MAY 23RD, 2023

Nigeria loses 2500 under-5 children daily from preventable causes –Osibanjo

DOOSUUR IWAMBE, ABUJA

Nigeria loses 2,500 children under the age of 5 everyday due to largely preventable causes, including the lack of services that skilled birth attendants could provide, Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo has said.

According to the vice president, Nigeria makes up only 2 percent of the world population but accounts for 14 percent of the world’s maternal death burden.

He made this disclosure in his keynote address titled: 'Acceler -

ating human capital development through health workforce investment'.

Represented by the Minister of Women's Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Osibanjo noted that about 80 percent of these death burdens occur in the primary health care and community level.

He lamented that the development clearly justifies the need for urgent actions to be taken to implement the CRISP to address this situation.

"Similarly, our country loses 2,500 children under the age of 5 everyday due to largely preventable causes, including the

lack of services that skilled birth attendants could provide." He said there is not a single country in the world that can boast of effective health care delivery without adequate and well distributed human resource for health.

Speaker: Minority caucus says it hasn’t endorsed anybody

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

Minority Caucus of the incoming 10th House of Representatives has reiterated that it hasn't endorsed any aspirant for position of the House Speakership. The caucus also known as 'greater majority' going by its collective number of 182 member-elect across minority parties however said it is awaiting the inputs of their states

Buhari to commission 2nd Niger Bridge, six other legacy projects today

UKPONO UKPONG

Following through on his administration’s determination to upgrade and expand the nation’s stock of infrastructure, President Muhammadu Buhari

will today commission seven legacy projects completed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing across the country.

Comprising three major bridges, three Federal Secretariats and a road, the historic event will be

headlined by the Second Niger Bridge which was conceptualized in 2005.

In 2014, there was an attempt to begin the project through Public Private Partnership (PPP) but this was not successful. The

construction began in 2016 with the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).

Others are the Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue to link Benue to Nasarawa State and the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State

while the Road project is the completed Section of the over 200 kilometres of Kano-Kaduna Dual Carriage Expressway and three new Federal Secretariats.

CONTINUES ON P3 ¢

10th HoR Speaker: Minority caucus says it hasn’t endorsed anybody

governors and party leaders before it make decision of who to support for the position.

Convener of the group, Fredrick Agbedi, (PDP) who disclosed this at a meeting in Abuja on Monday said it has appointed state and zonal coordinators who will consult and report back before the members will know the direction to follow.

This is just as the caucus last weekend said it has not endorsed any aspirant for the position of Speaker as reported by some media organisations. The minority parties, comprising the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Labour Party, (LP); New Nigeria People's Party, (NNPP); Africa Democratic Congress, (ADC); Young People's Party, (YPP); All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) and the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) said this in a statement signed by the Caucus Secretary, Ali Isa. Isa Isa had said the caucus merely met with Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing speaker of the House and Tajudeen Abbas, the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed speakership candidate who also engaged the group and made his own presentation to solicit the support of its members to work with him just like the other aspirants did.

In the same vein, Agbedi said:

"Your conveners and other leaders have not either on your behalf or for you adopted anybody for the office of presiding officers. That will only take place when that agreement is reached by all of us. That decision will be our collective decision.

"So, I want to assure you that we will lead ourselves to arrive at a collective decision and in doing that, we have also resolved to have State coordinators who are going to meet at their different State levels, eventually also have zonal coordinators who will also work at the zonal level in collating decision that they will finally come up with after due consultation.

"And that's why we have invited all of us to this meeting so that we all know who and who will coordinate our States and also who will coordinate our zones so that we give the responsibility back to you, interact, consult and then chose the direction to go.

"In all the interactions we have made, our leaders have authoritatively told us that they have not given mandate to their members-elect to identify with Mr. A or Mr. B. The only mandate and directive they gave to our people is to network, interact and give them the feedback.

"And at the appropriate time, decisions will be made, agreements will be reached, alliances formed and then as

minorities, we will be doing some sort of agreement as to what direction to go. So, as I stand here, I have not been given any mandate by my party or governor as to what to do."

The lawmaker also disclosed that members of the caucus will be having a retreat in Akwa-Ibom state for which participants are expected to arrive next week Wednesday. He added that as part of their consultations with major stakeholders on issue of the House leadership, the caucus had met with the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Presidential candidate of Labour Party, (LP) Peter Obi, that of New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) Rabiu Kwakwaso, amongst others.

Buhari inaugurates Dangote 650,000bpd capacity refinery in Lagos

...urges countries to integrate economies, eliminate trade barrier ...warns African leaders against being used to destabilize economic, political trajectory

UKPONO UKPONG

President Muhammadu

Buhari yesterday inaugurated Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, which is expected to enable Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in refined products and even have surplus for export.

Speaking at the occasion attended by Heads of State from Ghana, Togo, Niger, Senegal and a representative of the President of Chad, the President described the feat as a significant milestone for Nigeria's economy and a game changer for the downstream petroleum products market in the entire African region.

‘‘This mega industry we are commissioning today is a clear example of what can be achieved when entrepreneurs are encouraged and supported and when an enabling environment is created for investments and for businesses to thrive.

‘‘I am confident that my successor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will sustain the improvement in our economic and business environment and strengthen the framework of our public private partnership policies to accelerate the pace of our economic growth and development.

‘‘I am happy to leave our economy in very competent hands,’’ he said.

The President who commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s leadership in executing the 650,000 barrels per day refinery urged other entrepreneurs to emulate his example in driving economic growth and realizing Nigeria’s economic potential.

He stressed the need for African countries to come together, integrate their economies, eliminate trade barriers, and rally their populations to achieve Agenda 2063 for the continent’s prosperity.

‘‘I urge and encourage our other great entrepreneurs to emulate this iconic Nigerian industrialist and join the Government in accelerating our growth in order to realize our country's globally recognized economic potential.

‘‘When I travel around Africa and meet and engage my brother Heads of State (and I am delighted some of their Excellences are here) I often sense a quiet expectation that our country is blessed with resources and human capacity to lead Africa's rise to economic prosperity and the attainment of Agenda 2063 - ‘The Africa we all want.’

‘‘But to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, Africa must come together - we must integrate our economies, eliminate barriers to trade and energize our youthful population to scale up our productive capacity.

‘‘We must create necessary conditions for our private sector to grow and partner with the public sector to accelerate economic growth across the continent.

‘‘We must not allow outside powers to use some of our leaders to destabilize our economic and political trajectory,’’ he said.

President Buhari acknowledged the visionary investments made by the Dangote Group, under the leadership of Dangote, in transforming Nigeria's economy through its involvement in critical industries such as cement and

fertilizer.

He noted that investment in these sectors have played a crucial role in shifting Nigeria from heavy import dependence to becoming a net exporter.

President Buhari acknowledged that Nigeria's economy has faced significant challenges over the years, including deficits in economic infrastructure, insurgency, and external crises such as the Global Financial Crisis, oil price collapses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

‘‘The consequence of these challenges constitute a severe strain on our economy, limiting Government's ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to huge borrowings.

‘‘Our Government, therefore, took the decision to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure but also in all critical sectors.

‘‘We recognize that without the active participation of the private sector and a strong commitment to public private partnership, our economy would continue to remain severely challenged and our economic growth impeded.

‘‘Government therefore, will and should continue to provide an enabling environment and encourage innovative public private partnerships in all sectors of our economy,’’ he said.

The President emphasized the administration’s commitment to this approach, citing Executive Order 007

of 2019 which facilitated the rehabilitation/construction of many roads by private sector investors using a Tax-credit scheme.

‘‘It is my hope that the succeeding Administration will continue to apply such innovative schemes in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the provision of critical infrastructure in particular roads, power and gas pipelines,’’ he said.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote emphasised the refinery's role in fulfilling the group's corporate vision of promoting self-sufficiency and global competitiveness.

''We have built a Refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (plus 900,000 tonnes of polypropylene) in a single train – which is the largest in the world. We have selected the best plants and equipment and the latest technologies from across the world.

''Our products slate is designed to meet the highest quality standards and high-value products including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), Aviation Turbine Kerosine (ATK); all of Euro V Standards that will enable us not only meet our Country’s demand but also to become a key player in the African and global market.

''Our coastal location and offshore loading and offloading (SPM) facilities with a capacity to receive all our crude oil supplies and evacuate up to 75% of our liquid products give us direct access to the rest of Africa and the global market for exports. In addition, 80 percent of our production can be discharged through trucks

nationwide.''

He disclosed that the huge investment of over $18.5billion in this industry was prompted by the company's desire to support and contribute its quota to the Federal Government’s sustained effort to transform the economy and reposition Nigeria as the leading nation in Africa, and a respected member among emerging economies in the world.

According to him, apart from ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality fuels for the transportation sector, the refinery will provide essential raw materials to a wide range of manufacturing sectors, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, packaging, construction, and more.

He further stated that the refinery's operation and related businesses would generate a substantial number of job opportunities, while the downstream supply and distribution of its products would significantly contribute to the absorption of labor, potentially benefiting hundreds of thousands of individuals.

''Once our plant is fully on stream, we expect that at least 40% of the capacity will be available for export and this will result in significant Foreign Exchange inflows into the country.

Overall, we are committed to operating our Plant in line with international best practice requirements, recognizing the importance of protecting the environment, and putting in place stringent environmental, health and safety policies to ensure that the Refinery operates in a safe and sustainable manner,'' he said.

L-R: President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals at the Lekki Free Zone, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos, on Monday, 22 May 2023.

Real reason PEPC dismissed request for live telecast of proceedings

lIssues pre-hearing report today

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja on Monday dismissed the application by the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party ,PDP, Atiku Abubakar for live broadcast of its proceedings for being novel.

Atiku and its sponsor, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who are challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of February 25,2023 presidential election had in their application sought approval for live broadcast of the court proceedings.

They had in the application specifically prayed the court for "An order Directing the Court's Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom."

But the Court ruled that the request was novel and not supported with any law in the country for now and no provision was made for live coverage of PEPC proceedings in the Practices Direction issued by President of Court of Appeal.

Presiding Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani who delivered the unanimous decision of five man panel said that the request was

not rooted from the petition Atiku filed before the Court.

Justice Tsammani also said that the request was capable of turning the Court into a stadium or market square and that such must not be allowed for now.

Besides, Justice Tsammani further ruled that granting live telecast of the proceedings of the petition would not add any totalitarian value to the petition.

According to Presiding Justice Tsammani the application for live broadcast of the court proceeding had no merit and "it is hereby dismissed".

PEPC said on Monday that it will issue its pre-hearing report on May 23, 2023 and end the pre -hearing session.

The court further appealed for cooperation from the lead counsel just as counsel representing the parties expressed diverse views on the need for consolidation of petitions.

Prof Awa Kalu counsel to Peter Obi, referred the court to its decision on AA Vs INEC where Paragraphs 50 to the Schedule was considered . He observed that the court had ruled that the said paragraph 50 vested it with discretion to decide whether or not to consolidate the three surviving petitions.

The counsel said that

"the discretion of the court must be exercised judicially and judiciously, taking the totality of parties to the petitions." Kalu said that his legal team will require 6 or 7 weeks to present his case . But the court interjected that time was not on it side, "if we decide not to consolidate how do we manage it?

The court noted that to allow such a request, means the proceedings will drag to September leaving the court with just four days to write its judgment as the petition would elapse on September 16, 2023.

Kalu said that a report they intend to tender may shorten their length of time to 14 days. He further told

the court that INEC has not made available to them the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) they required for their case.

But counsel for INEC

Kemi Pinherio SAN said that "whatever is in the BVAS has been made available to the petitioner. We have transferred the Presidential Election records to the back

server on the order of this court. The only record left in the BVAS is the governorship election."

Presiding Justice Tsammani said the court has taken time to seek cooperation and agreement of counsel because it did not want to be seen as fostering time frame on petitioners. He said "that once we issued

Nigeria loses 2500 under-5 children daily from preventable causes –Osibanjo

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

"No matter how much of a masterpiece the architecture of a health facility is, or how sophisticated the equipment are, or even the availability of the commodities, a health care delivery system will not function optimally if there are not enough skilled workers".

He therefore said, there is no better way to tackle the challenges of health care delivery in Nigeria than to close the gaps on the equitable availability of skilled health workers in Nigeria PHC facilities.

"This can be achieved by a creative measure such as the CRISP this is the Community-based health Research, Innovative Training and Services Programme".

"I can confidently tell you that President Muhammadu Buhari and I are ever passionate about interventions that would help to improve the health and wellbeing of the Nigerian people, and I have no doubt in the capacity of Dr Faisal and his team working in partnership with the academia and teaching hospital will implement and get the desired result from this initiative".

"This initiative will not only make skilled health workers from our teaching hospitals and federal medical centres available to offer services in our primary health care centres in all states of the federation but will also be leveraged to ensure capacity transfer to, and mentorship of PHC workers as well as promotion of best practices in community health.", he said.

Also, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire in his address also said, Nigeria is facing the challenges of gross inadequacy and inequity in the availability of human resource for health, especially skilled birth attendants (Doctors, nurses, midwives, and Communi -

ty Health Extension Workers (CHEWs)) trained on Modified Life Saving Skills across our primary health care facilities.

Ehanire also lamented that working in primary health care centres have remain unattractive to most of Nigerian skilled workers who prefer to provide services in the urban settings.

According to Ehanire, "Aside from the problems of gross inadequacy and inequitable distribution of our skilled health care workers, we are also facing the problem of their detrition from the PHC facilities.

"With this kind of situation, no matter how much you invest in building and equipping a health care facility, if there are

no skilled workers to provide the needed services, it is as good as there are no health care services for the people".

He however disclosed that, the federal government, in March 2022, on the initiative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, had a summit on re-imagining PHC in Nigeria during which the ministry presented a 4-point agenda for PHC transformation.

"The first agendum focuses on improving access to service delivery through PHC revitalization. One of the strategic pillars for achieving this is ensuring the adequacy, competency, and distribution of a committed multidisciplinary primary health

care workforce supported through effective management, supervision within an enabling environment."

Ehanire therefore said the CRISP initiative launched today is one of government programmatic ways of achieving the first of interrelated 4-point agenda on PHC transformation in Nigeria.

"The initiative will leverage our teaching hospitals and federal medical centres in all the states of the federation to pull together skilled health care workers to the primary health care centres in our communities where they will routinely provide services and mentorship, as well as build the capacity of the PHC workers."

"CRISP has been careful-

ly conceptualized and designed in ways that would be helpful towards the realisation of government’s vision of Universal Health Coverage", he explained.

Buhari to commission 2nd Niger Bridge, six other legacy projects today

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The first of the Federal Secretariats at Awka is located at Executive Business District Layout, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State and is situated on a 5.106 Hectares of land. The project was first awarded on 9th December, 2011 but was practically

completed and taken over by the Ministry of Works and Housing on 14th July, 2022.

The Secretariat has a total of 498 Office Space, a Conference Hall, four Committee Rooms, an Exhibition Hall, a Banking Hall, a Post Office and befitting Reception. In addition, the Secretariat has lift facilities,

well laid out parking spaces and drainages, staff canteen, fire hydrant and other vital facilities.

The second, Federal Secretariat Gusau, Zamfara State is located at Unguwan Dan Lawan, off Sokoto ByPass Road, Gusau, Zamfara State. The project is situated on a 7.5 Hectares of land and was awarded also

on 9th but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on 30th November, 2022.

The third to be commissioned is the Federal Secretariat Yenagoa, which is located at Alamieyeseigha Road, in Bayelsa State. It is situated on a 7.5 Hectares of land and was awarded on December 9, 2011 but

was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on November 30, 2022.

It would be recalled that President Buhari commissioned a fourth one, the Federal Secretariat Lafia, located at Bukar Sidi along Jos Road, Lafia, Nasarawa State in February this year.

L-R: Vice President-Elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; President Muhammadu Buhari; President of Togo, Mr Faure Gnassingbe; APC National Chairman, Senator Adamu Adamu; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Non-Executive Director, Dangote Group, Mr Devakumar Edwin during the commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals at the Lekki Free Zone, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos, on Monday, 22 May 2023.

NLC set to picket CAC over anti-labour practices

UKPONO UKPONG

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC)

Joe Ajaero has vowed to reinvigorate the fighting spirit of the Labour movement against all odds and better the lot of workers, especially as the incoming administration gets inaugurated.

Ajaero vowed to restore the labour movement to its glory days where it served as a fighting machinery against injustice and oppression of the workforce.

Ajaero made pledge yesterday when he led a delegation from its headquarters on a familarisation visit to the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) in Abuja.

According to him, the labour movement have been weakened to the point where state councils and affiliate unions no longer have the guts to fight against injustice meted out on them.

The NLC President, said he doesn't care whatever name he is branded, he is out to reinvigorate the fighting spirit of the Congress and better the lot of workers, especially as the incoming administration gets inuagurated.

He lamented that most state governors were defaulting in the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage, yet the victims, (workforce) are too scared to complain or raise objection for prompt action.

According to him, since assumption of office as NLC President, he has made enemies with some state governors over his insistence that the right thing be done.

"For me, we want to make NLC a fighting machine, if you step on our toes within 24 hours we start fighting you, some people will say Ajaero is a mad man it doesnt matter.

"Most of the state governors have not been paying the national minimum wage, a state like Anambra a permanent secretary is receiving N120, 000 or thereabout, that's too poor, in Ebonyi the governor accused me that since I emerged as President of NLC, I have disrupted his once peaceful state.

"In Imo where I come from, the government have cloned the entire executive of NLC, hence they disrupted our state congress there," he revealed.

Earlier, General Secretary of AUPCTRE, Comrade Sikiru

Waheed decried the actions of management of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), noting that the government agency was anti labour in its operations.

Waheed who stood in for the National President of AUPCTRE, Com Benjamin Anthony, accused the CAC management of posting all executive officials of the union out of Abuja.

He equally accused the management of marginalizing AUPCTRE workers in its employ, branding all of them as junior workers and shortchanging the union of their check-off dues.

Waheed also faulted the bestowing of a fellowship award by the Micheal Imoudu Centre Legislative Studies on the CAC Registrar, threatening that in due course they would mobilise to protest such action.

While responding to the complaints, Ajaero said, "On CAC, tell us when you want us to start this fight, because without the unions there is no NLC, there is fear of late that unions no longer fight, or to sustain a fight, if you stop fighting unions will go into extinction. Begging your opressor will only embolden your oppressor.

"Regarding the award to the CAC, we have to do a letter to two of our members serving on the board of Micheal Imoudu Centre Labour Studies. If they are not doing well we can recall them. Two people representing the NLC. Luckily one of us is the Director General of that body".

On the leadership tussle in the Labour Party, Ajaero said the labour movement has gone political, hence will not shy away from stopping elements trying to disrupt the operations of the party.

He went down memory lane detailing how the Labour Party was formed from scatch, insisting that under no circumstances will it allow dissenting forces to scuttle the party.

"People were saying why did we invite Peter Obi to our May Day festivities, at the Eagle Square and I ask them, is it not those who identify with the Labour movement we will identify with?. Some people even told Obi to stop going to visit former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but to identify and visit all the affiliate labour unions in the country because they are the owners of the Labour party," he stated.

Refinery will generate $21bn, employ over

youths’

Amid encomiums from eminent personalities, which included President Muhammadu Buhari and five other African heads of state, President of the pan-African Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote disclosed on Monday that the newly commissioned 650,000pbd refinery would employ over 100,000 Nigerians youths as well as generate over $21 billion, therefore saving the country huge forex, that would have been used for fuel importation. The company, according to him, now has over 33,000 employees.

Much to the excitement of Nigerians, Dangote said the commissioning has marked the beginning of the new journey of the self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products and exportation of same just as been achieved in Cement and lately fertilizer.

Dangote lamented that the current fuel crisis has had negative impact on the nation’s economy and that informed his decision to build a world class refinery that would change the trend and that though faced challenges but decided to trudge on.

He highlighted events leading to his firm deciding to build its own refinery after his attempt to acquire one of the existing moribund did not materialize noting that he decided to change marketing strategy and settle for gigantic project ever undertaken by an individual world over.

According to him, the refinery plant would be run at the highest effective and efficient level for maximum benefits to all Nigerians noting “we will replicate what we achieved in cement and fertilizer by attaining self-sufficiency

and becoming net exporter.

Dangote assured Nigerians that 40 per cent of the production capacity will be available for export with the coming on stream of the plant guaranteeing raw materials for plastic, and pharmaceutical industries.

In his remark, President Buhari congratulated Dangote Group, saying "the 650,000 barrels a day of crude which will enable our country to achieve self-sufficiency in refined products and even have some supplies for export saying the government and people of Nigeria are proud of the doggedness and tenacity of Dangote as entrepreneur.

Said he; "This feat at this time of the nation’s economic development clearly made this event a notable milestone for our economy and the game changer for the downstream petroleum products not only for Nigeria but the entire African continent. Dangote Group has helped transform our economy from heavy import dependence to a net exporter in some critical industries, including cement and Fertiliser."

He noted that the economy which has been stressed for many decades by huge deficits in economic infrastructure and over a decade of insurgency has also been severely impacted by several external crises, including the global financial crisis, the collapse of world crisis, the Coronavirus pandemic and the Russia Ukraine war.

"The consequences of these challenges constitute a severe strain on our economy and limiting government's ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to borrowing. Government therefore decide to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure, but also in

all critical sectors.

"We recognize that without active participation of the private sector and a strong commitment to public-private partnership, the economy will not be able to continue to meet the challenge and economic growth”, while expressing the hope that the coming administration will continue to apply such innovative schemes to accelerate the fruition of critical infrastructure, in particular roads and gas pipelines.

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele while commending Mr. Dangote for the successful completion of the refinery project said it would not only aid that nation’s domestic petrol needs, but also help in generating export revenues for our country.

Emefiele recalled: “In September 2013, when Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced his plans for the refinery, it was estimated to cost about US$9 billion, of which US$3 billion was projected as equity investment by the Dangote Group and the balance financed through commercial loans. Due to an array of factors, the project was eventually completed with a total of US$18.5 billion with funding distributed into 50 percent equity investment and 50 percent debt finance. I am proud to state that the commercial loan component of the project was financed majorly by our domestic banks with the balance sourced from foreign banks. The Central Bank of Nigeria also partnered, as always, with the Dangote Group in ensuring the successful completion of the project by providing about N125 billion, to cover domestic currency requirements for the venture.

“What you may not be fully aware of, Your Excellencies, is that the Dangote

Group has started repaying some of the commercial loans even before the commissioning of this facility. This reflects the commercial capability of the Group and its Chairman. I am pleased to inform everyone today that, following extensive repayments, outstanding debt has dropped appreciably from over US$9 billion to US$3 billion.”

The CBN Governor commended Nigerian banks saying they did not only partnered with the project through effective financing but were keenly aware of the importance of the project for our nation. “They provided immense support and exceptional understanding, even when interest payments and principal repayment had fallen due.”

He described the successful completion of the refinery to President Buhari’s astute vision to ensure that Nigeria produces what Nigerians consume and that we consume what we produce. “The refinery and petrochemical project by the Dangote Group is a testament to your vision for Nigeria. It shows that, regardless of what the world thinks, Nigeria can be self-sufficient in all products that we consume and at the same time export our excess output to the rest of the world.”

“Aside enumerating our strategic efforts in the agriculture and other critical sectors, a sterling projects that we highlighted was the gigantic Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical project. The world doubted our willpower to succeed with this project. In hindsight, I could appreciate their skepticism because they do not understand how a single individual could build a refinery capable of serving an entire nation. To them, projects of this magnitude are usually only undertaken by sovereigns not individuals.”

TOSIN ADAMS

‘Dangote

100,000

…vows to reinvigorate spirit of movement

On the march to food sufficiency in Nigeria

KEMISOLA AGBAOYE

Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is experiencing a food crisis, exacerbated by climate change, rising inflation and conflict such as the war in Ukraine. However, Nigeria is no stranger to conflict. Since 2009, the Northeast region has seen violent extremists terrorising the BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) States, with over 2 million people displaced, 8.7 million people in need and about 600,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity, women and children constituting more than 80% of those in need.

Projected to become the 4th most populous country in the world by 2050 behind China, India, and the United States of America, Nigeria’s robust agriculture sector has the potential to meet the needs of its burgeoning population, but where the country has faltered is in harnessing this potential.

Nigeria has over 34 million hectares of arable land. In quarter one of 2022, agriculture accounted for 22.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 70% of Nigerians engaged in agriculture, though primarily for subsistence. Despite its vast potential, food production is still largely insufficient as domestic demand outweighs production. This is primarily due to inadequate levels of irrigation, an outdated land tenure system and disruptions in the sector’s supply chain, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, in the Northwest, armed banditry, kidnapping and attacks on farming and herding communities in states like Sokoto, Katsi-

na and Zamfara have worsened the situation. Farmers have been forced to abandon their farms or pay taxes to bandits in order to gain access, which has intensified the rising inflation and impacted food production.

This food crisis could significantly worsen the country’s health indices. Nigeria has the second highest burden of malnutrition in the world, with 32% of children under the age of five stunted or chronically malnourished. This is due to a variety of factors, most important of which is poor nutrition. Malnutrition comes with its attendant problems, including low immunity, which leaves children vulnerable to infections and increases the risk of death, worsening the country’s child mortality indices. This also poses a significant threat to economic development, as stunting leads to poor mental development, low performance in school and low productivity in adulthood, potentially resulting in economic losses of up to 11% of the GDP.

Food security, as defined at the 1996 World Food Summit, exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

(i)food availability (in sufficient quantity and quality, whether through local production or imports)

(ii) access (adequate resources to acquire food as appropriate for nutrition)

(iii) utilisation (of available food through appropriate diet, clean water, sanitation and healthcare,

for nutritional well-being)

(iv) stability (having access to adequate food at all times).

Achieving food security will require a multipronged approach. There is a clear need to increase food production in order to meet domestic demand and improve the country’s exportation capacity, which would in turn, drive economic growth.

Borno State, for example used to be the highest wheat producing State, accounting for 30% of Nigeria’s wheat. As a result of the insurgency in the region, Borno now contributes very little to the country’s wheat production, which has in turn increased wheat imports into the country. Nigeria continues to rely heavily on importation. hile the Federal Government has taken steps to improve local food production and reduce reliance on imports, such as the ban on importation of rice in 2019, the Agriculture Promotion Policy, Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative, and others, there is still work to be done. Nigeria, for example still produces only 57% of its rice consumption. There is a need to implement initiatives to increase food production, such as sustainable land development, innovative and efficient agriculture practices and green initiatives to address damage to Nigeria’s forest ecosystems, caused by deforestation, urbanisation and infrastructure development. Poverty is one of the root causes of food insecurity; the lack of resources to acquire sufficient food to meet a family’s nutritional needs is a significant barrier to food security in most households. In March 2022, World Bank data re-

vealed that only 17% of Nigerian workers were employed in jobs that paid enough to lift them out of poverty. Furthermore, the 2022 Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index, estimates that 133 million people, approximately 66% of the population, are multidimensionally poor.

Climate change and conflict further aggravate the situation even more. Families have had to employ coping strategies such as reducing food consumption and education, which worsens their prospects of being able to afford adequate and high-quality food, further limiting their ability to improve their economic conditions — it is a vicious cycle. Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of hunger.

To address barriers to food security, there is a need to increase human capital development and boost education, which would improve the people’s economic conditions and empower them with needed resources. There is also a clear need to address the rising food inflation in Nigeria which has reached an all-time high of 24.13%, and is largely driven by the previously mentioned factors. Despite the dismal indices of food availability and access, Nigeria loses and wastes 40% of its total food along the supply chain, from production to consumption. There is a need to reduce waste by providing farmers with the right information, equipment, and skills to protect their crops and livestock from damage, improving storage and transportation facilities and conditions, including ensuring better means of transportation, and improving urban waste management.

Place of bitcoin in Nigeria's financial system

NWANI MISHAEL

The past eight weeks have been like hell for Nigerians. The country’s residents have struggled to lay their hands on the new naira notes launched on December 15, 2022.

The Central Bank of Nigeria declared February 10, 2023, as the deadline for submission of the old naira notes. The date is today. Nigerians eagerly anticipate the actions of financial authorities regarding the new naira note policy. Will the deadline hold? That is the question weighing upon the minds of every Nigerian resident.

The difficulty of getting the new naira notes has pushed citizens to depend on online banking apps. This, too, has proved to be faulty, as banking apps keep crashing. What is the solution?

This article provides relevant solutions to the problems facing the Nigerian banking system. Here is a quick guide to ease your navigation through the article:

Why Is There a Need for New Naira Notes?

What Is the Success Rate of Circulating the New Naira Notes?

Why are Nigerian Banks Failing?

What Are Immediate Solutions to the Nigerian Banking System?

Bitcoin — The Solution Nigeria Needs Final Thoughts

Why Is There a Need for New Naira Notes?

On October 26, 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced its plan to launch redesigned banknotes for its 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes.

In the press release, the financial agency stated that “the global best practice is for central banks to redesign, produce and circulate new local legal tender every 5–8 years.” However, Nigeria retained its naira series over the past 20 years.

Why is there a need for new naira notes? There are several reasons banks change the design of existing currencies. Consider the following three:

A country’s central bank must regulate the supply and circulation of cash. Proper regulation of cash supply helps keep the economy healthy.

CBN noted that it has minimal control over the circulated cash as 85% of banknotes are in the hands of people instead of being in the custody of commercial banks.

With the introduction of new naira notes, people hoarding the old notes will have to deposit them in the bank.

Curb Inflation

Inflation is the rate of increase in the price level of goods and services in an economy over time. Low inflation hurts the economy. High

inflation harms the economy as well. If inflation increases moderately, the economy can be termed healthy.

Reduce Counterfeit Currencies

Redesigning existing banknotes frustrates bad players who produce counterfeit currencies. CBN noted that counterfeit 500 and 1000 naira notes have been injected into its economy. The rollout of a new currency design should reduce the spread of fake currencies.

What Is the Success Rate of Circulating the New Naira Notes?

In its first announcement of the new naira note, CBN noted that the deadline for the country’s residents to deposit the new currency in the bank was January 31, 2023. The date was later shifted to February 10, 2023.

Despite the 10-day extension, the success rate of circulating the new naira notes has been significantly poor.

Commercial banks serve as intermediaries between the central bank and the end users. These institutions are charged with the responsibility of collecting old naira notes and dispensing new naira notes.

Sadly, these financial institutions have failed to give out new naira notes under the claim that the CBN has reportedly refused to

Global poverty, hunger and malnutrition are three of the most pressing developmental issues that must be addressed and the world is still a long way from meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Food security will directly impact the attainment of the first two SDGs — no poverty and zero hunger, as many of the world’s poor, hungry and malnourished live in rural areas and are dependent on the agriculture sector for their food and livelihoods.

It is critical that Nigeria implement systems and processes in place to address economic and physical barriers to accessing food at all times, in the right quality and quantity to ensure that nutritional needs for a healthy, productive, and fulfilled life are met.

release new banknotes to them.

Commercial banks developed a habit of collecting money but refusing to give new banknotes overthe-counter (OTC) and in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) outlets.

Since circulated cash was scarce, Nigerian residents were caught up in a frenzy of buying and selling naira notes for profit. Local reports confirmed that currency traders such as operators of point of sale (PoS) machines closely collaborate with bank officials to sell naira banknotes to residents at high rates.

Why Are Nigerian Banks Failing?

A 2021 analysis by the World Bank showed that over 133.5 million Nigerian adults have bank accounts, representing 45% of the country’s population. Let’s assume everyone with a bank account uses the online banking system.

The difficulty of getting cash has caused Nigerians to depend heavily on the online banking system. Several banks have failed to handle the traffic that comes with the increased use of online banking apps. Users are having trouble making fund transfers or paying bills. Others even find it difficult to access their accounts through USSD codes and banking apps.

Nigeria’s cash issues frustrated

bank account owners to the point where some began vandalizing bank facilities. Others went assaulting bank workers, causing some banks to suspend banking activities. These banks include Zenith Bank, Access Bank, GTBank, Ecobank, UBA, and others.

As a temporary solution, three Nigerian state governors sued the federal government, requesting the suspension of the February 10 deadline. The Supreme Court temporarily banned the government from enforcing the intended deadline. A lawsuit on the matter was scheduled for February 15, 2023.

What Are Immediate Solutions to the Nigerian Banking System?

Despite the move by state governors, the issue of making seamless transactions in the country continues.

KEMISOLA AGBAOYE

NWANI MISHAEL

Restoring faith in Nigeria's banking system

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the old ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1,000 banknotes remain legal tender till 31 December 2023, according to the acting CBN spokesman, Isa Abdulmumin. On 9th March, Ondo State, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said that the continued rejection of old naira notes by traders was flagrant disobedience to the law which “stifle(s) local trade and business transactions, weaken the economy and cause us great harm and avoidable troubles.” Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu struck a similar tone in a March 13, statement to business owners and government agencies in the state.

By itself, the Naira swap policy is a good thing. According to the bank, of the ₦3.23 trillion in circulation as of October 2020, only ₦500 billion was within the banking industry, a reality that had hampered the CBN’s ability to manage inflation using its monetary tools. However, rather than swap Naira notes, the CBN withdrew old notes and failed to introduce many new ones, essentially trying to implement its decades-old cashless policy within three months. This caused a shock to the informal sector, home to the large unbanked population (comprising a majority of Nigerians), and the heightened demand for online transfers and e-payments from banked Nigerians strained the banking infrastructure. To buttress the point, recent Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) data — the custodian of much of the banking industry’s interoperability function — shows that across the country, cashless transactions dipped to ₦37.67 trillion in February 2023 as Nigerians continue to grapple with failed and delayed cash transfers. This is despite a 41.29 percent increase in e-payment gateway usage (from 638 million in January to 901.46 million in February). This dip in overall trade volumes is attributable to delayed or failed cash transfers and deferred purchases. In a country where only 37.3% have mobile internet access, and 55.4% have electricity access, an attempt to force the population to prioritise electronic financial methods was always going to be tough for the 100 million people for whom cash is their main and, in many cases, only play. Compounding the situation, the cash scarcity forced people to buy cash at rates approaching 20% in certain parts of the country, further impoverishing people at a time when their livelihoods were already taking a hit. There are a few key points to add to the postscript of this policy. The first is that it took pressure for the CBN to comply with a court order. The bank’s directive only occurred when it was clear from a presidential announcement that compliance was also Aso Rock’s position. Under Governor Godwin Emefiele, the CBN has mortgaged the institutional independence enshrined in law. This policy is the final nail in the coffin of the regulator’s facade of policy independence. The second learning is that the general public refused to accept the old notes as legal tender after the Supreme Court pronouncement but rather waited until the President and the CBN concurred, which speaks to the general disregard for the judiciary. That is partly the fault of the third arm of government — considering its inability to operate by the tenets of efficiency and reasonability — and partly the fault of those in authority who have consistently disregarded

the court. Why do it on the streets if someone like the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, sees court judgements as suggestions? The most important lesson from this debacle is the destruction of faith in the financial system. The multi-decade effort to drive financial inclusion in one of the world’s largest blocs of unbanked and underbanked people has been undone in three months, and restoring that confidence will take toil, sweat and years.

626-STN-1980-11-02-032

626-STN-1980-10-05-032

ATIKU ABUBAKAR:

“People exaggerate corruption in Nigeria. It is not even our first or second problem, maybe the third.”

WINNIE MANDELA:

“I have a good relationship with Mandela. But I am not Mandela's product. I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy.”

LAMIDO SANUSI:

“The state is captive to vested interests.”

Across the country, cashless transactions dipped to ₦37.67 trillion in February 2023 as Nigerians continue to grapple with failed and delayed cash transfers. This is despite a 41.29% increase in e-payment gateway usage.

TITUS AKHIGBE, BENIN

The University Staff Disciplinary Committee (USDC), of Ambrose

Alli University, Ekpoma, has said that 13 staff members of the university have been dismissed for various cases of misconduct.

The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyi, disclosed this while presenting the Committee’s Report to the Chairman, Special Intervention Team, Andrew Olotu, at the Government House, Benin City.

The report, according to him, contained the findings, recommendations, and/or actions taken by the USDC regarding charges of misconduct, gross misconduct, and other unethical practices levied against some academic and non-academic staff of the university.

The USDC, the report said, has taken a total of 219 cases, completed investigations, and taken decisions on 132 cases (63 per cent) with 87 cases (63 per cent) ongoing.

The Acting Vice Chancellor said the 13 staff were dismissed for charges ranging from fraud, extortion, collection of illegal fees, and sexual harassment, while other staff members recommended for other sanctions/punishment were charged for extortion, age manipulation, and examination malpractices, among others.

He noted that while disciplinary actions have been taken on some of the affected staff by the committee in time past, the committee made recommendations on others (including the completed and ongoing cases)

NAPTIP arraigns two alleged prostitution promoters

PETER FOWOYO

for possible actions to be taken as will be decided by the SIT based on evidence and further findings.

Adagbonyi stated that among the 13 staff dismissed, four were from the Faculty of Engineering; two from the Department of Nursing Sciences; one from the Department of Law; three from the Faculty of Basic Medical Science; one from the Department of Medical Laboratory Science; one from Department of Political Science and one from the University farms.

Reporting on some of the cases already decided by the committee, Adagbonyi said:

“Mr. Christopher Ehigie, an Assistant Lecturer was found guilty of sexual harassment and recommended that his appointment be terminated which has already been carried out.

“Dr. John Ehiavbi, an Associate Professor, who was charged with extortion and other misconduct, was found guilty and the committee recommended his dismissal which has been carried out with the approval of the SIT.”

He continued: “Mr Ifeanyi Nwadike (a former Head of Nursing Science Department) and Mrs. Deliverance Brotobo of the same department were found guilty of fraud and extortion of funds from students.

“The committee concluded that based on findings, Mr Ifeanyi Nwadike was guilty of fraud and extortion. Mrs Deliverance Brotobo was also found guilty of the same as she was taking instructions from Mr Ifeanyi, the HOD. They both employed a non-staff and put him on the payroll to help them in the illegal fund collection.

For engaging in foreign prostitution cartel ring, two ladies, Blessing Lucky and Joyce Okeke, has been arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition for the Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The duo were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji on a seven count-charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, promoting prostitution and buying of human beings for the purpose of using them for prostitution.

The two ladies who are also known as Mary Frank and Eva, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The prosecutor, Mrs Becky Jibo, while arraigning the defendants on Friday, told the court that the defendants, committed the offences sometimes in February this year.

She told the court that the two defendants worked for one Mariam Adamu, a.k.a. Blessing, who resides in Lagos.

She also told the court that the defendants while working for Mariam Adamu, procured and harboured one Imasuen Chimuanya

Delight A.k.a. Zara, and facilitated her traveling to Togo and induced her into prostitution.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened section 1b; 15 (b); 21; 18 and 27(a) of the Trafficking in Persons (Pro-

hibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2016 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.

Following their plea of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for trial date and urged the court to remand them till the determination of the charges

OYSHIA debunks post on healthcare plan

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN

The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), on Monday, reiterated its commitment to the healthiness of its enrolees, adding that its yearly standard plus plan is N13,500.

Appealing to the public to disregard a now deleted post on social media, allegedly by a radio station, promoting its former standard healthcare plan of N8,000, the agency stated that it would not relent in its efforts at ensuring affordable and accessible health services to the public.

According to a statement by

UBEC seeks strategies to address challenges in basic education

DOOSUUR IWAMBE, ABUJA

In a bid to address the challenges in basic education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has emphasised the need to strategise in finding lasting solutions to challenges.

UBEC Executive Secretary, Hamid Bobboyi, made this disclosure during a One-Day Basic Education Colloquium in honour and memory of the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Gidado Tahir.

The Colloquium has the theme: 'The Nigerian Child: Dynamics of Educational Opportunities'.

Bobboyi said that the idea of the colloquium was to project the kind of dynamics and challenges within the basic education sub-sector in the area of funding, school attendance and teacher development within the context of the legacies of Tahir.

He said the late Tahir through his giant stride in the sector was able to bring a minimum of five million children back to school.

According to him,Tahir has been one of the key promoter of basic education in the country as he founded the National Commission for Normadic Education (NCEE) and UBEC .

Speaking on the number

of out-of-school children in the country, he said that the National Population Commission (NPC) through the conduct of census could give the accurate figure of the Out-of-School children.

''There is need for us to strategies and get involved in projects, we need to engage, discuss and strategies in the project that can help understand these challenges and how best to address them.

''We have just finished the report for 2022 National Personnel Audit (NPA)- the schools census and assessment of learning in the education sector that will give us idea on the extent the children are learning and areas of difficulties.

the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Sola Akande, speaking in Ibadan, said the agency appreciated the cordiality it had enjoyed with the media, urging them to uphold the tenets of journalism in the execution of their duties.

He noted that the radio station, without confirming from OYSHIA, promoted one of its old adverts in collaboration with the United Nations International Emergency Fund (UNICEF) about five years ago at the inception of the scheme.

“While the agency appreciates the media for its collabo -

TOM GARBA, YOLA

Adamawa State Police Command has, on the 19/5/2023, arrested one Atiku Ibrahim - 37 years and Adamu Ibrahim - 40 years, identified as inmates who escaped from Kuje Correctional facility, following the attack on the facility that freed over 500 inmates on the 5/6/2022.

The escapees were arrested by the Command Operatives attached to the Crack Squad.

The escaped suspects, were arrested for cattle rustling and other nefarious activities.

During interrogation,

against them.

But lawyer to the defendants informed the court that he has filed his clients' bail applications and same have been served on the prosecutor. The counsel submission was confirmed by the prosecutor and said she had filed her counter.

rations on giving our activities wider coverage, we implore journalists and media houses to uphold the ethics and tenets of the profession by confirming information from the right source before publishing. This will avert pushing misleading content to the general public.

“We, hereby, state unequivocally that the former plan ceased to be in existence, as the N8,000 Standard Plan has been replaced with N13,500 Standard Plus Pan,” Akande said.

The OYSHIA boss added that “the agency is still committed to providing accessible and affordable healthcare services which will engender Universal Health Coverage for all residents of Oyo State.”

they confessed to have been in Kuje Correctional custody since 2021, following allegation of arms dealing against them. They also confessed to have escaped into Adamawa State until their arrest.

SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, ANIPR, the Command's image maker in a statement, further stated that they were awaiting trial in a case of arms dealing and unlawful possession of firearms.

"The Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Babatola, directs for immediate handing over of the escapees to the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Adamawa State for further necessary action," the statement read.

Kuje jail break: Two wanted inmates arrested in Adamawa

Ambrose Alli University dismisses 13 staff members, demotes others for corruption, misconduct

Sanwo-Olu lauds Buhari, Tinubu, Dangote's contributions to Nigeria's 1st private refinery

BENJAMIN OMOIKE

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, said the stories of President Muhammadu Buhari; President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, are a testament that prosperity can be achieved when leaders have shared vision for the people they are leading. anwo-Olu shared three different stories on how President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu and Dangote are connected to the newly commissioned first privately owned refinery in Nigeria, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, said the three leaders have shown Nigerians that leadership is about consistency and commitment to Nigeria's economic growth.

He said: "The vision of Aliko Dangote, President Muhammadu Buhari and incoming President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a story of possibility when men have a shared common vision, purpose and they have the possibility that things can happen, things can change and things can be prosperous for the people

they are leading.

"These three men: Aliko Dangote, President Muhammadu Buhari, and President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, epitomise all the great qualities of great leadership. They have shown us that nothing can be something. They have shown us that leadership is about consistency. It is about showing that whatever it is that you believe in, give it all it takes and at the end of it you will see the results coming out."

Governor Sanwo-Olu while commending Dan-

gote, said the business mogul is a completely detribalised Nigerian who has impacted many lives positively.

He said: "To our son Alhaji Aliko Dangote, we are indeed truly proud that you have put Nigeria and indeed Africa on that world map in which you have done the very first. We are proud of your belief in your country and your belief in the youth that you are giving the opportunity to. We are proud of the fact that you are a Nigerian that is completely

Niger set to reintroduce school clubs, societies at primary, secondary level

SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

Niger state Commissioner of Education, Hannatu Jibrin Salihu, has said that the state has resolved to reintroduce extra curriculum activities in all primary and secondary schools across the state.

According to her this will put the State in limelight, hence the State government has given directives for the reintroduction of sports and literary activities in all Primary and Secondary schools across the State.

place to the performance and participation of our children in the field of physical development and expressive literary activities.

“What we are doing today is to celebrate our learner’s participation and outstanding performance in sports, quiz, debates.”

detribalised and you have imbibed it in many ways.

"It is about the opportunity this (refinery) has provided for all the youth and young people of our country. It is about the fact we can say to them the work these three men - Mr. President, Alhaji Dangote, and our incoming president have done and will continue to do.

"It is about our future. It is about providing an opportunity for the youth because over 150,000 direct and indirect jobs that will be

Religious leaders canvass support, prayer for NYSC at 50

UKPONO UKPONG

As the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marks its 50th Anniversary in Abuja, religious leaders have called for continuous support for the scheme to continue its good work of championing the course of unity in the country.

The Chaplain in Charge of Sunday Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Rev. Mike Agbon urged well-meaning Nigerians to rally round the NYSC to consolidate on its numerous achievements of almost fifty years.

He said history would always be kind to all the Corps Members from inception till date, including past and present managers of the scheme for their selfless services to the country.

The Cleric made the call in his sermon at the non-denominational thanksgiving service, marking the end of the week-long 50th Anniversary Celebration of NYSC, held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

He commended General Yakubu Gowon for establishing the NYSC, which he said has developed the consciousness of nationhood and patriotic spirit in the youths over the years.

Rev. Agbon added that the NYSC should be a ma-

jor concern of all Nigerians because it is the seed of the future.

Quoting from 1 John 2:15-16, Agbon decried the alarming rate of the disappearance of Nigeria's value system, while he advised the Corps Members to be determined to live a purposeful life with vision.

"Many of our leaders are products of NYSC. Great is the work of NYSC in how it has impacted our society through inter-cultural affinity. We need to come together and combat the challenges facing our nation.

"We should be more concerned about the future of our youths. We need to stand and work together as one,"

the cleric said."

The Officiating Minister prayed for continued success in the Scheme's activities, while sonorous songs with lyrics rented the air during the Thanksgiving session.

In his address, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, represented by the Director, ICT, Mrs Christy Uba, said the NYSC has weathered all storms from 1973 till date.

He said about six million youths have passed through the scheme.

"The Scheme has continue to grow in leaps and bounds and many Nigerian graduate youths who have passed through the NYSC are still making significant con-

tributions to the growth of the country in their chosen careers," Ahmed stated.

Speaking further, he said that Nigerians owe God the gratitude for holding the scheme to date.

In attendance at the service was an Ex-Corps member and a former Governor of Adamawa State, Mr James Nggilari, members of the 50th Anniversary Committee, NYSC Directors, Staff, Corps Members and many other Nigerians. Recall that a similar prayer was observed at the National Mosque on Friday, where Muslim faithful also prayed for the continued success of the scheme.

The Commissioner spoke at the award ceremony for Outstanding students of Public and Private Schools in Sports, Quiz and Debate Competition from 2019 to 2023.

She assured that any students who are outstanding in various extra curricular activities would be rewarded.

According to her “this is part of our effort to catch them young and identify those gifted in various areas; our aim is to bring back the past glory with sports, quizzes and debate competitions were seen and encouraged to be part of school activities.

“In order to develop the total child, We must give a

She added that the Ministry of Education is working in two directions to bring back the culture of sporting and literary activities by resuscitating School clubs and societies; and to implement measures that would increase our capacity to organize sporting and literary competitions.

One of the outstanding students, Miss Love Yeesuf of St. Clement Secondary School, while commending the State Government said determination, prayers and hard work were the key factors that lead out for their success.

While urging students to take extra curricular activities seriously, Miss Yeesuf added that she is motivated to give her best in the future.

Students from St. Clement, Father O’Connell, Zarumai among others won Basketball, 5-Aside football, debate and quiz competitions both at Zonal and national levels.

NYSC @50; Gambia, Sierra Leone, others

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

The Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, has offered reasons why African countries including Gambia and Sierra Leone have visited Nigeria in order to understudy the NYSC programme for implementation in their respective nations.

According to Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, despite the need for continued support, synergy, cooperation and collaboration to enable the Service Corps deliver on its mandate, the NYSC has set the pace for other youth organisations in Africa to follow.

The Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, who made this known at the award ceremony and dinner as part of the NYSC 50th anniversary ceremony held The event held at Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Yenagoa, expressed the hope that with the gigantic support given to the NYSC in the last 50 years, the next 50 years will place the Service Corps on the world map.

She thanked the invited guests for gracing the occasion and emphasised that the NYSC has set the pace for

other youth organisations in Africa to follow, noting that other countries like Gambia and Sierra Leone have come to under study NYSC programme for implementation in their respective nations.

She called for continued support, synergy, cooperation and collaboration to enable the Service Corps deliver on its mandate.

The Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Mr Anthony Ichobo, congratulated the service Corps for its 50TH anniversary and for marking the Golden Jubilee in such a grand style nation - wide.

He also congratulated the award winners and enjoined all stalk holders to continue to support the ideals, programmes and activities of the scheme.

Also in her remarks, Dame Ella Douglas,who was one of the first set of corps members who served in 1973, said she was grateful to witness NYSC 50TH anniversary.

She recalled with nostalgia her service year and congratulated the NYSC for unprecedented feat.

...LASG has provided enabling environment for private sector growth, says Dangote

Lagos

Island

descendants

seek

imposition of N10bn fine on ‘Gangs of Lagos’ movie

producers

BENJAMIN OMOIKE

Agroup, Isale Eko Descendants Union has been granted permission to seek an order compelling the Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to impose a N10 billion fine on the ‘Gangs of Lagos’ producer for the ‘wrongful depiction’ of Isale Eko (Lagos Island) as a den of criminals and the Eyo masqueraders as a gang of murderers.

The Union had threatened legal action against the producer of Gang of Lagos, Jade Osiberu and called on the National Film and Censors Board (NFVCB) to withdraw the approval granted to the movie.

They insisted that Adinmu Orisha’s play isn’t in any way associated with thuggery, violence and gangsterism as projected in the film.

However, a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square that granted the leave also allowed

Isale Eko’s descendants to apply for judicial review and seek an order of mandamus directing the Attorney General of Lagos State and Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board to sanction the film producers under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State.

The presiding judge, Justice Idowu Alakija,

granted the leave after hearing arguments of the Counsel for Isale Eko Descendants Union and others.

The applicants comprise Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, Chief Ayodele Bajulaiye, who sued on behalf of the Bajulaiye Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Bajulaiye, and Chief Abdul-Waheed

FG should protect national monuments –Sanni Bello

SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

Governor Abubakar

Sani Bello of Niger

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

Governor Sani Bello made the call while performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Zuma Smart City and Resort in Chachi, behind Zuma Rock, Tafa Local Government Area.

He said national historic sites in the country such as the Zuma Rock and Aso rock which the Federal Government has included in the National Heritage Sites, need to be protected by the government.

"I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to the

PEPT's denial of live broadcast: LP chieftain kicks

TITUS AKHIGBE, BENIN

Director of Contact and Mobilisation (Diaspora), of Labour Party (LP), Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor, has raised the alarm over what he termed a systematic plot by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government and the judiciary to silence Nigerians by violating their constitutional rights.

Eholor, a prominent chieftain of the party, in a statement was reacting to the Presidential Election Tribunal Judges' decision to block live coverage of proceedings.

unbecoming. Our vote is supposed to be counted wholly at the different polling units and recorded for posterity to judge that it was devoid of any hanky-panky. If not for INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu’s inefficiency, we would not have needed to go to the courts to determine who won the elections.

Federal Government to look into the activities of the multinational companies that mutilate our environmental national endowment with impunity", he added.

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

According to him, "I doubt if any foreign company can go to China and destroy any monument there, I am surprised and disappointed that it took so long a time to take them off this site", he said.

He disclosed that the state executive council made a deliberate effort to protect Zuma Rock and

its environs by making it a "Zuma Rock Investment and Cultural City", to attract investors and preserve it

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

"If the mining activity had continued the integrity of the rock would have been threatened, so I believe Zuma Rock is safe and with a resort here, eventually this place will become a smart city, it will become a recreational place and the people will enjoy the beauty of the rock", he said.

According to him, collective efforts amongst all tiers of government and the collaboration of the traditional rulers and community chiefs

Ayeni, who sued on behalf of the Sasore Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Sasore.

They are challenging Mrs. Jadesola Soberu, Ms. Kemi Lala Akindoju, Mr. Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Mr. Olumide Soyombo, Mr Bankole Wellington, Mrs. Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Mr. Kola Aina, Greoh Limited and Amazon Web Services Nigeria for the alleged sacrilegious and scandalous depiction of the Eyo Masqueraders in a movie production titled Gangs of Lagos.

In her decision recently, Alakija granted the applicants leave to apply for an order of mandamus against the Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to ban the film, Gangs of Lagos airing on Amazon Prime, for its alleged false and defamatory depiction of the Eyo masqueraders.

were needed to protect citizens from being exploited.

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

Niger State Governor-elect Umar Mohammed Bago on his part said that the state must benefit from

Eholor, who cried out over the development, said that since 2015, the Freedom of Information Act has been violated in several instances by the government when there is plan to achieve any goal that is against the will of Nigerians.

Giving instances, he mentioned how protesters and journalists were attacked and harassed at the Lekki toll gate during the #EndSARS protest.

He argued that Nigerians have been denied their rights to know what could benefit or harm them by the government.

Eholor said: “From the action of the judges not to allow live transmission of the proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, it is not in doubt that there are plans for our votes during the Presidential Election some months ago to be turned over to the highest bidder.

“This is sacrilegious and

its closeness to the Federal Capital and haven donated over 70 per cent of its land to what constitutes Abuja, the nation's capital.

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

Hajiya Risikatu Ahmed, the Managing Director

SOFPON calls for dialogue between FG, NARD to end doctors' strike

SAMUEL LUKA, B

AUCHI

As Nigeria's health sector commemorates the World Family Doctor Day 2023, the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), has called on the Federal Government and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), to return to the dialogue table, in order to bring an end to the ongoing nationwide strike by Doctors.

President of SOFPON,

Professor Musa Danleyau, made the call while addressing a press conference as part of activities to mark the day on Friday.

Our Correspondent reports that the World Family Doctor Day 2023 which has 'Nigerian Family Doctors at the Heart of Healthcare' as the theme was held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.

Danleyau explained that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) as an

umbrella body for medical practitioners and SOFPON an affiliate are working to ensure that both parties come back to dialogue table to resolve the dispute.

He said on their part as Consultants who are members of SOFPON, they would continue to provide medical services as they can, especially at the General Outpatient Departments and other Units.

He further assured that as Consultants, they would continue to offer services

to ease the burden of those who are not in the hospital with emergency services.

Danleyau, who pointed out that Nigeria is currently battling challenges of limited resources amidst political agitations and insecurity, said SOFPON and her members serving in the front-lines of healthcare service delivery in Nigeria, observed that without person-centered care, there is no chance of high quality health care services and achieving Universal Health

“If Yakubu and INEC have done the needful we wouldn’t have had any business going to court. A lot of people don’t have respect for the judiciary in Nigeria. It is not a strange thing in all parts of the world to have live coverage of court proceedings. There are cameras in every courtroom in Europe and America, why is it a different case in Nigeria?

“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man. What Nigerians are asking for is our right. It is not Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar that are being denied live telecast of the court proceedings but Nigerians most of whom got maimed, killed and in some instances dehumanised for insisting on letting their votes count.”

"This is how they switched off the lights at Lekki Toll Gate, before descending on our youths to kill them.

They switched off electronic transmission of results and rigged the elections massively.

Now, they have banned mobile phones at the Elections Tribunal.

"It is the same crude introduction of darkness to quench the light that they have always used to oppress Nigerians.

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

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

Coverage.

He said that the WFDD has been celebrated annually to recognise the central role of Family Doctors in delivering personal, comprehensive, and continuous health care to patients.

Danleyau explained that This year, the theme Family Doctors: The Heart of Healthcare draws attention to several fundamental issues health service provision which is at the very core of Family Medicine

practice. These attributes make It possible to provide high quality care which is at the heart of Universal Health Coverage.

"Advocacy and As Family Doctors, we are advocates for our patients, helping them navigate the healthcare system and access the resources they need. We also educate patients about their health, including how to manage chronic conditions, make healthy lifestyle choices, and prevent illness," Danleyau said.

Over $50bn oil industry projects unveiled at NOGOF - NCDMB boss

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

Oil and gas opportunities valued over $50bn and projected to be developed within five years were showcased by international and indigenous companies at the 2023 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), which ended on Friday at the conference hall of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day fair which drew 1,086 registered participants, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote stated that the quantum of opportunities covered different segments of the industry and required proper collation as they run into billions of dollars.

He stated, “some of the opportunities are from the indigenous players, some by NNPC Ltd and the international oil companies. If you put them together, in the next 5 years, they would exceed $50bn that would be invested in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

Listing a few of the opportunities and their values, he said: “Bonga Southwest which Shell talked about is almost about $7bn to $8bn. Shell also talked about Bonga North which they might take final investment decisions (FID) early next year and is almost $3bn.”

On steps to be taken by interested service companies and other players to participate effectively in those projects and opportunities, Wabote charged such firms to prepare themselves adequately, restating that the oil and gas industry is highly technical and does not compromise safety and standards.

He added: “If someone gives you projects he intends to execute in the next two years; Nigerian companies having listened to the opportunities should go back and continue to build their capacities in readiness to actively participate.”He also counseled that the oil and gas sector is not an environment where an entrepreneur can immediately step in and achieve success. “You must have staying power to succeed,” he said.

The NCDMB helmsman promised that the Board will collate the opportunities into a compendium and make them available to registered participants. He confirmed that the Board tracks the development of the opportunities showcased at every edition of NOGOF. Providing an update of projects shared at previous editions and hinted that “most of them have come to fruition, others are challenged by security concerns, final investment decisions (FID) challenges, bankability, and regulatory requirements and approvals.

But those that have crossed the hurdles have been developed and are producing today.” He added: “We shared Ikike and today it is almost doing 50,000 barrels per day; we

shared Nigeria LNG Train 7 almost 6 years ago and today it is in full steam, hoping to be completed in 2026. We shared the upstream opportunities that will feed into Train 7, HI, HA and Obeta projects. This has been a tremendous success by NCDMB.”

On other conditions necessary for the speedy development of oil industry projects, Wabote canvassed for the eradication of policy inconsistencies. He advised other regulatory bodies in the industry to conclude the formulation and release of key regulations that will serve as subsidiary legislations of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to give investors the necessary confidence to move ahead.

He equally challenged relevant agencies to address the worrisome security challenges, particularly the wanton crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. This will enable the production of hydrocarbons at reasonable costs and profitability, he opined. He regretted that most indigenous operators were unable to evacuate their crude oil through pipelines for over one year and are now forced to explore alternative options at high

costs.

Speaking further, the NCDMB boss affirmed that Nigerian content has come of age, recalling the past when expatriates dominated major operations and events of the industry and Nigerians played second fiddle. He expressed delight that indigenous firms have become highly competitive and dominant in the service sub-sector - upstream, midstream and downstream.

The 4th edition of the fair was attended by leaders of the oil and gas industry, including the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, chief executives of several international and indigenous operating and service oil and gas companies and other stakeholders.

It featured opportunities and technical sessions in which representatives of several operating and service companies and regulatory agencies made presentations on their plans and projects, among others. The next edition of NOGOF is slated for 2025.

Rainstorm damages over 300 houses, N500m property in Bauchi's Misau LG

Over 300 houses have been destroyed following a recent devastating rainstorm in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State.Confirming the development in a telephone interview yesterday, the Caretaker Chairman of Misau Local Government Area, Hon. Salisu Hussain Hardawa, said that the affected households have found themselves in a difficult situation.

He said that the rainstorm destroyed over 300 houses and properties worth over N500 million.

The Caretaker Chairman, who sympathised with the

victims of the rainstorm, prayed God to avert a future occurrence and replace what they lost as a result of the natural disaster.

Hon. Salisu Hussain Hardawa called on the Bauchi state government for intervention through provision of relief materials to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident on the victims.

The Chairman who expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost in the incident, attributed the sad development to poor tree planting attitude by people in Northern part of Bauchi state.

The LG caretaker Committee Chairman appealed to the general public to

imbibe the culture of tree planting in order to address desert encroachment.

He lamented that, upon all the present economic hardship, the affected people in Misau lost properties worth millions of Naira.

One of the victims, Ibrahim Abubakar Yunusa said that the rainstorm destroyed residential fences and houses completely.

"Today Sunday we found ourselves in this situation of rainstorm which wrecked havoc here in Area one, Misau. You can see how fences and houses have fallen, some houses have been destroyed completely, we are in difficult situation now," he groaned.

Diri's SSA on Tourism wants museums to be more

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, and facilitator of South-South Tourism Roundtable, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, has enjoined museum curators to give attention to interiors of museums to make them more appealing and exciting to visitors, adding that the interiors of modern museums shouldn't be as primitive as the artifacts they display.

Dr. Kiyaramo who stated this in Yenagoa in commemoration of this year's International Museum Day, which has the theme: “Museums, Sustainability and Well-being”, maintained that an exciting interi -

or of a museum would stimulate the senses of the visitors and provide that "much-needed wow factor.

He noted that while museums collect and preserve objects and materials of religious, cultural and historical values, they have become a good source of entertainment as well, informing that museums help to promote our rich cultural heritage, being the storehouse of old artefacts, sculptures, objects, history, among others.

The South-South Tourism Roundtable facilitator pointed out that the increasing importance of cultural tourism and the growing interest in museums have also imposed

various challenges on museums as tourism resources, reiterating that, for tourists to visit a museum, it has to be appealing, exciting to provide that unique and enriching experience to visitors.

"A museum promotes our rich cultural heritage, tourism, and the image of a nation. Therefore, our museums must be maintained as attractive economic development institutions. The south-south geopolitical zone, for instance, is replete with colourful cultures and traditions that are begging for attention. Museums are so important because they are channels of public education and enjoyment.

Delta Govt inaugurates sexual assault referral centre in Warri, Ughelli hospitals

"I like to use this medium to appeal to those in charge of museums to lift museums in the country to greater heights and maximise the economic potentials of museums to promote cultural tourism, with a view to making them centres of entertainment and education.

"Museums have become spaces where knowledge of cultures on a global scale are learnt. They serve to represent the nation in which they are situated. The functions of modern museums are to collect, preserve, interpret, and display objects of artistic, cultural, or scientific significance for the education of the public.

NOSA AKENZUA, ASABA

The Delta State Government has inaugurated two Sexual Assualt Referral Centres to attend to the needs of victims and aid the prosecution of offenders.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Mrs Flora Alatan, stated this during the inauguration at the General Hospital, Warri and the Central Hospital, in Ughelli.

It was gathered that a similar centre had been launched in Asaba, bring the number of sexual assault referral centres in the state to three.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Flora Alatan, said the facility has in place all responders to handle cases of sexual assault, including provisions to cater for health and psychological needs of the victims.

Mrs Alatan, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Mrs OgheneKevwe Agas, commended partners including the Nigerian Governor' Wives

Forum for their contribution to the inauguration of the center.

"The lawyers that would take the matter to court; the police that will prosecute the good perpetrator; the social welfare officer that would give them psychosocial support. So, this centre is a one-stop-shop."

The Medical Director, General Hospital Warri, Dr. Jonathan Okolo, and the Chief Nursing Officer Central Hospital Ughelli Mrs Aruoture, commented on the importance of the establishment of the Sexual Asualt Referral Centre in their facility.

Okolo:"To make sure that every assaulted gender-based violence will be seen here and evaluated.

"We will all join hands together with the government to make sure that victims are promptly taken care of."

The representative of the Nigerian Police Force Odih Abigail, and that of the State Ministry of Justice Mrs Eseoghene Ekpete, pledged their commitment in ensuring the successful operation of the Sexual Asualt Referral Center.

SAMUEL LUKA, BAUCHI

El-rufai: I can swear I never stole a kobo from the Govt coffers

IDIBIA GABRIEL, KADUNA

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-rufa has challenged any former governors in the state to swear with the holy Qur’an that they did not steal from public funds to build houses in the state and Dubai, say he never stole a kobo from government coffers.

The Governor who disclosed In his valedictory media chat on the Hausa service of the Kaduna State media corporation (KSMC), alleged that one of them built a mansion on Jabi road with public funds.

He also added, “Let the past Governors face the people of Kaduna State and swear with the Holy Qur’an that they never stole from the government coffers.

“I can swear I never stole a Kobo from the government coffers.”

El-rufai, who was reacting to the opposition criticisms of some of his policies remarked that, “I am happy with what we have seen. The work we have started and the quality of the works, we are going to spend years enjoying them.

“It is not the type of roads they did in the past that, after two rainy seasons, the roads will spoil. These works we are doing, we are doing them with quality.

“Am happy with what I have seen, but there is still more to be done, because to us, we want people to enter Kaduna and see no untared road anywhere.

“We want to see tarred road in every community of Kaduna with solar street lights, same for Kafanchan, Zaria and our local government areas. That was our wish, but the difficult circumstance our government met, we couldn’t do everything we planned to do, until we had to borrow before we could do what we did.

“We didn’t collect this loan and run away to Dubai to buy houses or go to Jabi Road to build a mansion

so that we can sleep well, that is not how we are.

“I became Governor of Kaduna with only one house on Danja Road at Ungwan Sarki, now I am finishing to the glory of God, that is the only house I have.

”I didn’t build any mansion, I don’t need it. I didn’t steal anybody’s money and I am challenging everyone that governed this state to also come out and swear with Qur’an that, when they governed the state, they didn’t steal a kobo of Kaduna resource that is not their entitlement.

“I swear to God, I will do that swearing. So, I am challenging all of them. Everyone should come out and face the people of Kaduna State and tell them he didn’t steal their money.

"Because we know them, they are children of Santa, they are not children of Dangote; we know them from school. Where did they get

money to build those mansions? What type of business were they doing? We know.

“Our of plans and antecedents are not like that. Our own understanding is that, leadership is a trust from God and to you will stand in front of God to give account of.

“As a result of that, every Naira and Kobo that we got, whether revenue or allocation from Abuja or loan, I swear by God, we have used it for the development of our people, we didn’t take and put in our pocket or take them to buy houses in Dubai, we don’t need that,” El-Rufai said.

Governor El-Rufai advised individuals whose primary motivation for entering politics is personal enrichment to steer clear, stating politics is meant for those who are content and genuinely committed to serving the people.

Obaseki to Okowa: History'll be kind to you

NOSA ÀKEÑZUA, ASABA

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, said history would be kind to his Delta State counterpart Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, whose tenure as Governor would end on May 29, 2023.

He said that no matter what people thought about the Okowa administration, history had recorded the massive achievements of the Governor while in the saddle for eight years.

Obaseki spoke at a valedictory dinner held for the outgoing governor and his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, at the Events Centre in Asaba on Sunday night.

He described Okowa as a unifier who had ensured that Edo and Delta remained united and for supporting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to victory in the 2021 Governorship election in the state.

"I am here to celebrate and thank God for the life of our own Chairman because he is the Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum.

"I want to thank God that you have kept the tradition, you have played your own part, you have run your own session of the race. You inherited a Delta that is PDP and you are handing on a Delta that is PDP to your successor.

"You have done your part and that's all you can do and we thank God for your wife and family that have been a pillar of support all through these eight years.

"People will have their own versions of history but history is history and history has recorded what you have achieved for your people in Delta State.

"I congratulate you and thank God for your life that as you move to the next phase of your calling, the Lord who has seen you through will be there to support you," he stated.

Obaseki charged the Governor-elect, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, to brace up for the challenges ahead and wished him well as he assumes office on May 29.

On his part, Governor Okowa who was very emotional on the night, thanked Deltans for giving him and his deputy the opportunity to serve the state for eight years.

He also commended the legislature and the judiciary as well as the civil service for their contributions to his administration’s success.

"There is no doubt that we had some happy moments but we also had some challenging moments. Several challenges came our way but God was with us all through.

"God was with us and He will be with

TOM GARBA, YOLA

Achieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sunday Moniedafe, has described the recent telephone conversation between US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as an auspicious diplomatic step toward strengthening relations between the two countries.

In an exclusive interview with journalists in Abuja, Chief Moniedafe, said the needless uproar the call generated especially from the opposition camps, "beats my imagination, because our country has countless and limitless opportunities that will come our way as a nation, from the bastion of democracy.

Chief Moniedafe enjoined those who are "creating a mountain out of a molehill" to understand that the telephone conversation, which was initiated by the US diplomat, "was open and frank, and our ingenious president-elect, the Jagaban, seized the felicitous moment to reiterate his resolve which is aimed at prioritizing institutional reforms and development programs, deepening our democratic institutions and bringing succour to poor and vulnerable Nigerians".

Chief Moniedafe, noted that

Tinubu's telephone call to Blinken will enhance diplomatic ties says APC chieftain

"Asiwaju was in his element when he concurred with the US diplomat that without national unity, national security, economic development and good governance, Nigeria would not be a better place to visit, live in, and do business, as well as continue to play her leading role in the comity of African nations".

He was emphatic that the Tinubu he has come to know in the political firmament of Africa's largest democracy and the world's most populous black nation, "will hit the ground running and Nigerians will have a better deal sooner than later, because he is a pragmatic democrat with demonstrable antecedent".

10th Speaker: Group Urges G-7, Greater Minority to accept Abbas, Kalu

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

Apressure group, Defenders of Constitutional Democracy, (CDC) has appealed to the G-7 aspirants and minority caucus under the umbrella of 'Greater Minority' to jettison the idea of presenting consensus candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.

The CDC instead, urged the aggrieved Aspirants and the Minority Group to support the choice of Rep Tajudeen Abass and Rep Benjamin Okezie Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House at its inauguration.

sary concessions where possible. So, there is no need insisting on disobeying the party.

"At least, the G-7 have been able to voice out their discomfort with the zoning arrangement and endorsement of Reps Abbas and Kalu.

"So, let us join hands with the party and work for the emergence of Abbas and Kalu in order to have a legislature that can collaborate with the executive to give Nigerians the best."

you through your tenure," he said.

The governor apologised to the people of Ayakoromo and the Ijaw nation for his inability to complete the Ayakoromo Bridge project, but assured that he had taken steps to ensure its prompt completion in no distant time.

"I must publicly apologise for our failure to deliver the Ayakoromo bridge during my tenure.

"The previous contactor somehow slowed us down and not until last year we found out that if we needed to succeed, that contractor had to be exited from that project and we were able to talk with him and it has now been re-awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited.

"We have done the initial phase of mobilisation which is about N2 billion but the full mobilisation ought to be about N4.1 billion

"By God's grace, and talking with the Governor-elect, by next week we will have to pay the balance N2.1billion so that they can move on fully to the Ayakoromo Bridge and get it completed.

"I apologise and ask for patience of not only the people of Ayakoromo but all Ijaws who had felt that bridge ought to be completed. It is not our own deliberate fault, it was because of the non-performance of the contractor.

The National convener of CDC, Aliyu Abdullahi and Director, Contact and Mobilisation, Dr. Chukwuma Okoro made the plea in a statement made available to news men in Abuja on Sunday.

The Group also commended the Minority Parties Forum led by Rep Iduma Igariwey for adopting the APC’s preferred candidates and offering to support them to emerge as presiding officers.

The Group advised the aggrieved Aspirants, including Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, Rep Muktar Betara, Reps Yusuf Gagdi, Sada Soli, Aminu Sani Jaji and Miriam Onuoha, “to respect the party's position and avoid unnecessary confrontation.”

The statement reads: “As democrats and patriotic Nigerians who are interested in the unity and peace of this nation, we appeal to the G-7 and the Greater Minority to sheathe their swords and accept the endorsement of Rep Tajudeen Abass and Rep Benjamin Kalu as the speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively as an act of God.

“The APC's National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu has promised that the party will review the zoning and make neces-

While advising the Greater Minority, the CDC said, "to our comrades in the Greater Minority, we appeal to them not to sponsor a consensus candidate to counter the APC's choice of Abbas and Kalu. Politics is not only about fight and opposition bit collaboration and alliances.

"Therefore, the collaboration, which the APC is seeking this time, is to advance the cause of our democracy and improve the lot of Nigerians. We urge you to toe the line of the Monority Parties Forun, support the winning ticket and together, we will all be happy for it, he said."

The Group also commended the MPF for accepting Abbas and Kalu saying; "We commend the courage and patriotism of the MPF led by Rep Igariwey for endorsing Abbas and Kalu.

"Elections are over and what we should be on our minds now, is how to better our country and not to create disaffection.

"We are calling on Members-elect of other political parties and aggrieved members-elect in APC to join hands and make this ticket work for the good of our nation because, both the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President-Elect Senator Shettima are politicians of note, who will not want to marginize any individual or, section of the country."

Court to hear perjury suit seeking to prosecute Tinubu, stop May 29 Inauguration today

TUNDE OPALANA, ABUJA

Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja will today (Tuesday) hear a suit by concerned Nigerians seeking to halt the scheduled swearing-in of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as Nigeria’s new President on May 29 for lying on oath.

This is even as another Federal High Court will consider suit seeking to declare that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to comply with electoral laws in the Feb. 25 presidential election.

Daniel Elombah, a member of the Peter Obi Solidarity Network POSN Legal team, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

While the suit on perjury against Tinubu' will be held in Court 9, the second suit is requesting from Court to declare that INEC failed to comply with Electoral Laws during Presidential Election will be heard in Court 5.

In the suit on Perjury, Concerned Nigerians had in a motion ex-parte filed last week alongside the suit marked FHC/ABJ/C5/567/2023 alleged that Tinubu, who was declared President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), lied on oath about his possession of a Guinean Passport.

The concerned Nigerians who filed the suit are Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Pastor Paul Isaac Ausu and Dr Anongu Moses.

The defendants are the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, Attorney-General of the Federation, Director-General of the Department of State Service, Inspector General of Police, and Independent National Electoral Commission.

The concerned Nigerians are seeking an order of the court to nullify Tinubu’s candidacy in the February 25 presidential election.

They are also seeking an order restraining President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from swearing-in Tinubu.

The litigants are making the following demands:

“A DECLARATION that the deliberate, wilful and false information deposed to by the 2nd defendant in FORM EC9 of the 7th defendant wherein he stated that he is a not a citizen of another country apart from Nigeria, contrary to the fact that he is also a

Okowa signs SupplementaryN71bnAppropriation Bill

NOSA ÀKEÑZUA, ASABA

Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday in Asaba, signed a Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N71 billion approved by the Houseof Assembly.

The budget comprises N65.5 billion for capital expenditure and N5.6 billion as recurrent expenditure.

The governor also assented to eight other Bills - Delta State Development and Property Authority Bill, 2022; Delta State Good Governance and Accountability Bill, 2022 and Delta State Sickle Cell Disorder Control Bill, 2023.

Others are High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Delta State Thanksgiving Day Bill, 2023; Delta State Creative Industry Development Bill, 2023; Delta State Polytechnic Burutu Bill, 2023 and College of Health Science and Technology Bill, 2023.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Okowa lauded the House of Assembly for its support and cooperation with the Executive in the past eight years.

"We have had a very robust House of Assembly and we will continue to remain proud of their achievements.

sonal interests.

"We are truly very happy that you achieved a lot in the course of duty and we believe that all the Bills that have been passed into law in the past, have been quite instructive in the good governance of Delta State.

"And, today, the Bills signed this morning show that we are setting the stage for a more justiceable and glorious Delta State," Okowa stated.

Presenting the Bills earlier, the Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Sherrif Oborevwori, said that the Bills went through all legislative processes before they were passed.

He thanked the Governor and members of the House for their support and cooperation over the past six years he served as the Speaker of the Assembly.

Addressing journalists shortly after the signing of the Bills, Oborevwori said he was eager to translate his experience from the legislature to the executive arm of government, assuring that with God on his side, his MORE Agenda would advance the state further.

citizen of The Republic of Guinea, is a criminal offense capable of preventing the 2nd defendant from being sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court nullifying the candidacy of the 2nd defendant as fielded by the 3rd defendant as its political party flag bearer for the presidential election of the 25th of February 2023.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court restraining the 1st defendant from allowing the swearing in of the 2nd defendant as President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and directing the 1st defendant to ensure by all the powers within his disposal that the 2nd defendant is not sworn in, into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for wilfully, deceptively and deliberately misleading the 7th defendant and telling lies on oath.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants to ensure that the 2nd defendant is detained, and prevented from being sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pending the determination of the Presidential election Petition before the Court of Appeal to determine the rightful winner of the 25th February, 2023 election conducted

by the 7th defendant.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd defendant to dismiss the 2nd defendant from the party for deliberately telling lies and falsely stating .in the form EC9 of the 7th defendant that he is only a Nigerian citizen contrary to the prevailing and available facts that he possesses citizenship of the Republic of Guinea.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court to the 7th defendant to nullify and disqualify the candidacy of the 2nd defendant for wilfully and knowingly telling lies on oath, to the 7th defendant in the form EC9 of the 7th defendant which is against the sacrosanct condition precedent for being allowed as a candidate to contest the Presidential election of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the 2nd defendant to stop holding out himself as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, since he was ineligible and his nomination as the Presidential Candidate of the 3rd defendant a nullity owing to the deliberate false declaration, he made in the form EC9 of the 7th defendant before the Presidential election which held on the 25th of February 2023.

I remain authentic National Chairman of LP, says Abure

TOM OKPE, ABUJA

The crisis rocking the Labour Party, (LP) has taken another dimension with both Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa fighting for its leadership.

While Abure recently said at a news, world press conference held at the party National Secretariat in Abuja that, he and the National Executives had resumed their duties in obedience to the court order that earlier restrained them, Apapa at the other hand said he remains the national chairman of the party, warning their presidential candidate, Peter Obi to desist from working with Abure.

The embattled national publicity secretary of the party loyal to Apapa, during a conference addressed by Dr Abayomi Arabambi, said Apapa re-

mains the national chairman until the court decides otherwise.

Arabambi, during the press conference, said Apapa was the state chairman of LP in Oyo State in 2009 and a pioneer founder of the Labour Party in Nigeria whereas, Abure has a very poor background in the party, which is affecting his sense of judgment.

According to him, the "NEC meeting of March 27 notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) purported to have been jointly signed by the then acting national chairman, Mrs Maria Labake and Julius Abure, were forged as the woman was never aware of the import of that NEC meeting."

However, Abure at the press conference told journalists that it has become imperative for me to address you, to properly put the legal issues surrounding the lead-

ership of the party on their proper perspectives.

"It is pertinent to state categorically and clearly that Labour Party has no faction. Labour Party has only one leadership and that leadership is the National Working Committee, (NWC) led by myself, Barrister Julius Abure.

"Recall that some few members of the party burgled themselves into the office and appointed themselves, four of them, as officers of the party acting on the purported and upon a restraining order, an ex parte order granted by the FCT High Court.

"A cursory look at the originating summons which is pending before the High Court of the FCT; Apapa and his cohorts asking the court, upon granting their reliefs in the final judgement to direct the NEC to appoint interim National officers for the party.

"Even in the last days of this administration, they have continued to work so hard to ensure good governance in the state by making appropriate legislation that will impact on the lives of our people.

"That is why this morning, you have witnessed the signing of several legislations that were passed by the House of Assembly.

"I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the Delta State House of Assembly for the great work that they did for us in the past eight years," he said.

He commended the Speaker and Governor-elect and members of the Assembly for the stability in the legislative arm during the period.

"They were partners and we worked together to do the best that we can for the people of Delta State.

"Mr Speaker and Governor-elect and the other members of the House, I appreciate you for the great work and partnership.

"We have been a lucky set of people because all arms of government have worked together. I appreciate God for what He has been able to use us to do.

"There is no doubt that we came and saw what the previous administration did; we appreciated it and looked into areas where we thought the foundations were not fully built.

"And, we have continued to work together to build on the foundation that we all completed. I believe that foundation has been laid for more rapid development, going forward.

"So, I thank the people for working like brothers and ensuring that they considered Delta State first before per-

"I am very happy today. You can see that even towards the very end of this administration, we are still here with nine bills. These are very important bills.

"We have a good House of Assembly that is eager to work. I was a Speaker in the 6th Assembly but the 7th Assembly, I commend them.

"It's good that I am taking my experience as a Speaker to the executive arm of government. It gives me more opportunity to understand the state I want to govern in order to do well as a governor," Oborevwori stated.

Meanwhile the governor had on Sunday ascribed the peace and unity that prevailed in the state and enabled him to deliver on his promises, to God's mercy, saying he was leaving a more peaceful and united State.

Okowa stated this at a Valedictory Thanksgiving Service to mark the end of his administration at St Philips Anglican Church, Asaba.

He said that he and his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, were at the Service to thank God for what He had done for him, his family and the state for the past eight years.

"One thing I must thank God greatly for is the fact that there is peace and unity in this state. That we have had peace in this last 8 years, is by the grace of God.

"But, the unity in the state is borne out of the fact that God did the arrangement by Himself that today, this state can rightfully say that we stand on a tripod.

NGX is up 0.35% as market cap gains N98.66bn

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Senator Hadi Sirika, on Monday, commissioned an N2.2 billion expansion of the first phase of the General Aviation Terminal ( GAT) increasing the capacity of the terminal from 254 to 1,024.

The expansion of the GAT, carried out by project contractor, Messrs Glovesly Pro-Project Limited, has a passenger processing capacity of 1,024, as against 256, which was the capacity before this expansion, central conditioning unit, fire alarm and sprinklers, as well as Aviation mini clinic.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), opened the week on a positive note, as Nigerian equities up 0.35 per cent, while the market capitalisation appreciated by N98.66 billion.

Specifically, the local bourse AllShare Index (ASI) closed 0.35per cent stronger to close at 52,369.13 points.

Also, the market capitalisation gained N98.66 billion to close at N28.52

trillion, while the year-to-date (YTD) return rose to 2.18 per cent.

Gains in telco heavyweight MTNN (+0.87%), alongside ZENITHBANK (+1.73%) and GTCO (+2.07%) buoyed the performance of the market.

Analysis of the first trading session of the week's activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 50.79 per cent.

A total of 315.70 million shares val-

ued at N4.03 billion were exchanged in 5,847 deals. ZENITHBANK (+1.73%) led the volume and value charts with 53.43 million units traded in deals worth N1.38 billion.

Market breadth closed positive at a 2.40-to-1 ratio with advancing issues outnumbering declining ones.

ACADEMY (+9.80%) led twenty-three (23) others on the leader’s log while NEIMETH (-7.33%) topped nine (9) others on the leader’s table.

Stakeholders should focus on gas domestication -Kyari

the theme: “Oil & Gas Industry – Catalyst and Fuel for the Industrialization of Nigeria

He commended Engr. Simbi Wabote for his tremendous contributions to Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

As part of domestication and partnership for local content, NNPC will supply 300, 000 crude to the Dangote refinery as soon as it comes onstream.

He noted that the security of the Niger Delta is paramount adding that 1.67bpd is being achieved as an objective to get the country’s production back on track. The security agencies are working assiduously to curb the oil theft menace that has ravaged the oil industry depleting production.

The facility also comes with the complements of 3 Standard Departure Halls (2 downstairs, and 1upstairs), 3 VIP Lounges (1 downstairs and 2 upstairs), 2 Protocol Lounge(1 downstairs and 1 upstairs), 3 Lifts (departure, VIP, and Protocol), 4 Toilets, 5 Office spaces, 5 Staircases, amongst others, as againstDeparture Hall, 1 VIP Lounge, 1Protocol Lounge, and 20 Toilets, which were the facilities available before the commencement of the project.

The minister in his speech before the commissioning stressed that the project was conceived to address the decades-long limited capacity challenge of the terminal.

He stated, “You will agree with me that the geometric increase in the population of Nigeria, which increased in passenger volume has overwhelmed available facilities at this terminal and as part of efforts to address this challenge, the Federal Government at some point developed the Zulu terminal to complement the existing old terminal, but the capacity limitation situation persisted.

“Oftentimes, particularly at peak periods, you will observe that facilities in this terminal are usually overstretched because the volume of passengers

Aviation Ministry unveils N2.2bn expanded Zulu terminal at MMA

using the facilities far outweighs the capacity available.

“We, therefore, evaluated the situation and decided to expand the terminal, as we intend to address the situation. We intend to build a new and much bigger domestic terminal in the nearest future.

“The facility we are commissioning today is a product of that thought, and it is only the first phase of the project. As soon as we put this to use, we hope that the incoming administration will continue with the construction of the second phase. As you will be seeing in due course, this facility contains brand new protocol lounges, airline office spaces, and VIP lounges, with the complements of conveniences that will enhance the safety, security and comfort of our esteemed passengers.

“The project started early last year, and I am glad that the first phase was completed in record time, and is being commissioned today. I am very confident that the provision of this facility will enhance passenger facilitation at this terminal, and will also improve the revenue generation of FAAN

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari, has advocated that the in-

dustry must focus on gas and implored all partners to join NNPC to build and domesticate infrastructure.

Giving his Keynote address at the 4th Edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2023, with

“Industrialisation is about putting the country’s energy in a vantage position to create revenue for it since oil and gas is its mainstay.”

Nigeria gets its major earnings from the energy sector and it is in a position to support the prosperity of the nation.

FG to unveil $50bn oil industry projects

Oil and gas opportunities valued at over $50bn and projected to be developed within five years were showcased by international and indigenous companies at the 2023 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) which ended on Friday at the conference hall of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Speaking after the two-day fair which drew 1,086 registered participants, the executive secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote stated that the quantum of opportunities covered different segments of the industry and required proper collation as they run into billions of dollars.

He stated,“Some of the opportuni-

ties are from the indigenous players, some by NNPC Ltd and the international oil companies. If you put them together, in the next 5 years, they would exceed $50bn that would be invested in the Nigerian oil and gas industry”.

Listing a few of the opportunities and their values, he said:“Bonga Southwest which Shell talked about is almost about $7bn to $8bn. Shell also talked about Bonga North which might take final investment decisions (FID) early next year and is almost $ 3 billion".

On steps to be taken by interested service companies and other players to participate effectively in those projects and opportunities, Wabote charged such firms to prepare themselves adequately, restating that the oil and gas industry is highly technical and does

not compromise safety and standards.

He added, “If someone gives you projects he intends to execute in the next two years; Nigerian companies having listened to the opportunities should go back and continue to build their capacities in readiness to actively participate.”

He also counselled that the oil and gas sector is not an environment where an entrepreneur can immediately step in and achieve success.“You must have staying power to succeed,” he said.

The NCDMB helmsman promised that the Board will collate the opportunities into a compendium and make them available to registered participants. He confirmed that the Board tracks the development of the opportunities showcased at every edition of NOGOF.

Providing an update of projects

shared at previous editions and hinted that“most of them have come to fruition, others are challenged by security concerns, final investment decisions (FID) challenges, bankability, and regulatory requirements and approvals. But those that have crossed the hurdles have been developed and are producing today.”

He added: “We shared Ikike and today it is almost doing 50,000 barrels per day; we shared Nigeria LNG Train 7 almost 6 years ago and today it is in full steam, hoping to be completed in 2026. We shared the upstream opportunities that will feed into Train 7, HI, HA and Obeta projects. This has been a tremendous success by NCDMB.”

On other conditions necessary for the speedy development of oil industry projects, Wabote canvassed for the

eradication of policy inconsistencies. He advised other regulatory bodies in the industry to conclude the formulation and release of key regulations that will serve as subsidiary legislations of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to give investors the necessary confidence to move ahead.

He equally challenged relevant agencies to address the worrisome security challenges, particularly the wanton crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. This will enable the production of hydrocarbons at reasonable costs and profitability, he opined. He regretted that most indigenous operators were unable to evacuate their crude oil through pipelines for over one year and are now forced to explore alternative options at high costs.

TEMITOPE ADEBAYO

JOY OBAKEYE

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

IMF rates adoption of Nigeria's digital currency low

Sales (POS) terminals—which enables credit or debit card payments.”

The IMF explained that the downloaded wallets recorded low transactions, while some have not been active except for the initial surge it recorded shortly after it was launched. It added that the average number of eNaira transactions weekly was carried out only by 1.5 per cent of downloaded wallets.

“The average value of eNaira transactions has been 923 million naira per week—0.0018 per cent of the average amount of M3 during this period. The average value per transaction has been N60,000,” the IMF said.

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

The Federal government has appointed Engr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, Director of Aerodrome And Airspace Standards at Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is the new managing director, of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

He replaces Matthew Pwajok, who had been in an acting capacity for more than one year.

Pwajok, a former director of operations at NAMA, who retired in December 2021, succeeded Captain Fola Akinkuotu, whose tenure expired on January 7, 2022.

FG appoints Tayib Odunowo as NAMA MD

(A/P), Private Pilot License (P/L) and Flight Engineer’s License (FEL) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United States of America.

TEMITOPE ADRBAYO

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), has said the adoption of Nigeria's digital currency, naira, has been disappointingly low, noting that 98.5 per cent of the wallets downloaded after the unveiling have been abandoned.

The IMF made this known in a working paper released recently titled,‘Nigeria’s naira, One Year After’.

In the report, IMF highlighted how the digital currency fared within its first year, noting that the CBDC project has not moved beyond the initial wave of limited adoption.

“The average number of eNaira transactions since its inception amounts to about 14,000 per week— only 1.5 per cent of the number of wallets out there. This means that 98.5

per cent of wallets, for any given week, have not been used even once,”the paper reads.

The entire usage by households and merchants has been slow, the IMF said.

“The retail wallet downloads saw a few weeks of the initial surge before tapering off. More specially, it only took 25 days for the number of downloaded wallets to reach 500,000 units—but going from there to 600,000 units took another 63 days; and to 700,000 units yet another 143 days,” the IMF said.

“As of end-November 2021, the total number of retail eNaira wallets amounted to about 860,000. This is just 0.8 per cent of Nigeria’s active bank accounts. Merchant wallet download has reached about 100,000 in end-June, which is about one-eleventh of the number of merchants with Point-of-

The fund noted that the eNaira’s potential in financial inclusion requires a strategy to set the right relationship with mobile money, given the former’s potential to either complement or substitute the latter.

“Cost savings from integrating CBDC—as a bridge vehicle—in the remittance process may also be substantial,” it said.

It would be recalled that Nigeria’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the eNaira, went live after an official launch by President Muhammadu Buhari on 25 October 2021 in Abuja.

Nigeria is one of only a few countries worldwide to develop an official digital currency.

The naira was developed by the fintech company Bitt, which is also behind the creation of CBDC in some East Caribbean countries.

At the launch, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, said 500 million nairas ($1.21 million) had already been minted.

Engr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo is the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He earned a Diploma in Airframe and Power Plant Technology at the National College of Aviation Technology, Zaria in 1987 and a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Columbia in 1998. He also had Airframe and Power Plant License

Engr. Odunowo served as Executive Director (International Operations) with JIL Engineering & Oil Services Limited, Lagos from 2010 to 2017. He worked as Senior Consultant at National Aeronautic Space Agency, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A from 2006 to 2008. From 1996 to 1997, he worked as Flight Engineer (Boeing 727) with FED-EX, Washington DC, U.S.A.

Engr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo is a recipient of the Basket Ball Scholarship to Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia.

Farewell: Books of condolence

opened for

Otunba Balogun at FCMB Headquarters, residence

following a very brief illness, at the age of 89 years, in the evening of Thursday 18th May 2023, in London, United Kingdom, while surrounded by his family.

According to the family, while we mourn his passing, we are grateful for the full life he lived and the legacy of hard work, entrepreneurship, excellence, tenacity, courage, faith, style, and discipline, along with his commitment to God, to Church, to family, community, philanthropy and Nigeria, which he has left for us, to emulate.

"We are comforted in our loss by the remarkable outpouring of love and sympathy, all your kind words and the effusive expressions of warmth."

To this end, the family noted that apart from his residents in Lagos and Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, books of condolence would also be opened at Primrose Tower, 17A Tinubu Street, Lagos; Founders Place, 2 Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos; First City Plaza, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja, and Chapel Hill Denham, 10 Bankole Oki Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

First West Africa Wagon Assembly plant in Nigeria will enhance deployment for freight services - FG

TEMITOPE ADEBAYO

President Muhammad Buhari, the first West Africa wagon assembly plant in the Ogun State part of the country, would enhance deployment for freight services.

The plant, which was commissioned yesterday, by the President is located in Kajola, Ogun State.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo, noted that the First West Africa Wagon Assembly plant in Nigeria is being rolled out for further deployment for freight services.

and transfer of technology to Nigeria. Expectedly, the Federal Government is to facilitate the establishment of the plant by providing an enabling environment and necessary support in terms of Tax Waivers, Utilities (Power and Water Supply), Access roads, Rail Sidings, etc. This responsibility was carried out meticulously by the Nigerian Government.

Following

of FCMB, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, says books of condolence have been opened, at his homes in Lagos and ljebu Ode, as

well as the FCMB Group Headquarters, 44 Marina, Lagos.

The family in a statement signed by Bolaji and Jide Balogun, which was obtained by The Daily Times yesterday, confirmed that The Olori Omo Oba Akile Ijebu and Asiwaju of Ljebu Christians, passed away,

The family, also, urged, people to visit the online condolence register at: www.olasubomibalogun.com.

"We will announce details of the Celebration of his Life in due course.

"Please do keep us in your prayers, and we ask God to grant him eternal rest", the family stated.

He explained that Kajola Assembly Plant was a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited in the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Modernization Project, which is a section of the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernization Project.

According to him, "With my approval, the Ministry signed an Agreement in March 2018 with CCECC as Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) by the company in compliance with Presidential Order No. 5 to promote companies’ involvement in infrastructure development

"It was part of the effort of the Federal Government in the promotion and development of local capacity in Assembling and Manufacturing of Rolling Stock, as well as a means to generate employment and boost economic opportunities for the citizenry.

"The Wagon Assembly Plant is a Locomotive and Rolling Depot, having the capacity to produce 500 Wagons per year of Open Wagons, container Flat Wagons, and Box Wagons. Out of 368 various types of Wagons needed and awarded to CCECC, about 220 Wagons of the existing rolling stock procurement contract are to be produced at the Kajola Plant pending when the plant would be transformed into a full Wagon manufacturing plant," he said

JOY OBAKEYE

confirmation of his death, the family of the Founder

Danbatta calls for collaboration that will create no gender boundaries

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for a collaboration that will forge a future where innovation knows no gender boundaries, where every idea is nurtured and where women are just thriving as pioneers and partners of change.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made the call in Lagos, on Monday at the Women & Girls Innovation Summit, which was organized by Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN).

“Together let us forge a future where innovation knows no gender boundaries, where every idea is nurtured and where women are just thriving as pioneers and partners of change,” Prof. Danbatta who was represented by his Special Assistant (Legal), Afure Iloka said.

According to him, there is a need to create spaces where women or girls feel empowered to take risks, learn from failure or persevere in the face of diversity in the face of adversity, stressing that it

is through collective efforts that Nigeria can cultivate an ecosystem that nurtures and amplifies the idea of innovations of women and girls.

“As we celebrate the achievements of the incredible women and girls in this event, let us remember that this is not the end of the step-

ping stone towards a brighter future. Let us commit to fostering an environment where innovation is not bound by gender or flourishes through the power of intention to the young girls who aspire to be innovators,” he advised.

Admitting that there are barriers that limit access to

education, mentorship, funding and leadership opportunities for women, the telecom regulator’s boss insists that the industry must strive for equitable workplaces where women and girls are supported, valued and provide with the resources they need to thrive.

He believes that women have the power to shape industries, tackle pressing global challenges and create a better world for all enclosing, adding that there is a need to unite all efforts to ensure that women and girls are not only given a seat at the table but also have an influential voice in shaping the innovative landscape of tomorrow.

“To create a truly innovative Nigeria we must tap into the vast wellsprings of talents and potentials that women and girls possess. It is a fact that when we empower women and girls, we have empowered entire communities and nations, ideas and talents have the power to drive groundbreaking solutions, disrupt industries and bring about positive change.

Airtel launches brand campaign to inspire youths

Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, has launched a new Africa-wide brand campaign focused on building a deeper emotional connection with young people.

The brand campaign is also expected to connect Nigeria’s productive generation of youths.

The campaign includes a new strapline for Airtel:

‘A Reason to Imagine’. It is driven by the insight that in Africa, imagination is the only qualification that matters and showcases Airtel

MTN asks Nigerians to nominate projects for improvement in communities

Africa’s role in harnessing this potential by delivering relevant solutions to consumers that enhance digital and financial inclusion.

The ‘A Reason to Imagine’ campaign highlights the status of Airtel as an enabler of young people’s dreams and ambitions, whatever these might be. To this end, the campaign seeks to celebrate the energy, creativity, and innovation of Nigerian youth.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos recently, Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Carl Cruz, said: “Africa’s young people are now more than ever, own-

ing their passions boldly, chasing their dreams with all their heart, and living life on their terms. At Airtel, we see this growth as a beautiful thing. This is why our

new brand purpose represents our commitment to the future. It is about youth, about excitement, about fun, and most of all, about imagination.”

FG to construct 250-seater ICT Centre for LAUTECH College

The Nigerian Communications Commission

(NCC) has begun the construction of a 250-seater capacity Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre at the College of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH), Iseyin, Oyo State.

The Chairman of the ad-hoc committee of the Iseyin community for the establishment of the college, Hon. Waheed Olaniyan, while speaking at the weekend, during the handover of land for the centre to a special team from the NCC and the contractor of the project, lauded the NCC Chairman, Prof. Adeolu Akande, for deeming it fit to construct the ICT centre

for the new campus, stating that it was an indication that the college would be commencing academic works with ease with the ICT centre in place.

He maintained that the college has come to stay with the take-off date announced by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, as sacrosanct, noting that the people of the community and Oke-Ogun area would continue to remain grateful to the governor for establishing the college in the community as the gesture would improve the socio-economic outlook of the region.

The former lawmaker added that the planned protest today (Monday) by some people in Ogbomoso against the establishment of the college was in bad

taste, as LAUTECH belongs to all the communities that make up Oyo State, and not Ogbomoso alone.

According to him, “We appreciate our amiable governor for the establishment of this campus, and the gesture has gotten the appreciation of the people of Iseyin with their votes for his second term, we are grateful. We heard that some people are planning to protest on Monday in Ogbomoso against the take-off of the campus, this is in bad taste, the Ogbomoso people have been partners in the progress of Oyo State with us over time, why are they creating this divisive tendency now?

“When we look at it closely, LAUTECH is a university-owned by Oyo State and not Ogbomoso, every

community in the state has a stake in the institution and the establishment of a college of the university in Iseyin will boost its development and help the state achieve its set goals in using education to broaden human development.”

The contractor for the construction of the ICT centre, Still Earth Holdings, represented by its Head of Business Development and Intergovernmental Relations, Oladipo Oshodi, assured the state that the project would be delivered within the next 12 months as mandated by the NCC, stating that the college should expect a quality job that will stand the test of time and benefit students, management of the institution and the entire community.

Nigerians have an opportunity to upgrade the healthcare, educational, and electricity facilities in 40 communities that they nominate in phase five of the ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative under the MTN Give-back Give-back initiative.

According to the largest telecom operator in the country, the initiative is named ‘What Can We Do Together’ to give communities a say in the projects that the company commissions. The ultimate goal is to ensure there is a collective buyin preventing a situation where a project is abandoned almost as soon as it is designated.

“We are looking at remodelling 40 primary health centres,” Mosun Belo-Olusoga, director of MTN Foundation said at the unveiling of the initiative on Monday. “We are also looking at 40 boreholes and 40 alternative power sources.”

The Give-back initiative started in 2015. It has since implemented 586 different projects in 530 local governments in Nigeria. Some of the projects include installing transformers across communities, equipping many schools with furniture, and upgrading many health centres. MTN Foundation has invested over N25 billion in different types of projects across Nigeria. The phase 5 initiative will cost the organisation N1 billion.

But MTN Foundation says it still does not assume that it knows what a community wants. Many corporates that have assumed they knew what a community needed at a point in time had built projects that ended up with little or no impact on the people.

“We set up 40 ICT labs in Nigeria. It is very deep and all-encompassing. We deployed over 600 laptops and we engaged

in civil works. We provided furniture because the schools needed an ICT teacher and we had to give that. We installed solar-powered boreholes,” Belo-Olusoga said.

The initiative’s success also involves the active participation of partners. For phase five, MTN Foundation is partnering with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) and the Cece Yara Foundation.

Adetutu Ajibodu, CEO of Cece Yara Foundation, who has engaged many families at the community level says there is no success with the engagement of the community.

“Carrying them along helps to own the initiative. MTN cannot be in a community forever. Cece Yara is big on collaboration. By gaining access to these communities we can help more people,” Ajibodu said.

After completing the initiatives MTN Foundation also monitors the utility by the community.

In doing this, it offers the top five communities that can maintain and even improve the projects an award of additional furniture and training. Belo-Olusoga says the projects are also targeted at primary health centres that charge a fee for their service. This is to ensure that the primary health centre has the resources to maintain the facilities.

Nominations are currently ongoing and there are two ways participants can nominate projects in the communities. These are via SMS and on the web. Participants using SMS can start by texting MTN to 421. The SMS platform is free for MTN subscribers. However, participants who have used their number on the SMS platform would not be able to use it on the web platform. This is to avoid duplicate nominations.

Disruptive leadership is a catalyst for development –Expert

STORIES BY GODWIN ANYEBE

Founder, the Centre for Value in Leadership and the African Democratic Congress, Prof. Pat Utomi, has again emphasised the significance of disruption to development; national, sectoral or corporate.

According to him, disruption is fundamental to the progress of an institution and nation as it creates an awakening that challenges the norm. it breaks the norms seeking solutions out of the regular, defying conformity.

Utomi opined that real progress emanates from deliberate and conscious efforts to change the narrative and that the IMC industry must continue to disrupt its growth and development.

“The biggest threats to capitalist progress are today's successful capitalists. For progress to take place, smarter younger people need to creatively destroy them. That’s where you will make real progress. The whole business of creative destruction is that if we don’t creatively destroy, there will be nothing new. Advertising was sort of our hard territory in Nigeria until Biodun Shobanjo showed up and creatively destroyed what used to be advertising. That is how progress takes place. Shobanjo did a great disruption and that disruption must continue”, he said.

Speaking about the importance of leadership and culture in re-directing a nation from obscurity, poverty,

and under-development to abundance, Utomi said that nations are poor because of weak institutions. He emphasised that leaders needed to set the tone for culture which is a key driver for the progress of any nation.

“A very important variable which brings all the other variables together is culture because values shape human progress. Values determine the progress of a society. The central conservative truth is that It is not politics but culture that is responsible for the progress of a society.

“Culture is so powerful and unless we get our values right and aligned, progress is difficult to achieve. But who sets the tone for culture? That is the central thing that leaders do. Leaders set the tone for the culture. Nigeria wobbles because those who have authority are not leaders. Those who have authority in Nigeria don’t realise that their real role is to set the tone for the culture. And so there has been a collapse of culture in Nigeria”.

“When institutions are weak, and you work so hard, you get pushbacks from weak institutions. I have repeated frequently that the biggest risk of doing business in Nigeria is regulatory risk. Government is more likely to cause your failure than market risk. What Africans need is strong institutions, not strong men. And we continue to push for strong men and wobble very badly. Strong institutions are very important”, he averred.

Gitex Pitch Competition: Pocket Food, Africa Comicade, Alajo, and others emerge, winners

Eight startup businesses have emerged winners of the Gitex Pitch Competition, Lagos Roadshow edition which was held at the Eko Innovation Center, Ikoyi recently.

The winners at the Lagos Roadshow Event are Pocket Food; Fuspay Technologies; Byte; Africa Comicade, Get Equity; Alajo; Instant Rad and Dataleum.

The Lagos State Government in partnership with Eko Innovation Center would be sponsoring these startups on an all-expense paid session to Morocco and Dubai for the Gitex Supernova Pitch Competition where the entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas and compete on a global scale before fund managers and investors.

Olatunbosun Alake, Special Adviser on Innovation

and Technology to the Lagos State Government reaffirmed the State’s commitment to partnering with the Dubai World Trade Center, organizers of Gitex Global, to provide the platform for young companies or small businesses to become global companies and operate on a global scale.

“It is an opportunity for Lagos startups to showcase their ingenuity across a global audience, as it helps to validate their products and services, puts them in front of other competitors as well as exposure for investment opportunities to Nigeria”, he said. He further added that the entrepreneurs provide economic value through the Gitex platform as it puts them in front of investors sponsored by the Lagos State Government.

Victor Afolabi, Founder, of

Eko Innovation Center, stated that the initiative presents a platform to deepen the entrepreneurial ecosystem as well as reduce unemployment in Lagos state and Nigeria. “With Gitex, we expect the entrepreneurs to get partnerships and collaborations to commercialize their businesses, and grow their market share to help assuage the economic challenges and eradicate the high rate of poverty prevalent in the country” he said.

Mr Afolabi further commended the Lagos State Government for being futuristic and friendly in its approach to expanding the frontiers of entrepreneurship by driving the innovation ecosystem in Nigeria.

One of the winners, Oscar Michael, Founder of Africa Comicade, a platform for African digital creatives in

Iquolify launched to solve immigrants recruitment hitches

An immigrant recruitment portal for professionals has been launched in Nigeria for immigrant job seekers in Canada, Europe and America.

The portal was unveiled at a virtual event attended by On-Nigeria Director for MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, African Award winning Actress, Kate Henshaw, Canadian Immigration Resettlement Expert, Tracy Docheff, IT experts, Human Resource Experts and other International Development Experts. Founder of the www. iquolify.com Project, Akin Fadeyi, said, “Iquolify is a well thought out digital recruitment solution for Immigrant Professionals who compromise their qualifications for jobs below their pay grade outside their countries”. “Iquolify will focus on showcasing immigrants to prospective employers, Data Analytics for policymakers,

mentoring and Training until target immigrants can optimally integrate and unlock their potential.

MacArthur On-Nigeria Director, Dr. Kole Shettima declared that the Foundation has always held diversity, equity and inclusion as values. He said At the MacArthur Foundation, we ensure that our decisions and actions are rooted in the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by embracing the unique attributes of all individuals; creating a fair playing field for all; and cultivating environments where everyone feels respected, valued, and a sense of belonging. Iquolify is therefore a very compelling fit into our work culture and work I commend the initiative”.

Co-Founder of the Canadian Iquolify, Dr Bankole Odole opined that “as an immigrant with five Masters Degrees, I had experienced firsthand, challenges immi-

grant professionals grapple with. The idea of equality is, therefore, a ready solution capable of shielding other incoming immigrants from such same challenges.

Kate Henshaw, African Award-winning Actress and Social Advocate (Guest Speaker) expressed delight, describing qualifying as a project whose time has come. She said “Many people have good reasons to migrate but find themselves disadvantaged as migrants and then resort to menial jobs. She said iQuolify is a great vision that will bring to the table solutions to less dignified jobs. Kate Henshaw added the need to maximize one’s opportunities at home or abroad, by focusing on constant self-improvement, not just leaving the country by any means.

Prof. Sola Akinrinade, Board Member Tech HERfrica, former VC Osun State

University and former Provost Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Academy; spoke about educated migrants not living up to their potential because they travel

unprepared and encouraged all to take advantage of iQuolify to mitigate this lapses.

Tracy Docheff, Immigrant Resettlement Expert, Director of Marketing and

gaming, animation, comics, and XR, connecting them to opportunities for learning, jobs, collaboration and funding" stated that the win for him is transformational, as it gives him the opportunity and platform to showcase Nigeria as the gaming hub in Africa. “This is a good validation and I look forward to making Nigeria the hub for gaming in Africa”, he said.

The Lagos Roadshow Event recorded over 130 entries for the pitch competition. The best 30 were shortlisted to pitch and 8 startups eventually emerged as winners.

Gitex is an acronym for Gulf Information Technology Exhibition. It is an annual global tech show, organized by, and taking place at, the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates.

Communications at Toronto Newlife Wellness Place said her job as an immigrant settler within various Canadian communities is going to be simpler with iQuolify.

Esosa Osagiede to participate in the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2023

Leo Burnett Lagos, a member of Publicis

Groupe, has announced the emergence of its Deputy Creative Director, Esosa Osagiede, as a cohort member of the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival of Talent (also known as the ‘See It Be Its Talent programme).

Esosa is among 16 incredibly talented female creatives from 14 different countries who have been selected for this year's cohort. The theme for this year is ‘‘Know your power." and it calls out the power that creative women wield and the manner they

go about expressing their talents using their strengths and vulnerabilities. Creative women have power unlike any other, as they use their strengths and vulnerabilities to know their power and express their talents.

Commenting on this development, Tunde Shobanjo, Group Director, of Business Development at Leo Burnett, said “ We at Publicis are incredibly proud of Esosa's achievement and can't wait to see what she will accomplish next. We are confident that her participation in the "See It Is It" programme will

continue to elevate her career and inspire others in the industry.”

In addition, Esosa Osagiede is a dynamic and accomplished communications expert with an impressive track record of success in the advertising industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Art from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University and has continued to build on her academic credentials with a Diploma in Communication and Media Studies from Pan Atlantic University, and a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

L-R: Dapo Awobokun, Startup Partner, Paystack; Femi Obong-Daniels, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info FM; Ruth Okorocha, Winner; Segun Oluwaniyi, Sales Executive, Obiwezy; Folu Otubanjo, Key Accounts Manager Lead, Paystack; and James Babatunde, Head of Multi Clients and Financial Institutions, Paystack at the grand finale of

Niger Assembly to ensure justice prevails over Lambata crisis

SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

Niger State House of Assembly has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring that justice prevails in the Lambata leadership crisis.

The legislator representing Agwara Constituency, and Chairman, ad-hoc-committee on the Lambata crisis, Ahmed Bello affirmed this during an interface with the Suleja Emirate Council, the ruling house and the family of the late Abdulsafur at the state Ministry for Local Government.

The chairman of the committee also assured that no stone will be left unturned, explaining that all parties involved should be patient to see to the implementation of the committee's report.

"It is the sole responsibility of the government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens as it is in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended."

Speaking earlier, the Emir of Suleja, Malam Awwal Ibrahim, who was represented by the Madaki of Suleja, Engr. Shu’aibu Musa Gani stated that the emirate acted according to the procedures set by the emirate council for the selection of the village head.

"The report submitted by the committee was summarised and white paper was written which was sent to the government, and the recommendations were approved; on our side, we were tasked with the implementation of the white paper, which we did," he said.

"No selfish interest was attached; we just followed what was contained in the government white paper.

"Now the unfortunate incident of the murder of the late village head of Lambata

is what we are not happy about.”

"But let me not be prejudicial either, as the matter is in court, I am sure justice will be done and culprits be brought to book; but the emirate still insists that in an issue like this if you are aggrieved, nothing prevents you from going to court to seek for redress because nothing is perfect, we are in modern times is not like before whereby the Emir have absolute authority.” Madaki added.

Speaking also, the Wazirin Lambata, Musa Abdullahi also disclosed that the Etsu Daudu and Kasuwa that were the two ruling houses are on the same page,

President Buhari appoints Engr. Saidu as ELRA Chairman

adding that AbdulSafur was imposed on them, he therefore appealed for justice.

On his part, the spokesman of the family of the late Village Head, Muhammad Musa Lambata decried that the other ruling house can not just come up with false allegation singling them out that they were not part of the ruling house affirming that they are also indigenes of the community.

The family then urged the house committee to carry out its duty with the fear of God affirming that without peace, no community will prosper.

“Peace and rest of mind is what we want, but all the parties involved should have the fear of Allah in all they do.”

It could be recalled that a motion was brought to the floor of the house moved by Binta Mamman over the killing of the village head of Lambata, Mohammed AbdulSafur,which a committee was set up to investigate the matter.

Bayelsa Govt to undertake quickwin projects state-wide

AMOS OKIOMA, YENAGOA

Bayelsa State government is to undertake some quick-win projects across the various constituencies alongside the ongoing big ticket projects to fast track development in the state.

The State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this on Monday, at a meeting with key stakeholders in Brass Constituencies 1, 2 and 3, in Government House, Yenagoa.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor explained that the essence of the interaction was to assess the areas of their needs to enable government address such challenges.

He said while the Prosperity Administration was handling the construction of key projects such as the three senatorial roads,

it has become imperative to also provide immediate interventions in projects that would impact directly on the people across communities.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who charged Chairmen of Community Development Committees (CDC) in the constituencies to work closely with other community leaders, charged them to take responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in their domains.

Reacting to issues of lack of teachers in schools in the communities, the Deputy Governor, called on the CDC chairmen to work with other stakeholders to monitor schools and submit a monthly report to His office andthe Ministry of Education about teachers who fail to report at their duty posts.

He stressed that henceforth, teachers posted to community schools who abandon their duty posts would face disciplinary measures.

On the issues of ocean surge and ero-

sion affecting most communities, Senator Ewhrudjakpo said the problem was beyond the state government and would require the collaborative efforts of the federal government to tackle the situation.

He also directed that a delegation led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele should visit Ewoama community within the week to ascertain the status of the health facility there and come up with a report.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Abraham Ingobere, lauded the state government's decision to get first hand information from the people about their challenges, saying it was the first of its kind.

Rt. Hon Ingobere, who acknowledged that the present administration had worked hard particularly in infrastructure development, however, noted that communities needed a fair spread of government projects.

The speaker also identified lack of security, internal roads, town halls, pipe borne water, electricity supply and health centres as major problems bedeviling the people.

In her remarks, Chairman, Bayelsa State Science and Technology Board, Prof (Mrs) Ayibaemi Spiff, traced the lack of teachers particularly science-based ones to the absence of accommodation and incentives.

She, therefore, urged the state government to make concerted efforts to enhance teachers welfare.

In their separate remarks, the various stakeholders including the political class and CDC chairmen from the three constituencies, lamented absenteeism on the part of teachers and health workers in most of their communities.

TOM GARBA, YOLA

President Muhammadu has appointed Adamawa born Agricultural Engineer, Saidu Njidda, FNSE, min as the Chairman Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA).

The irrigation Engineer backed both academic and experience to hold the newly established body inaugurated by the Hon. Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.

The body was inaugurated on Friday, 19th May 2023 and the Minister highlighted the importance of leasing, to the development of the Nigerian economy.

She expressed the need of a continue sanitization by stakeholders that ELRA will further boost productivity, optimisation and growth of the economy

She said that Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) is a public private partnership arrangement, set up by the Equipment Leasing Act

2015, to enhance its developmental objective.

ELRA under the leadership of Engineer Saidu will be function to Register lease agreements & Lessors ans Determine eligibility of persons & requirements

Other functions of ELRA is to register and investigate incidence of default, to Establish and maintain register of persons entitled to carry on business of leasing and to Undertake other activities to give effects to the Act and other functions conferred by the Act.

The governing board of the Authority is chaired by Engr. Saidu Njidda, an Individual Member of ELAN, Fellow institute of Director,Fellow Nigerian institution of Agricultural Engineers

Member APC Presidential Campaign councils 2023

Saidu is Alumni of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Rivers State University of Science & Tech. Port Harcourt and National Institute for Information Technology and the National Institute- Kuru, Jos.

NNPP loses case against APC's Ipinsagba at Ondo Election Tribunal

The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday struck out a petition filed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) against the senator-elect of Ondo North senatorial district, Pastor Jide Ipinsigba.

Ruling on the case, Mrs Rose Soji, the chairman of the tribunal, said:“The motion on notice filed by the first petitioner, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), praying the tribunal to withdraw the petition is granted as prayed. The petition is hereby dismissed.”

Earlier, NNPP counsel, Mr Segun Ogodo, had applied to withdraw the case and told the tribunal of his client’s interest in discontinuing the petition.

"The party, which is the NNPP that I’m representing, has shown interest in withdrawing the petition against the respondents, Pastor Ipinsigba, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and INEC, and accordingly, the court has granted the application.

"The second petitioner, Mr Phillip Alonge, earlier on also brought an application to discontinue the petition, but he

had no appearance in court today, and the petition literally appears to be abandoned.

“If the second petitioner does not appear in person in court at the next adjourned date, the court has the discretion to do what it likes, and it may strike out the petition,” he stated.

The respondent’s counsel, Mr Moradele Oke, said that he would not oppose the application.

“ This should be the fourth proceeding that we would be appearing in. The first petitioner’s application has been granted, and the second petitioner has also filed an application to withdraw further presence in the case. The tribunal took a careful examination of the process and duly struck out the name of the first petitioner.

"The implication is that the petition subsists because the second petitioner is still on record and he has the liberty to be given a hearing,” he said.

The tribunal, therefore, adjourned the case until May 24 for the continuation of the hearing on the second petition.

US and Papua New Guinea sign defense pact as Washington, Beijing vie for influence in the Pacific

BENJAMIN OMOIKE WITH AGENCY REPORTS

The United States and Papua New Guinea have signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement – a move that has sparked controversy in the Pacific Island nation and comes as Washington and China jostle for influence in the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape signed the pact and a maritime security agreement on Monday during Blinken’s visit to the capital Port Moresby.

Advance text of the agreements were not released by either side, but the new defense cooperation was expected to expand US access to military and other facilities in PNG, bolstering Washington’s security ties in the South Pacific.

That region – a constellation of sparsely populated island and archipelago nations and territories as well as New Zealand and Australia – has outsized strategic significance. The Pacific Islands, for example, were the site of decisive battles during World War Two.

The region has taken on renewed importance for Washington as it seeks to bolster its relationships and presence in Asia amid rising tensions with an assertive China that’s rapidly expanded its naval capabilities in recent years.

Those concerns were heightened last year after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands – and tried, but failed, to win support for a sweeping, regional trade and security commu-

nique with Pacific Island nations.

Blinken’s visit to PNG comes after US President Joe Biden last week cut short an Asia trip that would have included stops in Port Moresby and Sydney, Australia, due to ongoing debt ceiling negotiations at home.

In a statement Saturday, PNG framed its agreement with the US as an opportunity to advance its infrastructure and capacity for national defense at a time of growing global security concerns.

“Papua New Guinea does not have enemies but it pays to be prepared. Territorial dispute is (imminent), as in the case of Ukraine-Russia,” the statement said.

“This agreement is not about geopolitics but rather recognizes the country’s need to build its defense capabilities because border disputes are inevitable in the future,” it said, adding it did not preclude the government from “working with” other countries, including China.

China has become a significant

Ethiopia's Prince Alemayehu: Buckingham Palace rejects calls to return royal's body

Buckingham Palace has declined a request to return the remains of an Ethiopian prince who came to be buried at Windsor Castle in the 19th Century.

Prince Alemayehu was taken to the UK aged just seven and arrived an orphan after his mother died on the journey.

Queen Victoria then took an interest in him and arranged for his education - and ultimately his burial when he died aged just 18.

But his family wants his remains to be sent back to Ethiopia.

of others in the vicinity," the palace said.

The statement added that the authorities at the chapel were sensitive to the need to honour Prince Alemayehu's memory, but that they also had "the responsibility to preserve the dignity of the departed".

It also said that in the past the Royal Household had "accommodated requests from Ethiopian delegations to visit" the chapel.

How Prince Alemayehu ended up in the UK at such a young age was the result of imperial action and the failure of diplomacy.

player in the country’s economy, both as an investor and consumer of its rich natural resources.

The US and PNG militaries already have a cooperative security assistance relationship focused primarily on joint humanitarian exercises and the training of PNG military personnel, according to the State Department.

The new agreement has sparked debate in Papua New Guinea – including over a lack of transparency from the government on what it entailed, while purported leaked drafts circulated online.

The pact would need Parliament’s approval and could face judicial challenges, experts say.

But its signing sends a significant message to the region.

“PNG signing a defense agreement signals to the rest of the Pacific that its largest nation has chosen the West – Australia and the US – as its security partner,” said Maholopa Laveil, FDC Pacific Fellow at the Lowy Institute, seconded from the University of Papua New Guinea.

Meta slapped with record $1.3 billion EU fine over data privacy

Meta has been fined a record-breaking €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) by European Union regulators for violating EU privacy laws by transferring the personal data of Facebook users to servers in the United States.

The European Data Protection Board announced the fine in a statement Monday, saying it followed an inquiry into Facebook (FB) by the Irish Data Protection Commission, the chief regulator overseeing Meta’s operations in Europe.

The move highlights ongoing uncertainty about how global businesses may legally transfer EU users’ data to servers overseas.

The EU regulator said the processing and storage of personal data in the United States contravened Europe’s signature data privacy law, known as the General Data Protection Regulation. Chapter 5 of the GDPR sets out the conditions under which personal data can be transferred to third countries or international organizations.

The fine is the largest ever levied under GDPR. The previous record of €746 million ($805.7 million) was levied against Amazon (AMZN) in 2021.

Meta has also been or-

dered to cease the processing of personal data of European users in the United States within six months.

Meta’s infringement is “very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous,” said Andrea Jelinek, chair of the European Data Protection Board.

“Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organizations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences,” she added.

Facebook still available in Europe

Meta, which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram, said it would appeal the ruling, including the fine. There

would be no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe, it added.

The company said the root of the issue stemmed from a “conflict of law” between US rules on access to data and the privacy rights of Europeans. EU and US policymakers were on a “clear path” to resolving this conflict under a new transatlantic Data Privacy Framework.

The new framework seeks to end the limbo facing companies since 2020, when Europe’s top court struck down a transatlantic legal framework designed to address EU concerns about potential US government surveillance of European citizens, known as Privacy Shield.

"We want his remains back as a family and as Ethiopians because that is not the country he was born in," one of the royal descendants Fasil Minas told the BBC.

"It was not right" for him to be buried in the UK, he added.

But in a statement sent to the BBC, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said removing his remains could affect others buried in the catacombs of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

"It is very unlikely that it would be possible to exhume the remains without disturbing the resting place of a substantial number

In 1862, in an effort to strengthen his empire, the prince's father Emperor Tewodros II sought an alliance with the UK, but his letters making his case did not get a response from Queen Victoria Angered by the silence and taking matters into his own hands, the emperor held some Europeans, among them the British consul, hostage. This precipitated a huge military expedition, involving some 13,000 British and Indian troops, to rescue them.

The force also included an official from the British Museum.

Madeleine McCann: Police to search Portuguese reservoir

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are to carry out searches at a reservoir in Portugal.

A search of the Arade dam will begin on Tuesday, 50km from where the toddler went missing in Praia da Luz in 2007.

Christian Brueckner, 45, was made a formal suspect, or an "arguido", by Portuguese prosecutors in 2022.

The search was requested by German police as the area was visited by Brueckner when Madeleine, then three years old, disappeared.

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, had been on holiday with her family in Portugal's Algarve when she went missing on 3 May 2007.

Portuguese police said in a press statement that it is co-ordinating searches in the Algarve over the next few days, also in the presence of British officers.

Hans Christian Wolters, German state prosecutor in Braunschweig, told the BBC a short statement of confirmation would be released by the German authorities on Tues-

day morning.

An area of the reservoir's peninsula just over a mile long was sealed off by police shortly after midday on Monday, Portuguese television network SIC reported.

The search is expected to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, it said.

Police have erected blue tents and are closing off roads leading to the man-made dam, while a total of 20 police officers have been assigned to the search.

Mr Wolters is treating Brueckner as the main suspect in the McCann case, although he has never been charged over Madeleine's disappearance and has denied any involvement.

The state prosecutor said a growing amount of evidence had connected Brueckner to the case, including his mobile phone records showing he was in the Praia de Luz area at the time of Madeleine's disappearance.

Brueckner, a German national, is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in 2005 in the same area where Madeleine McCann went missing.

Dare inaugurates Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation

UKPONO UKPONG

The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr.

Sunday Dare has inaugurated the newly elected Board Members of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation with a view to creating more opportunities for youth with disabilities to excel in the field of sports

Dare who inaugurated the Board yesterday in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja stated that the constitution of the Board is also part of efforts aimed at actualizing the mandate of the recently established National Sports Festival and Para-sports Department (NSF & PS) by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to provide room for youth with disabilities to also showcase their sporting talents to the world.

Represented by the Director, Federations and Elites Athletes Department (FEAD) of the Ministry, Dr Simon Ehbojiaye, the Minister said that para-sports is one of the games that has brought Nigeria global recognition in the field of sports through their podium performances at various international competitions.

He restated Federal Government's commitment to reinvigorating the sports sector in line with the progressive agenda of engaging and empowering the teeming Nigerian youth, especially those with disabilities so as to enhance wealth creation

and self reliance.

"It should be placed on record that the determination to constitute a new Board for Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation shows the commitment of the Federal Government to reinvigorating the sports sector in line with the progressive agenda of engaging and empowering the teeming Nigerian youth for wealth creation", he added.

The Minister stated further that "since the inception of the present Administration, there has been a paradigm shift in the management of Sports and it has remained a veritable tool for National cohesion, peace, progress and National diplomacy, both in Nigeria and all over the world"

He therefore called on the newly elected Board Members to avail themselves with the Rules guiding the operations of the Federation.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, urged the new Board Members to work as a team in order to enjoy commendable successes for the Federation.

Represented by the Acting Director, National Sports Festival and Para-sports Department (NSF & PS), Mrs.Tecla Opara, the Permanent Secretary assured that the Ministry will continue to create an enabling environment for the implementation of government policies, programmes and initiatives in the

Carmelo Anthony confirms NBA retirement after 20-year career

Carmelo Anthony has confirmed his retirement from basketball after a 20-year career in the NBA.

A 10-time NBA All-Star, the 38-year-old was one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history.

Anthony played his last game for the Los Angeles Lakers in April 2022 and announced his decision in a video montage on his Instagram account.

ed him to the New York Knicks in February 2011.

He joined the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 before ending his career with spells at the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Over the course of 20 seasons in the NBA, he amassed 28,289 points at an average of 22.5 points per game, putting him ninth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

country especially as it relates to Sports and Youth.

Responding, the President, Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Mr. Oluseyi Johnson commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to sports development, and Para-sports in particular.

He thanked the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, Permanent Secretary Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar as well as the Top Management of the Mnistry for the opportunity given to them to serve,

Mr Johnson assured that the Board will work assiduously to ensure the country records more podium appearances in all competitions.

Real Madrid report racist abuse against Vinicius Jr to prosecutors as hate crime

The latest incident of racist abuse towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has been reported to the Spanish prosecutor's office as a hate crime, the club says.

Real's La Liga match at Valencia on Sunday was paused in the second half as an incensed Vinicius reported opposition fans to the referee.

Following the match, in which the 22-year-old Brazil international was later sent off for violent conduct, he said "La Liga belongs to racists".

Real Madrid issued a statement on Monday stating that it "considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime".

Spanish prosecutors will now decide whether to pursue a criminal investigation.

"Real Madrid shows its strongest revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vini-

cius Junior," the club said.

"These facts constitute a direct attack on the coexistence model of our social and democratic state of law."

Vinicius has been the target of racist abuse multiple times

this season.

La Liga said in a statement it wouldinvestigateandtake"appropriate legal action" if a hate crime was identified, calling on people to submit any relevant footage.

Valencia said police had "identified a fan who made racist gestures" and that the "club are also working along with the police to confirm the identity of any other potential offenders".

The club added: "Valencia CF have proceeded to open a disciplinary case, will apply the maximum level of severity, including a lifetime stadium ban against the fans involved, and is working closely together with the authorities."

"I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream with something more," he said.

"But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong. My communities, the cities I represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way."

Denver Nuggets selected Anthony with the third overall pick of the 2003 draft and trad-

Anthony also won three straight gold medals as a member of the US Olympic team in 2008, 2012 and 2016, plus a bronze in 2004.

"I am forever grateful for those people and places because they made me," he added.

"But now the time has come for me to say goodbye: to the court where I made my name, to the game that gave me purpose and pride."

Everton reaches exclusivity agreement with MSP Sports Capital over investment

Everton have reached an exclusivity agreement with New Yorkbased company MSP Sports Capital for investment in the club, BBC Sport understands.

Sources have said the deal is not yet done but talks are progressing between the two parties over future funding.

MSP look to have jumped ahead of 777 Partners, who have been in

talks over a takeover from owner Farhad Moshiri.

Everton are currently two points above the Premier League's relegation zone with one game remaining this season.

However, the Toffees will drop into the bottom three if Leicester win at Newcastle on Monday (20:00 BST).

MSP are believed to be looking for a 25% stake with a preferential share

structure, not equity in the club, so would be paid back in interest.

777 have had access to the 'data room' (financial accounts), but have not been prepared to pay a 'significant' price as they have looked at the debt on the balance sheet - which stood at £141.7m in the latest accounts.

In February, Moshiri told the fans' advisory board the club was "not for sale"

but he had been talking to "top investors of real quality".

The club requires funding for their new stadium, which is being built on Bramley Moore Dock, after costs increased from £500m originally to about £760m.

British-Iranian business Moshiri has invested over £750m of his own money since 2016, but some supporters are deeply unhap -

py about his ownership of the club.

Toffees fans have held protests before some home games this season and have called for Moshiri and the board to leave the club.

It is understood MSP will likely expect representation in the boardroom if they do complete their minority investment in the club.

An exclusivity agree -

ment is described as a document in which a prospective buyer and seller agree to deal solely with each other in anticipation of an exchange of contracts by the end of a fixed period of time.

In this case, it protects MSP from being outbid by another party but it does not offer full protection from that happening outside of the specified time period.

Man City must win Champions League to be considered one of best –Guardiola

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have to win the Champions League to be "considered one of the best teams".

City, whose only European title is the 1970 Cup Winners' Cup, play Italian side Inter Milan in the Champions League final next month.

They lifted the Premier League trophy for the fifth time in six seasons after their 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

"You have to win the Champions League to be considered one of the best teams like United or Liverpool," he said.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola added: "But also it's unfair to say if you don't win it, the Premier League doesn't make sense.

"Of course it makes sense, of course it's important. It's every day, every week. This club won five of the last six but six of the last 10 and seven of the last 12. It's amazing."

Defender Kyle Walker says City "are not finished" as they target the Treble, with an FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United also to come.

"We will celebrate tonight and then move on to try and create history," Walker told Sky Sports.

"We always believed we could do this. This group of lads are professionals and winners.

"Rest assured we are not finished. We have the FA Cup against our bitter rivals and then the Champions League.

"The treble would be fantastic but there is a lot of football

Hugo Gaston fined for unsportsmanlike behaviour at Madrid Open

French player Hugo Gaston was fined 144,000 euros (£125,000) for his fourth example of unsportsmanlike conduct of the year - more than his 2023 earnings.

He dropped a spare ball from his pocket on to the court when opponent Borna Coric was about to smash a winner on set point at the Madrid Open in April.

If a second ball is deemed to have interfered with play, the umpire calls a let and the point is replayed.

Coric - had been previously warned about similar incidents.

"Per ATP Rules in effect from 2023, fines related to unsportsmanlike conduct increase by 100% with each consecutive violation in the same season," the ATP said in a statement. "This was Gaston's fourth violation for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 2023 season."

to be played. To say we are up there with one of the greatest Premier League teams of all time we have to conquer some of that.

"To go and achieve that we could then start talking about being one of the greatest teams in the Premier League."

Miami moves closer to NBA finals with win over Boston Celtics

Gaston, 22, appealed against the fine, which will be halved with conditions.

The governing body of men's tennis, the ATP, said the size of the fine reflected the fact the Frenchman - who ended up losing the match in straight sets to

It added the fine would be reduced to 72,000 euros (£62,000) "subject to certain conditions, including no further such violations incurred by Gaston over a 12-month probationary period".

World number 108 Gaston, who has been awarded a wildcard for the French Open, which starts on Sunday, has won about £98,000 in prize money this year.

Epsom Derby: Jockey Club applies for injunction to stop protests

The Jockey Club has applied for a High Court injunction to prevent animal rights protestors disrupting the Derby Festival on 2-3 June.

The Epsom Downs owner says the Animal Rising group has made it "explicitly clear" it intends to breach security.

The injunction would prohibit individuals from entering the track and disrupting races.

Last month, animal rights activists delayed the start of the Grand National by getting on to the track at Aintree.

Protestors also tried to disrupt the Scottish Grand National the following week.

A High Court hearing to rule on whether to grant the injunction is scheduled for Friday.

would in "no way threaten the right of anyone to protest in a peaceful and law-abiding way" and it has offered Animal Rising an area near the entrance of the racecourse to protest on the day of the Derby [Saturday, 3 June].

The festival in Surrey features Grade One races The Oaks and The Derby.

Animal Rising has repeatedly posted on social media about disrupting the festival.

"It is our duty and obligation to do everything we can to protect everyone's safety and prevent a repeat of the illegal and reckless protests we saw at Aintree in April," said Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale.

Miami Heat are within one win of the NBA finals after a comfortable 128-102 victory over the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Heat lead 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. thanks to 29 points from point guard Gabe Vincent, and host game four on Tuesday (01:30 BST Wednesday).

The winners will face either the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nuggets are 3-0 up in the Western Conference finals with game four on Monday (01:30 BST Tuesday).

Vincent had six three-pointers while Dun-

can Robinson and Caleb Martin added 22 and 18 respectively off the bench after veteran Kevin Love was forced out early in the game with an ankle injury.

Star forward Jimmy Butler had a relatively quiet night with 16 points as the Heat, who are aiming to become only the second eighth-seeded team to reach the finals, dominated at both ends of the floor.

They ended a fast-paced, physical first quarter with a 9-2 scoring run to lead 30-22 and pushed their advantage to 22 points in the second quarter.

Although Boston managed to cut the gap, they

struggled from three-point range - Jayson Tatum made just one of his seven threepoint attempts and Jaylen Brown missed all seven of his - and with turnovers, they trailed 61-46 at the break for their biggest half-time post-season deficit this year.

There was no way back for the Celtics after that with Miami taking a 93-63 lead into the fourth, the shellshocked Celtics going more than three minutes in the third period without scoring.

"I don't know if surprised is the word," Vincent said about the one-sided result. "We played well tonight. We defended. We made shots. We forced them into turn-

overs.

"The next game, the mentality is to come out and compete at a high level, defend, try to make the right read every time offensively and just play good basketball.

"It's the first to four games. We are not satisfied with three."

Boston's Brown said: "I don't even know where to start. I feel like we let our fan base, organisation down, we let ourselves down, and it was collective. We could point fingers, but in reality, it was just embarrassing."

No team in NBA history has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

"If the injunction is granted, individuals acting in breach of the court order could be subject to proceedings for contempt of court, which may lead to a fine and/or imprisonment," the Jockey Club said in a statement.

It also said the injunction

"As such the decision to apply for an injunction is a course of action we have been forced to take and is the result of careful consideration following consultation with Surrey Police and a number of stakeholders.

If successful, this would be just one of a range of robust security measures we are implementing to ensure the event can go ahead safely."

Buhari’s tutorials on good governance and facts on ground

As Features Editor in Daily Independent Newspapers, my colleagues and I undertook a facility tour in one of the states in the South West. The idea was to have a firsthand experience of the development profile of the state. We visited four local government areas that stood as the poster councils of the state. To our disappointment, at the end of the exercise, we could not find much to write on the performance of the governor and his administration.

We were taken to a bushy expanse of land that bore a bold signpost of the state’s airport. Adjacent to a market in the heart of the state capital, were skeletons of buildings of a proposed general hospital. There was a ‘millennium’ public school that was advertised to be in all the councils but was actually only in the capital city. The experience was disgusting. But trust the Nigerian politician. Few days to the anniversary of the state’s creation, computer simulated pictures of those projects were splashed in major newspapers as infrastructure already put in place by the administration. The real work was passed on to the succeeding administration, while the governor moved on to the federal level as a senior official of the government. I saw him on television the other day preaching good governance and entrenchment of democracy in the land. That is a typical Nigerian politician. They always play the statesmen when they are out of office or on the verge of doing so.

You can then understand why the President, Muhammadu Buhari, is seizing every opportunity in the remaining days of his tenure, to position himself as the best thing that has happened to Nigeria since 1960. Buhari’s case mimics the allegory of the lizard, which jumping down from an iroko tree and not waiting for commendation from anybody, hit its head on the ground, thrice, in a manner of ‘I have done it’. For the lizard, there is enough evidence of accomplishing a great feat. But for the President, it is a matter of ‘Take it or leave it, I have done much and deserve your commendation’. That is Buhari for you!

If you see that from the angle of narcissism, you are not wrong. Narcissistic personalities have an unreasonably high sense of self-importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. The world begins and ends in them. Any other person is just a figure. On the surface, the president is austere but quite extravagant in appropriating accomplishments. There seems some sense in the saying that one requires

GUEST COLUMNIST with

Emeka Alex Duru

to be shameless to succeed as a politician here.

That was what Buhari displayed the other day, when he called on incoming governors to deliver on their campaign promises to the

people when they assume office.

Buhari, who gave the advice through his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the induction programme for governors, organised by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), alluded to deepening democracy in the land.

“In March 2023, Nigeria consolidated and reinforced its democratic process with a general election which saw the election of a new President and about 18 newly elected/incoming governors. I am happy to note that democracy is alive, vibrant and thriving in Nigeria”, he boasted.

That is not true. And Buhari knows it is not true. It is, simply, taking self-adulation beyond bounds. The President can lay claims to anything but certainly not consolidating democracy in the country. If anything, rather, his administration has assaulted the institution of democracy and made mockery of the practice more than any other government in Nigeria’s history.

Buhari fits into the topic of the 2018 comparative politics book by Harvard University political scientists, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die, about how elected leaders can gradually subvert the democratic process to increase their power. According to the authors, “Democracy may die at the hands not of generals but of elected leaders – presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power”. That is the clearest way to understand the president and what he represents.

The President, for the sake of emphasis, came to power through an election that was reasonably transparent, beating an incumbent and pledging justice and fairness to all. Much was therefore expected of him in paying back by deepening the process of one-man-one-vote. In 2019 when he was going for reelection, there were obvious infractions in the conduct of the exercise and the outcome. But Nigerians moved on, hoping that things would take better shape in 2023.

Actually, days before the election, the president, in league with the National Chairman of the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had assured Nigerians that their votes would count and be counted. Buhari in particular

made it a mantra of sort in all his engagements within and outside the country that the days of poll manipulation in the country were over. With the promises of free and fair elections, Nigerians proceeded to polling stations. Incidentally, the same president and INEC chair, failed them. Some could not vote; those that voted saw a different thing from what they worked for.

Three months after the February 25 presidential election, reports keep pouring in on how INEC under the supervision of Buhari and Yakubu, tailored the results to suit the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu. The latest of such disclosures was from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) investigation which exposed bizarre rigging in Rivers state in favour of Tinubu. There are other instances of leadership failure under Buhari.

Insecurity is still on the rise. Rural communities in Benue, Kaduna and other states in the country, are becoming centres of attacks by marauding herdsmen and rampaging bandits. The attacks have been on the increase, leaving in their wake, loss of lives and destruction of property. The South East is besieged by separatist agitators. Nigerians had never been as divided as they are under this administration due to the president’s proclivity to his Fulani kinsmen. The economy is still in the doldrums, with inflation and unemployment soaring beyond control. The situation is really bad.

So, when the President prances about, claiming to have delivered, the facts and statistics are there jeering at him. In the days of the late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, he would have reminded Buhari that statistics are like bikinis; what they conceal are far more exciting than what they expose. As things are in the country, the President can only humour the blind that there is no oil in a dish but not salt. Nigerians know when a leader is stating the truth or lying.

Put on the scale for assessment, Buhari would be scored below average. There is nothing more to be expected of him. He has done his best. He can hang on till May 29 and leave Nigerians to sort things out for themselves but certainly not to engage in tutorials on good governance.

So, when the President prances about, claiming to have delivered, the facts and statistics are there jeering at him. In the days of the late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, he would have reminded Buhari that statistics are like bikinis; what they conceal is far more exciting than what they expose.