THEWILL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL EDITION, September 18, 2023

Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange Crisis: Airlines in Focus

FG Commits to Partnering FTAN, Others Towards Making Nigeria Tourism Work

I Started Acting Before Nollywood – Pete Edochie

Tinubu Appoints Jamila Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande as Ministers

President Bola Tinubu has heeded the call for the appointment of a Minister of Youth in mind and body by approving the nomination of 37- year-old, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, to serve as the Minister of Youth, and 34-year-old Ayodele Olawande as Minister of State in the same ministry, pending their confirmation by the Senate.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed the appointments on Sunday.

He said Jamila Bio-Ibrahim is a young medical doctor and most recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF).

"She has also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs). Olawande is a community development expert and youth leader in the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)," he said, adding , "He most recently served in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Innovation from 2019 to 2023."

“President Tinubu charges the above-mentioned nominees – Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande – to ensure that they consistently reflect the dynamism, innovative zeal, and unyielding productivity that are synonymous with the young people of Nigeria as they discharge their duties,” Ngelale added.

Aged 37, Bio-Ibrahim packs quite a commendable CV both from her background and her personal career. Apart from being a medical doctor and development practitioner, she

comes from a political family.

Her father, Ibrahim Isa Bio, was a two-time Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Member of the House of Representatives, ex-Minister of Transport under late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua administration as well as Minister of Sports under the succeeding President Goodluck Jonathan government.

She honed her political skills as National President of Young Women Forum of the governing All Progressives Congress, (APC PYWF). She was volunteered for service in the northeast region of Nigeria under The Presidential Committee on the NorthEast initiative and for the campaign team for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the 2019 general election Continues on page 7

L-R: General Manager, IT Service Management & Governance (SMG), MTN Nigeria, Ude Somufienia Enebeli; Honorable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Ag. Director/CEO, National Identity Management Commission, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote at the commemoration of the 5th edition of the Identity Day held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on September 17, 2023.

OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

We are constantly flooded with images of perfect skin and bodies in this digital era. Social media portrays certain beauty ideals that are unreal. Our beauty page looks at social media’s significant impact on beauty standards and how to endure this era.

Adding accessories to your home makes it cosier. A throw pillow here and a painting there add a touch of style to your living space, bringing it to life. Page 6 discusses aesthetic boosters, those little accessories you place in your home to give it a facelift.

I love a good murder mystery; they have a way of weaving the plot such that your suspicion of who the killer is is always wrong, and it’s always the least expected person that turns out to be the killer. Our movie page reviews The White Lotus, and it seems to have just the right dose of suspicion, so I look forward to watching it soon.

As usual, we have a great selection of music for you; all you have to do is scan the QR codes to access the playlist.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

Indefinite Strike: FG Meets NLC Monday

Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has invited the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for a meeting over its planned indefinite strike.

The Congress, on Tuesday, September 12, had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike "from next week if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands" over the removal of fuel subsidy.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had on September 2, said its National Executive Committee (NEC) had resolved that workers embarked "on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days until steps are taken by the Government to address the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment being experienced around the country."

Labour had, on Tuesday, September 5, embarked on a two-day warning strike to demonstrate readiness for the indefinite strike.

But amid efforts to avert the planned nationwide strike, Lalong, in a statement issued on Sunday, by Olajide Oshundun, Director Information at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has directed the Department of Trade Unions Services and Industrial Relations to convene a meeting with the leadership of the NLC for Monday, 18th September 2023.

Continued from Cover

...Jamila Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande as Ministers

Before her previous appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she had worked as Senior Special Assistant on Health matters to the Governor of Kwara State.

For Minister of State, Ayodele, commitment to the party both at the grassroots and national levels, earned him the appointment.

At different times, he led as the Youth Coordinator for the APC Lagos State Chapter, Southwest Co-ordinator, Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation, Committee member of Kogi State Governorship Election, 2019 and Deputy Director, Presidential campaign Council Youth Southwest 2023.

Olawande is an old face to the Presidential Villa. Before his nomination as Minister of State for Sports, he had served as Personal Assistant to the Special Adviser on Innovation to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo from 2019 to 2023 .

CJN to Swear in Newly Appointed Appeal Court Justices

Wednesday

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will swear in the newly appointed nine Justices of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, September 20, at the main court auditorium of the Supreme Court.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday, by the Director, Press and Information at the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande

The nine Justices are Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on May 24, 1999; Binta Fatima Zubairu from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on October 31, 2001; and Peter Chudi Obiora from Anambra State, who was sworn in as High Court Judge on January 17, 2005, respectively.

Others are Justices Okon Efreti Abang from Akwa Ibom State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on June 22, 2009; Asma’u Musa Mainoma from the Federal Capital Territory, who was appointed High Court Judge on February 1, 2013; Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu from Oyo State, who became High Court Judge on June 26, respectively; Jane Esienanwan Iyang from Cross River State, who was sworn in as High Court Judge on February 12, 2015; Justices Hadiza Rabiu Shagari from Sokoto State, who was elevated to the High Court Bench on February 12, 2015, and Paul Ahmed Bassi from Borno State, appointed to the High Court on July 14, 2017. Meanwhile, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Amina Adamu Augie, will formally retire from the apex court Bench on Thursday, September 21, 2023, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

The statement said the valedictory court session in her honour was delayed because of the annual vacation of the Court, which ended on Friday, September 15, 2023.

Justice Augie was sworn in as Justice of the Supreme Court on November 7, 2016.

She graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in Law from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1977 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. With her retirement, the Court is now left with 11 Justices.

EFCC Highlights Anti-Graft War Challenges, Calls For Review of Commission’s Laws

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it would function better if its laws were reviewed.

The anti-graft agency made this known at the weekend during a media workshop for journalists on ‘Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes’ in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Speaking on the ‘Challenges of Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes’, Head, Legal and Prosecution Department, Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC, DCE T. N. Ndifon, cited trial within trial, frivolous filling of applications and multiple defendants, elevation or transfer of judges, delays in securing fiat to prosecute certain cases, as well as some counsels in cases as frustrating the cause of justice against financial crime offenders in the country

Ndifon calls for a review of the EFCC Act to enable the Commission to effectively tackle the anti-graft war in the country.

Earlier in his opening remarks at the workshop, EFCC Zonal Commander, Uyo, Assistant Commander Bawa Hamidu Saidu, decried the rising cases of real estate and internet crime, assuring that the Commission was working to eliminate the problem.

Saidu, who called on the media to beam its searchlight on the identified sectors to tackle the sharp practices, said only the collective fight against financial and economic crime by all Nigerians would help to nip the situation in the bud.

“The rising incidences of real estate and internet-related cases have become worrisome. The real estate sector has been identified as a strong money laundering practice in Nigeria,” he said.

L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA), Mr Bode Thorpe ; decorating the newly elected President of ICOBA, Mr Olufemi Olubanwo and 1st Vice President of ICOBA, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, during the inauguration of the new National Executive Council of ICOBA, in Lagos on September 17, 2023.

NCAA Breaks Silence on Gov Adeleke's Aborted Flight, Begins Probe

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified issues surrounding the aborted flight carrying Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and his team on a scheduled flight to Abuja, adding that it has commenced "a fullblown investigation" to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

This was revealed by the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, in an official statement issued on Sunday evening,

According to the DG, NCAA, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, received with concern reports of an aborted take-off of a Bombardier Global Express 605 jet operated by Pacific Energy Company Limited at the Lagos airport on September 4, 2023.

"Once alerted, the Honourable Minister contacted the Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and was briefed accordingly. A mandatory report was submitted on 6th September 2023 in accordance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARS).

"The operator submitted the report through the new web-based National Aviation Safety Reporting System, SMS Pro, deployed by the NCAA in collaboration with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in compliance with the provisions of ICAO mandated State Safety Programme and the Civil Aviation Act 2022. A full-blown investigation of the incident has since commenced.

"While expressing relief that the incident ended without any harm, the Honourable Minister assured that the outcome of NCAA’s investigation and recommendations will be implemented in line with Nig. CARS and global best practices," the statement read in part.

The NCAA assured the travelling public that it will double its efforts in collaboration with NSIB to maintain and improve upon the high safety aviation standards set in the country over the past decade.

"The Honourable Minister has on several occasions stated that the safety of the aviation industry is the number one objective of his administration," it added.

NCDMB Essay Competition Award Ceremony Holds September 20

BY DAVID OWEI, YENAGOA

The award ceremony of the 2023 Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition will be held on September 20, 2023, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

A statement signed and issued to newsmen at the weekend in Yenagoa, by the consultant, Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi, CEO of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, stated that "the ten national finalists are expected to arrive Yenagoa on 18th September, 2023, for the last phase of the academic exercise, which is the interactive assessment holding on 19 September, 2023."

According to Omorozi, "the 2023 edition, which is tagged "Nigerian Content and the Lessons from COVID-19," is the seventh in the series of the prestigious NCDMB flagship event.

The competition is designed to promote academic excellence among Nigerian young undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions and the Nigerian Content Policy.

"The academic exercise is mainly to encourage Nigerian youths to build local capacities and competencies and to prepare for effective participation in Nigeria's Oil and Gas industry and also promoting academics.

"The 2023 edition will close out on the 20th of September 2023 with an award/prize-giving ceremony in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

"The first prize is N1,000,000.00, the second prize N700,000.00

and the third prize N500,000.00. All the top ten finalists will each receive a laptop."

According to the statement, the prestigious event will be held at Lady Daima Event Centre, Osiri, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the interactive assessment scheduled for 9am on September 19, and the main award event scheduled for 10:30am on September 20.

Tricycle Operators Take Over Commuter Services in Kano

Commercial Tricycle Operators are gradually taking over commuter services in Kano metropolis, as they get more patronage from residents of the city, including private car owners disabled by the current prohibitive petrol pump price.

Consequently, the tricycles have outnumbered cars and other vehicles plying the city's roads,as they get more passengers from among the distressed car owners.

THEWILL reports that before now,taxis, buses and motorcycles were the main means of transportation in the capital city, until recently when tricycles dominated the business.

Kano is home to eight metropolitan local government areas - Kano Municipal,Gwale,Dala,Tarauni,Fagge,Nasarawa ,Kumbotso and Ungogo, and most of the city's hustles and bustles take place in these areas.

An investigation by THEWILL reveals that multitudes of car owners in the capital city have parked their vehicles and resorted to patronizing the commercial tricycles popularly known as "A Daidaita Sahu", as they can no longer afford fuel for their vehicles.

Petrol pump price in Kano ranges from N615 to N620 per litre, depending on the type and location of the filling station.

Checks in the commercial city found that the car owners who include businessmen and civil servants, now enter tricycles to reach their various places of work,markets, schools and other places of human endeavour.

Some of them have engaged the tricycle operators to be transporting their children to and from school at agreed fees, unlike before when they (the car owners) were doing the exercise themselves.

One of the car owners,Malam Danjuma Rabiu,a businessman, said he had parked his vehicle a few days after the withdrawal of subsidy on fuel and resorted to patronizing tricycles,as he can no longer purchase fuel for his Toyota car.

L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA), Mr Bode Thorpe ; decorating the newly elected President of ICOBA, Mr Olufemi Olubanwo and 1st Vice President of ICOBA, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, during the inauguration of the new National Executive Council of ICOBA, in Lagos on September 17, 2023.

HURIWA Faults Tinubu's Appointments

Ajadi Backs Obasanjo's Action Against Yoruba Monarchs, Warns Against Partisan Politics

BY CHIBUEZE CHUKWUMA, ENUGU AYO ESAN

Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA), has emphasised that with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of the nomination of Olayemi Cardoso to serve as the substantive new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), some 48 hours after appointing Zachaeus Adedeji as the acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, the strong perception that the President is pushing an unseemly pro-ethnic agenda became worryingly stronger.

Adedeji is to “serve in an acting capacity for 90 days before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive chairman of FIRS for a term of four years in the first instance.”

According to the group, with a little over 100 days on the saddle, the President’s appointments have shown he appears to have special consideration for people from his South-West region, especially those with links to Lagos State.

This position was made known through a statement made available to newsmen by the National Co-ordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.

According to him, If President Tinubu’s appointment of new services sparked new hope and drew deserved plaudits in that it recognised the nation’s diversity, his subsequent appointments curiously departed from that template.

"That the disastrous, previous administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, towed a divisive path in the overwhelming tribalistic appointments it made should never excuse this course that fundamentally degrades the legitimate dream of a new, progressive, inclusive Nigerian state.

"Today, the stakes are extremely high and Nigerians are mindful that a failure to achieve democratic stability, through a meritorious, transparent, inclusive governance process may imperil the country's future as a coherent state. Mere political rewards and seeming ethnic nationalism should not drive the national journey. It is a perilous, avoidable option.

"HURIWA strongly believes that this is the wrong path to thread, especially against the background of deep mistrust, misery, and political and economic dislocations brazenly birthed by the predecessor administration. We believe that like Caesar’s Wife, the Tinubu administration ought to be above suspicion.

"We recall here that the central driving mantra and foundational philosophy on which the ruling All Progressives Congress sold its presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President, to Nigerians, was “Renewed Hope.” Nigerians bought into it and voted the Asiwaju and APC to power because it deeply resonated with the populace. But what is the reality?

AChieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the need for traditional rulers to respect Constituted authorities like the Governor and President.

The NNPP gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State in the last general elections also appealed to traditional rulers to restrain themselves from active and partisan politics, urging them to remain opinion leaders in their various communities to continue to earn their due respect.

THEWILL recalls that last Friday, some traditional rulers in Oyo State refused to stand up when the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and former President Obasanjo arrived at the venue of the commissioning of Oyo-Iseyin Road, leading to Chief Obasanjo allegedly lambasting them for their disrespect to the Governor and himself.

The development has started generating reactions with some condemning the former president for his alleged open disparage of the Obas while some have diverse opinions.

Speaking on the issue in a statement, Ajadi, while backing Chief Obasanjo, said Governors and President, being former or incumbent, deserve respect.

He said traditional rulers should not dabble in active politics but rather continue to preside over their towns or communities while the Governors preside over States and the President over the whole country.

He said though traditional rulers, as custodians of our culture, deserve respect, according to him, respect is reciprocal.

He said, "When Governors or President visit the traditional rulers in their palaces, they usually give them the respect they deserve but at the public functions where they are seated before the arrival of the Governors or President, courtesy demands that they give respect to the Governors or President."

He said most traditional rulers have dabbled in politics, adding that some of them openly aligned with political parties, hence the little respect they received from political officeholders.

He highlighted the role of traditional rulers as that of impartial advisors in Nigerian politics, expressing concern that their involvement in partisan politics could lead to their humiliation by political figures.

"Traditional rulers, especially the Obas in Yoruba land, would stop being humiliated by any political office holders, be it Governors or the President, when they stop being partisan.

“Our Kings are expected to be fathers for all politicians through the giving of advice and guidance on how to achieve good governance but not being partisan.

"However, what is playing out is that most of them are politically aligned and with their involvement in politics, it would be difficult for them to receive their deserved respect."

Congo Debunks Attempted Coup

The Congolese Government has debunked reports of a coup attempt against President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Several media outlets had, on Sunday, reported that a coup attempt was ongoing in the country while the President was away.

But the Country's Minister of Communication and Media, Thierry Moungalla, in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday evening, debunked the report.

“URGENT – Fanciful information suggests serious events that are underway in Brazzaville. The Government denies this fake news. We reassure public opinion about the calm that reigns and invite people to calmly go about their activities,” the Minister tweeted.

President Nguesso is currently in New York, United States, to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Nguesso has been a prominent figure in Congolese politics for an extended period. His rule since 1997 has been marked by both stability and controversy, with critics alleging human rights abuses and a lack of democratic freedom.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (right) with Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Chairman, Governing Council, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) during the commissioning of Iseyin Campus of LAUTECH (The College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources), Iseyin on September 15, 2023.

Lessons From Libyan, Moroccan Disasters

This is not the best of times for Libya. The troubled North African country under the leadership of two rival authorities is practically at the mercy of a deadly storm. The Libyan floods came as Morocco, another North African country, was grappling with the shock of a massive earthquake that rocked parts of the country, burying thousands of people under the rubble.

On Sunday, September 10, deadly flash floods swept through Libya, wreaking untold hardship across the country. In the end, Storm Daniel sent no fewer than 6,000 people to their untimely death, with several thousands more still missing. The catastrophe was massive. The rampaging flood waters, which came with the strength of a hurricane, destroyed the city of Derma, following the collapse of two upstream dams and submerged the entire seaside town of Sousse.

Now, the United Nations is looking for over $71 million to assist several thousands of people caught up in the disaster as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at the United Nations Humanitarian Agency, Thursday, raised the alarm on a possible rise in the number of casualties.

Describing the incident as "catastrophic", the Head, OCHA, Martin Griffiths, said, “Getting lifesaving supplies to people, preventing a secondary health crisis, and swiftly restoring some kind of normality must override any other concern at this difficult time for Libya. Entire neighbourhoods have been wiped off the map. Whole families, taken by surprise, were swept away in the deluge of water.”

Two days earlier on September 8, a powerful earthquake measuring 8.6 magnitude hit the High Atlas Mountains, south-west of Marrakesh, Morocco at 18.5 depth, throwing the 840,000 residents of the area into confusion, with several houses caving in, leading to a heavy death toll that keeps increasing as search for survivors and those buried under the rubble continues many days after.

The situation was not different in Al Haouz Province, where over 3,000 people died and some 6,000 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, according to the local authorities.

The earthquake, believed to have been caused by shallow oblique-thrust faulting beneath the mountain range, is not only the strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake in the country but also the deadliest since the 1960 Agadir earthquake. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 300,000 people from Marrakesh and the surrounding areas were affected, including 100,000 children.

Coming with a massive force and totally destroying historic landmarks in Marrakesh, the earthquake is the seconddeadliest of the year after the Turkey–Syria earthquake, with the effects felt across Spain, Portugal and Algeria. While relief efforts and emergency operations continue with governments and organisations across the globe mobilising humanitarian support to the government of Morocco and victims of the natural disasters, the incidents in the two countries are pointers to the effects of global warming and environmental challenges across the globe as the need to be prepared always in order not to

be caught unawares becomes more necessary now than ever

The failure of governance was totally responsible for the escalation of the Libyan incident as the country soon deteriorated into a failed state after the death of its strongman, Muamar Ghaddafi, with two separate governments in control of the country, thus delaying swift action to be taken once the signs of the impending doom became glaring. The big lesson for African countries is to strive to always put a good and acceptable government in place in order to quickly respond to emergencies wherever the need arises.

For us in Nigeria, our government at various levels must always be prepared for emergency response and assistance as warning signals of heavy floods in various states and communities have already been given and there should be no excuse for inaction or any delay whenever disaster strikes as a stitch in time saves nine.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in fact stated on Wednesday that at least 13 states and 50 communities are likely to witness heavy rainfall, which may lead to flooding between September 13 and 17. The Lagos Territorial Coordinator of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, listed the states and communities to include Kano, with communities like Sumaila and Kunchi, likely to be affected, saying Kebbi State, with communities including Argungu, and Katsina State, with Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, Katsina communities are also likely to be affected. Other states listed also include Niger, Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Niger and Bayelsa.

For us in Nigeria, our government at various levels must always be prepared for emergency response and assistance as warning signals of heavy floods in various states and communities have already been given and there should be no excuse for inaction or any delay whenever disaster strikes as a stitch in time saves nine

THEWILL NEWSPAPER TEAM

G20: When Nigeria Goes Fishing

BY FREDRICK NWABUFO

There seems to be a transitioning, a metamorphosis from the quotidian loan-driven articulations, to investment-tailored pursuits and commitments. Nigeria has over successive administrations hypostasised borrowing in its bucket of foreign economic interests. These borrowings have overtime put a cosmic strain on government revenue. Nigeria’s external debt stands at over N49.85 trillion, and with about 73 percent of its earnings used for debt servicing.

In June, the Debt Management Office (DMO) described Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio of 73.5 percent as ‘’unsustainable and a threat’’.

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT TODAY IS NOT VERY FRIENDLY. FROM TREMULOUS INFRASTRUCTURE, POOR POWER SUPPLY, ASPHYXIATING TAXES, INSECURITY, BUREAUCRACY, CORRUPTION, TO AN UNDISCIPLINED CIVIL SERVICE – ALL THESE CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT PRECARIOUS

The DMO said: “The country’s debt stock remains sustainable under these criteria, space has been reduced when compared to Nigeria’s self-imposed debt limit of 40 percent set in the mediumterm debt management strategy (MTDS), 2020-2023. On the other hand, the debt service-torevenue ratio at 73.5 percent in 2023 exceeds the recommended threshold of 50 percent due to low revenue, which means that there is a need to significantly increase government revenue. Under the alternative scenario, the total public debt-to-GDP ratio at 45.4 percent in 2023 exceeds Nigeria’s self-imposed debt limit of 40 percent. “

In May, KPMG warned that Nigeria might spend over 100 percent of its revenue on debt servicing. Clearly, a shift from this status quo has not only become necessary but also critical for the survival of the nation. Nigeria has a revenue challenge, but with unchecked borrowing, this problem becomes compounded. So, the government must come up with innovative measures of driving revenue as well as enchanting investment while weaning itself off prodigious borrowing.

In August, President Bola Tinubu said his administration was committed to breaking the cycle of overreliance on borrowing for public spending which results in the burden of debt servicing. The direness and exigency of the time demands this forward-thinking, innovation, and discipline.

Borrowing has its edge, but when unmitigated and without financial discipline, it becomes an

encumbrance to growth. Nigeria has played a good hand at the G20 summit in India. The country went fishing for investments, partnerships, -- and not for loans. This is a diametrical shift from the status quo. As it is today, it is much more prudent and decent to go fishing for opportunities for the country than to go borrowing.

According to correspondence from the presidency, Indian investors made financial pledges amounting to $14 billion during the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and Conference in New Delhi, India. These investors are said to include Indorama Petrochemical Limited which pledged a new investment of $8 billion in the expansion of its fertilizer production and petrochemical facility in Eleme, Rivers State, and Jindal Steel and Power Limited, one of India's largest private steel producers, which committed to investing $3 billion in Nigeria, following discussions with President Tinubu on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

Also, President of SkipperSeil Limited, Mr. Jitender Sachdeva was said to have announced that, following President Tinubu's personal intervention, he was investing $1.6 billion in the establishment of 20 100MW power generation plants across the states of northern Nigeria, amounting to 2,000MW of new power within the next four years.

Bharti Enterprises, a major first-generation corporation in India with interests in telecom, space communications, digital solutions, insurance, processed foods, real estate, and hospitality, was said to have expressed its commitment to invest an additional $700 million in Nigeria with work set to begin immediately.

The President was said to have approved finalisation on a new $1 billion agreement to bring the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to 40 percent self-sufficiency in local manufacturing and production of defence equipment in-country by 2027 through a comprehensive new partnership with the Managing Arm of the Military-Industrial Complex of the Indian Government.

A third MoU on Infrastructure Development was said to have been signed between the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Limited (InfraCorp) and Invest India, the National Investment Promotion, and Facilitation Agency of India.

Going by the reports from India, it has been a fruitful outing for Nigeria -- if not the most rewarding from a single event. The leadership has shown capacity and facility for private capital attraction, and it is essential that this shift to innovativeness is sustained.

However, it is important that the business environment is made conducive for investors. It is one thing to attract private capital, and it is another to retain it. Nigeria is currently ranked 131 out of 190 economies on ease of doing business. The business environment, today, is not very friendly. From tremulous infrastructure, poor power supply, asphyxiating taxes, insecurity, bureaucracy, corruption, to an undisciplined civil service – all these contribute to making the business environment precarious.

Already, the government is beginning to address the constraints to business as regards taxes; I believe it will look into other factors. To go fishing is a more intelligent approach than to go borrowing unchecked.

•Nwabufo is a media executive

Ogbuku, NDDC And The Journey Ahead

BY CHIJIOKE AMU-NNADI

The appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to a fresh term in the newly announced governing board of the interventionist agency offers a few important lessons on how to manage opportunity and promise.

Appointed first in January, 2023, by the outgone administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ogbuku, who as the managing director served with the former chairman, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, the former executive directors of projects and finance and administration, Mr. Charles Ogunmola and Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.), respectively, as well as a slew of other members in the old board, established a management style of technocratic governance, inclusiveness and openness that has endeared him to Niger Delta stakeholders and the Commission’s staff alike.

The announcement of his name to his old position, for a fresh tenure, was indeed greeted by affirmation and celebration across the region and along the corridors of an agency that has, over the years, yearned for a leadership that is committed to the efficient and effective discharge of its mandate to facilitate regional development. Having been accused repeatedly over the years of failing to rise to the call of their duty to serve their own people, the Commission’s staff, it has been reported, has thrown their collective weight behind Ogbuku’s drive to build a stronger workforce and a more efficient organisation.

For someone whose first sojourn can best be described as brief, the spontaneous outburst of approval may have come as a surprise to many. But there must be many more who understand his commitment to excellence, and to delivering on his assignment to the NDDC and the Niger Delta. But the question to ask would be: how did Samuel Ogbuku earn the confidence of the new President, as well as the plaudits and admiration of the people of the Niger Delta, whose best interest he serves?

The answer is easily unveiled in the lessons his time as managing director of a Commission, which has been heavily criticised in the past for poor delivery on its opportunities and promises. The first May easily be deduced from his history, pursuits and antecedents. And is his vision and passion for a Niger Delta region whose natural wealth makes its lands and people prosperous and peaceful.

As an activist in the quest for a better Niger Delta that meets the long-standing needs of the people and satisfies their expectations, Ogbuku has continued to identify with the challenges of regional development and the difficult living conditions of Niger Deltans.

The Niger Delta region, which produces the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth, has long been known for the unfortunate paradox of widespread poverty, high unemployment, poor infrastructure, embattled landscape and coastal areas, as well as poor social services, poor skills base and youth

restiveness. In the past few decades, Ogbuku has been an important part of the intellectual agitation that continues to call attention on what needs to be done to develop the region, as well as positively impact the people. His emergence, therefore, as the managing director of an agency whose core mandate is to facilitate rapid, even and sustainable development in the region, must have come as the needed platform, and impetus, to help him transform some of his ideas and vision, part of which helped earn him a PhD in political and administrative studies, as well as the lessons learnt in advocating for a better Niger Delta, into reality.

THE NIGER DELTA REGION, WHICH PRODUCES THE BULK OF NIGERIA’S WEALTH, HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR THE UNFORTUNATE PARADOX OF WIDESPREAD POVERTY, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, EMBATTLED LANDSCAPE AND COASTAL AREAS, AS WELL AS POOR SOCIAL SERVICES, POOR SKILLS BASE AND YOUTH RESTIVENESS

As the managing director of the NDDC, Ogbuku has spearheaded a number of landmark changes, new ideas, renewed enthusiasm and accomplishments. While working to strengthen institutional structures and processes within the Commission, he is working to improve due process, financial discipline and transparency. He is working to improve the implementation of projects and programmes, so that they can adequately serve the needs of the people for longer, more sustained periods. And he is improving staff morale by addressing salient issues of commitment to professional conduct of an efficient workforce.

In instituting the public private partnership (PPP) model for the Commission, for which several engagements within and outside the country has already been organised, Ogbuku was reported to have said: “In the 22 years since its establishment, the NDDC has not achieved this mandate, despite what may be described as its best efforts.

Hard Times in Nigeria: Reasons Humanitarian Foundations And Philanthropists Must Intervene

BY SAMPSON UHUEGBU

As at the time of writing this report, the United States (US) Dollar exchange rate to the Nigerian Naira is N970 . The price of petrol has also increased to N600 per litre and transportation fares in all parts of the country have skyrocketed.

This ugly development is drastically reflected in the prices of foodstuffs, diesel, liquid gas, electricity bills, mobile phone tariffs, university tuition and hospital bills.

The unprecedented difficulties being faced by Nigerians have forced them to engage in profitable activities that can add value to their lives. Everybody is struggling to make ends meet for the proper upkeep of the family.

Businessmen and women, Civil and public servants, Artisans, religious cum traditional leaders, and entrepreneurs are finding it difficult in times like this. Farmers across the country are battling the cattle rearers that have wreaked havoc on farmlands. In fact, herders' activities have immensely contributed to the shortages of foodstuffs in all parts of the country.

Also, flood, as a natural phenomenon, is another factor that is threatening farm crops, thereby leading to scarcity of food. In all, there is a problem. The Summary is that things are hard in Nigeria! If the President Bola Armed Tinubuled administration can, at least, boldly tackle the epileptic electricity supply in the country, the issues of constant blackouts and removal of fuel subsidy should not be worrying Nigerians, who are bitterly facing the brunt. Nigerians are hardworking people and resourceful. They can

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had raised the alarm that the removal of fuel subsidy will lead to inflation. This is the problem that we face today. Commercial activities, offices, schools, and various programmes are hampered. In Owerri, commercial bus fares have since doubled because of this

comfortably create something out of nothing only if electricity is restored steadily.

Federal and State Governments are disoriented about what to do as measures to quell the challenges facing the citizenry get worsened. The hardship is biting harder on Nigerians. It was heartwarming that President Bola Tinubu announced the sum

of N54 billion to be shared among the States in Nigeria. It was shared among the Governors, who also distributed the largesse to groups in many States.

This is a critical time when the aid of international foundations is needed in health, education, agriculture, commerce and industry, finance, human capacity development, skills acquisitions and empowerment of the poor in Nigerians. Even the media practitioners (qualified Journalists) are not exempted from getting foreign assistance to cushion the negative effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

In times such as these, philanthropists in Nigeria and outside the country should not cease to keep up the tempo of exhibiting their humanitarian activities of ensuring the needy in society are made happy with handsome gifts.

As part of corporate social responsibility, medical doctors should always temper justice with mercy while billing their patients. In times like this, the rich should give aims to the poor, and those in the high places should remember those people whose lives appear to be miserable.

Millions of Nigerians are down with cancerous diseases, which require urgent attention for their survival. These patients have continued to wallow in pain because of little or no attention to their difficulties. Also, many of them had gone to the world beyond due to a lack of proper care.

I could remember years back, in 2012, when former President Goodluck Jonathan tried to remove subsidy on petroleum products, the knocks from Nigerians were so heavy that the leader was forced to do the needful. Everyone was against the system, arguing that it would not be favourable to Nigerians.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) raised the alarm that the removal of fuel subsidy will lead to inflation. This is the problem that we face today. Commercial activities, offices, schools, and various programmes are hampered. In Owerri, commercial bus fares have since doubled because of this.

Some organisations have, in the past years, contributed to a better society. They include the Ikon Health Foundation (IHF), a charity group that has donated medical equipment to hospitals in rural areas around the world and provided free health services to poor women, children and others.

IKON believes that good health is the key to a flourishing society. Therefore, through sharing what they learnt, collaborating with others and building people’s skills and knowledge, the foundation can be said to be visionary in making a difference in the health sector towards contributing to a healthier population.

This is a call to other patriotic Nigerians to immediately engage in this noble cause of empowering Nigerians. Saving the lives of others is one of the greatest things one can offer irrespective of social status.

Private companies in Nigeria are sacking their workers because of the high cost of maintenance of their establishments. The employers can no longer pay everyone. Their inability to pay salaries has led to their diplomatic discharge by the top earners. There is no time when Nigerians need assistance than now. May God help us.

“

EDITOR Sam Diala

Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange Crisis: Airlines in Focus

BY MARCEL OKEKE

The multifaceted and unfathomable challenges posed by acute shortage of foreign exchange (hard currencies) in Nigeria are unfolding day by day. According to reports, no fewer than 40 aircraft belonging to domestic airlines are currently grounded in maintenance facilities abroad and in Nigeria due to lack of access to foreign exchange (forex) from the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay the necessary bills. While over 30 airplanes are stranded overseas, about 10 others are grounded in Nigeria due to lack of forex to purchase some major spare parts from abroad.

Aside from the grounded planes, some operators are unable to acquire new aircraft engines to replace old ones that have completed their life cycles due to acute dollar scarcity. Already, the ugly situation is worsening the lingering flight disruptions being experienced by passengers because of shortage of airplanes in the country. At present, the largest Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has about 15 planes stranded abroad, Dana Air, Max Air, Azman Air, Arik Air, and other domestic carriers have over 25 airplanes currently grounded abroad and locally due to lack of forex. Operators are seeking forex to pay foreign aircraft maintenance facilities and acquire spare parts from abroad for the aircraft undergoing maintenance locally.

At the recent 2023 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said the carrier spent over N78 billion on aircraft maintenance last year, adding that the airline currently has about 15 planes stranded abroad due to lack of forex. He said, “Air Peace has about US$14 million stranded in the Central Bank of Nigeria. It is not hidden. We also have about 15 aircraft stranded abroad. Afterwards, people will say Nigerian airlines lack capacity. They do not lack capacity; what they lack is truthful government support and ease of doing business.”

Managing Director, Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani, on his part, said aside from Air Peace, other domestic carriers were battling with the problem of dollar scarcity too, adding that it was high time the Federal Government intervened to save the domestic airline industry.

He said, “All domestic carriers are having challenges with forex. We have about four planes looking for forex from CBN for about two years and it’s about US$4 million. It needs to be known that many airlines have forex issues. The CBN needs to help the aviation industry, so that airlines can maintain their schedules.”

Indeed, practically all airlines operating in Nigeria have a forex problem one way or another. For a couple of years now, Nigeria’s apex bank has been unable to meet the funds repatriation needs of foreign airlines operating in the country. The total amount of foreign airlines’ trapped funds in Nigeria has risen to US$812.2 million, according to the latest figure by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in June 2023.

This situation means that airlines are increasingly unable to repatriate their commercial revenues from Nigeria, thereby making it challenging for them to continue providing the critical connectivity that drives economic activity and job creation globally.

In the words of Willie Walsh, IATA Director-General, “Airlines cannot continue to offer services in markets where they are unable to repatriate the revenues arising from their commercial activities in those markets. Governments need to work with industry to resolve this situation so airlines can continue to provide the connectivity that is vital to driving economic activity and job creation.”

Recent estimates by IATA reveal that the top five countries account for a whopping 68 per cent of

blocked funds, comprising Nigeria (US$812.2 million), Bangladesh (US$214.1 million), Algeria (US$196.3 million), Pakistan (US$188.2 million), and Lebanon (US$141.2 million).

Against this backdrop, IATA has called on governments to ensure compliance with international agreements and treaty obligations that enable airlines to repatriate

the funds arising from the sale of tickets, cargo space, and other activities. Failure to do that, according to IATA, might further jeopardize the stability, profitability, and continuity of the aviation industry. “Airlines cannot continue to offer services in markets where they are unable to repatriate the revenues arising from their commercial activities in those markets. Governments need to work with industry to resolve this situation so airlines can continue to provide the connectivity that is vital to driving economic activity and job creation,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman of United Airlines Nigeria, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, is advocating for the CBN to create a special forex window to save the local airline industry.

He said “Air tickets could cost as much as two hundred and fifty thousand Naira at the current exchange rate and cost of aviation fuel (JETA1). It is not to exploit passengers, but rather to ensure financial integrity of airlines which is another way of ensuring air safety.”

Further lamenting the challenge facing operators, Okonkwo said, “You have naira and you can’t convert it to dollar. So, the solution to this is for our Minister to understand that we need a special window with the CBN to access foreign exchange.” This, as it were, is a call for the return of multiple exchange rates in Nigeria.

As the airlines and other operators in the aviation industry are crying for Government’s help to save their businesses from going under, entities in other sectors of the Nigerian economy are either leaving the country or ‘shrinking’ the scope of their businesses.

It is all essentially because of the latest forex management style of the Government of the day. The massive devaluation of the Naira resulting from floatation of the local currency has put the finances of every business in ‘disarray.’ Even before now, the CBN has been dealing with a lingering shortage of dollars, a challenge that has seen huge sums due to foreign companies ‘trapped’ at the apex bank. Half-year statements of most blue chips and multinationals listed on the Nigeria Exchange (NGX) Limited show that they have incurred ‘huge forex losses’ so far, in 2023. Apparently due to this persisting scorching environment, the British pharmaceutical giant (GlaxoSmithKline, GSK) recently closed its Nigerian unit. The contagion has caught up with yet another blue chip—PZ Cussons— which is offering to “buy out” minority shareholders of PZ Cussons Nigeria. This is to make for the de-listing of the company from NGX amid “foreign exchange challenges” in the country. “The group believes the offer to be attractive for the minority shareholders of PZCN, particularly given the recent macroeconomic developments and foreign exchange challenges,” the company said in a statement.

PZ Cussons’ offer to the PZCN board is to acquire minority shareholders’ 26.73 per cent stake for 22.8 million pounds (US$28.7 million). The group said the funding for the transaction is expected to come from “existing naira cash balances.” It is not unlikely that this ‘exit bug’ will also sooner than expected catch up with other businesses in the land. Perhaps, this likelihood has informed the CBN’s hurried tinkering with its socalled Naira floatation: a policy that is fast sinking the Nigerian economy!

• Okeke is a practising Economist, Business Strategist, Sustainability expert and ex-Chief Economist of Zenith Bank Plc

Aside the grounded planes, some operators are unable to acquire new aircraft engines to replace old ones that have completed their life cycles due to acute dollar scarcity

FG Commits to Partnering FTAN, Others Towards Making Nigeria Tourism Work

The federal government has recommitted to enabling private enterprise participation in growing the tourism sector of the country, just as it also commended the efforts made by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), towards that field of the country’s economy.

FTAN is the umbrella body of private sector operators in the tourism industry of Nigeria.

Minister of the newly established Ministry of Tourism, Ms Lola Ade-John, disclosed this when she met with a delegation of FTAN top executives, led by its President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, accompanied by the Directors General of the two agencies in the ministry; the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, as well as, his counterpart at the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Mr Folarin Coker.

The minister used the meeting to restate her task of making the tourism industry viable and attractive to private investors, which she said tops the list of focus she has been tasked with by President Bola Tinubu.

According to the minister, ‘tourism is set to take the number one space in revenue generation in the country,’ which she stressed can only be achieved through effective collaborations and result-oriented partnerships with private sector businesses and think-tank groups like FTAN.

Earlier, while proposing key areas of focus for the minister, FTAN President, Mr Onung, disclosed that suggestions presented to the Federal Government through her, for consideration are intended to assist the Tourism ministry in achieving its objective of repositioning the Nigerian tourism industry for growth and development, as a great contributor to the national economy.

FTAN in its suggestions urged the Federal Government to revisit stalled programmes initiated in the sector, including the National Tourism Masterplan; hosting of the National Council on Tourism, the state’s tourism masterplan, as well as, the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), all of which had been abandoned by previous administrations for non-justifiable reasons despite the huge potential they portend for growing the sector of the economy.

It would be recalled that since the conclusion of the 61st Meeting United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa (CAF) and Technical Seminar for Tourism Statistics hosted by Nigeria in Abuja, in June 2018, which recommended and harped on a TSA for African countries, the far-reaching resolutions of that gathering have remained in the dustbin of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (or Culture, Information and National Orientation).

Incidentally, that novel meeting was hosted by the

immediate past minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. However, nearly five years later, nothing in that direction has been done by way of implementation of its decisions. It is against this backdrop that FTAN reminded the new minister of the need to reactivate the project as a way of lifting and pointing out a new direction for the industry operators, in particular, and the country’s economy in general.

According to FTAN, the Federal Government has ‘to create awareness and understanding of the implementation of Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) which is very important in tracking and keeping records of the National tourism growth and development indices, statistically.’

Onung further revisited the controversial National Tourism Masterplan, which since its official launch in 2006 under the tenure of Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, in Abuja, has come under heavy criticism for being too alien, and copied from the UNWTO without adaptation to the Nigerian peculiar environment.

Subsequent tenures of ministers like Chief Edem Duke had attempted to ‘domesticate’ it by including the concept of ‘tourism clusters,’ an attempt which was also rebuffed by operators, until its present state of abandonment by various states and private operators.

FTAN seeks the Federal Government's attention to revisit the master plan. This in addition to the idea of allowing individual states of the federation to draw up their own tourism masterplans, which FTAN posits “will equally serve as a roadmap and guide in the implementation of their tourism development programs and activities.”

According to Onung, the government needs to revisit the National Tourism Masterplan, as, according to him, “Nigeria cannot talk about developing the tourism industry without a roadmap to guide it to do so most effectively and efficiently which is the objective of the National Tourism Development Plan as a vital document.”

FTAN also sought the reactivation of the mandatory, but now abandoned Federal Government’s hosting of the National Council on Tourism, which was a platform where important national policies and programmes on the tourism industry are discussed, far-reaching decisions are taken, giving guide and direction to national tourism activities for sustainability and enhancement.

This is further as the group backed the formation of the Commissioners of Tourism Forum, which it said, “will bring all commissioners of tourism across the country together and afford them to discuss tourism development issues in their domains as well as offer the opportunity for synergy in national tourism development matters.”

The tourism operators’ group, in addition to its proposals before the minister, urged the Federal Government to come up with a calendar of events which will include all key tourism and hospitality events across the country

annually.

“Besides giving national tourism events a line of focus and direction in preparedness, it will guide tourists to prepare their schedules to attend tourism and hospitality events in the country by both local and international visitors”, the FTAN president told the minister.

The business group also advocated the revival of the rested Presidential Council of Tourism, which it said was a platform that brings together key stakeholders from the public sector comprising lines Ministries, Departments and Agencies at all levels of government, as well as the organised private sector in the tourism industry with His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief as Chairman of the council.

Continuing, Onung recalled “the thorny issue of Grading and Classification of Tourism and Hospitality establishments’ which he said needs to be in place to guide ‘standard operation patterns for tourism and hospitality establishments in the country in line with global best practices.”

FTAN also made a case before the minister to be carried along in programs, events and projects of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on tourism development matters and initiatives.

“We need to be informed, keep pace, and be carried along in international tourism development issues. This should be in collaboration with the organized private sectors for credibility and legitimacy.

“For instance, the UNWTO strategy on innovation and Education, Digital Transformation and Investments, and others", the group told the minister, as it further included the attendance of International Tourism and Hospitality Events.

“For instance, the World Tourism Market (WTM), FITUR, INDABA, and others,” adding that; ‘the Federal Government should organize and lead the country's delegation and attendance of such events.”

In conclusion, FTAN advised the Federal Government to key into the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda on Tourism of the United Nations and devise means to implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for ‘creating a separate Ministry for Tourism, which it said heeded ‘the cry of the industry,’ FTAN also hailed Ms AdeJohn’s worthiest appointment, describing it as “a good omen and literally the best thing that has happened to the industry in recent years given your pedigree and unalloyed commitment and dedication to the service of the country.”

Minister of Tourism, Ms Lola Ade-John, in a group photograph with members of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) led by President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, who paid a courtesy visit to her office in Abuja, Thursday.

JANEFRANCES CHIBUZOR

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

EDITOR Ivory Ukonu

NAIRA MARLEY: HOW I NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH – LIL SMART

Dancer Idowu Smart Emmanuel, aka Lil Smart, has disclosed his ordeal in the hands of his former record label owner, Afeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, founder of Marlian Records.

In a live video shared on Tiktok, Lil Smart alleged that the victimisation and assault rumours trailing Marlian Records were all true.

Speaking on the demise of Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, Lil Smart said the late singer’s silence played a role in his death.

According to Lil Smart, if the deceased had spoken up on the many attacks he was allegedly subjected to by Samson Eletu, aka Sam Larry, a close associate of Naira Marley, he probably would still be alive.

Speaking on rumours

surrounding Eletu’s numerous assaults and attacks on former Marlian Records signees, Lil Smart recounted his ordeal in Eletu’s hands.

He disclosed that he narrowly escaped after some masked men, believed to be Marlian boys, stormed his home.

Lil Smart also said he had tapes to prove this, adding that one of the boys who stormed his home was none other than a popular artiste known to be a friend to one of the Marlian Records boys, Oniyide Azeez, aka Zinoleesky.

Speaking in pidgin English, Lil Smart began, “It’s because Mohbad did not speak up, but I did every time they attacked me.

“Some months ago, Marlian boys and some Abokis stormed my home in Agungi, Lagos State, masked up. Thankfully, I saw them beforehand and escaped that day.”

On how he could tell the masked men who stormed his home were Marlian boys, Lil Smart said, “These are people I have lived with. I knew the minute I

saw them on the CCTV camera. I can present the CCTV tape.

“It was the period singer Balogun Afolabi Oluwaloseyi, aka Seyi Vibez, and Zinoleesky had some issues.

Zinoleesky accused Seyi Vibez of stealing his style. Seyi Vibez responded by calling Zinoleesky a ‘Marlian Record Slave’ who is not on his level.

“I had to leave my home and at some point, even left the State for Abuja. I have since abandoned that house.

“When I returned to Lagos, Sam Larry arrested me for petitioning the police over his issue. He said I lied in my petition and had me arrested. I bailed myself with N500,000.

“They also threatened me with a lawsuit. On how the arrest came about, Lil Smart said, “I had gone for a meeting at the beach with Magnito when I spotted Sam Larry. I tried to say hello, but he asked me not to.

“So, I sat down and continued my meeting with Magnito. Not long after, I saw plain-clothes policemen who arrested me illegally.

“They took me to Ilaso Police Station, but because they had no evidence to detain me, I was then transferred to Lagos Island Police Station where many of Sam Larry’s insider police are.

“They claimed that I lied against Sam Larry. I was threatened with jail time for the weekend or pay N500,000. I agreed to bail myself and gave them N500,000.

“I was also asked to pay N500,000 for a lawyer, which I refused. I have evidence to prove all of this,” Lil Smart said.

Lil Smart had earlier alleged that two of his former colleagues were driven mentally ill by the violent lifestyle of Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley.

MY FIRST BETRAYAL CAME FROM MY MUM – BIMBO ADEMOYE

Nollywood actress, Bimbo Ademoye, has opened up about her relationship with her mother, who she claimed left when she was 2 years old.

Bimbo noted that though she is not close with her mum, she still ensures she caters for her mother’s needs.

“My mother is alive. She lives about 15-20 minutes away from me. We just don’t have a friendship. I do not talk about it because I would love for people to respect that. I am a very private person. My mother left when I was two.

“My first ever betrayal came from my mother. We tried to rekindle the relationship — I would not want to use the word rekindle because there was no romance there because I did not get to know her, but I tried to build a relationship with her. Right now, we have a relationship. I am doing my duty as a child. I pay for this, pay for the rent and allowances.

“That is about what we have. I am very okay with that and I am open with the no friendship, no closeness that we have for my mental health and my own sanity. My mother is very much alive, and she is very beautiful and robust. My father is lightskinned. I got my skin colour from my father and my weight from my mother.”

I Started Acting Before Nollywood – Pete Edochie

Legendary thespian, Pete Edochie, said when he made his movie debut in the 1985 adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s novel, ‘Things Fall Apart,’ there was nothing like Nollywood.

"I am a senior in the movie industry. I mean, when I did ‘Things Fall Apart’ in 1985, there was nothing like Nollywood. By then, Nollywood was slumbering sonorously in the womb of time.

“It was seven years after that Nollywood came on board with ‘Living In Bondage.’

"I went round the world

before Nollywood came. By the special grace of God, after I did ‘Things Fall Apart,’ I was celebrated internationally.

"The BCC flew in here [Nigeria] to interview me and flew into America to interview Chinua Achebe. And Achebe said, ‘Pete Edochie gave that role an interpretation after my heart.’

"Before he died, he was calling me Okonkwo.

"Seven years after Nollywood came and when I retired from broadcasting, I joined Nollywood,” he revealed.

Ademoye

Emmanuel Edochie

Amusan Bounces Back With Diamond League Gold After Turbulent Summer

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

Tobi Amusan of Nigeria overcame a difficult summer to claim her third consecutive Diamond League title in the women's 100m hurdles.

Amusan powered to victory in 12.33 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic, holding off a late charge from Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who finished second in 12.38. Her winning time was a season's best and caps a redemption story for the world record holder in the event.

THEWILL recalls that last month, Amusan suffered a shock defeat at the World Championships, finishing sixth in the final after being cleared to compete at the last minute following a provisional

suspension for whereabouts failures. "I came out here and said it's my race to lose, and I gave it my all," said an emotional Amusan after the win. "I told God to give me the strength."

Earlier on Saturday, the spectre of further sanctions against Amusan was lifted after the deadline passed for the Athletics Integrity Unit to appeal the decision to overturn her ban as THEWILL reported.

The victory brings closure to a turbulent season for the Nigerian star. After her disappointment in Budapest, Amusan can now look ahead to the future with her position atop the 100m hurdles ranks firmly cemented once again.

Trabzonspor striker, Paul Onuachu, wasted no time in making an impact for his new club, scoring just 29 minutes into his debut in a 3-0 victory over Beşiktaş on Sunday.

The Southampton loanee rose highest to head home Enis Bardhi's cross and open the scoring at the Medical Park Stadyumu. Further goals from Anastasios Bakasetas and Edin Viš a in the 41st and 61st minutes wrapped up a comfortable win for the hosts against their Istanbul rivals. It was a dream debut for Onuachu, who found the net for the first time since January whilst still playing for Genk in Belgium.

The Nigerian international was brought off shortly after the restart with a suspected injury, replaced by Enis Destan in the 47th minute. Trabzonspor will hope it is nothing serious after securing the services of the 29-year-old on loan just before the Turkish transfer window closed. Onuachu will be eager to rediscover his best form in Turkey, having struggled to make an impact during his time at Southampton so far this season. Trabzonspor currently sit third in the Süper Lig table and the goals of their new striker could help fire them into title contention in this campaign.

Onuachu Scores on Debut as Trabzonspor Defeat Beşiktaş 3-Nil Rivers Utd Hold Burkina Faso Team to Barren Draw In CAF Confederation Cup

Rivers United of Nigeria held Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw on Sunday while playing away in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. Etoile were forced to play outside of their home country as there are no stadiums in Burkina Faso that meet CAF standards. Rivers United's result has increased their chances of reaching the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League. They are currently one of the best hopes for Nigerian clubs after compatriots Bendel Insurance were held to a draw at home by Renaissance Berkane of Morocco on Saturday. The second legs of the last-32 qualifiers will take place between 29 September and 1 October, with Rivers United having home advantage for the return match. The Confederation Cup is Nigeria's only prospect for continental success this year after early exits by Enyimba and Remo Stars in the Champions League. There was further evidence that Tanzanian clubs are becoming more competitive in Africa as Singida Fountain Gate defeated Future of Egypt 1-0 at home. The goal was scored by Kenyan Elvis Rupia in the second half.

It was a disappointing weekend for Zambian clubs. Maestro United lost 2-1 at home to Diables Noirs of Congo despite a late penalty by Andrew Phiri. On Saturday, Power Dynamos could only draw with Simba of Tanzania.