THURSDAY 11TH APRIL 2024

Dangote: Lower Fuel Price from Our Refinery Will Help Reduce Inflation

Upbeat

about turnaround of nation's economy Restates commitment to Nigeria’s industrialisation President congratulates Africa’s richest man on his 67th birthday

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Gideon Arinze in Enugu Chairman of Dangote Group,

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday, stressed that when the Dangote Petroleum Refinery becomes fully operational and starts selling diesel

at significantly discounted prices, it would provide relief to Nigeria's inflation woes.

Speaking with newsmen after

visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos, Dangote expressed optimism about the economy, stating that the naira exchange rate has

www.thisdaylive.com

Tinubu on his part had earlier congratulated Dangote on the occa-

improved significantly in recent times, dropping from around N1,900 to the dollar to the current level of between N1,250 and N1,300. Continued on page 10

Obaseki, Oborevwori, Ibori, Igbinedion, Others Celebrate Tom Ikimi at 80

The

Delta

Continued on page 10

We Must Prioritise Love for Our Country, Tinubu Appeals to Nigerians at Eid Prayers

Stresses need to protect integrity of govt, leadership

First Lady: let’s sustain good deeds exhibited during Ramadan Buhari, Shettima, Zulum, Akpabio, Barau, govs, others seek support for leaders

Atiku, Saraki, PDP, others urge prayers for nation

yesterday, joined the Muslim faithful in Lagos to observe the 2024 Eid-el-fitri prayers, and seized the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to prioritise love for their country. Tinubu urged the citizens to continue to have faith in his governwished him many more years in good health and sound mind.

Continued on page 10

OTEDOLA'S SALLAH VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT...

Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr Femi Otedola (L) with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during Otedola's Sallah visit to the president at his residence in Lagos … yesterday

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, his

State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori; former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori; former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion were among dignitaries present at the 80th birthday thanksgiving of the Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), High Chief Tom Ikimi.

The thanksgiving service took place at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road and attracted guests from all works who turned out enmasse to celebrate the octogenarian. Obaseki at the event congratulated Ikimi, hailing his contributions to societal development. The governor

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade, Olawale

Ajimotokan in Abuja, Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, Segun Awofadeji in Gombe, Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja, and James Sowole in Abeokuta President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

TINUBU MARKS EID- EL-FITR PRAYER AT DODAN BARRACKS...

L-R: Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management, Ishak Salaco; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Principal Private Secretary (PPS), to the President, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hazmat; and former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, during the Eid-El-Fitr Prayers at Dodan Barracks, in Lagos ... yesterday

FG: Pilot Phase of Siemens Almost Completed with Installation of 5 Transformers, 3 Mobile Substations

NERC urges Discos to provide meters for 20% unmetered band ‘A’ customers

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government has said that the pilot phase of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), also known as the Siemens power project, has almost been completed, with the installation and commissioning of five out of 10 power transformers completed.

In a rundown of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s outing during the week, made available by his media office, the government added that the installation of three out of 10 mobile substations had also accomplished.

Conceived during a meeting between former President Muhammadu Buhari and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel in 2018, the PPI aims to enable the power sector achieve commercial autonomy by facilitating investments in critical infrastructure.

Aside increasing capacity to 7GW in the first phase by resolving transmission and distribution constraints, the programme which has been largely delayed, will increase grid operational capacity by an additional 4GW to 11GW in phase two, while phase three will achieve the end-to-end grid operational capacity to 25GW.

Explaining that seven more mobile substations are already scheduled for installation, the minister noted that the next phase of the PPI involves upgrading capacity of the transmission network.

“It will involve upgrading existing transmission substations, upgrading transformers and the re-conductoring and installation

of transmission lines,” the media office quoted him as saying.

He added that Zungeru power plant has also connected to national grid and is in the process of technical handover from consultants to concessionaire as part of one-year defect liability period, ensuring prompt resolution of any issues.

On closing of the metering gap, Adelabu stated that the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) aims to install a minimum of between 2 million meters to 2.5 million meters yearly within the next five years.

Adelabu reiterated that the federal government will save N1.5 trillion with the recent tariff adjustment, but explained that government is still subsidising others Bands below ‘A’.

“Pricing change will help improve liquidity to the NESI. Distribution Companies (Discos) will be sanctioned for supplying less than 20 hours to Band A consumers,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has urged the Discos to do more in metering their customers.

Speaking during an engagement with members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), in Abuja, Vice Chairman, NERC, Dr Musiliu Oseni, disclosed that about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the Band A customers are still not metered. The event was held towards improving interactions with electricity consumers on the recent tariff approval, third party investments in the electricity network as well as collaborating to tackle energy theft.

“There are few areas of collaboration that we will be seeking from you because of the role you play. NERC is here in Abuja but has at least one office across nearly all the states, but you are in those states and you are closer to the people with your customer base, so we really need you to work with NERC to put the licensees on their toes.

“Based on the tariff order that we have released, there are certain conditions that Discos should meet in delivering service to affected customers.

“On metering, we still have about

15 to 20 per cent of the Band A customers that are not metered and that has to be a priority for the Discos. There are various initiatives of the presidency and the NESI to ensure metering. The most important thing is that efforts are being made to meter customers starting from those that are being affected now on Band A,” he stated.

In his remarks during the meeting, the NERC Commissioner, Legal, Licencing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, explained that the EPSRA 2005 did not adequately empower NERC to do all that it has to do as

a regulator, but that has changed now with the enactment of the Electricity Act.

“It is needed to bring people in line to follow due process, and you can see that the tone in the power sector is changing; we have not been able to do what we have been able to do before. NERC is empowered to go the whole gamut of regulatory and enforcement actions as expected of a regulator but we do not intend to abuse those powers. Our intention is to enforce those powers and to get licensees to comply, ” he added. NERC Commissioner, Planning,

Research and Strategy, Dr. Yusuf Ali, who spoke on strategic collaborations with the CSOs and CBOs, describing them as partners in progress.

“What we need from you is, please verify facts and ask us questions to have an informed perspective. As you proceed to protect customers, always ensure that you engage with us and with those facts, you can get some level of objectivity.

“We will want to have this kind of meeting regularly so that you can be educated and when you are, you can better engage with electricity consumers,” he stated.

IMF Raises Concerns over Threat of Rising Cyber Attacks on Global Financial Stability

Recommends national cybersecurity strategies

Ndubuisi

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns over the rising threat of cyber-attacks on global financial stability.

The multilateral institution pointed out that the number of cyber-related incidents have become much more frequent over the past two decades, and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its April 2024 Global Financial Stability Report, the multilateral lender observed that since 2020, the aggregated reported direct losses from cyber incidents have amounted to

almost $28 billion (in real terms), with billions of records stolen or compromised.

It added that total direct and indirect costs of these incidents, however, are most likely substantially higher.

According to the report, most direct reported losses from cyberattacks are small, around $0.5 million, but the risk of extreme losses—at least as large as $2.5 billion, has increased.

The report identified some contributory factors to rising cyber incidents, including rapidly growing digital connectivity—accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing

March Breaks Another Record in Global Heat Waves

Again, the world experienced its warmest March on record, continuing a 10-month streak in which every month set a new temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service has said.

Each of the last 10 months ranked as the world's hottest on record, compared with the corresponding month in previous years, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a monthly bulletin.

Essentially, the 12 months ending with March also ranked as the planet's hottest ever recorded 12-month period, the report said.

From April 2023 to March 2024, the global average temperature was 1.58 degrees Celsius above the average in

the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period.

"It's the long-term trend with exceptional records that has us very concerned," C3S Deputy Director Samantha Burgess told Reuters. Seeing records like this - month in, month out - really shows us that our climate is changing, is changing rapidly," she added. C3S' dataset goes back to 1940, which the scientists cross-checked with other data to confirm that last month was the hottest March since the pre-industrial period.

Already, 2023 was the planet's hottest year in global records going back to 1850.Extreme weather and exceptional temperatures have wreaked havoc this year.

Climate change-driven drought in the Amazon rainforest region unleashed a record number of

wildfires in Venezuela from January-March, while drought in Southern Africa has wiped out crops and left millions of people facing hunger.

Marine scientists also warned last month a mass coral bleaching event is likely unfolding in the Southern Hemisphere, driven by warming waters, and could be the worst in the planet's history.

The primary cause of the exceptional heat were humancaused greenhouse gas emissions, C3S said. Other factors pushing up temperatures include El Nino, the weather pattern that warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

At the weekend, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) urged Nigerians to stay well-

hydrated and avoid strenuous physical activities, especially during the peak hours between 12 noon and 4pm as a result of the heatwaves.

NiMet urged Nigerians to wear shades and hats when outdoors, noting that the advice became imperative due to the likelihood of heat stress and thunderstorms across various parts of the country.

According to NiMet, the heat index over Nigeria is expected to soar, with strong prospects of heat stress in many regions, urging the public to take necessary precautions.

But the C3S report stated that the world's average sea surface temperature hit a record high, for any month on record, and marine air temperatures remained unusually high.

dependence on technology and financial innovation, as well as geopolitical tensions, considering the surge of cyberattacks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

Noting that the financial sector was highly exposed to cyber risks, with nearly one-fifth of all incidents affecting financial firms.

While companies have historically suffered relatively modest direct losses from cyberattacks, some have experienced a much heavier toll, citing the US credit reporting agency, Equifax, which paid over $1 billion in penalties after a major data breach in 2017 that affected about 150 million consumers.

It stressed that although cyber incidents have so far not been systemic, severe incidents at major financial institutions could pose an acute threat to macro-financial stability through a loss of confidence, the disruption of critical services, and because of technological and financial interconnectedness.

With the global financial system facing significant and growing cyber risks from increasing digitalisation and geopolitical tensions, the report proffered some measures to address cyber incidents.

Among others, it recommended that reporting of cyber incidents by financial firms to supervisory agencies should be strengthened to allow for more effective monitoring of cyber risks.

It also canvassed that cyber legislation at the national level and better cyber-related governance arrangements at firms can help

reduce the frequency of cyber incidents.

According to the report, because private incentives may be insufficient to address cyber risks—for example, firms may not fully account for the system wide effects of incident, adding that public intervention may be necessary.

According to a recent IMF survey of central banks and supervisory authorities, cybersecurity policy frameworks, especially in emerging market and developing economies, often remain insufficient.

For example, only about half of countries surveyed had a national, financial sector-focused cybersecurity strategy or dedicated cybersecurity regulations.

To strengthen resilience in the financial sector, it urged authorities to develop an adequate national cybersecurity strategy accompanied by effective regulation and supervisory capacity that should be all- encompassing.

Other measures include periodic assessment of the cybersecurity landscape and identifying potential systemic risks from interconnectedness and concentrations, including from third-party service providers; encouraging cyber “maturity” among financial sector firms, including board-level access to cybersecurity expertise.

It equally noted the necessity of prioritising data reporting and collection of cyber incidents, and sharing information among financial sector participants to enhance their collective preparedness.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Francis in Abuja

Sallah PrayerS For the NatioN...

NNPC Recommits to Deployment of Gas in Driving Nigeria’s Economic Growth

Oil firm records 155 crude oil theft incidents, 38 suspects arrested in one week

emmanuel addeh in Abuja

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Mr. Mele Kyari, has reiterated the crucial role of natural gas in fuelling economic growth and industrial development in Nigeria.

Kyari was speaking at the public presentation of a book: "The Rise of Gas: from Gaslink to the Decade of Gas", authored by Charles Osezua, an engineer, the spokesman of the national oil company, Olufemi Soneye, said in a statement yesterday.

The GCEO highlighted the global acceptance of gas as a crucial energy source that sustains economic growth and drives industrial activities.

Represented by NNPC’s Head of Relationship and Stakeholder Management, Mrs. Oluwakemi Olumuyiwa, the GCEO also emphasised the importance of documenting Nigeria's gas sector.

Kyari underscored the significance of prioritising natural gas production and supply, particularly in the context of geopolitical dynamics and energy security in the global economy.

With Nigeria boasting substantial

gas reserves exceeding 200 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) and a potential to reach 600 Tcf, the GCEO said it was pertinent Nigeria leverages the gas resource for sustainable development, energy security, and job creation.

He noted that the book aligns with the federal government's "Decade of Gas" initiative, aimed at optimising Nigeria's abundant gas reserves for both domestic consumption and international export.

Kyari added that as a key stakeholder, the NNPC has played a leading role in advancing the “Decade of Gas” agenda through

S&P Survey: Nigeria’s Oil

strategic investments in critical gas infrastructure such as pipelines and processing facilities.

In his remarks, the author, Osezua, who described the unveiling of the book as his significant contribution to Nigeria's energy literature, expressed gratitude to the NNPC for its support towards the book launch.

Osezua said NNPC's participation on the occasion of the book launch, underscores the company’s commitment to fostering knowledge sharing and innovation within the gas industry.

Also speaking, Chairman of the

Production

Declined Marginally to 1.45m bpd in March

A survey of oil production for the month of March carried out by S&P Global Commodity Insights, has found that Nigeria’s crude oil production declined marginally to 1.45 million barrels per day from the 1.47 million bpd the previous month.

Although, output has generally increased this year, Nigeria’s Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production figures have been largely inconsistent.

Nigeria blames massive oil theft, declining investment in the oil and gas sector , outright sabotage, among others, as reasons for its inability to meet its current revised 1.5 million bpd output, from 1.8 million bpd in 2023.

According to the S&P survey, the fall from 1.47 million bpd to 1.45 million bpd represented about 0.02 per cent decline.

But in all, OPEC+ crude output in March was up slightly month on month, as several producers continued to exceed their quotas, the Platts OPEC+ survey by S&P Global Commodity Insights hinted.

Overall, the group produced 41.25 million bpd of crude in March, up 40,000 bpd on February levels despite efforts made by Saudi Arabia to enforce compliance.

This included an 80,000 bpd increase in OPEC production to 26.66 million bpd, offset by a drop

in output by its allies of 40,000 bpd. March was the third month of the group's latest voluntary production cuts, which were supposed to take approximately 700,000 bpd off the market in the first quarter of 2024.

The additional OPEC+ production has come ahead of crude prices breaking above the $90/barrel level.

S&P Global Commodity Insights also forecast that by late 2024 and into early 2025, strong oil supply gains in non-OPEC+ countries and decelerating demand growth will lead to weaker fundamentals.

Several countries, it said, produced above target in March, including Iraq and Kazakhstan, which have said that they would compensate for overproduction in early 2024.

The survey showed that OPEC+ countries implementing cuts produced 165,000 bpd above quota in March, representing a compliance rate of 97.9 per cent, driven primarily by OPEC members rather than their Russia-led allies.

The alliance also produced above target in January and February, with compliance rates of 96.5 per cent and 97.8 per cent respectively.

Compliance is already emerging as a source of contention within the group. Most recently overproducers were forced to agree to submit detailed compensation plans by April 30, OPEC said in a statement released after the last meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring

Committee (JMCC) overseeing the alliance's output.

The nine OPEC nations subject to quotas produced 320,000 bpd over their targets in March, including excess output of 280,000 bpd in Iraq, 40,000 bpd in the UAE and 50,000 bpd in Gabon. Meanwhile non-OPEC countries produced 165,000 bpd below their collective quota, even with excess output in Kazakhstan of 92,000 bpd.

OPEC+ plans to continue with its current policy of aggressive cuts until at least the end of the first half

of 2024. Producers with voluntary cuts announced March 3 plans to extend them until the end of June.

Fears over a military confrontation between Israel and Iran, as well as recent attacks on Russian oil refineries by Ukraine, have supported crude prices in recent days, hitting the $90 mark.

Nigeria’s upstream regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and OPEC had yet to release the March production figures for the country as of Wednesday.

Impact Investors Foundation and former Group Executive Director of NNPC, Afolabi Oladele, lauded the book for its comprehensive insights into the gas value chain, saying it will be relevant to policymakers amid the global energy transition.

Meanwhile, the NNPC has said it continues to record remarkable progress in the fight against oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta.

In its weekly audio-visual rundown of activities between the March 30 and April 5, 2024, it said a total of 155 incidents were recorded across several locations in the Niger Delta region from several sources.

It said on Monday, April 1, 2024, Tantita Security Services team on patrol pursued and arrested a tug boat, Aya Obaolori II, which was being escorted by a marine police boat in Rivers State.

The tug boat, it said, was laden with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally refined diesel, which was loaded from a barge at Onne dock on the March 31.

According to the NNPC, five persons on board the top boat were arrested by Tantita team and are currently undergoing interrogation.

During the week under review, the NNPC said 32 wooden boats conveying stolen crude and illegally refined products were seized and confiscated in Rivers and Delta State.

Blessing ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi yesterday, inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of KaiamaAhoada section of the East-West road destroyed by the disastrous flood that occurred in 2022 in Rivers State.

The minister had on Monday, inspected the Aba- Umuahia section of the Port Harcourt - Enugu Road and the Eleme-Onne section of the East -West road.

During the visit at the KaiamaAhoada section road repair, THISDAY observed that the contractor, Rock Results Nigeria Limited, had already started casting curvets for the road rehabilitation to commence properly.

Indigenous labourers were also sighted at the construction site, busy trying to meet up with time estimated for the project.

At the site for Umuahia-Aba section of the Port Harcourt of the road being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Umahi who was pleased with the ongoing job, assured that federal government is determined to give Nigerians better and solid roads.

In addition, 53 illegal connections were uncovered between the March 30 and April 5, 2024 in Okoroma, Bayelsa State, Iba, Ndoni, and Umwajinuke communities in River State and Udu in Delta State, it added.

It pointed out that 14 cases of vandalism were also recorded in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Warri South in Delta State, while illegal storage sites where stolen crude and illegally refined products are kept were uncovered in Akwa Ibom , Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States as well as in Isimini in Abia State.

“Activities of oil thieves have left the immediate environment devastated, a loss to families dependent on agriculture. In total, 36 were discovered in the past week across several locations in Rivers and Abia State.

“Four cases of oil spills owing to activities of vandals were recorded in the past week. In Akaso 10 wellhead in River State, oil leaks into the water, destroying aquatic life. Nine of these incidents took place in the deep blue water, 25 in the western region, 56 in the central region, and 65 in the eastern region.

“Between March 30 and April 5, 2024, 38 suspects were arrested. For NNPC Limited, there is no backing down on the war on crude oil theft until the menace is eradicated for good,” the oil firm stated.

On land, it explained that seven vehicles loaded with stolen crude were arrested in Imo, Delta, and Rivers State.

Umahi Inspects Kaiama-Ahoada Section of East-West Road

He faulted those who are criticising some of the projects, saying that as an experienced engineer who have served the country in different capacity, would deliver, especially now that he is the works minister.

He commended the contractors for their work saying: "I am very impressed with their work. They are also doing what we have been emphasising that we should make the carriage ways motorable and the little places that are left, before the end of April, I am directing that they should complete it.

"Let me say that this section of the road is so bad, and what we are doing here by our redesign is to dig, sometimes up to one metre , then we fill back with lumps, sharp sand and stone base and turn it to traffic and in so doing I am sure the road will be protected."

To Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited (RCC),

contractors handling rehabilitation of the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West road, Umahi said the speed was not very good.

"The RCC if they do not increase the pace, I will take out a portion of this road and give to other contractors. We would not want a contractor to stay on a job like this 15km by 30km even though is a very specialised kind of construction.

"Those who are querying for the cost of this coastal road, at the time the design was not like this, was more expensive that the normal road per kilometre. We were quarrying before, but they are presently following instructions," Umahi added.

L-R: Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; Vice President Kashim Shettima; and Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, at Ramat Square Eid ground, to offer prayers to mark Eid-elFitri in Maiduguri…. yesterday

emmanuel addeh in Abuja

CElEbrAtion of Eid-El fitr At Edo Govt HouSE...

Air Peace Flight to London Sparks Price War among Foreign Airlines

Keyamo commends Gatwick Airport for welcoming Nigerian carrier

Chinedu Eze

The entry of Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace into the lucrative London route, has sparked price war among foreign airlines which have severally reduced their airfares to compete effectively with the Nigerian airline.

This emerged just as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, yesterday, thanked Gatwick Airport, London management for welcoming Air Peace, which started flight service to the airport on March 30, 2024.

Air Peace started direct flights from Lagos to London on March 30, pegging its price for a round-trip economy ticket at N1.2 million on a route that foreign airlines used to charge as much as N3 million.

This prompted the foreign airlines to cut their airfares to an average of N1.4 million for a round-trip economy ticket last week. But checks yesterday showed that some foreign airlines have further slashed their prices to an average of N841,732.

Checks by THISDAY showed that prices by most of the flights have dropped significantly.

For instance, Egyptair has dropped its Lagos-London economy ticket price further to ($470) N585,620; Air Peace London to Lagos now goes for ($655) N816, 130; British Airways goes for ($787.99) N981, 848; Virgin Atlantic ($927.99) N1.1 million and Royal Air Moroc ($456.99) N569,422.

Also, RwandAir has pegged its airfare to London at ($545.35) N679,070; Ethiopian Air ($543.84) -N677, 824; Turkish Airlines ($647.84) - N807, 408; Air France London ($915.99) -N1.1 million, while KLM pegged its price to ($927.84) - N1.1 million.

Comparing the current air fares to the cost of flight tickets last week, before the entrant of Air Peace to the London market showed that a one-way economy class ticket from Lagos to London on British Airways used to cost N3 million for Economy and N11 million for Business Class, which has since dropped to N1.7 million for economy and N6.8million for Business Class respectively.

On Lufthansa, a one-way Economy class ticket from Lagos to London which also cost about N3 million and N9 million for Business class was later put at N2 million for economy class and N7 million for Business Class respectively.

On Virgin Atlantic, the same destination which used to cost about N2 million for Economy, N5 million for Economy Premium and N12 million for Business Class now cost N1.5 million for Economy, N3 million for Premuim and N6 million for Business Class.

These indicated that since Air Peace joined the Lagos-London route, foreign airlines have reviewed their fares downwards severally and as the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema said in an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday, the London-Lagos route is no more lucrative because the airlines are slashing their prices to drive the Nigerian carrier out of the market.

“The same strategy is being employed right now by some of the foreign airlines to drop the price so that people will now leave Air Peace and go to those foreign airlines.

“Of course, it is a very devilish conspiracy. All of a sudden, other airlines are underpricing; that is below the cost of operation

“One other airline was advertising $100, one $350. If you fill up the entire aircraft and carry people on the wings, it is not even enough to buy your fuel, so why are they doing that?

“Their governments are supporting them because Nigeria has been a cash cow for everybody. Their governments are supporting them to do this and take Air Peace out.

“The idea is to take Air Peace out and the moment they succeed in taking air peace out, Nigerians will pay 20 times over and it’s going to happen if, God forbid, they're able to take Air Peace out because what is happening now is scary and of course, even at Gatwick where you are, are you given 100 per cent corporation?

“Let me tell you this, on the first day of the inaugural flight out of london, 24 hours to the time, they moved us to another checking area other than the place assigned to us. The place they gave us the carousel was not working so when you check-in people, you need to manually carry the load to some 50 meters away to go and drop it somewhere else just to delay you.

“No other airline faces that. If they take out Air Peace prematurely, this country will pay dearly for it 10 times over quote me, billions will be lost and there will be another heavy strain on the naira,” Onyema said.

Reacting to this development, former Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka, told THISDAY that price war was on among foreign airlines on the Lagos-London route, adding that the plan was to drive out Air Peace from the market and

then they increase airfares by 300 per cent. He said before Air Peace entered into the market, foreign airlines were ripping off Nigerians with outrageous fares, making Nigeria their most profitable route because they charge very high fares that are almost double what they charge for London-Johannesburg route that is three hours longer than LagosLondon, which is about six hours.

Adeyileka, regretted that the Nigerian government allowed foreign airline to operate cabotage service, whereby they carry pas-

sengers from one Nigerian airport to another Nigerian airport, against what is in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and what those countries that own the airlines will never allow Nigerian carriers to do in their airports.

“Foreign airlines are crashing their prices because they want to bring Air Peace down. Nigeria has become very lucrative to these airlines because government allowed some of them, including Ethiopian, Turkish, Qatar, Lufthansa to practice cabotage, taking passengers from one of our airports to another of

our airports, which is unacceptable. I can say it anywhere; they cannot do this without the connivance of Nigerians.

“They have been enjoying monopoly on the Nigerian route; but now a Nigerian carrier joined the market they want to drive it out with price war.

“If they succeed within 48 hours the airlines will more than double the prices. They will increase the fares by 300 per cent. Let then continue to bring down the prices, it is good

Continued on page 12

Edun: Long-term Liquidity Injection Will Boost Productivity, Stimulate Sustainable Growth

Says economy beset by challenges impacting businesses, households

James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has said the long-term supply of capital into critical sector sectors of the economy would boost productivity, create new jobs and continue to stimulate sustainable growth.

The minister said in the short-term, the step-up in pricing of FGN securities was boosting dollar inflow into the economy, though at an increased cost to government.

Edun disclosed this during his presentation on “Reconstructing the Economy for Growth, Investment and Climate Resilience Development”, at

Food Security: Emir of Keffi Seeks Subsidy Support for Farmers

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Emir of Keffi in Nasarawa State, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, has urged governments at all levels to provide subsidy for farmers as they embark on the planting season across the country.

The monarch made the appeal in Keffi, yesterday while speaking with journalists in his palace, shortly after he observed the Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the town's main Eid ground.

He said there would be surplus foodstuffs in the nation's markets and enough produce for export if the government gives subsidy to farmers.

He nevertheless, urged farmers to take advantage of the current raining season and return to farms.

He said various security agencies should also ensure the safety of farmers on their farms.

The monarch said, "I will request the government at all levels to support the farmers.

"The subsidy in the agricultural sector should go the farmers directly so that it will encourage them to produce enough foodstuffs for both domestic consumption and for export.

"It is when support is given to farmers that they would be motivated to put in their best.

"Without the required support, farmers will find it difficult to produce as expected because farming is not an easy job.

"We also need the government to provide extension services that it used to be in those days. Extension services used to help the farmers to provide high-yielding farm produce at the end of the year.”

He added: "I wish to call on farmers and all those leading their association to seize the opportunity of the raining season effectively so that we could get plenty farm produce during the harvest.

"Government should also concentrate on education because

if our schools are supported very well, there is no need for our children to travel abroad for education.

"They would be able to go to school here because we have enough competent and qualified lecturers in this country, who would put in their best if they are well motivated.

"We would also want government at all levels to support the private sector to invest in education because the government cannot do it alone.

"They will also need to give work in the private sector. Government must relax some laws for the private sector to expand. This would bring about employment opportunities for the graduates."

the Lagos Business School Breakfast Club.

He said the removal of subsidy on petrol and the unification of exchange rates markets remained key reforms which were prerequisites to pursuing macro-stability, with the expected transitory shocks – and helped to address cost anomalies.

The minister pointed out that the removal of the dysfunctional fuel subsidy which had caused huge distortion in government’s fiscal position, eroded any chance of fiscal expansion which stood at over N400 billion monthly including two per cent of GDP.

Nonetheless, Edun, said the economy was currently bedeviled by a combination of challenges that were negatively impacting businesses and households.

The minister, however, pointed out that the federal government was implementing a bouquet of policy enablers to successfully attract and retain long-term domestic and foreign direct investments in the economy.

Addressing business leaders at the forum, minister said the government hoped to achieve an increasingly stable and predictable exchange rates, risk reflective yields and targeted policies to increase its ability to attract local and foreign capital.

He said the country had made steady progress in establishing the critical frameworks, policies and markets enablers that would promote progression towards a more climate resilient economy.

He said the current administration

remained committed to increasing food and national productivity and investments by engaging with manufacturers to develop programmes and policies that would cushion the impact of current challenges and stimulate mass scale productive activity across multiple sectors.

He told them that part of the government’s priority interventions would be to deploy fiscal tools to significantly increase the supply of grain and other inputs, creating jobs and increasing the exports of farm produce.

Edun, added that food inflation, which peaked at 37.9 per cent in February, remained the primary driver of inflationary pressure in the economy.

However, the minister, among other challenges, noted that food production remained relatively low in comparison to demand, adding that local output was low in relation to population growth.

He also said cost anomalies are impacting macro-economic stability, high inflation, foreign exchange instability and low yield relative to inflations.

He lamented the insufficient safety nets for poor and vulnerable households as well as the sub-optimal fiscal position, marked by high budget deficit.

The minister noted that to manage the transitory inflationary impact of ongoing reforms, the government is implementing a suite of social and economic interventions to support vulnerable households and SMEs.

Chairman, Edo State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (MPWB), Sheikh Ibrahim Oyarekhua; Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Fatai Enabulele; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, during the celebration of Eid-El Fitr, at the Government House, Benin City... yesterday

First Lady Hails Super Falcons for Ending 16-Year Old Olympic Jinx

Says players' perseverance, commitment paid off

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has congratulated Nigeria's senior female national team, the Super Falcons, for ending the 16year Olympic jinx by qualifying for 2024 edition of the games billed for Paris, France in July.

ment and remain patriotic, saying there is need to also protect the integrity of government and the leadership.

On her part First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, enjoined Muslims to sustain the good deeds exhibited during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Prominent Nigerian leaders, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and governors, among others, also sought the people’s support for the government of the day.

At the same time, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among other individuals and groups, urged prayers for the country, saying Nigerians should not surrender to despondency.

Speaking with newsmen after the prayers at the Eid Ground at Dodan Barracks, Obalende, Tinubu said the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, which was aimed at bringing prosperity to Nigerians, was being diligently implemented.

While encouraging Muslims to extend the values of sacrifice and resilience beyond the fasting period, Tinubu emphasised the need for Nigerians to prioritise the exhibition of love for their country.

He said, “The resilience and sacrifice that we have shown and made during these months should be preserved. Be a kind and cheerful giver.

“We must love our country more than any other country, because that is the only one we have. We must continue to protect the integrity of our government and leadership.

''The Renewed Hope Agenda is alive, well and fine, and Nigerians should continue to be very hopeful. Without hope, there is no salvation. Without hope, there is no development. Without hope, there is no life. Eid Mubarak."

Earlier, Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, in his sermon, urged Nigerians to shun all acts of violence, ensure peaceful co-existence, and continue to have faith in the country.

He asked those in leadership positions to remain faithful to their oaths of office and work towards alleviating the suffering of the less-privileged.

“Let us not forget our brothers and sisters in Gaza and other areas of conflict,” the Islamic cleric said.

He offered prayers of God’s guidance, wisdom, and protection for Tinubu and Lagos State Government, and also prayed for peace and stability in the country.

Earlier, Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Dr. Austine Akubeze was joined by Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan; Most Rev. Felix Akaba Job; Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Bishop of Uromi, Most Rev. Donatus Oguns among other clergymen to officiate the thanksgiving mass.

In his homily titled: “What a Life,” the Emeritus Archbishop of Ibadan, Job, charged the congregation on love, urging them on good neighbourliness, selflessness and sacrifice.

According to him: “God created us to serve him in the journey of life. The life given to us is a life of love for God and neighbours. It’s

The Super Falcons had Tuesday held their South African counterpart, Banyana Banyana to a goalless draw in Pretoria to qualify on 1-0 goal aggregate for the Paris Olympic Games.

Reacting to the team's feat, Mrs Tinubu in a statement personally signed while congratulating the

Wife of the president, on her part, rejoiced with the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria on the completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

In a release, Mrs Tinubu urged Muslims to sustain the good deeds exhibited during the Holy Month, saying Ramadan is a period of reformation and teachings on how to live a selfless and godly life.

She said, “The lessons learnt during the one month of fasting should not be eroded on the altar of celebration. We should be modest in our celebration and continue to extend love to others.

“Our kindness to one another and service to humanity should extend beyond the month of Ramadan. Let us sustain those virtues of selfpurification, sacrifice, self-discipline, and being compassionate to fellow Nigerians. Our priority as a people should include praying for our nation.”

Mrs. Tinubu commended the womenfolk for their sacrifice in preparing meals for their families and generally taking care of the home front during Ramadan, saying their sacrifices would be rewarded by Almighty Allah.

The first lady charged the youth to shun negative acts, channel their energies positively, and join hands with the government towards achieving a greater nation.

Buhari Urges Nigerians to Support Leaders at All Levels

Former President Muhammadu Buhari urged Nigerians to support elected leaders, from the lowest to the topmost, at this crucial point of the country's democracy.

In a Sallah message in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, shortly after observing the Eid prayer, the former president congratulated fellow Muslims on the successful completion of the 30-day Ramadan fasting and the performance of the Eid.

He urged “all citizens to support our leaders from the local government level to the highest at the centre in their efforts to transform the development landscape of the nation.

According to him, support for our leaders is a vote for a better tomorrow.

Buhari added, “It is imperative that we stand united in safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of our nation.”

He called on contestants to political offices “to always ensure a smooth succession from one administration to another without stoking communal tensions and obstructing development, irrespective

not the number of years spent on earth that matters but the quality and value of how the years were utilized for humanity and mankind.”

The clergy congratulated Ikimi for joining the league of octogenarians, wishing him many more years in good health and wisdom.

Other guests at the event include: Former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih, PDP candidate for 2024 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo and his wife, Ifeyinwa.

Also present were: The Edo State Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa; Edo PDP Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi and former Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, among others.

female soccer team, said ending a close to two decades old Olympic jinx meant a lot to the country.

According to her, the success of the team clearly showed that the players’ perseverance and commitment had truly paid off. Mrs Tinubu, who said she's proud of the team, also urged the

of political party affiliation”.

Buhari expressed his appreciation to the people of Daura and the state for a warm welcome as indicated by the massive crowd at the Eid prayer ground.

He said he was happy to be in the midst of his people again after completing his term as president in May 2023.

Shettima, Zulum, Others Attend Eid Prayers

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, were among dignitaries that attended the two raka’at Eid prayers in Maiduguri.

Imam Idaini of Borno, Shettima Mamman Saleh, led the Eid prayer at the Borno Central Eid ground, Ramat Square, on Wednesday. Delivering his Khutba (sermon), Imam Idaini counselled the Muslim ummah to continue to observe virtues learnt during the 30-day Ramadan fast.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El Kanemi, led members of the Borno Emirate Council to the Eid prayer.

Other dignitaries in attendance included the senator for Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, members of the House of Representatives, Secretary to Borno State Government, Hon. Bukar Tijani, Borno State Head of Service, Mallam Fannami, among other top officials and APC executives.

Zulum called on citizens of the state to intensify their prayers for the total restoration of peace in the state and other parts of the country.

He said, “Glory be to Almighty Allah for allowing us to witness this year's Eid festival. I urge the people of Borno State to intensify their prayers for peace to reign in Borno and Nigeria.

sion of his 67th birthday yesterday.

The president, in a statement by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, joined the family and friends of Dangote to celebrate the founder of the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa and one of Africa's business lodestars.

Referencing the many industrial feats of the business colossus, Tinubu extolled Dangote's famed dauntless and inventive spirit, as well as his quest for excellence in any venture.

The president commended the chairman of Dangote Group for his interventions and support for Nigeria's young entrepreneurs, describing him as one of the industrialists who have kept the country on the global map as a haven for enterprise.

As Dangote marked his birthday, Tinubu also wished him many more prosperous years in his endeavours in Nigeria, Africa, and the world.

Speaking during the visit to Tinubu in Lagos, Dangote revealed that his refinery had been selling diesel at 1,200 naira per litre, compared to the previous market price of N1,650-N1,700. He added that he was expecting dramatic reduction in fuel costs to help drive down inflation in the coming months.

Dangote said, "There's quite a lot of improvement because if you look at it here, one of the major issues that we've had was the narrow devaluation that has

Falcons to make Nigeria proud by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics later in the year.

The First Lady in the one-page congratulatory letter stated: "Dear Super Falcons, Congratulations our Super Falcons. Ending a 16-year Olympic jinx is no small feat, and your perseverance and commitment

“I also want to urge the people of Borno State to be law-abiding and patient with the government. We are doing everything possible to reduce the hardship faced by our people.”

Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, organised the durbar procession to commemorate this year's Eid-el-fitri festival.

The dubar, a traditional horse match, is observed annually in Borno State with traditional title holders mounting horses in a parade. Shettima and Zulum, accompanied by other senior government officials, attended the festival.

Atiku, PDP: Let Leaders Show Compassion to Nigerians

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on leaders to approach leadership with compassion and show empathy to the less-privileged.

The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged Nigerians not to surrender to despondency.

In a message on his verified X account, the PDP presidential candidate in the last general election said those in authority should show more compassion to the people.

Atiku stated, "The completion of Ramadan should cause a reflection on those in positions of authority to show more compassion to the people.

"The requirement of forbearance and compassion between the leaders and the people are the lessons to be learnt about this year’s Ramadan, in accordance with the teachings of noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW)." PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, counselled Nigerians not to surrender to hopelessness or allow the hardship and misery in the country to weaken their love and support for one another. Rather, he said, citizens should remain resolute

gone very aggressively up to about N1,900. But right now we're back to almost N1,250 or N1,300, which is a good improvement.

“And you can see quite a lot of things have actually gone up. Even people now when you go to the market, for example, something that we produce locally, like flour or whatever, people will charge you more.

“Why? Because they're paying very high prices on diesel. And what we did, for example, in our refinery, we started selling even diesel about N1,200 for N1,650. And I'm sure, you know, as we go along, things will continue to improve quite a lot.”

He added, ”Well, even now it's a lot of impact. If you look at it now, when you are buying N1,650 or N1,700 for a litre of diesel, and that one has been cut off by almost one third to now be paying diesel at N1,200.

“And, may be, eventually going forward, even though the crude prices are going up, even with that, I believe people will not get it much higher than what it is today.

“N1,200, it might be even a little bit lower. But that can help quite a lot. Because if you are transporting locally produced goods, rice and other stuff, you are paying N1,650. Now you are paying two thirds of that amount, N1,200. It's a lot. It's a lot of difference. People don't know.

have truly paid off.

“Your hard work, resilience, and team spirit have brought glory to Nigeria and inspired countless young girls across the country to pursue their dreams fearlessly.

"I am so proud of all your achievements. Your journey doesn't end here; it's just the beginning of

in their hope and pursuit of a better, secure and prosperous nation.

The party congratulated Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, on the Eid-el-fitri celebration, urging them to allow the virtues, values and lessons observed, inculcated and imbibed during the Holy Ramadan fasting to guide their everyday lives. The party said Eid-el-fitri offered Nigerians the divine pathway to re-dedicate themselves to a life of love, forgiveness, abnegation, restraint, tolerance, temperance, unity, mutual understanding, peaceful co-existence, care and compassion for one another, and most importantly, absolute faith, trust, and total obedience to the Will and command of the Almighty Allah in all our dealings.

PDP said, "It is, therefore, imperative for leaders at all levels to use the occasion of the Eid-el-fitri for a deep soul-searching that re-awakens the virtues of honesty, transparency, justice, fairness and pursuit of the wellbeing of the citizens in the discharge of their duties, especially at this critical time in the life of our nation.

"Our party also calls on all good-spirited Nigerians and organisations to use the occasion to further extend the hands of love to the less-privileged, the dislocated and the hurting, so that the joy of Eid-el-fitri can reach all."

Ilorin Emir, Saraki Seek Prayers for Leaders to Overcome Insecurity

Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday, urged Muslim Ummah and other Nigerians to continue to pray for the country's leaders in order to overcome the incessant kidnappings and other forms of insecurity facing the nation. The monarch stated this in his Sallah message to the people of Ilorin

“That can actually help to bring inflation down immediately. And I'm sure when the inflation figures are out for the next month, you see that there's quite a lot of improvement in the inflation rate.

“So one step at a time. And I'm sure the government is working round the clock to make sure that things get much better.

“Because it's in their own interest. It's in the interest of everybody, it’s in our own interest, and I just want to thank everybody."

Dangote urged captains of industry to partner with the government to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens.

His said, "You can't clap with one hand. So, both the entrepreneurs and the government need to clap together and make sure that it is in the best interest of everybody."

In a related development, Dangote Group restated its commitment to industrialisation of the country. It said that was the key to diversification of the Nigerian economy. South-east Regional Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Abayomi Shittu, made this known yesterday, in Enugu during the company's Special Day at the 35th edition the Enugu International Trade Fair.

In his address, Shittu said the theme of this year’s fair, “Made in Nigeria products for Global Competitiveness,” resonated with the company, which was focused on

Remi Tinubu

an even greater adventure. Make Nigeria proud, Super Falcons! Bring home the gold!"

Emirate and beyond delivered at the Ilorin Central Eid praying ground to mark the 2024 Eid-el-fitri celebration.

He advised citizens to always support leaders with fervent prayers and obedience in order to deliver on their mandates.

Gambari stated that despite the challenges facing the nation, the people of Ilorin Emirate were living in peace and harmony without rancour, “which necessitates us to remain grateful and prayerful always”.

Yesterday, also, former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, expressed hope that the valuable lessons learned during Ramadan would guide the Muslim Ummah on the path of righteousness, piety, and devotion.

Saraki also expressed belief that the prayers and supplication offered during the 30 days Ramadan period had been granted by Allah, for a positive turnaround.

A statement by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, said the former senate president spoke from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he was taking part in Umrah, the lesser Hajj. Saraki expressed joy and gratitude to Allah for the opportunity to partake in this year's Ramadan fasting.

He performed Umrah with his personal driver, Mr. Shuaibu, and some other personal aides. Saraki stated that he and his entourage devoted time to pray for families, friends, loved ones, his home state, Kwara, and the nation as a whole.

Akpabio, Barau, Senators Urge Muslims to Pray for Peace, Unity

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, his deputy, Jibrin Barau,

domestically manufactured goods that were hitherto imported, despite the abundance of raw materials for such products in Nigeria.

He stated that Dangote’s passion for Nigeria and Africa’s economic development and overall growth was seen in his industrial strategy of Production, Prosperity, Power, and Pride.

“Our target is to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in all the sectors where we play: cement, agriculture, mining, and oil and gas,” he said.

“Our passion for industrialisation, creation of linkages and value addition informs our investment decisions,” Shittu added.

He stated that Dangote Cement, one of the company’s business units, had helped in making Nigeria selfsufficient in local production of cement and now exported clinker to other countries.

Shittu added that through its multiplier effect, Dangote Cement provided direct and indirect employment to millions of people across Africa.

Earlier in his address, President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Odeiga Jideonwo, thanked Dangote Group for consistently sponsoring the fair.

“As part of its continued support to our economy, Dangote has also moved its sponsorship from Bronze to Gold,” Jideonwo said.

At Eid-El-Fitri CElEbrAtions in ipEru...

L-R: Chief Imam of Remo land, Sheik Taofeek Junaid; representative of the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheik Muslim Balogun; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Sa'adallah Bamgbola, and Wakeel Musilimeen of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal at the Eid-el-Fitri celebration, held at Iperu for Muslim faithfuls... yesterday

We Will Avenge Killing of Our Soldiers in Plateau, GOC Vows

seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division, Jos, Nigerian Army and Commander Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has vowed that the command will take decisive action to avenge and seek justice for three operatives who were brutally killed in Plateau recently.

Speaking at the STF headquarters in Jos during the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr celebration organised for the troops, Abubakar expressed his determination to honour the memory of the fallen

colleagues who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

He underscored the importance of remembering their bravery and assured that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would face justice.

While lamenting the brutal manner in which the two soldiers and a police inspector were murdered in Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state, the Army General said:, "I want to encourage you to always remember our gallant departed colleagues who paid the ultimate price in the discharge of their duties.

"Specifically, last month alone, three

of our colleagues were gruesomely murdered, two soldiers and one police inspector while discharging their constitutional mandate between Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state.

"I have sworn not to rest until all those responsible are brought to justice. Thankfully, we have recovered their weapons and already arrested most of the perpetrators that are responsible, some as far away as Bauchi."

He commended the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force, and various

security agencies in maintaining peace and security in the state.

Urging the personnel to remain focused on eradicating security threats like isolated killings, kidnapping, and ethno-religious crises, Abubakar assured the troops of continued support from the STF (Operation Safe Haven), Army and Defence headquarters in terms of leadership, welfare, and logistics for successful operations.

He said: "Your professionalism, courage and determination to achieve our mandates, especially on the Plateau is worthy of note and highly

Okuama Killings: IYC Demands End to Harassment of Ijaw People, Military Invasion of Communities

Again journalists barred, community snubs military panel

olusegun

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has demanded an end to the alleged incessant invasion of Ijaw communities in the Niger Delta region and the arrest of their kinsmen since the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama, Delta State.

The council said its attention had been drawn to the incessant invasion, harassment and arrest of Ijaw sons in Nigeria, particularly on April 8, 2024 at 3:30am in Osokun, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, where a an Ijaw leader, Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, popularly known as Egberipapa was arrested, while two of his men were killed.

A statement signed by the IYC spokesman, Binebia Princewill, warned that a point must be made known that the Ijaw people are not second class citizens in this country.

The statement added that the Ijaw people had sacrificed a lot towards the growth and development of the country and will not tolerate that the Nigerian state treat them as a conquered people.

"In the last few months, Ijaw lands and her prominent leaders have been invaded, harassed, arrested and embarrassed for whatever strange reasons by the military that the Ijaw people are yet to know.

"The IYC worldwide was inundated with distress calls from Ijaw youths all over the world yesterday on how military men with vans and Armoured Personnel Carrier stormed the Osokun Resident of Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State wherein two persons were killed

and Jackrich was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.

"Nigeria is not a banana republic, Nigeria is a country governed by law, whatever we do must be within the ambit of the law. Those meant to protect the law must not be seen breaking the law.

"Too many Ijaw leaders and critical stakeholders have been killed, harassed and humiliated in the past few weeks that we are yet to know the reasons behind such attacks and invasions.

"In a similar fashion, One Chief Tike Weris, former Chairman of Bayelsa Waterways Security was brazenly arrested by the military at the Port Harcourt International Airport and up till now, there is no single information about his whereabouts and safety. In fact rumours have it that he has been killed in custody. We hope that this rumour is not true.

"While the Ijaw Youth Council will continue to champion peace

movements in Nigeria and Niger Delta, we will not forget to draw our attention to certain events similar to the Okuama attack on the military in the North and the perceived response from the military. While we are not against fighting crime in Nigeria, we want this to be done within the ambit of the law,” the group stated. It argued that the Nigerian military cannot only be powerful in the South and Niger Delta and cannot be seen displaying such might in the North, that far stronger crimes are committed by insurgents and other criminal elements.

"The IYC is demanding to know the whereabouts of Sobomabo Jackrich who is a former Rivers state governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Rivers state and a critical stakeholder and leader in Ijaw nation,” it added. The IYC said it feared that the Ijaw people will not be surprised to wake up one day that the military has invaded former President Goodluck

Jonathan's House.

It said the attack on Ijaw leaders is becoming worrisome in the Nigerian State, demanding to know the whereabouts and offence of Jackrich.

Meanwhile, journalists that turned up for the coverage of the Board of Inquiry constituted by the Defence Headquarters to probe the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama in Delta State were yesterday barred by a top state government official.

The military panel, led by Air Vice Marshal David Ajayi arrived Warri last week Friday on a fact-finding mission on the killings of four officers and 13 soldiers at Forcados river by Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government area of the state.

He had said while addressing the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who received the team at Government House Annex, Warri that the military panel was in the state on a fact-finding mission and not to apportion blame.

appreciated. While I acknowledge and applaud your efforts, I urge you not to rest but to remain focused in your task.

"To consolidate the gains of all our recent achievements, we must intensify our efforts to completely eradicate all acts of isolated killings, kidnapping, farmers herders clashes, cattle rustling, as well as cattle poisoning, farm destruction and ethno religious crisis, among all other forms of security threats within our joint operations area.

"I want to reassure you once again that headquarters of Operations, Safe Haven, as well as both the Army headquarters and the Defence headquarters, will do all that is necessary to provide you with the requisite leadership, welfare and logistics to motivate you for effective and successful conduct of our operations."

Fanimokun Donates

N3.5bn

Entrepreneurship Centre to YABATECH

Funmi ogundare

A seasoned administrator, technocrat and developmental economist, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, yesterday donated the sum of N3.5 billion to Yaba College of Technology to build an entrepreneurship centre in honour of late Chief Wahab Folawiyo. The centre which will be named Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre ( FEC), will comprise four lecture theatres with 500 seating capacity each, 19 classrooms, offices for staff, spaces for vocational activities as well as car park.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, held at the college's main campus, Fanimokun explained that it had become imperative for the country to diversify into entrepreneurship which will help boost its economy rather than its excessive dependence on revenue from oil and gas as wells as importation. Its excessive dependence on revenue from oil and gas, he stated, has led the country into youth unemployment, criminal neglect of agricultural production and conspicuous absence of visionary leadership with lack of development

model matrix.

"With entrepreneurship training, skill acquisition and promotion of SMEs, the sky is the limit for the future of the youths in our potentially great nation," he stated.

Fanimokun who recently turned 80, recalled that 40 years ago, the late Folawiyo, had initiated him formally into the twin subjects of entrepreneurship and philanthropy when he joined his business empire as an executive director (projects). He stated that since then, he had become a staunch advocate of entrepreneurship as most vital pillar for sustainable development and everlasting prosperity in Nigeria.

According to him: “I became greatly interested in this most vital subject-matter after my transition without any plan from the Lagos State Government Public Service at age 40 in 1985 and since then, I have become a strong advocate for the propagation and promotion of entrepreneurship at all levels, most especially, the young generations.

"Before then, I learnt only informally about the subject matter under the first executive governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande."

International Day of Rwandan Genocide: Obi Preaches Love over Hate

Chuks okocha in Abuja

As the world marked the International Day of the Rwanda's Genocide that claimed over 800 lives of the Hutus and Tutsis, the presidential candidate of the Labour party in the last general election, Mr Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to enshrine the spirit of love over hated for mankind. Obi in a statement in his X account said that there is nothing love can not do over hatred,

explaining that is the greatest gift over hate.

He also urged Nigerians to learn from the lessons of history and commit ourselves to fostering a society where every individual is valued and respected, regardless of their background.

Ultimately, the choice between building barriers or bridges lies within each of us, he stated.

The world was taken aback by the genocidal atrocities in Rwanda from April 7th to July 4th, 1994

that resulted in the death of many people both the Hutus and Tutsis that speak the same language.

According to Obi, "Let us choose love over hate, compassion over indifference, and solidarity over division. Together, let us strive to create a future where the scars of the past serve as a reminder of our shared humanity, and where the bonds of unity triumph over the forces of division.

"Let us heed the lessons of history and commit ourselves to

fostering a society where every individual is valued and respected, regardless of their background. Ultimately, the choice between building barriers or bridges lies within each of us."

He stated further: "Yesterday, we solemnly observed the International Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Rwandan genocide. The occasion invites us to pause and honour the memory of the 800,000 Rwandans - Tutsis and moderate Hutus - who perished

within the span of 100 days, "From April 7th to July 4th, 1994. This period stands as a stark reminder of humanity's capacity for unspeakable cruelty, evil and devastation, as extremist forces fueled by hate sought to cleanse their society along ethnic lines.

"As we reflect on the horrors of the Rwandan genocide, let us also look inwards and examine the state of our own societies, including Nigeria and the broader African continent.

samuel in Yenagoa and sylvester idowu in Warri

BOOK PRESENTATION...

Representative of the GCEO NNPC Ltd and Head of the Company’s Relationship and Stakeholder Management, Mrs. Oluwakemi Olumuyiwa exchange pleasantries with Engr. Charles Osezua, author of "The Rise of Gas: From Gaslink to the Decade of Gas" during the public presentation of the book in Lagos... yesterday

No Cause for Alarm on Next Olubadan, Makinde Assures

for alarm over the selection of the next Olubadan. Makinde warned individuals peddling divisive tendencies over the matter to

desist from such acts.

The governor maintained that the due process on the matter included the nomination of the next Olubadan by the Olubadanin-Council and the forwarding of the same to his office, which was yet to be done.

and Oyo State. Makinde said, “Some people have kept talking about the Ibadan Chieftaincy System, saying it has got issues and all of that.

their support and for the peace and harmony being enjoyed in the state.

for Nigeria,” Adeyileka said.

According to him, what would save Nigerian carriers was patriotism as well as government support, noting that when he worked in UK, the UK- owned airlines were not buying aviation fuel at the same cost as foreign airlines and they were not paying the same airport charges as foreign airlines and urged the Nigerian government to find ways to support Nigerian carriers.

He added: “If we want the naira to continue to gain value and also to reduce the demand on the dollar, government should encourage local carriers where passengers can buy their ticket in naira and the airline will not repatriate its earnings through forex out of the country.”

Keyamo Commends Gatwick Airport for Welcoming Nigerian Carrier, Air Peace

Meanwhile, Keyamo has thanked Gatwick Airport, London management for welcoming Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, which started flight service to the airport on March 30, 2024.

In his verified X (twitter) handle, @fkeyamo, the Minister acknowledged the message from Gatwick Airport authority, saying the message issued one week after the airline’s inaugural flight to the airport was belated but accepted, adding that the federal government was fully in support of its airlines.

“Finally! Thank you Gatwick Airport. We expected this (welcome message) on the first day of the arrival of one of our most important local airlines, Air Peace. “But better late than never. We look forward to working with you to ensure seamless operation by Air Peace from your airport. The government of Nigeria fully supports our local operators,” the Minister said.

London Gatwick airport, @ Gatwick_Airport, had welcomed the Nigerian carrier, saying, “Excited news! We recently welcomed Nigerian carrier @flyairpeace to the London Gatwick family, flying daily to Lagos. “Perfect for reconnecting with friends and loved ones or for business travellers, embark on your next journey from London Gatwick to Lagos with Air Peace.”

According to information from the airport’s website, Gatwick Airport is managed by Gatwick Airport Limited, but since May 2019, VINCI Airports have been the majority shareholder and the rest of the shares are owned by a group of investors.

VINCI Airports is the world’s leading private airport operator. They have welcomed 240 million passengers per year, including 46 million at London Gatwick. They also operate the world’s largest and most diversenetwork, with 65 airports in 12 countries.

Makinde spoke when the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, led Muslim government representatives and other functionaries on a courtesy visit to the governor’s Ikolaba residence, shortly after praying at the Eid Praying Ground, Agodi, Ibadan.

He added that once the Ibadan Chieftaincy System ran its full course, the government would take the necessary decision in the best interest of Ibadanland

“But I said the Obas-in-Council are yet to make their nomination. When they make it, it will come to me and I will either say yes or no. But that has not happened. So, why are people focusing on things that are capable of dividing us?

"Those whose stock in trade is to keep looking for what to divide us should look for something else to do. They should rather focus on things that will unite us.”

Makinde congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the 30 days Ramadan fast, and appreciated them for

Stating that the new Oyo State was renowned for peace, unity and harmony, the governor admonished individuals bent on dividing the state with religion to take their trade elsewhere.

He charged the people of the state to imbibe discipline as one of the lessons learnt in the month of Ramadan.

He said, "I want to use this opportunity to greet our Muslim brothers and sisters and to wish all of us a happy Eid-el-fitri celebration.

"One of the lessons of Ramadan is discipline, because for these last 30 days, we disciplined our bodies. Though the body was seeking

nutrients and food, we said no for the duration of the fasting. So, it is a lesson we have to imbibe in our daily life.

"We should also use this experience to settle our differences with people around us. We are all together and united now, as it is a new Oyo State where everybody is coming on board.

"Those whose stock-in-trade is to keep looking for what to divide us should look for something else to do. They should rather focus on things that will unite us.”

Speaking on the forthcoming local government election in the state, slated for April 27, Makinde charged the electorate to go out en masse and vote for their leaders at the grassroots.

AbdulRazaq, Ilorin Emir, NBA Mourn Death of Belgore

The Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ilorin Branch, Kwara State, Kamaldeen Gambari, yesterday mourned the death of a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ahmad Belgore.

“Information reaching me now indicates that Hon. Justice Ahmad Olarewaju Belgore, (rtd.) is dead. May Allah forgive his shortcomings,” Gambari said in a social media post.

Belgore retired as the Justice of the Court of Appeal on April 18, 2023, on the attainment of the retirement age of 70.

Meanwhile, in a condolence message, the State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed condolences on the death of Belgore.

The governor’s condolence message was contained in a statement

Tinubu Congratulates Ayo Adebanjo, Oba Elegushi on their Birthdays

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on his 96th birthday.

The President, according to a statement issued yesterday, by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, commended Adebanjo for his decades of spirited advocacy for a united and equitable Nigeria, as well as for contributions to enriching the national discourse. Tinubu, wished Pa Adebanjo a

happy birthday and prayed to God Almighty to grant him many more years in excellent health.

In a related development, Tinubu yesterday, congratulated Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III) on the occasion of his 48th birthday.

The President, in a statement by Ngelale, joined members of the Elegushi family, friends, well-wishers, and the people of Ikate kingdom in wishing Kabiyesi more years of good health on the throne and purposeful leadership to his people.

Tinubu commended Oba Elegushi for his unwavering dedication to the welfare of his people since his coronation in 2010, and for building constructive relationships across the country that have helped to create a formidable network of support for government programmes and initiatives.

The President prayed for God’s unceasing guidance and protection on the Royal Father as he further advances his services to his community and the nation.

made available to journalists by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, yesterday.

The statement read: “Belgore, who was until his recent retirement the presiding Justice of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal, died on Tuesday night. The governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the entire Ilorin Emirate, the bar and the bench, and to the Belgores, who have lost a rare gem.

“Justice Belgore was a legal giant and a foremost community leader who offered his shoulder for many

to lean on.”

Also, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari described the death of Belgore as a big loss to the Ilorin Emirate and nation at large.

The Emir, in a statement by his spokesman, Abdulazeez Arowona, said: “This is a great and colossal loss that has befallen the Ilorin Emirate and humanity at large.

“It is with shock that I received the news of the demise of Justice Ahmad Belgore. He was a complete gentleman, a thorough judicial officer who served the nation meritoriously in various capacities, nationally and internationally. “He was one of the finest justices that the Ilorin Emirate has ever produced. He contributed in no small measures to the growth and development of the judiciary and humanity in general,” he said. The Emir also commiserated with the immediate and extended family members of the deceased as well as the entire people of Ilorin and Nigerians in general.

ADC Woos 22 Opposition Parties for Mega Party Coalition

Folalumi

Alaran

The leadership of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) has concluded arrangements to form a consensus with 22 opposition parties on how to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power.

National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu disclosed this at a news Conference held at the ADC global campus, Abuja.

Stakeholders of the party who were at the meeting included members of National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) as well as other leaders of the party. Nwosu stressed that the nation certainly needs a new beginning.

"Pointing fingers of recrimination is not what transformational leaders do," he said, adding that 22 political parties have joined hands with the ADC to build a new mega party.

While stating that the doors of the merging parties remain open, the ADC chairman however added that the new platform will give accommodation to all well-meaning patriots in the country. According to him: "We have resolved to work with all political leaders across that appreciate the need for coming together for a new Nigeria. We discriminate against none; our commitment is a new Nigeria that will lead our dear continent out of its present abyss."

Nwosu also reeled out the

catalogue of failure of the Bola Tinubu-led regime scoring it low in all ramifications.

He blamed the current government for lacking clear ideas of how to move the country forward, saying the system of handing palliative to the people to cushion their poverty was untenable.

He said: "The state of the nation is nothing to talk about. It is saddening and arouses morbid fear. Therefore, instead of wasting our time engaging in futile debates with those in government, we should continue to strategize on ways to develop a new political system and come together to create a collaborative, value-driven ecosystem that prioritizes our people and country."

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde, has declared that there is no cause

politics

Alia: My Mission is to Save Poor Masses through Democracy in Benue

Governor Hyacinth alia of Benue State, in this interview, laments that 48 years after creation, Benue state remains underdeveloped. He, however, expresses his determination to change the narrative despite stiff opposition by self-serving political leaders in the state. Segun James brings excerpts:

What informed your decision to drop priesthood for politics?

My advent into partisan politics was because too many things were wrong. I’ve lived my life as a functional priest in the last 33 years with my locals. I stayed with them, went to school and returned to spend time with them some more. I have been in the trenches with them and the people I loved working more with are the destitute, the poor masses, those who do not have a voice in the society, and those who are neglected and suppressed.

When you are preaching the gospel, these are the primary things you must do. God does not want them to be lost to the society. These are the people I felt should be taken care of. For years, local government teachers were totally forgotten and I felt their pains. I had that at the back of my mind.

Again, since the creation of the state as a glorified village, we didn’t even have light on the streets in the state capital. It is now we are trying to construct internal roads because our internal roads were minimally tarred.

You come into the state capital, Makurdi and it is like you come into a village. I felt a number of things were missing and so, there was a need for me to come and get things right.

The church is not against her priests joining partisan politics. Where it is a case of plurality of parties, there church will hold her reservations but at the same time, there is a leeway that if the church judges that the society is too dysfunctional and that the only person to salvage the situation is a priest, then, someone can spring up via the church to save the rest of the people.

Not many people understand this and this is why I had to come in and save the souls. We had to take care of the human beings that are out there. In a number of places in the state, some primary schools are no longer functional. We need to fight for the future of Benue which is like fighting for democracy.

We have to fight for democracy and these are the things that we have been trying to do, people need to understand that government is an opportunity to protect people’s lives and ensure that the people go back to their agrarian society.

Today, we are talking about food insecurity. If we do not have social and civil security, we would not have food insecurity. These are concerning. When we fight for democracy, then, we are fighting for food security because farmers are on the farms.

You know, Benue was number one in a number of things not just in the production of yams but in the production of soya beans.

So, we need to get back to this.

I came to save the soul of the poor masses of the state; I came in to assure them that God loves them and that God loves them through democracy so that they can understand they and their children hold the future. So, I came in for the state to have the fullness of democracy and the fullness of life.

In your inaugural speech, you vowed to transform the state, what difference have you made in this regard?

Very true. I declared a state of emergency on our infrastructural basis. Our primary schools are down and as I speak, we have done so much at getting rid of ghost schools. Benue had more ghost schools than the existing functional schools.

Also, Benue had more ghost workers. For instance, we had a ghost school that had 95 teachers and the least teacher on the staff was Grade Level 10, that has been there for a very long time. Just imagine how much the state lost educationally.

What we need in the first month was to save N1 billion and in the second month of our coming on board, we saved close to N3 billion from ghost workers.

We then shifted to the civil service where we saw some other things. The state nearly had

more casual staff than permanent staff.

We had to weed out some of them and it is just now that we are coming to terms with reality. That is what we are doing.

That was how we fine tuned the system to work. Having understudied all these in the last nine to ten months, some huge amount of shift is made.

In terms of infrastructure, we are an agrarian state and over 80 percent of the people here are farmers but unfortunately, they were never incentivized to be the best they would be on the farms.

So, we set out to do the roads that could lead from their farms to the market squares and back here to the centre.

We did 16 roads in Makurdi and we are going to announce some 31 roads within the Makurdi township streets. At the same time, other contractors are working on rural roads across the state where we have most of our food

production because that is where we want the impact to be first felt.

There are talks that you give contractors 70 percent upfront which is unprecedented in Nigeria but what is the guarantee that they will complete the job having gotten what they want?

We write down that 70 percent be given to them but it is by instalments because of the inflation we have and because of the trust that is built in there.

For the records, we do not give 70 percent. The contractors have built themselves up and also because we have received other testimonials from other states. We also hold them at the jugular; it is not as if we just give them the contracts. It is not true that we give them 70 percent but because the State Executive Council said 70 percent should be given to them because of inflation but then, it is segmented. That is why most contractors are scrambling for Benue State.

The people brought me to the seat, they ensured that I present to them the merits of democracy, they voted me on trust. Let all political gladiators come up with ideologies and not dysfunctionality that will consume everyone. We were created since 1976, where are we? Other states have gone ahead of us.

I have my character and reputation, I came into this game with a defined intention to work with the people and work for the people and accommodate everyone. That is what we will continue to do because at the end of it all, I am going to be responsible for everything. Some people want the funds to be given to them. I feel it is time everyone gets on board with me. I am for the people, with the people and working for them. The people of Benue gave me their trust.

Despite submitting report for State Police, what steps are you taking to address the security situation in your state especially in the rural areas?

Before we were ushered in on May 29, 2023, the security reports on our insecurity were horrible and it is also on record that you heard that hundreds of lives were being killed in one local government. Before you took that to heart, you heard of another one. We had tones of these deaths on our hands but since we came in, it is on record that there has been relative peace.

How do we know the indices? By the same security apparatus that we have and by the reports we get from our vigilantes, forest guards and other security apparatus who are working in sync on the security of our people. By the situation report we receive everyday, we are able to measure that. Overall, we have relative peace but at the same time, relative peace does not mean we have absolute people.

We have skirmishes of attacks; of late we had a large number of influx of armed herders that flocked in some local government areas of the state. These local governments are prone to insecurity who share borders with a number of states.

The slogan out there is that Father must continue but there seems to be some dissenting voices. Why do you think some members of your party are against your administration?

Well, in every administration, you expect those who oppose you. I came in with a plan to rebuild our state. Some people do best when there is crisis and there are some political leaders who dug a hole and kept everyone in the state down there and they don’t want anyone to see the light of day. There were no infrastructure and no one knew where the monies given to the state were going to. They did not better anyone’s lives; they took care of their individual families. We have a conscience and we a report card we must present to the people. So, if a select few say they are in charge of the state and that before development comes, they must know, when FAAC allocations come, it must be given to them first. Who does that? The people brought me to the seat, they ensured that I present to them the merits of democracy, they voted me on trust. Let all political gladiators come up with ideologies and not dysfunctionality that will consume everyone. We were created since 1976, where are we? Other states have gone ahead of us.

I have my character and reputation, I came into this game with a defined intention to work with the people and work for the people and accommodate everyone. That is what we will continue to do because at the end of it all, I am going to be responsible for everything.

Some people want the funds to be given to them. I feel it is time everyone gets on board with me. I am for the people, with the people and working for them. The people of Benue gave me their trust.

I am not denying the understanding of doing what we should do by taking care of our statesmen. We have been doing that. I am a moderate person, I don’t need to go on television and say we are giving money to some people, that will be childish. I have hanging on my head and Benue indigenes a huge debt that my predecessors took.

In as much as I agree that there should be opposition, what troubles me are some three individuals who want to be called the APC in Benue State and who want all the funds in the state to be handed over to them. How can we function? We consider the masses and so far, the APC is doing well in the state and we will continue on that part. So, anything short of that, will be detrimental to the state and I am not prepared to settle for less.

Alia

Asue and Ogie are fit for purpose, reckons AUSTIN ISIKHUEMEN

‘SABINESS’ AND THE ASUE-OGIE TEAM

Asue Igbodalo was officially given the PDP ticket for the Edo State 2024 governorship election at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday 27th February 2024. The presentation of the certificate of return marked the official closure of the primaries held at the Ogbemudia Stadium on 22nd February, 2024. His nearest ‘rival’ polled one vote. It would have been two had he not left to run his own primary in his own yard and declare himself winner!

He defeated, rather as he would love to humbly put it, came first, among a galaxy of aspirants many of whom would make a good governor too. Edo is not looking for a good governor. They want, and justifiably deserve, an Excellent Governor who will deliver superlative performance and put Edo as primus inter pers among the States of the federation the way then Brigadier Osaigbovo Ogbemudia did in the ‘70s. Asue fitted the bill and they delivered a verdict by giving him 577 out of 585 valid votes cast. The mandate was clear and unequivocal.

Before Mr Osarodion Ogie join the PDP gubernatorial ticket on the 27th March 2024 as running mate to the brilliant technocrat, suave and streetwise homey, empathetic people’s man, debonair marketer and corporate legal luminary, all we saw in huge billboards, banners and posters was “MAN WEY SABI”. After the current super-efficient grassroots mobilizer and Secretary to Edo State Government was announced as running mate, people began to see AiO2 and “MEN WEY SABI” or “PEOPLE WEY SABI”. Edo is one of the South-South States where pidgin English is the oil with which conversations are eaten! That’s what drives this apt Sabi narrative or is it ‘narration’?

Wetin be this SABI self? Why would such an in intellectually loaded ticket hinge their marketing, branding if you like, on a phenomenon of Sabiness? As our Waffi (Warri) folks like to yarn, ‘these Asue Ogie guymen wan use pidgin gbege opponents o!’ Some diehard Edo voters will add ‘who no sabi no go sabi’ or ‘Asue and Ogie sabi die!’ They do not mean death at all, literarily or figurative. What they are saying in this flowery language, in which Asue is an adept, is that the Asue-Ogie team’s capacity, capability and integrity are unassailable. Some will even add, “their sabiness no get part two!” in the lingo of Upper Iweka film producers and marketers.

Sabiness is capacity, capability, fitness for purpose and an uncanny arrival at the right time in the right place with just what is needed! It is a situation where adequate preparation meets opportunity. Round pegs in round holes. A team with enough chutzpa that even their opponents longingly, secretly, but forlornly, wish they were playing on their side! A team that keeps saying the right things the right way at the right time to the right audiences across the world while first attempts at imitation by their main opponent has created a bumbling foot-in-the-mouth scenario! The Asue-Ogie team is Sabiness personified. Asue had the best education at the best schools at the right age and had outstanding, verifiable results. He went on to co-found Banwo & Ighodalo partners – a legal firm with more than a hundred lawyers in its employ partnering professionally with the very best law firms across the globe. The records of achievements of this firm are as long as Mission Road with Upper Mission combined! To become Chairman of Nigerian Breweries and successfully run that behemoth to deliver best-in-class profitability and corporate image in line with stringent

Heineken code of business conduct is no mean feat!

Asue Ighodalo simultaneously chaired or was a member of, the Boards of several companies involved in varied businesses from manufacturing, banking, foods and beverage, legal, nonprofit foundations and technology. This is proof positive of his ability to lead and multitask. He has resigned from all these profitable ventures to serve our people. Has any of the others resigned from anything, made such sacrifice? Sabiness writ large!

Ogie, a barrister at law, on the other hand, has been a steady hand in guiding and advising governments in Edo State over the years. A very experienced bureaucrat and State Executive Council player that works quietly, seamless and without the uncouth abrasiveness of some power wielders that sometimes harm their principal. Not for Ogie the vaulting ambition of some which has led to their fall from grace in a self-inflicted unraveling and demystification! Ogie is loyal and that is why he can never “l’oya” in the inimitable Esan words of the great Chief Tony Akhakon Aneni.

Before the badly-managed palliatives became a buzzword in Nigeria, Ogie has quietly been giving palliatives to citizens by way of sharing live chickens and rice at festive periods at his home to whoever can get there. The selfless giving has no political, ethnic nor party affiliation requirement. Just stay on the long queue and when it gets to your turn, you get your live chicken and rice and take the joy of the season to your family no matter how poor you are! He has been doing this for many years without knowing that one day he will be a running mate to a governorship aspirant. He will bring stability, continuity and empathetic flavour to the government to be sworn in by November this year. Ask me to show you a man with demonstrated sabiness over eight years without it getting to his head and I will take you to Osarodion Ogie!

So, folks, that is the sabiness you see on the billboards that adorn strategic junctions, across highways and alleyways of Benin City at this time. That’s the sabiness that’s going to be put on show starting 24th April 2024 in a campaign whose indicative signs are already visible to the blind and audible to the deaf! A campaign that will sieve the chaff from the grain, and show who Edo will be proud to have work for them for the next four or eight years and represent them at the Council of State meetings with the President. A man who will not be asking for interpretation of what was said and agreed there in English. A man whose voice will be heard and respected.

Lastly, Sabiness also include the ability to network with the right people at the right places to help get things done or to leave you alone unencumbered to deliver your best effort in the interest of your people. On this score, Asue sabi the President and the President and his crew sabi Asue’s sabiness and will not rig him out as democrats do not do that to one that will make one of the 36 states a shining star and give a sense of pride to the Tinubu era, not minding party affiliation. Asue and Ogie will build bridges across divides. If you still need further clarifications on the sabiness phenomenon, talk to Asue or Ogie. They listen a lot and understand questions whether you ask in English or pidgin, and will provide answers.

auxtynisi@yahoo.com

AUSTIN TAM-GEORGE argues that the policy is short-sighted and should be reviewed

THE NEW ELECTRICITY TARIFFS

According to a new power distribution plan approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), certain segments of the Nigerian population will henceforth have regular electricity and pay more, while the rest of society will see far less electricity supply and pay a lower tariff.

If this Orwellian electricity plan is followed through, the Nigerian middle class as well as the urban and rural poor, who constitute the majority of the country, will most likely retreat into medieval darkness.

From a policy standpoint, below are three downsides of the new electricity plan:

It promotes social inequity: Electricity is much more than cables, light bulbs, and switches. In developmental terms, electricity is a crucial thermometer by which the quality of modern life is measured. In fact, no definition of modernity can be complete without a

country's GDP and 70% of employment. These businesses range from subsistent fish farms in rural communities, to vibrant, youth-led innovation hubs in informal urban settlements across the country.

A segregationist electricity supply policy that excludes this productive swathe of Nigeria's population will spell disaster for an already beleaguered Nigerian economy. In an age when Finland has made Internet access a constitutional right, with a stipulated bandwidth guaranteed to every citizen, Nigeria cannot afford to pursue an energy policy that is guaranteed to sentence majority of its citizens to live in darkness.

Three, where are the meters?

Nigeria generates an average of 5,000 megawatts of electricity for a population of over 200 million people. This is grossly

people's access to electricity.

This is why governments all over the world see the provision of electricity to their citizens as an important responsibility. Therefore, any policy that segregates access to such a basic and essential service strictly on the basis of economic and social stratification of citizens is a short-sighted policy and needs to be reviewed.

The new electricity supply regime will deepen social inequity in the country, and reduce the quality of life of majority of Nigerians who are set to see far less access to electricity simply because of where they live. This is social apartheid à la carte. Rather than reduce supply to most citizens, the government and its private sector partners should increase, prioritise, and guarantee regular electricity supply to all citizens.

When Brazil faced an unprecedented economic and social regression in the late 1990s, the government of President Lula Da Silva (2003-2011) rolled out the most audacious and inclusive economic recovery plan that pulled millions of people out of poverty. The resulting economic recovery propelled Brazil ahead of Britain as the fifth largest economy in the world for the first time.

Nigeria needs an inclusive and robust economic and job creation plan that can increase people's capacity to pay for social services and live meaningful lives.

Two, it will deepen economic woes.

All over the world, reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply is seen as the ultimate tonic that spurs economic growth.

Nigeria has the largest informal sector in Africa, with micro, small, and medium-sized businesses accounting for over 40% of the

inadequate, when compared to South Africa, which generates over 50,000 megawatts for its 60 million citizens. Yet, Nigeria has perhaps one of the most unpredictable energy consumption audit systems in the world.

According to a recent report by NERC, only 44% of electricity consumers in Nigeria have metered connections. This means that 56% - a vast majority of energy consumers, are subjected to an opaque and extortionate "estimated billing" system that leaves consumers feeling duped. With so many homes and businesses without metered connections, each month, electricity officials act like ancient Egyptian stargazers, by sending consumers "estimated bills" plucked from the cosmos of corruption.

It is a stunning self-indictment that the NERC has allowed such a capricious practice to continue for so long. The new electricity tariff regime does not address the important problem of inadequate metering and the systemic corruption that it breeds.

Finally, to address the crisis, the government and its private sector partners should keep the focus on generating sufficient and uninterrupted power supply to all citizens. This can be done through a power consumption audit system that is universally metered, fair, accountable, and transparent.

Dr Tam-George is a former Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. attamgeorge@ gmail.com

ILLEGAL MINING AND

The recent disclosure by the Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Mohamed Tunis, that Nigeria loses 91 per cent of its revenue from the mining sector to illegal operators came as no surprise. But it is nonetheless still disturbing. “The mining sector has the potential to contribute 7.5 per cent to Ghana’s GDP, 10.2 per cent to the GDP of Burkina Faso, 4 per cent to the GDP of Cote d’Ivoire while Nigeria receives only 9% from the sector with 80 per cent of the mining in the country’s Northwest region carried out illegally,” said Tunis who argued that the development not only robs the region of muchneeded revenue but has also resulted “in instances of insecurity through banditry, kidnapping, thuggery and in some cases insurgency.”

Tunis is correct. The spate of illegal mining activities in several states, especially in the north, besides undermining the economy, has long thrown up security challenges, with widespread cases of banditry, kidnapping and community unrest. Indeed, the bid to exploit mineral deposits by criminal networks has for more than a decade been fuelling violence particularly in Zamfara with the attendant economic and security implications. According to a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, over $500 million was being generated annually, with no single naira going into the state’s coffers. No reasonable country should allow such brazen economic haemorrhage.

is domiciled in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. While questions remain about the legality of this arrangement and its opaque operational guidelines, we acknowledge that the challenge of the moment is how to significantly reduce the incidence of illegal mining in the country.

There is urgent need to confront the menace in a serious manner if we must fight both the insecurity and economic crimes associated with illegal mining

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR

EDITOR

T

In his bid to tackle the menace, the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has reached an agreement with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to deploy a special security outfit called ‘Mining Marshals’ across the country. The 37 commands of this structure will exist in every state and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The overall policy command of the operation

The immediate past administration initiated some reforms in the sector. These include improving mobility for field officers and organising artisanal miners into cooperatives. Focus should now be on how to properly organise the sector to attract local and foreign investors. A recent report commissioned by Global Rights is instructive. While artisanal mining makes up about 80 per cent of all mining activities in Nigeria, that aspect of the sector is not properly defined, according to the report which listed factors promoting illegal mining activities in the country to include poverty, high cost and cumbersome criteria required for formalising operation, and the lucrative nature of the illicit business.

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector is private sector driven. Through a cadastre like system, the government allocates mineral titles to investors and subsequently provides oversight functions through policy direction and regulations. The country’s law in the sector also specifies who could be in possession of or purchase minerals in Nigeria and establishes Minerals Buying Centre (MBC) which according to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) are more than 100 across the country. But from Oyo to Katsina and elsewhere, illegal mining is done in the open.

What the foregoing suggests is that there is urgent need to confront the menace in a serious manner if we must fight both the insecurity and economic crimes associated with it. Alake intends to do that with the establishment of ‘mining marshal’ unit of NSCDC under his command. We hope this arrangement does not create another problem of its own.

THE NORTH UKELLE ROAD: A FESTIVAL OF BUDGETING

The last is yet to be heard of the age- long story of the deplorable state of the Yahe - Wanokom – Wanikade – Benue border road, as this road has over the years enjoyed mention by members of parliament representing constituencies covering the area on the floors of both the State and national assemblies.

Unfortunately, even when budgetary allocations are made for the construction of the road and ground- breakings ceremonies performed as photo ops to feed the media with the needed inputs for propaganda; this is all the road has enjoyed in decades.

Recently, the anxieties of the people of North Ukelle and indeed the entire Ukelle nation was heightened when the road got media attention. This time, the road we were gleefully informed was listed and approved for execution in the 2023 supplementary appropriation act, with a whopping sum of over N10.7billion which was passed by the senate and assented to by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. It was achieved courtesy of the dogged efforts of the senator representing Cross River North senatorial zone, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe. I doff my hat for this legislative feat achieved by the senator within so Short a time in the red chambers.

Curiously however, in proposing the bill for the construction of the North Ukelle road, unlike in the past where the title of the bud-

get item used to be: Yahe-Ebo-Wanokom-Wanikade-Oju road, the title this time rather read: Oju-Adum-Wanikade-Wanokom -Yahe Road. Not that this inversion of title is of any significant concern though, it only raises curiosity on what effect this may have in bringing to fruition this long-awaited project which has suffered decades of neglect by subsequent regimes both at the state and national, and have been the bane of the development of the North Ukelle people.

I have also attempted to rationalize the title change to the fact that since the earlier ones which begin with names of towns in Cross River State may have been over used for far too long in appropriation and budgeting, the question could have arisen and suspicions triggered. It can only be safe to let sleeping dogs lie. Just a wild imagination. It could also be that the law makers representing the Oju area of Benue State and their opposite colleagues in Cross River State believe in the efficacy of partnership since the road if constructed will be of tremendous mutual socio-economic benefits to their constituents.

That said, there are a few more concerns for all to ponder upon; When the 2023 supplementary bill was passed into law and assented to by the President, it had a life span of three months or thereabouts. It was to lapse by 31st March, 2024. It has however been

extended to June 30th, 2024. Before the extension, we have not seen enough activity to indicate to us that a road construction worth the sum we are talking about is in progress. Usually when projects of such magnitude are approved, there are ware housed under their designated Ministries, in this case, the Federal Ministry of Works; the supervising Ministry and a contractor who may have gone through the due process of bidding is selected. Such contractor is expected to show obvious presence at the site. We haven’t seen one yet, we are even yet to see the sign posts suggesting the name of the contractor and the supervising entity executing a road construction worth N10.7billion.

Besides, executing a contract worth that amount should ordinarily impact the local economy through engagement of local artisans, food vendors, etc. This is not the case here. Another issue of great concern for that matter is the fact that the rainy season is fast approaching and not much has been seen on ground, are we likely to see our legislators going back in the next budget year with the same item since it may not be achieved during this budget cycle?

Michael Ikpa Igbang, (Ngidi-Ezokobe, Wanokom Ukelle) can be reached on ulakomm@gmail. com

Canvassing for Hope for a Better Nigeria

Esther Oluku

Despite the hue and cry of Nigerians over hardship, Pastor Emily Ola-Ojo of the Jesus is Light Ministries, has assured that there is hope for a better tomorrow.

Ola-Ojo, who spoke at the church’s 50th anniversary last Sunday in Agodo Egbe area of Lagos, admonished Nigerians to brace up for the next phase, just as she further expressed optimism that there would be reprieve.

While announcing her retirement from the position of General Overseer, having served in that capacity for about two decades after the demise of her husband, reiterated that “There is hope and reprieve on the way. In this desert and wilderness economic situation in Nigeria, we will receive divine and miraculous help.

“When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongues are parched with thirst, the Lord will hear them and will not forsake them. I am optimistic that help is on the way”.

She recalled with nostalgia how her late husband, Apostle Gbemiga Ola-Ojo started the ministry as a family prayer meeting in their three bedroom apartment in Kano state.

She said, “ Little did we know that the private family prayer meeting would blossom into a church. No one thought of starting a church as my husband was only a teacher. He had zero training in ministry or theology, yet, God found in him a prepared instrument to fulfil his divine plan to found this.

"The beginning was expectedly challenging but the several challenges and persecution of the past have only served the purpose of God for this ministry, making it better, bigger and more spiritually effective, what with the fact that a businessman was suddenly given the divine assignment to begin to lead a church."

Highpoint of the ceremony was the announcement of her retirement as the General Overseer and the appointment of Pastor Bayo Adaramola, as successor. She also announced the the constitution of a five-man Council of Elders charged with the responsibility of approving subsequent General Overseers in the church.

The new General Overseer, Adaramola, who promised to sustain the legacy of truth by the founder of the church, charged church leaders in Nigeria to base their teachings on the tenets of truth and core values, if the desire to have good leaders occupying key positions must be achieved.

He said, “Enough of finger pointing and saying 'this leader is bad, that leader

is wicked'. I have never seen any government, any leader that has led this country that people did not condemn. Are we then going to heaven to bring an angel?

“Nations are built from the bottom to the top, not from the up- down. Many people make the mistake of condemning the leader, I'm not one of those. I tell them, leaders have their faults, we pray for them but as for us, what are our contributions to these things we desire.

" We want honesty everywhere, we want faithfulness, loyalty everywhere ,are we doing that among ourselves?

Is that the norm in our families?

How many of us are actually honest in our daily dealings, our places

of work and in the church?".

Attributing the cause of the present state of the nation to loss of family values, he said, " family values are condemned, they are no longer observed, there is a lot of disintegration of relationships, breakdown of values and norms of the society.

“Our youths have been misled; many are now pursuing things that do not make for the peace of the land. So we need to retrospect and search for ourselves. Leaders are our product. They are my relatives and yours.So if we don't change ourselves, leaders will never change”. Adaramola, therefore charged church leaders to remind their congregants of these values, reminding that the church was meant to impact the world and not the other way round.

Weaving Tailored Narratives: Celebrating African Female Agency

Part of my mandate as a cultural storyteller involves identifying and disseminating the scaffolding of leadership. How women, in particular, set themselves apart in unique ways - and in doing so, become living legends who inspire.

Through my work, I’ve spent extensive time studying African culture, and examining, amongst other things, the methodology of agency. My adventures begin, typically, with deep dives into African heritage, culture and history - and thenceforth identifying how women carve out seats at metaphorical tables. The question I put forth, though, isn’t about the table but about the seat itself. How do we feel, sitting in it? The honest truth is, no matter how hostile or welcoming the table, we need to decide - for ourselves - if that’s the specific table we want to sit at in the first place.

What is agency, precisely? Broadly defined, it’s having control over the choices set before oneself. Many women are conditioned to feel they lack this control, amongst the policing they face. They’re given to believe that their life charts have been carved in stone from birth, and will follow a narrow set of choices before arriving at a foregone conclusion. It impacts their perception of freedom and autonomy, as well.

To illustrate this: looking at most women in today’s African society, we’re often sold on some idea of what “having it all” entails. There are different narratives describing what this utopian womanhood looks like. This narrative, however, isn’t very inclusive - and, as such, can be problematic for women who deviate from that idealised

form of womanhood.

This year’s IWD theme, “Inspire Inclusion” aligns strongly with my views on the matter. Irrespective of gender, how do we invest in women so they’re able to see multitudes in their potential? If societies can embrace the fact that being a stay-at-home-mother is just as legitimate as a corporate baddie, then those societies will be better off in the long run.

Part of my desire to carry out my cultural study was to be able to articulate this nuance via intersectional senses and disciplines. Groundbreaking in its own right, I was able to demonstrate, through multiple artistic means, the myriad ways that women impact society. This differs amongst countries, states, towns and communities - as well as from person to person. The beauty in this, is appreciating the individuality in womanhood, as opposed to painting women with broad strokes.

African womanhood, it can be argued, stands parallel to the perception of the African continent. In studying several African societies, the emergent focal narrative often revolves around Africa being viewed as a monolithic identity, or around trying to prove that we’re not monolithic. We get caught up in arguing with others about elements of our culture, and showing off enormous mansions in order to prove we don’t live in mud huts next door to lions. As a cultural and corporate storyteller who (among other activities) coaches and designs masterclasses on forming narratives - during story development, it’s important to ensure that whatever you’re doing either deepens your understanding of a particular situation, or moves the plot forward. Thus, the best way we

can advance the African agenda is by forging ahead with the things that need doing, and leaving off the rest. Eventually the rest of the world will adapt. IWD always provides a chance for reflection. We see where African female agency can succeed because we give it the opportunity to do so - by giving it enough space to carve out its own identity - in other words, design the throne upon which it wants to sit, and ensure its comfort. For ethnographers like myself, IWD provides an opportunity for further study and reflection. What the Margaret Ekpo from Calabar did in 1920s Abia has relevance in 2024 Osun, for example. Similarly, charting Buchi Emecheta’s journey from Ibusa to London might be helpful to a girl who finds her resilience tested by her circumstances. A destitute teen seeking to change her circumstances might draw some inspiration from the first female monarch of Enugu-Ezike during colonial Nigeria; and, within all the examples existing, may find that she sees something of herself in one, or each of these women. The point is, leadership and womanhood are not one-size-fits-all, nor should they be treated as such. Every woman can be her own version of heroic, and not feel she’s forced to emulate anyone towards whom she feels no alignment. That way, she’s valued for who she is, rather than who others think she should be. The fact that she doesn’t fit inside a box, becomes her strength. The theme my exhibition addressed, centred around the ways women can be strong within, or alongside, our

softness. Historically, women have been seen as ornamental and decorative, or hard and anti-feminine. Yet in reality, there is no dichotomy. A corporate leader doesn’t have to fit the context of a woman in a man’s world; she’s a woman in her world.

With this shift in perspective, we advance our strengths and attributes to the forefront, instead of burying them. That way we expand the concept of what is ideal, instead of fighting so hard to challenge it.

Extensive study shows that, fundamentally, we’ve been conditioned to look at African women’s behavioural patterns from a Westernised point-of-view; thus, we benchmark how an African woman greets her husband and find it lacking, because it doesn’t match how it’s done abroad. What happens when we take off the West-coloured lens and tailor our gaze to the African narrative? After all, we don’t wear winter coats during summer. As a (revised) proverb goes: if you judge a fish on its ability to fly, then you’ve failed the assignment.

•Efua Oyofo is a cultural storyteller, writer, researcher, and inter-disciplinary artist, deeply engaged with deconstructing diverse cultural contexts. Her creative practice involves amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, advocating for the variegated richness of humanity inherent within African culture.

Her most recent storytelling installation, udamalore (Nigeria, 2022) confronts legacies around African female agency, fostering a deeper understanding of African culture from an owned-perspective. udamalore provides a platform for exploring African oral storytelling, symbolism, heritage, fashion, textiles, and stories.

L-R: Pastor Akin Adefuye, Pastor Mrs Emily Ola- Ojo, immediate past General Overseer, Jesus is Light Ministries; Pastors Knowledge Akataka and Elozie Nwani

Efua Oyofo

RATES AS AT Ap R il 10,2024

Stories by Emma Okonji

Microsoft, a global technology company has predicted a faster and more profound progress in nearly every field of human endeavour, following the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that is increasingly in the hands of African innovators.

The software giant however said for Africa to meet the opportunity and truly democratise AI, much work must be done around accelerating access to internet connectivity and growing digital literacy, which has been the central focus of Microsoft’s investments in the continent over the past 30 years.

Government Affairs Director, Microsoft Africa, Akua Gyekye, said this during the second session

Number Resource Society (NRS), a global non-profit membership organisation that campaigns, empowers and supports global businesses to own the fundamental elements of their Internet Protocol (IP) business, is advocating for an active participation of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria at the forthcoming meeting and election of the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), which is the regional Internet registry for Africa with headquarters in Ebene, Mauritius.

The need to create the awareness for Nigerian ISPs to participate in

of the virtual Africa AI Journalist Academy, organised by Microsoft recently.

In his presentation, Gyekye highlighted five governance strategies that could help accelerate the AI opportunity in Africa, to include: Building upon new government-led AI safety frameworks; Safety brakes for AI systems that control critical infrastructure; Developing broader legal and regulatory framework for AI; Ensure academic and public access to AI; and Pursue new public-private partnerships to use AI as an effective tool to address the inevitable societal challenges that come with new technology.

On the first strategy about implementing and building upon new government-led AI safety frameworks, Gyekye said: “When

AFRINIC activities became necessary, following their non-participation in previous meetings, where crucial decisions were taken concerning African internet governance, especially the distribution and management of internet number resource like IP address space.

The advocacy was made at a recent seminar in Lagos with the theme: “Advocating For A Global Unlimited, Free, Accountable and Accessible Internet For All,” which NRS organised for its members and other ISPs in Nigeria. The seminar, which was well-attended by its corporate

it comes to using AI safely, one of the most effective ways to accelerate progress is to build on existing governmental frameworks. Several African countries have already begun to formulate their own legal and policy frameworks and are helping to lead discussions around AI policy and strategy development on a regional, continental, and global scale, offering valuable insights for other countries looking to do the same.”

According to him, the African Union (AU) continues to convene experts from across the continent and this year published a policy draft containing a comprehensive continental strategy for AI regulations for African countries.

On the strategy about safety brakes for AI systems that control

and individual members was centered around topics such as Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Customer Experience/Retention and Internet Governance.

Speaking to Journalists on the sideline during the seminar, Relationship Manager at NRS, Mr. Williams Adebayo, said the call for Nigerian ISPs to participate actively at the next AFRINIC meeting and election became necessary since Nigeria as a country is a key player in the industry and has the highest number of ISPs registered with AFRINIC.

He however said Nigeria has

critical infrastructure, Gyekye explained that while most potential AI scenarios would not pose significant risks, it’s going to be increasingly important to identify those high-risk situations that would require ‘safety brakes’. This, he stated, is particularly relevant when it comes to systems that manage or control critical infrastructure such as electricity grids, water systems, traffic systems or emergency responses.

He added that the brakes will ensure systems can be quickly controlled or stopped by humans if necessary.

On the strategy to develop a broader legal and regulatory framework based on the technology architecture for AI, Gyekye said: “To address AI’s legal and regulatory challenges,

never shown enthusiasm towards internet governance, which controls their internet businesses, because their ISPs do not participate at AFRINIC meetings.

“Nigerians have this nonchalant attitude of not participating. They do not vote. For them, it is not their business and concern. Meanwhile, it is AFRINIC that controls the IP of their business. So why don’t you have a voice in the body that controls you, even when the positions are open or every member?” Adebayo asked rhetorically.

He disclosed that NRS remained

a framework mirroring AI’s technology architecture is needed, focusing on the three layers of the tech stack, with different obligations for the level of applications and the layers beneath, which are the AI foundational models and the infrastructure. The law will also need to place various regulatory responsibilities upon different actors based upon their role in managing the different aspects of the AI technology. Laws should apply existing protections to AI applications, ensuring safety and rights without necessitating new regulations, as current laws can often be adapted.”

He also emphasised the need to promote transparency and ensure academic and public access to AI.

According to him, a key aspect of

willing to support and encourage resource members to actively participate in AFRINIC elections and ensure that their votes count so that their voices can be heard and interests made known.

He also explained that being part of the continental body would help to enlighten the people about the relevance of being part of internet governance.

Asked if NRS intends to sponsor a Nigerian to contest for a position at the next AFRINIC election, Adebayo said contesting for a position would not be the most important push for now, but the

AI policy that will require serious discussion in the coming months and years is the balance and tension between security and transparency.

He said transparency reports could play an important role in driving corporate accountability and empowering the public to understand AI systems, including where and how they are being used.

Speaking about the strategy to pursue new public-private partnerships to use AI as an effective tool to address the inevitable societal challenges that come with new technology, Gyekye said AI remained a powerful tool with immense potential for good.

desire to be able to participate in the activities of AFRINIC and be able to vote and be heard.

“We are not particular about contesting for positions, not our main aim. We aim to ensure that people vote for their nominated candidates. So NRS, which is made up of resource members and Internet Service Providers, agrees with the member’s candidates and gives the necessary support. We believe in the people’s representations,” he stressed.

Ugo Aliogo examines the environmental impact of gas flaring in Nigeria

Gas flaring is the burning of natural gas and petroleum hydrocarbons in flare stacks by upstream oil companies in oil fields during operations. Gas flaring usually led to ozone layer depletion, climate change, global warming, acid rain and rise sea level. It impacts the climate and environment negatively. It contributes to global warming by releasing CO2. It also causes acid rain, which affects the productivity of soil for agriculture, is also caused by gas flaring.

The World Bank reported that gas flaring costs the global economy $20 billion in 2018, while in Nigeria, Pricewater Cooper (PwC) estimates that the Nigerian economy lost N233 billion ($761.6 million) to gas flaring, which translates to 3.8 per cent of the global total cost in 2018.

The percentage of gas flared in Nigeria has been reducing since 2002 and stood at 10 per cent in 2018. The country still ranks in the top 10 gas flaring countries in the world, with 7.4 billion cubic feet in 2018. Total gas flared in Nigeria accounted for 6.9 percent of the top 10 gas glaring countries in 2018.

Nigeria is the number one gas flarer in SubSaharan Africa and has consistently been among the top seven flarers globally for the past decade, only behind Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United States, Algeria and Venezuela. These countries produce 40 per cent of the world’s oil each year, but account for roughly two-thirds of global gas flaring.

The World Bank in another report stated that Nigeria is one of the top seven gas-flaring countries. It is estimated that around 2 million people in the country live less than 4 km away from a flare site.

The report revealed that most of the focus on the impact of flaring has been on the economic impacts. Likely harm to human health, which can be long-lasting, has largely been ignored. Available health evidence is limited to small case studies examining the impact of flaring in a few communities around flaring sites. The lack of evidence is not surprising because identifying the comprehensive health impacts of flaring requires detailed data on air quality, flaring volumes, and health records, which are often unavailable or unreliable in developing country context.

Report said: “In our recent paper, we bridge this gap by linking data on gas flaring locations

and volumes from satellite observations with child health data from Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) to examine the impact of flaring. The satellite observations come from the VIIRS Nightfire aboard the Suomi satellite launched in 2012. Its sensors can detect heat emitted by gas flares at excellent spatial resolution by collecting shortwave and near-infrared data at night.

“Information collected has been used to identify flaring spots and estimate global gas flaring levels. The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and the Nigerian Ministry of Environment have collaborated to make the geographic coordinates of each flaring point in Nigeria as well as monthly estimates of the flare volume from each location publicly available.

“We calculated the risk of exposure to flaring for each DHS cluster as the inverse distance (to each DHS cluster) weighted average of flare volumes from each flare site. This approach allows us to consider the different volumes of gas flared in each location and to account for the potential effect of offshore flaring in an equivalent way to onshore flaring.”

The gas flare tracker of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), from January 2013 to December 2021, the country flared 3.4 billion standard cubic feet (Mscf) valued at $12.0 billion. That resulted in CO2 emissions of 182.3 million tonnes. Narrowing down to Ogba/

Egbema/Ndoni local government area where Obrikom is located, within the same period, 129.3 million Mscf was flared resulting in the emission of 6.9 million tonnes of CO2.

In areas with limited infrastructure, this gas is burned off either at the top of a large stack or from a pit in the ground, often with devastating effects on local communities.

In addition to the noise and light, flaring emits black carbon, methane and volatile organic compounds. Black carbon and methane are both powerful climate forcers are dangerous air pollutants. Black carbon is second only to carbon dioxide in terms of its impact on the climate.

ENdING GAS FlARING

Although, there have been several calls on the government to end the harmful practice over the years, but none of the calls have obliged authorities to act decisively. The best it has done has been to announce new policies and dates to end the flaring but still, no concrete actions have been taken. For instance, Nigeria announced it would end the practice in 2009 but failed. Again, it set a 2012 target but missed it too.

The Programme Manager and Head of the Niger Delta Resource Center, ERA/FoEN, Alagoa Morris, averred that gas flaring is an illegal act perpetrated by the Oil companies and hence, the introduction of payment of fines from defaulting oil companies.

He also stated that the making payment of

fines for gas flaring as a related crime is in itself not just ridiculous, but portrays the fine collector as a rent seeker at the expense of the general safety and good of the people.

He added: “For once, government should take the issue of gas flaring seriously and put an end to the resource wastage and pollution of the environment. Stakeholders should not relent, but tighten the pressure to ensure routine flaring of gas becomes history.”

Nigeria is now targeting 2025 to end gas flaring as the government has missed deadlines to end it on several occasions since 1979. Each time Nigeria misses a deadline, it causes harm to those living in the vicinity of the gas flares.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), a government-run satellite tracker, said that 1.8 billion standard cubic feet (scf) per day of gas was flared in the last nine years. Flaring that attracted about $3.6 billion in penalties, little of which were paid.

The volume has generated 95.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The flared gas is valued at $6.3 billion and it could generate 179.9 thousand GWh, according to data from NOSDRA. In 2020 alone, natural gas valued at $1.24 billion was burned by oil companies, one which could generate the annual electricity use of 804 million Nigerian citizens, the tracker shows.

ImpAct oF GAS FlARING

Gas flaring poses damage to human health, therefore there is a need to implement measures to reduce or end gas flaring to protect the health of communities living near flaring sites.

Study reveal that the flares associated with gas flaring give rise to atmospheric contaminants. These include oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon and Sulphur (NO2, CO2, CO, SO2), particulate matter, hydrocarbons and ash, photochemical oxidants, and hydrogen sulphide (H2S). These contaminants acidify the soil, hence depleting soil nutrient. Previous studies have shown that the nutritional value of crops within such vicinity are reduced. In some cases, there is no vegetation in the areas surrounding the flare due partly to the tremendous heat that is produced and acid nature of soil pH.

Nigeria’s Ad Industry on Upward Swing Environmental Impact of Gas Flaring

Raheem Akingbolu writes on the growth trajectory of Nigeria’s marketing communications industry

The 2024 ACT Good Report, which marks the 10th anniversary of the global ranking, has again affirmed that Nigeria’s creative industry has joined the international league in the creative sector. Until a few years ago when the trio of X3M Ideas, DDB and Noah’s Ark started clinching trophies at international awards competitions, competing and winning on the global stage was a hard nut to crack. In recent times, Nigeria’s agencies and their founders have featured prominently at the Cannes Lions International Festival, Loeries Creative Week, Luerzers Archive and African Cristal Advertising Festival.

In the ACT Good Report ranking released this week, “Motherhood Sentence” a campaign from the stable of Steve Babaeko-led X3M Ideas secured the 38th place in the best 40 ranked campaigns selected from over 1,250 campaigns reviewed by the editorial team of the ranking institution. The report also indicated that X3M Ideas achieved the 12th place among the best 25 agencies in the world. The ACT Good Report also reviewed and ranked the 20 most successful networks, and the 10 most successful brands promoting Sustainability in the world.

REpoRt/RANkING pRocESS

ACT Good Report is a unique ranking showcasing the world’s most impactful use of creative communications to promote sustainability and social responsibility and raise awareness of significant social and environmental issues. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the report.

The Good Report is compiled by Act Responsible, the international non-profit association and largest source of the world’s best social and environmental campaigns, in collaboration with WARC, the global marketing insights company, and publisher of the WARC Ranking.

The ranking is calculated by combining the

performance of campaigns across various initiatives of ACT Responsible Program (such as the ACT Exhibition, the ACT Care Awards, One Minute of Responsibility, The ACT Tributes …), with the results of the recently published WARC Creative 100, the global benchmark for creative excellence. There are no complicated criteria or categories, just great work for Good.

In the report under review, a total of 1,250 campaigns produced by 804 agencies for 995 advertisers (non-profit, public sector, and commercial brands) across 76 markets were evaluated.

FActS ANd FIGURES

Of the best 40 campaigns featured in ACT Good Report 2024, 22 are for non-profits, 18 for commercial brands (including one produced in collaboration with a non-profit) and three for public sectors. A total of 37 agencies (20 are part of 15 networks and 7 are independent) across 18 markets are represented. The best 25 agencies are made up of four independent and 21 networked agencies (from 11 different networks)

covering a total of 12 markets. Of the best 20 networks, three are independent and 17 are owned by holding companies. The best ten brands include six non-profit, four for-profit. However, the highest ranked campaign, ‘The Last Photo’ for mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) by adam & eve DDB London, launched Project 84 in the UK, a landmark suicide prevention initiative that turned the final photographs of 50 victims into striking portraits, to raise suicide awareness and lessen its stigma. With the tagline, Best campaigns, agencies, and advertisers promoting Good, the organisers stated in their mission statement that they believe that, “Advertising has a major responsibility in educating and raising awareness, and we are proud to celebrate the campaigns that best fulfill this role. These campaigns allow important messages and values to reach larger sections of the public, and therefore deserve to be celebrated, which is why we created The Good Report.”

In the words of ACT Responsible Co-

founder, Isa Kurata, with the Good Report, ACT Responsible pursues its mission to promote, inspire and unite the advertising industry around social responsibility and sustainability.

He said: “We truly believe that advertising has the power to educate, inform, and enact positive change. It must consistently serve as a catalyst for good and constructive influence. Collaborating with WARC to produce the ACT Good Report is an honour, and we see it as a valuable resource for agencies to enhance their dedication to social and environmental efforts.”

Corroborating the position of Kurata, the Head of Content, WARC Creative and ACT’ive Partner, Amy Rogers, added: “Creativity as a force for positive change has never been more important. WARC is delighted to collaborate with Act Responsible to continue shining a light on the agencies, brands and NGOs that are creating breakthrough ideas that not only matter to society but can change behaviour.”

While congratulating the management of the X3M Ideas agency on its outstanding performance in this year’s report, the organisers stated that the agency’s campaign ‘Motherhood Sentence’ captures the essence of the report and aligns with social reality.

In his reaction to the global feat, the Chief Executive Officer, X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, commended his team for putting up a very strong work that could compete favourably at national, continental and global markets.

“We have done this consistently for about 12 years and we do not intend to rest on our laurels. I also thank our clients for always supporting and challenging us to do our best work. Of course, our team also owes the international publication huge commendation for its diligence to encourage excellent works,” he said.

FG, Coderina Sign MoU to Empower Youth Innovation

Stories By Emma Okonji

Coderina Education and Technology Foundation (Coderina), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FCT Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, marking a significant milestone in its mission to leverage technology as an enabler for inclusivity and empowerment.

and other emerging technologies.

The collaboration aims to consolidate efforts to empower youth in the FCT area and continue to innovate in the fields of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, 3D and Additive manufacturing,

In a bid to deepen its impacts on the policy landscape and make innovation more entrenched in Nigeria, FintechNGR has partnered the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to develop a Fintech Adoption Roadmap Policy for the Insurance Sector.

In 2019, FintechNGR collaborated with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to develop The Fintech Adoption Roadmap Policy in the Capital Market.

Similarly, FintechNGR is partnering with Galaxy Backbone, an agency of the federal government in charge of Satellite, Cloud and ICT management to develop a Nigerian Domestic Cloud initiative that will domesticate cloud businesses in Nigeria. The inauguration of the Insurance Roadmap Committee by the Insurance Commissioner, Mr. Sunday Thomas, is a significant step towards driving digital transformation in the

Speaking about the collaboration, Chairman of Coderina Board of Trustees, Femi Niyi, said: “The collaboration reinforces the importance of partnerships between the public sector and the third sector. By working together, we can leverage our respective strengths and resources to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people in the FCT area and beyond.”

Coderina has demonstrated its dedication to supporting youth empowerment and fostering technological advancement.

According to Niyi, “Coderina is committed to driving innovation and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders. Through our initiatives,

NAICOM, FintechNGR Partner on Insurance Policy Project

insurance sector.

According to Thomas, “the policy will further help the sector to leverage technology to enhance transparency, speed, and efficiency in insurance services, ultimately making insurance more accessible and affordable in the overall interest of driving financial inclusion.”

Vice President of FintechNGR, Dr. Stanley Jacob, said: “The policy will drive digital presence, and aid insurance penetration.” His comments highlight the

potential impact of the policy in expanding market opportunities and increasing the accessibility of insurance services.

In addition, the Galaxy Backbone initiative would promote indigenous cloud services, develop cloud adoption frameworks, and make cloud infrastructure available to startups and Nigerians at affordable rates. FintechNGR also has collaborations with other cloud providers such as AWS, Huawei and Rack Center.

UNN SUG Appoints CEO of S Mobile as Patron

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of S Mobile Group, Mr. Kingsley Adonu, has been appointed as patron of Students Union Government (SUG), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), by the SUG Council.

In a letter dated March 29, 2024 and signed by the SUG President, Comrade Enoch Utazi, the students said Adonu’s appointment was in the interest of the student union government following his antecedents in youth and student constituency both within the University of Nigeria

Nsukka and outside the institution.

“It is out of nostalgia and heart full of gratitude that we unanimously appoint you (Kingsley Adonu) as the Patron of the Students Union Government. We believe that this appointment would open more doors for the UNN students,” Utazi said in the letter.

Accepting the appointment, Adonu thanked the student body for the honour and pledged continued support to the SUG and youth in the community. He said: “I am delighted by

this honour you have done me by making me your patron. Truly, the youth is the beacon of hope of the society and that is the reason I leverage every opportunity I have to champion the course for the digital skills development of our young ones.

“Today, there is no course of study in school that does not have an element of technology influencing it. For this reason, S Mobile Tech Hub was instituted to re-equip our youth with hands-on

skills needed in today’s workplace and entrepreneurship. Very soon, you will see the hub established in Nsukka area as a complement to the university’s management effort to equip our youth for today and tomorrow’s success”.

“Also, our youth must avoid any form of social vices because only the living can utilise opportunities in their domain to better their worth. Again, remember that the society is waiting to celebrate your innovation.”

“We invite individuals and organizations who share our vision to support our efforts and walk with us on this journey. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create a brighter future for our youth.”

Director at FCT Science and Innovation, Dr. Olobashola

Kolawole, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey with Coderina. We believe that technology has the power to transform lives and bridge gaps. Through this partnership, we will work together to empower young entrepreneurs, democratise access to knowledge, and drive innovation in emerging technologies.”

PalmPay to Reward Users with Smartphones

In celebration of Eid al-Fitr, PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading fintech platform, will be giving out 105 smartphones comprising of iPhone 15 Pro and Infinix Note 40 to its users. The smartphone bonanza is running from April 10 until April 30, 2024. Each day, five lucky winners will emerge to win one iPhone 15 Pro and four Infinix Note 40 smartphones.

Commenting, Head of Marketing Communications, PalmPay, Enakeno Umuteme, said: “This bonanza is aimed at rewarding Nigerians, including our Muslim users, with iPhone 15 Pro and Infinix Note 40 smartphones during the Eid al-Fitr. It gives us joy to join our Muslim customers in the celebration of the end of Ramadan with the Eid al-Fitr promo as a token of our appreciation to every PalmPay user.” Each user can only win once. A PalmPay user is viewed as the same if they have the same PalmPay

account, mobile phone number, mobile phone device, and identity authentication information such as a valid ID card, NIN, or BVN.

During the bonanza, lucky winners will be contacted to visit a designated PalmPay offline office to redeem their prizes.

PalmPay is a leading Africafocused fintech platform, says it is committed to driving economic empowerment in Africa. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay brings top-tier products into the pockets of everyday Nigerians. With this, we are able to drive financial inclusion.

PalmPay offers money transfers, bill payments, credit services, and savings on its app and via its mobile money agents. Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 30 million app users as part of its cashless payment ecosystem.

PERSPECTIVE

Operation Delta Sanity: How Nigerian Navy is Scaling Up Fight Against Oil Theft

Babajide Fadoju

Four months after Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla assumed office as Nigeria’s 22nd Indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff, Nigeria recorded its highest oil production in almost two years.

Subsequent data from Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that the country’s crude oil production rose from 1.08 million barrels per day in July 2023 to an average of 1.38 million barrels per day in January and February 2024, representing a 300,000 bpd increase.

Additionally, official figures show that Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export cargoes have increased from an average of 16 per month in 2023, to 21 monthly in the first quarter of 2024.

These rising metrics offer incontrovertible proof of the seriousness with which the Naval Chief has approached the debilitating fight against the criminality that deprives Nigeria of much-needed oil and gas revenues. In his words, they are “a testament to the positive outcome of the renewed drive by the Nigerian navy towards ensuring that oil contributes optimally to national development.”

At the start of 2024, precisely on January 6, Ogalla launched Operation Delta Sanity (OpDS), an anti-crude oil theft (COT) and anti-economic sabotage operation in the Niger Delta, with several vessels and hundreds of Naval personnel deployed on aggressive surveillance and patrols.

In the last three months, Operation Delta Sanity has recorded remarkable successes, putting oil thieves and vandals on the defensive across various parts of the Niger Delta, from Bayelsa to Ondo to Rivers to Akwa Ibom States, and beyond, with the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of discovered sites, and arrest of suspects.

Since inception, Operation Delta Sanity has recovered over 62,000 barrels of crude oil, as well as close to 1 million litres of illegally-refined diesel, petrol and kerosene; valued in total at almost N10 billion.

Successes recorded in the second half of March 2024 include the discovery, by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH of 2 illegal refining sites, sacks, drums, hoses, pipes, two ovens, eight reservoirs containing about 53,900 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, a fibre boat containing about 1,550 litres of suspected illegally-refined diesel and 250 litres of illegally-refined kerosene.

Between March 19 and 23, a patrol team from Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER discovered and dismantled three illegal refining sites, 21 Ovens, five dugout pits, 12 reservoirs, four fibre boats and one wooden boat containing about 33,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. A week later, NNS PATHFINDER seized 2 fibre boats containing

about 3,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, around Alakiri to Isaka Axis, in Rivers State.

In Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom State, a patrol team from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA intercepted a wooden boat containing about 15,500 litres of suspected stolen petrol, stored in drums, and arrested one suspect. Also in Akwa Ibom, Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE working with 2 Brigade intercepted 3 trucks containing illegally-refined diesel.

On March 31, 2024, Forward Operating Base BONNY discovered and dismantled two illegal refining sites containing about 5,000 litres of illegally refined diesel and 10,000 litres of stolen crude oil at Cawthorne Channel and Ke General Area, in Rivers State.

On the first of April, 2024, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS discovered and deactivated a newly-laid hose that stretched 3km towards a Chevron Nigeria Limited pipeline at Ajudaiboo Community, Warri, Delta State. Investigations are ongoing to unravel the culprits behind the laying of the hose. That same day, at Agogboro Community, Warri Southwest, an illegal refining site with about 3,000 litres of stolen crude oil was discovered and deactivated. These are just a handful of the most recent successes. No week has gone by this year without the Nigerian Navy reporting a major breakthrough in this fight against maritime criminality – and it is heart-warming to see attention being paid from various critical quarters.

Speaking in February 2024, at a Regimental Dinner

organised by the Nigerian Navy in honour of its retired senior officers, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said, of the Navy: “The numerous arrests of ships and individuals involved in illegal bunkering, destruction of illegal refining sites, smuggled goods and narcotics as well as the increase in oil production in Nigeria, attest to the tireless efforts of the Navy in combatting the nefarious activities undermining Nigeria’s economy.”

He added: “The nation looks up to you and expects nothing short of professionalism which you have exhibited thus far. Be assured that the National Assembly will support you with all the processes needed to succeed.”

With this kind of support guaranteed, little wonder that the Vice Admiral is boldly pressing ahead with the scaling-up of the fleet renewal programme he inherited from his predecessor.

Speaking recently, the Naval Chief disclosed: “We have categorised the fleet renewal under short, medium, and long-term plans,” adding, “The objective of the fleet renewal policy is to develop a system capable of sustaining effective and round-the-clock presence in the Exclusive Economic Zone.”

The Naval Shipyard is currently constructing 20 houseboats for brown-water operations, while the Naval Dockyard Limited is pressing ahead with the construction of the Navy’s latest Seaward Defence Boats (SDBs). The Navy is also awaiting the delivery, this year, of two high-endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels from Dearsan Shipyard of Turkey.

Additionally, in the next few weeks, the Nigerian Navy is scheduled to launch three new Fast Patrol Boats (FPBs), from China. These FPBs will inject new momentum into the policing role of the Navy within Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone and the wider Gulf of Guinea.

A few months ago, 14 gunboats donated by Akwa Ibom State Government were inducted into service. The Naval Chief has made it a priority to deepen relationships with state governments, and build the required synergy for mutual benefit.

The fight against oil theft and other forms of criminality is being waged not just in the water, but from the air as well, with cutting-edge technology. In recent months, the Nigerian Navy has taken delivery of 12 new Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), that will take the fight against oil theft to the next level. Three combat helicopters have also been ordered for the Naval Aviation unit, and are awaiting delivery.

Prior to the launch of Operation DELTA SANITY, the closing months of 2023 were very busy for the Nigerian Navy, with the flagging-off of a number of high-profile maritime exercises, including Exercise CROCODILE LIFT, Exercise GRAND AFRICAN NEMO 2023, Joint Exercise SEA GUARDIAN 2023, and Exercise NCHEKWA OSHIMIRI – all of which recorded impressive successes.

Alongside these exercises, the Navy hosted several visiting warships from foreign Navies – French Navy

Ship MISTRAL; Royal Navy Ship HMS TRENT; Brazilian Navy Ship BNS LIBERAL; Indian Navy Ship SUMEDHA; and the Chinese Navy Escort Task Group, ETG 162 – a demonstration of renewed vigour towards the deepening of bilateral military relations, and mutual assistance, with these countries. More recently, on April 2, a Spanish Navy Ship, SNS BAM FUROR, arrived Lagos on a port call; the second Spanish Navy Ship to visit Nigeria in the last six months.

March 2024 marked two years since Nigeria’s delisting from the global list of piracy-prone countries, by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). Vice Admiral Ogalla remains unflagging in his determination to maintain that record, and to set new ones.

In a March 2024 commendation letter from the Global Marine Community to the immediatepast Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the significant security improvements in Nigeria’s maritime environment were acknowledged. It is worth noting that the special security assets acquired by NIMASA for its Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (Deep Blue project) are being operated by the Nigerian Navy.

Recently, President Bola Tinubu rolled out a new and ambitious vision for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, encapsulated in a series of presidential directives: fiscal incentives to attract billions of dollars in new investments, reduce operating costs by as much as 40 per cent, and shorten contracting cycles by from 38 months to less than 6 months, in line with global best practice.

All of these reforms will require the underpinning of security, and Vice Admiral Ogalla is fully committed to leading a Naval Force that guarantees the enabling conditions in this regard.

In addition to this, there is the President’s blue economy agenda, which necessitated the landmark creation, in August 2023, of a Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. The Nigerian Navy, fully cognisant of the critical role it plays in enabling the nation’s maritime economy through security, partnered with NIMASA in November 2023 to set up a Joint Committee on Blue Economy.

At the end of May, the Navy will further demonstrate its commitment when it convenes the fifth Edition of the International Maritime Conference / Regional Maritime Exercise (INCREMEX) 2024, in Lagos, with the theme: “Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security.”

It will offer yet another opportunity for Africa’s leading Naval Force to showcase, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ogalla, its domination of Nigeria’s maritime environment, through such impactful interventions as Operation DELTA SANITY, among others, in line with its constitutional mandate.

•Babajide Fadoju, a former Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor, writes from Ibadan

Tech for Good: How Digital Tools Can Uplift Lives in Nigeria

By Emmanuel Uzo Obi

Imagine a Nigeria where…

•You can access a doctor remotely for a quick consultation, thanks to a telehealth app.

•Help arrives within minutes during an emergency, thanks to a well-coordinated response system using real-time data.

•You can easily pay bills and access government services from your phone, eliminating long queues and frustration.

•When you are sick, you can visit any healthcare facility, present your medical aid card, and get treatment without a demand for payment. Thanks to a real poverty alleviation program.

This future is closer than you think, thanks to the power of digital technology. While advanced countries are already reaping the benefits of these advancements, governments in Nigeria can leverage the same tools to significantly improve the lives of their citizens. Afterall, the banking system is already utilizing this technology to make banking a little better. Although there are long queues, over-crowding in banking halls and long lines at ATM machines, bank management can take immediate steps to mitigate these abnormal occurrences. Displaying live current wait times for bank branches online could help customers make

informed decisions about when and what bank branch to visit, potentially choosing off-peak hours and can help spread out customer visits evenly throughout the day or week. This will obviously help customers to better plan their day. Banks can also, through capacity building, expand the physical capacity of banking halls, open more branches in high demand areas and increase staffing during peak hours to help manage customer volume more effectively. Let’s explore how tech can be a game-changer in key areas. Every second counts in an emergency. By establishing wellequipped Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) staffed by trained personnel, emergency calls can be routed efficiently to the appropriate service – police, fire department, or ambulance. Imagine dialing a single number and reaching a trained professional who can pinpoint your location using advanced GPS technology, even if you are unable to speak. PSAPs are the nerve center of emergency response, ensuring timely assistance when it matters most. Developed countries like the United States have a well-established network of PSAPs that utilize advanced call routing and location tracking technologies. Our nearby neighbor Ghana already has something similar. Nigeria can invest in establishing similar infrastructure and training

emergency response personnel to effectively manage emergency situations. Imagine a system that can pinpoint your location through your smartphone and dispatch help immediately, whether it is for a medical emergency, fire, or a car accident. Technology is playing a crucial role in streamlining emergency response, potentially saving lives. Additionally, wearable health monitors can automatically detect falls or other health emergencies and send alerts to emergency services, ensuring help arrives quickly for those who need it most.

Crime prevention and solving cases become more efficient with technology. Database-driven motor vehicle registration, like systems in developed countries, can track stolen vehicles and unlicensed drivers. Here in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) registers all motor vehicles in Nigeria and issues driver licenses to all qualified drivers. With this in place, digital tools can be a big asset for law enforcement during traffic stops in a couple of ways, instant background checks and automated license plate readers(ALPR). Through instant background checks, officers can use mobile databases to run a driver’s license and registration in real-time. This can reveal outstanding warrants, stolen vehicles, or suspended licenses, potentially leading to the discovery of

more serious crimes. For example, the officer could decide to open the boot of the vehicle and perhaps make other discoveries…one thing leads to another. The ALPR systems can scan license plates as patrol cars drive by, flagging stolen vehicles or those associated with wanted individuals. This can help catch criminals before they even know they have been spotted. One day, during the early morning busy traffic in the city of Raleigh, I was pulled over by a Raleigh police officer on a motorbike. He requested my license and registration (papers in Nigerian parlance). I politely told the officer I did not have my driver license on my person, but I gave him the driver license number. He took down the number and went back to motorbike to use his laptop to check me out. My driver license number returned my clear picture and every other thing checked out. I received a citation for speeding over the speed limit and I had the option to appear in court or mail the fine to the court. Police officers do not collect fines or money. The vehicle information that the officer retrieved showed my vehicle registration was active as well as my vehicle insurance. If the information the officer retrieved had shown my vehicle insurance had lapsed, then the officer would have been duty bound to order my car parked by the roadside because only vehicles

with continuous liability insurance are allowed to be operated on the roads of North Carolina and there are no ifs or buts whatsoever. These digital tools are important because they give officers a wider picture of the situation during a routine traffic stop. CCTV cameras with facial recognition software, implemented ethically and with proper oversight, can deter crime and assist in investigations. Technology empowers law enforcement to be more proactive and efficient in keeping communities safe. For instance, Singapore’s extensive network of CCTV cameras and advanced crime analytics software have contributed significantly to its low crime rates. However, it is crucial to strike a balance between security and privacy. The Nigerian government can establish clear guidelines and robust oversight mechanisms to ensure these technologies are used responsibly and ethically.

Technology can make our homes more secure. Home security devices can act as lifelines in emergencies by connecting you to public safety agencies through two main methods, professional monitoring, and self-monitoring. With professional monitoring, security systems connect to a central monitoring station staffed 24/7. When a sensor (smoke detector, medical alert button, etc.) is triggered, the signal is sent to the station.

Here, trained professionals can attempt to contact you to verify the emergency and if you do not respond or confirm a false alarm, dispatch the appropriate emergency services (fire department, ambulance, police) directly. Sometimes, they might even contact emergency services immediately depending on the type of sensor triggered (e.g., smoke detector). Self-Monitoring on the other hand allows you to receive alerts directly on your smartphone or connect to local authorities yourself. While this does not involve a monitoring center, it can still provide a fast way to call for help.

By providing these options, home security devices function as a vital link between your home and emergency responders, potentially saving precious time during critical situations. The Nigerian government can incentivize the adoption of affordable smart home security solutions and promote digital literacy programs to educate citizens on how to leverage technology for home security. Additionally, the government must encourage the private sector to set up professional monitoring companies that can collaborate with public safety agencies.

Emmanuel Ogalla

Dangote’s Million-Bag Rice Relief: Spreading Joy, Alleviating Hardship

By Abiodun Alade

In a philanthropic endeavour of monumental scale, the Aliko Dangote Foundation has undertaken the distribution of one million bags of rice to vulnerable households across Nigeria. This initiative, aimed at alleviating food insecurity exacerbated by economic challenges, marks a significant milestone in the Foundation’s commitment to social welfare and community development.

The distribution of such a vast quantity of rice underscores the Foundation’s dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of those most in need. As the largest privatesector-led effort of its kind in Nigeria, this initiative reflects the vision and generosity of Africa’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, to uplift communities and foster resilience in times of adversity.

The impact of recent reforms by the government has been profound, particularly for vulnerable populations already grappling with poverty and economic instability. Access to basic necessities such as food has become increasingly challenging, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts to support those facing hardship.

During the flag off in Lagos, Dangote said the distribution of the 1m units of 10kg bags of rice, worth over N15billion, across the 774 local government areas of the Federation, is another demonstration of the foundation’s commitment to upholding the values of compassion and solidarity that are at the core of humanity.

The foremost industrialist noted that over the past 30 years, the Dangote family has strived to provide support and assistance during the holy month of Ramadan to those that need it the most.

“This of course is one of the tenets of our faith which emphasizes charity and encourages responsibility for the community.

“While our traditional Ramadan food distribution has been focused on the Muslim Community, we recognize that the current circumstances where a significant proportion of Nigerians across the nation are experiencing severe hardship due to the prevailing high prices of food, require that we broaden our program to cover communities of all faiths. This is why we are extending the Ramadan initiative to cover all the thirty-six states and the

Federal Capital Territory as a testament to our commitment to supporting our communities in line with our core values and the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan,” he said. He said the Foundation is guided by a vision of empowering Africans to achieve their self-actualization and full potential as it believes that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

“In times of hardship, it is imperative that we stand together as one nation, one community, extending a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in their time of need,” he said.

Through the distribution of one million bags of rice, the ADF aims to provide sustenance and relief to vulnerable households across the nation. By targeting communities in various states, including those in remote and underserved areas, the Foundation seeks to reach those who are often overlooked or marginalized in times of crisis.

The significance of this initiative extends beyond the provision of essential food supplies. It represents a beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians facing uncertainty, demonstrating that compassion and solidarity can prevail even in the most challenging of circumstances. By working collaboratively with local authorities, community leaders, and grassroots organizations, the Foundation ensures that assistance reaches those who need it most.

Attesting to the importance of the intervention, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, who applauded the many initiatives of Dangote to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, praised him for showing compassion to the needy in the society.

Sanwo-Olu said the gesture of distribution of rice shows that the leadership of the Foundation prioritize the welfare of the people beyond the pursuit of profit and accumulation of wealth.

“Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian who has chosen to be different. You have choices but you have made the right one which is caring for the vulnerable. I appreciate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for extending his kind gestures to the people at the bottom of the pyramid and we are grateful for supporting us in government. There is a lot of global disruption in different parts of the world, and it is a tough time to be in a position of leadership,” he said.

While encouraging other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Dangote, the governor said the distribution of the rice would support the initiative of the state in addressing the effects of the economic hardship.

He also applauded the support the state enjoyed from the Dangote Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanwo-Olu was re-echoing the words of his colleague from Kano, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had urged other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Dangote by supporting the government in the provision of palliative to cushion the

harsh economic condition in the country.

“I do not have enough words to express my heartfelt gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote on behalf of the good people of Kano State. “This is because the gesture he is offering today will undoubtedly alleviate the burden of many families facing economic hardship in our state. I urge all other wealthy individuals and businesses in our community to take heed of this noble example set by the Dangote Group and extend similar gestures of support to those in need in our dear state,” he had said when the food intervention programme was flagged off in Kano.

Recognising the significant number of individuals in dire need of assistance, Governor Yusuf emphasized that governmental efforts alone are insufficient to address these needs. This is the same sentiment shared by other governors and respected leaders in the country.

The Emir of Bauchi, Alh. Rilwanu Adamu, who acknowledged the challenges faced by families to provide basic needs, called on other philanthropists to emulate the gesture.

The Emir, who was represented by the District Head of Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru Jumba, during the flag off ceremony in Bauchi lauded Dangote for caring for the vulnerable.

Furthermore, the distribution of rice aligns with broader efforts to enhance food security and promote sustainable development as the rice and the packaging were locally sourced, creating jobs and providing incomes for many Nigerians. By addressing immediate needs while also investing in long-term solutions, the Aliko Dangote Foundation contributes to building more resilient communities capable of withstanding future challenges.

The scale and scope of this initiative underscore the transformative potential of private sector-led philanthropy in addressing societal issues and driving positive change. As a leading example of corporate social responsibility, the Aliko Dangote Foundation sets a precedent for other businesses and individuals to follow, inspiring a culture of giving and social impact.

In addition to providing immediate relief, the distribution of one million bags of rice serves as a testament to the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of the Nigerian people. It is a powerful reminder that, even in times of adversity, compassion and generosity have the power to unite us and propel us toward a brighter future.

•Abiodun writes from Lagos

Ikuru Flays Wike, Says Promise Breaker Wants Deal with Fubara Kept

A former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Tele Ikuru, has declared that the desire of former Governor Nyesom Wike to perpetually

dominate and control everything in the state formed the basis of his insistence that Governor Siminalayi Fubara must fulfil an agreement that is not in the interest of the people of the state.

He said that it was time for Wike, a “failed promise keeper” to let go of the past and allow Fubara the breathing space needed to move Rivers state forward.

Ikuru in a statement made avail-

able to THISDAY specifically said that it was surprising that the same Wike never kept nor honoured any political agreement he had with top politicians in Rivers State, including him (Ikuru).

One Dead, 8 Injured in Dosunmu Market Fire as Inferno Continues

Esther

oluku

One person has died and eight others have sustained injuries while fleeing from the inferno which razed 14 buildings in the Dosunmu market area of Lagos Island, Tuesday, THISDAY learnt yesterday.

But despite efforts by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), Lagos State Emergency and Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency and Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies at the accident scene, the fire was yet to be completely doused as of yesterday.

At about 2pm, dark clouds still

filled the air of the accident scene and pockets of fire still burned in sections of the affected buildings.

It was observed that officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who were present on site could not penetrate the collection of buildings as the integrity of the affected buildings had been considerably weakened from the heat which at the time of the report, had pulled down four buildings in the course of the accident.

Intimating journalists on develop- ments at the accident scene, the Controller General, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ms. Margaret Adeseye said that the only life lost was the direct victim of the explo-

sion, while medical care had been administered to injured victims.

Adeseye added that as part of response mechanisms, the service will set up fire marshals across buildings in Lagos Island to serve as preventive measures against subsequent reoccurrence.

“Right now, we have recorded eight casualties and one life lost. We want to put a fire marshal in all buildings in Lagos Island. The fire marshal is to represent Fire service there to ensure prevention of fire accidents.

“We are going to train the fire marshals on fire prevention and also put in place a whistle-blower that can easily inform the fire service

of anything that can result in a fire outbreak,” she said.

On his part, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Urban Development, Mr. Olajide Babatunde, while fielding questions from journalists said that as part of measures to respond to public concern on the accident and create awareness on safe practices, it would convene a stakeholders meetingBabatundetoday.said: “We had a discussion on site and we have reached a decision that there is going to be a stakeholders meeting on Thursday for which we are inviting everyone who is a stakeholder in this area and every stakeholder around Lagos.

He expressed wonder that Wike would now be holding on to an agreement that cannot be implemented by Fubara owing to the fact that it was a selfish deal.

He therefore tasked Wike to allow Fubara focus on the challenges of good governance and the aspirations of the people.

“He should spare Fubara these unwarranted and ill-conceived political manoeuvrings founded on personal agendas and not for general good of Rivers State and her people.

“In 2015, I made a conscious decision to invest my financial resources, my time, and energy into supporting Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial campaign. I poured my heart and soul into ensuring Wike emerged victorious even at the risk of my personal safety.

“Again in 2019, I doubled down on my commitment. I invested a significant amount of money to procure campaign outfits for all 23 Local Governments Areas of Rivers State.

“However, despite my unwavering loyalty and sacrifices, I found myself abandoned and forgotten by Wike. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he failed to acknowledge my contributions or fulfil his promises and agreements.

“Even as a former deputy governor, Wike denied me my severance benefit. My investment in Wike’s governorship was not just financial – it was a commitment of passion, dedication, and belief in a better future for Rivers State,” Ikuru stated.

Yet, he stated that Wike’s leadership style and rash abuse of senior citizens brought him nothing but disappointment, misery and losses.

“By the grace of God, today I speak not as a victim, but as a hero.

I have accepted my losses, and I have moved on. And as I reflect on my experience, I cannot help but urge Wike to do the same and allow peace and development to reign in Rivers State.

“I spared no expense in supplementing Wike’s election efforts in my own local government, and once again putting myself at great risk to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.

Chuks okocha in Abuja

HealtH & lifestyle

Medlab West Africa 2024: Fostering Collaboration, Showcasing

Cutting-edge Technologies, Careers of Laboratory Professionals

The West African Medical Laboratory Industry is poised for another exciting event this year, as Medlab West Africa, known for bringing together the region’s largest gathering of laboratory professionals, is set to hold from April 22 to 24, 2024 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. In this interview with Sunday Ehigiator , the Conference Director at Informa Markets, Rejoy Penacerrada, dives deeper into what attendees can expect at the Medlab West Africa 2024, exploring the event’s focus on fostering collaboration, showcasing cuttingedge technologies, and propelling the careers of laboratory professionals across West Africa

Medlab West Africa returns as the leading platform for the medical laboratory industry in West Africa. What sets this edition apart and what exciting developments can attendees anticipate?

We are thrilled to bring back Medlab West Africa as the premier platform for the medical laboratory industry in West Africa! This year’s edition is truly special for several reasons.

As the largest gathering of laboratory professionals in the region’s history, we are expecting over 3,500 attendees from across West Africa, alongside 150+ exhibitors representing 30+ countries. This will create an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

In addition, our focus on showcasing cutting-edge advancements in laboratory technology is stronger than ever.

Attendees can expect to explore the latest innovations across eight diverse product categories, giving them a glimpse into the future of medical diagnostics. But Medlab West Africa is much more than just an expo. We’re building a platform for shaping the entire future of West African medical laboratories.

So, if you’re looking to connect with colleagues, discover the latest technologies, and gain insights from the brightest minds in the field, Medlab West Africa 2024 is the event for you. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to be part of something truly transformative!

How does the partnership with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) influence the conference program, ensuring its relevance to local needs, and ultimately benefit laboratory professionals in Nigeria and across West Africa?

Our partnership with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) is crucial in shaping the Medlab West Africa Congress into a platform that directly addresses the needs of laboratory professionals in Nigeria and across the region.

MLSCN brings a wealth of knowledge about the specific challenges and opportunities faced by laboratory professionals in Nigeria.

They play a key role in advising on the conference program, ensuring it covers the most pressing issues relevant to the West African context, and regulations specific to Nigeria. By incorporating their insights, we can guarantee the content resonates with the daily realities of our attendees.

MLSCN also helps us strike a balance between addressing local needs and maintaining an international perspective. We can explore best practices from around the world while tailoring them to the specific resource constraints or disease burdens faced in West Africa.

This ensures attendees gain practical knowledge they can implement immediately in their labs, while also staying up-to-date on global advancements in the field.

Ultimately, by partnering with MLSCN, Medlab West Africa has become a conference that is truly ‘by and for’ laboratory professionals in Nigeria and West Africa. It will empower them with the knowledge and connections they need to excel in their field, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare delivery across the region.

As the largest annual gathering of laboratory professionals in West Africa, Medlab plays a crucial role in driving advancements in the field. Can you elaborate on how the conference specifically contributes to progress in medical laboratory science across the region?

Medlab West Africa isn’t just about bringing together the largest number of laboratory professionals in West Africa, it’s about creating a space where knowledge exchange and collaboration spark true progress.

The Congress offers a platform for renowned regional and international experts to share their cutting-edge research and best practices. This exposure to diverse perspectives and the latest advancements allows attendees to refine their skills and implement them back in their labs, thereby elevating the quality of medical laboratory services across the region.

Furthermore, the ultimate goal of Medlab

is to foster connections. By bringing together professionals from various institutions and countries, the conference facilitates valuable networking. These connections can lead to collaborations on research projects, sharing of resources, and the development of new, standardized approaches to diagnostics. This collaborative spirit is instrumental in driving innovation in medical laboratory science.

Finally, Medlab strongly emphasises continuing professional development (CPD) through its accredited conferences. These sessions equip attendees with the latest knowledge and techniques, ensuring they stay abreast of the rapidly evolving field.

This focus on ongoing education empowers them to provide more accurate diagnoses and contribute to better patient outcomes throughout West Africa.

Collaboration and knowledge exchange are vital for progress. How will the six distinct conference tracks facilitate interaction and sharing between experts, professionals, and researchers from diverse fields?

At Medlab West Africa, we understand that breakthroughs happen at the intersection of disciplines. That’s why our six distinct conference tracks; Clinical Microbiology & Parasitology,

Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Clinical Chemistry, Lab Management and Quality, Anatomical Pathology, and Molecular Diagnostics; are designed to foster a vibrant exchange of knowledge between a diverse range of laboratory professionals.

Each track will feature presentations and discussions led by renowned experts, but the true magic happens in between sessions.

By dedicating space for facilitated networking sessions and poster presentations, we create opportunities for attendees from various backgrounds to connect, share their experiences, and forge new collaborations.

Furthermore, our conference program is carefully curated to encourage cross-track attendance. We’ll be hosting panel discussions that bridge disciplines, allowing attendees to see the bigger picture and understand how their specific area of expertise fits into the broader medical laboratory ecosystem.

With attendees from across West Africa, how will Medlab West Africa cater to the diverse needs and interests of laboratory professionals from countries with varying healthcare infrastructure?

Our program offers a variety of tracks designed to cater to the specific challenges and advancements present in different healthcare infrastructure levels. We’ll have sessions focused on cutting-edge technologies and best practices in specialized areas for attendees from countries with established lab systems. Meanwhile, participants from developing nations will have access to workshops on essential lab techniques, proper equipment maintenance, and navigating budgetary constraints.

No matter their background, all attendees will benefit from plenary lectures featuring leading international experts. Additionally, our dedicated exhibition hall will showcase the latest equipment and resources from global suppliers, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to learn about innovations that can improve their labs.

Medlab West Africa fosters a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, empowering laboratory professionals across West Africa to enhance healthcare delivery in their respective countries.

Lastly, networking is crucial for professional growth. How will Medlab West Africa facilitate networking opportunities for attendees from across West Africa?

All discussions have also been designed to be interactive, encouraging attendees to share ideas and experiences. This collaborative environment is perfect for building relationships with peers facing similar challenges and opportunities. Moreover, our online platform allows attendees to connect and share information even before the conference begins. This fosters pre-existing connections that can blossom further during the event itself.

By combining dedicated spaces, interactive sessions, and a robust online platform, Medlab West Africa will be a catalyst for lasting professional relationships across the region.

Govts Tasked Over Protection of Adolescent, Young People’s Sexual Reproduction

Government at all levels have been urged to make policies and enforce laws that would protect vulnerable Adolescent and Young People (AYPs) in their sexual and reproductive health and right.

Participants at a stakeholders roundtable meeting with the theme, “Building Movements to Sustain Sexual and Reproductive Health and Right”, held in Ibadan, said the step was necessary to

safeguard sexual and reproductive health and right of adolescent and young people.

A Program Officer with HACEY Health Initiative, Tomilola Akinpelu, who was the lead presenter, in her contributions, said Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues posed significant challenge for vulnerable adolescents and young people (AYPs) in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

The event had in atten -

dance government officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Education, Civil Society Organisation (CSOs), and Non-governmental Organisation (NGOs), among others.

Akinpelu said two-third of illnesses among women of reproductive age in the region are attributed to SRH problems, stating that a staggering 4.3 billion people lack essential SRH services, with over 200 million women in developing countries

lacking access to modern contraception.

According to her, “Vulnerable AYPs in our project communities due to the lack of access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and resources are predisposed to challenges such as unintended pregnancies, inadequate antenatal care, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and cervical cancer.

“ Emerging civil society

organizations (CSOs) addressing these needs also often lack the necessary tools and skills to pass the information and resource on SRHR to the target audience effectively.

“Early pregnancies among adolescents, high prevalence of HIV infections, and vulnerability to other SRH issues underscore the urgent need for intervention.

Limited access to SRH information in Nigeria puts AYPs at risk, exposing them to various SRH challenges that

threaten their well-being.”

She disclosed that the SRHR Impact Plus Project aimed to make a meaningful impact by addressing the critical challenges faced by vulnerable adolescents and young people (AYPs) in Nigeria, adding that it also intended to empower youth-led Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with essential tools and skills and amplify the efforts of SRHR Champions’ SRHR interventions.

Rejoy Penacerrada

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Changing the Narrative of Maternal and Child Mortality Through Health Insurance

Funmi Ogundare and Ayodeji Ake, who recently joined the UNICEF media team during a facility tour in Oyo State, examine the accessibility of affordable healthcare services through the Health Insurance Agency as a recipe to changing the narrative on maternal and child mortality

On August 18, 2016, the Oyo State Government established the Health Insurance Agency ( OYSHIA) with the mission to facilitate the reduction of out-of-pockets expenditure on health, provide financial rush protections and cost burden sharing for people of the state against the high cost of health care, through pooling and judicious utilisation of financial resources and various prepayment plans.

Backed by an enabling law, the effort was aimed at providing quality and affordable healthcare services in Oyo state.

However, the enlightenment among the people of the state, had been very poor, despite the effort taken by the agency to educate them.

During a two-day media dialogue on ‘Changing the Narrative on Child Mortality Through Health Insurance Scheme’, organised by OYSHIA and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the team visited the Oyo State Secretariat Clinic and General Hospital, Aremo, to assess the interventions by the agency aimed at ensuring affordable healthcare services to residents especially mother and child through the insurance scheme.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Olushola Akande, emphasised on the effort of the state government in achieving Universal Health Coverage ( UHC) in the state, while expressing concern over the low number of residents on the insurance scheme which is below 10 per cent, despite the affordable price of N1,125 monthly and N13,500 per year.

He stressed the need for more advocacy on health insurance so as to ensure improvement in the utilisation of health facilities.

“We need to begin to get our people to understand that while getting drugs in facilities is key, they must also understand that some costs have been absorbed when they enroll in insurance. The cost of consultations, other benefits, as well as seeing specialists, have been absorbed into insurance.

“Also the cost of some basic investigations has been done as part of the benefit package. If you are not administered the specific drugs, then you haven’t been given drugs. These are the important things we want people to know about health insurance that some cost has been absorbed even before they go in to see a doctor.

The executive secretary noted that the state was pushing forward ownership ,adding that that was the essence of its community-based health insurance and doctrine model where members of the community pays a minimum of N2,500 and get enrolled into the primary healthcare centres.

“ That community takes ownership of the Primary Health Centre ( PHC). They do the monitoring and quality assurance with the matron. The enrollee belongs to the community and can talk to major stakeholders in the community. With that, the providers and the staff in that PHC will need more detailed information on how to render services.”

Speaking on interventions of OYSHIA, Akande revealed that despite the low turnout for the insurance scheme the capitation gotten so far has been used to renovate 8 PHCs and two general hospitals.

He expressed hope that more people will be enrolled to improve healthcare services in the state, saying, “the wonders of health insurance are obvious. We can talk about the capitation in health facilities. In the state hospital in Ogbomoso, they have public toilets constructed using capitation,

they have antenatal centre constructed, pharmacy centre constructed with capitation; state hospital Saki, had a laundry, pharmacy and presently they are doing a dental centre. Various hospitals have solar power using their capitation.

“The state hospital theatre, was also reconstructed using capitation. A lot of inventions are ongoing in hospitals in Oyo state based on capitation while 60 per cent of the premium goes back to the facilities.

The executive secretary noted that the state hospital employed doctors, pharmacists and nurses who are being paid from capitation, adding that it is a marriage between the government and the agency.

“This is what agencies and agencies of government should be doing. They should be aligned to deliver on the mandate of the government and that’s what OYSHIA is actively doing and we will continue to do. I have the governor of Oyo state to thank. They are injecting one billion naira into OYSHIA. No government will inject that kind of money into an agency that is not working.”

He described health insurance as the most viable aspect of healthcare financing that any country will want to get into, adding that to increase the ecosystem and getting more lives insured, health insurance should be mandatory.

“ What we should begin to have a conversation around now is how to enforce mandatory health insurance. We should also be discussing how we should deepen service delivery and how enrolee will begin to experience better services in various hospitals of their choice,” he stated.

Asked if the agency is planning to increase the premium due to economic hardship and inflation, he said,”there is no plan for increment. The challenge is that the insurance plan is selling for N13, 500 and I haven’t covered 10 per cent of the population. An increment to sell for N26,000 is giving me a hard rock to climb. We are not looking at increment.”

“What we did was that, we had two premium packages of N8,000 and N13,500, so we left the N8,000 package for group enrollment for the adoption model, while the individual package for N13,500. We are not thinking of increasing rather, we want to push and get more numbers

to enroll in the scheme. The more number we get, the better.

He appealed to mothers to get enrolled and enjoy the benefits of the basic healthcare services and also take their children under the age of five to the hospital for care. He also appealed to all stakeholders to donate to vulnerable groups, saying that the state is enrolling 100,000 vulnerable groups and we still need more people to enrol. Your money makes no meaning if the poor and vulnerable do not taste your riches.

At the Oyo State Secretariat Clinic, renovated by OYSHIA, the Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Olayemi Adaramoye, told journalists that some of the civil servants enrolled on the insurance scheme, do have misconceptions and reservations about the lack of drugs, adding that despite these, they believe that the scheme is very important.

According to her, “some of them do not like insurance, some have said it because they don’t have access to drugs, but here they have access to the doctor and every health personnel, and we attend to them immediately. People come around to the clinic because they love to get treatment and they know that when they are sick they don’t pay.

“Some also say they don’t fall sick and so no need to be enrolled. We have had cases when some will say they don’t give them enough attention where they are enrolled. Here in the clinic, I can say that on a scale of 100 the turnup for insurance is 99. The civil servants and non-civil servants come to the clinic to get treatment. Although, we have restricted it to the civil servants alone so we don’t get our facility overwhelmed,” she said.

She stressed the need for an increase in advocacy on health insurance through all communication platforms including social media to explain the benefits of the scheme.

“Public sensitisation is also needed to capture the informal sector. Not everyone has access to the internet, but taking the

advocacy to the market women and men is also very important. Insurance is good and saves lives. Being on insurance guarantees access to equality healthcare,” she stated.

At the General Hospital, Aremo where OYSHIA has major interventions such as renovation of the existing buildings and construction of a new diagnostic centre, women undergoing antenatal session commended the Oyo State government and OYSHIA for introducing health insurance, especially for mother and child care.

Addressing journalists, the Apex Nurse, Mrs. Felicia Olapeju Oladejo disclosed that the number of enrollees into the scheme have been growing every day as people including mothers who come for immunisation, have been sensitised on the importance of the insurance scheme. “when they come for immunisation, we explain the meaning of OYSHIA to them , and tell them how much they are going to pay and that it will last them for a year.

Asked how it has impacted maternal and child health, she stated, “ it is fantastic. People are coming because of its low cost . For instance, if they want to do surgery for OYSHIA patients, the money will be reduced unlike non patients who pay N150,000. They like and appreciate it .

The Director Planning , Research and Statistics, OYSHIA, Mr. Joseph Oyewale stated that the list of enrolles are updated on a monthly basis and sent to every hospital, adding that every patient must come in with their ID cards which will be used by the health workers to attend to enrolees. “This effort is replicated in every hospital . All the enrollees that want to pick this place will come here. We also allow people who are staff to see a doctor and they can attend to as many patients as possible.”

Asked how the facilities help in curbing deaths of children and women, he stated, “when we first started in May 2021, we held a programme for women and we did pap smear and free cervical screening; and we even went ahead to ensure that those that needed advance treatment were arranged with University College Hospital (UCH).

He said so far OYSHIA has renovated 10 health facilities in Aremo, Oyo, Bashorun, Ojoo, Ajibode, Orayan and Staff Clinic, Secretariat, among others. He stated that the equipment at the clinic before renovation were obsolete, adding that the agency considered the upgrade because most of the women and children live nearby.

A civil servant and an enrollee, Ms. Oreoluwa Adetona described the scheme as wonderful saying that she and her mother had been on it for the past three years when they were treated for malaria, dental care, and arthritis. She said one of the challenges encountered was that they were told that the scheme only covers limited health challenges and that the hospitals need to enlighten enrollees what their insurance covers so that they will not be cheated on their rights.

The Director Marketing and Quality Assurance for OYSHIA, Mr. Steven Dauda , expressed delight that the agency is renovating in order to touch many lives, saying that a lot has been done in creating awareness through radio programmes and jingles.

“However a lot of the problem is their purchasing power to take up health insurance to pay the N13,500. If you are coming through a group or association, you can pay a monthly installment and you can start enjoying healthcare.”

Nigerian Experts in U.S Push for Efficient Mental Healthcare Services

Mental health experts of Nigerian origin in the United States of America have expressed dissatisfaction over the neglect of mental healthcare services in the healthcare system of their country of birth. To put things right, the diasporans under the aegis of Nigerian Mental Health Practitioners, U.S.A Inc., have rolled out a number of interventionist programmes to ensure that mental healthcare services is efficiently delivered in Nigeria.

The President of NMHP, Dr. Azubuike Aliche, told journalists in Umuahia that the U.S based group would intervene to transform Nigeria’s mental healthcare service delivery by creating awareness and training of personnel.

He said even though they reside abroad, distance would not constitute a barrier to putting their expertise at the disposal of their native land in the search for accessible and efficient mental healthcare services.

“We want to intervene because mental health issues are not getting adequate attention and has never been given the

needed attention,” he said, adding, “we want to help”.

Azubuike, who is an expert in clinical social work/therapist, said that his group has set up a nongovernmental organisation, the NigerianAmerican Institute for Mental Health(NAIMH), which it would use to drive its interventions. He said the institute would engage in creating awareness about mental health and training of people in that area of medical practice to bridge the gap of inadequate personnel.

The President of NMHP said they would take mental

health awareness down to the rural areas of Nigeria and make mental health part of the healthcare services at the Primary Healthcare Centres. This, he explained, was necessary since much of the primary healthcare services in Nigeria is delivered on physical basis. “We want to involve community health workers. We can train them to identify and manage people with mental health issues,” he said. The U.S licensed clinical social worker stated that his organisation would work with mental health practitioners, governments, institutions and other

stakeholders in Nigeria to achieve the set objectives.

Azubuike, therefore, announced that his group would on April 13, 2024 hold a conference at Godfrey Okoye University Enugu with the theme “Towards Primary Mental Healthcare in Nigeria”, during which stakeholders would brainstorm on the way forward.

He lamented the dearth of mental health practitioners in Nigeria, saying that despite its huge population of over 200 million the country has just about 200 psychiatrists, which is grossly inadequate.

Explaining the training

component of the planned interventions by the NMHP, Dr Aliche noted that mental health system “should not be built only around psychiatrists”.

According to him, other healthcare professionals could be trained to manage mental health issues, adding that licensed social workers provide more mental care services than psychiatrists and psychologists.

Aside the inadequacy of personnel in mental health care in Nigeria, Azubuike also pointed out the lack of needed infrastructure to cater for the WHO estimated 20 per cent of Nigerians that have one form of mental issue or the other.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

A hospital ward renovated by Oyo State Health Insurance Agency ( OYSHIA)

Gamin G Week

Edited by nseobonG okon-ekonG | gamingweek1117@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324

Ivan Toney’s Footie Betting Scandals

Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s eight-month suspension for breaching Football Association (FA) betting rules rocked the English Premier League in 2022. Davidson Abraham delves into the details of the scandal, its consequences, the concerns it raises, and the lessons we can learn.

Toney faced a staggering 262 charges, accused of placing bets on football matches between 2017 and 2021. Some bets involved his own

teams, raising concerns about potential match-fixing. While he didn’t play in any of those matches himself, the act of betting as a participant in the sport violates FA regulations. Toney initially denied the

charges but later admitted to 232 breaches. He received an eight-month ban from football and a hefty fine. Additionally, his reputation was tarnished, and he faced difficulty with car insurance and restaurants

refusing service due to the scandal. The Toney case highlighted several critical issues. Firstly, the possibility of players influencing matches through betting raises serious concerns

about the fairness of the sport. Secondly, Toney being diagnosed with gambling addiction sheds light on the potential dangers professional athletes face. The pressure and access to wealth can exacerbate underlying issues, and the allure of quick financial gain can lead to risky behaviour. Thirdly, the case exposed potential loopholes in regulations and the need for stricter enforcement to prevent similar situations. It underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and enforcement to maintain the integrity of sports.

Clear and well-defined regulations regarding player betting are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the sport. Football governing bodies must establish strict guidelines and protocols to prevent players from engaging in any form of betting that could compromise the game’s integrity. This includes prohibitions not only on betting on one’s own matches but also on any football-related events. Education and awareness campaigns targeting players, coaches, and other stakeholders are vital to ensure compliance and understanding of the consequences of violating betting rules.

Furthermore, supporting players’ mental health and well-being should be a priority for clubs and football organisations. Professional athletes often face immense pressure to perform and succeed, which can take a toll on their mental health. Providing access to counselling services, mental health resources, and support networks can help players cope with stress, anxiety, and other issues they may encounter. By addressing underlying mental health concerns, clubs can help mitigate the risk of players turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as gambling.

In conclusion, the Toney betting scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of football. It also highlights the need for a multipronged approach, including strong regulations, player education on responsible gambling, and robust mental health support systems. By addressing these concerns, football authorities can work towards a cleaner and safer environment for players and fans, ensuring that the beautiful game remains untainted by scandals and controversies.

“Supporting players’ mental health and well-being should be a priority for clubs and football organisations. Professional athletes often face immense pressure to perform and succeed, which can take a toll on their mental health… Toney betting scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of football. ”

How EFCC Raised NLTF Remittance Inflows to N2.1bn

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Bello Maigari, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for helping to widen NLTF’s revenue base through enhanced remittance inflows from N800 million to N2.1 billion annually.

He gave the commendation in Abuja recently when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to EFCC’s headquarters. Maigari stated that the anti-graft agency’s intervention assisted NLTF in growing its revenue profile and the number of lottery operators.

“Before the commission’s intervention, remittance inflows could not exceed N800 million annually. However, when the exercise started in 2020, there was a significant increase in remittance inflows between N1.8 billion and N2.1 billion and the same applied to number of lottery operators from barely 10, their numbers steadily increased to 48 as at last count”, he said

In a statement issued by EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, Maigari lauded the rising performance of the Executive Chairman of the agency, Ola Olukoyede, since he assumed office, pointing out that his performance has been phenomenal.

“Let me once again congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment to this high office and to commend you and members of your able team for your exemplary leadership, courage and patriotism in stemming the tide of growing financial crimes in the country,” he said.

Maigari admitted that the lottery and gaming industry had grown significantly “to well over N2 trillion” and called for increased collaboration with the EFCC to sustain the growth and to recover outstanding liabilities from lottery operators.

Maigari appealed to the EFCC to help steer the implementation of the NLTF’s Revenue Assurance Platform, describing it as “a strategic revenue mobilization initiative being driven by the Federal Ministry of Finance on behalf of the National Lottery Trust Fund.”

Olukoyede hailed the visit and the good work Maigari is doing in revenue mobilisation and recovery.

He charged him to work harder, stressing that the commission was ready to support his Fund in its drive for larger remittance inflows.

The EFCC boss urged Maigari to furnish the EFCC with intelligence on the number of registered and unregistered betting and gaming

“Let me once again congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment to this high office and to commend you and members of your able team for your exemplary leadership, courage and patriotism in stemming the tide of growing financial crimes in the country.”

platforms across and outside the country, promising that unregistered ones would be compelled to comply with the laws.

Can Payment Providers Secure Gaming Transactions Amidst Evolving Threats?

Iyke Bede reports that experts in the financial services sector at the recently concluded Africa Gaming Expo in Lagos detailed the complexities that characterise the African gaming market’s unique payment process, existing threats, and prospects in a panel session tagged ‘The Role of Payment Providers in Facilitating Secured Transactions in the Gaming Industry’

The global gaming industry generates billions of dollars in revenue, with a significant portion of transactions conducted online for convenience. However, these online transactions expose punters to frequent online threats, risking the loss of their life savings or the unauthorised sale of their personal information to interested parties for marketing purposes.

Undoubtedly, all sectors engaged in online transactions face various forms of cybercrime, prompting the implementation of adequate measures to safeguard consumer interests.

This includes the burgeoning African gaming sector, which grapples with numerous teething issues such as regulatory frameworks, underage gambling, and illegal operators.

At the recently concluded Africa Gaming Expo held in Lagos, experts in the financial services sector detail the complexities that characterise the African gaming market’s unique payment process, existing threats, and prospects in a panel session tagged ‘The Role of Payment Providers in Facilitating Secured Transactions in the Gaming Industry.’

As noted by Paystack’s Strategic Account Manager, Ejiro Esigbone, “payment in Africa is faster than regulation,” describing the sector’s leaps in innovation that don’t quite match existing laws.

“We are very innovation-forward in how we think about processing payments. So, if you compare how people pay in Nigeria, for example, to how people pay in the West, we have cards, it is popular,” said Esigbone. “We have USSD payments, transfers, etc., and we are trying to make

it quicker and faster by pushing out products.”

Consumer protection is at the core of payment providers’ ethos. Esigbone described some key features that provide consumers with basic security while carrying out transactions amid evolving threats.

He added, “Some of the simple things that we think about are like the basic two-factor authentication. For a payment to be successful, we rely on something the customer has and the customer knows: card number, CVV, or the pin, and an OTP sent to their phone. Another angle is tokenization. That is, the encryption of data. For each transaction, the customer receives a token.

“One of the things that we try to do is to very intelligently analyse customer behaviour on a real-time basis. This is not an easy thing to do, but when it is done right, it helps you identify: is this the normal behaviour of this customer? If not, with a bit more reliability, flag the fraudulent transactions.

“Also, the Level of due diligence done before signing up a customer which involves certain levels of security checks and verifications done, such as PCI DSS ( Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) certification.”

The Group Head of Financial Services and Utilities at eTransact, Abimbola Reis, explained that other measures that guarantee safety in the online space involve the use of risk scoring.

“A region or a particular person that is not allowed to do online games would be assigned a risk score that allows the system to identify it as an illegal activity,” said Reis. “In Nigeria, there is an ongoing process to

structure the online identity of users and payers on the payment platforms. Our KYC is becoming more structured. With the data being structured, it gives us access to separate platforms that are accessible to our system for payment services.”

She reinforced that having a well-structured data system driven by technology has enabled the investigation of unusual transactions, such as using a sports betting platform for money laundering, and the ability to decline such transactions when flagged. Reis also highlighted that this capability has been developed through collaboration with regulators, banks, and other payment providers.

An emerging trend in sports betting is using cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies in gaming. However, it is not widely accepted in Africa due to existing jurisdictional laws. The panel suggested that regulators and operators must first understand what they can do within the confines of licences before offering such blockchain services. Besides issuing licences, they also encouraged building infrastructure for robust security measures similar to those in place for traditional payments.

While the existing infrastructures avail certain safety nets, the panel, which included Chief Executive Officer of Palmpay, Chika Nwosu; Chief Executive Officer, FINCRA, Ayowole Ayodele; Vice-President, Sales, Payaza, Adejuwon Oyebanjo, noted that point of failures could emanate from all parties involved: from customers who share security information with cyber criminals to banks that delay certain processes to the operators whose platforms experience unique technical glitches on a regular basis.

“BetWinner, Nigeria, is majorly an online sports betting company. We’re not looking at going retail for now. So, we want to first understand and gain that online audience, and maybe we can look at retail in the future, but for now, it is online. Our goal is to ensure we continue improving technology and innovation to suit that target audience and to ensure we continue meeting the needs of people in the online space. So that is my major goal. And that’s the strategy to just focus on the technological aspects of it. One thing is: we are mobile, and the customers can have access to us anywhere on mobile and their smartphone via the mobile app. That is one obvious thing. We would leverage on that and also improve on that as well.” – Maha Otu, Director, BetWinner Nigeria

Maigari (left) and Olukoyede of EFCC

World organisation of Writers Congress...

L-R:: A poet and playwright, Mallam Danja Abdullahi; former Minister of Information and Culture and Managing Partner, Bruit Costaud, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja, Mr. Eze Chukwudi, at the World Organisation of Writers Congress in Abuja ... recently

We Mu ST Pr I or ITIS e Love for o ur Coun T r Y, T I nubu A PP e ALS T o nI ger IA n S AT eID Pr AY er S the southern and northern senators’ forums, as well as the minority caucus of the red chamber congratulated Muslims in Nigeria on the successful end of the 30 days Ramadan fast.

Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, said, "Islam is a religion of peace and if its adherents go to God in prayer with sincerity, He will surely answer. "I, therefore, ask you to pray for your leaders and the peace and unity of our dear country. I believe with your prayers Nigeria will overcome its current challenges.”

Barau, in his statement, prayed Allah to accept supplications, prayers and the good deeds of the Ummah during the blessed month.

The Kano senator, who is the acting Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, urged all Muslims to sustain the lessons of the Holy Month and always reflect it in their daily activities.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, charged Nigerians, particularly Muslims, to allow the lessons from Ramadan “guide our approaches to conducting businesses; running governments at all levels and discharging civic responsibilities on a daily basis”.

The APC chieftain, in his goodwill message, rejoiced with the Muslim faithful as they celebrated Eid-el-fitri.

He charged the citizens to adhere to the core essence of Eid-el-fitri, “which in entirety forbids the sabotage of government policies, the quest for profiteering, the exploitation of our collective resources and the sponsoring of internal disharmony, all in the name of selfish interest and political aspiration”.

In their statement, the Southern Senators’ Forum extended their warmest greetings to all Nigerians, particularly Muslim brothers and sisters, on the successful completion of Ramadan fast and the commemoration of Eid-el-fitri.

Their message was signed by Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, and Publicity Secretary, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.

Northern Senators Forum through its Chairman, Senator Abdulazis Yar'Adua, in a statement, extended its heartfelt greetings to Muslim brothers and sisters at home and across the globe as Muslims

celebrated Eid-el-fitri. They urged Nigerians to persist in their endeavours to foster a peaceful and cohesive society that cherished the principles of liberty, human dignity, and prosperity for all.

Similarly, Minority Caucus of the red chamber, through its leader, Senator Abba Moro, extended warm greetings to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria on this year’s Eid-el-fitri celebration.

Moro urged Muslims to use the occasion to pray for peace and security in the senatorial district and Nigeria at large, even as he enjoined them to reach out to the less-privileged.

Yahaya Joins Emir Abubakar, Others to Observe Eid-el-fitri Prayers

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, joined the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, and other Muslim Ummah in the state to observe the two Rakaat Eid-el-fitri prayer to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Eid prayer held at the main Eid ground in Gombe was led by Deputy Chief Imam of Gombe, Ustaz Aliyu Hammari. It was attended by top government functionaries, including Speaker and members of Gombe State House of Assembly and heads of security agencies, among others.

Yahaya, who is also Chairman of Northern States Governors' Forum, had earlier in his Sallah goodwill message to the people of Gombe State, rallied the citizens towards collective prayer, unity and resilience amid prevailing economic challenges. He assured the people that the current difficulties were transient and better days laid ahead, with Nigeria emerging stronger. He also emphasised the importance of integrity in combating societal ills.

Ododo Felicitates with Muslims, Emphasises Peace, Love, Unity

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, charged Muslim Ummah to preach peace, unity, love and always reflect the teaching of the holy month of Ramadan.

Ododo made the call while speaking at the end of two rakats obligatory prayers at OKene Eidel praying ground in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The governor, who felicitated all Muslims on the successful completion of the 30 days Ramadan fasting, urged Nigerians to be patient and continue to pray for the leaders.

He explained that peace, unity, love were sacrosanct at the this critical moment, adding that all well-meaning Nigerians should always remember to give out to the less-privileged as mark of love for them.

Comptroller General of Immigration Felicitates Nigerians, Migrants

Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, felicitated all Nigerian citizens and migrants in the country on the conclusion of this year’s Ramadan and the Eid-el-fitri celebration.

A statement by Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kenneth Udo, read, “As Muslims around the world conclude this year's Ramadan fast and observe Eid-el-fitri celebration, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, extends her hearty felicitations to all Muslim officers and men of the NIS, Nigerian citizens, and, indeed, migrants who are resident in the country.

“The CGI, while saluting His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on this auspicious occasion, also commends all adherents of Islam who, through shared commitment and dedication, took time out to fast and pray for the security and welfare of the Nigerian state.

“The Immigration Boss charged all Nigerians to continually promote godly virtues on a daily basis.”

Wike Urges Residents to Extend Acts of Charity, Tolerance Beyond Sallah

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, urged residents of the FCT not to limit acts of charity, love, and tolerance as exemplified during the holy month

of Ramadan. Rather, they should be practised and instilled in the people’s daily lives, Wike said.

He said the end of Ramadan should also not signal an end to prayers.

The minister made the appeal in his Sallah message to FCT residents yesterday.

Wike advised FCT residents to continue to offer supplications to the Almighty God for the country and its leaders for divine wisdom and guidance, especially as they worked to overcome current challenges.

Wike congratulated the residents, especially the Muslim Ummah, for successfully completing this religious obligation. He prayed that the supplications made to Almighty Allah would be answered.

Uzodimma: Religion Shouldn’t Be Barrier to Cohabitation

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, told Muslims and Nigerians, in general, that "religion should not be a barrier to their cohabitation".

Uzodimma advised Nigerians to take advantage of the spiritual blessings from the period of fasting and reflection to unite themselves and also seek the unity of the country, in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. The governor stated, "As Muslims in Imo, we must be united. As Muslims in Nigeria, we must also be united. Irrespective of religion, we should be our brothers and sisters’ keepers.

“I enjoin the leadership of the Muslims in Imo State to unite. If you unite, you will see the benefit to our state and country. Also, be law-abiding, both Muslims and Christians."

The Seriki Hausa/Muslim in Imo State, Alhaji Auwal Baba Suleiman, who spoke during a banquet organised in his honour by Uzodimma to mark this year's Eid-el-fitri, added that despite being a Christian, Uzodimma had dealt so kindly with them that they had lost count of his good deeds.

Fubara Laments Dilapidated Condition of Rivers Primary Schools

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, regretted that about 75 per cent of primary schools in the state were without teachers, while 90 per cent of such schools were dilapidated.

Fubara expressed concern over the state of the elementary schools, and explained that he became aware of the deplorable state of the schools when a firm, New Global, in its bid to partner his administration to enhance the capacity of teachers, performed field assessment of personnel that they intended to train.

Speaking, yesterday, when he received a delegation of leaders of the Muslim community in the state on Eid-el-fitri Sallah visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara said the report from the field was very disappointing because the firm did not find the number of teachers that should be trained.

The governor emphasised the crucial place that primary school occupied in the educational journey of any child in shaping character, instilling essential skills, and fostering quest for learning, which he said had been ignored in the past.

Fubara assured that his administration, having its focus firmly on education, health and agriculture sectors, would ensure a change in what had been identified.

Earlier, in his address, leader of the delegation and Vice PresidentGeneral, Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Uhor, thanked the governor for his financial support that enabled them to participate in Hajj last year, and his inclusive policy that had given the community a sense of belonging.

Uhor assured Fubara that the Muslim community would not relent in partnering the governor and his government. He emphasised that they were solidly behind him, and approved of his people-oriented policies and programmes.

Obaseki Celebrates, Assures Muslims Better Support

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, joined Muslim faithful in the state to celebrate Eidel-fitri after the successful completion of the Ramadan fast. Obaseki, who hosted Muslims

at Government House, Benin City, assured them of better collaboration and support.

Obaseki was accompanied by Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and other top government functionaries. The governor said, “As a government, we must continue to work with religious leaders because citizens in distress can easily meet religious leaders, as they know and can deal with issues swiftly. So, we must cooperate with religious bodies.

“We know things are difficult for citizens, but we will continue to pray to God to see us through this trying period and will overcome like we did during COVID-19. There is hunger in the land and we will continue to support palliatives and others.

“I thank the Chief Imam of Benin and Muslim faithful in Edo, as in the last seven and half years, you have been a pillar and have helped us consolidate and renew our beliefs as Edo people. I thank you for the peace you have continued to help us maintain in our state.”

Kashamu Shares Food Packages, Cash for Children, Physically Challenged, Aged

Ogun State House of Assembly member representing Ijebu North Constituency 1, Hon Rasheed Kasham, yesterday, distributed food packages to children, physically challenged and aged in his constituency.

The food packages, comprising noodles, rice and cash, were distributed to no fewer than 4,000 beneficiaries after the Eid prayer held near his father's house at Ijebu-Igbo, headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area.

The son of the late Senator Buruji Kashamu was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is Minority Whip of the Ogun State House of Assembly. He said giving out relief packages and support to people had been the legacy of the Kashamu family, promising that the death of his father would not be the end of the legacy.

Eid-fitir Sallah cElEbration...

Shaibu: My Impeachment Won't Stand, Judiciary Will Vindicate Me

Edo APC chair pays solidarity, sympathy visit

adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu has said that his removal by the state House of Assembly will not stand the test of the courts, noting that the entire exercise was because of the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Shaibu stated this in a viral video released yesterday, when he received

the acting State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jaret Tenebe in his Abuja residence on a solidarity and sympathy visit. This is as the APC chieftain described the impeachment as a sham and urged Shaibu to use all legal means to upturn the action.

This position came barely 24 hours after some APC faithful in Etsako West local government area protested against a planned return of the former deputy governor to the APC.

But speaking, Shaibu said: “We have shared a lot of things both good and bad together. I am deeply humbled and happy that even this situation has brought us together as one that we are. You are one person that I have always admired, someone that I grew up with.

“The person that actually separated us has also united us and that is the beauty of what has happened. I want to assure you that as we move on, just like you said this whole thing happened between the lent and Ramadan and the lessons of lent and Ramadan are obvious. I am not ready to change my attitude, I am ready to be a friend, a loyal friend and partner. “What has happened will not change my quest to be loyal to anybody that I will work with

Alia Laments Magnitude of Benue’s Humanitarian Crises solutions.

George okoh in Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, yesterday disclosed that the state has encountered different challenges ranging from natural calamities to man made in recent times.

He added that a coordinating space for management of humanitarian cases was necessary for stakeholders to strategise, collaborate and brainstorm on the true humanitarian situation, describing construction of the hall and situation room as very important.

Speaking at a ground breaking foundation laying ceremony of state of the art conference Hall at Benue State Emergency Management

Agency (BSEMA) in Makurdi, Alia explained that the hall would not only be a mere structure but a symbol of collective commitment to the coordination and management of humanitarian response efforts in the state.

"As we lay the foundation today, we are laying the groundwork for a brighter and more resilient future for the people of Benue. The conference hall will not only facilitate coordination of emergency response efforts but will serve as a platform for capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy", Alia informed the gathering.

He added that the edifice would create a space for exchange of ideas, partnerships as well as provide

Tunji-Ojo: My Alleged Appointment as Ondo APC Leader Baseless, Fictitious

Michael olugbode in Abuja

The Interior Minister, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has distanced himself from his purported appointment as the leader of All Progressives Congress in Ondo State.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister rubbished the claim that he was appointed as leader of the party in his home state.

“It has come to our attention that a news article circulating on Blueprint newspaper, titled: ‘Tinubu appoints interior minister political leader in Ondo’, claiming that the Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has been appointed as the political leader in Ondo state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We would like to categorically state that this report is entirely baseless and fictitious.

“The Minister of Interior, Hon.

Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, completely disassociates and distances himself from the purported appointment, as it holds no truth whatsoever. There has been no meeting held with all the local government APC chairmen and leaders in Abuja, as alleged in the article.

“While the Minister is aware that the party’s governorship primary election is days away, he has advised aspirants to embrace the spirit of love and sportsmanship.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), as the father of the nation and as the leader of the party, is a democrat, whose interest is always to promote unity and peace and would not be involved in any action that will undermine that.”

He urged the public to disregard the misinformation contained in the viral news article and to always rely on credible sources for accurate information.

Alia commended the Executive Secretary, BSEMA, James Iorpuu and his team for their dedication and unwavering commitment to serving the people in face of challenges, stressing that the project would serve as a testament to his hard work and perseverance.

He expressed appreciation to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for their support in the building of the hall, adding that government has a lot of value for the partnership.

He noted that government would always look forward to further strengthen the collaboration and called on other humanitarian partners such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and others to join hands with his administration to complete the cause, describing their expertise, resources and support as valuable.

Alia also pointed out that it is the

duty of government to ensure that those who have been forced to flee their homes due to insecurity return with dignity and build their lives in a safe and secure environment.

He assured that his administration is committed to the safe return of IDPs and would continue to ensure the protection of lives and property, particularly those affected by herdsmen attacks.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, BSEMA, Iorpuu said the edifice would serve as a pivotal hub for humanitarian activities by providing a conducive environment for discussions, capacity building sessions and emergency response coordination.

In separate remarks, representatives of UNHCR, Saleh Okpaje, and that of IOM, Laurent De Boeck, assured government of their continued support, describing the idea which will serve as hub for humanitarian activities as laudable.

and I will encourage anybody to be loyal to their boss. I was a loyal person and I am still loyal, the price of loyalty is success.

“The impeachment that has happened is because God wants to open a new chapter and I see that new chapter, that new opportunity and I can assure you, my chairman.

“ I call you my chairman because you are already my chairman and I think you are also one of the reasons why they hurriedly did what they did because they know what it takes for you and I to be together and they thought they could use impeachment to get me to succumb but you know that I won’t succumb.

"I am somebody that is strong willed and when I mean something, I mean it and when I look at the whole thing, I am paying the price, I also believe that it is only the man that God impeaches that is impeached.

“By the grace of God, I know the judiciary will do the needful because it is an impeachment that I have not been served, so I want to assure you of my cooperation and my loyalty will remain my weapon and I will definitely be there at all times. I think our next target is September 21 and by the grace of God we will get there.”

Earlier, Tenebe assured Shaibu that he would not be abandoned, adding: “I am here to pay you this solidarity visit because I still regard you as the deputy governor of Edo State.

"That sham they did in the Edo state House of Assembly is

a disgrace to the governor and it is an aberration to our democracy which I know that the court will not allow to stand.

“You are somebody who stood out, the price you paid is the price of loyalty, you were loyal even to the detriment of people you started with, you paid that price."

Tenebe added: "We just celebrated Easter and we know the price Jesus Christ paid. He died for our sins, what has happened is a replica of what Jesus Christ did for humanity.

“ Today, they have removed you as the deputy governor but we still regard you as the deputy governor, it is the price that you have paid to ensure that Obaseki and his semblance are rooted out of Edo state and I can tell you that we will not allow you walk alone, we are with you in spirit."

The Edo APC boss advised Shaibu to put on the spirit of an average Uzairue person which epitomises willpower all the time, believing that when a door closes, many are opened.

"You are a strong man and I am here as the chairman of APC in Edo state and I am also an Uzairue indigene. Where we both come from, we should be strong and I implore you to continue to pursue this matter in court and we will be with you all through and God is your strength.

“When one door is closed many more are opened and many are opened for you from today. That is what the detractors don’t know, be strong and we will match on together," Tenebe declared.

Uzodimma Inaugurates Exco April 18, Offers

Employment to First-class Graduates

tony icheku in Owerri

After more than two months without an Executive State Council, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, would on April 18, 2024 inaugurate the Executive comprising 16 Commissioner-nominees already screened and cleared by the Imo State House of Assembly

Also, Uzodimma has approved automatic employment for two Imo indigenes, Mr Chinonso Oparaji and Mrs Chipuruime Udeh, who graduated with first-class honours degrees in Law from Imo State University, IMSU and Nigeria Law School Sources disclosed that the inauguration of the Exco would be preceded by a 2-day manda-

tory retreat, which begins on Monday-Tuesday, April 15 and 16, 2024, before their swearing-in and assignment of portfolios on Thursday, April 18.

From the governor's body language, the new Exco would be a lean cabinet comprising technocrats and proven administrators unlike the bogus council of his first term, which dug deep hole into Imo finances.

Government House sources claimed about 50% of the Exco were returnee-commissioners, who would work with him in completing legacy projects, finishing strong and bequeathing achievements that would enhance his future political ambition.

Among the returnee Commis-

sioners are former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba; Former Commissioner for Works, Mr Ralph Nwosu; Former Commissioner for Digital Economy and e-Governance, Dr Chimezie Amadi and Mrs Nkechi Ugwu, former Commissioner for Gender and Vulnerable Group. Others are Chief Cosmas Maduba, former Commissioner of Agriculture and Hon Emenike Ejikeme Major, former Commissioner of Environment and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr C.O.C Akaolisa Uzodimma, who disclosed the approval of automatic employment to Oparaji and Udeh wrote on his social media handle, that the employment offer is “...a significant

move aimed at recognising academic excellence, underscoring the value of hard work and dedication

"I am delighted and happy with the news about two Imo State law graduates, who made First Class at the law school, it is a thing of joy and they need to be appreciated.

"Having distinguished themselves with excellent results worthy of emulation, I am happy to encourage them further with approval for their immediate employment."

The duo were accompanied to Government House, Owerri, by the Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. U.U. Chukwumaeze (SAN), the Chief Judge of Imo State, Theresa Chikeka and Prof. C.k Okorie, SAN, Dean, IMSU Faculty of Law.

Cross section of Muslim Faithfuls at the Jiwa prayer ground during the Eid-fitir Sallah celebration to bring an end to Ramadan Fast, in Abuja ... yesterday.

CONFERENCE OF MiNisTERs aNd LEadERs...

L-R: General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Dr. Sam Aboyeji; his wife, Rev Mrs. Olabisi Aboyeji; Rev Mrs. Mary Owoade; General Overseer, Disciple Gospel Mission International, Rev Rufus Owoade, and Chairman, International Conference for Ministers and Leaders (ICML 2024), Rev Olaniyi Alawode, during the conference at the Foursquare Campground, Ajebo, Ogun State…yesterday

Amotekun

Fidelis david in akure

Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun yesterday paraded 14 suspected kidnappers arrested across the state.

Arrests

14 Suspected Kidnappers, 31 Others in Ondo

They were among the 45 suspects arrested for offences ranging from dangerous driving, burglary, anti-grazing, destruction of public peace and buying of stolen goods across the state.

The Ondo state Commander of the Corps, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters, in Akure said in the spirit of Eid-el-Fitr, the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa also ordered the release of 28 of the suspects.

Specifically, Adeleye said the 28 suspects have been profiled

2024 Guber: PDP Will Reclaim Ondo, Say Alabere, Olafeso

Fidelis david in akure

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Tola Alabere, and the former National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, have expressed confidence that the party will win the November 16 governorship election in the state.

They stated this yesterday in Akure, the state capital, at a one-day seminar organised for media aides of PDP governorship aspirants in the state ahead of the election.

Specifically, Olafeso said the party is re-strategising for the primary slated for April 25 and the major election in November.

According to him, “With the future we have shared together in PDP, no matter the challenges we are facing at this moment, we are very sure and confident that the future will be better and that PDP will take back power and connect to do what it did

in the past to develop Ondo State and Nigeria. I am very confident that we will return.”

When asked what the party was doing to address the internal crisis bedeviling the party in the state, Olafeso said: “Part of what we are doing this moment started with an internal process of communication with ourselves and once we get that one right, once we understand our history, once we understand the fact that we need one another and that if we are not united, there will be problem ahead of us.

“We are sure that the future will take care of itself and we are very resolute, and beside that, the future of Nigeria, especially the current situation that Nigerians are facing under APC, can’t continue forever.”

The PDP chieftain emphasised that the party is the only solution to the insecurity, hunger and infrastructural problems in the coastal state.

Niger Gov Flags Off Construction of Roads in Kontagora

Laleye dipo in Minna

In what could be described as Sallah gifts for the people of Kontagora town and its environs, the Niger State Government has commenced the construction of 110 kilometres of roads in the area.

The road projects include the 90 kilometre Rijau -Kontagora federal road abandoned for more than a decade which has now been taken over by the state government.

The construction of the roads was awarded to two construction firms for fast delivery of the projects.

The state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, flagged off the construction last Tuesday evening with a directive to the construction firms not only to do quality jobs but to deliver within the stipulated time.

Ibrahim quoted Governor Bago as saying that the Kontagora-Rijau road reconstruction is to be carried out by Triacta Nigeria Limited while the Western and Eastern bypass Ring-Roads are to be constructed by Brosini Nigeria Limited.

Bago, according to the statement issued by his (CPS), disclosed that his government has so far embarked on the construction of 1,000km of roads across the state out of which 400km are federal roads.

He said the reconstruction of the Kontagora-Rijau road has been approved by the federal government because it is a trunk ‘A’ road, adding that the federal government has also given a nod to the state for the reconstruction of the 41km dualisation of the Kakkaki-Minna road and 91km Rofia-Borgu roads which are all federal roads.

as first time offenders, noting that their offences were not of capital punishment.

His words: “As of today, we are

parading 45 suspected criminals that were picked up in the acts in the 18 local government areas. A couple of weeks ago, we reassured

the people of their safety this festive period.

“Among the 45 suspects, we have 14 kidnappers, one dangerous

driving, five burglary cases, two anti-grazing, four destruction of public peace, stealing and buying of stolen goods.

Rivers Crisis: Federal Lawmaker, Okonkwo, Advises Assembly Members to Resign

sundayOkobi

The 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been advised to choose the right path and respectfully hang their gloves as members of the state House of Assembly, and pursue their new love in APC as ordinary members of the party.

the integrity of our democracy and operational sanctity of our constitution.

Making this call yesterday, the member representing Idemili North and South federal constituency of Anambra State, Hon. Uche Harris Okonkwo, who in a brief chat with journalists, stated that: “The poor script emanating from the defected former Rivers State Assembly members is a grievous new level of assault on

“Let’s be clear about this, I am neither a member of the PDP, nor APC, so I can’t be a beneficiary or loser in this dog fight for supremacy in Rivers State. But as a lawmaker just as they were before defection, I feel personally scandalised that the solemn institution of the legislature is being so defaced and abused in a manner close to the gutter of impunity. “The intent of the law is always clear from the letters of it, and never endorsed that less than a year of swearing an oath to defend the constitution as members of the hallowed legislature of your state, you can carry the trophy of the party that gave you their ticket to donate to another party arbitrarily and selfishly, without consequences.

Malabu: EFCC Denies Bribery Allegations against Official, May Appeal Judgment

Wale igbintade

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC has described as false the news making the rounds that one of its prosecutors was offered a bribe over the Malabu OPL 245 fraud case, which led to the dismissal of the charges against a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke and others by a Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The anti-corruption agency, however, disclosed that it has commenced a review of developments around the Malabu OPL 245 fraud case, including the dismissal of the charges against Bello Adoke and others by the court in Abuja. The clarification by the anti-crime agency was made by a statement posted on its website and its social media handles.

The review, the EFCC hinted, would entail exploration of the options of appeal and possible change of counsel in view of the commission’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the case.

Speaking on the alleged bribing of its official, the EFCC said its intention to review or appeal the case “has no nexus whatsoever to the spew of speculations imputing compromise by parties to the charge, currently making the rounds in some sections of the media.”

Nwuche Solicits Support for Wike, Tasks Politicians on Consistency

Blessing ibunge in port harcourt

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, has urged key political stakeholders in Rivers State to support the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, as he continues to pilot his national assignment in Abuja. The former federal lawmaker made the call when he hosted key political stakeholders in Ekpeye kingdom including Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Ben Eke. Receiving the political leaders at his hometown in Ochigba Community, Ahoada-East, Nwuche charged the politicians in the state to be consistent in their interest, especially in supporting the former governor to attract federal presence in the state.

Onuminya innocent insokoto

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must be thoroughly deluded to imagine that it won the 2023 poll in the state.

APC said PDP’s claim that the election was “manipulated” against its candidate, Alhaji Sa’aidu Umar, was both ridiculous and insulting to thousands of Sokoto people, who voted massively for the ruling party and its governorship candidate, now Governor Ahmed Aliyu

Nwuche also urged the people of Ekpeye ethnic nationality to stand by their son-in-law, Wike, whom he said has done so much for the people, and that they should not forget the days of his good relationship with the people of the area.

He also maintained that Wike is an in-law of the Ekpeye people, saying that “his wife Hon Justice Suzette Eberechi Wike, is our daughter, and that we owe him unalloyed commitment and support.”

Poll Victory Claims: Sokoto PDP Suffering from Delusional Disorder, Says APC

At a press conference last Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Information, Sambo Bello Danchadi, he said PDP was rejected by the people at the poll due to its abysmal performance while in power in the state.

Tambuwal, claimed that PDP did not lose the 2023 governorship election in the state but was robbed of victory.

Recently, while addressing the party supporters and stakeholders in Sokoto, the former Governor of the state, Senator Aminu Waziri

Danchadi explained that Tambuwal should have saved his speech after the holy month of Ramadan because there was no truth in it.

Tinubu Mourns Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka

Musawa condoles with family of Kannywood actress, Gidado, over her demise

deji Elumoye in abuja

President Bola Tinubu has received the news of the passing of the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka (Adeola Olushi III), with deep

sadness.

The president in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, sent his condolences to the family of the deceased monarch, the Council of Obas and Chiefs, as well as

the government and people of Lagos State.

While mourning the passing of Oba Agbabiaka, President Tinubu urged his family and everyone grieving the painful loss, to take solace in the

remarkable legacy left behind by the departed. He prayed to God Almighty to grant the soul of the late monarch peaceful repose and his family the strength to bear the huge weight of his demise.

UNN Organises World Conference to Save Igbo Language, Culture from Extinction

Gideon arinze inEnugu

The Centre for Igbo Studies at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (CIS-UNN) is set to hold the second edition of the World Igbo Conference to preserve the Igbo language, culture and heritage from going into extinction.

The conference, slated for April 12

and 13, will take place both virtually and on-site at the Igbo Cultural Village Complex (ICVC) permanent site behind the UBA Hall of Fame in UNN. Addressing journalists in Enugu yesterday ahead of the event, the Director of the Centre for Igbo Studies, Chris Agbedo, said the theme of the conference: ‘Bridging the Igbo Homeland-Diaspora

Disconnect for Transforming our Present and Future Together’, is aimed at exploring various aspects of Igbo culture, language, heritage, and socio-economic development.

He said: “It will feature discussions on five associated themes crucial to the Igbo community, including Igbo language development, Igbo Cultural Village Complex (ICVC), economic empowerment, historical reconnection, and policy and advocacy.” Agbedo, who doubles as convener of the conference, said it would offer a unique platform for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and chart a path for the advancement of the Igbo people worldwide.

Barcelona Snatch Win at PSG, Atletico Pip Dortmund

Luiz Enrique lost his first match against his former player and Captain, Xavi Hernades as FC Barcelona secured a valuable 3-2 win against PSG at the famous Parc Des Prince stadium in Paris.

It was a quiet night for Kylian Mbappe with his fellow French defender keeping him in check all through the 90 minutes of play in the first leg quarter-final match of the UEFA Champions League.

It was the former five-time champions Barcelona that came from behind to earn a slender advantage over Paris St-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in France.

Xavi's side were in danger of being overawed by a hostile Parisian crowd but the Barcelona boss used his bench to magnificent effect to turn the tie in their favour.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

after Gianluigi Donnarumma could only parry a low cross.

Brazil winger Raphinha gave the Catalan side the lead, sweeping home a loose ball for his first Champions League goal unmarked in the centre of the goal.

PSG responded immediately after the break through Ousmane Dembele firing into the roof of the net after a poor clearance and Vitinha finding the far corner after being fed down the right.

Substitute Bradley Barcola then hit the bar for the hosts as they swarmed all over a Barcelona side playing at this stage of the competition for the first time since 2020.

Spain midfielder Pedri was introduced and his impact was immediate with a delightful ball over the PSG defence superbly volleyed home by Raphinha with the outside of his right foot.

Dembele clipped the outside of the post as both sides pressed, but it was Barcelona sub-Andreas Christensen who found the winner, heading home a corner from four yards after being left

Tuchel Blasts Referee over Missed Penalty against Arsenal

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has expressed his fury at Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg's failure to award a penalty for a "kid's mistake" during Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first-leg clash at Arsenal.

The Bundesliga giants earned a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium as Bukayo Saka put the home side in front on 12 minutes before Serge Gnabry's 18th-minute strike and a Harry Kane spot-kick put Bayern ahead at the break.

Substitute Leandro Trossard drew Arsenal level 14 minutes from time and Saka felt he should have had a penalty in stoppagetime when going down under a challenge from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

But Tuchel focused on a 66thminute decision -- with the score at 2-1 to Bayern -- when David Raya played a goal kick short to Gabriel and the Arsenal defender picked the ball up with his hands before attempting to restart play even though the ball was live.

Bayern protested but nothing was given.

"For me, for all of us, he made a huge mistake not giving the handball penalty," said Tuchel afterwards.

"I know it is a crazy situation but they put the ball down, he whistles, he gives the ball and the defender takes the ball in his hand.

"What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field. He told our players that it is a 'kid's mistake'

and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarterfinal. This is a horrible, horrible explanation. He is judging handballs. Kid's mistake, adult's mistake. Whatever. We feel angry because it is a huge decision against us."

Arteta refused to be drawn on either the challenge on Saka -- which left the winger furious at full-time -- or Kane's 55th-minute collision with William Saliba, where the England captain was booked for a stray elbow. "I haven't seen it," he said. "The decision is made. We cannot change that. We have to focus on other aspects that we can control. We could have done much better tonight.

"Against this kind of players, this opposition, especially when they have space you know they can punish. We have let them run in a few occasions. That's something in the return leg that we have to do much better.

"The margins are very small in this competition. It's very difficult to penetrate the opponents and generate chances against this level of opposition.

"You have to make sure as well that you don't give anything. I think the team showed a lot of composure, especially after 2-1. You can throw your toys away generate a lot of space for the opponent and lose the tie in 20 minutes. We haven't done that."

The return leg takes place in Munich next Wednesday.

In Madrid, home side, Atletico also won 2-1 against Borussia Dortmund. An early goal by Rodrigo De Paul in the 4th minute set the host side rolling

and Lino doubled the lead just before halftime with an assist from Antoine Griezmann giving the side a comfortable lead.

Haller however pegged the lead

81st minute to leave the score line at 2-1.

The second leg matches will take place in Spain and Germany simultaneously.

South Africa Coach Laments How Falcons Punctured Her Olympic Dream

Femi Solaja with agency report

Head Coach of the South African women’s national team, Desiree Ellis, is yet to come to terms with the reality of her wards, Banyana Banyana’s inability to qualify to play in summer Olympic Games in Paris.

With two previous appearances in their kitty, the Banyana Banyana were aiming to return to the Olympics after missing the 2020

edition in Tokyo.

And having scored in eight consecutive competitive games since losing to the Netherlands at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the South Africans were confident of overcoming the Nigerian obstacle.. However, the Super Falcons kept the Banyana attack at bay to record a slim 1-0 victory in the first leg in Abuja last Friday.

Nigeria, who conceded six goals in their two most recent games

against the Banyana Banyana, made it two straight clean sheets against South Africa following a goalless draw in the return fixture on Tuesday in Pretoria.

With a 1-0 aggregate win, Nigeria advanced to the 2024 Olympics in Paris while South Africa were left to rue their loss.

Coach Ellis attributed Banyana Banyana loss to their inability to break down the Super Falcons’ defence and get at least a goal past

Africa Reinsurance Corporation Floats Golf for CEOs

In their desire to boost the physical and mental wellbeing of the Nigeria insurance industry executives as well as proffer a one stop shop networking opportunity, Africa Reinsurance Corporation, the leading pan African reinsurance company, is hosting a golf tournament for the industry CEOs. The one-day tournament billed for the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 will hold on Friday, April 12th.

The event which is already generating lots of enthusiasm within the Nigeria insurance space is expected to attract over 100-golfers to the Course.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, the Regional Director of Africa Reinsurance, Anglophone West Africa, Temitope Akinowa reiterated the corporations core mission of fostering the development of the insurance and reinsur-

ance industry in Africa. As part of fulfilling its mission, the CEOs golf tournament provides a rare opportunity for industry leaders to compete and exchange ideas in a more relaxed atmosphere.

The additional benefits derived from playing golf cannot be wished-away, abundant business opportunities, growth of social capital and win-win health benefits, she added. Further, the tournament will also serve as an

opportunity for Africa Re led by its Group Managing Director, Corneille Karekezi to celebrate a major milestone achievement in 2023 as a one billion premium dollar company.

There are prizes to be won in different categories. The event has also attracted executives in other industries, including professional golfers from Ikoyi Club. Africa Reinsurance was established in 1976 and is currently owned by 42-member state of African Union (AU). It is ranked 38 in the 2023 Standard and Poors list of top 40 Global Reinsurance Group by nett written Premiums and 47 in 2023 by AM Bests list of top 50 Global Reinsurance Groups by Gross Premiums. The Corporation has over $1billion shareholders funds and is the largest reinsurer in Africa in terms of net reinsurance written premiums.

goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. “We knew that coming into this game, we needed to score,” Ellis said after the encounter in Pretoria.

“We also knew that we needed to score as early as possible because the longer the game went on, the more desperate we would become.

“We didn’t start well. We changed the formation slightly because we needed to score, and we went with three up front. They got the chance early on, and that’s the only opportunity they got in the half.

“But we didn’t go forward as much as we wanted in the first half. We made a couple of changes in the second half and threw the kitchen sink at them. Unfortunately, that elusive goal didn’t go in.

“And for that, we are very disappointed. We also know the fans are disappointed, but I think we can be very proud of this team. They gave it their best shot.”

With South Africa out, Nigeria advanced to the Olympics, where they have been placed in Group C to face world champions Spain, Brazil, and Japan 16 April.

in the

Barcelona’s Raphinha scored twice as the Catalan side defeated PSG 3-2 in Paris ...yesterday night

Allen Onyema to Federal Government

“Suddenly, (foreign) airlines are under-pricing below the cost. It’s not up to one month, an airline was advertising $100, another one $305...it’s not even enough to buy fuel. So, why are they doing that? Their governments are supporting them because Nigeria has been a cash cow for everybody. Their governments are supporting them to do this and take Air Peace out. If they succeed, Nigeria will pay dearly for it”–AirPeaceCEO,onthe ‘devilishconspiracy’tofrustratehisairlineoutoftheinternationalmarket.

olusegun AD e NIYI

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

As Predicted, Wadume is Back! S

traight from Kuje Prison in Abuja, convicted gunrunner, Hamisu Bala (popularly known as ‘Wadume’) was received with a hero’s welcome to his hometown of Ibbi, Taraba State, on Sunday. He was reportedly driven round town in a long convoy of vehicles before visiting the palace of the traditional ruler, Alhaji Salihu Danbawuro. While many Nigerians were shocked about the development, with some expressing outrage, what I predicted in my August 2022 column, ‘Wadume and the Nigerian Tragedy’ has just come to pass. For those who may have missed the column, I recall it before concluding with a few lines.

The slap on the wrist given a notorious kidnap kingpin has exposed the underbelly of the criminal justice administration in Nigeria. It also underscores the seeming hopelessness of the national security situation. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, according to reports, last month sentenced Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, to seven years imprisonment for unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms and escaping from prison custody. Among the six others convicted with Wadume is Inspector Aliyu Dadje, station officer at the Ibi Divisional Police Headquarters in Taraba State at the time the crime was committed. Dadje bagged three years in jail for tampering with police records to conceal a crime.

All the elements that have made our country unsafe today are present in this tragedy that has been treated so casually by the federal government. From kidnapping to criminal complicity by military/security agencies to inter-agency rivalry and the way life has become so cheap in Nigeria, this is one case that should have been used for the purpose of deterrence in our quest for peace and security. Sadly, not only has the case been cynically bungled, but we have also shown that lives of innocent people do not matter, and accountability counts for nothing. Since Wadume has already spent some years in detention, he can be freed as early as 2025. And perhaps then granted presidential pardon (the way we roll in Nigeria) to contest for senate in 2027 on the platform of whichever party is in power at the time!

What is more confounding is the secrecy that has shrouded this trial whose outcome we only got to know more than three weeks later. The judgement was said to have been handed down on 22nd July 2019, with a statement released only last Sunday. The report also stated that ten military officers earlier charged with the convicts have had their trial “separated for departmental reasons,” whatever that means. These soldiers are Captain Tijjani Balarabe; Staff Sgt David Isaiah; Sgt Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Marcus Michael; Lance Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; Staff Sgt Abdulahi Adamu and Private Ebele Emmanuel. While we can assume that these were the soldiers who killed the police team, we do not know what the exact charges are against them.

Meanwhile, this tragic story began on 6th August 2019 when a special operational team sent from Abuja arrested Wadume in Taraba State, handcuffed him and were

driving toward Jalingo when they came under heavy bombardment from soldiers. In the process, four persons were killed on the spot while several others were injured. Those killed were Inspector Mark Ediale and two sergeants – Usman Danzumi and Dahiru Musa and a civilian by name of Jibrin. The soldiers then freed the handcuffed suspect, according to a statement by then police spokesperson, Frank Mba, who provided public updates on the matter.

From all that transpired at the time, there was no dispute about the fact that Wadume was freed by the soldiers who killed the policemen. In his version of event, then Army spokesperson, Sagir Musa said that soldiers from 93 Battalion received a distress call that kidnappers had come to operate in their community, leading to the hot pursuit that culminated in the unfortunate killings. Musa, who accused police operatives of refusing to stop at the military checkpoint, described them as “suspected kidnappers who turned out to be an Intelligence Response Team…on a covert assignment from Abuja.” But he gave a convoluted account of how Wadume escaped unhurt from the hands of the military men.

Miffed by the attempt to cover up the crime, the police immediately countered by raising pertinent posers: “How could

F

a kidnap suspect properly restrained with handcuffs by the Police escape from the hands of his military rescuers? If Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume is a ‘victim of kidnap’ as claimed, and properly rescued by soldiers, why was he not taken to the Army Base for documentation purposes and debriefing in line with the Standard Operating Procedure in the Nigerian Army?” Insisting that their officers were murdered by the soldiers who they accused of colluding with the kidnap suspect, the police asked, “Why were the Police Operatives shot at close range even after they had identified themselves as Police Officers on legitimate duty as evident in the video now in circulation?”

Indeed, the clear give-away in the video released by police after the killings was the question, ‘Where is their service pistol?’, asked by one of the shooters. It was a clear indication that the soldiers knew their victims were officers of the law. That a most wanted criminal suspect was set free in the process further confirmed the motive of the callous act that points to a clear link between officialdom and organised crime in our country. And to the extent that the insecurity that plagues our country today is the product of a justice administration that places criminals above the rest of society, it is no surprise that we have treated this unfortunate tragedy in a cavalier manner.

Apparently embarrassed, President Muhammadu Buhari tasked then Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin to investigate the incident and report back to him. The police of course went in search of Wadume who was later captured in Kano on 20th August 2019. They subsequently released the video of his confessional statement that corroborated their allegation that the soldiers who killed their men were working in concert with kidnappers. “I am Hamisu Bala also known as Wadume. The police came to Ibi and arrested me. After arresting me, they were taking me to Abuja when soldiers went after them, opened fire and some policemen were killed. From there, the soldiers took me to their headquarters and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away. Since I ran away, I have been hiding until now that the police arrested me again,” Wadume said in the video.

Meanwhile, the joint presidential investigative panel headed by Rear Admiral T.I Olaiya with representatives from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), State Security Service (SSS) as well as the army, navy and police went mute. Although the panel was said to have presented a report to Olonisakin for onward transmission to the president, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) broom has swept

From Band ‘A’ to Banditry

the matter under the proverbial carpet. Beyond what we are reading about “separated cases”, I am not aware that anybody in the military has been held accountable for executing three senior police officers and a civilian while on duty: No punishment for bad behaviour, no justice for slain police officers, no lessons learnt. Case closed!

I concede that I do not know the charges filed against Wadume and accomplices at the federal high court by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. So, it is possible that Justice Nyako merely applied the law. But when you run a system where the punishment does not fit the crime and there is no accountability even for lives lost, it is the larger society that is in danger.

ENDNOTE:

The traditional ruler of Ibi who received Wadume in his palace waxed philosophical about his returning subject. “We are hoping that he will not go back to criminality. He came to the palace and pledged his loyalty as a changed person. Even repented Boko Haram are allowed to reintegrate into the community, so we have to accept him and take proactive steps to secure our community,” Alhaji Garba said. “As someone who has a lot of followers, we believe that by re-integrating him, he will work with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the peace of the community. Wadume was not a hardened criminal, but someone with dubious character. The issue of kidnapping was framed against him and even politics came in; that was why the court could not convict him on some of the charges that were preferred against him. There will be a lot of talks around his release and his reception in the town, but people do change.”

Like the monarch, I also believe in the power of redemption. I therefore wish Wadume well, especially since he has fulfilled the requirement of the law. But this tragic story is more about the character of the Nigerian state than of Wadume. Given how this sordid saga has played out, what the authorities are invariably telling the families of the slain policemen is that Nigeria is not worth dying for!

From the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) cynically rechristened ‘Never Expect Power Always’ to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which became ‘Problem Has Changed Name’, the power sector in Nigeria has almost defied solution. Today, Nigerians have lost count of the number of times the national grid has collapsed in recent years, leaving the authorities to supply their usual megawatts of excuses at every point. On 4th February, for the fourth time this year, the grid collapsed again, with the capacity dropping from 2,407 megawatts to zero megawatts! That pattern was repeated on 28 March across the country.

In a bizarre turn of event, the federal government responded last week not with a concrete plan to revamp the sector but with a tariff structure that is based on some discriminatory ‘Band A, B, C, D, E...’ statistics…

rom trying to help 14 children roaming the streets of Asokoro in December 2018, my wife has since suspended her professional career and business for the cause of providing functional education to 137 children and young adults, 20 of whom are now on full scholarship at three Federal Government Colleges within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). And we are talking about children who had never been to school and could communicate only in Hausa six years ago. With the assistance of some hand-lifters, the remarkable story of the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI) School which I once shared briefly (Amatala and Other ‘Unforgotten’ Children - THISDAYLIVE) is a testament to the sacrifice and resourcefulness of Mrs Oluwatosin Adeniyi, who turns 50 tomorrow. On a personal note, she has been for me and our three children (Toluwani, Ifeoluwa and Oluwakorede) a blessing beyond measure. I can only wish her happy birthday, long life and good health. With all my love!

Wadume