WEDNESDAY 4TH MAY 2022

UN Scribe, Guterres: The Borno I Found Today is One of Hope Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Secretary-General of United Nations, Antonio Guterres, yesterday, said Borno State, the hotbed of Boko Haram, has begun to wear a new look and new hope.

Speaking during a visit to the Northeast state as part of his two-

day visit to Nigeria, Guterres said his visit was that of solidarity, especially, with the victims of terrorism, in the holy month of Ramadan, noting that, “The fact that I came to Borno State is symbolic of our priority to the world to fight terrorism and to create solutions for the victims of terrorism.”

“Now, the Borno State I have heard about in many circumstances around my life as High Commissioner for Refugees and then as Secretary-General was a Borno State of terrorism, of violence, of displacement, of despair.

“This is not the Borno that I found today. The Borno I found

today is a Borno of hope. It’s a Borno with future and I was very impressed to see the policy that is being applied here, recognising that we don’t fight terrorism just by military means.

“In fact, terrorism – addressing the root causes of terrorism – and the policy of the government,

which is aiming at reestablishing fully the confidence between the people and the government is an essential element that I witnessed today being implemented in reality.

“And on the other hand, it is absolutely essential to understand that, in a situation like this, it’s not enough to provide humanitarian

assistance. I am grateful to all those from the international community that have supported the people of Borno with humanitarian assistance.

“But the people I met today want more than that. The people I met today, in reality, want to go back Continued on page 10

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NDLEA: Ukatu, Billionaire Drug Baron, Imported N22bn Worth of Tramadol in One Month Michael Olugbode in Abuja

L-R: Diocesan Lay President of Trinity Church Council, Tinubu, Sir Wole Ariyo; Sir Ide Ifeanyichukwu Okechuke; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Emeka Kanu Uche; wife of the Prelate, Nneoma Florence Kanu Uche, during the opening of the 39th Council of Bishops of Methodist Church, Nigeria at the Methodist Church of Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos...yesterday

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alleged that a billionaire drug baron, Chief Afam Ukatu, imported into Nigeria two containers containing 1,284 Continued on page 10

Akeredolu to Buhari: It’s Southerners’ Turn to Produce Next President Don't keep party waiting Rotational presidency legal, constitutional, says Bamidele Clark insists on Igbo presidency, accuses north of oppression Warns any southerner agreeing to be VP unpatriotic

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja, Fidelis David in Akure and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, and governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not to keep party members waiting for their position on where the next president of Nigeria will come from. Akeredolu insisted that it was the turn of the southern part

of the country to produce the next president.

In a similar vein, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, declared that rotational presidency in Nigeria between the north and south was legal and constitutional.

Likewise, elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, contended that the two major political parties in Nigeria, Continued on page 10

PEACE ON THEIR MINDS...

Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa(UBA), and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu and Special Assistant to the United States President and Senior Director for Africa, Ms Dana Banks, during the Fireside Chat hosted by the U.S. Institute of Peace and The Heritage Foundation in Washington DC at the weekend

US Supreme Court Orders Probe After Rare Leak of Draft Abortion Ruling... Page 10

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

NEWS

REUNION OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF WEST AFRICA...

L-R: Archbishop John Onaiyekan; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama ; Cardinal Antonio Tagle; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Papal Nuncio, Most Reverend Antonio Filipazzi, at the reunion of episcopal Conference of West Africa held at the ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja....yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

Nigeria Looks to Canada for Emergency Potash Supply to Replace Russia Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Nigeria bought emergency supplies of Canadian potash in April after the country was unable to import the key fertiliser ingredient from Russia due to the impact of Western sanctions, the head of Nigeria's Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji, has disclosed.

Although he declined to comment on prices, however, spot prices yesterday were up more than 250 per cent for deliveries to West Africa compared to last year, according to commodities pricing agency Argus Media, dealing a further blow to the country's finances.

Reuters reported that the move showed one of many unintended negative consequences of sanctions to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a "special military operation".

"Russia was unable to deliver so we bought spot from traders in Canada. The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria helped start the conversation with producers," Orji told Reuters.

NSIA negotiates imports of raw fertiliser materials like potash as part of the Nigerian government's programme to develop its capacity to produce blended fertilizer.

Orji said Nigeria has enough potash inventories to cover 40 per cent

of blending demand and bought three cargoes of Canadian potash, which should arrive within the next month. Normally, the country takes five Russian cargoes a year.

Western sanctions and selfsanctioning by many global companies and financial institutions has created chaos for anyone dealing in products of Russian origin and sent many energy and commodity prices to record highs.

Last week, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, speaking with Bloomberg Television, had attributed the rising prices of fertiliser to the scarcity of potash, stressing that the government was doing everything

to ameliorate the impact.

“The Ukraine Russia war is causing another wave of global economic distortion and we are very much affected in the sense that energy prices are high which comes with increasing transportation costs, which is also reflecting in the cost of food,” she noted.

According to the minister, as a fertiliser-producing country, it has been tough getting the key ingredient in the production of the agricultural commodity, which has led to skyrocketing prices.

“And also, for Nigeria as a producer of fertiliser, one of the major inputs for fertiliser production, potash, is also affected. Now it is

AFEX Tops Agriculture, Commodities List in FT's Ranking of African Companies Emma Okonji AFEX, Nigeria's commodities market player and the country's first private sector commodities exchange, has been listed on the Financial Times (FT) ranking of Africa's Fastest-Growing Companies in Agriculture Commodities category 2022.

Despite the challenging business conditions, the company topped the list by demonstrating its revenue growth.

AFEX added over 350,000 digital farmers to their WorkBench platform and announced the first Asset-Backed Commercial Paper listed on a Commodities Exchange in Africa.

The FT’s Africa Fastest Growing Companies list comprises innova-

tive, modern and fast-growing companies that are the driving force of the international economy in the 21st century. Only 75 companies were featured on the list from thousands of entrants.

In collaboration with Statista, the FT ranks companies that had the strongest revenue growth in Africa between 2017 and 2020.

AFEX also came in first place in the list of fastest-growing companies in Nigeria and third place in the overall list of fastest-growing companies in Africa.

AFEX has supported farmers across major grain growing states in the country. The company has over 126 warehouses in Nigeria, and Kenya, with a storage capacity of 120,000MT. CEO at AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun,

said: “We are delighted to have come top of the FT’s Africa's fastest-growing Agriculture and Commodities list. It is a significant accomplishment and recognises the work we have been doing over the past eight years.

“Although the global pandemic has proved challenging over the past two years, we’ve worked extremely hard to improve Africa's commodity market. Innovations such as our Electronic Warehouse Receipts System (e-WRS) use blockchain technology to help farmers access credit safely.

"Widening access and creating a more inclusive and profitable ecosystem that works for everyone, fuels our ambition to expand into new markets. We have recently expanded to Kenya, and will scale

Presidential Amnesty Programme Urges Niger Deltans to Embrace Dialogue in Addressing Grievances Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (retd), has advised Niger Delta people to always deploy dialogue in addressing grievances or disputes in the region.

Dikio gave the advice yesterday, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Nneotabase Egbe, at an event to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of the former board Chairman of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency

(NOSDRA), Maj. Lancelot Anyanya (rtd) in Abuja.

The PAP boss insisted that the use of intellectual property, networking and negotiations remained the most potent means of drawing attention to issues of deprivation, marginalisation and environmental degradation.

He said Niger Delta leaders should strive to be part of the boardroom negotiations instead of resorting to street agitations that would always lead to negative consequences.

While eulogising Anyanya for contributing to the peace and development in the Niger Delta, Dikio said his administration as the PAP boss had been largely successful because of the vital role the security expert.

He said: "When I was given this appointment, I prayed that I wanted to have destiny helpers and one of the destiny helpers God sent my way was, Lancelot Ayanya.

Our relationship started in 1990, but over the years, we have kept fate and kept in touch.

up further with an imminent launch in Côte D'Ivoire. This is fantastic and keeps us on track with our core mission of helping Africa feed herself and providing employment for farmers.”

Since its launch in 2014, AFEX has committed to levelling-up Africa's agro-tech sector. By bridging the gap between Agroprocessors and investors, AFEX boosts food security and makes food production more efficient.

AFEX has financed over 350,00 farmers in eight years and fed 4,000,000 households.

scarce and that means that the input is very expensive and we are seeing that reflecting in the cost of fertiliser.

“As a government, we are looking at how to mitigate this high cost to support the fertiliser producing companies so that the price of the commodity is not too out of the reach of the common man who are the farming population,” the minister explained.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last week that the invasion had delivered a further "huge negative shock" to sub-Saharan Africa, driving food and energy prices higher and putting the most vulnerable people at risk of hunger.

The extra pressure comes as many countries are still reeling from the protracted COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters indicated.

Nigeria has for years been battling double-digit inflation, which quickened to 15.92 per cent last month, and its population of 200 million will face even higher food costs this year and the next as the agricultural sector passes on the higher costs of imported wheat, diesel and fertiliser.

Russia's Uralkali, a major global producer of the crop nutrient, has been Nigeria's exclusive supplier since 2019. Uralkali declined comment. The Canadian government did not have an immediate comment.

The potash producer has not itself been targeted by sanctions so far but Russian businessman Dmitry Mazepin left the board and cut

his controlling stake in Uralchem after he was hit by EU sanctions in March. Uralchem owns the majority of Uralkali.

Orji said there were ongoing discussions to see if a Russian delivery could still be made.

The price of potash has been on the rise since last year after the EU imposed some sanctions on Belarus, the world's third biggest producer after Russia and Canada.

The price skyrocketed in early March following financial sanctions on Russia, hitting a record $1,125 per tonne at the end of April for product on a delivered basis to South Africa, according to commodity pricing agency Argus Media. Combined, Belarus and Russia account for 38 per cent of global potash supplies, which are now uncertain.

Nigeria imported about 200,000 tonnes of potash last year, one of three key ingredients for fertiliser blending, according to the local Fertilisers Producers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

Nigeria's raw material imports meet just under 40 per cent of Nigeria's needs, the rest is sourced domestically, and local blended output was 1.5 million tonnes last year, nearly equal to domestic consumption.

"The Canadian potash will hopefully arrive just in the nick of time for the planting season, which starts as early as end-May in some parts," FEPSAN Executive Director, Gideon Negedu said, adding that the association has a strategy to prioritise crops that need more potash.

Kaduna Electric Gets New MD/CEO John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc (Kaduna Electric) has announced the appointment of Mr. Yusuf Yahaya as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Yahaya succeeded Mr. Garba Haruna who had resigned his appointment to pursue personal endeavours, having served in that capacity for eight years.

A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications of the company, Abdulhazeez Abdullahi, said Yahaya takes over the leadership of Kaduna Electric with diverse public and private sector experiences and educational background in Petroleum and Gas Engineering from University of Port Harcourt, a Master of Business

Administration from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland and currently a fellow of Doctor of Philosophy.

The statement stated that until his appointment, Yahaya was an Expert Consultant with the USAID Nigerian Power Sector Program and Senior Advisor to the Managing Director Rural Electrification Agency.

According to the statement, “Prior to this time, he led an energy advisory and projects company on investments and development of proprietary and third-party frontrunner on- and off-grid thermal greenfield renewable projects.

“In this role, he has been lead consultant and advisor on industry agreements and corporate turnaround strategies in the Nigerian electricity distribution sector.

“Previously, he was at various times strategic analyst and specialist at the General Electric Company,

working within the Global Growth Organization on flag planting and market development strategies on portfolio across Transportation, Power and Water, Healthcare, and Oil and Gas. He left the company as Country Manager for GE Water & Process Technologies.”

Yahaya is a member of several professional associations including Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Project Management Institute and Corporate Governance Society of Nigeria.

He is also a Fellow of the Nigeria Institution of Power Engineers, Fellow, Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria and Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants among several others.

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FAREWELL AND WELCOME PARTY FOR HILTON MANAGERS...

L-R: General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Bulent Tarlan; MD/CEO Transcorp Hotels, Dupe Olusola, and former General Manager of the hotel, Kevin Brett, at the farewell and welcome party of the PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI General Managers at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja ...recently

Nigeria's Private Refineries' Operators Groan Under Weight of Crude Scarcity as NNPC Focuses on Export Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The few small-scale refineries operating in Nigeria are facing a huge challenge of crude oil supply, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited continues to focus on exporting the commodity, THISDAY learnt yesterday.

Several operators, despite the assurances by the national oil company of support, expressed frustration that despite the huge investments, their facilities have remained dormant as the NNPC has declined to make the raw material available.

THISDAY recalls that on several occasions, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, had assured local operators of adequate crude oil supply.

In fact, recently, at the launch of Waltersmith refinery, Kyari was quoted as promising that the NNPC would collaborate with relevant entities to provide the few modular assets operating in the country with all the necessary support they need to operate and achieve their growth plans.

“We will work closely with them to ensure that they get enough crude feedstock they need to operate seamlessly,” the NNPC boss had said.

But it was gathered that the refineries operating mainly in Imo, Delta and Edo have been mostly dormant due to the refusal of the NNPC to supply crude to the local

oil facilities, especially as they have been unable to fully source the required commodity from private crude suppliers.

For instance, it was gathered that the 10,000 barrels OPAC refinery in Kwale which underwent testing under the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has not been producing due to the NNPC's inability to supply the raw material to the company while Waltersmith was facing same issues and Edo refinery is being delayed for the same reason.

While the companies are currently producing diesel, kerosene , Naphtha and fuel oil which are used in industries, with a projection to procure “reformers” which would help in producing petrol, but it was understood that the regulation of petrol has made it commercially inviable.

Despite the companies requesting a swap arrangement with the NNPC, the effort has become fruitless for years as the national oil company prefers to supply foreign firms, some stakeholders who preferred to remain anonymous told THISDAY. As it is, it was learnt that the affected local private companies are currently buying crude from private clusters , which are rarely enough for the required demand.

"The major challenge here is that the NNPC has chosen to sell crude to foreign refineries and export rather than even giving concession to refineries in the country," a source

told THISDAY. It was further gathered that the Edo refinery which is due for commissioning will encounter the same problem which is delaying the take-off while Waltersmith refinery in Imo is having the same challenge since it's only getting crude from Seplat, a private company.

A source told THISDAY that Nigeria is paying more for petrol because since it is purchased abroad, the product would accumulate more logistics costs including, transportation, spot and refining expenses.

"NNPC will tell you that they are doing DSDP (Direct Sales, Direct Purchase), and give traders that don't even have refineries the needed crude, but they fail to give local refineries the commodity.

"This is an aberration because all those costs associated with the DSDP , they will pass these costs to the government which will add to the pump price. That's why you see the cost of products going up

the quest to liberate Delta State from the vice grip of those who do not wish her well is urgent and overwhelming. Thus, “we will bring in our best brains, we will put all willing hands on deck, we will lead from the front, and we will win.”

The leading gubernatorial contender congratulated Niboro on his appointment, stating “I have confidence in your capacity, knowledge and experience. Yours is the very first appointment I am making, and it is a signal to the state and country at large that we mean business here.”

Niboro, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, was Special

several letters that were not replied, the refineries are now frustrated.

"We are not doing anything with our investment because we do not have crude. We have written the ministry of petroleum, permanent secretary, the midstream and downstream authority. Nothing has come out of it. We have put in so much investments into this thing. And the refineries are just lying fallow,’' another source added.

“What is the justification for supplying foreign refineries when local refineries that require very insignificant quantity are sidelined?” a frustrated operator queried.

While the NNPC exports about 1.3 million barrels per day, it was understood that all the refineries operating in Nigeria today would require just a meagre 16,000 barrels per day to operate optimally.

A THISDAY review showed that while WalterSmith refinery is just 5,000 bpd, Edo refinery is 1,000 barrels while OPAC in Delta

is just 10,000 barrels per day, less than 0.5 per cent of total national export.

"We are not saying give us for free. We want to purchase and sell to the local market to ameliorate the local challenges the country is facing with refined products," the source said.

"Government is not giving us attention. Government is not giving us the kind of support that we need and it's frustrating. Do we have to wait for approval in our whole lifetime? the source asked.

The source argued that if products are produced locally, there's no way they can arrive in a bad form, because they are straight-run products as they come directly out of crude production and not blended like the imported products which cause environmental hazards.

The local refinery owners are therefore requesting urgent government intervention not to allow the installed facility and investment go to waste.

UK Firm Targets 70 Million Nigerians in $500m Medical, Hospitality Investment Sunday Aborisade in Abuja A United Kingdom (UK) based firm, HP Kapital Limited and the FHT Ventures Plc yesterday in Abuja, unveiled a multi-billion-naira

Omo-Agege Tips Niboro as Director, Communications and Media Strategy, for Campaign Organisation Deputy Senate President, and leading contender for the governorship of Delta State, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has appointed former presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro, to lead the Communications and Media Strategy initiative for his campaign organisation.

In a release he personally signed yesterday, he said that the choice of the award winning journalist and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, signals his unshakable commitment to bring on board only the best and brightest to the unfolding campaign organisation.

Obarisi Omo-Agege noted that

in the market.

"Today, diesel is selling for almost N700. This is the same diesel that if refined locally, all these associated costs will be eliminated," another operator told THISDAY. For a product that would be sold locally in naira, an industry source told THISDAY that it was unacceptable that the private companies supplying crude would be demanding payment in dollars.

"What they are saying is that we have to generate USD to pay in dollars," a source stated.

In addition, it was learnt that the local refineries have been engaging the federal government through the NNPC for years which although has pledged support for local refineries, has done it in the breach.

"It's lip service. They just pay lip service. They tell us they are waiting for approval from NNPC board or from NNPC management and this is since 2020, "an aggrieved party told this paper, insisting that after

Adviser, Media and Publicity, to former President Goodluck Jonathan and was later appointed Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria in 2014.

Before then, he was Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, (Office of the Vice President).

Niboro holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Lagos State University, a post graduate diploma in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, and a first degree in English Studies from the University of Port Harcourt.

He is married with children.

development - driven intervention plans.

The firms said their target was to empower 70 million youths in Nigeria and put an end to medical tourism by wealthy Nigerians. .

The Chairman of HP Kapital UK, Mr. Nandishwar Kaushal, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.

He said $500 million had been sourced from the World Bank and other global development institutions as take-off fund.

He explained that the entire plan was all about rebuilding Nigeria by making necessary interventions in critical areas like youth unemployment and medical tourism.

Kaushal said, "Nigeria for several years now, has not been fully supported the way it deserves, particularly in the area of youth empowerment or engagement in World class medical centres where any form of health challenge could be attended to.

"In addressing the challenges in the two areas mentioned, hectares of land have been secured in Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Enugu and Niger

states for the establishment of world class hospitals and tertiary institutions with technology and skills - driven curriculum.

"The Hospitals in plan would be anchored on self - sustainability in terms of electricity supply and operationally holistic in terms of medical and health care service delivery with inclusion of natural herbal medicine.

"For the teeming unemployed youths in the country, empowerment programmes in the areas of Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among others, will be carried out.

"About 10 million youths will become entrepreneurs while 60 million others would be gainfully engaged.

"The intervention plan will also help government at various levels to practically address the 20 million housing deficit in the country with building of affordable houses for the needy," he said.

Making further explanations to the intervention plans, the Chairman of FHT Ventures, Mr. Olubunmi Faboro said required collaborations

with relevant government agencies had been established.

"Relevant government agencies have been contacted and keyed into the plans," he said.

Disclosing the level of such collaborations, Mr. Osita Opara, a chartered broker and projects coordinator for the intervention plans, said 18 hectares of land had been secured for the World Class Hospital at the Guzape area of Abuja.

He added that additional 13 hectares of land had also been secured in the Guzape extension, for hotels, malls and offices.

Others, according to him, were, 30 hectares of land in Lagos, 1.7 hectares of land in Central Business District Abuja for the building of a 22-Storey structure with residential , hotel and offices.

"No issue with land allocations as far as the planned intervention projects are concerned," he said.

The President of Youth Coalition in Nigeria, Ambassador Abdulmumini Ibrahim was at the World press conference on behalf of 70 million Nigerian Youth .

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UK/NIGERIA TRADE AND INVESTMENT MISSION...

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, and Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business, Africa, Unilever, Dougie Brew, during the UK/Nigeria Trade and Investment Mission in London...recently

Social Conflicts Threatening ECOWAS' Integration Objectives, Says Buhari As Catholic Bishops seek regional peace

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has said the persisting social conflicts in most countries of West Africa are negatively affecting the sub-region's capacity to achieve integration which he said was the major goal of forming the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The president who was represented by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the fourth Plenary Assembly of Reunion of Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) holding at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, said the spate

of conflicts and violence around the countries' borders put considerable pressure on the ability of the affected countries to drive their political and economic activities.

He said: "All our efforts to integrate our Community have been thwarted not just by external forces, and I am concerned about the sovereignty of our countries and they have also resulted in a situation where social conflicts in our nation and around our borders have critically affected our capacity to truly integrate things the way that we wish.

"Internal crisis and social conflicts

around borders have created a situation where today in our region we will say is passing a season of considerable political, economic and social turmoil.

"Terrorism and violent conflicts, banditry affect many of our nations, especially the Sahel region."

The Vice President said in the aftermath of the outbreak of COVID-19, many of the economies of the West African countries have been weakened while unemployment escalated with the attendant poverty.

He also stated that, "peace cannot reign in our region if it does not first reign in countries and communities.

"Since 2017, there have been 12 military coups in Africa. And half of them have occurred since 2020. Historical, in times like this, parochial prejudices are heightened and the fabric of cohesion in the society becomes frayed as people retreat into ethnic, religious and other nativist camps.

"And those who do not speak our language or subscribe to our faith come under great suspicion and soon they become scapegoats for all our challenges and ethnic, religious and separatist conflicts arise. In all of these, the ideal of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous sub-region

Formula Milk Promoters Out to Discourage Breastfeeding, WHO Alleges Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The World Health Organisation (WHO) has alleged that Formula milk companies are paying social media platforms and influencers to gain direct access to pregnant women and mothers at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives so as to win them over.

In a statement, WHO noted that the global formula milk industry, valued at some $55 billion has been targeting new mothers with personalised social media content that is often not recognizable as advertising.

A new WHO report titled scope and impact of digital marketing strategies for promoting breast-milk substitutes had outlined the digital marketing techniques designed to influence the decisions new families make on how to feed their babies. It explained that through tools like apps, virtual support groups or ‘baby-clubs’, paid social media influencers, promotions and competitions and advice forums or services, formula milk companies could buy or collect personal information and send personalised promotions to new pregnant women and mothers.

The report summarised findings of a new research that sampled and analysed four million social media posts about infant feeding published between January and June 2021 using a commercial social listening platform. These posts reached 2.47 billion people and generated more than 12 million

likes, shares or comments.

The statement quoted the Director of WHO Nutrition and Food Safety Department, Dr. Francesco Branca, as having said. "Formula milk companies post content on their social media accounts around 90 times per day, reaching 229 million users; representing three times as many people as are reached by informational posts about breastfeeding from non-commercial accounts.

"This pervasive marketing is increasing purchases of breast-milk substitutes and therefore dissuading mothers from breastfeeding exclusively as recommended by WHO. The promotion of commercial milk formulas should have been terminated decades ago."

Branca further said, “The fact that formula milk companies are now employing even more powerful and insidious marketing techniques to drive up their sales is inexcusable and must be stopped.”

According to him, the report compiled evidence from social listening research on public online communications and individual country reports of research that monitors breast-milk substitute promotions, as well as drawing on a recent multi-country study of mothers’ and health professionals’ experiences of formula milk marketing.

The studies showed how misleading marketing reinforces myths about breastfeeding and breast milk and undermines women’s confidence in their ability to breastfeed successfully.

WHO said the proliferation of global digital marketing of formula milk blatantly breached the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the Code), which was adopted by the 1981 World Health Assembly.

The Code is a landmark public health agreement designed to protect the general public and mothers from aggressive marketing practices by the baby food industry that negatively impact breastfeeding practices.

WHO expressed concern that despite clear evidence that exclusive and continued breastfeeding are key determinants of improved lifelong health for children, women and communities, far too few children are breastfed as recommended.

"If current formula milk marketing strategies continue, that proportion could fall still further, boosting companies’ profits.

"The fact that these forms of digital marketing can evade scrutiny from national monitoring and health authorities means new approaches to Code-implementing regulation and enforcement are required. Currently, national legislation may be evaded by marketing that originates beyond borders."

WHO called on the baby food industry to end exploitative formula milk marketing, and on governments to protect new children and families by enacting, monitoring and enforcing laws to end all advertising or other promotion of formula milk products.

remains almost impossible," he said.

Osinbajo said the concept behind the theme of the conference, "Fratelli Tutti: Path to Build Brotherhood and Sustainable Peace in West Africa," for which Pope Francis had written about, is a concept of the brotherhood of all humanity.

He said the federal government was committed to collaborating with the Church and all well-meaning actors in promoting peace and security.

Speaking on the role of the church in maintaining peaceful coexistence, the president said the Bishops conference could supply a moral and spiritual consensus that undergirds the project of integration.

"Indeed, the Catholic Church and the Bishops conference have established a reputation for speaking truth to power in consonance with the highest prophetic traditions and by continuing its illustrious practice of inspiring social action by the lay faithful.

"Over the years, the Church has modeled profound approaches in challenging the impunity of some state actors and errant power," he said President of RECOWA and Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, said leaders of the region must use political power to create good governance rather than for personal advancement or allow religious, ethnic, economic or political interests to subordinate the common good.

"Leaders must enthrone merit, share resources equitably, and do away with the virus of corruption and self-centeredness," he added.

In his welcome address, the

President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji said the theme of the meeting was apt given the level of insecurity and violence across the continent.

He said socio-political and socio-cultural problems threaten peace and impede development in our different countries, hence the need for all to come together in solidarity as a human family to address them.

According to him, there was need to come together to find solutions for these problems.

He said Catholic Bishops should exhibit more catholic attitude which preaches against discrimination and exclusion.

In his message, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of People's, Luis Cardinal Antonio Tagle, said that said the theme of Conference was timely and urgent considering the turbulence in the whole world.

While echoing the concern by Apostolic Nuncio, Tagle said tribalism threatens universal friendship and by extension global unity.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Damian Dodo, described the meeting as the largest gathering of Catholic Bishops in West Africa.

He said his prayer was that the Bishops meeting would bring peace and healing in the land.

He said the meeting was coming at the time when Nigeria was facing a lot of challenges like other countries, adding that the theme of the conference was apt as it seeks to address the core of the challenges facing the region which is the insecurity and hunger.

Foundation Unveils Nigeria’s First Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottle School Slum Art Foundation has officially unveiled the first of its kind polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle-built school for slum children in the Ijora Badia community to allow access for art education in a creative environment.

The school was built on April 28th, 2022.

The school building project which commenced in 2019, provides access to learning, mentorship, and training in a creatively conducive environment to underserved children in Nigeria.

By providing access to education, the children would learn the skill sets needed to become valuable

members of society.

The building project was funded

by World Connect, a global initiative that invests directly in the ideas of local leaders to drive self-sustaining development in their communities.

The funding has allowed Slum Art Foundation to continue shaping a new set of young art enthusiasts.

As a not-for-profit organisation, Slum Art Foundation activities in providing learning support in the Ijora Badia community by training, mentoring, and reforming mindsets of the children living in the slum continues to help in grooming a new set of young art enthusiast.

Speaking during the Launch,

Co-Founder, Slum Art Foundation, Adetunwase Adenle, expressed excitement over completing the school building project for the community, saying it would provide a haven for children to enjoy the experience of learning art in a convenient space.

He further stated that the school launch brought relief for the tutors and young people in the community as it comes during the rainy season, and provides a sheltered space where learning can continue regardless of the weather.

Adenle reiterated that the rationale behind the use of plastic bottles in the construction of the

school was aimed at showcasing the artistic use of potential waste materials that litter across the society, educating the children in the slum on the impact on the community if not properly disposed or recycled.

Adetunwase also used the medium to express the organisation’s heartfelt gratitude to the World Connect initiative, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), and Oluwaseun Dania International Foundation for their financial support towards the building project and other empowerment initiatives in empowering young people within the Ijora Badia community.

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US Supreme Court Orders Probe After Rare Leak of Draft Abortion Ruling Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The United States Supreme Court yesterday ordered an investigation into the almost unprecedented leak of a draft ruling on the country’s abortion laws, describing it as a betrayal.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who confirmed the authenticity of the leaked draft opinion, noted that it didn’t yet represent a final document.

If formally announced, millions of women across the US could soon lose their legal right to abortion, according to the leaked Supreme Court document,

published by Politico, suggesting the country's top court is poised to overturn the 1973 decision that legalised abortion nationwide.

Striking down the Roe v Wade ruling would mean that individual states would be allowed to ban abortion if they wish. It is expected abortion could then be banned in almost half of US states, the BBC indicated.

The Supreme Court's justices are expected to issue a ruling in late June or early July on the matter because Mississippi is asking for it to be overturned. The justices heard the case in December.

Thirteen states have already

passed the so-called trigger laws that will automatically ban abortion if the law is overruled. A number of others would be likely to pass laws quickly.

Some 36 million women could then lose abortion access, according to research from Planned Parenthood, a healthcare organisation which provides abortions.

But anti-abortion groups welcomed the news, saying if the law is indeed overturned, “the job will be to build consensus for the strongest protections possible for unborn children."

A statement issued by the court on the matter, however stated that

no final decision had been taken on the matter.

“Yesterday, a news organisation published a copy of a draft opinion in a pending case. Justices circulate draft opinions internally as a routine and essential part of the Court’s confidential deliberative work.

“Although the document described in yesterday’s reports is authentic, it does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.

“To the extent this betrayal of the confidences of the Court was intended to undermine the

AKEREDOLU TO BUHARI: IT’S SOUTHERNERS’ TURN TO PRODUCE NEXT PRESIDENT APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should allow the Igbo have the presidency in 2023. Clark accused any southerner who accepts to be a running mate in the 2023 presidential election of unpatriotism.

National Chairman of APC and former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had at the weekend said the party was yet to zone the presidency to any geopolitical area ahead of 2023, a comment that provoked negative reactions, especially, from the southern part of the country.

But Akeredolu, in a statement he personally signed, stressed the need for the president and the APC leadership to ensure that the southern part of the country produced the next president.

The governor joined the growing number of Nigerians advising not just APC, but also PDP, to ensure that their presidential candidates in the 2023 general election were from the southern part of the country.

Akeredolu maintained that it was the turn of the southern part of the country to produce the next president, and the APC leadership should have no difficulty in making a pronouncement on the issue. He urged the party leaders to do this without delay, stressing that the principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The governor stated, "We must not keep our party men and women guessing on the position of the leadership of the party. This is the time to weigh in and take control of the process. No statement must suggest, even remotely, that the party harbours certain sentiments, which may predispose it to consider throwing the contest open.

This is, certainly, not the time for equivocation. Equity dictates that we take a stand."

On the recent APC national convention, which produced a new leadership for the party, Akeredolu said there was an urgent need for the party to come clean about the zoning of the presidential position.

He stated, "The leadership of the party ensured that the principle of rotational representation guided its decision at the just-concluded convention. The party chairmanship position has gone to the north; all other offices have been filled on this understanding.

“This is the time the leaders of the party must make a categorical statement, devoid of equivocation, on the pattern of succession.

"The party executive committee has fixed a fee for the purchase of the nomination form for the office.

It is expected, fervently, that it will proceed to complete the process by limiting the propensities for disagreement to a region for possible micro-management. It is very expedient that we avoid self-inflicted crises before the general election.”

Akeredolu commended the efforts of the APC federal administration to address the multifarious challenges facing the country. But he warned against permitting any form of internal distrust ahead of the coming elections.

The governor stated, "The current socio-economic crises are surmount-

able. It is commendable that the government is addressing these issues without drama.

“The federal government and leadership of our great party will come out stronger. We cannot, therefore, afford any internal bickering, which holds the potential promise of causing distrust and militating against cohesion, harmony and the zeal to achieve set objectives.

"The current democratic dispensation is anchored on the unwritten convention driven by a principle of equity. Political expediency dictates, more appealingly, that while adhering to the spirit and letters of the laws guiding conduct of elections and succession to political offices, we must do nothing which is capable of tilting the delicate balance against the established arrangement, which guarantees peace and promotes trust.

"Our party just elected officers on the established principle of giving every part of the country an important stake in the political calculus. The focus has now shifted to the process, which will culminate in the participation of our party in the general elections scheduled for next year."

The governor stressed that all lovers of peace and freedom must do everything to eschew tendencies that might predispose them to taking decisions, which promote distrust and could lead to a crisis, the end of which nobody would be able to predict.

Rotational Presidency Legal, Constitutional, Bamidele Insists

Bamidele declared that the issue of rotational presidency in the country was legal and constitutional.

The APC chieftain described the rotation of the presidency between northern and southern Nigeria as a legal and constitutional agitation recognised by Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti during an empowerment programme he organised for his constituents, Bamidele, who is the senator for Ekiti Central, described the agitation for the presidency by politicians of southern extraction as a legitimate request.

Addressing journalists at the Oluyemi Kayode stadium, in Ado Ekiti, venue of the event, Bamidele said, "Rotational presidency is legitimate and constitutional. Let me state that Section 14 of the constitution and various sections of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, stated that no section of the country should dominate others in terms of positions.

"Let me also state that the primary concept of governance is welfare and good governance. The section emphasised that Nigeria shall not be governed in such a way that any particular section will have domineering advantage over others.

"That is the whole essence of equitable distribution of wealth and power. Part of the equitable distribution of power is allowing the presidency to rotate between the north and south.

"Though the constitution didn't say specifically about rotation, but logically and through various judicial

interpretations, allowing it to rotate is legal and constitutional."

Bamidele added that allowing the presidency to go to the south in 2023 would douse the raging restiveness and tension in the country.

He said, "Speaking as a Nigerian, there is social tension in Nigeria today and when you have situations whereby Nigerians are beginning to doubt our togetherness and no longer trust leadership, people should not be thinking about political dominance.

"There is no part of this nation and zone that cannot produce the best. If you check properly, majority desire in APC is that there should be free, fair and credible primary to elect our presidential candidate and not by imposition."

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) had on Monday issued a firm warning to those trying to do away with the zoning of the presidency in the country, saying any attempt to end zoning, as being insinuated in some northern quarters, would spell the end for Nigeria.

The leaders had also condemned a statement credited to the chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Alhaji Ango Abdullahi, that rotation of the presidency between the north and south was, “dead and buried.”

They declared that another eight years of northern presidency, after President Muhammadu Buhari, was unacceptable.

The position of the leaders was contained in a joint statement by National Leader, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and Chairman, SMBLF, Chief Edwin Clark; leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor; and National President, Middle Belt Forum, Pogu Bitrus. They said they were prepared for those attempting to upturn a practice – zoning – that had sustained the country.

The group warned that any attempt to kill and bury the agelong power rotation agreement

between the north and south was tantamount to an attempt to kill and bury Nigeria. SMBLF stated that the move to tinker with the rotation of the presidency was inimical to national unity.

The Southern and Middle Belt leaders also cautioned Abdullahi’s NEF, and wondered if the northern body was now out to dissolve the country.

The position resonated in the Ekiti State capital at the event, where Bamidele distributed to his constituents materials, including mini buses, sowing machines, generating sets, ploughing machine, grinding machines, wheel chairs, tricycles, motorbikes, ambulance buses, ventilators, fertilisers, driers, and Hilux van.

Clark Insists on Igbo Presidency, Accuses North of Oppression

Meanwhile, speaking on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, Clark, a former federal commissioner, alleged that the north was using its population to oppress the rest of the country. He maintained that for the unity of the country, the Igbo should lead Nigeria from next year.

Clark stated, “No Nigerian will like to live in a Nigeria whereby certain people believe that unless they are in power, there will be no Nigeria, that the person who is there will not succeed.

“So, APC believes that unless you have a northerner as a candidate they won’t succeed, because they, too, have been watching PDP prevaricating. When Lord Lugard created Nigeria in 1914, he did not say that some people were superior to the others.”

Insisting that Nigeria stood on a tripod, the north, east and west, the nonagenarian contended that the third leg, which is the east, was yet to be reintegrated since the civil war.

Clark said former Head of State, Continued on page 43

integrity of our operations, it will not succeed. The work of the Court will not be affected in any way.

“We at the Court are blessed to have a workforce — permanent employees and law clerks alike — intensely loyal to the institution and dedicated to the rule of law.

“Court employees have an exemplary and important tradition of respecting the confidentiality of the judicial process and upholding the trust of the Court. This was a singular and egregious breach of that trust that is an affront to the Court and the community of public servants who work here.

“I have directed the Marshal of the Court to launch an investigation into the source of the leak,” Roberts stated.

The leaked document - labelled "1st Draft" - appears to reflect the majority opinion of the court, and according to Politico was written by Justice Samuel Alito and circulated within the court on 10 February.

Its publication on Monday night sparked an immediate outcry from Democrats, as well as protests by both pro-choice and anti-abortion campaigners outside the court in Washington DC. Leading Democratic politicians Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said jointly that if the report was accurate, the Supreme Court was "poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past 50 years".

At the White House, President Joe Biden called on voters to elect more abortion rights supporters to Congress so that lawmakers can codify the principles of Roe into federal law even if the justices reverse the decision.

Speaking with reporters, Biden said the potential ruling would undermine the right to privacy more broadly than just abortion, endangering a series of rights that Americans have come to expect.

“If this decision holds, it’s really quite a radical decision,” he said. “It basically says all the decisions related to your private life, who you marry, whether or not you decide to conceive a child or not, whether or not you can have an abortion, a range of other decisions. All of those could now be in question,” he said.

While the draft opinion was not final and may be changed before the court issues its decision within the next month or so, its publication made clear that a bedrock of American law for the last half-century was on the verge of being reversed.

The disclosure of the opinion to Politico was unprecedented in such a major case in modern times and threw the Supreme Court into turmoil as it faced a head-spinning breach of its traditional secrecy.

The court has largely been immune to the sort of leaks that have been common in other major institutions.

UN SCRIBE, GUTERRES: THE BORNO I FOUND TODAY IS ONE OF HOPE home in safety and dignity. And when one looks at the state, one understands that the way to [fight] terrorism effectively, is to provide not only hope, but a future of reality.

It is to invest in livelihoods, it is to invest in the reintegration of those that have been in the past recruited by these terrorist groups,

by Boko Haram.

“I was amazed to see today in the centre [that] those that have been terrorists, they want to integrate in the society and contribute to society.

And the policy that is in place here is a policy of reconciliation, it is a policy of reintegration and it is a policy aiming at a development perspective to allow for terrorism to be definitely eliminated …thanks to the fact that people are able to construct their future in confidence with those that are governing them,” he explained.

While expressing delight with the achievements of Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, the UN Secretary-General said: “So, I will be your advocate, Mr. Governor. Your advocate within the international community, asking the international community to support and to invest in the Borno of hope.”

On how the UN was going to assist Borno to get back on track, he said: “The UN has its demining programme. I believe that there is a full possibility of cooperation with the government of Borno in relation to that. But, of course, it is not only demining.

“It is, as I said, investing in the future of people – investing in schools, in the hospitals, in the creation of jobs, in the livelihoods, in helping those programmes, so that they are able to deliver, to go to the market and making Borno, as I said, not only a state of hope, but a state of reality, in which there is no room for terrorism.”

He revealed that he had promised to fully be supportive of the project of reintegration of terrorists, adding: “And when that project is formulated, I am ready to be an advocate of it and to be telling different countries around the world that they need to invest, because the best thing we can do for peace is to reintegrate those that in a moment of despair became terrorists but now want to become good citizens and want to contribute to the well-being of their brothers and sisters.”

NDLEA: UKATU, BILLIONAIRE DRUG BARON, IMPORTED N22BN WORTH OF TRAMADOL IN ONE MONTH cartons of tramadol, with the market value of over N22 billion, in October 2019. NDLEA said in a statement yesterday that its on-going investigation of Ukatu had uncovered the importation of the banned drug.

The statement was issued against the backdrop of insinuations by people the agency called hirelings, that NDLEA had no evidence to pin a crime on the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Mallinson Group of Companies.

The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, explained in the statement that Ukatu was arrested on April 13 on-board a flight to Abuja, at the MM2 Terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja, after months’ surveillance.

Babafemi said investigation revealed that Ukatu had been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of tramadol hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg to 200mg, 225mg and 250mg.

He further said Ukatu owned

pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.

The NDLEA spokesman said in the course of investigating the N3 billion tramadol saga between Ukatu and the Abba Kyari’s IRT team, the agency’s operatives unearthed more evidence establishing how he had been importing large quantities of tramadol far above the approved threshold allowed into the country.

He further alleged that in one instance, Ukatu, through his Mallinson Group of Companies, imported into the country twocontainer loads of five different brands of tramadol in October 2019 through the Apapa ports in Lagos.

Babafemi said all the evidence so far gathered showed that the imported tramadol brands were far above the threshold permitted in Nigeria, adding, “No doubt, the suspect will soon have his day in court.”

NDLEA had earlier this week revealed that it intercepted travellers’ cheques in different foreign currencies with a total value of over N1.1 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement by Babafemi said, “Travellers’ cheques in different foreign currencies with a total value of N1, 157, 670,469.92 have been intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”

Babafemi also disclosed that a suspect, Oguma Uchenna, was arrested in connection with the attempt to export the cheques, which he said were neatly concealed inside four bound hardcover books disguised as academic project literatures, to the United Kingdom.

He said the financial instruments suspected to be counterfeits were discovered last Wednesday at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos

airport during cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight.

Babafemi also disclosed that a breakdown of the cheques showed they had monetary values of $287, 623.31; $1,456,300 and €1,297,800.

He had also said at the Lagos airport that NDLEA operatives foiled attempts by drug traffickers to smuggle into Nigeria 10.89 kilogrammes of cocaine through a Qatar Airways flight, adding that the illicit drug was hidden in seven children's duvets packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil.

According to him, raid operations in Kaduna, Ondo and Akwa Ibom states led to the seizure of about 2,000 kilogrammes of tramadol, codeine, cannabis and heroin.

In Ondo State, 401 kilogrammes of cannabis was recovered and two suspects – Julius Dapo, 56, and Emeka Ikebuaku, 32 – were arrested at Ipele forest in Owo area on April 24.

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

Bindow’s Declaration Changes Political Atmosphere in Adamawa Daji Sani writes that the bid of the former Governor of Adamawa State, Jibrilla Bindow to return to Government House is faced with stiff challenge within his party, All Progressives Congress

Former Governor Bindow (left) with his running mate, Martins Babale during his declaration

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he recent declaration of the former governor of Adamawa State,Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow under the banner of All Progressives Congress (APC) has changed the political atmosphere as there are currently realignment by some political gladiators to halt him from wining the primary in his party.

Despite Bindow’s appology to the executives , stakeholders and the unity preached in the party , it seems with the current behaviours of some gladiators and stakeholders, the APC may go into another another round of internal crisis that led to its failures in the 2019 general elections.

Looking at all the aspirants, aspiring under the APC , Bindow is the best bet for the party for now because he has a larger number of supporters in the state and also has the financial ability to chest a political campaign across the state.

His declaration has also threatened the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the state. This is sequel to the fact that only Bindow among all the APC contestants can compete favourably with the incumbent governor in 2023.

This is also sequel to the fact that the governor has lost track of the reasons he won the election in 2019 , it was never his making to defeat the ruling APC both at the national and state levels. It was because most stakeholders of APC worked against Bindow to pave way for Finitiri What was the sin of Bindow? It was simply because he concentrated on building township and rural roads forgetting to do stomach infrastructure, also refusing to dance the great dance of the masquerades.

Bindow built over 393 roads and

several bridges across the state in his four years tenure.

For instance Mubi , YolaNorth, Yola South township roads and rural roads and boreholes to supply water at grassroots.

Bindow came to the rescue of Shelleng LGA which was suffering from bad road which had made it so difficult to gain access to the local government headquarters for over 30 years since its creation by constructing road and bridges to link the LGA to other part of the world.

In an interaction with journalists in his Yola residence , Bindow rolled - out some of his programmes if given the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the state for the second time.

He said the challenge for him now is to win the primary in his party adding that he has learnt his lessons and APC supporters too also learnt their lesson in a difficult way.

“We have agreed to embrace peace and unity to work assiduously for the victory of our great party in the state.We also resolved that it is better our party wins elections than to allow another political party win.”

“The APC has lost quite a number of seats to the PDP in the last 2019 general elections due to our differences but that is in the past now because we have resolved our differences for the benefit and growth of the party “ “If the APC will allow a defeat for the second time , the party will die , many people will defect from APC to join the PDP . That is why we should come together and work hard” he said.

He said the APC has a lot of stakeholders occupying very significant position at the national level, it is going to deploy this federal -might to influence citizens to wrestle power from the PDP in the state.

The former governor has also explained, that his aspiration to return to the Government House was to salvage the state and complete his constitutionally guaranteed eight years if given the opportunity.

Bindow, who contested under the

Looking at all the aspirants, aspiring under the APC , Bindow is the best bet for the party for now because he has a larger number of supporters in the state and also has the financial ability to chest a political campaign across the state. His declaration has also threatened the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the state

APC, lost to Fintiri, of PDP in 2019, has declared his interest to contest for the governorship ticket of the APC recently, which also coincided with Fintiri’s declaration to seek a second term.

He explained his loss in the 2019 elections due to what he described as disunity within the APC and acknowledged that getting the party’s ticket was more difficult for him than winning the election because of the stiff competition posed by other qualified aspirants.

He, however, expressed confidence about his chances, adding that all his efforts would be preoccupied with how he can become the party’s flagbearer for the governorship election in 2023.

The former governor said, “I want to really see how to get this ticket, though I am not concerned about most of them, knowing their record.

Because some of them worked under me. I want to basically see that I become the flag-bearer of the APC. “Getting the APC ticket is more difficult for me than winning the general election because the competition for the ticket is now very fierce in our party, seeing the calibre of aspirants vying for this position.”

Bindow who said his administration did very well in the provision of infrastructure, added that 393 roads made up township and rural roads were constructed during his first term.

However political experts say most of Bindow’s challenges are linked to unfulfilled promises he made to individuals and wondered if he has truly repented.

They said he should stop making unfulfilled promises to prominent individuals adding that that this is what led to the stiff opposition against him.

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POLITICS

The Choice Before APC Delegates

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

Etim Etim makes a strong argument for the emergence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress at its May 30 national convention

From left: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola; Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi; Hon. Tolu Akande-Sadipe and Hon. Akin Alabi during a recent courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in London

Osinbajo

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s the governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), prepares for another national convention on May 30, this time to elect its Presidential Candidate for the 2023 general elections, I wish to share my thoughts with the delegates on this very important assignment. With so many aspirants to choose from at the convention, it is important that the party approach this sacred duty with the full contemplation and thoughtfulness that it deserves. As we do know, President Buhari has worked hard and achieved so much in the last seven years, despite some challenges we face as a nation. There’s been a substantial boost in food production since the inception of the administration. We are practically self-sufficient in rice production now. The government has also accomplished a lot in infrastructure. No government since 1999 has invested so much in building roads, bridges, airports and railways as the Buhari administration, in addition to the social investment programmes (school feeding, cash transfers to the very poor, grants to small and micro businesses, etc.) and ease of doing business, among others. All these were done in spite of two recessions and a pandemic. The Buhari administration has also recorded huge achievements in its fight against corruption in the most unprecedented manner in the history of our country. But insecurity and other challenges abound.

There is therefore a strong need for APC to win next year’s presidential election and build on the huge achievements of this administration. The party must field a candidate who has a national appeal, acceptability and likeability to win the election.

The candidate should possess the capacity, competence and character to deepen and broaden the accomplishments of the Buhari administration and honour the legacy of the president. The Presidential candidate should not, under any circumstance, be ashame of the Buhari legacy and try to distance himself from the government, its achievements and shortcomings. That would be a very dumb strategy that would lead to electoral disaster.

It is therefore important that the candidate should be a man who has been part of the successes of the last seven years; who is proud of, and loyal to the government, and would continue to defend it., especially when the acrimonious attacks set in.

I have been a member of APC since 2014, and have served the party at various levels.

I have served the party at many levels, including working in the publicity and media directorates of two governorship campaigns.

I believe in the programmes of APC and the party’s ability to build a new and stronger Nigeria. I am proud of the work President Buhari has done with the support of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Of course, I am also quick to admit that the administration has made some mistakes, and so, there are plenty rooms for improvements. As I said

in a previous article, every government has its own fair share of accomplishments and failings. This is not an exemption.

APC must therefore field a man of vision; a unifier who has the ability to see opportunities in our challenges. He should be a man of strong moral and ethical standing; an experienced leader who is blessed with good physical and mental abilities.

Our candidate must not carry a baggage of shame, disrepute and opprobrium into the election. We must reject aspirants who are obsessed with state capture – I mean those politicians who feel entitled to the resources of the country as if Nigeria is their family estate.

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I understand, is planning to mount the most visceral attacks against our party and our presidential candidate when electioneering begins in earnest. It would be very difficult or impossible to defend or excuse personal failings in what would certainly be a tough presidential race. The recent announcement by the NDLEA that political parties should subject their presidential aspirants to drug tests by the agency in order to eliminate drug addicts and substance abusers from the race has caused quite a stir and anxiety. I understand that this announcement was made in response to prodding from the international community. As you do know, Nigeria is battling a huge drug scourge.

The UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) is interested in our case.

We must therefore nominate a candidate who is above board in all respect.

The party must eschew tribal and religious bias in choosing its nominee. The choice must reflect the diversity, balance and plurality of our nation. Our country has been infiltrated by religious extremists and violent rightwing groups who are ready and willing to use religion to cause violence. It would be very dangerous for our party to toy with the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket. Our country has endured so much. We cannot afford to deliberately bring more crises upon ourselves. I enjoin party members to continue to respect the plurality and diversity of the Nigerian federation.

I know that APC members are capable making a good decision at the Convention, but I sincerely believe that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be a very good presidential candidate for our party. He represents the best of Nigeria and the best in all of us.

Prof Osinbajo has the moral rectitude, mental and physical stamina and the strength of character.

He has stood by President Buhari in thick and thin. There’s never been a more loyal, dedicated and capable Vice President in this country. His wide acceptability nationwide across party lines, ethnic divides and religious boundaries makes him a natural choice as our presidential candidate. Please nominate Yemi Osinbajo on May 30th.

L-R: The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Ajibade Alabi; his wife, Olórí Bolanle Alabi; during the 10th coronation anniversary and launch of a book titled : “Life of a Monarch,’ in Ilawe- Èkìtì..

From left- Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; his wife, Kafayat; Hon, (Mrs) Taiwo Oluga, representing isokan, Ayedaade, Irewole Federal Constituency and the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Dr. Adetoyese Oyeniyi, during the Official Commissioning of a block of Six Classrooms and Digital Nigeria Centre, facilitated by Hon, Taiwo Oluga, at Gbogan High School

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (left) gifting the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle a copy of the 9th House of Representatives Legislative Agenda following a meeting on the deepening relationships between Nigeria and the United Kingdom at the office of the Speaker, Westminster, United Kingdom

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FEATURES

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

X-raying Gombe's Land Reform Administration Through Development Agenda for Gombe State, otherwise known as DEVAGOM', Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaha is building durable institutions that will put the state on a pedestal of sustainable socio-economic development, especially with reforms on land administration, Segun Awofadeji reports

I

n order to create a better future and desire of the citizens of Gombe State, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaha is putting necessary measures in place to stimulate and sustain economic growth and human development in the state.

And to ensure that the choices made, the steps taken and the envisaged outcomes are technically desirable and consistent with his vision and goals, the governor came up with a robust plan, tagged 'the development agenda for Gombe State, DEVAGOM' to build durable institutions and put the state on a pedestal of sustainable socio-economic development.

For instance, land administration is one aspect where the administration has made remarkable achievements. Land as a critical factor of production got Inuwa’s best attention. He radically digitalised the land system. The digitalisation was done to aid development of Gombe and to forestall incessant land disputes common in other climes which often disrupt the peace and economic stability of such places.

Land disputes will never be allowed by a governor who has the future advancement of the state well planned out. Inuwa Yahaya strengthened the Gombe State Geographical Information System (GOGIS) through adequate funding, staffing and equipping to enable the agency deliver on its mandate.

Land administration involves the process of determining, recording and disseminating information about land acquisition, ownership, its value and land management policies.

Lack of proper land administration can cause land disputes, affect town planning and development in the society. In many communities in the country, there have been cases of conflicts over land ownership as a result of encroachment or dubious land transactions caused by unauthorised brokers.

Many of such cases often lead to litigations or violence among the conflicting parties. More so, improper land administration causes poor town planning, hinders infrastructural development or displacement of people who develop buildings indiscriminately and payment of huge compensation whenever they are touched for the execution of government projects.

To address those problems, federal and states governments established ministries of lands to ensure that they regulate land acquisition and allocation by their citizens.

In Gombe state, the state government went extra mile to establish another parastatal called GOGIS to ensure proper land administration in the state. The idea is to make sure that government knows every land available in the state, identifies land to be reserved for social amenities, for industries and residential areas by having a comprehensive data. Doing so, will help the young but fast growing state in its development planning.

It is on record that the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya had since its inception in 2019 embarked on the provision of massive infrastructure such as access roads, schools and hospitals across the state. It is also pertinent to know that the administration has so far provided 114 functional primary health centres in the state.

In line with its agenda to beautify the state capital with roads and other structures, the government suspended land transactions and buildings at the area designated as 'Gombe Capital Special Development Zone' to enable government execute its development projects in the state.

The governor, who holds the traditional title of Dan Majen Gombe, announced the suspension recently while declaring open a two days stakeholders engagement workshop on land administration organised by GOGIS at Custodian hotel, Gombe.

He explained that the decision is part of the reforms initiated by the designation of the Gombe capital special development zone adding that, GOGIS has recently conducted a thorough audit of some of the affected layouts.

According to him, findings from the exercise

Gombe State Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaha have revealed several distortions and illegal activities such as blockage of major access roads, sub-division of the federal secretariat plot into personal and individual plots, conversion of areas meant for public facilities such as hospitals, fire service and religious activities into residential plots, encroachment of building lines, illegal sub-division or merger of plots and irrational use of land titles among others.

In addition to that, the governor noted that he recently approved the revocation of the 274 hectares piece of land located at the west of Hashidu housing estate previously allocated to NNPC but left undeveloped for decades.

According to him, "This new layout will be used to accommodate the 250-unit NEDC housing project and the 1,000-unit Family Homes Fund project. Government will provide all necessary modern infrastructure such as access roads, street lights, shopping malls, schools, hospitals etc in order to ensure this layout is developed in line with modern real estate development standards.

"Equally, this new layout will also be used to compensate all people whose land may be affected by the redesign and rectification to be carried out at the Capital Special Development Zone," he said.

He however promised that as soon as those exercises are completed, the suspension will be lifted to allow individuals proceed with the development of their plots in line with the requirements of the law.

The governor stated that It was in the context of those policies and initiatives that the workshop was

organised to explore all issues surrounding effective, efficient and just land administration in the state.

Yahaya said digitisation of land was embarked upon by his administration to improve urban planning and support infrastructural development and other critical areas in the state.

He explained that it is an established fact that a just and efficient land administration system is necessary in order to guarantee ownership and security of tenure, provision of security, support land and property taxation, monitor land transactions as well as reduced incessant disputes associated with land.

"A good land administration system is also essential in order to improve urban planning, support infrastructural development and proper environmental management".

He observed that Nigeria, like Gombe state, is faced with the challenge of ensuring proper and orderly land administration which his administration is doing everything necessary to change the archaic process of land management.

"You may wish to recall that while campaigning for election as the governor of this great state, we noted with great concern, some of these challenges which includes poor physical development planning, endemic corruption in land administration and unacceptable bureaucratic bottlenecks which have hampered the overall development of the state.

"During the campaigns, we stressed the need to correct all irregularities in land administration so as to ensure sustainable use and proper management of our land.

"Accordingly, one of the promises we made as contained in our manifesto, is that we would ensure the maintenance of accurate database of all lands in the state and ensure speedy acquisition of land title documents.

"To achieve these, we pledged that, if elected, we would strengthen the Gombe State Geographical Information System (GOGIS) through adequate funding, staffing and equipping to enable the agency deliver on its mandate”. He said.

"Land administration is one aspect where the administration has made remarkable achievements.

Land as a critical factor of production got Inuwa’s best attention. He radically digitalised the land system. The digitalisation was done to aid development of Gombe"

Governor Inuwa Yahaya said his administration has embraced the use of modern technology by awarding the contract for the aerial survey of the entire state using orthophoto technology in order to fast-track the issuance of digital certificates of occupancy as obtained in other states.

He said when completed, the project will upgrade the existing aerial photographs and geographical maps of the state by producing high resolution imagery which will enable clear identification of property boundary for the ease of application and issuance of digital certificate of Occupancy.

"Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978, we inaugurated the Land Reform Committee and charged it with the responsibility of identifying measures that needs to be taken in order to address all injustices, inconsistencies and corrupt practices encumbering efficient land administration and development in our dear state" Governor Inuwa Yahaya remarked that base on the recommendations of the committee, his administration initiated bold reforms in order to right the wrongs.

"We signed Executive Order 4 in 2020 which seeks to check uncontrolled alienation of communal lands, ensure provision of basic physical and organisational infrastructure and expanded the radius of all existing urban areas, while creating new ones in all the local government areas of the state.

"Furthermore, following our realisation of the need to align with modern realities in metropolitan development, we initiated the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone project aimed at providing befitting structures, access roads and other facilities while also ensuring strict compliance with development control regulations in and around the state capital," he pointed out.

According to him, to oversee the successful implementation of the capital development zone, a special project implementation, monitoring and evaluation team has been appointed under the chairmanship of Professor Namala Keptin Amuga and charged with the responsibility of ensuring a proper implementation of this designated areas in conjunction with all relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

Also speaking, the state commissioner of lands and survey Muhammed Jahun Biri said the workshop would provide an avenue for traditional, religious and community leaders who are stakeholders in land administration to interact with local government council chairmen and officials responsible for the implementation of land administration reforms in the state.

Speaking on the land issue, the Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, in an interview with THISDAY said since assumption of office, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has always been resolute and dedicated to the Gombe Project, including the state's land administration reform.

Misilli said while some people are trooping and plotting to quench their thirst for power, Governor Yahaya is busy establishing structures and repositioning different sectors in the state to open up socio-economic activities and create employment opportunities.

"While others are planning for 2023, the great Dan Maje is making smart moves to establish links and connections with federal ministries and parastatals to explore more ways of collaboration to move Gombe State forward. His aim is to serve his people to the best of his ability and not betray the confidence and trust they reposed in him.

"It is a fact that Gombe State was at the bottom of the list in terms of revenue allocation from Federation Account, but due to his ingenuity and commitment to fulfilling the dream of the founding fathers of the state, the governor, in a little more than three years in office, made Gombe a model in revenue generation and collection, rubbing shoulders with giant states.

“Gombe will in no distant time, be able to survive even without Federal Allocation," the governor’s spokesman said.

19

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

ENTREPRENEUR

Uju Nwawulu: Carving a Niche in the Male Fashion Industry Uju Tracy Benson-Nwawulu as the CEO of Tranons Clothing is a fashion designer that specialises in African designs, especially cut-to-fit African design for men. Although she is the daughter of Hon Nwawulu, a two-time member of Anambra State House of Assembly, Uju, who is known for creating clean-cut quality outfits, is determined to build her brand by dint of hardwork instead of relying on her father's name. In this Interview with Precious Ugwuzor, she speaks on how she built her business from scratch, broke into the male fashion industry and how she has been able to manage and sustain a formidable relationship with her customers despite the gender difference

H

ow was your growing up?

My growing up was very fun and memorable. I am the fifth child and first daughter of Hon Benson-Nwawulu of Anambra State House of Assembly. Despite growing up in the midst of four elder brothers with very huge age bracket, there was that cordial relationship between us, the love, the pampering as their baby sister. I grew up in Onitsha, Anambra State. My elementary education was done in Onitsha and partially my university education in Imo State before proceeding to Ghana where I studied Business Management in Zenith University College, Accra.

Why did you venture into fashion and designing business instead of getting a white-collar job?

First, I am an entrepreneur, and venturing into businesses is what I studied in school.

There is no limit to what business I can run.

As a student, I was a promising entrepreneur bagging the award of the Best African Student Entrepreneur of the Year in my college .

Venturing into fashion designing is more of a way to unleash my creativity skills, which is born out of my quest to unveil new ideas daily.

Your father was a two-time member of Anambra State House of Assembly, how has his political career influenced your business?

Well, to be honest, I have managed to keep my Dad’s political affluence or status totally out from my business. I would say that my Dad being in a government office has not influenced my brand in any way. He is a politician, I am a business woman. I run my business, built my brand and still building it. I made my choice to grow Tranons myself without his strings. So it has been a personal efforts all the way. It has not been easy, but I thank God for everything.

My Dad has his moral support for me like every supportive dad would but he isn’t of any influence to my brand. In three years of being in men’s fashion world, I don’t have a single client or referral from him.

As a lady, how were you able to break into the industry where you have a lot of male competitors?

There is these words I have lived on from my teenage life to my adulthood. It says 'everything worth doing, is worth doing well". Those words are what I have lived on in my aspiration to be a successful woman. Those words are literally the engine that keep my machine running 24 hours. I put in my best in whatever I set out to do. I am a chronic perfectionist. If I’m not leading in any area I tend to be restless so it’s mandatory that I deliver the best and nothing short of it. I want it done 100 per cent is the logic that goes to my brand and everything I lay my hands on. If it’s going to take my time it might as well be done well.

I don’t see myself that I have broken into Men’s Fashion yet cause I still have a lot of targets and goals that I haven’t achieved. So, while I’m working on getting there, the best is what I go for. Tranons goes for quality, Tranons goes for extremely unique fabrics that you will hardly be walking in the streets of Balogun Market and have access to it. Tranons is the brand that is willing to satisfy her clients notwithstanding the circumstances surrounding any purchase made from us.

Tranons is that brand that will never disappoint you when you need an outfit for one event or the other. It was built on deliberate credibility, assurance, good customer relationship, unique fabrics, quality fabrics, neat jobs and most especially customers satisfaction.

If you say I have broken into the men’s fashion world, why am I not on Forbes list as the world's best designer of the year? So we are working tirelessly to get there.

Nwawulu with an award from La Mode

You have made clothes for a lot of prominent people, can tell how you were able to win their heart as their personal tailor and how have been able to manage them?

A good work sells itself. A good work I did for a client, brought a big client for me- the the popular Nollywood actor RMD. I believe I am doing a good job and people love to associate themselves with growth. Most times, all it takes is the ability to listen attentively.

If a client complains about a fitting that wasn’t done to his taste, I can go as far as as buying new fabrics and making that outfit over again till he is satisfied with the fitting. I listen carefully and learn every of my clients choice of fitting.

They basically have different taste when it comes to fitting of the outfit, so for each client, I intentionally listen and understand how they want it, I stick to it and that’s how I keep them coming back for more. What client A likes is what client B will reject .

It’s a roller coaster, understanding men but that’s the most interesting part of my job.

What was the experience like at the beginning?

My story is a funny one cause I mean it’s like a joke but actually set off Tranons.

Well, I am a kind of that lady that loves to see her man dress well. To be honest, if I see a guy wearing fine kaftan, oh Lord, I will definitely look like thrice before I can remove my innocent eyes from him. I would look at the fitting, the finishing, the composure and all of that. I won’t even notice his face just his outfit.

Sometimes out of my curiosity to create new things, I redesign a man’s outfit on him with my eyes right in my head without saying a word. I would put the buttons on

the flap, cut the neck of the top to be a round neck, take the buttons and put else where.

All this is happening in my head within like two seconds. My friends will always tease me and say I like fine boys, it’s not the boy I am liking, it’s what he is wearing.

To cut the long story short, I woke up one morning and decided to get a tailor to make me some men shirts. I was in Lagos while the tailor was in Aba. I got his contact through a family friend, Gozak. I ordered about 10 pieces of just men Vintage Shirt. When the clothes arrived I had no one to sell it to, I just wanted to have it first and then I will start marketing, surprisingly, I sold out the 10 shirts in just three days.

All I had to do was post them on my whatsapp status, advertised to my neighbours and church members and boom-sold out. Then I ordered for more. I wasn’t even selling with profits.

Infact some of the people who bought those shirts are still owing me till date, they never paid but I wasn’t after the money, I wanted to test the water, I did my market survey and I got the answers I needed.

I realized I was happy and contented just selling them and seeing people wear them.

It gave me joy and a sense of achievement. I was passionate about it.

So I saved up, got a shop, got tailors and I started creating designs. I would create a design and my tailors will be like 'madam this design no fit work’ in my head this people don’t know who they are working for, nothing is impossible in my book. I started fearlessly and I never looked back. From shirts I migrated to all tailored outfits for men.

What is the major turning point of the business?

The major turning on for my business was when some big security companies contacted us to make hundreds of security uniforms for them, it didn’t end there. A lot more came and we produced over 100 pieces of clothes for these companies. The profits was good, we reinvested into the business with the profits made and we got bigger clientele base with the help of massive adverts and promotions.

My second turning point was also when the Legend Richard Mofe Damijo contacted us to style him, at this point I knew I was doing something right. I was so overwhelmed, I remember my first response to him when he texted us was ‘am I dreaming? Please wake me up' He is a fashion King and for him to recognize my brand? It means a lot and still means a lot to me. When RMD reached out to us, I was like wow! Am I dreaming? He responded: "No you are not. Today is when your hard work and creativity spoke for you when nobody did. Thanks to James who wore it with so much style and panache." At that point, I was super assured that I have a lot of work to do and I am doing it right. I am not there yet but it is certain that I will get there.

His text motivated me and I am holding on to that to hit more jackpots.

Where do you see Tranons Clothing in 10 years?

In 10 years time, I will like to be in a position where I can boldly say that TRANONS is a house hold name when it comes to fashion for both men and women. Just like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Christain Dior and the world best known designers.

I expect my knowledge and skills to build Tranons, qualifying us for the position of one

"I don’t see myself that I have broken into Men’s Fashion yet cause I still have a lot of targets and goals that I haven’t achieved. So, while I’m working on getting there, the best is what I go for"

of the best world known designers for high calibres of people.

Would you say your decision of going into fashion and designing paid off?

Oh yes, it did. I have always been quite creative in the jewelry part of my brand (Tranons bead). When I discovered that I could also channel the same energy to fashion it was the bomb for me. It felt so right and I don’t regret it.

Who are your role models in the fashion world?

My role models are Deji and Kola, Yomi Casual, Africana Couture and David Wej. As a very young and beautiful lady, how have you been able to keep things strictly professional?

The temptations are real. But first, I am a business woman to the core. To be honest, I knew what I was getting into before I ventured into the men’s business world. There is one thing every woman who is smart would know and that is the fact that mixing business with pleasure is a ticking time bomb that will explode in one second.

I made that decision not to entertain any form of sexual harassment, temptations or the likes of it in my business because I mean how many do you want to do that with? What reputation would that have on your brand? Would that break or make your brand few years down the line? A woman who has set out long term goals knows what best to do while thriving in a man’s world. And rule number one is 'keep your legs closed' or they are going to break it into pieces in a matter of time.

I have met calibres of men in my line of business and I can assure you that in as much as these temptations exist it is only about 40 per cent. Surprisingly, the other 60 per cent are scared to approach me because already in their mind ‘this girl will have and know a lot of men. They have it in their head that this beautiful Tracy is a hot cake and nothing will impress her anymore. So it’s self respect for them to order for clothe and go in peace.

Fortunately, I grew up in the midst of four elder brothers so I have my way of putting these 40 per cent in their place with 'the more you look the less you see. ‘It’s called customer management, the process of managing the company’s relationship with potential and existing customers.

My top priority is to give each client value for the money paid to purchase an outfit from us. You will definitely keep patronising us. In all, it’s not easy running a business in the world of men fashion. I intentionally built myself to think like a man, I have to transform into a man’s mind to know or design what would fit him. So many times this comes with strong migraine. I learnt deep diplomacy in order to handle so many situations at work.

And after all that sacrifice, I won’t let a man lure me to something else in the name of patronising me. I am of more value than whatever he has to offer. So it’s actually not worth it.

What is your advise to graduates who have depended on white-collar job for survival?

Before you think of settling for a white collar job be sure you have a business your sons and daughters will run when you are no longer there. It’s called a Legacy. A white collar job is not a bad idea, perhaps, you can build a brand while at it. Keep your name alive for your generation to come. The system may fail you but your hands can never fail you. No matter what you want to do as a graduate, make it a life promise to be skillfully empowered. Learn a skill and be good at it.

As long as your hands are alive, make money with your hands, it will never be empty.

20

WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

21

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

A P R I L

S & P INDEX

2 6 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

6.50%

CALL

10.75%

INDEX LEVEL

610.44%

1/4 TO DATE

– 1.31%

N416.75/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

7.17%

1-MONTH

9.66%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

7.13%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

1028%

MONTH-TO-DATE

– 1.31%

NGX Market Cap Up N1.45trn on 98% Contribution

by Seplat, Dangote Cement, 15 Others

Kayode Tokede As the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) appreciated

by N1.45trillion in April, a total of 17 fundamental companies contributed about 98 per cent to market capitalisation in the month under review.

Analysis of trading data showed

that the overall market capitalisation closed at N26.761 trillion in April 2022 from N25.312 trillion in March, representing an increase of N1.45 trillion.

The 17 companies, according to THISDAY findings posted impressive corporate earnings in 2021 financial year and sustained the performance in their unaudited financial

statements for first quarter ended March 31, 2022 to accumulatively gather N1.42 trillion in market capitalisation in April.

The 17 companies are two listed telecommunication companies, four financial institutions; two cement manufacturing companies, among others.

They are; Seplat Energy Plc,

Dangote Cement Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc., Zenith Bank Plc , United Bank For Africa Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc Others include; MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Africa Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Guinness Nig Plc, Nigerian Brew. Plc, Presco Plc, Julius Berger Nig. Plc., Flour

Mills Nig. Plc, Vitafoam Nig Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Among the top market capitalisation gainers in the month of April was Airtel Africa with a stock price gain of N125.60 or 9.96 per cent to contribute N472.02billion to market capitalisation, while Dangote Cement that appreciated by N18.90 or 6.9 per cent to close trading at N292.40

per share gained N322.07billion in market capitalisation.

Capital market analysts stated that Dangote Cement impressive earnings in Q1 2022 enhanced investors buying interest, stressing that the cement manufacturing company has maintained stronger fundamentals Continued on page 22

Buoyed by Drive to Boost Non-interest Income, 10 Banks Generated N259.6bn from Charges in Q1 Nume Ekeghe As deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria strive to boost their Non-Interest Income, a total of 10 banks in the first quarter of 2022 generated N259.16 billion from fee & commission paid customers, representing an increase of 24.7per cent over N207.8 billion reported in the prior period.

Analysis of banks unaudited results and accounts for period ended March, 31, 2022, revealed that Access Holdings Plc, followed by

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) lead in the renewed effort by banks to aggressively grow customers fee and commission.

Other banks are; United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Zenith Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Plc (GTCO), Fidelity Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc FCMB Group Plc and Wema Bank Plc. Key contributing factors to banks fee and commission were credit related fees and commissions, Account maintenance charge and handling commission, electronic

banking income, commission on foreign exchange deals, among others.

As was expected, the growth in fee and commission income impacted on the banks’ Non-Interest Income (NII).

Further analysis of the Q1 2022 unaudited results and accounts revealed that Access Holdings generated N56.3 billion as fee, commission from customers, an increase of 45 per cent from N38.95 billion in Q1 2021.

Fees from channels and other electronic- business income

contributed 35.7 per cent to Access Holdings fee & commission to N20.13billion in Q1 2022 from 46 per cent or N17.92 billion reported in Q1 2021.

Access Holdings in 2021 financial year generated N159.2 billion fees and commissions from customers’ transactions, representing an increase of 36 per cent compared to N116.7billion in 2020.

The Group Executive Officer, Access Holdings, Mr. Herbert Wigwe had while speaking with investors/analysts recently said the

growth was largely underlined by income from increased transaction velocity across all channels and other e-businesses as well as credit related fees and commissions which grew by 33 per cent.

According to him: “We will continue to gain traction on our income from these lines as we extend our retail and loan offerings.”

Meanwhile, ETI’s fee and commission from customers grew by 21.6 per cent to N55.48 billion in Q1 2022 from N45.62 billion in Q1 2021.

The bank in a statement said: “Non-interest Income was $198 million (N82.23 billion) for the first quarter of 2022, increasing by 15per cent or $25 million (N69.29 billion), by 25per cent on a constant currency basis, boosted by the continued robustness in client and customer activity following the lifting of most of the Covid-19 pandemic-induced restrictions.

“As a result, net fees and commission income increased by Continued on page 22

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION 12.75 27-APR2023 14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027

Price

Yield

106.42 6.12 111.52 7.54 110.84 9.20 105.46 10.68 120.08 10.89

Change Updated Time (%) April 22, 1.15 2022 April 22, 0.05 2022 April 08, 0.00 2022 April 08, 0.00 2022 April 08, 0.31 2022

Discount

NTB 12May-22 NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22

289,00 289,00 0.00

April 22, 2022

304,00 305,00 0.00

April 22, 2022

323,00 325,00 0.00

April 22, 2022

350,00 354,00 0.00

April 22, 2022

NTB 8-Sep22

348,00 353,00 -0.08

April 22, 2022

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

C Ps

MATURITY

Change Updated Time (%)

MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

UNCP CP VI 2-MAY-22 NEVE CP I 24-MAY-22 DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22

8.62

8.64

0.00

April 22, 2022

16.44

16.68 0.00

April 22, 2022

8.56

8.63

0.08

April 22, 2022

11.51

11.86 0.30

April 22, 2022

8.12

8.30

April 22, 2022

–0.01

CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS APR 27 1 2022 NGUS MAY 25 2 2022 NGUS JUN 29 3 2022 NGUS JUL 27 4 2022 NGUS AUG 31 5 2022

Current Rate ($/₦)

Updated Time

427.24

April 22, 2022

428.93

April 22, 2022

430.63

April 22, 2022

432.32

April 22, 2022

434.02

April 22, 2022

22

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R Head of Procurement, MOJEC International, Mr.Ademola Ademulegun; Head, Prepaid Revenue Management and Metering Department Ikeja Electric, Mr.Amosun Morenikeji; Group Chief Financial Officer, MOJEC International,Mr. Morufu Lasisi; Group Managing Director, MOJEC International, Mrs.Chantelle Abdul; Business Manager, Shomolu Unit, Ikeja Electric, Mrs.Oluyemi Ayanga;and Head of Human Resources and Administration, MOJEC International, Mr.Oritsetimeyin Grage, at the launch of the MOJEC Mobile MAP PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT under the MAP Scheme II at the Shomolu Business Unit of IKEDC in Lagos recently

Notore Posts 239% Rise in Revenue, N1.5bn Profit for Q1 2022 Kayode Tokede Leading agro-allied and chemicals company, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, has rannounced a group operating profit of N1.5 billion for third quarter ended March 31, 2022.

In a statement, Group Managing Director / CEO of the company, Mr. Ohis Ohiwerei, said Notore recorded revenue of N16.3 billion in the quarter under review,

compared to N4.7 billion for the corresponding 2021 period resulting in a 239 per cent increase Year on Year (Y-o-Y).

Ohiwerei attributed the good showing to relative stable production operations during the period and the favourable global market conditions.

He added that the group record net profit before tax of N1.5 billion for Q1 2022 as compared to a loss of (N9.2 billion) for the corresponding

period in prior year.

He said the company’s business operations experienced an upturn in production output in the quarter under review, owing to improved reliability and stability of its Plant sequel to the Turnaround Maintenance programme executed in year 2021.

Stating that the stable production operations coupled with favourable market conditions, had boosted Revenue and cashflows generated

from operations during the quarter under review, leading to the profitable operating results announced by the company for Q1 2022, he said: “Notore operates in an “essential goods” industry and Nigerian fertilizer demand is quite robust and is expected to continue grow considering the strong governmental policy focus on promoting agriculture as a measure for diversification of the Nigerian economy and as a pathway towards

attaining National food security.

“The domestic fertilizer market is robust and with an abundance of untapped potential. Furthermore, the demand for urea and compound fertilizers, such as NPK, from the West African markets and Sahel African states is also quite significant.

By leveraging on its robust distribution channels and market reach, Notore is well positioned to continue to serve our customers in all our markets.”

On the outlook for the year, he said, “We anticipate that the current Federal Government policies and initiatives in the domestic food and agriculture sector will continue to be favourable to the fertilizer space. Additionally, the on-going dynamics of the global market demand for Urea and NPK fertilizers is expected to span the rest of the on-going financial year, a boost to the business’ revenues, cash flows and profitability.”

Insurers Blame Nigeria’s Challenges on Poor Handling of Educational System Ebere Nwoji Insurance sector operators in the country have observed that poor handing of Nigeria’s educational system was one of the sources of problem bedeviling the county.

President of Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Rotimi Edu, who stated this at the bi-monthly members evening of the brokers’ council held in Lagos noted that currently in the country, education is valued as formality not as pride adding that with this the country would remain poor.

“To say that the poor handling of our education system in Nigeria is one of the sources of our problems and poverty is to state the obvious. Personally, I am pained to note that our students

from higher institutions of learning have been shut out of school for the past eight weeks because of the industrial action by members of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU),

”Edu noted.

According to him, with the level of moral decadence and quick money syndrome bedeviling our society, shutting out students at this period is a serious challenge

for our nation.

Edu said there was no doubt in the fact that the Nigeria ecosystem is currently predominated by political activities ahead of 2023 general

election.

He noted that Nigeria was in its pre-election era, a season where each political party elects its candidates for next year general election.

The NCRIB boss said he was passionately appealing to the media to go beyond surface reporting and highlight basic qualities and otherwise of all the candidates without prejudice.

Tax Professionals Urged to Support FG to Realise Economic Growth Omolabake Fasogbon The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), has implored tax professionals across the country to join hands with the federal government towards achieving a tax-driven economy.

President of CITN, Adesina Adedayo stated this at the 46th induction ceremony of the institute, where 372 tax professionals got

instated into the institute.

While addressing the inductees, he stressed that professionals owe the country a duty to develop strategies for tax policy formulation and administration, charging them all to be proactive to be able to deliver effectively.

He noted that the institute was on a deliberate tax enlightenment campaign in a bid to improve level of tax compliance towards

a buoyant economy.

Adedayo also commended government’s readiness to establish a vibrant fiscal framework, necessary in actualising revenue generation drive and other budgetary goals.

He said, “We must commend the government for the initiative in tax policy formulation and the review of salient tax provisions as seen in the Finance Act, 2019

followed by the Finance Act, 2020 and now Finance Act 2021.

“The impact of the yearly review of this Act will impact positively on businesses, economy and improve our country’s index on the ease of doing business rating”.

He charged the new inductees on the development of tax profession, while reminding them also on the need to stay

committed to the ideals of the institute as they operate.

Earlier, Chairman, Membership and Professional Conduct Committee of CITN, Ade-Tinde Oretuga assured of the institute’s support in improving members’ capacity.

He challenged members to make strides that will enhance growth in organisations, the institute and the nation at large.

NGX MARKET CAP UP N1.45TRN ON 98% CONTRIBUTION BY SEPLAT, DANGOTE CEMENT, 15 OTHERS

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

over the years.

The company, which is a competitor of BUA Cement Plc and Wapco Plc, has a total Market capitalization of N4.98 trillion as of April 2022.

Dangote Cement is the second most-valued company quoted on the exchange and makes up roughly 18.6per cent of the total market capitalization of all stocks.

The Q1 2022 financial result revealed a profit of N105.85 billion during the period, representing an 18per cent increase Y-o-Y. Dangote

Cement’s revenue for the period stood at N413.18 billion, an increase of 24.20 per cent from the corresponding period of 2021.

However, Seplat petroleum with about N270 or 29.03 per cent gain in stock price accounted for N158.88billion market capitalisation and Nigerian Breweries with N134.46billion in market capitalisation following N16.65 or 41.16 per cent gain in stock price to N57.10.

For the banking stocks, the likes of Zenith Bank with N2.10 or 9.4 per

cent increase in stock price grained N65.9billion in market capitalisation as GTCO gained N1.60 or 7.14 per cent to gained N47.09 billion in market capitalisation in April 2022.

Speaking with THISDAY, the vice president, Highcap securities limited, Mr. David Adnori explained that as investors’ appetite grew, the prices of stocks kept pushing up, hence the reason the prices of stocks were high in April.

According to him, “Also, April saw the influx of Q1 2022 numbers which were impressive. We have seen

Airtel Africa, Zenith Bank, UBA, and Dangote Cement reporting decent increase in profit after tax (PAT) and we saw investors scrambling to make sure they qualify for the dividends and so I think that sentiment should continue even in the new month.

“I think we might see a bit of caution on the part of investors because we are not expecting any of the major Q1 2022 earnings and so even if we see a bit of rally, it will be just a few stocks that investors are betting on do pretty well on the back of Q1 numbers especially for

those that pay interim dividends.”

The chief operating officer, InvestData Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion noted that most listed companies are currently undervalued over the effect of COVID-19, stressing that local and foreign investors opted to take positions in April.

On market outlook, analysts at Afrinvest Limited said, “Although we expect the positive sentiment from dividend payments to linger into early May, we think the market might begin to enter a quiet mood in the later part of the month.”

BUOYED BY DRIVE TO BOOST NON-INTEREST INCOME, 10 BANKS GENERATED N259.6BN FROM CHARGES IN Q1 16per cent or $16 million to $116 million, with fees generated on Cards rising by 30per cent to $24 million, credit-related fees increased by 17per cent to $37 million, and cash management fees rose by nine per cent to $54 million.

“Additionally, NIR benefited from net trading income, which increased by 12per cent or $8 million to $72 million, predominantly driven by a 216per cent increase in fixed-income

trading to $34 million, partially offset by a decrease in client-related foreign-currency sales of 29per cent to $38 million.

“As a result, the contribution of non-interest revenue to total net revenue (the NIR ratio) was 45per cent versus 42per cent in the year-ago period.”

Also, while UBA grew fee and commission income from customers to N42.1billion in Q1 2022 from

N34.96billion in Q1 2021, Zenith Bank reported N33.49billion fee and commission from customers in Q1 2022 from N28.69billion in Q1 2021.

According to Zenith bank: “Going forward into the rest of the year, the Group will continue to focus on sustainable growth across all its business segments, deploy technology platforms and digital assets intuitively to serve the needs of its various customers in order

to deliver enhanced returns to its stakeholders.”

Stanbic IBTC Holdings in the period under review reported N23.13billion fee and commission income from customers from N22.17billion reported in prior period.

Fidelity Bank reported 32 per cent fee and commission income from customers increase in Q1 2022 to N7.9billion from N6.01billion in Q1

2021, while Sterling Bank reported N5.13billion fee and commission income from customers in Q1 2022 from N3.65billion in Q1 2021.

In addition, FCMB group reported 34 per cent increase fee and commission income from customers’ transactions to N10.23billion in Q1 2022 from N7.66 billion in Q1 2021, while Wema Bank reported N4.05 billion fee and commission in Q1 2022 from N2.56 billion in Q1 2021.

123

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MAYMay 4, 2022 Wednesday 4, 2022 Vol 27. No 9886 TR

See page 24 IBIKUNLE AMOSUN IN THE RING AJIBOLA OLARINOYE writes that Amosun’s track record projects him as one needed as President

See page 24 ROTARY’S CREATIVE APPROACH TO FUND RAISING District 9110.raised a record $150,000 for the Rotary Foundation, writes EHI BRAIMAH See page 25 LIVING ON TOMORROW’S BREAD CHARLES DICKSON argues that Nigerians are not ready for 2023 See page 25 EDITORIAL THE EGBEMA ILLEGAL REFINERY TRAGEDY

See page 26

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

MAD HYPOTHESIS AND SOUTHERN POLITICIANS The south should put its house in order, writes AKIN ADEOYA

UT H

The offer was too tempting to ignore, writes SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE

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2 24

T H I S D AY

AJIBOLA OLARINOYE writes that Amosun’s track record projects him as one needed as President

The south should put its house in order, writes AKIN ADEOYA

MAD HYPOTHESIS AND SOUTHERN POLITICIANS As Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi ÀQDOO\ FRQÀUPV SXQGLWV ULJKW WKDW KH LV EHQW on contesting the APC presidential primaries, it is now clear that southern All Progressives Congress politicians have succumbed to the MAD hypothesis. Think about it, almost every governor or minister with the minutest clout is coming out to bid for the ticket. The myth of southern solidarity is now totally destroyed

EHFDXVH RI LQRUGLQDWH DPELWLRQV DQG VHOÀVK personal agendas. Except there is some PDJLFDO FRQFRFWLRQ LQ WKH R΀QJ KRZ FDQ any southerner win now with the dispersal of votes which is bound to occur? In south west alone we have former governor Ibikunle Amosun, vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Kayode Fayemi and of course the Jagaban himself, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

There were early hopes that the East will have a strong showing given the loud campaign to concede the presidency to the region. But it seems that tantalising possibility has now tempted every Tom, Dick and Harry east of the Niger with possibility of some votes at the primaries to throw their hats in the ring.

Without eastern and western solidarity how do you garner the votes? The South South is doing same. Even tired old Jonathan wants to come back to Aso Rock. My God! Rotimi Amaechi has suddenly become an Igboman. $PDHFKL DQG KLV WUDLQV Á\LQJ DOO WKH ZD\ to the depths of Niger Republic. Amaechi who says the reason Nigerian train service is extended to Niger Republic is to get the Niger people to patronise the port of Lagos. Has port of Lagos met the needs of Nigeria in terms of FDSDFLW\" 7KH\ ZLOO DEDQGRQ H΀FLHQW &RWRQX and other sane ports to enter the insanity of Apapa? Amaechi who said he approved reducing train speed to make way for cows?

Amaechi who wants to protect trains with EXOOHW VSHHG ÀJKWHU MHWV LQ D PLOLHX ZKHUH HYHQ FRPPHUFLDO MHWV FDQQRW DͿRUG DYLDWLRQ IXHO" $PDHFKL WKDW RSHQO\ MXVWLÀHG PRUWJDJLQJ our national assets to China without putting in the disciplined system that can run and PDNH WKHVH VDPH DVVHWV JHQHUDWH SURÀW" ,V LW the train that those terrorists are attacking that will pay back those billions? The Chinese are coming. But let them come. Let’s see how they seize control of the tracks from the bad boys of Sambisa and their friends. That’s another matter. Amaechi wants to be president. Ngige wants to be president. He and the funny minister who have jointly destroyed university education in Nigeria, Emeka Nwajiuba, junior minister of education, whose primary job is to safeguard educational institutions and their VWDͿ DQG VWXGHQWV KDV JRQH WR GURS 1 P to buy form to become president when ASUU

WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

is still on strike. Ngige, on national television says it’s right for our doctors to continue to run abroad. He says it is good for the system.

He says we have more than enough. Doctors who are mostly trained in publicly funded universities, in a country where basic health delivery is a nightmare!

Well, what shall we say about my state governor, Fayemi? I will just say for now, that his coming, at this time is a bit if an anticlimax. We are at the stage of presidential interest announcement fatigue. I hope, in his upcoming formal declaration, he will not just be talking about the “juju” he wants to go and do in Aso rock to turn Nigeria to another China. Instead, he should tell us about the magic he has wrought in our native Ekiti to turn the place into a living paradise. He should use his past to sell his hope for future.

I think he was one of those that went to great lengths to sell the Buhari candidature to us.

That one hasn’t worked out so well in my opinion. So this time we need evidence, track record not well researched grammar about KRZ 1LJHULDQV ZLOO EH OX[XULDWLQJ LQ VFLHQWLÀF parks like he promised Ekiti before. We are VWLOO ORRNLQJ IRU WKH VFLHQWLÀF SDUNV I remember a conversation between Professor Bolaji Aluko and Dr Fayemi as revealed by Aluko in ekitipanupo, an indigenous think tank. Both were riding in a car along Iworoko Road. This was the heart of the Ekiti State university student population but at 8pm it was in pitch darkness, as usual.

Prof said he asked JKF, will you allow students WR VXͿHU LQ GDUNQHVV OLNH WKLV DV JRYHUQRU" You can guess the answer from the man who would soon take over as governor. A couple of months ago I drove through Iworoko. The GDUNQHVV ZDV VXͿRFDWLQJ 7KH UHDGHU FDQ WU\ the journey too. That’s after two tours of duty.

But hey, I am not passing any judgement yet, I am waiting...

I will be waiting for that statement and the track record part of it. No other promise of future magic will work.

Hey! what is MAD hypothesis? Governor Fayemi would know as a scholarship of war studies. One of the ideas that drove the rapid development of nuclear weapons by the great military powers in the ‘70s and ‘80s was the principle of Mutual Assured Destruction(MAD). The key opposing powers believed that the only way to prevent the other powers from attacking them with a nuclear weapon was for them to be ready with their own for immediate retaliation. I think some smart Alec has succeeded in deploying that ORJLF LQWR WKH 6RXWKHUQ SROLWLFDO ÀHOGV 1RZ WKH Southern guys are going to destroy each other assuredly while paving way for some northern candidate. Pundits in the APC are already WDONLQJ DERXW ÀHOGLQJ D QRUWKHUQ FDQGLGDWH WR take advantage of Buhari’s famed “12 million vote bank”. They are just waiting for PDP to pick a northern candidate before pushing the argument that none of the one state actors in the south can garner the Pandora’s box of 12 million vote bank! And they would be right, with the long list of presidential candidates sprouting like mushrooms in the south, the united votes of the north for a relatively few numbers of candidates will surely carry the day.

Adeoya writes from Lagos

IBIKUNLE AMOSUN IN THE RING Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigerian political landscape has been beaming with GLͿHUHQW LQWHUHVWLQJ VFHQHV EHLQJ SHUIRUPHG E\ the political gladiators from every part of the country.

One of the interesting scenes the political actors have been acting in the past few months, eliciting reactions and attentions, is the declaration to contest for the post of the number one seat in WKH FRXQWU\ WKH HQYLDEOH SRVW RI WKH 2΀FH RI Nigerian President. Some chose to declare in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, some disclosed it on their social media pages,

observers had been on the look out if he would throw his hat into the ring for 2023 presidency. However, he had remained mute until recently when he broke the silence as he wrote a letter to his colleagues in the upper legislative chamber on the new development in his political career.

Amosun is not an amateur in the political terrain. Even before getting into public R΀FH KH ZDV SRSXODU DPRQJ KLV SHRSOH That was why he overwhelming defeated an incumbent Senator, Femi Okunrounmu, during the election for the senatorial seat in 2003 under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party.

In 2011, he was elected as the Governor of Ogun State. He was re-elected in 2015. After completing his two-terms as the governor LQ DV VSHFLÀHG LQ WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ KH decided to go back to the Senate to continue his service to the nation.

Looking at the current state of the nation ZKHUH WKH FRXQWU\·V GHEW SURÀOH KDV KLW N39.55trillion, Nigeria is in dire need of an astute administrator who can think outside the box to work things out.

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous while some declared it to the press. countries in the world at this moment due to Some of the political juggernauts that have the way bandits have been kidnapping and declared intention so far to succeed President killing people on a daily basis. People are Buhari in 2023 include youthful Governor now afraid to travel to any part of Nigeria by Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; the National Leader air, road or railway. of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Abia State Thus, anybody taking over from Buhari is Governor, Dr Orji Uzo Kalu; Governor David taking over a very enormous task, perhaps, Umahi of Ebonyi, Governor Nyesom Wike of WKH PRVW GL΀FXOW WDVN LQ WKH ZRUOG 6R Rivers, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Nigeria needs someone who has the ability Senator Ibukun Amosun, Governor Ben Ayade of to think ruggedly outside the box. We need Cross River State, among others. someone like Amosun whose track record Of course, all those activities are normal in cannot be disputed. every democracy, especially when an election is As the Governor of Ogun State for eight drawing near. But, one thing I notice is that many years, he displayed astute administrative Nigerians who are keenly following the situation skills to bring the state out of the “desert”. are mostly concerned about the region that will For instance, he bought Ogun State out of produce the next President and how famous or liability states that totally depend on federal LQÁXHQWLDO WKH DVSLUDQWV DUH ,W LV MXVW IHZ WKDW allocation to survive. Within a space of are taking their time to dissect the personalities eight years, he increased the state Internally of each aspirant to understand their level of Generated Revenue (IGR) from a paltry N700 preparations, coupled with practical past records million monthly to the tune of N7b monthly. that cannot be disputed at all.

A rare feat that can only be achieved by a The issue of power rotation is necessary, but genius. should not be the one largely dominating the He made Ogun State a cynosure of media space the way it is doing for now. business activities by attracting over 423 Considering the current state of Nigeria, mega industries and over 1,000 medium and we need a leader with excellent track record. A small scale industries. During his period, leader who has been groomed with excellent NSIA and InVivo signed a letter of intent PDQDJHPHQW RI KXPDQ QDWXUDO DQG ÀQDQFLDO for land reforestation project in Imeko and resources and no evil is found on him just like Awowo forests covering 108,000 hectares. the Biblical Daniel. The person that has for He took a bold step by taking Ogun State years prepared himself for the hot seat; not an to the world stage by initiating the signing of “arrange” President. a memorandum between France government In my own humble opinion, due to terrible state and Ogun State as part of his move to make of things, a person with the political experience Ogun one of the most industrialised states as a governor is the most suitable to take over in Nigeria. The signing of the deal was the seat from Buhari. This is necessary because witnessed by President Buhari and President they have experience of managing millions of Emmanuel Macron of France. This remains a population and resources. commendable feat to reckon with.

After painstakingly x-raying and analysing the ,Q KLV UHOHQWOHVV HͿRUWV WR HQVXUH WKH former and the past governors who have openly transformation of the economy of Nigeria as made known their intentions, I have noticed the a Senator of the Federal Republic, Amosun RQH WKDW SHUIHFWO\ ÀWV WKH ELOO sponsored a Bill titled “National Industrial Without any form of bias, I want to submit Technology Park (Establishment)” in the that the former Governor of Ogun State who Senate. This was a gigantic move that has is currently a Senator of the Federal republic, received wide commendations from a cross Senator Ibukunle Amosun, meets with all the section of Nigerians. standards of the new President we need at this crucial moment of nationhood.

Olarinoye Before declaring his intention recently, political writes from Ibadan

325

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

District 9110.raised a record $150,000 for the Rotary Foundation, writes EHI BRAIMAH

ROTARY’S CREATIVE APPROACH TO FUND RAISING Rotarians around the world are usually encouraged to contribute to, and participate in, The Rotary Foundation (TRF) in furtherance of the mission of TRF which is to “do good in the world” on a sustainable basis.

The Rotary Foundation was founded in 1917 DV WKH QRQSURÀW DUP RI 5RWDU\ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO With an Endowment Fund that is close to ELOOLRQ DQG UHJXODU ÁRZ RI $QQXDO )XQGV TRF has continued to do good in the world by funding life changing and impactful projects.

By 2025, the target is for the Fund to grow to $2.025 billion but if Rotarians do not make regular contributions, the Fund will not grow.

It’s a commitment we all have to make by also inviting family members and friends to support the Foundation.

We now live in a world full of complexities largely driven by globalisation and rapidly changing technologies. As Rotarians, we are minded to follow the global trend of events, constantly innovate by thinking out of the box and make interventions where necessary.

For example, no one prepared for Covid-19 pandemic, a major public health crisis that threatened our common humanity.

What of the global economic recession or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? These events DUH VLJQLÀFDQW LQ VFRSH DQG LPSDFW DURXQG WKH world with far reaching consequences such as the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the rising cost of goods and services.

Over 1.4 million Rotarians build great connections through exciting fellowships in more than 35,000 Rotary clubs around the world. As “people of action” with a shared responsibility to solve the world’s pressing problems, we come together to promote SHDFH ÀJKW GLVHDVHV JURZ HFRQRPLHV support education, provide clean water, save mothers and children as well as protect the environment – these are the seven areas of focus of Rotary.

When the Change Maker District Governor of Rotary International District 9110 covering Lagos and Ogun States, Remi Bello, FCA, constituted The District Rotary Foundation Fund Raising Committee and invited Niyi Adelaja, a past president of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, to serve as Chairman, it was an excellent choice because the DG knew what he wanted.

With the right motivation from the District Governor, Adelaja, whose stock of goodwill and network of friends are legendary, rallied members of his committee in more than 10 meetings to plan and execute what turned RXW WR EH D KLJK SURÀOH HYHQW DW WKH 08621 Centre, Lagos on Saturday February 19, 2022.

To the best of my knowledge, Adelaja is a ÀUVW FODVV HQJDJHPHQW 5RWDULDQ The District organised The Rotary Foundation Fund Raising Dinner using a FRPSOHWHO\ GLͿHUHQW EXW FUHDWLYH DSSURDFK The new model ensured that payments by Rotarians and non-Rotarians for tickets to the event and adverts in the programme booklet denominated in US Dollars were paid directly into the TRF account of each contributor.

It was a win-win scenario for such contributors – there was no separate entry fee for the event while at the same time building up TRF contribution history. This innovation encouraged Rotarians to pay TRF and book their seats at the gala nite. According to Adelaja, the expenses incurred for the gala dinner were defrayed through individual support by members of his committee, friends and associates of members of the committee and the District. Nigerian Breweries Plc and International Breweries Plc also supported

the gala nite with their wide range of drinks.

Another remarkable thing Adelaja did was to purchase 26 tickets at $250 each for members of his home club, the Rotary Club of Ikeja. It was an IOU which was eventually redeemed.

Adelaja believes strongly that the TRF dinner should achieve two objectives: encourage contribution to TRF in a convivial atmosphere and use the platform to attract quality people into Rotary. More than 300 guests attended the gala nite. Apart from the Doyen, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, 22 Past District Governors and other Rotary leaders were in attendance.

To encourage Rotarians, three categories were created for the fund raiser. There were tickets for $250 (Silver category), $500 (Gold category) and $1,000 or more (Platinum category) for sale. As Adelaja also disclosed during a telephone interview, there were more subscriptions for $1,000 mainly by Rotarians who wanted to become Paul Harris Fellows.

However, the amount paid determined the privileges enjoyed by Rotarians and their guests for each category – including the assortment of drinks that were served and seating position at the venue.

DG Remi Bello thanked Adelaja and members of his committee for their resourcefulness and remarkable performance.

During his speech, he praised them for their VHOÁHVVQHVV DQG FRPPLWPHQW $SDUW IURP WKHLU individual support, members of the committee also mobilised external support with the donation of food and drinks.

The event had Rotary InternationaI Endowment and Major Gifts Advisor and “Passion Queen”, past district governor Ijeoma Pearl Okoro of District 9141, as the Guest Speaker and Fund Raiser. She displayed great skills as a spectacular fund raiser. About $150,000 was realised at the TRF gala nite – a VLJQLÀFDQW DFKLHYHPHQW DQG UHFRUG EUHDNLQJ feat in District 9110.

District Governor Remi Bello also appreciated Rotarians in the District for their WUXVW DQG FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH DELOLW\ RI WKH 'LVWULFW leadership to be innovative on the one hand, and for embracing the new model that could UHGHÀQH KRZ VXEVHTXHQW 75) )XQG 5DLVLQJ Dinners are organised going forward on the other.

There are three ways of contributing to TRF. They are the Annual Fund, Polio Plus Fund and Endowment and Major Gifts (EMG).

Under the Annual Fund, Rotarians can give $1,000 to become Paul Harris Fellows (PHF) or Paul Harris Society (PHS) member through a recurring PHF by contributing $1,000 every year.

There’s also Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) where Rotarians are encouraged to contribute $100 to TRF annually. You can become a Major Donor by an outright payment of $10,000 or through cumulative contribution of $10,000 over a period determined by the contributor – whichever is convenient.

It is evident that contribution to TRF is not mandatory for Rotarians. However, the various Annual Fund options explained above FOHDUO\ DFNQRZOHGJH WKDW DOO WKH ÀYH ÀQJHUV DUH QRW HTXDO 7KH ÁH[LELOLW\ XQGHUVFRUHV WKH QHHG for Rotarians and non-Rotarians to support 75) DFFRUGLQJ WR WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH ÀQDQFLDO DQG giving abilities.

Braimah is a public relations strategist, publisher/editorin-chief of Naija Times

CHARLES DICKSON argues that Nigerians are not ready for 2023

LIVING ON TOMORROW’S BREAD I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course.

Tomorrow is another day.

I do not need my freedom when I’m dead.

I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.

Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need.

I live here, too.

I want my freedom Just as you.

Langston Hughes At the beginning of the year, I had promised that for 12 months, In Shaa Allah, I will once a month X-ray the issues around the forthcoming General Elections in the world’s largest black population and sufacracy.

On the French Revolution, historians disagree about the political and socioeconomic nature of the revolution. Under one interpretation, the old aristocratic order of the Ancien Régime succumbed to an alliance of the rising bourgeoisie, aggrieved peasants, and urban wage-earners. Another interpretation asserts that the revolution resulted when various aristocratic and bourgeois reform movements spun out of control. According to this model, these movements coincided with popular movements of the new wage-earning classes and the provincial peasantry, but any alliance between classes was contingent and incidental.

However, adherents of both models identify many of the same features of the ancien régime as being among the causes of the revolution. The )UHQFK UHYROXWLRQ ZDV VSDUNHG RͿ E\ D SRRU economic situation, an unimaginable national debt, both caused and exacerbated by the burden of a grossly inequitable system of taxation.

2QH RI WKH PDQ\ WULJJHUV WKDW ÀUHG WKH XQUHVW and subsequent revolt in France was the Roman Catholic Church, the largest landowner in the country, which levied a harsh tax on crops known as dime. While the dime lessened the severity of the monarchy’s tax increases, it nonetheless served to worsen the plight of the poorest who

My verdict is simple.

Nigerians are happy, we are still high up there in the index of happy people, very and I add very happy people. Comedians still have audiences fill up their shows.

Our politicians provide us with sobering laughable moments weekly; people kidnapped, robbed, killed, week in, week out faced daily a struggle with malnutrition.

All the ‘turanchi’ above Sylvia Neely’s work A Concise History of the French Revolution, captures it saying the average 18th-century worker spent half his daily wage on bread. But when the grain crops failed two years in a row, in 1788 and 1789, the price of bread shot up to 88 percent of his wages. Many blamed the ruling class for the resulting famine and economic upheaval. On top of that, peasants resented

the gabelle, a tax on salt that was particularly unfairly applied to the poor.

NIGERIA: A PEOPLE WITH NO SHAME! We do not resent anything, despite the famine and economic upheaval, we are just happy, we know the price of bread has shot up, at least the price of nomination forms for political parties is an indicator but we are just happy!

We are happy as supposed leaders attended Aisha Buhari’s Iftar Dinner, they broke bread and ate, exchanged banters, as a woman in captivity in the bushes of Kaduna must have started feeling pre-labour pangs, alongside several scores more.

No one single Presidential aspirant has said a word about how to rescue the Kaduna train victims! Everyone is ‘form-buying’ and ‘consulting’. We may be in agreement, that all is not well, poverty, economic deprivation, and skyrocketing price of goods, bread and services EXW , EHJ WR GLͿHU My verdict is simple. Nigerians are happy, we are still high up there in the index of happy people, very and I add very happy SHRSOH &RPHGLDQV VWLOO KDYH DXGLHQFHV ÀOO XS their shows. Our politicians provide us with sobering laughable moments weekly; people kidnapped, robbed, killed, week in, week out.

And yet thanksgiving services with dances of all types and executions follow suit. We are happy jare…

We remain a proud people, joyous in nature, never put down by ‘little’ setbacks. Like Yul Edochie giving us a satire on polygamy or the new Lekki Big Dogs. Visit a state where workers are being owed seven months salaries on a Saturday, you see women and girls adorned in expensive glittering ‘aso-ebis’. Thousands spent on event planners/transport/comperes and more. Life certainly must go on!

We are happy people, we love to party and forget the now regular kidnap stories from Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Plateau, we have continued in our happy nature unabated.

We attend ‘suna’ (naming ceremonies) and’ igba nkwo’ (traditional wedding) and ‘oku’ (funeral party) of the same leaders we accuse of looting us dry. Shamelessly bag branded rice for their campaigns without mouth recourse to reality.

We are happy people, the only people who after being used, abused, misused, disused, rust from un-use and are tortured with the ÁDPER\DQFH DQG RVWHQWDWLRXV OLYLQJ RU RXU modern-day pharaohs. All we do is admire them and cling to hope—after all, ‘my turn will soon come’.

Happy people: very few countries can live the way we do, weeks without light because the power transformer is bad, yet you pay bills.

Fuel stations have no commodity yet opposite those stations, young men sell the same fuel at hyper-black prices.

We are sad people, when the thief who is looting is from the other side, but when it’s from our town, we use the phrase “he is helping our people”.

We bribe the police and accuse them of taking bribes. We don’t really pay electricity WDULͿV \HW ZH VD\ ¶WKHUH·V QR OLJKW· ZKHQ actually it’s a case of Aso Rock owes DISco, ',6FR RZHV JDV FRPSDQ\ WKDW RQH RZHV VWDͿ WKH VWDͿ LV LQ GHEW RI VFKRRO IHHV UHQW DQG XWLOLW\ We are happy people.

Dr Dickson is a Researcher, Development & Media Practitioner

4 26

T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE EGBEMA ILLEGAL REFINERY TRAGEDY The government could do more to stem illegal bunkering and refining of crude oil

S

cores of people were recently burnt to death from an explosion during an illegal UHÀQLQJ RI FUXGH RLO DW $EDH]L IRUHVW LQ Egbema community, Ohaji/Egbema Local *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI ,PR 6WDWH $W OHDVW 109 bodies have so far been recovered from WKH H[SORVLRQ VLWH DFFRUGLQJ WR UHSRUWV $JDLQVW WKH background that last October, some 25 people, including PLQRUV ZHUH EXUQW WR GHDWK DW DQ LOOHJDO UHÀQHU\ LQ Rivers State, there is an urgent need to address this criminal activity that negatively impacts on the nation’s economy and put the lives RI FLWL]HQV DW ULVN $SDUW IURP WKH economic challenges of crude oil theft in Nigeria, the environmental degradation associated ZLWK LOOHJDO RLO UHÀQHULHV UHTXLUH XUJHQW DWWHQWLRQ ,QGHHG WKH LPSDFW RI LOOHJDO UHÀQHULHV RQ WKH Niger Delta environment has raised questions of great concern in the minds of the inhabitants of the UHJLRQ 7KLV KD]DUGRXV LOOHJDO UHÀQLQJ SURFHVV KDV led to many fatal accidents, particularly in the Niger Delta, a polluted region already blighted by oil spills LQ IDUPODQG FUHHNV DQG ODJRRQV 7KH SHRSOH RI WKH UHJLRQ KDYH VXͿHUHG SROOXWHG DLU FRQWDPLQDWHG environment, degraded forests, biodiversity loss and KLJK DWPRVSKHULF WHPSHUDWXUHV ,OOHJDO UHÀQLQJ LV FRPPRQ LQ WKH 1LJHU 'HOWD DV impoverished locals break pipelines, extract crude oil DQG SURFHVV WR PDNH IXHO IRU VDOH 7KH LOOHJDO UHÀQLQJ process is very basic and begins with stealing of crude oil, called bunkering, from pipelines, pouring the product LQWR WDQNV ZKHUH LW LV ERLOHG DW KLJK WHPSHUDWXUHV 7KH H[WUDFWV DUH KLJKO\ ÁDPPDEOH DQG FRXOG ZLWKLQ seconds cause untold devastation, including deaths LI LPSURSHUO\ KDQGOHG 7KH JRYHUQPHQW VDLG WKHVH UHÀQHUV VWHDO DERXW EDUUHOV RI WKH PLOOLRQ EDUUHOV RI FUXGH RLO 1LJHULD SURGXFHV SHU GD\ 7KHVH XQZKROHVRPH DFWLYLWLHV DUH SHUYDVLYH LQ WKH

FUHHNV RI 1LJHU 'HOWD DQG WKH IRUHVWV RI ,PR 6WDWH Regardless, they impact people in faraway places like Port Harcourt, where black sooth often inundates the DLU DQG FDXVLQJ KHDOWK DQG HQYLURQPHQWDO SUREOHPV 7KH GLUHFW FDVXDOWLHV DUH XVXDOO\ WKH GHVSHUDWH ODERXUHUV who are often compelled to earn a living in these GXQJHRQV 7KH\ VXͿHU DYRLGDEOH JUXHVRPH GHDWKV DQG XQWROG LQMXULHV 6RPH RI WKHVH IUHTXHQW WHUULEOH HYHQWV are unreported either because they are on a lesser scale, or the owners of these contraptions cover up the LQFLGHQWV Recently, the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), began what is considered its biggest operation, with the deployment of 40 ships, ÀYH KHOLFRSWHUV DQG boats for “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo” (stop WKH WKLHI DFURVV WKH UHJLRQ 7KH QHZ RSHUDWLRQ ZRXOG involve dominating the nation’s backwaters through DJJUHVVLYH DQG LQWHOOLJHQFH GULYHQ SDWUROV ,W ZRXOG also be dedicated to monitoring pipelines, blocking LGHQWLÀHG VWUDWHJLF HVWXDULHV WR SUHYHQW FRQYH\DQFH RI stolen crude oil from onshore to sea and to maintain credible presence along the coastline of areas prone WR FUXGH RLO WKHIW 7KLV LQLWLDWLYH EHFDPH QHFHVVDU\ considering recent reports of massive revenue losses ZKLFK FRPSHOOHG DOO HͿRUWV WR EH HPSODFHG WR FXUWDLO the wanton crude oil theft and illegal bunkering of FUXGH RLO LQ WKH QDWLRQ·V PDULWLPH HQYLURQPHQW ,W LV WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW·V VWDWXWRU\ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR VWRS LOOHJDO EXQNHULQJ DQG UHÀQLQJ RI FUXGH RLO LQ WKH FRXQWU\ %XW WKH YDVW H[SDQVH RI WKH QDWLRQ·V PDULWLPH domain makes it expedient for critical stakeholders to emplace more robust collaborative engagements to VXUPRXQW WKHVH FUXGH RLO WKHIW LOOHJDO RLO UHÀQLQJ DQG RWKHU PDULWLPH VHFXULW\ FKDOOHQJHV 7KDW LV DOVR WKH only way to put an end to avoidable tragedies like the ÀUH LQFLGHQW DW (JEHPD FRPPXQLW\ LQ ,PR 6WDWH

The vast expanse of the nation’s maritime domain makes it expedient for critical stakeholders to emplace more robust collaborative engagements to surmount these crude oil theft and illegal oil refining T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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

LETTERS AFRICA DAY AND SUDAN’S SENSELESS SLAUGHTER ,Q DIWHU PRUH WKDQ \HDUV RI DQ DWURFLRXV DQG DWWULWLRQDO FLYLO ZDU RXW RI 6XGDQ 6RXWK 6XGDQ $IULFDCV \RXQJHVW FRXQWU\ ZDV ERUQ 7KH ELUWK ZDV D ORQJ DQG GL΀FXOW RQH GXULQJ ZKLFK WLPH D KRUULÀHG ZRUOG ZDWFKHG WKH HQGOHVV VODXJKWHU DQG UDSHV EHIRUH FRQFHUWHG HͿRUWV ERUH VRPH IUXLWV LQ HQGLQJ WKH VHQVHOHVV GHYDVWDWLRQ ,W KDV QRW EHHQ DOO URV\ ZLWK WKH FRXQWU\ DV WHHWKLQJ SUREOHPV KDYH FDXVHG DQFLHQW HWKQLF DQLPRVLWLHV WR ÁDUH LQWR EORRG\ FRQÁLFWV EHWZHHQ WKH HWKQLF JURXSV 7KH HWKQLF WLQJHG FRQÁDJUDWLRQV KDYH PRVWO\ EHHQ EHWZHHQ WKH 'LQND DQG WKH 1XHU WULEDO JURXSV ,Q DIWHU \HDUV LQ SRZHU ZKLFK EHJDQ ZLWK D PLOLWDU\ FRXS 6XGDQCV ORQJ WLPH SUHVLGHQW 2PDU DO %DVKLU ZDV JLYHQ D dose of his own medicine when he was overthrown in a military FRXS DQG SODFHG XQGHU KRXVH DUUHVW $W WKH WLPH KH VHL]HG SRZHU LQ 6XGDQ KDG EHHQ HPEURLOHG LQ D \HDU FLYLO ZDU EHWZHHQ WKH QRUWK DQG VRXWK $W WKH WLPH KH ZDV GHSRVHG D ZDUUDQW RI DUUHVW E\ WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &ULPLQDO Court over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity LQ WKH FRXQWU\C V ZHVWHUQ UHJLRQ RI 'DUIXU ZDV KDQJLQJ RYHU KLV KHDG OLNH WKH VZRUG RI 'DPRFOHV While South Sudan has battled with many of the nascent problems that plague new countries, the Sudanese people have shown

WKDW WKH\ DUH XQÁDJJLQJ LQ WKHLU FRQYLFWLRQ WKDW 6XGDQHVH SRZHU EHORQJV WR WKHP DQG WKH\ DUH VLPSO\ QRW JRLQJ WR JLYH LW DZD\ 6LQFH 2019, the Sudanese Revolution has looked the beast of the powergrabbing-and-power-drunk Sudanese military in the eye without EDWWLQJ DQ H\HOLG 2Q 2FWREHU WKH 6XGDQHVH PLOLWDU\ DJDLQ VHL]HG SRZHU in a military coup, brutally ending the fragile transitional government that was put in place in 2019 to ensure a full transition to dePRFUDF\ E\ However, it was in the Darfur region of western Sudan that the recent slaughter of over 200 people painfully reminded a continent of the days when Sudan was soaked in blood, and the amount of work that remains to be done to ensure that life in the country is VHFXUH Darfur, the semi-arid western region of Sudan had already borne ZLWQHVV WR D EUXWDO FLYLO ZDU ZKLFK HUXSWHG LQ 7HQVLRQV ÁDUHG up again in recent months as rival groups clashed over water and JUD]LQJ ODQG ZKLFK DUH QRZ DW D SUHPLXP DV WKH ZRUOG FRQWLQXHV WR EDWWOH FOLPDWH FKDQJH FULVHV %HWZHHQ WKH $SULO RYHU SHRSOH ZHUH NLOOHG LQ DQG DURXQG WKH FLW\ RI .UHLQLN HYHQ DV ÀJKWLQJ VSUHDG WR WKH UHJLRQDO

FDSLWDO (O *HQHLQD 7KH ÀJKWLQJ ZDV SUHGRPLQDQWO\ EHWZHHQ WKH Sudanese government’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and a local PLOLWLD FDOOHG WKH 6XGDQHVH FRDOLWLRQ IRUFHV ,W LV SHUWLQHQW WR QRWH WKDW WKH 5DSLG 6XSSRUW )RUFHV 56) KDV within its ranks many members of the notorious Janjaweed militia PDLQO\ UHFUXLWHG IURP WULEHV RI $UDE KHUGHUV DQG SUHGRPLQDQWO\ XVHG GXULQJ WKH FLYLO ZDU E\ 2PDU DO %DVKLU DV KH VRXJKW WR GHFLPDWH WKH QRQ $UDE HWKQLF PLQRULWLHV ,W FDQ RQO\ EH XQIRUWXQDWH WKDW LQ PDQ\ ZD\V $IULFD UHPDLQV D KRWEHG RI FRQÁLFWV ZKLFK FRQWLQXH WR GHYDVWDWH FRPPXQLWLHV FDWFKLQJ ZRPHQ DQG FKLOGUHQ HVSHFLDOO\ FROG LQ WKH SURFHVV 7KHVH EORRG\ FRQÁLFWV WKH KDQGLZRUN RI WKRVH ZKR VRZ GLVFRUG DQG WHUror, continue to be experienced because there is a niggling lack of MXVWLFH LQ PDQ\ SODFHV $SDUW IURP 6XGDQ LQ FRXQWULHV OLNH 0DOL %XUNLQD )DVR 1LJHULD &DPHURRQ '5& DQG D KDQGIXO RI RWKHUV LQ $IULFD LPPLVHUDWHG IDPLOLHV QRZ KDYH WR OLYH WKH EUXWDO SURVSHFWV RI WHUURU $IULFD GD\ LV ZHOO DURXQG WKH FRUQHU :KDW ZLOO $IULFD EH FHOHEUDWLQJ RQ that day?

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

27

BUSINESSWORLD

INSURANCE

PFAs Recapitalisation and the N5bn Question Following the successful conclusion of recapitalisation exercise in pension sector, which has raised operators’ minimum capital from N1 billion to N5 billion, industry analysts have raised the question on what the pension fund operators would do with the N5 billion new capital, writes Ebere Nwoji

R

ecently, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) announced that the recapitalisation exercise it initiated in the pension sector in April last year, with a 12 months transition period, which ended last week, was successful.

PenCom stated that out of the existing 22 pension fund administrators (PFAs) in the country, 20 crossed the recapitalisation huddle while two were swallowed in mergers and acquisition.

This brings to rest the tension raised among the PFAs on the exercise as well as fear of job loss on the part of firms that found crossing the recapitalisation huddles a bit difficult at the initial stage.

With the 20 firms in the system having raked together N5 billion shareholders’ fund each, it means the pension sector is now sitting on a whooping N100 billion capital outside the over N13 trillion assets, which however is not in their vault but invested in various portfolios.

But this current N100 billion is obviously in their kitties and directly under their control.

This being the case, industry analysts said raising such huge capital is the best thing that has happened to the industry but in their analytical views, they have raised a question on after crossing the recapitalisation mark, What will each of the existing 20 PFAs do with their N5billion?

According to them, this question has become pertinent because in the past, we have seen in the finance services sector of Nigeria where organisations went to capital market and other financing windows to raise billions and at the end of the day they could not give account of what they used the money to do .The entire fund went down the drain and investors were left in their own fate while other stakeholders were stranded.

ANALYSTS VIEW

Indeed, the first analyst to raise this question was the CEO Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr Funso Akerele. Akerele at the recapitalisation summit workshop organised by the Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) noted that before the PFAs think about going into the available options left for them to meet the new capital, they should first set their objectives right in terms of usage of the money.

Former South East Regional Manager, Premium Pension Managers, Mr Paddy Ezeala was also of the view that both the regulator and the operators need to define to themselves and to the public the reason for this huge capital raising.

He added that it was only when they were able to define what to do with the money that they would be able to effectively and judiciously deploy the new capital.

“The importance of huge capital for the pension industry can not be over emphasised

as it will ensure that all existing PFAs are on sound footing.

“On one hand, I am of the opinion that the new capital regime requirement by the regulator would create the negative impression that the industry was shaky whereas going by the nature and laws guiding management of pension fund under the Contributory Pension Scheme, nothing can endanger the contributed funds because of the nature of security surrounding the fund.

“However, it is good to build an all inclusive industry comprising the small, medium and big scale operators but with the new capital level, the regulator is building a large scale operating industry. You need to explain to the layman how the huge capital would contribute to the security of each company’s asset under management.

“The regulator should have known that if the fear was on the possibility of any PFA going down, it should not have arisen since going down of any PFA has nothing to do with the pension asset because the assets were not with the PFAs but with the Pension Fund Custodians who in turn have invested the funds, ”he stated.

But the Director, Centre for Pension Rights Advocacy and Consultant, National Institute for policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru Jos, Ivor Takor, said the new capital would strengthen the industry better and would afford the industry the economy of scale benefit.

OPERATORS’ VIEW

From the operators Viewpoint, the vice Chairman First Guarantee Pension Limited, Nze Chidi Duru congratulated the regulator for concluding the exercise peacefully.

He said the new capital would position the operating firms to do more business and offer better services.

On the part of his company, he said he was highly elated to see his company emerge as one of the successful companies despite the challenges facing it.

He said for his company First Guarantee Pension, it showed sense of resilience in business and pleaded with the regulator to sort out issues surrounding the company to reposition it for better operators.

Speaking on general usage of the new capital, Duru, said it would enable the operating firms to be liquid enough to acquire working tools to provide services.

He said a major tool the new capital would enable the operators acquire was information technology tools which according to him would drive seamless and efficient services.

He also said the new capital would accelerate operators’ footprint across

the country in terms of branch network expansion.

He said currently some PFAs don’t have their presence in many states and that where they have they didn’t have office of their own but were being squatted by their PFCs or related banks.

He said with the new capital, they would in various parts of the country acquire office spaces.

He said operators would inject the new capital to real estate investments as well as hire adequate man power to reach out to every Nigerian in any part of the country by deploying a technology that would make them save more as well as contribute funds to their Retirement Savings Accounts even from the comfort of their homes.

Industry analysts said the pension sector more than any other sub sector of the finance services sector suffers dart of work force and expert.

According to them, this was brought to the fore during the data recapturing exercise as contributors both old and young had to cue up as early as 7am at the customer service department of the various PFAs to do their recapturing.

The analysts observed that some contributors cued for two to three days before they were able to be recaptured attributing this to lack of adequate technology and enough hands.

They said the new capital would enable the operators bring services closer to the contributors to enable them have face to face interaction with contributors who have one problem or the other.

The analysts further said the operators would deploy the new capital in a way that would enable them create mass awareness.

According to them, majority of Nigerians are not aware of pension and it’s benefits.

They said up till date, some think pension is still the exclusive of federal and state government workers.

They said with the new capital, operators would go into awareness campaign for the masses and would be able to follow it up with social responsibility initiatives that would popularise pension among Nigerians and even pave way for the micro pension scheme.

Again, the analysts observed that since the pension transfer window kicked off, there has been random movement of contributors from one pension fund administrator to another.

For instance, PenCon stated that since the commencement of the transfer window scheme barely two years ago, 63,728 unhappy contributors have moved from

one pension administrator to another mainly due to unsatisfactory services rendered by their former administrators.

The analysts said with the new capital, each PFA now has enough fund to equip and upgrade its services to the taste of their various customers and this would reduce movement of contributors from one PFA to another.

Again, they said the new huge capital would promote marketing in the industry.

According to the analysts, it is not overstatement to say that pension fund operators have not commenced marketing rather were enjoying free funds which willingly flow on daily basis into their vault due to compulsory savings ordered by the pension regulation.

They observed that unlike banks and insurance firms, pension operators were yet to commence aggressive marketing.

They added that with the new capital, the ball is now on their cut to go out as well as deploy gadgets that would market the sector to the public.

The analysts said the huge capital also had created the opportunity for the operators to develop other savings related products that would attract people to patronise them.

EXPEDIENCY OF NEW CAPITAL

Despite some misgivings, the industry regulator, PenCom said the new capital has become expedient as the value of pension fund assets under management and custody had grown exponentially by 244 per cent, from N3 trillion in 2012 to over N13 trillion today.

PenCom noted that the sustained growth in assets implied greater fiduciary responsibilities that required more operational capacity by the PFAs. It said the urgent need to ramp up PFAs capacity to manage the increasing number of registered contributors and value of pension fund assets under management led to the exercise.

“It is worthwhile to state that 10 PFAS had met the new regulatory capital requirement of N5 billion as at 31 December 2021, while the others intensified efforts to meet the deadline of 27 April 2022. This resulted in some mergers and acquisitions, which led to the reduction of the number of PFAs from 22 to 20, ”it stated Meanwhile, industry stakeholders have called on the regulator to intensify its supervisory functions on the operators to ensure that the new capital is adequately deployed.

According to them, this has become necessary because unlike the pension funds that are sacrosanct, the capital is very much in the kitties of the operators and could easily be mismanaged if thorough supervision is not applied.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

FINANCE

Financial Inclusion: PSBs to the Rescue With the entrant of two telco giants, MTN and Airtel as operators of Payment Service Banks, financial inclusion is set to leap further writes Nume Ekeghe

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ast week the number of Payment Service Banks (PSBs) in the country grew to five with the final approval given to Airtel Africa by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate its subsidiary, SmartCash PSB. The telecommunication giant had earlier in the year been given approval in principle along with MTN Nigeria, which also got the final nod for its Momo PSB some weeks back. These two telecommunications giants joined Hope PSB, 9PSB and Moneymaster PSB, which are already up and running in the country.

OBJECTIVE OF PSBS CBN had in 2019 introduced PSBs as a measure to increase financial inclusion in the country particularly in rural areas. Specifically, PSBs were fashioned to cater for those in the rural areas, helping to bring the unbanked into the financial system from areas where commercial banks have been unable to breach.

Operating just like banks with smaller scale operations and the absence of credit risk and foreign exchange operations, PSBs were borne in view of the challenges in reaching rural areas as well as an effort to complement other initiatives and are expected to leverage on mobile and digital channels to enhance financial inclusion and stimulate economic activities at the grassroots through the provision of financial services.

The guideline for the operation of PSBs show that they are aimed at breaking the traditional barrier preventing financial inclusion and promoting low cost, secure and convenient financial services across the country. The objective of PSBs is to enhance financial inclusion by increasing access to deposit products and payment/remittance services to small businesses, low-income households and other financially excluded entities through high volume low-value transactions in a secured technology-driven environment.

PSB AND CONVENTIONAL BANKING On what a PSB can and cannot do, the guideline stipulates that PSBs focus on facilitating highvolume low-value transactions in remittance services, micro-savings and withdrawal services in a secured technology-driven environment to further deepen financial inclusion and help in attaining the policy objective of 20 per cent exclusion rate.

In addition to opening accounts both current and savings, offering payments and remittance services, PSBs can also issue debit and prepaid cards, deploy ATMs and other technology-enabled banking services.

PSBs are however, according to the central bank, are not allowed to grant any form of loans, advances and guarantees (directly or indirectly) or accept foreign currency deposits; deal in the foreign exchange market except as prescribed by the CBN. They are also not allowed to participate in insurance underwriting; undertake any other transaction, which is not prescribed by these guidelines, and shall not accept any closed scheme electronic value (e.g. airtime) as a form deposit or payment Basically, PSBs are stripped-down versions of traditional deposit money banks, with limited functionality and a focus on onboarding more of the excluded and marginalised population.

This is because they would operate mostly in the rural areas and unbanked locations with the financially excluded persons as targets including not less than 25 per cent of financial service touch points in such rural areas as may be defined by the CBN. ENTRANCE OF GIANTS Late last year when MTN and Airtel Africa got approval in principle for the operation of PSBs, many had noted the change that the telcos would be bringing to the PSB sector which is targeted at driving increased financial inclusion particularly in the rural areas.

Commenting on the final approval granted it by the CBN last week, the Chief Executive, Airtel Africa; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya said the company was working on full gear to kick-start the Smartcash PSB. “I am very pleased that Smartcash has been granted approval for a full PSB licence to operate a service bank business in Nigeria and we are now working towards commencement of business.

“This licence enables us to expand our digital financial products and reach the millions of Nigerians that do not currently have access to traditional financial services. We are delighted to be able to pursue our shared agenda with the Nigerian Government, the CBN and traditional financial institutions to further deepen financial inclusion in the country for the benefit of all

citizens and the Nigerian economy.

“With its expansion rate acres Africa, Airtel Africa offers an integrated suite of telecommunications solutions to its subscribers, including mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services both nationally and internationally.

The group aims to continue providing a simple and intuitive customer experience through streamlined customer journeys,” Ogunsanya said.

Similarly MTN Nigeria upon the announcement of the final approval for its Momo PSB to commence operations, had affirmed its commitment towards the financial inclusion agenda of the CBN and the Federal Republic of Nigeria adding, “we are excited at this opportunity to support its fulfillment.”

TARGETING INCREASED PROFIT The Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola in a statement said: “2021 was a significant year for our company.

We commemorated our 20th anniversary with a celebration of our customers and all the stakeholder relationships that enabled our journey. In addition, we made good progress towards our Ambition 2025 objectives, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the business. This reflects the firm foundations on which our business is built, the tenacity and commitment of our people, and the support of our stakeholders.

“Our fintech business continued to gain traction with approximately 770k registered mobile money (MoMo) agents and active users more than doubling to 9.4 million.

This provides a solid foundation on which to launch the MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB), for which we have received an Approval in Principle.

“The MoMo PSB will provide a powerful platform to drive digital and financial inclusion in Nigeria. In recognition of our progress in the fintech space, we received a $500,000 grant from the African Development Bank to fund research on financial inclusion for women.

“Driven by the strong operational performance, we delivered growth across all revenue lines, demonstrating the underlying strength and momentum of the business.

Service revenue grew by 23.3per cent, exceeding our mid-teen target, driven mainly by growth in voice, data and fintech service revenue lines.”

IMPACT ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION Nigeria currently has 35.9 per cent of the total adult population lack access to financial services, according to a 2020 survey

by Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA), a Nigeria-focused advocacy group supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. According to a 2021 report by EFInA, 38.1 million of Nigeria’s 106 million adult population remains financially excluded.

Financial inclusion refers to efforts aimed at making financial products and services accessible and affordable to all individuals and businesses, regardless of their personal net worth or company size.

Head, Products and Innovation, 9PSB, Akeem Salam, speaking at an event last week had noted that for effective financial inclusion to happen, there must be a concerted effort by all stakeholders in the sector to work together to improve ease of access to financial services.

According to him, “Though Nigeria is beginning to witness a noticeable effort in the drive to bring on-board everyone into the financial ecosystem, inclusion is still grossly low, with about 40 per cent of the population either excluded or under-served.”

Also speaking during a Clubhouse series, “On the Money”, an analyst, Emmanuel Orji, noted that quite a number of people do not

own bank accounts due to the lack of information or sensitization on the ease and importance of opening an account and most banks are more focused on reaching the already-banked rather than the unbanked percentage of the population.

“Even with the whole trying to make the bank processes easy as it is now, there is no incentive to pretty much address the ignorance on the streets. We hardly see banks hosting seminars on how to open a bank account in those low-income areas and that is just focusing on those that already have some sort of knowledge about how the banking app and account opening works. I think the PSB license is given to Airtel and also to MTN is definitely going to play a huge role”.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Amolegbe: Capital Market Remains Surest Medium to Beat Inflation in Nigeria In this interview, the outgoing President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr Olatunde Amolegbe, a frontline economist, investment analyst and Fellow of CIS, offers some tips for investors in this period of uncertainty in the global financial market and mentioned some of the Institute’s milestones during his administration. Kayode Tokede present the excerpts of its Disciplinary Tribunal rules to reflect changes in dispute resolution processes and also ensure that the right of all parties are well protected. The reviewed rules were subsequently approved by the AttorneyGeneral for the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN. Finally, I’ll like to mention the Institute’s Life Insurance Scheme has benefitted the families of seven of our colleagues who passed on in the last two years. These are some of that achievements of our Administration.

How would you describe the Nigerian Capital Market at the moment? he Nigerian Capital Market has reached the stage where we can comfortably say that the ghosts of the 2008 meltdown have been banished and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and other market operators are on sustainable upward growth trajectory. According to The Nigerian recent edition of The Nigerian Stockbroker, a publication of CIS, the last MTN Nigeria‘s electronic public offering, broke new boundaries by being the first public offering that permitted electronic subscription, enabling over 120,000 new investors from every part of the country to participate. CIS last year commenced remote examination, which enabled candidates from different parts of the world to sit for the exams without having to travel down to Lagos. So, the market has matured and is growing in tandem with the rest of the world.

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What are the options for investors ?

Whether it is equity or fixed income instruments, this is the time to invest through the Nigerian Capital Market. In recent years, many investors have achieved returns in excess of 30 – 60% in a year on Nigerian equities. The Capital market remains the surest regulated investment medium to beat inflation in Nigeria. In fact our market has been adjudged the best performing in Africa for some years, so Nigerian investors should take advantage and increase their investments. But it is advisable that they should seek advice of stockbrokers. They need these professionals to assist them in what we call risk and reward trade off in investment in various asset classes.

Congratulations on the commencement of the study of Securities and Investment at Mountain Top University (MTU) What other efforts is the Institute making to get more universities involved?

We have actually secured the commencement of Capital Market studies in a few other institutions like Nasarawa State University where Prof Uche Uwaleke, a Chartered Stockbroker teaches. It’s just to get the NUC accreditation to run as a full programme as it is in MTU. I do not want to mention names, but I assure you that several other universities will soon commence the programme.

How will the Institute attract more millennials into the capital market?

We are attracting the millennials already. The entire capital market is a very attractive area for Nigerian youths because of the excitement, the dynamism, and of course the fact that the market is accessible on various online platforms and this enhances interest of the millennials , Generation Z and others. There is no gainsaying many investors are making good money by playing the market. Every year, we embark on a Career Talk drive at various educational institutions across the country.

Many students turn up and register for our examinations during the events. In the last three years, we have also been carrying out the Capital Market Quiz Competition for tertiary institutions. Last year, it was won by Tai Solarin University of Education, with Obafemi Awolowo university as the runner up. Our computer-based and remote exam have also endeared us to the youths in Nigeria.

To what extent is the Institute collaborating with other professional bodies in the Capital Market?

Can you shed more light on what really informed the inauguration of the CIS Academy?

The law granting the charter to CIS gave it four cardinal mandates, and one of the core mandates is providing the required training and examination for both our students and qualified stockbrokers alike. We are at the forefront of advancing capital market literacy in Nigeria. Therefore, training occupies a very special place at CIS. We cannot set examination for people who we have not trained. After certification, we still have to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to our members, to bring them up to date with current trends in the industry.

Beyond this, CIS being a specialised training institution has to extend its service to the general public, especially for subjects in the finance, securities and investment fields. The is the rationale for having CIS Academy.

Amolegbe

As a full-fledged chartered institute in the capital market, we work in harmony with the various Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) and many other professional associations in the market. In fact, there is hardly any of these bodies that don’t have CIS members in their midst. So we work as a team for the overall growth and development of the market. The law clearly defines the responsibilities of CIS and I believe our friends do recognise that, so the market is a one big hap family.

How has the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) been handling the issue of advocacy?

I must state at the outset that advocacy is an area in which is very dear to the Institute’s Council and Manat. We have been more active in the last few years.

We owe it an obligation to grow our membership base and also encourage investors in different classes to participate in the market. Last year, the Institute hosted two Honorable Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Zainab Ahmed, the Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, the Hon Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to an enormously successful 3rd CIS’ National

Workshop at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The thrust of that Workshop was the establishment of a clear path towards achieving accelerated, double digit economic growth for Nigeria.

Thereafter, we had our 25th Annual Stockbrokers‘ Conference where we inducted over 300 newly qualified stockbrokers and welcomed 40 new Fellows. Early last month, the Institute inaugurated CIS Academy. Few weeks after, it opened its first liaison office in Abuja FCT. These symbolize the positive growth trajectory of the Institute and her increased popularity across the country.

What is unique about this Academy, compared to similar ones?

We have the seal of government to provide appropriate training and certification in Securities and Investment. For people attending our courses, the first assurance is that they are dealing with a training provider that has locus standi, ie authority in the field. From this automatically comes competence and quality. What you get from CIS is world class training from first rate facilitators with proven track record in the subjects they teach. Finally, you’ll also discover that our pricing is about the most competitive in the industry: That is due to our deliberate effort to bring capital market education to all, irrespective of class or region.

The Institute last year announced that it had commenced Online Examination. Can you shed light on this?

I am happy to place on record that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) for the curriculum for Securities and Investment as first degree programmes in Nigeria.

In 2021, the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers commenced remote (online) examinations to cater for our students resident in various countries across the world. Also in 2021 the institute carried out a comprehensive review

Congratulations on the opening of a liaison office in Abuja. Can you shed light on this milestone?

Actually, we have been on this for a few years now. The Abuja office is just the first in a series that will materialise over the next few years. The reality is that the Securities and Investment profession is becoming more popular due to our capital market roadshows and advocacy activities over the years. It is just natural that we make our physical presence felt in key geographical points across the country. Naturally, we are starting with Abuja because it is the nations’s capital city. We will move to other zones in the course of time.

“My priority has always been to enhance the Institute’s brand positioning by increasing its visibility via advocacy while putting the members’ welfare on the front burner. I thank God that i am living the Institute into the hand of tested professionals that we share the same vision.”

What would you like to be remembered for as a Past President of the Institute?

Olatunde Mohammed Amolegbe is that humble city gentleman who accepted to lead at a time that the entire country was in turmoil, gave his best for the capital market and Institute, and bowed out with meaningful legacies for his successors to build on. My priority has always been to enhance the Institute’s brand positioning by increasing its visibility via advocacy while putting the members’ welfare on the front burner. I thank God that i am living the Institute into the hand of tested professionals that we share the same vision.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

Detoxifying Nigeria’s Business Landscape James Emejo writes that although the federal government’s efforts at de-risking the investment climate have recorded remarkable progress, the political will and commitment by public agencies are key to achieving desirable outcomes

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orried by the increasing risk environment which created apathy on the part of both local and foreign investors to invest in the economy, coupled with the poor ranking outcomes on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business (EDB) in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2016, launched the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

The council was saddled with the task of working to eliminate bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria and make the country a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.

By nature, the council is an inter-governmental and inter-ministerial body that is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and comprises 10 ministers, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), representatives of Lagos and Kano State governments, the National Assembly and the private sector.

The Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) is the operational arm of PEBEC, assisting the MDAs to implement the reform agenda of the PEBEC.

IMPROVEMENT IN RANKING PROFILE

Perhaps one of the earliest fruits which had been constantly attributed to the setting up of the PEBEC was the remarkable improvement in the country’s position in the global doing business assessment.

In the 2020 EDB evaluation, Nigeria was ranked 131st among 190 economies from 145th position in 2019 and 146th in 2018. This was no mean feat considering that its was ranked 170th in 2014 and 169th in 2015.

However, in 2021, the World Bank announced that it had discontinued further publication of its “Doing Business” report series for 2018 and 2020 following data irregularities uncovered by both internal and independent investigations.

The bank said data irregularities uncovered by an internal probe on both reports in June 2020, the bank management had resolved to pause the next edition and initiated a series of reviews and audits of the report and its methodology.

PEBEC’S OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Even though the publication of the World Bank report which should ordinarily serve as an incentive for governments to hasten their ease of doing business reforms had since been suspended, the PEBEC had nonetheless continued to facilitate reforms that if implemented could fast-tract the country’s economic aspirations.

Essentially, the drive to provide a conducive environment for businesses seemed to have gained traction but at a slower pace. While some of the reforms had been completed and are currently being implemented, some others are still at various stages of progress.

Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business/Secretary, PEBEC, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, had assured that the reforms initiative would “further reduce the challenges faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across four areas - Agro-Export Implementation Action Plan, Automation Reforms, Regulatory Reforms, and Executive Order 01/ReportGov.NG compliance reforms.

“The reforms include the streamlining and simplification of agro-export regulatory practices with a view to boosting the competitiveness of Nigeria’s agro-exports while enhancing Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings as stated in the Agro-Export Plan.”

According to Oduwole, the reform when completed will “intensify efforts at improving travel experience at our airports and to strengthen the automation of the business incorporation process of the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“Other reforms include a drive for increased adoption of electronic filling of taxes by taxpayers.”

She further assured that a number of reforms would have been delivered as part of efforts to make Nigeria a progressively easier place to do business at the conclusion of the exercise.

REFORMS COMPLETED AND IMPLEMENTED

According the presidential adviser, three of the business reforms which were initiated and completed during the current exercise were the Share Register template for public companies by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); Resolution of Recurrent Errors in the Manual Generation of Certificates/Recordal Documents as well as the Insolvency Regulations reforms.

CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH MDAs

Earlier during a midway progress report by the PEBEC on the implementation of the Nation Action Plan (NAP), there were indications that reforms in agro-exports had attained had progressed significantly with the exercise focusing on four key areas including payment and verification process, the inspection process, terminal operators and shipping lines as well as

access and documentation.

According to Oduwole, who was recently appointed into the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Forum, progress on payment and verification process, inspection process, terminal operators and shipping lines and access and documentation are all at advanced stages of completion.

Essentially, the proposed reforms regarding payment and verification seek to limit the Nigerian Export Proceeds (NXP) process flow to essential government agencies alone.

It also seeks to finalise the ongoing implementation of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD)-NXP integration between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and launch the Pre- Inspection Agent (PIA) portal as well as integrate it with NXP. Oduwole said the reforms seek to introduce fewer procedures that drastically reduce the processing timeline for NXP confirmation.

PEBEC was set up in July 2016 to improve the doing-business environment in the country for SMEs by removing critical bottlenecks and procedural restrictions to doing business.

The move was also to boost the country’s position in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index ranking.

Essentially, PEBEC collaborates with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other partners to reduce the costs, time and number of procedures to make the process of setting up and doing business in Nigeria simpler and effective – from starting a business to getting a location to getting finance to dealing with day-to-day operations and ultimately to operating in a secure business environment.

However, the inspection process attempts to audit and streamline the current physical inspection process for agro-exports, publish and enforce an official timeline.

The objective is to ensure drastic reduction in the current time for export cargo examination.

The reforms in agro-exports further target direct priority access lane for compliant agro-export containers with the aim of making it faster in processing of agroexports and increase in the volume of commodities exports as well as minimise degradation of agro-export produce.

TRADE FACILITATION

The exercise is also targeted at sanitizing ports operation and trade facilitation at the nation’s airports particularly as it affects entry and

exit of people had attained 31 per cent completion.

The aim is to improve the ambience and travelers/visitors’ experience at the airport and enhance passenger processing and baggage handling process among others.

Other aspects of the reforms include tracking, analysing and report MDAs compliance with the Executive Order 1 (EO1) directives which was recorded at 33 per cent currently as well as track, analyse and report on MDA compliance with the 72-hour resolution timeline as approved.

MDAS AS DRAWBACK

Despite the achievements so far recorded, the MDAs’ responses remain crucial for a positive end-result. Currently the exercise, which ought to have been concluded in spite of the minor setbacks suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic had again been extended to improve compliance from MDAs. Already reforms drive is particularly being slowed down by the tardiness on the part of public institutions to make the required adjustment with most of them giving excuses for their delays to comply.

It is an irony that even through the reforms intended to abolish bureaucratic tendencies in the public institutions to fast-tract business, the MDAs are still defined by their very own nature.

This is where political-will comes to play and requires that the government compels the former to be more responsive to issues that seek to make the business environment saner.

NEW DELIVERY TIMELINES

Following the tardiness by MDAs, and in line with the goal of continuously improving the business environment in Nigeria through reforms, PEBEC had extended the completion date for the Seventh National Action Plan (NAP 7.0) by 30 days, with a new completion date of May 6, 2022.

Oduwole added, “The extension of the 60day window is to enable affected ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) improve on their overall performance, which has so far been suboptimal.

“However, based on recent interventions by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and relevant Permanent Secretaries, there is the likelihood that more reforms may be delivered by the new deadline as affected MDAs are given additional time for the completion of their reforms.”

The exercise aims to deliver 57 reforms within the 60-day accelerator window.

WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

EDUCATION Omokungbe: More Funding for Yabatech Will Make It Globally Competitive Mr. Femi Omokungbe, Rector of Yaba College of Technology, in this interview with Funmi Ogundare, disclosed efforts made to ensure the institution bounces back after the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that more funding is needed for the tertiary institution to become globally competitive.

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he college will launch an endowment fund to commemorate its 75th anniversary. What plans are on the ground for that?

We want to compete globally among institutions and for us to do that, we need fund, as government cannot fund education alone. We need the interventions of international organisations, corporate organisations, states and federal governments, as well as the alumni association to assist the college for us to be able to achieve our dreams and compete globally with any tertiary institution. That is why this management and the council have decided to think outside the box to generate more funds and take care of our dilapidated structures that have decayed over the last seven and half decades. So that is why we are thinking seriously of the endowment fund launch, which will be coming up on September 15, 2022. When you talk about the global ranking of institutions, it is not child’s play. It takes funding.

Is it for the lecturers to publish in high impact journals, which is one of the criteria for ranking? Is it equipment and laboratory? Is it conducive classrooms and internet facilities? These are part of the criteria for ranking, and to also have high carrying capacity, we need infrastructures like building state-of-the-art things in the classrooms and offices. The fund that we have from the government is not enough to execute all of these, and as such, we feel that launching an endowment fund will go a long way to assist the college in achieving its dream.

You have been rector for the past four years. What have been your challenges so far?

The challenges are majorly funding because there were so many things we put in place as our vision when we were coming in, and we thought we could achieve if we had funds.

Unfortunately, the fund is not there.

But within the little that we have, we tried our best to make the best use of what has come our way within the last four years. If we want to be fair, you would have seen the difference comparing five years ago with what we have presently. We have tried our best to see that we move the college forward.

Did you reach out to the alumni association?

We reached out to the fellows of the institution, and you would agree with me that the last two years worldwide due to the pandemic has had a negative effect on every sector of the economy and ravaged the whole world. Perhaps, if there had not been that pandemic, maybe we would have done better or the gestures of friends of the college would have been well noticed in terms of assistance. We have spent four years, but two years of it had been under the pandemic, which has not been fair enough to our four years.

How were you able to overcome the challenges?

It’s all about bracing up for challenges, and having the courage to withstand these challenges has been our strength.

Given the inadequate funding, will you suggest reintroducing tuition

ment, and so everybody keys into the vision of our forefathers. The staff, to an extent, are level headed.

How did you settle the students’ union crisis in the college?

When we came in, the student union was banned by the council, and it took some effort for us to talk to the council and the need for them to be back.

The truth of the matter is that it is a bit difficult when you don’t have a student union to deal with. When there is a crisis or uproar, there would be nobody to call on. So the strategy is that we should have a students’ union that will have a representative so that when anything happens, we will have somebody to call. That is how I see it, and that is what we have been doing, and we have been meeting with them regularly, know their challenges and let them also know the way students unionism should be done. Sometimes when there are workshops for their leaders to learn how it should be, we send them. So we have been having a cordial relationship with them, and their welfare is paramount to this administration.

Omokungbe

fees in tertiary institutions?

If you go down memory lane, I am an advocate of Nigerians paying tuition. The country is not ripe enough to have a tuition-free education.

Even in the western world, their citizens pay tuition.

When you compare it to what international students pay, it might be low, but then it is not free. It looks funny to me when you pay millions for your children in primary and secondary school, and you now want to train a medical doctor, an architect or a lawyer free of charge in tertiary institutions! Are we not joking? And you expect the standard to be high?

The college seems to have a larger population of students. Are there plans to move them to Epe? Epe is not a permanent site but just a campus. Yaba remains the main campus of the college. With a larger population, we are having more programmes, and more are being relocated to Epe

because it is becoming choked up.

How many of your programmes are so far accredited?

Virtually all our courses are accredited, and those that are due for re-accreditation would be done this year before August because it is a five-year programme. There were some that we did in December 2019, and they will not be due until 2024. Those that were not due as of 2019 that are due this year or last year would be re-accredited. Don’t also forget that the pandemic contributed to it.

What is your carrying capacity?

It depends on each of the programmes. It is not a general thing.

There are carrying capacity; streams that you could have based on each course, but there is a statutory 70:30 ratio, science-based to others which we are following strictly in Yabatech and according to the NBTE guidelines.

We don’t flout it.

What is the secret to your success?

We give it to God and the staff that we have. They have been cooperative.

I can’t do it alone. The management that we have has been cooperative.

There is no discord among the manage-

“It is a bit difficult when you don’t have student’s union to deal with. When there is crisis or uproar, there would be nobody to call on to. So the strategy is that we should have student’s union that will have a representative so that when anything happens, we will have somebody to call.”

How do you manage the issue of cultism in the college?

Before when rectors come, the security usually sandwiches him and the students find it difficult to know who the rector is sometimes. So when I came, the first thing I did was to ask the security officers to go to their duty post and we were interacting. I go to the cafeteria, eat and even buy things for the students too. I give the students courage. The cult boys on this campus are less than 10 per cent of the total population. So if they are 10 per cent, why will they override the 90 per cent remaining? Are they not cowards? The cult boys are not spirits or ghosts. Recently, I wanted to collect a gun from a student who was inside a car on campus, and I was able to recover six guns from some of them at the end of the day. One has to be streetwise and devise means of dealing with them. I sent a message to them to come to the table to explain why they were shooting guns on campus.

We had also partnered with the police and we asked the boys to come, but they refused. We caught one and he was brought here by the police and he started confessing. The boy asked me to bring my laptop and he downloaded all the pictures of their members from the internet. He, however, warned me that I should not allow them to know that there would be consequences. So I cooperated. So on the day of their exam, with the information that I have, I went to the classrooms, picked out all of them and handed them over to the anti-cultism officers.

The boy who exposed his colleagues was also arrested. Even for the ones who brought their vehicles to campus, I ensured that the tyres were deflated.

I asked the security officers to take photographs of the plate numbers and remove it. It was because the plate numbers of the cars were removed, some of the boys were forced to come on campus and it was at that point that they were arrested.

After YABATECH, what are your plans?

I will be going back to the classroom at the Civil Engineering Department.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

EDUCATION

US Mission Promotes Intellectual Property Rights in Nigeria The US government is committed to promoting public awareness of the importance of protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) as a strategic resource for bolstering economic growth in Nigeria.

In collaboration with the American Business Council, the mission hosted the second edition of its intellectual property symposium on ‘Intellectual Property and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future’, the theme for World IP Day 2022.

The two-day symposium, led by the United States Department of Justice’s INL-funded Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT)’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Attorney Adviser (ICHIP), brought together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s IPR protection framework, including leading entertainment and creative industry leaders.

Delivering remarks during the opening ceremony of the symposium in Lagos, US Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard noted that the protection of intellectual property rights is critical for any economy that wants to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Ambassador Leonard noted that strong intellectual property rights protection is essential to creating jobs and opening new markets for goods and services.

She encouraged stakeholders in the intellectual property space to shore up Nigeria’s IPR legal framework and lay a

solid foundation for youth to drive innovation and engender a more prosperous Nigeria.

“Nigerian youth are an incredible source of ingenuity and creativity,” Ambassador Leonard said. “A strong system of intellectual property rights assures inventors, industrial designers, musicians, and artists alike that their creative content will be protected and valued.”

The symposium featured a plenary session, thematic panel discussions, and exhibitions focusing on Nigeria’s burgeoning entertainment and creative industries. Participants discussed how intellectual property rights can support their goals, help transform ideas into reality, generate income, create jobs, and make a positive impact.

Leading industry, legal and academic speakers explored options for making Nigerian IP infrastructure work for innovative youth in Nigeria, on the one hand, while creative industry pioneers discussed negotiating opportunities for Nigeria’s creative industry.

The symposium featured a spirited secondary school debate on the relevance of IPR protection for Nigeria’s better future, as well as thoughtprovoking art performances to spotlight the place of creativity.

Through economic diplomacy overseas, the United States encourages host-nation governments to establish predictable legal regimes to ensure intellectual property rights can be secured.

ANMC: NTIC Restates Commitment to Academic Excellence The organiser of the recently concluded National Annual Mathematics Competition has restated its commitment to academic excellence among students.

The sponsor of this year’s competition, Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC), through its Managing Director, Fevzullah Bilgin, said the annual contest is a platform through which it supports and encourages excellence.

While describing the competition as one of Nigeria’s largest mathematics competitions, he said the NTIC is the sole sponsor of ANMC scholarships, while Access Bank is sponsoring the organisation of 19th edition of ANMC. The ANMC Coordinator, Erdal Yilmaz said currently, 167 students are benefiting from the NTIC scholarship scheme, with more than N500 million spent annually for the awardees.

“With ANMC, we have been able to awake the mathematics potential in students and has been of great help in leveraging the students’ functionality in the science-oriented area,” he added.

Twenty students from primary 5 and 6; and 20 students

from JS 3 were awarded a 100 per cent tuition fee scholarship.

The awardees are the outstanding students from the junior category and senior category.

The students were exceptional from their different states and zones on February 5, 2022, making their parents and school proud.

They made it to the second round, which held from 4th-8th for the JS 3 category and 6th-8th for the primary 5 and 6 category.

The second round qualifiers were invited for the second round and award ceremony at NTIC recently, which witnessed the emergence of 21 exceptional students from the junior and senior categories who were awarded 100 per cent full-tuition scholarship plus cash prizes and academic equipment.

The second-round award saw three exceptional students getting 100 per cent scholarship and Luis Lu from Kerrile Prep School topped the list in the primary 5 and 6 level, while Okadike Kennedy from Dority International School came first in the JS3 category.

Also, the top 20 students were awarded cash prizes that ranged from N10,000 to N200,000 for both categories.

GSU Student Secures 50,000 Free Oraquick HIV Test Kits for Nigeria Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

A 500-level medical student of the Gombe State University (GSU), Ibrahim Mohammed Bello, has secured over 50,000 Oraquick HIV test kits for distribution across Nigeria.

Suleiman Babayo Gidado, a member of the Nigeria Youth Parliament representing Gombe North, said the effort was successful following the Nigeria Medical Students Association partnership.

Making the presentation

of over 3,000 kits for Gombe through the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, Ibrahim Mohammed, who is also the National Director for the Standing Committee for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, including HIV and AIDS of the Nigeria Medical Students Association yesterday said the commodity is to be distributed free.

Bello said, during a meeting, he was able to convince an NGO, DKT International Nigeria, whose aim is to reduce

maternal mortality, to give out over 50,000 HIV Oraquick screening test kits.

He said they were moving to primary health centres in Gombe to demonstrate and distribute the commodity together with a questionnaire to assess the health situation in that part of the state.

Receiving the commodities and inaugurating them on behalf of the government, Dahiru expressed delight that one of their sons took the initiative to get the commodity for the

common good of all.

He explained that it will go a long way in improving health care delivery in Gombe because “if you know your status, we will now get you counselled, and it will reduce the spread.”

“It will also reduce mother to child transmission, and it will drastically reduce the burden on the society. So, testing is key. You have to know the status before you know what to do in the case of managing it to reduce its spread,” he maintained.

Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab (middle) with government officials and possibly officers of all tertiary institutions in Lagos, at the a three-day Higher Education Business Government Collaboration conference, held at the University of London recently

Dropouts: Lagos, Stakeholders Strategise on Keeping Students in Schools In a strengthened effort to tackle the challenge of school dropouts in Lagos, the government recently gathered stakeholders across the education sector to review its action steps.

One of the actions being reviewed was the state’s Comprehensive Schools Programme, launched in February to teach skills acquisition in learning and empower students with various entrepreneurial courses.

According to the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, the programme was a collaboration between the Lagos government and organised private sector and non-governmental agencies.

It aims to keep prospective dropouts in and improve their prospects, bringing together top-quality vocational training

with regular academic curricula.

While discussing with stakeholders, including administrators, principals, and teachers of public secondary schools, how the programme has fared so far, Adefisayo lamented the alarming figure of out-of-school children in the state.

She acknowledged stakeholders’ inputs. However, she maintained that much is still to be done to achieve the programme’s overall aim.

In enhancing the programme, too, the Commissioner announced the involvement of the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) to help in the maintenance and improvement of programme standards.

Justifying the programme, Adefisayo recalled her encounter with a yam seller

who happened to be one of her best Chemistry students years back when she was a school administrator in Osun.

She said such a programme would have guided the yam seller to a career path, adding that the girl’s situation was a fallout of students not being taught what they wanted to do.

“The Comprehensive Schools Programme would help them become self-reliant by teaching skills they are good at and passionate about,” she stressed.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Abayomi Abolaji, revealed further that plans are in top gear to expand the programme to 50 schools by September 2022, noting that the selection of schools was a function of available infrastructure.

The pilot phase of the

programme was launched in 12 secondary schools across the six education districts in Lagos.

He said, “In terms of the classrooms, we will renovate them to such a state as to become conducive for proper learning by replacing furniture, installing smart TVs and other gadgets for the VTech sessions.”

Adefisayo added, “ The programme would ultimately cover every public secondary school in the state because all our schools are affected by the dropout problem. We want to retain those who would learn different vocations within the structured environment of the schools. We are saying to them, ‘Pay attention, do well, make us proud’ as we continue tracking them and seeing them get to wherever they can in life.”

Provost Tasks Govt on Minimum Teaching Qualification Funmi Ogundare

The Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Dr. Wahab Azeez, has called on the federal government to enact a policy on minimum qualification for teaching to attract people to the profession.

Azeez, who recently said this at the 2021/2022 NCE and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) matriculation ceremony, bemoaned the low enrolment

into some departments such as Integrated Science/Mathematics Education and Physics Education, Computer/Chemistry Education, Home Economics Education, among others.

“Specifically, the college of education is experiencing a sharp drop in student enrolment. Nigeria’s certificate in education is gradually going into extinction,” he stressed.

“The first degree is made the minimum teaching qualification as many people will like to go

for university degrees compared to certificates in education.”

The provost disclosed that the college introduced the Centre for Vocational and Entrepreneurship Development to offer skills to students.

“We have skill acquisition in programmes like barbing, tiling, tailoring, and cooking so that the students can on their own apply such skills to earn a living as far as they are still students here,” explained the provost.

“The students on their own

are also practising what they have learnt on their own. We want them to be entrepreneurs so that when they are not able to get a teaching job, they will be in a position to establish a business of their own.”

He congratulated the newly admitted students while imploring them to combine both academic and moral excellence throughout their stay in the college. Five hundred twentyeight students matriculated in the college.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2022

CITYSTRINGS

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

Canvassing for Civic Space Protection At the recently held Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Civic Space Guard Conference in Lagos, stakeholders opined that civic space protection are an individual's inalienable rights as well as a collective responsibility. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the overarching objective was to save Nigeria’s civic space from shrinking and better position the media to lead the defence while enabling platforms for conversations among stakeholders, support investigative stories and researches

T

he Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) is a non-governmental organisation with a vision to stimulate the emergence of a socially just community defined by the ethics of inclusion, transparency and accountability through the mechanism of investigative journalism.

In line with that vision, the centre with support from MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Luminate Group and Ford Foundation, recently held a Civic Space Guard Conference.

Themed 'Hushed voices and the media’s defence of the civic space', stakeholders at the event advised Nigerians to see the duty of civic space protection as their inalienable rights and a collective responsibility.

Meanwhile, the Civic Space Guard project was launched in December 2021 with its award for investigative reporters.

At the recent conference, which had the press, representatives of non-governmental organisations, officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other stakeholders in attendance, the project highlighted the need to save Nigeria’s civic space from shrinking, better position the media to lead the defence of the space, enable platforms for conversations among stakeholders, support investigative stories and conduct researches.

While declaring the event open, WSCIJ Executive Director/CEO, Motunrayo Alaka, described the civic space as a common wealth that belongs to all Nigerians, adding that "a vibrant civic space is compulsory for democracy.

“This is a free space and that is what the civic space is about. We have the right to demand good governance. We have the right to speak up".

Also speaking, Bukola Wemimo-Samuel, a news anchor and reporter with Channels Television, who asked the panellists what their opinion was about the comparison between the status of the civic space during the military era and under democracy, kick started the conversation.

While commending WSCIJ for bringing stakeholders to a round table to discuss such an important matter, the Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said the civic space is opening up but can be better. " Nigeria is a work in progress and engagement like this will make it better," he said, while emphasising that the first responsibility of the

L-R: Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, founder/Director of Research and Policy, Space for Change; Debo Adedayo (Mr Macaroni), Entertainer; SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command; and Olukunle Akinrinade, Head, Weekend Crime Desk, The Nation, all panelists, during the WSCIJ Civic Space Guard Conference in Lagos police is to ensure safety first and that this may sometimes mean to disperse a protesting crowd that may get violent. He however encouraged groups planning a protest to inform the police so it may deploy officers to maintain order.

On his part, Debo Adedayo, another panelist, said successive governments have continuously disrespected Nigerians and their human rights, adding that "Nigerian democracy is cosmetic. It is a cover.

There is something under the face.

Nothing has changed because still cannot enjoy those basic human rights".

The victim of police brutality during the Lekki toll gate protest however advised security personnel not to see themselves as targets but as victims of a flawed system.

Olakunle Akinrinade, weekend

crime desk editor, The Nation newspaper, whose unlawful arrest and detention formed the foundation of his fight against societal injustice using journalism said the animosity of Nigerians against security agencies stemmed from past experiences.

He said, “You cannot ask a man whose rights have been violated not to cry out. There is a need to build trust between the people and members of the security forces which makes policing better and effective.”

Commending the Nigerian media for their efforts to protect the civil space despite operating in a harsh space, he called for a paradigm shift in the industry with journalists mining their data rather than depending on data from institutions.

Human Rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong reminded the gathering of the laws that clearly state that no person or group need police permission to protest. He lamented that despite existing laws protecting the rights of individuals, many are ignorant or too timid to test these laws in court.

"You should not be afraid to challenge the

government in court. Most media houses are reluctant to go to court and challenge the violation of their rights".

Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri stated that governments all over the world have become more authoritarian so they tag those with superior arguments and dissenting views as enemies. For the Executive Director of Spaces for Change, the mantra called national security and interest is the most popular refrain used to justify attacks on the media and other active stakeholders in the civic space.

Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide, public relations officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos Command said, “Nigeria belongs to us all and we need to protect it at all cost. In carrying out our civic activities, we should also realise that human lives are precious.”

In closing, Juliana Francis, Programme Manager, WSCIJ, who thanked all participants, appealed to all to continue the civic space conversation beyond the walls of the conference venue.

EYEFON Project Sensitises Nigerians on Migrating Through Legal Route Rebecca Ejifomha

T

he United Nations released statistic in 2017 which showed that of over 602,000 Nigerians who attempted to migrate to Europe through the desert, 27,000 of them died in this course.

It is, therefore, to cushion the effect of illegal migration to Europe that the Nigerian Women Association (NWA) Verona, established in Italy and Nigeria, is sensitising Nigerians on the need to migrate to Europe through legal routes.

The association executed its plan at the recent EYEFON Project Road Campaign in Igando area of Lagos State, funded by the Ministry of Interior Italy.

The advocates admitted that going abroad is indeed their right as a people. The Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Abosede Mary Otukpe, however cautioned, “Migration is your right but do it right. When migrating, make sure you don’t go through agent that will tell you there’s a job in Dubai and at the end of the day all is false”.

She soon lamented that a lot of people travel through the dessert and the Mediterranean Sea. According to Otukpe, a large number of them don’t make it alive.

“A lot of people are dying,” she decried.

L-R: Mrs Iquo Dawodu, NWA team member; Ms Ajara Awodi, NWA team member; Mrs Otukpe; and Dr. Ajibola at the EYEFON Project Road Campaign in Igando area of Lagos “Not only that, even people that did not die at the end of the day might not be able to get their life

back because of the trauma they went through.

“So we just want to tell them that going through the right route is better, you can go

through schooling, you can go through family reunion, there are a lot of right platform to go through abroad thank you.”

Proffering a solution to the situation, the coordinator emphasised the need to find out the right information. She encouraged prospective travellers to approach the Ministry of Labour Resource Centre in Ikoyi area of Lagos. “You can get valid information from there so that you don’t go through wrong agents.”

In the words of the President of the NWA Verona, Dr. Victoria Ajibola, they have been working for six years around combating human trafficking.

She narrated their experience in Italy where their association is based. “A lot of our Nigerian citizens, especially under age young girls are being forced into this country and taken as slaves.

“We help these girls into integrational and social programmes. We started in 2013 to help those girls who wish to return home. This was done in partnership with he International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with many local authorities.”

At NWA they help these girls return home, and settle them down to start up their lives in Nigeria. They also empower the returnees with skills like hairdressing, shoe making, and tailoring among others.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH SAMUEL AJAYI

E-mail: yemielegance@gmail.com

Mobile: 08033083367

Across the Parties, the Game is On…

F

rom all indications, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (APC), has finally thrown its presidential ticket open with the screening of its 17 presidential aspirants, last week, out of which two were disqualified.

Chairman of the screening committee and former Senate President, David Mark, bluntly refused to name the two aspirants, who were disqualified and when asked if the party would be refunding the nomination fees paid by the disqualified aspirants, Mark said the party had no reason to refund.

However, throwing the party’s ticket open would definitely not sit well with southerners, who are gunning for the party’s ticket. Led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the aspirants had based their position on the fact that states controlled by the PDP in the South have been sustaining the party as the ruling APC, has practically rendered the party comatose in many northern states.

While they have a very good point, it has been obvious from day one that the issue of zoning would always be a thorny one in the party going by the number of northerners, who have made their intentions known to battle for the ticket of the party.

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, are political heavyweights from the North that could not just be thrown under the political bus in the name of zoning.

Some of them could abandon the party and go to other parties to realise their ambition. While there are no guarantees that they would win, they would further weaken the party and give the ruling APC more leeway.

Now, if those in support of zoning in the opposition PDP thought they were taking a cue from the ruling APC, perhaps, the words of the National Chairman of the party and former governor of Nassarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, should be a jolt that even zoning is not done and dusted in the APC. Speaking last week, Adamu said a final decision on zoning of the presidential ticket of the APC had not been taken. He added that he could not preempt the party and said categorically that if the party had taken a decision on the issue.

His words: “I am today privileged to be the chairman of the party. The party is greater than me. The party has not made a decision and I cannot preempt what the party’s decision will be.”

Whatever Adamu had in mind, when he said this would be better understood by the man himself. However, it seems, in principle, the party might have zoned its presidential ticket to the South as all the leading aspirants on the party are from the South.

Notable among these were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu; Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; current Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Pastor Tunde Bakare, and former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, among others.

Perhaps, Adamu was trying to encourage northerners to join the fray. But if the current realities were anything to go by, then, the presidential ticket of the APC would be going to the South, unless Adamu has other ideas. And no one can tell if he doesn’t have.

FINALLY, BAKARE SET TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL Barring any last minute changes, charismatic Pentecostal cleric and founder of the Citadel Global Community Church,

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and Pastor Tunde Bakare Buhari and Bakare, which pre-dates the former’s presidency.

Bakare was the Buhari’s running mate for the 2011 presidential election, which was the last of his previous three failed attempts to win the presidency. That time, Buhari ran on the platform of the now defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which later joined other legacy parties that formed the now ruling APC. Bakare has not missed any opportunity to tell his compatriots that he would be the 16th president of the country after Buhari, who is the 15th. If many thought he was joking, his declaration next week would be a major step towards realising that ambition (others may call it prophesy).

It only remains to be seen how far he intends to go. But he surely means business. And that is why anyone who underrates Bakare in this contest does so at his or her own political risk.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Pastor Tunde Bakare, will officially declare his presidential ambition on Monday May 9th at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja.

Sources from the camp of the lawyerturned pastor told THISDAY he had already picked his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms and it could not be ascertained if these were paid for by friends and admirers or he picked up the bill by himself. One of his aides, who craved anonymity told this reporter over the weekend that, they were not sure if he would be picking up the form by himself but it had been paid for.

Last week, Bakare officially disengaged from the day to day running of the church to face his political ambition squarely as he did not want anything that would be a distraction to him and so as not to affect the running of the church. He

is said to have also been meeting prominent northern leaders, albeit in secret to seek their support for his ambition.

Apart from this, he has visited the Aso Rock Presidential Villa at least twice in the last couple of weeks, where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari. Though details of their meetings were not shared, even with his aides, not to talk of the media.

A couple of weeks back, he was said to have also got a call from a prominent northern traditional ruler, who was said to have promised his support and also that of other top traditional leaders from the region.

It could not be ascertained or verified if the call from the northern monarch was instigated from the Presidency, but one thing that could not be argued is the very close relationship between

TINUBU 2023: WHEN LAGOS ‘RELOCATED’ TO SAUDI ARABIA For the greater part of last week, almost the entire Lagos State governmental machinery joined a former governor of the state and presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for Umrah, the lesser hajj, in Saudi Arabia.

The delegation was led by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, which had others like commissioners, special advisers as well as House members, who were Muslims.

In fact, video trending on social media saw one of them leading a prayer march for the success of Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

Sources have now confirmed that it was not just officials, both elected and appointed, of Lagos State that went to Saudi Arabia. Among the contingent were those who were seeking one elective position or the other and wanted the endorsement or blessing of the strong man of Lagos politics. In fact, some of them were openly displaying their campaign posters in the Holy Land.

While the ambition of their political godfather was dominating the political

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2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH

Staying Close With 2023

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (second right), his media aide, Mr. Tunde Rahman (second left) performing the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia… recently space, there is also a serious and rather vicious scheming for various elective positions in the state ahead of 2023.

These positions included the three senatorial seats in the state, 20 House of Representatives slots as well as the state House of Assembly seats.

Words were making the rounds last week that Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the presidential aspirant and Senator currently representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, might not return to the Senate come 2023 with current Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, being pencilled down to replace her.

In the same vein, the current Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, might not be returning as deputy to Governor Babajide SanwoOlu. Hamzat, sources said, might emerge as the party’s candidate for Lagos West with the current Senator, Solomon Olalekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, already scheming to run for same seat but this time in his native Ogun State, where he wants to become the first senator to represent two senatorial districts in two different states. He wants to represent Ogun West Senatorial District.

It still a bit cloudy but things will definitely take shape in the weeks ahead as various primary elections are billed to be done with by June as per the new Electoral Act. Hon. Yakunu Dogara with Governor Mala Buni at the Aso Rock presidential villa …AND OSINBAJO FINDS HIS VOICE Last week, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, shortly after he decamped back to APC in 2020 said if he didn’t choose to contest for the presidency in order to succeed his boss, He added that the experiences he office he swore to defend. it would have amounted to betraying had gained have put him in a good “After all I have learnt, if called upon Nigerians. He said having served as acting stead to run the affairs of the country to serve the nation, should I say No? I president for cumulatively over seven and put them into use to save those have decided that I will run for office. months and gained the contacts he has, who are dying of hunger and diseases. I have sworn an oath to the Federal both locally and internationally, it would “Many people are dying for the Republic of Nigeria. It is an oath to our have been a great injustice if he hadn’t country every day. If with all that people, our children, and the future contested the 2023 presidential election. has been given to me by the grace of Nigeria. I owe nobody else any His words: “President Muhammadu of God – all the experience – I now allegiance outside the oath.”

Buhari, just out of his open-mindedness retire to Lagos or Ikenne to go and Many supporters of Tinubu have and his own generosity, ensured that I write my memoir, it would be a great accused the Vice-President of betraying was given very serious responsibilities injustice to this country. It will be the former governor of Lagos state by as vice-president and I also acted as great injustice to our country, that declaring to run for the presidency after president. In those capacities, I got to is why I have thrown my hat in the Tinubu had also declared. However, know so many things that most people ring to ensure I make the best case for many analysts have countered that will never come across, even people in the position of President of Federal Osinbajo had every right to contest, government will never come across.

Republic of Nigeria.” adding that as a sitting Vice-President, “I gained a lot of experience on that And, apparently responding to he has the first right of refusal to succeed account. Now, the opportunity has allegations that he betrayed his his boss. come. With the experience that I have, former political godfather and the connection and contacts that I have, erstwhile governor of Lagos State, WILL DOGARA BITE THE DUST both locally and internationally, it will be Senator Bola Tinubu, Osinbajo said AGAINST MOHAMMED? a betrayal to the country not to accept Last week, a Federal High Court he owed nobody any allegiance except to serve the country.” the people of Nigeria and the oath of sitting in Abuja, had declared the

seat of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, vacant, claiming that the defection of Dogara from the opposition PDP, to the ruling APC, had rendered his election null and void.

Dogara represents Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.

He was in the APC, when he emerged Speaker of the House of Representatives, at a time he and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, pulled a fast one on the APC establishment to emerge Speaker and Senate President, respectively. Dogara was to return to the PDP and with the support of the current governor of the state, Bala Mohammed, he was able to come back to the House having joined Mohammed too to defeat former Governor Abubakar.

Before the 2019 election that brought Mohammed in as the governor, there had been rumours that Dogara was moving back to the PDP and the rumours became a reality, when he was formally accepted back to the party on January 29, 2019.

However, on July 23, 2020, Dogara, yet again, moved back to the ruling APC and he was taken to meet President Buhari in Aso Rock by the then caretaker chairman of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who claimed that the conditions that pushed Dogara out of the party in the first place had been resolved.

Dogara had remained in the ruling APC then until the Abuja Federal High Court ruling. But his defection back to the APC in 2020 might not be unconnected to the local politics of Bauchi State, where he has fallen out with Mohammed, who is the current governor of the state.

Rumours have it that Dogara might be eyeing Mohammed’s job and he was aware that there was no way he could wrest the PDP ticket from Mohammed next year even when Mohammed is also eyeing the PDP presidential ticket. Hence, the need to return to APC. Though he has appealed the judgment, it remains to be seen if he has not lost out of the power game in his native Bauchi State ahead of the 2023 elections.

Mohammed is one ruthless politician, who does not take prisoners, when dealing with his political foes. And if the way he treated his erstwhile aides, when he sacked his whole cabinet late last year was anything to go by, Dogara, has a long battle in his hands.

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NEWS

CELEBRATING EID-EL-FITRI WITH IMAMS AND ALFAS...

L-R: Representative of Chief Imam of Remoland, Sheik Tajudeen Ashaye; Wakil Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta State, Sheik Iskil Awwal; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; President, League of Imams and Alfas, Sheik Musa Babalola and Representative, Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Shile Rufai during the reception organised by the governor to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri with the League of Imams and Alfas at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta… on Monday

Stop Treating Terrorists with Kid Gloves, Unleash Full Force on Them, Anglican Church Tells FG Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia With the murderous activities of terrorists not showing any sign of abating, the federal government has been urged to stop treating the perpetrators of evil with kid gloves, but should unleash the nation's full military force to wipe them out.

The call was made by the Diocese of Umuahia (Anglican Communion) at the end of the second session of its 10th Synod held at St Andrew's Anglican Church, Nsukwe/Amibo Ubakala, during which the participants deliberated on diverse issues affecting the Church as well as the political and economic affairs of the Nigerian nation.

In the communique signed by the clerical synod secretary, Ven. Okwukwe Ucheagwu and Rt. Rev Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, the Bishop Diocsse of Umuahia and President of the Synod, the church decried the, "hopeless state of insecurity of lives and property of Nigerians."

The Church Synod which lasted from April 27th to May 1st, 2022, noted that there was no sense in allowing Nigeria's large stockpile of war arsenal to lie idle while Nigerians, "are daily kidnapped for ransom, killed, maimed, displaced and generally traumatised in supposedly peace time," while the perpetrators are having a free rein.

According to the Church, it has become glaring that the federal government, "is reluctant and lethargic to deploy the sophisticated and expensive weapons and ammunitions bought with tax payers' money in the war against terrorism."

It therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise

his power as the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces and not only order for the "extensive deployment" of war arsenal on terrorists and bandits but also monitor the actual compliance by military commanders.

On the economic front, the Church Synod said that, "urgent steps," should be taken to repair the four moribund refineries in the country, noting that, "it is a colossal economic waste and indeed unsustainable, to keep importing refined (petroleum) products at astronomical International (market) prices."

To end the over-reliance on imported petroleum products, the church advised that licences for building and operating modular refineries, "should only be given to qualified and genuine companies with proven track record of performance in the petroleum industry."

While calling on government to provide enabling environment for wealth creation and employment of Nigerians to curb the current economic hardships, the church expressed concern over the declining value of the Naira and its adverse effects on the economic well-being of the masses.

"The CBN should halt without further delay, the strangulation, depreciation of the Naira against other international currencies, and the choking interest rates regime that has kept the real sector of the economy prostrate," the Church Synod said.

The church also added its voice to the call for the APC- controlled federal government to stop, "the mindless borrowings and accumulations of debts with stringent terms and conditions" thereby mortgaging

the future of Nigerians with debts that are not even for productive purposes.”

To this end, it advised the government to think outside the box and come up with creative ways of stimulating the economy

and placing it on the path of sustainable growth.

The "notorious neglect" of retirees and the lingering dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) also attracted the attention of the Synod hence it

About 50 passengers onboard Dana Air Flight 9J344 with registration number 5N JOY from Port Harcourt to Lagos were safely disembarked 9:00 pm on Monday when the tyre of the aircraft caught fire on the runway, but the pilot quickly aborted take-off.

THISDAY learnt that the pilot in command saw light that seemed to be that of an approaching aircraft and immediately asked the Air Traffic Control (ATC) who assured that it was not the light of another aircraft about to land, but by then

the pilot had aborted the flight in order to avert possible collision.

The burning tyre prompted emergency evacuation of the passengers on board and the grounding of the aircraft.

A statement from the airline, signed by its Head of Communication, Kingsley Ezenwa and made available to THISDAY explained that the abortion of the flight was a precautionary measure to avert possible accident.

“Our aircraft with registration number 5N JOY operating flight 9J 344 from Port Harcourt to Lagos on 2nd of May 2022 was set to

further delay, the 2009 FGN/ ASUU Agreement," the Church said, adding that the repeated prevarications of the Federal Government was sounding the death knell for university education in the country.

2023: Olawepo-Hashim Joins Presidential Race, Insists a New, Better Nigeria Possible Chuks Okocha in Abuja After series of consultation with stakeholders across the country, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has thrown his hat into the ring to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Olawepo-Hashim who is set to pick his nomination form on Thursday, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, insisted that despite the fact that the country is presently, “gripped in the claws of insecurity, worsening energy crises due to absence of local refining of Petroleum products, and inadequate electricity generation, transmission and distribution, a new and better Nigeria is still possible.”

The 2019 presidential candidate explained that the “current political trajectory of the country is dim and dark, as deep ethnic cleavages and bigotry have dominated the landscape accentuating the crises, undermining any initiative for a cohesive national redemption.”

He added that sadly, “the culprit for this immediate state of affairs are the dominant elite of Nigeria across party lines whose raison d' eter has been self-interest and personal aggrandizement especially in the past 24 years after the unfortunate

decades of military rule.”

The aspirant maintained that although the initial patriotic national ethos of our great First Republic leaders which made Nigeria one of the leading countries of Asia and Africa with comparative GDP with Malaysia and Thailand has been effectively buried in the rubbles, “yet, there still exist an incredible reservoir of national energy capable of pulling the nation from the ruins and destruction, and for the construction of a new and better Nigeria.”

According to him, “this abundant energy is able to bring light to overshadow the darkness that is enveloping our nation. There is a fire in the belly of an average patriotic Nigerian, which when lit, is able to consume any imaginable size of evil.

“I have stepped out to ignite that fire, in my decision to seek the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the 2023 elections.

“Mine is not an ambition but a historic burden. It is a burden imposed on me right from my late teens when as an undergraduate youth activist, my generation committed ourselves to the struggle for social and economic development of Nigeria, as well as to the struggle for democratic rule.”

Dana Air Explains Port Harcourt Flight Fire Incident Chinedu Eze

called on the government to treat pensioners with dignity by prompt payment of gratuities and pensions.

"Government officials responsible for education should restore the glory of tertiary education in Nigeria by implementing without

take off when the pilot in command noticed an anomaly which he queried with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) before embarking on a ramp return in line with our strict safety operating procedures “However, the impact on the brakes as a result of the aborted take-off affected the aircraft tyres, which sparked off while the aircraft was taxiing to re-park.

All 50 passengers onboard the aircraft disembarked safely and our maintenance team immediately grounded the aircraft pending the conclusion of their investigations,” the airline stated.

Dana Air, which cancelled the flight, insisted that the pilot took the decision to abort the flight in order to protect the airlines passengers.

“Once again, we sincerely apologise to all the passengers on the flight for the inconveniences caused due to the eventual cancellation of the flight. At Dana Air, the safety of our passengers and crew will remain a top priority in all aspect of our operations and we will continue to operate in accordance with the civil aviation regulations and global best practices,” the statement added.

He added that “there is nothing Nigerians cannot achieve with the right environment and support. I am out to give the Leadership to create that environment”, while promising that his “plan to build a new Nigeria as encapsulated in a 50 - point agenda will be publicly presented soon by the Grace of God.” The Global Oil Executive also maintained that, “a modern Nigeria capable of securing itself from internal and external threats, provide jobs for her teeming youths currently unemployed through a sustainable economic development plan, and reduce the scourge of poverty and corruption is possible and realisable.”

He promised to bridge the existing divides in the nation, heal the wounds and bring our nation back together again.

“By reason of accident, my father came from Northern Nigeria and my mother from the South. Half of my family are Christians while the other half are Muslims.

“I have lived and schooled in both North and South as well as in Europe and America. I know that all human beings are born equal and deserving of equal rights, opportunities and justice.

“I will do justice to all without discrimination on account of ethnicity, religion and gender. This is not another empty promise of another politician. It is who I am,” he said.

Since his activist days more than three decades ago, Olawepo-Hashim has done many things in business unlike his peers who stay in the traditional comfort zones of running NGOs, media organisations and working in the universities.

He resigned from the PDP in 2006, after a lot of disagreements over matters of party’s internal democracy.

He holds Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos; and a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from University of Buckingham in United Kingdom where he was best student in his cohort.

2023: South-west APC Leaders, Presidential Aspirants Meet in Lagos Two leaders of All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Olusegun Osoba and Chief Bisi Akande, are to convene a meeting of the South-west presidential aspirants ahead of the All Progressives Congress primary. The meeting is scheduled to hold on Friday, May 6. Both party chieftains are former governors of Ogun and Osun States respectively.

According to sources, the meeting is being called for the South-west to present a common front going into the presidential primary given the number of presidential aspirants from the region.

The APC South-west aspirants who are eyeing the ticket of the party include: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo;

former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Dr Kayode Fayemi.

However, it was gathered that the meeting is being convened to enable APC to reduce the number of presidential aspirants so that the region have a better chance of getting the APC ticket.

The meeting, which will take place at the Lagos House in Marina, Lagos, is expected to have all the aspirants in attendance.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Deputy Senate Leader, Prof Ajayi Boroffice, South-West governors in the APC and other stakeholders are among those expected to be at the meeting.

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NEWS

HAYATUDEEN'S VISIT TO BORNO PDP DELEGATES...

L-R: Former Senator Representing Kebbi North and Director-General of the Mohammed Hayatudeen Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Isa Galaudu; Chairman, Borno PDP Delegate Election Committee, Gebon Timothy Kataps; former banker and PDP Presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; Chairman, PDP, Borno State Chapter, Alhaji Zanna Gaddama, and former PDP Minority Leader, Federal House of Representatives, Mohammed Kumalia, during Hayatudeen's visit to Borno State’s PDP delegates’ congress...recently

Telcos Seek Upward Review of Voice Call, SMS, Data Services’ Cost Emma Okonji

Telecommunication operators under the aegis of the Association of Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), are calling for an increase in the cost of delivering voice calls, short message services (SMS), and data services.

They expressed concerns over the negative impact of the economic and security issues in the country on the Nigerian telecommunications industry, which they said had adversely affected the cost of telecoms service delivery across networks.

Owing to these, they have written the Nigerian Communications

Commission (NCC), asking for an upward review in the cost of delivering most telecons services to subscribers.

The letter dated April 25, 2022, was received and acknowledged

by NCC on April 27, 2022.

In the letter obtained by THISDAY, the telcos said the telecommunication industry had been heavily financially impacted following Nigeria's economic recession in 2020 and the effect of the ongoing Ukraine/ Russia crisis.

According to the letter, "This has resulted to an increase in energy costs (which constitutes an appreciable 35 per cent of ALTON's members operating expenses).

"Consequently, the cost of diesel required to power operators' Towers, Base Stations and offices rose by a staggering 233 per cent from N225 per litre in January 2022 to over N750 per litre in March 2022.

"Additionally, the introduction of new lines of fiscal obligations via the recent Excise Duty of 5 per cent on telecommunications services further exacerbates the burden of multiple taxes and levies in the sector.

"As the Commission may be aware, the Power sector under the supervision of ib Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of the Power sector in November 2020 undertook a review of elecfricity tariffs to cater for the economic

headwinds reported above."

The letter further stated:" In view of the foregoing, ALTON considers it expedient for the telecommunications sector to undergo periodic cost adjustments through the Commission's intervention in order to minimize the impact of the challenging economic issues faced by our members."

In the letter, the telcos also demanded for upward review of the price determination for Voice and Data and SMS. They explained: "Given the state of the economy and the circa 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business, we wish to request for an interim administrative review of

Kwara Governor Deserves Second Term, Says Emir of Ilorin Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has declared that the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq deserves a second term in office come 2023, “in view of his outstanding performances since assumption of office on May 29, 2019.”

The monarch spoke in Ilorin, at the Bareke, the traditional Eid homage to the Government House.

The tradition of paying of homage to the sitting governor dates back to the colonial years.

He, however, hailed the handson approach of AbdulRazaq to the duties of his office, saying it would be good to have the governor run for another term in the 2023 election.

According to him, "Governor AbdulRazaq has been hardworking.

In fact, he is a field man. I think he spends more time on the fields (attending to public needs) than in his office.

"May God continue to guide you, protect you and assure success for him in all his endeavours.”

The Emir added, "I wish the Governor is willing to do another term in office. It is an individual's right assigned in the constitution of Nigeria that the Governor that spent four years in the first term can also contest for a second term.

"Your Excellency, go ahead with aspiration to become a second term Governor of Kwara State."

The governor on his part, commended the Emir for his fatherly roles and for promoting peace and cultural heritage of the Ilorin Emirate.

He said, "I welcome Your Royal Highness and distinguished members of your entourage to Government House on another occasion of Bareke. This is a tradition that is rooted in history and culture.

"It is a testament to the excellent relationship between the traditional institution and the government.

We do not take that for granted.

"Rest assured that this administration will always honour and respect the legacies of the House of Sheikh Alimi".

AbdulRazaq added: "Your Royal, our administration is committed to peace, unity, and general wellbeing of the largest majority of our people.

"And within a space of three years, we have made Kwara workers one of the best and promptly paid workforce in central Nigeria."

The governor noted that, "Our commitment to collective good is evident across all sectors. Health indices have improved; we have upgraded facilities across the state.

"We have taken roads and other developmental projects to the remotest corners of our state; and we have standardized basic education. Today, unlike before, Kwara competes strongly with its peers in things that truly matter.

"But this is just the beginning.

Over the next few years, our state will be the go-to place for national and international events. This is thanks to the different facilities we are building.

"When people come to see our Durbar, they will go away with beautiful memories of a peaceful state with some of the most modern artistic structures and tourist attractions.”

the Mobile (Voice) Termination Rate (MTR) for Voice; Administrative Data floor price and cost of SMS as reflected in extant instruments.

With respect to Voice and SMS cost, ALTON respectfully requests the commission to consider a Mark-up approach to address the upward price adjustment desirable for industry."

They further stated that for data services, "we wish to request that the Commission implements the recommendations in the August 2020 KPMG Report on the Determination of Cost Based Pricing for Wholesale and Retail Broadband Services in Nigeria (Report)."

In addition, they called for the suspension of punitive monetary sanctions and extension of payment timeline of relevant regulatory levies/ fees in compliance with the Commission's mandate by at least three months from the stipulated date of fulfilment.

They also want the Commission to prevail on the federal government to sign the Executive Order

declaring telecommunications infrastructure as a Critical National Infrastructure for due protection of the infrastructure and to mitigate cost expended towards replacing the damaged/ stolen infrastructure and other amenities.

In addition, they called for reduction or waiver of duties, taxes and other charges and suspension or reduction of sector fees and other levies.

As a way of ameliorating the impact of the tough operating environment, "we respectfully request that the proposed upward review of the Frequency Pricing Regulations and current administraåve fees regime for services such as numbering fees, type approval fees, promotion fees and tariff modificaåon/revalidation fees be suspended," "It is our expectation that the above mentioned proposals will support our members and ameliorate the challenging economic situation facing the telecommunications industry," ALTON added.

16,572 Subscribers Port Services to Other Networks in Six Months in Search of Better Service Quality Emma Okonji Recent statistics have revealed that a total of 16,572 telecoms subscribers ported to other networks within a period of six months.

The statistics, which was released recently on the website of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, and obtained

by THISDAY, showed that from September 2021 to February 2022, a total of 16,572 telecoms subscribers ported to other networks, in search of better quality of service.

The porting, which was described by NCC as inward porting into the network of other telecoms service providers, is an expression of dissatisfaction about the kind of telecoms services received by the subscribers, hence they decided to port to other networks where they believed they could get better quality of service that would satisfy them.

In telecoms parlance, porting means the voluntary movement

of telecoms subscriber’s mobile phone number from one network to another in search of better service quality, while still retaining the original mobile phone number on the new network.

A breakdown of the porting figures from September 2021 to February 2022, showed that in September 2021, a total of 2,487 subscribers ported their mobile phone numbers to other networks, while in October 2021, a total of 2,258 subscribers ported and 3,697 subscribers ported in November 2021. In December 2021, a total of 1,828 subscribers ported to other networks, while in January 2022, a total of 3,151 telecoms subscribers ported and another 3,151 telecoms subscribers also ported in February 2022, bringing the total number of inward porting across networks to 16,572 in six months.

The statistics also showed that MTN received the highest number of subscribers that ported into its network, followed by Globacom, Airtel and 9mobile within the

period.

In November 2021, a total of 1,127 subscribers ported from other networks into MTN’s network, while a total of 1,657 subscribers ported from other networks into Globacom’s network. In the same month, a total of 128 subscribers ported into 9mobile’s network, while a total of 785 subscribers ported into Airtel’s network. In December 2021, a total of 948 subscribers ported from other networks to MTN’s network, while 173 subscribers ported into Globacom’s network and 212 subscribers ported into 9mobile’s network, while Airtel recorded a total of 495 subscribers that ported into its network within the period.

In January 2022, a total of 2,482 subscribers ported into MTN’s network and a total of 114 subscribers ported into 9mobile’s network, while a total of 555 subscribers ported into Airtel’s network. Globacom did not record any inward porting within the period. In February

2022, MTN recorded a total of 2,482 incoming subscribers, while 9mobile recorded 114 incoming subscribers and Airtel recorded 555 incoming subscribers on its network. Again Globacom did not record any inward porting within the same period in February 2022.

Giving reasons why MTN maintained the highest number of inward porting into its network, the President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, told THISDAY that MTN had maintained a stable network in the past, having invested heavily in infrastructure and emerging technologies, including the fifth generation technology, known as 5G technology. “Every subscriber wants to identify with the network that offers good service quality, hence they are moving to MTN’s network, and this explains the reason why MTN has the largest number of subscribers numbering over 70 million, with a market share of 37.89 per cent,” Ogunbanjo said.

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NEWS

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR MINISTERS...

L-R: Wife of National Secretary of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Pastor Mrs. Taiwo Oyinloye; National Secretary, Rev Yomi Oyinloye; Foursquare Missions International (FMI) Area Missionary, West Africa, Central Africa and Francophone, Rev Dan Lucero; General Overseer, Rev Sam Aboyeji; and his wife, Rev Mrs Olabisi Aboyeji, during the on-going 2022 International Conference for Ministers PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE. and Leaders (ICML) at Foursquare Camp, Ajebo, Ogun State... yesterday.

Buhari: Religious Leaders Must Speak against Non-state Actors Stoking Violence Army goes after culprits who beheaded two soldiers in Imo Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, appealed to religious leaders to speak up against violent non-state actors propagating genuine causes but with mindless violence leading to the destruction of lives and property.

The president made the call at the opening of the General Assembly of the Reunion of the Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.

This is as the Nigerian Army, has also condemned in strong terms, the gruesome and barbaric murder of two intending couple soldiers, allegedly by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), whilst on their way to Imo State for their traditional wedding.

President Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said religious leaders and faith communities must join

hands with governments and play a significant role in ensuring fraternity and harmony in West Africa.

This, he said, was because an integrated, peaceful and prosperous sub-region would not be fully guaranteed if peace did not first reign in local communities and in each of the countries.

He, therefore, urged religious leaders to not only explore ways of strengthening the bonds of faith between their communities but also of building bridges across every divide that threatens to fracture the nations.

"It is my hope that you will conceptualise ways of bringing the full weight of the immense moral authority that you possess upon our nations and in the sub-region as a whole. The idea that fraternity and social friendship are the best ways to build a better, more just and peaceful world with the commitment of all people and institutions.

The Encyclical proposes some of the boldest and most radical ideas

PDP Shifts Governorship, Presidential Appeals Committees Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has announced the shifting of the appeals committee for presidential and governorship aspirants, who intend to appeal their disqualification last week.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP informed all PDP aspirants for governorship and presidential positions that the Screening Appeal Exercise earlier scheduled to hold yesterday May 3, 2022, had been shifted to Wednesday, May 4, 2022.

PDP said the adjustment in date was occasioned by the Eid-Fitir celebrations and apologized for any inconveniences the change in date might have caused.

The opposition party, which also celebrated with Nigerians, particularly, the Muslim Ummah

on Eid-el-Fitr urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitr to strengthen the bond of unity and rekindle the virtues of love, faith in God, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, humility, compassion, care for one another as well as our commitment to the survival and development of the dear nation.

"The PDP in very strong terms tasks President Muhammadu Buhari on the divisiveness, corruption, arrogance in failure, recklessness, impunity, lack of transparency, violation of rules and lethargic approach of his administration which are responsible for the social, economic and security quandary in our nation under the APC administration.

"Our party, however, urges Nigerians not to resign to despondency but to be calm, alert and continue to love and care for one another in renewed hope of a better Nigeria under a new order, come 2023."

on securing human unity, peace and security.

"By offering concrete prescriptions on building brotherhood and sustainable peace anywhere, the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, rightly takes the position that this is not merely the business of governments and political institutions; it must also be anchored on our civil societies, of which the faith communities are an important constituency.

“Over the years, the Church has modelled profound approaches in challenging the impunity of some state actors and errant power. But my Lords, I believe the times also call for speaking to the growing numbers of violent non-state actors, some propagating genuine causes but with mindless violence often leading to the destruction of lives and property.

“In answer to tendencies that promote violence, force and war in the propagation of ideas, His Holiness, the Pope, takes the view that even Augustine of Hippo, ‘who forged a concept of 'just war' also said, that 'it is a higher glory still to stay war itself with a word than to slay men with the sword, and to procure or maintain peace by peace, not by war.”

However, the army, which described the killing of Master Warrant Officer (MWO), Linus Audu (rtd) and Private Gloria Matthew as an act of terrorism, vowed to bring the culprits to book.

A statement by the Nigerian Army Headquarters called for actionable information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits.

"The Nigerian Army (NA), on Saturday April 30, 2022, received information on the gruesome, barbaric and most despicable manner in which members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) murdered in cold blood, two soldiers Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Audu M Linus (retired) and Private(Pte) Gloria Matthew, who were on transit to Imo state for their traditional wedding.

"Apparently, the soldiers had embarked on the trip to fulfill the traditional rites of conjugating their matrimony, as the very well respected and cherished Igbo tradition demands.

"Ironically, the fact that one of the soldiers, Pte Gloria Matthew, who hails from Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State,

2023 Presidency: Tinubu Visits Buhari Again Deji Elumoye in Abuja

One of the presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tuesday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at his official residence in the State House, Abuja.

The visit by the two-time former Governor of Lagos State is the second of such visits in the last two months.

Tinubu, who arrived at about 9.30pm was only accompanied by his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman.

Although no official statement was issued on the visit, THISDAY, however, gathered that the national leader of the APC used the opportunity of his

visit to the President to discuss the forthcoming presidential primaries of the party scheduled for end of May, 2022, in which he is an interested party.

The meeting was said to have lasted for about 45 minutes with no clear commitment from President Buhari about Tinubu's ambition.

Sources said the President for the umpteenth time wished Tinubu well as he struggles to get the party's presidential ticket along with other aspirants.

Tinubu had in February, 2022, formally informed President Buhari of his intention to succeed him by May, 2023, making him the first aspirant to inform the President of his presidential ambition.

has an ethnic affiliation with the good people of South East Nigeria did not prevail on the sensibility of the dissidents.

"This dastardly act, one too many, clearly portends the deep seated hate, desperation and lawlessness with which foot soldiers of IPOB/ ESN, have been unleashing terror on Ndigbo, whom they claim they are on a mission to protect and emancipate, as well as other innocent Nigerians, who are resident or transiting the South East," the army said.

The statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said, "This gruesome murder, in which they did not spare even their own child, clearly depicts callousness, impenitence

and is indisputably, a brazen act of terrorism perpetrated by IPOB/ ESN. "Though the dissident groups have continued to live in denial, while masquerading as unknown gunmen in their criminal violent campaign in the region, the Nigerian Army will ensure the perpetrators of this dastardly act unleashed on its personnel do not go unpunished.

"While we deeply condole with the families, relations and close associates of the victims, the Nigerian Army, has commenced investigation to unmask and bring the criminals to book. Members of the public are please enjoined to oblige security agencies actionable information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals," it stated.

AKEREDOLU TO BUHARI: IT’S SOUTHERNERS’ TURN TO PRODUCE NEXT PRESIDENT Gen. Yakubu Gowon, was removed from office by the north because he decided to make an Igbo man General Manager of the then Nigerian National Oil Company (NNOC). “Because an Igbo man was appointed, there was a coup,” he declared.

He said there was no moral justification for treating Igbo people as second-class citizens, stressing that if it is the presidency that will make the people of the east feel a sense of belonging, then they should have it.

Clark said, though there were many good people in the north, like other parts of Nigeria, it was unfortunate that “a lot of the people up north believe they own the country.”

Speaking on the issue of lopsidedness, he said if there was a police recruitment exercise in the country today, for instance, which was usually on the basis of local governments, Kano would have 414, while Bayelsa, which produced a significant part of the wealth of the country, would have only 80.

Clark queried, “What kind of country is this? The Igbo are the only people with five states in this country. North-west has seven. Let’s give them a sense of belonging if you don’t want to allow them go.

“The next president, therefore, should go to the east. Let them produce the president. They have very competent people.”

He maintained that the north should desist from any tendency to oppress other parts of the country with its population, saying it is strange that those from the north are asking for the primaries to be thrown open after they have benefitted from zoning.

Declaring that this could be the last fight before his passage, Clark declared, “If rotation is jettisoned, there will be no Nigeria.

“I do not think there are many people who are senior to me in this country. I am appealing to my northern brothers to, please, allow a Nigeria where all of us are equal, where our children can aspire to any position because they will ask questions.

“We are not begging anybody.

This country belongs to all of us.”

The elder statesman said the treatment meted out to former President Goodluck Jonathan by the north remained unacceptable.

“Any southern governor or Southern politician who agrees to make himself a vice to a northerner in this election is very unpatriotic and not a true southerner and God will take care of him.”

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14 Kidnapped Victims Rescued in Niger, Task Force Neutralises 10 Bandits

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Security Forces have successfully rescued not less than 14 kidnapped victims at Uregi in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

During the operation said to be carried out by men of the joint security task force, 10 terrorists were also neutralized while seven motorcycles, some arms and ammunition were recovered from the terrorists.

A statement by the Niger State Commissioner for Local Government and Internal Security, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, said that the operation took place on Monday.

Umar said that the bandits wanted to disrupt the peaceful Eid-el-fitr celebration in the area by launching attacks on Kawo and Uregi villages but the attack was quickly repelled by men of the joint task force.

“On 02/05/2022 at about 17.00 hours, armed bandits on motorcycles attempted to attack Kawo and Uregi villages in Rafi LGA to disrupt Sallah celebration

in the state. On the receipt of this information, joint security tactical teams responded swiftly

and mobilised to the area where the hoodlums were engaged around Uregi, Kiribo villages

and as a result, about 10 bandits were neutralised, 14 kidnapped citizens were rescued and seven

motorcycles recovered, including arms from them,” he said.

The commissioner praised the

gallantry of men of the task force and assured that their efforts would rewarded.

CITN INDUCTION...

Auditor-General of the Federation, Aghughu Arhotomhenla; President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Adesina Adedayo; Vice President, CITN, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, and the Deputy Vice President, CITN, Mr. Innocent Ohagwa, at the 46th induction ceremony of CITN in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Finally, Oshiomhole Gov. Emmanuel Visits Obasanjo, Restates Readiness to Rescue, Restore Nigeria Declares for 2023 Presidential Contest A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will today, (Wednesday, May 4, 2022,) declare his interest to contest to be the party’s standard bearer in the 2023 presidential election.

While, the former Edo state governor, was set to make a formal announcement last Friday, April 29, 2022 in Abuja, the event was cancelled and postponed on the same day the invitation was circulated.

Oshiomhole was said to have come under pressure from associates and loyalists to postpone it due to the short notice to enable them attend the event.

However, today has been

confirmed as the new date for the declaration. Oshiomhole’s media aide, Victor Oshioke, on behalf of The Retructure The Change 2023, confirmed the new date.

The confirmation came in form of a press release, stating:“The formal declaration of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole to contest for the office of President, Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 general election on the platform of the APC which was postponed has now been rescheduled, after extensive consultations, to hold as follows: Date: Wednesday May 4th 2022.

Time 3 pm Prompt.Venue: Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture, Area 10 Abuja.

Irregularities, Manipulation Alleged in Kebbi PDP Delegates List Ismail Adebayo in Birnin kebbi

Some members of Kebbi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raised the alarm saying some powerful elements in the party have tampered with the delegates list, removed names of members from the authentic list and replaced them with those of their cronies and family members.

It was alleged that the authentic delegates list of

Nasarawa ward A was tampered with and names of three delegates were removed on the directive of a former minister in the state and were replaced with that of his cronies and younger brother.

It was gathered that out of the 225 wards in Kebbi State only Nasarawa Ward A delegates list was tampered with and names of its authentic delegates removed and replaced with those preferred by the former minister.

MKO Abiola’s Son Urges Buhari to Investigate Father’s Death One of the sons of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Mr. Abdul Abiola, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of his father.

The young Abiola said this via his Twitter handle @AbdulMKO yesterday.

He said that it was time for Nigerians to know the truth as to the circumstances that led to the death of his father, noting that President Buhari should look into the archives.

This, he said, would help the

President to unravel the mystery behind the death of the late MKO, stressing that it was only such move that would bring about justice.

“It’s time for the Nigerian people to know the Truth as to what happened in the post-June 12, 1993 elections.

“And also, what led to the death of MKO Abiola and Kudirat Abiola and other unsung heroes.

“I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to look into our country archives for justice to prevail,” he said.

As a part of the ongoing consultation of strategic stakeholders in the country, presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has visited the Abeokuta residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to formally inform him of his presidential ambition.

Gov. Emmanuel informed the elder statesman that he was ready to rescue and restore Nigeria, having had sufficient private and public sector experience, with

remarkable results to show for it.

According to the presidential hopeful, the major issues plaguing Nigeria can be solved by a focused, sincere and capable leadership. He therefore assured Chief Obasanjo that, if given the opportunity, he would take practical steps to boost the economy and return Nigeria to her glory days.

Responding, Chief Obasanjo appreciated the presidential aspirant for the show of respect in coming to inform him of his aspiration.

Obasanjo said: “Knowing you

the way I do and the knowledge that you possess, which you have expressed in your brief speech, I have no doubt that if you have the opportunity, you will fix the economy of Nigeria.

“Our country is complex but not a complicated country to govern. It needs the application of honesty, fairness, and justice.

“I know that you are a man of conscience who fears God and will apply these guiding principles in your leadership.

“You have shown what you can do for Nigeria by what you have done in your state. It is,

therefore, logical that when the opportunity presents itself, you will bring what you have done in your state to bear on the larger community.

“Your presidential bid is a fair and legitimate thing to ask for.“ The presidential aspirant was accompanied on the trip by a member of the National Executive Committee of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, two members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pat Ifon and Nsikak Ekong and Comrade Ini Ememobong, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Strategy.

Work with Masses to Return PDP to Power, Ex-Gov Makarfi Charges Guber Aspirant Former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, yesterday charged the gubernatorial aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Barrister Sani Abbas, to work with the people in order to return PDP to power.

He spoke when he received

Abbas on a campaign visit aimed at drawing from the experience of Senator Makarfi and to seek his blessings.

A statement issued by Director, Public Affairs of the Mohammed Sani Abbas Campaign Organisation, Hon Matthew Bobai, said Makarfi, who is known as the father of

PDP in Kaduna State, described Abbas as a man of integrity.

The former governor said his goal was to see PDP take back power in Kaduna State and other parts of the country.

“It is the masses that are still keeping me in politics today.

Therefore, Barrister Sani Abbas must work with the masses and

unite the great people of Kaduna State”, he said.

He also advised him “to trust in God because power comes from God and God never fails”.

Makarfi prayed for the campaign team, assuring them that God will protect them as they continue with their campaign especially at the grassroots.

I’m Best Qualified to Govern A’Ibom On the Platform of APC, Says Ita Enang Okon Bassey in Uyo A frontline governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom, Senator Ita Enang, has promised to enhance human capital development if given the mandate as the governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections.

Enang made the promise yesterday when informing

the party faithful in the state of his gubernatorial ambition for 2023 general elections held at the party secretariat, Uyo. He urged the party to ensure that only men of proven integrity and pedigree with ability to enhance good governance were allowed to represent the party in the 2023 general elections.

The governorship aspirant said with his past experience and achievements from being

a councillor to a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is the best qualified to be the governor of Akwa Ibom under the platform of APC. Enang assured the people that if nominated and eventually elected as the governor, he would focus on human capital development to help build infrastructure in the state, education and agriculture for food sufficiency.

He said as an experienced legislator and administrator, he would subject himself to the programmes and manifesto of the party if given the mandate.

“Having trained me this far, I want you to send me as the candidate of this party in the 2023 governorship election. I plead that with the nomination of May 18, the party should nominate me to be the candidate of the party.

Northern Youths Reject PDP Consensus Presidential Candidates James Sowole in Abeokuta The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), yesterday declared that the North has not produced any consensus presidential candidate, for the People Democratic Party (PDP), contrary to the position of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), as announced by its convener, Prof Ango Abdullahi.

The NYLF, an umbrella body of 42 youth organisations in the North and its position was revealed in Abeokuta, Ogun State by its president, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, during an interaction with journalists.

The NEF, had reportedly, named the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, as the consensus

candidates for the North in the forthcoming presidential primary of the party, and which had been generating controversies among other aspirants and leaders.

But speaking with journalists, Afiyo said the NYLF rejected in its entirety, the report of the Prof Ango Abdullahi -led committee, which purportedly named the consensus candidates.

The NYLF president, also

said that none of the southern presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the political will to handle Nigeria’s current challenges.

However, Afiyo said the South has people with high intellectual capabilities and competence but may not be able to withstand the pressure, when it comes to political will and courage.

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Peter Obi: Nigeria Needs Leaders to Create Wealth, Not Consuming, Sharing Okon Bassey in Uyo A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi has said that Nigeria presently requires wealth creators and not people who will be consuming and sharing available resources in the country.

Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, made the assertion in Uyo Akwa Ibom State capital yesterday during a consultative meeting with the state chapter of the PDP and delegates from the state for the party national convention.

The frontline presidential hopeful declared that the era of sharing in Nigeria politics was over as “there is nothing to share anymore”, stressing that the nation needs another group of leaders to produce resources that will take care of the next generation.

He listed key areas to tackle in the economy to include, education, security, power generation and manufacturing, saying if these are achieved the

country will be reposition for greater heights.

He said: “We will invest in education. The more educated your country is, the better your development. We will invest in

health. And most importantly we must put money to bring people out of poverty. The more you put people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality.

“My mission is to change

Nigeria from being a consuming nation to a producing country and from wealth sharing to wealth creation.

“The cake we are sharing now has finished. What we

nèed now is to bake more cakes. There is no more cake to share anymore. And those cakes we are going to bake is not for sharing. We would have a new system where the

teeming unemployed youths are given a future. They are going to be driving by the process.

So, there is no need to share.

Consuming is finished, we are now talking about production.

PROVIDUSBANK LAUNCHES ECO DEBIT CARD…

L-R: Ms. Omodolapo Adegbesan of ProvidusBank Limited, Chief Executive of Berkley, Mr. Tunde Kilaso, Managing Director/CEO, ProvidusBank Limited, Mr. Walter Akpani; Ms. Temitope Fafiyebi of Mastercard; Founder/Executive DirectorT.R.E.E. Initiative, Mr. Sola Kolawole, and Ms.TosinTunde-Alli of ProvidusBank Limited at the launch of ProvidusEco in Lagos…recently

Journalists, Others Scamper 2023: Politics of Bitterness ’ll Consume Us, Masari Warns for Safety as Gunmen Attack Ebonyi PDP Secretariat Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

There pandemonium was at the Ebonyi state Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as unidentified persons shot sporadically when the party faithful were waiting for the three- man delegate election of the party.

The first gun shots were heard at the expressway where the party Secretariat is located. The gunshots caused panic and people started helter-skelter inside the party office including journalists and supporters who had thronged the venue waiting

for PDP officials to conduct the delegate elections.

Some policemen who were inside the party office rushed out to the expressway but couldn’t arrest the gunmen due to lack of operational vehicles.

PDP faithful had assembled at the party Secretariat located along the express road awaiting the arrival of materials for distribution before the heavy shooting started.

Journalist, who were also at the party Secretariat to monitor the distribution of the materials were also trapped inside the party Secretariat.

Court Stops Ikorodu Monarch from Removing Family Head

Wale Igbintade

A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikorodu, has granted an interim injunction restraining the traditional ruler of Ikorodu town, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, from removing Mr. Kameel Adisa Dada as the Regun of Ikorodu and head of the Regun Family.

Justice Adeniyi Pokanu, in his ruling, held that the order subsists pending the hearing and determination of an April 20, 2022, Motion on Notice.

The judge made the order in suit IKD/8738GCMW/2022 filed by Dada and Hon. Gbenga Oshin, as first and second claimants, suing for themselves, and on behalf of the Regun Family of Ikorodu.

The defendants in the suit are Oba Shotebi and Mr. Jamiu Alao Shittu. The claimants obtained the order via an April 20, 2022, motion ex parte filed and moved by their Counsel, Mr Yemi Okewoye, of Universal Solicitors and Advocates, seeking two main reliefs.

Joseph Edeimu for Burial The death has occurred of Prince Joseph Onilukome Edeimu, who hails from Igbuku Kingdom in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to the burial arrangement, there will be Service of Songs on May 5, at St. Cyprian Catholic Church, OilField Road, Enerhen Junction, Warri, Delta State at 4pm.

Funeral Service, Interment and Reception will come up on Saturday, May 7, at 10.00 am at Igbuku Primary School, Igbuku, Ndokwa East, Delta State while Outing Service will be held on Sunday, May 8, at

St. Cyprian Catholic Church, OilField Road, Enerhen junction, Warri, Delta State by 8.30 am.

The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has urged those seeking political offices in the country to shun politics of bitterness and acrimony because it may consume the nation.

He explained that politics devoid of bitterness and rancour will go a long way towards promoting peace and development of the country

ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Masari, who spoke yesterday while in an audience with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike in Katsina, said if politicians do not play the game according to the rule, it may consume the nation.

He admonished politicians to embrace the unity of purpose in the effort to deliver free and fair polls, saying anything short of that will endanger

the political process.

He said: “My appeal to all politicians is that we should play this politics in such a way that the nation and the political process will survive because without the political process surviving, nobody will survive.

“It is important that we play according to the rules that we set for ourselves and we should not do anything that will endanger the process because it can consume all of

us.”

He added that most political gladiators in Katsina were products of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying both PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are one family in the state.

Earlier, Wike informed the governor that he was in the state to address the state PDP on his presidential ambition, adding that he has what it takes to rule the country in 2023.

Oyo South PDP Senatorial Ticket: Kola Balogun Unfair to Makinde, Says Group The resignation of the Senator The group, in a statement by drank from in 2019, wondering against Governor Seyi Makinde representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr. Kola Balogun, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been described as an act of ingratitude and self-conceitedness.

A sociopolitical group, which worked for his election and that of Governor Seyi Makinde, in 2019, the Oyo Kajola Group (OKG), stated that the senator’s attack on Makinde over the Oyo South PDP Senatorial ticket for the 2023 election was unfair, baseless and self-serving.

its Media Coordinator, Comrade Adebayo Ayandele, particularly expressed its disappointment in Senator Balogun for dragging the name of the Olubadan of Ibadanland into the arena with a view to causing bad blood between Ibadan people and Governor Makinde.

According to the group, Senator Balogun’s vituperations and conduct were unconscionable and condemnable and amounted to poisoning the same river he

how his alleged failure to secure the PDP ticket has got to do with the Olubadan.

The group said the claim that Governor Makinde denied him the second term ticket because he would not be able to control the Balogun family, with one as the Olubadan and the other as senator, is not only childish but also farcical.

“We have read a report containing the vituperations of the senator representing Oyo South, Senator Kola Balogun

for allegedly denying him [Balogun] a second term ticket.

“We also read the news of Senator Balogun’s purported resignation from the PDP and waited to read a rebuttal from the senator, whether he would describe the two reports as fake news. But no rebuttal has come.

“Senator Balogun, to all intent and purpose, was wrong to have publicly attacked Makinde and heap the blame on the governor for denying him a second term as if the ticket were his right.

Methodist Church Bishops Endorse Sanwo-Olu Second Term The entire bishops of the Methodist Church Nigeria have endorsed Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term in office.

The bishops, who commended the performance of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos State for good governance and service to humanity, said Lagosians should grant Governor Sanwo-Olu a second term to complete the enviable projects he has started and others in the pipeline.

The bishops endorsed

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s reelection during the opening session of the 39th Bishops’ Council of Methodist Church Nigeria held at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu in Lagos yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the bishops, the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Uche, said Governor Sanwo-Olu deserved a second term having distinguished himself amongst his peers in government as one of the best in governance.

“You (Governor SanwoOlu) are among the best in governance we currently have in Nigeria. For this reason, I urge that you be allowed to go for a second term in office so as to complete the enviable projects that you started and others that are in the pipeline.

All the bishops in Lagos will mobilise our members, our votes must go to Sanwo-Olu. “Though, I am not a cardcarrying member of any political party neither am I partisan, yet I value people for who they are

and not their political affiliation.

I believe people like you are the one we should replicate all over the world. The Bishops’ Council will pray for you and other government functionaries so that we continue to have a very progressive and developmentoriented Lagos State,” he said.

Prelate Uche, while speaking on the state of the nation, urged the government at the federal level to address issues of hunger, inflation and insecurity, saying no nation can prosper in the midst of the three challenges.

Insurgents Attack Chibok, Dislodge Troops in Borno

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Edeimu

Fighters of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) yesterday attacked Kautukari, a community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

The insurgents reportedly invaded the community around 6pm on Tuesday and started shooting sporadically.

As at the time of filling this report, the suspected ISWAP fighters were setting

houses ablaze while locals fled into the bush for safety.

Soldiers stationed at a military Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Kada, two kilometres away from Kautukari, were said to have been dislodged.

It was, however, gathered that troops of 117 Battalion in Chibok town were mobilised to the area.

Kautukari is 17km away from Chibok town.

The army was yet to react to the development.

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NEWS

On World Press Freedom Day, Leaders Identify with Media Segun Awofadeji in Gombe and Michael Olugbode in Abuja Prominent Nigerian leaders, many of them governors, including corporate organisations, yesterday, identified with the media in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day. While many of them pointed out areas of improvement, some acknowledged their roles in the growth and development of the society, while several others addressed some of the concerns that have caught up with the media.

Godwin Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, hailed journalists for their indispensable role in the development of the society, reassuring the media of his government’s support for journalists in the state to excel.

The governor, who urged journalists to embrace the noble ethics of the profession, said his government woulf continue to guarantee a conducive environment for journalists to thrive, allowing them to do their job freely, independently and safely without fear of intimidation and harassment.

“This year’s World Press Freedom day presents yet another opportunity to salute our journalists for their role in the development of society, delivering truthful, unbiased and impartial reportage of events despite the threat and persecution they are faced with globally.”

Yahaya Inuwa

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya Inuwa, said his administration would continue to work with journalists, as partners

and critical allies, in its determination to entrench transparency, accountability and openness in governance in the state.

According to a statement by the Director-General, (Press Affairs), Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor also said his Government would continue to support free flow of information, create safe and secure environment for journalists While making reference to the theme of this year’s celebration, “Journalism under digital siege”, he underscored the impact of the digital era on the freedom of the press, the security of journalists and access to information, advising them to guard against fake news and misinformation as well as ensure accurate and balanced reportage of events and activities,

Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, has saluted the courage being displayed by the media in ensuring the society was rightly informed, even as he described journalists as the bastion of democracy, because the world has been a better place through accurate and objective reportage by media practitioners.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor noted that though media work in hostile environment in some countries, they have been able to discharge their duties of informing, educating, entertaining and setting agenda, for development and growth.

While recalling that media played a pivotal role in making sure Nigeria returned to democracy

NHRC: Nigerian Press Deserves Better Deal The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has said the press was a critical agent for the protection of democracy and development and must be supported to enable them to effectively discharge their constitutional duties as the watchdog of the society.

It observed that Nigerian journalists fought very hard for the country to achieve her current democratic status and therefore deserved a better deal unlike the current situation, where many of them struggle with poor conditions of service amidst other challenges, including censorship, harassment,

intimidation and in some cases, assassinations.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, who stated this at the eve of the celebration of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day, noted that the society should see journalists as, “The oxygen of democracy and agents of change and development”, saying their constitutional duty, which as enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, is “to hold the goverment accountable to the people”, distinguishes them as those who perform essential duty to the nation.

2023: Politics of Bitterness will Consume Us, Masari Warns Francis Sardauna in Katsina and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has urged those seeking political offices in the country to shun politics of bitterness and acrimony, because it might consume the nation.

He explained that politics devoid of bitterness and rancour would go a long way towards promoting peace and development of the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Masari, who spoke Tuesday while in an audience with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, at the Government House, Katsina, said if politicians did not play the game according to the rule, it might consume the nation.

He admonished politicians to embrace the unity of purpose in the effort to deliver free and fair polls, saying anything short of that would endanger the political process.

“My appeal to all politicians is that we should play this politics in such a way that the nation and the political process will survive, because without the political

process surviving, nobody will survive. It is important that we play according to the rules that we set for ourselves and we should not do anything that will endanger the process, because it can consume all of us,” he said.

Earlier, Wike informed the governor that he was in the state to address the state PDP on his presidential ambition, adding that he had what it would take to rule the country in 2023.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers governor, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike said, “I am formally informing you that I am making myself available to run for the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I am here today to talk to the delegates, who will make it possible on the 28th and 29th of this month, which is our national convention.

“We cannot say because you don’t belong to our party and therefore we must not give you that respect, no, it’s not allowed.

By our tradition, party cannot divide us. Party is a vehicle that conveys you to the point of destination.”

in 1999, Abiodun submitted that the country owed its uninterrupted democratic rule to the media, that has kept public office holders on their toes, stressing that, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, the media would continue to be accorded a pride of place in his administration.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated journalists for their commitment to the tenets of the profession as they marked the 2022 World Press Freedom Day. “Our administration will continue to encourage Press Freedom and provide an enabling environment

for good journalism to flourish,” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.

Calling on journalists to rededicate themselves to courageous and objective journalism, hesaid the theme of this year’s celebration, “Journalism Under Digital Siege”,

lent credence to the need for professionals to confront the surveillance and digitally-mediated attacks on journalists and their trade.

“The emergence of fake news, especially, its dominance on digital and social media, has challenged the reputation of the profession as the channel of credible information,” Sanwo-Olu said.

New Permutations in APC as Fayemi Declares for President Today To unveil agenda, meets leaders Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Today’s declaration for president by the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, might have introduced new dynamics into the All Progressives Congress (APC) contest for the party’s 2023 presidential ticket.

Fayemi, who had met leaders in different parts of the country in the countdown to his formal declaration, is also using the occasion of his declaration to unveil his agenda for the presidency ahead of next year’s general election.

However, the new realignment is the understanding, which governors of the APC had long plotted for a governor as successor to President Muhammadu Buhari. The same thinking is currently ongoing in the main opposition party, the PDP. The plot was mooted since 2019, immediately after the presidential election.

Fayemi, according to multiple sources in the APC, is entering into the contest with the support of a number of governors, who had pledged to ensure that the next president and vice president would be from among the governors.

The only other governor in the contest at the moment is Professor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, who is generally believed to have a very remote prospect, especially, being a new comer to the APC. A statement issued by Fayemi’s spokesman, Yinka Oyebode said today’s declaration, tagged “Unveiling My Nigeria Agenda”, is the climax of the governor’s extensive consultations across the geo-political zones in the last six weeks and would also lay to rest speculations on whether he would run for president or not.

“Dr Fayemi, had after discussing his plan to run for the number one office with President Muhammadu Buhari last month, sought counsel, guidance and support from traditional and political leaders across states in the federation.

“Remarkably, Dr Fayemi kickstarted the consultation in Owo, Ondo State, where he met with the Olowo of Owo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye.

Owo is renowned as the seat of progressive politics in the country, being the birth place of the defunct Action Group (AG) led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“Thereafter, Dr Fayemi met with Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, (who was his Secondary School principal) and other leaders, of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, including Chief Olu Falae and Chief Cornelius Adebayo in Akure, Ondo State capital.

“The Afenifere leaders did a frank assessment of current trends in the country and concluded that the country needs a leader, a democrat with character, courage and compassion at this critical period. They scored Dr Fayemi high on these points and gave their blessings for his aspiration.

“Determined to deepen the consultations, Dr Fayemi also visited the Osemawe of Ondo, HRM Oba Adesimbo Victor kiladejo at his

palace in Ondo town and the Deji of Akure, HRM Oba Aladetoyinbo Ognlade Aladelusi at his palace in Akure.

“The consultation also took him to Ile- Ife, Osun State, the cradle of the Yoruba, where he met the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who accorded him a grand reception that lasted for hours, interspersed with prayer sessions and cultural entertainment.

“Dr Fayemi also met with the Olubadan of Ibadan, HRM Oba Lekan Bbalogun; the Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo; the Awujale of Ijebu ode, HRM Oba Sikiru Adetona; and the Akarigbo of Remoland, who is also the chairman of Ogun State

Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi in their respective palaces, where he got royal blessings.

“Dr Fayemi’s consultation train later moved to the palace of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; King (Dr) Dandeson Douglas Jaja, of the Opobo Kingdom and Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

“He also visited and had talks with the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar and the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Jega during the Sallah holiday and both leaders respectively expressed their admiration for his personality and capacity as a bridge builder and lover of peace.

“He had earlier held a major meeting with members of Ekiti State Traditional Council in Ado-Ekiti, with over 110 Obas in attendance.

The Ekiti Obas who were excited at the possibility of one of their sons becoming the next President of the country, pledged their unalloyed support for Dr Fayemi’s presidential bid.

“The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Aladesanmi; Ajero of Ijero- Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole and Owaoye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, who spoke on behalf of the Obas, said Fayemi is eminently qualified to lead the country in view of his exposure, education, experience and capacity.

BEFORE ASUU IS CRUCIFIED members of this generation of leaders who benefited from affordable public university education in Nigeria.

The tenure of a former president was defined by months of ASUU strikes. His administration had no solution to the funding of public universities in eight years except abuses directed at the university teachers. Today the former president and his deputy are flaunting their ownership of private universities as achievements and a proof of their sense of enterprise.

And this class society does not see anything wrong in this contradiction.

The method of ASUU could, of course, be faulted like any other human effort to solve a problem, but the legitimacy of the question that ASUU has been posing to prick the social conscience of the nation cannot be denied. It is often forgotten that, historically, ASUU was pushed to employ the weapon of strike as the last resort because of the frustration of industrial relations process by successive governments. In the 1980s, ASUU mainly released comprehensive communiques after meetings of its organs on the Nigerian political economy including the crisis in the education sector.

A product of ASUU’s previous engagements with policymakers is the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), which has proved remarkably helpful in ameliorating the situation in the universities like other tertiary institutions.

Beyond the small prints of the endless GovernmentASUU negotiations, there is a broad philosophical basis for the divergence in the approaches to the problem.

At the root of problem is the question on the table: how can university education be funded as a public good? Since the Ali Must Go crisis of 1978 over the cost of feeding on campuses, the debate has been polarised in the Nigerian public sphere. At one polar end are those (mostly in the policy arena) who see university education as a commodity like any other one on the shelf purchasable by those who could afford it. From the other polar end comes the progressive argument that university education should be delivered as a public good to those who are qualified to receive it. The right-wing technocrats have their standard neo-liberal argument that government cannot afford to fund university education. Period. As pointed out above, those who benefited from tuition - free university education and, in addition, received bursaries from their state governments are today among the leaders in the public and private sectors. It is certainly immoral that such elements cannot do more than glibly saying that those who want university education should be ready to pay for it. University managements are often

challenged to seek funds through grants, endowments and enterprise. Alumni are also called upon to assist in funding projects. All these important sources of funds can only be in addition to government funding. There is nothing creative in suggesting that these additional sources of funds should be substitutes for government funding in a neo-colonial political economy. If university education is a development priority of governments at the federal and state levels, it would be funded better than it is done at present. To policy-makers, funding university education is a trade -off for some other items. As a matter of socio-economic justice, the reverse should be the case. That is if the government serious about development. Besides, while resources are admittedly limited a more judicious allocation would certainly improve the level of funding to the universities. But a lot mystification takes place in the process of allocating resources because what should constitute the priority is hardly examined by the public.

It is amazing that ASUU’s critics are never charitable enough to, at least, acknowledge the fact that the university teachers are not fighting for only higher wages and better conditions of service; at the heart of ASUU’s battles is the improvement in the standard of university education in general.

All told, the condition of Nigerian universities is another chilling pointer to the priority given to human development. The point at issue is that funding the social sector (particularly education and health) generally is not high on the priority of governments.

Worse still, the government and the society do not treat the human beings responsible for running these sectors with the deserved respect. That is why no alarm is raised that university teachers are emigrating from campuses and doctors are on the queues to be recruited by other countries. These professionals and other categories of workers in the social sector are seeking better conditions of service abroad.

A fellow columnist, Simon Kolawole, posited on this page on Sunday that whoever seeks to be Nigerian president in 2023 should be asked what formular he or she has for what Kolawole calls the “ASUU Puzzle.” Kolawole is on point in saying that the paralysis on the campuses should be an issue of the next year’s election. However, ASUU is not the puzzle. The real puzzle is the hypocrisy of the Nigerian state and the elite in general about a central issue of development: funding university education. Political parties and their candidates should be asked to explain their solutions to this problem.

WHY EVERY ADULT NIGERIAN SHOULD JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY hard to help uplift that political party nationwide.

Having taken this step, I will encourage other Nigerians to similarly seek membership and proactive participation in political parties where they will feel welcome and which will satisfy some set criteria, including priorities that I might have missed.

For those Nigerians who favour restructuring and/or a new Constitution, or even Separation, my plea is that you first think about voting into

office, leaders who are better able to navigate those “waters” along with our present “waters”, which include high unemployment, high inflation plus insecurity all around. The time for sitting on the fence is over. We did so previously and see where we are today. 2023 must be different. *Atedo N A Peterside CON is the President & Founder of Anap Foundation and the Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC.

47

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

End of a Dream for Chukwueze as Liverpool Survive Villarreal Scare to Reach Final C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report Nigerian international, Samuel Chukwueze’s dream of emulating the likes of Finidi George, Nwankwo Kanu and John Mikel Obi ended a mere wish last night as Liverpool defeated Villarreal 3-2 (5-2 aggregate) to book ticket to the final of the 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League final.

The Super Eagles forward was introduced in the 70th minute for Gerard Moreno with scores at 2-2 . Chukwueze failed to reignite the form that saw him scoring the goal that sent out Bayern Munich from the tournament at the quarter final stage.

However, before The Reds seized the momentum, Villarreal had created a scare, racing to two goals in 41 minutes to wipe out Liverpool’s advantage in the first leg at Anfield last week.

Boulaye Dia scored Villarreal's first after only three minutes, converting Etienne Capoue's pass, before ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin headed in a second from another Capoue

cross as the Reds looked rattled.

Liverpool had to improve in the second half and Fabinho put them back in front on aggregate with a shot that went through the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in the 62nd minute.

Luis Diaz, whose introduction at half time changed the game after he replaced Diogo Jota, restored Liverpool's two-goal aggregate advantage with a header at the back post.

Sadio Mane secured Liverpool's place in their third Champions League final in five seasons with a third goal after taking the ball around Rulli to keep their dream of a quadruple alive.

Villarreal ended the game with 10 men with Capoue sent off late on for two bookable offences.

The Reds will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, 25 May. No English side has ever won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup all in the same season, with Liverpool aiming to create history.

PSG Target Osimhen as Mbappe's Replacement Ten-time Ligue 1 champions, PSG could swoop in for Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen to replace Kylian Mbappe if the French man leaves Parc des Princes in summer.

Mbappe has been the shining light for the Parisians since he left Monaco four years ago. The 23-year-old striker has banged in 167 goals and assisted 84 in 214 appearances.

However, the Frenchman could be on his way out of Parc des Princes this summer as he has refused to renew his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

Real Madrid has emerged as a possible destination, but nothing concrete has emerged yet.

Nonetheless, the Parisians risk

...Man City in Madrid for an Enthralling Decider

losing their star man, and they would be searching for another attacking dynamite.

According to Get French Football News, PSG have their sights set on 23-year-old Osimhen to replace Mbappe.

Osimhen has been outstanding for Napoli since he joined from Lille two years ago. The Nigerian forward is enjoying his best season ever.

Osimhen has proved his indispensability to Napoli, notching 17 goals and six assists in 29 appearances.

The Partenopeans want €100million for their talisman, but it should not be an issue for the Paris millionaires, as they have continuously pulled their weight in the transfer market.

Liverpool players celebrating surviving Villarreal scare to reach the final in Madrid...last night.

PHOTO: Getty Images

Manchester City will attempt to reach a second successive Champions League final tonight with the away leg of their semifinal against Real Madrid - after one of the best games in the tournament's history in the first leg.

City, who lost 1-0 to Chelsea in last year's final, hold a narrow advantage after a 4-3 victory at Etihad Stadium.

Real have been European champions 13 times and won La Liga at the weekend.

The winners will play either Liverpool who defeated Liverpool 3-2 (aggregate 5-2) in the final on May 25.

In an incredible first leg, goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus gave City, aiming to become European champions for the first time, a 2-0 lead after 11 minutes before Karim Benzema pulled one back after 33 minutes.

Phil Foden took City 3-1 ahead early in the second half only for Vinicius Jr to score two minutes later.

For a third time, City gained a two-goal advantage following Bernardo Silva's goal before Benzema scored an audacious chipped 'Panenka' penalty late on to leave the tie well balanced.

FIFA Moves against Feyenoord's Fans-funding Dessers Transfer Fee The world football-governing body FIFA has stepped into the furore caused by the decision of supporters of Dutch side Feyenoord to contribute Genk’s asking fee for their prized Nigerian forward, Cyriel Dessers.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA, has banned Feyenoord from crowd-funding the €4 million transfer fee needed to acquire the services of Nigerian striker on permanent basis.

Dessers has spent the last

eight months at Feyenoord on loan from Belgian side KRC Genk. But a clause in his temporary contract makes the Rotterdammers obliged to cough out €4 million before the end of the season to sign him on a permanent deal.

But Feyenoord cannot put down such a large sum unless they sell another key player if the books are to remain balanced.

A section of the club’s supporters have, however, taken

matters into their own hands and have already crowd-funded over €50,000 to help the Pride of the South seal the deal for their new hero at De Kuip.

A Dutch businessman and multimillionaire Dennis de Roo has even expressed the willingness to partner Feyenoord in providing the money for the deal in response to an encouraging statement credited to club manager Arne Slot.

But FIFA’s latest decision is expected to pour cold waters

on Feyenoord’s unconventional sourcing means for Dessers’ transfer fee.

According to respected Dutch publications VI, the football governing body frowns at the crowd-funding plans and has banned the move outrightly.

Dessers became the first man to hit double digits goals in the maiden edition of the Europa Conference League when he grabbed a brace to power Feyenoord to a 3-2 win over Olympique de Marseille.

NWFL Unveils Tulcan Energy Resources as Super Six Sole Sponsor Mouth-watering opening derbies as Edo Queens take on Delta, Bayelsa v Rivers

Head Strategy, Tulcan Energy Resources, Mr. Dolapo Akinwale (left) and the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Aisha Falode exchanging documents shortly after Tulcan Energy sealed the deal as the sole sponsor of the NWFL Super Six ...yesterday

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), yesterday unveiled Tulcan Energy Resources, as the sole sponsor of its Premiership Super Six, the final league play-off to determine the 2021/2022 Women's league champions and Nigeria's representative in the CAF Women Champions League.

The unveiling ceremony was co-ordinated by the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, in the presence of the First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, the Head Strategy, Tulcan Energy Resources, Mr. Dolapo Akinwale and representatives of the league sponsors, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns, Barrister Mrs. Peace Udoka Adeleke.

After the unveiling of the

Super Six sponsors, the NWFL represented by the Chairperson, Aisha Falode and the representative of Tulcan Energy Resources, Dolapo Akinwale, signed the contract of agreement for the sponsorship on the floor of the event, the Ball Room 1 of the Lagos Marriott Hotel, on 122, Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Falode, said on the Tulcan Energy Resources sponsorship of the Super Six, that, the sponsorship is a testament to the good works and consistency the league has demonstrated in the past. Adding : “The sponsorship is to create more impactful, competition & more meaningful development in the Women's football league."

Mr. Akinwale joined Falode to joinly unveil the Tulcan Energy Resources branded jersey for the six clubs; Edo Queens, Rivers

Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens, Naija Ratels and Nasarawa Amazons.

The Tulcan Energy Resources representative disclosed after the unveiling ceremony that, the company will bankroll the total prize money for the NWFL Premiership Super Six, to the tune of N10 million.

Winners of the Super Six will take home N5 million, second placed N3 million while the third place, N2 million.

The NWFL Chairperson, Falode, revealed that, the Nigeria Women Football League on its own will give each of the six teams the sum of N1million for wearing the Tulcan Energy Resources branded jerseys for all matches of the Super Six in Benin City, Edo State, when the battle resumes on May 16, to 22nd.

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Onaiyekan to Politicians

“Obviously, those who have indicated interest in being president, must be able to buy a form for N100 million in Nigeria of today… Who told them that it is only the rich people who can rule Nigeria or that the problem of Nigeria is going to be solved by these people who are already very happy with the way things are?” - --The Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan criticising the high cost of participation in the primaries of political parties.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

Before ASUU is Crucified

A

WhatsApp post that has been circulating for some weeks now vividly captures the travails of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the struggle to save public education at the university from total collapse. The instructive post is the photo of the front page of the Ibadan-based Daily Sketch edition of November 26, 1981 with the following caption: “ASUU MAY CALL OFF STRIKE.” The story was written by the late veteran journalist, Eddie Ekpo, who was based in Calabar for a greater part of his accomplished career.

So in teling the story of ASUU, you may ask, as they would put it in Warri, na today?

It is indisputable that ASUU has been carrying the cross of the university system for over 40 years. Yet instead of the university system being saved, symptoms of decay are manifest on the campuses. Now, it seems that the option preferred in some quarters is that the lot of ASUU should not stop at carrying the cross of the rot in the university system, the organisation of teachers should be crucified as the ultimate solution to the problem.

In fact to some elements of the Nigerian elite, in and out of power, ASUU has become the problem of the university system.

The critics are always angry at ASUU for going on strikes, but they are hardly outraged that successive administrations have reneged on agreements reached with ASUU after years of negotiations. If some powerful forces have their way, ASUU would be banned for its perennial strikes as a way of ensuring a stable academic calendar in the universities. Such is the sort of absurd propositions coming from some of ASUU’s critics. The criticisms have ranged from that of ASUU’s

Education Minister Adamu Adamu methods of struggle to even the desirability of ASUU as organisation in the universities. Why should academics be members of a union in the first place? That is the question some pundits often ask with a tinge of cynicism.

To be sure, the debate on ASUU and its struggle has not really been decent in many respects. The union has been denigrated and its leaders frequently insulted

not only by government officials, but also, ironically by public intellectuals. The cases of bad eggs in the system have provided a ready ammunition for the attackers of ASUU. The critics point to the corruption on the part of a few such as awarding marks to female students for sex and accepting bribes from students for grades. Is there any profession or sector in Nigeria from which cases of corruption and other crimes have not been reported? For clarity, the law should be judiciously applied to deal with erring members of ASUU. Discipline should be strictly enforced and competence should not be compromised. But the bad behaviour of a few should not be used to define a whole community of academics. Here we are talking of academics with a universal reputation. It is even more painful when you remember that emeritus professors who taught the teachers of some those denigrating ASUU are, at least, nominally members of the organisation, not to talk of many other decent scholars performing a yeoman service to sustain the system.

No society that is genuinely desirous of all-round development can afford to hold those primarily responsible for the production of knowledge in such utter contempt with which Nigeria treats university teachers.

Little surprise then that thinking is often not accorded primacy of place in many of the advertised efforts to solve societal problems. Intellection is secondary to brutal use of power and manipulation in policy making.

Doubtless, ASUU has suffered this fate because it has elected to deviate from the national culture of living a lie. Perhaps, ASUU would have been saved of the insults if it had ignored the poor infrastructure and inadequate equipment in the universities while most of its members merely register their presence on the

campuses while some others opt for emigration. After all, public education at the primary and secondary levels in many states are in a derelict state. The teachers at those levels of the education system may not be going on strikes as often as ASUU. Meanwhile, everyone pretends not to be conscious of the decay in public education system generally. Like they respond to every other socio-economic problem, members of the elite find their own private solutions to the problem. Those who can afford it are giving their children education in expensive private schools at home and abroad.

Those who attended public schools and are now accomplished in their careers do not contemplate sending their children to their alma mater as it is the culture in many developed climes. Elsewhere, it is a matter of pride to have members of three generations of a family attending the same school.

The systemic myopia in this selfish approach the problem of funding university education is, of course, obvious. But the policymakers and influential elements in the public sphere pretend not to be aware of this ominous dimension of the Nigerian crisis. The trend can only widen inequality and compound the class contradictions with all the socio-political consequences.

Some of those who have been governors, senators and ministers in this dispensation forget that if public education was only available at a prohibitive cost 40 years ago, they might not be what they are today.

At least two of the presidents who have emerged since 1999 had the benefit of quality public university education in Nigeria that was tuition-free with generous bursaries from their respective state governments. The last three governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria are

Continued on page 46

ATEDOPETERSIDE GUEST COLUMNIST

Why Every Adult Nigerian Should Join a Political Party In my capacity as the President and Founder of Anap Foundation (www.AnapFoundation.com) and the Convener of GoNigeria (www.GoNigeria. com), I have actively engaged Nigerian youths in recent months with the sole aim of convincing as many of them as possible to register, pick up their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) and get ready to vote in the 2023 General Elections.

I am excited at the possibility of many more Nigerian youths getting politically active between now and the 2023 General Elections and what that portends for Nigeria.

GoNigeria is an initiative of Anap Foundation.

It started at the end of 2021 with 18 Advocates drawn from the 6 geopolitical zones. GoNigeria is a non-profit, non-partisan Movement dedicated to building a new voice for young people in Nigeria.

It will remain true to its ideals.

An increasingly large number of youths have since come back to me, to say that they have registered online with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and done their biometrics and so they expect to pick up their PVCs soon. Others have complained about obstacles and frustrations surrounding biometric capture (in particular) at some INEC Centres; this should be monitored and escalated as necessary.

Some other youths however stress that they want to go beyond collection of PVCs and actually get involved in party politics, but outside of the

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They argue that choosing between the two large political parties is akin to a choice between “the devil and the deep blue sea” (my sincere apologies to the APC/PDP members who are GoNigeria Advocates and the many other good people in APC/PDP who are themselves

victims of Godfatherism).

Most Nigerians are deeply concerned about the state of our economy (high inflation and high unemployment) and also fear for their lives on account of the worsening security situation.

Sadly, the poor economy aggravates the security situation and vice versa. It is also impossible to separate economics from politics. Perhaps many of us mistakenly concentrated on the economy for too long?

The new electoral act has significantly improved the probability that INEC can conduct proper elections. We must commend President Buhari, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and all others who contributed to bring this about. However, it is also true to point out that they have delivered very little else and so I disagree with those who expect them to midwife anything beyond their own departure come May 2023. The rest of us must seize the bull by the horns and overcome both voter apathy and the reluctance of many good people to get involved in party politics. Nobody is going to come from Mars or Jupiter to improve Nigerian political parties. If they remain defective then they may consistently spew out bad choices.

I now believe that every adult Nigerian at home or abroad should join a political party. Our political parties will not improve on account of external pressure alone. Change must also come from

within. It is difficult to improve a Club or Party that you do not belong to. If I believe this, then I also must practise it.

Influenced by recent data which confirms that more than 40% of Nigerians disapprove of APC and PDP, I decided to commission a quiet study of all the other 16 registered political parties with a view to joining one of them. I scored them in 7 broad areas, which felt pertinent: 1) The Party Manifesto - how appropriate is it for Nigeria at this time?

2) The quality of the Party’s National Leadership.

3) My own adjudged acceptability at the local/ Ward Level of the Party.

4) The commitment and willingness of the Party leadership to practise internal democracy.

5) Are the Party’s doors truly open to Nigerian youths who wish to claim their country back?

6) Are the Party’s doors truly open to women leaders, or is it yet another male chauvinist enclave?

7) Is it a place where I feel truly welcome?

The above 7 pointers, after some deep reflection, led me to rank the 16 registered political parties outside of APC and PDP. Of course, there is a huge amount of work to be done before the Political Party that I join can become the Natural Challenger to APC and PDP, but like a good party member, I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and work Continued on page 46

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