THURSDAY MAY 18TH 2023

Buhari writes HoR, seeks approval of $800m safety loan

Nigeria needs N350tr for development plan, says FG

CBN to pay N25/$ rebate to exporters of unprocessed items

PEPC Drama: Lamidi Apapa escapes being lynched at Obi’s petition hearing

…Denies receiving N500m to scuttle LP's suit

The acting National Chairman of Labour Party Lamidi Apapa escaped been lynched on Wednesday at the premises of the Federal High Court Abuja the ven-

ue of Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, by the loyalists of suspended National Chairman Julius Abure.

Apapa attended the Court session and he had

attempted to introduce himself when the petition filed by Peter Obi challenging the election of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President-Elect was mentioned.

But the Presiding Justice Haruna Tsammani overruled the introduction of Lamidi Apapa and the Women National Leader Duba Manuga as the representative of LP at

the pre- hearing session when both got up to introduce themselves as representing the Labour Party.

When the court rose, Abure and his faction

came out and walked through the lobby toward the exit door. Apapa and his faction came out of the court room and wanted to brief the press on what

25,380 PHCs lack skilled birth attendants

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has disclosed that 25,380 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Nigeria have no required skilled birth attendants as only 463 which represents 1.8 per cent of 25843 have the minimum 4 SBA per facility.

It also said aside from the gross inadequacy, there is the problem of unequal distribution of available SBAs in the PHC facilities.

How currency depreciation in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa increases debt stock -IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the depreciation of sub-Saharan African currencies against the US dollar pushes up public debt stock.

Countries in sub-Saharan Africa include Nigeria, Angola, Kenya,

South Africa, Ghana, Chad, Ethiopia and others.

IMF said weaker currencies make the fight to curb inflation harder given sub-Saharan Africa’s dependence on imports.

The Bretton Woods institution

said countries in the region have recorded an average of 8 percent depreciation of their currencies since January 2022.

IMF, however, said the extent varies by country, adding that Ghana’s cedi and Sierra Leone’s

leone depreciated by more than 45 per cent.

“Most sub-Saharan African currencies have weakened against the US dollar, fanning inflationary pressures across the continent as CONTINUES

(L) Mr Peter Ryan, Irish Ambassador to Nigeria and (R) Hon Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, when the former visited her office in Abuja, Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

MOTOLANI OSENI

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA

PEPC Drama: Lamidi Apapa escapes being lynched at Obi’s petition hearing

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

transpired inside the court. However, a group of youths and loyalists to Abure pounced on him and there was commotion as shouts of ‘thief…thief’ rented the air. It took the intervention of media men and security personnel to save him. Police took him into protective custody until

the mob was dispersed.

Speaking at a press conference later at the Federal High Court, Lamidi Apapa profusely thanked the media and security personnel for saving him from being mobbed by the angry youths.

Apapa said that he went to the Court of Appeal as

Nigeria needs N350trn for development plan, says FG

GODWIN ANYEBE

The Federal Government has stated that about N350 trillion would be needed to secure Nigeria’s future in line with the National Development Plan (2021-2025). According to the government , the NDP would ease constraints hindering the economy from attaining its full potential, particularly in the product-mapping space as it will expunge obstacles to businesses.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who spoke during a special TV forum that examined binding constraints to the implementation of NDP, 2021-2025 recently in Abuja said the government would work to ensure it meets the target.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy, Dr. Sarah Alade; Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and Permanent Secretary, Nebeolisa Anako.

The TV forum was also featured the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Acting Director, Macro-Economic Analysis Department, Felix Amaechi Okonkwo and an Economist, Dayo Alao.

Speaking at the occasion, Okonkwo said the NDP would be driven by the private sector with N300 trillion investment.

He said, “Let me just mention that this plan is different from other plans we have in the past, very different. It is going to be driven by the private sector. The funding, the investment size envelope of this plan is about N350 trillion, out of which the private sector is providing N300 trillion, while the government is providing N50 trillion approximately.

“The actual figure is N348 trillion but I just decided to round up the number. So 68 per cent of investment size of the plan is from the private sector, while only 14 per cent is from the public.”

On her part, Ahmed gave an insight on why the government decided to drive the NDP (2021-2025).

acting National Chairman of Labour Party to witness Peter Obi and Labour Party petition. He denied that he was there to withdraw the petition as being speculated in the media.

He said that he did not receive N500m as being

alleged against him to abort Peter Obi’s petition .He said that he had no reason to scuttle the election victory he had fought for and won.

It will be recalled that insinuations are rife that Apapa is a mole in LP being

She said, “I want to place on record that this plan is sufficiently comprehensive with the capacity to attain various regional and global agendas including the AU Agenda 2063, the ECOWAS Integration Agenda 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

“In order to have the future we all desire, the plan is developed to play a sizeable role in the product complexity space internationally and also adopt measures to easing constraints that have hindered the economy from attaining its full potentials, particularly in the product mapping space.”

According to Agba, the plan was carefully done to ensure that it is not seen as an agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari; Federal Government of Nigeria and All Progressives Congress.

He said, “We wanted the plan to be a National Development Plan where there is inclusiveness and participation and that no one is left behind. The plan itself is already running because the budget is derived from the plan. But again you know that, the plan sometimes cannot be so sacrosanct, you know there is also room for flexibility.”

“Some of the projections we made in terms of revenues, we are challenged this year when from the oil sector, there were so much theft coming on that the oil producers, that is the international oil companies had a short in production, so that affected revenue drastically.”

Alade also shed light on the contents of the NDP saying Volume Three is the legislative imperatives and reforms that government needed to do to be able to attract private investors and achieve relevant goals.

She said: “Instead of talking about rural development, we are doing a lot of regional developments and a lot of things. For instance, states can come together, instead of every state having a University, three Universities can come together, have a University and you have an international one.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved port development projects worth $4,713,841,477 in Delta, Ondo and Lagos States.

The approval was given during the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, told State House correspondents that the council gave the authorisation for the development of Ondo Multi-Purpose Port in Ilaje, Snake Island in Lagos State and Burutu in Delta.

According to him, the projects which are to be executed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements at no cost to the Federal Government, will be financed by the private firms and to be operated for 45 and 50 years.

He said the Ondo port would cost the private developers the sum of $1,480,465,253 and would be concessioned for a period of 50 years.

The accruals to the concessionaire and the Federal Government areexpected to be $50 billion and $2.6billion, respectively.

”The Burutu port will cost $1,285,005,818; concessioned for 40 years, with the concessionaire and the Federal Government expect-

sponsored by the ruling APC to help disorganise the legal chances of the Labour Party. This is coming on the heels of the general belief that the 2023 presidential election results were massively doctored in favour of the APC, even

FEC approves $4.7bn Ondo, Snake Island, Burutu ports development

ed to reap $125 billion and $9 billion, respectively.

”The Snake Island Port will gulp $974,185,203 and be concessioned for 45 years with the concessionaire and the Federal Government receiving $18 billion and $5.23 billion, respectively in accruals within the period,” he said.

Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meetimg, the Minister of State, Power, Mr Jerry Agba, said that the council approved N140million as argumentation for the procurement of 33 KV circuit breakers and 120 numbers of surge arrestors for systems use for Transition Company of Nigeria.

He said: ”You know, we are bent on providing improved services of electricity to Nigerians.

”TCN is the main body that has to do the transmission. You know generation and distribution are in private hands now so government is only responsible for transmission.

”So, most of the equipment have become obsolete over the years which is why you have break in transmissions, low power supplies and outages here and there.

”With these refurbishments and new procurements, we should be able to improve services and see power supply get better by

as local and international media have continued to say so. Two days ago, the BBC in its investigative series released a report, detailing how the poll was won by the LP in Rivers State, contrary to what INEC announced. the day.”

Agba further disclosed that the council approved N1.5billion as argumentation for the construction of the Dukanbo Shonga 132 KV double circuit transmission line in Kwara as the line had been down for several years.

”So, with this procurement, we should be able to revemp the station and you know it is an agro-based area, that’s the area which services the Bacita farm.

”’The shonga farms limited and the whole of that area had been in darkness for a long time.

”With this procurement, we hope that in two months, we should have full power supply to those areas and restore farming and processing activities in that area. The cost is N1.5 billion,” he stated.

Agba also assured that the epileptic power supply witnessed in recent times in different parts of the country would soon be a thing of the past.a

The minister said that power generation and distribution would improve in spite of the coming of rains.

Abga said: “You’ll agree with me that of late, we’ve had problems with gas supplies for generational companies.

“We just negotiated with the gas supply companies, NNPC limited to augment

gas supplies to distributors at the going local rate.

“Gas was sold to them at export rate, whose price differs and they collection was made on domestic rates.

”So, there was a differential and we had an agreement with the NNPCL and and natural gas company to supply gas to GENCOs.”

According to Abga, this commenced from last week, and they are buying at the local price not at the export price.

He added: “So, with that, we hope in the very near future, in a week or two,we should have improved generation and supply.

”Distribution is going to be done by DISCOs which is why we are doing everything possible for transmission company to have all the equipment necessary for effective transmission.

“We hope and I assure you that power generation and distribution will improve in spite of the rains that have come in now.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also told the correspondents that the construction of second Niger bridge had been completed and it was ready for inauguration before May 29.

The minister said that the contractor handling the bridge would be handing over the project to the Federal Government on May 20.

Factional leader of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Lamidi Apapa (middle), sandwiched after he was booed outside the Appeal Court in Abuja, venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal by the opposing LP faction ...on Wednesday.

How currency depreciation in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa increases debt stock -IMF

import prices surge,” the article reads.

“This, together with a growth slowdown, leaves policymakers with difficult choices as they balance keeping inflation in check with a still-fragile recovery.”

On the implications, the IMF said when currencies weaken against the US dollar, local prices rise, as much of what people buy, including essential items like food, are imported.

The financial institution said more than two-thirds of imports are priced in US dollars for most countries in the region.

“Weaker currencies also push up public debt. About 40 percent of public debt is external in sub-Saharan Africa and over 60 percent of that debt is in US dollars for most countries,” the article further reads.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, exchange rate depreciations have con-

tributed to the region’s rise in public debt by about 10 percentage points of GDP on average by end-2022, holding all else equal.

“Growth and inflation (which reduces the real value of existing debts) helped to contain the public debt increase to about 6 percent of GDP during the same period.”

The IMF said countries where exchange rates are not pegged (fixed) to a currency have little choice but to let the exchange rate adjust and tighten monetary policy to fight inflation.

The global lender said countries with pegged exchange rates will need to adjust monetary policy in line with the country of the peg.

“In both country groups, fiscal consolidation can help to rein in external imbalances and limit the increase in debt related to currency depreciation. Structural reforms can help to boost growth,” the IMF said.

Buhari writes HoR, seeks approval of $800m safety loan

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the House Representatives, seeking approval of $800 million loan to fund National Social Safety Network Programme, (NASSP) and passage of the Federal Fire and Rescue Service, (Establishment) Bill, 2022.

These requests were in two separate letters read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila at resumed plenary on Wednesday.

Buhari said the programme is intended to expand coverage of shock responsive Safety Net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians by assisting them in coping with costs of meeting basic needs.

"It is with pleasure that I forward the above subject to you. Please note that the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) approved an additional loan facility to the tune of USD 800 million to be secured from the World Bank, for NASSP and need to request your consideration and approval to ensure early implementation.

"The House may wish to note that the Programme is intended to expand coverage of shock responsive Safety Net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This will assist them in coping with the costs of

meeting basic needs.

"In order to guarantee credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries account and mobile wallets.

"You may wish to note that, the Federal Government of Nigeria under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme will transfer the sum of N5,000 per month to 10.2 million, poor and low-income household for a period of six month with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.

"The NASSP being a social intervention programme will stimulate activities in the informal sector, improve nutrition, health, education and human capital development of beneficiary households.

"Given the above, I wish to invite the House to kindly approve an additional loan facility to the tune of USD 800 million to be secured from the World Bank, for the National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP).

"While hoping that this submission will receive expeditious consideration by the House," the loan letter reads.

In the second letter, the president requested the expeditious passage of the Federal Fire and Rescue Service, (Establishment) Bill, 2022 which aims to, 'establish and provide legal and institutional framework for the Fire and Rescue Service.'

25,380 PHCs lack skilled birth attendants in Nigeria–NPHCDA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib in his keynote address at a press conference in Abuja, however, said to address this major challenge, the Agency has come up with an innovation called Community-based Health Research, Innovative-training and Services Program (CRISP) to leverage the rural posting of Resident Doctors.

Shuaib explained that CRISP is a partnership between Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Primary Health Care Boards, Local Government Health Authorities and the communities to support primary healthcare development.

Speaking further, Shuaib said the intervention will specifically focus on increasing, retaining and improving the quality, adequacy, competency, and distribution of a committed multidisciplinary primary healthcare workforce that includes facility outreach and community-based health workers supported through effective management supervision and appropriate compensation.

“CRISP aims to leverage the rural posting of Resident Doctors from teaching hospitals to boost and guarantee the quality of care at the PHC level through their active involvement in primary health service delivery.

This is targeted at improving Reproductive,

Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, amongst other health services within the benefiting communities.

“Human Resources for Health (HRH), particularly Skilled Birth Attendants, such as Medical Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) that have been trained on how to manage emergencies would be recruited and deployed to priority PHC facilities across the country.

“We find it extremely important and helpful that we address the human resource for health gaps in our PHCs because 80% of the incidence of maternal and child deaths in Nigeria occur at the community levels, largely due to the lack of services of skilled health workers in the PHC facilities.

“Unfortunately, the primary health care centres are the most unattractive to our skilled health workers who prefer to be stationed at urban secondary and tertiary health facilities.”

“Shuaib said while this fact has kept PHC delivery on a setback, we have scientific evidence, showing that the interventions provided by skilled health workers, namely doctors, nurses, midwives, or CHEWs trained on MLSS can reduce maternal and newborn mortality in low and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.”

He, therefore, maintained that the CRISP initiative will operate at scale involving Teaching Hospitals and Federal

Medical Centres across the country.

“This means that the CRISP resident doctors from the engaged teaching hospitals and federal medical centres would be deployed to the primary health care facilities to support service provision and on-the-job capacity building of the PHC health workers. CRISP is targeted for implementation across the 36 states of the Federation plus the FCT in a phased manner.”

While speaking about funding, the NPHCDA boss pointed out that as a multi-stakeholder investment, CRISP will be funded by the Government of Nigeria with support from development partners, and philanthropists, among others as he called on media to support the CRISP initiative.

“In your capacity, the media is also a stakeholder in CRISP. Our call to you is that you support the Government and the communities to create enabling information and environment for the successful implementation of CRISP.

“As the saying goes, the wealth of a nation lies in the health of its people. The health and well-being being of the people of Nigeria has remained the government’s priority.

“We, therefore, count on your understanding and support to draw up the need for human resources for health at the primary healthcare level,” he added.

Also speaking, the World Health Organization(WHO) Country Representative, Dr Walter

Kazadi Molumbo emphasized the importance of accelerating efforts in the health sector, as called for by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Molumbo disclosed that the WHO Director-General is set to unveil a strategy next week during the 75th World Assembly, highlighting the five key areas of focus: promoting health, providing health services, protecting health, empowering health through digital technology and innovation, and performing for health by strengthening WHO country offices.

The United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF) representative, Eduardo Celades highlighted the alarming statistics gaps in healthcare access and quality, particularly in Nigeria, as he emphasized that only 70% of pregnant women currently have access to antenatal care, with just 60% receiving complete antenatal checkups.

Celades also noted that only half of the newborns are attended by skilled birth attendants and neonatal and under-five mortality rates remain high.

Expressing their support and commitment, Celades announced its intention to allocate additional resources this year to expand the scope of the CRISP program.

“UNICE aims to further enhance maternal and child healthcare as this comprehensive approach aligns with their core principles and objectives”.

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), presides over Federal Executive Council Meeting at the State House, Abuja...on Wednesday.

Peter Obi's lack of respect for Rule of Law responsible for LP's crisis, says Apapa

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA

The acting National Chairman of the crisis ridden Labour Party (LP) Alhaji Basiru Lamidi Apapa said Wednesday that lack of respect for the rule of law by the Presidential candidate of the party in the February election, Mr Peter Gregory Obi was responsible for the leadership crisis rocking the party.

He said that the leadership crisis would not have erupted in the first place if Obi had withdrawn recognition from the suspended National Chairman of the party, Mr Julius Abure based on the order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

Apapa however asked Obi to wade into the dispute objectively with a view to amicably resolving the lingering crisis.

Apapa at a media briefing after his attack at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja on Wednesday, demanded that Obi must be unbiased in order to get the disputed chairmanship tussle resolved.

At the media briefing attended by the Deputy National Chairman of the party in the North, Mike Ayuba Auta, National Publicity Secretary, Olufemi Abayomi Arabambi and one of the women leaders Mrs Rukayat Salihu Umar, Apapa said that what happened at the Presidential court in which fracas broke out in the presence of Peter Obi, was disgraceful and a test to Obi’s leadership quality.

Apapa said that the leadership crisis would have been put behind them if Obi had respected the order of the Federal Capital Territory High court which ordered Julius Abure and three oth-

er from parading themselves as National Officers of the party over their indictment for forgery and perjury.

Tracing the genesis of the leadership crisis, Apapa said that immediately the order of court was served on the party, he was unanimously selected in acting capacity as the National Chairman of the party.

He said that it was wrong of Obi to be according respect to Abure inview of the order of the Court and as a presidential candidate seeking justice from the same court of law.

On the alleged receipt of 500 million Naira from external forces to destabilize the party, Apapa vehemently denied receiving any money or being influenced by anybody or group to work against the party.

He also said that it was wrong of Peter Obi to have claimed not knowing him adding that he worked closely and even travelled in the same flights with Peter Obi throughout his Presidential electioneering campaign.

He therefore appealed to Obi to be open minded, neutral and objective so as to be able to stop the crisis.

Also speaking at the briefing, the Deputy National Chairman of the Party in the North, Mike Ayuba Auta denied the allegation that the All Progressive Congress (APC) was behind the crisis adding that the allegation was baseless and unfounded.

Auta apologized to Nigerians, who he said, gave Labour Party over 6million votes during the last presidential Election, adding that they should not be discouraged by the current leadership crisis and assured that the dispute will soon be resolved.

More exchanges at PEPC: 70% of documents requested from INEC not received –LP

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA

The meeting conveyed by Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC's lead counsel between the legal teams of Labour party presidential candidate Peter Obi , President -Elect Ahmed Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress, APC, to sort out documents for the presidential election petition court has collapsed.

Recall that the lead counsel to the parties in the petition filed by Peter Obi: namely, Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, Livy Uzoukwu SAN, for Labour Party, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN for Bola Tinubu and Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN had on May 10, 2023 persuaded the Court to agree to their arrangement and agreement to set up a joint legal team to sort out documents that would be opposed and those that will be allowed during hearing without any objections .

At the resumed pre-hearing session on Wednesday Peter Obi lead counsel Dr Livy Uzoukwu told the court that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had refused to provide his team with 70 percent of the documents it requested for the meeting.

He said meeting scheduled for harmonization of documents by counsels was not successful because of INEC refusal to provide the necessary documents. He said they only got about 30 percent of the required documents to prosecute the matter .

Uzoukwu said for example, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC for Rivers state had blankly refused to provide any document in-

cluding form EC8A,they had demanded for.

While INEC legal officer for Sokoto state demanded for a payment of sum of money that would be embarrassing to mention in Court as processing fees for certified copy of the needed document.

The counsel said despite all the efforts including five separate visits to the Independent National electoral commission, INEC Headquarters the respondent is insisting on a down payment of the sum of N1.5m as processing fee for documents in its headquarters to be certified. My team have only received 30 percent of the document, and we will pay for any of the document they certified.

Dr. Uzoukwu further told the court that, in addition to his efforts, he had written a letter to the INEC's counsel detailing his predicaments on refusal of his client ( INEC ) to provide him with the needed documents.

Responding, Counsel for INEC Abubakar Mahmoud SAN reiterated his earlier pledge to cooperate with the counsel in the matter.

He said it was for same

reason that he opted to initiate the meeting . He said that Livy Uzoukwu ,SAN, lead legal team did not honour the meeting of Monday,May 15 and that he was informed that the petitioner legal team walked out during the rescheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Counsel for the INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud specifically stated that his client is always willing to cooperate with parties to provide the needed documents. He, however, advised Obi's lawyer to follow the necessary lay down protocol for accessing of certified copy by paying the prescribed fees.

In his response counsel to Tinubu and Kashim Shettima the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Chief Wole Olanipkekun, SAN, agreed with Mahmoud submissions that the LP team failed to honour the agreement reached by the counsel

The counsel accused Obi's counsel of walking out of the pre-hearing meeting ordered by the court, an accusation Obi' lawyer denied and rather said the submission was a blackmail.

Counsel for APC , Chief

Lateef Fagbemi SAN also aligned with the submissions of Abubakar and added that APC had no problem and had received documents from INEC.

In his ruling, the Presiding Justice Haruna Tsammani ruled that all applications must be heard on Friday, May 19, 2023.

He said that the pre -hearing will end on Sunday, May 21 ,2023 and that if it warrants the court to sit on Saturday night they will do it.

Earlier during the proceedings the Court had ordered LP counsel Uzoukwu SAN to file his response to the five separate motions served on him between Monday and Wednesday.

The petitioner lawyer had insisted on Wednesday that he must take five days to respond to contentious motions seeking to strike out several paragraphs of the petition.

He also said that the electoral body,the Independent National Electoral Commission had filed an objection to the petition seeking to broadcast the Presidential Election Petition Court proceedings live.

Buhari to inaugurate Presidential/VIP Wing of State House Medical Centre on Friday

UKPONO UKPONG

As a demonstration of his commitment to advancing healthcare management in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday, May 19, inaugurate the state-of-theart Presidential/VIP Wing of State House Medical Centre, Abuja.

This legacy project, situated within the premises of the Presidential Villa, had its ground-breaking ceremony conducted by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, on November 1, 2021.

Spanning an impressive total floor area of 2,485 square meter on a suspended floor with a basement,

the hospital, which serves as a specialized Intensive Care Centre, caters for the President, Vice President, their immediate families and VIPs; incorporates state-ofthe-art medical technology.

The Presidential/VIP Wing houses several specialized departments, to be staffed by a team of medical professionals, featuring five consultation rooms dedicated to various specialties, including respiratory, cardiology, ophthalmology, ENT, and general consultation.

Additionally, the hospital has a specialized X-ray suite equipped with a digital X-ray machine as well as a diagnostic suite encompassing MRI, CT scan, and endoscopy facilities.

Moreover, patients and visitors can enjoy access to a Healing Garden, designed to foster healing, relaxation, and enhancement of overall well-being.

With a total cost amounting to N21 billion, completed well on schedule and on budget, the VIP Wing also showcases a Catheterization Laboratory (Cath lab), two operating rooms for regular procedures, and special procedures such as organ transplants.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, President Buhari, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar, will embark on a guided tour of the hospital.

"We are excited that Mr.

President has kindly consented to inaugurate this legacy and transformative project on the cusp of the completion of his two-term tenure as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the Permanent Secretary said.

"Since the inception of this project in 2021, the State House Management has successfully completed several projects including a Special Care Centre, Biosafety Level 2 Molecular Laboratory, certified by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a medium capacity incinerator and the Dental Wing Extension Building at the State House Medical Centre, Asokoro, a block of

2-bedroom flats at the Staff Quarters of the Medical Centre, as well as a 54-seater State House Multi-Purpose Training Centre at the Auditorium.

‘‘The Conference Car Unit (CCU) workshop and the Modern Fleet Management hub will be commissioned next week,’’ he added.

The Presidential/VIP Wing will coexist with the State House Medical Centre, located in Asokoro, Abuja. The medical facility remains committed to providing accessible, well-equipped, and rejuvenated healthcare services, catering to the diverse needs of patients through a range of comprehensive medical treatments.

Guests invited to the in-

auguration ceremony are expected to be seated by 9:00 a.m.

INEC, Tinubu, APC accuse LP lawyers of walking out of meetings

Order is the only thing we really need in Nigeria

PHILIP EBULUOFOR

Well captured by Robert there. This nation seems to be operating from the center of chaos for more than a month now. How you do anything is how you do everything.

I always believe that a project or anything the Masses are allowed preview of is enough yard-stick to determine how those they are not involved is carried out. Talk of celebrations and federal public holidays that needed organising, governments constantly fluke it badly.

There is no order and there is no sanity in anything. Common thing like changing new bank notes, there is almost a civilian and uniformed like insurrection all over the nation. It is like minor mutiny going on. Death has to be involved to achieve a minor organisation task.

All involved in this changing of the new currency and its distribution are all educated of the nation. Government, central and commercial banks, police, anti-graft bodies, and bank staff, as well as security personnel. For sure, education teaches sanity. Educated man is a sane man. How come they have failed over and over to get orderliness once into their system? The problem of this nation seems to be constantly coming from those claiming to be educated.

Six years in primary, six in second-

ary, four or more in tertiary. How can all in this nation miss sanity and order and still graduate?

These educated guys and gals are not raised by the same parents and there are 36 states, 200 tribes and 200 languages, each state has about three to four tertiary institutions, hundreds of thousands of other lower institutions and countless mosques and churches and 200 million populations. And I have not forgotten that we got independent in 1960 and yet….

You will think that this currency exchange will be the easiest thing to get right by the educated but see for yourself the soundness and the sanity of the mind of the educated from federal to local level.

Little test like this are indicators of why other things are as they are.

The paper money is in six different denominations. Only three highest denominations are being exchanged. What should be difficult or insane in seeing off the task here?

Print more of those not being exchanged, tell the citizens to deposit those being exchanged, pay at least quarter back to the depositors from those not being exchanged and then silently exchange those that needed exchanging. But insanity of the mind Is so high that it is spreading unchecked like Ebola virus. Apex bank is claiming sabotage. But from who?

The educated banks and their educated staffers. When you pass

through primary to tertiary education, they will pass through you and condition your minds, head and mouth. What is sound mind thinking of by engaging in sabotage against his own people and nation's wellbeing?

We hear of admonition from one white president to always ask of what you will do for your nation and not what your nation will do for you. Over here, it is the other way around. From federal to the local, all want to rape this nation to death.

Sabotage or more like they are known here Sabo is a crime against the state, against the masses and against the economy, against yourself. The government and the educated since independent had been at it against this entity and still at it without qualms. They will sleep and wake up and jump into one unnecessary project and spend billions of dollars in It in a chaotic way to favour all from top to the bottom.

Just few months ago, the same government doesn’t have money to pay striking university teachers. Can you guess how much spent on this failed exercise?

Order is a foreign word in Nigeria. Tell yourself of one sector that is organized in this nation since independence. Transport sector, economy, security, banking, health, education, agriculture, water, religion, petroleum, forex etc. Not one and all are under the able hands of the nation’s educated.

Happiness is an illusion. What we have here as one is our brand of happiness. Special brand made in Nigeria. If religion, education and economy could not lead anyone to true or quasi true happiness since independent, what will? And when?

What is wrong? Why do they always run to the other side at slightest nudge? Education has certain qualities and certain things no matter how substandard it might be, it can decode and solve. Can't you tell at your age why you always feel hungry or sad after engaging in certain actions? How come after all these years, these educated people running and ruining everything in this country have not been able to decode solution to why they themselves are never truly happy despite their money and religion. The TV and radio news each day is full with familiar line: “ Custom seize 39,000 litres of petrol, Custom intercepts fake $6 million and 39,000 litres” “ Husband burn wife for washing kids clothes” “ Kidnappers hijacked train heading to Kaduna” Bad news all over. And bad economies mostly with time move from bad to good to best. Forward movement. Why is Nigeria since early 80s have been moving from good to worse? The answer might be found in this currency exchange and those involved.

How you do anything is how you do everything. How they are seeing this project through is his they do other projects.

The power of numbers. I have argued about how even those educated abroad will come back to join the educated idiots here and pick up their ill behavior within months of coming back. Didn’t that show that both air we breathe here and probably the name has something they contribute? Just merely contamination or cursed?

OLOWU GBENGA

African women have what it takes to make you feel like a man in all ramifications. Most African men who grew to the point of maturity in Africa before migrating to the western world and are now married to women from other continents can tell you so well of what they are missing.

An African woman has some outstanding characteristics that make her irresistible. Among them all is the dark or chocolate skin with a black eye ball. Also their beautiful hair. They can use their hair as they like. They can use it for unlimited styles to make them have a new and different look each day. I will be giving you 4 irresistible characteristics of African women you might not have known any woman in the world possesses together because of your environment. Kindly pay attention and follow this to the end.

African Women Are Religious. Africa is the most religious continent according to WASHINGTON (RNS) Researchers. “On a continent-wide basis, sub-Saharan Africa comes out as the most religious place on Earth,” said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which released the study Thursday (April 15). (Source).

In Africa, women are more religious than men. In any religious gathering you may find yourself in Africa, be rest assured that women will take like 65 to 70 percent of the members. This population can go as high as 90–95% in some gatherings.

An African woman doesn’t just participate in religious activities for participating sake. Ask her why she is so religious, she will tell you it is because of her children and husband. African women fight battles for their families; both physically and spiritually.

Effective Parenting Style: As tough as a man may seems to be in an average African family settings, women are in most cases active when it comes to child upbringing in Africa. Among all characteristics of an average African woman, this part is so amazing. African women can prove to you that they are two edged sword. One side is friendly and another is tough. An African woman can defend her children even when they are at fault in the public, and scold them in the secret. This same woman can handle her children like strangers.

African woman has different ways of building a child, and one of them apart from beating is eye contact communication. This approach is appropriately use when she is outside with her child or they have a visitor in their house.

An African woman can tell you ‘Greet the visitor very well’, ‘Don’t you know you should get the visitor a cup of water?’ ‘Excuse us, we have something to discuss’, ‘Don’t collect that money from the visitor’ etc. with eye contact. Eye contact approach is so interesting that you both communicate without a word and everyone will be happy at last. You want to see the other side of an African mother when giving you the eye contact? You just pretend

as if you did not understand. She will make you understand using the worst approach when the visitor is no more with you.

The coding and the decoding part of mother and child in Africa with the eye contact is an experience you will love. It is so amazing and interesting. If the coding and the decoding go so smoothly, the home will be at peace that day. If otherwise, the child should know he is into something bigger than him intermediately the visitor stepped out.

As strange as this could be to western world man or woman, this is what makes the well cultured and disciplined nature you see in Africans. African children complain of all these approaches of being disciplined by mothers too, but we are always happy we got the training from them whenever we are of age in life.

Attractive Look (curvy and sexy): African women have the most attractive look. When it comes to where you can ever see amazing women that you cannot but just look more than twice while you get lost in thought, Africa is naturally blessed with them.

African women are known to have this exceptional beauty feature that makes them look so attractive to any man. There is no other continent that can provide you with such an amazing figure like in Africa.

Well cultured (respectful): African women are well cultured. One of the few things a woman can do to get into any man throughout

the universe is ‘To respect’. Man by nature loves it when they are honoured and valued as men and not when they are being taken for granted. Even in the western world where there seems to be gender equality, men still value and cherish it when they get respect from their woman. Laura Doyle shared her experience to tell her readers what men want in a relationship and the first of five is respect. You will not want to joke with this as a man no matter where you live on the planet earth.

How do you respect a man to make him happy? Be mindful of how you talk to him in open places. Learn how to consider his opinion on matters of your home. Let him feel the vibes that he is the head.

As this is a general want of all men in the world, African men are blessed to naturally get this from their women. The idea of being a respectful continent is natural for African women. The upbringing of an African child also helps to make it so easy for them to have this trait any man wants from his woman.

We cannot but accept the fact that integration of ‘civilization’ is really affecting African culture in some areas which are leading factors to the high rate of divorce.

Despite this, when still placed side by side with other continents, you can only have this heartwarming feature from an African woman.

This article is not to condemn the great and unique features of women from other continents, but to solely appreciate African women.

PHILIP EBULUOFOR

Why African women are great “

This article is not to condemn the great and unique features of women from other continents, but to solely appreciate African women.

May 29: Prioritising poverty reduction in Nigeria

To be prepared for the enormous task ahead, Nigerian leaders at all levels should have a look at the statistics from the World Data Lab, the body behind the World Poverty Clock. Living up to its name, the World Poverty Clock, is programmed to analyse data regarding the welfare of citizens in a clock-ticking pattern. Each second, it shows how people are slipping in and out of poverty, depending on which side of the world one is located. Nigeria, unfortunately, is not sitting well there. The figures and projections are bad and frightening. Out of the estimated 205 million people living in Nigeria, their data said 71million persons are living in extreme poverty. Extreme poverty, according to their definition means living on less than $1.9 in a day. By today’s official exchange rate of N460 to one US dollar, that means N874 a day; N6,118 a week; N24,472 a month or N293,664 in a year. The average motorbike operator, who goes home with about N4000 in a day or the cart-pushers, sachet-water hawkers (who earn about N2000) and the minimum wage earner, who gets N30,000 in a month are by far off this margin. In their projection, Nigeria can get out of this inglorious state, by taking a certain number of persons (0.3) out of poverty every second. This could get the country onto an acceptable threshold. But Nigeria has not been able to do so; rather 4.4 persons slip into poverty every minute. That means before the end of today, about 6,336 Nigerians would have been admitted into the league of extremely poor people in the world, living on less than N874 in a day. With the global number of people living in extreme poverty hovering around 607 million, it means Nigeria’s 71 million extremely poor people, constitute about 11% of the total figure. In clear terms, there is no way to describe this, save from calling it an emergency situation.

Before government spokespersons begin to dwell on the fable that global economy was ruined by the economic lockdown occasioned by COVID-19, Nigerians must reflect on the fact that African countries remain some of the least impacted as regards the scourge, and perhaps weigh it against the huge population, so afflicted by poverty. In the face of all these, Nigerians are for once experiencing one of the worst inflationary trends of all time, with prices, changing with the rapidity of a ticking clock. Food stuffs are so expensive today in our markets, further leaving these 71million persons more vulnerable.

But the most demoralising aspect of this conundrum is that our leaders seem unperturbed by these realities. Of course, they wave these statistics away as false, but they have remained indifferent in confronting these challenges. In the face of this towering destitution, what seems to be occupying their minds at the moment is retaining or attaining power. They are all strategising across party lines to grab power and probably do nothing with it, apart from lining their pockets at the expense of the people. May be the government of Nigeria has not realised this fact: the more the poverty gap in the country widens, the more the country would be burying her scarce resources in the fight against insecurity, because poverty breeds chaos. By now, there should be concerted efforts to bridge the gap, even if it means evolving strategies that will take relief efforts directly to the people afflicted rather than the previous measures where half of the resources deployed to tackle poverty are wasted on overhead of personnel and frivolous contracts.

The electorate should also get involved in liberating themselves, by asking critical questions to the contestants as they move around, hunting for votes. Now is the time to know from them how they intend to stop the ravaging impact of poverty amongst the masses, which is the reason many cannot sleep at night. It is not enough to announce that poverty-alleviating programmes would be vigorously pursued but the time to explain how the ones already established could be enhanced for the benefit of the masses. The reality is that Nigeria has never been in short supply of programmes on tackling poverty. Such initiatives have been present since Independence, succinctly garbed in beautiful acronyms, but they have all been tailored towards benefitting the ruling class, who are the administrators and contractors.

Michael

Jackson:

Under normal circumstances, the National Assembly should be deliberating on what urgent steps the government should take to mitigate this scourge in the short and long terms respectively. But nobody is concerned. Instead, everyone is jumping on the media opportunity availed by the ongoing political campaigns.

NDDC boss grateful to Senate for passing N876bn 2023 budget after inquiry

AMAKA AGBU, PORT HARCOURT

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has expressed his gratitude to the Senate for passing the NDDC budget for 2023 on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

The Senate had earlier stood down consideration of the budget and requested further information and clarifications on the financial activities of the NDDC for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.

Following the new development, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that the passage of the budget was a significant milestone in developing the Niger Delta region. He said the budget, which amounted to N876 billion, would enable the NDDC to continue providing critical infrastructure and services to the region’s people.

He said: “We are grateful to the Senate for its support and commitment to developing the Niger Delta region. The passage of this budget will enable us to continue providing critical infrastructure and services to the region’s people.”

The Managing Director also pledged to ensure that the funds allocated in the budget

were used judiciously and through due process. He said that the NDDC would work assiduously to ensure that its projects were completed on time and to the highest standards.

“We are committed to ensuring that every kobo allocated in this budget is used for its intended purpose. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our projects are completed on time and to the highest standards,” Ogbuku said.

The NDDC boss also called on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to support the NDDC in its efforts to develop the region. He said that the Commission needed the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the region to achieve its goals, stating: “Together, we will build a better future for our people. We cannot do this alone.”

This is coming a week after Dr Ogbuku had cleared the air over the Senate’s probe of its budgets for 2021 and 2022. He had urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions based on the Senate’s decision and assured them of the NDDC’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

He had also said that he respected the oversight function of the Senate and was ready to cooperate with the investigation committee.

Imo Varsity launches bread fruit de-husking machine to enhance food production

VAL OKARA, OWERRI

Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, has launched an Ukwa (Treculia africana) de-husking machine and a Food Research Center to enhance the availability and affordability of produce as food for public consumption.

This machine is the result of research work sponsored at the University by Chima Ibeneche Education Foundation, a philanthropic organisation founded by Dr. Chima Ibeneche.

The sponsor of the research, Dr. Chima Ibeneche, said that the vision for the research is to increase the use of ukwa in various homes stating that the production would improve the environmental and climate sustainability and the food security in the country.

In separate speeches, Mr. Augustine Iwuoha, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, and Prof. Ferdinand Mbagwu, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, stressed that the innovation would help to mitigate the challenges in Ukwa production and increase its availability in food value chain.

They also solicited support to enable mass production of the de-husking machine and to facilitate further research on how to make Imo state, South East and the country a rallying point in Ukwa production and agronomy across the world. Speaking further on the

Sanwo-Olu says Deputy Govs are partners, not spare tyres

BENJAMIN OMOIKE

New entrants to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), on Tuesday, drew valuable lessons from the hands-on experience of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the job in the last four years.

The Lagos State helmsman shared perspectives and practical ideas on governance during an interaction with his governor colleagues at a threeday induction for new and returning governors held at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

Sanwo-Olu equally emphasised the role of Deputy Governors, saying any governor looking forward to a stable government should see his deputy as partner and not as spare tyre.

He said: “From the moment you are elected, you already have one guaranteed member of the team – your Deputy Governor. The relationship between a Governor and a Deputy Governor is highly important and must be carefully managed as it can significantly impact the workings and efficiency of your government.

“Managing and resolving conflicts and disputes is an

important part of the work of any Governor. Conflicts will arise within the team, as well as in other areas of the Government that will need to be promptly resolved, to avoid dampening morale and impacting the collegial spirit required to succeed.”

Sanwo-Olu also shared tips on budgeting and project execution, assembling cabinet and governance structure, administrative style and management, and appointment of political aides.

The Lagos Governor, who spoke on “Managing the Process of Governance: Insights for New Governors”, said the quality of transition would determine the extent to which a new administrator could hit the ground running.

Some governors, the Lagos helmsman said, would be taking over from friendly predecessors and enjoy cordial transitions that would enable them find bearing of governance easily; others, he added, would have to contend with hostile transition teams of the outgoing administrations, which would give them a hard nut to crack upon inauguration.

Sanwo-Olu advised those facing hostile transition process-

es to play the cards available to them, while articulating their governing agenda to help them meander through the transition phase.

He said: “The most significant and troubling challenges you will face as a new governor will not be anticipated. A lot of events will happen without warning. The ability to always be responsive, and to be able to quickly deploy mechanisms to attend to unexpected challenges will make a huge amount of difference. Negative news about your government and your person will receive more attention than positive developments, especially in social media.

“It is, therefore, important to keep sharing and amplifying the positives, whilst also responding to the negatives with action. Lagos has a unique challenge, in that it enjoys the highest degree of media and social media visibility for obvious reasons. Lagos is the hub of the Nigerian traditional media. It also has the widest Internet coverage and the highest number of Internet users in the country.”

Sanwo-Olu said setting a practicable governing agenda

had empowered successive administrations in Lagos to quickly gain citizens’acceptance. He advised the governors to consider setting a governing agenda that would have memorable acronyms and mantras.

Lagos, the Governor cited, operates on THEMES agenda with ‘Greater Lagos’ mantra, while Ogun State projects governance activities by ISEYA, which literally means “let’s get on with work”.

Sanwo-Olu said the governing agenda would help drive focus since no administration can do everything at once, while also helping to streamline and organise government communications.

He said government communications must be proactive, regular and simplified. Social media, he said, should be given attention as much as the traditional media, while leveraging technology for effective communication channels.

Sanwo-Olu said it was important to maintain engagements with critical stakeholders and development partners, including the presidency, colleagues- governors, legislature, National Economic Council (NEC), multilateral institutions.

research, Ibeneche said that aside removal of production and marketing hurdles in the Ukwa value chain, the research would also assist to increase local production of food, develop better methods of preserving ukwa products, in addition to the development of new ukwa products.

He said, "One core contribution of the Ukwa research will be to improve production and processing efficiency by eliminating manual processes that constrain production. Achieving this will enable upscaling of Ukwa production, making the foodstuff more affordable and price competitive against imported alternatives.

"It will also make food supply chain more resilient to international or external crisis, increase the use of Ukwa for food which will result in food security and environmental sustainability as well as afford students the means to acquire practical and usable knowledge in food production and preservation."

The Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze commended the research team and the sponsor for the progress made. He said that the university would fully support the research so it could deliver on its mission. He promised to buy one improved ukwa dehusking machine which will be donated to the state government.

Arthur Eze tips Umahi as Tinubu's successor, commissions flyover

CHIJIOKE NJOKU, ABAKALIKI

Abusiness mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, has on Tuesday said that Ebonyi state governor David Umahi will presumably succeed the All Progressives Congress, APC's, President-elect, Bola Tinubu as a successor, if only Ndigbo can come together.

Prince Arthur Eze made this known while commissioning an 18-span flyover bridge at Abaomege junction in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, which was named after him.

The business mogul, Arthur Eze however, defined Governor David Umahi as a God sent to transform the ugly history of Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.

DAILY TIMES reports that

the 18-span flyover bridge was commissioned by Prince Arthur Eze at Abaomege -Ukawu-Ugwulangwu-Okposi road.

Arthur, while appreciating Governor Umahi for remembering him through the Flyover, commended him for the tremendous infrastructural modification of the State.

"Our people suffered so much some years ago when they were talking about State creation.

"God brought this man, a savior and he has changed the face of Ebonyi State, I could not recognize Abakaliki again, God gave him the vision, and by the grace of God Umahi will likely succeed Tinubu after his regime" he said Earlier in a remark, Governor Umahi thanked Prince Arthur Eze for his assistance to

him (Umahi) and to all manner of other persons over the years.

He pleaded to him to make himself a rallying point for Ndigbo, especially in the tenure of Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

"I am using the opportunity to beg you to be the face of Ndigbo in Tinubu's administration, if you put yourself forward, the Igbo man will not be neglected.

"You have raised a lot of people, I have never seen any man that has outperformed you in this regard."

"History is made today, I think it should be three years back when we invited Arthur Eze to lay the foundation of this Flyover. For so many reasons, he was very key to our struggle.

"He took me in his vehicle to the Villa to meet President Goodluck Jonathan and he

said this is the man that will be the Governor of Ebonyi State and Mr. President ticked my name.

"The history of the development of Ebonyi State will not be complete without mentioning Arthur Eze."

The Governor called on people, especially the youths to learn to show appreciation for any good action and abstain from paying back evil for good.

"Anybody that has helped you in life, we should continue to appreciate them and that is why we named this flyover bridge, Engineer Prince Arthur Eze flyover.

"A man that has made so many politicians, he gives money in millions of dollars and he doesn't ask you to pay him back."

At Arewa Young Christians Forum press briefing which held yesterday in Kaduna

2023 elections: Apapa, others' illegal attempt to misguide KSHC unacceptable - LP

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

The Labour Party (LP), has stated that attempts to scuttle the party candidates in the 2023 general elections by some desperate group is totally unacceptable.

The party said desperate Apapa group sneaked into a Kano State High Court, asking for sack of LP elected lawmakers.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, signed by the Ag National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifo, said the Party has been informed of an illegal attempt by a breakaway group in the party, led by Lamidi Apapa to misguide a Kano state High court, to invalidate all elections won by the party in the just concluded general election.

The statement reads:

"Suspended National Legal Adviser and a key member of the disgraced Apapa group, Samuel Akingbade Oyelekan, on Wednesday while the Presidential Appeal Tribunal was sitting in Abuja with all attentions focused on it, clandestinely, sneaked out of Abuja to Kano state where he, in collaboration with some members of the other political parties asked the court to invalidate all elections won by the Labour Party, particularly, the national assembly in the 36 states and FCT on the ground that the LP didn't submit register of voters to the

Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

"Akingbade who presented himself as representing the Labour Party, did not oppose the motion, thus forcing the helpless judge to reserve judgement for tomorrow.

"Though, the party will appear before the court on Thursday to set aside the proceedings, but we have earlier raised the alarm of the plots by the opposition parties to ensure that Labour Party is reduced to the rubbles.

"Few weeks ago, we alerted Nigerians of plots to hijack the party and by extension, target all our cases in the tribunal.

"We have since produced evidences of the letters initiated by Akingbade to various tribunals asking for withdrawal of cases before them.

"We are using this medium to alert the judiciary and all law enforcement agencies, particularly, the police, DSS to note that Samuel Akingbade, Lamidi Apapa, Abayomi Arabambi and everyone in that camp have ceased to be representing Labour Party in whatever capacity."

The party further stressed that; "This statement serves as a disclaimer on them, for Nigerians' information.

"These agents have taken their hatchet job to a new level and will stop at nothing in doing their paymasters bid to truncate our case in various tribunal.

Troops intercept crude oil thief, arrest 4 in Delta Community

NOSA AKENZUA, ASABA

Troops of the Nigerian Navy have intercepted a barge and truck laden with crude oil around the Okpaka area in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The truck, according to a statement signed by Commander SS Musa for Commander NNS Delta, sighted by our Correspondent, was laden with an unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil, adding that the truck driver abandoned the truck and fled.

The statement stated further that the interception and arrest were made on Friday, May 11, 2023, at about 4:45 pm when the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT) patrol team on joint operation with troops of Sector 1 Headquarters acting on an intelligence report arrested a sewage disposal truck around Okpaka area in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

“However, own intelligence source revealed that the stolen crude oil was to be delivered to storage tanks at Mawe Services Environmental Solutions in the same Okpaka area. The patrol team visited the area and discovered two storage tanks

Education backwardness in Northern Nigeria self imposed, says Adamu

edge to implement CMAS," he said.

The outgoing Minister also used the event to call for the establishment of Federal Teachers Service Commission, saying such move would ensure reforms put in place in the teaching profession yield desired results.

"I want to leave one legacy in your hands (heads of education agencies and others), we wrote a letter and the President approved everything... , but there is one yet to come into fruition, that will make education totally different

with an unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude.

“It was equally revealed that the stolen crude oil was loaded from a barge, Motor Vessels Amangwu at Tantan Company Yard in the same Okpaka area.

Accordingly, the patrol team visited the yard and discovered the Barge laden with an unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil on board. Four operators were found in the yard. The four persons were arrested and transferred to a detention facility at Sector 1 for investigation and further necessary action.

“Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA took custody of the barge and deployed an additional anti-Crude Oil Theft team which secured the barge overnight.

"On Saturday, 11 May 2023; 2 gunboats from Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA and one from Sector 1 escorted the barge Motor Vessels Amangwu from Okpaka to Asugbo Creek for appropriate actions.

"However, some organisations issued a press brief claiming to have effected the arrest of the truck and barge. The public is enjoined to discountenance the earlier press coverage.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has blamed the present education backwardness being witnessed in the northern part of the country on the people of the area.

Speaking during a public presentation of Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), Book 1 series for Nigerian Universities and a book in his honour, the Minister noted that the interest of the orth is Islam.

He said, "The North is in self-imposed educational backwardness because the interest of the North is Islam, and Islam is the greatest promulgator of knowledge."

Adamu, however, commended the National Universities Commission (NUC), for its drive in ensuring the springing up of more private universities in Nigeria.

According to him, the Commission's effort is paying off with the establishment of more

of such institutions in Northern Nigeria in recent times.

"In 859 AD, one Fatima AlFihri (sic), a woman-Muslim woman established the first university in the world, at the time, the Italian universities, Oxford, Cambridge universities have not started, the first university is still existing there, it is now in Morocco.

"And about 100 years after that one, another university was established, the second university in the world before the universities of Europe, in Cairo and just like the first one, this university was established by a Muslim woman, Fatimatu Zahara (sic).

"So the first two universities in the world were established by Muslim women and here people are using Islam to keep women at home. I think it does not make sense", he said.

Adamu, however, expressed delight that out of the 37 new private universities approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, large number of them are situated in the North.

Speaking on the CCMAS, the minister said the new curriculum would go a long way in adding value to graduates being churned out from Nigerian universities.

"We must continue to ensure graduates from Nigeria universities are equipped with needed skills, knowledge and expertise in order to succeed in the 21st century.

"We must consistently strive to improve our educational programmes and learning with the reality of global best practices. The CCMAS book series is aimed at achieving this goal, " he said.

While saying the launch of CCMAS in 17 disciplines was one of the greatest steps taken by NUC to ensure Nigerian universities meet current global demands, Adamu called for its full implementation.

"The implementation of CCMAS requires dedication, hard work and willingness to embrace change by every one, therefore it is important we embrace training and equipping our academics with the necessary skills and knowl-

"It was recently I realised we need a Federal Teachers Service Commission, so I want to leave this in your hands, so that all those things approved by Mr president, the teachers will be able to get it, and education will begin to attract the best brains," Adamu said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Rasheed Abubakar, commended the minister for his several achievements recorded under his watch, especially in the area of universities development.

"As at yesterday morning, there were 111 private universities in the country, as of yesterday evening, the number had risen to 148 private universities in the country. That is of the 148 private universities in Nigeria, 87 or 60 percent came during Adamu Adamu as Minister of Education," he NUC boss said.

Rasheed, who also described CCMAS as a game changer in Nigerian universities, commended former NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Peter Okebukola, for his role in its development, describing him as chief architect of the curriculum.

Also speaking, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, said the CCMAS is a right step in the right direction.

Group condemns killing of US consulate officials, calls for thorough investigation

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

The Centre for Convention on Democratic integrity (CCDI), has condemned in strong terms, the unwarranted killing of four locals of United States Consulate, Lagos Office, on Tuesday, in Anambra, South Eastern Nigeria, by unknown killers.

In a release issued and signed by the President of the International organisation, which operates in Nigeria and the United States with United Nations Consultative status, Olufemi Aduwo expressed shock and outrage at the killing of United States Consulate Lagos Office workers.

He said the murder in cold blood of the United States for-

eign Mission officials is not only worrisome but a thing of shame which he could not fathom out any reason for.Aduwo said in the release "Definitely, the vehicles were clearly identified with the United States' Consulate Plate numbers, hence it was deliberate and planned attack and the perpetrators must be brought to book within the shortest possible time.

The CCDI believe the calculated attack on the US citizens demands thorough investigation, calling on President Buhari, to urgently set up multi security agencies investigation team made up of Directorate of State Services, (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence lntelligence Agency (DIA), and Police with assistance from United States security agency

to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the attack.

"We believe, the attack has political undertone. We offer our deepest condolences to the United States foreign Mission in Nigeria, families and loved ones of those who were killed and injured in the unwarranted attack. Any attack against diplomats or diplomatic facilities anywhere is unacceptable. We remind the Government of Nigeria of its responsibility under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to protect foreign diplomats in Nigeria.This is unacceptable. Both diplomats and non diplomats of Foreign Missions in Nigeria should be protected."

ln another development, Aduwo condemned the reappointment letter that Presi-

dent Buhari sent to the Senate to confirm the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, for second term, saying Buhari should allow the incoming President to reconstitute EFCC board.

He said currently EFCC is more or less a toothless bulldog and Pro - graft agency saying the Chairperson has displayed sign of weaknesses. Apart from parading hapless yahoo boys, how many serious corruption cases has the agency successfully concluded. Where is Governor Yaya Bello's wife declared wanted long ago, where was EFCC, when political parties nominated people that their cases are pending in courts to contest election and many of them won.

DOOSUUR IWAMBE, ABUJA

FCTA: Bulldozer rolls into Gishiri as govt reclaims land for infrastructure, smokes out criminals

UKPONO UKPONG

There was pandemonium and tears at Gishiri community on Wednesday, as officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA) rolled in bulldozer and demolished unplanned structures to reclaim the land for infrastructure development.

The area, which is under Katampe District, was last visited for demolition in 2006, since then the residents continued to build on high power tension and water channels despite warning from the government.

Most of the victims that were in tears acknowledged that the structures were marked in March, April and early may in 2023, but feigned ignorant of the several notices.

One of the female victims who don't want her name mentioned, said: "I parked into this area in March, 2022 and just renewed my rent in March, 2023, which cost N400,000.00, where can I park to now? If I had known I wouldn't have come to this area"

Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of FCT on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement Ikharo Attah, said the demolition was necessitated by the need to reclaim the place for infrastructure development.

He said the victims took ad-

UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE, ABA

The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, is set to shun the planned Local Government elections, which is expected to be held on May 19, 2023, by the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led Abia State Government.

The LP in the state described the exercise as ill conceived, ill intentioned and ill timed; just as it has said that the planned polls will put undue pressure on the lean resources of the state.

Hon Ceekay Igara, Chairman of the party, who made this known in an interaction with newsmen in Aba, noted that the decision to boycott the council polls was reached after extensive consultations with various stakeholders of the party.

Igara said that the popular position of many party stake holders is that the planned local council elections, is not in tandem with the yearnings ,aspirations, expectations and interests of Abians at this very crucial moment, and the LP has resolved not to confer unmerited credibility to the process which is the basis for its decision to shun the exercise.

He said, "We concede to the constitutional rights of the outgoing PDP administration to conduct local council polls. But

vantage of the proximity of the area to the Federal Capital City and flouted the Abuja master plan rules, turning the area to haven for bad eggs.

Attah regretted that some of the unauthorized structures in the area were hideout for drug dealers and suspected criminals that terrorize mostly Maitama and Asokoro residents in the city.

"We came here today to attack the triple illegalities associated with squatter settlements, the criminals' den inside the cashew plantation in Gishiri, where we recovered cocaine and other hard drugs.

"Although there were tears and lamentations, but we are not done yet as we just getting warm up in Gishiri, and this is the first time, the bulldozers came into Gishiri, since the days of Mallam Nasiru Ahmed El'rufai as FCT Minister.

"The team from Development Control is firing from all cylinders, even as those of us who are political appointees are going, we are sure that when we leave, the team on ground is set to continue the city clean up exercise"

The Director, Department of Development Control, Murkhtar Galadima after the demolition, said the exercise which is mother of all demolitions was to rid the city of illegal structures.

Bayelsa pollution report: Agip, Shell discredit report, dismiss claims of liability

we are of the firm conviction that the current move is ill conceived, ill intentioned and ill timed.

We are also of the believe that the exercise will lead to unnecessary pressure on the state lean resources, at a time all efforts should be geared towards a seamless transition of power to the incoming regime.

You don't need to be told the amount of money needed for elections of such magnitude. For now, LP in Abia is of the opinion that there are other more pressing needs to be attended to such as the huge salary arrears of the civil servants and the glaring case of infrastructural deficits.

Besides, what is the essence of a government that has just a few days in office to embark on such a capital intensive exercise? The whole thing smacks of suspicion.

Our candid advice to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is to reconsider the exercise and allow the incoming regime to organise an all inclusive local council elections".

It would be recalled that the Governor Ikpeazu administration which has few days to go has scheduled to conduct local council polls to replace the former leadership of the 17 local councils of the state whose tenure elapsed last December 22, for May 19, a decision which has elicited wide condemnation from not a few Abians.

AMOS OKIOMA,

YENAGOA

Major oil firms operating oilfields in Bayelsa State have dismissed and faulted claims by the Bayelsa Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC), in its final report presented to Governor Douye Diri of the state at House of Lords on Tuesday in London.

While Agip took a swipe at the Commission for excluding the oil firms, it questioned the commission's credibility and said it lacked institutional character', Shell insisted the pollutions were largely traced to sabotage and oil theft.

The report titled: “An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,” captured over 60 years of oil exploration and pollution.

The BSOEC, established in March 2019 by the immediate past administration led by Sen Seriake Dickson said abnormally high concentrations of toxic heavy metals were found in

soil, waters in Bayelsa oil communities.

The report, which attributed the massive pollution to activities of oil and gas exploration and production by oil firms recommended a remediation fund of $12 bn over a 12 year period.

Shell, Agip and Chevron operate oilfields in the areas covered by the report.

Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in a statement by management of its parent company, Eni distanced itself from the allegations of being behind pollution across its assets in Bayelsa.

"We do not attribute any value to a report for which we have not been consulted, and made by a commission that, despite its name, does not have any institutional character.

"In Nigeria, over the last 10 years, almost the whole of hydrocarbon spills are due to so-called "third-party interference", which specifically means oil thefts to feed illegal refineries as well as illegal exports and sabotages.

"The company undertakes

to remedy in all cases, both when spills are both operational and due to theft or sabotage. The trend of spills in the region decreased over the last few years also thanks to the important interventions carried out by Eni to guarantee the asset integrity, among other things," Eni stated.

The company said that about 97 percent of associated gas produced by NAOC is processed either as Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) or to feed local power plants.

It said that gas from NAOC feeds Okpai power plant, included in the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM).

Eni said its gas gathering effort is noted for its contribution to the reduction of flaring.

"Okpai produced approximately 2,000 GWh electricity in 2022, so providing to represent an important access to energy instrument for local

communities.

"Eni conducts its activities according to the sector's international environmental best practices, without any distinction on a country basis. There is nothing further from our corporate culture than allegation of environmental racism," Eni stated.

Reacting to the alleged complicity and responsibility for the widespread pollution, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) on Wednesday said it operates in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Mrs Bola Essien-Nelson, SPDC's Media Relations Manager attributed the majority of the pollutions within its operations to vandalism and oil theft.

“SPDC operates to the same technical standards as other Shell companies globally. Illegal actions by third parties cause the vast majority of oil spills in the Niger Delta, such as crude oil theft and sabotage.

Over 4,000 offenders arrested so far, says Oyo Environmental Task Force chair

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN

The Oyo State Environmental Task Force has arrested no fewer than 4,000 offenders since its creation till date, statistics made available by its Chairman, Mr. Francis Ojomo, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) retired, has revealed.

According to a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, Ojomo, who spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday,

said some were committed to community service after trial, while others paid fines.

In the period under review, DCP Ojomo revealed, over N30 million had been paid as fine by various offenders into the coffers of the state government.

Ojomo, who is also the Waste Enforcement Officer, urged the public to obey environmental laws of the state, adding that this would sustain the healthiness and good neighbourliness in the society.

He said Item 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) placed

a premium on sanitation and sustainable environment, while appealing to Nigerians, especially residents of Oyo State, to pay attention to cleaning their environment,“as the Task Force is watching everyone.”

He also reiterated the commitment of the state government towards ensuring a healthy and safe environment.

“This is not the first time we appeal to members of the public to obey our environmental laws, so that we will have sustained peace and health in our society. Item 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the

United Nations places a premium on sanitation and sustainable environment.

“We do not need to attend any formal school to take care of our environment in our own interest," he added.

Meanwhile, Olatunbosun said the state Environmental Protection Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, on Wednesday, convicted five offenders for violating environmental laws in the state.

Chairman of the tribunal, Mr. Jubreel Kareem, while speaking with journalists, disclosed that during monitoring in Ibadan, the five offenders were arrested.

LP to shun Abia LG polls, describes exercise as waste of state funds

I won Delta governorship election, will retrieve mandate -Omo-Agege

HARUNA SALAMI, ABUJA

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18 Delta State governorship election, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has said he will retrieve the mandate given to the Governorelect, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Deputy President of the Senate , Senator declared that he won the election even though the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), declared Oborevwori as winner with 360,234 votes , which was over 120, 000 votes above 240, 229 votes he scored.

Omo- Agege made the declaration on Wednesday while hosting a delegation of his constituents from Ndokwa/ Ukwuani on thank-you visit to him led by Hon Mercy Almona-Isei.

While discussing with some of his constituents from Delta Central at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday, he said the result declared by INEC, was a ruse that cannot stand the test of litigation.

He said, "all the manipulations carried out by PDP in collaboration with some staff of INEC , have been exposed and will be used as exhibits in

the court of law.

"I am determined to fight it all the way because the real valid votes scored by me in the election, are more than enough to declare me as the governor-elect," he said.

On the visitation made to him by his constituents from Ndokwa over facilitation of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Kwale community, Omo - Agege said President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, should be thanked for the feat.

He added that he made the facilitation without any consultation or collaboration with anybody in Delta State.

"I didn't do it in consultation with anybody . I did it all by myself. If anybody should be thanked for the University, it should be President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu," he said.

He, however, admonished the Hon Mercy Almona-Isei-led delegation from Ndokwa/ Ukwuani that compensation should not be attached to the 100 hectares of land donated for the University, saying "the issue of ownership of shrine or farm, should not arise from any quarters.

"I thank you for all the support your have given to me over the years, most especially the support you gave to me during the last election.

Obi never spoke with Audu's son

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

The Labour Party, (LP) has said the Presidential flag bearer of the party in the last February, 25th general election in the country, Peter Obi never, at anytime spoke with the former Governor of Kogi State, late Abubakar Audu' son, Audu junior.

According to Diran Onifade Presidential Campaign spokesman of the party in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said:

"Those who have been hyperventilating all day over false allegation that Peter Obi

dropped a phone call on the son of former Governor, late Abubakar Audu of Kogi to please, note that no phone call took place between the two this morning, (Wednesday).

"The young man was brought to the presence of Obi at the court premises today and he was convinced, he spoke with a scammer, as Peter Obi was still airborne on his way from London at the time the so-called call was said to have occured.

"The young Audu apologised, profusely. This is official," Onifade added.

Fed Poly Bida gets new Rector

SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Engr (Dr) Baba Aliyu Haruna as the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Bida.

This was contained in a letter signed by the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu and made available to newsmen on Wednesday.

The appointment which took effect from May 21 was for five years.

“It reads, "I write to convey to you the approval of Mr President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for your ap-

Flooding: HYPPADEC tasks council boss, stakeholders to educate subjects

pointment as Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.”

“The terms and conditions of service including remuneration and fringe benefits shall be as approved for Rectors of Federal Polytechnic,” he added.

Buhari congratulated the new rector and wished him a most successful tenure in office.

Until his appointment, Haruna was the Director, Quality Assurance at the polytechnic.

The new rector expressed gratitude to President Buhari for the appointment, saying he would do everything humanly possible to lift the standard of the polytechnic to a greater height.

SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

Hydro Power Producing Area Development Commission, HYPPADEC, has called on the traditional leaders and local government Chairmen in the affected flooding communities to begin the sensitisation of their subjects ahead of pending 2023 flooding in the country.

The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa made the appeal at the 2023 Stakeholders Meeting on Flood Mitigation and Other Related Issues in Niger

state, saying that the plan is not to mitigate but to prevent catastrophe from occurring.

Sadiq Yelwa added that sensitisation of the people on environmental matters was crucial in mitigating the impact of flooring hence the results of the programme last year which has reduced the rate of flood casualty as recorded previously.

He called for attitudinal change of the people of the flood affected communities of insisting on remaining in their original homes despite the negative threats hence to take advantage of the river to boost their socio-economic develop-

ment.

The Secretary to the Niger State Government SSG, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environmental, said the flooding has caused a lot of negative impact on communities, lives and properties in the state, hence the partnership to mitigate the impact of flooding.

Niger State ALGON chairman, Suleiman Yerima, applauded the commission's numerous stride thus far while calling for more interventions in sectors to include health, edu-

cation, security and agriculture among others.

In his remarks, Mokwa local government chairman, Abdullahi Jibrin Muregi lamented over decades of destruction of lives and property by flood especially during 2012 and 2022 in no fewer than 17 local government areas in Niger state. Muregi, who commended the HYPPADEC and the Federal Government for its establishment, however, lamented over the impact of flooding on the affected community people, called for a genuine partnership to mitigate the impact of flooding on the citizens.

Group protests planned investiture of 'Enin Afaha' in A' Ibom

ISAAC JOB, UYO

The people of Afaha Iman Ibom in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have raise the alarm in protest to the planned installation of the Paramount Ruler of Onna council area Edidem Raymond Inyang as the "Enin Afaha" which is the highest chieftaincy title in Afaha group of communities in the state.

They argued that if such sensitive traditional title is accorded to an unqualified person as His Royal Majesty , Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang who is the Paramount Ruler of Onna local government area , such position will be conflicting with the throne of Oku Ibom Ibibio; the apex Ibibio traditional seat in the state now occupied by Ntenyin Solomon Etuk the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium local government area of the state.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo , Akwa Ibom state capital on Wednesday, the people of Afaha Iman Ibom led by Dr Asikpo Essien Ibok said the proposed candidate as " Enin Afaha " Edidem Raymond Inyang was not only unqualified but lack moral status to bear such traditional title.

"His Royal Majesty Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang, the Paramount Ruler of Onna Local Government, who is currently the Secretary General of Ifim Ibom Ibibio should not compete the supremacy status with his superior, the Oku Ibom

Ibibio, the existential Supreme Leader in all cultural and traditional matters relating to Ibibio."

Ibokessien disclosed that Edidem Raymond Inyang in his desperate move to become " Enin Afaha" hired a professor of History from University of Uyo to distort history of Afaha people and even copied governor Udom Emmanuel in his defence to an earlier petition submitted in protest of the proposed installation on May 18, 2023.

Ibokessien who said the protest came out of passion as a custodian of Afaha royal dynasty inherited from his father explained that Edidem Raymond Inyang has no moral justification to occupy the throne of " Enin Afaha" since he (Raymond Inyang) is the present Secretary General of Ifim Ibom Ibibio where Ntenyin Solomon Etuk serves as the leader .

He disclosed that if Ray-

mond Inyang becomes the "Enin Afaha" as planned , his office will remain in perpetual conflict with the office of Oku Ibom Ibibio led by Ntenyin Solomon Etuk while Raymond is the Secretary General adding that infighting can be nibbed in the bud when the investiture is cancelled.

"Oku Ibom represents the Ifim Ibom Ibibio where Raymond is its Secretary General. Oku Ibom is the legal and legitimate existential traditional and cultural Supreme Leader in matters affecting the Ibibios.

"Raymond is struggling to be a Supreme Leader in a part of the subtraditional make up (Afaha) of the Ibibios.We said there was, and there is a conflict as the two Supreme Leaders can not cohabitate in one institution as Supreme Leaders.

"But Raymond and the Professor said there is no conflict as the supreme leadership of

Raymond would compliment that of Oku Ibom Ibibio.

"The Ibibio traditional custom sees it as treacherous, an act of rebellion and abomination punishable by severe sanctions.

"The Professor and Raymond said there were Afaha people first on this planet earth before there were the Ibibios. Mboho Afaha Iman Ibom said the reverse. Beyond the Ibibios, could there be any Annang, Oron, Ekid, Ibeno or Obolo man who thinks he was Afaha first before he was Annang, Oron, Ekid, Ibeno or Obolo respectively? But the Professor and Raymond believe so.We would be fooling ourselves if we think Akwa Ibom state is traditionally and culturally monolithic."

Essienibok recalled that Enin Afaha was a symbol of sanctity highly revered by the people and was occupied by persons after thorough scrutiny through a tedious process adding it is now hijacked one man for whatever reason .

"The mythology of Enin Afaha was, and still is a symbol of power, cleanliness, equity and purity. Its traditional conceptual myths make it godly and pure. And its selection was tedious and almost sanctimonious.

"We disagree that anybody, just anybody, could be made an Enin without passing through the traditional and cultural thresholds of the AKWAS and SOOTHSAYERS for a background check."

PDP's NWC to review reported indiscipline, anti- party activity cases

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to constitute a Committee to review all cases of reported indiscipline and anti-party activities by some members of the Party in the 2023 general elections.

The resolution was taken at its 571st meeting held the party's national secretariat, Abuja on Tuesday.

National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba yesterday said the decision of the NWC is in furtherance of on-going efforts by the national leadership of PDP Party to instill discipline as well as to achieve a comprehensive reconciliation in the party.

He said this resolution of the NWC is pursuant to its powers under Section 29 (2) (a) and (b) and Section 31 (2) (c), (d) and (i) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

Accordingly, he said "the NWC hereby directs that no Organ of the Party at any level shall henceforth commence any disciplinary action against any member of the Party without due consideration and regard to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)."

The NWC charged all members to remain focused on the ideals of the party as a democratic organization guided by its rules, regulations and constitution as we collectively make progress towards lasting reconciliation, discipline and unity in the party.

Group canvasses SGF position for Simon Lalong for equity, balancing

IDIBIA GABRIEL, KADUNA

Groups, under the auspices of Arewa Young Christian Forum of Nigeria (AYCFN) has canvassed the position of Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) for Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong ahead of 29th inauguration of President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, to set the agenda for renewed hope for Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency, the forum's National President, Comrade Agada Nathaniel said this has became necessary for equity, fair and balancing,

He also said that making Lalong an SGF is aimed at creating an atmosphere of unity, peace, and tranquility in view of the political configuration of Nigeria.

"The political and religious configuration of Nigeria has mandated that the various region be allowed to represent and be represented in the country's governance, is aimed at creating an atmosphere of unity, peace, and tranquility.

"The various regions in Nigeria have clamored for equal representation at the highest level of governance in the country with the overarching objective of the equitable distribution of the dividends of democracy.

"As a body of democrats, we have been elected to hold this press conference to set the agenda for the incoming administration and put issues in proper perspective in the quest for transparency, equity, and justice", he

said.

According to the group, Mr. Lalong as SGF is also imperative in view of Muslim--Muslim composition of the President and Vice President of the incoming leadership.

He said the composition, indeed opened a plethora of agitations for the need to accommodate the Christians in the governance structure of the incoming administration.

"It must be stated that in the executive arm of government, the office of SGF is regarded as the engine room of government, saddled with the responsibility for ensuring the effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programs in the hierarchy of Nigerian government.

"The SGF also serves as a front-line advisory institution of the presidency", they said.

The group restated that "Given that the South West and the North East have been adequately represented, it behooves that the North Central region should be given the slot of the SGF in the spirit of equity.

"The strategic importance of the North Central region in the political and socioeconomic life of the country must be considered.

"The recent endorsement of candidates for the offices of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker leaves the North Central region in political limbo.

"This does not augur well for Nigeria's nascent democracy, hence the need for action that would create a balance for all the regions in the

Youth Empowerment: My great legacy to incoming administration - Okowa

NOSA ÀKEÑZUA, ASABA

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has said that one of his administration’s greatest legacies to be bequeathed to the incoming regime in the state is the youths’ empowerment programme.

He said that the administration devoted reasonable resources in its various schemes for the youths to acquire skills that would make them self-reliant and able to contribute to the nation's economic growth.

Okowa made this known at the graduation and presentation of starter-packs to beneficiaries of Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP), Graduates Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP) and Information and Communication Technology - Youth Empowerment Programme (ICT-YEP) in Asaba, on Wednesday.

The governor stated that he was happy to have created the platforms, in addition to others by the Ministries of Youths Development, and Women Affairs and Social Development to develop youths in the state to become entrepreneurs.

According to him, the more youths we take off the street, the more peace we are likely to have in the state, and I have a lot of excitement today because this is an event where we are graduating many of our youths in different entrepreneurship programmes.

"This has been very dear to my heart in the last eight years and I thank God that a few days to my exit, I am participating in the graduation of the last set of entrepreneurs in my tenure.

perity for all Deltans. We have laid a foundation for that and I believe that the foundation will be built upon.

"In our second tenure, we went into the Stronger Delta agenda, and the incoming administration has promised us more with its MORE agenda. This means that you (Deltans) are going to have more of what we have here today," he said.

The governor commended the people of the state for voting massively for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure continuity and sustainability of the skills development and empowerment programmes.

"I must truly thank Deltans who voted in support of continuity because we need a continued programme of this kind so that we can continue to impact on our youths.

"The stories may not all be told today but in the years to come, I believe that we are going to have great businesses springing up among the people who are here and those who have graduated from the programmes in the last eight years," he remarked.

He affirmed that the empowerment and job creation platforms had been institutionalised to ensure continuity, saying ``I believe that the very steps we have taken to engage our youths in entrepreneurship is in the best interest of this state.

"We cannot but do all that we can to encourage our youths to believe in our country and our state. And, I believe that the several thousands of entrepreneurs that have grown over these last few years will speak well for us in the future.

country", they stated.

The forum said after extensive deliberations, they noted that the position of SGF should be reserved for a Christian from the North Central region of the country, given importance of the region.

"Our position is hinged on creating an inclusiveness atmosphere for all the country's geopolitical regions. We must admit that given the present political arrangement, the North Central region has been left out temporarily.

"We wish to make it clear that credible persons of repute have contributed immensely to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria from the North Central region.

"These persons have proven their commitment to advancing democracy in Nigeria in ways too numerous to mention.

"Given the above fact, we believe that the outgoing governor of Plateau State, and Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong indeed fits the bill for the position of SGF.

"His track record of administrative competence as a one-time speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Governor of Plateau State, and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum speaks volume.

"Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong has been instrumental in entrenching peace and political stability by administrating policies that address the political, religious, and ethnic concerns in North Central and Northern Nigeria as a whole", they stated.

"I know that by the special grace of God, the incoming administration will continue and improve on the programme.

"From the beginning, we talked about the SMART Agenda and Pros-

"I appreciate the youths of Delta state and the support they have given me in the last eight years. The entrepreneurship programme has already been institutionalised because there is legislation that backs it up.

``So, I am sure that it will continue into the future," Okowa stated.

Peace, unity of 10th Senate germane to national development - Akpabio

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

Consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Senate Presidency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has reiterated the need for peace and unity in the 10th Senate, which he said is pivotal to the peace, progress and development of the country.

He told newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting with the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji in Ado- Ekiti on Tuesday that he will

be committed to a united parliament in both chambers of the National Assembly if given the opportunity by colleague senators to lead the 10th Senate and by extension, the 10th National Assembly, as chsirman.

Akpabio said, "despite our being the choice of the party leadership and president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, "we shall continue in our consultations with stakeholders and members of our party, particularly our brothers, who have also shown interest in occupying the office of the Senate President, inorder to have a peaceful and united Senate. "We shall continue to talk to them because we all need each other for the progress and unity of our country. "

Akpabio, who was accompanied to the meeting by Senators Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, Opeyemi Bamidele and several Senators-elect, thanked the Ekiti State Governor for his continued support for their aspirations and promised to carry all members along in the running of the Senate.

In his response, Oyebanji called on all Senators-elect to key into the Akpabio\Barau ticket for the stability of the incoming administration, saying, " We shall continue to stand by the choices of our party and the President-elect for the Senate Presidency and his deputy because we are committed partymen.

Ijaw Nation has made progress after Boro, says Gov Diri

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State said the Ijaw Nation has made significant progress in human and infrastructural development after the demise of its hero, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, 55 years ago.

Governor Diri made the assertion during the 2023 Boro Day public lecture and dinner held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall at Government House in Yenagoa.

The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said it was after Isaac Boro that the Ijaw nation was able to produce a President of Nigeria and several top-ranking public officeholders, including service chiefs in the armed forces.

He insisted that if Isaac Adaka Boro resurrected today he would be fully persuaded that the Ijaw ethnic group had gained more ground and momentum since his death in 1968.

His words: "I agree substantially with our lecturer this evening, Professor Ambily Etekpe, on the issues discussed, but I differ on when more progress was made in the Ijaw struggle.

"I believe that after Boro more mileage has been made, because Boro had paid the supreme price, which is the fertilizer that grows the tree of success and freedom.

"We have made steady progress even though we are not where we are

supposed to be. But definitely we are not where we used to be.

"If Boro rose today, he would be persuaded that we have gained more ground because it is after Boro that a son of the Ijaw nation, a son of Bayelsa became President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is after Boro we have Ijaw sons emerging as Chief of Army Staff, and Chief of Naval Staff. So we have not done badly."

Governor Diri who drew attention to Bayelsa's infrastructural drive under his administration, said the state was not doing badly in comparative terms with states created alongside it in 1996.

He pointed out that Bayelsa currently has three functional state uni-

Gov Diri charges N/Delta National Assembly members to champion review of 13% Derivation Formula

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

Bayelsa State government has urged members of the incoming 10th National Assembly from the Niger Delta area to vigorously agitate for an upward review of the 13% crude oil derivation formula to a minimum of 25%.

The state governor, Senator Douye Diri gave the charge at the 108th session of the state Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Government House, Yenagoa.

Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor expressed regret that the 13% oil derivation formula which was subject to a periodic review has remained stagnant since 2003.

He also called on the President-Elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, to fulfill his promises, especially on resource control for the sake of equity and fairness to the people of the Niger Delta, who are suffering the brunt of crude oil production in the country.

While expressing appreciation to Bayelsans for their large turn out yesterday (Tuesday) to celebrate and honour Iate Ijaw icon, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, he recalled that the issues of Boro's struggle which included injustice, inequality, self-determination and self-recognition still persist.

He asserted that the Ijaws who were the largest tribe before being balkanized into several states by the Nigerian state following the Arthur Richard Constitution, deserved to be accorded recognition, which is one

of the issues Boro agitated for.

Senator Diri therefore called on the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinunu to improve on the derivation formula to at least 25% as a champion of resource control himself towards addressing inequalities inherent in the revenue allocation system.

His words: "We use this opportunity to encourage our members in the National Assembly to agitate for the upward review of the 13% derivation formula which has remained stagnant for too long.

"Since 2003, the derivation formula has remained unchanged. We believe that the incoming administration of Senator Bola Tinunu who is an advocate of resource control, when he gets on the saddles as president.

"The incoming President has to make an improvement on the current 13% derivation formula to make it a minimum of 25% for a start and a maximum of 80% before he leaves office."

While applauding Bayelsans particularly the youths for their peaceful conduct during the Boro Day celebration, he stressed the need for them to recalibrate their approach towards actualizing the Ijaw struggle.

The Bayelsa Chief Executive also reiterated his call on the youths to be law abiding before, during and after the November 11 Governorship Election in the state and always engage themselves in meaningful endeavours.

"I also want to commend our youths who gave a better representation of Boro during this year's celebration. We are happy that there was no brigandage and no criminality.

versities, an airport, and had expanded the road infrastructure it inherited from previous administrations.

The Governor, therefore, called on the elders, youths, women, intellectuals and other stakeholders to close rank with government to sustain what is already on the ground to achieve more for the state.

He said: "When you look at the indices of development, in comparative terms, Bayelsa is not doing badly. Today, we have three state-owned universities, and I don't think any state created alongside Bayelsa can boast of three state universities.

"Our government has taken the frontiers of development by expand-

ing on what Senator Seriake Dickson started, and that is why you can now conveniently drive from the Ecumenical Centre to the Amassoma Road.

"We have also awarded contract for the construction of the last phase of that road from the Amassoma to Onopa. Let's sustain what we have, so that we can achieve more."

Earlier in his solidarity speech, the immediate past Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd) thanked the Bayelsa State Government for organizing the dinner and public lecture in the honour Isaac Boro to further enlighten the people on the Niger Delta struggle. He extolled Boro for his elevated

sense of patriotism by keeping faith with the cause he believed in, which was also instrumental to the enlistment of many Ijaw sons into the armed forces with some of them rising to the pinnacle of their military careers later on.

In his contribution, the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff, commended government that for bringing the Boro Day celebration back home was the best thing to do to honour the celebrated Ijaw hero.

King Diete-Spiff used the opportunity to call on the returning and fresh National Assembly members-elect from Bayelsa State to make an informed agitation for creation of more LGAs in Bayelsa State to meet the minimum constitutional requirement of 10 LGAs for a state.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the organizing committee for the Boro Day celebration in the state, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei pointed out that this was the first time the State Government was organizing a lecture and dinner of such magnitude as part of activities to relive the heroic exploits of Isaac Adaka Boro.

Gideon Ekeuwei, who is the Secretary to the State Government, expressed gratitude to the state government and all critical stakeholders for their invaluable contributions to the success of the programme.

In his lecture entitled, "The Ijaw Struggle: Before And After Isaac Adaka Boro", Professor Ambily Etekpe traced the struggle to the Arthur Richard's Constitution of 1946, which laid groundwork for regionalism and subsequent balkanization of the Ijaw nation.

I'll transform Kogi to robust, fast-growing, knowledge driven economy - Dino

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye has promised to transform the state into one of the most robust, fastest-growing and knowledge driven economies in the country by the year 2030.

Melaye said while reeling out his mission plan and vision for Kogi State in Abuja on Wednesday at the inauguration of selected committee to draft Policy Document for his governorship campaign.

He said the state needed a total turn around because it has remained a confluence of unrealised potentials, lacklustre socio-economic performance and massive frustration, despite being one of the most endowed states in Nigeria in terms of natural and human resources.

In order to reverse this unacceptable trend and to actualise his vision,

he said "we intend to follow the path of nations and regions in the world who have achieved monumental socio-economic transformation through visioning, thoughtful experimentation, adequate planning and unwavering determination to bring dreams into reality. For example, what changed in Dubai or Singapore was not their climate, or people or natural resources but a leadership with extraordinary vision and total commitment to deliberate and sustained efforts to bring dreams into reality.

"The world economy has changed. There was a time when agriculture and manufacturing were the main drivers of growth and wealth creation but today close to 2/3rd of the global economy is a knowledge economy. That is why single individuals now have companies that are bigger than some national economies and nations or regions that understand the language of science and technology have become stupendously rich.

"Some of those nations do not

even have natural resources. Kogi State is extremely lucky that both the old and new pathways to socio-economic development are open to us. We can, therefore, attain our vision by effectively harnessing our abundant natural and human resources while also drawing heavily on the experience of other climes in the application of the new methods for creating growth and wealth in the 21st century."

In the hight of the foregoing, he charged the Committee to propose effective strategies, policies and programmes for attaining the vision as well as the mission of creating an economically vibrant, socially integrated and politically stable Kogi State.

Dwelling on his focal mission for the state, Melaye said "firstly, in a globalised and borderless economy, no country or state can realise its full potentials without attracting private investments from all over the world. There is a lot investible capital out there and many investors are looking for where to birth their investments.

NGX sustains gaining streak, up by N87.95bn

Access Bank drives global expansion plan with subsidiary in Paris

TEMITOPE ADEBAYO

The equities market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Wednesday sustained the bullish run for the third consecutive trading session this week, as the market capitalization gained N87.95billion to close at N28.63trillion, against N28.54 trillion reported on Tuesday.

The stocks market, also, closed higher as the benchmark index gained 0.31 per cent to settle at

52,580.86 points.

The NGX statistics showed that interests in ZENITHBANK (+2.65%), GTCO (+4.18%) and FBNH (+0.83%) kept the market in the positive territory.

As a result, the year-to-date (YTD) return rose to 2.59 per cent, while market activities showed trade turnover settled higher relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions up by 16.24 per cent.

A total of 680.80m shares

valued at N7.89billion were exchanged in 6,666 deals. FIDELITYBK (-2.12%) led the volume chart with 254.05million units traded, while GTCO (+4.18%) led the value chart in deals worth N1.57billion. Market breadth closed positive at a 1.67-to-1 ratio with advancing issues outnumbering declining ones. NB (+9.63%) led twenty-four (24) others on the leader’s log while TRANSCORP (-5.23%) topped fourteen (14) others on the laggard’s table.

How Nigeria spent $25bn on oil, gas importation amidst production decline

MOTOLANI OSENI

Nigeria’s crude oil and gas importation cost grew by more than 21 per cent annually over five years to about $25 billion in the fiscal year 2022, industry analysts have revealed.

This is even as the nation’s oil production fell to 998,602 barrels per day (bpd), a 21.26 per cent decline compared to March when output was 1,268,202 bpd, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) disclosed this in its latest crude oil and condensate production data for April 2023.

It is, however, worthy of note that rising importation bills has remained one of the drivers of foreign currency outflow in Nigeria. Oil import, which has proven to be a disadvantage to the level of FX inflow, occurs as a result of low crude oil refining capacity by local infrastructure following years of neglect by the government.

Over the years, rising oil and gas import bills remain a downside to growing Nigeria’s external reserves; in addition to sustained forex market intervention. Despite being a major exporter in Africa, Nigeria’s foreign reserves stay below $40 billion over challenges surrounding output level.

In a market review, analysts at Afrinvest Limited attribute rising crude oil and gas imports to local refineries’ inefficiencies and other supply chain bottlenecks. The Nigerian government has been unable to solve the supply chain equation that reduces the country’s upside advantage as an oil exporting nation.

In its macroeconomic note, Afrinvest Limited analysts said they expect the federal government to reduce its import bills on fuel, thereby reducing FX pressures.

“Over the last five years, Nigeria’s crude oil and gas imports rose by a cumulative annual growth rate of 21.1 per cent to $24.9 billion in 2022 due to inefficiencies of local refineries among other factors”, Afrinvest said in its macroeconomic note.

Consequently, the volume of production is at its lowest point in the last seven months. In 2022, oil production fell below one million bpd in August and September owing to several issues, including oil theft.

NUPRC report shows that oil production decreased from 1.517 million bpd in March 2023 to 1.245 million bpd in April 2023, with the addition of condensate.

Speaking about the current oil output, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer (CEO) of the NUPRC, on Wednesday, said oil production is currently about one million bpd below “its technically allowable capacity”.

Komolafe attributed the low oil production to a number of issues, including the energy transition’s impact on hydrocarbon funding, a lack of investments, and insecurity.

Oil production including condensates fell to a low of 1.1 mbpd in July 2022, averaging 1.5 mbpd for the full year, from 2.1 in 2019, due to oil theft, pipeline vandalism, ageing infrastructure, and low investment.

Production recovered to 1.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) in March, helped by a resumption

of the Forcardos terminal and Trans-Niger pipeline, and a stepping-up of onshore surveillance to tackle theft.

Fitch forecasts a further increase to 1.75 mbpd in 2024, saying that there will be a marked increase in refining capacity in 2023 when the Dangote plant commences operations reducing import costs. Dangote Refinery is expected to come on stream with 0.65 mbpd capacity.

“Dangote refinery present major opportunity to block FX drain”, Afrinvest said in a report. The investment firm however added that the private infrastructure is short of being a silver bullet to all of Nigeria’s FX, energy, and revenue crises.

In 2022, non-oil export revenue came in at $5.6 billion, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria but crude oil export remains the country’s main source of revenue and foreign exchange earnings, analysts said.

In a report, Cowry Asset Managers said the decline in production will have a negative impact on the government’s finances. Nigeria’s daily crude oil production has averaged 1.21 million barrels per day (bpd) so far in 2023, despite the uncertainty and other forms of sabotage and vandalism that have befallen the sector.

In April, there were a number of attacks on oil pipelines, which resulted in a loss of production. Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) was attacked on April 1, 2023, and the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) was attacked on April 15, 2023.

These attacks resulted in the loss of about 200,000 barrels per day of production, analysts said,

TEMITOPE

spart of its ongoing global expansion plans, Access Bank’s parent company, Access Holdings, has officially opened a new subsidiary in Paris, the French capital.

The bank in a statement, explained that the new branch’s operations would focus on trade finance, initially capitalizing on flows between Africa and France, particularly Francophone Africa.

In recent years, the company has opened branches in a number of African countries and in the United Kingdom

Speaking on the latest venture, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, said the new subsidiary will allow the company to reach a wider range of clients.

He said, “Access Bank Plc, today, has a very strong presence in the United Kingdom, but coming on the heels of Brexit, there was a need for us to establish a presence in another country in Europe and France provides a very strong platform for us to do so.

“Beyond that, Access Bank has a great presence in the Francophone world that relies significantly in terms of trade on France, so, Ac-

cess Bank in Paris will work to support trade possibilities and trade finance solutions to businesses in those regions, ranging from large conglomerates to SMEs and more.”

Wigwe also noted that products and services will be an essential resource for businesses seeking to conduct international trade.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna added:

“Over the years, we have demonstrated a strong commitment to deepening the bank’s presence across Africa and beyond.

“Today, we are proud to have a presence in 18 countries across four continents, serving millions of customers and businesses.

“Indeed, our expansion drive has been guided by our vision to become the world’s most respected African bank, and by building on our strong track record of innovation, customer service, and social responsibility, we have come one step closer to achieving this goal.”

Access Corporation had in January 2023 unveiled a new five-year strategic plan, 2023-2027, aimed at deepening financial inclusion that would impact the value chain in Africa and achieving global expansion.

Senate aviation committee condemns high airfares, picketing

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

The Chairperson, Senate Committee On Aviation, Senator Biodun Olujimi says there is need to reduce air fares in Nigeria to enable more Nigerians travel by air.

Delivering her Goodwill Message at the FAAN National Aviation Conference (FNAC) 2023, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Senator Olujimi noted that high airfares constitute a challenge to Nigeria’s aviation industry, which she said provided significant benefits to Nigeria’s economy and contributes 4% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She however, noted that the industry had not been able to reach its expectations because of inadequacy of infrastructure

and other problems one of which she said was picketing by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Olujimi said there should be a better way of settling labour issues other than picketing, particularly in the aviation industry, adding that “the time is ripe for the unions to know that there are certain industries where picketing cannot be allowed.”

She equally identified constant destructions and demolitions around the airports as another problem that had bedeviled the industry in recent times.

“The government should be up and doing and ensure the issue of encroachments is looked at,” she said.

ADEBAYO

Nigeria’s cargo export loses $1bn annually, not encouraging, says AviaCargo

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

Coordinator, AviaCargo, Road Map Committee, Mr Ikechi Uko has said that despite Nigeria being the largest producer of many Agro-products globally, it loses $1bn annually to non-certification of Agri-produce for export. This is just as he has lamented that 80 per cent of containers arriving Nigeria return empty and out of every 10 containers that come into the country laden with imports, only about 1 or 3 leave the country with exports.

According to statistics he churned out in 2021, Nigeria was 5th biggest African exporting nation alongside South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco accounting for over 55.7 per cent of the continent’s overall export by value ( worldexports.com).

Airports Council International (ACI) same year put value to the cargo exports value in tons with the Murtala Muhammed Interna-

tional Airport accounting for 204, 649 tons behind the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,Kenya with the highest exports at 363,204 tons, while Cairo international Airport, Egypt had 333, 536 tons and Oliver Reginald International Airport South Africa with 304, 018 and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with 226, 417.

He made this known in his presentation: Repositioning Cargo Operations through Development of Agriculture and Natural resources in Nigeria at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Aviation Conference

as governments’ bureaucracy were cited.

Others include, high cost of preservation and packaging to global standard, poor logistics, insecurity, weakness of supervision, poor airport infrastructure, lack of government support, mindset/attitudes, lack of skilled manpower, taxes and charges and funding.

According to him, Nigeria is already a leader in most Agricultural produces,and should target improvement in Agricultural practices, invest in solving the huge logistic problems of Agricultural produces as well as enhance certification of

farms and operators in the value chain.

In addition, the nation must insist on traceability of all exportable produce, tackle the mayhem at the export cargo terminals and must upgrade packaging of all exports as well as incentivize the production of high value export crops and mitigate identified procedural and regulatory obstacles.

He stressed that all agricultural exports from Nigeria must start from a farm certified by the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) or a global GAP registered farm through a secured cargo pathway.

(FNAC)

2023 where he

broke

down

some of the obstacles to free flowing expo

According to Mr. Uko, Nigeria has ranked quite high in the world agricultural commodities produce thriving products like yam, ginger, cocoa beans, pineapple, onions,chilli peppers, groundnuts among others.

He however said obstacles including non compliance of farmers to internationally and domestically accepted standards, lack of certification, inability to Trace (Traceability), lack of access to international markets; lack of knowledge on global requirements as well

CBN to pay N25/$ rebate to exporters of unprocessed items

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says exporters of raw and unprocessed items will be paid a rebate of N25 for every dollar of non-oil export proceeds sold to third parties at the importers and exporters (I&E) window.

The apex bank announced the development in a circular dated May 10, 2023 and signed by O.S. Nnaji, director of trade & exchange department.

The rebate is part of the benefits under the non-oil export proceeds repatriation rebate scheme — a major anchor of the CBN’s RT200 FX programme which is aimed at attracting $200 billion in foreign exchange earnings from non-oil exports proceeds over the next three to five years.

Last week, the apex bank announced that exporters of unprocessed items would enjoy a rebate.

Since last year, a rebate of N65 for every $1 of repatriated non-oil export proceeds has been paid to exporters of semi-finished and finished goods.

Nnaji said the payment of the graduated rebate amount is expected to encourage exporters of primary products to enhance their capacity and eventually engage in value-added exports.

He said the rebate scheme became effective on April 1, 2023.

The circular reads in part: “Further to the circu-

lar dated February 25, 2022 referenced TED/FEM/FPC/ GEN/01/002 on the above subject and the outcome of deliberations at the just concluded third edition of the RT200 Non-0il Export bi-annual Summit, the Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to state as follows:

Export of products in their raw form shall be eligible for rebate.

A rebate amount of N25 for every $1 repatriated and sold on the Investors’ & Exporters’ Window (1&E) for third party use shall apply.

While N15 for every USD$1 repatriated and sold

AfDB approves $11.7m to improve access to fertilizers for African farmers

on the Investors’ & Exporters’ Window (1&E) for own use shall apply.

The effective date for implementation will be April 01, 2023.”

Nnaji further directed that all authorised dealers are to ensure strict compliance to the rebate scheme.

JOY OBAKEYE

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $11.7 million budgetary allocation to the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism for its 2023 operations.

The approval added up to $16.4 million extended to the Facility to support its 2023 budget. It includes $4.7 million, which was carried over from the previous year.

The Board of Directors also validated AFFM's 2023 program of activities: strengthening the fertilizer sector through access to finance, supporting the development of sustainable policy reforms to improve fertilizer production, trade and use, and facilitating access to inputs and technical assistance for smallholder farmers.

AFFM plans to continue implementing three commercial credit guarantee projects amounting to $8.3 million. The recipient countries are Zimbabwe ($4.3 million), Côte d'Ivoire ($2 million), and Ghana ($2 million). For 2023, it plans to implement trade credit guarantee schemes totalling $9.7 million in Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and Kenya. Three more new projects could be launched in Senegal, Zambia and Ghana if the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID) follows through on its $15 million commitment to the AFFM.

The 2023 projects will be implemented to support the second pillar of the Bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility which was launched to avert a looming food crisis in Africa following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In addition, AFFM will actively work with African countries and other key stakeholders to develop the national food and agriculture pacts that the continent's leaders presented at the Feed Africa Summit in Dakar in January 2023.

The AFFM will facilitate smallholder farmers' access to inputs and extension services through credit guarantee projects and capacity building for farmers and input distributors. Objectives: to ensure proper use of fertilizers, increase agricultural productivity and improve soil conditions.n in Africa (AGRA) on initiatives to improve fertilizer production, trade and use launched in 2021. It will also conduct an in-depth analysis of fertilizer policy in at least ten African countries, which will map the current situation, identify gaps and prepare an action plan. The aim is to support policy orientations that will address the identified shortcomings.

MAN demands halt on 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures to enable economic stability

STORIES BY JOY OBAKEYE

The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Francis Meshioye, has urged the federal government to suspend the 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPMs) on excise duty and retain the 2022 -2024 excise duty roadmap as approved in the 2022 FPM, to foster stability in the affected sectors and their value chain, in the interest of the national economy.

Meshioye disclosed this in Lagos, at a press conference by MAN on the “Increase in Excise Rates for Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, as contained in the 2023 FPMs dated 20th April 2023.

He noted that the rate of the excise increase was exponential and excessively burdensome as the FPM increased the excise for beer products by about 200 per cent, while the tobacco industry was being taxed five times more than average the average for other industries.

He stated that the increases in excise duties on beer and tobacco as contained in the FPM were, “an increase on an increase,” since there was already an existing ap-

President-Elect Asiwaju

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to overhaul the small and medium-scale enterprises development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment, (NDE), and Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

The Association of Nigeria Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT), in conjunction with the Rikiji Foundation, argued that as movers of Nigeria’s micro economy and service providers, they had been so much neglected by previous administrations.

Led by Hon Sanusi Gusau, they claimed that the aforementioned agencies saddled with the responsibility to look after the functionality of ar-

proved increase for 2023.

According to him, “Reverse the tax on Single Use Plastics and engage with relevant stakeholders to facilitate ongoing initiatives, which have a better prospect of achieving the desired environmental objectives. A good example of this is the Food & Beverage Recycling Alliance, approved by the federal government.

“Consider, with input from the sector and other critical stakeholders, alter-

tisans and technicians in the country had failed to live up to their mandates.

Gusau who is the director of Artisans and Technicians, APC Presidential Campaign Council Directorate, at a press conference in Abuja, stated: “We therefore humbly call upon the leadership of the incoming administration for the total overhauling of agencies like the SMEDAN, NDE, and Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for an effective economic revitalization and enhanced productivity in the country by improving on small and agro-allied industries thereby creating employment opportunities, increasing our Gross Domestic Products (GDP), ad-

native measures to achieve revenue and other objectives of the government sustainably.”

The president of MAN warned that it would be illusory for the federal government to persist in implementing the 2023 FPM in the hope that it would garner more revenue, adding that the measures would spike illicit trade in tobacco products to its current levels of 15 per cent to undesirable levels of above 50 per cent

dressing the issues of youth restiveness and insecurity in the country.

The artisans maintained that they would stop at nothing to protect their five million votes during the presidential poll in February this year.

The group noted: “We would like to send out a strict warning to those who are trying to discredit the outcome of the presidential election, we are saying it loud and clear that we the artisans voted and contributed about five million votes to the presidential election and we are more than ready to defend our votes, elections have come and gone, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won fairly and squarely.”

of the sector that government would receive no revenue from.

“The decline in profitability of the industry will result in a decline in the industry’s total tax contribution to the government, because companies’ income tax (CIT), value-added tax (VAT) and education tax are directly tied to the performance and profitability of the company.

“In Q1 2023, while tobacco manufacturer’s contribution to excise grew by 7.0 per cent, its VAT contribution dropped by -36 per cent compared to the same period in 2022,” Meshioye said.

He further argued that the manufacturing sector’s value chain would be severely impacted as a crash in sale volumes and consequent cuts in production would severely impact these businesses in the value chain, which will have a multiplier effect on the national economy.

“For instance, supplier transactions in the sector declined by over N260 billion by the end of 2022, when compared to 2021.

“The total excise derivable from the excisable sector is insignificant when

They thereby called on those aggrieved with the outcome of the general elections to explore lawful means to address their grievances rather than indulge in sowing the seeds of discord in the polity.

They recalled those five months ago, the leadership of the association took it upon themselves to converge over 5000 artisans and technicians nationwide for the sole purpose of publicly declaring support for Tinubu.

They noted that in light of the event, they launched the operation at 30:30 in which all the artisans and technicians nationwide were tasked to mobilize 30 artisans per polling unit in the whole of the country.

Lagos Fair to showcase leather potential value

The Lagos Leather Fair is set to launch the Lagos Leather Fair Accelerator Programme (LLF) to showcase the potential value of the leather industry in Nigeria and Africa.

The launching of the 2023 edition would celebrate its sixth year of Lagos Leather Fair which has consistently maintained its leading position as the driving force behind the realization of the untapped opportunities in the Nigerian leather ecosystem and Africa as a whole.

The 2023 edition themed Staying Ahead: Creativity | Collaboration | Commitment, will take place from

the 17th to the 18th of June in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Leather Fair will bring together indigenous brands, emerging and established designers as well as international brands to showcase their products and services to the defined audience.

The launching of the LLF Accelerator Programme will grow and strengthen their skills and acquire critical knowledge with the help of entrepreneurs who possess relevant industry experience.

Speaking on the announcement of LLF2023, the founder of Lagos Leather Fair, Femi Olayebi said: “The

annual celebration of Lagos Leather Fair is a proof point of our unflinching commitment towards finding sustainable solutions to scale the African leather industry and ensure that the Made-in-Nigeria Project and Zero-Oil Initiative becomes a reality.”

"For over five years, we have created an enabling environment for key players to maximise the potential of the leather industry; we are delighted about LLF2023 and look forward to the significant impact it will make in Nigeria and across Africa.”

LLF2023 will feature a series of engaging conversations and masterclasses where selected speakers

compared to Nigeria’s revenue needs. The revenue need of the government has been mooted as a reason for the excise increase. However, the total excise

receivable from the sector is insignificant when compared to Nigeria’s revenue needs. The total excise received in 2022 was about a billion,” he said.

FG unveils revised national agricultural seed policy to boost productivity

will be available to share insights on relevant and key topics that affect the African leather industry while featuring a well-curated series of workshops for creatives.

These workshops will focus on the techniques and fundamentals of shoemaking, and growth and marketing strategies with the aid of social media using case studies. A very special workshop – Cracking Global Markets: How African Brands can go from Local to Global – is also being organised for twenty-five (25) selected brands. This workshop will be facilitated by an International fashion and retail consultancy.

In addition, LLF2023,

The Federal Government has launched the Revised National Agricultural Seed Policy, 2022 to boost farmers’ productivity and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through agriculture.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, disclosed that the revised policy has removed the grey areas in the 2015 National Seed Policy.

He added that the policy introduced innovations that optimised the regulatory, promotional and protection roles of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in ensuring that farmers have access to improved quality seeds.

Some of these, he said, include the introduction of SEEDCODEX as a quality authentication tool and traceability aimed at curbing adulteration, and the participation of third-party seed inspectors in quality assurance.

Others are the establishment of satellite and private seed testing laboratories and strategic seed banks to act as reserve and buffer

stocks in case of food emergencies and encourage active participation of women and youth in seed business along the seed value chain, among other innovations, embedded in the new policy.

“Some of these achievements have enabled the availability of 89,512.10 MT of assorted improved seed varieties for planting by farmers in the 2023 cropping season.

“Also, Nigeria is about depositing the instrument of ascension to the UPOV General Assembly for Nigeria to take advantage of the international seed trade,” he added.

The Director-General, of NASC, Dr Phillip Ojo, said the policy will further enhance the government’s efforts at ensuring that Nigeria is not only food secured but a net exporter of agricultural produce among the comity of nations.

Ojo said the policy will leverage the advent of technology and innovations in the seed industry.

He further expressed the commitment of NASC to the implementation of the policy.

he noted, will feature Pitch-A-LeatherBiz, a pitching session where Individual brands will pitch their business ideas to prospective investors before an audience.

Lagos Leather Fair will also be introducing LLF Awards, aimed at recognising excellence and innovation, and honour outstanding leather designers.

ITF, SMEDAN, NDE have failed to live up to their mandates, says artisans' union

NIMASA Abuja Zonal office to serve as bridge between FMOT, others –Sambo

STORIES BY TEMITOPE ADEBAYO

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo said that the new commissioned Nigeria Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Abuja Zonal Office will serves as the nexus point between the NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the National Assembly, and all other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Sambo, who made this disclosure while delivering his opening remarks at the commissioning of zonal office in Abuja during the week, also, included critical stakeholders like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), amongst others.

He explained that the Abuja Zonal Office further oversees the operations of the NIMASA’s Lokaja Safety Base, thereby playing a pivotal role in delivering the Agency’s regulatory responsibilities on safety matters in our inland waterways.

According to him, the role of the NIMASA cannot be understated in the delivery of Nigeria’s economic potential.

He added that there is a strong need to put in place strategic and tangible structures that will yield quantifiable and intangible dividends in the years to come.

“I am delighted to commission the NIMASA Abuja Zonal Office today, May 16, 2023, here in the Diplomatic Zone of the Central Area, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. As a nation at the cusp of an Economic Renaissance, with boundless opportunities in its Maritime Domain, the role of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency cannot be understated in the delivery of Nigeria’s economic potential.

“However, for us as a nation to achieve our potential, there is a strong need to put in place strategic and tangible structures that will yield quantifiable and intangible dividends in the years to come.

“As we flag off the Commissioning of all Completed Projects by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, what will become apparent for all to see is the intentionality, commitment and focus of the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure that the proper foundation

is put in place so that as a people, we can continuously build towards a greater tomorrow,” he added.

“Today, we are gathered here to commission the newly acquired NIMASA Abuja Zonal Office. At the same time, there may be those who will raise questions about the need for a Maritime Administration to secure an office in Abuja, where there is no ocean.

“But I assure you that the acquisition of this office is not to fulfil another bureaucratic justification but due to the responsibilities and functions that the zonal office plays in discharging NIMASA’s mandate.

Therefore, he said due to the strategic role the Abuja Zonal Office plays, it became imperative to establish a permanent station as several limiting factors encumber the current office from the restrictive nature of operating from a rented property, limiting NIMASAs ability to restructure and modify the facility to meet exigencies necessary to increase productivity, to the long-term financial implications of paying exorbitant rents.

“Apart from the reduction of cost of governance, the New Abuja Zonal Office will serve as the centrepiece of government relations on matters with bilateral and Multilateral implications on International Trade and Cooperation, as such, enable the Agency to host Foreign Diplomats and other key Maritime Stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory, thereby helping the Agency speedily achieve its mandate especially when they need to reach out to the different arms of Government.

He stated that all these factors have led to the acquisition of the New Abuja Zonal Office and serve as further proof of the growth in capacity of the NIMASA due to its deepened role in the economic development of Nigeria.

“As the supervisory Ministry, our support for NIMASA and the expansion of the maritime sector has been and will continue to be immense, and we are happy that the ripple effects of the support cuts across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

“We remain committed to our oversight function as we continue to create the enabling operational regimes for the Agencies and Departments under the FMOT. This project is, therefore, a pointer to our determination in that regard.

“At this juncture, it is important to appreciate the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, the Vice President, His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, and all the members of the Federal Executive Council for approving the procurement of the New Abuja Zonal Office

“Furthermore, l acknowledge and commend the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, the Board of the Agency, members of the Executive Management, Top Management and Staff of NIMASA, and their contractors Messrs. Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited for the successful delivery of this project which will no doubt serve the good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

$1.5bn Lekki port would begin transhipment of

cargoes

-Olubi-Neye

The promoters of the Lekki Port and Lekki Freeport Terminal have stated that the $1.5 billion Lekki port would begin transshipment of cargoes in the coming weeks, noting that the move would see Nigeria wrest lost cargoes from its neighbouring West African countries.

Chief Commercial Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Kehinde Olubi-Neye who stated this during a chat with newsmen in Lagos, explained that to fast track cargo clearance and movements in and around the ports, approximately $100 million was invested in port equipment, assuring that the port has the technical capacity, draft and state-of-the-art equipment to recover transship cargoes bound for landlocked countries.

“The opportunity is to explore transshipment of cargoes to other regional countries in Africa. We are in the process of transshipment with the support of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and when the first transhipment vessel arrives in the coming weeks.

“The Lekki Freeport Terminal has discussed with stakeholders including Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and they are confident that recovering transshipment cargoes not just for the hinterland but also for landlocked countries and other regional countries will be back in the country.

“We are here to connect global maritime trade into Nigeria and that is why we have the deepest draft here. We do not have this draft anywhere else in Lagos and arguably, in some of the West Af-

rican countries as well. We are not here to compete with other ports but to render services to the Nigerian people,” he said.

According to him, the volume of cargoes coming into the port is low at the moment, but vessels are already using the ports.

He said the port has also seen the opportunity to play a role in the uptake of cargo in the eastern ports, which is why they are currently having discussions on moving containers discharged at Lekki Port by barge to Calabar, Warri, and Onitsha River Port among others to help increase the economy of those ports.

He said the port is exploring the possibility of moving cargo by barges and has been able to execute more than five barge moves of over 900 twenty-foot equivalent units of containers (TEUs) from Lekki Port to the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He further hinted that the port has completed a truck park very close to the port that has capacity to accommodate 150 trucks.

On his part, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko who was represented by Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, Ikechukwu Onyemakara, described Lekki Port as a Nigerian project and assured that the NPA would do everything within it powers to grant necessary approvals and provide marine services to the port.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Yann Magarian, said the Lekki Port would shape the maritime economy of the country and called on Nigerians to embrace and promote the port.

How corrupt practices, human factors hamper VIN valuation policy –ANLCA Ag. President

The acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Kayode Farinto, has said that the VIN valuation has been distorted and bastardised and that was not the plan of those that actually gave us this idea.

Farinto added that, we have a situation where our members are forced to part with money having gone through the procedure. These are the things we must stop.

“The intention of VIN valuation is to discourage one on one contact. You do everything seamlessly online but now even when you have your VIN valuation some officers will still insist that you must come and see them. The VIN valuation has been ,” these were the words of

Farinto, lamented that Nigeria does not have a listening government, saying that the incoming government needs an SSA office to the Presidency on maritime affairs who will collate information and take it immediately to the Presidency for it to be attended to immediately, which is what this present government lack.

He also talked about the nation’s cargo diversion into neighbouring countries, Lekki deep seaport and cargo transshipment, issues surrounding Vehicles Identification Number (VIN), drop in importation and the changes he will bring to the freight forwarding sector and what ANLCA members stand to benefit if elected as ANLCA president and among others.

Senate to CBN: Release $717.4m trapped airlines' funds

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN

The Oyo State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been turned into mourning mood over the death of yet another of their member, Deacon Tunde Ogunesan.

This is just as a notable politician in the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Honourable Akinwale Solomon Akinwole, joined the union in mourning the former chairman of the Nigerian Tribune Chapel of the union.

The death of Ogunesan was announced by the state chapter of the union on Monday. He was said to have joined the saints triumphant during a brief illness on Sunday. A consummate journalist and devout Christian, he was chairman of Tribune Chapel of the NUJ when Stephen Gbadamosi was secretary of the union in the revered newspaper house.

Akinwole, also known as Wolekanle, in a statement, described the demise of Ogunesan, who was also the Secretary to the Local Government (SLG) of Saki East Local Government Area of the state, as shocking and devastating.

NUJ, PDP chief mourn ex-Tribune Chapel NUJ chairman, Ogunesan

a professional media practitioner and dynamic politician with integrity.

“The gentleman was full of ideas and passion for the development of Oke Ogun, some of which he shared with me during the electioneering campaign.”

The politician said “though his sudden demise at this time is a great loss, we can only take solace in the fact that he lived an impactful life, served humanity and, above all, served God with all his heart.

“I commiserate with his immediate and extended family, political associates and friends as well as his professional colleagues. May Almighty God grant him eternal rest and give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been asked to release trapped funds to the tune of $717, 478, 606 to airlines operating in the country.

The charge on the apex bank was made by the Senate on Wednesday during plenary.

The upper chamber also called on the Federal Government to urgently reverse the current trend of increasing airlines blocked funds in Nigeria.

It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele to pay up the blocked funds to the affected airlines. Also was the Central Bank was demanded to allocate $25 million to airlines operating in Nigeria at its forthrightly dollar auction.

These resolutions of the upper chamber were consequent upon the

consideration of a motion titled: “Current Issues on airlines blocked funds in Nigeria”sponsored by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti South ) during plenary.

But the motion was presented on her behalf by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Bala Na'Allah (APC-Kebbi North).

Furtherance to this, the Senate appealed to the operating airlines in the country not to withdraw their services while efforts are on-going to resolve the issue.

Moving the motion, Na’Allah said that since Jan. 2021, Nigeria has been the most challenging country in the world for the airlines to repatriate their funds to support their operation.

"In Feb. Nigeria alone accounted for 44 per cent of total airlines blocked funds in the entire world.

“The total airlines blocked funds in Nigeria as at March amounted to $717,478,606, comprising matured

bids that the CBN is yet to deliver, bids yet to mature and cash balances in airlines' accounts for repatriation.

“The matured bids not delivered by CBN amounted to $186.5 million amounting for 26 per cent of total blocked funds while three stakeholders (IATA, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines) accounted for 57 per cent of total blocked funds;

“A review of airlines' blocked funds in Nigeria in the last six months shows an average monthon-month increase of $49.3million

"The consequences of these blocked funds are: Cheap tickets are not available in Nigeria because taxes and inflation would have eroded the profit when the funds are kept for a very long time.

"This makes tickets very expensive and limited because neighbouring countries get the cheap tickets because of prompt payments due to prompt repatriation of funds.

Folarin inaugurates multi-billion naira 100-bed mother, child hospital

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, ABUJA

The chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content and 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, on Tuesday inaugurated a multi-billion naira 100-bed mother and child hospital in Oyo Central Senatorial District

of the state.

The three-term senator was joined by Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Honourable (Mrs.) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; and Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, to inaugurate the project.

Folarin, in his remarks, said that he

facilitated the project to relief UCH, the only federal tertiary health institution in Oyo State, in the area of qualitative healthcare for women and children in Oyo Central Senatorial District.

“The 100-bed mother and child hospital is equipped with state-ofthe-art facilities, including operating theatres, recovery rooms, private and general wards, scanning room, consultation rooms and laboratory, ultra-scan machine, vacuum extractor delivery set and an emergency cart with full compliments.

“The advanced medical facility also has quarters for doctors and other medical personnel. The project was made possible through office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on SDGs. Therefore, for and on behalf of the good people of Oyo Central Senatorial District and Oyo State at large, I extend most sincere gratitude to Mr. President and H.E Honourable (Mrs.) Orelope-Adefulire for the consideration and successful completion of the project.

"The healthcare facility will be operational as soon as members of management board are appointed," he said.

Wolekanle, who contested for the Oyo North Senatorial District seat on the ticket of the PDP in the last general elections, said he knew “Tunde as

Oguensan, until his death, was also a deacon at the iconic Cooks Memorial Baptist Church, Oja’ba in Ibadan, the state capital.

Marathon cooking record: Former presidential aspirant, hails Hilda Baci

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

Former Deputy National Youth Coordinator of the dissolved Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council, Nicolas Felix, has congratulated Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, for breaking world record in cooking marathon.

The youngest presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) expressed conviction that her achievement was what he has always believed that the average Nigerian youth is enterprising and not lazy.

Baci had on Monday morning, broken record after she surpassed Indian chef, Lata Tandon, who set a Guinness World Record for cooking for 87 hours and 45 minutes non-stop in 2019 to become the new 'Guinness World Record' holder.

The 27-year-old Akwa Ibom, born chef, who started the cooking campaign on May 11 completed 100 hours to set a new record by beating Tandon to the previous record.

An excited Felix disclosed in a state-

ment issued in Abuja on Wednesday, stating that Baci's feat is a reminder that if motivated and given the right working environment, the Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit will ensure youths, excelled.

"I congratulate Hilda Effiong Bassey on her record-breaking achievement. It is a clear evidence of the can-do spirit of the Nigerian youths.

"She has made us proud. This emphasises my belief that the average young person out there, has an entrepreneurial spirit and not lazy.

"I believe she represents one of the brilliant minds, the incoming government of Bola Tinubu plans to bring into governance.

"As the former nationl deputy youth coordinator for the APC PCC, I have met a number of innovative minds from various sectors.

"I want to implore every youth to borrow a leaf from Hilda Effiong Bassey by seeking self improvement to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and market conditions," he said.

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

From right, chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Teslim Folarin; Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Honourable (Mrs.) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; and Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, during the inauguration of 100-bed mother and child hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Tuesday. Photo: STEPHEN GBADAMOSI.

Exclusive: Prince Harry and Meghan’s security detail say car chase ‘could

least eight killed by heavy flooding in Italy, as river levels continue to rise

At least eight people have been killed by heavy flooding and mudslides in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, with more than 13,000 residents being forced to evacuate, according to local authorities.

Three people died in the city of Forli, one died in a mudslide in Cesenate, and a married couple died in the village of Ronta di Cesena, according to the attendees of an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. Two others died overnight.

magna Grand Prix, scheduled for this weekend, has been canceled and the site evacuate.

Fourteen rivers burst their banks in the region, forcing people in cities such as Cesena to climb onto the roof of their buildings to escape incoming water, Reuters reported. Firefighters rescued them with helicopters or rubber dinghies.

Amember of the security team protecting Prince Harry and Meghan has described a “chaotic” chase in New York involving paparazzi photographers on Tuesday, saying it could have ended with fatalities.

Speaking exclusively to CNN, Chris Sanchez said the Sussexes were chased by photographers after leaving the Women of Vision Awards at the city’s Ziegfeld Ballroom.

In the end, no one was injured and the couple arrived safely, but shaken, at the apartment where they were staying, he said.

“I have never seen, experienced anything like this. What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles,” Sanchez said.

“The public were in jeopardy at several points. It could have been fatal. They were jumping curbs and red lights. At one point they blocked the limousine (carrying the couple) and started taking pictures until we were able to get

out,” he added.

Police said the incident was “challenging” but there were no collisions and no one was hurt.

Sanchez said he “was concerned about the principals (Prince Harry and Meghan) but more about the public because they (the paparazzi) were being so erratic. People were on sidewalks and crossing streets and the (paparazzi) were crossing red lights. We did everything by the letter of law.”

Harry and Meghan switched cars “more than once” during the car chase, Sanchez said. The couple was seen leaving the awards ceremony in a black car and they were spotted in a yellow cab later.

After the incident, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “were scared, exhausted, but relieved to be back,” he added.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said it had been assisting the Sussexes’ private security team on Tuesday evening and that “there were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging.”

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination

and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard,” said Julian Phillips, Deputy Commissioner for Public Information at the NYPD.

A member of Prince Harry and Meghan's security detail told CNN a car chase involving paparazzi photographers in New York on Tuesday "could have been fatal."

Prince Harry has been outspoken about the security of his family, often comparing his wife’s treatment to that of his mother, Diana.

The couple’s spokesperson said that while “being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety” and called on the media not to publish photographs from the incident.

A local law enforcement source corroborated some of the couple’s account, telling CNN that they were followed by a “swarm” of paparazzi on Tuesday.

The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, said the incident was “reckless” and “irresponsible.”

Buckingham Palace told CNN on Wednesday that it would not be commenting on the incident.

Turkey’s opposition claim ballot irregularities in Sunday’s polls

Opposition parties in Turkey have reported thousands of discrepancies and ballot irregularities in the presidential and parliamentary elections, casting a shadow over the polls that took place on Sunday.

The Cumhuriyet Halk (Republican People’s Party, CHP) and the Yeşil Sol Party (Green Left Party, YSP) have voiced concerns and lodged complaints since Sunday about the discrepancies between recorded count made at polling stations and the votes entered into the Supreme Election Council’s (YSK) system.

On Wednesday, Muharrem Erkek, CHP’s deputy chair, said irregularities were found by the party in 7,094 ballot boxes after it checked more than 201,000 from within Turkey and abroad.

Some 4,825 of the CHP’s objections were over parliamentary votes and 2,269 in the presidential election.

Turkey’s presidential election will head to a run-off on May 28 after neither the incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, nor CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu managed to win an outright 50 percent majority on Sunday.

Erdogan led the polls with 49.5 percent of the vote with Kilicdaro-

glu bagging 44.89 percent.

Erkek said votes for Kilicdaroglu had been incorrectly allocated to Muharrem Ince who pulled out of the presidential race three days before the election, not allowing enough time to print new ballot papers without his name.

Speaking to journalists in Ankara on Wednesday, Erkek said extra votes were also given to Erdogan, without giving any evidence.

“We are following every single vote, even if it does not change the overall results,” Erkek said.

In the parliamentary polls, Erdogan’s Adalet ve Kalkınma Party (Justice and Development Party, AK Party) took the most ballots.

The Milliyetçi Hareket Party (Na-

tionalist Movement Party, MHP), AK Party’s alliance party, outperformed expectations with more than 10 percent of the vote share.

The YSP, which fielded parliamentary candidates from the pro-Kurdish Halkların Demokratik Party (Peoples’ Democratic Party, HDP) due to a legal closure threat against the latter, said it had discovered more than 1,000 cases of incorrect entries.

“We have no evidence to say if there is an organised malignancy behind these mistakes and errors or whether someone is deliberately trying to influence these outcomes,” YSP’s election spokesperson Mehmet Rustu Tiryaki said on Tuesday.

Regional president Stefano Bonaccini said 3,000 people were evacuated from Bologna, 5,000 from Faenza and another 5,000 from Ravenna.

“Our thoughts go to the eight victims and some missing. All the condolences of the Region go to them and their families,” he said.

Speleological alpine rescuers search for missing persons in a flooded area near a supermarket in the city of Cesena on Wednesday.

The vice president of Emilia Romagna, Irene Priolo, told reporters that the rains were easing but that river levels were still rising, according to Reuters.

The region, which has been suffering a prolonged drought, is under a red alert – the highest level warning or state of emergency for life-threatening weather events. The Emilia Ro -

A total of 600 firefighters have been deployed from across Italy to assist with evacuations in the region after Italy’s longest river, the Po, broke its banks, the Italian Department for Civil Protection said in a tweet.

Residents in numerous areas across the region, including in the city of Bologna, were asked not to leave their homes.

The city of Ravenna has also been heavily affected. “It’s probably been the worst night in the history of Romagna,” Ravenna Mayor Michele de Pascale told RAI public radio according to Reuters, saying that 5,000 people had been evacuated from his city alone overnight.

“Ravenna is unrecognizable for the damage it has suffered,” he added.

Tweeting on Tuesday evening, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended her “total sympathy” to those affected by the flooding, adding that the government stands “ready to intervene with the necessary aid.”

warming set to break key 1.5C limit for first time

Global

Our overheating world is likely to break a key temperature limit for the first time over the next few years, scientists predict.

Researchers say there's now a 66% chance we will pass the 1.5C global warming threshold between now and 2027.

The chances are rising due to emissions from human activities and a likely El Niño weather pattern later this year.

If the world passes the limit, scientists stress the breach, while worrying, will likely be temporary.

Hitting the threshold would mean the world is 1.5C warmer than it was during the second half of the 19th Century, before fossil fuel emissions from industrialisation really began to ramp up.

And breaking the limit even for just one year is a worrying sign that warming is accelerating and not slowing down.

The 1.5C figure has become a symbol of global climate change negotiations. Countries agreed to "pursue efforts" to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C under the 2015 Paris agreement.

Going over 1.5C every year for a decade or two would see far greater impacts of warming, such as longer heatwaves, more intense storms and wildfires.

But passing the level in one of the next few years would not mean that the Paris limit had been broken. Scientists say there is still time

to restrict global warming by cutting emissions sharply.

Since 2020, the World Meteorological Organisation has been giving an estimate of the chances of the world breaking the 1.5C threshold in any one year.

Back then they predicted there was less than a 20% chance of breaking 1.5C in the five years ahead.

By last year this had increased to 50%, and now it's jumped to 66%, which the scientists say means it's "more likely than not."

The figure is not a direct measure of the world's temperature but an indicator of how much or how little the Earth has warmed or cooled compared to the long term global average.

Scientists use average temperature data from the period between 1850-1900 as a measure of how hot the world was before our modern reliance on coal, oil and gas.

For decades, they believed that if the world warmed by around 2C that would be the threshold of dangerous impacts - but in 2018 they significantly revised this estimate, showing that going past 1.5C would be calamitous for the world.

Change in global temperature compared to the pre-industrial average. Temperatures were around average until about 1950, but have increased since, regularly exceeding 1C of warming in the last decade.

have been fatal’

BENJAMIN OMOIKE WITH AGENCY REPORTS

At

Man City thrashes Real Madrid to reach Champions League final

Ja Morant takes full accountability after being suspended over gun video

The Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant says he takes "full accountability" for his actions after he was suspended for appearing to hold a gun in a video on social media for a second time.

Morant, 23, appeared to briefly hold up a gun in a car with a friend in a live broadcast on Instagram on Saturday.

He was also suspended for eight games in March after a video showed him holding a gun in a Colorado nightclub.

"I know I've disappointed a lot of people who have supported me," he said.

"This is a journey and I recognise there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I'm committed to continuing to work on myself."

quences that it could have on his career but the safety issues around it. He could have injured, maimed, killed himself or someone else with an act like that," Silver said.

"He has an incredibly huge following. My concern, that I thought he shared with me, that tens of millions of kids globally would see him as having done something that was celebrating in a way, that act of using a firearm in that fashion."

After the incident in March, All-Star guard Morant apologised and said he took "full responsibility" for his actions, as well as undergoing counselling while he was suspended.

Glendale Police Department investigated the nightclub incident but did not find enough evidence to charge anyone for a crime.

Manchester City delivered a relentless performance laced with outstanding quality to overpower holders Real Madrid and reach the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul.

City have lost two previous semi-finals to Real but they made no mistake here at a joyous Etihad Stadium to now stand one step away from claiming the trophy that has always stayed tantalisingly out of

reach for Pep Guardiola's team.

And their display in a magical first half, in particular, will live long in the memory as the masters of this tournament were left bewildered by City's brilliance.

It maintained a seemingly unstoppable march towards a treble of Champions League, Premier League - which can be won with victory at home to Chelsea on Sunday - and the FA Cup, where they play Manchester United in the final

at Wembley.

Real keeper Thibaut Courtois performed heroics to save two Erling Haaland headers early in the first half but he was powerless to stop Bernardo Silva's close-range finish after 23 minutes, the Portugal midfielder scoring a looping header for the second eight minutes before half-time.

City faced the occasional threats from Real after the break, Ederson saving well from David Alaba and Karim

Benzema, but they were no match and when Manuel Akanji's header deflected in off Eder Militao 14 minutes from time the celebrations started.

Substitute Julian Alvarez then wrapped up the dominant win with a late strike after latching onto a brilliant Phil Foden pass.

City will play Inter on 10 June as they look to win the Champions League for the first time.

Aubameyang announces return from international retirement

Chelsea striker

Pierre-Emerick Au -

bameyang is to return to the Gabon side a year after announcing his international retirement.

The 33-year-old retired as his country's record scorer, with 28 goals in 68 appearances, in May 2022.

The forward said the return was prompted by a meeting with the African country's president Ali Bongo Ondimba.

"(I) listened to the wise words he said to me as a father talking to his son," Aubameyang posted on Instagram.

Gabon, led by former La Rochelle defender Patrice Neveu, are currently top their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification group.

They can seal their place at the tournament in Ivory Coast next January, with a game to spare, when they host Democratic Republic of Congo in June.

"A few days ago, I had the immense honour to be received by the President of the Republic (of Gabon) Ali Bongo Ondimba," Aubameyang's post added.

"Following this, I therefore put myself at the disposal of my country and of the coach

The French-born forward, who made his debut for Gabon in 2009, has endured a number of difficult club campaigns in recent seasons - including being stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in December 2021 before moving to Barcelona in the following transfer window.

He has now been linked with a summer move back to

the Nou Camp, where he started the 2022-2023 season.

The Catalan club confirmed Aubameyang will get a La Liga winners medal from their title win this season despite playing for only eight minutes before his move to Chelsea.

Aubameyang was first brought to the Premier League from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 by then Arsenal manag-

er Arsene Wenger and scored 92 goals in 142 starts for the Gunners.

However, he has only scored once in the Premier League for Chelsea this season and, despite scoring in both the home and away matches against his first club AC Milan in their Champions League group, was dropped by the Blues for the knock-out stages.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the incident is being investigated but he was "assuming the worst".

"We spoke for a long time about not just the conse-

Another suspension would see Morant miss the start of the 2023-24 season as the Grizzlies are out of the playoffs after a first round defeat by the Los Angeles Lakers last month.

Rugby player in Australia given 96-week ban for assaulting referee

Arugby union player has been banned for 96 weeks after being found guilty of physically abusing a referee.

Footage shows the unnamed Perth Bayswater player knocking referee Ian Sunderland to the ground during a Premier Grade match on 22 April.

Rugby Western Australia has said the ban equates to almost five years as it is served only during the rugby season.

"We have accepted the decision and we don't condone what he did," said Perth Bayswater president Darrell Stops.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported no action was taken during the game in Western Australia as it was initially deemed accidental, but the action was later determined to be deliberate and the player was cited.

The player was found guilty by a Rugby Western Australia Judicial Committee, with the length of the ban the strictest available under World Rugby laws.

"Due to the high-end and

deliberate nature of the offence, a sanction of 96 weeks - effectively, almost five years - was handed down," Rugby WA said in a statement.

Perth Bayswater president Darrell Stops added: "We have genuine concerns for referee Ian Sunderland and his injury from the incident, and that was foremost in our thoughts.

"But at the same time, we are trying to support our player, who is not in a good space."

Chief executive of Rugby WA SimonTaylor added: "We strongly condemn any form of abuse or harassment towards match officials, and are determined to ensure that any such behaviour is stamped out of the game.

"The rugby community must remain vigilant against abuse towards match officials, and we hope that this sanction contributes to ensuring a more respectful approach to officials at any level of rugby."

The game saw Perth lose 2633 against Associates in what is the highest level of domestic club competition in Western Australia.

Patrice Neveu."

Italian Open 2023 results: Novak Djokovic loses to Holger Rune in Rome

Milner, Firmino, two others set for Liverpool's exit

James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the club has confirmed.

All four players' contracts expire this summer.

They were all part of the side that won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League in 2019-20.

A statement from Liverpool said: "All four players will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution they have made."

The club added that special tributes would be paid to the players in the Reds' final Premier League home game of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had already outlined the club's intentions to be active in the summer transfer window.

His side have had a difficult season but seven consecutive wins mean they now sit fifth in the Premier League and could still qualify for the Champions League.

midfielder Milner, who has made 330 appearances for the club, has been linked with moves to Brighton and Leeds.

The 37-year-old has made 617 Premier League appearances, the third highest in the league's history.

Firmino became the highest-scoring Brazilian striker in Premier League history in 2019 and now has 80 goals in 254 top flight appearances but has not played since March.

The 31-year-old will be best remembered at Liverpool for his time playing alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as part of a prolific front three under Klopp.

Klopp had said he wanted Firmino to stay and, although the forward had been in discussions over a new contract, he has chosen to move on.

Keita, who scored 11 goals in 129 appearances, signed in 2017 but has made just 12 appearances this season having struggled with injuries.

Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest exit at the Italian Open since 2013 when he was beaten by rising Danish star Holger Rune in the quarter-finals.

The Serb top seed, who turns 36 next week, was beaten 6-2 4-6 6-2 by 20-year-old Rune on the Rome clay.

Djokovic was bidding for his seventh title in the Italian capital as he prepares for the French Open on 28 May.

Seventh seed Rune will play Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud in the semi-final.

Djokovic's preparations for the French Open have been disrupted by injury, having missed the recent Madrid Open with an elbow problem and returning to the court in Rome as he looked to build up form and fitness.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion will have the opportunity at Roland Garros to move

clear of Rafael Nadal in terms of the most men's major titles of all time.

Following opening wins against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Grigor Dimitrov and British number one Cameron Norrie, Djokovic was going through the gears in Rome without yet finding his finest form.

There were signs of tension during a tetchy last-16 match against Norrie, before which Djokovic needed treatment for an injury that he was reluctant to discuss afterwards.

Djokovic, who will be replaced as world number one by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz next week, also needed a medical timeout early in the second set against Rune.

While that was perhaps a factor behind his flat performance, the main reason for the defeat was he could not cope with the problems posed by the Dane.

Rune showed why he is being predicted to win some of the sport's biggest prizes, showing confidence in his shot-making to trade blows with Djokovic and also demonstrating his strong mental resilience.

After racing to the opening set in 38 minutes, Rune lost focus in the second set after a line call went against him.

The ruling by umpire Mohamed Lahyani left Rune livid and he lost serve to go 4-2 down but, after teeing up three break points by finishing an extraordinary 34-shot rally with a sublime drop shot, reduced the deficit to 5-4.

Djokovic upped his level again to threaten another break at 0-30 and - after rain forced the players off court for over an hour - secured the set seconds after the restart to level the match.

But Rune refocused at the start of the deciding set, mov-

ing a double break up for 3-0 and maintained concentration to serve out for a second straight win over Djokovic.

With Djokovic out and Nadal not playing because of injury, the Rome men's singles final will be the first since 2004 without at least one of the pair involved.

Meanwhile, French Open runner-up Ruud, 24, beat Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to reach the semi-finals for a second successive year.

In the women's event, Latvian 20th seedJelena Ostapenko beat Paula Badosa 6-2 4-6 6-3, winning the first set in just 19 minutes with the Spanish former world number two's surge in the second set not enough to prevent Ostapenko reaching the quarter-finals.

Ostapenko will face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina or world number one Iga Swiatek in the last four.

Bayelsa Judiciary, NUJ, ex-football stars mourn death of magistrate

BY AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

Members of the Bayelsa State Judiciary, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and exFootball internationals were yesterday thrown into mourning following the death of a Magistrate, His Worship W. C. Ovuru in a ghastly motor accident on his way to Abuja.

According to family sources, Late Ovuru was involved in a ghastly motor accident around Auchi on his way to Abuja.

A visit to the premises of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) on Tuesday night showed sad faces of members of the All Stars Internationals

and media practitioners.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Bayelsa State chapter, in a statement on Wednesday, confirmed the incident and call for prayers for the family of the deceased.

According to JUSUN, "With a very heavy heart, I hereby inform the House of the untimely passage of our erudite and beloved colleague, His Worship W. C. Ovuru, today, 16th May, 2023. He was involved in a ghastly motor accident around Auchi on his way to Abuja.

"Please, pray for the family he left behind. Also pray for our other colleague, His Worship, Stanley Ekeru who survived the said accident. May the amiable soul of our departed brother rest in peace."

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Samuel Numonengi, has expressed shock over the demise of His Worship W. C. Ovuru, adding that both of them ate yellow soup together on Saturday.

"We discussed a lot. He talked about going for an interview in Abuja. Getting to know he died yesterday, it came as a shock. Ovuru is one person who is free with everybody. He does not see himself like maybe I am a magistrate. He deals with everybody as his friend, he doesn't segregate. I pray that God will give his immediate and extended family the strength to bear the lose because it is a very big lose not just to them but

to the All Stars International, NUJ where he comes to relax and to the Bayelsa State judiciary."

Also, a Board of Trustees member of the AllStars international FC, Engr. Ebinimi, Noel, who spoke on behalf of other members said they received the sad news when they were preparing to go for their usual Tuesday training.

"I received a phone call and someone from the club broke the news to me. I informed the other members and we put off the training. It is really a sad one. We lost somebody that is so humble, very respectful, easy going, ready to help any human being he comes across. I lack words to qualify this perfect gentleman."

Milner and Firmino joined the club in 2015 under Brendan Rodgers and went on to win a historic Premier League title in 2020 - the club's first top-flight triumph in 30 years - as well as the FA Cup last season.

Former Manchester City

Meanwhile Oxlade-Chamberlain has also struggled for minutes this season, making just 13 appearances, the last of which was against Real Madrid in Liverpool's Champions League last-16 exit.

The 29-year-old joined in 2017 and has made 146 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals.

Leonardo Bonucci to retire next season

Italy and Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci says he will retire from football at the end of next season.

The 36-year-old has won eight Serie A titles over two spells at the Italian club and made his 500th appearance against Sevilla last week.

He also has 120 international caps and was part of the Italy side that beat England to win Euro 2020 in July 2021.

"Wearing this shirt has been like living a dream for 12 years," he told Juventus' YouTube channel.

"Everything I've done has been for a shirt that for me is like a second skin.

"There's still a little boy inside who is so happy to wear this shirt and take to the field in it because it was his dream - a dream come true."

Bonucci, whose contract expires next season, began his career at Inter Milan in 2005, where he won his first Serie A title in 2005-06.

The defender also had spells

at Treviso, Pisa, Genoa and Bari before joining Juventus in 2010, becoming part of a famous Juve backline along with Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon that dominated Italian football for a decade.

The Turin giants won nine successive titles between 2011-12 and 201920, with Bonucci claiming eight of those after spending one season at AC Milan in 2017-18.

Bonucci made his Italy debut in March 2010 and captained the side for the first time four years later.

He represented the Azzurri at two World Cups and three European Championships, finishing runner-up at Euro 2012 before lifting the trophy nine years later following a penalty shootout win over England at Wembley.

"When I stop playing next year, it will be the end of a defensive era - a way of defending Italian style," he added.

Seun Kuti and the impunity of stardom

Iwatched with shock, disbelief, bewilderment, amazement and chagrin, a viral video where Afrobeat rising star, who should otherwise be the product of a rich heritage of revolutionary struggles, patriotism and selflessness, descended on a cultured policeman, assaulting him, provoking him and in that process also humiliating him and the agency that he represents. The barbarism of Seun Kuti’s unprovoked attacks on that policeman is totally condemnable, undeserving, egregious and a blatant violation of one of the most noble institutions of democracy. We cannot find any justification for that cruel and degrading treatment. Legally speaking, it constitutes grave assault on and a gross violation of section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, which states clearly that:

(1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly –

(b) no person shall be subject to torture or inhuman and degrading treatment.”

Culturally, I do not know anywhere in Yorubaland, where the junior corrects and rides the elder, to the shameful extent that Seun Kuti arrogated to himself an inexistent power of rebuke, of correction and of censoring a law enforcement officer on lawful duty. It is simply unacceptable. Where did Seun get the training that he Is the one better placed to correct an elder? Is he tapping from any other source different from the one that our revered and polished Fela did? Is he not a student of history, to know that his father, Fela, was one of the most successful activists of all times, correcting the ills of the society, holding governments accountable and advocating for democracy and good governance through his music? Did Seun ever hear Femi Kuti or Yeni Kuti, ever desecrating the institutions of democracy? Or is it Nike or Lande, all whom have kept the good name and reputation of their family? Is this the way Seun wants to avenge the brutal murder and assassination of Madam Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, whose blood flows in government house till date? How many of the “unknown soldiers” would Seun be able to slap and beat up in this dastardly manner?

The Ransome-Kuti family has a place in the rich history of Nigeria, through the indelible contributions of their matriarch, Madam Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the selfless sacrifices of Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, the tireless struggles of Dr. Bekololari Ransome-Kuti and of course the inimitable Abami Eda himself, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. They represented the best of nobility, excellence, patriotism and industry, which is why Nigerians hold them so dearly in their hearts. There is no place in that family for this malady. From all accounts, Seun is well read, having passed through the prestigious University of Lagos. He is also well traveled, as an international artiste who

GUEST COLUMNIST with EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA

has performed in several countries of the world. He is deemed to be well organized and should know the value placed upon institutions and their personnel, himself being the leader of the famed Egypt 80

Band. So he cannot claim not to know about civility and respect for the rule of law and due process. Before now, Seun had portrayed himself as an activist, an advocate of good governance and a model for the young generation. What message then is he preaching to the same people and system that he has criticized so often? What was the basis of the #EndSars struggle for the eradication of all forms of human rights abuses by the police and other law enforcement agencies? Seun should be in the same age bracket with Mark Zuckerberg who is influencing the entire world positively. Without doubt, no form of gangsterism should be perpetrated or tolerated under the guise of youthful exorbitance or exuberance or else society will collapse and become unsafe for all lawful and peaceful persons who have no other “spirits” to depend upon like Seun, who has been busy promoting the uncensored consumption of weed and alcohol, all in the name of some undefined social crusade.

The defence of Seun for this uncultured display of arrogance is that the policeman attempted to kill himself and his family. He was careful not to elaborate on the circumstances and facts of the alleged attempt. He claimed that he has the video of the attempt and that the policeman was wrong, has acknowledged his error and had even apologized to him in order to evade prosecution! What a world! Is Seun speaking to his fans in Kalakuta Republic/African Shrine? Or members of the Egypt 80 Band? The video that I saw showed Seun launching unprovoked verbal assault on a policeman that was calm and respectful, it showed an unrestrained young man castigating, threatening and humiliating an officer of the Federal Republic in the name of defending himself. The video showed Seun pushing the policeman around, daring him to do his worst and refusing to be placated by other motorists who stopped to broker peace. And it was on the Third Mainland Bridge, with the attendant consequences of the dangers to motorists, traffic congestion and other distractions.

The other day, it was Burna Boy, who stormed a night club in Lagos and after his acts physically assaulted a police man. Then again it was recently the turn of one Portable, who also assaulted a policeman. Should it be the other way round, for any policeman to dare beat up or assault a celebrity then the heavens would have fallen. This unfortunate

event brings into focus the value and virtue of stardom, which dictate humility, gentleness, moderation and respect for people and institutions. No positive lesson can be passed from the assault of Seun against the policeman and no defence can be offered to diminish the seriousness of the offence thus committed. And this is why the decision of the police to investigate this incidence is very laudable and encouraging. If found culpable, Seun should not walk away with this barbaric act.

But beyond Seun, Burna Boy and Portable, this event has also brought into limelight the need for the improvement of the welfare and working conditions of police officers nationwide to avoid this ugly situation whereby they become vulnerable victims of servitude, abuses and debasement. We have heard of stories of police officers who were treated as maids by the VIPs to whom they were attached, the recent one being that of the policewoman in Ilorin who was beaten and battered for allegedly refusing to run menial errands for her mistress. Situations in which police officers have to beg, crow and scout for money to pay the school fees of their children, money to take care of their health or even to buy uniform and the basic implements of their trade are totally unacceptable. Nigeria does not have up to one million police personnel so why is it so difficult to cater for the ones we have, who are daily sacrificing their lives to keep us safe?

The rise to stardom should not and cannot be the justification for unbridled brigandage and infantile gangsterism such as we saw in the video circulating of and concerning Seun. Or else it would then mean that those in the entertainment world should take urgent steps to enact such rules of engagement that will guarantee respect for other members of the society that they interact with on a daily basis. Fame cannot be the reason for assaulting a policeman and those employed to defend us cannot suddenly become victims of youthful aggression. If we condemned police brutality we must also dissociate ourselves from civilian rascality or blatant criminality. It is commendable that Seun has surrendered himself to the police as he promised. The nation eagerly awaits the outcome of the investigation of the police on this matter while commending the maturity of the policeman involved in this unfortunate incident.

The rise to stardom should not and cannot be the justification for unbridled brigandage and infantile gangsterism such as we saw in the video circulating of and concerning Seun.