TUESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2024

Shehu Sani: State Police is Mirage, Recipe for Anarchy Says it will be used by govs to persecute opposition, harass ‘non indigenes’, rig elections, counter federal police in cases of conflict of interest between FG and state

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A social critic and former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has described

the proposed establishment of state police in the country as an illusion and recipe for anarchy.

Sani stated this in a post on his

verified X handle, last week, after the federal government hinted on the likelihood of embracing state police as solution to the rising

insecurity in the country.

The consideration of state police was the outcome of an emergency meeting between President Bola

Tinubu and governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting was sequel to the recent hike in food prices, economic hardship,

and insecurity nationwide.

Reacting to the consideration Continued on page 10

Tuesday 20 February, 2024 Vol 29. No 10541. Price: N400

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Naira Hits New Low, Dips at Official Market to N1598/$1, Declines at Parallel Market to N1,730... Page 5

Dangote, Bua, Lafarge Agree to Reduce Cement Prices to N7,000 After Meeting with FG Lament rising gas rates, import duties, others

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s leading cement manufactur-

ers yesterday agreed to reduce prices, noting that despite the rising cost of doing business, a 50kg bag of

the product shouldn’t be higher than between N7,000 and N8,000.

Coming out of a meeting with

the Minister of Works, David Umahi and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite,

in Abuja, Dangote Cement, BUA and Lafarge, said a price monitoring team would be set up to ensure that

there’s no price gouging.

Continued on page 10

Red Cross Declares Nigeria’s Hunger Crisis Alarming, Demands Immediate Attention Says time to act is now PDP: Tinubu is overwhelmed, lacks capacity to lead Nigeria Bugaje: His officials not telling him the truth, he removed petrol subsidy without planning Youths protest in Ibadan against hardship Chuks Okocha, James Emejo in Abuja, Mary Nnah in Lagos and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), yesterday, declared that the country’s hunger crisis had reached an alarming state, saying the situation demands immediate attention and collective

effort to ameliorate the sufferings of vulnerable persons.

Secretary General of the body, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Kende, who made the declaration in Abuja, said the organisation remained deeply concerned about the escalating food Continued on page 10

Oborevwori pays CONDOLENCE VISIT to family of Asagba of Asaba...

Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (right) being received by Chief Leroy Edozien (left) and other chiefs when the governor arrived to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, at his palace in Asaba…yesterday

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

NEWS

WELCOMING THE PRESIDENT BACK FROM ADDIS ABABA...

L-R: Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mutawalle; APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Secretary to PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI the Government of the Federation, George Akume and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when the president arrived from Ethiopia to Abuja.... yesterday

World's Largest Oil Companies Rake in $281 Billion Profit IOCs target projects with $30 per barrel breakeven

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The world’s five largest listed oil companies have made profits of more than a quarter of a trillion dollars since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to dramatic increases in energy prices and household bills.

The “super-majors” – BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies – have made $281bn or £223 billion since the war began in February 2022, according to Global Witness.

The UK-based pair, BP and Shell, have made a combined $94.2 billion or £75 billion in profits, since the conflict began, The Guardian UK reported. Global Witness estimates that this is enough to cover all Britain’s household electricity bills for 17 consecutive months.

Shell, which has made $58.9bn or £47 billion in profits since the second quarter of 2022, is also in the process of cutting up to 330 roles from its low-carbon solutions unit in a renewed focus on high-profit oil projects this year.

BP, which last year also moved to scale back its climate goals, has made $35 billion (£28 billion) in profits since the start of the conflict, the report added.

The European and US majors – Chevron, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies – have also made combined profits of more than $187 billion or £148 billion.

“This analysis shows that, regardless of what happens on the frontlines, the fossil fuel majors are the main winners of the war in Ukraine,” said Global Witness’s senior fossil fuels investigator, Patrick Galey.

The profits of international shipping companies and foodstuff suppliers have also soared over the last two years, leading some economists to call for targeted price controls during an emergency.

Shell made a U-turn last summer on a pledge to cut oil production each year for the rest of the decade in a strategic shift to target fossil fuels and “reward our shareholders today and far into the future”.

The five super-majors are forecast to reward investors with record payouts of more than $100 billion (£79 billion) in 2023 when figures for the full financial year are published in the coming weeks, despite growing public outrage and criticism of the fossil fuel profit machine.

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said companies were likely to pay

shareholders even more this year despite weaker commodity market prices leading to lower profits.

The big oil companies enriched shareholders with dividend payments and share buy-backs worth $104 billion in 2022, according to the IEEFA. “They are now spending their gains on investor handouts and ever more oil and gas production which Europe doesn’t even need and the climate cannot take,” said Galey. “This is yet another way in which the fossil fuel industry is failing consumers and the planet,” he added.

Last year was the hottest year on record by a huge margin, driving heatwaves, floods and wildfires,

damaging lives and livelihoods across the world.

Analysis showed some extreme weather, such as heatwaves in Europe and the US, would have been virtually impossible without human-caused global heating.

Meanwhile, oil majors are not allowing high energy prices to lull them into a false sense of security, rankled by the memories of the historic oil price crash of 2020.

Oil majors are now hedging their bets by targeting new oilfields that can be profitable even at $30 per barrel oil, reflecting executives' belief that high prices are anything but guaranteed.

"After three major oil price crashes

in 15 years, there is wide acceptance that another one is likely to happen," Alex Beeker, director of corporate research at energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, told Reuters.

Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum have struck deals worth a combined $125 billion to acquire companies with low-cost oilfields that can be profitable at $25 and $30 per barrel.

Lately, oil majors have preferred financing M&A deals using stock instead of cash because financing greenfield energy assets, especially in emerging markets, has become a challenging endeavour due to rising interest rates.

In Europe, Shell Plc and Equinor

ASA are pursuing projects with $25-30 per barrel break-even, while France’s TotalEnergies has set an even more ambitious target to get production costs under $25.

These low costs are about half break-even level for oil projects just a decade ago, and are about 40 per cent of today's Brent global oil benchmark. But these oil majors are betting that improved productivity of wells will continue.

In Nigeria, many of the international oil companies are leaving their onshore operations for deepwater drilling, due to oil theft, vandalism and community issues, which contribute to the unit cost of producing a barrel of oil.

Xi Sends Congratulatory Message to 37th AU Summit Michael Olugbode in Abuja with agency report Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to the 37th African Union (AU) summit.

Jinping pointed out that the world today was undergoing profound changes unseen in a

century, and the Global South represented by China and Africa was booming, which has a profound impact on the course of world history.

The AU brings African countries together to seek strength through unity, and promote integration as well as the building of free trade areas, the Chinese President said.

The AU's successful accession to the G20 had further enhanced Africa's representation and lifted

its voice in global governance, and China extends heartfelt congratulations on that, he added.

The Chinese president stressed that over the past year, China-Africa relations have grown deeper.

As the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue was successfully held, the two sides decided to support each other in exploring their modernization paths and jointly create a favourable environment for realising their development

visions, he added.

According to him, the new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation would be held in 2024.

He said he stands ready to work with leaders of African countries, with a focus on the benefits of people from both sides, to draw up a new blueprint for ChinaAfrica cooperation and promote the joint building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Tinubu Returns to Abuja after Attending AU Summit in Ethiopia Naira Hits New Low, Dips at Official Market to N1598/$1, Declines at Parallel Market to N1,730

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu is back in Abuja after a four-day official trip to Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where he participated in the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The President, whose official plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 3:36pm, was received by senior government officials, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federal (SGF), Senator George Akume.

Other top government officials who were at the airport to welcome the President included his Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle and the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullah Ganduje.

Others were the InspectorGeneral of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and other security chiefs.

While in Addis Ababa, Tinubu, among others things, was ap-

pointed by the AU as its Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership.

He also joined other African leaders to proffer solutions to the common challenges facing the countries as well as deliberating on refocusing the continental organisation for better service deliveries in various areas, including healthcare, commerce and security.

The President used the opportunity, while addressing the Assembly on Saturday, to inform the continent that Nigeria was ready to host the African Central Bank on its soil, in accordance with an earlier agreement in the Abuja Treaty.

….Daily turnover drops 21% Nume Ekeghe

The nation's troubled currency, the naira, again recorded a loss at the official and parallel markets where it closed at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEM) at N1,598/$1 and plunged further at the parallel market to N1,730/$1.

The parallel market yesterday saw the naira plunge to N1,730, falling by N130 from what it exchanged at the weekend compared to N1,600/$1 it exchanged on Friday.

The naira at the official NAFEM window also recorded decline as it closed at N1,598.54, a N100.29 depreciation compared to N1,498.25

it recorded on Friday.

Furthermore, the official window recorded a daily turnover of $66.43 million yesterday compared to the $84.1 million it recorded on Friday indicating a 20.98 per cent decline.

The highest spot rate recorded yesterday was N1,712/$1 while the lowest spot rate recorded was N1,100/$1.

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NEWS

MOU FOR DRONE ASSEMBLY PLANT...

L-R: Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer/Special Adviser, International Relations and Inter-government Affairs to Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer(EVC) of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Dr. Dahiru Mohammed; NASENI EVC, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and Chief Operating Officer, Caverton Offshore Support Group (COSG) Mr. Rotimi Makanjuola, during signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASENI and COSG for the establishment of a drone assembly plant, a drone training school, and a service centre for helicopters in Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday

FG Moves to Placate Petroleum Tanker Owners, Meeting to Continue Today Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government will continue its peace meeting with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) today after the first move to resolve the strike action embarked by the union

failed yesterday.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, convened the meeting with NARTO, oil marketers and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority

(NMDPRA) in his Abuja office to end the strike.

However, when the consultation with the stakeholders started, journalists were excused, but it was learnt that the meeting was deferred till today after the actors failed to arrive at a resolution.

But THISDAY observed that many filling stations had closed shop in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to long queues by motorists at the few outlets that were dispensing petrol.

The stakeholders had complained that aside rising spare parts

Senate Solicits CIBN Support for Planned Banks’ Recapitalisation Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate, through its Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has solicited the support of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) to the ongoing move to recapitalise banks in the country after a similar exercise took place in 2005.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on July 6th 2004, announced the recapitalisation of banking sector from N2 billion to N25 billion with effect from December 31, 2005.

The initiation of increasing the banks minimum capital base to N25 billion in 2006 led to a remarkable reduction in number of banks from 89 to 24.

Governor of CBN, Olayemi Cardoso had also in November last year announced that the apex bank would be asking the deposit money banks in Nigeria to increase their capital base in order to service the $1 trillion economy projected

by President Bola Tinubu.

The Chairman of the Senate Panel, Tokunbo Abiru, who played host to the CIBN executive in his office

yesterday, also commended the CBN's to recapitalise for the banks.

Abiru explained that with an increased capital base, the banks will be able to finance large-ticket projects, and invest in information technology with a view to modernising their operations.

He said the DMBs would also be positioned to compete, effectively in the global scene.

He said the visit of the CIBN leadership to the Senate was timely as the red chamber will soon start the amendment to the various laws that had been outdated.

He said the laws that established the CIBN are old and that the Senate would look at them with a view to amending them.

He said: "We acknowledge the CIBN roles. Despite the global financial challenges, the Nigeria's banking sector is very resilient.

Kudos to the institute, the regulator and the National Assembly through its oversight.”

He urged the leadership of the institute to critically examine the ongoing development in the financial sector especially regarding inflation

caused by the rising rate of naira to the international currencies.

Abiru said: "There are serious complaints around bank services.

Customers are complaining about so many charges and we want you to look into that.

"We shall ensure that the banking industry is properly regulated by enacting laws that would engender confidence in the sector. We are all witnesses to what happened in the last leadership of the regulator.

We must join hands to rebuild that confidence.

"We hope to partner with relevant professional bodies to ensure efficiency. We are operating around high inflationary environment and we have challenges around this.

The CIBN should be mindful of this and guide the operators.

"One of the challenges we see today is that the rate at which the exchange rate moved between January and February from about N900/$ to about N1,600/$, has a very strong implication.”

He explained, that for instance, those who borrowed when dollar was about N900 now have over

Barau to Youths: FG Committed to Transforming Nigeria’s Education Sector Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, has said the federal government was committed to transforming the education sector for the rapid development of the country.

Barau, according to a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, yesterday, gave the assurance when he hosted the newly inaugurated leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), at his office in the National Assembly, Abuja.

He described education as the

bedrock of the development, adding that, for Nigeria to get it right, the challenges facing the education sector must be properly addressed.

The good news, according to Barau, was that the present administration under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu was fully committed to addressing the challenges facing the country.

He said, “From the President to all of us in the government, we are doing our best to take our tertiary education sector to a higher level.

However, that cannot be achieved

without your cooperation.

"You must key into whatever we are doing before you can be able to get to where you want to. On our part, we are working tirelessly to come up with legislation to support the executive to address the challenges facing the country.

“Your wonderful pedigree made you to be trusted and elected by over 40 million students in the country.

For us, what we need to do is to give you the necessary assistance so that you can have the most conducive atmosphere to operate.

N600 exposure, which has serious implications for repayment and the financial system.

"I implore you, especially the CEOs to deploy strong risk management control measures to it so that you can go back to your balance sheet and prepare for any eventuality," he stated.

He also commended the CIBN for its human capital development skills programme.

The CIBN executive, led by its President/ Chairman of Council, Dr. Ken Opara said the institute was in Senate to solicit the support of the upper chamber regarding their proposed amendment to the CIBN Act.

prices, price of moving products around occasioned by increasing diesel prices were making things difficult.

Earlier, NARTO had suspended their operations in fulfilment of their earlier threat to down tools beginning yesterday (Monday).

Among the filling stations mostly affected were the NNPC filling station on Arab Road in Kubwa, Abuja, Conoil filling station along the Zuba-Kubwa expressway and NNPC retail outlet in the Central Business District of Abuja.

But before the meeting yesterday, Lokpobiri told journalists that the meeting will continue as the government seeks to find a solution to issues raised by the transporters.

“We have been having engagement with different stakeholders in the downstream petroleum industry based on some concerns which were raised. The engagements are still continuing and we hope that we will be able to find solutions to those concerns as soon as possible. Engagement will continue tonight till tomorrow.

“But it should be pointed out very clearly that they have demonstrated utmost good faith and patriotism. It should also be known that the issues have nothing to do with the government.

“It is basically commercial. But as a government we have decided

to intervene so that Nigerians will not suffer unduly,” he stressed.

Lokpobiri had said that with the hardship already being experienced

by Nigerians due to ongoing reforms in the country, it would be wrong for the government to fold its arms while petroleum tanker drivers go on strike.

Before Monday’s strike action, NARTO’s National President, Yusuf Othman explained that the tanker owners had been recording huge losses due to high cost of operation which is no longer sustainable.

Othman explained that members would park their trucks from Monday (yesterday) because members’ expenditure on their operations were more than returns.

Othman disclosed that NARTO’s efforts at soliciting the intervention of all the key stakeholders in the federal government and industry have not yielded positive results.

“What we spend on operation is more than what we get in total: both in local and bridging. We will have to suspend operations latest from now till on Monday.

“We cannot continue to operate at a loss. Most people have parked. A lot more are going to park. But from the point of the association itself, we are going to suspend operations on Monday,” Othman said in a statement last weekend.

UBA to Sponsor ECOWAS Mining Forum, Elumelu to Deliver Keynote Address The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has been announced as the official sponsor of the 4th edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum (ECOMOF 2024) scheduled to take place at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou, Benin from February 22 to February 24, 2024.

The regional event is expected to see a large gathering of key players and stakeholders in the mining and petroleum sectors of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and with presence in 20 African countries and active involvement in major continental development projects, UBA stated that it was the preferred partner for the event, underlining the bank’s commitment to the growth of mining and Petroleum industry in the sub-region but to the whole not African economic development.

According to a statement, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu,

would give the keynote address during the opening ceremony of this all-important event.

Elumelu who doubles as Chairman of Transcorp Group, with extensive interests in energy and power, will be speaking on the theme: "Geo-extractive Resources and Technologies: what pooling strategies for Value Creation in West Africa" His speech was expected to highlight UBA's increasing effort to support and develop the African continent through strategic investments in the key sectors of mining and petroleum.

“Under the esteemed leadership of the President of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon, and the President of Nigeria and current President of ECOWAS, Mr. Bola Tinubu, UBA Group will at the forum aim to restate its commitment towards supporting economic and social development across the continent.

“The focus of ECOMOF 2024 underscores the significance of transforming the mining and oil sectors into economic pillars by formulating attractive policies for investors, essential for the sectors' substantial contribution to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of ECOWAS member states.

“The Transnational Corporation Group (Transcorp Plc) - a diversified conglomerate with strategic investments in various sectors, including power and energy will also actively participate in the forum,” it added.

Key officials from UBA Group and Transcorp Plc, including the Chief Executive Officer UBA Africa, Abiola Bawuah; UBA’s Group Head, Corporate and Energy Bank, Ebele Ogbue, and President/ Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Group, Owen Omogiafo will be actively involved in discussions and panels on the sidelines of the event.

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GB FOODS' COURTESY VISIT TO COORDINATING MINISTER OF ECONOMY...

L-R: Corporate Affairs Director, GB Foods Africa, Teddy Nguyen; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun; CEO of GB Foods Africa, Vicenc Bosch; representative of the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Patricia Gomez Lanzaco; and Managing Director, Vincent Egbe, during the courtesy visit of GB Food Management to the minister in Abuja, yesterday

Arewa Group Says Akpabio Attacking Emefiele to Divert Attention from His EFCC Case Ex-CBN governor’s interventions saved Nigerian economy, lawyers insist

The Arewa Youths Forum (AYF) has said the attacks on former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was a failed attempt to divert attention from his case before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The northern youth body said this in reaction to comments attributed to Akpabio wherein he blamed Emefiele for Nigeria’s economic woes.

In a statement signed by its acting National Secretary, Isa Dangaziya, the forum said in saner climes people like the former Akwa Ibom governor should be either behind the bars or hiding from public opprobrium.

They wondered why people like

Akpabio who have cases before the anti-graft agencies would have the temerity to turn around and blame others for the nation’s misfortune.

“We received with rude shock, the comments attributed to Akpabio attributing the current economic hardship and hunger in Nigeria to the actions and policies implemented during Emefiele’s tenure at the apex bank.

“In essence, he (Emefiele) is one of those who milked and is still milking Nigeria dry and is walking freely despite humongous corruption allegations.

“To our utter dismay and surprise, the senate president was reportedly spewing these lies in an update of a church programme posted by Channels Television on its X handle

on Sunday – in the sight of God to show how people like him have sold their conscience.

“He just reminded Nigerians that as recent as April last year, it was widely reported in the media that the EFCC invited Akpabio, for interrogation over an investigation concerning corruption allegations against him.

“There were allegations of a N40 billion fraud perpetrated in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a parastatal under the ministry superintended by Akpabio for three years.

“Also, there were allegations of over N86 billion contract scams involving him and a former Acting Managing Director of the NDDC,

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

a moral right to speak about the happenings in Kano State, by way of sharing their thoughts with a view to help in providing advice that could help in arriving at a sensible and wise decision.

“It is on this note, we wish to use this opportunity to draw your attention to the likely implications of responding to agitations to woo you and the House of Assembly, to abolish the additional emirates councils,” the CSO said.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, which the EFCC had been investigating,” the group said.

Also, the group reminded Nigerians that the anti-graft agency had in the past arrested Akpabio over the alleged theft of N108.1 billion of Akwa Ibom funds.

“The EFCC had earlier invited Akpabio to appear for questioning on March 29, 2023 but his lawyer, Umeh Kalu (SAN), in a letter to the anti-graft agency alleged that his client was suffering from pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia.

“Looking at the above, any discerning mind would not hesitate to conclude that Akpabio’s outing was nothing by diversionary tactics, typical of the pot calling the kettle

black,” the group added.

Meanwhile, constitutional lawyers under the leadership of Yusuf Tijani, yesterday rose in defence of Emefiele, over growing allegations that he mismanaged the nation’s economy during his tenure as the number one banker.

The lawyers, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, said such claims that had no verified fact to back them were only ways of calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

The lawyers also condemned Akpabio, over what they called his baseless attack on Emefiele, describing it as a childish attempt to keep being an errand boy desperate to save his head from a pending

EFCC case.

They said Akpabio was the one who is supposed to be arrested and prosecuted for his pending numerous criminal cases and not Emefiele, who worked to stabilise the nation’s currency during his reign as CBN governor.

The lawyers claimed that it was looting by the likes of Akpabio that was killing the economy and called on the senate president to surrender himself to the EFCC immediately.

They argued that all the reform programmes introduced by Emefiele during his tenure as CBN governor positioned the country on a sure footing economically, urging Akpabio to leave the former CBN governor alone.

CSO Writes Kano Assembly Speaker, Tunji-Ojo: 30 Seconds Biometric Clearance at Cautions against Emirates Law Nigeria’s International Airports Begin in March

The Advocacy Centre for Development, has written an open letter to the speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, warning against tampering with the state emirate law.

According to the CSO, the assembly should be mindful of their action in the Kano State emirate law, adding that if such was not treated carefully, it might cause problems not only in the state, but the entire Northern Nigeria.

The letter, signed by the CSO’s Executive Director, Ibrahim Yusuf, stated that the speaker should be aware that they were a concerned group representing the voices of many civil society organisations, academia, democracy champions and advocates for peace and security promotion in the North and in Nigeria at large.

Formerly known as Society and the Future, the group stated:“We operate precisely in the North Eastern States of Nigeria. We therefore write to inform you that we are disturbed by the persistent hullabaloo on the new Emirates Councils created in Kano, sometime in 2019 by the former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“Let me remind you that, all states in Northern Nigeria are connected to Kano State, either directly or indirectly, and therefore all social, economic and political decisions in Kano State have a tendency to affect the residents of other States either positively or negatively.

“It is therefore for this reason, all residents of Northern Nigeria have

All international airports in Nigeria would now have 30 seconds biometric clearance gates in line with international standards and best practices, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has disclosed.

The federal government installed the facilities for the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), at all international airports

in the country.

The biometric gates have the capacity to screen and clear a passenger within 30 seconds without any interface or contacts with Immigration personnel.

When inaugurated, it would provide seamless clearance services for passengers entering the country through any of the International airports.

Speaking to journalists after undertaking a tour of the biomet-

New Software, Commonwealth Meridian Deployed to Manage Public Debt

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A powerful software developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat to be deployed in Nigeria to transform how the country manages its public debt portfolio while enhancing transparency.

A statement yesterday, by the Commonwealth Secretariat, stated that at the request of the Government of Nigeria, the Commonwealth Secretariat hosted a two-week training workshop for 15 Nigerian debt managers at its headquarters in London this month.

The statement added that during the workshop, participants received hands-on training on getting their debt databases ready for seamless migration to the new software, known as Commonwealth Meridian, and learned essential

skills for recording, analysing, and managing various types of debt using the advanced tool.

The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Dr. Cyprian Heen, according to the statement, opened the workshop on February 5, 2024, and described the software as a crucial tool for sound debt management practices in developing countries.

He highlighted the importance of monitoring debt liabilities to prevent escalating debt costs and risks, which hinder governments from spending on projects essential for sustainable development.

Heen said: “Meridian allows borrowers to record their debt accurately and comprehensively across the full range of debt management transactions and operations.

“In turn, this facilitates accurate and timely debt service payment

to creditors while allowing governments to monitor their liabilities.”

Launched in 2019, Meridian replaces its predecessor, the Commonwealth Secretariat: Debt Recording and Management System (CS-DRMS), which had helped Nigeria manage its public debt since the 1990s, it added.

The upgraded software gives managers access to real-time debt data to monitor liabilities and make informed decisions, while ensuring national financing needs are met in time and at an acceptable level of risk.

Speaking at the workshop, Senior Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development Directorate, Dr. Ruth Kattumuri, said Nigeria was the Commonwealth’s key partner in supporting Africa’s development.

ric equipments installed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Command and Control Centre at the NIS Headquarters yesterday, Tunji-Ojo said the 30 seconds biometric clearance gates would be ready in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu by March.

He said Lagos would have 17 gates, Abuja 10, Portharcourt and Kano 5 each and Enugu 4.

Tunji-Ojo, while stating that the facilities would be a game changer for effective and efficient management of international passengers in the country, noted that the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), and the Commandant and Control Centre facilities had been integrated not just for seamless entry and exit for passengers, but to add another layer to the nation's National Security Architecture.

The Minister who was conducted round the facilities

by Comptroller of Immigration in Charge of the Abuja International Airport, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said whatever was happening within the airports domains would be seen real time at Command and Control Centre to enable security agencies monitor persons of interest entering the country.

The Minister also said: "I am impressed by the levels and pace of works I have seen here today.

The facilities are about 70 per cent ready. This means our border control management system is on track.

“It also means that the Nigeria Immigration Service is ready to contribute its quota to the National Security Architecture.

"The efficiency of the services provided by the NIS determine whatever we see in our security outlook as a nation. All these are being done in line with global best practices and standards and in consonance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to provide quality services to Nigerians.

"We have decided that the more the gates at the airports, the easier it would be for passengers to be cleared. And looking at the ones that have been tested, it is about 30 seconds for a passenger to clear, so I look at the solutions and the hardwares and I think they are a top notch.

"I am happy with the quality of works and I am happy with the prospect of giving Nigerians the experience. And once it is completed Nigerians will no longer be at the mercy of Immigration officers whenever they arrive in the country.

"Once you check in you don't need to have encounter with Immigration officers anymore except you are a person of interest.

“This facility is not just for you to pass at record time, no.

It is also to secure the nation and add another layer to our National Security Architecture.

"If a person is a person of interest, he can easily be flagged.

And this gives our Immigration support to be able to effectively do their jobs."

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Domestic Airlines Decry High Airport Charges, Minister Assures Operators

Chinedu Eze Domestic airlines have said that the major factors that contribute to increased price of flight tickets include the charges they pay for the use of the airports in the country, the high cost of aviation fuel and other charges paid to aviation agencies.

The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Mr. Osita Okonkwo made this known at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday, during a news conference to mark the three years of the airline as schedule, commercial operator.

Okonkwo, who said that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, would soon solve the problem of paucity of aircraft among Nigerian carriers, stated that in addition to passenger service charge, which they pay to the airports, they still pay landing charges and also pay extra charges if they operate to sunset airports after 7:00 pm.

These, he said, include the

airports that officially shut down by 7:00 pm but can extend their services with additional payment by airlines.

The payments, it was learnt, are as follows: Asaba Airport collects, N8000 per passenger, MMA2, Lagos, N7000, Chinua Achebe Airport, Umueri, Anambra state, N8000, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) collects N2, 000 per passenger for domestic fights, $100 for international flights and $20 for security charge.

In addition, the sunset airports charge N500, 000 for every extended one hour, which starts counting by five minutes past 7:00 O’clock.

The airports also charge N25, 000 for every landing of aircraft and all these monies are built into other charges which include 5 per cent ticket charge, which the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) collects on behalf of aviation agencies.

Okonkwo said that when these charges are put together they increase the cost of flight ticket and stressed that in cognisance of

the exchange rate, the high cost of aviation fuel, which has risen to N1,300 per litre, the average cost of ticket should be between N150, 000 to N200, 000.

But he stated that knowing the economic situation in Nigeria, only few would afford to travel by air with commercial airlines, insisting that the airlines record losses at lower cost of tickets but have to keep providing the critical service of lifting Nigerians from one city to another.

Okonkwo suggested that before NCAA would approve operating licence for any airport in Nigeria, it must meet the condition to operate till midnight so that airlines do not have to pay extra before using their services after 7:00 pm.

Meanwhile, the chief operating officer said that one of the major challenges domestic airlines face is acquisition of aircraft by purchase or by lease.

He noted that high country risk, the bad reputation of some airlines that failed to abide by lease

agreement in the past made aircraft leasing very costly in Nigeria.

He said that lessors do not allow dry lease in Nigeria, which enables an airline to lease an aircraft for a long time, register it locally and operate it with its full crew.

According to him, rather, the lessors allow wet lease, which is short time leasing where the lessor provides the crew and which comes at a very high cost.

However, he said that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has advanced in his negotiation with lessors and aircraft manufacturers to review the country risk clamped on Nigeria and also to withdraw the decision not to allow dry or long term lease to Nigerian carriers.

According to Okonkwo, the minister has met with the international lobby group to prompt the lessors to remove Nigeria from their blacklist and this include Aircraft Leasing Group (ALG) comprising the two largest aircraft makers, Airbus and Boeing.

“Our appeal is that we don’t miss out on opportunities. Nigeria is the largest market in Africa. The potential is there. The market is large. The minister is on top of this issue. It would help that Nigeria is removed from country risk on aircraft dry lease. The country risk rating has hampered our operations and we are exposed to wet-lease which is very expensive,” he added.

He also spoke on aircraft insurance and said that Nigerian insurance companies do not have the capacity to wholly insure an aircraft.

However, he stated that the National Insurance Commission (NICON) insists that aircraft insurance must go through local insurers, but lessors give it as condition that their aircraft must be insured in New York, London, Singapore, Dubai and other international cities.

According to him, even if an airline purchases an aircraft, it is an international requirement that it has to be insured, but no insurance company can do that in Nigeria,

Osita Okonkwo especially for bigger aircraft.

“The other one on insurance is that there is no capacity internally to do big aircraft insurance in Nigeria.

So, many lessors are not operating in Nigeria because of insurance.

“It is killing business because even though you want to do indigenisation, you cannot do that with another person’s assets.

Even if you buy an aircraft today, it is a requirement that you have to insure it even if you pay with your money in Boeing, Embraer or whatever.

“The insurance must cover Boeing even though they have sold it to you, they must be party insured in that transaction. So you can’t escape the international requirements of the business and limiting it locally will not help lessors,” Okonkwo said.

Red Cross Declares Nigeria’s Hunger Crisis Alarming, Demands Immediate Attention insecurity in the country. Kende said it was about time the government acted.

Equally, yesterday, the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slammed the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the President Bola Tinubu administration is overwhelmed and lacks the capacity to lead Nigeria.

A former member of the House of Representatives and elder statesman, Dr. Usman Bugaje, also expressed disappointment with Tinubu’s performance, and alleged that the president was being misled by his officials.

Bugaje spoke on a Channels TV programme, Politics Today.

The assertions came as the widening nationwide protests against food shortage and rising cost of living yesterday spread to Ibadan, where protesters in their hundreds defied police warning and paralysed activities in the metropolis.

Speaking during the launch of a partnership between the Red Cross and Ecobank on local resource mobilisation for hunger crisis appeal in Abuja, Kende said the rising fuel prices had led to hyperinflation and the soaring of food prices beyond the reach of many Nigerians.

He said about 26.5 million Nigerians, including women and children, were currently facing acute hunger, and were in dire need of urgent assistance to prevent death and prolonged suffering.

According to him, “More than

half of the states in Nigeria are presently food insecure, and the hunger crisis has reached alarming levels. Increased insecurity, inflation, extreme weather patterns, and global conflicts continue to drive hunger.”

Kende declared, “The time to act is now.”

He said the Ecobank partnership was dedicated to raising funds locally to support the hunger crisis appeal designed to provide relief to those affected by the crisis.

The Red Cross secretary general said children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers were bearing the brunt of malnutrition, with nearly 4.41 million children and 585.000 mothers facing acute malnutrition, and about 1,000 Nigerian children died daily from malnutrition-related causes.

He said NRCS was taking urgent action to alleviate the crisis and mitigate its devastating impact on Nigerians in line with Nigerian Red Cross Act of 1960, to act as auxiliary to government to alleviate human suffering wherever it might be found.

Kende added that NRCS’s 800,000-strong community-based volunteers were present in all 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and ready to respond to humanitarian needs, even in the most difficult-toaccess communities and conditions.

He stated that the appeal was anchored on the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) Pan-African Zero Hunger initiatives and also related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030

Dangote, Bua, Lafarge Agree to Reduce Cement Prices to N7,000 After Meeting with FG A statement by Umahi’s Special Adviser, Uchenna Orji, said it is expected that price will drop after securing government's interventions on the challenges of the manufacturers on gas, import duty, smuggling, and better road network.

“The meeting noted the challenges of the manufacturers like: Cost of gas; high import duty on spare parts; bad road network; high foreign exchange; and smuggling of cement to neighbouring nations.

“The government noted the challenges and reacted as follows: Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to seek some remedies from Mr. President on cost of gas and import duties.

“The Federal Ministry of Works is to give more attention to fixing of the roads, especially around the locations of the manufacturers,” it stated.

On the issue of smuggling cement, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said it will deepen the already commenced engagement with the National Security Adviser (NSA) on how to stop smuggling. “ The cement manufacturers

and the government noted that the current high price of cement is abnormal in some locations nationwide. Ideally, cement retail prices should not cost more than N7,000.00 to N8,000.00/ 50kg bag of cement.

“Therefore, the three cement manufacturers: Dangote Cement Plc, BUA Cement Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc have agreed that cement cost will not be more than between N7,000.00 and N8,000.00/50kg bag depending on the location,” the statement added.

Going forward, the government advised cement manufacturers to set up a price monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance.

Also, the manufacturers, the statement said, have willingly accepted to do so and to sanction any of their distributors or retailers found wanting.

“Government expects the agreed price to drop after securing interventions on the challenges of the manufacturers on gas, import duty, smuggling, and better road network.

The meeting agreed to reconvene in 30 days to review progress made,” the statement added.

Agenda, "Leave no one behind." He said this showed the inter-linkages of deprivations experienced by poor people – No Poverty (SDG 1); Zero Hunger (SDG 2); Health and Well-being (SDG 3); Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6).

The Red Cross boss said, “As we speak, millions of our fellow citizens are facing acute hunger, with about 26.5 million people, including women and children, in dire need of urgent assistance to prevent death and prolonged suffering.

“The factors contributing to this crisis are multifaceted: changing weather conditions; increased internal conflict; the aftermath of COVID-19, compounded by violent conflicts, including the insurgency in the North-east; armed banditry; perennial farmer-herder conflicts; and separatist agitation in the South-east, among others.

“And global crises, such as the Russia/Ukraine, Gaza war, and rising fuel prices, which have led to hyperinflation and soaring food prices beyond the reach of many Nigerians.”

Kende stated that natural disasters, such as the rising incidence and frequency of floods, as part of the consequences of climate change, had impacted food production, availability and affordability in the country.

He said with the support of Ecobank, among others, NRCS would provide the much-needed humanitarian assistance to the neediest communities.

Kende also said the Red Cross would scale up current efforts to provide multipurpose cash grants for emergency relief and recovery, offer continued nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers to combat acute malnutrition, and emphasise Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives, along with livelihood programmes, to reduce the prevalence of diseases and other infections.

He stated, “I call upon all individuals, groups, businesses, and organisations to join us and support the government efforts across all levels in this critical endeavour.

“Together, we can make a dif-

ference, provide hope, and save lives. Let us stand united in the face of this humanitarian crisis, we can alleviate the suffering and hunger of the Nigerian people and foster a brighter future.”

Kende disclosed that IFRC and NRCS recognised the severity of the situation early and launched a 4.1 million Swiss Francs appeal in June 2021 to aid the delivery of humanitarian assistance targeting 200,000 people in seven states across the country.

The emergency appeal had already reached over 30,000 beneficiaries, providing vital support through multipurpose cash transfers and nutritional assistance to pregnant and lactating women, he said.

Moreover, he said, Mothers Clubs have been established to empower women with skills training and nutritional knowledge, fostering self-sufficiency.

Kende stated, “The gravity of the hunger crisis persists, and more individuals are in desperate need of assistance. The IFRC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross, has, therefore, scaled up the Hunger Crisis Emergency Appeal to reach 2.5 million people.

“This appeal is part of the broader Africa Hunger Crisis Appeal, recognising the regional impact of this dire situation.

“Here's where our partnership with Ecobank Nigeria comes into play. In joining forces, we aim to raise funds locally to address the pressing needs of our communities.

“The funds will be directed towards providing multipurpose cash for emergency relief and recovery, prioritising health and care, nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives, and livelihood programmes to reduce diseases and other infections.

“The Nigerian Red Cross, with its 800,000-strong volunteer force spread across all 774 local governments, stands ready and capable of reaching the communities most impacted by acute hunger with emergency assistance.

“This partnership emphasises the critical role that corporate entities, like Ecobank Nigeria, can play in

contributing to the welfare of our nation.”

PDP: Tinubu is Overwhelmed, Lacks Capacity to Lead Nigeria PDP said the APC government of Tinubu was already overwhelmed and lacked the capacity to lead Nigeria.

The party, which condemned APC for attacking PDP governors for speaking out against the failures of the Tinubu government, said the administration had plunged Nigerians into excruciating suffering.

In statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said, "Our party restates its position that the APC and the Tinubu administration are responsible for the current biting economic hardship and surging wave of insecurity across the country, as they are completely overwhelmed and lack the capacity and competence to lead a nation like Nigeria.

"By seeking to allocate President Tinubu’s statutory duties to governors, the APC has unambiguously admitted that it foisted on Nigerians an incompetent president, who cannot guarantee security and whose administration has devastated our national economy, resulting in extreme hunger, hopelessness and desperation, as evident in the protests, agitation and rising spate of suicide across the country."

PDP said every Nigerian was lamenting the terrible situation, which Tinubu’s ill-informed and ill-implemented policies had brought upon the nation.

It stated, "President Tinubu is directly in charge of security and the national economic policies, including administration of petroleum resources, as Minister of Petroleum Affairs; other national revenues.

“He cannot transfer his incompetence and failure to other tiers of government, which have no control over national security, fiscal and monetary policies, which mismanagement

by President Tinubu’s government has crippled our economy."

PDP said governors had no control over the pervading corruption and continuing monumental treasurylooting under Tinubu, who had failed

Shehu Sani: State Police is Mirage, Recipe for Anarchy of state police, Sani said he was worried that it might turn out to be an armed wing of the ruling party in each state.

He stated, “The state police will be used by the governors to persecute the opposition, to harass ‘non indigenes’, to rig elections and to counter the federal police in cases of conflict of interest between the federal government and the state.

“Most of the state ruling party thugs will be recruited into the state police.”

Tinubu and the governors had

agreed to establish multi-level police in the country as part of measures to check the rising wave of insecurity nationwide. This was one of the six highpoints of the emergency meeting summoned by the president.

Specifically, Tinubu approved the establishment of a committee comprising governors and representatives of the federal government to, among other things, explore modalities for establishing state police.

The president and the governors

also discussed the possibility of improving the numerical strength of forest rangers and train them so that they could keep the forests and borders safe.

Following the spike in insecurity across the country, there were calls for the establishment of state police, as practiced in the First Republic before it was abolished by the military.

Currently, many states have vigilante groups. While the South-west zone has Amotekun, the South-east zone has Ebube-Agu.

to take concrete measures to curb the malaise.

Ologunagba said it was an assault on the sensibility of Nigerians that instead of charging the government it formed to live up to its billings, APC was seeking a sordid and depraved approach to divert public attention from its failures.

The PDP statement added, "From its diversionary statement, it is clear that the APC is jittery and afraid that it has been exposed following revelations and reports in the public space that its leaders are involved in multiple scams and fraudulent deals through which they continue to siphon funds meant for the wellbeing of the people, resulting in the unbearable hardship being experienced by Nigerians today.

"The complicity of the APC leaders apparently informs why they have remained silent in the face of the incompetence, monumental treasury-looting and corruption in the Tinubu administration."

PDP counselled Tinubu and APC to face their self-inflicted woes and heed the patriotic call of the PDP governors, who were providing quality leadership with life-enhancing projects and programmes in their various states in line with the peopleoriented manifesto and policy thrust of the PDP. Ologunagba said that it was evident today across Nigeria that only PDP governors and other PDP elected public officials were commissioning legacy and life-enriching projects and programmes with which they were repositioning their states and various constituencies into oases of development.

He stated, "Nigerians should, therefore, continue to hold the APC and President Tinubu solely responsible for the suffering, which they face.

“The PDP will not hesitate to name APC leaders allegedly involved in the continuing treasury-plundering, as the APC must not be allowed to ‘grab, snatch and run’ with our national patrimony at the expense of millions of our citizens."

‘Tinubu’s Officials Not Telling Him the Truth’ Former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje, expressed disappointment at Tinubu’s performance.

Speaking on the state of the nation and the harsh economic conditions during a programme, Politics Today, on Channels TV, Bugaje said, "I am extremely disappointed at the performance of President Tinubu in the last eight months. I used to know him as someone who is always reading and engaging, but I have not seen that at all."

The political activist and scholar stated that the president was surContinued on page 27

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Kogi Stakeholders Seek Tinubu’s Intervention on Insecurity in Omala, Dekina LGAs Ask Gov Dodo to resign

Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja

Indigenes of Kogi State under the auspices of Kogi East Critical Stakeholders (KECS) has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the worsening security situation in Omala and Dekina Local Government Areas and other parts of the state.

They alleged that the state Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has failed to live up to expectations of his exalted office, adding that he has so far shown that his government is appendage of his predecessor, Governor Yahaya Bello.

The stakeholders, therefore, asked Governor Ododo to resign forthwith, “having declared himself unworthy of governance by publicly directing his commissioners, civil servants and other government officers to ignore his constitutional directives should that conflict with that of former Governor Bello’s directives.”

The group accused the state governor of several infractions,

including the unconstitutional establishment of the ‘Office of immediate past Governor’, and attempting to denigrate the ancient traditional institution by ignoring the presence of the number one traditional ruler in the state at his inauguration as governor.

In a communique issued at the end of its meeting yesterday in Abuja and signed by Alhaji Sule Iyaji, the Kogi East stakeholders expressed concerns over what they described as “serious security situation, abuse of power, intimidation and encroachments on the rights of the people in the state.”

The communique said: “The president should kindly intervene in the security situation in Omala and Dekina LGA and other parts of Kogi State, where herders have taken over the administration of our fishing and agrarian communities and now levying taxes on the hapless citizens for their own use and sacking them from their farmlands and fishing grounds.

‘The herders are equally expanding their control to other communities thereby creating unrest and displacement of our people. The urgent intervention of the president would prevent further bloodshed and recourse to

self-help by the populace.”

Iyaji, who said the stakeholders reached the position after carrying out a comprehensive review of the state of affairs in Kogi State, noted that the president’s intervention has become necessary because

of the inability of the Kogi State Government to arrest the prevailing serious security situation.

“It is on this note that we join other Nigerians in the call for the creation of state and local government police, because we

believed that where there is a balance of terror, the security situation will abate as no community will watch their land and resources being taken over by strangers or land grabbers,” he said.

Organisations, Companies Urged to Design DisabilityFriendly Infrastructure to Accommodate PLDs Ugo Aliogo

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Grooming Centre, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, has appealed to organisations and companies to ensure that their facilities are designed to be user friendly for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLD), stating that the organisation has started putting measures to ensure that their facilities across the country are usable by PLDs. Nwabunka, who disclosed

this recently in Lagos during a courtesy visit by Feet of Grace Foundation to express appreciation to the Grooming Centre for its generous donations to support their beneficiaries’ surgeries, revealed that the organisation would also ensure that their offices across the country make provisions for people living with disability both as staff members and clients.

The Grooming Centre’s CEO remarked that over the past seven years, they have been working with

the Feet of Grace Foundation, noting that on yearly basis, they provide funding for Feet of Grace which helps them to do those kinds of activities they do.

According to him, “Today, they brought a few of the beneficiaries, just so that we can put a face to them. The beneficiaries are eight in number, and like I said, we have been doing this over the years. This is one of our Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) for the organisation.

“This project means so much for the organisation. Firstly, as the founder of Feet of Grace went through some life-changing trauma and had her two legs amputated, even before then, she had a number of health issues, but rather than sit back and feel sorry for herself, she is using it to do good things and reach out to those who are also in the same situation and basically sending a message that your disability doesn’t mean you are finished, but you can live a normal life with your disability.

Brain Drain: UK-based Nigerian Medical Practitioner Calls for Implementation of 15% Abuja Health Declaration

Lagos Area C Command Holds Kuni Tyessi in Abuja In an exclusive interview with greener pastures, sincerity of commensurate with growth, it THISDAY, Ojukwu noted that purpose and commitment must remember that our large Safe School Stakeholders’ A Nigerian medical practitioner the World Health Declaration of is needed starting from the population must be factored in. So if the declaration was entrepreneur, based in the 15 percent was at a time when governed to the leaders.

Engagement Meeting and He said “The government pegged at 15 percent several United Kingdom, Dr. Charles the country’s population was Oluchi Chibuzor

In line with the Inspector General of Police (IG) directives on safe schools, the Lagos State Area C Command has engaged critical stakeholders within its jurisdictions on the need to ensure a safe school learning environment.

The meeting equally highlighted to all the school managers and within four local government areas on the need to embrace technological gadgets and integrating the police in their security architecture.

Speaking at the event, the Area Commander, Area C Command, Surulere, Lagos, ACP Olayinka Ayoola, said all stakeholders must collaborate with the police to ensure a safe school environment.

According to him, “Whether you are a proprietor, proprietress, principal or school manager, the safety of pupils in a learning environment is

very important.”

He challenged them to consider perimeter fencing of the school walls, adding that surveillance cameras must be at work 24 hours for seven days to ensure a safe environment.

He said: “For me, what I want to discuss with them is that the pupils in the school are safe; for example, so many schools are not properly secure, like adopting the use of technology, tracking buses they use in carrying children to school and they do not involve the police in their event. So if for us to lecture them to let them know that you cannot organise any event or take your children out of the area of jurisdiction without having a police escort with them.

Because we have been directed from force headquarters in Abuja to ensure that all our schools in the areas of our jurisdiction are well properly safe and secured.”

NGO Decries Increasing Maternal Mortality Rate in Nigeria, Makes Case for Less Privilege Women John Shiklam in Kaduna

A Kaduna-based nongovernmental organisation, Pregnancy Support Foundation (PSF), has lamented the increasing rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Speaking during a medical outreach for pregnant women in the Mando area of Kaduna metropolis, the founder of the NGO, Mrs. Adesua Oni, noted that Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world.

She attributed the situation to poverty, illiteracy and lack of access to basic health facilities, calling on governments at all levels to make basic healthcare facilities functional and accessible to rural communities.

Oni said her organisation has been in the forefront for the campaign against maternal mortality through its ‘Safe Motherhood Medical Outreaches’ programme in communities with low socio-economic status.

According to her, “The

challenges facing pregnant women, especially, those in rural communities include, poverty, illiteracy and deep seated ignorance about their health and lack of access to health facilities.

“Lack of support for pregnant women by their husbands, family, in addition to cultural and religious beliefs among others are not helping matters.”

Oni called on government and religious groups to sensitise women in rural communities about health issues as it concerns pregnancy.

She also called on governments at all levels to encourage health professionals at the grassroots to be more committed by ensuring that they are better remunerated.

The medical outreach was attended by 160 women of child bearing age some community leaders.

The outreach focused on importance of education, counselling on safe motherhood, importance of facility-based delivery, appropriate diet during pregnancy, medical checkups and antenatal care attendance, among others.

Ojukwu, has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency, implement the 15 percent budgetary allocation to health, noting that this will help in curbing the menace of brain drain.

less than 200 million, adding that with the present figures, the 15 percent benchmark was the appropriate thing to do.

He said while 70-80 percent of UK doctors of African descent are Nigerians in search of

needs to look at what the WHO recommendation for budget is for health. Are we budgeting 15 percent in health based on the Abuja declaration?

“If the government wants improvement that is

years ago, then we should not be talking about this, we should be talking about more than 15 percent, but we are not even doing up to 10 percent. Some states are not even doing up to five percent.

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

As N’Assembly Moves to Amend 1999 Constitution Again...

The National Assembly last week commenced another move to further alter the nation’s 1999 constitution as the Red Chamber constituted a 45-member committee to carry out the task. Sunday Aborisade x-rays the enormous task ahead of the panel due for inauguration today in view of the socio-economic crisis currently facing the country.

Akpabio

S

enate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, shortly before the close of plenary last Wednesday, announced the composition of a 45-member Constitution Amendment Commitee ti be chaired by Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, while the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele was named Vice chairman.

The panel also include, all the principal officers, all the four female senators, one senator from each state of the federation and six others from each of the geopolitical zone.

Apart from Barau and Bamidele, other members of the committee are: Deputy Senate Leader, Oyelola Ashiru; Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume; Deputy Whip, Nwebonyi Onyeka; Minority Leader, Abba Moro; Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu; Deputy Minority Leader, Oyewunmi Olalere, and the Minority Whip, Sani Hangar.

Others are Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Binus Dauda Yaroe, Bassey Etim Akpan, Ifeanyi Ubah, Abdul Ningi, Seriake Dickson, Agom Jarigbe, Ned Nwoko, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Osita Izunaso, Abdulhamid Ahmed and Khalid Mustapha.

They also included Senators Sani Rufai, Mutari Dandutse, Yahaya Abdullahi, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Adebule Oluranti, Godiya Akwashiki, Sani Musa and Solomon Adeola.

Also on the list are, Adeniyi Ayodele, Abdulfatai Buhari, Simon Lalong, Aliyu Wamako, Shuaibu Lau, Ahmed Lawan, Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u, Ireti Kingigbe, and Ipalibo Banigo.

The Senators who would represent their geopolitical zones are, Adamu Aliero (North-West); Orji Uzor Kalu (South-East) Francis Fadahunsi (South-West); Bomai Mohammed (North-West); Barinada Mpigi (South-South) and Umar Sadiq Sulaiman (North-Central).

The Senate President explained that the 1999 constitution needed a review because it contains many issues that should be put right.

He also noted that the introduction of Artificial Intelligence was a major factor that should be considered in the proposed amendment to the constitution.

Akpabio said, “There is a need for us to touch some aspects of the constitution to bring them in line with current relatives particularly with the era of artificial intelligence and some of the things we have observed that needed to be put right.”

The Senate President also directed that all Speakers of the state Houses of Assembly should be invited to the National Assembly for interaction as part of the constitution amendment process.

He said, “The Deputy Senate President, you should also invite speakers of all state houses of assemblies for interaction with the Senate President before we go into the major issues of presenting the different memos.”

Akpabio explained that lawmakers who constitute the constitution amendenent committee were selected from all states and geo-political zones and noted that all committee members represent all the political parties in the Senate.

His words: “All political parties, all senatorial districts and all the geopolitical zones have been taken care of.

“We are taking one senator per state because

Barau we are talking about constitution amendment. One Senator per state and then we are also taking one senator representing each geo-political zone.

“So, in case you noticed two senators from one state, that would mean that one of them represents the zone, while there is one senator from that zone representing that state.”

The Senate President noted that the constitution amendment committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday and that they would commence the review process immediately.

Akpabio said, “The committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, so that they can start functioning immediately.

“All the motions and resolutions pertaining to constitution amendment that have been brought to the Senate since last year will now be channeled straight to that committee” Speaking on the development in an interview with THISDAY in Abuja at the weekend, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, expressed the confidence that the constitution amendment exercise being proposed by the 10th National Assembly will solve a lot of social, political and economic challenges currently confronting the country.

He said since the state governors and the President had agreed that there was the need to decentralise the country’s security architecture, both chambers of the federal parliament would receive memoranda and bills on it.

Adaramodu also said the proposed review of the nation’s laws would also take care of the type of government that Nigeria currently desire since there are discussions at the moment in various cycles about the type of government that would reduce the cost of governance.

Kingibe

Adaramodu

He said: “The parliament is to make laws and the laws that the parliament will make, will not be generated outside of the interest and aspirations of Nigerians.

“So if the Federal Government or the state governors or whoever wants state police, so be it.

“When we inaugurate the constitution amendment committee, the panel members will go out there and meet up with all the critical stakeholders in Nigeria within various sectors.

“They will discuss with the traditional rulers and so on and so forth. So when they meet and then we aggregate, we will know that this is what Nigerians want, that is the law that we are going to make what will represent the people and the law must be people’s law.

“Once it is going to be the people’s law, whatever kind of police that we want in Nigeria that Nigerians want, that is what the National Assembly will give to them.

He nevertheless said the success of the exercise lies squarely on the state houses of Assembly because at least two-thirds of them must vote in favour of the amendments before the National Assembly could forward them to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

His words: “Another thing is that we want to ensure that because when we talk about the constitutional amendment or even making of it, we need 24 states of the federation to concur with us.

“So it does not end with the National Assembly, it starts from us, goes to the states and comes back to the National Assembly for further legislative process before it goes to the Presidency for assent.

“It is not a one-way lawmaking process So as Nigerians are desirous through their governors and the presidency that Nigeria policing must be rejigged, then we have to find something to do about it so that we can ensure that there is peace in our land”.

Adaramodu added that the body language of Nigerians would determine the type of government they desire, whether parliamentary system or to continue with the presidential system of government.

He said, “We will look at the body language

of Nigerians because we represent them, before we take action on the Parliamentary system of government.

“Federal lawmakers either from the Senate or in the House of Representatives will bring motions and bills in that regard and they would be subjected to the crucibles of legislation that would bring about peace and prosperity to Nigerians.

“So, what we are doing is normal and that is the duty of a legislator or legislators to come up with what they think can enhance the polity by effectively representing their constituents too.

“Our constituents will bring before the National Assembly either Reps or Senate motions or bills which will go through the crucibles of legislative scrutiny.”

Efforts to amend the 1999 constitution were truncated during the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former President Goodluck Jonathan but it succeeded during the administrations of the late president Umaru Musa Yar’adua and former president Muhammadu Buhari.

Constitution reviews under the Buhari administration were largely successful. A total of 21 alterations were carried out.

In 2018 for instance, five major reviews of the law took place. Also on March 17, 2023 a total of 16 new alterations were carried out.

Since 1999, the Nigerian constitution had been altered five times. Twice in 2010 under Yar’Adua administration and three times under Buhari who is from the same state as late Yar’adua.

Nigerians are therefore, looking at how the President Tinubu’s administration would handle the proposed amendment to the Nigerian constitution in view of the fact that two former presidents from the South, did not succeed when they attempted to do so.

Both Buhari and Yar’adua who successfully altered the nation’s constitution are Northern Muslims from the same state. The duo of Obasanjo and Jonathan are Christians from the South.

It will be recalled that the constitutional review exercise under Obasanjo was derailed in May 2006 over his purported third term ambition.

Jonathan on the other hand, vetoed the constitutional alteration bills in 2015 and advanced reasons for doing so in a seven-page letter read on the floor of the Senate on April 15, 2015.

He said he could not sign the new proposals into law due to irregularities and an attempt by the lawmakers to violate the doctrine of Separation of Powers.

In his alterations of the constitution which was signed into law in 2010, Yar’Adua made the Independent National Electoral Commission to be on First Line Charge on Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation.

The gesture was similarly extended to the National Assembly and federal Judiciary.

The age qualification of INEC chairman was reduced from 50 to 40 years and those of National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners were reduced from 40 to 35 years.

The parliament is to make laws and the laws that the parliament will make, will not be generated outside of the interest and aspirations of Nigerians. So if the Federal Government or the state governors or whoever wants state police, so be it.

When we inaugurate the constitution amendment committee, the panel members will go out there and meet up with all the critical stakeholders in Nigeria within various sectors.

They will discuss with the traditional rulers and so on and so forth. So when they meet and then we aggregate, we will know that this is what Nigerians want, that is the law that we are going to make what will represent the people and the law must be people’s law.

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

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PERSPECTIVE

Mutfwang: Indeed Plateau’s Pick Gyang Bere

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or the members of the Peoples Democratic Party, citizens of Plateau State, the journey on the tortuous road from March 18, 2023 can only be imagined. However, following the development, it can be safely concluded that the hand of God was certainly available in turning the tide around for good; not minding how long it took to come into effect.

After some eight months of inordinately intractable litigation battle, the toll of it was certainly felt everywhere in the state; particularly in the division that was palpable in its wake. Plateau State, like never before must have been more divided during this period, no thanks to the outcome of the verdict from the Tribunal, Court of Appeal to indeed the Supreme Court. It remains, in many respects, and if it had subsisted; one of the greatest assaults on the nation’s democracy.

The fact that the parties aggressively followed their cases to their logical conclusion at the Supreme Court gave the indication that Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang and his lawyers were in every sense determined to coast to victory despite the technicalities that had inhibited its dancing songs put together for celebration at the Court of Appeal.

That setback, by all intent and purposes did not deter the lawyers of the camp of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang nor his party; the line was open for the fight to a finish at the Supreme Court.

So many allegations were peddled by the opposition and group of individuals with vested interest, but the only thing the governor held unto was: The Almighty God who secured the victory for him during the March 18, 2023, was able to deliver him from the hands of those who sought to take away the crown from him through the back door. He insisted, victory was soon coming his way; and when it did, the dance was sweet without regret.

But more than the parties, the discussions and analyses that its people and many other interested parties had engaged themselves in since November when the Court of Appeal quashed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election on the ground of lack of structure; an issue long canvassed by the All Progressives Congress were incendiary. The parties were both fired on, nonetheless; knowing that they had a case’ but it was the ‘political bad blood’, that came to an end.

The combustible accounts of those involved had all manners of followers, who didn’t know that law does not survive on the emotions of the canvassers.

The ruling of the Supreme Court definitely put paid to the wrangling that had emanated from the verdict he got from the Court of Appeal, that pre-election matters do not have a place at the election tribunal.

It was an official stamp that reversed the vexatious verdict of the Court of Appeal in the governor’s case.

But even at that, what became worrisome were the contradictory outcomes of the judgments that the Tribunals and Court of Appeal dished out ostensibly on the same matter ‘outside their respective jurisdiction’.

But above all of what has happened, the hope of the people of Plateau State came back to life, particularly of those who were almost giving up on an arm that is said to be the last hope of the common man. Seen from this angle, for many Nigerians, it was the democratic process that was undergoing a dangerous metamorphosis it portend to Nigeria if left to go at the Apex Court.

It was the general celebration of the verdict that brought

Mutfwang hope of redemption; but more importantly that the people of Plateau State were solidly behind their governor. The end of a long travail had finally come for a fractured state; whose development efforts had been literarily distracted on account of the time it took in the course of the intractable litigation. It is indeed a time to settle and implement the seven wonderful but massive policy ideas of the government.

The return of the governor to the state after his victory at the Supreme Court was anything but massive and symptomatic of a people celebrating. It was obvious that once the lead judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC, signaled the beginning of celebrations from Abuja to the streets of the state capital to the local government areas of the state. It was spontaneous, just as it was when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced him as winner of the gubernatorial election in March 2023.

No wonder, the apparent conviviality of the celebration was even more elaborate on Saturday, January 13, 2024; where starting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, and ‘protocol and order’ were broken as supporters had to almost enter the runway to welcome the governor back home after his conquest at the Supreme Court, Abuja.

In the history of the state and the airport, no state governor had received such large number of friends and supporters, who have come from all over the 17 local government areas to be part of the Governor’s ‘triumphant entry’ into Jos from Abuja. He managed to say just a few words before his security men whisked him

away into his vehicle.

But if it took time before he left the airport, what awaited the governor and his entourage from Heipang to the venue of the reception and later to his official residence was another spectacle to behold as the motorcade spanned several kilometers beholden by enthusiastic people.

The government soon settled down to organizing a thanksgiving for the victory. The Muslim brethren first had theirs at the Jos Central Mosque, where thanks were offered to Allah for the resounding verdict. While the Christian counterparts held theirs on January 21, 2024 at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, where again, the power of organization was brought to bear on the service.

The sea of heads in and around the stadium resplendent in white and green must have sent jitters to anyone who had questioned the popularity of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang in the state. It was indeed apparent that the fight of his legal team good enough to sway judgment to their side; even though it was going to be hard given what had happened at the Court of Appeal.

Those who were called to speak and or prayed at the occasion were not emotional; they spoke from the bottom of their hearts of God’s mercy to have delivered the victory to the governor in the most dramatic form. It was indeed what the state needed: Return to God while seeking his face for guidance for the task ahead of the government and indeed the people.

However, knowing the task ahead of him, not only Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang was

aware that the battle was God’s to prosecute. To have rent his heart in supplication for the task of governance; and the multi-faceted dimensions of how his success could turn things for the better for Plateau State was all that mattered as he stood before the solemn assembly of the children of God. As powerful as it was delivered before the state and the world, the truthfulness of seeking the face of God stood as a testament of his resolve to change more things than one from the failure of the immediate past government. That means a lot to his support base, particularly as evidence by the number of men and women from all walks of life in the stadium for the thanksgiving.

Those who didn’t believe in the case the governor was pursuing thought his political star would wane soon, but from all intent and purposes, he is the comeback kid we have always known and admired. Since he would not give up on his case but pursue it to the Apex Court of the land, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believe in him far more as the leader they have always wanted.

He chose to be the people’s hero: Be the workaholic governor by setting up construction sites all over the state. Having met most roads in some parts of the metropolis in a total state of disrepair, he initiated action to take those head on by fixing them almost at the same time. By that singular action, his name would for long remain on the lips of the people of the state; who have always identified with the government that works for them.

It is obvious he wants to build a durable Plateau; no wonder a few days after the victory, the governor mobilized several construction companies to some of the most important projects which were started by former Governor Jonah David Jang but abandoned

by Governor Simon Bako Lalong government in 2015.

The lead was instructive: Forge ahead and concentrate on developing the state at all cost, without minding if he had any case in court at all. For starters, he became governor during one of the toughest times in the history of the state.

More than any governor in the history of the state, he showed determination by sharing in the misfortunes of his people and became their constant companion in the villages and shelter camps in Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, even as the clergy and congregations were always on their knees for God’s intervention in the Plateau attacks.

No one could fault him in this regard, so long as it was established that help indeed came. Yet, it was also established that the form of the attacks if not approached decisively given its nature and colour would obliterate Plateau communities from the map of the state, and by extension, Nigeria. He had read the signs from what took place in the past, and had rightly defined it as genocide against the people of Plateau State.

No doubt, the battle has been won; there is a lot of catching up to do by the Governor Caleb Mutfwang government. The opportunities for development are not lost to him, he has to, as it has being doing; ‘putting behind the obvious animosity of the past eight months, embrace all citizens across the divides of faith and ethnicity; and carry on with the incredible developmental projects he was able to initiate (some of which have been completed) even under the great stress and tension he had to operate’.

•Gyang Bere is the Director, Press and Public Affairs to Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang

NEWS

Court Strikes out Alleged Treasonable Felony Charge against Sowore, Bakare Orders DSS to release seized cash, international passport

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday struck out the alleged treasonable felony charge filed against former presidential candidate and publisher of SaharaReporters online news media, Mr Omoyele Sowore and one Olawale Bakare.

Nwite struck out the charge while delivering ruling in an application for discontinuation brought by the federal government.

Sowore was arrested on August 3, 2019, following his call for a peaceful protest against the administration of

former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was arraigned alongside Bakare before a Federal High Court, Abuja, where trial have been on in the last five years.

However, the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) last week indicated the desire to discontinue the prosecution of the case by filing a notice to that effect.

On Monday when the application was heard by the court, an Assistant Chief State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs A. R. Tahir, urged

the court to approve the notice of discontinuance dated February 14 and strike out the case.

She argued that it was the right thing to do since hearing in the matter has not commenced.

However, Sowore and Bakare’s lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) who confirmed receipt of the notice of discontinuance, argued that contrary to the claim of Tahir, the matter was partly heard and as such, the case should be dismissed and not struck out.

“We have taken the first prosecution witness before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. To that extent, the matter ought to be

dismissed. I wish to appreciate the position of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi for taking a hint from this honourable court that this matter would be dismissed even if the heavens will fall,” Falana said.

He expressed his gratitude to the court for the threat to have the matter dismissed for want of diligent prosecution.

“In view of the withdrawal, we urge the court to order the State Security Services (SSS) to return the telephones of Sowore and Bakare, the sum of N10,000 seized from him, while his international passport as well as the title deed submitted

for his bail in the court registry be returned,” Falana added.

But Tahir said it is in the record of Nwite’s court that the matter began denovo(afresh) so, the court should strike out the case.

In a short ruling, Nwite held that “the proper order to be made is to strike out the case”.

He subsequently ordered the DSS to return three phones seized from Sowore, his passport, as well as the N10,000 cash collected from him and a phone collected from the 2nd defendant.

In addition, the court will return the title deeds collected from Sowore in respect of the

bail earlier granted him by Ojukwu.

Sowore had urged all Nigerians across the federation to come out on August 5, 2019, to protest alleged political corruption and bad governance amongst others. The protest was tagged: #RevolutionNow protest.

But the federal government had claimed that the aim of the protest was to topple the then administration of Buhari, who had few months back won re-election as president.

He was subsequently arrested and detained by the DSS for weeks, before his arraignment before Ojukwu and recently before Nwite.

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Page IV

ers c fi f O l a i c i d u J n ‘Nigeria ’ d e t a r e n u m e R y Aren’t Properl Quotables ‘In 2023, our shelter in Lagos received the highest number of victims of human trafficking. We are beginning to see incremental cases of Lagos State indigenes, being trafficked out of Nigeria. Four or five years ago, they barely featured in our data set.’ - Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons

Nigerian Public Discourse Page V

‘The only thing I say about zoning and affirmative action, is that there must be a sunset clause. It shouldn’t be open ended’ - Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, Immediate Past President, Nigerian Bar Association

columnist OLAWALE FAPOHUNDA, SAN Olawale Fapohunda, SAN is the Immediate Past AttorneyGeneral of Ekiti State. A frequent contributor to Thisday Lawyer since its inception, he has written severally on the limitations of the administration of justice system in Nigeria, and the need for urgent reforms. He has played a leading role in several governmental and non-governmental initiatives, aimed at enebling legal, policy and administrative interventions, for managing the justice system and the institutions, that deliver justice. SERIOUS MATTERS airms to contribute to national discussions on law reform, institutional strengthening, and good governance across the three arms of government.

lawyer

‘Lawyers Are Not Traders’: Only LPA Allows Practice of Law in Nigeria Page VI

onikepo braithwaite: editor, jude igbanoI: deputy editor, peter taiwo, steve aya: reporters

III The advocate

T H I S D AY • TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Borno Govt, Repentant Terrorists and Accountability

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Repentant’ Boko Haram Insurgents news story caught my attention, last week. It was one about the Borno State Government forgiving 160,000 purportedly ‘Repentant’ Boko Haram Insurgents. The reason provided for forgiving them, was that they had sworn on the Holy Quran (oath- taking) that they would never return to the forest to join the Boko Haram insurgents who have brought nothing but rivers of blood, uncountable tears, sorrow and pain to many communities in the North East and beyond, kidnapping, killing and maiming innocent people for almost two decades now.

I wondered what era we are living in, where oath-taking without a proper judicial process is acceptable, particularly as Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023)(the Constitution) gives only the courts powers to adjudicate on all matters except those excluded by the same Constitution, while Section 10 thereof prohibits the Federal or State Government from adopting any State religion, meaning that amongst other things, questions arise as to how then the Quran or Bible can be used as an official exculpatory tool, not even for misdemeanours, but for heinous crimes.

Terrorism: A Federal Offence This act of forgiveness which is certainly ‘ultra vires’ the Borno State Government, that is, beyond its legal authority, raises several issues.

Firstly, the actions of Boko Haram, including treason and the other crimes committed by them, fit like a glove into the various definitions of acts of terrorism stated in Section 1 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 (TPA), from acts done with malice afterthought that may seriously harm or damage a country - Section 1(2)(a); to acts that seriously intimidate a population - Section 1 (2)(b)(i); attacks on people’s lives that cause serious bodily harm or death - Section 1(2)(c)(i) to kidnapping - Section 1 (2)(c)(ii); destruction of public facilities - Section 1 (2)(c)(iii) and causing explosions - Section 1 (2)(c)(vi), to mention but a few of the atrocities they have committed on a regular basis over the years. These offences are Federal Offences, offences against the Nigerian State and Section 32 of the TPA gives the Federal High Court the sole jurisdiction to try the offences specified in the TPA, while Section 33 provides for various punishments of up to life imprisonment and heavy fines of N150 million, upon conviction for these terrible offences.

The Borno State Government has no jurisdiction in these matters, let alone having the power to grant absolution to suspected insurgents. One wonders whether Government, State or Federal, don’t seek sound legal advice before they take some actions.

Even though I do not agree with forgiving vicious criminals, I recall that, in 2009, it was President Umaru Yar’Adua who granted amnesty to Militants to quell their insurgency and destruction of oil installations. It was not the Rivers, Bayelsa, or Delta State Government that forgave them. Even if the insurgents are to be tried in court in Borno State, the venue of the proceedings would be the Federal High Court, Borno State Division, not the Borno State High Court.

Oaths & Perjury The second issue concerns the oath-taking. While there are various types of oaths, for example, oath of allegiance, oath of office, as far as I know, one of the main reasons for oath-taking in law, is for witnesses who are giving evidence in court to declare that they will tell the truth, when giving evidence. But, the reason why we have the offence of ‘Perjury’ is that many witnesses lie under oath. In Akpatason v Adjoto & Ors (2019) LPELR- 48119(SC) per Paul Adamu Galinje, JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia thus: “The implication or legal effect of an oath is to subject the person who took an oath to penalties for perjury, in the event that the testimony turns out to be false”. Also see the case of Omoregie v DPP (1962) LPELR-40916(Sc) per Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola, JSC (later CJN).

The process of suspects who may be guilty of atrocities swearing on a Holy Book that they are remorseful and repentant, and are freed on the basis of this oath taking, is a process unknown to law, and I dare say, an unreliable procedure. There are also no consequences, should they decide to go back on their word and return to the forest to continue with their atrocities. The truth is that this bizarre procedure seems to be more of an encouragement than a deterrent for the commission of these horrible crimes, as the perpetrators are able to get off more or less scot free, without being held accountable for their crimes.

Section 117 of the Criminal Code Act (CCA) and Section 156 of the Penal Code Act (PCA) both provide for Perjury as an offence; Section 117 of the CCA makes Perjury punishable with 14 years imprisonment upon conviction, while Section 158 of the PCA punishes false evidence with up to 14 years imprisonment upon conviction. The punishment for Perjury goes up to life imprisonment and the death sentence, when it involves giving false evidence in cases of capital offences that result in the conviction of an innocent person, or the execution of an innocent

The other day I saw a forward on social media from one of the so-called Public Commentators/ Bandit Negotiators saying that as long as Government doesn’t provide hospitals, schools and other social amenities, Bandits will continue to strike. I wondered whether Bandits are the only ones suffering from lack of amenities in Nigeria, and whether anyone should be spouting that kind of nonsense as some form of defence for the incessant killing of innocent children and people.

onikepo braithwaite onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “The Borno State Government has no jurisdiction in these matters, let alone having the power to grant absolution to suspected insurgents….

How can we promote accountability …only ‘unfortunate scapegoats’are held liable for their sins. Public Officials, Politicians andTerrorists now get away with their misdeeds. What message is Government sending?That the same laws are applied to different groups of people, differently?” person. This criminalisation of Perjury is prima facie evidence that people who take oaths on Holy Books, do not always tell the truth. I must therefore, disagree with the Borno State Government, that because suspects have sworn on the Holy Quran that they will never go back to terrorism, it means that they will keep their word. For example, in April 2021, less than three months after renouncing banditry via oath-taking, Zamfara Bandit leader, Auwal Daudawa who was one of the masterminds behind the 2020 abduction of the Kankara Schoolboys, returned to the forest to pick up arms. Luckily, he was subsequently, killed.

Again, does the law recognise informal oathtaking without an established legal procedure like court proceedings when it comes to criminal matters, especially matters relating to heinous crimes? I think not.

I’m sure that if we take a poll of remorsefulness and repentance of those who are presently remanded in all the correctional facilities in Nigeria, at least 99% will confirm their repentance. Why don’t we just ask the Controller of Prisons to free all the Prisoners? Some have been there for years, for flimsy reasons like inability to pay their small fines; others, for the offence of Wandering, which is no longer an offence known to law. Yet, they are not freed. Are the crimes of Insurgents and Terrorists different from those who are on death row for murder, or have bagged life imprisonment for kidnapping like Mr Evans?

Are Terrorists/Bandits now more privileged offenders than those who are imprisoned for committing the same offences, seeing as they are being given privileges that other criminals do not enjoy. See Section 42(1)(b) of the Constitution

on discrimination.

Lack of Accountability How can we promote accountability as a means of repairing our broken country, when in Nigeria, not only is Government not accountable for its actions, only ‘unfortunate scapegoats’ are held liable for their sins? Public Officials, Politicians and Terrorists now get away with their misdeeds.

What message is Government sending? That the same laws are applied to different groups of people, differently? Many of the murder cases I have personally witnessed in court, have resulted from events like people fighting and someone getting killed during the altercation, armed robbery, that kind of thing. If these suspects are brought to court to face the music, why should vicious killers who kidnap and kill innocent children like Nabeeha Al Kadriyar and Folashade Ariyo be freed, because they claim to be remorseful, repentant and swear an oath? I don’t quite follow the rationale behind this.

In 2022, two Governors who were convicted on corruption charges were pardoned by President Buhari, and released from prison just a few years into serving their sentences. What most people learnt from this, is that public officials are free to loot Nigeria’s treasury to their heart’s content, they will get off lightly or will not face any punishment at all! Senator Orji Kalu’s corruption case was never refiled at the Federal High Court and started de novo, after it was dismissed because the trial Judge who heard the case didn’t have the jurisdiction to continue with it after he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal. Instead, Senator Kalu was able to attempt to put himself up to run for Senate President!

Borrno State Governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum

'Repentant' Boko Haram Terrorists

A People that has become Numb And, what do Nigerians even do with the amenities, when they are actually provided by Government?

Clips are looted from the railway tracks on a daily basis, by people who couldn’t care less if the trains derail as a result of the missing clips and others die in the ensuing mishaps, as long as they make money. Railings are stolen from the bridges, while manhole covers are stolen from the roads to sell as scrap metal. We have become a rather numb and insensitive people, so why should we expect better from public officials who are also part of this dysfunctional society?

“We the people, recognise that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals and those who died in their defence.” - Barrack Obama, 44th U.S. President We do not see ourselves as a people whose destinies are bound together, nor are we in the least bit patriotic or country proud. Instead, we have a “To your tent, O Israel!” mentality. We have no love for others, nor are we committed to them. When petrol stations hear that there may be a change in the price of fuel, they immediately shut down 9 out of their 10 selling points, create an artificial shortage, make the people suffer and slow everything down, just so that they can make abnormal profit by selling old stock at new higher prices. What is the true value of the Naira?

Who knows? The activities of our foreign exchange speculators who are happy for the Naira to continue depreciating so they can make phenomenal gains, must be taken into consideration in the calculation.

Nigerians, even University students who should know better, like those who murdered Deborah Samuel Yakubu, engage in mob/jungle justice, and they suffer no consequences for their actions even when they are caught. In 2016, when Bridget Agbahime was killed at Kofar Wambai Market, Kano, by a mob that falsely accused her of blasphemy, her killers were identified; what happened? Despite the overwhelming evidence against the culprits, the then Attorney-General of Kano entered a Nolle Prosequi, that is, ‘no wish to prosecute’ and the suspects were freed.

Conclusion The reason why the Chinese practice corruption in other people’s countries like Nigeria, is that they know they can get away with it here, while in their country, they may be killed by the State for the same offence. The fact that they have result-oriented detection and investigative processes, making accountability an irresistible conclusion, serves as a deterrent.

On the other hand, the reason why they produce fake luxury and other substandard items in China (making them tops worldwide in this illicit market), in addition to the genuine quality goods they make for high end companies, is because their Government allows it, since they know that the world loves luxury items at cheaper prices, and their country rakes in billions of Dollars of revenue from this illicit trade.

My point? People take their cue, from their Government’s stance on issues. If Government is partial in handling criminals, those that it is partial to have no reason to stop. If Government places no premium on accountability, anarchy is the result.

IV law report

TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Time Limit for Delivery of Judgement in an Election Appeal Facts The Appellant filed an appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division delivered on 18th August, 2023 in Appeal No. CA/C/ EP/GOV/AK/02/2023. The crux of the appeal was related to the outcome of the gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State, which took place on 18th March, 2023. Being dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the 1st – 3rd Respondent filed a Petition at the Akwa Ibom Governorship Election Tribunal.

On 12th June, 2023, the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Tribunal dismissed the 1st - 3rd Respondent’s Petition on the ground that the Petition was incompetent, for the failure of the 1st - 3rd Respondent to pay adequate security for costs and other requisite fees at the time they filed the Petition as required under the Electoral Act 2022 and the Election Judicial Proceedings Practice Direction 2023. Dissatisfied with the decision of the Election Tribunal, the 1st - 3rd Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal. In its judgement delivered on 18th August, 2023, the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the Akwa Ibom Election Tribunal. Aggrieved, the Appellant filed an appeal before the Supreme Court.

Part of the Appellant’s grouse with the decision was that the appeal at the Court of Appeal was determined outside the 60 days prescribed by Section 285(7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) (the “Constitution”). The Appellant also complained that the Court of Appeal’s decision to set aside the decision of the Tribunal, was based on a wrong interpretation of the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Election Judicial Proceedings Practice Direction 2023 In line with the Rules of the Court, respective Counsel for the parties filed and exchanged their briefs of argument in which they canvassed arguments in support of their respective positions Issue for Determination In its determination of the appeal, the Court considered the following issue submitted by the Appellant for determination to wit: Whether having regard to provisions of Section 285(7) of the Constitution, the judgement of the lower court is a nullity, having been delivered more than sixty (60) days from the date of delivery of judgement of the Tribunal.

Arguments At the hearing of the appeal, the Apex Court, in light of the issue raised by the Appellant which bordered on the timeframe for delivery of judgement, inquired from the Counsel for the 1st - 3rd Respondent whether, in fact, the said judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal was outside or after the expiration of the period of time prescribed by the provisions of Section 285(7) of the Constitution.

of the Court of Appeal delivered on 18th August, 2023.

Honourable Mohammed Lawal Garba, JSC In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Thursday, the 28th day of September, 2023 Before Their Lordships Mohammed Lawal Garba Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Adamu Jauro Tijjani Abubakar Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC/CV/858/2023 Between PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

APPELLANT

And 1. ARC. EZEKIEL NYA-ATOK 2. HON. UDOMAH JAMES UDUAK 3. AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS 4. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION 5. PASTOR UMO BASSEY ENO 6. BASSEY ALBERT AKPAN 7. YONG PROGRESSIVE PARTY 8. AKAN UDOFIA 9. ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS 10. SENATOR JOHN JAMES AKPANUDOEHEHE 11. NEW NIGERIA PEOPLES PARTY 12. UDUAK UDOH 13. LABOUR PARTY

RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Mohammed Lawal Garba, JSC)

In reaction, counsel for the 1st – 3rd Respondent confirmed to the Apex Court that the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal was indeed, delivered eight days outside the statutory sixty (60) days prescribed by the Constitution.

Counsel for the 1st - 3rd Respondent

“Any judgement which fails to comply with the 60 days stipulated in Section 287(5) 9f the 1999 Constitution as amended within which to hear and dispose of an appeal matter is not a valid judgement however well written, and the absence of jurisdiction is irreparable in law“

did not join issues on this point, and stated further that he was aware of the consequence of the violation or breach of Section 285(7) of the Constitution.

Counsel for the 4th Respondent as well as Counsel for the 5th Respondent leading the respective Counsel for the other Respondents, all confirmed that the judgement of the lower court was delivered outside the timeframe prescribed by the Constitution and conceded to the appeal.

On his part, Counsel for the Appellant argued that the judgement of the Court of Appeal was invalid in law, for having been delivered outside the statutory 60-day period allowed under Section 285(7) of the Constitution. Counsel urged the Apex Court to set aside the judgement

Court’s Judgement and Rationale In determining the appeal, the Supreme Court considered the clear provisions of Section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution which prescribes as follows: “285 (7) An appeal from a decision of an election matter shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of the delivery of the Judgement of the Tribunal or the Court of Appeal.”

The Court held that the abovementioned Section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution has been interpreted and applied by the Court in several decisions, and reasoned that the position of the law on the consequence of non-compliance with Section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution was common knowledge. The Apex Court held that Section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution is couched in mandatory terms as a limitation of time provision, the breach of which renders a decision delivered outside the stipulated period of time invalid, null and void on the ground of lack of the requisite jurisdiction of the court to deliver judgement after the expiration of the period prescribed therein. The Court held that the Tribunal delivered its decision on 12th June, 2023 and the 60 days earmarked by the Constitution elapsed on 10th August, 2023; however, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgement on 18th August, 2023, well outside the 60 days earmarked by the Constitution.

The Court referred to its decision in PDP v Okorocha (2012) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1323) 205 in holding that any judgement which fails to comply with the 60 days stipulated in Section 287(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended within which to hear and dispose of an appeal matter is not a valid judgement however well written, and the absence of jurisdiction is irreparable in law. The Court held that the decision of the Court of Appeal on 18th August 2023 was a nullity, having been delivered without jurisdiction and in gross violation of the provisions of Section 287(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The Apex Court thus set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Appeal Allowed.

Representation Mofesomo Tayo Oyetibo, Esq. and Victor O. Atang Esq. for the Appellant.

Aliyu A. Agene, Esq., G. Ojike, Esq. for the 1st – 3rd Respondent.

Abdul Mohammed, SAN, Olanrewaju Akinsola, Esq. and A. G. Bello, Esq. for the 4th Respondent.

Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, Ime EdemNse, Esq. and Ikechukwu Duru, Esq. for the 5th Respondent.

T. Falola, Esq. with K. B. Mohammed, Esq. and H. Obile, Esq. for the 6th Respondent.

C. N. Nwigwe with I. S. Utuk for the 7th Respondent.

Aderemi Oguntoye with B. B. Lawal and S. O. Ladipo for the 10th and 11th Respondent.

Mohammed Adelodu Esq. with E. Egbewole Esq. for the 8th and 9th Respondent.

O. Salami with C. Ademulegun, Esq. for the 12th and 13th Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Book Review

Nigerian Public Discourse Book Review Title:

Nigerian Public Discourse

The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole

Author:

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

Publisher: Hardcover: Softcover:

Quramo Publishing Limited ISBN: 978-978-783-324-7 ISBN: 978-978-781-657-8

Number of Pages:

218

Year of Publication: 2023 Name of Reviewer:

L

Ayodele Atsenuwa, Professor of Public Law, University of Lagos

Introduction ike the author, I have been engaged with the ‘Nigerian discourse’ for many years. I found the short treatise (and I say short because when you see it from afar or hold it in your hands, it seems a pretty small book) but of 218 pages wherein the author attempts to surmise the wide spectra of ideas and thoughts underpinning conversations, debates and discussions about ‘the problem with Nigeria’ and through these, offer some proposals as to how we may differently approach our interrogation of the problems.

Intriguing Book Title The intriguing title of the book, Nigerian Public Discourse – the Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole, I would say, is an upfront confession that this is not going to be a book with ‘The Answers’ that trump all other answers. After all, empirical evidence and hyperboles belong to worlds as far apart as the east and the west. Hyperboles are ‘exaggerated realities’ which is the direct opposite of what empirical evidence stand for; the latter may be described as ‘true realities’.

This, simply put, is a book that tries to capture the intricate dance between reality and imagination as the world tries to understand the enigma of that African giant that has yet to attain its full stature even after 100 years of being (or shall I say 63 years of independence) in the interplay of empirical evidence and hyperboles.

The Book The titles of the 16 Chapters of the book are very telling of the author’s approach to how we should explore the complex interplay of empirical evidence and hyperbole, as they manifest themselves in the Nigerian discourse.

In the first five chapters, the author delves into ‘The dialectics of a local discourse in a global context..’, and an exegesis of the jurisprudential imperative of law and order, and also undertakes what he calls a scholarly examination of the imperative of data and statistical analysis on policy formulation, and an examination of the dilemma of out-of-school children in the course of a critical examination of the country’s educational crisis.

In the next three chapters, he undertakes a dissection of the enigma of the housing deficit, even as he tries to deconstruct the myth of One dollar a Day in his interrogation of the assertion that Nigeria is the world’s poverty capital.

In undertaking a critical examination of the

electricity dilemma, he contends that we must consider reevaluating the sharp divide between the on-grid and off-grid source of energy in accounting for energy capacity that drives our economy. When all of this is done, the author muses in Chapter 8 on whether Nigeria is not, in fact, faced with the challenge of unfair criticism in the incessant comparison with much smaller African States, without proven data on superiority of infrastructure.

As can be expected of a Lawyer-turned-Politician, the author does not leave out his musings about the place of law, governance and civics in the overall schema of the Nigerian paradox. In Chapter 9 he turns to question whether the legal framework as provided by the Constitution of the country is not too weak to sustain the structure that encases the national polity and wonders aloud: Is our constitution is not the fundamental problem?

In Chapter 10, he reflects on the conundrum of minimum wage, and continues his internal musings by making a case for a comprehensive remodelling of the salary structure, an ever-raging conundrum with a history dating to the 1930s.

In the last six chapters of the book, he offers the citizen insights for how to engage with the political system with themes such as Duties and responsibilities of citizens, Governance protocols: frills and cost – my takeaway. He explores how citizens may retake the reins of the democratic system by asking the questions, ‘what can the President do for me?’ and ‘what am I voting for?’ as part of the quest for ensuring that governance and government work for the good of the people.

What lessons does Brexit offer, for the clamour for restructuring for a better Life?

The book chapters close with the author asking the all-important question, ‘how can we reinvent Nigeria?’, focusing us the rights and duties of both government and citizens.

Significance of the Book Does it add anything significant to the Nigerian public discourse? The answer I would state categorically is ‘Yes, it does’.

In writing this book, I dare say, the author is in some way, providing that much needed leadership.

The book challenges some of the dominant but simplistic approaches, to interrogating the Nigerian problem.

The intention of the author from the title is to try to separate the wheat from the chaff, when it comes to the factors critical to understanding the problem of and the problem with Nigeria. I dare say the hope of the author is to assist readers to

“It is not a political treatise, nor is it about proposals for law or policy reforms, or even structural reforms. It is not a book written for the Government and its officials…. It is a book that seeks to speak to citizens….I commend it to all”

modify how they reflect on the Nigerian problem.

The book contents straddle ‘real facts’ (forgive the tautology), that is empirical evidence on which critical reflections and analysis of ‘the problem with Nigeria’ can verily rest, and ‘imagined’ realities (forgive the oxymoron) far removed from the truth on which ‘the problem with Nigeria’ is simplistically but often erroneously deduced and summarised, and from which simplistic proposals for redress are offered. Through this approach, the author appears to be urging that in depicting and in analysing the Nigerian problem, there is need for a more valuing of facts (accurate data and other forms of empirical evidence).

The book offers a lot, for citizen enlightenment about the political system. Specifically, from Chapters 11 to 16, the author challenges citizens to interrogate their assumptions about their vote, the powers of the President, as well as the powers of officials of other arms and other tiers of government. Though he does not state so explicitly, from the combined reading of the Chapters and especially Chapter 15 which offers lessons from Brexit and even the former Yugoslavia, the author seems to be advising that those agitating for restructuring will do well to manage their expectations.

I would say the greatest value of this book, lies in the author’s consistent charge that in engaging in interrogation of the problem with Nigeria, Nigerians must stop for a moment and question their assumptions about the tools of interrogation - the neutrality of traditional methods and tools of scientific and socio-scientific inquiry derived from Western cultural ontology. The approach of the book, without explicitly alluding to the post-modern, critical theory and post-colonial theories and without necessarily adopting the associated jargons of these theories, espouses most of the values of the alt-theories and alt-fields. Hence, whose dollar a day is the measure of poverty.

The use of logic, and more of logical reasoning is the resounding preachment of the book.

The Lawyer-author would wish that all citizens be like him in their value for accuracy of information, as the society moves ineluctably towards a higher value for evidence-based planning for development.

True, most Nigerian languages and the emergent Nigerian culture exhibit a high tolerance for hyperboles and imprecision in use of language.

However, the Lawyer in the author has little patience for that, as seen in many parts of the book. A succinct illustration of his tendency to precise use of language, is how he points out in Chapter 10 that Item 34 of the Exclusive Legislative List speaks only to wages and not salary. With the two words having distinctive meanings, he submits that there is no basis for the Federal Government to dabble into salary negotiations, other than for its direct employees. Conflating the two distinct words over the years has portended much ill for the peace and development of Nigeria, pitting government at the

different levels against one another and government and the citizens against one another.

Criticism Without denuding the value of this book for all that has been said above, I cannot but note that in its style, some would criticise it for reading like a set of apologetics in defence of governments they believe have performed at subpar level and in which the author has served. This is because in many parts of the book, the author devoted much emphasis to showing the efforts of governments at delivering good governance through appropriate policy and law reforms, financing, and programme interventions. It may also be argued that the approach that focuses on urging modification of the basis of measurement of the indices of good governance and development, stumps the lived reality of many citizens who have had to live through the pains of falling through the cracks.

Still others may criticise the author for being tedious in his consistent urging for adoption of pristine approaches, such as precision in the use of words to describe situations and perfect accuracy of data. Again, they may ask, how does that ameliorate the pains that real people affected by governance deficits feel?

The author’s firm belief that having all facts laid on the table makes citizens less vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation by those in pursuit of other self-interests, seems to be the guiding principle.

Conclusion That said, would I recommend this book? Most certainly. The book is what it says it is - a book on Nigerian Public Discourse exploring the interplay of empirical evidence and hyperbole. It is written from the perspective of a citizen-politician who has gone to the front and has returned, and who has a written a book for citizens like himself.

It is not a political treatise, nor is it about proposals for law or policy reforms, or even structural reforms. It is not a book written for the Government and its officials, or any non-human entity. It is a book that seeks to speak to citizens. as the other side in the government-citizen relations. In doing this, it offers much insight as can help citizens reconstruct their perspectives and redesign their approaches as they seek to engage the Nigerian problem in the course of public discourse.

The book is written in simple, easy to read language. As stated above, it is short enough not to weary the readers. Although well-grounded as an intellectual piece, the work is not cluttered with expositions around any political or economic theories and or any other theories for that matter.

I commend it to all.

VI ARTICLE

TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Dr OluKayode Ajulo, SAN

T

he purported signing of the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP) Agreement between the Nigerian and United Kingdom Governments has garnered significant media attention. This agreement aims to foster collaboration in various sectors, including finance, trade barriers, healthcare, investment, customs and trade facilitation, agriculture, intellectual property, creative industry, and legal services. Speculations have arisen, regarding provisions that may permit UK Lawyers to engage in legal practice within Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticised the provision allowing UK Lawyers to practice in Nigeria, following the announcement of the purported agreement by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment. While the Minister has maintained that no such provision exists in the agreement, it is essential that we examine the legality of this alleged provision within the framework of the Nigerian law.

‘Lawyers Are Not Traders’: Only LPA Allows Practice of Law in Nigeria

This article by Dr OluKayode Ajulo, SAN discusses the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP) Agreement between the Nigerian and United Kingdom Governments, with respect to the allegation that it may permit UK Lawyers to practice in Nigeria. Though the Minister of Trade has subsequently denied this allegation, Dr Ajulo examines the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) which guides legal practice in Nigeria and lends no support to such a move, and also the negative effect that opening Legality of Purported Agreement between Nigeria & UK Within the Framework of Nigerian Law It is important to note that the legal profession in Nigeria up the legal profession to foreigners will have on Nigerian Lawyers, if allowed, more so as there’s is regulated by statutes and subject to specific regulations. Sections 8(1) and (2) of the Legal Practitioners no reciprocity for Nigerian Lawyers to practice in the UK without properly qualifying there Act Cap L11, LFN, 2004 (LPA) establishes that a "legal practitioner" has the right to represent clients in all Nigerian courts, contingent upon the payment of annual practicing fees. However, certain enactments may restrict the right of representation in specific courts.

Section 24 of the LPA defines a "legal practitioner" as an individual entitled to practice as a Barrister or both as a Barrister and Solicitor, either generally or for specific purposes. The LPA clarifies that an individual can practice as a Barrister and Solicitor, only if their name is listed in the Roll. Inclusion in the Roll requires that a person, whether Nigerian or foreign, be called to the Nigerian Bar in accordance with Section 4 of the LPA and provides the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with a certificate of their Call to the Bar as mandated by Section 7(1)(a) and (b) of the LPA. In the case of Tijani v F.B.N. Plc (2014) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1387) 57, the court held that: "Section 24 of the Legal Practitioners Act defines a legal practitioner as a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor……….”.

(P.74, paras. F-G)

Also in the case of Oketade v Adewumi (2010) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1195) 63, it was held that: "By the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, a person is entitled to practice as a barrister and solicitor if, and only if, his name is on the roll. And "legal practitioner" means a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor…………By Section 2(1) of the Act, the only person in the legal profession wearing his professional name to practice law in Nigeria is a legal practitioner, and the definition of a legal practitioner in Section 24 of the Act does not include a firm”.

Furthermore, in the case of F.B.N. Plc v Maiwada (2013) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1348) 444, the court held that: "By virtue of Section 24 of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap. L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, "legal practitioner" means a person entitled in accordance with

“The LPA clarifies that an individual can practice as a Barrister and Solicitor, only if their name is listed in the Roll.

Inclusion in the Roll requires that a person, whether Nigerian or foreign, be called to the Nigerian Bar….. it is evident that the practice of law in Nigeria by foreigners cannot solely be facilitated through agreements…..”

the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor…..

Only legal practitioners, human beings called to the Bar, can practice by signing documents” .(Pp.482-483, paras. G-A; 506-507, paras.

H-C; 532, paras. E-F) Section 4(1) of the LPA stipulates that a person may be called to the Bar if they are a Nigerian citizen, and meet the necessary character and qualification requirements. Similarly, non-Nigerian citizens can also be called to the Bar if they fulfil the requisite qualifications and character criteria.

Furthermore, the LPA allows for the possibility of practicing as a Barrister authorised by warrant, subject to specific conditions.

By virtue of Section 2(2)(a) and (b) of the LPA, the Chief Justice of Nigeria may grant authorisation to practice as a Barrister, in specific proceedings to individuals qualified to practice as advocates in countries with legal systems similar to Nigeria.

However, such authorisation is contingent upon the payment of a fee specified in the warrant, and legal practitioners whose names are listed in the Roll take precedence over those authorised by warrant.

Based on the aforementioned provisions, it is evident that the practice of law in Nigeria by foreigners cannot solely be facilitated through agreements or memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed by the Nigerian and UK governments, or any other foreign nation. The rigorous processes outlined in the Legal Practitioners Act must be diligently followed, and unqualified individuals cannot gain admission to the Bar through unofficial channels, unless the legislation is amended. Any attempt to contravene these Regulations will be strongly opposed.

Negative Impact of Such Agreement Overall, the essence of this discussion, pertains to certain personalities being more devout in their adherence to Christian principles than the Pope himself. This observation arises from the fact that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, who holds the highest position in the country's Bar Council and the Chief Legal

Officer, has not made any statement or press release regarding the signing of the Agreement. Instead, we have only heard voices such as the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment championing and expressing strong support for the Agreement, seemingly focused on the economic benefits, while disregarding the potential negative impact on the legal profession in Nigeria.

However, it remains clear and indisputable: Lawyers are professionals, not traders. Our profession has its own boundaries, and should not be interfered with by unqualified outsiders for any reason, as they may lack the foresight to comprehend the risks this Agreement poses to the legal profession and the erosion of its professional standards.

John J. Parker, a former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit in his address to the student body of the University of South Carolina Law School, Columbia, eloquently distinguishes the aforementioned subject matter. He argues that "the practice of law is a profession - not a business or a skilled trade. While both involve elements of profit and service, the fundamental difference lies in this: the primary objective of a trade or business is personal gain, whereas the primary objective of a profession is public service."

Conclusion One finds this proposition rather puzzling, as it is not difficult to imagine a future where, through a simple decision from a Trade Minister or any other government official, a non-Nigerian citizen could potentially gain the ability to run for a position in our National Assembly, the Office of the President, or even become a Governor of a State, all through a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Conclusively, as a legal practitioner in Nigeria, I firmly believe that our noble profession consists of honourable men and women who should not be subjected to interference based on trivial matters, unrealistic or theoretical approaches, as it is already built upon solid foundations that remain unblemished to this day.

Dr OluKayode Ajulo, OON, SAN, FCIArb. UK, Abuja

VII

TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

serious matters Olawale Fapohunda, SAN

08033142501 SMS Only

UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership Agreement and Matters Arising 'The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was reported to have expressed delight, over what she described as a “groundbreaking agreement” that will translate to ‘more money’ for Nigeria. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) finds this statement credited to the Honourable Minister ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.

It is indeed, unfortunate that this tragic reminder of our colonial past, is being gleefully celebrated at the highest level of the Government of Nigeria. What is more disheartening, is the fact that a decision of this magnitude that adversely affects the wellbeing and livelihood of millions of Nigerians, could be taken without any consultation, especially with the NBA. We know for certain that the British Government will not undermine its own body of legal professionals, in such spectacular fashion as this administration has done to the NBA in the matter of this agreement. It is truly tragic that while the government of the UK is seeking opportunities for its own Lawyers beyond its constrained environment, the Government of Nigeria is attempting to deprive Nigerian Lawyers and their millions of dependants of a means of livelihood. To embark on such a venture without recourse to the NBA is the height of insensitivity to the plight of the legal profession in Nigeria, and this is totally unacceptable.

We want to make it very clear that the ETIP agreement, in so far as it relates to legal services is unacceptable in its entirety.

The NBA will take all necessary measures provided by our laws in support of our position on this matter. As a starting point, I have today convened a meeting of senior Lawyers with a view to devising an appropriate litigation strategy. We intend to fully challenge the legality of this agreement all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. This is without prejudice to other intervention measures that may be necessary, to express our rejection of this agreement. I want to use this opportunity to call on all members of the NBA, to brace up for the struggle ahead. The NBA under my leadership will not allow any incursion into our legal space. “ …..Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN , President, Nigeria Bar Association A Ministerial X Posted in Error Few events, at least in recent memory, have focussed the minds of Lawyers as did the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP) Agreement that was signed last week by the Governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom. What particularly rubbed the vast majority of Lawyers the wrong way, was the initial post from the Minister of Trade and Industry that read ‘I am delighted to announce the official signing of a ground breaking agreement between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, allowing British Lawyers to practice within Nigeria’.

Reading through the several Lawyers’ WhatsApp platforms, one would have thought Nigerian Lawyers had declared

war on the Federal Government. The subsequent announcement that the post was unauthorised or posted in error, did nothing to calm the outburst of Lawyers.

Without prejudice to the fine print of what was signed, one cannot but wonder how it is even possible, that a post from the official handle of a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would misrepresent the contents of an agreement that was announced even before the ink on the agreement was dry? In her words, ’Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggests that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows Lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria”. How was the outcome of an event of such magnitude, erroneously reported by the Minister? Does this not again call into question the quality of those appointed into the cabinet of President Tinubu, especially at this time in the life of our country when our people desire service delivery of the highest quality?

Public Officials and Colonial Mentality Then there is the knotty matter of absence of consultation with key stakeholders, at least at it relates to the provision of legal services. How could the Federal Government of Nigeria have entered into an agreement with a foreign government on the provision of legal services, without carrying along the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)? Again, for a government that prides itself as being in sync with civil society, was this not a major minus?

I completely agree with the sentiments of the NBA that the UK government will not treat its own legal professional body with such levity. What is it with us and ‘oyinbo’ countries, that anytime

“Outside consultation, are we not embarrassed that while the Government of UK is creating opportunities for its own people, including its legal professionals, we are trying to run our own professionals out of business?”

we want to enter into an agreement we abruptly forget who we are and revert back to our colonial mentality?

One of my colleagues told me that the desire of our public officials for entry visa into these countries, is sometimes responsible for this state of confusion when we negotiate these agreements.

It would seem that this ‘visa enabled confusion’ does not only happen at the Federal level, it also applies to the States.

Recently, a Governor instructed my firm to vet three agreements between his State and a European Manufacturing Company. The State Ministry of Justice had approved the agreement, but the Governor wanted us to do a final review. The provision that caught my attention in all the agreements, was the dispute resolution clause. There it was stated, that any dispute that may arise in the process of executing the agreement will be resolved by the UK courts. I flagged this, and asked the Governor to insist that the appropriate court should be the Nigerian courts. If our environment is good enough for business, if our resources are good enough to be exploited, and money made in Nigeria is good enough to be repatriated, then our courts must be good enough to entertain any dispute.

The Governor agreed with me, and the company had no choice but to agree that the place for dispute resolution will be Nigeria. I was told that I am not exactly very popular in that State now. I have been accused of blocking foreign travel opportunities, for the civil servants. Many of our public officials at Federal and State levels need continuous education sessions in patriotism, including reorientation that instils a sense of pride in our abilities. Our creed should be ‘Nigeria first’; ‘White is not better than black’.

Standing up for Nigeria and Nigerians We need our Governments and its officials, to stand up for us. When the Tinubu administration speaks about citizens and interest groups being stakeholders in governance, this should not be political speak. We should not be stakeholders of convenience. Consideration and consultation on matters that concern us, should be important components of having a stake in governance. If the Lawyers did not raise a hue and cry about this agreement, it may

have simply passed unnoticed. God help other interest groups, without the clout of the organised legal profession. Outside consultation, are we not embarrassed that while the Government of UK is creating opportunities for its own people, including its legal professionals, we are trying to run our own professionals out of business? A discerning person, looking at developments in the UK, will realise that since its ill-advised Brexit, the Government of UK has been bullish in seeking alternative opportunities for its people. This, is in addition to its quiet adoption of a protectionist attitude across its socio-economic space.

To be sure Nigerian Lawyers are not inferior to UK Lawyers, our argument is that the balance of advantage is tilted in favour of the UK. We want to open our markets including financial and legal to the UK, but what opportunities exist for the average Nigerian Lawyer in the UK? Access to opportunities within the UK legal space must necessarily begin with physical access, especially these days when it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to obtain a UK Visa. How does the average Nigerian Lawyer have access, when he can’t get an entry visa to the UK? Will the UK Government show reciprocity by liberalising its visa regime, to enable Nigerian Lawyers explore opportunities in the UK market?

Agreement Without Reforms The other matter that is worth mentioning, is whether we can even begin to have any discussion on international cooperation in legal services, at a time when we are struggling to implement the necessary reforms required to lift our legal system.

It seems trite that any agreement in the area of legal services, must first start with an acknowledgement of the need to undertake fundamental reforms in our legal system. There is popular dissatisfaction with our legal system. Our laws, practices and procedures require fresh rethinking.

Thankfully, we have taken a major step concerning the Judiciary, at least, as it relates to the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, but we are still a long way away from where we should be. Our present reality is that our legal system as it exists today, is grappling with issues of rule of law, timeframes for legal resolutions, and the right tools to ensure that our people have access to justice.

Can we agree to put our house in order, before we begin to go in search of international cooperation.

VIII coVER

TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Professor (Justice) Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye

‘Nigerian Judicial Officers Aren’t Properly Remunerated’

Professor (Justice) Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye is a bundle of erudition, judicial activism and sagacity, all rolled into one. His inevitable exit from the Kogi State Judiciary last year, having attained the then mandatory retirement age of 65, brought tears to many eyes. With a sound Doctorate degree in Law, expertise in Electronic Evidence, as well as being a published author, His Lordship gave the best of himself to Kogi State and the country during his years on the Bench. Now fully settled in the Academia as a Visiting Professor of Law at the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Ajileye told Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in a conversation over the weekend, that his only regret so far, is that the Kogi State Government has failed to pay his retirement benefits and gratuity a year after his meritorious exit. He discussed a range of issues concerning the Judiciary, and expressed his concerns about the poor remuneration, conditions of service and welfare of Judges, and the much faulted process of appointment of judicial officers

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our erudition as evinced in your landmark judgements and publications, are attestations to your industry and scholarship. Many expected to see you in the ivory tower taking up a professorial chair. Many Universities are still

jostling to have you. What has been your response so far?

Tell us about life after your retirement from the Bench last year, after reaching the then mandatory retirement age of 65?

Thank you for your kind words. By the grace of God, I

“The only regret I have about my retirement, is the failure of the Kogi State Government to pay my gratuity one year after my retirement. I am not alone in this. Other judicial officers who retired in the last two years in Kogi State, are also affected”

am now part of the ivory tower of academia, if that is what you mean. At one of the events of my Valedictory programme, specifically, the book launch, three universities (University of Jos, Baze University and Federal University, Lokoja) announced their readiness to offer me a professorial chair. Ultimately, I have settled down with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), as a Visiting Professor. The operation of the University, as a virtual learning institution, is in tandem with my background. My post-graduate studies were carried out through virtual studies, except for the doctoral residencies that required physical presence. NOUN as a

virtual institution offers several advantages, making education more accessible, flexible, and convenient.

Now, I can be anywhere in the world and deliver my lectures with ease. Such benefits, are also open to students.

As I reflect on the past year in retirement, I am filled with gratitude to God Almighty and a profound sense of peace. It has been a journey of self-discovery, new beginnings, and a deepening connection with the blessings that retirement brings.

God’s provision has been evident in every step, and I am truly thankful for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped this chapter of my life. I now know that retirement is not an endpoint, but a new beginning.

The journey has been laden with

TueSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

‘Nigerian Judicial Officers Aren’t Properly Remunerated’ testimonies of the goodness of God, and the boundless possibilities that unfold when we trust in His plan.

This is so much so that, with every sense of sincerity, I can now say that I am thanking God that the extension of the retirement age for High Court Judges from 65 years to 70 years did not meet me, so to say.

With the benefit of hindsight, I now see the life of a Judge like that of a bird that is caged. You can imagine the relief and freedom such a bird will enjoy, when released from the cage. This summarises my experience in the last year, especially with the special grace God has granted me for strength.

The only regret I have about my retirement, is the failure of the Kogi State Government to pay my gratuity one year after my retirement. I am not alone in this. Other judicial officers who retired in the last two years in Kogi State, are also affected. It has to be pointed out here that, pensions and gratuities of judicial officers are guaranteed and secured under Section 291 of 1999 Constitution, as their entitlements upon retirement. The prompt payment of the entitlement is the minimum expected from the government, in acknowledgment and recognition of the dedicated services of Judges to society. A failure to fulfil this basic obligation, amounts to a serious constitutional infraction with potential legal consequences.

Therefore, I humbly urge the new government of Alhaji Usman Ododo in Kogi State to heed the counsel of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in urgently addressing payment of gratuities to judicial officers and other retirees owed.

The retirement age of judicial officers was recently upwardly reviewed, and it was received with so much commendation.

Would you say it is a positive development for the nation’s Judiciary? If so, in what specific sense? If not, why?

To a great extent, it is a positive development. Judges who continue to serve beyond the age of 65, can bring with them years of experience and accumulated expertise. This can contribute, to the overall quality and depth of judicial decision-making.

The hypothesis here is, that the more experienced a Judge is, the more proficient he is likely to be in adjudication. The corollary is also true. If you have a bad Judge who is not ready to learn or improve himself or herself over the years, it means, the system will have to contend with him until he attains the age of 70 years. That is a calamity.

In any event, I will suggest that a means be devised for a periodic

IX cover

Professor (Justice) Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye

health assessment for judicial officers, to ensure that they remain fit for their roles mentally and physically. As the Chief Judge of Lagos State advised recently, if the health of a Judge is failing him or her, he or she should quit the stage.

Despite the advancement of technology, Judges still write in longhand, even with the attendant health implications.

What, in your view, can be done to ameliorate this needless strain on the health of their Lordships? Why is it that quite a number of Judges seem to pass away, soon after retirement?

The fact that Judges still write in longhand is one clear evidence of our backwardness, which is antithetical to the current technological age. Unfortunately, many courts don’t seem to see anything wrong in this archaic practice, as it has not become an issue at all to them to be addressed. As far as they are concerned, we must continue to do the same thing the same way, over and over again. Of course, this is the very definition of conservatism.

In my view, our conservatism should not make us resist change.

We must move with times, and seek to innovate in whatever we

“We now have digital transcription technology, that can convert spoken words during proceedings into written text. Speech-to-text technology also allows Judges to dictate their judgements and rulings verbally, which can be converted to texts”

are doing.

A lot can be done, to ameliorate the needless strain associated with longhand writing. Courts without money can begin with simple employment of stenographers and transcribers who are proficient in shorthand or stenography, to assist Judges in capturing proceedings accurately.

This can significantly reduce the burden of writing. I would like to add here very quickly, that the world of today has even gone beyond stenography. We now have digital transcription technology, that can convert spoken words during proceedings into written text. Speech-to-text technology also allows Judges to dictate their judgements and rulings verbally, which can be converted to texts. Legal research and drafting software, can also be installed for Judges.

The phenomenon of Judges dying shortly after retirement, can be attributed to many factors within a range of possibilities.

I will mention just three. Foremost among these, is financial stress. Judges who face financial challenges post-retirement, may experience stress that may impact both their mental and physical health. Financial concerns can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other health issues. That is why payment of gratuities to Judges, must not be taken with levity. Closely associated with this, is that some Judges may retire with existing health conditions that become complicated, more pronounced, or challenging to manage. Thirdly, adjusting to a new life without the structured routine of work can also be emotionally challenging. Judges who struggle with this transition, have their overall well-being diminished.

Tell us about some of the difficulties that Judges face, with regard to their condi-

tions of service? Are you satisfied with the state of the Nigerian Judiciary, the way judicial officers are appointed etc? Or what do you think can be done to improve it?

Of course, talking about the conditions of service of the Nigerian Judiciary, the remuneration of Judges readily comes to mind. My one-year experience in retirement, has revealed to me that Judges are not properly remunerated. They put in so much effort, over which they are poorly rewarded. They are overworked and overstressed with work in the daytime, and keep sleepless nights.

Out there, people receive so much for doing so little. In most cases, health and ergonomics supports are absent. There is also the absence of basic amenities that should ensure a conducive working environment.

I would like to dwell more on the process of appointment of Judges. I addressed it in my Valedictory Speech, where I identified four evils. The first evil, is the lack of transparency in the process. I mentioned that the process is often shrouded in secrecy, under a clandestine atmosphere.

Second, I stated, and I still stand by the position that when recommendations are required, they serve no purpose. They are mere rituals, designed to fulfil all righteousness.

The number of recommendations a candidate receives from Judges and Justices, guarantees nothing.

Those who will be appointed will still be appointed, with or without recommendations.

The third evil is that, I have seen that the person a candidate knows matters a lot. And, that person must carry a lot of “weight.” You rarely find anyone being appointed without one big man or woman behind, speaking for him or her. The implication of this is that a candidate who does not have an influential personality behind them, may be left in limbo.

The truth remains that, in this country, regrettably, we have not been able cont'd on page X

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cover

‘Nigerian Judicial Officers Aren’t Properly Remunerated’ cont'd from page IX

to devise an objective standard or parameter to identify and fish out our best for the Bench, as we do for football tournaments.

The last evil is that, where a candidate comes from matters.

In Nigerian parlance, it is called federal character. The point must be made here that, there is nothing evil on the face of the principle of federal character. What is evil, is the way the principle is applied by functionaries of government. This underscores the point that, it is the human being that makes or mars an institution. If we can overcome these evils, it shall be well with the Judiciary of Nigeria, and, indeed, by extension, Nigeria as a whole.

What can be done to make the wheels of Nigerian justice move faster? What can be done to reduce the time frame in which cases are completed?

Answering a question on improving the efficiency of the Nigerian justice system and reducing the time frame for case completion, will require the writing of a thesis.

I will mention just a few measures here. Suffice it to say here that, it demands comprehensive reforms and strategic interventions.

First, there must be a case management system that embraces and utilises technology to track and manage cases throughout the judicial process, from the point of filing to the judgement stage. This includes electronic filing, digital case records, and automated scheduling to reduce administrative delays.

Second, specialised courts and tribunals ought to be established to handle specific types of cases, such as commercial disputes, corruption, or cybercrimes. Specialisation can lead to quicker resolution, due to the expertise of Judges and streamlined processes.

Third, we must be prepared to encourage and promote the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, to resolve disputes outside the traditional court system.

ADR can be faster, and less resourceintensive. More Judges should be appointed and trained to handle caseloads effectively. We can go on and on.

In recent times there have been arguments about the carrier path of Judges. It does appear that there is no clear path to the Bench. Some have argued that Judges should be appointed from the Bar directly, while some argue that it should be through the Magistracy. Having served on the Bench for a reasonable length of time, on which side of the divide are you?

Appointment to the Bench, should

Professor (Justice) Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye

be diversified. It should not be seen as exclusive to a particular group of persons. No group should see itself as having the monopoly of appointment to the Bench, at any level. The Bench belongs to both the Bar and the Bench. Appointment to the Bench, should be a healthy competition between the Bar and the Bench.

This is the only way we can ensure a dynamic, inclusive, and effective judicial system.

What is of importance, is for the selection process to be transparent and to prioritise merit, ensuring that individuals with the necessary qualifications, capabilities and capacities are appointed, regardless of their specific legal background.

Prof, some described your exit from the Bench as bittersweet. Kindly, share some words on why the aphorism.

Could it be because of your expertise in electronic evidence?

There were many articles written by eminent journalists on my retirement, and widely published. One of them was written by Bolanle Bolawole, former Editor of Punch Newspaper and a columnist in the Sunday Tribune, which he titled: “Omolaye-Ajileye – A Judge’s Bitter-Sweet Exit from the Bench”. Idowu Akinlotan of The Nation newspaper also wrote

“….the Tinubu administration is on the right track considering his overall approach to governance….It is too early to condemn him….we have a President who listens to complaints and agitations”

another one titled: “Sad to See Erudite Justice Omolaye-Ajileye Retire”. There were other articles written by those who know me well. I felt humbled and emotionally touched, by the contents of the articles. The sentiments in them consisted of the fact that, given my contributions to the jurisprudence of electronic evidence in Nigeria, I could still be useful to advance or develop that aspect of the law if I remained on the Bench. Indeed, many agitations trailed my exit from the Bench, as people clamoured for my appointment to a higher court, if only to escape retiring at the age of 65 years. This did not happen, and today, as I said earlier, I thank God that it did not happen.

One of these eminent persons who publicly made pronouncements on the issue at every opportunity open to him, is the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Y. C. Maikyau, SAN. I want to use this medium to appreciate him, for the concerns he expressed. My response to the clamour was captured in my Valedictory Speech, where I said, the ways of God are higher than our ways and that he will always put us where he wants us to be, which is always the best place to be at any particular time.

We are sure that you know that many refer to you are as the ‘Digital Judge’ because of your undoubted expertise in Electronic Evidence. What are your views on virtual court proceedings which was recently introduced into our jurisprudence, but not yet fully deepened? Should that be the way to go? How well will embracing a higher level of technology work, when there are many judicial officers who are still not computer literate?

Let me say straight away here that, there is no justification why any judicial officer of our modern and digital age should not be computer literate. Virtual hearings have

become an important component of the justice system, all around the world. There are many advantages associated with them, for which they should be highly recommended.

Virtual proceedings, especially in the context of the digital age, are the "to-go" solution depending on various factors. Virtual hearings enhance accessibility to the justice system by allowing participants to join remotely, overcoming geographical barriers. They can also streamline court processes, reduce delays, and lead to more efficient case management. Participants can save time and costs associated with travel, accommodation, and other logistics related to attending in-person hearings. In operating virtual hearings, we must be prepared nevertheless, to address some challenges and considerations, such as inaccessibility to reliable technology or internet connectivity. Security and confidentiality of virtual proceedings, are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the legal process. We must ensure they are intact.

As a Nigerian, what are you expecting from the Tinubu administration vis-à-vis fighting corruption, insecurity and getting the Nigerian economy on the road to recovery? Are they on the right track?

I mince no words in saying that, the Tinubu administration is on the right track considering his overall approach to governance, using the fight against corruption, insecurity, and the state of the economy as parameters. It is too early to condemn him. One undeniable fact about President Tinubu is that, in him, we have a President who listens to complaints and agitations. You can also see that, he visibly takes steps to address them.

In the circumstances, we need to be patient with him, bearing in mind the popular aphorism that there is no gain without pain.

Thank you Prof.

20.2.2024 XI

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Tuesday, February 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

business/MOnEYGUIDE

NASENI Boss: Caverton Contributing Massively to Nigeria’sAviation Sector Development OluchiChibuzor

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu has commended the management of Caverton Helicopters for placing Nigeria and Africa on the global map among the committee of reliable, dependable, and standard wise aviation industries in the world.

The NASENI boss stated this during the Tour of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc and Signing of MoU between NASENI and Caverton, for the establishment of a Drone Assembly Plant, a Drone Training School, and a Service Center for Helicopters during a tour of Caverton MRO Center in Ikeja, Lagos on Monda February 19, 2024. Speaking further, he said it has been a privilege visiting, receiving a detailed tour of the Caverton premises and seeing first-hand the important work that it does here.

“I am very inspired by what I have seen today. It is a testament

to the can-do Nigerian spirit.

From modest beginnings you have built a successful business that continues to grow, and to adopt and deploy world-class technology, processes and talent to place Nigeria on the global aviation map.

“From your Aviation Training Centre (CATC), home to a Flight Simulator Training Device, to the Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, to your Helicopter and Marine operations, everything we have seen here today has been stateof-the art. Caverton has truly built an aviation brand that is contributing to the prosperity and development of Nigeria, and that will stand the test of time.”

“As an aviation enthusiast myself, believe me when I say that this has been a very insightful and enjoyable experience. At NASENI, we are always looking to engage with players at the cutting-edge of technology and innovation in Nigeria, especially across our focus areas of Defence and Aerospace; Engineering and Manufacturing; Renewable

Energy and Sustainability; Health and Biotechnology; Agriculture and Food Sustainable; Transportation and Mobility; Education and Creative Industry; IT and Software; and Construction and Smart Cities and I can say that we found a worthy partner in Caverton,” he said.

In his brief remarks, the Chief Operating Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Rotimi Makanjuola said he is delighted to welcome the august visitor to his company’s domain.

According to him, “The whole idea is to reaffirm our partnership with NASENI. We have an MoU together and so the idea is to try and which other way we can partner and collaborate.

This is the second time they have been to our facility and they have seen changes, they have seen our capability especially in training, maintenance and they have felt that now they are very serious about working with us and we are hoping that we will be able to work on a lot of areas, especially helicopters and aircrafts that are serviceable.”

330,000 MSMEs Formalise Operations With CAC James Emejo in Abuja

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), said it has commenced the registration of an additional 330,000 small businesses which were hitherto operating informally in the country.

This came barely a week ago, when in a historic push, the commission registered two million MSMEs in one fell swoop in collaboration with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank.

The commission also directed social media content creators, including Instagram and TikTok users with large followership to register their businesses in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

Registrar-General/Chief Executive, CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, insisted that

any business operation in the country without a CAC registration remained illegal.

However, he noted that in the latest wave of bulk SMEs’ registration, OPAY Services Limited had presented 300,000 small businesses, including agents and merchants under its management while Kudimata Nigeria Limited, also presented 30,000 SMEs for regularisation.

Speaking at the presentation of SMEs’ data to the commission, the CAC boss, reinforced his determination to register 20 million businesses in 2024, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, who promised to provide 50 million jobs for the youths.

“And in the course of this, we are able to create

jobs for the youths. This is job creation for 300,000 SMEs because for any person to have a business you must be registered.”

Managing Director, OPAY Services Limited, Mr. Gotring Dauda, described the commission’s efforts to bring startup business onboard to enable them fulfil the requirement of law as “very commendable”.

He said, “We are providing our agents and merchants that have been using their individual names to the CAC for proper registration.

“We are encouraging them to regularise because that would expand the tax net and of course, encourage SMEs which will create jobs and of course, stimulate the economy basically.”

‘We Must Confront Multiple Taxation to Boost Job Creation’ The newly inaugurated President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, has called for the elimination of multiple taxation in order to facilitate job creation for Nigerians.

He said with the multiplicity of taxes, it would

be difficult to stimulate employment generation as it becomes challenging for companies to operate profitably.

Speaking at his inauguration as the 12th President of ACCI in Abuja, he said, “I have spent my working life in the private sector, 25 years in the private sector. I understand that

when government takes money out of the hands of people, it shrinks their disposable income.

“If they can’t buy things, the economy doesn’t grow.

If the economy doesn’t grow, we don’t put Nigerians to work. “We must confront multiple taxation and eliminate it. We must put Nigerians to work.”

GroupTasks Govt on Climate Justice forWomen Farmers

Omolabake Fasogbon

A group, International Centre for Environmental Health and Development (ICEHD) has stressed climate justice to be able to arrest the scourge of food insecurity ravaging many parts of the country.

This is even as a 2023 report by West & Central Africa Food Security Data, Cadre Harmonise revealed that about 26.5 million persons

may grapple with high level of food insecurity in 2024.

The group identified climate change as a driving factor of f o o d insecurity, noting that w o m e n f a r m e r s a re more affected but not sufficiently catered for in agriculture policies.

Speaking at the event which also featured a updated book presentation, Project Manager of ICEHD, Dr Sonnie Bowei lamented that

d e s p i t e b e i n g c ru c i a l to nation’s food sufficiency, women farmers do not get commensurating support or intervention from government.

“The reality of climate change is evidenced in increased temperature, variable rainfall, rise in sea level flooding, drought, desertification and land degradation, all of which bring a gendered impact as it disproportionately affects women and widens gender inequalities”.

L-R: Iyaloja General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamsat; Secretary to State Government (SSG), Folashade Sherifat Jaji, and Lagos State Commissioner of Agriculture, MS. Abisola Olusanya Photo: SUNDAY ADIGUN at the Lagos Market Trader Money Launch 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).

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

XIII

mARKET NEWS

Investors Lose N1.82tn on Profit-taking in Dangote Cement, MTN, 35 Others

Kayode Tokede

Nigeria’s stock market yesterday began the week on a negative note as investors’ profit-taking in Dangote Cement Plc, MTN Nigeria Communication Plc, and 35 others dragged the overall market capitalization down by N1.82 trillion.

As Dangote Cement and MTN Nigeria dropped by 10 per cent to N686.70 and N247.50 per share, respectively,

the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) fell by 3,329.55 basis points, or 3.15 per cent to close at 102,393.23 basis points from a peak of 105,722.78basis points.

Accordingly, investors lost N1.82 trillion in value as market capitalisation declined to N56.028 trillion from N57.850trillion the stock market opened for trading.

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth closed negative as 18 stocks advanced,

P R I C E S MaiN Board

F O R DEALS

while 37 declined. Juli emerged the highest price gainer of 9.52 per cent to close at N1.61, per share. DAAR Communications followed with a gain of 8.64 kobo to close at 88 kobo, while SUNU Assurance advanced by 6.74 per cent to close at N1.90, per share.

Associated Bus Company increased by 6.67 per cent to close at 96 kobo, while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) added 5.86 per cent

S E C U R I T I E S Market Price

quantity traded

to close at N0.70, per share.

On the other side, MTNN and Dangote Cement led others on the losers’ chart with 10 per cent each to close at N247.50 and N686.70 respectively, while Nigerian Exchange Group followed with 9.76 per cent to close at N22.20, per share.

NEM Insurance lost 9.74 per cent to close at N6.95, while Tantalizers depreciated by 9.52 per cent to close at 38 kobo, per share.

T R A D E D

value traded ( N )

A S O F

MaiN Board

The total volume of trades decreased by 20.05 per cent to 273.851 million units, valued at N7.439 billion, and exchanged in 9,688 deals. Transactions in the shares of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) led the activity with 28.846 million shares worth N1.126 billion.

Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) followed with account of 20.135 million shares valued at N275.931 million, while Access Holdings traded

F E B R U A RY DEALS

15.900 million shares valued at N359.450 million.

FBN Holdings (FBNH) traded 15.866 million shares worth N450.742 million, while Zenith Bank traded 15.839 million shares worth N568.046 million.

On market outlook for this week, United Capital Plc said “as negative sentiments continue to outweigh the positives in the short-term, we expect broadbased bearish sentiments to thrive in the short-term.

/ 1 9 / 2 4 Market Price

quantity traded

value traded ( N)

XIV

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • THISDAY

₦

₦

₦

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o lu m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s T ic k er A IR T ELA F R I UN IT YB N K J ULI

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

2200.00

10.0%

FB NH

54.6

9.9%

2.42

10.0%

UB A

47.7

4.8%

9.9%

A C C ESSC OR P

46.0

1.3%

30.6

-0.8%

1.22

FB NH

27.20

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

M OR ISON

3.02

9.8%

NB

25.5

1.1%

3370.00

9.6%

VER IT A SKA P

24.4

-8.8%

PZ

27.50

9.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

20.4

-9.6%

T R A N SEXP R

1.38

9.5%

ST ER LIN GN G

20.3

1.9%

M A YB A KER

6.90

8.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

17.9

2.8%

B UA F OOD S

320.00

7.0%

UN IVIN SUR E

14.5

-5.1%

SEP LA T

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a lu e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

NCR

4.32

-10.0%

GER EGU

2499.5

6.7%

M EC UR E

9.72

-10.0%

FB NH

1478.8

9.9%

T H OM A SWY

2.25

-10.0%

UB A

1172.7

4.8% 1.3%

6.22

-10.0%

A C C ESSC OR P

1092.0

B UA C EM EN T

150.00

-9.9%

NB

968.7

1.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

10.30

-9.6%

SEP LA T

881.3

9.6%

GUIN EA IN S

0.49

-9.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

647.9

2.8%

VER IT A SKA P

0.73

-8.7%

GT C O

484.4

-0.6%

D EA P C A P

0.60

-7.7%

T R A N SC OR P

394.9

-0.8%

-7.4%

B UA C EM EN T

267.7

-9.9%

M EYER

H ON YF LOUR

4.00

XV

THISDAY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

polity Asue Ighodalo as Breath of Fresh Air for Edo State

Donatus Eleko

A

s delegates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election file out this Thursday, to elect the party’s candidate for the 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo State, one thing that should be paramount to them should be the need to take a decision that would start the process of bringing in someone who has been widely described as a breath of fresh air to assume the leadership of the state.

That person is Asue Ighodalo, who is unarguably, the best man to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki, having worked in the background for several years.

Ighodalo who worked with Adams Oshiomhole when he was governor of the state for eight years, as he led the economic management team under the administration.

Ighodalo has also contributed tremendously to the success of the current administration of Governor Obaseki.

Ighodalo is known for his expertise in corporate law, finance, and investment banking, and he is a boardroom titan. His work and boardroom experience clearly shows that when given the opportunity to govern the state, he won’t be a liability to the South-south state, but would be focused on how to bring his global and national connections to help boost activities in the state and add value to the common wealth of Edo State.

Ighodalo is the co-founder of Banwo & Ighodalo, one of the foremost corporate and commercial law firms in Nigeria, with 15 partners and over 100 lawyers. He obtained his first degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan, a law degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and was admitted into the Nigerian Bar in July 1985. His core areas of practice are corporate and project finance, securities and capital markets, energy & natural resources, and mergers & acquisitions.

Ighodalo is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (past Chairman of the Section on Business Law 2014-2016), International Bar Association (Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL)), Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, Institute of Directors Nigeria, Commercial Law and Taxation Committee of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. Until he until ventured into politics, Ighodalo was the Chairman, Board of Directors of Sterling Bank Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Levene Energy Group Limited, Edo State Investment Summit, DO II Designs Limited and Global Mix Limited.

He also sat on the boards of Mainstreet Technologies Limited (ownership company of MainOne Cable Limited), Cardinal Stone Partners, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Christopher Kolade Foundation, Boff&Co. Insurance Brokers, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (NGO focused on the development of healthcare practitioners) and

Asue Ighodalo Kashim Ibrahim Foundation, Kaduna (NGO focused on the leadership development of Nigerian youths).

He is the immediate-past Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and he also served on the board of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) May 2017-May 2021, and was Chairman of Dangote Flour Mills Plc. Ighodalo has been consistently ranked as a “Tier 1” or “Leading lawyer” in all of his areas of practice by the leading international legal directories.

He has authored many articles in leading law publications and also delivered presentations on diverse subjects including a biannual seminar on ‘Contemporary Political History of Nigeria’ at the Nigerian Leadership Initiative Future Leaders class and the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) class.

He lectured on the roles and duties of directors and corporate governance at the Lagos Business School and at the Institute of Directors. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Economics (D.Litt) (Honoris Causa) by the Edo University, Uzairue, Edo State in November 2021.

Ighodalo is ever learning and seeking continuous growth through trainings and certifications. They include, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)- (2023), Stanford Directors’ College – (2019), INSEAD International Directors Programme (2016), Harvard Business School – Making Corporate Boards More Effective (2015), Aspen Institute -Nigeria Leadership Seminar (2006), Harvard Business School – Governing for Non-Profit Excellence (2004) and Georgetown University – Georgetown Leadership Seminar (2003).

Asue Ighodalo hails from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South East Local Government Area of the Edo State, which is under Edo Central Senatorial District, and is a proper ‘homeboy’ as over the past 20 years, he has instituted various initiatives that have seen him support grassroots development in the state, despite attempt by some of his challengers to blackmail him as an ‘outsider.’

Another issue that they have tried to use to blackmail him is that he was selected by the current governor, an allegation which is not true, considering that Ighodalo has always been known for his straightforwardness.

As he went round the state campaigning in the past few weeks, he was spreading the message of hope and assuring the citizens of Edo State that if given the opportunity to serve, he would change the face of the state.

“I can say I am the best man for the job. I hear people saying I am someone’s candidate, but I can tell you that I am nobody’s candidate.

All I will do is to bring my experience to bear, having been chairman of several top companies.

“It was a tough decision resigning from those positions. I’m coming from a comfort zone, and you put all of that down to say you want to do things for your people. I have the ability to do things for many more people having done for fewer people in the corporate world”, Ighodalo stated during one of the rallies.

He added, “All of the experience and connection I have had all over the years would be brought to bear. I am committed and convinced that I can do it. It looks uncertain, but even so, it will be certain in God’s name.

“I pledge to give youths the opportunity to serve in my government because the youths have talents to build the state. Be assured that I am fully committed to the upliftment of our state and I will give my life to ensure that.”

Ighodalo has stressed that if elected the governor of the state, he would be focused on building a government that eliminates deprivation

in all its forms, and makes Edo the best place to live and work in Nigeria, uplift the poor, support hardworking men and women of the state and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

“No part of Edo will be left behind. From the high plains of Kukuruku to the lush vegetation of Ilushi; from the rich, red sands of Sakponba, to Esanland’s incredible biodiversity, we have all that is needed to make our state a mesmerising destination for progress and wealth. Across each administrative zone, in Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South, we will create practical and focused economic development teams that will harness each area’s unique potential to create wealth for all our people,” he said.

To ensure continuity in development process, he noted that he would build on the success of past governments in the state while ensuring that other policies would be fine-tuned to meet current needs.

He has also made it clear that if elected, he would prioritise the educational sector, infrastructure- inclusive of roads in the state, and creating a technology driven government in order to generate more revenue.

“I believe strongly that education is the gateway to opportunity, so we will continue to invest in education as a priority from primary schools to secondary and tertiary institutions — throughout the state.

“We will ensure that our educational system becomes a beacon of hope, and ladder to opportunity. We will make Edo state’s educational system our key to ending generational poverty, for good, in our great state,” he added.

According to him, if given the opportunity to serve, he intends to be the Chief Welfare Officer of the state, providing good and affordable healthcare, decent living conditions and basic food security for the people of the state, just as he promised to tackle insecurity in all of its forms, noting that an improved economy will reduce some types of insecurity.

He added, “Ending insecurity will not only mean that we can protect our people, it will allow us to maximise the potential economic advantages of our rich cultural heritage. Under the guidance, and with the blessings of our traditional fathers, we will be able to leverage our history and talent to create the cultural environment that will drive a robust tourism economy-proudly and respectfully rooted in the very essence of who we are as a people.”

From the foregoing, to ensure that the state continues on the path of sustainable development, it would be nice for PDP members to bury the hatchet and work towards selecting the best candidate for the job, which is Asue Ighodalo. Already, the outcome of the primary election of the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), shows that they would be going into the election as a fractured body, which PDP members must guide against and remain united.

TRIBUTE

Good Deeds Speak for Herbert Wigwe

Olusegun Philips

T

he testimonies of the good deeds of Herbert Wigwe remain endless, just like the testimonials of his far-reaching vision.

All combined, seemingly speaking in one voice, including the latest from former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote “thoughtful, progressive, compassionate - he quietly did great things”, have shut down false claims about the late Chief Executive Officer at Access Corporation (Access Holdings Plc).

Herbert, his wife - Chizoba, Son - Chizzy and friend, Abimbola Ogunbanjo - a former chairman of the NGX - died in a helicopter crash that happened around California in the United States of America (USA) on Friday, February 9, 2024.

The tragic occurrence described by President Bola Tinubu as “an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.” in an open condolence message to the families of the “exceptional Nigerian business leader” continues to attract grief and celebration of high impact living.

In the face of the mourning of the holder of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic whom Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu labeled “king of visionary and disruptive ideas” in his tribute, a smearing claim was thrown up about Wigwe by person(s) supposedly fronting for the defunct Intercontinental Bank and its founder Dr. Erastus Akingbola.

Interestingly what the smear is premised on - a letter written in 2010 by Intercontinental Bank’s chief promoter Erastus Akingbola to the then Minister of Justice Michael Kaase Aôndoakaa protesting his removal as the Chief Executive Officer by the Central Bank of Nigeria when Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was Governor, as well as the

The late Wigwe takeover of the bank over allegations bordering on abuse of and mismanagement - did not in any part of its content have a mention or reference to Wigwe, our checks revealed.

It was two years after Akingbola’s letter January 2012- that Access Bank, with Wigwe and his friend Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede as lead persons, acquired the defunct Intercontinental Bank.

They became owners of Access Bank in 2002 by acquiring the N1Billion public subscription offer the Bank put up in 2001.

They were both 36 years old at the time, though different months, but just days apart – Wiwge is August 15 while Imoukhuede is September 24.

They were born in 1966.

The huge sacrifices and tremendous efforts put on by the duo in building the then new acquisition, ensured a turnaround story that put Access Bank in a good position to acquire Intercontinental Bank in 2012, when the Central Bank put it “on sale”, although Wigwe was not Group Managing Director at the time until 2014 after Aig-Imoukhuede exited the post.

Leveraging the head start provided by AigImoukhuede, Wigwe as Chief Executive Officer, led Access Bank through what is described as “an extraordinary growth period” until he left the position in 2022 and moved up to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc in March 2022, which he held till his demise.

Headquartered in Lagos, Access Holdings Plc is a multinational financial services organisation that offers commercial banking, lending, payment, pension, insurance, and asset management services and operates through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets, spanning three continents, 20 countries, and 60+ million customers managed by about 30,000 employees.

Access Bank, the Corporation’s banking business subsidiary, has become one of Africa’s largest retail banks by customer base and total assets according to information available.

However, Wigwe who is branded “a pioneer and titan of our time as well as an entrepreneur of global repute and reach” by the Governor of Enugu state, Peter Mbah, was not just about

banking.

He was a fervent campaigner for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. a Board member of Nigeria’s Business Coalition Against AIDS, ceaselessly collaborated to support vulnerable children, orphans, and internationally displaced persons, and relentlessly showed a firm commitment to the development of Nigeria and Africa, One of his most pivotal moves in recent times was founding Wigwe University.

And Osinbajo provided a searing insight into the intentions of Wigwe regarding the massive project with this disclosure about the last moment shared with him by the man Tony Elumelu labeled “exceptional talent” whose demise is “terribly sad and distressing”.

His words, “Herbert and I spent the afternoon together in our home on Thursday, February 1st. He shared the Wigwe University Vision, collaborations with Ivy League universities, immediate research objectives, the scholarship scheme for bright students unable to pay fees, and how the infrastructure around the University—especially the roads and power plant - would benefit the entire community. He also discussed various initiatives for giving young people across the country opportunities to excel, particularly in sustainability and climate action ideas.”

To naysayers, who rather than join the world in mourning and celebrating the life and obvious legacies and impact of a rare and illustrious Nigerian, I urge you to respect life, nature and our African tradition of allowing family, friends and well-wishers mourn the loss of their loved one. Why wake up to make accusations when you know the accused is not available to provide appropriate and direct response.

Adieu “The Fearless One”, Adieu Herbert Wigwe.

•Olusegun Philips is a social and public affairs analyst and commentator.

XVI

T H I S D AY • TUESday FEBRUARY 20, 2024

FEatures

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

NAFDAC vs Beverage Manufacturers: Who Will Save the Economy?

Expectedly, the decision of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ban the production and consumption of drinks in sachets and pet bottles, has pitted it against the manufacturers. Feeling the pulse of the people, Raheem Akingbolu, writes that the federal government and the agency may need to take another look at the decision in the interest of the economy

F

rom Calabar to Oyo, Abuja to Enugu, Lagos to Gombe, the story is the same; fear and anxiety. Many Nigerians, among them consumers and many others who earn their daily income from sale or working in companies that produce alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles are confused over the recent pronouncement that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), had banned alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles.

For many years now, in view of the poverty level in Nigeria, low-income earners and petty traders have depended on sachet products, both in beverage and drinks for survival. In the dairy industry, it was started by Cowbell when the middle-income earners could no longer afford milk in tins. Little by little, bigger players in the industry started keying in until sachet milk and beverages gain total acceptability across board. No thanks to the decline in purchasing power of consumers and the accompanying deterioration of the standard of living of average consumers.

This was also the situation in the energy drink market when Power Horse, Redbull and others in cans were no more affordable for average consumers, a brilliant local manufacturer -Rite Foods introduced its fearless in Pet bottles which was cheaper and affordable. Today, nothing less than five manufactures, among them multinationals, have started producing their various energy drinks products in Pet bottles.

This also affected the economic situation in the country when some savvy manufacturers thought out of the box and went into production of drinks in sachets and pet bottles. Until February 1, exactly two weeks ago, when Mojisola Adeyeye, the DG of NAFDAC, wielded the big stick, it had become a multibillion-naira sector, employing and engaging millions of Nigerians. But their honeymoon appeared to be ending following what some labour unions have described ‘erratic decision of NAFDAC’ to phase the products out of the market for reasons linked to abuse.

To this end, various stakeholders who are concerned with the matter, especially labour unions, retailers, consumers and employees of the various companies manufacturing the drinks, who spoke to our correspondent didn’t only fault the timing of the ban but argued that the development will further wreck the country’s economy.

Adeyeye, the DG of NAFDAC has insisted that the uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachets and small volume PET or glass bottles contribute to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria.

Though substance abuse is a critical issue in Nigeria, many analysts have consistently argued that alcohol has little or no contribution to it and have therefore advised the agency to look farther and tread softly as the beverage manufacturing companies producing sachets and small bottles employ millions of people, contribute to government revenues, and engage in numerous social responsibilities.

Beyond the possible impact of the phase out on the manufacturing companies, many Nigerians are worried that the development will further frustrate the Federal Government’s efforts to woo investors.

Looking back to the last five years, one of the major ambitions that has remained constant on the FG’s agenda has been to attract investors. In September 2022, the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had told foreign investors in New York that Nigeria’s economy was ripe for increased investment. This was as he lamented the reduced private capital inflows, especially Foreign Direct Investment for infrastructure and natural resource access projects.

“Overall, the Nigerian economy is ripe for increased investment. But on the contrary, private capital flows into Nigeria, consisting

Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC DG mainly of Foreign Direct Investment, have slowed, hindering the financing of much-needed infrastructure,” Buhari said at the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum held on the margins of the 77th UN General Assembly.

This is also the situation under the current administration, with President Bola Tinubu, reiterating his commitment to ensuring consistency in policy and a better business climate to attract investors. But despite all the efforts and assurances, Nigeria still remains a dreaded land for investors, save for a few companies that stay put in the market, despite the odds.

In particular, many analysts have wondered why manufacturers in the wine and spirit sub-sector of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, that have invested so much and endured so much should now be the ones to be discarded in a way that is likened to a shabby treatment to the chicken that lays the golden eggs.

However, narrowing the conversation to the issue of banning sachet drinks as a result of drug abuse, one of the Nigeria’s representatives of Interweave Solution international, a non-governmental organization that provides master of business in the street and success, Mr, Williams Ojo, said the decision to ban drink in sachet on the basis of contributing to drug abuse is like calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

“To me, the reason given by NAFDAC to ban drink in sachets is a mere institutional blackmail, a case of calling the dog a bad name in order to hang it. From any angle the agency chooses to look at it, the most germane issue is whether substance abuse is directly connected to alcohol consumption. If a ban

is placed on the sale of alcohol in sachets and small bottles, it may seem that the regulatory authority is just scratching the surface of the menace without looking at the root cause of drug abuse in Nigeria,” Ojo said.

As argued by the Interweave Solution International director and given the deeprooted nature of the drug problem, many other analysts and observers believe that substance abuse has little or nothing to do with alcohol.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Lagos State House of Assembly during a protest recently, the Vice Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Lagos Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Edoghe reiterated the need for NAFDAC to rescind its decision on the ban of the premium alcoholic drink and sachets considering the huge investment made by the companies and the existing purchasing power of the people.

“It’s disappointing and insensitive for NAFDAC to take the decision without taking into consideration over 500,000 direct and over 5million indirect jobs that are put on the line should the ban stand. The regulatory agency did not consider over ₦800 billion worth of investment in the sector should the ban take effect. It failed to consider the security risk the ban would be fueling should the ban be implemented. Again, the agency failed to take into consideration the colossal loss the investors in the value chain would be facing and it failed to recognize that the banking sector that gave loans to the value chain for investment in the sector would lose their money. To me, it is very sad that a reputable government agency like NAFDAC would take such decision that is capable of deindustrializing the country's industrial sector,” the union leader stated.

While purportedly aimed at curbing alcohol abuse, it has been argued by many observers that the move is emblematic of a broader discourse that vilifies sachets, labeling them as dispensable and undesirable packaging formats. However, against the

The conclusion in some quarters is that the recent ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles underscores a disconnect between regulatory intentions and economic realities. While concerns about alcohol abuse are valid, many contended that scapegoating sachets overlooks NAFDAC instrumental role in Nigeria's economy and society

backdrop of Nigeria's economic challenges, sachets have emerged as an indispensable lifeline for both consumers and businesses, challenging the rationale behind the ban.

Blessin Ajakaye, an Abuja based market research expert while condemning the decision said; “in Nigeria, a country characterized by economic volatility and widespread economic hardship, sachets serve as a critical conduit for ensuring access to essential products for millions of people. The affordability and convenience offered by sachets make them a preferred choice among consumers, particularly those with limited purchasing power. Whether it's food items, personal care products, or household essentials, sachets allow individuals to buy in small, manageable quantities, stretching their limited budgets and meeting immediate needs without undue financial strain,” According to Ajakaye, “sachets have become a cornerstone of Nigeria's informal economy, offering a pathway to economic participation and livelihood generation for countless small-scale producers, vendors, and distributors. “The low barrier to entry into sachet production empowers entrepreneurs to establish businesses and generate income, thereby contributing to employment creation and economic resilience in local communities,” To this expert, the NAFDAC ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles represents a stark departure from recognizing sachets' economic utility. By targeting sachets, she pointed out that the action goes beyond a mere regulatory measure; but symbolizes a broader indictment of sachets as a packaging format.

“Finally, I want to emphasise that such a narrative fails to acknowledge the economic significance and socio-economic realities of Nigeria. One of the most compelling arguments in defense of sachets is their role in enhancing accessibility to essential goods, particularly in regions where traditional retail infrastructure is lacking, such as rural areas. Sachets bridge the gap between supply and demand by making products available in small, affordable packages. This ensures that even the most marginalized communities have access to basic necessities, thus contributing to poverty alleviation and social inclusion,” As pointed out by most of those who spoke to our correspondent, sachets serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, empowering small-scale producers and artisans to participate in the economy and create value. From local manufacturers of spices and condiments to craftsmen producing personal care products, sachets provide a platform for innovation and enterprise, driving economic growth from the grassroots level.

To these sets of people, banning sachets undermines consumer choice and market dynamics. It’s believed that by dictating packaging preferences, NAFDAC restricts the options available to consumers, potentially exacerbating economic inequalities and depriving individuals of affordable alternatives.

The conclusion in some quarters is that the recent ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles underscores a disconnect between regulatory intentions and economic realities. While concerns about alcohol abuse are valid, many contended that scapegoating sachets overlooks NAFDAC instrumental role in Nigeria's economy and society.

To this end, the agency has been advised that rather than condemning sachets outright, policymakers should recognise their economic utility and explore measures to address any associated social issues responsibly.

As Nigeria grapples with its economic challenges, it has been pointed out that sachets remain a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness, embodying the spirit of entrepreneurship and adaptation in the face of adversity.

21

THI S DAY • Tuesday, February 20, 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

1 2 , 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%

Despite Colossal Security Spending, Nigeria Raised Oil Output by Meagre 6.5% in 2023

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Despite humongous military spending and local pipeline surveillance contracts awarded to secure Nigeria’s critical assets in the Niger Delta, the country was only able to raise its crude oil and condensate output by a meagre 6.5 per cent in 2023.

A year-on-year analysis of data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) covering 2022 and 2023 showed that Nigeria produced roughly 502.4 million barrels in 2022, regarded as one of the worst years for the sector in Nigeria due to theft and sabotage.

However, in 2023, the breakdown of the figures from the industry regulator indicated that the country drilled about 536.2 million barrels of crude, an increase of about 33.8 million barrels compared to the preceding year, 2022.

For some years, Nigeria has suffered massive oil theft in its Niger Delta region, even though the menace has further accelerated in the last four years.

During this period, the country has been unable to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota.

The Nigerian economy has also suffered serious foreign exchange

illiquidity, since the country gets over 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings from the export of the commodity, leading to the current crisis in the exchange market.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) estimates that the country may have lost about N4.3 trillion between 2017 to 2022.

In the same vein, during the same period, 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases were recorded while roughly 208.63 million barrels of crude were lost to theft and outright vandalism.

According to NEITI studies, the authorities spent N471.49 billion to

repair and maintain the pipelines during this period.

With the weakening FX inflows, Nigeria has recently resorted to borrowing to shore up the flow of dollars within the system, notably approaching AfreximBank for a recent $3.3 billion oil-for-debt loan deal.

Last year, the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed that as much as 400,000 barrels of crude were stolen daily from the region.

But a review of the data from the NUPRC for 2022, showed that in January of that year, Nigeria produced oil and condensate of 51.9 million barrels, in February, it was 42.6 million barrels while in

March, April and May the figures were 46.3 million, 44.4 million and 39.6 million respectively.

Also, in June of 2022, the country drilled 42.0 million barrels of oil; 40.7 million in July; 36.5 million in August when local surveillance security became officially involved; 34.1 million in September and 38.1 million in October. In November and December, output was 42.4 million and 43.8 million barrels respectively.

This took the total production for that year to 502.4 million barrels.

However, in the whole of 2023 when production increased marginally, the country produced 536.2 million barrels.

The breakdown for that year is

as follows: 46.8 million barrels; 43.5 million; 47.5 million; 35.5 million; 44.3 million; 44.9 million; 40.4 million; 43.8 million; 47.1 million; 48.4 million; 43.9 million and 48.1 million barrels.

Aside the increasing military spending for the navy and other related forces officially protecting oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta, in August 2022, when crude theft and vandalism worsened, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) contracted local security surveillance groups to complement the work of the security personnel.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

FAO: Low, Middle-income Countries Require $24tn in Six Years for Sustainable Agriculture The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has stated that low and middle-income countries would require an investment of $24 trillion from now till 2030 to achieve sustainable agricultural production.

The FAO stated the urgent need for these countries to significantly increase and target more investment to transform global agrifood systems to reduce hunger and bring people out of poverty.

At a High-Level event organised by the Permanent Delegation of Brazil to the United Nations Rome-based agencies and Global Citizen in Rome, the FAO DirectorGeneral, Mr. QU Dongyu, stressed the importance of increased investments for a more diverse and productive agricultural sector that promotes nutritious foods and highlighted the sector’s role in addressing all dimensions of sustainable development,

including climate action.

Dongyu explained that although agrifood systems are responsible for about 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, adding that transforming them could improve their efficiency and made them more inclusive and resilient.

He cited the recently launched Global Roadmap for Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold as an innovative plan and concrete package of solutions

Food

to support achieving zero hunger and accelerating climate actions.

“The roadmap could also act as a catalyst for increased financing, ”he said.

He highlighted the urgent need to prioritise food security and climate action in 2024 and reaffirmed FAO’s support to the G20 Presidency, which Brazil currently holds.

In a keynote speech, the director general of FAO underlined the

Commodities

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

name of commodity

Rice

100kg

Abuja

N65,000 – N70,000

Sorghum

50kg

oyo

50kg

Plateau (Jos)

Price

grim reality of global hunger, highlighting that 735 million people faced chronic hunger in 2022.

He emphasised the interconnectedness of conflicts, climate extremes, and economic crises, stressing their disproportionate impact on food security and nutrition for the poor and vulnerable.

“FAO is pleased with the fruitful synergy and effective collaboration with the Government of Brazil, and

we continue to be committed to providing our full technical and professional support for a successful G20 under Brazil’s Presidency, ”Qu said.

Linking poverty and hunger, Qu also pointed out the alarming connection between inequality and various forms of malnutrition, contributing to a triple burden.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

T o d ay

State

Price

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

100kg JIGAWA

N30,000

B EAN S

N50,000 – N60,000

Benue

N32,000

Maidu guri

N22,000 – N30,000

100kg

50kg bag

N50,500 – N60,000

100kg

Kaduna

N32,000

100kg Lagos

N36,000

50kg

kwara N24,000–N27,000

50kg

Enugu

N24,000

100kg

Kano

N35,000

50kg

Lagos

N60,000 – N70,000

50kg

Lagos

N26,000

50kg

rivers N50,500 – N60,500

Delta

N36,000

Delta

N35,000

100kg

100kg

50kg

sokoto

N60,000 – N70,000

100kg

Abia

N36,000

100kg

Abia

N35,700

Size

22

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

News Food

name of commodity

Palm oiL

C o m m o diti e s

P r ic e

T o day

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

name of commodity

Size

Location

Price

Groundnut

100KG Kano

N20,500

ONIONS

100kg

Ibadan

N60,000

MAIZE

100kg

Oyo

N10,000

N24,000 – N35,000

100KG Benue

N27,000

100kg KANO

N30,000

100kg Enugu

N16,500

25cl Ibadan N22,000 — N35,000

100KG Lagos

N32,000

100kg BENUE

N65,000

100kg delta

N14,000

100kg Plateau

N45,000

100kg

Abia

N11,000

100kg DELTA

N50,000

50kg

Lagos

N9,000

Size

State

Price

25cl Lagos N20,000-N35000 25cl

PH

25cl

IMO

N24,000 – N36,500

25cl

Edo

N20,000 – N35,000

25cl Abuja N25,500 – N35,000

100KG Delta

N34,000

100KG

Abia

N27,000

100kg LAGOS

N60,000

100kg Kano

N9,400

100KG Enugu

N23 000

100kg ENUGU

N45,000

50kg

N6,000

Benue

Civil Society Organisations Endorse Redeployment of NUPRC Personnel to Lagos Sunday Ehigiator Members of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, have endorsed the redeployment of some personnel of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), noting that the move will foster accountability, and productivity and save costs for the nation Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition during a press briefing, the Coalition’s Spokesperson, Comrade Shina Loremikan stated that, based on their findings the commission is not relocating its headquarters

to Lagos, saying, “NUPRC not leaving Abuja as erroneously speculated.”

According to him, “Some persons, including politicians and analysts, who are aware of NUPRC’s various roles, have come to perceive the actions of NUPRC more from the realm of politics than economics. Take the latest efforts to move some personnel, especially field officers to Lagos, where many oil and gas companies have offices for example.

“The truth is that with the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, comprehensive legislation, targeted at achieving

restructuring, repositioning, increased productivity and transparency and accountability, the NUPRC inherited many personnel and its current building in Abuja from the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. “Sadly, many personnel do not have offices but work with their laptops from unsuitable locations, including conference rooms and corridors. Meanwhile, NUPRC still bears the financial and other costs of taking them frequently to Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt to carry out their official duties.”

“After due consideration and in line with President Bola

FG to Determine Food Prices, Commits to Food Security The federal government has announced that plans have been concluded on the determination of food prices in Nigeria.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who disclosed this in Abuja also gave hints on the projects and initiatives the federal government to stem the rising cost of food in the country.

Kyari said that farmers have been registered for summer farming through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket, NAGS-AP, adding that 120,000 hectares of wheat have been cultivated in Jigawa State under the African Development Bank (AfDB’s) 50 per cent free agriculture scheme.

“Over 150,000 hectares would be farmed under the rice, maize and crops programme where approximately 300,000 farmers would be added while funds would be provided by world Nonprofit organisations to lower prices,” he assured.

He said that foreign food exporters would be listed on national borders to prevent illegal immigrants, saying that exporting food is beneficial to the country, but becomes harmful when the government does not benefit from it.

He pointed out that the ministry has ordered the distribution of 42,000 tonnes of grains to distribute to low-income individuals in its bid to reduce the problem of rising food prices and

shortages.

“Agriculture will be balanced to increase the amount of food being produced and postharvest losses would be reduced. Green imperatives programmes would be created that will cost billions of dollars to create agricultural management institutions in all 774 local governments of Nigeria. The system will help to provide rental equipment at a better price.

“A Farm Benefit Agency will be created which will lead to specific prices of food products in the market and protect farmers from lake loss during floods. The government will buy food from farmers and sell it to those in need to ensure they are not cheated,” he stated.

Tinubu’s commitment to cut costs, eliminate wastages and enhance service delivery, the Engr. Gbenga Komolafe-led NUPRC started consulting with key stakeholders, especially the labour unions.

The consultation culminated in the taking of the decision, targeted at reducing pressure

During the visit, the ambassador spoke on the EU’s various intervention programmes in the power sector, adding that the current support would cover various sources of power supply.

He said they will include small hydro power, solar for health care facilities, rural electrification with isolated and interconnected mini-grids project, circular economy in power sector project.

Noting that the projects will commence this year, Isopi also used the opportunity to invite the

minister to an upcoming launch of two projects funded by the EU, which will both be launched on March 26.

Responding, the minister who received the ambassador in company with his Chief Technical Advisor, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi , expressed appreciation to the EU for the support they have been giving to Nigeria.

Stressing that more support is needed to address the enormous challenges in the sector, he identified liquidity issue as the main problem that the government is trying

a distraction to the NUPRC under the leadership of Engr. Komolafe means so well for the industry and Nigeria as illustrated in the bold steps taken to make a positive impact in the past few years. Already, NUPRC has developed regulations, giving meaning and intent to the

Rice Millers Fault Middlemen for Rising Cost Rice Millers in Gombe State has blamed the rising cost of rice in the country on the activities of middlemen.

The millers linked the pressure on rice demand to the nefarious activities of middlemen who were alleged to have bought paddy and stored it in their warehouses to the detriment of Nigerians.

Paddy is a major raw material used in the processing of rice.

The millers described the situation as frustrating and called on the federal government to look into the situation to avoid more price increases.

The Production Manager of Lula Rice, Mr. Auwal Manu, said that the price of rice had almost doubled within the last three weeks because of the unavailability of paddy brand rice.

According to Manu, paddy is scarce and there is a lot of pressure on the little available in the market because middlemen have during the 2023 harvest mopped up paddy brands and refused to release them.

This, according to him, has

EU Plans €37m Investment in Nigeria’s Power Sector The European Union (EU) is set to invest €37 million in the power sector in Nigeria, in addition to the about €200 million grants it has invested in the sector since 2008.

This disclosure was made by the EU ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, during a visit to the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

She was accompanied by the new Head of Cooperation of the EU, Mr. De Luca Massimo and the Programme Manager on Energy, Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia.

on accommodation in Abuja, maximizing the use of the Lagos-based office, reducing operational costs, improving organisational efficiency and enhancing industry growth.

“Sadly, the decision has been unduly politicised and misconstrued to mean leaving Abuja. This constitutes

its best to resolve.

According to Adelabu, the market will only be sustainable and run efficiently when there is a cost reflective tariff in place.

“Their visit underscores the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the EU in advancing our power sector. Ambassador Isopi’s acknowledgment of our ministry’s efforts and the EU’s support since 2008 is truly heartening.

With over €200 million in grants funding various projects, their commitment to Nigeria’s energy landscape is undeniable, ” Adelabu said.

led to increase in price of rice as those who have paddy now determine the price they want their commodity sold.

“This has affected and halted production in our company because paddy is the major raw material for rice processing venture. A bag of paddy now is about N50,000 which cannot give you 50kg of processed rice, so how do one continue business and make profit?

“Before now, a bag of paddy was sold for between N15,000 and N20,000 but now it goes for N47,000 upwards. Weekly, we used to process at least three truckloads of rice which is 1,800 bags of 50kg rice but today for the past two months, we have halted production,” he said.

Another miller at Gombe

Main Market, Mr. Yusuf Abdullahi, said that many of the middlemen were already getting ready to invade villages to mop up paddy, which had been cultivated by farmers during the dry season.

Abdullahi said that such action would worsen the current situation, hence the need for punitive measures against hoarding because “it increases hardship and worsens unemployment status in the country.

“For now, we are no longer milling because no paddy, and many of our workers are now at home without jobs, it has never been this bad. The government must go tough against hoarders else they will create a food crisis in spite that there is food in

KPMG: Oil Firms to Spend More on ESG, Execution Plans Unclear Most companies plan to spend more on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities within the next three years, but are less sure about how to execute those strategies, a report published

by KPMG, has stated.

Driven by reporting and shareholder demands, 90 per cent of the 550 companies responding to the survey said they will invest more in ESG capabilities in the next three years.

According to Bloomberg, respondents represented multiple industries such as energy, financial services, technology, healthcare and transportation.

The main increases in ESG spend in the next three years will be through adding dedicated ESG personnel, software, and more employee training and education, among

other steps, respondents said.

However, the “Addressing the Strategy Execution Gap in Sustainability Reporting” survey report found “a clear disconnect” between strategy and execution, with just 33 per cent of companies having restructuring plans to align sustainability goals with business strategy.

Top challenges cited by companies included insufficient resources, collaboration or communication, divergent priorities, difficulty measuring return on investment and budget constraints.

Additionally, while 83 per cent of companies considered themselves ahead of their peers on ESG reporting, 47 per cent still use spreadsheets to manage ESG data, and only 18 per cent use third-party verification sources.

23

T H I S D AY • Tuesday, February 20, 2024

BUSINESSWORLD

News

Dangiwa Lauds Pulako Resettlement Programme for Displaced Nigerians Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has expressed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a “crucial national assignment”, following his inauguration as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Pulako Initiative.

The initiative is a large-scale resettlement programme aimed at revitalising communities affected by banditry and displacements.

He noted that providing resettlement options and revitalising affected communities are part of the government’s commitment to decent shelter for the vulnerable in society.

The committee,

inaugurated at the State House last week will initially focus on seven states that have been disproportionately affected by banditry and conflicts.

They are: Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna States.

The minister said he considered the appointment as a huge responsibility which he is committed to delivering on as chairman.

“As we embark on this significant undertaking, I am optimistic about the transformative impact that the Pulaku resettlement programme can have on our communities and our country.

“With the collective efforts of the state governments, the distinguished committee members, and the support of stakeholders, I am confident that we can implement the initiative.

“It will help to create

sustainable impact in the communities impacted by

banditry crisis through the construction of residences,

The Nigerian Petroleum Producers’ Forum (NPPF) is expected to drive cooperation and collaboration at the upcoming Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) this February, the organisers have said.

One of the innovations of the upcoming 7th NIES, it said, is the introduction of a new session tagged the nigerian petroleum producers’ forum with the subtheme: “Innovation, Collaboration, and Resilience: Empowering Independent Producers in the Dynamic Energy Era.” The session will be a platform for industry leaders to address critical challenges and opportunities facing independent energy producers and will feature distinguished speakers who will share insights and perspectives

Alsec Nominees Rebrands, Unveils New Logo, Website Ugo Aliogo

As part of its commitment to strengthen and provide more quality services, Alsec Nominees Limited has unveiled new brand logo, and website.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the Founder, Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie and Alsec Nominees Limited, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said Alsec Nominees has played an important part in the growth of the Firm.

He also noted that the firm has always been consulted by clients who wish to set up businesses, adding that this included foreign clients wishing to do business in Nigeria.

“In order to provide quality services to support those clients we decided to set up a dedicated unit to provide company incorporation services, as well as helping the clients with the administration of those companies, after incorporation.

on navigating the evolving energy landscape, it added.

“The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG)/ Waltersmith Group, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, will deliver the opening keynote speech while by Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Country Chair/CEO of Shell Companies in Nigeria/ Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) will make special remarks.

“Keynote speeches will be delivered by Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Nigeria,” it added. The panellists, comprising industry experts and executives, include: Mr. Adegbite Falade, CEO, Aradel Holdings Plc, Mr. Henry Mankiti, CEO, Sahara Energy and Mr. Austin Avuru, Executive Chairman, Platform

facilities to enhance living standards,” Dangiwa said.

Eni Smashes Earnings Estimates with Record Gas Performance Eni’s fourth-quarter and 2023 earnings exceeded consensus estimates as “record-breaking” performance in the gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) division offset weaker oil and gas prices and refining margins.

The Italian energy major reported at the weekend adjusted net profit of $1.76

billion for the fourth quarter, down by 34 per cent on the year, but slightly higher than analysts’ expectations.

For the full year 2023, Eni’s adjusted net profit fell by 38 per cent to $8.9 billion , due to weaker realised prices and lower refining margins which dragged down core earnings in the refining and chemicals division.

Like all other major oil companies, Eni reported lower profits for Q4 and 2023, due to lower energy commodity prices. Yet, all of Big Oil topped analysts’ expectations this earnings season.

At Eni, the key driver of the better-thanexpected performance was the gas division,

the so-called Global Gas & LNG Portfolio (GGP), oilprice.com said.

For the fourth quarter and full-year 2023, Eni’s proforma adjusted core earnings were supported by steady results in the exploration and production division and “a record-breaking GGP performance,” the company said.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

disclosed that he has written to be delivered to the appropriate quarters a request that the Council for the Regulation of

Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) be reconsidered for government funding.

Umahi disclosed this while playing host to a visiting joint delegation of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by the NSE President, Margaret Oguntala and COREN President, Prof.

Sadiq Abubakar.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Yakubu Kofarmata, said the decision to remove COREN and other agencies from government

budget was a decision of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In her remark on behalf of the delegation earlier, the NSE president, Oguntala, stressed that the exclusion of COREN from the budget would make it difficult for the council to perform its critical role in the system, urging a review of the decision by the government.

The federal government had earlier announced the exclusion of 26 professional bodies and councils of agencies from its 2024 budget.

Umahi Seeks Govt Funding for Engineering Council The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has

Nigerian Petroleum Producers’ Forum to Drive Cooperation, Collaboration at NIES 2024 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

roads, schools, and provision of essential

Petroleum Ltd/Chairman.

Also billed to speak are Mr. Matthieu Bouyer, CEO, TotalEnergies, Mr. Shane Harris, CEO, ExxonMobil Nigeria, Mr. Adewale Tinubu, GCEO, Oando Plc, Mr. Rick Kennedy, Chairman/MD, Chevron Nigeria and Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President (E & P), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

“The objective of the Nigerian petroleum producers’ forum session at NIES 2024 is to drive cooperation and collaboration among industry leaders to address the pressing challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s energy sector. “ This innovative platform will empower independent producers and foster a resilient energy landscape for sustainable growth,” said the Chief Executive of Brevity Anderson, the event organisers, James Shindi.

The session, he said, will address various focus

areas, including: The current challenges faced by independent energy producers; identifying actionable strategies to promote innovation, collaboration, and resilience among independent producers.

24

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Meeting of Organised Private Sector Network With Wale Edun...

L-R: Director General of National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Mr. Chris Oputa; Council Member, National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Alh. Babagana Mustapha; Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Ajayi Kadiri Mni; President, MAN, Chief Francis Menshioye; Finance Minister, Wale Edun; National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye; Director General, Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale Oyerinde, and the Chief Executive Officer of KAM Steel, Dr. Yusuf Kamoru, during a meeting of the Organised Private Sector Network (OPSN) members with the Minister, at the Federal Ministry of Finance, in Abuja.... recently

Edo Guber: Olumide Akpata Petitions INEC Over Labour Party’s Lack of Preparation Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and a governorship aspirant in the Edo State governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, has petitioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over lack of preparation for the election by the party.

He also alleged that there was no transparency by the Labour Party over the primary election.

In the petition, he signed, Akpata said, "the purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention and petition you about the lack of preparedness and transparency surrounding the

Labour Party's planned primary elections to produce a gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming elections in Edo State."

According to Akpata, "As you are aware, the Electoral Act 2022 mandates political parties to conduct transparent primaries to produce candidates and mandates the INEC to stipulate timelines for conducting these primaries.

"Less than 48 hours to the Edo State Ward Congresses of the Labour Party and about 96 hours to the gubernatorial primary elections of the Labour Party itself, I am constrained to inform you that as of today, Sunday, February 18, 2024, the Labour Party has exhibited little preparedness for the Ward Congresses

scheduled for February 20, 2024, to elect delegates who will vote in the primaries slated for February 23, 2024, which is the last possible day for political parties to conduct primary elections before the INEC mandated date of 24th of February 2024 for all political parties to upload names of gubernatorial candidates who emerged from party primaries."

He further said, "as of the date of writing this letter, the dearth of information and transparency surrounding the primary election process has cast serious doubts on the sincerity of the Labour Party in conducting a fair, credible, and democratic primary to produce a gubernatorial candidate.

“Numerous aspirants, including

myself, have observed with dismay the conspicuous absence of transparency, which has led to a mass exodus of aspirants from the race.

“This departure of aspirants is not merely a loss to the democratic process, but also a testament to the erosion of trust and confidence in the integrity of the Party's leadership."

He said all of the aspirants, without exception, who had withdrawn from the LP primaries had sighted indications of substantial manipulation of the process.

According to him, the party failed to provide critical information to aspirants.

The following issues highlight the lack of preparedness of the LP for the primary elections and the

Union Kicks against Choice of Salako as Medical Laboratory Council Chairman Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria (AMLSN) has rejected the appointment of Dr. Babajide Salako, as the new Chairperson, Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

The association therefore urged the National Assembly to investigate Salako’s appointment, claiming that it violated the law establishing the Council.

The association said under Act 11 of 2003 and the Act CAP (M25) LFN of 2004 that created MLSCN, Salako does not qualify for such position.

The Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, had announced the appointment of Salako, as the new Chairperson, MLSCN. However, while addressing journalists at the association's headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, President of AMLSN, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, said there was an existing tradition usually adhered to for such appointments which dictates that only a doctor must head the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; a pharmacist for the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria; and ditto for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

He said the law enacted by the National Assembly and signed by the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, defined clearly the qualifications of who could be appointed as the Chairman of the Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

According to him, Salako does not fulfill the credentials as contained in Section 3, Subsection 1(a) of the

MLSCN Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 (Act 11 of 2003).

"We are therefore shocked at the brazen violation of the above section of the Law without recourse to the list of names submitted by the association in compliance with the law (Section 3, Subsection 1(a-g) of the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 to the Coordinating Minister, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare," he said.

Speaking further, Ifeanyi said; "We, AMLSN, object and reject the said appointment because it is a breach of the Law establishing the Council.

"By all standards and by the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 (Act 11 of 2003) that created MLSCN, Dr. Salako does not qualify for such position.

"Section 3 (1) (a) of the law, Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 (Act 11 of 2003), duly enacted by the NASS and signed by the then President of

Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, defined clearly the qualifications of who can be appointed as the Chairman of the Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

"We appeal to Mr. President and hence the Presidency to immediately retract the announcement of Dr. Babajide Salako as a purported Chairperson Board of MLSCN without any attempt to inaugurate him.

"Thereafter, the President is requested to investigate the circumstances that led to this violation of the law and apply appropriate sanctions against those responsible for embarrassing the Presidency and government," he said.

Ifeanyi quoted the relevant aspect of the Law, saying Section 3, Subsection l (a) of the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 states thus:

'There is established for the Council a Governing Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board”) consisting of (a) a chairman who shall be a qualified Fellow of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria with five years post qualification experience and shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister from a list of names of the Fellows submitted by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as “the Association”) Ifeanyi said despite the law, "there is well-known tradition usually adhered to for such appointments which dictates that only a doctor must head the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; a pharmacist for the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria; and ditto for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

statutory Congresses leading up to the primary elections, he added.

Akpata, said there was complete blackout of specific information on venues for the 192 Ward Congresses scheduled to hold today.

“If the party has not made arrangements to communicate venues to aspirants who need to mobilise agents and supporters to monitor the process, how does it expect INEC officials to deploy to these Wards and play their statutory role?” he added.

He further stated that they failed to publish any specific guidelines detailing a step-by-step process governing the Ward Congress and primary elections. This, according to Akpata, had led to various interpretations of the process by party officials.

Accordingly, he said, "I have been inundated with calls from aspirants and Party officials alike asking for clarification on guidelines for delegates, procedures for voting, accreditation of voters, etc. “As of today, just two days before the Ward Congresses, these critical guidelines are unknown to aspirants.

"The party has yet to officially communicate the list of screened delegates-aspirants who will stand for elections in the Ward Congress.

The credentials of the delegates determine the legitimacy of the primaries.

“As a key stakeholder, I am up to this moment not privy to any list of screened delegates-aspirants. To make matters even worse, forms for those aspiring to be delegates were sold by both the national headquarters of the party and the state chapter of the party, with arguments ensuing on which of the two forms or if both forms would be accepted.

"Also, the party is yet to reveal the appointed electoral officers to conduct the planned congresses.

The independence and neutrality of the appointed officials are key to a transparent outcome.

“Their identities and credentials should be communicated to all aspirants for vetting ahead of the exercise. But we remain totally in the dark.

"Our fears have been magnified by the reluctance of the party to convene a stakeholder meeting to brief aspirants on preparations, despite repeated appeals to the party hierarchy to do the same.

“The venue and logistics arrangements for transporting election materials across the 192 Wards also remain unknown to aspirants to date.

"I have also personally confirmed from the leadership of all law enforcement and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Security (DSS), who have stated unequivocally that they have not received any formal or informal notification from the party that it intends to hold Ward Congresses and/or party primaries in Edo State on the 20th and 23rd of February respectively.

"They also confirmed they are unaware of any security arrangements made by the party for the Ward Congresses and primaries as they have yet to receive official communication on venues, materials, etc.

“Mr. Chairman, you will agree with me that this is a recipe for potential chaos, as there is already palpable tension in the party and an absence of security to nip any threat of violence in the bud, does not augur well for the party or successful conduct of free, fair and transparent primaries.”

He stated further: "I have become constrained to speak out at this point because my repeated attempts to get the party leadership to see reason and provide transparency around preparations for the primaries have failed to elicit any positive response.

“Rather, my candid inquiries have been met with disdain and an attempt to bully me into silence.”

Civil Society Groups to Launch Anti-coup Movement in Abuja Wale Igbintade

The official launching of a Regional Citizen's Dialogue Programme, (RCDP) for preventing and responding to unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) in West Africa will hold on February 27th and 28th, 2024 in Abuja.

The two two-day programme, which will hold at Reiz Hotel in Abuja, will be attended by civil society groups in West Africa and other parts of the continent, including representatives of regional agencies and institutions in Europe.

A statement issued by the group disclosed that the launch-

ing would serve as a platform to present, finalise and adoption by participants a revised programme document and a comprehensive yearly implementation work plan for the initial phase of the programme, spanning from February to September, 2024.

The statement observed that there had been seven military coups in Africa in the last three years, with West Africa recording the highest number.

It added that the incidents, including the threat of withdrawal by three member states - Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, and the recent unexpected postponement of

elections in Senegal, have topped the agenda of ECOWAS and the AU in recent times.

The statement disclosed that the aim of RCDP was an attempt

by CSOs to support efforts by the African Union and its partners in the implementation of the main outcomes of the AU Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) in Africa (March 2022) and the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, adopted at the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Head of States on May 22, 2022.

In a letter of invitation sent to participants, the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Nigeria, Professor Ayo Omatayo, said: “Concerned with the recent wave of military coups across West Africa that threaten the future of democracy and political stability amidst persistent and growing economic hardship, poverty, and security crises induced by violent extremist organisations on the continent, the RCDP is a collaborative effort of a consortium of civil society and research think tanks with leadership drawn from the National Institute for Policy and

Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Nigeria, the Regional Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative (RCGSPI), with headquarter based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and the Dantiye Centre for Good Leadership and Journalism (DCLJ), Kano, Nigeria, with support from the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), based in Lisbon, Portugal. The regional programme is designed to mobilse and organise civil society contributions towards the prevention, mitigation, and response to incidences of UCG in the West Africa subregion”.

Continues online

25

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

NEWS

60th birthday thanksgiving service of Siju Iluyomade...

L-R: Erelu of Lagos, Chief Abiola Dosunmu; First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghaudi Olaoye Afolabi; Celebrant, Dr Siju Iluyomade; The Intercontinental Overseer on CSR, Redeemed PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor. Idowu Iluyomade; and First Lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the 60th birthday thanksgiving service of Dr Siju Iluyomade held in Lagos...recently .

Tinubu’s Govt Diverting Funds Through Secret Petrol Subsidy, Atiku’s Aide Alleges Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, yesterday, alleged that the refusal of the federal government to react to recent reports on the return of petrol subsidy showed that public funds had started going into private pockets.

Shaibu, made the allegation in a statement while reacting to reports by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the Nigerian government had begun paying petrol subsidy again.

Media reports stated that monthly subsidy payment was nearly N1 trillion which exceeds the amount being paid monthly by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Reacting to the allegation, Shaibu said it had become clear that one of the reasons that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had not been paying the required amount of money into the government’s account was that monies were being diverted under an opaque and secret subsidy regime.

He said, “Tinubu has been boasting at every economic forum that he deserves to be in the Guinness Book of records for removing petrol subsidy.

“He even said before ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ in New York last September that the ‘corrupt subsidy’ regime and FX issues had been resolved.

“But as every other thing relating to Tinubu, this has turned out

to be another lie from the pit of hell. Currently, the exchange rate based on what the Central Bank of Nigeria recommended to the Nigeria Customs Service is N1515/$1.

“Hence diesel price is now over N1,200 but petrol is still selling for between N600 and N700.

“Nigeria is the only country in the world where such disparity between diesel and petrol exists.

It has become obvious that petrol subsidy has returned through the backdoor.

“With the return of petrol subsidy, oil marketers have opted out and that is why the NNPC has returned to being the sole importer of petrol once more and has the temerity to be announcing that it will not increase petrol cost regardless of the international price of crude oil and the exchange rate.

“To be clear, petrol subsidy in itself is not a bad thing when it is done transparently.”

He added: “Former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, expressed shock last month that NNPC was still not remitting FX into government’s accounts.

“It is now obvious why this has been happening. Subsidy has returned but it is now being done in a corrupt and secret manner as funds are now being diverted into private pockets even worse than under Buhari. This is the Tinubu Lagos legacy from Lagos State.”

Shaibu said it was disappointing that the Finance Minister, Wale Edun; and CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, who both claimed to have gotten

their appointments based on their expertise had failed to speak up but had continued to cover up the petrol subsidy.

Atiku’s aide alleged that the Tinubu government had continued to frustrate the takeoff of the Dangote refinery which would have at least

reduced Nigeria’s FX demands.

He said, “The media reported last week that lingering regulatory approvals have stalled Dangote Petrochemical Refinery’s plan to release aviation fuel (Jet A1) and diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen yesterday unveiled a policy document on training, retraining and capacity building of members of the 10th House, legislative aides and support staff for better performance.

The document, titled: ‘’Parliamentary Development Programme for 10th House of Representatives, National Assembly, 2023-2027’’, was prepared by the office of the speaker in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Mr Musa Krishi, the Programmes

Coordinating Unit (PCU) in the research and policy division of the office of the speaker spearheaded the process of formulating the document.

The unveiling which was done by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on behalf of the speaker, had several local and international development and technical partners of the National Assembly.

Abbas, in his address, noted that the document contained the results of the assessment study conducted by the House with the support of the UNDP and other partners.

“This is in line with our legislative agenda, which identifies the strengthening of the internal capacity of the legislature as a critical factor towards achieving all our other

ostensibly to stabilise the naira.

“It is obvious that Tinubu and his so-called economic team are quacks, charlatans who put their personal interest ahead of that of the country.

With such Lilliputians at the helm of affairs, Nigeria’s economic woes are about to go from bad to worse.”

Court Bars Nyesom Wike, Others from Encroaching into Abuja Centenary City Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja has restrained the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and three others from encroaching into the Centenary Economic City Free Zone, along Airport Road, Abuja.

Besides Wike, others affected by the court's order include the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Arab Contractors (OAO).

Justice Ekwo, who issued the order in a judgment delivered, also made an order nullifying and setting aside in its entirety, all executive actions, steps, decisions, and administrative controls, including the forceful encroachment of the premises by OAO at the instructions of the minister, FCTA and FCDA without the prior consent of the plaintiffs and the overriding approval

of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).

Ekwo, based his decisions on the grounds that the encroachment contradicted Sections 4 and 13 of NEPZA Act Cap N107 LFN 2004, provisions of Section 5 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and therefore, was unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, void and of no effect whatsoever.

He also made an injunction order restraining them from exercising any executive or regulatory control on the zone, “which occupies the Land, measuring 1,264.78 hectares with beacons coordinates: PB57-PB59, PB60-PB69, PB70-PB79, PB80PB89, PB90-PB99 and PB1000-PB104, located at Airport Road, Wawa District, Cadastral Zone E24, FCT, Abuja.”

“An Order is hereby made directing Arab Contractors (OAO) Nigeria Limited, to immediately vacate the portion of the Centenary

Abbas Unveils Policy on Lawmakers’, Staff Capacity Devt Juliet Akoje in Abuja

“At the same time, Dangote refinery has been struggling to get the needed crude oil and has decided to import from the United States while the NNPC which has no business with monetary policy, committed Nigeria’s crude oil for a $3.3 billion Afreximbank loan

legislative objectives. “ As a result, the document before us today reflects our current capabilities and the urgent requirements needed to elevate the standards of our legislative functions,” he stated.

According to him, the need for continuous capacity strengthening in the legislature is well known, noting that the high turnover rates at the National Assembly posed a significant challenge to maintaining continuity and building on the institutional knowledge crucial for effective governance.

Abbas further added that the UNDP’s capacity and institutional needs assessment study had laid bare the gaps in our current system, stressing that it had highlighted areas where the House needed to

strengthen its capabilities to meet the demands of contemporary governance.

“These include, but are not limited to strengthening our law-making functions, enhancing our legislative drafting capabilities, improving our research and analysis functions, bolstering our oversight mechanisms, and advancing our engagement with the citizens we serve.

“In view of these challenges, we must embrace a culture of continuous learning and capacity development. We must invest in human capital development, ensuring that members, staff and legislative aides are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of modern legislative work.

Economic City Free Zone, which it illegally occupies at the instructions of the 5th, 6th and 7th defendants against the provisions of Sections 4 and 13 of NEPZA Act, without the express approval of the NEPZA,” he added.

Justice Ekwo therefore ordered Arab Contractors to pay to the plaintiffs the sum of N100 million only for the forceful invasion and destruction of the plaintiffs’ master plan of the zone, designed by Eagle Hills Properties LLC, of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at a cost of 35 million dollars.

The judge, who ordered the company to pay a N50 million general damages, also directed the firm to pay N5 million as cost of the action.

He equally ordered an interest on the entire judgment sum at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, commencing from the time of the delivery of the judgment till the entire judgment sum is fully liquidated by construction firm.

The judgment of the court was delivered on February 6, 2023, in the suit filed by the Centenary Economic City Free Zone and Centenary City Free Zone Company.

The defendants included President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) and NEPZA as 1st to 3rd defendants.

Also joined in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/2130/2022, were the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; FCT minister, FCTA, FCDA and Arab Contractors as 4th to 8th defendants respectively.

In the suit filed in 2022, the Managing Director of the 2nd plaintiff, Mr. Ikechukwu Odenigwe, in the affidavit deposed to, averred that the 1st plaintiff was licensed as a Free Zone, under NEPZA on September 10, 2014, while the 2nd plaintiff was licenced as a Free Trade Zone Company on October

10, 2014, during President Goodluck Jonathan-led government.

Odenigwe said on December 5, 2022, the Centenary City Project was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He said the recommendation made by the minister of Trade for the designation of 1,264.78 hectares of land at Wawa District, as the Centenary Economic City Free Zone, FCT, Abuja, was approved by the Presidency.

“The said approval was also communicated to the Managing Director, Centenary City Plc., via a letter dated 16th September, 2014.

“Upon the fulfilment of statutory requirements, a certificate was issued by the NEPZA, licensing Centenary Economic City as a Free Zone.

“The 2nd plaintiff was also issued an operating license,” he said.

He, however, alleged that despite its lack of authority and without the permission of NEPZA, which had the regulatory power, the FCTA asked Arab Contractors to convert parts of the Free Zone land to their site yard.

Odenigwe alleged that Arab Contractors defaced and destroyed the master plan of the Centenary Economic City Free Zone.

The MD, who told the court that the company now endangered the assets and investments of the Federal Government with their conducts, said it was in the interest of justice to grant the reliefs as sought.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs had proven their case through the exhibits tendered and by the provisions of Sections 5 (1) (a) and (b), (2), and (3) (a) and (b), 147, 148, 299 (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Sections 4, 8, 10 (1) and (2) and 13 of the NEPZA Act, and Section 19 of the FCT Act. “The plaintiffs are therefore entitled to the claims sought in this case and I so hold,” he said.

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NEWS

Pre-inauguration tour of the 24,000 metric tons Liquefied Petroleum Gas...

L-R: Managing Director, Prudent Energy & Services Ltd, Mrs. Abiola Babatunde-Ojo; Chairman, Ardova Plc, Mr. AbdulWasiu Sowami; Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed; Regional Coordinator, South-West NMDPRA, Mr. Ayo Cardoso and Managing Director Ardova Plc, Mr. Moshood Olajide; during the pre-inauguration tour of the 24,000 metric tons Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility of Ardova Plc in Ijora, Lagos on Saturday

Senate: Nigeria Lost N17tn to Tax Waivers in 5 Years

FIRS seeks lawmakers’ support to terminate N2.7tn fresh tax credit scheme Agency defends budget, projects N19tn total tax collections for 2024

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate, yesterday, described as unfortunate and totally unacceptable the N17 trillion that the country lost to tax waivers extended to some individuals and corporate establishments in the last five years.

The upper chamber urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to suspend any form of tax waivers and replace it with the rebating system.

The senate objected to the alleged abuse of tax waivers when the management team of the FIRS, led by its Chairman, Zach Adedeji, defended the agency's 2024 budget before the Committee on Finance,

chaired by Senator Sani Musa.

Adedeji projected N19 .4 trillion as the agency's targeted total tax collection for 2024. He urged the senators to support his position that the fresh N2 .7 trillion tax credit planned for road construction in the country by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) be stopped.

Musa agreed with the FIRS boss that the tax waivers should be suspended and replaced with the rebating system.

He said, "Your (FIRS) projection of N19 trillion as total tax collection for 2024 is good when compared to N11.16 trillion achieved in 2023, but the senate believes that you can

do more even to the tune of N30 trillion if required measures are put in place.

"As impressive and encouraging the performance and projections of FIRS are under your leadership, this committee and by extension, the senate, on a serious note, urge you to look at the direction of tax waivers largely being abused with attendant and avoidable losses being incurred on yearly basis.

"Available records show that within the last five years, about N17 trillion have been lost by the country to tax waivers.

"It should be suspended and possibly substituted with rebating system."

The FIRS chairman informed the committee that the FIRS, in collaboration with the committee set up by Tinubu, would reduce the 62 different taxes being collected at the federal and sub-national levels to eight.

He said doing so would reduce burden on Nigerians and tackle the current food crisis being experienced in Nigeria.

Adedeji said, "President Bola Tinubu has seen the issue of multiple taxation as a pool of problems that is why he set up the presidential committee on tax reforms and fiscal policy.

"The mandate he gave to the committee was that they should

work on only one digit tax. As of today in Nigeria, we have 62 types of taxes being collected.

"The sad news about that is that less than eight out of the entire 62, accounted for 97 per cent of the collection.

"So, the others are just constituting problems. However, because we run a federation and we have laws, anything that has to do with motor parks and road taxes among others, are under the purview of the state.

"We are already consulting and engaging the state government on it. We have also demonstrated to them that when we want to move all those taxes especially the ones that led to increase in food prices

Rivers Police Confirms Killing of 2Baba in Murder of DPO Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has revealed that it had smashed David Gift Okpara alias 2Baba, leader of the gang that killed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada West, late SP Bako Angbashim, and dismembered his body.

Angbashim was killed on September 8, 2023, in Odiemude community, by a dreaded cult group allegedly led by 2Baba.

Following the incident, the law enforcement agencies, including the police, military, and relevant stakeholders, jointly expressed their commitment to apprehending the culprits and ensuring justice was served in the killing of the DPO. Although there were mixed reactions to what triggered the killing of the vibrant police officer, who had ensured the security of Ogoniland, it was rumoured in some quarters that it was politically motivated, others believed he was betrayed by his colleagues, especially following the circumstances that led to his death.

But upon assuming office as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State last November, Mr Olatunji Disu conducted an operational tour of Ahoada, where he urged officers to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the gruesome killing.

Disu paid respects to the five indigenes: Charles Osu, Ogbobula Eja, Idaowukwa Felix, Paul Victor, and Achinivu Saturday, who were killed by 2Baba and his gang on suspicion of collaboration with the police to arrest them.

During the investigation, more than 70 suspects linked to Angbashim's murder were arrested and prosecuted. But 2Baba and his gang managed to escape arrest by withdrawing into the forest.

The police later formed specialised teams, coordinating with the army, navy, air force, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in joint security operations.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP

Grace Iringe-Koko, a resolution was reached, declaring that an attack on one agency was an affront to all, reinforcing their united pursuit of justice against the perpetrators.

Iringe-Koko said based on the security unity, "On February 10, 2024, the command shared essential information with the Air Force.

Around 19:30hrs on the scheduled day, the Air Force executed an aerial assault, causing significant casualties and injuries to 2Baba and his gang.

"On February 17, 2024, at around 12:00hrs, 2Baba and his gang attacked Okogbe town and Odiokwu community, destroying pipelines.

"At 04:00hrs, operatives raided 2Baba's new camp. Despite a fierce gun battle, 2Baba and his gang members escaped. However, at around 14:00hrs, intelligence confirmed 2Baba's death after he lost consciousness and resuscitation attempts failed."

In a statement released to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Iringe-Koko said, "Efforts are in progress to retrieve the body of the

Edo Guber: PDP Approves Delegates List, Set for Primary February 22 Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, it had approved the delegates list for the Edo State Governorship Election Primary to nominate a candidate for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said the NWC had also approved

the conduct of the primary for Thursday, February 22, 2024 at the Lawn Tennis Court of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

He said the NWC charged all delegates, aspirants, leaders, critical stakeholders, members of our party and the public to note the official date and venue and be guided accordingly.

Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain Umoru Brimoh, from Owan West, has appealed to delegates to ensure that they vote for a candidate from Edo south.

In a letter to the delegates and NWC members, he said, "I write this open letter with a deep sense of concern and urgency, as the political landscape in Edo State shifts and evolves.

“It is evident that the choice of our gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming 2024 elections is crucial to the success of the PDP. "As a passionate member of our great party and a concerned citizen of Nigeria, I humbly urge all lovers of the PDP to select a candidate from Edo South," he said.

infamous killer, while investigations into the Iceland cult's activities in the region continue.”

Some of the items recovered from the camp of the suspects, according to the police spokesperson, included one AK47 rifle, one G3 rifle, one scorpion rifle, one double barrel locally made gun, two locally made pistols, one cut-to-size double barrel gun and one bullet proof vest.

Others were 13 pieces of dy-

namites, five rounds of 9mm live ammunition, army camouflage, assorted charms, one human skull and one jack knife.

Meanwhile, the state police command said it remained resolute in its duty to protect the lives and property of the citizens, assuring to continue to employ all necessary resources and strategies to ensure a safe and secure environment for all residents of the state.

to the centre.

"There is a report that when food items are moved from the north, before it gets to the south, they pay more than 40 types of taxes.”

He added, "That's part of the reasons food prices are increasing in Nigeria. The most unfortunate thing about this is that most of those taxes are not well coordinated and were not being accounted for.

"It is just creating problems for us so we are working through the joint tax board to make sure that we harmonise and let the states see that such tax is given us problems.

"We are also awaiting the report of the committee set up by the president to actually harmonise all the taxes.

“At the end of the day, we won't have more than eight or nine taxes that the state and federal government would be collecting."

On the controversy trailing the implementation of tax credit scheme for road construction by CBN, the FIRS boss insisted that the N2.5 trillion earlier committed to it must be fully implemented before thinking of any fresh one.

He said, "Regarding tax credit, what I said was that the programme is laudable, but that the N2.5 trillion being spent on it by NNPCL should be exhausted before bringing fresh request.

337 Bag First Class as ATBU Holds Combined Convocation Ceremony To graduate first set of 25 medical doctors Slates five Nigerians for honourary doctorate Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A total of 337 graduates bagged first class as the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, prepares to hold its 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th combined convocation ceremony scheduled to take place on February 24, 2024.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Muhammad Ahmad Abdulazeez, disclosed this at a pre-convocation press conference held at the Gubi Campus of the university yesterday.

He stated that the University would be graduating a total of 19, 252 students to include 404 diploma, 15,460 undergraduates, 1,653 Post graduate Diploma, 1,559 Masters and 176 PhDs. According to him, 337 students bagged 1st Class, 5,489 bagged 2nd Class Upper, 7,241 bagged 2nd Class Lower, l,867 bagged 3rd Class while 526 had pass degree.

"The combined convocation ceremony will start on Thursday, 22nd February, 2024 with the commissioning of 19 different projects completed in the last four years. These projects are spread in both Gubi and Yelwa campuses.

"We are inviting a number of dignitaries to commission these projects. These include the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed; the Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda; the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman; the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Ali Pate; and all the three senators representing Bauchi state.

"On Friday, 23rd February, 2024, there will be a convocation lecture which will be delivered by 4:00 pm at the 1000 seat capacity lecture theater, Yelwa Campus. A

Professor of Media studies, Umar Pate, will deliver the lecture with the topic: "Education and Nigeria's National Integration in the Digital Age: Matters Arising".

“The lecture will simultaneously hold along with exhibition from various departments of the university at the same venue to showcase some of our breakthrough in research and fabrication.

"The third day of the ceremony will be held at the convocation square of the university here in Gubi campus. It will feature the graduation of four sets of graduands. It is significant to mention here that we are graduating our first set of 25 medical doctors from this University," he said The Vice-Chancellor said the University Senate had approved for the award of honorary Doctoral degrees to five distinguished Nigerians, who would be honoured on the convocation day.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

NEWS

EXPLORING TRAINING PArTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS...

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Golden Fingers Farms and Ranches Ltd, Mr. Steve Isaac; President, Whitecloud TVET Solutions Limited, Mr Jasper Oluranti; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Madam Abiola Arogundade and Managing Director, Golden Fingers Farms and Ranches Ltd, Dr. Reuben Joel during an official site visit to Golden Fingers Farms and Ranches Ltd in Zuba, Abuja, to explore training partnership programme opportunities for Nigerian youths through the office of the SSA - TVEE... recently

I Won Edo APC Primaries with over 6,000Votes, Senator Okpebholo Insists

Dekeri storms Ganduje's office, demands certificate of return Group passes confidence vote on Uzodimma, urges support for winner Youths take over party secretariat, vow to sack state executive Sunday Aborisade, Juliet Akoje in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s governorship primaries in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has insisted that he defeated his closest rival, Dennis Idahosa, with over 6,000 votes.

Also, one of the governorship aspirants claiming victory in the primary election, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, has stormed the office of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, demanding his Certificate of Return as winner of the election.

Relatedly, a group under the aegis of the APC Renewed Hope Coalition, Edo State chapter, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the party's governorship electoral committee and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinnma, over the conduct

of the primaries.

This was as angry youths and women of the APC in the state, yesterday, took over the party secretariat, and demanded for the sack of the state executive members led by the acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe.

However, Okpebholo, who said though thugs disrupted the collation of the process, the final tally showed that he won convincingly with a commanding majority.

The Edo Central lawmaker in the senate, in a statement in Abuja, urged his supporters to remain calm, and rest assured that justice would be served at the end of the day.

He maintained that as candidate of the party, he was certain of returning Edo State to the APC. “Let me use this opportunity to thank and appreciate all APC members of Edo State for nominating me as the party’s candidate for the governorship election come September

2024. I am immensely humbled by the trust and confidence reposed in me.

“You will recall that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, APC, nominated highly reputable officials to officiate in the primary election scheduled for the 17th of February 2024 with Dr. Stanley Ugboaja, as the State Returning Officer.

“After the primary election, which was adjudged to be very peaceful, the collation of results commenced at the designated centre by the collation officials in the presence of INEC officials, the Press, the law enforcement agencies and other party stewards.

“Surprisingly, while the collation of results was ongoing and upon the declaration of eight (8) local government, some irate thugs suspectedly commissioned by my closest rival, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who had only won two (2) local governments as against my six (6), stormed the venue of the state collation center and

disrupted the process by beating up collation officials, party representatives, the press crew and others.

“To my amazement and that of well-meaning members of our great party in Edo State, information currently reaching me from Benin City, Edo State has it that the same thugs that disrupted the collation of result as earlier stated, also invaded the state secretariat of the party early this morning.

"They destroyed and looted valuables in the offices in the guise of purportedly looking for the result of the primary election, which was never conducted by the State Executives of the party.

“Let me use this opportunity to commend the State Retuning Officer Dr. Stanley Ugboaja and other members of the Committee for their resilience in continuing the collation and subsequent official declaration of final results after the urgent medical attention rendered

to the injured members.

“It is now on record that the total votes scored by me is twelve thousand one hundred and forty-five (12,145) as against my closest rival, Hon. Dennis Idahosa who scored only five thousand, five hundred and thirty-six votes (5,536) “As a result, I enjoin you not to be deterred by rumours from other quarters as I am very optimistic that justice will prevail at the end. I am convinced that the National Working Committee of our great party, under the able leadership of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will ensure that truth will prevail over falsehood.”

But Dekeri, yesterday, stormed the secretariat and formally presented a letter requesting the Ganduje-led NWC to immediately issue him the certificate of return.

The one-page letter personally signed by him requested the NWC to issue him the certificate of returns, having polled the highest votes in the

R e d C r o ss D e c l ar e s N i g e ria’s H u n g e r C risis A l ar m in g , D e m ands I m m e diat e Att e nti o n rounded by sycophants, who did not engage him intellectually.

He stated, "They are not telling him the truth and he seems to be comfortable with the kind of people around him that don’t seem to have any idea on their heads nor have any solution to the problems that we have. And they are always trying to find excuses.

"I understand one of the ministers was even saying that things were improving, when people are in the mess they are at the moment.

How can things be improving when insecurity has reached that level where even Abuja, the capital state, is not safe? And when it comes to finding solutions, they are repeating what has been done 40 years ago without any success.

“They are looking at controlling process. How can you control the prices of things that you don’t have?”

Bugaje stated that even though a lot of the things happening today were not conceivable a few years back, it was always clear that the county was going down the drain.

He said, "We could see a lot of these problems years back, but not as bad as they are at the moment.

Certainly, the speed with which it has happened and depth of the problems that we have found ourselves are not things that we anticipated."

The elder statesman recalled that he had warned the country’s leaders years back about the country coming to its present dilemma.

He said, "I remember as far back as 2005-2007, there were signs and then I was a member of the PDP in the House. And I did draw the attention of the chairman of our party then, Chief Audu Ogbeh, that things are likely to get worse if policies do not change.

"I specifically drew his attention to a book written by Robert Kaplan, titled, ‘The Coming Anarchy.’ I did a 15-page review article of the book and in that review I was shocked that reading it 15 years after, it is speaking specifically to the issues we are witnessing today."

He said just like when the last regime took over in 2015, it was clear that it didn't have the capacity to deliver but even then, Nigerians never expected that they will do the level of killing and basically loot the country's treasury.

Bugaje stated, "It is becoming very clear at the moment.

"Similarly, we had expected that when the new leadership, Tinubu, took over, things will change for the better. We were expecting that he was surrounded by expertise and we were expecting that for him to have announced the removal

of subsidy, he must have had a plan. Something that will address the consequences of that. You don't make a policy without looking at the consequences and preparing to cushion the effect of that."

Bugaje said, apparently, Tinubu erroneously announced the removal of subsidy without any preparation.

He said what was happening at the moment was anticipated, but the extent to which it had come was baffling.

He alleged that those in government advising the president did not even understand the present realities.

"They seem to think that it was somebody somewhere manipulating some things," he added.

Alleging disconnect between the government and the people, Bugaje said, "If you want to know what is happening, speak to the imams and pastors because these are persons the poor people run to. They have easy access to these people and they go to them normally because when you are in this big trouble, you look for God. “You sort of surrender more to God because you know you have come to the end of your wits. From these people we got to know that some of these people are feeding their families with dead meat because they have nothing. They have come

to their wits end."

Youths Protest in Ibadan against Hardship Commercial activities were brought to a standstill in different parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, as protesters in their hundreds defied police warning and marched on popular streets, in demonstration against the rising food shortage and high cost of living in the country.

The protests caused heavy traffic in many areas, including Mokola, Adamasingba, Ekotedo, Onireke, Sango, Bodija, Agbowo, and Ojoo.

Hundreds of youths converged on the popular Mokola Roundabout yesterday morning amid heavy security presence, to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions bordering on the rising cost of living, escalating prices of food items, hunger in the country, economic hardship, and the urgent need for the government to take pragmatic steps to make food available.

Prior to the protest, the state police command had warned against any protests without prior notice to the police. The command had in a statement warned that unscrupulous

elements could hijack the protests for criminal purposes, adding that the security agency would not allow any form of violation of public order that could lead to breach of public peace.

However, defying the police warning, the protesters called on Tinubu to immediately address the raging issues of insecurity, economic hardship, and hunger, among others, faced by Nigerians.

The protesters, who were mostly youths, said they were fed up with the current state of affairs in Nigeria, and demanded immediate end to the crisis.

They held placards bearing different messages, such as, “Tinubu Must Address Insecurity,” and “Hunger is Killing Us.” The protesters also expressed concern over high cost of living, which they said was making it difficult for people to afford basic necessities of life. They said food prices had skyrocketed, making it difficult for many Nigerians to feed their families.

They hoped that their demonstration will draw the attention of Tinubu and the government to these pressing issues, as they called on the government to do more to alleviate the suffering of the people and improve the country’s economy.

election and having been returned by the local government returning officers.

This, nonetheless, convener of the the APC Renewed Hope Coalition, Edo State chapter, Mr. Stevens Jim, described Uzodinnma as the face of new democracy for his ability to ensure a transparent, free and fair primaries in the state.

"At this point, we will like to commend Governor Hope Uzodimma for his exemplary leadership and commitment to deepening democracy in Nigeria because under his watch, the just concluded APC primaries in Edo State stand as a shining example of transparency, fairness, and integrity in the electoral process.

"Governor Uzodimma and his team's dedication to upholding the principles of democracy has ensured that every eligible member of the party had an equal opportunity to participate and have their voices heard.

"In a time where the credibility of electoral processes is often called into question, the electoral committee headed by Governor Hope Uzodimma has set a new standard for conducting primaries by prioritizing transparency and inclusivity.

"The smooth and orderly conduct of the primaries across the 18 local government areas of the state is a testament to APC's unwavering commitment to upholding the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded.

"We unequivocally pass a vote of confidence on the Governor Uzodimma led Electoral committee for conducting a free, fair and credible primaries", the group said.

Meanwhile, angry youths and women of the APC, who took over the party secretariat, were led by the State Youth leader of the party, Tony Adun.

They forced their way into the offices and brought out the furniture, and other office equipment, vowing to stay at building for the next seven days.

Speaking, Adun said they were protesting against the conduct of the officials at Saturday's primary election of the party, which threw up three winners.

He vowed that they would not leave the premises until the exco did the right thing. They also said they would cook, eat and stay there for seven days.

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NEWS

Inter-Denominational Divine Service...

L-R: Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Gboyega Soyanwo; Secretary to the State Government, Lagos State, Abimbola Salu Hundeyin; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State, Bishop Stephen Adegbite and the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Christian Religion, Rev. Bukola Adeleke during the Inter-Denominational Divine Service, IDDS held in Lagos at the weekend

FG Begins Part Payment of Withheld Salaries of Varsity Lecturers Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has commenced the part payment of withheld salaries of Nigerian lecturers as earlier promised in October 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.

However, the payment of the

withheld salaries has not extended to other university -based unions, thus resulting in threat of service withdrawal by the affected staff.

As of Monday, members of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) and the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) confirmed

the payment in separate interviews with THISDAY A senior lecturer in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Enugu state who spoke to THISDAY said he and some of his colleagues started receiving the payment alert by Sunday evening and it was for the two

months of March and April 2022.

The commencement of the exercise came barely a week after the leadership of ASUU threatened to take action if agreements earlier reached with the government including the payment of the withheld salaries, were not fulfilled.

However, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated

Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have faulted what they described as selective payment of the withheld salaries.

The Joint Action Committee ( JAC) had written to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajiabiamila on the implications of the decision of the government to single out ASUU for the payment in exclusion of the other three unions.

Both unions warned government that they cannot guarantee industrial peace if nothing was done to urgently address the situation.

In the vein, NAAT has deplored the payment of four months withheld salaries to the ASUU, and the exclusion of the three other university-based unions.

It said that the federal government should be held responsible if there is any industrial crisis.

Ben Nwabueze Begins Final Adamawa APC Blames Binani for Journey Home Thursday The Prof Ben Nwabueze National Burial Committee co-chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, yesterday announced activities for the burial of the foremost constitutional lawyer.

Nwabueze, scholar, teacher, lawyer, winner of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and one-time Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 92.

A statement by the Committee said the burial activities will commence on Thursday, February 22, 2024 with a Valedictory Court Session at the Lagos State High Court Premises, Ikeja, at 2pm. The event will be presided over by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba.

As part of the obsequies to the dead, Friday, February 23, 2024, has been scheduled as a Day of Tributes at the Harbour Point Event Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 2pm.

The statement further detailed that the mortal remains of the eminent jurist will be interred at him country home in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Also, Friday, March 1, 2024 has been scheduled as the day for national tributes and celebration of the impactful and very worthy life and times of Akunnia Benjamin Obiefuna Nwabueze, the Oduah Afo-na-Isagba of Atani, at Atani.

The ceremony will commence at 12 noon.

Thereafter, the funeral train will move back to Lagos, where the group of eminent national leaders popularly known as The Patriots will hold a National Colloquium/ Dialogue at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, March 18, 2024.

The colloquium is scheduled to commence at 11am.

Nwabueze, who at the time of his passing was the most senior lawyer in Nigeria with a scholarly output that included over 34 books, 100 conference keynotes, and 200 peer-reviewed and scientific articles, and probably also the most prolific and influential legal scholar out of Africa, was the Chairman of The Patriots.

The National Burial Committee said in the statement that The Patriots deliberately settled for March 18 for the colloquium to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Nigerian National Conference, which was inaugurated on March 17, 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Until his death, Nwabueze championed the cause of restructuring, which he believed was the only pathway to an egalitarian and prosperous nation.

The statement which was signed

by Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, Secretary of the National Burial Committee, further said: “The historic National Colloquium being organised in honour of Prof Ben Nwabueze, a foremost champion of the 2014 National Confab, will be chaired

by Chief Emeka Anyaoku,

former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and chairman of The Patriots.

“Expected at the various events of the obsequies announced above are delegations and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, former presidents and vice presidents of Nigeria, serving and former state governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly.

“Others include present and former members of State Houses of Assembly, envoys of Foreign Missions in Nigeria, leaders of socio-cultural and political groups, members of the Bench and the Bar, close associates and friends of the late eminent jurist.”

Party’s Loss at 2023 Guber Polls Daji Sani in Yola

Adamawa State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has blamed its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Binani, for the failure of the party at the 2023 governorship election that produce Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The party made the revelation at a meeting convened at the party secretariat in Yola, yesterday, to review what was behind the party's failure in the last governorship election, the bye-election and what transpared at the courts.

According to the APC, the PDP governor won his election on a platter of gold because of Binani’s lack of wisdom to work with the party structure and allowed peace to reign.

The party also condemned her attitude of high-handedness, pompous and indiscipline behaviour, accusing her of dumping all the APC officials from the ward, local government, and state levels during her campaigns, and elections periods.

The party claimed its governorship candidate brought disgrace to the party and disunity among members in the state.

The party officials narrated

their individual experiences and concluded that Binani injured the party by instigating and accepting the unconstitutional declaration of Yunusa Ari Hudu.

It condemned Hudu’s act and regarded it as anti-democracy and unconstitutional behaviour that was morally and criminally indicted him and all his accomplices.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Chairman of the party, Idris Shuaibu, said the party’s leadership unanimously stated that their candidate was fighting both the high and the lowly of the party which was a weakness not expected from a good leader.

Economic Hardship: Group Begs Tinubu to Lift Ban on Food Importation Fidelis David in Akure

Amid the economic hardship facing Nigerians, a group, Social Rehabilitation Grace and Supportive Initiative, yesterday called on President Bola Tinubu to open land borders for urgent importation of grains and building materials to create a competition and control the current inflation.

The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Dr Charles Oludare, explained that opening of the borders will checkmate “saboteur tendencies” of local producers frustrating the economy.

The group, while noting that Nigeria shut its land borders in August 2019, protecting local farmers, boosting local food production and curbing arms influx that threatened the country’s security, explained that closures had not brought any gains to its citizens.

"In light of food shortages in Nigeria and the hardship this is causing the people of the country, I will like to urge President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his position on food importation into the country.

"While this position not to open the boarders is based on his vision of a self sufficient Nigeria, I believe

it is flawed in strategy of addressing the immediate needs while keeping track of future goals, hence a more pragmatic approach is required.

"An estimate is only as good as its variables. While I may not have full detail of the situation as the president and his advisers, I think there is no gainsaying the fact that food supply is insufficient in Nigeria. “ The plans to fix the security challenges and ensure adequate food production is a medium to long term plan, it will not fix the problem in the meantime. So, it is necessary pending the time when security gets better and when farmers feel

safe enough to farm," the group added.

It however, said no country can successfully close its borders permanently As no country is an island.

"While it is a thing of pride to say we grow the food we eat, we must first eat the food in order to be able to grow food. I will say food security trumps food productivity.

“This is why the president should allow food to come into the country.

We can allow food importation and still support our farmers at the same time. Both actions are not mutually exclusive,” it argued.

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NEWS

MOVING TO REDUCE CEMENT PRICE…

The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite(left) and the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a meeting with cement manufacturers on the escalating cost of the product in Abuja…yesterday

Again, EFCC Arrests 2 Chinese Nationals for Illegal Mining Activities in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Another two Chinese nationals have reportedly been arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for offences bordering on illegal mining activities.

The suspects, according to THISDAY checks, were arrested

on Sunday at mining sites located at Isolo in Oshodi/ Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The EFCC had on Friday arrested two Chinese nationals, Yang Chao, 39, and Xiao Jiang, 38, for suspected illegal mining activities.

The anti-graft agency stated that the suspects were arrested

alongside Mr. Chidi Joseph Osuji, 48, suspected to be an accomplice in the illegal business.

However, a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday by the EFCC

Mezovest, Nigerian fastest growing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) distribution company, and Elizade, a renowned automobile dealer, have concluded plans to introduce an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to petrol through the establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) daughter stations.

The Managing Director of Mezovest, Mr. Tosin Thompson, who disclosed this yesterday, said the development was informed by the hike in the price of petrol

The Chairman of Tantita Security

and diesel. increase Nigeria’s oil output to 2 According to him, “Given the hike in the price of petrol and diesel, there has been a surge in the demand for cleaner, Fidelis David in Akure more affordable fuel options.

This demand has created a The Ondo State Governor, Hon. favourable market opportunity Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has for both companies to create said that his administration does value for millions of Nigerians not have plans to abolish the who are seeking affordable energy recently created Local Council alternatives.”

Development Areas (LCDAs) He further said recent in the state. policy initiatives of the federal Governor Aiyedatiwa said government seeking to provide incentives for alternative energy is a key factor accelerating the partnership with Elizade Motors. Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

“The latest arrest brings to 48 the number of persons arrested for suspected illegal mining activities within the last two weeks by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

million barrel per day by putting more effort in the fight against oil theft.

Ekpemupolo gave the assurance last weekend in Lagos when he bagged the Courage of Leadership Award in Nigeria at The Sun Newspaper Awards 2024.

Media Consultant to TSSL, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, who received the award on behalf of his boss, disclosed that Tantita is targeting a two million barrel per day output for the country, noting that the award would spur the company to work harder.

Bebenimibo, in a statement issued in Warri yesterday, expressed gratitude to the newspaper for recognising their efforts, and recalled that they had discovered a lot of points that illegal activities were done, adding that three vessels have been arrested this year.

Aiyedatiwa: I’ve No Plan to Scrap LCDAs Created by Akeredolu yesterday that the creation of the LCDAs is one of the legacies of his late principal, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, which must be preserved.

He said that the state government would soon constitute transition committees for the 18 local government areas and 33 local council development

areas ahead of the coming local government elections in the state.

Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed this during a meeting with the former members of caretaker committees of the LGAs and LCDAs at the Governor’s Office in Akure.

The governor told the 255 former appointees that the

case instituted in court by the opposition party and subsequent court injunction had prevented their inauguration and assumption of office.

He said that efforts were being intensified to resolve the court case through a political solution, which has been granted by the court.

FCTA Seals Orphanage over Trafficking of 23 Children

Federal Capital Territory Enugu Govt: No Homes The Administration (FCTA) has off an orphanage for Demolished to Build New City sealed alleged involvement in the GideonArinzeinEnugu

two Chinese expatriates were arrested alongside two others suspected to be accomplices in the illegal business.

“They are Mumini Jamiu and Israel Nwachukwu.

Tompolo: We Will Increase Crude Oil Output to 2m Bpd

Sylvester Idowu inWarri

Limited (TSSL), a private Mezovest, Elizade Float Services maritime security firm owned by Government Ekpemupolo, CNG Stations to Save Cost Chief alias Tompolo, has vowed to Sunday Okobi

and signed by Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, stated that the new two Chinese nationals arrested are Xiao Yi, 50, and Duan Yahong, 52.

The statement said that “the

The Enugu State Government has dismissed rumors making the rounds that it plans to demolish and forcefully eject residents of Nchatancha Nike, one of the many communities affected by the ongoing construction of New Enugu City, a smart city flagged off by Governor Peter Mbah in October.

The state government, however, blamed the protests and disturbances, including the attack on a bulldozer at the construction site, on land grabbers in the community, who

sell portions of the already acquired and gazetted lands to unsuspected buyers, saying that some culprits were already in the security net.

Addressing newsmen yesterday , during a site visit to Nchatancha Nike where a bulldozer was attacked, Secretary to Enugu State State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, said that the government would not be deterred in its determination to actualise the first phase of the New City in 24 months as already agreed with the China Communication Construction Company, CCCC, in October.

Heritage Energy Oil Services Limited (HEOSL) and the Joint Venture Partners of OML 30 have handed over the Community Primary Health Care Centre Egbo-Igbide, which they recently renovated and upgraded to the Isoko South Local Government Council.

In a well attended ceremony, the HEOSL General Manager, Government, Joint Venture and External Relations, Mr. Adesola Adebawo congratulated the Igbide people and the Primary Health Care Development

Agency.

According to Mr. Adebawo, the day’s event was another demonstration of the company’s dedication to the well being and progress of the 112 OML 30 host communities in Delta State.

He said: “The inauguration of the primary health care facility is particularly special as it is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Goal 3 of the United Nations which states that: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well being of all at all ages”.

trafficking of 23 children.

The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs

Secretariat, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, said yesterday that the Priesthood Orphanage, in Karonmajigi, was sealed after the children, aged 1–14 years, trafficked from Plateau State, were rescued from the orphanage.

She said that the FCT Minister,

Mr. Nyesom Wike, had now authorised the secretariat to profile and recertify orphanages operating in the nation’s capital.

“There is no question, yesterday, with immediate effect, that ‘home’ was sealed and shut down. We have the name of the proprietor of the orphanage

but we are not naming names now for obvious reasons.

“When the entire material investigation is concluded, there will be an official gazette presentation of the facts, the findings and the delivery of this intervention we have started here today.

Usman Bugaje Expresses Disappointment Over Tinubu’s Administration Mary Nnah

A former member of the House of Representatives, an elder statesman, political activist and scholar, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has expressed disappointment over the performance of President Ahmed Tinubu in the last eight

months of his tenure.

Speaking on the state of the nation and impact of the harsh economic condition on Nigerians during Politics Today on Channels TV, Bugaje, said “I am extremely disappointed at the performance of President Tinunu’s in the last eight

months.

“I used to know him as someone who is always reading and engaging but I have not seen that at all.”

He averred that the president is being surrounded by sycophants who do not engage him intellectually.

“They are not telling him the truth and he seems to be comfortable with the kind of people around him that don’t seem to have any idea on their heads nor have any solution to the problems that we have.

And they are always trying to find excuses.”

Expels 14 Students over Examination Malpractices Heritage Energy, JV Partners Upgrade Unilorin A statement by the university’s expelled students also included 400 and Nigerian Languages; CIS/ Hammed Shittu in Ilorin of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Level, 300 Level, and 100 Level Library and Information Science, Health Care Centre in Delta The management of the University Director Abdulganiyu Kunle Akogun, students.

CIS/ Telecommunication Science; of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has expelled 14 students with immediate effect from the institution over examinations malpractices.

The affected students also included five students in the 500 Level.

said that the vice chancellor has approved their expulsion sequel to the recommendations of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee at its 219th meeting held on Wednesday and Thursday, January 10 and 11, 2024, respectively. The

The affected students were drawn from Faculties/Departments such as Agriculture/Aquaculture and Fisheries; Agriculture/ Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.

Others are Arts/Linguistics

Education/Adult and Primary Education Studies; Engineering and Tech/Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Engr and Tech/ Materials and Metallurgical Engineering as well as Life Science/ Zoology.

Kefas Constitutes Committee to Boost Food Production in Taraba Wole Ayodele inJalingo

Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has constituted a 25 man committee to boost food production and ensure sustainability in the state.

The committee, which is named Taraba State Agriculture and Food

Sustainability Committee (TSAFSC), has the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida as its chairman while the Secretary to the Government of the State, Mr. G.T. Kataps, would coordinate the committee.

Besides the Emir of Muri, three other members of the committee

are first class chiefs, namely the Chief of Mambilla, Dr. Shehu Baju; Lamdo Gashaka, Mr. Zubairu HammanGabdo and the Gara of Donga, Amb. Sanvala Shimura while the Aku Uka is also represented in the committee.

Other traditional rulers who

are members of the committee are the Chief of Mumuye, HRH Ado Adamu Mazang; Chief of Ibi, Mr.. Abubakar S. Danbawuro; Chief of Dakka, HRH YusufA. Manga and the Kuru Kona, HRH Augustine N. Vengkani, as well as the Tsohon Takum, Uhwe Ephraim Bala.

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NEWS

Tragedy as OAU Loses Staff to Lion Attack

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The management, staff, and students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday expressed sadness over the untimely death of one of their staff members, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi.

Confirming the incident that led to his death, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that Olawuyi, a

veterinary technologist, who has been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade, was attacked yesterday afternoon by a nine-year-old lion when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological garden of the university.

The other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already

54 Edo Indigent Students Get Free WAEC, JAMB Enrollment Fees AdibeEmenyonuinBeninCity

The joy of the students, staff and principal of Amahor Secondary School, Major in Igueben Local GovernmentArea of Edo State knew no bounds as an indigene of the area, Charles Ekholowa Enahonna paid for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for students of the school as part of his efforts to promote the educational advancement of the community.

The 51 students also got all expenses borne by the donor including stress-free National Identification Number (NIN) registration for the students.

During a brief ceremony at the school compound, three indigent students, who could not afford the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination fee, also had their enrollment paid by the philanthropist.

The WAEC enrollment followed an appeal to that effect by the principal of the school who had complained of some students’ inability to pay up even after having been captured on the examination registration portal.

In his remarks, Enahonna charged

the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a unique opportunity to excel in their academics in order to fittingly join in the development of human society.

Enahonna, while urging the students to forget about the seeming limiting circumstances of their study environment and take their studies seriously, also advised them to make books their regular companions as that was the only way to pass both the WAEC and JAMB examinations which they have registered for.

“I’m conversant with the limiting social and psychological factors of every study environment and Amahor Secondary School isn’t insulated from these challenges.

I therefore, advise you to study hard and pass the forthcoming exams in order to be relevant in the highly competitive university admission space.

“Don’t be afraid of where the money to foot the bills of your university education will come from.

Just work hard and pass first and leave the rest for God who will bring your destiny helpers, first in securing spaces in choice universities and your eventual sponsorship through the course of study.

caused severe fatalities on him.

On hearing the sad news, the management team led by the Vice Chancellor abruptly ended an ongoing meeting for an on-the-spot assessment

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, was informed on arrival at the scene by the acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre, Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji,

that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.

Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive lion has been euthanised.

Olawuyi has been taking care of the lion since it was born on campus about nine years ago, but, tragically, the lion killed the man who had been feeding some of them.

Oil Theft: Navy Uncovers 14 ‘Boiling’ Sites in Rivers Lauds PINL for credible intelligence

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Navy Component of the Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has uncovered 14 boilers scattered across a 500 meters radius at a location in Ataba creek, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

THISDAY gathered that the illegal bunkering facilities discovered at the area sharing

boundary with Akwa Ibom State comprised of large steel tanks, some serving as boilers while others served as reservoirs for stolen crude and refined products; plastic drums used for siphoning refined products out of the creeks.

Two small wooden boats and one large Cotonou boat serving as tanker for siphoning products were also recovered from the location.

It was also learnt that the

facilities were abandoned at the different sites, including the river, when the quick response force comprising the components from Joint Task Force (JTF), stormed the island following a tip off from officials of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL), the surveillance contractor protecting the oil pipeline in the area.

Speaking to journalists after an inspection of the arrested

facilities, the OPDS Commander, Real Admiral John Okeke, who led officers and stakeholders to the sites, announced that the feat was made possible “leveraging the information from our intelligence cell, which of course comprises the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, other components like the police, DIA, Civil Defence and of course, our big collaborator, the PINL.”

Hardship: Share Tithes, Church Proceeds with the Needy, Pastor Giwa Charges Clerics

Fidelis David in Akure

Amid the economic hardship facing Nigerians, the head of Awaiting the Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Pastor Adewale Giwa, has called on all religious leaders across the country to cultivate the habit of sharing a large portion of tithe and church proceeds to the needy.

The cleric stated this yesterday while featuring on a radio programme titled: ‘Agbami Oselu’, aired on Fresh 102.9FM in Akure, Ondo State.

Giwa, who urged worshippers not to show lackadaisical attitude towards paying their tithes, however, said the importance of feeding the poor and the needy in times of hardship can’t be

overemphasised.

He said: “We are under obligation to bring 10 per cent of the profit that we make from our business transactions or from the salary we earn. This is contained in the Bible book of Malachi 3:10.

“However, the controversy over the issue of tithes is unnecessary. It is happening

now because some of the big-time servants of God have betrayed the gospel and their calling.

“I am not against tithing.

When you read Deuteronomy 14:28-29, it itemises four people which tithe are meant for. The Levites, foreigners, widows and the fatherless. So, it is not only pastors that owns tithes.

Group Plans Seminar for Youths on How to Make Money through Social Media

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A group, SMFest, has kicked off plans to hold a seminar for youths in the Southeast in May 2024 on how to leverage the social media to make money.

The Coordinator of the group, Mr. Ifeanyi Ochije, who briefed journalists in Awka yesterday during the first meeting of

volunteers for the planning of the event, said the social media is the new money spinner in town.

He said the number of youths making money from social media today makes it the highest employer of labour, which is not only paying well, but in hard currency.

Ochije said: “Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) are

paying millions of naira to many creators and many people do not know how to cash into this to make good money. “We are bringing together youths in what we call Awka SMFest (Social Media festival). We have had it in Owerri, and now we are bringing it to Anambra State.

“During the Awka SMFest, we will be taking youths of the

Southeast through some of the ways they can use social media to grow themselves.

“Everyday, narratives are pushed out there, but the hope is that besides teaching the youths how to make money through social media, they can also learn to push out positive narratives about Anambra State and the Southeast on social media.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

TUESdaysports

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen’s Manager at Napoli, Mazzarri, Sacked

For the second time this season, Italian League champions Napoli yesterday sacked their Manager Walter Mazzarri and replace him with Slovakia national team coach Francesco Calzona.

Victor Osimhen who was top

scorer at Napoli last season has been struggling this season. He just returned to the team after a grueling AFCON 2023 outing with Nigeria’s Super Eagles where he scored one goal and got three cancelled.

The 62-year-old Mazarri took charge in November after Rudi Garcia was dismissed but Napoli have since fallen to ninth in Serie A ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 clash with Barcelona.

Calzona will be in charge for the

first-leg visit of Barca on Wednesday.

Calzona guided Slovakia to Euro 2024 but has a huge job on his hands as he returns to Napoli where he was an assistant during Luciano Spalletti's trophy-less first season with the club.

Calzona will reportedly keep his job with Slovakia and bring with him Marek Hamsik, Napoli's top all-time appearance maker who was also the first man to beat Diego Maradona's scoring record for the club.

Napoli romped to a historic third Scudetto last term but since title-winning coach Spalletti stepped down in the close season, chaos

has reigned in Naples.

Napoli are a whopping 27 points behind league leaders Inter Milan after winning just four of 12 league matches since Mazzarri took over, collecting 15 points.

The chances of Napoli getting back into the top four and next season's revamped Champions League are exceedingly slim, even if Italy wins a fifth spot.

Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Nwabali, Gets Heroic Home Welcome

Gets N5m gift, chieftaincy title and a street named after him in Egbema

Nigeria’s contingent to the All Africa Senior Badminton Championship in a group photograph with President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih Esq, ...at the weekend in Cairo, Egypt

Real Hardcore Fans Set to Light up Naples, Milan as Porto, Barca Visit

Heineken's "Cheers to The Real Hardcore Fans" campaign has been a smash hit since its launch, adding another layer of excitement to the UEFA Champions League football.

As action resumes this week in the Champions League, spotlight will shine on four venues where crucial battles will hold with "Real

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Hardcore Fans" set to collide.

Italy will be at the centre stage with two intriguing fixtures in Milan and Naples.

Serie A leaders, Inter Milan, will hope for the best at home against

familiar foes Atletico Madrid, while Napoli face fellow strugglers and former champions, FC Barcelona in Naples.

Inter and Atletico will showcase their traditionally strong defences against potent attacks. Inter's Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram have combined for 35

South-south Continues Dominance at PwC Under-17 Cricket

The fifth edition of the NCF/PwC National Under-17 Championship wrapped up on Sunday, at the twin Ovals of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, with the teen players representing the South-south region sweeping honors at the event.

Like in the previous editions, the boys and girls’ teams from the region went unbeaten at the national finals and retained their titles for each class.

Theophilus Ibodeme, the coach of the boys’ team said that the winning was not a coincidence. They are all result of the depth of cricket development in the region.

“By the grace of God Almighty, we are glad to have won again, and this time, it feels special because many of the teams have really stepped up their game, and it was tough for the South-south teams.

This means that we have to dig deeper, technically going forward if we have to retain our winning edge in the region,” observed the cricket coach.

Representing PriceWaterHouseCooper (PwC), Tolu Adeleke, said that the event has lived up to the expectations of his firm as a tool to galvanise the country and also empower the girls.

“We are very glad that the Nigeria

Cricket Federation has sustained the values that sparked our interest in this project; the fact that the event has even been elevated to become the nursery that produces our national team players is very encouraging,” he revealed.

Team South-west was another team that threw everything at the event this year, and their effort earned them runner-up places at both the boys and girls’ events. Joseph Omonkhobhio and Joy Osazuwa were the Most Valuable Players in the boys and girls’ categories, respectively. The two players are from the winning South-south teams.

goals, while Atletico's Álvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann boast 37.

But beyond goals, the roar of the fans will be defining. Can Inter's passionate Curva Nord outshout Atletico's boisterous support?

Both Napoli and Barcelona face domestic struggles, making the Champions League their last place to make impacts this season.

Napoli's "Partenopei" are known for their fiery chants and unwavering belief inside the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

With Victor Osimhen now back and fully settled after AFCON 2023 duties with Nigeria, Napoli now have an extra option up front.

Fuelled by the passion of their "Real Hardcore Fans", Napoli should take a crucial step towards progressing into the quarter-final.

TODAY Inter v Atletico PSV v Dortmund WEDNESDAY FC Porto v Arsenal Napoli v Barcelona

Opeyori Retains African Badminton Title as Nigerian Players Shine in Cairo

Nigeria's team at the just concluded All Africa Senior Badminton Championship, Cairo 2024, claimed seven medals with the country's number one badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori clinching his fifth African title and the third back to back.

Anuoluwapo had earlier won the All Africa Senior Championships Men’s Singles title in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2019, the All Africa Games MS title in Morocco in 2019,

the All Africa Senior Championships MS title in Uganda 2022, the All Africa Senior Championships in South Africa 2023 and now in Egypt 2024.

Nigeria's male team in the team event narrowly lost to Algeria in the Finals even after securing the first two of five games, thereby settling for Silver. The Women’s team picked a valuable bronze after losing the Semifinals to the

Ugandan Women’s team.

In the Individual event, Nigeria’s Wonder Boy, Anuoluwapo Opeyori stormed through to the finals by beating compatriot Victor Ikechukwu 21-13, 19-21, 21-9 to rekindle an old rivalry with Mauritian Georges Julien Paul where he again asserted his dominance by beating Paul 23-21, 11-21, 21-16 to take the coveted MS crown for the third time in a row and his

fifth African title.

The relatively new pair of Yunusa Momoh Godwin Olofua did the country proud by beating Mauritius players, Melvin Appiah and Tejraj Pultoo 21-17, 21-15 to reach the Finals. They were, however, unable to subdue the duo of Africa’s number one pair of Algeria’s Kociela Mammeri and Sabri Medel, thereby losing 12-21, 8-21 to clinch the Silver in the Men’s Doubles event.

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Pride of Egbema on the Chippa Bobo Nwabali has continued to reap United goalkeeper.

Eze Amuda eulogised Nwabali bountifully from his feat at the last Africa Cup of Nation in Côte d’Ivoire for his performance especially his as he gets heroics welcome in his penalty saving heroics which he noted engraved him in the hearts hometown in Rivers State.

Last Sunday, sons and daughters of of many Nigerians both home and Egbema Kingdom in Ogba/Egbema/ abroad thereby making him a Pride Ndoni Local Government Area for his people back home.

A grand reception was thereafter (ONELGA) of Rivers State trooped out in their thousands to welcome held in Nwabali’s honour at the their national hero to his hometown Community Primary School, Okwuzi where encomiums led by Sir Job, Chief where his journey began.

Nwabali successfully cemented Whip of the Rivers State House of his place in the annals of Nigerian Assembly and Member Representfootball history as his invaluable ing ONELGA Constituency I, Hon contributions helped the Super Eagles Franklin Nwabochi as well as Member to a previously unimagined second representing ONELGA Constituency place finish at the AFCON 2023.

II, Hon. Nkemjika Ezekwe, among The Chippa United safe hands was others were showered on him. received by the proprietor of his first football club in Nigeria, Go Round FC, Bro Felix Obuah, who would later lead him to the ONELGA council headquarters where the Chairman, Sir Vincent Job, among other dignitaries were waiting.

Sir Job announced a donation of N5million in addition to naming a street after him in the local government area.

The reception train then proceeded to the Nzeobi’s Stanley Nwabali (left), presenting a palace in Aggah-Egbema replica of his national team jersey to the where HRM, Eze Everestus Amuda conferred the Executive Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/ chieftaincy title ‘Ugo Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers Egbema 1 of Egbema State, Sir Vincent Job, during the grand Land’ which means the reception in his honour ...last Sunday

Deeper Life School Aims High with Sports The Deeper Life High School (DLHS), Mowe Campus, has expressed its determination to be counted among the best academic institutions in sports excellence in the country.

At its 6th biennial inter-house sports competition held on the campus field last week Friday in Mowe, Ogun State, the school’s Administrator, Mr Emmanuel Eze, explained that over the years, the institution has continued a gradual and positive integration of academic excellence with sports in the quest to nurture best talents in both fields.

In his welcome address, Eze, who noted that sport was good for physical fitness, and strength and an integral part of life, plays a major role in any student’s growth

and development.

On the Academy, the Administrator, who said DLHS believes in sport, hence, went all out to float the Sport Academy.

According to him, “the Academy, which took off recently, already has over 600 enrolees and we have the capacity to accommodate more in the years to come,” he remarked.

He said the school has secured the services of four current coaches who are training the students in football, volleyball, handball and basketball.

He added that the programme would run for two years and after the completion of the training, enrollees would be given a certificate that would be recognized globally.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

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MISSILE

APC to PDP Governors

“The PDP Governors have turned themselves into a band of doomsday vocalists, raising their voices to deafening decibels intended to drown the groans of their citizens battered by their critical inertia, ineptitude and dismal performance as governors of their states.

So, the state buck ‘ultimately stops’ at the governors’ table. The PDP governors’ call to the president to throw in the towel is nothing short of self-indictment” --APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, gives it back to the PDP Governors, in fire for fire tackles.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI ‘Emi Lokan, Awa Lokan’ And The Discontents abati1990@gmail.com

“B

ros, how body? Have you seen what I have seen?”

“No. How do you expect me to see what you have you seen, when my eyes are different from yours? I use my own eyes. The evidence of my own ocular facility, not what other people see in a country where most people are either depressed, half-blind, hungry or sick. Every man for himself or herself.”

“Ok. Ok, if you would just allow me to talk. You always think you know it all. But there are certain things other people see, and hear that you may not be aware of.”

“Okay. What? I am all ears” “Can you believe that in Pakistan, one man who was declared winner of an election in Karachi, Pakistan, in the recent elections in that country on February 8, turned down the victory, and said he was not the rightful winner of the election because it was rigged? Hafiz Naeem of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party insisted that the votes of his opponent were reduced and his increased to give him an illegitimate victory.

He says he disagrees.”

“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet, particularly when it comes to elections. Democracy is under threat universally. This year alone, there are more than 64 elections worldwide, including the ones that have taken place already and the ones to come, and the big threat is technology. People will use technology to manipulate anything - especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) to misinform, disinform, mislead and do all kinds of things. When you get any piece of information, you have to really double-check. Technology has become a threat to democracy. And the Pakistan that you mentioned.

Pakistan is a country of very corrupt leaders, both civilian and military and that is why they are finding it difficult to form a government after the recent general elections.”

“But when we see what looks like a good example from another part of the world, we should throw it up as a good example.”

“I don’t get your point.”

“I am saying that is it ever possible in Nigeria that a politician will reject his own declared victory on the grounds that the election was rigged in his favour?”

“I don’t want you to think that anybody in Pakistan is better than any other person in Nigeria. I ask you to check the story behind the story before you begin to put down your own country and your own people.”

“Whatever the story behind the story is, I can bet that no Nigerian will ever give up an election victory on the grounds that an election was rigged in his or her favour. In this country, politicians would rather win by hook or crook. Win first and let others be the ones to complain. Rig. Steal. Grab the INEC certificate and let the aggrieved go to court. There is zero integrity in Nigerian politics. The politicians are no different from bandits, terrorists and insurgents, and kidnappers. Every electoral event is a kidnapping event. They kidnap the process, the voters, the officials, and the results.”

“Calm down. Stop condemning what you don’t know. Are you a politician? You will just read one or two sensational stories on social media, and Google and you will start sounding like an expert. Armchair expertise is the biggest problem we have with public affairs analysis in this country, and I see that it is becoming a very attractive and profitable enterprise.

Can people learn to be humble?”

“You always like to water things down. Somebody will be going North; you will just take the conversation to the South. Okay, forget about Pakistan. Think of what happened in Edo state last weekend when after the All-Progressives’ Congress (APC) conducted its party primaries for the September 2024 race for Osadebey House, four different persons were declared winners. Nigeria’s ruling party could nor organize its own primaries. Ballot boxes were snatched.

Journalists were attacked. There was vote rigging, open violence. As of this moment, all the gladiators

President Bola Tinubu and their supporters are claiming victory, trading blames and threatening that there would be more recriminations.”

“The matter will still be resolved. The gladiators will cancel themselves out. Those who can be bought will collect cash and agree to shut up. Whoever proves stubborn will be reminded that whatever the party decides at the end of the day is supreme and binding. You are referencing one politician in Pakistan, don’t be surprised if at the end of the day a member of the Edo APC Gubernatorial race comes forward and says he, as a loyal party man has agreed to respect the decision of the party and that he would rather support a former opponent.

Politicians are the same everywhere. You should know the story before you draw conclusions.”

“But my point still stands. No Nigerian politician who has been declared winner, would on his own, on moral grounds, reject the victory. He will cling to it.”

“So, what is the moral of this your Paki story?”

“That politicians must have integrity. And I don’t know what is wrong with them in Edo APC. They have disgraced their party. They are disgracing the ruling party at the centre.”

“Calm down. They are not alone. The PDP is also disgracing itself in Edo State.”

“I hear Governor Godwin Obaseki is the problem in Edo PDP. They say he is the one who wants to determine single-handedly who succeeds him.”

“They say, they say… but the man himself has not said anything.”

“They say he wants to turn himself into the next Godfather of Edo State. He wants to choose and impose his own successor. I am afraid that when the EDO PDP organize their own primaries, this week, the chaos may be more than what we have seen in the APC.” ‘Dem say. Dem say. The only thing I know is that he has made it clear that his Deputy, Philip Shaibu who has been disrespecting and insulting him will not be Governor after him. It looks like that is his singular project, and the way he looks and even grunts when Shaibu tries to greet him in public, it looks like stopping Shaibu is a do or die affair for him.”

“But is that politics? Should people play the politics of hate and conflict?”

“You will have to mount the pulpit in a church to raise such questions, and you may do so to your heart’s content until you realize that the politics in churches and mosques is even far worse than what you see on the open field. The do-or-die politics in Nigerian places of religious worship is enough

to make God wonder why he created Nigerians”.

“I understand that even the Labour Party in Edo State is divided. What is wrong with these Edo people?”

“Be careful. Nothing is wrong with Edo people.

Watch what you say before the Oba of Benin declares you are an enemy of the Palace.”

“Oba gha to kpere. Ise!, Ise o, Ise o” “The Nigerian politician is the problem, that is what you can say. Our politicians have not learnt any lessons, despite all the electoral reforms resulting in the Electoral Act 2022. They don’t care. They are still snatching ballot papers and deploying violence. What we are seeing in the off-cycle elections is actually a dress rehearsal for the 2027 elections.”

“Are you now a prophet?”

“No. But I can tell you that I am better than all those Nigerian prophets who predicted that Nigeria was going to win the top prize at the African Cup of Nations in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The prophets lied. No one could even predict the outcome of the final game. But tomorrow, the same prophets will claim to know tomorrow, and Nigerians will believe them. Yahoo prophets! Some of them told us the Labour Party would be the alternative party in 2023.

Look at what is happening to the Labour Party, not just in Edo State, but even at the national level.”

“I agree with you on this one. A big scandal. A terrible disappointment. This is a party that Mr. Peter Obi practically built up, revived and turned into a platform of desire, with his energy, goodwill and resources. He galvanized and mobilized Nigerian youths to believe that a new, different Nigeria is possible and many bought into the vision: “Obi ke ke renke Obi, Obi Nwan nem… Elu uuu Pee”.

Remember the Obidient Movement. They told us to be Obidient and Yusful. But look at the Labour Party today. It has been reduced to Julius Abure vs. Lamidi Apapa, Julius Abure vs Oluchi Oparah.

I even hear they are looking for money. They are fighting over money. Please tell me, how are they different from APC and PDP?” “The parties are all the same. But you left out Maria Labeke vs. Julius Abure. The former Acting Chairman of the Party, Maria Labeke says Abure forged her signature. Poor Peter Obi. He has had to call for a proper audit of the party’s accounts.”

“It probably looks like the APC is a better party after all. At least they are in power at the centre.”

“How is the APC better? In less than one year of the Tinubu Presidency, Nigerians are groaning and weeping and gnashing their teeth as a result of the high cost of living. Average price levels have risen. Families can no longer feed. Inflation is 30%, food inflation is over 34%, the Discos are threatening to increase electricity tariffs and the cost of meters.

National Road Transport owners are threatening to stop lifting petroleum products because they can’t agree on affordable freight rates with major oil marketers. Landlords are hiking rent. Foreign exchange is a source of daily nightmare with the Naira devalued by more than 60% since January. If I must tell you something, housewives, side chicks and prostitutes have all conspired to punish Nigerian men. They all now quote black market rates. These people have destroyed the culture of leisure”.

“I don’t know what you call leisure. Leisure is different from sin. When you are made to pay for your sins, don’t drag the government into that.”

“So, is it a sin to be a Nigerian? Because that is how many Nigerians feel right now. Even the price of beer has gone up.”

“You don’t have to drink beer. Drink water.”

“The last time I checked, this is supposed to be a free country. But there are food protests all over the country. The cost of staple foods has gone up. People cannot afford to buy bread. The other day in Lagos, people were struggling to buy subsidized loaves of bread for N100. Another day, a good Samaritan provided free tubers of yam, people were ready to die to get their hands on just one tuber. In Niger State, the state Governor has had to warn other Nigerians not to come to Niger State to buy food.”

“The Federal government says it will release 102,

000 metric tons of grains to Nigerians.”

“Grains to be fed to goats and hungry chickens right? Nigerians have become animals?”

“But the government will not import food. They wanted to, but they have changed their minds.”

“Confusion. Policy incoherence.”

“And there will be no commodity boards. No fixing of prices.”

“They have no clue” “They say the problems they inherited are too many, too much and the people should learn to be patient, especially Organized Labour, NLC, TUC, threatening to go on strike by month-end.”

“I have my doubts about those ones, please.

Nigerians must be used to the perpetual scaremongering by Labour now. They will hold one or two meetings with the government, and they will call off their strike and our suffering will continue.

Please.”

“The Government says you people must have hope. Every person associated with the government, including Tinubu’s son, Seyi says Nigerians must have faith” “Who is that?”

“Tinubu’s son. He says Nigerians must endure.”

“Seyi Tinubu has the audacity to put his mouth into this matter? Does he think this is a family affair?

What does he know about endurance? Can he just focus on his omo Baba Olowo, akebaje, lifestyle?”

“Even his brother-in-law has been appointed Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority.

And the sister, the Iyaloja-General of the Federation, says we should all be patient. The President is trying his best to carry everybody along.”

“God! God! God!” “Indeed, it is only God who can help us. In Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum has asked the entire state to embark on fasting and praying and to call on God to help resolve the crisis of rising food inflation and insecurity. Yesterday, in Borno state, the people fasted and prayed. O ye men of little faith.”

“We have a government in place and we are looking for Manna from Heaven? In 2024? Can someone please pinch me?”

“The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume have just told doubting Thomases like you at the Catholic Bishops Conference a few days ago that there is hope. Serious hope. Wake up, my friend.”

“Audio, my brother audio oh. Where is the hope?

The Naira is practically becoming worthless. Who is still preaching hope to the Gentiles?”

“The CBN Governor said that the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration are working, and that if Nigerians do not see this, the IMF has seen it. Rating agencies like Fitch have seen it.”

“Very good. Good to know that our CBN Governor is suggesting that Nigerians are blind people. Nice compliment. But can someone tell him and other merchants of hope that, we, the Nigerian people do not see what IMF is seeing? We live here. We feel it. We are the ones involved in it. And we know that things are tough in this country. Life is hard.

That is why there are food protests on the streets of Abuja, Ota, Kano, Kaduna and Ibadan.”

“They say the problems were caused by the Buhari administration.”

“Not Jonathan again? I thought they said it was Jonathan.”

“President Jonathan is now a hero. When he left the government in 2015, the foreign exchange rate was N150 to the dollar. Today, it is about N1, 650 to the dollar. By Easter, it may get to N2,000 to the dollar. Even state governors are now saying they cannot function, they cannot deliver services because of inflation and the exchange rate fiasco.”

“You are quoting PDP Governors who are looking for visas to Venezuela. They are part of the problem too”.

“So, from whence will our help cometh, O Lord??”

“In a democracy, what you wish for is what you get. Have you forgotten? Emi lokan. Awa lo kan.

Eyin lo kan. Come on, e lo fokan bale.”

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