THURSDAY 22TH DECEMBER 2022

15Years After, NUPRC Announces Bid for Seven Deep Offshore Oil Assets Incorporates 63 host communities’ trust fund Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Fifteen years after it last put up about 45 deep offshore assets for public bidding, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), yesterday

announced that the process to invite Nigerian and foreign oil industry players to apply for seven more facilities had begun.

Speaking during a press briefing to formally kick off the process, the Commissions Chief Executive,

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, noted that in this year's mini bid round, the offshore blocks will be putting on offer assets covering an area of approximately 6,700 km2 in water depths of 1,150m to 3,100m.

The success of the mini bid

Pre-qualification submissions end January 31 round, he said, will ensure all stakeholders gain value from the country’s resources, while paying close attention to reduction in carbon emissions, as well as overall Environmental, Social And Governance (ESG) considerations.

THISDAY learnt that the offshore assets are located off the city of Lagos, rather than off the coast of the Niger Delta further to the east where most of the country’s oil industry is concentrated.

The decision to put up the assets

for sale is coming months after the NUPRC concluded the disposal of 57 marginal fields after a long and winding process to ramp up the country’s struggling oil production Continued on page 12

FG: We Can No Longer Deliver $1.96bn Eastern Railway Corridor By May... Page 5 Thursday 22 December, 2022 Vol 27. No 10117. Price: N250

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History as Sanwo-Olu Completes Infrastructure Work on Lagos Blue Rail Line To begin operations after test running, to move 250,000 passengers daily State to announce preferred bidder for 37km fourth mainland bridge before year-end Segun James History was made in Lagos State

yesterday as at exactly 1:31pm Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally stepped into the coach

of the newly completed Lagos Blue Line and took the first trip aboard the electric-powered rail

infrastructure.

The governor led his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker,

Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, members of the state cabinet, journalists and

members of the public on a ride Continued on page 12

Emefiele: British Parliamentarian Seeks Independent Institutions Ahead of 2023 Elections CFSITT, member of Egmont Group, expresses concern over DSS’ attempt to arrest CBN governor Apex bank bows to pressure, reviews cash withdrawal limits upwards Maximum weekly withdrawal limit now N500,000 for individuals, N5 million for corporate entities Reiterates drive for cashless economy, insists policy takes off January 9 Deputy Governor to brief lawmakers today Don’t politicise security, DSS operations, Saraki cautions CNPP, CSOs, NYCN back CBN governor Hail Buhari's stance on ban of cash withdrawal Sunday Aborisade, James Emejo, Udora Orizu, Emameh Gabriel in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The move by the Department of State Services (DSS) against Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was yesterday raised in the British House of Lords by Daniel, Lord Hannan, the Baron of Kingsclere. Hannan stressed the need for adherence to the rule of law and independence of the central bank as Nigeria moves towards crucial elections next year.

DSS had recently sought to implicate Emefiele in a terrorism financing scheme, in what was widely dismissed as trumped up on purpose to oust the head of the all-important institution following the bank’s latest monetary policies.

But Hannan said Nigeria must ensure independence of its critical Continued on page 12

STANDING FOR ATIKU/OKOWA...

R-L: Members of Rivers State Presidential Campaign Council: Hon. Tonye Saturday, Hon. Samuel Okpoko, Hon Randolph Brown, Chief, Mrs Nice Alamieyesiegha, Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, Engr Tele Ikuru, Sir Celestine Omehia, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Prince Uche Secondus, Sen Lee Maeba, Sen. George Sekibo, Rt Hon. Austin Opara, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, Hon Prince Nnam-Obi, Barr. Eddy Mark, Hon. Paul L Paul and Hon. Leonard Tamunoigbeinbia, after a strategic meeting at the Port Harcourt residence of its chairman, Maeba... recently

Buhari: I'm Ready to Campaign for Tinubu, Others... Page 12

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

NEWS

LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL MONITORING AND EVALUATION APP, 'EYEMARK'...

L-R: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapa ; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ; President Muhammadu Buhari ; Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed and Minister of State Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clem PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Agba during the launch of the National Monitoring and Evaluation App, 'EYEMARK' at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday

FG: We Can No Longer Deliver $1.96bn Eastern Railway Corridor By May To resume dredging of Calabar port soon Says 2nd Niger Bridge to be ready in six months Narrates how litigations by interested parties have slowed Ogoni cleanup Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has disclosed that Its initial promise to complete the narrow gauge Eastern railway corridor before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration next year was no longer realistic citing insufficient funds as reason.

Buhari had two years ago performed the groundbreaking of the $1.96 billion rail-line project, saying it would stimulate economic activities in 14 states it covers.

The benefiting states included the five south-east states of Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu as well as nine others - Rivers, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Bauchi and Gombe.

Then Minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, had said the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line would be delivered before the end of the tenure of the present administration.

But speaking on the issue yesterday, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, Minister of Transportation, Mu'azu Jaji Sambo, disclosed that financing the project had become an issue.

According to him, the federal government has not been able to obtain the foreign counterpart funding embedded in the project, making it impossible to fund it as envisaged.

His words: "Now, the Eastern line is the line from Port Harcourt to

Maiduguri, it has been segmented in such a way that the first part of the works covers from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

"The truth of the matter is that if there was a promise to deliver this line before the end of this administration, this promise is no longer feasible because, when the contract was approved, it was approved on the premise that 85 percent will be funded through foreign loan, while 15 per cent will be the counterpart funding from the national budget.

"Since that approval, we have not been able to obtain that 85 percent foreign loans for this project. We have been funding it through the national budget on the basis of the 15 percent counterpart funding of the federal government. And therefore, funding has been a major challenge for this project."

On the status of the dredging of the Calabar Channel, Sambo said the project, which had suffered series of setbacks, as a result of litigations, would soon be resumed as Buhari had directed his ministry, in collaboration with that of Justice, to ensure that the issues are resolved amicably.

He said: “You are aware that of the three ports (Warri, Port Harcourt and Lagos), the NPA had encountered difficulties with the JV partnership in respect to the Calabar channel dredging. This has been as a result of several litigations from both sides that the Nigerian Ports Authority had made with the

joint venture partner Niger Global."

The minister noted that the issues were now being resolved, saying, “following Presidential intervention, the Ministry of Transportation and the Federal Ministry of Justice have been directed to put in everything they can to resolve all outstanding court cases with a view to having a full resumption of this very, very laudable project. This we are in the process and should be concluding very, very soon.”

While it is one of the oldest ports in the country, the Calabar Port had been operating below its potential due to draft issues which has made it impossible for large vessels to navigate through the channel.

As a result, the Lagos, Onne and Port Harcourt ports have continued to receive more cargo traffic that ordinarily would have berthed in

Following the volatility of the oil market in recent years, the International Momentary Fund (IMF) has said that savings from oil revenue could help African oil producing nation's such as Nigeria to manage price swings associated with market.

According to a study by the Fund, oil exporters in sub-Saharan Africa should target buffers of around 5 to 10 percent of gross domestic product to manage large swings in oil prices.

"For many countries, this means they will need to maintain annual fiscal surpluses up to 1 percent per annum over a 10-year

period.

"As noted in our latest Regional Economic Outlook, oil prices have fluctuated from lows of $23 per barrel to a peak of $120 over the last two years, resulting in highly uncertain revenues in oil-dependent economies.

"However, most oil exporters in the region haven’t accumulated enough savings to insure against unpredictable oil price changes.

In fact, sovereign wealth funds in sub-Saharan Africa hold assets of just 1.8 percent of gross domestic product—compared to 72 percent in the Middle East and North Africa—forcing countries to borrow or draw down financial assets when oil prices fall.

and Asaba sides of the bridge are progressing well, pointing out that the project despite the delay will be completed and commissioned before the end of the present administration on May 29, 2023.

According to him, "I am certain that the 2nd Niger Bridge will be completed and commissioned before the end of this administration. The work remaining to be done on the main bridge are just road markings, fixing of signs and fittings. It is completed if I may say hence it is being put to temporary use now.

"From the Obosi side in the Eastern part, work is on-going on the adjoining roads and would have been completed if not the sit-at-home order on Mondays which have slowed the pace of the work.

"Also, from the Asaba end of the

bridge, you can see the stockpiling of sand and because it's a marshy area, after sand-filling, you allow the land to dry up. So we are doing the pre-fabricated stockpiling and soon the works will be completed".

On his part, Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, blamed some civil society organisations as well as some individuals in Rivers State for stalling the Ogoni clean up through litigations.

He said this while reacting to allegations by the Movement for Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) against the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) charged with implementing problematic Ogoni Cleanup in Rivers state of slow pace of work as well as embezzlement.

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APC PCC Accuses PDP of Alleged Plot to Incite Violence, Derail 2023 Elections Ask security agencies to invite opposition leaders for questioning

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of alleged plots to incite violence and derail the 2023 polls.

Savings from Oil Revenues Could Help Africa's Producers Manage Price Swings, Says the IMF Segun James

Calabar.

Also speaking, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fasola, reiterated the resolve of the present administration to complete the 2nd Niger Bridge before leaving office on May 29, 2023.

According to him, job on the multi-billion-naira new bridge was almost complete, but for the disruption of work occasioned by the sit-at-home order being observed by the people in the south-east end of the bridge.

He explained that the sit-at-home being observed on Mondays had delayed the speed of work as the contractors have lost many man hours just as he stated that those lost days were responsible for the delay in the completion of the project.

Fashola, however, said the remaining work at both the Obosi

It said that as a result, in the decade through 2020, the region’s oil producers have grown over 2 percentage points slower per year than non-resource intensive countries. Debt service costs have also been almost twice as high than in other sub-Saharan African countries.

"Moreover, as countries transition to low-carbon energy sources, oil revenues could sharply decline.

By 2030, oil revenues in the region could fall by as much as a quarter and by 2050, by half.

Building buffers now would help the region’s oil exporters navigate the transition toward clean energy while managing oil price fluctuations."

The Director of Public Affairs and Spokesperson of Tinubu/ Shettima PCC, Festus Keyamo in a statement issued yesterday, called on the law-enforcement agencies to, as a matter of urgency, invite PDP leaders for immediate questioning.

He said the call became imperative following the latest press statement issued by PDP about having ‘credible information’ about certain individuals plotting to derail the 2023 elections.

Keyamo noted that the press statement coming just barely 48 hours after one of its former officials was convicted by a court of law over illegal acts committed during an election which the PDP government presided over, was just a pointer to the lowest level of moral debauchery to which the PDP had sunk.

He said: "We note with concern the incoherent and convoluted press statement issued today by the ethically-challenged PDP, yet again raising alarm about certain plots to incite violence and derail the 2023 polls and having ‘credible information’ as to those unleashing violence in certain parts of the country."

"It (PDP) operates without an iota of shame or respect for the Nigerian

people. Instead of continuous apologies for those grievous acts of election rigging, money-laundering and other electoral malpractices, it continues to pontificate.

"Based on its latest press statement about having ‘credible information’ about certain individuals plotting to derail the 2023 elections, including acts of arson already perpetrated on the facilities of INEC, we therefore call on the law-enforcement agencies to, as a matter of urgency, invite the PDP leaders for immediate questioning."

Keyamo insisted that the PDP must provide information regarding: "The place and time such a meeting took place and those in attendance; the identities of those who committed these acts of arson on the facilities of INEC. The information must also include the identity of those who sponsored these individuals (if any)."

The ruling party said the PDP should realise that an electioneering process was a serious business and not a time to issue baseless and infantile statements out of want of something to say to the Nigerian people.

Keyamo added that the Nigerian people have since grown weary of the antics of the PDP.

He added: "We suspect that the latest alarm by the PDP is one of a long list of diversionary measures adopted by the party to deflect attention from its crumbling edifice.

"Just yesterday, the major leaders of the PDP in Katsina State led by a former Katsina State Governor, Mr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, and 10 out of the 14-member working committee of the PDP boycotted the party’s rally in the state and today they issue this statement to deflect attention from that disaster.

"We also state that this gimmick is nothing but crying wolf when there is none. We have said in an earlier statement on this issue some weeks ago that this is the same unnecessary scare-mongering tactics and crass vituperations they employed and engaged in before the 2019 election which led to their crushing defeat."

The party reiterated that its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu remains a thoroughbred democrat and one of the major architects of the democracy the PDP and Nigerians enjoy today, adding that he would be the last of the presidential candidates to be accused of undemocratic conduct or underhand dealings in the electoral process.

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COMMEMORATION OF COMPLETION CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF LAGOS RAIL MASS TRANSIT BLUE LINE...

Inset L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo during the commemoration of completion ceremony for the First Phase of Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line (Marina – Mile 2), at the National Theatre Blue line station, Iganmu…yesterday

FG Approves N135.9bn for Road Projects, N3bn for Payment of Police Life Insurance Premiums Directs PTAD to settle N4.77bn defunct FMF Ltd pensions Regrets air strike killings in Zamfara Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has approved N135.9 billion for cost variation of various road projects across the country as well as N3 billion for payment of life insurance premiums for rank and file of the

Nigeria Police Force.

Briefing newsmen yesterday, at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed

that the Council approved a total sum of N135.9 billion for construction of roads and augmentation of an existing contracts due to costs variation.

According to him, the Council approved the award of the MinnaZungeru-Tegina road on the basis

of Tax Credit Scheme for the sum of N89.96 billion.

He added that the sum of N2.1 billion was approved for FERMA for the construction of the 11-kilometre Isheri North road connecting Ogun state while it also okayed the sum of N45.82 billion to augment the

House to Probe Alleged Loss of $2.4bn from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives has resolved to constitute an Ad-hoc committee to investigate a whistle-blower`s allegations of the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude in China in 2015 and the insurance status of the cargo.

The House also moved to investigate all crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014, till date, with regards to quantity, insurance, revenue generated, remittances into the federation accounts or other accounts as well as utilisation of revenue for the period under review.

The lawmakers consequently moved to investigate all proceeds recovered through the Whistleblowers Policy and the level of compliance by the policy.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the, “Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015 including Crude Oil Exports from 2014 till date” moved by the Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim at plenary on Tuesday.

Ibrahim while presenting the motion said that, "the allegations by a whistleblower in July 2020 that he had in July 2015 and in response to the current administra-

tion's whistleblower policy brought to the attention of a committee purportedly set up by the president for the recovery of missing crude oil exports, the existence of 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude oil in storage at several ports in China ostensibly under the authorisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the intention of parties in China and the NNPC to sell this cargo."

According to him, the whistleblower claimed that the committee, which comprised very high-ranking officials of the administration and NNPC (some of whom he held meetings with), carried out an investigation and confirmed the existence of the cargo, but he discovered in October 2015, that the sale of this cargo had been initiated through unofficial channels and the eventual refusal of the committee to honour their agreement to pay five per cent value of the cargo in line with the terms of the whistleblower policy.

The lawmaker stressed that the allegations that the entire cargo of 48 million barrels of Bonny Light Crude was sold without the proceeds being remitted to the coffers of the country, which translated to a loss to Nigeria of over $2.4 billion considering the 2015 global average crude oil price

of $52 per barrel.

"More than two years after these allegations came to the fore and the uncertainty surrounding the required insurance of these crude exports, it becomes imperative to ascertain the actual details of

all previous crude exports from Nigeria from 2014 till date with regards to quantity, sale, insurance, revenue generated, payment into the Federation Account and how these proceeds were utilised," he added.

construction of Sapele-Agbor road due to cost variation and changes made in the designs.

The Minister also disclosed that the Council had directed the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to take over the settlement of the N4.774 billion pension liabilities of the workers in the defunct Federal Mortgage Finance Limited (FMFL).

Also speaking, Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed that the Council approved the release of N3 billion for the engagement of insurance underwriters and brokers for group life assurance for police officers.

According to him, 315,319 police officers would be covered with the life insurance policy from October 22 to October 2023.

Asked to comment on the

collateral death of civilians as a result of the recent airstrikes on the bandits hideouts in Zamfara state, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the government regretted the development.

He, however, stressed that, "fighting insurgency is a very difficult thing. And as much as the air force or the military are careful, once in a while, it does happen.

"That innocent people actually also suffer. We will regret it. But I think is the nature of fighting insurgency and the military are very, very careful, especially the Air Force and the army when trying to contain insurgency not to, allow innocent lives to be killed.

The Airforce regrets it, we regret it.

But unfortunately once in a while it happens."

PAPSS Achieves ISO 27701 Certification, Demonstrates Commitment to Stakeholders’ Data Security, Privacy The Pan-African Payment & Settlement System (PAPSS) yesterday announced its certification of ISO27701:2019, an international standard for Privacy Information Management System.

This, it stated came just four months after it achieved ISO 27001 certification, demonstrating PAPSS’ ongoing commitment to ensure stakeholders data collected and received for transaction processing are managed, shared and disposed in compliance with data security and privacy global best practices.

According to a statement, the achievement also provided assurance that processing of personal data at PAPSS was being done in compliance with applicable data privacy laws.

ISO/IEC 27701:2019 is a privacy extension to ISO27001

with the design goal to enhance the existing Information Security Management System (ISMS) with additional requirements in order to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS).

The standard outlines a framework for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Controllers and Processors to manage privacy controls that will minimize to acceptable levels risks associated with privacy and privacy rights.

CEO of PAPSS, Mike Ogbalu III, said: “Earning the ISO 27701 certification reflects our ongoing commitment to the security and privacy of our stakeholders data in the current context of evolving cyber threats and global data privacy obligations, such as GDPR, especially

in this business of cross border payment where a transaction is initiated in one jurisdiction and terminates in a different jurisdiction.

“This certification provides a level of assurance to all stakeholders that information used to complete a transaction in different jurisdictions is processed and maintained securely and within applicable laws.”

PAPSS is a centralised Financial Market Infrastructure that enables the efficient flow of money securely across African borders, minimising risk and contributing to financial integration across the regions.

It works in collaboration with Africa’s central banks to provide a payment and settlement service to which commercial banks and licensed payment service providers across the region can connect as ‘participants’.

Afreximbank and the African Union had endorsed the PAPSS at the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union held on July 7, 2019, in Niamey, Niger Republic, therefore adopting PAPSS as a key instrument for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Further, in its 13th extraordinary session, held on the December 5, 2020, the assembly of African Union had recommitted and instructed the Afreximbank and the AfCFTA secretariat to finalise among others, work on the PAPSS. The 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, further directed the AfCFTA and Afreximbank to deploy the system to cover the entire continent. PAPSS was officially launched on the January 13, 2021 in Accra, Ghana Republic.

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INAUGURATION OF AFRICAN QUALITY ASSURANCE CENTRE...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo and President, African Export-Import Bank, Prof Benedict Oramah conducting the formal commissioning of African Quality Assurance Centre, Sagamu... yesterday

Buhari: With ‘Eyemark,’Citizens, CSOs Now Empowered to Monitor, Evaluate Govt’s Projects Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the readiness of the federal government towards promoting sustainable development by creating a digital application, Eyemark, that enables citizens to monitor and evaluate capital projects, in real-time.

The application, he also stated, would afford Nigerians and CSOs unimpeded access to information on stakeholders, including contract terms and the contractors.

Buhari, who spoke yesterday, at the launch of the digital application at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, said the innovation would help forestall the practice of abandoning projects as all stakeholders, like communities, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), contractors, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and citizens would continually interact on one platform.

According to him, Eyemark, which would provide a regular update on the status of capital projects across the country through bottom-up interactive processes, would be fully involved at every stage, including knowing the cost, structure, benefit, and framework for maintenance after completion.

He said: “The Eyemark application tackles the two major constraints we have faced as a country in our monitoring and evaluation efforts.

Eyemark introduces a digital approach to monitoring & evaluation in the federal government that gives MDAs the ability to harness geospatial and project implementation data on a continuous basis.

“Furthermore, the constraint of

limited monitoring and evaluation personnel is addressed by utilising a bottom-up approach through crowdsourcing geotagged data from Nigerians in every part of the country. Not only does this address the pressing monitoring and evaluation issues, but it also institutes accountability and transparency in the system, in line with my commitment to Nigerians and the Open Government Partnership.

“With the Eyemark application, Nigerians worldwide can access project information with the click of a button. Project data such as its status, timeline, executing contractors, the amount appropriated and spent so far, amongst others, are now available in the public space.

“With the ability for citizens to give reviews and feedback in real-time on projects around them, we are closing the existing gaps and promoting participation in governance. Due to its decentralised nature, the Eyemark application brings together all project stakeholders to the table, such as contractors and civil society organisations in addition to MDAs and Citizens.

“This means that we must all play our roles in the success of project implementation through Eyemark. As such, the Eyemark application should be used by all Federal MDAs as the primary tool for project monitoring and evaluation".

Buhari implored all MDAs to furnish the application with the relevant data and information for all current and future projects, as the Eyemark application offers an opportunity to sensitise and advertise to the world the goals

and magnitude of infrastructure projects being carried out by the government.

He urged the MDAs to work closely with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning through the National Monitoring and Evaluation Department to continually build upon current efforts.

“On their part, the contractors should similarly utilise the platform as a means to keep citizens abreast of your good works, updating them regularly as projects progress or unforeseen circumstances arise.

“We are spotlighting our collaboration on infrastructure delivery, and your role in this cannot be understated. To my fellow Nigerians and CSOs that speak on behalf of those that cannot, you are the

main stakeholder in every project we undertake.

“As I encourage you to review our projects, I also assure you that your constructive feedback will not be met with deaf ears but an M&E team eagerly ready to respond to you and take action.

“Let me now use this opportunity to commend the Minister and Minister of State of Finance, Budget and National Planning, their dedicated team, and the brilliant minds that made this a reality, for this feat which is in line with our transparency, inclusiveness and participation policy of our Government, especially the Budget and National Planning arm, for delivering on this key mandate and their commitment and efforts towards a more thorough

The two organised trade unions in the hospitality sector - the Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff (HAPSSSA) and the National Union of Hotel and Personal Services Workers (NUHPSW) - yesterday threatened to picket Sheraton, Accord, Protea and others found culpable of undermining the interest of workers in Nigeria.

This was even as the unions have commended the management of Transcorp for distinguishing itself through fair labour practices.

The president of HAPSSSA, Iyeh William Adegbe, said only the intervention from the federal

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Demands restructuring of N23.7trn CBN's ways and means advances Sunday Aborisade and Udora Orizu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has transmitted to the National Assembly, a supplementary budget totalling N819.5 billion for the 2022 fiscal year.

Buhari's request was contained in a letter he addressed to the two chambers of the federal parliament, read by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila during their respective

plenary sessions.

Buhari said the supplementary budget would be financed through new domestic borrowing.

He said the budget was to complete critical infrastructure, which had become imperative in view of the devastating flood disaster witnessed earlier this year that damaged roads in many parts of the country.

He said the supplementary budget for the 2022 fiscal year was to fix various infrastructure

Hail Transcorp for improving workers’ welfare government could save the affected hotels from the workers’ wrath.

"We have resolved not to keep quiet; we have approached ministry of Labour and the struggle is on," he said.

Adegbe noted that the big hotels have been practicing lots of anti-labour practices even after the economy had picked up after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hospitality industry suffered serious setback in their operations occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic between late 2020 to the first quarter of 2022. The HAPSSSA President recalled that the effect was so much on labour as laying off of workers cum downsizing of workforce took

World,” he said.

The president said he believes, “it is an excellent innovation that Nigeria can share with other nations of the World. Let us make the system work.’’

Furthermore, Buhari said Eyemark would remain an official tool for monitoring and evaluating federal government’s capital projects.

“The aim of this government is to secure its people through providing a strong economy, protection from external forces and an enabling environment for citizens and businesses to thrive.

To achieve this goal, we embark on multiple large, medium, and small-scale projects, running into tens of thousands of projects yearly.

Flood Disaster: Buhari Seeks National Assembly's Approval for N819.5bn Supplementary Budget

Hotel Unions to Picket Sheraton, Accord, Protea for Anti-labour Practices Ugo Aliogo

and prosperous Nigeria,’’ Buhari stated.

The President charged MDAs and the state governments to work together in extending the effort across all tiers of government to promote a more robust and contextual database of projects.

“I am extremely delighted to launch and deploy the Eyemark application as the primary tool for monitoring and evaluating federal government projects. I do this remembering the words of the Global CEO of the Open Government Partnership as he mentioned that the Eyemark application is the first nationally coordinated citizens’ driven web application that aligns with Open Governance Partnership Strategy that he has come across in the

the center stage.

He said: "Today, business has resumed in all hotels in Nigeria but to our greatest dismay, most multinational hotel chains in Nigeria have introduced obnoxious practices targeting at weakening the strength of labour in hotel industries.

“After sacking majority of the permanent staff during Covid-19, they are now resorting to massive casualisation, outsourcing and contract form of employment with strong warning and emphasising than none of the employees should have anything to do with the union.”

The labour leader said what that meant was the reintroduction of slave camps in workplaces, adding

that, "in this arrangement, workers have no access to any retirement benefits, no voice irrespective of whatever treatment that befalls them in the hands of their employer.”

He further stated that they cannot ask for what was due to them because of fear of being victimised by the employer.

“Several attempts by the labour leaders to discourage them has proved abortive. The Marriott group who are the managers of Sheraton hotels, Accord and Protea groups are the major difficult hotel chain in Nigeria with respect to unhealthy labour practices," he added.

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destroyed by flood across the various states in the country.

Buhari added that the supplementary appropriation was purely for the capital expenditure component of the 2022 budget with attendant increase of deficit to N8.17 trillion.

He said the proposed N819.5 billion supplementary budget would be financed by additional domestic borrowings.

Part of the president's letter read: "The year 2022 has witnessed the worse flood incident in recent history which has caused massive destruction of farm lands at a point already closed to harvest season.

"This may compound the situation of food security and nutrition in the country. The flood has also devastated road infrastructure in across the 36 states and the FCT as well as bridges nationwide that are critical for movement of goods and services.

"The water sector was equally affected by the flood and there is a need to complete some ongoing critical projects that have already achieved about 85 percentage completion.

"The nine critical projects proposed in the sector cuts across water supply, dam projects and irrigation projects nationwide. " I have approved a supplementary budget of 2022 appropriation of N819.536 billion, all of which are capital expenditure.

"The supplementary will be financed through additional

domestic borrowings which will raise the budget deficit for 2022 to N8.17 trillion and deficit to GDP ratio to 4.43 per cent."

In the red chamber, the President of the Senate forwarded the request to the Committees on Appropriation , Finance , Works , Water Resources and Agriculture for expeditious consideration Also at yesterday’s plenary, both the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives read another letter from Buhari requesting for the approval of the restructuring of N23.7 trillion "Ways and Means Advances" given the federal government by the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) The president in the letter stated that the "Ways and Means" were "advances from the CBN to the federal government for emergency funding of delayed receipt of fiscal deficit."

Part of the letter titled," "Restructuring of Ways and Means Advances," read in part: "The Ways and Means advances by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the federal government has been a funding option to the federal government to cater for short term or emergency finance to fund delayed government expected cash receipt of physical deficit.

“The Ways and Means, balances as at 19th December 2022 is N22.7 trillion.

Continues online

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Buhari: I'm Ready to Campaign for Tinubu, Others Optimistic ruling party will win all elections Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, expressed his readiness to campaign vigorously for the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and other

candidates of the party in the forthcoming general election in the country.

The president has, therefore, assured the APC and its candidates in the elections next year that he was ready at all times to campaign for the presidential candidate and

all party candidates with “full energy and conviction.”

According to a release by presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, the assurance was to dispel concerns in certain quarters that the president has not featured in campaigns since the

national launch in Jos, Plateau State capital, and to stress that while he remained committed to party politics, the functions and duties of the president would equally be upheld at times.

Speaking to the Nigerian community in Washington DC in the

course of his recent visit to the United States, Buhari stressed what he said all the time that he was ready to campaign for the party’s victory in the general election next year.

The president noted that the APC campaigns had so far been the

most aggressive in recent history.

He said, “They have been impressive and of a high voltage,” compared to the opposition that seemed to be playing catch-up, and reiterated his strong optimism that the party would win all the elections fairly and squarely.

EMEFIELE: BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIAN SEEKS INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS AHEAD OF 2023 ELECTIONS institutions ahead of next year’s general election.

Similarly, the Centre for Financial Surveillance and Illicit Transaction Tracking Group (CFSITT) expressed concerns over the move against Emefiele. The member of Egmont Group, a 164 countries membership forum, said the likely suspension of Nigeria was one of the consequences of the terrorism allegation against the CBN governor by DSS. In a statement by its Director, John Dimu, CFSITT said Nigeria would have been suspended if DSS had succeeded in framing Emefiele for terrorism.

CFSITT provides financial units with a platform to securely exchange expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, among others, However, bowing to pressure from its cash withdrawal policy since it was announced, the central bank announced an upward review of its cash withdrawal limits across all

payment channels by individuals and corporate organisations.

The House of Representatives resolved yesterday to admit a Deputy Governor of the CBN in charge of Financial System Stability, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, in place of Emefiele, to brief the lawmakers on the recent monetary policies of the apex bank, especially the cash withdrawal limits.

Nevertheless, former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, also yesterday, advised security agencies in the country to be wary and avoid being manipulated by politicians as the 2023 elections draw nearer.

On same day, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), in conjunction with the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOS) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) threw their weight behind Emefiele, in the recent move by the DSS to arrest the CBN governor.

The Coalition of National Interest

Defenders (CNID) had raised the alarm over an alleged plot by DSS to implicate Emefiele in terrorism.

DSS had, through one U. S. Gambarawa on December 7, 2022, brought an ex parte application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the court's order to arrest and detain Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing, among others. The court, in its ruling, declined to grant the request by DSS to arrest Emefiele. It said sufficient evidence was not brought before it to warrant the granting of the order.

Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who delivered the ruling, had held, "These are, no doubt, grave allegations, but which the Applicant has not presented any concrete evidence to support."

However, Hannan stressed that the rule of law and the independence of the central bank must be respected.

In a question he raised in the House of Lords, yesterday, Hannan stated that due process and the independence of public officials mattered in democracy.

“They bind us together as Commonwealth nations,” the British lawmaker explained.

He stated, “I am not Nigerian.

It is not for me to say whether it was time for a redesign of naira notes, or whether such a change will make elections cleaner. But I do feel that friends of Nigeria, and friends of Nigerian democracy should defend the rule of law there.

“At a time when democracy is in retreat globally, we all have a stake in Nigeria’s success. The country is Africa’s greatest economy, Africa’s greatest population and Africa’s greatest hope. That is why I have raised the issue of the attempt to detain the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, in Parliament.

“And that is why I hope that

HISTORY AS SANWO-OLU COMPLETES INFRASTRUCTURE WORK ON LAGOS BLUE RAIL LINE from the National Theatre Station to the iconic station in Marina.

The trip took approximately 10 minutes.

For the first time, a rail infrastructure traversed the western part of the state and the Lagos Island.

The first passenger trip marked the completion of civil infrastructure work on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) being constructed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

The completed tracks, spanning 13 kilometres in the first phase, extend from Mile 2 to Marina, covering five stations.

The construction started in 2010 under the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

It experienced some delays in the succeeding administration, before the current government continued from 2019.

Sanwo-Olu, who could not hide his excitement about the development, declared the end of construction on the Blue Rail Line project, keeping to the December 2022 deadline. The rail infrastructure, he said, was now ready for commissioning in January by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor said the milestone was a culmination of “impactful reforms” initiated in the state’s transport ecosystem, which started at the beginning of the fourth republic under the administration of his predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sanwo-Olu described the moment as “historic”, saying Lagos became the first sub-national government in Africa to fund and deliver a rail system from the state’s balance sheet.

The governor said the construction of the second phase of the Blue Line rail project, which covers 14-kilometre from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, would be launched immediately after the completion and inauguration of the first phase next month.

He said: “The completion of the infrastructure for the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line rail is a strong testimony of our commitment to building on the legacies of past administrations, and the pioneering vision of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This milestone in the development of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit is the culmination of several impactful reforms in the transport ecosystem of Lagos, starting in 1999.

“The Tinubu administration developed the Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), which laid out the foundation for a network of robust and modern transport

infrastructure befitting the 21st century city. The master plan has six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes and a number of major new roads. Central to the implementation of the transport master plan is LAMATA established in 2002.

“Over the last two decades, that masterplan has been faithfully implemented by successive administrations. Today, we are making history with the completion of historic rail line, which is the first phase of the Blue Line.

“The road to the completion of this project, no doubt, has had an interesting story of delays, which were not due to a lack of enthusiasm or commitment on the part of the state government. Now, we have put the challenges behind us; from now on, we will focus on the benefits of this project for our people.”

After the inauguration, SanwoOlu said passenger operations would not commence until the project undergoes necessary test-running and proper security measures were put in place along the rail corridor.

The governor said the state had already taken the delivery of the three set of wagons that would be used for passenger operations.

The completed rail infrastructure, he said, has the capacity to move 250,000 passengers daily. When the second phase is completed, he said the entire project would take 500,000 people daily.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration’s vision for an integrated transport system, as enunciated in the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, was beginning to be a reality, stressing that the transportation plan of his government was a multimodal approach that would bring road, rail, and waterways together for seamless mobility.

The governor acknowledged the effort of his predecessor, Fashola, towards bringing the vision to life.

He also thanked the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria allowing Lagos access its differentiated cash reserves, which was disbursed through three financial institutions - Access Bank, Sterling Bank and Fidelity Bank - that created innovative funding model for the Blue Line project.

He said: “To the good people of Lagos, this project is for you and your families. It is about your livelihood and sustenance.

We promised to make your life better by this project, which will help you to commute from one part of the city to another in a safe and

secure manner. We gave you this commitment and now, we have kept our promises.

“We thank you for your patience and for bearing with us in the face of all the inconveniences thrown up by the implementation of the Light Rail network. This project is for you; ensure you safeguard it.

Bear in mind that this rail system is powered by electricity; there must not be a trespass on it in any way.

“Crossing the tracks is no longer an option. Anyone who attempts vandalism on the track put his life at great risk. Pedestrian bridges have been provided to enable pedestrian crossings.”

LAMATA Managing Director, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, described the moment as “fantastic”, saying the development marked a new chapter for Lagos.

The completion of the rail infrastructure, she said, manifested the audacious mind of the Governor, stressing that the development signi-

fied the importance the Sanwo-Olu administration accorded to the delivery of integrated transportation system for the state and traffic management.

Akinajo said the Blue Line was one of the six rail lines articulated in the State’s Strategic Transportation Master Plan, noting that the construction was funded from the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This, she said, is unprecedented in the history of rail construction across the world.

She said: “Construction of the Blue Line has been one of the most challenging projects undertaken by Lagos Government, given many hitches that had to be overcome.

To get to the point of completion, we have had disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, gas pipelines and removal of shipwrecks. This made the construction of submarine pillar Continued on page 43

democrats on all sides will join Nigeria in supporting the independence of its institutions in the run-up to the 2023 election – including, of course, the central bank.”

CFSITT stated that Nigeria risked being blacklisted by global financial bodies due to the DSS' allegations.

The group added that suspension of Nigeria from the group, if it happened, would be embarrassing given that the country had been suspended in 2017 over lack of legal framework and autonomy.

Part of the statement read, "We received with disappointment the reports of discovery of a suit secretly filed by the State Security Service wherein it accused Mr. Godwin Emefiele of terrorism financing as well as other crimes it described as economic crimes of national security dimension.

"The allegation that the DSS embarked on this plot to remove the CBN governor for political and pecuniary reasons, is not only a huge shame, but against the ethics of the Egmont group which Nigeria is a member.

"Recall that the group had suspended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, an arm of EFCC, after its plenary in Macao, China, on July 2, 2017.

"The group suspended Nigeria as a result of its lack of a legal framework and autonomy."

It stated further, "It is quite shocking that the DSS could be found being part of this illegal move. We advise DSS to focus on its mandate rather than becoming lapdogs for politicians."

CBN Bows to Pressure, Reviews Cash Withdrawal Limit Upwards

The CBN yesterday announced an upward review of its cash withdrawal policy across all payment channels by individuals and corporate organisations.

Under the updated regime, the bank said effective January 9, 2023, individuals and corporate entities

could withdraw a maximum of N500,000 and N5 million, respectively, away from N100,000 and N500,000, respectively, which was previously announced on December 6, 2022.

In an updated circular dated December 21, 2022, and addressed to all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Other Financial Institutions, Microfinance Banks, Mobile Money Operators, and Agents, the CBN explained that the upward review was as a result of the feedback it received from stakeholders.

The correspondence was signed

by CBN Director, Banking Supervision Department, Mr. Haruna Mustafa.

The CBN stated that in compelling circumstances, where cash withdrawal above the limit was required for legitimate purposes, such request shall be subject to a processing fee of three per cent and five per cent for individuals and corporate organisations, respectively.

The central bank, in yielding to public pressure on the review, noted that it recognised the role that cash played in supporting underserved and rural communities and would ensure an inclusive approach as it implemented the transition to a more cashless society.

The apex bank had on December 6 introduced revised cash withdrawal limits in banks and other financial institutions following its recent currency redesign project.

The bank had restricted the maximum cash withdrawal over the counter (OTC) by individuals and corporate organisations per week to N100, 000 and N500, 000 respectively.

The CBN stated, however, that withdrawals above these thresholds will attract processing fees of five per cent and 10, respectively, for individuals and corporate entities going forward.

In addition, third-party cheques above N50, 000 shall not be eligible for OTC payment while extant limits Continued on page 44

15 YEARS AFTER, NUPRC ANNOUNCES BID FOR SEVEN DEEP OFFSHORE OIL ASSETS efforts.

Earlier, the NUPRC also resumed a separate bidding round for firms interested in commercialising gas that is burned off – or “flared” – by oil producers.

Nigeria’s oil output fell to a multidecade low of just over 900,000 barrels per day in September and had almost halved since the first quarter of 2020, until the recent resurgence of production after what looked like a declaration of a national emergency on oil losses in the sector.

The government has blamed rampant crude theft on the pipelines that crisscross the Niger Delta for shutting down wells and killing off investment. In recent years, deepwater production led by international companies such as Shell Plc and TotalEnergies has accounted for about 35 per cent of oil output but its share has risen this year as onshore operators have struggled.

Komolafe added that a dedicated programme portal (br.nuprc.gov.ng) for the mini bid round had been published by NUPRC, providing details of the bid round process, including the registration and prequalification requirements, and detailed guidelines for applicants.

A pre-bid conference, he disclosed, is scheduled for 16th Jan 2023, to provide potential applicants with an opportunity to ask questions they may have concerning the mini bid round process and requirements, after which interested

companies will be invited to submit their pre-qualification applications

by January, 31, 2023.

“NUPRC will continue to provide further details and roadmap for this international competitive mini bid round in due course.

“It is a great privilege to announce the mini bid round 2022 and we look forward to the success of the upcoming events and activities,” he stressed.

According to Komolafe, the bid round is an opportunity to spur new exploration and drilling activities in the prospective deep waters offshore Nigeria.

The bid round, he stressed, is the first in a series , aimed at further development of the prospective petroleum basin which will be held in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA), with its enhanced legal and regulatory frameworks that seek to encourage new investors and investments into the next phase of exploration in this region.

The NUPRC chief executive noted that the process will be managed by the NUPRC, in line with the provisions of the PIA, as the statutory body responsible for ensuring compliance with petroleum laws, regulations, and guidelines in the Nigerian upstream petroleum industry.

“The National Data Repository (NDR) of NUPRC and our multiclient partners are delighted and ready to support the mini bid round underpinned by high-quality

datasets. The blocks have extensive 2D and 3D seismic data coverage, including multi-beam and analogue data.

“Additionally, a remarkable quality, 3D MegaSurveyPlus reprocessed Pre-stack Time Migration (completed October 2022), with angle stacks and gathers is also available to prospective bidders. Links to all data can be accessed via the dedicated NUPRC portal.

“The mini bid round is a marketdriven programme and will follow a transparent and competitive procurement process designed to attract competent third-party investors from across the world that have the capability and proficiency in operating in deep-water environment,” Komolafe explained.

Historically, he said the mini bid round intends to build on the successes of the last bid round that held in April 2007 during which a total of 45 blocks, drawn from the inland Basins of Anambra, Benue and Chad; the Niger Delta Continental Shelf; Onshore Niger Delta and Deep Offshore were put on offer.

The 2007 bid round , he recalled , was held under a different regulatory regime (the Petroleum Act, 1969) and generated massive interest and participation with its attended revenue which made the exercise a success.

Komolafe stated that that the bid round was open to foreign and local bidders with the technical wherewithal, explaining that the projected

revenue can only be revealed after the initial ‘prospectivity’ analysis on the basis of data made available. “its a bit premature to have an accurate revenue projection, until this is done,” he said, but added that the NUPRC may have its own reserve bid, which may not be made available until the process begins.

The year has witnessed very challenging situations, he noted, reiterating that the menace of crude oil theft affected production which further affected revenue.

As a commission, he stated that the NUPRC has worked assiduously and had remained focused on its mandate which has resulted in increased production, which today stands at 1.4 million barrels per day.

“We have taken other initiatives and within a space of one year, we have been able to implement the critical aspects of the PIA and on the Host Communities’ side , we have been able to incorporate 63 trusts which is a landmark.

“Why this is important is that in the spirit of the PIA, effectively implementing the act and the trust will enhance production because investors will be able to ramp up production.

“We are ensuring that the challenges of metering error which is another area of hydrocarbons accounting challenge is tackled while the gap is filled within the shortest possible time,” Komolafe assured.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022

POLITICS

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

Shaiub: Atiku is Miles Ahead of Other Presidential Candidates InthisinterviewwithChuksOkocha,PhrankShaiub,theseniorspecialassistantonpubliccommunications to PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, speaks on the forthcoming presidential poll and the chances of his principal in the February, 2023 election.

Abubakar

H

ow has it been on the field campaigning for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar?

Thank you very much. By the nature of campaigns, it can be gruelling.

You must understand the peculiarities of all the states or electoral constituencies that you are visiting and you must be able to connect with their agitations.

With particular reference to the Atiku Abubakar ‘Recover Nigeria’ campaign rallies, the challenges are even bigger than a normal campaign rally. Because there are so much divisive agitations in almost every part of the country, we decided that we must hold meetings with stakeholders in each of the states that we visit.

During those meetings, we made commitments to the people that if and when the PDP is elected in the elections next year, we will approach the issue of national unity with primal attention.

Look, unity is critical to the core business of governance. If you cannot maintain unity even at the family level, it will be difficult and even impossible to build anything. That is why, when you go through the Atiku policy document, entitled : My Covenant with Nigeria, unity is the first thing that you will find in the document.

In his family for example, he has children who are half-Yoruba, half-Igbo and Fulani. And they have continued to live together in peace.

Being able to maintain diversity should be a major task that will face the next president of this country and Atiku Abubakar is more qualified than other contestants in this race in that area.

Your candidate has cut a name of the Unifier for himself in this campaign, but many still wonder why he hasn’t been able to unify your party after a long time. Will you want to thrown some light in that concern?

Like I said before, that you need peace to

be able to build structures for sustainable development. The fact that there is peace, even in a family system, doesn’t mean that there are not disagreements. There are no divisions in the PDP. There may be some areas of disagreements but that does not mean that there isn’t unity in the party. I think what is more important is how we manage disagreements and make sure that those disagreements do not lead to outright conflict. And I am sure you will agree with me that there is no conflict in the PDP. Your main opponent in the election and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said recently that he would defeat Atiku and other contestants silly in the election. What is your reaction to that?

Well, I know from experience that every election is a game of

chance. But apart from that, I think that the issues about the next election are not issues of who can beat who silly. And I also think that the facts about this election are clear to all Nigerians.

This election is going to be a referendum about the performance of the APC in the past seven years and more. Interestingly enough, the candidate of the APC in the election is also the national leader of the party and he must be bold enough to address the media on the performance of his party.

Elections are not won by wishful thinking. You must be able to face the public and let them see why they should deliver their ballot in your box on the day of election.

So far, I have not seen the APC candidate do that, and I must say that it is bemusing how he hopes to win in an election where you hold the people in contempt.

Do you believe your candidate will win the election?

It is an election and whoever wins, of course, is the candidate that has the simple majority of the votes. What you can ask me is, do I believe that Atiku Abubakar has consulted with the people enough in

Again, you look at the policy documents of all the political parties and you let me know which party has solutions to all the issues confronting the country today better than the PDP? Also, look at all the candidates and tell me who comes close in terms of experience and capacity that I possess.These are the factors that determine who wins in an election. The PDP remains the leading contender in this election and that is why the other contestants are apprehensive.

order for him to win the election? In that case, I will say, Yes. Look at it, as we speak, we rounded off our campaign with the Katsina State rally on Tuesday and that brings to 15, the number of states, including the FCT that the PDP has covered. Let me ask, which other political party has done that much?

In all the states that we have visited so far, I am sure you should have observed the high turn out of people at our rallies. Let me ask again, which other party has been so accepted in the manner of the PDP? Again, you look at the policy documents of all the political parties and you let me know which party has solutions to all the issues confronting the country today better than the PDP? Also, look at all the candidates and tell me who comes close in terms of experience and capacity that I possess.

These are the factors that determine who wins in an election. The PDP remains the leading contender in this election and that is why the other contestants are apprehensive.

Do you trust on the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to conduct a free and fair election?

I don’t think it is appropriate to isolate the President as the only entity who can guarantee a free and fair election. There are so many actors involved. Although the President is the head, it must be noted that there are other institutions too, whose roles in an election will affect the outcome of the exercise.

The last election that remains the reference point is the Osun State governorship election and it is clear to everyone that the outcome of that election is a reflection of the electoral desires of the people.

So, what I will say is that we should allow the operational parameters of the Osun State election be the minimum standard of how the general election next year is conducted.

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POLITICS

Akere: Oyetola Will Be Back as Osun Governor Director of Operation of the All Progressives Congress in Osun state, Sunday Akere, in this interview with Yinka Kolawole, talks of the recent political developments in the state of the living spring and submitted that former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will return to govern the state

N

ot long ago, the former governor of Osun state Adegboyega Oyetola, left the stage and the thinking of the masses is that with the exit of Oyetola in governance for now there may not be APC again and it may die if eventually, he did not come back as Governor of the state. What is your view on this?

A tree does not make a forest. Indeed, Governor Oyetola stepped aside. I want to use the word step aside because I know that we are coming back to govern the state for second time. One thing we should realize is that as the Governor although he is the leader of the party, we have a strong party structure not only in the state but also in the local and the ward levels.

We conducted our congresses last year, July/ October, during which we elected officers that will run the affairs of the party for four years, and as of now, they have just spent about a year they still have three years to run.

The issues are clear, yes probably when the governor is not seated, the party is not fully mobilized, but I want to assure us that in Osun state the governor and the leader, Adegegboga Oyetola, will not allow the party to go into disarray.

We have at least for the next six months the structure of the House of Assembly under our grip and the local government structure is a point of litigation for now.

We know that party administration both at the wards, local, and state levels are in good hands.

We have elections ahead of us, the elections are coming up in February next year which is just about three months away.

Definitely, even outside the party leadership have the structures ensuring that the whole party family is together. Our 38 candidates too here in Osun will not relax and allow the party to go into disarray. The House of Assembly candidates the House of Representatives candidates and the Senatorial Candidates thirty-eight of them are fully working at their various constituencies to ensure that the party remains one, united and solid.

How do you see immediate past Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, was he credible while in government?

Thank you very much, It is quite unfortunate that the new administration is ranking up frivolous issues that should never be spoken about.

I will give you two examples at the governor’s lounge here in Osogbo, the governor stopped sleeping at the lounge on the 19th of November well over a week before the end of his first administration. It is on record that on the day preceding the taking over of the new Governor, which is on the 26th two officials of the SSS of the protocol department with SSS officials attached to the new governor went around the Presidential lounge and the governor’s lounge here to take inventory of all that was there.

There was no issue of any looting after the inauguration of the new Governor, they had their party in the Government’s House on that Sunday 27th of November, 2022.

They didn’t complain that was looting there then, it was after probably finish their party or whatever, that they now discovered that everywhere is polluted. It is unfortunate.

Oyetola is a man of honor, that even before he became Chief of Staff, he already was a man of means. Oyetola even himself before the second term election on July 16 around April and May, he looked at the structure of the Governor’s lounge and said this is not too befitting of a Governor and ordered that the entire place be renovated which was done.

It is unfortunate that the current administration seems to have no plan and programs which they want to pursue. What they are trying to do is to look at what they can say to rubbish the previous government probably to get some sympathy from the public, but unfortunately, it has backfired on them.

There is nothing they can say that will make people believe that Oyetola that left over 14 billion naira cash in the purse of the government, that ran the affairs of the states for four years without borrowing kobo, that paid over N97 billion of the debt left by his predecessor, Rauf

Akere

Aregbesola, will now be the one that will be looting government lounges.

They should look at themselves and I know that whenever there are change of government definitely some people who want to take advantage of the situation and they want to make away with whatever they see around there. Oyetola and his deputy did not take anything, nobody took anything from the lounge.

It is the people that are there that should look inward and ask themselves, whether it is the people that took over and they will have copies of the images of what was left there. It is the people that are there that should look inward and ask themselves, whether it is the people that took over and even have copies of the inventory of what is left in the Government House. How will inventory be taken on 26th November the day Oyetola left. And you had your party there on the 27th and you are now saying anything you like, it is just unfortunate.

Just a week after Senator Ademola Adeleke became governor of the state he promised to provide good governance and reassure the state that ‘there is light now’. Do you see him

providing good governance?

Well, it is unfortunate, it’s when you are aspiring for a position of authority like that of a Governor what is expected of you is to have a well written and documented manifestoes of what you are going to do when you get there.

You will see that it is unfortunate it was after the new Governor was said to have won the election that he is now telling the transition committee that they should give him a manifesto of what he’s going to run for his first 100 days that is to tell you that he has nothing on the ground before.

I don’t see the administration providing good governance except all what they are doing which I know they are only doing to rake up sympathy. And one fact is clear during the debates ahead of the election he promised he will serve the interest of the civil servants and will pay the backlog of salaries owed by Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

Today we are already in the middle of December over 70% of civil servants have not collected their salary for November, the salary for November was signed on the 18th by the former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola which the Accountant General and people there refused to pay until he exited on 26th November. They should now tell us if the money to pay the salary was not left in the coffers of the government and what they have spent N14 billion left behind by the administration of Oyetola.

Do you foresee breakdown of law and order in the state?

It’s not even a matter of foresee if you are very conversant with happening in town you

Indeed, Governor Oyetola stepped aside. I want to use the word step aside because I know that we are coming back to govern the state for second time. One thing we should realize is that as the Governor although he is the leader of the party, we have a strong party structure not only in the state but also in the local and the ward levels.

We conducted our congresses last year, July/ October, during which we elected officers that will run the affairs of the party for four years, and as of now, they have just spent about a year they still have three years to run.

will know that there is anarchy in the state from the 27th of November as the inauguration was being done at the stadium, on the 27th PDP thugs went to the town at Oke-Fia macheted people at the garage there scattering things, they went around the town.

As at today as we are talking virtually there is hardly any local governments in the state where you will not feel the impact of PDP thuggery, intimidation, harassment and killing of people.

A party member came here yesterday from Atakumosa West saying that for over three, four days now that a PDP leader in that area has led thugs to drive away all APC leaders out of town.

It was because they were not comfortable and they knew what they wanted to do that they insisted that the former commissioner of police should be posted out of the state because the man did not allow them to do what they wanted to be doing.

In my local government, Boluwaduro Local Government, our House of Representatives candidate was in the local government headquarters, Otan Ayegaju, to familiarize with the party members in ward ll over the weekend PDP thugs went there and started unleashing terrors on the people. They macheted them and even broke the hand of one of the party women.

The same thing they are doing at Atakumosa West. They chased APC members out of the town with a threat to eliminate them. The same thing they are doing everywhere.

We are only appealing to the founding fathers of this state that they should call them to order, nobody has a monopoly of violence but we believe that we are Omoluabi.

We believe that this is our state who ever knows that state is yours will not want any evil or destroyer come on to destroy it. That is why we are appealing that they should help us to tell them that they should be civil.

They want power, they have had the power we want to see how they are going to run the affairs of the state that people will feel the impact of their administration being in place, it is not by tormenting, terrorizing, harassing, beating, killing. We want them to give good dividends of democracy to the people of the state not to unleash terrors on the people who have been enjoying the peace that have been existing over the years.

The workers that campaigned, lobbied for them, we want them to pay their salary. For four years Oyetola did not owe a month salary, we pay salaries every month, as at when due, we pay pensions, and gratuity every month as at when due.

Oyetola inherited the debts he never borrowed any money. He said it clearly in his hand over notes that out of the debts inherited for the four years he was able to pay over N97 billion back and the records are there. If you are now saying N14 billion is not in account and we have records of where the money is, so they should face the heart of governance and stop breaking up unnecessary issues.

It is only in military regime that you hear of executive orders, it is a strange phenomenon to say in a democracy like we have in Osun they will be running the affairs of the state with executive orders. In towns that have installed obas for weeks without crisis, you start fomenting crisis there because of politics for goodness sake.

This is not the first time that there has been a change of government, in 2003 when Chief Bisi Akande was about leaving office he installed Orangun of Ila four days before the expiration of his tenure. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola took over he never said they should go and lock the palace of Orangun of Ila or remove him, the government is a continuum what the governor has done and what he could not finish you continue from there not that you will come back around now and start playing politics with everything.

When they are now saying three Obas was it only three Obas that the administration of Governor Oyetola installed between July 17 and November 2022?, it is all politics.

We want to beg them not to introduce politics to the affairs of traditional institutions in the State.

22

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

FEATURES

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

IHS Nigeria: “Better Connections, Better Opportunities” Uzoma Mba reports that IHS Nigeria is bent on delivering better opportunities and even connections to empower people, all geared at transforming economies, improving quality of life and all-around development

Partnership between WeForGood International, a Lagos-based NGO and IHS Nigeria, as well as others, recently led to the disbursement of N104 million to viable eco-friendly sustainable enterprises owned by young African entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years

I

HS Nigeria consistently seeks opportunities to empower people, transform economies, and improve the quality of life of stakeholders to stimulate and sustain all-around development.

Aligned with Nigeria’s national aspirations to make telecommunications a tool for economic advancement, IHS’s global sustainability framework matches this goal.

IHS focuses on sustainability basing its strategy on four pillars: Ethics and Governance, Environment and Climate Change, Education and Economic Growth and Communities.

Over the last five years, IHS sustainability programs have impacted over two million direct beneficiaries through partnerships with schools, universities, governments, and award-winning NGOs such as WeForGood, Leap Africa, and Field of Skills and Dreams to deliver sustainable initiatives that impact lives.

Promoting Sustainable Health Interventions In 2016, IHS Nigeria blazed the trail in supporting the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policy of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria, through the roll-out of the Project “Wellness-On-Wheels” (PWOW) – a free mobile health clinic program.

In 2021, the project was upscaled to Project Clinic Without Walls. It now provides a micro health insurance scheme and telehealth services on toll-free lines for low-income populations in partnership with AXA Mansard. This intervention has a direct impact on over 28,000 beneficiaries.

The company has also partnered the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria) to provide HIV test kits and advance HIV/AIDS sensitisation and prevention, in Nigeria.

This collaboration provided 70,000 HIV Rapid Test Kits to Bayelsa State, with 8,685 beneficiaries tested and 356 people linked

to treatment.

Expanding the Bandwidth of CARE During the COVID-19 pandemic, IHS Nigeria saw an opportunity to bolster the healthcare system in Nigeria and support the effort to curb the spread of the virus.

The goal was to secure effective partnerships to identify solutions that enable the company to sustain its long-term commitments and increase efforts to support the fight against COVID-19.

Working closely with UNICEF Nigeria, IHS supported the expansion of the NCDC’s testing capacity, with over 1,601,396 samples tested for COVID-19 in 53 locations across the country in 2020.

IHS has also provided PPE kits to main isolation centres in Nigeria.

In contribution to the health ministry’s National Strategy for the Scale-up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities, IHS established 25 cylinders of 6m3 capacity per day oxygen plant at the Paelon Memorial Hospital. IHS also began a two-year partnership with UNICEF to provide oxygen security access in Oyo and Kano States.

Facilitating Equitable and Quality Education in STEM IHS is dedicated to improving education in Nigeria by providing the best infrastructure and raising the standard of learning to achieve SDG 4: Quality Education, through the IHS Nigeria

Mission-T intervention.

In partnership with Tech Quest, IHS has impacted over 52,052 students, 3,422 teachers, and 706 schools across 36 states. IHS, through its collaboration with Save the Children, is also supporting female children aged six to 14 who are affected by crises to exercise their rights to education and gender equality in the north-eastern Nigerian states of Borno and Yobe.

The objective is to connect with 24,000 (10,000 out of school and 14,000 in school) crisis-affected girls who live in the selected communities.

In the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, the company constructed an Innovation Hub for emerging skills, fully equipped with over 120 machines.

These actions have impacted over 8,300 students in Nigeria.

for 60 per cent of all STEM beneficiaries.

In 2019, the Women in IHS Network was launched to promote gender empowerment in IHS. The WIIN initiative is a mentoring program for female employees creating a safe circle of trust where the female employee can share sensitive issues of concern, encourage cross-learning, and uplift women to achieve their full potential.

IHS and Gender Empowerment IHS Nigeria recognises the importance of raising awareness, combating gender stereotypes, and encouraging an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity.

To eliminate glass ceilings for women in technology, the leads programs encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This ranges from early childhood education to postgraduate programs, with women accounting

Driving Sustainable Waste Management IHS has installed a Wastewater Recycling Plant around the office operations. This plant produces recycled water at the offices and has reduced water costs, improved environmental compliance, and helped protect the ecosystem. The company is using this as an example across other markets.

IHS focuses on sustainability basing its strategy on four pillars: Ethics and Governance, Environment and Climate Change, Education and Economic Growth and Communities

IHS Energy and Environmental Hub Businesses are increasingly becoming more ambitious, bolder, and courageous in their approach to social impact, diversifying how they can maximise their value to society while meeting commercial objectives.

Therefore, IHS launched the IHS 600-capacity Energy Hub and Laboratory. The hub provides economic opportunities to start-ups and freelancers currently facing operational difficulties due to the high cost of office space, furniture, power, and internet.

Access to Electricity In 2016, a partnership agreement was signed with SOS Children’s Villages; the villages received diesel generators. This was followed by a partnership with Pathfinder International, an international NGO operating in over 20 countries.

Through this partnership, IHS Nigeria has provided 20 health centres with generators, which have helped provide life-saving access to healthcare for thousands of people. Over four years, the programme has operated across 30 States in Nigeria alone.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

#THISISNIGERIA – Chude Jideonwo

CHANGE THE CHANGE

I

t’s the unique conundrum of society that the young, unburdened by history, are almost certain to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Also, the young, unburdened by history, and so free of the fears, cautions and caveats of yesterday, are its best chance of escaping the past.

Often, they fail. Inevitably, because one must learn from the past to avoid mindlessly repeating it. But now and again, magic happens, stars collide and the young open a path to a future that could previously only be imagined.

Nigeria’s unreached promise is waiting for that moment. I think of the headiness of the latest very important national movement #EndSARS. “We are the generation that will succeed where our parents failed,” it declared.

I recall the organising myths it has engendered in one generation, and I find myself chastened by the lessons from previous movements. I see the promise and the limitations, the boisterous possibilities and the debilitating hubris.

You see the same in #BringBackOurGirls before it, #OccupyNigeria preceding it, #EnoughisEnough a few years earlier, and if you gallop to the dark days before 2000 and hashtags, there were countless movements to save Nigeria from military dictatorship and return it to a seamless government of the people, for the people and by the people.

Sadly, in a country where history isn’t embedded in culture, talk less of contemporary culture, every set of young people (including mine) announce that the generation before them was feckless, cowardly, inactive, lazy, corrupt and ineffective. And then, bolstered by that falsehood, it does exactly what those before it have done, in the exact same way, and thus meets the exact same fate.

Nigeria, that towering mishmash of corruption, ineptitude, mediocrity, murder, disunity, exploitation and pockets of destruction, is the only one that survives. Every movement to change this country crashes, headlong and headless like waves on concrete.

The concrete remains. The waves slink back, pointless.

This doddering giant outlives all.

Why? I’ll wager an informed guess, informed by almost two decades of advocacy, activism and in the front seats in power ’s corridors.

Maybe it is because we don’t build on the successes that already existed.

Maybe it is because we don’t listen to the quiet voices that will bring clarity. Maybe it is because we are very quick to dismiss and belittle, to discount and ignore. We don’t link arms across generations. So our results don’t compound. We are locked in a chain of mutual generational disdain.

The young, as I have written again and again over the past decade, are not better because they are untainted by participation. Untested purity is not enough to change a nation. If it were, the revolutionaries of the 1960s or 1970s or 1980s would already have

built the Nigeria of our dreams.

In 2013, I asked: “If these problems remain the same way over decades, does it make any sense to engage them without a more deeply thought-out strategy? Would youthful exuberance, an army of new tools, and a sense of outrage inspired by our non-responsibility for the present rot, be enough to change our country? Would we be able to make things change simply by the power of our will?

Shouldn’t we answer the questions that generations have been asking before making a step? Shouldn’t we ensure that we know exactly what we are doing before we begin to do it?”

Nigeria is a chain of the courageous and the strategic. It has never lacked for activists and protesters, for those who have been ready to lay down their lives. This is the nation of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Ken Saro-Wiwa; Maitama Sule and MKO Abiola; Kudirat Abiola and Kaduna Nzeogwu; Clement Nwankwo and Chris Anyanwu; and Wole Soyinka and Omoyele Sowore. The coconut-head generation is, of course, not the first generation to say enough, to war against indiscipline, to fight for freedom. But something about Nigeria has resisted all efforts at revolution. Something that requires rigour in contemplation, wisdom

in articulation, depth in execution.

Of course, it can be done. Of course, any generation now alive has the capacity to make the change happen, especially the young, with their energy, daring, audacity and the greatest gift of all, time. Whether they will learn from the mistakes of those before them and discard naivety and self-containment is the question.

In the interim, the waves and cycles of popular uprising will continue. They must continue.

Performance is better than apathy.

Half-action is better than inaction.

Moving forward, however haphazardly, is better than standing still. After all, the movements of the past brought us democracy; peaceful handovers of power; rescued Chibok girls and others old and young; brought down in some form the dreaded special anti-robbery squad.

The agitations matter. The protests matter. The movements matter. But much more is possible and, I suspect, just within our grasp. To have it, we need to understand deeply the labour of our heroes’ past, and be grateful for the bloodshed that brought us thus far. We need to drop the superciliousness of thinking about being the “first” generation to do this or try that. We need to understand, as I wrote half a decade ago, that we stand on the

shoulders of giants. And if we do not understand the past and build upon its successes, it is very likely that our success, however important, will be limited, our progress will be stunted, and the future will continue to mirror the past.

This is what I have learnt as well as previous generations of changemakers: Nigeria is hard to change; culture will always eat passion for lunch, and those who consider themselves unmoored from the past will be consumed by the same predators that took their parents. This understanding is as urgent as it could ever be. Because our country, of course, can change.

But those who want to change it, must first change the ways we try to bring the change.

Enough is enough! t$IVEF +JEFPOXP JT DP GPVOEFS PG NFEJB HSPVQ 3&% BOE IVNBO GMPVSJTIJOH DPNQBOZ +PZ *OD )F JT UIF BVUIPS PG UXP CPPLT i"SF 8F 5IF 5VSOJOH 1PJOU (FOFSBUJPO w BOE i)PX UP 8JO &MFDUJPOT JO "GSJDB 1BSBMMFMT XJUI %POBME 5SVNQw )F IBT CFFO B 8PSME 'FMMPX BU :BMF 6OJWFSTJUZ 5IJT JT BO FYDFSQU PG IJT QPTUTDSJQU UP UIF CPPL A'PPUQSJOUT 1BTU 1SFTFOU 'VUVSF BWBJMBCMF GPS TBMF BU GPPUQSJOUT FJF OH "U UIF CPPL MBVODI SFDFOUMZ UIFTF ZPVOH DIBOHFNBLFST XFSF DFMFCSBUFE BT &J& T /FX 7PJDFT

24 T H I S D AY THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022 TR

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& RE A S O

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The funds are well utilised, writes EME ARCHIBONG

See page 25

DANGEROUS TIMES IN THE DEAR COUNTRY UZOR MAXIM UZOATU canvasses for a free and fair election

See page 25

EDITORIAL

2023 POLL AND ATTACKS ON INEC FACILITIES

26

1

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

AKWA IBOM AND 13% DERIVATION FUNDS

Thursday December 22, 2022 Vol 27. No 10117

Christmas reminds us that any nation can truly hope for a greater tomorrow, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

A SEASON OF GOODWILL TOWARD NIGERIANS! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” By the account of the Holy Bible, those were the words uttered by an angelic, heavenly host to a group of shepherds while announcing the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, in Bethlehem precisely. For a child born in a manger, that proclamation was spectacularly unique. The Jews were under Roman colonialists and were desperately expecting the messiah to liberate them from bondage. But that message from above had loftier uses and was not exclusively for Israelites. It was indeed for the entire human race in all dispensations, including Nigerians.

Goodwill, really? In Nigeria of all places?

Call it skepticism. Call it cynicism. Call it disillusionment. Or hopelessness. There are palpable negative energies generated within the country at the moment, probably more than any other time in its post-Civil War history. Ours has become a land overwhelmed by multiple monsters which are bent on defeating the will of individuals and chocking the collective drive. The visions of young people and dreams of the older ones are brutally challenged.

Most of the variables that make for decent, prosperous living have moved higher up the tree. Planning for tomorrow, something humans are expected to do as a matter of course and entitlement, is now hollow. Even modest accomplishments are no more to be taken for granted. The socio-economic space is being crowded out fast, sadly.

I do think of Nigeria in relation to her past glories, squandered chances and worsening conditions. Somehow, at the same time, I have not lost sight of its numerous potentialities, many of which are actually low-hanging fruits. As obvious as they may be, I dare not despise those who ignore or are simply unaware of their existence, for, it sometimes takes extra perceptive abilities to see clearly in the midst of widespread chaos.

My personal life is driven by optimism, a deep-seated belief that behind the clouds, no matter how dark they may look, lies a new dawn, a prospect rewarding enough for anyone to aspire to clinch.

One element that is critical to our general wellbeing is the virtue called hope. Yes, that strong anticipation of something to be true or happen. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked.

I’ve read people, thankfully, who share this quality with me and also those who have travelled farther on the path of hope and are, therefore, better positioned to be my mentors in the art and science of positivism.

Among them are world-acclaimed writers, thinkers and icons. I decided to survey some and apply their words on marble to the Nigerian situation.

Michelle Obama: “You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have

because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” Like a candle in the wind, comfort, relative comfort that is, has ceased to describe how most Nigerians live. But because of the sharp survival instinct of many of us, we have continued to trudge on despite the limiting forces at play. That’s the spirit! It makes it easy for hope to thrive and give its holders fresh reasons to push on, altogether.

Albert Einstein: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

My compatriots, the past, present and future are not as distant as they appear.

They’re interwoven partners in designing and executing the destinies of persons and nations. Ours may be traumatised but are didactic nonetheless. One way to query where we’re headed is to take drastic steps in next year’s elections.

Nelson Mandela: “Our human compassion binds us the one to the other not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our FRPPRQ VXͿHULQJ LQWR KRSH IRU WKH IXWXUH µ The shenanigans of our political leaders notwithstanding, Nigerians have more in common than they realise. Only a united front can galvanise true corporate progress.

Alfred Lord Tennyson: “Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘it will be happier’…” The deteriorating mental state of many of our people as revealed by recent statistics can be arrested if they wake up to the possibility of a more accommodating future.

Fritz Knapp: “In fact, hope is best gained after defeat and failure, because then inner strength and toughness is produced.” Like topography, Nigeria has had its share of hills and valleys. Ultimately, however, rather than destroy it, they can enhance its resilience.

Woodrow Wilson: “You are not here merely to make a living, you are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with JUHDWHU YLVLRQ ZLWK D ÀQHU VSLULW RI KRSH and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” On Nigeria’s shoulders are burdens of other countries, especially in Africa, in addition to those of its own

One element that is critical to our general wellbeing is the virtue called hope. Yes, that strong anticipation of something to be true or happen. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked

citizens. So, it’s too late to contemplate failing.

Charles Dickens: “It’s always something, to know you’ve done the most you could. %XW GRQ·W OHDYH RͿ KRSLQJ RU LW·V RI QR use doing anything. Hope, hope to the last.” Hope is nothing until the end comes - meeting the desired goals, of course. The medal is never for people who stop halfway. Nigeria is only 62 years old, after all.

Desmond Tutu: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

It’s futile at this point to deny the presence of GDUNQHVV ERWK OLWHUDOO\ DQG ÀJXUDWLYHO\ LQ our nation. But happily, so also is the sizable number of believers in its ultimate triumph.

This category can make the much-needed GLͿHUHQFH Robert H. Schuller: “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” This author of the time-transcending inspirational book, Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do, surely is well-placed to counsel us to invigorate our aspirations in comparison to our national wounds, many of which are VHOI LQÁLFWHG Fyodor Dostoyevsky: “To live without hope is to cease to live.” The value of the assertion by this foremost Russian novelist VWUHWFKHV EH\RQG VRXQG HͿHFWV 3HUSHWXDOO\ living in anticipation is directly equated with life itself. Nigeria and her people do not have to succumb to any form of weight when what is required is to muster the will to believe.

William Shakespeare: “The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.”

Misery, without doubt, is not in short supply here. If all the growing population of extremely poor people can do, at least for now, is to anticipate recovery, then national rejuvenation will eventually materialise.

Anne Lamott: “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” The dynamics of hope is that straightforward. For the hopeful, the coming of answers is not about if but when.

Pittacus Lore: “When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” This thought canvasses the centrality of expectancy to the surmounting of hurdles. It leaves no room for retreats. The only sensible way for us is forward, not minding the monstrous mountains on our way.

Fellow Nigerians, Christmas is a most FRQYHQLHQW WLPH WR GLVWLO WKH FRUH VLJQLÀFDQFH of the period, namely the arrival of hope in the midst of odds and, as Christians believe, the rock-solid assurance in this life and the one to come.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022

The funds are well utilised, writes EME ARCHIBONG

AKWA IBOM AND 13% DERIVATION FUNDS the Udom administration is arguably the most reliable airline in Nigeria. It has an unmatched record of schedule reliability and on-time departure. With D ÁHHW RI FORVH WR SODQHV FRYHULQJ seven destinations: Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa and Enugu, Ibom Air had lifted over 500,000 passengers in its three years and six months of operations. Known for its top-notch customer service DQG H[FHOOHQW ÁLJKW VHUYLFHV ,ERP Air has received numerous accolades and positive reviews. Mr. Chidozie Uzoezie, an aviation analyst and Chief ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI $IULWUDYHOOHU DIWHU he boarded the airline, said, “Most of my expectations were met and even exceeded, especially with respect to punctuality, crew and the actual ÁLJKW« 6SHDNLQJ LQ UHODWLYH WHUPV WKH ÁLJKW ZDV HYHU\WKLQJ , KDG H[SHFWHG it surpassed the average domestic ÁLJKW LQ 1LJHULD $QG ,·OO GHÀQLWHO\ Á\ with Ibom Air again”. The continued HͿHFWLYHQHVV DQG VXFFHVV RI ,ERP Air is a testament to the top-notch leadership of Governor Udom, and a Nigeria. Derivation principle means UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKH HͿHFWLYH XWLOL]DWLRQ RI that the proportion of revenue WKH GHULYDWLRQ IXQGV D IHDW *RYHUQRU receivable by State Governments from Nyesom Wike has not achieved. in terms of the central pool (Federation Account), Secondly, the Udom must be in the same proportion with industrialization, their contribution to pool… The Emmanuel has greatly achieved its underlying reason is that, the people agenda of transforming the state from in the area where the revenue is being primarily being a civil service state GHULYHG IURP PXVW KDYH VXͿHUHG VRPH into an industrialized state. Numerous form of economic and health loss or the industries and factories have sprung up other and should be compensated for across the state providing thousands it… The principle does not only apply of jobs for state indigenes, and also to the oil/gas producing states (Niger increasing the internally generated Delta States) but to all States with revenue of the state. These industries solid minerals that generate income to include, but are not limited to the following. One is the Jubilee Syringe the Federal Government....”

The constitutional basis for the Manufacturing Company, which not derivation funds is provided for under only has a production capacity of 350 Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution million, but is also the largest syringe of Nigeria. The rationale for the release company in the entire Africa. Another of these funds is that they should be company is the Metering Solutions fully utilized for the development of Manufacturing Services Limited which the states to which they are disbursed currently has the capacity to produce 1,200,000 electricity meters annually. to.

On Friday, 18 November 2022, The company supplies meters to Eko, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers Kano and Port Harcourt Electricity State, during a banquet organized Distribution Companies. Furthermore, by his political party, which had in it exports its meters to The Gambia attendance other G-5 Governors, viz, and Liberia.

Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Three is the St. Gabriel Coconut Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu 5HÀQHU\ ORFDWHG LQ ,NRW $NSDQ of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Okop village in Mkpat Enin Local of Enugu State, challenged Governors *RYHUQPHQW $UHD 7KH UHÀQHU\ ZKLFK of the South- South States to come has the capacity to process one million forward and give an explanation on nuts a day in three shifts, is not only how they have utilized the derivation WKH ÀUVW RI LWV NLQG LQ $IULFD EXW DOVR funds which was approved and paid a combination of Asia and European

by President Muhammadu Buhari. WHFKQRORJ\ 7KH UHÀQHU\ LV SURMHFWHG WR In his words, “The money was paid provide employment for no fewer than to some states in the Niger Delta. GLUHFW DQG LQGLUHFW VWDͿ 2WKHU Let every state come and account for factories include the Pencil Production the money. I, as Rivers governor, can Factory, Toothpick Production Factory, Palm Kernel Crushing Plant, Ibesikpo account for it.”

This article seeks to give an answer Asutan, Ukanafun, among numerous WR KRZ HͿHFWLYHO\ WKH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ others. These achievements in terms of Governor Udom Emmanuel has of industrialization are a testament to administered these funds. Firstly, it is the top-notch leadership of Governor common knowledge that Akwa Ibom 8GRP DQG D UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKH HͿHFWLYH 6WDWH LV WKH ÀUVW VWDWH LQ 1LJHULD WR utilization of the derivation funds. own a commercial airline. The only Archibong other state to achieve this feat is Cross writes from Uyo River. Ibom Air which commenced operations just within four years of In the International Journal of Financial Research, Volume 9, Number 2, 2018, Cordelia Onyinyechi Omodero, Michael Chidiebere Ekwe1 and John Uzoma Ihendinihu, in their jointly authored article titled “Derivation Funds Management and Economic Development of Nigeria: Evidence From Niger Delta States of Nigeria” write on the derivation principle.

They state as follows “The principle of derivation was initially recommended by the Phillipson Commission of 1946 as the yardstick for revenue sharing in

UZOR MAXIM UZOATU canvasses for a free and fair election

DANGEROUS TIMES IN THE DEAR COUNTRY The demons of death are on the loose, arranging mayhem and spreading annihilation all over Nigeria. We walk an ungodly but very familiar Nigerian road littered with shattered bones and broken dreams.

The struggle for political power is all the rage with the ruling party presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a multi-faith country while the main opposition party presents a Northern Fulani Muslim candidate to succeed a Northern Fulani Muslim incumbent after eight years of incumbency. There is the third force

rousing the youths into fervid activity such that if the elections are tampered with the EndSars riots may pale into a child’s play. The dangerous times of Nigeria today cannot but force one to look back in anger at the country’s history on how the land came to this pass.

A lot of ink has been wasted on the colonial policy of the British in amalgamating a tripod with three unequal legs. As Lord Harcourt said back then, there was the need to join up the big Northern youth that was sapping the British home economy with the Southern “lady of means”.

This British arrangement was done even before the discovery of oil in the selfsame rich South. With the opening RI WKH FRORQLDO ÀOHV RI %ULWDLQ LW KDV been revealed that the colonial masters deliberately enthroned the North over and above the entire country by rigging the census and the independence elections.

The British ostensibly left in 1960 IROORZLQJ 1LJHULD·V DUULYDO DW ÁDJ independence, but the reality today is that the potentates of the North continue to insist that this country owes them a living, even at the expense of their very own people!

When the military struck in January 1966, it was translated as an Igbo coup ZKLFK OHG WR ÁDJLWLRXV PDVVDFUH RI members of ethnic group until the bloodier revenge coup of July 1966 returned power to the North. The Northern coup-makers were screaming “Araba!” or “Secession” until the British High Commissioner told them that they risked going home to sure death in their arid region.

The attempt to address the Nigerian debacle in a meeting at Aburi in Ghana was thwarted in Lagos after the farreaching accord had been adopted. Then there was war.

The aggregation of forces in the NigeriaBiafra war did not help matters as the

North somewhat inherited the mantle of defending the federal cause. The Northern Christians who enforced the return of power to the North back in 1966 “because they killed our brothers” have had sordid tales to tell ever since from their Muslim brothers.

The then Western Region and the minorities of the South and North found a ready ally in the Northern ´IHGHUDOLVWVµ LQ ÀJKWLQJ ´VHFHVVLRQLVWµ Biafra dominated by the Igbo.

The eminent historian Prof Ebiegberi Joe Allagoa bears me out on the fact that Isaac Adaka Boro led his “Twelve-Day Revolution” largely because he was afraid that power has left the North following the January 1966 coup made by Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Nzeogwu, as he writes in his 2004 book, The Uses RI +LQGVLJKW DV )RUHVLJKW 5HÁHFWLRQV on Niger Delta and Nigerian History: “The Niger Delta activists also tried to forge an alliance with the politicians of Northern Nigeria. Indeed, it was the fear that the murder of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in the 1966 military FRXS KDG GHVWUR\HG WKH ÀQDO KRSH RI the peoples of the Niger Delta that persuaded Isaac Adaka Boro to launch his ‘Twelve Day Revolution’.”

2I FRXUVH ,VDDF %RUR GLHG ÀJKWLQJ on the Federal side during the civil ZDU DQG WKHUH LV WKH R΀FLDO QR JR history that he was shot from the back by his so-called allies!

The embrace of the North was taken to a new height in the course of the war and after by my friend Ken SaroWiwa such that when he was ignobly hanged by General Sani Abacha it became the lot of the ex-Biafra leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to lament thusly: “What do you want me to do in the circumstances when Ken was killed by his mentors?”

It’s even easier for Igbo quislings to make it in Nigeria! Any hustler from the former Biafran enclave who touts “national unity” gets abundantly rewarded. It is an old game of bandying patriotism to feather one’s nest. But as Samuel Johnson said back in time, “Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.”

The perennial legend is that something grave would come upon the country if the North is somewhat not allowed to call the shots all the time. That is why a perennial presidential contestant who had SUHYLRXVO\ IDLOHG LQ ÀYH DWWHPSWV DW becoming the Nigerian president can boast that electing him president this time is the only way an Igbo person can become president!

The promoters of what one may call the divine right of the North are only clever by half. Nigeria needs to confront her demons now. This country is not meant for any particular group as the owners of Nigeria, and Nigerians must as a whole insist that we are ruled by constitutional means instead of the wishes of some devilmay-care power-grabbers.

Uzoatu is a Journalist and a Poet

26 4

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

2023 POLL AND ATTACKS ON INEC FACILITIES The attacks raise fresh doubts on the forthcoming elections

F

ahead of the 2023 general election. No doubt, the or the umpteenth time, the Independent damage being wreaked on the assets of the electoral National Electoral Commission (INEC) body infrastructure will impact negatively on its on Monday expressed concern that preparations for elections and that seems to be the persistent attacks on its facilities threaten objective of those behind the attacks. INEC Chairman, the successful conduct of the 2023 general Mahmud Yakubu had warned last year that these election. Since the 2019 general election, attacks “are no longer freak events but appear to be the electoral body has recorded 50 attacks in 15 states quite orchestrated and targeted at INEC.” He added of the federation. “The ones we recorded in 2022 are that the violence on the commission’s property the ones we considered systematic and coordinated,” was, “targeted at demobilising and dismantling said INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, critical electoral infrastructure in the country” and to Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye. undermine INEC capacity to organise elections.

“They are targeted at derailing our commission from The attacks are particularly hurting because the conducting free and credible elections. If these attacks ÀQDQFLDO LPSOLFDWLRQV RI continue to January and replacing lost or damaged February next year, it items in the prevailing ZLOO EH GL΀FXOW IRU XV WR With critical infrastructure of the commission increasingly being economic environment is recover. This is because huge. For instance, shortly if you look at section targeted, recent attacks appear like a systematic assault meant to before the 2019 general 134 of the constitution, cripple INEC operations ahead of the 2023 general election election, 4,695 smart card there are thresholds that readers loaded in two a candidate must meet containers were destroyed before he/she can be along with other sensitive declared a winner of any T H I S D AY PDWHULDOV LQ D P\VWHULRXV ÀUH LQFLGHQW DW WKH $QDPEUD election.’’

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU State headquarters of INEC. In May 2021 at Essien Udim We hope that relevant authorities will take seriously DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA ORFDO FRXQFLO RI $NZD ,ERP VRPH EDOORW ER[HV the warning by INEC and begin to put in place measures MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO 135 voting cubicles, megaphones, water tanks and DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU that will ensure credible election next year. In the past CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI R΀FH IXUQLWXUH ZHUH UD]HG 6LQFH WKH FXOSULWV LQ WKHVH few months, the serial violence and arson against the EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN attacks were never caught, there are growing concerns personnel and facilities of the commission in some MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI about the impact of the damage on the capability of the states, especially in the Southeast and South-south THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE electoral body to conduct elections under the current zones, has resulted in the destruction of buildings and atmosphere. That bodes ill for the system. vital election equipment as well as loss of lives. There The onus is now on the authorities to put in place have also been such attacks in the Southwest states of T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D measures that will forestall disruptions to upcoming Ogun and Osun. What they signpost is an orchestrated EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA electoral activities and safeguard the lives of innocent attempt to derail the 2023 general election. Given GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, citizens. The implication of the targeted attacks is clear: ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI WKDW LW ZLOO EH GL΀FXOW IRU ,1(& WR PRELOLVH PHQ DQG If the federal government cannot protect strategic DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, materials amid killings, those behind these acts can ANTHONY OGEDENGBE institutions like INEC, we may gradually be on our way only be agents of anarchy and disorder who should be DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI to anarchy. While a combined technique of intelligence, ÀVKHG RXW DQG WUHDWHG DV WUDLWRUV DQG HQHPLHV RI WKH SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH law enforcement and special operations may help in state.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI containing the menace, it is also in the enlightened With critical infrastructure of the commission CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO interest of our politicians to curb the attacks that could, increasingly being targeted, recent attacks appear like TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com if care is not taken, torpedo our democracy. a systematic assault meant to cripple INEC operations

Letters to the Editor 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 LESSONS FROM 2022 WORLD CUP The most colourful 2022 World Cup which was organized by Qatar ended on the 18th of 'HFHPEHU ZLWK $UJHQWLQD FOLQFKLQJ WKH trophy. Indeed countries like Qatar, Morocco, 6DXGL $UDELD DQG $UJHQWLQD SUHVHQWHG VKRFNLQJ lessons.

Firstly, Qatar - The host, despite all the pressures from the western world, adhered to her YDOXHV DQG FXOWXUH 7KH $VLDQ FRXQWU\ DOVR KLW the media when she crowned Lionel Messi with a cloak which is a religious and cultural identity.

Qatar taught us that we must respect our identity and be bold enough in taking a stand no matter the degree of pressure.

2Q WKH RWKHU KDQG 0RURFFR IURP $IULFD EURNH WKH MLQ[ RI EHLQJ WKH RQO\ $IULFDQ FRXQWU\ WR UHDFK WKH VHPL ÀQDOV 0RURFFR DOVR IRUFHG FRDFKHV DQG managers from Spain, Brazil, and Portugal to retire. The lesson is that your background will not hinder you from achieving your goals. With prayers, hard work, commitment, and dedica-

tion, you can ride high and be the pride of your country or continent. Do not underestimate the power of anyone! $QRWKHU OHVVRQ UHODWHG WR 0RURFFR·V VXFFHVV ZDV 6DXGL $UDELD EHDWLQJ $UJHQWLQD +RZever, the game demonstrated the adage “He :KR /DXJKV /DVW /DXJKV %HVW µ $UJHQWLQD ZDV mocked and ridiculed following her defeat by 6DXGL $UDELD DW WKH JURXS VWDJHV %XW WKH OLRQ roared back and won the historic World Cup. The ODVW WLPH $UJHQWLQD ZRQ :RUOG &XS ZDV D \HDU before Lionel Messi was born.

In this life, it is not how well you start but how well you end. Don’t be distracted or demoralized by your current situation as it may be cooking \RX IRU WKH EHVW LQ WKH IXWXUH $OVR LI VRPHRQH LV XQGHUJRLQJ GL΀FXOWLHV GR QRW ODXJK DW KLP as God may decide to change things within seconds.

Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol, Bayero University, Kano

TINUBU-OJO: VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo has been a source of inspiration and pride to us in Lagos State. It is obvious that a lion can’t give birth WR D JRDW 6KH LV D FKLS RͿ WKH ROG EORFN D WUXH GDXJKWHU RI $VLZDMX %ROD $KPHG 7LQXEX Born on 17 June 1976, she attended Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo where she studied Home Economics. She proceeded to the prestigious Middlesex University in London where she bagged B.Sc. She also attended Intercontinental University in the United 6WDWHV IRU KHU 0%$ DQG DW 1RUWK (DVW /RQGRQ where she read English Studies.

Folashade Tinubu-Ojo was crowned the Iyaloja of Lagos on 29 October, 2013, having been FKRVHQ E\ KHU ODWH JUDQGPRWKHU $OKDML $ELEDtu Mogaji, to succeed her before she passed on.

She has been honoured with several chiefWDLQF\ WLWOHV LQ GLͿHUHQW VWDWHV DFURVV <RUXEDODQG &RQIHUUHG DV ,\D 2ED RI $ZRULODQG RQ March 5, 2021 she was also conferred as Yeye 2ED RI 2JXGX E\ 2ED :DKHHG $\LQOD )DVKROD

the Ologudu of Ogudu. She was also conferred ZLWK D WLWOH E\ WKH 7LPL RI (GH RQ $SULO Folashade Tinubu-Ojo didn’t leave any stone unturned in the area of security by inaugurating Olopa Oja, to ensure that adequate security across all markets in Lagos State. She employed able men and women to protect lives and protect in Lagos State. She has proven a capability to do everything humanly possible to help the needy and the destitute.

She provided basic amenities across all the markets in Lagos and singlehandedly built recreation centers, primary health care and computer training centres, among others.

She empowered market women and men by providing loans that would make their EXVLQHVVHV WR JURZ DQG ÁRXULVK I believe she deserves a national award for her immense contribution to the development of markets in Lagos.

Anjorin Adeolu, Lagos

THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

D E C E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 1 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

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YEAR TO DATE

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*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Stakeholders Urge FG to Deploy Technologies for Efficient Service Delivery in Health Sector

Emma Okonji Stakeholders in the health sector have called on the federal government to deploy emerging technologies in the sector through the right policy formulation and implementation that will improve digital health literacy among Nigerians.

They were of the view that the right technology deployment like telemedicine, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Smartphone devices and broadband connectivity, would go a long way in addressing digital health literacy in the country.

They also called on the federal government to up its game by facilitating collaboration between the private and the public sector in order to ensure maximum health literacy in Nigeria.

The Programmes Manager, Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, Dr. Amenze Eguavoen and Technology Entrepreneur and CEO, Tech4Dev, Joel Ogunsola made the call in Lagos recently, while speaking on the Morning Show, a breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

The Nigeria Solidarity Support

Fund is an NGO established through a partnership between Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Global Citizens, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eguavoen said COVID compelled the world to go digital, but frowned at a situation where Nigerians, especially those in the rural areas, do not have access to digital devices that will help them process information about their health status.

According to her, Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund is using digital technology to drive

digital health literacy in Nigeria, and helping average Nigerians to use digital devices to have access to information, analyse such information and use the data to make informed decision that will improve their health status, adding that access to quality healthcare does not come easy in Nigeria.

Ogunsola, who stressed the need for synergy among government agencies that are in charge of healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria, said most of the agencies still work in silos, with overlapping functions. He said there was need for the harmonisation of

health solutions for better and efficient performance, adding that regulation on the part of government and awareness creation are important in ensuring digital literacy.

Speaking about the challenges in the health sector, Ogunsola said: “One of the greatest challenges in health sector is insufficient technology infrastructure like smartphone devices, connectivity and access to telemedicine that are designed to address health related issues. Internet connectivity is still expensive and most rural

dwellers cannot afford to buy a smartphones. Telemedicine is a sure way of improving healthcare through technology.

We must expand the capabilities of telemedicine beyond smartphones. People should be empowered enough to be able to have access to information about their health status by chatting with their mobile phones and other devices.

“Beyond digital literacy challenge, there is also illiteracy challenge in the health sector. A Continued on page 33

Oyo Gets N300bn Investment in Sugar Project as FG Boasts Master Plan is Tackling Poverty, Unemployment Festus Akanbi The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr Zacch Adedeji, has said the federal government is commitment to using its sugar master plan to reduce poverty and unemployment in the country.

Adedeji spoke during the ground breaking of N300 billion Brent Sugar Plantation and Mill

in Iseyin, Oyo State.

The Brent Sugar Plantation and Mill is sited on 11,000 hectares of land along Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road.

Adedeji said that the investment

by Brent Sugar was a practical demonstration of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari towards building a productive country.

He said government must do everything to get the private sector

to venture in projects that could take Nigerians, particularly the youths, out of poverty.

“One of the major tools that we have and which can help us take the youths out of poverty is the sugarcane-based industries.

“We must commend Brent Sugar Limited for deeming it fit to establish this kind of project in this environment. This is not only for Oyo State, but for Nigeria.

“The mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari is that we must eat what we grow and grow what we eat. This is one practical,” he said.

The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, said industrialisation was the pillar for economic prosperity.

Adesina, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant

on Industrialisation, Professor Oyebanji Oyelahan, said that establishment of Brent Sugar is a path to industrialisation and economic prosperity.

He urged the people to cooperate with the company, saying there were lot to benefit as a community and nation.

The Chief Executive Officer, Brent Sugar Limited, Mr Martins Akinola, said the total investment that would

be committed to the project was about N300 billion over a period of five years.

“For the sugarcane plantation, the company is investing nothing less than N120b for the 11,000 hectares that we are going to plant. We are going to phase it on yearly basis.

In 2023, we are going to plant 1,000 hectares and we are hoping that Continued on page 33

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 2 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

Yield

102.66

11.79

102.41

12.25

98.72

13.00

107.27

13.94

103.86

12.92

Change Updated Time (%) -0.01 December 16, 2022 -0.01 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

Yield

NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

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NTB 11May-23

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7.73

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 -0.01 December 16, 2022 -0.01 December 16, 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS MATURITY FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23 MREP CP VI 11-APR-23

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 December 12.44 12.84 16, 2022 17.39 18.32 0.00 December 16, 2022 14.02 14.68 0.00 December 16, 2022

Discount Yield

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CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS DEC 28 1 2022 NGUS JAN 25 2 2023 NGUS FEB 22 3 2023 NGUS MAR 29 4 2023 NGUS APR 26 5 2023

Current Rate Updated Time ($/₦) December 454.73 16, 2022 December 456.93 16, 2022 December 459.12 16, 2022 December 461.32 16, 2022 December 463.51 16, 2022

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ebohon: There is Need to Address Household C o n c e r n s , U s i n g D i g i t a l Te c h n o l o g y CEO, Wrkman, Mr. Tunde Ebohon, speaks about the need to address household concerns, using a digital platform that will connect customers to artisans in few minutes, while addressing the issue of trust. Emma Okonji who was there, presents the excerpts is now and also in the future. Customers are pleased with the service, going by the feedbacks we receive. I have not seen anyone since inception, who has said Nigerians are not ready for our kind of services. Some have asked whether the platform will work in Nigeria and I told them it would work, since the need is there. We structured the platform in such a way that we have been very meticulous about our service offerings, because we want to serve Nigerians according to their needs. We have gone far and the stage we are now is about creating awareness about our services, because we are convinced that Nigerians need the services and that the platform will benefit as many that know about it and its service offerings.

As someone who understands the home service space, what is your view about engaging artisan through platforms like Wrkman? rkman is platform that uses app to connect users to verified and reliable service providers like artisans within minutes. The app connects users to service providers at the point of their needs. What we did differently, is to change the dynamics by connecting directly to users and making sure that the connection is successful always. We are in a digital age where the needs of everyone can be addressed digitally without calling friends and neighbours to help call someone to fix some things at home or for car repairs. This is what Wrkman is set to address.

As more people use the app, the more reviews the artisans are able to do, in order to understand their customers better. The platform is digitally connected to serve people better.

Aside artisans, we have merchants who sell spare parts and other items on the platform, and this will help people know the exact cost of goods and services.

W

What has been the feedback from users since the platform went live in Nigeria?

From the feedback we are getting, users of the app are excited to connect with people who need their services and people are happy to connect with artisans and merchants on the platform to address their needs. Most of them said it was easy using the app to locate artisans close to them to make some repairs on their faulty home appliances. Some also said they were aware that other platforms were doing something similar, but they told us that the Wrkman platform was different from others, because the platform showcases skilled artisans across all fields, which makes it easier to use the app as a one-stop-app where all domestic needs are met.

Tell us about the payment structure. Who receives payment from customers after a job has been successfully completed?

We made payment for goods and services free of charge in the first year that the app went live. We did that to test-run the platform but in September this year, we started charging all artisans and merchants 10 per cent of every successful job and for every sale made by merchants. Once a user requests for a service, someone from our customer service department will reach out to the user to discuss the process and connect the user to the closest artisan that is available at the time and when the deal has been concluded between the customer and the artisan, the customer then transfers money to a designated bank account controlled by Wrkman.

Payment is made to the artisan after the customer is satisfied with the job. The same applies to customers who want to buy items from any of the listed merchants on the platform.

What are the criteria for on-boarding artisans and merchants on the platform and how do you manage the issue of trust between artisans and customers?

We recruited agents who go out to interact with artisans and merchants and get them registered if they meet our criteria for on-boarding. In registering them, we get full details of the artisans and merchants, including their home and workshop addresses. To answer the question of trust, I will say it is absolutely impossible to trust people, but what we do is to carry out background checks on all artisans and merchants before on-boarding them. We also put an eye on their activities and transactions with customers to ensure that customers get satisfaction for every transaction they have with artisans and merchants. So we have built Wrkman platform to fit into the lifestyles of customers.

One thing we have done is to ensure that no artisan takes any property out of the house for repairs. All appliances are repaired in the

What is the current number of users that have been registered on the platform, and how do you intend to create the awareness in order to register more people on the platform?

Currently we have registered16 thousands users on the platform in Lagos and Abuja alone. The number of artisans and merchants on the platform is also increasing and we are registering more people by the day. From our reviews, more artisans log on to the app to register their trade and they get upset if they cannot find their trade on the platform. So our artisan base is increasing, including our merchant base.

Ebohon customers’ house, but if the artisan have need to move the appliance out of the home of the customer, there has to be an agreement between the artisan and the customer and Wrkman will also be aware of such arrangement. We have obligation to call back an artisan if the same appliance that was repaired, developed fault few days after the initial repairs, and we do have a section on the app where customers can lodge complaints about job dissatisfaction and we take it up from there. Our customer service is always ready to take up any complaint and ensure customers’ satisfaction always.

How user friendly is the app and how technology savvy are the artisans and merchants that have been on-boarded on the app?

The Wrkman app is the easiest app to use, because it is customer-centric and easy to navigate. The first user interaction with the app comes pretty much simple, because we designed the app to meet customers’ needs, irrespective of the technology background of the user. Once a user logs into the app, the user finds varieties of options to choose from. The list of all the artisans and merchants are popped up as soon as the user opens the app, and this gives the user the choice to choose from the varieties of artisans and merchants that are registered on the platform.

Nigerians do not want complications and they prefer to operate a simple app than a complicated app. With that in mind, we decided to come up with an app that is very easy to navigate and to search for artisans. We actually started three years ago, but we did not launch the app until 2021, and within that period, we kept updating the app based on the feedbacks we were getting. We were doing all of that to ensure that the app is easy for customers to use.

How long does it take the customer care department to handle dispute resolutions on the platform?

Handling of dispute resolutions is pretty fast on the platform because we treat customers as king. Someone had a personal experience in his house, when

one of the fuses controlling the light in his house blew up and cut off electricity supply to his flat. He logged on to the app and was able to find an electrician who was available to fix it.

The electrician came and fixed it, but after he left, there was general outage and the customer decided to use his generator, but discovered that the electrician had tampered with the switch-over box such that the generator could not supply electricity to the building. The customer lodged a complaint on the platform and the customer care staff quickly called the electrician to return to the house to fix the problem, and the electrician returned same day to the house to fix it at no extra charge. The electrician did not hesitate to return to the house to fix the problem because he knew there is a structure and a legacy he must live up to, as long as he remained a registered artisan on the platform.

There is a huge gap in the area of job creation in the country. Do you see Wrkman bridging that gap by creating employment for people?

The Wrkman platform has created lots of job opportunities for artisans, by exposing them to more customers who are in need of their services. I would have established Wrkman in the United Kingdom, but I chose to come to Nigeria to establish it, in order to create more jobs for Nigerians and at the same time, meet the needs of customers who need the services of artisans at one point in time or the other.

From Our research, we discovered that the app has exposed many artisans to more customers. Before now, most of them get one job per week, but since they were on-boarded, they now receive more calls from our customer care executives, who link them to customers who need their services.

So they do more jobs on the platform, and make more money on the platform.

Do you see the present need for the kind of services that Wrkman is offering in Nigeria or is it a business for the future?

The need for the kind of services we offer

So what is the expansion plan of Wrkman outside Lagos and Abuja?

Our expansion plan is ongoing but we are taking it gradually because we do not want to run faster than we can. Although we have registered 16 thousand users in Lagos and Abuja, but we still have lots of areas to cover in Lagos, because the market is huge. We plan to begin radio jingle in Abuja next week, and we are expanding though our social media handles. We will want to cover Lagos and Abuja fully, before expanding to other cities like Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin-City, Calabar, Kano and Kaduna.

What categories of artisans have been on-boarded on the Wrkman platform?

Some of the service providers/artisans we have currently on the app include Electricians, Plumbers, Air conditioner and Refrigerator repairs, including carpenters, painters, Auto-mechanics, Makeup artists, Photographers, Aluminum workers, barbers, Hairdressers and many more.

What motivated you into establishing the Wrkman platform in Nigeria?

I had a bitter experience when I was travelling by road to Benin-City some years ago. The car we were travelling in suddenly developed fault when we were getting close to Benin-City, and we could not find any auto-mechanic around to fix the car. We could not even make call to any mechanic even when we had our mobile phones with us, because we do not know them. We had to push the car into the city and started looking for a mechanic, until we were able to find one.

Time was wasted looking for a mechanic to fix a simple challenge that the car developed.

After that experience, I decided to come with the idea to develop an app where artisans could register and offer services to customers that can easily find them on the app.

Wrkman recently concluded a promo on the brand. Tell us more about the promo?

Yes, we just concluded a promo, where we gave prizes to winners. The promo was meant to celebrate our 10,000-user mark, which we were able to achieve in just one year of operations.

The promo is structured around giving back to our community of users in forms we think they would very much appreciate and would add value to their daily lives. The first prize winner got N500,000 cash, the first runner up got N300,000 cash, while the second runner up got N150,000 cash. Consolation prizes were also given to other winners.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

33

BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS

Reclaiming Nigeria’s Advertising Fortune The efforts of the current leadership at the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), to restructure the advertising industry for optimum performance and support Nigeria’s economic buoyancy is gaining momentum but not without some hurdles, writes Raheem Akingbolu

T

he two-day National Advertising Conference, held in Abuja last week, with over 200 participants, gave a fresh opportunity to stakeholders in the Advertising industry to review and take a stand about reclaiming a declining industry.

The conference, which was the second in the series, was used maximally to review the various measures being put in place by the Dr. Lekan Fadolapo-led Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, and deepen conversation around contentious issues militating against the industry’s growth.

Within and outside the hall at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where lectures and various roundtable discussions took place, the practitioners demonstrated seriousness throughout and didn’t allow the glamour and jamboree that came with the conference to deny them of the opportunity to address the theme of the conference -The Marketing Communications Industry: New Trends, Challenges and Prospect. It was evident that this year’s edition was aimed at challenging the status quo to overhaul and reset the system.

ARCON’s Director General, Dr. Fadolapo, who set the ball rolling, had earlier told THISDAY that the conference would be another platform for practitioners to take a deeper look at the different reforms he had embarked and the opportunities therein for the entire marketing ecosystem.

REGULATIONS, INDUSTRY DEBT

As disclosed by Fadolapo, by the 2nd day of the event, speakers and contributors had x-rayed critical issues such as regulations, industry debt, lack of research among players, poor agency capitalisation, digitization and multiple taxations, especially in the Outdoor sector. Other issues touched are; depreciation of the Nigerian currency, inflation, energy crisis and debt servicing.

His position as director-general notwithstanding, Fadolapo also used the opportunity to call on the federal government to take urgent steps at reviving the industry, noting that the sector is distressed and threatened by foreign encroachment. To this end, he urged

President Muhammadu Buhari to streamline and restore confidence in advertising practices in Nigeria by supporting the industry to enhance a considerable degree of local content.

ARCON boss cited some of the policies achieved by the regulatory council, such as; the ban of foreign models in media advertisement, local enquiry on investment, promoting equity and fairness within the ecosystem, among others, as ways of growing the media and advertising ecosystem in the country.

He opined that the marketing and advertising management industry in Nigeria was inspired by some facets of individuals, while stating that, the decline of the industry prompted the need to find resolutions to problems facing the industry.

According to him, the main centre of discourse were the challenges facing the advertising industry in Nigeria and the next step towards ensuring sustainable growth in industry.

This, he said, would provide opportunities

to discuss current and future challenges of the advertising industry under the new regulatory regime.

He said, “One of the primary purposes of the conference was to audit the body of knowledge of advertising. There has been so much unbundling in the skill set of advertising. We need to understand that technology is taking a major part and we need to understand that we are now playing in the digital world. Also, traditional advertising is being challenged, so, both the space, the operation, the operators are being redefined.

So that is why we all need to sit down and interrogate the industry. If we don’t do this, the industry will have issues,”

NEED FOR ENGAGEMENT

Speaking further on the need for engagement, the DG said it would be antithetical to democratic norms if a platform like the conference and similar opportunities were not provided for stakeholders to deliberate on how to rescue the industry.

“Before now and after now, engagement is the way out. As I believe, engagement can only be two ways. It can only be the Malcom X approach or Martin Luther approach. Martin Luther will tell you of the need to sit down on a round table and talk. But Malcom X will tell you that before we sit down, we need to stabilize the water so that everybody will settle down together. Together we have not taken any step without involving the people. If we look at the issue and the people we are discussing with, and we understand that everybody will be fair, promote equity, then we will sit down.

If we believe it will be combative, then, don’t forget that we are not obliged to sit down with you before making policy. But we always put a human face in those policies. Though interest may differ, when they are putting their interest above economic or national interest, then we need to roll out the policy that is in national interest. But before policy and after policy implementation, there is room for engagement. Engagement is the way out and there is no way we will not sit down at a table,” he stated.

Speaking during one of the sessions, an independent consultant, Ademola Henry Adigun, said with 50 per cent Inflation in the country, the government has neglected the business of the advertising industry, adding that excessive borrowing and debt servicing by the government could no longer sustain the economy.

He decried that consumption level was greater than income level due to having over 220 million citizens with under utilised means of providing for basic needs The Independent Consultant, Mr. Ademola Henry Adigun further noted that the high level of unemployment, debt servicing of over 90 per cent, poverty, inflation, among others.

He stated that good economic policies by the incoming president in 2023, has the surest way and good chance of improving the state of the economy.

In addition, Chief Executive Officer, TVC Group, Mr. Ranan Redmond, said: “The length of GDP of a country has a multiplier effect on advertising and sustainable development.”

Gomoney Restates Commitment to MediaTek Dimensity 9,000 Chipset Demystify Bills’ Payment for Nigerians Processor Enters Nigerian Market Emma Okonji Gomoney, a Nigerian digital bank that has positioned itself as a full-fledged digital service provider that understands its customer’s needs and aspirations, has restated its commitment to further simplify the process of bills payment for Nigerians.

The digital bank has promised to help customers tackle and avoid lengthy money conversations and arguments when it comes to paying bills.

Speaking about the challenges that customers face during payment of bills, Banking Operations Lead at Gomoney, Adeyemi

Fayomi, said Gomoney Split Bill would aid quick and prompt settlements of new and outstanding bills for users.

“As the name implies, the Split Bill feature gives room for multiple users to split payments amongst themselves easily for quick spending or expenses. You can split past or real-time bills with any Gomoney user at any time as the feature is divided into two sections, the real-time bills and past bills. For the realtime bills, a group is created and an invitation is sent to whoever the user wishes to split with to that group, enter the amount and send. While for past bills, users can click on the transaction summary

for the payment they intend to split. What this means is that users can conveniently plan their expenses with friends and family without placing the burden of payments on a person.”

According to Fayomi, the feature is versatile and comes with ease of use. The feature can be used to split utility bills, cable bills like DSTV, repairs as well as lunch bills with friends with a reminder option that allows users to send push notifications to pending debtors and once a bill is settled, users can either close the group or leave it open if there will be recurring payments of sort in the future, he said.

Emma Okonji MediaTek, a global chipset designer has released its flagship processor, the Dimensity 9000 chipset into the Nigerian market.

Speaking at a recent virtual conference, the company said the NextGen 5G smartphones powered

by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 chipset technology, would be a game-changer for smartphone users in Nigeria.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 is the world’s first smartphone chip built on the ultra-efficient

TMSC N4 (4nm-class) production process. It offers incredible computing performance, gaming, imaging, multimedia, and connectivity innovations.

Director for Corporate Sales and Marketing at MediaTek Middle East and Africa, Rami Osman, who announced the availability of Dimensity 9000 in the Nigerian market, said: “The chip offers an all-around exceptional experience and its 18-bit HDR-ISP design gives users the opportunity to capture video on three cameras simultaneously. Its APU-ISP fusion delivers

unparalleled capture speeds and image quality while also assuring exceptional power efficiency.

“Additionally, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset powers an exciting gaming experience.

MediaTek’s Hyper Engine 5.0 gaming technologies ensure users can enjoy long-lasting, smooth gameplay without connection drops, FPS jitter, input misses, or gameplay hiccups. The speeds of the Arm Cortex-X2 CPU and Arm Mali-G710 MC10 graphics engine raise the gaming experience to the next level.

STAKEHOLDERS URGE FG TO DEPLOY TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY IN HEALTH SECTOR lot of technologies are developed beyond the use of non-tech savvy people and they are excluded from the use of technology in accessing information about their health status. Nigerians need special

interventions from government that will enable them have access to telemedicine and other health solutions that will help improve their health situation. Network service providers should be able

to give incentives to people who live below the poverty level, to be able to have access to their health information.”

Eguavoen further said improvement on digital literacy

would help improve health outcomes.

“So there is need for improved national data in healthcare delivery system, to enable doctors and patients have access to health

information at any given time.

Government should establish the framework and implementation strategies and policies that will enable collaboration. Government must go beyond its Digital Health

Policy (2021-2025), to the level of ensuring implementation of such policies. Collaboration is important and everyone has a role to play in ensuring digital literacy for all Nigerians,” Eguavoen said.

OYO GETS N300BN INVESTMENT IN SUGAR PROJECT AS FG BOASTS MASTER PLAN IS TACKLING POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT the following year, we will be doubling it on yearly basis.

“For the integrated mill and the refinery, that is going to cost about N30b because it is going to have coal generation which will generating electricity, “he said.

Akinola said that they would be cultivating 11,000 hectares for sugarcane Plantation, saying 5,000 will be from the company and 6,000 by outgrowers.

He said that company would be generating 30 megawatts of electricity using BAGAS and employment opportunities for no fewer than 10,000 people.

He said that 300,000 litres of ethanol would be generated from the waste from the refinery.

Akinola said that part of their social responsibilities to the Iseyin community would be building of a model school and award of

scholarships to indigent students.

He appealed to the Oyo State Government to make the road to Ikere Gorge dam, which would serve irrigation purpose to the company, motorable.

Akinola thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Adedeji and Governor Seyi Makinde for their support which had helped the company attained the present state.

“We are expecting, by the special grace of God, to be into production and milling in the next two years here in Iseyin. We have technical partners from abroad.

“The equipment and maintenance are going to be handled by our partners from India. About eight of them will join us from February next year.

“This is going to be the biggest investment in Oyo State and I am

happy that the state government is a co-owner in the investment,” he said.

The governor in his response, promised to ensure the road to Ikere Gorge dam was constructed and made motorable for all.

Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Bayo Lawal, said the state government was committed to infrastructural development of the state.

He said that such was evident in the interconnectivity project of the administration aimed at connecting the five zones of the state.

The governor said that the company would be greatly beneficial to the state, adding it would complement effort of his administration in the areas of poverty reduction, employment creation and infrastructural development.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

For LUTH, It’s Three Decades of Healthcare Delivery, Viable Partnerships Rebecca Ejifoma reports that amongst other monumental feats in providing Lagosians and Nigerians excellent and quality healthcare services, to commemorate its three decades of healthcare delivery, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital recently inaugurated a 30-bed intensive care unit and other critical care facilities. The cherry on the pie was the commendation from the federal government on the work done so far

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan(right) inaugurating the Lagos University Teaching Hospital 30-Bed Intensive Care Unit. With her is the CMD, LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode

Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Ben Akabueze inaugurating LUTH Labour Ward/Neonatal Unit Building while the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode watches

Alima Atta Oncology Centre, a 60-bed facility built and equipped for LUTH by Mrs Iyabo Atta , in remembrance of Alima, her late daughter

L-R: Mrs Iyabo Atta; Technical Adviser to Minister of state, Health, Dr. David Atuwo; CMD, LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan and Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Ben Akabueze during the inauguration of the Alima Atta Oncology Centre photos Abiodun Ajala

S

ince its establishment in 1962, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. This is because it has remained resolute in its drive as a foremost tertiary hospital to provide excellent services of international standard in patient care, training and research among others.

And on Friday, December 16, the teaching hospital revved up its services with the commissioning of the critical care facilities. They include a 30-bedded Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Unit (NICU), Paediatric Intensive Unit (PICU), Labour Ward and the 60-bedded Alima Atta Oncology Centre.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama acknowledged that LUTH has since been making steady progress in upgrading its facilities for cancer care, especially in Radiotherapy.

He emphasised that although the road had sometimes been rough, it has finally grown this aspect of cancer therapy to an enviable level through the partnership arrangement with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, which enabled the hospital to offer state-of-the-art radiotherapy services to the nation.

Represented by the Director and Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister of State for Health, Dr David Atuwo, the minister outlined the phenomenal track record of the hospital in various areas of medical practice over the years. “I must say that other aspects of cancer care have also improved as well, with the help of various programmes of the government, corporate bodies and well-meaning members of the public.”

Ekunmakama noted that LUTH’s role in the fight against the Covid-19 virus pandemic would not be forgotten in a hurry. He said the role of LUTH as a referral centre and first responder showed its resilience as a centre of excellence and the people of Lagos and indeed the nation would be forever grateful. “The commissioning of these projects has shown the hard work of the Board of Management, management and staff or LUTH over the years.”

Addressing the current trend of mass migration by skilled personnel thus affecting the health sector in the country, the minister shared their plight. “I know that LUTH and other tertiary health institutions are facing an acute shortage of doctors, nurses and other health professionals due to the ‘JAPA’ syndrome as it is locally called now.

This is adversely affecting services in our hospitals, to the extent that some wards are closed for lack of personnel to man them,” he chipped in.

He, however, assured the health practitioners that the Federal Ministry of Health together with other government agents including the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is working immensely hard to ensure that existing staff is replaced as soon and seamlessly as possible.

Ekumankuma is not oblivious to the brain drain the healthcare sector is being plagued with. Thus, he reminded Nigerians that no government can eradicate the challenge across all professions. “We can make it beneficial to us. The ministry is also working on a brain

gain mechanism whereby our health professionals in the diaspora can be incentivised to come home and give paid expert service to our citizens. This is a win-win situation for Nation and our experienced medical professionals in the diaspora”.

He, therefore, appreciated the board of management led by Dan Masanin Mubi and former Head of Service, Isa Bello Sali and the top management and staff of LUTH for “the impactful projects. The nation appreciates your efforts. This is as he implored to do more to sustain these achievements.

The Chief Medical Director, of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode echoed the minister of state for health when he highlighted that LUTH has grown with the city of Lagos, contributing its quota to national aspirations through service, training and research. “We, in LUTH, saw opportunities in several recent challenges we have had to confront, turning them into achievements for the hospital,” he emphasised.

Notwithstanding, Bode maintained that for years LUTH had shortages of ICU beds for critical care. He continued that although their ICU services were the cheapest in the state, LUTH was sadly oversubscribed and sometimes had to turn needy patients away to seek care elsewhere, sadly at a cost five to 10 times higher than what they charge.

He added that the newly completed modern, well-equipped ICU would

surely put a stop to this. “It was built and equipped at a cost of N800m and is the largest and most well-equipped in West Africa.

The LUTH Labor Ward/ New Neonatal Unit Building abandoned six years ago was fully rehabilitated and expanded.

“If we must operate professionally the newly commissioned facilities, there is a need for employment of 230 nurses and an additional s 60 doctors, 15 of whom should be consultants,” the CMD appealed to the federal government.

Accordingly, Bode conceded that Mrs Iyabo Attah built and equipped the 60-bed Alima Atta Oncology Centre for LUTH in memory of her daughter Alima Atta who died of cancer of the Lymph Nodes over seven years ago and as a hope for refuge for cancer patients.

Among the personalities present at the launching was the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan. In her remarks, she conceded that the quality of healthcare delivery is largely determined by the material and human resources of any society. She listed: “Providing equitable access to health care for every Nigerian is an integral part of this Government’s agenda.

To further demonstrate its commitment to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country, the improvement of health, education and productivity of Nigerians is captured in the nine priority areas of this administration.”

While the federal government continues to make pragmatic efforts towards providing efficient healthcare system for the nation, LUTH has taken a lead to put in place bespoke facilities for the benefit and well-being of the nation.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

NEWS

eha Impact Ventures Partners Stanbic IBTC to Provide Capital to Nigerian Primary Care Provider, EHA Clinics eha Impact Ventures has announced its collaboration with Stanbic IBTC to de-risk a $300,000 loan to EHA Clinics, a world-class primary healthcare provider in Nigeria.

Stanbic IBTC’s loan will fund EHA Clinics’ expansion to two new locations: Lekki, Lagos, and Lugbe, Abuja. With the loan, the clinics will be outfitted with high-quality medical equipment to provide quality care to EHA Clinics’ customers.

To facilitate the loan, eha Impact Ventures, the majority shareholder of EHA Clinics, provided Letters of Credit to Stanbic IBTC to secure the loan.

“Improving access to quality healthcare in Nigeria is one of eha Impact Ventures’ major goals,” said Evelyn Castle, eha Impact Ventures CEO. “To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), trillions of dollars of investment are needed. Philanthropy and impact investors alone are not going to be enough.

“Partnerships with progressive banks like Stanbic IBTC to develop and implement these innovative financial solutions will get us closer to closing the SDG funding gap.”

6OMJLF NBOZ IFBMUIDBSF DPNpanies in Nigeria, EHA Clinics is focused on providing affordable

care packages to people at all levels of the economy. Their innovative community-based program, REACH, provides quality, evidence-based care and affordable medication to low-income urban populations.

Additionally, they have developed an innovative technology backbone that allows for seamless integration between clinic facilities and their “HealthMate” app, providing customers direct access to EHA Clinics’ services, resources, and support. The new facilities in Abuja and Lagos are estimated to provide quality care to an additional 60,000 people annually. “We are grateful for the partnership between EHA Impact Ventures and Stanbic IBTC, which facilitated this loan opportunity. “ In addition to the financial support, EHA Clinics is now able to build our credit history with the bank, which will allow for easier loan facilitation in the future,” commented Adam Thompson, EHA Clinics CEO. Speaking on the strategic partnership with eha Impact Ventures, Jane Ike-Okoli, Head Specialized Sectors, Stanbic IBTC Bank, noted that, “the bank’s support is in line with

our commitment to drive positive change and improve access to healthcare finance.” ‘’As a growth partner, it is collaborations like these that allow us to demonstrate our support for the healthcare businesses in Nigeria by delivering flexible, innovative solutions through our strategic partnerships while fostering affordable quality healthcare service,” she stated.

Babatunde Akindele, Head, Commercial Clients Coverage, Stanbic IBTC Bank, also stated that “healthcare is a basic need that everyone should access easily.”

“Stanbic IBTC is willing to support strategic partnerships such as this to improve healthcare infrastructure and enable qualitative service delivery, which will restore the hope of many Nigerians,” he said. eha Impact Ventures (EIV) is a philanthropic impact investing enterprise that supports early-stage, high-impact, women-led businesses JO "GSJDB 6OMJLF USBEJUJPOBM CVTJness financing, EIV offers flexible and innovative financing paired with high-quality, local, shared business resources to ensure business growth and success.

Learn more – eha.ventures.

FG Urged to Embrace PPP, Invest in Technology to Strengthen Healthcare Rebecca Ejifoma With technology accelerating access to healthcare globally, healthcare experts in Nigeria have urged the federal government to invest in technology while leveraging public-privatepartnership (PPP) to further strengthen the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.

This was part of the focus at the 2022 EY Annual Healthcare conference on the theme, “Accelerating Access to Quality Healthcare in Nigeria”.

The Senior Partner and Head of Markets, Ernst & Young (EY) West Africa, Mr Ashish Bakhshi told newsmen that the publicprivate-partnership will help to deliver more joint ventures, more hospitals and better healthcare delivery outcomes for Nigerians.

“Healthcare is very important to Nigeria. EY globally believes every country needs to have a good healthcare system and as a consulting firm we try to help both public and private organisations,” Bakshi added.

According to the senior part-

ner developing her healthcare infrastructure can curb medical tourism in the country, afford Nigerians easy access to healthcare services and the value-chain of the healthcare ecosystem in the country.

In his keynote address, the MD and CEO of First Cardiologist, Adeyemi Johnson highlighted the need for political will to transform the nation’s health sector. “Investment in health technology is the sure way to bridge gaps between Nigeria’s health sector and the developed world.

“Nigeria can leverage technology for healthcare delivery as advocated by stakeholders in the sector that the country adopts a mobile phone-type initiative with the capacity to accommodate everybody,” he emphasised.

In the words of the seasoned interventional cardiologist technology now helps to do surgeries among other lifesaving procedures. He added, “In most cases, you don’t have to be there to deliver care. Though expensive, it can get us there.”

The EY annual conference, which featured healthcare experts, distinguished practitioners and stakeholders, focused on trends, challenges, solutions, and opportunities in the nation’s healthcare sector.

“The conference aims to create awareness on the challenges facing the country, find ways to revert them and how the country can ensure sustainable financing for healthcare as well as achieving selfsufficiency in pharmaceutical products,” says Damilola Aloba the Partner, Strategy & Transactions/CIGA Leader, EY West Africa.

Having highlighted some challenges, Aloba hinted that while EY would ensure that some of the key actions like how health providers can access funding among others can be implemented, “We will also prevail on government to take the sector from its present challenges by adopting the practical initiatives to address brain drain, dearth of infrastructures among others”.

Dettol, Harpic, and Mortein Win Big at 2022 Brandcom Awards Reckitt Nigeria brands Dettol, Harpic and Mortein had an outstanding night at the 2022 Brandcom Awards, as the company, got multiple recognitions winning in three different award categories, Dettol” as the “Most outstanding Disinfectant Brand of the year, “Mortein” as the “Most outstanding Insecticide Brand of the year, and Harpic” as the Most outstanding Toilet Cleaning Brand of the year.

Brandcom Awards celebrates the exploits and achievements of brands, agencies, and notable players who have gone the extra mile to impact the industry. The

award is also designed to be the most credible and prestigious platform recognizing, rewarding and inspiring agencies, brands, and individuals in the marketing and communications industry in Nigeria”. The award ceremony held in Lagos witnessed the best of the best in the marketing communication industry in Nigeria had in attendance captains of industries, Regulatory Bodies, Brands, Agencies, and individuals from various sectors.

Speaking about the awards, Marketing Director, Tanzim Rezwan, thanked the organizers

of the award, saying it was an honor for 3 of Reckitt’s biggest brands to be recognized as ‘Nigeria’s Brand of the year in their respective categories, and promised that the organisation would continue to deliver the best and most innovative products to its consumers.

“Winning these categories of awards among other brands is a very significant honor as this reflects Reckitt’s compass where we strive for excellence and put our consumers and people first.

Reckitt will continue to deliver the best products which consumers have come to know us for over

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Male Hypogonadism Part 1

I

In today’s world, there are twogenders, the male and female. What distinguishes us is the type of hormones produced by our gonads, which are also known as our sex organs. It is a problem when our sex organs produce high levels of hormones, and it is also a problem when they do not produce enough. Hypogonadism is when the sex organs produce low level of hormones.

The testes in men and the ovaries in women are the primary gonads. The hormones produced by these sex organs accounts for the differences between men and women. These hormones regulate secondary sexual characteristics such as female mammary gland development especially after puberty, male testicular development, shoulder broadening, pubic hair growth in both genders and male chests, to name a few. One of the most important roles that sex hormones play in a woman’s life is the regulation of the menstrual cycle, and in males, it aids the production of male spermatozoa. These activities are critical because they ensure the continuation of human life.

Hypogonadism affects both men and women, but this week we are focusing on ‘Male hypogonadism’.

WHAT IS MALE HYPOGONADISM Testosterone is the male hormone responsible for the maturation of a boy into a man during puberty.Male hypogonadism is a condition in which the body fails to produce enough testosterone. This means that without this hormone, the boy will not have mature sex organs or vital sperm cells as he grows older, or will most likely have both conditions. A person may be born with this deficiency or develop it later in life as a result of an infection, trauma, or injury.

TYPES OF MALE HYPOGONADISM Male hypogonadism may be classified into two categories which are Primary and Secondary Male Hypogonadism: 1. PRIMARY MALE HYPOGONADISM This is also called primary testicular failure.

This frequently happens as a result of a male testicular issue. The male organ known as the testis is in charge of producing the hormone testosterone. In general, the pituitary gland is functional and gives instructions from the brain to produce testosterone, but the testis may be unable to do so even after receiving the signal.When there is a problem with the testicles, it may interfere with the synthesis of testosterone, which will result in hypogonadism symptoms in the patient.

2. SECONDARY MALE HYPOGONADISM This is also referred to as central hypogonadism. There is no problem with the testicles, unlike in primary male hypogonadism. However, the issue could be caused by the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus.

In general, when there is an imbalance in the body, the nerves send a signal to the hypothalamus. When the hypothalamus receives this signal, it instructs the pituitary to send the signal for the production of the deficient hormones.The same is true when it comes to sex hormones. When testosterone levels fall, signals are sent to the hypothalamus, which causes the hypothalamus to send messages to the pituitary gland via gonadotropin-releasing hormone to control the production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone.

When the pituitary gland receives this signal, it sends impulses to the testes via luteinizing hormone, allowing testosterone to be produced.When there is a problem with either the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, the production of these hormones is reduced, and testosterone production is either limited or completely stopped.

Any of the two types of hypogonadism may be caused by congenital or inherited traits, infections or injury. It should be noted that both primary and secondary male hypogonadism may occur at the same time, making treatment difficult.

CAUSES OF MALE HYPOGONADISM The causes of male hypogonadism vary depending on the type of hypogonadism experienced by the patient.

Common causes of primary male hypogonadism include: r 6OEFTDFOEFE 5FTUJDMFT 5IF UFTUJDMFT are located in the abdominal region during intrauterine life and descendinto the scrotum after delivery. However, it is not always the case. Sometimes after delivery, one or both testicles fail to descend. Although this problem is typically found to fix itself after birth without therapy while some do not, and if not addressed after delivery, it may lead to testicular dysfunction and underproduction of testosterone. r .VNQT 5IJT WJSVT LOPXO BT NVNQT orchitis, or simply “the mumps,” typically affects the testicles during adolescence or adulthood. This infection has the potential to kill the testicles, which effectively lowers the production of testosterone and results in primary male hypogonadism. r ,MFJOGFMUFS TZOESPNF 5IJT TZOESPNF is caused by a congenital or inherited abnormality of the X and Y chromosomes.

A male typically has the XY chromosome, which means he has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. When a male has ,MJOFGFMUFS TZOESPNF IF IBT B OFX 9 PS XX chromosome, making the entire set of chromosomes XXY or XXXY, resulting in a deformity. The Y chromosome is what typically represents a child’s sex as well as its associated development.

8IFO UIFSF JT B OFX 9 PS 99 JO ,MJOFfelter syndrome, there will be abnormal development of the testicles, which will result in testosterone underproduction, altering the man’s development

W S fo

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

36

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Wema Bank Supports SMEs with N1bn Loans for Renewable Energy Nume Ekeghe To underscore its unwavering support for energy transition in Nigeria and to help businesses in the country to overcome the challenges posed by the rising costs of petrol and diesel in the country, Wema Bank PLC is making loans available for SMEs that desire to purchase clean and renewable energy solutions like solar panels, inverters, and batteries.

This will be availed in partnership with reputable renewable energy companies and service providers in Nigeria.

The partners shall offer after sales services and warranty of up to 2 years on the renewable energy products, with an average product lifespan of 10 years.

Commenting on the ongoing initiative, the Divisional Head, Retail Business, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Dotun Ifebogun stated that the renewable-energy-focused

loans will provide succor to SMEs across the country by cushioning the effect of the high cost of energy on their businesses. According to him, “We need to provide financial support to SMEs to encourage their roles as the engine rooms of the economy, by creating alternative power options at affordable rates and educating them on the benefits of alternative power in solar energy, to the environment.

Therefore, beyond alleviating the effects of rising energy costs, this initiative also feeds into Wema Bank’s strategic thrust of spearheading energy transition in Nigeria and helping businesses in the country to go green. Amidst the devastating environmental havoc caused by fossil fuels around the world, the need for clean energy alternatives cannot be overemphasized. The widespread use of petrol and diesel generators by businesses

and households in the country releases tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and causes environmental pollution.

Also commenting on the initiative, the Head of SME Banking at Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Arthur Nkemeh, disclosed that the bank will complement this financial support with free technical assistance. “SMEs that obtain our renewable energy loans will also enjoy capacity development support in sustainability, energy efficiency and other critical areas of business management through our bank’s array of SME business advisory programs and non-financial services,” he said.

Nkemeh stated that business owners who are interested in obtaining these renewable energy loans can visit any Wema Bank branch close to them or contact the Wema Bank SME Banking team.

Chief Executive Officer, Flagship Energy Limited, Mr. John Osagie Ediale, (right) being conferred with the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) by the President and Chairman of Council, Oluwole Adeosun, during the 30th Annual General Meeting/Anniversary celebration and Investiture of Fellows held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos…recently

MARKET INDICATORS

GET Offers Five Nigerian Startups N50m Grants Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË

Five promising Nigerian startups have received grants of N50 million from the Grooming Endowment Trust to assist early-stage technology-enabled businesses to gain the necessary skills to scale their solutions and deliver impact.

The grant was provided at an award ceremony in Lagos to select start-ups that delivered their pitches for the award.

In her remarks at the award ceremony, the chairperson of the trust, Ms Adaobi Okafor, said besides providing a financial boost to start-ups, the trust was established to provide the necessary support to make the startups more investable, given the challenging business environment in the country.

She assured that apart from funding, the selected participants would receive other business support to rethink their products and

services for growth from the trust.

The Operations Manager of the trust, Mr Michael Adoghe, itemized some of the challenges facing start-ups in Nigeria and elaborated on the vision of the Trust and plans for the future of GET Accelerated in Nigeria.

The Executive Director of Programmes Grooming Centre, Mr. Alexander Enyinnah, gave the funders remarks on behalf of the CEO of Grooming Centre, Dr Godwin Nwabunka.

Standard Chartered Wins Global Transaction Banking Innovation Awards Standard Chartered Nigeria won the ‘Outstanding Use of Technology in Cash and Liquidity Management’ award and the Best Bank for Trade Finance in Nigeria award from Global Transaction Banking Innovation Awards 2022 (GTB22), edging out other several financial service institutions.

Speaking on the awards, Ibiyemi Okuneye, Head of Transaction Banking, Nigeria and West Africa said, “On behalf of Standard Chartered Bank, and the Transaction Banking Team in Nigeria and West Africa, I say thank you.

We remain successful leveraging our product capabilities, services and unique footprints.

We are investing significantly in technology and continue to position as a trusted partner to our clients as they scale and drive efficiency in their businesses.”

She added, “As a leading Trade and Transaction Banking institution, we recognise how critical it is to continue offer innovative trade and working capital solutions. We are central to helping our clients build resilience particularly in times of unprecedented disruptions and vulnerabilities. We are focused on supporting them to facilitate their digitisation journey and to also actualise their sustainability agenda.

This award underscores our

differentiated proposition as we continue to deliver value even in challenging macroeconomic conditions. We are very proud of this award and remain committed to providing our clients with the best curated solutions and services that support their goals and aspirations.”

Standard Chartered Bank offers a variety of solutions that support innovative seamless trade and investment transactions for clients such as the Straight2Bank platform. It is a fully integrated Internet banking platform that caters to transacting and reporting needs across cash management, foreign exchange and trade finance.

Lafarge Commissions CSR Projects in Host Communities Across Nigeria Kayode Tokede As part of its commitment to improving its communities, Lafarge Africa Plc., has flagged off the commissioning of several CSR projects in its various host communities across the country.

The formal hand over and symbolic presentation of CSR projects by Lafarge Africa to its host communities, was to give back, and demonstrate its commitment to doing sustainable business in Nigeria as a responsible corporate citizen.

This significant occasion took place across all the communities where Lafarge Africa has its operations.

Lafarge Africa’s CSR intervention in its host communities cuts across four cardinal areas of social intervention which include education, health, infrastructure development, and other forms of support.

Speaking at the CSR commissioning event held at the company’s cement plant at Mfamosing, Cross River State, the Country’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khaled El Dokani, assured the Mfamosing communities of the company’s long-term commitment to investing in the community and its people. “As an organization, we recognize our host communities as our partners, building progressively

together for the future, while ensuring that we leave positive footprints that will impact the society.”

According to El Dokani, Lafarge Africa’s commitment to the development of its local communities is unwavering and called for continued support and understanding of all of its stakeholders to enable it to achieve set goals.

While reeling out Lafarge’s 2022 CSR scorecard in Mfamosing Community, El Dokani said the company provided education support to 100 Primary and Secondary School beneficiaries and 40 Tertiary Students beneficiaries.

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 --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ͰͲ ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

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).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Africa Prudential, 20 Others Lift Stock Market by N32bn KayodeTokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday gained N32 billion following Investors’ buy pressures on Africa Prudential Plc and 20 others.

Consequently, the All Share Index (ASI) rose by 59.25 basis points or 0.12 per cent to close at 49,475.43 basis points. Accordingly, investors gained N32 billion in value as

market capitalisation went up to N26.948 trillion.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Africa Prudential, FBN Holdings (FBNH), Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Champion Breweries and United Capital.

Market breadth closed positive as 21 stocks posted gains while 11 stocks posted

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

declines. University Press recorded the highest price gain of 9.83 per cent to close at N1.90, per share. Thomas Wyatt Nigeria followed with a gain 9.68 per cent to close at 68 kobo, while Africa Prudential went up by 9.35 per cent to close at N5.85, per share.

Champion Breweries went up by 4.88 per cent to close at N4.30, while Chams appreciated by 4.76 per cent to close at 22 kobo, per share. On

S E C U R I T I E S QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

the other hand, Japaul Gold & Ventures led the losers’ chart by 3.70 per cent to close at 26 kobo, per share. Mutual Benefits Assurance followed with a decline of 3.45 per cent to close at 28 kobo, while FTN Cocoa Processors went down by 3.33 to close at 29 kobo, per share.

Wema Bank lost 2.73 per cent to close at N3.21, while Wapic Insurance shed 2.44 per cent to close at 40 kobo, per share.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

The total volume traded grew by 310.9 per cent to 411.151 million shares, worth N6.348 billion, and traded in 2,992 deals. Transactions in the shares of UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust (UPDCREIT) topped the activity chart with 245.331 million shares valued at N760.474 million. FBNH followed with 55.926 million shares worth N610.993 million, while Geregu Power traded 25.043 million shares valued

A S O F

at N2.629 billion.

Zenith Bank traded 7.620 million shares valued at N185.842 million, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) transacted 6.867 million shares worth N151.462 million.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said “in the penultimate trading session for the week, we anticipate the bullish performance would be sustained in the absence of any negative catalyst.”

2 1 / 1 2 / 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

38

GAMINGWEEK

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

How Canadian Rapper, Drake, Bet365, Others Lost over $13m at World Cup Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that along with France, various corporate bodies and individuals suffered huge losses for placing a bet on the losing side at the just concluded World Cup in Qatar

D

ue to his global fame as a successful entertainer, Canadian rapper Aubrey Drake Graham hugged the headlines as he lost $1 million. However, he was correct in forecasting that Argentina would defeat France. Drake suffered a setback because he predicted the South American country would triumph over the European inside regulation time; as the match was forced to a draw by Paris SaintGermain forward Kylian Mbappe, who robbed the Argentines of a clear victory, Drake lost the $1 million on technicalities.

At the end of the full-time inside the Lusail Stadium in Doha, the capital of Qatar, the score line stood at 2-2, denying Drake the benefit of his prediction as Argentina eventually won on penalties.

The 2022 World Cup final shocked many corporate entities and individuals. For instance, Bet365 must have regretted inviting punters to take a chance on its several offers, boosts and promotions. The bookmaker ended up incurring over a $12 million loss. By featuring a 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout, anyone betting on the South American side to win in 90 minutes had their bet paid out. Payment to winners in this category dug a deep hole in the accounts of the sports betting company.

Apart from this, Bet365 also offered Super Boosted

odds for both Mbappe and Lionel Messi to have a shot on target from 4/6 to 6/4. Many players took up this offer which cost the betting company a huge setback. There was Bet365 Extra Time Extra Chance which customers would have lost if the match had ended inside regulation time.

At 15/2 on Messi to score two or more goals and Mbappe to score a hat-trick at 66/1, Bet365 offered another chance to players that cost the company more losses.

Thanks to a wide range of options from Bet365, its customers won many prizes. About 15,000 punters shared a payout of $488,000.

Steve Freeth, Bet365’s spokesman for soccer, told Gambling News, “The 2022 World Cup Final was all about the spectacular clash between Messi and Mbappe. Freeth noted that many experts believe this final to be the best of all time. He is sure that many bettors now believe so too in the wake of their winning bets.”

Freeth noted other options offered by his company to bettors, noting that “Messi was backed for the Golden Ball with odds going from 12/1 to 8/1. The soccer pro was also backed for the Golden Boot, with 16/1 turning to 10/1.

Freeth noted that bet365 barely dodged one of these bets. At the same time, the operator

reported that many people took up its 33/1 bet about Enzo Fernandes’ claim for the Young Player of the Tournament trophy – a prize he ended up winning.”

The sports betting company could have suffered more losses that were avoided when Giroud and Dembele were substituted before half-time.

Here are some of the chances Bet365 placed a bet on: r (PBMT "IFBE &BSMZ 1BZPVU r 4VQFS #PPTUFE PEET GPS CPUI .CBQQF BOE -JPOFM Messi to have a shot on target from 4/6 to 6/4 r #FU &YUSB 5JNF &YUSB $IBODF r .FTTJ XBT CBDLFE GPS UIF (PMEFO #BMM XJUI odds going from 12/1 to 8/1 r .FTTJ XBT BMTP CBDLFE GPS UIF (PMEFO #PPU with 16/1 turning to 10/1 r #FU GPSFDBTU CFU BCPVU &O[P 'FSOBOEFT claim for the Young Player of the tournament trophy – a prize he ended up winning r .FTTJ UP TDPSF PS NPSF r .CBQQF UP TDPSF B IBU USJDL r .FTTJ FYUSB 405 r .CBQQF FYUSB 405 r .BD "MMJTUBS FYUSB 405 r 1BSFEFT UP CF #PPLFE r .POUJFM UP CF CPPLFE

Another loss celebrated in the gaming world is that of Twitch streamer Felix “xQc” Lengyel, whose gamble on the controversial crypto-gambling website Stake cost him $500,000 after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup finals.

Before the South Americans squared up against France, xQc posted a screenshot of the gambling stub to prove that he had staked a princely $500,000 on France winning the World Cup. After publicly cashing out the $5K, he explained to his audience that it would not have made a difference even if France went on to win the match because the bet was technically about winning within the designated 90 minutes of play with extra time, without counting the penalty shootouts.

After the news that he had cashed out went viral, the streamer defended his decision, saying: “Yes, I shouldn’t have cashed out. But at the same time, you guys need to understand that it didn’t matter in the end because now, at this point I already lost.

Me and Train’s bet was for a win at 90 minutes plus extra time. We are past that, now we are going to overtime. So, that doesn’t matter anymore. I would have lost regardless.”

As per a more recent Tweet from xQc, it appears that the total loss from his side due to betting on the World Cup was about $650,000.

Why Lagos Needs State-of-the-Art Gaming Facility Reputed as one of the busiest cosmopolitan centres with the fastest growing economy in Africa, Vanessa Obioha urges Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to consider investing in an ultramodern space for gaming Lagos has always touted itself as a premium tourist destination in Nigeria. It booms with culture and arts centres, pulsates with entertainment and is gradually becoming the preferred hub for gamers.

Almost every corner boasts more than one betting centre or gaming activity. It is a sure sight to see Lagosians, old and young, throwing in their luck to the betting pool as the sun rises and waiting with bated breath as the sun sets for a reason to smile to the bank.

Given that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is keen on making Lagos the centre of entertainment, as indicated in his campaign agenda tagged T.H.E.M.E.S., he may want to consider investing in the gaming industry as he bids for a second term.

The gaming industry in Nigeria today is worth billions of Naira. From e-sports betting to casinos and other forms of gaming, the industry is generating huge sums for the government.

According to the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Dr Vincent Olatunji, Nigeria generates over N730 billion from the gaming industry yearly.

The forecast is that the global market will hit $674 billion in 025.

Olatunji further highlighted that over 60 million Nigerians, aged between 18 and 40, are involved in sports betting, with the operators paying taxes

an enviable leader by building a facility dedicated to gaming.

It has plans to build a centre inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, focusing mainly on e-sports betting.

It can, however, expand that plan by building a state-ofthe-art gaming facility just like it is building a film city to elevate Nollywood through a partnership with Del-York International, an organisation run by the renowned businessman Linus Idahosa.

To execute this, the government may need to find the right investors and call for a bid.

The New York State Gaming Commission recently launched Bashiru Are, CEO, Lagos the final process to license up State Lotteries and Gaming to three casinos in and around Sanwo-Olu Authority New York City’s five boroughs.

US rap mogul Jay-Z earlier this month partnered with SL to the government and engaging young people Green and Caesars Entertainment to build a who would have been jobless.

Lagos may tap into this gold mine and become state-of-the-art gaming facility at the Square.

Caesars Entertainment is the owner of Caesar’s Palace, a luxury hotel and casino in Nevada, US. SL Green, the realtor, is offering a $3 billion proposal that would turn its 53-storey office tower into a hotel atop the casino.

“Times Square has been the heartbeat of American Entertainment for over a century,” said Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment. “Through our shared vision, we will build a world-class destination specifically designed to complement and elevate today’s Times Square experience, ensuring it remains a magnet for visitors and a hub of creativity for years to come.”

In Manhattan, Related Companies are proposing to build a casino near the Javits Centre along Manhattan’s West Side, while the scion of the late Sheldon Solow, Stefan Soloviev, is pitching to build a casino too.

Lagos may need to borrow a leaf from New York, a city with which it shares so many similarities. It has many enterprising locations to consider such as Yaba, now a tech hub, or somewhere in Lekki.

As the governor looks forward to returning to the Number One seat next year, it may add a gaming facility to generate more revenues for the state and create employment opportunities for the teeming youths among the over 20 million people residing in the state.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

39

GAMINGWEEK

Fortnite’s $520m Settlement Is Biggest Penalty Imposed Vanessa Obioha On Monday, December 19, the United States Federal Trade Commission penalised Epic Games Inc., the makers of the popular video game Fortnite for complaints revolving around children’s privacy and its payment methods that tricked players into making unintended purchases. The federal regulators reached a $520 million settlement on two cases with the company.

Epic Games is to pay $275 million to settle regulators’ accusations that it violated federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, by collecting personal information from children under 13 who played Fortnite without obtaining verifiable consent from a parent, as reported by the New York Times.

The other part of the settlement requires

Tunji Idowu: Nigeria’s Gaming Sector Profitable Sitting atop one of the leading financial and compliance advisory services company in the gaming industry, Mr. Tunji Idowu has a good understanding of what the future holds as he discussed with the Gaming Week crew Your company recently organised a gaming symposium on data protection against compliance which is your core value. Why? ata compliance is part of compliance because our company, Velex Advisory, is a compliance advisory firm for the gaming industry. We have offices in Africa because we are a global brand. We have Velex Advisory Nigeria, which handles West Africa, and Velex Advisory Kenya, which takes care of East Africa. What you need to understand is that data protection has regulations. Idowu In Nigeria, we have a law in place known as Data Protection Intelligent Unit and the Economic Regulation 2019, and the Nigeria and Financial Crimes Commission.

Data Protection Bureau has the But the mistake people make is mandate to drive data regulation that they feel Nigeria Lottery and compliance in Nigeria. All the Regulatory Commission is the companies that process customers’ only regulatory body in the gaming data in Nigeria are subject to data industry (NLRC). NLRC is dealing regulation, and you will observe with licensing, ensuring that all that the gaming industry is heavy the operators comply with all the on data processing. We dabbled into regulations, and even the Central two major issues: data protection Bank of Nigeria ensuring that Anti and KYC (Know your customer). Money Laundry is complied with.

The key ingredient to complying The Nigeria Financial Intelligence and implementing data protection Unit making sure that all the is within the KYC connection transactions are within the because KYC is about collecting stipulated amount. Of course, information about customers and the elephant in the room is the data collection regulation specify Nigeria Data Regulatory Bureau the sort of data you should collect, making sure that data regulation why you have to collect that data, is complied with. what you need that data for and Data protection is a critical part how you use such data and finally, of gaming regulation. As we begin how you ensure that the data you to see the government making are collecting are secure. move in a particular direction, as a compliance company, it is Then, what was the main reason our responsibility to ensure that for organizing the symposium? all our clients comply with the When you look at the gaming regulations regarding data. We industry, the regulators in the spotted that and want to arrest gaming industry cuts across issues that can really affect our the Nigeria Lottery Regulatory clients quickly. Therefore, when the Commission, Nigeria Data government established the Nigeria Protection Bureau, Nigeria Financial Data Regulatory Bureau (NDPB) to

D

drive data compliance in Nigeria, we saw something coming to the gaming industry and therefore, we decided to partner with the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau and see how we can bring all the gaming operators, regulators and Nigeria Data Protection Bureau under one umbrella and interact so that NDPB is able to interact with the gaming industry.

Therefore, having identified the gaming industry as a heavy collector and processor of data; it is now incumbent on us at Velex Advisory to ensure that all our clients comply with all gaming regulations in Nigeria. It is also important we do this because operators also face challenges when processing data because a lot of players share wrong information with operators. So the operators need to meet those challenges and know how to solve them.

What has been the feedback after the symposium from the operators in the gaming industry?

The feedback has been very positive from the operators because, after the symposium, we received lots of enquiries from the operators wanting to know how they can be a complaint. After partnering with the data bureau to sensitize the gaming industry, we then partnered the leading data protection compliance organisation known as Infoprive.

What we did was to have a comprehensive package for the gaming industry, and we then reached out to the Association of Nigeria Bookmakers (ANB).

The association is very critical to protecting the interest of sports betting operators in Nigeria. We saw the opportunity because of the responsibilities that Nigeria Data Protection Bureau has placed on us.

The data regulatory body does

“All the companies that process customer’s data in Nigeria are subject to data regulation and you will observe that the gaming industry are heavy on data processing. We dabbled into two major issues which are data protection as well as KYC (Know your customer). The key ingredient to complying and implementing data protection is within the KYC connection because KYC is about collecting information about customers and data collection regulation specify the sort of data you should collect, why you have to collect that data, what you need that data for and how you use such data and finally, how you ensure that the data you are collecting are secure.”

the video game powerhouse to pay $245 million in customer refunds.

“Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button,” FTC Chair, Lina Khan, said in a statement.

This practice is known as dark patterns, deceptive online techniques used to nudge users into doing things they didn’t intend to do.

The video game maker said it agreed to the FTC deal because it wants “to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players.”

The penalty, according to reports, is the biggest to be imposed by the FTC and dwarfs the $170 million penalty Google paid in 2019 for child privacy violations.

FOR ECAST

not want to push compliance in a way that will hurt the operators.

They are primarily concerned about the data of Nigerians being well processed. They saw us as a critical partner because of our reach within the gaming sector. Therefore when we got that responsibility, we first reached out to Infoprive to get the best deal for our clients.

Thinking further, we reached out to the rest of the industry through ANB so that they could benefit from the discount we negotiated for our clients. ANB was very happy that we are negotiating with the entire sports betting industry, knowing that all of them are not our clients. The response has been really good because we have been having meetings with operators that want to come on board to help them meet up with regulatory data requirements in Nigeria. We are glad that we took up the responsibility to educate and enlighten operators on the need to be data-compliant.

What’s your take on the remote operators permit proposed by the NLRC? The proposed remote operators permit from the Nigerian perspective is a good intention, especially for those of us who know the activities that go on in the online sector. On a weekly basis, we see illegal operators operating in that space penetrating the Nigerian gambling market. First of all, these illegal gambling operators collect the data of Nigerian players, register you, and after that, they now get you to start staking. When you start staking, and you win, and they refuse to pay you, who do you report to? From that point of view, NLRC is looking at how to curb illegal operators using online to penetrate the Nigerian gaming sector. Now, if you are looking at it from a national security standpoint, foreigners can easily come to your country and collect data on Nigerians.

Therefore from the NLRC point of view, they feel that it will be better to get these companies on board legally.

It is also capital-intensive to set up operations in Nigeria. Therefore, from the security standpoint and revenue standpoint, we can applaud NLRC. However, on the other side, it has its own big issues, and they are quite a lot. If you look at the The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

PROMO!!!

50 MOST

INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITIES IN GAMING Keep a date on Thursday, March 30, 2023 as Gaming Week reveals across the gaming spectrum, the ladies and gentlemen who turn the wheel.

GAMINGWEEK TEAM Nseobong Okon-Ekong ikotibok@gmail.com | 08114495324 John Bamidele amostogun@yahoo.com | 08022212236 Akeem Lasisi lasaisai@yahoo.com | 08023687884 Vanessa Obioha vysylver@gmail.com | 08069838305

40

THURSDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

ROYAL IWERE CHRISTMAS CAROL...

L-R: His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri Kingdom; his wife, Olori Atuwatse III and daughter, Princess Oritsetsemiaye Emiko; during the Royal Iwere Christmas Carol at the Olu of Warri Palace... recently

Fashola: Why Nigerians Will Pay to Use Second Niger Bridge Says stay-at-home delayed critical South-east project Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday, stressed that to sustainably maintain the newly-constructed Second Niger Bridge, the facility will be tolled when fully operational.

Speaking when he appeared on Channels Television, Fashola argued that Executive Order 11

made maintenance a part of the infrastructure economy in the country. He explained that while construction and design employed about 30 per cent, the rest benefits were from maintenance and operations.

The minister said the ministry was working on at least 40 bridges nationwide, stressing that infrastructure maintenance remains a major

driver of growth and employment.

Fashola stated that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was actively working on many roads nationwide, while the ministry had built capacity for “condition assessment” for many Nigerian roads.

He added that the directive that containers on Nigerian roads exceeding certain weight levels

should be halted still persisted to prolong the life of existing road infrastructure.

Fashola noted that the road tax infrastructure scheme introduced by the federal government had been relatively successful, with a number of private business organisations, like MTN, Mainstream Energy, Dangote, Bua Group, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), and Nigerian

SWV: Account for N700m Spent to Monitor Edo, Ondo Governorship Polls, Senate Orders Interior Ministry Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate yesterday gave the Ministry of Interior 24 hours to defend the N700 million it collected from Service Wide Vote (SWV) for the monitoring of the Edo and Ondo states' governorship elections.

From the record of the Auditor General for the Federation, the money was released in two batches - N400 million for the Ondo State Governorship election and N300 million for the Edo State governorship election.

According to the Authority to Incur Expenditure, the N400 mil-

Few Weeks to Presidential Poll, Osinbajo Visits Tinubu Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja About two months to the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday paid a visit to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu at his residence in Abuja.

The planned but impromptu visit was coming six months after the party's presidential primary that produced Tinubu as the party's candidate.

At about 7 pm yesterday, the Vice President in company of a few of his personal aides visited Tinubu.

THISDAY gathered from a reliable source that the meeting between the duo which was held behind closed doors lasted for almost an hour.

The source who did not want to be named said: "The vice president came in at about 7 pm and entered into a closed-door meeting with Asiwaju. The meeting lasted for about an hour."

However, another source said the vice president expressed his loyalty and support for the Tinubu/ Shetimma presidential project.

"The crux of their meeting was

simple. The Vice President came to express his loyalty and support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shetimma's presidential ticket," he added.

The source said the vice president told Tinubu the various administrative activities that have kept him away from the campaign but assured that he was with them in spirit.

Osinbajo, a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God had maintained a graveyard silence following the decision of Tinubu to pick a fellow Muslim from the North East and a former Governor of Borno state, Senator Kashim Shettima.

While the controversy raged on, the vice president intentionally refused to bear his mind on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of his erstwhile political benefactor.

Osinbajo who was one of the aspirants that lost to Tinubu had not been seen at the campaign of the ruling party after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on political campaigns on September 28, a development that has raised dust within the party.

lion was given to the Ministry of Interior for logistics and operational support in respect of Ondo State Governorship election.

Part of the report read, "The second of N300 million to the Ministry of Interior for logistic and operational support in respect of the Edo State Governorship election."

The Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Mathew Urhoghide gave the directive to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. S. Belgore.

The ministry had earlier given an excuse that the N700 million would be accounted for by the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSDC).

According to the Permanent Secretary, "It is the NSDC that will account for the money. We only made the request on behalf of the NSDC." Not satisfied with the defence

of the Permanent Secretary, the Chairman of the Committee said the excuse was not tenable because the NSDC did not collect the money, maintaining that it was the Ministry that collected the money.

He added that the NSDC would only come before the Committee to account for the money requested personally from the Service Wide Vote.

Urhoghide said, "The NSDC have their own queries , they are coming before the Panel to respond to the one that bears their names, they have the money given to them directly.

"From our records, it is your ministry that will defend the expenditures not NSDC." The Chairman therefore gave the Ministry 24 hours to defend the N700 million for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, now actively involved.

He stated, “Inevitably, the bridge will be tolled, but that is the job of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) because we must make sure the bridge is properly maintained.

“So, this is where private sector capacity becomes useful. They may not be able to mobilise the capital to buy the asset, but can mobilise the expertise and efficiency to operate it. Of course, not without due diligence being done.

“That was my experience in Lagos, when we built the same model on the Lekki toll gate. We contracted the private sector to manage the toll collection.”

Fashola further said the completion of the project was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the stay-at-home declared by dissidents in the South-east.

“Truth be told, the target is April or May (2023) but the date keeps shifting because of sit-at-home directives,” he added.

The minister also reiterated the arrangement for the temporary use of the Second Niger Bridge, stressing that at some point the facility will be shut down to allow for the completion of the four-kilometre access road the government is building.

He said, “We are building in mash land, so we have to dredge, accumulate sand, fill or reclaim land.

You have to wait for it to settle and

can’t start building the following day. We are using a technology called pre-fabricated vertical drills to accelerate.”

Fashola stated that the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) contributed immensely to the delay in completion of the bridge.

“These dates keep shifting and people must remember that on the eastern side, our contractors have not been able to work on Mondays for almost two years and that has affected the completion date,” he explained.

He stated that while construction workers now worked on Saturdays, a 52-day loss in a year could not easily be made up for in construction of an infrastructure of that magnitude.

Fashola asserted that relocating transmission lines connecting the East to the West across the Niger River might have also contributed to days lost and added to the seemingly slow pace that affected the completion of the bridge within the stipulated time.

He promised that the new target date to deliver a completed Second Niger Bridge will be April/May 2023.

He further stated that the construction industry was laying off workers when President Muhammadu Buhari took over government, noting that many contractors have now been mobilised to site due to the renewed attention to of building critical infrastructure in the country.

African Refinery Appoints Honeywell UOP Process Licensor for New 100,000bpsd Refinery in Port Harcourt Peter Uzoho African Refinery Port Harcourt Limited (ARPHL) has signed a process licensing agreement with Honeywell UOP, a worldrenowned process licensor for its 100,000 barrels-per-stream-day (bpsd) refinery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The appointment of the process licensor followed the recent award of a contract to Italian company, Tecnimont SPA, for the development of the Front End Engineering

Design (FEED) of the ARPHL's deep conversion refinery to be collocated within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited's (NNPC) Port Harcourt Refinery in Eleme.

Honeywell UOP, formerly known as UOP LLC, is a leading American multi-national company that specialises in developing and delivering technology to the petroleum refining, gas processing, petrochemical production and major manufacturing industries.

The ARPHL in a statement

issued yesterday, by its Managing Director, Omotayo Adebajo, stated that Honeywell UOP, under the agreement would deploy the technology needed for refining crude oil into petrol, diesel, kerosene, Jet-fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other products.

The company described the project as a joint venture partnership with NNPC Limited and was further to NNPC and the Nigerian government’s aim to reduce dependency on imported refined petroleum products by

processing the nation’s crude oil locally for the domestic market.

Adebajo confirmed that with the appointment of UOP, the project would now proceed to engineering design implementation and selection of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor.

He also assured that with the adoption of UOP’s patented process technology, the ARPHL JV with NNPC was guaranteed to be one of the most technologically advanced and state of the art refineries in Sub-Sahara Africa.

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OBASEKI INSPECTS ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF ARMY BASE...

L-R: Major Ekpete K.O; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, during the inspection of ongoing construction of a forward operating base for the Nigerian Army in Ehor, Uhunmwode Local Government Area…yesterday

Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of $899,900, N304.5m, 15 Properties Recovered from Ex-AGF, Ahmed Idris Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja A Federal Capital Territory High Court yesterday ordered the interim forfeiture of money and properties recovered from former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The items include $899,900; N304, 490,160.95; and 15 properties in Kano and Abuja.

Justice M.A Hassan gave the order on Tuesday, while ruling on a motion ex parte no.

M/1149/2022, filed by EFCC in which it prayed the court for an order of interim attachment/ forfeiture of the properties in the schedule to the application, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case in Charge No.

FCT, HC/CR/299/2022, Federal Republic of Nigeria V. Ahmed Idris and Others.

In the supporting affidavit to the application deposed to by one Monyei Samuel Ekene, an operative of EFCC, the commission requested the court to grant, among others, an order approving the interim “management of the assets and properties in the schedule to this application to the applicant”, pending the determination of the substantive case; an order “ to open an interest yielding account where monies realised from the management of the assets and properties of the persons stated in the schedule to this application shall be paid”, pending the determination of the substantive case; and an order “freezing the bank accounts of the persons referred

Look Inwards for Solutions to Power Crisis, Oba of Benin Tasks Discos Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Benin monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II has challenged electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria to strengthen their Research and Development (R/D) capacity in resolving the hydra-headed problems associated with the power sector value chain.

Oba Ewuare II gave the advice when he received the new management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in his palace in Benin City, Edo State, saying Nigeria’s energy crisis could be tackled if players in the industry are solution driven.

He explained that the economic uncertainty caused by the depreciation of the naira and high cost of diesel was taking a toll on businesses and manufacturing sector in Nigeria, thereby pushing citizens, especially the downtrodden to the extreme.

"We appeal to you to do your homework. If you have research and Development (R/D) Department, then, engage them to do more to find out what the problem is and find solution.

"You have association of Discos in Nigeria, get them together and have a conference. Have a retreat and find out what to do to improve the power distribution problems because it is enormous.

"It is the same story over and over again. It seems not to be going away.

Please do your best. If you identify

anything that we can do, please, do not hesitate to let us know. If you have any.

"With the rate the naira is dropping, it is not easy for the ordinary man or the Ogas, (wealthy Nigerians) let alone the ordinary man in the street.

This kind of economic hardship can drive some ordinary people to the extreme.

"It they cannot continue to cope with the pressure of no power supply in the country. They cannot even set up businesses or industries that rely on diesel which is very expensive and sometimes, you may not get.

"It is the same story over and over again. It seems not to be going away.

Please do your best. If you identify anything that we can do, please, do not hesitate to let us know. If you have any.

"We all know that there is always a problem with electricity.

"We spend a lot of money in the palace because of lack of electricity.

We can't explain what is happening in the whole Country. We can't explain it — may be devil is in the work.

Improve on your services to the people.”

He added: "Thank you for recognising the place of traditional rulers in the scheme of things. We assure that you will be in our prayers. We wish the MD to be successful in the onerous task that has been placed on your shoulders.

Continues online

to as account holders/or the bank accounts set out in the Schedule to this application”, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.

Hassan granted the motion as prayed but further ordered that the recovery account sought to be opened by the applicant, ”shall be in the name of the commission as recovery account and the details of the account shall be reported

back to the court within one week of opening''.

THISDAY gathered that the properties linked to Idris, which were listed in the schedule for forfeiture, included Kano City Mall/Al Ikhlas Shopping Mall at Mandwawarti, Kano; one storey shopping complex at Ladanai, Kano; corner shops at Ladanai, Kano; a duplex at Karsana, Abuja; royal duplex at Deneji Quarters, Kano;

and a duplex at Plot 271, New Jersey Street, Efab Blue Fountain Estate, Abuja.

Nine properties linked to the second respondent, Mohammed Kudu Usman, which are located in Abuja as well as Niger and Nasarawa states, were also ordered forfeited in the interim.

They include plots of land with shops in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, 37

hectares of farmland with livestock located along Minna-Bida Road in Niger State, bungalow flats at Gwarimpa, Abuja, bungalow buildings at Masaka, Nasarawa State, plots of land at Dutse Alhaji Abuja, and 13 plots of land at Integrated City, Minna, Niger State.

Idris and others are being prosecuted by EFCC on 14 counts of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N109 billion.

Lawmakers Propose Four Years Imprisonment, N200,000 fine for Female Circumcision

Okay N95.26bn FG’s power company's 2022 budget Mulls inclusion of anti-corruption courses in primary, secondary education

Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday, passed through the second reading a Bill for an Act to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 to increase the penalty for the offence of female genital mutilation.

The proposed legislation sponsored by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson specifically sought imprisonment of four years or a fine not exceeding N200,000.00 for any person who performs female genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision.

In his lead debate, Johnson said the amendment proposed to Section 6(2) of the Act was as follows: “6 (2) Any person who performs female circumcision or genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision or mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one million naira or to both.”

He expressed optimism that an amendment of the said Section 6 would go a long was in deterring persons from engaging in the unwholesome practice of female genital mutilation.

"A UNICEF survey recently revealed that in Nigeria, one out of four girls and one out of ten boys suffers from sexual molestation and about one out of ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

“Among factors that encourage the commission of such unwhole-

some practices like female genital mutilation is lack of adequate sanctions. Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.

"The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.

Because it is usually performed without permission and often against will, it violates girls’ right to make important decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

“Reports show that, 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone a form of genital mutilation (FGM). An additional 2 million girls could undergo female genital mutilation by 2030 as a result of Covid-19. It is for this reason that this Bill is proposed, to review the sanctions provided within the VAPP Act, so as to give it the required deterrence it deserves," he said.

Also at the plenary, the lawmakers passed through second reading Bill for an Act to Amend the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017; and for Related Matters (HB.). The proposed legislation was sponsored by Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has approved a total sum of N95.26 billion budget for the Federal Government Power Company Limited for the 2022 financial year.

The approval which came barely

10 days to the end of the year, followed the adoption of the report of the House committee on power during its committee of the whole.

Out of total sum approved (N95.26 billion), N2.82 billion was for overhead costs, N867.80 billion goes for personnel cost and N91.56 billion for capital expenditure.

Laying the report, the Chairman of Power Committee, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu asked the House to consider the report on the issue from the statutory revenue fund of the Federal Government Power Company Limited, the total Sum of N95, 261, 665, 187.00 only for total expenditure.

"Out which (this) the sum of N2, 823, 904, 716 only is for overhead costs while the sum of N867, 800, 471 only is for personnel costs. The sum of N91, 569, 960, 000 only is capital expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2022," the report stated.

In the meantime, the House of Representatives has resolved to convene a meeting of stakeholders in education management and regulation sector to consider reviewing the primary and secondary school curricula to integrate anti-corruption awareness courses and programmes.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to introduce anti-corruption classes and training into the primary and junior secondary schools’ curricula to aid in the fight against corruption, sponsored by Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila Hon. Shehu Kakale, Musa Bagos and Hon. Aisha Dukku.

Moving the motion, Dukku noted

that corruption was a scourge with devastating consequences on every facet of the Nigerian state, society and sectors of the economy.

She said the House was aware of the various anti-corruption efforts by successive governments that had not put an end to corruption in the country.

She opined that unless drastic measures were taken with utmost urgency, corruption threatens to destroy the fabric of the Nigerian society by continuously sabotaging our national sense of right and wrong beyond repair.

She said, "We also observed the increase of young people who are growing up in environments where casual subversions of rules and law through acts of private and public corruption have become the norm.

“Perceived that one reason the fight against corruption has not achieved the desired objectives in the country is the absence of a deliberate national strategy to engage citizens from the early stages of their lives to identify, challenge and defeat corrupt practices wherever they may exist or manifest.

"Confident that this narrative can be changed within a relatively short time, through sustained efforts by government, civil society, religious organisations, and citizens working together to reprogram the way we think about the causes and consequences of corruption in our society."

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Committees on Basic Education Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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INAUGURATION OF 76 POLICE MOBILE FORCE SQUADRON...

L-R: Chairman, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Hon. Ikenna Nwodo; Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13, AIG Abutu Yaro, during the inauguration of 76 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti LGA, constructed by Gov. Ugwuanyi's administration...yesterday.

IG: Secessionist Idea of Criminals in Anambra a Smokescreen Promises to provide level playing ground for all in 2023 David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has said the agitation for a separate state by those perpetuating crimes in Anambra State and also attacking police operatives and other facilities, was a smokescreen for criminality.

Baba stated this in Amawbia,

near Awka, Anambra State, where he commissioned an ultra modern divisional police station, attached with a police barracks for senior police officers of the division.

He said police would no longer allow such criminals to keep operating in any state in the South East, adding that there were better ways to agitate, than

involving in criminality.

His words: "Secessionist idea will not continue like this. There are better ways to agitate, and government will not be intimidated by these people. This is criminality, and the agitation for Biafra is just a smokescreen for criminality.

"Vigilante operatives are key in our crime fighting. The vigilante

operatives have done well, without them we will not succeed. We urge communities to support their vigilante. Security is everybody's business, security is not keeping quiet, when you see what is going wrong, or what you should do.

"We are behind you (speaking to the commissioner of Police in the state) to ensure that there is

law and order in Anambra. The governor is security-friendly, and has always assisted us.

Establishing police neutrality in next year’s election, he said, "With the challenges of 2023, we shall provide level playing ground and the environment shall be created for all politicians to exercise their franchise."

Bayelsa: We’ve Received N90bn from ECA So Far Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Government, yesterday, acknowledged receipt of N90 billion as funds from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) from the federal government as of October 2022.

Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Treasury and Accounts, Mr Timipre Seipulo, made the disclosure at the state monthly Transparency Briefing for months of September and October 2022 at the Treasury House, Yenagoa.

He said the money was paid

quarterly from the Federation Account and not monthly as being speculated in some quarters.

The governor's aide declared N20.24bn net receipt for September 2022, which accrued to the state government from the Federation Account Allocation Committee while total FAAC deductions stood at N1.592bn.

Seipulou also announced N27.561bn net receipt for October 2022 and N1.6bn as total FAAC deductions.

"Now, it will be necessary to remind ourselves with this conscien-

Ugwuanyi Moves to Address Killings in Isi Uzo LG, Seeks Restriction to Guns Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, summoned an emergency meeting of all the stakeholders from Eha-Amufu in Isi Uzo Local Government to find a lasting solution to the killings in the area.

The governor also said it was not right for some unauthorised persons to have access to arms, which they use to attack innocent and unarmed people in a country when the ban on all firearms and small guns was still effective.

He stated that restricting the unauthorised persons access to all firearms, particularly, AK-47 would end incessant killings in the country.

Communities in the area, including Ebor, Aguamaede and Mgbuji, have recently come under attacks by suspected criminal herdsmen, which have led to the loss of lives and property and the displacement of thousands of people.

The emergency meeting had security agencies, Bishop of the

Anglican Diocese of Eha-Amufu, Rt. Rev. Daniel Olinya, traditional rulers and stakeholders as well as members of various communities and the LG chairman, Barr. Obiora Obeagu.

Ugwuanyi reminded the people that this was not the first meeting held concerning the attacks and regretted that despite interventions made, the killings persisted.

He told the people that he remained determined to find a lasting solution to the crisis so that peace could return, because according to him, there could be no progress in an atmosphere of conflict.

The governor asked members of the various communities that have come under attack to say what the problem was and what could be done to forestall future recurrence of the attacks.

In their separate responses, Bishop Olinya, among others, said one of the problems fueling the crisis was the absence of clear cut leadership in the town and politicization of issues by politicians.

tious excess inflow, which we have continued to report in the state. In all our transparency briefings, we have been mentioning that when necessary.

"For this month, what is received from that account is N13.8 billion but actually like what they have said before, ‘the refund which a lot of people have talked about’ is not a monthly payment; it’s a quarterly payment and paid over 36 months.

"The money is paid over 36 months, which is three years, so, hardly three tripping months you will have about 13 billion at place by the state and for us in Bayelsa State, we will continue to report it in our transparency briefings.

As at now, the net received from the fund so far is N90 billion up to October.

"And if you look at the major

projects we have also done, we have done quite some major projects, which we are utilising the funds and the major ones, for instance, the Yenagoa, the Oporoma road which the state has spent over N12 billion.

“We have the Igbogene-AIT road, which we have spent over N19 billion payment, not contract amount, because the contract amount are far more than this.

But we have actually disbursed over 100 billion to contractors for this projects," he said.

Seipulo also said the government garnered the sum of N2.651 billion as internally generated revenue (IGR) for the month of September 2022, and had raked in N1.19bn IGR for the previous month of August 2022, noting that before now, the state's monthly IGR had always been a little over N1bn.

Explaining the reason for the increase in the IGR, Seipulou said: "Our IGR for September 2022 was N2.651bn. You see, that is far beyond what we normally have.

"Our (IGR) range has been in the range of one point something billion. That (increase) arose, because there was N1.1bn IGR receipt, and also there was about N1.5bn that was got from federal agencies and that money was the portion that was due to Bayelsa State. So, those two amounts accounted for the N2.651bn IGR fund for that month (of September)."

Also, speaking, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayiba Duba, said the state government has always informed the people the true picture of its income and expenditures as the government was not in the business of deceit.

On the new divisional police station, Baba said it was an initiative to give operatives of the police a conducive working environment, to enable them give their very best.

"This is one of the projects we have put in place for our officers to have a great place to work and retire into. We need more edifices like this to be able to provide our men with the good environment to work.

"It will provide service for people around here and we will replicate this in other places to ensure that we give our officers the best and in the spirit of federal character, we will continue to do this in places that we can. We have one in Enugu too, which we will commission today.

Earlier, the state police commissioner, Echeng Echeng, described the new division as a mile stone in the repositioning of police force for better delivery, noting that for 10 months now, Anambra has been largely peaceful despite the actions of criminals masquerading as separatists.

While appealing to the IG for the mobilisation of armoured tank to the state to help stabilise the successes that have so far been achieved, he said, "We are poised to ensure a peaceful yuletide in the state, and the need for more logistics support cannot be over emphasised."

INEC: Politicians Buying PVCs Wasting Their Time Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, restated its commitment to conduct free and fair elections in 2023, saying any politician buying Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) ahead of the elections was wasting his or her time, energy and resources.

INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Voters Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, gave the declaration yesterday, at a one-day capacity building on 'Conflict Sensitive Reporting and 2023 General Election', for journalists organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with INEC, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Present at the training were NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, who was represented by NUJ National Trustee in charge of Zone F, Mrs.

Abimbola Oyetunde; NUJ National Trustee in charge of Zone B, Mr. Adebayo Akamo; NUJ Zone B Vice President, Mrs. Ronke Afebioye Samo; NUJ Chairman in Oyo State, Ademola Babalola and INEC Administrative Secretary in Oyo State, Alhaji Abiodun Onikate-Amosu, among others.

Okoye, who was also represented by the Deputy Director in charge of Gender, Mrs. Ndidi Okafor, said the only reason many people will not vote during the elections was identity theft as anyone buying PVC was embarking on futility efforts, noting that the training centred on conflict sensitive reporting and 2023 general election.

He disclosed that journalists played critical role in deepening democracy, hence the training became imperative at the time Nigeria was approaching another

general election.

According to him, "Anyone buying PVCs is embarking on effort in futility as such PVCs would count for nothing on the day of the election with the usage of BVAS. Also, it is not possible to snatch ballot boxes and ballot papers again, because of the new technology introduced by INEC. The only reason why some people will not vote is identity theft. What we are dealing with is the finger print and the face.

"So, if your finger did not match, then your face must match. If your finger print did not match and your face did not match, then, you cannot vote, that means you are not the owner of the PVC. That is identity theft.

"Let me say it again that the only reason why some people will not vote during the elections is identity

theft. So, we enjoin you to be part of the education to sensitise the public and ensure accurate reportage. This is important, because the media is a major stakeholder in the electoral process."

The NUJ President, Chief Iziguzo, in his paper titled: "Role of the Media in the conduct of Peaceful Elections", charged journalists in the country to work towards the advancement of the right of freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of the press, media independence, conflict transformation and peace building.

He noted that those were prerequisites for open governance and development, which ultimately would serve the public interest, insisting that the pursuit of truth and public good must be the cornerstone of journalism practice in the country.

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A COURTESY VISIT TO THE ARCHBISHOP...

L-R: Methodist Archbishop Church of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Christopher Edeh, welcoming the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah during a visit to the Archbishop in Enugu...on Tuesday

Okowa: Poverty, Hunger, Insecurity Typify APC Governance The Vice-Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, said poverty, hunger and insecurity had characterised the administration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said those retrogressive elements, including unemployment, had remained the lot of Nigerians since the inception of APC government in 2015.

Okowa spoke at the flag-off of the state governorship campaign in Patani and Ozorro, stating that the Atiku-Okowa ticket of the PDP would repair all the damages in its "Recover Nigeria" mission.

He urged Nigerians to reject the APC and return the PDP to power in the 2023 general election to enable it to rebuild the country.

"My dear people of Patani, I thank you all for your support for the PDP over the years. As a party, we have done well for our state and country but it's unfortunate that the APC came in 2015 and destroyed all the achievements we recorded.

"And, because they are ashamed of their performance in the last seven and a half years, they have resorted to lies and propaganda. They have nothing more to offer than inflicting poverty, hunger, insecurity and a collapsed economy to Nigerians," he said.

The vice-presidential candidate urged the people to be hopeful and return PDP to the presidency, saying, "Please, vote all our party

candidates, because PDP will win the elections. I have been going round the country and I can assure you that PDP will win the 2023 Presidential Election.

"Atiku and I will repair the damages caused by the APC; everything PDP did before they came, they crashed all and they still have the effrontery to be campaigning.

"The PDP government will

ensure that our universities would no longer go on strike and we will continue all our youth and women empowerment programmes."

On the governorship election, he called on the people to vote Sheriff Oborevwori to ensure continuity in the development of the state, even as he commended former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his efforts at reconciling party members across the state.

His words: "I have worked very hard for this state and many more work still needs to be done. So, what remains to be done Sheriff Oborevwori will continue from where we will stop. Let's work hard to win all votes in Delta so that we can achieve our rescue mission mandate," Okowa added.

Uduaghan, on his part, charged the people to vote all PDP candidates, adding that, "for the first time

In response to an invitation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the European Union (EU), has deployed an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Nigeria to observe the general election scheduled for 25 February and 11 March, 2023.

A statement yesterday said the high representative of the union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, has appointed Barry Andrews, Member of the European Parliament, as Chief Observer for the EOM to Nigeria, recalling that the EU had previously deployed election observation missions to Nigeria for the 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 elections.

Borrell was quoted in the state-

the party’s flag, and said he had learnt a lot from Okowa, and assured that he would do more for Deltans if elected.

"I have learnt a lot from Governor Okowa and I am very happy that through your votes and by the grace of God, he will become our next vice president. Okowa has achieved a lot in the last seven and a half years, but I will achieve more for Deltans if you elect me," he stated.

NDLEA Receives N500m Grant from AbdulSamad Rabiu Africa Initiative to Boost Drug War Michael Olugbode in Abuja The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has received a N500 million grant from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) for the funding of some select projects.

The letter of grant was handed to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the anti-narcotics agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), yesterday in Abuja by the the MD/ CEO of ASR Africa, Ubon Udoh.

Marwa, used the opportunity to commend the Chairman of Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, for his philanthropy and support for humanity.

The grant, which was given to the NDLEA in recognition of the

many successes it has recorded nationally and internationally in the fight against illicit substance abuse and trafficking in Nigeria, came under the ASR Africa Security Sector Support Scheme, an intervention initiative targeted at sustainably impactful interventions in security and social development in Africa.

In his remarks, Marwa described Rabiu as a patriot, philanthropist and foremost industrialist, who has human interest at heart, recounting his pivotal role in 2019/2020 along with his colleagues in the business sector to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

The NDLEA boss stated that the drug scourge was not what only the government and the agency could fight alone, adding that there was the urgent need for all stakeholders

to rise up like the ASR Africa to support the nation’s War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, initiative, which encouraged all citizens, both corporate and individual, to be stakeholders.

“By acknowledging the existence of the drug scourge, ASR Africa has positioned itself as an important stakeholder towards eradicating the menace in Nigeria,” Marwa said, adding that the grant would be used towards sustainable and impactful projects relevant to the current reality of the drug problem in the country.

The CEO of ASR Africa, speaking earlier, said the grant was part of efforts of the Chairman of BUA Group to give back to the African continent and make lasting impact in peace and security, as a means of

2023: EU Deploys Observation Mission to Nigeria Michael Olugbode in Abuja

we have somebody from our dear state nominated as vice-presidential candidate.

"So we must work hard to ensure that the PDP wins the presidential election, because if PDP wins, Okowa will take some people with him to Abuja and many of our federal roads will be attended to," he said.

Oborevwori, thanked party faithful for choosing him to fly

ment as saying, “These elections will be crucial for the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria, and for the stability of the region. This is the sixth time that the EU deploys an election observation mission to Nigeria, reflecting our commitment to work together to consolidate democracy in the country.

“The elections are set to be competitive and will take place in a challenging security context.

It is our hope that Nigerians will be able to cast their vote in a peaceful environment and that any challenges or disputes will be solved through dialogue or through available legal remedies.”

The Chief Observer Barry Andrews, on his part, said: “I am very pleased to have been entrusted with the responsibility for leading this EU Election Observation Mission.

The mission is taking place during a period of time, when democracy around the globe is in decline.

“The forthcoming general elections is, therefore, not only a key moment in Nigeria's democratic development but also important to the future of democracy in West Africa and the continent at large.

I am looking forward to meeting with electoral stakeholders that are playing important roles in the ongoing electoral process.”

According to the statement, the EU EOM would provide a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process based on international and regional standards for democratic elections.

The Core Team of the EU EOM consists of 11 election experts, who would arrive in Abuja during

the first half of January. Towards the end of January, 40 long-term observers would join the mission to be deployed across the country and follow the electoral campaign.

Thereafter, short-term observers from the EU diplomatic community as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland, would reinforce the mission during election day, adding that the EU EOM would remain in the country till the completion of the electoral process.

In line with the EU election observation methodology, the mission would issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Abuja after the election day.

The final report, which would include a set of recommendations for future electoral processes, would be presented after the finalisation of the entire electoral process.

uplifting and restoring the dignity and lives of Africans.

“Your selection is in recognition of the many successes you have recorded nationally and

internationally, the high quality of service delivered by your agency, and the excellence of your men and women to the service of the nation,” he said.

HISTORY AS SANWO-OLU COMPLETES INFRASTRUCTURE WORK ON LAGOS BLUE RAIL LINE extremely difficult.

“Today, the story has changed.

We are taking the first ride in the train, which marks the beginning of our testing phases for the Blue Line. Passengers will use the State’s unified electronic payment system known as Cowry card currently being used for BRT and regulated ferry services. The completion of civil infrastructure work is the manifestation of the audacious mind and courage of the governor.”

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde said the development attested to the governor’s passion to change the transportation narrative of the State and ensure rapid mobility in Lagos.

The rail project, the Commissioner said, would enhance rapidity in movement and unlock more economic prosperity for the state.

“Lagosians now trust you because you are a man of your word and integrity. Mr. Governor, you will be remembered for the commitment you deployed to ensure this infrastructure is completed and becomes a reality,” Oladeinde said.

Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Mr. Zhang Zhichen, said the project was delivered with standard and quality, noting that completion of the Blue Line would write a new chapter for mass transportation in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the preferred

bidder/contractor for the 37km fourth Mainland Bridge project would be announced before the end of this year.

The governor said this would be a new year gift to the good people of Lagos, even as he stressed that the decision was in line with the promise he made to the people of the state.

Sanwo-Olu made the remark yesterday.

THISDAY had reported that a consortium led by Portugal’s builder Mota-Engil and two Chinese ventures had been shortlisted by the state to build a $2.5 billion Fourth Mainland bridge expected to relieve severe congestion in the mega city, an official of the state told Reuters yesterday.

The 37 kilometre Fourth Mainland Bridge, would be built under a public-private partnership. It would include three toll plazas, nine interchanges and a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour, a senior spokesperson for the Lagos state governor, Jubril Gawat had said.

Mota-Engil is partnering with China Communication and Construction Corporation and China Road and Bridge Corporation in the bid.

China Gezhouba Group Company and China Geo-Engineering Corporation joint venture and a consortium led by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation are the two other shortlisted bidders.

44

THURSDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

UNVEILING LARGE SCALE STARCH AND DERIVATIVES PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION...

L-R: Secretary, Large Scale Starch and Derivatives Producers Association (LSSDPA)/Project Manager, Premier Plantations Limited, Mr. Boniface Iyen; President, LSSDPA/ Chief Executive Officer, Psaltry International Company Ltd, Mrs. Oluyemisi Iranloye; Chairman, Board of Trustees, LSSDPA/Group Managing Director, SaroAfrica International Ltd, Mr. Rasheed Olakanmi Sarumi; Member Board of Trustees, LSSDPA/CEO and Managing Partner, ZMJ Integrated Services Ltd, Mrs. Zainab Mustapha Jaji and Member Board of Trustees, LSSDPA/Group Managing Director and CEO of Odu'a Investment Company Ltd, Mr Adewale Abiodun Raji during the inauguration ceremony of LSSDPA in Lagos… recently

EMEFIELE: BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIAN SEEKS INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS AHEAD OF 2023 ELECTIONS of N10 million on clearing cheques still remain.

The new withdrawal regime further pegged the maximum cash withdrawal per week via Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at N100, 000 subject to a maximum of N20, 000 cash withdrawal per day.

Although most analysts lauded the policy as a step in the right direction to tackle corruption, insecurity, and vote-buying by politicians, others regarded the move as politicised.

Emefiele had clarified that the new cash withdrawal limits expected to be implemented from next month were not politically motivated, insisting that they are for the overall benefit of the economy.

Aisha Ahmed, CBN Deputy Governor to Brief Lawmakers

The House of Representatives resolved to admit Ahmed in place of Emefiele to brief them on the recent monetary policies of the apex bank, especially the cash withdrawal limits.

Emefiele had on Tuesday told the House, which summoned him last week, that he was outside the country.

The communication necessitated a re-invitation of the governor for appearance before the House either in person or by proxy on Thursday.

But at Wednesday’s plenary, Emefiele wrote the House that he was still abroad, adding that he was attending to some health challenges and would, therefore, delegate Ahmed to led a committee to the briefing.

Reading the letter, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila said, "The Clerk has just received a letter and his letter says ‘We refer to your letter of December 20, 2022 on the above subject matter inviting the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria to appear before the House on Thursday, December 22.

"Regrettably, the governor is out of the country on official engagement as well as attending to some health challenges. He is, therefore, unavailable to attend this briefing.

"Giving the urgency associated with the briefing, the committee of governors led by Mrs. Aisha Ahmed, deputy governor, Financial System Stability, is prepared to brief the House".

Buttressing the point, Gbajabiamila pleaded with his colleagues to allow Emefiele's representative to brief the House.

He said, "Honourable colleagues, at this stage, we have to rise above certain things and not make it personal anymore, in the sense there is a very critical issue, which is the issue of this new cash policy.

“If the governor has said he is out of the country and in good faith, he is attending to health conditions, if that is the case, would it serve this

House to continue to insist on his physical appearance? Two, would it serve the interest of the country to say we will wait whenever he comes back in January, because a lot would have happened between now and then?

"But if he's asked somebody who's fully equipped with all the facts, who can be questioned by the House, who's the deputy governor, Financial System Stability, which is what this is all about, and who is coming with the committee of governors, I think the point has been made.

“Let's hear from her because if we hear from her, we are hearing from the governor. It is akin to me going somewhere and I ask the deputy speaker to represent me and they said no, deputy cannot come.

“I think under the circumstances, if he had said he was in Nigeria and could not make it, that will be unacceptable. So, I think we should consider it. Whatever the resolution of the House, we will go with it."

But the House became divided, with some agreeing to Gbajabiamila's position and others suggesting the representative briefed the House Committee on Banking and Currency instead of the whole House.

Hon. Segun Odebunmi, who made the suggestion, said, "It will not augur well with the institutions of the House. I want to suggest that if that is the opinion of the House, then we refer them to the committee of the House."

But Hon. Olajide Jimoh said it was not out of place to allow Emefiele's representative to brief the House.

Similarly, Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, in his remarks, said it was the resolution of the House on Tuesday to allow the representative.

In his contributions, Deputy Speaker, Hon Idris Wase, appealed to members to allow Emefiele's representative to appear for him.

Deciding on the matter, Gbajabiamila said the representative would brief the House at 10am on Thursday.

Gbajabiamila said, "I don't think there is any question to put. So, we will expect the team, the committee of governors led by Mrs. Aisha Ahmed, deputy governor, Financial System Stability, tomorrow at 10am to brief the House on the new cash policy as prescribed by the CBN Act,"

Let Nobody Politicise Security, DSS Operations, Says Saraki

Meanwhile, Saraki advised security agencies in the country to be wary and avoid being manipulated by politicians as the elections got nearer.

Saraki, in a statement from his

Media Office in Abuja, signed by Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that what led to the moves by the secret service against the CBN governor at this point needed further clarification so as not to create misunderstanding and wrong perception about the motive.

The former senate president was reacting to the recent court case in which the DSS accused Emefiele of terrorism and other charges while seeking a court order for his arrest Saraki added that without holding brief for the CBN governor, whom he believed should be able to defend himself, as he was not above the law, his concern was that as a victim of a similar wrong and politically-motivated accusation, he felt there were clouds around the DSS court action. That was more so as it came two months to the general election, particularly at a time the apex bank introduced tough guidelines on the cashless regime and change of currency, which could work against those who had planned to resort to votebuying in the election, Saraki stated.

Saraki said in the statement, “As somebody who had been wrongly accused of involvement in the Offa robbery by political opportunists and manipulators before their evil plots now began to unravel in the court of law, I feel that a similar intrigue is being weaved by those who are bent on sabotaging the 2023 elections, as the obvious outcome is not going their way.

“In this court case in which the CBN governor is being accused of terrorism through a suit, which the Federal High Court has now described as frivolous and without concrete evidence, my position is not to support Emefiele, but to support democracy, which is being targeted by the plotters.

“With all due respect that I have for the DSS as a very professional security agency, I still found it very difficult to understand what led to the charges, why concrete evidence that will enable the court to take a good decision was not provided, and why the department gave room for suspicion and speculations, as the case file had gaping holes, as noted by the Honourable Judge John Tsoho.

“One of the suspicions this case has raised is that it is part of a grand plot by those who want to undermine and sabotage the coming general election because their calculation on vote buying, rigging, and excessive use of money is falling apart.

"The new CBN regulation on a cashless regime in which individuals can only withdraw N100,000 a week and N20,000 per day is sure to frustrate the partisan fraudsters, the mischievous politicians and unpatriotic elements who aim to win the election at all costs even when they are being rejected at the polls.

“The CBN guidelines have derailed the plan of those who believe that they will not allow the ‘one man, one vote system’ in which the electorate freely choose their representatives in a fair and peaceful atmosphere. I urge the DSS, police, NSCDC, the military, and all security agencies to be wary of political manipulators, despots, and anarchists who may want to use the case to derail the free and fair election regime that the new Electoral Act, INEC and President Muhammadu Buhari have promised.

“These same undesirable elements in the political process have attempted to use the National Assembly to scuttle the electoral process by frustrating the provisions on electronic transmission of results, use of Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), the new guidelines on currency change and cash withdrawal.

"They failed. They have also put pressure on the presidency to reverse some of these innovations. They did not succeed. Now, they are resorting to the use of the judiciary."

According to the former KwaraState governor, the desperate resort to the manipulation of the judicial process and the use of security agencies should remind Nigerians of the antics of the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), which was used by anti-democratic elements during the military transition programme in the early 90s.

Saraki urged the security agencies to distance themselves from anarchists and anti-democratic elements masquerading as democrats or political players.

He said, "With the current situation in the country, all the citizens, national institutions, residents, and foreign friends of Nigeria should commit to the goal of having free, fair, peaceful, and credible polls in 2023.

“It is my prayer that next year’s election should provide a positive turning point for rebuilding, refocusing, resetting, redeeming, restructuring, repositioning, and revamping our country.”

CNPP, CSOs, NYCN Back Emefiele

CNPP, in conjunction of the CNCSOS and the NYCN, yesterday, threw their weight behind Emefiele on the plot to arrest and detain him by DSS. The group also described the latest move by the DSS as a plot orchestrated by some politicians of interests who had been largely affected by the recent central bank naira redesign and cash withdrawal limits.

They commended the federal government on the ban on cash withdrawal from public accounts, describing it as one of the measures in the fight against corruption.

"Nigerians on the streets will vehemently resist any attempt to derail the cashless policy of the federal government of Nigeria," they added.

Speaking at a World Press Conference in Abuja by the National Convener, CNCSOs, Chief Willy Ezugwu, which had in attendance, representatives of the CNPP and NYCN, the coalition urged Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to put in motion an investigation to unmask those behind the plot to remove Emefiele through the backdoor.

Ezugwu said a situation where, "members of a particular group revealed that the DSS had even gone to the extent of approaching the court to obtain a warrant to arrest Godwin Emefiele without the consent or knowledge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, calls for serious concern."

According to him, "The Coalition of National Interest Defenders, which brought the development to the open, went ahead to allege that the plot was to keep Mr. Emefiele for at least 60 days until after the general election next year.

"This should ring a bell when we recall that this alleged plot is coming immediately after the redesign of the naira notes and the review of the cash withdrawal limits for both individuals and organisations."

He wondered why Nigerians had initially commended "the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria such that even the corrupt politicians who are opposing the cash withdrawal limits acknowledged that it is the way to go, but that the timing was wrong.

"However, the same persons also sought to get waivers for election spending. Why are they looking for waivers? he asked, adding that the only reason could not be far from the motives, "to use stolen money to buy votes."

The group also commended the federal government, saying, "The stoppage of cash withdrawal from all public accounts is another legacy in the war against corruption and electoral fraud by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

"The ban on cash withdrawals and subsequent directive to public officers to immediately open domiciliary accounts in foreign and local currencies ahead of the commencement of the cash withdrawal policy will deepen the gains of the cashless policy of the federal government through the CBN." Ezugwu continued, "In view of the current revelation, we are afraid that the State Security Service is derailing from its statutory role to becoming a tool in the hands of desperate politicians. This is dangerous for the country and

must be discouraged at any cost.

"Those who want to receive and spend money without any traces are those who have been kicking against the cashless policy of the CBN. If you have legitimate money, why are you afraid to wire the money through bank transfers?

“Why are you afraid of cash withdrawal limits? There is no limit to the amount you can transfer through the bank, but because they are having our stolen money, they don't want to make traceable transactions and that is the sin of Godwin Emefiele.

"That's why they want him out of the way before the election so that someone who can do their biddings is appointed to reverse the cashless policy implementation.

"We must note that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown maximum support for the economic stability and reform efforts of the CBN Governor and that was probably why they wanted to remove him from office without the consent of Mr. President.

"At this juncture", he said, "we hail the Nigerian judiciary for refusing to be used for the planned hatchet job.

It is unfortunate but it happened."

According to him, the move by the DSS operatives is not only suspicious but also unlawful, and could cast the country in bad light before the international community.

He said, "In view of a reasonable suspicion that some politicians may have influenced the State Security Service in the plan to arrest of Godwin Emefiele, we join well-meaning Nigerians and groups to the call on President Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to immediately put in motion the processes of suspending and thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding this national and international embarrassment.

"The attempt to obtain a backyard order to remove a high ranking officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for obvious political reasons should be of serious concern to all Nigerians as we don’t know who will be the next.

"By virtue of Section 150(1) and Section 174 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation has the powers to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria.

"Therefore, nothing stops the Attorney-General of the Federation from exercising his powers in this matter to send a clear signal to the international community that Nigeria is not a banana republic, where anything goes.

"If public office holders who err are not appropriately sanctioned, it will send a wrong signal to foreign investors and project Nigeria as a country without rule of law."

THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWS

GLG COMMUNICATIONS HONOURED…

L-R: Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State chapter, Samuel Ayetutu; Chairman, NIPR Lagos State chapter, Comfort Nwankwo; Managing Partner, GLG Communications, Omawumi Ogbe; Content Manager, GLG Communications, Uriri Onojake; and NIPR Member, Olabamiji Adeleye, when GLG Communications visited NIPR Secretariat following its award for ‘Best Innovation in PR’ at the 2022 LaPRIGA Awards in Lagos…recently

Police Arrest Five Kidnappers in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kwara state police command operatives yesterday said that they arrested “notorious” suspected kidnappers that have been terrorising the people of Ekiti and Ifelodun local government councils of the state in the recent times.

The command, however, explained that, the suspects were arrested at different operators carried out by men

of the anti-kidnapping unit of the command.

Parading the suspects in Ilorin yesterday the state police commissioner, Mr. Paul Odama said that, “two locally made guns and two Telephone handsets were recovered from the suspects during their arrest along Eruku town of Ekiti local government area of the state”.

According to him, “One Mr. Shina Luke Abiodu of Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government

FOBTOB Pickets Nigeria Distillery over Victimisation of Worker Ugo Aliogo

Members of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB),yesterday, picketed the premises of Nigeria Distillery Limited, Sango Ota, Ogun State, over alleged irregular sack of it is unit branch chairman, Comrade Samson Salau.

FOBTOB President, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo told journalists that the decision to picket the company followed the refusal of the management to heed to appeal of the union to rescind its decision and reinstate the embattled worker.

Recalling events leading to Salau’s sack, Oyibo said: “Sometime in September

2022, our branch head here, Comrade Salau was alleged to have made uncomplimentary remarks against the company’s Financial Director. He allegedly called him a thief.

“On the basis of mere allegation and hearsay, which is unverified till this day, the management terminated his appointment. This is unacceptable to us. Our colleague was not given fair hearing and this cannot fly.

We met with the Managing Director (MD)over the issue. He set up a panel that reviewed the matter. We were not satisfied because management was still adamant. We met at NEC and resolved to picket the company.

Bauchi Poly Matriculates 6,268 Students Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Federal Polytechnic Bauchi has matriculated about 6,268 students for the 2022/2023 academic session.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Mr. Sanusi Gumau, stated this yesterday in Bauchi during the matriculation and orientation ceremony of the newly intakes of the institution.

Gumua said that the polytechnic received 9,372 applications and 8,015 were admitted, while 6,268 were registered as bonafide students of the institution.

Gumau, who was represented by the Deputy Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Dalhatu Abubakar, said that out of the number of students registered, 1,770 were admitted into the Higher National Diploma (HND) while 4,498 were admitted for the National Diploma (ND) programme.

He urged the students to face their study squarely so as not

to waste their parents’ resources and justify the confidence reposed in them.

“We have established five additional academic directorates and affiliated with three notable tertiary institutions for the awards of nine degree and 10 postgraduate diploma programmes.

“We equally made a lot of efforts in changing the face of the polytechnic and bridging the gap created by infrastructural deficit in the Institution.

“We have touched almost every nook and cranny of the Polytechnic that needed to be touched,” he said.

Earlier, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Ms. Rakiya Maleka, said that the institution is well known for its steadfastness in quality technological service delivery since its inception.

She urged the new intakes to utilise the knowledge and experiences acquired during the orientation exercise and made them integral part of their stay in the polytechnic.

Area of Kwara State, and one other, while riding on a motorcycle on their way from Egbe in Kogi, State were accosted at Koro village close to Eruku town by men numbering about six, who emerged from the bush armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

“The hoodlums opened fire

on them and they sustained gunshot injuries. They, however, escaped the attack and ran to the Anti-Kidnapping patrol team stationed at Eruku town.

“The team moved to the scene and one Techno Phone was recovered. Forensic analysis of the phone by the investigators led to the arrest of the kingpin

and two of his gang members in Oro-Ago, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara state on 20/12/2022.”

Odama added: “The suspects have confessed during interrogation to have been responsible for kidnapping operations within Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara States respectively.

“One of their victims and his

six year old son came from Ekiti State to identify and confirmed that they were kidnapped and held captive for six days by the suspects and were released after payment of N6 million.

“The suspects also confessed to have also killed one Inspector Segun Ayegbulu of the NSCDC attached to Ekiti Command.”

Yoruba Group Drags Nine Governors to Court over Insecurity James Sowole in Abeokuta and Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Pan-Yoruba group, the Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation (YKLTF), has dragged nine governors to court, alongside the Attorneys General of their states, over worsening insecurity in the affected states.

The governors sued are of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Kwara and

Kogi states.

The suit filed at the Ibadan division of the Federal High Court was marked: FHC/IB/ CS/189/22, processes of which were obtained in Abuja by THISDAY. In the suit filed by the group’s lawyer, Mr Tayo Douglas, the plaintiffs said they resolved to take the legal path due to the seeming lackadaisical attitude of the governors towards the plight of the citizens in their

respective states in the area of security.

The plaintiffs were Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun, Prof. Bisi Sowunmi, Chief (Mrs) Ronke Okusanya, Senator Olatokunbo Ogunbanjo and Mr. Olakunle Osuntokun, who sued on behalf of themselves and the registered trustees of the Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation.

Specifically, they asked the court for an “Order compelling

the Defendants to take all lawful and legal means necessary to protect the lives, dignities, personal liberties as well as the freedom of the people of the respective community from any acts of discrimination, dominion and oppression by the local and foreign marauding herders, bandits and kidnappers, who continue to terrorise, rape, maim, kill and kidnap the people of the said community daily without any inhibition.

Campaign Tragedy: Omo-Agege, Delta APC Mourn Victims of Boat Accident Delta PDP consoles APC family

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Deputy President of the Senate and Delta All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege has suspended campaigns following a boat accident involving party members and loyalists.

The incident occurred on Tuesday while returning from Okerenkoko in Warri South West Local government area of the state after the APC campaign

rally in the Ijaw community.

It was gathered that a commercial boat traveling in opposite direction rammed into the boat conveying the APC supporters and members with two persons losing their lives while three were declared missing. Seven others injured and were receiving treatment.

According to a statement signed by Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Campaign Council, Ima Niboro, “Deputy

Senate President, and Delta All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and the Delta APC Campaign Council, have received with shock and grief, news of the boat accident involving loyal party members and supporters, as they returned from our rally in Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government Area, yesterday, 20th December, 2022.

“We are shocked by this tragedy, and our hearts are

heavy. Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families. This is one tragedy too many, and our party is officially in mourning,” he said.

Niboro disclosed that the council is currently working with the relevant authorities and communities to search for the missing victims and are also in the process of reaching out to the families and loved ones of those that lost their lives while ensuring that the injured receive the best care possible.

Ekiti Deputy Gov Canvasses Support, Respect for Monarchs Gbenga Sodeinde in AdoEkiti

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Mrs Christianah Monisade Afuye, has urged Ekiti residents to respect and support the members of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, for the task of building a strong and secured Ekiti to be attainable.

Specifically, Mrs Afuye urged Ikere indigenes to back the current Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu- Alagbado, to sustain the spate

of development ushered- in by the Oba, describing the monarch as a blessing to the town in all respects.

The Ekiti’s number two citizen, said this in Ikere Ekiti, yestderday during a Christmas Carol organised by Oba Adu -Alagbado, and attended by the leadership of the Christians’ Association of Nigeria(CAN), Ikere Local Government chapter.

Addressing the gathering attended by members of Ogoga-in-Council, CAN members,

community leaders and youths, the deputy governor, in a statement by her Special Assistant (Media),Victor Ogunje, advised that only peace and stability, and not insurrection, could sustain the faster pace of development being experienced in Ikere currently.

Commending the monarch for convening the get-together to mark yuletide, Mrs afuye, described Christmas as a time of peace and joy, and that such should reflect in the lives of the

people by being their brother’s keepers at this season.

The deputy governor urged Ikere people to continue to support Oba Adu- Alagbado, saying his reign has brought tremendous development to Ikere kingdom.

“You could all attest to the fact that Oba Adejimi Adu -Alagbado has been a blessing to Ikere Ekiti. It was during his time that we have a university, it was during his time that a female Deputy Governor emerged from this town.

Adeleke Approves Payment of December Salaries/Pensions Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke yesterday approved the payment of December 2022 salaries and pensions.

The payment covers all

Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) as well as secondary and primary school teachers, tertiary institutions, local government staff and retirees among others.

As the cleaning up of state finance continues, His

Excellency, the state Governor restated his commitment to fulfilling the obligations of the state to workers on the payroll of Osun state.

“I have, as a priority number one the welfare of workers especially our civil and public

servants. Our workers should be rest assured that all issues affecting their welfare will continue to receive urgent attention of state. That is the first item on my administration’s five point agenda,” Governor Adeleke affirmed.

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

IBUCAP SUPERME CHALLENGE WINNER…

L-R: Brand Manager, Analgesics and Antimalarial Portfolio, Shalina Healthcare, Chiuba Nwaosu; Head, Consumer Business West Africa,Suresh Karuppiahsamy; Ibucap Brand Ambassador, Kafayat Oluwatosin Shafau (aka Kaffy); First Prize Winner, Olaoseiran Moses Oladimeji; Chief Commercial Officer, West Africa Pharma Business Operations, Arun Raj, and Head, Regulatory & Quality Assurance, Shalina Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Theophilus Emeka Adimoha during the IBUCAPSuperMe Digital Challenge grand finale in Lagos… recently DAN UKANA

Peter Obi Bemoans Absence of Federal Infrastructure in Akwa Says politicians dividing Nigeria along ethnic lines

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Despite huge contributions of Akwa Ibom State to the nation, the state is still lacking a lot federal

at the Labour Party’s presidential rally held at the Unity Park field, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Tuesday.

Worried by the development, he vowed to address the low level of federal infrastructure in the state if elected president in 2023.

As a step to achieve this, he said the ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport would be turned into Several other shanties were also an export processing centre. affected by the clean up exercise.

“If most of them are not IDPs, then this is a straightforward issue and definitely not allocated because Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan these are slums we are talking about. Then where are they coming Oyo State Governor, ’Seyi from and how did they get this Makinde, yesterday reiterated location. Beside this is a planned that his administration would road corridor and a transit way at continue to support efforts to that, Inner Southern Transit Way, expand the Ibadan Airport that is supposed to convey dual because the facility is critical transportation, dedicated bus-line to the state’s economy. and rail median but these have The governor, while speaking been taken over by hoodlums, at the 40th Anniversary shanties, you can imagine the Celebration of the Airport, kind of criminalities going on here. highlighted some of the efforts

government infrastructure, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi has said.

The former Anambra State Governor made the observation

FCTA Demolishes Durumi IDP Camp over Insecurity Olawale AjimotokaninAbuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday demolished the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Durumi in Abuja to make way for road and rid the camp of criminals.

The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Hadi Ahmad, said Durumi IDP camp, sheltering refugees displaced by insurgency in the North-east and banditry in parts of the country, was a dual carriage road corridor with a rail modal.

He noted that 2023 would be exactly 40 years that Senators visited the State over the Deep Seaport project and since then much has not been done.

“Since 1983 politicians have been coming here, they said amongst other promises they are going to build a deep Seaport , next year will make it 40 years. The federal government has not done

anything in Akwa Ibom State.

All they come here to do is to make fake promises.

“You cannot drive from here to Aba, you cannot drive from here to Umuahia. I don’t make fake promises. What we want is to make Nigeria to work again,” he said.

He said apart from being the youngest presidential candidate among the major parties, he

has remained connected to the youth and workers in the country over the years.

“Between me and Datti, we have the greatest capacity and strength to work. In terms of education and exposure we are the most qualified. On our own we have also created wealth and strived to make it in life and we are prepared to secure and unite Nigeria,” he added.

Makinde Explains Support for Expansion of Ibadan Airport already embarked upon by the state government to expand the Airport.

Some of efforts made by the Makinde administration culminated in the upgrade of the Airport to CAT 6 and the government had, at different times, made a donation of a fire vehicle and a Toyota Hilux vehicle, while also embarking on the construction of 500,000 litres Aviation fuel storage and

dispensing facility, among others.

The governor while speaking, said when the Iwo Road Bus Terminal project is completed, there will be cheap and accessible public transport to the Airport.

He said: “I want to congratulate the staff and management of FAAN on your 40th anniversary.

“We look forward to your golden jubilee, and by that time, I look forward to being

able to fly from this Airport to other parts of the world.

“The Ibadan Airport is so central to our economy in Oyo State that after we came in as an administration, the first thing I did was to befriend them here.

So, because of the centrality of the Airport in Ibadan to our economy, we know if we work together with FAAN and the Airport Staff, we will be able to achieve our own objective as well.

Akeredolu Signs 2023 Gunmen Kill Two Police Officers on Patrol in Kogi Appropriation Bill into Law IbrahimOyewaleinLokoja police officers on duty. made available to the newsmen Command lost two of its personnel However, the sources could in Lokoja . during the gun duel with the

Fidelis David in Akure

Ondo State Governor, Akeredolu Oluwarotimi (SAN) yesterday signed the 2023 appropriation bill into law.

Akeredolu had on December 5, 2022, presented a total budget proposal of N272.736 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval and passage, but the lawmakers passed a total budget of N275, 979, 184, 000, which was signed into law by the governor.

The Assembly Appropriation Committee led by Hon. Akintomide Akinrogunde said the budget was increased in cognizance of the current economic realities in the country.

The governor, while signing

the 2023 Appropriation Bill into law at the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka in Akure noted that N129, 839 billion, representing 47 percent of the total budget, is to cater for recurrent expenditure, while N146,140 billion, representing 52.99 percent, is for capital development.

According to him, the signed budget, christened: ‘Budget of Shared Prosperity’, was prepared from the inputs garnered from the people during the Town Hall meetings with various stakeholders across the state, stressing that the budget preparation was also based on the ‘redeemed agenda’ of his administration, which he said was the guide post for development of the state.

It was tragic end for two police officers who lost their lives when gunmen opened fire on them during a patrol duty along Felele -Agbaja road in outskirt of Lokoja, the State capital yesterday .

THISDAY gathered that the suspected gunmen caught the officers unawares at a road block , spraying bullets on the unsuspecting

not ascertained the actual number of causality when the incident occurred.

He stated that the gunmen carted away the guns of the killed officers and took to their heels immediately.

Meanwhile the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP William Ovye Aya confirmed the incident in a press Statement

According to the Statement, “Today, 21/12/2022 the Command received the unfortunate report of attack on the Police patrol team along Agbaja road, Lokoja. The hoodlums emerged from the bush and attacked the team when they arrived for their routine patrol,” the statement said .

Aya explained that the

hoodlums as they fled before the re-enforcement team arrived.

He stated further that the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Akeem A. Yusuf immediately deployed a team of tactical operatives to the area while trailing the hoodlums to apprehend and bring them to book.

Kogi vs EFCC: Agbakoba Threatens Court Action, Says Commission Must Obey the Law Rebecca Ejifoma

To legally prove his position that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been breaking the rule of law, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has threatened to head to court.

Agbakoba said he would be

praying the court for a declaration on the exact scope of powers of the commission, especially about states of the federation.

He also maintained that the EFCC must not however undermine the rule of law in the fight against corruption.

The former NBA president also quoted a recent decision: Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) vs

the Federal Republic of Nigeria FRN SC/CR/161/2020, in which the Supreme Court “drastically limited the scope of powers of the EFCC, as it recognised that the EFCC being very powerful could not be allowed to run amok.”

Agbakoba stated his position in a statement issued Tuesday evening titled: ‘The Scope of

Powers of EFCC Will Be Tested by the Courts’.

The statement read in part: “Concerned that the EFCC often exceeds its powers in the investigation and prosecution of alleged offenders of our criminal laws, I held a press conference to express my concerns, which I do occasionally on several national issues.

Another INEC Office Attacked in Imo Another office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State has been attacked.

This was disclosed in statement by the INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

The attack, which was carried out on Tuesday left eight windows smashed and

burglary proofs removed.

That Tuesday’s attack is the fourth on INEC’s facilities in the state in less than three weeks.

There have been previous attacks on Orlu and Oru West Local Government Areas and the state headquarters in Owerri.

But INEC said that ballot boxes and voting cubicles have been evacuated to another INEC facility for safekeeping.

It stated that the uncollected Permanent Voter Cards have been secured as well.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Prof Sylvia Agu, has reported that our office in Isu Local Government Area office was attacked and vandalised.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

“Eight windows were smashed, and burglary proofs removed.

Fortunately, the attackers could not access the building. Movable and immovable equipment as well as other materials were not removed or vandalised.

“However, as a precautionary measure, critical materials such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles have been evacuated to another INEC facility for safekeeping.

47

THURSDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS Argentina’sVictory Parade Leaves Two Dead, Five in Coma

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Argentina's 2022 World Cup celebrations have been marred by the death of a 24-year-old fan, after he fell through a roof 'jumping up and down' celebrating during Tuesday's victory parade after their dramatic penalty shootout win over France.

Lionel Messi and the rest of Argentina's players delivered the nation's first World Cup triumph since 1986 and it caused millions in Argentina to throw parties.

But after Tuesday's bus parade was cut short due to safety concerns of fans jumping onto the top of the bus with the players, the Buenos Aires Ministry of Health detailed how another fan died in hospital on Monday due to a head injury picked up while celebrating.

Details from police in Buenos Aires, published by La Nacíon. say the man was jumping on the roof, celebrating the triumph of the National Team, until (the roof) broke and he fell,leading to fatal injury.

He died from his injuries at the Fernández Hospital in Buenos Aires.

There are also fears over a fiveyear-old boy that is in a coma after sustaining a serious head injury following an incident in Plaza San Martin, where he was celebrating Argentina's World Cup triumph with his parents.

La Nacion have also detailed how a piece of marble fell from a monument during the celebrations, striking the child, who is now in intensive care.

More stories of deaths and serious injuries are emerging on a day where Argentina's World Cup-winning

A staggering number of fans surrounded the bus as it made its way trough Buenos Aires

QATAR 2022 heroes saw their bus parade through Buenos Aires - which brought more than four million people to the streets to celebrate 0 cut short.

Messi and Co had to be evacuated to the sky in helicopters after fans threw projectiles and tried to

jump on the team's bus.

The helicopters carrying the footballers circled low above the skies of the capital including the area around the iconic Obelisk monument as crazed fans chanted and applauded before taking them back to the Argentine Football Association's (AFA) training facilities HQ near Ezeiza Airport where the victory parade had begun around

midday.

The streets of the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires had been mobbed with jubilant fans for the open-top bus parade, which was expected to last around eight hours.

It was set to take in landmarks including the iconic Obelisk, where the majority of expectant Argentinian supporters had congregated.

AFA president Chiqui Tapia

confirmed in a tweet just before 4pm local time, however, that the bus parade needed to be abandoned.

'They won't allow us to greet everyone who was at the Obelisk,' the tweet read.

'The security organisations that were escorting us won't let us continue.

'I apologise in the name of all

the players. A real shame.'

Gabriela Cerruti, an Argentine presidential spokeswoman, tweeted as TV stations broadcast the breathtaking images of the crowds looking upwards towards the players above them in the sky: 'The world champions are flying along the route they were taking because it was impossible to continue by road with the explosion of happiness.

Gov Diri Rues Super Eagles Absence at Qatar 2022 World Cup Moscalino, Ozone Win Calls for private sector involvement in sports development in Nigeria Lagos Table Tennis League Duro Ikhazuagbe, just back from Qatar

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was at the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has asked Nigerians to stop the blame game on why Super Eagles failed to qualify for the edition Argentina defeated France to win last Sunday.

Speaking shortly before that memorable final match at the Lusail Stadium, Governor Diri insisted that the blame for Super Eagles failure to make the cut was also largely that of the sports ministry and the government rather than heaping the entire blame on the NFF board under the watch of Amaju Pinnick.

“Let us stop the blame game, thinking that it is one man that did not work hard enough for Eagles to qualify.

He describes as unfortunate that Nigeria’s green and white flag was not amongst the 32 hoisted in Qatar.

“It is unfortunate that we are not seeing the Nigerian flag here because the Super Eagles didn’t qualify. It is easy to lay blame on former NFF President Amaju Pinnick that Nigeria did not qualify.

“But beyond all that noise, we need to blame the Federal Ministry of Sports because the government is largely involved in the administration of sport which is not good for football development. I feel so sad that we are here and our country’s flag is not flying amongst the 32 countries in Qatar,” stressed Diri who was once commissioner for sports in Bayelsa State.

He admitted that even CAF believes Nigeria’s absence at the Mundial didn’t make Africa’s representation complete.

“In my interactions with the CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, he told me that the fact that Nigeria did not qualify for the World Cup, Africa was incomplete. For him, if Nigeria

is not in any competition, Africa was not fully represented. That is the way other Africans see us,” he further revealed.

Diri insisted that the nonqualification of Eagles was not a result of lack of talent in the country.

“We have the talents and skills to achieve that (qualification). We have the Kanu’s, Jay Jay Okochas, and mention them in the grassroots, waiting to be discovered. We can get back to the top of football that has united us as a people if we return to doing the right things.

He however gave kudos to Qatar for hosting the World Cup edition that will remain the reference point for a long time to come.

“The facilities they put in place to host this World Cup is just savoring.

Again, not just that, the organization of matches and match venues is second to none. With about 90,000 fans at a match venue, you are not seeing any traffic anywhere. No complaints and no panic of any sort. And in a twinkle of an eye,

all the 90,000 spectators exit match venues with no known incidents and everybody back home.

“You didn’t hear of any story of anybody’s telephone being stolen.

And I think that we should be encouraged to be a part of this kind of organization and plan for maximum results,” observed Governor Diri.

He revealed that it was to improve the human capacity of sports officials in Bayelsa that he approved for a few of them to attend the World Cup to learn a thing or two to help them in future handlings of sports in the state.

“I am happy that I came here. I am also happy that I directed my officials in charge of sports and football in particular in my state to be here also to learn one thing or two to take back home. This is the only way that we can imbibe the culture of organisation. Not only in football but in other sports generally.

I am happy over the entire spectacle here. It is world-class.”

FIFA Faces Backlash over ‘GOAT’ Debate Tweet Football's world governing body FIFA's official World Cup account has been forced to delete two tweets that appeared to mock Cristiano Ronaldo.

Having been dropped by Portugal for their two knockout ties in Qatar after being showed the door at Manchester United in acrimonious circumstances, it did not appear as though the last few months could get much worse for Ronaldo.

However, his great rival for much of his career then achieved what neither of them had done: win the World Cup. This has led to football finding itself enthralled

by Lionel Messi; the Argentine has now broken the record for the most liked Instagram post while he has also been declared the undisputed 'greatest of all time' (GOAT) by many.

Even FIFA appeared to have piled into the debate, with its official World Cup account posting two tweets that seemingly sought to

Portugal Captain, Cristiano Ronaldo elevate the Argentine above the Portuguese.

This was swiftly followed by a tweet accompanying a photo of Ronaldo with his thumb up, which read: 'Thumbs up if you

really enjoyed the FIFAWorldCup.' The tweets came as Messi ended Argentina's 36-year wait for a World Cup with a majestic series of performances in Qatar.

Some supporters on social media were less enthused by the post, however.

'FIFA deleted this tweet after getting called out for being biased and receiving backlash,' one pro-Ronaldo account wrote. 'A professional account of the biggest football organisation in the world.

It has always been Ronaldo vs the rigged system.'

Another accused FIFA of rigging the tournament, writing: 'FIFA deleted this tweet. We know they rigged it all for Messi to win but still can’t flex.'

'FIFA deleted tweet?' another wrote. 'From day one, we knew y'all never liked CR7. Ronaldo had to achieve everything he had the hard way. FIFA is not deceiving anybody.'

Another accused FIFA of being

'shameless' in their appreciation of Messi, suggesting the governing body does not feel the same way about Ronaldo.

'FIFA eventually deleted that shameless tweet after making it stay for almost 48 hours. Very classless of FIFA,' they wrote.

Messi was crowned player of the tournament - his second such award of his glittering career - with Ronaldo's showings in Qatar paling into insignificance, having only scored one goal and generally looking largely anonymous throughout.

The Portuguese has remained silent on social media since Argentina's World Cup triumph, leading some to speculate over just how he feels about his long-time foe winning the prize that both of them craved.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Ronaldo is on the verge of agreeing a deal to join Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr on an eye-watering £173m per year over two years.

Moscalino and Ozone emerged as champions of the Lagos State Table Tennis League concluded at the National Stadium, Surulere at the weekend.

28 teams registered for the championships with four of them making it to the grand finale with Moscalino’s men team lifting the trophy ahead of High Endurology in the final one-sided match which ended in favour of with a 3-0 win.

In the women’s final, Ozone showed their superiority over Banana Royal Peace with a convincing 3-0 win to lift the coveted trophy.

An excited chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) Tunji Lawal described the tournament as successful despite the challenges.

I never thought the league will be this successful and I’m so happy we were able to achieve what we achieved especially for the fact that when we started, it was toward the start of the National Sports Festival and it helped us to put our players in top shape for the festival and most of the

players of other states since the league was open to them and they all played,” he said.

For the captain of victorious Ozone team Bisloa Asaju, the commendation should go to LSSTTA for putting the show together. “We are so excited about winning the league. We have been playing since last month and we thank God that we were able to complete it and won the finals. We want to thank the Lagos State Table Tennis Association for putting the league together. It was a very successful championship,” she said.

For ETIM Orok of Moscalino TTC, the tournament helped them to shape up for the festival.

“I’m excited to come to Lagos to play with my team here and win the first Lagos State Table Tennis League. This league really helped us to prepare for the just concluded National Sports Festival held in Asaba, Delta State because it helped to stay in good shape for the tournament,” he added,the LSSTA boss however, promised a bumper package next year.

Gamr to Partner NFF on FIFAe Nations Cup Gamr - esports and gaming technology company - announces that the company has reached an agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to support the NFF as a Technical Partner for the participation of the federation in the FIFA approved FIFAe Nations Cup Competition.

The FIFAe Nations Cup is the pinnacle event for esports players to represent their countries on a global stage. This competition involves players competing for their country at the regional level and then, qualifying as one of the 24 Nations to participate in the finals.

In partnership with the Nigeria Esports Federation, the initial campaign will feature a comprehensive grassroot program for the

emergence of player representatives that will represent Nigeria in the online qualifiers in April, 2023.

President of the Nigeria Esports Federation, Mr. Clinton Agbor said, “This is a good opportunity for Nigerian FIFA esports players to showcase their talent, through the FIFAe Nations Cup Competition.”

The Federation commended both the NFF and Gamr, saying the partnership between the three stakeholders will do well to bring more opportunities to FIFA esports players in Nigeria and foster collaboration amongst stakeholders in the ecosystem as a whole.

More information and details about Nigeria’s participation will be posted on all Gamr’s platform.

Thursday, December 22, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Abduljabbar to Judge “My lord, after I heard how you twisted all my evidence; you turned all my submissions upside down, you have assigned words to me that I have never uttered. Deliver your judgment, and I am not asking for leniency at all. I want all my followers to know that I will die a hero and I don’t want you (Ibrahim Sarki Yola) to do me any favour”—Controversial Islamic cleric, Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, sentenced to death by hanging, for blasphemy.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Peter Obi, Atiku, Kwankwaso and 2023 THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

T

he editorial board of THISDAY newspaper on Monday hosted the flagbearer of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi in continuation of our presidential dialogue series. After the session, we all came out for group photograph, just as we did when we hosted the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in July, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in August. What followed was the kind of drama that surrounds Nollywood stars and popular musicians. Having been informed that Obi was in the house, a large group of young ladies mobilized to seek selfies with him, delaying our photo session.

While I do not know how many of those ladies are registered to vote or whether they would even bother to exercise their franchise come February, I was amused by their enthusiasm.

The 2023 general election is crucial not only in terms of the challenges that plague the nation but also because it is the second time we will have an open-seat presidential election. The first was in 2007 when President Olusegun Obasanjo had to leave after the two terms, paving way for the election of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. In June this year, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other opposition parties elected their presidential candidates eight months ahead of the 2023 general election as prescribed in the new Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines. Ample time between the primaries and election may have been provided to deal with the usual litigations that accompany party primaries, but it serves a more important purpose: to give citizens enough time to interrogate aspiring office seekers at all levels.

At THISDAY editorial board, we shortlisted four presidential candidates. We believe, given the strength of their parties and their personal

Peter Obi appeal, that the next president will likely emerge from one of them. The idea was to interrogate their manifestoes in a convivial atmosphere, and generally discuss the state of the nation in a manner that would also benefit the candidates since our board features people with vast experience and exposure in both the public and private sectors. I was mandated to reach out to these candidates to secure their commitment and I did. At the end, it was only the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who did not meet with us.

In her recent book, ‘Economic Diversification in Nigeria: The Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy’, Dr Zainab Usman raised several questions that should agitate the minds of critical

stakeholders in our country. Zainab, by the way, is one of the brightest young Nigerians in the Diaspora and currently Director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC, United States. Some of the questions posed in her book include, “Why are Nigeria’s political transitions from one administration to another crises-ridden and chaotic? How does Nigeria’s perennial instability affect its long-standing aspirations of economic diversification? What do these divergent experiences tell us about the interplay of politics, institutions, and polices in African countries and their economic outcomes?”

I find the book’s comparative analysis of Nigeria and some African countries fascinating, especially on how the intersection between politics and economics has made it difficult to forge elite consensus on pressing national issues. In Nigeria, the underlining factor is the economic structure that is more extractive than productive. “Where economic resources flow largely from a central source, such as in oil-rich countries, the elite consensus constitutes the informal rules over their allocation in ways that result in productive or predatory outcomes,” Zainab argued in her book, which I strongly recommend for all those who seek a better understanding of the political economy of Nigeria. “Formal institutions such as the civil service, the parliament, pollical parties, and intergovernmental transfers will either reinforce this informal consensus, or be distorted when there is no alignment with this underlying bargain. The durability of the elite bargain is based on the extent to which it includes powerful actors and is thereby fortified from contestation by excluded factions and whether it enforces actual agreements thereby preventing the exit of powerful members who can challenge it.”

Whoever takes over in 2023 will inherit a country challenged on many fronts: insecurity,

Reconnecting With China F orty-four months after its inauguration in Beijing, the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN) Council held an online meeting on Monday with 38 members from 23 countries. Established as an initiative of President Xi Jinping and coordinated by ‘People’s Daily’, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), BRNN memberships are from 206 media organisations across 111 countries. The objective is to promote “mutual assistance, collaboration and exchanges among members.”

Although inaugurated in April 2019, the Council (comprising journalists from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Eurasia) could not meet because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But after several weeks of interactions, the BRNN secretariat in Beijing was able to facilitate an online meeting on Monday. It was worth the effort as the session presented opportunity to reconnect with one another, after Covid-19 which, as it happens, China still contends with.

As many readers of this column are already aware, I began going to China in October 2000 when I covered the first Sino-African conference in Beijing and in recent years, I have had an

association with the country. It all began in 2016 when I received an invitation from Beijing to speak on the theme “Advancing China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and media cooperation to achieve development” at the China-Africa Public Diplomacy Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A year later, I was nominated as the African voice at the September 2017 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, in Dunhuang, Gansu Province of Western China. The following year in Boao, Hainan Province on 30th October 2018, I was again one of the speakers. And in April 2019 in Beijing, I was appointed into the BRNN Council. At our meeting on Monday, each Council member was given three minutes to speak. Below is my brief remark: =================================== To say that our world has changed dramatically since the inaugural meeting of this Council in Beijing more than three years ago is an understatement. I am sure many of us could share depressing stories about our various experiences in the intervening years. But our presence here today is also a testimony to human resilience.

When COVID-19 broke, many in the Western world feared that Africans would be falling on the street and dying. Their morbid prediction turned out to be misplaced. In my country

Nigeria, we had learnt sufficient lessons from the Ebola Virus outbreak of 2014. Our coordinated response to that emergency saved many lives and prevented what could have been a national calamity. By applying the same vigilance to this pandemic, lives were saved. But while we may have survived the Covid-19 health scare, our economy, like that of most other African countries, has been badly hit. China, of course, will know that as our biggest creditor.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we live in a world of uncertainties. But the common adversity we experienced with Covid-19 should teach us how much we need one another. The lesson here is simple: No one is safe or secure until everyone is safe and secure. That lesson, I believe, will also serve us as we forge ahead to create a more prosperous and inclusive world.

Meanwhile, I have read all the reports and I endorse the idea to expand this Council to accommodate media representatives from Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico, Greece, Cuba, and Algeria.

I thank ‘Peoples’ Daily’ not only for this conference but also for constantly updating us on developments within the Belt and Road family in the past three years. I look forward to a time when we can all reunite in China for the annual Media Cooperation Forum.

high external and domestic debts, high inflation rate, high unemployment rate, low economic growth, and generally low level of social economic indicators. Therefore, our conversation should focus on options for digging us out of the existential hole we have found ourselves.

How do we create meaningful jobs for our teeming population of young people? How do we revamp the education sector? How do we minimise the impact of the tough but necessary decisions that would have to be taken on the vulnerable among us? How do we make Nigerians more secure and safeguard them from the plunder of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and sundry criminals? How do we reduce the debt overhang while increasing the productive capacities of our people and of our economy? How do we position our country for a world without oil?

The challenge of the moment is also, in a way, rather peculiar. In the separate but quite enlightening engagements we had with the presidential candidates, each of them harped on the issue of the leadership deficit in the country.

Recent events bear eloquent testimony to a serious dysfunctionality in the federal government, and we can see the consequences. How does one explain the war of attrition between the State Security Service (SSS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, almost as if there is no adult in the room to restore a measure of order?

Truly, we are at the most challenging moment in our nation’s history in terms of the problems confronting the state and citizens. Neither the military nor the civilian transitions of power in the past have been this beset with so many countless crises. Therefore, the next president will have a dual mandate: First, to reinvent the Nigerian state and replace the national order and secondly, govern a society dancing at the brinks of anarchic meltdown. For the presidential contestants, the key question is that of how to restore the confidence of a people that have since transferred their hope of salvation to all manner of supernatural interventions.

In many senses then, 2023 is Nigeria’s year of critical decisions, and it is my hope and prayer that we get it right. Meanwhile, on Sunday, 1st January 2023, THISDAY will publish excerpts from the editorial sessions to provide a peep into the minds of these three presidential candidates.

Adieu Shehu Malami

A

few weeks before the public presentation of my book, ‘Power, Politics and Death’ in December 2011, I reached out to the late Ambassador Shehu Malami asking him to chair the occasion. Despite having another commitment in Kaduna on the day I had chosen, he accepted my invitation and decided to send someone to stand in for him in Kaduna. I cannot forget that, even though I was also not surprised. Ever since I first met him more than two decades ago while I was working on the ‘200 years of Sokoto Caliphate’ report, the late Malami had taken interest in my career. And he called me regularly to ask after my family. It was therefore with sadness that I learnt about his passage. I commiserate with his family as I pray God to grant him eternal rest.

And in the spirit of the season, I wish all my readers Merry Christmas!

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