THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2024

Nigeria Recorded N600 Trillion e-Payment Transactions in 2023 Nume Ekeghe

Electronic payment transactions

in Nigeria hit an all-time high in 2023 as it rose by 55 per cent to N600 trillion, compared to N387

trillion in 2022.

This was revealed in recent data by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement

System (NIBSS).

Also, the total value of point of sale (PoS) transactions for 2023 was

N10.73 trillion compared to N8.39 trillion recorded in 2022 indicating a 27.85 per cent increase.

The data from NIBSS indicated Continued on page 10

NNPCL Excited as Production Commences at 14,000bpd Akpo West Field, Hails Kyari's Leadership... Page 6 Thursday 08 February, 2024 Vol 29. No 10529. Price: N400

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Ribadu: Nigeria, UK Commit to Defence, Security Imperatives... Page 14

Governors Need More Powers to Secure States, Obi, Attah,Tambuwal Declare Under Obasanjo, Yar’Adua governors were in charge of security, ex-Anambra governor discloses Buhari didn’t even consult me before closing borders in my state, former Sokoto governor laments

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former governors of Anambra State,

Akwa Ibom State, and Sokoto State, Peter Obi, Victor Attah, and Aminu Tambuwal, respectively, have called

for more powers for the state chief executives to enable them tackle the security challenges in the territories.

The ex-chief executives spoke at a panel discussion during the Annual Lecture and International

Leadership Symposium of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL).

A new book by founder of CVL, Continued on page 10

AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Beat S’Africa in Dramatic Shoot-outs to Qualify for Final Meet host country, Cote d’Ivoire, on Sunday Tinubu: our national team has made us proud Shettima, FG, Sanwo-Olu, Mbah, Abiodun hail victory over Bafana Bafana Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Duro Ikhazuagbe in Lagos, and James Sowole in Abeokuta After a tension-soaked match, which resulted in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, Nigeria’s Super Eagles, last night, booked their place in the finals of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire, by defeating South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-2.

By that stroke, the Super Eagles are due to meet the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, in the AFCON finals on Sunday, the host having also defeated DR Congo 1-0 in their semi-final match.

President Bola Tinubu hailed the Super Eagles for making Nigerians proud in their semi-final victory over Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Tinubu, in a post on his official Continued on page 10

Victorious super eagles...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles celebrating shortly after defeating South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-2 in penalty shootouts to qualify for the final of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire...yesterday night

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

A LEGAL LUMINARY GOES HOME...

L-R: Representative of the Body of Senior of Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Louis Mbanefo SAN; daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo; grand-daughter of the deceased, Miss Chantal Mbanefo; former employee of the deceased, Mr. Luke Chidi Ilogu SAN, and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN at the final funeral service of the former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief George Uwechue in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State…recently

MAN: Banning Spirit Drinks in Sachets, Will Endanger 500,000 Jobs, Hurt Billions of Naira Investments Groups, labour leaders stage protest at National Assembly, Lagos Assembly

Raheem Akingbolu, Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised concern over the recent ban imposed on the production of spirit drinks in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200ml by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in order to protect underage persons’ consumption of alcohol.

This was just as scores of civil society groups labour leaders yesterday besieged the National Assembly and the Lagos House of Assembly, to protest against the ban of the alcoholic beverages in sachet by NAFDAC. MAN in a statement issued yesterday, titled: “The Enforcement of Ban on Production of Alcoholic Beverages in Sachets and Less Than 200ML PET Bottles on February 5, 2024,” stated that the move would endanger over 500,000 jobs and hurt hundreds of billions of Naira investments in that sub-sector by foreign and local investors.

The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, stated that the key challenges in implementing strategies to eliminate underage

drinking in the country was the apparent preoccupation of NAFDAC to ban the production of drinks in sachets and PET bottles by 2024, which was at variance with the right of private entrepreneurs to invest and engage in legitimate business.

Ajayi-Kadir said: “Besides, the proposed policy would amount to a deliberate destruction of the business of local and indigenous investors who through thick and thin have kept faith with the Nigerian Economy.

“They have continued to invest and reinvest at enormous cost in the economy and in the Nigerian people who are the bulk of its nearly 500,000 workforce.

“This is in spite of the daunting challenges that businesses have faced in the difficult times, which if we must emphasise, has led to several companies closing down and foreign investors leaving the country.

“We are convinced that this present administration‘s Renewed Hope Agenda will not be best served with this ban. If the administration is committed to encouraging and strengthening local investors, then this ban should give way to access control.”

He said that one would have expected that NAFDAC should

allow due process of full legislative hearings by the appropriate House committee to take place, so that relevant stakeholders could be engaged and the public would know the factual, expert and well-informed opinions.

“Also, the Ministerial Technical Committee (MTC) should be allowed to complete its work. It is important to know that the industries have invested hundreds of billions of Naira not only in the business, but overtime in packaging and distribution.

“Most of the huge investments are backed by enormous indebtedness to both foreign and local financial institutions.

“It should also be borne in mind that prior to the investment made by the companies, in the packaging, distribution, logistics and advertisements of their products, the necessary approval were obtained thus prompting them to make said investments. This is what the ban is going to wreck for no justifiable reason.

“It must be explicitly stated: moderation and responsible drinking promote good health. Small is good, if you buy small you will consume small. If you buy big you

will consume big, this is not healthy.

“Bigger sizes encourage consumption of bigger portions, while small sizes encourage portion control. If you take away small sizes, you are encouraging excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

“To go ahead with the policy based on perceived danger, without empirical information and not minding the consequences, is unfair to the industry operators, the thousands of workers that will lose their jobs and inimical to Nigerian economy,” Ajayi-Kadir argued.

The manufacturers’ association also prayed that government should intensify its activities and support in the form of access control and tighter regulations, “but definitely not ban, which will be counterproductive.”

It pleaded that, “the ban be reversed immediately and replaced with regulations and access control such as establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets by local governments across the country; requiring suspected underage persons to show I.D to purchase alcoholic beverages as practiced in some other climes; tightening enforcement by law enforcement agencies; increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC,

FCCPC and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.”

The manufacturers’ association noted that going back in time when NAFDAC first proposed the ban, critical stakeholders including key members of Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) raised concerns in a letter dated November 6, 2018, which necessitated that NAFDAC, as part of getting the true position on the matter, engaged an independent research agency, Research Data Solution Limited.

The agency, which submitted its report to NAFDAC on August 20, 2021, recommended recommended access control by the regulator rather than outright ban; given the fact that only 3.9 per cent of underage are engaged in binge drinking.

The MAN observed that this has confirmed the fact that involvement of underage in alcoholic consumption is low and could, with additional efforts, be eradicated.

Meanwhile, scores of civil society groups, yesterday besieged the National Assembly, to stage a protest against the ban.

Tagged, 'Let The Poor Live' the

protesters were led by the Coalition Against Economic Saboteurs.

Spokesperson for the coalition who was also the main Convener, Adam Matazu, also called for the immediate sack of the NAFDAC DG Prof. Moji Adeyeye, for her alleged anti-people policies.

The groups lamented that the new policy would further pile more problems on the Nigerian economy as it may lead to the eventual shutdown of the industries producing these products.

They further decried that Adeyeye is being used by multinationals to destroy small businesses in our local production and companies.

Matazu said, "Today, we address a matter of grave concern, the recent decision by the Director General of the NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, to ban the sale of beverages in small sachets.

"We view this policy as a direct assault on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, a move that will not only put countless citizens out of work but also exacerbate the existing problems of insecurity and unemployment in our nation," Matazu said on behalf of the groups.

Continues online

Naira Continues to Fall at House to Probe Non-compliance by Banks Parallel to N1465/$1, Gains with CBN Directives on NOP Limits at the Official Window to Close N1,418/$1 Juliet Akoje in Abuja

Daily turnover drops 55%

Nume Ekeghe The naira continued its depreciation trend yesterday, losing value against the US Dollar at the parallel markets closing at N1,465 but appreciated marginally at the official window to N1,418.

At the official Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEM) window, the Naira closed at N1,418.78/$1, marking a N14.22 appreciation from the previous day's closing rate of N1,433.

However, the parallel market continued its downward turn yesterday to close at N1,465 compared to the N1,460 it closed on Tuesday indicating a N5 loss in one day.

Furthermore, the official window recorded a daily turnover of $209.93 million yesterday compared to the $465.29 it recorded on Tuesday indicating a 54.91 per cent decline.

The highest spot rate recorded yesterday was N1,510/$1 while the lowest spot rate recorded was N896.28/$1.

The House of Representatives has mandated the House Committees on Banking Regulations and Banking Institutions to conduct an investigative hearing on the non-compliance by banks and financial institutions with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directives on the Net Open Position Limits.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of matters of urgent national importance on the need for banks to implement CBN's policies on holding excess long foreign exchange and net open Position limits moved by Hon. Babajimi Benson at plenary yesterday.

Benson noted that the CBN was saddled with the responsibility of regulating the monetary policies

of the country as provided for by the CBN Act. Adding that in the performance of this duty, the CBN was empowered to make regulations and give directives for commercial banks and certain financial institutions to implement.

He Further noted that Section 8 (4) and (5) of the CBN Act requires the CBN Governor to brief relevant Committees of the National Assembly during the semi-annual hearings as well as provide periodic reports on the performance of the economy to the National Assembly.

"There has been a steady rise in the rate of the dollar in comparison to the naira. It rose to N1,520 to the dollar in the last week. This astronomical rise has been caused by diverse market forces and certain

economic policies adopted by the government, including the liberalisation of the dollar.

"Commercial banks and certain financial institutions in Nigeria usually hold back a large part of forex they obtain either through purchase, borrowing or allocation from the CBN rather than lending to their customers with a view to selling it when the exchange rate is high,” he added.

The lawmaker further alleged that the speculative activity by commercial banks and certain financial institutions had further exacerbated the harsh economic situation in the country and led to difficulty by legitimate businesses to obtain forex for their business transactions.

"The CBN has intervened by introducing new monetary policies

to check the rise in the rate of dollar among which are the Net Open Position Limits and holding excess long foreign exchange" He recalled that commercial banks and certain financial institutions were reluctant to implement the monetary measures put in place by the apex bank to check this unwholesome practices by banks and other financial institutions in the country.

Consequently, he stressed that unless drastic legislative measures were taken to enforce the implementation of these directives, the country would continue to experience dire economic hardship as a result of continuous rise in foreign exchange rates.

The House therefore, mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure full implementation.

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COLLABORATING ON FOOD SECURITY...

L-R: Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State; Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State; Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State; Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, during a visit by the governors to the ministry in Abuja…recently

NNPCL Excited as Production Commences at 14,000bpd Akpo West Field, Hails Kyari's Leadership To boost Nigeria’s oil output TotalEnergies posts $23.2bn adjusted net income in 2023 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to optimise production from the nation’s oil and gas assets, the company yesterday, announced the successful commencement of oil production from the Akpo West Field.

A statement from the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, explained that the milestone, which was the result of meticulous planning, strategic collaboration, and unwavering dedication from all stakeholders involved in the project, would add 14,000 barrels per day condensate to the nation’s production.

This, he said would be followed

up by the production of about four million cubic meters of gas per day by 2028.

“The development of Akpo West which is on Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 2 (formerly OML 130) leverages the existing Akpo Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility via a subsea tie-back to keep costs low and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

“The milestone was enabled by the strategic leadership of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mr. Mele Kyari, and the Upstream Directorate of the NNPC Ltd whose support played no small role in propelling the operators to actualise the short- and mid-term hydrocarbon production goal of the President Tinubu administration,”

Soneye added.

Located 135 kilometres offshore, Akpo West is one of the discoveries on PML 2 with proximity to the Akpo main which started up in 2009 and produced 124,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2023.

PML 2 is operated by TotalEnergies with a 24 per cent interest, in partnership with CNOOC (45%), Sapetro (15%), Prime 130 (16%), and the NNPCL as the concessionaire of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC).

In terms of volume, the development represents progress for Nigeria which has been unable to raise production markedly for at least four years.

In a separate statement from the French headquarters, of TotalEner-

gies, obtained by THISDAY, the multinational further stressed that by mid-2024, Akpo West would add 14,000 barrels of condensate production per day, to be followed by up to 4 million cubic meters of gas per day by 2028.

Condensate falls outside the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) monthly computation for member countries' oil production.

The Akpo West development, the statement said, leverages the existing Akpo facilities to keep costs low and minimise greenhouse gas emissions.

According to TotalEnergies, the project’s carbon intensity is expected to be below 5 kg CO2e/boe and will contribute to reduce the average

Senate Urges FG to Account for N100bn Gas Project Funds Disbursement Within 7 Days Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate has asked the federal government to forward to it, details of the award and disbursement of over N100 billion to companies engaged in the handling of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (PCNG) projects allegedly done in breach of the public procurement Act 2017.

The Senate Committee on Gas made the demand in a letter written to the Minister of Finance, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, asking him to provide the documents within seven days.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jarigbe Agom, specifically asked the minister to forward to the committee comprehensive records of the award and disbursement of over N100 billion and list of companies engaged in the handling of the project.

The request was coming on the heels of fresh plan by the PCNG to release another N130 billion to unspecified number of companies.

The committee had earlier commended President Bola Tinubu for the CNG initiatives but had asked the president to urgently present a supplementary budget to National Assembly to cover such spending.

It noted, however, noted that the federal government ignored an earlier warning by the Gas Committee that spending tax payers’ money on the gas infrastructure development projects without National Assembly

approval would amount to extra budgetary expenditure and gross violation of the public procurement Act. The committee's current letter therefore asked the finance minister to furnish the it with details of the award and disbursement of over N100 billion.

This was sequel to a fresh petition by a group known as “Good Governance and Transparency Front” The group accused the Chairman of the Steering Committee of Presidential CNG Initiative of approving the disbursement of the Funds to cronies without following the Due Process and the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

The Group also in the letter to the committee also stated that the PCNGI has not made any progress even with the disbursement of 100 bn naira because the PCNG refused to engage experts in gas development in the execution of the project.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas in the letter dated January 9 and made available to journalists yesterday, stated, "I am writing to request for comprehensive brief regarding the utilisation of the sum of 100 billion naira allocated by the federal government for the development of Gas infrastructure aimed at providing CNG to Nigerians as an alternative to fossil fuels."

Jarigbe warned the PCNG of the grave consequences of going ahead with such disbursement without approval by the Senate.

He said, "The Committee is seeking detailed information on the process followed in the award and disbursement of funds to the companies benefiting from the allocation.

"I would appreciate insight into the compliance of these processes with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

"Specifically, the Committee is interested in understanding the steps taken in the opening of bids, the qualification criteria applied and the

subsequent awarding of contracts to the selected companies.

"We are also interested in transparency and adherence to due process are crucial aspects in ensuring public trust and accountability in such initiatives.

"Kindly provide documentation and details regarding the Committees that received funding, outlining the specific projects or initiatives they are undertaking to promote the use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the country.

carbon intensity of TotalEnergies’ portfolio.

“After Ikike in 2022, TotalEnergies is pleased to start production of another tie-back project in Nigeria, Akpo West, which will contribute to maintaining the production of the existing Akpo facilities by developing additional nearby resources.

“This project fits the company’s strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects”, said the Senior Vice President Africa, Exploration and Production at TotalEnergies, Mike Sangster.

“This project leverages TotalEnergies’ solid footprint in Nigeria and will quickly bring value to the country, TotalEnergies and its partners, ” Sangster added.

TotalEnergies said it has been present in Nigeria for more than 60 years and employs today more than 1,800 people across different business segments.

“Nigeria is one of the main contributing countries to TotalEnergies’ hydrocarbon production where the company produced 219,000 boe/d in 2023. TotalEnergies also operates an extensive distribution network which includes about 540 service stations in the country.

“In all its operations, TotalEnergies is particularly attentive to the socio-economic development of the country and is committed to working with local communities,” the oil company stated.

Also, TotalEnergies announced yesterday, that for the whole of 2023 its adjusted net income fell 36 per cent to $23.2 billion as oil prices fell

back from the peaks hit in 2022 at the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The French oil firm said it expects net investments of $17 billion to $18 billion for 2024, of which $5 billion will be dedicated to its integrated power section.

The report saw the international oil company (IOC) post a biggerthan-expected decline in its adjusted income for the fourth quarter of 2023 and warned weak refining margins would impact its 2024 results.

In the financial statement released yesterday, the French group's net adjusted income dropped by 31 per cent to $5.2 billion from $7.6 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne said the group expected a return of about 10 per cent on its integrated power sector for 2024, stressing that a third of investments set aside for 2024 will be dedicated to new petrol and gas projects.

Pouyanne also said the company was, "reactivating" the financing with its partners for a Mozambique project and was hopeful the project would return to production by mid-year.

TotalEnergies said it plans to increase interim dividends by 6.8 per cent to 0.79 euros per share and to buy back $2 billion of shares in the first quarter of 2024. That would be the base level for quarterly buybacks "in the current environment", the company said.

For 2023, TotalEnergies proposed a dividend of 3.01 euros per share, up 7.1 per cent from 2022.

Sugar Council Seeks to Save $1bn By Ending Importation James Emejo in Abuja Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, yesterday said the council seeks to eliminate sugar importation and save the country about $1 billion through the implementation of the Nigerian Sugar Masterplan (NSMP).

He said the measure will help reduce current pressure on the country’s foreign reserves as well as strengthen the Naira.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, who assumed office in October, Bakrin said the council had been able to onboard two new sugar investors who control about 20,000 hectares of land under his leadership.

He also said the council had redesigned the Backward Integration

Performance Incentive Framework to ensure proper alignment between the objectives of the NSMP and the activities of the operators.

He said, “So, if you are doing well, you get rewarded, and if you don't do well, it would show in the kinds of incentives you get.

“You know that's one of the major problems in Nigeria-if you don't have proper incentive alignment, people will do whatever they want.”

He also disclosed that the council has commenced the full revitalisation of the Nigerian Sugar Institute in Ilorin, Kwara State to achieve the production of two million seedlings which will supply to the operators to help them fast-track the development of sugar estates.

He added that the council has also mapped out plans to train

about 1,500 sugar operators over time.

Among other things, the NSDC boss said it is ramping up phase 2 of NSMP Strategy, adding that it would be unveiled next month to give proper backing to its activities.

According to him, the revamped framework will help to deal with the current complexities and realities of the industry.

He said the council remained committed under his watch to uphold the four pillars of the NSMP especially to promote backward integration to ensure the development of sugar production in the country; provide fiscal incentives including zero tariffs on equipment and spares as well as assistance to investors in the provision of feasibility studies.

Jhe said on assumption of office

in October, “I built on the work and achievements of my predecessor who has already worked extremely hard to get things to where they are today.

“So, working with the leadership team, we sort of articulated what needs to happen going forward to deliver on the mandate of this organisation and contribute our quota to national development.

“The critical thing for us is to accelerate the attainment of the goals of the NSMP through strategic interventions. And we recognise three objectives: One is to increase the output of sugar locally to match domestic demand; to become a globally competitive player. We also want to become a globally competitive producer of sugar as a country and make imports a lot less attractive.

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NEWS

Standard Chartered Bank’s Global Market Outlook event...

L-R: Chief Investment Officer for Africa and Middle East/Europe, Standard Chartered, Manpreet Gill ; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria (SCBN) Limited, Foluso Philips; Head, Affluent Segments and Branches, Consumer, Private and Priority Banking Business (CPBB), Chima Ebor; Head of Wealth Management, SCBN, Lanre Olajide and , Head of Financial Markets, SCBN , Ayodeji Adelagun, during the Bank’s Global Market Outlook event in Lagos ...recently

FG to Disburse N200bn at 9% to MSMEs, SMEs, Manufacturers through BOI In historic drive, CAC registers 2m MSMEs at once Seeks to formalise 20m businesses in 2024, eyes N20 billion in taxes

Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja

The federal government has, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), established three funds totalling N200 billion to support businesses across Nigeria, at nine per cent interest, to be disbursed by the Bank of Industry (BOI).

In a similar vein, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in partnership with Moniepoint Micro Finance Bank, yesterday, registered an unprecedented two million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), effectively formalising their operations in the country.

The three funds established by the federal government were the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS), the FGN MSME Intervention Fund, and the FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund. BOI was appointed as the executing agency for the funds, and vested with the responsibility for their day-to-day administration.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BOI, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, in a statement, reiterated BOI’s commitment to the development of MSMEs as the bedrock of the economy, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda Olusi stated, “The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS) is a N50 billion grant scheme to support eligible Nano Business

owners. The grant will be disbursed to a minimum of 1,000 beneficiaries, especially women and youths, per Local Government Area (LGA) in the 774 LGAs across the nation and the six Council Areas in the FCT. “The target Nano businesses include traders, food vendors, ICT businesses, transporters, artisans, and creatives, among others.

“This is the grant component of the initiative, as beneficiaries are not required to pay back. To be eligible, beneficiaries must own a Nano business and be willing to register a business name as their business grows, and be willing to engage at least one additional staff member if the business turnover increases.

“They must also be willing to provide proof of residential/business address in their Local Government Area, provide relevant personal and bank account information, including but not limited to, Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN) for verification of identity.

The beneficiary must meet the application submission deadline for the scheme.”

Another component of the fund is the FGN MSME Intervention Fund, which is a N75 billion fund, for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, according to the statement.

It said the fund would be used to support eligible MSMEs and serve

as a cushion against the high cost of production, marketing and distribution of products arising mainly from infrastructure deficiencies and other ancillary factors involving MSMEs in Nigeria.

Each beneficiary would receive a maximum of N1 million. The fund would be disbursed at an interest rate of nine per cent all-inclusive per annum, with a tenor of three years for equipment and working capital.

According to Olusi, the FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund is a N75 billion fund that would be used to support eligible manufacturing companies and help cushion against the high and rising costs of production, marketing and distribution of products arising from infrastructural deficiencies and other ancillary factors

affecting the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. He said beneficiaries would receive up to N1 billion, disbursed at an interest rate of nine per cent all-inclusive per annum, with a tenor of five years for term loans, and one year for working capital.

In Historic Drive, CAC Registers 2m MSMEs At Once The CAC, in partnership with Moniepoint Micro Finance Bank, yesterday, registered a record two million MSMEs, and effectively formalised their operations in the country.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who inaugurated the businesses, described the initiative as monu-

Indian oil firm eyes exploration in Nigeria’s offshore assets Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has warned oil marketers to desist from fraudulent activities like under-dispensing of products and illegal adjustment of fuel pumps.

Speaking when members of

the Major Energies Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) visited him in Abuja, Lokpobiri in a statement posted on his X handle, pledged that government will continue to foster equitable opportunities and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships between the groups.

“In my call for their continued

Say life in Cameroon camps no longer bearable Demand compensation for government's failure to protect them from Boko Haram onslaught Nigerian refugees in Cameroon (NRC) have called on President Bola Tinubu to expedite action that would see them return to their ancestral homes they over 10 years ago, owing to the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists group.

The refugees totalling 120,000 in various camps in the northern part of Cameroon, predicated their calls on the excruciating standard of living in the camps.

The group in a letter dated January 8, 2024, signed by its President Luka Isaac, observed that, "the hardship has become so severe that some unscrupulous people are taking advantage

of the refugees by exploiting them in different ways including human trafficking," adding that, "As time passes by this situation is worsening."

The NRC recalled how they had fled their ancestral homes in Borno State in 2013, to take refuge in Cameroon following the activities of Boko Haram terrorists. They said on arrival in Cameroon the authorities there and the United Nations agencies including the UN High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) and other international agencies attended to their basic needs at the various camps.

"As time went by, the supplies of basic necessities depleted and we resorted to rationing such supplies.

At present, the supplies have become

federal government was prepared for greater partnership with the company, adding that it would consider its request for provision of cheaper funding and grants to enable it draw more small businesses into the formal space, as well as create an enabling environment for them to thrive.

She said, “We will support in all ways we can. We will work on your request. It is fact based and government can support them.”

Magaji said the magnitude of the registration was unprecedented, adding that the commission has a target to formalise 20 million small businesses this year. He added that government would be able to generate about N20 billion in revenues.

FG Warns Oil Marketers Against Fraudulent Activities

120,000 Nigerian Refugees Beg Tinubu to Facilitate Their Return Back Home

Alex Enumah in Abuja

mental.

While commending the RegistrarGeneral/Chief Executive, CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, for the laudable effort within a short period in office, Uzoka-Anite said the innovation demonstrated how the use of information technology could catalyse the economic development.

She said the development implied that two million additional jobs had been created in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to provide 50 million jobs.

The minister said the registration was unprecedented in the history of the country.

While commending Moniepoint, Uzoka-Anite promised greater collaboration towards formalising additional MSMEs. She said the

erratic, thereby exposing the refugees to serious challenges, including hunger and health problems," he said.

"The UNHCR and the Cameroonian authorities expect the Federal Government of Nigeria to prepare and return the refugees to their communities in Nigeria," he added.

While stating that the coming of Tinubu as President in times like these was a new source of hope and restoration for Nigerians, the group passionately pleaded with the government and other organisations to come to their aid under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

Besides, they urged the federal government to live up to its primary

responsibility of protecting lives and property of citizens and provide welfare to the refugees.

Meanwhile, the NRC urged the president to improve the security situation in Gwoza East by establishing government through the deployment of soldiers and relevant security agencies, especially at Ashigashiya, Kirawa, Attagara and Barawa for a start and renovate the old and destroyed police station at Arboko.

In addition, they said the government should set up camps in about 21 villages in Gwoza East of Borno State to enable their return to their communities and start reviving their economic activities.

support towards enhancing sustainable production and ensuring energy accessibility for all Nigerians, I emphasised the importance of addressing fraudulent activities by some industry operators, such as meter adjustments and under-dispensing.

“We must continue to foster equitable opportunities and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships,” the minister stated.

While acknowledging the importance of the upstream sector for the petroleum industry's advancement, the minister said he also recognises the downstream sector's significance to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

As such, he explained that government was ensuring a favourable business environment for the players, having implemented relevant policies for ease of doing business.

“This was the focus of my discussion when I hosted members of the Major Energies Marketers' Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) during which I commended their unwavering dedication to driving the downstream petroleum market and serving the interests of Nigerians.

“I underscored the pivotal role they play in our nation's energy landscape and emphasised the importance of continuing collaboration with the government of President Bola Tinubu in his #RenewedHope agenda for Nigeria's advancement,” he added.

Also, the minister in another

forum, while welcoming the management team from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) during their familiarisation visit, emphasised the critical role the commission plays in today's data-centric world.

In an era dominated by data mining and analysis, he stated that the mandate of the commission was indispensable.

He noted that he agreed with the significance NDPC holds in safeguarding Nigerian citizens from potential frauds and privacy breaches, assuring the commission of the ministry’s unwavering support.

“Furthermore, I urged the commission to prioritise workshops and sensitisation programmes. These initiatives are crucial for informing the public about the commission's objectives and empowering individuals to protect their data,” he stated.

Meanwhile, India's Bharat PetroResources Ltd, the exploration arm of refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) is looking for oil and gas producing assets in West Africa and Brazil, its Managing Director, Barnali Tokhi, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Specifically, Tokhi noted that the company was looking at offshore Nigeria and other African countries, beside Brazil.

"We are looking at Brazil and the Atlantic area, which is Brazil's offshore and west Africa," she said, adding that Angola, Ivory Coast, Nigeria offshore and Senegal are also good prospects.

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Economy: Edun, Cardoso, Others Begin Talks with Visiting World Bank MD Nigeria seeks more support

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; his Budget and Economic Planning counterpart, Senator Atiku Bagudu and Central Bank Governor, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso yesterday began talks with the visiting Managing Director, Operations of the World Bank, Ms. Anna Bjerde, on how to advance Nigeria's economic reforms.

Briefing journalists in Abuja, Bjerde, who arrived Nigeria on

February 5, said she was in the country to further the World Bank’s engagement with Nigeria on critical aspects of the country’s development agenda, including macroeconomic and fiscal policy, energy access, digital infrastructure, and skills.

The World Bank, she said, has over 30 ongoing projects in Nigeria, adding that her visit would afford her the opportunity to also take stock of the projects.

According to Bjerde, her visit would help to further discussions on Nigeria's economic reforms.

In his remarks, Edun said Bjerde's visit was in continuation of the recent visit by the World Bank President, Ajay Banga to Nigeria.

While soliciting for more support for Nigeria from the Bretton Woods institution, Edun expressed the hope that the multilateral institution would appreciate the country’s reform efforts.

The CBN Governor, Cardoso also thanked the World Bank for its support for Nigeria and called for more.

Noting that the World Bank support was not only needed in

terms of dollars and cents, he stated that the bank's huge knowledge asset would be of benefit to Nigeria.

Cardoso stated that the apex bank was deeply appreciative of the global bank's support in the knowledge economy, and solicited for more.

In his remarks, Bagudu expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its continuing support for Nigeria.

He noted that the Tinubu administration embarked on one of the biggest reforms, adding that the 2024 Budget is one that would reduce deficit for the first time in

a long time.

He called for more support from the World Bank.

The visiting World Bank Managing Director of Operations would today participate in a meeting of Western and Central Africa Ministers of Finance co-hosted

by Nigeria and the World Bank.

At the meeting, Bjerde would discuss the ambitious regional development priorities and how additional International Development Association (IDA) resources can further support countries to “leap forward" and attain sustainable

A F CON 2 0 2 3 : S u p e r Eag l e s B e at S ’A f r i c a i n D r amati c S h o ot - o u ts to Q ua l ify f o r F i n a l

Instagram handle, @officialasiwajubat, said, “From the southernmost cape of Africa to the plains and the coast of West Africa….You have made us all proud to be Nigerians. Go… Soar in the AFCON Finals. Well done, boys!”

On Wednesday, also, media assistant to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Stanley Nkwocha, in a release, said the presence of Shettima at the Bouake venue of the AFCON match served as a significant source of inspiration for the Nigerian team.

In the Nigeria-South Africa match, regulation and extra time amounting to 120 minutes of the pulsating football had deadlocked 1-1 without a clear winner.

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, and forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, were the heroes for Nigeria during the shootout.

Nwabali saved two penalties, while Iheanacho, who came on as a late substitute for Ademola Lookman, sealed Nigeria’s qualification to the championship game with the decisive penalty kick goal.

Bafana Bafana’s Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa’s penalty kicks were saved by Nwabali, while

only Ola Aina blasted his penalty wide over the bar on the Nigerian side.

The scorers for Eagles included Terem Moffi, Kenneth Omeruo, and William Troost-Ekong.

Both goals in the regulation time were equally scored via penalty kicks.

Nigerian captain, Troost-Ekong, tucked into the net the resulting penalty from the fouling of Victor Osimhen in the box by Mothobi Mvala in the 64th minute.

While Nigerians were celebrating an Osimhen added second goal deep in the second half, VAR replay of Alhassan Yusuf’s kicking of Percy Tau in the Nigerian box gifted the South Africans a penalty.

It was also perfectly tucked into the Nigerian net by Teboho Mokoena in the 90th minute, forcing the semi-final to drag into extra time.

In extra-time, South African defender Grant Kekana was sent off for a professional foul on Terem Moffi.

The Super Eagles created the first danger of the game in the 13th minute, but somehow goalkeeper Ronwen Williams got a fingertip to a cross on the left by Ola Aina to deny

Nigeria Recorded N600 Trillion e-Payment Transactions in 2023 that in March 2023, the volume of e-payment transactions reached an unprecedented peak of 1.17 billion, followed by the 968 million transactions recorded in December.

A monthly breakdown on the analysis of electronic transactions value in Nigeria for the year 2023 revealed that in January 2023, Nigerians engaged in electronic transactions amounting to N38.8 trillion on various platforms.

Subsequently, in February, the value of e-payments stood at N36.8 trillion; in March 2023, the country witnessed a substantial surge in the value of electronic transactions, reaching N48.3 trillion primarily driven by the prevailing scarcity of cash during that period.

Moving into April, a total of N41.3 trillion was recorded, and May witnessed a further increase in transaction volume, reaching N45.9 trillion.

Furthermore, in June 2023, the value of NIP transactions settled at N45.3 trillion, experiencing a marginal decline from the figure recorded in May. July witnessed a considerable leap in e-payment transactions, reaching N47.4 trillion.

In August, the value of NIP transactions rose even higher, reaching N50.9 trillion, while September maintained this upward trajectory, with transactions amounting to N51 trillion.

As the year progressed, October and November saw transaction values stand at N59 trillion and N63.6 trillion, respectively. Finally, the pinnacle of electronic transactions for the year was reached in December, with the highest recorded value of N71.9 trillion.

Also, a breakdown of the monthly volume of transactions for 2023, showed that January recorded 541 million transactions, February saw an uptick to 787.9 million while the month of March recorded the highest volume of transactions in 2023 at 1.17 billion, but April saw

a decline to 813.9 million.

Furthermore, the month of May recorded a decline to 771.8 million, a mild uptick was seen in June at 729.06 million while July and August continued the upward trend at 743.15 million and 755.94 million respectively. However, September recorded a slight decline to 745 million transactions, just as October saw an uptick to 807.69 million, and November continued upwards to 828.17 million before ending the year at 968.59 million in December.

Also, a breakdown of value in PoS transactions in 2023 revealed significant fluctuations in transaction values in which January saw a robust start with transactions amounting to N807.16 billion, indicating a strong preference for cashless payments.

The momentum continued into February, with a notable increase in transaction values, reaching N883.45 billion; March recorded a substantial surge, marking a peak in PoS transaction values at N1.15 trillion.

Despite a slight decline in April, PoS transaction values remained significant, reaching N1.04 trillion.

Also, the month of May recorded N1.03 trillion transactions while June recorded a transaction value of N943.38 billion; July witnessed consistent usage of PoS transaction as values totalled N923.37 billion, and in August PoS transactions declined marginally accounting for a total value of N864.62 billion.

The downward trend continued in September with transaction values amounting to N728.66 billion, while October saw a rebound, with an uptick in transaction values reaching N779.33 billion. In November, the trend continued maintaining a substantial figure of N712.57 billion in PoS transactions and the year concluded on a high note in December, with transaction values totaling N862 billion, reflecting increased spending during the festive season.

Osimhen a chance to head home.

Just before the half hour mark, Osimhen was blocked from trying an audacious effort from distance after he had sighted the South African goalkeeper was well off his lines.

Thereafter, South Africa took control of the game.

Nwabali saved off the feet of Percy Tau in the 35th minute, before the Chippa United goalkeeper pulled off an even better save four minutes after, when he stretched full length to keep out a shot by Evidence Makgopa.

Before the penalty shootout, there were anxious moments among Nigerian football fans given the four penalty kicks that South Africa’s goalkeeper, Williams, saved against Cape Verde in their quarter final clash.

They feared that he might turn out to be Nigeria’s nemesis in the quest by the Super Eagles to qualify for the finals. But at the end, thunder failed to strike twice, with the Nigerian team qualifying to play in the finals on February 11.

It will be Nigeria's eighth finals since the country's participation in the African football showpiece, which it won thrice as hosts in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

Defeated semi-finalists, South Africa and DR Congo, will play for the consolation third place match on Saturday.

Tinubu hailed the Super Eagles for making Nigeria proud.

Media assistant to Shettima, who was present at the Bouake venue of the AFCON semi-final match, stated, in a release, "The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their place in the finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations after a thrilling victory over South Africa in the semi-final.

“The match, held at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, saw

Nigeria overcome their opponents on penalties after extra time.

"Their performance throughout the tournament has been marked by exceptional talent, determination, and resilience, captivating the hearts of fans nationwide.

"While the precise factors behind the team's success remain multifaceted, the presence of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, undoubtedly, served as a significant source of inspiration. His unwavering support and belief in the team's capabilities resonated deeply with the players and fans alike.

"As the Super Eagles prepare for the finals, the nation stands united in support, eager to witness them etch their names in footballing history.

The entire country await their return with bated breath, confident that they will deliver their best performance yet and bring the AFCON trophy home."

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the federal government’s commendation of the Super Eagles, in a statement, after the adrenaline pumping 4-2 penalty shootout victory, describing the Eagles performance as the stuff of legends.

Idris applauded the Super Eagles for displaying remarkable talent, determination, and teamwork throughout the match. He said the players showcased the true spirit of Nigerian football.

The minister said through their indomitable spirit in pursuit of victory, the Eagles were now on the verge of clinching the coveted trophy for Nigeria. He said as the national team looked forward to the final match, the nation and the government remained firmly behind them, while expressing confidence in their ability to emerge victorious on

Sunday and bring home the Nations Cup once again.

“The entire nation rallies behind the Super Eagles as they prepare to make history and write their names in gold in African and global football,” Idris stated.

He urged all Nigerians to continue to support and cheer the Super Eagles as they strove for greatness in the final match, stressing that the team carries the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation on their shoulders.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said, “I rejoice with our marvellous Super Eagles for achieving this feat. And Lagos is proud of them and our country is equally proud of them.

“I salute them for their doggedness and determination. Lagos stands fully behind them all the way to victory on Sunday. They have been amazing in their performance.

“The entire state is cheering them on to victory on Sunday. We are bringing Lagosians to Onikan Stadium to watch and cheer them to victory.”

In the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu said, "I am so proud of our Super Eagles for finding that extra tenacity to push through.

“From Nwabali, with the in-match and penalty heroics, to Ekong to Osimhen, for taking initiative to help us score in the match, and to the silent hero, Coach José Peseiro, everyone dug deep to give us this one."

The governor implored Nigerians, especially Lagos residents, to come out in their millions to show support and solidarity with the Super Eagles during the final game, at the Bolaji Johnson Sport Arena and 26 other viewing centres across the state on Sunday.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso growth, jobs, and development.

Similarly, the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, congratulated the Super Eagles on their hard won victory against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. Mbah said the Eagles were undoubtedly super, both in mentality and display in the semi-final outing.

Taking to his social media handles, Mbah wrote, "Hearty congratulations, Super Eagles, on your qualification for the finals of AFCON 2023.

"That was a breath-taking encounter, but you were undoubtedly super in mentality and display.

"Thank you for making us super proud and best wishes in the final of the competition. Our prayers are with you. Congratulations, Nigeria!"

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the victory of the Super Eagles over South Africa as well-deserved.

Abiodun, in a congratulatory message to the national football team and the entire country, praised the players for their outstanding performance against the South Africans.

Abiodun expressed delight and pride in the team's remarkable victory.

He commended the players, coaching staff, and the entire Nigerian football fraternity for their dedication and hard work.

The governor said, in a statement last night, "The Super Eagles have once again proven their mettle on the international stage, showcasing their exceptional skills and determination.

“I am incredibly proud of their achievement in securing a welldeserved spot in the Africa Cup of Nations finals. This victory is a testament to the strength and unity of our beloved country, Nigeria.

“The Super Eagles have shown the world what it means to be a team, fighting together to achieve a common goal."

Governors Need More Powers to Secure States, Obi, Attah, Tambuwal Declare Professor Pat Utomi, titled, “Power, Politics, Public Policy Process and Performance,” was launched at the event.

The programme, organised to mark Utomi’s 68th birthday, had the theme, “Democracy, Governance and National Performance: The Mutual Relationship.”

Obi, a 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), while answering questions on the powers of governors in the current political dispensation, recalled that when he governed Anambra State, he enjoyed substantial measure of power to take some security decisions, to secure the people.

He said during the time he served as governor, the president then authorised governors to act on some matters of security.

According to Obi, “There is always difference between one president and another. We cannot compare President Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, Umaru Yar’Adua presidency to what we have after.

“Under Obasanjo, the governors were in charge of security. I requested that every DPO (Divisional Police Officer) be removed and I had it.

“I took decisions on security with the authority of the president during the late President Umaru Yar’adua and every month, there was a conversation between the

president and the governors.

“The governor has to be in charge of the state and be responsible.

So, we need a president who is determined to give the governor authority to do something.”

Obi called on President Bola Tinubu to strengthen the war against insurgency and corruption in order to move the country forward.

On economy and inflation, Obi, who decried the dollarisation of local business transactions, said people guilty of this act of sabotage should be punished.

He said, “Nigerians should be proud of our currency. We must have a system that works. These are issues that we need to deal with.”

Tambuwal said governors were not always consulted lately when decisions concerning their states were being made by the president.

Citing the closure of three border areas linking Sokoto with three states in Niger Republic during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Tambuwal said as governor of the state, he was not consulted or carried along.

The former governor said, “On matters of security, governors are supposed to be hands on because they are the ones dealing with issues of ensuring that people are secure.

“There is the need for us to restructure and devolve more powers to the governors so that they can work on issues of security.”

On Western democracy and whether the presidential system of government was working in Nigeria, Tambuwal said the system appeared not to be working for the country.

He stated, “I believe that as someone who was in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, and who was Speaker of that House, we have a lot of work to do to bring the realities of our situation to bear with the presidential system of government.

“We need to tinker and work the system and bring it closer home.

I believe there is a lot more to do, be done in terms of working the system to conform to our own reality.”

Tambuwal stated that the country’s challenges were not all about the system alone, they also had to do with leadership and the drivers of democracy.

He said, “We need to change our ways, we as a people practising this democracy. We need to imbibe the values of those practising democracy in the United States of America.”

Contributing, too, Attah, who was the chairman of the occasion, said in a federation, the governors were supposed to be partners, not subordinates to the president.

He said he was frustrated at a point while executing his power project, when he was Akwa Ibom State governor, because of the nature

of the federal system in place.

Attah called for constitutional review.

While supporting advocates of creation of state police, Attah added that the electoral body must also be put on trial on some of its activities, to move the country forward.

“We also need to develop the courage and ability to change our constitution and make it one written

by Nigerians and for Nigerians, to make progress,” he said.

Utomi, on his part, said presidents were supposed to be good listeners, consulting with governors and taking counsel from them on matters of security “We need people to go into leadership positions to learn to listen and consult. If you cannot listen, you cannot lead,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, who highlighted the link between democracy, governance and national performance, said the world was beckoning on Nigeria to take its rightful place in those three areas of societal existence.

Fomunyoh, a Senior Associate and Regional Director for the Central and West Africa Programme, said the continent was waiting for Nigeria to take the lead in human capital development, economic development, good governance, among other indices of development.

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NEWS

courtesy visit to Abiodun...

L-R: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. General Muhammed Takuti Usman; Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun; Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brig-Gen Muhammed Tajudeen Aminu and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mustapha Alamutu, during a courtesy visit to the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta... yesterday

Falana: ECOWAS Must Sanction Senegal for ‘Illegal’ Postponement of Elections

Says nation’s president manipulating system to favour his surrogate

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos Senior lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to sanction Senegal for illegally postponing its elections.

He therefore urged the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS to urgently organise an extra-ordinary session to discuss and respond to the deteriorating human rights and rule of law situation in Senegal.

Falana’s call followed President Macky Sall’s decision to call off this month’s elections citing as ‘pretext’ a row over the eligibility of candidates.

“The ECOWAS leaders should consider imposing targeted sanctions

including imposing travel bans, asset freezes and other targeted sanctions on Mr Sall and officials of his government responsible for serious violations of the democratic rights of the people of Senegal,” the human rights lawyer said.

“Imposing targeted sanctions on Mr Sall and officials of his government is consistent with the provisions of ECOWAS treaties and protocols including article 45 (2) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“Article 2 (1) & (2) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance stipulates that: No substantial modification shall be made to the electoral laws in the last six months before the elections, except with the consent

of a majority of political actors.

“That all the elections shall be organised on the dates or at periods fixed by the constitution or the electoral laws,” he said in a statement.

In July 2023, Falana said, Sall dropped his ambition to run for a third term in this year’s election, ending years of uncertainty over his political future that helped fuel deadly opposition protests.

Since then, he noted that Sall had been manipulating the democratic process to install his surrogate.

According to him, the illegal postponement of the elections is due to Sall's fear that his chosen candidate would be rejected in the polls by the Senegalese people.

“The postponement of the elec-

tions is a constitutional coup, and a major threat to the rule of law and constitutional government not only in Senegal but also across the sub-region, especially given planned exit of Burkina-Faso, Niger and Mali from the ECOWAS. “The postponement of the elections is also a fundamental breach of the Lome Declaration and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which Senegal has signed. Senegal signed the Charter on December 15, 2008, and as such, the government has a good faith obligation to comply with the provisions of the Charter,” he stressed.

He also noted the provisions of article 3(h) of the African Union Constitutive Act, explaining that

Jimoh Ibrahim Says Tinubu Won’t Impose Candidates on APC Ahead of the 2024 Ondo governorship primary of the All Progressives Party (APC), Senator Ibrahim Jimoh has said that President Bola Tinubu won’t impose any candidate on the party.

Addressing newsmen in Akure, the state capital, Ibrahim, the senator representing Ondo South, said he would ensure the security of the state if elected governor.

“So, one of the areas we are looking at is to ensure that everybody in Ondo state can go to sleep with their eyes closed and that’s the topmost of our priority.

Mapping every system, the tactical operations of Amotekun have to become more distinct in technology; I want an Amotekun which is IT-informed because I have a PhD in War Studies.

“So we need to do more of IT, our government will ensure that Amotekun is IT- compliant through strategy and innovation, and is going to be well-funded to ensure that the people of Ondo State can go and sleep,” he said.

The governorship aspirant , who stated that he informed the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu about his ambition before his death, noted that he was going to face infrastructural development and make sure that employment is created through it.

“We should expect the bitumen act that I’m moving at the Senate, which is now at the third reading to be more prominent and classic in engagement.

“In the Northern senatorial district, we are going to do swap contracts, we are not going to spend one kobo to do our roads.

Also, the civil service will be very instrumental in running the government to ensure that they are computerised.

“We are going to empower commissioners to make them responsible, so that they will not be running after the governor for any approval,” he said.

On whether the death of Akeredolu could affect his ambition, the senator said: “Maybe the death of Aketi has enhanced my chances because Aketi is a human being, he can be subjectively objective at the last minute. But now that he is no more, that possibility is written off completely. So whoever is there, who wants to run for governor will meet me on the field.

“So Aketi’s death doesn’t affect my chances at all, but it would enhance my chances to win the governorship position of this state.

So we are working seriously to win this election. And the president will never say that we should go and work for the incumbent

governor.

“He can only appeal that maybe he prefers one person if you can prefer him and if you cannot go and do your election.

So the oresident cannot say that I have taken this person so all of you should go and sit down.

Even Muhammadu Buhari who is very clueless about anything

never did that.

“I don’t use people’s names to campaign, my campaign is very proud of my work. I’m not a desperate politician, I only want to help my state, if I get it I will develop the state and if you give it to somebody else I’m not going to die. So we are combing the strategy.”

un fact, during the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, delegates ‘’unanimously rejected any unconstitutional change as an unacceptable and anachronistic act, which is in contradiction of our commitment to promote democratic principles and conditions.”

The protection of democratic rights of the people of Senegal and the guarding or constraining of the exercise of government power, he said, remains important to constitutional democracy.

Falana added that the postponement of the elections suggests a deliberate ploy by Sall to manipulate the country’s constitution in order to hold on to power against the will of the people and popular aspirations.

He recalled that in 2010, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government also reminded member states of the need to ‘uphold the rule of law and abide by their own Constitutions, especially with regard to constitutional reforms, bearing in mind that failure to respect these provisions could lead to situations of tension which, in turn, could trigger political crisis.’

The postponement of the elections, Falana said, also clearly constitutes a fundamental breach of the constitution of Senegal.

He maintained that given the fact that the constitution is the result of popular participation, a will of the people, grossly violating

the constitution represents both a breach of the covenant between the Senegalese government and the people of the country.

“By arbitrarily postponing the elections, Mr Sall has clearly shown his reluctance to implement and uphold the constitution of Senegal and democratic and rule of law principles, something to which the ECOWAS is expressly committed.

“The postponement of the elections also suggests a typical case of illegal perpetuation of a government beyond the duly defined constitutional period in clear contempt and defiance of the will of the people: the Constitution.

“The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has observed that the right of a people to determine its ‘political status’ involves the right of citizens to be able to choose freely those persons or party that will govern them and that government by force is incompatible with the rights of peoples freely to determine their political future’, contravening articles 13(1) and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” he said.

According to the rights activist, the government of Senegal has severely repressed its people, a ‘ transgression’ he said deserves sanctions.

“The ECOWAS leaders must act now to compel full and effective compliance with its treaties and protocols and to serve as deterrent to other ECOWAS member states,” he insisted.

Adebutu’s Pre-loaded Election ATM Cards Approved By CBN, Interswitch Testifies

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Nigerian digital payment company, Interswitch Ltd., yesterday, said the issuance of N200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000, distributed on the day of the governorship election in Ogun State, were duly approved by his company.

One of the witnesses, Seyi Binuyo, a Scheme Managing Executive at Interswitch Ltd., added that the request for the design of the cards followed all the stipulated requirements and guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Binuyo had testified in the alleged vote-buying case filed by the federal government against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18 Governorship Election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, before a State High Court sitting in Abeokuta.

The federal government had dragged Adebutu and nine others to the court over allegation of vote buying during the governorship election in the state.

In the suit marked, AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu &Ors), the FG alleged that

Adebutu ordered through his bank, the issuance of N200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000 and distributed same on the day of election across the state with an intent of inducing voters in the state.

At resumed hearing yesterday, the federal government, led by its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, called three witnesses, including an official of Interswitch Ltd., against Adebutu.

But one of the witnesses, Binuyo, said Interswitch's approved the cards after due diligence, saying, "We reviewed the guidelines and checked

through request for the cards before giving our approval."

The certificate of approval for the cards was therefore tendered by the prosecuting counsel and was admitted as exhibit.

However, other witnesses called included voters, who claimed that they were offered the preloaded cards at their polling units.

All the witnesses were also cross examined by the defence counsel, Gordy Uche.

Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, however, adjourned the case till 19 and 20, March for continuation of hearing.

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NEWS

Merit awards presentation to Red Star Express...

L-R : Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Group Executive Director, Red Star Express Plc, Charles Ejekam and Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi during the merit awards presentation to Red Star Express at the 2024 International Customs Day in Lagos...recently.

Fresh Protest Rocks Niger after Arrest of 25 Persons in Suleja

Court gives FG 7 days to fix food prices, petroleum products, others Lukman: protests against harsh living condition justifiable Arewa group blames scarcity on saboteurs Group says it’s time to occupy Nigeria, another partners Kano farmers

Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah, Juliet Akoje in Abuja, Wale Igbintade in Lagos, Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Residents of Suleja, Niger State, took to the streets yesterday to register their displeasure over the high cost of living in the country, in a fresh protest to rock the North-central state in one week.

The Niger State Police Command said it had arrested 25 of the protesters, after a similar protest in Minna, the state capital, just two days before.

The fresh protest came as Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordered the federal government to fix the prices of foodstuff and petroleum products within seven days from yesterday (Wednesday).

In response to the growing discontent among the masses, former National Vice Chairman, North-east of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, said the protests by Nigerians against the harsh economic conditions were justifiable.

But a social-political group in the

northern part of Nigeria, the Arewa Think Thank (ATT), said food scarcity in the country was the handiwork of "saboteurs" who did not mean well for the administration of Tinubu.

Relatedly, the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, an umbrella body for civil society organisations in Osun State, called on Nigerians to return to the streets to demand a quick end to the economic hardship plaguing the country.

Another non-governmental organisation, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), entered into a partnership with wheat farmers in Kano State, as its contribution to efforts to reduce wheat importation.

Suleja, the commercial nerve centre of Niger State, is a few kilometres away from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

An eyewitness, Mr. Yazid Abubakar, who spoke to THISDAY, said the protesters stormed the popular Moroko Road, where the biggest market was located in the town.

They carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Leadership is

all about improving the life of the masses,” and “Nigerians are suffering, stop the hardship now”.

Some women and youths in their numbers also took to the streets and blocked the Kpagungu axis of Minna-Bida Road in the Niger State capital on Monday, protesting against hunger and the high cost of living.

The women, whose placard also read, “No food, we are dying of hunger”, among others, demanded a better condition of living and reduction in the cost of living for the citizenry.

They accused political officeholders of insensitivity to their plight, lamenting their inability to feed even once a day.

The protest caused traffic gridlock on the ever-busy Minna-Bida Road, which is a link road to the Southwest part of the country from the North-central.

Niger State Police Command arrested 25 of the protesters.

Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest of one Aisha Jibrin, the initiator of

the protest, and 24 other suspects.

The earlier protest in Minna had forced Tinubu to order a food intervention to check the shortage of food in the country.

Court Gives FG 7 Days to Fix Food Prices Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordered the federal government to fix the prices of foodstuff and petroleum products within seven days Wednesday.

The judge made the order while delivering judgement in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/869/2023, filed by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), against the Price Control Board and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The court ordered the federal government to fix the prices of milk, flour, salt, sugar, bicycles and its spare parts, matches, motorcycles and its spare parts, motor vehicles and its spare parts as well as petroleum products, which include diesel, petrol motor spirit (PMS) and kerosene.

EU Launches Projects to Curb Criminality,Violence in Niger Delta Diri says challenges hindering growth, dev in region

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

As part of efforts to curb criminalities in the Niger Delta region, the European Union (EU) through a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), known as 'Search for Common Ground' (SEARCH) has launched a peace project in the region.

The project was officially launched by the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, at the Alamameiseigha Banquet hall, government house, Yenagoa.

The project was in partnership with the Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN), Academic Associate Peace Works (AAPW) and the Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta PIND).

In his address on the occasion, Diri

regretted that the Niger Delta region had long been plagued by the twin challenges of limited opportunities, which he said breed frustration and metamorphoses into criminality.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Gideon Ekeuwei, posited that the challenges had hindered the growth and development of the communities and had created a climate of fear and insecurity.

While expressing his appreciation to the EU for their generous funding, the governor said it was disheartening to witness the loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption of economic activities as a result of these challenges.

He said: Whereas, this may appear to be a small addition, it could have major implications in

implementation. This is because attempts at transforming criminality and violence which is not intrinsically linked to the sustainable prosperity of the Niger Delta, will not assure the sustainable prosperity of Nigeria, the West Africa sub-region and to some degree the world at large.

"I would therefore, like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the EU for their generous funding and support towards this peacebuilding project.

The EU has consistently shown a commitment to promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development across the globe.

"Your partnership with Bayelsa State is a testament to your belief in our potential to transform our region, consistent with our avowed mandate to bring shared prosperity to our dear state. We welcome

collaboration such as this.

In her welcome address, the Country Director of SEARCH, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, said the project launch will set a stage for a significant leap in the collective efforts to foster inclusive community security approaches and address the causes of violence and criminality in the region.

She said the 18-month project solely funded by the EU will be implemented in 33 local governments across 66 communities in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states.

She said: "Search designed its projects to collaborate with local and international partners, to spearhead impactful initiatives aimed at mitigating violence and building resilience in communities across Niger Delta.

Falana had approached the court for a declaration that by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act Cap, the defendants were under a legal obligation to fix the prices of those items.

He sought, "A declaration that the failure or refusal of the defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene is illegal as it offends the provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, Cap, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

"An order directing the defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene not later than seven days after the delivery of the Judgment of this Honourable court."

At the hearing of the suit, the plaintiff, Falana, informed the court that the motion on notice was premised on Section 4 (1) of the Price Control Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. He also told the court that the defendants in the suit had been served with the processes since it was filed in May 2023, but they refused and failed to file any response or counter to it.

Consequently, Falana urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought for since there was no opposition from the respondents.

Lewis-Allagoa, after hearing from the senior lawyer and going through the court processes, observed that the defendants did not file any counter to the suit. He cited some legal authorities, and held, "All the reliefs contained in the motion paper are hereby granted as prayed."

Lukman: Protesting for Survival Justifiable Former National Vice Chairman, North-east, All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, said the protests against the harsh economic conditions were justifiable.

Lukman urged Tinubu not to submit to the temptation of criminalising the legitimate grievances of Nigerians protesting against harsh living and economic conditions.

The party chieftain, in a statement titled, "Renewed Hope Exchanging for Renewed Anger," said the protest called for urgent response by the government.

He stressed that no one should be deceived because the protest in Minna and Kano were justifiable protests, saying Tinubu may wish to ignore them at his own peril.

Lukman said to suggest that any opposition party could mobilise citizens to protest against the government was defeatist. He was of the opinion that such a response must, as a matter of necessity, address existing reality whereby prices of goods and services, especially food items, were astronomically going up, almost on hourly basis.

Lukman lamented that there were gory tales of Nigerians going to the same markets within short intervals, sometimes less than 24 hours, and encountering higher prices for the same quantity of products.

He stressed that those were predictable realities triggered by conscious decisions taken by the government of Tinubu.

Arewa Group Blames Scarcity on Saboteurs A group, Arewa Think Thank (ATT), said the food scarcity in the country was the handiwork of "saboteurs", who did not mean well for the Tinubu administration.

The group, in a statement yesterday, alleged that economic saboteurs were mopping up food "to embarrass the administration of Tinubu".

ATT called on the president to investigate the issue with a view to bringing the saboteurs to book.

In the statement by its Convener, Mr Muhammad Yakubu, the group also called on Tinubu to query the 36 governors over the food items the federal government gave them recently to share to the masses.

Continued on page 14

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2024 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

AGREEMENT TO BOOST FOOD PRODUCTION...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Audu; Commissioner for Agric and Rural Development, Kwara State, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas; Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, Ms Abisola Olusanya; Commissioner for Industry, Trade, Investment and Private Sector Development, Niger State, Mr Aminu Takuma; and Superintendante Tecnico, CAMPO, Mr Cezar Rizzi, during the signing of an PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN agreement between Lagos, Kwara and Niger states on a collaboration to boost food production, reduce wastages and guarantee food security in Nigeria, held in Lagos on Tuesday

Ribadu: Nigeria, UK Commit to Defence, Security Imperatives Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In a decisive move to address the security challenges facing Nigeria and bolster regional and international security, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), yesterday, convened a second UKNigeria Security Defence Partnership Dialogue in Abuja.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in his opening speech, said the event marked another significant milestone in the enduring partnership between the two nations, united in

a shared unwavering commitment to regional, continental and global security, stability, and peace.

Ribadu said, "The longstanding ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria are grounded in our shared values, mutual respect, and a common aspiration for a safer and more prosperous world."

He said the dialogue serves as a pivotal platform for frank and constructive discussions on a wide array of contemporary security challenges confronting our nations and the international community at large.

According to him, in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the importance of robust multilateral cooperation and information sharing cannot be overstated.

“It is through forums such as this that we reaffirm our collective resolve to confront emerging threats, adapt to evolving security dynamics, and uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The first edition was held in London from January 31 to February 2, 2022.

“During the dialogue, several commitments were made which centred on ways of strengthening

collaboration in the areas of defence cooperation, countering terrorism, violent extremism, organised crime and illicit financial flows as well as enhancing maritime security among others.

“Therefore, it is pertinent to assess the level of implementation of the commitments made by both countries. It is also vital to review the commitments made in order to identify current areas of priority in line with prevailing issues and extant national objectives,” he said.

The NSA disclosed that Nigeria had made efforts to implement its

Fresh Protest Rocks Niger after Arrest of 25 Persons in Suleja

It stated, "In the last six months, the 36 governors received N3.4 trillion.

This is just their federal allocation, IGR not inclusive, what did they do with it? Rice and other food items given to them to share to the masses, where are they.

"We believe that the ongoing food scarcity is artificial because Nigeria is economically far much better than where it was on May 29, 2023. We can see that economic saboteurs are at clandestine work to frustrate and embarrass the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

"We are calling on President Tinubu to deal decisively with the enemies of progress against his government, fight corrupt people to a standstill by bringing them to justice. There should be no sacred cow in the fight against corruption."

It’s Time To Occupy Nigeria, Says OCSC Osun Civil Societies Coalition, an umbrella body for civil society organisations in Osun State, called on Nigerians to return to the streets to demand a quick end to the economic hardship plaguing the country.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, and Secretary, Emmanuel Olowu, OCSC said it was time to revisit the 2012 Occupy Nigeria struggle, where Nigerians trooped out massively to call for the reversal of fuel subsidy removal.

The statement said the struggle was also needed to seek urgent solutions to the skyrocketing prices of food items, and the removal of fuel subsidy, among others.

The statement read, “There is a need to revisit the 2012 Occupy Nigeria Struggle. The ongoing economic hardship and total disregard for the plight of Nigerians by the federal government has made it necessary for Nigerians to rise and speak in

one voice against the worsening economic situation.

“As we have been saying, any economic reform that will stifle the life out of Nigerians is satanic and should be rejected. We have for the past eight months exercised patience, hoping that the FG would take practical steps to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

“We had thought the gains of the removal of fuel subsidy would rub off the pains. Alas! We are wrong.

What we have discovered is that the government has taken away money from the poor and given it to government officials.

“There is no economic sense in removing the subsidy on petroleum products, devaluating the Naira, and raising tax and electricity tariffs at the same time. The supposed economic reform has brought pain, agony, and uncertainty to Nigerian homes.”

OCSC added, “One does not need to be an economist to know that increment in fuel and tax will cripple local businesses and reduce productivity. It is an open fact that the devaluation of the naira and the rising double-digit inflation rate have reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians; leading to paying more to buy little.”

NGO Partners Kano Farmers to Boost Wheat Production A non-governmental organisation, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) went into partnership with wheat farmers in Kano, as part of efforts to limit wheat importation.

Head of TAAT, Mr Solomon Gizaw, disclosed the initiative during an inspection tour of some wheat farms yesterday in Kano.

Gizaw said Nigeria had all it would take to produce and feed itself, and the rest of Africa, if farmers could get the right policy support,

technology, and the right market link to the processors.

Gizaw said, "In Nigeria, we are seeing a great opportunity for Nigeria to be self-sufficient in wheat farming in the coming few years.

Nigeria today produces only five percent of the wheat consumed, and imports the remaining 95 percent from foreign countries worth over five billion dollars.

"We, in Africa, have the technology, land, water, and the people. If we come together and work together, Nigeria can feed itself and the rest of the African countries. In Africa today, we have several high-yielding wheat varieties that are giving a high yield of six to seven tonnes hectares.

“But today in Nigeria, the wheat production is not exceeding two to three per hectare. You can imagine.

With one farmland, we can increase the productivity by two to three folds. So, the African Development

Bank is working with the Nigerian government to expand wheat. And the government has committed to take these varieties."

Speaking during the tour, one of the large-scale wheat-growers and processors in Kano State, Alhaji Mannir Dan'agundi, called for consistency in government policies to boost agricultural production in the country.

He said, "It is about commitment.

It is about the consistency of the policy. Once we do that and we are committed, Nigeria has the land, the water, and the people to do what it is supposed to do.

"And with our population of over 200 million people, it is imperative for us to ensure that we have something with which we can even feed ourselves. So, I am very much hopeful with what the government is doing, and I think we need to do more."

own bargain of the commitments made during the inaugural dialogue which included the establishment of the Anti-Kidnapping Fusion Centre and the integration of civil security outfit into the fusion cell.

He added that the country had also enacted measures to reinforce compliance to human rights and international humanitarian law in the conduct of security and defence related operations.

Ribadu advocated the need to adopt a holistic and forward-looking approach that leverages the full spectrum of their respective capabilities and expertise in addressing the myriads of security challenges confronting Nigeria.

According to him, it is incumbent on us to reflect critically on the evolving nature of contemporary security threats and identify innovative strategies and partnerships to effectively address them.

“Our dialogue must be guided by a shared commitment to promoting regional stability, countering violent extremism, and enhancing resilience against emerging non-traditional security challenges confronting our nations are both diverse and formidable.

“In response, it is imperative that we adopt a holistic and forwardlooking approach that leverages the full spectrum of our respective capabilities and expertise.

“Moreover, the nexus between security and development remains intrinsic to our collective efforts to foster sustainable peace and prosperity.

“It is imperative that we adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the root causes of insecurity, promotes inclusive economic growth, and empowers marginalised communities to build societies resilient to exploitation and radicalisation,” he said.

The UK National Security Adviser, Tim Barrow, represented by his Deputy, Dame Sarah Macintosh, said the Uk operatedin a relationship of mutual respect and supportiveness and shared a determination to make its contributions separately and together to a better world and to peace, security, stability and prosperity at all.

He said the two countries could through security and defence partnership and dialogue, advance those shared objectives and deepen partnership and friendship to build on their national security.

“UK is fully committed to our friendship and partnership with Nigeria and we thank you for your commitment to that partnership there too and I am personally delighted to be part of strengthening and deepening it through this dialogue.

“As security challenges around the world grow, it has become increasingly crucial to support our allies to uphold regional and international peace. This week we reaffirmed our commitment to Nigeria, building on progress made since the last UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue, from tackling -terrorism and countering violent extremism to defending against cyber-attacks.”

Imo Communities Partner UNICEF, NOA to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation Amby Uneze in Owerri

As the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) marked the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Day, which is celebrated the world over on February 6 annually, communities in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo State have vowed to eliminate the obnoxious practice in their areas.

Speaking to THISDAY, some traditional rulers, presidents general, religious leaders and women leaders in the areas visited chorused spoke against the practice and cautioned their people to stop it once and for all.

The visit to some of the communities afforded THISDAY the

opportunity to ascertain the level of compliance with sensitisation and practice against the FGM by the indigenes of the Aboh Mbaise, and it was observed that this negative practice has drastically reduced with almost 95 per cent compliance.

This year's theme, “Her Voice, Her Future” as highlighted by UNICEF was the message the stakeholders felt there was needed to draw the attention of the people to give girls and women the voice to shape their future, noting that healthy women produces healthy society.

In his remark, the Chairman of Aboh Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Marcellenus Waturuocha,

advised mothers and future parents to desist from practicing female genital mutilation (circumcision) of their female babies as such act is not only dangerous and harmful to their health but is capable of affecting their marriages in future.

The traditional ruler disclosed that a resolution had been adopted to report culprits to the state government and other relevant agencies for appropriate sanction. He stressed that mechanism had been put in place to fish out the community members engaging in this ugly practice.

The monarch also vowed to bring to the notice of the authorities any person caught practicing FGM as

such is a criminal offense liability with some penalties.

A community leader in the area, Chief Ugo Nwachukwu reminded the people of the benefits enjoyed by female that did not pass through the process of having their genitalia mutilated or tempered with as such women do enjoy their marital union as well as having problem-free delivery of their babies.

In the same vein, a Catholic clergy promised to draw the message to the ears of the congregants during Sunday masses, adding that with modern technology in place, there is no more place for the practice of such mundane and illegal act in the present society.

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politics

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Nwangwu: Tinubu Needs to Halt Ostentatious Lifestyles of Public Officials

Board member of YIAGA Africa and Chairman, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, Ezenwa Nwangwu, in this interview with Adedayo Akinwale, advises President Bola Tinubu to step up his anti-corruption campaign by halting ostentatious lifestyles of his Ministers and other public officials.

W

hat is your impression about the recent suspension of some public officials by President Bola Tinubu?

In my opinion, we are seeing President Bola Tinubu beginning to build public confidence in the anti-corruption initiative. This is remarkable because it contradicts what we used to have in the past where public officials will be accused of malfeasance, and they will be kept there in spite of public outcry.

So some of these steps are things that we want to underscore and congratulate the President for.

Also, running with this, is the increase in the money accrueing to the federal government. We are seeing NNPC for the first time, posting profits. We are seeing an increase in revenue from customs. What that tells you is that there is improvement in revenue generation and accountability.

The flip side of it is that all of these monies that are now in the public coffers are things that have gone into private pockets before now, in spite of all the pretentiousness to the fight against corruption.

So this is for me, something that we must appreciate, and encourage the President to do more. But it is important to encourage the President to ensure that what has been recovered is not re-stolen.

But, more importantly, the President is putting up this public face, some of the folks who work with him are wallowing in obscene ostentation.

There’s no explanation for why the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, should hire a stadium for birthday and then follow it up with a colloquium. That maddening display of necklaces is something the President must find a way to put a stop to.

As if that is not annoying enough, a week later, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) went into another spree of birthday celebrations in the midst of the kind of belt tightening that the majority of the citizens are being asked to embrace.

I think the President must first and foremost, stop this idea of sending birthday wishes to public officials.

If an Aliko Dangote or Jim Ovia is having a birthday and he decides to have it in a stadium, we won’t be bothered.

But people who occupy public offices must conduct themselves in a way that reflects the current reality. And one way the President can do that, is himself refraining from celebrating birthday throughout his tenure as President.

That will send a very strong signal to citizens that they are serious.

And members of the National Assembly must also come into the same type of spirit that we’re seeing the President trying to put out to the public that he will not tolerate this recklessness.

And the cutting down of the number of people who follow him, who follow public officials on travels. I think that is also commendable.

Will you say President Tinubu has fought corruption better than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari?

It is too early to make such a conclusion, but I’m saying these quick steps we have seen are encouraging. And like I said, it is possible to recover money, and re-loot those resources. So, what we need to do as citizens is that when there is opportunity to clap, we do so. We clap and say something nice has happened. And when things are not going well, we should be in the forefront to say things are not going well. Because there is no union of activists whose job is to criticise just for the purpose of it.

For now, the steps that he has taken are commendable and can be appreciated. But like

Nwangwu I said, the conditions will be that while doing those things, the underground of optics around people who are close to him needs to be checked. And they must find a way to do so.

With these kind of anti corruption fights and reform, do you expect to see the same reforms in the electoral process or laws?

Basically, there are two ways to look at electoral reforms and I’m always very careful because I’m somebody who is in the thick of it. But what I have found is that there’s a dubious complex that has been built around electoral reforms. Every legislative year, we embark on so-called electoral reforms.

We just passed 2022 electoral law.

That law was just one year old when we organised an election on February 25, 2023.

After elections, less than six months, we have not taken stock, we have not

even done a proper audit of the 2023 election, and the National Assembly is already posturing another reform.

That complex that I’m talking about, what does it mean? What it means is that money will be appropriated, billions of Naira will be appropriated. Their collaborating consultants will continue to hype the need for electoral reform. That’s one part because you need to situate this properly. And then, we go into another round of what they call zonal hearings and all of those things.

What is required now, is first, stocktaking, audit of all the reforms that we have done in the past. There needs to be a point in which we are sitting down to say ‘what have we reformed? What then needs to be improved upon?’

I think that quite a lot of things have been done. The Nigeria Political Science Association, after the 2023 election did a review. We can take part of those reviews. Most of the Observer reports are already in the public domain. We can get all of those Observer reports and then harvest issues that do not

I think the President must first and foremost, stop this idea of sending birthday wishes to public officials. If an Aliko Dangote or Jim Ovia is having a birthday and he decides to have it in a stadium, we won’t be bothered.

But people who occupy public offices must conduct themselves in a way that reflects the current reality. And one way the President can do that, is himself refraining from celebrating birthday throughout his tenure as President. That will send a very strong signal to citizens that they are serious. And members of the National Assembly must also come into the same type of spirit that we’re seeing the President trying to put out to the public that he will not tolerate this recklessness.

require zonal hearings.

That does not require a budgeting of billions.

We can use the line National Assembly, House Committee budgets to interrogate those issues.

Number one, could be the issue of cross carpeting. You do not need public hearing to know that there’s something obscene; that there’s something that insults the sensibilities of voters and their choice when you are elected under the platform of a political party.

And then for flimsy reasons, you jump into another or cross over into another party. I don’t think we require public hearing or zonal hearings and consultants for that to be taken seriously.

The next issue that continues to ring out is the issue of the appointment of the INEC Chairman, and National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

Justice Uwais recommended a particular pattern. We can have a review of the Justice Uwais report and then contemporise it and make it relevant today. Because if you check again, the Ken Nnamani report, the one that Malami set up, there’s absolutely no difference between what was said in the Uwais report and what Nnamani recommended.

There’s the Justice Lemu Report on electoral violence. All of these can be brought together and sieve out.

First and foremost, what can we do to ensure that there is no executive interference in a sacred institution like INEC. My suggestion will be to say we can have an ad-hoc platform that does recruitments. That ad-hoc platform will include members of the media, civil society, political parties, judiciary, security agents and INEC itself, on an ad hoc basis to do the recruitment and recommend to the President and ensure that the President has no power to reject the recommendation. Because the Justice Uwais Commission talked about NJC. The NJC is a creation of the Constitution, like INEC. INEC is also a Commission created by the constitution.

So another Commission cannot oversee another commission. There is something that is not sitting well in that kind of arrangement.

So this NJC conversation needs to be reviewed.

And that’s why I think putting this on the table would be also very important. We need to also see whether we can pass the Electoral Offences Bill, for the sake of the fact that the security agencies that have the responsibility to maintain law and order, have outsourced it. They have outsourced it, and now there is a cry for an independent institution that can deal with issues of crimes committed during elections.

But whether that will solve the problem is still part of the Nigerian conversation. What we always think is that once we introduce something that is a silver bullet, to solving all the problems that we have.

We can create a department of police that is in charge of elections, just like you used to have railway police that was in charge of railways. We can have departments in the police that is in charge of elections and recruit people into that place, so that this whole idea of IPO being from Zamfara and then when somebody is arrested, there will not be any opportunity to continue the case will be eliminated.

And if you say INEC is the prosecuting agency, yet the budget of the legal department of INEC is something a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) can bring out from his back pocket. You can’t, therefore, put that kind of responsibility on INEC if you have not done the necessary things to empower them to be able to function and prosecute. So that for me is the answer to your question about electoral reforms.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY • Thursday, FEBRUARY 8, 2024

FEatures

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

How Mrs. Oghogho Musa is Redefining Role of Women in National Security through DEPOWA Through acts of service and dedication, the 15th President of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, DEPOWA, Mrs. Oghogho Musa, has continuously redefined the role of women in national security. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that recently, the DEPOWA President was at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, NAFRC, Oshodi, Lagos, to provide succour for wives of fallen heroes

Cross section of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) and widows of fallen heroes

DEPOWA President, Mrs. Oghogho Musa (third left); Coordinator NAFRCOWA, Grace Amesinola (third right); and Commandant, NAFRC, Air Vice Marshall Adeniyi Amensinola (second left) with other DEPOWA and NAFRCOWA members

The grinding and milling shop built for the NAFRC community

Mrs. Oghogho with one of the wives of the fallen heroes

W

hen the 15th President of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho Musa, took over from her predecessor, Mrs. Vickie Irabor on June 2023, she expressed her readiness to serve with passion and dedication.

Eight months down the line, the DEPOWA President, who is the wife of the Chief Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has kept her promise.

From donations to providing palliatives, boosting education, meeting medical needs, enriching skills and acquisition and even providing support for widows of fallen heroes, she has run the whole gamut of service.

Through these acts of dedication, she has continuously redefined the role of women in national defence and security in the country through DEPOWA Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) DEPOWA is a Tri-Services Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that augments the humanitarian and social intervention efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in empowering less privileged widows and orphans of fallen heroes who lost their lives in the service to the nation.

Its membership comprises the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA); Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA); Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA); and Police Officer ’s Wives Association (POWA).

As a registered non-governmental

made up of women bound together by their marriage to Military Men, the massive roles being played by the association is evident in the integration and interventions they carry out to the benefit of the military and civil society at large.

Succor for Widows of Fallen Heroes As part of one of such measures where she has constantly redefined the role of women, ths DEPOWA President recently visited the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos.

To cushion the effect of the economic hardship being experienced across the country, the DEPOWA President last week donated palliatives to over 50 widows of fallen soldiers at the parade ground of NAFRC. The beneficiaries were those whose husbands died in active service.

Hosting them at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos, Mrs. Musa gave them foodstuffs and cash gifts while sharing words of encouragement to them.

Handing over the palliatives to the beneficiaries, Mrs. Musa urged them to remain good citizens and ensure that the various skills they had acquired before were adequately utilised.

She articulated the initiative's role in enhancing capacity development for DEPOWA and Defence Non-Commissioned Officers’ Wives Association (DENCOWA) members, as well as providing crucial humanitarian support to the less privileged and vulnerable individuals.

Alleviating Living Standard of Military Families At the event, a grinding and milling shop built at the centre by the Coordinator of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Officers Wives Association (NAFRCOWA), Grace Amesinola, was inaugurated to the joyful cheers of the NAFRC community, who had hitherto had to journey to far-flung neighbourhoods in Ikeja or Oshodi to grind their millet.

Commending the NAFRCOWA coordinator for her 'ingenuity and unwavering commitment" to establishing the Grinding and Milling Shop, Mrs. Musa said it underscored the potential to alleviate the hardship faced by the wives and children of military personnel in grinding food products.

Stressing that they would continue to embark on activities and programmes that will better the lives of soldiers' wives and children, the DEPOWA President said the initiative aligned with her vision to empower women and girls to become productive contributors to family and society.

"I wish to appreciate the Coordinator NAFRCOWA Mrs Grace Amesinola for her ingenuity and commitment in establishing the Grinding and Milling Shop, this will really reduce the hardship of going to distant places by wives and children of personnel to grind food products."

Assurances for Families of Fallen Heroes Also speaking, Commandant, NAFRC, Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Adeniyi Amensinola lauded the DEPOWA president for providing assistance to those who have sacrificed so much for the nation's security and well-being.

Emphasising the importance of not forgetting the widows and orphans of the deceased personnel, he assured them that their spouses' supreme sacrifice in the line of duty would not be in vain.

"The show of human kindness and initiatives such as we are witnessing today being undertaken by the President DEPOWA are reassuring and comforting bearing in mind that widows of deceased personnel are not forgotten and that the supreme sacrifice paid by their spouses in the line of duty while upholding national security is not in vain.

“As we continue to remember our fallen heroes and veterans who sacrifice much to the nation, we use this opportunity to thank Almighty God for their lives well spent in the service of our dear country as well as in maintaining regional peace and stability", he said.

For the Environment Beyond all the CSR that they carried out on the two-day visit, the DEPOWA President also took out time to care for the environment.

Led by the commandant and NAFRCOWA President, Mrs. Oghogho and members of her entourage planted trees at the Widows and Orphans Skills Acquisition, thus signifying her interest in protecting and nurturing the environment.

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Features

Call for Holistic Arms Control, Decentralised Policing Structure While advocating for the establishment of an Arms Control Agency to regulate the proliferation of small arms, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that security chieftain and CEO Badison Security, Mr. Mathew Ibadin of Badison while clamouring for the decentralisation of the present policing structure and returning the police as the nucleus for Internal security has also championed for increased welfare of security personnel

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s Nigeria's security forces continue to engage kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and other violent criminals in a battle of wits, a security specialist, Badison Security Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Matthew Ibadin has called for the urgent establishment of an Arms Control and Licensing Authority to de-escalate the increasing circulation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

According to the CEO, kidnapping of citizens in the last nine years has become the order of the day with an increased frequency and intensity of such abductions across the country in the last two months of December 2023 and January 2024, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Need for an Arms Control and Licensing Authority According to him, the federal Government through an Act of the National Assembly should establish an Arms Control and Licensing Authority to be in charge of documenting all illegal arms intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) or those recovered from unauthorised persons, the army, police and other security agencies.

Clarifying he said all arms collected or seized from criminals should be in the custody of the Arms Control Agency and Authority with a view of ascertaining at any point in time the number of illegal arms recovered from various parts of the country.

"The Arms Control and Licensing Authority would be saddled with the responsibility of also conducting a total audit of all weapons in the custody of the military, the police and all other arms bearing security agencies on behalf of the government, so as to ensure accountability and global best practices on arms management. It should be headed by a civilian security expert who can carry out due diligence without fear or favour," he added.

Returning the Police as the Nucleus for Internal Security While commending the various security agencies particularly the military and the police for doing their best, he pointed out that a lot more was expected from them.

Going forward, he suggested that the focus should be on evolving a detailed security architecture with the police being at the nucleus of co-coordinating all anti kidnapping operations in the country.

Clamour for Training, Tech Upgrade The Badison Security boss also emphasised the need for police personnel across all ranks to continuously engage in training and retraining with a view to technologically upgrade themselves.

He mentioned the need for the acquisition of tracking equipment and training on the tracking of stolen phones should be made available to the Nigerian police, divisional and outpost personnel and private security companies.

He also extrapolated on the need for the police to be tech savvy. On this, he said the police should collaborate with cyber security experts, private investigators as it is obtainable all over the world. "A situation whereby kidnappers are asking for ransom to be paid in bitcoin makes the situation so complicated that if they are not trained for it, they can not solve the challenges," he opined.

Need for Decentralised Policing Structure He stated that as long as we have this single digit security architecture whereby the police are under the exclusive legislative list, we can never solve the security challenges confronting the nation. The present policing system is reactive instead of being proactive.

He said: "Therefore, we need to dismantle the present inefficient policing architecture, where it would be expunged from the exclusive legislative list, and moved to the concurrent and residual list enabling

police often encounter, the security chieftain suggested that all vehicles seized by the EFCC, Customs and even the police should officially be given to the police and must be branded and documented at the zonal police headquarters.

He also recommended that to address the issue of low morale currently pervasive among police personnel, a minimum wage of N250,000 should be approved for the police, explaining that such gesture would invariably attract high quality recruits into the Nigerian Police Force.

Mr. Ibadin state governments to create and manage their own local policing architecture.

"So we can hold the state government and local government chairmen responsible instead of calling out the federal government for local security affairs."

On the issue of the existing centralised police structure, Ibadin posited that decentralisation of the existing federal policing structure was long overdue and must be holistically pursued with patriotic vigour in contemporary time.

Amotekun, Hisbah, Abube Agu and other state self help will not work unless the police architecture is reformed to operate at state and communal levels.

While rooting for a decentralised police structure which in other words is currently a federal police structure, Ibadin who did his post-graduate studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, stated that the poor remuneration, low training and lack of modern digitised training for the Nigerian police personnel has helped to dampen the morale of the average police officer.

He further stated that he believes that the Nigerian police despite the unfavourable conditions they have to work with are rated in his own words as the best in the world because they are working without the necessary tools.

He urged the National Assembly to urgently take a proactive legislative step that would remove policing system from the exclusive list to the concurrent and residual list adding that for effective policy implementation, the state government, local government and communities must take the lead at creating and managing a

police system that is fit and customised for their peculiar local needs.

"While the political class delineated voting to the ward level, the government should also apply this same strategy by giving every ward in the country a functioning police station which is closest to the people.

"This would curb the crime rate to the minimum because the current policing structure does not allow the people to report crime as at when it happens because the current divisional police headquarter and outposts are far from the people," he added.

Ibadin further noted that due to a lack of trust in the current policing structure, the people are scared to report criminal issues to the police, because it is not community based policing that protects their interests.

Citizens in transit need to reach the police easily in any crime situation.

“Therefore, operational hubs for police should be established at all the former toll gates and create additional ones across the federation, equipped with sophisticated weapons detection systems because we have a lot of concealed weapons in transit across the country, due to porous border and insecurity in the Sahel region.

Furthermore, the state should enact a law that makes it easy for the police to secure a warrant to search any house in their states.”

License for Private Investigators As a measure towards finding an all embracing solution to insecurity in the country, he also advised the government to license Private Investigators (PI) as it is obtainable in other parts of the world even as he enjoined them to under-study African nations like Kenya.

"It is instructive to note that it is also in the Police Act that Private Investigators should be licensed to operate. Ibadin also advocated that, responsible citizens should be allowed to bear arms as a first line of defense in our national security architecture.

He said, "Senior Citizens, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Executive Directors, Managing Directors, Security Consultants, licensed Private Investigators, senior civil servants and lecturers, local government chairmen, Counselors, captains of industries, traditional rulers, clerics and their security personnel should be profiled and allowed to bear arms. Furthermore, traditional institutions should have a legislative security role to protect their subjects in collaboration with the local police."

The Badison boss noted that private security outfits in the country should be licensed to carry arms to protect VIPs and to help state governments to secure communities.

He advised that they can also be involved in the fight against banditry and kidnappers since they operate at grass root level. "The Nigerian police has been largely persecuted by the citizens and civil society groups, forgetting that they were created by the law to execute it.

"Therefore, for us to resolve the prevailing situation in the country we must go back and amend the laws that created the Nigerian Police force. I expect the civil society organisations, Nigerian Bar Association (N.B.A.), the Nigerian Labour Congress (N.L.C.) and her affiliates and student union bodies of tertiary institutions to show more sympathy and support for the police asking the government to better care for the Nigerian police.

“All police personnel should be kitted with ballistic vests and other gadgets that would enable them go after kidnappers in the bushes and flush them out."

Reforming Criminals With respect to the correctional intentions of government for all convicted and imprisoned criminals, Ibadin posited that the Nigerian correctional centers need to be reformed to mitigate the current situation of producing hardened criminals instead of reformed citizens after they come out of the system.

The security chieftain also posited that as a matter of urgency, President Bola Tinubu should look into the idea behind the military's recruitment of 'repented' Boko Haram elements into the Nigerian armed forces “with a view Boost for Welfare To assist in solving the current to ensuring that they do not act as conduits operational logistic challenge that of sabotage”.

He noted the exemplary efforts of some Nigerians towards fighting insecurity in the country and said that the Lagos Trust Fund and notable Nigerian businessmen like Mr. Femi Otedola and Mr. Aliko Dangote should be appreciated for their enormous efforts at supporting the police regularly.

He concluded by expressing his sympathy with the current Inspector General of Police and security chiefs, stating that the police is currently a single digit system security architecture which can not solve the insecurity issues it is facing alone as the system is operated at the federal level omitting the state, the local government and communities because crime is local.

He urged the National Assembly to urgently take a proactive legislative step that would remove policing system from the exclusive list to the concurrent and residual list adding that for effective policy implementation, the state government, local government and communities must take the lead at creating and managing a police system that is fit and customised for their peculiar local needs

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

HAIL TO THE REFORMER

The Presidential Amnesty Programme award is an honour for Niger Deltans, writes RAY UMUKORO

See page 21

PUBLIC ASSETS AND WEALTH

ANDREW A. ERAKHRUMEN argues the need to enthrone leaders with tenacity of purpose

See page 21 EDITORIAL

ISSUES IN THE ‘PULAAKU’ INITIATIVE

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MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE argues that West Africa is not too disadvantaged to successfully fight for its own survival

ECOWAS’ EXISTENTIAL BLUES The recent joint announcement by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to withdraw from the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) may have come at an unkind time. Surely, those who question their right to disengage from the body haven’t considered history, both distant and recent, properly. Britain left the European Union (EU) not long ago, for instance. Even ECOWAS was ditched by Mauritania in 2000; only to later return and seek associate membership in 2017. While decisions to leave regional bodies go with consequences, not unexpectedly, the liberty to do so mustn’t be denied. Not in an age characterised by heightened clamour for and awareness of personal and group freedoms. That January 28, 2024 declaration is both unprecedented and momentous, however, and potentially course-altering.

Here is how. Some critics have dismissed the action of the three countries as mere grandstanding taken too far. But one couldn’t have followed the events there since their present leaders grabbed power via military coups without noticing their willingness to challenge the status quo and carve out lasting legacies for themselves.

They have since wrestled their erstwhile almighty colonial master, France, to the ground and stripped it of virtually every badge of imperialism within a short period. The military threats issued

by ECOWAS to them to return their nations to democracy achieved practically nothing. Even their suspension and the economic blockades imposed on them, though painful, haven’t produced the desired effects. More significantly, the populism that ushered the soldiers to the centre-stage in the first place hasn’t yet faded away as earlier predicted by some pundits. There appears to still exist enough fire to sustain the idealistic rulers in their quest to make a difference, no matter what that actually turns out to be in the long run.

Check out the roll call of the men of history who signed the Treaty of Lagos in 1975 that gave birth to ECOWAS: General Yakubu Gowon of Nigeria, Aboubakar Sangoule Lamizana of Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso, Ahmadou Sekou Toure of Guinea, Mathieu Kerekou of Benin Republic, Moussa Troure of Mali, Leopold Sedar Senghor of Senegal, Seyni Kountche of Niger Republic, Sir Dauda Jawara of The Gambia, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, Felix Houghouet-Boigny of Ivory Coast, now Cote d’Ivoire, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong of Ghana, Siaka Probyn Stevens of Sierra Leone, Mukhtar Ould Daddah of Mauritania, Luis Severino de Almeida Cabral of Guinea Bissau and William Richard Tolbert of Liberia.

It is noteworthy that democracy hadn’t yet become a mantra on this side of the globe five decades ago. Not to mention its lofty attributes like two terms maximum in office. In fact, many of the architects of the West African group were either military adventurers or politicians and nationalists who felt entitled for their ‘messianic’ accomplishments. Such was the character of the era that witnessed the fight against colonialism.

Houghouet-Boigny, physician and politician, commonly called “Papa Houghouet” or “Le

Vieux”, ran the show in Abidjan from 1960 right up to the end of his life in 1993. His colleague, Eyadema, military officer turned politician, replicated same in Lome for nearly four decades, ending in 2005 with his death and succeeded by his own son, Faure.

Those ECOWAS founders knew exactly what they wanted, least of which was the doctrine of representative governance. And understandably so. Economic activities among African nations and the rest of the world were becoming more competitive. Establishing the Commission was their own major response to that critical need.

They needed a network that would facilitate integration and inclusivity. The subcontinent’s jaundiced and highly militarised political composition notwithstanding, that was truly a giant leap. But, symbolically, even when the pact was revised in 1993 in Cotonou, the name wasn’t changed, meaning the institution’s core objectives like a liberalised business environment, free movement of goods and people, and enhanced tourism remained top priorities. Anyway, what exactly is the outstanding impact of the metamorphosis of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to African Union (AU) on the continent? Put differently, do these organisations really satisfy the basic expectations of Africans?

Those questions were reflected in the arguments of Captain Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, Colonel Assimi Goita of Mali, and General Abdurrahmane Tchiani of Niger when they pulled their countries out of ECOWAS. In their

ECOWAS has come a long way, remarkably far from an analogue to a digital world. Issues surrounding goalssetting, collective capacities, hopes fulfilled or punctured, the relevance of prioritised agenda, institutional accountability, and the corporate fidelity of member-states are equally consequential and have now become even more pertinent

view, the Commission only plays out the scripts of foreign interests; has deviated substantially from the goals of the wise men who established it; has failed woefully in tackling current predicaments like terrorism and backwardness; and has chosen the path of sanctioning them instead of taking more agreeable steps towards lasting resolutions and peace. These points could easily be dismissed as dangling excuses meant to frustrate the restoration of democracy in the beleaguered nations. Some cynics have even suggested that the non-conforming countries be ignored, that after their ‘tantrums’, they’ll return to ‘common-sense’.

The seeming relatively inconsequential profile of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger may have contributed to that uncharitable posturing.

Although the three Sahelian nations account for a little more than half of the region’s entire landmass, their present economic credentials are not as flattering. Their population constitutes less than 14 percent of the West African total.

Their gross domestic product, GDP, is even less, at about $30billion or five percent of the region’s.

And, being landlocked and situated thousands of kilometres from the two closest seas, Atlantic and Mediterranean, occupying arid lands that include chunks of Sahara Desert and generally encumbered by a harsh climate haven’t helped at all.

But these obvious disadvantages do not automatically render the trio helpless and useless.

Not at all. Their high-worth, globally competitive solid minerals are too important to be brushed aside. Ask France. They have also at various points served as refuge for citizens of neighbouring states fleeing from calamities. Nigerians who had been dislodged by terrorist elements likes Boko Haram benefitted immensely from the hospitality of Niger, in particular. We may also recall that in the mid-1970s when drought and starvation descended on the self-styled Alliance of Sahel States, people from there flooded their neighbours, especially those towards the south.

These enduring beneficial, symbiotic relationships and goodwill shouldn’t be squandered.

Approaching its 49 years of existence, ECOWAS has indeed come a long way, remarkably far from an analogue to a digital world. Issues surrounding goals-setting, collective capacities, hopes fulfilled or punctured, the relevance of prioritised agenda, institutional accountability, and the corporate fidelity of member-states are equally consequential and have now become more pertinent. Luckily, the Commission, even with its obvious shortcomings, can still lay claims to modest strides. Apart from the moderate successes in its cardinal targets, many of which could be better, its past responses to transnational emergencies did register appreciable outcomes. The defunct ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) lived up to its assignments considerably in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s also on record that the human, material and financial costs were shouldered with equanimity.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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The Presidential Amnesty Programme award is an honour for Niger Deltans, writes RAY UMUKORO

HAIL TO THE REFORMER The 2023 New Telegraph newspaper awards drew a huge cast of outliers and top flyers in both the public and private sector. The awards spectrum was wide, covering critical sectors of the socioeconomic and political ecosystems. But by far, the most outstanding award of the night was the 2023 Most Innovative Government Agency of the Year Award hauled home by the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

It was a fitting reward and recognition epaulet for the unrelenting innovations brought to the Programme by Major-General Barry Tariye

Ndiomu (rtd), its Interim Administrator. And this is not to diminish other awards and awardees, a rich cast of stellar performers including Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe. Some human rights activists and lawyers, business people, chief executives of top-of-thecrest organisations and some corporates made the prestigious ensemble of awardees.

In spite of this lush cast of awardees, the PAP award as the most innovative government agency sticks up a halo of peculiarity both in essence and excellence. If anything, it indexes the objectivity and thoroughness of the newspaper’s award. And to be honoured in the area of innovative management is a clear testament to the creative thinking and profound managerial fecundity brough to bear on the Programme by Ndiomu, a retired military officer who has continued to exhibit a rare mastery of his brief at the Programme.

Appointed in September 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari as Interim Administrator of the PAP, Ndiomu moved fast to restore the dignity and relevance of the Programme which over the years appeared to have become a victim of the malaise and administrative miasma that has tainted the nation’s public service. Ndiomu’s appointment was not an accident or a mere happenstance in the life of a nation. President Buhari who openly showed his predilection to upping the nation’s productive capacity in petroleum products while still working at diversifying the economy was keen on ending the streak of leadership instability at PAP and the stench of fiscal malfeasance that dogged the Programme resulting in high turnover of chief executive officers, six chief executives from 2009 to 2022. While some of the past administrators were caught up in a web of allegations of corruption leading to their dismissal, others got the boot on the ground of ineffective leadership typified by ceaseless agitations by pockets and camps of ex-agitators whose plight the Programme was conceived to address.

Buhari had therefore demanded for a true Niger Deltan with a track record of integrity,

experience and cultured administrative pedigree.

The lot fell on Ndiomu whose track record at the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, (ECOMOG), when Nigeria won global acclaim for the stellar performance of the Nigerian military in peace-keeping in the West African region lent him to the job of leading the PAP. The Programme needed a reformer and zero-compromise leader and Buhari found one in Ndiomu, a former Garrison Commander, Nigerian Army Headquarters (NA-AHQ); Chief of Training and Operations, (CTOP), Army Headquarters; a lawyer; a policy strategist forged in the foundry of the revered National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); and a man upskilled at the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States and the Germany-based George C. Marshall Centre for European Security Studies.

All of this sculpted Ndiomu into a disciplined military officer of the highest ethical values. And ever since September 2022, the reformer has wrought terrific reforms within the PAP hierarchy such that the old order of multiple enrolment by some ex-agitators, multiple payments into accounts with same Bank Verification Number (BVN), among other fiscal abuses verging on corruption had been reduced significantly.

Ndiomu inherited a dubious accounting structure which left many holes for manipulation.

To end or curtal the financial hemorrhage, he effected the audit of a deeply flawed payment system that turned the monthly payment of stipends to a bazaar. Some of the statistics were scary. A good 513 persons were found to be linked to multiple accounts. This means that thousands of accounts where the monthly stipends were paid into were ghost accounts used to siphon money by a syndicate made up of both insiders and outsiders.

The audit also revealed that aside personnel fraud, contracts with vendors were brazenly inflated or fraudulently manipulated to cream huge cash out of the system. Through Ndiomu’s diligence and insistence on the adoption of global best practices in contracting, such contracts were renegotiated and re-evaluated at cheaper costs.

It should be emphasized that Ndiomu’s tool box of innovative leadership has transformed ex-agitators from monthly stipend-receivers to entrepreneurs with the launch of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (Beneficiaries) Cooperative Society Limited (PAPCOSOL). The novel scheme, entirely the brainchild of Ndiomu, has empowered business-oriented ex-agitators in the region.

At the launch, he described the initiative as a “novel alternative economic development scheme designed to create a more viable means of livelihood for ex-agitators with socio-economic development of their communities and the Niger Delta region in general as an intended consequence.” It is for such and many more that the award finds both essence and relevance.

Prince Ita Henshaw, Technical Assistant to the Interim Administrator who received the award on half of the Programme, described it as a testimony in recognition of the worthy efforts of the Ndiomuled management team.

Obviously, Ndiomu arrived at PAP with a mindset of development and human capital empowerment. He resisted the temptation to walk the old patchy path strewn with boobytraps and landmines that cut short the stay of his predecessors. He has to dig deep into his strategy wellspring of experience and courage to lead.

Umukoro, a development specialist, writes from Lagos

ANDREW A. ERAKHRUMEN argues the need to enthrone leaders with tenacity of purpose

PUBLIC ASSETS AND WEALTH Scarcity has its basic definition(s) particularly in economics. It can be experienced, for clear and unclear reasons, in series of circumstances.

We were told, in economics, that during scarcity, demand for a good or service is greater than availability of the good or service. Scarcity also means that resources are limited while human wants are unlimited. Of course, there is/are difference(s) between wants and needs; even so, basic needs for most Nigerians suffer the same fate as wants! While we believe that human beings are insatiable, for good or bad, it is a moral (and in some climes, legal) issue for sustainable systems to be erected and supported in order to make their (human beings’) basic needs realisable. This is still a difficult challenge in this part of the world. Unfortunately, Nigerian governments always leverage on the definition(s) of scarcity to explain away sheer wickedness and thievery of public wealth. For instance, why are those in government always telling ridiculous ‘stories’ that resources for funding education, health, security and other public good are scarce when humongous amounts of money are reported stolen, regularly,

from public coffers? There are versions of these ‘stories’ that people have been hearing over the years! How these lies were sustained for this long in Nigeria is baffling; perhaps, it has to do with the possibility that “…..there are more people outside government waiting [in the queue for their chance] to steal in government than those currently stealing there.....” The moral decadence in Nigerian society, today, obviously supports this view. Morality has been made unimportant in the quests for (basic) needs.

Immorality – no matter how subjective its various definitional trajectories may take – can be a type of poverty. Sadly, poverty, in its different (concealed or revealed) expressions, is a serious disease. Unbelievably, many have been unknowingly seriously afflicted with this ailment for generations. This is why certain perpetually-restricting inanities and premordiality are the criteria governing the thinking of many concerning putting people in public offices, today. After enabling and empowering mediocrities in government using only these criteria, they thereafter continue to make the same mistake of believing that “strongmen/women” rather than strong organically-backed institutions are the solutions to the country’s socio-politico-economic challenges. Certainly, strong institutions are not built overnight, anywhere. They are built through a people’s tenacious sincerity of purpose and consistent demystification of pretenders such as past/current Nigerian political leaders interested only in looting the country! Yes, the politicians are not the only problem; there are many horrible top civil servants in governments’ bureaucracies. Politics is local but a people can learn from others. History will teach those who want to learn from it. Strongmen/

women may have helped in other climes concerning visible national development; however, they have worsened the situation of underdevelopment in Nigeria.

This country’s political system neither encourages excellence nor discourages dismal performance. The real concept of consequence(s) of action(s) is/are no more applicable in Nigeria’s public service except media trial/political victimisation.

What kind of a political system gives wellknown brigands unrestricted, unrestrictable and unaccounted for access to public assets/ wealth? Why are Nigerians expecting much from those (supposedly) serving them when laws are violated with reckless abandon by their leaders, and others, whose job is to uphold laws? Why these expectations when they (followers), in their corners, are guilty of the same (or worse) offences their political leaders are consistently accused of? Who are the sycophants hailing politicians in criminal enterprise? Leaders are to give leadership but what type of leadership? This is mainly determined by individual/societal values and priorities. Collectively, what is Nigeria’s value system? Are Nigerians interrogating morals? What kind of leaders will be unexplainably opulent at public’s expense while pushing the narrative “…..there is no money.....”? Leaders are from the society not the outer space. Thus, they mostly give the leadership type that resonates with their followers. The implication of the foregoing is that if followers dislike, or are not satisfied with, the deliverables from “leaders”, they (followers) are supposed to know what to do. Positive examples abound, worldwide.

If there is no fear of consequences of offences, they will be repeated by offenders, again and again! So, there must be (a) problem(s) with a followership that always complain about its political leaders but still allows same scoundrels to lead it! Whose fault is it if followers allow themselves to be divided based on meaninglessness and pettiness that often benefit their oppressors?

Whose fault is it if they refuse to team up in flushing lawbreakers out of office replacing them with the “good” leaders they yearn for? Well now, as it stands, it is clear that the leadership cadre deserved by Nigeria is the existing one until when people may finally decide to uproot it!

We have been convinced that Nigeria does not presently have the type of leadership pool from which “quality leaders” can emanate. We mean the type of leaders that encourage (in the country) such positive developmental strides being experienced in some former developing countries. Here, we are referring to those countries that were on the same (growth/developmental) level as Nigeria less than a half-century ago; nonetheless, it was hoped that the followers would wake up to find sustainable solution(s) to this challenge. High quality political leadership is basically for service. It is not about mercantile mindset powered by stolen public wealth! It is not the acquiring of, and putting on, well-sewn clean foreign suits, traditional attires and colognes/ perfumes; any simpleton can do these!

Erakhrumen currently teaches at the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, University of Benin, Benin City

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EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

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MEGAWATTS OF DARKNESS Government should go all out to fix the power problem

relevant authorities. n a 2021 report, the World Bank rated Nigeria Whatever may be the reasons for the current as the poorest country in the world on power darkness in the country, it is also true that other supply to citizens with 85 million people stakeholders in the power sector, including—if not connected to the grid and a loss of $26 not especially—the federal government, have billion annually. If anything, the situation in contributed to the challenge of electricity supply this critical sector has only worsened. With in Nigeria. For instance, the government has everybody supplying their own electricity, Nigeria frequently fiddled with the statutory exercise of is one of the toughest places in the world to do allowing for a cost reflective tariff for the market to business. Lack of electricity has limited access to encourage further investments and growth. There healthcare, education, and other opportunities for are serious systemic issues across the power value majority of Nigerians. Many small and medium chain that need a holistic approach to being solved. scale businesses have been crippled due to the Before now, the common excuse for grid collapse prohibitive cost of generating their own power. was always that the transmission lines could not Even the big business ventures, particularly the wheel the power so generated by the Gencos manufacturing ones, are also feeling the biting although non-availability effect of energy poverty of gas is being blamed with consequences for the current mess. stretching to every part Meanwhile, the Many small and medium scale businesses have been crippled due to the of the economy.

Discos who were the To compound this prohibitive cost of generating their own power beneficiaries of the dreary situation, the shambolic power sector epileptic electricity reforms have all failed supply in the country to invest in modernising collapsed almost totally and expanding the last weekend when T H I S D AY transmission lines. But that is not to suggest that the total available power dropped to below 500 EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU the Gencos have fared better either. Many of the megawatts. There were of course megawatts of DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE sector players are owed significant debts that really excuses for the development that rendered many MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO need government intervention if there is to be a of the electricity generation companies (Gencos) DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU practical resolution. In terms of moving forward, a CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI redundant and the distribution companies (Discos) EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN lot of heads needs to come out of the sand so that with zero power allocation. The situation has left THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE commercially sound solutions can be implemented.

Nigerians wondering whether the authorities will To address the challenge of the sector would ever get the power sector to work for the people. require a holistic reform. There are more More than a decade after privatisation of the fundamental issues ranging from perverse power sector, majority of Nigerians have come incentives within the system and weakness of T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D to the inescapable conclusion that the process EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA regulation. The grid is the weakest link but is also a through which countries like India, Singapore and GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, vital link between generation and distribution. We a host of other contemporary emerging economies ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI have capacity to generate about 12,500 MW but the successfully used to reset their electric power DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, grid cannot take more than 5000 MW. The problem ANTHONY OGEDENGBE challenge is proving too difficult to be applied should be sorted out urgently.

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI effectively on our shores. Instead of generating, SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH President Bola Tinubu and his administration transmitting, and distributing enough megawatts ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI must understand that we cannot grow our economy of electricity to homes and industries across the CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI without this critical infrastructure. And all options country, what we get almost daily are excuses from DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO should be on the table.

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LETTERS BEYOND THE PROTESTS IN MINNA

Minna the capital of Niger State in Northcentral Nigeria, is only miles away from Abuja. In fact, Suleja and Madalla which are all towns in Niger State are only a stone throw away from Abuja. Niger State has been in the news since 2011 when the Christmas day Bombing in Madallah threw Nigeria into mourning. There was also the abduction of dozens of school children in Tegina as well as the multiple attacks on soldiers by terrorists in Shiroro Local Government Area.

Bandits are known to occupy large parts of the state, from where they have subjected mostly rural dwellers to an unbearable existence. However, it is not only banditry that comes to mind when one mentions Minna. The hilltop mansion of octogenarian former Nigerian president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida also comes to mind. While his rule between 1985 and 1993 was brutal and bloody, its greatest harm was ushering in Sani Abacha, who was arguably Nigeria’s most brutal military dictator.

Protests erupted in Minna days ago, drawing several gunshots from the police. The protesters say they were protesting against the increasing hardship in the country. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition parties in the country of sponsoring the protests. Given the proximity of

Niger State to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the protests have especially resounded within the Federal Capital Territory.

For Vice President Kashim Shettima, the protesters would pass for Nigeria’s new collection of clowns who are as clownish as those that celebrated the demise of the Naira on Social Media platform, X. For his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is already feeling the searing heat just eight months into his four-year- term, the ‘clowns’ may just be the crows of calamity that are threatening Nigeria’s sacred cows.

The APC may look at the Minna protesters and see nothing but a sea of hired mouths and hands chanting trash and waving trivia, but even the blind in Nigeria, who are many in the APC, know that all is not well with Africa’s most populous country.

There is hunger – but also anger. There is poverty – but also insecurity. There is corruption – but also carelessness. Such is the ceaseless stream of problems that now pound Nigeria, and for all that the alarm bells toll, the czars that congregate Nigeria’s corridors of power hold on to their heinous hardness of hearing.

The prices of goods and services continue to rise. Families that were relatively well-off have seen their stores gradually run out of stock. As stores have run out of stock, frustration has

set in to push many Nigerians to the precipice. Many young people are eager to leave the country in search of greener pastures, while the unemployed and penurious among them have been rather quick to answer the irresistible calls of the many criminals that daily comb Nigeria for recruits.

As if to add insult to injury, Nigerians have been forced to add mounting insecurity to the mound of poverty already served them. For years now, Nigeria’s insecurity crisis has left lasting scars on rural communities. Many of Nigeria’s rural citizens who were proud and productive farmers have found it impossible to continue their work as a result of disruption of farming activities by insecurity.

These terrorist attacks have not just exacerbated food insecurity, it has also torn many families apart through rampant kidnappings. If rural areas were thought to be vulnerable to bandits because of their remoteness, the fact that bandits now routinely attack Abuja is immensely frightening.

A spate of kidnappings within the Federal Capital Territory has left many residents fearing for their lives and safety.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com!

25

T H I S D AY • Thursday, February 8, 2024

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

F e b r u ar y

S & P INDEX

7 , 2 0 2 4

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

19.12%

INDEX LEVEL

611.31%

1/4 to daTE

-0.07%

N795.28/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

16.25%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

0.48%

*AS AT Monday, July 24, 2023

3-MONTH

15.75%

MONTH-TO-DATE

-0.7%

MTN Maintains Highest Number of Inward Porting as Nigeria’s Internet Data Usage Rises

Emma Okonji Statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has revealed that MTN Nigeria maintained its lead in the number of incoming porting data in one year.

According to the statistics, from November 2022 to November 2023, MTN maintained a steady lead in mobile number portability for all incoming (inward) porting, among other telecoms operators like Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile.

The statistics, which THISDAY obtained from NCC’s website, also showed a steady rise in the volume of internet data usage across networks from February

2023 to November 2023.

From the statistics, the total number of inward porting in November 2022 was 2,299, while MTN alone had 1,680, followed by Globacom with 263 inward porting and Airtel with 239 inward porting.

9mobile had 117 inward porting.

In December 2022, the total number of inward porting was 2,829, while MTN alone had 1,812 inward porting, followed

by Globacom with 749 inward porting and Airtel with 154 inward porting. 9mobile had 114 inward porting. In January 2023, the total number of inward porting was 2,581, and MTN alone had 1,688 inward porting on its network, followed by Airtel with 538 inward

porting and Globacom with 229 inward porting. 9mobile had 126 inward porting. In February 2023, the total number of inward porting was 2,021, and MTN alone had 1,522 inward porting, followed by Airtel with 284 inward porting and Globacom with 138 inward porting. 9mobile had 77 inward porting. In March and April 2023, the total number of inward porting were 2,253 and 3,076 respectively, while MTN alone had 1,555 and 2,096 inward porting respectively, followed by Airtel with 351 and 643 inward porting respectively, and Globacom with 253 and 243 inward porting respectively.

9mobile had 94 and 94 inward porting respectively. In the months

of May and June 2023, the total number of inward porting across networks were 2,992 and 2.321 respectively, and MTN alone had 2,138 and 1,545 inward porting respectively, followed by Airtel with 512 and 538 inward porting respectively and Globacom with 256 and 145 inward porting respectively.

9mobile had 86 and 93 inward porting respectively.

In the months of July and August 2023, the total number of inward porting were 4,077 and 2,592 respectively, and MTN alone led with 3,410 and 1,682 inward porting respectively, followed by Airtel with 503 and 749 inward porting respectively and 9mobile with 121 and 96 inward porting

respectively. Globacom had 43 and 65 inward porting respectively. In the months of September and October 2023, the total number of inward porting were 3,389 and 3,217 respectively, and again MTN led with 2,346 and 1,925 inward porting respectively, followed by Airtel with 784 and 1,034 respectively, and Globacom with 191 and 132 inward porting respectively. 9mobile had 68 and 126 inward porting respectively.

In November 2023, the total number of inward porting was 2,433, and MTN also led with 1,470 inward porting, followed

by Airtel with 668 inward porting and Globacom with 211 inward porting. 9mobile had 84 inward

porting in November 2023.

Inward porting is the voluntary movement of subscribers from other networks into a particular network, in search of better quality of service, while outward porting is the voluntary movement of telecoms subscribers from a particular network to other networks of choice in search of better quality of service.

In number porting, subscribers are at liberty to port their mobile phone number to another network while maintaining their original number on the new network of choice.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

ARCON Announces N1bn Indemnity Insurance for Advertising Agencies Raheem Akingbolu The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has announced a mandatory N1 billion professional indemnity insurance for ad agencies under sectoral bodies like; the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Experiential Marketing Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) and Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN).

Announcing the development in Lagos, ARCON Director General,

F

Dr. Lekan Fadolapo said; “As part of the ongoing advertising industry reform and the need to strengthen advertising agencies service delivery, build capacity as well ensure long-term stability in the industry, each sectoral group, is to provide N1B (One Billion Naira) professional industry insurance cover for its members. This covers professional indemnity for members of their association as part of the corporate license requirements.”

Fadolapo, who described it as part of corporate licensing

requirements coming into effect on April 1, 2024, also announced sweeping reforms aimed repositioning the Nigerian advertising industry for growth and development.

He rolled out a broad framework articulating the government’s urgent priorities and action plans to reposition the advertising industry.

He announced a series of measures to strengthen regulation, build capacity, ensure financial stability and promote the use of local talent and resources within

the sector.

According to him, ARCON is also reviewing minimum capital and working capital thresholds for agencies in consultation with industry stakeholders.

“There is an urgent need to review the capital structure and working capital requirement of the advertisement agencies in line with economic realities and capacity building programmes of ARCON. ARCON is currently in talk with the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG) and other relevant

stakeholders on the minimum capital requirement for registration and license as an advertisement agency. Regulatory guidelines will be issued as soon a position is taken on this,” Fadolapo said.

On the critical issue of payment terms, the DG revealed ARCON is collaborating with the EFCC, NBC and others to enforce a maximum 45-day payment cycle for ad services. “Any organisation that offered payment threshold outside 45 credit policy will be tagged as economic saboteur of

the Nigeria advertising industry.

Such organisation will be flagged and reported to other government agencies for further investigation and necessary punitive actions,” he warned.

Restricting use of foreign talent models and voices in adverts targeting Nigerians except where absolutely essential after securing ARCON approval is another reform.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

M a r k e t d ata A s at W e d n e s d ay, J a n u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 2 4 BONDS Description Price Yield Change Updated Time (%) ^13.53 23January 101.49 12.13 -2,00 16, 2024 MAR-2025 January ^12.50 221,00 16, 98.58 13.31 2024 JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17January 108.25 13.03 -1,00 MAR-2027 16, 2024 ^13.98 23January 101.70 13.42 -38,00 FEB-2028 16, 2024 ^14.55 26January 103.63 13.55 -96,00 16, APR-2029 2024

BILLS Maturity

Discount Yield

Change (%) Updated Time

Maturity

NTB 8-Feb24 NTB 7-Mar24 NTB 11-Apr24 NTB 9-May24 NTB 6-Jun24

2.14

2.14

January 0.00 16, 2024

2.91

2.93

January 0.00 16, 2024

3.88

3.92

January 0.00 16, 2024

4.66

4.73

January 0.00 16, 2024

5.56

January -0.01 16, 2024

CRSL CP II 18-FEB-24 FLOURMILLS CP III 29-FEB-24 UACN CP VI 19-MAR-24 LFZC CP IV 16-APR-24 MTNN CP VII 14-MAY-24

5.43

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPs Discount Yield 9.97

10.10

11.53

11.74

9.27

9.45

10.76

11.10

9.31

9.63

Change (%)

Updated Time

January 1,00 16, 2024 January 3,00 16, 2024 January 4,00 16, 2024 January -8,00 16, 2024 January -24,00 16, 2024

Contract Current Tenor Contract Rate ($/₦) (Month) NGUS JAN 13 – 29 2025 NGUS FEB 14 – 26 2025 NGUS MAR 15 – 26 2025 NGUS APR 16 – 30 2025 NGUS MAY 17 – 28 2025

Updated Time

January 16, 2024 January 16, 2024 January 16, 2024 January 16, 2024 January 16, 2024

26

Thursday, February 8, 2024 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

Interview

Dozie: Technology Will Define Digital Banking Founder and CEO of Sparkle, a mobile-first digital bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, speaks about the emerging trends in the financial sector and how Sparkle is leveraging technology to demystify banking transactions and at the same time promoting growth of small businesses across the country. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: Since the establishment of Sparkle in 2019, what has been the focus and drive? founded Sparkle in 2019 as a mobile-first digital bank that provides financial, lifestyle and business support services to Nigerians across the globe.

Sparkle provides digital banking services and creates access to financial freedom for everyone by connecting customers with simplified financial solutions. It is focused on helping small businesses to grow and upscale faster. We are building a platform that is focused on strong banking and people’s fundamentals. We are one of the very few digital banks that have good governance structure from top to bottom and Sparkle is building an ecosystem that is secured and safe.

Fintechs are fast changing the ways financial transactions are carried out in the financial sector, as they leverage on emerging technologies to provide banking solutions that have made banking transactions a lot easier and safer.

As a digital bank, Sparkle is also leveraging emerging technologies to provide banking services for its customers and helping small businesses to upscale in their businesses. We understand risks and we know how best to manage risks on behalf of our customers.

When we started Sparkle in 2019, we were using robots and not humans to process financial transactions and that enabled us to provide 24/7 services to our customers. We are currently looking at means and ways to incorporate Generative AI (GenAI) into our operations to make us more intelligent and also to make our customers more intelligent when dealing with them. The GenAI will help our customers to understand their business better and they can ask questions about banking and business growth and get immediate answers.

So that is how Sparkle is using technology to make a difference in the financial sector.

I

You were once a strong advocate of traditional banking system during the era Diamond Bank when the banks were competing with each other in the opening of physical branches across the country, but now you have shifted to digital banking system. What must have prompted the shift?

When we were still Diamond Bank, offering traditional banking services to customers, we were able to collaborate to provide digital financial services to our customers. When I was the CEO of Diamond Bank, we moved all our customers including retail customers from physical banking to mobile banking to give them enhanced banking experience. Again, at that time we collaborated with telecoms companies (Telcos) like MTN and others to develop ‘Diamond Yello, which was designed to provide banking tools to MTN customers and we took mobile banking to market women.

Diamond Bank was the first bank to go digital and paperless and as CEO of the bank then, I was carrying out all my transactions on the mobile app. We collaborated with other players in the digital financial space to take digital banking forward. After the merger between Diamond Bank and Access Bank, I saw the need to take digital banking some stems further.

At a point the younger generation, who are the GenZs do not want to carry cash as they prefer digital baking transactions in a seamless way.

So what I did was to take the strong traditional banking values such as proper risk management and restore of value of customers and I combined them with the great value of Fintech, which is using technology to create better banking experiences for customers, and to remove operational and financial risks. So I have the experience of both the traditional bank and the digital bank. Before Covid-19, Sparkle had already adopted digital lifestyle for its customers and employees.

What are the differentiating factors between traditional banking and digital banking and what are the advantages of digital banking system over traditional banking system?

The differentiating factors are the people and the different types of risks and opportunities.

The traditional banking system can be likened to physical newspapers, while the digital banking system can be likened to online version of newspapers. There is a limit to which the customer could do with the physical paper, but the online version is unlimited in scope.

There is also a boundary limit in the distribution of physical newspapers, whereas there are no limits in online transmission of electronic copies of newspapers. Newspaper is static such that once a publication goes out in a day, nothing can be added to it. If there is a breaking news, that news has to wait till the next newspaper publication the next day. But with the online version of news publication, which is digital in nature, breaking news can be published, even after the online media had already published for the day. They can continue to upload and publish stories online as they break, without waiting for the next day publication. In the banking

Dozie sector, customers that practice traditional banking, still take operational risk of going to the banking hall to carry out financial transacts, but with digital banking, customers can transact from their mobile devices in the comfort of their homes and offices, without visiting a bank’s branch. Digital banking has several advantages over the traditional banking system. Digital banking is driven by data, which gives accuracy and accountability. Digital banking is more cost effective than the traditional banking system, Sparkle, for instance, which is into full time digital banking, provides inventory, invoicing taxation services and customer database. So Sparkle is actually helping small businesses to grow their business without stepping out of their environment. So digital banking keeps it simple, transparent and cost-effective.

Do you still see any future prospects in traditional banking, given the era of digital transformation that is cutting across all sectors of the global economy?

Traditional banks still have bright future.

Today, the top five banks are responsible for 80 per cent of bank transactions in Nigeria. Traditional banks have the legacy and experience. Nigeria as a country is blessed with her youthful population, where 75 per cent of the population is youth, who are the millennials and the GenZs. What traditional banks are doing now, is to deploy digital services in their core banking operations, and by so doing, they are gradually reducing the number of bank branches that they currently have, but at a much slower rate. I see more of the mergers in the traditional banking system. It will take generations for traditional banks to be phased out of the banking system.

Financial experts are calling for collaboration between the traditional banks and the digital banks. What is your take on such call?

Collaboration is key and I so much

“Another area that is key is social inclusion, which covers health, education and food, but we cannot have social inclusion without identity management. I say this because if a country cannot meet up with its social inclusion and the country has over 50 per cent of its population living below the poverty line, then such country cannot achieve financial inclusion.”

support and encourage it. Diamond Bank became successful at some points because it was open to collaboration. Banks are beginning to invest in technology and digital banks are in the forefront, leveraging technology for enhanced financial service offerings. But before collaboration, banks must agree to the rules of the game. For any bank to grow big and expand its operations, such banks must consider collaboration as a key element for growth and expansion.

For banks to agree on moving cash from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’, the banks involve in the transactions must agree on the standard and rules of the transaction, and that is collaboration for growth. Collaboration brings about trust in the system. It was through collaboration that the traditional banks came together to establish agency network that will enable them reach out to more customers in rural and underserved communities. They also collaborated to establish shared infrastructure and they are all enjoying the benefits of collaboration, as they collaborate on standard.

You have been championing digital transformation at Sparkle. To what extent has this been achieved and what has been the impact of Sparkle on customers?

Sparkle has demystified banking operations and made the operations a lot easier for its customers. A good example is the payment link, which enables financial transaction without using any bank account. If I send my driver to a pharmacist store to get some drugs and he gets there and sends me a request link, I can send him money immediately and he receives it instantly to pay for the drugs. That payment link from Sparkle, makes financial transactions a lot easier and trusted. Before, this same transaction can go through about seven different steps before the transaction is processed, but we have been able to reduce the transaction time and even make the process more secure.

At the end of every month, we usually send transaction updates to all our customers to enable them have record of their transaction history to our customers. On the small business side, Sparkle is helping them to become more successful in their businesses. So these are some of the impact we are creating for our customers. Again, we will be starting lending to customers this quarter of the year, and when we begin lending, customers will have the opportunity to get loans at a very low interest rate.

How will you rate the impact of Fintech in driving development in the financial sector?

The Central Bank of Nigeria recently came up with some policies that did not go down well with digital banks. What do you make of such policies?

I think the policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the financial space are very much welcomed because such policies are meant to build trust and transparency in the financial sector. It takes the action of a small group of people to destroy the trust that had already been built around the financial industry, and that is why regulation and policy implementation are key in today’s digital era where technology reigns over and above baking transactions.

Today financial businesses are moving from physical to digital and the cyber criminals that play in the digital space, are coming up with new techniques to hack into the database and network of organisations and businesses, just to disrupt operations. I am optimistic that the CBN will come up with more governance policies to safeguard the industry and to build trust in the financial sector of the Nigerian economy.

Cyber attack on financial institutions is on the rise, a development that has raised fears among customers of banks. What measures are being taking to address this?

Cyber attacks are actually on the rise and this is as a result of the use of emerging technologies in driving digital banking. More of the banking services have been moved to the cloud and hackers that operate in that space are doing everything possible to launch online attacks on systems and networks, just to gain unauthorised access into organisation’s websites and systems.

The best way to address the online fraud is for businesses and organisations to invest more in technology solutions that can mitigate those threats. There is also need for collaboration among financial institutions, and banks must be willing and ready to report any attack on their system so that the financial institution ecosystem can learn and take adequate precautions. Under-reporting of financial fraud will not help the ecosystem to grow as it should. Sparkle is part of the Financial Technology Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) and I am currently the Chairman of FintechNGR CEO’s Committee. One of the things we do in that committee is to encourage collaboration and information sharing as well as the timely reporting of cyber attacks of any magnitude.

How will you access the performance of digital banks in meeting the financial inclusion drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria?

In my view, financial inclusion is a destination and it requires some hand-holding to succeed.

As a digital bank, we have our limits, because not all digital banks can do corporate banking, financial inclusion drive and merchant investment banking at the same time, but one thing that is key is collaboration. We can all collaborate to achieve the financial inclusion drive of the CBN. The fundamental issue is not financial inclusion but identity management, where everyone is identified and profiled. Another area that is key is social inclusion, which covers health, education and food, but we cannot have social inclusion without identity management. I say this because if a country cannot meet up with its social inclusion and the country has over 50 per cent of its population living below the poverty line, then such country cannot achieve financial inclusion.

27

T H I S D AY • Thursday, February 8, 2024

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Menace of Oil Spillage in Niger-delta Region Since the release of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Environmental Assessment Report of Ogoni land in the Niger-delta region, there has been delay in the implementation of the report by the federal government, writes Ugo Aliogo

N

igeria’s economic mainstay is crude oil. The country’s crude oil is extracted from the Niger-delta, a region that accounts for a large chunk of Nigeria’s crude oil.

The activities of oil extraction and exploration have caused environmental degradation, destroyed the ecosystem, especially the marine wildfire and farming activities and polluted their waters. The International Oil Companies (IOCs) have been held responsible for these environmental damages. In 1990, under the military era, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) was formed with the goal of protecting the environment of the Ogoni People of River State in the Niger-delta.

The Ogoni struggle began as a local quarrel with Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SDPC) due to the destruction and damage caused to their ecosystem and environmental pollution.

The struggle soon went beyond Shell to the military government of Late General Sani Abacha. Though MOSOP lost the fight and this consequently led to the death of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni sons, in November, 1995.

After the death of Ken Saro Wiwa and his kinsmen, efforts were made to resolve the conflict between the Ogonis themselves on one hand and their conflicts with Shell and the federal government on the other hand. Series of efforts were made by the federal government, Non-governmental organisations, faith based organisations, and others to find lasting peace in Ogoni land. The federal government under late General Sani Abacha, set up a National Reconciliation Commission headed by Mr. Alex Akinyele. But the panel seemed to lack legality since the Ogonis and other Nigerians believed that the government was the source of their crisis.

Today, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are calling on the government to wake up to the needs of the people who have voted them into power.

They urged the federal government not be blinded by the gains and revenues gotten from these companies and the divestment processes, to properly review the operations of the IOCs and how host communities have become victims of their own environment.

Oil Spills in the NigerDelta

A report by Amnesty International in 2008 and 2009, revealed that two massive oil spills in the fishing town of Bodo had a disastrous

been cleaned up when its $2.4 billion onshore oil assets transaction is completed will be taken over by its Joint Venture (JV) partners.

In a document detailing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) relating to the deal released on its international website, the British multinational stated that the roles and responsibilities of the SPDC JV partners will remain unchanged.

It would be recalled that in 2022, SPDC said it successfully remediated an additional 230 impacted sites, compared to 187 sites remediated in 2021, adding that 776 affected sites had been remediated since 2016.

According to Shell Nigeria Briefing Notes For 2022 Business Activities, “In the Niger Delta, over the last 12 years, the total number of operational hydrocarbon spills and the volume of oil spilled from them into the environment have been reduced significantly.

UNEP Report

impact on the community. Thick black oil leaked into rivers and creeks for weeks, killing fish and robbing people of their livelihoods.

The report said Shell, the operator of the leaking pipelines, repeatedly understated the volume of oil spilled and offered the community only a paltry amount of compensation $4000.

Amnesty International in the report said it assisted the Bodo community take legal action, adding that Shell acknowledged that it had made false statements about the size of the spills and settled out of court, paying the community £55 million in compensation.

According to the report, “Since 2014, Eni has reported 820 spills in the Niger Delta, with 26,286 barrels or 4.1 million litres lost.

Since 2011, Shell has reported 1,010 spills, with 110,535 barrels or 17.5 million litres lost. That’s about seven Olympic swimming pools. These are huge numbers, but the reality may be even worse. The companies’ figures are vastly different to those of the Nigerian government, which recorded 1369 Shell spills and 1659 ENI spills in the same timeframes. The spill volumes are also likely to be inaccurate as our research has shown how the companies underestimate the real amount.”

“In November, 2023, the Director-General of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Idris Musa, said about 3,000 barrels of crude oil were lost to the 15 November, oil spill from the offshore Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel of Total Energies.”

Shell’s Decision

The decision by Shell to divest its onshore business in Nigeria by reaching an agreement with Renaissance in a deal valued at $2.4billion has raised dust in the Niger-Delta, especially among the host communities, CSOs, and human right activists. Renaissance, a consortium of five companies, will acquire the SPDC. The consortium includes ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith and Petrolin. Shell said it has structured the deal to maintain SPDC’s operational capabilities to support the SPDC Joint Venture (SPDC JV). With a 30 percent stake, SPDC is the operator of the SPDC JV. On its part, Shell stated that regarding the issue of remediation, it has the responsibility for remediating the environmental impacts from its operations as well as historical spills that had not

The UNEP Environmental Assessment report of Ogoniland stated that due to the wide extent of contamination (in Ogoniland and nearby areas) and the varying degrees of degradation, there will not be one single technique appropriate for the entire area.

The report explained that a combination of approaches would therefore need to be considered, adding that this would range from active intervention for cleaning the top soil and replanting mangrove to passive monitoring of natural regeneration.

The report said mangrove restoration in Ogoniland would be a project which would take up to 30 years, once the ongoing pollution is stopped, and an appropriate approach will be to initiate restoration in number of largescale experimental pilot sites (of 10 hectares each) and apply the lessons learnt in each of the locations to rest of the area with similar ecological and hydrological conditions.

The report espoused that in locations where the mangrove trees have died, a more active intervention approach which involve clean-up of the hydrocarbons on the top soil and bituminous substances on the dead stems followed by artificial replanting should be attempted.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Bridging the Financial Inclusion Gap

Nume Ekeghe writes on the transformative impact of Verve International, Africa’s pioneering domestic payments scheme, in reshaping Nigeria’s financial landscape and fostering inclusion

I

n Nigeria, financial inclusion has emerged as a cornerstone for sustainability and economic prosperity.

The country’s ambition is to extend access to formal financial services across a wider spectrum of the population, thus bridging the financial inclusion gap that has long excluded many.

Various stakeholders, from banks and microfinance institutions to regulatory bodies and telcos are actively involved in initiatives aimed at driving financial inclusion throughout the country, with the ultimate goal of fostering economic growth.

As part of this overarching movement, fintechs and commercial banks in Nigeria have been pioneering innovative solutions to enhance financial inclusion. The issuance of diverse financial products, including debit and credit cards, by these entities has played a pivotal role in breaking down barriers and creating avenues for people from all walks of life to access financial services. These efforts underscore a collective commitment to making financial services more accessible, irrespective of geographical location or socio-economic status.

The collective effort has yielded significant results, with financial inclusion in Nigeria rising to 74 per cent in 2023, up from 68 per cent in 2020, according to a report by Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Access (EFInA).

The importance of financial inclusion becomes even more pronounced when considering the evolution of payment systems and the shift towards digital transactions.

The convenience and efficiency offered by digital payment methods contribute substantially to the expansion of financial

inclusion initiatives. Methods such as mobile banking, online transfers, and payment cards empower individuals by providing them with tools to manage their finances securely and conveniently.

One notable financial player leading the charge in driving financial inclusion in Nigeria is Verve International, Africa’s first and largest domestic payments scheme.

Verve has consistently demonstrated its commitment to deepening financial inclusion by partnering with banks and other financial institutions to provide payment cards to Nigerians and Africans at large.

Consequently, banks and other financial institutions are increasingly inclined to issue Verve cards due to the card’s

renowned unique and exciting benefits.

Over the years, Verve has swiftly gained traction among Nigerians, becoming synonymous with top-notch payment solutions, reliability, and convenience.

Whether conducting transactions such as bill payments, cash withdrawals, web transactions, or mobile top-ups, Nigerians have chosen Verve as their preferred payment solution.

The widespread acceptance of Verve goes beyond providing top-notch payment solutions; it signifies a cultural shift where a financial tool has become an integral part of people’s lives. This love for Verve is a testament to its impact in bridging the financial inclusion gap and enhancing the overall financial

experience for individuals across Nigeria.

As Verve continues to make significant strides domestically, its influence and impact are equally resonating globally, leaving no stone unturned. Its acceptance by key international merchants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Facebook, Uber, and Google amplifies its role in bridging the financial inclusion gap on a global scale.

Verve recently partnered with Google to enable Nigerians to make payments on the Google Play Store using the Nigerian local currency, naira. This partnership comes as a significant relief to many Nigerians who were facing challenges with international payments due to forex demands on their banks. The partnership will avail Verve cardholders to an expansive pool of products on Google Play.

From the entertainment delights of TikTok and Candy Crush to the professional networking prowess of LinkedIn and the innovative possibilities of Space, as well as the enhanced security and efficiency in call management provided by Truecaller, Verve ensures that its users have seamless access to a diverse array of digital products.

Verve remains steadfast in its commitment to broadening financial access and empowering individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships.

Verve has established itself as a payment solution and financial inclusion champion, illuminating the path towards a more financially inclusive country. Verve’s unwavering commitment to enhancing accessibility and empowering those previously excluded is reshaping the narrative of financial inclusion in the country.

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T H I S D AY • THURSday FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Property & environment I feel so Proud to Have Shattered Stereotypes, Says Margaret Oguntala, First Female NSE President Margaret Oguntala is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and the first female to be elected president of this prestigious society. She tells Bennett Oghifo being NSE president makes her feel so proud to have broken barriers and shattered stereotypes, and that she is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the engineering profession

H

ow does being the first female President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers make you feel?

Being the first female President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is a groundbreaking achievement, representing a significant milestone in the history of the engineering profession in Nigeria. I feel so proud to have broken barriers and shattered stereotypes, paving the way for future generations of female engineers to pursue leadership roles within the NSE and even beyond. It is indeed an honour to serve as a role model and inspiration to other women in the field, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and aspirations without limitations. At the same time, being the first female President comes with a sense of responsibility to effectively represent the interests of all NSE members, regardless of gender. I am committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the engineering profession, advocating for equal opportunities and recognition for all engineers, regardless of their backgrounds. As a woman and mother, who embraces the responsibility of nurturing life, I am determined to nuture engineering to new heights, by rebirthing the NSE for the Growth, Empowerment, and Advancement of Engineering in Nigeria. Overall, being the first female President of the NSE has been a profound empowering experience, allowing me to contribute to positive change in engineering and inspire others to believe in the limitless potential of women in Engineering.

Tell us your plans to make Nigerian Engineers relevant in nation building?

NSE is now on a transformative journey to elevate Engineering in Nigeria and as the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, I am deeply committed to advancing the role of Nigerian Engineers in nation building and ensuring their relevance in addressing the challenges facing our dear country. Let me tell you some of our strategic roadmap outlining our priorities. We are prioritising initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity, skills and competencies

development practices Let me also add that we are prioritising Vocational Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (VSTEM) education to empower future leaders. We are supporting dedicated institutions with strategic endowments to ensure the thriving of VSTEM education for a generation of STEM leaders. For a greater Nigeria, we shall uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics within the profession, including adherence to codes of conduct, ethics, and best practices. We shall raise public awareness about the importance of engineering in nation–building and engage with local communities to address their needs and concerns. Overall, we shall harness the collective expertise, passion, and ingenuity of Nigerian Engineers to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and social progress in Nigeria.

Together, we will build a brighter future for our country and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Oguntala

of Nigerian engineers, especially the young engineers to meet the evolving needs of the industry. We have started walking the talking.

Right now, we are about to conclude with our partners on international trainings, world -class workshops and certification programmes. These will commence in a few weeks time. Also, it is our plan to champion initiatives that foster innovation and research within the engineering community, with a focus on a developing homegrown solution to local challenges. We are creating platforms for collaboration between engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs, as well as support innovative projects and start up. We already have an engineering hub which we intend to scale up. Our goal is to position Nigeria as a hub for engineering. In addition, we have started contacting government agencies, policy makers, and stakeholders showing interest to work together and advocate for policies that promote the growth and development of the engineering profession in Nigeria. This includes but not limited to advocating for increased investment in infrastructure, adoption of innovative technologies, and the implementation of sustainable

Give us an idea of how much Nigeria’s engineering firms have been affected by the nation’s struggling economy The impact of Nigeria’s struggling economy on engineering firms has been significant, with several challenges affecting their operations.

Engineering firms in Nigeria often face high operating costs, including expenses related to energy, transportation and security. The economic challenges facing the country such as inflation and rising fuel prices, have further increased these operating costs, squeezing profit margins for engineering firms. Access to financing is another challenge for many engineering firms in Nigeria, particularly small and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs). Financial Institutions now hesitate to lend to engineering firms due to concerns about economic stability. Also, Nigeria’s economy has experienced significant currency fluctuations in recent years, with the depreciation of the naira against major currencies. Engineering firms especially those that import some materials from abroad now face higher costs due to the weakened purchasing power of the naira, affecting their profitability and competitiveness. In

summary, the struggling economy in Nigeria has presented numerous challenges for engineering firms impacting their ability to grow, innovate, and contribute to the country’s development.

Addressing these challenges will require concerted efforts from government and industry stakeholders to create a more conducive business environment and support the growth and sustainability of engineering firms in Nigeria.

What role can engineers play in the nation’s infrastructural development? Can some of them form a consortium that can bid for government jobs and prove they can compete with other firms?

Nigerian engineers play a pivotal role in the nation’s infrastructural development across various sectors, including transportation, energy, water resources, telecommunications, and urban development. Some of the key roles that Nigeria Engineers undertake in contributing to infrastructural development is the Designing and planning of infrastructure projects in order to meet the needs of communities while adhering to regulatory standards and environmental sustainability principles. They also oversee the construction and implementation of infrastructure projects, maintenance and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure assets, ensuring their functionality, safety and efficiency. Engineers drive innovation and technology adoption in infrastructural development by leveraging advancement in material, construction techniques and digital technologies. Regarding forming a consortium to bid for government jobs, Yes. Nigerian Engineers can form consortium to bid for government contracts and compete with other firms. By pooling their resources, expertise, and capabilities, engineers can demonstrate their collective capacity to undertake large – scale projects and address the infrastructure challenges facing Nigeria and driving sustainable growth and development.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

How Five Developers Made Tenants Landlords by Paying Tenured Rents Fadekemi Ajakaiye

houses.

After the days of Shehu Shagari and Lateef Jakande, tenants in Nigeria have been perpetually at the mercy of landlords who not only collect their rents upfront, but also increase the same at will.

Shagari and Jakande were the second republic president of Nigeria and governor of Lagos State, respectively who, as a matter of state policies and programmes, embarked on massive development of low-cost housing mostly for low-income earning Nigerians.

Many Nigerians who benefitted from those housing programmes are enjoying the comfort of those houses till today.

But, today, a vast majority of Nigerians, especially those that are resident in Lagos, are not finding it easy having a roof over their head, even as renters, because of high house prices.

As a response to this challenge which, in Lagos, cuts across over 80 percent of the residents, some estate developers, public and private operators alike, have intervened with structured schemes that allow tenants to acquire their houses, pay rents over a period and own those

Mixta Africa This developer has an initiative for home acquisition focused on affordability. The initiative is called DUO which, according to Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, is a homegrown solution for mid-income earners who have difficulty paying outrightly for a house or experiencing delays in accessing a mortgage.

The DUO gives renters the opportunity to start out as tenants and end up as homeowners in a simple, straightforward transaction. “The thought of being a tenant paying your due rent and subsequently becoming a homeowner within 3 years is the major attraction for interested subscribers.

This initiative gives you the opportunity of not only living your dream of becoming a homeowner but also enjoying the benefit of living in a serene and luxury environment that offers all the comfort, convenience and recreation necessary for a healthy life,” Akinkugbe-Filani added.

She disclosed that as a rent-to-own scheme, DUO is currently applicable to Mixta’s

fully finished two-bedroom Marula Park home which is located in Lagos New Town, off Lekki- Epe Expressway with Beechwood Park and Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate as its close neighbours.

Legrande Properties This is a Lagos-based property developer, currently developing 5,000 affordable housing units in Lagos. It has come up with a rent-to-own initiative as a means to meet the huge housing needs in the country. But this initiative, according to Babajide Durojaiye, the managing director, is an opportunity for only contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF).

The initiative is premised on its new project called Alexandra Courts Estate in lbeju-Lekki which is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Lagos State Government and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). “It also provides opportunity for loans to off-takers who are contributors to the National Housing Fund scheme up to N15 million,” Durojaiye assures.

At the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) Renewed

Hope City at Ibeju Lekki in Lagos, Legrande Properties has earmarked 2,500 units for staffers of the TUC, NMA, NLC, NUT, and civil servants.

Alpha Mead Rent4Less and Rent-to-Own are two models this developer has initiated to enable affordability of housing. The company is worried that landlords, over the years, are charging 1 and 2-years rent on their properties.

“Government is looking into monthly rent payment, but the approach is not the right one as you cannot legislate on what you do not own. What should be done is to meet the objectives of landlords and tenants for the system to work,” Femi Akintunde, the Group Managing Director, explained.

According to him, their Rent4Less approaches landlords with large units, pay upfront and fill it up with tenants who want to pay monthly while “Rent-to-Own combines our affordable housing solutions and mortgage accessing capabilities to help subscribers on Rent4Less own their homes.”

Family Homes Funds (FHF) As federal government’s

intervention in the housing sector, FHF facilitates home ownership. Its mandate is to provide 500,000 housing units in five years and create over two million jobs in the process.

The Funds has a product it calls Help-to-Own which contributes 40 percent of the total cost of new homes for low-middle income individuals as loan. The product does not require repayment of the loan in the first five years after which monthly payments are made starting from an interest rate of 3 percent, rising gradually to a maximum of 15 percent in the 20th year.

This product is for first time home buyers and for individuals who can provide a minimum deposit of 10 percent of the purchase price and can take responsibility for any associated fees. The product is also for those who earns between N500,000 and N1.7 million yearly.

Lagos Ministry of Housing Curiously, Lagos, which is seen by many home seekers as an exploiter and a major competitor with private developers, also has a Rent-to-Own housing scheme that targets first time

home buyers.

This scheme is a response to the concerns raised over the unfriendly conditions attached to home ownership through the Lagos Homes Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS). The new product has about 4,355 housing units it inherited from the mortgage scheme.

These houses came from 12 housing estates including Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Odoragunsen, Epe, Odo Onasa, Agbowa, Igbogbo Housing Estate, Ikorodu, Egan -Igando Housing estate, Alimosho, Lateef Jakande Gardens, Igando also in Alimosho. Other estates for the scheme are CHOIS City, Agbowa, Olaitan Mustapha Housing Estate, Ojokoro, Iponri Estate, Surulere, Sangotedo Estate, Eti-Osa and Ajara Estate, Badagry.

It requires individual subscribers to pay only 5 percent of the cost of the housing unit as a commitment fee and the balance is spread over a period of 10 years with minimal interest.

According to Moruf AkinderuFatai, the state’s Commissioner for Housing, Rent-to-Own has recorded about 1,230 beneficiaries from inception.

T H I S D AY • THURSday FEBRUARY 8, 2024

images

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Deputy Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in charge of Visa and Residency, Ijeoma Emenike; Comptroller-General of NIS, Caroline Wuraola-Adepoju; and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, during a working visit by the leadership of the NIS to NIA in Abuja... recently

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun; and Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, after a meeting with senior police officers on the state of security in Ekiti State, held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja…recently

L-R: Member of Egbe Bobakeye Isonyin-Ijebu, Otunba Femi Oyetayo; daughter of the deceased, Yeye Otunba Bisi Onanuga; family member, Olori Toyin Ogunnuga; and a guest, Bola Folorunso, during the funeral ceremony of late Chief (Mrs.) Bolajoko Aderonke Efuniyi at St. Phillips Anglican Church, Oke Agbo in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State…recently

The newly installed President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Dr. Adebisi Osim (left), decorating the outgoing President of APWEN, Dr. Elizabeth Eterigho, during the investiture of the 18th president of the association in Abuja…recently

L-R: President of Angola-Nigeria Business Council (ANBC), Fifi Ejindu; former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; and the Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Jose Bamoquina Zau, during a news conference on Angola-Nigeria Diplomatic Business Forum held in Lagos…recently

L-R: Director, Customer Care, 9mobile, Ehimare Omoike; winner of the N250,000 cash prize, Azuka Eseka; and Director, Product Innovation and Business Development, 9mobile, Kenechukwu Okonkwo, during the first prize presentation to winners of the 9mobile Choplife, held in Lagos…recently

L-R: Bride’s father, Mr. Kolawole Alli; groom’s mother, Mrs. Rachel Modupe Kuye; couple, Mr. Oluwajuwonlo Allwell Kuye and Mrs. Opeyemi Deborah Kuye; groom’s father, Mr. Alani Oluwatobi Kuye, and bride’s mother, Mrs. Motunrayo Alli, during the wedding of their children (the couple) in Lagos...recently

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Thursday, February 8, 2024 • THISDAY

FOCUS

Wigwe University: Supporting Nigeria’s Drive for Improved Foreign Currency Inflows

Donatus Eleko

O

ne major challenge that has been confronting the Nigerian economy is the shortage of foreign exchange (FX) inflows. This has contributed significantly to the free fall of the naira exchange rate seen in recent, even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has initiated reforms to strengthen the local currency.

The development once more saw commentators preach against the seeming dollarisation, with some advising organisations and institutions operating in Nigeria that do charge foreign currencies for their transactions to desist from such.

Owing to this, the Wigwe University which released unveiled its prospectus and fees, has explained the reason why some components of its tuition fees are charged in dollars. Contrary to insinuations, the Wigwe University has been positioned to support Nigeria’s quest to improve its FX inflows.

In explaining the rationale behind the structure of its tuition fees, Wigwe University stressed that its home students would pay their fees in naira, explaining that its decision for select dollar payment was a strategic one which aligns with its vision to attract a diverse and international student body.

In a statement issued by the institution, Wigwe University noted that it respects the concerns raised by some members of the public, and was obliged to clear the air on the matter.

“The decision to list our fees in dollar is a strategic one, aligning with our vision to attract a diverse and international student body. By utilising dollar, a universally accepted currency, we aim to provide clarity and transparency for our prospective students from around the world. We want to assure our home students that they will pay their tuition fees in Naira.

“As a hub for intellectual growth, we are not just building individuals, but contributing significantly to the economic development and growth of Nigeria and Africa at large. The presence of international students at Wigwe University has a positive ripple effect on the local economy,” it stated.

Furthermore, it explained that, “The exposure to the rich cultural and entrepreneurial landscape of Nigeria creates a potential avenue for future investments and business collaborations.

“Furthermore, the influx of international students will boost our local economy by bringing in dollar, this positive impact will gradually reduce capital flight from our economy.”

The Wigwe University is dedicated to fostering a global learning environment with a focus on excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. The institution is commitment to providing a world class education is reflected in its distinguished

faculty, with over 35 per cent hailing from prestigious international institutions.

In addition, Wigwe University’s stateof-the-art infrastructure rivals the best institutions globally, with its campus equipped with modern facilities, smart classrooms, cutting edge laboratories and comprehensive research centres.

The founder of the university, Herbert Wigwe, is a respected banker who spared no expense in creating an environment that nurtures creativity, collaboration and critical thinking among its students and the entire design of the institution is intentional, to nurture fearless leaders that will one day transform Africa.

“We respect the concerns raised by some members of the public, and we are obliged to clarify this subject. Wigwe University operates with the utmost respect for national regulations and guidelines.

“Wigwe University views education as a powerful tool for societal transformation.

In seeking the best international faculty, we must also prioritise our Nigerian faculty ensuring appropriate and competitive remuneration packages.

“We are not only enriching academic experience within our institution but also contributing to the larger narrative of nation-building,” it added.

Wigwe University is providing excellent infrastructure with a readiness to provide an Ivy-League education, spending at least $500 million to set up the institution.

On June 9, 2023, the National Universities Commission approved and issued an operational licence to Wigwe University in Isiokpo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Wigwe University embodies Nigeria’s resilience, fearless culture, values, and entrepreneurial spirit. The university believes that the world and Africa, especially, need problem solvers, torchbearers and gamechangers who would form part of its learning community to create sustainable solutions for the world. It would have the most conducive environment to do this and to attain their highest potential.

The university’s curricula include management, science, engineering, information technology, and creative arts disciplines. To realise its ambitions, the institution anticipates requiring up to $500 million for scaling within a five-year timeframe.

To bridge the gap in manpower, Wigwe plans to recruit 30 per cent of the teaching staff from the UK and the US. Wigwe would play an active role in teaching and mentoring, engaging prominent entrepreneurs like

billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man. The university aims to enroll 1,400 students in its inaugural year, with a projected increase to 10,000 within the next five years.

Wigwe had emphasised the transformative impact of education, asserting that it goes beyond financial considerations, influencing individuals and nations alike.

To Wigwe, education is expected to make one fearless. It should help students remain focused, unwavering, and fixed firmly on the exhilaration of victory rather than the fear of defeat. He said this was why Wigwe University is focused on delivering education, cultivating Africa’s bold and fearless generation of leaders, innovative thinkers and entrepreneurial sons and daughters. Wigwe University is a beacon of knowledge that would guide the African youth through the realms of academia and profound lessons of existence.

According to Wigwe, the university aims to shape its students into embodiments of fearlessness with mentorship and guidance “so that one day, they shall proudly declare – we are fearless.”

“I cannot change the world overnight.

But if I can empower even one youth today, tomorrow, they could join me in empowering others. With time, we could change the world. The truth is that the end to the good we can achieve is nowhere in sight. There’s so much more to conquer. There are more lives to impact and generations to uplift to achieve their full potential,” the Wigwe University founder said recently.

He added, “History will favour the brave, those who knew their limitations only because they had to defy them. History will favour the fearless. We are the African spirit of strength in numbers, teamwork, and collaboration. We symbolise and express the irrepressible human spirit of design thinking. We strive for sustainability and a shared prosperous future for all.”

In a recent statement, the University stated: “We believe in a balanced, sustainable lifestyle. From time outdoors to working as a sports team to fostering strong understanding and relationships between peers – our sports and societies offer something for everyone to get involved in.

“All our programmes are delivered to an international standard in collaboration with key international partners. Our approach puts us in touch with world-leading curricula, joint research and international exchanges and internship programmes.”

Also speaking at an Education Fair organised by the institution in Port Harcourt, with the theme “Rewire: Rooted in Africa,

Impacting the World,” recently, Wigwe, who is the Chancellor of the university, applauded the Nigerian educational sector for training brilliant and strong minds, citing himself as a beneficiary.

He, however, noted that Nigerian universities have, over time, declined due to inadequate attention paid to key aspects of their development.

Wigwe emphasised the need for courage and fearlessness in addressing Nigeria’s academic challenges as opposed to running away from them.

Addressing the prevalent brain drain in Nigeria, the Chancellor emphasised that the Wigwe University’s had resolved to tackle challenges within the education system.

He added that leveraging state-of-the-art technology, innovation and leapfrogging, the university would propel itself to the forefront of global education, offering an alternative that rivals international standards.

The Chancellor said the education fair echoed the university’s commitment to not only celebrate its African roots but also make a global impact.

“This is to the end that the prevalent ‘Japa’ movement might lose its allure as Wigwe University strives to become a beacon for those seeking world-class education on home soil.

“Breaking away from convention, Wigwe University ensured that the fair was not merely a platform for university promotion but a space for meaningful interaction.”

The fair also featured engaging question-andanswer sessions, providing attendees with the opportunity to delve deeper into the university’s vision, policies, and the broader landscape of higher education in Nigeria”, he added.

Already, Prof. Miles Davis has already been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor. Davis has a PhD in human and organisational sciences from George Washington University, an MA in Human Resource Development from Bowie State University and a BA in Communications from Duquesne University. He was the inaugural chair of the Management Science Department at the Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business at Shenandoah University. He became the founding director of its Institute for Entrepreneurship, and later, Davis became the dean of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business.

Another personality to keep the institution running is Prof. Nelson Uzoechi-Uzoma Alino, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration/ Dean College of Management and Social Science).

Before joining Wigwe University, Alino held the esteemed position of William S. Perlroth, Professor of Accounting and Taxation at Quinnipiac University.

Therefore, the founder and management of the Wigwe University should be given all the support to succeed so as to position the Nigerian economy for improved FX inflows.

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T H I S D AY • Thursday, FEBRUARY 8, 2004

Health & lifestyle

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

RevitalisingPHCs through PSHAN’s Sustainable Partnershipwith MTN Foundation

The Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, PSHAN, through its Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme, ADHFP, is championing revitalising upgrading and revamping Primary Healthcare Centres nationwide. This year, in alignment with MTN’s What Can We Do Together, WCWDT initiative, they are revitalising 52 PHCs. Chiemelie Ezeobi, who witnessed the recent Memorandum of Agreement between PSHAN and the MTN Foundation, reports that the initiative is such a huge boost for healthcare delivery as it’s targeted at those most in need of care

L-R: Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, MD/CEO PSHAN; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi (OFR) mni, Chairman, MTN Foundation; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Director, PSHAN; Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, at the MoA Signing Ceremony between MTN Foundation and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) in Lagos, Nigeria, on February 1, 2024

I

n a bid to address the abysmal state of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria, the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), a not-for-profit, business-led organisation founded to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system, has joined forces with MTN Foundation to revitalise 52 primary healthcare centers across the country through the Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP) Initiative.

Import of PHCs Emphasising the importance of PHCs in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, Chairman of Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and Director PSHAN, Mr. Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede (CON), who noted that there are over 30,000 PHCs in the country, stressed that the sustainability of these PHCs is the key issue, and that the private sector has a crucial role to play in ensuring that they are properly funded and supported.

Memorandum of Agreement Thus on February 1, 2024, PSHAN and MTN Foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to revitalise 52 PHCs across Nigeria in a bid to chart the course for accessible healthcare provision for those who are most in need of it- the grassroot. The signing ceremony was to formalise the partnership between the foundation and PSHAN in its common quest for grassroot healthcare.

For stakeholders involved, the historic signing, which was done by the duo of PSHAN MD, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe and MTN Foundation Executive Director, Mrs. Odunayo Sanyo, was such a significant boost towards advancing healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.

The MoA was witnessed by MTN Foundation Chairman, Prince Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi (OFR); Chairman of Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and Director PSHAN, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede (CON); Director of MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; as well

L-R: (Sitting in front) Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director, MTN Foundation; Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, Managing Director/CEO, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN); Standing L-R: Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation; Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi (OFR, mni), Chairman, MTN Foundation; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuade, Director, PSHAN; Titilayo Fowokan, Director, PSHAN at the signing of the MoA

as representatives from World Health Organisation (WHO) and Lagos State government.

Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme According to Dr. Akinbolagbe, the Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP) is a vital initiative aimed at revamping and establishing at least one standard Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) in each of the 774 LGAs throughout Nigeria.

Aligned with the MTN, What Can We Do Together (WCWDT) initiative and the Emergency Relief Clean Up (ERCU) Project, ADHFP focuses on upgrading PHCs to address specific healthcare challenges nationwide, ensuring a positive impact at the grassroots level.

She stressed that this partnership would have a profound impact on maternal mortality rates, focusing on delivering healthcare at the crucial primary healthcare center stage, adding that the goal is for the intervention to extend its reach to two hundred more communities by June 2024.

While the MTN Foundation will commit to upgrading and equipping the facilities, PSHAN will ensure the projects’ sustainability and that they deliver a lasting impact on the communities Process of PHCs Selection Clarifying the selection process, the PSHAN MD said, “the careful selection of PHCs involved a thorough assessment, considering factors like functionality, staffing adequacy, facility visits, security, accessibility, and structure.

“Among the initial 52 PHCs chosen for immediate revitalisation by the MTN Foundation in collaboration with PSHAN, are locations in Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Jigawa, Kogi, and Rivers states. These selections were made based on alignment with outlined criteria to ensure that revitalised

facilities meet the program’s mission of supporting those most in need of healthcare services.”

As regards the timeline for the work, she said ADHFP follows a three-staged approach for PHC revitalisation, ensuring effective execution and long-term sustainability.

Beyond that, she posited that the immediate next steps include comprehensive strategy development, project execution, infrastructure revitalisation, recruitment and training, and community awareness.

Collaboration Harping on the power of collaborations, Dr. Akinbolagbe said in implementing this nationwide programme, PSHAN and MTN Foundation are playing pivotal roles by “showcasing a collaborative approach to healthcare improvement in Nigeria.

“MTN Foundation’s commitment to 52 selected PHCs across Nigeria underscores their commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services across all geopolitical zones.

Public Sector Engagement The goal of revitalising the health sector is not a walk in park.

With full understanding of this, PSHAN in its quest to ensure the success of ADHFP, “relies heavily on State Ministries of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Care Development Agency and States’ Primary Healthcare Development Agencies.

“Their insights inform tailored approaches for effective public sector engagement, which are critical for adequate planning, resource mobilisation, capacity building and monitoring C evaluation,” she noted.

She also emphasised that the

revitalisation of the healthcare sector should not rely solely on the government.

MTN’S What Can We Do Together” Initiative Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, reitertated that MTN Foundation’s What Can We Do Together Project, PSHAN, under the Adopt -AHealthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP) is revitalising 52 PHCs as a significant step toward enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services in Nigeria.

Posting that the foundation is committed to improving healthcare service in Nigeria, she said they have been leveraging the ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative as a vehicle to invest in upgrading PHCs since 2015.

Stressing that the WCWDT initiative is focused on community development and empowerment, she further disclosed that previous intervention projects have positively impacted 180 Primary Health Care centres nationwide.

Given the level of successes achieved in the past, she posited that this partnership would elevate the quality of PHCs, ensuring the provision of affordable and sustainable healthcare to citizens across the country.

Commending MTN Foundation for the laudable role its playing in ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare outcomes for the grassroot, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said they have become flag bearers given their commitment to social investment.

About PSHAN PSHAN is committed to getting private sector players of the economy to mobilising resources and capabilities to provide accessible, affordable, and first-rate healthcare solutions to Nigerians.

According to Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede, the vision was borne having recognised that the government cannot do it alone.

So over the years since its inception, PSHAN has adopted a coordinated, nationwide multi-stakeholder approach to create transformative health outcomes.

32

THURSday, February 8, 2024, T H I S D AY

business/MOnEYGUIDE

Shettima to Unveil Team to Unlock $2.5bn Green Economy Opportunity Today Kayode Tokede Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja inaugurate the committee that has been directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to develop Nigeria’s Carbon Market Activation Plan. The Inter-governmental committee is expected to guide the development of a National Carbon Market Activation Plan that will accelerate green growth and just energy transition The Federal Government of Nigeria, supported by the Africa Carbon Market Initiative (ACMI), will be working towards the implementation of a co-created blueprint aimed at positioning the country with the requisite frameworks and policies to drive an efficient and sustainable carbon market ecosystem with an estimated

value of $2.5 billion.

President Bola Tinubu previously announced the creation of the intergovernmental committee on carbon markets at COP28 in December 2023, and appointed the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr. Dahiru Salisu, to co-chair the committee.

The co-chairs will be joined by representatives from the Ministry of Finance/ Coordinating Minister of the Economy, The Ministry of Environment, The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, The Ministry of Power, The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, The Special Advisor President on Climate & NEC , The Managing Director, Nigeria Sovereign

investment Authority.

The committee members, according to a statement, have been tasked with ensuring the forthcoming plan offers a roadmap for making Nigeria an attractive hub for investors by focusing on driving investments in innovative, green and sustainable initiatives across diverse sectors, with a focus on establishing a high-integrity and credible carbon credits. The plan also aims to ensure the inclusion of local communities and indigenous groups.

“The current Electric Buses Rollout Programme is a concrete example of how the government is committed to using carbon markets to finance sustainable development. This pilot launched

by President Tinubu will be used as one of the pilot projects for generating carbon credits, “the statement said.

FOU Records N83m Revenue, Seized Contraband Worth N854m in January The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja has said that it generated a revenue of over N83 million through documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignment in January this year.

In a chat with newsmen in Lagos, the Comptroller, FOU Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu said the unit renewed its fight against smuggling, activated an enhanced intelligence gathering and information sharing mechanism, “and were able to identify some new smuggling hot spots and schemes employed by smugglers.”

According to him, the strategy yielded 60 seizures worth a total duty paid value of N854.15 million adding that the following major seizures were recorded within January 2024.

He said, “Some of the seizures include, 3,653 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 6.5 trailer loads), 23,025 litres of PMS, 241 bales of used clothes, 1,490 kg of Indian Hemp, 1,220 cartons of foreign tomato paste, 983 pieces of used tyres, 104 units of Haojuo motorcycles, 556 cartons of slippers and 11 units of used vehicles.”

He added that the status of these goods was found to have contravened different sections of the Customs Act (2023), while some were expired at the time of importation; others flaunted the import statutory guidelines, while noting that a total of ten suspects were arrested in connection with some of the goods.

He commended the officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, for their hard work and dedication

to duty, and other security agencies for their coordinated efforts, support and cooperation towards some of the successes recorded by the Unit in the preceding year, 2023.

“In a like manner, I also appreciate the patriotism of compliant importers, exporters and agents for their compliance with the Service’s extant procedures and regulations; I urge you to keep it up,” Ejibunu said.

He pointed out that smuggling is a crime that has to do with; the act of false declaration and concealment of goods, the use of unapproved routes and ports for the exportation or importation of goods, forging of Customs documents, willful under-payment of Customs duties, and trafficking in prohibited or restricted goods among others.

Starlink AppointsTD AFRICA First Authorised Distributor in Africa In a groundbreaking agreement, Starlink has authorized TD Africa, Nigeria’s premier technology distribution powerhouse, to distribute Starlink Kits.

The company in a statement said the development marks a significant moment in TD Africa’s goal of democratizing internet access in the heart of Nigeria and across Africa.

Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. Starlink provides quality and cost-effective internet access to homes, businesses,

and especially caters to those in remote locations that are currently underserved or unreached.

As the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.

TD Africa said it plans to leverage Starlink’s unique selling points such as high-speed, low latency, broad coverage and scalability to bridge the digital divide.

TD Africa’s Coordinating

Managing Director, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, highlighted the synergy between TD Africa’s experience as a leading distributor of technology and business solutions and Starlink’s commitment to transforming how the world accesses the internet.

She expressed excitement about the growth opportunities this agreement presents across the continent while emphasizing TD Africa’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, and usable internet solutions to individuals and businesses.

Foundation Donates N33m to Four Special Needs Schools Across Nigeria

In a heartwarming display of generosity, the Worship for Change Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, has donated a total sum of N33 million to four schools dedicated to caring for children with disabilities.

The donation, presented at a ceremony in Lagos, aims to empower these institutions and provide much needed support to the under privileges.

Each of the four beneficiary schools – Joy in Africa Foun-

dation (Asaba), Let Cerebral Palsy Kids Learn Foundation (Lagos), Seedo Initiative for Children with Special Needs (Abuja), and To Omo Re Centre for Special Empowerment (Ilorin) – received N8.25 million each.

The funds were raised through the Green Worship Benefit concert, a star-studded event held on October 2nd, 2023, featuring renowned Nigerian gospel artists Na-

thaniel Bassey, Tope Alabi, Cobhams Asuquo, and Waje.

Worship for Change said it has so far been able to raise over N120m for 38 charities caring for thousands of orphans and children with special needs in Nigeria.

Chief Responsibility Officer of Worship for Change, Wale Adenuga emphasised the organisation’s unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable children.

L-R: Founder, Joy in Africa Foundation, Asaba, Joy Okonjor; Founder, To Omo Re Centre for Special Empowerment, Sam Ajayi; Chief Responsibility Officer, The Let Cerebral Palsy Kids Learn Foundation, Tobiloba Ajayi; Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer, Worship for Change, Wale Adenuga and President, The Seedoo Initiative for Children with Special Needs, Kawan Aondofa-Anjira; during the presentation of cheques totaling N33million to four Foundations catering for special needs by Worship for Change Foundation in Lagos…recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) November, 24

Money Supply (M3)

72,014,274.74

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,245,804.25

Money Supply (M2)

71,331,641.40

-- Quasi Money

45,146,611.59

-- Narrow Money (M1)

26,185,029.81

---- Currency Outside Banks

3,081,255.46

---- Demand Deposits

23,103,774.40

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

32,212,549.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

58,300,995.27

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,801,725.20

---- Credit to Government (Net)

32,511,333.17

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

59,737,156.08

--Other Assets Net

4,720,308.20

Reserve Money (Base Money

22,908,392.34

--Currency in Circulation --Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

3,347,716.33 19,560,676.02 0.00

• Source - CBN

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

December 2024

Inter-Bank Call Rate

16.99

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

18.75

Treasury Bill Rate

8.93

Savings Deposit Rate

5.28

1 Month Deposit Rate

7.24

3 Months Deposit Rate

7.56

6 Months Deposit Rate

8.42

12 Months Deposit Rate

9.75

Prime Lending rate

14.17

Maximum Lending Rate

26.62

• Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE As At 24th JANUARY , 2024

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $81.30 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $79.70 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

THURSday, February 8, 2024, 2024 • T H I S D AY

33

mARKET NEWS

Stock Market Sustains Negative Run on Profit-taking in Dangote Sugar, 34 Others

Ka yo d e To ke d e

The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday stretched its negative run, as losses in Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and 34 others dragged the market major index by 0.002 per cent.

The All-Share Index (ASI) lost 1.74 points or 0.002 per cent to close at 102,106.31 basis points.

Also, market capitalisation declined by N1 billion to close at N55.871 trillion.

As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was negative, as 19 stocks gained relative to 35 losers. Meyer emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent to close at N5.72, per share. Tripple Gee & Company followed with a gain of 9.84 per cent

P R I C E S MaiN Board

F O R DEALS

to close at N4.13, while Juli rose by 9.09 per cent to close at 84 kobo, per share.

Cornerstone Insurance increased by 8.78 per cent to close at N2.23, while Africa Prudential added 8.70 per cent to close at N8.75, per share. On the other side, AIICO Insurance led the losers’ chart with 9.92 per cent to close at N1.18, per

S E C U R I T I E S Market Price

quantity traded

share. Cadbury Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.50 per cent to close at N21.90, while Guinea Insurance shed 8.93 per cent to close at 51 kobo, per share.

Tantalizer depreciated by 8.70 per cent to close at 42 kobo, while Honeywell Flour Mills down by 6.96 per cent to close at N4.01, per share.

T R A D E D

value traded ( N )

A S O F

MaiN Board

The total volume traded declined by 30.81 per cent to 341.924 million units, valued at N6.405 billion, and exchanged in 9,665 deals. Transactions in the shares of Transnational Corporations (Transcorp) led the activity with 39.900 million shares worth N548.882 million.

FBN Holdings (FBNH) followed with account

F E B R U A RY DEALS

of 33.609 million shares valued at N840.595 million, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 26.016 million shares valued at N1.019 billion.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 23.947 million shares worth N598.175 million, while Fidelity Bank traded 18.254 million shares worth N211.382 million.

/ 0 7 / 2 4 Market Price

quantity traded

value traded ( N)

34

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024 • THISDAY

PERSPECTIVE

It’s Time to Reboot All Tertiary Institutions

Eddie Mbadiwe

T

he recent ‘expose’ by Mr. Umar Audu an investigative Journalist that he was able to procure a degree from a university in Benin Republic sends one’s head into a tail spin. With that, he was also able to get clearance for National Youth Service.

This is extremely disturbing and unacceptable to any serious person connected with the future of education and by extension the country.

Mr. Audu did not attend any lectures even for a day and all he had to do was pay about N600,000.

As is usual with public institutions in Nigeria, the National University Commission (NUC) offered it’s traditional ‘Knee-jerk-response’ that it had set up an enquiry into all private universities. This is begging the reality. What we need is a public enquiry into education decay so that all the issues can be laid on the table for everyone to see. They claim to investigate private universities. What of government owned universities?

A degree from Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, opens doors for their graduates in any part of the world.

The University of South Africa, Cairo and Ibadan were inching gradually to that golden bar. In the case of University of Ibadan unfortunately, the Civil War intervened truncating the progress already acknowledged. As Afro-beat Legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti put it in music; “War came and everybody scatter”.

The advantages of wearing that Ivy League badge are legion but let me just give one example. In the United Kingdom, doctors who graduated from lesser-known universities are required to pass a PLAB exam before being admitted into the Post graduate Residency programme.

If the Bola Tinubu government wants to make an indelible impact, then education demands more than tokenism as is the case now. You cannot negotiate academic integrity. Some of us resigned as university lecturers rather than have our names sullied on worthless certificates Mr. President sir, history beckons on you to choose

Honorable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman what your legacy would be.

There is this so called ‘Nigerian Syndrome’ of one step forward and three steps backward.

The inevitable outcome is predictable and will only lead to stagnation and eventual death.

Let us not forget that in their history; the

Republic of China was once classified as undeveloped.

By sheer courage and grit, China closed their borders and forced their population to look inwards and manufacture. The mantra was “produce, produce and produce.” People who embezzled the kind of humongous amounts as some Nigerians have salted away in foreign countries should not be given prison sentences but should be executed so that their entire generation including those not yet born will not benefit from this loot. With a visionary leader, citizens fall in line willingly. There must be zero tolerance for any type of malfeasance.

When Dr. Kwame ‘Osagyefo’ Nkrumah was overthrown, it was found out he did not own any house in Ghana. His family had to move to Egypt where his wife hailed from. It was when President Achempong came to power that he provided a house for Dr. Nkrumah’s family to return to Ghana. When Nkrumah was president, every item in his official resident was engraved with the Black Star; the symbol of Ghana. Osagyefo is undoubtedly one of the last century’s Heroes. Your achievements leave a trail after one has passed.

The press also has an important role to play in this renaissance. There was a time when people looked forward to reading the Nigerian dailies. There was Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan) Sam Amuka (Sad Sam) Bisi Onabanjo (Ayekooto). Now unfortunately Journalism has nose-dived as well. That was a period when men were men and stood up to be counted.

Successful business men like Richard Branson while pulling his Virgin Atlantic Airline from the Nigerian route rated Nigeria as one of the most difficult places to do business in the world. Daily, the President hammers on attracting foreign investment when long established ones like Procter, and Gamble, Smith Kline Beecham and Lever Brothers are relocating to other African countries. Why can’t we have a sincere introspection.

Can’t we recline a bit and ask ‘why, why’ and for how long shall we continue to play the Ostrich?

How we long for a return to those days of yore and Xanadu •Rt. Honourable Eddie Mbadiwe writes from Abuja

NEWS

FCCPC Warns Digital Money Lenders Against Violation of Customers’ Rights Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has again warned digital money lenders against the violation of customers’ rights and the

deployment of unethical recovery methods against their debtors.

In a statement yesterday, signed by the acting Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the commission stated that its bid to

protect customers was pursuant to sections 17(a), (e), (g), (h). (1, (m), (s), (x), (v), 18(3), 123, 124, 127, 129 and 130 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA).

The commission said that as

part of the continuing investigation and monitoring of Digital Money Lenders (DMLs), it had observed an upsurge in violations of the Inter agency Joint Task Force’s Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for

Digital Lending, 2022.

“The commission understands the increased demand for loans during this time of year, leading to an increased risk of default due to large numbers and typical cash flow challenges and constraints.

ESG: LASEPA Boss Advocates Sustainable Environmental Practices

Funmi Ogundare

The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr Babatunde Ajayi, yesterday called on its accredited consultants to support the government in delivering a safer , healthier and sustainable environment through the adoption of Environment Social Governance (ESG) global model designed to tackle identified environmental challenges.

Ajayi made this call at a oneday capacity building training for the consultants across the state to update their knowledge on the current trends in addressing global climate change challenges and other environmental problems for

sustainable development .

The training programme, a partnership with the Climate Transition Academy, was held at the STO Resource Center, Central Business Development Area, Ikeja, Lagos.

He explained that the training of LASEPA accredited consultants was necessary so as to update their knowledge and increase their capacities in the application of the global standard model in managing environmental issues, especially climate change problem and it’s associated green house gas emissions.

The general manager stated that the programme would also help to raise awareness on knowledge transfer and

competence development of the agency’s accredited consultants with the overall objective of improving public service delivery.

He disclosed that his agency in the last three months of his administration, had sealed about 250 organisations including industries, night clubs and worship places for noise pollution and other environmental infractions. “ LASEPA is embarking on a lot of reforms geared towards achieving a noiseless, cleaner, safer Lagos that is pollution free.

“We are committed to a new Lagos that is clean, safe and environmentally friendly, where businesses thrive without hindrances to human health,” he said.

He noted that his agency in

achieving its ministerial mandate, would strengthen its enforcement measures to ensure compliance with government regulations towards achieving a cleaner and sustainable environment in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S development agenda of the State government.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Carbon Limits Nigeria, Mr James Ogunleye, who spoke on behalf of other facilitators explained that the programme would help to expose the consultants to, and broaden their knowledge on the current global practices in sustainable environment.

He noted that there had been a great departure from the old practice of consultants just having knowledge of Environmental Impact

Assessment ( EIA), Environmental Audit Report (EAR) and Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) to qualify as a consultant.

He stated that the issue of climate change and global warming effects and other global environmental issues had made it mandatory for environmental consultants to be well informed and equipped with up to date knowledge on the application of appropriate solution in tackling global environmental problems.

“The training has provided a window of opportunity to the accredited consultants to update their knowledge and get acquainted with the. current trends in global best practices on sustainable environment, “ he said.

“However, the solution cannot be to violate law or utilise unethical recovery methods. As such, the commission is intensifying enforcement efforts and adopting a zero-tolerance stance towards any exploitation of consumers or abusive conduct, whether in balance calculations, loan default enforcement, or recovery processes,” it stated.

In addition, in the coming days, the commission said it will be engaging approved loan apps with respect to a more robust compliance framework, including any additional requirements where applicable, and possible mechanisms for otherwise blacklisted apps.

The commission noted that it will welcome demonstrated and timely compliance by all legitimate operators in order to promote and enhance fairness to consumers and fairness among competitors.

With respect to operators that do not possess the commission’s approval, the scrutiny process, it said, will include law enforcement action against such, in addition to regulatory prohibition and consequences.

“The commission reiterates its commitment to ensure legal and ethical operations in digital lending; and encourages consumers to consider/patronise only approved DMLs (list available at Error!

Hyperlink reference not valid.,” it added.

35

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024

NEWS

support and solidarity dinner with the Super Eagles...

L-R: Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, 100% Focus Nigeria; Moses Simon, Super Eagles Star; Hon. Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin, Chairman, House Committee on Humanitarian Affairs; Terem Moffi, Super Eagles Star; Mike Dada, Managing Director, PRM Africa Marketing and Communications & President/Executive producer, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA and Alhaji Umar Mohammed, Managing Director Aishah Oil and Gas Ltd, during the support and solidarity dinner with the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Pullman Hotel Abidjan, at the ongoing AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire...on Sunday

Ijaw Nation Vows to Resist Underhand Moves to Impeach Governor Fubara

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Following the ongoing face-off between the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly, the Ijaw Nation has vowed to resist any attempt by the lawmakers to remove the governor through any means.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, PresidentGeneral of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba, said the Ijaw Nation would do everything

to protect the governor against any form of harassment.

He frowned at the lack of respect for the office of the governor by the assembly members and some local council chairmen in the state.

The Ijaw leader pointed out that the governor did not need the approval of the legislature to appoint officials or members of his cabinet on acting capacity.

He warned those beating the drums of war to allow peace reign in the state as the Ijaw na-

tion is watching would respond appropriately should anything go contrary.

"The Ijaw National Congress as the Umbrella Operative Organisation of the Ijaw Nation and as Guardians of the Socio-Political and Cultural Interest of Ijaw People Worldwide, has observed with deep dismay, the recent political wrangling in Rivers State between the Legislature and the Executive.

"The House of Assembly’s duty in civilised democracies around

Insecurity: Senate Postpones Meeting With Service Chiefs, Security Agencies' Heads Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate, yesterday, postponed its engagement with the service chiefs and heads of the nation's security agencies to Tuesday next week.

The development was to accommodate the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and the Ministers in charge of the Defence and Police Affairs Ministries in the proposed parley.

The Senate had last Tuesday through resolution adopted from collective motion on insecurity, summoned the service chiefs and heads of security agencies for grilling in plenary.

The planned interface was announced by the Chairman, Senate

Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, fixed for yesterday and today behind closed session.

However, the Senate in plenary yesterday announced that the interface could not hold because the NSA and the CDS were not part of the military and security chiefs in attendance.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who made the announcement said an apology was received from Ribadu on his absence but that he and the Chief of Defence Staff, must be present at the very important session.

He added that apart from Ribadu and Musa, the Senate had also resolved to include other security heads to the planned meeting.

Those included in the new

session next Tuesday, were the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam; and the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim.

Others are, the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji Ojo; and the Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Akpabio, however, commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoheed Lagbaja; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director General of Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, for honouring the Senate's invitation.

the world is the making of laws for the welfare, peace and good governance of the society.

“The duties of the Governor are clearly defined: governance, appointment of senior state officials in the political arm of government

Motorists seeking to buy Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, yesterday in Lagos State, were met with unprecedented numbers of fueling stations refusing to sell fuel and long queues at the premises of the few fueling stations selling THISDAY’s gathering revealed that except for the mobile filling station located at Irawo, and some selected filling stations like BOVAS, Total, North West, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling station in Ikeja, and other parts of Lagos, no other filling stations sold fuel in Ikeja, Fadeyi,

Berger Road, and Ikorodu Road, amongst other areas visited by THISDAY The Total Filling station at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Mobile at Irawo, and other NNPC filling stations in Ikeja which were selling, witnessed heavy queues, which led to congestion around the Ikeja axis.

Numerous filling stations along the Ikeja axis, particularly along Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ikorodu Road, and Airport Road, were observed to be closed, despite selling fuel the previous night.

The situation prompted some motorists to hike their fares, reflecting the challenges faced by commercial transport operators.

Speaking to THISDAY, a motorist at the filling station said, “We suspect that fuel is about to rise to N1,000 per litre.

That is why these other filling stations are not selling fuel.

“Even this Mobil that is selling, is selling theirs at N615 per litre.

I bought fuel here yesterday at N585. Tell me what happened between yesterday night when I bought fuel and today that made them jack up the price to N615.

Yet, we still have to queue up.

“I have been here since 11 am. Look at the time, it is 4 pm already. It means I didn’t work today and spent the whole day here at the filling station.

This isn't nice. So what was the

appointments are not the same as substantive ones.

“Substantive appointments need clearance, while temporary appointments are stop-gap appointments and do not need any form of clearance or approval,” he said.

Swansea Varsity Reinstates Nigerian Disqualified for Alleged Late Fees Payment Ugo Aliogo

Swansea University has apologised and reinstated Nigerian student stopped from continuing his course for paying fees 'hours late'.

THISDAY gathered from ITV Wales website that the student known as Emmanuel Okohoboh, who was earlier thrown off his master degree course in 2023 and told to return home to Nigeria has also received an offer of compensation from the university.

The 26-year-old was one of three Nigerian students told in August last year how they had been removed from their studies after allegedly paying tuition fees hours late.

A banking crisis during Nigeria’s presidential election in February 2023 meant that many students from the country struggled to transfer the funds before the university's March deadline.

However, Okohoboh maintained he paid his £4000 fee within the deadline and the decision to remove him from his business management

Fuel Queues Resurface in Lagos

Sunday Ehigiator

and thirdly, through his cabinet, to bring about infrastructural and human capital development.

"The constitution is very clear as to which officers and in what capacities clearance has to be sought. The conditions for Acting

essence of the subsidy removal?”

Reacting to the situation, the NNPCL spokesperson, Mr Femi Soneye, dismissed insinuations of fresh fuel scarcity in an interview with the press.

Soneye disclosed that the NNPCL did not have supply issues, saying its products remained readily available. He added that the distribution issue in some areas had been resolved.

“We are pleased to confirm that there are no supply issues and that our products remain readily available. The recent tightness experienced in certain areas was due to a brief distribution issue in Lagos, which has since been resolved.”

degree was “unfair”.

The ruling by the university meant the master's degree student faced the prospect of deportation after his student visa became void.

Following an internal investigation, which identified several failings in the university’s handling of Emmanuel's case, Swansea University has now allowed Okohoboh to return to his studies.

A letter by the University of Swansea read in part: "We would also propose by way of settlement of Okohoboh’s complaint against Swansea University the following: That the previous decision to withdraw Emmanuel from his studies be overturned.

“And his studies will instead be suspended (as of the date of his last recorded attendance/ engagement, namely 2 February 2023) and he will be permitted to re-enrol on his programme to restart the MSc Management (Digital Business) programme: in January 2024 as an internal candidate; or in September 2024 as an internal candidate.

“That the University will pay to Okohoboh the sum of £1,000 in recognition of the failings identified and for any related distress and inconvenience which these failings caused to Emmanuel. That this offer is to be accepted by Emmanuel in full and final settlement of this OIA complaint. This offer is to remain open for the duration of the OIA’s review of this complaint,” it stated.

The university said his record will be amended accordingly while Okohoboh will need to enrol in January 2024 or in September 2024 as required under the regulations and again pay 50 per cent of his tuition fees by the enrolment deadline. “ In this regard, Okohoboh will need to contact the Income Office (if he has not already done so) to obtain a refund of the fees he previously paid to Swansea University or to request that they retain these payments as credit towards the

January/September 2024 intake,” it said.

Okohoboh and other Nigerian students, who claimed they had been wrongfully removed from their studies, are being supported

by Swansea charity Bame Mental Health Support.

The Executive Director, Bame Mental Health Support, Alfred Oyekoya MBE, said the compensation offer to Okohoboh from the university was not good enough, adding that organisation had to financially support Okohoboh after he was left using food banks and facing rent arrears.

Oyekoya added: “A thousand pounds for someone who was severely depressed, who had to rely on food banks for six months, who is in arrears to his landlord is not enough.

“What the university could have done is recognised his deposit as his full tuition payment, as he has had to start borrowing money again to pay his school fees. A thousand pounds compensation is not a true reflection on what should have been given to Okohoboh."

On his part, Okohoboh said he was grateful to be allowed to return to his studies.

“I was honestly not happy about it. I’m grateful the university did their own internal investigation and found that the fault was not on my part, it was beyond my control and that there was nothing I could do about it. The university has now been able to reinstate me to continue my studies which I’m also grateful for.

“It was so depressing. I had a mental breakdown and I collapsed in my apartment due to the stress.

I had to go to the hospital because of that. But I was motivated by my passion and drive for studying and I was never going to give up and for the six months I continued to study online courses. I always made sure there was a light at the end of the tunnel and I kept on pushing my career,” he said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Inauguration and Groundbreaking of JBS Gerontology Centre...

L-R: Trustee, JBS Elderly Care Foundation Africa, Mrs. Joke Silver; Medical Director/ Founder JBS Gerontology Centre, Dr Toying Akande-Ajala; Ogun State First Lady Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Board Chairman Odua Group/ Trustee, JBS Elderly Care Foundation Africa, Otuba Bimbo Asiru; and Founder/CEO, Maracelle Ruth Cancers Center Specialists Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, at the official PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT commissioning and Groundbreaking of JBS Gerontology Centre in Lagos... yesterday

Edo PDP Chieftains Disagree over State Ward Adhoc Delegates’ Congress Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The leadership of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disagreed on the outcome of last Sunday’s ward delegates in the state.

The state chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi had last Monday in a briefing, said that the last Sunday’s ward delegates congress was the most well organised in the country in the history of the party.

But in a counter statement yesterday, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Ogie Vasco

in a statement said the process that led to the exercise was faulty and that despite complaints to the National Working Committee (NWC) they did not take the expected action.

He said that the decision to reject the exercise was after a “cursory overview of the whole charade put up by the state government and certain individuals in the NWC”.

Vasco said the leaders noticed that alleged agents of Governor Godwin Obaseki, made the stipulated venues inaccessible to the other nine aspirants and their supporters by flooding the venues

with armed thugs.

He stated that they were hostile and intimidating, and would only grant access if an individual was going to vote for the pre-selected delegates in favour of the governor’s aspirant, explaining that consequently, no voting was conducted in 92 per cent of the stipulated venues.

“The office of the National Organising Secretary published three conflicting letters on the composition of officers in charge of the congress both at the wards and local government areas. The last letter consisted of names of serving

government officials in Edo and Delta States. This irregular act had earlier been communicated to the national leadership of the party by the nine aspirants so affected."

"The materials for the conduct of the purported congress had been deposited with the state governor who is an interested party in this Congress, for days prior to the stipulated date. Where is the fairness the NWC has preached in the various engagements with stakeholders leading to this Congress? These and other infractions observed need to be addressed properly.

“Consequently, the leadership of

the party calls on all party faithful to join in the call to right the wrongs of the sham perpetrated this past weekend. And also call for a total cancellation of the exercise,” he added.

Meanwhile, the state Assistant Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Ojebuoboh, has described Vasco as a meddlesome interloper, working with forces to undermine the party in the state, saying that at no time was he elected as publicity secretary of the party.

Ojebuoboh, who in a statement, urged the public to disregard and ignore Vasco, declared: "We would have ordinarily ignored the six-

paragraph divisive scribbling filled with false and baseless ramblings on the party’s recently concluded ward delegate congress which took place simultaneously across the State, but for the sake of clarity, it is important to state that the rabble-rouser is an impostor and is not known to the PDP in Edo State.

"More so, signing off the statement from an address that is not known to be the address of the Edo PDP Secretariat, further gives him out as a meddlesome interloper and an agent of destabilization, who should be ignored by all party members and other stakeholders."

Electoral Act: House Proposes Stiffer Senate Kicks, Says Oil Firms Punishment for Frivolous Election Petitions Turning Nigeria to Extractive Zone Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday proposed amendment in the electoral act 2022 to mete out heavy sanctions and fines against persons who file frivolous election petitions in the courts, thereby delaying proceedings.

It also proposed an amendment to allow for the presidential, gubernatorial, national and state houses of assembly elections to hold for a day instead of spreading to last for a long time in order to cut expenses in the electoral processes.

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022, and for Related Matters, 2023 which scaled through second reading was sponsored by Hon. Francis Ejiroghene at plenary.

Ejiroghene said that the amendments proposed in the bill are five in number and each amendment is drawn from the diverse opinions expressed by the general public, political parties, observers and analysts.

While making reference to the

2023 February general elections, he noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Electronic Transmission of results was a major concern and discourse across all parties.

“You will agree with me that the 2023 polls one was of the most meticulously prepared in recent times, under the 2022 Electoral Act as Nigeria advanced from manual accreditation to the use of BVAS, Electronic Transmission of documents etc.

“However, there are some loopholes in the principal Act and the purpose of this amendment is to address some of the challenges of the last election. To correct the obvious defects in the Act and get us prepared for better elections in the future," he said.

Hon. Akin Rotimi while contributing to the bill commended the sponsor of the bill for working in consonance with the provisions of the House Legislative Agenda.

“This is one of the most beautiful pieces of legislation if not the most

beautiful in this assembly in my opinion though.

“This bill sits right in with the legislative agenda because I was one of the drafters of the 10th House Legislative Agenda. “ One of the key elements of it is the Electoral Reforms and one of the provisions is that the House of Representatives will carefully examine complaints from stakeholders arising from the conduct of the 2024 general elections. Some of the specific areas are to amend the Electoral Act to remedy some of the gaps observed including vague and contradicting provisions,” he said.

Hon. Okey- Joe Jessey while contributing also said there was a need to conduct elections in one day as economic activities are usually shutdown as a result of the conduct of these elections which in turn will obviously affect the economy.

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate Committee on Local Content yesterday described as unacceptable the extractive operational model being carried out in Nigeria by Chevron , Exxon and other oil companies without producing manufacturing content as being done in other countries .

The committee stated this during its interactive session with management of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board ( NCDMB).

The panel specifically lamented that while Chevron apart from the crude oil exploration in Saudi Arabia , also manufactures Polypropylene, one of the waste products from gas to produce Syringe which fetches Saudi Arabia $6 billion annually .

It added that Exxon oil does

same in United States of America (USA) , by making the country , the third largest producer of Polypropylene.

The Committee chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, wondered why the same international oil companies exploring crude oil in Nigeria , don't go the extras mile of using waste products from crude oil for manufacturing of needed products in the country.

The crisis in the operational model of the international oil companies according to the committee, led to the collapse of Jubilee Syringe Plant in Bayelsa due to lack of the needed raw material.

The NCDMB told the committee to invite the oil companies for explanations on their extractive mode of operation without manufacturing content.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, said it does not have the power to make the international oil companies diversify their mode of operations.

The committee said it will summon the oil firms to give explanations on why they are turning Nigeria to extractive zone and not manufacturing one , as being done in other climes .

"We cannot just allow the oil companies to turn Nigeria to just an extractive zone as far as exploration of crude oil is concerned but a manufacturing one as well with attendant economic value .

"This committee shall therefore summon the affected oil companies to appear before it on how what are available in Saudi Arabia , USA etc , can be replicated in Nigeria," she said .

Abbo Faces Court Action over Bribery Jonathan-led Commonwealth Allegations against A’Court President, Others Observer Group Condemns Pakistan Terror Attacks

The Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has condemned the recent fatal attacks in Pakistan, in the run-up to the general elections.

Jonathan, in a statement released

by The Commonwealth Office, expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a quick recovery to those injured.

He also commended the security

and polling officials for their bravery in ensuring the election goes ahead, despite those cases of violence.

He said: “As the Commonwealth, we stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan and are united in our desire to see the strengthening of the Commonwealth Charter values of peace, democracy, tolerance, respect and understanding”.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A former Senator, Elisha Abbo may soon be faced with a legal action for accusing the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem and some justices of receiving bribe from politicians to pervert the course of justice during the just concluded 2023 general election petition cases.

The senator who represented Adamawa North in the ninth Senate, however has the choice to prove his allegations or tender an unreserved apology directly to the appeal court president.

Abbo had shortly after his sack

by the appellate court accused the Appeal Court President, Chairman of the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Justice Chioma Iheme and the entire judiciary of receiving bribe to nullify the judgment of the Adamawa House of Assembly Election Petition that earlier affirmed his election as Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

But months after he made the allegations, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko, had threatened to sue him unless he substantiated his allegation or apologise over his unguarded

utterances.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Court of Appeal President and others accused of taking bribes in the discharge of their judicial duties, the former Akwa Ibom AG, who is also a life bencher noted that the former lawmaker has not produced any evidence to substantiate his allegations of bribery against the judiciary.

According to the senior lawyer, the judiciary and its officers can not be intimidated or subjected to any form of criminal blackmail to impugn on its integrity.

The statement read in part: "Senator Abbo in his reckless and

unconscionable press briefing described the President of the Court of Appeal as a cash-and-carry Judge.

He alleged that judges now send their children and agents to go around asking for bribes.

"It is instructive to note at this stage that up till this moment Senator Abbo has not produced any iota of evidence to substantiate his weighty allegations.

"We take very strong exceptions to the criminal blackmail deliberately fabricated and calculated to impugn on the integrity and reputation of our revered and hardworking Judges and Justices by characters like Senator Abbo.”

thursday february 8, 2024 • T H i s d ay

37

NEWS

LAGOS POLO CLUB VISITS OGALLA...

L-R: Deputy Tournament Manager, Mr. Yemi Oreagba; Club Captain, Mr. Muyiwa Oni; Chief of Naval Staff(CNS), Vice -Admiral, Emmanuel Okechukwu Ogalla; President, Lagos Polo Club, Mr. Olabode Makanjuola, and Representative of Mystrose Ocea, sponsor of CNS Cup, Mr. Kunle Aluko, during a visit to to present the prestigious CNS Cup to Ogalla in Abuja

Be Proactive in Tackling Security Challenges in N’Delta, NDDC Tasks Military Tinubu Urged to Engage Traditional Rulers, Address Unemployment

Blessing Ibunge inPort Harcourt andSylvester Idowu inWarri

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has tasked the military in the Niger Delta region to be proactive in tackling the challenges of security in the region.

This is just as the Centre for

Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has urged President Bola Tinubu to engage the services of traditional rulers as well as address the menace of unemployment and youth restiveness.

Also, the NDDC boss has re-affirmed the commitment of the commission to assist security agencies operating in the Niger Delta region.

‘There’s No Crisis, Tension at Oshodi Transport Interchange’ Sunday Okobi

The management of Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI), Lagos State, has denounced a report that there is a looming crisis and tension at the Interchange over the review of service charges.

One of the news media had reported recently that crisis loomed at the OTI following an increase in service charge from the usual N600 to N2,000 which took effect from February 1, 2024.

The newspaper reported that following the development, the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) had sent a protest letter to the Lagos State Government through the managing

director of Planet Project Limited, which operates the terminal.

But in a sharp reaction yesterday, the management of OTI in a statement issued by its Director, Operations and Maintenance, Ade Ibileke, said its attention had been drawn to a report published in a national daily recently on a review of service at the public transport infrastructure.

It lamented that the report erroneously dwelt on the imminent looming crisis at OTI, West Africa’s largest public transport infrastructure built to enable commuters connect different parts of Lagos and Nigeria in general without difficulty.

CSOsChargeEFCCChairmanonKogi Some anti-corruption civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede, not to allow certain persons to rubbish his credentials as the head of the commission.

The over 300 anti-corruption activists, under seven frontline organisations, noted that it was pertinent for them to sound an early note of caution in view of the misuse of the EFCC by political gladiators as a veritable tool of victimisation and score-settling.

The CSOs gave the charge in a statement jointly issued yesterday.

They advised the EFCC boss to sit up and stop the commission from being accessed by “political miscreants who think EFCC is an extension of their political structures to be manipulated at will.”

They specifically referred to the Kogi State Government’s statement, which was issued on Tuesday, alerting the public to an alleged fresh move by the commission to witch-hunt the ex-governor with spurious claims for political reasons.

Ogbuku gave the charge during a separate courtesy visits by the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major

General Jamal Abdussalam and the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, at the NDDC headquarters in

Port Harcourt.

Addressing the military chiefs, the NDDC chief executive officer(CEO) stressed the need for collaboration

to ensure that the region remained peaceful, noting that development could only take place in an atmosphere of peace and security.

FG Averts Construction Workers’ Strike, Reach Agreement Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCEFWW) and Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) yesterday called off its

nationwide strike after a resolution was reached at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Emameh Gabriel, said the decision followed a

crucial two-day meeting at the instance of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeriuka Onyejeocha.

He said the meeting was between NUCECFWW), CCESSA) and their employers as well as the Federation of Construction Industries (FOCI).

The unions, representing thousands of workers in the construction industry, began its strike last Tuesday.

They had in January threatened strike over the non-implementation of wage awards and palliatives following the removal of fuel subsidies.

Killer of Enugu Make-Up Artist Sentenced to Death by Hanging

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

An Enugu State High Court has sentenced Chiamaka Ifezue, the killer of Ijeoma Nweke, an Enugu-based make-up artist, to death by hanging, three years after the incident.

The corpse of the make-up

artist was found in Maryland within Enugu Metropolis on November 16, 2020, after she left home on November 11, 2020 for a job but went missing afterwards.

Her supposed client, having refused to disclose the location for the job, asked the deceased to stop at the Enugu State

Broadcasting Service (ESBS) bus stop, where she would be taken to the venue.

Nweke, having perceived foul play, sent the client’s phone number to her brother via text message. Her phones were unreachable afterward leading to suspicion that she might have been kidnapped.

This led to a frantic search for her by friends and relatives until early morning on Monday when her corpse was found at Maryland in Enugu.

Eyewitnesses said that her corpse was mutilated with a substance suspected to be acid.

Adeleke Hosts Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Seeks Resolution of Strike Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has again called for amicable resolution of the ongoing strike by the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JSUN), expressing unhappiness about the hold

up in the justice administration due to the industrial action.

Adeleke narrated to a delegation that was led by the President of JUSN, Mr. Marwan Mustapha Adamu, his interventions to resolve the strike, which included payments of the withheld salaries of some judicial workers and

negotiations with the union on their wardrobe allowances.

He described the dispute as purely a judicial matter and said that the subject matter of the industrial action has nothing to do with the executive arm of government.

The governor stressed that his intervention was to avoid

further delay in the state’s justice administration system.

“I thank you for visiting Osun State. We value your interventions. I have tried to address some of the issues but most of them are not within my purview. Your presence in Osun will speed up the resolution efforts.

offenders that were successfully prosecuted and convicted in 2023 had bagged 168 years of imprisonment collectively.

Marwa disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while addressing commanders, officers and men of the agency during an awards

and commendations ceremony.

A total of 104 personnel and 13 Commands were recognised and rewarded for their outstanding performances in the second half of 2023.

According to Marwa, “Indeed, our performance as individuals

and collectively could always be better; nonetheless, we must appreciate every effort made to help sustain the momentum of our upward trajectory since January 2021 when we launched the renewed fight against illicit substance trafficking.”

Marwa: 15 Drug Kingpins of 3,412 Offenders Convicted in 2023 Bagged 168 Years in Jail

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), has said a total of 15 drug kingpins out of 3,412

Fubara: We’ll Complete all Road Projects to Ease Movement in Rivers

critical projects that will activities.

Alesa-Refinery Road project site Court Remands Pastor, Wife for BlessingIbungeinPortHarcourt provide add to the efforts of removing Fubara made the expression in that leads to the refinery, Aleto State Governor, Mr. hurdles that slow down the pace his remark during an inspection and other adjoining communities.

Alleged N33.8m Fraud in Lagos Rivers “Today, we are here, and there is Siminalayi Fubara, has assured of business activities in the state. tour to the ongoing 10km-long old The Pastor of Kingdom Power International Christian Praying Centre, Ishashi, Azuka Ohez, and his wife, Mary Ohez, have been remanded by a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court Lagos.

The couple were remanded yesterday for allegedly aiding in defrauding a lubricant company of N33.8 million.

The defendants of no fixed residential address are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the couple were arraigned in the chamber of the Magistrate.

The Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun, ordered that the couple be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre until their bails are sorted out.

Olatubosun granted them bail in the sum of N10 million each with two responsible sureties each in like sum.

She, however, adjourned the case until May 13 for substantive trial.

the people of the state that the government will complete all ongoing road projects to ease movement in the state.

Fubara stressed the need to

He said while normal life of residents are made easy to thrive in a secure environment, the enabling conditions must be provided to engender the growth of business

Port Harcourt -Bori Road project site in Eleme Local Government Area of the state yesterday.

He said: “Yesterday, we were at the Woji by-pass, the Woji-Aleto-

something about these two projects, they have one common purpose, which is to assist our people to have another by-pass because of the situation of the East- West Road.”

Edo Guber: Appeal Committee Hears Complaints against Delegate Election

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Appeal Committee hearing complaints from some of the governorship aspirant for the February 22 governorship primary election yesterday met individually with

the aggrieved aspirants.

This is coming as the state Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tony Azigbeme, declared that the last Sunday three-man delegate election to elect the governorship candidate remains the best in the history of the party’s internal elections “because of the new

innovations introduced by the National Working Committee (NWC).” The appeal committee was headed by the former Governor of Baylesa State, Senator Sierake Dickson, which had a closed-door on individual bases at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja.

According to a source that spoke to journalists on why the committee adopted individual approach, ‘’All the petitioners have different complaints and, therefore, it was resolved to allow each of the aspirants to present their petition individual.”

38

GamingWeek

Thursday, February 8, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Edited by Nseobong Okon-Ekong | gamingweek1117@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324

TR

N

Sports Betting As Major Investment Market by 2030 UT H

& RE A S O

Davidson Abraham envisions a future where the passionate realm of sports resembles a Wall Street scenario, with fans functioning as investors, intricately analysing teams, players, and statistics to gain a competitive edge

F

or centuries, the exhilaration of wagering on sports has been the pursuit of passionate fans. What was once confined to back alleys and clandestine online spaces is now on the brink of evolving into a $420 billion annual investment market, potentially rivalling financial giants like the S&P 500. The catalyst for this transformative journey lies in the intersection of sports betting with artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, reshaping it from a game of chance to a calculated investment opportunity.

The landscape, however, is uneven. The select one per cent armed with advanced data analytics tools currently hold an advantage over the majority, perpetuating the industry’s negative image as a “morally murky money pit.”

Yet, a new narrative is emerging, driven by the rational fan armed with accessible data and a growing awareness of its power.

Empowered by this data-driven approach, rational fans are rewriting the rules. They prioritise calculated wagers, practice meticulous bankroll management, and replace superstition

with data-backed strategies. This transformative shift is not a passing trend but a tidal wave set to redefine the entire industry, submerging predatory practices in a rising tide of transparency and education.

Envision a future where the passionate realm of sports resembles a Wall Street scenario, with fans functioning as investors, intricately analysing teams, players, and statistics to gain a competitive edge. Platforms such as 1xBet, Bet365, WilliaMHill, DraftKings and FanDuel, among others, have evolved into sophisticated trading

floors, resonating with the energy of calculated wagers and strategic analysis.

By 2030, a plausible scenario could or is likely to emerge where financial powerhouses like JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley heavily invest in sports betting platforms, recognising their immense potential. Sports analytics platforms could burgeon into billion-dollar enterprises, catering to an increasingly datadriven fanbase. Professional athletes may find themselves collaborating with data scientists to optimise their

Lottery Trust Fund Good Causes Event Today at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo and Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, will jointly supervise the official commissioning and presentation of vital medical equipment to select

healthcare institutions in Nigeria.

Akume was the immediate past minister in charge of that ministry.

This important milestone is in fulfilment of the statutory function of the National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF, which is to deploy a certain percentage of monies realised from lottery activities to facilitate the

achievement of national development goals through the promotion of access to lottery funding for good cause projects that are transformational and sustainable, with lasting impact for people and communities.

Executive Secretary/CEO of National Lottery Trust Fund, Dr Bello Maigari, will lead members

of the NLTF board and its top management team to welcome members of the National Assembly, representatives from these healthcare institutions and important stakeholders in the Nigerian gaming industry to this gathering which will be marked with the dignitary.

ICE London Closes Africa was in focus at the leading global gaming industry event, ICE London, which closes today.

The continent featured prominently at the Growth Markets Pavilion, with discussants making illuminating presentations on the theme: ‘Gaming

Regulations in Africa: Journey so far and What the Future Holds’.

The session centred on new regulations in the region and what the future looks like in terms of regulation and compliance in Africa.

Speakers included Olafadeke Akeju, Managing

Partner of WYS Solicitor; David Moshe, CEO of Velex Advisory East Africa; Garron Whitesman, founder of Whitesman Attorney; Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission of Nigeria and Caroline Kongwa, Chief Strategic Adviser of South

performance and unlock new fan engagement opportunities.

While challenges persist, regulatory bodies must ensure responsible practices and player protection, and platforms must prioritise education and transparency. However, the winds of change are in favour of the rational fan, and the tide is turning towards a more informed and responsible sports betting landscape.

Simultaneously, acknowledging the diverse perspectives surrounding sports betting, especially from religious and conservative communities, is crucial. The complexities of this topic range from enthusiastic endorsement to deep concern, and understanding these nuances is pivotal.

Rather than prescribing a singular viewpoint as “right,” the emphasis should be on exploring the intricacies of the issue. Recognising the potential for addiction and financial hardship associated with irresponsible betting, there is a need to approach this aspect with empathy and advocate for responsible gambling practices.

However, overlooking the potential positive aspects of sports

betting would be shortsighted.

For some, it serves as a source of responsible amusement, adding an extra layer of excitement to their favourite games. A small but highly skilled minority can leverage data analytics and AI for profitable investment opportunities.

The focus should pivot towards education and empowerment, encouraging fans to make informed decisions and prioritise responsible practices. The rise of AI and data analytics provides an opportunity for platforms to educate users about responsible betting principles, risk management, and healthy financial habits.

Envisioning a future where sports betting becomes a major investment market by 2030 requires navigating this complex landscape with sensitivity, awareness, and a commitment to responsible choices. It involves acknowledging potential pitfalls while embracing the opportunity for informed enjoyment and even, for some, calculated investment. The key lies in education, responsible practices, and respecting diverse perspectives in this dynamic and evolving realm of sports betting.

GAMINGWEEK TEAM African National Gambling Board.

ICE London is advertised as the industry’s most influential networking, business, and educational event, bringing together a global community of trailblazers in the gaming industry at ExCeL London.

ADVISORY: +18 PERSONS UNDER 18 MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN BETTING, GAMING OR LOTTERY ACTIVITY

Nseobong Okon-Ekong gamingweek1117@gmail.com | 08114495324 Iyke Bede ikennabede@gmail.com | 0703 044 7714 Akeem Lasisi lasaisai@yahoo.com | 08023687884 Vanessa Obioha vaysylver@gmail.com | 08069838305 Davidson Abraham davisiano.adm@gmail.com | +971 56 744 6013

39

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024

THURSdaysports

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

It’s Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire for AFCON 2023 Final!

S’Africa to play third place match against DR Congo on Saturday

Côte d’Ivoire’s Sebastien Haller scored the lone goal winner against DR Congo last night to set up a first ever Africa Cup of Nation final clash with Nigeria’s Super Eagles inside the 60,000 capacity Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Sunday.

Eagles defeated the Ivorians 1-0 in the group stage of AFCON 2023.

Jose Peseiro’s wards had earlier yesterday ousted hard-fighting South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-2 in penalty shootouts. Regulation and extra time deadlocked 1-1 before the shootouts.

Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, and forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, were the heroes for Nigeria during the shootouts where Nwabali saved two penalties, while Iheanacho who came on as a late substitute for Ademola Lookman, sealed Nigeria’s qualification to the final game with the decisive penalty kick goal.

Just like Nigeria did at Algiers ‘90 loosing scandalously 5-1 to hosts Algeria in the opening match, the Ivorians who are hosts of this 2023 edition were beaten 4-0 in their last Group A match and were thought to have crashed out.

But the Elephants were given a lifeline, finishing as fourth third best team of the group stage to qualify for the knockout.

Côte d’Ivoire who had sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as boss before scraping through the group stage, needed late goals against both Senegal and Mali to progress to the last four.

Yesterday, the only goal of Côte d’Ivoire cagey contest in Abidjan

against DR Congo came in the 65th minute when Sebastien Haller's volley bounced down into the ground

and up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The Borussia Dortmund striker

should have opened the scoring just before the break with an unmarked header, and Haller also missed a

chance to double the lead when he sent a lob narrowly wide.

DR Congo did not look like getting a late equaliser, although Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then fired well over in injury

time.

But interim boss Emerse Fae now has a chance to guide the Elephants to a third continental title, adding to their triumphs in 1992 and 2015, when they face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday.

Shettima’s Aura Lifts Nigeria to Soar over South Africa Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who on Wednesday arrived Côte d'Ivoire to represent President Bola Tinubu in the semi final of the Africa Cup of Nations between Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana of South Africa, was amongst the first jubilant personalities to congratulate the team for overcoming the last four hurdle.

According to the Media Assistant to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s visit, at the instance of President Tinubu, strengthened the deep-rooted connection between football and national identity in Nigeria.

“His presence did not only inspire the Super Eagles on the pitch but also served as a rallying point for millions of Nigerians cheering from

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC....

Super Eagles On-field Captain, William Troost-Ekong (centre) giving supplication to God after scoring from the penalty spot to put Nigeria ahead during last night’s AFCON 2023 semi final clash with Bafana Bafana of South Africa. Nigeria won 4-2 in penalty kicks to progress to the final

Nwabali Voted Man-of-theMatch in Nigeria v S’Africa Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the official CAF Man of the Match for tonight’s penalty shootout victory over South Africa.

The Chippa United shot stopper saved two kicks during the penalty shootout to ensure Nigeria edged past Bafana Bafana to reach Sunday’s AFCON Final

in Abidjan.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper was also outstanding during regulation and extra-time as he pulled off several big saves.

He now joins Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman, who have also scooped the official Man-of-the-Match Awards.

their homes,” the statement read.

He stressed that Shettima's visit to Côte d'Ivoire served as a powerful call for national unity and support.

This year's AFCON has seen the Super Eagles soar to new heights.

With a dominant performance in the group stages and thrilling victories in the quarter-final and semi finals. “They have now established themselves as strong contenders for the title.”

Yesterday’s clash with South Africa was Super Eagles 16th semifinal appearance. Nigeria now hold the record for most appearances at this stage, one above Egypt. They will be aiming to replicate their success in 2013 when they play hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final on Sunday.

Super Eagles last won the trophy in South Africa in 2013.

Wike Vows to Complete Abandoned Kwali Township Stadium Olawale Ajimotokan inAbuja

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has assured residents of Kwali Area Council of his desire to complete the construction of the abandoned Kwali Township Stadium.

Wike gave the assurance yesterday while flagging-off the construction of 11 km Kwali-Sukuku-Abo road.

He also promised the residents that all abandoned projects in the area council inherited by his administration would be completed.

The 20,000 capacity sporting facility was awarded along side five others across the Six Area Councils of the territory under

the administration of former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed aimed at the development of sporting activities at the grassroots.

He assured residents of the territory of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving their welfare through massive project provisions and job creation.

He also empathised with Kwali residents over the high cost of living being experienced at the moment, describing that the situation as temporary.

He vowed that no on-going or newly awarded projects under the current administration would be abandoned.

Fans Win Big with Goldberg, Life & Zagg as Super Eagles Soar into Final Super Eagles spectacular defeat of South Africa to reach the final of AFCON 2023 has sparked wild jubilations across the country. It was double celebration for fans and loyal consumers of Goldberg, Life Continental beer & Zagg Energy Malt Drink; official brands of the Super Eagles who thronged viewing centres spread across the country to cheer their favorite team.

These fans who made the

wise choice of sticking with these leading Nigerian Breweries brands from the kick-off of the AFCON tournament, have been rewarded for their loyalty and also for their knowledge of the round leather game.

As the nation erupted in jubilation, Goldberg, Life, and Zagg stepped up their game to enhance the fan experience, making this journey unforgettable for supporters everywhere.

With almost 1200 viewing centres scattered across the country, Goldberg, the Omoluabi brand synonymous with celebrating Nigerian culture and football, pulled out all the stops to engage fans throughout the tournament.

From Farm City in Lekki, Eyo Centre in Ikoyi, and even Q7 Lounge and Bar Arepo among others, fans were all smiles as they went home with various prizes after enjoying the sweet

victory recorded by the Eagles.

The #NaijaGameOn Fantasy League Challenge from Goldberg has been the talk of the town and it is only a matter of days before the grand winners emerge The top two winners with the most points at the end of each match day and the top 10 with the most points at the end of the tournament have been promised handsome reward by these brands.

Lagos Polo Club Presents CNS Cup to Chief of Naval Staff

Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, was named winner of the Man-of-the-Man award last night after he saved two penalty kicks by South Africa thus leading Nigeria to qualify for the final of AFCON 2023

A delegation from the Lagos Polo Club paid a visit to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Okechukwu Ogalla in Abuja recently to present the prestigious CNS Cup, a centerpiece of competition at the 2024 Lagos International Polo Tournament.

Led by the President of the Lagos Polo Club, Mr. Bode Makanjuola, the Club Captain, Mr. Muyiwa Oni, Deputy Tournament Manager, Mr. Yemi Oreagba, and the representative of Mystrose Ocea, the proud sponsor of the CNS Cup, Mr. Kunle Oni.

The visit was not only a gesture of respect and acknowledgment towards the Nigerian Navy's participation and support for the tournament but also a testament to the enduring partnership between the Lagos Polo Club and the Nigerian Navy.

During the visit, Mr. Bode Makanjuola highlighted the significance of the CNS Cup in promoting sportsmanship, excellence, and camaraderie among polo enthusiasts.

He also took the opportunity to reflect on the 120-year legacy of the Lagos Polo Club, which

has become synonymous with the sport's tradition and culture in Nigeria.

He emphasized the club's commitment to upholding the highest standards of the game and fostering international relationships through the sport of kings.

The CNS Cup, as he pointed out, serves as a beacon of competitive spirit and showcases the high level of talent and skill present in Nigerian polo.

Mr. Kunle Aluko, representing Mystrose Ocea, the CNS Cup Sponsor, expressed the organization's

pride in being associated with such a prestigious event.

He reiterated his company’s dedication to supporting sports development and acknowledged the honor of being part of a tournament that not only celebrates the sport but also contributes to the community and fosters goodwill among nations.

The Chief of Naval Staff expressed his gratitude for the presentation and lauded the Lagos Polo Club for its commitment to excellence and for being a beacon of sporting tradition in Nigeria.

Thursday, February 08, 2024

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Christopher Musa to Nigerians

“We are losing family values. You would find out that even within a family, a brother will kidnap his younger sister and tell their parents to pay. It is that bad because the society has been monetised. Those are the things we need to address. We must put emphasis on bringing God, faith and sincerity into our lives. Somebody mentioned that Nigerians are religious but not godly” —Chief of Defence Staff, on the loss of cherished values at all levels in Nigeria.

olusegunadeniyi Tinubu Should Watch Saworoide Again the verdict olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

F

uji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, aka KWAM 1, has been the official ‘palace entertainer’ for almost a decade. Evidently through the instrumentality of then All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ‘Nigeria, Sai Baba, Sai Buhari’ song that preceded the 2015 general election was a campaign anthem that also elicited an uncommon dance step from the man who would go on to defeat an incumbent president.

Early in 2021, when it became obvious that APC bigwigs were plotting to edge Tinubu out of the race for the party’s presidential ticket, it was KWAM 1 who released a song of defiance, ‘On your mandate we shall stand, Bola…’ which has turned out to be prophetic.

So, when the avid supporter begins to sound like a ‘wailing wailer’, there is fire on the mountain.

In a video posted on his Instagram page titled ‘A Special Message to Mr President,’ last weekend, KWAM 1 lamented the suffering Nigerians have had to endure since Tinubu assumed office. “Akanbi (Tinubu), my boss, please don’t turn a deaf ear to people’s outcry,” KWAM 1 sang in a mournful tone that speaks to the economic and security challenges in the country today. “Nigerians are angry. The Naira is becoming worthless. People are weeping and without electricity. How did we get to the point where Nigerians are now being kidnapped every day?”

The two sectors most critical to the survival of any nation (and their people) are economy and security. Nigeria is currently challenged on both. The security situation is so bad that kidnappers now enter palaces to kill traditional rulers and take away their wives while innocent school children have become game for these dare-devil criminals who operate across the country, including on street corners and major highways. The situation is worse on the economic front. Prices of even basic foodstuffs are now beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

And things can only get worse, given rising inflationary pressure. Yet, just yesterday, the gravity of our situation was brought home by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Fadeshemi. “The level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria is living in extreme poverty,” he said in Kaduna. “Overall, 12.9 per cent of the global population in extreme poverty was found in Nigeria as of 2022.”

In his column, ‘Urgent Need to Halt Soaring Food Prices’ last Sunday, Waziri Adio also painted a dreary picture of the current situation in Nigeria. He urged action lest we have a crisis on our hands. “In a country where 26.5 million people are officially classified as food insecure, where citizens spend 59% of their incomes on food and where 104 million people are classified as income poor, nothing can be more existential and more dangerous than skyhigh food prices,” Waziri wrote. “The negative impacts on social stability, economic growth, human development and national security are simply too grave for the government not to swing into crisis mode.”

Yes, it is difficult to fault the explanation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso on the forex situation.

Especially given the abuse to which a regime of multiple exchange rates had been subjected by the last administration. Nor can

President Bola Tinubu

we argue against the removal of subsidy in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry that has further pauperised Nigerians. But the cavalier way these decisions were taken without considering the consequences is what has led us to where we are now. The dire situation in the power sector was on Monday aptly captured, ironically by Tinubu’s own newspaper, The Nation: “Zero Megawatt to Discos cripples homes, businesses.” To worsen matters, public officials continue to live in opulence and recklessly spend scarce resources, including to purchase exotic vehicles for themselves at outrageous prices.

Following his return from a ‘private’ visit to France on Monday, the president would

have seen media highlights and must have listened to the full rendition of KWAM 1’s ‘special message’. Considering that the president also started badly in Lagos before he turned things around, I want to share the optimism with which KWAM 1 ended his dirge. That is why I am recommending that the president again watch Saworoide, the 1999 Mainframe (Tunde Kelani) movie that was sponsored by the Tinubu Inauguration Committee for his swearing-in as Lagos State Governor 25 years ago.

The movie was weaved around Saworoide, a brass bell talking drum. Written by the late Professor Akinwunmi Isola, a world acclaimed authority on Yoruba tradition and culture, Saworoide is the story of a fictional community called Jogbo which, like Nigeria, has enough to meet the needs of people in terms of resources but not enough to satisfy the greed of a few powerful individuals. Principal actors include the late Isola himself, Adebayo Faleti (also now of blessed memory), Kola Oyewo, Bukky Wright, Lere Paimo, Kunle Bantefa, Kunle Afolayan, Peter Fatomilola, Ayantunji Amoo, Kabirat Kafidipe, and the late Larinde Akinleye.

In ancient Jogbo, the king and his subjects had a binding social contract that engendered prosperity for all but with dire consequences for deviants. “For the fictional Yoruba land of Jogbo, a ritual with the Saworoide had been established for rulers about to ascend the throne. Lapite (Oyewo) who becomes the King early in the story rejects the ritual as he intends to use his new position to enrich himself and escape accountability,” a Mr Tishe wrote on the enduring lessons of the movie depicted through metaphors and allegories with a powerful message on good leadership.

“Although fictional, the events in the land of Jogbo call for reflection and action on the part of leaders and citizens for positive change.”

For 16 years (since he left office as Governor), Tinubu had been plotting to be president of Nigeria. So, now that he has realized what he publicly admitted as a ‘lifelong ambition’, he cannot be described as an accidental leader.

Therefore, in moments of introspection, Tinubu

must ask himself whether his presidency is simply about the trappings of power or whether he is interested in leaving a worthy legacy for posterity. It would be a shame if it were all about the former. Meanwhile, I understand that the Tinubu administration is undertaking important and necessary reforms which hopefully will yield gains in the future.

But you don’t preach sermons to hungry people.

Immediate measures are required to relieve the pains of Nigerians. And there is also an urgent need to tell Nigerians what his medium to long term economic and security plans are beyond this ‘kick-and-follow’ approach that is not helped by mixed messages from some of his palpably incompetent ministers.

Here is the point. The ‘Emilokan’ philosophy, which is about entitlement, may have helped Tinubu wrest the presidential ticket of APC—which to be fair is no more than a party carefully constructed by him as a special purpose vehicle to power—from conspirators.

But such disposition is of no use to him in presiding over the affairs of Nigeria. When leaders place more importance on what they believe they are entitled to rather than what they offer society, they are setting themselves up for big time failure. The only thing that can untangle the multitude of problems we face in the country today is for Tinubu to humble himself and admit that Nigeria has given him so much and use his stewardship to pay back.

That explains why I recommend that the president should go back to watch Saworoide and the sequel, ‘Agogo Eewo’ (the gong of taboo). In a 2020 review, ‘Saworoide, An Allegory of Present Day Nigeria’, Tobi Oduselu concluded his treatise on a sombre note. “While this cinematic masterpiece shows a semblance to Nigeria’s current realities, it also serves as a predictive imagination of how the future will turn out if the current mishandling of our resources persists,” Oduselu wrote. “It is not enough to promise change; it is imperative to deliver on those promises and take care of the people.”

As the Yoruba would say, a half-hint (this time, of impending doom) is sufficient for any ‘Omoluabi’ to get the full message!

Lagos Traffic and the Water Option

I

nside the Control Room of the Monitoring and Data Management Centre of the Lagos Waterways Authority (LASWA) at the sprawling Falomo Jetty last Friday afternoon, I watched activities in real time on the entire stretch of the Lagos lagoon, from Ikorodu to Badagry. The General Manager, Damilola Emmanuel, was on hand to take me through what I was seeing live on the big screens. But what was I doing at the Falomo Jetty?

In Lagos last weekend for a burial ceremony, I visited Bode Makanjuola, CEO of Caverton Offshore Support Group, who also oversees Caverton Marine, a critical subsidiary. He offered to take me on a boat ride from their Jetty in Ozumba Mbadiwe through the lagoon to showcase their latest venture. The diversification into boat building, according to Bode, began with the construction of a 40-passenger Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) ferry. And the ferry on which we rode was constructed right in Nigeria, specifically at their Badore, Lagos

Jetty. It features 20 USB charging points, radio channels and a space left for television. Although not yet operational, I found the ferry service more luxurious than the ones I experienced in Zanzibar a decade ago and Sierra Leone last year. “Now, we have ten of such ferry each of which, as you can see, is built for the luxury of passengers and very safe,” Bode assured me.

To beat the Victoria Island traffic after the visit (and boat ride), I asked to be dropped at the Falomo Jetty (to access Ikoyi) and then I had the chance encounter with the LASWA boss, Damilola. Surprisingly, the lounge at the jetty is better than what you find in some airports in the country. Established in 2008 by the government of Babatunde Fashola, the agency can serve as a catalyst for decongesting Lagos roads. But it needs to encourage private capital which Caverton Marine and other players are tapping into.

Bode has bold ambitions. “In addition to passenger ferries, we are also actively building

security and cargo boats. We have plans to expand our fleet to include fishing and leisure boats, ensuring that we meet diverse industry demands and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector,” Bode told me before we parted at Falomo last Friday. “In line with international marine vessel classification agency guidelines, our boats are designed and built with precision, utilizing cutting-edge technology and with the expertise of our dedicated team, we intend to exceed the most stringent industry standards.”

From what I saw last Friday, water transportation can be a viable option for those who want to avoid the impossible Lagos Road traffic. But it will require considerable investment, especially from the private sector in partnership with the Lagos State government.

Bode Makanjuola is already positioning himself with an investment that is already in millions of dollars. Under the prevailing business environment in Nigeria, such daring comes with enormous risk. And enormous reward!

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