MAY 22ND, 2023

Buhari, five African presidents to commission Dangote Refinery today

ORIAKU IJELE

In an epoch-making event that will positively transform Nigeria’s oil and gas sectoral landscape, President Muhammadu Buhari will today, May 22, 2023, commission Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemi-

cals, the world’s largest single train refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, alongside his counterparts from Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Niger, and Chad.

Promoted by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) is sit-

ting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and will provide employment to over 100,000 persons. The coming on stream of the gigantic project is expected to mark Nigeria’s exit from the league of oil rich nations but which are heavy im-

porters of the petroleum products.

Expected at the historic event apart from international dignitaries are Presidents of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma; Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo; President of Senegal, Macky Sall; President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, President of

NDDC’s CAN OF WORMS

Chad, Mahamat Déby and a host of ambassadors

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who will not be physically present will however present his goodwill message virtually.

As at the time of filing this report,

Board, management bicker over N1.4tr unapproved spending

HARUNA SALAMI, ABUJA

It was a serious drama between the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the management of the Commission during a probe by Senate Ad-hoc Committee on why the NDDC operated without budget in 2021 and 2022 totalling N1.4 trillion.

Chairman of the 15-member NDDC Board, Laurreta Onochie set the tone for the ‘fight’ when she said “regarding the budget of the NDDC

N692m: Works ministry officials under probe for undocumented purchases

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

Officials of Federal Ministry of Works are enmeshed in N692 million financial scandal over purchase of vehicles , computer accessories, photocopying production and airing of special

PENGASSAN insists electricity won't improve after May 29, chides Buhari's poor legacies

NOSA AKENZUA

Huge debts, operational barriers laced with poor investments, were critical Challenges that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( PENGASSAN) insisted at the weekend in Asaba would hinder the improvement of power supply in Nigeria.

Mr. Festus Osifo, President of the union who spoke to journalists said

lCommission operates 367 bank accounts lMD to appear before Senate today

as it concerns 2023, because we came in January 2023, I stand here to say I know nothing about it, I haven’t seen it, it wasn’t shown to me. No report was submitted to me other than the paper I have just received now. Other than that, I don’t know anything about the budget.

She said the board also knew nothing about the 2021 and 2022

budgets of the Commission since the board came in January 2023.

According to her, as soon as they came in, they set up a committee to look into the issue and report back to the board, but the committee was yet to report back.

In a letter Onochie wrote to the Ad-hoc Committee, which was read during the Friday meeting at the Sen-

ate, Onochie alleged that the management has spent billions of naira without the approval of the board.

“I write on the board of NDDC to share in the Senate’s concern over huge expenditure of the Commission’s resources without appropriating 2021, 2022. We sincerely hope the committee will be able to establish the value for the funds.

We respectively also wish to draw your attention to the fact that expenditure for 2023 seems to be going that route. The budget for 2023 did not go through the governing board as required by the NDDC Act (2000). The board has been in place since January 2023.

In this regard, it has been alleged that N4 billion was spent on the approval of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for a retreat for the board and management in January 2023. It is also alleged that N500 million

Atiku, Obi in dilemma over plans to consolidate petitions against Tinubu

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA

The presidential candidates of People Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi are in dilemma over plans by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to consolidate their petitions along with the petition filed by Allied Peoples'

Movement, APM.

The court on Saturday dropped hint of the likelihood of consolidating the three surviving petitions challenging the election of Ahmed Bola Tinubu but counsel in Atiku

asked for time to consult with their clients and lead counsel.

Justice Haruna Tsammani , the Presiding Justice of Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, said during the pre-hearing on Sat-

Fear grips top bosses in aviation agencies as more sack looms

Cultural display at the Nigerian Navy Presidential Fleet Review 2023, gala at Admiralty Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday May 20.

Over 70% of Nigerian foods rejected abroad -NAFDAC laments

DOOSUUR IWAMBE, ABUJA

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye has said that about 70 per cent of food exports from Nigeria are rejected abroad.

Prof Adeyeye said this at the official commissioning of the New NAFDAC Office complex for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport/NAHCO in Lagos.

In a statement by the Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, on Sunday, Adeyeye said the incidence of rejection of food exports from Nigeria in some European countries and the United States of America may soon become a thing of the past if collaboration between the agency and other government agencies at the ports is strengthened.

Adeyeye said the deplorable state of export trade facilitation for regulated products leaving the country has

Atiku, Obi in dilemma over plans to consolidate petitions against Tinubu

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urday that the court is tinkering with an idea of consolidating all the surviving three petitions challenging the conduct and outcome of the February 25 election that produced Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress(APC) as the president-elect.

He had drawn the attention of the lead counsel to the parties in the petitions to Paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, to merge all the petitions and determine them together.

Daily Times learnt yesterday that the development has put Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi the presidential candidates of People Democratic Party,PDP, and Labour Party, LP, respectively in a serious dilemma over whose petition should be chosen to be heard by the court if the idea is forced on them today. A close associate and a confidant to Labour Party presidential candidate who did not want to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak said their petition and the one filed by Atiku Abubakar are distinct from each other with different reliefs.

He said though both Atiku and Obi had questioned the validity of the declaration made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on March 1, 2023 that Tinubu won the election, Obi had asked the Court to declare INEC's announcement a nullity on the grounds that Tinubu did not get 25 percent of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja as required by law. Atiku also did not receive that 25 percent of the total votes cast in FCT as required by law.

While Atiku anchored his petition on alleged irregularities perpetuated by the electoral body and APC in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi States and other states, Obi's petition bitterly complained of manipulations it's votes in Lagos, Rivers States and

continued to be a serious cause for concern for the agency, adding that a trip to NAFDAC Export warehouses within the international airport will explain the major reason for the continuous rejection of Nigerian exports abroad.

She, however, noted that the agency is responding to the challenge by collaborating with the agencies at the Ports by ensuring that goods meet the regulatory requirements of the importing countries and destinations.

‘’The mandate to safeguard the health of the populace through ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water are safe, efficacious, and of the right quality in an economy that is overwhelmingly dependent on the importation of the bulk of its finished products and raw materials could never have been actualised without the effective presence of NAFDAC at the ports and land borders,’’ she said.

Commending the Nigeria

Customs Service, she said, “Without customs, we will not be able to do a lot of what we have been able to do. The collaboration between Customs and NAFDAC is huge.

"NAFDAC is a complex organisation. We are scientific. We are police and we work with the Department of State Services. We work with Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation because of the few unscrupulous stakeholders.

“NAFDAC collaborates with Nigeria Agricultural

Quarantine Services to ensure that due diligence is done because over 70 per cent of the products that leave our ports get rejected. Considering the money spent on getting those products out of the country, it is a double loss for both the exporter and the country.

‘’Without the police, we cannot do much in terms of investigation and enforcement. We have over 80 policemen with us in NAFDAC. They help us a lot when we are doing raids or investigations as the case may be”.

some other states.

He said that emerging the petitions and hearing it together and allowing decision of the court to abide on the other would only be desirable if the election is void.

But where each of the petitioners had asked for a declaration that they won the election it would be extremely unfair and will amount to unfair hearing to shut the door against them on ground of consolidation.

When the hint was dropped by the Court on Saturday, lead counsel to Atiku and PDP, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, pleaded with the court for time to consult his client.

"My lords, we will not say that we have not looked at it, but perhaps it may require consultation with the other petitioners.

We, therefore, ask for a stand down or an adjournment so that we can explore the modalities since this is like a marriage which is a union between two consenting adults,” Uche, SAN, added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in its response, threw its weight behind the planned consolidation of the petitions.

“My lords, my personal conviction is that the provision is mandatory. It clearly stated that if there are two petitions or more that are filed to nullify the same election or return, it must be consolidated, unless the court directs otherwise," Abubakar Mahmoud SAN told the court.

“We are happy with the provision of the law and we are also happy with whatever position your lordships will take with respect to this matter,” INEC’s lead counsel, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, further stated.

However, Mr. Roland Otaru, SAN, who appeared on behalf of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, said he would need time to consult.

Board, management bicker over N1.4tr unapproved spending

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was spent on public, private partnership (PPP) summit in Lagos where a purported $15 million MOU was signed by the management for a railway project which had neither the consideration of the board nor the Federal Executive Council (FEC), given the level of the expenditure.

“We have no idea from which appropriation year these expenditures came from. It is my respective advice that the 2023 expenditure be reverted to the Commission for the process to be followed in compliance with the NDDC Act.

“The new board is determined to ensure that the Commission is legally compliant in all processes and focus on achieving its mandate”.

After reading Onochie’s letter, chairman of the Ad- hoc Committee, Senator Yusuf Yusuf asked her if she tried to find out the state of affairs and she replied that the management kept saying “we’re going to defend the budget; that is all we keep hearing. Other than that nothing”, adding she wrote the MD on that.

She said the NDDC Act makes the managing director the accounting officer of the Commission, adding that

all she has been doing in the past 5 months was to “remind the management on the need to do the right thing”.

According to her, because of the disregard for the board, she decided to keep record of infractions by the management, which culminated in her giving the MD query, but the MD refused to reply at the time of the Senate probe of the Commission.

The Ad-hoc Committee wanted to know whether the board had any engagement with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Mrs Onochie said she has tried, but “the Minister was not receptive to me for whatever reason”.

She said NDDC had no board before, the MD has been working with the Minister, adding , “that reporting line has not changed. We had a retreat with the minister who promised to look into the matter, but did nothing.

“They are used to sole administrator reporting directly to the Honourable Minister”.

Onochie alleged that the Commission operates 367 bank accounts.

However, General Charles Airhiavere (rtd), Executive Director, Finance &Admin), who represented the Managing Director at the Senate investigative hearing, an euphe-

mism for a probe, countered Onochie in the allegations against the management.

Mr. Airhiavere said the main problem between the management and the board of NDDC is lack of trust.

The fact that the management and the board resume at the same time was the error that created the problem, adding that the management ought to have resumed first.

Secondly, he said signature change brought “trust issue”. He said Onochie wanted change signatories to NDDC accounts in the CBN and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), which did not go down well with the management.

“Everything we’ve spent from January to May 2023 are within the approval limit of the MD”, Airhiavere said, adding “most invitations for board meetings come a day before the meeting, except the last one, which gave 2 weeks’notice and has been moved to next week”.

Airhiavere who is a member of management and also the board said the Chairman of Board signed CBN cards to change signatories, which has triggered trust deficit.

He said the Commission has only 4 Treasury Single Account (TSA) vis Overhead, Forex, EFCC (remittance) and

EFCC (dollar).

He said the signatories to the accounts are Executive Director Finance (himself), Director (Finance), Director (Audit) and the MD (confirming signature).

The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf ruled that the MD, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku must appear before the committee on Monday at 2 pm before the committee submits report on Tuesday.

The Committee also directed that allegations must be put in written form with documents to support such and that all relevant documents to the probe must be ready at today's hearing.

Daily Times recalls that the Senate had on Tuesday, May 9, this year, found the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) wanting of spending N1.4 trillion without appropriation and subsequently constituted a seven-man ad hoc committee to probe the non- budgetary spending.

The total amount is accumulated sum of the 2021 and 2022 budget proposals of the Commission.

The Senate Committee on NDDC had presented a consolidated budget proposal for 2021,2022 and 2023 fiscal years of the Commission.

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and celebrator/ Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade, at Thanksgiving Service in celebration 90th birthday of the latter held at Abeokuta, Ogun State.

N692m: Works ministry officials under probe for undocumented purchases

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video documentary as the Senate ordered refund to Federal Government's purse.

The discovery of fictitious contracts were uncovered in the 2018 report of the Auditor General of the Federation which was also considered by the Senate Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide.

The committee discovered that a contract of N343 million was awarded for purchase of project monitoring vehicles without due process and vehicles were not supplied and another contract was awarded for services and director purchase of vehicles spare parts, computer accessories, photocopying machine parts and for designing of Nigerian roads and bridges at N139 million.

In addition, it was discovered that N210 million meant for documentary was split into N130 million and N80 million paid into a staff account contravening Financial Regulation.

The Committee sent series of invitations to the Ministry of Works to defend the allegation raised by the Auditor General of the Federation, but officials of the Ministry ignores the invitations and the Committee has no order option than to sustain the position of the Auditor General.

The Senate therefore upheld the recommendation of the Committee on the matter when the report was submitted for consideration.

The query reads, "Audit observed that the sum of N343 million was paid for the purchase of 36 project monitoring vehicles without following due process.

" Further examination

revealed that the 36 vehicles were not received into the store as there was no document to show such delivery.

In another query which reads, "audit observed that advances in the sum of N139 million were granted on service and direct purchase of vehicles spare part, computer accessories, Photocopying machine parts for designing of Nigerian roads and bridges .

"There was no store record of those items to show that they were purchased."

In the third query which reads, " audit observed that N210 meant for documentary was split into N130 million and N80 million paid into a staff account contravening FR 713.

"Further examination revealed that the sum of N130 million was capturing developmental projects which included other ministries like: Finance, Agriculture, Transport, Petroleum Resources, Mines and Steel and Trade and investment.

"There was no receipt or retirement particulars attached to the payment vouchers to justify the payment.

"The approval for the sum of N80 million was made to the Director of Finance and Account which was above his approval limit.

"There was no evidence to show who the producer of the documentary was, or whether they were selected on a competitive basis.

"There was no evidence to showtheworkwasactuallydone."

The Senate Committee in its recommendation which was upheld by the Senate said the permanent Secretary is required to account for the fund and ensure it is paid back to Consolidated Revenue Fund.

PENGASSAN insists electricity won't improve after May 29, chides Buhari's poor legacies

Buhari, five African presidents to commission Dangote Refinery today

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all the 36 state governors and most of the governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industries in Nigeria and others from outside the country, global oil traders, top international bankers, international multilateral agencies have indicated their readiness to grace the ceremony.

Nigeria’s President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration as the governor of Lagos in 2002 floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki where the Refinery is located, is expected to be at the event.

The commissioning of Dangote Petroleum Refinery is significant given that it is the first time that a refinery of such magnitude built by an individual is being commissioned.

Dangote’s petroleum refinery is expected to meet the

needs of Nigerian consumers and those in neighbouring countries, while allowing for exports beyond the African continent. The refinery will drive the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as over 50 countries in the trade bloc depend on imported refined petroleum products.

According to the Facts Sheet on Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the new Refinery can meet 100% of the Nigerian requirement of all refined products (Gasoline, 53 million litres per day; Diesel, 34 million litres per day; Kerosene, 10 million litres per day, and Aviation Jet, 2 million litres per day) and also have surplus of each of these products for export.

“The refinery is designed for 100% Nigerian Crude with flexibility to process other crudes. It has self-sufficient marine facility with ability for

freight optimisation, and the largest single order of 5 SPMs anywhere in the world. Diesel and Gasoline Products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications.

“The refinery design complies with World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/ effluent norms. State-of-theart technology. Designed to process large variety of crudes including many of the African Crudes, some of the Middle Eastern Crudes and the US Light Tight Oil,” the Facts sheet added.

It also stated: “65 Million Cubic Metres of sand dredged costing approximately Euros 300 million, using the world’s largest, the second largest and the tenth largest dredgers to elevate the height by 1.5 metres, to insure against any potential impact of increase in mean sea level due to global

warming. Bought over 1,209 units of various equipment to enhance the local capacity for site works.

“332 cranes to build up equipment installation capacity. Built the world’s largest granite quarry to supply coarse aggregate, stone column material, stone base, stone dust & material for break water. (10 million tonnes per year production capacity).

“Developed a port and constructed two quays with a load bearing capacity of 25 tonnes/ sq metres to bring Over Dimensional Cargoes close to the site directly. The company also constructed two more quays in the port with a capacity to handle up to Panamax vessels to export the fertiliser and the petrochemicals and two quays to handle liquid cargoes. The port will thus have 6 quays, including a Roll-on/Roll-off quay”, the Facts sheet added.

Atiku, Obi in dilemma over plans to consolidate petitions against Tinubu

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He explained that President Mohammadu Buhari's administration has not improved the electricity supply to homes and industries during the past eight years adding that with 4,500 MW in the past eight years, Nigerians looking forward to improved electricity supply may continue to wait as inherent challenges may still lower power generation. He observed that the worsening exchange rate crisis in the country would also drastically impede the sector as

majority of tools and equipment used in the sector are dollar based.

The Union however urged the incoming government to adopt the Nigeria LNG limited ( NLNG) model to run the nation's four refineries upon completion. "The country must do all within its reach to see that the conclusion of the current rehabilitation efforts and initiatives that are currently in place, so that our nation's refineries will come up in no time", he said.

While decrying the perilous state of economy, Osifo stressed that Nigerians had hoped for a prosperous country with a steady growth of the GDP, increased access to employment and diversification of the economy, but unfortunately, this is yet to be achieved more than six decades after Independence.

Recall that out of the five petitions initially filed challenging the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 that although electricity is considered a major determinant of economic development, attaining efficiency, had remained an abysmal failure against the backdrop of a flawed privatisation exercise, declaring that the dismal outlook of the power sector may not change any time soon.

election, two has-been withdrawn . The Action Alliance, AA, on May 8, at the commencement of pre -hearing session withdrew its case.

On its part, the Action Peoples Party, APP, two days later precisely on May 10, 2023 withdrew its petition; thus leaving the petitions filed by Atiku and PDP; Peter Obi and his Labour Party and the Allied Peoples' Movement(APM) for hearing.

While Atiku’s joint petition with the PDP, form was marked CA/ PEPC/05/2023, that of Obi and the LP was registered as CA/PEPC/03/2023.

The APM's petition marked: CA/ PEPC/04/2023, is the only petition that joined Mr. Ibrahim Masari as respondent . Masari the incumbent governor of Katsina State who was initially nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, withdrew.

APM in its petition had

alleged that Masari withdrawal invalidated Tinubu’s candidacy in view of Section 131(c) and 142 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The party argued that there was a gap of about three weeks between the period that Masari, who was listed as the 5th Respondent in the petition, expressed intention to withdraw, the actual withdrawal of his purported nomination, and the time Tinubu purportedly replaced him with Senator Kashim Shettima.

It further argued that Tinubu’s candidature had elapsed as at the time he nominated Shettima as Masari’s replacement.

Note that the petitioners had filed their petitions separately claiming that they won the February 25 general election.

L–R: Kebbi State Governor, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu; Chairman, WACOT Rice, Farouk Gumel; Governor-Elect, Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris; Managing Director, WACOT Rice, Neeraj Jumar; Deputy Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Alh. Abubakar Gari Malam, Rtd., and Head, Corporate Affairs, Tropical General Investment Group, (TGI Group), Sadiq Kassim, during a visit to WACOT Rice at the newly Expanded 240,000-MT Mill in Kebbi State.

Fear grips top bosses in aviation agencies as more sack looms

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

There is palpable unease in the aviation sector following the removal of the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Rabiu Yadudu, over the weekend after four years in office.

Yadudu was replaced with

Mohamed Kabiru, who until his appointment was the Regional Manager of Abuja.

Former Chief of Staff to Engr Saleh Dunoma, Kabiru is a professional in airport management.

Discussions by workers of the agencies centred on the imminent removal of two other heads of agencies this week.

It was learnt that the Fed-

eral government has concluded arrangements to pull out two other aviation agency bosses

The Daily Times reliably gathered that one of the agency's heads is to be replaced by a top management staff of a sister organisation. According to closed sources in the ministry, over 25 directors will be affected in various agencies by changes.

The sources hinted that their letters were ready and will be delivered to them this week.

Meanwhile, as the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari winds up, some heads of the agencies in the aviation sector are now jittery, as the Federal government is set to relieve some of them of their jobs Investigation carried out revealed that apart from

Capt Rabiu Yadudu removal, indications are rife all the directors have been slated for sack while replacements have been sourced from within.

According to an impeccable source, a current serving general manager who is due to retire next month is being pencilled down for appointment as a director.

The crop of the current

$800m Loan: Rights lawyer drags FG, others to

PETER FOWOYO

Rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Abdulganeey Imran has approached the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos to stop the Federal Government from seeking additional loan of $800,000,000 (eight Hundred Million Dollars) or any other sum at all, to finance the National Social Safety Network Program, (NASSP), which is purportedly meant to be shared and transferred at the rate of N5, 000 per month to 10.2 million Poor and low-income households.

Sued as respondents in the suit are: the President, the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice (2nd Respondent), and Senate President (3rd Respondent).

In the alternative, the Applicant is praying the court to restrain the President from sharing, distributing, tampering with or dealing with any such loan of $ 800,000.000 (eight Hundred Million Dollars) granted to the respondents in any manner whatsoever.

President Muhammadu Buhari had sought approval of the House of Representatives for a fresh $800 million loan to finance the National Social Safety Network Programme (NSSNP).

The request was contained in a letter read by Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, to lawmakers at the resumption of plenary. Recall that the President made similar request to the Senate, last week, a development that generated

outcry.

But, the Applicant in suit number FHC/L/C5/908/23 brought pursuant to Order 3 Rule 9 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009, and Section 59, 80, 81, 135 of the Constitution, urged the court to restrain the 1st Respondent (President) from seeking additional loan of $800,000,000 (eight Hundred Million Dollars) or any other sum at all, to finance the National Social Safety Network Program, which is purportedly meant to be shared and transferred at the rate of N5,000 per month to 10.2 million Poor and low-income households.

The Applicant also urged the court to direct the Respondents to remit the said sum of $800,000,000 (eight Hundred Million Dollars) back to the federation account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and for such further or other order as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.

The Applicant premised his request on the grounds that the tenure of the present administration of the President Muhammad Buhari seeking to obtain ‘this whopping sum of money’ comes to an end on the 29 day of May, 2023, which simply means that he has less than seven (7) working days to the end of its administration and is therefore absolutely impossible for any serious minded administration, especially the 3rd Respondent (Senate President) to commence the process of obtaining such loan, scrutinize the term and condi-

tions, get it approved, sent it back to the President, who shall in turn present it to the borrower all within ten days.

The Applicant stated that there was no state of emergency or circumstance of extreme urgency that necessitates and justify the hurriedness in processing and obtaining the $800,000,000, and there is nothing in the letter of request sent by the President to the Senate President that suggest any urgency in the purpose for which the purported loan is being sought.

He further stated that going by precedent, it takes the 2nd Respondent, several weeks of painstaking scrutiny, debates,

assessments and deliberations on any request that involves request for loans of any magnitude from the executive before such request is determined one way or the other.

He further stated that the Federal government lacks statutory power to borrow the sum of $800,000,000 (eight Hundred Million Dollars) to finance and or subsidise consumption.

He maintained that there is no available statistic/data to determine and or identify the poor and low-income earners in Nigeria as the similar exercise in the past generated serious controversy, submitting that majority of Nigerians believe

that the funds were diverted by the officials for personal gains rather than using same for the purpose for which it was meant.

The Applicants alleged that that some certain loans obtained by the 1st Respondent in the past, were not used for the purpose for which they were processed and obtained, asserting that substantial part of the Sukuk loan, successfully processed and obtained by the 1st Respondent to re-construct Lagos — Abeokuta Expressway were diverted, and constructions work completely stopped.

‘’It is not economically

directors in FAAN were all brought into the system by Hadi Sirika and heavily criticized by the unions as misfits as they failed to perform based on a lack of knowledge of the system

Experienced directors were forced out of the system by politicians and replaced with their cronies at the detriment of the carrier civil servants.

court

viable for the respondents to continue to obtain and accumulate loans that was purely meant for consumption rather than for capital project when a whopping sum of N6.31 trillion was budgeted for debt services in the 2023 appropriation Bill alone.

‘’The main purpose of requesting for additional loan as stated by the 1st Respondent in his letter to the 3rd Respondent was not captured in the 2023 Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly.

The suit has been assigned to Justice Peter Lifu, but no date has been fixed for hearing.

FG should protect national monuments -Niger Gov, Sani Bello

SAKA

BOLAJI, MINNA

Governor Abubakar Sani

Bello of Niger State has called on the Federal Government to protect national heritage sites that are being destroyed by foreign companies.

Governor Sani Bello made the call while performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Zuma Smart City and Resort in Chachi, behind Zuma Rock, Tafa Local Government Area. He said national historic sites in the country such as the Zuma Rock and Aso rock which the Federal Government has included in the National Heritage Sites, need to be protected by

the government.

"I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to look into the activities of the multinational companies that mutilate our environmental national endowment with impunity", he added.

The Governor who decried the mining activities of Chinese companies in the state in particular and the country in general on monuments, appealed to the Federal Government to step in with the view to stopping them.

According to him, "I doubt if any foreign company can go to China and destroy any monument there, I am surprised and disappointed that it took

so long a time to take them off this site", he said.

He disclosed that the state executive council made a deliberate effort to protect Zuma Rock and its environs by making it a "Zuma Rock Investment and Cultural City", to attract investors and preserve it

The Governor noted that if the Chinese company had been left unchecked, the aesthetic nature of the Zuma Rock and its environs would have been destroyed completely.

"If the mining activity had continued the integrity of the rock would have been threatened, so I believe Zuma Rock is safe and with a resort here, eventually this place will become a smart city, it will be-

come a recreational place and the people will enjoy the beauty of the rock", he said.

According to him, collective efforts amongst all tiers of government and the collaboration of the traditional rulers and community chiefs were needed to protect citizens from being exploited.

The Governor commended Aso Savings and Loans for indicating interest in the project, and expressed confidence that the project will come to fruition in no distant time.

Niger State Governor-elect Umar Mohammed Bago on his part said that the state must benefit from its closeness to the Federal Capital and haven donated over 70 per cent of its

land to what constitutes Abuja, the nation's capital.

Bago commended Governor Sani Bello for the initiative, saying that the state will continue to develop its tourist potentials for economic benefits.

Hajiya Risikatu Ahmed, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ASO Savings and Loans explained that they aim to develop a smart and sustainable city comprising over 2,500 units of mixed types of houses on 150 hectares of land.

Risikatu said 708 units will be constructed in the first phase consisting of 228 units of one-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 378 units of two-bedroom semi-detached

bungalows and 238 units of three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

The MD/CEO added that the smart city will also enjoy facilities such as schools, fire stations, police station, wellpaved roads, green areas, walkways, renewable energy sources and all amenities required for a sustainable and smart city.

She said fund for the project was already available and that in no distant time work will commence saying that the houses to be developed will be affordable.

The MD/CEO expressed her gratitude to the Governor for the partnership and the unflinching support to the project.

L-R: Oladapo Ojo, Group Managing Director, JustMedia; Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Interswitch; Olawale Akanbi, Group Head, Growth Marketing, Merchants and Ecosystem, Interswitch; Yemisi Owonubi, Brands and Communications Manager and Tomijogun Ogunlesi, Group Head, Brands and Communications, Interswitch announcing the commencement of InterswitchSPAK 5.0 in Lagos.

Understanding the state of petrol subsidy in Nigeria

OBASI AGBAI

There have been confusing reports in our socio-political circle regarding whether the government is still subsidizing petrol or not. To put an end to these unnecessary speculations, all you need to do is present variable facts that will trigger common sense and, by extension, answer the question.

The simple truth is that the Nigerian government is still heavily subsidizing petrol. Firstly, do you believe that petrol prices naturally swung down again to N145 after the exhaustive Yuletide drama without any external intervention? If you do, let me tell you that Nigeria will never stop paying for petrol subsidies until we begin to refine our crude oil locally.

Beyond the regular theft, hijacks, calculated subterfuge, and other puerile shenanigans by the oil cabals known as oil marketers, the importation

logistics alone are enough to chain us to the wall of absurd subsidies.

Common economic principles indicate that it is unbeneficial to sell a product below the production cost and impractical to sell at a price higher than that at which a comparable product is being offered. To maintain that equilibrium, the government has to subsidize the product in question.

Several variables influence or determine the prices of products and services, including weather, location, and cost of production. Still, in this context, the only factor influencing our pricing module is the production cost, especially in regard to importation.

Consider this: At a cost and freight, C+F scale, independent oil marketers in Nigeria, along with the

NNPC, are believed to be paying the sum of US$540 or more per metric tonne of premium motor spirit, at an “official” exchange rate of N305 to a dollar. Bear in mind that these marketers and the government themselves get their loans in naira, along with shark-biting interests that come with it from their Nigerian banks. If NNPC denies still subsidizing PMS, then something sinister must be ongoing because it defies the laws of basic economics and the very principle of human common sense. Numbers don’t lie. If Nigeria is no longer paying for subsidies at the current exchange rate of N305, then the mathematical outcome at dispensing stations should teeter between N184.20 per liter, N200 or above.

For a more balanced assessment and to fur -

ther optimize the picture being painted, crude oil in the current world market anchors at about $70 to $72 per barrel, despite its media over-hyped 2% upping. Now simplify $72 over $540 that caps the cost of our metric tonnes importation, and you will see for yourself how ugly petrol subsidy is and what a waste of money Nigeria throws away in the name of subsidizing.

Make no mistake; there is hardly any country in the world that doesn’t subsidize petrol for its citizens, including the US. Still, its financial weight on the government is usually more than fairer than what we have here in Nigeria. Local refining is the only way out, and until that is done, keep in mind that our government is still paying for subsidies.

Nigeria's political culture of wastage

EBUKA NWAFOR

Say what you want about the Nigerian political system, but what you cannot say is that it does not work. It will reward those who are in the system. And there is no incentive for individuals who have profited from this system to reinvent the wheel.

They are content with the current situation and will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way.

The engine of politics is what it is. You cannot change it. I mean the act of delivering a ward to the highest bidder.

If you have wondered how Dino Melaye became a senator or Yahaya Bello became a governor, it is not rocket science. The genius of it all is in its simplicity. A selection process.

One of the biggest mistakes made by Nigeria’s politicians is attempting to start at the top, where the air may be cleaner and they are less likely to get their hands dirty. But after reading thus far, you already see why that strategy is flawed.

The “elite” are frequently forced to go by appointment. However, even then, you are answering to a man who has a very different perspective than you, and he may dismiss you on the spur of the moment.

When Muhammadu Buhari appointed Doyin Salami as his chief economic adviser, I could only shake my head. A pro-business

titan advising a man who believes that closing the border for two years against its neighbours is the best way to grow an economy? I would rather watch a game of Pokemon.

More than a year later, the state of the economy shows clearly that the president could not have been listening to Dr. Salami.

Under this system, the best of the best are left to kowtow to those who have invested huge sums to be elected.

You can also see why it is in the best interest of “area boys" and touts to make sure as few people as possible vote. They consider their lives dependent on the outcome of the elections. Hungry people have no long-term needs.

They simply don’t think that far. The worse the economy becomes, the better it is for those who supply money shared with Mr. P. and his comrades.

Hungry people cannot be deep thinkers, and they really couldn’t care less about corruption in so far as it favours them.

“Good” people don’t participate in this process because it’s simply too nasty for them.

If you need proof that our political system is not working, simply look at our governors, representatives, senators, and other elected people. The outcome is unmistakable; they are nearly all garbage.

Even better, look at the resumes of the top 3. One

has had the FBI raid his house over evidence related to the alleged bribery by William Jefferson, a congressman, in exchange for help with contracts in Nigeria. Jefferson was eventually sentenced to 13 years in prison.

The other one has been indicted in a drug cartel’s dealings in the United States, which led to his forfeiture of $460,000.

Curiously, he has never addressed the topic. And he will not, because removing that blot does not matter in these elections.

This same candidate has always insisted that he would ride on the achievements of President Buhari. He intends to create a wealth distribution plan as a strategy to fighting corruption, which I find so absurd because a wealth distribution plan would likely be misunderstood as an attempt to mindlessly share the country’s resources.

The assumption by Mr Tinubu is that he would want to improve living standards in such a way that people would not need to be corrupt. But corruption is not about money and sharing of money. Corruption is an abuse of office for private gain.”

I actually believe that any government that would succeed would need to trim down the costs of governance and change the culture of wastage.

There is a lot of wastage in the system, until we do

this, we will not go far.

If we believe we can change the country by only queuing every four years and stamping our thumb on a piece of paper, then whatever we see, we just take it like that.

The real saving of the country will be done at the wards, grassroots and house-to-house meetings.

It may be true that Seun Kuti’s video is an idealistic spew of highfalutin nonsense, but when he says that only the people of Nigeria can save the country, don’t be too quick to dismiss it.

No matter what happens at the end of the elections. I can guarantee that you might be disappointed. And it may not necessarily be because the person you place your hopes in is incompetent.

Electing him is far better than the alternatives, but he will only be able to do so much.

The Nigerian constitution does not grant the president the powers that many believe it does. The political system does not leave much room for the president to do what he wants and how he wants to do it. The Nigerian Political Oil may seem not to run dry but the will of the people will only propel the machine forward.

OBASI AGBAI

I actually believe that any government that would succeed would need to trim down the costs of governance and change the culture of wastage.

Make no mistake; there is hardly any country in the world that doesn’t subsidize petrol for its citizens.

Need for FG’s support in poultry industry

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the current egg glut forcing farmers to reduce prices. Godwin Egbebe, PAN’s national spokesman, said that states like Lagos, Ogun and Plateau have come to the rescue of farmers, but their help is insufficient. The association is yet to receive any intervention from the Federal Government. He said the government could mop up the eggs completely and take them to prisons, government-owned hospitals and Internal Displaced Persons camps.

Nigeria is not among the top ten egg producers globally, which has China with 586 billion chicken eggs in first place and Turkey closing out the list with 19 billion chicken eggs. What is troublesome about the situation in Nigeria is that the industry faces seasonal gluts (periods when there are too many eggs on the market and not enough demand), thus creating a lot of waste as the eggs cannot be adequately preserved or processed for alternative uses due to infrastructural deficiencies. In Nigeria, the cyclical egg glut spans four months each year between March and June, while recovery post-glut takes another six months.

During these periods, farmers are forced to sell live birds and eggs at prices below marginal cost or even dispose of stale eggs. The source of the current glut derives partly from the poorly thought-out implementation of the Naira redesign policy by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Considering this, we might presume that the farmers are right to demand the government’s intervention to keep their businesses from going under. However, “the government should…” as a solution template for every sector in Nigeria is not exactly productive. Normally, excess demand should help pull prices down; but despite known excess demand, the retail cost of an egg consistently remained around ₦100 in most urban centres compared to the less than ₦30 price point just four years ago.

One major reason prices have barely budged is that producers ramped up capacity at the start of the school-feeding programme pioneered by the current administration. Nevertheless, the Poultry Association of Nigeria could be more creative with addressing these structural — but seasonal — challenges. Why is it, for example, not helping its members seek new markets? Why is it not forging collaborations with corporate players that can readily soak up excess demand? Involving the government should not be the first step, as they are not obliged to mop up excesses. Poultry farmers have historically preferred to bury eggs like hatchets instead of making peace with the idea that a well-publicised price slash could boost short-term demand and limit their exposure to losses.

As much as we would like to empathise with the poultry farmers, it is clear that market operators are unwilling to be flexible in managing industry risks during downturns but have no problem increasing prices when the business case calls for it. With supply outstripping demand, they should

reduce egg prices. This is not to say that players in the agricultural sector are undeserving of support, but it has to happen alongside a price slash so that financial exposure is constrained on both the public and private ends of the equation.

This might appear to be a classic chicken-and-egg situation, but something has to give.

Michael Jackson:

Obafemi Awolowo:

“

”

Nigeria is not among the top ten egg producers globally, which has China with 586 billion chicken eggs in first place and Turkey closing out the list with 19 billion chicken eggs. What is troublesome about the situation in Nigeria is that the industry faces seasonal gluts (periods when there are too many eggs on the market and not enough demand).

Catholic Bishop tasks journalists on upholding truthful reportage

EMEKA OKAFOR, UMUAHIA

Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, His Lordship, Micheal Kalu Ukpong, has charged Media Practitioners to continue upholding the truth especially voicing out social injustice against humanity.

The Catholic Bishop gave the advice in his remarks during a lecture on the Theme, “ Speaking with Heart, the Truth in Love” to conclude activities to mark the 57th World Communication at the Diocese which held at Matai Dei Catholic Church, Umuahia, Sunday.

He observed that Communication is meant to improve the society , to bring peace, and show love, “ The Catholic Church take communication serious, because, God wad the greatest Communicator”

Bishop Ukpong recalled that Jesus Christ left his family at the age of 12 years to the Temple where he wanted to start teaching but his Parents prevented him, “At twelve, he was in the temple teaching, communicating the salvation, and the people”

He recalled that within the period Christ was in the temple, He started training his disciples who after the death of Christ started to carry the message to nations on salvation,“ There I no

other way we can do that if not through Communication”.

He challenged media practitioners working in government radio and television stations to ensure to speak and write obejectively while regretted that these media practitioners “Cover”the truth even when the matter is of public interest”.

In his lecture, the guest lecturer, Prof. Mike Ukah of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, described the the theme for the 2023 edition s apt which he said only the truth can save Nigeria from her present condition but urged media practitioners to save the situation by standing and saying the truth against perverting the truth through fake news.

Earlier, in their addresses, the Chairman of CAMPAN, Sir Chumdi Oluoha, and the Diocesan Director of Communication, Rev. Fr.Dr. Leonard Ehiemere disclosed that the annual event meant to draw attention to need for Media Practitioners to use their callings for evangelism on salvation.

The lecture which was moderated by for State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Ogbonnaya Iheaka had key discussants to the theme of the event which include, former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Ralph Egbu, Prof. Pàul Mbakwe of the

Artificial intelligence no threat to HR practice - Dr Essien

ISAAC JOB, UYO

The Chairman of Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Dr Rosalyn Eniefiok Essien, has said that the use of artificial intelligence devise at workplace is not a threat to Human Resources professionals and their practice.

Speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Saturday during a road walk by members of CIPM to mark the 2023 International Human Resources Day on the theme: "HR Shaping the New Future", Mrs Essien explained that the advent of artificial intelligence is an opportunity for Human Resources experts to design means of becoming more relevant in their daily practice.

"Artificial Intelligence (AI), is a situation that other objects will be doing what human beings supposed to do in their workplace.

"People see it as a threat but we don't see it as a threat because there is no way you will not need human beings wherever you are working .

"So, we don't see it as a threat . Before the artificial intelligence takes over , the Human Resources practice will still continue . Human Intelligence will be ahead of them."

Essien further disclosed that the Chartered Institute

Seplat petitions CJ, accuses Justice Ekwo of bias

PETER FOWOYO

Justice Inyang Ekwo has been accused of bias by an oil firm, Seplat Energy Plc, who asked the Chief Judge to transfer all cases involving the company either as a plaintiff or defendant to another judge.

In a petition dated May 15,2023, signed by its acting CEO,/Chief Operating Officer, Samson Ezugworie, the oil firm stated that it is unrealistic for the company and its officers including but not limited to the Senior Independent Non-Executive Directors of the Company to obtain a fair and unbiased hearing before Justice Ekwo.

The petitioner called on the Chief Judge to urgently transfer/reassignment of suit NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2023 between Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Others v. Seplat Energy Plc & 13 Others and all suits involving Seplat Energy Plc either as a plaintiff or defendant pending before Justice I.E Ekwo on the ground of bias or likelihood of bias.

The petitioners stated that on April 13, 2023 in suit no: FHC/L/ABJ/PET/8 2023 between Boniface Okezie & 3 Others V.

Seplat Energy Plc & 9 Others filed by some individuals, purporting to be shareholders of the Company.

According to the Petitioner, during the course of the court proceedings, the Applicants by a Motion Ex-parte, requested the Court for an order of Interim Injunction the purpose of which was to prevent the Board and Management of Seplat from operating and managing the affairs of Seplat.

It stated that Justice Ekwo did not accede to the request of the Applicant, but ordered that Seplat, its Officers/Directors be served with the relevant Court documents for them to attend to Court to show to the Court why the ex-parte orders sought should not be granted.

The petitioner stated ‘’My Lord, we are genuinely concerned and worried over the terms of the order that was made by Justice I.E Ekwo on the 9th May 2023 whereby His Lordship, after hearing counsel move in terms of the motion before that Court had to adjourn to enable the Petitioners/Applicants to put their house in order.

‘’This is so because, such

order as made by His Lordship is indicative of the fact that the Hon, Justice I.E. Ekwo would most likely grant (without affording Seplat , its Directors and Officers) the far-reaching orders sought by the Applicants in their Motion Ex-parte, the effect of which is to restrain the Directors of Seplat and its officers from performing their statutory and contractual obligations to Seplat and its shareholders and halt the holding of the Annual General Meeting of Seplat held on 10th May 2023.

‘’We hold this view because, having heard the Counsel to the Petitioners move in terms of the Motion Paper and having reached the conclusion that the Petitioners’house was not in order, the least the Hon. Justice Ekwo would have done was to refuse the Ex-parte application or direct them to put Seplat and its officers on Notice since the ex-parte orders sought in the May Petition seek to achieve the same purpose like the ex-parte orders in the 13th April Petition which the Hon Justice Ekwo had already adjourned to 31st May 2023.

The Petitioner added that the order of Justice Ekwo made

on 9th May 2023 was a clear testimony that if the house of the Petitioners/Applicants was to be in order, His Lordship would most certainly have granted the far reaching ex-parte orders without hearing from Seplat, its Directors and Officers thereby rendering nugatory the Judgement of His Learned Brother Judge made on 12th April 2023.

The petitioner added‘’Given the above, we hold the view, that the Judge had manifested obvious bias against Seplat, its directors and officers. Therefore, we do not believe, and justifiably too, that we will obtain a fair hearing before the Hon. Justice Ekwo or that the Judge will attend to the proceedings of the May Petition and all other pending petitions before the Judge in which Seplat Energy and its Directors and officers are either Plaintiffs or Defendants with an open mind expected of an unbiased Judex.

‘’My Lord should remember that the administration of justice is rooted in the confidence and trust of the litigants that the Judge before whom the litigants appear will hold the scale of justice evenly amongst them. Once there is erosion or likelihood of erosion of the confidence in the Judge, the appropriate course of action is for the matter to be reassigned/transferred to another Judge.

of Personnel Management have done training and Certifications to surpass artificial intelligence .

"Of course, you know that CIPM is the apex regulatory body for HR practice in Nigeria . We also have branches in the UK.

"Human Resources is very important in any organisation because we are the ones that will discipline, train staff and regulate what is happening in the organisation."

She, therefore, urged new professionals to join the institute to sharpen their practice .

The Vice Chairman of the Institute Mr Oliver Ernest listed duties of Human Resources Managers to include advising Executives and Management of industries on what to do at any time.

"The theme of this year celebration is for us to review all the things we do in terms of technology affecting the future and the role HR practitioners have to play to surpass artificial intelligence.

"There is something now called Artificial Intelligence and it is built in such a way that it can handled as many jobs as possible . What most companies are doing now is to lay off their workers while applying artificial intelligence.

"What we are doing to advised Executives and Management on what to do in time like this?" He asked.

Ruth Okorocha emerges winner of Nigeria Info’s “I Beg To Differ” student debate tournament

TEMITOPE ADEBAYO

After weeks of engaging in a series of intellectual debates that focus on the socio-political and economic issues that affect the development of the country, fifteen-year-old Ruth Okoroach from Kingsway College has successfully defeated Ramadan Olalekan to emerge as the winner of the fifth edition of Nigeria Info’s “I Beg To Differ” Student Debate Competition.

The competition, themed “The Champion of Champions,” took a new dimension as it only featured the winners and runner-ups of the previous editions. This is to refresh the previous contestants' intellectual com-

petencies while encouraging Nigerian youths to engage in intellectually-stimulating conversations that could proffer viable solutions to the nation’s complex socio-economic issues.

The grand finale of the competition, which was aired live on Nigeria Info’s Hard Facts Show, had Ruth defeating Ramadan, a fifteen-year-old student from the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, after debating on topics that focused on artificial intelligence and China’s partnership with African countries.

Commenting on the successful completion of the competition, Femi Obong Daniels, the General Manager of Corporate Affairs for Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info, commended

the contestants for demonstrating their capacity to critically assess issues that are of both national and global concern.

“We, at Nigeria Info, are happy to be associated with this laudable initiative which seeks to intellectually develop Nigerian youths to engage in brain-tasking conversations that seek to proffer viable solutions to the issues that affect the nation’s corporate existence.

As such, we are proud that this platform has produced top-tier debaters that are capable of projecting Nigeria in a positive light. It is on this premise that I want to use this medium to congratulate the overall winner and other contenders as we believe that they are all champi-

ons,” he said.

Expressing her excitement after emerging as the winner of the debate tournament, Ruth Okorocha noted that her deep appreciation goes to everyone who assisted her in achieving this feat the second time.

“I sincerely want to use this medium to express my gratitude to everyone who gave me the necessary push to emerge as the winner for the second time. I am also deeply grateful to Nigeria Info for allowing me to continuously hone my public speaking skills through the various stages of the competition. This platform has further given me the required motivation to develop myself aggressively” she noted.

L-R: FirstBank’s Chijioke Orji, Transaction Banking Sales Specialist, South; Etsesomi Greg-Igbeka, Relationship Manager, Commercial Banking South-South 2; John Okah, Group Head, Retail Banking, South-South 1; Ogechukwu Nnabuike, Relationship Manager South South with E. O. Etim, Deputy Comptroller, Correctional Centre Port Harcourt flanked by FirstBank’s Temitope Sodipo, Asst Company Secretary; Lotanna Nnoli, CRO, FirstBank Guinea; and Monisola Olatona, Head Banking Services, Station Branch at the donation of a power generator and the commissioning of the Paint Manufacturing/ Carpentry Workshop of the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre renovated by members of the Leadership Acceleration Programme 2.0 Batch B Group of FirstBank, last week Thursday.

Low visibility: NAMA deploys surface, movement radar to airports, conducts site acceptance test

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), says it has successfully conducted the site acceptance test for its newly installed surface movement radar and ground control systems in Abuja and Lagos airports to enable air traffic controllers to monitor aircraft and vehicular movement during low visibility or night time. Speaking while conducting the site acceptance test of the radar equipment in Abuja, the Acting Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Lawrence Pwajok stated that in furtherance to its quest to enhance the safety and efficiency of flight operations in Nigeria, the agency had embarked on the procurement of the surface movement radar due to its ca-

pability for detection, monitoring, and control of aircraft and vehicles on the ground to prevent collision between aircraft, and between aircraft and vehicles as well as between aircraft and obstacles on the ground (runway, taxiway, and apron).

Pwajok said: “The surface movement radar which is a primary radar would provide surveillance for aircraft and vehicles on the ground for the air traffic controller rather than physically seeing or looking out on the runway, the apron, taxiway or parking gate. Presently, what obtains is that the ground control is manually done. Air traffic controllers at the tower look outside to see where the aircraft is, to separate it, clear it for takeoff, and landing, and direct it to taxi to the parking gate.

“But with surface move-

ment radar, guidance on the ground is automated as every surface movement is displayed clearly on the console. So, the air traffic controller can see the aircraft and guide it while taxiing on the ground from the departure gate to the runway for takeoff, and once it takes off, he hands it over to the approach control."

“The surface movement radar can be used when aircraft land in poor weather conditions. In most cases the airport is shut down because pilots can’t see and can’t taxi so they would have to wait until there is weather improvement. But with the surface movement radar we can guide aircraft on landing, to the parking gate and, on departure, we can guide them from the parking gate to the runway for takeoff as everything is displayed on the console. The same way the

radar sees aircraft in the air, this one will see aircraft and vehicles as they are moving on the ground,” he said.

Speaking further, the NAMA MD said the surface movement radar would greatly enhance safety as it would help prevent runway incursions, excursions, and confusion. “Sometimes an aircraft is given an instruction to a particular taxi link and it enters the wrong link. If visibility is very poor or the place is dark, the air traffic controller will not know. Surface movement radar would therefore enable the controller to see clearly that the aircraft is in the right link. It would enhance safety on the ground by preventing collisions between aircraft. The issue of delaying aircraft by waiting for the weather to improve will be a thing of the past,” he said.

Bayelsa: NDLEA seeks collaboration, vows to fight against hard drugs

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it cannot combat the war against drug abuse in the country without seeking the assistance, synergy and collaboration from all and sundry, urging for the cooperation of everybody to rid the society of the menace orchestrated by the prevalent drug abuse, even though the NDLEA remains the vanguard of the war against drug war.

The state Commander of NDLEA in Bayelsa State, Mr Matthew Ewah, in a chat with journalists in Yenagoa, said against the upsurge of drug (colours) related deaths of youths in Federal university Otuoke and it's environs, he averred that the command is

worried of the ugly trends and it has not rested on its oars, saying as parts of its avowed mandate , the command is in collaboration with Head of tertiary institutions to sensitise students on the danger inherent in illicit drug by the students and it's dangerous implications on their health and careers, adding that fight against illicit drug war which is local also needs the efforts and supports of traditional rulers, community Development chairmen and the media and synergy with other security agencies.

On how colorado looks like, he said colorado is cocktail cannabinoid oil. It is called colorado because it originated from the United State of America where it was first legalised and it is made from synthetic cannabinoid oil.

"Our synergy with sister agencies is superb, we can't be everywhere, drug war is a collective responsibility and not restricted to NDLEA alone, drug war is local like politics."

He said as an agency of government, it has not relented, haven made a lot of suspected arrests,seizures and some charged to court,saying that the command is also pained with victims that dots the streets,who are victims of illicit hard drug , like the case of a lady you alluded to at Federal Medical centre with psychiatric problems, but said the agency equally majorly battles with the dealers and suppliers of these drugs.

"Those you see on the streets, we do arrest and counsel them as victims of illicit hard drug and counsel them in our little rehabilitation centre

Lagos State Government on Sunday kicked off the inauguration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for a second term in office with a Youth Carnival and Robotic competition.

The Youth Carnival and Robotic competition were held simultaneously across the five divisions of Lagos State comprising Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe, as Lagos residents gathered in their thousands to celebrate the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

The Youth Carnival and Robotic competition held simultaneously at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja; Badagry Grammar School, Badagry; Ikorodu Town Hall Premises, Ikorodu; Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos Island and Epe Recreation Centre, Epe, were parts of the 11-day programme lined up to celebrate Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, who have performed excellently in office in the first term, with the promise of improved performance to effectively achieve 'A Greater Lagos Rising.'

Governor Sanwo-Olu was represented in the five divisions by top government officials.

Speaking at the event in Ikeja, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, who represented Governor Sanwo-Olu, said the Governor deserves a second term in office to enable 'A Greater Lagos Rising' agenda.

She said the Robotic competition among students was

part of the feats achieved in education during the first term of Governor Sanwo-Olu, adding that Lagosians should expect more when the second term takes off on May 29.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Somolu Local Government Area, Hon. Abdulhamid Salawu, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for empowering the youths.

"We can all see what Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did during his first term, which is about to end and we are preparing for the inauguration of another term.

"The youths are happy with Governor Sanwo-Olu because they felt his impact during his first term and we believe he is going to do more for youths in his second term," he said.

The council boss also urged youths in Lagos State to be focused on achieving their goals.

Some of the Students who took part in the Robotic competition at JJT Park Ikeja said they used their robots to showcase Emergency Response Services on Hospital Incidents and Traffic related issues.

for 90 days and release them."

On the agency's exploits and challenges, he posited that funding like any agency has been problematic considering the logistics needed to work, but said since he resumed duty the command has arrested 158 suspects for peddling illicit hard drugs as some will be charged to court upon conclusion of their investigations and called the NDLEA headquarters as matter of urgency to establish it's marine unit to fight the drug war in Bayelsa water ways since the state has most communities that are situated in the riverine.

"Recently during our regular patrol, my officers arrested a 400 level student of Niger Delta University, Amassoma who parceled drugs via way bill and has been charged to court."

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the weekend, launched an additional passport Front Office in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government area of Edo State, as part of efforts of the Federal Government towards effective service delivery to Nigerians.

Besides, he said government would soon launch a home delivery service of passports to their owners.

At the visit to the Otaru of Auchi’s Palace, HRH, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, he was turbaned and then installed as the Rafeeq of Auchi Sacred Kingdom which means he is a bosom friend of the Auchi Kingdom while the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists also honoured the former governor of the state of Osun with a Meritorious and Excellence Award.

Speaking after the commissioning of the new office, Aregbesola said: "What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right of Nigerians, especially those in the Diaspora to hold the Nigerian passport. Except for those travelling outside the country or intend to, most of those who hold the passport do so for iden-

tification purposes. For some, it is also a thing of pride to be able to brandish the green back of the passport. But for those outside the country, the passport is the proof of their existence. Inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences.

"The government, therefore, wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever."

“The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular" and promised to conclude negotiations with NIPOST on the usage of its speedy mail service to start delivering passports to Nigerians who opt for such service.

On the award from the NUJ which was presented by theVice Chairman, Edo State Council of Union, Mrs. Imelda Osayande in company of other leaders of the Union, Areagbesola said “I can’t thank you people enough for this award especially coming from a category of people who are always under pressure of work and for me to discover that I was being watched by these people even when my services as governor and now minister are not particularly linked to Edo state is a call for me to do more than I am doing, I can’t thank you people enough, I must strive to do more,”he said.

Students of New Era Girls Junior and Senior Secondary School, Surulere, participating in the Robotics competition (Lagos Island Division) during the Day One Inauguration ceremony of the Second Term in Office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu/Dr Obafemi Hamzat, at Muri Okunola Park, Lagos Island, on Sunday, 21 May 2023

BENJAMIN OMOIKE

TITUS AKHIGBE, BENIN

2nd term: Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat's inauguration begins with youth carnival, robotic competition

Otti to Abians: My sack by Federal High Court in Kano'll not stand, ignore it

UGOCHUKWU UGO

JI-EKE, ABA

The governor elect of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has urged the people of the state to ignore the ruling of a Federal High Court in Kano State disqualifying his candidature as governorship candidate of the Labour Party.

Speaking to newsmen the Media Adviser to Otti, Ferdinand Ekeoma who spoke on behalf of his boss (Otti), described the judgment as baseless, unfounded and misleading, pointing out that the judge that delivered the judgment was careful to have avoided issuing an Order to

that effect.

Otti described the judgement as, “A judgment, that should not be taken to to the bank as it will never stand the test of time".

His said, “For the records, though the perpetrators targeted the Abia Governor-Elect and the people of Abia for that legal coup, they were not courageous enough to confront him in the open, hence he was never joined as a party for fear that his eminently qualified lawyers would take the perpetrators to the cleaners.

“To put the records straight and reassure our teeming supporters and millions of Abians who are still

celebrating the liberation of Abia, we wish to let our people to know".

“That the Federal High Court in Kano did not issue any order on Abia Labour Party candidates nor the Governor-Elect, Dr. Alex Otti because, unlike those who brought the suit to steal the Abia peoples’ mandate, the court was conscious of its powers and careful not to fall into the booby trap set for it by the PDP and Abia state government.

“To that effect, the court specifically stated in Clause 9 of the judgment ‘The candidates that participated in the election in Abia state are not parties before this court and

as such the court lacks the jurisdiction to make an order for the issuance of Certificate of Return to them.

"The Federal High Court in Abia had entertained similar cases as Pre-election matters involving some PDP candidates vs LP Candidates, and the matters were adjudicated up to the Supreme Court.

In all the cases, Labour Party won at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court respectively.

The case brought by the petitioners is a pre election matter and under Section 285(14)(a) of the Electoral Act, the petitioners have no locus standi as they were not

aspirants in LP.

Section 285 (9), requires that it must be filed within 14 days of the occurrence of the event. In other words, the suit should have been filed before the end of June last year.

On the contrary, this suit was filed on May 11, 2023 and a week later, the very “efficient” Judge delivered judgement.

"Like earlier stated, the FHC in Kano does not have jurisdiction over Abia State, therefore it is impossible for any decision emanating from the court to have effect on Dr. Alex Otti who was not a party to the suit in Kano. It therefore exposes PDP’S gulibility to have expected the court to make an order against Dr.

Otti, an action that would have incurred the wrath of the NJC.

"For purposes of further elucidation, Dr. Alex Otti became the Governorship Candidate of Labour Party on 09 June 2022, then any pre-election litigation questioning his candidacy must have been commenced not later than 14 days from 09 June 2022— meaning the case must be filed not later than *23 June 2022".

The governor elect argued that any case filed not later than 23 June 2022 must be determined not later than 180 days from the date of filing, saying "Assuming it was filed on 23 June of 2022, the 180-day timeline terminated on 20 December, 2022”.

…Ask NNPC to review award of pipeline surveillance contracts

HARUNA SALAMI, ABUJA

Acoalition of Isoko Youth Groups in conjunction with Coalition of Urhobo Ex-agitators and Interested Youth Stakeholders have raised alarm over alleged ethnic discrimination and marginalisation in the award of pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta region by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC).

TRCN conducts professional qualifying exam for 11,000 candidates

DOOSUUR IWAMBE, ABUJA

Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), in a bid to ensure quality in schools, has conducted Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE),for about 11,350 candidates across the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew Adejo, who monitored the conduct of the examination on Saturday in Abuja on, expressed satisfaction over the conduct.

Adejo, said the new technology introduced by the council to get the au-

thenticity of the certificate of teachers, would go a long way to weed out quackery from the teaching profession.

According to him, last year we just moved from accreditation and candidates go straight to write but this year, accreditation has a double level.

”This year, candidates will have to first do the accreditation, fill the form and you also cross-check your slip with the APP that TRCN has developed to give it authenticity.

”So I think they are improving on incremental basis every year on the process for PQE for teachers.

”The Federal Government is making efforts to weed out quacks but you know it is very difficult but this exam is part of the way we can weed out quacks.

”We are insisting that before you can be a teacher in every school, you must meet the basic minimum standard.

He said the ministry was working on cleaning the teachers’ database so as to have less quacks in the profession so that quackery does not affect the standard and quality of the country’s education.

He, therefore, urged state and federal educational quality assurance team to

ensure teachers have the required qualifications and skills to teach.

The Registrar of TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, said the report from centres across the country indicated hitch free processes.

”There has been improvement in the accreditation process because part of what we did was to develop an APP to accredit the candidates and this is working perfectly well.

”For this year, we have over 11,350 with Lagos having the highest with 1,500 candidates followed by FCT, while Kebbi has the lowest candidates.

The coalition said the marginalisation of Isoko and Urhobo in the award of the contracts was a confirmation of the fears that there is a deliberate attempt to deprive them of their quota in this negotiation.

In a statement jointly signed by Mr. Iteveh Nur'Ekpokpobe, Mr Karo Edor, Mr Joseph Figbele and Mr Abraham Ekokotu after a press conference in Abuja called on the Group Managing Director Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPCL), Mele Kyari to institute an alternative delegation to review the processes in the award of the contracts and accommodate the interest of their people.

The statement read “It is sad that over this period of time, all the promises made to us have not been kept. These back and forth movement has confirmed

our fears and obvious truth, that there is a deliberate attempt to deprive Isokos and by proxy, Urhobos of their quota in this negotiation.

"On the back of this fact, our clients are stating that the Isoko people cannot fold their arms this time around, because one can only accommodate oppression for so long. Tempers are already high and the need for NNPC GCEO, Mr. Mele Kyari to step in and personally address this matter once and for all is now more pressing than ever.

"As you are aware, sometime in August 2022, a contract for the surveillance of oil pipeline in the entire region was awarded to Tantita Security owned by the family of Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) an Ijaw from Oporoza in Niger Delta, without recourse to any Isoko representation, body or council.

"Again without consultations a subcontract to cover the pipelines in Urhobo Nation was awarded to Zane Energy Limited owned by the family of Senator Ovie OmoAgege who are Urhobos. However, this contract was award with a spur into the Isoko axis.

"This move has been interpreted in its entirety to be a total disregard of Isoko Nation and its vibrant youths in their capacity to man surveillance on crude oil facilities in the area.

Insecurity: Bandits take over National Park, Kainji, set up camp, kill two

SAKA

BOLAJI, MINNA

The National Park Kain-

ji, in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, has been taken over by armed bandits, who have equally

established their camp in the hitherto famous games reserve.

Following this development, the staff of the National Park have abandoned their duty post after sustained attacks by the gunmen in the area, forcing

communities in the area to abandon their farms and other business activities.

It was gathered from a source close to the communities around the National Park that over 200 gunmen are believed to be occupying the games

reserve and have turned it to their camp. Our source further disclosed that, due to the activities of the bandits, no single staff of the National Park is left behind in the park, including the forest guards providing security

for the park.

It also learnt that the bandits now come from their hideout in the National Park to attack innocent travellers along the busy Wawa-Luma highway, connecting Benin Republic.

Two weeks ago, the ban-

dits were spotted on over 100 motorcycles at the entrance gate of the National Park suspected to be holding a meeting.

The entire Wawa-luma Road was blocked on that day, as nobody could pass it for several hours.

Isoko, Urhobo youth coalition allege marginalisation

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Intercontinental Distillers Limited, Engr. Patrick Anegbe, Deputy Commandant General of Narcotics, NDLEA, Mrs Victoria Egbase, Director General, National Agency for food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye and Ag. Council Chairman of NAFDAC Governing Council, Dr Mufutau Bolaji Yahaya, at the official commissioning of NAFDAC new office complex at NAHCO Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos… recently.

Lalong says Plateau battle ready for criminals across state

SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

The outgoing governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, has reiterated that he is capable of handling the criminals who are resurging to perpetrate evil in communities across Plateau state before he leaves office.

The Governor, who was commenting on the recent attacks by gunmen, which have left over 117 people dead, several people injured and 20,000 people displaced, disclosed that the criminals have started resurfacing because

he is about to take his exit from office.

Speaking with newsmen at the side line of the 4th Convocation ceremony of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Lalong declared that his government will not fold its hands to see its citizens killed, maimed and displaced.

"In the past eight years, I have restored peace in the Plateau, unfortunately I am taking my exit and the criminals are beginning to rear their heads again and I am capable of handling them before I take my exit and I will continue to pray for peace in

the Plateau."

Speaking about measures being taken, he said, "We have nipped insecurity in the bud. Our security agencies are already addressing the recent issue of insecurity. The IDPs are being taken care of and we have jets flying all over the affected communities and local government areas."

Speaking about his award, Lalong appreciated the state government for honouring him and other awardees with the prestigious Doctorate Degrees saying that they would be good ambassadors of the institution and would continue

to uphold themselves with dignity, integrity and excellence.

The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said that the IBB University Lapai is working to address the personnel gaps needed in several critical sectors especially the medical field.

He added that the IBB University is working to improve skills so that graduates will stop the reliance for white collar jobs.

He appreciated the Plateau state Governor and the Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji AbdulSamad Isyaka Rabiu for their generosity towards the development of the university and its students.

Residents of Lafiyari/ Dutsen Gora Community in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State are in a difficult situation, as the only primary school in the area that has been in a state of complete dilapidation for years finally collapsed.

As a result of the collapse of the primary school in the community, which is a few kilometres from the Bauchi metropolitan city, residents feared that it would undermine Governor Bala Mohammed's effort of ensuring that no child is left outside the class.

Speaking to our Correspondent weekend, the Hamlet head of Lafiyari Community, Dutsen Gora, Muhammad Lawal Musa, said that their woes started during the tenure of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, when rainstorm wrecked havoc on the school by blowing off part of the school's roof.

"The school's roof was blown off by a rainstorm since the tenure of Gov MA Abubakar. Before now, we made effort as a community to patched it but as time goes on, we were unable to continue due to the impact of the rainstorm on the school", the Hamlet head said.

"We made several efforts to have the government renovate the school for the continued learning process of our children but it proved unsuccessful", he added.

According to him, with the present situation of the two classroom blocks of the school, the learning process of the about 200 pupils in the community is in jeopardy.

Musa Lawal who said,

considering the economic condition of the parents in that Community who are predominantly peasant farmers, only few of them can afford the relocation of their children to neighboring Wuntin Dada and Miri.

"We have about 200 pupils learning in this school but now the school is no more there and most of the pupils who's parents cannot afford to relocate them to neighboring schools have absconded because even part of the school's wall has fallen", he said.

The Hamlet head who commended Governor Bala Mohammed for building and renovating many schools across the state, pleaded for his intervention to avoid increase in out-ofschool children, a scorch he said the Governor has been fighting.

"We are pleading with the present administration under Governor Bala Mohammed to help us reconstruct the school so that our children can go back and continue with their academic activities. We have written to the past government but we were not lucky, but now we believe that the present administration will wipe our tears", he said.

"Like I said, we have written series of letters in the past, that's during MA Abubakar but we don't know whether the letters were able to reach the right table or not, but we hope that this time around, we would be heard through this medium".

Musa who said, as traditional leaders, they have always sensitize parents on the need to send their wards who are leaders of tomorrow to school in order to fight illiteracy and improve the society through education, said such effort is facing serious threat in his Community due to the recent collapse of the primary school.

KEHINDE AKINPELU, ILORIN

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has joined thousands of mourners in commiserating with the people of Erin-Ile in the Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State over the demise of their traditional ruler, Oba Abdulganiyu Ibrahim Ajibola Olusokun II.

Prof. Egbewole, in a statement signed by the institution's Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, described the death of the royal father as a colossal loss not only to the people of Erin - Ile but also to Kwara State and the nation at large.

The Vice Chancellor recalled the glowing contributions of the first class monarch to the peace and progress of the community and Kwara State, which earned him the national honour of the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).

He added that the monarch's 41 years' reign was very eventful in the annals of the community, saying that it brought massive physical and human capital development to the town.

Prof. Egbewole condoled

with the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR and members of the Oyun Traditional Council, of which the late Elerin waa Chairman.

The Vice Chancellor also

sympathised with the entire people of Erin-Ile, particularly staff and students of the University of Ilorin who are indigenes of the town, on the death of their revered royal father.

Prof. Egbewole urged the royal family and tge entire Erin-Ile community to take solace in the fact that the

traditional ruler lived long and reigned well, leaving behind visible legacies of unprecedented communal achievements.

The Vice Chancellor prayed Allah to overlook the shortcomings of the departed monarch and grant his soul rest in peaceful repose.

Iree Poly students celebrate Akinrosoye over expliots in

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN

Students of the Mass Communications Department of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have been celebrating one of their lecturers, Dr, Idowu Abiodun Akinrosoye, over his exploits in the practice of media development teaching.

The students gathered at the weekend to honour the achievement of Dr. Akinrosoye Abiodun Idowu as he was conferred with a PhD in Journalism and Media Studies from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye,

Ogun State.

Akinrosoye a versatile academic and lecturer in the field of Mass Communication and Journalism for decades, was described by the students as one who stood out “as a beacon of inspiration.”

A statement by the students of the department on Sunday, signed by Afolabi Lukman Tubomore on behalf of the students, on Sunday, said: “Not only is he a distinguished professional journalist and public relations expert, but his exceptional spoken and written communication skills have left an indelible

mark on the hearts and minds of his students and colleagues.

“Dr. Akinrosoye's journey to this momentous occasion is a testament to his unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of knowledge. Throughout his career, he has exhibited an insatiable thirst for academic excellence; and his expertise in Mass Communications and Journalism is unparalleled.

“His invaluable contributions have not only enriched the academic landscape, but also have also significantly impacted the professional sphere.

“As a lecturer, Dr. Akinrosoye has touched the lives of countless students, igniting within them a passion for learning and personal growth. His innovative teaching methodologies, coupled with his genuine care for his students' success have made him a beloved figure in the field.”

Dr. Akinrosoye has served in many main media organisations, including the Independent Media Network (The News) and other prominent newspapers in the South-West of Nigeria, before he joined the academia as a lecturer at the polytechnic.

SAMUEL LUKA, BAUCHI

UNILORIN VC, Egbewole mourns late Elerin

Dilapidated primary school collapses in Bauchi, residents fear out-of-school

Only ignorant peope are calling for cancellation of May 29 inauguration –INEC REC, Agboke

HARUNA SALAMI, ABUJA

The Senator-Elect who would represent the Nasarawa West Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, Aliyu Wadada, has said his colleagues from the North Central geopolitical zone were still determined to ensure the emergence of Senator Sani Musa as Deputy Senate President during the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly next month.

Wadada, who was elected on the ticket of the Social Democratic Party, stated this at the weekend when he granted an interview to journalists at the closing ceremony of the induction programme organised for the newly elected members of the 10th National Assembly.

He also said the fact that he and some of his colleagues have been following the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the position of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, does not mean that the North Central had dumped Musa.

He said since the North Central Caucus of the incoming 10th Senate had resolved to support and ensure the emergence of Musa as Deputy Senate President, there was nothing wrong in supporting the choice of the APC for the position of the Senate President.

Wadada said, "The North Central will not, and cannot be left out with a representative like us. We will always strive to get what belongs to us or what we deserve.

N'Central

on Sani Musa for Deputy Senate President

"As senators elect from the North Central geopolitical zone, our position has not changed. We stand for the Deputy Senate President.

"If the North Central Caucus stands for the Deputy Senate Presidency, by implication that means that the caucus of the North Central, wants the Presidency of the Senate to go to the Southern part of Nigeria.

"My being around Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin does not change my position as a senator from the North Central part of Nigeria.

"Akpabio is from the South South, Barau is from the North West, while Wadada is from the North Central. So there is no confusion at all.

"My being around Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin does not mean that the North Central Caucus had conceded to the APC joint ticket.

"The North Central geopolitical zone that has been a stabilising factor in Nigeria's politics, would not want to rock the boat."

He said the fact that the North Central Caucus recently said it won't mind having the position of Speaker zoned to its geopolitical zone does not mean, the senators-elect had abandoned Musa.

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN

AResident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, has described those calling for non-inauguration of the president-elect on May 29 as people displaying ignorance of the law of the country, both regarding to the constitution and the Electoral Act (as amended).

Agboke, a lawyer, REC of Osun State and former REC of Oyo State, who featured on a private radio, Fresh FM, programme in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday, gave legal insights to the arguments. The programme was monitored by our correspondent.

Mr. Agboke was invited to shed light on some of the controversial issues bordering on the res of Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) and the call by some Nigerians not to inaugurate the president-elect pending the conclusion of the cases in court over the February 25th presidential election.

“It is within 180 days or thereabout at the first court. There is also an amount of days available to the loser at that level would wait before being able to go to a higher court. For us to learn, most people don’t know that the same Court of Appeal that would sit on Federal High Court cases is the one empowered by law to become the election petition tribunal for presidential election.

“As of the time it sits like that, it seats as a court of first instance, meaning that it is not seating as an Appeal Court; it sits as an election tribunal. And once you lose at

that level, the next place for you is the higher court. With all these I have said; they would spend so and so day here and there; both our constitution and the Electoral Act have not said the declared winner of the election should not be sworn in.

“It is not in any law; whoever has such information should quote it for us all to hear. That’s one. The second is that when INEC has concluded election and certificates of return have been issued to those deemed winners, the election matter, as concerned INEC, is concluded.

“The next port of call is preparation for whoever wins an election, be it House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governor and deputy governor, president and vice president. That is the provision of the law.

“So, on the coming inauguration, we have gone past the level of those arguments. That is the way it is,” Agboke maintained.

Answering questions on the issue of a recent Kano Federal High Court nullifying the elections of Labour Party (LP) candidates in the state including that of governor-elect of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, the lawyer said there was nothing more to say on the matter, judging by the fact that all Nigerians were already waiting for the next mover on the matter.

“We heard that judgment last week; by next, we will all see the direction the matter will go. There is nothing to shed light on over that matter,” he said.

The INEC top official added that Nigerian politicians needed to think of morality, rather than just the law, to curb the menace of all elections ending in court rooms, adding that

people should recognize they lose election when they so do.

“The first thing we must realise is that the right to approach the court is a constitutional sacrosanct. There is nothing stopping anyone on that. That’s in Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution. Every Nigerian has the right to approach the court and seek redress and courts include tribunals.

“But on the matter of election, it is in a class of its own. In law, we say election petition is sui generis, meaning that all those technicalities that apply to other cases like civil cases would apply.

“The Electoral Act has spelt out people that have the right to approach court. Now, it is not every Tom, Dick and Harry that should go to tribunal. Let us know that it is not law that will necessarily solve that problem. It is a moral thing. What is mean by moral thing is that when we voted and you saw where the election was going, even if you are physically impaired, you would know naturally that you are losing or you have lost.

“Our politicians don’t think like that; they want to test strength, whether or not they can get relevance through the backdoor. That is what I think the opinion moulders should make their advocacy for our electoral system to grow. Let us behave like the developed democracies; as the counting is going on, they mostly accept their fate,” Agboke said.

He added that one major problem with the last general elections was the negative narratives that some politicians were bandying about which some gullible Nigerians accepted as the truth, advising that Nigerians should always find out the roots of what they heard.

"We already had a press briefing where we clearly stated our position. After the press briefing, when the zoning arrangements had been announced, we also took a stand and our governors supported us.

"The governors met with the aspirants from the North Central met and efforts are really on to ensure that North Central gets what it deserves.

He said, "What we have said lately is that, if for any reason, the position of the Deputy Senate President that we have always canvassed for would not be conceded to us as North Central, then, we should be given the Speakership position.

"This is because the North Central cannot go empty handed. It is not fair, It is not just, it is not rational. There is nothing right about it.

El-rufai vows to continue demolition, sack bad workers till May 29

when we shall quit office. We will continue to sack bad persons and remove bad things", he said.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State vowed that his administration will continue to sack bad workers and also demolish illegal structures until May 29th when he will leave office.

He expressed this during a book presentation in Kaduna entitled, “Putting People First: The El-Rufai Years”, at the event held at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Conference Centre Hall, Murtala Square, in Kaduna, weekend.

"I will remove “bad persons” and to continue to demolish “illegal” structures in the state despite having just eight days left in office.

"Putting People First: The el-Rufai Years”is a compilation of published articles and interviews focusing on el-Rufai’s tenure as an appraisal of his core values, mission and policy statements that defined his years as Governor of Kaduna State.

Speaking at the launch of a book about his legacies in Kaduna, Governor el-rufai said he will clean up the system till the last minute of his exit from the state government.

According to him, “Any bad thing we find we will remove so that the next governor does not need to do it again"

“Watch out till the eleventh hour

He said, the Kaduna government revoked the right of occupancy of nine properties belonging to Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of the state, and marked them for demolition, last Thursday.

Also speaking at the event, Nyesom Wike, outgoing governor of Rivers State and guest speaker at the occasion stated that el-rufai is seen as a fearless and outspoken Nigerian. Wike said people who can speak truth to power in the country are not easy to come by, adding that only el-rufai dared to do so even to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that he served as a member.

“El-Rufai, for me, is one leader whose greatness defies categorisation,” Wike said.

“Governor el-Rufai embodies character, commitment and hard work.

"He is bold, courageous and daring with a strong spirit of justice, equity and fairness. Governor el-Rufai is never known to be a sycophant.

" I could remember his controversial letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, especially the one written in March 2017, that challenged him to deliver the people’s expectations to avoid falling on the wrong side of history.

Senators-elect insist

IDIBIA GABRIEL, KADUNA

Speakership position requires competence, capacity, political sagacity - Jaji

the leadership by external forces would be resisted.

Jaji said his aspiration was not out of desperation but on the sentiment to deal with glaring challenges bedvilling the 9th Assembly.

"We consider this an important aspect to us especially we members' elected by our constituencies. The mandate given to us is not a mandate of luxury. It is a matter of concern and we need to do the necessary things to change and transform our country for better.

"Under my leadership if I emerge, I believe it is going to be a stronghold for democracy to triumph and make sure that every legislative business is carried out based on principles of rules, and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

OKERAFOR ATHANASIUS, JALINGO

Former President Goodluck Ebele

Jonathan has commended Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State for improvement on the security situation of the State.

Jonathan, who made the commendation in Jalingo while commissioning the 22km dual road project executed by Governor Ishaku said the security situation of the State has improved under Governor Ishaku unlike what it used to be.

He called on the people of the State to always live in peace with one another saying their security is in their hands.

"You decide to live in peace or not, you cannot develop the State under unsecured environment.

"Even if the Federal Government send all the Police and all the Soldiers, it can't enforce security unless the people decide to live in peace", he said.

Jonathan lauds Ishaku for improved security in Taraba

"All have given Jalingo a facelift befitting State capital", he said.

While thanking Jonathan who he described as his mentor for finding time out of his busy schedules to honour his invitation, Ishaku said that Jonathan set the pace that made him who he is today.

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

House of Representatives member, representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji federal constituency of Zamfara State, Rep Aminu Jaji, has said the position requires competence, capacity, political sagacity -

Jaji who declared his intention to run for the Speakership position last Thursday in Abuja promised to strengthens legislative processes if elected Speaker.

He is a member of coalition of aspirants to the Speakership, which is opposed to the preferred candidates of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and working against it.

Other members are the coalition are Rep Mukhtar Betara; Rep Sada Soli, Rep Princess Mariam Onouha and Yusuf Gagdi.

Jaji told journalists in Abuja at the weekend said he has the requisite de-

mands of the office of Speaker, House of Representatives, which are; competence, capacity and political sagacity.

"It is not child's play and not an office that one can sit somewhere to say he anointed somebody to discharge responsibility on my behalf. We are not looking for an extension of the 9th Assembly. We are not looking for the continuation of an Assembly that can only sit when matters of concern are to the leadership and their personal interests. If we are there we would do our best to restore sanity and unity to the National Assembly," he said He said he had a six point agenda which had been compressed to just two.

"First in the agenda is to strengthen the legislative process of the National Assembly, while the second is to strengthen the economy."

Jaji said if he emerges as Speaker of the House, he will strengthen legislative process of the National Assembly and economy of the country.

He said any attempt to influence

"We would find the way forward most especially in the areas of insecurity, economy and of course infrastructure deficit. I am joining this race because I know I have a lot to offer if I am given the opportunity to serve as the Speaker.

"In terms of legislation it is something that we have to give utmost concern and priority to review the National Security Act, if given the opportunity. What we are marking today is unity and trust.

"On the issue of education we are aware of promises of the incoming president that he would make sure all students would get loans while studying.

"This cannot be possible without legislation, and I am sure the 360 members are all committed to drive that process.

"For the very first time we have the opposition parties are greater in number. They did their campaign with different slogans but all of them can be merged and if we truly are, we shouldn't allow subservive agents to decide the 10th assembly for us.

On the road project commissioned, former President Jonathan, who thanked Governor Ishaku and the people of the State for a warm recognition and reception given him to commission the projects also lauded the Contracting Firm for doing a quality job.

He added that road construction would open up Jalingo the state capital and attract Investors to the area.

"I have seen Houses coming up in these areas in the next few years", he noted.

Speaking, Governor Darius Ishaku told the gathering that the road project being commissioned by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was awarded to Messrs Craneburg Construction Company Ltd, Lagos in December, 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

According to Ishaku, his determination to develop the State yielded fruitful results with the Projects commissioned by the former President.

"The Road which was a single carriageway has been upgraded to a Dual Carriageway with a Flyover at the Roadblock",

"I was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Minister of Power and Minister of Environment, all under the leadership of former President Jonathan", he said. Projects commissioned by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital under the out-going Governor of the State were the 22km dual Carriage Way from NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp along Wukari road to Kpantinapu city gate along Yola road with Pedestrian walkways, a Bridge along Nukkai River, a Flyover at the Roadblock area and 6 number Pedestrian Bridges in Jalingo the State capital.

Akpabio, Barau enjoy more endorsement as South South people back mandate

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

More endorsement messages have continued to pour in, in support of the ambitions of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau, for the office of the Senate President and Deputy respectively, with the latest coming from the South South Indegenes, led by former acting National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ntufam Hilliard Eta.

In a prepared speech delivered at the weekend by the party chieftain, he described the ambition of Senator Akpabio as that whose time has come, saying, "your brothers and sisters have come to solidarise with you and to publicly endorse your aspiration to lead the 10th Senate and by extension the National Assembly. This is your time to join hands with the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move Nigeria and Nigerians to greater heights.

"You remain one of our best 11 in the south south. Your imminent emergence as the number three citizen in Nigeria means a lot to Nigerians and particularly, the people of the South South geo- political zone".

In his response Senator Akpabio, who received the group on behalf of the Solidarity Group in Abuja, thanked them for the support for his ambition

to lead the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the former Minister Niger Delta Affairs, " Let me thank the leader of the group, for the steps you have all taken today as the people of the South South geo- political zone. It is a good thing for you to go out there and if you have a problem you return home, but when the home front is stable, it means your outward movements would be fruitful.

" The 10th Senate comprises of about eight different political parties. We are working to build a synergy inorder to always reach a consensus on issues, so as to advice the incoming

administration of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have a lot to do for this country. We have a lot of challenges and it is not going to be a tea party.

" The 10th Senate will make laws to protect the people and take care of their welfare because that is the primary purpose of government".

Speaking further, the former Senate Minority Leader, charged the people to hold talks with their Senators-elect on why they should support the choices of the party, saying," our great party, the APC has made a very strong recommendation that the Senate President be zoned to the South-South after due consultations with critical stakeholders

of our party and the President-elect.

"I thank the south south for rising to the occasion. As minorities, I believe strongly that we have to tie ourselves to the apronstring of national politics. Our job as APC leaders is to integrate our people into national politics and that is why we are working across party lines.

" When the northern governors decided to support a president from the South, people worked for it to come to manifest. In the same vein, I implore you all to work very hard in your Senatorial Districts and talk to our Senators-elect for them to see the need to support the choices of the party, that

Senator Akpabio should emerge the next Senate President in the 10th Senate," he stressed.

The South South peoples' statement reads:

"Your Excellency, I thank you sincerely for making this solidarity visit in view of your very loaded schedule. Sometimes, there is so much to say but so little time available. At other times, there is so much time but so little to say. But today, there is so little time and so few things to say. There comes a time when a people, while making a hard choice, after counting their teeth with their tongue, decide to take a plunge and leave their unknown future in the hands of the all-knowing God.

"That was what we, the good people of the South South geo political zone, like other Nigerians, did on February 25, 2023. We trooped out and voted massively for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be the next president, trusting that God, the All-Knowing, who hides the fruit in the seed, will watch over the seed for a bumper harvest.

"Today Your Excellency, what our people planted on that great day and which our great leaders like you watered, God has brought the great increase. The icing on that increase is the Presidency of the 10th Senate which, by the grace of the Almighty God, is in our kitty. Congratulations, Sir.

PenCom recovers N24.5bn pension contributions in 11 years

JOY OBAKEYE

The National Pension Commission says it has recovered 24.5-billion-naira pension contributions owed workers by defaulting employers from June 2012 to 31 March 2023.

Further breakdown shows that the sum comprises contributions of 12.4 billion naira and penalties of 12.1 billion naira.

Aisha Dahir-Umar, the Director-General of Pencom in her welcome remark at a special workshop organised for Labour Writers Association ( LAWAN) in Lagos, revealed that in the first quarter of 2023, 384.3 million naira, comprising contributions of 193.1 million naira and penalties of 191.2 million naira, was recovered from 34 defaulting employers.

She was represented by the Head of Corporate Communications of PenCom, Mr Abdulqadir Dahiru.

The Pencom DG also noted that “PenCom is committed to protecting workers' interests and ensuring employers pay pension contributions as and when due.

“During the first quarter of 2023, N384.28 million, comprising contributions of N193.06 million and penalties of N191.22 million, was recovered from 34 defaulting employers.

“Meanwhile, from the commencement of the recovery of pension contributions owed workers in June 2012 to 31 March 2023, the Commission has recovered N24.53 billion (contributions of N12.44 billion and penalties of N12.09 billion) from defaulting employers,” she stressed.

While reeling out the importance of the training, the PenCom boss expatiated on the several initiatives the agency has embarked upon in recent times.

“The Commission's meticulous regulation and supervision of the pension industry ensures that Pension Assets and CPS membership continue to grow. The value of Pension Assets stood at N15.58 trillion as

of 31 March 2023, while CPS membership was 9.95 million".

She maintained that the policy where RSA holders can utilise a portion of the retirement savings to secure residential mortgage is gaining traction, but emphasized on some clarity for intending RSA holders who plan to tap into the initiative.

“Last year, PenCom launched a policy that allows Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to utilise a portion of their retirement savings as equity for residential mortgages. This policy marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to provide greater flexibility and access to pension funds for

the benefit of RSA holders. It recognises that many individuals face challenges in securing adequate housing upon retirement and aims to address this issue by unlocking the value of their pension savings to facilitate homeownership.

“Under this new policy, RSA holders who have contributed to their accounts for at least five years and meet specific eligibility criteria can utilise up to 25% of their pension savings as equity contribution towards acquiring residential properties. This policy aligns with our commitment to ensuring that pension funds catalyse economic development and social well-being,” the PenCom DG reiterated.

FMDQ Group, FSD Africa help bridge gender finance

FMDQ Group PLC (FMDQ Group) and Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Africa - the Implementing Partners of the Nigerian Green Bond Market Development, organised a twoday event in Lagos, to introduce the concept of gender bonds to key market players within the Nigeria financial markets space.

The event examined the state of gender equality in Nigeria and discussed the opportunities for Nigerian issuers and investors to use gender-sensitive/intentional approaches in bridging the gender finance gap in Nigeria.

Also, it afforded potential issuers an opportunity to learn from the Tanzanian experience in navigating the issuance process of a gender bond.

External shocks such as pandemics, climatic disruptions, and economic downturns, have continuously had aderse impacts on humanity, with vulnerable groups, such as women, and their businesses being badly hit.

Consequently, financial market players globally, as well as in Africa, are now

empowering women and expanding their access to finance and economic inclusion through a debt market instrument that seeks to support the advancement and equality of women – the gender bond.

Although at its emerging stage, understanding the gender bond framework for Nigeria's debt market can play a crucial role in supporting the efforts to attain the United Nations (UN’s) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 10 - Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities, respectively.

In attendance at the event were Mr Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria, Mr Bola Onadele.

FMDQ Group PLC, Ms Ruth Zaipuna, Koko, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Officer, NMB Bank PLC, Ms Mary Njuguna, Principal Specialist, Capital Markets, FSD Africa, as well as other market stakeholders.

The first day featured a Breakfast Session for C-Suite

Executives, and highlighted the impact sustainable finance can have in driving women’s economic empowerment, as well as increased participants’ knowledge and awareness of gender bond.

Welcoming participants to the event, Mr Bola Onadele. Koko, Chief Executive Officer, FMDQ Group PLC, gave a broad overview of the Programme’s achievements from its inception in 2018 till date in the areas of policy advisory, technical support for green bond issuances, and market capacity building.

TAAM 5.0: SIFAX

boss calls for improved investments in maritime sector

TEMITOPE ADEBAYO

As Nigeria is transitioning to a non-oil-dependent economy, attention needs to be shifted towards other critical sectors, especially the maritime industry, so they could contribute substantially to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Chairman, of SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, said the dwindling oil revenue in recent years and the huge potentials locked in the maritime sector make it imperative for the Federal Government to show better commitment to the industry.

He explained this at the 5th edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Conference theme “The Maritime Roadmap Project: Making Nigeria A Leading Maritime Nation In The World”, held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Sifax's boss noted that: “The country’s national budget, in the last few years, has been majorly funded without revenue from oil but from other sectors. The days of overreliance on oil are behind us now and it’s time we focused on transitioning from an oil-dependent economy to non-oil reliance. The maritime sector, I can say without any fear of contradiction, will play a crucial role in this economic transitioning if more attention is committed to the industry.”

Despite the growth that the industry has witnessed in recent years including the development and approval of various deep-sea ports, the springing up of inland container depots across the country, linking of seaports with rail lines, among others, Afolabi further noted that the sector is still facing major problems which are slowing down its

growth and impact.

He said: “It is without a doubt that the maritime industry in Nigeria is grappling with various issues including the infrastructural deficit, foreign exchange bottleneck, and insecurity on our waterways, low level of technology adoption and deployment as well as inconsistent policies, among others. These issues have largely limited the ability of the sector to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If well harnessed, the maritime industry has the potential to become a major revenue earner for the country, particularly with the declining oil revenue.”

Speaking at the event is the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barr. Temisan Omatseye who delivered the lead paper presentation stressed the need for Federal Government to encourage shipbuilding and repair yards in Nigeria.

According to him, out of 100 per cent of the cargo coming into Nigeria, 98 per cent of them is carried by foreigners and this has killed the Nigerian shipping sector.

“The reliance on foreign vessels to carry Nigeria's import and export which in most cases are higher than market rates has made Nigerian goods uncompetitive in the international market, while the high freight rates on import has brought negative effect on the Nigerian economy.

“I believe that Nigeria should develop more deep ports which are already ongoing at the moment, we need to ensure the set up of a national shipping line which would set as the bedrock for the return of the old glory days.

Equities market sustains weekly losses, sheds N14.53bn w/w

MOTOLANI OSENI

Despite gaining in four out of five trading sessions last week, the equities market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) sustained losses for the second consecutive week, as the market capitalization declined by N14.53billion week on week (w/w) to close at N28.42trillion.

Although, on the last trading session of the week, the equities staged a rebound, recouping the prior session loss as the benchmark index closed 0.15 per cent stronger to settle at 52,187.93 points.

The market’s performance was bolstered by investor interests in ZENITHBANK (+4.00%), GTCO (+1.53%) and SEPLAT (+1.20%).

Over the course of the week, AIRTELAFRI (-6.00% w/w), STANBIC (-0.27% w/w) and WAPCO (-0.81% w/w) were the major drivers of

Industry

the week's loss outweighing gains in ZENITHBANK (+8.33% w/w), GEREGU (+4.92% w/w), and GTCO (+9.69% w/w).

As a result, the ASI yearto-date (YTD) return fell to 1.83 per cent.

However, of today's market activities showed trade turnover settled higher relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions up by 59.21%.

A total of 810.77m shares valued at ₦8.20bn were exchanged in 5,313 deals. FIDELITYBK (-0.90%) led the volume and value charts with 269.72m units traded in deals worth ₦1.48bn.

Market breadth closed positive at a 2.18-to-1 ratio with advancing issues outnumbering declining ones.

FTNCOCOA (+10.00%) led twenty-three (23) others on the laggard’s log while ARDOVA (-9.84%) topped ten (10) others on the leader’s table

collaboration would extend financial services to Nigerians -MoMo CEO

MOTOLANI OSENI

MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB), an electronic service provider and financial technology called for industry collaboration which would extend financial services to all Nigerian across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of MoMo PSB, Mr Eli Hini, said this at the stakeholder's forum and first anniversary held at

Lagos continental hotel, recently.

The forum with theme; “Driving Financial Inclusion and Cashless Payments”, the stakeholders called for collaboration within the industry to drive financial inclusion and improve the quality of lives of Nigerians.

He said that the electronic payment volume which jumped by 298 percent in the first quarter of 2023 due to the cash crunch, reinforced the need for better in-

Financial Times recognises BHM on Africa top 100 list

BlackHouse Media (BHM) is now the only PR & communications company in the Financial Times’ Africa’s 100 fastest-growing companies list.

The annual list released on May 2, 2023, shows the company as the first and only public relations and communications company on the list since it was introduced 12 months ago.

Debuting at number 87, BHM joins the rank of Africa’s biggest companies such as MTN, Napsers, Julius Berger and others in fintech, renewable energy, healthcare, commodities and agriculture industries.

The companies on the list for 2023 were ordered by the highest compound annual growth (CAGR) in revenues between 2018 and 2021. An online application phase, a minimum CAGR of 7.89 per cent and a review process by Statista, a leading online platform specialised in market and consumer data, were some of the criteria for the entries on the list.

Ayeni Adekunle, Founder and CEO of BHM, said, “BHM has enjoyed tremendous support from clients and partners and from the public relations community in Africa, and abroad. And we

are committed to building what I hope will become the first truly global communications services company from Africa.”

Ayeni, a former Nigerian journalist who worked for reputable publications such as Thisday and The Punch, founded the company in 2006 with a vision to build Africa’s first global PR firm by leveraging insights into different markets, relationships, industry expertise and technology.

Ayeni says ‘‘BHM plans to deliver what will be the first truly international communications services company from Africa; a truly global player with a commitment to the continent. And each passing day, each recognition, each project, each added country convinces me we are on track.’’

David Pilling, the Africa Editor of the Financial Times commended the tenacity of the 100 companies on the list stating that they have managed “to grow their businesses while much of the world shut down [due to Covid]”.

He noted that this was a “time in which Silicon Valley investors, as well as those in Asia and Europe, discovered the potential in the African Start-up scene.”

frastructure to accommodate the transaction volumes.

According to him, there is a need to include more women in the financial system space, particularly those in the retail value chain to experience financial solutions.

“Imagine what it would be like if every adult in Nigeria could access formal financial services, keep, send, receive, spend, or invest money through a trusted financial service provider.

“Many people because of exclusion have had challenges meeting basic needs, therefore, impacting the quality of life.

Hini noted that"Businesses need to go above personal interest and address challenges hindering financial inclusion in Nigeria and must take advantage of govern-

ment policies already put in place to address these.

“We understand that there are cultural barriers which require constant sensitization, but we must work to improve access to financial inclusion to the rural economy and must continue to build their trust in our service,” he said.

Also speaking at the event is the Chairman of, MoMo PSB Board, Mr Michael Ajukwu, who said the commitment of the company to bringing the unbanked into the formal system.

Ajukwu expressed gratitude over the extent of internet penetration which he said led to a more fulfilling life.

Also, co-founder, PiggyVest, Ms. Odunayo Eweniyi, said that achieving the set target of 95

percent financial inclusion rate in the country meant deeply understanding the needs of the unbanked and building services that accommodated and addressed those needs.

Eweniyi also emphasized the need to address infrastructural deficiencies in rural areas and employ measures to manage the gender divide between women and men for financial inclusion.

“Women spend more in actual development than men will, and if more women are included; there will be actual significant measurable progress into the space.

“We must begin to provide social interventions and affordable services for those we are targeting as much as we are also looking to make money,” she said.

China to train young Nigerians on cultural tourism economy, says Runsewe

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

About three thousand Nigerian young persons will undergo critical cultural tourism training in China, strategically billed to reduce unemployment, and crime and also to mobilize the youths to drive the Nigerian creative cultural tourism economy.

The agreement was brokered by the Director General of, the National Council for Arts and Culture( NCAC) Otunba Segun Runsewe, who is leading an African delegation to the International Culture Tourism Reform for Developing Nations put together by the Chinese government and Academic International for International Business Officials ( AIBO). Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the forum in Beijing, China, Runsewe, who also doubles as President, of the World Craft Council ( WCC) Africa Re -

gion, explained that the training opportunities and exposures for young Nigerians to acquire new skills are not just limited to pure cultural tourism economy but on technological breakthroughs and innovations.

" The meetings were strategic, successful, and eye opener to how our youths can benefit from training by the Chinese who are ready to partner and support us to bring about three thousand young persons from Nigeria at first instance to undergo diverse areas of training in the such area such as manufacturing of chips and even on electrical car production" Runsewe stated, adding "it will be a new beginning for us as a nation and for our young persons as the collaboration will bear verifiable gains to our immediate and future capacity building an ecosystem in cultural tourism and technology ecosystems".

Runsewe further disclosed

that the Chinese training offer will take up about 0ne hundred young persons per state in the country, which will help reduce crime and unemployment and be beneficial to rural development and job creation.

" Am excited about this opportunity for our young persons in Nigeria. It is no elephant project, and we know how committed the Chinese are to promises to us as a nation, and this is certainly huge. On arrival back in Nigeria, we shall, in earnest, put up strategies to actualize these milestones, " Runsewe clarified.

In an address to the open forum on Public cultural Reforms and Health Development for Developing countries, Runsewe urged all government top functionaries in developing nations to pay serious attention to cultural tourism issues as its the bedrock of peace and security in the world.

EMERGING MARKET

Emerging markets resistant to inflation as currencies appreciate against dollar

STORIES BY GODWIN ANYEBE

The tightening of monetary policy by emerging and developed economies, where they raised interest rates at the sharpest pace in decades, did not create shocks in emerging markets, which finally have proved resilient. Responding to rising inflation, emerging markets starting in mid-2021, tightened monetary policy much earlier than advanced economies.

Remarkably, emerging market growth has remained strong over the past year and is expected to hold up quite well this year while capital outflows have been contained. As a result, some emerging market currencies have even appreciated against the dollar.

A critical factor explaining emerging economies' strong performance is the reforms that have been implemented over the past two decades. These reforms helped reduce credit and currency risks.One of the significant reforms concerns the greater degree of central banks' independence that appear to be improving their monetary policy frameworks as they can use the exchange rate as an inflation-targeting tool.

Numerous efforts have

been made to enhance financial stability, focusing on bolstering the capitalization of banks and implementing various measures to strengthen regulatory, supervisory, and macroprudential frameworks. These steps aim to mitigate risk-taking and address foreign exchange (FX) mismatches.

Emerging economies have taken measures to promote the growth of local currency bond markets and bolstered their foreign exchange reserves, thereby mitigating the risk of default on foreign currency loans. Additionally, these economies have reaped the advantages of enhanced fiscal frameworks, which enhance the sustainability of

their debt.

Investors can enhance their risk assessment and reduce the likelihood of panic selling during global economic contractions by benefiting from increased transparency in central bank policies. Additionally, the effective measures taken by central banks in emerging markets to combat inflation have bolstered their credibility in terms of aligning long-term inflation expectations with their targets.

Despite the positive impact of these advancements on developing economies, it is crucial to acknowledge the persistent and substantial risks posed by monetary policy tightening.

Despite the optimistic

Experts debate how Emerging Markets can attract inward investment from the film sector

outlook of the markets, suggesting a rapid decline in inflation and minimal impact on economic growth, along with the possibility of emerging market central banks lowering interest rates in late 2023, it is important to note that there are still lingering risks of persistent inflation that could challenge these expectations.

Given that inflation is driven by a reduced supply of goods, activity has not slowed in many emerging markets that produce goods and services; thus, unemployment remains close to historic lows. Services tend to be labour-intensive, resulting in wage growth being unlikely to slow down quickly.

Mobile money adoption to see $500bn via PaaP

How does a film-friendly territory rise above the noise, when countries the world over are going head to-head to attract incoming productions? A Screen International panel found out.

What are the key factors that make international productions chose to shoot in one country over another?

That was the focus of a lively round-table debate hosted by Screen International titled ‘How emerging markets attract inward investments to film industries’.

Four location decision ‘cornerstone’ factors were identified: attractive production incentives, a competent and reliable crew that can handle domestic and international shoots, production infrastructure, and overall film friendliness.

There are, however, other considerations for decision-makers, such as diversity, equity and inclusion, and sustainability.

down. With new countries coming in with incentives, if it takes too long to get the incentive or it doesn’t cash out — because sometimes the regulations change — [that’s a problem],” said Olsberg. “Once a reputation is sullied in that regard, it is quite hard to pull back from that. New countries may have a visionary government and industry leaders who can see exactly what needs to happen. But sometimes people on the ground don’t have the experience, aren’t necessarily great administrators or don’t understand the production process. That tends to be an issue.”

The value of mobile money transactions in emerging markets is set to increase by 33 per cent, or $500 billion, over the next four years to reach $2.1 trillion in 2027, according to a report from Juniper Research, which believes the adoption of payments-as-aplatform (PaaP) models will drive that growth.

Juniper said the PaaP approach enables third-party service providers to offer their products and services via mobile money apps. This delivers new revenue streams to mobile money operators and helps them more easily meet the “in -

creasingly sophisticated” needs of their customers.

The report, ‘Mobile Money in Emerging Markets: Trends, Strategies and Market Forecasts 2023-2027,’ found that the use of such platforms will also attract a growing number of mobile financial services (MFS) users in emerging markets, with the total number of users expected to grow by about 40 per cent over the next four years to 411 million.

That growth “is a result of providers offering a variety of services, such as microloans and microinsurance, to satisfy grow -

ing user demand,” noted the firm, adding that for service providers to benefit from this demand, they need to invest in the technologies that enable them.

Report co-author, Cara Malone, said: “Vendors must effectively implement sophisticated MFS, or they will lose ground to rising competition.

“This can be best achieved through new approaches, such as leveraging existing data that operators hold to enable alternative credit scoring, allowing much greater lending opportunities.”

According to Juniper

Research team, mobile money service providers need to “leverage data analytics to best retain customers and fight off rising competition.

“By gaining valuable insight into consumer behaviour and preferences, vendors can provide better-tailored services to end users. Combining this data with new third-party services via PaaP enables a more personalised service, which will boost customer satisfaction and revenues.”

Already, of the $836.5 billion mobile money transactions processed in Africa, West Africa recorded $277 billion.

All these factors will be familiar to those working in the international film industry. The panel agreed that making a country film-friendly was the most important element but also the most challenging to get right.

Jonathan Olsberg, executive chair of consultancy Olsberg SPI, said that incentives are an effective and relatively easy tool to implement for attracting international shoots, while crew and production infrastructure take longer to develop. “The toughest one to pull off is film friendliness,” he added.

The panel heard of the importance to instil confidence in producers that what they are told they will experience in a country matches the reality on the ground.

“That is where it can fall

Decisions about location can also depend on abovethe-line talent, said Stanley Preschutti, president of Grandave Capital. “They can be very choosy about where they travel, and some won’t go anywhere if they have families or if it’s a long shoot. Action actors seem to be more adventurous.”

Nik Bower, co-founder of Riverstone Pictures, noted that producers have to be focused on the bottom line and where they can make a film for the least amount of money “so a big incentive is not helpful if the base cost is still high”.

He also said that incentives need to be designed to be user-friendly. “It often surprises me how countries around the world seem to make them as complicated as they can.”

Abduljalil Al-Nasser, general manager of sector development and investment at the Saudi Film Commission, said that many people think rebates are a way to incentivise productions to shoot in the country, but they are actually key to helping develop talent and infrastructure.

I want to run Oyo State without federal allocation –Makinde

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN

The governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has reportedly said that his economic plan in his second term of office is to ensure the state runs effectively without having to “go cap in hands for monthly allocation from the Federation Account.”

Various reports at the weekend, detailing his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) had it that he also disclosed that he wanted Oyo State to become one of the fastest rising economic states and investment destinations for global investors in Nigeria.

Governor Makinde was quoted as speaking at the Oyo State International Business Summit (OYSIBS 2023) with the theme;“Accessing the Pioneer Advantage to Sustainable Investment in Oyo State” in London on Friday.

The governor, while speaking at the event said he wanted Oyo State to stop monthly trips to the nation’s capital to beg for financial aid from the Federal Government, while calling on the international corporate world and big individual investors to invest in the South-Western state of Nigeria.

“What we are doing here today is to bring in key actors in agribusiness, solid minerals and mining, tourism, sustainable energy and infrastructure sectors to discuss the investment opportunities in these areas through private investment ventures, public private partnership (PPP) and public-private-development partnership (PPDP) model in our Oyo State.

“We want to stop the monthly trip to Abuja for federal allocations; we want Oyo State to be a state that can run with zero federal allocation, so that is the main reason for the summit. I am excited about the people and to see a lot of potential and the energy in the room; I am very sure we will harness it.

“We have linked all the major zones in Oyo State with a viable road network and have invested heavily in security to ensure that you are safe wherever you choose to locate your business within the borders of Oyo State.

“This has led to us growing our economy from N2.75 trillion in 2019 to N4.05 trillion, as of Q3 2022 without increasing taxes. In the same period, we increased our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by over 90 per cent,” Makinde was quoted as having explained.

On his part, the Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, reportedly speaking with journalists, said the summit had further encouraged economic diplomacy and British investment in Nigeria, while encour-

aging investors to key into Governor Makinde’s vision.

“This summit has helped in our economic diplomacy to ensure we have British investment in Nigeria and to encourage Nigerian businessmen to export to United Kingdom.

“Within the context of what Oyo State has to offer in terms of agribusiness, solid minerals, ICT and other infrastructure projects, investors will have the opportunity to know what Oyo State stands for.

“And of particular interest is the governor who has a private sector background which is key to investors, and with what has been presented, I have no doubt in my mind that they are ready for industrial investment and economic development,” he reportedly stated.

New 'varsities my legacy for Deltans - Okowa

NOSA ÀKEÑZUA, ASABA

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta said the establishment of three new universities remains the highest of his administration's legacies for the state.

He said he was happy that the new universities had justified their establishment by bridging the gaps in university admission and making it cheaper and closer to Deltans.

Okowa stated this weekend at the Founders' Day Celebration of University of Delta, Agbor, and said that the university had justified its establishment by admitting no fewer than 5,219 students since it began academic activities in the 2022/2023 academic session.

He said that founders’ day meant a lot to a school as it allowed members of the university community to meet friends and associates to thank those who founded the school and others who had contributed to its growth.

"Today’s event is about the success of a purposeful idea aimed at expanding the frontiers of knowledge and institutionalizing the deepening of higher education for the advancement of society through research, teaching and learning; the tripod on which tertiary education stands.

"Today, the three new universities we established are in session and have

helped in narrowing the gap while at the same time, bringing higher education nearer and cheaper to our people," he said.

The governor appealed to the university's Governing Council and Management to continue on the trajectory of raising the stakes in its determination to grow it to enviable heights.

"For the students, I implore you to exhibit the highest sense of responsibility and patriotism. This university should be known for academic excellence, because that way, you can attract goodwill and resources to your university.

"This will attract endowments, scholarship schemes and other benefits from stakeholders and well-meaning members of society eager to leave landmarks and legacies here.

"Please be proud of the opportunity you have been offered to do the right things and carry out the intention, purpose and vision of the foundersreal education for the advancement of society while preparing for a successful and purposeful future."

He charged the university's authorities to ensure that students were trained in entrepreneurship studies and engaged in research and consultancy services as a means of generating funding for the university.

On the criticisms trailing the school fees charged in the universities, Okowa appealed to parents and

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

Greater Minority Group of the 10th Assembly comprising members-elect from opposition parties, has met with members of the G7 group in order to take a common position on the leadership of the House of Representatives in the incoming assembly.

Greater Minority is made up of 182 members-elect across minority parties including the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP); Labour Party, (LP); New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP); Africa Democratic Congress, (ADC); Young People’s Party, (YPP); All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), and the Social Democratic Party, (SDP).

The G7 aspirants for the position of the Speaker who are members of the the All Progressives Congress, (APC) include the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Ahmed Idris Wase; Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Rep Yusuf Adamu Gagdi; Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Rep Muktar Aliyu Betara; Rep Sada Soli; Rep Mariam Onuoha and Rep Aminu Sani Jaji.

At the end of the meeting which held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja

on Saturday, May 20, 2023, the incoming lawmakers agreed on consensus candidate for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions, waiting for a later date to unveil the candidates.

Speaking on the development, Rep Gagdi said: "Members-elect settled for candidates that will be acceptable to majority of them.

“The G7 met with Greater Minority and agreed on consensus candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker but we will not mention the names yet.

"We reached the agreement, based on the best choice of people that will be acceptable to the majority of all parties involved.

“We have formed this alliance to resist all attempts by external forces to impose leadership on the 10th House of Representatives.

"Be rest assured that the next leadership of the House will emerge from us,” he stated.

NOSA ÀKEÑZUA, ASABA

Candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Etsako East Local Government Chairmanship election, Mrs. Benedicta Ebuehi has vowed to commit all her leadership experience and influence within and outside Nigeria to partner with developmental groups to make Etsako East an enviable local government in Edo State and in Nigeria when elected as the Chairman of the local government.

Sea as safer roots in traveling to the North rather than following through road.

" Etsako East can become a model local government in Nigeria through super sea transportation service to neighboring states. We have the plans; we have the passion all that is required is your nomination and vote in making Etsako East an enviable local government.

guardians to show understanding, saying that the naira had depreciated over time.

"I have heard people complain that the fees are too much, but I know that the total fees paid in this institution and the other two institutions is less than N200,000 per annum.

"I am also aware of private universities that charge fees running up to millions per annum. Imagine the plight of an average family with three wards who are qualified for admission to universities.

"People must understand that the naira has depreciated a lot and the universities must run their affairs. We pay the salaries of all the staff and the infrastructure as much as we can but it's important that the universities are financially strong to enable then run the day-to-day activities of the institution.

"We believe that we don't want to have universities that cannot keep the students in a functional state of learning so I appeal to parents to please bear with us as the naira has since depreciated," he said.

In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Stella Chiemeke, who lauded the vision behind the establishment of the university, said that at its inception in 2021, UNIDEL commenced academic activities with eight faculties approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to her, “We must move ahead with confidence, determination, and surefootedness in our collective efforts in making Etsako East great. There can only be a reform when there is the will. I have the political will, the experience, and necessary connections with relevant development partners that will ease the burden of building an enviable council.”

Mrs Benedicta in a thank you message issued through former Director of Media in the Senator Alimikhena campaign Council, Mr Benjamin Atu to thank the political and spiritual leadership of Etsako East for endorsing her said “We need to strengthen and expand our current infrastructure to create the needed foundation on which we will collectively build the new Etsako East of our dream. We have great potential for social economic attainment and leadership.

"For us to realize these potentials, our two major resources; land and people must be developed and judiciously utilized"

She maintained that Etsako East Local Government could offer a better alternative as a major traveling and transportation hub in connecting to Abuja, Kaduna, Kogi State, and all the Northern States by focusing on our comparative advantage of the high sea.

"When elected as the next Chairman, our administration will open up Etsako East waterways and construct a befitting World Class water transport service through the Agenebode High

While thanking the traditional rulers for being neutral the PDP candidates emphasize that, after the reinvigorating an enviable water transportation system in Etsako East, the ripple effect will increase commerce and industry in our communities.

"It is time to take advantage of our available infrastructure in building and developing our locality. Banks and massive road transportation companies would be available rather than Estako East residents traveling to Auchi before traveling it is Etsako Central and West that will rather come to Etsako East to use our befitting water transportation system", she assured.

G7, Greater Minority group reach consensus on candidate for Speaker, Deputy

I'll make Etsako enviable LGA In Nigeria, says Benedicta Ebuehi

Factors amplifying Africa's poverty rate

Poverty, the inability to satisfy basic human needs is endemic in Africa. Unfortunately, the continent is blessed with enormous human and materials resources to meet its needs and stimulate growth and prosperity.

Many factors such as illiteracy and lack of good governance have been identified as being responsible for this. Recent global developments such as VCOVID-19 outbreak have made the matter worse.

According to the Economic Report on Africa 2021(ERA2021) inaugurated by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic pushed an estimated 55 million Africans into extreme poverty in 2020.

The pandemic reversed more than two decades of progress in poverty reduction on the continent.

Reports show that in 2019, 424 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lived in severe poverty and 460 million in 2022.

Based on the Economic Development in Africa (ECA) Report 2021, Africa stands out as the most affected region in the world in terms of loss of income of poor households.

The Chief Economist of ECA, Hanan Morsy, says Africa currently accounts for more than half of the World’s poor at 54.8 per cent.

Morsy, during the 55th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said the continent faced a tsunami of global shocks that have exacerbated existing socio-economic operation and equity.

She said because of these shocks; the continent currently accounts for more than half of the world’s poor at 54.8 per cent.

“We have estimated 548 million Africans living in poverty in 2022 and 149 million at risk of falling into poverty in the same year.

“There is a skewed distribution across the continent in terms of concentration of these issues, with particularly East and West Africa having a higher share of poverty across regions,’’ she said.

Morsy said the situation was further exacerbated by existing inequalities, noting that even in times of high economic growth in Africa, the rate of inequality still rose.

“We need to pursue inclusive macroeconomic policies such as targeted and efficient spending and build resilience to future shocks at the household and community level.

“African governments need to enhance resource mobilisation. To do that, I think several measures would help, including closing tax loopholes.

“Africa loses 40 to 60 billion dollars annually in tax evasion. There’s also funding that can be raised through tackling issues of illicit financial flows,’’ she said.

Mr Adam Elhiraika, Director Macroeconomic Policy Division, ECA, said many African countries were struggling to meet the continent’s development goals due to the impact of severe and mutually reinforcing shocks.

According to Elhiraika, the continent has encountered severe developmental challenges due to increasing poverty, high inequality rates and a lack of decent jobs.

He reiterated that the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukrainian war and the resultant food and energy crisis, rising inflation, debt tightening, and natural disasters were critical factors to the challenge.

He spoke at a recent at a meeting of experts to herald the 2023 Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in Ethiopia.

Elhiraika said the Africa’s growth dwindled from 4.6 per cent in 2021 to 3.6 per cent in 2022 and is anticipated to grow by 3.9 per cent in 2023.

“In 2022, an additional 18 million new poor emerged in Africa, with more than half the highest proportion of the world’s poor at 54.8 per cent.

“This is alarming because 546 million people were living in poverty in 2022, which is more than half of the continent’s population,” Elhiraika said.

To enable countries on the continent to advance, in spite of the challenges they encountered, the ECA pledged its unreserved commitment to support and provide shields where necessary.

Acting Secretary-General of ECA, Antonio Pedro, said Africa needs adequate financing to tackle poverty on the continent and cushion the vulnerable groups while meeting its long-term development

objectives.

Pedro, at the conference, reiterated that evidence showed the effects of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, the looming debt crisis, and climate change impacts characterised the deep and interlocking crises in Africa.

He said overcoming these challenges, occasioned by the overlapping crises, would require African countries to formulate innovative and multifaceted strategies that provide a range of policy options.

The acting secretary explained that im -

plementing the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) continued to be the blueprint for the African pro-poor economic recovery.

He said there was the need to expedite action on the agreement’s implementation, given its numerous benefits to member states, including resilience to shocks.

Similarly, the African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, Albert Muchanga, said African continental efforts alone were not sufficient to solve the problem.

He, therefore, urged the reform of the global value chain, focus on developing regional and continental value chains and the need for African countries to invest at least one per cent of their GDP in research and development.

Muchanga said the commission was designing a programme that would enable Africa to move from being a producer and exporter of raw materials to an exporter of manufactured goods, agro-processed foods, and services.

The commissioner, however, said Africa faced a climate finance challenge, which could lead to increased climate-induced poverty across the continent.

Meanwhile, highlighting some of the resolutions at the end of the conference, its Chairman/Ministerial Committee of Uganda, Henry Ariganyira, said women and youth empowerment was imperative for the continent’s development.

“Member States are called to leverage the agreement establishing the AfCTA to strengthen their resilience to future economic shocks and maintain sustainable growth.

“They should use it to create wealth and increase domestic resource mobilisation through prudent and targeted public spending, modernise the tax system and adopt home-grown fiscal and monetary reforms that attract small and medium-sized investors”, she said.

Experts say that to address its poverty challenge, African countries should look more inwards with a view to harnessing the continent’s abundant resources rather than depending on handouts and economic templates developed for the continent in foreign lands.

“

”

Africa loses 40 to 60 billion dollars annually in tax evasion. There’s also funding that can be raised through tackling issues of illicit financial flows

CHUKWUDI ABONYI

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visits region

struck

by deadly

floods

Russia and China hit back at a G7 that saw them as a threat

BENJAMIN OMOIKE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited areas of northern Italy hit by deadly flooding on Sunday, cutting short her visit to Japan for the G7 in response to the disaster.

Meloni went to the region of Emilia-Romagna, where more than 36,000 people have been evacuated and at least 14 people died in the floods.

Of those evacuated nearly 5,000 are sheltering in government allocated centers such as cinemas and museums, according to officials from the region’s Civil Protection Agency.

About 16% of the region’s territory has been evacuated so far, officials said.

Clean-up operations are in full swing, with video from the emergency services on Saturday showing the removal of mud from washed out roads after landslides.

More than 20 rivers burst their banks across the region, causing 280 landslides, the Civil Protection department said earlier this week.

Meanwhile up to 27,000 people were left without power, according to Enel, the Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas.

The flooding also devastated farmland and drowned livestock,

in a region renowned for its gastronomy. A farming association called the damage “incalcuable.”

The torrential rains come after months of drought that dried out the land – which meteorologists say has reduced its capacity to absorb water, worsening the floods.

Water levels on northern Italy’s Lake Garda fell to record lows in February, with Venice experiencing unusually low tides.

From lengthy droughts to severe flooding, the intensity of water-related disasters around the world has increased over the last two decades as global temperatures climbed to record levels, according to recent research.

US debt ceiling: Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy seek to break impasse

President Joe Biden and top Republican Kevin McCarthy have spoken on the phone, in a change of tone in stalled talks on lifting the US debt ceiling.

Mr McCarthy said his call with Mr Biden, who was returning from the G7 summit in Japan, had been "productive" and the two would meet on Monday.

The two sides remain at odds over budget cuts demanded by the Republicans as a condition for raising the ceiling.

Failure to do so by June could result in the US defaulting on its debt. That would mean the federal government could not borrow more money or pay all its bills. The Treasury Department has warned that a default could begin on 1 June.

Such an outcome would cause chaos in financial markets and lead to further rises in interest rates.

As he left Japan on Sunday, Mr Biden told reporters that proposals by Republicans - who control the House of Representatives - were "simply, quite frankly, unacceptable".

He added: "It's time for Republicans to accept that there is no bipartisan deal to be made solely, solely on their partisan terms. They have to move as well."

But Mr Biden also said would be willing to cut spending to reach a deal and he would speak Mr McCarthy on his way home.

The president cancelled foreign visits that were due to follow the three-day summit in Hiroshima, in order to deal with the impasse over the federal debt.

After the call, Mr McCarthy told reporters the discussions had been positive. "I think we can solve some of these problems if he understands what we're looking at," he said.

A White House official said staff members from both sides would meet this evening "to discuss remaining issues".

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday that 1 June remained a "hard deadline". She told NBC that without a deal "we expect to be unable to pay all of our bills in early June".

Failure to lift the ceiling could see the US suspend its social insurance

payments and the salaries of federal and military employees. Default also threatens to wreak havoc on the global economy, affecting prices and mortgage rates in other countries.

The impasses has rattled financial markets. On Friday the Dow ended down 0.3%, the S&P 500 dipped 0.1% and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2%. In exchange for support for raising the debt ceiling, Republicans are demanding budget cuts to the tune of $4.5tn, which includes scuppering several of Mr Biden's legislative priorities.

The White House has called the Republican proposal "a blueprint to devastate hard-working American families", although it has indicated that it may make some budgetary concessions.

Moscow and Beijing lashed out against the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, where leaders of major democracies pledged new measures targeting Russia and spoke in one voice on their growing concerns over China.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday slammed the G7 for indulging in their “own greatness” with an agenda that aimed to “deter” Russia and China.

Meanwhile China’s Foreign Ministry accused G7 leaders of “hindering international peace” and said the group needed to “reflect on its behavior and change course.”

Beijing had made “serious démarches” to host country Japan and “other parties” over their decision to “smear and attack” China, it said.

Both Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine and how to handle an increasingly assertive Beijing have loomed over the three-day gathering of the world’s leading industrialized democracies taking place in Japan – just across regional seas from both countries – where Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise, in-person appearance.

G7 member countries made the group’s most detailed articulation of a shared position on China to date – stressing the need to cooperate with the world’s second-larg-

est economy, but also to counter its “malign practices” and “coercion” in a landmark joint communique Saturday.

Leaders also pledged new steps to choke off Russia’s ability to finance and fuel its war, and vowed in a dedicated statement to ramp up coordination on their economic security – a thinly veiled warning from members against what they see as the weaponization of trade from China, and also Russia.

The G7 agreements follow a hardening of attitudes on China in some European capitals, despite differing views on how to handle relations with the key economic partner, deemed by the US as “the most serious long-term challenge to the international order.”

Beijing’s retort later Saturday urged the G7 “not to become an accomplice” in American “economic coercion.”

“The massive unilateral sanctions and acts of ‘decoupling’ and disrupting industrial and supply chains make the US the real coercer that politicizes and weaponizes economic and trade relations,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The international community does not and will not accept the G7-dominated Western rules that seek to divide the world based on ideologies and values.

Russia and China hit back at a G7 that saw them as a threat

Sudan conflict: Army fights to keep Wadi Saeedna airbase, residents say Sudan's army is resisting an attempt by paramilitaries to advance towards its main airbase near the capital Khartoum, residents have said.

The airfield is used by the military to carry out air strikes on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and was also used by foreign governments to evacuate their nationals early in the conflict. The fighting comes despite the announcement of a new seven-day truce.

Previous ceasefires have collapsed within minutes of being called.

A US-Saudi statement said the latest truce would come into effect on Monday evening, and would be different as it provides for a "ceasefire monitoring mechanism".

The US and Saudi Arabia have been brokering talks between the army and the RSF in the Saudi city of Jeddah for the past two weeks in an attempt to end the conflict that

broke out on 15 April.

Most people I spoke to in Khartoum said a ceasefire would hold only if international monitorsbacked by United Nations (UN) peacekeepers - are deployed.

In a sign of their lack of confidence in the latest ceasefire deal, bus loads of residents are continuing to flee Khartoum and its sister cities across the River Nile, Bahri and Omdurman, as there has been no let-up in the fighting.

RSF fighters in about 20 trucks are positioned east of the Nile, and are trying to cross a bridge to reach the Wadi Saeedna airfield.

The Sudanese military has retaliated by firing heavy artillery. The battle has been going on for several days, but it has escalated. "It feels like doomsday from early this [Sunday] morning. I think they will torture us until this ceasefire comes into effect," said a resident

Man City celebrates title with win over Chelsea

Dortmund two points clear of Bayern heading into final day

Borussia Dortmund are one win away from the Bundesliga title after beating 10man Augsburg to move top of the table.

Victory takes them two points clear of Bayern Munich, who lost 3-1 to RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Felix Uduokhai was sent off in the first half for a foul on Donyell Malen before Sebastian Haller opened the scoring with a low strike in the 58th minute.

Haller then finished from close range before Julian Brandt got a late third.

Victory means Dortmund are in a strong position to win

the Bundesliga for the first time since 2011-12 and deny Bayern Munich an 11th-successive title.

Thomas Tuchel takes his Bayern side to Koln on the final day of the season next Saturday but Dortmund know a win at home to Mainz at the same time will secure the trophy.

Bayern sacked Julian Nagelsmann in March with the side sitting second in the table. They swiftly brought in ex-Chelsea boss Tuchel in the hope he could claim the title but they will now need to win and hope Dortmund slip up to retain the Bundesliga trophy.

Murray withdraws from French Open

Manchester City celebrated a third successive Premier League title triumph with victory over Chelsea in a relaxed party atmosphere at Etihad Stadium.

City were confirmed as champions without even playing after Nottingham Forest's win against Arsenal on Saturday, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to make nine changes from the side that thrashed Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final.

Erling Haaland was rested but Julian Alvarez provided the cutting edge in his absence with a clinical finish to put City ahead after 12 minutes, as their jubilant fans basked in warm

sunshine waiting for the trophy presentations and celebrations.

Chelsea had some of the better chances as the game went on, with City's deputy keeper Stefan Ortega saving from Raheem Sterling when clean through and Conor Gallagher heading against the post.

Kalvin Phillips headed against the woodwork for City as they closed out another win in the relentless run that has brought them the title and the chance of a Treble, with the FA Cup final at Wembley and Champions League final in Istanbul to come.

The hosts played with the pressure off after the title was secured and manager Guardi-

ola was able to give members of his shadow squad game time on an occasion where most fans were simply waiting for the final whistle to hail their heroes.

Guardiola's selection gave an illustration of the vast resources of talent he has at his disposal with simply a glance at City's substitutes bench.

Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and goalkeeper Ederson were able to sit this one out.

Has there ever been a more talented bench than that one?

They are all likely to be restored when those two big

finals come around but it was a demonstration, if indeed it were needed, of what other teams must overcome if they are to loosen the stranglehold City have domestically and which now gives them the chance of their first Champions League.

Goalscorer Alvarez may have worked in Haaland's shadow for much of the season but what an acquisition he has been and what a season he has had, with the chance to add the Treble to his World Cup win with Argentina.

The Premier League is Manchester City's once more - now it is on to Wembley and Istanbul.

Green helps Mumbai move into IPL play-off spots

Cameron Green scored 100 from 47 balls for the Mumbai Indians as they moved into the Indian Premier League play-off places by beating Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sunrisers made 200-5, with England's Harry Brook out first ball in the penultimate over of their innings.

Unbeaten Green and Rohit Sharma, who was out for 56 from 37 balls, helped steer Mumbai to 201-2 and victory.

Royal Challengers Bangalore can overtake Mumbai Indians if they beat Gujarat Titans later on Sunday.

The result eliminated Rajasthan Royals, who needed Mumbai Indians and RCB to lose to stand a chance of progressing.

Sunrisers, who have finished bottom of the IPL, mainly had openers Mayank Agarwal and Vivrant Sharma to thank for reaching 200 as the pair put on 140 in 13.5 overs.

Mumbai Indians, needing a win to have a chance of making it into the top four play-off spots, lost Ishan Kishan early

before Sharma and Green put their side in control.

Green reached his 50 off just 20 balls and, in making his first IPL century, hit eight sixes and eight fours.

What is the IPL play-off schedule?

There are four games in

the IPL play-offs, with the first on Tuesday.

That will see Gujarat Titans, as the group-stage winners, facing Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1. The winner of that game will go into the final on Sunday, 28 May.

Wednesday will see Luc-

know Super Giants take on the fourth-placed team - either Mumbai or RCB - in the Eliminator, with the loser going out.

The winner of the Eliminator will face the loser of Qualifier 1 on Friday in Qualifier 2 for the second place in the final.

Britain's Andy Murray has withdrawn from the French Open to prioritise the grass-court season in the build-up to Wimbledon.

Murray, 36, has only played at Roland Garros once since 2017.

The three-time Grand Slam champion won the clay-court Challenger event in Aix-enProvence in May but has struggled for consistency on the surface.

The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, takes place from 28 May to 11 June.

Murray lost to long-time rival Stan Wawrinka in Bordeaux earlier this week and also had early exits at the ATP Tour events in Rome, Madrid and Monte Carlo.

He did, however, beat America's world number 17 Tommy Paul when he came back from a set down in Aix-en-Provence to secure his first clay-court title since 2016 and his first singles trophy for four years.

Murray said earlier in May he was not sure about playing at Roland Garros, telling the Guardian: "It's just what the right thing is to prioritise at this stage in my career.

"I trust my body now but I'm aware that my best chance of having a deep run is more likely to happen at Wimbledon."

Murray is set to play in the Cinch Championships at Queen's Club, which takes place from 19-25 June.

The first event of the British grass-court season will be the

Surbiton Trophy from 4-11 June.

Murray reached the 2016 French Open final, when he was beaten by Novak Djokovic, and the semi-finals in Paris the following year, with Wawrinka ending his challenge.

The Scot dropped to 503 in the men's rankings after having career-saving hip resurfacing surgery in 2019 but has worked himself back up to 42nd in the world.

In January's Australian Open, he spent 10-and-a-half hours on court in victories over Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis, before being beaten in the third round by Roberto Bautista Agut.

Murray joins 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in withdrawing from Roland Garros, while Italy's Berrettini and Australia's Nick Kyrgios have also pulled out.

British women's number two Jodie Burrage will also miss the French Open, where she was due to take part in qualifying, after failing to recover in time from a niggle.

With Emma Raducanu sidelined long term after operations on both her wrists and an ankle, 106th-placed Burrage was set to be Britain's highest-ranked woman in Paris.

She is hoping to return for the grass-court event in Surbiton beginning on 4 June and will overtake Raducanu after the French Open irrespective of her results.

Champions Manchester City are not finished

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker says the newly crowned Premier League champions "are not finished" as they target the Treble.

City lifted the Premier League trophy for the fifth time in six seasons after their 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

They also face an FA Cup final against Manchester United and a Champions League final versus Inter Milan.

"We will celebrate tonight and then move on to try and create history," Walker told Sky Sports.

"We always believed we could do this. This group of lads are professionals and winners.

"Rest assured we are not finished. We have the FA Cup against our bitter rivals and then the Champions League.

"The treble would be fantastic but there is a lot of football to be played. To say we are up there with one of the greatest Premier League teams of all time we have to conquer some of that. To go and achieve that we could then start talking about being one of the greatest teams in the Premier League."

City midfielder Jack Grealish, who has now won backto-back Premier League titles since joining from Aston Villa in 2021, told Sky Sports: "Last season was nice because it was the first one but this year it is so nice as I feel I have played more of a part.

"It is mad. I spoke to some of the lads not a while ago and said 'imagine you have to win 12 games in a row to win the league'. We have so much talent and we feel unstoppable.

"I feel so much more confident in this team. I feel fitter and back to what I know, what I can do. This is why Man City bought me and I have so much to offer.

"It doesn't stop yet, we still have some massive games left."

Defender John Stones,

who has thrived in a more advanced midfield role in recent weeks, said: "It is surreal thinking this is my fifth Premier League title. This one has been so enjoyable. The way we have played different roles."

Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who has also now won five Premier League titles, said: "You work 11 months to see this. It is a day to celebrate with the fans and the family. It is amazing.

Haney beats Lomachenko to retain undisputed lightweight world titles

Undisputed world lightweight champion Devin Haney retained his titles by beating Vasiliy Lomachenko on points.

American Haney won by unanimous decision - 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 - despite landing 110 punches to Ukraine's Lomachenko 124 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

in Las Vegas.

Haney, 24, is unbeaten in 30 fights, which includes 15 knockouts.

He became boxing's youngest undisputed champion when he beat Australia's George Kambosos last year. He is also the first fighter to hold all four belts in the lightweight division.

Italian Open: Daniil Medvedev beats Holger Rune to win first ATP clay-court title

Daniil Medvedev claimed the first claycourt title of his career as he beat Holger Rune in the Italian Open final.

The Russian third seed, who said he used to "hate" playing on clay, won 7-5 7-5 in Rome on Sunday.

It is Medvedev's fifth title of 2023 and victory lifts him above Novak Djokovic to second in the world rankings.

of a poor drop shot from the Dane to claim the first set 7-5.

The 20-year-old bounced back strongly at the start of the second, breaking Medvedev's opening serve and holding to take a 2-0 lead.

Medvedev, who had not won a match in three previous appearances in Rome, levelled the scores before Rune broke again for a 4-3 advantage.

"I have been here eight years. This is my home and the amazing moments keep on coming."

Erling Haaland, who has scored a remarkable 52 goals in 49 games in all competitions - including a record-breaking 36 goals in 34 Premier League games, added: "It is unreal. I don't know what to say. I am so happy. These are the memories I will remember for the rest of my life.

Ferguson hits double as Brighton seal European spot

into the area only to shoot wide from close range.

McCarthy nearly handed Brighton an easy second as the Japanese forward latched on to the keeper's loose pass but could only hit the post with his lifted attempt.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Alexis Mac Allister teed up Ferguson, who took a touch to set himself before smashing the ball through the legs of Lyanco and under McCarthy, who will be disappointed not to have kept it out.

He will also be the second seed at the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on 28 May.

"Honestly, I didn't believe I could win a Masters 1,000 on clay in my career," Medvedev, 27, said in his on-court interview.

"Usually I hated it, I hated playing on it, I didn't feel good on it. Nothing was working.

"I don't think I love it. I love hard court - my only love in tennis - but I definitely like clay courts much more now."

After the start of the final was delayed by nearly two hours, both players held serve through a tight first 11 games, but Medvedev took advantage

However, the world number seven broke back for a second time and held his nerve, saving a break point to hold serve before breaking Rune to wrap up the victory.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Britain's Jack Draper beat France's Alexandre Muller 6-2 6-3 in the opening round of the ATP 250's Lyon Open.

Draper will face either Oriol Roca Batalla of Spain or Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in the last 16.

British number one Cameron Norrie, who has received a bye in the first round, will also be in action on Tuesday when he takes on Belgium's David Goffin or Spain's Alvaro Lopez San Martin.

Evan Ferguson scored twice in the first half as Brighton beat Southampton in the Premier League to secure European football for the first time in their history.

The 18-year-old forward opened the scoring with a powerful low shot past Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy before doubling the Seagulls' advantage with a first-time finish from inside the area.

Mohamed Elyounoussi's glancing header offered the visitors brief hope of a comeback but Pascal Gross fired in a third to seal victory for the hosts.

Brighton strengthened their grip on sixth place in the table and have all-but qualified for next season's Europa League because of their superior goal difference over seventh-placed Aston Villa.

A point from their two remaining matches will confirm a sixth-placed finish but victory over their south-coast rivals assures Brighton of a Europa Conference League spot at the very least.

Southampton, whose relegation was confirmed with their defeat by Fulham last time out, will finish their top-flight campaign against Liverpool at St

Mary's next Sunday.

'We're all going on a European tour'

The Brighton fans were in buoyant mood as the game kicked off in the sunshine at the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls, one of the success stories of the campaign, were heading for Europe and their fans enjoyed every moment by taunting the visitors, who in contrast will be watching their side in the Championship next season.

On the pitch, the hosts were quickly into their stride and Kaoru Mitoma should have put them ahead when he drove

Ferguson took his tally to 10 goals for the season 11 minutes later when the vibrant Mitoma shrugged off Romeo Lavia's challenge and picked out the Irishman, who found the corner of the net with a composed strike.

Southampton were boosted by Elyounoussi's header from a corner but Gross equalled Glenn Murray and Neal Maupay's Premier League club record of 26 goals with a fierce swipe of his left boot.

Brighton fans cheered the final whistle with renditions of "We're all going on a European tour" - something they can look forward to for the first time ever next season.

“Did you call me a hunchback?”

Killings in the name of the Lord

Of cobras and mongooses

“Me? Why would I do such a thing? I was only talking about that other man with a hill on his back and chest.”

The above dialogue is an approximation of how many people interpret the denial of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that his recent salvo in Abeokuta was meant for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Hatred has taken over the world. Whether it is in the Middle East, East Africa Nigeria or Ukraine, the slaughtering of innocent people is no longer shocking. It is an everyday thing. It has become normal. ‘Unknown’ gun men are running riot across Nigeria, killing and maiming at will. Just this week, several members of staff of the American embassy were reportedly murdered in cold blood in Anambra State. Nothing is sacred anymore and no one is off limits.

Tinubu had added a new twist to the current fuel scarcity and the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the N200, N500 and 1,000 banknotes, when he insinuated that both developments were contrived to sabotage his victory at the forthcoming polls. He declared: “Let them increase the price of fuel, let them continue to hoard fuel, only they know where they have hoarded fuel, they hoarded money, they hoarded naira; we will go and vote and we will win. Even if they change the ink on naira notes. Whatever their plans, it will come to naught. We are going to win…”

In the last two weeks, the perennial carnage between the Palestinians and the Israelis exploded once more. On television, we were visited by the gory images of the mayhem caused by the massive Israeli military machine that appears ever ready to rip to shreds Palestinian men, women and children. Some Israelis and hundreds of innocent Palestinians, old women and mere children were slaughtered like cattle in the never-ending war in which they are neither participants nor do they quite understand the reason. Massive buildings crashed down like a pack of cards.

The PDP presidential campaign organisation opportunistically, but quite understandably, latched on to what it saw as a monumental gaffe and berated Tinubu for insulting Buhari. The PDP stated, inter alia, that, “Our campaign finds it pathetic that Asiwaju Tinubu is seeking a facesaving measure ahead of his shattering electoral defeat by shedding crocodile tears and claiming that the redesigning of the naira notes and the fuel crisis under the APC administration, which he has reportedly been corruptly benefitting, were plots to scuttle the 2023 general elections…”

THURSDAY X-RAY with WOLE OLAOYE

Boko Haram group or ISWAP that have unleashed fear and death across Nigeria or the other ethnic separatists that are emerging everywhere in Nigeria and they all have religious or tribal justifi-

Tinubu’s allegations. Said Sagay, “What Emefiele is trying to do in saying you cannot use the existing currency after the 31st of January, in a situation where the new currency is not available to be used, is a plot to create disaffection for the government and indirectly create an unfavourable image for that government before the populace in a few weeks to an election… What is surprising is that no one is stopping him. The president has not stopped him … It is just incredible”.

cation for their senseless killing of innocent men and women. Members of the Al Shabab gang who have gunned down many innocent people in East Africa are sure that they are doing God’s work. Whether it is Al Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram or even the IRA that kept Northern Ireland in commotion for a long time, they all beat their chests and assert justification for the innocent lives they have taken. Check out their justification and it is based on some skewed religious beliefs or some real or perceived injustice done to their ‘people’ today or in times gone by.

On fuel scarcity, Sagay noted, “This is going to be three months now and the NNPC is saying there is no shortage, they have enough supply for another three months. Yet, we cannot find petrol anywhere. Somebody is playing a game. I suspect after the election we are going to have petrol. I agree with what Tinubu is saying. Something underhand is going on in this country which is intended to affect the outcome of the elections.”

would be allowed to mobilise resources and thugs to intimidate people in any constituency. “My aim is to make sure that Nigerians believe that we respect them as an administration. That’s what I want to go down in Nigerian history for as a leader,” the president said.

giver of life, who if he chooses can wipe out whole nations in a twinkle of an eye? How can a war be holy in which innocent children of God are killed?

Karl Max said that religion is the opium of the poor. I agree. Take a map of the world and check out the regions where there are fervent religious activities. These are where you will find nations in commotion, in poverty and in decline. Not too long ago, I spent some time in the United States. Sunday mornings, the streets of the major cities are practically abandoned. The churches are empty except for minority groups. Yet, these are the people from whom we inherited our religious beliefs. We have become far more religious than them with very little to show for it.

Even though he had made his principled stance known, when asked to assess the chances of the APC in the 2023 elections, Buhari still sided with his party; “We’re going to win the election”, he predicted.

But that is not enough, say his critics. They’d rather he led out the troops at all rallies and pulled all stops to install his party’s candidate. Political watchers have, however, counselled that the most urgent need of anyone who wants to become Nigeria’s president is NOT a presidential Deus ex machina device but oratorical discipline. Too often, aides of political bigwigs worship their principals rather than guide and tutor them in the delicate art of messaging; this results in avoidable hoopla for which countless hours are then spent trying to paper over the cracks. Say what you will, it is ill-advised to cast innuendoes at a sitting president.

Meanwhile, the people responsible for this massacre and their friends justify this horrific killing field. They explain it with a lot of grammar especially at the United Nations and on world-wide television. Those who have the big guns also own the big loudspeakers and the sophisticated PR specialists. So, they activate their propaganda machinery to dominate the narrative. Nothing is true or false anymore. It is all a matter of how you coin it and spread it. So, they justify the carnage by announcing that they are defending their people! Of course, they have ready support from their friends with the veto power.

The PDP added that, “Only politicians who have always won elections by relying on bullion vans have become troubled over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monetary policy to redesign the naira.” The opposition party further accused Tinubu of trying to distance himself from the Buhari administration, which he helped to bring into office.

Nigerian politics is in a world of its own. Imagine PDP trying to sound more Buharist than Tinubu! This is not to indict PDP, though. There is no doubt that, were the shoe to be on the other foot, the APC would have gladly obliged with a similar intervention.

Listen to Vladmir Putin’s diatribe and his justification for the slaughtering of innocent men, women and children in Ukraine. He claims to be protecting ethnic Russians from a Nazi regime committing genocide against them.

Although the gloves are now off and the spokespersons of presidential candidates have to dig deep to manage the fallout, I still can’t fathom why they can’t seem to harmonise their campaign organisation’s position on specific issues. Each spokesperson has his/her own peculiar yarn to any particular question — which makes the public wonder what the true position is.

Please drive on the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway. There are interesting developments on both sides of the road. Apart from a few recent commercial ventures, nearly every significant structure on the road is owned by a religious group of either the Christian or Islamic faith. If the structure is not a worship centre built on acres of choice land, it is a university owned by the same religious groups.

I wish all the 18 presidential candidates well. I have gone on record in the past as sharing free PR hints on messaging and crisis management. In that same spirit, I want to counsel our political cobras to remember that nature has never birthed a thesis without its corresponding antithesis. For every political cobra, there is a mongoose.

It does not matter that the innocent women and children so brazenly murdered are some other person’s ‘people’ and children of God too. We live in a world in which might is right and so the children of the slaughtered old women and the brothers of the murdered children, who probably will never have access to any significant military machine, will eventually turn themselves into suicide bombers and explode themselves on innocent civilians. And the cycle of blood continues...

So, only a one-sided analyst will take PDP’s opinion of APC, or APC’s impression of PDP as gospel truth. Both parties have buffeted each other with some of the vilest attacks since the current campaign season started

Twenty-four hours after the Abeokuta outburst, however, Tinubu poohpoohed PDP’s allegation that he had insulted the Buhari administration. His vituperations, he said, were directed at PDP itself. (Nigerians on social media have been asking if PDP was responsible for redesigning the naira!)

He contended that the misunderstanding of his speech arose out of the fact that he spoke in Yoruba language. “Those who do not understand the nuances of this richly layered and subtle language may have inadvertently yet erroneously missed the true meaning of what I said while attempting to translate my statement”, he argued.

Every crazy group in the world unleashing death on everyone around them can justify the killing. It is usually based on an ‘us against them’ mindset of some spiritual, tribal or political leader hungry for control who drums up the immense bitterness fuelled by some ancient bigotry or hatred that eventually turn the young, frustrated and restless into killing machines.

Talk to any members of the vicious

No one is fooled by that spin, especially when an insider, Professor Itse Sagay, took the lid off all pretences. Sagay reaffirmed

Nothing frightens me these days more than the seemingly unstoppable spread of fundamentalist religion. Contrary to popular notion, this terrifying development is not limited to the Islamic faith. All over the world, there are self-styled prophets in religious garments indoctrinating masses of people who they will unleash on the world and who would become cannon fodder in their war to rid the world of those who do not agree with them.

We all know that rebuttals come with the territory, but as Judge Judy Sheindlin, the American reality court show hostess always says, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to have a good memory… If it doesn’t make common sense, it’s probably not true.”

In this social media era, spokespersons walk a tightrope because the public can, through just one messaging app, string together the various conflicting answers given to the same question by different spokespeople working for the same candidate. The Internet never forgets. When your camp is noted for lies, the world will not believe you, even when you’re telling the truth.

All of these ‘men of God’ preach love but the love they preach is not love for all children of God but love only for the people who think like them, pray like them or love like them. If you think differently, you are vermin which must be exterminated to create their pure world. They have convinced themselves that they are holy warriors fighting God’s battle and that they have the right to kill in the name of God.

The truth, as far as I can see, lies in the undercurrents. There are so many conspiracy theories flying all over the place, from the plausible to the outlandish, but it appears that some APC stalwarts are not enamoured of President Buhari’s reluctance to give his party’s candidate undue advantage over other contestants. They criticise his declaration in London last year, to the effect that he would guarantee a level playing field for all contestants

But who are these people supposedly fighting in the name of God and killing the children of God? Who told them that God needs their help? Who informed them that they are more effective than God, the maker and

In that interview, Buhari had declared that Nigerians should vote whoever they like from whichever political party during the 2023 general elections. He warned that nobody

A lot of the children whose parents contributed the tithe and offering with which the universities were built will find out that the universities are not priced for them. I have wondered what would eventually happen to those who study at the universities from Mondays to Fridays and worship at the churches on Sundays. Where are they going to find work? From where will they earn the money to maintain body and soul and pay tithes to the religious establishments so that they can continue to boom? If you cannot see the looming problem, you are probably one of those who believe that Nigeria played the last World Cup in Qatar and actually won the cup!

The cobra is fearsome. Its bite is a medical emergency. The amount of neurotoxin it can deliver in a single bite is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. King cobra’s venom affects the respiratory centres in the brain, causing respiratory arrest and cardiac failure. The king cobra, biggest of the species, is a sight to behold in its splendour and majesty.

The mongoose, on the other hand, is a small carnivorous mammal with a long face and body, small, rounded ears, short legs, and a long, tapering tail. Its length ranges from 24 to 58 cm; it weighs between 320 grams to 5 kilogrammes. It is to this relative Lilliputian that Providence has handed the key to the Cobra’s destruction. The Mongoose is a pugnacious, formidable hunter. Its strikes are lightning-quick. In a typical fight with the cobra, the mongoose raises itself on its short legs and snaps the snake by the snout. The cobra struggles, even tries to coil itself around the mongoose, but the game is over. King cobra becomes a meal.

To appreciate its legendary reputation as a cobra killer, consider what happened in India when a snake catcher was summoned to catch a cobra that had been a menace in a large family compound. The snake catcher turned up and produced a mongoose from his bag. And, pronto, the mongoose dragged out the snake!

Now, talking about political cobras and mongooses, where do you situate the controversial developments in Osun State where the electoral tribunal has just swung the pendulum in favour of former Governor Oyetola? The drama has only just begun!

Before anyone concludes that I am anti – religion, let me state clearly that I am a Christian and that I go to Church. I however do not believe that every Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Ifa Worshiper, or anyone who does not worship the way I do is condemned to hell fire. It is the same way that I do not believe that the people who come from my part of the country are always right and the others are forever wrong. Similarly, I do not believe that when the time comes, it will matter whether you face the east or the west when you worship your God or whether you come from the North or the South or whether you are straight, gay or lesbian. We are all children of one God.

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com

Listen to Vladmir Putin’s diatribe and his justification for the slaughtering of innocent men, women and children in Ukraine. He claims to be protecting ethnic Russians from a Nazi regime committing genocide against them.

I wish all the 18 presidential candidates well. I have gone on record in the past as sharing free PR hints on messaging and crisis management. In that same spirit, I want to counsel our political cobras to remember that nature has never birthed a thesis without its corresponding antithesis. For every political cobra, there is a mongoose