THURSDAY 23TH FEBRUARY 2023

National Security Council: Elections Will Hold as Scheduled Police probing some governors for allegedly inciting violence US harps on peaceful, free, fair voting process in Nigeria PDP PCC condemns attack on TV, radio station in Rivers

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Naira Swap: Over N500bn Yet to Be Returned to CBN, Says EFCC Boss... Page 5 Thursday 23 February, 2023 Vol 28. No 10179. Price: N250

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

NEWS

BUHARI WITNESSES SIGNING OF SECOND PEACE ACCORD BY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES...

L-R: PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; presidential candidate of African Action Congress, Mr. Omoyele Sowore; APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; NNPP presidential candidate, Musa Kwankwaso and other presidential candidates for the 2023 presidential PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE election, during the 2nd Signing of Peace Accord at the ICC in Abuja…yesterday

Naira Swap: Over N500bn Yet to Be Returned to CBN, Says EFCC Boss Deploys full contingent of operatives, technology to tackle vote-buying Supreme Court to deliver judgement on suit against banning N500, N1000 March 3 Tinubu’s presidency will reverse policy, says lawmaker Alex Enumah in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. AbudulRasheed Bawa, yesterday disclosed that over N500 billion of the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes were yet to be returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with the apex bank’s directive following the naira redesign project.

Also, the controversy over the naira redesign policy of the federal government would finally be rested on March 3, when the apex court would be expected to deliver judgment in the matter. A seven-man panel of the apex court presided

by Justice John Okoro announced the date for judgment shortly after taking all arguments for and against the policy.

The CBN as part of its demonitisation policy had redesigned the N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations of the nation's banknotes.

A timeframe of three months was given to Nigerians to deposit the old bank notes of the affected denominations with a January 31, deadline for the recall of the old notes.

Besides the economic benefits

of the naira redesign policy, it was expected that the policy would curtail incidents of vote buying as well as address issues of kidnapping for ransom amongst other insecurity challenges.

Since the introduction of the policy last October, nearly N2 trillion had been returned to the CBN according to the apex bank.

However, speaking during a programme monitored on Channels Television yesterday, on the level of preparedness of the anti-graft agency for the 2023 general elections, the commission's chairman disclosed that, "over N500 billion is yet to be returned to the CBN." Bawa further disclosed that a large chunk of the N500 billion of the new N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes in circulation were been hoarded allegedly for vote-buying in the general elections which commences this Saturday with the presidential and National Assembly polls.

He, however, warned that all machineries have been put in place to drastically reduce the influence of vote buying in the election.

Bawa expressed confidence that the agency would record more success compared to the recent Ekiti and Osun governorship polls

because of the naira redesign policy.

"As you know we have new currency in circulation, it is easier to track this new currency by their numbers, the CBN knows the serial numbers of these currencies as they distributed them across the country.

"So we even have another added responsibility because all the funds that we will eventually recover out there in the field that would be used for buying of votes; we can actually check and see whether they are genuine currencies that are gotten from ATMs and across the counter or somebody somewhere gave them in bulk and gave politicians the money," he said.

According to Bawa some bankers had been suspected of sabotaging the equitable distribution of the new notes.

While stating that no arrest had been made since October, when the policy started because the federal government does not want to create chaos and raise tension, the commission chairman, assured that after the elections a lot of people who had deposited very huge sums would certainly have answers to provide to the agency.

He assured that the EFCC would do everything to ensure that "dirty

money does not find its way into the electoral process," by stopping all those who wants to buy votes from doing so.

Bawa said although the commission's operatives are not many but, all of them would be deployed to the field to prevent vote buying.

He called on all Nigerians to buy into the fight if the country must get rid of corruption which is the cause of the insecurity and economic woes facing the country.

He specifically charged Nigerians to "say something" when they "see something," by reporting incidents of vote buying in their areas through dedicated phone lines.

Bawa, in addition, urged all Nigerians to download the EFCC's app through which the can upload pictures and videos of vote buying during the election.

"Issues of vote buying is about our future, country and the system itself" he said, hence all Nigerians must own the fight,” he added.

He also assured that all those caught would be brought to book as the commission has already gotten the fiat to prosecute vote buyers as well as sellers.

Meanwhile he appealed to Nigerians to be calm and remain

NEXIM Bank Secures $400m Facility for Burutu Port, Others As Nigerian Navy Holdings signs MoU with Akewa Global Services on development of port Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) said yesterday it secured $400 million facility from the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and other multilateral institutions for infrastructure development in ports including Burutu Port, in Delta State, among other projects.

The bank made the disclosure as the Nigerian Navy Holdings Ltd and and Akewa Global Services Ltd signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the management and development of

infrastructure at the port.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, the Managing Director of the bank, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, said the bank, in a renewed determination to ensure the success of the project, engaged multilateral institutions which culminated in the signing of an MoU with Afreximbank.

"We engaged multinational institutions and I want to tell the consortium members that we have signed an MoU with Afrexim bank for $400m, which Burutu port is part of them.

In his remarks, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said the MoU on the Burutu Port, which was abandoned by the colonialists in the 1920s was a dream come true.

"The project is a Nigerian project.

I am happy to be part of history.

It's divine that we are doing this today. The dream is a dream of 18 years. It's divine. God wants it to happen and it will happen. Nobody wants to work but everyone wants to harvest.

I am happy to be part of history.

It's for our people, not for individual

purposes", he said.

Earlier, in his remarks, the Chairman, Akewa Global Services, Chief Kenneth Donye, said the Burutu Dockyard, which was built by colonial masters in early 20th century and played a very crucial role to the Niger Delta Coast in the lucrative inland waterway transportation that existed up to the late sixties when inland waterways transportation declined.

He said the partnership with the Navy was to revive the dock by upgrading and modernising the facilities to handle modern maritime activities.

peaceful because after Saturday's election those hoarding the new notes would definitely release them.

Nigerians Know Fate March 3 as Supreme Court Adjourns for Judgment Meanwhile, the controversy over the naira redesign policy of the federal government would finally be rested on March 3, when the apex court is expected to deliver judgment in the matter.

A seven-man panel of the apex court presided by Justice John Okoro announced the date for judgment shortly after taking all arguments for and against the policy.

Three states of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara had initially sued the federal government over the implementation of the naira policy over the hardship they claimed the policy has brought upon the country.

In addition, they had obtained an interim order of the apex court restraining the federal government from banning the use of the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes pending the hearing and determination of their interlocutory applications.

Justice John Okoro who had issued the interim order on February 8, subsequently fixed February 15, for hearing of the interlocutory applications.

However, when the matter came up on February 15, nine other states applied to be joined as interested parties.

The States were Lagos, Katsina, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Edo, although Bayelsa and Edo had sought to be joined as co-defendants alongside the federal government.

Due to the new entrants, hearing could not go on as scheduled and hearing was again adjourned till Wednesday February 22 and President Buhari had held a nationwide broadcast and directed that only the N200 should remain as legal tender till April 10.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, six other states also brought their suits seeking for consolidation with the earlier suit.

The new states included Rivers, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Nasarawa and Abia, who joined the earlier 10 plaintiffs in asking the apex court to declare as unconstitutional, null and void the cashless policy of the federal government.

AbdulHakeem Mustapha, who argued the case for Kaduna and Kogi, urged the apex court not to hear the case of the federal government due to the contempt proceedings against the first respondent.

On his part, Chief Abiodun Owonikoko, who argued that of Zamfara urged the apex court to set aside the directive of Buhari wherein the president during a media broadcast reiterated the ban on N500 and N1,000 banknotes.

The plaintiffs had argued that the action of the president was in disregard to the interim order of the apex court, coming a day (February 16) after the apex court adjourned for hearing of the matter.

It was their argument that the president's directive coming when the apex court interim order still subsists leaves Nigerians in a dilemma as to which order to obey.

However, besides Lagos and the new six states, who came up with new suits against the federal government, the other remaining states adopted and aligned themselves with the main suit.

Counsel to Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, who noted that his suit bordered on the impact of the policy on governance in the state, also argued that the federal government should not be given audience at all until it complies with the February 8 order of the apex court restraining it from banning the old naira notes from February 10, 2023.

However, in vehement opposition to the plaintiffs' suit, counsel to the federal government, Chief Kanu Agabi, urged the apex court to dismiss the case on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter in the first instance.

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LAUNCH OF CA-COVID SECURITY EQUIPMENT...

L-R: Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chairman of Coalition against COVID-19 and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Godwin Emefiele, and GMD/CEO, Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, during the Launch of CA-COVID Security Equipment at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ….yesterday

Buhari, Gowon, Abdulsalami, Jonathan, Others Sue for Peaceful Elections 18 parties, presidential candidates sign peace accord Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Barely 48 hours to Saturday's presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former president Goodluck Jonathan, have asked all candidates contesting at all levels to respect the choice of voters and accept the result of the election as would be announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the end of the exercise.

Buhari and others spoke just as all the presidential candidates of the 18 political parties contesting the presidential election, yesterday, signed the last lap of the peace accord brokered by the National Peace Accord in Abuja.

Unlike the earlier stages of the peace accord, yesterday's edition saw the signing of the accord by all the presidential candidates in person who were all in attendance.

Also, Buhari witnessed the signing ceremony along with other former Nigerian presidents and that of other African countries.

While addressing the candidates and other stakeholders at the International Conference Centre, venue of

the peace accord signing ceremony, Buhari said his administration is determined to leave behind a legacy of peaceful and credible electoral process for the country.

He said: "Since my assumption of office we have worked so hard to ensure that we pass on a legacy of free and peaceful elections in the country. We will continue to emphasise neutrality and allow the rule of law to take precedence over political exigency.

"We have demonstrated that with the off circle elections in Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states. We will allow Nigerians to decide who will govern them and we are committed to this legacy

Nigeria’s GDP Slowed to 3.10% in 2022, Grew 3.52% in Q4

Growth led by non-oil sector at 95.66%, oil 4.34%, services 56.27% Oil production improved to 1.34mbpd James Emejo in Abuja Nigeria’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate slowed to 3.10 per cent in 2022, compared to 3.40 per cent in 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed yesterday.

However, the economy grew by 3.52 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2022 (Q4 2022), compared to 2.25 per cent in the preceding quarter, the NBS stated.

According to the GDP Report for Q4 2022, which was posted on the NBS website yesterday, aggregate GDP stood at N56.76 trillion compared to N49.28 trillion in Q4 2021, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth of 15.18 per cent.

Real GDP stood at N21.04 trillion in Q4 2022.

The economy was largely driven by the non-oil sector which accounted for 95.66 per cent of growth while the oil sector contributed 4.34 per cent.

The average daily oil production increased to 1.34 million barrels per day (mbpd), in the quarter under review compared to 1.20 mbpd in the preceding quarter but lower than the 1.50mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2021.

According to the statistical agency, GDP performance in Q4 was driven mainly by the services sector which contributed 56.27 per cent to growth.

Agriculture contributed 24.90 per cent to nominal GDP in Q4, but lower than 27.55 per cent recorded in the preceding. Overall, in real terms, the sector contributed 24.05 per cent in 2022.

The NBS pointed out that agriculture was significantly hampered by severe incidences of flood experienced across the country, accounting for lesser growth relative to the fourth quarter of 2021 which was 3.58 per cent.

The sector thus recorded -0.94 per cent growth and contributed less to the aggregate GDP relative to the third quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021.

Manufacturing contributed 8.40 per cent to real GDP lower than 8.59 per cent in Q3 and 8.46 per cent in the corresponding quarter.

Trade’s contribution to nominal GDP stood at 13.20 per cent in Q4, higher than 12.45 per cent in the preceding quarter.

Furthermore, the information and communication sector contributed 16.22 per cent to growth in Q4, higher than 15.35 per cent in

the preceding quarter and 15.21 per cent in Q4 2021. The sector contributed 16.51 per cent to GDP in 2022, higher than the 15.51 per cent reported last year.

under this administration. I want to assure INEC, security agencies and relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of conducting the election of the administration's continuous support.

"I urge all to be firm and courageous and to abide by the laws and constitution of the country in conducting the elections".

Buhari also said Nigeria would continue to consolidate the improvement of electoral process using technology and other positive elements to consolidate the integrity of the elections.

He said any aggrieved candidate not satisfied by results of the election should resort to established judicial process. He also advised the candidates to abide by the spirit and letters of the peace accord they signed "I urge the candidates contesting the elections at all levels to respect the choice of voters and accept the result of the election as announced

by INEC, the agency empowered by the law to do so," Buhari said.

Gowon said one of the fundamental lessons to be learnt from last event was that the peace and unity of the nation was non-negotiable.

He urged those still bent on disrupting the forthcoming general election to reconsider their steps Also in his goodwill message, Jonathan whose speech was read

by the Co-Convener of the National Peace Accord initiative, Bishop Hassan Kukah, urged INEC and security agencies to ensure that they retain the trust of Nigerians by not compromising in their responsibilities during the elections.

"When the people have confidence in the involved in managing security during the polls not to compromise the voice of Nigerians and embrace the politics of peace experienced, in the build-up to the elections.”

At this juncture, I take this opportunity to charge the election elections are free, fair and credible. Whenever doubts build up in governance process. We need peaceful elections to give the desired leadership that meets the expectations of our teeming population," he said.

On the peace committee’s expectations, Abdulsalami said: "I want to encourage political parties to respect that only the INEC has the constitutional authority to announce the results and to ensure that their supporters refrain from the temptation of the use of pills that are not credible to cause confusion in the polity."

He said since the signing of the first leg of the peace accord in September last year, the political parties, their candidates and campaign Spokesmen had committed

several infractions.

He said the peace committee monitored the compliance of the accord by the politicians.

"We recorded some of the infractions that were a thing of concern.

There was lack of compliance by the major political parties; 44 percent of the violations were carried out by the spokespersons of the political parties; 26 per cent by party members; 19 per cent by the presidential candidates themselves; 11 per cent by hardcore supporters and four per cent by Chairmen of the parties," he said.

Abdulsalami noted that in January alone, a lot of violence occurred, with at least 15 abductions, including one police officer and at least 30 killings.

He also said there were five attacks at political campaign rallies On the attacks on INEC offices and facilities across the country, the former Head of State said the commission recorded 50 attacks between 2019 and 2022.

Quoting data from INEC, Abdulsalami said Imo state witnessed 11 attacks on the commission’s facilities, Osun (7), Enugu (5(, Akwa Ibom (5), Ebonyi (4), Abia (4), Anambra (2), Taraba (2), Kaduna (1), Borno (1), Ondo, Lagos and Ogun states one each.

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Buhari-Osinbajo Support Groups Apologise to Nigerians, Dump APC Join Atiku-Okowa PDP campaign NULGE endorses party’s presidential candidate Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari under the aegis of the BuhariYemi Osinbajo Nationwide Supporters Group have asked Nigerians for forgiveness for “blindly supporting” the All Progressives Congress and installing an administration which has brought so much anguish.

Members of the group announced their collective decision to ditch the ruling party to join the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and work for the success of the Atiku-Okowa Presidential ticket.

National Coordinator of the Support Group, Hon Danjuma Fachiwe Gwoza announced this decision along with other group members at a press briefing in

Abuja, yesterday.

He said, “The members of the President Muhammadu Buhari/ Yemi Osinbajo Nationwide Supporters Group wish to officially decamp and transmute her operations to the Atiku/Okowa Nationwide Supporters Group under the directive of PDP Presidential Campaign Council cil (PCC).

“Our group is a formidable conglomerate of political sagacious like-minded individuals made of different supporters' group, such as: Artisan Youth Organisations.

However, our membership strength now stands at 9,313,846.

“We contributed immensely to the votes recorded by INEC, which

saw the emergence of the Buhari/ Osinbajo victory at polls in 2015 and 2019 Presidential elections, respectively.

“The members of this conglomerate sincerely apologise to Nigerian, for our blind support given to the APC led bankrupt government that have failed to deliver on her campaign promise to the electorates.

This colossal failure has caused the Nation unbearable quagmire.

“We hereby use this golden opportunity to appreciate the purposeful and profound leadership privilege accorded the group by Distinguished Senator Abubakar Mahdi and Deputy Director General, Technology and system(PCC).

“High Chief Raymond Dokpesi in his admonishing statement, encouraged the group to work assiduously to end this clueless era of the APC led administration in Nigeria.”

It added: “Therefore, the group has embarked on a continuous train-thetrainers’ Voters' Education Program, primarily designed to enhance the electoral fortune of the Atiku/Okowa campaign mercenary.

“Our members are strategically located within the thirty-six State of the Federation, including the FCT, seven hundred and seventy-four Local Government Areas and the electoral Wards spread across Nigeria.

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LAUNCH OF NATIONAL LOTTERY PLATFORMS...

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund, Dr. Bello Maigari; Managing Director, National Lottery Nigeria, Mr. Layi Onafowokan and the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila at the official launch of the National Lottery Nigeria platforms, held at the Nigeria Airforce event Center, Abuja…yesterday

NLC Directs Workers Nationwide toVote for Obi, Labour Party Candidates on Saturday Rivers AA guber candidate, campaign organisation endorse Obi Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Ahead of Saturday's presidential and National Assembly elections in the country, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked all its members across the country to come out massively to vote for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and all candidates of the party contesting in the elections.

The decision to support Obi came after resolutions reached by the NLC's leadership at the end of the inaugural meeting of the newly elected National Administrative Council (NAC) of the congress held on Monday.

The labour movement had earlier declared its interest and support for the LP and all its candidates for the 2023 general election.

It also reached an agreement with the LP and the presidential candidate on the Workers’ Charter of Demand to be implemented on assumption of office.

In a statement by its National Secretary, NLC National Political Commission, Chris Uyot, the congress urged all Labour Political Committee members in the states to intensify their work in mobilising workers and the Nigerian people both at the local, ward and polling unit levels to vote for the LP presidential candidate and all candidates of the party contesting the elections.

The Congress also vowed to work with allies in civil society organisations and students to take all necessary steps to safeguard the people’s votes by ensuring that the electoral process was transparent, free and fair.

The statement read in parts, “This is a clarion call to all workers and working people that as we approach the final push towards the forthcoming presidential election come February 25, 2023, we should ensure massive turnout of votes for the success of the Labour Party in line with an earlier resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC).

“Towards this end, all Labour Political Committee members in the states are to intensify their work in mobilising workers and the Nigerian people both at the local, ward and polling units to vote for the Presidential Candidate

of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and all candidates of the Labour Party contesting the elections.

“To accomplish these significant tasks to save our democracy, all affiliate unions and State Councils of Congress are to give maximum cooperation and support to the political committees to strengthen. their work at the state, local government, wards and polling unit levels by ensuring that they provide at least 10 ward coordinators and canvassers to not only mobilise but defend the peoples votes.

“This election promises to be the most decisive in our country. It offers an opportunity to transform our political, social and economic policy direction to be peoples-oriented as espoused in the Workers Charter of Demand."

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), in Rivers State, Dr. Dawari George, and his Campaign Organisation, the Bridge Campaign Organisation (BCO), have endorsed Obi for Saturday’s election.

They also pleaded with Rivers State voters to go all out on Saturday to vote massively for the LP presidential candidate.

A statement arising from a meeting held in Port Harcourt that was jointly signed by George, and Prof. Kiikpoye Aaron, the Campaign Director-General, the AA noted that prior to reaching the decision, a lot of issues were thrown up.

The BCO equally noted that it weighed the capacities of the leading candidates in the upcoming February election and the clarity of each candidate's plans for the country were also measured.

The Campaign Organisation explained that, "Mr. Peter Obi is distinguished as an experienced leader who has demonstrated his ability to create positive change in the lives of Nigerians."

The BCO added that the, "Ethnicity, religion and power rotation have topped the issues under consideration. Whether we consider ourselves, logical/rational or emotional/sentimental, these issues have occupied our thinking spaces significantly. Consequently, whatever we decide is informed by what these issues portend for us.”

The BCO further stated that, "For us in Rivers State, the decision on the direction we should go is

impacted partly by these issues and by our understanding of equity and justice for our people.

“We believe that the concept of power rotation is an equitable and justifiable means of guaranteeing the inclusion of all parts of our country in determining the leadership of our nation.

"We also believe that by virtue of the multi-religious nature of the Nigerian society, political inclusion ought to accommodate members of different faiths in a relationship of mutual trust and singleness of

purpose.

"Against the backdrop of these considerations, deciding who to support in Saturday’s presidential election, in the best interest of Nigeria and Rivers State becomes less ponderous. Having regard to the issues above, we are irresistibly and attractively drawn to Mr. Peter Obi for president. Consequently, we are endorsing his candidacy for president in the 2023 Nigerian general election.

"We do not deny that the other candidates boast experi-

ence. However, Mr. Peter Obi is distinguished as an experienced leader who has demonstrated his ability to create positive change in the lives of Nigerians.”

The statement added: "As governor of Anambra State, he made significant strides in improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure at reasonable costs. He communicates his plans with clarity, and boasts a demonstrable track record of putting the needs of the people first. Most importantly he ticks

the equity and justice ticket with a balanced running mate that is both humane and urbane.

"As Rivers people we have a great opportunity to support Mr. Peter Obi. We, therefore, strongly urge you to go to elections and vote for Mr. Peter Obi for president.

"We strongly believe that Peter Obi is the right candidate to lead Nigeria to a brighter future. We urge you to join us in supporting his candidacy, and let us work together to build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.”

Billionaire Philanthropist, Otedola Donates Fully Built Engineering Facility to Augustine University Lays foundation stone for phase 2 Peter Uzoho Nigeria's billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Femi Otedola has handed over the completed block A of a multi-billion-naira faculty of engineering complex to Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, Lagos State, in fulfilment of his dream to add a lasting value to the institution and its students.

Otedola, who is the Chancellor of Augustine University, handed over the edifice to the school, at the inauguration and handover ceremony held yesterday, in the presence of his mother and inspirer of the project, Lady Doja Otedola; Proprietor of the institution and Archbishop of the Metropolitan Sea of Lagos, Archbishop Adewale Martins, amongst other dignitaries.

The donor also laid the foundation stone for phase 2 of the faculty complex, which he promised would be completed in not more than two years.

The school named the engineering faculty building after Lady Doja Otedola in appreciation of her passion towards the betterment of the university and its students.

In his remark at the occasion, the serial entrepreneur said he made the commitment to donate one building of the engineering faculty to the school in March 2018, but later increased his commitment to the engineering complex to N2 billion, during his mother's 90th birthday

celebration.

Otedola said, "It is with thanksgiving to God that I express my great delight for today's ceremony for the commissioning of the first block of the engineering complex of Augustine University. I thank God that my dream of donating the first block of faculty of engineering building has become a reality.

"On the 11th of March 2018, at the fund raising dinner organised by my sister, Dame Sena Anthony, I made the commitment to donate one building of the faculty of engineering to the university. On realising that the first building is a four-building complex, during my mother's 90th birthday celebration last year, I increased my commitment to the engineering complex to the sum of N2 billion.

"In fulfilment of this pledge, I am extremely delighted to be also turning the sod today for the commencement of building No 2 of the engineering faculty complex.

“I hope the construction period for this building will not be more than two years in view of the envisaged rapid growth of the students of the university with the admission of engineering students in the school."

He said his dream was to support Augustine University to become the number one centre of excellence in Africa for the study of various disciplines of engineering.

Otedola, who is the Chairman of

Geregu Power Plc, however, thanked the proprietor of the university for naming the engineering faculty building after his mother, saying "I'm glad that she is alive to witness this historic event in view of her unflinching commitment to the university."

The donor expressed his appreciation to the proprietor of the university for appointing him as the chancellor of the institution, promising to support the vision of the revered Cardinal Anthony Okogie, whom he said accompanied his late father, Sir Michael Otedola to meet the late Oba of Ilara in order to obtain the present site for Augustine University to commence.

Further thanking the duo of Okogie and Martins for their continuous encouragement, Otedola also expressed his gratitude to the trio of the Board Chairman of Augustine University, Sir Steve Omojiafor; the school's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Christopher Ojetunde; former Chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Sir Egbert Imomoh; Pro-Chancellor, Augustine University, Chief Gilbert Grant; and his sister, Sena, for the roles they played as his project steering committee throughout the completion of the project.

He also thanked those who worked on the construction of the project to make the day a reality.

While extolling the university, Otedola stated that, "Augustine

University upholds the noble Catholic tradition of the type of higher education which does not only achieve intellectual excellence but moral and cultural excellence in preparing the students for important leadership roles in our society.

“The vision and mission of this university should be supported by all of us.”

He said he looked forward to hosting everyone physically present at the occasion to similar ceremony in two years’ time when they would cut the tape for the inauguration of block 2 of the engineering complex.

In her prayer, Otedola's mother asked God to bless the building and grant the students of the university knowledge and understanding and make every work of their hands to prosper.

"We pray that the Lord will bless this building. All the students that will come here, will have knowledge and understanding. Everything they lay their hands upon will prosper.

“We pray that the Lord will continue to bless the Archbishop, everybody and those people that are around here, may their ways be pleasing to God," she prayed.

In his remark, Archbishop Martins expressed the university's gratitude to the Otedola family, particularly the donor, for contributing in adding lasting value to the school through the building donated.

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POLITICS

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

Olusunle: Atiku’s Govt Will Reset Nigeria In an interview with Chuks Okocha, the Special Adviser on media and publicity to the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Tunde Olusunle, speaks on salient issues, particularly what Nigerians stand to benefit if Atiku is elected President at the poll on Saturday. Excerpts:

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hat should Nigerians expect from an Atiku Abubakar regime?

I can assure you that Nigerians can expect, and duly be served a listening, accessible, caring and performing Atiku Abubakar dispensation.

That a PDP government under Atiku will be responsive, responsible and proactive, is given. While the ticket of one of Atiku’s major contenders in this contest has told adherents of a particular faith that their sensitivities and sensibilities don’t count, Atiku has always, and continuously, respected our religious plurality.

On every occasion he got the ticket of a party to contest, he ensured immediate and instantaneous regard for Christians. From Ben Obi, who was once his running mate, to Peter Obi, to Ifeanyi Okowa, Atiku has always been spontaneously circumspect and pragmatic.

We can expect an Atiku government that will speedily reset, reorder and reorganise our fractured and discombobulated polity.

One of the popular slogans on the Atiku political train, is that he will unify Nigeria.

All of a sudden, under the APC government, Nigerians began to think of themselves along ethnic and religious lines. This is not how we have always been.

But when a president constitutes a federal cabinet of 42 ministers and appropriates 10 topmost portfolios to his own geopolitical zone, nepotism cannot have a better name.

Or how do you describe it when the ministers of finance, defence, police affairs, agriculture, justice, water resources, disaster management and humanitarian services, aviation, even petroleum which has the president as substantive minister, are from one zone?

Atiku

When you run through the list of members of the National Security Council, (NSC) and you find 80 percent, if not 90 percent of the constituents from a particular section of the country and of a particular faith, nothing can be more upsetting. Atiku served in an Obasanjo government where the inauguration of the National Security Council had to be delayed for a few days, to ensure that the south east geopolitical zone was duly accommodated in the scheme in 1999. That is the kind of fairness and equity Atiku will bring to Nigeria.

Assuming that Atiku wins on

Saturday, how swiftly will his administration impact on Nigerians?

Speedily and with every alacrity. Atiku is more than adequately prepared. He has always been a multitasking leader. You sometimes wonder how he is able to pack so much into his chest.

Atiku has always been ready for governance, ever armed with a blueprint to guide his work.

This blueprint has been regularly fine-tuned to reflect emerging socio-political realities, locally and globally.

The world is not static. The telephone device which you and I are holding in our hands today, has experienced phenomenal upgrading since the Obasanjo/Atiku government, enabled the GSM technology over 20 years ago. That is the manner of dynamism that underlines Atiku’s mindset. There is always a “situation room” situation around him, of dialogues and disputation, and you find in him a man who has tremendous respect for scholarship and intellectualism, but is not shy of robust engagement. And Nigeria has a potential president who reads voraciously.

Atiku is not afraid of paperwork. He is a methodical, systems man, who pores through piles and piles of documents, and you will see his comments and markings all over such documents. He is not the kind of president you will present with a fait accompli only for him to nod his head in concurrence.

Atiku will rekindle confidence in Nigerians and restore our characteristic bounce and swagger. Don’t forget the popular saying across the world that “Nigerians strut around like they actually own their host country!” That is the kind of confidence that has always propelled Nigerians to break new grounds and move

mountains, metaphorically. This is the kind of restoration an Atiku presidency will beget.

On the G 5 governors, why hasn’t Atiku brought them on board as a unifier?

Every effort has been expended and explored to engender unity and oneness between the PDP and the aggrieved G-5 governors. It looks, however, that they have chosen their paths, especially as we are just days to the election.

But we will trudge on behind Atiku our candidate and principal, to the battlefield, confident we will win, by God’s grace. Remember engagements and horse-trading are never foreclosed in politics and politicking, though. There are issues and circumstances which breed dissent and disaffection. There are also developments and fall-outs which engender rapprochement. You must have heard it said in places that there are no permanent adversaries in politics.

There are usually, mainly permanent interests. You must have heard the comments of the flagbearer of the PDP, at a recent townhall meeting on Arise Television. He made the point that he has met with the Rivers State governor and leader of the G-5, Nyesom Wike, on five separate occasions.

Both gentlemen met twice each in Abuja and Port Harcourt, and once in London.

In between, emissaries of Atiku, notably Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, and his Adamawa State counterpart, Umaru Fintiri have met with individual members of the G-5, or the group as a whole.

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Oludare: Tinubu has Capacity to Fix Nigeria Convener of Social Rehabilitation Group, US-based Dr. Charles Marindoti Oludare, in this interview laments the economic flux in the Nigerian economy and comes up with the view that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has the capacity to fix the country. Excerpts:

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ou spoke recently on a TV programme castigating the CBN currency notes’swap. What is the way forward to return normalcy to the finance sector?

Before we discuss normalcy, we must first start by understanding the genesis of the economic problem we’ve found ourselves in. The problem started in 2014 when Saudi Arabia wanted to bankrupt the United States fracking companies and they made all of us in OPEC flood the market with crude oil. The fracking companies at the time needed oil to sell for $88/barrel to be able to breakeven. In what can be described as a shot in the groin, Nigeria joined in flooding the market, we helped crash the price of oil alongside our biggest source of foreign reserve (petroleum accounting for 90% of our forex).

Instead of re-engineering our finances and taking advantage our the bad situation, we decided to restrict access to forex, crippling commerce, scaring away foreign investors and creating a multiple exchange rate that meant; every money gets into the economy through the official route loses 40% of its value upon repatriation of same amount.

The only way out of this quagmire is to allow both the repainted and regular currency to circulate in perpetuity, to end the opaque exchange rate (a policy Peter Obi called a necessary measure during his speech at LBS), we need to put an abrupt end to fuel subsidy, reconsider our association with OPEC and diversify our revenue base by making policies that will attract foreign investors like Asiwaju did in Lagos. That is the only way out of this mess.

Presidential election holds this weekend, as a young man, what is your advice to

Tinubu

Oludare

the youth?

My advice to the youth is to arm themselves with the knowledge of Nigeria’s problem and use that information weapon to inform their choice in the up coming election.

Anybody that understands the problems of this great nation, they will have no other option but to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President, based on his antecedent, the testament of his regiments and the preeminence of his intelligence among other contesters. I will also want them to please maintain the peace and not play into the hands of those who want to scuttle our democracy. The night is always darkest before dawn, our prosperity dawns with Asiwaju at the helm of affairs, all these sorrows soon shall pass away and joy comes in

the morning.

The three core presidential candidates, namely Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi have been shaping public opinions.

What is your assessment of the candidates?

Peter Obi, I describe as one who believes in his ability to sweet talk people into believing in irrelevant okey-doke. He processes cow dungs and try to sell to the unassuming mind as corned beef. What has Vietnam having 50% of our land mass and 30 % of our population got to do with why we are not producing up to 10% of their output? He claims to have gone to study other countries but failed to study the only country he intends to lead. It’s like a doctor who went to study drug and not human disease, how does he identify the disease that the drug he knows about will work for? He wants to fix Nigerian electricity but ran to Egypt; it’s like a doctor trying to cure patient A with the drug patient B used, without understanding what

disease patient A has. That does not inspire confidence in anyone.

Atiku Abubakar, I describe as one that has neither idea nor ideology. The highlight of his campaign are the Dino’s rambunctious shenanigans. Blaming the halfwit Dino for his rowdy ways seems unfair on him because Dino-Didn’t know better.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the other hand, is an intellectual, and that is why I am in love with him. He has the guile and grit needed to marshal the affairs of this great nation. Asiwaju is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt of Nigeria. I see a great deal of similarities between these giants of history. FDR was elected President of the United States in 1933, 90 years from when Asiwaju will become President of Federal Republic of Nigeria. Like FDR who was a former governor of New York before his presidential term, Asiwaju was governor of Lagos. Asiwaju is a progressive like FDR, Asiwaju will be elected during the worst economic crisis in the history of Nigeria just as FDR was elected when the Unites States dealing with the Great Depression and as FDR was able to implement swift policies changes that kick started the commemoration of 100 days in office, within 100 days of Asiwaju’s presidency Nigerians would have begun to see significant change of trajectory in our economy.

FDR also faced and defeated the axis of evil in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan; Nigeria faces its own axis of evil in terrorism, kidnaping and banditry and just as FDR prevailed, Asiwaju will defeat this hydra headed monster their has besieged us thus far. I Asiwaju I trust.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023

POLITICS

Dada: My Policies Will Increase Job and Wealth Creation in Ogun West Peoples Democratic Party Senatorial candidate for Ogun West Senatorial district, Ganiyu Dada, in this interview with Ayodeji Ake, shares some strategies he would adopt, if elected, to resolve the perennial issues of bad roads in Ogun state, especially in the border communities in Otta, highlighting some business opportunities and wealth creation, his focus on elementary education in developing communities and security strategies.

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to carry heavy-duty vehicles. If we don’t take that decision, we will continue wasting money on palliatives. For the influx of people coming into Ogun State, there are some access roads (alternative routes) that need to be done.

A lot of them are in Otta adjourning Lagos State. For example from Ayobo, Lagos State, our state can complete the job from where the boundary of Lagos ends. This will relieve the pressure on Agege motor road so they can exit into Lagos without coming to Otta again. If we get that right, the pressure on that road will reduce.

hat informed your decision to run for the senatorial post?

Someone had already been given the Ogun ticket, but along the line, there was realignment when the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) group came into the PDP. Because Akinlade is also Yewa as the holder of the PDP ticket, there had to be a balancing act, which won me the ticket.

What are you bringing to the table?

I’m bringing in my experience from the private sector. I have been running my business for almost 40 years now and I have gathered experience. I have also runfor an office before now.

So I’m bringing both experiences to the table.

Over theyears, I have always been somebody who is always interested in politics and how I am governed. I have always believed that if you don’t have an interest in politics, people who are not as competent as you will take decisions that you will have to abide by. This is an opportunity for me to serve my people and I believe it’s also an opportunity for me to contribute to the development of the West Senatorial district.

Dada

these industries have containers and big trucks coming in and out every day. More trailers are coming in from Agbara, and Igbesa and they are putting a lot of pressure on the roads. These roads were constructed then for five tons of vehicles in those daysand they didn’t plan for the heavy duty trailers that carry 30 tons and some containers are overweight and there are no weighbridges to check them unlike in the 70s when you had weighbridges checking the trailers using the roads that were built to last maybe 20 years because we now use heavy vehicles on them, don’t last more than five years. One thing we have to get right is that our major roads have to be reconstructed

There have been l murmurs about bad roads in Otta, how do you intend to solve this issue in that axis?

I’m going to be representing Ogun West.

To be candid, bad roads are everywhere, but it is much more pronounced in Ogun West.

There are bad roads everywhere. For Otta, the proximity to Lagos makes the case in Otta much more difficult to handle. There is an influx of people to Otta every day and we have the largest number of industries in Otta. As a result, all

Aside from the road structure, what other things are you planning as your manifesto to bring to the table?

What I have discovered is that for the five local governments, there are common denominations: bad roads, security, and lack of educational facilities are common but to different degrees.

Some local governments don’t need roads that will carry big trailers. All they need are motorable roads. What I found difficult in Nigeria is that some governors will do dual carriageway in an area where for the next 20 years, there would be no traffic on the dual carriage roads.

We don’t need such roads everywhere. Just a well-done single lane is enough to evacuate all the traffic easily. Getting our priority right is what is important. Because someone is doing dual carriage roads doesn’t mean it should be copied. We should do what is functional and what we need. Taking Oju-Ore Otta as a case study, the traffic people go through is very hectic.

If they had done the flyover needed there, it would have relieved the traffic there.

As a successful businessman with over 40 years of experience, how do you create

a more business-friendly environment and also restructure the educational scheme with a view to elevating OgunWest?

I will take the industry first. I have looked out for a model in Ghana and it’s called ‘One Industry

by District’. What we can look at is to achieve one business per local government. It will be an industry peculiar to that local government.

It could be as simple as ‘garri’ processing or ‘fufu’ processing in the Yewa axis. When you visit Yewa, you will see that ‘fufu’ is the major food they eat every day, and processing can be improved. We can have an industry that helps them in order to have a faster turnover.

The way it is done has created small jobs and it can be done on a bigger scale to the extent that ‘fufu’ made can be shipped every day to Lagos, Abeokuta, and other places. Imagine fi we are sending a truckload of ‘fufu’ well packaged every day. I see and think it’s doable.

I heard that one of the former senators established a garri factory in Ado-Odo Otta Local Government, he didn’t finish it before his term ended, but I understand that he has done the main building and it is just the equipment that can be completed. For the Ipokia axis, the last time I was there, I was shown new houses built by people who made money from palm kernel processing. What I’m looking at is clearingfarmland for them, and planting the palm kernel trees, it will take four years for it to mature, but we can also embark on such long-term projects we can get it done, then in another four years, people will start reaping it. We can do it on a bigger scale.

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Benson: My Legislative Agenda for Bayelsa Central Former Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and Peoples Democratic Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Bayelsa Central, Hon Konbowei Friday Benson, talks about his desire to represent his constituents in the Red Chambers of the 10th National Assembly.

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hy do you want to go to the Senate?

By the grace of God becoming a Senator is only in name.

Lawmaking is part of me, it is part of the work I have been doing over time; I have been a counselor, I have been a legislator at the state level where I was a member of the State House of Assembly for 12 years and out of the 12 years I became Speaker for seven years and six months, and so going to the Senate is a continuation of the law making that I have been called into, so going to the Senate is not for any reason.

The Senate is a place of law-making, it is a representative house and I want to also go to the Senate to represent my people. Representing the people to speak for them, representing the people to advocate and solicit for what is our dues, and so it is not about going to the senate with a particular interest, the interest is the area you represent, the people I represent because you have an area to protect, an area to sell, an area to make known and that is my interest and I know that I have identified quite a number of problems my people suffer and we are very far from the center and you must note that very well.

What are the unique offerings you have for the good people of Bayelsa Central Senatorial Zone?

Like I told you earlier, about 100 years of the creation of Nigeria, hardly before any of my constituents is identified or any of my communities identified or carried along in the budget of Nigeria even today carried along but Nigeria as it is today from the indices we have more than 40% of the operations of Agip and Shell from Bayelsa, and more than 30% from that wealth comes from my constituency. My constituency cuts across three local governments and these three local governments’ areas are oil-producing communities but what is the representation?

whatever they are carrying even though they are doing so in the wrong approach but that is the burning question, why are we not there, why are we not carried along, why are we so neglected, why should we be called names and not drawn closer to where things are happening?

And so my advocacy will be in this direction; on Agriculture, employment, training and retraining, training on business on the economic activities of the land.

Benson

What are we known for? What is the government doing to the area? Is it in terms of education? We have only one Federal Polytechnic. We don’t even have one federal secondary school, it is three local governments and the largest senatorial District in Bayelsa and there is no federal presence. In agriculture and other areas of interest that we are not represented, we are not carried along, it calls for concern. If we are producing that level of oil wealth how many of our people are employed both in multinational companies and in the federal service, how many of our people are there? These are some of the burning issues. If you want to talk about road network interconnectivity, between community to community, between local government to local governments and states, we are not there.

These are the reasons why our people are agitated and they are carrying

Some people say you were Hon. Seriake Dickson’s stooge when you were the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and some persons are also of the position that your ambition is backed by Governor Douye Diri, kindly give us your side of the perception and what you share with these two leaders.

Whatever anybody wants to call me or any legislator in the State House of Assembly is not out of place, any name can be conferred on us and that is the way the constitution is drafted, the constitution is drafted in the way more power is given to the chief executives of every state and so most Houses operate, I am saying this with experience, they operate at the dictates of the chief executives. I make bold to say so because as much as I know more of the powers of a state government is in the hands of the governor and the government. So, everybody that comes into that office works towards actualising the dreams, goals, and objectives that he or she might have in mind, working along with the state government. You must be in tune and attuned with the state government and of course, the constitution does not say the state arms of government should be fighting among themselves. All arms of government the Judiciary, the Executive, or the Legislature are expected to work towards providing the desired needs of the people of that environment. So working in collaboration with the other arms of government does not mean that we are not stooges but like

I said earlier, you must work with the mindset that you are working towards the betterment of your people, and if the state government is also in that direction there is nothing you will do than to work together to achieve. So long as I am of the party, I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Douye Diri’s name does not come when I was contesting for the primaries, now that I am the candidate of the party if Douye Diri does not support me who will he support? Douye Diri has to even lead my election, He should be the one to even lead my campaign and tell the people that this is my candidate. I am the Central Senatorial District Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party where the governor comes from so which other person should the governor support?

How do you intend to navigate through the politics of lawmaking if it happens that your bill is unpopular and your Party is a minority in the senate?

As far as bill making is concerned, a bill could be unpopular today and later become popular in life, it is all about time and the philosophy you intend to drive in the bill, so being a minority representative I should be able to present my bills in a manner everybody will understand that I’m not coming from the point of creating arguments and cause disaffection among the other ethnic nationalities. When I was in the state house of assembly as a speaker, I sent one of our member to be trained at the national assembly as a negotiator one that would be able to organise all the factors and so I believe that I will be able to make friends with other legislators so my bills will not suffer in lost but in case they lost I will be able to fight till they come back to the limelight.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Be A Valentine: Let Love Heal the World he understanding of Valentine's Day has been expanded to include serving humanity selflessly. Every year, February 14th has been set aside to celebrate love globally. To this end, Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese of the Catholic Church of Nigeria, Oyo Diocese, who captures the essence of that special day which goes beyond exchanging gifts or having an intimacy; posits that all should become an agent of authentic love. Funke Olaode reports

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He spoke passionately about the essence of love. And as a man of God whose vocation is to preach the Gospel to people either on the pulpit or as a form of evangelism, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo is eminently qualified to examine the word, 'love.'

But in his view, Bishop Badejo sees love as a form of empathy rather than the way it is portrayed by lovers. According to him, authentic love can heal the heart and heal the world.

Valentine's Day as a time to show love is a welcome celebration for today’s world, lacking so much compassion and love. Saint Valentine, with whom the celebration is associated, lived a life of selfless and sacrificial love which goes beyond flowers, material gifts, kisses and sex.

All who celebrate Valentine’s Day should really become agents of authentic, life-giving love in all forms. If Valentine is truly about showing and spreading true love, then we all need it. Children, youth, adults, the elderly, the dying and even the dead, all need love.

No matter who we are, bishops, priests, pastors, politicians, businessmen, civil servants, traders, entertainers, sportsmen and artisans, young or old, we all need love to remain sane and make everyday life meaningful.

Listening to him as he poured out his heart, his piece is a very unique reflection that touches the heart. It is a very informative and educative masterpiece telling us how we as a people can use the significance of Valentine, which is simply an unconditional Love of God and how we can imbibe it in our lives to fight against insurgencies, killings, massacres, kidnappings, in-fighting and all social vices that we experience in our world that is not peculiar to Nigeria.

It is a common sight that nations fight against one another, waging wars against each

Bishop Badejo other. " There is greed in the land; there is no care for the poor. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer.

Do we all know the essence of Valentine?

It is easy to say happy Valentine. Are we living the life of true meaning valentine?"

He says further: “I have not found a better description of love than what Saint Paul wrote in the Bible, in his letter to the Corinthians: “Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or

conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Love never ends” (1Cor. 13: 4-8).

On how this principle applies in our daily lives and governance, he added: "That kind of Valentine love is needed in the world today. We need it in our homes, we need it in our churches, mosques. We need it in our schools, we need it in our streets. We need authentic agents of love in our markets and we need them in our parks.

"We need them in our banks where people now suffer for no fault of theirs.

We need them in our filling stations, in our businesses and in our playgrounds.

We need authentic love in every heart so that our country and our world can heal of all the hurts we have and be sane again."

“Valentine is not just about lovers hanging out in pairs. Valentine is also a parent who selflessly cares for their children with love. Valentine is celebrated by soldiers and security agents who lay down their life to protect others and their nation.

"It is Valentine's Day when civil servants serve the public with a genuine sense of duty. Yes, it is Valentine when politicians work to address the true needs of the citizens under their care. Authentic Valentines make a difference in homes, families and in society.

"We thus need to celebrate such Valentine Days not only in February but every day of the year to help remake a more just, compassionate, and more loving world.

"That manner of love will conquer all our greed, selfishness, wickedness, and hate and such love never ends! So get right ahead, celebrate more valentine’s days and light up the world. After all…

God is love!’, he concluded.

Ekhomu Bags 2023 Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence Precious Ugwuzor The International Foundation for Protection Officers and Security Magazine has awarded Dr. Victoria Omonigho Ekhomu the 2023 Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence.

In 2017, the International Foundation for Protection Officers, in conjunction with Security Magazine, announced the Inaugural Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence, an award that recognises one security professional or an organisation for professional excellence or outstanding service in the security profession.

Each year, one security professional or an organisation is recognised for professional excellence and/or outstanding service/acts in the security profession by the International Foundation for Protection Officers.

"The nominations submitted this year were all outstanding supporters of professional excellence," Sandi Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the IFPO stated.

"Our esteemed awards committee collectively and unanimously concluded that Mrs. Ekhomu was this year’s recipient," Davies added.

The group went on to

state that the "International Foundation for Protection Officer is committed to the support and professional development of protection officers.

"Through advocacy; promoting training standards; and providing accessible training, education, and certification opportunities; we seek to enhance the professional standing of protection officers, as well as increase and diversify the value of the vital services they provide."

Born in Igueben Edo State of Nigeria, Dr. Ekhomu is the Group Managing Director/ CEO of TRANSWORLD SECURITY, a foremost asset Protection Company.

Also the President of School of Management & Security, Dr Ekhomu doubles as the President of Association of Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) and is a member of the ASIS Foundation Board of Trustees.

At ASIS, she was its International’s African Advisory Council Chairman, where she presided over Africa after she earlier served as a Senior Regional Vice President for West, Central & Northern Africa for ASIS International from 2010- December 2015.

She was also a Regional Vice President for West, Central Africa, from 2008-2010

Dr. Ekhomu and Chapter Chairman for ASIS, after having served as Program Chairman, and Secretary.

As the first Nigerian to be appointed to the Awards Committee of ASIS International, she has been Board Certified by the ASIS

Certification Board as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) in 2005, making her the first female to earn the CPP Certification in Africa.

Victoria earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from ASIS 206 Lagos & ASIS Region 11 (ASIS International

is the world’s largest professional security body, with over 38,000 members).

Ekhomu has also earned the Women in Security Global Community Karen Marquez Honors Award in 2015 which recognises a female security professional who has consistently worked for the betterment of the security industry over an extended period of time.

She was also honoured with the Certificate of Appointment as Ambassador for World Peace (AMB), by the United Nations on October 9th, 2020.

She is the African Representative of International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). As a Certified Protection Officer (CPO) Instructor, she has earned the CPOI Certification from IFPO. Victoria Ekhomu is a Trustee of AISSON (Association of Industrial Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria).

Ekhomu was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Science Honoris Causa (D.Sc.) in Industrial Security, Risk Management & Corporate Governance, by EuropeanAmerican University.

She holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and Bachelor’s degree from University of Lagos.

Victoria has a Harvard Business School Certificate in Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies and also holds the Advanced Management Certificate from Lagos Business School.

She is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and was honored as a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC). Ekhomu has a Fellowship Award from Institute of Security, Nigeria (FISN).

She is a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Industrial Security (NIIS). She holds a Fellowship from Institute of Criminal Justice and Criminology Administration.

Dame Victoria Ekhomu, was honored by Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the Regulator of Nigerian Private Security, in collaboration with Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALSPN), with the Award of Excellence.

Chief Victoria, has a chieftaincy title, Yeye Fiwaboye of Ilewo. She served as a past National President of SMAGOGA (St Maria Goretti Old Girl’s Association), and Lagos President for her Alma Mater. She is a Knight in the Anglican Church, who is blessed with wonderful children.

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THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERVIEW

FEMI OLADEHIN: I Am Determined to Challenge Eti-Osa’s Status Quo For Femi Oladehin, Eti-Osa (which comprises Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, the business hub of Lagos) is the richest federal constituency in Nigeria but lacks effective representation. He spoke to Segun James about his determination to change the status quo as he stakes his integrity and resources in the February 25 parliamentary poll Given how politics in Lagos is structured, you need to belong to an entrenched political platform to attain a leadership position. How do you intend to get funded with a party such as ADC?

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he truth is that a lot of the larger political parties are not exactly funded by individuals. This means that Lagos resources are always going to be used for the elections irrespective of what they tell us. We’ve spent the first six weeks prior to now effectively talking to individuals, people one on one, home-to-home, roadshows, and talking to people individually. Now, we realised that because of the resources that we had, we had to make a big bang in the last two weeks of the campaign, and that is what we have done. Today, I can assure you that everybody in Eti-Osa is talking about our candidacy. I think that for us, that was strategic and deliberate. And for the other parties, nobody is talking about them anymore because they are worn out. There’s nothing novel about them anymore. People already know them.

But we are the new kid on the block and have a slew of credible candidates across the elections.

I think that is one of the most interesting things we have done, the approach we have taken. We are just riding on the cortex of a new kid on the block with a pedigree that people can align with because we were strategic about how we went into them.

People in this constituency are not necessarily known for coming out on election day to vote. During registration, this area records the least number of eligible voters. How do you now see your chances in a place with so much apathy?

The apathy that we have in Eti-Osa is deliberate.

It is deliberate because the main parties have always ensured that the candidates brought up as potential winners across the main parties were not credible.

So it is simple: if you have no horse in the race, you are not interested in what happens. I have run elections in Eti-Osa as an independent third party for about four elections cycles now, where I volunteer to run elections. And what we find is that when people do not have a candidate that they are passionately backing, the tendency is they will stay at home. For the first time, we have two movements that are appealing to these same people we are talking about.

And you know one of them, a popular movement, the #EndSARS kids who are frustrated by the government’s heavy-handedness, who have pitched their tent with an individual, Peter Obi. And you have a second wave of people looking for credible candidates. And I think that has been the biggest experience. In my interactions with people, they’re like, ‘if you are contesting, if your governorship candidate is contesting, and if your senatorial candidate is contesting, I am going to come out and vote. And because I am already coming out to vote for Peter Obi, I am literally going to vote for him for president and the other seats in the elections’. So I think that what you are seeing, and you are this across the board. Let me give you some statistics, at the last governorship elections in 2019, Babajide Sanwo-Olu won the election with 725,000 votes. Lagos had 6.5 million registered voters at that time. And the next candidate was the perennial candidate who got 250,000 for PDP. So the truth is that Lagosians have never had any candidate in those elections that they trusted, that they could spend their time coming out to spend an entire day in the sun and to pitch their tent. But if you recall what happened in the 2011 elections when former Governor Babatunde Fashola was contesting his second term, that has been the largest turnout of voters we have ever had in Lagos; 1.5 million people came out.

Those people came out because they had a horse in the race, somebody they loved and wanted to show the party, the APC or the AC at that time, that they were voting for Fashola and not for the political hegemony of Lagos state.

Femi Oladehin So the truth for me is that Nigerians are wiser.

The elite also now realise that you can’t allow people who cannot step up to represent you, to represent you, if they don’t have the capacity, if they don’t have the interest, if a godfather is controlling them, they are not going to represent you. And we see a lot of that in our interactions with people. People are tired and looking for a change, and I believe strongly that we can be the change they’re looking for.

What are your chances of winning this election?

I have a track record in my life, succeeding even when people don’t bet on me because I understand what it means to be an underdog. I qualified as a chartered accountant as a 16-yearold when everyone told me it wasn’t possible.

I graduated from my MBA class almost to my 18th birthday. Again, people told me it wasn’t possible. I come from the school of thought where the impossible is nothing. If you don’t try, you don’t win. Look, I had a debate with the two other candidates, and that debate for me, I tell people it was a watershed moment for me individually.

Because on the day of that debate, it was three hours’ debate on the radio, it was very clear that they had nothing to offer Lagosians, absolutely

nothing. Their ideas were very outdated, very surfacing, and had no rigour to the process.

And I came out of that debate thinking, Eti-Osa deserves better than this. I am going to push my candidacy to the limit that I can. The response from people has been that, with you on the ballot, we are going to come out to vote first, and then secondly, we are going to show these people, these established parties, that the fact that we have been reticent in the past was because we didn’t have anyone we believed in. But now that we have people we believe in, we are aligned and can deliver. And for me if I look at my traverse across the entire government, because Eti-Osa is just one local government with one federal constituency, I am very convinced that I will win this election. I will be the news item on Monday when the results are released. Because people are going to say that this guy showed up and ran an Obama-like campaign, and before you realise it, he is the House of Reps member for Eti-Osa. In politics, people make promises. What exactly do you have for the people of the Eti-Osa constituency?

Let me start by talking about my pedigree, and that is the way I have said to people. I have told people that I spent 32 years in the financial

services industry. I have an easily verifiable track record. I keep my word, whatever I say, I am going to do, I do. I work for clients with the biggest organisations in Nigeria and have delivered on my word. The promise that I am making to Nigerians is, first, I am not a politician. I am an average Nigerian tired of how Nigeria has been run, so I am one of them. I am lucky that life and favour have put me in a place where I am generally okay with my life and happy.

But it is selfishness that makes the elite think that the rest of the people don’t matter. And it is that selfishness that we need to eschew. We all don’t want to leave our comfort zones, fat salaries, and fat dividends to pitch our tent in the public space and say to them, ‘I can represent you. I can help you achieve your dreams’.

To go back to your question, when I look at the guys who are there now, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s achievements is to say to you that he bought JAMB forms for people or facilitated the building of three classrooms, not three schools, three classrooms in Eti-Osa. The most affluent local government in Nigeria, the economic basket of the country that had the financial services, entertainment, and the most important sectors of the economy, are resident here. But the House of Representatives member is telling us that the highlight of his career was buying JAMB forms for people.

What I am promising the people of Lagos is a few things. One is effective representation.

Representation means representing the people’s interests at the national assembly. I bring that experience to the table because I know how to negotiate. I understand how to build relationships with other people because you are one of 360 members, which means you have to build coalitions so that people coalesce around the vision you share, and then they can support you. I am very good at building bridges. Secondly, I will focus on the youths in Eti-Osa. During the #EndSARS protest, the people who came out to protest were not area boys or touts. They were young kids who were trying to make a life for themselves, who were tired of the harassment of the police and the harassment of the Nigerian state, of them and their livelihood. And one of the things I am promising the people of Eti-Osa is that youth empowerment will be a key focus for me. I am not talking of youth empowerment of giving them N5000 every month as stipends, no.

The adage says if you want to feed a nation, you educate the children. And what I am saying is that I am going to ensure that my focus is going to be on the education of the average person that lives in Eti-Osa, the average student, the average secondary school and primary school and ensuring that they get the skills that they will require. That is the sort of empowerment I want to focus on, ensuring that the government provides computers for them because we are in the 21st century and provides the right skills for them because, again, we are in the 21st century.

The third thing for me is federal presence. Eti-Osa is probably responsible for a significant chunk of the taxes paid to the federal government. But in terms of federal presence, you could almost say it is non-existence because, again, nobody is pushing our cause, pushing our agenda in the national assembly.

All of them are in it for themselves. They don’t care about the people. And what I am promising the people of Eti-Osa is that I am going to push their cause in the national assembly to ensure that Eti-Osa gets significantly more federal presence than it is getting today; federal presence in terms of roads and quality of infrastructure that we have. You know, in Eti-Osa, most of the roads that were built were not built by the federal government. They were built by individuals and private companies building estate in an unplanned haphazard way. My role is to ensure that the policies that government puts in place ensure people do more of that but to their benefit as well. So if I build the road in Eti-Osa, give me an economic benefit for building it, in terms of reform, tax rebate or something. So for me, it is about strategic solutions to problems, and obviously, you know that one of the roles of the house of representatives is also what we call the oversight functions—ensuring that the arms of government responsible for specific deliveries actually deliver what they have promised. The truth is we have this budgetary cycle every year, where sometimes the clever civil servants continuously repeat the same project, but it never gets carried out.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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

08056356325

F E B R U A R Y

S & P INDEX

2 2 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

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OPR

11.25%

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613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

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OVERNIGHT

11.50%

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YEAR TO DATE

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PPC, Others Advise Banks to Strengthen e-Payment Platforms as Failed Electronic Transactions Persist

Emma Okonji Technology experts and consumer rights advocates have continued to blame commercial banks for the persistent failure in electronic transactions across banks, a situation they claimed is creating frustration and pains among bank customers.

This is just as PPC, a leading ICT and infrastructure development company, together with the National Association of Telecom Subscribers (NATCOMS), an advocacy group, have joined others in blaming the banks for all failed and unsuccessful financial transactions at a time when Nigerians need to rely more

on online financial transactions, as a result of limited cash in circulation.

They have therefore called on banks to strengthen their mobile apps and e-payment platforms in order to reduce the growing number of failed electronic financial transactions, insisting that the challenge is coming from the banks and not from telecom operators who provide the infrastructure on which banking transactions ride on.

PPC, in a statement, said: “With more Nigerians using electronic payment channels as a result of the acute shortages in cash circulation in the

economy, PPC Limited, has advised financial institutions to strengthen their e-payment platforms.”

While stressing on the impact of the redesigned naira notes on banking infrastructure, the Director of Operations and Head of the ICT Division at PPC, Dr. Patrick Ede, observed that the inadequacy of the e-payment channels to withstand the deluge of transactions orchestrated by the surge in the use of such channels for payment, is causing many failed and unsuccessfultransactions.

He added that the congestion and resultant system downtime are negatively affecting the

commercial activities of merchants as transactions have become slow, delayed and sometimes incomplete, due to the fact that the banks were never ready for the level of surge they are currently experiencing.

Ede therefore called on banks to implement measures that would ensure all electronic payment channels could process simultaneously, quickly and efficiently.

According to Ede, “The rising demand on the digital channels of banks calls for increased investment in reliable payment systems that speedily deliver on transactions.

“To alleviate the congestion on

payment channels, banks should carry out an audit of payment channels to identify gaps and loopholes in the system with a view to phased resolution. This first step will ensure that banks raise the standards of experiences they provide to customers and ensure that customers remain at the centre of their business models.”

He urged banks to consider upgrading their server, network and hardware infrastructure to handle peak-time operations, adding that the move will ensure that all electronic payment channels can process transactions swiftly and efficiently.

Ede further advised the

financial institutions to enhance their security protocols to ensure that all electronic payment channels are secure, protect customer data and prevent fraud.

According to him, there may also be a need for financial institutions to expand their existing payment channels at in order to accommodate more transactions.

He said PPC’s expertise in the deployment of high-end ICT and engineering infrastructure has assisted several organisations in the public and private sectors to create secure, robust and scalable systems suitable for a Continued on page 21

Adepoju: Nigeria Recorded 716 Licensed Courier Operators, 500 Unlicensed Operators in 2022 Emma Okonji The Postmaster General (PMG) of the federation and CEO of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju, has revealed that as at December 2022, Nigeria recorded 716 licensed

courier operators, while 500 were unlicensed and operated illegally.

The Post Master General, who spoke through the General Manager, Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) of NIPOST, Mr. Dotun Shonde, during a recent clampdown of unlicensed courier

operators in Lagos, advised all unlicensed courier operators to register their courier operations with NIPOST, or risk facing the wrath of the law.

Giving a breakdown of the figure of licensed courier operators in the country, he said as at

December 2022, he approved over 500 State/Special SME’s Operating Licenses nationwide; eight Regional Operating Licenses; over two hundred National Operating Licenses and over eight International Operating Licenses.

Shonde however decried the

fast growing number of unlicensed courier operators in the country, which he said, were involved in sharp practices that could ground the entire courier operations in the country, if not controlled. He promised to continue with the routine clampdown on unlicensed

courier operators nationwide, embarked upon by CLRD, in order to salvage the country from calamity, insisting that no one, or group of persons has an excuse for operating an illegal courier Continued on page 21

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 2 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 ^13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

10.362, 00 10.459, 00 10.287, 00 11.168, 00 10.386, 00

Change Updated Time (%) 10.82 -0.01 January 6, 2023 11.11 -0.71 January 6, 2023 0.00 January 11.35 6, 2023 12.60 0.00 January 6, 2023 12.92 0.00 January 6, 2023

Yield

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

3.01

NTB 11May-23

3.23

3.01 2.21 3.20

3.27

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%) 3.01 -0.01 January 6, 2023 6, 0.00 January 3.02 2023 6, 2.22 -1.71 January 2023 6, 3.23 0.00 January 2023

Yield

6, 0.00 January 2023

MATURITY FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23 MREP CP VI 11-APR-23

Change Updated Time (%) 6, 9.26 9.43 0.00 January 2023 6, 14.15 14.64 0.00 January 2023 6, 10.52 10.81 -0.01 January 2023

Discount Yield

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CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate Updated Time ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JAN 25 469.87 January 6, 1 2023 2023 January 6, NGUS FEB 22 2 472.05 2023 2023 NGUS MAR 29 474.23 January 6, 3 2023 2023 NGUS APR 26 476.42 January 6, 4 2023 2023 NGUS MAY 31 478.60 January 6, 5 2023 2023

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS AND MARKETING

CSR as Launchpad for Business Growth Raheem Akingbolu writes on the need for business owners to factor Corporate Social Responsibility into their growth philosophy, citing the example of a firm in Lagos that has consistently used CSR to galvanise support for societal development as well as deepening brand equity

D

espite its global acceptability, some individuals and organisations in Africa still hold the view that local business organisations are exempted from Corporate Social Responsibility investment.

But findings and records have since shown that organisations that invest in CSR grow alongside their societies because consumers see them to be more socially responsible. In Nigeria, some companies are waking up fast to this global trend while some are still living in the past.

Two weeks ago, as part of the activities put in place to mark the 10th anniversary of a Lagos based creative agency, X3M Ideas, the agency handed over a reading hub to the school to boost literacy among the students.

When the CSR initiative was initiated 10 years ago, the major question raised by stakeholders was about sustainability. As the agency announced its 10th anniversary a few weeks ago and followed the announcement up with the news about the donation of a reading hub to a secondary school in Lagos, it dawned on all that indeed the CSR leg of its business had come to stay.

CSR PROJECTS

In the past decade, X3M Ideas has consistently delivered impactful social intervention projects that include renovation of classrooms, office blocks, sick bays, libraries and donating computers, UPS devices, air conditioners, internet modems with unlimited data to public schools in Lagos.

But according to the Chief Executive Officer of the X3M Ideas, Mr. Steve Babaeko, the 10th anniversary CSR project focused on deepening reading culture in public schools, through donation of reading hubs, for strategic reasons.

While speaking at the unveiling, Babaeko reiterated his commitment to changing the reading culture among young people in Lagos.

He said: “X3M Ideas will not waver in our effort to support Nigerian children, especially those in the public school system within our locality. We will consistently deliver impactful social intervention projects to the benefit of the students. This reading hub is modern, convenient and equipped with a library to make books accessible in order to groom these youths with ideas that can reshape the world.”

Earlier, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo, had stated that the communitycentred CSR initiative by the creative agency would help students redirect their time and resources better towards improving education outcomes in the state.

“In this era of social media, school children are easily distracted. But this reading hub will make it easier for them to renegotiate their time for studies and leisure in order to become knowledgeable youth and ultimately future leaders,” stated Adefisayo, who was represented by the Director, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Grace Akinfoyewa.

This was also the position of the principal of the school, Ayobami Masheyi, who expressed his gratitude for the act of goodwill, and urged the students to take advantage of the new facility to improve their reading culture.

“We are always so grateful to X3M Ideas for their contributions to the benefit of our students’ year on year. This year, we’re especially grateful for the contribution to building the knowledge economy by donating a reading hub to our school, for our

students. A good reader makes a good leader,” Masheyi said.

DONATIONS

In response to the pandemic, X3M Ideas, had in 2020 donated unique wash hand stations and disinfectant tunnels to select schools in Lagos. To commemorate its first anniversary in 2013, the agency renovated a block of five classrooms at Opebi Senior High School, the neighbourhood where the agency’s Lagos office is located.

At the 2020 edition which was significant because of COVID-19 crisis, top government functionaries in Lagos and some players in the business community, who witnessed the handing over of the wash hand station facility and Glo MiFi internet modems with unlimited data, to Opebi Senior High School, Opebi – Ikeja, Lagos, took turns to deepen discussions around the concept of CSR. Since the year 2012, when X3M Ideas, commemorated its first anniversary with a unique art of giving by renovating and handing over a well-equipped block of five classrooms at Opebi Junior High School, the agency has continued to build on the achievement. In 2019,

the agency handed over a renovated Block 4 Building, housing the new state-of-the-art library facility, counseling centre and the sick bay of Agidingbi Junior Grammar school Ikeja, as the year’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.

The donations are largely seen to complement the efforts of the government and especially, the Lagos State government led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in their combat of various challenges facing secondary school education. The 2020 edition was done to control the spread of the then ravaging Coronavirus, as it would further enhance the COVID-19 prevention protocols especially in the area of hand washing and general hygiene of the young students and also provided them access to information and education on the pandemic.

The facility, located at the entrance to the Opebi school complex, which houses the Opebi Junior School and the Senior High School, was a well-secured, special clear-view panel fence solution where the beneficiary community could walk through the disinfectant tunnel, before assessing the school. It also allowed for free airflow with good headroom to give an appealing ambiance.

Looking back these past years and the activities

in the marketing communications industry, it’s easy to conclude that history is being re-written for the better by the agency. Beyond bringing Nigeria into global reckoning, X3M Ideas and a few other agencies are also giving foreign creative firms a run for their money.

Since it was established a decade ago, X3M Ideas has remained a leading creative powerhouse with a lot to show for it.

2021 and 2022, in particular, were good years for the agency in terms of business growth and awards.

Generally, the two years were considered defining years for few businesses that survived the heat of the Coronavirus and the lockdown In 2021, X3M Ideas didn’t only grow stronger, but won new clients as well as ticking all the right boxes. The agency also consolidated its reputation as the emerging creative powerhouse on the African continent with the quality of pan-African campaigns it executed in partnership with DStv and the MultiChoice Africa Group, becoming the first agency outside South Africa to pull-off such a feat. Also in 2021, X3M Ideas became the agency that put Nigeria on the global map by winning several international awards, notable among was the Gold it won at the Luum awards in Geneva Switzerland for work done for Mentally Aware Nigeria.

Nownow Partners Mastercard on Cybersecurity for SMEs Raheem Akingbolu Mastercard is partnering Network International, the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, to address fraud, declines and chargebacks in order to reduce costs and risk for acquirers.

Mastercard has partnered with Nigerian digital payment startup NowNow, to help SMEs reduce the risk of cyberattacks.

There has been a significant increase in cybercrime in recent years. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigeria loses an estimated USD500, 000, 000 (Five Hundred

Million United States Dollars) yearly due to cybercrime.

SMEs are a huge target for cybercriminals as they typically do not have the resources to defend themselves or to act accordingly once they have been breached. NowNow supports SMEs with regular web application penetration tests to ensure that applications are not vulnerable to any cyber threats. It is currently available in Nigeria and Angola and is expanding into several other markets (Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, and UAE).

As part of the Mastercard Start Path Global Program, which is designed to help later-stage

startups innovate and scale, NowNow was provided with operational support, commercial engagement, and the opportunity for strategic investment.

“As Mastercard brings the next billion people into the digital economy, it is vital that business owners feel as secure and safe from cybercrime as possible. Our partnership with NowNow is key to achieving this. Whether large or small, businesses deserve the peace of mind to operate knowing that they are being kept safe,” said Paul Trueman, Executive Vice President, Product Optimization and Customer Advancement, Cyber & Intelligence at Mastercard.

NANS Names New Horizons Boss, 2022 Man of The Year Nosa Alekhuogie The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has named the Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr. Tim Akano, as the association’s 2022 Man of the Year.

According to NANS’ President, Com. Usman Umar Barambu, the award is in recognition of Akano’s leadership acumen, passionate professional capabilities, fervent and productive contribution

to the societal development of the nation, and support for humanity.

“Through Akano, many youths from Universities, Polytechnic, and Colleges of Education have enjoyed numerous scholarships, internship, job placement, mentorship, and skills acquisition in the last 20 years across Nigeria and Africa,” Barambu said.

NANS’ Deputy Senate President, Elvis Ekundina, while presenting the award, said the leadership of the association remained happy with all the

support that Akano has been rendering to Nigerian students and youths.

He said: “We appreciate a man who has thought it expedient to build a nation, a man who has always been at the forefront of building leaders of today and leaders of tomorrow. We believe history will never forget a man who turned a village into a city, and history will still never forget a man who turned a city into a village,” Ekundina said.

ADEPOJU: NIGERIA RECORDED 716 LICENSED COURIER OPERATORS, 500 UNLICENSED OPERATORS IN 2022

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

and logistics business nationwide.

According to Shonde, “The Postal, Express, Courier and Logistics industry in Nigeria has been proliferated and infiltrated with so many unlicensed/illegal courier and logistics operators with reckless abandonment for ethical standard and professional conduct. There exist unethical sharp practices, such as price undercutting, pilfering, broaching,

damages, loss and dumping of customers items, poaching and subletting of operating licenses with mountain of public complaints about customer’s being duped or obtaining money from them under false pretences, no traceable office address nor registered brand name.

There abound the issue of public safety and security threats, due to carriage of illicit drugs and prohibited items like small arms and ammunition, guns, gold,

monies, obscene items, among others.”

He said overloading and carriage of items above the stipulated 50kg, which has created and increased public disdain towards the courier profession, was becoming worrisome, adding that it is a menace to the postal industry and portrays a negative image to the Nigerian society at large. He said such sharp practices would

work against global best practices and international conventions.

“It is therefore expedient for any interested private investors into the Postal, Express, Courier, Delivery, Dispatch and Logistics business to follow the due process and obtain a grant of operating licenses from the federal government. They are required and advised to obtain a grant of operating licence from NIPOST as stipulated by

the extant laws or risk facing the full wrath of the law, and prosecution,” Shonde said.

He however said provision has been made for a flexible payment plan for those who cannot afford to pay for the cost of the operating licence at a stretch, adding that a special consideration has been given to the Independent/Solo Riders Scheme to enable them make installment payment for their

PPC, OTHERS ADVISE BANKS TO STRENGTHEN E-PAYMENT PLATFORMS AS FAILED ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS PERSIST broad range of commercial uses.

On his part, President of NATCOMS, Deolu Ogunbanjo, who narrated the ordeal of some telecom subscribers over failed financial transactions, said NATCOMS had in early February, filed a case at the Federal High Court, against the imposition and implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) on telecommunication services and the imposition and

implementation of Excise Duty charge on telecom services because of the untold hardship they are creating for telecom subscribers.

He further said NATCOMS was still studying the situation of limited cash and the continuous failed transactions, which he said were frustrating telecom subscribers, adding that NATCOMS may go to court to file a case against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and all

commercial banks, over failed financial transactions, if it persists.

According to Ogunbanjo, “Some Nigerians are still having old naira notes even after the February 10 and 17 deadlines for no fault of theirs. On the 11th of February, some telecom subscribers decided to carry out online transactions for payment of goods and services, after they had deposited their old naira notes, but were frustrated because they could not successfully

carry out online transactions with their mobile phones, a situation that forced them to patronise Point of Sales (PoS) agents, who deliberately gave them old cash because they had no new naira notes to dispense. Unfortunately for them, few traders accepted the old naira notes on that day, and majority refused collecting it, and today they still have some old naira notes with them.”

He advised banks to increase

the capacity of their mobile apps to enable bank customers transact freely without hitches of any kind.

Last week, THISDAY reported how the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals (ITSSP), an interest group of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), also blamed the banks for failed electronic

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

23

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R: BetKing Ambassador, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha; Managing Director, KingMakers, Gossy Ukanwoke; Chairman, BetKing Nigeria, Toyin Pinheiro SAN; Executive Chairman, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Ayo Subair; and Head of People, KingMakers Africa, Leila Abu, at BetKing’s 5th Anniversary celebration in Lagos… recently

Lagos State Judiciary to Explore Digital Technology with Cinfores CoMiS Emma Okonji In support of electronic processes in government, the Lagos State judiciary has deployed Cinfores Court Management Information System, (CoMiS) to automate its court filing processes.

Cinfores is a Nigerian based Information and Communication Technology (ICT) company that produces cutting edge web-based and installed software packages tailored to make their clients relevant.

The Lagos State Courts Management Information System for Magistrate and Small Claims Court (LagosCoMiS), was formally launched recently at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, with the signing of the service level agreement between the Lagos State Judiciary and the Consultant firm, Cinfores Limited.

The service level agreement was signed after a three-week testing period overseen by the ICT Committee chaired

by Justice Rahaman Oshodi.

Justice Oshodi who delivered the Committee’s report, accorded the deployment and testing phase of the solution very high.

At the event that attracted the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, Judges, Magistrates, Lawyers, and representatives of Cinfores Limited, as well

as other stakeholders of the state Judiciary, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Cinfores Limited, Mr. Asawo Ibifuro, during his presentation on the operational modalities of the Courts Management Information System, described various stages of the deployment Test-Phase,

Nigerian-based logistics mobile app and a courier aggregation provider, QuickBunny, has debuted its services at an official launch held at the Nest Innovation Hub in Yaba Lagos.

The company, focused on delivering packages via hiring vetted agents called ‘Hoppers’ to run delivery or errands in real-time, is set to be a game changer in the delivery business in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Launch, the CEO, Mr. Oscar Ebanja and COO Mr. Raymond Maduagwu, said they created the platform to ensure smooth delivery of all packages to their clients’ doorstep, with their target being Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs), as they understand the need for them to deliver their business

Management Information System, while lawyers were provided with videos showing step-by-step processes of eFiling using the platform”, he explained.

He added that the training provided all teams with a fundamental overview of the LagosCoMiS solution, including its features and

benefits.

Over 350 users, including court personnel and private citizens, according to Asawo, have registered for eFiling and eAffidavit deposition on the LagosCoMiS. At the time of the launch, the LagosCoMiS received over 66 electronic filings,” Ibifuro said.

PR Practitioners Tasked on Innovation, Creativity to Enhance Economy Raheem Akingbolu

As a critical part of the service sector with a lot of contribution to the GDP, the public relations arm of the marketing communication eco-system has been tasked on innovation and creativity to further enhance the economy.

The Chairman of Phillips Consulting Limited, Mr Folusho Phillips, who gave the advice at the second edition of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) Breakfast Meeting on ‘The Business of Consulting,’ and how consulting firms and clients can win in a VUCA economy, also urged the consultants to always strive to

remain relevant in the industry.

He said as consultants, it is important for PR practitioners to be aware of their importance as role models who should be rendering tangible services, building institutions and also innovating as there is a huge paradigm shift taking place every day.

The renowned industrial economist pointed out the need for PR practitioners to deploy cutting-edge tools and embrace best global practices in their service offerings because world events change at the speed of light. He noted that innovation is the next step for customers’ convenience.

Commenting at the event, PRCAN President, Mr Israel Jaiye

QuickBunny Launches in Lagos to Redefine Logistics Business Nosa Alekhuogie

which includes general trainings for all categories of court personnel and registration of users on the LagosCoMiS portal.

“Approximately 49 court personnel, including Registrars, Magistrates, and Bailiffs, were physically trained on the usage of the Lagos State Courts

proposition to customers.

One of its exciting features noted was the independent rider system, which according to Maduagwu, “Anyone willing to ride, make extra income and also feels safe working with us can apply to be a hopper.”

According to Ebanja, their major objective with introducing independent riders known as Hoppers, is to bring in accountability, while empowering them with their own work schedule. However, being a Hopper involves a rigorous registration process to ensure anyone applying meets its stated criterias.

Other benefits to Hoppers mentioned includes: Health insurance, Items insurance, free training and sensitization, 24hrs cash out withdrawals, among others.

Business owners present at the launch expressed their

delight about the highlighted solutions of the company in line with the challenges SMEs face, especially in a busy city like Lagos, while applauding the hoppers benefit as a morale booster, away from the norm.

The CEO, Chief Oscar Sona Ebanja is a UStrained data scientist, engineer, programmer, and serial entrepreneur with considerable experience in cutting-edge technology fields like industrial and automotive design and manufacturing, agile project management, natural language processing, data analysis, and business consulting.

A natural multi-tasker, he also doubles as paramount Chief of the Balong tribe in Cameroon, a demographic that uniquely spans both the English-speaking and French-speaking parts of the bilingual nation.

Opayemi, said: “As consultants, we need to stay ahead of the curve, and we need to be ahead of our clients across the industries that we service by investing more in research and acquiring data across

sectors to be well informed and equipped to deliver rich value to clients.

In his remark, the president, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya,

stated that going with the trend is the strategy in itself to help PR practitioners to be relevant in the industry. He, therefore, encouraged practitioners to run their businesses as perception consultants.

The Macallan Brand Celebrates Scottish Tradition in Nigeria Raheem Akingbolu In celebration of the illustrious life and work of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Buns, The Macallan, a whisky brand, recently hosted the British high commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Wendy Campbell Laing, to a dinner in Abuja.

The dining experience tagged, “Robert Burns Supper,” was held at the British Village Club, Abuja. The first supper was held in memoriam at Burns Cottage in Ayrshire, Scotland by Burns’s friends, on 21 July 1801; the fifth anniversary of the poet’s death The Robert Burns Supper

(popularly called ‘Burns Night’) is a traditional Scottish celebration marked annually to celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns. “Like The Macallan, Robert Burns’ poetry and songs seamlessly combine innovation with craftsmanship and heritage,” Abayomi Ajao, customer marketing manager, West and North Africa, Edrington, stated.

According to him, The Macallan believes that every individual is in a position to lead and inspire others, by driving meaningful change and building a legacy through collaboration and innovation.

He stated further that the brand’s respect for both the environment

and community is a sign of its commitment to sustainability as a constant guiding principle “As a brand, we are proud of our strong Scottish roots and distinguished history, we feel a deep responsibility to act with integrity to preserve our craftsmanship and mastery for future generations.

“His unrivalled commitment to the mastery of his field is reminiscent of The Macallan’s values. We are thrilled to be able to share this rich experience with the British High Commissioner and we look forward to more endeavours that will encourage the fusion of our rich cultures and traditions,” Ajao stated.

Tizeti Expands Internet Access to States, Begins Mass Recruitment Emma Okonji In line with its commitment to widening digital inclusion in Africa with affordable broadband connectivity, particularly to the continent’s underserved areas, Tizeti, West Africa’s pioneer solar-based internet service provider, is launching its 4G LTE network in ten new states in Nigeria.

They include Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abuja, Kano, and Kaduna, where the demand for unlimited and cost-effective broadband internet is largely unmet. With the move, residents and businesses in the ten states will now have access to unlimited, high-speed broadband connectivity from Tizeti at an

introductory offer of N30,000 or $40 for monthly fixed broadband and installation costs, with a discount from N69,500.

The launch is expected to provide significant opportunities for the states, that have not had adequate broadband infrastructure, and this will improve the competitiveness of the states with high-speed, and affordable broadband internet from Tizeti.

Tizeti offers residential and business plans that are designed to meet the needs of all types of users, from casual to business customers. With speeds up to 1000 MBPS, Tizeti’s customers can easily access the internet to work remotely, or in the office; learn online, stay connected with friends, and stream

online content.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi, said: “We are excited to expand our broadband internet services to more locations in Nigeria.

Reliable and affordable internet connectivity is still limited to a few states. We will build last-mile digital infrastructure in these states that will move internet capacity to them and help millions of Nigerians participate and contribute to the digital economy. Internet access in these states will also complement existing or new initiatives by the state governments, for eGovernment implementation, digital access, and investment promotions, especially as many states are implementing robust digital agendas.”

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

24

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Promoting Transparency among CSOs Ugo Aliogo writes on the impact of Civil Society Public Directory and Management Information System in promoting transparency, self-regulation among Civil Society Organisations

O

ver the years, there has been a surge in establishment of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) around Africa and Nigeria.

The CSOs are working in different sectors, such as human rights, democracy, good governance, corruption, peace and security, health, women’s rights, children’s rights, the environment and development, among others. Civil Society Organisations played an instrumental role during Nigeria’s transition from a military dictatorship to a democracy. Civil society continues to support the process of consolidating democracy by ensuring that elections are free and fair. Civil society groups have been at the vanguard for the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and others are now working on commitments towards the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Civil Society Organisations don’t operate in isolation, as there are laws that govern their operations. The main laws that relate to CSOs are found in federal legislation. Since the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, there is no restriction on those who wish to join together for any kind of purpose, provided that the purposes for which the group is formed, or the methods that it uses, are not themselves illegal.

The range of CSOs is as wide and diverse as the country itself, including local ‘elites’ clubs, traditional age class associations, unions in villages and small towns, and national organisations with thousands of members. CSOs have always been regulated, but recently introduced regulations such as amended CAMA 2020 and the proposed NGO Regulation Bill have provisions that cast a shadows of doubt on the intentions of the government.

THE NGO BILL The NGO bill, which was sponsored by Sada Soli, representing APC, Katsina, seeks to establish the legislative framework to regulate the activities of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations.

In 2017, Buba Jubrin had similarly sponsored a bill that seeks to regulate NGOs and CSOs. The bill

passed second reading at the House and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Development Partners.

On the day of the public hearing on the bill, scores of protesters marched to the National Assembly asking that the bill be dropped. Members of the CSOs interpreted the bill as an attempt by the government to gag civil movements.

The committee after the public hearing did not present its report to the lawmakers for consideration, thus indicating it died at the committee level.

However, in 2019, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the lower chamber would revisit the NGO bill following allegations by the Army against some NGOs in the North-east.

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in June 2016, and after two readings it was referred to the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Development Partners in July. Its approval it is still pending in the current eighth National Assembly.

There is the argument by CSOs that the main objective of the bill is to establish a federal agency in charge of supervising, coordinating and monitoring CSOs in Nigeria. If passed, it will give the government sweeping powers over civil society, to the point of threatening its very existence.

They argued that the bill would make it compulsory for all CSOs operating in Nigeria to register with the government every two years and would require them to include details such as the location and duration of proposed activities as well as information on all sources of funding.

CSO’S VIEWS

The Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, (NNGOs), Oyebisi Oluseyi, said regulations are delicate but remain very important for the development of any sector, they have taken the initiative to create tools, platforms and systems that aid not only statutory regulatory compliance, but also

self-regulation, while paying attention to capacity strengthening and growth for Nigerian CSOs using technology.

He added that they are excited to be at the center of this huge development in the history of the Nigerian third sector.

He remarked that following about six regional consultations to conceptualise the platform’s design, they are again deepening the consultation today, moving from conception to practice in ways that ensures they can define user experience for the MIS and Public Directory through learning, collaboration, and consultation.

Oluseyi further explained that the next few months would feature engagements with CSOs across the country to encourage subscription to the platforms, adding that the platforms have been designed in a way that allows information provided to be verified using algorithms supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI); accessible to people living with disability and organisations in hard-to-reach areas, while ensuring that organisations have access to tools to develop their capacities across a range of areas.

The NNGOs ED remarked that the platforms would be useful to government, regulators, development partners, donors and CSO themselves in identifying Nigerian CSOs, their activities, partners, promote collaboration, good governance, capacity development and inspiring confidence and trust in the activities of civil society organisations.

According to him, “We are having consultation with civil societies and also bringing the media onboard as well to review a public directory and management information directory platform that we have developed for use by CSOs for them to improve visibility on their work. Also, for us to be able to self-regulate ourselves as organisations.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

25

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOCUS

Atiku’s Closing Argument: We Can Build The Nigeria of Our Dreams O

n Saturday, 25th February 2023, over 93 million eligible Nigerians will have the opportunity of heading to the polls to elect a new President to pilot the affairs of our country for another four years. I, Atiku Abubakar, am the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, “PDP”, in this election.

It is not an overstatement to say that the coming elections are the most important in the relatively young history of our Fourth Republic.

To start with, the contrasts in the leading candidates for President, and their parties, could not be starker.

First, you have the APC, whose candidate for President is the national leader of the party; a party that has, for almost eight years now, brought to our country a period of unspeakable misery, economic decline, mass poverty, massive insecurity, monumental job losses, fractionalisation, disunity, and injustice. A party under whose watch, our country has witnessed a frightening descent into anarchy, multidimensional crises, economic meltdown.

It was under the APC that our country returned to pauper-nation status with over =N=77 trillion in debt, and under whose watch, over 22 million of our children are now out of school!

Then you have my party, the PDP. The PDP midwifed the longest period of sustained economic growth in our country, instituted fundamental reforms and new innovations, leading to an explosion in opportunity for our citizens in the telecoms, fintech, financial services and other cutting edge technology space. It was the PDP that rebuilt Nigeria’s economy and turned it into the largest economy in Africa.

Along the way, we made mistakes as all humans do, even leading to some members breaking away from the party in 2015, but we have learnt from those mistakes and have come out stronger, more enlightened, and more determined to rebuild this beautiful nation of ours.

The APC is asking you to vote for them to renew this misery and destruction; to renew the violence, the wanton destruction, the killings and kidnappings; and to renew the harsh and brutal conditions that so many people in our country now live with, on a daily basis.

In contrast, the PDP, led by me, is asking for your vote to elect a government that will work to Recover Nigeria from the misery, insecurity and economic decline of the last eight years and bring into office a government that works for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, tongue or religion, based on our founding principles of Unity, Justice and Progress.

I am running to be the President that will lead this Recovery effort and help build a nation that we can all be proud of.

Why Atiku Abubakar?

This country has been incredibly good to me. For, where else can a young orphan from very humble beginnings in the remote town of Jada, Adamawa State, grow up into an accomplished man, now seeking election into the highest office in the land?

I am a product of a Nigeria that is now but a distant memory; a Nigeria we have taken from but cannot bequeath to our own children and grandchildren; a Nigeria that cared and provided for its citizens; a Nigeria that worked for every Nigerian.

My beginnings were stark, humble and poor. It is very reasonable to assume that, were I to be born in the Nigeria of today, I will be but a statistic - one young child in the teeming millions of the very poor that will never escape the shackles of poverty and depravation that he was born into, and that has become the lot of millions of our fellow citizens today.

I am one of the lucky ones to have been born in the Nigeria of our past. From my early days at the Jada Primary School, Jada, to the Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, Yola, to the School of Hygiene, Kano, and then, to Ahmadu Bello University (“ABU”), Zaria, I was a child of Nigeria. Nigeria gave me education. Nigeria gave me every facility and opportunity for self development and progression and I was limited only by my own ability to dream and to achieve.

But it did not end there. After graduation, Nigeria also gave an enthralling and fulfilling career in the Customs and Excise Department from 1969, and gave me the opportunity of serving in Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Seme, Ibadan, and Lagos, places where I would meet and interact with Nigerians of all backgrounds, many of whom I formed lifelong bonds and associations with – not least, my first wife, Titi, a loving and devoted woman from Osun State.

I retired meritoriously from the Customs Service in 1989, having risen to the rank of Deputy Director of Customs, the second highest position in the service at the time. Upon retirement, I went into private business and developed several enterprises with interests in education, oil services, agriculture, food and beverages, media, banking, insurance, and

Atiku Abubakar pharmaceuticals, amongst others. Today, my various businesses employ thousands of Nigerians, directly and indirectly, and I am proud to say that we are the second largest employer of labour after the State Government in Adamawa State.

All these opportunities were provided to me by this country that has given me everything, a country that I love so much, and I would love the opportunity to give back to this country that has given me so much. You will understand my deep pain and anguish, therefore, when I see our country so pauperized that it can no longer provide for its citizens. Our people have been impoverished and their lives rendered desolate. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens are out of work and can no longer provide for themselves or their families. Insecurity is rife, killings and kidnappings are daily occurrences, and our farmsteads have been decimated such that many of our people can no longer feed their families, nor have any other productive means of livelihood. Most depressing, around 22 million of our children are currently out of school and the world is passing them by as they remain unschooled and unable to acquire basic education or skills to improve themselves and enhance their existence.

I worry what would become of our nation when so many are being left behind.

It was not always like this! And it should not remain so!

There was once a Nigeria that catered to the needs of its citizens. A Nigeria that took its young from the cradle, educated them, provided for them, and gave them economic opportunity till their grave.

This is the Nigeria that I was born into. This is the Nigeria that I remember. This is the Nigeria that I now seek office for; to help recover, to help rebuild, to help bring back to roaring life. This is the Nigeria that I want to bequeath to the next generation.

This is the Nigeria that I so desperately dream of.

To undertake these tasks, the PDP has, graciously, granted me the ticket to lead the party in Saturday’s presidential elections, with the singular mandate to come and lead the efforts to cure the ills that currently plague our country and build the country of our dreams.

The PDP has selected me as their presidential candidate because they believe that I possess the characteristics and experience needed to lead the efforts to rebuild our country at this time, and the ability to execute the plans we have set out. And I agree with them.

In addition to my educational credentials that I have highlighted above, I have also obtained a Masters Degree in International Relations from the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England United Kingdom.

My interest in leadership began at the School of Hygiene in Kano, where I was elected President of the Students Union. At ABU, I was elected Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Speaker of Parliament

of the Institute of Administration, Kongo Campus, ABU Students Union.

I entered active politics in 1989 under the influence of soldier-turned-politician Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. I have always been one of Nigeria’s loudest opponents of military rule, and I played a prominent role in the pro-democracy movements of the 1990’s. I was elected into the National Constitutional Conference of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1994 to 1995. My insistence on the exit of the military from governance led to an assassination attempt on my life during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. Having survived that, my family and I were harassed and I was forced to flee into exile in 1995. I continued to actively support the efforts to return our country to civilian rule from my bases outside Nigeria.

In 1999, I contested and won the election for Governor of Adamawa State but before I could be sworn in, I was nominated as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. I was, thereafter, elected Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sworn in on May 29, 1999. I was re-elected for a second four year term as Vice President and sworn in on May 29, 2003.

As Vice President between 1999 and 2007, I was actively engaged at the highest level of governance and helped lead the efforts that culminated in the many successes recorded under that government including the successful privatisation of numerous loss making and unproductive State Owned Enterprises, paying off most of our national debt, massive institutional reforms in our governance and economic structure leading to a consistent year-on-year growth in our GDP and the rebuilding of a vibrant middle class, and the laying down of a sound foundation for future socio-economic growth. Sadly, many of these huge gains have been frittered away.

Since leaving office as Vice President, I have remained the most vocal opposition voice in Nigeria.

My frequent policy engagements with the government of the day on topical issues concerning the economy, restructuring, human rights, and education has helped shape public policy discourse, formulation and administration in Nigeria.

I am particularly passionate about education and I have made significant investments in providing education to our young children including up to tertiary level through the American University of Nigeria in Yola. This univeristy has risen in a short time from the empty fields of rural Nigeria to become the foremost private university in Nigeria, with a student population and faculty drawn from all parts of Africa. The university maintains a focus on sustainable development as Africa’s first “Development University,” and it is the only American-style university south of the Sahara and is already recognized as one of the leading universities of West Africa.

My family and I directly subsidise the activities of the American University of Nigeria. This affords both the children of the rich and the children of the

poor access to world-class education. Specially gifted children, regardless of their parental backgrounds, are also afforded the opportunity to better their future through this first-class university. Even the vulnerable, such as the Chibok girls who escaped Boko Haram captivity, have found accommodation in the university.

I have been privileged to be recognised by both Rotary International and the American National Peace Corps Association for matching my passion with my purse. In 2012, the American National Peace Corps Association honoured me with the Harris Woodford award and stated, in the citation read at that event: “No private businessman in Africa has worked harder for democracy or contributed more to higher education than Atiku Abubakar,” These are some of the credentials that stand me in the best stead to lead the next government. I understand the root causes of the numerous problems that currently plague our nation and I have formulated and mapped out plans and programmes specifically tailored towards the rebuilding of our country, the revitalisation of our economy, and the rapid return of our people to living normal productive lives, once again. A government led by me will be one better suited to the challenges of a twenty first century economy that works for everyone, and that is needed to bring development closer to our people.

My government will create the enabling environment that will give our people the opportunity to exploit and enjoy the resources that our great country has been blessed with. We will remove the numerous barriers that have been erected in the path of growth and development, and that currently stifle the overall progress of this country. In short, I will provide the right kind of leadership required, in partnership – not competition – with the federating states of the nation, and other constituent parts, to achieve peace, unity and rapid growth, in the shortest possible time.

I have put together a plan to address our problems and to arrest the drift of our nation as a whole, and reverse the course of the degradation of the lives of our citizens. These plans have been laid out in my policy proposals titled “My Covenant With Nigerians”.

My plans for Nigeria and Nigerians are as follows: 1. To restore Nigeria’s unity through equity, social justice, mutual collaboration, and consensus among our diverse peoples.

2. To build a strong and effective democratic government where the safety and security of our people and their property is our primary and singularly most important responsibility.

3. To establish a strong, resilient, inclusive and prosperous economy that generates opportunity, jobs and wealth, rebuilds a vibrant middle class, and lifts millions of our poor out of poverty.

4. To encourage the adoption of a true federal system where all the federating units are equal, and has a fair and representative federal government that secures our borders, defends our people and ensures national unity, whilst allowing the federating units to develop and grow in line with priorities which they have set on their own.

5. To redevelop, invest in, and strengthen our educational system in order to provide its recipients with the education and skills needed to compete in the new global order driven by innovation, science, and technology, as well as to live healthy, productive, and meaningful lives.

That is the end goal. It is critically important and existential to us as a nation. These are tasks that history beckons upon us all to grasp with both hands and undertake with vigour and zeal.

However, to rescue and rebuild our country, we must first take over the mantle of government from the APC, the party that has driven us into this mess.

To do this, we must all be united in purpose and come together to vote on Saturday, 25th February 2023, and vote for the PDP, the party with the track record of delivering on its promises.

Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every citizen of our great country, whether you support the PDP or you do not. The task of rebuilding our dear nation transcends and goes way beyond the restrictiveness of party loyalties. It is my hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rescue, recover, rebuild and reposition our beloved country, Nigeria for future generations.

The road to building the Nigeria of our dreams - a Nigeria that works for every Nigerian - commences with your vote on Saturday 25th February, 2023.

Together, as One people, as One Nation, we can get this task done. r"UJLV "CVCBLBS 8B[JSJ "EBNBXB Presidential Candidate, Peoples Democratic Party.

26

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 TR

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& RE A SO

Thursday February 23, 2023 Vol 27. No 10176

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

A POLL LIKE NO OTHER

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU explains why the forthcoming election is unique in Nigeria’s history

See page 25

PETER OBI - HISTORY BECKONS In Obi/ Datti the dream of a new Nigeria has a chance to take off, writes PAT ONUKWULI

See page 25

EDITORIAL

DEATH ON THE SPORTS GROUND

26

1

Nigerians should capitalise on their growing discontent to vote deserved leaders, writes Monday Philips Ekpe

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Rising above divisive sentiments, weaponising the pervasive angst that is ethnicity, region and religion blind, and stepping forward to elect competent, selfless, patriotic and visionary leaders have become national emergencies

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THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOCUS

To My Compatriots: Why I Seek Your Mandate to Be President of Nigeria

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ellow Nigerians, it is with a tremendous sense of history and an immense awareness of the challenges ahead of us as a country that I address you today.

For the past few months, my running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and I and other leaders of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traversed the length and breadth of our country in the course of our campaigns for the forthcoming presidential, governorship and legislative elections at all levels.

I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic crowds that have trooped out to receive us in all the states we visited.

On Tuesday, we had the grand finale of our rally in Lagos State. It is obvious to me from my interaction with our people across the country that, despite our challenges, the APC enjoys tremendous goodwill among the vast majority of our people.

In all the states we have visited, there are visible landmarks of the huge impact the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has made in terms of infrastructural development in the form of rural and urban roads and expressways, modern railway tracks, as well as improved airport facilities, among others.

Millions of our poor and vulnerable people have benefitted from the various social intervention programmes of the Buhari administration. The amounts disbursed to these categories of our people are unprecedented in terms of the sheer transfer of resources to the less privileged sections of the population not only in our country but in Africa. It is remarkable and ironical that those who were in power for 16 years earned far higher revenues from petroleum than we did and yet were unable to effectively tackle neither infrastructure nor poverty. They now have the temerity to cast aspersions on the APC administration.

Our campaign tours demonstrated clearly to us that you, our people, are not deceived.

Of course, we are aware of the hardships suffered by our people and the challenges confronting our country. Some of these could have been mitigated by better conceptualized and articulated policies.

The truth is that there can be no perfect government in any human community.

Some of the problems are also of global origin such as the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted economies worldwide or the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that has disrupted global food and fuel supply chains.

It is clear to me that there is a lot that the Buhari administration has done that are laudable in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and poverty alleviation. We must build upon these achievements.

There are also some sectors where we must adopt new approaches and stress new priorities.

What is clear is that the Office of the President of Nigeria is not one of pleasure. Rather, it will demand the highest standard of hard work, discipline, focus, determination and commitment on the part of the next President.

I pledge solemnly that my Vice-President and I will dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to working for the greatest good and happiness of the greatest number of Nigerians.

Senator Shettima and I have outstanding records of high performance in public office as Governors of our states. In Lagos, where I served as Governor for 8 remarkable years, I led a team of talented, hardworking, creative, intelligent and purposeful people that recalibrated governance and set new standard in good governance that continues to propel the state to greater growth and development till date. That Lagos State is the 5th largest economy

Bola Tinubu in Africa didn’t happen by chance. It is a product of consistent hardwork and creative leadership.

We seek to demonstrate on national scale that energy and capacity that transformed our state to bring prosperity to all Nigerians.

Our administration will work to ensure not just a farewell to poverty but also usher in an era of prosperity in our country. To achieve this, we will re-engineer our security architecture to enhance the capacity of our armed forces and security agencies to guarantee the safety of the lives and properties of our people. This will enable our farmers to return fully to their farms with the resultant increase in food production and affordability. We will initiate measures to boost the revenue earnings of our farmers and improve the standard of living in our rural areas, home to the vast majority of our people.

We will task our ingenuity to drastically enhance the country’s revenue generating capacity so that we can adequately fund and fundamentally improve the quality of

social services in education, healthcare and housing, among others. We are determined to ensure that incessant strikes by unions in our public universities become a thing of the past. We will make facilities and welfare packages in our health sector compare with the best in the world so that many of those health professionals who have migrated to other lands will be attracted back home.

Ensuring adequate and uninterrupted electricity will be one of our cardinal priorities. This will help boost the performance of the industrial sector and create jobs on a massive scale for our teeming youths. We shall put in place a robust and virile credit system so that more people can acquire the basics of life such as housing, cars and household equipment and pay gradually. That will have the immediate effect of reducing the motivation to resort to corrupt means of wealth accumulation.

To fight corruption, we will also provide better welfare and motivation to the judiciary to perform its functions with integrity while we will also enhance the

autonomy of the anti-graft agencies and provide them the necessary incentives to make them less vulnerable to corrupt inducement.

We are of the firm belief that Nigeria is too endowed and blessed for any of our citizens to live in abject poverty. We are a hardworking and talented people destined for greatness. We are determined to offer the visionary and creative leadership to help actualize Nigeria’s immense potentials. We do not delude ourselves that we are supermen with the magic wand to miraculously solve all our country’s problems. But what I solemnly pledge is the determination to select the best and brightest talents in Nigeria to help our country achieve her manifest destiny for the good of her people and the glory and pride of the black man.

To help actualize this, I urge you to turn out in large numbers on Saturday to vote for Kashim Shettima and I on the platform of the APC. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Candidate, All Progressives Congress

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOCUS

NNPP’s Pledge to Nigerians Under The Leadership Of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, PhD

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eadership with Justice is the primary hallmark of the NNPP’s blueprint. The Party under the leadership of Senator Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso pledges to provide Nigerians with patriotic and competent leadership guided by selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership-by-example.

Peace and Security: The Party strongly commits itself to securing the entire country, ensuring peace and peaceful coexistence, and strengthening the bonds of unity amongst Nigerians of all backgrounds.

Revamping the Economy: The Party’s Economic Plan is centred on improving the income level and purchasing power of every Nigerian citizen through its elaborate Economic Revamping Strategy.

Quality Education for All: Dr. Kwankwaso pleges to ensure, through concrete reforms and investment, that Nigerian schools provide the appropriate quality education to our citizens. He emphasises access, quality and productivity as the cornerstones of the Party’s education reform measures.

Modernized Healthcare Services: NNPP pledged to ensure that our healthcare system is radically overhauled to achieve a humane, effective, efficient, and qualitative service for all Nigerians.

Employment Opportunities For All: The Party undertakes to create jobs at multiple levels and constructively engage the youth through retraining for life long skills and providing them with all necessary support for education, training and employment.

Energy and Power: NNPP under the leadership of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso commits itself to drastic measures to provide adequate and sustainable power and energy by deploying our Energy and Power Master Plan to ensure availability, adequacy, sustainability, affordability, and safety. The Master Plan conceives of wide ranging expansion of sources of power and energy through massive investment in renewal energy.

Eliminate Poverty, Ensure Prosperity: The Party commits itself to lifting Nigerians from poverty through targeted poverty alleviation and poverty elimination strategies. It pledged to ensure that families at the bottom of the social ladder have access to food, clothing, quality education, basic healthcare and housing. It pledged that the development of the country must be comprehensive, all-inclusive and evenly distributed across its length and breadth supports the development and wellbeing of the people in every region and every State of the Federation.

Rule of Law: NNPP undertakes to ensure that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, recognizing that sovereignty belongs to the people, upholding the principle that all are equal before the law.

In Deepening Democracy at all Levels NNPP pledges to support all democratic institutions to ensure the continuous growth and maturity of the political system, accelerate national development, and maintain national stability. To this end, NNPP undertakes to put in place Community Participation and Reorientation Committees (CPRC) to complement government efforts and ensure community involvement in governance.

Foreign Relations: While maintaining peaceful cooperation and constructive bilateral and multilateral relationships with other nations, an NNPP government pledges to redesign our foreign policy agenda to reflect the leadership position of Nigeria in West Africa and in Africa with the objective of reclaiming our country’s position in global governance. “Economic Diplomacy” will be the centrepiece of NNPP’s foreign policy.

Agricultural Policy: NNPP pledges to revolutionize agriculture with the objective

Rabi’u Kwankwaso of attaining national food security as well as capturing a substantial market share of food supply in the African continent.

The Party pledges to deploy global best practices to guarantee an agriculture value chain that protects our farmers, livestock owners as well as consumers.

Affordable Housing Scheme: NNPP pledges to build more affordable houses that Nigerians can acquire by strengthening the Federal Mortgage Bank and simplifying its operations and procedures to liberalize access to mortgages and other housing facilities, and create an enabling environment for private developers to complement government efforts in the Affordable Housing Revolution.

In actualizing the foregoing the NNPP embarked on “issue-based” campaigns nation wide. In abiding by this philosophy, however, the NNPP faced severe challenges from its established opponents and from the old and new media. Nonetheless the NNPP ran a successful nationwide campaign, its candiate traversed the entire length and breadth of the country. Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso visited all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT

and over 500 Local Government Areas across the country. He campaigned harder than any other contestant for the Presidency and travelled by road to all parts of the country and covered over 50,000 kilometers driving through our roads to every corner of our vast land.

In the course of the campaigns, the NNPP Presidential Candidate had the opportunity of meeting the real down-trodden Nigerians in their very localities and visited the remotest parts of the country where no other national candidates stepped in since the First Republic. He met and interacted directly with the majority of traditional rulers and community leaders, trade unionists, students, market women and men, artisans, local civil rights activists, road transport workers, retired public officers, the clergy and ulama, youth associations, and collectivities of the actual Nigerians down there. Unlike other candidates who orchestrate rented crowds, Dr. Kwankwaso, due to his populist orientation and the people-oriented message he conveys, generated spontaneous multitudes of people who instinctively swarm his

campaign outings in a peaceful but enthusiastic manner with absolutely zero incidence of violence or injury to anyone in those mammoth crowds.

One of Dr. Kwankwaso’s greatest assets is his populist educational ideology. He sponsored and promoted the education of tens of thousands of youth from down-trodden backgrounds to the highest pinnacles of educational achievement.

The tens of thousands of scholars he trained while he was both in and out of government formed his solid support base within the larger population. Out of the 100 most cited scientists in the world today, three (3) are Nigerians, and all 3 are Kwankwasiyya Scholars. This is a clear pointer to what will be one of his key achievements if elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigerians should and must grasp the opportunity to cast their votes and entrust their future to this brilliant master tactician, empathetic technocrat who directly touches the lives and wellbeing of the common man, and most competent contestant to the the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU explains why the forthcoming election is unique in Nigeria’s history

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In Obi/ Datti the dream of a new Nigeria has a chance to take off, writes PAT ONUKWULI

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32

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

DEATH ON THE SPORTS GROUND Schools should take adequate attention of children’s welfare, health and safety

A

nother Lagos private school is in the news. A student of Chrisland School died under circumstances that are yet to be established at the venue of the school’s inter house sporting event in Agege, a Lagos suburb. Culpable negligence on the part of the school’s management has been imputed by parents of the 12-year-old high school girl, Whitney Adeniran, who insist that she was electrocuted. While the Lagos State government has ordered an investigation, what has come into greater public focus with this death and other recent tragedies is the question of oversight by the management of elite private schools in our urban centres.

We commiserate with the parents of the deceased girl. When parents entrust their children to the management of a school, it is assumed that the school would act in loco parentis while the children are in their care. This assumes that in all activities and events involving these children, they would take every necessary step to ensure that the critical issues of safety and welfare are not left to chance. In the case of the Chrisland student’s death, the school authorities acted in a regrettably lackadaisical manner. Yet, the crisis of our educational sector becomes more perplexing when parents can no longer send their children or wards to school without fearing the worst.

For a sporting event taking place at a public stadium far from the school premises, there was no presence RI SDUDPHGLFV WR DGPLQLVWHU ÀUVW DLG DVVLVWDQFH LQ the event of a medical emergency. Even when the unfortunate child needed medical attention, according to the school account, she was merely taken to a nearby immunisation centre rather than a hospital. It took the arrival of the bereaved and shocked parents to ascertain the location of the deceased child and later establish the cause of death. Overall, the conduct of the management of Chrisland School left much to be

desired.

We are concerned because this is not an isolated incident. Last year in Lagos, there was the unfortunate loss of another student of Dowen College which again resulted from inadequate attention to the health needs of a child left in the care of a private school management. In these repeated incidents, the Lagos State government authorities have been quick to VKXW GRZQ WKH DͿHFWHG VFKRROV DQG FRQGXFW FXUVRU\ investigations only to soon reopen them. There is scant evidence that these knee jerk actions reach deeper than playing to the gallery of public outrage.

What these school accidents indicate is a serial absence of adequate attention to matters of children’s welfare and safety even after charging parents exorbitant fees.

Often, private school proprietors have tended to pay more attention to DUFKLWHFWXUDO HGLÀFHV DQG other external marketing gimmicks than the peculiar managerial competences required to manage children and the emergencies that could arise. Properly conceived, a private school is both a business and a public trust. Proprietors ought to PDWFK WKHLU SURÀW PRWLYH ZLWK PHWLFXORXV DWWHQWLRQ WR the safety and health of the children entrusted to their care.

In the case of state governments, there is a challenge of proper regulation and transparency. State ministries of education ought to maintain regular oversight surveillance on private and public schools to ensure that standards are maintained. Even ahead of approval, it is imperative that basic facilities like a school ambulance, VLFN ED\ ÀUH H[WLQJXLVKHUV DQG SDUDPHGLFV VKRXOG be in place. The Lagos authorities must make public report of the investigation into this tragedy so that appropriate lessons can be learnt. A school, public or private, is a place of learning and character formation.

It is not a place of death for children or anguish for parents.

When parents entrust their children to the management of a school, it is assumed that the school would act in loco parentis while the children are in their care T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS AT THE END, ONLY ONE WILL WIN! Continued from the backpage For peace to reign after the election, what the victor and losers say and/or do will matter. And we have seen that even in the most advanced of democracies. On 6th January 2021, thousands of supporters gathered at a ‘Save America’ rally as the defeated American President Donald Trump spoke for more than an hour near the White House. “We won this election, and we won it by a landslide”, Trump began to a thunderous applause. “We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn’t happen…You don’t concede when there’s theft involved. Our country has had enough. If you GRQ·W ÀJKW OLNH KHOO \RX·UH QRW JRLQJ WR KDYH D FRXQWU\ DQ\PRUH µ The moment Trump’s speech was over, the mob invaded the Capitol building in Washington, DC in a futile bid to halt legislaWLYH SURFHHGLQJV PHDQW WR R΀FLDOO\ UDWLI\ WKH YLFWRULRXV -RH %LGHQ DV SUHVLGHQW HOHFW 1R IHZHU WKDQ ÀYH GHDWKV³LQFOXGLQJ WKDW RI D SROLFHPDQ WU\LQJ WR UHVWRUH RUGHU³ZHUH UHFRUGHG 6FRUHV RI RWKHUV were wounded in what was described as a premeditated “assault on the sacred heart of US democracy.”

Multiple issues underlie current tensions in our country, and they are so complex that anything could trigger an explosion if the

candidates and their supporters are not restrained after the election.

I shudder to imagine what would happen should any of the three leading candidates incite the mob the way Trump did in America WZR \HDUV DJR 7KH IDOORXW ZRXOG EH GL΀FXOW WR FRQWDLQ HVSHFLDOO\ under the prevailing circumstances in our country. We saw a little bit of that after the April 2011 presidential election when hundreds RI SHRSOH³LQFOXGLQJ 1DWLRQDO <RXWK 6HUYLFH &RUSV 1<6& PHPEHUV³ZHUH NLOOHG IROORZLQJ ULRWV LQ VRPH QRUWKHUQ VWDWHV ,W was instigated by supporters of the current President MuhammaGX %XKDUL ZKR ZDV DW WKDW WLPH GHIHDWHG LQ KLV WKLUG DWWHPSW IRU WKH R΀FH WKDW KH KDV QRZ KHOG IRU HLJKW \HDUV 7KH FULWLFDO SRLQW RI WKH IRUHJRLQJ LV WKDW LQ HYHU\ QDWLRQ³IURP &RWH G·,YRLUH WR .HQ\D DQG %UD]LO³WKDW GHVFHQGV LQWR YLROHQFH DQG strife because of post-election discord, democracy is set back, naWLRQDO UHSXWDWLRQ VXͿHUV DQG WKH HFRQRP\ WDNHV D EHDWLQJ :RUVH still, the ordinary people are usually the canon fodders. Innocent lives are lost while the bonds of national cohesion are loosened by forces of factional partisanship. In the process, divisive identities ossify along avoidable lines. In a fragile society like ours, managing VXFK FRQÁLFW FDQ EH YHU\ GL΀FXOW I am delighted by the assurances given by the security agencies

DQG WKH ,QGHSHQGHQW 1DWLRQDO (OHFWRUDO &RPPLVVLRQ ,1(& RI their preparedness for the election. I hope INEC will take onboard the suggestions I made last week in my column, https://www. thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/02/16/inec-and-the-lessonfrom-var.

In his book, ‘Wars, Guns, and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places’, Paul Collier makes dire predictions about how ballots could easily lead to bullets, especially in developing countries with weak LQVWLWXWLRQV DQG D FOHDU DEVHQFH RI DFFRXQWDELOLW\ LQ JRYHUQDQFH³D FDWHJRU\ WR ZKLFK 1LJHULD EHORQJV %XW ZH FDQ DQG VKRXOG DYRLG travelling that road. In ancient Greece, Athenian democracy where it all began grew out of the instinct to celebrate communal solidarity through drama and play but, in this case, the drama of periodic political choice. This is an exercise to choose the man we expect to VHUYH XV DQG LW PDNHV QR VHQVH WR ÀJKW RYHU WKDW , KRSH 1LJHULDQV will be mindful of this as they go to the polls on Saturday to elect the next president.

May the best candidate win!

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

33

34

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

35

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

36

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ITF Trains 285 Youths in Solar Power Installation, Tiling, Interlocking Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has graduated 285 Plateau youths, who had undergone training on were trained on solar power installation, aluminium fabrication, tiling, laying of interlocking blocks, integrated farming among others, Handing start-up packs to the youths during their graduation ceremony in Jos, the Director General of ITF, Joseph Ari said he was sure that given the intensity and the very practical nature of the three-month training, which was 80 percent practical and 20 per cent theory, they were equipped with the necessary skills and attitudes for them to thrive as employees or as

entrepreneurs.

“When tied with the trades, which were chosen after careful and in-depth need analysis of their locales, we have no doubt they will thrive, as the trades they have learned will always be needed”, he reassured.

He added that the commitment of the Fund to skills acquisition is premised on the fact that it remains the most viable and sustainable solution to rising unemployment and poverty that have continued to defy the best efforts of governmental and non-governmental approaches.

Ari said, “Indeed, there are countless reasons for us to worry as Government, and as institutions vested with the arduous task of equipping Nigerians with the life skills

for employability and entrepreneurship. Given the booming population of Nigeria, which in the next few years will place the country as the third most populous nation on earth and the fact that the population is largely comprised of youths, there is the need to step up efforts in equipping them with life skills.”

Thanking the Minister for Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo for the immense support the Fund has enjoyed from the Federal Government, the Director General appealed to state governments, Organised Private Sector (OPS), NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO), Faith-Based Organisations, Politicians and other stakeholders to collaborate with the ITF in its efforts to training Nigerians.

Universal Energy to Launch Grants for Solar Projects across Nigeria Today The Universal Energy Facility (UEF) – a results-based financing facility managed by Sustainable Energy for All – has announced that it will provide grants to renewable energy companies who applied to have their projects financed as part of the facility’s Stand-alone Solar for Productive Use programme in Nigeria.

The companies, it said in a statement, will now begin construction on their proposed solar projects, all of which are designed to connect businesses and services to a clean, affordable and reliable electricity source.

“With this programme in Nigeria, the Universal Energy Facility will demonstrate the enabling power that sustainable

energy can have on local economic development and climate action,” said CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi.

Last year, the Nigerian government launched its Energy Transition Plan showing how the country will achieve universal energy access by 2030 and netzero emissions by mid-century, as well as the finance required to meet these goals. The UEF is contributing to the plan’s finance targets for the power sector by providing grants that companies can leverage to attract additional finance for clean energy.

“The Universal Energy Facility will provide grant payments

to enable solar companies to expand their operations to small and medium-sized enterprises across Nigeria, while crowding-in additional private capital,” said Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, during the launch. “Projects supported by the Universal Energy Facility will help grow businesses and create jobs, making them key contributors to our Energy Transition Plan.”

Minister of State for Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dy Jedy Agba, said “This Universal Energy Facility programme is a practical demonstration of targeted investment in our power sector and in our overall objective to provide energy access to all Nigerians.”

FMN Rewards Three Innovators with N10M Cash Prize Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) is pleased to announce the winners in category one of the second season of its annual Prize for Innovation competition, which focused on Innovative Techniques for Local Content Development in the Food and Agro-allied sector. FMN Prize for Innovation season two aims to promote the development of local content and innovation in Nigeria’s food industry, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and driving economic growth in the country.

The high-octane pitch event, which aired on February 18, 2023, brought together six finalists with businesses that have made significant contributions to the food

and agro-allied sector in Nigeria through their innovative ideas and practices. After a highly competitive pitch session before the judges, the winner and first two runners-up were selected.

The winner of the grand prize of N5 Million is Eugene Olumese Osomobegbe of Osomobegbe Global Ventures Limited, whose innovation involves the design and fabrication of highly efficient solar dryers in Nigeria. The first runner-up and winner of N3 Million is Musa Pashi Ali of Palmark Syndicate Ltd, with an innovative idea of the production of tomato powder from tomato fruit, and the second runner-up and winner of N2 Million is Damilare Jacob

Ogundipe of Indigo Farms and Bio Resources, an entrepreneur involved in the production of Cassava Residue Pellets for Animal Feeds.

Speaking after the pitch event and presentation of prizes Director – Group Strategy and Stakeholder Relations at FMN, , Mr. Sadiq Usman, said, “it is quite intriguing to see that the FMN Prize for Innovation also affords entrepreneurs and business owners an opportunity for a valuable networking experience.

In this season, we saw a unifying business driver for most of the businesses which have the potential for value creation both in the short and the long run.”

FCTA Launches Abuja Business Plan Competition Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched the 4th Abuja Business Plan Competition (ABPC), which is one of the innovative platforms it designed to foster youth participation in harnessing their potentials and generating wealth.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade, who launched the competition, said the FCTA believed firmly in the huge potentials of young Nigerians in producing the future business leaders and innovators who will rejuvenate the economic growth of the country

“That is why we are investing heavily in youth development projects, programmes and interventions like the Abuja Business Plan Competition which has the potentials of creating jobs, generating wealth and building the next generation of business leaders,” Olusade said.

In his remarks, the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Wale Fasanya, said the agency would donate an award to the winners of the competition.

He added that SMEDAN was also collaborating with some financial Institutions to give interest free loans to the young entrepreneurs.

Also speaking, the Managing Director Abuja Enterprise Agency, Shehu Abdulkadir, said the agency was partnering with several organisations to deepen the impact of competition, while strengthening the achievements of the past.

The Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Yuzurio Susumiu, said Japan was interested in the youths’ entrepreneurial skills development because of its belief in that the future lies with them.

He acknowledged that Nigerian youths were already doing well in the area of innovative ideas and business development.

L-R:RegistrarandChiefExecutive,CharteredInstituteofStockbrokers(CIS),JosiahAkerewusi;2ndVicePresident , Fiona Ahimie; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda; President , CIS, Oluwole Adeosun; Executive Commissioner, Operations, SEC, Dayo Obisan and Ist Vice President, CIS, Oluropo Dada, duringthecourtesyvisitofSEC’sDGtothePrincipalOfficersofCISinLagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 10 JANUARY, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $82.78 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $81.86 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), 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)

37

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

MARKET NEWS

SEC, PenCom to Collaborate in Deepening Commodities Ecosystem Kayode Tokede The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the National Pensions Commissions (Pencom) on areas that would assist in further deepening the commodities market ecosystem.

The Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda stated this when the Management of the Commission along with the Lagos Futures and Commodities Exchange

held a meeting with Pencom in Abuja recently.

Yuguda who was represented by the Executive Commissioner Corporate Services of the SEC, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, stated that the SEC is very passionate about the commodities sector as it has enormous benefits for the economy of the nation.

According to him, “One of the key pillars of the Capital market Master Plan is the development of the commodities ecosystem which

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

gives our nation the opportunity to diversify both the capital market and the economy and also create more products.

“We have recorded a lot of successes in the sector so far and we see a lot of progress in the development of the sector. We are currently working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to develop standards that would make these our commodities acceptable in the international market. This would further boost our foreign

exchange earnings and create wealth for our people. He said the SEC is seeking collaboration with PenCom to ensure economic development adding that the sector has huge potentials if optimally developed.

“We have witnessed major achievements by the LFCE and we are happy to see them progress. We are committed to creating the rules that will ensure investor protection. It is a strategic focus for us to deliver one of our

S E C U R I T I E S

T R A D E D

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

key mandates which is market development that will lead to economic development. Our focus remains market integrity, market fairness and investor protection.

Speaking earlier, Managing Director of LFCE, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale said the commodities exchanges are interested in exploring avenues for investing pension funds in the capital market. He expressed his joy that the SEC is spearheading the ISB to further boost the utilisation

AS O F

of pensions funds in the market adding that if pension funds are not reflated, inflation would keep affecting it.

“The primary part of our economic raw materials in crude oil, if you don’t capitalise the primary sector, the manufacturing sector will suffer, same as the service sector.

SEC has made provisions for the PFAs to invest in the commodities sector and this is expected to catalyse our economy and spur growth” he said.

2 2 / 0 2 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 21Feb-2023, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.59% Anchoria Equity Fund 154.08 155.72 6.30% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 -0.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 23.47 24.18 6.97% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 548.93 565.48 5.31% ARM Ethical Fund 46.55 47.96 3.19% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.13 0.79% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 1.21% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.58% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 0.91% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 96.57 96.57 1.55% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,104.38 1,104.38 -1.96% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.41 2.41 3.77% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.37 2.42 7.53% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 1.17% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.68% Paramount Equity Fund 20 20.36 7.47% Women's Investment Fund 156.68 158.65 5.81% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 101.32 101.32 10.91% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.02 1.02 9.41% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.67% Cordros Milestone Fund 143.03 143.95 3.90% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 106.88 106.88 9.40% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 104.16 104.16 6.04% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 114.02 114.02 5.75% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 1.00 10.76% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.22 1.23 2.18% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.37 1.37 -2.44% Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 9.83% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 11.43% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,116.85 1,120.82 0.89% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.56% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.08 1.08 10.26% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.13 1.13 32.06% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 105.58 105.58 4.03% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1496.54 1496.54 12.32% FBN Balanced Fund 210.03 211.52 5.17% FBN Halal Fund 125.17 125.17 12.87% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.20% FBN Dollar Fund 121.36 121.36 6.87% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 175.61 178.21 6.04% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 105.41 105.41 9.06% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.27% Legacy Debt Fund 3.55 3.55 -11.33% Legacy Equity Fund 2.08 2.13 19.85% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 5.27% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

Bid Price 4,366.30 3,754.00 100.00

Offer Price 4,395.90 3,754.00 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 26.42% 7.91% 11.24%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.14 1.14 5.68% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.35% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.19 3.25 7.18% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.26% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 0.00 0.00 0.00% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.29 1.33 5.61% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 8.67% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.06 13.11 5.76% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.07% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.97 101.97 10.26% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 10.19% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.93 135.05 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 11.02% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,800.00 3,830.90 12.10% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 246.54 246.54 4.66% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.51 1.53 20.63% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 335.42 335.42 7.12% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 275.81 278.84 18.02% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.91% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,811.70 12,966.72 17.34% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.38 1.38 6.66% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 122.09 122.09 4.43% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 116.42 116.42 9.44% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,622.51 4,622.51 8.66% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,414.36 3,457.18 22.81% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,358.83 4,375.58 14.50% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.02 1.05 7.42% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.54 1.57 12.59% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.22 1.24 4.80% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.12 1.12 10.08% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.97 1.97 7.35% United Capital Eurobond Fund 126.33 126.33 5.51% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.58% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith ESG Impact Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

115.29 53.47 101.31 9.93

-13.05% 3.98%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

16.36 140.87 109.86 16.40 17.40

16.46 143.33 111.77 16.50 17.50

5.69% 10.39% 9.88% 6.44% -0.12%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

SFS REIT Union Homes REIT Nigeria Real Estate Investment Trust UPDC REIT

-13.05%

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ AY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

NSIA-LUTH: Providing Comprehensive Treatment, Psychotherapy for Cancer Patients Rebecca Ejifoma writes on the efforts of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, NSIA-LUTH, Cancer Centre, NLCC, in providing comprehensive treatment, including psychotherapy for cancer patients, while calling on Nigerians and West Africans to its state-of-the-art centre with cutting-edge equipment for early detection to tame cancer scourge

D

espite the presence of fully equipped cancer care centre like the NLCC, no one wishes to be diagnosed with any form of cancer – cervical and breast, among others. This is because, over the years, experts have expressed worry at the rate at which the treatable disease is synonymous with death by societal definition.

While the government continues to play its part in supporting and developing a health system for adequate, qualitative and affordable health services to her citizens, health experts have seen a need for more synergy from citizens, NGOs, and multinationals to quell the mortality and morbidity rate.

It is, therefore, in line with its clarion call for aggressive awareness that would detect the 120,000 cancer cases and halt the over 72,000 deaths to cancer annually that the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC) held a media briefing and tour of its facility to mark the world cancer week on the theme “Close the Care Gap”, at Idi-Araba Lagos.

Cancer is Preventable, Curable In his remarks, the Director of NLCC, Dr Lilian Ekpo, dispelled the myth surrounding cancer as a death sentence.

“Cancer is not a death sentence once detected early,” she clarified. “We need to emphasise this. For instance, cervical cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat once detected early. It is preventable, and women are encouraged to take the Human Papilloma Vaccine for prevention.”

Hence, the establishment of NLCC, which she described as a centre of excellence for managing cancer in Nigeria, is to fight cancer as one committed team.” Her team includes highly qualified clinical and radiation oncologists, medical physicists, therapy radiographers, oncology nurses and other specialists.

Reduce Alcohol, Obesity, Diet against Cancer With more than 40 per cent of cancerrelated deaths said to be preventable through routine screening, Ekpo cautioned that most cancers are due to exposure to some lifestyle habits.

She admitted that changing behavioural and dietary risks and some of the modifiable risk factors like alcohol consumption, obesity, diet and nutrition, and physical inactivity can prevent over one-third of cancer cases.

Consequently, the director implored Nigerians to embrace regular screening.

She emphasised, “Our resolve is to drive Nigerians to seek to prevent cancer by adopting lifestyles that can prevent its occurrence as seen in the modifiable causes of cancer.

“We will equally like to get our people to go for regular screening to detect cancer early if it occurs and finally getting treatment started early if a person is diagnosed with early stages of cancer.”

Need for Partnership with Citizens, Government, NGOs against Cancer Scourge Lending his voice at the briefing, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council (CMAC) at LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, called for collaboration to wage war against the disease. “The government has done a lot and is doing its part. However, in terms of cancer care, we all have a role to play. We need well-meaning Nigerians to come to our aid in terms of advocacy, Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs),

Varian Halcyon radiotherapy treatment system

and multinationals. Cancer scourge needs to be tamed, and like other serious countries are doing in the world, we also need to play our part.”

As a preventive and curative centre, the Head of Medical Physicists at the NLCC, Dr Adeneye Samuel, outlined that medical physicists employ the knowledge of radiation physics to treat various forms of cancer.

He added: “We use the latest techniques such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Volumetric Arc therapy (VMAT). Medical physicists use these advanced techniques to treat different forms of cancer.

So, we use these techniques to spare organs at risk.”

According to the medical physicist,

the NSIA-LUTH cancer centre also performs quality assurance using the latest machines in their facility. He noted that they use fathom and other ion chambers, very extensive and specialised equipment to ensure the machines are working optimally. “We ensure that the dose prescribed by the radiation oncologist is the same one the patients receive.”

Brachytherapy Suite With 3-Dimension Knowing that cancer is a disease that requires comprehensive management and treatment, the NSIA-LUTH facility is ahead of the pack as the only centre in the country and West Africa with a

While the government continues to play its part in supporting and developing a health system for adequate, qualitative and affordable health services to her citizens, health experts have seen a need for more synergy from citizens, NGOs, and multinationals to quell the mortality and morbidity rate

fully-fitted Brachytherapy suite with a 3-Dimensional HDR Gamma med brachytherapy machine, which treats patients to any music of their choice as part of soothing relief.

The centre also has two radiotherapy wings containing two ovarian vital beam linear accelerators and one Varian Halcyon against all forms of cancer. Its services include consultation, counselling, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and pharmacy.

Cancer treatment available at the NSIALUTH covers breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma, colon cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, basal cell cancer, melanoma, lung cancer and sarcomas.

Today, the NSIA-LUTH, which began operations about four years ago, has attended to over 6,500 patients, over 6,231 chemotherapy treatments, 3,997 radiotherapy treatments and 97 brachytherapy treatments. Thus, the Head of Clinical and Radiation Oncology of NLCC, Dr Muhammad Habeebu, encouraged routine checks. “Nigerians come for a check-up. “A third of cancers can be cured if detected early, and that treatment is what the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre is all about.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ AY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

NEWS

FERTILITY Helping BlindStudentsFind

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Their Way withGuideCanes Balanced Nutrition To Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo ÓØ ×ßËÒÓË For the blind and the visually impaired, navigating and scanning their surroundings is a difficult challenge.

The students of the School for the Blind, Afara Umuahia, Abia State have been contending with this challenge and looking for any form of assistance to cope with their unfortunate situation.

But a non-governmental PSHBOJTBUJPO +PIO 0CJOOB $IVLXVFNFLB +0$ 'PVOEBtion has stepped in to offer a helping hand to the students.

The foundation donated 10 guide canes to the students to help them find their way in any environment they found themselves.

Aside from the guide canes the foundation also included two laptops aming the donated items for the use of the school.

5IF GPVOEFS PG +0$ 'PVOEBtion, John Ukaumunah said he decided to donate the guide canes to the visually impaired students in order “to bring light to the physically challenged people and give hope to them”.

“I also want to encourage others to aspire and have hope they can climb to higher heights”, he BEEFE 0CJOOB XIP IJNTFMG JT physically challenged, has over the years continued to use his

foundation to assist those with various forms of disabilities.

The School for the Blind has become a regular beneficiary of UIJT /(0 XIJDI JT GPDVTFE PO “touching lives” and helping the physically challenged to live meaningful lives..

0CJOOB EJTDMPTFE UIBU IF KVTU built a mini-market for the blind students but he is still waiting for funds to stock the store with products needed by students and officials of the school. )PXFWFS UIF QIZTJDBMMZ challenged boy with a kind heart was optimistic that the mini-market would commence operations soon. )F CFMJFWFT JU XPVME CF TFMG sustaining and generate revenue for the school. It would also keep the students out of the streets since they won’t have to wander out of the school to buy what they need if they could get them within the school.

5IF GBDJMJUBUPS PG +0$ 'PVOEBUJPO .BEBN 0LXVDIJ &LFPNB Ukumunah, who is the mother of the founder, noted that the donated items would go a long way to help the beneficiaries.

4IF TBJE UIBU IFS TPO 0CJOOB has been assisting the school UISPVHI IJT +0$ 'PVOEBUJPO and will continue to do so, adding that just recently the foundation trained the students on the production of sanitizers, which were certified as excellent.

The Principal of the school, .ST $FMJOF 0MVHV FYQSFTTFE IFS HSBUJUVEF UP 0CJOOB BOE his mother for not relenting in helping and training the students, adding that the guide canes and laptops . &GGPSUT PG +0$ 'PVOEBUJPO JO offering assistance to the School for the Blind is well appreciated by the Abia State government.

The Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Basic Education, Mr. &[F "KV[JF DPNNFOEFE 0CJOOB for using his Foundation to help the school.

Ajuzie, whose message was conveyed through the Director, Educational Services, Mrs. Victoria Adindu lauded 0CJOOB BOE IJT 'PVOEBUJPO for the donations. “Last time, they taught the students on the QSPEVDUJPO PG TBOJUJ[FST +0$ Foundation has been helpful to the school. We are grateful and will continue to partner with the foundation for the good of the school,” she said.

The beneficiaries did not hide their joy and happiness as they clutched the donated devices. Speaking on their CFIBMG UIF *OGPSNBUJPO 0Gficer of the school and social commentator, Mr. Urasi Eze, thanked the donor for the kind gestures, adding that the beneficiaries and the school would ever remain grateful to +0$ 'PVOEBUJPO

Enhance Fertility (Part 2) t 7JUBNJO $ Improves hormone level and fertility in women. Improve sperm quality, motility and protect sperm from DNA damage, thus reducing the chance of miscarriage and chromosomal problems in children.

'PPE TPVSDFT Abundant in plant and fruits including red pepper, broccoli, cranberries, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus fruits like orange, apples etc. t 7JUBNJO % This is needed to create sex hormone necessary for ovulation and hormonal balance.

Food sources: Eggs, fatty fish, diary, cod liver oil, can also be gotten by sitting out in the early morning sun for at least 15-20minutes daily. t 7JUBNJO &: improves sperm health and motility, also protects eggs, sperm, DNA from damage by free radicals.

Food sources: Almonds, spinach, papaya, dark leafy green vegetables, sunflower seeds, olives. t *SPO Women who do not get sufficient amount of iron may suffer lack of ovulation and possible poor egg health which can inhibit pregnancy at a rate of 60% higher than those with sufficient iron stores.

'PPE TPVSDFT Lentils, spinach, pumpkin seeds (raw), beans, beef, dark leafy vegetables like pumpkin leaves, bitter leaf, water leaf.

ISN Rewards 31 Performing Customers for 2022, Introduces Glucerna

Essential Fatty Acids/Proteins/Fibers r 0NFHB BDJET IBWF CFFO TIPXO UP helps to regulate hormones in the body, increase cervical mucus, promote ovulation, and increase blood flow to the reproductive PSHBOT 0NFHB DPOUBJOT BDJET %)" "/% EPA) that have been shown to lower many forms of diseases.

Food sources: Flax seed, walnuts, fishes(sardines, salmon, our local Titus fish) shrimps,etc t 'BUT Saturated fats and cholesterol are also essential for fertility. Cholesterol is a precursor to all hormones produced in the body including progesterone. Just make sure it is from the right foods Food sources: Coconut oil, grass fed meats, fish, nuts / seeds and avoid hydrogenated oils and vegetables oil cooked at a high heat. t 1SPUFJO Eating healthy amount of protein from a wide variety of sources is an important part of a healthy fertility diet as amino acids are the building block for cells in the body.

Animal and vegetable sources of protein in appropriate quantities are recommended. t 'JCFS: Assist the body in getting rid of excess oestrogen and xenohormones in the system and keeps your digestive tracts functioning properly.

'PPE TPVSDFT Cooked whole wheat,banana,apples, strawberries etc.

)FBMUI $BSF 1SPEVDUT .ST Ifeyinwa Chioke said, “We always take feedback from our customers.

0WFS UIF ZFBST XF IBWF USJFE UP appreciate their efforts through this customer forum event, therefore, UIJT ZFBS XF BSF SFXBSEJOH customers.

“We believe that this would be better and they have all promised to do more this year. It is a very competitive reward system, and they are all happy about it because of the transparent process.”

Giving insight on the new product- GLUCERNA, Mrs. Chioke stated that “it’s a new supplement that helps the people living with diabetes to manage UIFJS NFBMT 0OF PG UIF UIJOHT you need to do as a person living with diabetes is to know what you eat and manage your intake effectively. So, with GLUCERNA you can get all the supplements, and vitamins you need and It will help them to manage their condition.”

While appreciating ISN, the grand prize winner of the Toyota )JHIMBOEFS UIF .BOBHJOH %JSFDtor, Graceland Nigeria ltd, Mr. 0LXVEJMJ 6EPZF UIBOLFE *4/ for leading the way in rewarding its customers. “Nothing gives joy like being rewarded for doing business with a Company that appreciates and rewards results.

Ithrilledappy and elated,” said Mr. Udoye.

Important Foods Specific for Fertility t "WPDBEP 1FBS They are rich source of plant sterols, as well as monounsaturated fats which reduces inflammation. It also helps in balancing oestrogen, supports the body’s natural ability to produce progesterone critically for ovulation and healthy pregnancy. t 4BMNPO 5IJT àTI IBT QMFOUZ PG 0NFHB GBUUZ BDJET XIJDI IBWF CFFO QSPWFO UP provideregular blood flow to the reproductive organs. It regulates prostaglandin which is involved in hormonal production. t 1JOFBQQMFT This juicy fruits are loaded with Bromelain an enzyme which acts as pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulants, this properties allows it to functions as natures Aspirin causing increase blood flow to the womb and promoting implantation. You start consuming pineapple after confirming ovulation or after an embryo transfer if you have done an IVF. t :BNT This African delicacy is rich in vitamins A and C which acts as strong antioxidants preventing oxidative damages to both eggs and sperm. Yams are also believed to be rich in phytoestrogen and a form of natural progesterone. This helps to regulate the oestrogen and progesterone balance necessary for ovulation. For fertility purpose it should be best eaten in the first half of the menstrual periods. t 8BMOVUT walnuts are significant source PG 0NFHB ) BOE 0NBHB GBUUZ BDJE BOE has played significant role in the improvement of sperm vitality, motility and morphology.

Studies have shown that walnut consumption can lower chromosomal abnormalities in male sperm. t /VUT BOE 4FFET $POUBJO PNFHB [JOD and vitamin E. They possess essential fatty

John Obinna Chukwuemeka Foundation steps in for the visually impaired

MaryNnah To encourage its customers and distributors nationwide to continue to give their best to the organisation, ISN, the leader in medical diagnostic products and services in West Africa, has rewarded the 5PQ DVTUPNFST EVSJOH UIFJS 2022 Business at their Ccustomer forum in Lagos last week.

5IF DVTUPNFST DVU BDSPTT UIF East, North, and West business Regions of ISN, and they have won several prizes with the grand QSJ[F PG B 5PZPUB )JHIMBOEFS HJWFO to Graceland Nigeria LTD. 0UIFS OPUBCMF XJOOFST JODMVEF Pipette Nig. LTD (2021 Grand Prize winner), Mediscan Tech.

TVQQPSU -5% )ZDIF[ (MPCBM ventures, Semper Pharmacy, and De Pascal Surgical in the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth positions respectively.

The organisation also used the opportunity to announce the launch of Glucerna, a nutrition product for those living with diabetes and health-conscious individuals.

Eulogizing its customers and distributors for their efforts in 2022, *4/ $&0 .S 'FMJY 0GVOHXV stated that last year was very difficult, especially for those who did business in Nigeria.

“There were many challenges, particularly movements around the country as relates to the supply

of goods because of movement restrictions in some parts of the country.

“Kidnapping, forex issues, and insecurity impacted negatively on businesses but in times like that you rely or lean on your DVTUPNFST 0VS DVTUPNFST DBNF through for us. That is why we are celebrating them today.” .S 0GVOHXV XIP EFDSJFE a lack of adequate awareness campaigns by stakeholders and government as well as intervention, revealed that Nigeria was second to South Africa in the number of people living with diabetes.

“This is worrisome and the government must show greater interest in tackling the menace because diabetes has killed more QFPQMF UIBO NBMBSJB BOE )*7 combined”, he said.

0O DSFBUJOH BXBSFOFTT IF said, “It’s really about awareness, it’s about taking the message out, working with our partners, people like the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), to spread awareness of the disease and also spread awareness of how individuals can manage the disease effectively, and so, for me, it’s really about going out there to every part of this country to let people know about the disease and how they can handle it.”

Regarding the reward system, the ISN Director of Consumer

acid and zinc, sensitive to heat and can be destroyed if overcooked. The best nuts and seeds for vitamin E are sunflower seeds and almonds. The best seeds and nuts for iron are pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. t %BSL -FBGZ 7FHFUBCMFT Contain iron, folic acid, vitaminB2 and vitamin E and are packed with minerals, enzymes, chlorophyll, antioxidants and vitamins essential to healthy fertility. Examples include spinach, pumpkin. t 'SVJUT Contain vitamin C, flavonoids and a variety of antioxidants. Fruits are the foods highest in antioxidants. Remember that antioxidants are heat sensitive, so to get their benefit, eat your fruit fresh, ripe and raw. t 'JTI BOE 4IFMM 'JTI possess vitamin % PNFHB [JOD TFMFOJVN WJUBNJO # BOE Coenzyme Q 10(CoQ10). Muscles clam, etc. are some of the most nutrient dense foods we can eat, providing an abundance of essential fatty acids. t 'VMM 'BU 0SHBOJD 6OTXFFUFOFE :PHIVSU While low fat diary diet can be a fertility blocker, full fat yoghurt is an excellent protein source for fertility. Protein based amino acids are the building block for healthy cells in the body. Yoghurt contains probiotics to support healthy vagina flora (vaginal infections can put a real damper on fertility efforts) FOODS TO AVOID t 4VHBST Refined Sugar, soda and pasteurized juices such as bottled apple juice, orange juice and other bottled juice can throw off your blood sugar levels and negatively affect your immune system and hormonal balance. Also avoid any processed/refined and artificial sugars. Some alternatives are Stevia, honey and maple syrup. t $BGGFJOF Affect your hormonal balance, increase your chance of miscarriage and prevent you from ovulating. t 4PZ GPPET known to contain estrogen mimicking properties. It is best to avoid processed soy foods such as soy milk, soya burgers, soya protein powder, soy chips, soy meats and soy cheeses to avoid a negative impact on your hormones. t 'BU 'SFF 'PPET Food which is altered to be reduced in fat or fat free is highly processed and can also be high in sugar.

Always chose the food as nature intended, full fat diary is one example that was shown in a study (human reproduction) to increase fertility over the fat reduced options. Fat is what our body need to produce hormones.

Eating a natural fertility diet is advised for everyone regardless of fertility issues, age, time, money and location.We all eat so why not do it in a way that supports your fertility and general healthy living.

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T H I S D AY ˾ AY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

HEALTH

Avon HMO Rewards Infants in Photo Contest For the fifth year running, leading health maintenance organisation, Avon Healthcare Limited (Avon HMO) has reaffirmed its commitment to maternal and child health with its just concluded baby photo contest.

Tagged #AvonBaby2022, the company also uses the contest to encourage immunisation and engender bonding between parents and their babies.

In the just-concluded edition themed, ‘Avon Christmas Baby’ parents were encouraged to celebrate the festive season by posting pictures of their babies dressed up as Santa Claus on their social media pages.

This novel twist was warmly received on social media. The campaign reached over 2 million users over the course of the campaign and successful participants were

full of praise for the initiative.

According to Majaro Funmilayo, mother of the first prize winner, her excitement was boundless when her 3-year-old baby came out tops.

“It feels amazing that my son won this competition.

The race wasn’t easy, and I thank God for my close friends and family who motivated me to keep campaigning for him in moments I wanted to give up.”

Abimbola Oluwatosin, mother of the second-place winner, the experience is something she would surely tell her child when she gets older.

“Being the first runnerup of the competition is a surreal experience and I am full of joy. The win brings a whole new dimension of passion for my child, and I

believe this feat will usher Baby Tiara to greater levels of opportunities in life.”

When asked about the recently concluded edition during the prize-giving ceremony, the CEO of Avon HMO, Adesimbo Ukiri said increased participation in the contest over the years is a pointer to the brand’s relevance the country’s healthcare space.

“From 2018 when we launched the Avon Baby campaign, it has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, with each edition turning out to be more successful than the previous one. “ This contest is our way of reminding Nigerians that maternal and infant health is a key focus area for us at Avon HMO and all our family plans provide cover for antenatal services, delivery and immunisation.”

Licensed in 2012, Avon Healthcare Ltd (Avon HMO) is a leading health management organization providing healthcare plans and other healthcare services to all Nigerians - individuals, families, groups, companies, and communities.

Once one is subscribed to an Avon HMO health plan, their preventive and wellness initiatives help ensure attain and remain at optimal health.

Should you fall ill, suffer an accident or are diagnosed with a health condition, Avon HMO steps in to coordinate care and pay the bills; ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services that will enable one to get better.

Avon HMO is a part of the Heirs Holdings Group, an African proprietary investment company driving Africa’s development through long-term investments in key sectors.

L-R: Group Head, Retention and Growth Avon Healthcare Limited, Atinuke Kolade; mother of the winner for the Avon Baby 2022 Photo contest, Majaro Funmilayo; and winner of the contest, Majaro Daniel at the prize collection at the Avon HMO Lagos Office

NGO Supports Over 200 Children Diagnosed with Cancer, Says Leukemia Tops Chat Kuni Tyessi in Abuja A non-governmental organisation, Okapi Children Cancer Foundation has disclosed that since its establishment in 2017, it has supported over 60 pediatric cancer cases and has intervened in a over 200 cases.

Taking its crusade to Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada in Zone 4 of the FCT in commemoration of the International Childhood Cancer Day, and in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) the founder, Ms. Kemi Adekanye, said from observation, Leukemia is the commonest of pediatric

cancer.

Lamenting the federal government’s lack of intervention in the treatment of childhood cancer cases, Adekanye said to lessen the burden of parents whose children have been diagnosed of the disease, the attention of the federal government needs to be drawn to the malaise.

“We started in 2017 and so far, we have supported about 60 children, but when talking about intervention, we have supported roughly over 200. The bills vary from about two million and above and we work with the National Hospital and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

“The foundation is all

about the funding and creating sensitisation about cancer in children. Cancer care is really expensive and so try to raise funds from friends, family and other organisations to support children living with cancer.

“We do the sensitisation every year and we have decided to take the campaigns to schools because we have discovered that most children do not even know about childhood cancer, and they are the ones being affected by the disease.

‘Lack of government intervention is one of the challenge we are faced with. We really need to draw the government’s attention to childhood

cancer as there’s no form of support whatsoever. So, the children only have to rely on their parents or on organisation’s like ours.”

In her speech, the Senior Mistress in charge of Administration, Mrs. Umeh Amarachi, said teachers and students that attended the health talk have learnt a lot, adding that the campaign on childhood cancer needs to be taken to the grassroots as well.

“Teachers in attendance and the students have learnt a lot. The campaign should be taken to the grassroots as they have to hear the messages as well. Many fall sick without knowing what the problem is,” she added.

NAFDACTasks SKG Pharma on Medicine Export

Adeyeye

Mary Nnah SKG Pharma Limited, Lagos, a top-tier pharmaceutical company in Sub- Saharan Africa has been charged to take advantage of its rich quality and large product portfolio to explore opportunities in continental and global pharmaceutical markets.

Director-General of National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, during a working visit to SKG Pharma Limited facility in Ikeja, Lagos, said the company has the potential to be a big player in the African and even global pharmaceutical market by the sheer size of its factory, its quality drugs and large product portfolio across several health needs.

“With what we have seen here today SKG Pharma has the potential to trade its products on the continent and beyond sooner than later. What we need is to work with them to get the WHO pre-qualification,” Prof.

Adeyeye said.

According to the NAFDAC boss, as a qualitydriven agency, the organisation has attained Maturity Level Three and working on moving to Maturity Level Four which will make it easier for SKG Pharma and other indigenous Pharmaceutical companies to get easy access to the global market.

Managing Director of SKG Pharma, Dr. Okey Akpa during a brief presentation to the NAFDAC Director General and her team, said the company which started in 1962 as Le Petit and then Wellcome Nigeria Limited has achieved so many firsts in the Pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria: “First Cotrimoxazole and First Acyclovir manufactured in Nigeria as Dr. Akpa explained that SKG Pharma’s Quality Policy which is “to provide customers with innovative pharmaceutical and healthcare products that exceed their expectations by offering real economic values and benefits” is in tandem with NAFDAC’s quality policy.

Under a very strict quality regime, SKG produces a range of oral liquids, oral solids, and topical products many of which are household names. These include King Tonic, Rulox, Cofex, Novalyn Cough Linctus, and Primpex, among others.

Dr. Akpa said SKG Pharma has over the years invested heavily in Research and Development, factory upgrades with modern equipment, talent management, inclusion and diversity, safety, and environment among other key areas.

“These investments have enabled us to come up with innovative products and together with the workforce in SKG and our trade partners we can reach millions of consumers with our products in Nigeria and across the west coast”, the SKG Managing Director explained.

He said SKG will explore the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) to penetrate the African market with its rich product portfolio.

43

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

GAMINGWEEK

Edited by NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG | ikotibok@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324

Ilot Bet Weighs in on Presidential E l e c tio n wit h N5 Million

FOR ECAST

Barcelona Visit Manchester United as Real Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports on a gaming industry operator that is Welcome Atletico for Madrid Derby cashing in on the impending national elections to present a multimillionnaira predict-and-win jackpot to Nigerians

Davidson Abraham

A

s Nigerians go to the polls in less than 48 hours in one of the nail-biting national elections, one of the thriving gaming operators, Ilot Bet, has weighed in by presenting an election jackpot of N5 million.

The company has asked Nigerians to predict who will be the next president.

Out of the 18 political parties, the focus is on four political parties and their presidential standardbearers, including ex-Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu (of the All Progressives Congress), former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar (of the Peoples Democratic Party), ex-Anambra Governor Peter Obi (of

the Labour Party) and ex-Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (of the New Nigeria Peoples Party).

Information put out by iLOT on the elections jackpot has a timer ticking away by the seconds, bringing the moment of decision closer. Winners will share N5 Million prize pool. Once a player picks one of the candidates, a final and unchangeable decision has been made.

What is then required is to wait patiently for the announcement of the result by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At the time of this report, 24581 players had made known their choices and registered for a chance to win. The result showed

Tinubu leading with 45.81 per cent. Following closely is Obi, with 34.7 per cent.

Atiku came a distant third with 16.92 per cent. At the rear is Kwankwaso, with 2.49 per cent. However, as there are still some hours left for more players, and going by the unpredictable nature of a political race and gaming, nothing can be taken for granted until the final result is declared by the institution vested with the powers to do so. iLOT Bet is a sports betting company duly registered under the National Regulatory Lottery Commission (NLRC) to make the sports betting experience easy for everyone to enjoy.

Ilot Bet provides the best odds in Nigeria from their experts, possibilities are

endless, and the fun never stops. There are highly competitive odds, highly reliable bet predictions, and dedicated betting tips. All betting odds are profitable if the bettor correctly places their bets.

Currently, 17 different banks accept payments from iLOT, and no fees are involved for withdrawals.

Also, the minimum withdrawals are N1,000, and the maximum is N9,999,999.

The company was established during COVID-19 in 2020 by Uma Ntima, who doubles as managing director. iLOT has a history of fulfilling its promises to stay true to the ideals of integrity and character in rewarding its subscribers.

Saudi Arabia Set to Be Global Gaming, Esports Hub Saudi Arabia has amped up its internet services to aid this growing market.

There is much evidence that Saudi Arabia has wholeheartedly embraced technology and everything remotely related. This gear shift has given rise to the esports industry in the Kingdom, which has shown tremendous potential in recent years.

A senior official has predicted that the Saudi Arabian esports market will grow by more than 250 per cent in the

next eight years. At a world forum in Riyadh, Mohammed Saud AlTamimi, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission, revealed that a large chunk of the Saudi population is big on gaming.

“In Saudi Arabia, 89 per cent of the Saudi population is gamers. It is the highest per capita globally,” said Al-Tamimi.

By 2030, the gaming industry’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross

domestic product will have multiplied 50 times.

The Kingdom’s esports and gaming industry is undergoing revolutionary change due to the Saudi Arabian Digital Content Council and its Ignite programme.

“The Ignite program focuses on gaming, audio, digital advertising and video. In Ignite, we already approved a $100 million fund for multiple entrepreneurs and developers,” Al-Tamimi added.

KSA has also amped up

its internet services to aid this growing market. Saudi Arabia is the seventh largest country in terms of Internet speed on broadband and mobile phones.

“We understand that gamers are using mobile for networks. Over the last 12 months, with the partnership with telecom operators, we increased and improved the latency, which is the average response time, by more than 82 per cent,” Al-Tamimi added. r 4063$& .JEEMF &BTU '$ 1VMTF

ADVISORY: +18 PERSONS UNDER 18 MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN BETTING, GAMING OR LOTTERY ACTIVITY

Barcelona will visit Manchester United on Thursday for a Europa League showdown at Old Trafford.

A 2-2 draw in Barcelona makes the tie a winner-takes-it-all encounter. Manchester United have the home advantage going into this game, but either side could win the tie. On that same night Union Berlin will play host to Dutch giants Ajax with all to play for in this suspense-filled tie, as the first leg ended in a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam. While Ajax are a bigger club, Berlin have been incredible for a while, and either side could win this tie.

In the CAF Champions League, Wydad Casablanca will host Petro Atletico on February 24, while Al Ahli will welcome Mamelodi the next day. Both home sides are expected to win their games.

DATE

In Spanish La Liga, Madrid are expected to beat city rivals Atletico as they hope to reduce Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table.

Napoli should routinely pick up all three points when they visit Empoli.

In England, Manchester City are expected to return to winning ways against Bournemouth after surprisingly dropping points last weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Championship table toppers Burnley are likely to easily dispatch Huddersfield as they edge closer to a Premier League return.

Borussia Dortmund, who are currently level on points with Bayern Munich thanks to an impressive eight-game winning streak in all competitions, are expected to easily beat Hoffenheim as they try to win their first Bundesliga title in over a decade.

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44

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Pope Francis Highlights ‘Sad Anniversary’ of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

Pope Francis Wednesday noted what he called the “sad anniversary” of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking during his weekly general audience, the pope called the conflict an “absurd and cruel war.”

“Let us remain close to the martyred Ukrainian people and ask ourselves: has everything possible been done to stop the war?” the pope said. “I appeal to those in authority over nations to make concrete efforts to end the conflict, to reach a cease-fire and to start peace negotiations.”

Pope Francis has repeatedly called for peace since Russia sent its troops into Ukraine on February 24 last year. The day before the invasion, he urged all parties to avoid any actions that would cause people more suffering and said the threat of war had brought “great pain in my heart.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Tuesday accused Russia of “mercilessly killing” civilians in the southern city of Kherson following a missile strike that left five people dead and 16 others injured.

“The world has no right to forget for a single moment that Russian cruelty and aggression know no bounds,” Zelensky said on the Telegram social messaging app.

Germany Expels Iranian Diplomats over Death Sentence of German Citizen

Germany announced Wednesday it is expelling two Iranian diplomats in response to Iran’s sentencing a German national to death.

The move came a day after Iranian authorities announced the sentence for Jamshid Sharmahd, who was convicted of terrorism charges.

Iran accused Sharmahd, a German Iranian with US residency, of leading the armed wing of a pro-monarchist group. His family said he was merely an opposition group spokesman and that Iranian intelligence abducted him.

“We call on Iran to revoke Jamshid Sharmahd’s death sentence and provide him with a fair appeal process based on the rule of law,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement Wednesday.

Baerbock said she summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires and that Germany does not accept such a “massive violation” of a German citizen’s rights.

In an earlier statement Tuesday, Baerbock said Sharmahd was arrested under “highly questionable circumstances” and that he “never had even the semblance of a fair trial.”

At Least 10 Palestinians Killed, Scores Hurt in Israel West Bank Raid

Israeli troops on Wednesday entered a major Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank in a rare daytime arrest operation, triggering fighting that killed at least 10 Palestinians and wounded scores of others.

The raid, which reduced a building to rubble and left a series of shops riddled with bullets, was one of the bloodiest battles in nearly a year of fighting in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Palestinian officials said a 72-year-old man was among the 10 killed, and 102 people were wounded.

The brazen raid, coupled with the high death toll, raised the prospect of further bloodshed.

A similar raid last month was followed by a deadly Palestinian attack outside a Jerusalem synagogue, and the Hamas militant group warned that “its patience is running out.”

The Israeli military said it entered the city to arrest three wanted militants suspected in previous shooting attacks in the West Bank.

It said it tracked down the men in a hideout.

The army said it surrounded the building and asked the men to surrender, but instead, they opened fire. It said all three were killed in a shootout.

Mali IED Attack Kills Three UN Peacekeepers

The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, says a roadside bomb has killed three peacekeepers and seriously injured five

warheads.

Putin said Russia could not accept US inspections of its nuclear sites under the pact, while Washington and its NATO allies have called for Russia’s defeat in Ukraine.

But the Russian Foreign Ministry said the country would respect the caps on nuclear weapons set under the treaty.

US President Joe Biden, speaking in Warsaw where he was meeting with the leaders of the eastern flank of NATO countries closest to Russia, called Putin’s suspension of the nuclear pact a “big mistake.”

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council that Putin chairs, said Wednesday that the suspension of Russia’s participation in the pact signalled to the US that Moscow is ready to use nuclear weapons to protect itself.

Visa of Chinese Scientist Who Edited Babies’ Genes Revoked

others.

MINUSMA said in a statement that the UN peacekeepers were killed in central Mali Tuesday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.

The statement says that MINUSMA “is one of the most dangerous peace operations for peacekeepers,” with 168 peacekeepers killed in “hostile acts” since the establishment of the mission in 2013.

Mali and the greater Sahel region have been battling an Islamist insurgency since 2012 when Islamists took over the north of the country. The French army intervened in 2013 to help Mali take back control of the north but withdrew from the country last year due to concerns about Mali’s military government working with Russian Wagner Group mercenaries.

Mali has been under military rule since an August 2020 coup. The government denies working with Russian mercenaries, but human rights groups and journalists have documented several alleged human rights abuses committed by them since reports of their arrival in the country.

The military government expelled MINUSMA’s spokesperson last year after Ivorian soldiers arriving as support for a UN contingent in Mali were arrested at Bamako’s airport. The director of the mission’s human rights division was expelled this month.

Russia: No Firing Hypersonic Missile at South Africa War Games

Russia has said it would not test fire a hypersonic missile during joint naval drills with China and South Africa, contradicting earlier reports in Russian state media.

Reuters reported Wednesday that a senior Russian naval official told a news conference in Richards Bay on South Africa’s east coast that the country had no plans to fire the Zircon missile during the ten-day exercise.

A frigate that carries the weapon, the Admiral Gorshkov, is in South African waters — one of several Russian ships deployed to Exercise Mosi II. Russian news agency TASS reported earlier this month that the Zircon — which President Vladimir Putin has called “unstoppable” — could be used in a training launch during the exercise.

That drew condemnation from South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance and the Ukrainian Association in South Africa.

South African officials denied the report.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Captain Oleg Gladkiy, heading the Russian contingent, said, “The hypersonic weapon will not be used in the context of these exercises... There

is no hidden meaning in the exercises that we are performing today,” according to Reuters.

South Africa has been heavily criticised for going ahead with the exercises, which coincide with the first anniversary of the ongoing Ukraine war. But the South African government, which has officially remained neutral on the conflict, has defended its right to hold drills with “friends.”

US, South Korea, Japan Hold Drills Amid North Korea Threats

US, South Korean, and Japanese warships participated in a ballistic missile defence drill in the waters east of the Korean Peninsula Wednesday, a relatively rare display of trilateral defence cooperation that has become more frequent as North Korea becomes more aggressive.

The USS Barry, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, took part in the joint drill, along with one destroyer each from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea Navy, the three countries announced in separate statements.

None of the statements specifically mentioned North Korea, which launched an intercontinental ballistic missile Saturday and two short-range ballistic missiles Monday.

The US military’s Indo-Pacific Command said the drill “enhances the interoperability of our collective forces and demonstrates the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and Republic of Korea allies.”

“This trilateral cooperation is reflective of our shared values and resolve against those who challenge regional stability,” the US statement added.

Japan’s defence ministry said the exercise demonstrated all three countries’ “commitment to protecting our shared security and prosperity and strengthening the rules-based international order.”

Russian Parliament Approves Putin’s Suspension of Nuclear Pact with US

On Wednesday, both houses of Russia’s parliament endorsed President Vladimir Putin’s suspension of Moscow’s participation in the 2010 New START nuclear arms treaty with the United States, casting it as a rebuke to the US-led Western alliance arming Ukraine in its bid to fend off Russia’s year-long invasion.

During his state-of-the-nation speech on Tuesday, Putin suspended Russia’s involvement in the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the US. The pact, set to expire in 2026, limits each country to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear

A controversial Chinese biophysicist, who had been imprisoned after creating the world’s first gene-edited babies, had his Hong Kong work visa revoked after immigration officials suspected he lied on an application form for a talent scheme.

He Jiankui, who sparked an international scientific and ethical debate in 2018 when he revealed he had created the world’s first “gene-edited” babies resistant to HIV, said at the time at an international conference in Hong Kong that he had modified two embryos before they were placed in their mother’s womb.

The scientist said he used a technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the embryonic genes of twin girls before birth. He said he had targeted a gene known as CCR5 and edited it in a way he believed would protect the girls from infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It later emerged that a third gene-edited baby had been born.

The former associate professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology — who has since been fired — was later accused of having forged approval documents from ethics boards.

A Chinese court sentenced him to three years in prison in late 2019 for illegally carrying out human embryo gene editing intended for reproduction. He was released in April 2022.

Pakistan to Save 200bn Annually in Austerity Measures

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked his ministers and advisers to fly economy class and forgo luxury cars and their salaries as part of an austerity drive that will save the government $766 million annually.

The belt-tightening comes as Islamabad — facing a balance of payment crisis — thrashes out a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure funds worth $1 billion pending since late last year over policy issues.

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen below a three-week import cover, and the expenditure cuts announced on Wednesday are part of an effort to stave off an economic meltdown.

“These austerity measures will save us 200 billion rupees annually,” Sharif told a news conference in Islamabad.

“These measures are need of the hour, and these savings, no matter if that’s one penny, is very significant,” he said, terming it a sacrifice for the poor who wouldn’t afford food on the table or medicines in the face of consistently high inflation, which touched 27.5 per cent in January.

Sharif said all federal ministries and government offices had been directed to reduce expenditure by 15 per cent and that he had asked his ministers and advisers to forgo salaries, allowances, luxury cars, foreign trips and business class travel.

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FORTY-FIVE

NPO Floats National Ombudsman, Selects Nine-man Commission Izeze, Mahmoud, others make new committee Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) yesterday floated the new ombudsman mechanism with the announcement of a nine-man board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman.

The setting up of the commission, the group said, was a major step by the industry to strengthen public confidence in the media through prompt

resolution of issues bordering on ethical breaches in media content.

The NPO comprises the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), a statement jointly signed by the President NPAN, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and Executive Secretary, Feyi Smith, noted.

According to the NPO, the process of setting up the organisation was midwifed with other

strategic media players and the civil society, in particular the MacArthur Foundation.

The commission members, drawn from the media, bar, the academia, and civil society, the group added include: A former Managing Director, Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Emeka Izeze (Chairman) and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a member of the Body of Benchers, Mr. A. B Mahmoud (SAN).

Also selected were the Deputy

Vice Chancellor, (Academic) Paul University, Abia State, Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna, a Development & Humanitarian Specialist and Country Director, Care International (Nigeria), Dr. Hussain Abdu and Editor-inChief, Diamond Publications Ltd. and Founder, Diamond Awards For Media Excellence (DAME), Mr. Lanre Idowu.

In addition, the Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) Mr. Edetaen Ojo as well as a Journalist, Lawyer and Arbitra-

tor, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo were picked as members of the ombudsman.

Broadcaster, Author and Columnist and Managing Partner/CEO, Eugenia Abu Media, Mrs. Eugenia Abu, and the Chair, House of Representatives Committee on Information are also members of the new organisation.

“The commission will serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly, and free of

charge; maintain high standards of Nigerian journalism and journalistic ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know,” the statement stressed.

Prior to the announcement, it stated that each media house had been directed to institute at the newspaper level, the local ombudsman, explaining that the national ombudsman will serve as an appellate body for the local units as well as a court of first instance.

against involvement in the act The police spokesman stated, "We are going out in full force to enforce the Electoral Act to tackle vote buying and selling. Our people have been enlightened that vote buying is a criminal offence and I don't know why any voter will collect N5, 000 or N10, 000 as a reward for four years. Anybody arrested that day will face the full wrath of the law."

The police image maker called on the people of Ekiti State to cooperate with security agencies on election duty, revealing that some dedicated phone numbers that would serve as election situation hotlines on security issues would be unveiled today.

Similarly, the Ekiti State office of INEC, yesterday, commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials to all the 16 local government areas of the state.

The electoral body also assured the people of the state that the general election would hold as scheduled, urging the people to conduct themselves peacefully, before during and after the polls.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Professor Ayobami Salami, stated this during the distribution of materials to all the local councils of the state.

The distribution of the sensitive election materials carried out at the Ado Ekiti branch office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was witnessed by the REC, security agents, party agents, and other election stakeholders in the state.

Salami said, "The INEC Ekiti State is here with all the members of the inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and all the representatives of all the political parties and other stakeholders to witness distribution of the election sensitive materials to all the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State.

"We have received all the sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the conduct of the election in the state.

Before now, we have distributed the non-sensitive materials and today, we are distributing the sensitive materials also to all the local government areas in the state.

“Electoral officers in all local government areas are here with the vehicles to convey the materials to all the local governments of the state, which will receive their election materials today. The security agencies are also here to accompany the materials to the councils and will keep watch over these materials until the day of election.”

Allaying fears that the elections might not hold, he said, "I want to assure you by the grace of God, come Saturday, the presidential election and National Assembly election will hold and by this time next week, the new president of Nigeria and the elected members of the National Assembly would have been declared.

"The cash and fuel scarcity will not affect the mobilisation and all the activities of INEC, because as of now, we have received the necessary cash that we need to conduct this election and in terms of the logistics in respect of fuel, we also have adequate fuel for all our activities.

So in respect of either fuel or cash,

we are good to go."

Advising politicians and citizens to be peaceful during the election, Salami said, "I want to advice the political parties to be law abiding and to charge their followers and supporters to embrace peace.”

In a related development, INEC began the distribution of sensitive election materials to the 25 local government areas in Niger State.

The sensitive materials, apart from the BVAS machines, had been in the custody of the Minna branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The distribution of the materials was carried out under the watchful eyes of representatives of some of the registered political parties.

Niger State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Yushau Ahmed Garki, who supervised the distribution of the materials, was optimistic that the exercise would be done successfully, since the sharing of the non-sensitive materials was done without any hitch.

Garki assured the public that the elections would be conducted peacefully.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party campaign council, Alhaji Sani Kutigi, applauded the preparation, saying, "So far so good."

Kutigi expressed optimism that the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would win the presidential election.

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: ELECTIONS WILL HOLD AS SCHEDULED Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos, Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti and Laleye Dipo in Minna Contrary to fears that were being expressed in some quarters that the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections might be postponed, the National Security Council (NSC) rose from its maiden meeting in 2023, yesterday, with an assurance that the presidential and National Assembly elections billed for this Saturday would hold as scheduled. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, gave the assurance when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of State House, Abuja.

Malami said the meeting was briefed by Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, and heads of other security agencies, who spoke on their readiness to provide security for Saturday's poll.

The United States of America (USA) also said yesterday it was committed to peaceful, free and fair elections in Nigeria. The US stressed that the process of voting Nigeria’s leaders mattered to the world.

In a similar vein, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, warned the electorate and politicians against vote- selling and vote-buying in the Saturday polls.

Malami told journalists after the NSC meeting that the council resolved that the February 25 election should hold as planned.

He disclosed that the meeting was a follow up to earlier meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Council of State held last week, to affirm the readiness of the electoral body, the police, and other security agencies for the general election.

Malami explained, “Now, out of desire to further consolidate and appraise the comprehensive and general preparation of the system, relating to the conduct of the election, this meeting, which is third in series of appraising and reviewing the state of preparedness, is called by the president.

“At the National Security Council meeting, briefings were made by security agencies, generally, and service chiefs. National Security Adviser made submission, Chief of Defense Staff made one, Chief of Army Staff made submission, Chief of Naval Staff made submission, Chief of Air Staff did, InspectorGeneral of Police, who incidentally is equally addressing you, made submission, Director-General, State Security Service did, and, indeed, DG NIA, and CDI all made submissions.

“The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the election and arising there from, the position of the government, the position of the president is to the effect that the election is holding on the 25th day of February, 2023 and Mr. President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations

on the ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction.

“So we have been mandated, arising from the conclusions of the security council meeting, to now brief you accordingly, but the summary of it, the conclusion of it, the resolution of the council is to the effect that the elections are holding and there is no going back about it.”

On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, reeled out the instructions given to security agencies to make the elections credible, peaceful and acceptable. This included ensuring that Nigerians had the right atmosphere, where they could go out to cast their votes without intimidation, as well as providing adequate security to INEC, its staff and materials, among others.

Usman said, “As for specific instructions, yes, we have specific instructions. The specific instruction is that we must ensure that Nigerians are allowed to come out and exercise their franchise or vote the leaders of their choice and for that we must create a conducive environment or atmosphere for Nigerians to exercise their right.

“We must also provide protection for INEC materials and officials to do their work. We must ensure that before, during and after the election, whatever fall-back it is, we do not have people who will take the law into their own hands and if there is any, we should be able to check within the quickest possible means to ensure that it does not snowball into a bigger crisis.”

Responding to a question on allegation against governors, allegedly, inciting violence over the cash scarcity crisis, Usman said, “We are investigating. Whoever does anything can be investigated, but for him to be prosecuted, there are people who have immunity, I think that is some of the reasons, but that will not stop us from cautioning them, from warning them and from advising them and we are doing so. That’s for incitement by governors.”

Commenting on the presence of military men on the streets of Lagos and Abeokuta, following recent unrest in both places, the IGP said, “These are joint operations, aimed at stabilising the internal security order before the election, these are not operations that are targeted at the election.

“But it is targeted at stabilising the situation, especially the one that came up as a result of the currency swap or whatever we can call it, where people go on vandalising, destroying and even committing arson and so on and so forth.”

Earlier yesterday morning, Buhari discussed with the chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.

The discussion was, according to Buhari, at the instance of the INEC chairman, and it was part of efforts to ensure that the elections held successfully.

The president hinted on the telephone conversation while explaining his few minutes of lateness to the inauguration and handover of security equipment

valued at over N12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police.

Buhari said, “I’m being grounded

by INEC. You know, next Saturday is a great day for us and I take instructions from INEC so that I make sure there’ll be no excuses for the successful election.”

US Harps on Peaceful, Free, Fair Elections in Nigeria

The US expressed its commitment to peaceful, free and fair elections in Nigeria, saying the country’s elections matter to the whole world. It said this in a 58-second video featuring the country’s Secretary of State, Antony Blinken; United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, Samantha Power; and US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Linda Thomas-Greenfield, which was shared on the U.S. Mission Nigeria social media platforms.

In the video, they said, “Nigeria’s constitution, like America’s, begins with a simple and profound idea: ‘We the People.’ And during this election, you the people of Nigeria have a chance to make your voices heard, to choose your future.

“The United States does not support any individual candidate for office, but we strongly support a peaceful election that reflects the will of the people of Nigeria, because free and fair elections in Nigeria help create a freer and fairer world for everyone.

“Your vote matters. This election matters, not only to Nigerians but to the rest of the world. We are interested in your success. Our shared democratic futures depend on it. Go to INECNigeria.org to prepare to vote because your voice matters. The Nigerian people have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”

In a follow-up text on the Facebook post, Blinken added, “The United States stands with the Nigerian people as they prepare to make their voices heard by voting in general elections on February 25.

“We do not support any individual candidate for office, but we strongly support free, fair, and peaceful elections.”

INEC Warns Ekiti Residents against Votebuying, Other Infractions

INEC warned the electorate and politicians in Ekiti State against vote-selling and vote-buying in Saturday's elections.

The electoral agency warned that anybody arrested for vote- selling or vote-buying would be prosecuted and liable to imprisonment and N1 million fine on conviction by the court.

INEC Public Affairs Officer in the state, Mrs. Rolake Odebunmi, who disclosed this on a radio programme monitored by THISDAY, explained that the electoral agency was wellprepared to ensure the success of Saturday's poll.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu, who also appeared on the programme, declared its readiness for election duty on Saturday. Abutu

called on the people of the state to be law-abiding and not be involved in any illegal activities or violence.

The INEC spokesperson revealed that the electoral body had entered into a partnership with both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to combat vote-buying and selling during the elections.

Odebunmi noted that the Electoral Act had now empowered INEC to prosecute anybody caught in the act of buying and selling votes on election day, saying those arrested would be transferred to Abuja for further investigation and prosecution.

To further curb electoral malpractices at polling stations, Odebunmi explained that the structure and layout at polling units would change at the coming election. She said the voting cubicle would be arranged in such a way to prevent party agents from moving near voters to see how they voted on the ballot papers.

The INEC official counselled voters not to be lured with N5,000 or N10,000 into committing an offence whose penalty would be jail or N1 million fine. She urged all stakeholders in the electoral process to combat "the pandemic of vote buying."

Odebunmi said, "The structure and layout at polling units will be different this time around just to curb vote buying, even though politicians will try to find their way to carry out the act. Vote buying and selling is a criminal offence and we are going to be more decisive henceforth.

"We will have ICPC and EFCC operatives on ground and they have arranged for each polling unit. I believe our arrangements will curb vote buying, which is very common to women and our people at the grassroots.

"The Electoral Act has empowered us to deal with anybody caught; the Electoral Act has empowered us to prosecute them. It is N1 million fine or imprisonment or both on conviction and those arrested will not be kept at Okesa (Ado Ekiti), they will be taken out of the state to Abuja."

The state police spokesperson, Abutu, disclosed that adequate deployment would be made to ensure security for electoral officials, equipment, observers and voters on election day in order to facilitate a hitch-free exercise.

Abutu revealed that the Force Headquarters in Abuja and the Zonal Command in Akure would assist the state command with deployment while the boundaries with neighbouring states would be monitored and policed to prevent any incidence of breakdown of law and order.

He also explained that the state command would be collaborating with sister security agencies, and urged the electorate to come out massively and vote on election day without any fear or apprehension.

Abutu also hinted on the readiness of the police to enforce the Electoral Act to check vote buying and selling, warning party officials and members, and the voting public

PDP PCC condemns attack on TV, radio station in Rivers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, has condemned the bombing of Wish FM 99.5 and Atlantic Television in Port-Harcourt by unknown gunmen.

Spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Charles Aniagwu condemned the incident in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Aniagwu while thanking God that no life was lost during the attack said that the attack is injurious to the growth of democracy and amounts to intimidation of free press.

He said the attack raises tension ahead of the election and had become a growing trend in Rivers with the attendant uncomplimentary remarks by Governor Nyesom Wike.

Governor Wike’s continuing language and diatribe is what has created the environment for these attacks. Thus making him an accesary after the fact.

“Also worrisom is the promulgation of pletora of obnoxious executive orders targeted at strangulating the political space and haunding those with opposing views”.

Aniagwu said that the people of Rivers deserved better than the current insecurity pervading the state orchestrated by state actors and called on the security agencies to investigate the attacks with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

"We are calling on the international observers, the international community and the international criminal court to please pay attention to what is happening in Rivers with a view to bringing the pepertrators of violence to justice.

46

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CARING FOR THE WIDOWS...

L-R: Past President, International Women's Society (IWS), Mrs. Nkoli Obi-Ogbolu; Chairperson, Widows Trust Fund, Mrs. Banke Adeola; Membership Secretary, Mrs. Kome Johnson-Azuara; Trustee, Dr. Katia Ekesi; Widows Advocate and Special Guest, Mrs. Hope Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi (behind); President IWS, Mrs. Ifeoma Monye; Vice President, Mrs. Izabella Abia-Okon and an Exco Member, Mrs. Funmi Osibo, during IWS’S Widows’ New Year Feast in Lagos…recently

Polls: Don't Test Our Resolve, IG Warns Mischief Makers, Orders Movement Restriction on Election Day Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, yesterday warned mischief makers seeking to interfere with Saturday's election not to test the resolve of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

He declared that the police were determined to "deal decisively with any individual or groups that might want to test our common resolve."

He also ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on

roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day.

The order, was, however, with the exception of those on essential services such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters among others.

A statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the measures were

designed to ensure a safe and secured election.

“Consequent to the first part of the 2023 general elections, the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the IG, Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day with

the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc", he said.

The order, the statement explained was part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections.

It noted that the order was aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in

effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.

“Similarly, the IG sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned.

“He emphasises that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within

Buhari: Why I'm the Envy of Many World Presidents Says he feels honoured to lead Nigeria at this period Lauds CACOVID for donating 350 security vehicles, thousands of vests to govt Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that the support his government had been receiving from the organised private sector in addressing the nation's social challenges was the reason why he was the envy of many presidents of the world.

The president spoke yesterday, at the inauguration and handover of security equipment valued at over N12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police Force which preceded the maiden meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) in 2023, at the State House, Abuja.

The items were donated by the Coalition of Private Sector Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) - a group of eminent Nigerian industrialists, including the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Aliko Dangote and Herbert Wigwe, who had also pooled N40 billion to combat COVID-19 in the country.

The President said: “Today is indeed a very happy day for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I am the envy of many Presidents in the world. I am exceedingly honoured to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at this time. ''I am gratified to have the honour of leading a country whose private sector willingly galvanises itself to raise funds to enthusiastically support government in resolving social ills. ''I am proud to say that there is nowhere in the entire world, except in Nigeria, where the private sector has voluntarily come together to assist government efforts.''

Buhari, on behalf of the Nigerian populace, thanked all members of

CACOVID, the leadership team and technical committee, for their support and patriotism.

According to him: ''This final gesture from CACOVID as you wind down your activities is equally very important. ''Thank you for supporting our administration’s efforts to strengthen the Police and Military as we face the security challenges that all modern nations face.

'These 350 vehicles and thousands of vests and helmets you are handing over today will go a long way in boosting the capacity of our forces."

He noted that such a patriotic gesture was proof that nationalistic determination was still alive in Nigeria, in the face of enormous challenges pervading the world and the country.

Recalling the history of CACOVID, the president said the initiative was set up following a quick-thinking recognition of the impending crisis that could erupt due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. ''The main objective of this concept was primarily to assist the government, at all tiers, in combating Covid-19 and mitigating its impact on Nigerians. ''Accordingly, the Coalition designed a mechanism to pool funds voluntarily from an alliance that included more than 100 private sector institutions, organisations, banks, and individuals in order to build Isolation Centres, procure remedial Covid-19 medications, and provide palliatives to indigent Nigerians or those whose livelihoods were temporarily impacted by the outbreak. ''I am very much aware that in the first tranche of funds pooling, CACOVID collected almost N40

billion from the various private sector organisations who were more than happy to participate in the initiative and support its cause. ''Out of the initial N40 billion contributed by the Coalition, about N17 billion was applied to speedily build Isolation Centres, acquire various medical equipment and gears, facilitate vaccine delivery, and urgently procure vital Covid-19 medications for those critically in need of them nationwide. ''The balance sum of N22.2 billion was utilised to purchase staple food items, including rice, Garri, noodles, Soya, Semolina, Sugar, Pasta and Salt etc, which were delivered to all states of the federation and the FCT, and distributed among all Nigerians who were in most need of them,'' he said.

According to the president, in its drive to play its part in ensuring a golden Nigeria, CACOVID, which also received the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria, expanded its scope beyond combating Covid-19.

He added that following the unsavoury national unrest in 2020 and the continuing security challenges in the country, the Coalition again galvanised support among private sector organisations to support the federal government in surmounting the security challenges. ''In this regard, the Coalition commendably raised the sum of N12 billion, which was used to procure critical security equipment for our domestic law enforcement and defence organisations,'' he said.

The following state-of the-art security vehicles and equipment were procured for use by law enforcement agencies in Abuja and Lagos: One hundred units of 14-tons

Tata trucks; 100 units of 12 tons Tata trucks; 106 units of Toyota Vans; Sixty-four units of Nissan Navara vans; 13,000 ballistic vests; 26,000 ballistic plates and 13,000 ballistic helmets.

Earlier in his remarks, Dangote listed Folorunsho Alakija, Tony Elumelu, Segun Agbaje, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Femi Otedola, Adesola Adeduntan, Karl Toriola, Haresh Aswani, Raji Gupta and John Coumantaros as the moving forces behind CACOVID, who contributed several billions of naira each and supported the CACOVID effort with advocacy and their teams.

He explained that in addition to the leadership team, a technical committee was set to guide the purchasing decisions, which was critical, given the prevailing confusion around testing and treatment options,

and the lack of successful models anywhere in the world.

Dangote identified members of that committee as leading Nigerian scientists and public health professionals, the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Director-General of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 , representatives of WHO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations. ''For the last two years, the leadership team met on a weekly basis, mobilised others in the private sector, and were able to raise N82 billion to provide 39 fully kitted isolation centres, testing supplies for almost one million tests and food for 10 million vulnerable individuals across the country.''

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and around the designated election booths and centres.

“All state-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasisecurity units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management," it said.

The police high command sought the understanding of the populace on the inconveniences the restriction might cause.

It urged all active electorates to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise.

“He, however, warns that the NPF will deal decisively with any individual or groups that might want to test our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election.

“The IG, therefore, enjoins all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal acts as the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book", it said.

The police further urged all members of the public to contact the NPF and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ available on Android and ios, or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request security response.

“Similarly, other joint operations/ election situation room numbers will be released by all state police commands respectively, for emergency contact", the statement read.

Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 14 Properties in UAE, Abuja, Lagos Linked to Kogi State Govt, N400m Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday, granted an interim forfeiture of 14 properties in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates linked to the Kogi State government.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the judge also ordered the preservation of the sum of N400 million recovered from one Aminu Falala, which “is reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity and intended to be used for

the acquisition of Plot No. 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island Lagos.”

Justice Oweibo granted the order, following an ex parte application filed by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Adekunbi Mojibola, an investigating officer with the EFCC. Moving the application today, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) stated that the properties, including, “Hotel Apartment Community, Burj

Khalifa lying, being and situate at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E,” were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity.

In his ruling on the application, Justice Oweibo granted the application, as prayed and directed the commission to publish the interim order within 14 days for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the federal government of Nigeria.

The case was adjourned till March 28, 2023.

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SIGNING OF PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENTS ON INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN EDO...

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), and representative of Geniserve Limited, Mr. Tunde Famoroti, after the formal signing of the documents for partnership, at the Government House in Benin City...yesterday

Keep an Eye on INEC Officials, Security Agencies, Others, LP Urges Supporters Alleges plot by oppositions to disenfranchise voters in Obi's strongholds Party’s candidate will secure, improve Nigeria’s economy if elected, says democratic leadership 176, 874 agents mobilised for LP, says support group Sunday Aborisade, Emameh Gabriel and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, has urged supporters of the party across the country to be more vigilant during the presidential election scheduled for Saturday.

Abure, who made the call yesterday, during a press briefing at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, also alleged sinister moves by opposition political parties to undermine the outcome of the elections in some parts of the country, especially the south-east through sponsored violence.

He however appealed to supporters of the party to take up the responsibility to defend their votes by carefully monitoring the activities of INEC officials, security agencies and even accredited party agents in order to provide check and balances during the elections.

He reminded them that, "all the support that Nigerians have given to," the party, "either in cash or in kind will actually amount to nothing if they are not translated to votes."

He added: "I will therefore expect that you will not only go to the polling booths to cast your votes, but have a responsibility to also defend your votes. We appeal to you to vote, be on standby, keep an eye on INEC officials, keep an eye on security agencies, keep an eye even on the

accredited party agents so that you can provide check and balances on whatever is being done.

"I am aware that some sponsored persons especially in the south- east are being paid and sponsored by opposition political parties to continue to threaten citizens not to come out to vote, deployed to deliberately reduce our vote.

"You have the responsibility to question any activity that you find will compromise the processes of this election. I am therefore saying that all our supporters all polling unit agents. In other words, you are one of our ambassadors, you are one of those who will help us to stand and defend our votes.

"We therefore want to plead with our supporters that they should come out in their numbers wherever they are and vote. It is a mere threat to stop them from or to instill fear in them, to prevent them from coming out to vote.”

The Labour Party national chairman said though they have been assured by the security agencies that they would be on top of the matter, there was however the need for supporters of the party to be proactive.

"I want to say clearly that all supporters of Labour party and Peter Obi must realise that they are all agents of the party. If you are a supporter of Peter Obi, if you are a

supporter of any of the candidates of Labour party, if you are a supporter of the party, you must therefore be an agent for the party on that day of the election.

"Nigerians must rise to the occasion. Our own supporters must rise to the occasion and ensure that their dream of having a new Nigeria, a Nigeria that guarantees security, a Nigeria that has service delivery to its people, a Nigeria that will be free from poverty, from hunger, from unemployment," he appealed.

Abure also passed a vote of confidence on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, for raising

the standard of the electoral system.

He further urged him to maintain the standard going into what he described as the most critical election in the history of the country.

He added: "I must also commend all the international observers that have interfaced with me personally, with our party and with our candidate and have assured us that they will observe the election and do the right thing.”

Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, the Democratic Leadership (DL), yesterday, predicted that the candidate of LP would secure the country and improve the nation's

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the major contractors handling the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre as well as the Local Content Conference Hotel to deliver both projects according to specifications and timelines meant for their completion.

To this end, he directed Julius Berger, the Contractors handling the Oloibiri Museum and MegaStar Technical and Construction Company Limited in charge of the NCDMB Conference Hotel to carry their host

communities along in executing the projects.

Buhari, gave the directives, on Tuesday, at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre at Otuabagi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The president also inaugurated the NCDMB creche/daycare center and fire station building.

Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, the president noted that the federal government had put all necessary machinery in place,

"Please make every effort to vote.

There is so much hardship in the country and it is left for us to decide through our votes who we want to lead us in the coming years. I do not have to attempt at this stage to convince you who to vote for because I know you will also wish a better Nigeria."

In a related development, the Peter Obi Support Network (POSN), has said 176, 874 agents have been fully mobilised to man all the polling units across the country for the LP presidential candidate.

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Don't Tamper with BVAS Machine, NYSC Urges Members Be above board, CONUA admonishes academics on electoral duties Osun declares Friday public holiday Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Rifkatu Yakubu, has called on all the corps members participating in the 2023 general election not to tamper or try to adjust the Bimodal Voter Accredita-

tion System (BVAS) machine if it develops any technical problem.

The coordinator, who made the call in Bauchi, yesterday, during the sensitisation of NYSC members on their participation in the elections said this was because the electorate might think the corps members were trying to manipulate the electoral process and may lead to serious

Buhari Performs Groundbreaking Ceremony for Oloibiri Museum in Bayelsa Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

economy if elected on Saturday.

He noted that Obi had disclosed how he would make Nigeria great again.

Convener of DL, Dr. Ray Onwuelo, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

"Nigeria has strayed so much from a state of sustainability by the current ruling class inadvertently or deliberately, with the promises of basic facilities, development, and prosperity retrogressed way below naught.

“I urge every one of us to make out time on Saturday morning, February 25, to go to our various polling stations, vote for a candidate of our choice, and safeguard our votes.

including funding arrangements to ensure hitch-free delivery of the projects.

While urging communities to own and protect the projects, he emphasised the need for the contractors to comply with the Community Content Guidelines of the NCDMB Act. Buhari said: "I hereby direct the lead contractors of both projects, Julius Berger and the MegaStar Technical and Construction Company Limited to integrate the host communities and their traditional institutions and skilled youths in the various scopes

of the projects.

"I also expect that you will build capacities where necessary to ensure a hitch-free project delivery. Specifically, I recommend that the contractors should study the Community Content Guidelines issued by the NCDMB." In his remarks, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, expressed gratitude to the Buhariled federal government for acceding to one of the demands of the state where the first oil well was struck in Nigeria in 1956.

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problems Yakubu urged them to hand the BVAS machine to the INEC technical officials present at the polling unit in case of any technical glitch.

The state Coordinator also admonished the corps members not to collect food from strangers during the election and urged them to ensure they go to their various polling units with food so as to avoid any form of inducement from strangers.

According to her, "I will advise all those involved in the election to ensure that they have what to eat. What I'm saying in essence is that people may use anything to drown you.

“You may be sleeping and other things would be taking place without your knowledge, so, please, ensure that you equip yourselves properly," he added.

The NYSC boss who called on the corps members to be highly security conscious, urged them to go home and remain indoors after the submission of the election materials.

Also speaking, Mr. Ateli Samson, an Assistant Director from NYSC Headquarters, said efforts were being made daily to ensure that the corps members were safe before, during and after the elections.

He assured that INEC would make effective provision for their feeding and urged them not to violate any electoral law.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr. 'Niyi Sunmonu, yesterday admonished all academics entrusted with electoral duties, particularly CONUA members, to perform the assignments with utmost fidelity to the extant electoral laws and guidelines.

The national president also urged them to be above board as INEC's guarantee a level playing field for all academics entrusted with electoral duties.

In a statement signed by Sunmonu and made available to THISDAY in Osogbo yesterday, the union stated that the request reflected the very deep trust which the electoral body reposes in the nation's academics to facilitate electoral integrity and ensure commensurate dividends of democracy.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, recently met with the Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities for support to source for the, “requisite number of suitable academic staff of impeccable integrity who must also understand that this is a call to national service.”

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APC ELECTIONEERING CAMPAIGN AT TUBE...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; All Progressives Congress House of Representatives candidate for Ipokia/Yewa South Federal Constituency, Abiodun Akinlade and the party's senatorial candidate for Ogun West, Olamilekan Adeola during the electioneering campaign of APC at Tube in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state... yesterday

PDP: Atiku's Poll Victory Will Be Synonymous to Shagari’s in 1979 Projects to win North-east, North-west, North-central, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta; looks to come second in other states Charges members to wait, take pictures after voting Expresses worry over abandoned PVCs Chuks Okocha in Abuja A few hours to the presidential and National Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Council (PCC) has declared that the victory of its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would be akin to that of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) presidential candidate in 1979, the late President Shehu Shagari.

The PDP campaign council also predicted victory for its candidate in the North-east, North-west, and some states in the North-central zones. It projected clear wins in

Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Delta states, while looking at a close race in Cross Rivers State.

In the South-west zone, PDP projected that Atiku would win in Oyo and Osun states, and come second in other states of the zone.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, Director, Voter Intelligence and Strategy of the PDP PCC, Chief Osita Chidioka, said, "Available facts and intelligence showed that the presidential election would be replica of what happened in 1979, when Shagari won a tight race.

"Atiku, like Shagari, will win in the North-east, North-west and some

states in the North-central, like Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kwara, and will come second in other states.

"In the South-east, where Atiku will not win, he will come second.

In the South-south, our flag bearer will come first in Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Edo State, Delta State and Akwa State. For Cross River State, if Atiku did not win, he will come second.

"In the South-west, Atiku will win in Oyo and Osun states and come second in other states of the zone," Chidioka disclosed.

He charged PDP supporters to come out en masse on Saturday and vote the presidential candidate

and also ensure that the votes were counted in their presence. He urged the party’s supporters to take pictures of the results displaced at the poling units to enable the campaign council compare notes at their collation centres.

According to Chidioka, "INEC has also made it easy by providing various means to find your polling units before election day. You can find your polling unit by sending an SMS containing your name, state and last six digits of your VIN to 09062850860, 09062830861. Another way of confirming your polling unit is by visiting the INEC website, www.

PDP: Why Nigerians Won’t Vote APC, Tinubu Says a vote for them is vote for continued poverty, corruption Chuks Okocha in Abuja The national secretariat of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, called on Nigerians not to waste their votes on other political parties, even as it commended Nigerians for coming out to show solidarity with the party during its presidential campaign.

The party warned that a vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, amounted to a vote for poverty and corruption.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said, "Last Saturday, the grand finale of our presidential campaign rally held in Yola, Adamawa State. The unprecedented crowd and the excitement by Nigerians from across the country demonstrated beyond measure that majority of the people have settled for Atiku Abubakar as the next president of Nigeria.

"Through the course of the campaign, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, H.E Ifeanyi Okowa, energetically traversed the nooks and crannies of our country, engaging various segments of Nigerians in diverse fora; consultative meetings, interactive sessions, Town Hall meetings, faith-based platforms, media interviews, and political rallies, articulating their plans, solutions and selling the message of hope to Nigerians."

Ologunagba said Atiku continued

to demonstrate that he was a panNigeria leader with the required experience, capacity, integrity, stamina, presence of mind, commitment, sense of duty and readiness to lead our nation at this critical time.

"In contrast, however, the failed All Progressives Congress (APC) and its embattled presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in their vacuity, arrogance and entitlement mentality treated Nigerians with unpardonable disdain by refusing to engage the people in interactive sessions, debates and media interviews.

This is a clear indication that the APC and its presidential candidate are incapable and have nothing to offer Nigerians.”

According to Ologunagba, "Since his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC have not been able to engage in campaign on issues, rather, their focus has been on individuals and irrelevances, and display of unseriousness and comics.

“Nigerians can recall Tinubu’s display of pitiable incapacities, including difficulty with coordination and articulation, apparent memory problems, incoherencies and blunders for which he has become a butt of joke among our youths."

He said that was why the Tinubu/ Shettima campaign floundered as it grappled and struggled with messaging and direction.

Ologunagba added, “It would be recalled that at the beginning of the campaign, Asiwaju Tinubu, who

cannot point to any development project or programme he initiated and executed in his eight years as governor of Lagos State, attempted to appropriate the achievements of his predecessors and successors in office.

“When that failed, the Tinubu/ Shettima campaign came up with the promise to continue on the ‘legacies’ of the Buhari-led APC administration.

When they realised that such was a serious pitfall given the massive

failure of the administration, where Asiwaju Tinubu holds sway as leader, they resorted to a desperate attempt to dissociate Asiwaju Tinubu from the APC administration.

"However, Nigerians cannot be fooled as they can clearly remember the deep involvement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the current APC government wherein he publicly boasted that he single-handedly installed the Buhari administration."

cvr.inecnigeria.org "It is important to note a few things on election day: get to your PU early to ensure you can join the queue and go through the process.

Ensure that the agent of our party is around and has confirmed that the BVAS is working properly. Ensure that the agent confirmed the BVAS was set at 0000 before the start of elections at your polling unit.

“In the unlikely event that the BVAS at your polling unit malfunctions, INEC has provided backup machines, which can be delivered by the RATECH to your ward.

“After elections, ensure the picture of the form ECSA is taken and uploaded to the INEC site using the BVAS before leaving the polling unit. Also, take pictures of the Form EC 60 result sheet pasted on the board or wall of your polling unit as a way to prevent the manipulation of results. As a party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready for the 2023 elections."

Chidioka explained that the party had spent time and resources training all its agents across the 176,847 polling units, adding, "We have also trained all the agents in the 8,809 wards and 774 local governments.

"We have campaigned across the length and breadth of the nation, and not just spoken to Nigerians about what our plans are, but listened to you to tell us what problems you want us to solve for you.

"Our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and vicepresidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, both know the pains ordinary Nigerians are going through because of the ruinous and poorly implemented policies. We, as a team, are ready and willing to work to ensure a better country for us all."

The Director of Voter Intelligence and Strategy said PDP in the 2023 election cycle introduced two innovations that were worthy of mention and celebration.

He stated, "First, the presidential candidate and the National Assembly candidates committed to an irrevocable pledge to deliver the following outcomes to the Nigerian people: improving transparency and accountability across the whole government. We will make the Freedom of Information Act a functional law again.

“Drastically reduce the cost of government through improving citizen oversight and a strong emphasis on curbing waste and cost reduction. Reduce multidimensional poverty by 40 per cent over the next four years and put food on the tables of Nigerians again.

"Reduce our unsustainable national debts and raise investments in education and infrastructure by incrementally increasing budgetary allocation. Ensure quick passage of bills that devolve more powers to subnational governments.”

Saraki: Atiku Has Requisite National Experience to Lead Nigeria He’ll deliver on his five priority policy thrusts, says Shekarau Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, said of all the presidential candidates in Saturday’s election, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was the only candidate with the requisite experience at the national level and capacity to lead the country.

At the same time, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau urged Nigerians to vote Atiku, because he would never fail to deliver on his five priority policy thrusts.

Speaking in Ilorin on the Saturday election and the need for the people of Kwara to vote PDP and Atiku,

Saraki said, "Since the APC as a party and their leaders have failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, former Vice President Abubakar and PDP remain the only option to rescue the country.

"The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed and cannot deliver to the people of the country, hence Nigerians should reject the party with their permanent voters cards (PVCs) so as to return the PDP into power.

"Out of all the presidential candidates vying for the number one seat of the country in this Saturday's poll, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has required experience at the national level, with due respect to my friends, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

"Nigerians have suffered a lot

under the APC-led federal government in the past seven and a half years and even at the state level and we cannot wait again to allow this APC to clinch power.

"Talk of insecurity, unemployment, economic woes, naira swap policy, among others, the people of the country should come out come Saturday and use their PVCs to vote the APC out."

Saraki stated, "The situation now was not as bad during the PDP government and the APC has turned everything upside down and Nigerians cannot enjoy the democracy again. PDP remains the only option and Atiku Abubakar has all it takes to provide leadership zeal capable of moving the country forward.

"Don't protest anymore, Saturday's

election is a day of rejecting the APC and the people should use their PVCs to vote out the APC and return PDP into power."

On his absence from Kwara after the 2019 election, the twoterm governor of the state, said, "I deliberately stayed away from Kwara to give the ruling APC in the state opportunity to have a peaceful day to day running of affairs of the state.

"If I continued to be moving around then, the government in power can be saying that I didn't allow them to provide dividends of democracy to the people of the state and I don't want that kind of insinuations.

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WHEN MINISTRY OF DIGITAL ECONOMY AND E-GOVERNMENT GRADUATED 5000 YOUTH...

L-R: Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and a lady graduand of the SkillUp Imo Project receiving her kits, when the Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government graduated 5000 youths at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri... yesterday.

Adamu: There Won't Be Proxy Presidency under Tinubu Says only result APC expects on Saturday is victory Buni sues for peaceful election Michael Olugbode in Damaturu and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has said there would not be a proxy presidency if the presidential candidate of his party, Bola Tinubu, is elected in Saturday's presidential election. Adamu stated this yesterday during a media interaction in Abuja.

The APC national chairman said the ruling party was prepared to go into the election, stressing that the only result it expects is victory.

At the same time, Yobe State Governor and former caretaker chairman of APC, Mai Mala Buni, advised the people of the state to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the elections.

Speaking yesterday at the parley, Adamu, who commended the media for their professionalism in covering the party's campaign and articulating the issues, however, cautioned against misinformation and fake news propagated on social media.

He stated, "Let me, however, caution against some of the disinformation, misinformation, lies and fake news propagated on the social media. In reporting the election and results, we must be careful to be truthful and honest.

“We must remember that after this election, there will be a country to govern. While social media reportage has a place in information dissemination, it must be used responsibly for social harmony, inclusiveness and peace."

Adamu maintained that Tinubu was not the kind of person that would surrender his authority to anyone, emphasising, "I can tell you there is going to be nothing like proxy presidency. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, once elected, will live up to the expectations of that office to its fullest. This I assure you.

"Between Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Biden, United States president, who is older? So if Biden can rule America with all the complications in America, I believe he has the capacity and I believe that if by God he is elected, like I hope, he is up to the task. He would assert himself to the rigours of the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"He is not the kind of person, who would surrender his authority to anybody. So, you can rest assured that we are going to have a very

able president."

Adamu said he was not aware Tinubu had any challenges of health, and that from 1999 till date, he had not seen him exhibiting traits of ill-health.

Adamu, who claimed there was nothing like Villa cabal, as some people had alluded, said, “Well, I don't belong to the mafia world and it takes a mafia man to identify another mafia. I am not one. I am not aware that there is a cabal.

“I have heard and read about it in the papers but the presidency has denied it. I don't work in the presidency, but I trust the presidency and I believe very strongly that there is no such thing as cabal in the presidency.

"When people try to do a thing and they cannot get their way through or get what they want, then, they start associating or attributing that to some imaginary force or interest group stronger than their own."

On naira redesign, Adamu said the APC leadership was not consulted, and pointed out that while he was not opposed to the policy, the implementation had become challenging, hurting the people and the economy. He said even though some governors of the party challenged the policy by taking the federal government to court, no APC governor was working against the party.

The APC national chairman said, "Quite a number of these governors got carried away by the pressure from the citizenry. And there is nothing wrong in a leader identifying himself with his people. We were not consulted as such on what the design was going to be like. How much of the design we want to take from the current currency regime in the country."

Addressing the situation in South-east, the APC chairman said he hoped and looked forward to elections taking place in the region He said, “I want to emphasise that election is a civic responsibility.

It is not compulsory. You can go and vote or decide not to vote and then results would be declared based on the few who voted. There is a limit to what we can do. There is a limit to what we can take or tolerate. There have been so many challenges.

“There have been killings and arson in that part of the country, that some people are even challenging

the sovereignty of this country. And just as much as there are people who want to divide this country, there are more of us working for the country. So, in the end, with God we will see who is stronger.

"My appeal is that they should try to see reason. They should give peace a chance. If they allow elections to take place, by God, APC

will win the Southaset region. There is nothing wrong in their agitation – self-determination. It is allowed but when it involves lives of people, killings, maiming, destruction of property, we don't have the stomach for it. It is my hope that they will be apprehended and the law will take its cause."

On his part, Buni said, “Yobe State

has a tradition of peaceful elections, this should be sustained to promote peace in the state.”

According to him, there is no election that is worth the blood of any citizen, while democracy and good governance can only thrive when there is peace and peaceful coexistence.

The governor said political

differences must never cause hate and chaos among the people of the state, noting, "We remain brothers and sisters, in spite of our political differences. These differences should not be used to divide us, we should, therefore, play the game peacefully according to rules.

Continues online

APC: Despite Naira Swap, Fuel Scarcity, Tinubu’ll Win Saturday PDP: Our candidate, Atiku, will emerge Nigeria’s next president Emma Okonji, Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has declared that it was certain that the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu, would win Saturday's election, despite the currency swap and fuel scarcity.

In the same breath, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the party would win the election and that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would become the next President of Nigeria, given his track records.

This is as One Nigeria Group (ONG) has said only Atiku could save the country from the current quagmire.

Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communications, Dele Alake, yesterday, while addressing a press conference alongside other Directors of the Directorate of Media and communication of the campaign council, said since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the armed forces, especially the police, had all declared their preparedness and readiness to ensure a free, fair and credible election, APC as a party and campaign council were also ready for the election.

Alake noted that APC PCC has worked so hard since INEC declared the campaign open for Presidential

and National Assembly positions on September 28, 2022.

"We are certain of victory because Nigerians will elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for, he clearly stands apart from the pack and has worked so much to earn the trophy," he said.

Alake stressed that throughout the electioneering season, the campaign worked hard to keep its commitment to focus on issues that affect the lives of Nigerians.

He noted that like Tinubu, the campaign used every opportunity to sell the agenda for a better Nigeria as encapsulated in Tinubu's Action Plan, "Renewed Hope" policy document.

"We worked very hard to stay on issues, while the opposition elements, especially the rudderless Peoples Democratic Party constantly assailed Asiwaju Tinubu with ridiculous, unsubstantiated and often fabricated allegations, all in futile bid to derail our campaign.

"Despite all the evil machinations of the opposition, we remained focused on our message of prosperity that will ride on the achievements of the current APC government, with strong determination by Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima to improve on areas that require greater and better governance outcomes."

While pointing out that most of the opinion polls in the last few weeks that gave victory in the coming election to the Labour

Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, oscillated between the sublime and the most ridiculous, he added: "We want to state categorically here, that those polls will only lead to despair, despondency, utter shame and disappointment because the pollsters only took a flight of fancy.

"There is no evidence and reality on ground anywhere in Nigeria as far as the presidential election is concerned that support Mr. Obi winning this election. Labour Party has no pathway to victory.

"This presidential election is going to be a straight contest between the candidates of APC and PDP and from more studious and rational polling, our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is coasting home to victory despite the current challenges in the implementation of the currency swap and fuel scarcity that have caused some difficulties for almost all Nigerians regardless of social and economic status."

PDP Optimistic about Winning Presidential Election

The leadership of the PDP has said it would win the Saturday presidential election and that its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would become the next President of Nigeria, given his track records.

A former National Chairman of the. party, Uche Secondus, said this

yesterday while speaking as a guest on the Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channel.

Citing reasons why the party was positive about the outcome of the elections, Secondus said, Nigerians already knew the candidate that was physically fit and morally sound to rule the country, and those who were just regional leaders.

“I believe that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a nationalist, who is known all over the country, a bridge builder, and a unifier. All those credentials are the reasons why Nigerians believe that Atiku Abubakar will emerge the winner of this election on the 25th of February,” he said.

Fielding questions about Atiku's plan to attain victory, irrespective of the fact that the youths, which consisted of more than 30 per cent of the registered voters were rooting for the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, the former PDP chairman said Atiku brought in a lot of youths into his administration, when he was the vice-president, who were willing to vote for him.

His words: “This man believes in the talent of the youths and he is not isolated from the youths. He has children and believes in that class of people in Nigeria, because moving forward, those are the people that will take over from the current generation.

Continues online

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NEWS

UNVEILING OF COMPEDIUM OF BUHARI'S ACHIEVEMENTS...

L-R: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Comfort Ajiboye at the unveiling of a compendium of the achievements of the Buhari Administration in Abuja..,. yesterday.

Era of Money Politics Over, NNPP Declares Again, party urges Atiku to step down for Kwankwaso Party’s presidential candidate assured of 15 million votes Juliet Akoje in Abuja The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) yesterday declared that the era of money politics in the country was over, just as it urged Nigerians to vote for its presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Additionally, the party once more urged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to step down for Kwankwaso, describing the latter as a younger person that could develop Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the NNPP, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, stressed that his party was in charge of Kano State.

"In Kano, we had over 400,000 members that joined us. No PDP structure in Kano. We are not taking anything for granted.

Kwankwaso is doing well, the north is with Kwankwaso and the Abuja declaration said anyone who wants to contest for the office of the president must have integrity.

"Our heroes past did not have questionable character and frankly

speaking, it is Kwankwaso that is closer to that mark. Not even one rat did die during our campaign.

Nigeria has moved on, leaders who are ready to sacrifice are people they are going to sacrifice to vote for. Atiku should not divide the Northern votes, he should step down for Kwankwaso."

Speaking on some presidential candidates who according to him were sick, but want to force themselves on Nigerians, he said any one could be sick, but that such persons should not force themselves on Nigerians.

Section of Media Suppressing Kwankwaso, Galadima Alleges Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has alleged that a section of the press has been compromised to make sure the party and its presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso were suppressed.

The party, however, noted that they were not worried about the conspiracies going on because they were certain that Kwankwaso would emerge the president in the Saturday presidential election.

NNPP Chieftain, Buba Galadima, who said this yesterday while speaking as a guest on the Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channel, noted that Kwankwaso was going to shock Nigerians in the coming elections as he was the only candidate that has worked hard, popular, competent and strong in the presidential race.

While noting that if Nigerians voted for any other candidate would set the nation 100 years back, Galadima said none of the other candidates had done one per cent of the campaign the party had done.

The party’s chieftain further accused the Nigerian press of being blind and planting somebody in the Chatham House to confront Kwankwaso on why he hadn’t stepped down for the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi. He said he did not understand the rumours of the party’s candidate

stepping down for other candidates because they were not in the same party.

On why their campaigns seemed to be concentrated only in the Northern part of Nigeria, Galadima refuted this narrative stating that they had been all over the country, including the East, West, Southwest, etc.

“The press doesn’t see all we do.

We have a strategy; we are practical politicians and don’t campaign only on Tv or by dishing out money.

Thank God Muhammadu Buhari has dealt with them, money is not going to be an instrument even though we are aware that certain candidates collected money directly allocated to them by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and that is why they are supporting the CBN policy,” he said.

Galadima said the NNPP campaign wasn’t about big people or money but about the common people, and therefore accused other candidates of being illiterate with nothing to show regarding their performances.

Fielding questions on Kwankwaso’s plan for a welfarist state, the chieftain said the party’s presidential candidate was not riding on falsehood like other candidates and that there was nothing wrong in adopting a welfarist policy.

“Kwankwaso has done everything he said he will do. He has done a sample of it in Kano State,

and it has been successful. It is one of the most prosperous states in Nigeria.

"Our own idea is that we will provide an enabling environment for every Nigerian to reach the peak of their potentials. We will not allow those who have milked their states dry to take charge in this country,” he said.

"What is Nigerians' offense that sick people will be forcing themselves on them? We've seen some candidates being pushed at campaign rallies," he added.

On the fate of the NNPP candidates yet to be recognised by INEC, Alkali said "When we were doing the primaries, we looked at the guidelines. We've gone to court, even if they want to appeal, they should implement the court judgement. All the crises show that the NNPP is a strong party.

The NNPP is strong in Zamfara and we are hoping to win.

"Kwankwaso will be dividing northern votes with Atiku,” Alkali said, adding, “we are happy we are spoiling their show and we are going to win because even the PDP and the APC have agreed they have failed this country.

"PDP emerged to fight military rule. Today, NNPP emerged to change bad governance. We've changed the game and we are going to spoil their games until we win.”

Furthermore, he said, "Kwankwaso has the capacity and the network to run this country.

Transaction politics time has passed.

The NNPP is working to ensure that we win the election"

Meanwhile, a coalition of 10,000 civil society groups has assured the presidential candidate of the NNPP of 15 million votes in Saturday’s presidential election.

Some of the groups included the Northern Ministers’ Forum; the Rebuild Women and Youth Foundation; Greater Movement Network; National Responsible Youth Organisation and The Determined Icons.

The Leader of the group, Godwin Abah, while briefing the press yesterday, in Abuja, described Kwankwaso as the best candidate among the plethora of persons vying for the office.

Abah urged Atiku Abubakar, to step down for the former Kano State governor.

"Coalition of Civil Society Groups meticulously assessed leading political parties and their presidential candidates, noted their antecedents and democratic credentials in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic society," he added.

Speaking further, he said: "Considering the views of most rural dwellers with permanent voters cards the coalition interacted with, who expressed confidence in Sena-

tor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for touching their lives in many ways and desire him to be president, has unanimously selected Engr.

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the best presidential candidate, accordingly adopted him for President in the Saturday 25th February 2023, presidential election.

"A man of enormous intellectual capacity and capability, Kwankwaso is an embodiment of patriotism, integrity, humility, nobility and versatility with a vision, mission and blueprint for a new, better, greater and prosperous Nigeria.

“He is the only presidential candidate who has traveled across Nigeria on road, visited more states, Senatorial Districts and local government areas more than other contenders for president to articulate people-oriented projects and programmes to boost their standards of living.

"A servant-leader with a milk of human kindness, Kwankwaso transformed Kano State as a twoterm Governor and will bring his wealth of experience as former Minister of Defence, Ambassador, Senator, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives etc., to bear on national governance as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Judgement in Suit to Stop INEC from Engaging MC Oluomo Fixed for Feb 24 Wale Igbintade Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed Friday, February 24, for judgment in the suit seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from engaging the Lagos State Parks Management Committee led by Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, a.k.a. Mc Oluomo.

Justice Aneke fixed the date, after he heard Abass Ibrahim, counsel to the applicants, who argued the motion on notice.

The applicants in the suit are Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, Boot Party and their governorship candidates in Lagos,

Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-vivour, Funsho Doherty, and Wale Oluwo respectively.

Aneke had on Monday, while granting an interlocutory injunction filed by the applicants, restrained the INEC from engaging the Oluomo led-park managers, or any of its commercial bus drivers, to distribute 2023 election materials and personnel in Lagos.

The judge, while adjourning the hearing of applicants’ substantive suit, had ordered them to serve the restraining order and other processes in the suit on the INEC. At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, counsel to the applicants, Ibrahim, told the court that he had fully complied with

the court orders, by serving all processes and the hearing notice on the INEC, but he was surprised that the respondent failed to appear in court.

The counsel thereafter urged the court to allow him move his clients' motion, which was granted by the court.

Moving the originating motion, Ibrahim told the court that the motion was dated February 13 but filed on February 16, 2023, and was pursuant to section 6 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, sections 26 and 27(1)(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and under the court's inherent jurisdiction.

He argued that the motion was supported with a 27-paragraph

affidavit, written address and exhibits.

The reliefs sought in the originating motion included, "a declaration that the appointment, partnership, or contracting of Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomoled Lagos State Parks Management Committee by INEC to distribute 2023 election materials and personnel in Lagos State violates Section 26 and 27 of the Electoral Act 2022 and consequently unlawful, null and void.

Upon moving the application, they urged the court to grant reliefs sought for therein.

Aneke, after listening to the counsel, adjourned the matter till Friday, February 24, for judgment.

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NEWS

DISCUSSING AVIATION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, and Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, during a courtesy visit by Takang to the Sirika to seek partnership on aviation industry development in Abuja…yesterday

Polls: IG Warns Mischief Makers, Orders Movement Restriction on Election Day Deploys six helicopters to geo-political zones

Kingsley NwezehinAbuja The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, last night warned mischief makers seeking to interfere with Saturday’s election not to test the resolve of the Nigeria Police and security agencies.

But in order to ensure that the presidential election is effectively monitored from the air, against any form of violence, the IG also ordered the deployment of six armed helicopters to the six geo-political zones of the country.

He declared that the police was

determined to “deal decisively with any individual or groups that might want to test our common resolve”.

He also ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day.

The order, is, however, with the exception of those on essential services such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and

firefighters among others.

A statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the measures were designed to ensure a safe and secure election.

“Consequent to the first part of the 2023 general elections, the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, across all states of the

federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the IG, Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to

6 pm on election day with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc”, he said.

Don’t Intimidate Electorate, Women Group Tells Security Agencies KuniTyessi in Abuja Women In Politics Forum (WIPF) has called on all security agencies to prioritise the protection of lives and properties in the election, adding that they should not use their position to intimidate the electorate.

The women said they were

going to monitor the election in 11 states and would ensure they support women candidates.

The women in politics forum also said that in partnership with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) women and other Nigerians should make use of the N-Alerts app which was recently launched to report

electoral malpractices and human rights abuses.

“To ensure the safety of Nigerians at the 2023 polls, we urge all civil society organisations deploying observers to make use of the N-Alerts as part of the measures to combat violence against women in the forthcoming elections,” the President of Women

in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu said while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday.

She also called on all Nigerian citizens who are eligible to vote to come out and vote peacefully, and protect their votes.

Ebere said: “We call on all security agencies to prioritize the protection of lives and properties.

Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere with any trumped up charges.

Also restrained alongside the governor are the Police, the State Security Service, Ebubeagu Security Network and other

security agencies.

The respondents are specifically barred from arresting or inviting Ugochinyere on allegations of commission of offences of treasonable felony, terrorism, murder, arson, kidnapping, publishing of seditious materials other threats to national security.

Delivering ruling in an

Exparte application brought by the CUPP spokesperson, the Judge also granted prayers for substituted service of the originating processes on the Governor of Imo State and the Ebubeagu Security Network to be served through any adult staff of the Imo State liaison office, Abuja.

Don’t Sell Your Vote, Funmi Falana Tells Nigerians Court Bars Uzodimma, Security Agencies from Arresting CUPP Spokesperson, Ugochinyere

Wale Igbintade

Ahead of the Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections, the Chairperson, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, Mrs.Funmi Falana SAN, has urged Nigerians to see the 2023 election as an opportunity to decide their future, warning that they should not sell their votes.

Mrs. Falana in a statement issued yesterday titled “Your Vote Is Your Power, Don’t Sell It” lamented that it was heartbreaking seeing politician distributing bread for campaign purposes and the people are scrambling for it.

He stated that sharing of bread and other foodstuffs during campaigns was a misplaced priority and dehumanising to the

people, adding ‘It is disheartening to see people jumping up and scrambling for a loaf of bread to eat’.

Falana urged the people not to vote those who provided N2,000 for immediate gratification, but rather for people who have good programs, who will also be able to provide good governance.

She urged the government to put an end to the weaponisation of poverty and ensure that every Nigerian has access to the basic necessities of life.

The statement read: “It is a shame that in this day and age, our leaders are still weaponising poverty against the people. They keep the people perpetually at their mercy, scrambling for basic necessities like food and shelter.

Governments Urged to End Rising Gender Inequality in Nigeria Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) has called on governments at all levels to find a lasting solution to the rising gender inequality in Nigeria.

The forum urged them to critically support policies and initiatives that promote social justice and to take concrete steps to implement them.

This was contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end of the stakeholders meeting during the World Day of Social Justice celebration in Lokoja, Kogi State’s capital.

The NFF said: “We further call on governments at local, state and federal levels to remove barriers to social justice for women and ensure opportunities for the

advancement of social justice for women are in place.

“Governments at all levels must take bold steps to promote inclusive economic advancement, protect women’s human rights, and address social and economic inequalities that hold women back from achieving their potential.”

The government was tasked to hold itself accountable for delivering on its promises and listening to the voices of ordinary Nigerians who are the ultimate stakeholders in the quest for social justice.

The forum also tasked the government to create an inclusive and equitable economy that would benefits all citizens, particularly women regardless of their background or circumstances.

Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice A. S. Adepoju of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has restrained Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma from framing up, inviting, arresting, detaining or charging the opposition Spokesperson and

NSCDC Issues Licences to New Private Security Companies MichaelOlugbodeinAbuja The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has licensed 15 new private guard companies (PGC) to join the existing ones in the fight against insecurity in the country.

They were given licences after thorough screening and fulfilment of required standards for operation,

according to the Commandant General of NSCDC, Ahmed Audi.

He charged the newly licensed PGC to take advantage of the timing of their licences, which coincides with the country’s 2023 general elections to hit the ground running in terms of security provisions.

He said that the operational licences were coming at a very crucial period in our nation’s history

where PGC services were most needed and urged them to work assiduously with the Corps and other security agencies in ensuring safety of lives and properties in the coming elections and beyond.

The CG advised the new operators to leverage on their closeness with the grassroots and local communities to obtain vital local intelligence that would help

government’s security agencies to checkmate acts of criminalities before, during and after the elections.

He stressed the importance of having a strong understanding of security in the local context and encouraged the private guard companies to work closely with community members to emplace effective security measures in the society.

Tinubu ‘ll Win the Presidential Election, APC Youth Leader Boasts Segun James

The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Hon. Dayo Israel, yesterday said boastfully that the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would win Saturday’s election, even as he asserted that Tinubu was physically fit

and mentally sharp to lead the country as its next president.

Israel said this while fielding questions about the candidate’s Renewed Hope manifesto and the party’s projection as the country prepares to head to the polls.

Israel insisted that the former Lagos state governor has worked

harder than his opponents in the contest, citing his heavy campaign schedule, including trips to all the states in the country.

“There is no doubt about Asiwaju’s mental and physical fitness to lead the country. No other candidate can boast of his work rate in this cycle. During

our party’s primaries and now as candidate, he has toured all the states in the country, meeting with the electorate and other stakeholder groups to sell his vision and secure their buy-in.

He visited some states more than once; and on some occasions toured different states on the same day,” he said.

Again, A’ Court Dismisses Suit against Ebonyi PDP Guber Candidate, Ifeanyi Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal in Abuja, yesterday dismissed a fresh appeal challenging the nomination of Chief Chukwuma Ifeanyi as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in forthcoming governorship

election in Ebonyi State.

The appellate court dismissed the suit filed by Okoroafor Okorie, on the grounds that it constituted a gross abuse of court process.

Similarly, the appellate court affirmed the N5 million fine imposed on the appellant’s

lawyer for engaging in a court abuse.

Okorie had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP before the Court of Appeal, challenging the setting aside of a default judgment he secured at the Federal High Court in

Abakaliki.

Justice Fatun Fiman of the trial court had on February 1, 2023, in a suit number: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/1696/2022, filed by Okorie against INEC and PDP set aside the earlier decision of the court which was granted in favour of the plaintiff.

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

COURTESY VISIT…

L-R: Hon Justice D.I. Okungbowa; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin, Nosa Edo-Osagie Esq; the Chief Judge (CJ)of Edo State, Hon Justice J.I. Acha, and Hon Justice Efe Isoken Ikponmwonba, during a courtesy visit to the CJ by the NBA executive members in Benin City…recently

FG Orders Verification of Academic Certificates of NSITF Staff Onyebuchi EzigboinAbuja The federal government has ordered the verification of the academic qualifications of staff of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) as well as their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, gave the order to the reconstituted board of the Fund, shortly after their inauguration, yesterday in

to do their possible best to build a new NSITF, noted for accountability, Ngige also charged the transparency and other principles new board to ensure the full characteristic of good governance.

Ngige expressed optimism that implementation of the NSITF Restructuring Report and conclusion of Electronic NSITF (E-NSITF) Phases I and II, to enable maximum collection of David-Chyddy Eleke inAwka contributions from public and private sectors, as well as move Nnewi indigenes have commenced into the informal sector of the the sorting and distribution of economy.

Permanent voter cards(PVCs) He mandated the new board discovered in a forest on Tuesday to its owners.

The Anambra State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to speak on the discovery of a bag containing thousands of PVCs in party structures for the re-election of Hon. Tunji-Ojo. Speaking at the rally, the obviously overjoyed Tunji-Ojo Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt thanked the people for the faith reposed in his leadership ability. The Rivers State Police He, however, promised to build on Command yesterday confirmed his first term achievements given the explosive attack at the premises the electoral mandate for another of Wish 99.5fm/Atlantic Television term. He also promised to attract Network in Port Harcourt. more developmental projects and The media house was hit with life-transforming opportunities to explosive device by suspected Akoko North East/Akoko North hoodlums, Tuesday evening.

West federal constituency for the Although some parts of the overall benefits of the constituents.

Speaking further, Tuni-Ojo also urged the people of Akoko land to overwhelmingly cast their votes for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as president, Sylvester IdowuinWarri Pastor Jide Ipinsagba as senator as well as all the APC House of Ahead of this Saturday’s presidential Assembly candidates in Akoko election, a group of ex-agitators North East/Akoko North West known as Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM), has warned federal constituency.

Nigerians to avoid casting their votes for the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Abuja.

obtained General Certificate of Education (GCE).

“You should screen out impostors with fake educational and NYSC certificates.”

a forest in Nnewi.

The PVCs were discovered by a hunter on Tuesday, who took them to a popular radio station in Nnewi, Authority FM radio.

A staff member of the radio station, Mr Ikenna, who received the PVCs from the hunter told THISDAY that they were later moved to the palace of Umudim traditional ruler.

But a video circulating online

has shown that the community has commenced sorting of the PVCs, and also locating the owners, who are members of the community.

The video showed the sorting of the thousands of PVCs, ward by ward, while names of their owners were being called, for indigenes to collect them for Saturday’s election.

THISDAY had earlier called the INEC spokesperson in

Anambra State, Dr Kingsley Agu for comment on the discovered PVCs, but he failed to respond.

A public affairs analyst, Mr Ejike Uzo, who spoke to THISDAY berated INEC for its silence, since the discovery.

He said: “INEC in Anambra is not alive to their functions. PVC is the property of INEC, printed by INEC and meant to be distributed to its owners.

Police Confirm Explosive Attack on Radio Station in Rivers building was affected by the explosion, THISDAY gathered that no life was lost in the incident.

Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace IringeKoko confirmed the incident and disclosed that investigation was ongoing to unravel the cause of the explosion.

Iringe-Koko explained: “On Tuesday, 21st February 2023 at

about 8.45pm information received from one Peter Anietie of 99.5 Wish FM/Atlantic Television Network has it that some hoodlums threw an explosive device into the generator house and transformer area, which caused damage to generators and a 500kva transformer as well as a transformer feeder panel and electronic appliances in both the

radio and television stations.

“Fortunately no life was lost.

Operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD) have been deployed to the scene for swift and detailed investigation with a view to ascertaining the veracity of the information and to unravel what exactly caused the explosion”.

Do Not Vote for Atiku/Okowa, Ex-Agitators Warn Niger Delta Electorate

Enugu Gov Assured of Massive Votes, Gets More Endorsements The people of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State comprising the clergy, traditional rulers, stakeholders, women and youths have reassured Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District in the forthcoming elections that they would vote massivey for him.

They said that their 100 per cent vote for Governor Ugwuanyi is non-negotiable, adding that the numerous development projects the governor had executed in the council were enough reasons for them to vote massively for him to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, and also vote for other PDP candidates in the elections.

The grateful people of Igbo-Eze North LGA gave the endorsement yesterday, when Governor Ugwuanyi inaugurated the Amenity Facility, located within the

NYSC and certificates of all staff of the Fund. I have cause to say so.

When I see letters written by staff, including people in management positions, I start wondering if they

Nnewi Indigenes Sort, Distribute PVCs Found in Forest to Owners

Federal House Member, Tunji-Ojo, Endorsed for Re-election

Many members of All Progressives Congress (APC) trooped out in Ikare Akoko, Ondo State to drum support for the re-election of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo yesterday.

The federal lawmaker was welcomed to the venue of his final rally by mammoth crowd that is unprecedented in the history of political campaigns in the entire stretche of Akoko land.

The Tunji-Ojo, who is Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was endorsed at the rally for another term of office by the crowd, after rating the performance of the lawmaker very high.

Meanwhile, what could be described as an icing on the cake of the final rally was the decision of Labour Party chieftains in Akoko North East/Akoko North West federal constituency to collapse their

with the new board, the era of the media feasting on NSITF activities was over.

Ngige said: “Within the next eight weeks, you have to screen

premises of the recently upgraded and rehabilitated General Hospital, Ogrute, Enugu Ezike.

They said that Governor Ugwuanyi had written his name in gold as the first and only governor in Enugu State that executed numerous development projects in Ogrute, the headquarters of Igbo-Eze North LGA. The people disclosed that Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration did not only construct and equip the Amenity Facility but also built other landmark projects such as a cottage hospital with isolation wing also located within the premises of the general hospital, Ogrute; constructed and reconstructed the major roads in Ogrute and other communities with drainages; constructed and renovated classroom blocks and equipped them with modern furniture, and other educational facilities for conducive teaching and learning atmosphere.

The group in a statement

signed and issued yesterday by its Spokesman, Commander Amabiri Andabiri, said that it opposed power returning to the north after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Not only that, the NDLM said that the former vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP also worked against the return of former President Goodluck

Jonathan to have a second term in office.

The ex-agitators lamented that their opposition to Atiku’s becoming the president of Nigeria was because of his antecedents when he was the vice president to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he allegedly betrayed throughout his tenure.

“For those who have forgotten whomAtiku is, we which to remind

Nigerians that Atiku does not mean well for us. Those accusing Tinubu of bringing Jonathan down are ignorant. Therefore, we want to state categorically that it was Atiku that brought former President Goodluck Jonathan down. You can imagine that Atiku does not have any business in Nigeria, all his businesses are in overseas; so what economic impact has he attracted to Nigeria?” they asked.

NPC Trains Journalists on Effective Reporting of 2023 Census in Adamawa Daji Sani inYola The National Population Commission (NPC) has trained over 30 journalists on effective reporting of the 2023 population and housing census in Adamawa State.

While speaking at the one-day capacity building workshop

held at the conference hall of the Federal Secretariat in Yola yesterday for journalists, the Federal Commissioner of NPC, Dr. Clifford Zirra, said the media is integral to the sensitisation of the masses, therefore, this necessitated the training for journalists.

He said the workshop was also meant to create the NPC Adamawa

State Population Correspondents in preparation for the 2023 population and housing census with the theme: ‘Getting the people involved’.

According to the commissioner, “There is no gainsaying that any organisation that thrives to achieve success must constantly convey information to all its stakeholders of which the media is important in

order to secure their cooperation and support.

“For a people-oriented organisation such as the NPC, constant and effective engagement with the media is a crucial first step; it must take in the attainment of its constitutional mandate of generating data for national planning.

JAMB Closes 2023 UTME Registration, to Review SIM Swap Policy KuniTyessiinAbuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has finally decided to close the books on the 2023 UTME registration exercise as the extension announced the previous week elapsed on February 22, 2023.

The Board had granted the extension to accommodate candidates who could not register for the 2023 UTME within the allowable window of January 14 to February 14, 2023, owing to exigencies related to recent developments in the country.

Also, based on reports received

from the various monitoring teams across the country, the Board would review its SIM number swap policy.

It said it would now require the Telcos to confirm that the old SIM being put forward for swapping previously belonged to the applicant but had been issued to another person, which would preclude

the possibility of a SIM welcome back before such swapping would be approved.

In a statement issued by the Board by its spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, at the close of the registration exercise, about 1.6million candidates had successfully registered for the 2023 examinations.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

KPMG AUDIT COMMITTEE SEMINAR…

L-R: Partner, Technology Assurance, KPMG , Mr. Lawrence Amadi; Medical Director, Doren Specialist Hospital and Locum Consultant for Lagos State Health Regulatory Body ( HEFAMAA), Dr. Akinsiku Oladipupo; Partner and Head, Audit Services, KPMG, Mr. Goodluck Obi; President, Noble Shareholders’ Solidarity Association ( NSSA),Mr. Mathew Akinlade; Associate Director, Audit Services, KPMG, Omolola Oloye, and Partner, Audit Service, Mr. Okunlola Kiabir, at the KPMG Audit Committee Seminar in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

UK Threatens Electoral Act Violators With Visa Ban Situation Room tasks Buhari on free, fair election

OnyebuchiEzigboinAbuja

Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and NationalAssembly elections, the British government, has restated its resolve to impose visa ban and other sanctions on politicians, candidates and other promoters of hate speech and electoral violence in Nigeria.

Also, declaring election monitoring operations open at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, yesterday, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the agencies of government involved with the elections delivered on their responsibilities.

It said the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National Communications Commission (NCC) as key

stakeholders and drivers of BWAS should be made to deliver on their responsibilities during the elections.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catrionia Laing, who spoke at the formal opening of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room located at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, expressed grave concern over the effects of the federal government’s new currency policy on the citizenry.

Lang, who expressed worry at the ripple effects of the new naira policy, tasked the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the need to make available, sufficient currency for Nigerian citizens with a view to mitigate against the hardship being faced by Nigerians across the country.

“It’s really heartbreaking, I think

NAFDAC Signs Partnership Deal with Medical Sciences Varsity on Research

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFADC) and the University of Medical Sciences (UniMed), Ondo, Ondo State, yesterday, signed an agreement to carry out research on food safety, herbal medicine and drug discovery.

The agreement would formalise collaboration between the two institutions and commit them to working closely together in the areas of training, capacity building, institutional building, applied research and communitybased projects.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, dropped the hint at the official signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the agency and UniMed, in Lagos on Tuesday.

Adeyeye said the two institutions would be

collaborating in the areas of scientific research, such as conducting and promoting mycotoxin research, technology transfer in the area of quality control and assurance, risk assessment and management in food systems.

The NAFDAC boss, in a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, added that the partnership would also seek for grants to fund collaborative Research and Development (R&D) on mycotoxin research, food safety and other related inter-disciplinary research.

Adeyeye further explained that, “It’s a significant effort that we are trying to strengthen our cooperation and collaboration especially at this time where healthy living and safety of food have become important to the citizens of this nation.’’

She expressed worry that people die prematurely as a result of eating moulds in food.

Labour Party Senatorial Candidate, Oyibo Chukwu, Killed in Enugu The Labour Party (LP) candidate for Enugu East Senatorial district, Oyibo Chukwu, has been killed.

Oyibo, a lawyer, was said to have been attacked while returning from a campaign trip in the Agbani area.

It was gathered that he was burnt inside his vehicle, and three persons were suspected to be with him in the vehicle. However, it could not be confirmed how

many of the occupants were killed.

Information about the attack was still very sketchy. But a party source, who pleaded not to be quoted, confirmed the incident.

It was also gathered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Uche Nnaji, was also attacked at the spot where Oyibo was killed.

and the suffering that is going on.

And we are also imploring that the maximum that can be done to enable people to access cash is done before the election, as you say,

because there’s so much at stake. Of course, there’s some Supreme Court rules today. So, it’ll be interesting to see what that judgment is.

“On violence and hate speech,

I completely concur. It’s a crime and there should be consequences.

People may have heard me say this yesterday on my various interviews that the UK has just

issued a statement, our Minister for International Development in Africa, Andrew Mitchell, stating very clearly that we monitor this very carefully.

DSS, Police Foil Assassination Attempt on Osun Speaker

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, yesterday escaped being assassinated by people suspected to be political thugs.

It took the gallantry of the men of Department of State Services and police officers attached to the

office of the Speaker to repel the assailants who arrived the premises of the speaker at around 2 a.m.

Owoeye, during a press conference in Ilesa, added that the attack was also extended to businesses of the member representing Ilesa West State Constituency, Hon. Wale Adedoyin, and Hon. Folarin

Fafowora, the immediate past Chairman of Ilesa West Central LCDA. He stressed that about five members of the APC had been killed in gruesome manner across Eti Oni in Atakumosa East, Oke Aga and Ilesa, notable among the dead was the immediate past Secretary of Atakumosa

East LCDA. Owoeye said: “In the early hours of today, February 22, an assassination attempt was made on my life if not of divine Providence the story would have been different. I want to salute the security man who stood their ground to prevent my assailants from carrying out their aim.

Elections: Katsina Shari’a Commission Warns against Violence, Thuggery FrancisSardaunainKatsina

The Katsina State Shari’a Commission, has warned residents of the state against indulging in violence, hooliganism, thuggery and other heinous acts capable of truncating the February 25 and March 11 national elections.

Chairman of the Commission and state’s Grand Khadi, Dr.

Muhammad Kabir Abubakar, who gave the warning while briefing journalists, yesterday, said Islam was totally against any activity aimed to intimidate, harass or cause public nuisance.

Abubakar, who quoted different Quranic verses that were against violence and other social vices, said Islamic religion encouraged people, no matter how they were aggrieved,

to always follow due process and never to take laws into their hands.

“In Islam, people are duty-bound to shun any activity, which is likely to cause harm or nuisance to the public like mindless acts of thuggery in the name of politics or otherwise and indiscriminate posting of political posters or banners at government buildings, offices, roundabout and other public places as spelled

out in the Security Challenges (Containment) Executive Order,” he said.

The state Grand Khadi, however, directed members of the Da’awa committee throughout the state to intensify efforts in sensitising the general public to be disciplined and remain law abiding before, during and after the polls as encapsulated in the doctrine of Islamic Sharia.

Rivers Federal Lawmaker Remanded over Alleged Inciting Comments platform of the All Progressives Congress Assistant Inspector General of Police, on February 25, 2023, in Rivers State.”

Blessing IbungeinPortHarcourt

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded a Rivers State Federal Lawmaker, Mr. Ephraim Nwuzi, in the correctional centre over alleged inciting comments ahead of the Saturday, February 25, election in the state.

The lawmaker representing Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, under the

(APC) was arraigned in court yesterday, by the state police command for allegedly inciting violence in a trending video.

THISDAY gathered that Nwuzi was arrested Wednesday morning, in his house in Chokocho, Etche when policemen with armoured vehicles forcefully broke into his house.

Few hours after the rumour of his arrest went viral, the supervising

Abutu Yaro, allegedly sent an invitation to the accused.

Yaro, who spoke through the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Grace Iringe-Koko, “condemned in all totality a video circulating on social media of one Honourable Ephraim Nwuzi, a member of the House of Representatives, saying that residents of the state should be shot during the general election coming up

The AIG said that the invitation was for questioning on the content of the video to ascertain the intent and purposes of the lawmaker in the video.

At the court, Chief Magistrate Amadi O. Amadi-Nna, ruled that the suspect should be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCC) for 10days pending the outcome of investigation by the police.

Polls: NIS Deploys 1,000 Personnel in Kwara, 5,255 NSCDC Men for Rivers Foreigners warned to stay away from election arena

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Kwara State, Mr. Aminu Shamsuddin has said the service has deployed about 1,000 personnel ahead of Saturday’s presidential election in the state.

Also, in order to ensure violence-free and peaceful elections, the Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Michael Ogar, said the command has deployed 5,255 personnel to supervise the elections across the state.

Shamsudin however warned

foreigners to stay away from the election arena, saying anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, yesterday, the comptroller said him men would be deployed to all polling units and border areas in the state to guard against aliens participating in the elections.

According to him, “All district officers will also be on standby to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.”

He warned foreigners not to involve in the election in anyway, stressing that any foreigner found near the polling units would be arrested, repatriated and blacklisted.

Obaseki Expands Internet Connectivity, to Connect LGAs with Fibre Optic Cables The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has entered a new partnership with data centre and ICT infrastructure firm, Geniserve Limited, to connect all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State with fibre optic cables, to enhance internet connectivity.

Obaseki, at the formal signing of

the documents for the partnership, at the Government House, Benin City, said the government, with the deal, targets the installation of about 2,000km of fibre optic connectivity across the state.

According to him, “We are making history today because we have just signed an agreement

with our partners to build a fibre optic connectivity across all the 18 LGAs of Edo State. We believe that by the end of the exercise, we would have in excess of 2,000km of fibres connecting various parts of the State.”

He said the deal would ensure that most schools and primary

healthcare centres in the state are connected to the internet, noting, “We would create hotspots across several communities in the State.

We would make sure that most of our primary healthcare facilities are connected and roll out more services, particularly the telemedicine services to the people in the rural areas.”

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THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Flying Eagles Beat Host Egypt, Back on Track for World Cup Ticket

Femi Solaja with agency report Seven-time champions Nigeria steered their campaign back on the rails after defender Solomon Agbalaka’s 71st minute header collected all three points from host nation, Egypt, at the Cairo International Stadium.

The Flying Eagles defender met Muhammad Aminu’s corner kick with a bullet header that Egypt’s goalkeeper Mostafa Amin could do

U20 AFCON nothing about, and it is the host nation that now faces the stark possibility of elimination from the 23rd Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

After Nigeria lost her opening game by a lone goal to Senegal and the host nation could only putter to a scoreless draw against Mozambique, it was a given that both teams would tear at each other from the beginning.

The hosts mounted the highest pressure in the first quarter-hour but shot wide when presented with the opportunity to nick it.

Amin saved twice from Ibrahim Muhammad in the 28th minute but at the other end, eight minutes later, Abdelrahman El Sayed again blasted wide in front of Chijioke Aniagboso.

Aniagboso did a tidy job throughout, including saving point-blank shots on two occasions in a ferocious

second half.

Eight minutes after the restart, Ahmed Belasi could have put the North Africans ahead, but his header went wide with the goal begging. Ten minutes later, Aniagboso kept his calm to deny Rafaat Bayoumi, and two minutes later, Ibrahim Muhammad could have shot Nigeria ahead with a flash shot from the edge of the box that went narrowly wide.

Aniagboso again came up big

for Nigeria in the 66th minute, with substitute Omar El Saei confident he was on to a great thing.

Five minutes later, Agbalaka’s bullet header put Nigeria in front, and despite opportunities for both teams afterwards, the scoreline remained unchanged.

Senegal, who hammered Mozambique 3-0 in the earlier match, lead Group A with six

points and have virtually sealed a quarter-final place. Three-pointer Nigeria stay in second place, and will be expected to overwhelm one-pointer Mozambique when both teams clash at the same venue on Saturday.

Egypt have the daunting prospect of battling Senegal, with defeat sure to mean early elimination for the host nation.

Falcons Halt Miserable Losing Streaks with Win against Costa Rica R E V E L AT I O N C U P M E X I C O The Super Falcons early hours of Wednesday finally ended a miserable seven-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in the Revelation Cup in Leon, Mexico.

Esther Okoronkwo was the match winner for Nigeria after her strike in the 44th minute did the damage against Costa Rica.

It was an improved performance as well as a winning end to the Revelation Cup for the Falcons after they had lost their first two games to Mexico and Colombia by the same 1-0 scoreline.

However, it is left to be seen whether this has eased the pressure for coach Randy Waldrum to be fired.

The nine-time African champions are preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will kick off in July in Australia and New Zealand.

They are also scheduled to feature in another invitational tournament in Turkey in April.

The Super Falcons are drawn in Group A along with hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and Republic of Ireland.

Zaidu Denied as Lukaku Gives Inter Edge at San Siro Romelu Lukaku came on as substitute to give Inter Milan the advantage in their 1-0 defeat of Porto at San Siro...last night

Ten Hag, Ferguson Plot Barcelona Fall Tonight Live on GOtv Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been photographed having dinner with club legend Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of their crunch Europa League clash with Barcelona.

The game is set to broadcast live on GOtv La Liga (Ch 32) at 9:00pm tonight.

The Red Devils largely outplayed Barça in the first leg at Camp Nou, leaving Catalonia with a 2-2 draw. A win this evening in return fixture at Old Trafford will secure their passage to the last 16.

In the build up to this encounter, Ten Hag was seen out having dinner with United icon Ferguson at an Italian restaurant in Cheshire.

“It's massive. I always enjoy speaking with people who have a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience,” he said. “He wants to share it, he wants to help and support.

“Manchester United is his club and he feels so committed. We are doing well. It was a great night and I look forward to the next

The top teams that excelled at the maiden Lagos Athletics Club Series shared the N1million purse made available by the organisers for the first leg of the N10m-prize money tournament held at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex at the weekend.

From the final table made available after the first leg, Agroterra Blessed Club topped the table with 4746 points while Eaglesight Club and Udo-Obong Wolves garnered 4574 and 3710 points respectively.

Other clubs that made the top five on the table include Osheku Striders (2664) and No Sweat Club (1770).

The tournament is being organised by the Lagos State Athletics

Association (LSAA) and is aimed at encouraging club participation in tournaments as well as encouraging athletes to work as a team.

According to the Technical Director of LSAA, Enefiok Udo-Obong, the performance of the athletes was impressive, especially some upcoming athletes that dusted the established ones.

“I can tell you that it was indeed an excellent performance from the athletes and a well-attended event with over 655 participants registered by the 24 clubs that featured in the first leg. It was very competitive as some young athletes gave good accounts of themselves against some alreadyknown athletes."

EUROPA LEAGUE

night with him.”

After retiring from management in 2013, Ferguson became a club ambassador, before being appointed to the board by CEO Richard Arnold in the summer of 2022 - around the same time Ten Hag became manager.

The Dutchman has overcome a rocky start and is now universally popular among United fans, with a return to the Champions League looking likely.

Ten Hag can end United's

trophy drought on Sunday when they face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

United have won just two major trophies plus one Community Shield in the post-Ferguson era - all coming under Jose Mourinho in the 2016/17 season.

Also this evening, Jose Mourinho-led Roma will take on Salzburg after suffering a 0-1 defeat in the first leg of the knockout fixtures at 9:00pm on Super Sport Football (Ch. 31)

Substitute Romelu Romellu Lu Luka Lukaku kak ku scored the only goal as Inter Milan beat 10-man Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Lukaku converted a rebound after his first effort had bounced off the post in the 86th minute at the San Siro.

Nigeria and Porto defender, Zaidu Sanusi and Mehdi Taremi were denied the chance to fire the Portuguese side into the advantage

by Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana with scores still at goalless.

The visitors had Otavio sent off in the 78th minute for two bookable offences and conceded eight minutes later.

The second leg takes place at Porto's Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday, 14 March.

Elsewhere, Manchester City paid the price for failing to make the most of their first-half dominance as they were held to a 1-1 draw by RB Leipzig in the first leg of their

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Champions League last-16 tie.

The away side were in complete control in the first 45 minutes and got the breakthrough midway through the half when Ilkay Gundogan pounced on a mistake in defence and fed Riyad Mahrez to drive into the back of the net.

But RB Leipzig came out in the second half with more ambition and twice went close to equalising early on through Benjamin Henrichs, who first headed just over before then sweeping wide with just Ederson to beat.

The Manchester City goalkeeper was called upon again to deny Andre Silva at his near post but the hosts were finally rewarded for their mounting pressure when Josko Gvardiol headed in following a short corner.

Teams Share N1m in First Leg BetKing Celebrates Five Years of of Lagos Athletics Club Series Transforming Digital Sports Entertainment As sports enthusiasts continue to enjoy their engagements with football leagues across the world, foremost betting platform, BetKing, recently celebrated five years of revolutionising digital sports entertainment in Nigeria.

The unique platform last Thursday rolled out drums at an event tagged ‘BetKing Big 5 Cocktail’ at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos with a host of the brand’s key stakeholders and executives in attendance.

The event presented an opportunity for BetKing Nigeria to host and honour its employees, partners, and other stakeholders for their contributions to the growth of the business over the past five years.

Football fans and guests were

taken down memory lane of the significant impact the company has made since its inception. These include its Corporate Social Responsibility interventions across various communities as well as its empowerment initiatives towards its partners.

The Managing Director, KingMakers, Gossy Ukanwoke, said, “In the last five years, we have grown from just 400 agents to over 30,000 agents across the 36 states of Nigeria, and from a team of 18 people to over 200 people with operations across the country, making us a very recognizable brand in the country.

“We are so grateful because we haven’t been able to achieve this without the support of all our stakeholders: our employees,

partners, regulatory agencies who create a suitable environment for us to thrive, and our customers, whom we cherish deeply."

“As we embark on the next five years, we look forward to working tirelessly whilst becoming a champion for Responsible Gaming. Most recently, we launched a campaign tagged ‘Kings Know When to Stop,’ which was aimed at encouraging a responsible gaming ecosystem. Sports betting is growing in the country, hence we understand our role in ensuring that customers can engage in a healthy and responsible way whilst enjoying sports through our platform” He added.

Also speaking, the Chairman, BetKing Nigeria, Toyin Pinheiro SAN, said, “BetKing is a company that

has thrived on its integrity, and it’s a brand that you can rely on when it comes to sports entertainment.

The growth recorded in the last five years would not be possible without the support of all BetKing’s stakeholders, and that is why we’re here to appreciate and thank you all for the support so far. It’s going to be much better getting ahead, and in the next five years, I can see BetKing where you can best imagine, which is at the top of the table.”

As part of the celebrations, BetKing rewarded customers with #5for5 promos to further show its commitment to providing them with the best services. The company also hosted a novelty match featuring staff, agents, media, and sportsinclined influencers.

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OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

At the End, Only One Will Win! The less you say, the less risk you run of saying something foolish, even dangerous.

In 1825 a new czar, Nicholas I, ascended the throne of Russia. A rebellion immediately broke out, led by liberals demanding that the country modernize—that its industries and civil structures catch up with the rest of Europe. Brutally crushing this rebellion, Nicholas I sentenced one of its leaders, Kondraty Ryleyev to death. On the day of execution, Ryleyev stood on the gallows, the noose around his neck. The trapdoor opened but as Ryleyev dangled, the rope broke, dashing him to the ground.

At the time, events like this were considered signs of providence or heavenly will, and a man saved from execution this way was usually pardoned. As Ryleyev got to his feet, bruised, and dirtied but believing his neck had been saved, he called out to the crowd, “You see, in Russia they don’t know how to do anything properly, not even how to make rope!” A messenger immediately went to the Winter Palace with news of the failed hanging. Vexed by this disappointing turnabout, Nicholas I nevertheless began to sign the pardon. But then: “Did Ryleyev say anything after this miracle?” the czar asked the messenger. “Sir, the messenger replied, “he said that in Russia they don’t even know how to make rope.”

“In that case,” said the Czar, “let us prove the contrary,” and he tore the pardon. The next day Ryleyev was hanged again. This time the rope did not break. Learn the lesson: Once the words are out, you cannot take them back. The momentary satisfaction you gain with your biting words will be outweighed by the price you pay. ============================= =====

I

lifted the foregoing story, ‘Always say less than necessary’ from Robert Greene’s ‘48 Laws of Power’. It is one lesson that many Nigerian politicians and their supporters have refused to learn: That words spoken or written in moments of anger or sometimes for fun, have consequences. Beneath the saber-rattling we have witnessed in recent weeks is a certain mentality of politics as warfare.

However, my concern is not the damage their words can do to themselves but rather to the peace of our country and national security, especially after the votes are in. With the presidential election just hours away, it is important that the leading candidates and their supporters watch what they say, regardless of whether they win or lose.

Given how the BATified, ATIKUlate and OBIdients have gone overboard during this campaign, especially on social media, one cannot rule out gloating or even ethnic baiting

Tinubu

Atiku

Obi

by members of the victorious side at the end of the process. Yet, one insensitive tweet or a reckless Tiktok video post could trigger violence in a contest that unwittingly stands on Nigeria’s ancient tripod. “With each front runner drawing support – strongly but not exclusively – from his ethnic, religious and regional bases, the campaigns are stirring up communal tensions that could turn ugly,” according to a 26-page report, ‘Mitigating Violence Around Nigeria’s 2023 Elections’, released last week by the International Crisis Group (ICG).

While there are 18 presidential candidates, each of whom is president-in-waiting to their army of supporters, most Nigerians believe that this contest is essentially between Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Gregory Obi of the Labour Party (LP). The main challenge is that if you speak to supporters of any of these three, they are so sure of victory that the only allowance made for defeat is if their man is “rigged out”. That perhaps explains why partisan polling has become not only a thriving industry but also a tool being primed to game or delegitimize the outcome if it goes against their expectations. Yet, as in every election, only one person can win on Saturday.

It is remarkable that despite decades of failed dreams, shattered expectations, and betrayed hopes, Nigerians renew their faith in the electoral process every four years as they vote with optimism for better days.

We see the same optimism in this election cycle. But the reality of our situation is that

we now live in a country increasingly torn apart by hate and instincts to dominate others, not necessarily by superior argument.

We are not even talking about the daunting existential challenges on the security and economic fronts, including the needless one created by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that has worsened the plight of most ordinary people who now use money to buy money at scandalous prices—a new Nigerian invention in infamy.

Whoever wins the presidential election on Saturday, his work is already cut out for him. But the job becomes harder if the defeated candidates (And I repeat, only one can win while others will lose) and their supporters refuse to concede.

Worse, if supporters of the winner decide to incite. As an aside, this election has been devoid of the usual drama of predictions from renowned clerics, marabouts, and all manner of fortune-tellers. While the Catholic Church suspension of Father Ejike Mbaka has ensured that office seekers are not trooping to his Enugu ‘Adoration Ground’ for anointing, many others in the business of political prophecies are now speaking in ‘parables’.

Before I continue, let me encourage Nigerians to exercise their franchise in this election cycle. Nobody should say their vote doesn’t matter. It does. Since our presidential system of government is patterned after that of the United States, we can learn from some of their interesting close elections. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson was elected President by one vote in the House of Representatives after a tie in the Electoral College. 24 years later, Andrew

Jackson won the presidential popular vote but lost by one vote in the House of Representatives to John Quincy Adams after a similar deadlock in the Electoral College.

While the 2000 presidential election was not decided by a single vote, the margin of 537 votes by which George W. Bush won the State of Florida which tilted the Electoral College in his favour (despite losing the popular vote) is indicative of why every vote counts. But no American election has perhaps demonstrated the power of a single vote better than what happened in November 2017 in the State of Virginia. After the election, 23,217 ballots for the House of Delegates 94th District were recounted several times because of the margin between the Democratic challenger, Shelly Simonds and incumbent Republican, David Yancey. At the end, the difference was just a single vote. But that lone vote was significant not only because one man lost the election but also because that seat also switched the majority party in the Virginia House of Delegates!

Beyond the power of a single vote, it is important for Nigerians to participate in choosing their leaders. The low turn-out of voters that we have witnessed in recent elections bodes ill for our democracy. In several instances, governors have been elected with as little as 12 percent of registered voters. As democratic as such processes may be, questions will always arise about the legitimacy of a gubernatorial mandate secured with less than three percent of the entire population of a state, given that many adults do not even bother to register, while those below the age of 18 are statutorily ineligible.

Meanwhile, for the presidential election, the main concern is the possibility of violence if defeated candidates decide to go rogue after the election. The ICG report said the presidential poll was taking place in the country amid wider security challenges. But more significantly, the “sense of desperation pervading the camps of all three front runners is a source of rising tension among them and concern about how the losing parties’ candidates and supporters may react to defeat.” While the dynamics of such risk may differ from one section of the country to another in this open-seat presidential election in which the incumbent is not on the ballot, the fact remains that our delicate fault lines (ethnicity, religion, and geo-politics) are on full display. And should any of the defeated candidates (or/ and their supporters) play such cards, a crisis will ensue.

On ‘Selling’ Vento Furniture

A

t half-time during the UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United and Barcelona last Thursday evening, a commercial by Vento Furniture, a premium furniture company in Nigeria was featured twice. I was not surprised by the calls and messages that followed from those who may have watched the advert on DSTv. I understand it has been repeated many times since then. My simple answer is that for almost two years I have been a brand ambassador for the company.

It all started on 23 June 2021 when I received a letter from the company’s CEO, Mr. Hasan Yigit, seeking appointment for an audience with me. In the letter, Yigit wrote: “We have followed your contributions to national discourse in the country and hold the firm belief that the

role of brand ambassador should not be for entertainers alone. The intellectual space is deserving of this recognition hence our humble selection of you as our brand ambassador.”

Since the promoters are Turkish, I needed to know more about the company before making any commitment. For the record, Vento Furniture has about 200 Nigerians in its employ, with strong presence in three major cities (Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt). The company also plans to establish a vocational school that would train young Nigerians interested in learning basic skills in painting, plumbing, welding, carpentry, etc. to better their lives.

Participants will be drawn from across the country with modalities being worked out to ensure that the process for enlistment is transparent and not hijacked by politicians.

Plans are also underway towards establishing a world-class furniture manufacturing complex in the country.

While my initial discussions with Vento Furniture went well. All that was demanded of me were photo (and sometimes video) shoots and my availability for some of their Corporate Social Responsibility events, I didn’t jump at the offer. I consulted widely, including with respected professionals in the Diaspora, to be sure. The consensus is that there is nothing wrong in a journalist serving as a brand ambassador. In accepting the offer, I provided a line that Vento has used in its newspaper adverts with my photo: “My late father was a carpenter. So, now you have a carpenter’s son selling furniture.”

Let’s have all-hands-on-desk!

Continued on page 32

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Atiku’s Closing Argument: We Can Build The Nigeria of Our Dreams... See page 25 To My Compatriots: Why I Seek Your Mandate to Be President of Nigeria... See NNPP’s Pledge to Nigerians Under The Leadership of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, PhD... See

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