Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Edition by Peoples Media Limited

Wednesday , June 30, 2021/ Dhul-Qaadah 19, 1442 AH Vol. 37 No. 001 N200

2629 Days after Malam Wada Maida (1950-2020), founding Chairman, Board of the Peoples Media Limited

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The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Media space promoting fake news against APC govt - Govs

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IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu arrested, trial for July 26 - FG Remanded under DSS custody

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R L: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN and UN Deputy Secretary General Dr. Amina Mohammed at the Consolidatory Dialogue for the UN Food Systems Summit at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. 29th June,

Gov Matawalle finally defects to APC, Yari assures total support

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CVR: INEC receives 42, 211 Reps summon PPPRA online applications 24 hours boss over unremitted after take-off N1.62bn IGR pAGE 5

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Polio: Over 60,000 children immunized in Kano LGA

Niger govt sacks 758 workers over fraud, misconduct

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Stock Watch Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

World News

2021: Senate passes N329.963bn budget for FCT By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he Senate has passed the sum of N329,963,491,523 billion as Statutory budget for the Federal Capital Territory for the year 2021. The passage followed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Federal Capital Territory on the FCT Appropriation Bill, 2021. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North), said

from the projected revenue of N329,963,491,523, the sum of N74,323,382,813 is for Personnel Costs; N58,728,614,466 for Overheads; and N196,911,494,243 for Capital Projects. He disclosed that the overall performance of the FCT 2020 Statutory Budget Allocation was 88 percent as at 31st December, 2020. Kyari further disclosed that most of the projects executed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the

Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) were still ongoing “due to overbearing ineptitude of getting the Due Process Certificates on time.” He observed that new and ongoing projects were not sufficiently funded due to delay in the release of funds, occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks. The lawmaker added that projected revenue accrued to FCT Administration was stretched by N30 billion naira, due to additional revenue derived from Additional

Statutory Allocation received from the differential distributed from the Excess Crude Account for receipts from January to May, 2021, and expected receipts for the remaining seven months of the year; and Stamp Duty Refunds. According to him, the Committee on FCT consequently increased the fiscal framework to accommodate revenue receipts from additional statutory allocation and stamp duty fees to bring the total expenditure to N329,963,491,523 billion naira.

Alleged mass failure: UTME has its right syllabus -JAMB Page 10

Digest

Feature 26 Sports 30-31 Back Page

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From left: Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono; Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; and UBEC Chairman, Prof. Adamu Usman, during a courtesy visit by UBEC Chairman and his team to the Governor in Ibadan on Tuesday (29/6/21)

Gov Matawalle finally defects to APC, as Yari assures total support

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

overnor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara State has finally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the watch of the party’s national caretaker committee led by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni. Receiving the party’s flag during the defection ceremony held at Trade Fair Ground Gusau yesterday, Governor Matawalle promised to carry all the party members along as one family that

shares common but successful goals for the party’s continued popularity in the state. The defecting Governor who further assured perfect unity among the teeming party members, also pledged to respect the constitution guiding the drive of the party affairs down to the wards level. “I do not place anybody in APC on my left hand as enemy, therefore, I might have politically offended someone in the course of discharging my duty as Governor of the state, I seek for forgiveness as I forgive all and forget”, Matawalle

has added. Presenting the APC flag, the caretaker committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, welcomed the defecting Governor, urging him to serve the party to the best of his ability, adding that, “It is in the constitution of the APC that, the Incumbent Governor is the party leader of the state”. “We all knew Zamfara was one of our great party’s stronghold except when something went wrong, and you are now expected to address political mistakes if there were any, and we are assuring you that all members of the party will

continue to be loyalists”, Mai Mala has stressed. Also speaking, former Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who was the APC leader before the defection of Governor Matawalle, has assured unreserved support and guidance with a view to help strengthen the party more in the state. Governors that graced the defection ceremony were Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Ahmed El Rufa’i, Professor Babagana Zulum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu and Badaru Abubakar of Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Kebbi and Jigawa respectively.

Ajayi, PTAD’s Head of Corporate Communications, on Tuesday in Abuja. Ejikeme said that the pension funds had hitherto been under investment with CAIM of the United Kingdom. She said that the repatriation of the fund was made possible

by the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari after series of meetings between PTAD Management, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the CAIM. Ejikeme said that the funds would be used to settle parts of the accrued arrears owed to its

pensioners worth over N120 billion. “This development is indeed a very happy and welcomed one for our senior citizens.” The executive secretary said that this was another demonstration of the importance the Federal Government placed on the welfare of pensioners. (NAN)

PTAD receives £26.5m from investment firm T

he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has received 26.5 million Pounds Sterling repatriated pension funds from Crown Agents Investment Management (CAIM). Dr Chioma Ejikeme, the Executive Secretary of PTAD, said this in a statement by Mr Gbenga

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Ag News Editor, Tobias Lengnam News Inmate Reps summon PPPRA boss over in Awka unremitted N1.62bn IGR bags PGD, T Masters degree in Info -Tech

ude Onwuzulike, an inmate at the Awka Correctional Centre in Anambra, on Tuesday bagged two certificates from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Awka Study Centre. Onwuzulike was issued the certificates of Post Graduate Diploma and Masters of Science degrees in Information Technology. Mr Felix Edoka, Registrar, NOUN, while presenting the certificates at the Awka Correctional Centre, said the programme was targeted at impacting lives, including providing education to the inmates. Edoka, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar, Academics, Mr Oladipo Ajayi, commended the inmate for achieving the feat despite his peculiar environment. He urged other inmates to take advantage of the programme to become educated. Also speaking, Director, NOUN Awka Centre, Prof. Scholastica Ezeribe, said the programme was a clear demonstration of the importance the institution attached to the education of inmates. “The inmate defended the certificates online under strict supervision. This shows that distance and space were not barrier to interested students of the institution. “We could have given him the certificates with his colleagues during the convocation in Abuja, but because of his peculiar situation, we had to bring the two-inone certificate to him,” she added In his remarks, Mr Patrick Chukwuemeka, Controller, Awka Correctional Centre, said that the scheme was initiated for the educational development and Skill empowerment of inmates. Chukwuemeka, thanked the programme facilitators for their assistance to the graduate, appealing to other inmates to emulate Onwuzulike to upgrade themselves. “The Correctional Centre is not only for confinement, but opportunities for the inmates to upgrade themselves academically as well as learn skills that will make them better persons after their jail term,” he said. Responding, the graduate, Onwuzulike, thanked the centre and NOUN for the opportunity given to him to upgrade himself academically. (NAN)

he House of Representatives has summoned the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr Abdukadir Saidu, over unremitted N1.62 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the Federation Account. The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Rep James Faleke, gave the directive at an investigative hearing into alleged 30 billion dollars annual revenue leakage on Tuesday, in Abuja. Faleke said that the directive

was necessary to enable the PPPRA boss give explicit explanation on what actually happened to the N1.62 billion IGR and why it was not remitted to the Federation Account He said that committee would peruse the agency’s book from 2012 to date, adding that PPPRA must provide the IGR generated since 2012. He also stated that the agency must provide the identity of the person it loaned money to, adding that the committee needed the approval letter from the Accountant General’s office.

Faleke stated that on no account shall any withdrawal be made from the revenue account, stressing that a peep into the constitution would provide a better understanding. The lawmaker also demanded explanation on conflicting figures in the consumption of fuel in the country. He added that NNPC was earlier quoted to have said that daily consumption of fuel was 93 million litres, while PPPRA had also said that daily consumption of fuel was 80 million litres per day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Mr Abdukadir Saidu, failed to appear before the committee to answer questions. However, Mr Peter Etuk, PPPRA, General Manager Finance, PPPRA, while responding to the daily consumption of fuel stated that the consumption on daily bases differs. He stated that some days, fuel consumption could go higher, while at some point it would reduce. (NAN)

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede (L), with the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, during the Premobilization workshop for NYSC 2021 Batch ‘B’ members in Abuja on Tuesday (29/6/21).

PDP: Zamfara masses solidly behind us T By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

he National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has declared that both the Deputy governor Mahdt Gusau and the masses in Zamfara are still with the party even as the executive governor, Bello Matawalle has perfected plans to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Secondus said this at a press conference on Tuesday after a meeting with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja. The National Chairman said that it is shameful for governor to abandon the mandate PDP legally obtained through the ballot box. He said that the governors that left the ruling party did so under fear but expressed confidence that PDP will be very victorious at the polls in 2023. His words, “From all indications, Gov. Bello Matawalle has lost memory of how he

....Vows to win 2023 presidential election

came to become the governor of Zamfara state and he needed to be reminded that no law allows him to cross over to any other party with the statutory mandate given to PDP through the ballot box. “Let me also emphasize that APC governors and government of APC are overbearing on the system and moving to poach our governors and this to them is regarded as an achievement. “I have never seen where you have economic crises, insecurity crises, then the ruling party goes, poaching governors and 18 governors as published on Social Media will be moving, leaving their states to Zamfara, to celebrate the killings of innocent citizens in Zamfara state, the hunger in Zamfara state. “This is a shame and it is laughable. “They are going after our governors but we are going after the masses of this country. “The governors have one vote but we are after the people,

the masses, the people who are suffering under this government. “The masses are solidly behind us, the masses are for the PDP and we stand here to state clearly that we shall form this new government coming in 2023 because of the masses and not because of the governors. “It is a shame for all the governors that left the PDP for fear.They were intimidated by the instrument of this government. “But am happy that the masses in their state especially in Zamfara, none of them left” he said. The national chairman said that the NWC and the party’s legal team are putting heads together to decide on the next line of action. Earlier, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan has stated that the party will explore all the constitutional provisions to ensure that the rug is pulled off the feet of the governor if he abandons the PDP. His words, “A combined reading of Section 221 of

the 1999 Constitution as the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Faleke v. INEC (2016) is clear in holding that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes scored in election belong to the political party and that the candidate nominated to contest at an election by his party, acts only as the agent of his party” Ologbondiyan stated. The PDP also cautioned members of the National Assembly as well as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, not to allow themselves to be pushed into losing their seats as the provisions of the constitution is very clear in barring lawmakers from cross carpeting, except in a situation of a division in the political party upon which platform they were elected. However, the governor is yet to decamp from the party, as at the time of filling this report. It was learnt that the governor and APC officials were still in Kaduna strategizing on the defection modalities and power devolution.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

News

Reps to pass Buhari N895.8bn supplementary budget, PIB, others in 2 weeks By Christiana Ekpa

he House of Representatives on Tuesday said it will pass the 2021 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N895.8 billion presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and Electoral Act in the next two weeks. Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed this after reading a Communication from President Muhammadu Buhari,

requesting lawmakers’ approval of the 2021 Supplementary Appropriation at the resumed plenary on Tuesday. Buhari in the letter, said that it has become necessary to prepare the 2021 supplementary Appropriation Bill, considering the urgent need to make provision for procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The letter reads “We propose to fund N45.63 billion of the N83. 56 billion required for the COVID-19

vaccine programme by drawing on existing World Bank loans which will be a structured as well as other grants totalling 113.2 million US dollars. “The balance of N37. 93 billion required for COVID-19 vaccines, salaries and other health-related expenditures totalling N41.6 billion and N48.2 billion recurrent component of defence and security will be funded by borrowing N135 billion from some special reserve levy accounts.

“We propose to fund the balance of N722.4 billion for capital expenditure on defence and security and capital supplementation from new borrowings in the absence of any supplementary revenue sources”, the letter read in parts. Consequently, the Speaker tasked the lawmakers to work hard to ensure the key legislations are passed within two weeks before they embark on their summer break from mid July. Gbajabiamila said: “I will be

meeting with the adhoc committee on PIB, today by 3 pm to tidy up somethings. We need to pass these legislations before we go on summer break. Two weeks is a very short time. We must do it all. These are landmark legislations, including the supplementary budget.” Both the PIB and Electoral Act Amendment Bill have passed through second reading and reports of their public hearings are being expected for consideration by the House and subsequent passage .

Revised MSMEs policy captures innovations, reforms -FG

he Federal Government says the revised National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has taken cognisance of innovation, harmonisation and reforms in the sector. Amb. Mariam Katagum, Minister of state for Industry, Trade and Investment said this recently at a Webinar organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) as part of activities to commemorate the 2021 MSMEs Day. Katagum, represented by Mr Adewale Bakare, Director, Industrial Development Department of the Ministry said the revised MSMEs policy was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). She said the new reforms included the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy, Finance Act 2020, Frequently updated national sectoral policies and tighter land border controls. Others, according to her include, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and various Financial Intervention Schemes by the Federal Government. “Other highlights of the revised National Policy on MSMEs include the replacement of Asset Base with Turnover and the split of micro enterprises into two sub-group: the “nano” and “micro” in the new classification of MSMEs. “This classification is not only in tandem with global practices but reflects the realities in our national economy and gives clarity on the class of enterprises that required more interventions,” she said. Katagum reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to implementing policies and programmes that would create enabling environment to stimulate domestic and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in all sectors of the economy. Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, President, ACCI earlier in a remark, commended the Federal Government on the conclusion of the national MSMEs policy, a laudable step to pay serious attention to MSMEs in Nigeria. Abubakar expressed delight on the partnership between ACCI and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to drive the implementation of the new policy. “Already, Nigeria’s MSMEs are energised and are poised to storm the export markets in the spirit of AfCFTA,” he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

CVR: INEC receives 42,211 online applications 24 hours after take-off

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday, revealed that it received 42,211 online applications nationwide barely twenty-four hours after the commencement of the continuous voter registration, CVR, nationwide. The Commission also said that 59,331 accounts were created within the same period. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said this in a statement yesterday after a meeting of top chieftains of the Commission. Okoye said that 331 accounts were created by intended registrants on the CVR online pre-registration portal which was launched at 7 am on Monday.

According to him, “By 7 am, June 29, 24 hours after the launch, 59,331 accounts were created. “Within the same period, 42,211 applications were received out of which 27,759 individuals applied for new voter preregistration services. “Also 11, 177 requested for voter review record; 1, 669 applied for voter transfer; 853 asked for information update; 335 applied for replacement of lost or damaged PVCs; while 418 applicants requested for uncollected PVCs. “These statistics have been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms,” Okoye said. The Commission, he assured, would provide Nigerians with weekly updates on the activities on the portal and the online registration status.

Okoye encouraged those that could register online to do so, while all other Nigerians would commence their registration on the July 19. He reminded Nigerians that physical CVR would commence on July 19 at INEC State and Local Government Offices nationwide. “Those that are unable to register online will be attended to from the scheduled date. He added, “Every eligible Nigerian will have an opportunity to register. The CVR process will continue for at least one year. “Scheduled appointments for online registrants will also begin on July 19. “The commencement date for physical CVR in all the 2, 673 registration centres nationwide will be determined based on the evaluation of the security situation in the country”, he said.

Okoye explained that the Commission launched the online pre-registration services for the following categories of Nigerians: *Those who are 18 years and above and have never registered. *Registered voters who have had any problem during the accreditation for past elections, with either their Permanent Voters’ Cards or fingerprints not being read by the Smart Card Reader (SCR). *Registered voters who want to transfer their voting location from one place to another. *Registered voters who want to correct issues with their data, such as misspelt names, dates of birth, etc. “Registered voters whose Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are lost or damaged. The CVR online preregistration portal was launched on Monday 28th June 2021.

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede (5th,L); Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim (6th, L); representative of the Minister of FCT, Mr Kelvin Ike (6th, R); Director of Corps Mobilisation, Mrs Victoria Ango (3rd, R) and other directors, the Pre-mobilization workshop for NYSC 2021 Batch ‘B’ members in Abuja on Tuesday (29/6/21).

UN highlights policing reforms to address systemic racism

N rights chief Michelle Bachelet says radical policing reforms are needed to address systemic racism affecting people of African descent around the world. Bachelet said on Monday as her Office published a series of recommendations prompted by the killing of George Floyd. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States while being arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit 20 dollars bill. During the arrest, Derek Chauvin, a white police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes after he was handcuffed and lying face down. Prior to being placed on the ground, Floyd had exhibited signs of anxiety, complaining about having claustrophobia and being unable to breathe. After being restrained he became more distressed, complaining of breathing difficulties and the knee on his neck, and expressing fear of imminent death. Among the new measures proposed in the High Commissioner’s report on racial justice and equality, authorities are urged to reassess whether officers should continue to be the

first responders to individuals with mental health problems. In these and other police actions, the report found that law enforcement officers were rarely held accountable for human rights violations and crimes against people of African descent. This was owing in part to “deficient investigations, a lack of independent and robust oversight and a widespread “presumption of guilt” against people of African descent. “The status quo is untenable,” Bachelet said “Systemic racism needs a systemic response. “We need a transformative approach that tackles the interconnected areas that drive racism, and lead to repeated, wholly avoidable, tragedies like the death of George Floyd”. In a call to all states “to stop denying, and start dismantling, racism”, the UN rights chief appealed to them “to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent and to confront past legacies and deliver redress”. The High Commissioner’s report collected information on more than 190 cases where people had died in police custody around the world. It uncovered many similarities and patterns, such as the hurdles families

encountered in trying to access justice, according to Peggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). “Accountability is crucial and families do have some form of satisfaction in seeing someone in prison for a crime that is as violent as the murder of George Floyd which we saw on video tape. “But of course, there are so many cases where there isn’t a video tape and there are even cases where there are video tapes but justice is not being dealt in those cases,” she said. Across numerous countries, notably in North and South America and in Europe, people of African descent disproportionately live in poverty and face serious barriers. They face serious barriers in accessing education, healthcare, employment, housing and clean water, as well as to political participation and other fundamental human rights, the report maintained. These obstacles to fulfilling basic human rights contributed to a tradition of discrimination linked directly to colonialism and slave trading which resulted in the “dehumanisation” of people of African descent, according to the report. “We realised that a main part

of the problem is that many people believe the misconceptions that the abolition of slavery, the end of the transatlantic trade and colonialism have removed the racially discriminatory structures built by those practices but we found that this is not true,” said UN Human Rights Office’s Mona Rishmawi, Chief, Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch. As a result, countries have not paid adequate attention to the negative impact of policies on minority populations and the “conscious and unconscious bias” associated with it, the OHCHR officer insisted. For people of African descent, these legacy impacts are “a part of their daily life and the daily reality of dehumanisation, marginalisation and denial of their rights”. The High Commissioner’s report was set in motion by the Human Rights Council after international outrage at the killing of United States citizen George Floyd in 2020. His death was caused by police officer Derek Chauvin who was captured on video kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. After a six-week trial this year, Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced last week to prison for more than two decades. (NAN)

L-R: Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon. Zainab Gimba, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, during the public hearing on a bill for an act to establish the sustainable development fund charge with the responsibility for imposing, operating and maintaining sustainable development goals in Nigeria, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

FG re-arrests Nnamdi Kanu, as trial continues July 26 By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

he Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, remanded the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, till July 26. The order was following an information by the Federal Government, that it has rearrested the self acclaimed leader of the proscribed IPOB, through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services. Kanu, who jumped bail and

had been on the run for over two years, was arrested by a combined team of Nigeria and foreign security agents in a coordinated intersection. This information was made known by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, alongside Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Usman Alkali Baba, Police PRO, Frank MBA and spokesman of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunnaya, yesterday. The FG, through the the Department of Security Service, in 2015, arraigned

Kanu on charges bothering on terrorism, treasonable felony and sponsoring unlawful organization. The prosecution also accused the defendant of managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others. Consequently, Justice Binta Nyako who granted him bail on the ground of his ill health, on March 28 , 2019, revoked the bail and issued bench warrant for his arrest in any part of Nigeria over

his failure to continue with his trial. He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions. Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the Southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para military, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities.

News PDP NWC affirms disclaimer on Illegal inauguration of LG Chairmen in Niger State PDP By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed the earlier statement and verdict by the North Central Working Committee disowning the unauthorized inauguration of some unidentified persons as local government area chairmen in the Niger state chapter of the party. The party said this in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja. The NWC of the party vehemently condemned the activities of those behind this illegal activity. The PDP cautioned that, it will not in any way, tolerate such illicit and condemnable actions by persons who have no legal powers to preside over the affairs of the Party in the state. The party said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC declares the purported inauguration, which allegedly took place at the State Secretariat on Friday, 25th June 2021 of some individuals as PDP local government chairmen in Niger state, as illegal, null and of no effect, as it does not have the approval of the NWC. “The NWC vehemently condemns the activities of those behind this illegal activity and cautions that, it will not in any way, tolerate such illicit and condemnable actions by persons who have no legal powers to preside over the affairs of the Party in the state. “All PDP members in Niger State should take note and distance themselves from such persons as their activities are without the consent of our party. “The NWC invites all leaders, stakeholders, teeming members of our party in Niger state and the nation at large to note that the affairs of the Niger state chapter of the PDP is still vested on the North Central Zonal Working Committee. “The NWC therefore cautions those behind the illegal inauguration as well as those illegally parading themselves as PDP local government chairmen in some LGA in Niger state to retrace their steps and desist from such illicit activities or face very severe sanctions. “Furthermore, the NWC cautions such individuals to henceforth desist from actions that undermine the authority of the North Central Zonal Working Committee, the NWC as well as the constitution of the PDP. “The NWC is in the final stages of its liaison with the National Reconciliation and Strategic Committee to resolve all the issues in line with the Constitution of the PDP. “The PDP family in Niger State is advised to await further instructions from the NWC”, it said.

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News Okowa wants regular training for judiciary workers By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

elta Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday swore in Justice Theresa Diai as Chief Judge of Delta State and Justice Patience Elumeze as President of the Customary Court of Appeal. The Governor while swearing in the judges at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, said that judicial education and constant training of critical workers was imperative in enhancing quality of justice delivery and performance of courts in the state. He commended the Speaker and members of Delta State House of Assembly for their prompt confirmation of the judges for their offices, and said that his administration was blessed to have the Assembly as partner in progress rather than as a rival. “History has been made today with the confirmation of Justice Theresa Diai as the Chief Judge of Delta State and Justice Patience Elumeze as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State. “Rarely does it happen that you have two women heading both tiers of the Judiciary in the state at the same time. As a state, we are proud to set the pace in this regard. I congratulate them. “Let me also congratulate the Speaker and members of the state House of Assembly for the prompt manner they handled the confirmation of their Lordships. “This administration is blessed to have a legislature that sees itself more as a partner with government than a rival. As long as this partnership is sustained, we shall continue to gain new grounds in our quest to build a smart, strong and safe Delta state,” he said. The governor charged the judicial heads to continue in the tradition of team work, excellence and exemplary leadership in the stead of their predecessors. “As you may have experienced by now, your new positions require a lot of patience, resourcefulness, dexterity to manage the demands and pressures on your time and space. “I urge you to continue to promote, preserve and protect the principles of natural justice, fair hearing, equity and good conscience, which are the pillars upon which the judiciary rests.”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Niger govt sacks 758 workers over fraud, misconduct From Yakubu Minna

Mustapha,

iger State Government has sacked no fewer than 758 civil servants for their fraudulent act and misconduct in violation of extant rules. The Chairman of the Niger state Civil Service Commission,

Alhaji Shehu Yusuf Galadima disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing in Minna. He said out of the figure, a medical doctor and five accountants were involved. He stated that a total of five thousand, two hundred and fifty eight (5,258) civil servants have been retired in the past three years.

Galadima added that one thousand, one hundred and thirteen (1,133) were screened and employed into critical areas like; Health, Education, and the State Fire Service. He however, debunked the rumour of ongoing fresh recruitment in the commission. He noted that massive employment targeted at 2,000

unemployed has been put on hold due to Covid -19. According to him, “Since the year 2018, a total of 5,258 civil servants who have completed the mandatory 35 years of service or have attained the age of 60 years have retired voluntarily while 6,835 were promoted to next grade level”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

From: Femi, Oyelola, Kaduna

ighteen pastors were said to have been killed in Kaduna State from 2019 to 2021. The Chairman of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna state Chapter, Rev. John Joseph Hayab disclosed this at a one-day Peace and Security Summit held in kaduna yesterday. Accordingly to him, four pastors were also killed during the period while over one billion naira was paid as ramson. Hayeb explained that the data revealed an approximated amount of money paid as ransom to free people within the period is over three hundred Million Naira (N300,000 000) as at 2019. He added that “today, the amount has risen to over a billion

Irate youths allegedly rape chief’s wife in Delta community

CRIME News 18 pastors kidnapped in kaduna from 2019 to date -CAN

naira, with many victim’s dead and even more still in the hands of kidnappers. He named the deceased as follows, Pastor, Jeremiah Omolara of living faith Church, Romi new Extension, Reverend lliya Anto former vice president of From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has reiterated the army’s commitment to building a professional army that can guarantee security. Yahaya stated this while declaring open the combined Directorate of Army Physical Training Officers’ conference and maiden seminar held at the Army School of Physical Training yesterday. The COAS who was represented by Director, Training Army Headquarters. Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Ndalolo, said the conference is an apt and a proof that the Directorate

HEKAN Church, Reverend Father John Bako Shekwolo St.Theresa Catholic Church, Akwa, Kachia local Government Area, and Reverend, Hosea Akuchi-Nasara Baptist Church, Guru. Speaking on the Theme: of the Conference “Nigeria’s Insecurity:

The Church’s Response in the 21st Century.” the CAN Chairman said that security challenge in Nigeria and Kaduna state, in particular, is not a new thing to us, it is a monster that we have been struggling very hard for decades to deal with.

“Every government has its fair share of this experience accordingly, a keen look at our security challenges will reveal two basic facts, one is the proof that the challenge keeps changing with time while the second is that it is outrageous now.”

of Army Physical Training would reposition itself to meet contemporary challenges of the army. He said the innovative steps taken by the Directorate was in line with his vision to build a professional army ready to accomplish assigned mission within a joint environment in the defence of the country. He expressed delight that the directorate had significant number of personnel in joint operations such as operation Hadin Kai and other internal security operations across the

country. He urged all tactical level commanders and other participants to make the most use of the interactive sessions in view of efforts at repositioning the army. Yahaya assured that the Army is not only conceptually sound but also physically sound to pursue criminal elements wherever they are. The COAS appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari’s relentless support to the army as well as the defence minister and chief of defence staff for their

continue support. Yahaya also appreciate the untiring support for the Nigerian Army. Earlier, in his address, the Director, Army Physical Training, Brig.-Gen. Adeolu Fawole, said that in spite the COVID-19 pandemic, giant strides had been recorded in the area of sports. He assured the public that the directorate would continue to mobilise talented sportsmen in the army for future exploits and and provide improved fitness training for operational readiness.

COAS vows to build a professional Army

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

From left: Guest Speaker, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru; Minister of State for Health, Sen. Adeleke Mamora; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, during a Public Service Lecture as part of the activities marking 2021 Civil Service Week in Abuja on Tuesday (29/6/21

Niger Govt, UNICEF engage traditional rulers on girl-child education

he Niger State Government is collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to engage traditional rulers to support the sustainability of the Girl Education Project (GEP III) in the state. The state Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Hannatu Salihu, made this known during a meeting with some traditional rulers in Minna. Salihu described traditional rulers as “people whose opinions were respected by members of their communities, hence the need to engage them to ensure that all school-aged children enroll, remain, and complete school. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the objective of the meeting was to establish community accountability systems and sustainability of GEP3 as well as sensitise the

traditional rulers on the project. The commissioner called on the traditional rulers to take up the enrollent drive campaign to nooks and crannies of their communities to assist in reducing the menace of out-of-school children.. “The time has come for us to reach out to parents and guardians under your domain to ensure they are enrolled in school, retain and at least complete basic education,” she said. In his remarks, Mr Francis Elisha, Education Officer, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, explained that the meeting was to have mutual understanding on accountability and sustainability of GEP3. “UNICEF has been supporting the state to implement the GEP III for a decade now. “It is important for traditional rulers at the community level to come and have understanding of

GEP3, to discuss and commit to the sustainability of the project,’’ Elisha said. He said that the traditional rulers and education secretaries were from nine UNICEF focus local governments and solicited their commitment to the sustainability of the project as it comes to an end in June. Also, Malam Abubakkar Yusuf, UNICEF Focal Person for the state Universal Basic Education, urged the traditional rulers to implement what they have heard. Yusuf urged them to ensure every child was in school as well as teachers discharged their duties. Malam Isah Alhassan, a participant from Edati Local Government, said he would meet with parents, pupils, education policy-makers at the grassroots level to sensitise them on the importance of western education. “I will sensitise my people

on the need to have western education to ensure the children are in school at the time they are supposed to be there “And ensure teachers and school-based committee are committed to their jobs,” he said. Another participant, Mohammed Madaki, Acting District Head of Madaka, said that he would champion the importance of girl-child education in the area and ensure that every parent sponsors his or her girlchild to school. NAN reports that the GEP III, is an eight–year project (2012– 20) that seeks to improve school access, retention and learning outcomes for girls in five northern Nigerian states. The states are Bauchi, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara. It is managed by the UNICEF and funded by the UK Department for International Development. (NAN)

Youth Council have appealed for more public support for NYSC towards discharging its statutory responsibilities. They commended the NYSC

Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim for his open door policy and giant strides in transforming the scheme since he assumed duty.

Speaking through the leader of Yoruba Youth Council, Mr Adeyeye Olugbenga during a courtesy visit to NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in

Abuja, said the scheme has been an enabler of youth development with different activities that would enhance self reliance among corps members.

he wife of the Odogwu (War lord) of Ogwash-Uku kingdom, Aniocha South Local Government Area Delta State, Mrs. Ohai, was on Sunday stripped and allegedly raped by irate youths over chieftaincy tussle. It was gathered that over three houses, a poultry farm and two vehicles worth over N500 million were destroyed during the attack. Narrating the ordeal to reporters in Asaba, the Odogwu of Ogwash-Uku, Chief Gabriel Ohai, lamented the lawlessness and impunity in the community. He said: “Police came to rearrest one Ikechukwu Illoba who led his hoodlums to beat a 75 year-old man to death after an autopsy result. The suspect, who raised alarm and called his cohorts as early as 6am already converged before the arrival of policeman. “Immediately the police left, the hoodlums moved in their numbers to my house pulled down my gate, fence and moved to my palace and set my house ablaze. They stripped my wife naked, raped her, burnt down my two vehicles and moved to my farm, 20 kilometre away from where I live, and set the building ablaze.”

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Arrested In UK, Extradited To Nigeria, arraigned at the Federal High Court, yesterday in Abuja.

Youth groups canvass support for NYSC

Cleric calls for unity of church

By Albert Akota

he Yoruba Youth Parliament, National Association of Yoruba Students and Oodua

From: Femi, Oyelola, Kaduna hristians have been urged to be united for advancement of the kingdom of God.

Senior Pastor of Help from Above Healing and Deliverance Ministry Worldwide, Godwin Ube made the assertion during a conference organised by the Ministry, Christian

Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN in Kaduna state yesterday. Pastor Ube noted that unity fastracts development as nothing

can be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour. ” We can accomplish much more when we work together rather than when we are divided”, Ube added.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

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News

Media Trust, MAC Arthur Foundation train journalists in NE From Umar Dankano,Yola.

he Daily Trust Foundation in conjunction with Mac Arthur Foundation has commenced a 3-day capacity building training on investigative and Multimedia journalism for twenty five (25) journalists based in the North East states. Delivering his welcome address at the workshop in Yola Monday, Programme Director of the Daily Trust Foundation,Theophilus Abbah told the 25 participants that they were selected from the six states in the zone purposely to broaden their knowledge on multimedia journalism. Abbah explained that the emergence of Internet has digitally brought the entire world to become a global village with people seeing and listening to happenings in the comfort of their abodes . Abbah added that the dynamics of journalism in the internet palace is naturally facing out the old ways of handling stories as journalists now use their mobile devices to send their stories immediately. “The Foundation with support from MacArthur have put together a workshop on multimedia journalism which would broaden journalists’understanding of multimedia reporting. “We urge you (participants)

Kidnapped Niger District Head, wives regain freedom From Yakubu Minna

Mustapha,

wenty three days after the District Head of Zungeru in Wushishi Local Government Area, of Niger state, Alhaji Adamu Mustapha Madaki who was kidnapped along with two of his wives has regained freedom. According to a reliable source, a ransom of N10m was paid in addition to two bajaj motorcycles before the royal father was released along with his two wives; Habiba and Aisha. A source who pleaded anonymity said, “ the relations of the now free district head must have paid the N10m ransom demanded by the bandits before he was released”. Report gathered revealed that the royal father has been taken to a private hospital in Abuja for medical treatment after his release by his abductors on Sunday 27th June 2021.

to be attentive,interactive and ask relevant questions with a view to be loaded on the packages imbedded in the various resource persons invited for the training. “The essence is to encourage journalists on human interest stories for fact checking so that

most of the threats,fears and true picture of happenings can be brought to front banner the attention of target audience in the societies”.Abbah stressed. A participant at the workshop,Bilkisu Umar of the Progress Radio Gombe in an

interview described the training as timely and inspirational considering the negative stories flying on the social media . Umar expressed delight over the opportunity accorded to her to partake in the training “I really appreciate the Daily

trust Foundation for the golden opportunity”. Our Correspondent in Yola reports that the Foundation is the corporate social responsibility (CSR),arm of Media Trust Limited,Publisher of Daily Trust titles,offline and online.

(front row) Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (3rd left), Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi (2nd left), Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Mr. Edet Sunday Akpan (left), Managing Director Transnational Corporation Nigeria (TRANSCORP) Plc, Mr. Peter Ikenga (3rd right), Legal Manager Transcorp Mr. Humphrey Oyeukwu (2nd right), and Head Strategy and Business Transformation Transcorp, Ilobekemen Idiake (right), during a Courtesy Visit by the Management of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (TRANSCORP) Plc courtesy visit to the Ministry of Science and Technology, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Polio: Over 60,000 children immunized in Kano LGA From Kano

Mustapha

Adamu,

ver 60,000 children have received polio vaccine in Gezawa Local Government of Kano State in the three-day impromptu exercise. The Head of Health Department of the Local

Government, Bashir Abdullahi Minjibir disclosed this to newsmen in Kano yesterday. He said the number of the immunized children covered day one to day three of the exercise. The HOD however stated that lack of distribution of sweets and whistles to children had constituted relative

inconveniences in their normal friendly approach to administering the vaccine to soften resistance from the intended recipients. He said he is not aware of the scarcity of the inducement which is meant to encourage the children to offer themselves for the immunization. “But, despite that, the

prevailing situation hasn’t dampened our spirits, we contacted the local government authority and pledge to intervene before the end of the exercise,” Minjibir said. He commended the retaining staff who conducted the exercise for their perseverance and commitment to duty.

“Government’s inability to rapidly respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic both at the State and Federal levels highlight the poor state of our healthcare policy framework in responding to health pandemics within the country,” Oyekunle said. She said the research conducted comprised of adolescents, men and women in slum communities, women in informal markets, people with disabilities, health workers and policy makers. She added that it was conducted to fully understand the impact of COVID-19 on health seeking behaviour, household responsibilities, livelihood, social

networks and norms. “This qualitative research also highlight the lack of consideration and specialised care for women, girls, persons living with disability, the LGBTQ community, and people residing in slum communities within Lagos State. “Despite women making up about 87 per cent of the healthcare workforce, they had limited decision-making opportunities in the response strategies of the government to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our findings also records an increase in gender based violence to women and girls, an underlining effect from the COVID-19

pandemic which hasn’t been properly recorded, addressed and managed,”she said. According to her, the review of the preliminary findings on gender and COVID-19 study by the Gender and COVID-19 Project in Nigeria will be taking place at Chesterfield Hotel at Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja. “The meeting which would be engaging critical stakeholders in Lagos State, would also include an overview of the Gender and COVID-19 project and an update of preliminary findings from the study followed by discussions and feedback from stakeholders,” she said.

COVID-19: Research suggests review of gender, public health policies

he Gender and COVID-19 Project in Nigeria says all is set to review its preliminary findings from a qualitative research conducted on strategic demography of Lagos State residents. Amy Oyekunle, the Executive Director of Monii Development Consult, which carried out the research, made the disclosure in Lagos. Oyekunle said the preliminary findings from the qualitative research suggested the need for a review and round table discussion to provide suggestions, response, measures and recommendations to create policy and relevant public health interventions in Lagos State.

Nutrition : Group reward vendors for promoting egg consumption in Kaduna From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Group under the auspices of Better Diet for Children Project, has rewarded 30 egg vendors for promoting egg

consumption among children 6 to 59 months of age in Kaduna State. Project Manager, Better Ms Irowa Erhabor, disclosed this during the presentation of vouchers to the vendors in kaduna yesterday.

Accordingly to her, the gesture was to encourage them to keep promoting egg consumption under the “Eggs Make Kids Campaign’’ in the state. She explained that 10 vendors

got N50,000 egg vouchers and N50,000 cash each, another 10 vendors got N20,000 egg vouchers each and the remaining 10 vendors also got N10,000 egg vouchers

Presenting the vouchers to the vendors in Kaduna, Erhabor said that the Egg Visibility Award was in recognition of the vendors’ commitment to the egg campaign in the last 20 months.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

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News

Alleged mass failure: UTME has its right syllabus -JAMB

By Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

he Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reacted to the mass failure rumors peddled by some candidates that the Board had based its questions on the wrong syllabus. In a statement, the Head, Public Affairs and Protocol JAMB, Fabian Benjamin explained that all Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) questions are based on texts prescribed for the UTME in its syllabus. According to him, to ensure its syllabus is accessible to all candidates sitting its examination, the Board has made the material

available on three platforms. Its read, “The Board ordinarily would not have reacted to the half-truth being peddled by some disgruntled candidates, who were ill-prepared for the examination and who, true to all expectations, performed below the expectations of their guardians, that the Board had based its questions on the wrong syllabus. ‘’The truth of the matter is that all Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)questions are based on texts prescribed for the UTME in its syllabus. ‘’To ensure that its syllabus is accessible to all candidates sitting its examination, the Board has made the material available on

three platforms. The syllabus was issued to candidates through: The Board’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS):The CD which is given to candidates after completion of registration :The link https://www.ibass. jamb.gov.ng. as provided with the candidates’ profile code. ‘’It is not automatic that the NECO/WAEC syllabus should transform into JAMB’s otherwise there would not have been a need for a separate syllabus for the UTME. ‘’The UTME is not school-based and not an achievement test but a selection or ranking test which ordinarily does not require a syllabus and does not have room

for fail or pass as in achievement tests. ‘’The rumour of mass failure is a fluke and a campaign by those whose source of illicit income has been further blocked. ‘’It is our belief that based on facts on ground, every rightthinking Nigerian would question the 6,944,368 figure on which the 14% “pass” is based. ‘’For instance, in the 2021 UTME, 1, 415,501 registered for both UTME/DE. Out of this figure, 1,340,003 candidates registered for UTME and 75, 498 registered for DE. ‘’The total number of candidates who took the UTME are 1, 300,722 with 78 389 candidates absent.”

L-R: Mario Maniewicz, Director, Radiocommunication Bureau, International Telecommunications Union(ITU); Hon. Timo Harakka, Minister of Transport and Communications, Finland; Amb. David A. Gross, Co-Chair, TMT Practice, Wiley Rein LLP; Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, Etisalat Group during the GSMA Ministerial Programme on Covering the Costs of Mobile Connectivity at the ongoing 2021 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain

CPC urges Buhari to announce NDDC nominees screened by NASS By Osaigbovo Iguobaro

he former Chairman of the defunct Congress of Progressives Change (CPC), Mr. Godwin Erhahon has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to announce the shortlisted nominees for the Niger Delta Delta Development Commission (NNDC) Board almost two years after they were duly screened by the National Assembly. The advice came days after Niger Delta ex-agitators to the Federal government to either inaugurate the Board or face crisis. But Erhahon, pioneer Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State, also urged the President to resist

temptation from enemies of progress within his government who desperately want to derail the administration. Recall that in November 2019, the Senate confirmed 15 nominees for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). They include the Chairman, Pius Odubu (Edo); Managing Director, Bernard Okumagba (Delta); Executive Director Projects, Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom); Executive Director Finance and Admin, Maxwell Okoh (Bayelsa); Delta State representative, Jones Erue; Victor Ekhatar (Edo) and Nwogu Nwogu (Abia). Others are Theodore Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa

Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River); Olugbenga Elema Ondo); Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo); Northwest Rep, Aisha Muhammed (Kano); Northeast Rep, Ardo Zubairu (Adamawa) and Southwest Rep, Badmus Mutalib (Lagos). The upper Chamber, however, rejected the nomination of Joy Nunieh (Rivers). But the President, side stepped the appointments and ordered a forensic audit of the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission from 2001 to 2019, followed persistent criticisms of the operations of the Commission. But on Tuesday, Mr. Godwin Erhahon on Tuesday said the forensic auditors were not mandated to suggest whether or not the board should be

inaugurated. He said: “Happenings of the moment compel me to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to resist the temptation from his enemies within his government who desperately want to mislead him into discrediting himself. “They are those urging him to submit fresh nominees to the Senate for screening for appointments to the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission for which his earlier nominees have been cleared by same Senate but awaiting inauguration . “They want the presidency to shift the goal post after the goal has been scored and thereby rubbish his integrity as a referee.”

COVID-19: Research urges Govts to prioritise genderresponsive plans

he Monii Development Consult (MDC), a research organisation, urges government at all levels to prioritise gender-responsive plans before, during, and after a crisis such as a pandemic or a natural disaster. Mrs Amy Oyekunle, Lead Consultant with the organisation, made the call in Lagos at a Preliminary Findings Review Meeting on Gender Impact of and COVID-19 Research in Nigeria. Oyekunle said that prioritising gender-responsive plans would help government make an all-inclusive policy that would incorporate everyone and leave no one behind. She said that such all-inclusive policy would also mitigate the negative impact of such crisis on the lives of all genders – women, men, boys and girls. Amy said that a gender-responsive pandemic plan focuses on the intersectional needs of women, men, and gender minorities, in planning, data collection, response and recovery. She said that a team of researchers conducted a gender analysis to identify and document the gendered dynamics of COVID-19 and gaps in preparedness and response. “The study looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected men, women, boys, girls and persons with disabilities (PWDs); and how it was influencing government response or how government’s response was addressing the pandemic. “In the findings, the pandemic, though considered negative by all indications brought out many gaps particularly on gender.. “The pandemic influenced and changed gender roles and it changed health seeking behaviour as a lot of people especially the women could not access maternal care or sexual reproductive care. “The pandemic increased the rate of self medication, girls could not access sanitary napkins and people did not also trust the government in terms of response and intervention like the issue of palliatives. “On the vaccine, there are lots of conceptions around social and religious beliefs, also PWDs also felt they were not carried along in terms of COVID-19 messages and information, ” she said. Amy lamented that majority of the government policies on the COVID-19 pandemic seemed gender neutral. According to her, the policies seem as if COVID-19 is a genderless pandemic and it’s been addressed an genderless perspective. “Nothing is gender neutral, as a government, there is the need for research and gender analyses to create a holistic and inclusive genderresponsive pandemic plan. “You cannot have a plan and develop policies blindly. If we fail to take a gender-responsive approach, it will have negative impact on all genders. “Today, it is COVID-19 pandemic, tomorrow it could be something else – Ebola or Lassa fever out break or whatever. So, we need to be prepared,” she said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

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Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

Yes, Osinbajo is right

ice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said corruption and lack of transparency among other factors were responsible for poor contract negotiations in Nigeria. He spoke on at a two day capacity building workshop for negotiators. The workshop, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja, sought to “help Nigeria improve its terms of engagement with the rest of the world” in an effort at stemming illicit financial flows.

building of a gas plant in Calabar that would turn natural gas into power to feed the nation’s grid. The NNPC was to supply the gas while the firm would get payment in the form of gas by products. As it turned out, the project failed. P&ID, with the help of some corrupt NNPC officials, managed to get a London court to award $9bn in damages against Nigeria. That was in 2012. However, the present Buhari government appealed that decision in 2019 and a higher court in London ruled that Nigeria had been wrongly treated and ordered a fresh hearing of the case.

The Vice President cited the It is not P&ID case and the Strategic Alliance Contract case where Nigeria stands the risk of losing billions of dollars due to poor and shrewd negotiations of the contracts. He called The Vice President for proper negotiations cited the P&ID case by Nigeria in the and the Strategic ongoing discussion on climate change which, Alliance Contract he said, should put into case where Nigeria consideration Nigeria’s stands the risk peculiar economic situation and the needs of losing billions of the citizens.

only that some NNPC top shots messed up their nation, a Lagos lawyer the government had hired to defend it in the first trial abandoned the defence halfway. He claimed he did not receive support from the very government that put him on the job. How ridiculous! In deed, the second London court that of dollars due to has now ordered a Yes, Osinbajo hit the poor and shrewd retrial blamed the Nigerian lawyer for nail right on its head. He negotiations of the doing a poor job of was not the first to say it defending his client, but the fact that it came contracts thereby helping from the nation’s number two man made it doubly weighty. P&ID to obtain a fraudulent And so everyone should listen well. damages award. Corruption has tarred every hand The P&ID case is just one of involved in negotiating contracts for our government. Not that there several in which Nigeria has been are no expert legal draughtsmen done in by its corrupt citizens both to draft contract documents or abroad and at home. It has been defence lawyers to stand for the said that corruption is a thriving government in court. In fact, there business in Nigeria, leading is a surfeit of either. Take the case President Buhari to warn: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption cited by Vice President Osinbajo. will kill us”. But how to kill this P&ID is asking the Nigerian menacing octopus is proving to be government to pay it a breach Herculean because corruption has of contract fee of over 9 billion proved that it can fight back. dollars. The contract was for the

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Fall of Nnamdi Kanu and Asari Dokubo’s vow to end his ‘evil empire’ By Fredrick Nwabufo

o man is too great for a nation to conquer. Nnamdi Kanu came into reckoning after the Buhari administration breasted the tape of victory in 2015. Before this time, he was only a cipher who trafficked in hate, conspiracy theories and supremacist ideas on the fringes of social media groups and broadcast channels. But the disaffection of a section of the south-east with the government provided him the ammunition to take his pernicious pursuit to savage heights. As he fed his sheep with ridiculous conspiracies of how the Fulani are out to exterminate them, his flock swelled in numbers and his assets grew by leaps and bounds. The more absurdities he manufactured, the more his followers were enchanted by him. He lived on the vulnerabilities of his minions. He courted the hype, and he enjoyed the attention. But he flunked the ‘’drug dealer’s rule’’ – do not get high on your own supply. Kanu lost himself to hubris. He defied the elders; he spat on the leaders, ignored warnings and entreaties, made an enemy of associates, attacked critics, and unleashed his bloodhounds of hell on citizens and security agents in the south-east. He became defiant to reason. He became too powerful for himself. No man should wrestle with his Chi. By inciting and allegedly sponsoring deadly attacks on citizens and security agents in the south-east – through the Eastern Security Network -- he lost those sympathetic to his supposed ‘’cause’’ -- but in the closet. Owing to the killings and turmoil in the region, elders and leaders spoke trenchantly against Biafra and IPOB for the first time – no longer tongue in cheek. After a meeting on June 19, the governors of the south-east declared: “We, the Igbo, do reaffirm our commitment to one united Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love and respect for one another. We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in south-east and elsewhere. We firmly proclaim that we do not support them; they do not speak for south-east.’’ Kanu lost the plot when he took up arms against the state. He lost whatever meaning to his agitation, which is not in the interest of the Igbo by the way, when he provoked bloody attacks against citizens in the southeast. He lost it there. A few days ago, Asari Dokubo, former Niger Delta warlord, did a broadcast vowing to ‘’bring down the evil empire’’ of Kanu. These were Dokubo’s words: “Nnamdi Kanu, I’m not in your

category but for this, I will surely bring you down. I will destroy this evil empire that is working as a hindrance to the restoration of Biafra. Biafra is your business now; you have no other avenue for gainful income. It is a pity how Igbo people have fallen for this evil, but your time is up. I am out for you. And I will get you.” It was reported in 2017 that Niger Delta militants aided the escape of Kanu from Nigeria. The IPOB leader even alleged he sent emissaries to Dokubo for a ferry away from Golgotha. Kanu jumped bail and was magicked from Nigeria – where he was facing trial for treason. He reappeared in Israel in 2018, and afterwards he moved to the UK where he is a citizen. He continued his lethal industry from there spreading poison, confusion, hate and death. Did Dokubo make good his threat? Does he have a hand in the arrest of Kanu? Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, said on Tuesday the IPOB leader was ‘’intercepted’’. “Self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Kanu, has been intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and Security Services. He has been brought back to Nigeria, in order to continue facing trial after disappearing, while on bail regarding 12-count charge against him. Recent steps taken by the Federal Government saw to the interception of the fugitive Kanu on Sunday the 27th day of June 2021,’’ Malami said in a statement. It is not yet certain if Dokubo played a hand in the game. I had called the Ijaw leader to hear from him but did not get through. However, the former militant is known to match his words with action. Yet it is too early to say. The culminating incidents are a consequence of arrogance, lack of tact, irrationality, and ignorance on the part of Kanu. South-east youths should desist from launching into protests and processions at this time. Some of the youths who had given in to the enchantment of Kanu have been killed. We have lost many lives. We should not lose more men. The federal government must do well to follow procedure in the trial of Kanu. Despite his offence, the government must be seen to be fairhanded and not punitive. Resorting to vengeful measures could provoke unintended reactions. There should be no room for arbitrariness. Let the law take its course. Let the court decide. By Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ Nwabufo Twitter @FredrickNwabufo

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Comment

APC broom, PDP umbrella, and the meaninglessness of political party logos in Nigeria

African Politics: Battle of the old and young

By Ibrahim Jabir Isah

By Ezinwanne Onwuka

igeria has been jinxed with bad governance, unfulfilled political campaign promises, corruption, nepotism, and unemployment, religious bigotry, ethnic jingoism, to mention but a few. These problems have been in existence since independence. However, they become more glaring, worrisome and pathetic since our return to democratic rule in 1999. From the year 1999-2015, PDP was the ruling party in Nigeria; and from 2015 to date we have APC led government as the ruling party. Apart from political parties’ motto and manifestoes, I used to attribute different meanings to their symbols. For instance, I interpreted the PDP’s umbrella as a protective cover or a shield from all forms of economic woes and hardship just the way umbrella shields people from rainfalls and ultraviolet rays of the sun. However, my interpretation was wrong. PDP’s umbrella is a symbol of poverty, corruption, unemployment, and general retrogression. The ANPP had maize as its symbol. This, I thought, signifies agriculture and abundance of food. If such political party assumes the mantle of leadership (in my naive thinking), there would be focus on agriculture which would lead to food security, job creation, diversification of the economy, and ample opportunities for the teeming population (especially the youth). I also strongly believe that

diversification of the economy by focusing on agriculture will create a conducive environment for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Though ANPP did not win the presidential election, the story of its symbolic maize wouldn’t have been different from that of PDP which umbrella connotes nothing but malevolence. Political parties in Nigeria are ideologically bankrupt and their logos are meaningless. And if they have meanings at all, they mean calamity, abject poverty, crisis, and unemployment, insecurity to mention but a few. The PDP’s tattered umbrella that cannot shield Nigerians from the storm of poverty and the rain of unemployment paved way for the thunderstorm of insecurity and embezzlement of public funds until the year 2015. In the year 2014 a conglomeration of three political parties (ANPP, CPC, & ACN) metamorphosed into one political party known as APC whose symbol is broom. The new political party did not allow me to think and attribute meaning to their logo due to the duo factors; their actions and campaign have said it all and my level of political exposure and awareness was not the same with that of my early childhood days. Broom as we all know even before the emergence of APC has been a double edged sword. It can be used for sweeping our environment and also for witchcraft and ceremonial magic especially in African societies. In the year 2015, we were made to

believe that umbrella (PDP) was the major problem of our country and broom (APC) will be the Moses that will save the Israelites from their Pharaoh (insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poverty among others). However, APC failed to use its broom to sweep away corruption, poverty, and insecurity; it rather swept them unprecedentedly. The broom that Nigerians voted for is not the broom they are using on us today. The broom that ought to be used to sanitize the country is in turn used to whip the citizens as if they are witches. Insecurity has become the order of the day and the lives of animals are more valuable and secured than those of humans in my dear country governed by the broomites. What baffles me most is the way and manner in which our president turns deaf and blind to the situation on ground and the way he has the effrontery to play the blame game by correlating his failure to the past administration. He always blames the umbrella for allowing rain to penetrate through it which litters the environment and wet the broom thereby affecting its efficiency and effectiveness in cleansing the Nigerian state. What a blame! The campaign promises made by the broom led administration is a sham and a mere lip service. Worst still, freedom of speech which is one of the tenets of democracy has been swept under the carpet. What a dictatorship in disguise! If you think you have

freedom of speech, think of your freedom after speech. The action and inaction of the APC led administration has aid in fanning the ember of all the problems bedeviling the country today. On the issue of insecurity, the insurgents (Boko Haram) are being over pampered and treated with kid gloves. And if after killing dozens of innocent citizens and they decide to fake repentance they will be granted amnesty by the government. According to some security analysts, those fake repented terrorist if care is not taken will in turn serve as informants to the active terrorist thereby sabotaging the efforts of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism. And the fight against corruption in this administration just like the previous administration is selective and bias and also it is an avenue for witch hunting political opponents. No matter the amount of money embezzled by a politician in PDP, once he cross carpet to APC all charges against him will be dropped. APC has now become a haven for political criminals against EFCC politically motivated hunt. When the president said in his 2015 swearing in speech “I am for nobody and I am for everybody” we all thought he is for real until when his actions depicts the true color and real meaning of his words. By saying he is for no body, he is directly referring to the masses. That is why the security of our lives and properties are no longer

his priority as they deceitfully appear to be before the 2015 general election. And the president being for everybody simply means everybody in his cabinet and political party that is why there is gross mismanagement of public funds in this administration and the president cannot mince a word. Mr. President, Nigerians especially we the masses are in a state of quagmire. Please wake up from your slumber and take action. Your Excellency sir, when will your broom start sweeping? Let us know whether we can keep hope alive and look forward to when you will fulfill your symbolic political promises. Or is your broom still in the farm hanging on the palm trees? Please do not waste our eight years blaming umbrella for preventing you from gripping your broom. We need action not stories and blame game. I pray the charlatan attitude of the APC led administration would not make the electorates lethargic in 2023. Democracy has been defeated in our country and Nigerians are robbed of all hopes of enjoying any dividends of democracy. All we need now is the primary purpose of government which is security of our lives and properties. Mr. President, please make hay while the sun shine. Do not allow our nation to fail and collapse completely before 2023. Ibrahim Jabir Isah can be reached at Ibrahimjabir62@ gmail.com

Freedom cannot stand against rule of law By Zhong Sheng

he collapse of Apple Daily is a response to the call of justice, common aspiration, and market demand. Since the Hong Kong-based tabloid repeatedly violated law and morality, its operator and employees were punished by laws. Besides, its poor management also contributed a key reason for its closure. However, some politicians from a few Western countries are unwilling to accept the failure of the anti-China organization they have supported. Under the disguise of the slogan “freedom of press,” they called defiance to justice and law as a “basic freedom,” trying to set roadblocks for Hong Kong’s rule of law. What they have done is a blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s domestic affairs. We must solemnly point out that their practices have seriously violated international laws and the basic norms governing international relations are firmly opposed by all Chinese people and all the people in the world that uphold justice and impartiality. Hong Kong is a law-based

society where anti-China forces are never tolerated. The rhetoric slogan “freedoms of press and speech” used by some politicians from a few Western countries is never a shield that absolves them from their wrongful practices of encouraging people to undermine economic and social order and national security. It is perfectly justified to ensure that laws are observed and strictly enforced and that anyone who violates the law will be bring to justice. Hong Kong citizens demand economic and social orders to be protected in accordance with the law, and they support the consolidation and improvement of the “one country, two systems” principle with legislation, in order to promote the stability and prosperity of the region. It is a mainstream public willingness, and not something that can be neglected by some biased politicians in a few Western countries. For a while, these politicians have been pointing fingers at Hong Kong affairs and China’s domestic affairs, oppressing China with the “Hong Kong” card. However, what’s underneath the cover of the slogan “freedoms of press and speech” is their true intention to

undermine Hong Kong’s rule of law. They are neither willing to accept the reality that turmoil in yesterday’s Hong Kong has now been conquered by rule of law, nor to see a prosperous future in the region. In the early days of the Apple Daily, they expanded their sales by speculation, even at the cost of transgressing. Its paparazzi frequently peeked into the privacy of celebrities, which accumulated huge controversy. It has long been accused of defamation, spreading fake news and personal abuse by Hong Kong citizens. In 2019, it published a series of false reports to instigate public sentiment, that seriously undermined the rule of law of Hong Kong and the security of citizens. A staff from a Hong Kongbased non-governmental organization that unmasks the fake news by Apple Daily noted that the newspaper has always been fabricating fake news in name of “freedom of press” to incite the young generation to go against laws, and oppose their country and government. It has also conducted illegal deals in collusion with foreign forces, according to the staff member, that accelerated its inevitable

collapse. Legal professions in Hong Kong have also called to take legal actions against the newspaper many times. Is there any country or region in the world where news and speeches can freely go against rule of laws? Some politicians from a few Western countries should seriously retrospect the laws in their countries. The U.S. Constitution clearly forbids remarks on rumors, obscenity, terror and hatred, and there are specialized organizations under the U.S. government to monitor the media. The Federal Communications Commission of the U.S. is an organization that licenses American radio and TV stations and regulates their programs. The Supreme Court of the U.S. once noted that freedoms of speech and press do not permit a State to forbid advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action. In Germany, those who deny the Holocaust or incite hatred against certain ethnic groups can be sentenced to five years in prison at most. Social media

platforms must timely respond to users’ complaints about illegal remarks and delete or block such remarks as appropriate. Those who fail to do so might face huge fines. In France, those who hurt fundamental national interests, incite crimes, slander and spread fake news through media will be punished by laws. Freedom cannot stand against rule of law. All fingers pointing on the case of Apple Daily by some politicians from a few Western countries exposed their double standard, as well as a lack of precise understanding of the reality and the mainstream willingness. Hong Kong has returned to the motherland for 24 years. “Patriots governing Hong Kong” is a common aspiration of the people and conforms to the trend of the times. Some politicians from a few Western countries trying to contain China with the “Hong Kong card” and double standard will only fail in the end. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)

here is something unmistakably common in Africa: the continent’s aging and long-serving presidents. The retirement age in most African countries for the working force is 60 years. However, the ages of some of the leaders on the continent are far beyond the retirement age for workers. Lately, I couldn’t help but wonder why Africa is saddled with leaders who ought to be enjoying their retirement in peace and serenity, instead of in the political corridors, campaign trails and taxing political brinkmanship that challenge even the youngest leaders. It is worrisome that many African presidents are rather old, mostly septuagenarians and octogenarians. It is even more worrisome that some of them make tremendous efforts to stay in power and die in office. Consequently, there is a limited opportunity for the younger generation to participate actively in politics. The norm in Africa seems to be a growing youth population and a diminishing but powerful aged cohort that has tenaciously held on to power. Gerontocracy is rooted in the African culture. In the traditional African societies in which gerontocracy existed, older people were highly esteemed because of the important roles they played by helping to integrate the society, preserve its cultural values,

transmit knowledge and skills, settle disputes and educate the young. Their judgments were highly valued and respected. Within families, the authority of both men and women mostly increased with age. Following this, the idea that, in African countries, political power is often linked with age is widely accepted. Most African countries continue to subscribe to what might be called a system of deference to the elders, and age (or age group) matters socially and politically. As already explained, this pre-eminence of elders is deeply rooted in the traditional structure of African communities. Over the years, the culture of gerontocracy has gained a foothold in our modern political space. For instance, Nigeria’s recent presidents were older than 50 when elected. Olusegun Obasanjo was 62. Umaru Musa Yar’adua was 57. Goodluck Jonathan was 53. Muhammadu Buhari was 73. The case does not differ from other African countries. Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo was also 73 years old at the time of his election in 2017; Malawi’s president, Lazarus Chakwera was sworn in in 2020 aged 65; among others. Suffice to add that there have been attempts by younger men to vie for political office across the continent but with little or no success. To this effect, Africa’s younger generation are passively involved in the political affairs of their country.

The major explanation for this age disparity in leadership positions is the subservient culture that maintains the infallibility of elders. In some African cultures, elders are never considered to be wrong even when they palpably are so; and young people may never evince more knowledge than their elders, even when they do. According to Adeleke (2017), “There is even a saying in a Nigerian tribe that “when elders are talking, the youth must be quiet.” When you take this idea and magnify it, you start to see how the culture is already rigged to make elders think that youth have nothing beyond physical strength and youthful exuberance to offer when they (the elders) are around. The few times young people are allowed to lead are times when they are leading their peers, as seen in student unions and community age groups.” These cultural barriers are wittingly or unwittingly experienced within the political terrain, resulting in a burgeoning population of youth without political pedigree. The young generation are frequently used to perpetrate violence before, during and after elections, rather than participating in any real political decisionmaking and governance. In countries where the youths actively participate in politics, such involvement does not acknowledge the autonomous agency of the youth. Rather, the narrative

assumes that they (the youths) lack a voice of their own. In other words, where the youth is brought into politics, it is hardly on their own terms but on those of the adults who command the political heights. That is, the young generation are passive agents. To change the status quo, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari signed the “Not Too Young To Run” bill into law in 2018 to reduce the age limits across political offices, including the presidency. The “Not Too Young To Run” bill reduced the presidential age limit from 40 to 35 and, for governorship positions, from 35 to 30. This is commendable. However, while lowering the age limit is one thing, getting into political office is quite another and will likely be an arduous journey for young Nigerians. Some of the major hurdles they will have to overcome include the high cost of political campaigns and maneuvering “godfather” establishment networks. At this juncture, it is pertinent to state that although Africa’s youth involvement in elective politics has been minimal, they nonetheless play a dynamic role in political activism. In Nigeria, this was evidentduring the EndSARS protest. The protest started in October, 2020 when the citizens protested vehemently, nationwide, against the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) brutality. SARS (Special AntiRobbery Squad), over the

years, has mutated into an extrajudicial gang that freely extorted, tortured, violated and murdered young Nigerians for anything from having the latest iPhone to wearing dreadlocks. Hence, the cry for its disbandment. As the peaceful protests intensified and spread throughout the African diaspora, a mantra began to form online and on the ground, encapsulating anger at the Nigerian government. But it was also a chant of unity, an elevation of the voices of the Nigerian youths, demanding for the right to live without being terrorized. The fact that the political arena in many African states have been dominated by adult recycling politicians causes political apathy and passivity on the part of the younger generation. And this is disheartening. Youths with some level of education and exposure should be given a space to participate in the politics of their country. There are numerous advantages to having young people in decision-making positions, chief among them being the formulation and implementation of policies that reflect their generation’s aspirations. Political parties should trust young people as able flag bearers during elections. Ezinwanne Onwuka writes in from Cross River State and can be reached at ezinwanne.dominion@gmail. com

Issues in development studies By Suleiman Lawan Kolomi

ural poverty is most often the product of poor infrastructure that hinders development and mobility. Rural areas tend to lack sufficient roads that would increase access to agricultural inputs and markets. Poor infrastructure hinders communication, resulting in social isolation among the rural poor, many of whom have limited access to media and news outlets. Such isolation hinders integration with urban society and established markets, which could result in greater development and economic security. Rural poverty means poverty in the rural areas, this include factors of rural society, economy, political systems, rural population etc. that give rise to poverty in those areas.

To understand rural poverty there is need to define rural population, it is a very wide term that International statistics rely on definitions giving by countries on what ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ constitute; these vary from country to country. Consequently, in many cases, areas classified as urban may have characteristics of rural, particularly in terms of their reliance on agriculture, and this can lead to a significant undercounting of the rural population. So also areas that are regarded as rural may have some characteristics of an urban area. The population of rural communities has increased from 2.4 billion in 1980 to about 3.1 billion in 2010; but it is doing so ever more slowly. Currently 0.4 percent per year, and shortly after 2020 it peaks to about 3.2 billion and thereafter it will start to fall. According to the

UN Department of Economic Affairs (2009), in 2010 around 55 percent of the total population of the world was classified as rural, and by 2025 the figure will be below 50 percent. There is difference across regions e.g, in Latin America and the Caribbean the rural population has been in decline since the late 1980s, and only 20 percent of the population was still rural in 2010. At the other extreme, in sub-Saharan Africa and South-central Asia between 60 and 70 percent of the population was still rural in 2010, and in both regions a majority of the population will be rural for another 20 years or more. Rural poverty is also rooted in historical factors and economic, social and political relations within societies. It may be reflected in various forms of exclusion, discrimination and disempowerment, and unequal

access to, and control over, assets. Rural poverty is one key driver of migration which affects the rural population growth and decrease; poverty rates are considerably higher in the rural areas than in the urban. World Bank (2020) estimated about 736 million people living on less than US$1.90/day. 413 million of these people live in subSaharan Africa and a majority of the world’s poor will be rural for many decades to come. Consequently, rural poverty is most often the product of poor infrastructure that hinders development and mobility. Rural areas tend to lack sufficient roads that would increase access to agricultural inputs and markets. Poor infrastructure hinders communication, resulting in social isolation among the rural poor, many of whom have limited access to media and

news outlets. Such isolation hinders integration with urban society and established markets, which could result in greater development and economic security. Therefore, moving out of poverty is a slower process, based on establishment of basic social amenities; successful enterprise or employment; and shaped by ownership of land, livestock or other productive assets; education; participation in non-farm wage labor, selfemployment and good health which should be the focus of the government, donor organizations, and development agencies. Suleiman Lawan Kolomi writes in from BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO and can be reached at suleimankolomi@ gmail.com

PAGE 14

NEWS

Kebbi gov restates commitment to end insecurity

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

overnor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, has said that he will not shy away from fighting bad elements in the society who are making life extremely unbearable to the law abiding citizens. Senator Bagudu further renewed his vow to lead the people into the forest to engage bandits until they are totally subdued. The Kebbi State Chief Executive affirmed this at a meeting of Fulani leaders, in Birnin Kebbi yesterday. He added that, he has maintained a neutral stand in the scheme of things, but, “supportive of Fulanis who unfortunately, the bad eggs amongst them have soiled the good reputation of the entire race before the world.”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

COVID-19: No Delta Variant yet in Nigeria, says NCDC T he Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC), has said Nigeria has no case of COVID-19 Delta variant that was first detected in India. The NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this at the national briefing of the COVID-19 Presidential Steering Committee on Monday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) reports that the variant has been identified in at least 92 countries and is considered the “fittest” variant yet of the virus that causes COVID-19, with its enhanced ability to prey on the vulnerable – particularly in places with low vaccination rates. He said that the resurgence of cases seen across other African

countries was being driven by the Delta variants. “In Nigeria, we haven’t found such variant of concern, we looked at 40 new sequences last week. And just to be sure we are yet to identify any as we keep looking,” he explained. Ihekweazu stressed that the good news is that the vaccines available in the country at the

moment are still very effective against the delta variant. “So as long as we have access to the vaccine and carry out the public health measures as much as possible, including the travel restrictions, put in place by the presidential steering committee, we should be able to mitigate the risk of this virus in Nigeria,” he assured. (NAN)

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo presenting a souvenir to the Inspector General of the Senegalese Armed Forces, Major General Elhadji Daouda Niang to mark the Inspector General’s visit to the Naval Headquarters in Abuja yesterday

2023: Delta central council chairmen lauds DC-23 drive

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

hairmen of the eight Local Government Councils in Delta Central Senatorial District have lauded the drive of Delta Central 2023 lobby group in ensuring that the governorship seat rotates to the District come 2023. The chairmen also urged Delta Central 2023 lobby group to extend hands of fellowship to politicians and stakeholders in other senatorial districts and appeal to them for peaceful transition of the governorship seat to Delta Central Senatorial District come 2023. Coordinator of the Council Chairmen in Delta Central Senatorial District, Hon. Chief Godwin Adode, Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Council who made this known on behalf of the chairmen during a visit of the DC-23 to them, said with the pace at which DC-23 is going about the lobby, the governor will definitely come to Delta Central Senatorial District come 2023. According to him, for sometime now, most of them have not been themselves when they noticed that some of their brothers were running from pillar to post hustling to become deputy governor to some persons in other senatorial districts when they knew that it is the turn of Delta Central Senatorial District to be governor come 2023.

NIGCOMSAT to boost telecomm industry using C-Band for deployment of 5G

he Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd, has been re-positioned to boost telecommunications industry with the clearance and use of its C-Band for the deployment of 5G in the country. NIGCOMSAT’s Managing Director, Dr Abimbola Alale, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. She stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and the Nigeria Communications Commission for the clearance and use of C-Band frequency for the deployment of 5G in the country. Alale stated that C-band spectrum was considered suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services. According to her, it is taking into consideration availability of the device’s ecosystem with 60-70 per cent of global commercial 5G network deployment currently on the C-band spectrum. “Beyond the commonplace

ceremony that accompanied the event, the MoU is a development that will open up vistas of growth in the telecommunications industry. ” Concomitantly, it also holds the potential to stimulate the country’s economy even as it signposts the capacity of NIGCOMSAT LTD to contribute to the Nigerian developing a digital ecosystem,” Alale said. She said NIGCOMSAT also gained another milestone when it entered into partnership with Thales Alenia Space and ASCENA (Agency for Aerial Safety and Navigation in Africa) to demonstrate the viability of NigComSat-1R L-Band payload. According to her, the cooperation has since proven its effectiveness to aid aviation safety in Senegal and Togo. Alale said there was a SatelliteBased Augmentation System (SBAS) broadcast signal over Africa and the Indian Ocean in Sept.2020. “The test bed signal-in space was successfully broadcast through NigComSat-1R SBAS payload

globally over Africa, Indian Ocean, West Australian coast and Europe. ” A 9m antenna earth station in Abuja ground station was used with equipment provided by Thales Alenia Space,”she said. Alale said so far, about 70 per cent of the transponders on NigComSat-1R had been utilised for different kinds of services, ranging from satellite broadband to drive activities of the banking sector, health sector, education sector, agric sector, oil and gas sector. She said other sectors included the maritime sector, direct-tohome services, back hauling services, communication on the move and navigational services. The Managing Director said the Telco Press operating in Burkina Faso and Cote de Ivoire were major customers on NigComSat-1R including some private television who sought anonymity. ” The Nigerian Television Authority has been operating on NigComSat-1R too. ” NigComSat-1R has also been used to support some of

the activities of the digitisation agenda of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. “Some of the activities include training of six hundred youths across the country on V-SAT installation to close the digital skills gap, the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030),” Alale said. She said NIGCOMSAT Ltd had contributed immensely to broadband penetration target in line with the government expectations in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2010-2030 and in other aspects. ” A strong legal framework should be in place to further promote and support the activities of NIGCOMSAT Ltd. ” There is need to encourage MDAs and the private sector to patronise NIGCOMSAT’s products and services against portfolio investments from outside the country who deplete the hard earned foreign reserved.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

amfara State former Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has said his aspirations to become the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) subsists despite the defection of the incumbent Governor of the State, Bello Matawalle, from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party. Hon. Yari, who spoke to journalists in Kaduna yesterday, expressed optimism that he would clinch the ticket if APC zones its national chairmanship to his zone, even as he expressed hope that he would do better than past APC national chairman. He said “It is not a self appointment. My aspiration is still in top gear, his (Matawalle) joining APC will not jeopardize

Matawalle’s defection can’t affect my APC national chairmanship ambition –Ex Gov Yari it. If the zoning favours my zone then it is 100%. Two things I am bringing to the party are reconciliation and unity. “I’m still pushing to be APC National chairman because I know I can do better than most of the people as a former state party secretary, state party chairman, House of Representatives

member, two terms governor and chairman Governors Forum.” Disclosing why he initially kicked against Matawalle joining the APC, Yari said the manner in which they received the information made him kick against the governor’s decision. “I kicked against his joining the party initially because of the

nature of the way the information reached us but whatever my reasons are because of my people. Some of our people who I am representing are against his joining our party because they believe it would affect the oneness of the party,” he said. Meanwhile, Yahi yesterday defected from the opposition PDP

From left: Guest Speaker, Mrs Ifueko OmoiguiOkauru; Minister of State for Health, Sen. Adeleke Mamora; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade YemiEsan, during a Public Service Lecture as part of the activities marking 2021 Civil Service Week in Abuja on Tuesday (29/6/21

Senate confirms Kolawole Alabi Executive Commissioner in CPC By Musa Baba Adamu

he Senate has confirmed the nomination of Kolawole Oladipupo (South West Zone) as Executive Commissioner of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). The confirmation of the nominee followed the presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Trade and Investment. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun East), in his presentation noted that the nominee satisfied the requirements of Sections 153 and 156 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended; Section 5 subsection (1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and Order 121 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015, as amended. He added that Alabi’s nomination for appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari was made in compliance with the provision of Section 5 subsections (1) and (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018. The lawmaker explained further that the nomination of the nominees for appointment as Chairman, Executive ViceChairman/Chief Executive, Executive Commissioners and Non-Executive Commissioners of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are made pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act, 2018. According to him, Kolawole Alabi’s nomination became necessary following President Buhari’s assent to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 on 30th January, 2019.

to the ruling APC in an elaborate political ceremony to welcome him into the ruling party, where he was received by Governors of the APC, including the chairman of the party’s CECPC, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and other Governor, including Kebbi, Jigawa, Gombe, among others.

Nigeria media space promoting fake news against APC governments- APC Govs, FG

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and other Information Managers of the Federal government, have accused the Nigerian media platforms of yielding their spaces for the promotion of fake news against the All Progressives Congress (APC) government both at federal and state levels. A communique issued yesterday by the Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh Lukman, said these were part of the outcome of an inaugural meeting of Managers of Information of APC Governments at Federal and State Levels, which was facilitated by PGF and hosted by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State at Alausa, Ikeja. To this end, they recommended the need for development of consultative platforms, as well as institutionalisation of periodic meetings of Managers of information at the Federal and State levels to fight spread of fake news against the governments. The communique said the objective of the meeting was to create synergy in communicating initiatives of APC governments at both federal and State levels and to set up necessary strategies and frameworks

for coordinated communication initiatives. It also said the APC Governors and the federal government information managers, at the meeting reviewed challenges of communicating the initiatives of the APC governments at both the Federal and State levels and considered proposals for effective communication and better public engagement. Welcoming participants at the meeting, the chairman of APC Governors Forum, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who is also the Governor of Kebbi, recounted many achievements of the APC governments ranging from milestone infrastructural development to unprecedented social investment programme in Nigeria. Also, the chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, who is also the Governor of Yobe, represented by Barr. Ismail Ahmed, a member of APC National Caretaker Committee, highlighted the party’s strategic interest and vision, which underlined the party’s commitment to development in Nigeria. The Minister for Information, Lai Muhammed, delivering a Keynote address titled ‘Contemporary Challenges of Information and Communication Management –

Regulatory Issues and Requirements’, identified the key challenges and dynamics of achieving effective media communications and public engagement in Nigeria. Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who hosted the meeting, affirmed commitment to open and honest dialogue, with regular feedbacks between elected officials and their constituents, to promote democracy and boost trust between elected government officials and the voters. The meeting, after deliberations, observed that effective media and citizens engagement with regular feedbacks is critical to communicating the performance of governments of APC at all levels in terms of presenting the factual and truthful narrative to the people. “It is vital to create sustainable synergy amongst all the managers of information to holistically address the problems of falsehood, misinformation and media abuse in every dimension, by considering media plan and strategy as a strategic component of every government programme and projects. “All stakeholders should consider the impacts of social media on perception management, particularly as it is currently being used for propagation of falsehood and hatred

among Nigerians. “Media funding is a major challenge because it is very capital intensive, so APC governments need to look for a balance between the huge funds required for it and the funding for other sectors”, the communique issued at the end of the meeting said. On how to address the challenges of bad media against the APC government, the information managers said increased engagement with the citizenry is essential to ensure emotional connection between government officials and the people that will change the existing negative perception and distrust within the shortest time. According to them, synergy formed between and within the managers of information of APC governments at all levels with shared content and objectives, as well as coordinated engagement with all critical stakeholders can improve the value, quality, output, outcome, and sustainability of media interventions of governments. They said there is the need to adequately plan and develop capacities at all levels for media practitioners and managers of APC governments for content development, right strategy and effective engagement of the different segments of the Nigerian population.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

POLITICS

Anambra guber: Moghalu petitions APC, threatens to sue party By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

ne of the aggrieved aspirants in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the November 2021 Anambra State governorship election, George Moghalu, has petitioned the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party over the conduct of the exercise which he said was nothing but a charade. Briefing journàlists yesterday in Abuja Moghalu, who is also the Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), said it was disappointing that the party could claim that a primary election took place. While insisting that there was no primary election that was conducted by the party Primary Election Committee led by the

governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Moghalu said he will challenge the outcome of the alleged Primaries in Court unless the leadership of the party conduct a fresh election where the party faithful will have the opportunity to freely select who will be their governorship candidate for the November 6 Anambra State election. He said “I will do everything within my abilities and the law, to ensure that the travesty orchestrated by Prince Dapo Abiodun and his team will not stand. I have appointed a legal team and we have gathered evidence including videos, pictures and sworn statements by party officials appalled by the outcome. I will work within the Appeals process of the party to present my case and I have the full expectation that the right thing

will be done. “In a few locations in the state, election materials arrived late in the evening, after both voters and officials had dispersed and long past the time when it was possible to conduct even a semblance of an election. In the rest of the state, neither materials nor personnel arrived. As a result, elections did not hold in any voting centre in Anambra state on Saturday, 26th June 2021. “Despite this evident reality, the Primary Election Committee appointed by the leadership of the party and chaired by the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun went ahead to produce and announce purported results based on nothing other than their fertile imagination and motivated by their private interests and arrangements. “Perhaps, it is the motivation

of those private interests that caused them to produce results so dubious that they have made themselves and our great party the subject of derision across the state and in the country. “In the 2017 Election for governor of Anambra state, a total of 448,771 people voted in Anambra state in an election that was keenly contested by 37 political parties and their candidates. Yet, Prince Dapo Abiodun and his team want to convince Nigerians and the world that nearly 350,000 votes were cast on Saturday, in the middle of the night, across 326 voting centres in 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State. “As we speak, no major television station in the country has one recorded video clip of elections taking place anywhere in Anambra state, yet

there are thousands of videos showing voters across the state complaining bitterly about the fact that neither the materials nor the personnel for elections was provided in their locales.” While calling on the APC to rally and conduct a fresh primary election as soon as possible in order to beat the July 4 deadline given by INEC for political parties to submit the names of their candidates for the November 6 governorship election, Moghalu therefore called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to all those in the party who still believe in the promise of democracy and good government, who are committed to protecting respect for electoral processes and ensuring the rule of law to act now and ensure primary elections are properly conducted in Anambra State.

Senate receives report on PIB, reserves Thursday for consideration By Musa Baba Adamu

he Senate on yesterday received the report of the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream); Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas Resources on the Petroleum Industry Bill, 2021. The report was laid during plenary by Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Sabo Mohammed (APC, Jigawa SouthWest). President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, after the report was laid, told lawmakers that the report would be considered on Thursday this week. He thereafter mandated the Joint Committee to provide lawmakers with copies of the Bill ahead of its consideration to enable them study its content. He said: “Let me use the opportunity to thank our Joint Committee for working so hard, selflessly and patriotically to produce the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill. “This report, a copy each, must be made available to each and every Senator today, this afternoon. “I don’t know how the Committee would arrange it, but every Senator must have a copy today. “[And] we would be considering the report on Thursday. So, we have today, tomorrow until the beginning of Thursday to look at the report, so that when we consider it, we will be doing so on the basis of what we have been able to read from this very important report. “

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede (L), with the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, during the Pre-mobilization workshop for NYSC 2021 Batch ‘B’ members in Abuja on Tuesday (29/6/21).

Senate passes bills to establish Health Sciences Varsity, ICT Institute By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State. Also passed was a bill for the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Suleja. The passage of both bills followed the consideration of two separate reports by the Committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary); and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. Chairman of the Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), in his

presentation said the passage of the bill seeking to establish the University of Medical Sciences, Otukpo, would give legal backing to the institution which is already in existence. “Mr. President and Distinguished Colleagues, this is coming at a very important time in our history. “With the challenges of the pandemic and the importance of the health sector generally in Nigeria and globally, creation of a University of Health Sciences is very necessary. “More importantly, the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo is already in existence but

needs legal backing to effectively carry out its mandates”, Oloriegbe said. The lawmaker explained that the bill seeks to, among other things, address the dearth in admission of students aspiring to study Medicine and Allied Health Sciences in Nigeria. He added that the university would fill the vacuum created by the loss of manpower in the country’s health services industry to migration and brain drain. On her part, Senator Nora Ladi Daduut, in a presentation on behalf of the Chairman, Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND,

Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina North), said the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology would offer practitioners knowledge in systems analysis, testing and designs in virtual healthcare application, electronic health record and tele-medicine, and software and hardware development. According to the lawmaker, the institute would provide the required manpower needs of Nigerians in ICT as well as deepen the knowledge of students in information and technological advancement and acquisition.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Senate considers bill to disrupt illicit funding for criminals, terrorists in Nigeria By Musa Baba Adamu

he Senate on Tuesday considered a bill that would disrupt the financial flow and funding of criminal enterprise and terrorist financing in Nigeria through the seizure of assets and monies marked as proceeds of crime. Titled: Proceeds of Crime Bill, 2021, the piece of legislation is sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North). Leading debate on the bill, Senator Abdullahi said it seeks to provide for a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the recovery and management of proceeds of crime or benefits derived from unlawful activities. He explained that its passage and assent into law would harmonize and consolidate the legal provisions on the recovery of proceeds of crime in Nigeria. According to the lawmaker, Nigeria had severally attempted to put in place an appropriate Proceeds of Crime legislation since 2007. “Efforts to develop a comprehensive bill have been impeded by agency rivalry since 2011. “The effort to sign the Proceeds of Crime Bill into law in 2019 was delayed as a result of complaints by agencies that claimed that the Bill is intended to take away their powers”, the Senate Leader said. He noted that, “during the evaluation of Nigeria in 2007 by the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF), they observed in their report that the legal framework for the recovery and management of stolen assets in Nigeria is inadequate and do not comply with international standards.” Abdullahi lamented that due to lack of centrally managed database on recovered assets, effort to track and maintain the actual number of the seized assets, their location and their value is made difficult. “There have been reported and verifiable instances over the years that showed that some recovered assets were being misused, stolen or lost. According to him, “Nigeria’s application has remained elusive as the agencies argue to retain their powers at the expense of national interest.” He stressed that the bill has taken into account the issues raised by the LEAs in relation to their continuing engagement in civil recovery without compromising the international applicable standards in United Nations Conventions. Abdullahi said, when passed by the National Assembly and assented into law by the President, the bill would provide for the seizure of assets from criminal enterprises, including terrorist organizations, and bandits who undertake their operations with funding from individuals within or outside the country. “A strong asset recovery measure can also disrupt the activities of these criminal organizations and reduce the level of insecurity in the country”, he said.

POLITICS

Fed University of Agriculture, Mpu, Enugu State Establishment Bill Scales Second Reading in Senate By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Agriculture, Mpu, Enugu State, scaled Second Reading in the Senate, Tuesday. Leading the debate on the Bill, the sponsor and former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, regretted that agriculture, which was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy up to the early 1970s, had suffered enormous neglect and underdevelopment characterised by inappropriate technology, subsistence farming, low and sub-

standard yields over the decades. The lawmaker, who represents Enugu West Senatorial District, argued that changing the trajectory and reinventing agriculture in an oil-driven economy as Nigeria’s required laying solid foundations and putting in place specific structures and specialised institutions such as the University of Agriculture, Mpu, for the teeming, industrious, young and up-coming Nigerians to drive agricultural renaissance. Ekweremadu said the University, if established, would help to develop and offer academic and professional programmes

leading to the award of certificates, first degree, post-graduate diploma, and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, developmental and adaptive skills, technology, applied science, commerce, arts, social sciences, and allied professional discipline in agriculture. “This University is also to bring quality change in agriculture by focusing on agricultural education through teaching and learning innovations and collaborate with other national and international institutions involved in training, research, and development of agriculture with a view to

promoting self-sufficiency, export of agricultural products as well as leadership and management skills among managers of agriculture”, the said. Ekweremadu invited the Senate to take a bold step towards the realisation of the much talked about diversification of the nation’s economy by supporting the Bill. Following a unanimous approval by the Senate, the Bill was read a second time and committed to the Senate Committee on Education, Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) for further legislative due process. L-R: Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon. Zainab Gimba, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, during the public hearing on a bill for an act to establish the sustainable development fund charge with the responsibility for imposing, operating and maintaining sustainable development goals in Nigeria, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Use social media to make legitimate wealth - Omo-Agege tells women entrepreneurs

By Musa Baba Adamu

eputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, has called on women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the social media to make legitimate wealth. Delivering a keynote address in Abuja on Tuesday at the inauguration of the executives of the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE), Senator Omo-Agege noted that from their existing roles in traditional economic sectors of agriculture, health, education etc., women are now making inroads in the Fourth Industrial Revolution to drive global and regional knowledge economies of scale. Women globally, he noted, are gradually emerging as innovators, entrepreneurs, startup founders, teachers, business women, and home-based workers. He lauded women entrepreneurs for their roles in shaping labour market as well as organising and combining the factors of production for the

benefit of society. The Delta Central lawmaker urged female entrepreneurs to take advantage of the several initiatives of government implemented by the CBN, NIRSAL Bank, Bank of Industry as well as the African Development Bank to address the resource gap challenge hampering the growth of their enterprises. “Women in entrepreneurship possess dual characteristics (for instance, they are first women and secondly entrepreneurs). Therefore, women entrepreneurs possess characteristics which include adaptability, innovativeness/ creativity, strength and internal locus of control, ability to think and reason fast and endure, managerial skill, accountability and credit risk. “Factors that motivate women entrepreneurs have been identified to include, dissatisfaction with “glass ceiling” or limits on their earnings and advancement, need to improve quality of life, desire to earn more income, growth and innovation, desire for independence, risk-taking

propensity, education, freedom, job flexibility and previous experience. “Generally, women are known to be strong and confident, resourceful and talented, creative and innovative, all these have made them to succeed despite daunting obstacles confronting them as entrepreneurs,” he said. According to the Deputy President of the Senate, femaleowned businesses generally fail at a higher rate, employ fewer people and generate less revenue, in comparison to male-owned businesses. This, he attributed to cultural and social norms, trouble in accessing funds or capital, family pressures amongst others. He added: “For a woman entrepreneurtosucceedinherbusiness, appropriate decision making is required for her especially in application of funds or credits acquired because misuse of acquired funds will result to business failure and continued payment of interest. Other essential success attributes of entrepreneurs are sound entrepreneurial skills, ability to network (to get finance

and information) and strategic planning. Having the right motivation and ambition, selfconfidence, high level of energy and being less emotional are other characteristics without which an entrepreneur may not succeed in her entrepreneurial activity”. He expressed delight that women entrepreneurs in Nigeria are breaking records and winning awards in every facet of our economy, even as he listed some some of those changing the face of business within and outside the country to include: Folorunsho Alakija, Ola Orekunrin, Pedro, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Stella Chinyere Okoli, Linda Ikeji, Mo Abudu, Deola Sagoe, Olajumoke Adenowo, Adenike Ogunlesi, Kofo Akinkugbe and Nkemdilim Begho. The event witnessed the inauguration of the newlyelected NAWE President, Chief Barr. Vera Ndanusa and her Executives as well as presentation of award to the Deputy President of the Senate for his support for women.

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NEWS From Kano

Mustapha

Adamu,

Court of Appeal, Kano division, presided by Justice Habeeb Abiru on Monday affirmed the judgement of High Court of Justice, Jigawa State, against one Mummuni Tukur (Appellant). In a statement by Zainab Baba Santali, Public Relations Officer Jigawa State Ministry of Justice on Tuesday the appellant was convicted by the High Court, presided over by Justice Umar Maigari Sadiq over rape and armed robbery offence on 8th April, 2019.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Court upholds 21 years sentence against Jigawa armed robber, rapist The statement recalled that Tukur was arrested for waylaying a woman (name withheld), where he robbed and raped her at a bush called Shuga Bush in Kirkasamma Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The appellant was then apprehended by good Samaritan, who took him to the village head,

who later handed him over to the police for investigation. Tukur confessed to have committed the offences when he was interrogated by the Police and was then charged to the High Court. During the trial, Justice Sadiq, who is now Chief Judge of Jigawa State, charged the

accused with offences of rape and armed robbery, which contravene sections 298(b) and 283 of the Penal Code Laws of Jigawa State, 2012 respectively. Justice Sadiq then found the accused guilty of the offences and sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment.

Dissatisfied with the judgement, Tukur filed an appeal at the Appeal Court, Kano division. In his verdict on Monday, the appeal court judge, Justice Abiru, upheld the high court’s judgement of 21 years imprisonment against the appelant.

Okowa congratulates Dein of Agbor at 44 By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

overnor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Keagborekuzi 1, on his 44th birthday. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, on Tuesday, in Asaba, Okowa extolled the sterling qualities of the revered traditional ruler, describing him as one of the most exposed and influential kings in the country. He commended the monarch for the peaceful and investorfriendly environment which he inspired since he ascended the ancient throne of his forefathers. According to the governor, Dein Keagborekuzi’s reign has immensely benefited the people of Agbor Kingdom, Delta State and indeed, the nation. “Worthy of commendation is Dein’s efforts at supporting the state government in tackling issues of unemployment, social deviance and value-orientation among youths in the Kingdom. “You have remained a source of pride and splendour to the traditional institution with your royal carriage which is visible in the exemplary manner you have discharged your duties so far. “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate Your Majesty, Benjamin Ikenchukwu I, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, on the occasion of your 44th birth anniversary. “We pray that the Almighty God will continue to give you good health and wisdom to pilot the affairs of your kingdom and offer valuable contributions to the development of our dear state in the years ahead,” he said.

L R: Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; United Nation’s Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, during the National Consolidatory Dialogue for the UN Food System Summit, in Abuja on Tuesday (29/6/21).

Ortom orders immediate supply of desk, chairs to students From: Uche Makurdi

Nnorom,

enue State has frowned at shoddy job executed by some contractors that handled primary school renovation work in the State. Ortom made the lamentation yesterday while speaking with Journalists after inspecting

projects in Makurdi. The projects inspected cut across the ministry of Housing(old banquet hall and his office complex), UBEC/SUBEB schools in Makurdi as well as Ministry of Works/Transport(9.6 km Apir-Tse-Poor road). The governor who saw some pupils sitting on the floor to receive lessons at UBEC

primary school located within the premises of Arabic Primary and Secondary Schools which is just few meters away from government house, expressed displeasure at the situation and directed the State Universal Basic Education Board to take immediate step to provide desks and chairs for the school. According to him, “I have said

Gov Bello’s aide loses father From Ahmad Ibrahim

he Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has condoled the Special Adviser on Public Relations to the state governor , Hon. Ahmed Bolori,

over the demise of his father, late Alhaji Umar Bolori. This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh and Secretary, Ademu Seidu, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja yesterday.

The statement described the death of the octogenarian father as shocking and painful, adding that it came at a time his wisdom and wise counsel are most needed. The council further urged the Special Adviser to take solace in the fact that his father lived a

very successful and impactful life as exemplified in the qualities of children the late Umar Bolori left behind. The statement urged the special adviser to “Kindly convey our deepest condolences to your immediate family , friends and

it and am repeating it that I don’t want to see any of our children sitting on the floor to receive lessons. “We have directed that SUBEB should take action immediately and ensure that desks and chairs be provided for primary schools in the state capital first and later they will reach out to other local governments.”

good people of Borno State on this painful incident”. It stressed that “It was our prayer that the Almighty Allah will grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and the family, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Shipment: FG loses N5bn revenue to importers through wrong declaration By Etuka Sunday

he federal government has been advised to return the Standard Organization of Nigeria, (SON) to the ports in a bid to ascertain the difference between raw materials and finished goods imported into the country under the guise of wrong declaration with connivance with releasing officers of the Nigeria Customs Services, (NCS). This has led to huge revenue loss by the federal government by evading duty with the support of Custom Officers at the detriment of the nation’s economy and local investors. A non-governmental organization, The Transparency Network Group, (TANGO) in a statement issued on Monday stated that, “Nigeria economy is on the verge of total collapse if not urgently rescued”, stressing that there are lots of atrocities being perpetrated by some importers. The group also corroborated the position of the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who disclosed recently that “Nigeria cannot survive without borrowing” adding that the loss of revenue to importers is enormous and hazardous to the nation.” Speaking further, TANGO National Coordinator, Engr. Uche Okechukwu, raised alarm over the influx of over 300 trucks of finished products of Roofing Sheets to the country by some importers with low quality gauge and declared them with wrong H.S Code 7905.0000.00 which is meant for a raw material called magnesium ingots (zinc plates) against the H.S. Code 7210.4100.00 and 7210.4910.00

for corrugated roofing sheets in a ship with the name; AMIX ELEGANCE which arrived at Apapa Lagos Ports late last month. According to him, “To our dismay, the same importer had brought another large quantity of roofing sheets with a ship with called; AMIS GLORY at the Apapa Lagos Port, thereby flouting and disregarding the law of the federal republic of Nigeria. Our question is that, are there no competent custom officers who can differentiate between raw materials and finished products? In addition, are there nobody to

inspect the ship at the point of loading to ascertain the items as contained in the manifests? “This is gross sharp practices against the guidelines of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, (SON) by importing substandard products which deserves appropriate sanctions and measures to curtail this heinous crime against Nigerian economy. “Our findings have shown that the documents presented for release of consignment at destination port were found to be fraught with underinvoicing and wrong declaration

to the lowest duty rate with the intention of committing economic crimes against the people and government of Nigeria. “Revenue evasion under Customs Excise Laws which is punishable under relevant sections full weight be brought to bear for their evasion of appropriate duties payment.” The trading companies involved are; Buildgen Nigeria, H & C Steel Industry fze, Hilfort Business Ventures, Iron Products Ind. Ltd, Kinshimo Enterprises, Metalberg Manufacturing, Panda Industries fze and Steel

Line Industries. TANGO thereby request that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and the Presidential Committee for Sharp Mal-practices (PTCMS) to investigate the genuinety of these importers to know if truly they are members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN) as well as the rationale behind the importation of finished goods into the country instead of manufacturing them locally and create jobs for our youths, thereby invading revenue of about N2billion monthly.

from left :,Principal Water Engineer ,African Development Bank ADB, John Sifuma Senior Transport Engineer, ADB,Patrick, Musa, Regional Director, ADB, Lamin Barrow FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Permanent Secretary FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Solicitor General, FCTA Barr, Yusuf Wodi during the visit of the African Development Bank (ADB) delegation to the FCTA yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

CBN monitors release of 50,000 mt of maize to 12 coys By Etuka Sunday

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its bid to moderate and control the prices of maize in the Nigerian market, has approved the release of 50,000 metric metric tonnes of maize to 12 major producers, from strategic maize reserve (SMR) under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). The release of maize to the companies, which is the third of such releases, is also intended to check the activities of middlemen aimed at causing hoarding the product and causing artificial

scarcity. A statement obtained from the CBN listed recipients of the grains to include Premier Flour Mills, Crown-Olam, Grand Cereals, Animal Care, Amobyn and Hybrid Feeds. Others include Obasanjo Farms, Zartech, Wacot, Sayeed Farms, Pandagri Novum and Premium Farms. Confirming the release of the grains, the CBN spokesman, Osita Nwanisobi expressed optimism that the release would crash the price of maize, reduce pressure on the market, and make the product directly

available to feed producers, thereby reducing the price of poultry feed in the country. As part of the Bank’s financing framework, Nwanisobi said the CBN would continue to facilitate the funding of maize farmers and processors through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) Commodity Association, Private/Prime Anchors, State Governments, Maize Aggregation Scheme (MAS), and the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS). Also speaking on the development, the National President of the Maize

Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Dr. Bello Abubakar urged middlemen to desist from taking advantage of the supply gap to hike the price of the grains. He also assured that farmers in Nigeria would maintain reasonable pricing of the products. It will be recalled that the CBN, responding to the activities of middlemen in January 2021, released 300,000 metric tonnes of maize, which forced the substantial reduction in the price of maize per metric tonne. Similarly, the Bank, in a renewed move to address the

rising cost of food prices in the Nigerian market, collaborated with the Rice farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) to distribute 27,000 metric tonnes of rice paddies directly to millers nationwide on Thursday, June 24, 2021. The direct allocation from RIFAN warehouses across 16 States of the Federation followed the earlier sale of paddy aggregated as loan repayment under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) to millers from the rice pyramids unveiled in Niger, Kebbi, Gombe and Ekiti States.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

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BU$IN€SS

ACCI, Experts, Operators hail new MSME Policy

By Etuka Sunday

rade experts and operators of SMEs in Nigeria have called for a legislation and presidential Executive Order to streamline taxation of small businesses to expand their survival rate and capacity for Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at a webinar organised by the Policy Centre of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry to mark the World MSME Day, leading experts in the field posited that the legislation and executive order are urgently needed to enforce harmonised taxation for SMEs as provided in the new national MSME policy. The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum had in her presentation at the event listed the various efforts of the Federal Government to promote the SMEs, citing the new national policy on MSME which contained several innovations to develop the sector. The Director General of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda in his presentation had also described the new national policy as a product of extensive consultation with stakeholders and submitting that the challenges facing the sector will be resolved with the implementation of the policy. The Media Officer, ACCI, Olayemi John-Mensah in a statement said, a cross section of speakers however emphasised the need to create mechanisms for the enforcement of the policy as many MSME are dying prematurely due to multiple and excessive taxation. Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, the CEO of Bristol Investment Limited affirmed that since SMEs contributed over 50 % of the GDP, a legislation harmonizing taxation for the sub-sector is needed. Another speaker, Hon Bashir Maidugu, the Special adviser on Trade and Investment to the Borno

state Governor posited that such a legislation will permanently address challenges of taxation that is killing many businesses and hindering their readiness for AfCFTA. The Vice -President, Commerce ACCI, Dr. Sijuwade Kayode added further that while legislation is being worked upon, the President should issue an executive order, enforcing implementation of existing incentives for SMEs as well as a robust legislation to create a one stop tax payment system for SMEs. The speakers opined that the proposed legislation and executive order will strengthen the Nigerian SMEs and prepare them to take advantage of opportunities offered by the continental free trade regime. Speaking earlier, the President of ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar commended the Federal Government for the conclusion of the national

MSME Policy even as he lauded the partnership between ACCI and SMEDAN to drive the implementation of the new policy. “This partnership is an indication that the policy is not meant to be an academic exercise but a genuine demonstration by this administration to strengthen the Nigeria economy”, Dr. Abubakar said, renewing call on government “to disburse financial interventions to SMEs through the chamber movement in Nigeria. As a corporate body with rules and due process, the chamber movement will save the government all the head aches of data gathering, and registration of businesses that require financial interventions. “The chamber movement has comprehensive lists of MSME across Nigeria. It will, therefore, be easier for government not just to liaise with the chambers of commerce but to also have

feedback. The chamber represents businesses and the impact of financial interventions will be better felt if such interventions are routed through the chamber movement.” Speaking on the MSME celebration, Dr. Abubakar said Nigeria is poised to expand her influence across Africa through trading activities, adding that “Nigeria’s MSME are energized and are poised to storm the export markets in the spirit of AfCFTA. Evidence from our members nationwide confirm readiness, and preparedness for innovation to meet the challenges of African Free Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA)” The webinar ended with a four point recommendations from participants namely the need for nationwide sensitisation on the benefits of the new policy for SMEs; the need for an executive bill to harmonise SME taxation; the need for

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (3rd left), Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi (2nd left), Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Mr. Edet Sunday Akpan (left), Environmental Safety Corps and National Coordinator, Partnership Action For Safe Schooling PASS, Ambassador Emenike Eme (3rd right), Assistant Corp Coordinator (ESCORP) Mr. Ishaku Nanpan (2nd right), and Deputy Director Education FEMA, Mr. Mohammed Saidu (right), during a Courtesy Visit by Environmental Safety Corps Led by the National Coordinator Project PASS to the Ministers office , yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

SEC sees great potentials in Non-Interest Capital Market By Etuka Sunday

he Securities and Exchange Commission has said that the Non Interest Capital Market has so much potential in Nigeria as it has the prospect of attracting a large pool of untapped investor base who have apathy to conventional instruments, to participate in capital market as well as the existing investors who seek to diversify their portfolio. Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda stated this at a Joint IFSB/SEC Nigeria Virtual Seminar on Investor Protection and Transparency in Islamic Capital Markets held Weekend. Yuguda said the level of activity in Non-Interest (Islamic) capital market that is currently being witnessed in Nigeria affirms the overwhelming acceptance of NICM products by the investing public. He stated that recently, the Market witnessed the entrance of institutions offering Islamic capital market services/products and also witnessed the issuances of FGN into the Sukuk market with latest issuance of FGN SUKUK oversubscribed by over 400%.

This he said, further buttressed the need to enhance the SEC’s investor protection mechanism in order to ensure transparency in the market. The SEC Boss stated further that investor protection is the principal plank of regulation and transparency, a building block that enhances the growth of the capital market adding that the knowledge gap that often exists between the market Players and investors demand for more transparency, and the risks faced by investors requires reasonable level of protection by the regulator in order to build confidence and trust in the market. According to him, “Capital markets all over the world thrives on trust, it is believed that enhancement of investor protection and increased transparency will have a multiplier effect on investments and sustainable growth of the economy. Additionally, in ensuring that investors are well protected, Yuguda said a framework for complaint management was put in place to fast-track and streamline the dispute resolution process in the market. This is to foster and secure investors’ confidence in the market.

“It is worthy to also note that the 10-year strategic Masterplan (20152025) for the Capital Market includes a section on NICM that recommends various initiatives aimed at developing this sector. While some of these activities and programmes have been implemented, a lot more work is ongoing to unlock the full potential of Non-interest Capital Market. “It is a well-known fact that the pandemic has brought about a new normal to the global economies including the Nigerian Capital Market, hence this Seminar couldn’t have come at a better time. The need to promote and increase awareness of investor protection mechanism and transparency requirements are considered essential to engendering investor confidence and trust in the financial system, which is crucial for the growth and development of the market”. With respect to NICM, he said the provision of two levels of shariah review and certification is meant to further serve as added measure towards investor protection. This is coupled with the requirement for continuous review\ certification of the shariah expert

throughout the tenor of the transaction. He said, “We are happy to note that Non-Interest financial activities are developing exponentially across all sectors of the Nigerian Financial System. Indeed, we expect that the Market will soon witness substantial investment from the pension industry which will be a game changer that would spur more issuances of NICM by corporates and other categories of issuers”. Yuguda said the SEC Nigeria has not relented in its efforts to discharge its primary mandate of regulating and developing the Nigerian Capital Market; protection of investors has been one of our key focus. Numerous initiatives being implemented in this regard include the establishment of the National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) aimed at compensating investors who incur losses arising from the insolvency, bankruptcy or negligence of a Capital Market Operator; the e-Dividend registration and payment system, Dematerialization and Direct Cash Settlement system all aimed at ensuring an efficient process of securities transaction and elimination/ minimizing cases of unclaimed dividend.

an executive order to enforce existing incentives for SMEs; and a recognition of SMEs’ pivotal position under the AfCFTA.

4th MSME Awards: Gombe receives Golden Medal in Ease of Doing Business

overnor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state has received an award of the best performing state and number one in ease of doing business among the 36 States and the FCT. The award was presented to him by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN during the 4th MSME awards and Dinner held at the Banquet Hall of the presidential Villa in Abuja. The Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli in a statement said, the Awards ceremony was the climax of a week-long celebration of excellence, hard work and innovation in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in Nigeria. Recall that Gombe State had emerged as the best among states that have provided attractive environments that promote business growth in Nigeria as contained in a result of the State Ease of Doing Business Survey undertaken by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) as a status report on the current attractiveness of states business climates for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Speaking at the occasion, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo congratulated Gombe state for emerging top on the ease of doing business log. He also commended Governor Yahaya for his support to the small and medium sized enterprises in his state. On the MSME awards, Vice President Osinbajo said the Federal Government is encouraged by the resilience and innovation of young Nigerians across different sectors and is committed to doing more to support their growth and prosperity. “Let me leave you with President Muhammadu Buhari’s words of commitment to MSMEs in Nigeria: he said, “we will continue to stand by you, to support you and create opportunities for you to grow and prosper.” The VP commended the creativity of the 2021 winners of the awards, noting that “the awards have inspired many young entrepreneurs to greatness and some of the stories are simply incredible.” Speaking to newsmen shortly after the event, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said “ I feel really satisfied and delighted that the reforms we are undertaking and the efforts we are making in general have been recognised to the extent that we have been adjudged to be the number one state that provided the enabling environment for businesses to thrive”.

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illicit drugs: FCTA empowers 120 rehabilitated addicts with skills By Stanley Onyekwere

o fewer than over one hundred and twentytwo (120) mainly youth involved in consumption of illicit drugs, have been rehabilitated and reintegrated by the FCT Administration, as part of measures to conquer the menace in the Territory. Making this disclosure, Acting Director, FCT Youth Development Department, Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Hadija Ladi Umar, said the FCTA is empowering rehabilitated youth with variety of skills, in order to guard against prevent relapsing to the

menace. Umar, who noted that one of the greatest problems that is bedeviling youth today is the issue of illicit drugs abuse, as out of the over 14 Million Nigerians are involved in the menace, a higher percentage of that demography is among youth. She spoke during the commemoration and enlightenment campaign against illicit drug abuse and trafficking against persons, Nyanya area of the nation’s capital city. According to her, in the past one week, we have been engaged in a lot of activities to commemorate the day, and

there is ongoing skills training on confectioneries, leather works, metal fabrication and ICT. “Illicit drug addiction has become what actually destroy our youth. So we in the Youth Department, have always put machinery in place to ensure we do the best within the available resources to us to conquer the menace. “Now internationally, the campaign against illicit drugs addiction this year is “Share the fact”, but we added ‘Engaging the Mind while engaging the hand”, as our sub theme in the FCT. “The sub theme is guiding

our activities, that’s why we are infusing skills empowerment programme into the , because beyond this broad sensitisation and advocacy campaign, we have a continuous programme in partnership with an NGO, we support them, but they bring the manpower. “When you rehabilitate someone, you detoxify the person by doing all sorts of therapy and follow up to their families and environment, so that they don’t relapse to it. And reintegration is very important, that’s why we are empowering them with skills,” she stressed. Earlier in a keynote address, SDS Acting Secretary, Mr.

Kelvin Ike, who bemoaned the negative impact of the menace especially on youth in the society, said it calls for intensive collective strategic intervention. Ike therefore reiterated FCTA’s resolve to eradicate the menace through continuous comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration of illicit drugs addicts in the Territory. He added that the Secretariat through its Youth Department would not relent on intensive sensitisation and advocacy campaign as well as continuous youth empowerment initiatives, aimed at tackling illicit drugs abuse and issues affecting youth in the Territory.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (5th left), Regional Director African Development Bank, Mr Lamin Barrow (4th left) Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola (5th left), Chief of Staff to FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu (6th left) during the visit of an African Development Bank delegation to the FCTA yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Youth tasked on imbibing transformative leadership skills By Stanley Onyekwere

outh have been enjoined to be innovative and transformative in their quest to influence strategic interventions that can effectively address the problems bedeviling their society. Also, the youth were urged to always seek to understand some of the policies and laws that affects the development of the society. Our correspondent reports

that the charge was handled down to the youth at the 4th Model ECOWAS Summit (MES) Commission, held recently in Abuja. Speaking at the two-day event, President of the 4th MES Commission, Abiodun Essiet, said youth as future leaders, should always be looking inwards to see how they can collectively solve problems in the society. Essiet, explained that the Summit, with one and fifty youth drawn from across the fifteen

ECOWAS countries, focuses on how to groom the youth to be problem solvers and leaders who are transformative; thinking about the future and how to influence change. According to her, “In the next year 2050, most of the population of Africa will be youth, then we maybe taking some of the leadership positions by that time, but the youth need to be prepared to understand some of the policies and laws that affect us as a region.

“Abuja is hosting the summit for the first time, the three other editions were held in Accra, Ghana.The Summit is all about bringing youth across the ECOWAS region together to deliberate on issues that affect the region. “It’s also to help in bringing member states together to understand the issues and have a common ground, removing every boundaries within, and helping to relate well economic wise, and see how to bring

about the development of the region. “It is the first we are bringing it to Nigeria, because at the last summit, myself as the President of Nigeria delegates, representing the country, won the best delegate that year. “So, we are looking forward to see how we can also score some of our youth, to have the best delegates from the different youth representing different countries to know where we are taking the next summit.”

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world news

and would rely on DNA testing. The missing include people from Israel and Latin America, according to reports. Paraguay’s foreign ministry said six of its nationals had been registered as missing, including the sister of the country’s first lady. Local officials have provided families with hotel rooms and food as they wait for news about their loved ones. What issues did the 2018 report raise? The engineer, Frank Morabito, said the lack of proper drainage was “a systemic issue” that stemmed from a flaw “in the development of the original contract documents”. He flagged what he called “major structural damage” to the concrete platform beneath the swimming pool deck. “The failed waterproofing is causing major structural damage to the concrete structural slab below these areas,” he wrote. “Failure to replace the waterproofing in the near future will cause the extent of the concrete deterioration to expand exponentially.” The engineer also referred to “abundant cracking… of columns, beams and walls” in the garage. His report didn’t suggest the 40-yearold building was at any imminent risk of collapse but he urged that the concrete repairs be carried out in “a timely fashion”. It is unclear if the problems highlighted contributed to the structural failure. Champlain Towers had been due to undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment this year. Morabito Consultants later issued a statement on Twitter, confirming they had written the report in 2018. “At the time of the building collapse, roof repairs were underway, but concrete restoration had not yet begun,” the statement said. The firm does not perform any construction work but said it was brought in by the condominium association in June 2020 to prepare a repair and restoration plan.

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

More than 150 people remain unaccounted for after the building collapse Governor DeSantis has promised that authorities will find out what happened saying “anybody affected by this directly wants that answer”. What happened to the building? The building contained 136 apartments and 55 of them collapsed early on Thursday, leaving piles of debris. Resident Barry Cohen was in bed in a section of the building that survived when the collapse happened. “It sounded like thunder, and my wife and I, we went out on the balcony; it looked like a bomb had exploded,” he told the BBC. “When we opened the door, there was no building there, it was just a pile of rubble,” he said. Eyewitnesses described hearing what sounded like thunder before seeing a huge cloud of dust in the aftermath of the collapse. A full investigation into the collapse is set to begin after the rescue mission. As the building has stood since 1980, it

was due its standard 40-year review. It was undergoing its “recertification” process and required repairs, officials said. A study from researchers at Florida International University published last year found that the building had been sinking at a rate of two millimetres per year in the 1990s, which may have affected the building structurally. But the author has cautioned that the study was just a snapshot in time. The building was constructed on reclaimed wetland, which experts say is always of concern as the land underneath can compact over time, leading to shifts. On the sinking, the author of the study, Prof Shimon Wdowinski, told the Miami Herald newspaper: “We’ve seen much higher than that, but it stood out because most of the area was stable and showed no subsidence.” Prof Wdowinski said the research was not meant to suggest certainty about the latest incident. Source: BBC

China creates great miracle of respecting, safeguarding human rights By People’s Daily

t is the lofty ideal of mankind that everyone enjoys human rights to the full. Over the past century, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has invested a huge effort in human rights protection, adding significantly to global human rights progress. The State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled “The Communist Party of China and Human Rights Protection -- A 100-Year Quest” on Thursday, June 24. The white paper systematically reviews how the CPC has stood together with the Chinese people in times good and bad and turned hardships into glories. It also comprehensively introduces the theories and practices of the CPC in fighting for, respecting, safeguarding and promoting human rights over the past century. The document fully demonstrates the CPC’s firm resolution and practical actions in safeguarding human rights on a higher level, promoting overall development of human rights, and advancing the cause of human rights protection. General secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee said that following a people-centered development philosophy, the CPC and the Chinese government have all along placed people’s interests above all, and worked hard to meet people’s desire

for a better life and improve respect for and protection of the fundamental rights of the Chinese people. The 100-year history of the CPC is a glorious history of striving for people’s liberation, safeguarding people’s rights and devoting itself to well-rounded human development. For a hundred years, the CPC has always put people first, applying the principle of universality of human rights in the context of the national conditions. It regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, and believes that living a life of contentment is the ultimate human right. It promotes the well-rounded development of the individual, and strives to give every person a stronger sense of gain, happiness and security. Its success in pioneering human rights in a socialist country is unique and readily apparent. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core, decisive success has been achieved in the final stage of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and the mission of eradicating absolute poverty has been completed. The CPC has forcefully promoted the overall and coordinated development of economic, social and cultural rights, as well as citizens’ civil and

political rights. It has made conspicuous improvement in protecting people’s rights to subsistence and development, and promoted comprehensive progress in human rights. The 100-year history of the CPC has witnessed a human rights development miracle in the history of the Chinese nation, as well as a huge contribution made by China to the global human rights progress. For a hundred years, the CPC has committed itself to peaceful development and common progress. China is firm in its international stance – to safeguard world peace and seek progress through cooperation, ensuring human rights with the benefits deriving from development. It has been an active participant in matters of international human rights, providing a Chinese contribution to global human rights governance and progress, and working with other countries to forge a global community of shared future. Facts prove that the CPC is a peaceloving political party committed to progress, justice and human rights in the world. China’s national rejuvenation represents a process of promoting social fairness and justice, and advancing human rights, general secretary Xi Jinping remarked. Upholding CPC leadership and the socialist system in promoting human rights, promoting human rights through

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By He Yin, People’s Daily

Florida building collapse: Nine dead as hunt for survivors continues he death toll has risen to nine after the collapse of an apartment block in Florida, authorities say. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said four of the recovered bodies had been identified, but more than 150 people remain unaccounted for. “Our top priority continues to be search and rescue and saving any lives that we can,” she told reporters. Part of the building collapsed early in the morning on Thursday while many residents slept. The cause of the collapse remains unclear. But an engineer’s report from 2018 was made public on Saturday, which highlighted “a major error” in the original design of the seafront Champlain Towers in the town of Surfside, near Miami. It said the fault prevented water draining away from the base of the building. President Joe Biden tweeted that he had offered “assistance as needed” to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. My heart is with the community of Surfside as they grieve their lost loved ones and wait anxiously as search and rescue efforts continue. Yesterday I spoke with Gov. DeSantis to let him know that we are ready to provide assistance as needed by state and local officials Teams have been using machines, drones and specially trained dogs in their efforts to find survivors. Rescue efforts were briefly hampered on Saturday after a fire broke out underneath the rubble. Ms Levine Cava said the death toll had increased after emergency workers found a body in the rubble on Saturday. Four of the nine confirmed fatalities have been identified - they include the mother of a boy who was pulled alive from the rubble on Thursday. The Miami-Dade mayor said the search efforts had also uncovered some human remains, but warned that the process of identifying these victims was “very difficult”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

development, taking a people-centered approach to human rights, aiming for people’s well-rounded development, and building a global community of shared future, the CPC has opened a new path of human It has achieved numerous successes throughout the land in the process of bringing happiness to the Chinese people and national rejuvenation to the Chinese nation. Its pursuit of world peace and progress, and a global community of shared future, opens a new chapter for human civilization. The founding of a new China could not have happened without the CPC, nor could the progress that has been made in human rights protection. CPC leadership is the most fundamental guarantee that underpins every progress in and better protection of human rights in China. After a hundred years of magnificent development, the CPC still maintains its original aspiration. As long as it unites more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core, takes a peoplecentered approach to development, and follows the human rights development path with Chinese characteristics, all rights of the Chinese people will be safeguarded at a higher level, and China will make a greater contribution to the protection of global human rights.

hina stands ready to work with all parties to build a closer Belt and Road partnership, adhere to the path of unity, cooperation, interconnectivity, and common development, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday in a written message to the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation. China has entered a new development stage, acted on a new development concept, and has been fostering a new development paradigm, which provides more opportunities in the market, investment and growth for Belt and Road partners, Xi said. Belt and Road cooperation pursues development, aims at mutual benefits, and conveys a message of hope. Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 in an attempt to carry on the Silk Road spirit, co-build an open platform for cooperation with all countries and generate new driving forces for the development of all countries. Over the past eight years, 140 countries and 32 international organizations have joined in Belt and Road cooperation.The BRI has evolved from a concept and vision into real actions and reality, and brought about enormous opportunities and benefits to countries around the world. When fully implemented, the BRI could increase global trade by 6.2 percent and global real

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China to build closer Belt and Road partnership with all sides

A worker stacks up goods at a supply chain base of the Belt and Road in Lianyungang, east China’s Jiangsu province, April 26, 2021. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/People’s Daily Online) income by 2.9 percent, according to a World Bank report. It has truly become the world’s broadestbased and largest platform for international cooperation. Faced with the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and BRI partners have helped and supported each other to overcome difficulties together, strengthened the building of a “Silk Road for health”, a “green Silk Road” and a “digital Silk Road” and brought forward the Belt and Road development, conveying confidence and vitality to the international community and contributing to the global fight

against COVID-19 and economic recovery. China has held over 100 meetings to share experience on COVID-19 prevention and control with BRI partners, provided a large amount of medical supplies for other countries, as well as donated and exported more than 400 million doses of finished and bulk vaccines to more than 90 countries. Statistics suggest that last year, China’s trade in goods with countries along the Belt and Road hit a record high of $1.35 trillion. In the face of the test posed by the pandemic, the BRI has shown strong resilience and vitality, with relevant

projects continuing to advance, cooperation yielding many fruits, and trade and investment keeping growth against headwinds, said the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2021 of the Boao Forum for Asia. While delivering a keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 in April, Xi proposed building a closer partnership for health cooperation, connectivity, green development, as well as openness and inclusiveness, charting the route to pushing ahead high-quality BRI construction under new circumstances. Asian and Pacific countries

are the pioneers, contributors and examples of Belt and Road international cooperation. During the conference, 29 countries jointly launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation and the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development. As a mirror of the efforts of China and other parties to build a closer Belt and Road partnership, the two initiatives will effectively support global anti-epidemic cooperation and facilitate low-carbon, resilient and inclusive post-pandemic economic growth. China will soon complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and then embark on a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which will celebrate its centenary on July 1 this year. Standing at a new starting point in history, China will bring about new opportunities for high-quality construction of the Belt and Road. The country will build a closer Belt and Road partnership and make the Belt and Road a public road open to all together with other parties, helping promote the sustainable recovery of world economy and enhance and improve global governance.

Splendid chapters to be written with Olympic spirit By Hui Yan

n June 23, the Olympic Day was once again celebrated all around the

world. The day this year also marked the start of a onemonth countdown of the Tokyo Olympics. Though the COVID-19 pandemic is still impacting the world, the Olympic spirit sheds a light. Athletes from across the world will gather under the Olympic flag and firmly join the games to jointly fight for their dreams. Today, the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play, is inspiring the world with a strong power. Facing the first Olympic Games that has ever been postponed, Chinese athletes are rising to challenges and training hard. They have never slowed their steps to become faster, higher and stronger. In the past year, they have created a number of world records in swimming, athletics and weightlifting, showing desirable athletic performance. At present, all teams of the Chinese sports

A sailboard competition is held in Rongcheng, east China’s Shandong province, May 21, 2021. (Photo by Lin Haizhen/People’s Daily Online) delegation are going all out to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, in hope of outdoing themselves on the global stage. The Beijing Winter Olympics will kick off on Feb. 4 the next year as scheduled. As the host country, China is opening its arms to welcome global athletes who are expected to showcase the charm and beauty of winter sports. The event coincides with the Chinese Lunar New Year, the most important festival of China.

It will surely become a unique opportunity for China to tell the Chinese stories to the world and build its image. Striving to make the Beijing Winter Olympics “simple, safe and wonderful,” China has entered the final and critical stage of preparation. From venue construction to game running, and from supporting facilities to volunteering services, the country is contributing Chinese wisdom to the sports event and showcasing

its capabilities. Beijing, the only city in the world to host both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games, will present a splendid, remarkable and extraordinary sports event to the world. By holding the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, China has a grand vision to bring winter games to 300 million people. The games will benefit numerous households and better help the country build itself into a sports

power. With a “green, inclusive, open and clean” approach, the Beijing Winter Olympics will make new contribution to regional coordinated development and make Olympic Games more glorious. Pursuing the Olympic spirit, the Chinese sports have left splendid chapters one after another. As a host country of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, China is a staunch participator to Olympic Games and an active practitioner of the Olympic spirit. Striving for excellence in competitive sports and carrying out a national fitness program, China is witnessing ceaseless energy as the Olympic spirit inspires every one. In the past more than a hundred years, modern Olympic Games forged ahead despite turbulences. When the world today is facing common challenges, sports are serving as a bond among countries. It is expected that more people can join hands and face up to challenges, and hold high the torch symbolizing solidarity and hope in the spirit of Olympics.

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Unesco: Great Barrier Reef should be listed as ‘in danger’ A

ustralia’s government has lashed out after a United Nations report claimed it had not done enough to protect the Great Barrier Reef from climate change. UN body Unesco said the reef should be put on a list of World Heritage Sites that are “in danger” due to the damage it has suffered. Key targets on improving water quality had not been met, it said. Environment minister Sussan Ley said UN experts had reneged on past assurances. She confirmed that Australia planned to challenge the listing, which would take place at a meeting next month, saying: “Clearly there were politics behind it; clearly those politics have subverted a proper process.” The World Heritage Committee is a 21-nation group chaired by China, which has had a vexed diplomatic relationship with Canberra in recent years. “Climate change is the single biggest threat to all of the world’s reef ecosystems... and there are 83 natural World Heritage properties facing climate change threats so it’s not fair to simply single out Australia,” said Ms Ley. Environmental groups say the UN’s decision highlights Australia’s weak climate action, however. “The recommendation from Unesco is clear and unequivocal that the Australian government is not doing enough to protect our greatest natural asset, especially

The Great Barrier Reef has held World Heritage status since 1981 on climate change,” said Richard Leck, Head of Oceans for the World Wide Fund for NatureAustralia. The latest row is part of an ongoing dispute between Unesco and Australia over the status of the iconic site. The reef, stretching for 2,300km (1,400 miles) off Australia’s north-east coast, gained World Heritage ranking in 1981 for its “enormous scientific and intrinsic importance”. After Unesco first debated its “in danger” status in 2017, Canberra committed more than A$3 billion (£1.bn; $2.2bn) to

improving the reef’s health. However, several bleaching events on the reef in the past five years have caused widespread loss of coral. Scientists say the main reason is rising sea temperatures as a result of global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In 2019, Australia’s own reef authority downgraded the reef’s condition from poor to very poor in its five-year update. But Australia remains reluctant to commit to stronger climate action, such as by signing up to a net zero emissions target by 2050.

The country, a large exporter of coal and gas, has not updated its climate goals since 2015. Its current emissions reduction target is 26-28% of 2005 levels by 2030. These have been a tough few months for Australia and its climate change policy. International pressure has been mounting on Scott Morrison’s government to pledge net zero emissions by 2050 and the prime minister has time and time again refused to commit including as recently as last week at the G7 meeting in the UK. In his address to US President

Joe Biden’s virtual climate conference with global leaders in April, the prime minister said the country will “get there as soon as we possibly can,” adding that “for Australia, it is not a question of if, or even by when, for net-zero but, importantly, how”. That in itself is at the heart of the problem. The “when” is as crucial as the “how” when it comes to climate change. Scientists and global leaders say Australia is not doing enough or going fast enough. The Great Barrier Reef row between Unesco and the Australian government is not new, but it will be quite embarrassing if the country’s World Heritage Site is downgraded to the “in danger” list. It’s another reminder that if Australia does not get serious about tackling climate change with clear and decisive measures, this will affect its standing in the world, not just diplomatically and economically but culturally too. If the reef is downgraded, it will be the first time a natural World Heritage Site has been placed on the “in danger” list primarily due to impacts of climate change. Listing a site as “in danger” can help address threats by, for example, unlocking access to funds or publicity. But the recommendation could affect a major tourism destination that creates thousands of jobs in Australia and was worth A$6.4bn prior to the pandemic.

India economy: Seven years of Modi in seven charts

arendra Modi stormed India’s political stage with grand promises - of more jobs, prosperity and less red tape. His thumping mandate - in 2014 and again in 2019 - raised hopes of big bang reforms. But his economic record, in the seven years he’s been prime minister, has proved lacklustre. And the pandemic battered what was an already under-par performance. Here’s how Asia’s third-largest economy has fared under Mr Modi, in seven charts. Growth is sluggish Mr Modi’s avowed GDP target - a $5 trillion (£3.6 trillion) economy by 2025, or roughly $3 trillion after adjusting for inflation - is a pipe dream now. Independent pre-Covid estimates for 2025 had touched $2.6 trillion at best. The pandemic has shaved off another $200300bn. Rising inflation, driven by global oil prices, is also a big concern, economist Ajit Ranade said. But Covid is not solely responsible. India’s GDP - at a high of 7-8% when Mr Modi took office - had fallen to its lowest in a decade 3.1% - by the fourth quarter of 2019-20.

A disastrous currency ban in 2016, which wiped out 86% of cash in circulation, and a hasty roll-out of a sweeping new tax code, known as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), hit businesses hard. This spurred the next big problem. Joblessness is on the rise “India’s biggest challenge has been a slowdown in investments since 2011-12,” said Mahesh Vyas, CEO of the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE). “Then, since 2016, we have suffered too many economic shocks in quick succession.” The currency ban, GST and intermittent lockdowns all reduced employment, he added. Unemployment climbed to a 45-year high - 6.1% - in 201718, according to the last official count. And it has nearly doubled since then, according to household surveys by CMIE, a widely-used proxy for labour market data. More than 25 million people have lost their jobs since the start of 2021. And more than 75 million Indians have plunged back into poverty, including a third of India’s 100 million-strong middle class, setting back half a decade of gains, according to estimates by Pew Research. Mr Modi’s government has also created far short of the 20

million jobs the economy needs every year, Mr Ranade said. India has been adding only around 4.3 million jobs a year for the last decade. India is not making or exporting enough ‘Make in India’ - Mr Modi’s high-octane flagship initiative was supposed to turn India into a global manufacturing powerhouse by cutting red tape and drawing investment for export hubs. The goal: manufacturing would account for 25% of GDP. Seven years on, it’s share is stagnant at 15%. Worse, manufacturing jobs went down by half in the last five years, according to the Centre for Economic Data and Analysis. Exports have been stuck at around $300bn for nearly a decade. Under Mr Modi, India has steadily lost market share to smaller rivals such as Bangladesh, whose remarkable growth has hinged on exports, largely fuelled by the labour-intensive garments industry. Mr Modi has also hiked tariffs and turned increasingly protectionist in recent years - in tandem with his rallying cry for “self-reliance”. Infrastructure building is a rare bright spot Mr Modi’s government has

been laying 36km (22 miles) of highways a day on average, compared to his predecessor’s daily count of 8-11km, said Vinayak Chatterjee, co-founder of infrastructure firm Feedback Infra. Installed renewables capacity - solar and wind - has doubled in five years. Currently at about 100 gigawatts, India is on track to achieve its 2023 target of 175 gigawatts. Economists also largely welcomed Mr Modi’s populist signature schemes - millions of new toilets to reduce open defecation, housing loans, subsidised cooking gas and piped water for the poor. But many of the toilets aren’t used or have no running water, and rising fuel prices have undone the benefit of the subsidy. And the increased spending with no matching income from taxes or exports has economists worrying about India’s ballooning fiscal deficit. More people have joined the formal economy This is Mr Modi’s other big achievement. India has leapfrogged towards becoming a global leader in digital payments, thanks to a government-backed payment system. Mr Modi’s Jan Dhan scheme has enabled millions of

unbanked poor families to enter the formal economy with “nofrills” bank accounts. Accounts and deposits have risen - a good sign, although reports suggest many of these accounts lie unused. But economists say this is a huge step in the right direction, especially since it allows the direct transfer of cash benefits, cutting out middlemen. Healthcare spending is dismal “Like previous governments, this one has continued to neglect healthcare. India has among the lowest levels of public spending on healthcare in the world,” economist Reetika Khera said. Experts say the emphasis is on tertiary care at the expense of preventive or primary care. “This is hurtling us towards a US-style health system which is expensive and has poorer health outcomes in spite of that,” Ms Khera added. And Mr Modi’s ambitious health insurance scheme, launched in 2018, appears to have been under-used even during Covid. “It was long awaited but more resources need to go into it,” said public health expert Dr Srinath Reddy. India needs to use Covid as a wake-up call to invest heavily in strengthening primary healthcare, he added. Source: BBC

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When FG jaw jaw on steps to tackle cases of vandalization

L:R-Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Works and Housing,Babatunde Fashola, minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello and minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, during the Town Hall Meeting on Protecting Public Infrastructure organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture at the NAF Conference Centre, held recently in Abuja . By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

orried by the cases of vandalisation of government critical infrastructures, the minister of information, Lai Mohammed in June 7th, 2021, summoned stakeholders to a town hall meeting to jaw jaw on ways to address the challenges posed by vandals across the country. Particularly, the minister was worried about how railway tracks were being subjected to wanton destruction and how bridge railings were being removed. Other infrastructures targeted by the vandals are; manhole covers, streetlights and critical aviation infrastructure. The Town Hall Meeting was the first of a 3-part series that will address vandalisation of public infrastructure across the country. Speaking at the 19th edition of Town Hall Meeting on Protecting Public Infrastructures in Abuja, the minister said it was meant to create in the public mind that government property are indeed citizens’ property and must be protected for the benefit of all. “It was also to sensitize communities, especially those where infrastructure are located, to be conscious of the import of such and protect them. “The meeting will expose, arrest and prosecute all those who engage in buying pilfered infrastructure items along with those who bring such to them to sell. “It will be used to sensitize the larger citizenry to support the widespread campaign on the protection and ownership of public infrastructure/assets especially in the Railways, Roads

and Aviation sectors.” He stated that the issue of destroying public assets has touched the very core of economic growth and national development. He said when public infrastructure is being targeted for destruction by some unpatriotic Nigerians, it calls for great concern and immediate action. “Such unpatriotic acts take a toll on the government’s limited revenue, as it seeks to replace, rehabilitate or totally reconstruct such destroyed infrastructure.” Speaking on the protection of public infrastructure, he said the federal government will do everything in it power to stop the vandalization of public infrastructure and facility’s across the country. “Removal of rail tracks can cause train derailment, with deadly consequences. Tampering with aviation infrastructure endangers the lives of air passengers. “Attacks on police stations have left many police personnel dead among many others. These are all acts of terror. “On another level is the incessant attacks on critical public facilities such as police stations and INEC offices. As a matter of fact, the destruction of public infrastructure and facilities is not just vandalism, it is a form of terrorism”. “Exposing,arresting and prosecuting all those who engage in buying pilfered infrastructure items along with those who bring such to them to sell has become very necessary”,he stated . Similarly, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the Buhari administration has focused on the provision, renewal and upgrade of infrastructure across the country

as a driver for economic growth and Development. “Government has invested heavily in the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads,bridges and buildings which has resulted in the improvement in the quality of lives of the citizens in areas such as improved travel time and job creation. “However, this effort of the government is recently being undermined by some citizens and residents who engage in the abuse and destruction of public infrastructure that cost the country huge sums of money to provide. “Also, over N3.8 billion is being used to repair four bridges damaged by vandals and petrolladen tankers.” He explained that N203 million was being used to repair the Otedola bridge in Lagos State, which was damaged by fire caused by a petrol laden tanker. According to him, the Kara bridge damaged by fire from a petrol-laden tanker was being repaired with N605 million, while the Tamburawa bridge in Kano State, which was damaged by illegal mining activities, was also being repaired with N1.8 billion. Fashola also disclosed that,over N200 million contracts had been awarded for the repair of the airport link bridge in Lagos also destroyed by a petrol laden tanker. Besides the four bridges, the minister said that N813.5 million was being used for the reconstruction of three bridges damaged by insurgents in Borno and Gombe states. Fashola said the damages are regrettable because they are consuming the limited resources that could have been used to

tackle other nagging issues facing the nation. He noted that, “no nation grows beyond the capacity of its infrastructure’’ and the country must optimise the little it has. “You see, what this does is that it affects everybody in a very negative way and the other point to make is that all of these damages to public property are actually killing all of us. “All of these monies that we are spending could have been put to other uses. “They could have bought drugs, they could have done so many other things instead of going to repeat or rebuild what we have already built,’’ he said. The minister underscored the need to strengthen the laws prescribing sanctions, ranging from penalties, fines to terms of imprisonment upon conviction for the offences. He said that since the laws were already in existence, there was no need for new ones but to upgrade the existing ones in tune with current realities. Vandalization of manhole covers, rails,roads, street light among many others are part of the challenges the territory is facing said the minister of Federal Capital Territory,Muhammed Bello. He said 400 manholes have been destroyed thereby creating room for erosion and flooding in the city center. “About 25,000 manhole covers are needed inside FCT for the replacement of those property that have been destroyed by vandals. “This money could have been channeled to other sources, such as health, education and other sectors for our benefits”.

He said ”criminality grows in a modular form” and as such needs to be dealt with on time. Bello stressed on the need to engage the judiciary to enforce more strict laws on vandalization. Also, speaking, The Ministers of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and Aviation,Sen. Hadi Sirika, revealed the negative impact on how vandalization of public assets has effectively the sector deeply. The two ministers explained that such attitude have endangered human lives greatly. They expressed concerns on how vandalization is costing government huge sum of money to address destruction of public properties. ”There must be review Of the existing laws”. Stakeholders presented ways on how to government can overcome the lingering Problem of vandalization. They suggested that stiffer laws against such crimes should be passed by the National Assembly. Traditional Rulers should be involved in the security of public properties, State governments should be made to partake in securing federal government projects within their domain. Security agents should be encouraged to be more vigilant and massive sensitization of the general public in different local languages should be carried out to engage the citizens in the ownership and protection of government properties. Meanwhile, the Town Hall Meeting will hold in Calabar, Cross River State, to address pipeline vandalisation while another one will be held in Maiduguri, Borno State, to address vandalisation of power and telecommunication infrastructure.

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wednesday, June 30, 2021

Akinwunmi: We will use Aisha Buhari Tournament to make a statement

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Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

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2. OSUEKE IFEYINWA STELLA- SECRETARY

By Albert Akota

hairman of the local organizing committee for the Aisha Buhariinvitational Women’s Tournament, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has expressed the determination of the committee to utilize fully the opportunity provided by the staging of the competition to boldly underscore Nigeria’s competence in organization of major events. Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, the debonair legal luminary and football administrator of note said he was satisfied with the calibre of men and women in the organizing team and “the only work we have now is to harness the expertise, knowledge, experience and skills of the various individuals to impact on the key areas of the organization, to deliver a first –grade tournament.” Nigeria will host a Six-Nation tournament in the name of the country’s First Lady 14th – 20th September in Lagos, with host Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, Cameroon and Mali set to duel in a celebratory atmosphere. The six countries are arguably the strongest women football –playing countries on the African continent. “It is a long time that our country hosted a major championship. Although this is an invitational, we have a responsibility to activate everything needed for a first –grade championship and uphold the excellent virtues for which our country’s First Lady is known.

Organizing a top event will also come with high recommendation for our country to host bigger events soonest, now that we have remarkable stadia infrastructure across the nation. “It is all about putting our minds to it, being focused on the small details and the huge points, and giving it our best.” Nigeria has not hosted a major football championship since staging the 24 –nation FIFA U17 World Cup finals 12 years ago. Before then, the country hosted the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 1980, co-hosted the same event with Ghana 20 years later, hosted the FIFA U20 World Cup in 1999 and staged the multi-sport All-Africa Games in 1973 and 2003. She also played host to the Women Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, 2002 and 2006. “It is a new era with limitless opportunities and possibilities with rapidly advancing technology and increasing capacities in science and the arts. Nothing can be ruled out as the world is on the move. We have a country teeming with capable and knowledgeable people, and there is no reason we cannot aim high,” Akinwunmi said. Members of the committee include its chairman, a lawyer of 35 years post-bar experience, Seyi Akinwunmi who is 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation and Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association. A keen enthusiast and enabler of grassroots football, he also served as member of CAF Committee on Youth Competitions and Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup

of Nations. Ibrahim Musa Gusau is Chairman of Chairmen of NFF and member of the Organizing Committee of the African Nations Championship. He is also Chairman of the Zamfara State Football Association and a CAF Security Officer. Aisha Falode, Director of Organization, is Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League and Member of the NFF Executive Committee. She served on the CAF Media Committee and is a renowned broadcastjournalist. Amina Daura, deputy director of organization, is a UNICEF ambassador. Educated in England, she has over 15 years experience in women’s football organization, stakeholder management and funding, and is NFF’s Head of Women’s Football. Dr Mohammed Kamal is technical assistant, Presidential Economic Advisory Council and is representing the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic. Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran is a threetime Member of the House of Representatives, women’s football financier and Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee. She also served on the FIFA Committee for Youth Competitions. Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen was Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and is Chairman of the Benue State Football Association. Assistant Inspector General of Police Umar Baba is highly respected in football circles for his enormous work in stadium

safety and security, and is Nigeria’s Interpol Officer. Has led several discreet investigation and extradition teams of major fleeing figures, and has robust passion for the women’s game. Ufuoma McDermott is a French-speaking A-list Nollywood actress, producer and compere, while Kemi Areola is an information technology guru and special assistant to the Youth and Sports Development Minister. Ademola Olajire has 30 years postdegree experience in journalism and media management, is NFF’s Director of Communications and also a CAF Media Officer. Kola Daniel is a seasoned journalist and media aide to the Youth and Sports Development Minister. Star broadcaster Chisom Ezeoke served on the CAF Women’s Football Committee, and Olayinka Olagbemiro is a former football player, technical expert and tactician with certificates in marketing and strategic management. Ese Okpomo, bi-lingual daughter of three-time Secretary General of then Nigeria Football Association and respected CAF instructor and commissioner Patrick Okpomo (of blessed memory), has 15 years experience in bi-lingual support and advisory work at international level. Ruth David, who is the secretary, is the NFF’s Ag. Director of Competitions and has a master’s degree in sports management, while her assistant, Mohammed Ameenu is a FIFA –trained instructor, CAF referee assessor and special assistant to the NFF General Secretary.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, June 30, 2021

Call Rohr to order, Sports Minister Tells NFF By Albert Akota

inister of Youth and Sports,Sunday Dare has called on Nigeria Football Federation to call super eagles coach Gernot Rohr to order. The minister stated this during his visit to the camp of the Super Eagles in Abuja where he advocated for inclusion of more homebased players in the national team, ‘ I am advocate of homebased players in the national team because I believe they are capable if given the needed support and I have seen situations in the past where homebased players formed the nucleus of our national teams to major competitions’. ‘The late Stephen Keshi led a crop of super eagles players to victory in South Africa 2013 with the nucleus of the team namely Azubuike Egwuekwe,Reuben Gabriel, Sunday Mbah,Godffrey Oboabona,Ejike Uzoenyi and chigozie Agbim all coming from the local league’ He, however charged the players to take advantage of every opportunity and make it count.

England strike twice, throw Germany out of Euro 2020

terling scores first goal for England

England struck twice late on to end a 55-year wait for a knockout tie victory over Germany amid scenes of huge tension and elation to reach the Euro 2020 quarter-finals at Wembley. Gareth Southgate’s side battled hard to earn the statement victory that has so often eluded England, and it was their talisman of this tournament, Raheem Sterling, who made the decisive breakthrough. Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw’s cross after 75 minutes to send England’s fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, into wild celebrations. The win was secured with another moment of significance four minutes from time when captain Harry Kane, who had once again struggled to influence the game, headed in from substitute Jack Grealish’s perfect delivery for his first goal of Euro 2020

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, june 30, 2021

Education Maryam Abeeb

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of candidates who sat in more than 720 CBT centres for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted between Saturday 19 and Tuesday 22 June 2021. But it is withholding few for “further investigation”, said Fabian Benjamin, head of protocol and public relations at the board. Benjamin, who noted that the Board would not hesitate to withdraw the results of any candidate subsequently found to have committed any form of examination misconduct, said the result for subsequent days would be released daily. He advised the concerned candidates to check their results by sending UTMERESULT to 55019 through the GSM number

JAMB releases 2021 UTME result, suspends use of USSD code for checking results

used by each candidate to obtain profile code and UTME registration with the Board and their results would be relayed to them. “The Board notes with satisfaction that the utilisation of NIN (National Identification Number) has helped in curbing examination malpractices as the 2021 UTME has recorded the least incidence of irregularities since the inception of the CBT examinations in Nigeria,” he said. He, however, noted that the board would still review all the

CCTV footages and other technical gadgets for detection of possible examination misconducts. Though the examination is ongoing and expected to end 3rd of July, as over 1.3 million candidates registered for the examination. Also, the board has suspended the use of USSD code 55019 for checking the just released results of 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). JAMB spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said that

candidates are now expected to visit the Board’s website to access their results. The Board stated that the new result checking process was necessitated by the current challenges associated with the USSD code 55019. The statement reads in parts: “It has come to the attention of the Board that the result checking on USSD code 55019 is saddled with some challenges. “Consequently, the Board hereby directs all candidates

to visit JAMB portal to check for their 2021 UTME result. Each candidate is to follow this simple steps. “Visit https://www.jamb. gov.ng, on the menu bar, click on efacility, on the page that shows up, click on UTME 2021 Main Results Notification Slip and enter your registration number and click the button Check My Result. “Candidates can check their result from anywhere there is internet access, checking by USSD code 55019 is suspended.” A section of Students writing the National Business and Technical examination Board (NABTEB) examination at the Government science and Technical College Kwali, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Provost urges govt to fund technical, vocational education Maryam Abeeb

he Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Dr Samuel Akintunde, has stressed the need for the government at all levels to place more emphasis on the establishment of skill acquisition centers for the school graduates to learn vocations in addition to their certificates. According to him, the move will reduce the over dependence on white-collar jobs among the youths in the country. Akintunde, spoke in Ondo town, Ondo State, while delivering a lecture at the launching of a security network and a book written by the a former president of a socio-cultural group, the Ekimogun Youths Congress, Mr Eric Famogun. The lecture was titled, “Creating a culture of the needed change in Nigeria’. Stressing the importance of technical and vocational education for the youths in the society, the educationist explained that for a country to achieve technological advancement and economic development, there was urgent need for a review of school curriculum contents in order to make it more practical in approach He said such step would help in providing opportunities for students to become self-employed after they had graduated from the higher institutions. Akintunde said, “I wish to advice and appeal to the three tiers of government in Nigeria to create more awareness on vocational and technical education and provide more funds for its development. I want to assure you that over-dependence on while-collar job among the youths is the bane of the problem of unemployment we are facing in this country”

TRCN intensifies action to clamp down on unqualified teachers

By Maryam Abeeb

he Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria(TRCN) is strengthening capacity of its members of staff across Nigeria as part of effort to intensify clamp down on unqualified teachers. The Registrar of the council, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, said this at a two-day Capacity Training Workshop for TRCN coordinators in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), in Abuja on Wednesday. The event is organised by TRCN with funding support from UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO). Ajiboye said that one of the cardinal points of the workshop was to give the necessary training, to intensify clampdown on unqualified teachers across the country. The registrar, who noted with concern the damage being done to the education sector by quacks, said the council would not relent in “weeding out these set of people, who assumed that the teaching profession is an all comers affair.” He added that the training was aimed at ensuring that members of staff were well acquainted with other workings of the council. “That is one of the major reasons

we are having this training, to swing into action against unqualified teachers. “We started the enforcement in 2020 but because of COVID-19, we stopped. “We want to make sure that TRCN staff are up to date on activities of the organisation, in terms of career path development for teachers. “We also want to make sure they are up to date on ministerial strategic plan and also the professional standard for Nigerian teachers and enforcement of TRCN activities. “The idea is that if we get them grounded in TRCN programmes, they will be able to go to the level of state and implement our activities.” Ajiboye noted that beyond that, the coordinators, who were representatives of the registrar at the state level, should be able to speak to all the programmes of TRCN, like teaching for excellence. He advised schools to prioritise training and retraining of teachers for efficient delivery. Mr Mamadou Lamine, Senior Programme Specialist Education, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, said the role being played by UNESCO was to help reposition the education sector in Nigeria. He said, “this activity is within

the framework of UNESCO’s collaboration with TRCN, which began early this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “UNESCO’s continued collaboration with TRCN is in line with its mandate of coordinating and leading action towards the achievement of the SDG 4. “This is particularly relevant for tackling the issues raised in target 4.c. “This calls for member states to ensure that teachers and educators are empowered, adequately recruited, well-trained, professionally qualified, motivated and supported within wellresourced, efficient and effectively governed systems.” He disclosed that UNESCO’s work regarding the development of teachers was specifically in five areas. According to him, they include monitoring of international normative instruments regarding the teaching profession and supporting member states in the development and review of teacher policies and strategies. He said that others include, developing capacities for enhancing quality of teaching and learning and improving knowledge and evidence base for implementation

and monitoring of teacher target in Education 2030. Lamine stressed that undertaking advocacy and knowledge sharing for the promotion of quality teaching and learning was also an area in focus. “I am pleased to note that the UNESCO-TRCN collaboration has been purposeful and strategic. “UNESCO was part of the team that supported the development of the Career Path Policy for Teachers in Nigeria. “I am happy to note it is one of the policies to be discussed and for which a monitoring strategy will be fashioned during this workshop. “This meeting is also relevant to improving the knowledge and evidence base for the implementation and monitoring of the teacher target in Education 2030 focus area of UNESCO’s work,” Lamine said. He said, for TRCN to deliver on its mandate to regulate and control the teaching profession at all levels, its personnel must be equipped with the required skills to be relevant and effective at the national and state levels. He urged the participants to seize the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and sharpen your skills to be more effective.

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wednesday, June 30, 2021

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SPORTS Buni and the burden of APC transformation latest WEDNESDAY COLUMN T

Spain Survives Croatia Threat, Qualify After Extra Time

pain and Croatia served a EURO classic with the former winning 5-3 in extra time to book a place in the quarterfinals of the ongoing EURO 2020 tournament. La Roja came from a goal down to lead 3-1 with five minutes to go, but two quick goals forced the match into extra time. Spain fell behind following a ridiculous Pedri own goal in the first half, but goals from Pablo Sarabia, Cezar Azpilicueta, and Ferran Torres seemed to be enough to guide them into the quarters, only for Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic to turn the game on its head. Alvaro Morata, who missed clear chances in both halves then gave his side the lead in 10 minutes into extra time, before Mikel Oyarzabal added a fifth four minutes later to ensure Spain sailed through. Euro 2020: Belgium through, Portugal A moment of class from Thorgan Hazard proved enough to knock out holders Portugal as Belgium continued their pursuit of a first major title by reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. The Borussia Dortmund winger’s swerving drive from 25 yards arrived late in a cagey firsthalf and proved enough for Roberto Martinez’s side to set up a mouthwatering meeting with Italy on Friday. Portugal - who again only introduced Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes from the bench - will look back on key Diogo Jota chances, a Ruben Dias header that was saved and a late Raphael Guerreiro drive that struck the post. Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness may dominate headlines in the build-up to the Italy showdown in Munich after he limped off moments after half-time, and Belgium also lost Eden Hazard to a complaint late on. Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

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his week, the extension of the tenure of the All Progressives Congress’ Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni for a second time is a worthy political subject matter for discussion. There is no gainsaying that the ruling party has been transformed from what many across the line thought was a breaking platform to the most stabilised and unified political platform in the country and beyond. The ingenuity, commitment, and sincerity of the Chairman and members of his Committee are feats worth praising and emulating by all responsible and goal-getting political organisations. The life of ordinary men on the street as much as every other aspect of our national existence/ as a people and a nation cannot ever be separated from our national politics, the way we are governed, and the people that control the affairs of our nation. The play of politics, the form of operations of the political formations and parties in the country directly influence the security, economic, and unity fabrics of the country and are critical determinants of national peace and tranquility. This much explains the negative influences the postures of the handlers of PDP to political dealings and interactions with Nigerians over the period of the party’s sixteen years rule has come to bear on the interrelationship of units within the country; rather than working and strategising to create a formidable party based on open appeals, the party opted for divide and rule system and over 16 years, set Nigerians against each other along all possible divides to control voters and amass supports from selected regions. This choice reached a crescendo in 2015 when the PDP party managers concluded on using religion and tribalism, two delicate disuniting political factors in the country, to campaign against the opposition candidate. The same was repeated in 2019 and is among the very many compounding factors for the spate of insecurity across the country right now. It was becoming normal for us to see political parties taking the desperate and destructive routes to win over members and garners votes in the election; the direct lies and spreading of unfounded propaganda that set the people against one another and a particular party, for long, has become the most workable electoral strategy for political parties in Nigeria until His Excellence Mai Buni was appointed the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, the CECPC. For the first time in the history of our nation, we are witnessing a political party building a structure that places national safety, grassroots willing participation and discipline as the hallmark of its membership drive and election winning strategies. No wonder, despite huge opposition rhetoric aimed at discrediting the party and the many good works of the APC-led presidency, the party has only continued to wax stronger by the day and fast becoming the party to contend with. I had

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Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Chairman Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC wondered what the secret could have country and the opposition was set been; why a party surrounded by to feed on the ills befalling the party, enemies doing everything to pull it but suddenly the party was not only down could be growing at the rate salvaged and taken out of the gutter APC is growing despite the public of the impending collapse, but also lies, propaganda, and import of turned within a period of one year to current insecurity in the country. But the most internally coherent political I know why; the Buni-led Committee structure we have seen in a long time is not keen on winning elections at in our clime. It took the maestro of the expense of the health, safety, and the game changer himself to bring the wealth of the country and has rolled erring and aggrieved members back out programs and projects that despite under the umbrella. The approach opposition’s rancor, has continued was simple; everyone saw the sincerity to receive grassroots applause and of actions and dispositions of the conflict resolution committee set up support. Buoyed by the performance of by the chairman. He genuinely gave the APC-led Federal government, everyone a place in the party without the Buni-led administration of the dispensation of fear or favour and the party went down to present a working result is not only aggrieved members platform to Nigerians and got the nods within the party shelving their swords, of over forty million Nigerians who terminating virtually all litigations were willing to join the performing and relating to the party and returning progressive platform. Forty million; to fully contribute their parts to the that is some great feat, never heard of continued development of the party, in the history of our democracy or of but also ace members of the opposition any other in our continent. Aside from party, moving in drove into the party. Governors, party bigwigs and the national electoral umpire that regularly conducts nationwide voters’ movers, members of the National registration, it is unheard of that a legislators were dumping the sinking political party conducted a nationwide PDP for APC in numbers; from across membership registration; yet, despite regions and zones of the country, being the first ever of its kind, the the tallies stand the same. The silent success was too massive to escape achiever he is; not perturbed by the noise of PDP, the empty barrel that bookmakers’ discussion. At some point in the past, many mistakens and abuses popularity by thought, the party APC was going down spreading false propaganda, but was the drain; internal rancor was almost busy presenting the APC to Nigerians tearing the party apart. Litigations in a way that is convincing enough were mounting up in courts across the for no one to deny and neglect. The

unspoken truth now is that no one is left in the opposition who does not desire to have a place in the ruling party; the reason why the likes of Governor Wike would remain in the sinking ship till 2023 would be for their pride. They all can see the rejuvenation, the seriousness, and their non-competitiveness compared to the ruling party right now. Someone asked me: why are the governors and PDP party bigwigs moving into the ruling party at a critical time in the life of the country like this when the opposition has repeatedly continued to poison the citizens to see the ruling party as the nemesis of the country. The response is very simple, the work has been made easy for the Buni-led Committee by the President. Across the country, right amid nationwide insecurity and economic woes, government presence, the dividends of democracy abound. PDP lies and propaganda would only mislead the gullible but not the informed. Nigerians see and would make their decisions regardless of opposition rhetoric. All His Excellency, Mai Buni has to do is to present the reality of APC’s sincerity and performances in contrast to the decaying PDP’s collapsing structure, administration, and internal incoherency. The single act of making peace within the APC fold is enough boosts for the acceptance of the party by all citizens and politicians coming in and those that are on their way. The blueprint designed and implemented by the Buni-led committee must be integrated as the permanent blueprint for the party’s conflict resolution and definitely, we would begin to see political parties across the continent approaching to understudy the highly efficient conflict resolution plan. I have come to learn two critical lessons from the rejuvenation of APC under the administration of His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni; good works speak louder than any other considerations, and you don’t have to join the noisemakers and haters in their enterprises to get your results. Continue with the good works and the result is bound to come. GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

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