyer, one can infer that the accusation is not directed at all governors. But in a way, the president was also general in his accusation which means many governors are involved in this sharp practice. Besides, Buhari’s allegation came in the context of discussing how that tier of government has been crippled. Two years ago in my column, ‘Democracy and the grassroots’, I addressed this same problem. Beyond management of their finances, which I also highlighted at the time, there are other issues that need to be addressed if local government administration is to have any meaning in Nigeria. Due to its topicality, my column of 27th August 2020 is reproduced below with minor editing. ================================

The 1999 Constitution (as amended), provides that each of the 774 local governments in the country is vested with powers to establish and maintain cemeteries, burial grounds, and homes for the destitute or infirm; license bicycles, vehicles, canoes, wheelbarrows, and carts; regulate slaughterhouses, markets, motor parks and public conveniences as well as construct and maintain roads, streets lightings, drains, parks, gardens, open spaces etc. They are also to register births,

deaths and marriages and name roads, streets, and houses, while providing and maintaining public conveniences and refuse disposal among other functions. Perhaps most significantly, local governments are expected to provide and maintain primary, adult, and vocational education and health services.

These, no doubt, are heavy responsibilities for which 20.60 percent of our total national earnings is allocated from the federation account. That is one fifth of the entire resources accruing to the nation. Available data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicates that no less than about N25 trillion has been shared by the 774 local governments in the past 21 years. Even if we use the prevailing exchange rate, that still exceeds $60 billion! For instance, last year (2019), all the local governments shared N1.649

trillion; In 2018, they shared N1.667 trillion; in 2017, they shared N1.502 trillion; in 2016, they shared 1.011 trillion; in 2015, they shared N1.205 trillion; in 2014, they shared N1.557 trillion; in 2013, they shared N1.708 trillion; in 2012, they shared N1.535 trillion; in 2011, they shared N1.255 trillion; in 2010, they shared N1.328 trillion; in 2009, they shared N976.817 billion and in 2008, they shared N1.206 trillion.

Despite such huge financial resources, local governments are not playing their roles. Sadder still, they cannot account for the humongous amount of money allocated to them because governors have conspired to render local government administration in Nigeria completely prostrate. Not only have they hijacked council funds, but they also recruit their personnel as well. The national president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel once argued that “the concept of bringing governance closer to the people through a third-tier participatory form of government has not materialized in Nigeria.”

After tracing the history of reforms of local government from the Dasuki Committee of 1976 to the Etsu Nupe report of 2003 and several Supreme Court rulings, Khaleel gave a damning verdict: “there is no state in Nigeria where one form of illegality or the other is not committed with the funds of local governments. Through over deduction of primary school teachers’ salaries; spurious state/local government joint projects, sponsoring of elections, taking over the statutory functions of local governments and handing them over to cronies and consultants; non-payments of pensioners and non-utilization of training fund despite the mandatory deduction of stipulated percentages for these purposes, we can go on and on. Most of these shameful activities are known to all of us.”

To be sure, local government administration in Nigeria has always presented a challenge, but it has never been as bad as it is now under the current dispensation. And it begins with the election of officials. Even though democracy is a never-ending process of inquiry that requires the validation of voters, in Nigeria, catch phrases such as ‘the will of the people’, ‘the people have spoken’ have, over the years, become no more than false constructs, especially regarding local government elections. If our democracy is to survive and thrive, we must examine this charade. For

the benefit of readers, let me highlight results of the last local government polls in many of the 36 states.

In December 2016, the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission conducted LG polls, where almost a million people were recorded as having voted. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state won all 17 chairmanship and 292 councillorship seats. “There was no election anywhere in the state,” the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secretary, Sunday Onukwubiri, told reporters. A year earlier during the 2015 general election, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had secured 264,713 votes (representing 59.4 percent of total votes cast) to defeat Dr Alex Otti, the then APGA candidate who secured 180,882 votes (representing 40.6 percent of total votes cast). Yet, APGA could not win a councillorship seat at the LG polls. That has been the pattern in practically all the states.

Last December (2019) in Adamawa, candidates of the ruling PDP won all the 21 chairmanship and 226 councillorship seats in the state. Akwa Ibom is billed to conduct the local government election on 31st October this year (2020) but the APC has already seen the handwriting on the wall by threatening a boycott. In the last one conducted in December 2017, PDP won all the 31 chairmanship and 329 councillorship seats.

“Details of scores will be made available by the field operations/logistics department of the commission,” according to the state electoral commission chairman, Aniedi Ikoiwak, who only gave round figures without providing any breakdown of the results!

In Anambra State where LG polls have not been held in the past six years, businessman, Chief Arthur Eze, has issued a stern warning to Governor Willie Obiano: “I want him (Obiano) to know that since he has refused to hold local government elections, he must be ready to vomit all the allocations and revenues of the councils at the end of his tenure. He will not go free. I have taken up the matter formally in writing with President Muhammadu Buhari concerning all Southeast governors who have refused to organise council elections but chose to unilaterally usurp the functions and finances of that level of government. They will all be called to account. None will get away with it.”

The Amnesty Billions: My Stewardship

By Milland Dixon Dikio

Dear Segun, I read your column, ‘Tompolo and the Amnesty Deal’, and I need to make this clarification, especially as it concerns my stewardship as the immediate past Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

During the period September 2020-2022, a total of 1651 beneficiaries were awarded scholarships during the 2021/2022 Academic Session out of about 31,000 applicants. They were rigorously scrutinized to be qualified Niger Deltans. The fees of all verified bonafide PAP students were paid up to Aug 2022. The debt inherited in 2020 after reconciliation was N90,563,205,567.88. At the end, N56,123,742,039.47 was paid after certification over the period under review without any additional funding.

The balance on old debts as of 15th

September 2022 was N34,439,463,528.41 and the Federal Ministry of Finance had been requested to assume them because they were weighing down on the PAP ability to train. The Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) scheme was initiated because the subsisting model of training and issue of starter packs did not effectively transfer skills. It was rather contractor driven and shoddily conducted. Removing the employment and mentorship component of TEM is not synonymous to saving money but returning to the old model that in 12 years has no evidence on the ground of imparting the requisite skills to the beneficiaries.

For the first time in PAP history, 186 beneficiaries were given letters of employment after graduating at Bradama Steel Works Ltd on 19th August 2022 on monthly salaries above N70,000. Public members invited to visit the training centers and verify the quality of training Sunup Logistics and other

reputable companies that are on going in various skills relevant to the critical needs of the Niger Delta. In summary, the current IA inherited N1,841,639,181 cash in three accounts and N7.5 billion special supplementary fund to engage and train identified participants who had been involved in illegal refining and the September 2022 allocation. PAP receives a monthly allocation of N5.2 billion and the so-called debts were all programmed to be paid when due. Available records show that stipends, school fees and all operating expenses were paid promptly in the period of September 2020 -2022 and there was peace in the Niger Delta. That’s the central purpose and mission of PAP. These are the properly documented facts, and they are verifiable.

Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com

“In basic things as little as investing in its people, Nigeria has not done a lot and in terms of enabling private firms to grow and create jobs, that hasn’t happened and without these two things, Nigeria would never get out of the situation it finds itself presently. But why are we sounding the alarm? For the first time in Nigeria’s history, what should be good times has become negative for the country”--WorldBankCountryDirectorforNigeria,ShubhamChaudhuri.

Buhari