MONDAY 25TH MARCH 2024

N4.38tn in 2023, Says DMO

Tinubu: FG, States Collaboration Facilitated Release of Abducted Schoolchildren

Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, welcomed news of the release of Kuriga schoolchildren in Kaduna State, saying collaboration between the federal and state governments made it possible. Tinubu emphasised the importance of such collaboration for expected outcomes, especially on matters of security.

The president, in a release by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the security agencies, and Kaduna State Government for the dispatch and diligence with which

148TH

L- R: Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, at the ongoing 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland....yesterday

Inflation, FX, Others Top Agenda as MPC Reconvenes Today, Analysts Predict Hold on Policy Instruments

James Emejo in Abuja

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will meet today to evaluate the impact of its massive rate hike in the previous meeting and to determine the direction of monetary policy in the future.

Undoubtedly, the discussion will mostly centre on the unrelenting inflationary pressures which reached a 26-year high at 31.70 per cent in February despite the central bank pursuing a contractionary policy regime.

The committee will also give attention to current exchange rate volatility which has shown a bit of moderation in recent weeks.

Analysts have predicted a hold

on key policy rates, particularly the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the benchmark interest rate.

During its February 27, 2024 meeting, the first to be superintended by Cardoso, the apex bank jolted the markets and beat analysts’ expectations when in one fell swoop, it raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by a whopping 400- basis points to 22.75 per cent from 18.75 per cent – at a period of biting economic hardship occasioned mainly by the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira.

The bank also adjusted the asymmetric corridor around the MPR to +100/-700 basis points from +100/-300 basis points.

The central bank further raised the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR)

to 45 per cent from 32.5 per cent and retained the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

Before the meeting, most analysts had forecasted a hike of between 200 and 250 basis points to tame headline inflation which stood at 29.90 per cent in January 2024.

The MPR is the rate at which commercial banks borrow from the apex bank and often determines the cost of funds in the economy.

Though foreign exchange (FX) volatility appeared to have moderated since the last MPC meeting, inflation had remained unpacified.

However, analysts who spoke to THISDAY on their expectations for the meeting were unanimous that the committee would most likely maintain the current policy levels

especially given the unprecedented interest rate hike described as an “overkill”.

They said despite the continued spike in inflation which reached a 26-year high at 31.70 per cent in February, the central bank would likely not tighten the policy tools to monitor the outcomes of the last meeting.

President, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said inflationary pressure had persisted despite moderation in the exchange rate, adding that headline inflation remained stubbornly elevated way ahead of the CBN's target of 21.4 per cent for 2024.

He said, “Given the signals coming from the CBN governor and the

TINUBU: FG, STATES COLLABORATION FACILITATED RELEASE OF ABDUCTED SCHOOLCHILDREN

they handled this situation. He said schools must be safe and secure for learning.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, who announced the release of the schoolchildren, commended the president, NSA, and the military for their role in the operations.

The state government affirmed that 168 schoolchildren were abducted, and 168 were released, contrary to the figures being widely reported.

Parents of the children heaved a sigh of relief following news of their release.

Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in an update issued by Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the schoolchildren were freed during a combined search operation by the security forces and local authorities.

Nonetheless, Northern Elders Forum (NEF) waned that the Kuriga school abduction was an incident that called for improved security measures, saying enough of school abductions.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; former Vice-President Atiku Abubaka; and former governor of Anambra State hailed the news of the release of the schoolchildren.

Bandits had on March 7 invaded LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and abducted several students.

The bandits, reportedly, killed one person and abducted the schoolchildren, including some of their teachers. But some of the pupils were said to have escaped and returned home, while the bandits left with the others.

The Kaduna State government had earlier denied reports that it hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the children, whose kidnappers reportedly demanded N1 billion as ransom.

The president had also vowed that no ransom would be paid to bandits.

But an elated Tinubu stated yesterday that prompt action, meticulous attention, and tireless dedication were critical to the outcomes in cases of mass abduction. He further welcomed the release of pupils of a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State.

The president said in the statement posted on his official X account, “I welcome the news of the release of the Kuriga school children in Kaduna State. This reemphasises the importance of collaboration between the federal government and states for expected outcomes, especially on matters of security.

“The National Security Adviser, the security agencies, and the Kaduna State Government must be commended for the dispatch and diligence with which they handled this situation. It is clear that incipient urgency, meticulous attention, and tireless dedication are critical to optimal outcomes in

cases of mass abductions.

“I also welcome the release of pupils of a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State, and commend all the parties to the feat for their valiant effort.

“I once again assure Nigerians that my administration is deploying detailed strategies to ensure that our schools remain safe sanctuaries of learning, not lairs for wanton abductions.”

Sani, who did not give details of how the schoolchildren were freed from captivity, had in a release, confirmed the good news.

He said in the release, “In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I wish to announce that our Kuriga school children have been released.

“Our special appreciation goes to our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for prioritising the safety and security of Nigerians and, particularly, ensuring that the abducted Kuriga school children are released unharmed.

“While the school children were in captivity, I spoke with Mr. President several times. He shared our pains, comforted us and worked round the clock with us to ensure the safe return of the children.

“Special mention must also be made of our dear brother, the National Security Adviser, Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, for his exemplary leadership. I spent sleepless nights with Mal. Ribadu fine-tuning strategies and coordinating the operations of the security agencies, which eventually resulted in this successful outcome.

“The Nigerian Army also deserve special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements can be degraded and security restored in our communities.

“We also thank all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children. This is, indeed, a day of joy. We give Almighty Allah all the glory.”

Meanwhile, Sani received a special mobile squad deployed to the state by the Inspector General of Police to check the activities of bandits.

Receiving the squad, which included two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Sani thanked the IG, saying the gesture would go a long way in addressing the security challenges in the state.

Parents: News of Their Release Relieving

Parents of the abducted 287 Kaduna schoolchildren, yesterday, breathed a sigh of relief following news of their release.

Some of the parents rushed to Government House anxiously to be reunited with their children, after the governor broke the news.

However, after several hours of waiting for their arrival, they were informed that the children would be brought in on Monday.

While waiting for the arrival of the children, Sani held a meeting

with heads of security agencies and the parents. It was gathered that during the meeting, the parents were advised against speaking to the media.

However, one of the parents, Jubril Gwadabe Kuriga, told journalists in an interview that the government informed parents about the release of the children on Sunday morning and asked them to come to Government House.

Kuriga said news of the release of the children came as a big relief, as the parents went through pain and trauma.

“I can tell you that some parents are suffering from shock and trauma. There is a woman whose four children are among those abducted. She cannot eat and she cannot sleep,” he said.

Kuriga, whose nine-yearold daughter was among the abducted schoolchildren, said, “The government called us and informed us that the children are with them. That is the true story, but we have not seen them yet. They promised us by tomorrow (Monday) they will hand over the children to us.

“Each student or child will be handed over to the parents. We are feeling happy because it is not easy missing your child for this long period of time, so if we need to be happy.”

He said with the seurity presence in the area, the children could go back to scho.

“We are happy that we now have security presence. We are going to use them to see that our children go back to school,” he said.

At the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether the children had arrived Kaduna from Zamfara State or not.

DHQ: Joint Security Operation Freed Kaduna Schoolchildren

Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the schoolchildren were freed in a combined search operation by security forces and local authorities.

In an update by Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj Gen Edward Buba, DHQ, however, said only 137 hostages were freed, including 76 females and 61 males.

"The rescued hostages, totalling 137, comprise of 76 females and 61 male. They were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action," it stated.

DHQ said, "In the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation, rescued the hostages.

"The hostages are same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.

"These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government. These efforts demonstrate the armed forces

inflation targeting stance of the CBN, another round of tightening via the Monetary Policy Rate should be expected in March by at least 100 basis points.

“However, my personal view is that the MPC should pause for now to see how the jumbo rate hike carried out in February transmits through the economy.”

Also, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, supported a “hold on the MPR at 22.75 to see how the new MPR settles the economy before further actions”.

He said the inflationary pressures in February further demonstrated that increasing MPR alone will not stem the headline index, stressing that other major factors affecting rising prices persist.

power and a struggling economy.

The government should intensify its welfare programme for the indigent poor to alleviate the increased hardship and pain.

resolve to finding other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.

"These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law."

It said troops were employing similar effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State, adding that, justice awaited the culprits, because they would not go unpunished.

NEF: Enough of School Abductions in North

Northern Elders Forum (NEF) said the Kuriga school abduction was yet another tragic incident that called for improved security measures, warning that “enough is enough”. In a statement last night, NEF decried the frequent abduction of schoolchildren in the north and called for urgent medical attention and shock checks for the children as they reintegrated into society.

The statement signed by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said, "The Northern Elders Forum firmly declares that enough is enough. The safety and security of our children should never be compromised or subject to negotiation.

“It is unacceptable for Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, to continue living under such insecure conditions.

"Unfortunately, just months into the Tinubu administration, there have already been clear signs of failure in providing the vital aspects of security of life and property to citizens.

"While we celebrate the return of the abducted Kuriga school children, we must also recognise this event as a wake-up call for all of us.

"We cannot afford to become complacent in the face of such acts of violence and disregard for human life. As elders, it is our duty to protect and nurture the next generation.

“We urge the government and relevant authorities to work closely with us in ensuring that our children can go to school without fear. The safety and well-being of our children must always be a top priority.”

NEF also stated, "We also call for accountability and swift action from our leaders to address the security challenges our communities are facing. The return of the Kuriga school children stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of our community.”

Abbas, Atiku, Obi Hail Development

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former governor of

Gbolade said, “The rate of food inflation is higher and the fluctuating value of the Naira coupled with dwindling economic activities has given rise to high cost of goods and services which will also impact inflation. The high-interest rate occasioned by an increase in MPR is also not helping the manufacturing sector to increase productivity.

“The resultant effect of rising inflation is reduced purchasing

"But in the long run, the government needs to immediately implement its agricultural policies and boost the private sector with loan schemes to rejuvenate the economy and prevent further unemployment. Increased economic activities and strengthening of the Naira will lead to a gradual reduction in inflationary trend in the long run.”

Also speaking to THISDAY, Wealth Management and Business Development Consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said, “I expect that the MPC will maintain the current MPR despite the uptick in inflation figures”, adding that CBN remained focused on prioritising price stability in the short term to tackle inflation.

FG’S DOMESTIC DEBT SERVICE GULPED N4.38TN IN 2023, SAYS DMO

billion; Federal Government Bonds N3.663 trillion; Treasury Bonds N6.373 billion; Green Bonds N2.175 billion; and FGN Sukuk Bonds N103.25 billion.

Others are FGN Savings Bond (FGNSB) N2.866 billion; and Promissory Notes.

At 83.1 per cent or N44.26 trillion, FGN Bonds accounted for the largest chunk of FGN's N53.258 trillion domestic debt obligations as of December 31, 2023, followed by NTBs at N6.522 trillion or 12.25 per cent, and Promissory Notes at N1.329 trillion or 2.5 per cent.

FGN Sukuk accounted for 2.05 per cent or N1, 092 trillion of the FGN domestic debt profile. FGNSB accounted for N39.177 billion or 0.07 per cent while Green Bonds constituted N15 billion or 0.03 per cent of the FGN’s domestic debt obligations as at December 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, at the subnational level, Lagos, Delta,

Ogun and Rivers are leading debtor states with the highest domestic debt burden as at December 31, 2023.

While Lagos State owed a total of N960.495 billion (N960,495,545,836.25) during the period under review, Delta State was next with N371.485 billion (N371,485,618,063.33), and Ogun State N293.2 billion (N293,204,959,775.19).

Ogun State was trailed by Rivers State with N232.57 billion (N232, 576,206,164.34).

The last updated debt figures for Ogun, Rivers and Katsina states were as at March 31, 2023.

DMO said the domestic debt burden of the 36 states and the FCT stood at N5 741 trillion (N5, 741,042,103,518.56) as of December 31, 2023.

Jigawa State retained its spot as the least indebted state, with a profile of N42 89 billion (N42,890,049,833.19), followed by Kebbi with N60.875 billion (N60,875,509,315.16).

IN VIEW OF NATION'S CURRENT MOOD, PRESIDENT CALLS OFF 72ND BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES ON FRIDAY

that rather than spend a fortune to send goodwill messages in print and electronic media, such funds should be donated to charity organisations of their choice.

He said his major preoccupation at the moment as leader of the country was to make life better for all Nigerian citizens.

The president further said he would use the birthday to re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, secure, prosperous and united Nigeria.

The statement said, "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will turn 72 on Friday March 29, 2024. The day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman.

"During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends and associates to celebrate him in different ways.

"As the leader of our country, President Tinubu, in deference to this challenging times, will not host any birthday event and does not want any of his associates and numerous well-wishers across the country to organise any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name.

"President Tinubu appreciates the honour of being the leader of

Africa’s leading nation at this time and he is working very hard to make life better for the generality of our people.

"According to him, because of the present mood of the nation and recent killing of the officers and men of our Army and Police in Delta State, and recent spate of security breaches by criminal elements in different parts of Nigeria, there should be no form of birthday event and placing of birthday goodwill advertorial messages in newspapers. Goodwill messages should not be placed on radio and television stations, too.

"President Tinubu enjoins friends and associates, who may wish to place goodwill advertorials, to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name.

"Although the president appreciates the gallantry of our armed forces in freeing our children kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State and in Sokoto State, he will use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, more secure, virile, prosperous and united Nigeria."

Cardoso

70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF OLU OF WARRI'S MOTHER...

At Palm Sunday, Mutfwang Preaches Tolerance among Nigerians for Development

Gowon advocates unity, peaceful coexistence Obi celebrates Christians, urges Nigerians to pray for nation

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged Nigerians to tolerate each other irrespective

of ethno-religious and political differences to ensure peace and development in the country.

Mutfwang made the call on Saturday during the dedication of the ECWA Gospel Church in

Kulishin village, Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State. He reminded Nigerians of the need to rekindle brotherhood with one another, support and promote the country, to the glory to God.

Small Scale Industrialists, Energy Firm Sign Deal for Provision of Reliable Power

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) in Nigeria and Glodanif Energy Limited (GEL), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the provision of reliable and affordable electricity for members of the association clustered around industrial sites nationwide.

Planned to come at affordable tariffs, President of NASSI, Dr Solomon Vongfa, who spoke in Abuja at the MoU signing event at the weekend, explained that there was the need to boost power supply to small scale industrialists, using the green energy model.

Signing the Green Industrialisation Partnership deal, Vongfa described it as a private sector driven initiative to mitigate challenges of stable power being encountered by NASSI members.

"This process to us should have started since yesterday, not even today because light is a major problem for our small scale entrepreneurs all over the country. A lot of them have been running on diesel and you know the cost of energy now in Nigeria.

“So with green energy which is now globally accepted and it is the current thing that the world is working towards, we have seen how the government of our nation has embraced it.

“We see it as an advantage for our members if we can put them in a captive cluster, so that the megawatts that will be produced will be of great value to them and we are sure that we will have 24 hours light.

"If we are able to have 24 hours light at affordable price, it will make our businesses to thrive . It will create more jobs, reduce poverty and propel our economy to higher growth.

"What we are bringing is to mobilise our people to key in. That's our major contribution, because if you produce light and nobody takes it, it is of no use. So our people are the ones that will use the light for their benefit and for the progress of the nation," Vongfa stated.

Speaking earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Glodanif Energy, Mr. Ayodele Olaitan, said the aim of the scheme is to drive industrial and local production processes through affordable, new and renewable energy.

He emphasised that because of the unreliability of the national grid, business have had to devise means to self-generate electricity to ensure that their businesses keep running.

"It's a known fact that the gap between the demand and available electricity available from the grid in Nigeria has led to widespread self-generation of power both in our homes and industrial sector.

“Today, most businesses must generate their own power to run and operate their business at a high cost, a situation that has made a lot of these businesses to go out of circulation and in this case mostly affected are the small and medium scale industries.

“Also, we are all aware of global warming as a collective agenda to protect our environment by discouraging the use of fossil fuel in running our day to day life, business and industrial operations.

"To this end, in our private initiative to complement government efforts to fix our power sector, grow our industries as well as protect our environment, we developed the idea, the green industrialization initiative.

“The motive behind the initiative is to provide clean and affordable environmentally friendly energy to produce reliable power supply to small and medium scale industries in

cluster arrangement,” Olaitan stated. He lamented that lack of adequate power supply has seriously constrained businesses in the country, observing that there was the need for

"Knowing fully well the problems associated with power outage had a huge negative impact on the operation of small and medium scale industries which has even sent huge numbers of them out of business.

“Upon the foregoing, we decided to seek partnership with the association to see how we can jointly provide solution and help small and medium scale industrialists through the Green Industrialisation Initiative," he pointed out.

Olaitan stated that the tariff structure of the scheme will be based on cost-reflective tariff with full adoption of the prepaid metering system.

The governor told the congregation, "It is, indeed, a great privilege and honour to be here to sharpen one another; to build one another.

"We have come to fellowship with you and to assure you that you are our brothers and we hope that God will sustain and prosper the fellowship existing between us.

"My prayer, as I have trusted God for the people of Plateau State, I trust God also that all of us that God has deposited in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, that we will come together."

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, joined others in commissioning the structure of he ECWA Gospel Church, Kulishin, Gombe State.

In his brief remarks, Gowon said, "This beautiful edifice certainly reminds me of King Solomon's temple, which he built for the Lord during his reign as king in Israel. The scriptures revealed to us that on the day of the dedication of the temple, King Solomon prayed that the temple would be a great blessing to the people (I Kings 8:22-54)."

Gowon added, "May this Church, ECWA Gospel Church, Kaltungo, be home and Centre for Peace and wellbeing in the state, ensuring continued cordial relationship among all the various ethnic groups and faiths in the state; contributing

your quota to the peace, stability and wellbeing of our country and nation, Nigeria, let us be each other's brother’s keeper."

Former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, commended the donor of the auditorium and described it as a great service to God and humanity.

Gana admonished the community to let the act of service to God further unite them so that the entire area could be developed.

In his sermon, the guest speaker, Rev. Silas Yako, while delivering a message, titled, “Setting a good example,” urged Christians to live more by example in their actions rather than words.

The ECWA Gospel Church was built and donated to the community by Managing Director /CEO of Mesotho Group and former member of the House of Representatives from the area, Mr. Jerry Damara.

Meanwhile, in commemoration of the final lap of the Lenten season, usually referred to as “Holy Week”, which fell on Palm Sunday, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, yesterday, celebrated with the Christian faithful.

Obi urged Nigerians to use the period to seek divine intervention for the country, and said many Nigerians had died in their struggle to get food for their families

In a post on his X account, Obi said, “The activities of the Holy Week, thus, present us the opportunity to soberly reflect on the many challenges facing us individually, and those facing us collectively as a nation, an opportunity to ask for God's divine intervention.

“Even as we make our human efforts, as a people, to move our nation forward, we must leverage the solemnity of this season to pray for divine intervention in our nation.

“The hearts of many are heavy with pain, grieving the loss of their dear ones due to the high level of insecurity in the nation. Families are hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from because they can no longer afford the basic necessity of food.

“Many of our fellow Nigerians have died in their struggle to find food to eat. The unity and love in diversity, for which our dear nation was known, have been sacrificed on the altar of tribal and religious division.

“Let us, therefore, present our nation to God for healing and restoration, in this Holy Week, so that as we labour, as humans, for the New Nigeria, it will become even more possible.

“I wish us all a fruitful and impactful Holy Week commemoration.”

Akpabio in Geneva: Parliamentary Diplomacy Critical to World Peace

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has stressed the need for increased efforts in parliamentary diplomacy.

Akpabio spoke at the 148th Assembly of the InterParliamentary Union and Related Meetings, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday.

A statement by his media office said the senate president maintained that parliamentary

diplomacy was critical to achieving peace in the world and resolving conflicts. He called for more progress in parliamentary diplomacy, stating that though the Nigerian legislature had explored the concept and achieved many successes, more could still be done.

Akpabio, according to the statement, said, "The parliament in Nigeria has played a crucial role in curbing polarisation and ensuring peace through legislation."

Apart from the legislative function, he said the parliament also “employs mediation to

address conflicts between nongovernmental organisations and the government, as well as disputes involving labour unions.”

Sharing the progress and initiatives of the 10th National Assembly under his leadership, he said, "It has become imperative for the world to recognise the power of the collective voice in shaping a better future for all, as it is in a critical juncture in history.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in history, an intersection where the choices we make and the words that we speak have the potential

to positively shape the future of a world in constant crisis.

“Therefore, we lend the voice of our country to the patriotic call for collective action to address the challenges facing our wonderful world. Nigeria has stunning kaleidoscopic diversity and a vibrant cultural heritage.

"The obverse side of this diversity is that Nigeria often faces the tragedy of commons where individuals and groups act in their self-interests, leading to the decline of shared resources.”

L-R: Senator Daisy Danjuma; Queen Consort of Warri, Olori Atuwatse III; Celebrant, Iye Olu Atuwatse III; His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri Kingdom and Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Oma Eyewuoma; during the 70th birthday celebration of Olu of Warri's mother in Lagos.. recently

ACCOUNTABILITY...

Telcos Begin Fresh Rounds of SIM Disconnection March 29, April 15

NCC says disconnection will be massive but will address anomalies

Emma Okonji

After the first round of disconnection of 42 million Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards in February 28, which lasted for five days, telecoms operators (Telcos) will begin fresh rounds of SIM disconnection on Friday this week (March 29) and April 15, THISDAY has learnt.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and spokesperson for Telcos, Gbenga Adebayo, had told THISDAY shortly after the February 28 disconnection exercise that the next phase of disconnection will take place Mach 29, with another phase coming up April 15, 2024, according to the directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator.

A reliable source from NCC, who confirmed the fresh rounds of disconnection, however told THISDAY that the next disconnection exercise would be massive because several subscribers have not been able to link their SIM cards to their National Identification Number (NIN). The source also said the disconnection exercise would help address several anomalies in the NIN enrolment and NIN-SIM linkage exercises.

THISDAY investigation into the anomalies, showed that there were massive duplications of SIM cards and NINS traced to single individuals, where a single individual could register as much as 1,000 SIM cards with multiple NINs, a development that negates the security architecture of the country.

THISDAY also learnt that the March 29 disconnection exercise would be focused on telecoms subscribers that have more than five registered SIM cards that are attached to unverified NIN, while the April 15 disconnection exercise would be focused on subscribers that have less than five registered SIM cards that are attached to unverified NIN.

The February 28 disconnection exercise, where 42 million SIM cards were disconnected in five days, was focused on subscribers whose SIM cards were connected to devices such as MiFi and tablets, but were not linked to their NIN.

NCC therefore urged telecoms subscribers with multiple SIM cards to link such SIMs to their NIN before Friday Mach 29 and April 15, to avoid disconnection. Although telecoms operators are pushing for extension of the deadlines, to avoid the huge revenue loss they suffered after the February 28 disconnection exercise, where several SIM

cards belonging to their valued customers were barred, but NCC said there would be no extension of deadline.

NCC however said it may give some considerations to telecoms operators who have empirical data to show that their subscribers who have not been able to link their SIM cards to their NIN, have made efforts to do so, but encountered some network resistance.

Some of the operators told THISDAY that they suffered huge revenue loss from disconnecting their valued customers who could not link their SIM cards to their NIN because of network challenges emanating from the backend of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

THISDAY gathered that telecoms operators have individually and collectively, financed network equipment

for NIMC to enable it carry out NIN-SIM linkage verification, yet millions of subscribers still find it difficult to link their SIMs to their NIN because of network issues from NIMC.

Adebayo however said telecoms operators have commenced the immediate reconnection of SIM cards of those subscribers that have been able to submit their NINs, and had them linked and verified, adding that the

reconnection exercise is ongoing.

NCC, had last December, gave orders to telecoms operators to commence full barring of all unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards on their networks that have not been linked to the NIN of the SIM card holder.

The telecoms regulator had also insisted that the implementation exercise must be carried out in full by the telcos.

FG Moves to Ban Importation of Syringes to Boost Local Production

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has said it is planning to put a total ban on importation of syringes into the country in order to promote locally medical needles..

To this end, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it had halted approvals for further syringe imports.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) was given the last import order in

December 2023 with the instruction that they should begin to source from the local manufacturers thereafter.

In the same vein, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa has said that a total ban on the importation of medical syringe will encourage local production and help to grow the nation’s economy.

Both Alausa and Adeyeye disclosed during the official visit to the multi-billion Naira ultra-modern Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory located within Karameh Industrial City, Arepo, Ogun State.

NDLEA Seizes 44,948kg of Drugs, 11 Vehicles in Lagos, Edo, Ondo

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in raids across Lagos, Edo and Ondo state have seized over 44,948.1 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, impounded 11 vehicles owned by the drug cartels and arrested eight suspects.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement yesterday said a total of 7,687.8 kilogrammes of cannabis were destroyed in a warehouse in Ala forest, Akure, Ondo state.

He added that another 670 kilogrammes were evacuated last Saturday, with no less than 14,310.9

kilogrammes of same psychoactive substance razed on 5.7 hectares of farms in Ohosu/Ugbogui forest, Ovia South West local government area of Edo State last Tuesday.

During that particular raid, he said that five suspects, including 67-yearold Sunday Otulugbu; Agbayeogor Joshua, 39; Kelvin Ofuasia,45; Williams Peter, 37; and Kamaru Onimisi, 44 were arrested.

He said in another operation in Uzebba/Avbiosi forest last Thursday over 6,500 kilogrammes cannabis were destroyed on 2.6 hectares of farms where three suspects: Kabiru Idris, 36; Alaba Jimoh, 40; and Lekan Asobere, 35, were arrested.

Babafemi said 5,000 kilogrammes

of same substance was razed in a warehouse in Okpuje forest, Owan West local government area by NDLEA operatives with support from the military last Friday

In Lagos, he said a well-coordinated operation last Wednesday led to the seizure of 10,534 kilogrammes (10.5 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis in Ajah area of the state where 11 vehicles were seized from the drug cartel.

“The recovered vehicles include:

According to Adeyeye, the suspension applies even to syringes previously imported by NAFDAC's international partners.

Adeyeye also expressed the need for a holistic approach by all the relevant agencies of government to solve the problem of substandard falsified medical devices coming into the country through the ports.

In a statement signed by NAFDAC's Resident Media Consultant Sayo Akintola, the Health Minister reaffirmed the determination of the federal government to provide the necessary support to the local manufacturing sector to enhance its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

relevant agencies to achieve the desired government policy thrust.

On her part, Adeyeye said that the agency had put an end to granting import authorisation to importers including the international partners.

She said the government had also put high tariffs on the importation of syringes to discourage importation.

According to her, the NPHCDA has also been directed to patronise the local manufacturers of syringes to provide employment opportunities to Nigerians through the expansion of operations of the Nigeria manufacturing companies.

Alausa said that the aim of restructuring of syringe and needle production in Nigeria is to guarantee the availability of high-quality products manufactured by Nigerians in the market as well as to generate lucrative employment opportunities for Nigerians.

The minister, however implored NAFDAC to ensure that unbridled importation of syringe does not hamper the development of the local industry through unhealthy competition.

Another suspect, Kareem Mustapha was earlier last Tuesday nabbed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 25,000 pills of tramadol and 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE; Toyota sienna marked AAA 338 GL; Toyota sienna marked AAA 308 EP; Toyota sienna marked FKJ 381 JC; Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG; Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT; an unmarked Iveco J5 bus; Toyota sienna marked LSD 744 GP; Toyota highlander SUV marked KTU 280 FN; Toyota sienna marked AAA 333 GH and Toyota sienna marked FKJ 208 HV,” the NDLEA stressed. In another raid at Ago Palace way area of Lagos state last Friday, the agency said that a suspect, Miracle Obi was arrested with 1,006 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 50 tablets of tramadol 225mg; 89 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,360 ampoules of Diazepam injection.

“Don’t give them any more authorisation to import. We need to protect the local industry through the backward integration model aimed at enhancing the local capacity,’’ he said.

The minister further requested the NAFDAC DG to engage all the

She added that the agency was given the last import order in December 2023 with the instruction that they should begin to source from the local manufacturers thereafter.

She further explained that NAFDAC had halted syringe imports to promote locally made syringes.

" This suspension applies even to syringes previously imported by NAFDAC's international partners. The goal is to shift the focus towards supporting domestic syringe manufacturing.

”However, for the local manufacturers, we are doing hand-holding with our syringe companies. Hand-holding, meaning we are working with them by correcting whatever we found wrong or inappropriate in their operations," she said.

L-R: Panelist/radio presenter, Yagazie Obinwanne; panelist/radio presenter, Ngozika Mbah; governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; and moderator/radio presenter, Alex Ogbodo, during the “Town Hall Meeting with Ndi Enugu" by the governor at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu, weekend.

Battle for the Soul of Labour Party

Chuks Okocha takes a critical look at the claims and counter claims by critical stakeholders laying claims to the soul of the Labour Party.

The Labour Party and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are two different and separate organisations. The Labour party was registered as a political party, while the NLC is not.

Rather, NLC is a pressure group in line with provisions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to basically cater for the welfare of workers and to coordinate all issues relating to workers welfare.

But for obvious reasons, the Labour Party and NLC have been having a symbiotic relationship claiming affiliation to each other.

By the way, the relationship between the Labour party in Nigeria and the NLC is certainly not the same with the Labour Congress and Labour Party in the United Kingdom or the All Nigeria Congress (ANC) in South Africa.

NLC has over the years engaged in a war of attrition with Labour party. They were in fact managing the crisis until recently when it became a show of public shame.

The crisis came to a head recently when the NLC under the leadership of Comrade Joe Ajaero directed the

picketing of the Labour Party’s National Headquarters in Abuja and its other offices across the country.

The NLC claimed to be owners of the party and therefore wanted to dictate to the leadership of the party as well as assert overwhelming political control over the party.

But, according to the INEC guidelines for the registration of political parties, a party is seemed to be registered by INEC if it becomes a body corporate with a perpetual succession and a common seal. For example, a letter dated September 3, 2015 from INEC to NLC stated most explicitly that the NLC has no superior

status. Also, “Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that, a political party once registered has a life of its own and it is only regulated by its constitution”.

It is imperative to note that by the import of the above provisions, whatever part or any role played whatsoever in the registration of the party becomes immaterial. The party will thereafter be regulated by its constitution.

Tinubu’s Statement, Final Blow to Ningi’s Padding Allegation on 2024 Budget

Tasiu Haruna writes that President Bola Tinubu has punctured claims by suspended former chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator abdul Ningi, that the 2024 budget was maliciously embellished by N3.7trn

The dust raised by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) on the 2024 budget has finally been laid to rest with President Bola Tinubu’s statement on the matter during an iftar with the leadership of the Senate on Thursday night.

Ningi had in a BBC Hausa Service interview, alleged that this year’s budget was padded to the tune of N3.7 trillion by his colleagues.

During plenary on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, the Senate investigated Ningi’s allegation. Various speakers, cutting across the North and South, including Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, in Ningi’s presence, said the amount quoted by the embattled lawmaker was for agencies under the first-line charge.

For over four hours, Ningi had the opportunity to counter Olamilekan and other Senators’ claims, rather he offered to apologise to his colleagues when he discovered that his allegations were mere tissue of lies, concocted to tarnish the image of the parliament and cause a confusion in the polity. His opting for an apology was conveyed by the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, during the sitting.

The Senate’s investigative hearing which was aired live on television stations would have laid to rest the controversy, however, the backers and promoters of it turned it into a fight between the North and the South and a plot to oust the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

They have since recruited a section of the media and pressure groups from the North to advance their cause, a plot to remove Akpabio and turn the parliament into an appendage of the opposition party.

However, the statement of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has punctured the claims of Ningi and ended their game plan. During an iftar, President Tinubu told the leadership of the Senate that the integrity of the National Assembly must remain intact and that his administration will always encourage cooperation for the nation’s advancement.

“I know the arithmetic of the budget

and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back. I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.

“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget; did not un- derstand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.

“I am grateful for what you have been doing. The natural challenge we are facing will be over. On the current economic difficulty, we are about to turn the corner. Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control

expenditures and manage ourselves better.

“Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” the President had said.

With the president’s assertion on the budget, it is expected that Ningi and his cohorts in the promotion of falsehood and plot to hijack the parliament would retrace their steps and join forces with the parliament under the able leadership of Senator Akpabio to provide the necessary legislative support for the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

More than ever before, the country needs the cooperation and collaboration of all and sundry to surmount the challenges of economy and security to return to the path of progress and prosperity.

Since there is a window for Ningi, he should hastily tender an apology to the Senate to return to the Senate. And sin no more. He should return the script handed over to him so that he can concentrate on representing the good people of Bauchi Central Senatorial District. A national daily had reported that a former vice president and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had set in motion in place to form a mega political party.

This shows that the fight is not for the ad- vancement of the interest of the North but an agenda of those who were defeated in the 2023 presidential election and on June 13, 2023, during the election of the Senate. Therefore, all is advised to disregard the antics of the losers who are yet to come out of the defeat they suffered in the previous elections.

-Haruna writes from Abuja.

Ajaero

Obi

Abure

Tinubu

Ningi

Bolstering Maritime Safety, Operational Readiness through Exercise Swift Response

To ascertain the state of its fleet in terms of disaster response capabilities as well as her overall operational readiness, the Western Naval Command recently conducted Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE. With the deployment of six capital ships and two helicopters alongside the Maritime Domain Awareness facilities, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the overaching objective was to enhance maritime safety for seafarers

To bolster maritime safety and response capabilities, the Western Naval Command (WNC) last week conducted its first quarter sea exercise with the deployment of six capital ships, two helicopters, one NIMASA patrol vessel, and Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness facilities.

The flag off which was held on the flight deck of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA, was witnessed by Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Doctrine Command, Rear Admiral Habilla Zakaria; FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan; Fleet Commander / Officer in Tactical Command, Commodore AO Ogunleye; Command Operations Officer WNC, Commodore Ojebode; Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Taye Oladejo; and Commanding Officer NNS KADA, Captain Andrew Zidon with other senior officers.

Boosting Operational Readiness

Themed Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE 2024, the aim was to enhance operational readiness and tackle maritime challenges effectively.

This exercise represents a significant stride forward in advancing maritime safety and operational readiness, reaffirming the Nigerian Navy's dedication to protecting the nation's maritime interests.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ogalla, who was represented by Rear Admiral Habilla Zakaria, while reiterating the importance of the exercise's objectives, addressed the potential risks associated with such operations, emphasising the need for robust search and rescue capabilities.

He said: "One of the cardinal points in the exercise is to see how to exercise ourselves and also to carry out the tactics of triangulating the rogue vessels at sea. One of the consequences

of this is that it could lead to mishaps of collision at sea, or mishaps at sea. Of course, we also have to conduct search and rescue operations." In essence, he said the focus to enhance search and rescue capabilities will strengthen the Nigerian Navy's readiness to address maritime challenges effectively, adding that the deployment of multiple ships and helicopters underscores the Navy's commitment to safeguarding Nigeria's maritime domain and ensuring the safety of all maritime activities within the region.

Enhancing Safety at Sea

Earlier in his speech, the FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Hassan said the key focus areas of the exercise include shifts in communication, gunnery, fleet maneuvers, and other essential aspects, just as he underscored the primary emphasis on rehearsing and testing new tactics, particularly in triangulating and zeroing in on rogue vessels at sea, especially as they have developed their tactics, and "we need to be up to speed and a step ahead of them at all times".

While appreciating the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla for

his uncommon leadership and support for the Western Naval Command, the FOC said the exercise was prompted by the need to immediately rescue lives in distress at sea and assist ships in difficult situations on our waterways given that the WNC Area of Responsibility (AOR) accounts for the heaviest traffic within Nigeria’s Maritime Environment, making shipping accidents sometimes inevitable.

This, he said, makes it critical for the NN and other maritime stakeholders to provide effective maritime search and rescue services to reduce the loss of human lives and properties due to maritime distress situations.

"The exercise involves the deployment of suitable naval assets equipped for maritime disaster management operations. The exercise therefore is aimed at contributing to the safety of lives at sea in Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea by providing prompt and timely responses to maritime accidents.

"Accordingly, the exercise is designed to evaluate Western Naval Command's disaster management capabilities in addition to her overall operational readiness to stem any untoward situation within the Command’s Area of Responsibilities.

"In addition, the exercise will afford the ships in the Western Fleet the opportunity to test their information-sharing capabilities through effective communication and also test their capabilities for carrying out rescue missions at sea. It will equally assess the capabilities of Nigerian Navy helicopter surveillance and special air operations, among others".

These strategic maneuvers and tactical innovations at sea has poised the Nigerian Navy to strengthen its capabilities in combating maritime threats and ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria's maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea at large.

L-R: Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Taye Oladejo; FOC Naval Doctrine Command, Rear Admiral Habilla Zakaria; and FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan with other senior officers at the flag off

Insertion of special forces elements through a helicopter during an opposed boarding simulation

A Command huddle during the Exercise with the Fleet Commander / Officer in Tactical Command, Commodore AO Ogunleye, Command Operations Officer WNC, Commodore Ojebode and Commanding Officer NNS KADA, Captain Andrew Zidon

Arrowhead formation onboard Nigerian Navy Ship KADA for Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE

Waiting for Emerging Smart City in Abia's Capital Territory

At the moment, Cosmo Base Consortium has designed a smart city with residential and industrial areas in the backward areas of Umuahia in Abia State, but without the defections of the capital city territory. Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo reports that it is a grandiose project initiated by the private sector operator to showcase what city dwelling should really be like, where amenities are part of life and living is as comfortable as can be

Like most capital cities in Nigeria, Umuahia, the Abia State capital offers residents little or no comfort. Life could be frustrating as social amenities that distinguish cities from rural areas are virtually absent. The absence of pipeborne water sticks out like a sore thumb. It's part of life to see Umuahia residents flocking to private residences that have borehole facilities to get water for their domestic uses.

But water is not provided free of charge as most borehole owners use the facilities for commercial purposes. They collect money from people who come to fetch water, depending on the size of the container. The public taps in Umuahia dried up since August 2007.

Now, a city designed without the defections of Umuahia is emerging within the capital city territory. It is a grandiose project initiated by a private sector operator to showcase what city dwelling should really be like, where amenities are part of life and living is as comfortable as can be. Cosmo Base Consortium, which is driving this project is building a smart city with residential and industrial areas in the backward areas of Umuahia capital territory.

Christened Umuahia Industrial City(UIC), the project offers the prospective residents a total new experience of modern city life. The project has elicited excitement among private sector operators, who are already expressing their interest to join in making it a reality. For instance, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the founder/CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing(IVM), is said to have expressed interest to key into the project.

The President of Cosmo Base Consortium, Rev Benson Ezem, who is an accomplished Architect and development consultant, initiated the project to facilitate the overall growth of the capital territory of Abia State.

According to him, the Umuahia Industrial City "promises to redefine urban living in Umuahia and set new standards for sustainable, self sufficient communities".

He said: "The establishment of this Industrial City is driven by the need to create a harmonious, all-inclusive Umuahia Capital City that offers comfort, recreation and economic opportunities for all residents.

"Its unique combination of developmental hubs, schools, hospitals, industries, and residential housing, all conveniently zoned within easy reach, represents a groundbreaking approach within this region(Southeast)".

Still in its incubation period, the project would hatch into a magnificent city, majestically adorning the landscape of Abia's capital territory. Not that it would replace Umuahia, the seat of government. No. Instead, it presents a new vista of aesthetics and functionality in urban planning and development suffused with facilities lacking in most cities, not only Abia but in the entire South East zone, and Nigeria in general.

The smart city is located at the southern end of the state capital territory and would be a welcome alternative to Umuahia which is afflicted with stunted growth. Check it: since it was made the capital of Abia State in August 27, 1991, the city has not received the needed push for expansion. Apart from absence of social amenities, the pace of development in the Abia capital has become a frustrating expectation for residents who have been yearning for exponential transformation of the capital city.

Successive administrations, both military and civilian, have come and gone in Abia without conscious efforts to expand the city. This has given rise to the saying that 'you can go and live outside Umuahia for decades and when you return you won't miss your way'. This is because the city remains virtually stagnant.

Efforts were made by the administration of Senator Theodore Orji to expand the city northwards by relocating the central market from the city centre to Ubani, about 8km away. The timber market was moved westwards to Ahiaeke Ndume while the multiple motor parks jostling for spaces at the city centre were also relocated to a central terminal at Ohia, about five kilometres southwards.

However, the desired goals were not achieved as the succeeding government of Okezie Ikpeazu didn't follow up with the project. The city expansion policy was completely abandoned by the administration and the relocated projects were left to rot. To worsen matters, residents, who had been resisting the relocations of both the market and the motor parks flooded back to the city centre, popularly known as Isi Gate. Hence, the bedlam of congestion and confusion has

continued.

So, while Umuahia continues to battle with its challenges, here comes the new Industrial City to offer a whole world of comfortable living. It has four components, namely residential zone, commercial zone, recreational zone and industrial zone. Its smartness stems from the fact that every facility is state of the art and also futuristic. The project developer, Cosmo Base Consortium is well positioned to see it through. It has a track record of accomplishments, capabilities, and extensive experience in project execution across the nation.

This smart city is situated along the Umuahia- Aba axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. It's specifically located in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government, which together with Umuahia North Local Government, make up the state capital territory. The emerging city is about 10 minutes drive from Umuahia, the capital city and 30 minutes from Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, hence its proximity to these two cities makes it very viable for residential industrial development.

The residential buildings come in different types, including five bedroom detached, five bedroom semi-detached, five bedroom terrace duplexes. There are also three bedroom detached and semi-detached bungalows as well as two bedroom detached and semi-detached bungalows. Provisions are made for two bedroom housing units as well, meaning that the interest of every family size is accommodated.

Ezem described the residential buildings as "the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality". He further explained that the homes were "designed with spacious layout, modern amenities, and a tranquil ambience that offers a sense of belonging. So, for those yearning for opportunity to live their life in a city where things work, the Umuahia industrial city offers such opportunity.

He explained that the industrial zone was strategically included in the new city "in our comprehensive approach to

sustainable development". The zone, which covers an expanse of 15 hectares, is meant to cater for the needs of light industries and manufacturing companies. It will also provide a hub for industrial commerce.

"One of the primary functions of this Industrial zone is to offer a secure and purpose-built location where businesses in the light industries and manufacturing sectors can efficiently warehouse their stock," Ezem said. He further added that the industrial zone "is particularly beneficial for companies looking to streamline their supply chain operations, enhance inventory management, and improve overall logistical efficiency".

Other expected projects primed to adorn the UIC to make the new city serve its purpose include hotels, banks, hospital, schools, restaurants, printing press and shopping mall. Unlike the state capital with no recreational parks, the new city comes with outdoor parks for the relaxation of residents and family picnics. A gulf course is also nearing completion at Amibo, which is close to the new city.

As the project is purely private sector driven, Cosmo Base Consortium is getting collaborations from private sector operators. Already Benaks CNG, a renowned gas distribution firm in the Southeast zone has keyed into the new city project. The company says that it would make the city eco-friendly. It has given assurance that "through this collaboration we are well-positioned to provide a greener and more cost-effective energy to our community".

With the presence of Benaks there is no room for the ubiquitous filling stations where petroleum products are dispensed. In their place is controlled natural gas(CNG) station. Reason is that the Umuahia Industrial City is designed with environmental consciousness in mind. Instead of fossil fuel, the community would be provided with greener, cost-effective energy alternative for domestic and outdoor uses.

This smart city is designed with the new trend of shift to cleaner energy hence even the transport system would be operated with environmentally friendly energy. "We recognise the pressing need for a cleaner, more sustainable energy source, particularly

Now, a city designed without the defections of Umuahia is emerging within the capital city territory. It is a grandiose project initiated by a private sector operator to showcase what city dwelling should really be like, where amenities are part of life and living is as comfortable as can be. Cosmo Base Consortium, which is driving this project is building a smart city with residential and industrial areas in the backward areas of Umuahia capital territory

in the transportation sector," says Benak. The company promises to leverage on its "extensive experience to create a brighter and more environmentally conscious future for all".

For residents whose vehicles are running on fossil fuel, there'll be no need to discard them. Benak looks to pioneer the change to cleaner energy. It is dedicated to transforming the energy landscape of the new city by manufacturing, supplying, and providing vehicle conversion services for controlled natural gas.

"Our mission", says the CNG firm, "is to offer a comprehensive solution that not only reduces emissions but also significantly lowers operating costs for both consumers and businesses". One particular thing about life in the UIC which would mostly interest women, is a situation where CNG is piped into their homes and metered, saving them the inconveniences of dragging cylinders to the gas stations.

That's quite a different ball game altogether from what obtains in the cities across the nation. Even when new layouts are carved out in existing city for development no one thinks of taking the gas pipes to homes just like water pipes run into homes. Thus, Benaks has promised that it was poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape of Umuahia Industrial City.

There is no room for environmental pol- lution both in the air and on the land. The network of drainage system is tucked below the ground and sealed beyond the reach of those with the bad habits of blocking drains with wastes. In fact, the waste management system is designed to overcome the ugly sight of overflowing, nauseating refuse bins that have become the scourge of most urban areas in Nigeria. The Umuahia Industrial City is a place to live in and work or engage in business in every aspect. However, the successful execution of the project would not, by any means, be a walk in the park. It would certainly gulp huge resources. It would require total commitment, resilience and focused attention to details in delivering the project according to concept and design. Good enough the developer, which is a formidable firm of chartered architects, engineering consultants and town planners already have what it takes to start and complete a developmental project of this magnitude without compromising standards.

Though Ezem has not come up with a specific date the emerging city would be ready for habitation and industrial activities, he did not leave any doubt that the smart city would definitely come to be. Cosmo Base Consortium is working assiduously to make it happen.

With better access to recreational facilities like gardens, parks sports arenas, among others, it is expected that life expectancy would improve for the residents. Not only that, the many facilities in the emerging new city would transform the host areas that were hitherto among the backward parts of the capital territory, thereby creating a balanced regional development.

Model aerial view of Umuahia Industrial City

BUSINESS WORLD

08056356325

Kayode Tokede

Following the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 22.75 per cent, Deposit Money Banks’ (DMBs) average prime lending rate increased to 15.06 per cent in February 2024, highest since June 2020 at 15.65 per cent, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) “Money Market Indicators” data has revealed.

Analysis of the data showed that average prime lending rate stood at 13.82 per cent in January 2024 when the MPR was at 18.75 per cent.

Prime lending is the interest rates banks charge on loans and products held by customers with the highest credit rating.

Consequently, when the prime rate is high, liquidity is low and loans are hard to come by, thus slowing the economy down and impacting on firms/ corporate businesses to growth.

Nume Ekeghe

Experts in the Nigerian financial service sector have attributed the recent gains by the naira against the U.S Dollars to a combination of factors including renewed market confidence and strategic interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a significant turn of events, the naira has witnessed a robust resurgence against the US dollar in recent days. The naira strengthened further last week, buoyed by a combination of factors, according to analysts.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN had increased the MPR to 22.75 per cent in February 2024 amid inflationary and exchange rate pressures.

Despite the impact on the nation’s economy, Fitch Ratings recently urged the CBN to maintain tightening its tightening policy in the near term.

“Such a tightening will still face implementation challenges, partly due to the potential for countervailing political pressure. However, without further sizeable monetary tightening, it may be difficult to achieve macroeconomic stability – real interest rates remain negative, deterring inward portfolio investment,” Fitch Ratings said.

Meanwhile, further analysis of the CBN Money Market Indicators showed that average prime lending rate had closed December 2023 at 14.17 per cent from 13.67 per cent

January 2023 when MPR increased to 18.75 per cent.

According to THISDAY investigations, the prime lending rate is the highest in 41-month spurred by the CBN effort at tackling inflation rate that reached 31.7per cent in February 2024.

Prime lending had closed 2022 at an average 13.85 per cent from average 11.68 per cent in 2021, 16.57 per cent from January 2006 and returned to an average 13.67 per cent in January 2023.

The rate reached an all-time high of average 19.66 per cent in November 2009 and a record low of average 11.13 per cent in March 2021.

Financial analysts expressed that the gap between the CBN’s lending rate and the prime lending calls for concern, stressing that the spread between the rates should not be more than 10 per cent.

Speaking, the Vice President,

Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori said, “Businesses need a lot of credit facilities to survive, but in an environment where the lending rate is astronomical high, many enterprises, especially small and medium-scale, might find it extremely difficult to survive as their products will remain uncompetitive and the cost of production and the sale prices to consumers will remain high.”

He added that, “A hike in interest rate is often considered a manufacturers’ nightmare as it stifles productivity and expansion. A hike in interest rate slows down productivity, as manufacturers struggle to keep machinery in operations and pay salaries. Those who look forward to borrowing for expansion and production will have to shelve such ideas in the face of the high cost of accessing funds.”

Adnori suggested that

development banks must be encouraged to lend at a single digit with stringent tracking, adding that CBN’s policy on tackling inflation rate is not working.

According to him, “Both CBN and the federal government are not serious in coordinating their policies to bring down inflation.

“While the CBN is pursuing a contractionary monetary policy to tackle inflation, the federal government is pursuing a different fiscal policy, leading to mismatch in the two policies.

“While CBN is pretending they are undertaking contractionary monetary policy, they are advancing illegal credit to the government through Ways and Means which is the pushed inflation to the current level.”

On his part, Director/Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf questioned

the average 15.06 per cent prime lending rate on creditworthiness of banks’ customers.

He disclosed that the average prime lending in the Nigerian banking sector is at 16-18 per cent, stating that creditworthy firms are lamenting over the rate.

“The prime lending rate in the banking sector is more than 13 per cent as reported by CBN in its money market indicators. Some firms are accessing credit close to 18 per cent prime lending rate. I know of big companies that get credit from banks at a much higher rates,” he expressed.

However, the maximum lending rate dropped to average 26.55 per cent in February 2024 from average 27.07per cent reported by the CBN in January 2024.

A breakdown of the performance showed that at the official NAFEM window, the naira last Friday closed at N1,453/$1, a significant gain from N1,598/$1 at the beginning of the week. The parallel market also saw positive movement, with the Naira closing at N1,470/$1 last Frday up from N1,600/$1 on Monday.

Speaking on the development, Special Adviser to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, Uche Uwaleke, hailed the recent developments as a positive shift in sentiment.

Uwaleke noted that the gains are as a result of CBN’s actions, including the clearance of foreign exchange backlog and the resumption of FX sales to qualified BDCs.

Furthermore, Uwaleke highlighted favourable oil prices and increased crude oil production as additional factors supporting the naira, which has also aided the increase in external reserves as well as capital inflows from multilateral loans.

He said: “It is a welcome development, what is happening now is the return of confidence

to the forex market as a result of some of the actions of the CBN. Also, the ability of the central bank to clear of valid forex backlog has helped to bring down speculation and improve confidence.

“The resumption of FX sales to qualified BDCs has gone a long way in improving liquidity in the retail segment of the forex market which has also reduced speculative activity. Also, when the CBN began the process of sanitizing the BDC space including through withdrawal the licence of over 4000 BDCs in my view, that has gone a long way to reduce speculation and

the clamp down on Binance too I will say has been positive because Binance activities were helping to fuel speculation.”

He added that the increase in crude oil production and favourable oil prices have also played a pivotal role in supporting the naira gains.

He added: “Crude oil production has increased from 1.5 million barrels per day to 1.65 million barrels per day, now approaching 1.7 million barrels per day, and oil price has also been favorable. So fortunately for Nigeria, oil prices has also been on the rise.

“So, with favorable oil price,

increase in crude oil outputs as a result of a reduction in crude oil thefts. So we are having an increase in crude oil revenue, and that is translating to an increase in external reserves.

“Central bank has also received some loans from Afreximbank from the World Bank, I also see a situation in which by and the exchange rates may, may stabilise around maybe N1000/$1 naira or N1100/$1 naira by the end of the year.”

Mastercard: Collaboration, Innovation Will Shape Nigeria’s Fintech Ecosystem

Emma Okonji

Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, has said industry collaboration and innovation will boost Nigeria’s Fintech ecosystem development and create future opportunities.

The company said this at its 2024 Fintech Forum held in Lagos, where the future opportunities for the Nigerian Fintech ecosystem were discussed by key industry players.

The forum brought together key representatives from the fintech community, commercial banks, microfinance banks, processors, investors, regulators, and the government, to discuss critical developments and trends in the Nigerian Fintech landscape.

The Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa at Mastercard, Folasade Femi-Lawal, said: “Mastercard’s Fintech forum has become an avenue to advance discussions on the development of the industry in Nigeria, and we are proud to be the vehicles of this change. The discussions this

year underscored the pivotal role of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of Nigeria’s Fintech landscape. Mastercard remains unwavering in our commitment to power this positive change, offer support, and lead the evolution of the industry.”

The forum also featured a fireside chat titled: “Mastercard’s Role in Fintech Ecosystem Collaboration.”

During the chat, President of Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) at Mastercard, Dimitrios Dosis, said: “Fintechs continue to stand as the trailblazers, pushing boundaries and reshaping industries. Their penchant for innovation is not just transformative, it is also integral to the very fabric of our industry and the broader economy. Mastercard, as a driving force, is proud to champion the pivotal role of Fintechs, recognising their significance in fostering economic progress. As a leading technology provider, we will continue to innovate, and support and collaborate with them to drive

locally relevant solutions and initiatives for maximised impact. We’re committed to being the catalyst that propels the ecosystem forward, facilitating a future where technology empowers individuals, businesses, and economies to participate in the global economy.”

During the session, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Innovation, Nasir Yammama, said: “Nigeria’s digital transformation and ever-evolving Fintech and banking landscape presents exciting possibilities. The ongoing innovation boom acts as the cornerstone for advancing digital public infrastructure, fostering financial inclusion, and propelling economic growth. As always, the government remains committed to creating an enabling environment and collaborating with key industry players to drive more impactful innovations and pave the way for a future where every individual and business can thrive in a digital-first global environment through wellinformed, inclusive policies and initiatives.”

Pan African Bank, Cybervergent Collaborate to Enhance Cybersecurity Resilience

In response to the escalating threat posed by Distributed Denial-ofService (DDoS) and other cyber attacks, Nigerian Pan African Bank has forged a strategic alliance with Cybervergent, a foremost technology company, to enhance the bank’s cybersecurity resilience.

The partnership is coming at a time when businesses are grappling with the persistent menace of cyber threats that disrupt operations and threaten the integrity of sensitive financial data.

The collaboration with the bank, which has footprints in 20 countries across the continent, aims to fortify its cybersecurity resilience while bolstering the integrity of its programmes and operations. By leveraging Cybervergent’s cuttingedge cybersecurity expertise, the bank seeks to safeguard critical financial

information and uphold the digital trust of its diverse customer base.

Recent reports indicating a staggering 300 per cent surge in DDoS attacks across Africa underscore the urgent need for enhanced digital protection measures. Of particular concern is the escalating frequency of cyber assaults targeting financial institutions globally, necessitating swift and decisive action to mitigate risks and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

Speaking about the collaboration, CEO of Cybervergent, Adetokunbo Omotosho, emphasised the pivotal role of proactive cybersecurity measures in safeguarding businesses in today’s digital landscape. He underscored the significance of the partnership.

According to Omotosho, “This collaboration signifies a decisive

action in addressing the escalating cyber threats faced by businesses across Africa, particularly in the financial sector. By harnessing Cybervergent’s advanced cybersecurity solutions, we empower Africa’s leading corporations to navigate the digital realm with confidence, safeguarding critical financial data and delivering seamless customer experiences.”

In response to cybersecurity challenges, Cybervergent offers a comprehensive anti-DDoS solution designed to proactively detect and neutralise malicious traffic floods on networks and servers. Its advanced system will safeguard the bank’s infrastructure and ensures seamless functionality of financial transactions, thereby preserving customer trust and confidence, Omotosho further said.

Mobereola: We Will Build Purpose-driven NIMASA

at all levels to enhance innovation, collaboration and synergy.

In his maiden address on his assumption of duty, he noted that the agency under his leadership would prioritize safety, security, efficiency, environmental sustainability amongst others.

CPS: PenCom Empowers Employees to Report Non-compliance

The Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014) provides that every eligible employee shall maintain a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with any PFA of choice. Once an RSA is opened, it is the responsibility of the employee to inform the employer by submitting the RSA Personal Identification Number (PIN) issued by the PFA. Subsequently, the employer is required to remit an amount comprising at least eight percent employee and 10 percent employer contribution to the Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) specified by the PFA of the employee. Additionally, the PRA 2014 mandates employers to remit pension contributions not later than seven working days from the day salaries are paid to employees.

Employers failing to or delaying in remitting their employees’ pension contributions are flouting the PRA 2014. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has put in place a mechanism to recover pension liabilities, including penalties, from defaulting employers.

PenCom encourages employees to report their employers, who are not remitting pension contributions into their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) as required by the PRA 2014. PenCom allows employees to anonymously report their defaulting employers. When such complaints are received, the employers are compelled to remit the principal contributions with penalties.

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

Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Ugo Aliogo (Development)

“We must strive to foster innovation and excellence in everything we do. The maritime industry is constantly evolving, driven by technological advancements, changing market dynamics, and evolving regulatory frameworks. As leaders in the sector, we must embrace innovation, adapt change, and continuously seek ways to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness, and resilience of our maritime operations.

“I do not doubt that every individual within our organization has the potential to achieve greatness; we will therefore, ensure that we build a purpose-driven organisation by investing in our staff, processes, and the entire system to achieve our mandate. I aim to foster an environment of innovation, collaboration and synergy, creating an atmosphere that encourages the development of our employees’ skills, talents, and creativity,” Mobereola stated.

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility of steering the

affairs of the agency.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for entrusting me with this crucial responsibility. I am highly aware of the immense trust and confidence the President placed in me. It is with great enthusiasm and a sense of purpose that I step into this position, fully committed to steering our organisation toward greater heights, while upholding the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and service to our nation”, he said. He thanked the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for his guidance throughout the appointment process, and expressed readiness to work with the Minister in achieving the objectives of the Ministry for the sector.

Earlier, the Agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Chudi Offodile who led other Management staff to receive the DG noted that the entire Management and staff of the Agency were elated to welcome him to the Agency, while also pledging the cooperation of the staff for the success of the Agency.

Tinubu had recently approved the appointment of Mobereola to serve as the Director-General of NIMASA for a renewable term of four years.

PenCom strongly encourages employees to report instances of pension contribution default. The affected employee is required to provide details of the employer and history of the default, including attaching an RSA statement showing gaps in remittances. This comprehensive information will facilitate a detailed investigation.

Recovery Agents

Meanwhile, in 2023, PenCom recovered N1.47 billion from defaulting employers. The sum of N864.69 million was recovered as principal contributions, while N608.90 million was the penalty paid by employers for the non-timely remittance of the contributions. PenCom is taking legal steps to recover pension contributions from recalcitrant employers. Cumulatively, from June 2012 when the recovery exercise commenced to 31 December 2023, PenCom has recovered N25.45 billion from defaulting employers, being N12.93 billion principal contributions and N12.52 billion penalties.

What the PRA 2014 says

Section 11(6) of the PRA 2014 states that an employer who fails to deduct or remit the contributions within the stipulated time frame of seven working days from the day salaries are paid shall, in addition to making the remittances already due, be liable to a penalty. This penalty shall not be less than 2 percent of the total contributions that remain unpaid for each month or part of each month the default continues. The amount of the penalty shall be recovered as a debt owed and paid into the employee’s RSA. Employers should be mindful that promptly remitting pension contributions is more cost-effective than risking penalties due to non-compliance or delayed remittance, as such penalties can be substantial. In addition, the PRA 2014 empowers PenCom to authorise the examination, inspection, or investigation of an employer relating to pension funds or assets. This provision ensures compliance by employers and mitigates complaints from employees and PFAs on non-remittance of pension contributions by some employers.

Reporting Non-Remittance of Pension Employees have a role to play to ensure that they get their pension in line with the PRA 2014.

PenCom has appointed Recovery Agents to carry out the examination of private sector employers to determine their level of compliance. The recovery of outstanding pension contributions carried out by appointed Recovery Agents (RAs) commenced in July 2012, and there are 28 RAs engaged currently by the Commission as of January 2024. The exercise sets out to achieve, amongst others, the recovery of all unremitted pension contributions of employees with penalties to ensure that affected employees do not lose any income that they would have earned from the investment of the funds, secure full compliance of organisations with the PRA 2014, and also reduce complaints of nonremittance of pension contributions by employees, thereby boosting confidence and acceptability of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). PenCom and PFAs bear the recovery cost due to RAs, as it comes at no cost to RSA holders.

The recovery process requires the RA to diligently follow the outlined steps, which commences with obtaining a list of assigned defaulting employers and letters of introduction from PenCom to the employer.

The RA is granted access by the employer to conduct a thorough review of pension records to determine the pension liabilities. Thereafter, the RA serves demand notices to the employer to remit the outstanding pension liabilities and penalties.

Consequently, the RA follows up with the defaulting employers to ensure remittances of outstanding pension contributions. Evidence of payments is obtained and forwarded to PenCom for onward confirmation by the PFCs.

The recovery process is still ongoing, and substantial outstanding contributions and penalties are being recovered from employers. This is an indication of PenCom’s increased enforcement of compliance with the CPS by employers.

Finally, PenCom prosecutes recalcitrant employers who persistently default in the remittance of pension contributions. From 2013 to 31 January 2024, PenCom recorded 1,073 recalcitrant employers for legal action due to non-compliance. Legal proceedings had been commenced against 138 of the employers out of which 68 of the cases in court have been concluded. The cases of 642 defaulting organisations are currently being resolved since litigation is carried out only when resolution efforts fail to achieve compliance. The Commission encourages employees to report employers who are not remitting their pension contributions or are not remitting the full 10 percent employer and 8 percent employee components of the contributions as specified in the PRA 2014.

PENCOM

DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar

The newly appointed Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola has said the agency under his leadership will build a purpose driven organisation, while also prioritising effective communication

BUA Cement: Profit Slumps Amid N69.96bn Foreign Exchange Loss

Kayode Tokede

BUA Cement Plc announced N67.23 billion profit before tax in 2023 financial year, a decline of 44per cent from N120.15 billion reported in 2022, attributable to N69.96 billion foreign exchange loss in 2023 audited result and accounts from N5.5 billion reported in 2022.

The cement producing company also declared a profit after tax of N69.45 billion in 2023 from N101.01 billion in 2022, on the backdrop of N2.23 billion income and deferred tax credit posted in 2023 from N19.14 billion tax expenses reported in 2022.

Amid the decline in profits, the board of directors of BUA Cement recommended for the approval of shareholders a payment of N2.00 dividend per 1 ordinary share of 50 kobo each, out of the profits declared in the financial year ended 2023 (2022: N2.80kobo).

Despite growing revenue by 27.4per cent to N459.99 billion in 2023, the latest audited result and accounts of BUA showed a challenging business environment amid significant increase in cost of production, and operating expenses.

The breakdown of revenue revealed that sale of bagged cement increased to N458.05 billion in 2023 from N359.08 billion in 2022, while sale of bulk cement closed 2023 at N1.95billion from N1.91 billion in 2022.

Primary geographical markets of BUA Cement indicated that revenue from Nigeria stood at N456.08 billion in 2023 from N356.61 billion in 2022, while revenue outside Nigeria dropped to N3.9 billion in 2023 from N4.38billion declared in 2022.

With the devaluation of the Naira last June and its continued depreciation, as well as growing inflation, the Company faced increasing price pressures which impacted production costs, as these increased to N276.04 billion in 2023, a growth of 39.15per cent from N198.38 billion in 2022.

BUA Cement’s reported N123.27 billon energy consumption in 2023 from N91.19 billion in 2022, contributing about 44.7per cent of the overall cost of sales in 2023 from 45.97per cent in 2022.

In addition, a net foreign exchange loss of N70 billion (2022: N5.5 billion) was recorded; with N52.5 billion attributed to finance costs, associated with the construction of the additional 3mmtpa lines at Obu and Sokoto (incl. other ancillary activities) and the sum of N17.5 billion attributed to foreign trade payables.

As total operating expenses rise to N41.36 billion in 2023, a growth of 37 per cent from N30.17 billion in 2022, finance cost closed 2023 at N19.94 billion in 2023, representing a growth of 89 per cent from N10.55 billion reported in 2022.

BUA Cement is Nigeria’s second largest cement company and the largest producer in its North-West, SouthSouth and SouthEast regions; with a combined installed capacity of 11 mmtpa and with plans underway to increase existing capacity to 17 mmtpa through the commissioning of two new lines. BUA Cement operates strategically from Okpella, Edo State and Kalambaina, Sokoto State.

BUA’S CEmENt N418.16BN BORROwINGS

The company’s total borrowings increased to N418.16 billion in 2023, a growth of 233per cent from N billion borrowed in 20222.

BUA Cement’s long-term borrowing stood at N295.47 billion in 2023, representing an increase of 560.4 per cent from N44.74 billion in 2022, while short-term borrowings closed 2023 at N122.69 billion, a growth of 52 per cent from N80.7 billion in 2022.

On this, BUA Cement total liabilities closed 2023 at N830.46 billion from N462.9 billion declared in 2022.

The group, however, reported N1.22 trillion total assets in 2023, representing an increase of 39 per cent from N874 billion reported in 2022.

The breakdown of total assets showed that Non-current assets moved from N676.24billion in 2022 to N816.44 billion posted in 2023, while current assets rise to N399.25 billion in 2023 from N197.77 billion in 2022.

CONCLUSION

The Managing Director/ CEO, BUA Cement, Mr. Yusuf Binji in a statement said, “Clearly, the operating environment in 2023 was challenging, given the different headwinds confronted with at the start of the year and especially with the devaluation of the Naira.

‘During the year, we launched the maiden edition of the BUA Cement Scratch and

Win promo., among other initiatives, which saw BUA Cement further increase its share of the market and resulted t a 27.4per cent rise in revenues to N460 billion from N361 billion in the prior year.

‘In addition, we cold commissioned the new 3mmtpa lines at the Sokoto and Obu Plants, activated a new 70MW gas power plant in Sokoto and eagerly await the activation of the 70MW gas power plant at Obu during the first quarter of 2024. Apart from these, we took delivery of over 500 trucks to support our distribution activities, which further deepened our market presence.

“We believe these investments further ‘Reinforces our Purpose,’ which is to be ‘A highly competitive leader in Nigeria’, as we address not only the housing and infrastructure needs in a sustainable manner, but also seek out innovative ways to making cement affordable”.

On the Financial Performance, the Chief Financial Officer, Jacques Piekarski said: “Our financial performance in 2023 was indeed resilient given the economic environment, led by the devaluation of the Naira.

‘’But despite the reported foreign exchange loss, EBITDA increased by 9.6per cent to N169.3 billion from N154.5 billion in 2022. We are confident about the business, together with the evolving strategy to thrive.”

Operators Express Concern Over Inability to Hedge against Currency Depreciation

Raheem Akingbolu

The Group Chief Operating Officer of Waltersmith Group, Alex Osho, alongside other business leaders has said that Nigeria’s economic environment has made it a tall order for firms to hedge against the continued depreciation of the local currency.

He spoke last week in Lagos during a panel session at the Lagos Business School Chief Financial Officer Conference. According to him, even though firms usually have a number of tools to hedge against currency depreciation, these tools are often incongruent within the context of Nigeria’s economy.

is just that they were helpless to a large extent.”

Osho said, “Even though the tools are there, there is no liquidity. All the companies declared huge foreign exchange losses. It is not as if the CFOs didn’t know what to do or have a way around it. It

NASCON Allied Industries

Grow Profit by 151% to N13.73bn, Declares Dividend

NASCON Allied Industries has gained more market share even as its profit after tax (PAT) rose by 151 per cent to N13. 73 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2023.

A review of the company’s 2023 annual results and accounts indicated that profit after tax rose by N8.26 billion over N5.47 billion recorded in 2022.

The company earned a revenue of N80.83 billion, which represents 38 percent or N22.04 billion over N58.79 billion in the preceding year. Profit before tax (PBT) increased by 146 percent or N12.22 billion to N20.59 billion compared to N8.37 billion in 2022.

At the Annual General Meeting held on in 2023, the shareholders approved that dividend of 100 kobo per ordinary share amounting to N2.649 billion be paid to

shareholders for the year ended 31 December 2022.

The management proposed two new ordinary shares of 50 kobo to every 100 existing ordinary shares, subject to the appropriate approvals.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Thabo Mabe at its last annual general meeting for 2022 said NASCON will not rest on its achievements but will move from street to street, market to market, shop to shop and shelf by shelf, introducing its array of products to consumers.

In his remarks on the 2023 company results, Mabe in a statement said: “I am delighted to present robust results for the full year ended 2023, despite high inflation in a challenging macroeconomic landscape. These positive outcomes were bolstered by our robust value proposition, enhanced operational efficiency, and continuous efforts to manage costs.”

Similarly, when asked what his company was doing to cushion the impact of the recent forex illiquidity, the Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish said, “We don’t know how to cope.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Boye Olusanya noted that companies must explore business alternative business models such as import substitution to insulate themselves from forex-related shocks.

Representing the CEO of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Wole Adeniyi, the bank’s Executive Director, Personal and Private Banking Nigeria, Olu Delano advised firms to find ways

to adapt to the currency devaluation and “keep moving forward.”

In his opening remarks, the Dean of the Lagos Business School, Prof Chris Ogbechie stated that in today’s rapidly evolving landscape, the role of a CFO has never been more pivotal especially because businesses were grappling with inconsistent government policy and a vast array of challenges in the macroeconomic environment.

Ogbechie also noted that CFOs are stewards of financial health who offer strategic insights and financial acumen that are indispensable in navigating today’s complex and dynamic business environment.

The Group CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, Kunle Alake,

who was represented by DIL’s Technical Lead, Finance Office of the Vice President, Isah Aruwa emphasised that the CFO has to be at the forefront of driving sustainable growth and managing risks such as currency risks, security risks, among others. He also underscored the point that the CFO has to be the middleman between the business and the stakeholders with a view to understanding what they want.

The Vice President of Financial Controls & Budget at Africa Finance Corporation, Yeside Onafuye spoke on Maximising Stakeholder Value through Strategic Synergy of the CEO and CFO She noted when the CEO-CFO

relationship is symbiotic, the organisation will have strong leaders capable of navigating through tough times.

According to her, the success recorded by some of the world’s most successful companies such as Amazon and Apple have been a function of seamless CFO-CEO relationships.

On his part, the CEO, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), Rabiu Olowo, represented by the Council’s Coordinating Director, Accounting Standards and Sustainability Reporting Unit, Iheanyi Anyahara, said that to unlock FDI and attract FPI in Nigeria companies must incorporate sustainability reporting

Export: Shippers Express Concerns over Inconsistent Exchange Rate

Gilbert

Ekugbe

The National Shippers Association of Nigeria (NASAN) has expressed concerns over the federal government’s inconsistent exchange rate policies, noting that it is making the cost of doing business unbearable especially in the export market.

The president General, NASAN, Innocent Akuvue, stated this on the sidelines of a press briefing to formally announce the association’s activities in the country.

According to him, the inconsistent nature of the exchange rate is having a negative impact on businesses even as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is yet to implement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) directive

on Form M.

He also lamented over the unavailability of forex for shippers to fund their operations.

In his words, “Most of the issues that shippers currently face are in the ports, inconsistency of exchange rate. the CBN issued a directive that the exchange rate as at the time you opened your Form M and as you know a Form M is a contract and once the Form M is opened you have an agreement, but at the point of arrival, a new exchange rate surfaces, although the CBN has given that directive, but unfortunately, the customs are not implementing it yet.”

He added, “We are worried that after customs releases a container,

the same customs would still impound the container after it leaves the port, so our worry is that why should customs release a container and still hold it down on the road, no matter what wrong a shipment would have had, we want to assume that before the shipment is released, all wrongs would have been corrected and once that container has been checked, it should be as free as it exited till it gets to its point of destination.

He also called for stricter sanctions to be meted by any customs officials who impound a container after it has been cleared.

Also speaking, the national secretary, NASAN, Mrs. Ijeoma

Ezeasor, said the inconsistent exchange rate for duties makes it impossible for shippers to forecast while also lamenting the several losses that have been incurred as a result of the inconsistent exchange rates.

“It does not allow for stability and planning, because businesses require for some time to plan and forecast, so it has been difficult for us to forecast and we have made several losses due to inconsistencies in government policies, so it has been hurting shippers both importers and exporters,” she stated.

On the 41 prohibited items, she said it should not have stood as it has triggered a lot of imbalance on manufacturers’ production costs.

Kayode Tokede

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU argues for a dispassionate inquiry into the Okuama violence

SATIRU: 118 YEARS AFTER

Some 22.5 kilometres south-west of Sokoto, there used to exist a community called Satiru. In March 1906, it was extinguished from the face of the earth. Three years earlier, in July 1903, the British had massacred Muhammadu Attahiru, the 11th Sultan of Sokoto together with over 1,000 of his followers, decapitating him in Burmi (near Bajoga in present day Gombe State, north-east Nigeria) and then displayed photographs of “the beheaded Sultan of Sokoto throughout Northern Nigeria.”

Many among the faithful in the region at the time regarded Frederick Lugard and his lot as infidels. The fate of Sultan Attahiru inspired, as Lugard would later complain in his 1906 annual report, “a series of local ebullitions in favour of some Mahdi or reformer”, claiming a mission to rid the people of these infidels.

At the beginning of February in 1904, Satiru’s district head proclaimed himself The Mahdi and his son, as Prophet Isa (Jesus). Sultan Muhammadu Attahiru II, whom the British installed the previous year after killing his brother, arrested and detained the Mahdist pretender, who tragically died in detention. His son, Isa, succeeded him.

In January 1906, an itinerant preacher, Dan Makafo, arrived from French Niger (Niger Republic) to boost Isa’s insurgent claims. The following month, when the neighbouring community of Tsomo were reluctant to accord him recognition as prophet, Isa and his followers attacked the village, reportedly killing 14 and declaring a Jihadist rebellion against the British infidels.

Unlike in 1904 when they encouraged the Sultan to deal with Isa’s dad, the British chose in 1906 to handle Isa’s impertinence by themselves. On Saint Valentine’s Day in 1906, the Acting Resident, Mr. Hillary; his assistant, Mr. AGM Scott, and a force of over 70 mounted infantry led by Lt. Francis Blackwood, approached Isa and his rebellious followers in Satiru. The absence of mutual intelligibility did not much help mutual suspicion. Communication quickly broke down between both sides and in the ensuing chaos, Isa and his followers killed Hillary, Scott, Blackwood and 29 of their troops, leaving the remainder to retreat in disarray.

On 10 March, Lugard’s forces returned to Satiru. They comprised 573 rifles, 70 armed police, a 2.95-inch gun and several Maxim guns. Confronting them were Isa and over 2,000 of his followers armed with traditional weapons. It was a mismatch. Lugard quotes what happened next: “someone gave an order, everyone fired, then a

whistle blew, everyone stopped and there was no one left alive in the front.”

According to Jonathan Dewhirst, “in total it was estimated that Satiru lost over two thousand men killed, with over three thousand women and children captured. By half-past two in the afternoon the mission had ended, and the town burnt to the ground. The Sultan destroyed the ruins utterly, and decreed that the town should never be rebuilt.”

Isa was killed in the massacre. Dan Makafo was apprehended with five remaining leaders of the rebellion. Sultan Attahiru II had the six of them convicted by the Sokoto Native Court for rebellion and murder before executing them.

Lugard wrote a racy account of the extermination of Satiru in his 1906 annual report, exulting that the situation “demanded a signal and overwhelming victory for the restoration of our prestige and the prevention of any such rising in future.”

Nine year earlier, in February 1897, General Harry Rawson led an expedition that massacred its way through the Benin, ransacking the city and its civilization in retribution for an incident recalled by Queen Victoria in her diary of 12 January 1897 as follows: “a number of English officers & civilians including doctors &c who went on a friendly mission, but imprudently not armed, were attacked & fired upon by the King of Benin.”

Satiru was almost assuredly the most egregious but by no means the only example of such punitive colonial expeditions. Lugard described the policy as one entailing “a terrible retribution” with the stated goal being to “render any further appeal to arms unnecessary in the Sokoto Province for very many years.”

On the centenary of the extermination of Satiru, historian, Richard Gott, recalled that this was a vain hope, pointing out that “active Islamic resistance continued in Northern Nigeria until the 1930s, remaining a permanent concern and irritant to colonial officers.”

Some could argue with justification that this resistance continues until the present day. Not unlike the colonial period, martial retribution has not prevented assaults on uniformed symbols of the Nigerian state. Instead it has guaranteed it.

In the last week of October, 1990, youths in Umuechem, an oil-bearing community in Rivers State, protested against Shell Petroleum, alleging acts of pollution that had decimated their environment, livelihoods and wellbeing. Shell invited the police to quell the protests, which had been largely peaceful.

In the early hours of 31 October, a squadron of the Police Mobile Force invaded the community shooting at random “in a purported attempt to locate three of their members who had not returned the previous evening.” Over 80 members of the community were reported killed and nearly 500 houses destroyed or burnt by the police. A judicial commission of inquiry into the Umuechem Massacre later found “no evidence of a threat by the villagers and concluded that the Mobile Police had displayed ‘a reckless disregard for lives and property.’”

Umuechem did not quell restiveness in the Niger Delta. Instead, it appeared to inflame the region’s youths and radicalize them. The brutal murder by armed gangs of 12 police officers in Odi, Bayelsa State in November 1999, led to bloody reprisals on the orders of President Obasanjo “which may have killed hundreds of unarmed civilians.”

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu

Every child deserves access to quality education, writes IKE WILLIE-NWOBU

NIGERIA’S UNSCHOOLED

CHILDREN

The glass appears to have overflowed for Nigeria’s out-of-school children, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory all featuring prominently on an index of states with out-of-school children.

Kebbi State tops the index released by the Cable, an online media organization. It is closely followed by Sokoto and Yobe States, their percentages pointing to a truly perilous situation.

Anambra State expectedly brings up the rear with decades of massive investment in education in the ‘Light of the Nation’ state, showing the rest of the country the way to go.

The list indicts Nigeria, insistently lamenting the failure of a country that continues to fail children. The numbers should numb every rational Nigerian, but when terrorists who swamp Nigeria’s rural communities, sowing fear and deploying scorched earth tactics, crunch their data, they will appreciate the progress they have made. Where one force has ground to a shuddering halt, another has seen its venomous campaign vindicated.

children out of school, the children continue to swell the pool from which the nonstate actors fueling insecurity draw their conscripts.

Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Safe Schools Declaration, by which countries commit to protect schools from the devastation of armed conflict. But this has done little to stem the tide of attacks on schools.

On 7th March 2024, well over two hundred pupils and staff were abducted from the LEA PRIMARY school Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Their abductors had slammed a 20day ultimatum on the government to cough out one billion Naira before their unexpected release of the children.

The danger is clear and present for every Nigerian child, but especially for the over 20 million children who are out of school. Roaming free and wild, they are vulnerable to the many crimes that currently infest Nigeria as a country, especially terrorism.

In 2009, Boko Haram, finally tired of the intermittent excitement of episodic attacks, decided to go toe to toe with the Nigerian state. The group, using Maiduguri, Borno State, as its launchpad and main laboratory, it immediately recorded heavy casualties but was not deterred as it had just enough to put Africa’s most populous democracy on the backfoot. While many communities in Borno State wilted at a force that was almost primal, the group also succeeded in casting Nigeria as a country at war. Terrorist attack after attack soon became common place.

There was also a method to the madness of the attack. The plan of the terrorist group which was frightening in its clarity was to end western education in the country. Schools became soft targets.

When the group successfully snatched over a hundred girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State to put Nigeria high on the list of countries where girls were unsafe, it sounded the death knell for the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency. Since then, there have been countless attacks on schools in the country. The unsafe and unstable atmosphere has made it really difficult for children who want to go to school and get an education to enrol and remain in school.

The standard of education has continued to fall in Nigeria for many years now. Inadequate investment in the sector has yielded a toxic cocktail of decrepit infrastructure and disgruntled teachers. The combination has left education on life support in the country.

However, insecurity which shares a symbiotic relationship with Nigeria’s out-of-schoolchildren crisis is the greatest threat to education in the North where the problem is especially pronounced. While insecurity pushes more

Their youth and poverty combine to whip up a vicious kind of vulnerability that various non-state actors feast on.

It is doubtful that Kebbi (67.6%), Sokoto (66.4 %) and Yobe (62.9) are keen to continue contributing such huge figures to a pool that maintains Nigeria’s position as figure of fun.

But it will take more than investment in education to reverse the malaise. A closer look at the list would show that while the trio of Kebbi, Sokoto and Yobe States lead the pack, Zamfara, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, Katsina and Niger States make up the top 10. Kano, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, Kaduna, and Adamawa make up the top 17 states on the shameful list. That these states are all in Northern Nigeria shows the corrosive concentration of a problem that is ruining Nigeria’s development efforts.

To reverse the trend, beyond funding education by empowering teachers and building infrastructure, mindsets need to change as much as economic conditions to tackle the twin evils of poor mentality and poverty. It is a known fact that amidst Nigeria’s searing insecurity and surging poverty, education has become a luxury that many cannot afford.

Education remains a great equalizer, a truly invaluable gift. Today, in the maelstrom of Nigeria’s competing malaise, there is hardly a better gift to a child. Every child deserves access to quality education, especially the poorest children for whom it has become imperative to break cycles of generational poverty and illiteracy.

Ikewilly9@gmail.com

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

TEDITORIAL

NIGERIA AND THE TUBERCULOSIS BURDEN

The authorities should invest more to contain this health emergency

he World TB Day 2024 held yesterday with the theme, ‘Yes! We can end TB!’. While some critical stakeholders marked the day by reminding Nigerians of the disease burden, health authorities did not show sufficient concern about Tuberculosis, better known by its acronym TB, even when it still constitutes a major health problem in the country. Indeed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has consistently ranked Nigeria among countries with one of the highest prevalence of TB in the world. The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) National Coordinator, Laraban Shehu, revealed last week that “in Nigeria, every five minutes, one person dies of TB.” Shehu added that fatalities from the disease are far higher than the number of people who die from some other diseases.

“And the regrettable thing is that this is a disease that is curable and can be prevented.”

cause of death among people living with HIV. But tuberculosis is a curable disease. That, of course, depends on early detection and correct diagnosis aided with proper treatment. The challenge in Nigeria is that patients afflicted with TB do not complete the therapy and even worse, many do not make themselves available for treatment. Indeed, failure to complete the treatment and the mismanagement of drugs account for the death of many patients and the increase in variants of the disease that are drug resistant in the country. Nigeria has the second highest multi-drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden in Africa and the 13th highest in the world.

By WHO statistics, no fewer than 15 per cent of the three million people undiagnosed for TB around the world are in Nigeria, most of them women and children in slum neighbourhoods

The TB statistics are chilling. Nigeria accounts for 23 per cent of TB deaths in Africa, according to a recent report by the NTBLCP. Meanwhile, undetected TB carriers in the country are capable of infecting between 12 per cent and 15 per cent of the population annually. The WHO National Programme Officer for TB, Amos Omoniyi, said last week that Nigeria carries the sixth highest burden of the disease with 97,000 death cases, amounting to about 2.4 million deaths in the African region. “There have been persistent challenges in fighting this disease, and it includes insufficient funding, which is the 70 per cent funding gap, resources, low treatment coverage, and limited access to diagnostic tools,” Omoniyi lamented. “Therefore, we are calling on the governments, civil society organisations, and international partners to increase their support and to address these barriers and enhance TB control efforts.”

Globally, some 13 per cent of TB patients are also afflicted with HIV and said to be the leading

Tuberculosis is perhaps the single leading cause of death from any single infectious agent. It is caused by a bacterium which most commonly affects the lungs and transmitted from person to person through air droplets. TB affects all species of vertebrates and though control measures had reportedly limited the spread through animals, they (particularly cattle) still constitute a significant source of risk in countries like Nigeria where meat and milk inspection by health officials are often overlooked.

The world health body is particularly worried because a substantial number of the people infected in Nigeria are unreported or undiagnosed. By WHO statistics, no fewer than 15 per cent of the three million people undiagnosed for TB around the world are in Nigeria, most of them women and children in slum neighbourhoods where poor ventilation and squalor abet the spread of the disease. To end the scourge, there is an urgent need for the federal government to support the local manufacturing of TB drugs and there must be enlightenment campaign on preventive measures. Health authorities like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) must also work to halt the proliferation of fake and adulterated drugs that compound the problem of TB in the country.

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 to the Editor LETTERS

WILL STATE POLICE BE INVOLVED IN GENERAL ELECTION?

There have been back and forth arguments about the creation of the state police and its subsequent incorporation into the Nigerian constitution.

The imperative of creating a state police can never be emphasized even though it has its demerits. The creation of state police will localize policing and will make it possible for easier crime fighting.

However, some posers need to be addressed before creating the state police. First, will the existing police force be solely owned by the federal government even when states contribute a significant resources for their upkeep through security vote solely controlled by governors?

Second, will the federal police exist side by side with state police in every state? Third, in the case of arrest, will there be clear delineation between the state police and federal police on the issue of who should arrest and prosecute between them?

Four, will state police seek the permission of the

federal police before arrests and vice versa?

Five, on the general election day particularly the presidential and National Assembly elections, will the state police participate on the issue of security or should it be strictly for federal police and other federal security agencies? Six, on election day that involves only gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly, will federal police have any role to play or it will be strictly for the state police? Seven, will there be clear constitutional delineation on the jurisdictional power between states and federal high courts on the issue of prosecution?

The creation of state police even if with its inherent flaws is long overdue. Nonetheless, the above- mentioned gray areas and other subsequent ones need to be straightened up before the creation of state police.

Ifeanyi Maduako, Owerri

SHINE THAT LIGHT

A 13 -year- old Canadian school boy, Brenden Sener, has turned the heat on with his science fair project, a miniature and fortunately underpowered version of the death ray Archimedes' wrote about.

Archimedes was a great scientist but he didn't take the time to document how his invention was constructed and used, if it did actually exist, so it has disappeared into history and perhaps fiction.

The same experiment was tried on Mythbusters but failed although President Obama asked them to retest it and that also failed. Why would a President want a death ray and now maybe a miniature death ray?

I am sure Brenden will make a great contribution to science but hopefully not in weapon design, we're already pretty good at that. The future is unlimited and maybe he will be the one to cure cancer.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

FirstBank Partners UN Women to Advance Investment, Growth

Nume Ekeghe

In a bid to bolster economic empowerment for women, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has affirmed its dedication to supporting women in achieving financial success.

Head of Sustainability Media and External Relations at FirstBank Group, Ismail Omamegbe stated this during the Women Empowerment Webinar jointly organised by FirstBank Group and United Nations Women, monitored in Lagos.

Themed, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” the collaborative webinar underscored the pivotal role of empowering women in societal advancement. It emphasized the significance of investing in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities as catalysts for progress, pivotal to fostering economic growth and gender equality.

Omamegbe highlighted that

FirstBank’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment extended beyond the provision of financial products. The bank is actively engaged in implementing programs and initiatives geared toward supporting women. He outlined the bank’s six-point diversity and inclusion strategy, comprising business rationale, senior leadership support, effective communication, employee engagement, accountability mechanisms, and progress tracking.

Additionally, Omamegbe emphasized that diversity and inclusion are integral pillars of FirstBank Group’s sustainability strategic focus areas, alongside health, education, sustainable procurement, responsible lending, and climate performance.

He noted that FirstBank, as a signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs),

has reinforced its commitment to women’s empowerment across its operations and activities, aligning with its business philosophy.

Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Ebonylife Media, Mrs. Mo Abudu, shared insights from her journey to progress, urging women to invest in themselves and leverage available resources to accelerate their advancement. She emphasized the importance of personal branding, stating, Country Representative to UN Women Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, commended FirstBank for its efforts in promoting gender diversity, particularly in top managerial positions. She emphasized the importance of achieving gender balance in decision-making roles for sustainable development, urging for equitable representation of both men and women.

Access Bank Introduces Innovative Offline Banking Platform

Nume Ekeghe

Access Bank Plc has launched its latest digital initiation, 901.ng, an offline-banking platform aimed at providing customers with an additional avenue to conduct seamless daily transactions, regardless of internet connectivity.

This solution from Access Bank aims to redefine convenience and security within the banking sector, ensuring uninterrupted access to financial services even in environments where internet connectivity is limited or unavailable.

During a media briefing to unveil 901.ng, Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu, emphasised the significance of addressing the challenges faced by millions worldwide in accessing online banking services due to factors such as poor internet infrastructure, remote locations, or security concerns.

He highlighted the bank’s

commitment to leveraging technology to empower customers to bank securely anytime, anywhere.

Etuokwu, said: “In today’s fast-paced digital age, connectivity is often taken for granted. However, millions of individuals worldwide still face challenges accessing online banking services due to various reasons such as poor internet infrastructure, remote locations or security concerns. Recognizing this gap, Access Bank has developed this solution to empower our customers to bank securely, anytime, anywhere, irrespective of internet availability.”

The Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, Njideka Esomeju noted that Access Bank’s offline banking platform 901.ng reaffirms one of the bank’s core values Innovation and sets a new standard for accessibility and security in the banking industry.

“As part of its ongoing

commitment to excellence, Access Bank will continue to evolve its offerings to meet the evolving needs of its diverse customer base. Some of the key feature of this offline banking platform - 901.ng include: a simple way to send money, buy airtime, and pay bills whilst incurring no extra fees or hidden charges, no internet subscription required and no session fees. Transfer money, pay bills, buy airtime anywhere on 901.ng without worrying about having data.”

Head of Digital Channels, Access Bank, Oluremi Gabriel also speaking at the briefing said: “What we have today is a first-of-its-kind, and what it does is allow customers to do their basic banking with or without data. This innovation is driven by data as we know what customers want to do and we have made it very easy and available to our customers especially when they run out of data.”

Pepsodent’s Campaign Targets 10m Children

Raheem Akingbolu

In commemoration of the 2024 World Oral Health Day, Pepsodent, a global toothpaste brand, has initiated a dental health campaign named “Talk to A Dentist” in collaboration with the Nigerian Dental Association. The campaign aims to reach 10 million children by 2025, with its launch beginning in schools and communities across Lagos.

Speaking during a press conference to herald the commemoration of the 2024 World Oral Health Day, Marketing Head - Beauty & Well-Being and Personal Care, Unilever Nigeria, Oiza Gyang, expressed the campaign’s motive to promote good oral health hygiene among children, emphasizing Unilever’s commitment to combatting poor oral health care in Nigeria.

Gyang highlighted the link between oral care diseases and absenteeism among school pupils, underlining Pepsodent’s efforts to reverse this trend through targeted initiatives.

“Globally, about 3.9 billion people suffer from one oral

health condition or the other with tooth decay being the most prevalent oral disease. It has been established that children with poor oral health are more likely to suffer self-confidence and self-esteem issues. These days, we have since realized that the highest cause of school absenteeism is as a result of oral diseases,” she said.

In her welcome remarks, Category Manager, Oral Care at Unilever Nigeria, Eva Ogudu, outlined the campaign’s objectives to achieve zero cavities through consistent twicedaily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste like Pepsodent and regular dental check-ups. She emphasized the initiative’s broader goal of democratizing access to dental care, including free dental camps to eradicate oral diseases.

Ogudu reflected on past successes, noting the significant impact of previous campaigns in reaching millions of children and providing essential dental health services to thousands of Nigerians. She underscored the ongoing collaboration between

L-R: Head of Investment Management, STL Asset Management Limited, Oluwaseun Magreola; Managing Director, FBN Quest Trustees Limited, Adekunke Awojobi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, STL Limited Funmi Ekundayo; Managing Director, STL Asset Management Limited, Ahmed Olaitan Banu; Director, Tokunbo Orimobi Legal Group, Tokunbo Ajayi; Attorney, Tokunbo Orimobi Legal Group, Betty Tokurah; Trust Officer, FBNQuest Trustees Limited, Bolanle Komolafe and Company Secretary, STL Asset Management Limited, Ifeoluwa Akinmade at the signing ceremony of STL Asset Management Mutual Funds, held at STL Trustees’ Head Office in Lagos recently

Pepsodent and the Nigerian Dental Association in advancing oral health education and accessibility nationwide.

Also speaking, Head, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business, Unilever Nigeria, Godfrey Adejumoh, noted that the ‘Talk to a Dentist’ campaign embarked upon by Pepsodent remains one of the numerous initiatives outlined by Unilever Nigeria to improve people’s health, confidence and well-being. Adejumoh reiterated the company’s commitment to using its business to become a force for good in society.

On his part, Personal Care, Research & Development Head, Unilever Africa, Uchenna Nwakamma, explained that the Pepsodent brand remains the preferred toothpaste for driving oral health care agenda because of its patented formulation.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Tope Adeyemi, disclosed that about 90% of the world’s population are more likely to suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime.

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $81.30 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $79.70 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Stock Market Down N248bn WoW on Uncertainty Over MPC Outcome

Kayode Tokede

The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) dropped by N2488 billion in its Week-on-Week (WoW) performance as investors uncertainty loom over the outcome of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) this week’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

The CBN’s MPC meeting

is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday this week and the members in first meeting in 2024 voted to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 400 basis points to 22.75 from 18.75 per cent, raise the Cash Reserve Ratio from 32.5 per cent to 45.0 per cent and retain the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

Capital market analysts stated that trading activities

on the Nigerian stock market will be driven by the outcome of MPC meeting of this week, stressing that investors, most especially foreign investors may divest in money market instruments if the members voted to hike MPR.

The domestic stock market however, closed last week on a bearish note as the market capitalisation declined by N248 billion WoW to close

at N59.169 trillion, while the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) shed 0.42 per cent WoW to close at 104,647.37 basis points. Sectoral performance for the week was mostly positive, except for the NGX Consumer Goods index, which recorded a loss of 0.37 per cent weekon-week. Conversely, the NGX Banking, NGX Insurance, NGX Industrial, and NX Oil & Gas sectors experienced gains,

driven by upward movements in the prices of key stocks.

However, the market breadth for the week was positive as 50 equities appreciated in price, 32 equities depreciated in price, while 72 equities remained unchanged. Juli led the gainers table by 46.10 per cent to close at N7.86, per share. NEM Insurance followed with a gain of 45.11 per cent to close at N9.65, while International

Energy Insurance went up by 22.95 per cent to close to N1.50 per share. On the other side, Julius Berger Nigeria led the decliners table by 17.15 per cent to close at N60.15, per share. DAAR Communications followed with a loss of 14.10 per cent to close at 67 kobo, while UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust declined by 12.73 per cent to close at N4.80, per share.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF MARCH /21/24

POLITY

Senator Abiru’s Testament to Positive, Developmental Representation

With more than three years in the National Assembly as the senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru has recorded impactful achievements, especially with the SAIL Innovation Lab that is impacting youths with digital skills, writes

Dike Onwuamaeze

The guiding principle of the senator representing Lagos East senatorial district, Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, is doing well. Abiru manifests this principle through steadfast dedication to serving others and making a meaningful impact on their lives. This was evident in his career as a banker, where he rose to the peak of the industry as chief executive officer of Polaris Bank. This trait is currently manifesting in his legislative activities in the National Assembly, which revolve around the three pillars of legislation: empowerment and endowment.

Aburi said: “This guiding principle that has been the cornerstone of my endeavours is particularly evident in the establishment of the SAIL Innovation Lab.

“This innovation hub is a testament to our commitment to empowering the youths within the Lagos East Senatorial District with knowledge in technology, data science and STEM education for secondary schools.

“It is through these initiatives that we seek to unlock the potential of our younger generation, equipping them with skills and tools to compete in our already changed world of technology and innovation.”

He co-founded the SAIL Innovation Lab with his wife, Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, which has a partnership with Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), a foremost technology and innovation company in Africa.

The digital inspirational centre has a 24hour electricity supply, constant internet access, and choice faculty who serve as facilitators and managers of the facility.

Since its establishment in 2021 in Ikorodu, Lagos State, the SAIL Innovation Lab has impacted about 1,667 youths who passed through its in-class training with digital skills that cut across data science, artificial intelligence, etc., and has helped some of them gain useful employment.

Some digital skills, delivered free at the SAIL Innovation Lab, cost as much as N4.5 million per person.

The idea behind the innovation lab is to set up a facility that would help young folks upgrade their skills to be employable and entrepreneurial in today’s marketplace, which is marked by digital evolution.

“That is actually the thrust behind this facility that we are in. What the youths are asking for is a platform to realise their dreams. Not donations of computer units but inspirational centres they will wake up in the morning and rush to,” Abiru said.

The SAIL Innovation Lab is providing six training programmes in innovation and digital skills that have so far impacted 4,667 participants, including 1,667 in-class participants and 3,000 online participants.

One of its programmes is Tech Talent Development, where tech novices are trained for six months to become entry-level software developers. Another programme is Data Science for Society, where participants are trained in data analytics, specifically for solving real societal problems through their capstone project. The Startup Accelerator programme is where “we support and incubate youths that have ideas to find product-market fit and position them for growth through training, mentoring and access to raise the required funding for their various startups.”

Another programme offered at the SAIL Innovation Lab is Game Development, where participants are trained to create/develop online games using 3D modelling, animation,

video editing, and production skills, among other things.

The SAIL Innovation Lab also offers digital programmes for secondary school students and their teachers. One of them, STEM for Senior Secondary Students, is a weekend class program focused on teenagers from 13 to 18 who are attending public schools or are out of school but awaiting university admission. The teenagers are trained in physical computing and the use of Ardunio in prototyping.

Lastly, the Lagos East Teachers Fellowship is providing four-month digital training on inquiry-based learning and the use of modern technology to impact knowledge on its participants. He stated, “I am happy to report that since we started this facility in 2021, we have touched the lives of 1,667 people in class. It is a small facility, given the size of the society, but it is a way of leading and showing people that this is actually what we need to do for our society.

He added, “It gives me joy because we believe that we are imparting on lives. Today, the pay might not be fantastic but it is a good starting point. Their average pay is about N200,000 per month.

“If you ask me what is my greatest joy I will point to this facility as my greatest joy. I am particularly concerned in truly making people useful. I always like to equip people so that they can move on and be better.”

He has a plan to replicate the SAIL Innovation Lab in other parts of Lagos East senatorial district.

Among those who have benefited from the programmes run by the SAIL Innovation Lab is a Software Engineer, Mr. John Saviour, who currently works with Co-Creation Hub, Yaba, Lagos State.

Saviour said, “Where I am today as

a software engineer was made possible by the platform SAIL provided for our training and development. So, I am a software engineer because of what the senator has done. I am an alumnus of the Tech Talent Programme of the SAIL Innovation Lab. I am in the first set of the program. The senator speaks to motivate and assure us that everything we need for learning and growth has been provided.

“Those outside should know that there is a facility here that has been made available by the senator that they can utilise to further their progress.”

Another beneficiary, Mr. Daniel Iremiren, an indigene of Ikorodu, said: “I am an alumnus of SAIL Tech Digital Science Programme. The programme empowered me to tackle problems in my critical thinking and problem-solving aspects.

“I am a Chemical Engineering graduate. But after my NYSC, I was staying at home because I did not know where next to head to until I participated in the SAIL’s tech data program for six months. I rose from the beginner’s level to the intermediate level. This programme helped me find a job placement in a big digital organisation, Awari, an AI company.”

Miss Ojila Tracy Oyikowo, a secondary school graduate of Ace College International, told THISDAY that she is waiting for the next intake to participate in digital training.

She said, “I am an aspiring data scientist. I have applied to the SAIL Innovation Lab. However, I am presently using its web space to broaden my knowledge through YouTube rather than staying idle at home. It will be my greatest opportunity if I am selected.”

Besides the SAIL Innovation Lab, the senator also has constituency projects

that are targeted at education, health, power projects, and the development of retail markets, amongst other things.

So far, he has done 20 intervention projects in the educational sector and still counting. These include four blocks of 24 classrooms that are equipped with the compliments of furniture, 16 toilets and a solar-powered borehole at Aga Primary School, Ikorodu; facilitation of two blocks of six classrooms at RCM Primary School, Iwerekun, IbejuLekki; one block of three classrooms at Ajelogo Primary School, Agboyi-Ketu and facilitation of one block of two classrooms with office and store furnishing and solar power installation at UPE Primary School, Ajegende, Eredo and another one block of two classrooms at Methodist Primary School, Oke-Eletu, Ijede LCDA, etc.

In the health sector, Abiru constructed two sets of 40-bed health facilities and a dental centre at the Ikorodu Campus of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology and Mascara Health Centre in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, and a 40-bed hospital at Isiu, Ikorodu North LCDA.

He also supplied ambulances to general hospitals in his constituency, rehabilitated Igbo-Olomu and Ori-Kuta Primary Health Care centres, supplied drugs and medical equipment, and constructed doctors’ quarters at Owede Labora, Ibeju Lekki.

He also provided transformers to 23 communities, reconstructed the popular Oluwo Fish Market in Epe and increased the number of shops in the market from 259 to 322 with 12 toilets.

Abiru has a N300 million constituency revolving loan scheme at a 6.0 per cent interest rate for his constituents, which he plans to increase to N500 million.

He said: “Beyond the realms of education, this principle (doing good) has also inspired my vision for supporting small businesses, with over 1,000 small businesses across Lagos East having access to funds at a concessionary interest rate of 6.0 per cent per annum through our constituency revolving loan.

“We have ignited the dreams of countless entrepreneurs, providing them the means to flourish and contribute to our nation’s socio-economic development.”

Moreover, Abiru has recorded bold and visible legislative achievements so far. These include the Copyright Act Repeal and Reenactment Bill 2021, which was signed into law in March 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari; the Central Bank of Nigeria Act Amendment Bill 2024; the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation Amendment Bill; the Nigerian Insurance Reform Bill 2024; and the National Insurance Commission Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2024.

He explained that the CBN Act 2007 needed to be amended to enable the bank to keep pace with the dynamic changes in the monetary and financial sector. The amendment would also enable it to adequately address the challenges in policy implementation influenced by fiscal dominance and a rapidly evolving landscape.

Therefore, the aim of the “proposed amendments to the CBN Act is to bolster the bank’s capacity for maintaining monetary and price stability, thereby supporting the federal government’s economic growth objectives.

“Key among the changes is the alignment of the bank’s governance mechanisms with global best practice, ensuring its operations reflect the current state of global financial regulation,” Abiru explained.

Abiru

Echoes from Nigeria’s Aggressive Monetary Policy Tightening

as the Monetary policy committee meets today, Obinna Chima writes that further raising interest rate will put more burden on businesses and dampen entrepreneurial spirit

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would commence its 294th meeting today. The two-day meeting, which is the second under the Mr. Olayemi Cardoso-led Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) comes 25 days after the committee in a hawkish move raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the benchmark interest rate, by 400 basis points to 22.75 per cent, from 18.75 per cent.

The MPC, which surprised the market, also adjusted the asymmetric corridor around the MPR to +100/-700 basis points from +100/-300 basis points. Additionally, the central bank equally raised its Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) to 45 per cent, from 32.5 per cent, and retained the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

Cardoso had explained that the decisions of the MPC members were centred on the current inflationary and exchange rate pressures, projected inflation, as well as rising inflation expectations. He had also said members acknowledged the trade-off between the pursuit of output growth and taming inflation, but were convinced that an enduring output expansion was possible only in an environment of low and stable inflation.

Unfortunately, few days after, the inflation figures for February 2024, were released, which showed that the Consumer Price Index used to gauge inflation moved to 31.70 per cent, higher than the 29.9 per cent recorded in January.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Food inflation rate in February, stubbornly inched higher to 37.92 per cent on a year-on-year basis. The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis was attributed to increases in prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, oil and fat, meat, fruit, coffee, tea, and cocoa.

Indeed, while the decisions at the last MPC meeting appear to have calmed the turmoil in the foreign exchange market, where the naira exchange rate has since appreciated from about N1,800/$1 as at when the committee last met, to about N1,400/$1, as at the weekend, business operators and borrowers have been confronted with tougher times.

For instance, the 400 basis points interest rate hike meant that on the average, a borrower could get bank loan at about 35 per cent interest rate. What this means is that considering time value of money, the borrower might end up paying back as much as the principal amount he borrowed as interest rate, which is a burden to borrowers and businesses.

Today, companies in the debt market are finding it extremely difficult to raise funds because of the pricing.

For the banking sector, the 45 per cent CRR meant that for every N100 they received, N45 would be frozen by the central bank. That is, banks now have to keep more of their deposits in CBN’s reserve, thereby reducing the amount they can lend out.

Also, the adjustment in the asymmetric corridor implies that banks can only use about 25 kobo of every N1 they receive as deposit.

Clearly, the restrictive monetary policy posture of the central bank has put unfair burden on certain sectors of the economy and is weighing heavily on interest rate sensitive sectors of the economy such as construction, manufacturing and other highly leveraged businesses. Tight monetary policy and a higher interest rate environment could as well result in increased unemployment and slower economic growth.

Financial results released so far on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), mostly by blue-chip companies such as Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, MTN Communications Plc, have been poor, due to the adverse effects of government policy, which could be worsened by the MPC’s decision. Clearly, all the indices are squeezing business owners and the current monetary policy regime does not favour entrepreneurship.

For households, with food inflation around 38 per cent, a lot of them are struggling to feed as wages remains flat, which prompted the recent protest in some cities in the country,

While it appears foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), who typically are excited to rush to any

Cardoso

high interest rate environment for fixed income instrument are flocking in, there is need for both the fiscal and monetary authorities to give some incentives and attract foreign direct investors (FDIs).

Just like Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, recently predicted, the interest rate increase by the CBN would have adverse effects on businesses and the economy.

“The next few months will be difficult because the policies rolled out by CBN will unfortunately not support growth in our economy. The interest rate is already high and jacking it up will not allow small businesses access to credit to make them grow.

“We must focus on the fundamentals which is increasing production, making sure our citizens produce what we consume and depend less on imports. Our economic and monetary policies should not be determined by exchange rate alone.

“The issue of increasing the cash reserves in a bid to tighten liquidity is going to be detrimental to our economy. We should focus on fiscal issues to enable us to grow our economy, not panic about the interest rate. Creating jobs should be a priority for us as a nation.” he said.

To the Chairman, Bank Directors Association of Nigeria, Mr. Mustapha Chike Obi, the fight against inflation could impede GDP growth. He noted that banks are currently saddled with meeting up with targets given to them by the federal government to build a $1 trillion economy in the next eight years. He said the policies deployed by the CBN

to fight inflation might affect GDP growth.

This ,he said, was because the banks needed to raise capital in order to meet up with the target of the federal government.

He said: “The administration informed us that they want a $1 trillion economy within eight years, part of that is that we have to raise more capital, because the capital we have in banks today cannot support a $1 trillion economy.

“All of us are going to raise capital to meet the objective within a year or two to meet the President’s objective which we endorse.

“However, the CBN governor took a policy that is inflation fighting and as you know it is the opposite of GDP growth.”

To the Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Africa Group, Dr. Toyin F Sanni, start-ups and MSMEs, which are the real engine of growth of any economy, are presently bearing the brunt of the higher interest rate regime and restrictive monetary policy. She, however, advised the federal government to focus on policies that would encourage local production of goods and services as well as to aggressively drive exports so as to increase foreign currency inflows to the country.

“Policies that discourage our massive propensity to import should be introduced, while encouraging productivity, both in terms of tax incentives,” Sanni added while speaking at the ThinkBusiness Africa Monthly breakfast meeting in Lagos.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, noted that aggressive monetary tightening would constrain the

“The issue of increasing the cash reserves in a bid to tighten liquidity is going to be detrimental to our economy. We should focus on fiscal issues to enable us to grow our economy, not panic about the interest rate. Creating jobs should be a priority for us as a nation.”

capacity of banks to support economic growth and investment, especially in the real sector of the economy, because the increases were quite significant.

Yusuf noted that the decisions of the MPC, which were consistent with the typical policy response of the central banks globally, failed to reckon with domestic peculiarities of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the key drivers of Nigeria’s inflation were largely supply-side variables.

The CPPE chief executive added: “Over the last two years, there had been persistent monetary policy tightening, yet there has not been any significant impact on the inflationary pressures. If anything, the general price level had been continuously on the increase.

“We recognise that the primary mandate of the CBN is price stability, but numerous headwinds had posed significant risks to this critical objective. Some of these include the surge in commodity prices and impact on energy cost, disruptive effects of insecurity on agricultural output, global supply chain disruptions and the surge in ways and means finance. The hike in MPR or CRR would not change these variables.

“Already, bank lending has been constrained by the high CRR, which was until the latest review, 32.5 per cent, although many operators in the sector claim that effective CRR is as high as 50 per cent for many banks via the discretionary debits by the apex bank.

“The credit situation in the economy is already very tight, with lending rate ranging between 25 and 30 per cent. The Nigerian banks are yet to live up to their financial intermediation role because of these constraining factors.”

In his contribution, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Francis Meshioye, pointed out that the Nigeria economy is in a dire state and that policymakers, more than ever before, needed to be intentional about growing the manufacturing sector.

According to Meshioye, there is no country considered as developed that does not give priority attention to the manufacturing sector.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that manufacturing is pivotal to galvanising and sustaining the economic growth and development of Nigeria.

“The government needs to come to the realisation that a win for the manufacturing sector is a win for the economy and by extension a better life of the citizenry,” he added.

Therefore, as the MPC meets today to continue its war on double-digit inflation, it must also consider the effects on unemployment in the country, the poor state of the economy as well as businesses that are barely struggling to survive. Further raising interest rate may lead to the collapse of more business and threaten financial system stability.

Tahir: IOCs’ Divestment ‘ll Impact Competitiveness, Investments in Nigeria’s Oil Industry

ahead of the forthcoming 2024 annual oloibiri lecture and energy Forum series, a flagship programme of the society of petroleum engineers nigerian council, the chairman of the group, who doubles as the head of assets & investments Management at nnpc Gas & power investment services, Mr. salahuddeen tahir, spoke to Peter Uzoho about the event and sundry industry issues. excerpts:

Could you provide an overview of the significance of Oloibiri Lecture and Energy Forum (OLEF) by the SPE Society of Petroleum Engineers(SPE) and its impact on Nigeria’s energy industry?

The OLEF series play a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s energy industry. Originating from the historic oil-producing town of Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, this lecture series serve as a platform to discuss critical issues and trends in the energy sector. By bringing together industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, the lecture highlights key challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria’s energy industry. Through thought-provoking presentations and discussions, the lecture aims to encourage innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices within the sector.

The impact of OLEF can be seen in its contributions to policy formulation, technology development, and capacity-building initiatives in Nigeria’s energy industry. Ultimately, this annual event has been catalyzing positive change and growth in one of Nigeria’s most important sectors.

How does OLEF contribute to knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation within Nigeria’s petroleum industry?

The OLEF is a significant initiative in Nigeria’s petroleum sector that fosters knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation. Firstly, it commemorates the nation’s oil discovery in 1956, offering historical context and insights into industry evolution. Secondly, it promotes interdisciplinary exchanges, encouraging holistic solutions to energy challenges. Thirdly, through events like keynote addresses and forums, OLEF showcases thought leadership, inspiring stakeholders with innovative ideas and trends. Finally, it facilitates networking among industry peers, policymakers, and academia, fostering collaboration and expertise exchange. Ultimately, OLEF drives progress by honoring the past, embracing diverse perspectives, and fostering a collaborative environment for future growth in the petroleum industry.

How would you evaluate the current state of stability in Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly concerning infrastructure, transportation, and security, in addressing the theme of the 2024 OLEF?

The current state of stability in Nigeria’s energy sector presents a mixed picture. On one hand, there is notable effort and progress in expanding the energy infrastructure, particularly in power generation. However, the sector continues to grapple with significant challenges in transmission and distribution. The transportation of energy resources is hindered by inadequate infrastructure, compounded by security concerns like theft and vandalism of oil and gas pipelines. Security issues are a major factor, affecting both the physical infrastructure and overall operations. Despite these challenges, there are signs of improvement. However, the sector still requires considerable effort to achieve long-term stability and sustainability. The 2024 OLEF presents us with an opportunity to address these issues head on. It will gather industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss these critical challenges and explore opportunities. The aim is to steer the sector toward innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices, crucial for its future growth and stability.

What role do you see technology playing in improving infrastructure, transportation, and security within Nigeria’s energy sector, and how can it be effectively implemented?

I see technology as a key driver in transforming infrastructure, transportation, and security within Nigeria’s energy sector. Particularly in the realms of oil and gas, our approach to implementing this technology has been both strategic and coordinated. In the realm of infrastructure, the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar power is increasingly important, even within the oil and gas sector. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and data analytics optimize infrastructure maintenance, minimising downtime. Digital

Tahir

platforms enhance energy management and customer interactions, promoting efficiency. Improved pipeline monitoring enhances transportation efficiency and environmental conservation. Advanced surveillance systems bolster security against threats. Collaborative public-private partnerships facilitate effective technology deployment, while training ensures workforce readiness. A robust regulatory framework ensures consistency, and community engagement tailors solutions to sector needs. If we continue to remain at the forefront of technological developments, we can ensure that Nigeria’s energy sector remains efficient, secure, and sustainable.

How does the divestment by international oil companies (IOCs) impact Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, economy, and energy security?

The divestment by IOCs in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has multifaceted impacts on the country’s economy, energy security, and the industry as a whole. On the one hand, divestment may lead to a decrease in foreign direct investment and technological expertise, potentially impacting production levels and revenue generation. This could also affect employment opportunities and local content development within the industry. Additionally, the divestment may pose challenges to Nigeria’s energy security, as it could reduce the involvement of IOCs in exploration and production activities, potentially leading to a decline in reserves replacement and production capacity. Furthermore, the divestment could trigger shifts in the ownership and operation of oil and gas assets, potentially impacting the competitive landscape and government revenues derived from the sector. The divestment phenomenon is not unheard of. This happened in the North Sea region giving rise to virile small and midsized oil and gas companies. Some of these companies are currently competing

at a considerable scale. As such, with the right policy and regulatory interventions, the situation is not a doomsday scenario for the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

What challenges does Nigeria face in attracting new investment to offset the divestment by the IOCs?

Nigeria faces hurdles in attracting new investment to offset divestment by IOCs in its oil and gas industry. Addressing environmental, social and governance issues while enhancing transparency would boost confidence. Infrastructure deficiencies hinder operations and investment attractiveness. Security concerns, especially in oil-producing regions, must be addressed to reassure investors. Promoting diversification and sustainability, including incentivizing renewable energy investments, broadens appeal. Overall, concerted efforts from government, industry stakeholders, and finance sectors are needed to create an enabling environment for sustainable energy sector development and investment in Nigeria.

What are the key factors that make Nigeria a strong contender to host the headquarters of the African Energy Bank?

Nigeria’s suitability for hosting the African Energy Bank headquarters stems from several factors. With Africa’s largest population, the nation presents a significant energy demand and market potential. Abundant energy resources, including oil, gas, solar, and hydroelectric power, bolster its candidacy. Geographically, Nigeria’s position in West Africa offers logistical advantages for the bank’s operations. Furthermore, the country’s well-established financial sector and regulatory framework could facilitate the bank’s activities. No doubt, Nigeria’s commitment to regional integration aligns with the bank’s objectives, enhancing its appeal as a headquarters

location. Overall, Nigeria’s demographic, resource wealth, location, and institutional framework makes it a strong contender and a compelling choice for hosting the African Energy Bank.

How does Nigeria’s existing energy infrastructure and resources compare to those of the other competing African countries?

In comparison to other competing African countries, Nigeria’s existing energy infrastructure and resources are relatively robust and diversified. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and ranks among the top natural gas reserves holders globally. The country has a well-developed oil and gas industry, with infrastructure including pipelines, refineries, and export terminals. Additionally, Nigeria has been making efforts to diversify its energy mix, with investments in renewable energy projects such as solar and hydroelectric power. While challenges such as infrastructure maintenance, security concerns, and regulatory issues persist, Nigeria’s energy sector still presents significant opportunities for growth and investment compared to many other African countries.

How can a balanced and sustainable energy mix from Nigeria’s diverse energy sources contribute to stability in the sector?

Achieving stability in Nigeria’s energy sector requires a balanced and sustainable mix of energy sources. Diversifying beyond oil and gas to include renewables like solar and wind enhances energy security and reduces environmental impact. This approach stimulates economic growth, especially in rural areas, by creating jobs and improving access to electricity. Investing in renewables and energy efficiency offers long-term economic benefits, reducing fuel imports and infrastructure costs while promoting a healthier environment. Overall, a diversified energy mix is crucial for stability, sustainability, and socio-economic development, laying the groundwork for a resilient and future-oriented energy sector in Nigeria.

How can community engagement be integrated into strategies for stable energy sector development in Nigeria?

Community engagement and stakeholder participation are vital for Nigeria’s energy sector stability. Regular consultative forums bring together diverse groups to share viewpoints and co-create solutions. Capacity building educates communities, empowering them for active participation. Partnerships across sectors address challenges, while local content policies foster economic opportunities. Involving communities and stakeholders in policy and project stages ensures inclusivity, stability, and sustainability in Nigeria’s energy sector.

What is your vision for the long-term impact of achieving stability in Nigeria’s energy sector on the country’s economy, social development, and overall well-being?

My vision for the long-term impact of achieving stability in Nigeria’s energy sector is transformative, encompassing economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability. Achieving stability in Nigeria’s energy sector holds transformative potential across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. A stable energy supply is crucial for driving economic growth, attracting foreign investment, and fostering job creation, particularly in manufacturing and technology. It has potential to revolutionise healthcare, education, and communication, enhancing the quality of life for all citizens. Infrastructure development could also bring significant benefits, improving connectivity and efficiency. A stable energy sector would also mean a shift towards environmental sustainability. Integrating renewable energy sources would address environmental concerns and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, stability in the energy sector stands to catalyze Nigeria’s progress towards a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future.

FOREIGN DESK

Compiled

Trump Faces Day of Financial Reckoning on Monday

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who fashioned his political persona as a successful billionaire real estate magnate, is facing a day of financial reckoning on Monday that may show he is not as flush with cash as he has led the American public to believe.

Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee in the November national election, is facing a deadline to put up $454 million in cash or a bond backed by collateral from his assets. That way, he could appeal a judgment last month equaling the amount of civil fraud he committed for years by inflating the value of his holdings to get better terms on business transactions.

If he can’t come up with the cash or a bond, New York State Attorney General Letitia James appears poised to start the lengthy process of seizing some of Trump’s prominent office skyscrapers in New York City, perhaps a large estate and baronial mansion he owns outside the city, cash and stock accounts, and even his personal jet, which he calls Trump Force One.

Trump’s lawyers have said securing the bond would be a “practical impossibility” because he would need to pledge about $550 million in cash and liquid investments to the bond company to proceed with the appeal. They said 30 bond companies turned down Trump’s request to provide the cash so that he could proceed with his appeal.

In a post on his Truth Social platform last week, Trump said that he has almost $500 million in cash that he intended to use for his campaign and that James “wants to take it away from him.”

Putin Declares ‘Day of Mourning’ After Concert Hall Terror Attack

Russia observed a day of mourning Sunday, two days after a deadly attack at a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed more than 137 people, including three children, and injured over 180.

Rescue teams continue to scour the scorched building for survivors as some families still agonize over the fate of their loved ones. Russia’s health ministry said hundreds of people stood in line in Moscow to donate blood and plasma.

The attack Friday was the deadliest on Russian soil since the 2004 Beslan school siege, when Islamist militants took more than 1,000 people, including hundreds of children, hostage.

Four armed men walked toward the metal detectors at Crocus City Hall Friday— a 6,200-seat concert hall outside Moscow — firing their automatic weapons point-blank in short bursts at terrified civilians who fell screaming in a hail of bullets, according to witnesses.

Chad Interim President Deby, PM Cleared for Presidential Election

Chad’s Constitutional Council on Sunday cleared 10 candidates for this year’s longawaited presidential election, including interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby and the country’s recently-appointed prime minister.

The central African nation is scheduled to hold the first round of a presidential election in May as part of a transition back to democracy from junta rule.

Deby initially promised an 18-month transition to elections after he seized power in 2021 when his long-ruling father was killed in clashes with rebels.

However, his government later adopted resolutions postponing elections until 2024 and allowing him to run for president, triggering protests violently quelled by security forces.

In December, Chadians voted in favour of a new constitution that critics said could help cement Deby’s grip on power as it allowed him to run for the presidency.

Deby confirmed his intention to run earlier this month.

The candidate list released on Sunday included opposition leader Succes Masra, appointed prime minister of the transitional government in January.

It is the first time in Chad’s history that a president and a prime minister will face each other in a presidential poll.

A staunch opponent of Chad’s junta, Masra had fled the country after dozens were killed when security forces cracked down on demonstrations in the capital, N’Djamena, in October 2022.

The first round of voting is scheduled

for May 6, and the second round is slated for June 22, with provisional results due on July 7.

Poland Demands Russian Explanation for Missile Breach

Poland said Sunday it would demand that Russia explain “a new violation of airspace” after a Russian missile breached the NATO country’s airspace by about two kilometres Sunday morning before returning to Ukraine, according to a spokesperson for the Polish army.

“Polish airspace was breached by one of the cruise missiles fired in the night by the air forces... of the Russian Federation,” the army said on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding, “The object flew through Polish airspace above the village of Oserdow (Lublin province) and stayed for 39 seconds.”

“Above all, we ask the Russian Federation to end its terrorist airstrikes against the population and territory of Ukraine, to end the war and to focus on the country’s own internal problems,” foreign ministry spokesperson Pawel Wronski said, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said Russia launched a third large-scale missile attack on the country in the last four days, the second to target Kyiv. The Associated Press reported an air alert in Kyiv lasted over two hours.

China Blocks Using Intel, AMD Chips in Government Computers: Report

China has introduced guidelines to phase out the use of U.S. microprocessors from Intel and AMD in government personal computers and servers, the Financial Times reported Sunday.

The report said that the procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft’s Windows operating system and foreign-made database software in favour of domestic options.

The newspaper said government agencies above the township level have been told to include criteria requiring “safe and reliable” processors and operating systems in purchases.

Reuters checks showed that China’s industry ministry issued a statement in late December with three separate lists of CPUs, operating systems, and centralised databases deemed “safe and reliable” for three years after the publication date, all from Chinese companies.

The State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the council, China’s Cabinet, did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment.

Intel and AMD did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment either.

The U.S. has been aiming to boost domestic semiconductor output and reduce reliance on China and Taiwan with the Biden administration’s 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.

It is designed to bolster U.S. semiconductors and includes financial aid for domestic production and subsidies for the production of advanced chips.

Campaigners Urge Australia to Let Ukrainian Refugees Stay Permanently

Australian community leaders are urging the Canberra government to allow displaced Ukrainians to apply to stay permanently in the country. Temporary humanitarian visas for thousands of refugees from the Ukraine war expire next year.

More than 11,000 Ukrainians on various types of Australian visas, including visitors’ permits, have come to Australia since Russia invaded in February 2022.

About 3,790 Ukrainians were granted three-year temporary humanitarian visas under a special Australian government programme from April to July 2022. The humanitarian visas are to expire next year. The government has said displaced Ukrainians with that type of immigration permit might be allowed to stay by applying for the skilled, family, student and visitor visa programs.

Community groups, though, say some displaced Ukrainians might find it hard to qualify for permanent visas because of obstacles such as applicant age limits, lack of recognition of overseas qualifications, and limited English language skills. Some visas require applicants to be younger than 45 and to have relevant experience and qualifications in occupations that are in short supply in Australia, such as accountants, pilots, and engineers.

Andrew Mencinsky, the vice president of the Ukrainian Council of New South Wales, told local media that the future of many visa holders in Australia is uncertain.

UN Chief Assails Israel for Blocking Gaza Aid Trucks

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres assailed Israel on Sunday, contending that “horror and starvation stalk the people of Gaza” and that only Israel can remove the obstacles to getting more aid into the Palestinian enclave.

“Let me be clear. Nothing justifies the abhorrent October 7 Hamas attacks and hostage-taking in Israel,” the UN chief said in a visit to Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials to push for a cease-fire in the six-month Israeli-Hamas war.

“But nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he said.

On a Saturday visit to Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt, Guterres said it was a “moral outrage” that aid is being blocked from being sent into Gaza.

“Here, from this crossing, we see the heartbreak and heartlessness of it all. A long line of blocked relief trucks on one side of the gates, the long shadow of starvation on the other,” Guterres said.

He said the only effective and efficient way to deliver heavy goods into Gaza is by road, which includes an exponential increase in commercial deliveries. He said in Egypt, “the daily assault on the human dignity of Palestinians is creating a crisis of credibility for the international community.”

Iran’s Currency Hits Record Low

Iran’s currency fell to a record low on Sunday, plunging to 613,500 to the dollar, as its people celebrated the Persian New Year.

On Sunday, people were trying to exchange rials for foreign currency at Tehran’s main hub of exchange shops on Ferdowsi Street, but most were closed due to the Nowruz holidays, which are run from March 20 to April 2.

The two-week holiday is an opportunity to travel abroad, driving demand for U.S. dollars and Euros.

The exchange rate strongly affects other markets, including housing and rentals.

The price was 590,000 to the dollar on March 18, the last workday before the holiday.

Many Iranians have seen their life savings evaporate as the local currency has depreciated. Today, it’s worth about one-twentieth as much as in 2015 when Iran signed a nuclear accord with world powers. Since then, it has fallen from 32,000 rials to the dollar to hundreds of thousands. In February 2023, it briefly reached a nadir of 600,000 reals to the dollar and has not risen above 439,000.

Cubans Hungry Amid Economic Crisis

Like millions of other Cubans, María de los Ángeles Pozo thinks back fondly to when a government ration book fed her family everything from hamburgers, fish and milk to chocolate and beer. People would even get cakes for birthdays and weddings.

The “libreta,” as Cubans know it, was launched in July 1963 and became one of the pillars of the island’s socialist system, helping people through crises, including the cutbacks in Soviet aid that led to the 1990s deprivation known as the “Special Period.”

That system is undergoing a deep economic crisis that has prompted the exodus of almost half a million Cubans to the U.S. over the last two years, with thousands more heading to Europe. It also has led to a dramatic reduction in the availability of rationed food for those who do not leave.

Many Cubans feel ill-equipped to handle their new, more unequal country, a feeling that has worsened as small private markets have opened, charging prices similar to international ones in a country that hasn’t allowed non-state commerce in recent decades and where incomes remain between $16 and $23 monthly.

Tokunbo Abiru At 60: A Resounding Salute to an Exceptional Leader!

Enitan Olukotun

Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions in the 10th Senate and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial district is a man of extraordinary passion for the development of his people, his pursuit of excellence has driven him to a point where nothing but the best is good enough for him.

Before his sojourn at the Red Chamber, Tokunbo Abiru had carved out a stellar career in banking, ascending to the pinnacle of his career as the Managing Director of Polaris Bank. He retired in 2020 after lifting Polaris Bank from the verge of bankruptcy to enviable heights.

In just a little under four years, Senator Abiru has revolutionized the governance narrative in Lagos East Senatorial District, his leadership style is characterised by a deliberate championing of impactful programmes that seeks to uplift the welfare of his people by way of direct interventions and constituency services.

Famously referred to as the “DoingGood Senator,” Senator Abiru centered his efforts on three key pillars: legislative responsibilities, empowerment initiatives, and endowment projects.

He has executed these pillars with exceptional results thereby earning the trust and admiration of his constituents and Nigerians at large .

After inauguration as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on December 15, 2020, Abiru conducted an extensive needs assessment of the people and his district, this comprehensive human-centred approach ensured that relevant needs of the grassroots population became an integral part of decision-making process within Lagos East Senatorial district.

The insights gleaned from this assessment formed the bedrock of his interventions across 98 wards in the 16 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas within Lagos East Senatorial district.

On the legislative pillar, Senator Abiru has

championed notable bills including the Copyright Bill, which was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari and Franchise Regulation Bill, CBN Act Amendment Bill(Passed Second Reading), NDIC Act Amendment Bill (Passed second reading) including several motions relating to the plight of his constituents.

These legislative endeavors are poised to unlock greater economic opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly within the creative, entertainment, and business sectors.

In response to the devastating socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Abiru launched a targeted financial assistance scheme, this initiative provided direct relief to vulnerable

segments of the Lagos East community the widows, elderly, unemployed youth, persons with disability and women with over 2,500 beneficiaries receiving monthly credit transfers for over 23 months.

In continuation of his support for vulnerable constituents, the Senator launched a quarterly food packs programme for vulnerable people, over 25,000 households have since benefited from the scheme.

To enhance accessibility to constituency services, Senator Abiru established liaison offices in Epe, Kosofe, Ibeju-Lekki, and Somolu, complementing the main office in Ikorodu.

To enhance educational pursuits of his

constituents, Senator Abiru made significant contribution ranging from facilitation of classrooms construction to modernization of instructional facilities and provision of bursary for indigent students.

Development of infrastructure has also been a focal point of Senator Abiru’s agenda, his contribution in this area has been far-reaching and impactful. He successfully facilitated the construction of health facilities, sporting arenas, market renovation and roads construction. Examples of such includes the 32Km Ikorodu-Itoikin road currently under reconstruction. Senator Abiru also facilitated the installation of power transformers and solar-powered street lights in many communities across the senatorial district.

Senator Abiru also launched a 300 million naira constituency intervention revolving loan scheme to enhance local businesses, quite a lot of small business owners benefitted from the loans advanced at a confessional interest rate of six percent.

In conjunction with his amiable wife, Mrs. Surat Feyisola Abiru, the ‘doing good’ Senator established the SAIL Innovation lab in Ikorodu with the aim of equipping the youths with information technology skills to help them navigate the ever changing technological environment. Hundreds of young people have taken advantage of this training to better their life, about 106 youths trained at the SAIL laboratory were able to secure decent jobs in artificial intelligence with Awari AI last year.

Senator Abiru is a perfect example of how political leaders can impact their environment, little wonder he’s been able to earn the trust and admiration of his people in so short a time, his commitment, passion, forthrightness and purposeful leadership skills has ensured for him a place in the sun.

As Senator Abiru hits a significant milestone today, I dare say diamond looks good on him. May he find hope in every challenge, pride in every accomplishment and may every step he takes into the future engender fulfillment.

•Enitan Olukotun, media aide to Senator Abiru writes in from Lagos

Data-Driven Healthcare Revolution: Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential in Era of Big Data/Analytics

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the power of data is undeniable.

As a data professional and tech co-founder deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that data analysis can have—particularly in the healthcare sector. In this op-ed, I aim to shed light on the immense potential that lies within Nigeria’s healthcare industry when it comes to harnessing the power of big data and analytics, while also showcasing the crucial role that my company plays in driving this data-driven revolution.

Nigeria, with its vast population and diverse healthcare needs, stands at the cusp of a significant transformation. Traditionally, healthcare decisionmaking in our country has been hindered by a lack of comprehensive data and insights. However, with the advent of big data and analytics technologies, we now have the tools at our disposal to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered, managed, and optimized.

As both a data scientist and data engineer, I have dedicated myself to spearheading the development of our company’s data infrastructure, empowering us to leverage data-driven insights in all aspects of our operations. Whether it is optimizing supply chain logistics, improving patient outcomes, or enhancing operational efficiency, our commitment to data-driven decision-making has been the cornerstone of our success.

But our mission extends beyond the confines of our own company. We believe that every SME and large corporation in Nigeria has the potential to unlock tremendous value by embracing data analysis deeply. From pharmaceutical companies optimizing drug development processes to healthcare providers leveraging predictive analytics for early disease detection, the possibilities are endless.

However, to truly realize this vision, there are several key challenges that must be addressed.

First and foremost is the need for greater investment in data infrastructure and talent development. Too often, organizations in Nigeria lack the necessary resources and expertise to effectively collect, analyze, and interpret data. By investing in training programs and infrastructure development initiatives, we can bridge this gap and empower businesses to harness the full potential of big data and analytics.

Second, there is a pressing need for robust data privacy and security measures. As we collect and analyze increasingly large volumes of sensitive healthcare data, it is imperative that we prioritize patient privacy and confidentiality. By implementing stringent data protection protocols and adhering to international best practices, we can build trust and confidence in the integrity of our data-driven healthcare ecosystem.

Also, we must foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within the Nigerian tech community. By partnering with government agencies, academic institutions, and other stakeholders, we can pool our collective expertise and resources to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our healthcare system. Together, we can drive innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and ultimately improve the lives of millions of Nigerians.

As a data professional and tech co-founder of Avancee Pinnacle - one of the fast-growing Revenue Technology and Health Technology company, I am committed to leading this revolution and driving positive change in our country. Recognizing the urgent need for change, my team and I set out to develop a solution that

would not only address these challenges but also pave the way for a data-driven revolution in healthcare.

The result of our efforts at was Pay1One—an innovative, entirely digital platform designed to automate revenue collection processes and optimize financial returns for public health facilities. At its core, Pay1One leverages cutting-edge technology to streamline revenue management, minimize revenue losses, and improve overall financial efficiency. By providing healthcare institutions with the tools and resources they need to effectively manage their finances, Pay1One is driving a paradigm shift in how healthcare is delivered and financed in Nigeria.

Since its inception in 2019, Pay1One has experienced remarkable growth and acceptance across Nigeria. What began as a pilot project in a single hospital has now evolved into a nationwide network, with 116 tertiary and state hospitals, Federal Medical Centers, Primary Health Centers, General Hospitals, and Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) utilizing the platform. This widespread adoption is a testament to the tangible impact that datadriven solutions can have in driving transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the public sector.

But Pay1One is more than just a revenue management tool—it is a catalyst for change within Nigeria’s healthcare system. By digitizing and automating revenue collection processes, Pay1One is reducing the opportunities for corruption and financial mismanagement. This not only improves the financial viability of healthcare institutions but also enhances the quality of care available to patients. With reliable

revenue streams, healthcare providers can invest in infrastructure, equipment, and staff training, ultimately leading to better healthcare outcomes for all Nigerians.

However, the success of Pay1One is just the beginning of our journey towards a data-driven healthcare revolution. I continue to be committed to driving further innovation and adoption of data-driven solutions within Nigeria’s healthcare sector. By harnessing the power of big data and analytics, we can unlock new insights, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of millions of Nigerians.

Looking ahead, there are several key areas where data-driven solutions have the potential to drive significant impact in Nigeria’s healthcare system. From predictive analytics for disease prevention to personalized treatment plans based on patient data, the possibilities are endless. By leveraging data to inform decision-making at every level of the healthcare ecosystem, we can drive efficiency, improve outcomes, and ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare services.

In conclusion, the era of big data and analytics holds immense promise for Nigeria’s healthcare system. With platforms like Pay1One, we have the opportunity to transform how healthcare is delivered, managed, and financed in our country. By embracing data-driven solutions, we can foster transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the public sector, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all. I am proud to be at the forefront of this transformative journey, and I am excited to see the positive impact that data-driven innovation will continue to have on Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.

•Adedamola, a data experts scientist experts writes from Lagos.

Adedamola Bowale

Abiru

Ebenezer Onyeagwu: Profile of Inspirational Corporate Leader, Professional Banker

Donatus Eleko

Zenith Bank Plc last week announced that the five-year term of its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu will expire on May 31, 2024. The move is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan and a strategy to groom leaders from within.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Onyeagwu had a successful five-year tenure as all the major metrics used to measure the health of a financial institution maintained a positive trajectory throughout his tenure.

This has seen Zenith Bank surpass its peers in all metrics with the bank carting away numerous awards.

For instance, Zenith Bank’s share price appreciated significantly from N18.60 per share when he took over as GMD/CEO of the bank to N38.65 per share as at the end of 2023. Also, Zenith Bank’s market capitalisation which was N584 billion when he took over in 2019, rose significantly to N1.213 trillion as at the end of 2023.

A comparison of the performance of Zenith Bank’s market capitalisation with that of its peers in the tier-1 banking category since Onyeagwu assumed leadership position showed that, that of Guaranty Trust Bank which was N874 billion as at 2019, stood at N1.213 trillion as at the end of 2023; Access Bank’s market capitalisation which was N289 billion as at 2019, ended the year 2023 at N777 billion; the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc which was N245 billion as at N245 billion stood at N877 billion as at the end of 2023, while FBN Holdings’ market increased from N221 billion as at 2019, to N845 billion at the end of 2023.

Furthermore, under the leadership of Onyeagwu, the bank’s gross earnings climbed significantly from N2.462 trillion in 2019, to N6.101 trillion as at the third quarter (Q3) of 2023; customer deposits increased to N13.383 trillion as at Q3 2023, higher than the N4.262 trillion it was in 2019; total assets also leapt to N18.160 trillion as at Q3 of 2023, up from the N6.347 trillion it was in 2019; Zenith Bank’s cash and short-term funds which was N2.635 trillion in 2019, also jumped to N8.513 trillion as at Q3 2023, while its shareholders’ fund stood at N1.919 trillion as at Q3 2023, from N942 billion in 2019.

A further review of its financial performance also revealed that while its gross earnings which was N662 billion in 2019, jumped to N1.329 trillion as at Q3; profit before tax also rose from N243 billion when Onyeagwu took over, to N505 billion as at Q3 2023; non-interest income climbed from N232 billion in 2019, to N607 billion as at Q3 2023, even as its earnings per share has risen from N6.65 to N13.82.

As at 2019, retail banking in Zenith Bank was at about N9 billion, which the Onyeagwu-led management drove to about N39 billion in 2023.

Onyeagwu, also ensured the growth of Zenith Bank’s non-financial performance indicators from all ramification, to support the financial indices.

For instance, while Zenith Bank’s customer base rose from 9,575,733 in 2019, to 33,069,875 in 2023; the number of cards issued by the bank also increased significantly from 7,880,411 in 2019, to 25,653,330; the number of its Point of Service (PoS) terminals increased to 41,536 to 413,183; the number of its banking agents increased from nothing as at 2019, to 105,810; ATM Terminals from 2,009 in 2019, to 2,012, and its bank branches also grew from 430 as at 2019, to 447, and cash centres rose which was 178 in 2019, was 166 as at the end of 2023.

The review also revealed the number of male staff at Zenith Bank which was 3,776 as at 2019, increased to 4,049 and that of female staff rose from 3,441 in same period to 3,993.

Onyeagwu also significantly drove Zenith Bank’s presence on social media as the number of the financial institution’s followers on Facebook rose from 5,889,788 in 2019, to 6,620,341; Twitter from 1,145,263 in 2019 to 1,601,932; Instagram from 356,656 in 2019, to 607,883 as at the end of 2023; Linkedln from barely 101,427 as at 2019, to 242,000 at the end of 2023 and YouTube views from 25,545,948 in 2019, to 37,678,453 at the end of 2023.

Under his leadership, Zenith Bank as an institution has won a total of 50 awards in the last five years. A breakdown of the awards showed that in 2019 alone, Zenith Bank was adjudged Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria by the World Finance; Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital by the The Banker; Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria by the The Banker; Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019, by Augusto & Co.; Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being by SERAS Awards; Bank of the Year by BusinessDay Newspaper; Retail Bank of the Year by BusinessDay Newspaper, and Most Innovative Bank of the Year by Tribune Newspaper

This continued in 2020, where the financial institution was named Bank of the Year, Nigeria by The Banker; Best Bank in Nigeria by Global Finance; Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital by The Banker; Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria, by The Banker; Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa by Ethical Boardroom; Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being by SERAS Awards; Best Company in Promotion of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment by SERAS Awards; Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) by Thisday Newspaper; Bank of the Year by Independent Newspaper, and Retail Bank of the Year by BusinessDay Newspaper. Furthermore, in 2021, Zenith Bank was also named Best Bank in Nigeria by Global Finance; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria by World Finance; Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital from The Banker; Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria by The Banker; Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa by Ethical Boardroom; Most Responsible Organisation in Africa by SERAS Awards; Best Company in Infrastructure Development- SERAS Awards; Best Company in Reporting and Transparency-SERAS Awards; Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment- SERAS Awards; Bank of the Year- Champion Newspaper, and Retail Bank of the Year- BusinessDay Newspaper In 2022, it was named Bank of the Year, Nigeria- The Banker; Best Bank in Nigeria -Global Finance; Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital -The Banker; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria -World Finance; Best Corporate Governance, Nigeria- World Finance; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria -International Banker; Best Innovation in Retail Banking,

Nigeria -International Banker; Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ AfricaEthical Boardroom; Bank of the Year- New Telegraph Newspaper; Retail Bank of the Year- BusinessDay Newspaper; Best Company in Technology for Development - SERAS Awards, and Best Company in Work Place Practice- SERAS Awards. This continued in 2023, in which it was adjudged the Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital -The Banker; World Finance 100- World Finance; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria -World Finance; Best Corporate Governance, Nigeria - World Finance; Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa- Ethical Boardroom; Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria - International Banker; Best Bank for Digital Solutions, Nigeria – Euromoney; Bank of the Year- BusinessDay Newspaper, and Most Sustainable Bank of the Year -New Telegraph Newspaper.

Also, in the five-year period, Onyeagwu was severally rewarded for being consistently humble, disciplined, ethical, hardworking, an outstanding professional and inspirational corporate leader with impeccable track records of excellence. In 2019, he was named Bank CEO of the Year by Champion Newspaper; in 2020, again he was recognised as Bank CEO of the Year by BusinessDay Newspaper and SERAS Awards respectively. Also, in 2021, BusinessDay and SERAS Awards awarded him Bank CEO of the Year respectively; In 2022, he was adjudged as Bank CEO of the Year by BusinessDay Newspaper and Leadership Newspaper respectively and in 2023, he emerged as Best Banking CEO of the Year, Africa, an award bestowed on him by International Banker, Bank CEO of the Year by BusinessDay Newspaper, and Bank CEO of the Year by New Telegraph Newspaper.

Onyeagwu, the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers in Nigeria, is a graduate of Accounting from Auchi Polytechnic where he obtained the Ordinary National diploma in 1984 and Higher National Diploma in 1987, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 while he was still undergoing the compulsory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) post-graduation and was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) in 2003. He is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Oxford, England, from where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial

Strategy, and certificate in Macroeconomics. He also undertook extensive executive level business education in Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School of Columbia University, the Harvard Business School of Harvard University (all in the United States) and Lagos Business School of the Pan African University, Nigeria.

Onyeagwu, joined Zenith Bank Plc in 2002, as a Senior Manager, in the Internal Control and Audit Group of the bank. His professionalism, competence, integrity and commitment to the set objectives of the bank saw him rise swiftly between 2003 and 2005, first, as Assistant General Manager, then Deputy General Manager, and eventually as General Manager of the bank. In these capacities, he handled strategies for new business and branch development, management of risk assets portfolios, treasury functions, strategic top level corporate, multinationals and public institutional relationships, among others.

As Deputy Managing Director, Onyeagwu had oversight over the bank’s Financial Control and Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Retail Banking, Institutional and Corporate banking business portfolios, IT Group, Credit Administration, Treasury and Foreign Exchange Trading, as well as general administration of the bank, among others.

He was named Executive Director of the bank in 2013, and put in charge of Lagos and SouthSouth Zones as well as strategic groups/business units of the bank including Financial Control & Strategic Planning, Treasury and Correspondent Groups, Human Resources Group, Oil and Gas Group, and Credit Risk Management Group, etc. He was named Deputy Managing Director of the bank in 2016.

On March 25, 2023, he was conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria’s first indigenous University, in recognition of his immense achievements as Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank as well as his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent. The award was given during the 50th convocation ceremony of the University.

In line with efforts to ensure customer satisfaction, the bank under Onyeagwu has been recognised for introducing several cuttingedge offerings. These innovations include the deployment of the first offsite automated teller machine (establishing an ATM in a location outside the bank’s premises in 2003), real-time online banking across its entire branch network, transaction notifications via SMS (Short Message Service) and email, an online payment gateway and QR (quick-response) code payment system.

Today, some of its internet banking solutions include the *966# Banking, which is a convenient, fast, and secure way for its customers to access their bank account and perform banking transactions via non-smartphone without internet connectivity. This service is available to all individual account holders with any feature phones that run on the GSM platform.

Also, the Zenith Bank Mobile App enables customers to get access to their accounts 24 hours a day from wherever you are. A quick download of the mobile banking app can transform customers’ smartphone into a powerful banking tool. The Zenith Bank’s Mobile App is a dual functionality app which bundles Mobile Banking and eaZymoney.

The bank has also made it easier for customers to request cheque books, transfer funds between accounts, pay utility bills and lots more.

Additionally, the ZenithDirect is the financial institution’s 24/7 Interactive Solution Centre that provides customers world-class service and an excellent banking experience. Its services are offered through a menu-driven self-service, phone interactions, social media platforms and via live interactions (chat) with well-trained customer service executives.

From the foregoing, this strategic thinker, inspirational leader and energetic banker who possesses entrepreneurial skills, should be commended for his disciplined, ethical, hardworking, outstanding professional and inspirational corporate leadership qualities which he used in driving Zenith Bank to the zenith.

Onyeagwu

Obaseki Shares Edo’s Education Reforms’ Success Story at LSE Africa Summit in London

State says it has surplus mineral deposits to host 20 more Dangote, BUA plants

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the weekend, spoke to global and business leaders, policymakers and other participants at the London School of Economics Africa Summit 2024 in London, United Kingdom, with the impact of his administration’s education sector reforms.

SA statement by the state government said Obaseki reeled out how the reforms in the past seven and half years had improved learning outcomes, especially at the foundational level, tackling learning poverty.

The event was held with the theme: “African Minds Transforming Futures: Building Resilient Education Systems.” The governor’s speech was tagged: “The Future of Education in Africa: The Role of African Players in Advancing Education in Africa.”

Obaseki, while reiterating the need to sustain investment in education to effectively harness the potential and resourcefulness of Africa’s youthful population, said the continent’s youths hold the key to its sustainable growth and development.

“By 2050, Africa will have at least 33 per cent of the global youth population and this population holds the key to shaping our world, our culture, and politics, among others. This gives us immense opportunity to reshape the world. However, a bulk of this population could become a liability if we do not invest in them.

“So, on one hand, we have this asset that holds the key to Africa’s future and development, and on the other hand is the challenges. I believe that if we have the political will and make strategic investments, build a resilient and dynamic education system, prioritise skills development to address global challenges, and encourage innovation and inclusive governance, we stand a very good chance of resolving and tackling these challenges,” he said. While identifying obstacles to improving education and youth development in the continent, the governor listed poor infrastructure, lack of teacher training, poverty level and digital divide in accessing necessary technology for education as major obstacles.

He stated: “So if we must build

a resilient education system in the region, we must understand that education should not just be seen as constructing buildings and classrooms.

“It is more about igniting curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and empowering young minds to reach their full potential. We must focus on nurturing the flames of knowledge and inspiration transcending mere bricks and mortar.”

Sharing success stories of the State’s education sector reforms, Obaseki noted that before now, Edo State was a prime source for human trafficking and illegal migration.

“Between 2016 and 2017, we had more than 30,000 young Edo boys and girls who had got themselves to Libya to cross over to Europe.

“Our children were significantly underperforming academically; teachers needed more encouragement, support and modern tools and techniques; schools were not properly managed and there was no community ownership of basic education.

“At the time, the government lacked real-time concrete data for policy making and interventions.

We knew we needed to create and strengthen our education ecosystem focusing on foundational learning, on the basis of access, inclusion, and quality control.

“We focused on system strengthening and organisational development, making the institutions stronger to drive these reforms. We also knew that the key to education is teaching.

“So, we prioritised teachers’ professional development and quality assurance. We also concentrated on curriculum development and learning outcomes as well as community engagement and partnerships, while paying critical attention to school infrastructure and facilities,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Enaholo Ojiefoh, has said that the state has surplus solid mineral deposits to host more than 20 more mega plants like the ones set up and operated by Dangote Group and BUA Cement in the state.

Speaking during a live chat with his counterpart in the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and

World Water Day: 113m Nigerians Deprived of Drinkable Water, Says CAPPA

Sunday Ehigiator

A Civil Society Group, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has said that despite access to water being a basic human right, about 113 million Nigerians still lack access to safe drinkable water.

The submission was made by the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, to mark World Water Day, 2024 themed: "Water for Peace".

Oluwafemi noted that the commercialisation of basic services like water and the privatisation agenda advanced by the World Bank bears significant neo-colonial undertones. He hinted that there were also the risks of spurring higher

water rates, sharp management practices in disregard for community needs, inequitable water distribution, and labour losses.

The underlying water access issues, he said, are further worsened by the ‘romanticisation’ of water privatisation in communities across Nigeria.

"This year's theme: ‘Water for Peace’ underscores the critical necessity of water for human survival and societal stability. In Nigeria alone, a staggering 113 million people suffer from painful hardship and crippling deprivation of water.

“This saddening neglect is not due to a scarcity of resources but rather a consequence of the profit-driven logic adopted by state authorities in managing water supply and amenities. The relentless pursuit to ‘commodify’

public resources at the expense of community welfare has led to the deterioration of vital public utilities and social services.

“While this plight is widespread across the country, the situation in Lagos State is particularly alarming for us. Despite the state’s reputation as a lodestar and mega-city, over 8 million of its residents or roughly 60 per cent of its population grapple with limited access to potable water,” Oluwafemi said.

He emphasised the need to reverse this trend of engineered water rationing through privatisation, citing the worsening consequences of water shortages to underprivileged communities.

Oluwafemi also highlighted the need for political will on the part of the government to encourage practices which make for equitable distribution

of water while playing a participatory role in making access to water available for all.

He argued that government must strengthen regulatory oversight and implement proper reparation mechanisms in local communities affected by water injustices like contamination, scarcity, and inaccessibility;

In addition, he said that government must support and protect water sector workers by reversing layoff plans, enhancing water infrastructure conditions, and ensuring adequate wages and comprehensive training programmes to improve their skills and performance.

He further called for a fostering of a participatory approach to water governance that prioritises the voices and needs of local communities into decision-making processes related to water management.

Technology, Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyiisibor, Ojiefoh noted that the state has enormous deposits of limestone, dolomite, quartz, gold, kaolin, feldspar, clay, gemstone, quartz, and is determined to exploit the minerals.

“BUA has been mining in a particular spot for over 10 years. Freedom Group has been mining on their site for over 30 years. They are over 50 years old. The hills you see when going through Okpella are all minerals. The same applies to Akoko Edo. There is a huge deposit of dolomite, limestone, and many others across the State,” he said.

He noted that the state government was looking at expanding the number of ceramics companies in the state to increase productivity and expand the opportunities for employment.

Ojiefoh added that the move would boost revenue in the state and also allow for skills development as the companies will have to train more persons in the state to fill vacancies.

“We are ready for investment in Edo. We do not just want to identify the minerals; we want to use these to drive industrialization and that is the mandate we have from the governor,” he said.

Human Trafficking: NAPTIP Warns Nigerians against Job Offers in W’African Countries

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at the weekend said it uncovered a new ploy by some suspected human traffickers who are offering unrealistic oil and gas jobs to traffic unsuspecting youths and other classes of people to neighbouring West African countries for exploitation.

The Director General of the agency, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, revealed the trend at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja while discussing emerging trends in human trafficking for the year 2024.

She noted that in recent times, NAPTIP had redoubled its efforts through enhanced partnership, collaboration, diligent prosecution, and extensive awareness campaigns aimed at bolstering its operations, resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers.

“As part of our comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability, we have received reports indicating that traffickers have adopted new tactics to lure unsuspecting victims, predominantly to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and other West African nations.

“Under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies, victims are enticed with promises of monthly incomes as high as $900.00, which, as always, are blatant lies.

"Victims are often instructed to bring up to N850,000 for documentation and other logistical expenses. Upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate this money, along with the victims' phones and other personal belongings.

"The targeted demographic includes male and female victims aged between 15 and 35 years old. They are typically trafficked through the waterways of Ode Jetty in Lagos en-route to Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region. Some victims are also trafficked via land routes," she said.

Waziri-Azi urged Nigerians to exercise caution, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers and to not allow desperation to cloud their judgment.

She assured that NAPTIP remains committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights and dignity of all Nigerians, urging Nigerians to report suspected cases of human trafficking or seek further information on 07030000203 or 627.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State with the wife, Barr. Chioma (right) leading other government officials on procession during the Palm Sunday celebration at Government House Owerri...yesterday

10TH OMITUNTUN RAMADAN LECTURE...

L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr Bayo Lawal; Governor, Seyi Makinde; Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland,

SSANU, NAAT, NASU Threaten Total Shutdown of University System after Warning Strike

Funmi Ogundare

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologist (NAAT), yesterday, threatened to embark on a total strike action, following the federal government's failure to address its concerns.

The unions had gone on a oneweek warning strike action which started last Monday, to press home it's demands. The threat by the unions is a follow-up to the warning strike which ended Sunday midnight.

The unions gave the warning during a virtual meeting organised by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) .

The National President of NAAT, Ibeji Nwokoma expressed concern about the way the government was handling the issue, saying that the government had failed to respond to the critical issues raised by the unions.

He listed some of the issues

They stated that services such as electricity, water supply, mobilisation of students for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, as well as provision of health services in university clinics will be disrupted.

15 Varsities, 200,000 Students to Benefit from AAI Campus Tour

Sunday Ehigiator

No fewer than 200,000 students across 15 universities across Africa are set to benefit from the Akin Akinpelu International (AAI) ‘Street2Forbes’ campus tour aimed at providing mentorship, direction, and support for all participating students.

The tour which was instituted by an official member of the Forbes Coaches Council, Dr Akin Akinpelu is scheduled to take off at Bells University, Otta, on April 13, 2024.

The event also coincided with the

unveiling of Akinpelu’s latest book titled: ‘The Street to Forbes’.

Speaking at a press conference held to announce the tour, Akinpelu noted that, during the campus tour, the students will be provided with information, leverage and the required attitude needed to overcome the challenges of life.

He added that the programme will also help them realise how to seize opportunities with undying and unyielding determination through a series of carefully chosen courses, interactive sessions, and emotional

Foundation Awards Scholarships to Mark Anniversary of Idiagbon’s Death

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the demise of a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon (rtd), the Paul Erinne Foundation has donated 1,000 bags of rice and scholarships to five indigenes of Ilorin Emirate.

The chairman of the foundation, Paul Erinne, an engineer, stated this in Ilorin yesterday during his maiden visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari at his palace at Oja-oba, Ilorin.

According to him, the scholarship is for five selected youths from the Ilorin Emirate to study engineering courses in any federal university in Nigeria.

He also said that the 1,000 bags of rice are to be distributed among the people of Ilorin Emirate to support them during the month of Ramadan in honour of the late Idiagbon, stressing that the gesture was meant for the ‘poorest of the poor’. He added: "I never met late Gen. Idiagbon during his lifetime but I am happy to be associated with him, even at death. The day the

Buhari/Idiagbon-led government was overthrown, I shut myself in the house for three days. It was that they that I knew that Nigeria has entered the dark.

"Idiagbon was known for humility, compassion and honesty. I hope political offices holders will imbibe his nationalistic principles in order to make the nation better.

"We gather to commemorate the 25th memorial of Idiagbon, a remarkable leader whose legacy continues to inspire us all. As we reflect on his life and contributions, we honour his memory with gratitude and reverence.

"He was not just a military leader; he was a visionary, a patriot, and a symbol of integrity. His unwavering commitment to duty, discipline, and the welfare of his country left an indelible mark on Nigeria's history."

Erinne further stressed that during his tenure as the chief of staff to Buhari, Idiagbon exemplified leadership at its finest, stressing that he was a man of principles who led by example, instilling discipline and order in every aspect of governance.

conversations.

“Some of the universities to be visited during the tour include: The Bells University, Ota; Covenant University, Ota; Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo; University of Lagos, Akoka; University of Ilorin and Ashesi University, Ghana, amongst others.

“We want to encourage the rise of a new generation of young people in Africa. And we just don’t want to hold this to ourselves and just be talking. We are backing it up with an action. And what is the action? We want to go into the schools to be able to impact the generation.

“You are going to find the highest level of young people in the schools, people who are thinking forward and future thinking. So, it's a good ground to be able to build and inspire and help them to get better.

“We chose to kick off this project

from the university because there is already a conditioned atmosphere that can almost imbibe them to embrace knowledge at the cutting edge level.

“And this is why we decided to go on an impact tour, which is called ‘From the Street to Forbes’. And the reason is because we are telling every young person in Africa that you can be great, you can rise,” he said.

He added that the personal effort is an expression of his unwavering commitment to empowering African children to realise their full potential.

“And I'm honoured to be the initiative’s leader as we set out on this life-changing adventure. We're going to be visiting quite several universities in Africa, maybe about 10 in West Africa and five outside West Africa, including East Africa.

including: Renegotiation of 2009 agreement, non-payment of earned allowances, non release of CONTISS 14 circular for members, payment of arrears of occupational hazard allowance, among others.

He explained that his union had entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the federal government on several occasions, adding that government did not deem it necessary to implement the things that were contained in the MoU.

"Our members went on strike in March 2022 and it was over the refusal of the government to fulfil the 2009 agreement we had with the government. The agreement was to be renegotiated every three years, but that was not done.

"It's over 15 years now, what we have been having is taking a step forward and two step backwards; and government kept tossing us from one committee to the other

"They are owing us five and a half months from that strike action, " Nwokoma stated, adding that the government paid the teaching staff four months withheld salaries and forgot other unions.

" The same attitude is what obtains when you have earned allowance to be paid. Some people would just arrogate to themselves the power to take whatever they like from the money and leave the crumbs for others," he stressed.

The National President of SSANU, Ibrahim Mohammed, explained

that it made efforts to draw the attention of President Bola Tinubu through letters to the Minister of Education, but the government was yet to respond or address their concerns five weeks after, even after the ultimatum of the one-week warning strike.

"What the strike shows is that the university cannot operate without the commonality of these four unions because everybody is important. We are not a strike happy union, but we are being pushed to the wall," he stated.

He expressed concern that it had lost over 100 members due to their inability to take care of themselves due to a lack of fund between 2022 and now. Asked what the unions would do after the suspension of the warning strike and government not yielding to their request, the president said the necessary organs would meet and the decision would be made public as soon as possible.

"We have our own organs and the government have theirs . So if our organs call for total and indefinite strike, which is one of the tools that we use, the system will be shut down totally. Non- teaching staff are the ones in charge of power and water supply. They also man security posts,” he added.

He also called for adequate funding for the tertiary institutions, saying that when education is adequately funded, government will spend less on insecurity, health and many others .

Gombe Leverages Technology to Boost IGR, Targets N22bn in 2024

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

The Gombe state government at the weekend highlighted its strategic vision to reduce reliance on external funding sources and foster self-sufficiency through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The state Governor, Muhammad Yahaya, gave the hint when the management team of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS), led by the newly appointed Chairman, Aisha Yaro, paid a courtesy visit on him in his office.

While receiving the team, the governor expressed his confidence in the leadership of GIRS, and assured them of his support towards fulfilling their mandate.

"We envision a state that can

meet the needs of its people without relying on national allocation," Yahaya declared, expressing his confidence in the GIRS' leadership. He added: "I have confidence in you and I believe you can successfully deliver on the mandates given to you", urging the new Executive Chairman of the GIRS to brace up and perform beyond expectations.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, the newly appointed chairperson of the GIRS, pledged to deliver beyond expectation.

"With all the support of the governor and the government, we should expect increased revenue and the people of Gombe State should expect improved service deliver from us," she said.

Yaro explained that the service

has exceeded its target in 2023 by a remarkable 15 per cent, generating an all-time highest IGR of over N15 billion for the state.

“The service has raised the bar for revenue generation; we have set up an ambitious target of N22 billion for the year 2024 – a significant 100 per cent increase from the previous target", she noted. She assured that the service will intensify efforts around its core functions of tax assessment, collection, and remittance to the government, deploying modern technology for more efficiency and accountability while bolstering revenue generation despite national economic challenges. The chairperson emphasised that tax revenue plays a crucial role in supporting vital development projects

and controlling externalities, citing how effective revenue collections in other states help improve their IGR for financial independence.

Recognising the critical role of the media in public education and awareness, the chairperson expressed her readiness to partner with the home-based media outfits in the area of public education.

"We aim to work hand-in-hand with the media to educate the public about the importance of taxation and its role in funding essential public services," she said.

She acknowledged public concerns regarding potential tax mismanagement, but assured residents that GIRS is committed to absolute transparency inline with the governor's policies and reforms.

Alhaji Daud Akinola, during the 10th Omituntun Ramadan Lecture, held at Government House Arcade Agodi, Ibadan...yesterday

ON THE SIDELINES OF THE LSE AFRICA SUMMIT 2024 IN LONDON...

L-R: Professor David Luke; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ndolamb Ngokwey; Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Movemeback & The Continent Group, Charles Sekwalor; and Cameroon High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Albert Njoteh Fotabong, on the sidelines of the London School of Economics Africa Summit 2024 in London, United Kingdom, at the weekend.

LP Crisis: Trade Union Veterans, Sunmonu, Ciroma, Others Ask Abure to Resign

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Some Trade Union veterans have accused the National Chairman of Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, of involvement in acts that dented the image of the party, and subsequently asked him to resign.

In a statement by Comrade Lawson

E. Osagie, the veterans including, pioneer President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the 2nd President of the NLC, Comrade Ali Chiroma, called on Abure to resign.

and the 2nd National Treasurer of the NLC, Comrade S. O. Oshidipe.

The Trade Unions veterans, who issued the press statement included the pioneer President of the NLC, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the 2nd President, Comrade Ali Chiroma, the pioneer General Secretary of the Congress, Comrade Aliyu Dangiwa,

Others were Comrade S. O. Z Ejiofoh, the Board of Trustees Chairman and pioneer Chairman of Labour Party, Comrade Lawson Osagie and Comrade Salisu Mohammed, all of whom were said to be among the main actors in the formation ad registration of Labour Party.

In the statement issued yesterday, the Trade Union veterans regretted that the noble ideals that made them to form the Labour Party to free Nigerian people from decades of bad governance were being desecrated by Abure.

“We cannot sit down and continue to watch as the ideals, principles, and ethical values of

Palestinian Envoy Alleges Israel Using Starvation as Weapon of War in Gaza

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh, has alleged that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in the ongoing war in Gaza, insisting that the Israeli force is flagrantly provoking famine in the troubled Palestinian city.

Shawesh in his weekly briefing at the weekend in Abuja, said the war strategy by Israel is unacceptable and must be sanctioned.

He said it had been reported that 100 per cent of the population in Gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity, which is the first time an entire population has been so classified.

He drew the attention of the world to the words of UN Secretary General António Guterres, who said that: “Palestinians in Gaza are enduring horrifying levels of hunger and suffering … This is the

highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded …anywhere, anytime”

Shawesh also recalled the words of the UN human rights chief Volker Türk that “hunger, starvation and famine” were the result of Israel’s “extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods”

He noted that as of last Wednesday, March 20, the record of casualties from the Israeli siege on Gaza showed that the death toll reached 31,819 Palestinians, with 73,934 injured and nearly 8,500 missing.

He added that there are 700,000 internally displaced persons taking refuge in only 20 per cent of the Gaza Strip, stressing that in the Occupied West Bank, there had been 436 deaths and more than 4,670 injured.

He decried that the Israeli war

took many forms, one of which is preventing the entry of necessary medical supplies, especially for chronic diseases, noting that the health condition of 1,000 to 1,500 kidney failure patients in the Gaza Strip is rapidly worsening due to the lack of medical services, medication, and other necessities.

He raised the alarm that Palestinian unemployment rate is set to soar to 57 per cent during first quarter of 2024.

“Another life-threatening issue for Gazans today is the presence of remaining explosive materials hidden under the rubble, on the streets, and everywhere else. Mine action partners are currently conducting assessments of the explosive threat and educating Gazans on how to avoid it,”Shawesh said.

Shawesh noted that the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at the opening of

a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza in Brussels, that: “In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people," adding that "This is unacceptable. Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine."

He added that malnutrition is a devastating threat to lives across Gaza, as evidenced by the UN published report on March 15, 2024 where one in three children under two in the Northern Gaza Strip suffer from acute malnutrition.

“Malnutrition among the children is spreading fast and reaching devastating and unprecedented levels…... at least 23 children in Northern Gaza Strip have reportedly died from malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks, adding to a mounting toll of children killed in the strip in this current conflict- about 13,450.

Family Links Kanu's Continued Detention to Alleged N800m FG Spent on His Court Case

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, weekend, said it suspected that the continued detention of their son was not unconnected to the N800 million the federal government has continued to spend each time the IPOB leader appeared in court. Given a new dimension to federal government's refusal to free Kanu, spokesman of the family, Emmanuel Kanu, said the

family was aware of claims that the FG spends that much for each of Kanu’s appearance in court.

The huge amount was said to involve provision of logistics, including adequate security around the movement of the IPOB leader from DSS facility to the court and back.

Emmanuel noted that with the amount of money alleged to be involved, Kanu’s detention has become a lucrative business for "a cabal in government" hence the difficulty being encountered in securing his release.

"Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has finally become a money-minting venture for a few corrupt individuals in the corridors of power," adding that, "government should tell the people who collects and spends the money, and on what.

"Our fear is that if it's true that such humongous amount of money were spent on bringing him to court any time he is to appear, then it may be impossible to grant him bail any time soon," he said. This, according to him, is "because the cabal benefiting from his continued incarceration may

not be willing to let go of their oil well."

Meanwhile, the family has raised fresh concern over the IPOB leader's health issues, saying he needed urgent medical attention to avert a looming health crisis.

"We got information this morning that he is critically down. He has not been granted access to his personal doctors, and he urgently needs cardiologist. He should not be allowed to die in DSS custody," the family spokesman lamented.

Labour Party we toiled so much to build over the decades are being rubbished by one man.

“Consequently, we urge Barrister Abure to step aside now as the National Chairman of Labour Party and in his place, the Board of Trustees should appoint a Caretaker National Chairman that will organise Congresses in the States before the National Convention can be convened,” the labour leaders emphasised.

They stressed the need for the Board of Trustees under the chairmanship of Comrade Ejiofoh to be enlarged to accommodate representatives of the new

stakeholders namely Mr. Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party Legislative Caucus.

“This body will be charged with the implementation in spirit and letter of the MOU referred to earlier,” they added.

They posited that the Supreme Court under Justice Uwais ruled long ago that workers had the right to form a political party to defend and promote their interest.

“How then can any well-read and informed lawyer say that NLC has no business in politics or is a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of Labour Party formed by the Trade Unions themselves?”

Enugu SUBEB Boss Refutes ‘Unjust’ Dismissal of Teachers, Says Board Won't Condone Misconduct

The Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Dr Gabriel Ajah, has dismissed allegation of unjust sacking of five teachers in the board's employ, saying the agency always ensures strict adherence to due process in meting out sanctions to errant academic and non-academic staff.

This was even as the dismissed teachers tendered written and unreserved apology admitting wrongdoing.

Ajah reiterated the board's commitment to upholding discipline and code of conduct, he said, would ensure improved standard of education in the state.

He stated this in Enugu at the weekend while making clarifications over the allegation that one Mrs. Ujunwa Onyia and four other teachers were unjustly dismissed by ENSUBEB over their supposed agitation for teachers' minimum wage in the state.

The story had surfaced on the social media alleging the said teachers were sacked over their agitation for the payment of N30,000 minimum wage.

But speaking to newsmen in his office at the weekend, the ENSUBEB Chairman described the allegation as a mere fabrication, stating that the teachers were among those queried and found culpable over reports of misconduct, truancy, absence from duty without permission, insubordination and other acts, which contravene the public service rules.

Ajah stressed that the misconduct and insubordinate attitudes of Onyia were only one out of the 13 such cases treated by the board at its meeting.

He said it was disingenuous to link the disciplinary action with

any minimum wage agitation, as the extension of N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers was promptly approved by Governor Peter Mbah and equally paid in their February salaries.

He displayed an apology letter by Onyia and four others pleading for a recall to service, having realised their misconducts and mistakes.

Part of the apology letter read: “I and my other four colleagues would like to sincerely apologise for our recent breach of communication channels according to the civil service rule.

"We realise that our actions were disrespectful and inappropriate and we are deeply sorry for any offence or embarrassment we may have caused.

“We realise that our actions may have affected the trust and confidence that you and the board have in us. We will do everything in our power to regain your trust and prove that we are valuable members of the school community.

"We are committed to working hard to improve our conduct and make amends for our mistakes."

Meanwhile the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Enugu state chapter, has expressed gratitude to Mbah for paying the N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers in the state.

The NUT stressed that the union did not support acts of indiscipline and wilful breach of the Enugu state civil service rules by teachers in Enugu State, clarifying that the sanctioned teachers were not members of NUT executive in the state and did not also consult with the body before embarking on the actions that earned them the disciplinary action.

THE VULNERABLE AS HARDSHIP BITES...

Palliatives being distributed at the Central Mosque, Ijebu-Ode, on Friday.

Scores Feared Killed, Houses, Farmlands Razed as Clash Wreck Plateau Community

Ebonyi community raise the alarm over attempt to dispossess them their land

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Scores of persons have been reportedly killed and houses, farmlands, and other valuables destroyed following a violent clash between irate youths of Tarok and Motola in Ponglong area of Lalin district of Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State.

THISDAY gathered that several other persons were severely injured in the clash, which started Saturday night and lasted till Sunday morning.

In a related development, leaders of Effium Indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have raised the alarm over attempts by powerful land speculators to dispossess them of their ancestral land.

However, confirming the Plateau incident, Mikang Local Government Transition Chairman, Mr. Daniel Kunmi, said it started as a clash between two persons before it was hijacked and escalated by the irate youths and criminals.

to the burning down of houses and barns. Several criminal elements took advantage of the unfortunate incident and rustled cattle as well as other valuables.

“Within a short time, the situation degenerated, leading

USAID, A'Ibom Govt Partner for Increased Productivity of Information Officers

US deploys educational, cultural exchanges to drive inclusive economic growth

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Akwa Ibom state government have expressed commitment to enhancing the roles and productivity of information officers in the management of information for the state government.

They made the commitment at a three-day workshop for development of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) organised by USAID under its State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) activities.

The session was held for some information officers drawn from the state information ministry and parastatals and practicing journalists in Uyo at the weekend.

Speaking at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong expressed the commitment of the state government to enhance the productivity of workers in the state.

He noted that earlier trainings of the information officers by USAID had brought a noticeable and remarkable improvement in the productivity of the workers.

Ememobong represented by his Permanent Secretary, James Edet, pledged to increase the number of participants and support given to the trainings.

The commissioner lauded USAID for its interest in the state and promised to enhance and broaden areas of cooperation between the agency and the state government.

The State Team Lead, Mr Borve Paago-Imabel lauded USAID for its interest in developing and enhancing the civil service in Akwa Ibom, adding that the training

programme was a build-up to earlier interventions.

Paago-Imabel said the citizens were looking up to the beneficiaries for credible information on activities and policies of the state government, stressing that the nomination of participants for the programme was based on their capabilities.

Earlier in a remark, USAID Communications Specialist, Nkechi Egbuna, said the training was also going on in five other states of the country is meant to improve the efficiency and confidence of the participants which would in turn increase productivity in the performance of their duties.

Egbuna who expressed sadness over the usurping of roles of information officers by non-professionals in some states called for seriousness from the participants in order to create a sustainable SOP for the state.

Meanwhile, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Lee Satterfield, has visited Lagos and Abuja, where she highlighted a broad range of public diplomacy programmes that help to expand access to education and economic opportunities in the creative industries.

Satterfield’s trip comes on the heels of the recent visit to Nigeria by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and underscores the country’s strong commitment to strengthening people-to-people connections with Nigeria that drive innovation, foster knowledge exchange, and unlock opportunities for shared economic prosperity, the country’s embassy in Nigeria said.

In Lagos, Assistant Secretary Satterfield delivered remarks at the University of Lagos on the importance of cultural diplomacy in Africa and announced three

new exchange programmes for the creative industries.

“These new initiatives include: the Africa Creative TV initiative for writers and producers in the film and TV industries; the American Music Mentorship Programme, which is in partnership with the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs; and the film-focused, one-year Community College Initiative, which will take participants through the script to the screen process.

“She also witnessed the MoU signing ceremony for the establishment of a Window on America at the University of Lagos –– the 26th American Space in Nigeria –– which will serve as a gateway to a wealth of resources; information about US government sponsored exchange opportunities; guidance on how to study in the United States; access to e-LibraryUSA, a platform for academic research; career mentorship; and professional development workshops.

“In addition to visiting the American Corner Lekki, Assistant Secretary Satterfield participated in a tech and innovation showcase featuring six innovative solutions developed by alumni of US government exchange programmes.

“She also met with leading figures in Nigeria's film and music industries and discussed harnessing the potential of these industries to drive economic growth, job creation, youth opportunities, and cultural exchange while strengthening bilateral ties between the US and Nigeria,” the statement added.

At the National Museum in Lagos, it said that Satterfield launched Nigeria’s first Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant, which demonstrates the US government’s

commitment to working with Nigeria to protect, honour, and preserve its cultural heritage.

It stated that through this grant, museum professionals from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will work with their counterparts at the National Museum Lagos to digitise and improve access to Nigeria’s cultural heritage and raise awareness about the importance of cultural preservation.

In Abuja, Satterfield, it said, met with Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman and the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and discussed a variety of issues ranging from the USNigeria partnership on cultural diplomacy, including in film, to expanding access to educational and professional opportunities for women and girls in science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM).

The assistant secretary also engaged with beneficiaries of the US Embassy Abuja Opportunity Funds Programme, which helps high achieving but economically disadvantaged students secure admission and scholarships to American colleges and universities.

She urged the students to make the most of their opportunity to get a top-notch education in the United States while gaining first-hand experience of American life and culture.

While in Abuja, Satterfield delivered keynote remarks at the Women’s International Film Festival Nigeria and participated in a moderated panel discussion where she highlighted the important role of an inclusive and sustainable creative ecosystem in advancing economic growth and strengthening bilateral people-topeople ties.

“We had to immediately report to security operatives who moved swiftly to the affected community to restore law and order.

“I just returned from the affected community and the situation is under control, but for now, we can not ascertain the number of persons killed in the clash,” Kunmi said.

On their part, Effium leaders, including Justice Anselm Nwigwe, Prophet Freeman Nwonu, Elechi Benedict, Hon. Vitalis Igboke, Utobo Joseph among others, said the protest letter to Governor Francis Nwifuru became necessary to put the records straight.

The letter, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Abuja, called on the

governor and warned that the purported endorsement of the peace pact was procured under duress and lacking in voluntary consent or real volition.

The leaders pointed out that the influential members within the implementation committee set up by the state government working in cahoots with land grabbers tempted some of their representatives to sign a dubious document purported as a peace pact.

"We have already sent a letter of protest to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, notified the governor that the purported endorsement of the peace pact was procured under duress and lacking in voluntary consent or real volition.

“We most respectfully bring to your esteem notice that we suspect strongly that your Excellency is not aware of the breach of due process and bias, which dogged the Peace panel and its purported report.”

Sanwo-Olu Congratulates Senator Abiru at 60

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the Chairman of the Southern Senators and member of the Senate representing Lagos East, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, on the occasion of his 60 years birthday.

tor Abiru, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, will clock 60 on Monday, March 25.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Senator Abiru as a seasoned banker, administrator and lawmaker, who has used his various positions for the progress of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor said Senator Abiru contributed his quota to the growth and development of Lagos State as Commissioner for Finance between 2011 and 2013, and now as two-term Senator, representing the people of Lagos East Senatorial District.

He said: “On behalf of my darling wife, Ibijoke,

Government and the people of Lagos State, as well as leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress, I congratulate Senator Tokunbo Abiru on his Diamond Jubilee celebration.

"Senator Abiru has displayed excellent leadership in the banking sector. He showed leadership during his tenure as the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank Limited before he left the bank to become the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"As Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Senator Abiru brought many positive reforms to the Ministry of Finance in the State.

“As Senator, Abiru has contributed immensely to the legislative business in the Red Chamber. His inputs to national growth, especially on the floor of the Senate are pragmatic testament to his visionary leadership.

“As he celebrates his 60th birthday, I pray that God will increase him in good health to enable him render more service to humanity, Lagos State and Nigeria."

Palliatives being distributed to worshipers at the Reverend Mellor Methodist Church, Agbowa, Sagamu...yesterday

Abdullahi: Jonathan Not Weak, He Saved Nigeria from Bloodshed

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A former Minister of Youths and Sports Development in the cabinet of ex-Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said his principal was not weak but took action to save the country from bloodshed after he lost his seat at the 2015 presidential election.

Abdullahi, a journalist and former Commissioner for Education in Kwara State, described Jonathan as a patriotic Nigerian, who as a leader was careful not to hurt anyone, even if it took him sacrificing his position.

The former minister made the clarification at the weekend, during the unveiling of his book tilted: "On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan won and lost Nigeria", hosted by an organisation, the 'August Meeting' convened by Mr Kingsley Wali, in Port Harcourt.

Speaking on his experience as a minister, Abdullahi said the important lesson Jonathan taught everyone was love for the country, adding that the former president never ruled as a dictator, but obeyed the constitution in his leadership.

"Definitely President Jonathan was not weak nor clueless from my experience. Most important

TINUBU: FG, STATES COLLABORATION FACILITATED RELEASE OF ABDUCTED SCHOOLCHILDREN

Anambra State, Peter Obi, yesterday, hailed the news of the release of the schoolchildren.

Abbas said by the development, Tinubu was already living up to the task of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians. He lauded the Kaduna State governor for his relentless efforts, which culminated in the release of the students, saying the governor has demonstrated good leadership.

Abbas also hailed the NSA for the role he played in the release of the students. He commended the security agencies, especially the military, for their determination and commitment to the release of the Kuriga students.

Abbas, however, urged the armed forces to be more steadfast and determined in their operations, as well as ensure the rescue of other Nigerians captured by criminal groups in different parts of the country.

Atiku, while celebrating the news, used the opportunity to call for the strengthening of the safe school initiates, even as he renewed his call for the overhaul of the security architecture.

According to a statement he posted on his X account, Atiku said, "To this end, I recommend the strengthening of the Safe School Initiative that prioritises the protection of schools, especially in the areas that are most vulnerable to mass kidnap of school children.

"But above all, there should be an overhaul of the security architecture to meet the demands of the threats facing us. I am elated at the news of the release of the 287 abducted school children in Kaduna after 16 days in captivity. I commend all those who worked tirelessly to

make their release a reality.

"As we celebrate with their families and friends, let's be mindful that, like stage four cancer, this state of insecurity that has befallen our nation is metastasising and needs proactive measures to stemit.

"I can only imagine the trauma that these vulnerable children have suffered. It is recommended that the children receive psychotherapic care by professionals. We also do not need to wait for the next incident before putting mechanisms in place to forestall it.”

On his part, Obi said it was comforting to hear that 287 schoolchildren had been released.

According to a statement, also posted on his X account, Obi said, "It is hard to imagine the mental pain and trauma the children must have gone through in the hands of their abductors.

"The report of their release is, however, reassuring to the nation and their parents. I thank the government, the security agencies, and all those who made immense efforts to see that our children are released from captivity and reunited with their families.

"We must ensure that every Nigerian is safe in Nigeria, by not giving terrorists any operating space in our nation. No Nigerian should ever be a captive or hostage anywhere in his fatherland.

“I encourage every Nigerian, in the midst of these dark and fearful nights in our nation where danger seems to be lurking on every corner, to remain hopeful for the new dawn of a secure and safe nation - the New Nigeria which is Possible."

thing I know about him is that he is very patriotic, but as a patriot, he is also someone who is careful about how he uses power.

"He (Jonathan) understands the enormity of the power of the president and he used to say

In the spirit of the Easter celebration and the ongoing Ramadan, the Ogun State government yesterday continued its palliative distribution across the three senatorial districts of the state to cushion the effect of the current economic challenges on the people.

It was the turn of Christians as the palliative got to many churches, while some mosques also benefited from the gesture, an initiative of Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Friday.

The palliative, which included rice, were shared in churches and mosques in the three senatorial districts on Sunday and Friday.

In Ogun Central Senatorial District, the gift was extended to

that if the president of Nigeria uses 30 per cent of the power at his disposal, he would become a dictator.

"So, he is someone who is careful and also reluctant to hurt people. Because of his

worshippers at St. Peter's Cathedral, Ake, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Isale Ake and the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Ijaiye in Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke, commended the governor for his kind gesture, noting that the palliative was another means of ameliorating the suffering of the people.

In separate remarks, the shepherd in charge of the Celestial Church, Joseph Talon, Mr. Abeeden Hammed and Mrs Julianah Adesanya, who said they were overwhelmed by the gesture, thanked the governor for the gift.

reluctance to hurt people, it is possible that some one would interpret it as weakness. Some of the things that he did at the time that people regarded him as clueless, some other people have done the same thing or

While appreciating the governor for the various interventions, they prayed to God to grant him a successful tenure.

In Ogun East Senatorial District, worshippers at Cathedral Church of St. Paul, C&S, Orisun Emi Alafia, and United Baptist Church all in Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government also benefitted from the palliative.

The Bishop of Remo Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria, Bamidele Ibikunle, described the initiative as a welcome development.

Speaking on Sunday at the Rev. Mellor Methodist church, Agbowa, Sagamu, Ibikunle noted that the gesture would go a long way in

even worse.

"I think he was a victim of that kind of politics of that time. I think if he had been president of this time, he would probably have had a different approach," he said.

easing the suffering of the people particularly those who are not sure of where the food would come from during the Easter period.

"It is an exciting thing to know that our governor is thinking well of the people and I am happy especially today that we are commemorating the Palm Sunday.

"We want to thank the governor in a special way for being mindful of his people because times are hard and this palliative will go a long way to ameliorating people's suffering, particularly people who are not sure of what to eat at Easter can now have something on their table to eat with their families," Ibikunle stated.

Otti: Abia May Borrow Less Than Projected N400bn Loan to Fund 2024 Budget

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State government might not borrow as much as N400 billion loan projected to fund the 2024 budget, following new strategies being put in place to engender exponential growth of the state's internally generated revenue (IGR).

Governor Alex Otti dropped the hint weekend as he charged heads of the various ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs) to deploy effective strategies that

would yield good results for the state's economy.

He reasoned that with the expected significant increase in IGR, the weight of expected loan portfolio would be reduced.

The governor stressed the need to device new strategies for revenue generation at a follow-up retreat in Government House during which MDA heads and their teams presented strategies to enhance IGR and make Abia fiscally viable.

He stated that he was expecting a positive change in the revenue profile

of the state such that his government would not have need to finance its 2024 budget with loans.

He said: "If we do what we should do and we do them right, then there is no reason why the over N400 billion that is supposed to be raised as loans (to finance the 2024 budget) should not reduce to the barest minimum.

"So, we expect a situation and a scenario where Internally Generated Revenue would spike up and take over our provisions for loans."

The Abia chief executive regretted the dysfunctional fiscal policy where

states are compelled to go the federal government cap-in-hand for the monthly allocation of funds.

According to him, in other clime, especially in developed economies, governments generate income to fund their expenditures, adding that the idea of federal allocation "is a misnomer".

On the recent legislation he signed to stop former governors and deputies from receiving pensions, Otti explained that it was done purely to save costs of governance and has no political colouration.

Four Die In Bauchi Zakat Distribution Stampede

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

No fewer than four persons have lost their lives in a stampede while struggling to collect Zakat being distributed by a private businessman, AYM Shafa, in Bauchi State.

THISDAY checks revealed that the stampede occurred on Sunday at the office of Shafa Holdings located along Jos Road in Bauchi metropolis.

The poor and needy, who by Islamic jurisprudence are meant to be beneficiaries of Zakat, had gathered in their numbers since morning waiting to take their turns to collect the Zakat.

Our Correspondent also reports that Zakat is one of the pillars of the Islamic faith. It requires all Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth to charity. Muslims must meet a certain threshold before they can qualify for Zakat. The amount is 2.5% or 1/40 of an individual's total savings and wealth, which is thereafter given out to the needy and poor.

The affected persons were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi for medical attention where those who died were confirmed dead.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent, Spokesperson of Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said about four persons lost their lives in the stampede. He said scores of others were injured, adding that the situation had been brought under control.

According to him, "On receiving the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed immediately directed for urgent action directing for mobilization of personnel to the scene for action."

The PPRO added that, "On getting to the scene, the Police operative joined

in the rescue operations, cordoned off the area in order to prevent further casualties while the exercise was stopped."

He added that, "The victims were rushed to the ATBUTH unconscious after which a medical doctor confirmed that four of them were dead. Others including a 17-year old girl are currently receiving treatment at the hospital." The PPRO also said that the Command frowns at such development which put the lives of people at risk considering the present economic situation in the country.

RAMADAN FEEDING AS GIFT OF FISH

in 1999 and eleven Northern states soon followed suit, mostly with inadequate conception and preparation. The same thing happened with the distribution of motorcycles. Once one state did it in 1999-2000, politicians in neighbouring states rushed to their governors and said it was a veritable vote-getter, so they must do the same thing. Kaduna State, for example, was late in starting it because then Governor Ahmed Makarfi, an expert in public finance, privately said commercial motorcycles known as Achaba should not be part of public transportation in a modern city such as Kaduna. When the 2003 elections approached however, I was amazed when I entered Sir Kashim Ibrahim House and saw 10,000 brand new motorcycles ready for distribution.

That’s only the first problem with Ramadan feeding programs, their cascading and steam rolling effect. Another issue is the involvement of contractors in the procurement of foodstuff and of vendors in the preparation and serving of the food. While government may be in it to help the needy and vulnerable, vendors and contractors are in it for the profit, in fact for the kill. No wonder that at the weekend there was this video of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf visiting a Ramadan feeding centre and tasting the food. Disappointment was all over his face; he asked the pupils if this was all they got, and said it was far short of what the government budgeted.

That’s the vendors. Contractors make even bigger kills, often with the collaboration of some government officials. It happens in any sphere where contractors are involved, such as school feeding programs and procurement of emergency food items for refugees and Internally

Displaced Persons, IDPs. The fact that this is food for Ramadan charity or the feeding of refugees or school pupils does not in any way deter many contractors from making a kill out of it, by persons who ordinarily think of themselves as humane and religious.

Recall that early in his tenure as Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru el-Rufa’i started a primary school feeding program which he stopped after some weeks. I was not surprised because years earlier, I heard from former Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, a veteran educationist, why the school feeding program was unwieldy and counterproductive and highly prone to corruption.

Next in the matter of Ramadan feeding, there is what in Hausaland is called mutuwar zuciya. The literal translation is “death of the heart” or probably more accurately, death of the spirit. Around the year 2010, I arrived in Sokoto during Ramadan and in my hotel room, I watched television reports of the Ramadan feeding program started by then state governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. Two scenes shocked me. One was of some motorists who parked their cars near a feeding centre, alighted from the vehicles and joined the queue to collect pap and akara. One of them even came out of a Mercedes, an old model one to be sure, but anyone who drives around in a Mercedes could surely afford food in his house?

The Sokoto feeding program was also segmented into different lanes in city wards. The TV report showed one inner city street near Yelwa Garden. All the elderly home owners came out and sat in front of their houses. The food vendor went to them one by one, filled their

THE MORALITY QUESTION

subsidy scandal.

Most recently, there was the Senator Ningi Budget padding scandal of the National Assembly. The presidency presented a budget of about N27.5 trillion to our National Assembly, but controversy has trailed the budget with no solid explanation as to what happened. The story of magical ubiquitous solar lights and boreholes still haunts the integrity of the budget. This budget manipulation allegation is a moral question for the National Assembly. It has brought issues of transparency, abuse of power, the conflict between public interest and personal interest, and issues of fairness and equity to public attention. These issues raise questions about whether our National Assembly has any moral responsibility.

The most disturbing aspect of these scandals is that we do not learn lessons from them, and most perpetrators go unpunished. Nigerians are used to that and expect little accountability and responsibility from our leaders. Impunity reigns supreme, and things have fallen apart. Moral responsibility is an excellent sign of leadership, but this is vanishing in Nigeria. No leader ever takes responsibility for either failure of oversight or being complicit in a failure of the system to compensate morally for the pain associated with such failures.

No one resigns, apologises, or cares about the people, the victims. The reward for corruption in Nigeria is that perpetrators are given better opportunities to ply their trade. They are valuable to the corrupt system that requires the stealing of public funds to prop it up. Nigerians are used to hearing the names of people they believe should be in jail in new juicy appointments. In comparison, in Egypt, the transport minister, Hisham Arafat, resigned on moral grounds in late February 2019 after a deadly train crash in Cairo killed at least 25 people and left 50 others injured. Please understand that the Minister was not driving the ill-fated train. But he resigned on moral grounds. One of the most striking features of contemporary Nigerian politics and politicians is that paradoxically, political rhetoric is increasingly moralistic while

cups with pap and dropped several balls of akara alongside it. At that point I pitied Alu, as Sokoto people fondly called the governor. Could he feed virtually everybody, instead of the down and out as initially envisaged in the program?

I mentally compared that to the Salvation Army soup kitchens that I once saw in the United States. Very good food, well prepared, and a passer-by could see it through the glass windows. All you had to do was to go inside and eat for free, but only the really down and out, homeless and drug addicts sauntered in. Anyone with any pride in him, however hungry, will not go in there. I believe such a widespread social attitude is necessary before we can make a success of the feeding programs, when it is the really needy that will be catered for. But when nearly everybody is scrambling to get free food, even the N10 billion voted by Katsina will sink without much effect.

Then there is the small matter of what happens in the eleven months before the next Ramadan. There is no indication that hunger will disappear from these lands anytime soon. When for one month a man is used to going to a feeding centre and collecting free food, are you not setting a dangerous precedent of what could happen the day the program ends? I am not by any means opposed to charity work and assistance for the needy, but there is sure a need for streamlining and some reform of social attitudes in order to make it effective.

Okay, what happens to the old saying “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”? At the same time as the Ramadan feeding programs

the actual ability of public officials to achieve moral ends is in decline. Our public officials see only shades of grey and operate in a world of contradictions, extreme selfishness, greed, deceit and double-speak. The moral corruption of our democratic process contributes substantially to a moral breakdown in all areas of society. Nigeria's societal moral values, which govern the conduct of politics, business, and government, have often been corrupted. A society's moral values define what people see as acceptable behaviour for themselves, what they believe behaviours they exhibit that others will approve of or not and what society collectively accepts or rejects as

were unfolding, the Tony Elumelu Foundation announced last Friday that 1,104 “promising entrepreneurs” from 54 African countries will receive a nonrefundable $5,000 grant each under its Entrepreneurship Programme. It is seed capital for them to pursue an enterprise. The rationale, program sponsor and UBA chairman Tony Elumelu said, is “We believe in spreading luck, we believe in democratising luck, we believe in prosperity, and we think that the easiest way to spread prosperity in Africa is by identifying our young ones, encouraging them and helping them to start their own businesses.” Oga Tony, are you saying the feeding programs in the North believe in spreading ill-luck, democratising poverty and spreading a dependence syndrome? I know you didn’t say that but with the two programs with completely opposing rationales and modus operandi coming at the same time, some contrasts are inevitable.

Many down and out Nigerians will look at the Elumelu program and salivate, that if only they can get $5,000, all their problems will be solved. Well, not so fast. Every young Nigerian you listen to will say that “lack of capital” is the only thing stopping him from launching a successful business. That is not true. Many of those people in Ramadan feeding queues, if you were to give them $5,000 each, they will be back in the same queues this time next year. At the weekend I saw TV reports of former President Olusegun Obasanjo telling Abia State governor Alex Otti in Umuahia that he should provide infrastructure and skills and his people will find their way. Could we kindly do the same in the North so that fewer people will need Ramadan feeding next year?

attack by the same people it is protecting. Daily, we are bombarded with stories of how our military personnel are dying at the hands of fellow Nigerians – bandits, terrorists, secessionists and now village vigilante groups. This is absurd and shows how low we have come as a society.

Chinua Achebe argued that a functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy, educated, participatory followership and an educated, morally grounded leadership. We do not have either morally grounded leadership or healthy, educated, participatory followership. It is little wonder our democracy has failed to rise in leaps and bounds. The importance of cultivating a solid moral foundation, both as individuals, politicians, and public officials and as a community, should be a priority programme. We must halt the drift, review our current modus operandi, look back into the pressures that have destroyed our public moral standards and values, and seek to rebuild our society based on meritocracy, fairness, and selflessness. We must focus on moral reinforcement rather than materialism.

acceptable behaviour by individuals.

The various crises engulfing the contemporary Nigerian state manifest the breakdown of morality in almost all spheres of the country. The gruesome murder of 16 military personnel last Thursday while responding to a distress call during a communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Delta State is a product of the failure of morals in the communities. The fact that youths who control both money and firepower in our communities no longer have respect for constituted authority and community elders indicates how low we have gone in morals. Our military, which we should revere for protecting us, has come under

The decline of moral values in our communities, particularly in politics and public life, should be a central concern. Politics does not rise or fall on the private righteousness of leaders. Leaders' self-interest should always be tempered by moral conscience. We need to strengthen the guardrails of National morality such as the Judiciary , ICPC, EFCC and the Code of Conduct Bureau . We must effectively demand moral uprightness from public officials and celebrate those who uphold such high moral and ethical standards. We should have more role models of people with merit and resounding accomplishments. We must bring back the mantra that morality and hard work are worthy virtues and celebrate successful Nigerians in sports, art, music, science and technology, academia, business and entrepreneurship, and public leaders who shine as beacons of hope for a better, morally stable, and scandal-free society, where men and women of goodwill and conscience will thrive for the benefit of humanity.

Tinubu

STRATEGIC DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT...

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa(right) CEO, Optiva Capital Partners, Dr. Jane Kimemia, when Kimemia visited NIDCOM’s office for a strategic Diaspora engagement in Abuja…recently

Palliatives:

Official Negligence Led to Death of Two Nasarawa Varsity Students, Falana Alleges

The Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana (SAN), has described as criminal negligent the death of two students of the Nasarawa State University which occurred during the distribution of the state government palliative at the state university’s convocation square last Friday morning.

The state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, was reported to have ordered the distribution of two 7.5 kg bags of rice and N5,000 to each student of the State University at Keffi. The distribution of the palliative was scheduled to hold at the state university’s convocation square last Friday morning.

Kano Denies Spending N6bn on Ramadan Feeding

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said the state did not spend N6 billion on the Ramadan feeding programme.

Speaking at a press conference in his office yesterday, the Director-General on Media and Publicity to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, said it has become imperative to avail the public of the actual amount earmarked for the programme.

“The actual amount earmarked and approved by the governor of Kano State for

the 2024 Ramadan feeding is N1, 190, 790,000:00. This amount is expected to cater for 100 feeding centres across eight metropolitan local government areas with each center expected to feed at least one thousand people daily.”

“This programme aims to support those in need, particularly those who cannot be able to feed themselves during the holy month of Ramadan which includes; people living with disability, almajiris, orphans, and other vulnerable groups.

ALX Partners Enugu to Offer Free AI Course to 5,000 Youths

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Leading tech career accelerator, ALX, has announced that it is partnering the Enugu State Government to provide Artificial Intelligence Career Essentials (AiCE) course to youths in the state.

The AI Career Essentials course covers foundational AI concepts, relevant AI tools and their practical applications across various industries. Participants will also benefit from first-hand learning experiences, mentorship opportunities, and access to ALX’s extensive and supportive global community.

Speaking during a press conference held ahead of the commencement of the programme, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, said Enugu State recognises the significance of equipping the youths with relevant skills to excel in today’s tech-driven world and also compete globally in the technology and ICT space.

He noted that one of the aims of the programme is to tackle youth unemployment by building the capacity of youths in tech which is the new oil.

Made-By-Nigerians

Sets

for Global Expansion

The Made-By-Nigerians (MBN) Project has announced the official launch of its global marketplace, inviting partners to support local innovation in-country, and collaborate in showcasing the finest Nigerian-made goods on a global platform.

Speaking on the global expansion programme, Chief Project Officer for MBN, Chidimma Okoli, said: “Our goal is to build a robust global community around Nigerian brands, promote customer loyalty, and a sense of pride for Nigerians in our locally made products.”

She continued by saying that “We

have made significant strides with partnerships such as the MBN Fair in collaboration with Sterling Bank, quarterly webinars, and have an upcoming exhibition at the Kaduna Food Festival, holding in April.

MBM was developed to connect Nigerian businesses with local and international markets, highlighting the diversity and quality of products made in the country. Since its launch, the MBN platform has grown to a marketplace of over 7000 merchants offering global standard products and services to customers from across the globe.

As the distribution exercise was not well organised, there was a stampede of thousands of students at the venue. The stampede led to tragedy as many

students were injured.

However, Falana in a statement lamented that: “It is unfortunate that the authorities of the university failed to draw any

lesson from the recent stampede which claimed the lives of seven persons during the distribution of 25kg bags of rice in Lagos by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

No doubt, the tragedy would have been averted if the university management had distributed the 7 kg bags of rice to the students through their departments.

PDP Sets Up Screening Committee for Ondo State Guber Election

Labour Party changes venue of national convention

Chuks Okocha in abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up the Ondo State Screening Committee for the purpose of screening all the governorship

aspirants of the party for the upcoming governorship primary election in Ondo State.

This is just as the Labour Party (LP) has again changed the venue of its national convention to Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to a statement

issued by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the screening exercise is scheduled to take place on March 27, 2024 at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, by 10 a.m.

The members of the committee

are former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu. Other members of the screening committee are Senator Isa Shuaibu Lau, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, Mrs. Olivia Dazyman, Tanko, Beji, and Mrs. Gladys Ashemuke .

Ozigbo: Soludo’s Performance in Anambra below Average, I’ll Contest to Replace Him

David-Chyddy Elekeinawka

Former Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Mr Val Ozigbo, has rated the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as being below average.

Ozigbo, who is now a chieftain

of Labour Party (LP) and a staunch loyalist of former Governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi, said after waiting for two years to assess Soludo’s performance, he is not impressed, and has decided to contest the 2025 governorship election in the state, against Soludo who will be seeking reelection.

Ozigbo, who held an interactive meeting with journalists in Anambra at the weekend, said he will run for just one term in office to complete the zoning arrangement which favours the Southern senatorial zone of the state, where he and Soludo hail from. He said: “We have seen the leadership of Soludo in two years and some of you may be impressed but I’m not. After the last election in 2021, I called and wished him well and moved on and we have not spoken again since then. My decision was to assess him after two years, and having seen it, I’m not impressed and I want to start holding him accountable.

EU, UNICEF to Enroll 500,000 Out-of-School Children in North-west Region

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The European Union and UNICEF through its newly launched Education and Youth Empowerment in the Northwest Nigeria programme is to enroll 500,000 out-of-school children in the region.

The Ambassador of the European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Samuela Isopi, stated this while addressing journalists shortly after meeting Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State on some of the intervention process of the programme.

The programme, which is being sponsored by the European Union in collaboration with its implementing partners, UNICEF, is targeting at ensuring adequate reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state.

He said: “We appreciate the efforts of the federal and the state governments to really tackle the many issues affecting this part of the country.

“In spite of the efforts, we realised that education in this part of the country is still lagging behind compare to other parts of the country.

Killing of Soldiers Has Nothing to Do With Engagement of Private Security Firms, Say Groups

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

O’odua Integrity Network (OIN) has berated a former Minister of Communications, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), for linking the killings of four Nigerian Army officers and 13 soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State recently to the engagement of private security contractors to fight oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

The group accused the former army general of fronting for oil thieves with his statement wherein he labelled operatives of the private security firms as militants, thugs and hoodlums who were not different from bandits.

In a reaction to the killings which shocked the country, Olanrewaju attempted to link the killing of the soldiers to the collaborative protection of the country’s oil pipelines between private security outfits, the military and security agencies.

But OIN in a statement issued and signed by its President, Chief Adewale Adeosun, and Secretary, Ige Kilanko, and made available to journalists in Warri yesterday.

Obasanjo Lauds Ex-Aide for Building Hospital for Community

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged wealthy Nigerians to use their resources for public good, saying the most worthy achievement involved in

doing those things is to “keep our memorial alive.”

He made the call at the weekend at Okai Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State where he led other eminent Nigerians to celebrate the diamond

jubilee of his former aide, Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha.

Onuoha, who was Special Assistant to the Obasanjo on Privatisation turned 60 on March 22, and his Item people rolled out the drums to celebrate him. To

mark this special day, he unveiled a 50-bed Agnes Onuoha Memorial Hospital for his community, a gesture which excited Obasanjo, hence his emphasis on the need for well-to-do individuals to do similar things.

APC Chieftain Appeals to Tinubu to Intervene in Cooking Gas Price Hike

Yinka Kolawoleinosogbo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tunubu to urgently intervene in the high cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly called cooking gas in the country.

Oyintiloye, who made the appeal while speaking with journalists yesterday in Osogbo, said the cost of the cooking gas was becoming unbearable for the masses.

The APC chieftain said although the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo,

on February 22 announced that the federal government had asked LPG producers to stop exporting the commodity, but the decision had not yielded any positive results in the reduction of price of the item locally.

He said rising prices of the item might be as a result of LPG producers secretly exporting the products.

Oyintiloye, a former member of defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said it was alarming that the cost of refiling a 12.5kg of cylinder in many part of the country now ranges between N17,500 and N18,000.

Rangers Win Oriental Derby with Heartland to Go Top of NPFL

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Rangers International FC of Enugu moved to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) yesterday securing a vital 2-1 away win in an Oriental Derby with Heartland of Owerri.

The win lifted the Flying Antelopes to 48 points from 27 games. Rangers have now gone nine matches unbeaten.

Former Leaders Lobi Stars who were held 1-1 at home in Makurdi by Bayelsa United are now second on the log, one point less than the Flying Antelopes. Remo Stars with a game at hand are third on 45 points with the chance of matching Rangers at the top.

Yesterday against Heartland, Rangers drew first blood in the 37th minute through Ifeanyi Onyekachi’s header off a Kelechi Nweke corner kick.

Nweke Kalu doubled the lead 14 minutes later after the resumption

from first half break. The hosts however got a consolation goal in the 90th minute through Chukwuebuka.

In Makurdi, Sunday Chukwu gave Lobi Stars a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 61st minute but Bayelsa United’s Malik Kehinde cancelled the goal with a low header in the 77th minute for the game to end in a draw.

However, the biggest shock of the day was in Jos where ambitious Plateau United lost 1-2 at home to Akwa United.

Super Eagles to Launch New Nike Jerseys against South Africa in June

Nigerian fans hoping to see Super Eagles launch their newly designed Nike jerseys in tomorrow’s international friendly with Eagles of Mali, may have to wait a little longer.

SCORENigeria reported yesterday that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have hinted that the new jerseys will first be used by Super Eagles in June when they host South Africa in a must-win 2026 World Cup qualifier in Uyo.

Nike recently made public the new jerseys with a majority of fans declaring their admiration for the new designs.

Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar who is a Nike athlete was pictured rocking the new Super

Eagles kits on social media on Saturday.

A source close to the team revealed yesterday: “The team will start using the new jerseys in June for the World Cup qualifiers beginning with the home game against South Africa and then the away match in Benin.”

The Super Eagles are under pressure to get their World Cup qualifying campaign up and running after they could only manage two draws in the opeing rounds in November.

Some earlier reports had suggested the Eagles will launch the new jerseys for the friendlies against Ghana and Mali in Morocco but that has now be dismissed as mere speculation.

Mali Send Warning Signal to Nigeria, Beat Mauritania 2-0

The Eagles of Mali have showed they mean business leading up to Tuesday’s international friendly against the Super Eagles after they shot down Mauritania 2-0.

Debutant and Montpellier defender Modibo Sagnan netted the opening goal after just nine minutes, before El Bilal Toure from Serie A club Atalanta added the second goal three minutes later to seal a deserved victory.

The Eagles of Bamako did not call up one of their top stars, midfielder Yves Bisouma from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Mali, who qualified for the

men’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics, gave several players their debuts – Sagnan, Abdoulaye Diaby and Daouda Guindo, who looked like the leftback they have been lacking for some time now.

It was a good all-round performance by Mali against Mauritania, who reached the knockout rounds of the recent AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

The Super Eagles also won their first friendly after they edged past arch-rivals Ghana 2-1 Friday.

Tuesday’s clash between West African foes Nigeria and Mali will kick off at 9pm.

Jerome Heutchou secured a 10th-minute opener for the visitors but the host won a penalty which was converted by Sunday Anthony in the 77th minute. But calamity struck the home side when they conceded a last-minute penalty which was converted by Suleiman Sanni on the dot of the 90th minute.

The result pushed Plateau United to fifth position with 44 points while Akwa United sailed out of the relegation zone into 16th position with 31 points.

In Katsina, hosts Katsina United defeated Abia Warriors 2-1 while Kwara United punctured the ambitious former champions Enyimba with a 2-1 scoreline in Ilorin.

The host team opened the scoring in the 8th minute but Ikenna Cooper levelled scores in the 38th minute. Ogbole however restored the lead in the 49th minute.

In Ikenne, top contender, Remo Stars laboured to a 2-0 win against Bendel Insurance of Benin.

Abayomi Adedayo opened the score with a low shot in the vital area in the 80th and second-half substitute, Hadi Haruna doubled the lead in the 87th minute to give Remo Stars their first win over Insurance in a regular season aside the lone goal win at the Super 8 Tournament in Lagos last season.

Kenya’s Ebenyo Eager to Return to Make Okpekpe Race History

Daniel Ebenyo hinted on Sunday that he wants to return to Nigeria in May to defend his Okpekpe International 10km Road Race title.

The Kenya ran a new 28:28 course record to win the men's title on his debut and now wants to make history as the first man to successfully defend an Okpekpe race title.

“I am interested in returning to Nigeria to run at the Okpekpe race. Nigeria is like my second home,” says the 28-year-old road runner who went on to win the 10,000m silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and another silver medal, this time in the half Marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

Asked if he was coming back to break the course record he set last year and probably

become the first man to run under 28 minutes in Okpekpe, Ebenyo was non -committal. “May be I will try,” he said.

The Okpekpe International 10km road race will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year and organizers have said it will be the best ever in terms of its glamour and entertainment.

“The technical and administrative organization of the event have been applauded by World Athletics with the elevation of the event to a gold label status after it's return from a two-year Covid-induced absence,” said Zack Amodu, the race director.

The Okpekpe International 10km road race is the first road running event in West Africa to be granted a label race. This year's race will hold on May 25 in Okpekpe, Edo State.

Ondo Auto Rally 2024 Kicks off X-Kart in Ilara-Mokin

The 2024 Ondo Auto Rally has announced that it will feature the newly commissioned X-kart race series in the country when it flags off on March 29th to 30th in Ilara Mokin in Ondo State.

President of the Work and Play group, Adeoye Ojuoko, said the X-Kart series that started February in Shagamu is a five-prong series that is billed to be concluded later in the year and will feature at the Rally. According to him; “At this year’s event, we are raising the level of activity with the onboarding of the X-Kart series to the Ondo Auto Race. The race in Ilara-Mokin will be the second in five series of the X-Kart for

the year. This is because we are a partner in the series' development and a frontline promoter of Motorsports.”

The Ilara Mokin racing track is the first off-road track in the country and has hosted three series of off-road races over the years, hence more positioned to feature the growing X-kart racers.

“Most of the set-up of the track in Ilara has been optimised for the demand of the X-Kart Series and we are only waiting to get the races going,“ Ojuoko added. Participants for this year’s edi- tion have been widened due to the X-Kart inclusion. The regular car races and bike races will still run their course at the Auto Rally.

Racers are expected to turn up from Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Enugu, Nasarawa, Kwara, Osun Kebbi, and Rivers states. The Ondo Auto Rally is one of the key drivers of tourism to Ondo State with activities that have included on-road races at the state capital in Akure in the past with former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu flagging off races and also test-driving some of the race cars. The organsiers have assured that apart from the X Kart series, the usual trappings of vintage car exhibitions, bike races, drifting, food exhibitions, and live music shows will all be served at the event.

Rangers International of Enugu players celebrating defeating Heartland 2-1 to go top of the NPFL ...yesterday

Daniel Ebenyo...returning to Nigeria to defend his Okpekpe International 10km Road Race Title in May

Adeniyi to Federal Govt

“ThereisnoplaceintheworldwheresensitivesecuritydetailslikeNINisplacedonthe openmarketasPatami(formerCommunicationsMinister)compelledNigerianstodo. TheoriginofthispoliticallymotivatedschemingwaswhenBuharithrewtheNigerian citizenshiptoallmannersofmigrants,particularlytheFulanifromalloverAfrica...The shenaniganwasmeanttoseriouslyalterthecountry'sdemographics"-HighChiefTola Adeniyi,tellsFGthatlinkingNINwithphonenumberisdangeroussecurity breach.

VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

Ramadan Feeding as Gift of Fish MAHMUDJEGA

Iwill not be surprised if some folks in Kano and other far Northern states already think of this year’s Ramadan period as the biblical Seven Years of Plenty. At the weekend, President of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote, reputed to be the richest person in Africa having long displaced Harry Oppenheimer, flagged off the distribution of 120,000 bags of rice to one million underprivileged persons in the 44 local government councils of his native Kano State.

Dangote estimated the cost of the food items he procured for distribution throughout the country at N15 billion. Kano alone would receive 120,000 bags while the rest would go to the country’s remaining LGAs, about 730 of them. The purpose, he said, is to provide immediate relief to those in need. Kano was chosen to flag off the program, he said, because of its large population and high level of poverty. This is in addition to his group’s daily feeding programme for 10,000 vulnerable people in Kano State which has been running since 1990,

Dangote said.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who received the food, called on other wealthy individuals in the state to emulate

the gesture. Tens of thousands of them all over the region are doing that already, but the pressure must be mounting on all other persons who are wealthy or thought to be wealthy to also embark on Ramadan feeding programs, or else they may have their food stores and food trucks looted on the highways. Everybody says Ramadan is a costly period and millions of people need help to get by. I sometimes wonder about this claim because during Ramadan, adult and healthy Muslims do not eat or drink for up to 14 hours a day. Logically, when we do not eat for all those hours, I thought our food budget should drop. Instead, it goes up astronomically because people more than make up with elaborate and sumptuous dishes for what they missed during the day, hence the urgent cry for assistance.

Seven Northern state governments upped the ante this year by spending a reported N28 billion on Ramadan feeding. Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger and Yobe together spent this tidy sum to provide Ramadan food

DAKUKU PETERSIDE

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Tto their citizens. The amounts varied, from champion feeder Katsina State’s N10bilion to Sokoto State’s N6.7 billion, Kano State’s N6 billion, Jigawa’s N2.83 billion, Kebbi’s N1.5 billion, Niger’s N976 million and Yobe State’s N178 million. Population size had something to do with the variation, though not wholly so, because Katsina’s population is smaller than Kano’s but it budgeted nearly twice as much. Sokoto’s population is only slightly larger than Kebbi’s but it voted five times as much. No doubt many other Northern states also embarked on Ramadan feeding, only that I could not lay my hands on the figures.

One of the problems with these kinds of programs is that once one state government starts it, other governors will come under severe pressure to do a similar thing, even when they have doubts about its utility. In the North things tend to spread like wildfire, such as when Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Sani started the Shari’a project

Continued on page 45

The Morality Question

here is unarguably a progressive value erosion in our country. This is happening increasingly, and there is no hope of it abating soon. This cankerworm is significantly influenced by westernisation and globalisation but with the shared responsibility of local catalysts like collapsed family systems, near extinction of communal oversight and accountability, abdication of moral reinforcement by religious centres, failure of governmental institutions and a skewed education curriculum that pays little attention to proper moral education and developing cultural personality identity.

The social-moral code which governs how individuals behave in a community setting has literarily collapsed in most of our communities. Religious morality has been subdued by a craving for wealth and fanaticism not founded on love, truth, or honour. The elevation of money or accumulation of pecuniary wealth in the

public space has become Machiavellian as the "end that justifies the means". The 'get rich quick syndrome' is normalised. The effect of this malaise is evident to all; we see it, feel it, and analyse it, but beyond that, what do we do?

The most critical to my mind is the moral dimension of our public affairs. The decay is evident on a national scale. This is not to say that the other dimensions of our moral decadence are less critical. This column will, however, focus on the morality governing the conduct of public affairs, which needs to be more relevant. The decay is growing at a rate similar to our advancement as a country and the extent of our globalisation. It is as though the more advanced and interconnected we are with the rest of the world, the more immoral we become. Some recent manifestations of the decay in our public morality standards will help us appreciate the extent of the decay.

Historically, Nigeria has often witnessed

corruption scandals of fantastical proportions at different times that have shown our decline from morality, as my friend Dr Lasisi Olagunju captured in his recent column "The History of scandals". Each succeeding corruption scandal and sleaze makes the last one look like a child's play in comparison, both in the audacity of maleficence and the amount of money involved. In the 1970s, Nigerians witnessed the "cement armada" scandal when the military government issued import licences to companies to import vast amounts of cement to build military infrastructure. The corruption in the cement price, the quantity supplied was far less than paid for, the demurrage paid for real and imagined ships carrying cement at the Nigerian ports, and the local and international court cases that ensued left a sour taste in our collective mouths.

The 1980s were marred with the infamous "rice scandal"; the government spent over $4b to import rice to feed a

hungry nation. The rice was nowhere to be found, the monies grew wings and flew into thin airs, and Nigerians and the international community marvelled at our leaders' sheer level of wickedness and moral bankruptcy.

In recent times, Nigerians have seen the abdication of moral responsibility by those charged with handling our public affairs in favour of self-interest and material gain. You remember the Dasuki-gate. Billions of Dollars meant for combating terrorism and insecurity cannot be accounted for, and the same insecurity has ravaged our communities. You remember the billion-dollar fuel subsidy scam of the 2000s and its sad, lurid details. In this democracy, people collected subsidy payments for petrol vessels that had never come here or existed and falsified the amount of petrol supplied. A few well-connected Nigerians got away with murder in the

Continued on page 45

Dangote