FRIDAY 31TH MARCH 2023

FullYear 2022: UBA Delivers Strong Results as Profit Hits N201bn Declares 90 kobo final dividend, total assets rise by 27.2% Kayode Tokede Africa’s Global Bank, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yesterday released its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022, showing impressive

performance across major indices.

The 2022 financials, filed by the bank on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), showed that despite the highly challenging global economic and business environment, UBA recorded a

laudable profit before tax, with a 31.2 percent growth, to close the year under review at N200.8 billion, rising from the N153.01 billion recorded at the end of the 2021 financial year.

Its profit after tax (PAT) grew by 43.5 per cent to N170.2 billion in 2022,

compared to N118.7 billion recorded the year before. Consequently, UBA Group Shareholders’ Funds rose to N922.1 billion, as at December 2022, achieving an impressive growth by 14.6 per cent compared to prior year.

The results showed that the bank’s

gross earnings rose significantly to N853.2 billion, from N660.2 billion recorded at the end of the 2021 financial year, representing a strong 29.2 percent growth.

Total assets rose remarkably by 27.2 per cent, crossing the N10

trillion mark, to close at N10.9 trillion in December 2022, up from N8.5 trillion in 2021.

According to a statement, this was a significant achievement Continued on page 5

DMO: New Borrowings, Promissory Notes, Others Pushed Nigeria's Public Debt to N46.25tn... Page 10 Friday 31 March, 2023 Vol 28. No 10215. Price: N250

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PDP NWC Reverses Ayu’s Decision on Ortom, Shema, Anyim, Fayose, Others... Page 5

Donald Trump Indicted By Manhattan Grand Jury, May Face over 30 Counts of Business-related Fraud Former US President fires back, says it’s witch-hunt that will backfire massively on Joe Biden

Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter – the first time in American

history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges.

But in a swift reaction, Trump released a statement in response

to the indictment claiming it was “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”

The former President faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud the indictment, according to two sources familiar with the case

The indictment has been filed under seal and would be announced in the coming days. The charges are not publicly known at this time, one

source told CNN. Manhattan District Attorney (DA), Continued on page 5

Agbakoba: No Constitutional Provision for Interim Government, It’s Nonsense!

It’s an idea not feasible under Buhari, says Lalong CD dismisses it as unwarranted, unnecessary, subversive DSS’ report is fake, plot to arrest Atiku, Obi, alleges Frank

Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba, yesterday, declared that there was no constitutional provision for an interim government in Nigeria, and therefore dismissed the idea as total hogwash.

Agbakoba’s comments come a day after the Department of State Services (DSS) alerted the nation to plots by some political actors to bring an interim government into power and stop Bola Tinubu from being inaugurated as President of Nigeria.

This is as the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has dismissed the idea of an interim government as not feasible on the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying those pushing it were at best daydreaming.

In the same breath, the Campaign for Democracy (CD), has condemned Continued on page 5

SANWO-OLU GETS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN...

R-L: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, during the presentation of Certificate of Return to the Deputy Governor, at the INEC State headquarters, Onike, Yaba...yesterday

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PDP NWC Reverses Ayu’s Decision on Ortom, Shema, Anyim, Fayose, Others Benue chapter suspends ward exco over embattled chair’s ordeal Chuks Okocha in Abuja In a reconciliatory move designed to unite tendencies in the party, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by its Acting Chairman,Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum, yesterday, reversed some of the decisions by the embattled National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. This included the suspension of some prominent members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as well as the directive to some, including the Benue State

Governor, Samuel Ortom, to appear before a disciplinary committee.

These, however, were the high points of the many decisions taken at its meeting, yesterday, March 30, 2023, where the matter was extensively discussed.

But it appeared the crisis rocking the party might have spilled over to Benue as the state Working Committee, yesterday, suspended the Kashi Philip-led Igyorov ward executive in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

The party, under Ayu, had last week suspended former governors

Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti State) and directed the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to appear before a disciplinary committee.

In a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said the NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of the teeming members and Nigerians in general.

"Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of

the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

"The NWC, in the same vein, reverses the suspension of the following underlisted members of our great party: Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), Senator Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State), Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).

"This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time pursuant to the provisions

of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

"The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our party at this critical time.

"The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our Party and Presidential Candidate, Atiku

Abubakar, on Saturday February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal," the statement stated.

Yesterday's meeting was the first under the leadership of Damagum, who was appointed Tuesday following the Benue High Court order restraining Ayu from parading himself as national chairman.

Ayu was suspended on Monday by his ward for alleged anti-party activities and for not paying his membership dues in his Igyorov ward in Gboko Local Government of Benue State.

AGBAKOBA: NO CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION FOR INTERIM GOVERNMENT, IT’S NONSENSE! the alleged moves by some people to create crises that would lead to the setting up an interim government on May 29, saying it was unwarranted, unnecessary and subversive.

But a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has described the alarm raised by the DSS as fake and an attempt to arrest the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, before the May 29.

However, in a communique, Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who declared that saying those behind the plot must be handed the “gravest possible consequences” for their treasonable intent, also said though the general election might have held under the most challenging circumstance, still, a

president-elect has emerged and that fact must be respected and accepted.

The SAN called on all Nigerians to reject the alleged move, which he termed as “nonsense” adding that citizens must respect the nation’s Constitution, “which has no provision for interim arrangements.”

Agbakoba was of the opinion that if the other presidential candidates had accepted the democratic process by lodging petitions before the courts, then, it is very difficult to understand upon what basis anyone considered that an interim government was a viable and legal alternative.

His words: “It is shocking to learn from the Department of State Services that secret plans are underway to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and transition, by arrangements of what is described as an interim government. This will be a major set-back and we must

all resist.

“I suggest that the gravest possible consequences must be applied to all who are associated with this treasonable intent. The general election has held, albeit under the most challenging circumstance.

“But a president-elect has emerged and we must respect and accept this as fact, at least, for now. All leading Presidential candidates have approached the courts with grounds of complaint concerning what they consider as electoral irregularities.

“If the presidential candidates have accepted the democratic process by lodging petitions before the courts, then it is very difficult to understand upon what basis anyone considers that an interim government is a viable and legal alternative. We must all reject this nonsense and respect our Constitution, which has no provision for interim arrangements.

“As the President-elect is sworn into office on May 29, the judicial process will ultimately render a decision. As Nigerians, we must turn to the courts to render a decision on the petitions before them. The judicial process will certainly carry a huge responsibility in the process of democratic consolidation.”

Lalong, while speaking with newsmen after meeting with President Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said, “Nigerians will always say, ‘God forbid.’ Not under the administration of President Buhari, who has been saying every time that ‘I believe in democracy. I believe that after my tenure, I want to go and rest.’

“He said it today that ‘I’m going back to Daura,’ and I told him that some of us will still disturb you in Daura. This man has worked very well for democracy.

“So, those who are still talking

FULL YEAR 2022: UBA DELIVERS STRONG RESULTS AS PROFIT HITS N201BN and milestone in the history of the powerhouse financial institution.

In the year under consideration, UBA Group cost-to-income ratio dropped to 59.2 per cent, from over 60 per cent in prior year, pointing at the Group’s improving efficiency.

In its usual tradition of rewarding shareholders, the bank proposed a final dividend of 90 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo, for the financial year ended December 31, 2022. The final dividend which is subject to the ratification of the shareholders during its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) would bring the total dividend for the year to N1.10 per share, as the Bank had paid an interim dividend of 20 kobo, based on its audited 2022 half year results.

Also worthy of note, UBA recorded a 21.4 per cent growth in loans to customers, moving up to N3.4 trillion in 2022, whilst customer deposits improved by 22.9 per cent to N7.8 trillion, compared to the N6.4 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2021.

This reflected increased customer confidence, enhanced customer experience, successes from the ongoing business transformation programme and the deepening of its retail banking franchise.

Commenting on the result, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, said notwithstanding the tight and challenging operating environment, UBA continues to deliver significant performance.

He added, “The Group delivered record headline earnings (+29.2%) and profitability (+31.2%) amid significant headwinds in markets where we are present and a heightened global risk environment.

“Our record earnings, growth, and robust capital levels supported higher returns for the shareholders.

The Group is on course to achieve its strategic goals, and we are confident we will deliver our targets.

“We have navigated unprecedented macroeconomic headwinds and made significant gains in our diversification strategy and Customer 1st philosophy as we build resilience in our operations across Africa and the Rest of the World to support the mission of providing superior value to our stakeholders.

“The Group’s profit after tax increased by 43.5 per cent to N170.3 billion, with underlying growth in our key income lines and moderation in our cost of fund, resulting in robust growth of 14.6 per cent in the Group’s Shareholders’ Funds and stronger

liquidity. We continued to sharpen our risk management structure and practices to align with evolving risks,” Alawuba said.

On the outlook for 2023, Alawuba said, “we are strategically positioned to increase our market share in our countries of presence, with expansion to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and strong growth of our digital banking and payment businesses, which is pivotal to the evolving cashless economy in Nigeria.

“We strive to deliver increasingly attractive returns to our shareholders and continued positive impact in the geographies and economies in which we operate.”

UBA’s Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said going by this recent performance, the bank remains on strong footing and is comfortably positioned to take on more opportunities in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

“UBA Group’s 2022 full-year performance was buoyed by strong balance sheet growth and improvement in Net interest margin, as Group’s Total Assets and customer deposits grew 27.2 per cent and 22.9 per cent respectively, whilst NIM grew to 5.61 per cent from 5.57 per cent.

“The continuous rejigging of the

Groups’ risk management approach resulted in moderation of the NPL ratio, from 3.6 per cent to 3.1 per cent. The Group continued to rely on lower cost funds, further reducing its cost funds to 2.1 per cent.

“We are delighted with the strategic progress we have made in FY22 riding on our customers’ trust, the dedication of our people, and the support of our wider partners and stakeholders.

The bank remains committed to its business development drive, prudent risk management practices, and we are optimistic to deliver best value for our stakeholders in the days ahead,” he noted.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries and across 4 continents.

With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France and more recently the United Arab Emirates, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative crossborder payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.

about it (interim government), I will say they are just dreaming. They are just daydreaming. By the grace of God, Buhari is going to bring a successor and that successor is already Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The Plateau governor said he was at the State House to formally invite the president to Plateau to inaugurate his administration’s legacy projects.

According to him, “They (the projects) include six model hospitals, six Model Secondary Schools and six model primary schools. Apart from that, I have completed many of the abandoned projects left by my predecessors.

“One of them is a giant BritishAmerican overhead bridge, the best High Court in the north is in Jos now, awaiting commissioning. I’m very proud of that as a lawyer."

Similarly, the CD, in a statement by its General Secretary, Ifeanyi Odili, yesterday, described the plot as unwarranted, unnecessary and subversive, urging the federal government not to tolerated the proponents of such an idea.

Part of the statement read: "It is mutinous to call for interim government at this stage, when an election has just been conducted and a candidate has emerged.

"In a democratic setting, if there are aggrieved persons, who have lost out in an election, such person(s) should seek legal redress in a competent courts of law or tribunals. Calling for an interim system, which is alien to our constitution is tantamount to treason and felony.

The group said while it understood the feelings of some tribes, it also agreed that the 2023 presidential election process was marred with a lot of irregularities and criminal breaches of the electoral laws.

"However, we do not see interim government as a reasonable solution, rather, it sees it as subversive: an attempt to destroy the entire nation's democratic principles.

"Any person or group of persons advocating interim arrangement at this stage of our nation building should be seen as enemies of Nigeria as such calls are unguarded, unreasonable which can only come from unpatriotic minds. We cannot afford a replay of June 12, when

we are having a lot of security challenges," it said.

But Frank, also in a statement, said the DSS must stop its method of intimidating Nigerians, especially politicians, whenever they wanted to exercise their constitutional rights.

He therefore, maintained that the DSS’ purported intelligence was fake and a plot to crack down on protesters and arrest opposition political leaders demonstrating against the "rigged" 2023 presidential election and to massively arrest opposition politicians in the country.

Frank was of the opinion that the DSS ought to have used the same intelligence to stop abuse and killing of Nigerians by terrorist groups over the years.

“Where was their intelligence when the Independent National Electoral Commission and Mahmood Yakubu were compromised to rig the 2023 general election?

“We have credible information that the DSS issued the statement in preparation for its planned disruption of ongoing protest by Nigerians, who are demonstrating peacefully to demand for justice and the restoration of their stolen mandate,” he said.

Frank pointed out that the only time the DSS is seen coming up to talk about intelligence was whenever Nigerians were preparing to either protest against obnoxious government policies, rules, human rights abuses or carrying out lawful political activities.

According to him, “Nigerians have been under siege by bandits, kidnappers and terrorists for a long time now, but the DSS never gave intelligence to foil kidnapping, heinous attacks, maiming and killings of innocent Nigerians."

“In fact, we dare the DSS or any other security outfit in the country to arrest Atiku and Obi before May 29 and see the wrath of Nigerians," he said He therefore, called on the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union to immediately call on the Nigerian government to allow Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights, which is to ensure that the "stolen mandate" of the Nigerian people was restored through peaceful protests and the judicial process.

DONALD TRUMP INDICTED BY MANHATTAN GRAND JURY, MAY FACE OVER 30 COUNTS OF BUSINESS-RELATED FRAUD Alvin Bragg’s office would reach out to Trump’s attorneys to discuss his surrender to face an arraignment, CNN disclosed, adding that it had reached out to Trump’s attorneys for comment.

Bragg said the office has contacted Trump's attorney to "coordinate his surrender" for arraignment on "a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal."

"Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected," it added.

The DA’s office has been investigating the former president in connection with his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan grand jury votes to indict Trump, sources tell CNN

The decision is sure to send shockwaves across the country, pushing the American political system – which has never seen one of its ex-leaders confronted with criminal charges, let alone while running again for president – into uncharted waters.

The legal action against Trump jolts the 2024 presidential campaign into a new phase – where the former president has vowed to keep running in the face of criminal charges.

Trump has frequently called the various investigations surrounding him a “witch hunt,” attempting to sway public opinion on them by casting himself as a victim of what he’s claimed are political probes led

by Democratic prosecutors.

As the indictment reportedly neared, Trump urged his supporters to protest his arrest, echoing his calls to action following the 2020 election as he tried

to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden.

Trump has long avoided legal consequences in his personal, professional and political lives. He has settled a number of private civil lawsuits through the years and paid his way out of disputes concerning the Trump Organisation, his namesake company. As president, he was twice impeached by the Democratic-led House, but avoided conviction by the Senate.

In December, the Trump Organisation was convicted on multiple charges of tax fraud, though Trump himself was not charged in that case.

Trump’s Republican allies – as well as his 2024 GOP rivals – have condemned the Manhattan district attorney’s office over the looming indictment, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has vowed to launch an

investigation into the matter.

Bragg’s office had signaled as recently as early March that they were close to bringing charges against Trump after they invited the ex-president to testify before the grand jury probing the hush money scheme. Potential defendants in New York are required by law to be notified and invited to appear before a grand jury weighing charges. But Trump ultimately declined to appear before the panel.

The long-running investigation first began under Bragg’s predecessor, Cy Vance, when Trump was in office. It relates to a $130,000 payment made

by Trump’s then-personal attorney Michael Cohen to Daniels in late October 2016, days before the 2016 presidential election, to silence her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump a decade earlier.

Trump has denied the affair.

At issue in the investigation was the payment made to Daniels and the Trump Organization’s reimbursement to Cohen.

According to court filings in Cohen’s own federal prosecution, Trump Organisation executives authorised payments to him totaling $420,000 to cover his original $130,000 payment and tax liabilities and reward him with a bonus. The Trump Organisation noted the reimbursements as a legal expense in its internal books. Trump has denied knowledge of the payment.

Meanwhile, Trump in response to the indictment claiming it was “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”

“I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden,” the former president said.

“The American people realise exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it. So our Movement, and our party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba said in a statement that Trump ,“is a victim of a corrupt and distorted version of the American justice system and history. He will be vindicated.”

Trump was caught off guard by the grand jury’s decision to indict him, according to a person who spoke directly with him While the former president was bracing for an indictment last week, he began to believe news reports that a potential indictment was weeks – or more – away.

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

CERTIFICATE OF RETURN TO OGUN STATE GOVERNOR-ELECT...

L-R: National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Ogun, Osun and Ondo States, Prof Kunle Ajayi; INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ogun State, Niyi Ijalaiye presenting certificate of return to Ogun State governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun at the State Office of INEC in Abeokuta on Thursday

DMO: New Borrowings, Promissory Notes, Others Pushed Nigeria's Public Debt to N46.25tn External debt service gulped $2.4bn

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The total public debt stock consisting of the domestic and external debt Stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the sub-national governments (36 states governments) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rallied to N46.25 trillion or $103.11 billion as at December 31, 2022, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said.

This signified an increase of N1.65 trillion over the N44.6 trillion posted in the previous quarter. The comparative figure for December 31, 2021, was N39.56 trillion or $95.77 billion.

In terms of composition, the DMO explained that the N46.25 total debt stock had a domestic debt component of N27.55 trillion ($61.42 billion) while total external debt stock was N18.70 trillion ($41.69

Accountant General Decries Proliferation of Professional Bodies, Tasks Practitioners to Expand Horizon Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo The acting Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Sylva Okolieaboh has questioned the multiplicity of accountancy bodies in the country, saying this has had a negative impact on both professional standards and public perception of the value of accountants.

He also called on the nation’s accountants to rise to the peak of their professional functions and avoid a narrow perspective which negatively affects their relevance in a changing local and global environment.

Okolieaboh made the observations in a short but thought-provoking address to members of the newly inaugurated Unit of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

A statement issued by the OAGF noted that the Acting Accountant General recalled his contribution during a previous engagement with the leadership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He stated that the profession was confronting two key challenges, including “the noticeable disinterest of accountants in intellectual matters

affecting the ability of accountants to rise above the routine” and "the diminishing appeal of integrity and ethics among accountants”.

The acting AGF therefore urged public sector accountants to emulate the noble examples of the first generation of Nigerian accountants who embodied “the very best of professional excellence, integrity and modesty.”

He also condemned the presumption, popular among public sector accountants, that their main function is payment which has led to a focus on a finite number of functions that culminate in payment either by cheque signing or raising online mandate.

Okolieaboh explained the consequences of this wrong mindset on the work of professional accountants.

“This reductionist view of the role of the accountant is equally dangerous. It is the reason anyone who can perform any of those routines considers himself an accountant.

"It is the reason everyone believes he can perform accounting duties... It is the reason, ladies and gentlemen, matters of financial management have been relegated to the background.

billion).

Meanwhile, the total public debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio for December 31, 2022, was 23.20 per cent, which the DMO said, indicated a slight increase from the figure for December 31, 2022, at 22.47 per cent.

"The ratio of 23.20 per cent is within the 40 per cent limit self-imposed by Nigeria, the 55 per cent limit recommended by the World Bank/International Monetary Fund, and the 70 per cent limit recommended by the Economic Community of West African States," it said.

The agency adduced reasons for the increase in the total public debt stock, saying they included new borrowings by the FGN and

sub-national governments, primarily to fund budget deficits and execute projects.

The issuance of Promissory Notes by the FGN to settle some liabilities also contributed to the growth in the debt stock, it added.

The DMO noted that on-going efforts by the government to increase revenues from oil and non-oil sources through initiatives such as the Finance Acts and the Strategic Revenue Mobilisation initiative were expected to support debt sustainability.

However, an analysis of the latest debt data showed that external debt service gulped $2.4 billion ($2,405,467,502.58) between January and December 31, 2022.

Over $1.45 billion

($1,450,299,481.56) or 60 per cent of the total external debt service cost went into servicing commercial loans (Eurobonds/Diaspora Bond) between January and December.

The sum of $618.613 million ($618,613,241.22) or 26 per cent of the total external debt service cost was used to service multilateral loans while $336.554 million ($336,554,779.80) or 14 per cent went into bilateral loans service.

The amount of debt sloshing around the global economy witnessed its first annual drop in dollar terms since 2015, with a $4 trillion decline in 2022, a recent report by the Institute of International Finance (IIF), the global association of the financial industry, said.

Despite the drop, the IIF stated that the amount of developing world debt, including Nigeria’s, hit a new record high of $98 trillion, with Russia, Singapore, India, Mexico and Vietnam seeing the largest rises.

Nigeria’s public debt burden, including the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has continued to balloon, and is projected to hit N77 trillion or $171.8 billion (at the exchange rate of N448/$ when the tenure of the current administration terminates on May 29.

The IIF report noted: “The external public debt burden of many developing countries worsened due to sharp losses in local currencies against the dollar.”

Efforts to Vacate Brown, Seplat CEO’s Removal Order, Suffer Setback Wale Igbintade Efforts to vacate an interim ex-parte order that sacked Mr. Roger Brown from parading himself as the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc suffered a setback yesterday, as Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, informed parties that the ruling was not ready.

Consequently, Justice Aneke sought consents of counsel to the petitioner and the respondents to deliver the ruling during Easter vacation.

Following consents of counsel, the court adjourned the matter till April 6, for ruling on all pending applications seeking to set aside the ex-parte order.

The court had on March 8, restrained Brown from parading himself as the CEO of the company pending the determination of a suit instituted against him and others by some aggrieved stakeholders of the

company over allegations of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.

Justice Aneke made the order while ruling on a Motion Ex-parte, filed by J C Njikonye, on behalf of some aggrieved stakeholders of Seplat – Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye, and Robert Ibekwe, Petitioners, against the Respondents, Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Thompson Brown, and Mr. Basil Omiyi, in Suit No. FHC/L/402/2023.

Similarly, Justice Aneke in a separate ex-parte application, granted to the petitioner to serve any order of court and all other processes to be issued subsequently in the matter on Brown and Omiyi by pasting on the premises of Seplat Energy located at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The aggrieved shareholders had in their Motion on Notice filed by their lawyer, Jeph Njikonye,

prayed the court for a declaration that the affairs of Seplat were being conducted in a manner that was illegal, oppressive and unfairly prejudicial to the petitioners and other members of Seplat and in total disregard to the interest of the petitioners, other employees, and Seplat as a whole.

They equally sought a declaration that by condoning the unlawful, discriminatory, and abusive conducts of Brown, Omiyi and the Non-executive Directors have, “failed in the discharge of their duties and are unfit to continue to function in the Board of Directors of the 1st Respondent (Seplat).”

Consequently, the petitioners sought, “an order of mandatory injunction restraining the 2nd Respondent (Brown) from parading himself as, or continuing to operate as the CEO of the 1st Respondent (Seplat) or working for Seplat in any other capacity.

“They equally sought an order restraining Seplat and the

company's Board Chairman from retaining Brown as the CEO of Seplat or retaining his services for Seplat in other capacity whatsoever.”

To support their case, the aggrieved stakeholders had exhibited a petition from the Minister of Interior against Brown by employees of Seplat, as well as a letter by the Minister of Interior communicating the Ministry’s decision on the said petition to the company.

In the March 3, 2023 letter addressed to the Board Chairman of Seplat Energy signed by Mr. Akinola Adesina for the Minister, which was marked as Exhibit B, the Ministry of Interior had conveyed the revocation of Roger Brown’s Work Permit, Visa, and Residence Permit But, Seplat through its counsel, Mr. Bode Olanipekun, had in his application challenged the interim orders, contending that the orders were granted against persons that were not parties to the suit.

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MEETING BETWEEN SEC AND NGX...

L-R: Executive Commissioner, Legal and Enforcement Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr Reginald Karawusa; CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX,) Mr. Temi Popoola; Executive Commissioner, Operations, SEC, Mr Dayo Obisan; Divisional Head Capital Markets, NGX, Mr Jude Chiemeka and Assistant Director, Securities and Investment Department, SEC, Mrs Bose Fakeye, during a Meeting between The SEC and NGX in Abuja yesterday

Edo Refinery Targets $125m Per Annum Haul from Export State govt meets WHO, UNICEF, other devt partners, strengthens measures to improve healthcare delivery The Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company (ERPC) Limited, operators of the 6000bpd Modular Refinery in Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, is on course to make about $125m per annum from the export of naphtha, one of the products from its plant.

The refinery has doubled down on production since it started processing crude oil sourced from Oza Oil Field, as it recently placed an order for 150,000 barrels of crude from operators of the marginal field, Decklar Resources Inc. and Millenium Oil and Gas Company Limited.

The Chairman of ERPC, Dr. Mike Osime, had said the refinery at full capacity was expected to meet 18 per cent of local demand for diesel and earn foreign exchange from its operations, which would boost Edo’s economy.

It was estimated that the facility would rake, “in excess of $125 million from the export of Naphtha per annum,” according to estimates from the company, who secured

financing from the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Edo State Government, which contributed N700m for the commencement of the project.

According to a statement, the funding from the Edo State Government fast-tracked the kickoff of the project, which would boost productivity in the state and beef up tax receipts.

The facility with its feedstock can produce 50 per cent of diesel (500,000 litres), 25 percent of naphtha (300,000 litres), and 20 percent of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) (200,000) litres.

Edo Refinery is the first of two refineries operating in Edo State, with the second being the Duport Refinery, which operates from West Africa’s first Energy Park, in Egbokor, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, Edo State government has met with developmental partners in the state’s health sector to improve synergy and efficiency in

programme implementation towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring a strong and resilient health system to provide quality healthcare to Edo people.

The Edo State Health Commissioner, Prof. Akoria Obehi, disclosed this after the health sector partners’ alignment meeting held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The meeting had representatives from the World Health Organisation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Carter Foundation.

Others are the Challenge Initiative (TCI), MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (MRITE), Red Cross, Society for Family Health (SFH), Damien Foundation (DF) and health Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Edo State, among others.

Reaffirming the government’s

commitment to developing a vibrant, strong and resilient health system to deliver quality healthcare services to Edo people, Obehi reassured that the Obaseki-led state government would sustain ongoing reforms and programmes to reposition the state as the medical hub of the country.

She acknowledged the pains of the development partners who on some occasions failed to achieve their desired goals despite their financial and technical investments in the state, noting that coordination and synergy between the Health Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and development partners would need to be strengthened in order to achieve goals and improve outcomes in the state.

According to her, “The Edo State government through the state’s Ministry of Health has concluded a stakeholders' meeting to improve synergy and efficiency in programme implementation, monitoring, and evaluation amongst

Petrol Marketers Attack PENGASSAN, Say Union's Officials Destroyed Nigeria’s Refineries Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) yesterday attacked members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), stressing that members of the union destroyed refineries in the country.

National Operations Controller of IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, who spoke on TVC, explained that since members of the union ran down the facilities in the country, they do not have the moral right to dictate the direction in the oil and gas industry.

PENGASSAN had on Tuesday called on the government to ensure the speedy rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries, stressing that this would help ease the hardship that could arise from the halt of fuel subsidy.

PENGASSAN’s President, Festus Osifo, while speaking with journalists at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association in Abuja explained that fuel subsidy removal in absence of any functional domestic refinery, was unsustainable.

But Osatuyi noted that PENGASSAN contributed to the destruction of the refineries since their members populate the staff of the assets which have not worked

for years.

“PENGASSAN members are the staff of the refineries, so why are they failing to make it work, that's the question. What it means is that you want to take it from their hands. They're crying again. “ If other countries’ refineries can work, why have our own refineries failed to work? Between 2014 and 2020, we have spent N1.6 trillion on the maintenance of these moribund refineries.

“They can’t continue to harass Nigerians in the name of PENGASSAN. We have to do things well in this country. The biggest refinery is in India, it produces 1.2 million barrels every day and there’s one in Venezuela and even in South Korea and they have the average of over 2 million per day.

PENGASSAN should not come in at all because they have failed,” the top IPMAN official stated.

He advocated that whatever palliative funds the government get from the removal of subsidy must be spent expeditiously on healthcare, education and infrastructure.

The IPMAN top official argued that the consumption figure will reduce drastically when subsidy is removed from the current 70 million litres per day to about 40 million.

In addition, he argued that

deregulation will free the market for competition, but expressed the fear that whatever funds saved from removing subsidy could be stolen or misappropriated.

He maintained that if Dangote could build a refinery in less than six years, there’s nothing stopping the federal government from building one in the last couple of decades or even maintaining the existing ones.

According to him, the so-called senior staff of the association who are also staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) are also the ones that have failed to manage the refineries well , leading to their complete deterioration.

He stated that the downstream oil sector in Nigeria will change with the coming on-stream of the Dangote facility, explaining that Nigeria is likely to be a net exporter from then.

“It’s going to be a game changer and with the absence of shipping costs etc, things will change for the better,” he added.

But he agreed that the refineries could be managed on the NLNG model, with the billions being paid into the government coffers regularly, noting that the model will take petroleum products supply from the hand of government.

He lauded the NNPC for its

new outlook, especially in the employment of expatriates and the increase in crude oil supply, stressing that with the work going on in Warri and Port Harcourt refineries, Nigeria will soon see some level of relief.

Osatuyi argued that the reason investment wasn’t coming into the modular refineries sector is because the system is still heavily regulated.

He stressed that the only way the deregulation programme will succeed is to ensure full transparency, with contracts and positions fully advertised.

As the system is currently operated, Osatuyi argued that politics remains the bane of the Nigerian oil industry, maintaining that although Nigeria has some of the best brains, the managers of the system know the right thing but will always do the wrong thing.

He explained that with privatisation, all the retrogressive politics will end, as the operations will be taken off the hands of government and government officials.

He further advised the incoming government to quickly take a decision on the removal of subsidy, but that the proceeds of the savings from subsidy must be prudently spent.

partners working with the health MDAs in Edo State.

“Among other things, the platform was necessary to clarify and streamline MDA roles in partner-supported programmes and harmonize and strengthen working relationships within

and between partners and MDAs. “It also afforded the Ministry the opportunity to establish and strengthen monitoring and evaluation for all partner-supported programmes and to achieve Annual Operational Plan alignment for 2023.”

UBEC Boss Tasks Stakeholders on Tackling Moral Decadence in Basic Education Funmi Ogundare The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, has decried the rising case of cultism and other social vices in the nation’s basic education system.

He attributed the ugly development to the degeneration of moral values that have been overturned Nigerian society.

Bobboyi, spoke in Abuja, at a two-day stakeholders' meeting on value regeneration and reorientation at the basic education level in the country.

He lamented that the loss of the nation's cherished values was demonstrated in the many vices and negative behaviour such as stealing, drunkenness, financial crime known as yahoo-yahoo, truancy, violence, and many others.

He said cultism which was almost similar to ancient Egyptian cult practices several centuries ago is now springing up to the detriment of the system.

“Someone told me an old ancient Egyptian cult that has come into the system,” Bobboyi said, adding that such cult activity was last practiced about 100 BC. Speaking further, the UBEC boss said the event was organised to address the rising moral decadence among young students in secondary schools.

He said: “Over the years, there has been great concern over the degeneration of moral and overturn of values in our society. This is demonstrated in the many vices and negative behavior such as stealing, drunkenness, financial crime known as yahoo-yahoo, truancy, violence, and many others.

“The disheartening aspect is that many of these vices are now prevalent in our schools especially the basic education schools.

“The Universal Basic Education Commission as an agency of Government has the onus to re-order the situation as it has

as one of its objectives.

“It is important to note that the basic education level is where learners are given the opportunity to equip themselves with moral values, skills and competencies that can assist them in effecting personal and community positive change.

This is why the commission has taken it upon itself to organise the stakeholder’s workshop with the school as its target.”

On his part, Director, Teacher Development, UBEC, Mr. Aleshin Olumayowa, said the meeting was a strategy deployed by the commission to gather information, solicit advice and find a way forward to address the decadence of moral and value upturn at the basic education level.

“The commission works in line with the goals of basic education which according to the National policy on Education is to inculcate values and raise morally upright individuals capable of independent thinking and who appreciate the dignity of labour.

“As you are aware of our mantra ‘Education for all is the responsibility of all’. We all have the responsibility of ensuring that the children and youth in Nigeria follow the right path, develop good character which will make the country a better place for us all to live in.

“This is why representatives from the different sectors of the Nigeria society are present here today,” he said.

Also speaking at the event that attracted representatives of heads of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among other agencies.

The keynote speaker, Prof.

Soji Oni, harped on the need for a robust war against social vices through moral regeneration.

“Moral regeneration should be taught not only in schools, but at home and also at worship centres,” he said.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 • THISDAY

PERSPECTIVE

Emefiele: Portrait of a Misunderstood Reformer Obinna Chima

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he Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, can be described as the proverbial cat with nine lives considering the storms he has weathered in the past eight years. From the circumstances surrounding his first appointment by former President Goodluck Jonathan and his nomination for a second term by President Muhammadu, up till this moment, Emefiele remains a reformer who is mostly misunderstood.

Indeed, Emefiele who survived all the darts thrown at him when the present government took over in 2015, is faced with a similar situation today, as persons who might be eyeing his position in the incoming administration are doing everything possible to put him down, despite the reforms he had championed at the CBN. All they want is for members of the public to focus on the challenges associated with the recent naira redesign policy which some persons attempted to politicise, ignoring the tremendous impact of the the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, how Emefiele led the private sector to support the government in the fight against COVID-19, the targeted credit facility, financial system stability, among other laudable initiatives of the central bank.

The CBN Act of 2007 charges the banking sector regulator with the overall control and administration of monetary policy. Although the four key objectives of the CBN includes to ensure monetary and price stability; issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency; promote a sound financial system in Nigeria; and act as banker and provide economic and financial advice to the federal government, the central bank under Emefiele has continued to perform major developmental functions, focused on all the key sectors of the economy.

It is worthy to note that when Emefiele assumed office at the CBN in 2014, he carried with him the burden of high expectation as the institution then was going through a turbulent time, considering the manner in which his predecessor left office. Then, there was significant decline in the price of crude oil which led to acute capital flow reversals and forex shortage. The impact was quite severe, forcing the economy to go into a recession. The development then necessitated bold reforms as well as forced the central bank to throw in different unorthodox policies from the CBN to lift the economy out of recession. About eight months after he was reappointed for a second term, the economy suffered similar fate. This time around, the disruption was occasioned by the COVID-19 which came into the country in 2020. The pandemic once more exposed the economy’s weak underbelly, necessitating response from the government.

The Emefiele-led central bank once more acted swiftly, almost when the first case broke out in the country by unveiling a raft of measures to moderate the impact of the virus on households, businesses as well as the economy.

Measures such as an extension of the moratorium on the apex bank’s interventions programmes, interest rate reduction, creation of a N100 billion targeted credit facility; N100 billion health sector intervention facility and N1 trillion for the manufacturing sector, strengthening the central bank’s Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy and regulatory forbearance, were all introduced to save the economy.

In addition, Emefiele was also instrumental to the formation of the private-sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which was able to mobilise billions of naira and has immensely supported the country’s COVID-19 fight by setting up healthcare facilities across the country as well as in

Emefiele distributing palliatives to states.

Also, as part of efforts to stimulate infrastructural development across the country, the Emefiele-led CBN, working with the fiscal authorities also established a N15 trillion infrastructure development company (Infraco).

Today, the central bank’s interventions aimed at stimulating production and productivity across the real sector showed that between January and February 2023, N12.65 billion was disbursed to three agricultural projects under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, bringing the cumulative disbursement under the Programme to N1.09 trillion to over 4.6 million smallholder farmers cultivating or rearing 21 agricultural commodities on an approved 6.02 million hectares of farmland across the country.

Interestingly, total repayments under the Anchor Borrower Programme is presently at 52.39 per cent of total exposure and the central bank has continued to reiterate its commitment to its developmental mandate of stimulating access to finance for the real sector.

Some of the commodities that have received support under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme include rice, wheat, cowpea, millet, maize, cotton, fish, soya bean, poultry, cassava, groundnut, ginger, sorghum, oil palm, cocoa, sesame, tomato, castor seed,

yellow pepper, onions, and cattle/dairy.

The programme which was introduced by the Emefiele-led CBN has contributed significantly to increased national output of focal commodities, with maize and rice peaking at 12.2 million metric tonnes and 9.0 million metric tonnes in 2021 and 2022, respectively, as the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Dr. Isa Abdulmumin made us to know recently. According to the CBN spokesman, the programme had also helped to improve the national average yield per hectare of these commodities, with productivity per hectare almost doubling within the eight years of the Programme’s implementation.

Additionally, the central bank has also released the sum of N23.70 billion under the N1 trillion Real Sector Facility to eight new real sector projects in agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Cumulative disbursements under the Real Sector Facility currently stands at N2.43 trillion, disbursed to 462 projects across the country, comprising 257 manufacturing, 95 agriculture, 97 services and 13 mining sector projects.

Under the 100 for 100 Policy on Production and Productivity (PPP), designed to fast track productive activities in priority sectors, the central bank has also supported a lot of local manufacturers. It has released

N3.01 billion under the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF-2) for capital and operational expenditure of distribution companies (Discos) aimed at improving their liquidity status and aid their recovery of legacy debt, with the cumulative disbursement under the facility at N254.39 billion.

The central bank has also been promoting financial inclusion through its cashless policy.

The recent drive for cashless by the CBN which was followed by the redesigning of the naira was faced with some opposition because it was perceived to be targeted at some politicians. This, Emefiele had explained was not true, maintaining that the central bank was purely focused on its mandate.

Undoubtedly, the benefits of going cash-less are numerous and remain the best option for any country as has been seen globally.

For instance, if Nigeria must address the current gale of insecurity, corruption and economic sabotage among other actions of some privileged elites who continued to take advantage of a dysfunctional system to short-changed the country, it must embrace evolve to a cashless society.

It is also necessary in the fight against inflation in Nigeria, which has stubbornly remained at double-digits. Also, the cash-less policy has led to a reduction in banditry and kidnappings which were rampant in the recent past.

With the cashless policy, people can easily pay their bills online, shop and schedule transactions and manage all the finances using their laptops or smartphones.

Going cashless not only eases one’s life but also helps authenticate and formalise the transactions that are done. This helps to curb corruption and the flow of black money which results in an increase of economic growth. Also, the cost of printing and transportation of notes would be reduced.

But just like the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige aptly noted, implementation of such a policy comes with challenges and resistance.

“The cash crunch is part of the cashless policy. It was the implementation that ran into a hiccup, it was not smooth; so the CBN is trying to smoothen it out. But that doesn’t take away the fact that you are trying to do a cashless policy in such a way that the volume of cash in circulation would not be what it used to be.

“They said it was about N3 trillion and they want to cut it down. Cutting it down is part of that cashless policy. Some of us that travel abroad, when you bring out cash, people would be staring at you as if you are coming from Mars, because they are not used to people bringing out cash.

“If you are bringing out huge cash abroad, you are either a drug peddler or you are not doing clean business. In fact, they regard anybody bringing out cash as somebody doing money laundering. Since the cashless policy commenced, there have been temporary relieve we have gotten from banditry, from kidnapping and people asking for N50 million cash to release kidnapped victims.

“All those have abated. So, it is not a bad policy. It is the implementation; it should be done gradually. There is no way we would go back to the old way, where people carry N100 million cash and bring it into the market. Cash should be for low volume and low value transactions,” the minister said in a national television.”

He noted that vote-buying reduced drastically during the 2023 general election because there wasn’t cash to induce voters.

Therefore, it is expected that as the CBN drives the cash-less revolution, Nigerians must give it the required support for the overall benefits of the country.

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POLITICS

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

Mbah: Steering Enugu from Collective Mandate to Collective Responsibility Oguejiofo Ujam writes that much is expected from Enugu State Governor-elect, Dr Peter Mbah, to turn the fortunes of the state around for the better after inauguration on May 29, 2023.

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Engendering periodic reviews/feedbacks; Step 6: Creating linkages for healthy cooperation/collaboration and Step 7: Deepening community involvement in governance system.

On the notch of deepening community involvement in governance, the incoming administration should adopt a workable template to keep tabs on communities and organizations so as to mainstream various needs and concerns.

For instance, I recall my remarks when the Governor-elect paid a courtesy visit on the University Community at the Nsukka campus of University of Nigeria, Nsukka on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. For emphasis, let me reproduce part of the message to the then-governorship candidate.

I had stated: “The truth remains that African, nay Nigerian leaders fail in leadership score due to their neglect or disdain for men of letters. The United States of America remains world leader, because of the level of collaboration and cooperation with the universities.

“Democracy as an inclusive system of governance rests on the fulcrum of social science approach. It is on this wise that I urge our visitor that when he becomes governor on May 29, 2023, he should maintain this conversation with academics.

he election of Dr. Peter Mbah and Ifeanyi Ossai as governor and deputy governor of Enugu State has underscored our peoples’ resolve for united socio-political

action.

It was a keenly contested gubernatorial election that even attempted to draw the inputs and sentimental advice of outsiders as to what the people needed to confront their leadership selection challenge.

This public intervention is therefore intended to examine how the collective mandate from Enugu people imposes a huge challenge to Governor-elect Peter Mbah, vis-à-vis how to translate the mandate into collective responsibility for mutually beneficial outcomes.

The very last week leading to the March 18, 2023 governorship election saw a massive mobilization of every Enugu citizen, particularly voters, ranging from veteran politicians, clergy, traditional governance institutions, women and youth groups to ensure that the electorate spoke in one voice in line with the common purpose that binds ndi Enugu together.

It bears recording that the resistance politics of the Wawa, which took root in the days of the old Anambra State, always find expression when the dignity, nobility, and unity of the people are put to test. That test came shortly after the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

During the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had seen a national secretary, national chairman, Senate President and Deputy Senate President, was perceived as suffering huge loss of relevance.

But, truth be said, the voting pattern on February 25 was more of a show of solidarity for the presidential aspiration of Mr. Peter Obi than a total rejection of PDP. It was therefore that erroneous perception that arose from the brotherly solidarity with Obi, who was the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) that roused the Wawa spirit of unity, which gave rise to the zoning arrangement in the state. Many outsiders fail to reflect on the dangerous and destructive divisive politics that gave rise to political power rotation in Enugu State.

I had before now elaborated on the genesis of the zoning structure in Enugu State. It was therefore against that background that we cautioned revisionists against their attempt to micro-zone and throw up an Isi-Uzo person as a possible successor to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

That was also because despite the maternal connection between Governor Ugwuanyi and Chijioke Edeoga, their communities are culturally tied to the same Nsukka zone.

Nothing annoys the Wawa people as injustice, inequity and unfair deals. That explains why the citizens of Enugu State rose in one unity to reject the posturing of Mr. Chijioke Edeoga and his few backers. They wanted to paint the Labour Party as the new giant killers in Enugu politics.

The scare was quickly put down as every citizen remembered that unity of purpose and peace were the major ingredients that constitute our articles of faith in the state.

Now that the election has been won through the collective efforts of all and sundry, it is time to sustain that unity to propel Dr. Peter Mbah to more wins through good governance. This is no time for people to begin to wave political IOUs, rather, it is time to pool ideas together to implement his proposed progressive developmental policies and programmes for good governance.

On the part of the Governor-elect, the next eight weeks leading to the inauguration of Mbah/Ossai administration should be dedicated to itemizing principles and propounding policies that would shape the

programmes of action.

Briefly, the Governor-elect should distill his manifesto into action points. On this score, I expect the incoming governor to examine these seven steps as a guide to his governance scheme.

Step 1: Outlining deliverables (Project conception, funding and implementation).

Step 2: Setting timelines; Step 3: Structuring governance organogram; Step 4: Adopting inclusive, transparent budgeting system, (formulation cum implementation); Step 5:

-Prof Ujam writes from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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

Betara as Suitable Candidate for 10th N’Assembly Speakership Udora Orizu highlights the qualities possessed by Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Aliyu Betara, that makes him to stand shoulders high as suitable candidate to pilot the affairs of the Green Chamber in the 10th National Assembly.

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ormer First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter, once said a leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.

An author, William Arthur Ward, said the mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher “Inspires.”

The above quotes can be used to describe a member representing Biu, Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betara.

As the race for who becomes the next Speaker of the House of Representatives heats up, Betara is one lawmaker who has the legislative insight and has done very well in his leadership position.

Betara who’s the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation is a golden fish that needs no introduction.

He was born on 22nd November 1966 into a large family. His father was a civil servant heading several community councils while his mother was a devoted housewife.

Betara began his education at Biu Central Primary School in 1973 and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1978.

He proceeded to Biu Central Junior Day Secondary School, and then to Government Technical Secondary School Benishek, Borno State, where his leadership skills saw him becoming head prefect, and would eventually obtain his West Africa School Certificate in 1983.

He advanced his education at Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri where he obtained his Ordinary National Diploma (OND)

and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration.

He made his foray into politics when he contested for the House of Representatives seat on the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and got elected as the member representing the people of Biu, Kwaya Kusar, Bayo and Shani Federal Constituency in 2007.

Since then, he has been re-elected three times, emerging as one of the few members to have served in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth assemblies in Nigeria, with the current and immediate past tenures secured on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

For the 2023 poll, Honourable Betara has been overwhelmingly returned unopposed by his constituents and the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders to fly the party’s flag given his sterling representations at the Green Chamber since 2007.

For him to have been returned unopposed

at a time when there’s high turnovers of lawmakers who lost their return tickets during the last primaries, showed how popular and impactful he has been among his constituents.

He’s so loved by his constituents that they contributed money to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms for him. Market women, artisans, and youth came out in their numbers to surprise him with this.

He’s no doubt, one of the very hardworking lawmakers who has made valuable contributions to the House right from the 6th Assembly to the current 9th Assembly where he headed key House Committees such as Army (7th Assembly), Defence (8th Assembly) and Appropriations (9th Assembly).

Over the years, his efforts have been duly noted even in the Presidency as could be attested to by the recent conferment of the prestigious Officers of the Order of the Niger (OON) National Honour Award on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

As a federal legislator, he has made giant strides in impacting many lives and contributed to the development of his fatherland through quality representation and impactful legislations.

Betara conceived his Speakership ambition in 2019, but on compassionate grounds, he stepped aside and fully supported, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to emerge as Speaker.

If the APC national leadership zones the Speakership position to the North-East, this parliamentary veteran possesses the qualities for the job. He will definitely pilot the affairs of the green chamber well and run a fair, just legislative administration.

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023

POLITICS

EPISTLES of ANTHONY KILA

Debating “the Number One To Judge and to be Judged Killer of Children in America” Anthony Kila writes that much is expected from

Chido Nwangwu writes about the recurring incidents the nation’s judiciary headed by the Chief Justice of killing of school children in the United States and of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ayoola, as post-election President Joe Biden’s renewed call on the Congress to cases arising from 2023 general elections are heard across the country. pass the Bill on assault weapons ban.

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n a manner of speaking, it will be appropriate to say that a majority of Americans and millions of other people around the world have been heartbroken by the latest violence unleashed on Monday, March 27, 2023 at The Covenant School, a Christian, privately-owned school in Nashville, Tennessee. Three 9-year-old students were killed by the shooter who also murdered the head of the grade school, a custodian and a substitute teacher.

The shooter who left a trail of blood, pain and agony was identified as 28 yearold Audrey Hale, a former student at the school. Audrey was killed, too.

As usual in America, when events like these happen, the escalation of the debate between those who advocate some form of gun control and those who insist that the rights to buy and keep extraordinarily powerful guns should not be restricted by anyone!

This rise in the harshness of the debate was witnessed on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in the broadcast by some media organizations and outlets where two Congressmen Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat, and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, were engaged in a “shouting match” on the same contentious and passionate issues regarding gun control.

Without any doubt, it was rekindled following the 2023 Nashville shooting.

It has brought America back to the familiar dispositions and fights, largely drawn along partisanship showdown.

In his description of the position of his Republican congressional counterparts, Rep. Bowman told reporters “They’re all cowards! They won’t do anything to save the lives of our children. Cowards….

They’re gutless.”

Immediately, Rep. Massie, countered him arguing ”You know, there’s never been a school shooting in a school that

allows teachers to carry” (guns).

Bowman accused Republicans and congressman Massie of “carrying the water for the gun lobby.”

When set along political party lines, the Democrats make the case for gun control while the Republicans oppose gun control legislations.

President Joe Biden has, again, called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban.

Biden said the shooting was “sick” and “heartbreaking.”

He added “we have to do more to stop gun violence. It’s ripping our communities apart. Ripping at the very soul of this nation, and we have to do more to protect our schools and they aren’t turned into prisons…. I call on Congress again to pass my assault weapons ban. It’s about time that we begin to make some more progress.”

The US President pointed out as seen on video that the shooter at Nashville was armed with two assault weapons, AK-47s, and a pistol.

Beyond their yelling debate inside and outside the US Congress, I think it is important to note that the younger post-1990s Americans tend to be, relatively and comparatively more than their parents and grand-parents, in favor of some level of gun control.

Significantly, I’ll like to add, Biden said the victims of the Nashville shooting, “those children should all still be with us…. I never thought when I started my public life that guns would be the number one killer of children in America.”

I agree that schools and places of learning for little children, for teenagers or adults should not be turned into killing fields!

-Dr Nwangwu, is founder of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com Follow him on Twitter @Chido247

ear Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Today’s epistle is directed at you and through you to other members of the judiciary for two major reasons both centred around your roles on one seat.

Our missive today is about the role of the judiciary in our lives as a people generally speaking and logically thinking, there is no other person in the land that represents the whole of the judiciary more than you in the country today by virtue of your role as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Our missive today is also about the upcoming electoral judicial cases, again in such cases, there is no other person in the land that represents the whole of the judiciary more than you in the country today because it is not only possible but it is expected that you chair the most popular of such cases.

Though habit and history have made too many Nigerians get used to the idea that judiciary is part of the electoral process and by so doing mentally designing and practically accepting what has been and is still presented as the judicial phase that comes after the voting and counting phase of the electoral process, let us pause to remind all that such phase is a Nigerian peculiarity and that it is alien to general democratic practices across the world and in history.

Whilst every presidential election since 1979 to date with exception of the 2015 election has ended up in court in Nigeria, elsewhere in time and space, going to court for electoral cases is a rarity that make observers and citizens cringe.

It is important to remind all, every time possible, that an electoral process that requires so much security presence and judicial input from the primary stages to the general election phase is not just a system that is far from normal, it must be labelled as an unhealthy system that needs serious treatment.

Lest we become guilty of what we accuse others of doing it is important that we state clearly and without mincing words that the illness the Nigerian system is suffering is caused by, spread by and complicated by politicians.

Violence, rigging and spreading of fake news are not something you can in conscience and in knowledge term as accidental occurrences, they are neither done out of error nor carried out spontaneously. Rather they are designed, encouraged supervised and rewarded by those that that benefit from it.

Let us be clear, benefitting from violence, rigging and spreading of fake news are not just crimes against the state but a total attempt to subvert the state and to cheat other members of the society.

Democracy is based on free choice of and by majority of voters. It is based on the assumption that contenders will behave well and that since the winners (eventual office holders) will be the expression of majority of the people and that choices made by such eventual office holders, good or bad will reflect the wish of the people. Democracy, in the voting stage, is that process in which we all admit that choice trumps reason and number trumps wisdom as long as that choice is free. The founders of the modern democratic system which Nigeria claims to practice did not foresee a situation wherein a group of few wise people will sit to have the final say over the choices of millions of citizens.

Your Lordship’s presence therefore on the electoral field of play is an unwelcomed strange but required entrance.

You are called to adjudicate on matter of elections because some people led by contenders in the just concluded elec-

toral contest believe others have violated the laws of the land and corrupted the system for their own benefit.

Such idea is possible where there is no trust in the system, and there is no trust among the people and where there are reasons to believe that the system has been corrupted for the illicit benefit of a part of the whole.

It is therefore useful for your Lordship to realise that your presence in this process is a peculiar one and that your main duty is to restore trust in the system by restoring of a clear sense of justice.

Allow me to remind myself and other readers that it is not enough to deliver justice but justice must be seen to be done in all cases but above all in electoral cases.

Beyond all we have seen so far, there are two other major factors among them related that make electoral cases very peculiar even for your Lordship and your brothers.

One is quantitative and the other qualitative. It is worth noting that in terms of quantity, electoral cases are followed by millions of people who feel directly affected by your eventual judgement.

In terms of quality, it is worth noting that there are millions of people who feel that just a few of you and your legal brothers on the bench are deciding for them, for a democratic mind that is a pathological situation. The millions of people following electoral cases will also be judging you as you judge electoral cases. With their limited knowledge of the law, they will be waiting to see if your judgment delivers justice.

To come out victorious or at least unscathed from the scrutiny and judgement of the masses it is crucial that your Lordship give a judgment that all can understand and see as justice.

Technicalities will not cut in the public opinion, any judgement that you give on matters that will affect millions of people that will not read your sentence or speak directly to lawyers that were present in court during deliberations.

To ensure that justice is seen to be done in an era where TV is more real than reality, I recommend that your Lordship allow electoral cases to be televised so that more people can in real time and in details know how judgment was reached. Though the law does not mandate your Lordship to do so yet, let me strongly recommend that you treat all court cases and deliver judgement before the swearing in date so that anybody sworn into power will be fully legitimised to act in the name of all.

As we move to the judicial phase of our electoral process it is important to remember in all we do that to judge is to be judged.

Join me if you can @anthonykila to continue these conversations.

-Prof Kila is Centre Director at CIAPS Lagos. www.ciaps.org.

22

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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

08056356325

M A R C H

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3 0 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

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11.25%

CALL

10.55%

INDEX LEVEL

612.93%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.22%

N461.46/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

10.80%

1-DAY

0.30%

YEAR TO DATE

0.22%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

11.65%

MONTH-TO-DATE

1.44%

Nigeria Loses $1bn Annually to Non-certification of Agri-produce for Export

Chinedu Eze Nigeria has failed to benefit from multibillion-dollar agricultural items exported from West Africa due to non-certification of its farm produce such as yam, mangoes, shrimps, garlic, ginger and others.

Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and other countries have been benefitting from the export of their farm produce such as plantain, mangoes, yam, which Ghana in 2021 generated about GH¢50 billion worth of farm produce.

These countries have met the conditions for Good Agricultural Products (GAP) certification of the European Union, UK and some US states. They have also met the Sanitary Citification and Good Agricultural Sector Certification of many EU countries and other Western markets, but Nigeria is yet to be certified by these countries.

It was learnt that this has affected the volume of farm produce exported from Nigeria, such that Nigerian produce cannot be sold at the superstores of the UK and other

parts of Europe.

Nigeria exports small volume of farm produce that are consumed largely by Nigerians living overseas; it is yet to benefit from the yawning markets for African farm produce, which are now in high demand in the Western nations.

THISDAY gathered that Nigeria has more farm produce to export than many of its neighbours and these include ginger, palm kernel, palm oil, cocoa butter, sesame seed, honey, shrimps, garlic and others.

Industry stakeholder and Director,

Operations, Cargolux Airlines, Kingsley Nwokoma, told THISDAY that because Nigeria does not have the certifications for farm produce it is losing huge revenue in foreign exchange projected to be over $1 billion per annum.

“Most of the superstores in Europe have started selling most African farm produce and before they will buy your produce the must make sure you meet their safety conditions.

We have what they call traceability.

They follow you to your farm and make sure you abide by the stringent

conditions to ensure that what you produce meet their health standard.

This is because if anyone comes to their stores and buys those produce and get killed they will be sued and they pay huge compensations. So the food is traced to the farms. The superstores know the fertilizer you must use and they will follow you up to harvest. Unfortunately, we lack this process,” Nwokoma who is also the President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria (AFRAN), said.

Nwokoma also lamented the

lope-sided cargo import where huge cargoes come from different parts of the world to Nigeria but not much is exported from Nigeria, noting that if the country has developed its agri-produce to meet international markets, Nigeria would export as much as they import and that would be good in balance of trade and enhance stability in foreign exchange.

He regretted that deterioration of Nigeria’s economy, the blocked foreign airlines revenue from Nigeria Continued on page 23

NIMASA, NCC Close Ranks on Submarine Cable Regulation in Nigeria Partner MWUN on maritime labour The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), have agreed to work closely with relevant stakeholders as NIMASA inches closer to developing a regulatory framework to provide operational guidelines for Submarine Cable and Pipeline Operators in Nigeria.

Officials of both organs of government reached the agreement in Lagos at a pre audit meeting on submarine cable regulation.

The Director General of NIMASA Dr Bashir Jamoh who chaired the meeting, which also had the Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Mr Dasuki Arabi in attendance, noted that the agency is committed to the Ease of doing Business while implementing

International Conventions which Nigeria has ratified and domesticated.

This is as NIMASA and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), have restated their commitment to continuous stakeholder’s engagement as an effective tool to maintain the peace which the nation’s maritime sector have enjoyed in recent years.

Jamoh and the President General of NWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju both made the assertion in Lagos at a ceremony by NIMASA to hand over vehicles to the Union as part of the Agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The vehicles are a 16-seater bus and one Hilux.

Spwaking at the pre-audit meting with NCC, Jamoh said, “It is worthy to note that marine cable laying has been ongoing for over two decades

in Nigerian waters. Our focus is to ensure safety of navigation of shipping in Nigerian waters with all these underwater cables being laid. NIMASA is actually developing the guidelines to regulate submarine cable operators in line with the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS; which we have ratified and NIMASA is the Agency of Government in Nigeria responsible for its implementation. We do not just implement laws; we consult. Where the responsibility of an Agency stops, that is where the responsibilities of another Agency starts. Collaboration is a key component of ease of doing business in the best interest of the country and we will work closely with the NCC to achieve this.”

On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar

Garba Danbatta who was represented by the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Efosa Idehen noted that the stakeholders’ dialogue strategy adopted by NIMASA in developing the guidelines would ensure a win-win situation urging NIMASA management to include the Ministry of Justice, a request NIMASA DG immediately granted.

Also speaking at the meeting was the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms Mr Dasuki Arabi, who commended NIMASA and NCC for adopting effective Inter-Agency collaboration to avert a potential challenge for the country in the future.

Meanwhile, Jamoh applauded NWUN for adopting dialogue in ensuring and maintaining peace in the maritime sector, which he said

has aided the peace and industrial harmony witnessed in the sector leading to the successes recorded.

He said, “In the past few years, the maritime industry has experienced relative peace and harmony, which has been made possible through the instrumentality of the leadership of MWUN. NIMASA is committed to ensuring the union is equipped with adequate facilities needed to perform their duties judiciously.”

Speaking, Adeyanju expressed the gratitude of the union to the Management of NIMASA, and assured that they will continue to work closely with the various stakeholders in the sector to ensure continuous progress.

He also urged Terminal Operators, Government Agencies and other major maritime players to emulate NIMASA in the discharge of their

CSR Projects.

The MWUN President General who is also the National Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress commended the leadership of NIMASA under Dr Jamoh urging the Federal Government to consider a second tenure based on performance.

The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), have agreed to work closely with relevant stakeholders as NIMASA inches closer to developing a regulatory framework to provide operational guidelines for Submarine Cable and Pipeline Operators in Nigeria.

Officials of both organs of government reached the agreement Continued on page 28

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

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

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

Yield

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

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

3.01

NTB 11May-23

3.23

3.01 2.21 3.20

3.27

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

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

Yield

January 6, 0.00 2023

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

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

Discount Yield

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

28 T H I S D AY FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Friday March 31, 2023 Vol 27. No 10215

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

The call for an interim government after the announcement of the results of validly held polls is unconstitutional and undemocratic, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

THE NEXT ECONOMY: WHAT MUST CHANGE JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA canvasses the need to liberalise the markets

See page 29

THE NEW SHERIFF AT NIGCOMSAT Tukur Mohammed Lawal comes highly recommended, writes STEPHEN KWANDE

See page 29

EDITORIAL

LEAKAGE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

30

1

INTERIM CONTRAPTION Last Tuesday, the Department of State Services issued an alert that some citizens with entrenched interests were plotting to foist an interim government on the country. “The plot being pursued by these entrenched interests is not only an aberration but [also] a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into crisis,” Peter Afunaya, the secret police’s spokesman said in a statement, VWDWLQJ ÀUPO\ ´7KH LOOHJDOLW\ LV WRWDOO\ unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace-loving Nigerians.”

Giving details of the plot, the DSS spokesman said the plan to achieve the objective includes organising massive protests in the country and procuring court orders to block the transition of power to the next government.

Expectedly, there have been mixed reactions to the alert by the secret police.

On the one hand are its traditional critics who see in its every move an attempt to curb individual rights and freedom.

They contend that its business is not to go about issuing statements but to gather intelligence on threats to state security and act on it. They suspect that the alert is a precursor for an intended clampdown on opposition politicians who just lost the general elections, and their supporters who are protesting the loss.

On the other hand, are the victorious politicians and their supporters who feel WKDW WKH '66 DOHUW LV D FRQÀUPDWLRQ RI WKH activities of their colleagues on the other side, which they consider subversive and ought to be resisted by the state. For them, the secret police should go beyond issuing warnings and act promptly to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Given the ethno-religious background of the 2023 general elections, sentiments have remained very high, and dispassionate analysis of the post-polls issues has EHFRPH GL΀FXOW 2WKHUZLVH WKH IDFWV DUH fairly straightforward and ought to be dealt with on their own merits. What are the facts?

The most contentious of the polls is the presidential contest won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and the New Nigerian Peoples Party’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, who trailed behind him complained about alleged irregularities.

Subsequently, Atiku and Obi proceeded to submit their grievances to the election petition tribunal as required by the 1999 Constitution as altered, and the Electoral Act 2022.

This step taken by the complainants is within the law and has attracted the

commendation of both domestic and foreign analysts who say it would augur well for a peaceful resolution of the dispute and the calm required for the polity to move on. But the problem has been the persistence of hostility both at the verbal and physical levels.

Atiku had not only led a demonstration to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Headquarters but his R΀FLDO VSRNHVSHUVRQV DV ZHOO DV supporters, have also continued to unleash verbal assaults on the presidentelect, Tinubu. Though Obi has been more restrained, his supporters, particularly on the social media space have been quite unruly, and have threatened street demonstrations to protest the outcome of the poll. Some of their utterances actually cast serious aspersions on the integrity of the judiciary in ways that might erode SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH MXGLFLDO UHYLHZ process.

Of course, APC’s spokespersons have not shown the maturity required to deescalate the tension in the polity, giving it back to the opposition elements in equal measure. In fact, Bayo Onanuga, a celebrated media icon and a director in the APC Presidential Council, has now been reported to the International Criminal &RXUW IRU DOOHJHG VWDWHPHQWV WKDW SURÀOHG and could incite resentment against an ethnic group.

Without a doubt, these verbal assaults and public demonstrations have created a crisis situation, which some people are exploiting to renovate hitherto failed agitations for an interim national government. Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria, had been the arrowhead of a pre-election clamour for this idea of a temporary government, claiming that the nation was in a deep crisis, which the 1999 Constitution as altered was incapable of solving.

With the general elections approaching then, he felt it was necessary to put the polls on hold until the constitution is overhauled and a new and workable document is put in place. But the proposal was not given any consideration because it had no legal foundation. In any case,

DQ LQWHULP JRYHUQPHQW RQO\ ÀWV LQWR D post-political crisis situation in which the formal institutions of state have become so weakened that a compromise legal order has to be instituted to sustain the polity.

The pre-election political situation did not by any stretch of the imagination fall within this prescription.

The case for an interim administration is even worse now that peaceful elections have just been held and the winners are awaiting inauguration on 29 May 2023.

President Muhammadu Buhari had set up a transition council to midwife a seamless transfer of power to the president-elect.

That council led by Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation, has made it clear that its work is going on smoothly and that everything is in place to transfer power on the appointed date.

Besides, the election petition tribunals have been set up and aggrieved candidates have engaged expensive attorneys to ÀOH WKHLU EULHIV ZKLFK WKH\ KRSH ZRXOG restore their alleged stolen mandates.

What is left, therefore, is for the judicial adjudication of the disputes to start and be concluded within the 180 days stipulated by the constitution and the electoral act.

In the circumstances, the idea of a temporary government is nothing but a back door to retain power and deprive the legitimate heir of their price of victory.

The last time it was tried in Nigeria, 30 years ago, it failed spectacularly. After annulling the presidential election that Moshood Abiola, the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, was coasting home to win, Ibrahim Babangida, the military president, sought a way out of the massive and sustained opposition to his heist. He instituted an interim government headed

by Earnest Shonekan, a business mogul.

Civil opposition to the illicit act persisted.

First, a court declared it illegal, then, Sani Abacha, a general and minister of Defence, rode on the crest of the protests on the streets to take power. The contraption lasted only 82 days.

If an arrested victory could be so vehemently defended, is it a declared one that would be scuttled without consequence? Certainly not. And this is where the DSS alert makes some sense.

Yes, the secret police might have been ÁLSSDQW LQ WKH SDVW EXW WKLV ODWHVW QRWH RI caution should be taken seriously and with less suspicion of possible mischief to circumscribe the rights of citizens.

Adebiyi, the managing editor of THISADY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@ thisdaylive.com

30 4

T H I S D AY

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

LEAKAGE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS The authorities should do more to safeguard sensitive documents from being leaked to the public

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

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Tukur Mohammed Lawal comes highly recommended, writes STEPHEN KWANDE JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA canvasses the need to liberalise the markets

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BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

United Nigeria Airline Bags Outstanding Indigenous Award A I R Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s domestic carrier, United Nigeria Airlines has won outstanding indigenous airlines award at the Anambra Talent Show.

The award, which was presented to the company in Awka, the Anambra State capital, was unveiled to United Nigeria Airlines by veteran Nollywood star and Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism, Mr. Bob-Manuel Udokwu.

United Nigeria Airlines had previously been decorated with the Most Enterprising Airline of the Year award by New Telegraph Newspapers and Airline of the Year

by Daily Independent Newspapers.

Presenting the award, Udokwu lauded United Nigeria Airlines for proudly sponsoring the event which brought who is who in the state

together for the celebration of the state’s heritage.

Udokwu said United Nigeria Airlines, had since inception in February 2021 distinguished itself through effective service, delivery adding that customer satisfaction in the airline is top-notch.

According to him, the choice of United Nigeria Airlines for the award was easily arrived at as no other airline comes close to it in service delivery and good customer relations.

He noted that United Nigeria Airlines has come on very strongly as a good ambassador of the state, noting that the tourism potential of Anambra state will have a great boost with United Nigeria Airlines providing regular flights to the state.

He further lauded the management of United Nigeria Airlines for always partnering

with the government and people of Anambra state on the delivery of positive values to the state.

Receiving the award on behalf of United Nigeria Airlines, Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Raphael Uchegbu, thanked the people of Anambra state for finding the company worthy of honour.

Uchegbu stated that United Nigeria Airlines was ready to partner with state governments working to deliver positive values for citizens.

According to him, United Nigeria Airlines is focused on delivering customer satisfaction while ensuring that travelers are united, in safety and comfort, with their destinations, businesses, and loved ones.

Uchegbu noted that the award was a call on the company to do more, adding that “we will do more for the good people of Anambra state and all our customers.”

Kenya Airways Operating Costs Increased 93% in 2022 In the financial year ending December 2022, Kenya Airways recorded an increase in revenue, losses, and operating costs.

Simpleflying.com reported that Kenya Airways released its full-year financial results for the year ending December 31, 2022 where the airline highlighted an increase in revenue, losses, and operating costs.

The latest statistics released on March 27, showed that the group’s total revenue in 2022 stood at $890 million, a 66% increase from the previous year.

However, the group’s operating costs increased by 93% due to the rise in operations and fuel costs.

KQ’s revenue for 2022 increased by 66% to $890 million compared to 2021. The group has

projected sustainable recovery by 2024 as the revenue is only five per cent below pre-pandemic levels. A total of 3.7 million passengers were uplifted in 2022, registering a 68% increase compared to 2021.

The increase in revenue was attributed to the increase in travel demand as the world has opened up. While passengers increased by 68 per cent, over 65,000 tonnes of cargo were airlifted by KQ, which is a 3.5 per cent increase.

The deployed capacity in Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) increased by 75 per cent, ending 2022 at 10.3 billion compared to 5.9 billion in 2021. As a result, the passenger load factors were only 3.9% below the load factors achieved before the pandemic.

Speaking at the investor

briefing, Kenya Airways Chairman Michael Joseph said that global air passenger traffic gained momentum and recovered sustainability as governments lifted COVID-19 travel restrictions and passengers grasped the opportunity to resume travel, which was reflective of KQ’s performance. He added;”In 2022, KQs operations were impacted positively by pent-up travel demand, the removal of travel restrictions and KQs efforts to increase frequencies across its network resulting in a strong and sustained recovery in performance compared to a similar period in the prior year.

As a result, global passenger traffic recovered from 41.7 per cent of 2019 levels in 2021 to 68.5 per cent in 2022.”

Hong Kong International Airport Selects SITA on Carbon Emission Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has selected SITA to provide a carbon management platform to monitor data on carbon emissions across the airport environment, helping to track key performance indicators as the airport progresses towards its net zero carbon goal.

SITA’s carbon management platform, to be fully deployed by summer 2023, will collect and aggregate data on carbon emissions from a variety of sources within the airport. This will span

scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and include data from 29 participating business partners across the airport value chain, overseeing services such as ground handling, aircraft maintenance, air cargo logistics, and catering. The platform will provide accurate, clear, and customizable visualizations of this data, allowing HKIA greater efficiency and precision in its carbon reporting efforts.

HKIA, the busiest airport in the world for cargo and one of

the busiest for passenger traffic, is home to one of the world’s largest terminal buildings. In 2012, the Airport Authority Hong Kong pledged to make HKIA the world’s greenest airport, reinforcing this goal in 2021 with the announcement of its 2050 Net Zero Carbon Pledge, a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a midpoint target of a 55% absolute emissions reduction by 2035 (from a 2018 baseline).

Imo State to Partner Tech Giants on Second Phase SkillUpImo Project Emma Okonji Following the successful graduation of 5,000 youths in Cohort 1 of Imo State’s youth digital empowerment and employment scheme dubbed: SkillUpImo Project, the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, is set to commence the second segment of the digital skills acquisition programme.

This is just as the state government is considering partnership with technology companies such as Cisco, Hauwei and Microsoft as well as the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) for certification and value optimisation of the programme.

The continuation of the programme with the Cohort 2 is in keeping with the vision of making Imo State the leading digital economy hub of the nation and having delivered on the promises made on the flag-off of the first leg of the SkillUpImo Project under the direct implementation purview of the state’s Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government.

The state governor places high premium on the SkillUpImo project due to its potential of achieving the triple objectives of positioning Imo State as the digital skills hub of Africa, tackling youth unemployment as well as diversifying and building the state’s digital economy.

Already in the Cohort 2, 15,000 Imolites are now jostling for 10,000 slots at the ongoing enrolment, a reflection of the realisation of the success of the Cohort 1 training programme, which have produced graduands, who are already monetising their skills as techpreneurs while others have been linked to various employment opportunities.

Speaking in an interview, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, confirmed that preadmission assessment has been conducted for over 15, 000 prospective trainees who registered for the Digital skills training, which he said was oversubscribed.

WATCH Proliferation of Airports More Political than Economy, Says Stakeholder Chinedu Eze Aviation expert and stakeholder has frowned over the proliferation of airports across the country, insisting that the springing up of airports in most states of federation, have more political undertone than the economic gains they purport to achieve.

President of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Gabriel Olowo, who questioned the rush for the establishment of more airports by state governments, insisted that most of the existing aerodromes were not commercially viable.

According to him, it has become the vogue for many state governments to embark on the establishment of airports, “Many of the governors, who embark on the airport project, always say that it is opening up their states for investments. It has however been said at many aviation fora that building airport facilities do not promote grassroots development, but rather gulp the huge amount of money that should go for priority projects such as health centres, schools, connecting rural communities through road rehabilitation and providing water for communities that do not have access to that essential resource.”

Olowo rather advised that efforts should be geared towards developing hubs at the major airports in the country, especially at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with so many Terminals in order to attract more traffic and airlines.

He observed that most of the airports apart from the ones in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt were not commercially viable, noting that the facilities that would make the existing airports a hub, are still lacking in most of the country’s airports.

He mentioned that the absence of concourse light train network to connect Domestic Terminals and International Terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano and the installation of modern technology facilities like self- checking service kiosk, among others, are also lacking.

“There exist too many toll gate checkpoints rather than the many agencies to share data and file a single watch-list with security. This is a major disincentive for hub development. Passenger facilitation is made more cumbersome rather than the global effort at making it seamless, ”Olowo said.

For cargo airports, Olowo lamented that the intra and inter-state road linkages to the airports are in deplorable states and wondered how such airports would be useful to farmers and other users to deliver their products.

Olowo emphasised that airports are not only expensive to build because of the many facility linkages but also expensive to maintain.

He said that there must be short and long term enforceable plan by successive governments before embarking on airport development if government were to be a continuum.

He said: “For Lagos Airport, for instance, to become a hub, first class and worldclass airport transfer connection facility is necessary. Concourse light train should be built to connect the terminals rather than allowing transit and or tranfer passengers to check out of the customs, burst into the precarios mammoth crowed in rain and shine with their baggage in order to pick a taxi to the next connecting terminal. This is very absurd and a shame at MMA (Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos) in 45years of its existence since 1978. Transit /transfer passengers dread Lagos Airport, especially in the evenings. Regarding cargo airports, the roads to take the products to the airports are either not available or in bad shape with high propensity for trucks to tumble and perishable goods destroyed. Explosive goods will also explode. Day old chicken and eggs massively destroyed.

Olowo “States should put their heads together for the establishment of safe, functional and durable interstate road linkages first rather than conceiving the idea of a new agro Aerodrome. The airport in the western region of Ibadan and others like that are still operating below capacity . The geographical neighbouring States should cooperate on road &rail linkages and upgrade the airport to a world class standard for the service of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti,etc rather than individual state effort at establishing own airport. Its Bad economics if airports are to deliver economic of scale.”

“Airports maintainance are not cheap and must be done routinely. All we need is to make an effort at turning the existing ones (after proper enhancement) into hubs.

There must be deliberate effort to develop hubs and not by building non-functional airport silos all over the states, overstretching the already stressed treasury.” he added.

On the plan by Abia and Edo State governments to build airports in their states, Olowo described it as good politics gains but bad economic gains.

What is the status of once glorious Benin Airport. Why not revisit the old ruins? “he asked.

He wondered if the state governments had short term and long-term development plans for their states stressing that each state should necessarily have 5-10 year development, which must be strictly honoured by subsequent leadership.

“Government should priortise the need of the people ranging from basics of life like food, shelter, heath, education etc.

Airport construction goes beyond acquiring hectares of land without perimeter fencing, compromising safety of operations abinitio, construct substandard runways that will be washed away in one or two raining seasons.

It is a highly capital intensive project that should be embarked upon after a robust bankable projection. No thanks to the many abandoned airport projects by the states that are begging for funding, a case study of Osun State.

“An airline, during one of the ART breakfast meetings, revealed that it had to install a transformer at an export terminal in order to supply power for airport lighting facilities so as to deliver night flight operations to that airport. The transformer was even said to be burgled after sometime by miscreants. This is expectedly a service that should be provided by the airport company but could not due to lack of funds,” Olowo further said.

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ECONOMY

Lagos Free Zone: Redefining Ease of Doing Business The Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) has shown promise in terms of investment attraction, quality of available infrastructure and redefined ease of doing business, writes Gilbert Ekwugbe

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Free Trade Zone is a type of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) used to trigger economic growth and aid industrialization in many developing nations across the world. The idea behind creating SEZs is to attract local and foreign investors while generating employment, improving local infrastructure, encouraging technology transfer, and boosting economic prosperity.

With over 200 million citizens, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. It comprises a vibrant and diverse group of people, resources, and untapped economic opportunities. Over the years, the Nigerian private sector has attracted the attention of local and international businesses seeking the right circumstances to cater to the growing market. Some of these companies have successfully navigated the challenges of operating in a new market. In contrast, others have struggled with unreliable power, logistics inefficiencies, and bureaucracy, eventually leading to their exit. Recognizing these challenges, the Federal Government of Nigeria has implemented several investor-friendly policies to incentivize investment in and diversification of the economy.

One such policy is the Free Zone Act of 1992.

In Nigeria today, several active public and private Free Zones work hand in hand with the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to create a conducive environment for businesses in the country. One of the SEZs that has shown great promise in terms of investment attraction and quality of available infrastructure is the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ). LFZ is promoted by Tolaram, a Singaporean conglomerate with a global presence of over 70 years in Asia, Africa, and Europe, including 40+ years in Nigeria.

Tolaram’s diversified portfolio spreads across FMCG, Infrastructure, Fintech, and Agriculture.

Strategically located in the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos State, the Lagos Free Zone covers an area of 850 hectares and is uniquely home to the recently built 90-hectare Lekki Deep Seaport. LFZ is an industrial hub that offers its tenants world-class industrial infrastructure, fiscal incentives, operational support, and general ease of doing business. The Zone is developed in line with a cluster-based approach with 70% of the land allocated for industrial use, 20% for logistics, and 10% for mixed-use real estate.

The onsite infrastructure includes ready-tolease land, warehouses, pre-built factories, and facilities such as a gas power plant, financial park, residential buildings, medical center, fire station, and other amenities. In addition, its integration with the Lekki Port, one of the tenants in the Zone, presents a one-of-a-kind solution for customers looking for streamlined business operations in Nigeria.

Since its establishment in 2012, Lagos Free Zone has attracted over USD 2.5 billion from various investors. These investors enjoy a competitive

Lagos Free Zone Masterplan 2 advantage over their counterparts given the 360 ecosystem in the Zone, integration with the Lekki Port, access to regional and international markets, and a one-stopshop single—clearance window with all relevant agencies including Customs and Immigrations within the industrial hub.

Current tenants of the Zone include BASF, Kellogg, Colgate-Palmolive, Sana Building Systems, Insignia Print Technologies, Arla Foods (Dano Milk), Raffles Oil (Power Oil), CNC Logistics, CHEC, and many others, including professional service providers.

FREE ZONE AND LEKKI PORT PROJECTS

Lekki Port is the first deep seaport in Nigeria. Construction of the Port landside and marine infrastructure was completed in October 2022, and commercial operations at the Port are scheduled to start in April 2023. The Port activities are expected to contribute over USD 361 billion over its 45-year concession period and create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The development of the Lekki Deep Sea Port was conceived to bridge the gap in projected demand and capacity to handle ocean cargo in Nigeria. Market studies show that the need for containers is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% up to 2025. The strategic location, optimized layout, and modern facilities at Lekki Port will provide

a distinct competitive edge over any other port facility in the West African region.

The President, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, while commissioning Lekki Port expressed delight at the project’s promoters for investing in Nigeria. On his part, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu stated that he is deeply excited about the execution of the project given that it started under the Buhari administration and was completed on schedule. Sanwo-Olu praised the President for his leadership role, leading to the successful delivery of this iconic project.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the delivery of Lekki Port remains a huge success story. He predicts Lekki Port will become a serious game changer for the maritime industry in Nigeria and West Africa.

“It is a project that was done within 4 years inclusive of the years of COVID-19.

It is going to be a case study for most universities. We need to give kudos to the leadership and project team. We want to assure investors that the ease of doing business will be entrenched. We are going to ensure that it is only the agencies expected to work that will work there. We will protect your investment”, Adesugba said.

Also, the CEO Lagos Free Zone, Dinesh

Rathi expressed deep appreciation to all the stakeholders involved in making Lekki Port a reality. Rathi explained that Lekki Port remains a defining project for Nigeria that would impact the economy positively and further open the country to the world as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).

He added that with Lekki Port being inside the Lagos Free Zone –with ready-to-lease industrial and logistics facilities, it is an ideal industrial park and potential maritime hub for the W. African region, especially with the African Free Continental Trade Agreement in view.

LFZ AND LAUREL

Over the last few years, the Lagos Free Zone has received numerous recognitions from different organizations both locally and internationally, a testament to the unique infrastructure and opportunities available in the Zone.

In 2021, Lagos Free Zone won the ‘Highly Commended – Africa’ category at the FDI Global Free Zones of the Year. In 2022, Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) was equally conferred with the ‘Highest Foreign Direct Investment Value’ award by the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) at an award ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Agency.

Similarly, LFZ won the Corporate Bond Innovation Award for its corporate bond issuance (the longest-tenured corporate bond) at the Made of Africa Gala organized by Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX) held in Lagos recently.

NIGERIA LOSES $1BN ANNUALLY TO NON-CERTIFICATION OF AGRI-PRODUCE FOR EXPORT and the inability of Nigeria to boost her export have had a huge toll on cargo freighting in the country.

“For the past couple of years there has been interconnectivity between cargo and passenger. The same airlines that own cargo planes also own the passenger planes. They use their passenger aircraft to airlift cargo in their bellies. So lots of cargo is freighted by schedule passenger aircraft. We also have strictly cargo carriers. Some of them have 50-100 aircraft in their fleet and do all-round world operations. We have freighter carriers coming to Nigeria. Nigeria is a big market because we have the population and we are import

dependent country. Some of them are no more coming to Nigeria because of the blocked funds.

“In those days people do purely cargo because Nigeria has oil and gas industry and rigs parts are freighted to Nigeria, but today, such cargo carriers don’t come to Nigeria; unless they are on charter.

We now move exports through the belly of commercial airlines. So, all the freighter operations are gone,” he said.

He said that Nigeria is losing because she does not have enough to export, so cargo carriers that come to Nigeria even on charter will have to go to another country

in Africa to pick cargo to export to other regions of the world.

“They go to Kenya to pick flowers for export to Europe or they go to Ghana to pick yams or Mali to pick mangoes or Ivory Coast for plantain and bananas.

Most of the cargo carriers that used to come to Nigeria now go to Asia-Pacific region where they make so much money. Why should they come to Nigeria or Africa and fly from one country to another to pick cargo. Every country you fly to you pay for cargo landing fee and pay cargo royalties; you pay for parking and navigational charges. So they pay

for multiple charges when they come to Africa,” he said.

Nwokoma urged the federal government to push for the certification of Nigerian farm produce and also sit down with foreign airlines and discuss their trapped funds. He said that the trapped fund is de-marketing Nigeria.

Speaking recently about creating market for Nigerian farm produce, the Managing Director and CEO of ABX World Limited, Captain John Okakpu, said Nigeria had not been positioned as the ‘real’ stakeholder for agro-export.

He said Nigeria’s participation

in the agricultural value chain, depended on the effectiveness and implementation of government policies, especially in the agricultural sector.

He added that Nigeria could benefit immensely from Africa Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that would soon form a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, which Nigeria cannot afford to be left out of.

According to him, available reports show that trade between African nations in agricultural products as a percentage of Africa’s total agricultural trade remains below 20 per cent long, one of the lowest in any region.

He said total trade between African nations was only two per cent in the period 2015–2017, compared with 67 per cent in trade between European countries, 61 per cent in Asian countries, and 47 per cent in the Americas, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

“Now, AfCFTA intends to change the narrative. It has created the world’s largest free trade area, representing the 1.2 billion consumer market, and mandates states to remove tariffs and non-tariffs in order to boost shipments and services between nations, and boost economic growth in doing so, ”Okakpu said.

the country in the future.

Meanwhile, Jamoh applauded NWUN for adopting dialogue in ensuring and maintaining peace in the maritime sector, which he said has aided the peace and industrial harmony witnessed in the sector leading to the successes recorded.

He said, “In the past few years, the maritime industry has experienced relative peace and harmony, which has been made possible through the instrumentality of the leadership of MWUN. NIMASA is committed to ensuring the union is equipped with adequate facilities needed to perform their duties judiciously.”

Speaking, Adeyanju expressed the gratitude of the union to the Management of NIMASA, and assured that they will continue to work closely with the various stakeholders in the sector to ensure continuous progress. He also urged Terminal Operators, Government Agencies and other major maritime players to emulate NIMASA in the discharge of their CSR Projects.

The MWUN President General who is also the National Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress commended the leadership of NIMASA under Dr Jamoh urging the Federal Government to consider a second tenure based on performance.

NIMASA, NCC CLOSE RANKS ON SUBMARINE CABLE REGULATION IN NIGERIA in Lagos at a pre audit meeting on submarine cable regulation.

The Director General of NIMASA Dr Bashir Jamoh who chaired the meeting, which also had the Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Mr Dasuki Arabi in attendance, noted that the agency is committed to the Ease of doing Business while implementing International Conventions which Nigeria has ratified and domesticated.

This is as NIMASA and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), have restated their commitment to continuous stakeholder’s engagement as an effective tool to maintain the peace

which the nation’s maritime sector have enjoyed in recent years.

Jamoh and the President General of NWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju both made the assertion in Lagos at a ceremony by NIMASA to hand over vehicles to the Union as part of the Agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The vehicles are a 16-seater bus and one Hilux.

Spwaking at the pre-audit meting with NCC, Jamoh said, “It is worthy to note that marine cable laying has been ongoing for over two decades in Nigerian waters. Our focus is to ensure safety of navigation of shipping in Nigerian waters with all these underwater cables being laid. NIMASA

is actually developing the guidelines to regulate submarine cable operators in line with the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS; which we have ratified and NIMASA is the Agency of Government in Nigeria responsible for its implementation. We do not just implement laws; we consult. Where the responsibility of an Agency stops, that is where the responsibilities of another Agency starts. Collaboration is a key component of ease of doing business in the best interest of the country and we will work closely with the NCC to achieve this.”

On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor

Umar Garba Danbatta who was represented by the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Efosa Idehen noted that the stakeholders’ dialogue strategy adopted by NIMASA in developing the guidelines would ensure a win-win situation urging NIMASA management to include the Ministry of Justice, a request NIMASA DG immediately granted.

Also speaking at the meeting was the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms Mr Dasuki Arabi, who commended NIMASA and NCC for adopting effective Inter-Agency collaboration to avert a potential challenge for

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Berthing National Carrier amid Turbulence Since 2015, Mohammadu Buhari’s administration has continued to promise Nigerians that it would berth national carrier in the course of his administration, but such promises are still hanging in the air. However, amid litigation hanging on the planned national airline, the Minister of Aviation still believes that Nigeria Air would fly before end of May 29, 2023, but stakeholders are in doubt, writes Chinedu Eze

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fter the inauguration of his ministers on November 11, 2015, the then Minister of State, Senator Hadi Sirika, in 2015, held a press conference in Lagos and reeled out his plan for the aviation industry.

Sitting atop his Aviation Road Map was the establishment of national carrier, which was later named Nigeria Air when it was unveiled in London at the Fanborough International Airshow in London, July 2018.

Sirika then assured Nigerians that the national carrier would be established that year, noting that “This is an important day for Nigeria, which has the largest economy in Africa, and largest population, with GDP of around half a billion dollars, and the only true aviation player in West and Central Africa”.

According to him, “Nigeria has unfortunately not been a serious player in Aviation for a long time. We used to be a dominant player, through Nigeria Airways, but sadly not anymore. This will be a national carrier that is private sector led and driven. It is a business, not a social service. The government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it. The investors will have full responsibility for this. The Nigerian government will not own more than five per cent (maximum) of the new national carrier. The government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it. New terminals in Lagos and Abuja Airports will add 11 million passenger capacity in each of the two airports.”

Two months after its unveiling, the Minister of State then, Senator Sirika suspended the establishment of the project and he announced in September 2018 that the project had been suspended. “I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the national carrier project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured,” Sirika said at that time.

Nothing significant happened in 2019 and 2020 when Covid-19 pandemic struck, but in June 2022, the Minister announced that the Nigeria Air Limited had

received an Air Transport Licence (ATL) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

But before obtaining ATL, in 2021 the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had announced its approval for the commencement of the operations of the national airline in April 2022.

On the obtaining of ATL, Sirika said: “Nigeria Air Limited received from Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Air Transport Licence, signialing the end of the beginning of operations of the airline.

Commencement date of domestic operations will be announced in due course.”

MANY FAILURES

The first promise of a national carrier by the Buhari’s administration was in 2015. The promise continued to 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and finally before the end of this administration on May 29, 2023.

Last year the federal government announced the selection of Ethiopian Airlines as technical partner and core investor for the establishment of the planned national carrier, the Nigeria

Air. It disclosed then that the selection of Ethiopian Airlines would put to an end, several months of speculations about who become the technical partner and core investor in Nigeria Air. This raised the hope of the Nigerians who looked forward to having another national carrier.

But the plan to have the national carrier became clouded in another uncertainty when Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) sued the federal government over the establishment of the airline over ownership arrangement and the allegation that it was styled to stifle other airline operators. With that litigation, it has become uncertain when the airline would really begin to operate.

However, during the National Aviation Stakeholders Forun held in Abuja last week, Senator Sirika assured that Nigeria Air must take to the skies before end of the Buhari administration.

“Operation of local and international flights will

commence soon. Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly. Negotiation meetings with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria are ongoing.

Next step: Federal Executive Council approval of the Full Business Case,” Sirika said.

He identified the benefits Nigeria stands to derive from the establishment of the national carrier, which include reduced capital flight from Nigeria, maximisation of the benefit of Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) and Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and development of an aviation hub. he also said the National carrier will contribute to the country’s GDP, facilitate hospitality and tourism, facilitate growth and development of the Nigerian agricultural sector, and create jobs around the Agro-Cargo Terminals (which are yet to be established).

There has been nostalgia about Nigeria having another national carrier, especially among those who were comtempranous of the hey days of Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), but looking at the current realities, some Nigerians are not positively disposed to the country having a national airline. Reports also indicate that many Nigerians have criticised the Muhammadu Buhari administration for seeking to start a new national carrier after the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, collapsed largely due to corruption. Besides, the Ethiopian Airlines having 49 per cent of the stakes in the planned airline, there are no signs that the new carrier would not be enmesshed in corruption, even if government owns one per cent.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

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Weekend

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023

Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

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WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NBC Takes the Lead in Diversity, Inclusion

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ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

NBC Takes the Lead in Diversity, Inclusion Globally, International Women’s Day is on March 8th and the entire month of March are dates set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. For the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, diversity and inclusion is a deliberate policy supported with massive investment in leadership development for women. Eromosele Abiodun in this report presents the views of 10 leading women at NBC on diversity and inclusion, challenges in male-dominated sectors and other topical career growth issues.

L-R: Head of Supply Chain Academy, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd, Misan Ilesanmi; Transformation Lead, NBC, Mariam Oginni; Regional Sales Director, NBC, Morenike Ogungbemi; Manufacturing Manager, East, Central and West, NBC, Irene Ugwoke; Legal Director, NBC, Abiodun Peters; Procurement Director, NBC, Omobonike Oketunji; Regional Sales Director, Lagos Central, NBC, Tolulope Agosun and Regional Sales Director, North Central, NBC, Ijeoma Onumajuru.

I

t was October 1945. World War II had just ended.

A war weary world was eager to have peace; so 51 countries came together to write the founding charter of the United Nations, and for the first time in the history of mankind- equal rights for women were included in the charter and after that was the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The following year, in 1949, the UN General Assembly would go on to adopt the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Often referred to as the “Women’s Bill of Rights”, CEDAW is the most comprehensive international instrument to protect the human rights of women.

International Women’s Day (IWD) and the month of March are set aside annually to focus on the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, violence and abuse against women. Spurred on by the universal female suffrage movement that had begun in New Zealand, IWD itself originated from labour movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century.

Things have since changed as many organisations are now embracing diversity in the workplace. By implementing this policy, companies are now becoming more inclusive places for people of varying gender, ages, religion, race, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, languages, education, abilities, etc.

Consequently, creating a more accepting culture has a strong positive effect on individuals and connects everyone. Its importance has never been as prominent as today. Building such a culture is something that most companies strive to achieve now.

Diversity in the workplace ensures a variety of different perspectives. Since it means that employees will have unique characteristics and backgrounds, they are also more likely to have a variety of different skills and experiences. According to a Pew Research Center report on what makes a good leader, characteristics such as honesty, intelligence, compassion, and innovation rank quite high on the rating scale. When comparing these traits between men and women, women scored higher in most of these categories.

NBC TAKES THE LEAD

In Nigeria, only a few organisations have embraced this noble idea. With many women in top management positions, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) becomes a reference point in diversity and inclusion. Over the years, NBC has shown its commitment and intentionality in supporting the inclusion of talented women in leadership. For several years, NBC has invested in a total framework that seeks, attracts, retains and promotes women in the workplace. Its hiring process looks out for women who have the competence to deliver on the job; while a strong developmental programme like the Women in Leadership Program prepares women for active participation in leadership roles. As part of efforts to sustain the crusade for inclusion, some women in top management positions at NBC spoke to THISDAY in separate interviews, with each of them speaking about their experience and the role NBC has played in advancing their career.

Speaking on NBC and the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group’s commitment to 50:50 gender parity by 2025 among managers, People and Culture Director Juliana Esezobor, said, “Coca-Cola Hellenic Group has committed to driving diversity, equity, and inclusion in our businesses.

We have deliberately put together systems, processes, and practices to drive our 50:50 gender parity across

tiers in our business. However, for us, diversity is beyond our gender ratios. It is about creating an environment for equal opportunities. What do we mean by this? Equal opportunities to learn, grow, have diversely rich thoughts and perspectives, be daring, stand out, break new ground, etc. It is pertinent to note that we operate in a sector that is typically perceived to be male-dominated. As a business, our aim continues to be about changing the narrative and creating a solid platform and ecosystem for our female colleagues to thrive and succeed. And we have had several success stories and trail-blazing women across our group at large and in Nigeria.”

She added, “For example, we have several executives at our group level being women and over 40% of Senior executive roles are held by women in Nigeria. We have adopted a multi-tiered approach to driving this agenda. This includes, but is not limited to: r 3FJOGPSDJOH PVS %&* WJTJPO BT B CVTJOFTT across the organization and supporting our leadership team to own and drive the diversity mandate. r #VJMEJOH DBQBDJUZ JO PVS MFBEFST UP NBOBHF B diverse workforce, adopting a systematic yet balanced view to sourcing talents – we look out for exceptional women who are passionate not just to succeed but to mentor, and enable the growth of other women. r 0VS 8PNFO JO /#$ /FUXPSL 8*// BO avenue to engage, connect and enrich our ladies and a safe place to discuss issues that pertain to our growth and development. This network is also a rich source of information to enable the business continually focus on what is important for our ladies. This network also serves as a veritable avenue for driving insights and co-create solutions relevant to the needs of our female colleagues. r $POTUBOU NFBTVSFNFOU PG PVS %&* QSPHSFTT and reflection on how we are faring, as well as steps to sustain our trajectory. r 8F IBWF BEPQUFE QPMJDJFT UIBU BSF HFOEFS friendly, entrenching our deep value for family and the needs of women at various stages of life, family, and career.”

On her part, Legal Director, NBC, Abiodun Peters spoke on her encounters with individuals who feel that her role should be held by a man.

She said, “Over the years, the legal profession in Nigeria has evolved from the historical perspective of ‘a male-dominated profession’, with many distinguished female lawyers making an impact in diverse practice areas and delivering outstanding performance in corporate legal practice and the Judiciary. My philosophy is that leadership is not a function of gender, but one driven by competence, passion, empathy, and the ability to make a positive impact in any endeavour. I always embrace challenges and don’t see the bias but focus on showing up strong every day, ensuring that I don’t maintain a seat at the table’ but ‘bring value to the table and contribute to the bottom line’.

“I have enjoyed my legal career with Coca-Cola Hellenic, having benefited from a strong network of women who support, motivate and encourage one another. I am also inspired by the Company’s commitment towards investing in women across the

board and without bias – women in the business, women across our value chain (customers) and women in the communities where we operate. In celebrating the 2023 International Women’s Day, my message to women would be to leverage innovation and technology to drive gender equality within their area of influence. Technology is a powerful tool that transcends borders. Let us put aside limiting beliefs and leverage resources to connect, empower and support other women.”

On how other organisations can emulate NBC, Trade Marketing Director, Oluyomi Moses stated, “NBC is deeply committed and very intentional in supporting the inclusion of talented women in leadership. For several years, the business has invested in a total framework that seeks, attracts, retains, and promotes women in the workplace: our hiring process looks out for women who have the competence to deliver on the job; strong developmental programmes like the Women in Leadership Program prepare women for active participation in leadership roles; and inclusive policies support our women to aspire and challenge for the zenith of their career. NBC is a unique organization that allows you to fully express your talent; you determine how far you want to go.

It has been an amazing and fulfilling journey to be a part of the ecosystem that refreshes our people with quality beverages 24/7 as they go about fulfilling their daily aspirations.”

Procurement Director, Omobonike Oketunji, relates how NBC has supported her to maintain strong professional relationships with male suppliers. According to her, “In line with our core CCH values, conducting our business with a high level of professionalism is gender neutral.

I extend the same trust to our supplier base, who are part of our ecosystem. Gender or race does not reflect any barriers. I have worked on managing supplier relationships on a gender-neutral basis.

NBC, through strong processes, policies and structures, has provided an enabling environment for professionalism in both Staff and Supplier engagement. For example, the mandatory NBC Supplier Guiding Principles well articulate our values regarding gender and professional conduct.

This and other communication channels affirm NBC’s commitment to supporting all female employees, myself included. Bottom line is, I have never felt differently or treated differently by suppliers because I am a woman and NBC is very vocal about our expected level of professionalism from our suppliers.”

Head of Supply Chain Academy, Misan Ilesanmi, narrated her experience as head of a co-educational academy, championing equal opportunities for young women, and nurturing young talents, especially women in the Supply Chain industry that is typically dominated by men.

“I lead an Academy that provides training and capability development for our Supply chain function. Our focus is on developing skills in production, engineering, quality, logistics, planning, projects, and the Academy.

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I understand the importance of championing equal opportunities for young women who aspire to have a career in Supply Chain because of my experience. Over the years, I have had a series of engagements with both men and women in

the Organization. However, the nature of my role automatically makes me a career go-to person for all employees in the function. In the industry, we have operational roles perceived as solely for men. These vacancies were filled almost 100% with men a few years ago. I have made a conscious effort to alter these perceptions because I am aware of the bias.

We do this through a conscious selection process. We ask interview questions with open-mindedness and emphasize the freedom for people to act on their roles with their unique values. This deliberate effort has projected a lot of women into the limelight – So we now have more women in leadership positions than we did some 2 years ago. Being a certified Coach and Mentor, I leverage my expertise to help young talents develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the Supply Chain industry.”

“I understand that building a successful career in the supply chain requires a combination of technical skills, leadership skills and the ability to navigate complex Supply chain networks effectively. With 14+ years in the industry, I have seen unique challenges faced by women. Women are not recognized for work done, which leads to discouragement. Women are not promoted because of the perception that they are not mobile - most times they are not even asked. Young women are not recruited because they will get pregnant soon and go on maternity leave etc. I have ensured women who are deserving of being promoted got to their deserved positions. I have created an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes gender equality and diversity. I have initiated programs that help our male colleagues understand us better, and built a strong women’s network with a focused approach to supporting women to achieve success in their roles.

This has resulted in better work relationships positively impacting our business results.”

Ijeoma Onumajuru was recently appointed Regional Sales Director, North Central. She spoke on how she intends to lead her team effectively and what structure NBC has in place to help her deliver: “I must say that I am proud of myself and the progression of my career. The journey has not been easy as a woman, having to prove yourself, your competence and capacity, showing that you are capable and reliable to deliver on the organization’s expectations. I joined NBC as a graduate trainee. The organization is intentional in supporting employees to unleash their potential through technical and leadership capacity and capability development programs. I have been empowered through such programmes and other leadership empowerment programmes specifically designed for women to build confidence and excel in a male-dominated space. Sale is a tough job and as a team leader of smaller sales teams in my early days, one strategy that worked for me was to focus on “PEOPLE”. As a Regional Sales Director, I will continue to focus on people, to empower and support every member of my team to achieve their career aspirations. The end game is to build a high-performing, empowered, and engaged team to support business growth. NBC has a structured and robust 18-month onboarding programme aiming to empower Regional Sales Directors new in their role to become the Field Sales Leaders of tomorrow, drive exceptional performance and customer satisfaction through their teams.”

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

NEWS NIGERIAN SELECTED INTO PRESTIGIOUS GLOBAL EISENHOWER FELLOWSHIP

Vice President-Elect KashimShettima (fifth from right) flanked by a Director in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Alhaji MusaDayaHakimin (immediate right); Retired Banker, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad; ACP ZakariBiu (Rtd);All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman, SenatorAbubakarKyari;Director of Public Affairs of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr.AbubakarJimoh (immediate left); former Executive Director of Aso Savings Bank, HajiyaMaimunaAliyu; former Bornu State Commissioner, Dr. Salma Anas; and Agric Expert, Miss Ann Cunningham during a presentation of congratulatory card to Shettimaby hischildhood friends at the weekend in Abuja

FG Commends Simba TVS for ‘Queen Rider’ Women Empowerment Initiatives

Precious Ugwuzor

The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen (OFR), has commended The Simba Group, a leading two and three-wheeler mobilitysolutions provider in Nigeria, for the success of its Queen Riders program which has contributed to women’s empowerment and gender equity in the country.

The statement was made during the 2023 International Women’s Day celebration organised by Access Bank, recently in Lagos.

It would be recalled that the Simba Group initiated its collaboration with the Ministry in 2020, which has since supported the encouraged and company’s efforts to enhance opportunities underrepresented for women to participate in the Nigerian commercial transport industry. It has since received the Ministry’s Product Recognition Award “in recognition of the laudable initiatives to improve the wellbeing and livelihood of Nigerian Women and Vulnerable Groups”.

The minister praised the company for its efforts in supporting women via the program, noting that they are in line with the government’s vision of empowering women across the country.

Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen with Simba Group Managing Director Chief Vinay Grover at the Recently Held International Women’s Day Celebration in Lagos

The Queen Riders Program provides training to women on vehicle riding and repairs, mentorship, and access to financing.

The program, which is built on four pillars of Opportunity, Development, Empowerment, and Independence, has successfully enriched the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of women across different parts of the country.

Simba Group Managing Director,

Chief Vinay Grover, expressed gratitude for the Minister’s recognition and promised to continue to do more to support women’s empowerment, gender equity, and financial freedom.

In a statement released by the company, he said: “We are honored to have received such positive feedback from the Hon. Minister. “ The Queen Riders program

was established to support and empower under-represented women and we are grateful to the Minister and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs for its guidance and encouragement.

“Furthermore, we understand the role the private sector plays in empowering women and will continue to drive forward these important initiatives.”

WIEN Demands Gov’t to Prioritise Gender Equity Policies Stories by Mary Nnah Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has demanded the incoming administration of the federal government to prioritise policies and programs that dismantle prevailing gender bias and discrimination in the energy sector as a reliable way to harness the full human potential in accelerating national development.

WIEN which provides aegis for female investors, business owners, professionals and sundry workers in the energy sector declared at its 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast Session that government must build a society that provides a congenial environment for people to excel in their endeavors irrespective of gender.

In her presentation at the event, the President of WIEN, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, proposed collaboration among policy drivers, regulators, industry leaders, and organisations like

WIEN to implement concrete solutions that dismantle all forms of bias and discrimination in the energy industry in particular and the country in general.

The WIEN IWD Breakfast Session which was hosted in Lagos was organised in partnership with Women in Shell Network and Seplat Awesome Women’s Network and focused on “Programmes & Initiatives for Equitable Access for Women in the Nigerian Energy Industry.”

The session is part of month-long activities lined up by WIEN to mark the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations which comes with the theme: “Embrace Equity.” With the activities, WIEN is driving harder on its advocacy for workplace gender balance and enhanced opportunity for women in the energy industry.

Ogbue pointed out that the “call to Embrace Equity

highlights the need to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities, resources, and rights regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, or other factors that can lead to inequality.”

She called on the incoming administration of the just concluded 2023 Nigerian General elections to prioritise gender equity and inclusion in its policies and decision-making, “and work with industry leaders and organizations like WIEN to implement concrete solutions.”

Ogbue stated that government must create a more equitable future by implementing policies that promote gender equity, such as increasing access to education and training programs for women in the energy industry and ensuring equal pay for equal work.

She called on the government to work with stakeholders to create a more inclusive environment by promoting diversity in leadership positions and ensuring

that women’s voices are heard and valued in decision-making processes.

“Governments and legislature must strengthen existing policies to attract more women in STEM, ensuretheappointmentofwomen as heads of agencies in the various sectors both at sectional, regional, and international levels as well as redraft obsolete legislations that hinder progress in the sector,” she noted.

She also called for regulations that mandate institutions to spread opportunities in the energy industry across the gender divide.

“Regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) can implement policies that promote gender equity and inclusion in the oil and gas industry. Armed with baseline data of gender inclusion, stakeholders can start to build a framework to achieving gender inclusion,” she added.

Nwagba

Precious Ugwuzor Aba-born Uzoma Nwagba – lead innovator and Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria’s BOI Growth Platform – has been selected into the prestigious Global Eisenhower Fellowship. Named after the 34th President of the United States – Dwight Eisenhower – the Fellowship selects the most impactful and innovative mid-career leaders from across continents to tackle pressing global challenges.

Commemorating its 70th anniversary, the Eisenhower Fellowship has selected 26 Fellows from five continents for its 2023 Global Program. Fellows commence with six weeks of intensive travels across the United States for engagements with leading executive and experts in their fields – including the US government, technology, venture capital, politics, medicine, banking, law enforcement, and academia. Their travels help shape projects of impact they will undertake after they return home, with continued support from the Eisenhower network.

Announcing Nwagba’s selection in a February press release, Erin Hillman, President of the Eisenhower Fellowship says: “with the goal of ‘reversing perennial poverty in Africa’ by changing the paradigm from ‘aid for survival’ to ‘aid for productivity,’ the Growth Platform has provided more than $472 million in credit and grants to 4.1 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises since 2017.

Fifty-six percent of recipients are women and 57 percent are younger than 35. Nwagba, who earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2014, oversees daily operations and the Platform’s 22,000 staff and field-based loan officers.

In the fellowship he will develop an upskilling program he calls “Nigeria Valley” to train a new generation of software engineers, product designers, Web 3.0 developers and blockchain professionals who will work remotely from Nigeria in thousands of global jobs.”

Nwagba began his career as a software engineer at Microsoft, USA, designing mobile software for emerging markets. Following an advanced business degree, he returned to Nigeria an investment professional at ACA private equity, as one of 11 professionals on its $600m fund. Seeking greater impact, Nwagba joined Nigeria’s public service soon after and has been central in the design and execution of technology-driven public interventions targeted as micro, small and medium enterprises.

Some of these interventions include the World Bank’s NG-CARES, and the Federal Government’s GEEP (MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, TraderMoni) all domiciled in Nigeria’s Bank of Industry.

Nwagba’s selection adds yet another example to the ongoing

ALL OR NOTHING, A HIGH STAKES ICONIC STAGE PLAY USHERS IN EASTER As Easter approaches Free Gift International Film and Theater Ministry will be ushering in the season with an iconic stage play entitled “All or Nothing”.

This iconic stage play will be the 5th in the series which started in December 2021 and has featured classic performances of such plays as “Roaring Lion” and “GCFR”. These Iconic Theatre Performances are organised three times annually – at Christmas, Easter, and during the Independence week in October.

All or Nothing, written and directed by Ayotunde Yoloye tells the story of how the peace and calm in the land of Jikunda, one of the six villages in the province of Lemota, is shattered when the province is attacked by unknown invaders, and the Samota, the traditional and spiritual leader of the province is reported dead. The Jikunda council of elders, the Dikas, are relieved when they find that the invaders come in peace. However as the months go by, they realise that the stakes are very high and there is more to the invaders than meets the eye. The play explores the many compromises people make on the altar of peace and convenience. It examines the challenges of remaining faithful to one’s beliefs and values in the face of adversity and seeming hopelessness.

Taking place at the Muson Center, Onikan Lagos on Sunday 2nd April, the event will feature two performances of the play on the day at 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm. The first performance is classified as a silver performance and is open to the general public for free once they register in advance to attend online at https://fgiallornothing. eventbrite.com while the second performance at 4.30 pm is classified as a gold performance and is strictly by invitation. The play which was first performed live 20 years ago at the Glover hall on Lagos Island, will feature a cast that includes veteran actors Chester Osagie, Banke Amole-Adams, Elijah Edet, Benjamin Adeniran, Emmanuel Tene, Beloved Lawal, Osas Okoduwa and Eric Amole-Adams.

Free GIFT Ministry is renowned for high-impact, well-performed Christian plays and films that minister the profound truth of God’s word effectively. Its plays have been performed over 1000 times on stage in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

Over the last 27 years, they have consistently sought to create atmospheres where edifying, inspiring, and life-transforming stage dramas can be viewed by the public. This Easter promises to be no differentas“AllorNothing”willbeperformedliveattheMusonCenter.

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FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023 T H I S D AY ˾

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

With Kamal Adisa, Creativity is a Global Currency

NIKE GALLERY OPENS ULTRA-MODERN ART HOUSE IN ABUJA

Kamal Adisa, a Nigerian-born visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York is an accomplished motion graphics designer at RCA Records, one of Sony Music Entertainment’s four flagship labels. As a disruptor in the video editing, animation and motiondesignculture,Adisahasanenviableportfolio showcasing projects done with talents such as Doja Cat, Sza, Wizkid and Steve Lacey. In a virtual encounter with Yinka Olatunbosun, he recounts the story of his American Dream

A view of the Ultra-Modern Art House in Abuja

Yinka Olatunbosun

One of Kamal Adisa’s designs

We know you have a background in graphic design, video editing and motion graphics, can you take us through the journey of how you became a visual artist and what inspired you to explore multiple art forms?

exhibition in Lagos.

Yes, I did some personal works. Selfportraits. Paintings of my grandmother.

I

You incorporate 2D and 3D in your work. How do you decide the best medium to use when you tell a story?

Sometimes, I choose the 2D or 3D animation in instances where it could have cost a lot more to tell the story in real life shots. 2D is good for illustration or an existing work to give it life. 3D can be used to represent an environment with limited budget.

I went to KingsAcademy in Jordan and Parsons School of Design in New York where I finished with a Communication Design major and filmmaking minor.

As a Nigerian working in the United States, do you sometimes find yourself at a crossroad of cultural differences?

I draw insights from both sides. Having those two differences show me that there is a lot of similarities in the two cultures. Whatever story I try to tell, I personalise those experiences. Artists in general should try and understand their works. The person I am is highly influenced by those two backgrounds.

have always been into fine art. I startedoffwithdrawing;sketching with pencils and pens and eventually went into painting.

WhenIgottohighschool,Ihadto make a decision on what I would do when I got to college. I decided it had to be an art school. In my first semester at the school, we tried a little bit of everything.

We tried architecture, product design, fine art and it was then I realised that I was more into graphic design and art forms…

Would you say that your education at Parsons influenced your creative approach or artistic style?

It definitely did. I explored some of the styles that were discussed in class and of course the medium choice is influenced by what was taught. There is also what is called the digital dialect.

In 2019, you won the Student Animation Competition at Denvers Supernova Film Festival for a short animated film that you made titled ‘Paradise Island.’ How did that make you feel?

We were using everything we had been taught in a class to make a narrative short by then end of the class. From the beginning of the class, I had a character that I was sketching. Adam- I did sketches of him throughout the semester in different scenarios. I created a whole world around Adam so I decided to use it for my project- the film I was to make. The story is that of a boy who has no memory of where he is from or what is going on. A confused boy in a world that he doesn’t understand. It is my first animated film and I was surprised that the judges liked it and I ended up winning the competition.

It made me want to do more and then I did another animated film which premiered in 2021. It was showed at the African Film Festival – How The Tortoise Got Its Shell based on a Nigerian folktale.

It alluded to Nigerian politics-with tortoise being a clever one taking everyone’s food.

I worked on a film project with my brother last year.

In 2018, you participated in a group

What is your unique artistic vision?

My unique story and all the little things that I have learned, the kind of music that I listen to. The type of friends that I keep. i am learning everyday what makes me stand out.

You are an integral part of RCA Records and that is quite prestigious from my point of view. How did you get there? Is there a brief backstory to it?

I wasn’t expecting to end up in music but naturally, I have been working on projects related to that. A friend of mine was working at the RCA as a motion designer. My friend wasn’t into the motion like that. So, he was overwhelmed by it. I came it and I have been there for three years.

How would you explain motion design to a layman?

It is moving graphic design.

What are some of the major challenges that you face in your line of work and how have you overcome them?

When you work in the music industry, things move in a very fast pace which is exciting. You are always working on something new every day. Getting used to the pace and doing a lot of work in a limited time. I have learnt to manage people’s expectations and communicate with them on what is possible or not. I try to make everyone happy. The artists put a lot of work into their project so

it is important to get the videos that match up to those efforts.

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

I am working on an animated film with a friend. We’re working on an animated show right now, where we’ll be interviewing a lot of our friends in New York and possibly outside of New York. and just like learning like basically everything you’re asking me now, We’re trying to learn more about like the creative process. I’m just like, let people learn more about that through the show as we interview them. And yeah, I’m really excited to share that.

I know you have done some work with Wizkid, Doja Cat and some other popular artists. How demanding can it be working with high profile artists?

It is definitely very intimidating in the beginning. You will like to impress.

But over time, you just have to have confidence in your work. That’s what I can advise anyone. When you work, don’t expect them to love it. Expect them to hate it and be okay with that.

Do you do a lot of retrospective study? Do you dig into the past?

I don’t intentional dig back into history but I try to expose myself to as much material as I can. I watch a lot of old movies and old shows and see how they approach things. It is good to study the pass to know what to do next with new developments.

Do you think there can ever be any music video production that can beat Michael Jackson’sThriller?

I think there are a lot of productions over the years that have surpassed that.

There are lot of nice videosLike?

Like, for example...(laughs) Now you are looking for examples…

There are great videos no doubt. But do we have anything with that same shock value?

Yes, Thriller is a classic because it was well produced. Abra has very great videos with lots of visual art.

Do you have any advice for young people?

Don’t be discouraged by what others do. There are so many impressive work out there. It is important to trust yourself and develop the confidence to stand by your work. Develop positive mindset. Make more friends within the field. Meet more creative people and rub minds.

ne of the largest art galleries in West Africa, Nike Art Gallery, has opened an ultra-modern gallery in Abuja. The opening of the Abuja ultra-modern art gallery, an initiative of the renowned Nigerian batik and adire textile designer, art promoter and philanthropist, Nike Davies-Okundaye, also known as ‘Mama Nike’, took place on March 28, thus coinciding with International Women’s Month.

O

According to Chief Reuben Okundaye, a former commissioner of police and husband of Nike Davis-Okundaye, the official launch of the Abuja gallery was designated for March to celebrate women globally with art. He made this disclosure while speaking with journalists recently at Nike Art Gallery, Lagos.

Okundaye revealed that the new state-of-the-art gallery was solely his wife’s dream.

“When she told me she wanted to own an art gallery in Abuja which will contain all aspects of Nigeria art, I was probably looking at her and how we are going to achieve that. She said it’s possible and doable. What people are going to see on March 28 is the fulfillment of that her dream.”

For him, the journey of building what he described as an ultra-modern art gallery began in year 2000 with a mini-gallery in 2004, but has metamorphosed today after 19 years to an art village which will feature different aspects of arts including modern and contemporary art, antiquities of Nigerian cultural heritage.

“In year 2000, we went to Abuja to request for land to build an art gallery for Nike Art Foundation. We were allocated 5.1 hectares of land in a choice area in Abuja which had been earmarked by the Federal Government to be developed. It has institutions like Defence College, National Open University and many other institutions.

“In 2004 we developed a mini Nike Art Gallery in that

land which housed a textile museum. We invited the former minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. We enumerated then that we have a very bold intention to develop an ultra-modern art gallery that will feature many segments of arts and culture and that is what we have now achieved.

“That edifice has been completed, it is a massive art gallery facing the Defense College. I celebrate my wife, Nike, whenever she achieves something big, because whenever she decides to do something, she does it well.”

Several sections of the gallery will be split across textile, sculptures, antiquities and antiques that reflect Nigerian cultural heritage.

“We will also have virtual art of different descriptions,’’ he continued. “The construction is mainly focused on the true aspect of Nigerian heritage. Different images that will represent different Nigerian tribes.”

Nike Okundaye who is also the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, called for more support for female artists in Nigeria as she appealed to all Nigerian artists regardless of their affiliations to come together under one umbrella as seen in the movie industry to promote artists and their works and to attract government’s attention with one voice.

She said, “I am calling on all artists to come together under one umbrella in one voice so that we will be able to approach the government. The way we promote Nollywood films we need to come together to promote our work.

And we need more support for female artists in Nigeria.”

In Nigeria, Nike Art gallery/Foundation has been at the forefront of promoting visual arts both contemporary art pieces and modern art pieces with collections of over 25,000 art pieces, and have trained about 3,000 youths and women in art works free of charge at their various training centres and workshops nationwide.

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

IMAGES

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Newly promoted naval officer, Rear Admiral P. E Efedue; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A. Z Gambo; and another newly promoted officer, Rear Admiral JAS Malafa, at the decoration ceremony held at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja…recently

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, PremiumTrust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim, delivering a lecture to students of Methodist Comprehensive Secondary School in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the need to imbibe the culture of saving in commemoration of the 2023 financial literacy day…recently

L-R: Educational Secretary, Gombe State, Abubakar Baba Abdullahi; representative of the Emir, Falakin Gombe, Alhaji Kabiru Tshon; Regional Marketing Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Gombe State, Muhammed Buhari; State Business Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Gombe State, Moses Adejo; and Head Teacher, Government Day Nursey and Primary School, Sani Abubakar, during the inauguration of the newly renovated Government Day Nursery and Primary School in Gombe State…recently

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke (left), and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola (right), during the inauguration of Ilesa Passport Production Centre and Passport Front Office located on Iyemogun Road in Ilesa, Osun State…recently

L-R: Chairman, Impact Credit Guarantee Limited, Abubakar Jimoh; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Ijeoma Ozulumba; Chairman, DBN, Dr. Shehu Yahaya; Independent Director, DBN, Clare Omatseye; and Managing Director/CEO, DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, during the bank’s 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration in Abuja...recently

L-R: Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief, Daily Trust Newspapers, Nasiru Mikali; United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing; outgoing United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; and Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, at a farewell reception to both outgoing diplomats organised by the USA embassy in Abuja...recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Mixts Africa, Deji Alli; Head, Risk Management and Internal Audit, Mixts Africa, Pekun Ozolua; Chief Commercial Officer, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani; Chief Financial Officer, Benson Ajayi; and Head of Legal and Corporate Services, Ugochukwi Ndubuisi, during the launch of ‘The Real Future’ Publication in Lagos...recently

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Capital Market Regulation Receives Major Boost as Senate Passes ISB 2023 Kayode Tokede The capital market regulation has received a major boost as the Senate passed into law, the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) 2023.

The Bill, which is expected to aid the functioning of the capital market and facilitate the ongoing economic diversification in the country among others, had been passed by the House of Representatives last December.

During plenary, Senate President Ahmad Lawan while announcing the passage of the Bill, stated that, it is expected to protect investors, adequately regulate the market to reduce systemic risks as well as provide for more stringent punishment for operators of Ponzi schemes.

According to him, “The Bill for an Act to repeal the Investments and Securities Act 2007 Act No. 29 2007 and enact the Investments and Securities Bill 2023 to service the SEC as the apex regulatory authority for the Nigerian capital market as well as regulation of market to ensure capital formation, to protect investors, maintain fair, efficient and transparent market and reduction of systemic risk and for related matters is hereby passed.

Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Markets and Institutions, Babangida Ibrahim had recently stated that the ISB is capable of transforming the capital market, encourage the influx of foreign investors as well as boost investors’ confidence, among others.

Ibrahim said: “the Bill seeks to repeal the existing Investments and Securities Act 2007 and to establish a new market infrastructure and wide ranging system of regulation of investments and securities businesses in Nigeria especially in the areas of derivatives, systematic risk management, financial market infrastructure and Ponzi scheme and platforms.”

Speaking on some highlights of the major innovations and changes in the Bill, Mr. Lamido Yuguda disclosed that it expands the categories of issuers as a key step towards the introduction of innovations and offerings such as crowd-funding as well as the facilitation of “commercial and investment business activities.”

L-R; Deputy Chief Executive, Geregu Power Plc, Julius Owotuga; Chief Executive Officer, Akin Akinfemiwa; Independent Non Executive Director, Doron Grupper; Chairman, Femi Otedola; Independent Non Executive Director, Anil Dua; Independent Non Executive Director, John Robert Lee and Independent Non Executive Director, Paul Miyonmide Gbededo; Non Executive Director, Christopher Adeyemi and Non Executive Director, Olawunmi Christine Otedola during the 11th Annual General Meeting of Geregu Power Plc in Lagos...yesterday ƼƽDŽNJƿǐlj ƼDžƼLJƼ

PwC Tasks Incoming Administration on Increasing Tax to GDP Ratio to 18% Dike Onwuamaeze The PwC’s Fiscal Policy Partner and West Africa Tax Leader, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has tasked the regime that would come into power on May 29 to find creative means of increasing Nigeria’s tax to GDP ratio to at least between 15 per cent and 18 per cent.

Oyedele gave this task recently at a session that was organised by the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) on “The 2023 Elections, Political Economy and Nigeria’s Business Environment Outlook.”

He said: “We need to get to a point where we can do something transformational to our revenue, not just the incremental progress that we are celebrating. We need to get to a point where our tax to GDP ratio is in the region of 15 per cent to 18 per cent or even higher.”

He also discussed some ongoing economic issues including a huge budget deficit and the Naira redesign crisis.

Oyedele, who quoted Abraham Lincoln, said that “the best way to predict the future is to create it,” adding that Nigeria’s challenges would not go away in 2023 but it can safely be predicted that things would gradually improve.

According to him, what is needed is for all to be mindful of likely challenges but still be open to opportunities while challenging the status quo with a solution mindset.

In his contribution, Partner and the Chief Economist of PwC Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Nevin, stated that Nigeria neither has a debt or revenue problem but a growth problem.

Nevin said: “This narrative that we’re a low tax country is just simply incorrect, we are actually a high tax country, but the basic problem with this is, we don’t grow.”

Answering a question around the need for technology adoption and digital transformation, Partner and West Africa Lead, Strategy, Mr. Olusegun Zaccheaus, said that the adoption of technology is a very important factor to create efficiency within the economic system.

“We think technology will be critical as we navigate these changes within a quality environment. I believe it is impacting all angles… Companies need to accelerate their digital transformation to ensure they can offer the right services to the users and sort of build trust,” Zaccheaus said.

Associate Director and Regional Lead for Clients and Marketing Development PwC West and East Africa, Ms. Delia Asuzu, reiterated the importance of sustainability which is key to PwC’s global strategy.

Berger Paints Unveil New Logo for Global Identity Berger Paints Nigeria Plc has launched a new logo in a bold move to reposition the Company for global competitiveness, increase earnings and boost shareholder value.

In a statement, Chairman of the company, Abi Ayida explained that the logo change was consistent with the future that the firm was envisioning.

“Just like everything in life, there is a time when you refresh, modernise and update.

It is the same way we do as human beings. I think there is also a natural lifespan in the company’s image and its

identity and touchpoint. We have thought long and hard and we are coming out of a difficult recent past globally and a lot has changed.. Demography of our stakeholders are changing and we want that updated in a more memorable way. More than anything, we want to reduce the uncertainties. Government should create an operating environment that removes uncertainties for manufacturers. This will enable us plan. We want to be able to operate within an environment without huge shocks to the system, “Ayida

said.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alaba Fagun, revealed that the paint firm was repositioning itself to take over the African market.

“Berger Paints has been in existence for over 60 years. We are at the top of it as a frontline indigenous company. We produce our paints here, we don’t import it. In making our paints, we look at the terrain, the atmosphere and all the different peculiarities you would get in Nigeria to produce our paints.

Te r r a U n v e i l s S h r i m p S e a s o n i n g C u b e TGI Group has promised to continually excite the market with value-adding varieties of Terra Seasoning Cubes. The latest addition on this journey is Terra Shrimp Seasoning Cube.

Made from locally sourced ingredients, Terra Shrimp Cube is a flavour-filled blend of real shrimp, chili and garlic among others to enhance various meal types. Terra Shrimp Seasoning Cube is guaranteed to deliver a strong aroma, flavour and an

irresistible taste to your meal.

In a statement, Group Executive Director, TGI, Deepanjan Roy sayid Terra Shrimp Seasoning Cube was generally designed to meet the taste needs of consumers who enjoy the flavour and aroma of shrimp for great-tasting meals anytime.

“With its key ingredients of real shrimp, garlic and chili, Terra Shrimp Seasoning Cube has provided us with

an opportunity to, once again, offer a unique product to our consumers who are ever on the lookout for an exciting variety, ”he said.

Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, Probal Bhattacharya, stated that the new Terra Shrimp Cube is designed to meet the needs of consumers looking for that unique seafood taste and aroma that comes from real shrimp in their meals.

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

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $84.37 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $84.59 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

37

T H I S D AY ˾FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023

MARKET NEWS

Investors’ Interest in MTN, 22 Others Lift Stock Market by N441bn Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday extended prior day’s bullish performance on investors’ renewed interest in MTN Nigeria Communications (MTNN) Plc and 22 others.

The NGX All Share Index (ASI) rose by 809.41 basis points or 1.51 per cent to close at 54,413.21 basis points.

Accordingly, investors gained N441 billion in value as market capitalisation went up to N29.642 trillion.

Market breadth closed positive as 23 stocks posted gains while 10 declined. Oando recorded the highest price gain of 9.98 per cent to close at N5.40, per share. SUNU Assurance followed with a gain 9.09 per cent to close at 48 kobo, while MTNN rose

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

by 8.89 per cent to close at N240.00, per share.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance went up by 8.77 per cent to close at 62 kobo, while Royal Exchange appreciated by 8.70 per cent to close at 75 kobo, per share. On the other hand, PZ Cussons Nigeria led the losers’ chart by 5.88 per cent to close at N11.20, per share. Chams Holding Company followed with a decline

of 4.17 per cent to close at 23 kobo, while Unilever Nigeria went down by 3.57 to close at N13.50, per share.

Japaul Gold & Ventures lost 3.45 per cent to close at 28 kobo, while AIICO Insurance shed 3.33 per cent to close at 58 kobo, per share.

The total volume traded increased by 312.4 per cent to 973.643 million shares, worth N4.227 billion, and traded in

S E C U R I T I E S

T R A D E D

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

3,718 deals. Transactions in the shares of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) topped the activity chart with 455.534 million shares valued at N669.227 million. LivingTrust Mortgage Bank followed with 254.769 million shares worth N775.165 million, while Fidelity Bank traded 143.347 million shares valued at N746.823 million.

United Bank for Africa

AS O F

(UBA) traded 16.090 million shares valued at N128.720 million, while Zenith Bank transacted 14.039 million shares worth N363.996 million.

On market outlook, GTI Securities Limited said “even as quoted companies continue to disclose their earnings and announce dividends, investors continue to be conservative and sway towards defensive stocks.”

3 0 / 0 3 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29Mar-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 198.24 199.39 4.83% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.59% Nigeria International Debt Fund 331.74 331.74 7.25% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 107.30 108.40 1.77% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.95% Anchoria Equity Fund 153.78 155.37 6.09% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.26 1.26 2.58% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 23.09 23.78 5.20% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 542.27 558.62 4.04% ARM Ethical Fund 47.05 48.47 4.28% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.14 1.14 1.28% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 1.68% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.35% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 1.50% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 95.09 95.09 -0.01% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,133.99 1,133.99 0.67% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.16 2.16 4.21% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.37 2.42 8.46% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.41% Paramount Equity Fund 20.01 20.38 2.53% Women's Investment Fund 152.99 155.21 3.59% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 102.24 102.24 12.14% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.49% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.84% Cordros Milestone Fund 143.29 144.20 4.07% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 107.83 107.83 9.46% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 104.72 104.72 6.02% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 114.68 114.68 5.77% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 1.00 9.77% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.23 1.24 2.68% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.39 1.39 -1.40% Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.08% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 10.97% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,132.33 1,138.92 2.40% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1512.45 1512.45 11.97% FBN Balanced Fund 207.97 209.48 4.14% FBN Halal Fund 126.49 126.49 12.54% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.94% FBN Dollar Fund 122.28 122.28 6.97% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 175.79 178.12 6.15% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 106.53 106.53 9.43% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.46% Legacy Debt Fund 3.53 3.53 -11.83% Legacy Equity Fund 2.05 2.09 17.86% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.28 1.28 6.10% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

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

Bid Price 4,379.13 3,780.37 100.00

Offer Price 4,406.79 3,780.37 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 16.87% 7.63% 11.57%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.15 1.15 5.66% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.55% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.17 3.23 6.90% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.24% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 0.00 0.00 0.00% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.29 1.33 5.29% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 8.22% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.86 12.93 4.45% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.83% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.92 102.92 9.99% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.55% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital The Frontier Fund 131.26 134.36 4.41% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 11.02% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,792.20 3,818.46 11.81% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 247.44 247.44 5.04% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.48 1.50 18.25% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 337.38 337.38 7.74% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 272.87 275.71 16.73% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.31% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,844.54 12,997.37 17.63% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.39 1.39 7.35% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 122.78 122.78 5.02% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 117.39 117.39 10.35% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,665.85 4,665.85 9.68% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,428.51 3,470.32 23.30% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,383.51 4,399.75 15.14% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.03 1.06 8.52% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.56 1.59 13.88% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.26 1.29 8.77% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.13 1.13 9.94% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 7.25% United Capital Eurobond Fund 126.98 126.98 5.44% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.37% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.48 14.61 4.38% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.52 16.68 4.49% Zenith Income Fund 23.95 23.95 1.68% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.79% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

115.40 53.52 101.31 9.94

1.31% 4.74% -12.96%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

17.09 135.75 107.46 17.40 16.40

17.19 138.11 109.32 17.50 16.50

10.38% 6.38% 7.48% -5.62% -3.48%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

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

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

39

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

JIMOH IBRAHIM GETS HIS DOCTORATE...

L-R: Former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, Senator-elect Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, and THISDAY Managing Director Eniola Bello after Dr. Ibrahim was awarded with a Ph.D. in War Studies by the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom … yesterday

EFCC Boss Seeks Advance Cargo Declaration to Tackle Oil Theft Says commission committed to fight against stealing nation's resources

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday called on major oil producing companies in Nigeria to consider the introduction of advance cargo declaration on crude export as a measure to discourage the theft of Nigerian Crude oil.

The EFCC boss, who spoke while members of the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, on a courtesy visit to the commission, expressed optimism that advance cargo declaration of crude export

with unique tracking will not only deter the theft of Nigerian crude at the export terminals but discourage off takers who would be unwilling to accept such cargoes.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja, quoted him to have said: “We need to have an advance Cargo declaration on our crude oil export, because we found out that there is theft even at the terminals, unfortunately, IOCs like yours insisted that there is nothing like that, it is impossible to happen.

"But I believe we have conducted a case here at the EFCC where we were able to establish that crude that

was taken is different from the one that was discharged and we keep on wondering, what is happening?

"So, that means there is a problem.

And I believe you know what advance cargo declaration means, you have to declare in advance what your cargo is carrying and then you will be given the unique cargo tracking note on all the exports that you are making.

"No cargo that is from Nigeria should be accepted if it doesn’t have the tracking note”, he said.

He recalled that the measure was a part of the recommendations of a committee that investigated the theft of Nigerian Crude in 2014 but was unfortunately never implemented.

He challenged the oil chiefs to revisit the recommendation as it could provide a silver lining to addressing the challenge of oil theft.

He expressed regret that the total shut down of the Nigerian refineries had created a vacuum which illegal refiners were trying to fill through the production of adulterated diesel, noting that were the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited refineries to be operating even at 10% of capacity, it would have helped in reading demand pressures, while the illegal refiner would have less business.

Bawa, assured IOCs that the commission remained committed

and willing to collaborate with all stakeholders both within and outside the country to bring an end to the oil theft challenge.

“We are always open, part of our core values here is collaboration, we can’t do this thing alone and that is why we are always at the forefront of reaching out to stakeholders both within and outside the country to ensure that we share information, we share intelligence and collaboratively we are taking it to the next level.”

Speaking earlier, Mr. Rick Kennedy, Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited and Chairman of OPTS, stated that they were at the EFCC to build relationships and seek ways of curbing

the menace of crude oil theft in the industry as well as its impact on the environment and the economy.

“We wanted to make those introductions, develop some relationships and seek some opportunities for collaboration since we believe all of us are impacted by these sets of issues. As industry operators we have significant concern to work closely with the government of Nigeria.

“We truly appreciate all of the efforts especially under the last many months and we have seen the improvements with respect to reduction to oil theft but this still persists and clearly it has a big impact in a number of ways,” he said.

Technology to FG Blames State Govts for Ongoing Leverage Enhance Gender Parity, Buhari's Urges Female Lawyers Deforestation, Charcoal Business Nationwide Aide Former AG laments dearth of female Again, knocks states for flooding, erosion

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has blamed the ongoing deforestation across the country on state governments and other powerful interest groups who protect loggers that produce charcoal for sale.

Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdulahi, who made this known yesterday, while speaking with newsmen at the State House, Abuja, disclosed that each time the federal government moves against the menace to save the environment, there was always push back at the subnational level on the ground that the trees belong to the states.

Answering questions on felling of trees for charcoal, the Minister said: "No other administration has tackled this issue like the Buhari administration.

The challenge we are facing under deforestation and charcoal is engaging Nigerian Governors Forum because of the Land Use Act. "The federal government is just a policy provider and doesn’t have that control over state government land to work out a modality which Kaduna State government has keyed in properly.

"It has invested some hectares of land to plant and we are working with the local governments. So, we are projecting other states will follow suit.

"What we further did to have some level of control, apart from timber legal standard, we have what we call National Trust Fund (NATF) which is essentially to track in areas where there is so much pressure on our forests.

"After tracking it, raise red flag and then engage those communities and the state governments so that a solution can be brought and have and a level of arrest of the continuous challenge to our forest.

"What we did not tell you, is that the activities of the people in the charcoal business with all due respect are being supported by a number of powerful people in the sub-national level.

“And if we try to do some level of enforcement, they will tell you, we own this territory, you are federal government and you cannot enforce your rule and policy on us.

"So, that is part of the challenge in terms of controlling these activities.

But in spite of this, the task force is still there, going after some of them on ad-hoc basis, trying to find out who

and who is involved, who licensed who. We are doing our best to curb the situation."

Abdulahi further disclosed that the present administration has so far planted five million trees as part of its target to plant 25 million trees by the year 2030 under its afforestation policy.

Reacting to Governor Charles Soludo, who recently described Anambra state as the capital of erosion in the country and what the government was doing to arrest the situation, the Minister said: “on Anambra being the erosion capital of Nigeria, again some of these things boils down to the nature of our federal structure.

“Part of the problem is that, initially, federal government use to intervene in states erosion matters under Ecological Fund. But the states insisted that they be given their share of the ecological funds.

“So, since then, Mr. President being a democrat, gave directives that every FAAC meeting, deductions are made and paid to states from Ecological Fund. But in spite of that, the federal government through the Ecological Fund office still intervene in states to support erosion challenges in

several states.

“So as much as we want to intervene and correct some of these anomalies, we are also inhibited by funding issues. Again, that was the basis for which the federal government created NEMA so that the issues of erosion are handled in every state. There are a huge gap in the management of erosion particularly in the south East states of Anambra, Imo and Enugu.

“So we are doing our best to support them but we are also calling on the states to live up to their responsibilities and utilise those funds they get from Ecological Fund effectively; this way we can support ourselves.”

On the issue of national environmental sanitation policy, he said: “Ours is to drive this policy and get the buyer in of stakeholders. Usually, what we do when we have this polices drawn up, we have what we call the validation process where the state governments, ministry of environment and agencies in charge of sanitation to jointly go through the document and implement the policy jointly.

Continued online

SAN, representation in governance Alex Enumah in Abuja The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwale has challenged female lawyers in the country to leverage on technology in order to compete favourable with their counterpart in the legal profession.

The charge was as a result of the increasing role technology play in nearly all human endeavours.

Jumoke, who spoke as Guest at the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF) third Annual General Conference and International Women's Day event in Abuja, argued that with the adoption of technology, women coulf break into new terrains, achieve more and compete favourable with their male counterpart.

She disclosed that the federal government, through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Systemic Interventions, has since 2016, delivered over 280 verifiable reforms targeted at enabling the business environment for micro, small and medium size

enterprises, many of which are female owned businesses.

Meanwhile speaking during a session with the theme: Accelerating Her Career Through Technology," a former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Chief Wale Fapohunda, pointed out that technology alone cannot address the issue of gender parity in the legal profession.

While calling for a concerted and deliberate efforts on the part of all, he submitted that, "one of the major losers in the last electoral process is the women. They don't have a president, Vice-president, in the National Assembly we dropped from eight senators to three, although at the House of Representatives there's one addition, and for now no governor.”

Similarly, Fapohunda bemoaned the drop in the number of female SAN, noting that the number of female SAN have been shrinking in the last five years.

He stated that the law profession and the country cannot hope to grow without removing obstacles on the part of women.

Continued online

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NEWS

DIGITAL ECONOMY COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE...

L –R: Head, UK Digital Access Programme, Idongesit Udoh; Political Counsellor, UK Government, Jonathan Bacon; CEO, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Laoye Jaiyeola; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE), Prof. Isa Alli Ibrahim (Pantami); Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; CEO, Galaxy Backbone Ltd, Prof. Mohammed Bello Abubakar and Senior Policy Specialist, Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), Mayokun Adediran, at the inauguration of the Digital Economy Community of Practice, organized by the PIC of the NESG in Abuja…Thursday

Whitney Adeniran: Lagos Govt Arraigns Chrisland School, Principal, Others for Alleged Involuntary Manslaughter Wale Igbintade The Lagos State government yesterday arraigned Chrisland School Limited, its principal, vice principal and two other employees over the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, who died during an event organised by the school.

Those arraigned were Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Mrs. Belinda Amao, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria and Chrisland School Limited.

They were arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court at Ikeja, on a two-count charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts preferred against them by the state.

When the case was called the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of

the State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, announced his appearance for the prosecution and told the court that the state had filed two-count charge against the defendants.

The lawyer to the first defendant, Bimpe Ajegbomojun also announced her appearance; Chief Richard Ahonaruogho appeared for the second defendant; Olukayode Enitan for the third defendant; Ademola Animashaun for the fourth defendant; Chief Bolaji Ayorinde for fifth defendant (Chrisland School limited), while Oluwatodimu Ige held a watching brief for the deceased family.

In the charge information prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, the state said the incident took place on February 9, 2023.

The state government stated

MTN Officials Visit Abia Governor-elect, Otti, Plan Investments in State

A team of senior management staff of telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria has visited the Abia State Governor-Elect, Dr. Alex Otti, to discuss investment opportunities and areas of cooperation.

The company’s Chief Enterprise e-Business Officer, Lynda Saint Nwafor, who led the team said MTN would be looking at collaborating with the incoming Abia State government in different sectors, including empowering the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), education, security, e-Governance, among others.

According to a statement from Otti’s media aide, Kazie Uko, the four-member team which had the Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo; Nsikak Maples and Omowunmi Olatunbosun, senior managers, respectively, congratulated Otti on his victory

at the polls, stating that Abia is in for a new deal with a leader of his capacity and character at the helms.

Welcoming the team at his country home in Umuehim, Nvosi, Isialangwa South, Otti expressed gratitude at the visit and told his guests that Abia would be willing to partner with the telecoms giant.

Particularly of interest to the governor-elect was the empowerment of SMEs, where the renowned economist and top banker had already set up cooperatives across the 17 local government areas of the state.

The incoming Abia State governor had during the campaigns promised to empower small businesses through the granting of interestfree loans to Abians engaged in various trades and agriculture as part of his plans to create wealth in the state.

that at about 1pm, at the Agege Sports Stadium, Ikeja the defendants killed one Adeniran Omodesola Whitney by acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.

According to the charge the offence committed contravened Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State 2015.

The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.

Subsequently, Onigbanjo informed the court that the state has 17 witnesses it intends to call during trial and as such prayed court for a date to open trial.

Meanwhile the defendant’s counsel told the court that they had application for bail.

Their oral application was not opposed by the prosecution.

The first defendant's counsel,

Ajegbomojun, in the bail application told the court that Ademoye Adewale had been in police custody since March 6, 2023, and urged the court to grant him bail on self, pending the determination of the charge.

Animashaun, counsel to the fourth defendant, Nwatu urged the court to grant her bail in liberal term as she is the Vice principal of the school.

He started that some of the children in the school were writing exams and that her absence might stop the students from writing the exams.

But the AG who did not object to the oral bail applications prayed the court to grant them bail that would ensure their attendance of court proceedings.

Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Ogala

granted the school principal and vice principal bail in the sum of N20 million each, with two responsible and credible sureties each in the like sum of N10 million.

The judge said the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and must show evidence of their financial status.

Justice Ogala added that the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos state government and have their offices and residential address verified by chief registrar of Lagos state high court.

Justice Ogala ordered that the defendants must deposit their international passport to the chief registrar of Lagos state high court.

The judge further granted the first defendant Ademoye

Adewale, who is a vendor as well as the second defendant, Fatai Kuku, who is a teacher at Chrisland school, bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible and credible sureties in like sum.

The judge said the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must show evidence of their financial status.

Meanwhile, shortly after they were asked to enter the dock, the principal of the School Mrs. Belinda Amao, started weeping profusely.

She was seen being comforted by the vice principal of the school, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria and the first and second defendants Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai.

The case was adjourned till May 25, June 1st and 15th, 2023, for trial.

FCID Operatives Quiz National Assembly Staff Leaders over N500m Alleged Fraud

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Top officials of the National Assembly branch of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have been interrogated by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) over allegations of financial misappropriation involving about N500 million.

Investigations by THISDASY revealed that three top officials of PASAN in the National Assembly were invited by the FCID on Wednesday and grilled for several hours.

The FCID letters of invitation to each of the officials were routed through the office of the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development of the National Assembly.

The letters were separately addressed to the Chairman PASAN, National Assembly

Chapter, Sunday Sabiyi; the Financial Secretary, Stacy Nwodo and the Treasurer, Samtiya Daniel, inviting them to appear at the Police Department on Wednesday, 29th March, 2023.

Their invitation was on the strength of a petition jointly written against them by nine suspended officers of PASAN, who accused the executive of financial misappropriation.

The Assistant Public Relations Officer of PASAN in the National Assembly, Mr. Amos, Enobong, confirmed the development in a message titled, "Police Invitation To PASAN Executive, National Assembly Chapter," sent to PASAN members yesterday.

The message, seen by THISDAY read, "Respected members. Fraternity greetings from the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, the union wishes to bring to your notice that it is in receipt of

letters from the FCID, Abuja via the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, National Assembly and separately addressed to the Chairman PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Sunday Sabiyi.

"Others are, the Financial Secretary PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Stacy Nwodo and, the Treasurer, PASAN National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Samtiya Daniel, inviting them to appear at the Police Department on Wednesday, 29th March, 2023.

"This is a result of a petition filed by a group of nine suspended PASAN former EXCO (G9) members over what they termed, 'Financial Misappropriation' by Current EXCO of PASAN, to the Force CID, Abuja.

"Consequently and promptly, on Wednesday, 29th March, 2023

in the morning, the above named comrades appeared at the police station, Area 10, Abuja.

"After interrogations and other processes were carried out, the union executives were granted administrative bail, on self- recognition, and to report back on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, for further questioning.

"The union hereby assures her members that there is no cause for alarm as the situation is being handled by those concerned.

“You are to remain calm until further notice from the union.

The union is not deterred but poised to defend itself to ensure accountability and discipline within it's ranks. Thank you.

Assist. PRO, NASS Chapter."

Attempts to reach the PASAN Chairman on phone for further clarifications were not successful on Thursday as calls put across to his phone did not connect.

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NEWS

RED STAR EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING...

L-R: Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, Red Star Express Plc, Charles Ejekam; Company Secretary, Mrs Frances Akpomuka; Chairman, Suleiman Barau; Managing Director, Auwalu Babura and Non Executive Director, Sulaimon Koguna during the Company's Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in Lagos...yesterday ABIODUN AJALA

N1.1bn Fraud: Lawyer to Ex-Customs Boss Bags Seven Years Jail Term Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Umar Hussaini, a lawyer to former ComptrollerGeneral of Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), the late Abdullahi Dikko, over a N1.1 billion fraud.

The ICPC in a Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/74/2020, had arraigned Hussaini before Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja over his complicity in inducing

the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Mr. Yemi Obadeyi, who was the complainant, to pay N1.1bn into the account of Capital Law Office on the 6th of March 2010, as refundable “completion security deposit” for the procurement of 120 units of houses as residential accommodation for officers of NCS. A statement issued by the spokesperson of ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, said when the matter was filed for trial, the convict deployed a lot of delay tactics to

stall the trial including filing a “no case submission” before the court arguing that the said sum paid into the account of Capital Law Office was induced by the deceased former Comptroller-General and a former Deputy Comptroller General, Garba Bala Makarfi, who instructed Mr. Obadeyi to pay the money, and that set the tune for a long legal tussle.

However, prosecution was able to sufficiently link the defendant to the alleged offences with prima facie evidence.

The court was also informed of

House Adopts Conference Committee Report on Peace Corps Bill Approves presidential declaration order 2022 designating parks with national status Juliet Akoje in Abuja.

The House of Representatives yesterday adopted the conference committee reports on the bill to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Babangida Ibrahim, while moving for the consideration on the floor of the House, said the bill among others was to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps.

Ibrahim, said the peace corps would be a body charged with the responsibility to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for youths, adding that it would also facilitate peace, volunteerism, community service, neighborhood watch and nation building.

The harmonised report of the conference committee which was laid and adopted by the lawmakers showed the conference adopted the version of the bill as passed in terms of clause 38(2).

The highlight of the adopted report was on clause 38 (1) of the version passed by the Senate which was in conflict with the version passed by the House of Reps as contained under clause 38 (1).

The Senate's version seeks dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria and National Unity and Peace Corps.

The House of Representative's version of the Bill solely recommended the dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria to be transformed into the Nigerian Peace Corps when assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC)

Establishment Bill was passed in 2022, by the House and Senate.

Members of the House Conference Committee were Hon. Babangida Ibrahim as the Chairman; Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Hon. Ibrahim Potiskum, Hon. Abdulmumini Are and Hon. Legor Idegbo.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday approved the Presidential Declaration Order, 2022, designating 10 named Parks with the status of National Parks.

This followed the adoption of a motion on Presidential Declaration of National Park Order, 2022 presented by Hon. Peter Akpatason, at plenary presided by the deputy speaker of the House, Hon Idris Wase.

Akpatason noted that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had, on November 16, 2022 signed a Declaration Order, declaring 10 parks across Nigeria as National Parks.

"In consonance with the provisions of Section 18 of the National Park Service Act, the President, communicated in writing requesting the concurrence of the House on the ten New National Parks to wit.

"Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly, may by order published in the gazette (a) declare such areas in the Federation as he may deem fit as National Parks which shall be subject to the provisions of the Act," he added.

He further said that an order made under Subsection (i) of the

section shall set out the situation limits of each National Park, specify the intern management policy for the National Park and specify the classification of the “National Park" He said the Declaration Order, 2022 set out, the Declaration of new National Parks, name, situation and limits of the new National Park and constitution of the National Parks Management Committee However, the ten new National Parks declared in the Order included Allawa Game Reserve, Niger State; Apoi Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State; Edumenum Reserve, Bayelsa State; Falgore Game Reserve Kano State; Baturiya Wetland game Reserve, Jigawa State; Kampe Forest Reserve, Kwara State; Kogo Forest Reserve, Katsina State; Marhai Forest Reserve, Nasarawa State; Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State and Pandam Forest Reserve, Plateau State.

how the convict pretended to be an external solicitor to the NCS when he knew that he was not, which false pretense induced the complainants to deposit the funds into the account of his private law firm because the complainant believed that he was acting on behalf of the NCS. Justice Ojukwu thereafter found

Hussaini guilty on two counts of obtaining by false pretense, contrary to and punishable under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

The trial Judge then sentenced him to seven years prison term on each count with an option of fine of N100 million.

The sentences are to run

concurrently.

He was also ordered to pay the sum of N100 million as compensation to the complainant, Yemi Obadeyi and the company, Cambial Limited.

The Judge further ruled that the convict be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of the terms of fine.

Unions Vow to Resist Further Demolition of Aviation Agencies’ Offices by FG in Lagos Chinedu Eze Labour unions in the aviation industry have expressed their resolve to resist further demolition of office complexes of agencies located at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos by the federal government.

In order to force workers in the aviation agencies to relocate to Abuja, where new office headquarters have been built, the federal government had said that it would demolish the former headquarters of the agencies in Lagos, and use the land for hospitality and other businesses that would enhance the aerotropolis project of the government.

The unions, which severely criticised the demolition of the former headquarters of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), now the National Safety Investigation Board (NSIB), argued that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika performed abysmally in the last eight years despite the “gigantic policies” unveiled by the government for the sector since 2015 it came to power.

The unions insisted that they would continue to vigorously kick against the planned demolition of the buildings until the government complied with the Labour Act on relocation of workers.

The workers who had gathered at the Freedom Square of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as early as 8a.m yesterday, carried different placards to press home their disaffection with the decision of the government.

Some of the placards read in part: ‘No to demolition of FAAN headquarters Annex,’ ‘F.G. stop the demolition of headquarters annex Lagos,’ ‘FAAN headquarters annex not for sale,’ ‘Build FAAN corporate headquarters,’ and ‘Demolition of FAAN headquarters is fraud,’ among others.

Speaking during the event, the General Secretary of the Air Transport Staff Senior Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Frances Akinjole, said that there was no any rationale for the planned demolition of FAAN office and others in Lagos.

According to him, the present administration had barely two months to exit office, yet demolition of aviation agencies topped its priority list.

Akinjole further described the planned action of the minister as unwarranted, warning that the unions and their members would not be taken unawares by the government’s plans.

Akinjole, however, said the

unions were not against the planned demolition of the agency’s annex office in Lagos, but said the government must ensure the payment of the staff’s relocation allowances and other benefits accrued to them.

He also stated that the unions would protest every avenue by some people in government to convert government properties to their personal assets.

He noted that the space at the headquarters of the former Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), now Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, which was demolished for the expansion of the new international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos terminal, was still empty a year after the exercise, decrying that most of its staff lacked office accommodation in Abuja.

Akinjole further observed that over 75 per cent of aviation activities happen in Lagos and wondered how the agencies would operate without office complexes in the state.

Also, Mrs. Safiya Araga of the Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), accused the Minister of maltreating the aviation workers since he assumed office about eight years ago.

CCB Invites Keyamo over Fraud Allegations against Atiku Alex Enumah in Abuja The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, over his petition against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The invitation which was sequel to a formal complaint made against Atiku by Keyamo, was contained in a letter dated March 28, 2023.

CCB's Director for Investigation, Intelligence and Monitoring, S. P. Gwimi, who signed the letter stated that the invitation was to enable the minister adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information that might be material to their investigation.

Meanwhile, Keyamo was directed to come along with one Michael Achimugu, to assist with enquiries regarding the attachments to his petition.

According to the letter, the duo were expected at the Maitama, Abuja office of the Bureau on Friday April 21, 2023 by 2pm.

"Pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3(e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. | am directed to invite you for an interview in respect of the above subject matter," the letter read in

part.

"This invitation is to enable you adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information that may be material to this investigation.

“You are requested to come along with one Michael Achimugu, to assist with enquiries regarding the attachments to your petition.

"Upon arrival you are to ask to see the Director, Investigation, Intelligence & Monitoring," it added.

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PAYING HOMAGE TO UGWUANYI...

L-G: Enugu State Governor-elect, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Deputy Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ossai, when Mbah and Ossai visited the governor at the Government House, Enugu, shortly after they received their Certificates of Return from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu ...yesterday

Sanwo-Olu: Next Four Years Will Be More Rewarding for Lagos Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, pledged that the wheel of governance in the state would now race on higher gears, saying the next four years would be

more rewarding for the state.

Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, were joined by their wives, cabinet members and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to

MFS Africa Partners Access Bank to Allow Outward Remittances from Kenya, Nigeria MFS Africa which operates in over 35 African countries, has partnered with Access Bank, which operates across 17 markets, to expand AccessAfrica remittance corridors.

A statement yesterday, explained that AccessAfrica remains Access Bank’s service that allows customers to conveniently transfer and receive money across the world from loved ones and business partners.

The partnership would provide simplified transfers for AccessAfrica customers, enabling real-time, costeffective cross-border payments for individuals and businesses who want to send financial support to their families abroad or facilitate trade transactions.

AccessAfrica customers will also be able to receive payments from all over the world through MFS Africa partners.

Commenting on the partnership with MFS Africa, Senior Banking Advisor, Retail, Access Bank, Robert Giles said, “This partnership builds on the existing crossborder payment infrastructure

by Access Bank and would facilitate payments to more African corridors, increasing the number of countries we can send instant payments through Access Africa to.

“Our partnership with MFS Africa and access to hundreds of millions of people in the new markets will help our customers pay and be paid, facilitating greater economic inclusion through trade as well as helping families across borders.

“Critically this propels us

closer towards being ‘Africa’s gateway to the world’ and democratising access to payments through affordable, safe and reliable platforms.”

Also, CEO at MFS Africa, Dare Okoudjou said: “The partnership reaffirms MFS Africa’s commitment to making borders matter less for individuals and organisations across the continent, ultimately fostering financial inclusion.

Through this partnership we’ll be expanding Access instant outbound remittance reach to potentially 400 million mobile wallets and more than 130 banks across over 40 African countries, enabling thousands of people and businesses throughout the continent to receive payments in real time from Nigeria, and improving convenience for and facilitating trade with the neighbouring countries and beyond.

“Uplifting the African continent through sustainable and accessible financial services has always been at the center of what we do at MFS Africa. Partnering with Access Bank, who shares this ethos, made complete sense."

According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), migrant workers sent over $95 billion to and within Africa in 2021, benefiting over 200 million family members, majority of whom live in rural areas.

Through accessing MFS Africa’s hub, Access Bank will be able to send remittances and payments to MFS Africa’s footprint of over 400 million mobile money wallets, and over 200 million bank accounts across more than 35 African markets.

receive their Certificates of Return at the INEC office in Yaba.

The electoral commission also presented certificates to all the 40 House of Assembly members-elect at the event.

The governor said his second term mandate was won on the strength of Lagos’ diversity, proclaiming that his re-election reflected the wishes of all residents, irrespective of faith, creed or tongue.

He declared it was time for the state to move forward and forge new frontiers for its progress, and as such, extended hands of

fellowship to contestants in the opposition parties to join APC in leveraging the state’s diversity to bring about new prosperity for Lagos.

“Today, I stand before you older, wiser, more experienced, and more committed than ever to deliver on the contract that binds me to the good people of Lagos. We have made promises and we have also delivered on so many of them over the last four years, in line with our THEMES Agenda.

“Now, we must take the work to a new level of

performance and delivery.

We will complete all the ongoing projects and ensure that new ones are funded, prioritised and delivered.

As we countdown to May 29, when this renewed mandate will commence, I assure Lagosians that together we are unlocking four more years of peace, progress, and prosperity for the state.

“It will be four more years of massive infrastructure renewal and development, four more years of forward-looking policies in transportation, health, education, environment,

agriculture, security, wealth creation, entertainment and culture, and youth development. We are more determined to march into the future. Let us hold fast to all the lessons we have learnt and use them as valuable building blocks for what lies ahead.”

Sanwo-Olu, however, expressed gratitude to the electorate for giving him and his party an overwhelming victory and renewing the mandate to lead the State for the next four years, promising never to take people’s confidence in him for granted.

Mbah: My Certificate Unwritten Pact Between Me, Enugu People Gideon Arinze in Enugu Enugu State Governor-elect, Peter Mbah, yesterday, after receiving his the certificate, said it would serve as an unwritten pact between his administration and the people of Enugu State, saying he remained committed to creating an environment that is conducive for peace and security to reign.

"In doing this, we will be guided by a governance

philosophy that is underpinned by transparency, accountability and traceability. We will codify a citizens’ charter that will define all our promises to Ndi Enugu. All that our people will need to do is to score us on account of this irrevocable charter," he said.

Mba also assured that he intended to run an allinclusive government, adding that “election is over and it is time to come together and start the building of a

prosperous Enugu State.”

He congratulated the newly elected House of Assembly members and the people of Enugu State, saying, "This is our collective government and not the government of any section of this state."

The certificates of return were issued by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, Chief Ken Ukeagu.

In his address, the Resident

Electoral Committee, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, urged the governor-elect, his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, and other winners to ensure that they carry all along while also providing the dividends of democracy to the people.

“INEC is most grateful to the residents and people of Enugu State for their peaceful disposition and comportment during the election period as well as their participation in the process," he said.

Shettima in Minna, Visits IBB, Abubakar Laleye Dipo in Minna The Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, was yesterday, in Minna Niger State, during which he paid private visits to two former Nigerian military , Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar at their hill top residences.

Shettima was led to the residences of the former leaders by the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

Bello also led the Vice

President elect to pay a courtesy visit on the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, at his palace.

Details of the meetings were though not disclosed, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mary Noel Berje, quoted the vice president-elect as saying the visits were because the leaders were beacons of hope for the nation.

Shettima, according to the statement, promised that successive administration in the country would "continue

to tap from their wealth of experience."

The statement further quoted him as saying the elder statesmen as stakeholders, "have a lot to offer to humanity and the nation especially on issues that affect the country.

"Stakeholders are beacons of hope and we will continue to tap from their wealth of experience. They have a lot to offer the nation and humanity.

We will continue to reach out to them for their advices, inputs and perspectives on issues confronting us as a

nation."

On what Niger State should expect from the next administration at the federal level, Shetima assured them of a new lease of life and that, "There is no cause for alarm as the challenges of the state will be adequately addressed."

Shettima, the statement added, commended the present administration in the state under the leadership of Bello for ensuring relative peace, which he described as an essential ingredient for development.

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NEWS

PERIWINKLE’S ATLANTIS TOWER DEBUTS...

L-R: Engr. Kamal Giwa; Pastor Adesina Olagoke; Chairman, Periwinkle Empire, Dr. Chiedu Nweke; Barr. Ifeyinwa Morah; Mrs. Marian Aniekwena, and Karim Mansour, turning the sod to begin construction of 16-storey Atlantis Tower in Lagos ... yesterday

Kwankwaso: NNPP’s Poor Logo Visibility Was Why We Couldn't Win More States Scores security agencies high in discharge of role

Juliet Akoje in Abuja.

Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday, said the party could not win more states in the just concluded governorship elections,

because the party’s logo was not visible for voters to identify.

Kwankwaso, who is also the national leader of the party, said this while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday after the party's National Executive Committee (NEC),

INEC Has Acquitted Itself Honourably, Says Mutfwang Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State Governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang, yesterday, applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for for honourably conducting itself well during the general election.

He also expressed gratitude to the people of the state over his election, promising that he and his team would provide inclusive leadership to the people.

“INEC on the Plateau had acquitted itself honourably. While it is true that along the line,some of the ad-hoc staff tried to provide room for the process to be sabotaged in one way or the other, the leadership of INEC on the Plateau stood its ground and followed the due process of law, and that is why today, it has concluded the process that has led to rejoicing across the land,” he said.

The governor-elected, who noted this in Jos while receiving Certificate of Return, alongside his deputy governor-elect, Ngo Josephine Piyo, called on his opponents to join him in serving the Plateau people and to avoid wasting time and energy on litigations.

He stressed that the voice of the people had been heard and that their hope and aspiration were high.

The certificate presentation was made by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Oliver Agundu and Honourable National Commissioner, Mohammad Haruna Kudu.

They noted that those receiving the certificate had met the requirements of the law and that INEC had done its maximum to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, where the votes of the people counted.

At the presentation, certificates of return were also given to 24 House of Assembly memberselect; 16 members were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seven for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and one for YPP. Mutfwang later promised to work together with assembly members-elect to bring greatness to Plateau people, saying, “From now, our focus will be on how to hit the ground running from May 29, so that the hope and aspirations of our people will not be taken for granted.”

however, scored the security agencies high in the discharge of the duty, despite a few misgivings.

Tasking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct the errors in subsequent elections, he added that the poor printing and representation of the party on the ballot papers by INEC was enough reason for the NNPP to demand outright cancellation of the entire polls.

According to him, "Most people including my humble self had to struggle very hard to identify our logo. I believe that our party will now sit down and work out how we can present our logo for the next election. We do not want to be in a hurry to go to court on

some of these issues.

“But I believe under normal circumstance, what INEC presented as our logo, in a civilised society is good enough to cancel the national election. We were disenfranchised.

We are not properly presented or represented on the logo and that went a long way in creating so much difficulty for our candidates and therefore for party."

Kwankwaso, however, scored security agencies high in the discharge of their duties saying, "We are happy with the security agents, going by what we have seen in Kano, and other parts of the country, they have generally done well. Even though in Kano we had a peculiar situation, where

a particular arm of the security was bitterly against our party."

Also, the National Chairman of the Party, Prof Rufa'i Ahmed Alkali, said by virtue of the victory of NNPP, it would be a torchbearer for other states to follow, adding that the 2023 presidential election left behind a trail of anger, bitterness and uncertainty with many unanswered questions agitating for answers.

"As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we wish to assure you and the good people of Kano that Kano State will become the torch-bearer among other states in the establishment of a government that cares for human life and happiness, not their exploitation and oppression but as a government whose worth

is her citizen’s worth, as contained within the pages of our great party, NNPP’s Manifesto.

"We implore you to stand out of the crowd, work assiduously and take the necessary steps to consolidate and build upon the indelible legacies and giant strides of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the builder of modern Kano State.

"Undoubtedly, as we all know, the 2023 Presidential election has come and gone but it has left behind a trail of anger, bitterness and uncertainty with many unanswered questions agitating for answers. In my view, for anybody to have legitimate authority in this country, he must have political victory, legal victory, and moral victory," Alkali said.

Zulum Picks Certificate of Return, Says He Has No Time Luxury Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, yesterday, shortly after picking his certificate of return, said he did not have the luxury to waste time, claiming all that he had left was the commitment to work round the clock for another four years for his people.

He noted that his programmes and policies in the second term would be focus on security, health, education, agriculture and food security, job creation, youth and women empowerment,

urban renewal, flood prevention, rehabilitation and resettlement.

“I want to assure the people of Borno State that insha Allah, we will not relent in our efforts to reposition Borno State to greater heights. I will commit to making sure that insha’Allah, we will work 100% for the benefit of the citizens of Borno State,” he said.

Zulum while expressing gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting him during his first term, described the president as his greatest pillar.

He said, “Let me use this

opportunity to commend the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support to my administration. Our situation couldn't have been like this without his support.”

The governor also appreciated the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, his predecessor in office and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for supporting him.

He further expressed appreciation to the state chapter of the APC, led by Ali Bukar Dalori for its unflinching support in the

last three and half years.

Also presented with Certificate of Return aside Zulum were the 25 members-elect of the Borno State House of Assembly, who were given their certificates of return.

The deputy governor, Usman Kadafur and three members of the House of Assembly, who were not in the country at the moment, have been scheduled to collect theirs, when they return.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Borno State, Ibrahim Magaji, presented them the certificates.

44

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NBA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING…

L-R: Members, Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Mr. Augustine Nwabueze; Mrs Blessing Udofa-Poromon; Mr. Tobeena Erojikwe; Mr. Nosa Edo-Osagie, and Mrs. Ada Chika Udoba, during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NBA in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State… recently

‘Nigeria Now Headquarters of World Poverty’ Ibrahim Oyewale inLokoja

A university lecturer, Professor Dauda Tankoh, has described Nigeria as the leading headquarters of the world poverty, stressing that the inability of the policy makers to adopt the strategies to achieve conservation of natural resources for sustainable economic development and other goals has failed Nigerians.

He pointed out that insecurity

is the order of the day ravaging the lives of the innocent citizens and making conservation activities almost impossible.

The professor stated this in his paper titled: ‘Biodiversity Conversation for Sustainable Economic in a post-COVID-19 era, dress it and keep it, for this is the whole duty of man’, which was presented at the 11th inaugural lecture of the Federal University,

Lokoja, Kogi State.

Professor Tanko has observed that it’s clear that the policy strategies adopted to achieve conservation of natural resources for sustainable economic development and other goals have failed Nigeria.

According to him, “Today, hunger is ravaging the land; poverty

Blessing IbungeinPortHarcourt

Ebonyi state governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the just concluded election, Dr. Chris Adol-awam, has rejected the result of the governorship election in the state.

Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, Adol-awam called on the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to cancel the election.

He said the outcome was flawed with massive rigging, manipulation and other electoral

frauds.

“It is unfortunate that the election was an absolute sham as it was plagued with irregularities, such as failure to use BVAS to upload election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) in real time, disenfranchisement of voters,rigging, vote-buying, violence and intimidation, manipulation of election results, under-supply of voting materials, over-voting, ballot box stuffing and others are issues of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act”.

underdeveloped and lacking in every facility necessary to improve the welfare and well-being of the rural dwellers.”

Tanko noted that there is the need for policy strategic action and re-direction, to give it new focus to the country.

He said: “The community-based

model of biodiversity conservation in combination with the ecosystemic model mended as the sure path to recreating and managing the old days of biodiversity in Nigeria, and will focus more on the community as key actors in the conservation activities.”

Land Transaction: Rivers Court Orders Ibeto to Refund N3.29bn to Dozzy

NNPP Rejects Ebonyi Guber Justice Adolphus Enebeli of Rivers State High Court sitting in Port has ordered Ibeto Energy Result, Calls for Cancellation Harcourt Development Limited to refund

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

is fast overtaking the country, as Nigeria is leading in world poverty, with Nigeria as its headquarters.

Insecurity is the order of the day ravaging the lives of the innocent people and making conservation activities almost impossible.

“Further to this, the rural areas and the rural economy remain

the sum of N3.29billion to Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited, money paid to the former in a failed land transaction.

Dozzy Oil & Gas Limited had filed a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its lawyers alleged, among others, case of criminal breach of trust involving N4.8 billion on a land purchase deal against Cletus Ibeto and his group of companies.

Dozzy had alleged that Ibeto,

a close friend of its executive chairman, Daniel Chukwudozie, had offered to sell his company’s property situate at NITECO Shipyard Area, Reclamation II Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Dozzy and had collected an advance deposit ofN4.8 billion from the company.

But in a suit registered in

PHC/158/CS/2022 by Cletus Ibeto and his Company, claimed he owed no money to Dozzy Oil and admitted that what they had was a failed transaction.

Ibeto Energy Development Limited and Chief Cletus Ibeto were the claimants; while Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie as well as Sungreen

Makinde Reiterates Commitmentreligious to Religious Harmony in Oyo At the Lecture, which brought extremists to disrupt continue in his second term.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday, said his administration would continue to do everything needed to foster harmony among the various religions in the state, noting that the religious tolerance and peace being witnessed in the state would

The governor said this yesterday during the 9th Omituntun Annual Ramadan Lecture, held at the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan.

Makinde used the occasion to appreciate the various religious faiths and organisations in the state for maintaining harmony despite the relentless efforts of

the peaceful atmosphere in state.

The governor, at the 9th edition of the Omituntun Ramadan Lecture, which he organises yearly ever before becoming governor of the state, equally hailed all religious leaders in the state for their support towards his re-election on March 18, 2023.

together the Muslim Ummah, Islamic Leaders and Clerics, traditional rulers, government functionaries and politicians, Governor Makinde said the road to his administration’s success was rough, but that he remained grateful to God for being able to surmount the challenges.

yesterday alerted residents that the state was expected to experience an above normal annual rainfall amount predicted at 1936.2mm which would start in the first week of April and cease in December.

According to the Commissioner for Environment

Bello, who spoke at the 2023 press briefing on Seasonal Climate Predictions and it’s Socio - Economic implications for Lagos held at Alausa, the 1936.2mm amount of rainfall predicted for 2023 was greater than the long-term average of 1721.48mm experienced in the

He added that according to prediction released by the Nigerian Metrological Services, the state was predicted to experience an average to slightly above average rainfall amount and an elongated season length.

He stated that specifically, Ikeja was expected to have

while Badagry would experience 1978mm amount of rainfall.

Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe are expected to have a rainfall with annual amounts of 1903mm, 1936mm and 1952mm respectively with onset dates of 1st of April and cessation of 3rd of December 2023.

Niger Governor Makes Case Lagos to Experience Above Normal Rainfall of 1936.2mm in 2023, Commissioner Reveals for Women Empowerment an annual amount of 1900mm are investing in over a 100 people. The Lagos State government and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji state in the last 10 years.

Laleye Dipo in Minna Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has made a strong case for the empowerment of women in the society, saying: “Women are good managers of resources.”

Bello made the remarks in Minna last Wednesday at the flag-off of the distribution of empowerment tools to selected women and youths in the state.

According to him, “We must do whatever we can to reduce the hardship of women, because women are good managers. If you invest in one woman, you

No matter how little you support them, they make very good use of it.”

He decried the large number of unemployed youths in the society, saying white collar jobs cannot solve the youth employment problem being faced, and therefore stressed the need for youths to acquire entrepreneurial skills to make them gainfully employed.

Bello added: “We have to think out of the box to support the people to become entrepreneurs, and that is the only way to reduce unemployment.”

Hall 7 Unveils Grey Terraces in Abuja

Hall7, one of the nation’s leading real estate companies, has restated commitment to provision of quality services in the industry with its newly built terraces.

The Grey Terraces by Hall 7 is an exquisite bijou development set in a premium, urban, residential hub with close proximity to major roads, carefully curated for growing families and savvy investors.

Located in the burgeoning Karmo District of the Federal Capital Territory, the estate is situated adjacent to the

expressway, offering easy access to transportation and convenient commuting for residents.

It also boasts close proximity to key landmarks such as the train station, the residence is set in a residential hub which is quiet, safe and ideal for raising a family.

Speaking about the firm’s commitment to the industry, the Chief Executive Officer, Hall 7, Olayinka Braimoh, said with these new terraces, their position to provide premium houses remained unquestionable.

Again, Buhari’s Ex-Minister’Loses Suit Seeking Disqualification of Tinubu, Atiku Alex Enumah inAbuja

A former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, again lost his suit seeking the disqualification of candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC ), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar in the February

25 presidential election.

The suit which was earlier dismissed by both the trial and appeal courts was on Thursday again dismissed by the apex court for being statute barred.

The apex court in its unanimous judgment, however, did not award cost against the former minister for withdrawing his case when

informed that the case was filed outside the time prescribed by law.

Nwajiuba and a civil group, the Rights for All International, a non-governmental organisation, had asked the Supreme Court to cancel the processes that produced Tinubu and Abubakar as candidates of their political parties.

He had urged the apex court to

reverse the concurrent judgments of the two lower courts and hold that Tinubu and Atiku ought not to be on the ballot.

However, the five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, declined to entertain the appeal on the grounds that they lacked jurisdiction since the suit had become statute barred.

PDP, LP Dominate State Assembly in Abia as Winners Receive Certificates Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Winners of the 2023 House of Assembly election in Abia yesterday received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with four political parties on the honours list.

The Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) managed a slim majority with 11 seats edging the Labour Party which won 10 seats, to a second position as the party with the highest number of seats.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) picked two seats while the All Progressives Congress (APC) got one seat.

The INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye

Esq, who is in charge of Abia, Anambra and Benue States handed over the certificates to the state legislators-elect at a ceremony in Umuahia.

He told the newly-elected lawmakers that a great responsibility was attached to the mandate given to them by the Abia electorate.

Okoye reiterated that democracy

could only grow and blossom when the people vote and protect their votes, adding that those that receive the mandate should live up to expectations.

He advised that any House of Assembly member-elect nursing the ambition of becoming Speaker of the ninth Abia House must be ready to seek and get the consent of the 23 other members.

45

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

WORLD OF ISLAM NDLEA Trains W’African Countries NEWS XTRA

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

on Techniques to Dismantle Why Do People Overlook Clandestine Drug Laboratories Quran’s Miracles? (1) Michael Olugbode in Abuja

In order to combat the threat of drug trafficking and abuse in West Africa, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has conducted training for six countries in the sub-region on how to dismantle clandestine laboratories.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the training took place in Abidjan,

Côte D’Ivoire, from March 27 to 29, with six West African countries of Republic of Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire and those from Nigeria participating in the project which was organised by ECOWAS. The project known as ‘Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWART)’, and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and German Federal Foreign Office, was executed primarily

by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Babafemi said as the lead agency at the workshop, NDLEA drew from its experiential knowledge acquired from the dismantling of 21 clandestine laboratories found in Nigeria since 2011 to teach other West African countries the practical know-how of handling illicit laboratories.

Belemaoil Plans Alternative Oil Export Terminal Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt An indigenous firm, Belemaoil Producing Limited in conjunction with Belema Sweet has revealed plan to establish an oil export terminal in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, right at the tip of the Atlantic Ocean between Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Belema Sweet (export terminal) is to allow export of crude oil to resume without much danger in the face of one full year of no oil operations by most oil operators following the shutdown of the transnational

pipeline that delivers crude oil for export to Bonny terminal.

The channel had come under attack by oil thieves who bored it and sucked oil for local refining, thus making oil companies to lose over 80 per cent of oil passed through the pipeline.

Belemaoil, which said it lost over 5.4 million barrels of crude oil in one year, has worked out plans to set up a terminal in Kula and pass all deliveries within the area to the new terminal instead of passing

Uzodimma: Imo Loses Two Leading Lights in Anumudu, Egwim

CHANGE OF NAME Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope I formerly known and addressed as OKEOWO ADEJOKE MARIAM, now wish to be known and addressed as ADELEYE ADEJOKE MARIAM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SUFUYANU USMAN, now wish to be known and addressed as SAFIYANU USMAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ONUOHA ADAUGO QUEEN, now wish to be known and addressed as ONUOHA ADAUGO WISDOM. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS TINUADE CLAIRE OLUFUNLAYO OYEWOLE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS TINUADE OLUFUNLAYO, CLAIREADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

it to the TNP to Bonny and face risks.

Ahead of the launch of the terminal to the federal government for approval, Belemaoil Producing Limited organised host communities forum yesterday in Port Harcourt, witnessed by the chief executives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as well as the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Uzodimma has lamented the passing of two great sons of Imo State, Chief Humphrey Anumudu and Hon. Innocent Arthur Egwim, describing their death as hurting.

The death of Chief Anumudu

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as TELLA NNEKA OKONJI and also Known as STELLA NNEKA OBIOKONJI, now wish to be known and addressed as STELLA NNEKA OBI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as REJOICE ODIGIE, now wish to be known and addressed as HOPE JOY EBOSELE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS JUDITH NGOZI OKWUEGBULEM, now wish to be known and addressed as MATHEW JUDITH NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

and Hon Egwim as reported recently was a source of great concern to their communities, friends and Imo State as a whole.

Governor Uzodimma, in a statement said going by the unfortunate passing of the duo, Imo State had lost two leading lights who contributed immensely to the development of the state.

He also regretted that Chief Anumudu and Hon Egwim died when their services were still needed by their communities and Imo State in particular, and Nigeria in general.

The governor said that Chief Anumudu, a proud son of Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State was not just a pace setter in the business world in the country who used his resources to serve humanity and God, but contributed immensely to the political development of his dear State as a committed participant.

Ooni’s Wife Charges Queens on Women Devt for National Growth I formerly known and addressed I formerly known and addressed as as MISS JANET OFADEME MISS CHIOKE CHINECHEREM BABATUNDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JANET OFADEME OSAS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as TEMITOPE FELICIA OMODARA, now wish to be known and addressed as TEMITOPE FELICIA FELIX-OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NANCY OGHENETEGA ARCHWARDS EMOGHENE, now wish to be known and addressed as NANCY ARCHWARDS PRINCEWILL-AKIKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LAWAL BUSAYO MOTUNRAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL OLUWABUSAYO MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ROMANUA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as TAOFEEKAT AYANTAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AYANTAYO TAOFEEKAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS UMASOR SEBASTINA OSHOLUMETSE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UGBE SEBASTINA OSHOLUMETSE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ALUBA EGWURONU OCHURU, now wish to be known and addressed as ALUBA OCHURU NDUKWE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Ambassador of the Queen Moremi Asjasoro Initiative, Queen Ronke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi in conjunction with the Founder of Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation (OJAF), Queen Janet Afolabi of Apomu, has enjoined queens to focus on the development of women in their immediate communities towards achieving national development.

The Queens made the plea at the inaugural conference of Oloris organised by the duo to mark the Black Women’s History Month, with the theme “ The Impact of Oloris in National Development”.

Queen Ogunwusi, who emphasised on the need to ensure national development from the grassroots level revealed that it was necessary in order to tackle poverty through wealth creation and also assist women at their various localities in the starting up, scaling up and staying with their businesses.

By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity

T

he Holy Qur’an is an eternal miracle sent by the Creator of the universe through His final Messenger to humankind. It is the greatest miracle, and best heavenly gift ever witnessed on earth. Its importance is proportionate to the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as the Seal of prophets and the greatness of his prophet-hood mission.

The Qur’an is Allah’s final testament to humanity. It is His Holy Speech, and so, the only remaining undeviating connection with Heaven. For that to remain so, Allah vows that He will be the Qur’an’s Guardian against any even slightest form of interpolation or distortion.

As Allah’s infinite Speech, the Qur’an is not what people say or think it is. It is what only Allah declares it is. Thus, the Qur’an is guidance, book, clear proofs of the guidance, a criterion, judgment between right and wrong, glad tidings, good advice, reminder, truth, healing for what is in the breasts, a mercy, clarification for all things, a light, inspiration, spirit, enlightenment, and clear insight.

To what extent the Qur’an can impact not only human life but also life in general, testifies the following Qur’anic assertion: “If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought” (al-Hashr, 21).

The Prophet was asked to utilize the potentials of the Qur’an to the fullest and to “strive against them with the Qur’an a mighty striving (with a great endeavor)” (al-Furqan, 52). The Qur’an was the Prophet’s best ally, his safest haven, and his most potent weapon (defense).

The revelation of the Qur’an was the most unusual event in the history of creation. The whole of existence might have been perceived to culminate with that very occurrence. Everything might have been directed towards that spiritual and experiential climax.

Thus, during the revelation of the Qur’an, the entire metaphysical life was affected. Some of its aspects were yet momentarily adjusted and were brought to a standstill. The revelation was an existential threat and rapture. It was the most important reason for the “existence” of existence.

Accordingly, for instance, the night in which the Qur’an was revealed (when the revelation to the Prophet started) is called the Night of Qadr (decree, power, value, destiny, or measures). It is better than a thousand months. “The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn” (al-Qadr, 4-5).

Parenthetically, according to some pseudoSufi doctrines, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the first to be created, the first to be mentioned, and the first to be honored. This applies to the Prophet’s personality, his mission, and his complete life. Many Sufis believe – on account of some weak and fabricated traditions, though - that Allah said to the Prophet: “O Muhammad, without you I would not have created anything, then or now… I have created everything through you (that is, the light of Muhammad which was around as the light of Islam since the commencement of life in the world of souls).”

The Qur’an gives as much as people want to receive The Qur’an is bigger and more profound a miracle than the famous miracles of prophet Musa (Moses) - such as his staff turning into a serpent, his hand becoming white and shining brightly, his parting of the sea, etc. - and prophet ‘Isa (Jesus) – such as speaking from the cradle, healing the blind and the leper, resurrecting the dead, receiving from heaven a table laden with food, etc. The same can be said about the numerous miracles of all the other prophets as well.

Those miracles were short-lived. As massive as it was, their impact was confined only to a group of people, a moment in time, and to a

particular geographical milieu. Afterward, they became mere historical narrations.

As the faith of those prophets’ peoples gradually weakened, and their trustworthiness regarding the custody of and adherence to the prophets’ religious traditions became more and more questionable, the narrations were correspondingly losing their appeal and significance. Historical facts thus, in the end, became legends; legends became myths, and myths in the modern age of agnosticism morphed into mere folktales and fibs. The Qur’an and Muslims became the best guardians of such miracles and their authenticity, as well as of the honorable reputations of their prophets.

On the other hand, the Qur’an is a miracle for all times, all people, all places, and all situations. The matter, nevertheless, is not as simple and straightforward as it seems.

The Qur’an is both self-revealing and explorable a capacity. It is at once a manifest and hidden treasure. It is as much a means as an end. In equal measure, it leads to absolute Truth and by being an integral part of the former. It speaks and wants to be “spoken or communicated to,” in the sense that it wants to forge reciprocal relationships with its readers (reciters).

Allah says thus: “And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?” (al-Qamar, 17).

“And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the reminder and the advice (the Qur’an), that you may explain clearly to people what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought” (al-Nahl, 44).

“These are the verses of the clear Book. We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, in order that you may learn wisdom” (Yusuf, 1-2). “(It is) a Book We have revealed to you abounding in good that they may ponder over its verses and that those endowed with understanding may be mindful” (Sad, 29).

“Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur’an, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?”

(Muhammad, 24).

As part of its being a miracle, the Qur’an gives only as much as a person wants and as much as a person is ready to receive from it.

Hence, there are people who befriend, study, and constantly recite the Qur’an, but receive nothing or very little from it. In contrast, there are people whose contacts with the message of the Qur’an were minimal, yet their lives became transformed thereby.

This is the case because, in the first scenario, people wanted nothing or very little from the Qur’an. Their relationship with it was perhaps just academic, professional, insincere, and loaded with vested interests. Whereas in the second scenario, people were genuine truth-seekers, and the Qur’an as a source and embodiment of truth immediately enthralled them. This bears a resemblance to an encounter between the lost, desperate, and thirsty souls and the revelation as a savior meant to seek and save such as have become lost, afraid and thirsty.

It is natural that the Qur’an does not give more than wanted and asked from it because it would be unwarranted to do so. It is fair that people get only what and how much they want and deserve.

Nor does the Qur’an give more than a person is ready for because the bequest might be unappreciated. It may be too much of a load to bear, and so, it may be misunderstood and mishandled. A person may also seek discord, thereby seeking only privately reasonable interpretations (Alu’ Imran, 7). Indeed, the Qur’an “guides to that which is most right and most just” (al-Isra, 9).

“And say: “The truth is from your Lord, so whomever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve” (al-Kahf, 29).

“Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people” (al-Ma’idah, 51).

“Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people” (al-Ma’idah, 67).

“Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people” (al-Ma’idah, 108).

To Be Continued

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 • T H I S D AY

46

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION WE ARE ALL IGBO main by the implementation of what I have already described as an institutional strategy to disenfranchise non-Yoruba residents of Lagos which said strategy was comprehensively executed with voters being profiled based on warped criteria, such as skin colour, and those who “looked Igbo” (including, ironically, some Yorubas and indigenous Lagosians) were denied the right to vote for the candidate(s) of their choice.

Indeed, the US Embassy in Nigeria, in a post-election publication, noted as follows: “[t] he use of ethnically charged rhetoric before, during, and after the gubernatorial election in Lagos was particularly concerning.”

For at least 48 hours after the elections, I remained traumatized by the experience as it dawned on me that we, the non-Yorubas living in Lagos, are all Igbo. Indeed, all through the period, social media was awash with posts and videos from not a few Yorubas who repeatedly asked why non-indigenes of Lagos State, especially Igbos, were getting involved in the political affairs of the State, wondering what our “stake” in the electoral process in Lagos was - with little or no regard for our constitutionally guaranteed right to move about freely in Nigeria and to vote for candidates of our choice AND our contributions to the economic development of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

In truth, I was not entirely disappointed by the roles played by MC Oluomo and his ilk. I was also not disheartened by the attitude of Iya Basira, frying Akara in front of the Iyana Oba Shopping Complex, who has been brainwashed into believing that the Igbo man or woman is her worst enemy. Even former Minister of the Federal Republic, Femi Fani-Kayode did not surprise me when, as usual, he began to spew forth his ethnically laced vitriol against the Igbos.

I must however confess that I was slightly taken aback by the utterances of the Spokesman of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, who only a few years ago, visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda and,

while suing for humanity to live together in peace and love, recommended the Museum, as a bucket-list item for ethnic champions in Nigeria.

His sudden volte-face and resort to incendiary ethnic rhetoric during the elections really did take the cake and when he was called out for the ethnic slurs he employed against the Igbos, he doubled down stating that he owed no one any apologies. To date, we do not know that the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council or indeed the President-elect has done anything to distance themselves from this individual.

But really, I was neither surprised nor was I disappointed by the likes of MC Oluomo, Iya Basira, FFK and Bayo Onanuga as my expectations, where they and their ilk are concerned, were understandably quite low. What aggravated matters for me however, was that I did not see the expected indignation and widespread condemnation from enough of my friends from the South-West, some of whom I have known for more than four decades, or from the dozens of WhatsApp Groups that I belong to, including lawyers’ groups. Instead, my well educated, well exposed and widely travelled friends, who are often quick to condemn instances of racism and other forms of discrimination abroad, resorted to false equivalence and other flimsy excuses to justify this travesty...this tragedy.

It is now obvious to all and sundry that the phrase, “Omo Igbo” is definitely not a term of endearment but an ethnic slur with diverse connotations, most of which are negative. The frightening realisation from the fiasco of 18 March 2023 is that many amongst us are in a race to the bottom to determine who can be the best bigot. What happened last weekend has done incalculable and perhaps irreversible damage to the fabric of our society. What is even more tragic is that this venom is now transgenerational as this ignominious baton has been passed on to an even more rabid generation of tribal irridentists.

It is instructive that some have started to call

for true healing in the wake of the election.

While that is important, it should not come at the expense of the quest for justice. If those who superintended over the show of shame are under the delusion that life as we know it will go back to normal, then they are obviously not as smart as they would want us to believe they are.

If what transpired during the election in Lagos is not investigated and the perpetrators brought to book, the Igbos and other non-indigenes in Lagos will very soon find it necessary to live in their own enclaves and or areas where they feel safe. It will also become the norm for them to go to their Polling Units on election days, with dogs, guns or other weapons. Worse still, we will begin to witness the resurgence of election migration, whereby people are forced to travel to their States of origin or regions in order to exercise their franchise. We do not need a crystal ball to tell us that this is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.

If the law enforcement agencies are serious about bringing the perpetrators of these dastardly acts to book, they do not require the services of Sherlock Holmes to do this. As the Yoruba adage goes: “Àje ké l’ánàá, omo kú l’ónìí. Tani ò mo pé àje àná ló pa omo je?” which roughly translates as, “if a witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning, we do not go to the soothsayer to ask what killed the child.”

Before I end this piece, it is pertinent to state for the avoidance of doubt, that the crude resort to ethnically charged rhetoric before, during, and after the gubernatorial elections was not restricted to Lagos State neither was it exclusive to supporters of the APC. For instance, one Fred Ajudua whose mysterious release from the Correctional Centre where he was, until very recently, incarcerated, has continued to be viewed by many with incredulity, was also reported to have warned voters in Ibusa, Delta State who were not planning to vote for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to stay

indoors and not to bother coming to vote. This and the other instances of voter intimidation and suppression experienced in different parts of the country during the last elections stand condemned.

Having said that, the point must also be made that Lagos State, the subject of the present intervention, is too important to Nigeria to be stunted and stymied by the ethnic squabbles of the type we experienced during the elections.

As the Lagos State Government itself stated in October 2020 at the height of the ENDSARS agitations, “Lagos State is the melting point of various cultures, tribes and religions across Nigeria. We have co-existed harmoniously for ages and will continue to live together peacefully.”

It is necessary for the Government of Lagos State to be seen to always walk this talk. The seeming silence of the Government gives room for conspiracy theories including the one to the effect that it had accorded the ethnic irridentists a tacit endorsement.

In this regard, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has his work cut out to convince the populace that he did not sanction the nastiness and divisiveness employed by his supporters to ensure his emergence. The best way to start is to acknowledge that lives have been lost and that people have been deeply hurt, not just physically but also emotionally, and as such some form of reparation is required. More importantly, His Excellency must go the extra mile to ensure that he runs an all-inclusive government that does not pay lip-service to the yearnings, hopes and aspirations of ALL residents of Lagos. This is the only way Frank, my driver, and all of us non-indigenes in Lagos can be reassured that we are indeed Nigerians and that we are truly welcome in Lagos. Only then can true healing take place.

•Olumide Akpata, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, writes from Lagos

NIGERIA, OUR STATE OF THE UNION; SICK AND DYING is the sharp disgraceful contrast that our own leaders have for decades presented to us. The story of our country has been that of a friable and lugubrious chariness. A country lacking in everything, and obfuscating and stupefying the simplest thinking mind. Yes, a lot of things have gone wrong with our country and darkness has befallen us, but the fact that we lack leaders, even by serendipity, with the capacity to tell us with some level of plolixity what our fate has become, and enliven us with hope is bewildering and confounding.

The other day, President Buhari was on the television asking his citizens to forgive his government for their many calamitous blight, and their ruination of the country. During this abstruse address, Buhari appeared equable, soporific and piqued. I didn’t see any evidence of someone who was actually seeking for forgiveness. All I saw was a synecdoche kind of speech from a President who was sick and tired of an assignment he sought for several times. I didn’t see a Biden trying to steer and inspire his people with passion, with a spirit of hope and courage to look up to the future despite all our falls, our bruised and battered lives.

During a campaign event, President Buhari asked us to; “… please in the name of God, be patient with us and forgive us. Tell your friends, brothers, sisters and children to continue to vote for APC, Tinubu will continue from where we stop …” Buhari at this event appeared remorseful when he mentioned the pains we have collectively suffered in the hands of terrorist and criminals, promising that his government, even at its twilight, will rout and defeat the killers. It appeared that the president was compelled by the exigencies of his position to say those things even as they appear not to sway anyone or move the needle of public opinion in any favorable ways for the President and his political party, the APC. I am worried by our government’s perception in the eyes of our people and of the world. As one of our prolific writers Chido Nwangwu pointed out; “… incompetence of the Buhari presidency - a presidency of small things, of petty malice, and ancient grudges, of crass nepotism and clannishness, of moral corruption and assorted inequities, of impunity and incapacity …”

The overriding evidence that our State of the Union is sick and dying can be found in every corner of our lives. The disturbing nexus between the challenges posed by Nigeria’s political instability and the dark clouds hovering on our economic horizon is well established. The widening gap and lapses in the management of the economy and the ever prevalent unconducive investment environment are clear evidences to the frightening economic downturn, that signals disaster ahead. Without the political will embedded

Buhari

in our democratic process, these non-conducive practices plaguing our country; from Boko Haram deadly incursions, IPOB issues, Fulani criminal elements, corruption, irresponsible political activities, kidnapping, banditry and many other distortions, domestic and international economic growth will flounder.

For any country to survive, it must first and foremost, through its political processes that are steeped deeply in strong and unfettered democratic institutions; the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, secure the peace and stability of its commonwealth. But it appears that these institutions have failed us in a bilious scale that scares the daylight out of any good citizen.

However, my hope is still anchored on the belief (though fading) that there is anecdotal evidence, that a stable democratic system will bring about a strong government and a progressive country.

To be sure, the idea of our Presidents giving us constant and endearing keynote addresses for our transactional country, seems to be a very decent proposition. The argument that sometimes the style, the medium and presentation can be more important than the message, holds water.

The efficacy of a national broadcast speech with modern innovative technologies can be a potent way to organize and communicate information in orderly and enticing forms. This process, without any doubt, can, when done properly, create a charisma milage for the President and a virtue for a more engaged citizenry.

Few are likely to quibble with my position that the citizenry of a country are motivated by their leaders ability to address and present

matters of national importance with such gravitas, profundity, or even some breviloquence. Very little about our politics today encourages us, or gives us optimism to the extent that we can do with even the smallest things as a President who can speak to us with such compelling aplomb or poise. I dare the skeptics who would quip: “na sweet talk we go chop”?

Philosophically, a great jumping off point on this subject, is to understand that the greatest thinkers of the world in history, have provided us with speeches, words and even sentences that unlocked a lot of issues for our understanding.

Let us not confuse sweet speeches and words with wisdom or candid intentions as they can be words of foolishness. What is important are spoken words that provide important features; that inspire and move people in the right direction to do good for country and for humanity. With an imaginative leap and clarity, I will dare to confirm the role of a good word, an inspiring sentence, and a colourful sweet voice of a country’s leader professed to the citizenry, be it about the good or the bad, but with the best and transparent intent and animus.

I would expect our President to look us straight in the eyes and tell us a story of pain, progress and resilience - a story of how he has failed to protect us from slaughter, how he has borrowed much more than we can ever repay, how our economy is in a free fall, how unemployment and inflation have become our burden, and then, how he plans to curb the killing; the wanton decimation of his people, how he is going to put millions of people back to work, and how

he will bring peace and harmony to our land.

The President must give us our own version of the State of the Union. He must give us a strong backbone, a strong soul and a redeeming hope to live again.

Drawing inspiration from President Biden’s State of the Union Address to the American people, and from many other world leaders; from Nelson Mandela to Ronald Reagan, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe to Kwane Nkrumah, Adolf Hitler to Julius Caesar, Barrack Obama to Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X to Fidel Castro, and many others, I began to measure the strong effect that a critically communicative leader whether good or bad can have on their followers. I see a sacred duty imbedded in the ability of a leader to convey in a euphoric and an epigrammatic manner messages concerning the welfare and wellbeing of his or her citizens. Then again, in our case, what good will it do when there is nothing good to convey to us, and what other value can we find if the conveyer of the message is ladened with phlegmatic hubris and an unemotional disposition? Our President should mean what he says, and do what he means.

I am certain that having a President who communicates effectively with the citizens is not one of our most critical needs, or one of our most significant concerns today, but nothing is so firmly believed, as the fact that a leader’s passion in his speech to the citizens, can provide a strong swaying force in matters of importance.

Now, in our season of elections, and the season of lies, we have been inundated ceaselessly with voices and noises by our politicians, mostly of cacophonies of inelegant and logorrheic voices.

Imagine that the inspiration we have been receiving from our politicking are weird and bizarre slogans like “it is my turn”, “go and verify”, and “blablabla”.

Then, when our Leader speaks to us about these controversial elections, all we hear are uninspiring speeches that fall flat on its face, leaving us the listeners more confused and bewildered. It is as if the entire country has fallen asleep, and that there isn’t one single person that can wake it up. Not one single living soul can inspire and unite us to realize that words that are well said are wise men’s counters, and that what is important are the features they pick out in us, as they inspire us to make sacrifices to our fellow humans and to our country.

Our State of the Union is sick and is dying, and for decades we have had no one to tell us so, and no one to lift our spirits, our souls and our bodies out of the quagmire.

•Dr. Okey Anueyiagu, a Political Economist writes from Ikoyi, Lagos

47

FRIDAY, MA ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen’s Strike Partner, Kvaratskhelia, Commits to Napoli

Femi Solaja with agency report

While Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, is still uncertain whether to remain the cult hero at Napoli, his twin strike partner, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has agreed to remain with the Naples side for at least another season.

Osimhen has been on the radar of many top clubs in Europe with Manchester United, PGS and Chelsea leading the race to sign the Nigerian star player.

Aside Osimhen, several of the Napoli players are open to sale as the club aim for their third Scudetto title in the history of the North Italy side but only the Georgian striker who arrived last season has committed his stay for another season.

Recruited last summer by the Partenopei for €10million, the former resident of Rubin Kazan signs the best season of his career. Elusive on his left side, Kvaratskhelia has scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists in 30 appearances in all

competitions.

Kvaratskhelia has only Osimhen ahead of him in the scoring chart of Napoli.

According to Italian tabloid, Footmercato, the Georgian forward is comfortable with the reception from Naples fans and delighted with the increase in wages paltry €1 million to €2.5 million annually and total package could hit. His earning €4 million including bonuses.

While the forward is comfortable with his new pay and the new

contract will take him till 2028, Osimhen still remains the best-paid player in the squad, he receives €5 million in bonuses included per

year for comparison.

However, Napoli will be open to a possible resale from 2024 for higher price as the but you will

have to pay a high price and will demand at least €100m, especially if the Georgian continues to amaze everyone.

Paystack Co-founder, Akinlabi, Excited with Investment in Danish Club

A 38-year-old Nigerian CEO, Shola Akinlade, has bought a 55% stake in second division Danish football club, Aarhus Fremad.

Akinlade is the co-founder of financial tech start-up Paystack and owner of Sporting Lagos FC - a football club in Nigeria's commercial capital.

The tech entrepreneur said he was honoured and excited to start this new chapter. Aarhus Fremad has not disclosed how much Mr Akinlade paid for the stake in the club.

Mr Akinlade, who currently lives in California, founded Paystack in 2015 with an old

schoolmate. Their firm was bought by US online payment giant Stripe for $200m (£162m) in 2020, but continues to operate independently.

Aarhus Fremad is currently top of Denmark's second division - which is the third tier of the Danish football league system.

Arsenal’s Final League Tickets Going for €50,000 Tickets for Arsenal's final day of the season clash with Wolves are being sold for as much as €50,000 (£44,000), with Gunners fans clamouring to be at a potentially historic day in the club's history.

Arsenal currently sit atop of the Premier League table, eight points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City, and within touching distance of their first league title since 2004 - when they went the whole campaign unbeaten.

The Gunners have around 40,000 season ticket holders, leaving just over 20,000 tickets for the reported 40,000 silver members - who pay £54 per year to have second option on tickets for games - to attempt to snap up.

As expected, tickets for the final day of the season meeting with Wolves, and potential lifting of the Premier League trophy, were snapped up quickly.

Sadly, for a large number of

Arsenal fans, however, a copious amount of tickets seem to have been bought by 'ticket touts' who are now reselling them for astronomical prices.

Tickets for nose bleed seats in the upper tier are currently on sale on Stubhub for around €28,000.

While the VIP Executive Box tickets are going for a staggering €50,000 each.

Shaibu-led NFF Reconciliation Committee Brokers Peace Between Aggrieved Groups Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Bukayo Saka (top) and his Arsenal teammates celebrating one of the Gunners many victories this season.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Reconciliation Committee and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt.Hon. Philip Shaibu, has called on members of the All Nigerian Football Players Union (ANFPU) and the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) to bury the hatchet and settle lingering issues which have hampered the smooth running and progress of the unions.

The five-man reconciliation committee recently inaugurated by the NFF board to look into the misunderstanding between the ANFPU and PFAN opened for discussions for a truce, on Thursday,

NAIJA Super 8 Not Competing with NPFL Super 8 Flykite Productions, organisers of the newly unveiled NAIJA Super 8 off-season club football competition, have dismissed suggestions that the competition is competing with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Super 8.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Flykite Productions, explained that there is no division higher than the NPFL in the domestic game and suggestions that NAIJA Super 8 was in competition with the elite division-backed Super 8 were wrong and inappropriate.

The company also noted that NAIJA Super 8 is open to clubs across divisions and not solely for NPFL sides, which owe their

elite-level status to promotion and avoidance of relegation.

“The NPFL remains the top division in the domestic game, and there can be no competition whatsoever between NAIJA Super 8 and NPFL Super 8.

"There is the possibility of NPFL clubs participating in NAIJA Super 8, but clubs in the division are not the only ones to which the tournament is open.

“What NAIJA Super 8 aims to do differently is to give football fans the opportunity of making additional contributions to the football ecosystem by voting for teams that will participate in NAIJA Super 8, which seeks to complement NPFL

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has committed to staying at Napoli for another season. This will put stop to speculations that he was on his way out of the Naples based club where he shares the limelight with Victor Osimhen.

Super 8 by providing additional opportunities for clubs."

“Some of the teams may end up being NPFL clubs. Some, almost certainly, will come from other divisions,” the statement said.

NAIJA Super 8, billed to hold in Lagos between June 17 and 25, was unveiled on Wednesday at an event attended by prominent figures in the game.

Among these were Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary, Nigeria Football Federation; Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya, Head of Operations, Nigeria National League; and Alhaji Mohammed Nasir Saidu, a member of the Interim Management Committee.

in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Other members of the committee include Mr. Emmanuel Okala (MON), Dr. Felix Owolabi-Akinloye, Mr. Garba Lawal, and Mr. Abdulrafiu Yusuf who is the Secretary.

Shaibu, who addressed members of ANFPU and PFAN, during the meeting at the Government House, urged them to be united and act in good faith to address challenges facing both retired and active football players.

According to him: “We are happy to have you here as we work

together, collaborate and unite to fight our challenges, ensuring that we move forward as players and ex-players.

"As members of this committee, we are expected to work with members of the two unions and reconcile our differences. We have strong unions that will take care of all, both retired and active players.”

Shaibu said the Governor Obaseki-led administration has kept sports alive in the Edo State by developing several sporting facilities, which led to the hosting

of National Sports Festival in 2020.

Noting that the state will continue to promote grassroots sports development, he said: “We have built 20 mini stadia across the 18 local government areas and most of them are almost complete. Some of them are within Benin City.

Speaking on behalf of PFAN, Edema Fuludu said the unions have a duty to protect and safeguard players from molestation and abuse, whether in terms of contract management or physical exploitation.

Okpekpe Race Organisers Promise Another Pacesetting Race Organisers of the historic and world acclaimed Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have promised to organise another pacesetting event come Saturday, May 27, 2023.

The annual, World Athletics Gold Label event returned last year after a two-year, COVID-induced break and this year's edition will be the ninth in the series.

It started in 2013 as the first road running event in Nigeria nay West Africa to have its course measured by a World Athletics/ AIMS accredited course measurer and the first to be granted a (bronze) label status in 2015.

Okpekpe Road Race Director, Zack Amodu, said this year's event will see a lot of improvement on

the capacity building for Nigerians in and around Edo State it started last year.

“With the capacity we have displayed over the years in terms of the technical organisation of the race which in the first instance led to the label status we got in 2015, we decided to focus on developing more Nigerians outside those who actually do the running on the road,” revealed Amodu.

“Last year, we organised a technical officiating course for technical officials in Benin for those in and around Edo State to enhance the pool of technical officiating officials we have in the country.

“We also used medical students

of the Edo State University in Uzairue to serve as volunteers in the medical committee for the race.

This has given them the practical experience needed to become better in their chosen fields.

“This year we are extending this to the students of Mass Communication and related courses who will serve as media volunteers while those in the Physical and Health department and related courses will also serve as volunteers in the technical department of the race.

“This is outside the economic benefits that are derivable from the organisation of the race,” said Amodu who revealed there will be seminars for all categories of volunteers that will be used for the race.

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MISSILE Osuntokun to DSS, INEC “But the last elections would long be remembered for the unprecedented extent to which the security agencies colluded passively and actively with INEC to subvert the will of the electorate. What was it, for instance, that the DSS do when Mr. MC Oluomo was openly threatening violence against any voter not voting...in Lagos?

This one (DSS) wins the prize for verbose and bombastic language to intimidate and perhaps lay a redherring for a premeditated security sting” –LP’s Spokesman, Akin Osuntokun, faults the DSS’s interim government accusation.

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OLUMIDEAKPATA GUEST COLUMNIST

We are All Igbo O

n Saturday 18 March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections to mark the second and concluding round of the 2023 elections. On that day, INEC, the law enforcement agencies and the Nigerian populace were presented with a golden opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the world that, the below par showing on 25 February 2023 notwithstanding, Nigeria’s democracy had come of age. At the end of the day, not only did we fail spectacularly in this regard, but more dangerously, the fragile unity of the Nigerian State suffered a massive set back.

For a country recently described by Farooq Kperoghi as, “a frail, imperfect patchwork of disparate nations, that is perpetually on the brink of implosion on account of political and identitarian stressors,” what transpired on 18 March 2023, particularly in Lagos State, was all very predictable and therefore preventable. All hands should have been on deck to avoid the bizzare debacle that we all witnessed. Regrettably, the critical stakeholders, whether by their acts and or omissions, conspired to do the exact opposite and in the process set a precedent that might take a generation to reverse.

The first sign that all was not well on the day came from Frank, my driver, who hails from Onicha-Olona in Delta State, who called to tell

Obi

me in an emotion-laden voice that clearly, he was not a Nigerian, having been prevented, in his Badore area of Lagos State, from exercising his

franchise because “he was Igbo”. Another call that came was from Bernard, a Lawyer and mentee of mine, who is from Gakem in Cross-River State and who also resides in the Lekki- Ajah axis.

He too was unable to vote at his Polling Unit where a Police Officer pointedly asked him to go home as his safety could not be guaranteed!

Unfortunately, these two were not the exception but were representative of the experience of a significant number of Nigerians, especially from the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, who were outrightly disenfranchised on account of their ethnic origin.

What made the situation worse was that we should have seen it coming. In the days following the announcement of the Presidential Election results in Lagos State, where the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, it first started as a rumour that there was an institutional strategy to disenfranchise non-indigenes during the gubernatorial election in the State. Predictably, the Igbos were once again the scapegoats, eight years after they were asked to “jump into the Lagos lagoon”.

Things soon assumed a dangerous dimension when a few days to the election, Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya (more widely known by his moniker, MC Oluomo), the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks Management Committee was caught, in

a now viral video clip, issuing threats to one “Iya Chukwudi” and other Igbo residents in Lagos State not to bother coming to the polls if they were not voting for the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the current Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Incredulously, when asked on Channels TV to comment on this unwholesome development, the Nigerian Police Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi urged Nigerians to view the comments of MC Oluomo as a joke.

It was under this atmosphere that neutrals found it difficult to believe that the timing of, and the wide publicity accorded to the dreaded traditional Oro festival, which was held a couple of days before the election and was concluded on the morning of the election, was a mere coincidence. Little wonder, the election in Lagos State was characterised by voter intimidation and suppression, ethnic profiling and ethnic related violence targeted in the main against Igbos. Ethnic champions were seen boldly parading the streets of Lagos warning people who intended to vote against the APC to stay away from the Polling Units and all of this, in the full glare of officers of the Nigerian Police.

The various new media platforms were awash with videos of election related conflicts, some resulting in fatalities, that were triggered in the Continued on page 46

OKEYANUEYIAGU GUEST COLUMNIST

Nigeria, Our State of the Union; Sick and Dying

A

fter hearing the United States of America’s President, Joseph Biden’s State of the Union Address delivered to his people a few weeks ago, I began to reflect and think of our country Nigeria, and our State of the Union.

Firstly, I began to wonder if any of our Presidents, past or present, would have had the good sense to convey with conviction and acuity, the messages about our country in the way and fashion that Biden did. To be clear, I am not talking about the eloquence of speech, or the lack of it, but about the ability to address and tackle the biggest and most aggregious issues facing our country, and convey them to our people with proper inspiration and hope.

President Biden began by pointing out all the achievements recorded by his administration in the areas of the economy; job creation, healthcare and in the rule of law in a democracy. In a dramatic fashion, he marshalled his points based on verifiable data and evidence, and reminded his people in the process, that there was more that needed to be done. His address was energetic, as he urged Americans to join hands with him to build a better nation. The lack of unity between Biden’s party and the opposition

notwithstanding, and the intermittent neglect of decorum and acrimony displayed by some members of the Republican Party, President Biden was still able to passionately address the issue of division in the American political landscape.

Hear him: “Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict gets us nowhere.”

What I find in Biden’s address is some form of bipartisan appeal for empathy for ordinary Americans, and an admonition to the divisiveness in the system, calling on his people who remain distressed, anxious and insecure to trust him and his administration to make them whole and prosperous. Biden used the biggest stage of his presidency to tout and sell his agenda in such an elegant and effective manner. At this stage, I began to search deep to see how effectively our presidents have used the many opportunities they have had to address us, to unite us, to console us, to encourage us, and to give us hope. I am still searching.

The major question agitating our minds today is: when can our Presidents’ addresses to our own State of the Union reflect the political, social and economic realities of our country? When can we listen to a President who has compassion

in his voice, truthfulness in his heart, and can feel the pains that we all feel, in his innermost soul? When?

Biden cleverly outlined progressive priorities of his Democratic party that are anathema to the opposing Republican party. Unlike our political leaders here in Nigeria, Biden had a lot of reasonably good things to tell his people. For instance, he hailed the resilience and strength of the U.S. economy, with unemployment dropping to a nearly 54 - year low in January of 2023. In this milestone address, he talked about things that have eluded our Nigerian politicians: the importance and imperativeness of unifying his country, about the programme of massive infrastructural development, and the need to entrench the ethos of democracy.

Most successful countries in the world are formed and shaped by a complex blend of ideals, ideas, and interests from the contingency of personalities with grand strategies that are dutifully formulated and presented to the citizens.

In other words, statecraft and grand strategy are a great combination required by good leaders when they communicate with their citizens.

We must ask ourselves if our leaders are bereft of these qualities in their dealings with us. It

appears that we have been rather unlucky to be bethrothed with leaders with no talent to tell us in a convincing manner what they mean and plan for us.

What underlay this overlooked narrative has been the skewed absence of an inspiring leadership which has proved almost impervious to change. In any political system, uninspiring leadership is dangerous. A leader that is detached from brilliant ideas and reality can act irrationally, implementing policies that are unwise, unpopular and strange to the citizens. Worse still, a leader that lacks communicative skills, even if he or she means well, will be unsuccessful in convincingly conveying the government’s programme to the citizens. Predictably, our country has had its share of leaders that lack the requisite tools to clearly and genuinely construct and implement a secure and prosperous country. Consequently, incompetent leadership, ignorance, or sheer uninspiring leaders have made the State of our Union weak, sick and dying.

What I drew from Biden’s address apart from the core strong message to his people, Continued on page 46

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